Cover Image: Perfect Bones

Perfect Bones

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Member Reviews

Wow, I can't believe it, this is already the third book in the Sam Willerby series, and please tell me there is some more to follow? There is several different plot lines but all comes together nicely at the end, not leaving the reader upset, but actually just exhausted from a brilliant read! Recomended.

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This book however is a bit of a disappointment. It's dragged out, slow and not very realistic. There's too much therapy and it lacks suspense.

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Thankyou to NetGalley, Bloodhound books and the author, A.J. Waines, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Perfect Bones in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I really thought this book offered a good read. It was well written and fast paced with remarkable characters. There was plenty of twists, intrigue and suspense. Am looking forward to reading more from this author. 3.5 stars
Well worth a read.

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Eine gute Idee und eine brillante Umsetzung eines schwierigen Themas. Aber nicht nur das macht die Lektüre zu einem fesselnden Buch: der Sprachstil und die Sanfte Entwicklung der Geschichte tun ein übriges...toll!

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This book was OK, but not one that I loved. Slow and not always believable. I like to at least kind of believe the plot and characters. Thanks for the opportunity.

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This third book in the Samantha Willerby is an engrossing read about a mystery and family. Samantha continues to struggle in her relationship with her sister, and a series of murders intersects with her, the sisters are pushed apart. Samatha is sought out by the police to work with a witness to a murder who has developed PTS mutism, and it is a case that she fully embraces. Even when the police say Samantha's work is finished, she refuses to give-up on her patient. As more murders are discovered with aspects that seem connected to the witness, Samantha continues to be his therapist and sets-out to solve the mystery of the murders. It a slow read but has depth in developing the storyline. I wish the ending had been more satisfactory, but I will have to wait for another book to learn if Samantha is able to mend the broken parts of her personal life.

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Although this is the third in a series, Perfect Bones was easy to read as a standalone novel and, as always, showcases the amazing A.J. Waines talents perfectly. Unputdownable is the only way to describe it!

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3.5
This was different. It’s not a mystery thriller as it’s marketed though it did have moments of suspense. If you are interested in psychology and it’s relation to crime this one’s for you.

The story was good though there were moments that didn’t seem entirely realistic, still an enjoyable read. The characters were well constructed. Sam’s a very likable character.

The psychology was quite interesting but did slow down the crime element and suspense of the story a bit. Satisfying conclusion...

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Bloodhound Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

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EXCERPT: '...(she) said my work was derivative and passe - but now she'll become part of one of my pieces. Some sort of poetic justice, don't you think?' (The) mouth curled into a smug grin. '...her flesh will rot, but she'll forever have perfect bones.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Is the killer on the loose…or standing right beside you?

When art student, Aiden Blake, witnesses a gruesome attack on a London towpath, the police need him to identify the assailant without delay. But there’s a problem: refusing to leave his canal boat and traumatised by the shock, Aiden is rendered mute by the horror of the event and can’t speak to anyone.

In a desperate bid to gain vital information before Aiden’s memories fade, The Met call in Clinical Psychologist and trauma expert, Dr Samantha Willerby, giving her only seven days to get a result. When Aiden finally starts to communicate through his art, however, the images he produces are not what anyone expects and before Sam can make sense of them, another murder takes place.

With her professional skills stretched to the limit and the clock ticking, Sam strives to track down a killer who is as clever as she is – someone who always manages to stay one step ahead.

MY THOUGHTS: I liked Perfect Bones by A. J. Waines, but I didn't love it. There was one thing that niggled at me the whole time I was reading. . . and that was the time frame, the seven days to produce results, and the fact that Sam had to drop all her other cases to work exclusively with Aiden, and yet she has plenty of time to do other things. . . But putting that aside, this is a well crafted murder mystery, though I don't honestly believe it to be a 'psychological thriller', even if the perpetrator is insane. It just doesn't have that 'cat and mouse' feel to it.

A good read, but not a great read. And yes, I will definitely read more by this author, including more of this series. Although this is book 3 in the series, it reads well as a stand-alone.

😊😊😊.5

THE AUTHOR: AJ Waines writes Psychological Thrillers with *nearly half-a-million* copies sold worldwide. She's a #1 Bestselling Author: GIRL ON A TRAIN topped the full UK and Australian Kindle Charts in 2015 & 2016.

Formerly a Psychotherapist for fifteen years, she has worked with ex-offenders from high-security institutions, giving her a rare insight into abnormal psychology. She is fascinated by secrets and lies, crimes of passion, devious motives and anything hidden under floorboards.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Perfect Bones by A. J. Waines for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

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Despite coming in on this, the third book in the Dr Samantha Willerby series, I thoroughly enjoyed Perfect Bones as a standalone psychological thriller, rating it 4.5 stars. What I loved was the authenticity of the psychology in this story, the ring of truth to the disorders and behaviours and therapies, which stems from the author's former work as a psychotherapist. In Perfect Bones, the only witness to a murder is Aiden Blake, a talented young artist suffering severe shock and rendered mute by the horror of what he saw from his canal boat. Clinical psychologist and trauma expert Samantha Willerby is tasked with working with Aiden. The police want a description of the attacker and she is given seven days, what seems an impossibly short timeline to help Aiden and glean anything useful. Aiden starts to communicate through his art, but not soon enough to prevent another murder. Willerby refuses to give up and puts herself in the path of the killer, while the fear that the killer is right by her side builds. A recommended read.

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Perfect Bones is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The author pulls you in from the beginning and never lets go. I particularly liked the main character Samantha Willerby who is a clinical psychologist drawn into a murder investigation because the only witness to the murder is so traumatized that he can’t speak.

Sam uses different techniques to help him communicate and has some impact so he can begin to help the investigation. More murders and missing women come to light and Sam is kept busy trying to help both the investigation and the witness Aiden.

As all good things do, the book ends too quickly but that’s only because I could have continued reading a long time. I will definitely recommend this book and thank Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for letting me read this advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Without a doubt this is a 5 star book.

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Sam Willerby, a Clinical Psychologist, is called in by the Met to help with a witness. Aiden Blake saw a horrendous murder and has been rendered mute by the terror. He can't speak and he doesn't appear to do anything that might give the police a hint of what he saw.

Bringing her tools of the trade, Sam works with Aiden and is making very small headway. He finally starts to communicate with her through his art, but it's up to her to make sense of them.


Before she fully gains AIden's trust, another murder takes place. Again, it is someone connected to Aiden's art school. So .. is he a witness? Or a suspect?

This is the 3rd in the series featuring Dr. Samantha Willerby, but this one can easily be read as a stand alone.

With plenty of suspects to go around, Sam has no problem playing amateur sleuth in order to protect Aiden and put a killer away. There's a lot of action with suspects, one of which will do anything to keep secrets from seeing the light of day.

Many thanks to the author /Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

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Perfect Bones is a well-written thriller with a lot of twists and turns. A art student witnesses a murder and is so traumatized it renders him mute. Dr. Samantha Willoughby is a psychologist who specializes in trauma and must help the art student and police figure out who the killer is. I really enjoyed this book and the characters.

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I thought this police thriller was very well written. It had me hooked from the beginning. The heroine is a therapist that specializes in post dramatic stress disorders. She's pulled into helping a young art student uncover what he witnesses when a young woman is murdered and the trauma is so intense that it literally renders him mute.
I loved Sam's interactions with Aiden she becomes his protector and confidant. It was thrilling to read each clue he uncovers using sand, miniature models and sketch pads. Just an Incredible way to communicate when words are hard to come by. The investigation itself was interesting and each victim compelling. Really enjoyed the twist and turns.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
This one just didn’t pull me in. To be fair, It’s well written, but police procedurals really have to amaze me in order to keep me going. If you like those kind of serious I’m sure you’ll like this

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