Cover Image: The Perfect Betrayal

The Perfect Betrayal

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Member Reviews

Although this was really quite good, it was let down by poor editing. A message for North's editor: read your grammar book and you won't miss 'was sat, was stood', you'll learn the difference between lay and lie (argh!), and learn about object pronouns: 'Dylan gave Tim and I'. ('And me', for heaven's sake!...another argh!) But as an editor, you should know all this already.

Unfortunately, this was in present-tense narrative. Bad choice at any time, but especially with first person POV.

But, but, but, this is a compelling story about tragically widowed Tess Clarke, so desperately immersed in her grief and loss that she struggles to look after herself, let alone her son, Jamie. The effects are devastating and serious for her.

The circumstances of Tess's husband echo the real-life crash in the French Alps six years ago, and the ending has some similarities to a certain film starring Bruce Willis (I'll leave it there!). Nonetheless, it's a gripping book, and poor editing aside, it's a healthy start to a writing career.

Will I read any more of North's books? I'm not sure. I don't suffer bad editing gladly.

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Imagining losing the love of your life. Having to deal with the grief and the life that comes afterwards. And then your blessing comes through the front door. Or does it.... Recommended for anyone who loves a book where nothing is as it seems.

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I really enjoyed this book and would read more from this author. May have been first but won't he the last.

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A dark psychological thriller that I couldn't put down. Will definitely be looking to read more bocks by this author.

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This gripped me from the beginning. I felt for the characters - grief is difficult to portray well, and the author succeeded here. I will certainly look out for more by her.

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Wow this was some read, it was utterly fantastic, everything I enjoy in a psychological thriller. A massive 5 stars

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Wow what an incredible book. From start to finish it had me hooked and I LOVED the twist and the ending.

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I devoured The Perfect Betrayal in one sitting, I loved it. Hooked me in straight away. A great page turner with a fantastic ending.

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I received a digital ARC of this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This has been on my 'to-read' pile for too long but I'm glad I finally got round to reading it! It was my first encounter with this author but it had good reviews so I was excited to see what the book had in store.

I loved it! I couldn't put it down! I thought I knew what the twist was going to be but I was wrong. Once all the clues are explained, it seems so obvious but I genuinely didn't have a clue. The ending really took me by surprise.

Great characters, great story. Will definitely recommend to others who like this genre of book.

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would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

ohh where to start with this one as i dont want to give to much away....

tess and jamie, mother and son
mark the husband and dad is dead...he was in some sort of crash, which becomes clearer as the story progresses

ian the brother...lets not talk about him, you will find out why

and the grief counsellor, who overstepped the boundaries

wow what a story...its hard hitting and compelling reading and the twist wow...didnt quite see that ending

my first novel by this author but it wont be my last

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With thanks to Netgalley

The perfect Betrayal is a good and steady thriller. Keep me guessing throughout the book.

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Great read. I read a lot of psychological thrillers but this one kept me guessing. I couldn't put it down.

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Really loved this book, a brilliant story, which kept you wanting to read more. Great ending too, didn't see that coming. Well written, will definitely be looking for books by Lauren North.

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After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief and struggling to cope with life. She has a son, Jamie, whom she vows to fiercely protect, as any mother would.

Then we meet Shelley, a grief counsellor who you can’t help but like, she is kind, understanding and is there for Tess at what is one of the hardest times of her life. But then comes the plot twist, all is not sure as it seems with her husbands death, what if he isn’t dead after all, where has Shelley actually come from, is Jamie safe?

With Tess at her most vulnerable, could everything and everyone she know and love be in danger? What does a Perfect Betrayal mean?

Now I saw where this story was going and whilst I do like a plot twist to be shocking, I still enjoyed reading this one, even if I had guessed the outcome!

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I really enjoyed this book, the main character was likeable and the plot was decent. I’d defo read more from the author. I loved the ending and didn’t see it coming! Great book!

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This book has its ups and downs. The speed is acceptable and so is the character development. But the story seems to be missing something and it annoyed me.
Parts of the book are really exciting making me want to read past my bedtime but next the story would take a turn and it was easy to put it down. It did serve to get a feeling for the mental state of Tess but it made me loose interest in the story a bit.
This book is a great read for a rainy or a pool day.

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What a book!

Tess wakes up in the hospital following her sons birthday. She doesn't understand what is going on and why nobody is listening, really listening, to anything that she has to say. She has been stabbed and her 8 year old son, Jamie is missing.

Tess is struggling. Her husband, Mark died recently in a plane crash. They had only recently moved back to Mark's childhood home in a lovely rural village and Tess has found it difficult to get used to living in the sticks and misses her old friends but Jamie is thriving and that's all that matters.

Then Shelley arrives on the doorstep. Shelley is a grief counsellor and she arrives in the lives of Tess and Jamie like a whirlwind and she soon becomes a friend to them both. Helping them to realise that life does go on.

Then Tess becomes suspicious. There are strange noises outside the house, silent phone calls, people seem to be following her and has someone really been in the house?

Does Shelley have an ulterior motive for being so friendly and helpful and why is Ian, Mark's brother suddenly trying to be so friendly? They've never got on in the past.
Tess overhears a few conversations between Shelley and Ian and becomes convinced that somehow, they are working together and somehow, it all involves Jamie. And Jamie is all that Tess has left in the world and she won't let anything take him away from her.

There was an amazing climax to this novel. One that I didn't see coming and from reading other people's reviews, I'm not the only one who never figured it all out.

I very rarely give a book a 5 star rating on Goodreads, but I'd give this book more if I could.

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Loved this story from the very beginning right to the end. It was sad and tense and the characters were interesting and as intriguing as the plot. I look forward to more from the author.

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A thrilling read which kept me turning the pages, characters you care for and just brilliantly written. Great novel!!

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Oh dear gods, make sure you have plenty of hankies at the ready for this one!

A truly jaw dropping book, "The Perfect Betrayal" is a tale of grief, loss and mystery written by a master storyteller to deliver a real gut punch of an ending. Beautiful in a bittersweet way, this is one of those books which will stay with you long after you finish it.

Very few books are truly must read, but this is one really is.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

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