“The Perfect Couple” is the deceptive story of Gemma O’Connor, a decidedly unlucky woman, but a strong woman none-the-less. In a first person narrative, she talks to herself, talks to readers, and talks to her husband. She shares her thoughts, concerns, frustrations, and fears. Her husband does not come home one weekend, and everything in her life changes.

Kabler created complex and secretive characters. Gemma is both sympathetic and implausible at the same time. She and husband Danny are living in a new house, in a new city, where Danny has a new job as an IT specialist. Gemma despondently shares her situation with readers. She connects with readers and yet is unrealistic and deluded, perhaps even dangerous.

Avon Police Detective Sergeant Devon and Detective Chief Inspector Helena Dickens are investigating the deaths of two men who look surprisingly similar. They are immediately interested when Gemma reports the disappearance of her husband who bears an eerie resemblance to those two murder victims. They investigate in an orderly fashion, and uncover details and horrible connections that change everything. Their investigation reveals anomalies in Gemma’s story, and she laments that her whole life has been a lie. Certainly someone is lying, but who? Hate has been hiding as love, and deep dark secrets slowly surface.

“The Perfect Couple” has a startling ending to a compelling story that leaves readers aghast. I received a review copy of “The Perfect Couple” from Jackie Kabler, Harper Impulse, Killer Reads, and One More Chapter. I eagerly await the next book.

A simple thriller that delivers a heavy punch. I read it nonstop within one day. I stayed up until the very end. Worth checking out.

Gemma has just relocated to a new home with her husband. When she returns home from a work trip, he’s nowhere to be found. The police inform her he matches the description of two other men who have recently been murdered. Kept me intrigued and guessing, however some elements didn’t come together all that well. Pacing felt a bit off as some parts had me turning the pages furiously and felt like other parts dragged. Not a bad mystery!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
This is a taut psychological thriller with an excellent storyline and intriguing twists and turns to keep the reader interested. Gemma as the wife of the missing husband is a very well put together character and Helena and Devon, the two main police officers are also interesting and well thought out.
It was a very clever and interesting read. Recommended.

This book is absolutely addictive!

The plot is so clever, I had no idea how it is was going to turn out. So many things don't add up, and at one stage I was even beginning to doubt Gemma.

This is such a twisty and cleverly plotted book. I loved the way it's a combination of thriller and police procedural, as we see both Gemma and the police's points of view.

It is full of suspense and intrigue and is so compelling. This book will totally consume you and leave you reeling. The ending was so chilling and just absolutely perfect.

Be warned, cancel everything to read this, you won't want to put it down!

The blurb for this book really piqued my interest and I was desperate to read it. I’ve not read anything by this author before, but I’m so happy that this was my first experience.

Danny and Gemma are the perfect couple, until he mysteriously disappears, whilst she is working away with work. Gemma can’t understand what has happened and where he could have and would have gone to. They have just moved house, out of area and they’re living away from friends and family. More alarmingly, Danny seems to have vanished in a way that it makes others question if he’d ever been there at all; the reader begins to question Gemma’s sanity.

This book kept me guessing throughout - I had theories, as I read, but they never materialised into anything. I really liked how the story was written - the chapters alternated from being about Gemma to being about the police case. This allowed the reader to be taken down a deliberate path, questioning the circumstances as they occurred.

The final reveal (of the culprit) I’d managed to guess, but the scene that followed made me gasp and my mouth gape open. I even muttered my shock to my husband, who asked me what I was even talking about. My heart was pounding and I needed to know what was coming next.

I would definitely recommend that you read this book. I enjoyed it that much, I will be looking at books by this author in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Couple is a solid read but it does have some faults. While there was enough to keep me interested, I did figure it out fairly early and wanted to shake Gemma for being so dumb and not seeing it sooner.

Gemma and Danny are the "perfect couple" - happily married for several years and loving life with each other until one day Gemma comes home from a work trip to find their house empty. Danny had promised dinner but dinner is no where in sight...and neither is Danny. And here is the the first time I wanted to shake Gemma - she waited 48 hours before reporting him missing and proceeded to wait weeks before informing his family. I understand that Danny and his family had a difficult relationship but they still had the right to know.

However, I will say that the dialogue between the characters was realistic and well-written. I just wish the plot wasn't as easy to figure out. Although, that might be because I read a lot of books in this genre.

This is a well plotted thriller which keeps you engaged through all the twists and turns to the end. Although the ending wasn't a complete surprise, I wasn't disappointed as there were several scenarios which presented themselves throughout the story, any of which I could have believed in. For me, there are two aspects of this story to follow. First there is the central mystery as to where is Danny and what exactly has been going on between him and Gemma. Then there is the police investigation with several great characters and their own preoccupations and friendships.

Set in Bristol, you get a good sense of place as Gemma starts to investigate Danny's disappearance for herself. It is refreshing to find that the police investigation itself does not go smoothly and several mistakes are both made and owned. This is an entertaining page turner which I am sure will surprise and which keeps you thinking.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book.

Now this, I thoroughly enjoyed.
If you are looking for suspense, drama and excitement, then look no further than The Perfect Couple...there are twists and turns galore.
We meet Gemma whose husband Danny one day just vanishes into thin air. She has no idea what has happened to him and the police are determined to place the blame on her.
When she hears that a serial killer is on the loose, she is terrified for her husband. With no one really to turn to, Gemma sets about trying to track Danny's last movements herself.
She begins to wonder did she really know her husband at all. Could their new marriage have been a complete lie?
I found this story to be such a brilliant read. Utterly compelling and so cleverly put together by the author.
Her characters I loved, very solid and I immediately became immersed in their lives..
Well worth taking the time for this sinister read....

Thank you to Harper Reads and Killer Reads and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma returns from a business trip to an empty house, which is strange because her husband said that he would be home with dinner ready upon her arrival. After a weekend of no contact from him, she contacts the police to report him missing. They just recently moved here and her husband hasn't started his new job so Gemma has no idea where he could be.
This is where it gets interesting as the police can't find any evidence that her husband actually exists.
Gemma is in for the fight of her life as she has to prove that he does exist and that she had nothing to do with his disappearance.
Heart pounding read with lots of twists and turns to keep even the best riddle solver engaged.

Gemma & Danny have had a busy year. They met & fell in love & got engaged & married shortly after. They decide to leave the rat race of London. Danny works in IT so he can pick & choose jobs & Gemma is a freelance journalist & can work anywhere so they relocate to Bristol. Their first few weeks have been busy so Gemma is delighted when her work takes her to a spa for a weekend. On her return the house is empty. As the hours go by Gemma starts to worry. When she reports his disappearance to the police she discovers there have been two murders of men who look like Danny. No-one in Bristol has ever seen Danny. Before long she realises that she is the chief suspect!

This was a great read. I really felt for Gemma, then I wondered was she guilty? It kept me guessing & even when some things were revealed I was still surprised. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for keeping me on my toes!

Ugh.

Dumb police force.
Dumb protagonist.
Dumb antagonist.
Dumb conclusion.

...just dumb...

Definitely not a winner for me, and although the reviews are mixed, there are a few which are positive. Please check those out.

Available now in the United States.

Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

I absolutely loved this book! It's one of the few that surprised me in the genre recently. And that's saying something considering it's like the third I've read where a "perfect"couple turns out to be anything but.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read on netgalley . This is a new author for me and already know ill be reading more from her.

This is a psychological thriller at its best!

Twists and turns a plenty this will have you trying to figure the teuth out and still being shocked.

Addictive and compelling this is a fantastic book.

You think its going one way and it goes the complete opposite.

Dark and sinister as the hunt for a brutal killer gets closer to home for this couple .

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title. I will review this title at a different date.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I very much enjoyed this book which is very well written and held my attention throughout. The characters were all believable and on the whole very likeable too. I can see police officers Helena and Devon appearing in future books where I would expect the little titbits about their private we got in this book might be developed.
I’ve read a few reviews which thought the story dragged but for me the pace and rhythm of the book were spot on. I would have given five stars right up to about 80% way through and then one or two parts of “ the reveal” just failed to ring true. I cannot say any more or the whole plot would be spoiled and this is such a good book I wouldn’t dream of doing that.
So highly recommended from me. Buy it and you won’t be disappointed.

Has all the raw ingredients for the perfect thriller, executed really well and plotted and paced at a perfect speed. No messing about you are literally thrown straight into the disappearance of her husband and slowly but not too slowly we learn about them as a couple. It kept me engaged all the way through, trying to guess what would happen next and who was really behind everything. It was a very convincing story and I really was thinking that it was Gemma that she was psychotic, good at acting and played the part very well. The police procedural aspect was really good and reminiscent of all good cop dramas on the telly. It was definitely not what I was expecting, didn't see the culprit being who it was, I actually got a little frustrated wanting to get to the bottom of it, a bit like Gemma herself who tortured herself endlessly throughout but I enjoyed it a lot. A great read.

I really enjoyed Jackie’s previous book, Am I Guilty?, So I was super excited to read this one. This book had me hooked from the beginning. It was well written and well  paced. The Perfect couple is an absolute page turner with well developed characters, storyline and plot with plenty of suspense. It’s definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far and it’s ideal for fans of C L Taylor or Clare Mackintosh. I highly recommend reading this book.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this one and it didn’t disappoint. A really smart, well written thriller that pulls you in from the start. Twisty and taut, I loved it!

Right from the start of this book, I was suspicious – can any relationship be as perfect as Gemma would have us believe? With no signs of Danny ever having even been in Bristol, I must admit the old grey matter was working overtime coming up with questions and possible answers as to what was really going on.

I enjoyed the writing style of alternating between Gemma telling her story in the first person and the police investigation being unveiled in the third person. For me this switching back and forth really helped me to build an image of Gemma and had me wondering how much her account could be trusted, and at times whether she even knew the answer to that herself.

The Perfect Couple is an intricately woven story that keeps building and building as more and more discoveries about a supposedly perfect relationship are made. It is my favourite type of psychological thriller – I thought I had it all worked out and knew exactly where the story was going, but my goodness, I was wide of the mark! I would love to know if other people found themselves in the same boat.