I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

This was a very interesting plot. I loved that the premise of this book was different from the norm. The beginning started off strong, and the ending was good as well. There was a lot of fluff in the middle that I thought was unnecessary, and it dragged a bit. I did find Caz naive during a lot of the book. There were a lot of characters to keep up with, so that was slightly confusing.

The last 30, 40% was a speeding train, and I enjoyed the ending a lot. I found myself suspecting everyone, and it was nice to see everything come together. The big twist was completely unexpected! While this book wasn't fantastic for me, it was a solid average thriller that I enjoyed. The narration by Sarah Durham wasn't my favorite, but it was ok enough for me to get through the whole audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


✨ when a story began so good and ends with just okay..😳
I left so many questions on how and why even? Or is not been written perfectly.

Yes it’s twisted at some point but there is chance that it can predict everything.

Anyway, Thankyou #netgalley for the opportunity to review and read this book for a honest review .


❤️shaye.reads

A very intriguing thriller with lots of unexpected twists. A worthy read/listen!

Thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

I was really intrigued by the description of this one and it had me hooked until about halfway through when I started to lose a little interest. It just felt like things were not moving along in the plot and I was having a hard time connecting to any of the characters. The ending was okay but didn't shock me all that much. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Caz appears to be a magnet for death and misfortune. Instead of finding love from a dating app, she finds death. One time is unlucky, but what about when it happens a second time? Secrets, lies, and betrayal prove to be a deadly and dangerous combination. This is a fast-paced, entertaining thriller that kept me interested and intrigued. Although some of the plot points were slightly predictable, I was always engaged and invested in the satisfying conclusion. The narration added a layer of mystery and suspense. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

Thanks for early access to this audiobook. I love a good psychological thriller and was excited to start this. I did find it hard to get into at first and it wasn’t something I was actively reaching for. With saying this, I did not expect the ending and did have moments of great suspense, which I loved. Definitely not my favourite thriller but it was a good read with a good premise, especially for us dog lovers! The female main character is a dog walker who stumbles upon the dead body of someone she had been dating and got stood up by. Honestly, I suggest reading it for Joe the rescue dog!

Very interesting read! I really enjoyed the beginning, but I felt there were a few times during the middle where it dragged and I found myself ready for the end. I think this was mainly because the main character seemed so ditzy. The ending it picked up again, and it made up some for the slow middle. I will be reading more from this author!

3.8 stars rounded up to 4

I wasn't a fan of this one. I found the storyline interesting, but I found myself very confused by the main character. Her personality kept changing throughout the book, she just wasn't consistent at all. And it started off strange with the main character being barely even phased by the fact that she found a man dead, let alone that it's a man she was talking to and trying to date. Then it just got even more strange by ignoring everything that should have alerted her to something being wrong.

This book just wasn't for me, so unfortunately, I will not be recommending it.

Cas has been asked by a former friend, Marcy, to watch her dog as well as her house. Cas and Marcy had a fallout, but this is a way for their friendship to rekindle.
When Cas arrives, Marcy isn't there. The house is in shambles. Marcy can't understand why. When Cas, after so many weeks, tries to reach out, no one answers, but communication is done through text. So surely she's ok, right?
Also, Cas is dealing with the fact that every man she dates seems like they end of dead. Who's killing them? Does she have a stalker? What do these men have in common besides she's dated them all from a dating app

The Perfect Date
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Julia Crouch

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: I thought I’d found the one… But then I found him dead.

The last time I saw Harry, he was smiling at me over a candlelit table. It felt like I’d known him forever. I sipped my wine, and let myself hope for a second perfect date.

But this morning, out on a bright sunny walk, my rescue dog starts barking. I follow to see what he’s found. That’s when I see Harry’s body. His handsome face is cold and still. I back away, trembling.

It should be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. But it’s happened to me before.

The last two men I dated are dead.

I can’t tell the police I knew them both. I’d be their number one suspect.

But I need answers. Am I going mad, or is this my fault? And if I don’t find out who is doing this, will I be next?

My Thoughts: This was a captivating and compelling psychological thriller. This is the first time that I have read a book by Julia Crouch and it will not be my last. Crouch held my interest and weaved an unpredictable thrilling experience. At its most simplistic form, this was a whodunit. However, there were unpredictable twists and turns and I was questioning every character and their motive. This book was so much fun and I devoured in a matter of days (audiobook). Caz (Caroline) is a dog walker, takes care of her mother, and her last two dates were murdered. Her dog, Joe, has an excellant nose for finding dead bodies. Caz does not believe that the two incidents were connected. Since she is the connection for these two murders, will she be a suspect? Or were these men murdered to get to her?

The story is narrated by Caz, an unreliable narrator, in her POV. There are a lot of characters and it takes a bit to make all of the connections and understand the path of the characters. However, once it clicks, it clicks. Caz has been through a lot recently, including being detained as a suspect in Ash’s death. She has made some questionable decisions and her behavior is eccentric. The characters were fleshed out well with depth, they were mysterious, and creatively placed throughout the story. The author’s writing style was complex, twisty, unpredictable, and really well written. The story starts out as a slow burn to build up the characters, lay the foundation, and set the tone. Then the plot is delivered in twisty layers, pulling the whodunit in different directions. Then an explosive secret is laid out and the story is wrapped up in an ending that I did not see coming. Very well written story. Personally, I think Joe (the dog) really steals the show.

I had the pleasure of having the digital and audiobook (ARC) of this story. The narrator was amazing in this audiobook. She had great voice distinction, with amazing voice pitch and really brought life to the characters. She really nailed the fear behind Caz. She really kept me invested in this story. This story was dark, compelling, captivating, twisty, and really kept me guessing. I had every character nailed as a suspect at one time or another. Probably one of the most unpredictable books that I have read this year. If you love dogs, you will love this story! I highly recommend that you go pick this up today.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Caroline has moved back home to support her invalid mother. She has started a dog walking business. While out for her early morning walk she discovers a dead body. Caroline recognises him as the man she has been dating from the dating agency she has joined. The thing is this has happened to her before. A brilliant psychological thriller that had me on the edge of my seat.

The Perfect Date by Julia Crouch Narrated by Sarah Durham was a brilliant audiobook that was full of twists and turns throughout which is a brilliant twisted whodunnit, that was full of suspense, drama, that will have you guessing till the very end which was fast paced which nice short chapters.

The narrator Sarah was brilliant for this book and kept it alive.

I highly recommend this book I loved it!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Perfect Date" is an interesting little thriller. The story follows Caz, a former school teacher that quit/was fired after her boyfriend was found murdered, by her and Joe, her adorable dog, in London. She is motivated to move home to Brighton to take care of her aging mother after an unfortunate fall. This also prompts Caz to start a dog-walking business, in which she is doing pretty well. During one of these walks, Joe discovers another dead body, and this happens to be another boyfriend of Caz's, though she tells the police that she doesn't know who the dead man is. After this, she mysteriously is invited to house/dog sit at her former best friend's house. Her former best friend is separated from her former ex-boyfriend. Caz goes and house-sits for her friend and things get even more weird. The house is a mess, Caz gets mysterious notes, her former stalker shows up, and her friend's husband who used to be her boyfriend also shows up. Everything is a mess, Caz suspects everyone and trusts pretty much everyone EXCEPT the police detective because he seems creepy. I will just call Caz's life a hot mess express. Overall, the narrator does a really good job bringing to life the frazzled Caz and all of her counterparts.

The story is decent, it seems to take you down rabbit holes and everyone is a suspect. Everyone from her best friend to the police detective is someone that Caz thinks is stalking her and killing her boyfriends. Caz isn't really a likable character, she thinks that she deserves everything her Best friend has because she should be married to her husband instead.

The story features a cast of characters with questionable intentions, and many secrets will be uncovered throughout. When the big reveal finally happens, the reader is thrown a curveball that challenges their assumptions about who the real villain is. However, I feel that the story would have benefited from at least one more likable character. Additionally, it would have been interesting to see Joe trained as a cadaver dog since he clearly has a talent for it. All things considered, Joe is the true standout of the story, as he is the one who ultimately uncovers all of the nefarious activity. While the narrative itself is a fairly typical domestic thriller, the fast-paced ending will leave you questioning the motives of even those closest to you.

Narrated by Sarah Durham ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
by Julia Crouch ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is my first time trying Julia Crouch and she's definitely an author I want more of after listening to this.

I really enjoyed the premise and exaction of this story. It had me fully engaged through out the whole thing.

Would definitely recommend this book to my friends and would buy it for a book buddy.

What starts as a seemingly tranquil house-sitting opportunity takes a dark and ominous turn. The story weaves a twisted and intricate narrative, with Caz occasionally emerging as an unreliable character. This aspect adds an extra layer of mystery, making it enjoyable to unravel the mysterious murders and their connections.

Sarah Durham's narration, though acceptable, didn't particularly stand out when listening at an accelerated rate. However, it doesn't detract from the overall listening experience.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers and enjoy trying to piece together a complex and suspenseful plot, I highly recommend "The Perfect Date" as a must-read. It will keep you guessing.

I missed my chance to listen to this before it was archived but reading the blurb it sounded just up my alley and I purchased my own copy.

This is a fairly decent thriller kept me on my toes with lots of twists and turns. I loved the main character Caz and of course the dogs. Definitely packed full of suspense. I was practically tearing out my hair trying to figure out who exactly was the killer. My only criticism is the ending after all the suspense fell a bit flat.

Definitely would recommend to thriller fans.
3 stars ⭐️

"The Perfect Date" by Julia Crouch offers a unique and intriguing concept that keeps readers guessing until the end. The mystery and suspense are commendable, but I found the audiobook narrator to be a mismatch for my taste. Despite this, I appreciate NetGalley for providing the audio-arc version, and I recommend the book to fellow mystery/thriller fans.

3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

After a traumatic event, Caz has moved back home to care for disabled mother after a traumatic event. Caz has started her own company as an exclusive dog walker for a wealthy neighborhood which suits her new lifestyle just fine. One morning while out with her clients her own dog, Joe, stumbles on a gruesome sight... a dead man. And not just any man, the one she was dating. She is shocked but this isn't the first time this very thing has happened to her. Could this be a coincidence or is someone targeting her? Spooked by the idea that the two deaths have something to do with her she gladly accepts to dogsit for her wealthy frenemy. Caz decides to take full advantage, after all this is the life she was supposed to have. Will the danger of the past few months follow her to this exclusive neighborhood or is she finally safe?

This is a decent thriller with enough drama and suspense to keep my interest. It is told from Caz's POV and she comes across as sympathetic after all her love life is in shambles. She makes a number of questionable decisions along the way but is an enjoyable character. The dogs are fun except her following Joe around leading her to dead bodies and other drama began to feel like a bad episode of Lassie. The ending was a bit of a stretch but overall I liked the novel and it kept my interest. I had the audio version read by Sarah Durham who is very enjoyable to listen too.

I listened to this one. The story description was what caught my attention first, and then the story kept me my attention. There are so many possible suspects to choose from, in the end it all makes perfect sense. The narrator did an excellent job, I could listen to it at 2 times the speed with great ease. I was reading two books at the same time with monkey puzzle trees, so I had to look that up, so I also gained some knowledge while reading. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for letting me enjoy this audio book. I'll be looking into more of this author's books.