This was one of those books that you don't want to put down! I absolutely loved all the twists and turns in this book - it kept guessing until the last page!

Thank you Storm Publishing for sending my this eARC. Also thank you NetGalley and Amanda McKinney.
This is my first time reading Amanda McKinney and what a pleasure it was. I absolutely love a good psychological thriller and this was a GREAT psychological thriller!! Her writing style makes it so easy to just sit back and sink into it. Not realizing how much you’ve read. I devoured this up. I highly recommend grabbing this one.

thank you to netgalley and storm publishing for this arc! ugh, this book was so so good. i’ve been in a bit of a reading slump recently, and there’s really nothing like a good psychological thriller to reset. this is my first book by this author, and i really enjoyed her writing style. her writing is so quick and easy to read and i finished this book in about 24 hours across two sittings. the only thing i didn’t really love about it was that i found it to be very predictable. for example, i guessed the dissociative identity disorder extremely early on. the only twist that really shocked me was that eric was a hallucination. despite this, i really enjoyed this book and ill definitely be reading more from this author!

Savannah Portman is known for her cozy mysteries, but when insomnia strikes, she starts dabbling in darker territory. Inspired by the elusive Lockharts of Bear’s Creek, her new psychological thriller begins to take shape...until the fictional plot starts happening in real life. Now, Savannah isn't just a writer; she’s a suspect in a murder.

This is my first book by Amanda McKinney. Wow! I'm impressed! She delivers a clever, layered story that blurs the line between fiction and reality. It’s a book within a book, and just when I thought I had a handle on the plot, she throws in a twist that changes everything. I'm purposely leaving this as vague as possible so you can enjoy the story as much as I did.

What to expect:
✨A fast-paced, bingeable read with short chapters
✨Unpredictable twists, especially the one at 55%! My reaction: Wait! Whaaat?!? I didn't see that coming! AT ALL!!! 😱
✨Strong "who-can-you-trust" vibes: Katie, the best friend? Eric, the husband? Detective Jacob? The enigmatic Quinn at the Lockhart estate?
✨The blurred reality creates a real sense of unease, and I loved the meta layer of a writer losing control of her own story.

Final Verdict: 👍 A quick, twisty escape from reality. Pure entertainment with just the right dose of psychological tension. Highly addictive and packed with possibilities. I really enjoyed putting the puzzle pieces together with this one.

This is my first book by this author & while I enjoyed it in the beginning, the plot completely lost me about halfway through.

The big “twist” happens roughly about halfway through and it felt like it came completely out of left field.

I really did love the beginning!! But not only did the twist not make any sense, the latter half of the book seemed to drag on.

I would give this author another try.

Thanks NetGalley & publisher for a copy of this eArc!

Since this was the third book I have read by this author I was a little bit more prepared as what to expect from this story as per writing style and themes. However even with this bit of knowledge it was still a complete shock to the system once I got started. I have always loved a good thriller and an author who knows how to properly create such a story is always one that will get my attention. McKinney has a way of creating characters that and plot lines that really leave you desperate for answers clawing at every little piece of information that is given to you in hopes of figuring out who or what is behind everything. Her twists are amazing and I know that after this book I might have found a new favourite author. This book has a few main characters and POV changes but I loved how well and intricate each character's lives were. We start out with our main character Savi desperate for a change of pace on her latest book. She sold well previously however there's something in the back of her mind and the story needs to come out. With her mystery selling out she decides it is now time to write a crime thriller and comes up with a dark story and using her mysterious neighbor as inspiration she can't miss. I couldn't get enough of the story and found myself flying through at a record pace as much as I was desperate to figure everything out I never wanted this book to end. I loved how we got to see what was happening in real time but we also got to see what Savi was writing both stories were so complex and I loved the parallels between each one. What could have been super confusing for the reader was instead completely laid out and left them with so much more information and anticipation. I can't wait for this book to hit shelves and I'm so excited for everyone I know to read it. There were a few POV changes which I found a little hard to keep track of but it did make for a more impressive read. There was so many lightbulb moments that left me shocked and speechless. Everytime I thought I had a handle on what was going on I was thrown another curveball. Great read with very well written characters. I can't wait to see what else McKinney comes up with in the future. The ending of this was spectacular and took an already great book and pushed it well over the edge to a 5/5 read. Great job so many shocking revelations I was blown away. The ending was amazing and left my jaw on the floor. Fantastic job as this cements Amanda McKinney as a go to thriller author.

The Perfect Murder
by Amanda McKinney
Pub Date: Sep 18 2025

The Perfect Murder is a great psychological thriller about a crime novelist, Savi. It's a fast, addicting and unputdownable psychological thriller you won't put down until the final page is read! A great roller coaster ride of a thriller I highly recommend.

Synopsis: Savi Portman’s debut cozy mystery has made her a #1 bestseller and publishing’s newest star. When life gets tough, writing is her escape.
Until someone commits a murder straight from her work-in-progress thriller. Surveillance cameras place Savi near the scene that night. Witnesses say they saw her. The evidence is mounting—but she swears she was home asleep. Savi has written the perfect crime. Now she has to prove she didn’t commit it.

Thank you #ThePerfectMurder #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me an E-ARC of this 5 star psychological thriller!

The Perfect Murder by Amanda McKinney

~ Impeccably plotted, cunningly crafted, riveting read that hooked me and would not let me go ~ I couldn’t put it down ~

What I liked:
* Savi Portman: best selling cozy mystery author, bright, complex, complicated, strong, survivor with a difficult backstory that gradually comes out while reading the book
* The thriller that Savi feels compelled to write and where it eventually leads
* Jacob Lockhart: homicide detective, wealthy through old family money, loving, kind, protective, loves all of his family, faced with big decisions that were never easy to make
* The Bear’s Creek community setting where most of the story takes place – a place I wouldn’t mind living
* Supporting characters and the parts they played: Katie, Selma, Dr. Lin, Police Chief Warren, Connie-defense attorney, Quinn, and the fictitious Lillian and Andrew
* Eric Portman: Savi’s husband, long haul trucker, loving, kind, accepting, gentle, strong, important to Savi in more ways than one
* Observing and thinking about the impact of trauma and grief on those who survive as well as their family members ~ emotionally impactful and realistic
* That it drew me in, made me care and become invested in the characters and what would happen in the end
* That it was twisty, kept me guessing, and provided more than one surprise
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the impact criminal actions have along with their ripple effect that lingers
* The pain and grief felt by more than one character in the story
* Savi’s literary agent, editor, publisher that saw her more as a commodity than a person

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Storm for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

THE PERFECT MURDER slowly unravels over time, drawing you deeper into the psychology of a troubled mind. This story is unlike anything you expect, yet it’s exactly what you need to capture your attention and keep you thoroughly enthralled, so much so that you won't want to put it down even after finishing. The tale of Savanna Portman is an emotional journey, where you will become deeply invested as her life gradually unfolds. There are unexpected twists and surprising turns that you won’t see coming. There are moments that will break your heart and touch your soul. It’s an incredible read that will truly blow you away. This is definitely one you don’t want to miss!

Writing the perfect murder and then having to prove you didn’t have any part of it.

This book was a touch slow and had a little too much filler for me but this will appeal to those who like a thriller that they can easily read in a weekend.

Savi Portman’s debut cozy mystery has made her a #1 bestseller and publishing’s newest star. Now all she wants to write is a psychological thriller. But then everything she writes starts playing out in real life when someone commits a murder straight from her work-in-progress thriller.

This is my first book by Amanda McKinney and I was intrigued by the premise when I requested for an ARC.
I must say I was completely pulled into the story and the characters. Savi is a flawed character and we get to see her vulnerable as well as resilient side which made me root for her. One of the twists was unexpected but wasn't something that hasn't been done before.

Amanda does a good job of maintaining suspense and combining it with emotional elements.
The writing is compelling and entertaining and I liked the idea of a story within a story which was incorporated in a clever way. Overall a suspenseful, entertaining read that you can finish in one sitting. The book is out today.

Thank you @stormbooks_co @amandamckinneyauthor and @netgalley for the digital ARC to read and review.

Holy crap on a cracker! I truly think this is Amanda McKinney's best book yet. This story takes you through so many twists and turns the reader doesn't know which way to go. Just when you think you've got it figured out, you don't. There are so many emotions you have while experiencing this book you're left exhausted at the end. There's alot to keep straight with the characters, but it definitely comes full circle in the end.

The most gut wrenching part of this whole book was where grief was brought up, words heartfelt from this amazing author who's gone through so much.

This well written book is definitely a page turner, and definitely worth the read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

This book has a very clever plot, one of which I've never read before. Having written certain scenarios in her book Savi finds that similar things begin to happen in real life. When she becomes a suspect in the murder of a homeless man even she begins to question whether she did it or not, despite knowing she couldn't have. The book is fast paced and I found myself having to re-read a few chapters to catch up. If you like twists and turns then this is the book for you.

Wow! This one took me by surprise. Just when I thought I knew where things were going the author turned everything upside down. The characters are complex. The mystery dark. It will keep you guessing.

I really enjoyed this novel and will be reading other stuff by this author. I am trying to venture out into different genres and I’m really pleased I did.

Savanna has hit the big time with her cozy mystery book. She's in great demand for book signings, interviews and she is recognized everywhere she goes. She's from a small town where she is loved and has many friends so suddenly being thrust into the limelight has really stressed her out.

She's at home, trying to write her next cozy, but she's so stressed, and she just wants to write a very dark novel. Everything she writes about seems to happen very shortly afterward. She relies heavily on her best friend, who lives with Savi and Savi's husband, Eric, who is a long distance trucker, so he's not home much.

When strange things start happening to her, such as people swearing that she was somewhere, and purchased something that she has no memory of doing, she panics. Then there is a murder and she's been identified as being closeby the scene.

This is a murder mystery, but it's also a story of mental illness. And mostly it's a love story between friends and family. There are surprises, right up to the end.

🤯 T R A U M A T I C T H U R S D A Y review 🤯 featuring “The Perfect Murder” by Amanda McKinney!

Savi Portman’s debut cozy mystery novel “Holy Sheet Cake” has hit the bestseller’s list and overnight her life has changed! All eyes are on Savi as she navigates her new life in the spotlight!

Now the struggle is to start writing her second book, but deep down inside of her she is itching to write more of a dark thriller than a cozy mystery … but that would be totally off brand for her. She begins to write a thriller in secret and is completely SHOOK when a murder in town is committed just like the one she is writing!

Surveillance cameras show that Savi was at the scene of the crime and witnesses state that they saw her. Savi swears that she was at home asleep … but the evidence is clear as day. How has she written about the perfect murder and be able to prove she did not do it?

“There is no way I can call this a coincidence anymore. My manuscript is coming to life. This isn’t random. This isn’t a coincidence. Something is happening. I just don’t understand what”.

💭 I’m speechless! This book within a book is absolutely wild, highly addictive and gripping to its core! I had no idea where it was going and did it ever put me on a downward spiral of shock! It’s dark and twisted, razor sharp, deceptive and one hell of a tumultuous ride! This is my first book by the author and now I am hooked!

Thank you kindly to @amandamckinneyauthor @thrillerbookloversthepulse @stormbooks_co for my advanced digital copy and spot on this book tour in exchange for my honest review! Check it out now because it releases TODAY!

A good psychological thriller. It takes you on a path of mystery, murder and doubt with unexpected twists. The emotional pull of loss and realisation is heart-rending. A must read. Read as an ARC from Storm/Netgalley and my review is honest and voluntary.

Savanna “Savi” Portman has received accolades for her first, published cozy mystery. Although she enjoys the support from her readers, she was unaware of the pressure involved in promoting her book and the expectations of her fans and editor. Instead of beginning her next cozy mystery, she has decided to write a thriller. The idea came from a home in the area, a mansion actually owned by a man and his wife. The man is a wealthy homicide detective, but she has never seen his wife. Does his wife really exist? She decides to make the unknown wife, under a different name, the killer I n her book. Her book features the murder of a man living alone in a run-down cabin. When a man is found murdered in the area, she can’t believe it as it is eerily similar to what she had written in her book. Was her book some weird premonition of what was to come? Savi’s best friend is Katie, who keeps her company when Savi’s husband, a long-haul truck driver is on the road. Savi talks to him often, misses him and looks forward to when he will be home. As her life continues to unravel, due to the pressure of her next novel, Savi returns to the therapist she has seen over the years. Why do people talk to her as if they have recently seen her in places where she hasn’t been? Had she written the perfect murder or…? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Oh. Wow. This book was amazing. I am getting the physical copy Immediately!

When the twist hits, prepare yourself, because I was not. The story was so sad and tragic but the twists were perfectly placed and it kept me reading, invested and wanting more. This was the best thriller I have read all year.

You don't know what is real and what isn't. It was a trip and I loved every minute of it. Even the ending was perfect.

I am going to look for more from this author, the way she writes is so real. I just couldn't get enough, I was telling a friend about it and she was floored by the plot, She can't wait to read it,