Thank you to Storm Books for providing me with a copy of The Perfect Murder in exchange for sharing my opinions.
Psychological thrillers with twists and turns that keep me guessing are my favorite books to read. And The Perfect Murder didn’t disappoint! Multiple times throughout the book I thought I had figured it out, or that at least I was on the right track. Then the author would drop a twist I didn’t see coming that changed everything I was thinking. If you love a twisty psychological thriller I highly recommend you pick up The Perfect Murder and read about Savi’s story. Amanda McKinney did an amazing job with this book!

Holy helicopter!!! Talk about a wild ride through a tsunami of emotions! Never thought I’d have tears running down my face. Twists and turns that kept me constantly wondering and completely on edge! What a trip into this deep, dark, and twisty world! Flawlessly executed, a highly original story with complex characters and genuinely suspenseful. Even though my heart was pounding I literally could not put it down! Nor could I figure out how in the world McKinney was going to pull all the subplots in this story together and then OMG! Think you have it figured out? Uh Nope! You will be so tempted to read ahead but don’t, just don’t:). Another incredible thriller by this phenomenal author. How in the ever loving … does she come up with these plots!! Dang I’m exhausted. Need a 3-day nap! High as the sky recommend!

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

I really liked the first 65% of this one. The story was set up well, and I bought into it. Then the "twist" came, and, for me, it just didn't work. I got a little confused following the characters, real and fictional, but I'll take responsibility for that confusion.

The author writes well, and I've enjoyed other books by her. This one was just a little off for me.

Will I read more from the author? Yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This book was just not for me as I just found it very depressing and didn’t like the way it portrayed mental health

I Just did not Connect with this book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

The Perfect Murder was quite a trip. It started off and I couldn't help but feel like it was headed in a very predictable direction. I was convinced that I knew what was going on and how things were going to end but figured I'd go ahead and plow through and see if I was right. Spoiler alert, I wasn't. I wasn't anywhere near correct with what was going on. It definitely had a twist that caught me off guard. There were some moments of needing to suspend belief but overall, it was well done. Fast paced and suspenseful!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 1.4/5

I was drawn to "The Perfect Murder" by its premise, which I thought sounded intriguing and held plenty of potential. Sadly, it wasn't overly long before I started having doubts about that potential ever being realised. The novel starts well enough, but rather than becoming increasingly engrossing, it wasn't long before I was finding it to be corny, trite and unconvincing. This was disappointing enough, but far worse was yet to come!

Shortly after the midway point there is a plot development (yes, let's be kind and call it a "plot development") that is simply loop-the-loop bonkers! You won't be able to miss it when you get there, because it has the same amount of believability as that scene in Dallas where Bobby Ewing, who was killed off a year earlier, emerges from the shower, only to realise that the past twelve months have been nothing but a dream and that he wasn't dead after all. Yes, this "plot development" really is that good!!

There are elements of this book that had potential. The novel is akin to a patchwork of ideas - each of which may have some merit in their own right - but they have been sewn together in such a contrived fashion that the end product lacks any credibility. Make sure you have plenty of salt to hand before you read this, because you are going to need far more than just a pinch!

As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.

The Perfect Murder is a fast paced read that will have you turning pages as fast as you can.

Be warned this book is hard to put down as you scramble to figure out what is happening as the book is a story within a story.

This works perfectly.

Savi is a best selling author but wants to write a thriller so she uses her neighbours jacob and Quinn in the mysterious mansion to base her story on.

Suddenly the story is coming to life and Savi is a suspect in a brutal murder.

Amanda McKinney has cleverly and plotted the twists and turns and had me fooled right up to the end.

The Perfect Murder is the perfect escape to get lost in. Don't miss out, grab your copy and clear your schedule.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Perfect Murder.

The Perfect Murder is a taut, twist-filled thriller that demands to be savoured. Amanda McKinney crafts a chilling and clever narrative that lingers long after each chapter, making it impossible not to return for “just one more.”

Savi Portman is a fascinating protagonist—an author whose fictional murder begins to mirror reality in terrifying detail. As the lines between her imagination and the unfolding crime blur, McKinney expertly builds tension, layering suspicion and doubt with every turn. The pacing is deliberate and immersive, allowing the reader to absorb the psychological complexity of Savi’s unravelling world.

The writing is sharp and atmospheric, with a cinematic quality that heightens the suspense. McKinney doesn’t rely on shock alone—her twists are earned, her characters nuanced, and her storytelling deeply satisfying. The final reveal is both unexpected and brilliantly executed, tying together threads that seemed innocuous at first glance.

This is a thriller that rewards patience and attention. It’s not just about the adrenaline—it’s about the slow, creeping dread and the thrill of piecing together the puzzle. Fans of Alice Feeney and Freida McFadden will find much to love, but McKinney’s voice is distinct and confident.

A standout psychological thriller that proves the most dangerous stories are the ones we tell ourselves.

With thanks to Amanda McKinney, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a mind bending thriller!!!!!! Loved it !!!! Read a good one after a long time.
Short chapters ✅
Fast paced✅
Plot twist 🤯

Amazing !!!!

I am sure this one will become #1 bestseller

Savi's debut cozy mystery novel has become an overnight success. She is a number one bestseller and has thousands of adoring fans. Savi's in the process of writing her next novel, opting for a thriller instead of a cozy mystery. However, things take a strange turn when the events from her manuscript start playing out in real life, including a murder. The evidence is building against Savi. But she knows she was home the evening of the murder. Now, she needs to prove that she is innocent, despite the overwhelming evidence.

Amanda McKinney has become one of my favourite thriller authors. The Perfect Murder did not disappoint! Talk about some crazy and wild twists! I definitely did not anticipate that the novel was going to head in the direction that it did, but I absolutely loved it! The pacing is excellent, the level of suspense is high, and the twists are clever.

I really liked the main character, Savi, and her bestie, Katie. Both characters are super relatable and real, documenting the struggles of anxiety. McKinney always does an excellent job at creating realistic characters and providing excellent character development.

I would say this one is a little more OTT than McKinney's other novels and you have to suspend your beliefs quite a bit. But it is still an excellent thriller and one that you will be racing to finish.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here we have a cozy mystery Savi Portman who thinks she is writing a novel about Jacob and Quinn Lockhart. These are Savi’s rich neighbors in their town of Bear’s Creek. Yet as time goes on Savi is trying to figure out what is going on with Quinn Lockhart. With the help of her best friend Katie Savi tries to keep her life as normal as possible or can she. While she wonders about Quinn Savi’s life as she knows it starts to unravel. People are putting her at the scene of a terrible crime. They insist she has been to places she doesn’t remember being in. How does Quinn Lockhart fit into this? She is really unraveling until Jacob Lockhart tells her the truth. Is Savi really losing it?

This book was so well written that every time I thought I knew what will happen it took a total left turn. What a ride you are taken on. The subject of mental was written with affection. Savi was a total train wreck but once everything came out she accepted her fate with the help of her loved ones.
A true murder mystery with my favorite TWIST AND TURNS. The author managed them beautifully. Loved everything about this book!,

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. I look forward to read more from Amanda McKinney.

Savanna Portman's debut cosy mystery novel has catapulted her to fame through a coveted spot on the bestseller lists, and straight into the national limelight. It's the kind of success that authors dream of, and surely everything that a writer could ever want. Or is it?

Because for Savanna, all this is opening up a dark chamber in her brain where past traumas lurk. How can the psychological thriller that she suddenly feels compelled to write apparently be predicting events that include murder?
And what is Savanna's role in these events?

Amanda McKinney has come up with a stunning concept which keeps the reader gripped from start to finish, and delivers some very original story telling in the crowded field of psychological thrillers. Well worth a read!

Thanks to Netgalley for granting me this ARC, I leave this review voluntarily.

★★★★☆ (4.5)

“The Perfect Murder” is the perfect page turner.

This novel had me in a chokehold. For the first half I was constantly coming up with theories and my brain tried to unravel and understand how all of this connected. The reveal, and all the puzzle pieces falling into place was just brilliant.

I loved how this story had a constant pace that made it hard to put down. (I really felt the “Just one more chapter” hard.)
It’s an incredibly layered psychological thriller, that touches on complex emotions and trauma, written with such care that you can’t help but “feel” it.

This wasn’t my first Amanda McKinney novel (but it might be my favourite) and certainly won’t be my last. Make sure to add this one to your TBR!

A novel within a novel. Or at least a novel about a writer telling the story of her novel which seems to becoming reality. This had me hooked from the start. Several characters to keep track of with intertwining stories and then there are the twists. It will keep you on your mental toes. A great read.

An exciting twisty and turny multi-layered psychological thriller

This is definitely a stay up too late, cannot put it down, it should get more than 5 stars kind of book. I was equally desperate to read it all at once and also to savor it and make it last. It is ultimately a story of uncovering the truth but the author does such a fantastic job of creating multi-layered characters and storylines that that’s an extreme oversimplification of what this is and what it felt like for the reader. Savi is a novelist whose debut cozy mystery novel hit the NYT best seller list. She’s supposed to write a sequel but is instead compelled to write a thriller. Jacob is the detective in small town Bear’s Creek. He lives in a mansion on the hill and no one has ever seen his wife, Quinn. When a local man is murdered, portions of Savi’s thriller appear to be coming true. But what’s reality and what’s fiction. The slow ratcheting up of the tension that accompanies the gradual reveal of information as Savi uncovers and discovers what’s going on is delicious perfection. I did not even notice how tense I was getting until I started to yell at Savi to be careful while trying to guess what’s going on. The story includes what you’d expect from this genre - dangerous situations, heroes rising to the challenge, painful pasts, coincidences, synchronicity, real life issues, nail biting moments, and all the plot twists. The dual chapters from Savi and Jacob’s POVs plus the book chapters were an excellent way to move the story along.

Savi Portman is feeling stressed by her new-found fame after her debut cozy mystery hit number one on the bestseller list. Fortunately, she has the support of her husband, Eric, and her good friend, Katy. When a body is discovered in the woods close by, witnesses put Savi in the area, but she swears she was at home all night. But Savi is confused and frightened because many aspects of the crime mirror a novel that she has begun writing. How could she have known in advance about this murder?

This is one of those read-in-a-day books because it's impossible to put down. The suspense builds on every page, while the reader tries to figure out if Savi and those around her are who they say they are and if things happened the way Savi remembers or not. The twist at the end was totally unexpected but completely, and mind-blowingly, satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fantastic well plotted and perfectly paced book that explores the story of Savi, a successful first time author who finds herself drawn into writing a second book completely different from her first - dark and sinister. Her characters are based on a local police detective, who, despite inherited wealth, continues to serve his community. He has a wife called Quinn, whom Savi has never seen. Things take a strange turn when a local homeless man is found murdered and the circumstances resemble the work of ‘fiction’ Savi is writing. Paranoia sets in….. is she predicting events or causing them? Absolutely brilliant read from this great author. I devoured it on one sitting. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a great read. From the very beginning it had me hooked, and kept me guessing on what was happening with the murder. My favorite thing about this book is despite all of the hardships and things that happens with the main character Savi, the story ended in a positive and heartwarming way. Nice to read a thriller mystery with a feel good ending. Would recommend.

✍🏻 The story follows Savi Portman whose debut cosy mystery has just claimed the no. 1 spot on the bestseller list. But behind closed doors she has a secret. She has been pouring her passion into a second manuscript, a dark unsettling thriller. No one knows about it or so she thinks. Until a real murder is committed executed exactly as it happens in her unfinished thriller. Even worse there are witnesses and surveillance footage that show Savi at the crime scene. But she swears she was at home.

✍🏻 Pick this up if you like/ don’t mind:
📌 psychological thriller
📌 fast paced plot
📌 dual POVs
📌 chapters from the fiction novel within the novel
📌 gripping plot that keep you guessing right up to the end
📌 complex characters
📌 UNPUTDOWNABLE/ ADDICTIVE
📌 unpredictable twists and turns
📌 a story where nothing is certain and every character harbours a secret

✍🏻 I picked up this book on a whim one evening and oh my goodness I was instantly hooked. Within a few chapters my home chores were forgotten, dinner plans weee delayed and yes I even let my kids have extra screen time just so I could sneak in a few more chapters. No regrets. This was one addictive, unputdownable and utterly binge worthy read. I felt like I’d been teleported straight into the pages living every heartbeat alongside Savi feeling her anxiety, her fear and the suffocating uncertainty of her situation.
I devoured the entire book in one sitting. The main plot twist turned out so unpredictable that every theory I had went up in smoke. Never in a million years would I have guessed it. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers. But if you live psychological thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, this one is a must read. Highly recommended! Thanks NetGalley and author for the ARC.