The Perfect Murder is the perfect book. Amanda keeps you guessing from start to finish. Just when you think you have it figured out, she throws you for a loop. This book will hold your interest from page one. The main character, Savi, can have your emotions up and down. I loved the book within a book concept. I highly recommend reading this book.
Thank to the author and publisher for opportunity to read ARC

Review of ‘The Perfect Murder’ by Amanda McKinney, due to be published on 18 September 2025 by Storm Publishing.

Savannah Portman, Savi for short, is caught in a whirlwind of interviews and tours having had her debut cosy crime book rocket to number 1 in the bestseller charts.

Instead of writing her next mystery, she’s instead writing a thriller. Strange things start to happen when extracts she has written start to come true, colliding real life with fiction. With headaches increasing, and Savi feeling like she’s losing her mind, will anyone get to the truth of what is happening.

A dark psychological thriller, great character development and a mid point direction that is a huge twist, it packs an emotional punch and is a recommended read.

The Perfect Murder is a fast-paced psychological thriller packed with twists and turns. Savi, a cozy mystery writer on the rise, is working on a side project that unexpectedly shifts into a dark, thrilling tale. To her shock, events from her story begin happening in real life and the evidence starts pointing toward her. Is Savi guilty, or is there something else at play?

As the layers peel back, the tension builds with multiple reveals that keep you guessing until the end. I enjoyed the blend of writer-as-protagonist intrigue and suspense, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish. An entertaining, twisty read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the ARC. #theperfectmurder #netgalley

A fast-paced and intricately plotted psychological thriller. It reminded me a bit of Paula Hawkins' classic 'The Girl on the Train' in the way that the characters were believably flawed. The story is nicely set up - one of the main characters Savi is writing a mystery novel inspired by her wealthy neighbours, and then it starts to have echoes in real life. I liked the touches of humour in the book which made it a more entertaining read (e.g. "I get the impression that to Viv, age is nothing but a number. A very negotiable number").

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Savi is living the dream. Her debut book shot to the top of the charts. Everyone wants an interview, and of course to know when they will see the next book. As a writer, she values her privacy, and all these events are making her anxiety worse. She should be working on that follow up book in her cozy mystery series. But a thriller is calling her name. As her publisher pushes for the outline of her next book, her anxiety continues to creep up. Oh, and her secret thriller is mirroring real life. Savi has no idea what is going on, but she needs to find out soon before she is arrested for murder.
This one had me trying to put the pieces together and figure out what was going on from the first chapter. I was constantly trying to decide if she was guilty or just being set up. When everything was revealed, I slapped my head and said, of course! How did I miss it. Spoilers lurk everywhere so I will just say that this was a page flipper, and a beach read for me. Oh, one more thing, that ending😮

Savi Portman has hit the jackpot with her debut novel. A cosy (really hate that description!) crime book, that has sent sales into the stratosphere. Her agent Viv is pushing more and more signings, interviews and readings onto Savi, so much so that she feels her life is spiralling out of control. When she does get time to write, the follow up cosy (eeeek!) crime story she is contracted to keeps being overshadowed by a dark psychological murder book that Savi just can’t stop writing. When events in her book and in her life start to overlap, Savi realises that things are not all as they should be.

My first book from this author and I enjoyed it. A somewhat light read, but kept my interest. The plot line was original, different and well thought out, but needed tighter control and a bit less repetition. All good until the ending which was a bit ‘twee’, but at least most strands came nicely together.

For me a good solid 3* read, would definitely read this author again.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Savi Portman is riding high. She is now a #1 best selling author thanks to her debut Cozy mystery. Then the unthinkable happens. A murder is committed and the circumstances surrounding it are straight from a work she has not yet published.
There is strong evidence that she committed the murder when a witness says he saw her near the scene the night of the murder which surveillance cameras confirm.
Savi was home asleep at the time the murders occurred and now she is being caught up in trying to prove that she could not have committed the yet unpublished perfect crime she had written.

The Perfect Murder by Amanda McKinney, published by Storm Publishing, is a full length, stand alone crime thriller.
A fast paced, complex story that had me in suspense from start til the last page.
Savi is a writer, a bestselling author when her debut roman comes true.
She becomes the suspect in a murder and is lead on a wild goose race against time.
A great read. 4,5 stars.

This was a clever thriller, with a unique plot line.
Savi, the central character, is a cosy mystery writer. When she finds herself writing a darker, twistier thriller, she’s a little bemused. When the plot line starts being mirrored by real life, it understandably messes with her head. As the story evolves, her mental health issues become clearer. The twists in this book have the reader guessing right from the start, though I will admit to finding myself a little confused occasionally as different chapters are told from the perspective of different characters.
This was a deftly handled book, with plenty of reveals to keep the reader guessing.

Savi has just made it big in the literature world with her first cosy comfort novel. With her agent on her back to get the second in series written but Savi is obsessed with the police officer & his wife who lives in the large Mansion and has started writing a dark novel about what she thinks goes on there.
It’s definitely well written and unfortunately for me there is a but. It totally didn’t go where I thought it would.
Thank you for an advanced copy for an honest review

All I can say is Wow! This story will amaze any reader, regardless of their preferred genre.
Savi is an author, accused of a brutal crime, but did she really do it? Evidence seems to prove her guilty, but it's very possible Savi is innocent.
I could not stop reading this book, I laughed, cried, and felt all the emotions in this book.
It really deserves 10 stars.

Firstly, wow, just wow!
I read this in a day and a half and was gripped from page 1. This was the first book I had read written by Amanda and it definitely will not be my last.

As I turned each page reading from different characters points of view, I became more and more intrigued as the story unfolded into a massive twist I did not see coming! The smaller twists that also followed had me stunned.

It's very rare a thriller book makes me tearful and yet this story had me reaching for a tissue twice, Thank you Amanda for pouring your heart into this story.

I loved the characters development as each chapter progressed and my only negative point is that the story ended!

Deffo a 5 star book for me. Thank you netgalley, publisher and Amanda for letting me read this advanced copy.

Savannah Portman, successful author of a cosy mystery series is undertaking book tours and promotional work. This is very draining for her, so as a release she starts writing her next book, but this one is darker than normal and takes her on a completely different tangent. And when real life events mimic her storyline she suspects someone has access to her laptop.
This novel took me by surprise, I was completely blindsided by the turn of events, I read back some chapters to see if I'd missed anything. It's very cleverly written and takes you on a journey with plot twists. If you love a book that has you questioning everything, then you'll love this one
I have left this review on Goodreads, Bookmory and Storygraph and I will leave my review on Amazon and Waterstones on publication day

Savi is a successful writer of cozy mysteries. She is now writing a new novel inspired by her millionaire and mysterious neighbours.
When a body is found murdered in the same way as in her novel and she is the prime suspect, Savi begins to doubt everything and everyone.
A novel narrated from several points of view, including that of Savi's novel.
With interesting and well-portrayed characters, we gradually delve into the protagonist's life and sense that something is amiss until we reach the first plot twist, at which point you are completely hooked.
A satisfying psychological thriller that will keep you intrigued and suspicious until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for letting me read this in return for feedback.
Savanna Portman is a up and coming author of cozy mysteries. However, when she starts writing her next manuscript, strange coincidences mimicking her recent writing start happening.

This book was very clever. The plot was very unique and kept me engaged and wanting more. I really enjoyed the characters and I liked that it was a fairly fast read. I did feel that the book started a little slow, and the ending felt anticlimactic. A lot of the plot was somewhat predictable, but other parts of it surprised me which I liked. Overall it was a good read.

Twisty, Fast-Paced, and Impossible to Put Down

The Perfect Murder by Amanda McKinney is a masterclass in psychological suspense. From the very first page, I was pulled into a dark, addictive story full of secrets, shocking twists, and emotionally complex characters. The short, punchy chapters kept me turning pages late into the night, and just when I thought I had things figured out the rug was pulled out from under me.
McKinney does an excellent job weaving multiple timelines and perspectives, keeping the tension tight and the pacing breathless. The characters felt raw and real, especially the leads, who are haunted by their past.
If you enjoy thrillers where nothing is as it seems and every character has something to hide, this one’s for you. Gripping, unpredictable, and utterly satisfying. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 stars – A twisty, meta murder mystery for thriller addicts and fiction lovers alike

You know what's more terrifying than your worst nightmare? Writing a fictional murder... and then watching it come to life. Welcome to The Perfect Murder, where fiction bleeds into reality and the line between author and suspect gets blurrier than your vision after a 4-hour true crime binge.

Savi Portman is living every writer's dream: bestselling debut, publishing world at her feet, and a shiny career ahead. But before she can bask in her cozy mystery glory, things go from plot twist to full-on nightmare. Because someone out there is recreating the murder from her book—and all the bloody breadcrumbs lead straight back to her.

Yikes.

What follows is a sharply written, fast-paced psychological thriller that plays with the “story within a story” angle in a wickedly clever way. McKinney knows how to ratchet up the tension—this isn’t your average whodunnit. This is a "did she do it?"… and you're not quite sure until the very end. Which, yes, includes a jaw-dropping twist that had me blinking like wait, what now?!

Savi is a relatable mess: smart, anxious, kind of a hermit, and understandably unhinged as her fictional world starts crashing into her real one. I was rooting for her while also wondering, “Okay but what if she actually did it??” Trust no one, not even the protagonist.

My only minor gripe? Some parts tread a little too close to familiar thriller tropes—but McKinney manages to keep things fresh enough with her layered plot and a wicked sense of pacing.


Final verdict: This one’s for the thriller lovers who like their suspense clever, their heroines messy, and their twists fully unhinged. The Perfect Murder is dark, meta, and compulsively readable—with a side of “what the hell just happened?” 4 stars of sharp, satisfying chaos.


thank you Netgalley, Storm Publishing and the author for my eArc. all opinions are my own.

What an interesting and different from the norm read!
Savi has just been propelled to stardom as a best selling author of cozy mystery books.
As her new book’s sinister plot begins to mirror real-life events, her world spirals into chaos.
The dual perspectives of Savi and police officer Jacob brilliantly escalate the tension, creating an original plot that's impossible to put down.
This fast-paced thriller is packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
The characters' despair and the constant suspense make for a gripping read with an ending that is tied up as neatly as a pair of baby bootees in a gift box.

Amanda McKinney delivers a twisty, fast-paced thriller where fiction turns dangerously real. Savi Portman, a debut author becomes the prime suspect in a murder that mirrors the plot of her unfinished novel

What made this book stand out for me is that it’s one of the few I’ve read lately where I didn’t see the ending coming. I had so many theories running through my head, but never guessed how it would all unfold and I loved that. The plot is funny, sad, intriguing, and full of suspense all at once, and the characters are so well written that I was completely hooked from start to finish.

An addictive and unputdownable read, this one had me turning pages late into the night. If you’re after a thriller with sharp writing, clever twists, and an original premise, this is a must-read.

This is a stunning book that will keep you guessing from
the first chapter to almost the very last world. I loved it!
The Author is a true genius in her genre.
I cannot wait for the book events closer to release date.
My thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for the
download copy of the book for review purposes.