Three women from Magnolia Close confess to the murder of a neighbour.

This is an addictive thriller. I really didn't want to put it down. I got myself immersed in the lives of these characters wondering why they would take the risk of ruining their perfect lives. Lives that are perfect on the surface - there is a lot going on behind closed doors.

Told from several POV's, and different timelines, the plot is twisty and gripping.

At the end, all the ends are nicely tied up, but I couldn't help being disappointed by the ending. I was floored at the reveal of who killed Jonny. I would never have guessed.

Lauren North is an expert at keeping her readers on the edge of their seat.

I got an ARC from NetGalley and was initially very invested in the book. After 30%, I DNF. I found the story to be very slow burn and too repetitive.

Perfect Wives
By: Lauren North
Love the cover of this book. The caption “Three identical confessions. Three perfect liars”, drew me in right away. I had a nice rainy day with a storm brewing as I flew the pages.
Why would three women confess to the same murder? They each have their reason. Do they go in willing? Have they covered their tracks? They each have something to lose. What is their motive? Obviously, they are FAR from PERFECT!!
Get ready for one roller-coaster of a ride.

Wow! Three identical murder confessions. Three perfect liars…What a sensational book this is, with a plot that unrolls like clockwork, and simmering tension that never lets up. Betrayal, double-crossing and the most delicious sting in the tail... I couldn't put it down.

I was initially attracted by the book’s cover, having never read any of Lauren North’s book before I thought I’d give it a try, and I’m so pleased I did. This is a cracker of a story and one you won’t be able to put down. This book reminded me of the TV series Desperate Housewives, set in a beautiful gated community, the story is told from the viewpoints of the three main characters “The Wives”and I loved the way it seamlessly flowed between them. Full of buried secrets, twists, cryptic clues and a murder, I was hooked to the end and I wasn’t expecting the final reveal ! If you want to be gripped by an enjoyable read this one’s for you.

I didn’t know what to expect, but honestly I really enjoyed the twists and unexpected changes that came in this!

Highly recommend!

Another perfectly executed thriller by Lauren North which explores a community rocked by a murder and the lives and lies between three of the women who live there. It’s so hard to write a great review without spoilers as this book is so clever with its twists and reveals that I was hooked the whole way through. It becomes clear that in the perfect Magnolia Close everyone has a secret and something to hide. It has all the features in a fast paced thriller I like- short chapters, multiple POVs and time jumps that reveal information as you go along rather than being unnecessary information.

Shut the front door!! Must read for me author, Lauren North has once again wowed me with Perfect Wives, a head spinning psychological domestic suspense novel. Like all her previous books, this was not lacking action, lies, deceit, or secrets.

Three neighborhood friends.
Three explosive secrets.
Three killer motives.
One well planned murder.
Georgie, Beth, and Tasha are neighbors and best friends. Jonny, another neighbor, is a threat to all three and the lives and images they worked so hard to procure. When he is found murdered, all three realize any one of them could be guilty. But which one? Or is it someone else altogether with a strong motive?

This fast-paced twisty thriller had me frantically flipping the pages well into the night. I absolutely could not stop reading. The three friends are the main characters, and the story is told through their perspectives. They are strong female leads and very relatable. The ending was a gasp out loud, what did I just read moment. This is a must-read for thrill lovers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

Who would want to live in Magnolia Close? Not me!
Perfect woman living all living there best life's well that's what they want people to see.
The only apparent fly in the ointment is Johnny.
Brilliant storyline and i believed in each and every character.
Really did not see that twist coming at the very end.....such clever writing.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

The story has strong female protagonists; we learn that they all have secrets they are keeping from their husbands and each other. Jonny is well written as the sleazy, unlikeable neighbor. The ending twist is huge - I literally did not see it coming at all. An excellent read that is recommended and will no doubt become another bestseller for Lauren.

Perfect Wives by Lauren North
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow—Lauren North has done it again! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of her latest novel Perfect Wives(publishing 22nd October), and I was hooked from the very first page. Three women walk into a police station and confess to the same crime—but can any of them be trusted? And why would they all confess?

I absolutely did not see the final twist coming. I suspected that not everything was as it seemed, but I never could have predicted how it would all unfold. The story is set on a picture-perfect street in a charming English town, yet beneath the polished exterior lurks something much darker. It’s a sharp reminder that no matter how perfect someone’s life looks on the outside, you never really know what’s happening behind closed doors.

With its gripping pace, clever twists, and compelling cast of characters, Perfect Wives is a brilliant thriller from one of my favourite authors. Be sure to grab a copy when it’s released later this year!

Review of ‘Perfect Wives’ by Lauren North due to be published on 22 October 2025 by Bookouture.

Georgie, Tasha and Beth - three wives and mothers living on Magnolia Close - all of them hate their neighbour Jonny, all of them want him gone.

When Jonny’s body is found by his cleaner, the wives find themselves under suspicion, all have motive, but all have a rock solid alibi, that is until they all confess to the murder.

The story has strong female protagonists, we learn that they all have secrets they are keeping from their husbands and each other. Jonny is well written as the sleazy, unlikeable neighbour. The ending twist is huge - I literally did not see it coming at all. An excellent read that is recommended and will no doubt become another bestseller for Lauren.

Each woman has a reason for wanting Johnny dead? Why would all 3 confess? This book reminds me of the Stepford Wives. It is slow at first but there are twists and turns along the way.