The Perfect Psychopath by Alice Hunter

 

Description from Goodreads:

"THE PERFECT PSYCHOPATH HIDES IN PLAIN SIGHT…

Dr. Eleanor Spencer is a respected forensic psychologist with a seemingly perfect life. But when a series of women start to vanish, she’s haunted by the memory of her sister’s disappearance and she finds herself drawn into the chilling investigation.​

​As the body count rises and her paranoia deepens, Ellie is forced to delve into the mind of a monster to uncover the truth. Her work leads her to Lucas Hayne, a notorious serial killer now behind bars. But when Lucas cryptically hints that the key to the killer’s identity lies buried in her past, Ellie’s world begins to unravel. ​

Because now she faces a terrifying the real monster might just be closer than she ever imagined.​

And with time running out, the price of uncovering the truth may be her own life…"

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I enjoy reading Alice Hunter's books; she clearly knows her stuff when it comes to the inner workings of the mind and this book shows it really well.

I'm not going to go into the plot as the description summarises it perfectly but I will say that it is intriguing and kept me guessing how it was all going to play out.  The pace is steady, with the middle being a little slow but ramping up towards the end.  The characters are well developed and an eclectic bunch from Ellie herself to the serial killer she is interviewing.

It has some great twists and it definitely kept me reading towards the end.  I can quite happily recommend this to lovers of psychological thrillers and many thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for this intriguing book.

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Bad Apple by Alice Hunter

Description from Goodreads:

"How can you live with yourself when you find out the man you love is rotten to the core?

Trusted officer. Family man. Monster. 

Becky's life has been shattered. 

When she discovered her husband, John – a policeman she once trusted – was a monster, she reported him. But it didn't lead to any charges. 

Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her daughter – while Becky battles guilt for missing the obvious signs. 

Determined for justice, Becky confronts John. But he targets her. He wants her silenced – and at any cost. 

And now, survival is the only option because he’s not the only bad apple lurking in the shadows…"

 

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I have read a few of Alice Hunter's previous books and have enjoyed them but this one not as much unfortunately.

I found Bad Apple to be very slow in pace and whilst the plot was intriguing, I found it a little predictable and, I'm sad to say, boring.  The characters were interesting but the thoughts of the main character (Becky) were repetitive so I found myself skimming some sections which is never good.  There were tense moments but it wasn't enough for me to feel much enthusiasm to pick it back up after a short break.

Whilst this one didn't hit the spot for me, it has done for others so please read more reviews and it certainly won't put me off reading more of Alice's work in the future and I must thank the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Bad Apple.

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Other books by Alice Hunter I have read/listened to and reviewed:

The Serial Killer's Wife

The Serial Killer's Daughter [Audiobook]

The Serial Killer's Sister

The Serial Killer's Sister (The Serial Killer's Family #3) by Alice Hunter

Description from Goodreads:

"She thought she’d left her past behind.

She was wrong…

Despite a childhood in the care system, Anna Price has beaten the odds and built for herself the perfect life, complete with beautiful seaside home, devoted husband and a job she loves.

Then a policeman appears at Anna’s door: her estranged brother Henry is a wanted serial killer. For the past three years, a woman has been murdered on two specific dates – one of which is Anna’s birthday. The second is now only four days away, and the police need Anna’s help to catch Henry before he strikes again.

Then an envelope turns up on her doorstep and suddenly Anna finds herself caught in a sick game, one that she remembers all too well from childhood – one that, this time, she must win at all costs…"

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This might be the third in the series but can definitely be read as a standalone; they are not linked and you can read them in any order.

Once again, Alice Hunter has created an intriguing story.  Anna hasn't had the best start in life but she has managed to shake that off and build a good life with her husband and all is looking good until the police turn up on her doorstep to tell her that her brother is a serial killer and she may hold the key to catching him or could she be the next victim?

Written over two timelines and mostly from Anna's perspective, the short chapters make this feel fast paced and despite there not being a lot of the usual gruesome descriptions that are the norm with serial killer books, Alice Hunter uses the growing sense of tension to put you on tenterhooks and racing to find out what's going to happen.  This is a great story with unexpected twists and just when you think you've got it, another one happens that turns the story on it's head.

I don't think I actually liked any of the main characters but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book and I would recommend to those who enjoy a  good serial killer book without a plethora of violence and gore and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Serial Killer's Sister.

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Other books by Alice Hunter I have read/listened to and reviewed:

The Serial Killer's Wife

The Serial Killer's Daughter [Audiobook]

 

The Serial Killer's Daughter by Alice Hunter [Audiobook]

 

Narrated by Heather Long and Ciaran Saward

Description from Goodreads:

"Is murder in the blood?

In a sleepy Devon village, a young girl is taken from the streets. Local vet, Jenny, is horrified. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.

But it’s not the first time she’s been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she’s spent her whole life running from who she really is.

And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago…

But she’s not her father’s daughter.

Is she?"

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As with the first in the series, The Serial Killer's Wife, this is not your usual serial killer story and although this is the second book, you don't have to have read the first ... this can be listened to/read as a standalone very easily.

Jenny is a local vet living with her husband and 2 children in a quiet village in Devon where nothing usually happens but then a young woman goes missing, Jenny is having blackouts and someone is leaving her "presents" on her doorstep.  Jenny starts to doubt her own sanity and suspects those around her but could it be related to her father, the serial killer known as The Painted Lady Killer?  Is Jenny taking after her father?

This is a great book to listen to and although it's a slow burner, it certainly kept me engaged throughout.  It's full of suspense and mystery with a great twist at the end and I particularly liked the narrators who did a great job.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to The Serial Killer's Daughter and share my thoughts.

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Connect with the author:

Twitter

Instagram

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Other books by Alice Hunter I have read and reviewed:

The Serial Killer's Wife

The Serial Killer's Wife by Alice Hunter

 

Description from Goodreads:

"They’re saying he’s a monster. And they’re saying she knew.

Beth and Tom Hardcastle are the envy of their neighbourhood – they have the perfect marriage, the perfect house, the perfect family.

When the police knock on their door one evening, Beth panics. Tom should be back from work by now – what if he’s crashed his car? She fears the worst.

But the worst is beyond imagining.

As the interrogation begins, Beth will find herself questioning everything she believed about her husband.

They’re husband and wife – till death do them part…"

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This isn't your usual 'serial killer' story; there isn't the plethora of bodies or frightening scenes of murder and mayhem but what it is is a surprisingly enthralling story that builds in tension and ends in an extremely, but strangely, satisfying way.

Alice Hunter has created a story that focusses on the wife of the suspected killer and I quickly became engrossed in her inner turmoil as to whether her husband was innocent or guilty, how she coped with the press intrusion, the fingers of suspicion pointing at her (surely she should have known or suspected something?) all whilst trying to look after her young daughter, Poppy, and run a business.

The short chapters helped the story to move quickly along and you soon find yourself passing a few hours before you know it.  The setting of a small village added to the claustrophobic feel to Beth's situation.  There are twists along the way and although I guessed most of them, I enjoyed watching how it played out and developed.

All in all, a pretty good book and an author I will look out for in the future.

Thank you must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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