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The Perfect Child

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The Perfect Child

Written by: Lucinda Berry
Narrated by: Christine Williams, Erin Bennett, Dan John Miller
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Buy Now for $32.00

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About this listen

A Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller.

A page-turning debut of suspense about a young couple desperate to have a child of their own—and the unsettling consequences of getting what they always wanted.

Christopher and Hannah are a happily married surgeon and nurse with picture-perfect lives. All that’s missing is a child. When Janie, an abandoned six-year-old, turns up at their hospital, Christopher forms an instant connection with her, and he convinces Hannah they should take her home as their own.

But Janie is no ordinary child, and her damaged psyche proves to be more than her new parents were expecting. Janie is fiercely devoted to Christopher, but she acts out in increasingly disturbing ways, directing all her rage at Hannah. Unable to bond with Janie, Hannah is drowning under the pressure, and Christopher refuses to see Janie’s true nature.

Hannah knows that Janie is manipulating Christopher and isolating him from her, despite Hannah’s attempts to bring them all together. But as Janie’s behavior threatens to tear Christopher and Hannah apart, the truth behind Janie’s past may be enough to push them all over the edge.

©2019 Heather Berry. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Crime Fiction Domestic Thrillers Fiction Police Procedural Psychological Thriller Thriller & Suspense Crime Mystery Suspense Family Drama

What the critics say

"A mesmerizing, unbearably tense thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder and sleeping with one eye open. This creepy, serpentine tale explores the darkest corners of parenthood and the profoundly unsettling lengths one will go to to keep a family together—no matter the consequences. Electrifying and atmospheric, this dark gem of a novel is one I couldn’t put down.”—Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author

“A deep, dark, and dangerously addictive read. All-absorbing to the very end!”—Minka Kent, Washington Post bestselling author

All stars
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the story was interesting but the ending makes no sense. I don't think I recommend.

is there a part 2!

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I thoroughly compelling story. I like the way it was told by three different people.

Riveting!

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Had potential but just ran on and on. hard to get through. I wouldn't recommend.

Blah.

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The ending is abrupt. I was more shocked that it seemed to end mid sentence than anything else. ?

Is there a second book?

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I was expecting more. The story was fine, I stayed entertain. I thought the ending would leave me shook, but not really. If there is a second book, I won’t be reading it. Sorry!

Meh…

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Loved this book! Kept me second guessing things the whole time…however the ending seemed quite abrupt, left so many unanswered questions!

Great Story! Ending left a little to be desired

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This was a hard one for me not to skip through. Everything seemed familiar as I've seen this kind of story line time and time again. It wasn't bad by any means but it wasn't unique. I was also mad at the main characters like 90% of the time for being so daft.

I was perpetually angry the whole time..

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loved it! I've never had so much anxiety in a good way. I couldn't stop listening. but I do wish the ending was answered a little bit more

edge of your seat

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The performances were great. The characters were equally relatable at first yet infuriatingly naive and ignorant by the end. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing as people can just suck sometimes. The biggest issue I had was the climax didn’t feel very climactic. I expected the heat to turn up a lot more than it did. Then it just sort of ended in a pit of despair. But the characters were also left in the same pit so maybe it’s a great ending?

A fantastic listen but missed opportunity

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The plot and setting of this book is nice and sets things up for an interesting story. The mother’s experience is very well written; you can really feel her emotions and pains. My issue is with the father. He may be the most unrealistic character in any work of fiction I have ever seen. Much of the book’s development centres around his inability to understand a basic situation. I’m not sure if this was intended or not, but his response to everything was maddening. The ending is also pretty lacklustre as nothing is officially tied up, and there feels like there could be more to the story.

Slow start, keeps you hooked, but characters will drive you mad

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