He jumped to his death in front of witnesses. Now his wife is charged with murder.
Five years ago, Erin Kennedy moved to New York following a family tragedy. She now lives happily with her detective husband in the scenic seaside town of Newport, Long Island. When Erin answers the door to Danny's police colleagues one morning, it's the start of an ordinary day. But behind her, Danny walks to the window of their fourth-floor apartment and jumps to his death.
Eighteen months later, Erin is in court, charged with her husband's murder. Over that year and a half, Erin has learned things about Danny she could never have imagined. She thought he was perfect. She thought their life was perfect.
But it was all built on the perfect lie.
What did I think?
Jo Spain, you clever little minx! Just look at that strapline on the book cover: 'He jumped to his death in front of witnesses. Now his wife is charged with murder.' What a wonderful conundrum for the reader to solve and I was completely blindsided by not only the blistering plot but by the breathtaking writing.
I was devastated for Erin when her husband commits suicide right in front of her. Even though I'd read this on the cover and in the synopsis, I still released an involuntary gasp of shock when Danny jumped. Erin's family is home in Ireland, Danny's mum is in Florida and his brother is serving in the army so Erin is completely alone when this first happens and my heart totally went out to her. Something just isn't right about the circumstances around Danny's death though. Why did the police turn up at her door that day and what are they hiding?
As the story unravels, and both Danny and Erin's pasts are revealed, it makes you wonder whether Erin really knew her husband at all. So when the story suddenly changes direction and Erin is facing charges of murdering her husband, it seems both implausible and plausible at the same time. Was it suicide or was it murder?
Oh my word, I want to say so much more about this book but I can't for fear of inadvertently releasing a spoiler. It is simply brilliant. I'm surprised I don't have blisters on my fingers from turning the pages so quickly, reading it cover to cover within 24 hours. You'd think I had been starved of books the way I greedily devoured every single word. I would say it would make the perfect holiday read but you'd probably read it in one go on your first day so be warned, it's not going to last long once you pick it up!
Completely unputdownable, blisteringly fast-paced and with a plot sharper than a razor blade, The Perfect Lie is a real page-turner. An absolutely stunning novel from Jo Spain, whose back catalogue I am now adding to my wishlist. Gripping, addictive and thrilling, I can't recommend it highly enough.
Many thanks to Quercus for sending me an ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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