They Were the "Perfect Couple" ...

Even though I always know that the title doesn't tell the whole story, and is it's own kind of unreliable narrator, I love these books, about unpeeling the layers of a couple that seems like perfection, but really, really isn't. This one delivered.

Excellent. If the goal of a mystery-suspense novel is to keep you guessing almost till the bitter end, this one definitely delivered. While many readers, myself included might be tempted to say they "saw it coming", I think it's fair to say, the guessing who didn't mean you had any idea why. And that's what makes a psychological suspense great as opposed to simply 'good'--you need to maintain curiosity until the very last page.

I think this writing duo has managed to figure out the secret sauce to successful writing collaborations, because I've liked everything they've done together. The two separate POVs by two very different female protagonists is a genius way to deal with the issue of two distinct voices. It worked exceptionally well here.

So, the set up is this: an outwardly perfect couple-Matthew and Marissa Bishop-present themselves in the office of a maverick marriage counselor, because one of them has had an affair. The counselor has a daring promise to her clients--10 sessions and she will fix whatever ails you. The Bishops however, have problems a lot more multi-layered and complex than they appear to, as does Avery Chambers, the counselor, and the key to the Bishops' problem just might also unlock a solution for Avery as well.

This is one to read when you're in the mood for something fast-paced and twisty without being ridiculous. I listened to the advance audiobook from NetGalley, and liked the narrators a lot. The voice for Avery was perfect, conveying in tone and tenor that she is a no-nonsense, independent and capable woman. Marissa's voice actress was good as well, but her voice had a somewhat brittle quality that grated at times. Still, there was something fragile about the character, so perhaps brittle was called for.

Recommended if you like psychological and domestic suspense, and women's fiction. This had strong elements of those genres, well-blended.