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The Perfect Family
Three everyday couples, from one ordinary family ... and an astonishing murder plot.
Outwardly, The Radcliffes are a typical suburban family. But anyone close enough to them will know that it’s all for show.
Matt and Nikki’s life is perfect. They’re happily married, work great jobs, and are raising two loveable teenage sons.
Anthony and Belinda have it all—the looks, the big house by the water, and a successful business.
Vaughn and Paige couldn’t be more in love, and they can’t wait to start a family of their own.
But underneath, each couple is in crisis and there is one cause. Out of options and their backs against the wall, they discover that murder isn’t a tool reserved only for criminals.
Outwardly, The Radcliffes are a typical suburban family. But anyone close enough to them will know that it’s all for show.
Matt and Nikki’s life is perfect. They’re happily married, work great jobs, and are raising two loveable teenage sons.
Anthony and Belinda have it all—the looks, the big house by the water, and a successful business.
Vaughn and Paige couldn’t be more in love, and they can’t wait to start a family of their own.
But underneath, each couple is in crisis and there is one cause. Out of options and their backs against the wall, they discover that murder isn’t a tool reserved only for criminals.
401 pages, ebook
First published August 26, 2019
2781 people are currently reading
2112 people want to read
About the author
Jacquie Underdown
35 books204 followersJacquie Underdown is an Australian author celebrated for her gripping psychological thrillers and deeply emotive romance novels. Whether she’s exploring the darkest corners of the human mind or the tender vulnerabilities of the heart, Jacquie’s storytelling is immersive, visceral, and unforgettable.
Based in the steamy heart of Central Queensland—where the heat is relentless and the air hangs thick with humidity—Jacquie finds inspiration in the tension between extremes. Her thrillers delve into manipulation, power, and control, while her romances offer catharsis, healing, and the redemptive power of love.
Over a decade ago, Jacquie left behind her business career to pursue writing full time. Since then, she has published over a million words across novels, novellas, and short stories. Her novel Bittersweet was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year Awards.
Jacquie holds a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and brings literary precision to every book she writes—whether it’s a slow-burning psychological descent or an emotionally charged love story.
To explore the full range of her work, visit: www.jacquieunderdown.com
Based in the steamy heart of Central Queensland—where the heat is relentless and the air hangs thick with humidity—Jacquie finds inspiration in the tension between extremes. Her thrillers delve into manipulation, power, and control, while her romances offer catharsis, healing, and the redemptive power of love.
Over a decade ago, Jacquie left behind her business career to pursue writing full time. Since then, she has published over a million words across novels, novellas, and short stories. Her novel Bittersweet was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year Awards.
Jacquie holds a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and brings literary precision to every book she writes—whether it’s a slow-burning psychological descent or an emotionally charged love story.
To explore the full range of her work, visit: www.jacquieunderdown.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
December 26, 2021
WOW! The Perfect Family by Aussie author Jacquie Underdown is a BRILLIANT book with a great cover that grabbed my attention and the high intensity had me turning pages rather quickly. Family drama at its best with an incredible twist at the end that will leave you speechless. Highly recommended.
May 17, 2021
She was evil! A narcissist. Would they ever discover her manipulative ways?
Three couples; Anthony and Belinda who had struggled for eight years to have a baby. Their marriage was suffering. Matt and Nikki with two loving sons, but Nikki’s life was falling apart. Vaughn and Paige, recently together, in love and Paige and her three-year-old daughter Evie had moved in with Vaughn.
Slowly, with increasing stress and torment, each of the women realized something they had in common. But what could they do about it? Belinda and Anthony were so deeply in debt that they knew they should sell Belinda’s business. Nikki couldn’t see her way clear from the anxiety and lack of confidence she was now feeling. And Paige was terrified she would somehow lose her daughter. Why was this happening to these three families?
The Perfect Family is an exceptional novel by Aussie author Jacquie Underdown which I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn’t believe how a person who professed to love someone, could be so contradictory in their ways and I was happy – cheering in fact – at the end. Set in Queensland, Australia, in among the heat and humidity, the beauty and peaceful seclusion, The Perfect Family is one I highly recommend.
Three couples; Anthony and Belinda who had struggled for eight years to have a baby. Their marriage was suffering. Matt and Nikki with two loving sons, but Nikki’s life was falling apart. Vaughn and Paige, recently together, in love and Paige and her three-year-old daughter Evie had moved in with Vaughn.
Slowly, with increasing stress and torment, each of the women realized something they had in common. But what could they do about it? Belinda and Anthony were so deeply in debt that they knew they should sell Belinda’s business. Nikki couldn’t see her way clear from the anxiety and lack of confidence she was now feeling. And Paige was terrified she would somehow lose her daughter. Why was this happening to these three families?
The Perfect Family is an exceptional novel by Aussie author Jacquie Underdown which I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn’t believe how a person who professed to love someone, could be so contradictory in their ways and I was happy – cheering in fact – at the end. Set in Queensland, Australia, in among the heat and humidity, the beauty and peaceful seclusion, The Perfect Family is one I highly recommend.
January 31, 2021
Brothers Matt, Anthony and Vaughan with their partners and children and mother Claire should be the perfect family but somehow they're not. Matt's wife Nikki is suffering from extreme anxiety and feelings of inadequacy which is affecting their marriage and her relationship with her children. Anthony and his wife Belinda are over their heads in debt, partly from the cost of infertility treatment for the baby they long to have. Vaughan is divorced from his first wife but has found a new partner in Paige and her adorable three year old daughter Evie. Paige puzzles that the families are not closer as she wants Evie to enjoy being part of an extended family however she is happy with Vaughan until something happens to threaten her relationship with her daughter.
This was a very enjoyable read. Three struggling families with one common problem that they set out to resolve. Wicked and fun!
This was a very enjoyable read. Three struggling families with one common problem that they set out to resolve. Wicked and fun!
September 2, 2024
This family comes across as perfect widowed, Claire mother of three now grown boys, now with partners of their own Matt and Nikky, their two boys Flynn and Ryan, Anthony and Belinda and Vaughn and Paige a new relationship, but are they perfect?
Matt and Nikky work hard and it seems have it all but when Nikky starts to fall apart and question herself, she needs to get to the bottom of why and what she realises shocks her.
Anthony and Belinda have a beautiful house two businesses but what they want more is a baby, but pressure and debt is playing on their relationship.
Vaughn and Paige have just moved in together with Evie’s three year old daughter and are so much in love and very much looking towards a happy future together, but.
Claire widowed when her boys were young but is she who she makes herself out to be, is she pushing her children in ways that she should not, is she evil and narcissistic?
I have had this one on my massive TBR pile for way too long and I am so glad I finally picked it up, what a brilliant story, could one person really be this bad, you need to read this one, I could barely put it down. I do highly recommend it and I loved the ending so much.
Matt and Nikky work hard and it seems have it all but when Nikky starts to fall apart and question herself, she needs to get to the bottom of why and what she realises shocks her.
Anthony and Belinda have a beautiful house two businesses but what they want more is a baby, but pressure and debt is playing on their relationship.
Vaughn and Paige have just moved in together with Evie’s three year old daughter and are so much in love and very much looking towards a happy future together, but.
Claire widowed when her boys were young but is she who she makes herself out to be, is she pushing her children in ways that she should not, is she evil and narcissistic?
I have had this one on my massive TBR pile for way too long and I am so glad I finally picked it up, what a brilliant story, could one person really be this bad, you need to read this one, I could barely put it down. I do highly recommend it and I loved the ending so much.
April 18, 2021
I'm sorry but I'm just not buying it. The second half is so far fetched and unrealistic it's ridiculous. I was ready to rate it 4 stars but that ending... just no.
June 4, 2020
Great writing! I couldn’t put this book down once I got to the second half. Most of characters were hard to like at first, but you slowly got glimpses into why they acted the way they did.
January 30, 2021
Having known a woman who was like Claire, I am both impressed by the realistic character detail and scared of her. Very good story telling.
April 17, 2020
I'm going through a stage of devouring psychological thrillers, and for some reason, this popped up in my recommendations. Spoiler alert: This is not a psychological thriller. That said, I really enjoyed it for the multi-layered story-telling and it's exploration of the various characters in the book.
The Perfect Family is centered around three brothers, their families and the family matriarch, Claire. It's a very easy book to read with great pacing and a villain that's easy to hate. Liking the book had me questioning my morality for a bit, but I'm comforting myself saying, "It's just fiction".
Easy, entertaining read and would recommend as a fun way to make quarantine hours go by.
The Perfect Family is centered around three brothers, their families and the family matriarch, Claire. It's a very easy book to read with great pacing and a villain that's easy to hate. Liking the book had me questioning my morality for a bit, but I'm comforting myself saying, "It's just fiction".
Easy, entertaining read and would recommend as a fun way to make quarantine hours go by.
November 20, 2020
Did not see that ending coming. Very good.
April 26, 2020
Like a TV afternoon soap opera that drags on and on with nothing happening.
At 34% of this book I gave up waiting for something to make it worth continuing to suffer the endless family drivel. Reading about the motherinlaw from hell page after page was just too much. Not to mention the grammar that is also soap opera grade. This is an annoying read that after 34% provides no reason to continue reading it.
At 34% of this book I gave up waiting for something to make it worth continuing to suffer the endless family drivel. Reading about the motherinlaw from hell page after page was just too much. Not to mention the grammar that is also soap opera grade. This is an annoying read that after 34% provides no reason to continue reading it.
April 18, 2020
Great page turner
This kept me reading into the night. I would just read the first line of the next chapter, and keep on reading. Do you like your mother in law? How much can you endure and tolerate for the man you love. This is the story of three couples and how 1 person can change their lives forever. Which person is telling the truth ? What memories are true and which have been fabricated. This was a great read with many twists. It has you thinking and putting the pieces together. Loved the ending! 5 stars in my opinion!
This kept me reading into the night. I would just read the first line of the next chapter, and keep on reading. Do you like your mother in law? How much can you endure and tolerate for the man you love. This is the story of three couples and how 1 person can change their lives forever. Which person is telling the truth ? What memories are true and which have been fabricated. This was a great read with many twists. It has you thinking and putting the pieces together. Loved the ending! 5 stars in my opinion!
May 12, 2020
An intense and exciting read! Each chapter comes from the viewpoint of a different character. So you see all of the thoughts and lies that go through the mind of each person involved. I really enjoyed it and it kept me reading!
March 18, 2020
The family secrets
This book was an easy read and pin pointed many families secrets which are carried with or without even knowing. Great ending to the story.
This book was an easy read and pin pointed many families secrets which are carried with or without even knowing. Great ending to the story.
May 22, 2020
Was completely hooked! Love this book, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 15, 2021
I read this book a bit slowly to start off with as I know a woman like Claire and some of her behaviour was eerily familiar, however, towards the end I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the viewpoints of each character and finding out how Claire affected their lives.
At the end, I was expecting a bit more of the usual behaviour from Claire despite her circumstances, so that the ending didn't go as smoothly as it did. I was not entirely surprised by the ending, though, when it came to the perpetrator, so found this a fitting end.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and will be sure to read more from this author.
At the end, I was expecting a bit more of the usual behaviour from Claire despite her circumstances, so that the ending didn't go as smoothly as it did. I was not entirely surprised by the ending, though, when it came to the perpetrator, so found this a fitting end.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and will be sure to read more from this author.
May 16, 2021
This was an amazing book. Talk about nailing the personality and actions and methods of a narcissist! There are 7 main characters in this book. There's a mother named Claire, who's 65 years old. Her three sons: Matt, Anthony, and Vaughn. Then there's the women who are either married to or living with the sons: Nikki, Belinda, and Paige. All of the couples seems to outwardly have great lives. Yet, right in the beginning of the book, Nikki drives her car into a tree because she can't stand going into work that day. She is so stressed she feels like she's losing her mind. There is a "covert" narcissist in this family, who is badmouthing members of the family to each other, twisting things around, exaggerating, or even completely making things up. She gets them outraged on her behalf against other family members. The narcissist is a sadist, obviously getting off on creating conflict and tension. The thing is, because she is turning the other characters against each other, they are all suffering in their own private bubbles, instead of comparing notes. She has a very different public personality, charming and charitable. She tries to implant a false sense of identity into some of the characters, making them question reality. Finally, she goes too far. I really, really liked this book. I grew up in a family with narcissists, so I can identify! It all rang true.
November 3, 2022
What a complex fascinating story. I couldn’t put this book down. The plot slowly and methodically worked toward an end that was shocking. Excellent story.
March 28, 2020
Shows a monster-in-law and how the daughter-in-laws get even.
November 11, 2022
Life is messy and so are families behind the scenes!
This really gives mother-in-laswsa bad name… this one deserved it!
This really gives mother-in-laswsa bad name… this one deserved it!
November 8, 2022
4.5⭐️ This was an easy read that was hard to put down and wow she had the description of a narcissist spot on.
June 6, 2020
Claire was a narcissist at its worst. She had all the classic symptoms. Fortunately not every narcissist is as severe a case as Claire or there would be more murders than there are. The three daughters-in-law have had it with Claire. They're tired of her interfering in their lives and making them feel like they are inadequate in every way. Like any good narcissist, Claire works at separating the family members. She says things to make them suspicious of each other so that she will be the center of their lives. She wants them all to revolve around her like planets to a sun.
When her manipulating breaks Nikki down to where she considers suicide, it's the beginning of the end of Claire. It's through counseling that Nikki is enlightened to the ways of the narcissist and how to set up barriers. Nikki and Matt have suffered the longest from Claire's interference because they're the oldest. Matt, like many victims of narcissists, had even glossed over the abuse his mother had inflicted on him. Nikki's moment of enlightenment helped Matt to see the truth, as well.
Belinda and Anthony both have secrets that Claire has gained knowledge of. This is just how Claire gains power over people. She now has the power to totally destroy their relationship just at a time when it looks like things are falling into place for them.
Poor Vaughn has had every relationship destroyed by his mother. When he finds Paige, he is at a place where he'd even like to start a family. Claire can't stand to have him happy with another woman. Her lies about Paige were too extreme. There was no longer any doubt that she was a liar. However, like the sick woman she was, she keeps pushing the lie. If a lie is said often enough, it can start to make the victim doubt themselves. Claire seems to want to destroy Vaughn. Perhaps seeing him bothers her conscience because the truth of how wicked she is is written all over his appearance.
The ending definitely had some surprises. Things are not always as clean as they seem. It was highly satisfying. It shows the importance of learning barriers. However, when one is raised by a narcissist, that can be hard to do because it's the only reality you know.
When her manipulating breaks Nikki down to where she considers suicide, it's the beginning of the end of Claire. It's through counseling that Nikki is enlightened to the ways of the narcissist and how to set up barriers. Nikki and Matt have suffered the longest from Claire's interference because they're the oldest. Matt, like many victims of narcissists, had even glossed over the abuse his mother had inflicted on him. Nikki's moment of enlightenment helped Matt to see the truth, as well.
Belinda and Anthony both have secrets that Claire has gained knowledge of. This is just how Claire gains power over people. She now has the power to totally destroy their relationship just at a time when it looks like things are falling into place for them.
Poor Vaughn has had every relationship destroyed by his mother. When he finds Paige, he is at a place where he'd even like to start a family. Claire can't stand to have him happy with another woman. Her lies about Paige were too extreme. There was no longer any doubt that she was a liar. However, like the sick woman she was, she keeps pushing the lie. If a lie is said often enough, it can start to make the victim doubt themselves. Claire seems to want to destroy Vaughn. Perhaps seeing him bothers her conscience because the truth of how wicked she is is written all over his appearance.
The ending definitely had some surprises. Things are not always as clean as they seem. It was highly satisfying. It shows the importance of learning barriers. However, when one is raised by a narcissist, that can be hard to do because it's the only reality you know.
October 2, 2021
Claire Radcliffe is the matriarch of the family. She has three grown sons, Matthew, Anthony and Vaughn. Her husband, Robert, died when her sons were younger. Matthew is married to Nikki, Anthony is married to Belinda, and Vaughn lives with Paige. The men have learned how to turn a blind eye to some of the stunts Claire pulls, but her daughters-in-law find it very hard to do that. When Claire finally causes Nikki to be so upset that she drives her car into a tree, all of them start remembering things that Claire has done over the years – the boys were never allowed to visit the hospital while their father was dying to say good-bye, and then after he died, she shaved Matthew’s head, made him stay in bed and told people he had leukemia. Mother of the Year, she’s not. When Claire threatens to blackmail one of her sons, tells another that he must pay back a large loan immediately and then intentionally hurts Paige’s three-year-old daughter, Nikki, Belinda and Paige know they must do something about Claire before she ruins all their lives. I liked this story a lot and it made me really happy that my late mother-in-law was nothing like Claire. This was a good thriller and the more I learned about Claire, the more I disliked her, too. She’s evil, plain and simple. I had a hard time putting this one down.
November 12, 2020
Australian take on a plot format I always enjoy: a seemingly happy extended family clan, living what looks to be superficially like a good life, are actually being systematically destroyed, due to the machinations and manipulations of one member that is actually s sociopath. I appreciate the way the tension builds in one of these social dramas as the veneer is increasingly chipped away and danger increases. You also learn some Aussie slang from context.
October 4, 2025
Insane. It gets crazier and crazier with every turn of the page.
April 28, 2020
This was a fun book --
It was sprinkled with Australian lingo, so I learned a few things (Do YOU know what a yabby pump is?? Me neither, I looked it up and now I do).
Reading the various POV of different characters (all nicely divided by chapter, so not confusing) gave me a sense of everyone's motives, secrets, strengths-- and weaknesses.
Claire is the stereotypical MIL you've seen in movies and her actions boggled my mind. Having some of her childhood revealed explained a little, but she's just horrible. Seriously, go read this book and see for yourself!
My favorite phrase was a description of Claire-- she 'laps up conflict like cream on a sundae'!!
Definitely recommend this book -- secrets, family drama, twists -- it's so good!
It was sprinkled with Australian lingo, so I learned a few things (Do YOU know what a yabby pump is?? Me neither, I looked it up and now I do).
Reading the various POV of different characters (all nicely divided by chapter, so not confusing) gave me a sense of everyone's motives, secrets, strengths-- and weaknesses.
Claire is the stereotypical MIL you've seen in movies and her actions boggled my mind. Having some of her childhood revealed explained a little, but she's just horrible. Seriously, go read this book and see for yourself!
My favorite phrase was a description of Claire-- she 'laps up conflict like cream on a sundae'!!
Definitely recommend this book -- secrets, family drama, twists -- it's so good!
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February 22, 2021The True Mother-in-law From Hell
What a refreshing change to read a book with a new plot. I am so bored with every book I buy having the same trite storyline that when I discovered The Perfect Family (a brand new author for me, thanks Bookbub for the introduction) I honestly couldn't put the book down but had to read to the end in the one sitting, something I never do, but this book just doesn't let you risk walking away. Certainly the most incredible story I have read for a long time, so well written with such believable characters and sub-plots, it has earned a place in my bookcase of 'keep forevers' and I would strongly recommend it.
What a refreshing change to read a book with a new plot. I am so bored with every book I buy having the same trite storyline that when I discovered The Perfect Family (a brand new author for me, thanks Bookbub for the introduction) I honestly couldn't put the book down but had to read to the end in the one sitting, something I never do, but this book just doesn't let you risk walking away. Certainly the most incredible story I have read for a long time, so well written with such believable characters and sub-plots, it has earned a place in my bookcase of 'keep forevers' and I would strongly recommend it.
July 4, 2022
Very good book. Quick read. Kept my attention throughout the whole book. Made me realize how lucky I am to have such a great family as well as amazing in-laws. 😊
November 15, 2020
It took me a while to read this one, but only because of busy times in my life - I was always engaged in the plot and the characters, and enjoyed this one through to the end. Like I have all of Jacquie Underdown's stories.
June 13, 2021
If anyone has a mother in law from hell, this is a good read. Only it has a murderous twist to it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews