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Her Perfect Family
A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of I Am Watching You. The perfect family? Or the perfect lie?
It’s their daughter’s graduation and Rachel and Ed Hartley are expecting it to be one of their family’s happiest days. But when she stumbles and falls on stage during the ceremony, a beautiful moment turns to chaos: Gemma has been shot, and just like that, she’s fighting for her life.
PI Matthew Hill is one of the first on the scene. A cryptic message Gemma received earlier in the day suggests someone close to her was about to be exposed. But who? As Matthew starts to investigate, he finds more and more layers obscuring the truth. He even begins to suspect the Hartleys are hiding something big—from him and from each other.
While Gemma lies in hospital in a coma, her would-be killer is still out there. Can Matthew unravel the family’s secrets before the attacker strikes again?
It’s their daughter’s graduation and Rachel and Ed Hartley are expecting it to be one of their family’s happiest days. But when she stumbles and falls on stage during the ceremony, a beautiful moment turns to chaos: Gemma has been shot, and just like that, she’s fighting for her life.
PI Matthew Hill is one of the first on the scene. A cryptic message Gemma received earlier in the day suggests someone close to her was about to be exposed. But who? As Matthew starts to investigate, he finds more and more layers obscuring the truth. He even begins to suspect the Hartleys are hiding something big—from him and from each other.
While Gemma lies in hospital in a coma, her would-be killer is still out there. Can Matthew unravel the family’s secrets before the attacker strikes again?
331 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2021
8521 people are currently reading
25299 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Driscoll
14 books2,730 followersTeresa Driscoll is a former BBC TV news presenter whose psychological thrillers have sold over two million copies in more than 20 languages. Her first thriller I AM WATCHING YOU was kindle #1 in the UK, USA and Australia and has sold more than 1.5 million copies in English alone.
Teresa writes book club fiction as well as thrillers and her work has been optioned for film.
During her long career as a journalist, Teresa worked for newspapers, magazines and television, including 15 years presenting the BBC TV news programme Spotlight. Covering crime for so long, she was deeply moved by the haunting impact on the relatives, the friends and the witnesses and it is those ripples she explores now in her darker fiction.
Teresa lives in glorious Devon with her family and blogs regularly about her "writing life" at her website - www.teresadriscoll.com.
Teresa writes book club fiction as well as thrillers and her work has been optioned for film.
During her long career as a journalist, Teresa worked for newspapers, magazines and television, including 15 years presenting the BBC TV news programme Spotlight. Covering crime for so long, she was deeply moved by the haunting impact on the relatives, the friends and the witnesses and it is those ripples she explores now in her darker fiction.
Teresa lives in glorious Devon with her family and blogs regularly about her "writing life" at her website - www.teresadriscoll.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,749 reviews
October 31, 2021
3.5 rounded up.
PI Matthew Hill and DI Melanie Sanders novel.
Rachel and Gemma Hartley, mother and daughter, survey their graduation outfits, the navy is too safe thinks mum while the pink is too vivid thinks Gemma. It should have been the best of days but instead it becomes the absolute worst.
The novel starts shockingly at we’re off at a hundred miles an hour from the start. This contrasts startlingly with the calm of selecting thr outfits and with Matthew, wife Sal buying ice cream for their daughter Amelie. Then there’s horrifying panic in the setting of a beautiful cathedral disturbing the calm. The use of language is clever and it’s gripping reading. Several characters tell the story, they all have secrets and there are several puzzling conundrums. The plot goes backwards and forwards piecemeal but without being disjointed to intriguingly fill gaps in the plot jigsaw puzzle. There are some chilling coincidences, several hints of menace and real danger to add to the intensity.
However, I wish I could say the fast pace is maintained throughout but unfortunately it isn’t as the pace drops off and then picks up again. There’s repetition because of the several perspectives. I did guess the who but not the why!
Overall, it’s a good read although a bit uneven. I really like this series but it can very easily be read as a standalone.
Amazon Prime First Read for October.
PI Matthew Hill and DI Melanie Sanders novel.
Rachel and Gemma Hartley, mother and daughter, survey their graduation outfits, the navy is too safe thinks mum while the pink is too vivid thinks Gemma. It should have been the best of days but instead it becomes the absolute worst.
The novel starts shockingly at we’re off at a hundred miles an hour from the start. This contrasts startlingly with the calm of selecting thr outfits and with Matthew, wife Sal buying ice cream for their daughter Amelie. Then there’s horrifying panic in the setting of a beautiful cathedral disturbing the calm. The use of language is clever and it’s gripping reading. Several characters tell the story, they all have secrets and there are several puzzling conundrums. The plot goes backwards and forwards piecemeal but without being disjointed to intriguingly fill gaps in the plot jigsaw puzzle. There are some chilling coincidences, several hints of menace and real danger to add to the intensity.
However, I wish I could say the fast pace is maintained throughout but unfortunately it isn’t as the pace drops off and then picks up again. There’s repetition because of the several perspectives. I did guess the who but not the why!
Overall, it’s a good read although a bit uneven. I really like this series but it can very easily be read as a standalone.
Amazon Prime First Read for October.
February 7, 2022
I have read a few other of Teresa Driscoll’s books and found most of them to be good thrillers. This is another good one – well paced with a good story.
Ed Hill and Rachel are looking forward to their daughter Gemma’s graduation ceremony in a cathedral. They have taken pains to be well dressed and find a vantage position to watch. As Gemma walks up to the stage, she stumbles and falls. Ed and Rachel are shocked, as are all the others watching, as they learn that she has been shot in the leg, and has hurt her head while falling. Private Investigator Matthew Hill is in the vicinity with his wife Sally and young daughter Amelie and steps in to control the panic till the law enforcement team arrives.
Ed and Rachel are surprised to learn that Gemma is pregnant. She had recently broken up with her boyfriend, and it seems like she is in a new relation. As DI Mel Sanders and Matthew Hill investigate, secrets that Ed and Rachel have held to themselves regarding past relationships tumble out and it is unclear if that has anything to do with the shooting of their daughter. Gemma continues to be in coma while danger still lurks.
The build-up was great and I was hooked right from the start. The character development is good and I especially liked the characters of Mel & Matthew. The unravelling of the perpetrator was not without some rough edges though, and that is always the drawback of resolving the suspense with a twist. That said, this is a story which is still very engrossing from start to finish.
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
Ed Hill and Rachel are looking forward to their daughter Gemma’s graduation ceremony in a cathedral. They have taken pains to be well dressed and find a vantage position to watch. As Gemma walks up to the stage, she stumbles and falls. Ed and Rachel are shocked, as are all the others watching, as they learn that she has been shot in the leg, and has hurt her head while falling. Private Investigator Matthew Hill is in the vicinity with his wife Sally and young daughter Amelie and steps in to control the panic till the law enforcement team arrives.
Ed and Rachel are surprised to learn that Gemma is pregnant. She had recently broken up with her boyfriend, and it seems like she is in a new relation. As DI Mel Sanders and Matthew Hill investigate, secrets that Ed and Rachel have held to themselves regarding past relationships tumble out and it is unclear if that has anything to do with the shooting of their daughter. Gemma continues to be in coma while danger still lurks.
The build-up was great and I was hooked right from the start. The character development is good and I especially liked the characters of Mel & Matthew. The unravelling of the perpetrator was not without some rough edges though, and that is always the drawback of resolving the suspense with a twist. That said, this is a story which is still very engrossing from start to finish.
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
October 29, 2021
A good who done it
It may be I've read a lot of who done It books this past year that prompted me to my review. The story seemed a bit drab to me, nothing spectacular. The originality was very much lacking. What I did like were the descriptions of each characters lives being brought in. Also there were so many suspects with each having a genuine motive to have committed the crime. Non the less I read this as a Goodreads giveaway and this is one of many book reviews opinion.
It may be I've read a lot of who done It books this past year that prompted me to my review. The story seemed a bit drab to me, nothing spectacular. The originality was very much lacking. What I did like were the descriptions of each characters lives being brought in. Also there were so many suspects with each having a genuine motive to have committed the crime. Non the less I read this as a Goodreads giveaway and this is one of many book reviews opinion.
October 15, 2021
So many high scores for this book, but I found it tedious. There are so many "her" characters in the book, you're never sure to whose family the title refers! The cast is split up amongst so many people with different agendas, and there is, despite the title, no one strong character with whom you identify. Is it supposed to be the lead detective? the private eye? the daughter? her parents? and then there are so many extra (and in some cases extraneous) characters—the ex boyfriend, the tutor, all the school administrators, ex-wives, the family of the private eye...with whom are you supposed to sympathize? and who are you supposed to suspect? The whole thing was so diffuse and nebulous, I just couldn't bring myself to care. And the interminable scenes sitting in the hospital room...and all the attention paid to the private eye's family, which signified absolutely nothing in the grand plot...I lost patience with this thing at about 65 percent and forced myself to finish. Surely there are better thrillers out there to which we could give our precious reading time?
October 13, 2021
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
This was a great, thrilling read that had me hooked from the beginning. With tense scenes at Gemma’s graduation, what follows is a story that has the police trying to find the suspect. However, it also turns out that Gemma’s family is far from perfect, with a web of hidden deceits under the surface.
This was a great, thrilling read that had me hooked from the beginning. With tense scenes at Gemma’s graduation, what follows is a story that has the police trying to find the suspect. However, it also turns out that Gemma’s family is far from perfect, with a web of hidden deceits under the surface.
October 20, 2021
Poor Effort
I had read one of this authors previous books and since it was passable I thought that another book might be worth it. Boy was I mistaken. This book was rambling and boring. It kept switching back and forth between time frames and characters. It was confusing and dull. Wouldn't recommend wasting your time.
I had read one of this authors previous books and since it was passable I thought that another book might be worth it. Boy was I mistaken. This book was rambling and boring. It kept switching back and forth between time frames and characters. It was confusing and dull. Wouldn't recommend wasting your time.
November 9, 2021
Another great novel from Teresa Driscoll! Worth six stars! It's full of suspense, clues, family secrets and complex characters.
Driscoll weaves a complicated psychological thriller about a married couple about to celebrate their daughter's graduation from university. Just before the ceremony the daughter, Gemma, is worried - she doesn't want to wear the pink dress that her mother bought her and decides to put on a yellow garment instead. As she enters the cathedral hall where all the parents and visitors are gathered, a shot suddenly rings out wounding Gemma. Later we see her in a coma in hospital and learn that one of her legs has been amputated.
The author builds up the suspense and keeps us guessing about who was the shooter. She uses a neat technique of internal monologue for the five major characters - Ed (Dad), Rachel (Mom), Gemma, Matthew (the investigator) and the shooter whose thoughts are written in italic but whose identity is hidden. Fears, secrets and past lives are all revealed making the story even more enjoyable.
We are left guessing as to who is the criminal - is it Gemma's jilted boyfriend (Alex), is it Ed's unstable ex-spouse, is it Gemma's creepy tutor, is it the strange woman who appeared from time to time to unnerve Rachel or is it someone else on the periphery...?
This review was written by Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy.
Driscoll weaves a complicated psychological thriller about a married couple about to celebrate their daughter's graduation from university. Just before the ceremony the daughter, Gemma, is worried - she doesn't want to wear the pink dress that her mother bought her and decides to put on a yellow garment instead. As she enters the cathedral hall where all the parents and visitors are gathered, a shot suddenly rings out wounding Gemma. Later we see her in a coma in hospital and learn that one of her legs has been amputated.
The author builds up the suspense and keeps us guessing about who was the shooter. She uses a neat technique of internal monologue for the five major characters - Ed (Dad), Rachel (Mom), Gemma, Matthew (the investigator) and the shooter whose thoughts are written in italic but whose identity is hidden. Fears, secrets and past lives are all revealed making the story even more enjoyable.
We are left guessing as to who is the criminal - is it Gemma's jilted boyfriend (Alex), is it Ed's unstable ex-spouse, is it Gemma's creepy tutor, is it the strange woman who appeared from time to time to unnerve Rachel or is it someone else on the periphery...?
This review was written by Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy.
October 2, 2021
Received an early copy as I am a member of Amazon first reads.
Whodunit has never been so lukewarm. Despite the rich, descriptive prose the plot is very sterile. As if the writer sat down with a flow chart as to how a book of this genre should look: family with secrets: secret relationships, cheating, ex-girlfriend not right in the head, secret pregnancy, etcetera just to have writer ex machina reach out and point a finger to someone else, who was not hinted or very much talked about whatsoever throughout the book to be the ultimate villain.
When it comes to mystery or thriller or whodunit I appreciate that something truly genre-defining only comes along once in every decade or two. This book is the faint shadow of Twin Peaks minus the supernatural elements. Beautiful girl in a balanced, loving family having secrets that lead to tragedy, that attracts law enforcement and ugly truths and old wounds get revealed. Been there, done that. Can be done good, even great but this book misses that mark. Unfortunately this story is just plain dry. Honest work, not great, not terrible but I am glad I did not pay for it.
Whodunit has never been so lukewarm. Despite the rich, descriptive prose the plot is very sterile. As if the writer sat down with a flow chart as to how a book of this genre should look: family with secrets: secret relationships, cheating, ex-girlfriend not right in the head, secret pregnancy, etcetera just to have writer ex machina reach out and point a finger to someone else, who was not hinted or very much talked about whatsoever throughout the book to be the ultimate villain.
When it comes to mystery or thriller or whodunit I appreciate that something truly genre-defining only comes along once in every decade or two. This book is the faint shadow of Twin Peaks minus the supernatural elements. Beautiful girl in a balanced, loving family having secrets that lead to tragedy, that attracts law enforcement and ugly truths and old wounds get revealed. Been there, done that. Can be done good, even great but this book misses that mark. Unfortunately this story is just plain dry. Honest work, not great, not terrible but I am glad I did not pay for it.
April 29, 2022
The book had an incredible beginning, it was full of actions and fast paced. The pace slowed down when the investigations began and serects were revealed.
There were multiple POVs so we got the story from different angles. I loved how Teresa Driscoll built the characters and gave us details of their lives before. We got to know them better and understand the reasons for their actions.
This was a quick and easy read with good writing. The story may not be fascinating or special but the Teresa Driscoll won me over with her writing style.
There were multiple POVs so we got the story from different angles. I loved how Teresa Driscoll built the characters and gave us details of their lives before. We got to know them better and understand the reasons for their actions.
This was a quick and easy read with good writing. The story may not be fascinating or special but the Teresa Driscoll won me over with her writing style.
October 16, 2021
I enjoyed this book for the most part. It centers on Rachel and Ed, who see their daughter Gemma get shot right in front of them on her graduation day. As Gemma fights for her life in a coma, secrets that all 3 of them were keeping come to light. You also get some chapters narrated by the private investigator, Matthew, who I actually liked more than all of the other characters in the book.
The story itself is tense and I was impressed at how it all came together at the end, tying up loose ends and providing a great twist. I figured out what was going on just a couple pages before the characters did. The thing that got to me a bit is that this is another one of those books where lots of problems would have been solved if people just talked to each other- I couldn't figure out why Rachel and Ed felt the need to keep those particular secrets from each other. That being said, I could better empathize with Gemma's position and the precarious situation in which she found herself.
One other small nit was that I felt like some of the time spent in the hospital was repetitive and could have been tightened up a bit.
Overall, a good psychological thriller with a nice surprise and also an ending that satisfied me. Despite my few small nits, I enjoyed it.
The story itself is tense and I was impressed at how it all came together at the end, tying up loose ends and providing a great twist. I figured out what was going on just a couple pages before the characters did. The thing that got to me a bit is that this is another one of those books where lots of problems would have been solved if people just talked to each other- I couldn't figure out why Rachel and Ed felt the need to keep those particular secrets from each other. That being said, I could better empathize with Gemma's position and the precarious situation in which she found herself.
One other small nit was that I felt like some of the time spent in the hospital was repetitive and could have been tightened up a bit.
Overall, a good psychological thriller with a nice surprise and also an ending that satisfied me. Despite my few small nits, I enjoyed it.
October 17, 2021
My Kindle freebie for October.
So, let me summarize this. Compulsively readable, BUT….
Your daughter gets shot, but you…meaning both Mom and Dad decide to withhold important info about the investigation? Yea, that WILL help!
There is also a backstory missing about the PI/former Detective that either I missed or was glossed over; and I backtracked to find it.
And that ending!? Oh, STOP! No way!
And, why all the 4 & 5 stars reviews? Gosh, I want it all…. good plot, good character development and a decent reveal. Not one that is thrown at me out of left field?
Skip this one!
So, let me summarize this. Compulsively readable, BUT….
Your daughter gets shot, but you…meaning both Mom and Dad decide to withhold important info about the investigation? Yea, that WILL help!
There is also a backstory missing about the PI/former Detective that either I missed or was glossed over; and I backtracked to find it.
And that ending!? Oh, STOP! No way!
And, why all the 4 & 5 stars reviews? Gosh, I want it all…. good plot, good character development and a decent reveal. Not one that is thrown at me out of left field?
Skip this one!
October 4, 2022
"Her Perfect Family" was my first Teresa Driscoll's book. It follows the story of the Hartley family whose daughter has been shot during a university graduation ceremony.
The first few chapters are fast-faced and have me hooked. The multiple POVs work well as the story unfolds some secrets from the past and the preceding days before the shooting. Although the plot is quite predictable, it's still an enjoyable quick read. I look forward to reading the author's other books.
The first few chapters are fast-faced and have me hooked. The multiple POVs work well as the story unfolds some secrets from the past and the preceding days before the shooting. Although the plot is quite predictable, it's still an enjoyable quick read. I look forward to reading the author's other books.
May 12, 2021
I was thrilled to be offered an advance copy of Her Perfect Family by the author. Like all Teresa Driscoll’s books, the writing style is easy to read, fast-paced and with enough description to drop you right into the action. You can’t help relishing such an addictive read, a brilliantly sustained psychological suspense.
From a well-chosen pink dress in the prologue to blood-red spatters in Chapter 1, this was a frightening opening for me. And at such a public occasion where families and children were present. Pomp and pageantry turned to mayhem and unspeakable horror—a parent’s worst nightmare. This is an injury that will require enormous strength to tell a patient and if that’s not enough, a heartrending mystery to unravel.
The book is written from several points of view — the mother, the private investigator (PI Matthew Hill is my personal favourite and DI Melanie Sanders), the father, the daughter, all with their own stories to tell. Yet everybody has something to hide and, as more secrets come to light, you can’t help feeling you’ve been deceived somewhere along the line, and not necessarily by the character you thought. About 78% through the book I thought I’d guessed the shooter, but I was wrong.
This is a highly accomplished thriller, a very frightening one with a backdrop of evil you hope never to encounter. Driscoll expertly weaves her stories together in unexpected and clever ways. This book has every thriller’s trifecta: love, marriage and murder.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author Teresa Driscoll for the privilege of reading this book.
From a well-chosen pink dress in the prologue to blood-red spatters in Chapter 1, this was a frightening opening for me. And at such a public occasion where families and children were present. Pomp and pageantry turned to mayhem and unspeakable horror—a parent’s worst nightmare. This is an injury that will require enormous strength to tell a patient and if that’s not enough, a heartrending mystery to unravel.
The book is written from several points of view — the mother, the private investigator (PI Matthew Hill is my personal favourite and DI Melanie Sanders), the father, the daughter, all with their own stories to tell. Yet everybody has something to hide and, as more secrets come to light, you can’t help feeling you’ve been deceived somewhere along the line, and not necessarily by the character you thought. About 78% through the book I thought I’d guessed the shooter, but I was wrong.
This is a highly accomplished thriller, a very frightening one with a backdrop of evil you hope never to encounter. Driscoll expertly weaves her stories together in unexpected and clever ways. This book has every thriller’s trifecta: love, marriage and murder.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author Teresa Driscoll for the privilege of reading this book.
October 16, 2021
I made it to 28% but cannot go on. Nothing is happening and it is dreadfully dull and I don’t have time for boring books when my TBR is still so massive.
October 30, 2021
Ummm... I didn't like the writing. It was so simplistic and repetitive. Overuse of "liaising", "mind in overdrive"... and how many times do we need the info that Alex has a loudhailer? Someone who spends decades in mental health care still has a valid passport... A little girl of 4 is given a letter for her daddy by a nice woman, yet everyone is worries the little girl might have a trauma deepened by this. Why??? Unbelievable and also predictable. I don't think I will read any more books by this author.
June 6, 2023
A fun, well-written whodunnit with rich characterization and an intriguing plot. We follow Rachel and Ed Hartley as they attend their daughter’s university graduation, only to watch in horror as she’s gunned down in front of them. A cryptic message makes the detectives think someone close to her is the perpetrator; but who? Driscoll does an excellent job of casting suspense onto all the characters, and I truly didn’t know which way it was going to go for a good long while. A wild and incredibly entertaining ride!
October 26, 2021
I enjoyed the read. Short chapters and it kept you guessing. Who shot Gemma?
October 10, 2021
LOVED this book....it was a Kindle First read and I chose it as this is my fourth one by her and she's never let me down before. Once again I was not disappointed. A really shocking premise that appealed to me right away. Secrets and lies abound and I was clueless as to whodunnit' so my interest never waned. Never ceases to amaze me how people can live together for decades, yet keep so many secrets from each other.
Sally for me came across as a bit of a nitwit but I liked Matthew. I wasn't keen on him keeping on phoning Amanda, however. That came across as a little creepy to me. I found the sickness she featured a fascinating one and it was a great idea to use it in the story.
There were some errors.....commas missing, flake used in the context here needed capitalising and she persistently misses the apostrophe when writing ladies' or gents', which is distracting. Then she uses inquiry throughout whereas over here it is usually enquiry. One thing she did which I HATED was write "Grief" as opposed to "Good grief". It irritated me the first time it happened and I let it go, assuming it was a character's affectation but when another person used it I wasn't having it !! So that needs to go !! Another repeated error from this author (from a previous book by her) is writing playdough and not Play-Doh. She also constantly refers to "uniformed" officers when it is usually only uniform that is used in this context. Peaks was wrong and needs to be piques, too.
I looked up the clock in Wells Cathedral and someone had helpfully filmed it and shared it on You Tube so I got to see it in action.
I loved part of the ending, something Gemma shared with her mum; it made me quite sniffy. I liked how she gave us an update on everyone at the end as well and tied everything up properly. The mention of the dress at both the beginning and end was very nicely included as well.
Sally for me came across as a bit of a nitwit but I liked Matthew. I wasn't keen on him keeping on phoning Amanda, however. That came across as a little creepy to me. I found the sickness she featured a fascinating one and it was a great idea to use it in the story.
There were some errors.....commas missing, flake used in the context here needed capitalising and she persistently misses the apostrophe when writing ladies' or gents', which is distracting. Then she uses inquiry throughout whereas over here it is usually enquiry. One thing she did which I HATED was write "Grief" as opposed to "Good grief". It irritated me the first time it happened and I let it go, assuming it was a character's affectation but when another person used it I wasn't having it !! So that needs to go !! Another repeated error from this author (from a previous book by her) is writing playdough and not Play-Doh. She also constantly refers to "uniformed" officers when it is usually only uniform that is used in this context. Peaks was wrong and needs to be piques, too.
I looked up the clock in Wells Cathedral and someone had helpfully filmed it and shared it on You Tube so I got to see it in action.
I loved part of the ending, something Gemma shared with her mum; it made me quite sniffy. I liked how she gave us an update on everyone at the end as well and tied everything up properly. The mention of the dress at both the beginning and end was very nicely included as well.
May 30, 2022
Audio - 5 stars
Story - 2.75 Stars
Story - 2.75 Stars
February 4, 2022
I had a hard time with the "secrets" the mom and dad were harboring in this book. **WARNING: Spoiler Alert** I didn't feel they were worthy enough to be hidden from the investigation of finding their daughter's shooter. So what you hired a PI to look into a strange woman! So what you're ex had a medical condition! Those aren't worthy secrets to keep from the police. And the mother finding the hidden diary entries -- 1. how did the cops miss that? 2. how could she keep that from them as well? Make a copy to read for yourself and give the police the info to help with finding. your daughter's. shooter!
I also wasn't buying Matt's wife's response to him being a cop. She was too whiny about him trying to solve a crime. Dude, your husband is a PI plus an ex-cop. You know there is going to be some danger in that. So, stop whining about it every time he walks out the door. That was a part of the story that I felt was unnecessary to deal with.
I figured who the killer was before it was revealed, although I had to wait to find out why. So the book didn't carry much suspense for me unfortunately.
I also wasn't buying Matt's wife's response to him being a cop. She was too whiny about him trying to solve a crime. Dude, your husband is a PI plus an ex-cop. You know there is going to be some danger in that. So, stop whining about it every time he walks out the door. That was a part of the story that I felt was unnecessary to deal with.
I figured who the killer was before it was revealed, although I had to wait to find out why. So the book didn't carry much suspense for me unfortunately.
June 15, 2025
"Her Perfect Family" was a perfectly paced thriller.
A couple's daughter is shot during a graduation ceremony.
Who did it and why?
After listening to Teresa Driscoll's "Close Your Eyes" (2025), I circled back and went on a Teresa Driscoll binge.
How did I miss this talented author?
Teresa Driscoll's titles are not available from the library.
😭😭😭😭
Fortunately, her titles are available from KU's Books with Narration.
Teresa Driscoll's books are pacey, intricately plotted, and unputdownable.
In all releases, I especially enjoyed the interplay between private investigator Matthew Hill, Detective Inspector Melanie Sanders, and each book's protagonists.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Steve West and Elizabeth Knowelden.
Both narrators did a superb job with the narration.
4.5 stars.
October 25, 2021
What a snooze. So tedious. Glad I got it for free.
December 3, 2021
Started out good. This story had a lot of potential but the ending was disappointing. Fell flat
November 20, 2024
The book kicks off with a bang—literally. The Hartley family's picture-perfect life is shattered when their daughter, Gemma, is shot at her graduation. Cue the drama! PI Matthew Hill dives into the family's secrets, and oh boy, are there secrets.
The book is a rollercoaster of twists and turns, but let's be real, some of those twists are more like gentle curves. The characters are interesting, but sometimes their actions make you go, "Really? That's your move?" The pacing is mostly good, but there are parts where it feels like the story is taking a leisurely stroll instead of a sprint.
In the end, "Her Perfect Family" is a decent read for thriller fans. It's got the suspense and the drama, but it doesn't quite hit the mark to be a standout. It's like a good cup of coffee—enjoyable, but not the best you've ever had.
The book is a rollercoaster of twists and turns, but let's be real, some of those twists are more like gentle curves. The characters are interesting, but sometimes their actions make you go, "Really? That's your move?" The pacing is mostly good, but there are parts where it feels like the story is taking a leisurely stroll instead of a sprint.
In the end, "Her Perfect Family" is a decent read for thriller fans. It's got the suspense and the drama, but it doesn't quite hit the mark to be a standout. It's like a good cup of coffee—enjoyable, but not the best you've ever had.
November 4, 2021
5 stars audio
3 meh twist stars story
3 meh twist stars story
October 6, 2021
The most interesting character has a psychiatric disorder.
I skimmed through his book, because the blurb was much better than the story. During a cathedral ceremony, a uni graduate-to-be is shot from the upper balcony of a cathedral. Given the distance and bodily damage, I thought a long gun, but police say the shooter used a handgun. The DI says, “We’ve recovered the bullet but it’s not giving a lot away.” The police assume a silencer was used, based on “all the video footage.” No other evidence is presented about anything else gleaned from said videos. At the cathedral shooting, a mother heard a thud from behind the trumpeters, as if “something heavy, like a large music book,” had been dropped. In a later scene, when a private investigator is shot in the chest, the shooter doesn’t have a silencer. BTW, after that gunshot, the PI underwent surgery on his shoulder.
This leisurely book isn’t a thriller. It’s mostly domestic/personal drama, with an unconvincing police procedural attached. No forensics, pathology, labs, bloods, etc. even after another shooting. These incidents—especially the graduation shooting—are high profile, but a local detective inspector keeps the case, aided by the PI and a police detective sergeant. I docked another star for the improbable and unrealistic villain. Plus, here’s a tidbit from the author: “That peaks her interest.”
I skimmed through his book, because the blurb was much better than the story. During a cathedral ceremony, a uni graduate-to-be is shot from the upper balcony of a cathedral. Given the distance and bodily damage, I thought a long gun, but police say the shooter used a handgun. The DI says, “We’ve recovered the bullet but it’s not giving a lot away.” The police assume a silencer was used, based on “all the video footage.” No other evidence is presented about anything else gleaned from said videos. At the cathedral shooting, a mother heard a thud from behind the trumpeters, as if “something heavy, like a large music book,” had been dropped. In a later scene, when a private investigator is shot in the chest, the shooter doesn’t have a silencer. BTW, after that gunshot, the PI underwent surgery on his shoulder.
This leisurely book isn’t a thriller. It’s mostly domestic/personal drama, with an unconvincing police procedural attached. No forensics, pathology, labs, bloods, etc. even after another shooting. These incidents—especially the graduation shooting—are high profile, but a local detective inspector keeps the case, aided by the PI and a police detective sergeant. I docked another star for the improbable and unrealistic villain. Plus, here’s a tidbit from the author: “That peaks her interest.”
October 5, 2021
It's Gemma's big day, she is ready to graduate University and her parents Ed and Rachel are thrilled!! Things however, don't go as planned. As Rachel is called to the stage for graduation, she takes a tumble and is found to be shot. She is now in the hospital in a coma and has lost her leg. Private Investigator, Matthew Hill, is on the case to find out who did this to her. We learn that Gemma has an ex-boyfriend who was very possessive and Ed had a troubled ex-wife that is stalking Rachel. But Gemma also has secrets that she has not told anyone. Who did this to Gemma? PI Hill is in for quite an adventure as he seeks to find the answers.
Overall this was a compelling read. I enjoyed the multiple points of view of the past and present. The author kept me wanting to read more after every chapter. Anytime Teresa Driscoll has a new book I know I must read it. I was delighted to have this available as a first reads pick.
Overall this was a compelling read. I enjoyed the multiple points of view of the past and present. The author kept me wanting to read more after every chapter. Anytime Teresa Driscoll has a new book I know I must read it. I was delighted to have this available as a first reads pick.
October 3, 2021
So their daughter gets shot and both Rachel and Ed are demanding answers from the police, all the while keeping things from the police that could actually help the case! Hmmm, there's a strange woman that's been stalking me, but I'll not mention it anyone because it's probably not related. Eye roll.
Besides Rachel and Ed, there are three other POV: Matthew, former police turned private investigator, Gemma, languishing in a coma, but voiced mostly through diary entries, and a few chapters from the shooter.
Matthew is asked by the lead investigator, Melanie, to help with the case. I liked his character, and I would read another book about he and Melanie solving cases.
The book lost a star when the villain was revealed. It seemed too incongruent with what was already known about that character.
I've read one other book by this author and I had the same problem, cliffhanger chapters. Something major would happen, then abruptly we'd go to another POV and the momentum would be lost.
Besides Rachel and Ed, there are three other POV: Matthew, former police turned private investigator, Gemma, languishing in a coma, but voiced mostly through diary entries, and a few chapters from the shooter.
Matthew is asked by the lead investigator, Melanie, to help with the case. I liked his character, and I would read another book about he and Melanie solving cases.
The book lost a star when the villain was revealed. It seemed too incongruent with what was already known about that character.
I've read one other book by this author and I had the same problem, cliffhanger chapters. Something major would happen, then abruptly we'd go to another POV and the momentum would be lost.
December 30, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
What should have been a really happy day for the Hartleys turns into a nightmare when Gemma is shot during her graduation in front of her parents, Rachel and Ed. Immediately chaos ensues and PI Matthew Hill finds himself in the midst of it. Alongside DI Melanie Sanders, they will soon uncover some family secrets that could be behind the shooter’s motivations.
The story takes off with a bang with some really tense first scenes and then takes the foot off the gas to go back and forth between past and present through several POVs to tell us about all the members of the Hartley family and their secrets. I liked both Gemma and Ed’s chapters but found Rachel’s chapters at the hospital a bit repetitive at times. Ed’s backstory was really surprising. I had never heard about that condition and thought it was quite terrifying!
It’s always a pleasure to meet back Matthew and Melanie. They make such a great duo and it’s always great seeing them in action.
The police investigation had several unexpected twists that helped to create suspense and cast some suspicion upon several characters. I guessed the who but not the why, and once it was revealed I found it pretty disturbing.
Her Perfect Family is a really good psychological thriller that makes a great addition to the series and that, in addition to being a fantastic whodunnit, it has a really interesting mother/daughter relationship at its core that adds a nice layer to the whole.
Thanks to the publisher for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
What should have been a really happy day for the Hartleys turns into a nightmare when Gemma is shot during her graduation in front of her parents, Rachel and Ed. Immediately chaos ensues and PI Matthew Hill finds himself in the midst of it. Alongside DI Melanie Sanders, they will soon uncover some family secrets that could be behind the shooter’s motivations.
The story takes off with a bang with some really tense first scenes and then takes the foot off the gas to go back and forth between past and present through several POVs to tell us about all the members of the Hartley family and their secrets. I liked both Gemma and Ed’s chapters but found Rachel’s chapters at the hospital a bit repetitive at times. Ed’s backstory was really surprising. I had never heard about that condition and thought it was quite terrifying!
It’s always a pleasure to meet back Matthew and Melanie. They make such a great duo and it’s always great seeing them in action.
The police investigation had several unexpected twists that helped to create suspense and cast some suspicion upon several characters. I guessed the who but not the why, and once it was revealed I found it pretty disturbing.
Her Perfect Family is a really good psychological thriller that makes a great addition to the series and that, in addition to being a fantastic whodunnit, it has a really interesting mother/daughter relationship at its core that adds a nice layer to the whole.
Thanks to the publisher for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2024
3⭐️ this was okay! I liked the first 50% better than the ending. I was super invested!! I just felt like it gave so much build up and red herrings, and I had so many theories that made sense, and then the ending fell flat? Nothing I predicted was right, and I feel like the ending came out of left field and wasn’t even that good of a twist?? I liked mine better 😂 the reason for shooting Gemma also didn’t even make sense??
But I did find the beginning of it really good and easy to read! I was super invested in it and I finished it in a couple days, so I did decently like it! This was a buddy read and I wish I liked it more than I did, but it’s okay!
But I did find the beginning of it really good and easy to read! I was super invested in it and I finished it in a couple days, so I did decently like it! This was a buddy read and I wish I liked it more than I did, but it’s okay!
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