The Perfect Move

by Alisa H. Klinger

When the promise of the perfect move leads to peril…

Moving out of New York City into Long Island’s suburban community Gold Coast Estates is everything new mom Hope Klein ever imagined. A dream come true.

The exclusive Gold Coast Estates community is situated on a subdivision of a former 1920s grand estate on Long Island. The magnificent Maltz Mansion still sits on top of the hill looming above the mini-mansion homes of the modern day rich as a beacon of the grandeur of Long Island’s past wealth.

Hope enjoys getting to know her neighbors—a professional football player, a holocaust survivor, a Huntington’s disease victim and a groundbreaking researcher. Each becomes special to her. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Hope, there’s a pair of eyes set on her, watching her every move.

When a dead body is discovered in the affluent neighborhood, Hope’s perfect world is turned upside down. Was it a suicide, an accident or murder? Hope is determined to find out. Never underestimate the tenacity of the stay-at-home mom.

If she’s not careful she might find herself the next victim...

Genres: Thriller

308 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Alisa H. Klinger, author of The Perfect Move, has worn many hats before putting on her author’s cap. They include New York City teacher—Talented and Gifted Specialist—and New York State Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker. This is her debut novel.
Everyone starts somewhere, and for Alisa it began with making up bedtime stories for her two wonderful sons. Alisa has always enjoyed creating stories where she puts herself in other people’s shoes. This passion has helped her create colorful,
well-developed characters that readers truly become
invested in and care about. Alisa admits she’s become very attached to the characters in The Perfect Move.

When Alisa is not writing, she spends time with her
family, plays Pickleball, takes long walks on the beach, and explores grand estates.

Alisa currently lives on Longboat Key, Florida, with her supportive husband. They have two amazing sons who they are extremely proud of. Alisa grew up in Queens, New York, and raised her family in a quiet Long Island suburb. Even though it’s been a few years since she’s lived in New York, she hasn’t lost her accent—which puts a smile on many Floridian’s
faces whenever they hear her ask for a cup of cawfee! You can take the girl out of New York…but you can’t take New York out of the girl.

Amazon Link-https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Move-I...
https://linktr.ee/AlisahKlinger

Reviews

[Alisa Klinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps I created a new sub-genre! I call it the “Luxury” Cozy Mystery. Cozy mysteries, are a sub-genre of crime fiction in which sex and violence occur off stage, the detective is an amateur sleuth, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.

In the case of The Perfect Move, it’s a small exclusive gated community. Hence Luxury Mystery! The small size of the setting makes it believable that all the suspects know each other. The amateur sleuth is usually a very likeable person(a woman) who is able to get the community members to talk freely about each other. There is usually at least one very knowledgeable, nosy, yet reliable character in the book who is able to fill in all of the blanks, thus enabling the amateur sleuth to solve the case.

The Perfect Move combines Agatha Christie’s plotting with the emotion fueled character development of Alex Michaelides.

There is a free book kit for The Perfect Move. It includes discussion questions,recipes, behind the scenes, fun facts and more. Just email me a request at alisahklinger@gmail. Or go to my website https://alisahklinger.wixsite.com/ali.... Happy reading!!

[Stephanie ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read an early copy of ThePerfectMove by Alisa Klinger which will be released next Friday on June 4th. What a ride this was!

Hope & Jay move into their new home with their son Marc and from there things start to get interesting. They do not just move into any neighborhood but an upscale gated community. Jay is a doctor at a local hospital which keeps him busy. Hope who was a former teacher but is now a stay at home mom is trying to keep the spark alive with her husband. Hope befriends those in her neighborhood including an older gentlemen Nathan. After a murder rocks the neighborhood, Hope & Nathan become detectives trying to figure out what happened. And sometimes when you can’t stay away from a hunch, you often get yourself buried into more trouble. I won’t say much more about that!

Despite having a lot going on and some parts seemed far fetched, I really enjoyed reading this and needed to know what happened. I really liked that the author brought to life Huntington’s Disease which I know a member of my family has been affected by this.

If you are looking for a quick, easy read filled with love, gambling, murder, friendship then this is a perfect book for you!

[Leigh Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a football fan, but when murder comes into play, I’m game.
Hope Kline has gotten herself into a neverending spiral of lies and deceit. As a new mother and housewife, she has a lot of time on her hands, and her detective stills have those hands filling up quickly.
There has been a murder on Margaret Court, and everyone seems to be a suspect.

[Marianne Kupiec · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book with many twists and turns all tied together perfectly by this new author. It made me laugh, stop and think and wonder what would happen next.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story, "The Perfect Move" features young mom Hope and neighbor Nathan as amateur detectives, trying to discover the truth behind their friend's unexpected death. Alisa Klinger places the book on the Gold Coast of Long Island and uses Oheka Castle as an inspiration for her Maltz Manor. She does a great job with descriptions of the Manor and its various architectural features and oddities. The mystery itself you first want to call unlikely, but as soon as you think that you start to reconsider everything you know and (without giving anything away) that was one of the more interesting aspects of the story for me. Medicine, friendship, money, and ethics form the basis for all the relationships in the book, not just the mystery itself. The writing and language are stilted, showing all the expected signs of being a first book, but also giving you the impression that future books by the author will grow in style and comfort.

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had a ton of fun reading this. A young family moves to a wealthy community where the wife gets entangled into a mystery that slowly unfolds until you are charging toward the end as everything gets pieced together. I don’t want to give too many spoilers, but the protagonist, Hope, comes off as a spunky housewife who has no problem introducing herself to her neighbors as she continually questions the people around her. She also creates a lovely relationship with Nathan, a Holocaust survivor, who becomes her detective partner as they piece the mystery together. As it is the author’s first novel, some of the dialogue is a bit contrived and some spots feel bit disjointed, but overall it was fun read. I would have loved a bit more character development, but the mix of personalities was definitely intriguing. At first the mystery seems a bit unexpected, but I think that was half the fun of reading this novel. I think the author will continue to grow in style and story, and it’ll be interesting to see where she goes next.

[Marie-Lyne (Gonewithflynn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this book is more character driven - we get to meet all the characters and learn about their backstories. I particularly liked the dynamic between Nathan and Matthew and then the forming relationship between Nathan and Hope. If I'm honest though, I preferred the second half of the book, once we had a mystery to figure out! I enjoyed playing detective even if some events were a bit far-fetched. There were several twists and I was definitely not expecting the one at the very end. I do wish certain aspects of the book were more fleshed out since some chapters felt a little choppy but overall, this was a good debut! I'm intrigued to see where the author goes next!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you to Alisa Klinger for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel (Rachel's lit reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled that I was given the opportunity to read this book and support a fellow bookstagrammer @followmywritingjourney ! This story was well written, suspenseful and an overall very enjoyable read!

The main thing I appreciated about this book was how thoroughly Alisa researched specific topics. @bethrillingbookclub members actually had the opportunity to chat with Alisa and ask about her research process. She DEFINITELY did her homework and, surprisingly, I learned quite a few things from this book!

While the beginning does take a bit long to get into, it's all necessary for the plot development. I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy a good "whodunit" mystery!

Thank you again, Alisa, for chatting with us this past weekend and answering our questions!

[Allison (Allison_AllBookedUp) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut novel! I liked the characters and their backstories. The descriptions of the setting through out the book were amazing. It was an intense story...it did feel a bit unbelievable and rushed at times, especially towards the end, but I still enjoyed it and like how it wrapped everything up nicely at the end. I look forward to reading more work by this author!

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Perfect Move” by Alisa H. Klinger, June 4, 2021

Alisa Klinger is a debut author of “The Perfect Move’ an intriguing, suspenseful, and captivating novel. The Genres for this book are Fiction, Mystery, and Suspense. The location for this story is set in the Gold Coast on Long Island, which is a prestigious and wealthy area in Long Island. The author sets the story in the present and it goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, motivated, and some can be suspect.

Dr. Jay Klein moves his inquisitive wife Hope and baby to an affluent house on Long Island. Hope loves the house and enjoys meeting the neighbors. There is a famous football player in the neighborhood, as well as an older man that loves to cook, and tells Hope of his life in Germany and the Holocaust. There is a doctor that specializes in finding a treatment for Huntington’s disease that his wife and her father have. This move seems just so perfect. Is it too perfect?

Hope starts to notice strange things. Her neighbor feels someone is watching them. There are twists and turns, and danger. Hope doesn’t realize what she might be uncovering. Who can be trusted? When there is a possible murder, Hope insists on investigating. Will this be a wrong move? I recommend this thought-provoking and intriguing story to other readers.

[☕Brenda Loves Books☕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting thrilling mystery with this one, but it was more of a cozy mystery.
It was slower paced, but the storyline was good, as was the plot.
Character development was well done.
Overall, a decent read.
⭐⭐⭐

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Beach read! The characters are very well developed, you feel like you know them. Hope the main character is someone you would love to know so funny and engaging. One of those books you just can’t put down , a mystery that keeps you guessing to the very end. Simply loved it ! A really feel good book ,which is rare

[Dolores Diener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alisa Klinger is a great new author. Her first book, the perfect move, is a book you cant put down. A real page turner. She draws you in early on and makes you want to continue till you finish. Looking forward for a second novel.

[Elizabeth M. Apmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author Alisa H Klinger transported me to the exciting world of Hope Klein. Historical glimpses of the Gold Coast only added to the compelling whodunit with a satisfying conclusion. I was entertained throughout by real characters. With a great pace, I laughed, cried and even felt fear. I can't wait for the sequel to check in on Hope.

[Keeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of The Perfect Move in exchange for an honest review. The book will be out June 4, 2021.

When Hope and Jay move into a new neighborhood with their son Marc, life gets a lot more exciting. The neighborhood is very nice, giving them close proximity to some interesting neighbors. Just as they’re settling in, a murder upsets the neighborhood and Hope, along with neighbor friend Nathan, is determined to figure out what happened.

This book was a fun mystery and I was constantly wondering what would happen. The characters were all very unique and it was fun to see them interact with one another and figure out who was involved in the murder. The book also explored Huntingtons’ Disease, giving great insight to the challenges of those living with this diagnosis. Also, Hope makes a fun and outgoing main character.

This is the author’s first book, so I find some of the dialogue to feel a bit forced and some of the pacing a little off. However, it’s a fun debut and I’m excited to see what she does next!

[Sabrina (AudreyHepburnOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Pub Day 🎉

When the promise of the perfect move leads to peril…

Title : The Perfect Move
Author: Alisa H. Klinger

Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
(Rounded up to 4 on Goodreads)

Hope Klein is a stay at home mom, moving from New York City to a Long Island’s suburban community, called Gold Coast Estates.

She enjoys getting to know all her neighbors, including a professional football player, a holocaust survivor, a Huntington’s disease victim, and a groundbreaking researcher. Unknowingly, there is someone watching her every move. When a dead body is discovered,
Hope’s perfect world is turned upside down.

Hope is now determined to find out was it suicide, an accident, or murder? But she needs to be careful, but who knows, she might find herself to be the next victim...

I’m all, this was a good debut mystery novel. A little mix of Miss Marple in it. I really connected and enjoyed our main character Hope.

Through the @bookishthrillseekersclub I was able to get this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of The Perfect Move and what a fun, enjoyable mystery this book is. We meet Hope settling into her new suburban life where a mystery is unravelling and puts our main character in danger. The cast of characters in this novel, coming from various walks of life, are well written and very likeable, and the friendships we see develop are caring and compassionate. The story is very engaging with plenty of little twists and turns that keeps you wanting to read on and on, needing to know how it all turns out in the end. 
At times I found the writing to be a little repetitive but it did not take away from the story so it wasn’t an issue for me. Overall, this book was an enjoyable, thrilling read where I found myself racing through the pages as I needed to know what was going to happen next. An ideal thriller/mystery for the summer!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a page turning, can’t put down book to read this summer, the Perfect Move is the book for you. Alisa Klinger has impressed me with the twists and turns this story contains. The characters of the story are so well developed you fall in love with them. I hope I get to see them in future books by Klinger.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut novel for this author. I don’t typically read this genre but I really got into this book and wanted to know what was going to happen next. The main character Hope is easy to like and meeting all the other characters, husband, neighbors, friends through her was fun. There were many twists and turns and I wasn’t sure where it was going so it kept me interested. I am thinking maybe I like mystery’s after all!

[chloe - crimewithchlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m huge football fan over here so with that mixed with some murder & suspense, i’m all for it! i really connected with the main character Hope, she actually reminded me of myself in some ways. this book is based around money, medicine, and friendships. it was a quick read that will keep you guessing til the very end while learning a little about Huntington’s disease. the writing style was different, definitely got confused sometimes but seriously, *round of applause* for this debut novel!

[Olivia 🇬🇷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of mystery/ thrillers and now I have a new favorite to add to my list! Alisa Klinger’s the perfect move captivated me from start to finish. The details characters are carefully thought out and kept me hooked through the plot’s development

Riveting and exciting, Alisa Klinger’s book keeps you guessing from start to finish. I enjoyed . I highly recommend this as a great summer read!

[Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been to Long Island but this book made me feel that I was living in a community of Long Island. If you are or were from Long Island, you will love this book.
Although this is a murder mystery book, you will like all good hearted people. Their backgrounds are all different and you will enjoy knowing each of them.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over Jessica Fletcher and Miss Marple, here comes Hope Klein. In The Perfect Move, Alisa Klinger has created a modern day sleuth who is smart, funny, and very relatable. The story quickly draws the reader in and has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. If you are looking for an easy and engaging read, I would definitely recommend this book.

[SWIT AUTHOR · Rating 5 out of 5]

SWIT RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
💓💓💓💓💓💓✨🌟✨💓💓💓💓💓

💟This book got me from the very first page, and kept me wanting right to the end. A murder mystery with lessons to hold onto.
💖"Good intentions aren't what they always seem".  Within its own pages, I found the perfect way to describe what I experienced in this journey. Not all is as it looks. " Noone can fool you as easily as can fool yourself". I couldn't have said it any better myself.  The sayings and quotes got me motivated and driven to read the more.
💓The story build up is steady and reader friendly. With enough suspense to nearly kill you, but leave you only intruiged and curious. "click, click"! Perfectly placed. .

❤️Alisa made sure to put hints of comedy, to keep the mood lighter, " Nice trip see you next fall" 🤣🤣🤣.The emotions within the pages  conveyed to my heart easily . I remember feeling broken for Morgan, with her condition , as well as over her father.Nathan's recount of his Nazi experiences and how his family was destroyed, tore my heart apart as well.

The murder and the mystery around it got me wondering and exploring, playing detective. By the time I got to the end, I had assumed so many times, how the plot would turn out. Wrong I was, the twist got me.. The book got me..
This was quite a refresher and an awesome read📙
Thank you Alisa H. Klinger for such an intruiging piece.❤️❤️😍😍😘

[Terri Noyed · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Move is a well-written, precisely plotted psychological thriller-it takes place on Long Island in a beautiful setting-The author drops many diverting and convincing side stories which makes it really enjoyable-I highly recommend it!

[BookBabeBeauty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was delighted to receive an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hope, Jay, and their young son Marc are set to live in a prestigious neighborhood. A notorious mansion sits atop the hill, alongside the many mini-mansions speckled around it. With Jay’s new job keeping him away from home, Hope is excited to fill her days with exploring the grounds of the small community and meeting all of the interesting people within the walls of the marvelous homes surrounding her.

Hope is friendly by nature, so it doesn’t take her long to befriend her new neighbors, and some of the secrets they keep. When she and Jay are invited to a Gatsby themed party at the mansion atop the hill, she also realizes that with money also comes the dangerous illusion of power.

But when a beloved new friend dies, she’s left with feeling that it wasn’t just an accident. Suddenly, the friends she’s made are split in their belief that the death of this friend involved foul play. But Hope will stop at nothing to figure out what happened that night, and she’s about to find out that her fears may have been warranted.

Football, gambling, and a look behind the lavish lives of those living behind mansion doors and an unfortunate “whodunit” are what’s in store in this thriller/mystery.

This story is written in the POV of a third party narrative. I prefer to read novels in a first person POV because the characters are so clearly defined, but this story was still easy to follow along with.

If a murder mystery surrounding football and gambling among the rich and influential are your cup of tea, you will enjoy this easy summer read.

[Urvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Move was a wonderful thriller written by a debut author. There are so many intriguing neighbors. A famous football player, a doctor looking for the cure to Huntington's Disease, an older man and more. Everyone seems wonderful, everything seems perfect. Or is it too perfect?

Hope and Jay move into a new house in an upscale gated neighborhood with their son. Hope is a stay at home mom who used to be a teacher while Jay is a doctor. Hope has lots of time on her hands so she befriends people in the neighborhood. One of them being an older man, Nathan. When a murder leaves the entire neighborhood reeling, Hope and Nathan start investigating to find out what really happened.

This mystery-thriller had me intrigued from the very beginning, I just HAD TO KNOW what truly happened and I really loved reading it. Everyone's lying and deceiving each other, they're all suspects. There were many twists and turns which keep you wondering what will happen next and who did it.

I loved Alisa's writing (the main reason I'll probably read more by her in the future) and she did a wonderful job of describing everything, including the architecture of the Manor, so much so that I could almost imagine every single thing.

If you love an odd mystery which has you desperate to know what happened straight up until the end, this book would be a definite recommend for you!

[Rosalie Ruhlmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an unbelievable and gripping novel! I am completely new to the mystery genre, and I started reading The Perfect Move on a total whim after a long list of stale reads. The characters are so richly complex and wholly developed. Hope (the main character) was such a delight; A spunky, compassionate, inquisitive new mom and a definite new friend by the end of the novel! It was such a pleasure to have her lead me on her journey... and what a journey it was! The author so seamlessly weaves together a plethora subjects. You follow Klinger along through the surprisingly interesting dynamics of sports gambling, the acutely painful experiences of a Holocaust victim, the underrepresented traumas of a Huntington's Disease patient, and of course, the very relatable experiences of a new mom trying to navigate the ups and downs of her new position. Furthermore, I honestly cannot get over the ending! I read it and reread it (and even considered re-rereading )! I've already recommended it to so many people in my life, and now I'll enthusiastically recommend it to you. Read the Perfect Move! You won't regret it!

[Paula | pastbookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t a fan of this book nor am I a fan of character-driven stories. The first half of this book was a bit flat for me. I was mostly confused about where the plot was heading. There’s a small touch of mystery that started very early but it was not explored as much as I thought it should/would be. The second half was a bit more interesting. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for me to give it a high rating. It’s not that bad though, for a debut so I’m still looking forward to seeing how this author would grow and develop her ideas for her next book/s.

[Stefanie Nici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stay at home mom Hope Klein moves from the city and into an affluent suburban community on Long Island. As Hope gets to know her new neighbors, so do we.
Little does she know someone is watching her, or are they watching someone else? I don’t want to give away too much but this multi tasking mom teams up with one of her neighbors to solve a crime. I loved the MC Hope, whose personality shines through so bright, you want to jump Inside the book yourself to try and help her solve the crime and then talk about it over coffee.
I hope to see more from this author and more crime solving from this unlikely duo or another member of Hope’s
Gold Coast Estates community. A wonderful debut novel!