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The Perfect Date
I thought I’d found the one… But then I found him dead.
The last time I saw Harry, he was smiling at me over a candlelit table. It felt like I’d known him forever. I sipped my wine, and let myself hope for a second perfect date.
But this morning, out on a bright sunny walk, my rescue dog starts barking. I follow to see what he’s found. That’s when I see Harry’s body. His handsome face is cold and still. I back away, trembling.
It should be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. But it’s happened to me before.
The last two men I dated are dead.
I can’t tell the police I knew them both. I’d be their number one suspect.
But I need answers. Am I going mad, or is this my fault? And if I don’t find out who is doing this, will I be next?
A totally unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you gripped and gasping till the very last page. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.
The last time I saw Harry, he was smiling at me over a candlelit table. It felt like I’d known him forever. I sipped my wine, and let myself hope for a second perfect date.
But this morning, out on a bright sunny walk, my rescue dog starts barking. I follow to see what he’s found. That’s when I see Harry’s body. His handsome face is cold and still. I back away, trembling.
It should be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. But it’s happened to me before.
The last two men I dated are dead.
I can’t tell the police I knew them both. I’d be their number one suspect.
But I need answers. Am I going mad, or is this my fault? And if I don’t find out who is doing this, will I be next?
A totally unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you gripped and gasping till the very last page. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2023
206 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
October 17, 2023
the setup…
Caroline (Caz) Sessions is a professional dog walker living in Brighton with her mother Ruth. She’s really good at it, too, and always has her own border collie rescue dog Joe with her. One morning during one of her dog outings, Joe breaks from her and leads her to a body. As horrifying as that discovery was, what made it worse was Caz recognized who it was…Harry, the man she’d been dating and who’d stood her up last night. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the same thing happened to her six months ago in London! Uh, oh.
the heart of the story…
Let’s back up a minute. When Joe the dog discovered Caz’s guy Ash in London, she was the primary suspect for a hot minute until her alibi cleared her. That one night in jail terrified her and ruined her life. She resigned from her teaching job and returned to live with her mother who had recently had a fall and needed some help. Now to have it happen again defies the laws of probability and if the police made the connection…well. Caz is also house and dog sitting a Maltipoo called Bridget Jones for her former BFF Marcy who is away taking care of her own father. Marcy and Caz have only recently reunited after splitting because Marcy stole boyfriend Mark. Yeah, Caz’s life is sort of a mess but it gets worse as the story progresses because she makes terrible choices along the way. Soon she’s surrounded by people from Marcy’s neighborhood, any one of them a potential suspect. But the worst decisions she makes is to not always follow dog Joe’s lead who is the smartest pooch ever. Even I knew a few minutes in that he has better judgment than Marcy. And, yes, he’s the heart of this story!
the narration…
I thought Sarah Durham was pitch perfect, especially as Caz. She gave great voice distinctions to all the key characters and did wonderful storytelling. But she really got Caz’s craziness and fear.
the bottom line…
Caz made so many terrible, TSTL (too stupid to live) decisions as the situations kept getting worse. But she was making a lot of them out of fear and being in the blind about what may be behind what’s going on. I was all over the place with the suspects…was it John, the next door neighbor’s new ex-con boyfriend, or the stalker fool Edwin from London, or ex-beau back-in-the-picture Mark or even Marcy running a game on her, or Peter the retired police detective? There’s an explosive secret that opens things up and I did guess before the reveal but this was a fun and challenging psychological thriller ride. And Joe the rescue pooch? He’s the real hero. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Caroline (Caz) Sessions is a professional dog walker living in Brighton with her mother Ruth. She’s really good at it, too, and always has her own border collie rescue dog Joe with her. One morning during one of her dog outings, Joe breaks from her and leads her to a body. As horrifying as that discovery was, what made it worse was Caz recognized who it was…Harry, the man she’d been dating and who’d stood her up last night. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the same thing happened to her six months ago in London! Uh, oh.
the heart of the story…
Let’s back up a minute. When Joe the dog discovered Caz’s guy Ash in London, she was the primary suspect for a hot minute until her alibi cleared her. That one night in jail terrified her and ruined her life. She resigned from her teaching job and returned to live with her mother who had recently had a fall and needed some help. Now to have it happen again defies the laws of probability and if the police made the connection…well. Caz is also house and dog sitting a Maltipoo called Bridget Jones for her former BFF Marcy who is away taking care of her own father. Marcy and Caz have only recently reunited after splitting because Marcy stole boyfriend Mark. Yeah, Caz’s life is sort of a mess but it gets worse as the story progresses because she makes terrible choices along the way. Soon she’s surrounded by people from Marcy’s neighborhood, any one of them a potential suspect. But the worst decisions she makes is to not always follow dog Joe’s lead who is the smartest pooch ever. Even I knew a few minutes in that he has better judgment than Marcy. And, yes, he’s the heart of this story!
the narration…
I thought Sarah Durham was pitch perfect, especially as Caz. She gave great voice distinctions to all the key characters and did wonderful storytelling. But she really got Caz’s craziness and fear.
the bottom line…
Caz made so many terrible, TSTL (too stupid to live) decisions as the situations kept getting worse. But she was making a lot of them out of fear and being in the blind about what may be behind what’s going on. I was all over the place with the suspects…was it John, the next door neighbor’s new ex-con boyfriend, or the stalker fool Edwin from London, or ex-beau back-in-the-picture Mark or even Marcy running a game on her, or Peter the retired police detective? There’s an explosive secret that opens things up and I did guess before the reveal but this was a fun and challenging psychological thriller ride. And Joe the rescue pooch? He’s the real hero. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
December 24, 2023
Caz appears to be a magnet for death and misfortune. Instead of finding love from a dating app, she finds death. One time is unlucky, but what about when it happens a second time? Secrets, lies, and betrayal prove to be a deadly and dangerous combination. This is a fast-paced, entertaining thriller that kept me interested and intrigued. Although some of the plot points were slightly predictable, I was always engaged and invested in the satisfying conclusion. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy.
August 22, 2023
What if every time you found ‘the perfect date,’ he showed up dead the following day?
Freaky, right?!
Just ask Carolina ‘Caz’ Sessions, dog-walker extraordinaire. After the first time she and her Border Collie rescue mutt, Joe, discovered a former date in the bushes when out walking, she realized it was more than a coincidence. Moving back to her childhood home to reduce stress after the first ‘Incident’ doesn’t look like it was the best option … it’s still happening! This realization drives her to delete the dating app that started it all … SeeMe.
Does this swift action stop her dates from dying?
When she bumps into an old school friend, Colette Stevens, and agrees to house sit for a week, Caz’s past comes back to haunt her and dead dates resurfacing is only one in a list of traumas she’s now dealing with. It’s not the break she was looking for at all. You’ll be yelling at the choices Caz makes and shaking your head at her seeming naivety. The twist will pop out of nowhere and you’ll agree that Crouch really knows how to write a suspenseful domestic thriller!
If you haven’t read anything by the Queen of Domestic Noir yet, put this one on your list! It’s dark and twisty and very addictive and focuses on toxic relationships.
If you love dogs, this one’s for you, too.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Freaky, right?!
Just ask Carolina ‘Caz’ Sessions, dog-walker extraordinaire. After the first time she and her Border Collie rescue mutt, Joe, discovered a former date in the bushes when out walking, she realized it was more than a coincidence. Moving back to her childhood home to reduce stress after the first ‘Incident’ doesn’t look like it was the best option … it’s still happening! This realization drives her to delete the dating app that started it all … SeeMe.
Does this swift action stop her dates from dying?
When she bumps into an old school friend, Colette Stevens, and agrees to house sit for a week, Caz’s past comes back to haunt her and dead dates resurfacing is only one in a list of traumas she’s now dealing with. It’s not the break she was looking for at all. You’ll be yelling at the choices Caz makes and shaking your head at her seeming naivety. The twist will pop out of nowhere and you’ll agree that Crouch really knows how to write a suspenseful domestic thriller!
If you haven’t read anything by the Queen of Domestic Noir yet, put this one on your list! It’s dark and twisty and very addictive and focuses on toxic relationships.
If you love dogs, this one’s for you, too.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 29, 2023
This is a dog-gone thrilling book ;). When dog-walker Caz happens upon her date's dead body on a walk with her best doggo Joe she neglects to tell the authorities that this isn't her first time this has happened to her. Does she have a stalker, is this coincidence? Is someone sending her a message? Undoubtedly.
Then Caz house-sits for her ex BFF Marcy who contacts her via text and when Caz gets to the house Marcy has already left? Seems sus!
This book has a lot going on and a lot of different storylines, but they all work. I did not see the (surprising/twisted) ending and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture and Julia Crouch for granting me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Then Caz house-sits for her ex BFF Marcy who contacts her via text and when Caz gets to the house Marcy has already left? Seems sus!
This book has a lot going on and a lot of different storylines, but they all work. I did not see the (surprising/twisted) ending and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture and Julia Crouch for granting me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2023
3⭐️
this was interesting! y’all know i love me a good thriller and this delivered. there were some parts in the beginning and middle that i didn’t see as necessary to continue the plot, but overall i had a good time.
this book is about our fmc, Caz, who is out walking dogs one morning when she encounters a body. she identifies the body as Harry, a man she’s been seeing from a dating app. only this isn’t the first time it’s happened, it’s the second. this book dives into a spiral of trying to find out why this keeps happening to find out who.
i actually enjoyed this book to a certain extent. it’s far from one of my favorites but all in all it’s not bad. i found it to be a little predictable (maybe a lot predictable) but i still enjoyed the reading. there was soooo much in the first half of this book that had me a little bored and looking at it saying, “dude, really?” but the SECOND HALF? i was on the floor. let’s just say i’ll be making sure my doors are locked.
THANK YOU NETGALLEY & BOOKOTURE FOR A COPY OF THE ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
this was interesting! y’all know i love me a good thriller and this delivered. there were some parts in the beginning and middle that i didn’t see as necessary to continue the plot, but overall i had a good time.
this book is about our fmc, Caz, who is out walking dogs one morning when she encounters a body. she identifies the body as Harry, a man she’s been seeing from a dating app. only this isn’t the first time it’s happened, it’s the second. this book dives into a spiral of trying to find out why this keeps happening to find out who.
i actually enjoyed this book to a certain extent. it’s far from one of my favorites but all in all it’s not bad. i found it to be a little predictable (maybe a lot predictable) but i still enjoyed the reading. there was soooo much in the first half of this book that had me a little bored and looking at it saying, “dude, really?” but the SECOND HALF? i was on the floor. let’s just say i’ll be making sure my doors are locked.
THANK YOU NETGALLEY & BOOKOTURE FOR A COPY OF THE ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
August 23, 2023
Heart pumping, nail biting suspense, who is it? Cat and mouse type games surround Caz in this twisty story of past and present.
Caz was using a dating app and her date ended up dead and she’d been arrested for his death, but the charges were dropped. She decides to move back to her hometown to start over and help her Mother. She didn’t expect what happened next to happen again in her hometown.
A suspenseful thriller that makes Caz believe she’s being stalked or framed, having 2 dates end up dead. A mysterious package is delivered to her while she’s housesitting for an old friend that only makes her feel like she’s lost her mind.
Bravo on the ending no one will ever guess
Caz was using a dating app and her date ended up dead and she’d been arrested for his death, but the charges were dropped. She decides to move back to her hometown to start over and help her Mother. She didn’t expect what happened next to happen again in her hometown.
A suspenseful thriller that makes Caz believe she’s being stalked or framed, having 2 dates end up dead. A mysterious package is delivered to her while she’s housesitting for an old friend that only makes her feel like she’s lost her mind.
Bravo on the ending no one will ever guess
October 1, 2023
Dog lovers assemble as I have just the thrilling book for you!
The Perfect Date started off with a bang and had me nose deep trying to dig out more information (get it 😉).
But the middle part of the story dragged and felt quite unnecessary for me.
This was Red Herrings galore and the main character in the book was quite dopey and naïve AF!
It was entertaining to say the least.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audible ARC. All views are of my own.
The Perfect Date started off with a bang and had me nose deep trying to dig out more information (get it 😉).
But the middle part of the story dragged and felt quite unnecessary for me.
This was Red Herrings galore and the main character in the book was quite dopey and naïve AF!
It was entertaining to say the least.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audible ARC. All views are of my own.
October 5, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah Durham did an amazing job with this narration! The story is mainly told through the main female characters point of view and I didn’t feel like I needed additional narrators when other characters were speaking! The story is about a woman who’s life has been upended after finding a dead body in the woods of someone she’s been involved with, after the same thing happened to her not long before that too. It held my attention throughout and I can honestly say I didn’t see the ending coming! If you like psychological thrillers and mysteries, be sure to give this book a try!
Sarah Durham did an amazing job with this narration! The story is mainly told through the main female characters point of view and I didn’t feel like I needed additional narrators when other characters were speaking! The story is about a woman who’s life has been upended after finding a dead body in the woods of someone she’s been involved with, after the same thing happened to her not long before that too. It held my attention throughout and I can honestly say I didn’t see the ending coming! If you like psychological thrillers and mysteries, be sure to give this book a try!
October 5, 2023
Action packed from the start. The narrator kept me fully ibvested in tge story. The slight changes in tones and voice for different characters match my imaination.
The burb for this is spot on. Caz returns home to sort put her life and aid her elderly mother. She sets up a dog walking business mainly with posh clients. Whilist walking her dog atumbles upon a dead body. Who just happens to be the guy she is seeing from her dating app. The character arc is revealed that this has happened before. The rest of the story exploers the link between the twoand the past of all characters
The story us full of twists and turns. I gueesed right very early on who the villain was but not their true identity. There were points where i felt it was ott and the fact i knew had me screaming no dont. I was so fully invested in the story. It felt like a really short listen and the end act seem to take a whike to happen and tgen was over too quickly. I loved rhe characters and could see spin off stories in my mind.
Nothing is completely perfect sp this is a 4.5 star listen for me rounded up. Perfect for anyone who loves dogs and a goid myster.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and narrator and author for my arc.
The burb for this is spot on. Caz returns home to sort put her life and aid her elderly mother. She sets up a dog walking business mainly with posh clients. Whilist walking her dog atumbles upon a dead body. Who just happens to be the guy she is seeing from her dating app. The character arc is revealed that this has happened before. The rest of the story exploers the link between the twoand the past of all characters
The story us full of twists and turns. I gueesed right very early on who the villain was but not their true identity. There were points where i felt it was ott and the fact i knew had me screaming no dont. I was so fully invested in the story. It felt like a really short listen and the end act seem to take a whike to happen and tgen was over too quickly. I loved rhe characters and could see spin off stories in my mind.
Nothing is completely perfect sp this is a 4.5 star listen for me rounded up. Perfect for anyone who loves dogs and a goid myster.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and narrator and author for my arc.
October 9, 2023
The beginning was fine for testing the waters, but shortly after the first quarter of the book the story stalled and it didn't pick up till the literal end. I didn't really care for the "reveal" by the time I started skimming through, a lot of parts could be skipped and I feel like the end had the same impact as if I hadn't.
The premise was good but the story didn't deliver at all, the characters weren't boring but they weren't enough to salvage the dullness of the story.
The premise was good but the story didn't deliver at all, the characters weren't boring but they weren't enough to salvage the dullness of the story.
October 9, 2023
Interesting concept. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was behind all the disappearing. I do think the audiobook narrator wasn't for me, but I did enjoy it and recommend to mystery/thriller fans.
Thank you NetGalley for the audio-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley for the audio-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 3, 2023
This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. It was dark and twisted and full of suspense, tension and drama that had me questioning everyone and everything until the very end.
Caroline, who goes by Caz, has moved back home to take care of her disabled mother and to make a fresh start after a rough break up. She’s now running a successful dog walking business for upper class families in the small town they live in. While out for their walk one morning, her dog Joe comes across a dead body and upon closer inspection, Caz realizes the body is that of the man she had been recently dating via a dating app. It shocks her of course, but the more shocking thing is that this is not the first dead body she has found-she also found the body of her last boyfriend. Coincidence? Or is someone out to get her? Does she let the police know of the connection between the two men and risk being their main suspect? Who or why would someone be trying to frame her for these murders?
Caz makes choices that will make you want to scream at her and then the twists pop out of nowhere and it all works! And if you love dogs like I do, you’ll love this one as there’s loads of dogs!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Caroline, who goes by Caz, has moved back home to take care of her disabled mother and to make a fresh start after a rough break up. She’s now running a successful dog walking business for upper class families in the small town they live in. While out for their walk one morning, her dog Joe comes across a dead body and upon closer inspection, Caz realizes the body is that of the man she had been recently dating via a dating app. It shocks her of course, but the more shocking thing is that this is not the first dead body she has found-she also found the body of her last boyfriend. Coincidence? Or is someone out to get her? Does she let the police know of the connection between the two men and risk being their main suspect? Who or why would someone be trying to frame her for these murders?
Caz makes choices that will make you want to scream at her and then the twists pop out of nowhere and it all works! And if you love dogs like I do, you’ll love this one as there’s loads of dogs!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
October 9, 2023
Well this one had some fun twists in it. I couldn’t stop listening to this one. I needed to know who the killer was. And once I had it figured out I had to know who else was going to die and how things were going to wrap up. I liked Julia’s writing style. It was easy to connect with Caroline and Ruth. I understood Caroline’s distrust in the police and so many of the men she came in contact with. Sarah Durham did a great job with the narration. I loved her accent.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC & ALC of this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC & ALC of this book.
September 30, 2023
So this was good. I was jumping all over the place trying to guess who it was. Right from the beginning I was invested in finding what was going on.
I felt like there was a lot of characters and they were relevant but it was a little annoying sometimes to follow that many people.
Chaz’s character was kind of dumb. She constantly made bad decisions. And she was easily manipulated. She’s all over the place and trusting random people. I didn’t care for her.
I felt like there was a lot of characters and they were relevant but it was a little annoying sometimes to follow that many people.
Chaz’s character was kind of dumb. She constantly made bad decisions. And she was easily manipulated. She’s all over the place and trusting random people. I didn’t care for her.
August 14, 2023
this thriller is literally so so good and it will have you guessing from beginning to end and let me just say, it’s always the ones you don’t expect!
i’ve never read from this author before but now i’m tempted to read more! the writing just flowed so nicely and i was HOOKED. i couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and wow. i just didn’t see any of it coming. like at all.
also, the characters in this novel are pretty well written which i also really enjoyed. i felt as if i actually knew them and was genuinely worried for some of them (like caz) or despised their entire existence (like mark!)
lastly, this is entirely off topic but i also really liked that this was a book based in england lol, i always enjoy their slang and i have no idea why to be honest, perhaps it’s because i’m american haha.
anyway ~4.5 stars rounded up!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
i’ve never read from this author before but now i’m tempted to read more! the writing just flowed so nicely and i was HOOKED. i couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and wow. i just didn’t see any of it coming. like at all.
also, the characters in this novel are pretty well written which i also really enjoyed. i felt as if i actually knew them and was genuinely worried for some of them (like caz) or despised their entire existence (like mark!)
lastly, this is entirely off topic but i also really liked that this was a book based in england lol, i always enjoy their slang and i have no idea why to be honest, perhaps it’s because i’m american haha.
anyway ~4.5 stars rounded up!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
October 10, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Perfect Date' by Julia Crouch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Julia Crouch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 6th October 2023.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The New Mother' and 'The Daughters' which I would also highly recommend!
This novel consists of 42 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
What an absolutely fantastically written book with vivid descriptions that make your heart raise and keeps you on the edge of your seat!!! The cover, synopsis and title suit the book perfectly!!
This book has a very realistic storyline and one which I was completely invested in. Once I picked it up I could not put it down so if you are about to read this then make sure you clear your schedules. If your not going to read it then a) why the heck not?!?! And b) definitely your loss!!! . It is absolutely filled with family, drama, crime, deception, love, tension, lies, suspense and a few shocks and twists thrown in!!! It was a complete minefield of twists and turns and I just had no idea who to believe. I was definitely not expecting the twists or the ending so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Julia. I have read thousands of thrillers so it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you managed to completely blow my mind! The fact that Julia has done her research shines through. There is not much worse than a book filled with errors that have could easily have been avoided through research. I loved the addition of Caz's dog Joe who had a personality of his own. I'm a massive animal lover and even run my own cat rescue (Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice) so any storylines with animals playing large parts are always a huge bonus for me and Joe was definitely a big part in this fab read! I absolutely loved the mind-blowing twist at the end which I would have never seen coming!!! As always Julia's fantastic evocative writing skills had me completely invested and absorbed from the very first to the very last word!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened to 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but this time I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Sarah Durham who did an amazing job bringing this story and the characters to life with both male and female characters. I have previously listened to Liz Lawler's 'The Nurse's Secret', 'The Doctors Wife', 'The Doctors Widow's and 'The Family On Smith Street' that were all also narrated by Sarah Durham and I would highly recommend listening to or reading them all as they are other fantastic page turners from other great authors!! I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Julia but also to listening to more books narrated by Sarah!
I was completely invested in the characters, especially the gorgeous Joe!!! My heart went out to Caz who had been betrayed by her childhood friend, her mum had been left disabled and now her dates keep turning up dead!!! What I love about her is that she still stays strong when everything around her is tumbling and is determined to find out what is going on. I adored her relationship with her mum Ruth and both had me smiling and laughing on several occasions which helped to lift the dark and twisty atmosphere. I won't say anything else as this is the type of book that leaves you questioning many of the characters and I don't want to risk giving anything away. Regardless of how you feel about any of them though they each played their part is this gripping storyline perfectly!! Julia's evocative writing skills and Sarah's fantastic narration brings each and every one of them to life!!! Congratulations both!!
Congratulations Julia on one heck of a page turning psychological read!!! I absolutely loved reading this book and have already added all your previous books to my wish list. I look forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie which I can guarantee will be a sell out!! This is why you are in my favourite authour club!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Julia's 'The Daughters' which is actually one I have already read and if you enjoyed this book then I can guarantee you will love that one too. I would highly recommend reading it!!!
Overall an absolutely page turning, intense, heart racing psychological thriller that will get you addicted!!!
332 pages/ 9 hours 24 minutes
This book is just 99p to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 on paperback and £16 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'The Perfect Date' by Julia Crouch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Julia Crouch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 6th October 2023.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The New Mother' and 'The Daughters' which I would also highly recommend!
This novel consists of 42 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
What an absolutely fantastically written book with vivid descriptions that make your heart raise and keeps you on the edge of your seat!!! The cover, synopsis and title suit the book perfectly!!
This book has a very realistic storyline and one which I was completely invested in. Once I picked it up I could not put it down so if you are about to read this then make sure you clear your schedules. If your not going to read it then a) why the heck not?!?! And b) definitely your loss!!! . It is absolutely filled with family, drama, crime, deception, love, tension, lies, suspense and a few shocks and twists thrown in!!! It was a complete minefield of twists and turns and I just had no idea who to believe. I was definitely not expecting the twists or the ending so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Julia. I have read thousands of thrillers so it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you managed to completely blow my mind! The fact that Julia has done her research shines through. There is not much worse than a book filled with errors that have could easily have been avoided through research. I loved the addition of Caz's dog Joe who had a personality of his own. I'm a massive animal lover and even run my own cat rescue (Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice) so any storylines with animals playing large parts are always a huge bonus for me and Joe was definitely a big part in this fab read! I absolutely loved the mind-blowing twist at the end which I would have never seen coming!!! As always Julia's fantastic evocative writing skills had me completely invested and absorbed from the very first to the very last word!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened to 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but this time I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Sarah Durham who did an amazing job bringing this story and the characters to life with both male and female characters. I have previously listened to Liz Lawler's 'The Nurse's Secret', 'The Doctors Wife', 'The Doctors Widow's and 'The Family On Smith Street' that were all also narrated by Sarah Durham and I would highly recommend listening to or reading them all as they are other fantastic page turners from other great authors!! I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Julia but also to listening to more books narrated by Sarah!
I was completely invested in the characters, especially the gorgeous Joe!!! My heart went out to Caz who had been betrayed by her childhood friend, her mum had been left disabled and now her dates keep turning up dead!!! What I love about her is that she still stays strong when everything around her is tumbling and is determined to find out what is going on. I adored her relationship with her mum Ruth and both had me smiling and laughing on several occasions which helped to lift the dark and twisty atmosphere. I won't say anything else as this is the type of book that leaves you questioning many of the characters and I don't want to risk giving anything away. Regardless of how you feel about any of them though they each played their part is this gripping storyline perfectly!! Julia's evocative writing skills and Sarah's fantastic narration brings each and every one of them to life!!! Congratulations both!!
Congratulations Julia on one heck of a page turning psychological read!!! I absolutely loved reading this book and have already added all your previous books to my wish list. I look forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie which I can guarantee will be a sell out!! This is why you are in my favourite authour club!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Julia's 'The Daughters' which is actually one I have already read and if you enjoyed this book then I can guarantee you will love that one too. I would highly recommend reading it!!!
Overall an absolutely page turning, intense, heart racing psychological thriller that will get you addicted!!!
332 pages/ 9 hours 24 minutes
This book is just 99p to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 on paperback and £16 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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November 24, 2023
The Perfect Date
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Julia Crouch
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: I thought I’d found the one… But then I found him dead.
The last time I saw Harry, he was smiling at me over a candlelit table. It felt like I’d known him forever. I sipped my wine, and let myself hope for a second perfect date.
But this morning, out on a bright sunny walk, my rescue dog starts barking. I follow to see what he’s found. That’s when I see Harry’s body. His handsome face is cold and still. I back away, trembling.
It should be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. But it’s happened to me before.
The last two men I dated are dead.
I can’t tell the police I knew them both. I’d be their number one suspect.
But I need answers. Am I going mad, or is this my fault? And if I don’t find out who is doing this, will I be next?
My Thoughts: This was a captivating and compelling psychological thriller. This is the first time that I have read a book by Julia Crouch and it will not be my last. Crouch held my interest and weaved an unpredictable thrilling experience. At its most simplistic form, this was a whodunit. However, there were unpredictable twists and turns and I was questioning every character and their motive. This book was so much fun and I devoured in a matter of days (audiobook). Caz (Caroline) is a dog walker, takes care of her mother, and her last two dates were murdered. Her dog, Joe, has an excellant nose for finding dead bodies. Caz does not believe that the two incidents were connected. Since she is the connection for these two murders, will she be a suspect? Or were these men murdered to get to her?
The story is narrated by Caz, an unreliable narrator, in her POV. There are a lot of characters and it takes a bit to make all of the connections and understand the path of the characters. However, once it clicks, it clicks. Caz has been through a lot recently, including being detained as a suspect in Ash’s death. She has made some questionable decisions and her behavior is eccentric. The characters were fleshed out well with depth, they were mysterious, and creatively placed throughout the story. The author’s writing style was complex, twisty, unpredictable, and really well written. The story starts out as a slow burn to build up the characters, lay the foundation, and set the tone. Then the plot is delivered in twisty layers, pulling the whodunit in different directions. Then an explosive secret is laid out and the story is wrapped up in an ending that I did not see coming. Very well written story. Personally, I think Joe (the dog) really steals the show.
I had the pleasure of having the digital and audiobook (ARC) of this story. The narrator was amazing in this audiobook. She had great voice distinction, with amazing voice pitch and really brought life to the characters. She really nailed the fear behind Caz. She really kept me invested in this story. This story was dark, compelling, captivating, twisty, and really kept me guessing. I had every character nailed as a suspect at one time or another. Probably one of the most unpredictable books that I have read this year. If you love dogs, you will love this story! I highly recommend that you go pick this up today.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Julia Crouch
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: I thought I’d found the one… But then I found him dead.
The last time I saw Harry, he was smiling at me over a candlelit table. It felt like I’d known him forever. I sipped my wine, and let myself hope for a second perfect date.
But this morning, out on a bright sunny walk, my rescue dog starts barking. I follow to see what he’s found. That’s when I see Harry’s body. His handsome face is cold and still. I back away, trembling.
It should be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. But it’s happened to me before.
The last two men I dated are dead.
I can’t tell the police I knew them both. I’d be their number one suspect.
But I need answers. Am I going mad, or is this my fault? And if I don’t find out who is doing this, will I be next?
My Thoughts: This was a captivating and compelling psychological thriller. This is the first time that I have read a book by Julia Crouch and it will not be my last. Crouch held my interest and weaved an unpredictable thrilling experience. At its most simplistic form, this was a whodunit. However, there were unpredictable twists and turns and I was questioning every character and their motive. This book was so much fun and I devoured in a matter of days (audiobook). Caz (Caroline) is a dog walker, takes care of her mother, and her last two dates were murdered. Her dog, Joe, has an excellant nose for finding dead bodies. Caz does not believe that the two incidents were connected. Since she is the connection for these two murders, will she be a suspect? Or were these men murdered to get to her?
The story is narrated by Caz, an unreliable narrator, in her POV. There are a lot of characters and it takes a bit to make all of the connections and understand the path of the characters. However, once it clicks, it clicks. Caz has been through a lot recently, including being detained as a suspect in Ash’s death. She has made some questionable decisions and her behavior is eccentric. The characters were fleshed out well with depth, they were mysterious, and creatively placed throughout the story. The author’s writing style was complex, twisty, unpredictable, and really well written. The story starts out as a slow burn to build up the characters, lay the foundation, and set the tone. Then the plot is delivered in twisty layers, pulling the whodunit in different directions. Then an explosive secret is laid out and the story is wrapped up in an ending that I did not see coming. Very well written story. Personally, I think Joe (the dog) really steals the show.
I had the pleasure of having the digital and audiobook (ARC) of this story. The narrator was amazing in this audiobook. She had great voice distinction, with amazing voice pitch and really brought life to the characters. She really nailed the fear behind Caz. She really kept me invested in this story. This story was dark, compelling, captivating, twisty, and really kept me guessing. I had every character nailed as a suspect at one time or another. Probably one of the most unpredictable books that I have read this year. If you love dogs, you will love this story! I highly recommend that you go pick this up today.
October 6, 2023
‘She thought she’d found the one… But then she found him dead…’ - cover tag line.
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC and to Bookouture Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘The Perfect Date’ by Julia Crouch. The audiobook is narrated by Sarah Durham. I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour.
Well, my attention was certainly snagged by that tag line! Caroline (Caz) Sessions has recently returned to Brighton to look after her ailing mother, Ruth. However, there was another reason to leave London. The last man that she dated had been murdered and for a short time she had been the prime suspect! Recently she tried using the dating app again and met Harry with whom she had shared two successful dates. She has a good feeling about him.
Caz has started a dog walking business that keeps her busy. When out walking some of her charges, she lets Joey, her own dog, off his leash. He runs off, comes back and seems very agitated. Then she sees that he’s found a dead body! As Caz draws closer, she realises that it’s Harry. She faints …
What an opening! When the police interview Caz she doesn’t mention that she knew the victim. After all dog walkers are always coming across dead bodies! Plus, surely it’s just a coincidence that another man she was dating met a sticky end.
Then Marcy, one of Caz’s clients, sends her a message offering her a lucrative week long job as pet sitter for Bridget Jones, her pampered Maltipoo. Caz moves into Marcy’s luxurious home and fantasises that it could have been hers. We learn that years before Marcy and Caz had been best friends until Mark, Caz’s boyfriend, had dumped her for Marcy. Ouch! Since they are now divorced, Caz is trying her best to reconnect with her old friend. Yet she feels that something isn’t quite right at the house. No further details to avoid spoilers.
There’s a lot going on in ‘The Perfect Date’. At times I was concerned that it was too much though Crouch clearly knows her craft and brought together its various threads in what I found a satisfying conclusion. It was a very twisty journey.
I found myself quite invested in the narrative, even though Caz’s behaviour was sometimes frustrating. In addition, any thriller that contains animals, especially much loved pets, always provides an extra degree of tension.
With respect to the audiobook, British actor Sarah Durham has narrated a number of titles, many in the mystery and thriller genres and I have enjoyed her readings of a few. She has a versatile range that infused the characters with distinctive voices.
Overall, I found ‘The Perfect Date’ a gripping psychological thriller, that was almost impossible to put down. While it was the first novel I have read by Julia Crouch, it certainly won’t be my last.
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC and to Bookouture Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘The Perfect Date’ by Julia Crouch. The audiobook is narrated by Sarah Durham. I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour.
Well, my attention was certainly snagged by that tag line! Caroline (Caz) Sessions has recently returned to Brighton to look after her ailing mother, Ruth. However, there was another reason to leave London. The last man that she dated had been murdered and for a short time she had been the prime suspect! Recently she tried using the dating app again and met Harry with whom she had shared two successful dates. She has a good feeling about him.
Caz has started a dog walking business that keeps her busy. When out walking some of her charges, she lets Joey, her own dog, off his leash. He runs off, comes back and seems very agitated. Then she sees that he’s found a dead body! As Caz draws closer, she realises that it’s Harry. She faints …
What an opening! When the police interview Caz she doesn’t mention that she knew the victim. After all dog walkers are always coming across dead bodies! Plus, surely it’s just a coincidence that another man she was dating met a sticky end.
Then Marcy, one of Caz’s clients, sends her a message offering her a lucrative week long job as pet sitter for Bridget Jones, her pampered Maltipoo. Caz moves into Marcy’s luxurious home and fantasises that it could have been hers. We learn that years before Marcy and Caz had been best friends until Mark, Caz’s boyfriend, had dumped her for Marcy. Ouch! Since they are now divorced, Caz is trying her best to reconnect with her old friend. Yet she feels that something isn’t quite right at the house. No further details to avoid spoilers.
There’s a lot going on in ‘The Perfect Date’. At times I was concerned that it was too much though Crouch clearly knows her craft and brought together its various threads in what I found a satisfying conclusion. It was a very twisty journey.
I found myself quite invested in the narrative, even though Caz’s behaviour was sometimes frustrating. In addition, any thriller that contains animals, especially much loved pets, always provides an extra degree of tension.
With respect to the audiobook, British actor Sarah Durham has narrated a number of titles, many in the mystery and thriller genres and I have enjoyed her readings of a few. She has a versatile range that infused the characters with distinctive voices.
Overall, I found ‘The Perfect Date’ a gripping psychological thriller, that was almost impossible to put down. While it was the first novel I have read by Julia Crouch, it certainly won’t be my last.
September 15, 2023
I had the amazing opportunity to read this as an ARC from Bookoture and it did not disappoint.
The first half was a bit slow to get into but it was because the author was setting up the storyline to unfold in the last half of the book. Boy did it ever! I found myself constantly asking myself “who is it?” as I was trying to figure it out with our main character.
The ending was a surprise to me - I definitely had my suspicions leading up to the big reveal but at that point everyone in the book was a suspect in my eyes.
If you enjoy books that lead you into thinking that the suspect could be one of many characters then this read is up your alley!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for giving me the opportunity to read this book before it’s release date.
The first half was a bit slow to get into but it was because the author was setting up the storyline to unfold in the last half of the book. Boy did it ever! I found myself constantly asking myself “who is it?” as I was trying to figure it out with our main character.
The ending was a surprise to me - I definitely had my suspicions leading up to the big reveal but at that point everyone in the book was a suspect in my eyes.
If you enjoy books that lead you into thinking that the suspect could be one of many characters then this read is up your alley!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for giving me the opportunity to read this book before it’s release date.
October 6, 2023
Caz is a successful dog walker in Brighton. One day, when she’s walking the dogs, one of them picks up a scent and leads her to a dead body.
Imagine her shock when she recognises the man lying dead on the ground. He is called Harry and Caz met him through the dating app. They’ve been on a couple of dates before and she really thought they had a future together.
The strangest thing is that minutes before Caz discovered Harry’s body, she got a message from him. How is that possible?
The police are soon investigating Harry’s murder. Caz is hiding a secret… While she was living in London, her dog also picked up a scent of a dead body. The man was called Ash and Caz used to date him. Because of how the police treated her in the past, she doesn’t want to disclose this piece of information. Would that be her downfall?
I enjoyed this psychological thriller.
I must admit that it went in the direction I wasn’t expecting. Caz is asked to house-sit for her friend Marcy, and then all hell breaks loose. I thought it would be more about the police investigation, but I was quickly sucked into Caz’s (and Marcy’s) past.
As a dog owner and lover, I was totally besotted with Joe, Caz’s dog, who was extremely intelligent and loyal. I also liked Ruth, Caz’s mum, who showed great strength throughout her not so easy life.
And that ending… Great!
Imagine her shock when she recognises the man lying dead on the ground. He is called Harry and Caz met him through the dating app. They’ve been on a couple of dates before and she really thought they had a future together.
The strangest thing is that minutes before Caz discovered Harry’s body, she got a message from him. How is that possible?
The police are soon investigating Harry’s murder. Caz is hiding a secret… While she was living in London, her dog also picked up a scent of a dead body. The man was called Ash and Caz used to date him. Because of how the police treated her in the past, she doesn’t want to disclose this piece of information. Would that be her downfall?
I enjoyed this psychological thriller.
I must admit that it went in the direction I wasn’t expecting. Caz is asked to house-sit for her friend Marcy, and then all hell breaks loose. I thought it would be more about the police investigation, but I was quickly sucked into Caz’s (and Marcy’s) past.
As a dog owner and lover, I was totally besotted with Joe, Caz’s dog, who was extremely intelligent and loyal. I also liked Ruth, Caz’s mum, who showed great strength throughout her not so easy life.
And that ending… Great!
October 3, 2023
Dating is always hard so when Carolina, or Caz meets the perfect guy on the “perfect date” she is excited.
She is a dog-walker and takes her Border Collie on a walk, and the dog discovers a body! The body turns out to be her date. There have been incidents in the past. She makes the final decision to delete her dating app, “SeeMe”.
I knew this was going to be twisted and dating can have its own hitches. Is the app spying on her? Does someone want revenge?
She agrees to house sit for her old friend Colette for a week. While there her past comes back to haunt her! Is she imagining things?
Buckle up for a bumpy ride for a twist that will leave you in the dust! This was my second by this author and she writes wonderful domestic suspense.
She is a dog-walker and takes her Border Collie on a walk, and the dog discovers a body! The body turns out to be her date. There have been incidents in the past. She makes the final decision to delete her dating app, “SeeMe”.
I knew this was going to be twisted and dating can have its own hitches. Is the app spying on her? Does someone want revenge?
She agrees to house sit for her old friend Colette for a week. While there her past comes back to haunt her! Is she imagining things?
Buckle up for a bumpy ride for a twist that will leave you in the dust! This was my second by this author and she writes wonderful domestic suspense.
October 9, 2023
One day Caz takes her dog, Joe, as well as several dog-walking clients out for a nice run. But Joe, who always listens, fails to return from his play. Caz finally finds Joe, who leads her to a dead body. The body just so happens to belong to Harry, the man she was supposed to be going on a date with that night. Caz is upset, even more so by the fact that this isn't the first body Joe has found. Eight months ago, Joe found a body when they were walking in London. His name was Ash - and Caz had dated him too.
Caz deletes her dating app and hope the police don't share information between departments. She doesn't want to spend the night in a cell (again) for something she didn't do. But she is beginning to wonder...despite being innocent, do these deaths have to do with her?
Great thriller! As soon as I was convinced it was one person, another likely suspect pops up. An interesting whodunit that will keep you guessing.
Caz deletes her dating app and hope the police don't share information between departments. She doesn't want to spend the night in a cell (again) for something she didn't do. But she is beginning to wonder...despite being innocent, do these deaths have to do with her?
Great thriller! As soon as I was convinced it was one person, another likely suspect pops up. An interesting whodunit that will keep you guessing.
October 10, 2023
3.75ish stars
The protagonist of this story really has the worst luck, to put it mildly. There was a lot going on in the book, and the ending was implausible at best; it wasn’t unenjoyable, though, and I was hooked at a few different points. I’m glad I was able to explore this story.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The protagonist of this story really has the worst luck, to put it mildly. There was a lot going on in the book, and the ending was implausible at best; it wasn’t unenjoyable, though, and I was hooked at a few different points. I’m glad I was able to explore this story.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2023
Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for the ARC #ThePerfectDate by #JuliaCrouch. I could not stop listening to this stalkerish book. It had me guessing the entire book only to be shocked by the big twist ending.
November 12, 2023
Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio, and Julia Crouch for this amazing audiobook!! A fun listen to a thrilling story! A singleton middle aged woman back home with her mom to take care of her (and get her life back on track after who she thought was the love of her life decided to leave her for her best friend years ago). She starts a dog walking business which is going pretty well and starts to date online. She comes across a dead body which isn’t the first time and although I won’t giveaway who the body belonged to but things just start to go array. I couldn’t even guess the outcome of this book! Twists that’ll make your head spin!!
August 19, 2023
I was hooked from the first chapter and would have finished it within a day if I didn’t have work!
I loved the writing style and how just when you thought you had figured it out, something happened to make you doubt yourself. Lots of twists and turns made for a book that was hard to put down (I read the last 50% of the book in only a few hours) and had me talking to my friends and family about (whilst trying not to give away spoilers!) when I wasn’t reading it.
That to me is the sign of a good book. I don’t often give five stars and after reading the synopsis I had high hopes and really didn’t want to be disappointed but I can tell you I wasn’t.
Loved this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of the book
I loved the writing style and how just when you thought you had figured it out, something happened to make you doubt yourself. Lots of twists and turns made for a book that was hard to put down (I read the last 50% of the book in only a few hours) and had me talking to my friends and family about (whilst trying not to give away spoilers!) when I wasn’t reading it.
That to me is the sign of a good book. I don’t often give five stars and after reading the synopsis I had high hopes and really didn’t want to be disappointed but I can tell you I wasn’t.
Loved this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of the book
October 3, 2023
Caroline (Caz), is a 30yo professional dog walker who just moved back in with her mom. She's out walking her clients' dogs when she discovers the dead body of a man she was supposed to go on a date with later that day. The most shocking thing about it is that this exact same scenario happened to Caroline less than a year ago with a previous boyfriend. It's hard to believe that it's all just a coincidence. But when one of her clients -who she's been dog/house-sitting for- goes missing, the situation becomes downright terrifying for Caroline.
This book was pleasantly entertaining ! The fact that I listened to the whole audiobook recording in less than a day bears proof of it. However, the more I'm thinking about it, the more I find it impossible to come to terms with some aspects of the story (spoilers ahead)
1. Unfitting title and synopsis : I find them a bit misleading, there's no perfect date to speak of. The book litterally starts with a dead man with virtually no flashbacks on Caroline and Harry's relationship (I think that’s his name, but I'm not sure of it, given how rarely they mentioned him... That’s how insignificant he is in this story). The story focus much more on the history and bad blood between Caroline and her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend.
2. Plot convenience : There are plenty of examples. Let's start with the fact that the police wasn't involved until the very last minute. I get that Caroline didn’t want to attract negative attention to herself by disclosing her involvement in a previous homicide case (it's dumb, but understandable to a certain degree). However, not calling the police when her former friend disappears ? Okay Caroline is a terrible persone (she is), but what about their other friends ? WHY DOESN’T ANYONE CALL THE POLICE ?! The funny thing is that the only time Caroline seriously considers it is when the DOG disappears for like 5 minutes (that sociopath). Also, why trust Peter and not talk to the detective in charge of the investigation ? The fact that she so easily agreed to keep important informations from him is so incredibly stupid (and illegal). There are so many more examples of "convenient" things happening that are completely illogical (another one for the road : the security system and people's phones are hacked, but Caroline "calls" her friend to "tell" him to call the cops, because she's afraid the killer might hear her if she calls the police herself ? ................ wut?)
3. Flat characters trying hard to becoming 3 dimentional : most characters were flat, everyone is whether a good guy or a bad guy, with very little nuance or depth, EXCEPT in one small paragraph where Caroline recalls a time where Ruth (her mom) who spent 30 years hidden from society because she didn’t want anyone to look at her, was flaunting her naked body (ok I'm exagerating) before her daughter's eyes, to teach her some body positivity lesson. I'm not making fun of the character, her traumas or disabilities, what I'm saying is that the author's attempt at adding depth to her characters and their relationship seemed awkward to me and inconsistent with their personalities.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me access to this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This book was pleasantly entertaining ! The fact that I listened to the whole audiobook recording in less than a day bears proof of it. However, the more I'm thinking about it, the more I find it impossible to come to terms with some aspects of the story (spoilers ahead)
1. Unfitting title and synopsis : I find them a bit misleading, there's no perfect date to speak of. The book litterally starts with a dead man with virtually no flashbacks on Caroline and Harry's relationship (I think that’s his name, but I'm not sure of it, given how rarely they mentioned him... That’s how insignificant he is in this story). The story focus much more on the history and bad blood between Caroline and her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend.
2. Plot convenience : There are plenty of examples. Let's start with the fact that the police wasn't involved until the very last minute. I get that Caroline didn’t want to attract negative attention to herself by disclosing her involvement in a previous homicide case (it's dumb, but understandable to a certain degree). However, not calling the police when her former friend disappears ? Okay Caroline is a terrible persone (she is), but what about their other friends ? WHY DOESN’T ANYONE CALL THE POLICE ?! The funny thing is that the only time Caroline seriously considers it is when the DOG disappears for like 5 minutes (that sociopath). Also, why trust Peter and not talk to the detective in charge of the investigation ? The fact that she so easily agreed to keep important informations from him is so incredibly stupid (and illegal). There are so many more examples of "convenient" things happening that are completely illogical (another one for the road : the security system and people's phones are hacked, but Caroline "calls" her friend to "tell" him to call the cops, because she's afraid the killer might hear her if she calls the police herself ? ................ wut?)
3. Flat characters trying hard to becoming 3 dimentional : most characters were flat, everyone is whether a good guy or a bad guy, with very little nuance or depth, EXCEPT in one small paragraph where Caroline recalls a time where Ruth (her mom) who spent 30 years hidden from society because she didn’t want anyone to look at her, was flaunting her naked body (ok I'm exagerating) before her daughter's eyes, to teach her some body positivity lesson. I'm not making fun of the character, her traumas or disabilities, what I'm saying is that the author's attempt at adding depth to her characters and their relationship seemed awkward to me and inconsistent with their personalities.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me access to this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
October 10, 2023
Another absolutely stunning read from the very talented Julia Crouch!! Wholly deserved 5 stars!
Caz has moved back home to Brighton to look after her mother Ruth after Ruth has had an accident. Caz is more than happy to return home after experiencing a traumatic event in London where she used to work as a Secondary School Maths teacher. She has set up a very successful dog walking business in Brighton since returning and very much enjoys what she does now. When her old friend Marcy has to suddenly go away Marcy asks Caz if she will dog sit, and house sit for her and despite their friendship ending badly years back the pair have reconnected, and Caz agrees to help Marcy out. Once again, she experiences another traumatic event and decides that moving into Marcy’s house for a bit might help her heal from that with different surroundings. However, as soon as Caz moves into Marcey’s house strange things start happening, the neighbours seem weird, Marcey isn’t answering any of Caz’s texts about when she is coming back and then she starts to get letters threatening her loved ones. Caz doesn’t know who to trust and then when she discovers a huge secret that Ruth has been hiding from her, she realises that she is in extreme danger and so are her loved ones. People she knows start to go missing and Caz needs to put the pieces together but can she do it in time to save them and ultimately herself?!
Wow, wow and WOW!! Julia Crouch has done it again with an excellent hard to put down page turner!! I was hooked very early on in the book and the tension just built and built! I wasn’t sure what to make of Caz to start with and I did find myself screaming in my head about some of the life choices she was making, but ultimately, I did like her. I was definitely led down the wrong path over who the baddie was which was excellent as I love being surprised when reading a book and this one did just that.
Overall, another great offering from the talented Julia Crouch, twisty and satisfying. I would highly recommend this to any psychological thriller fans, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next. Completely deserved 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Julia Crouch and Bookouture my advanced reading copy. Out now.
Caz has moved back home to Brighton to look after her mother Ruth after Ruth has had an accident. Caz is more than happy to return home after experiencing a traumatic event in London where she used to work as a Secondary School Maths teacher. She has set up a very successful dog walking business in Brighton since returning and very much enjoys what she does now. When her old friend Marcy has to suddenly go away Marcy asks Caz if she will dog sit, and house sit for her and despite their friendship ending badly years back the pair have reconnected, and Caz agrees to help Marcy out. Once again, she experiences another traumatic event and decides that moving into Marcy’s house for a bit might help her heal from that with different surroundings. However, as soon as Caz moves into Marcey’s house strange things start happening, the neighbours seem weird, Marcey isn’t answering any of Caz’s texts about when she is coming back and then she starts to get letters threatening her loved ones. Caz doesn’t know who to trust and then when she discovers a huge secret that Ruth has been hiding from her, she realises that she is in extreme danger and so are her loved ones. People she knows start to go missing and Caz needs to put the pieces together but can she do it in time to save them and ultimately herself?!
Wow, wow and WOW!! Julia Crouch has done it again with an excellent hard to put down page turner!! I was hooked very early on in the book and the tension just built and built! I wasn’t sure what to make of Caz to start with and I did find myself screaming in my head about some of the life choices she was making, but ultimately, I did like her. I was definitely led down the wrong path over who the baddie was which was excellent as I love being surprised when reading a book and this one did just that.
Overall, another great offering from the talented Julia Crouch, twisty and satisfying. I would highly recommend this to any psychological thriller fans, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next. Completely deserved 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Julia Crouch and Bookouture my advanced reading copy. Out now.
October 15, 2023
"The Perfect Date" by Julia Crouch, narrated by Sarah Durham, is a thrilling audiobook that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This psychological suspense novel is full of twists and turns, making it a compelling choice for those who love a good mystery. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, I was proven wrong.
Julia Crouch's storytelling is masterful, and she keeps you guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed, and their complex relationships add depth to the narrative. It's a rollercoaster of emotions as you follow the protagonist's journey into the dark secrets of her past.
Sarah Durham's narration is top-notch, capturing the tension and intrigue of the story perfectly. Her voice is clear, and she effectively conveys the characters' emotions, making the audiobook a truly engaging experience. With Julia Crouch’s storyline and Sarah Durham’s story telling, I found myself wanting to extend my drives so I could keep listening.
"The Perfect Date" is a captivating listen that will have you hooked from start to finish, making it a must for fans of psychological thrillers and earning a four star rating.
Julia Crouch's storytelling is masterful, and she keeps you guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed, and their complex relationships add depth to the narrative. It's a rollercoaster of emotions as you follow the protagonist's journey into the dark secrets of her past.
Sarah Durham's narration is top-notch, capturing the tension and intrigue of the story perfectly. Her voice is clear, and she effectively conveys the characters' emotions, making the audiobook a truly engaging experience. With Julia Crouch’s storyline and Sarah Durham’s story telling, I found myself wanting to extend my drives so I could keep listening.
"The Perfect Date" is a captivating listen that will have you hooked from start to finish, making it a must for fans of psychological thrillers and earning a four star rating.
October 6, 2023
This could be the shortest 5* review I've ever written because I just can't work out how to say much about the plot and storyline, without giving away any spoilers!
There was so much going on and it was all brilliant!
After a traumatic event, Caz moves back home with her mum in Brighton and starts a dog walking service for the local owners.
When out with the dogs one morning she finds a dead body - not only that, she knew the man she found! And it's not the first time....
We follow this story from the present time, but as we read, more information from the past, comes to light.
These storylines weave together beautifully leaving us wondering what's going on and why!?
Whilst house sitting for an old friend and current client, strange things start happening to Caz and as she explores each of the neighbours and recent acquaintances, we discover that there's much more to each of them and end up with multiple possibilities for who is the murderer.
With the large cast of characters and the different threads of story, it might seem that this would get over complicated, but it really doesn't!
Everything is clear and concise and the book flows with increasing tension building.
Each character plays their part in the mystery perfectly.
I loved the writing style which had me gripped from the start.
I did suspect who the killer was fairly early on - but had no idea why until much later - and the journey to get there had me questioning whether I was right or not?
Once the big reveal came - we raced to the end which still managed to surprise me.
I listened to this on audio book and really enjoyed the presentation. The narrator was great at portrating each character (especially given the large cast) and infusing it with tension, excitement and even some humour too.
A really great read - my first (but definitely not my last) from this author
There was so much going on and it was all brilliant!
After a traumatic event, Caz moves back home with her mum in Brighton and starts a dog walking service for the local owners.
When out with the dogs one morning she finds a dead body - not only that, she knew the man she found! And it's not the first time....
We follow this story from the present time, but as we read, more information from the past, comes to light.
These storylines weave together beautifully leaving us wondering what's going on and why!?
Whilst house sitting for an old friend and current client, strange things start happening to Caz and as she explores each of the neighbours and recent acquaintances, we discover that there's much more to each of them and end up with multiple possibilities for who is the murderer.
With the large cast of characters and the different threads of story, it might seem that this would get over complicated, but it really doesn't!
Everything is clear and concise and the book flows with increasing tension building.
Each character plays their part in the mystery perfectly.
I loved the writing style which had me gripped from the start.
I did suspect who the killer was fairly early on - but had no idea why until much later - and the journey to get there had me questioning whether I was right or not?
Once the big reveal came - we raced to the end which still managed to surprise me.
I listened to this on audio book and really enjoyed the presentation. The narrator was great at portrating each character (especially given the large cast) and infusing it with tension, excitement and even some humour too.
A really great read - my first (but definitely not my last) from this author
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