What do you think?
Rate this book
The Perfect Village
It's the perfect place to hide the truth... Vivacia Williams is strong, independent and lives in a beautiful community. She's trying to make the best of a bad situation since her husband walked out on her.
Then, she finds two lost children. They have no home, no parents, and suddenly Vivacia has the one thing she's been missing.
Vivacia will go to any length to keep the children but there are no secrets in the gated community of Wolf's Pit, and when a body is found, all of the residents are under scrutiny. With everyone pointing fingers, how far will Vivacia go to keep her secrets and realise her dream?
A tense and gripping psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of Catherine Cooper and Caroline Mitchell.
Then, she finds two lost children. They have no home, no parents, and suddenly Vivacia has the one thing she's been missing.
Vivacia will go to any length to keep the children but there are no secrets in the gated community of Wolf's Pit, and when a body is found, all of the residents are under scrutiny. With everyone pointing fingers, how far will Vivacia go to keep her secrets and realise her dream?
A tense and gripping psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of Catherine Cooper and Caroline Mitchell.
246 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2024
26 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Hewitt
18 books130 followersSilver Prize in the author v author competition 2008 (supported by the National Literary Trust)
Shortlisted for the Inspire and Mentor Campaign – selected by Jojo Moyes 2012
Two books independently published in 2010 and 2013
Longlisted for the Retreat West First Chapter Competition 2015
Winner of the BritCrime Pitch Competition 2015
Winner in the Twisted 50 Short Story Competition 2016. Short story 'Fingers' to be published in the Twisted 50 Anthology.
Appearing at the Felixstowe Book Festival in 2015 and 2016 and the East Anglia Author Festival 2016.
Member of the CWA, ITW and East Anglian Authors.
Exclusion Zone and The Hunger Within published 2016 / 2017 by Endeavour Media.
The Night Caller published by Bookouture 2019.
www.jmhewitt.com Twitter: @jmhewitt FB: www.facebook.com/j.mhewittauthor
Shortlisted for the Inspire and Mentor Campaign – selected by Jojo Moyes 2012
Two books independently published in 2010 and 2013
Longlisted for the Retreat West First Chapter Competition 2015
Winner of the BritCrime Pitch Competition 2015
Winner in the Twisted 50 Short Story Competition 2016. Short story 'Fingers' to be published in the Twisted 50 Anthology.
Appearing at the Felixstowe Book Festival in 2015 and 2016 and the East Anglia Author Festival 2016.
Member of the CWA, ITW and East Anglian Authors.
Exclusion Zone and The Hunger Within published 2016 / 2017 by Endeavour Media.
The Night Caller published by Bookouture 2019.
www.jmhewitt.com Twitter: @jmhewitt FB: www.facebook.com/j.mhewittauthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 15, 2025
additional star for the not badly written villain. But the plot? go away
March 4, 2024
Vivacia is a woman who resides in the countryside and has been dealing with the heartache of her husband's departure for the past year. Despite her experience as a foster parent, she longs to become a mother but fears that it may never happen.
Until one early morning, she finds two young children, all alone, at a spot near her home. But who are they? And where are their parents?
This was a thriller I had to know the ending to, with well thought out characters. Some were likeable, and some not so much as you’ll see when you read this thriller.
This book took me awhile to get into, but I will say T here were many different twist in this book and I didn’t guess one.
This was 3.5 star read for me.
Thank you @netgalley for this advanced copy.
Until one early morning, she finds two young children, all alone, at a spot near her home. But who are they? And where are their parents?
This was a thriller I had to know the ending to, with well thought out characters. Some were likeable, and some not so much as you’ll see when you read this thriller.
This book took me awhile to get into, but I will say T here were many different twist in this book and I didn’t guess one.
This was 3.5 star read for me.
Thank you @netgalley for this advanced copy.
August 15, 2024
A strange but riveting novel full of mystery and sadness.
The main character Vivacia has endured much sorrow and abuse in her life and when she finds two young children she likes to hope that her happiness has arrived at last.
An odd and somewhat closed off community makes the read even more creepy and everyone wants to keep their secrets.
Even though I had worked out who the children were very early on it didn’t detract from my enjoyment in reading it. An interesting parallel to the folk tale from Suffolk about the green children of many centuries ago, as explained by the author at the end of the book.
The main character Vivacia has endured much sorrow and abuse in her life and when she finds two young children she likes to hope that her happiness has arrived at last.
An odd and somewhat closed off community makes the read even more creepy and everyone wants to keep their secrets.
Even though I had worked out who the children were very early on it didn’t detract from my enjoyment in reading it. An interesting parallel to the folk tale from Suffolk about the green children of many centuries ago, as explained by the author at the end of the book.
July 22, 2024
i’m so disappointed..
most the plottwists were so so predictable :( I liked the concept but the execution was not the best.
the vibe was incredible but i wished the plottwists were made to be more surprising..
most the plottwists were so so predictable :( I liked the concept but the execution was not the best.
the vibe was incredible but i wished the plottwists were made to be more surprising..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2024
4.5 🌟
a good read, but I didn't properly connect to the characters. Although, the plot was extremely well-written and gripling!
a good read, but I didn't properly connect to the characters. Although, the plot was extremely well-written and gripling!
September 27, 2024
Weird!
January 16, 2025
The premise of The Perfect Village was undoubtedly captivating, initially drawing me in with its intriguing concept. However, the execution fell somewhat short. The pacing felt sluggish at times, hindering the momentum and making it difficult to stay fully engaged. Moreover, certain sections presented a degree of confusion, requiring a considerable amount of mental effort to decipher. This unfortunately led to moments where I seriously contemplated abandoning the book altogether, a rare occurrence for me.
While the core idea has merit, I would recommend approaching The Perfect Village with caution. If you're seeking a fast-paced and easily digestible read, this might not be the best choice. However, if you're patient and enjoy unraveling complex narratives, you may find the unique concept rewarding enough to persevere.
While the core idea has merit, I would recommend approaching The Perfect Village with caution. If you're seeking a fast-paced and easily digestible read, this might not be the best choice. However, if you're patient and enjoy unraveling complex narratives, you may find the unique concept rewarding enough to persevere.
March 14, 2024
Oh oh! This is like the story of the little green children who came about one day in the the 1300s or whenever! I love that story. How fun to see it presented in a modern way.
I didn't get attached to our desperate to me a mother protagonist but I would probably try to keep those babies too. I hated Charles and I love hating husbands in books.
This was ultimately weird and creepy and I love it.
I didn't get attached to our desperate to me a mother protagonist but I would probably try to keep those babies too. I hated Charles and I love hating husbands in books.
This was ultimately weird and creepy and I love it.
March 1, 2024
Vivacia is an abused wife living in the small community she grew up in. The community votes to sell off some land to developers and bring in new money. The book centers around Vivacia and her life as a wife and foster mother. Her husband’s abuse has led to her difficult life, which turns around after finding two children wandering the woods alone. Who do these children belong to and will they be taken away? There were a couple interesting plot twists in the story. I’m a huge fan of psychological thrillers but sadly, could not get into this one. The story line seemed to carry on and found some of the main characters were unlivable.
April 18, 2024
This is an odd and interesting story.
It’s full of sadness and mystery and it definitely doesn’t go where you expect it to.
Some of the secrets weren’t terribly surprising. Otheres, however, were quite horrifying.
I don’t know that I loved the way everything ended, but I definitely enjoyed the read.
• ARC via Publisher
It’s full of sadness and mystery and it definitely doesn’t go where you expect it to.
Some of the secrets weren’t terribly surprising. Otheres, however, were quite horrifying.
I don’t know that I loved the way everything ended, but I definitely enjoyed the read.
• ARC via Publisher
June 11, 2025
My first book by this author. I enjoyed it on the whole. I read some reviews saying the plots were complex, but I found this to be a straightforward domestic thriller with some nice twists.
I found the writing style quite odd though, a bit stilted, or robotic. Rob was also robotic. Vivacia acted robotic around Rob and vice versa. I just kept picturing two awkward people interacting very awkwardly, and maybe that's the intention. I didn't understand why they didn't interact/communicate with one another like regular human beings. Or maybe it's because Rob knows Vivacia's secret? That might explain it (I just finished it, so still processing).
What did I like? Vivacia, Cally, the mystery of children, the twists toward the end (I feel like page 200 is when the book really kicks off), and all the reveals. I also liked the characterisation of Vivacia's husband, though I wish we knew more about him. He was so twisted, cruel and malicious though. Bravo to the author!
What would have improved it? More info about Rob (who was he? why was he so awkward? did he come from the same place the children came from? what happened after his cliff-hanger?!?!), more info about where the children came from (this was one of the best elements of the book, their origins/culture, and wish it has been explored more), and the title. The Perfect Village is a bit misleading I think; The Well, The Children of the Well, or Wolf's Pit would be more interesting and accurate titles.
I'd love to know more about Rob, Charles, and the fate of the children (what's up with Dallas?!), so if anyone here knows, drop me a message.
I found the writing style quite odd though, a bit stilted, or robotic. Rob was also robotic. Vivacia acted robotic around Rob and vice versa. I just kept picturing two awkward people interacting very awkwardly, and maybe that's the intention. I didn't understand why they didn't interact/communicate with one another like regular human beings. Or maybe it's because Rob knows Vivacia's secret? That might explain it (I just finished it, so still processing).
What did I like? Vivacia, Cally, the mystery of children, the twists toward the end (I feel like page 200 is when the book really kicks off), and all the reveals. I also liked the characterisation of Vivacia's husband, though I wish we knew more about him. He was so twisted, cruel and malicious though. Bravo to the author!
What would have improved it? More info about Rob (who was he? why was he so awkward? did he come from the same place the children came from? what happened after his cliff-hanger?!?!), more info about where the children came from (this was one of the best elements of the book, their origins/culture, and wish it has been explored more), and the title. The Perfect Village is a bit misleading I think; The Well, The Children of the Well, or Wolf's Pit would be more interesting and accurate titles.
I'd love to know more about Rob, Charles, and the fate of the children (what's up with Dallas?!), so if anyone here knows, drop me a message.
July 22, 2024
The story line was predictable, it was quite easy to pick up that the Cally and Charles were more intertwined into the story line then first suggested! I understand Charles is painted out to be this man who just wants to be accepted and understood, but the whole cult spin off could of been better if Charles was given a heavier back story, I wanted more controlling behaviours from him which would paint a greater picture, without that it make me think how can Vivacia and Jackie be so casual about their involvement in his murder, almost like the story line was there but the juice parts were missing.
There’s gaps in the story line, why does Rose have such a brilliant memory for a 7 year old, I know I have memories from the age of 5 but she seems to remember everything, I guess the writer would have issues relaying stories from the children’s side without revealing Cally is their mother without it, but had the stories been told from Callg it may have been stronger!
Vivacia never gives or tells Jackie about the note of Jackie’s name found on Roses possession and though Vivacia is desperate to have kids or family of her own surely she would try to do right by her best friends mother?
Rob… why was he even in the story line? All to be killed off by Dallas, seems like the writer needed someone easily kill able to look after the kids while Vivacia went for the police interview, I guess the writer didn’t want to show Vivacia as someone as neglecting them eg leaving them on their own but leaving them with a strange man is even worse, military medically trained or not!
There’s gaps in the story line, why does Rose have such a brilliant memory for a 7 year old, I know I have memories from the age of 5 but she seems to remember everything, I guess the writer would have issues relaying stories from the children’s side without revealing Cally is their mother without it, but had the stories been told from Callg it may have been stronger!
Vivacia never gives or tells Jackie about the note of Jackie’s name found on Roses possession and though Vivacia is desperate to have kids or family of her own surely she would try to do right by her best friends mother?
Rob… why was he even in the story line? All to be killed off by Dallas, seems like the writer needed someone easily kill able to look after the kids while Vivacia went for the police interview, I guess the writer didn’t want to show Vivacia as someone as neglecting them eg leaving them on their own but leaving them with a strange man is even worse, military medically trained or not!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2024
Vivacia lives in a countryside community trying to find herself after her husband walked out on her. One morning she stumbles upon two children who seemingly do not have parents or a home. As a former foster mother, Vivacia believes it is her duty to become a mother to these small children. Vivacia wants nothing more than to protect these kids; however, when a dead body is found on the community property, how far will Vivacia go for these missing kids?
This book is written with dual timelines. One timeline follows the present whereas a second timeline follows Vivacia's struggles with her marriage and becoming a foster mother. Although this book can be very predictable at times, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a psychological read. This book has a very cult-like vibe. The Perfect Village sucks you in with the first several chapters. The major twist does reveal itself pretty early on in the book, so I would recommend this book for people looking for a more psychological plot versus unexpected twists.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
This book is written with dual timelines. One timeline follows the present whereas a second timeline follows Vivacia's struggles with her marriage and becoming a foster mother. Although this book can be very predictable at times, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a psychological read. This book has a very cult-like vibe. The Perfect Village sucks you in with the first several chapters. The major twist does reveal itself pretty early on in the book, so I would recommend this book for people looking for a more psychological plot versus unexpected twists.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
May 1, 2024
Vivacia Williams has lived in the small village of Wolf's Pit all her life. She lives in the house that was once her grandmother's but who gave it to her & moved in with Vivacia's mother just along the lane- along with the stern warning to keep the deeds in her name. Good advice as Vivacia's husband is a nasty bully who makes her life a misery. She longs to be a mother & had enjoyed fostering until Charles stopped that by fooling the authorities that she couldn't cope. Charles was always coming & going & after a year she starts to breathe easily again. When she finds two malnourished non verbal children in the fields behind her house she decided this is her chance to be a mother- after all no-one seems to want them do they? Then a body is found & Vivacia has even more reasons to keep quiet.
This was an enjoyable read even if it did stretch probability a bit too much at times. The author captured the setting very well- I felt I knew the area & the residents Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
This was an enjoyable read even if it did stretch probability a bit too much at times. The author captured the setting very well- I felt I knew the area & the residents Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
March 4, 2024
Vivacia is a woman living in the countryside, whose husband left her a year ago. An experienced foster-parent, Vivacia's one desire is to be a mother - something that seems increasingly unlikely to happen.
Until she inexplicably finds two young children, lost and alone, at a nearby spot. But who are they? And what are they doing there?
This is an excellent psychological thriller, carefully plotted and featuring a range of very believable characters. Some are likeable, and some not so much, but the different personalities living within the community - not without tension - are beautifully rendered.
Seasoned thriller addicts may be able to predict some of the twists in this story, but honestly there are so many that the most demanding reader is likely to be satisfied nevertheless! I loved this, and recommend it highly. Will be keen to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Until she inexplicably finds two young children, lost and alone, at a nearby spot. But who are they? And what are they doing there?
This is an excellent psychological thriller, carefully plotted and featuring a range of very believable characters. Some are likeable, and some not so much, but the different personalities living within the community - not without tension - are beautifully rendered.
Seasoned thriller addicts may be able to predict some of the twists in this story, but honestly there are so many that the most demanding reader is likely to be satisfied nevertheless! I loved this, and recommend it highly. Will be keen to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
March 13, 2024
Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!
Really enjoyed this read! Vivacia is our lead character who resides in a small family oriented community. This novel bounces back and forth from current state to Vivacia's past of being a foster mother and her distructive relationship with her husband. We slowly piece together the background of their relationship and the impact it has had on Vivacia's life and her dream of being a parent. When Vivacia comes across two lost children, she felt it was fate that they were coming to her, but how would the public handle it? Therefore, she kept another secret of keeping them in her realm until should could better understand what was happening. So many twists up until the very end!
Really enjoyed this read! Vivacia is our lead character who resides in a small family oriented community. This novel bounces back and forth from current state to Vivacia's past of being a foster mother and her distructive relationship with her husband. We slowly piece together the background of their relationship and the impact it has had on Vivacia's life and her dream of being a parent. When Vivacia comes across two lost children, she felt it was fate that they were coming to her, but how would the public handle it? Therefore, she kept another secret of keeping them in her realm until should could better understand what was happening. So many twists up until the very end!
September 8, 2025
The story follows Vivacia, and while it’s hard not to feel sympathy for her tragic life, I struggled to finish this book and never fully connected with it. Too many things felt coincidental or abrupt—two lost, nonverbal children with green skin suddenly appearing at her doorstep, and her decision to not only take them in but also hide them because of her past fears with foster care.
There are strong nods to fantasy throughout, but the reliance on coincidences made it difficult for me to stay engaged. That said, the ending was good and happy, which wrapped things up on a satisfying note.
Thank you NetGalley, Canelo & J. M. Hewitt for this arc!
There are strong nods to fantasy throughout, but the reliance on coincidences made it difficult for me to stay engaged. That said, the ending was good and happy, which wrapped things up on a satisfying note.
Thank you NetGalley, Canelo & J. M. Hewitt for this arc!
March 5, 2024
Vivacia is trying to get her life together after her husband left. One morning she finds two children – dirty, hungry and non-communicative. She takes them in to her home and takes are of them. But then a body is found and…. Well… Vivacia is protecting the children.
Told in dual timelines – the present, and the past with Vivacia and her abusive husband.
It had a slow start, and I honestly had a hard time sticking with this one.
Told in dual timelines – the present, and the past with Vivacia and her abusive husband.
It had a slow start, and I honestly had a hard time sticking with this one.
April 11, 2024
Vivacia, a woman who lives in the countryside, has been alone since her husband departed a year ago. She's a seasoned foster-parent, dreams of being a mother, a hope that appears to be fading.
Suddenly, she stumbles upon two young children who are lost and alone nearby. Are they lost? They don't look very healthy, maybe they've been abducted and managed to escape? That's for you to find out.
Featuring a variety of very realistic characters, this psychological thriller is a superbly plotted story. The community showcases a range of personalities, some likeable and others not, but they are all portrayed in a beautiful way despite occasional tensions.
Some twists in this story may be predictable for seasoned thriller fans, but the sheer number of twists will undoubtedly satisfy even the most demanding reader! This was incredible and I highly endorse it. I’m excited to see what else this author has written.
Many thanks to @canelo_co @jmhewitt & @Netgalley for the chance to review it.
Suddenly, she stumbles upon two young children who are lost and alone nearby. Are they lost? They don't look very healthy, maybe they've been abducted and managed to escape? That's for you to find out.
Featuring a variety of very realistic characters, this psychological thriller is a superbly plotted story. The community showcases a range of personalities, some likeable and others not, but they are all portrayed in a beautiful way despite occasional tensions.
Some twists in this story may be predictable for seasoned thriller fans, but the sheer number of twists will undoubtedly satisfy even the most demanding reader! This was incredible and I highly endorse it. I’m excited to see what else this author has written.
Many thanks to @canelo_co @jmhewitt & @Netgalley for the chance to review it.
February 15, 2025
A good thriller about a woman who finds 2 children and takes them in, then they find the body of her husband dead in the local well.
I liked the short chapters and that they alternated between Vivacias past and present. I did think Cally would be involved with Charles but didn't make the connection she was in the trailer!
The only part I wanted to know more about Robs character and why he was always there at the right time, I thought he was going to be a bad guy!
I liked the short chapters and that they alternated between Vivacias past and present. I did think Cally would be involved with Charles but didn't make the connection she was in the trailer!
The only part I wanted to know more about Robs character and why he was always there at the right time, I thought he was going to be a bad guy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2024
What a load of old tosh!
This was the story of a woman who miraculously finds two ´green’ children, takes them in and then discovers that they are in fact the children of her dead abusive husband an her missing ex best friend. They’ve been living in a squalid locked up caravan surviving on nothing but the blood from their dying mothers slit wrists. Yeah: not a great one. 🙄
This was the story of a woman who miraculously finds two ´green’ children, takes them in and then discovers that they are in fact the children of her dead abusive husband an her missing ex best friend. They’ve been living in a squalid locked up caravan surviving on nothing but the blood from their dying mothers slit wrists. Yeah: not a great one. 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2024
I enjoyed this! The ending was good and the twists were unique and unexpected! The story moves at a good pace. I would recommend this! Special Thank you to J.M. Hewitt, Canelo and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo!
It took me just a smidge to figure out what was going on. Who were these children Vivacia found? Where did they come from? I read a lot of horror, so crazy demon alien children were not outside the realm of possibility! But as time went on, and I realized the horror was a lot more man made, I could not stop reading! Such a sad, strange little book!
It took me just a smidge to figure out what was going on. Who were these children Vivacia found? Where did they come from? I read a lot of horror, so crazy demon alien children were not outside the realm of possibility! But as time went on, and I realized the horror was a lot more man made, I could not stop reading! Such a sad, strange little book!
July 29, 2024
Enjoyed
August 8, 2024
Dnf’d it. Got to 50 pages and couldn’t read any more.
August 22, 2024
a waste of paper.
August 27, 2024
Left too many questions unanswered. Couldn’t get a connection with the characters
August 30, 2024
Book was quite slow to get into and sometimes a little confusing to keep up with.
I did enjoy the plot twists near the end, although I was still left with a lot of unanswered questions
I did enjoy the plot twists near the end, although I was still left with a lot of unanswered questions
September 29, 2024
A bit slow to start but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. Very well written and executed. Really enjoyed the last 1/2 of the book. 3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews