The Perfect Impostor

by Iris Baxter

What if there's a dark secret behind her perfect life?
Claire has it A successful career, a loving husband, and lots of friends. But when she starts experiencing sudden memory lapses, her life falls into chaos. Her friends stop talking to her, important meetings are missed, and her marriage is in shambles—and she doesn't recall causing any of it happen.

Claire believes she's suffering from a mental condition, until she finds evidence claiming otherwise. Someone has been dismantling her life, piece by piece.

By the time she realizes someone has been watching her and learning her every secret to use against her, her life is in ruins, and the impostor who's haunting her is far from finished.

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[Donna Mallery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story reads at a fast pace. Poor Claire is making a wreck of her life due to her memory losses. It is affecting her personal and professional lives. She is desperate to learn why she is falling apart!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Perfect Impostor
Author: Iris Baxter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book? Total rollercoaster. I picked it up thinking I’d just read a couple of chapters before bed, and next thing I know, it’s 3 a.m., and I’m sitting there with my jaw on the floor. The Perfect Impostor is the kind of story that grabs you from page one and refuses to let go.

Claire feels like someone you’d actually know—a friend, a coworker, maybe even yourself. She’s so normal and relatable that when things start to go sideways, you can’t help but feel every second of her confusion and fear right alongside her. Honestly, it’s what makes the story so addictive. You’re not just reading it—you’re living it.

The way the author builds suspense is brilliant. Little breadcrumbs here, tiny red flags there, and just enough to make you go, “Wait… am I crazy, or is something really wrong here?” And let me tell you, the twist? I didn’t see it coming, not even a little. When it hit, I literally had to close the book for a second and just process.

The pacing is spot-on, the writing is sharp, and the tension? Oh, it builds so subtly that by the time you realize you’re holding your breath, it’s already too late. You’re all in.

If you’re into thrillers that keep you guessing, with a protagonist who feels like someone you’d actually get a coffee with, The Perfect Impostor is a must-read. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when you lose sleep over it!

[Megan Leathers]

The Perfect Imposter by Iris Baxter attempts to deliver a high-stakes psychological thriller, but unfortunately, it contains many of the same traps as her newer work, 25 Candles. After struggling through the experimental one-chapter-a-day format of her December release, I hoped a traditional novel structure might allow for better pacing and depth. While the beginning showed a bit more promise, the story eventually succumbed to the author’s recurring weaknesses.

A significant hurdle in this novel is the lack of relatable or even likable characters. It is difficult to remain invested in a mystery when there is no one to root for, and Baxter seems to favor a cast comprised almost entirely of either truly oblivious or truly malevolent individuals. While thrillers often explore the darker side of humanity, the sheer density of "evil" characters here feels disconnected from reality and ultimately exhausting.

Furthermore, the narrative relies on twists and redemption arcs that feel unearned. Rather than building tension through careful foreshadowing, the plot shifts often feel rushed and forced. Events in the past are brought up randomly and with full details even though they have been "forgotten" for decades. Additionally, all character "redemptions" are equally unearned and jammed into the conversation in the end (of both books actually). It is also worth noting a strangely specific repetition in Baxter’s writing; having an orphanage fire serve as a pivotal plot point in two different books is a distracting coincidence that makes the storytelling feel recycled. If you are looking for a thriller with nuanced characters and logical progression, this one may be a miss.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappearing, and the worst part of it was I was aware of it happening.


Set in Chicago, Illinois.

Claire Harris, 32, is an art curator. Husband Andrew is a world-famous artist (painter). They have a Border Collie named Charlie.

Claire struggles with Impostor Syndrome. She’s riddled with self-doubt, and often believes her achievements aren’t hers.

Best friend, Julia, from college.

Spottings of the mysterious redhead begin at a gala event.

Claire lives a very charmed life.

Severe memory issues—or are they? Missed appointments and deadlines, forgotten conversations…

Estranged from her parents. A revelation from Claire’s father.

Eve could use more exposition.

The usual downward portion of the Thriller Rollercoaster where Someone Is Out To Get Me, Gaslight Me, and Ruin My Life.

Friends, job, dog, husband. (But yes—the dog lives.)

The fire at the orphanage was just the beginning.

Fast-paced and fairly absorbing.

The ending is solid. And a strong epilogue.


“You’re the one who’s been ruining my life. It wasn’t me losing my mind—it was you. It was always you.”

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The writing style was amazing—clear, suspenseful, and incredibly engaging. The story itself was so well thought out, with a perfect balance of intrigue and relatability. My favorite part was the additional POV (no spoilers here!), which added so much depth to the narrative. Finally, a book with twists that feel realistic and grounded—things that could actually happen in real life and most importantly, relatable characters. . I can’t wait to read more from this author; I have a feeling their future work is going to be just as incredible!

[Ana Decosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I enjoyed most about the book was the writing. Pretty flawless, I must say, with decent pace, diversified characters and captivating story. Nevertheless, I figured out the rest of the plot quickly enough not to be surprised at the end of it (I'm talking mostly about the twin). Of course Claire's husband had to be the knight in shining armor, and I don't think him doing one eighty all of a sudden was convincing, since he used to freeze Claire out for a long time. Anyway, 3 stars from me.

[Maria Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the title, description & book cover enticing & I wasn’t expecting such a novel storyline.
Although I enjoyed the story I found it difficult to gel with the characters and I just didn’t feel any emotion throughout but I still wanted to find out the ending so still worth a read hence the 3stars.

[Charlotte Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love my thriller books. This one did not disappoint. Although I began to suspect who the person was and what was going on with the MC halfway through the book. But I did enjoy it. It was sad as to why the person was the way they were. But in the end, all worked out. Definitely worth a read in my opinion.

[Gena Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

Not bad, but I thought it was glaringly obvious what was going on early in the novel when Claire overheard her parents. A rather lot of improbable things happened and it was a rather dark story. But, again, a quick read and somewhat of a page turner.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book 🥰

[Joanne Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Good twist and turns.

[Roberta Eagleston · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was an easy fast read.
The problem I had not giving more than one star, was it was so predictable.
I prefer stories that leave an unexpected twist at theend

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a solid 4.5. It was a quick read and very intriguing!

I really l;iked this book!