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Her Perfect Husband: A totally addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist
A dream holiday. A fractured couple. And one of them won’t make it home.
James and Laura escape to the sun-drenched hills of Andalusia for what is meant to be a much-needed break. She’s a trauma therapist, burnt out after the suicide of a vulnerable client. He’s reeling from layoffs at work. A week in a remote finca might be just what they need to reconnect.
But within hours of arriving, Laura vanishes.
There’s no sign of a struggle. No note. Just silence. James is frantic. With no neighbours for miles—aside from a mysterious Dutch family he was certain shouldn’t be there—he turns to Carmen, the flirtatious owner of a nearby bar, for help. She’s eager to assist... maybe too eager.
When Detective Isabella Santos is assigned to the case, she quickly finds herself navigating a maze of contradictions. James’s medical history suggests he may not be telling the whole truth—or even remembering it. Carmen’s involvement begins to raise more questions than it answers. A local drunk insists he knows where Laura is. And then there’s the Dutch family in the neighbouring finca—especially their unsettling son, who creeps around James’s property with a grin that never quite reaches his eyes.
As secrets surface and the clock ticks, Santos must decide who to trust. Because in the blazing heat of the Spanish countryside, nothing is quite what it seems. And Laura’s time is running out.
A tense, unsettling psychological thriller that explores how easily the mind bends under pressure—and how far people will go to keep their secrets buried.
James and Laura escape to the sun-drenched hills of Andalusia for what is meant to be a much-needed break. She’s a trauma therapist, burnt out after the suicide of a vulnerable client. He’s reeling from layoffs at work. A week in a remote finca might be just what they need to reconnect.
But within hours of arriving, Laura vanishes.
There’s no sign of a struggle. No note. Just silence. James is frantic. With no neighbours for miles—aside from a mysterious Dutch family he was certain shouldn’t be there—he turns to Carmen, the flirtatious owner of a nearby bar, for help. She’s eager to assist... maybe too eager.
When Detective Isabella Santos is assigned to the case, she quickly finds herself navigating a maze of contradictions. James’s medical history suggests he may not be telling the whole truth—or even remembering it. Carmen’s involvement begins to raise more questions than it answers. A local drunk insists he knows where Laura is. And then there’s the Dutch family in the neighbouring finca—especially their unsettling son, who creeps around James’s property with a grin that never quite reaches his eyes.
As secrets surface and the clock ticks, Santos must decide who to trust. Because in the blazing heat of the Spanish countryside, nothing is quite what it seems. And Laura’s time is running out.
A tense, unsettling psychological thriller that explores how easily the mind bends under pressure—and how far people will go to keep their secrets buried.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
143 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Jack Stainton
34 books93 followersJack Stainton is a writer of everyday psychological thrillers. Stories which could happen to anybody at any time.
After thirty years working as a professional consultant, he has now put pen to paper to realise a lifetime ambition.
His debut novel, ‘A GUEST TO DIE FOR’ was released in September 2020.
The second novel, 'YOU'RE FAMILY NOW' is available now in eBook and print.
Jack loves to hear from readers and always responds. Contact him directly in any of the following ways:
Email: info@jackstainton.com
Twitter: @jack_stainton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jackstaintonbooks
After thirty years working as a professional consultant, he has now put pen to paper to realise a lifetime ambition.
His debut novel, ‘A GUEST TO DIE FOR’ was released in September 2020.
The second novel, 'YOU'RE FAMILY NOW' is available now in eBook and print.
Jack loves to hear from readers and always responds. Contact him directly in any of the following ways:
Email: info@jackstainton.com
Twitter: @jack_stainton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jackstaintonbooks
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 12, 2025
Her Perfect Husband by Jack Stainton is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the final page.
A well needed holiday in the Andalusian hills quickly turns sinister when Laura disappears without a trace. With no clear signs of what happened and only a handful of strange locals nearby, her husband James becomes increasingly desperate. As Detective Santos digs into the case, a tangle of secrets, lies, and unsettling characters begin to emerge.
This was a suspenseful and thought-provoking read with a great twisty plot that kept me guessing throughout. The pacing was well executed, steady and intriguing at first, then gradually intensifying as the story unravelled, making it impossible to put down. The characters made me question everyone’s motives. When I thought I had it figured out, another reveal would throw me off.
I loved the short chapters, they kept the momentum going and made it so easy to fall into that “just one more” loop!
A gripping and cleverly written thriller.
Thank you to Jack Stainton for an early copy of your brilliant book.
A well needed holiday in the Andalusian hills quickly turns sinister when Laura disappears without a trace. With no clear signs of what happened and only a handful of strange locals nearby, her husband James becomes increasingly desperate. As Detective Santos digs into the case, a tangle of secrets, lies, and unsettling characters begin to emerge.
This was a suspenseful and thought-provoking read with a great twisty plot that kept me guessing throughout. The pacing was well executed, steady and intriguing at first, then gradually intensifying as the story unravelled, making it impossible to put down. The characters made me question everyone’s motives. When I thought I had it figured out, another reveal would throw me off.
I loved the short chapters, they kept the momentum going and made it so easy to fall into that “just one more” loop!
A gripping and cleverly written thriller.
Thank you to Jack Stainton for an early copy of your brilliant book.
June 15, 2025
Wow this had so many twists & turns it was hard to keep up but I managed. It’s quick, fast paced & got a lot going on but I absolutely was lost in this book & didn’t want it to end but wanted to know who behind all the drama………did not have this figured out at all, I was shocked at the end but great ending.
August 6, 2025
Her Perfect Husband is a gripping psychological thriller that hooks you from the very first page. I couldn't put it down and honestly read it in a day! It’s that fast-paced and addictive. With clever writing and many twists and turns, Jack Stainton masterfully keeps you guessing right until the shocking ending that left me speechless. Just wow! If you're looking for a twisty, unpredictable read, this one comes highly recommended.
January 19, 2026
Laura and James were not a good couple. They lied and withheld secrets from each other. Normally, this would have made for a juicy storyline, but these two were . . . off. Severely disconnected from each other, they made me lose interest. I didn’t care for either of them. Add in James’ boring, repetitive days of “waiting for his wife to return to the finca” and you have a lot of pointless pages. This book might have been good, but it just wasn’t good for me.
August 8, 2025
And it's books like this one that Jack Stainton is one of my favourite authors! ive read all of Jack's books and each one just gets better and better! this one is full of twists and I like the way it was written it kept you wanting to read more ... one more chapter turning into 3 or more. absolutely another brilliant book by Jack and highly recommend anyone to read it! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 x
January 16, 2026
Decent enough holiday poolside read. A little repetitive throughout but I do enjoy an unreliable narrator & having the tables turned on me. I do remember thinking why when his wife has gone missing on holiday does he just keep getting drunk every day?! Quick trip out to a cafe or bar to see if she’s about then oh no she isn’t I’ll order a beer 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
Gripping
This book had my guessing all the way through. So many plot twists I never saw coming. A was hooked from the first chapter.
This book had my guessing all the way through. So many plot twists I never saw coming. A was hooked from the first chapter.
August 26, 2025
Gripping read, with a brilliant twist at the end.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews