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Perfect Prey: A Gripping Psychological Thriller of Best Friends, Disappearance, and Dark Secrets
"Laura Salters is a vibrant new voice."
--C L Taylor, Internationally bestselling author of THE LIE When best friends Carina Corbett and Erin Baxter are assigned to cover a Serbian music festival for their magazine, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. And it is, until Erin vanishes into thin air on their last night in the country. Terrified, Carina launches a desperate search, discovering that the details of her friend’s disappearance are eerily similar to another tragic incident ten years before. Could history be repeating itself? Frantic to find Erin, Carina takes off on a journey deep into the Serbian criminal underbelly, and uncovers a world more sinister than she ever dreamed . . . A twisting, edge-of-your-seat suspense perfect for fans of Jamie McGuire.
--C L Taylor, Internationally bestselling author of THE LIE When best friends Carina Corbett and Erin Baxter are assigned to cover a Serbian music festival for their magazine, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. And it is, until Erin vanishes into thin air on their last night in the country. Terrified, Carina launches a desperate search, discovering that the details of her friend’s disappearance are eerily similar to another tragic incident ten years before. Could history be repeating itself? Frantic to find Erin, Carina takes off on a journey deep into the Serbian criminal underbelly, and uncovers a world more sinister than she ever dreamed . . . A twisting, edge-of-your-seat suspense perfect for fans of Jamie McGuire.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2016
10 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Laura Salters
2 books46 followersLaura Steven is an author, journalist and screenwriter from the northernmost town in England. Her first novel, Run Away, was published by HarperCollins in 2015, and Perfect Prey is due out in summer 2016 – both under the pseudonym Laura Salters.
While juggling various freelance gigs and an MA in Creative Writing, you're most likely to find Laura at Mslexia HQ (where she works in advertising), on stage performing, eating donuts, or penning TV pilots, radio dramas and feature screenplays – sometimes all at once.
As a features writer with very little sense of self-preservation, there isn't much Laura won't do in the name of a good piece – past assignments have included skydiving from 15,000ft, learning professional blackjack, walking across the roof of a football stadium, and travelling to a Serbian fortress to cover a music festival. She also once paraglided off a mountain, but that was entirely accidental.
Agent: Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media.
While juggling various freelance gigs and an MA in Creative Writing, you're most likely to find Laura at Mslexia HQ (where she works in advertising), on stage performing, eating donuts, or penning TV pilots, radio dramas and feature screenplays – sometimes all at once.
As a features writer with very little sense of self-preservation, there isn't much Laura won't do in the name of a good piece – past assignments have included skydiving from 15,000ft, learning professional blackjack, walking across the roof of a football stadium, and travelling to a Serbian fortress to cover a music festival. She also once paraglided off a mountain, but that was entirely accidental.
Agent: Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary & Media.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 24, 2016
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Perfect Prey by Laura Salters stands out from the psychological thriller crowd due to it’s excellent portrayal of a heroine with a mental illness. Like The Woman in Cabin 10, depicts a heroine who is unapologetic about struggling with a mental illness (in this case generalized anxiety), who is gaslit because of it, and who perseveres even when she has to overcome the dual obstacles of physical danger and mental distress. The only reason this book didn’t get an A from me was that I felt the mystery element was a little unbalanced.
I think what struck me was how well the author articulated the intersection between feeling helpless and useless while simultaneously assigning a terrible importance to all her actions. When my anxiety flares up I’m caught between feeling out of control and small, while at the same time feeling like every decision I make or action I take will have life-or-death consequences. I catastrophize. Carina does that as well–a fact that makes her doubt her own judgment and memory when it comes to Erin’s disappearance.
There’s not a ton of violence in this book, so if you shy away from gore it should be fine. Perfect Prey relies heavily on the reader sympathizing with Carina and believing her when she says something horrible must have happened to Erin in order to create suspense. It’s not the perfect thriller, but with it’s accurate depiction of anxiety disorders and frank discussion of mental illness and coping mechanisms, it stands out from the crowd.
- Elyse
Perfect Prey by Laura Salters stands out from the psychological thriller crowd due to it’s excellent portrayal of a heroine with a mental illness. Like The Woman in Cabin 10, depicts a heroine who is unapologetic about struggling with a mental illness (in this case generalized anxiety), who is gaslit because of it, and who perseveres even when she has to overcome the dual obstacles of physical danger and mental distress. The only reason this book didn’t get an A from me was that I felt the mystery element was a little unbalanced.
I think what struck me was how well the author articulated the intersection between feeling helpless and useless while simultaneously assigning a terrible importance to all her actions. When my anxiety flares up I’m caught between feeling out of control and small, while at the same time feeling like every decision I make or action I take will have life-or-death consequences. I catastrophize. Carina does that as well–a fact that makes her doubt her own judgment and memory when it comes to Erin’s disappearance.
There’s not a ton of violence in this book, so if you shy away from gore it should be fine. Perfect Prey relies heavily on the reader sympathizing with Carina and believing her when she says something horrible must have happened to Erin in order to create suspense. It’s not the perfect thriller, but with it’s accurate depiction of anxiety disorders and frank discussion of mental illness and coping mechanisms, it stands out from the crowd.
- Elyse
December 15, 2016
Two young magazine interns go on a paid trip to Serbian to report on a music festival. What could be more exciting and fun? Paired with her best friend and fellow intern Erin Baxter, Carina Corbett is thrilled to be given this opportunity by their editor. Though Carina often suffers from crippling anxiety attacks, she is determined to persevere and drink in the culture of this foreign country. She doesn't want her often-irrational fears to prevent her from enjoying this trip even as she proves her writing skills are up for this task.
But Carina feels an all-too-real fear when Erin disappears without a text or phone call as to her whereabouts. She tightens the grips on her anxiety and delves into the shady world of Serbian criminal activity in search of her friend. Did Erin see or hear something she shouldn't, meet up with the wrong person, pass out drunk and injured somewhere? Anything is possible.
Then evidence comes to light of another beautiful woman having vanished years ago under similar circumstances. The other woman was also a reporter. What happened to Erin? Is she still alive? And if so is she being tortured, abused, what? Carina is also a reporter and as she investigates as best she can in a strange country, she has to wonder if she will be the next reporter to go missing in Serbia.
The pace lags at times due to the overly detailed account of Carina's anxiety attacks. One sympathizes at first but then wants the character (and the author) to get on with it. Carina moves forward, eventually, and then all her fear disappears in a manner that is not entirely believable given her behavior just a few days and weeks earlier. But getting past those instances, the book is enjoyable.
(I appreciate receiving this free ebook through edelweiss.)
But Carina feels an all-too-real fear when Erin disappears without a text or phone call as to her whereabouts. She tightens the grips on her anxiety and delves into the shady world of Serbian criminal activity in search of her friend. Did Erin see or hear something she shouldn't, meet up with the wrong person, pass out drunk and injured somewhere? Anything is possible.
Then evidence comes to light of another beautiful woman having vanished years ago under similar circumstances. The other woman was also a reporter. What happened to Erin? Is she still alive? And if so is she being tortured, abused, what? Carina is also a reporter and as she investigates as best she can in a strange country, she has to wonder if she will be the next reporter to go missing in Serbia.
The pace lags at times due to the overly detailed account of Carina's anxiety attacks. One sympathizes at first but then wants the character (and the author) to get on with it. Carina moves forward, eventually, and then all her fear disappears in a manner that is not entirely believable given her behavior just a few days and weeks earlier. But getting past those instances, the book is enjoyable.
(I appreciate receiving this free ebook through edelweiss.)
December 12, 2016
Review can be read at It's About The Book
This book was disconcerting and frightening and anxiety-filled. Surprisingly, I liked that about it! The protagonist is prone to panic attacks and I felt like I was having them with her. The story is lean and swift and at times you almost feel like you know what’s going to happen, but you would be wrong… that’s all I’m saying.
Best friends Carina and Erin are exited to travel to Serbia where they’re covering a music festival. Carina is going to write a story that will get her out of the fashion closet at the magazine they with together at. Unbeknownst to her, however, the story she ends up writing isn’t about the festival at all. Because one night at the festival, Erin steps away and disappears.
In the beginning, Carina seems to be the only one who notices and seems concerned. As soon as the twenty-four hour waiting period expires, Carina reports Erin missing and reality sets in.
We’ve all read the police procedurals where the chances of someone surviving after 24, 48, or 72 hours becomes less and less likely. Carina unwittingly becomes a person of interest to the local police as well as the other members of the trip. Concerned that the case is being out on the back burner, Carina travels back to Serbia to see what evidence she can find on her own –and discovers a secret that makes killers out of desperate men and pushes her past her own fear limits.
Very interesting, fast-paced story that drags you into the swirling mass of a panic attack and doesn’t let you go. Make sure you’ve got enough time to finish it when you start! Thanks
This book was disconcerting and frightening and anxiety-filled. Surprisingly, I liked that about it! The protagonist is prone to panic attacks and I felt like I was having them with her. The story is lean and swift and at times you almost feel like you know what’s going to happen, but you would be wrong… that’s all I’m saying.
Best friends Carina and Erin are exited to travel to Serbia where they’re covering a music festival. Carina is going to write a story that will get her out of the fashion closet at the magazine they with together at. Unbeknownst to her, however, the story she ends up writing isn’t about the festival at all. Because one night at the festival, Erin steps away and disappears.
In the beginning, Carina seems to be the only one who notices and seems concerned. As soon as the twenty-four hour waiting period expires, Carina reports Erin missing and reality sets in.
We’ve all read the police procedurals where the chances of someone surviving after 24, 48, or 72 hours becomes less and less likely. Carina unwittingly becomes a person of interest to the local police as well as the other members of the trip. Concerned that the case is being out on the back burner, Carina travels back to Serbia to see what evidence she can find on her own –and discovers a secret that makes killers out of desperate men and pushes her past her own fear limits.
Very interesting, fast-paced story that drags you into the swirling mass of a panic attack and doesn’t let you go. Make sure you’ve got enough time to finish it when you start! Thanks
November 30, 2016
Terrific setting and a pretty darn good character in Carina made this a worthy read. Salters has done a nice job with creating menace where there might or might not be a problem. The mystery itself is not as good as the characters but that's ok because it kept me reading simply because it was so intriguing. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Try this one if you like stories where things aren't always straightforward. It's a good one.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews