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Perfect Murder
Could you commit the perfect murder? Alice Friend thinks you can, and she's going to prove it. But perfection is elusive, and the body count rises as she pursues her aim, changing MO with each kill. It should be easy. After all, Alice is perfectly suited for the task. As a crime writer she leads a solitary life and has little to get in her way. Until it does. Can she really kill and walk away, or will her actions have consequences closer to home than she could have imagined? Suddenly it looks like time may be running out for Alice... Dark and quirky, download Perfect Murder to see if the perfect murder really can be committed. For fans of Peter James and Angela Marsons
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2019
32 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Bradley
19 books264 followersRebecca Bradley is a retired police detective who lives in the UK with her family and her two cockapoo's Alfie and Lola. They keep her company while she writes. Rebecca needs to drink copious amounts of tea to function throughout the day and if she could, she would survive on a diet of tea and cake while committing murder on a regular basis, in her writing of course.
To download a FREE novella of THREE WEEKS DEAD visit her website at rebeccabradleycrime.com
You can always chat with her on Twitter where she can be found spending far too much of her time at @RebeccaJBradley
To download a FREE novella of THREE WEEKS DEAD visit her website at rebeccabradleycrime.com
You can always chat with her on Twitter where she can be found spending far too much of her time at @RebeccaJBradley
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 11, 2019
This is Rebecca Bradley's first stand alone novel and is slightly different from her usual books. I have read all of her Hannah Robbins crime series and have enjoyed them all. I have to say although this was slightly different I enjoyed it just as much. Alice Friend is a crime novelist. Can she commit the "perfect murder". I don't want to spoil it by giving away the story line but I strongly recommend you read it as I am sure you won't be disappointed
September 15, 2024
Crime writer Alice Friend puts what she knows into practice when she agrees to help her much-loved mother-in-law shuffle off this mortal coil. But to build up her nerve, she decides to practice on random people first – she loves her MIL and wants to save her from the relentless misery of her MIL’s Multiple Sclerosis, wants to make sure she can do the crime when her MIL is ready, and she wants to do it right. She documents her odyssey in a diary for anyone who might be cleaning up after her, justifying why she did what she did.
I got this book thinking it was a part of either the DI Hannah Robbins series, or the Detective Claudia Nunn series, both of which I love love love. Looks like it’s a one-off instead, about this new character Alice Friend. I was unsure in the beginning but due to my intense loyalty to this author’s other characters, I kept going, and I’m glad I did. It was fascinating to watch an otherwise normal person with noble motives slide into murder again and again.
Alice has an amazing capacity for self-deception. I enjoyed seeing what was going on in Alice’s head while she was committing her crimes, all in the name of gaining skill for when she had to help her MIL. Would I read it again? No. But I did enjoy it and while I did not find her as attractive or likeable as the author’s other characters, this was an interesting, compelling read that made the time on the elliptical or recumbent bike just fly by.
I'd actually give this 3.75 stars if that were possible. Good writing, interesting story, novel approach to the crimes ... I just didn't like Alice quite as much as I do the author's other characters.
I got this book thinking it was a part of either the DI Hannah Robbins series, or the Detective Claudia Nunn series, both of which I love love love. Looks like it’s a one-off instead, about this new character Alice Friend. I was unsure in the beginning but due to my intense loyalty to this author’s other characters, I kept going, and I’m glad I did. It was fascinating to watch an otherwise normal person with noble motives slide into murder again and again.
Alice has an amazing capacity for self-deception. I enjoyed seeing what was going on in Alice’s head while she was committing her crimes, all in the name of gaining skill for when she had to help her MIL. Would I read it again? No. But I did enjoy it and while I did not find her as attractive or likeable as the author’s other characters, this was an interesting, compelling read that made the time on the elliptical or recumbent bike just fly by.
I'd actually give this 3.75 stars if that were possible. Good writing, interesting story, novel approach to the crimes ... I just didn't like Alice quite as much as I do the author's other characters.
December 4, 2019
Well, this was an unusual read. Unlike many crime novels, which focus on the investigators and trying to work out who done it, this time we're with the murder. Felicity Friend is a crime novelist and journalist. To begin with, she appears to be fairly normal. But as she starts to think about how she could commit the perfect murder, one that she could get away with, it soon becomes clear that she's completely mental.
She has had some awful things happen to her, which might explain how she ended up so disturbed. I have to admit that I struggled to have any sympathy for her. I don't want to give any spoilers, but hopefully, I can keep things vague enough when I say that I wasn't entirely satisfied about the conclusion.
There were a couple of times that the book dragged a little. I didn't think that the bits that were taken from the book that she was writing worked very well. I suspect it was supposed to show the contrast between the aims of the character that she was creating and what she was doing. I don't think that really worked and I didn't enjoy that aspect.
This was an interesting and thought-provoking read. As a stand-alone, it's a great contrast to Rebecca Bradley's police procedural series.
She has had some awful things happen to her, which might explain how she ended up so disturbed. I have to admit that I struggled to have any sympathy for her. I don't want to give any spoilers, but hopefully, I can keep things vague enough when I say that I wasn't entirely satisfied about the conclusion.
There were a couple of times that the book dragged a little. I didn't think that the bits that were taken from the book that she was writing worked very well. I suspect it was supposed to show the contrast between the aims of the character that she was creating and what she was doing. I don't think that really worked and I didn't enjoy that aspect.
This was an interesting and thought-provoking read. As a stand-alone, it's a great contrast to Rebecca Bradley's police procedural series.
December 17, 2019
Perfect Murder is the new stand alone novel by Rebecca Bradley, whose series featuring Hannah Robbins is one I always enjoy.
It introduces us to Alice, a crime writer, cat lover and very much a loner. She is devoted to Beth, ex mother in law and best friend. But Beth is seriously ill and has asked Alice for help. Alice understandably struggles with this request but after being involved in a collision that results in a death of a stranger she starts to think of ways to commit the perfect murder.
Whilst I found Alice’s crimes increasingly fascinating it was her relationship with Beth and later Hashim that was my favourite part of this novel. Both sides of Alice’s character were revealed, cold blooded, emotionless killer and devoted friend. I felt this was very important to the author, being able to show the turmoil Alice felt and the way she coped with it. The bond between Alice and Beth felt real and I could see how Beth’s request affected both of them.
The murders were all unusual and I can’t think of seeing any of them in other crime fiction books. They did make me wonder about what the author could have seen in her previous career. Not just with the method but also what the murder scene looked like and the clean up after.
A clever and emotional read from an author who deserves to be more well known.
It introduces us to Alice, a crime writer, cat lover and very much a loner. She is devoted to Beth, ex mother in law and best friend. But Beth is seriously ill and has asked Alice for help. Alice understandably struggles with this request but after being involved in a collision that results in a death of a stranger she starts to think of ways to commit the perfect murder.
Whilst I found Alice’s crimes increasingly fascinating it was her relationship with Beth and later Hashim that was my favourite part of this novel. Both sides of Alice’s character were revealed, cold blooded, emotionless killer and devoted friend. I felt this was very important to the author, being able to show the turmoil Alice felt and the way she coped with it. The bond between Alice and Beth felt real and I could see how Beth’s request affected both of them.
The murders were all unusual and I can’t think of seeing any of them in other crime fiction books. They did make me wonder about what the author could have seen in her previous career. Not just with the method but also what the murder scene looked like and the clean up after.
A clever and emotional read from an author who deserves to be more well known.
December 11, 2019
Felicity Friend is a crime fiction author who, having written several novels where the victim has met an untimely end, she wonders how difficult it would be to commit the perfect murder without getting caught.
This is a stand alone novel, and in lots of ways, different from Rebecca's usual style of writing, as this is written from a different perspective entirely, however, it works.
It's quite difficult to say anything else about the story without spoiling it, but I have no hesitation in recommending this to others looking for a good book to immerse themselves in.
This is a stand alone novel, and in lots of ways, different from Rebecca's usual style of writing, as this is written from a different perspective entirely, however, it works.
It's quite difficult to say anything else about the story without spoiling it, but I have no hesitation in recommending this to others looking for a good book to immerse themselves in.
July 30, 2021
Heartwrenching suspense
I liked and disliked this story.It was an emotional roller coaster also a page turner as it has so much detail leaves you in an emotional state reading it.The story has its sensitive side regarding some of the characters and reveals the heartache surrounding a debilitating illness featuring great love and kindness to the end, However the main character Alice is a cold serial killer who gets away with murder has great nerve a risk taker but believes she has the right to take lives to selfishly satisfy herself.
I liked and disliked this story.It was an emotional roller coaster also a page turner as it has so much detail leaves you in an emotional state reading it.The story has its sensitive side regarding some of the characters and reveals the heartache surrounding a debilitating illness featuring great love and kindness to the end, However the main character Alice is a cold serial killer who gets away with murder has great nerve a risk taker but believes she has the right to take lives to selfishly satisfy herself.
December 4, 2019
Suspense
Having been sent as an act I could not wait to start this, what is the perfect murder, one you don't get caught for or one that although wrong to kill is highly justified?
Well read this and you may just find out what constitutes the perfect murder
Thank you to the author
Having been sent as an act I could not wait to start this, what is the perfect murder, one you don't get caught for or one that although wrong to kill is highly justified?
Well read this and you may just find out what constitutes the perfect murder
Thank you to the author
April 21, 2021
It’s certainly a very different and from my limited experience original story. To be honest it took me a while to get into it but I kept reading and I’m so glad I did. Thought the ending was a bit abrupt and seemed to happen suddenly but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment at all. Would recommend this book. Really enjoy this author.
February 19, 2020
I found this a little disappointing compared to Rebecca's other books.
I am a huge fan of her DI Hannah Robbins series and was really looking forward to something different.
That all said it was OK, I just hope that people do not judge her on this book and miss out on other FANTASTIC reads.
I am a huge fan of her DI Hannah Robbins series and was really looking forward to something different.
That all said it was OK, I just hope that people do not judge her on this book and miss out on other FANTASTIC reads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2020
Omg, are you kidding me? So she's out there killing people without being caught, but she's stupid enough to leave her fingerprints when she helps her mother-in-law to commit suicide? The reason she started the killing madness in the first place? Jesus, woman!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
A different murder book where Alice is writing a murder book and wonders is you can get away with the perfect murder and sets out to prove you can.
A great read that easily flows and you can't put down.
A great read that easily flows and you can't put down.
October 6, 2025
I have read all Rebecca Bradley’s book on DI Hannah Robins and DI Claudia Nunn and I have to say thin oil took me by surprise. Totally different from all the other books but just as good a read. It only took me two days to read as I was gripped from the start
January 29, 2022
Good but I wanted more from it.
November 2, 2025
this was my 1st book by the author, and i thoroughly liked it sooo much. i will definitely read more by her.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews