The Perfect Face: A Psychological Thriller

by C.G. Twiles

Looks can be deceiving

Mom says a beautiful girl can do anything…

While on vacation on a picturesque Greek island, reporter Maddie Ribeiros meets a stunning 12-year-old girl and her mother. The pair are on their way to visit the girl’s “uncle” on a nearby private island.

Mom says the man can help us, but he can also hurt us…

But soon, Maddie suspects that the girl is being trafficked to the island, which is owned by brilliant, eccentric, reclusive billionaire Dexter Hunt. Rumors about him abound—none of them good.

Mom says we can never tell anyone what happens on his island…

Determined to help the girl, Maddie joins forces with a charming but secretive local man and an arrogant coworker with whom she has an uncomfortable attraction.

Unraveling the mysteries of the “untouchable” Dexter Hunt, she finds they run deeper and stranger than she ever imagined.

Maddie may have checked into the billionaire’s notorious island—but can she ever leave?

Genres: Thriller, Suspense

338 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2022

About the author

C.G. Twiles is the pseudonym for a longtime writer and reporter who loves Gothic, animals, ancient history, cemeteries, traveling, and old houses.
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Reviews

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a hard one to review without spoilers but I will do my best! Single mum Stella has worked hard at waitressing and/or bartending to give her 12 year old daughter, Ruby, a chance for a bright future. When she was pregnant with Ruby her one wish was that she would be good looking because good looking people get an easier path in life (the character’s words, not mine). Her wish was granted and Ruby turned into a stunningly beautiful child.

Always with an eye on an opportunity, Stella answers an ad that could be the golden ticket. DNA screening followed by photos and videos of Ruby land them the ‘big win’. They will be taken to a private Greek Island and afterwards will be given a house and Ruby’s education will be paid for. However it is all very secret and they must sign a non-disclosure agreement. But what does she have to do to land this windfall?

On the journey they meet Maddie, a journalist for Wealth magazine who is on a holiday, invited by a former colleague. She chats to Ruby and sees the fear in her eyes and notes that Ruby’s story and her mother’s don’t match. Maddie is instantly concerned for the girl but what can she do?

Whatever you are thinking by now, I guarantee you will be wrong! This story looked like being one thing but ended up being something entirely different - and that was before the twists. The characters of Stella and Ruby were a little thin but the focus was more on Maddie and how she went above and beyond to ensure that Ruby was not being harmed. She was very likeable and kind hearted. One of the local Greek men takes an interest in Maddie and one of her male colleagues from Wealth magazine turns up sniffing out a story. These guys seemed really nice and I thought there may be some competition for Maddie’s affections but can she trust them?

Towards the end the revelations came thick and fast and the story got a little bonkers. I was really liking it (because it had me so fooled) until the very last paragraph. Some readers may enjoy that shocking little ending though. It was a slap in the face as dramatic (although a different thing altogether) as the ending of Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes which many readers loved. All in all it was an enjoyable story. Many thanks to BookSirens for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 (rounded up)

I have had C.G. Twiles on my TBR for quite some time now and was really excited to finally read my first by her with The Perfect Face. The pacing of this book was impeccable, and there are super short chapters which makes it a really quick read. I couldn't have loved the setting of a Greek island more, and thanks to Twiles I am seriously itching to go to Greece now! Not only for the beautiful scenery but the food and wine as well, which were perfectly and vividly described. The story itself is told from a couple of different viewpoints, with the main one being Maddie, but interspersed with shorter chapters from the girl as well. I thought this made things super suspenseful since it took a while to find out what was actually supposed to be happening to the girl and I loved the mystery surrounding that.

The Perfect Face is one of those books that is best to go into blind and read for yourself to see if you will like it. You definitely have to be able to suspend some disbelief for this one, and it took a turn that I did NOT see coming. I can't say I loved where the book ended up going which is basically the only thing that kept me from really loving it. The verbiage also ended up being a little repetitive at times which always bugs me, so that took away from my experience a bit as well. Besides those two things which are completely personal preferences, I LOVED The Perfect Face and would recommend it to any thriller readers who enjoy unique and unpredictable plot lines.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[C.G. Twiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm super excited to introduce my June 2022 psychological thriller, THE PERFECT FACE. Very limited Arcs on Book Sirens. I think you'll agree you haven't seen one like this before. Takes place on a gorgeous Greek island and has some really unique twists. The preorder will be up soon. Watch this space or my social media (Instagram and Facebook) or follow me on BookBub, BingeBooks, Amazon, or Goodreads.

Thanks for all your support!

[Tee M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.C. Twiles' books never disappoint and this one was no exception. Psychological thrillers is my favorite genre and this was the most original storyline that I have read in quite some time! Vivid and picturesque descriptions of Greece, the story's setting, provide a perfect backdrop for the plot. The story is told from two points of view, and despite guessing the 'bad guy' early in the story, I was thoroughly entertained during the ride to figure out if I was correct. The protagonist was so naive and immature that I had a hard time liking her, nor any of the other main characters (this kept me from giving a 5th star). But whoa, that ending, I'm still reeling! I wouldn't be surprised to see this one screen adapted. Do yourself a favor and read this one!

Thanks to BookSirens and C.G.twiles for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[On_a_sandbar (Carol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a page turner! I read this in one sitting - once I started I couldn’t put it down. Crazy and far fetched? Oh my yes! I won’t give a summary to avoid any spoilers, but hang on to the edge of your reading seat!

Follow me at http://www.instagram.com/on_a_sandbar

[Jennifer *Nottoomanybooks* · Rating 3 out of 5]

➡️READ THIS IF…
✨You enjoy psychological thrillers
✨You don’t mind farfetched events in the plot
✨You enjoy a greek setting, and hearing about the greek food found there!

➡️THOUGHTS:
This one started out strong! I loved the premise and my thoughts were all over the place trying to figure out what in the heck was going on on this island!!! Spoiler alert- you will NEVER guess! If you do, you deserve an award! 😂 There were a few far fetched ideas in this story, but overall, it was a quick read that I enjoyed! It has an original storyline unlike any book I have ever read!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie is a reporter for wealthy magazine out of New York. She is vacationing in Greece and while on a ferry she meets “Doris“ and her mom. The mom has seasickness so when they get off she invites them to her studio so the mom can rest and get better. While the mom is resting Maddie takes the girl out to get her lunch. This is when the girl tells her she is sometimes called Ruby and when Maddie ask why she is there the girl says it is a big secret and she can’t tell her. This makes Maddys reporter in Tenna go up so after they leave she goes to her magazines database to look up billionaires associated with Greece. her inquiry alerts the head reporter for wealthy and when he shows up in Greece she is surprised and aggravated. She tells him about her suspicions, But doesn’t want to the boat too much because he would definitely take the story and take the credit. Also I didn’t mention Ezekiel he is the handsome carpenter Maddie‘s friend Athena has hired for the summer and when she can get no takers to bring her to the private island he helps her out or does he? This book has so many twist and jaw-dropping moments there is a lot I am not putting in my review, because it will be so much better but trust me when I say run don’t walk and get this book. If you love thrillers you’ll be over the moon for this one. Oh I absolutely loved it! Please forgive any errors as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own. I received an orc copy of this book from the author and book sirens but this review is totally voluntary.

[Shannon Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking, inspired, gripping & unique!

I was intrigued by the synopsis and so thankful that I was this was a very exciting fast passed adventure that was thrilling & mysterious. I've never read a novel with this type of story line and I loved it. A unique idea is always a challenge and this box is definitely checked off.

The ideas talked about in this book touch or have touched almost every human being alive. Who wouldn't want a world that has compassion understanding & peace? There are so many terrible diseases in the world with no cure Cancer, Alzheimers, ALS, Huntington's disease, Muscular dystrophy and these are just a few, who hasn't lost a loved one to one of these or doesn't have a loved one fighting one of these? A world with the cure to these and other diseases or a world where they have been eradicated altogether, yes please.

I enjoyed the pace & flow of the novel it keep me intrigued and wanting more throughout. There were multiple twists and turns which you did not see coming and were both compelling & fascinating. The ending was a shock that you didn't see coming. Will there be a sequel, there is definitely an opening for one and lots of ways this brilliant author has left it to be done. This was my first read of a C.G. Twiles novel but I will definitely be reading some of her other work I'm now her newest fan!

I will be giving this a 4/5 star and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller, or even a good mystery novel.

I would like to thank Booksirens, Muradal Publishing & C.G. Twiles for the ARC of this phenomenal novel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Elpis G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect face was a masterpiece. I don’t really read thrillers often and so I’m not familiar with typical tropes. However, this ended up being so different than I expected.

Perfect Face follows Maddie, a reporter from a magazine who is on vacation in Greece who seemingly stumbles on a child trafficking case involving a secretive billionaire.

This book deals with some dark concepts and as a result has some morally gray characters. I’m a fan of that as I enjoy characters that always keep the reader second guessing.

The book was also very long but it didn’t feel like it was dragging at all. It also had changing perspectives which worked out really well for this and kept pushing the narrative forward and making me want to read more.

There is also a really cool plot twist in this that works well in the story and completely changed my view on certain characters. I cannot go into details about what it is do to spoilers but once you get there, you will know.

The only real issues I had with this book was the open ended ending. It felt like there were some parts of the story that didn’t get fully resolved in relation to some characters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Liz Alterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.G. Twiles's latest takes place in Greece and the descriptions of everything from the beaches to the cuisine will have you rushing to make this your next vacation destination. But it's far from a relaxing stay for Maddie, a journalist, who senses something's amiss when she meets Ruby, a stunning 12-year-old, traveling with her mom. Maddie's reporter instincts take her on an adventure she never bargained for, one that leaves her questioning everything and everyone she encounters. Rather than say to much, I'll say this, don't miss this propulsive thriller that is an atmospheric delight and one that'll have you turning pages as fast as humanly possible.

[Annemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.G. Twiles really knows how to build momentum. The suspense continually grows until you can 'feel' Maddie's stress. When the climax comes, you can 'see' a few ways this will end, so you continue reading to see what the outcome will be and if you were right.

I was completely blindsided (although I shouldn't have been) to Logan's reaction when Maddie told him what she had discovered.

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of The Perfect Face through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Face is a psychological thriller by C G Twiles. This was a different thriller. Ruby, 12, and her mother are looking for a way out of their hard life. Maddie is a writer for Wealthy Magazine. I liked how the story looked through the eyes of Maddie and Ruby. C G Twiles unfolded the story slowly and I thought that it built more intensity. I can't really talk about the story because I don't want to spoil anything. The book has surprises that I was not looking for and this fast paced book is terrific. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is my first book by this author and I will be looking for more from them. This is a well written story about how things look are not always what it seems. The idea of what happens on the island stays on the island but does it really? This is a great story where the author used their writing skills to bring the story to life. Their attention to details made the story feel realistic. I found this story to be full of action and engaging. The twists and turns I didnt see coming but had me coming back for more. The characters pull you into the story with ease. They have great growth throughout. I enjoyed what they brought to the story. This is a story that you don't want to miss. I highly recommend reading this book.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by this author. This is a fast paced thriller with well written characters and a plot that starts out intriguing and ends up being out of this world. There are intense thrilling moments that had me glued to this book and then a certain part of it that didn't quite keep me as intrigued except to find out if the characters come out of it unscathed or not. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.

[Sandy Rieckert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that certainly was not what I expected..it was better! Ruby has the perfect face, beautiful, but Ruby is only 12. When she and her mother go to an island arranged by those who want Ruby for her perfect face, she meets and is followed by Maddie. With some twists and turns I definitely did not anticipate, this book is well worth the read!! Another winner from C.G. Twiles!!!!

[Kindlelover 1220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a gifted storyteller. The author describes that fascinating Greek Island that makes the reader feel like they’re right there. This a psychological thriller story the keeps the reader invested and some surprises that keeps the story intriguing. Count me as a new fan of this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michael Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable read. The direction of the storyline changes throughout. The characters are likeable and believable. You are lead in one direction and then pushed in a totally different direction. The plot keeps you guessing throughout. A worthwhile read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Polly Kahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never in a million years will you guess the end of this intriguing book. I was drawn in immediately and became further absorbed as the plot and characters evolved and took different twists and turns. If someone told me the plot of this book it would’ve sounded implausible but the skilled author made it work with all questions answered in the end. Very interesting and fun read!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. The premise for this book blew me away. Gorgeous descriptions of Greece, along with some nail biting wondering who the bad guy is. And the ending! Excellent! I received an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Burma Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very original thriller. I didn't know where it was going. The writing was great and the characters very believable! I was very surprised at the ending, it was perfect. Good book!

I received an early copy of this book for a voluntary review.

[Sandy Gudaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Great adventure on a beautiful island with a creepy guy. The book was mysterious and had a bit of romance and comedy . It held my interest !
Thanks BookSiren for this opportunity to review and give my opinion

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is fairly new to me as I've only read a couple of their books. I found them to be quite entertaining and this one also followed suit. This is a gripping psychological thriller that captured my attention from the start and kept me engrossed till the end. There are some dark concepts introduced, but it only adds to the intrigue of the story. The story was well-written and flows smoothly. This page-turner will keep you on the edge of your seat as you will not see the twists coming.

Another great read by this author and I look forward to reading more!

I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Carrie Nellis Crisp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not disappoint me

From the beginning something big was going on and it kept me guessing till the end . A very surprising ending that I didn't see coming .

[Carrie Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to @letstalkbookspromo and @cgtwiles for an advance copy OF THE PERFECT FACE, which publishes June 15.

Maddie is a journalist talking a much-needed break from both her job and a toxic co-worker. She is on a ferry headed to Kyrie Island in Greece when she encounters a beautiful girl named Ruby and her mother. Her reporter's instinct tells her something isn't right, especially when Ruby mentions she is going to an exclusive private island to meet her uncle. Maddie suspects the beautiful young girl is being trafficked, and as the story progresses, all signs pointed in that direction, and I was getting a little uncomfortable...but I was invested in the story and had to know Ruby's fate.

Let's just say, things took an unexpected turn that I *never* saw coming. If you like gorgeous descriptions of Greek Islands, sinister characters, and a twist that's out of this world, this is definitely the book for you!

I enjoyed our buddy read and our lively chat. Look for this one everywhere June 15!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s no secret that @cgtwiles is one of my fave indie writers. She writes a solid thriller so I was really excited to read her new novel, The Perfect Face.

Maddie is vacationing on a beautiful Greek island when she comes across a girl and her mother on a tour boat. Maddie is a reporter and something about the women’s story just doesn’t make sense to her—she has a gut feeling that the girl, Ruby, is in trouble. And because she’s a reporter, she has to investigate.

This story had the absolute craziest twists—things I never would have predicted in a 1000 years—and I’m usually pretty good at guessing endings. While I was reading I actually messed C.G. multiple times and I think every message started with “Holy shit!” LOL.

This was a fun, atmospheric thriller that despite everything is going to make you want to pack up and head to Greece. So many amazing descriptions of beaches and Greek food made me ready to plan a vacation. Overall this was a fun one that will keep you guessing.

[Laura Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this novel! The summary sounded very interesting with suspense from the beginning but the characters were too fluffy. I didn’t feel that I ever really got to know any of them on a deeper level. Descriptions of the surroundings were far more rewarding than the characters.

Just when I thought we were going to get to the bottom of the mysterious happenings of the island, the author threw a major curveball which was incredibly disappointing. Then the main character had some sort of mystical thing happen to her but I still can’t figure out why that was significant to the story.

This novel could have been so much better had we learned more about the mysterious rich guy on the island. His motive for bringing attractive young females to the island should have been for more obvious purposes instead of the fantastical reason it ended up being (I’m trying hard not to spoil anything here).

The ending, which felt very rushed, was an odd way of wrapping things up. There were too many stories within the story and I feel like nothing was ever fully explained. The book would have had to have been much longer to fully explain everything.

I truly enjoyed parts of the story, but it fell flat in the end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...

Athena from The Perfect Face is asexual!

[Sacha Fortuné · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sacha's Book Reviews Blog

This book came to me via an ARC program, and I chose it because the synopsis was intriguing.

The Premise

While on a much-needed vacation from her job as a reporter for Wealthy magazine, Maddie meets a preteen girl and her mother on a ferry in Greece. The girl Ruby’s — or Doris’ — and her mother’s stories don’t seem to match up as to why they’re there, which triggers Maddie’s investigative instinct. Her own trauma still haunts her, and she sees similarities in Ruby. But is the girl’s “uncle”, the eccentric and reclusive billionaire Dexter Hunt, hiding a dark and illegal secret on his private neighbouring island? Faced with the opportunity to escape the debt and insecurity that has plagued her and her mother in the past, Ruby is eager to please her host. But is she being exploited? As Maddie’s and Ruby’s paths continue to cross as Maddie digs deeper to get to the story, the secrets she uncovers are even more disturbing than she ever imagined.

The Pros

This was a genre mash-up with elements of drama, thriller, women’s fiction, a wee bit of romance, and even a sprinkle of sci-fi. The plot yanks you back and forth, diving into entirely unexpected places. I loved that it was entirely unique — it’s not often that you get something these days that you can genuinely say that you never saw coming… but this was it. I absolutely loved the author’s way of building a story — dropping all the clues pointing to one thing, and then going somewhere entirely different. She has a way with words that draws you in and takes you along for the ride — and this ride was a doozy!

I felt like I was part of Maddie’s character, triumphing in her wins and cringing in embarrassment along with her as she haplessly chooses the wrong person to trust over and over again. The setting of Greece is also expertly crafted, taking you right there to the stunning views and architecture — and the sumptuous men like Elias, of course! I loved how he was portrayed, as well as the other male interest Logan, and as an avid reader I really appreciated that — for once! — the men were not one-dimensional; all of them, even the creepy billionaire Dexter Hunt, had both good and bad sides that resonated with the reader and made us trust and doubt them in equal measure as the plot unfolds.

The Cons

I enjoyed this book a lot, but I must admit that the uniqueness of the plot did make me feel unsettled when it ended. Firstly (and this may be my own personal pet peeve), when authors choose to go with multiple points of view, I prefer (1) they stick to the same kind of POV e.g. both first-person or both third person, and (2) keep it balanced. In this case we get a LOT of Maddie in third person and a minuscule amount of Ruby in first person (not to mention yet another POV much later). My editor’s hat was twitching to chop out some of Maddie and insert more Ruby!

Without giving away too much, I wished that Maddie following up on her past trauma wasn’t included, because I was unhappy with how she dealt with it, so that plot point I would’ve loved to reduce greatly in favour of including more of Ruby. The author’s writing style is excellent and demonstrates great talent and delicacy in portraying sensitive matters, and I could see that being an entirely separate (and terrific) story in its own right, but I just didn’t need quite so much of it inside of *this* story. Finally, I also felt like the motive of the eventual antagonist wasn’t sufficient; the twist was shocking, but I wished for more back story.

I know that my “cons” seem really long here, but I am a picky reader, and mind you: all of this only made me dock one star! So you know the book was pretty damn amazing despite all of this!

Conclusion

Despite the issues I pointed out, I must say this was a stupendous book as my first novel by this author. It manages to take a lot of genres and build a winding story that drops you off a cliff, and I loved that I — an oft-jaded reader/reviewer/author — am still able to get such a huge jolt to my system. There’s a lot to love here, and I am thrilled to recommend this book to others, and I’m also pretty sure that my own issues would be incredibly minor to the average reader! This was a great read, and I look forward to many more from this author.

___________
This review also appears on my blog. Visit to read more of my reviews: Sacha's Book Reviews Blog

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[Priya Malhotra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think "The Perfect Face" by C.G. Twiles is an incredibly unique and remarkable novel from an author who is a master when it comes to thrillers. Nothing is ever what it seems, perception is never reality, and when things appear to be a certain way, they can suddenly and unexpectedly swerve and do a 180-degree turn. Even though I've read a few of C.G. Twiles' books, I never, ever, predicted the surprises that I encountered in this novel, big surprises that led me to think about how I perceive things. This author is masterful at playing with perception and digging into our deepest and darkest fears.

The novel is set in Greece and C.G. Twiles' writing is vivid and atmospheric here as she talks about the shimmering sea, the color of the sand on the beach and the fresh food. I felt I was transported to Greece as I read this book. She also does a great job depicting the speech patterns of a Greek man speaking English, further enhancing the authenticity of the Greek experience for the reader. Otherwise, Twiles writes in an easy and flowing style that is really easy to read, but not so easy to write.

In many ways, this felt like a feminist book to me as the protagonist grapples with the trauma caused by the sexually predatory ways of an older man when she was a child, the idiosyncratic desires of a male billionaire to gain power at any cost, and the aspirations of a fellow male journalist who will literally stop at nothing to advance his career.

All in all, I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves intelligent thrillers.