Pirate Patty Reviews

A twisty, domestic suspense debut about a clique of mothers that shatters when one of their own is murdered, bringing chaos to their curated lives.

She was the perfect wife, with the perfect life. You would kill to have it…

And it looks like someone did just that.

Ciara Dunphy has a perfect life. It would seem. Loving husband, well-behaved children, and a lovely home. She is the go-to person for all things mother, style and influencer related. But her hold on the perfection trophy is slipping. She knows it.

Ciara’s bestie, Mishti, has a life Ciara envies. She raises her young daughter on her own in her own way after a divorce from an arranged marriage and Ciara wants that ease. Mishti wants what Ciara has.

Enter Lauren Doyle, Lauren is a hometown girl with kids and a husband. Lauren is the opposite of Ciara. She finally feels that she may have a friend in Mishti.

Then the perfect woman is found murdered in her perfect house made entirely of cards. And everyone is pointing fingers and airing dirty laundry. But oh my the convoluted mess at the end!

I could have whacked Ciara within minutes of reading the book. She is that unlikeable. She is the person on social media that we all hate. Judgemental and screaming perfection while all of her dirty skeletons are climbing out of the closet.

This author is good at creating characters with no moral compass at all. And I think I like that.

NetGalley/April 4th, 2023 by Ballantine Books