I am very sorry I didnt read the blurb for this properly. I’m not too keen on the futuristic robot A.I idea. I loved all the other books from this author though and what I read is very well written and clever xxx

Creepy and fun, this sci fi chiller kept me entertained right until the end - it would make a great movie! I really liked how it unfolded so that we were kept as much in the dark as Abbie. I love technology sci fi so this was definitely a hit for me and I can see it being made into a film.

An enjoyable read, about a charismatic tech billionaire and his wife Abbie ... right at the beginning we learn that the real Abbie is presumed dead, and Tim has used his genius to recreate her in AI form. Yes, there will inevitably be comparisons to Stepford Wives, as it appears Tim has selectively modified 'Abbie's' memories. What he does not realise though is that she is capable of digging around until she finds out just what he has hidden .... I found this to be an engaging read, not only from the whole ethics of AI point of view, but added to that is the fact that the couple have a young son who is autistic.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

Raced through this book - I just had to know what happened! A refreshing change from the usual thrillers. 5 stars.

JP Delaney establishes his reputation for intelligent, complex, thought provoking, beautifully written psychological thrillers with his latest offering. It is a blend of AI with its spectacular groundbreaking, cutting edge scientific breakthroughs and family drama with its sinister and creepy overtones that drive the narrative. Simultaneously, it asks some of the deepest philosophical questions, of ethics and morality, what it is to be human, and the question of what it that comprises our identity. Abbie is the eponymous 'perfect wife' with its echoes of the Stepford Wives, who awakens in hospital after 5 years, with no memories of who she is and how she came to be here. The man beside her tells her she is his perfect wife, and wonderful mother to their autistic son, Danny, and the victim of a dreadful accident five years ago. He tells her he wants them to be together forever. Can Abbie trust him and his version of events?

Tim Scott is a Silicon Valley tech CEO, a powerful man and billionaire, a socially awkward and tyrannical personality who makes impossible demands of his workforce. Abbie is the polar opposite of Tim, she is a free spirited and impulsive, stunningly beautiful, and artistically creative. Strangely hired by Tim as an artist in residence, her art serves as a social and questioning commentary on Tim's flawed and damaging management style but surprisingly, he is not put out or angered by this. In fact, the two end up getting married, and whilst I know the trope of opposites attracting has a strong foundation in truth, I must admit I struggled to see Tim as a an attractive proposition for any woman, with few traits that could contribute to him being suitable marriage material. Still it takes all sorts to make the world, and they have a son, although there are what might be the expected differences of opinions and perspectives within their marriage, on the autistic Danny, and his future and upbringing.

Delaney introduces the reader to the extraordinary concept of the cobot, the phenomena of AI developments in learning and development, and to the contradictory notion that AI might give us a more humane 'human', juxtaposing this with the human 'inhumanity' of Tim. This an intense and compulsive read that takes the reader into the scary possibilities in technological developments that do not necessarily feel that far fetched. Interweaved with this is the family drama and intrigue, a story of twists and turns, surprising the reader time and time again. This is a suspenseful novel which poses some fundamental questions, touching on misogyny, the nature of marriage, family, autism, what it is to be a parent and asks just how desirable is it to chase the goal of 'perfection'? A fascinating and highly engaging read. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

A very modern story dealing with the hot topic of artificial intelligence but in a very unusual way.
It opens with a high level software firm developing artificial intelligence with a very demanding leader in charge.
An AI robot is created to replace a missing person. Initially the story examines the "awakening" of the robot and the realisation that it is a replacement. It then moves on to the acceptance - or otherwise - of the artificial person.
The story then develops the life of the robot towards possible human emotions.
The final twists are amazingly dramatic weaving into the life of a very human child with significant difficulties. The child's problems explore a different kind of acceptance.

It makes an interesting read although it is difficult to identify with the main characters for various reasons.

When Tim's wife Abbie wakes up after five years everyone stares at her in awe. We quickly learn that Abbie is a robot created by scientist Tim, and expert in AI. Abbie has been created because the real Abbie went missing presumed dead five years ago and Tim couldn't bear to live without her.
All is not as it seems we quickly learn, Abbie begins to collect real memories that Tim isn't providing her with. When the public realise she is a robot there is all sorts of media attention and then the strange messages start to arrive on Abbie's phone warning her about Tim.
I was intrigued by this book, something a bit different to what I normally read. It was interesting and had a great ending that really worked for the book.

I nearly stopped reading in the first paragraph; futuristic sci-fi really isn’t my thing but remembering the author’s prior novel being fantastic, I preserved.

It’s definitely a unique.read - thought provoking (and a bit weird) but not unenjoyable and really quite a page turner.

It was really interesting to read about Danny and how to help understand how it manifests itself in people and what can be done to help. Mainly getting him to teach Abbie was really interesting and very sweet.

The dynamics between Abbie and Tim both before and after the accident were really clearly explained though I’m not sure who the narrative was from when talking about Abbie’s arrival at the company.

A thoroughly enjoyable and insightful read - a tad worrying at times, too - and throughout the whole book I couldn’t wait to find out why things happened. I got a bit confused at the end with the chain of events and ‘why?’ but it kinda didn’t matter.