The story delves into the mind of a seemingly charming yet dangerous individual, exploring themes of deception, manipulation, and the darker aspects of human nature. Hunter's writing is suspenseful and gripping, with well-crafted twists that maintain tension throughout. The characters are complex and multifaceted, adding depth to the narrative. Overall, it is a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a story that challenges perceptions and keeps them guessing until the very end.

I really enjoyed this book. Dr Ellie Spencer is a psychologist working with criminals at the local prison. When a woman is found murdered there appears to be a link to Ellie and her sister who disappeared without trace 5 years ago. Ellie is working with a serial killer, Lucas Hayne, and he seems to know a lo about Ellie's private life, enjoying trying to get a reaction from her. Th police ask her to try to get an insight in to this latest series of murders from Hayne. This is a fast paced story which will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end. There is also a twist you won't see coming!
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Good story but I found it didn't grab my attention such that I couldn't put it down.
Definitely worth reading though.

This was a great read from Hunter: so easy to not put down! Admittedly, it was a bit slow to get started but this just played into the simmering atmosphere that gradually increased. Like a pot of boiling water, by the final few chapters my brain could barely keep up with my eyes as I read the conclusion so fast. It is definitely a book you will not want to put down.

The early parts of the book reminded me of a television series whereby agents are interviewing known serial killers, trying to get into their psyche and understand their behaviours to help prevent future crimes. In this case, Ellie works as a psychologist and her interviews with Lucas – known as the ‘Silent Strangler’ – are pretty intense. She unwinds thanks to the long commute and then “brain dumping” in her journals.

Yet, Ellie is not completely satisfied with life. Her sister disappeared several years ago, the police investigation now cold. Ellie is still trying to find answers and it is clear that her career path is one of the ways in which she is trying to find leads and gain closure. However, women are starting to get killed in a similar way to the Silent Strangler and Ellie is disturbed by the possible connection it may have with her missing sister. How can this be when he is incarcerated? Who else might be involved? As the clues move closer to her, Ellie believes that there is a message that she needs to understand.

Once Hunter has established the characters and narrative, I felt really drawn into the story. There are a lot of ambiguities and this meant I was suspicious of far too many characters – a great sign of a good story. The mystery behind Grace’s disappearance is cleverly woven into the current murders and I was convinced Ellie was correct that there was a link to be discovered. On the other hand, some of Ellie’s journal entries reveal a more sinister side to Ellie and I liked how this raised even more questions.

The narrative also switches to following the police officer who was also involved in Grace’s investigation. I liked how this provided a different element to the story, particularly as it becomes clear that Sarah has secrets of her own. Not only that, Hunter demonstrates the difficulties of being a single mum and the guilt that Sarah faces for not being there for her daughter in times of need, versus trying to juggle the demands of work.

Hunter brings alive the police investigation and prison environment, without it being too overwhelming. Indeed, it felt rather realistic and I think this was helped by the portrayal of the immense workloads that fewer resources can handle. A stretched police force, a lack of officers in the prison and characters trying to manage more than they can handle creates a pressurised environment – reflected by the intensity of the narrative.

A great read that really pulled me in. I enjoyed the mix of characters and how journal entries and mysterious characters were brought into the story. I had plenty of questions and loved how the story came together with a very surprising ending.

With thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Psychopath drew me in immediately. It was full of suspense, mystery, secrets, lies, and betrayal.

The novel was compelling and intriguing, with clever twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I liked the different aspects of the book, that they were like a few sub-genres rolled into one, with police procedural, stalker, serial killer, and prison psychologist making up the complex storyline.

I liked that it was told from different perspectives, one being the serial killer.
I loved Ellie and Sarah. They were both charismatic, smart, and strong.


This is the fourth book I've read from Alice Hunter, the others being: The Serial Killer's Wife, The Serial Killer's Daughter, The Serial Killer's Sister & Bad Apple, which were also fantastic reads. Alice always surprises me with her twists, and The Perfect Psychopath is no exception. I was genuinely shocked by that ending.

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books UK, and Alice Hunter for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first Alice Hunter book and it surprised me. I didnt like the writing style it has 1st person and 3rd person which really confused me. The story wasn't believable and I was just confused.

This is a slow-burn suspenseful novel, filled with many dark twists and a jaw-dropping epilogue. At times I thought I had it all worked out, only for there to be another twist.

I was hooked throughout and eager to finish so I could know everything.

A gripping book and highly recommended.

I absolutely loved reading this! This chilling psychological thriller grabbed me from the start and kept me on edge until the final page. The story follows Dr. Eleanor Spencer, a respected psychologist whose seemingly perfect life unravels when women start disappearing, stirring up memories of her sister’s unsolved vanishing. 🕵️‍♀️

What made this book so gripping was the intense psychological cat-and-mouse game between Ellie and Lucas Hayne, a convicted serial murderer. The way Lucas toys with Ellie, dropping cryptic hints about her past, had me glued to the pages. The twist about the "real monster" being closer than she thinks was jaw-dropping—I didn’t see it coming! 🤯 The plot masterfully blends Ellie’s professional expertise with her personal vulnerabilities, making her both relatable and fascinating.

Hunter’s writing is superbly paced, with short, tension-packed chapters that made it impossible to stop reading. The exploration of Ellie’s unraveling psyche as she confronts a killer’s mind games was both creepy and compelling. I also loved how the story kept me guessing about who to trust—every character felt like a potential threat. 🔍

This twist-filled thriller delivers a slow-burn suspense that rewards patient readers with a jaw-dropping epilogue. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story pivots in an unexpected direction, keeping even seasoned thriller readers on their toes. The pacing builds steadily, creating a tension that simmers beneath the surface until everything unravels in the final pages with shocking clarity.

Despite having read many thrillers, I found myself completely off track; my instincts failed me in the best way. The unpredictability, layered plotting, and final twist make this a standout in the genre. If you’re a fan of thrillers that truly surprise you, this one is absolutely worth your time. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed the twists in this book, but I felt that it wasn't as fast-paced as I'd wish for. However, it was an enjoyable read.

Wow this book spun me on my head by the end and took me somewhere I did not expect. This is a dark thriller about a prison psychologist who specialises in serial killers. After her sister went missing presumed dead she is convinced her killer may be sat in the very prison she works and when she gets a visit from the police saying they have found a body her story is darker than she could ever imagine and finding the truth may just be the end of everything for her unless she is careful. Is the truth worth loosing everyone?

Slow start but with the character building and overall intensity it was great. Gave me chills. Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and the Author Alice Hunter.

2.75 stars ✨

Let me preface this by saying if you’re new to thrillers and want to dip your toe to test the waters this would be a good place to start, more seasoned thriller readers may find it slightly lacking.

So, this is a difficult one the first 30% or so really hooked me in and I thought we were going to be in for a thrilling ride but unfortunately I found myself quite bored nothjng really happens until the last 15% and even that was lacklustre the buildup just didn’t have the right payoff.

We follow two main perspectives Elle, a prison psychologist and Sarah a DS investigating the case.

Elle is unlikeable there’s no two ways about it, she creates issues with her husband for the sake of it the go from madly in love to no trust and no communication in the space of a few pages and it just gave me whiplash.

Sarah was neither here or there I feel like her perspective was there purely just so we could see some police procedurals and insight into the case but I would’ve loved more from her side of the story.

This just felt like there were alot of threads of plot and backstory and potential plot twists that were nearly brushed over but nearly lead no where or were just inconsequential to the plot but if they had been fleshed out could’ve really built the story up making it much more interesting.

Concept was good but the execution was just lacking I’m afraid.

Thank you to the publisher & netgalley for providing me with an early reading copy.

I like the overall story of the book but I did find it slow in place and perhaps bit long.

The story through out was good, characters well written.

This took a while to get going, but I stuck with it as what I had read about this book sounded good and just what I like. I would say the second half was very good. The characters were likeable and appeared work relatable by their attitude, so it was a shock when I got towards the end and found that these good, grounded characters were anything but! It made the story, though, so I enjoyed the last half of this book immensely. If you don’t mind a slow start, then get it on your to-read list.

I had a very hard time getting into this story. It started quite slowly, which was one problem, and Hunter chose to use the simple present tense, which was another. I got used to the tense eventually, but would have done so more quickly, I think, if there’d been more action earlier on. It took nearly half the book before things really started perking, and once the pace picked up, so did my enjoyment level.

Alice Hunter is one of my all time favourite authors, so when I got the chance to read The Perfect Psychopath I could not wait to delve straight in.

We meet main female character Eleanor Spencer who is a forensic psychologist and she makes for an interesting and complex character. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Eleanor and thought that she was a well developed character.

Women start vanishing and Eleanor is pulled into the investigation of what has happened to these women.

Alice Hunter's novels are always gripping and easy to read and The Perfect Psychopath was no exception.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As with all of the books by Alice Hunter this was a totally engrossing read and one that was very difficult to put down, I just needed to keep reading and find out the answers!
At the heart of this story is the mystery of what happened to Grace five years ago, her disappearance seems to have been the nexus upon which all the actions being taken currently originated. As we follow Ellie and Sarah through the investigation we learn of just how many threads connect people involved in the investigation to Grace and the truth of who she was. Should she put any weight on Lucas’ statements that it is someone close to home for Ellie that is responsible or is he just toying with her, how much can you trust the words of a convicted serial killer?

A great book where rather than her just chasing a serial killer she is using one to help her to catch one. Each character their own motive and reason for being the killer. Gripping read.

I have always enjoyed Alice Hunter's books and The Perfect Psychopath is no exception. While I did find it quite the slow burn the ending well and truly made up for it. With lot of diversions to keep you guessing I was quite surprised how it all unraveled.

Written for all thriller lovers at heart The Perfect Psychopath is a terrific book to lose yourself in for a few hours, thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this review copy.