Maybe more mystery than thriller….I found it took me a while to get into and was a slow burner but did have a good final part of the book and on the whole was readable

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Perfect Psychopath in exchange for a review.

THE PERFECT PSYCHOPATH HIDES IN PLAIN SIGHT

This book had me gripped, and asking so many questions from the start. Who? Why? How? How are all of these puzzle pieces connected? I found it so interesting to get the story from both Ellie, and Sarah's POV, especially with Ellie delving into the minds of killers through her job.

I could not have predicted who the killer was, and was genuinely shocked by the revelation as it seemingly came out of nowhere but made sense once you knew his real identity. I enjoyed the way we were drip-fed information throughout, so you never really knew if you had the whole story as facts were revealed.

However for me, the final 'twist' did not make much sense, and makes Ellie very much seem like an unreliable narrator. Although throughout there are clearly a lot of memories she has repressed, and I feel like this should have been addressed further in some way. It also makes me question why her husband did not say anything sooner when he knew what happened?

Overall, I did really enjoy the book, I just wish the ending was different!

This is the fourth book that I have read from this author and each one is brilliant. Dr Eleanor Spencer is a brilliant psychologist and she enjoys to try and work out what makes a serial killer. Lucas is in for life and when murdered woman start to turn up a detective from her past asks her to try and see if she can get him to help them. What she doesn't expect is just how much she and people around her will soon wish she hadn't agreed..
Fast paced throughout and enough to keep you guessing.

This was a great read filled with lots of secrets and suspense. It starts off at a steady pace but definitely cranks up along the way.
The story unfolds from POVs from Ellie and Sarah as well as the killers, newspaper extracts add to the tension and you're left wondering who to root for.
The ending did catch me off guard, and I loved it.
A recommended thriller read, perfect as a holiday read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the Arc.

‘The Perfect Psychopath’ by Alice Hunter tells the story of prison psychologist Dr Eleanor Spencer, who turns to one of her patients - serial killer Lucas Hayne - for insights into solving the mystery of disappearing young women, somehow connected to her long-missing sister.

While the premise of the novel was interesting, I didn’t find the book as gripping as I had hoped, and failed to become invested enough in the characters to really get immersed in the story. I can only give it 2.5 stars, even though I’m glad I persevered to the final revelations. I’ve seen many reviewers raving about this author and hope others enjoy this one more than I did.

I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Avon Books UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Enjoyed!!!! I’ve read this author before so I just knew once I picked this one up I would like this one too. She writes twisted books that will blow your mind. I would also like to say she writes under the name Sam Carrington too. Not many people know that and are missing out. Now let’s talk about this one. I do have to warn you it is a little slow at first but once you get going you will not be able to put this one down. One of the reasons is the characters. All of them had qualities that made them very interesting which lead you to want to know more about them. The next reason is the plot. What could be better than using the mind of a serial killer to solve a cold case. I couldn’t have been more intrigued. It made this book in my opinion. Now I want to talk ending. I was completely surprised. I definitely needed a few minutes to catch my breath and really think about what I just read. I can’t wait to read from this author.

I have always enjoyed this authors books but this one just didn't quite have the fizz that I enjoy.

I really liked how the book had several different writing styles such as paper articles, snippets from the past as well as the story being told from 2 viewpoints, the detective and the forensic psychologist. whilst all of the characters were all very cleverly interwoven, this wasn't a story where I felt I could work out the ending in advance as there just weren't the clues along the way to do this. Having said that I certainly did not predict the final little twist.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read.

This book just didn’t grab me the way I like to be grabbed. I felt it was slow and I didn’t feel invested in it until at least two thirds of the way through, then just as I got interested enough to want to know what happened, everything was wrapped up in a few chapters. For me, if you need an epilogue to explain what happened, the book hasn’t quite worked.

All that having been said, I would never have guessed who the killer turned out to be but there are still many questions that remain unanswered. How did the killer get the necklace? Why did the protagonist not remember so much of the important parts of her childhood, or was that just convenient?

Just not for me I’m afraid. Two stars given because I did want to find out who did what.

Dr Eleanor Spencer, or Ellie as she's known to her friends and family, is a forensic psychologist working in a Cat B prison, one of the inmates she's working closely with at the moment is Lucas Hayne, a serial killer that is serving life with no chance of parole. Her younger sister Grace disappeared five years ago and, with the police no closer to finding her, Ellie is losing hope that she's still alive, then a series of murders happen, all with the same MO as Lucas and he appears to know more about them than the police do, she is drawn into the investigation by the leading officer, DS Sarah Knight and, determined to help the police and hopefully uncover if there's a link to Grace, she begins to dig deeper into the mind of the serial killer.

The Perfect Psychopath is the latest thriller by Hunter, told in a steady pace from the perspectives of Ellie and Sarah in the main, with the odd chapter from an unknown person who you are led to believe is the perpetrator and then delving into the past with conversations between Ellie and Grace, this is a tale of mystery and intrigue with some great twists that you won't see coming and a plot that will keep you second guessing until it all comes together in a very satisfactory ending. Hunter is great at weaving a story shrouded in mystery with undesirable characters and her work in rehabilitation is evident in this, and her previous novels. Another great read by this author who also writes thrillers as Sam Carrington which are well worth checking out too!

I'd like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

I enjoyed the multiple POVs from Ellie, Sarah and the Killer's viewpoints, however for me I feel the links between the three fell short of being the powerful reveals it felt they were intended to be. The ending also fell short for me, and I was left with a bit of a "huh?" type feeling come the end.
Despite this, I did fly through the book as I wanted to know how it all ended - it just didn't have the gasping reveal moments I was hoping for.

There were plenty of red herrings thrown in to send you in different directions, and I didn't find myself predicting who the serial killer would be. I would have liked more on Ellie's backstory and understanding why perhaps so much of her early life she appeared to have completely forgotten. This felt to be more of a convenient characteristic written that allowed for reveals to happen, but without explanation or resolution to understand it. I'm left with more questions about plot points than answers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Usually I love Alice Hunter and her clever, twisty thrillers, but The Perfect Psychopath just didn't hit the mark for me. The prison setting was interesting and the plot was solid, but the ending felt rushed and was a bit of a letdown. The twist at the end also wasn't really surprising. Not my favourite!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel!

If you’re looking for your next popcorn thriller, this may be it. Immediately gripping, I was hooked from the first chapter until the last. Punctuated by short chapters and multi POVs, you’ll feel at the edge of your seat while you watch the plot (and the whodunnit) unfold. I found the FMCs career interesting, as I have been fascinated about the link between psychology and the criminal justice system. That being said, if you enjoy watching crime shows and dramas, I think this would also be a good fit. I also did not outright guess the whodunnit aspect of this, although I did find it to be believable. However, I will say that the epilogue did fall a bit flat for me. Overall though, this was a fun read!

WOW!!!!! Hooked from the first page and read this book in one sitting… Full of tension and suspense. A real page turner, a domestic noir but OMG so much more!!!!!

Really loved Alice's other books, and enjoyed this one but not as much as her previous ones. I enjoyed the introduction into the prison world and trying to use this to Eleanor's advantage, but as a reader we slowly learn this is dangerous! A good plot and good storytelling and a nice easy read

've read four of Alice Hunter's other novels and enjoyed them all, and this book was a winner too! Suspenseful, with a twist at the end I didn't see coming, and the two heroines were very rootable. I especially liked the parts of the book that were set in prison. The author has worked in a prison herself (as have I), and the prison scenes gave us an insider's look at what it's like to work in that environment.

A great read with a unique perspective. Lots of twists and turns. I did see the end coming but it did not detract from the story. This one had a solid plot that was different and kept me reading.
A great read

The pacing for this book is steady, with plenty of moments that make you question who can be The way the story unfolds still kept me turning the pages. The pacing was strong throughout, with a gripping beginning that immediately pulled me in and an ending that really stuck with me. I loved how the author explored the killer’s psyche and built complex characters that felt real and layered. It was a good read.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley.

I loved this book. It didn’t disappoint. A story about secrets, manipulation and power. It’s fast paced, full of suspense. So many twists and turns keeping you captivated. A real page turner right up to the end. I was totally hooked and couldn’t put it down.
It’s brilliantly written. So clever, compelling intrigue as the tension builds, keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Storyline is believable, I enjoyed the prison setting. So intense. Alternating between multiple POV’s, Ellie, Sarah and unknown. Plus the different formats like case files and diary entries, which I enjoyed and adds layers and background. It flows so well making it easy to follow too.
The interesting characters I liked, though some are very untrustworthy and loathsome which just adds to the story. Dr Eleanor (Ellie) is a strong female lead.
Overall, a brilliant book, well worth a read. Definitely recommend if you enjoy gripping psychological thrillers. I can’t wait to read @alicehunter_author next book.
Thanks to #NetGallery #AvonBooksUk for an arc of #ThePerfectPsychopath in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 22 May 2025.

WOW!!
What a story full of suspense and plot twists - I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to find out if I’ve guessed correctly {unfortunately not}

Dr Eleanor Spencer is involved in a criminal investigation with the Police which leads her down a familiar path of unease where her own personal life could be in danger. Prisoner Lucas Hayne is one of her ‘patients’ who she sees on a regular weekly basis at the Prison where she works but he is the sort of criminal who knows the system and what he must say as against what he wants to say, in this instance he is somewhat involved in the criminal investigation but not in the way you would think.
When women turn up murdered with the same scenario setting what is the connection between them all? Who is guilty?
Poor Dr Eleanor Spencer is trying not to let her personal feelings of the MO get to her but there is a connection- can you guess what it is?

I struggled somewhat with this book. From the synopsis and title, I was looking forward to reading a gripping psychological thriller. It had all the elements of this but for me, there were a few issues. Firstly, I didn’t like Ellie’s character. I couldn’t gel with her and secondly, the book was more of a slow burner than a gripping thriller. Having said that, I was surprised by the ending and was compelled to finish the book so I would rate it three stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.