The Perfect Girl

Starred review from July 18, 2016
Piano prodigy Zoe Maisey, the 17-year-old heroine of this cunningly plotted psychological thriller from Thriller Award–finalist Macmillan (What She Knew), and her devoted mother, Maria, have against all odds started a promising second act in Bristol, England, after a night in Devon three years earlier that shattered Zoe’s life—and snuffed out those of a trio of other teens. Maria has married wealthy entrepreneur Chris Kennedy, and Zoe now has a baby half sister, Grace. All is well until a piano recital brings the past roaring back with devastating consequences. Unfortunately, Zoe and Maria aren’t the only ones with secrets, and what they don’t know about Chris and his brooding teenage son, Lucas, just might prove their undoing. As the suspenseful, serpentine tale unreels from the alternating perspectives of several key players, readers will be rooting for the resilient, resourceful Zoe all the way to the perfectly executed final twists. Agent: Nelle Andrew, Peters, Fraser and Dunlop (U.K.).