Listen free for 30 days
-
Her Perfect Family
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden, Steve West
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Her Perfect Family
Buy Now for £23.09
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of I Am Watching You. The perfect family? Or the perfect lie?
It’s their daughter’s graduation and Rachel and Ed Hartley are expecting it to be one of their family’s happiest days. But when she stumbles and falls on stage during the ceremony, a beautiful moment turns to chaos: Gemma has been shot, and just like that, she’s fighting for her life.
PI Matthew Hill is one of the first on the scene. A cryptic message Gemma received earlier in the day suggests someone close to her was about to be exposed. But who? As Matthew starts to investigate, he finds more and more layers obscuring the truth. He even begins to suspect the Hartleys are hiding something big - from him and from each other.
While Gemma lies in hospital in a coma, her would-be killer is still out there. Can Matthew unravel the family’s secrets before the attacker strikes again?
Critic reviews
“Intriguing. Different. I raced through it beyond my usual ‘lights-out’ time. You simply HAVE to read to the end to find out what happens.”—Jane Corry, Sunday Times bestselling author
“Her Perfect Family is a thrilling ride, a finely-crafted mystery that begins with a terrible act of violence, a mother’s worst nightmare. I was gripped from the first page…I loved it!”—Melanie Golding, bestselling author of Little Darlings
More from the same
What listeners say about Her Perfect Family
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Podenco Fan
- 08-11-21
Return to form in this intriguing mystery
I was very impressed with "I am watching YOU" and also "The Friend" - less enchanted with "The Promise" and could not bear "I will make you pay" so much that I returned it unfinished.
None the less, I dutifully put "Her Perfect Family" in my pre-orders and got a very pleasant surprise!
This for me was a return to form and while it was not the most thrilling, gripping and thought provoking psychological audio book I have listened to, it did hold my attention, entertain and totally flummox me with red herrings and plot twists a plenty.
I have always had a bit of a problem with the narration and feel Steve West, despite his huge acting talent and dulcet tones, simply to be miscast as Matthew. Steve has a lovely voice but sounds too James Bondish, slick and almost cartoonishly polished and dynamic for an ex-copper private detective. He sounds more like one of those film trailer voice over guys to be honest. Fabulous, but far to high octane and sophisticated for the character. Also when it comes to voicing child's parts he sounds positively demonic and also verges into "Little Britain" territory with some women characters making them sound oddly comedic.
One of the main problems I had with " I will make you pay" was the wimpy protagonist who sounded like she could not battle her way out of a damp paper bag. After listening to this follow up audio-book I am beginning to think a good portion of that might have been down to the narrator. I am a big fan of Elizabeth Knowelden's work in other audio books but somehow, again in "Her Perfect Family" the mother's narration was twittery, wimpy, neurotic and it made me really dislike the character despite the fact that there was nothing weak or wishy washy about her - rather (like Jessica Rabbit) she was just voiced (drawn) that way and it was a shame that, for me, it made her a silly, irrelevant. unlikeable character.
However, as much as the narrators did not allow this audiobook to reach its full potential and be as gripping and enjoyable as possible, they both are very gifted performers and the book professionally read - unlike many I have had to return as the narrators have rendered them infuriatingly impossible to listen to.
All in all, with a recast narration I would have given this audiobook a 5 star rating instead of a 4, so possibly advisable to get in print instead as the plot was well- crafted and kept you guessing, there were no plot holes, all tied up nicely. The epilogue was really more of a plot summary which seemed to go over old ground on the raison d'etre of the plot - but apart from that it was a good listen with nothing overly gory, violent or upsetting
I suppose after 5 books it is unlikely for a change of narrators, but I will still look forward to Teresa Driscoll's next book and hope she keeps me ducking and diving and guessing all the way through only to be blindsided time and time again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Dolly
- 05-01-22
boring
it took me weeks to listen to this. it was so drawn out a boring and the Narrator was awful really awful, trying to do different women voices made me cringe.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-10-22
Totally implausible
A really unbelievable story- very over dramatic and highly unlikely.
The two narrators didn’t help either, both sounding breathy, rushed and at times resorting to silly voices especially for the child. I expected much more from this author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Nicks
- 17-06-22
OK
I didn't enjoy the female narrator so much; and the story seemed a bit average to me. I think her previous books were better.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Beka92
- 26-11-22
Another hit for Teresa Driscoll
I always get Teresa Driscoll book on audible, I had to wait ages to listen to it and wasn't disappointed.
Personally the performance was a bit of a let down I couldn't get used to Steve's voice, especially when he was narrating Amelie. His other characters where fine.
The basis of the story was a young girl Gemma getting shot at her graduation ceremony. Over the course of the book various people are introduced with very different motives. Each chapter is a different character, the private investigator, the mother, the father, the daughter and mystery person. Each chapter is properly introduced so you can follow exactly what's happening without confusion.
There was a lot of drip fed information through Gemma's "diary" and I didn't work out who the shooter was before it was revealed which is always exciting.
It was also an interesting look into family dynamics and childhood trauma and slight touch on mental health that may be a trigger warning for some. Also the shooting should be a trigger warning as I was in tears. I very rarely cry at a book but that scene had me in floods.
Huge thank you to Teresa Driscoll for another great read (listen).
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- LAW
- 11-11-22
Ok, feels a bit generic
Cliched characters, especially the PI, who left the force under a cloud but seemingly is considered more important than the actual DI in it, who was a simpering female. No great shocks at ‘who dunnit’ . Found the PI narration v hammy
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Cleopatra
- 10-11-22
An interesting premise
Theresa Driscoll has come up with an interesting premise for a psychological novel.
We have a graduation, a pregnancy, mental health issues, hidden secrets and lies all blended together into a plot that centres around a shooter in a cathedral. Whilst the plot was busy, my problem was that I found several of the aspects quite improbable, especially those that were emphasised by repetition. That said, the story moved along introducing jeopardy and new revelations to keep my interest.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Liz shaw
- 18-10-22
Gripped
Well written, well red and had to finish it straight off. Fully recommend it, first book from this author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Debsy
- 27-07-22
loved it
loved the story and the twist, I just had to keep listening though not wanting it to end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- barbara
- 27-07-22
review
narration brilliant found the story a little drawn out otherwise good twist at end
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Melissa M
- 16-11-21
One of the narrators was too breathy
The story was good. The male narrator was very breathy and I almost had to stop listening when he said “ice cream” for what felt like the 100th time. Having the character bring it up way into the story was annoying.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Cynthia
- 04-11-21
Very slow and tedious
I thought a few times about returning this book but wanted to know the end result so I stuck with it. It was very anticlimactic with a lot of loose ends. The author attempted to provide character development but it was lacking even though the author gave a fair amount of info about each character. It just didn’t tie together well and the connections between the characters never really “clicked” for me. The male narrator wasn’t annoying but just not well suited for this type of story. The female narrator did a good job.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Lifelong Reader
- 12-03-22
Ridiculous and tiresome
The answer to this mystery is so improbable that it offends the reader. I thought I would lose my mind with how padded the plot was, drawn out to a level I have never experienced. Who would dream of including an ecstatic review of the NHS, the vagaries of the Canadian health care system and the awfulness of the American system in a mystery? The details are staggering, even including the identifying, changing and the horrors of a "dirtied nappy," OMG. The narrator did the best they could with this book in heroic fashion.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lorae Hessler
- 19-01-22
Great book
Had me at the edge couldn’t stop listening to it. It started rough but picked up fast.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Kelly
- 07-11-21
Extremely boring…
Too many players, nothing really goes on except the shooting. Such a disappointment.
This book was a hot mess.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- liz anderson
- 05-11-21
Good story
This audiobook was pre-ordered in anticipationof a great thriller. The story didn't disappoint, and the narrators were really good. There are some interesting twists and turns, and I didn't figure it out until the end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
- terid
- 21-07-23
Excellent all around!
Narration was perfect and the story was touching, with great twists that moved the story along! Love this author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 25-05-23
Liked it a lot
The narration was excellent and I loved the pace of the story. It’s my first Driscoll novel, and I was enjoying it so much that I got another one of her books even before I finished this one.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Rose
- 17-05-23
Rough
It was not terrible but I had to force myself to finish it. It didn’t come off as being real, I wasn’t able to connect with the characters, to feel their emotions.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Josie Berry
- 10-05-23
Too Forced.
Felt that the drama was being forced into the narrative. Had to make myself finish the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!