The Perfect Girl: A Novel

by Gilly Macmillan Narrated by Penelope Rawlins, Dugald Bruce-Lockhart

Overview

Zoe Maisey is a seventeen-year-old musical prodigy with a genius IQ. Three years ago, she was involved in a tragic incident that left three classmates dead. She served her time, and now her mother, Maria, is resolved to keep that devastating fact tucked far away from their new beginning, hiding the past even from her new husband and demanding Zoe do the same.*

Tonight Zoe is giving a recital that Maria has been planning for months. It needs to be the performance of her life. But instead, by the end of the evening, Maria is dead.

In the aftermath, everyone-police, family, Zoe's former solicitor, and Zoe herself-tries to piece together what happened. But as Zoe knows all too well, the truth is rarely straightforward, and the closer we are to someone, the less we may see.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

★ 07/18/2016
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.). (Sept.)

From the Publisher

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.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“With tightly drawn characters, a fascinating storyline and absolutely exquisite narration, The Perfect Girl is sure to keep readers up all night. Gilly Macmillan proves once again to be a master of the written word and is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. Literary suspense at its finest.” — Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author

“I DEVOURED The Perfect Girl. An incredible page turner with awesome characters and suspense. Bravo.” — Kate White, New York Times bestselling author

“Macmillan captivates readers with a story just as addictive as her first… [and] shines when exploring the intricacies of relationships… Fans of Tana French, Ruth Ware, and Gillian Flynn will become completely entrenched in the unfolding details.” — BookPage

“A compelling read for fans of psychological suspense.” — Library Journal review of THE PERFECT GIRL

“Gilly Macmillan (What She Knew) deftly explores the intricacies of relationships and the bonds that tie families all while ratcheting up the suspense in this page-turning thriller.” — Real Simple magazine

“With lovely prose, depth of character and an intelligent narrative, Macmillan lifts the level of suspense with stiletto-like precision: a tiny graze here, a shallow cut there and, eventually, a thrust into the heart. At once profoundly unsettling and richly rewarding.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch

Richmond Times-Dispatch

With lovely prose, depth of character and an intelligent narrative, Macmillan lifts the level of suspense with stiletto-like precision: a tiny graze here, a shallow cut there and, eventually, a thrust into the heart. At once profoundly unsettling and richly rewarding.

Real Simple

Gilly Macmillan (What She Knew) deftly explores the intricacies of relationships and the bonds that tie families all while ratcheting up the suspense in this page-turning thriller.

Mary Kubica

With tightly drawn characters, a fascinating storyline and absolutely exquisite narration, The Perfect Girl is sure to keep readers up all night. Gilly Macmillan proves once again to be a master of the written word and is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. Literary suspense at its finest.

BookPage

Macmillan captivates readers with a story just as addictive as her first… [and] shines when exploring the intricacies of relationships… Fans of Tana French, Ruth Ware, and Gillian Flynn will become completely entrenched in the unfolding details.

Kate White

I DEVOURED The Perfect Girl. An incredible page turner with awesome characters and suspense. Bravo.

Real Simple magazine

Gilly Macmillan (What She Knew) deftly explores the intricacies of relationships and the bonds that tie families all while ratcheting up the suspense in this page-turning thriller.

Library Journal

04/01/2016
A LibraryReads pick, Macmillan's What She Knew is also in the running for a 2016 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original. So pay attention to this chiller about "perfect girl" Zoe Maisey, a 17-year-old musical prodigy who served time after being implicated in an incident that left three classmates dead. She's starting over, giving the make-or-break performance her recently remarried mother has carefully planned even as she hides Zoe's past from everyone. But at recital's end, mom lies dead, and Zoe has lots of questions. With a 200,000-copy first printing.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170038077
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/06/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

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