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The Perfect Child cover art

The Perfect Child

By: Lucinda Berry
Narrated by: Christine Williams, Erin Bennett, Dan John Miller
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Summary

A Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller.

A page-turning debut of suspense about a young couple desperate to have a child of their own—and the unsettling consequences of getting what they always wanted.

Christopher and Hannah are a happily married surgeon and nurse with picture-perfect lives. All that’s missing is a child. When Janie, an abandoned six-year-old, turns up at their hospital, Christopher forms an instant connection with her, and he convinces Hannah they should take her home as their own.

But Janie is no ordinary child, and her damaged psyche proves to be more than her new parents were expecting. Janie is fiercely devoted to Christopher, but she acts out in increasingly disturbing ways, directing all her rage at Hannah. Unable to bond with Janie, Hannah is drowning under the pressure, and Christopher refuses to see Janie’s true nature.

Hannah knows that Janie is manipulating Christopher and isolating him from her, despite Hannah’s attempts to bring them all together. But as Janie’s behavior threatens to tear Christopher and Hannah apart, the truth behind Janie’s past may be enough to push them all over the edge.

©2019 Heather Berry. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"A mesmerizing, unbearably tense thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder and sleeping with one eye open. This creepy, serpentine tale explores the darkest corners of parenthood and the profoundly unsettling lengths one will go to to keep a family together—no matter the consequences. Electrifying and atmospheric, this dark gem of a novel is one I couldn’t put down.”—Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author

“A deep, dark, and dangerously addictive read. All-absorbing to the very end!”—Minka Kent, Washington Post bestselling author

What listeners say about The Perfect Child

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Amazing story....but....

what went on with the ending g. so frustrating , I was totally engrossed but the ending absolutely ruined the experience. The performances and story are worth the credit but prepare to be disappointed by the ending. Such a shame.

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Soooo happy with this book... when it ended!

So, I listened avidly to this book as I REALLY wanted it to end. I invested a lot of time in the hopes it might improve but, nope it was consistently awful from start to finish. Tbh I’ve never listened to, or read a book where I hated every character, so that was a first. To the people who were left wondering what happened at the end, I can honestly say I didn’t care one hoot, my only disappointment was that any of them survived. Sappy parents, predictable awful child and nauseating social worker. Are you picking up on the fact that I wasn’t a fan?

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5 people found this helpful

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The Perfect Child

I enjoyed listening to the book it was a real page turner. The ending was so abrupt though I thought there must of been some kind of mistake. If it’s to be made into a sequel I would understand more, but still think it could of been wrapped up better.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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chilling page turner

This was a fast paced psychological thriller! oh my God I was upset many times, this story will stay with me for years!! Must read!

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

hard to put down

good read, couldn't put it down, but a little disappointed at the ending, but confusing and wanted to know what happened next.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent!

Well worth a read or listen! I can definitely recommend! Completed in almost 48 hours!!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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unexpected ending

loved it. many twists and turns. keep me interested the whole way through, couldn't put it down

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Great but why the awful sudden end?

Was there a maximum word count? Where’s the rest?!
I’m all for leaving it on a cliffhanger but this just feels unfinished and the author just gave up.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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grupping

loved it, just felt there could have been more to the ending, like what happened to janey,.... did Hannah get better ECT

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Ended abruptly!

Really enjoyed the bulk of the book..... it seems like it's set up for a sequel? if not.... disappointing ending....

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2 people found this helpful