The Perfect Place by Amanda Cassidy

What you see isn’t always what you get.

Elle Littlewood can barely believe her luck when her producer tells her about the chance to get her hands on a dilapidated chateau in Aix-En-Provence, France for a rock bottom price. It seems too good to be true, but as a home interiors influencer, she knows this would make incredible content.

Lately, Elle has noticed the cracks start to show. Her life is the envy of thousands, and her social media posts show a beautiful, accomplished woman. Yet this wasn’t always the case. If they knew the truth about her past, they would never look at Elle the same way again.

Elle needs this house. She doesn’t care that it comes with huge strings attached. And when people get in her way, there’s nothing Elle won’t do to protect her brand. After all, she’s survived by doing things that people could never imagine – and knows she would do them again.

A dark, voyeuristic and utterly captivating crime thriller that fans of People Like Her and Sun Damage will love from CWA Debut Dagger shortlisted author Amanda Cassidy.

Review

‘The Perfect Place’ tickles the senses with its suspenseful tale of greed, redemption and revenge. I am a huge fan of Amanda’s two previous books and I was excited to read the premise, with its seductive location. It did not disappoint. It is full of morally grey characters that although I didn’t like them I can could empathise at least with the protagonist. I flew through this in one sitting, watching as the layers of deception revealed themselves one by one…maybe leaving us with a placeholder for a further adventure?!

Elle seems to have the perfect life as an influencer, has a handsome husband to be and with a potential ownership of a chateau that would really push her brand into the stratosphere. But it comes with a catch, the owner gets to live in it until he dies. Leonard is an old man so it’s bound to happen sooner rather than later right? Everyone has secrets, even Elle, but are hers about to come and haunt her now she seemingly has everything?

This is a jam packed storyline, full of secrets, lies and deception. Literally every character has something to hide and that makes it a real page turner. It’s a combination of ‘Escape to the Chateau’, ‘Love Island’ and any prime time crime show! This is a great summer read, to be consumed by the pool as the sun beats down on you. It has that classic at times outlandish blockbuster feel to it. It is well written and the characters are fleshed out nicely. Is it my favourite book by the author? Maybe not but then Ally Fields was a character I would love to return to any day of the week. But Elle is a close second!

Let me know if you pick this one up!