The Perfect Mother

Rating 5 out of 5

Well, there you go. You kill for the ones you love. Always.

Family was a bond that could not be broken. Family was everything.

This book right here has caused me severe distress in all the right ways. I did not want to put this one down because it kept such a level of suspense going from beginning until the end. I honestly think this is the first time I've read a psychological thriller, I usually just read them and this one did not disappoint. Farrell is very descriptive with his words and is the master of just enough information. Each time you think you have it figured out, you are wrong.

The novel begins with our main character Laura waking up from a nap in her car (one which it turns out is fueled by Xanax, Zoloft and alcohol) to a phone ringing. The only problem? It's not her phone. She answers the FaceTime call and is met by the voice of her daughter, Nelle, saying "they took me." The kidnappers are convinced that Laura is someone named Betty and they want revenge for some secret transgression Betty committed. She has two instructions drive to the location provided and never turn off the phone.

The events that unfold in this page turning book explore the lengths one will go in order to protect family. Farrell tells the story from different points of view which only adds to the suspense of the novel and helps to make it feel well-rounded. My favorite part was the jump in timeline to events from the past, with little breadcrumbs connecting them. You really have to be paying attention to this book or you are bound to miss something. It does leave you thinking: how far would you go for those you love?