Nicki`s Life of Crime : BLOG TOUR, BOOK REVIEW - Perfect Strangers by Araminta Hall

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Nancy, Eleanor and Mary met at college and have been friends ever since, through marriages, children and love affairs.

Eleanor is calm and driven, with a deep sense of responsibility, a brilliant career and a love of being single and free - despite her soft spot for her best friend's husband.

Mary is deeply intelligent with a love of learning, derailed by three children and a mean, demanding husband - she is now unrecognisable to herself and her friends.

Nancy is seemingly perfect: bright, beautiful and rich with an adoring husband and daughter - but beneath the surface her discontent is going to affect them all in terrible ways.

When Nancy is murdered, Eleanor and Mary must align themselves to uncover her killer. And as each of their stories unfold, they realise that there are many different truths to find, and many different ways to bring justice for those we love...

Everyone wants a perfect life. But there is no such thing

This captivating drama is written in three sections, with each section being voiced from the perspective of one of the three women starting with Eleanor, then Nancy and finally Mary. The trio had met at University and remained close friends throughout the trials and tribulations of the ensuing years although there was times as the story unfolded that their friendships did came across as a bit toxic. Whilst at University they had often talked about their plans for the future but as often happens, life doesn't always turn out the way you hoped or planned. Years later Eleanor is now living on her own and runs a charity that helps with overseas aid. Nancy is a book translator and apparently living a fairy tale existence with her handsome, adoring husband Robert and their daughter who is now attending the same University as her mother had. Mary is married to a Neanderthal called Howard and they have three children. The friends have known each other a long time and have always believed that they didn't keep secrets from each other so both Eleanor and Mary are understandably shocked and dumbfounded when Nancy is murdered and they discover that their friend wasn't living the perfect life that she appeared to be. Who had killed Nancy and what was their motive? Had Robert discovered his wife's secret and killed her in a fit of rage?

Each of the main characters was a individual in their own right with her own unique personality, flaws and character traits. My favourite out of the three friends was poor, downtrodden Mary, I'm not saying her actions were right but I couldn't help feeling a tiny bit proud of her by the end of the book. I can't say that I liked Eleanor, Robert or Howard very much for various reasons and as for Nancy...wow that woman was one hell of a hot mess, a beautiful woman who appeared to have everything but still wasn't happy. But then, the reality is that appearances can be deceptive, someone's life might appear perfect on the outside but who knows what goes on inside other people's heads or behind closed doors. Yes, what Nancy did was morally wrong but the poor woman had suffered from certain issues long before her murder and I felt that it would be wrong of me pass judgement on her character due to these issues. The problem with modern society is that the strive for money and perfection can turn into a obsession that can take over people's lives in damaging ways. The other standout characters for me were Eleanor's adorable elderly neighbour Irena and poor, young, troubled Marcus.

This is a beautifully written, character driven take of friendships, relationships, deception, control, manipulation, the power of love, parenting and the effects and consequences that can be caused by the selfish actions of others. It's a story about the power of women and the unfortunate truth that despite the fact that we are now living in the 21st century, many men still don't treat women as their equals. It's the fascinating study of the lives of three, realistic women that had me hooked in and captivated by the the author's vivid characters and storytelling from the first page right through to the heart warming conclusion. I thought this was a very enjoyable, entertaining read and I would happily read more of this author's books in the future.

AUTHOR BIO

My new novel PERFECT STRANGERS is being published in the UK on July 8th, published as IMPERFECT WOMEN in the US. Friends tell each other everything, don't they? Unless they have a secret that's a matter of life and death. How well do you know your friends? How well do you know yourself?

I'm a massive fan of writers like Patricia Highsmith, Daphne Du Maurier, Iris Murdoch, Shirley Jackson & Barbara Vine who were such masters at taking us deep in to delusional minds.

I'm also the author of EVERYTHING & NOTHING (2011), DOT (2013) & OUR KIND OF CRUELTY (2018).

I live in Brighton, England with my husband and three children.

You can contact me on twitter at @aramintahall