The Perfect Life by Nuala Ellwood
A compelling, twisty psychological thriller in which a much-adored boyfriend gaslights a vulnerable, naïve woman, leading us to ask: does anyone really have a perfect life?
Vanessa gets a thrill out of viewing houses she can’t afford. After her mother died when she was young, she’s longed desperately for a family of her own. She doesn’t think she’s doing any harm. Until one day the owner of the house she’s viewing is found dead. And the police think Vanessa is the murderer.
The story is told in two time periods: now, in which her life is a complete wreck; and before, in which everything was looking rosy. With a domestic setting and complex characters, this was a book exploring themes like love and control, and what happens when the perfect life turns out to be a perfect nightmare.
