From New York Times bestselling author Jeneva Rose comes the definitive, fully reedited audiobook edition of her shocking breakout thriller, performed by The Blacklist star Mozhan Navabi and award-winning actor and narrator Andrew Eiden.
Sarah Morgan is one of the best criminal defense attorneys in Washington, DC. With a perfect case record and having made named partner before the age of thirty-five, her life is going exactly as she planned.
However, the same cannot be said for her husband, Adam, a failed author, who’s grown to resent his wife’s meteoric success as he feels it’s come at the expense of their relationship.
For almost two years, Adam has kept his affair with Kelly Summers a secret, but everything changes when her body is discovered at the couple’s lake house and Adam is arrested on suspicion of murder.
Sarah now finds herself facing her most challenging case yet when she vows to defend her husband—a man accused of murdering his mistress.
While Adam is certainly guilty of sleeping with Kelly, the question remains: Is he guilty of killing her too?
Tanita Dawn De Bruyn –
Let’s delve into the characters of “The Perfect Marriage.” Meet Sarah and Adam Morgan, the epitome of a successful power couple. Sarah, an accomplished criminal attorney, and Adam, a writer. However, beneath the surface, their seemingly perfect life conceals layers of complexity, proving that perfection is often illusory.A notable aspect is the narrative perspective, particularly Adam’s portrayal. He transcends the role of a mere observer, evolving into a fully fleshed-out character with his own thoughts, emotions, and hidden truths. Rose masterfully crafts Adam, intricately weaving him into the web of secrets and lies that define the story. This nuanced character development is a distinctive strength, especially for readers who appreciate multi-dimensional protagonists.”The Perfect Marriage” emerges as a genuine page-turner. Just when you believe you have deciphered the plot, Rose introduces unexpected twists that send your assumptions into a tailspin. This unpredictability adds an exhilarating dimension, transforming the story into a thrilling ride that keeps you eagerly turning the pages.A minor critique pertains to pacing, with moments where the narrative feels hurried, akin to a movie in fast-forward. A more balanced pace, allowing the plot to marinate and unfold gradually, could have enhanced the overall experience. While not diminishing the book’s enjoyment but a touch more refinement could elevate it.On a deeper level, it prompts contemplation of societal perspectives. The recurring theme of women portrayed as villains, echoed in works like ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘The Girl on the Train,’ raises thought-provoking questions. While empowering to witness strong, intelligent women, the trend of depicting them as manipulative raises concerns. The narrative landscape seems to spotlight cunning and deceit as primary facets of female empowerment. While it doesn’t diminish Rose’s thriller, it sparks a crucial conversation about the portrayal of women in contemporary literature.The conclusion of “The Perfect Marriage” is nothing short of a whirlwind. Like a rollercoaster hurtling at full speed, it leaves readers breathless and astonished. Rose’s adeptness at sustaining suspense while concluding the narrative deserves commendation. Also, the ending shocked me most of all.
[...]Hellen Weber –
Unpredictable from the first page. The author did an amazing job with the characters and the plot, it kept my attention completely and I simply couldn’t stop reading it. When you think you are getting into the right direction of the story, everything changes and you are led to an incredible end.
[...]Sayan –
The story hooks you till the end and no one could guess the ending. However, it does leave a bad taste in your mouth…as the innocent didn’t get what he deserved (spoiler).It’s easy to read without beating around the bush. If you enjoy Frieda stories (like me), this is a must read.
[...]clara –
unexpected end
[...]Stanley MacBethell –
I loved this book! I loved every twist and turn. A great read – but be ready to not want to put it down.
[...]Rachael Ashak-Benson –
Pretty good, w/ few big buts.. ;) (*Great Book Club Option!!*)
[...]—— Edit: In addition to all I say below, & despite it… After writing my review I had the sudden realization that The Perfect Marriage would make …..** A FABULOUS BOOK CLUB TITLE! **There’s A LOT which can be discussed, picked apart, have differing opinions regarding, etc., etc.My sort of slight “negatives,” gone over in detail below, would be perfect talking/debate points.—— Ok! Now on to my review! :) …..I think The Perfect Marriage was a fairly enjoyable read, start to finish – the beginning & very end being the best parts.The middle, well- there were many times I asked myself if I really wanted to keep reading? If this story was truly entertaining me enough?I realized after completing the book that you can have too many ongoing (& continually cropping up, new) questions & mysteries in a story – without ANY resolution going on whatsoever.It gets a bit mentally/emotionally tiring … chapter after a chapter. And tiring leads to a feeling that’s akin to boredom. No matter how invested you are in the storyline or characters. Or how exciting the mystery started out being, or where it looks like it all may go in the end.Like, perhaps, throw in a couple resolutions here & there. A few solutions to mini-mysteries would be a relief & refresher (even if they wind up being red herrings in the end lol!).Having to hang in there throughout an entire twisty-turny type murder mystery – from beginning all the way until the end, with zero relief in between, begins to feel like a too long clothesline. How it begins to droop from the weight of all the clothes (or “story details/loose ends”) toward the center. In a heavy, distinct shape & color blurring, pace slowing, manner.And just like looking at that over-burdened clothesline, when a story is feeling like that, your motivation to read dips & comes into question.No matter how great the overall plot is.I’m not often, & I mean hardly EVER, taken out of the story to then have to consciously, forcibly suspend disbelief.This happened more than a few times when reading this book.(And my primary genre(s) include a lot of SciFi, apocalyptic topics, etc. And I hang in there just fine. Happily 100% immersed, disbelief easily & naturally suspended for the duration….)But here, within The Perfect Marriage, I encountered THE MOST unrealistic situations & occurrences. Which yanked me firmly from the immersion I had been enjoying, to question the author’s decision to include such a turn of events.There are also a couple of “implied situations” in the story, which are fairly significant events. I guess we are supposed to be able to read between the lines, or ~in some other manner~ know what the heck she meant in those occurrences. (Jeneva Rose truly offers no hints for us, her readers.)In truth, nothing would have been lost- & the story would have been improved actually, from a bit more detail in these situations.I’ve since completed the book & I now *think* I understand what happened. ….Maybe? But I’ll never truly know if what I’m supposing matches up with what the author meant for those scenes.So, overall, it’s an ok book.This is my 1st experience with Jeneva Rose’s work. I MIGHT read something by her again, but with so many greats out there, unfortunately Rose’s stories won’t be the ones I immediately gravitate toward in the future when I swing over to this genre for a read. (Give Freida McFadden or Susi Holliday a try! Amazing!!)Anyway…. The Perfect Marriage might be a perfect book for diehard fans of this author, Jeneva Rose.For the rest of us … It may be worth a read.But if you find that part way through you’re really not feeling it — & are asking yourself if the end is worth hanging in there?Well. This is my experience….I’m glad I did finish the book, despite my middle of the story self-reflection, as I know I would wonder what happened, how it all turned out eventually. And it would drive me a little crazy! LolBut with that said, the conclusion feels sort of rushed. Isn’t really satisfying (to me). And is a bit of a stretch; or contrived.Perhaps lengthening the ending just a bit would have helped? I don’t know.It just doesn’t ~connect~ well to the whole of the rest of the story in general. Like, there were many private moments between the characters throughout the entirety of the story.Yet between then … & the end … the relationships are 1000% different, & the author is asking us to believe it. Sure. Maybe. If we the readers hadn’t been fly’s on the walls / privy to so many PRIVATE moments throughout.Anyway – more I could say on that, but I don’t believe in spoilers! No one likes a spoiler! LolSo, it’s up to you, my fellow reading lover!To give this one a whirl … or a pass!? …..
Sarah Elizabeth –
Oh my god
[...]Wow oh wow. I could not put this book down! This is the first book I’ve read of Jeneva’s and I already need more! Such an amazing book and a great story. It was truly captivating. Her style of writing is chefs kiss. If you’re having trouble trying to decide if you want to read this book, let this be your sign. DO IT! I promise you won’t regret it!
Riza Loves To Read –
A Promising Thriller That Missed the Mark
[...]When I picked up this book, the striking cover and intriguing premise instantly caught my attention. I anticipated a gripping and unpredictable thriller. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The story begins with a compelling mystery, but as it progressed, the tension and depth I hoped for were lacking. I pieced together the clues early on and developed my own theory about the resolution. The plot, however, felt shallow and predictable, with twists that were too easy to guess.One major issue was the lack of strong character motivations. The main conflict centers on a mystery that should have left me guessing, but I deduced the culprit well before the final twist. It was frustrating to see characters ignoring obvious clues, which weakened the story’s suspense. The reveal at the end merely confirmed my suspicions, offering little in terms of shock or satisfaction. While the premise is intriguing, the story could have benefitted from deeper character development and more complex plotting. For readers who enjoy domestic thrillers and solving mysteries before the final reveal, this book might still be an enjoyable read.2.5/5 stars
Kristen –
The perfect marriage. highly recommend!
[...]Just wow! Following Sarah’s journey of defending her husband Adam Morgan after his mistress was found murdered in their cabin was such a wild and fun journey. Every chapter had me thinking and trying to make connections on just who is this mistress and who really murdered her? Also, why the heck is she even defending her husband in the first place?! I love books where the POV changes between characters so you will have chapters from Sarah and Adams POV. If you havent read this book yet and want a book that will keep you wondering with a great twist at the end this is the book for you! I constantly found myself thinking oh its this person, then later no its not its them, then wait maybe it is that other person but then at the same time I have no idea now?! Even toward the end when they lined it up and I could tell who it was I was still shocked with an unexpected ending. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good thrill and suspense!
Alexandria I. –
PLOT TWIST!
[...]A great read up until the last three chapters. Overall, very well written with enough suspense to keep the pages turning quickly and quite a few cliff hangers making you think you picked up on clues to the murder while still leaving you far off. Not a fan of the ending or lack of explanation in it to some of the main characters in the book.
Ann B. –
I’m counting the days till The Perfect Divorce is out.
[...]After reading Home is Where The Bodies Are, I became obsessed with reading everything by Jeneva Rose I could get my hands on.I finally got my hands on a copy of The Perfect Marriage, and holy hell, batman was a good book.I devoured this book like Adam devoured his scotch (if you know, you know) and loved every page of it.That ending I don’t even know where to begin with that ending; I had fully believed every suspect both Adam and Sarah threw into the mix and found myself wondering if I was losing my grasp on reality, thinking about how many people really had a believable motive for wanting Kelly dead.Now, I have questions, oh, so many questions, starting with that scene in chapter 39; who was that? I have my suspicions, but I really need to know.Overall, I love this book; it kept me guessing, made me want to keep reading, and broke a reading slump I hadn’t even known I was in.Now I have to say I will beg, borrow, and review to get my hands on a copy of The Perfect Divorce, that two-chapter teaser at the end of the special edition; all I can say is I need to know what happens next.