Her One Mistake

November 5, 2018
Charlotte Reynolds and Harriet Hodder, the protagonists of Perks’s gripping if flawed first novel, have become best friends in their English village of Chiddenford. Their relationship is forged through discussions about their children and Charlotte’s recent separation from her husband, Tom. One day, Charlotte jumps at the chance to take Harriet’s four-year-old daughter, Alice, to the local fair, since her friend has often helped with Charlotte’s youngest child. But within minutes of arriving, Alice
disappears while playing on a slide with Charlotte’s two older children. Harriet is devastated, as is her controlling husband, Brian. Both women’s secrets begin to spill during the intense police investigation. Empathy soars for Harriet, who can barely function without her child, and for Charlotte, who must deal with the scrutiny of her neighbors and the police for not paying attention to the children when Alice vanished. Most of the plot and the denouement are realistic, but a twist inconsistent with one character’s persona jars. Still, fans of domestic thrillers will look forward to Perks’s second outing. Agent: Nelle Andrew, Peters, Fraser & Dunlop (U.K.).

December 15, 2018
Published earlier this year in the UK as Now You See Her, this domestic suspense debut is sure to be a hit with U.S. readers, as well. Charlotte and Harriet, the best friends who narrate the novel, bonded over losses in their individual pasts?Harriet's dead father, Charlotte's divorce?and over the daily trials of raising a family. When Harriet wants to take a bookkeeping class, Charlotte jumps at the chance to help her. She takes Harriet's daughter, Alice, to a festival at the local school, and then, in the instant Charlotte looks at her phone, Alice disappears. The novel is divided into two parts, and the primary character in each speaks in first person. The innovative structure bounces around in time, as well, keeping the reader engaged and guessing through the slow-burn beginning as everyone tries to find out where Alice went and who is at fault. Once the pace takes off, the twists come fast. Perks is an author to watch, and this examination of true female friendship will appeal to many.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)