Title: THE PERFECT CHILD
Author: LUCINDA BERRY
ISBN: 9781503905122
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pages: 358
Source: Private Copy
Christopher and Hannah are a happily married surgeon and nurse with picture-perfect lives. All that’s missing is a child. When Janie, an abandoned six-year-old, turns up at their hospital, Christopher forms an instant connection with her, and he convinces Hannah they should take her home as their own.
But Janie is no ordinary child, and her damaged psyche proves to be more than her new parents were expecting. Janie is fiercely devoted to Christopher, but she acts out in increasingly disturbing ways, directing all her rage at Hannah. Unable to bond with Janie, Hannah is drowning under the pressure, and Christopher refuses to see Janie’s true nature.
Hannah knows that Janie is manipulating Christopher and isolating him from her, despite Hannah’s attempts to bring them all together. But as Janie’s behavior threatens to tear Christopher and Hannah apart, the truth behind Janie’s past may be enough to push them all over the edge.
Official Summary
05 August 2026
Warning: This review contains minor spoilers.
Oh my goodness. This is one of the most disturbing books I have ever read.
Christopher and Hannah desperately want a child, but after learning they are unable to conceive, they decide to become foster parents. When six-year-old Janie, a severely abused little girl, arrives at the hospital where they both work, Christopher is immediately drawn to her. Believing that all she needs is a safe and loving home, the couple welcomes her into their family.
From the very beginning, it is clear that Janie is no ordinary child. Her violent tantrums, manipulative behaviour, and unsettling lack of emotion put an enormous strain on Christopher and Hannah’s marriage. While Christopher remains convinced that patience and love will heal her trauma, Hannah begins to suspect that something far darker lies beneath the surface.
This was one of those books that had me feeling uneasy almost from the very first chapter. Lucinda Berry does an incredible job of creating an atmosphere where the tension constantly builds, and I found myself dreading what Janie might do next. As the story progressed, the sense of impending disaster became almost unbearable.
What made this novel so effective was that it wasn’t just a psychological thriller—it also explored difficult questions about trauma, mental illness, parenting, and whether love alone can overcome the damage caused by extreme childhood abuse. I found myself constantly questioning whether Janie was simply a deeply traumatised child or whether something much more sinister was at play.
The characters were equally frustrating and believable. I understood Christopher’s desperate need to save Janie, but I also sympathised with Hannah’s growing fear and isolation. Watching their marriage slowly unravel under the pressure made the story feel all the more realistic and heartbreaking.
The final chapters were shocking, disturbing, and impossible to put down. Even when I thought I knew where the story was heading, Lucinda Berry continued to surprise me. It is one of those books that lingers long after you’ve finished the last page.
The Perfect Child is definitely not an easy read, but if you enjoy dark psychological thrillers that leave you feeling unsettled, I cannot recommend it highly enough. This was an intense, compulsive page-turner, and it has left me eager to read more of Lucinda Berry’s work.
Also By Lucinda Berry
SAVING NOAH
We forgive murderers, not pedophiles.
Not since Lionel Shriver brought us We Need to Talk About Kevin has a writer delved into the complexities of a disturbed mother/son relationship. Until now.
Meet Noah—an A-honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center.
His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations, Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Just how far will she go to protect her son?
Review Coming Soon
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
USA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages.
If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon.
Thank you for visiting the blog. I am very late to the party with this book, but I am so glad I have finally read it. I have added a few of Lucinda Berry’s books to my birthday wish list and I am keeping my fingers crossed. I hope you enjoy this one, until next time…. Happy Reading!
