Book Review #8 :The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

 

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden  

About the book

"Mrs. Cass, we were hoping your son could answer a few questions about the girl who disappeared last night..."

Erika Cass has a perfect family and a perfect life. Until the evening when two detectives show up at her front door.

A high school girl has vanished from Erika's quiet suburban neighborhood. The police suspect the worst--murder. And Erika's teenage son, Liam, was the last person to see the girl alive.

Erika has always sensed something dark and disturbed in her seemingly perfect older child. She wants to believe he's innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can't deny the truth--Liam may have done the unthinkable.

Now she must ask herself:

How far will she go to protect her son?

 

My take

The story begins with a young girl Olivia Mercer going missing. Everyone suspects Liam, Erika’s son, who many seem to think to be a certified psychopath, to be responsible for the abduction and probable murder of Olivia. Erika herself is not so sure that Liam is innocent, especially because of the many incidents that have taken place in the past with Liam that have shaken Erika to her core. Still, being the protective mother that she is, she desperately hopes that Olivia is found soon, safe and sound, and her son is free.

Even as Erika feels Liam may be guilty, her husband Jason and younger daughter Hannah swear on their lives that they believe Liam could never do such a thing. Liam says nothing, and that makes Erika more worried.

While all of this is happening, Erika learns a horrible truth about her own past. And soon she beings questioning everything.

So what happened to Olivia? And is Liam innocent?

The story is gripping right from the beginning, as the narration shuttles between police interview transcripts of Olivia’s friends and their parents, as well as past teacher’s of Liam, who all seem to think that he may be responsible for whatever has happened to Olivia, and Erika, who tries very hard to hold herself together as she struggles to maintain peace in the family, at the same time bracing herself to face her worst fears. As the narrative goes forward, layers of the truth about Liam, who on the surface seems to be the most charming and most obedient boy on earth, but has a dark side to him, are slowly revealed. We get to know why Erika thinks her son is guilty, and how she tries to protect him from his own demons.

However, the ending is definitely an unexpected twist, and the suspense stays, revealing itself at the last page.

The only downside was the confusing use of tenses. Most of the story is narrated in the simple present tense, but suddenly some lines pop up in past tense and that becomes slightly irritating.

But overall, it is a gripping read, and I rate it 3.5 stars.