A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage

A Novel

A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel—perfect for fans of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Maid—that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade.

Meet Lalla Rook. Lalla has a lot on her plate: She needs to guarantee her husband makes partner, secure her dream house in Hampstead, and get her daughter into a prestigious prep school. And on the afternoon she stabs a stranger seven times after he breaks into her living room, she has a four-year-old’s birthday party to host.

With an unambitious partner, two demanding children, and a barely adequate large house in a nice (if not quite fashionable) part of town, Lalla’s life isn’t quite perfect yet. And she can’t pretend she hasn’t missed the adrenaline rush that comes with transgressing. Besides, as a wife and mother, she’s already an expert multi-tasker. So, disposing of a body, framing a friend, and being the world’s best mother can easily be managed alongside the usual domestic minutiae.

It’s just that her husband Stephen seems distracted, her daughter’s drowning of the class hamster is affecting her academic future, and then there is the unexpected intruder. Who is this man and what does he want from her? Because Lalla has a past she’d rather keep hidden—and the sudden appearance of the police means that avoiding them will be yet another task to cross off her to-do list.

Funny, calculating, hypercompetent, and ambitious, Lalla is your next favorite antiheroine. Just don’t mention it to her mother-in-law.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Lalla is the embodiment of a sociopath—and Weeks’ insightful performance almost makes her likable."

"Perdita Weeks completely captures Lalla Rook’s inner snark in this satirical portrait of a sociopath. Gallows humor abounds as Lalla manipulates everyone and everything around her to achieve her goals—a partnership for her husband at his firm, an upscale house in a posh neighborhood, a place in a prestigious school for her daughter, and even murder, when necessary. Weeks makes Lalla sound perfectly reasonable and utterly without guilt as she crosses items off her to-do list, including framing her best friend for murder. With friends like Lalla, who needs enemies? Weeks uses an almost flat affect that conveys a woman convinced of her own sound reasoning."

Talk about a Guilty Pleasure!

A fun story about someone you’d love to hate and wind up secretly wishing you could get away with half of what she does! A wonderful escape that had me laughing out loud!

The narrator was perfect for the script.

I just loved this book. Total laugh a minute. I found myself rooting for Lalla- was that wrong.. she was so clever. Which of course means the author is the real clever one.

Lalla Is Spellbounding!

Before I rave about this unputdownable book, I just finished “Look Closer” and “Dear Debbie” before starting this. So needless to say, I was on a roll with the sociopathic women genre. My only complaint about THIS book, is that it ended! I want more Lalla and would love to see a series exploring how she copes with her new life. This book summarized: what if your daughter was Wednesday Adams, your mother-in-law was the Wicked Witch of the West, your husband was the Cowardly Lion and Lalla is basically the Fairy Godmother keeping both her family and friends on the path she sees fit. Whether it’s good or bad for them. You will devoure this and fall in love with one of the best characters ever written. Please give us more Lalla!!!!

Uniquely Entertaining

I loved this book! The character’s approach to life is so unique and enjoyable. Many of the situations she faces are of her own making and hilarious at times. Great narration too. I definitely recommend this one.

Witty, astute, and entirely well-executed combo of fiction and social commentary.

What I appreciated;
Writing style and skill. Story. Sociocultural and psychological reflection. Voice acting superb. Excellent production. Matter-of-fact realistic depiction of pretzel logic, cultural realities, social and psychological warping.