• The Perfect Family

  • By: Shalini Boland
  • Narrated by: Katie Villa
  • Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,403 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Perfect Family  By  cover art

The Perfect Family

By: Shalini Boland
Narrated by: Katie Villa
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

"Mummy, she’s gone...."

Gemma Ballantine is getting ready for work one morning when her eldest child comes running down the stairs saying the words every mother dreads.

The front door is open. And her six-year-old daughter has disappeared. Frantic with fear, Gemma starts a nail-biting search for her little girl.

After what feels like forever, her mother-in-law, Diane, finds Katie wandering lost a few streets away. Relieved to have her youngest child back in her arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair, Gemma thinks the nightmare is over.

But then her perfect family starts to fall apart.

And she realizes it’s only just beginning....

From the top ten best-selling author of The Secret Mother and The Child Next Door, this completely addictive psychological thriller of secrets, lies, and betrayal will make you gasp out loud at the heart-stopping final twist. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, and The Sister, this book is for you.

©2018 Shalini Boland (P)2018 Bookouture

What listeners say about The Perfect Family

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,474
  • 4 Stars
    675
  • 3 Stars
    196
  • 2 Stars
    42
  • 1 Stars
    16
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,596
  • 4 Stars
    441
  • 3 Stars
    101
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,266
  • 4 Stars
    590
  • 3 Stars
    221
  • 2 Stars
    48
  • 1 Stars
    30

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Solid Psychological Thriller

I have a weakness for British narrated psychological thrillers. I can't help it. They are my guilty pleasure. 'The Perfect Family' is different. Yes, a child is missing but the child is found right away- and that's just the beginning of the problems that faces our family.

This is fairly fast paced with interesting characters, and although I figured out the ending before 'the twist,' there were a few things that were a surprise.

Having said this, I've never read a Shalina Boland book before, and I will definitely be ordering more. I enjoyed her style, her pace, and the story was very good. I would recommend this to any fan of psychological thrillers.

4 solid stars,

-Wendi

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

47 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Tired story, done over and over and over again

Books like this, with a four star average review, make me question audible audiences! This story was predictable, unrealistic and honestly, dumb. No “shocking ending” - a villain was thrown In although we didn’t know hardly anything about this person.
This was a bad Deja vu to the DOZENS of terrible *domestic dramas*, same but different, trying to appeal to the “if you loved Gone Girl, you’ll LOVE this!” audience.

Save the credit. Seriously.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

This book was one of the best books that I have listened to so far! I loved both the story and the narration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it.

Great story. Loved the plot. Felt bad for the children. Loved the twist. I knew it couldn’t be as it seemed, so I was excited when it was revealed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Definitely recommend this read

My interest was held all the way throughout the book. Plus I loved the surprise ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

should be titled: "The Perfect Nanny"

I've listened to all of Shalini Boland's books and this is on par with her other work. She is not my favorite author but she knows how to entertain and often you have to just go along with anything far-fetched in her books and this one is no different. The title should've been called something like "The Perfect Nanny" or something along those lines and it is also one of those stories where everything is unraveled at the very end. I prefer books with hints throughout to allow the audience to piece things together and have all the details come together to be relevant. Not bad, a typical story of the author's, but nothing outstanding.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Gripping!

The story at the beginning offered events that seemed random and unconnected. But that is just not the case! The storyline was amazing and well worth the time to listen (or read). I found every opportunity I could for the book. I simply couldn't wait for the ending! What a great ending and even more exciting that this could easily have a sequel.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Terrible Lifetime Movie rip-off

Every single thing about the story was overdone and cliched. All of the characters were overly stereotypical, there’s nothing positive I can say about this book. Totally predictable, totally boring, don’t bother.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

sensational

Loved it!!!! Caught my attention immediately and never let it go. Fabulous choice for all!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

exciting!

I loved all the twists and turns in this story. anyone that's ever with infidelity can and will identify with the character

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful