• The Perfect Stepmother

  • A Totally Gripping Psychological Suspense Thriller
  • By: Karen King
  • Narrated by: Susie Riddell
  • Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (70 ratings)

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The Perfect Stepmother  By  cover art

The Perfect Stepmother

By: Karen King
Narrated by: Susie Riddell
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Publisher's Summary

"I just want to be your friend." She smiled at Lily, her dark brown eyes impossibly sincere. "And to be a mother to Emma too, of course." Her gaze flickered to Lily’s sister, but only Lily saw her expression momentarily change - from warm and loving to something else. Something Lily didn’t trust....

Lily has always had a simple dream: to be happy like her parents were. Content in their sweet suburban home, nothing in life had phased her mother and father, not even when they’d had a "surprise" second child, Emma, nearly 20 years after Lily. 

But their love story was cut tragically short when - after a devastating battle with cancer - Lily’s mother died. Lily was heartbroken, but also desperately worried about her grieving dad, not to mention five-year-old Emma. 

So, Lily is shocked and concerned when he suddenly decides to remarry, less than a year after her mother’s death. It feels far too soon, and Lily finds herself furious with him - and his new wife, Maria, who can apparently do no wrong. She seems madly in love with Lily’s dad and instantly bonds with Emma. 

It’s only Lily who can’t trust her. 

Who won’t trust her. 

And when Emma goes missing - could Lily be right? What if the greatest danger to them all is the woman now living in their family home? 

A totally gripping and unmissable psychological suspense novel about dark family secrets, perfect for fans of Shalini Boland, Claire McGowan, and Gone Girl.

©2021 Karen King (P)2021 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

What listeners say about The Perfect Stepmother

Average Customer Ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing narration and riveting story

This was my first book by Karen king and I loved it! Going to grab another and will be looking for books narrated by Susie riddell as well!

1 person found this helpful

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Exciting read!

Very exciting read-kept me on the edge of my seat! Another great book from Karen King!

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Good

This book was fine. It kept me entertained but not particularly engaged or excited. If you like simple stories this is for you.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

sooooo dull

Don't waste a credit, You can literally listen to the first hour and the last 1.5hrs and you will have the entire story. And there is no dramatic ending either. I will be returning this book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • lesleypizzey
  • 09-14-21

Excellant

Loved it,vivid pace kept me hooked until the end
Characters ers were very believable, great

1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Sarah Brackenbury
  • Sarah Brackenbury
  • 06-24-21

Very far fetched and awful accents!

First off, (and this is not the author’s fault), the narrator doing a terrible brummy accent nearly sent me over the edge. So grating! And the crime that the main character was accused of was ridiculous. It was clearly an accident. I won’t say too much, as it may be a spoiler. All very easy to guess though. No twist or shocks.

Another thing that got me was the repeated, puke inducing, ‘I loved her as my own’. We get it! But do you have to keep saying it over and over again? All in all, a very far fetched and disappointing read.

1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Kelly
  • 04-06-23

Over 5 hours before there’s any action!

This book bored me so much - I have a terrible habit of continuing listening, even if a book starts off slow, just in case it gets better. Plus, I’d wasted a credit on it so worth £6/7. Nothing happened for ages and by the time it did I just wasn’t invested in the characters enough to care.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Applebee
  • 03-21-23

Bad story even worse narration

The men in the narration sound like caricatures of a man. The story is SO dull. I’m keeping this book in my library for when I have trouble sleeping.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Nomadicdragon
  • 09-22-22

an enjoyable first read.

I found this an enjoyable 1st read from this author - not "omg I want to read it again" but enjoyable enough to want to read more by her. some parts of the story line didn't quite gel as I think manslaughter rather than murder might have been more appropriate, but not bad enough to make me stop reading. the narration was excellent though.

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  • Samantha Davies
  • 08-29-22

Absolutely brilliant book, thank you.....Mamfy.

Very enjoyable listening to this audio book....I have never had a Karen
King book before but I am definitely coming back for more....😁😁😁

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • victoria
  • 12-19-21

The perfect stepmother. Absolutely brilliant

Loved this, first book I've read in one night,definitely worth a credit! X x

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Profile Image for waste of money. just repeats the same few pics. don't bother !
  • waste of money. just repeats the same few pics. don't bother !
  • 08-13-21

monotonous

A dull, repetative story that could have been concentrated into one chapter! Badly written and predictable.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Nicolette K
  • 08-20-21

Couldn’t finish

It got a bit ridiculous towards the end It was easily guessed but also just far fetched sorry

2 people found this helpful