Book Review: ‘Perfect Little Children’ By Sophie Hannah Is A Mostly Satisfying Thriller

Beth and her husband Dom were best friends with Lewis and his wife Flora twelve years ago. Beth and Dom have two kids and Lewis and Flora had three kids. Then they came into money and then the friendship ended for various reasons. Lewis and Flora moved away never to be heard from again.

Now twelve years later Beth is driving her son Ben to his soccer game and decides to drive by where Flora lives now (or thinks she lives now) and sees her get out of her car with two young children, Thomas And Emily, that look exactly like her two children from when they were friends. Beth can’t believe it. It’s like the kids never aged. She goes home and tells her family about this and starts investigating Flora and Lewis. She finds some of them on social media and sees the grown up kids but no mention of Flora or the little girl they had before they moved away and sees they live in Florida now.

Beth investigates more going back and talking to neighbors where Flora lived or lives and finds out the people that live there now have two young kids with different names. Beth again sees Flora in town but Flora bolts from her. Beth is determined to find out what’s going on even though Dom tells her to let it go. She soon finds the number to call Lewis and talks to him and Flora but it leaves he with more questions than answers. She can’t leave this alone.

After Beth learns more details that don’t add up, she flies off to Florida to confront Lewis and Flora and try to get answers. She may have bitten off more than she can handle, when she’s told a story that doesn’t add up and keeps on pressing and it may cost her.

The story is mysterious with twists and turns, leading up to the climax and reveal as to what’s been going on. You can kind of see where it’s going if you pay attention as you read. I was hoping for some killer twist but it was what I had suspected. All in all a satisfying mystery.

You can pick up Perfect Little Children in stores on Tuesday, February 4th from William Morrow.