One Perfect Morning

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 20 Aug 2020 | Archive Date 28 Aug 2020

Description

The deadliest secrets lie closest to home…

Mackenzie, Robin and Lily have been best friends since college. Twenty years on, they all live in the same neighbourhood with their perfect families, perfect houses, perfect lives…

It would seem that nothing could come between these three women.

Except for a betrayal.

Nothing could turn them against each other.

Except for a terrible past mistake.

Nothing could tear them apart.

Except for murder….

One dead husband. Three best friends who tell each other everything – apart from the truth…

Packed with secrets, scandal and suspense, One Perfect Morning is about to become your new obsession. The perfect read for anyone who loved Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks.

The deadliest secrets lie closest to home…

Mackenzie, Robin and Lily have been best friends since college. Twenty years on, they all live in the same neighbourhood with their perfect families, perfect...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9780008378370
PRICE £2.99 (GBP)
PAGES 400

Average rating from 122 members


Featured Reviews

#OnePerfectMorning #NetGalley
A twisted and sinister psychological thriller. A must read.
Robin Thompson, Mackenzie Fischer, and Lily Santoro are three best friends from their days of college. Now they're grown ups and living a not so perfect life with their spouses. At a party in Robin's house, something goes wrong and then they turned to each other. They are three but they're hiding many secrets, their spouses have their own secrets and as these secrets starts to unravel, my backbone starts to chill. This is not an ordinary psychological thriller. Its a twisted and sinister psychological thriller.
Characters of three women were brilliant while in spouses, I loved the character of Grant. Other characters were ok ok.
Narration of the story is flawless and is able to hook the reader from the first chapter.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advance copy of this awesome psychological thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Multi layered tense a book that drew me right in.Three women best friends from college now adults .Three bffs one dead husband so many secrets so many lies.The characters come alive really well written.#netgalley#avonbooksuk

Was this review helpful?

Enjoyed this novel very much. The storyline flowed seamlessly, and the characters were engaging. Will definitely pick up more books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Another good storyline in the psychological thriller section. the characters were well thought out and the plot was an easy one to follow. It was well written and flowed easily, with some unpredictable twists and turns throughout.

Was this review helpful?

The story lived up to the description. Great work, I loved it. Highly recommended to anyone who has time to sit and read in one sitting

Was this review helpful?

I very much enjoyed reading this book.

When I first read the blurb, I was already intrigued and thankfully the story delivered! The characters are well written and the story itself is executed in great detail! Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Well I didn’t expect to read this one in one sitting. Definitely a book you won’t be able to put down until your done. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but it absolutely won’t be the last. Definitely kept me engaged and I have loved the characters.

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic thriller by a talented author

3 best friends and secrets galore between them. At a party, they turn on each other. Secrets start unraveling each with a chilling result.

My second book by this author, I was quite entranced with the way the characters and their partners were plotted and each of their secrets made me laugh with a unholy glee.

The writing was swift paced and wickedness seeped into the words. I was completely hooked by the story and nothing could sway me right to the end.

A fun read, indeed

Was this review helpful?

Brilliant'y woven tale of secrets and betrayal between friends. With plenty of plot twists and turns, I found it to be real page turner and devoured it in a couple of days.

Was this review helpful?

Loved the thriller of the book! The story about friends and the secret and mysteries all between them. Of course there are plenty of twists and turns and loved every bit of it.

Was this review helpful?

I loved One Perfect Morning!

Complex, interesting and so full of suspense! Happy that this compared to the synopsis! Full of secrets, lies and addictive writing. Not my first book by Pamela Crane and definitely won’t be my last!

5/5

Was this review helpful?

Good read about how some people’s lives matter are never as perfect as they look on the outside!! Secrets, lies and deception throughout. Every character seemed to have a secret of quite epic proportions!! Lots of twists and turns and an ending that I didn’t anticipate. Worth a read. Thank you for letting me review this book.

Was this review helpful?

I missed a movie night for the pure need to finish this book!!
Friendship, love and passion and that's in the first chapter!
One perfect morning is a thriller a ride surrounding three friends and what bounds them all together.
Refreshingly alternative take on revenge captured my a single sentence skillfully crafted into the text.
I would recommend this book for lovers of big little lies.
I'm now a converted fan!!

Was this review helpful?

Exciting book to read. Great wee read. Was on the edge of my seat throughout. It was very well written. Great plot . I didn’t want it to end

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I've read by this author. It definitely won't be the last. A brilliant, clever psychological,
suspense thrillerr which will keep you reading long into the night. It's a story of friendship, love, lies and deception. Three best friends, Lily, Robin and Mackenzie have been friends for years and they think they have told each other everything, but none of them really know what goes on behind closed doors. But when one of the friends is involved in a murder, who do they trust to keep their deep, dark secret. A heartbreaking read with domestic violence and mental abuse by a so called loving husband. A great book with twists you won't see coming. Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

A brilliant read!

3 best friends Lily, Mackenzie and Robin have been friends friends for years with nothing coming in between them. But can their friendship hold out through the secrets they each try to keep buried. Only time will tell.

While life on the outside seems perfect, the truth is far from that, with these women having to deal with more then each one can handle.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book and although it was my first read by Pamela Crane it definitely won’t be my last!

The swift paced story keeps you hooked throughout and it’s brilliant how Pamela has intertwined the main characters I loved how the writing just flows from chapter to chapter.

This books covers so many important messages and issues: rape, abuse, debt, betrayal, secrets, feeling unworthy, feeling helpless, friendship, family and marriage.

A brilliant story that I just couldn’t put down!

Was this review helpful?

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy of this book.

This is the first time I’ve read a book by Pamela Crane but it definitely won’t be my last, I have already downloaded more by her!!

The story had me gripped from the first page. The characters were not all they seemed to be, some you despised, some you pitied and some you wanted to hate but ended up understanding their reasoning.

A tale with twists and turns and an ending that I was happy with.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely fantastic I’ve been reading gangland crime so this was a lovely change so refreshing I loved all the families and how there lives were entwined I love all the dynamics and the difficult decisions and perspectives of very contreversial subjects and how the two families perspectives and there views on the incident I also loved the secreta that they all had brilliant from start to finish and would love to read abt the aftermath

Was this review helpful?

"While the neighbourhood wives kissed their husbands good morning, I planted death's kiss on mine."
With a beginning like that, its safe to say I was hooked.

I didn't go in expecting too much from this novel, having never heard of Pamela Crane before, but it's safe to say I was blown away.

If you loved Big Little Lies, you'll love this.

Was this review helpful?

This is a good read, a genre I really enjoy, when life appears perfect and slowly but surely it all unravels and the past come back to haunt them. Robyn, Lily and Mackenzie have been best friends since their college years and now live comfortably in the sand neighbourhood. Life is coasting along swimmingly, until it isn’t. Past secrets come back to haunt them. Past betrayals will never be forgotten. This is full of suspense and will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more into romance stories and girlie books therefore am extremely pleased and grateful to them for opening up my mind to something totally different.

I enjoyed this very much. 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Was this review helpful?

Mackenzie, Lily and Robin meet at college and become best friends they make, “A pact to stay friends for life ... a pact that would test their bonds for decades to come”

The friends are now grown up and Mackenzie and Robin are married with children. Their lives seem to be perfect, but scratch below the surface and they all appear to be hiding secrets that could destroy their close friendship and lives. With the death of one of the husbands and all 3 women having a motive for wanting him dead, can their friendships survive?

The story is told from their perspective’s and goes back to 1999 when the girls meet and bond at college.

I do love a book about friendships and secrets. The intriguing start of a woman with a knife at a man’s throat had me gripped from the start and the twists along the way kept me hooked until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a good read, a genre I really enjoy, when life appears perfect and slowly but surely it all unravels and the past come back to haunt them. Robyn, Lily and Mackenzie have been best friends since their college years and now live comfortably in the sand neighbourhood. Life is coasting along swimmingly, until it isn’t. Past secrets come back to haunt them. Past betrayals will never be forgotten. This is full of suspense and will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

Another book that's took me far too long to read. I just have no concentration at all at the moment, and managing a small chapter or two a day, if anything! I thought book choice was playing a part but this one was so twisty and exciting! It reminded me a lot of Big Little Lies. Three college friends that have promised to be friends for life, all living good happy lives. Appearances aren't everything though.


I really enjoyed this and would love to get my hands on more by this author!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book, had a really good storyline, good characters and was quite sad when I finished it.

Was this review helpful?

A trio of friends – Robin, Lily and Mackenzie – have been united for years and two decades later, they live in the same neighbourhood. Life isn’t perfect but it feels pretty good. Except a few wee secrets will come out and make the friends go in different directions in terms of reaction. What would you do if something happened to your child? How would you react if your husband had a burning secret? It’s been compared to Big Little Lies and I think that’s fair but I also think it pushes the plot slightly more than its comparison. I was surprised at some of the twists and turns which made it all the more enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

The summary said if you like Big Little Lies you will love this book- which is true. However don’t think you can predict what happens! This is an excellent read about long term friendship between women who are there for each other whatever - know each other’s flaws and weaknesses and accept each other.

Was this review helpful?

Three best friends Lily, Mackenzie and Robin have known each other for years; nothing comes between them.
Can their friendships stay stable from the secrets they try to keep buried from one another?
Life for the friends seems idyllic, but underneath demons writhe.
A woman with a knife against a man’s throat had me intrigued from the start, rape, abuse, debt, and betrayal; the story is full of mystery and suspense as past betrayals raise their heads, this book will keep you guessing to the end.
I want to thank NetGalley, Avon and Pamela Crane for allowing me to review a pre-publication copy.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be the last.

One Perfect Morning is the story of Robin, Lily and McKenzie who have been friends since college and how their deeply buried secrets come back to haunt them.

A well written story of friendship, love and lies which was an interesting and enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. I have been sent a copy of this book for review purposes. This has not influenced or affected my opinions in this review.

When I began reading One Perfect Morning, I had mixed feelings. It is a book which will keep you guessing and is filled with lots of twists and turns. The only thing which let it down for me was the fact that I think the ending felt a little bit rushed in places. Nevertheless, this was a great read and a complete hit for me. I will be reading more of Pamela Crane’s work. If you’re a fan of thrillers and crime, you will enjoy this book

*4 stars*

Was this review helpful?

A good story about friendships and secrets, and it will keep you hooked right to the end. Lots of twists and turns, and will keep you guessing and unable to put it down. A really good read.

Was this review helpful?

I started reading this book with mixed feelings. It is about 3 college friends, who despite living completely different lifestyles, have maintained a close friendship 18 years after college. In the beginning I found the story a little difficult to follow because it was told through the different viewpoints. All 3 of the women have their own problems and part of me wanted to tell them to pull themselves together.
As the book progressed, the reasons for their problems are gradually revealed. Their relationships with others and with each other is explored and the annoyance I had felt with the characters becomes empathy and sympathy as their souls are bared and it becomes apparent why they are the way they are now. Their lives are described realistically and you come to understand their way of thinking.
By the last chapters, I could not put the book down. Twists in the plot, that I for one did not see coming, made it a real pageturner . Sensitive topics were handled in a believable and sympathetic way, which added an extra dimension to the book which left me with quite a lot of food for thought.
There is a epilogue, good to ctach up at the end. To me, it felt a little rushed but it did provide some answers and was thoughtfully done.
Thankyou to Net Galley, the publishers and Pamela Crane for a great read in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely look out for more from this author

Was this review helpful?

Love Pamela Crane’s work, and this book is another hit! She’s one that just is able to nail the friendships and characters so perfectly, which makes the tension build in such a fantastic way! Lots of chills, thrills, shocks, twists and turns, and of course absolutely unputdownable! I highly recommend to Crane fans, thriller fans, and those looking for a thriller to hook them in the genre! You will not be disappointed, as I promise the first little bit grabs you and holds you in a choke hole throughout! A must read!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms and use my low Amazon reviewer number on release date!

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic read about friendships and secrets which will keep you hooked right to the end.
Three best friends living their best life’s until secrets and pasts come between them.
Lots of twists and turns which will keep you guessing. Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

The opening of this book goes from 0 to 100 instantly drawing you in, a serene and peaceful setting to“woahhh I have got to see what happens here”
This book centres on three friends Mac, Robin and Lilly all who whom I found myself liking despite the fact that each one of them has an obvious personality flaw.
This book is definitely one that leaves you guessing right to the very end, there are a lot of twists and turns and this keeps the story interesting throughout.
It is a book I would definitely recommend

Was this review helpful?

I could not decide what I thought of this book at the end - I found it addictive but was not sure that I enjoyed it! I did not find any of the three women likeable - all had secrets and struggles in their relationships including their friendship.

The story is told from each of their perspectives and goes back to where they met and bonded at college. Now grown up, two with families of their own, the death of one of the husbands opens up their past and present to scrutiny. All potentially have a reason to harm him. All of them hold secrets about each other any of which would destroy their lives.

I was surprised by the outcome - perhaps not wholly convinced - but did like the positive ending.

One I will be recommending.

Was this review helpful?

A good fast paced story with lots of twists turns. A story of friendship, betrayals and secrets which keeps you wondering and guessing throughout.
Robin, Lilly and Mackenzie have been close friends from their college days but when something happens between two of their children it puts their friendship to the test.
I loved how there was also back stories running throughout the book which builds a picture of the three girls and the secrets that they hold close.
First time reading a Pamela Crane book and I have already looked up others as I very much enjoyed this one.

Was this review helpful?

I really did enjoy this book, full of twists and turns that keep you guessing constantly it certainly is a page turner.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the Arc of this book❤️

And thank you to Pamela Crane for writing this☺️❤️

Follow 3 best friends, and many secrets between them, they end up turning on one another then secrets will start to unfold...

These secrets could destroy their friendships with one another as well as their own lives!! Then one of their husbands end up dying but all 3 of them have a motive for this death...😱 But why ?? 

Told from all their perspectives and goes back and forth from college in 1999!!

But who did it...😱

This was an epic read, so gripping full of mystery and twists and turns making you want more and more such a page turner!!

Thank you Avon Books UK, NetGalley and Pamela Crane
Will review on Amazon etc when it's published ❤️
Recommend 100%
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

Was this review helpful?

I never read this author but enjoyed every minute of it. The twist and turns.

I will certainly b looking at more books by pamela

Was this review helpful?

This book helped get me out of a reading slump.
One Perfect Morning by Pamela Crane, a group of three life-long friends who are tangled together through a web of deceit, secret and lies. As the story unfolds the secrets along with their friendships unravel and cracks begin to show. Lies come to the surface effecting not just their friendships, but marriages, family dynamics and work in this suspenseful story where not everything is as it seems behind closed doors. I really enjoyed this one and stayed up late until I had finished as I needed to know how it was going to end.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first pamela crane book. I enjoyed the story and it shows the story between 3 lifelong friends and different obstacles they all have to face in their personal life. Full of twists and turns, a cery enjoyable read

Was this review helpful?

Another brilliant book by Pamela Crane, excellent characterisation and storyline. Gripped from the start, I didn't want to put it down, but at the same time I couldn't wait to finish it. The books Pamela creates are truly masterpieces. Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Compelling Neighborhood Noir......
Compelling neighborhood noir. Best friends, small neighborhood, seemingly perfect lives, big lies and big secrets - things are about to get very sinister indeed. Suspenseful and entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this booked - it was a one-sitting read for me, I genuinely couldn’t put it down.

The characters were excellent, the threads of the story woven together brilliantly and the pace of the story kept you guessing.

If I had a small criticism then the ending/last few entries weren’t as smooth & seamless as the rest of the book, but I still enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend.

Thank you Netgalley

Was this review helpful?

A twisted and sadistic psychological thriller. A multi layered story which had me gripped from page one.
I LOVED the main characters who were well fleshed out and so believable. Three women who have been friends since school and one of their husband's is dead. A really good murder mystery and so much more. So many twists and turns and secrets and lies. Another fantastic read from this author.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC

Was this review helpful?

I loved the synopsis of this book and really wanted to like it but I struggled to get in to it. So much so that it was the first book in a long time I could not finish.
I can see from the other reviews on NetGalley that I am in the minority with this book so it would be unfair of me to leave a negative review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I love a Pamela Crane book! They are always so twisty and juicy and One Perfect Morning was all of this and more. Full of unlikeable characters, anybody could have been the killer. I would not want to be friends with these women, nobody in this story can be trusted, right until the very end. A fantastic, quick read that I just loved.

Mackenzie, Robin and Lily have been friends since college. 20 years later they are all living in the same neighbourhood with their families. All 3 women have their secrets and things from their pasts that would like to keep there. But events of a party at one of women’s homes threaten to blow it all open. Tensions are high and loyalties are tested. Their seemingly perfect lives are not everything that they appear to be.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read

Was this review helpful?

It took me a few pages to get into this book, as I felt it was difficult to get to know the characters but I was glad I persevered. The tension gradually built up as the past relationships between the characters revealed cracks in their friendships which seemed almost impossible to resolve. There were so many dark hidden secrets leading to a shocking finale.

Was this review helpful?

One Perfect Morning is the first book I’ve read by Pamela Crane and what a book! It follows the stories of Mackenzie, Lily and Robin, three college friends who’ve been friends for decades. This book has everything you could want: secrets; lies; murder, deceit all wrapped up in a novel that I found impossible to put down. Well written and each turn of the page leaving you wanting to keep reading. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

Was this review helpful?

This book is set in America and introduces us to three friends, Lily, Mackenzie and Robin and their families. The structure is familiar in that the action is in the present day and flashbacks to the 1990s where one particular event was a hidden secret that eventually touches their lives today.

First, let me say, I really enjoyed this book and as the hype says it is very similar to Big Little Lies inasmuch as it has that flavour and is full of surprises. But (why is there always a but?), it is a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Three women, best of friends, relying on one another as a support system but we have three totally different personalities, Lilly the divorced, predatory woman who doesn’t want children; Robin the Southern beauty who is a stay at home mum with 4 children and Mac whose husband is uber controlling. Difficult to warm to any of them because they felt very contrived.

So, murder, rape, drug addiction, infidelity, debt, but I still enjoyed it, just had to suspend reality for a little while.

This review sounds very negative but it is a good read and I am sure it will be very successful.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A husband is about to have his throat cut in his own bed. To find out who - and why - we need to go back nine days and twenty years.

Mackenzie, Robin and Lily met when they all went to the same college in Monroeville, Pennsylvania and twenty years later they're still the best of friends. When they first met they called themselves the Spicier Girls as a nod to the famous girl band of the day. Lily would be Adventure Spice, Robin the Homemaker and Mackenzie - well, Mackenzie would be the supporting actress in her own life. She married Owen, her college sweetheart and they have a daughter, Aria, who's now fifteen-year-old.

Robin Thompson is married to Grant, a paediatrician and they have four children. Well, I say they have four children, but the eldest child, Ryan, was born three years before they met and was the result of Robin being raped when she inadvisedly accepted a lift home from a casual acquaintance one snowy night. Grant's always seen Ryan as his son and they've never actually felt the need to explain the details of his conception to Ryan, who's now eighteen. In fact, it doesn't seem important until Mackenzie walks in on Ryan and her daughter Aria. They're drunk and having sex.

Aria's father, Owen Fischer, is controlling and violent to his wife behind closed doors. Eventually, Mackenzie has no option but to tell her husband what she saw. Predictably, he loses control and Owen is a loose cannon in such situations. Will he go to the police? This could mean that Ryan has to do gaol time and will lose all chance of a decent life. Will he be violent towards Ryan? Mackenzie knows that there's history in this area and now she's frightened. She's a southern gal, brought up by a controlling father and now married to a controlling husband, only Owen is not as well-disposed to Mackenzie as Mr Kirkland used to be.

The third friend is Lily and she was the leader of the group. She was married to Tony, but her addictions drove a wedge between them and Tony left a year ago. She hasn't given up hoping that he'll come back, but in the meantime, there's other sport to be had. Grant's sex life with Robin has been non-existent since the birth of Collette, eight months ago. Something always seems to come between them - usually a child. Lily's charms are really quite appealing in these circumstances.

If you look at the cover of One Perfect Morning and think that you're buying a light-hearted romance, think again. It's dark, it's twisty and it's thought-provoking, particularly on the subject of when a woman can give consent to having sex. I was intrigued as to who was going to die - and who would be the killer. There's no shortage of candidates for both positions. I didn't work out the who or the why and this part of the book was particularly satisfying.

I did struggle with the three women, though. I didn't find any of them particularly likeable and there's a distinct lack of honesty between them. Morality seems to be a moveable feast which can be adjusted according to circumstance. That's me being very picky.

It was a good read and I finished it rather more quickly than I expected. I'd like to thank the publishers for making a review copy available to the Bookbag.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I’ve read by Pamela Crane but will definitely read more.

As others have referenced this is of a similar ilk to Big Little Lies and I enjoyed it every bit as much as that book. It’s a tale of 3 women Robyn, Mackenzie & Lily, who have been friends since college days and, as the book reveals, share a lot of secrets. What looks on the surface like perfect lives are soon revealed to be very far removed from that.

The book is fast paced with plenty of twists and covers some very serious topics well. I enjoyed Pamela Crane’s writing and was hooked until the end.

Thanks to Avon Books, NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Good book.Plenty going on, with interesting well written characters.Good pace and story.Well worth a read.

Was this review helpful?

4 Stars from me

At the beginning of this book I felt a little overwhelmed by the continually swapping POV - all first person but differing characters. 

I did wonder if I'd struggle to keep up but I am so glad a persevered for almost as soon as that thought was really finalised in my mind I found that something had clicked and I was utterly hooked.

Centring around a group of friends who met at college and are now adults with seemingly perfect lives 'One Perfect Morning' blows apart all of the fake smiles and acceptable social veneers worn by the lead characters.

Treat the first third of this book as a very necessary introduction and then hold on to your hat for the last two-thirds as it is a twisty turny crowd pleaser of a plot!

Should you be pleased when someone dies?

Was this review helpful?

Take 3 best friends who have known each other for 20 years and their secrets and lies that come tumbling out as the book progresses and what do you get ? A superb thriller from Pamela Crane that,s what.Mackenzie,Robin and Lily are now living their perfect life with their perfect husbands but dark clouds linger behind the curtains,Owen is a control freak and Grant is cheating on Robin,put all this together and this book delivers on every aspect of the thriller genre..It's the first book i have read from Pamela Crane and i did enjoy it from the first chapter to the last it had me gripped,a great 5 star winner for me !

Was this review helpful?

Lily, Robin and Mackenzie met at college and vowed to remain in touch and be best friends for life. They remain in touch in the same neighbourhood of Western Pennsylvania but staying best friends is more demanding. As their lives progress through marriage, children for two, divorce and much more, aspects of their pasts return to haunt each of them. This book portrays the characters very convincingly and gives the reader more to think about as each chapter of the book and of the women’s lives moves on. The story deals with domestic abuse, rape, murder and dramatic mistakes. It makes important points about relationships. The story moves back and forward in time so the reader needs to keep watch! It is a gripping read. I recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

What a great book. From the first page I was thirsting for more. Pamela Crane writes so well. She knows how to get you interested and draws you along. There were many plots within plots and corresponding storyline moving parallel, waiting to drift into bump into each other. Lots of characters to discover and think about.
Who is at fault when the victim is murdered twice? Interesting scenario. I am not sure that Pamela fully examined this from the police perspective.
Recommended for a nice weekend read.

Was this review helpful?

The story of three lifelong friends Mackenzie, Lily and Robin. Each of them hold a secret that they can't share. If they told would their friendship survive? All of them have lives that they would change if they could. A series of events, disclosures and confessions change all of their lives so they can finally put their demons to rest and move on.

Was this review helpful?

Mackenzie, Lily and Robin. Three women who have been friends since college. Three friends who have vowed lifelong friendship. Their stories are told through first person narratives and flash backs.
Robin is married to paediatrician Grant. They have four children, the youngest eight months old. Robin is a stay at home mum but the pressures of motherhood and the day to day running of the house are taking a toll on her relationship with her husband.
Mackenzie is married to Owen and they have a teenage daughter, Aria. Out of their daughter’s sight Owen is controlling and abusive. Mackenzie is planning to leave him.
Lily was married to Tony but they split up after her inability to kick her drug habit. She lives a good life, running her own business but she still regrets the circumstances that caused Tony to leave and wants him back.
On the surface, these three characters have plenty of issues to deal with. But this is a tangled tale where deceit and lies and past secrets surface to make their lives even more complicated. A well written and complex plot which tests the friendship of this trio to the extreme.
Five well deserved stars. Highly recommended

Was this review helpful?

The three friends who love each other, friends since college, with shared secrets and secret aces to grind. There are some unpleasant characters and uncomfortable descriptions of rape. This is a completely intertwined story of the three friends and a plan for murder.
It’s a bit of a tangled yet compelling mess, it pulled me in easily and kept me gripped to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

One Perfect Morning begins with a murder. We know that one of three women - Mackenzie, Robin or Lily - killed her husband but we don’t learn which one is guilty until much later in the story.

I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. It has so much going for it. Three women have been friends for twenty years since their college days. You learn what happened to them in the past, what problems with their families they are now facing and what is going on in their children’s lives. The problem is that Mackenzie, Robin and Lily are so totally unlikeable. Mackenzie is a doormat to an abusive husband. Lily is a pill addict who has had an affair with a friend’s husband. Robin’s flaws are too many to list. Even their children are problematic. If there was only one character I had a shred of sympathy for…

I’m giving One Perfect Morning 3 stars. I’m not going lower because I think Pamela Crane has a wild imagination and a lot of creativity. I also think a better editor would have helped her cut back on some over the top details (the Italian phrases. All of them. A 40 year old whose father still says The War of Northern Aggression. A certain murder in the college years.) So cut out a lot of this extraneous, irritating stuff, smooth it over and put it into another book or two. I’ll read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Pamela Crane for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

'One Perfect Morning' is my introduction to author Pamela Crane and I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Three women, Mackenzie, Robin and Lily have been great friends since college. Now twenty years on the all live close and have lots of things to be thankful for, perfect homes, perfect families and perfect lives. But each of these women have problems that no one sees behind their closed doors. They are crumbling under the weight of a secret, a betrayal, a lie. Their perfect lives are not so perfect after all.


Following the death of one of their husbands all three women have motives and their real friendship is put to the test. The story is told from the perspectives of the three women and the plot had me guessing all the way to the end. Entertaining read with lots of twists and turns and some excellent characters.


I would like to thank both Netgalley and Avon Books UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a brilliant thriller based on the lives of three women who have been best friends since college. They all now live in the same neighbourhood and have each got their own problems deal with.
Lily has a dependency on pain killers after an accident she had, Robin has four children to cope with and a husband who is having an affair and Mackenzie is being controlled by her over bearing husband.
The book begins with a murder - but who is the victim?
Another incident happens and sends shockwaves through the friendship and for two of the friends there seems to be no way back from this.
Then we find out who was murdered....
I can’t say anymore as there’s much more to this story and I don’t want to spoil it.
This is a brilliant story that well and truly had me hooked throughout.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

WARNING: contains scenes of rape and abuse within marriage that may be distressing for some readers.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
This is the perfect quote to summarise the storyline of One Perfect Morning, a psychological thriller following the lives of three women Lily, Mackenzie and Robin, friends since their college days.
Secrets and lies are always at the heart of novels like this but I’m not sure I’ve met a group of people who are hiding quite so many!
A shocking opening grabs your attention, setting the tone and pace for events to come. The author held me in a vice like grip with writing that flows with ease from beginning to end as I followed each twist and turn with equal horror and fascination.

Lily is separated from husband Tony, the only single woman of the group. Mackenzie (Mack) is married to Owen and they have one daughter Aria. Last but not least is Robin, married to Grant with four children, Ryan, Willow, Lucas and Collette. They’ve matured into adulthood together, celebrating together as they experience significant life events,forging lifelong bonds. On the surface all is perfect but look a little closer and at the core of this group there is a toxicity that will eat away at their relationships, slowly germinating until it threatens to suffocate them all. What secrets are these three women hiding and why is it so important these secrets never see the light of day?

This storyline is a hotbed of scandal with multiple duplicitous characters adding a new meaning to the phrase desperate housewives!! Lily by her own admission is a weak willed Jezebel, addicted to painkillers and behaving in a manner that is not conducive to her friendship with Robin and Mack. Mack is trapped in a highly toxic marriage with a man who is a misogynistic bully, who manipulates and controls, who operates with a caveman like logic, riddled with double standards. Robin is hiding a secret from husband Grant as well as her son Ryan; her marriage is suffering thanks to the huge demands of caring for four children, suspicious of a husband who may or may not be playing away.

Adultery, rape and murder form the backbone of this storyline as these individuals lives are intricately woven together with husbands and children playing important roles. Some of their actions make a mockery of what all three women assume are rock solid friendships but the narrative exposes these women and men as liars and cheats, threatening the foundations of their interconnecting relationships. It’s as if they are all standing on the precipice of a cliff and the enjoyment you experience as a reader is watching and waiting for them all to fall. As young Willow so eloquently states, keeping secrets is like playing a dangerous game of dominoes;the minute you knock the first one they all come tumbling down.

Told mainly from the perspectives of all three women, the narrative jumps from the present to the past providing the background to the secrets they’d prefer stay buried in the past. However the key to opening this Pandora’s box of secrets is an incident between 18 year old Ryan and 15 year old Aria. It is this event which provoked the sense that the past and present were on a collision course, with history repeating itself in terms of ‘crimes’ committed.

The subject matter of One Perfect Morning is weighty with the storyline tackling issues of rape, consent and male attitudes towards women/girls in society. These are always hotly debated issues which the author has brought firmly to the forefront of the readers mind, making it impossible to ignore your own thoughts and feelings regarding such emotive content. She has proven the possibility of love and evil coexisting side by side and how easy it is to become trapped within a cycle of love and hate, perpetuating abhorrent inexcusable behaviours. With Ryan’s character I believe the author has created an individual who is capable of learning from his mistakes, remorseful and an example of how history doesn’t necessarily have to be repeated. Perhaps to a lesser controversial extent is the theme of keeping secrets and promoting lies and whether there can ever be a justification for denying loved ones the truth. I think all three women are trying to protect both their friendships and their children, fearful of the damage and havoc exposing past lies will no doubt incur. Whether or not you agree with the thought processes governing their actions, it all makes for one juicy,scandalous read.

When it comes to characterisation, despite their obvious flaws I couldn’t detest the female characters in the way I could with the male ones. I liked how irrespective of certain behaviours and events their friendship remained something that was worth fighting for. There may have been times when they didn’t particularly like one or the other but the bonds between Lily,Mack and Robin in the end seem unbreakable which is all very heartwarming after the shock and drama that monopolises the storyline. Clearly the most detestable characters are Owen and Geoffrey, the reasons for this obvious as you progress through the pages.

I’ve tried really hard not to divulge too much of the storyline, which is both addictive and thought provoking, with plenty of twists and turns that I couldn’t foresee. I loved how in the present there are echoes from the past and how some of these secrets are used as a means of control over other individuals. Breaking this cycle is imperative and the ways in which this happens are brilliant. I’m not sure in the end whether justice is served in all cases or whether forgiveness is deserved but the ending is so fitting. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Mackenzie, Robin and Lily have been inseparable since college. Twenty years later they still live in the same neighbourhood, have a perfect homes, families and lives. But each woman is harbouring her own shocking secrets a betrayal and a lie. Will their bond be strong enough to survive if the worst happens? One dead husband and three women with motives.

I don't know which of the three women I liked the least. The first third of the book is a necessary introduction. The story is told from the three women's perspectives. It's a very twisty read that kept me guessing throughout. The ending was good with all the loose ends tied up. There was just a little bit too much going on at times. The Last third of the book was the best part. The story covers: rape, drug abuse, murder, infidelity and domestic abuse.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Pamela Crane for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I recommend you all read a brilliant twisty plot it a really page turner your hooked from the first few pages loved the whole plot characters you love to hate they were so real i could relate to them i a gripping read so well written a nice easy to read book loved it

Was this review helpful?

Oh I liked this one! Exciting, unpredictable and so very good.

Robin, Lily and MacKenzie have been friends since college; now beginning their fourth decade and still close. Husbands, kids and relationships all fit around their friendships. They think they know everything about each other or do they? Can their friendship survive secrets?

I'm particularly fond of novels with three women as the main characters, and this is right up there with the best of them. These three each live their own lives but are joined by the invisible thread of long time friendships; they know things about each other that bind them firmly together. As we get to know them and their families, we find out what makes each of them tick and the secrets are slowly revealed - and just when you think you know everything, you find out that you don't really know much at all! I became involved in all three women's lives very quickly; I sympathised and empathised with each of them in different ways, but I didn't know the half of it! A stunning read, packed with suspense, well-written and divested of all it's revelations by the final page, this is one I'm very happy to recommend to those who don't like to see what's coming next. Five stars, and worth every single one.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

A well written psychological thriller with many twists and turns throughout.
Although it was certainly an enjoyable enough read, I have to admit I did find the amount of drama following all of the characters to be a bit 'too much'. But it still kept my attention from beginning to end, and I would certainly recommend that others give this book a read too.

Was this review helpful?

I recommend you all read a brilliant twisty plot it a really page turner your hooked from the first few pages loved the whole plot characters you love to hate they were so real a group of friends i could relate to them soon there friendship full of secret love the twist it a gripping read so well written a nice easy to read book loved it
A great thriller love it all

Was this review helpful?

Sorry I have been able to get to this book yet, but unfortunately due to this years troubling events my reading mojo has deserted me. Once it returns I will certainly be reading this book and updating my review.

Was this review helpful?

Kenneth Lingenfelter
4.0 out of 5 stars Psychological thriller
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
Three women were friends since college. This is a psychological thriller to keep you interested. Murder,affairs, rape and drugs and secrets are part of this novel. The lives of these women and their husbands and how it affects their children. There is an ending I did not anticipate.

Was this review helpful?

This is a well woven psychological thriller about friendship, secrets and lies that I read in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

It is the first book I have read by this author but I will definitely read more.

Highly recommended!!

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: