'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 twenty 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. Readers are loving The Perfect Stepmother: 'I was hooked from the first page. It was full of twists and turns and I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout!! That ending... Wow.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars 'A true thriller!... All of the secrets. All of the unknown. When you finally think you know, what is going on, there is a major plot twist! It is perfect! This is a psychological thriller. And if I could, I would highlight the "psychological" and make it big!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars