Tess Clarke is not okay. As she wakes in the hospital, memories start to come back to her. Her husband Mark was killed in a plane crash a little over a month ago. Her 8-year-old son Jamie is missing. And she had been stabbed.

Her story unfolds through a narrative of her memories as well as an interrogation about the crime. Her story unfolds slowly. The weeks after the plane crash have been excruciatingly difficult for Tess. She struggled to get food on the table for her and Jamie, and she walked him to school late every day. Mark’s brother Ian tries to help her, but as he is a busy lawyer and their relationship was always strained, Tess finds it difficult to accept help from him, or even to believe that his motives are pure.

Grief counselor Shelley Lange shows up at Tess’s house and helps out as best she can. At first, Tess is thrilled to have some help and soaks up the assistance and the company. But little by little, as Tess sees how Shelley is with Jamie, Tess’s sense of mistrust begins to grow. And then she sees Shelley talking to Ian. Could they be conspiring against her, trying to get Mark’s money, or worse, trying to take Jamie away from her?

Tess’s grief mixes with her anxiety and depression, leaving her feeling helpless and alone. Alone except for Jamie, her perfect son.

And then it’s Jamie’s birthday, and someone Tess is stabbed, Jamie is missing, and Shelley and Ian might get away with their nefarious plot against her.

The Perfect Son is a slow burn family suspense novel that will leave you guessing until the end. It’s not an easy book to read, as Tess’s grief is almost relentless. It’s well written but packed with emotions that just feel bleak and overwhelming at times, so if you are dealing with grief or depression, I’d wait awhile before picking up this novel. However, if you want a sold family mystery with strong psychological undertones, The Perfect Son is the novel you’re looking for!

Galleys for The Perfect Son were provided by Berkley through Penguin Random House’s First to Read program, with many thanks.