Usually this blog is spoiler free and this review will be spoiler free but the big twist of the book colors most of my thoughts on the story so I’ll do my best to dance around it. Now here we go for the thrilling conclusion to The Perfectionists duology.

With Nolan Hotchkiss dead and their prime suspect, Granger also dealing with a knife in the back, it looks like the likely culprits. Things couldn’t get worse. . .

In a bit of retcon of their first film class conversation, instead of just talking about why they want Nolan dead and how they’d do it, they each name another person that they wouldn’t mind disappearing. For Ava, she wouldn’t mind if drunken, bitchy Leslie topples off the balcony. For Mackenzie, she wishes Claire would be accidentally hit by a car. Caitlin’s choice is still Nolan, and Parker, her deadbeat Dad. Julie wishes copycat Ashely Ferguson would trip in the shower while washing her copycat hair. An innocent conversation turned deadly as their list starts to come true.

Intially, the girls think whoever killed Nolan and Granger is trying to frame them but after the police bring in a psychological profiler, they start to believe “Maybe it’s one of them?”

I mentioned in my previous review that I enjoyed the clear communication among the girls as they work together to figure out the killer. Here, paranoia takes hold as one murder after another murder comes true. It makes an interesting confluct as the unreliable narrators throw each perspective into doubt. The additional seed of And Then There Were None asking what makes a person deserve to be murdered, being abusive? Being a bitch? Ruining someone’s life? What if the murderer won’t stop till he/she thinks they’re avenged? Lots of food for thought which only adds to the suspense.

As for the girls individually, Mackenzie no longer feels superfluous. Yes, there’s a bit of a love triangle with her feelings for Blake and bitterness to Claire but she has so much more to think about with the murders that it doesn’t feel like she’s disconnected. She feels more like an active part of the group. Plus with the threat of Claire being targeted next, there’s more focus on Mackenzie’s feelings towards her ex-friends and questioning that even though she was angry with her, she doesn’t want her dead.

Aso remember how I said there was more focus on Ava’s relationship with her parents as it felt like there was a thread going on there? Shepard hits exactly n that putting focus on Ava’s isolation in her father’s new marriage and how she feels like she can’t tell him about Leslie’s verbal abuse. Also her relationship with Alex remains almost the best relationship so far.

Meanwhile, Caitlin is dealing with a different relationship woe. While Jeremy seemed ideal as he understood her during her temptuous grief regarding Taylor, some cracks are showing through. Jeremy can be so stiff and black and white in his thinking, seeing her soccer commitments almost as competition to him. While she is also overwhelmed with the murder investigation, I liked how Shepard realistically shows that a new relationship wont fix all your problems and each one has their own ups and downs no matter how it seems like you fit perfectly in the beginning.

As for Julie, her life is getting worse after Ashley humilates her at school regarding her mother’s hoarding and then calls the Department of Health. She feels like a phariah, and worse Parker has been avoiding more often. It’s sad to see how Julie’s life is crumbling around here as she is really sweet and such a loyal friend even when it seems like one of them is the murderer.

Why do I say that? Parker seems like a likely suspect as her memory gaps are getting worse and her therapy sessions may provide the answer even though she feels like she is betraying a coddling Julie’s trust by going back to him.

However, as likely Parker seems to be the suspect, Shepard delivers the big twist and climax as usual and who the murderer is will blow your mind.

You see, previous book did bare some similarities to Pretty Little Liars, the twist puts it at a different level. It’s eerie yet sympathetic but still gives you the creeps if you think about it too much.

I’ll confess I knew who the killer was because I was told when the book first came out so it wasn’t much of a shock for me. Even so, it provided suspense as Shepard masterfully sows the clues of who the true culprit is. It’s done discreetly enough that there’s some plausibility because the explanation is so extreme you wouldn’t think of it but if you reread it again, it all makes so much sense.

This was just a great book with an ending that leaves enough for more yet closes out with some worthwhile thoughts on perfection, family and relationships. IF you have to read a Shepard series, choose this one.