The Perfect Wife is a blend of Sci-Fi and mystery/thriller. To say author J.P. Delaney has an intuitive imagination is an understatement.
Abbey Scott wakes up from a five-year coma and has no idea who or where she is. Tim, her tech genius Husband, is right by her side trying to help her regain the memories she’d lost. Tim tells Abby about how she was a great cook, artist, surfer, and Mother to their autistic son, Danny. What Tim doesn’t tell her is how she died. Abbey was in a surfing accident and was presumed dead since they never found her body. Enter the sci-fi elements here.
We learn that Abbey may or may not be the real deal. Tim has dabbled in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and has made a replica of his dearly departed. When Abbey wants to learn more about things is when the thriller begins. Tim has only “downloaded” what he wants Abbey to know, nothing more, and nothing less. When she begins to try and piece the puzzle together, she discovers more than she bargained for. There are several different points of view to keep track of as third and first-person narratives are used in alternating timelines. I think it would have been interesting for the story to have been told from Abby’s perspective. The ending was unexpected, but there were a few unanswered questions I had. That was a slight disappointment.
I am not a sci-fi buff, but The Perfect Wife had the elements of mystery/thriller that kept my interest. This is a unique storyline that really makes you think about Artificial Intelligence and just how far it can go. The AI in this story was way more advanced than Siri could ever be. The premise reminded me of the Stepford Wives. To think, act, and look a certain way. What Tim didn’t realize is that sometimes the tables can be turned against you. Technology is here to stay, but just how far are we willing to take it?
Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House, and Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Tell me what you think!