The Good Parents is an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller, which kept me hooked from start to finish.
Grieving the tragic loss of her twin sister, Brittany Young’s luck finally changes when wealthy couple, John and Angela Dalton, offer her a much-needed job at their luxury villa on the French Riviera. However, an unplanned pregnancy changes everything, putting her in a tight quandary. When the older couple offer to adopt the unborn baby, Brittany starts to realize that all is not as it seems.
With three-dimensional characters and a high-stakes plot, this thriller kept my attention throughout. The first part of the novel is told through Brittany’s first-person point of view, immersing the reader in her thoughts and emotions. Her phobia of hospitals, financial struggles, and, most of all, the tragic loss of her identical twin sister, evokes empathy. We are keen to see her resurface from grief and depression. Brittany is an underdog—a character who is easy to root for—as opposed to her rich, entitled employer, Angela, who is highly unstable, somewhat intimidating, and prone to irrational mood swings.
Angela’s first-person point of view is interwoven into the second part of the novel, with key chapters written from her individual perspective. This gives us access to her feelings and memories (or lack thereof), which is an effective narrative technique. As a somewhat indecipherable and contradictory character on the surface, it gives the reader insight into her past experiences, deepest emotions, and fears. Yet an air of mystery continues to overshadow her personality, keeping us guessing at every turn. The author is skilled at immersing the reader in the world of these two very different women, while also infusing layer upon layer of mystery and intrigue into the story at the same time.
The plot is fast-paced and engaging. The setting in the picturesque villa contributes to this, with its many secrets, and general air of secrecy surrounding its occupants. There is a sense of confinement within this setting, due to the remote location. Even the staff are sworn to secrecy, having been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements in order to work there. This heightens the sense of threat and danger, as Brittany is trapped here, alone, and must find a way to regain control within these specific surroundings. All in all, The Good Parents is a suspenseful, nail-bitingly tense thriller, which immerses the reader from the first page onwards. Fans of Frieda McFadden and those who enjoy compelling psychological thrillers will not be disappointed!
The Introverted Bookworm 
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