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Thursday, August 19, 2021

Robyn Harding's perfect new thriller...plus a book giveaway


Introduction by Melissa Amster

I am thrilled to have Robyn Harding back at CLC today. I've enjoyed her past four domestic suspense novels and her latest, The Perfect Family, is at the top of my Kindle queue (which means it is up next). I am definitely excited to read it! Robyn is always a delight to work with and I hope you will enjoy our interview. Thanks to Gallery, we have TWO copies of The Perfect Family for some lucky readers!

Robyn Harding is the internationally bestselling author of The SwapThe Arrangement, Her Pretty Face, and The Party, which was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for best crime novel. She has also written four novels of contemporary women’s fiction, a young adult novel, and a comedic memoir with an environmental focus. Robyn is the screenwriter and executive producer of the independent film The Steps, which premiered at TIFF and was the closing gala film at the Miami International Film Festival. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her family. (Bio adapted from Robyn's website.)

Visit Robyn online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram


Synopsis:

Thomas and Viv Adler are the envy of their neighbors: attractive, successful, with well-mannered children and a beautifully restored home.

Until one morning, when they wake up to find their porch has been pelted with eggs. It’s a prank, Thomas insists; the work of a few out-of-control kids. But when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn, and their car’s tires are punctured, the family begins to worry. Surveillance cameras show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. And the police dismiss the attacks, insisting they’re just the work of bored teenagers. Unable to identify the perpetrators, the Adlers are helpless as the assaults escalate into violence, and worse. And each new violation brings with it a growing fear. Because everyone in the Adler family is keeping a secret—not just from the outside world, but from each other. And secrets can be very dangerous….

This twisty, addictively page-turning suspense novel about a perfect family’s perfect façade will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“Robyn Harding has long been one of my favourite, must-read authors, and The Perfect Family is another example why. Brilliantly layered, fabulously developed and interesting characters, and twists and turns galore all made for a compelling read I couldn't put down. Add to that Robyn's wry wit and dark sense of humour that made me laugh out loud, and this is definitely a summer hit. I loved it!” 
—Hannah Mary McKinnon, bestselling author of Sister Dear and You Will Remember Me.

"Unsettling and darkly sublime, Robyn Harding deftly explores twisted family dynamics and devastating secrets in suburbia in this stunning novel that will shock readers by the final page. The Perfect Family explores a perfect family’s perfect façade, and how even perfect lies can become perfect nightmares. A mesmerizing, compulsively readable thriller, this one smoulders from the first page to the last."
—Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author of The Night Olivia Fell

“Edgy, diabolical and completely suspenseful! The talented Robyn Harding peels back the sleek facade of suburbia to show its disturbing reality—and all the dangerous (and sometimes heartbreaking) secrets that even loving families keep from each other. Incredibly cinematic and jaw-droppingly devious, this book will have you turning the pages as fast as you can.” 
—Hank Phillippi Ryan USA Today bestselling author of The First to Lie

What did you learn from writing your other novels that you applied to The Perfect Family?
Thriller structure is pretty ingrained in me by now. I always use a loose framework that I learned from screenwriting. It helps me ensure that the pacing is on track.

What was the biggest reward and biggest challenge with writing The Perfect Family?
The biggest reward would be the two starred reviews this book has received – one from Publishers Weekly and one from Booklist. I know that these stars are very rare and coveted, so it’s a nice feeling. The biggest challenge was juggling the various storylines of each family member. They all have a lot going on, and I needed them to cross over and interconnect in a way that felt believable but exciting.

If The Perfect Family were made into a movie, what are some songs that would be on the soundtrack?
"Childs Play" by Drake 
"Thiskidsnotalright" by Awolnation 
"Call the Police" by LCD Sound System 

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?

The first (and only) movie I have seen in a theater since the pandemic began was RoadRunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain. It offers great insight into his extraordinary life and sad death.

What is something you learned about yourself during the pandemic?

That I need a dog – dogs – in my life. My old papillon passed away at the beginning of the pandemic (he was 15). I hadn’t planned to get another dog, but a year later, we got two rescue chihuahuas.

What is the funniest thing you've seen or heard recently?
Hacks on HBO is so smart and so funny. And The White Lotus is darkly hilarious.

Thanks to Robyn for chatting with us and to Gallery for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

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Giveaway ends August 24th at midnight EST.

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19 comments:

  1. A fun fact about my family is that we are all big on coupons and always looking to save the most money we can while shopping! Some of my earliest memories are of spending the morning clipping coupons and organizing them with my mom!

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  2. We have always loved playing games. When my kids were small, they loved Clue and Life. My husband and I love Yahtzee :)

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  3. A fun fact about my family is that we are all avid travelers. It seems like we have a competition to see which one of us can visit the most exotic country.

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  4. We are all avid readers and want to know what everyone is enjoying.

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  5. My mom learned English by watching Sesame Street & studying my school books.

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  6. My parents had the 7 of us in 10 yrs no multiples.

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  7. We used to call our children little cooties - after the old game - and became Grandma and Grandpa Cootie, with grandcooties and now great-grandcooties.

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  8. No one in my family, except my Mom, lives within 1000 miles of where they were born.

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  9. I have four adult children who live in four different states yet they help their senior citizen parents that's what I call good kids
    gloriawalsh3@Gmail.com

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  10. There are six children in my family, I'm the baby. Lol. The first three were born in Massachusetts, the last three, including me, were born in California.

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  11. We all prefer print books over ebooks.

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  12. Our family enjoyed traveling together and checking out local attractions.

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  13. I am one of 7 children - 6 girls and 1 boy.

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  14. Four people in my family have birthdays in October, only one day apart.

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  15. "Tell us a fun fact about your family." We like to eat lefse at Christmas dinner.

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  16. My family name is Bird. And many present and past members of the Bird family (including my father, his brother, his sister, his father, etc.) were in the music business.

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  17. Our family does a book exchange on Christmas Eve and spend the evening cuddled up reading! It is my favorite night of the year!

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