Book review: Status update of suspense and guilt

Gill Perdue’s gripping thriller highlights the dark side behind social media.

• The Night I Killed Him
• Gill Perdue 
• Penguin, €17.99

Life is good for influencer Gemma Fitzgerald, at least on the internet. She has thousands of loving fans, her own branded line of accessories, a doting young son, and a supportive husband. 

It’s all going great from an outsider’s point of view — that is until the police knock on her door.

Gemma’s brother Max, a talented sailor, disappeared 18 years ago and everyone in Dún Laoghaire thinks that he took his own life on the night of his 21st birthday.

Gemma and her husband, Conleth, are the only ones who know the truth of what really happened to Max — and it has the potential to ruin their lives for good.

“If I could change that night — like in those stories where the hero changes one tiny detail in the past, and the whole future is reshaped — oh my God, I would give anything to change it.”

After a mysterious body washes up on the shore, Detective Laura Shaw, with her partner and close friend Niamh Darmody, are put on the case. 

The duo have plenty of experience but nothing could prepare them for the twist that comes next.

A post-mortem reveals that Max didn’t die by suicide, he was stabbed. 

The more shocking reveal comes as a result of his mysteriously well-preserved body and snapped rope around his chest — someone had tied Max up somewhere and abandoned him, certain that nobody would ever discover their heinous crime.

Laura and Niamh jump into action, determined to get to the bottom of the case and to finally give Max the justice he deserves, but their own problems weigh heavy on their shoulders too.

Laura’s estranged father, who abandoned her family when she was a child, is now gravely ill. 

His second family reaches out, urging Laura to say goodbye before it’s too late. Time is running out, and she must quickly make a decision: Forgive or continue to forget?

Niamh is also fighting her own battle on the sidelines. Her dream of becoming a mother — regardless of her relationship status — is proving to be a long and difficult journey.

After a failed round of IVF, she is trying her best not to get her hopes up in case she gets another negative result. However, she is nothing if not determined and will not give up easily, especially with Laura on her side.

“Look, [Laura] I know all this. I know you’re there for me. That’s how we work, you and me. We don’t have to be crying on one another’s shoulders or having long, meaningful conversations. Even if I’m not telling you something, it’s enough to know that I could, you know?”

All the while, Gemma is struggling with her demons. Guilt is threatening to overwhelm her every waking moment and Conleth seems to grow more controlling each day. 

Her only priority is protecting Ferdia, her little boy. She promises to do for him what she couldn’t do for Max: Keep him safe at any cost.

The Night I Killed Him is a gripping thriller that blends crime fiction with a sharp critique of influencer culture. 

It peels back the polished surface of social media to reveal the dark truths beneath and asks the question: How much are celebrities hiding behind the scenes?

Talented author Gill Perdue also masterfully drives home a chilling warning that lingers on every page: Don’t believe everything you see online.

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