She married him believing that he was a knight in shining armor, the prince who would rescue her form her abusive father. She had a child with him, but after two years of living with him, she realzied that he was a monster wearing human form. Jim Beckett is a psychopathic serial killer, who relished murdering women. She gathered enough evidence to send him away for life, but he eluded the police for six months until he was caught trying to kill the woman who betrayed him.

Tess survived his attack, but though he was imprisoned, she knew he would eventually escape in order to complete his quest of killing her. A few years later, Jim escapes the maximum state prison. When Tess learns that he is on the loose, she places her daughter in a safe house and hires ex-marine J.D. Dillon to toughen her up for the coming battle to the death. During basic training, this mismatched pair falls in love with each other, a foolhardy act since they are both living on borrowed time.

The villain in THE PERFECT HUSBAND steals the show as he is not only ever personĘs bogeyman, but raises the readerĘs level of paranoia. Long after reading this brilliant romantic psychological suspense, readers will stare at friends, lovers, and strangers wondering if that individual might be a monster in human garb. Lisa GardnerĘs first book is a fabulous read that should appeal to fans of Tami Hoag and Nora Roberts.