Freida McFadden has said that she writes novels rather quickly. It is editing and reviewing them that takes time, especially when you’re a perfectionist. She has a knack for plotting and leading her readers down different paths before completely pulling the rug out from under them. Happily, I can proclaim that THE PERFECT SON is no different and becomes one of the best explorations on what constitutes a sociopath versus a psychopath that I have ever read.

Erika Cass and her husband, Jason, moved their family to suburban Long Island for a better life. Their 16-year-old son, Liam, had shown signs at a very early age that he was different from other boys. She hates to admit that she has a favorite among her two children, but even 14-year-old Hannah can attest to this. At the beginning of the book, we witness a brief conversation between the police and Erika, who appears to be taking the blame for stabbing someone to death --- a slaying that Liam may have committed.

"THE PERFECT SON is a nearly perfect thriller with enough red herrings and plot deflections to not only keep the pages turning, but to provide several audible gasps as Freida McFadden does what she does best once again."

The story continues from there and includes recorded police conversations between the Nassau County PD and various individuals. They are all discussing the disappearance of Liam’s classmate, Olivia, who had the biggest crush on him. When they go out on an innocent date with fellow students to a diner after Liam’s track practice, he turns out to be one of the last people to ever see her as she is reported missing from her home later that evening.

Some of the transcripts involve teachers and other adults who knew Liam from an early age. One of the most damaging is his kindergarten teacher, who confesses that he was her favorite student until the day he led a classmate to the custodian’s closet and taped her to the floor, leaving her helpless. When she was freed and Liam was confronted, he said he always wondered what would happen (legally speaking) if a husband buried his wife somewhere and watched as she slowly died.

This incident, along with acts of cruelty to animals, forces Erika to get a therapist for Liam. The therapist, who also is questioned by the police, says that Liam has the uncanny ability to possess traits of both sociopaths and psychopaths. This confirms what Erika has always feared --- that he is unable to truly love anyone and does not have any visible conscience that would allow him to feel any remorse.

McFadden does a great job of toying with readers, making them believe that something has happened when she has other plans in mind for this clever plot. Liam’s father and sister never sway in their support of him and share this with the defense lawyer they have hired. However, Erika cannot turn a blind eye to what she knows in her heart --- that her firstborn is capable of terrible things, and Olivia may be gone forever.

THE PERFECT SON is a nearly perfect thriller with enough red herrings and plot deflections to not only keep the pages turning, but to provide several audible gasps as Freida McFadden does what she does best once again. I can only hope that her prolific output of writing endlessly clever thrillers never wanes as I am totally hooked.