“A chilling portrait of the ways that abuse can be hidden behind a glittering façade. It’s also a compelling story of a woman learning to navigate pain, mental illness, and trauma, until finally becoming an advocate for her own strength and healing.” –ELIZABETH RENZETTI, author of Shrewed: A Wry and Closely Observed Look at the Lives of Women and Girls
Karen Gosbee had it all: a successful husband, three beautiful children, the homes, the cars, the jewelery, the A-list invitations. Her life looked perfect and as her husband, George, liked to say, appearances are everything. But at the height of his success as an owner of a major American sports franchise, cracks appeared in George’s carefully constructed façade.
Karen could not ignore his increasingly erratic and self-destructive behaviour, which spiralled from affairs and hard-drinking to prostitutes and drug abuse. Nor could she escape his abuse as emotional bullying escalated into dangerous beatings. A Perfect Nightmare is the story of a woman’s awakening to the realities of her failing marriage and her desperate struggle - one that would end in headlines and tragedy - to bring herself and her children to safety.

KAREN GOSBEE is a mental health advocate whose real life experiences have fueled a personal commitment to improving the quality of life for those directly and indirectly affected by mental health and addiction. She is the co-chair of The Community Action on Mental Health and Addiction Stewardship Group for The City of Calgary and Member of The Province of Alberta Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council.

Karen Gosbee's profile page