I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Love the cover. Interesting mystery/thriller/suspense novel

I really enjoyed this great who dun it book. It was a quick read, revolving around trust, lies, betrayal, it left me wanting more

Very well written dark story that kept me on the edge of my seat and up late. Darer than I expected and still I held on! Very thrilling.

I think there's potential but the story didn't keep my attention. Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I cannot resist a matchmaker story, but The Matchmaker by Hélene Fermont is much much more than that. Set mostly in the rich London neighbourhood of Knitsbridge and Brighton´s expansive world of nightclubs, it revolves mostly around Marcia Bailey´s secret/second life.

´Marcia Bailey was a huge success yet very few people knew the real woman behind the successful facade´. Apparently though, there were many people who knew about her, roaming in her vicinity - geographical and physical, including as business partners and associates of her husband. However, her husband is the last to find out about her real self. After a mysterious call threatening to expose her adventures before she took the current name and the appearance, the situation escalates rapidly and soon she would be found murdered in her own luxurious home.

Instead of getting shorter, the list of potential suspects is permanently expanding. Her life as a very young woman in Brighton involved many men, particularly from one family or having to do with this family. However, the author is diplomatic enough to stop blaming the woman for the men shortcomings. Tracey/Marcia´s problematic background and family history are more relevant than stigmatising her for luring men, particularly one rich man, into her bed. Making accusations is not the real point, in fact. Finding the culprit and understanding his/her reasons it is.

Exploring the web of lies everyone is part thereof kept me interested in the book until the very end. The portrayal of mental health issues, faced by the unfortunate character Charles is one of the most appealing part of the book though. None of the characters are likeable and it seems that everyone is hiding behind a smokescreen of treacherous life episodes. Some weaker than the others, many do lack the basic self respect and are true believers of the idea that money can buy anything, particularly the moral sense. But would you really keep reading a book about perfectly honest and moral people? Are such individuals real, anyway?

I´ve appreciated the diverse cast of characters and the many surprising twists - actually, I´ve been so enthralled by the love story of Marcia and her husband that I didn´t expected the verdict, but that´s stupid me and love stories, I can´t believe they can ever end - but there is something that I´ve resented in this book. I love dialogues, good old dialogues as they gave a lot of spine and flesh to a book, espcially a fast-paced thriller. However, in The Matchmaker, there are mostly background voices who are filling the void regarding the past and the stories between characters. Too much background and monologues for my taste, which renders the writing a bit artificious. I´ve also had the feeling that some of the events are taking place too fast - like the selling of the matchmaking agency so fast after Marcia´s death or the change from rags to to riches of Marcia´s sister, Connie.

As for the matchmaking, there are far more important things to deal with in this story...

Otherwise, if you are looking for an exciting summer read, with plenty of good twists, The Matchmaker is a great choice. Reading good thriller stories is one of my favorite ways to fill my Corona-marked life and anyone fighting to cope with pandemic-related restrictions should follow my example. It gives you the feeling that there are much more terrible things happening than being forced to spend an impressive amount of time within my small four walls.

I couldn't believe how dark this book turned into. The suspense had many twists and turns - made me wanting to know more. Characters were unlikeable, but the story overshadows that, however repetitive it got. I enjoyed the book - hard to put down!

This was a great thriller for a one time read. It had me guessing but once revealed, the story felt predictable. Because it relies so much on the shock value element of a thriller, I wouldn’t consider retreading it. This, it’s a library book for me, not a purchase.

3 for neutral. I tried to read this a couple times, but was unable to get into it and finish. I will update if able to read entirely at a different time, as I am a moody reader.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

This, unusually for me, was a DNF. Only so much 'soulmates' and perfect life stuff I can suffer with before pulling the plug.

If you like Danielle Steel you will enjoy this book. It didn't appeal to me, however, I can see it appealing to others.

Loved this book. I wasn't sure of the premise at first, but the twists it takes kept me reading. A book of "be careful what you wish for!"

So in movies where you see the crime boards in police stations and all the lines connecting people, take that and multiply it by 3 and you have this book. Such a wild ride and right when you think nobody else can be connected they throw in another character. The character writing in this was enjoyable to read, you got to get to know each character despite how many there were and you don't often get that in these kind of stories. The dialogue was very theatrical which I LOVED, all the characters spoke their mind and seemed to have no filter so I rarely got frustrated with them which was refreshing.

Marcia Bailey is London's most coveted Matchmaker. She has excelled in her career allowing other services to not even come close. Her marriage is blissful and her clientele sing her praises. You think the woman has it all right? Well it all ends in one phone call threatening to expose her old life in Brighton. Scrambling to appease the anonymous caller's needs she fights to her death to keep her past hidden. With her murder fresh on everyone's minds, two detectives try to piece together the thick webbed group of people to determine who would want an elite matchmaker dead and why?

Thank you to Helene Fermont, West Harbour Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was released April 14th and available for purchase!

Goodreads review link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4010734770
Blog link (will be featured in story highlights under "reviews") : www.instragram.com/whataginger.reads

I was defiantly intrigued by this book and liked the plot twist. All in all it was a good read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC copy for an honest review.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

The Matchmaker is a mystery - who killed Marcia Bailey, The Matchmaker? The list is long once the investigators start delving into her past. Her secret past that even her husband was not aware of.

There are so many twists, turns, and surprises, that I do not want to give away any. The book is an enjoyable read and hard to put down. I wanted to know what twist came next!

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I was definitely intrigued by the plot of this book though it was a bit slow with more drama and characters than actual suspense. Not bad just not the best it was perfectly ok.

I was drawn to this book after reading the description. The short chapters make this a page turning quick read! Would have enjoyed further development of characters introduced, but overall found the plot interesting and fast paced. Note: I received an ARC of this book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

3 Stars
Since the beginning of time, people have been trying to pair up people who have no clue how to do it themselves. Whether it was during caveman times, and the club on the head did the deed, to when this specific matchmaker of the times in this book, others were always meddling, speaking out on choices, and hiding secrets.

This had all the elements and although it was complicated and slow at times, the idea was intriguing.

This was interesting.
I didn't get into it as fast as I would have like. It was a bit up and down for me but overall it was ok.

The Matchmaker by Helen Fermont is a rather slow moving book with, at the same time, a bit too much drama.

Thank you Netgalley and Helene Fermont for a copy of this title.
I really tried with this book. I went half way before putting it down. Badly constructed sentences, awkward sounding talking styles and it just got worse as the book progressed. Terrible book.