Cover Image: The Widow

The Widow

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Member Reviews

I enjoyed this book and the twists just kept coming. I didn't necessarily love any of the characters but that didn't take away from how great the story was!

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Allison likes the good things in life and isn’t shy about showing off even things aren’t quite as they seem. Three ladies are the main characters but you would be hard pressed to say anything good about any of them. It’s a lively but predictable and a bit far fetched tale. I still enjoyed it and found it easy to get into. This is the sort of book which could very easily have a follow up which I’d definitely read! It might make a good tv series as well.

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This seemed almost like it was 2 books that had been mixed up. I think the author is a talented writer but with this book, had two ideas for short stories but decided to throw them in a blender and see what came out.

Despite that, I did enjoy reading it. I had guessed parts of it, but there were still some good twists and it was an enjoyable read.

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4⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ November 1, 2022
Page Count ~ 334
Audio length ~ 9 hours 42 minutes
Narrator ~ Rose Robinson
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ 2 part story, secrets, references to r@pe

Allison & Peter were only married a short time when he turns up dead. Luckily her good pal, Portia, is around to pour her prosecco to help her through her grief. I mean she is a grieving widow, right?

And then there's Jo who is trying to befriend her, but Allison is not really feeling it. Soon, though, we're seeing through Jo's POV that she has an ulterior motive for seeking out this friendship and that turned out to be a nice twist.

Overall, I found this to be fast paced and I was kept engaged throughout. I probably shouldn't, but I liked all the unlikable characters, except one creepster. I'm not too sure how I feel about the ending, though.

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#TheWidow #NetGalley
An ok read.
When Allison’s wealthy and charming husband Peter is found dead, she appears distraught, devastated….delighted?
Because despite an appn ok read. arently picture-perfect marriage, Allison knows it was all built on a bed of lies.
And as the truth regarding Peter’s life and death are revealed, Allison must try to keep her own dark past buried. Because if Peter was keeping secrets, then his widow is too…
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me an advance copy.

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A psychological thriller that will take you on a rollercoaster filled with twists and turns. Keogh has done a great job at building Allison’s character. The mystery surrounding Allison’s past keeps the reader enticed throughout the book. Is she responsible for Peter’s death, or is she not? The thriller is filled with shocking twists and turns, and is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

I enjoy psychological thrillers, and The Widow did not disappoint me. The story is fast-paced, and the plot is intricately woven around the characters. A definite recommendation for fast-paced thriller lovers.

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Another great psychological thriller from Valerie Keogh!

Allison lives a quiet solitary life but that’s exactly how she likes it. One day she is invited to a work colleagues birthday party and with a new dress, that caught her eye a few months before, she decides to go. At the party she feels out of place and decides to have one drink and then leave but then suddenly a handsome man starts talking to her and Allison decides to see how things go. She quickly realises that Peter is not only handsome but rich and she starts to make a plan. She’s had the idea ever since she had been invited to dinner by her friend Portia, from her yoga class. Portia obviously married her older husband Stuart for money, but from what Allison has seen it had worked well for her and she would like the same. So, when she meets Peter, she puts her plan into action, she acts like the perfect girlfriend and within 3 months they are married. Allison has achieved her goal. 3 months later Allison has made a friend on Facebook, Jo, and seeing how much they have in common they decide to meet for lunch. Allison finds the meeting uncomfortable and decides not to see Jo again. However, Jo is determined to make the friendship work and when, later that day, Peter has a fatal accident Jo turns up on Allison’s doorstep under the guise of being a good friend to her. It soon becomes clear that Jo believes that Allison killed Peter and she uses this information to get closer to Allison and even move into her home. But who exactly is Jo, why does she know so much about Allison and most importantly should Allison trust her?

This was a really good read and I think a perfect example of “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. I found the story very addictive, and I always feel you can’t go wrong with a book by Valerie Keogh. I loved hearing from each of the female main characters however, a first for me, I really didn’t like either of them however, I did enjoy the kind of “cat and mouse” game that was going on between them. I did not expect the twist halfway through, which was great, and also didn’t see the little twist at the end coming either.

Overall, another solid psychological thriller from Valerie Keogh which I would wholeheartedly recommend. I look forward to reading her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Valerie Keogh and Boldwood Books for my advanced reading copy. Out now.

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Valerie Keogh did a fantastic job with this psychological thriller. Just when you think you know where this is headed, be prepared to question everything. The twists and turns had my mind reeling as I didn't see any of them coming. This has a lot of unique twists that you don't normally see in these types of thrillers which I really appreciated. This felt fresh and had me attentive throughout. The main characters were all strong and well developed. The pacing was very fast and this story really gets going quickly. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Widow sounded gripping and mysterious from the title. It's my first Valerie Keogh novel, and I was intrigued by the synopsis. The novel started out slow for me, but maybe that was intentional. It wasn't until the first mention of Allison's husband Peter and her fear of him around 7 chapters in that I felt the suspense pick up. I even felt afraid of him myself at the first mention of him. THAT was unexpected!

I felt like Allison was a multi-layered intricately-woven character, and there was a real sense of "what's coming next" and lots of twists and turns, which I loved.

I was more concerned for her from then on and saw much more character development and the atmosphere was darker. Before that, I felt like the scene was being set. This is an interesting technique, though, and I felt uneasy for the rest of the book, like I was waiting for a cat to pounce.

The Widow has left me wanting more books by Valerie Keogh.

Thanks to Valerie Keogh and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5 stars.

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Rebecca meets Gone Girl in Valerie Keogh’s addictive and compulsively readable new chiller, The Widow.

Allison and Peter seem to have the perfect marriage. Their relationship is one that is envied and admired by all of their peers. They are a golden couple who seem to have it all. However, scratch beneath the surface and it quickly transpires that their fairy-tale marriage is actually built on a bed of lies, secrets and deception. Allison knows this only too well which is why when her wealthy and charming husband is found dead, she finds herself almost unable to hide her delight.

What hold did Peter have over Allison? Why did she stay with him for all these years if she didn’t love him? Did Allison fear her husband? Is the reason for her erratic behaviour shock? Or will Allison begin to unravel and reveal some shocking truths about her husband? As the truth about her husband’s life and death is revealed, Allison finds herself needing to be on her guard. It’s not just Peter who had secrets in this marriage and if she isn’t careful, the skeletons she has kept locked inside her closet all this time might just come rattling out.

Is Allison responsible for her husband’s death? Is the widow grieving her husband? Or might she be the reason why Peter is in his grave?

Valerie Keogh’s The Widow is a jaw-dropping, nerve-jolting and nail-biting thriller that will keep readers guessing until the end. A complex, layered and heart-pounding domestic noir tale which is impossible to put down, Valerie Keogh’s The Widow brilliantly explores dangerous deceptions, dark secrets and impossible decisions leaving readers on the edge of their seat reeling from twist after twist.

A masterclass in suspense, Valerie Keogh’s The Widow will chill readers to the bone and keep them up way past their bedtime.

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This was so good. Even better than I expected. I love it when a book is unpredictable and this one certainly was. What a tangled web this one was.

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Allison's husband is found dead after falling, or being pushed, in front of a train. But is Allison upset or are things going the way she planned? A thrilling story full of twists and turns and shocks. This was great! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

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Wow….. what have I just read? I feel like I’ve been sat on a chair, spun 360 numerous times quickly then stopped suddenly. This book is a gem. I am literally a little speechless and cannot believe what I have just read.

The Widow is filled with so many twists and turns it becomes completely impossible to predict. The plot is perfectly paced and drenched in suspense and tension.

This is completely gripping and compelling. I sat down with the intention of reading one or two chapters and quickly raced through the entire book.

Keogh is an author who always delivers. Each book seems to get better and better and this is a complete gem.

I have adored the multiple viewpoints in this book and can safely say that this is one of those books that will keep you hostage until the last page.

This is quite possibly my favourite by Keogh to date. An absolute recommendation from me.

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Allison's wealthy and charming husband Peter is found dead. Allison and Peter's marriage was built on a mountain of lies, despite appearing picture perfect to the outside world. The truth about Peter's life and death are revealed which means Allison must keep her past buried, because she's got secrets too.
This book starts out great and then it takes you to an entirely unforeseen place. It has so many twists and turns and was very fast-paced. The characters were all really well-written too. I think this is the best book by Valerie Keogh so far that I've read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

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Love this author- Newlyweds Allison and Peter are planning to celebrate their 3 month wedding anniversary, but instead of Peter at the door, the police are there to tell her he died in a tragic accident. But is it a surprise to Allison, is she heartbroken or calculated? Luckily there are friends on hand to support her, or are there, soon it becomes apparent that not everyone can be trusted.
This was a well written thriller that kept me enthralled, it was hard to know whether the main characters should be pitied or whether they were merciless. They ate had their own secrets which slowly but brilliantly unfolded by the conclusion.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced copy, five stars

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I've read one or two books by Valerie before, I'm yet to be disappointed. The blow from the twists in this one is outstanding.
A fair few twists crept up on me.
Another one where I was questioning everything, and let's face it, books like that are the best, certainly kept me on my toes and engaged throughout. AMAZING!!!!
Just been looking up more of Valerie's books to add to my kindle! Well deserved 5 stars, you won't be disappointed!!

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What an excellent read. This would definitely make a great film. It reveals the lives of two girls Allison and Jo and how their lives merge. It is a gripping story which keeps you glued til the end.

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The Widow by Valerie Keogh is a fast-paced and twisty thriller that kept me fully engaged throughout.

When lonely Allison meets the successful and dashing Peter it seems that all of her prayers have been answered, and the two quickly marry and move into Peter's beautiful Victorian home. To all outward appearances life seems idyllic, and Allison seems to have really landed on her feet. So when Peter dies suddenly, Allison is left alone and distraught. Is she sincere, or is the role of grieving widow only an act, one that will help to protect her very dark and personal secrets?

Ms Keogh can always be relied upon to deliver a compulsive page-turner, and she has done it yet again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

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Good chilling and exciting read. Twisty and fast paced. Enjoyable read. Keeps you guessing and interested til end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

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Unusual book. All people are 'monsters'. They all are traumatised by their previous life. They don't trust others and trying to take from the life everything they can. All means are good. Who is the winner in the end? The mystery doesn't let to put the book down until you are finished

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