A dark thrilling read. The author plays with the toxicity of fame and really was thought provoking and scary in places! Outstanding. I'll be sorry to not have it to read tonight, but couldn't put the book down! I was fully immersed in this from the start… fascinating!

What I liked most about this book was the ending. I didn't see that coming at all. It was easy to follow, and I had a connection to the characters.

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴..

Amanda Reynolds is just superb! This is an author who is always at the top of her game. Every book gets better and better. This is one that I have been completely pulled into and unwilling to put this down. I devoured this book in just one sitting and been kept awake far too late at night.

This is brilliant from beginning to end. I absolutely adore this book. It is quite possibly my favourite by this author to date.

Marnie is a ghostwriter and going to write a film star’s autobiography. However, she has agreed because she wants evidence of family secrets. This has been interesting and intriguing from the beginning. I found this unpredictable from the very beginning.

This book is addictive and has had me on the edge since the start. This is filled with tension and suspense. Reynolds writes in a way that just flows and you don’t want the books to end. However, I didn’t want this to end.

This is one of my favourite books to date by this author. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to other readers. It is completely brilliant.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I've not read an Amanda Reynolds book before, but the storyline intrigued me, so I thought I'd give it a go.

Marnie's Hollywood screenwriting dreams are in tatters, so she's forced to take a job ghostwriting a memoir, something she swore she'd never do again. This is not just any memoir, it's the elusive Blythe Hopper. She and Dominic were once the toast of Hollywood, him a talented screenwriter, her an Oscar-winning actress. However, some years earlier, they disappeared from the spotlight. Fame has found Blythe again, but negatively. She killed her husband, Dom, but is refusing to say why. Now Marnie is trapped in a house with her, trying to uncover the truth of that night.

The Wife's Secret is a tense and unsettling psychological thriller.

I loved the concept of the book. A writer trapped in a house with people she can't trust and the fact you never quite knew what Blythe was going to say or do kept the tension on a knife edge.

However, there were a few aspects to the story that made it a little less enjoyable for me.

First was Marnie. To me, she came across as that typical psychological thriller woman, as in she's a hot mess. She knows it but still goes on making the same mistakes and is her own worst enemy.

Then around the middle I got a bit frustrated just waiting and waiting for something dramatic to happen which I could tell was coming.

Overall, a decent thriller, even if it dipped a bit in the middle. I would definitely read more by this author in the future.

4.5 Stars.
Another great book from Amanda Reynolds and Boldwood Books.
A great setting, intriguing characters and plenty of tension.
I was immersed in the protagonists world and situation.
Well written and entertaining psychological thriller.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

Marnie thought she’d left behind her days of writing ‘celebrity’ tell-all memoirs, but when her big break as a screenwriter turns to dust she’s forced to take another ghost writing job. This time, it's writing for the infamous Blythe Hopper, a reclusive former Hollywood star who shot her husband between the eyes. Marnie has her own reasons and secrets for meeting Blythe. But Marnie soon learns Blythe is not a woman to be messed with.

This book started off slow at first but if you hang on to it, be prepared to be blown off by its explosive twist at the end! If you love short chapters with quick read, this is one of the books. Written in the first POV, it is easy to follow and be engrossed in the plot.

Both Marnie's and Blythe's characters are sometimes unlikeable but they're actually essential for building the storyline.

This is a riveting psychological thriller that ticks all the elements. It's my first book by Reynolds and definitely won't be my last.

Thank you NetGalley @netgalley, Amanda Reynolds, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, Book and Tonic and The Bold Book Club for this ARC.

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I love a dark compelling thriller and this is exactly that. After the first few chapters this book pulled me in and I genuinely couldn't read it fast enough and OMG that ending I would never have seen that coming, I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling this fantastic book. The character development is excellent and the twists and turns will take your breath away. I am a massive @ajreynolds2 fan and will be to when you read this. #thescreenwriter #thriller #Goodreads #netgalley

Even if you don´t necessarily read the blurbs about a book, if you trust to continue reading after the opening lines, most probably you will not be wrong. Especially when it has to do with a thriller. This was the promise of The Screenwriter by Amanda Reynolds, an author I´ve featured before on my blog before.

As in the case of The Assistant, most of the action takes place among the posh and rich. Blythe and Dom Hopper, a former Hollywood actress and successful screenwriter looking to re-launch his career. They may dream about getting back to run the show, but Blythe will take control of her destiny and shoot her husband.

Blythe will not stop here though as she wants her side of the story to be told and thus, is asking Marnie, also a ´once been´ to share her story to the world, while waiting for the judicial proceedings. Marnie may need to answer the request for a very simple reason: she may have some secrets co-shared with this family. Who is Blythe, anyway and why two days after Dom died, Marnie was received an email supposedly from the late screenwriter, promising her information about her estranged mother who abandoned her when she was just four?

Screenwriters getting caught into murderous entreprises is really an unique idea. Plus, the book has a high dosis of secrets of the darkest type that doesn´t let you put it down. Although the characters development is complex enough to keep the readers engaged, the story itself compliments the cast of characters. The plot is spectacular and plays very well the cat-and-mouse gamble of secrets, with moments of suspense stretched in between regular story episodes, which are the sparkles that one - me, for instance - needs for awakening his or her interest into the story.

Marnie, who is the one telling the story is bold, although a complete mess more than once. Blythe´s ambivalence as a former Oscar recipient may prompt us to put into question almost everything she is sharing and doing, which in the overall structure of the story creates a lot of ambiguity, a great ingredient for a crime story. The general tone of the story is empathic, particularly in relation with the ways in which women are treated in the entertainment world, in Hollywood and abroad. The book has women characters

I really enjoyed reading The Screenwriter and would definitely keep reading Reynolds, as her stories are always more than a crime puzzle to solve.

Twists and turns made this one that I couldn't put down. Although this started a little slow in the beginning, when it started picking up the pace, the story unfolded like a runaway train. The climax took me by surprise, and overall this was a satisfying read.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

With her screenplay about to go into production, Marnie Wilde thought she could finally say goodbye to her career as a ghostwriter but when that falls through, she has no choice but to return to being a ghost. However, needing the job is not the only reason she has decided to help write Blythe Hopper’s memoir. She wants answers but will she find them?

This is the first novel I have read by Amanda Reynolds and I really didn’t know what to expect. The premise for The Screenwriter intrigued me and so I was so excited to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest novel.

Marnie is an interesting yet mysterious character. I like how she was written. There is a slight dark humour to her voice which I loved and it made me warm to her.

Blythe was not so fortunate. She also had an air of mystery but was what you’d expect from a Hollywood actress who uses her manager as a gatekeeper against someone she’s invited into her home. With the fact that her career took a downward trajectory though and with the events at the beginning of the novel, I read with an open mind, knowing there was possibly more to her than first presented.

The story itself is a good one. Amanda Reynolds does a really good job of slowly but skilfully building tension until you’re at the point where you can’t put the book down. I needed to know why Marnie was there, what Blythe was hiding and how the former’s mother fitted into it all.

The setting was also good. The house was an enigma with its long grass and disintegrating demeanour. I really felt that it was the kind of house where the term, ‘if walls could talk,’ would be very relevant. It would have a lot to say.

I know I say this with pretty much all of the books I review but I’m not sure how much more I can say without giving anything away and I really hope you discover this gem of a novel for yourselves.

The Screenwriter is a gripping psychological thriller that had me enthralled from the first page until the end. If you’re a fan of the genre or looking for a good read, I recommend this one. I loved it. I am now a fan of Amanda Reynolds and look forward to seeing what she does next.

From beginning to end, this book had me and I could not put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Never start reading new book before bed, especially if it's by Amanda Reynolds, because it will cost you your sleep!

A few chapters in and I'd already found myself invested into the plot and forging a relationship with the main characters, of whom I couldn't trust whatsoever - they were both hiding dark secrets and ulterior motives.

The plot is clever and was a little slow in starting, but pace soon picks up and it's full steam ahead. There's plenty of twists, turns and OMG moments, and the ending was....wait, did you really think I was going to tell you?

It's entertaining, riveting and definitely one I'd be happy to recommend.

Marnie is a ghostwriter trying, a little unsuccessfully, to break into the screenwriting business. In the meantime, her agent tells her she would be perfect for ghostwriting the memoir of a famous celebrity. Blythe Hopper is an Oscar winning former movie star who has been all over the news recently for killing her screenwriter husband. This is the same husband who sent Marnie an email two days after his death. This was an entertaining and suspenseful cat and mouse mystery.!

"The Screenwriter" by Amanda Reynolds is a captivating novel that seamlessly blends the intrigue of Hollywood with a touch of the supernatural. From the very beginning, the author pulls you into a world of mystery and suspense, offering a unique narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The protagonist's journey as a screenwriter takes an unexpected turn when tasked with penning the memoir of Blythe Hopper, a former Hollywood star with a dark and alluring past. The narrative unfolds with a magnetic allure as Blythe's story reveals not only the glitz and glamour of her Oscar-winning career but also the chilling details of a life overshadowed by a haunting incident – the shooting of her husband.

What sets "The Screenwriter" apart is the clever incorporation of the supernatural element. The protagonist's discovery of a posthumous email from Blythe's deceased husband adds an intriguing layer to the storyline. The revelation that both the screenwriter and the husband are ghosts elevates the novel into a realm where secrets, both mortal and ethereal, are skillfully woven into the fabric of the narrative.

Amanda Reynolds excels in creating a vivid atmosphere, especially in the portrayal of Blythe's Hampstead mansion. The setting becomes more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character in itself, adding to the overall eerie ambiance of the story. The author's ability to balance the glamorous facade of Hollywood with the supernatural elements makes for a truly immersive reading experience.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations. The protagonist's determination to uncover the truth behind the posthumous email adds an extra layer of complexity to the plot, keeping readers engaged and invested in the unfolding mystery.

While "The Screenwriter" might not follow the typical Hollywood script, it delivers a fresh and unexpected narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Amanda Reynolds skillfully combines elements of suspense, drama, and the supernatural, making this novel a four-star read for those who enjoy a thrilling blend of the otherworldly and the enigmatic.

Set aside time to dedicate yourself to this book. Enjoy the masterpiece that it is.
This will not be the last novel I read from AR !! Wow!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Screenwriter' by Amanda Reynolds.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Amanda Reynolds, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, Book and Tonic and The Bold Book Club.

Publication date 16th January 2024.

This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!!

This novel consists of a prologue and 34 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!! AN ABSOLUTELY EXPLOSIVE ENDING TO AN ADDICTIVE PAGE TURNER!!

Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Amanda!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that big time !!! What a twist and what an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, shocks, murder, secrets, twists, suspense, tension, and page after page of addictive storytelling. There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm not going to go too much into the storyline as I don't want to give anything away and everything you need to know is in the incredible synopsis. To find out more yourself then you will just have to grab your copy today to find out won't you?! Amanda has created an unpredictable and unputdownable, gritty, suspense and tension filled explosive page turner that will have you addicted from the first page to the last!! Her fantastic evocative writing skills brings the storyline and characters to life in front of your eyes and will keep you glued to the pages!

Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!


I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. Amanda has managed to create several realistic, flawed, unlikeable and questionable characters that she brings to life with her creative and evocative writing skills and puts them into what should be an everyday storyline but makes the reader question everything and everyone they are seeing, reading and meeting throughout!! As with the storyline I won't go into any details about the characters as I don't want to run the risk of giving anything away and spoiling this incredible storyline for future readers. I will say that I did not have a clue who to trust and I never did work out who was hiding what and would never ever have worked out THAT EXPLOSIVE twist. If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters, even when they are unlikeable, that worked well with this storyline and regardless of whether you love them or hate them they all played their parts perfectly along with Amanda's fantastic writing skills making each of them jump out of the pages coming to life in front of your eyes.

This is exactly why I would like to welcome you to my top author Club Amanda!! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the first chapter of Amanda's 'The Assistant' that promises to be just as addictive as this page turner!

Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!

361 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

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I wasn’t sure what The Screenwriter would be like, as I’ve reviewed other books involving jobs in the movie industry and wasn’t hooked on them. The Screenwriter turrned out to be completely different. I was hooked by the setting and Marnie’s backstory with the apartment. It had great visuals and I was concerned for Marnie and was wondering if she’d get the ghostwriting job or not. I enjoyed following her journey.

The novel is written in the first person, and the author goes really deep into Marnie’s thought, feelings and what she sees and experiences. It’s the perfect POV choice for the book as it makes it immediately immersive.

The Screenwriter was gripping and twisty and kept me awake listening to it, as I really wanted to know where the story was going to take me next.

Thanks to Amanda Reynolds, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars.

I have been a fan of Amanda's work for a little while now. I have read and enjoyed every book that she has released to date. When I heard that Amanda was due to release another book, I knew that I had to grab a copy and read it at the earliest opportunity. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because Amanda's new book is called 'The Screenwriter' and it was released on 16th January 2024. Overall I did enjoy reading 'The Screenwriter' but more about that in a bit.

I have to be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into 'The Screenwriter'. Part of the problem was that I found it extremely difficult to warm to the main character of Marnie. There was just something about her that set little alarm bells ringing in my head. It could be that I have read too many crime or psychological thrillers and I believe nobody and suspect everybody. However as the story continued, Marnie intrigued me more and more. I developed my own suspicions as to how the story was going to pan out so I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. This wasn't a book that I was able to read in one big reading binge but I did manage to binge read the book over three days. All too quickly I reached the end of 'The Screenwriter'. I found 'The Screenwriter' to be an interesting and tense read, which certainly kept me guessing.

'The Screenwriter' is well written. Amanda certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, this was more of a slow burn type of psychological thriller. The story set off rather slow but as the story continued the pace gathered momentum. Amanda clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I can't actually say that I particularly loved any of the characters but at the same time I didn't especially dislike them. I love the way in which Amanda makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story. That's how I felt anyway.

In short and overall I did enjoy reading 'The Screenwriter' and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Amanda's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

It's a contemporary psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator and a small cast of mostly unlikeable characters. Marnie is a ghostwriter with aspirations and the skills to be a screenwriter. Her chance to make it big appears to have come and gone, and now she has to take a ghostwriting job to pay the bills for an actress whose life has taken a tragic turn. This is an atmospheric thriller set in a toxic ethos. There is an underlying sense of danger. The suspenseful plot reveals its secrets as the story unfolds, and the pacing is good. I did guess most of the twists, which made this a satisfying read. I like the story's sense of menace and its contemporary relevance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Screenwriter by Amanda Reynolds was an excellent book and had me gripped from the beginning till the very end.
Marnie Wilde is hired to be a ghost writer, and to write the memoir of Blythe Hopper, who is a celebrity A-lister, and who once had Hollywood at her feet. But, Blythe also a celebrity with a several dark secrets, which makes her story so appealing to publishers and the public, everyone wants to know more about her.
But, writing Blythe’s memoir isn’t the only reason why Marnie has taken this job. She also has several questions of her own and these have to be answered, but, when she finds these answers they will lead her down some dark paths in her quest for the truth, will she be strong enough to take the truth?

Wow this book is brilliant and will have you guessing till the end.

Another excellent book by Amanda and I highly recommend this book

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.