From its romantic beginnings, this story turns into a nightmare with unreliable narrators and an increasingly menacing ethos as the suspense increases with every twist. Holly's life is a lie. She is running from her past and always ends up in more trouble. Finn, her current man, is controlling and increasingly violent and meeting Mark unexpectedly seems fated. Mark seems like the perfect man, but neither protagonist is what they seem, and it's challenging to figure out who to believe. There are many twists as the story gets darker and gradually reveals the couple's real characters. It is gently paced but compelling, an addictive mix of psychological suspense and crime thriller.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Soulmate' by Rona Halsall.

Wow!!!! Yet another MASSIVE congratulations to Rona on yet another amazing success!!! Yet again, another absolutely fantastic unputdownable psychological thriller from this extremely talented author. I must admit though I cannot say I am surprised as each and every one of her books have been!! This book is extremely well written as are all Rona's books I have previously read with vivid descriptions that absorb you into the storyline. Rona's absolutely amazing and evocative writing skills sucks you straight into the storyline so it feels like you are standing by Holly's side feeling and seeing everything that she is feeling and seeing. It will have you on the edge of your seat fearing for her safety and shouting at her through the pages so be warned it may be best to avoid reading this in public places which I did at several points and ended up getting some very strange looks from people passing! As with all of Rona's books the storyline is scarily realistic, extremely fast paced and will keep you guessing over and over again!! It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions with twists, turns and surprises that you will never see coming. I know I didn't and after reading hundreds of crime and thriller books it truly is getting harder and harder o surprise me but Rona manages yet again as she does each and every time so she is definitely my go to author if I ever want to be gob smacked by a book!! Congratulations Rona on yet again managing to shock me!! I was completely invested in Holly from the beginning to the end and was rooting for her through every single event. I did end up shouting at her on several occasions. Thanks to Rona's fantastic descriptions each and every one of the characters jump out of the pages and come to life regardless of whether you love or hate them and regardless of how you feel about them every single one of them play their part perfectly in this fantastic, suspense and tension packed psychological thriller that will have you hooked. I gave up telling myself I would only read one more chapter and actually get on with some house work after I said it three times and still could not put it down!! Every single chapter ended in a way that left me needing to know what happens next and I ended up absolutely devouring the whole book in one sitting of several hours so you need to clear your schedules and make sure you are comfortable before turning a single page on this amazing book! I was captivated throughout and the storyline was absolutely rammed with secrets, lies, love, some humour, suspense, tension, shocks, twists , lies and red herrings all the way up until the very perfect ending. Rona's evocative writing skills brings not just the storyline and atmosphere to life but also each of the characters who leap out of the pages at the reader. However, I'm not going to say anything about them as I will let you draw your own conclusions when you meet them yourself!! I cannot wait to get dragged back into another one of this amazing authors books!!

Congratulations Rona on yet another HUGE success and for, yet again, managing to shock me when many fail. This would make an epic movie that I would love to see come out!! This is the exact reason you are one of my favourite authors and here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Overall an addictive, page turning, epic and action packed psychological thriller that will shock you throughout!!

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Holly has a very colourful past and is known for running when the going gets tough, she's currently planning on doing it again to escape her controlling boyfriend Finn, and she heads to Glasgow to collect her new passport.

Mark is playing the piano in a shopping mall in Glasgow when Holly is drawn to him playing her favourite song. The attraction between them is instant and they each wonder if the other could be their soulmate, but she can't risk getting involved with anyone else and she heads back to Dumfries, certain that's the end of it, until Mark turns up on her doorstep a few days later...

The Soulmate is the latest domestic thriller by this author and what an absolute rollercoaster it is! I was totally hooked on this tense and chilling read right from the first page and to begin with I couldn't say for certain where my loyalties lay, there was definitely a creepy vibe about Mark and, as the story progressed, I was definitely leaning more towards #teamholly, especially when the author divulged what happened in her past. This is a fast paced read which touches briefly on the subject of domestic abuse but thankfully doesn't go into too much detail. Halsall also injected some humour into the tale with the antics from Archie the parrot which provided a brief reprieve from all the tension. This is a story that is full of twists and turns with a very satisfactory ending, which I highly recommend.

I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

this is a gripping and twisty psychological thriller that is a perfect fit for readers who crave a cat-and-mouse game of obsession, love, and deceit, with a dash of suspense and murder, and are fans of authors like Gillian Flynn, B.A. Paris, and Clare Mackintosh.

Rona Halsall’s The Soulmate is a gripping psychological thriller that takes the romantic idea of “love at first sight” and twists it into a dark, heart-pounding exploration of secrets, trust, and obsession. With its cat-and-mouse pacing and deeply flawed characters, the novel keeps readers questioning everything until its shocking conclusion.

The story begins with Holly, a dreamer who clings to the belief that her soulmate is out there waiting for her. When she encounters Mark, a handsome stranger playing her favorite song on a train station piano, it feels like destiny. Their connection is instant and electric, the kind of serendipity Holly has always longed for. But as their whirlwind romance unfolds, it becomes clear that both Holly and Mark are hiding secrets that could unravel everything they’ve built.

Halsall expertly uses dual perspectives and shifting timelines to build suspense, revealing glimpses of Holly and Mark’s pasts while keeping key details hidden. The result is a story filled with tension and uncertainty, where readers are never quite sure who to trust. Holly’s vulnerability and yearning for connection make her relatable, but her choices and hidden motivations add an edge of unpredictability. Mark, too, is an enigma—charming and attentive, but with a darkness that simmers just below the surface.

The novel thrives on its exploration of themes like love, deceit, and the masks people wear to hide their true selves. Halsall taps into the universal fear of betrayal, making the twists hit harder as the truth about Holly and Mark slowly unravels. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter ending on a revelation or cliffhanger that pulls readers deeper into the story.

What sets The Soulmate apart from other psychological thrillers is the way it blends romance with suspense, making the emotional stakes as high as the physical ones. The chemistry between Holly and Mark is palpable, and their connection feels genuine—even as the cracks in their relationship begin to show. This duality keeps the reader invested, torn between rooting for their happiness and fearing what might come next.

Fans of Gone Girl and The Housemaid will appreciate the book’s clever plotting, unreliable narrators, and shocking twists. Halsall’s writing is sharp and immersive, making it easy to get lost in Holly and Mark’s world while constantly looking over your shoulder for the next twist.

The Soulmate is a rollercoaster of a read, blending love and danger into a tale that will leave readers breathless. It’s a chilling reminder that even the strongest connections can be built on lies—and that sometimes, the person you trust most is the one you should fear.

The Soulmate is an intense read, with romance and suspense expertly intertwined. Author Hallsall succeeds where other “romantic suspense” authors have failed by providing equally compelling levels of each theme. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this sub-genre. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for providing me with an advance copy to review. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book OK, and felt like it was a fast read. It centers on Holly and Mark, who have a chance meeting in a train station where they both feel that they might have met their soulmate. However, it turns out that both of them have secrets and everything may not be as it seems.

I thought that these characters did things that real people would not do, throughout the book; while it moved at a fast-pace there was just something not super believable about the actions they took. It got increasingly less believable as the story continued. I thought the ending wrapped things up in a nice way that fit with the rest of the story.

Overall, decent read but not sure it will stand out too much as I move onto my next read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Soulmate by Rona Halsall was another excellent book and every book I have read by this author has been an excellent read from start to finish. Rona has a way of writing all her books with great characters, great storylines that will be full of twists and turns that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The Soulmate was no different I was gripped from the very first few pages and i loved it.

Question!

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Maybe!

Well, Holly does, and in spite of everything that’s happened in her life. Sometimes the thought that her soulmate is out there somewhere and it's the only thing that keeps her going.

A girl has to dream!

Then, she hears her favourite song being played on a piano. She’s drawn to where the sound is coming from, as if by a magnetic force. There is a handsome young man sitting at a public piano, who smiles at her, and she feels that spark she’s always dreamt of having. She asks if she can join him, and sings along, seeing his face light up to her's.

He is called Mark, and there is a spark between them as she finds out later. But even though it seems like they’ve known each other for lifetime, the truth is that they’re strangers.

Because Holly has secrets. And so does Mark.

And one of them might just kill to keep them. . . . . . .

This book was fast paced and a great page turner I loved it. Especially as it was a great quick read.

The Soulmate by Rona Halsall is a psychological thriller with an "in love at first sight" twist. Holly has not been able to catch a break since she was 16. Trying to outrun her past she meets Finn. Sadly, Holly's bad luck continues as Finn is abusive. One day while waiting for the train Holly hears a piano playing her favorite song. The pianist's name is Mark and Holly feels an immediate connection to this mysterious man. Mark can feel the chemistry as well so when Holly leaves him her social media handle, Mark knows he wants to keep in touch. When he messages her to check to see if she is okay he gets a worrying response. He drops everything to travel from Wales to Scotland to find this woman that he feels is his soulmate. But both Holly and Mark are hiding secrets, secrets that have you wondering if it is true love at first sight or if it is just obsession.
This book is filled with the psychological thriller element and a splash of romance. The characters are intense and the story was very well-paced with the suspense building perfectly. Thank you to NetGalley, Rona Halsall, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Expected release day is January 30th 2025.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the arc.
What a gripping intense read.
Holly meets Mark when he's playing the piano in a mall and feels a connection but she has to go back to Dumfries where she lives with her abusive boyfriend.
Mark follows her wanting to bring her back only the next morning, Holly's boyfriend's body is found in the river.
This book is full of twists and turns with a fantastic plot twist I didn't see coming at all.
The characters are thought out well with fantastic back stories and depth.
The writing style flows naturally and in such a way that you're glued to the page to find out what happens next.
Definitely one for thriller lovers.
Kerry Kennedy Author

Couldn’t finish this book. What was this supposed to be? why was this an option. Who decided on the plot? please just no.

Absolutely loved the storyline, it felt a little bit different for Rona Halsall. I couldn't quite place it, but it was intriguing all the same.
I was not as hooked as usual, but that could be down to the time of year and falling asleep earlier, rather than not being able to finish the book quicker than usual.
I absolutely lived for the *half way through* plot twist which was absolutely shocking, without giving any spoilers, I just didn't see that coming, and it really took the storyline in a different direction. Incredible writing as usual Rona and I'm sure this is going to be a hit!
I will definitely recommend this book!

Wow what a roller coaster of a read. There is everything in this book that you would expect from this author and then some,full of drama that keeps you gripped from the beginning right to the last page. The characters were all flawed with many emotional and psychological problems and I just couldn't put it down. A brilliant 5🌟read

Do you believe in love at first sight? Holly does, in spite of everything that’s happened in her life. Sometimes the thought that her soulmate is out there is the only thing that keeps her going. Then she hears her favourite song being played in a train station. She’s drawn to where the sound is coming from, as if by a magnetic force. There is a handsome young man sitting at the piano, who smiles at her, and she feels that spark she’s always dreamt of. She asks if she can join him, and sings along, seeing his face light up.

He’s called Mark, she later discovers. And he feels the same. They both feel like they’ve been hit with a thunderbolt. But even though it seems like they’ve known each other for lifetime, the truth is that they’re strangers. Because Holly has secrets. And so does Mark.

Disturbing in the best way! I rarely read thrillers with a twist of romance, but Halsall pulled it off very well. This was intriguing from the beginning and kept my interest through all the twists and turns. Highly recommended! 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

When I Disappear by Amanda McKinney is a twisty psychological thriller with an unexpected ending! Seriously, that end took me by surprise!
This is one of those stories that makes you a little bit sad about the justice system and broken lives.
Action all the way through! There was constantly something happening!

The story is presented from the past and present so we learn a lot about Sylvia and her mother who was murdered 20 years ago. Rhett who spent 20 years in prison is out now and Sylvia starts to receive letters signalling her life could be in danger... Is that a coincidence?

Wild Ride starts from there and you just keep guessing where this story is heading until you get to the chapter that makes your jaw drop!

Absolutely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for this copy!

Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the chance to read this book.

I feel like I really tried with this book, First it was all sappy and like some romantic love story, which was getting very annoying to read tbh... Thank god for the conflict of Finn coming in, made it more exciting and a faster read wondering what was going to happen next and how it was going to happen.
First of all none of the MCs were likeable !? I didn't find any of them very exciting to read about or even cared about what happened to them, Holly just came off as this naive/helpless, Whiny "I'm always the victim" type of character, which just ends up being annoying and repetitive. I thought only Men wrote females characters like this !? Idk maybe it just wasn't my style, everyone else seemed to enjoy it.. I will say this:

"Mark tried to appear unconcerned as he let the couple into the house. If the Lord had led the here, as the lady believed, then the Lord was responsible for whatever happened next.."

Made me actually laugh out loud for a bit! I def liked the sarcastic humor of Mark and some of the ways he thought about things that were happening, still didn't like him but he was tolerable atleast.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Soulmate’ written by Rona Halsall in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

While Holly is waiting for her train to Dumfries she’s wandering around a shopping mall when she hears a man playing a piano. He says his name is Mark and invites her to sing with him and as she joins him they feel an instant connection. Mark sees a bruise on Holly’s wrist and is worried for her safety so follows her to Dumfries where he encounters her boyfriend Finn. Both Holly and Mark feel as if they’ve known each other for ever but neither of them realise that the other is keeping secrets.

‘The Soulmate’ is compulsive reading. It has a gripping plot and chilling twists and turns that have kept me involved from the first page to the last. I’ve been intrigued by the characters and the lies that were told and the further I got into the story the more the tension increased. I was so desperate to know what was going to happen that I ignored the housework and stayed glued to my Kindle for the entire day until I reached the end. The novel has been well-written with a epilogue that’s brilliant and a finale that’s a fitting conclusion to this rollercoaster of a thriller. I found it easy to read and impossible to put down and can wholeheartedly recommend it.

This was the first one for me by this author, and I guess it’s fairly safe to say that this won’t be my last book by her. This definitely is now an author on my radar to keep an eye on.
A dark domestic thriller, filled with horrible people – what more could you ask for?
YES, RIGHT! Crazies. Bring on the crazies! The obsession! And then, religion too! Yesss. Perfect.

I really enjoy Rona Halsall novels where you are almost guaranteed fast paced psychological thrillers that grip you from start to finish. “The Soulmate” is certainly one of those books and tells of love at first sight with a suspenseful twist.

Holly believes in soulmates which is a little surprising given her past but when she hears her favourite song being played on a public piano, she’s feels drawn to the pianist, a charming young man named Mark. They feel an instant connection and Holly believes her dreams have come true.
As you would expect when reading a psychological thriller things do not always turn out how you would like and it becomes obvious that both Holly and Mark have secrets, lies, and past traumas. The perfect start to their love story twists into something far more sinister when the secrets are told that may lead to murder.

I am a regular reader of Rona Halsall and love the way she sets out her novels, fast paced, intriguing plots and interesting characters although this one is not quite as fast paced as usual.. Quite often I am so engrossed by her novels that I end up reading in one sitting. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Well what a book , I absolutely loved it . I think this author just gets better with every book she writes. I loved the characters and the brilliant storyline which was nothing like I expected. I will definitely recommend this book and give it 5 stars . A must read