This was my first time reading a book by Valerie Keogh and I must admit I really enjoyed this story. The Book Seller is a thriller that released on March 3, 2025. The story centers around Helen, a young woman who had an unpleasant childhood who then as a young adult ends up being in a strange and abusive relationship. Because of this, she ends up committing a horrible crime and spends time in prison. Upon her release and while still being on a 2 year probation, she decides to start her life anew and chooses to follow her dreams by opening a used book store. Being a lover of books myself, the fact that this story centered around a book store I found very intriguing. Helen has many issues, she’s somewhat paranoid and has a hard time trusting people. It all led up to the fact that she was keeping secrets and that by being honest with others along with herself, life could be so much better. I thought this was a great read and it’s a book I would recommend to others. I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I’m giving this a 4.5 star rating and look forward to reading more by Valerie Keogh very soon.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Bookseller' by Valerie Keogh.

Yet another absolutely MASSIVE success from this extremely talented author!! Grab your copy today!! .

Valerie has done it yet again!!If you are ever looking for a fast paced thriller then Valerie is definitely the author for you!!! I don't even bother reading the synopsis before I start reading her books now because I just know they are going to be fantastic. As you can tell I LOVED the storyline!!! I found it to be extremely fast paced and I just could not put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting. I mean, to be fair if someone sees the words bookshop and does not want to pick up the book immediately then they are not the type of person you want to be with!! Any book containing books is a HUGE YES from me!! I cannot remember the last time I flew through a book so quickly. In this gripping page turner we meet Helen Appleby who has just been released from prison, on license, where she has just spent the past 2 years for the manslaughter of her partner Toby. However, if she steps one foot out of place she will find herself locked back inside. During her time in prison she has kept up her dream of wanting to own a book shop as it is the first thing on her list when she is released. Her sister Sarah has heard all about it when she has visited Helen in prison and goes with her to look for a property where she can build her dream. Helen finds somewhere she can afford with the inheritance that she received from her Mother and she decides to set up 'Appleby Books'. Sarah helps her but their relationship is difficult as it reminds Helen of her difficult childhood with a cruel father. Unfortunately for Helen things start to go downhill quickly when the shop starts costing more and more money than she thought, the owners of the pizza shop next door start acting strangely and creep her out, she starts hearing strange noises and then there is even a break in! Her parole officer Moira is paying her more visits than Helen expects and one minute seems to be friendly and caring and the next aggressive and threatening to get her sent back top prison. Will Helen ever get the life that she has always dreamed of or will she end up back inside? If you want to find out then you will just have to grab your copy of this absolutely gripping page turner for yourselves. I can guarantee that you will love it and if you have never read any of Valerie's books before now I can promise that you will be addicted. With a storyline ram packed with family, books, mystery, a book shop, drama, secrets, bookshelves, tension, suspense, betrayal, a book lover, lies and everything you could ask for in a psychological thriller and much more what on Earth are you waiting for? I absolutely loved the fact that this book is set in a bookshop which, as a book lover, just absolutely drew me to the book immediately as I always love anything to do with books in books!! Bookshops also have a perfect atmosphere for crimes and thrillers with shelves to hide behind and quiet atmospheres so well done Valerie on a perfect location choice! It is getting harder and harder to discover unique books with unique settings but you have done it yet again!! Valerie also does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the storyline together ensuring the reader gets a bigger picture of what each of the characters are thinking and feeling without giving too much away until she is ready. Each and every time I went to put it down to do something my fingers were itching to pick it back up as I just HAD to know what happened next!! Valerie weaves her chapters together perfectly to make a seamless, page turning and intriguing storyline that flows perfectly taking you on twists and turns throughout! Valerie's evocative writing skills ensures you are dragged deep into the storyline seeing everything that is happening and feeling the tension and suspense throughout. I was on the edge of my seat and biting my nails wondering what was going to happen next. My heart was in my throat throughout reading this fast paced, gripping and gritty psychological thriller! It is ram packed with twists, tension, stress, suspense and everything you could ask for in a psychological thriller. I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! You won't regret it!!

Clear your schedules before picking up this book as once it has you hooked there will be no getting away until you get to the very last word!!

The characters all come to life with Valerie's fantastic writing skills. They are well rounded, complex, realistic and strong making them all the more believable. I must admit that I actually was not a fan of any of the characters and actually despised some but still LOVED the book!! It isn't often where I come across a book where I can hate the characters but love the storyline but Valerie has done several where that is the case and I absolutely love to hate them!! there are characters who are selfish, disgraceful, devious and more. Even though I disliked them I was still completely invested in them all and itching to know what each was up to and/or hiding. this is one of those books that I really cannot say any more about the characters as I don't want to run the risk of ruining any part of this brilliant storyline for future readers so if you want to know more you will just have to grab your copy today!! I wont go into any more details about the characters as you need to meet them all yourselves but they will definitely bring out strong emotions out in the reader!!! Valerie really has done another absolutely amazing job constructing another addictive and explosive psychological thriller with varied characters that you just won't be able to put down!!

Congratulations Valerie on yet another amazing read!!! This is exactly why you are in my favourite author club!! Here's to many more successes 🥂!!!

Clear your schedules before picking this up as you will not be able to put it down!!!

Overall an absolutely page turning, addictive, gripping and gripping must read that will keep you addicted from the very start to the fantastic ending!!!

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I have read a couple of Valerie Keogh's books and have not been disappointed and this latest one is no exception.

Helen Appleby has just been released from prison and has a dream of opening a second hand book shop, which after finding the perfect run down property appears to becoming reality. All she wants to do is live a quiet life surrounded by books and people that enjoy reading books. But it seems that someone has very different ideas about whether Helen should have a second chance!!

Just as everything seems to be going well for Helen something happens to set her back, but is it just bad luck or is there more going on. Helen suddenly finds herself doubting everyone that she comes in contact with but has someone really got it in for her? Is everyone around Helen telling the truth, is Helen telling the truth?

As most people reading this book will be a lover of books it is great that the setting is a book shop!! I found myself really warming to the characters, especially Helen. Lots of conflicting emotions and paranoia with plenty of suspense thrown in.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

4.25 stars

Helen Appleby did not have the easiest life. Growing up, her family life twisted something deep inside her and she never really found the type of love she was looking for. During a terrible relationship she made a deadly mistake and ended up in jail for a few years. After getting out, she decided to follow her secret dream to open a second-hand bookstore and turn her life around for the better. However, things don't end up being easy even though she's doing her best; it seems that perhaps someone is out to sabotage both Helen and her dreams, forcing her to consider doing something dark. Again...

I thought this was a kind of a unique take on the typical crime thriller with a female protagonist. Helen is dealing with some intense personal issues that stem from childhood, and even though she's trying to change her life, she can't seem to make the best decisions. And she's both too trusting and too suspicious of everyone, which I found to be an interesting dichotomy. Overall, the book was easy to read and the characters well developed; I definitely recommend it as a quick, thrilling read!

Thanks to NetGalley, author Valerie Keogh, and Boldwood Books for giving me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

Read this book over the course of a day and really enjoyed it. A new author to me, but one I will seek out in the hope that there are more similar titles out there.
Recommended.

Helen finally achieves her dream of opening a second hand book shop after a brief stint in prison for manslaughter…but there seems to be someone gunning for her downfall and is plotting against her at every turn. Will she overcome her doubters and put an end to whoever is trying to ruin her? Or will she end up back in prison and continue to be haunted by the ghosts of her past?

I found the beginning of The Bookseller a tad bit slow, but after the first few chapters I got really sucked in! The pace picked up and there was drama and suspense on every page. There were several unexpected twists, and I was gasping with every reveal. Helen was such an interesting main character, I felt like I shouldn’t like a criminal so much but she had such spunk and love for books that it was hard not to!

Highly recommend!

I am always excited when a new novel by Valerie Keogh comes along. I have read several and they never disappoint. This one was no exception. Full of suspense, the book had me gripped from the very first page to the last.

The plot is appropriately paced for it's genre. It was fast paced enough to make it a quick read but equally had enough going on in the plot to provide depth. I felt the ending was satisfying and I was pleased by the way the author concluded the book.

If you enjoy psychological suspense books with a darker edge, I guarantee that this one will keep you gripped.

I love a gripping and twisty psychological Thriller and The Bookseller delivers!

Valerie Keogh’s The Bookseller is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that keeps you hooked from the very first page. With its dark atmosphere and characters plus the suspense, this is definitely one worth reading!

The story revolves around Fran, a woman who owns a charming little second-hand bookshop. At first glance she leads a quiet life—until her carefully built world begins to unravel. A chilling discovery turns her life upside down, forcing her to confront a past she had tried so hard to leave behind. As secrets start to emerge, the tension escalates you'll be racing through the pages to uncover the truth.

If you love psychological thrillers with unpredictable twists, The Bookseller is a must-read. Valerie Keogh has delivered a gripping and cleverly plotted novel that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Nothing and no one are as they seem in this book.

This book was a unique read, I can’t say I’ve ever read a book from this perspective before. The reader follows the story of Helen, a murderer, who’s just been released from prison. She decides to open a second hand book store as her second chance in life venture. Does she deserve a second chance in life?

I found this book to be more like a mystery but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I was hooked from the start and I enjoyed the twists in the story. I found the story was more character driven, although I did like Helen as a main character. I enjoyed how she kept her secrets that slowly got revealed to the reader which kept me turning the pages.

The book ended in a satisfying way and overall it was an enjoyable read. I can always rely on Valerie Keogh to write an amazing book.

What could be better than a main character who is a murderer out on parole, who grew up struggling for attention, who continues to battle between good and bad, and who absolutely loves books? Helen is someone who seems sweet and innocent and strives to succeed one moment, and in the next, seems to be coping with her dark past and malicious thoughts and temptations. In addition, sometimes the world just seems to be against her. She needs to work hard to get her feet back on the ground, but who can she trust? She is suspicious of so many in her life. I enjoyed the suspenseful parts of The Bookseller and the possibility that there were paranormal forces against Helen in addition to the suspect people around her. The set-up is great. However, many scenes lacked the excitement level that I have come to expect from a Valerie Keogh book. Still, I give it 3.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC.

Keogh provided lots of angst in this book.
I was conflicted about Helen. I liked that she loved books and opened up her bookshop but I wasn’t crazy about her past.
I also thought she was way too trusting and prone to making knee jerk decisions which didn’t serve her well.
Moira was a menace and one of those people who are very small.
I thought Jess was a user and I wouldn’t have given her the time of day after the stunt she pulled.
The ending was just right.

Helen Appleby has just been released from prison after killing her abusive partner. She is trying to move on and uses some money to open a second hand bookshop. Shortly after opening, Helen's shop is broken into and she starts to hear strange noises, but who could be trying to sabotage her new life?

The Bookseller is my first Valerie Keogh book and I had really high hopes for it. I found the book easy to get into, with only a few main characters and it was a quick read; I adored the bookshop setting, with Helen loving books as much as me. But, I felt like it had so much potential and never really got going. The story was ok, but honestly I found it a little dull with very little actually happening.

I didn't hate it and I wanted to keep reading, but it just sadly didn't meet my expectations.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read and review this book.This was really good. An absolute page turner! I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the process that went into opening the bookshop. Helen doesn't realize her past had a big part to play in her future.

And Breathe!

WoW. . . . . . . The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh was another 5 star read. I love the way the author Valerie writes especially as she has a way of bringing all her audience into the story especially as this book was full of great twists and turns that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and I ended up reading and turning the pages over quickly as I wanted to find out what happened next to the main character - Helen Appleby, I really felt for her.

Helen Appleby has just been recently released from prison for manslaughter of her partner and she is trying very hard to forget her past mistakes. All she wants to do is rebuild her life again and move on. She just wants a quiet life.
Helen, has a dream and now a great opportunity to open a bookshop to sell second hand books. This will be a perfect new start for her, especially as she loves to read, this is her perfect dream hide away from the real world.

But the past can never stay hidden. . . . . . . . It has a way of coming up to the surface.

Helen now is settling into selling second hand books to the public and is enjoying sorting them out and placing these on the shelves, But, someone seems to be determined to sabotage Helen's new life and ruin everything she's built, in just a short time. . . . . .

But, why?

Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again...

WoW this book was so good. . . . . . I can't recommend it enough! It was a SUPERB read and Great Holiday read.
I loved it and another 5 star book from Valerie.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this in advance. Slightly late with my review unfortunately but still in pub week.
I liked the premise of the story. Characters were well written but unfortunately i couldn't really bond with one of them.
It wasn't the heart-pounding thriller I expected - so slightly disappointed. But that could be a me-issue as well since for my heart to pound it needs a bit more atmosphere and thrill-factor.
The big reveal in the end was nicely done but by then i was slightly less invested.
Overall a nice palate cleanser.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

The Bookseller is an intriguing psychological thriller with a unique and atmospheric setting—after all, who hasn’t dreamed of owning a bookshop? Valerie Keogh takes her time building the tension, making this more of a slow burn in the beginning as the scene is set. While it wasn’t necessarily my favorite book by the author, it was still an entertaining read that kept me engaged. I wasn’t always sure where the story was heading, but that only added to the suspense, and I was eager to see how it would all conclude.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The prologue sets the stage by introducing the main character and hinting at her troubled past, including a difficult relationship with her father and experiences of violence. The story follows Helen as she rebuilds her life after serving two years in prison for the manslaughter of her partner. Determined to start fresh, she opens a second-hand bookshop, but it soon becomes clear that someone is determined to see her fail.

I found Helen to be a likeable protagonist, and I genuinely wanted to root for her as she tried to turn her life around. The pacing is more of a slow burn rather than a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Overall, The Bookseller was an enjoyable read. This was my first book by Valerie Keogh, and I’d be interested in exploring more of her work. (3.75 Stars)

When Helen Appleby is released, on licence, from prison after serving just two years of her four year sentence for the manslaughter of her partner, she decides to fulfil a lifelong dream of opening a secondhand bookshop. However, despite Helen’s best efforts this dream starts to turn into a nightmare as it seems that there is someone out there who is desperate enough to sabotage all her plans.

The overall pace of the story was good, I enjoyed the slow and steady start and liked how the tension started to build especially when the unexpected starts to happen. I’m deliberately being vague as I don’t want to spoil things as this is definitely one of those clever thrillers where you don’t need to know too much before you start to read. I wasn’t sure that I liked Helen at first but I gradually started to warm to her character, sure she had her faults, and was a little gullible at times, but she was trying so hard and had so many worries that I really wanted everything to work out for her.

I raced through The Book Seller in just a couple of sittings as I really wanted to find out who would go to such lengths to hamper Helen’s dreams and with all the twists, turns and red herrings I genuinely didn’t see the ending coming. I closed the book with the satisfaction of having read another brilliantly crafted thriller by a talented writer whose stories just seem to get better and better.

I loved the idea of a mystery/crime novel that has the opening of a used bookshop as a backdrop. Unfortunately, the opening and running of the shop was the best part of the book, and that atmosphere is what is pulling this book up over two stars. As much as I apreciate that we are supposed to get the same paranoid feeling as Helen, the constant use of fake scares/cliff hangers started to feel like the boy who cries wolf after a while, and lost its effect. It also made the final reveals and conclusions fall a bit flat, because most of the buildup didnt leed to where we ended up.