Wow. I am a huge fan of Rijks books but this one might have just swooped and taken the top spot. Everything about this book was utter perfection; the characterisation of Laila and her exploration, the constant twists and turns on every page, the inability to trust anything that a single soul says. I honestly devoured this book in almost one sitting.

The narrative was extremely fast-paced, twisty and kept me on the edge of my seat - literally. As the reveals came thick and fast, I spent so much time trying to piece the information I had together and pin this disappearance on someone - except I just couldn't! I find 'small town thrillers' where all the houses are like a family one of my favourite types of settings, simply because of all the backstabbing, and this was just what the doctor ordered. The introduction to Max was so interesting, as was the dynamics between the households and quite frankly I had a blast forming my own opinions of them all.

I thought I'd sussed it all out, and I was so confident. Boy, was I wrong. I just absolutely loved every single word that Miranda wrote in this novel and I can honestly say I am her biggest fan. This blew me away. I am amazed and have not stopped thinking about it.

Miranda Rijks delivers another addictive psychological thriller with Violets Are Blue—a fast-paced, twist-filled ride that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. The pacing is razor-sharp, the suspense expertly crafted, and before you know it, you’ve devoured the final chapter wondering where the time went.

What truly makes this novel shine is Rijks’ ability to keep readers on their toes. The twists come at just the right moments—unexpected yet completely satisfying—making it impossible to put the book down. Each reveal is layered and calculated, adding depth to a plot that’s both entertaining and emotionally charged.

The story feels complete, yet there’s enough intrigue left on the table to imagine a possible sequel. With a title like Violets Are Blue, it’s hard not to hope for a follow-up—Roses Are Red, perhaps?—to dive even deeper into the world Rijks has built.

Violets Are Blue is the kind of thriller that demands to be read in one sitting. It’s suspenseful, smart, and thoroughly engrossing—another standout in Miranda Rijks’ growing collection of unputdownable novels.

Violets Are Blue by Miranda Rijks is a gripping psychological thriller with plenty of suspense, some spice, and twists that will keep you hooked!!

Laila, a criminal solicitor, is left feeling adrift after discovering her husband had been cheating on her. Moving into a new house on the idyllic Violet Lane seems to be the perfect place to start her newly single life. After a welcome to the neighborhood barbecue, Laila begins a steamy relationship with her neighbor Max. Max seems to check all of the boxes for a perfect man, he is charming, handsome, plays piano, and is a paramedic. But Laila's new life is put on hold when another neighbor, Jackie, suddenly vanished. Called to defend the missing woman's husband, Laila quickly learns that Violet Lane is not as peaceful and tranquil as it seems. As buried secrets and frayed relationships come to light Laila will start to wonder exactly who she can trust...

Wow!!! I have read almost all of Miranda Rijks books and this one is right at the top of my favorites!! The added spice which is not in her other thrillers adds a new element that kept me enthralled throughout. Rijks character development is top notch as usual, making all of the characters complex and fully fleshed out. The tension and suspense is thick all the way through and the twists are perfectly placed. Miranda Rijks is definitely an auto-read author for me!! 🖤🖤

Thank you to NetGalley, Miranda Rijks, and Inkubator Books for this ARC!!! Publication date is April 6th 2025.

Miranda Rijks returns following The House Swap with her 25th novel— VIOLETS ARE BLUE, a dark, sinister, steamy psychological thriller with a wickedly delicious, jaw-dropping twist! While maintaining Rijks' signature psychological depth, this novel takes a darker and more intense turn than her previous works.

Welcome to Violet Lane! Move over, Desperate Housewives.

What would you do if something terrible happened to you? Evil can lie behind great beauty.

About...

Laila has recently divorced and has moved to Violet Lane. As a criminal lawyer, she is excited about her new life and home in this idyllic neighborhood. She is best friends with Jazmin, and her ex-husband is Jacob, whom she caught with his assistant.

She soon meets the charming, handsome neighbor, Max, and they begin a hot affair. Laila feels alive. Things become passionate and intense, but does Max have a dark side?

Then, the horrible news comes. Jackie, a young mother, is missing from across the street. Her husband is the primary suspect, and Laila is hired as his attorney to defend him.

Laila soon discovers the quiet neighborhood is hiding deadly secrets, and things are not as they seem. She gets pulled deeper into a twisted web of deception and lies. Trust no one.

The closer she gets to discovering the truth, the more danger she is in. When there is a second murder in the neighborhood, there are suspects and motives to unravel and untangle. Can she trust Max? However, are there others? What secrets is this neighborhood hiding?

My thoughts...

Miranda spices things up in this twisted, heart-pounding domestic thriller that will keep you guessing with every page turn and that unexpected, jaw-dropping twist you do not see coming—which made the book! (signature Miranda Rijks style).

VIOLETS ARE BLUE is a terrific, clever title following Miranda's earlier book, ROSES ARE RED. An edgy, explosive, sultry, sexy thriller full of chilling characters, romantic suspense, shocking twists, and who and why dunit MURDER.

Dark and sinister, tantalizing and twisty, it is different than the author's previous books, yet filled with plenty of mystery, suspense, manipulation, deadly secrets, and surprises—she is not afraid to step outside the box. (Nature vs. Nurture)

Recs...

VIOLETS ARE BLUE is for fans of the author and those who enjoy books by Colleen Hoover, Kaira Rouda, A.R. Torre, Sandra Brown, and Jenova Rose. It shares the intense psychological depth of A.R. Torre's works, the domestic suspense of Kaira Rouda and Jenova Rose novels, and the unexpected twists, romance, and spice of Colleen Hoover and Sandra Brown books.

Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for providing a gifted advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: April 6, 2025
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Whoa! This book has everything a psychological thriller needs to have and then some: a missing person case, lots of suspects, plenty unexpected twists and turns and even - new to this author - steamy romance. But what starts as a romance quickly turns into a fast paced and suspenseful mystery that gave me a mix of Stepford Wives and Psycho vibes. Miranda’s writing is so easy to follow and pleasant to read that you can’t stop turning the pages. The way she develops her characters is exquisite, and you keep second-guessing each one of them until the end. I was hooked from the beginning and truly enjoyed this book. I can only recommend it, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
In true Miranda Rijks fashion, the ending is a total surprise that I didn’t see coming. I really love her stories, and she has become one of my favorite authors and automatic reads. Can’t wait for her next book.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Inkubatur Books and especially Miranda Rijks for the opportunity and honor to read a gifted advance copy. The above is my honest review and own opinion.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Violets are Blue by Miranda Rijks, published by Inkubator Books

I really enjoyed this twisty psychological thriller, an easy read with likeable characters. The story was easy to follow in great setting.
The author has created some thrilling adventures through the main character, Laila. She has common sense, or does she? Who should she really trust, and is being jn another relationship really the right time? Definitely some spice in this novel
This was a fun, fictional story where you want to shout at the main character "Don't do it!"
Great ending. Devoured this in 24 hrs
I've read many of Miranda Rijks books and always enjoy them

This is the best book by Miranda Rijks yet, which is something special as I’ve loved all of her other books.
I was drawn quickly into the characters and was completely engrossed with all the twists. It’s one that I’d definitely recommend and it’s more than worthy of 5 stars.

Laila is a criminal attorney who has moved into a small neighborhood after a bitter divorce. She's almost immediately invited to a neighbor's for drinks and a BBQ where she meets her charming neighbor Max. A whirlwind romance ensues, there's a murder in the neighborhood, and soon Laila is right in the middle when she is called to represent the suspect. And can we talk about the dog, Ludwig? A victim of Laila's divorce, she only gets to see him occasionally, but he gets a starring role!

Miranda Rijks is an auto-buy for me. I thought this was a fun and fast-paced story with a bit of spice that turns out to be integral to the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and BookSprouts for an advance reader's copy

Laila has endured heartbreak, betrayal, and uncertainty—only to find herself caught in a web of even darker secrets. After discovering her husband cheating with his assistant, she was left reeling from an unexpected divorce. With no job and nowhere to live, she spent the past three years relying on the kindness of her best friend Jazmin while she struggled to rebuild her life.

Laila finally finds stability in a charming new community, and forms an instant steamy connection with her neighbour Max. Suddenly, Jackie—another neighbor—vanishes without a trace, the peaceful neighborhood descends into chaos. Old wounds resurface, and buried secrets come to light, leaving Laila questioning everything and everyone around her.

This steamy thriller is fast-paced and packed with murder, deception, and suspenseful twists that keep readers guessing until the very end. It was an exciting, easy read!

After a bitter divorce, criminal solicitor Laila moves to idyllic Violet Lane where she quickly falls for Max - her charming, piano-playing neighbour. They begin a wildly passionate affair and Laila feels she is really starting to live again. But the tranquility of the close-knit community is shattered when Jackie, a young mother from across the street, goes missing. Her husband is the cheif suspect and Laila agrees to act as his lawyer.

Violet Lane is not the idyllic place to stay that Laila first thought it was. One of her neighbours, a young mother, has disappeared. Her husband is the prime suspect.

The suspense builds with each turn of the page, the twists kept coming, and I couldn't put this fast-paced, gripping read down.

Published 6th April 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #MirandaRijks for my ARC of #VioletsAreBlue in exchange for an honest review.

Violets Are Blue by Miranda Rijks is a gripping psychological thriller that expertly blends suspense with a chilling portrayal of a seemingly perfect life gone awry. Laila, a criminal solicitor recovering from a bitter divorce, finds solace and excitement in a new home on the picturesque Violet Lane. Her passionate affair with her charming neighbor Max seems like the fresh start she needs, but the idyllic peace of her new life is quickly shattered when Jackie, a young mother, goes missing.

As Laila agrees to defend Jackie's husband, the chief suspect in her disappearance, she begins to unravel the dark secrets lurking behind her peaceful suburban community. The further Laila digs, the more unsettling the truth becomes, and the once-perfect Max begins to seem like more of a threat than a lover. Anonymous threats and dangerous secrets pull Laila into a web of deceit, leaving her to question who she can trust.

Rijks crafts a tense atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, cleverly weaving together Laila’s unraveling personal life with the mystery of Jackie’s disappearance. The slow-building tension, coupled with Laila’s deepening paranoia, makes for a thrilling, unpredictable ride. The relationship between Laila and Max is especially compelling, as their intense connection gradually morphs into something more sinister, adding complexity to the narrative.

In Violets Are Blue, Rijks delivers a chilling reminder that not everything is as it seems, especially in seemingly perfect neighborhoods. With a sharp plot, intriguing characters, and plenty of twists and turns, this is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy dark mysteries and twisted secrets.

If I wouldn't have had to finally go to sleep around 2 am, I would have had this finished in a few hours. This was THAT good! The characters are very well-described that I could picture each and every one in my head. This was a fast-paced story that keeps you guessing until the very last sentence! That last sentence alone had me like 🤯. This truly is a must read book!

The queen that is @mirandarijksauthor has another new book!

A few things to love:
A writing style that feels effortless to read
An simple plot that is easy to follow

This books taps into that feeling of not knowing who to trust… the perfect new boyfriend, the perfect new street to live on, and the perfect new neighbours.

I won’t say much as I think Mirandas reputation speaks for itself! A quick easy read that you should add to your TBR!

Miranda Rijks has become one of my favorite authors for psychological thrillers. I really enjoyed the main character Laila and the book was different than her others- a little steamy which was great- not over the top. . Wonderful plot and plenty of twists and turns kept me guessing throughout the entire book. Another win for this author! Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Miranda Rijks for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Another brilliantly addictive psychological thriller from Miranda. She warned me it had explicit s*x scenes it in, something different to her normal books but honestly they weren't too graphic. Not compared to some books I've read!
I'll admit, I did guess the majority of the twists but it didn't full my interest in reading. I really enjoyed reading this book even though I could have screamed at the MC for making such bad decisions!

This was fast paced, spicy, yet intriguing and suspenseful book. I did not guess what the ending would be and all the characters surprised me in their own ways. It was a fun read and the shorter chapters made it more accessible for reading when I only had a few minutes at a time.

Thank you Miranda, NetGalley and Incubator books for the ARC of this sexy, intense, mysterious thriller. I couldn't wait to finish it because the intensity keeps ramping up and the surprise ending was not expected. A missing woman impacts the tranquility of the peaceful cul-de-sac Violet Lane where nothing much ever happens. Then a woman goes missing and her husband is arrested. His new neighbor becomes his defense attorney and it's proven that his alibi sets him free, Once her body is found his attorney and the man some believe to have been involved begin a tumultuous physical relationship and she's torn between doubts and her own heart. The characters are well developed, and the story is addictive. The twists are wonderful and something you'll probably never guess. I found it hard to put the book down and loved everything about it.

I liked it! Violets are Blue, Miranda Rijks’ 25th psychological thriller, has lots of twists and turns and is definitely ‘steamier’ than her usual writing. Just when you think there couldn’t possibly be another thing that could go wrong for Laila, there’s another revelation. I liked the suspense and the unanticipated twists. It’s a quick read.
Thank You to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and Miranda Rijks for the opportunity to read and guiltily enjoy this ARC.

Miranda Rijks is a wonderful writer. Her stories grab you and throw you for a loop with the twists. Laila moves to a new town after a terrible divorce caused her to get a new job (her ex was a partner at her old law firm). Her street appears perfect with its cozy homes and friendly (sometimes very friendly) neighbors. When one of her neighbors goes missing and the husband is a suspect in the disappearance, Laila is called to be his lawyer. At the same time Laila gets romantically involved with another neighbor and this is where a little spice enters the book. It’s mild spice but is a departure from the authors normal writing. I really enjoyed this book.

I was so very excited to get the opportunity to read this book prior to the publication date! I loved the emotions and the story that followed. Seemed to start a little slower than some of the authors prior books, but once it started, I had to hold on to my seat! I'm definitely a fan and will keep reading, just hoping for a little dial down to the sexual tension and steaminess in the future.