I really wanted to enjoy this but it just wasn’t my favorite. It felt like way too much of the book was dialogue about the same thing over and over & really could be condensed into something shorter or developed more so that the plot and twists are more about the story and less about hyper focusing on Mark Shady and his MO.

The Boyfriend by John Nicholl is a dark and gripping psychological thriller that is not for the faint of heart.
⚠️Trigger Warnings: s3xual @buse, physical @buse, domestic viol3nc3, manipulation, and n3crophili@.⚠️

When Anna first meets Mark Shady, she thinks he is the perfect boyfriend. He is wealthy, charming and showers her with affection and gifts. But as the relationship progresses Mark's true character comes to light and Anna is shocked to learn that her perfect boyfriend is a monster. After a particularly violent attack Anna flees and reports the crime to the police.
DS Ray Lewis tries to get Shady locked up but he is found not guilty of the assault and walks free. Lewis knows that there are many more victims that are scared to come forward and that there are many more victims that are to come. Can Lewis finally find a way to stop Shady for good before the victim is someone close to Lewis?

Wow!!! 😳 This book is dark and descriptive so definitely be aware of the TWs!! Nicholl's writing is sharp and evocative, drawing you in to a tangle of violence and manipulation. The pacing is a little bit of a slow burn but it was absolutely necessary to build up the tension and suspense. Overall definitely a must read for fans of dark and twisted thrillers!!

Thank you to NetGalley, John Nicholl, and Boldwood Books for this ARC! Publication date is April 4th 2025.

Mark Shady is the epitome of the perfect boyfriend, he's handsome, charming, charismatic and a true gentleman, until he's not, because that is all a facade to draw in the ladies, which Anna finds out to her detriment when things turn sour and he shows his true colours when he turns nasty, attacks her and then discards her, she slowly starts to rebuild her life but the next girl may not escape this evil psychopath. DS Raymond Lewis is determined to nail him before that happens.

The Boyfriend is the latest thriller by Nicholl and my first by this author. This is a fast paced read with short chapters and a well written plot. It's a dark, chilling and, at times, very uncomfortable read with some graphic detail which is definitely not for the faint hearted. I took an instant dislike to Shady, with his egotistical attitude towards women really getting under my skin and I couldn't wait for the loveable Lewis to deliver his comeuppance and wipe that smirk off his face. I felt desperately for Anna and the women that came after her, how could he continue to evade punishment, it was surely only a matter of time before someone gained retribution. This is a powerful read from a new to me author, which I highly recommend and I look forward to reading more of his work.

I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Don't think by the title that this is a soppy love story, it is far from it! This is a dark psychological thriller that has you gripped from the outset. Mark Shady, an appropriate name if ever there were one, comes across as a very nice man and successful businessman and the perfect boyfriend material. He however has a very dark and dangerous side to him that leaves his female acquaintances fearing for their lives. Having got off with rape on previous occasions DS Ray Lewis is determined to see him behind bars once and for all and is prepared to bend the rules to do so.
This is a very fast paced and well written book that you will not want to put down despite the dark nature of the offences committed.

This is a gripping thriller with a plot filled with unexpected twists and turns.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
The setting is vividly described, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall reading experience.

I am an avid reader of all of John Nicholl's books and this one did not disappoint. The Boyfriend tells the story of Mark, the perfect boyfriend or so the women would be led to believe until they really get to know him, and then they wish they hadn't. How he manages to get away with what he does is horrific and as the novel progresses, his behaviour gets worse and worse. A great read and a thriller right to the end.

The Boyfriend
by John Nicholl
Pub Date: Apr 04 2025

The Boyfriend is not for the faint of heart, it's a dark psychological thriller. An absolutely gripping, fast paced story with lots of suspense and page-turning twists and turns.

Trigger Warning: The story mentions sexual abuse, physical abuse, necrophobia and domestic violence.

Synopsis: When Anna first meets Mark, she thinks he’s the perfect boyfriend. Wealthy and charming, he showers her with gifts, compliments, everything she has ever desired. But Mark is less a prince than a man with a dangerous secret, and as their love life becomes ever darker, Anna flees him.

There is nowhere safe from him, though. Not for Anna. Nor for the girlfriends who follow her.

Many Thanks to #TheBoyfriend #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the opportunity to read an E-ARC of this 5 star book!

Looking at other peoples reviews I feel like I missed something in this story. It started well with short chapters which I always enjoy. Nothing much happened but I was still interested to see where the story was going. I found that for me, things started to speed up more around half way in the book and then as quick as things heated up the book was finished. The blurb had great promise, but unfortunately for me the book just didn’t deliver what I thought.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A tense and gripping story from the start with a truly evil main character. Make sure you have plenty time to read as once you start this book you wont want to put it down until you have finished.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review. Five stars from me !!

The Boyfriend by John Nicholl is a dark and gripping psychological thriller that explores the terrifying side of love and obsession. The story follows Anna, who initially believes she has found the perfect partner in Mark—wealthy, charming, and seemingly everything she’s ever wanted. But as their relationship deepens, it becomes clear that Mark is hiding something much more sinister.

Nicholl's writing is taut and suspenseful, drawing readers into a web of manipulation and fear. As Anna discovers the true depths of Mark’s dangerous obsession, her attempts to escape lead to chilling consequences. The novel explores themes of control, manipulation, and the deadly consequences of love gone wrong, with a protagonist who is trapped in a nightmarish cycle of fear.

The psychological tension is palpable throughout, and the atmosphere is relentlessly tense as Anna races to protect herself from a man who is willing to do anything—no matter how extreme—to keep her under his thumb. The menacing nature of Mark’s obsession will leave readers on edge, and the twists and turns in the plot will keep them guessing until the very end.

In conclusion, The Boyfriend is a must-read for fans of dark, twist-filled thrillers. John Nicholl excels at creating complex, chilling characters, and his portrayal of Mark’s descent into obsession is haunting. This novel is perfect for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with an unpredictable, heart-pounding narrative. Fans of Freida McFadden and similar authors will find The Boyfriend a thrilling, unsettling read.

WoW! and Breathe!!!!! The Boyfriend by John Nicholl was a jaw dropping psychological thriller from start to finish and what an excellent book. But, not for the faint hearted! John is an author that will get under your skin and I can not get enough of! all his books have been a 5 star read and this one was No different! Superb read. Especially as I ended up reading The Boyfriend all day until it had finished it. . . .I ended just sitting there with a cup of cold coffee - it was hot when I made it! and thinking. . . . WoW that was good!

Now, I am looking forward to his next book. . . . . There is not another author out there that will have you thinking about what you have just read! This makes him one of the best authors out there. All his books will not disappoint they will have you sitting in the edge of your seat and you will be reading his books to the early hours of the morning! So don't start to read them just before you go to bed!!! lol

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

Twenty-year-old Anna Edwards is the latest victim of serial r@pist Mark Shady. Detective Sergeant Raymond Lewis tried to get Shady behind bars, but the system once again failed the victim and Shady walks free. This is the third time that Shady has gotten away, but Sergeant Lewis believes there are more and will be  more victims in the future. Shady's restaurant get torched and Lewis is assigned to his case and must being seek justice for Shady. While Lewis is distracted, Shady finds a new victim, Carly. She is Lewis' friend's daughter and her dad is also a cop. Lewis begins the cat and mouse game in order to find Carly. Shady is also coming after Bronwen Lewis, Lewis' own daughter.

TW ⚠️sexual abuse, necrophilia, physical abuse, domestic violence, manipulation

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this psychological thriller!

When Anna first meets Mark, she thought he was the perfect boyfriend. Wealthy and charming, he showers her with gifts, compliments and everything she has never desired. But Mark is less a prince than a man with a dangerous secret, and as their love life becomes even darker, Anna flees him. There is nowhere safe from him, though. Not for Anna. Nor for the girlfriends who will who will follow her. Because this is a boyfriend who kills to make sure he can continue to kiss a sleeping princess.

When Mark Shady does a despicable thing to his latest girlfriend, she takes him to court, but he walks free. DS Ray Lewis was hoping Shady would be sent to prison, he's a dangerous man. Would Shady's victims ever get justice?

I liked DS Ray Lewis, he was a proper old school type of policeman, but he's nearing retirement. This is quite a dark and disturbing read about grooming and revenge. I was quickly pulled into this story, it's a chilling psychological thriller, and I could not put it down. All of the characters were likeable except for Shady who you'll love to hate.

Published 4th April 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #JohnNicholl for my ARC of #TheBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and read it very fast due to the nature of the books pacing and the twists, turns and dramatic irony featured. While the gruesome and gritty elements of Shady's point of view made the book difficult to read at times due to the uncomfortable feelings provoked I enjoyed the book nonetheless and felt heavily involved in the characters seeking justice for his abominable crimes and his inhumane treatment he bestowed upon his victims. As previously mentioned I found the characters realistic and enjoyed the, albeit surface level, endeavors into the problems surrounding the characters working within the police force and the incongruity between personal justice and the justice system. Although the ending was controversial it was easy to accept Shady's resolution due to the severity of his crimes drawing out the true question of what justice truly means for each individual reader in response to his fate.

An excellent read from John Nichohl all about a dodgy character named Shady & how he likes to rape women before moving onto worse. Can DS. Lewis rid the streets of this awful character? This is an enjoyable read, more of a police procedural than a mystery. Its still a very enjoyable book with relatable characters.

The boyfriend, who is the aptly named Shady, appears to be Mr Nice Guy but he is constantly getting away with accusations of rape and then moves onto his next victim.The story does not always make for easy reading however it is gripping and whilst making you think about the grooming and the rapes, by the end you have to question how justice is meted out and why we do need a robust legal system in place. The ending comes out of the blue as well. Very thought provoking.

Thanks to Netgalley/Boldwood books for the ARC to review

Anna thinks she has found the perfect boyfriend in Mark but how wrong she can be? Things turn sour and she presses charge against him for a crime, but he gets off in Court. He then thunks he is invincible and his behaviour gets darker and darker and his next girlfriend may not be as lucky as Anna and get away from him. We follow the detectives dealing with the case and trying to get him convicted of a crime and off the streets before his crimes turn deadly. Is everyone in danger or is he targeting relatives of police officers chasing him?

Quite dark in places but keeps you guessing until the end.

The subject matter/storyline may be triggering for some. It’s well written but the story is very dark -the descriptive writing paints very clear pictures of the horrific situations that transpire. It’s not a book that I would say I enjoyed reading but I was unable to put it down until I knew how things panned out. All too often, in real life, the victims are further victimized and the predator gets off. Shady wasn’t so lucky. Karma’s a #,*#!!
Thank You to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the invitation to read a pre-approved copy of The Boyfriend.

Gripping, chilling and very, very satisfying
Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars. Blindingly excellent ... This book should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away.

Anna Edwards boyfriend does to her what no woman should go through, Mark Shady thinks he can get away with it, detective Sergeant Raymond Lewis helps Anna to get justice but Sadley not. but Raymond will not stop until he gets Mark behind bars. a very addictive read