Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book.
I normally like books by Valerie but this one just didn't hit the spot. I think it was a little trite and just made for a very dull read. It certainly wasn't a page turner.

This book is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it an incredibly captivating read. It's been a while since I last read a book by Valerie, but she has reminded me of her exceptional talent as an author. I found myself gasping at the surprising twists as they unfolded. I strongly encourage you to grab this book as soon as possible.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

The characters are just so well written and realistic, the tension is built so effectively and you really do have no idea where the storyline is going or what the outcome is going to be! It has the twist, turns and surprises that you'd expect and the plot is constantly moving forward which I loved! I enjoyed every second of this one!!! It takes some real talent to take a basic premise that has been done multiple times and then somehow still make it unique and make it stand out head an shoulders above the rest! I'll definitely be looking out for the authors backcatalouge and future releases!!

Keogh crafts a chilling atmosphere where trust is fragile and danger lurks beneath the surface of everyday life. The plot is tightly constructed, full of unexpected twists that keep readers constantly on edge. Beyond the thrills, the novel probes dark secrets and the complexities of identity, making it more than just a page-turner

Valerie Keogh is an amazing talent in psychological fiction - for me, her name is synonymous with an excellent plot and fantastic story telling. This book cements this position.

The deliciously gripping plot features a writer, Cara, struggling with inspiration for her 30th novel. When she receives an anonymous, cryptic (and somewhat sinister) note through her front door she finds the inspiration she has been seeking (though unfortunately for Cara it seems she has a stalker with grudge….!)

This is so readable! It is twisty and in some ways the magic lies in the unexpected in this novel- it surprises at every turn. Just can’t recommend highly enough!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

Valerie Keogh is a master at creating characters with depth and plots with great twists. The Writer is no exception. This is a book that, for me, had me waiting to pick it up again when I had to put it down. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley for the early read of THE WRITER. This book started off strong and ended even stronger. The ending was a shocker and I 100% did not see that coming. Would recommend to anyone looking for a quick suspenseful thriller with a lot of twists and turns!

I find most of the time when reading a book you sort of have an idea of how it will end, after a few twists and turns along the way, but this one I had no idea what was going to happen.
An easy read that you have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline. I have read others by Valerie Keogh and thought that this may be my favourite. Great twists and turns along the way making it a very intriguing read. It was certainly an ending I didn’t see coming. Just watch out if your wife or friend is an author!!!!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

The Writer by Valerie Keogh drew me into the life of Cara Jenkins, a struggling author facing writer’s block while dealing with unsettling letters. The initial concept of a successful novelist unraveling due to external pressures and internal fears is captivating.

However, while the story starts strong, it does eventually feel somewhat uneven. The buildup of tension is promising, but at times, the pacing is a bit slow for me, and Cara’s decline into paranoia can feel a bit repetitive. The Writer does offer a mix of psychological thrills with moments of intrigue. It's an okay read for me. The ending was shocking, though!

I would probably recommend this book. I also like this author and her other books. I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4).

#TheWriter #NetGalley

A twenty five year old grudge has him seeking revenge on the female who he feels destroyed his life.
The female, now a successful writer, is struggling with ideas for her thirtieth book. When he starts
leaving threatening letters for her, she uses then as a basis for her book. As he keeps the pressure up,
she starts to unravel, having a hard time separating fiction from reality. Fast paced, unpredictable read.
#TheWriter #BoldwoodBooks#NetGalley

Wow what a story! An amazing twist at the end that you don’t see coming too. The story is based upon a successful novelist who when writing her upcoming 30th book finds that the fantasy of the story begins to intertwine with her reality. Another great book from this author

First, thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

I do love books with writers as main characters - maybe because, when I was younger, I dreamed of being a writer myself. I am just always drawn to creative professions.

Anyway, I surely would not want to end up like Cara. She has troubles coming up with ideas for her next book. Then she starts to receive mysterious letters. Not knowing what to do - her husband says it is only a prank, and that surely no one is stalking her - Cara begins to write. And soon can not really tell anymore what is reality and what is fiction, as the lines begin to blurr more and more...

I think this is my second Valerie Keogh book at this point, but, it will surely not be my last!

As an accomplished author, Cara naturally has a wild imagination, so when anonymous messages start to arrive at her house, she goes into tailspin. Are these letters aimed at her or her husband Artie who has a rather precarious past?

To make matters worse, the words aren’t flowing for Cara’s much anticipated 30th book, she is suffering from a bad case of writer’s block, with no progress being made on her latest novel. She is feeling pressure from her agent and publishers who are planning a big publicity campaign to celebrate the milestone book’s publication.

Cara isn’t really being take seriously about the messages; while Artie thinks she is the victim of a practical joke, her best friend’s answer to Cara’s problems is to open a bottle of something fizzy. The messages become darker and Cara is convinced she is also being watched. Somebody wants to harm her but how far into the past does she need to travel before all is revealed?

A slow burner of a book for me, told from the points of view of Cara and her stalker. I did struggle with the motive of Cara being stalked; it seemed too trivial for them to carry out a vendetta some 25 years later. I did however find the plot to be suspenseful with some good twists. Not my favourite book by Val, but I will still look forward to reading her next one.

This is a one sit read, wow, I really didn’t see the ending like this one. This book was addictive, couldn’t put it down. Cara is a writer, she’s going away to start her 30th book, but she can’t find a plot. When letters start arriving, then being followed she can’t work out if it’s real or if she’s writing a part for her book. It’s an intense thriller that you won’t forget. Really enjoyed it, 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

must read thriller /mystery and enjoyed this book. I was hooked and liked what i read. Not a bad read and will read more. Get the book when you can.

Cara is a writer working on her 30th book, has a hard deadline, and is struggling with writer’s block. She starts receiving threating letters at her home and seeing the same person following her in public, adding even more stress to her life. She finally has an idea for the book, but her current life’s chaos is blending with the book she is writing. She begins to lose confidence in what is true and what is just part of her imagination. Cara starts to also lose trust in her husband, Artie; meanwhile her best friend, Trinny, is not providing the support she needs.
I did not like this book. The writing and the plot seemed juvenile to me. For a large part of the book, I was asking myself if this was just satire. The way the man talked about wanting to torture Cara over something sooo minor that happened 25 years ago is actually insane to me. Why are we basing an entire novel off something so stupid? I just wanted this book to end. I do always enjoy a dual point of view. We got to see both sides of the story. The ending was a wild ride, but this may be the last book I read by Valerie Keogh :/
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review

I really enjoyed this book. Cara is an author and is about to embark on her 30th book., but the screen remains blank........ Cara starts to receive letters through the post with cryptic messages but why? Someone holds a grudge for 25 years and is hell bent on ruining her life. What happened? Definately worth a read.

Was this the best book I have ever read- no.
Did I have the best time reading - absolutely.
I need all my thrillers to be this unpredictable and wild. I still don’t know if the ending was brilliant or annoying.
I had some personal problems with the writing style, particularly at the start that pulled me out of the story a little. I just found some of the sentences jarring and slightly repetitive but once I really got into the book I stopped noticing. I have another Keogh eARC that i never got to - that now must be read. I recommend this one as long as you are not looking for a literary masterpiece 🤣

This one was a struggle for me but I appreciate the opportunity to read it and share my thoughts

I found none of the characters were very likable which isn’t always a bad thing. In fact it can be a good thing. But unfortunately not in this case

Something felt off about the entire story. The antagonist’s motive for all that happens seems pretty far out there. And the red herrings all seemed cliche and just didn’t work. Unfortunately this one was not for me