The Writer by Valerie Keogh

Cara Jenkins, prolific author of psychological thrillers, sits down to write her thirtieth book and is struck by writer's block. Sinister notes start to arrive at the house and Cara feels she is being watched and followed. As she weaves these events into her new book she becomes confused between fact and fiction, not knowing if her husband Artie and best friend Trinny are to be trusted.

A real page-turner, I devoured it! Not my usual genre but I love any books about writers so I made an exception - and I'm so glad I did. The twists and turns all took me by surprise and I gasped out loud at the ending. Very highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

The FMC Cara, is confused she has a stalker, but who ?
She finds herself thinking is it life or is it her stories ?
Can she trust anyone ?

Had she had a drink before she left home ? She remembered seeing an open bottle of wine in the fridge door earlier. Had she had a glass from it ? It was worrying thats she wasn't sure, maybe she'd had a glass, or two, and that why she was such easy game for her assailant.

I normally guess alot of plots in thrillers ! But honestly this one had me thinking 🤔💭 who is it and why ? is she going crazy ? Addictive, page turning ! Gripping. Having the prospective from the said stalker as well.. keeps you questioning who it could be ? So many questions...

If you love a good thriller thats easy to follow and an overall good read ! Then This little Gem is for you 👀.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. I enjoyed the plot of a writer using her life as a plot to her book. I liked reading along with her to figure out what was going on. A good mystery!

First book I’ve read from this author and I really liked it and will definitely be seeking out more to read.
With an unreliable narrator many may find it disjointed but I like this in a psychological thriller it adds to the tension as the story builds you then have doubts as to what is real or not.
Add in all the twists and this makes for a really good read. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers you’ll enjoy this too.

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Cara is struggling to write her thirtieth book. She soon finds inspiration in the worst possible way... she is being stalked and someone is sending threatening letters to her, threatening to destroy everything she has worked for...

This was really well written. I liked that we get chapters from the dual point of view of him and her. The reason behind everything was so trivial and yet that festered and grew into much more. I thought the author handled the decline of him well although his chapters were repetitive it showed the decline.

I don't want to give too much away about the rest of the story as there are some twists and turns. I thought the ending was really well done.

Cara's character was all over the place she was jumbled in her thoughts and could easily be swayed. She was gullible and lacked confidence which I thought worked well. Cara was a contrast to 'him' as both had social hang ups but one had made a success of their life and the other was bitter and downtrodden.

Overall, an enjoyable well-paced read that had me turning the pages.

📱E-Book Review📱

The Writer
Valerie Keogh

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I feel like this is the first book I've read by this author, yet when I scan their backlist, every single one jumps out at me and they all look like books I'd love to read!

This was a perfect book to start my journey with and I was hooked from the first page!

Cara is setting out to write her 30th book and with a hugely successful career behind her so far, she is suddenly struck with blank page syndrome.
She has no stories left - until theetters start to arrive and open up reminders of a last she can't escape.

I loved that this was a bookish read and have often thought about what happens when the ideas dry up or where authors keep getting new ideas from!
Cara was a great character to explore and I loved how her story unfolded gradually through the book and through her writing too.

As Cara writes though, we find the real story and the fictional start to blur and this totally messes with your head as you read too.
I started to wonder what was real and what, and who to trust.

This was twisty thoroughly and I didn't see the ending coming - which is always the best sign of a good thriller.

I really enjoyed the writing style and will be sure to check out more books by this author in the near future.

Successful thriller writer Cara Jenkins is stuck for an idea for her 30th novel when she starts receiving threatening letters. Her partner Artie and best friend Trinny think it’s just a prank, but Cara becomes convinced someone is following her. She starts writing it into her next story to help her process, but as the lines between fact and fiction start to blur, will Cara be able to keep track of what is real and what isn’t?

This was a definite page-turner! I liked the dual narrative aspect that meant that as the reader I knew there was a real threat even when the characters weren’t sure. Without this I maybe would have struggled to follow Cara’s thought processes as she jumps from conclusion to conclusion. I didn’t entirely like Cara as a character but I really did want to know how her story would turn out. The slight breaking of the fourth wall was a clever tactic - Valerie is a thriller writer writing about Cara who is a thriller writer writing about Bronwyn who is a thriller writer. This really added to the blurring of reality that Cara experiences. I guessed a couple of the twists but not all of them, which is how I like my mystery novels! All in all this was a fun and fast-paced read and I would definitely pick up other books by the author.

My brain is still trying to process what I just read. This book was a real twister.

I’ll start with my cons as there isn’t many, the pacing felt off a little in some parts it seemed to really drag and in other I couldn’t turn the page fast enough with how good it was. I did find one major plot point a little predictable but it didn’t ruin the book

What I loved was how the author kept you constantly guessing of what was going on especially the last half of the book. Although my question was never answered of what actually happened at the dance, I think this was intentional by the author leaving the reader to decide which I loved.

Overall a great book, I highly recommend it and I can’t wait to read more from this author

The Writer by Valerie Keogh.
I love this author. This is the 5th book I've read and thoroughly enjoyed. I love the writing style and the story. Twisty and gripping. Kept me thinking and reading on. I was hooked from page one. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I didn't have any favourites but I didn't hate them either. I did like the cover. The woman in the window is interesting. It certainly got me to sign up for this tour. I would definitely recommend this book.

Another great book from Valerie Keogh. This book was full of twists and turns that were totally unexpected.

I found it a little difficult to get into at first, and found the FMC a little bit unbelievable and struggled to connect with her, but that did not take away from the book and I still enjoyed it. The ending was very unexpected.

“Do penance for what you did”

Thank you to Love Books Tours, The Murder List & Valerie Keogh for an ARC copy of this book. *All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Cara is a successful author, about to write her thirtieth novel. But unlike her last twenty nine books, the idea for this one is a complete blank. Unable to think of any ideas, she starts to fear her writing career may be over. Until the letters begin arriving - providing the perfect idea for her book.

The suspense created in this book had me hooked from the start and I finished it in a single day. I absolutely adored Valerie's writing, and the dual POV kept me guessing who the writer of the anonymous letters was. This is possibly one of the best thriller books I have read this year, I couldn't put this down before I found out exactly what was happening. No spoilers, I loved the ending, and I cannot wait to pick up more of Valerie's books!

Best selling author, Cara Jenkins is facing that nightmare that all writers must have experienced, the dreaded writer’s block, and as this next novel is her thirtieth so much depends on her pulling another successful novel out of the hat but with no ideas to speak of Cara is feeling more and more anxious. With her anxiety increasing and with strange anonymous letters arriving at her house Cara is worried that someone is watching her but with her head buried in her writing is Cara blurring the boundaries between fact and fiction?

This is a quick fire read that keeps the tension ramped up to high and with a sinister character known only as him telling his part of the story, there is more than enough mystery to keep the pages turning, in my case faster and faster until the whole complicated plot was laid out before me and even then I didn’t see the twists coming. What I love about this author’s writing is her ability to surprise me - so that even though I think I have the conclusion to the story nicely sorted out along she comes and hits me with another surprise ending that I didn’t see coming.

Immersive and page turningly good, The Writer is the perfect summer escapism for a lazy afternoon in the garden or poolside with a long cold drink to hand.

This is an absolute masterpiece, I could barely out it down. As a thriller it is right up there with some of the best I have read and I can’t recommend it enough.

Cara is an author who has been hugely successful. While looking to start her 30th book she seems unable to find a concept and this is the start of self doubt and a descent into a very fragile mental state. Told in a dual timeline between Cara and an unnamed man who believes she slighted him many years ago, the story becomes more twisted and dark as the actions of both become more desperate. Seeing Cara become more unhinged and believing that even her closest friends and family are against her is desperately sad.

The author has written this with great clarity and care, developing character and plot well to keep the reader interested. This was a really different plot for this genre and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and will be recommending.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

This is my first book by this author, and let me tell you, I am absolutely not disappointed! In fact, I’m officially a fan and can’t wait for more!

Cara Jenkins, a successful author, faces a creative block while working on her thirtieth novel. As the pressure to deliver mounts, she starts receiving unsettling letters that make her feel watched. Although her husband Artie dismisses the messages as pranks, Cara cannot shake the feeling that they are linked to her past. In an effort to cope, she begins to write, but her grip on reality starts to blur with her fiction.

Our protagonist, Cara, is a delightful whirlwind of chaos, which only enhances the intrigue the author masterfully crafts. She’s relatable, a tad obsessed with her work, and as she writes, she blurs the lines between fiction and reality. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there; lost in something we love—am I right? But hold on tight, because just when you think you’ve got a handle on the story, you’ll find yourself questioning everything.

Cara is a well-developed character, and we meet a few others along the way to keep the plot balanced. The narrative unfolds from two perspectives: Him and Her. Curious about who “Him” is? Well, you’ll just have to dive into the book to find out!

The plot is clever and expertly executed, with twists that left me utterly blindsided. I didn’t see the ending coming, and the main revelation had me dropping everything—yes, even my jaw! It’s a whirlwind of twists that felt like I was watching a tornado unfold on my Kindle!

This book is a beautifully crafted read, and I sincerely hope you get the chance to experience it. If you enjoy eccentric personalities, a plethora of unexpected twists, and an ending that’s as tragic as it is shocking, then this is the book for you! I can hardly believe I devoured it in less than half a day; the fast pace and gripping narrative made it impossible to put down. Bravo to the author!

Thank you, Boldwood Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've been lucky enough to read a few thrillers by this author before so when I was gifted this book I couldn't wait to dive in. Valerie has a way of writing very realistic characters that pull you into their struggles and leave you screaming at the pages as you watch their turmoil unfold. This book just like many of her others has a very strong female lead which I love. This book centers around our main character Cara a struggling writer determined to fight her writer's block and get her latest novel out much to the pressure of a publicist. There was also a main character refered only to as Him. I really enjoyed this dark mystery character because you just knew that he was going to be causing problems for our girl Cara. with so much going on in Cara's life she doesn't notice right away when our mystery character appears and starts to watch her ever move. He unfortunately starts to stalk Cara and is determined to make her lose her mind all because she spited him at a dance twenty five years prior. As dark as our mystery character was he has to be my favourite because he was so delusional yet he thought he was in the right. It was fascinating to read and such a change from Cara's character. I loved the contrast between the two and it really made for a story that left you breathless and screaming at the same time. There was so much happening in this book that I wanted to get to the end to figure it all out but I never wanted it to end at the same time. I loved every minute of this book but the tension I felt through the whole thing made it so much more exciting fantastic job this is one book that all thriller readers will love and I'm so honoured to say that I got to check it out first. You won't be disappointed in this book however you will be disappointed if you skip it. This book has skyrocketed Valerie to a must read author and I can't wait until everyone else has the pleasure of reading this book.

You really need to stay very alert when reading this story especially as it progresses as the writer, Cara, begins to meld her own life with the main character of the book and fact blends into fiction and vice versa. It begins slowly building up to a massive crescendo with an ending that I most certainly did not see coming or even guess !!

Thanks to Netgalley / Boldwood books for the ARC to review.

This book is a tense, twisty dive into creative burnout, past trauma, and how far your mind can stretch before it snaps. Creepy, compulsive, and satisfyingly unhinged.

PUBLISHING THIS WEEK! For book lovers who love books and the writers that write them ...

★★★

Cara Jenkins needs to write her much anticipated 30th novel. Problem is, she doesn't have any idea of what to write. Which isn't normal for her.

As if by fate ... 'things' start happening. She's never written a book about her real life, but once she puts it down on paper she can't stop.

I think any book lover will love any book about books and the writers who write them. So it’s easy to say the title alone pulled me in.

This is overall a really good book. It was a perfect plot. A writer that needs to figure out their next story.  What better way to do that than to base it off of their life? Especially when creepy and thrilling scenarios start happening to a thriller writer.

I’m bursting to say what I thought the book would be about after reading the first 5 to 10% of the book, but I don’t want to ruin it for others who may have had the same thought as me. 

Now after that first 10% the book started to fall flat the more I read. 

I wanted to adore this book so much. I was set up to be addicted. I know you don’t have to love all of the characters in a book, but I really wanted to like Cara. Cara is someone I want to be. I wanted her to be witty, smart, and as successful as we, the readers were told she was. Yet her actions and her thoughts came off so naive, that as a reader I had a hard time respecting her. Therefore, it was hard to root for her or like her as a character. It was hard to relate.

The plot that Valerie tried to accomplish was very clever. I just don’t think it was executed to perfection. 

I did really enjoy the author‘s writing style. As I did a bit more research, I am surprised I haven’t read any of her previous novels. Even though this novel didn’t blow me away, I’m going to add some of her popular books to my TBR.

I would recommend The Writer to all my thriller junkies out there. 

P.S. I looked up how many books Valerie Keogh wrote herself to see if it was also 30 books, it is! (And also a detail about 2 (?) self published books were added to the story, which is the same as Valerie as well...) I hope this isn’t all a true story 😉

Amazon Link - The Writer By: Valerie Keogh

Stats: 296 pages - Expected publication July 15, 2025

**Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the authors 30th book and it’s about an author who is writing her 30th book. So how much of it is factual and how much is fantasy! You decide. Cara Jenkins is happily married to Artie, doing very well with her books and has a good relationship with her agent and publisher. But for some reason she is suffering from writers block and has no idea what her next novel will be about until an anonymous note comes through the letterbox… Written from dual POV - him and her - Cara is her and him is someone she met fleetingly 25 years ago, but he never forgot her.

Briefly, with deadlines looming Cara is under pressure to write her book and the anonymous note is the trigger that gets her started. She starts to write her book based on events taking place in her own life changing the names of everyone concerned. But reality and fiction are becoming blurred and her best friend is the only person she can talk to about it…until she can’t!

The more Cara’s reality began to impact on her the more she sees everyone as ‘the enemy’ trusting no one, even her closest friends and family. Continually questioning herself, as was I. It’s impossible to know who to trust. This felt quite different to the authors other books, in a good way. A twisty and compelling psychological thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC
There was a lot happening in this book. There were twists and turns as Cara, a best selling writer, faces threatening messages As she faces writer’s block, she turns to her own life for inspiration with the line between reality and fiction blurring.
The book was well written with intriguing characters I am not a big fan of unreliable narratives but this book kept me interested