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

This is a story about an author who has a deadline for her thirtieth psychological thriller and is unable to come up with anything. Then a letter arrives with what sounds like a threat and asks for an apology. Her husband thinks it's a prank, but she is disturbed and when a second and third letter arrive her paranoia takes over. She decides to use the threats as a theme for her book, but she is having trouble separating fact from fiction. Twenty-five years ago, at an end of school dance a boy builds up his courage and asks her to dance. She says no and rushes from the room. His fragile ego is crushed, and he vows to one day ruin her life. However, he makes a fatal mistake and is arrested. He's questioned about the letters, and he denies having written them. He does explain where his hatred for her began, and she recalls the embarrassing situation causing her to run away. There are twists and turns that cause her to become unhinged but once she realizes she's no longer a threat she does something to regain her sanity and her life. It was an easy read but somewhat unrealistic. Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this and give an honest review. This is not my favorite of Valerie Keogh's, but it is also her thirtieth. Yes, I would recommend it

Valerie Keogh locks you in with the first chapter. This is a fast-paced thriller with twists and turns, and it ends shockingly. Cara is a writer tasked to finish her thirtieth book. The problem is she has run out of ideas. Unbeknownst to her, there is a man who has been following her for decades and is looking to enact his revenge. I warn readers that there are some triggers. This book will appeal to fans of the thriller genre with interesting dialogue, although it could be explicit at times. We are put inside the heads of the characters using their inner dialogue to flesh them out. This book is not predictable, which keeps the reader's interest even though the main character often confuses themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed this book

Cara Jenkins is a successful author about to embark on her thirtieth novel. But as she sits at her desk to write, she realizes that she has no ideas left. And as the pressure mounts for her to deliver, she begins to fear that her career is over. Then the letters start

I loved this book though I needed to suspend a bit of disbelief and just go with it

4 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this arc

Valerie Keogh delivers a chilling and psychologically layered tale in The Writer, blurring the lines between fiction and reality in a way that keeps the reader constantly questioning what is real. At the heart of the novel is Cara, whose narrative feels unsettlingly entangled with the story she’s writing — a clever device that injects a persistent sense of unease throughout the book.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to create an atmosphere where nothing feels certain. The disorienting overlap between Cara’s reality and her fictional world creates a suspenseful reading experience that is both creepy and compelling. This deliberate ambiguity appears to be a calculated move by Keogh, immersing the reader in the same confusion and paranoia experienced by the protagonist.

The Writer thrives on tension and subtle psychological twists, making it an engrossing read for those who appreciate thrillers that play with perception. Keogh crafts a narrative that lingers, drawing readers deep into a shadowy space between fiction and truth.

Cara Jenkins is a successful author about to embark on her thirtieth novel. But as she sits at her desk to write, she realizes that she has no ideas left. And as the pressure mounts for her to deliver, she begins to fear that her career is over.
Then the letters start.
At first, they seem harmless. But as the messages grow darker, Cara becomes convinced that someone is watching her, waiting for their moment to strike.

Another enjoyable novel from Valerie Keogh. Well paced with great characters and a few twists along the way. It's an easy read and would be perfect for the beach or holiday. I enjoy the short chapters, which keep you wanting for me. The different points of view get a little confusing at times, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment.

I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and up and down.
I liked the story and it kept my interest.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Writer is a psychological thriller that has the reader continuously questioning what is reality and what is imagined. Cara is an author who is struggling to write and complete her thirtieth novel (This is also author Valerie Keogh’s thirtieth novel). The pressure is on! But when Cara attempts to come up with book ideas, she draws a blank. But then she starts writing about people and strange things that are happening in her actual life. But are these things really happening? The lines are getting blurred. Is she in danger or are these perceived threats only in her book? Can she trust her closest friends, spouse, work colleagues, neighbors??? I thought I knew what was going on, but then I wasn’t sure. I enjoyed the storyline which had me questioning what I thought I knew - just like the main character! The Writer is a quick, easy, entertaining read! Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC.

romising premise; a man whose entire life revolves around a perceived slight he endured in his teens decides to take revenge on the woman who “wronged” him.
That woman, Cara, also happens to be a writer experiencing writers block; who draws inspiration from life events to help create her stories.
Calling Cara an unreliable narrator would be an understatement.
I wanted to like this more than I did. None of the characters were likable or easy to identify with; and the tone of the story felt off. It could have been darker/more tense/more “thrilling” but it felt flat until the very end.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.
For the first time in her writing career, as she approaches her 30th book, Cara has writer's block. She also has a stalker who's leaving her threatening letters and messing with her mind.
A twisty turny read that keeps you hooked and at times as confused about what's real or not as she is.
Brilliantly executed this psychological thriller is a great read with an unbelievably tragic final twist.

Great read! The writer a book about a writer who has run out of ideas, now where is this one going? Well let’s say it goes it to many place delicious dark twisted places! I love how this story evolved and never let up on itself. Poor Cara has no idea if she is coming or going, she can’t seem to keep fact from fiction in her her brain and is quite confused a lot of the time, which makes for a great story!

OMG! What have I just read! This book is amazing!!! I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, the good ones & the bad ones. There's so many twists and turns, this book will have you staying up reading well into the night. I read this in one sitting. Definitely 5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I inhaled this book in a day and I now need to read all the books this talented author has written.

This is the exact type of thriller I love and crave so much. It’s getting added to my shelves once I’m able. Here’s why you need to read this one if you love thrillers:
-Pacing is perfect
-Writing style is easy to follow yet still has depth to it
-Characters are developed well
-The action is perfectly timed

I loved the meta discussion of writing a book while I was reading the book. The author had to write two books in one in some ways. This was such a fun rollercoaster ride with nonstop twists. It also is t intensively gory so it’s totally a beach read too in my opinion.

This book totally gave me Freida McFadden vibes. She is the author that got me back into reading as an adult. Freida is like my favorite so to find an author that writes books that make me feel similar is an actual dream come true. I’m obsessed.

Thank you for approving me for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

Yet another quite stunning book from this fabulous author. Valerie Keogh has a knack of sucking you into a storyline and not letting go until you are finished and this book certainly does that. As is normal with this author the book starts slowly as the scene is set and then the twists and turns kick in and you are left breathless at the speed of them.
Cara is an author, writing her thirtieth book however she has ran out of ideas for a storyline and is under pressure from her editor and agent to get it completed. She starts receiving anonymous but threatening letters delivered through her door and is unsure if they're directed at herself or her husband. As the letters continue and her mind goes into overdrive she uses them as the basis for her elusive novel.
This is as good a psychological thriller as you'll read in quite some time and as the twists continue you really start wondering where the story will take you next

Valerie always puts life experiences in her books and what a clever idea to have an author write about the highs and lows of being an author.
But this book isn't just about the insights of being an author, it's so much more than that.


Cara is a very successful author but is struggling to write her 30th novel. With no ideas forthcoming and with a deadline looming she has no idea what to do.

When she starts to receive malicious and cryptic notes, she starts to think that they are from someone close to her, but who?

The book continues in such a twisted way, I never knew what was going to happen next.
And boy oh boy, that ending!

3,5 stars rounded down.

Cara Jenkins is a successful author about to embark on her 13th novel. But as she sits at her desk to write, she realises she has no ides left. And as the pressure mounts for her to deliver, she begins to fear that her career is over.

Then the letters start.

At first they seemed harmless. But as the messages grow darker, Cara becomes convinced that someone is watching her., waiting for their moment to strike.

This is a slow burn and it's quite repetitive. Cara Jenkins is an author who is struggling to write their next book. She has a stalker from an incident in her past. The chapters alternate the perspectives of "Him" and "Her" in the then and now format. Cara struggles with the truth and fiction. It got that I couldn't tell if it was me or Cara that was confused.

Published 15th July 2025

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

Thank to netgalley for the arc of The Writer by Valerie Keogh is a tense and edge of your seat thriller.
Cara is a writer and she is about to start her 30th book , her world starts to read like one of her books she writes about, strange letters start appearing in her letter box quite timid at first but as time goes on more menacing in nature, Cara can’t think what she has done to merit this but could her husband Artie could be the recipient of these letters as he has a chequered past . Really good thriller was eagerly turning pages to find out the heading

Uniquely mind-bending, jarring, and unhinged!

Cara is a writer and has successfully written and published twenty nine books. Many were published on her own before she got an agent and publishing deal. And now, the pressure is on as everyone is excited to celebrate, and promote, Cara’s 30th book! Cara should be excited too but…she can’t think of anything to write. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

To make things more stressful, Cara and her husband get an eerie note in the mail stating they’d pay for past bad deeds. Knowing Cara’s husband, Artie, was on a three-month suspension from work when they met, she can’t help but think the note is aimed toward him.

But then Cara begins to feel as though she’s being watched and followed. And another note then another shows up making it clear it was intended for her.

To channel her nervous energy and to try to make sense of what was happening, Cara starts typing the events out as they happened. And before she knows it, the events start to take on the form of a pretty solid plot!
Knowing she’d have to change the names if she’s to write about real events, she names her character Bronwyn and starts to wonder “what would Bronwyn do in this situation?”
Feeling relieved at the thought of finally having something to show as her thirtieth book she begins to anxiously await a new note in the mail to write the next exciting chapter.

Has Cara fallen too deeply into her plot and her female protagonist, Bronwyn? She does have a history of doing that. Or does Cara have a reason to be afraid? Is someone threatening and following her? The longer this plays out, the more Cara questions her sanity. And the people around her.

I ALWAYS look forward to a new book from Valerie Keogh! I’m guaranteed to be thrilled, engaged, and completely surprised and this certainly hit all three!

Thank you NetGalley, Valerie Keogh, and Boldwood Books for gifting me the ARC in exchange for a review ahead of the proposed release date of July 15th!

I really enjoy books/stories that involve writers. This takes this a step further. The blurred lines between the story that the main character is writing and the things going on in her life are creepy and confusing. The longer the story goes on the harder it is to know where the writer ends and her characters begin. As a thriller this is pretty well done. It is creepy and atmospheric. The author does a great job building that tension that is so necessary in a thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange to my honest opinion.

I was expecting a different ending but man did it pack a punch. The Writer was basically getting a front row seat to someone’s downward spiral into madness. I feel like I get caught in spirals of second guessing myself but I’m gonna stop now! lol this was a great read and I would definitely recommend.