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What a twisty tale this was when writer Cara can't work out what is fact and what is fiction as she tries to work out who is sending her threatening notes.

Worked it out for myself straight away, couldn't warm to this particular character at all, turns out my spidey senses were right.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion

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This one was incredible and did not take me long to finish! Keogh does an excellent job of painting Cara as an unreliable narrator, making us and Cara doubt the intentions of everyone we meet. Facts are confused with fiction, which is thrilling as a reader to try and differentiate what Cara has imagined from the events that actually took place. There were some great plot twists and I didn't expect how the ending turned out at all!

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Successful author Cara Jenkins is starting her 30th book and feeling the pressure, she is out of ideas and staring at a blank page every day.
One Saturday morning an anonymous note is posted through the letterbox, believing it to incriminate her husband Artie for a past misdemeanour, she starts writing a novel with him as the protagonist.
But fact and fiction become muddled for Cara as she attempts to disseminate events that happen.
This was a quick fast paced novel with plenty of red herrings, For a psychological thriller the ending was pretty poignant.

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Some pretty dark themes in here and the blur between reality and fiction was really well done. The ending definitely hit me right in the feels and I was left sittingjust staring and absorbing what had happened once I finished the book. An all round great book.

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This was a one sit read for me as I got so absorbed with Cara and what was happening I just had to keep reading

It is a book that builds up and the final twist is one of brilliance. I loved the pace and the tension and i will be re reading this for mt book club and I cannot wait.

It is a well written story and one I would definitely put on my holiday reading pile.

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A brilliant start, a slow middle and a sad but fantastic ending. I enjoyed this latest from Valerie alot. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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My goodness, this was a total page-turner! From the very first chapter, Cara had a constant feeling of unease, and that feeling was utterly contagious – I felt it too, not knowing who to trust. Was what she was saying real, or was it just another part of her intricate fiction? 🤔
Valerie Keogh masterfully crafts Cara as a truly unreliable narrator, making her version of events wonderfully untrustworthy. This book will make you suspicious of everyone in it! As a reader, you simply can't take everything Cara says at face value, which completely draws you in & made me feel like I was utterly immersed in her spiralling confusion.
The writing is truly incredible, building tension effectively & leaving you guessing about the true motives & identities of characters until the very, very end. If you love a good psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this is one for your list!

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I really enjoyed this book, I loved the multiple points of view and I found myself on the edge of my seat a lot with this book, with twists that kept me guessing all the way through

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Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for an ARC of this book.

This book is about a man who can't move on from things that had happened 20+yrs ago and a woman author who is ridiculously stupid.


The author has subverted expectations very well. That's why I gave the four stars. Every time I would assume x is the way the story would go it went in y direction.

The plot is good although the chapters could have been moved around to not announce the motive of the guy in the first 10% of the book! It would have seemed more Mysterious that way rather than spoiling the entire mystery right then and there.

It is a fast paced thriller of the MacFadden style genre but it could've used some heavy editing. There are lengthy internal monologues by Cara that could've been cut.

Overall, it is a great book!

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Wow, "The Writer" by Valerie Keogh was one of the best books I’ve read this year. I devoured this novel in just 24 hours. The book is written in dual points of view: one perspective is from a middle-aged man seeking revenge on someone he believes humiliated him at a school dance, and the other is from a writer struggling to meet her deadline for her 30th book until she receives a mysterious letter in the mail.

As the story unfolds, the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur, and the twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. "The Writer" will have you hooked from the first chapter, and if I could give it 6 stars, I absolutely would. Mark your calendars for July 15th and make sure to get this book—you won’t regret it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Valerie Keogh, and Boldwood Books for this advanced ARC copy for my honest review.

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I adore books that feature writers and publishing worlds, so 'The Writer' by Valerie Keogh was a perfect match!

Having loved her previous book, my expectations were sky-high – and thankfully, this one exceeded them!

Such a cleverly crafted storyline that kept me guessing until the very end with twists and turns, suspense and intrigue. I enjoyed the fascinating glimpse into a writer's life.

I'm already waiting (as patiently as is possible) for the next book by this author

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There's always something fun about writers writing about writers - I never know if they've run out of ideas or need to share something about their own process.

In this story, Cara sits down to write her thirtieth novel and finds she has nothing in the tank. With pressure from her editor and agent, she needs to make it happen. Fortunately (or unfortunately) weird things start happening - she thinks she's being watched, threatening letters appear, and more. It gives her content to start writing, but clearly also is emotionally stressful.

Given this is a light thriller, all is not what it seems, and there are some good reveals and twists.

Some of this was a slightly hard read, as one character (whose perspective we get) is really unhinged and it was unpleasant reading. Apart from that, this was a good 'holiday thriller'.

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Another great read from Valerie Keough. This time we meet Cara a writer, who suddenly has writer's block. One Saturday morning, she gets a threatening letter, her husband tears it up chalking it up to some nutcase fan. Little do we know that this will set off a chain of events where Cara can't distinguish between reality and fiction. An ending that left me gobsmacked.
Thanks to Boltwood publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

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I loved this book! I’ve read all of the authors previous books and equally loved them so I’ll be honest in that I was expecting a good read! So many unexpected twists and turns in the storyline. I’d definitely recommend it!

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i love a real thinker and mind bender of a novel. ones where you question everyone and everything. is everyone telling the story a reliable source or to be believed?even the author, or are they being tasty in their teasing to keep on our toes. the answer to that one is yes, Valerie is certainly keeping me on my toes and i loved it.
you are tense with all sorts of emotions throughout this book and it ripples that thriller esque unease through it all. its pace is fast and gets faster as you race through turning pages to try and reveal the next bit.
i love how it was almost like Valerie was putting herself in the position of the reader and the theories we would then be coming up with. and then shed sweetly rip them away from us. loved that!
this is a page turner and one you turn the pages of until the very end.

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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.

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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.

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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!!

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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

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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.

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