Another wonderful psychological thriller from this international best selling author. When Leigh invites her favourite barista to stay with her as a lodger as she was homeless little did she know that her life would be turned upside-down! Things seemed to be going well between them until Leigh had to go away for a few days and a few cross words were said. On her return home Gina, the lodger, was gone. Strange things then started happening and Leigh began to think something untoward had happened to Gina.
This is a very well written book that has twists and turns aplenty and even more thrills and spills. With every page you turn the suspense builds.
Without a doubt this book is very deserving of the 5 stars I award it in this review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

For anybody who has had a lodger then you will relate to this story although your outcome was hopefully somewhat different! Not only do we have the main character Leigh doing something off the cuff but also the story is about all the aftermath. The lodger disappears, The lodger isn't quite who we think she is. Then there is the boyfriend and the work colleague plus some other great characters which Valerie neatly all pulls together for a great ending to the book. It is a tale to make you consider what you would do given the same circumstances.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

If ever you have thought of having a lodger, be prepared to think again after reading this!
Leigh,in a flush of kindness, offers her spare room to her fav Barista who she thinks she knows fairly well, how wrong she is….that lapse in Leigh’s normal reserved nature will cost, and cost dearly!
What follows is a torrent of nastiness ( I am not going to give away any of it as each event leads to another and the shocks get worse for Leigh and for the reader 😀 ) and Leigh wonders if she is losing her mind, can she trust herself never mind anyone else, it all leads to a grim, dark and brilliant last line ending
I loved it, great writing, believable characters and even though a horrific tale the odd burst of humour ( the Amazon line made me LOL ) that really is the all inclusive option of stories and reading
Read and enjoy and be prepared never to entertain a lodger again…..
My first book by this author and I will be reading more after this!

10/10
5 Stars

The Lodger is an utterly tense read by Valerie Keogh. It’s the first book by Valerie that I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be my last. It is such a twisty read and Valerie delivers some shocking and brilliant twists that I did not see coming.

Valerie introduces us to Leigh, who offers a room in her house to Gina, who works in her local coffee shop. They’ve both got to know each other quite well and Gina is seemed to be very likeable. This seems, at first, to be a good thing for them both, even though Leigh’s boyfriend isn’t particularly keen on the idea. It made me instantly warm to Leigh, as you can see that she does this out of the goodness of her heart. You can also see how grateful Gina is. But as Leigh and Gina begin to get more acquainted with each other, this is when the tension begins to build. I wanted to find out more about who Gina really was.

I got the feeling that there was more at stake here when Leigh first offers a room to Gina. This is what makes the book so tense, especially when Gina goes missing, while Leigh is away for a weekend. Valerie Keogh really brings Leigh’s concerns for Gina through on the page and I wanted to know what had happened to Gina. Why did she just suddenly up and leave with no explanation? This part of the novel is so intriguing. I couldn’t see how things were going to unfold here. And, as I mentioned earlier, Valerie delivers some shocking twists as this part of the plot begins to unravel. I felt, as I was reading, that it was someone close to Leigh who knew the answers, and the more Leigh tried to understand what happened, the more I felt she was putting herself in danger. I felt that I couldn’t trust anyone who Leigh knew, and I felt that someone close to her was hiding the truth about what has happened. This really helps to drive the intrigue and the suspense.

The Lodger is really gripping, I loved Valerie’s writing style and it instantly drew me into the story. I’m looking forward to seeing what Valerie writes next.

Another fabulous book by Valerie Keogh! She has become a must read author for me, and this book didn't disappoint.

Leigh finds herself offering a room to friendly barista Gina on the spur of the moment. When she goes away for a week and returns home to find Gina missing, can she unravel the secrets behind her disappearance? Is there more to it than the simple note Gina leaves?

A really interesting set of characters, even now I'm not sure if I really liked any of them. At points I felt sorry for Leigh, then Gina, then back to Leigh, but then at other times I didn't like either! Cleverly created, it's definitely the sign of a good author when they make the reader doubt their own mind, and leave them thinking for days after finishing the book.

Can we stop with the unreliable narrator, particularly the female unreliable narrator? I'm done. Absolutely nothing believable or connectable in this entire book.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Yes yes yes! Did I love this book...yes!!
So much going on so much making you wonder and surprises. Such a fantastic book and that ending. Yes yes yes!!

Thanks to the author ,the publisher, and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

3.5 stars
This was my first book by Valerie Keogh. It was a very good British domestic thriller! I was drawn in from the start by Leigh’s situation with Gina and how it was going to result in the dire circumstances we encountered at the beginning of the book. It was definitely a page turner from start to finish!
Thanks to the author, Boldwood books, and NetGalley for this advance reader’s copy for review.

Another great psychological thriller from Valerie Keogh.
Leigh feels sorry for Gina when she tells her she’ll soon have nowhere to live. She invites her to stay in her spare room but doesn’t realise the trouble this will bring.
Leigh is having problems at work and life with her boyfriend is not going smoothly.
All of this creates a nightmare situation and it’s not until later that Leigh finds out what really happened.
Apologies for being a bit cryptic, but I’m trying not to spoil the story.
This is a great read and Leigh is a great character.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I am a huge fan of Valerie’s books and The Lodger certainly does not disappoint.

The Lodger had me gripped from the beginning and kept me reading into the early hours as well as finding myself having to take every opportunity to read a little more during the day. Housework was definitely put on hold!

Valerie is a very talented author and I am so pleased I discovered her books.

I would highly recommend this as a must read for 2022.

When her favorite local barista, Gina, needs a new place to stay Leigh doesn't hesitate to offer her the spare bedroom in her house. Gina immediately moves in the same day and Leigh begins to question her decision, especially when her boyfriend Matt is not too happy about her choice to have a stranger move in. Everything was going okay until Leigh returns from an anger management course to find Gina gone without notice, her pervert boss missing, and her boyfriend acting strange. Who really is Gina and how are all these things connected?

The Lodger was somewhat predictable however, it did keep me entertained throughout the book. Would recommend to anyone looking for an quick easy read thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

A good thriller with a well thought out plot. I didn't think the twists were too obvious and I found it very easy to read. I liked the writing style, although I can't say I actually cared much about any of the characters - they could have been better developed and likeable/dislikeable.
I would look out for further books from this author and recommend the lodger to my book loving friends.

The Lodger is a story that drags you into the plot, if only to scream and shout at the main character, Leigh, about so many things. She should have stood up to the creep at work and reported him sooner; she should have not let boyfriend walk all over her ...and she should never, never, never have taken in a lodger on a whim, no matter how kind of her it was to do so.

But that’s where we arrive. Leigh has a lodger in Gina, a selfish boyfriend in Matt, and an anger management course to attend as a result of finally showing Bernard Ledbetter that his leery ways are not acceptable.
At this point, Gina seems to be the least of her problems. That is, until she returns from the anger management course to find Gina gone, clothes all packed up, and the briefest of notes saying, “I’m sorry.” Matt is in Salisbury where his teaching job is based, acting very oddly and cutting her phone calls short. So, Leigh returns to work to face Ledbetter, only to find he has not been in since she called him out, and everyone seems to have taken his side, blaming her for upsetting the 'poor man'.
Is there any wonder she feels angry? She has so many unanswered questions: Why did Gina leave? Why is Matt being such a jerk? And why would anyone believe Ledbetter over her?

Things go from bad to worse when she hears movement in her house overnight, finds a disembodied hand in her garden, discovers Matt is lying to her about being at school, and questions are being raised about the missing Ledbetter.

So many twists, so many secrets … just when you believe one thing happened, along comes a swift change of direction to send you into another rabbit hole. If you don’t get giddy from all the twists, then are you even human? ;)

The Lodger is a fantastic thriller in the vein of “if it can go wrong, it will”. Leigh’s self-doubts and insecurities lead her to imagine all sorts of scenarios, and she feels that she’s being mocked for simply thinking those things could be possible. I think this phrase sums it up best:

"Sometimes, the brain can overload, decide it's not going to process anything else. And so it was with Leigh. This last week was the end of her capability."

Getting to the truth is complicated as there are so many layers to peel back, yet Leigh is left with a dilemma –to do the right thing or take the easy way out. Her decision might surprise you, but it will leave you believing in the ability to turn your life around … and if it means wearing more purple, then so be it.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and now I’ve learnt she has a vast back catalogue that I’m going to check out.

Sometimes being nice comes with a price ! This book was so good I really enjoyed it . I loved how the book makes you think you have it all figured out and then you are taken back. Leigh who is your average girl trying to help a stranger ends up in a wild ride . Gina her lodger is a complete mystery . What’s real , what’s not ? This book has it all with question marks until the very end . Definitely recommend a wonderful fast read .

When Lee visits her favorite coffee shop one morning her favorite barista Jenna isn’t her happy go lucky self and when Lee asks her what’s wrong The barista tells her she must move out of her lodgings due to her flatmate getting married on impulse Lee invite her to stay at her home a decision she will soon regret. Lee is used to living a loan and on the very first day is uneasy about having Jenna stay at her home but she caused to make the best of it she’s also having trouble at work with her boss Mr. Ledbetter he is gross and looks at her in the most lascivious manner but when he goes too far Jenna takes a swing at him and although she misses she still told you must take a anger management course at a clinic in Reading it’s three hours away and she must stay for a week. This is when her problems really begin her boyfriend Matt is going to be on holiday that week and was supposed to stay with her, he isn’t happy about their change in plans, but makes accommodations to go home early and when she tells Jenna that she must go away Jenna isn’t happy at all. She doesn’t feel comfortable staying with this man she doesn’t know. Which expresses this Lee gets indignant tells her she will not say who can be at her house and who cannot but when she leaves she feels guilty and she second gases everything she said toJenna before she left. In the end though that will be the least of her problems. This book was so good and the ending was so unexpected and OMG awesome! I don’t think I have ever read a book by this author but will definitely read her books in the future. I felt so sorry for Lee in the ending is something I did not see coming and there’s no way you will either there is a twist it when I say twist I mean a twist and glowing lights with capital letters. If you love thrillers you definitely love this book please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own I received this book from NetGalleyShelf and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily

FINALLY a good read after a series of lousy ones.

I am THRILLED to inform you that this is definitely worth the hype.

I enjoyed it but the ONLY thing I didn't like was <spoiler> Leigh and Philip not getting together. WHAT A BUMMER I WANTED TO SEE THEM AT LEAST SPICILY HOOK UP????? Ugrdnfvc I ship it. It's FANTASTIC </spoiler>

Ignoring the loose ends that were left, mostly everything was wrapped up neatly and it was amazing. The characters were on point, well written, and stayed consistent while seeing development.

I liked "Gina" and her fortitude and it makes one appreciate everything life offers. And Leigh was a great MC, very well endowed in all aspects.

Oh man was I screaming at this book pretty much the whole way through. The decisions that the characters in this book are really questionable and really make you do a face plant at many times in the book. But it also makes it compelling because you are constantly wondering what on earth the outcomes are going to be from the characters decisions and actions. Which left me hooked on this book to the very last page.

Who in their right mind invites a complete stranger to move into their house? That was the very first of many questions that I kept screaming at this book as it went along. So safe to say
I was deeply invested in the plot. I loved how the author threw you right into the mix with just enough information to keep things relevant but not enough to spoil anything. Things are going well for our two main characters Leigh and the new roommate Gina, however it isn't long before Leigh begins to question if this new arrangement is working for her. Things are then thrown for a loop when Leigh comes home from work one day and Gina is missing. All of her things are there are there is no sign of a struggle
but something isn't right and there is no sign of where Gina could be. That is when it leaves Leigh up to the task to try to find her roommate but is she really ready for the secrets that she will uncover in the process? I thought that this book was very different than a lot of the thrillers that I have been reading lately, because the author didn't do a lot of build up to the plot which is normally needed in these kinds of reads. I loved how this was done however because it really made it stand out from the rest. The plot was one that I didn't see to often and I found that the elegance of the writing just drew me in as a reader and I was unable to put this book down. I loved all of the plot twists and trying to guess them before they happened, while I found to be impossible, I found enjoyable to try at the same time. This is one book that I super enjoyed and since this is the first book that I've read by this author I can't wait to see what else she comes out with.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of The Lodger. This was a very fast and easy read, it was a very good plot. I did NOT like the main character, she was a bit ridiculous but I did like the story and finding out the truth. If you have nothing to do one weekend, read this.

Well this was an unexpectedly twisty psychological thriller! My first experience of reading a Valerie Keogh book but definitely not my last as I thoroughly enjoyed the gripping and shocking storyline from start to finish. When Leigh makes a split second decision to offer her spare room to a girl who works in her favourite coffee shop, she has no idea that the young woman will suddenly disappear leaving Leigh with many unanswered questions. But she may end up wishing she doesn’t go looking for her…

I liked Leigh from the moment I met her. Kind and generous, she offers her spare room to someone she hardly knows because Gina is homeless plus Leigh also quite fancy’s some company in the house she lives alone in. The male characters weren’t as likeable and I was intrigued as to their intentions! Did any of them have anything to do with Gina’s disappearance? I really couldn’t work out what had happened and I really love it when an author keeps me guessing! In fact, the conclusion when it came was both jaw dropping and shocking and much darker than I had expected but it was the perfect ending to this astonishing tale!

There may be a few triggers here for the more sensitive reader but without giving away the ending I can’t really go into what the triggers are. Just be aware that the narrative delivers some graphic and disturbing scenes as the threads of this addictive storyline come together.

I really enjoyed The Lodger. I couldn’t put it down until I knew what had happened and why and it didn’t disappoint! Looking forward to reading more from Valerie Keogh in the future!