THE WIVES By Valerie Keogh

When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is made. Rich, handsome and charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband. Even if she won’t make the perfect wife…
She is thrilled when Daniel suggests an all-expenses paid cruise for Natasha, her friends, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle, and their husbands. What better way to show everyone that Natasha has finally made it?
But as the ship sets sail, she learns that far from being the perfect husband, Daniel has terrible secrets that are about to be revealed. And each of the wives has their own reasons for wanting him dead.
This trip might cost more than any of them ever imagined…

😊What i liked -

✔ Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thriller.
✔ I liked the plot and I liked the storyline. It is a story of friendship, betrayal and a whole ton of secrets. I liked that every character was quite different from each other and the POV was of all the four friends - Natasha, Michele, Barbara and Tracy Ann. Different POV's did add the flavour to the story. I did get a bit surprised by the way it ended. Though I liked the pacing of the book.

🤔What could have been better -

✔ Though I did get surprised by the way it ended but it did not give me that punch in the face twist. And if i talk of the characters- though i liked they all were quite different from each other but they were not likeable. Not one character.


📚Who Should read :

👶Beginners
🕵️Thriller Lovers

📈My Rating : 3/5

Thank you, Valerie Keogh and Boldwood Books , for a copy.

Not my usual genre but I really enjoyed this book. Natasha is married to Daniel; he come along at the perfect time and rescued her from the life that doesn’t make her happy. She knows her friends and their partners don’t really like him but she tells herself it’s a lot of jealousy. Things take a tragic twist when Daniel books a cruise for them all….

I loved being back on a cruise ship and rhe descriptions of the ship and the food and the ambience and the day trips, never tire of books set on ships….and this exciting thriller kept me bobbing along as the waters got murkier and more muddled leading to a wave of actions that would change all of their lives forever

Beware who you invite on your holidays and what there true intentions might be…oh, and who you marry! 😎

The Wives is a well-paced and engaging psychological thriller with a great setting and plenty of tension. I really liked the cruise atmosphere and how the characters' secrets slowly came to light. Some parts felt a little drawn out, and a few characters blended together, but overall the story kept me interested. The twist near the end was satisfying and tied things together nicely. A solid read for fans of domestic suspense.

When Natasha meets Daniel, it seems too good to be true — he’s rich, charming, successful and seems to be the perfect husband. When he invites three of Natasha’s friends — Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle — along with their husband’s on a luxury cruise as his guests.

Despite some initial reluctance to participate, all four couples end up on board…and that when the secrets start to show through. As the tension increases, bodies start to build up and trust erodes. Everyone seems to have a secret to protect or a motive to kill.

The characters are well developed with backstories that make sense to the twisting plot.

Keogh never disappoints and brings the suspense, the mystery and the thrills for readers to dig into and enjoy. I’m always delighted to see a new novel by this talented author.

The book has a great cast of feisty female characters. If you’re looking for an entertaining and witty read, this may well be the book for you. It is sheer escapism – full of glamour, scandal, a little bit of intrigue and a plenty of female solidarity.

There were a lot of characters to get to grips with, but once I worked out who was who I really enjoyed this.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller is a breathtaking blend of suspense, clever plotting, and unforgettable characters. Every twist feels earned, building toward a finale that’s both shocking and deeply satisfying. The atmosphere crackles with tension, making it impossible to look away. A truly gripping read that delivers from the first page to the last.

This was okay. The beginning was a bit boring and had me wanting to DNF. But I'm glad I pushed through the ending was fantastic.

Absolutely loved this. As others have said you aren’t going to like the characters BUT you’ll LOVE to hate them. Set in a cruise with 4 couples who have a LOT of secrets!! Really enjoyable.
One to take to the beach

This is a story of four young couples. Natasha’s new rich husband Daniel invites her three friends and their partners to join them on an all expenses paid cruise. But Daniel is not who he appears to be as Natasha soon realises. As the story progresses we realise that the other couples all have secrets of their own. Who is responsible for the deaths of two members of the party? This was not one of my favourite reads and I did not find any of the characters likeable but I did keep reading as I had to know how the book ended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a really easy to read thriller. You know who is going to die. You understand why he died. You find out everyone had a reason to want him dead. Then a bit of a whodunit.

None of the characters were likeable which is fine for me in a book. Toxic people, toxic friends and toxic secrets. It was a bit of a slow start but it picked up but I didn’t not like it. Ultimately it wasn’t full of suspense or surprises but it kept me reading. I saw someone describe it as a ‘popcorn thriller’ and that describes it perfectly.

I will add that I didn’t expect the very end!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Valerie Keogh for the gifted copy.

Prepare to be utterly captivated and thoroughly entertained by Valerie Keogh's "The Wives," a five-star thriller that is nothing short of amazing, engaging, wild, and incredible! Keogh delivers a masterclass in suspense, weaving a narrative that will grab you from the first page and refuse to let go until the final, shocking revelation.

This is a story that delves into the hidden lives of women, the secrets they keep, and the unexpected ways their paths can intertwine with explosive consequences. With a cast of compelling characters and a plot that twists and turns with exhilarating unpredictability, "The Wives" is a wild ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Keogh expertly builds tension, creating an atmosphere of unease and anticipation that permeates every chapter. As you delve deeper into the lives of these women, you'll find yourself questioning everything and everyone, trying to piece together the puzzle before the truth is laid bare. The engaging narrative and sharp writing make this a truly immersive reading experience, drawing you into a world where danger lurks beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives.

"The Wives" is an incredible testament to Keogh's skill as a storyteller. She crafts a plot that is both intricate and fast-paced, ensuring that there is never a dull moment. The twists are unexpected, the stakes are high, and the emotional depth of the characters will resonate with you long after you've finished the book.

If you're looking for a thriller that is amazing in its execution, engaging in its storytelling, wild in its twists, and incredible in its impact, then "The Wives" is an absolute must-read. It's a five-star experience that will leave you breathless and craving more from Valerie Keogh.

With friends like that, who needs enemies? For the most part I enjoyed this book. I sometimes got confused because there were so many characters it took me a while to tell the different couples apart. Lots of secrets and lots of distrust. Overall, this book was decent not my favorite but decent.

Say hello to The Wives — a deliciously twisty thriller that’s part Real Housewives, part Knives Out, and 100% the reason you might think twice before accepting a free vacation from your shady new husband.

Our main character, Natasha, thinks she’s hit the jackpot. Daniel is rich, gorgeous, and just controlling enough to make her believe it’s “love.” He invites her and three of her BFFs — Barbara, Tracy Ann, and Michelle — plus all their husbands on an all-expenses-paid cruise. Fancy dinners, sunny decks, endless champagne... what could possibly go wrong?

Everything.

Turns out, Daniel has more red flags than a bullfighting arena, and once the ship leaves port, secrets start bubbling up faster than poolside daiquiris. Every wife onboard has a motive, every husband has a secret, and Daniel? Let’s just say he’s lucky the ship has railings.

This locked-room (er, locked-ship) mystery keeps the tension high and the bodies (or at least the drama) dropping. It's one of those juicy reads where no one is entirely innocent, and you can’t trust anyone — not even the sunburned guy doing cannonballs at the pool.

And while most of the characters weren’t exactly loveable (some were more “stab-worthy”), that just made the plot even more fun to unravel. Think of it as a floating murder buffet: betrayal, jealousy, blackmail, and one very satisfying ending that’ll have you whispering, “I knew it!” like a smug little detective.

Final verdict: ★★★★☆
The Wives is fast, furious, and full of secrets, making it the perfect beach read — just maybe not on a cruise ship. If you love a thriller with messy characters, glamorous settings, and a body count that’s just a twist away, hop aboard.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC — and for reminding me that maybe staying home is the safest vacation after all.

Fast paced thriller I didn't want to put down, great setting with interesting characters. Loved the plot, loved the ending, definitely one to read in one go. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

A dramatic and far fetched story about a group of Natasha who has recently met and married the seemingly charming Daniel. She goes on a cruise with her closest friends and spouses and lots of drama follows. Told from each wives perspective it’s a juicy gripping read!

Valerie Keogh because she is a go to thriller author and I would recommend her stories to anyone.

From the very first chapter I was totally hooked and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I love the fact that this is female centred, the characters are so well written with a complexity that draws you in to the story full of dark secrets and betrayal. The twists and turns were perfectly plotted to keep you intrigued about what actually and constantly leaving you wondering what is the real truth. If you like a twisty, domestic thriller told from multiple POVs than you have to read this. #valeriekeogh #boldwood #thriller2024 #netgalley

This is the first book I've read by this author and really enjoyed it! This definitely makes me want to pick up other books by them. This was unique, relatively fast paced, and well thought out!

A brilliant well written book that I could just not leave down , such a fantastic story that left you guessing right to the end but a really good ending that explained everything that unfolded throughout the book . Brilliant characters that were so well written about you felt you were in their lives with them . A brilliant story told with many a shock and a wow as you read chapter after chapter not wanting to leave it down. I would really recommend this book as a must read.