Another great read from tbia author, based upon a group of friends with one who has recently gotten a new love interest but doesn’t quite fit into the group. An eventful, all expenses trip goes horribly wrong- great characters who have a multitude of secrets which bring the story to life

For me the book was alright. It was a bit slow to start and I had to push myself to read it. About 3/4 of the way in is where it picked up for me and I got interested. Was about when they went off the boat to the excursion. I was surprised by the ending.

This was my first read by Valerie Keogh and I will be running to add additional books of hers to my want to read list. What an amazing read!!!

Natasha meets the man of her dreams, he is handsome, and he is rich. She has mostly been single and spends a lot of time with her close friends that are married and some have kids. Shortly after Natasha and Daniel get married, Daniel decides to book a cruise and invite Natashas friends Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle and their husbands with Daniel footing all of the bill. Natasha and her girlfriends had discussed doing a girls cruise, so this was perfect, and she was very excited! Little did she know, Daniel has been up to things, and not things that she is happy about. What has Daniel been up to? Just what is going on?

Grab this book and read it! You will not be sorry!

Valerie Keogh has a knack for keeping readers engaged and The Wives is a perfect example. Her writing kept me engaged throughout even though the characters never seemed realistic or likable. Four women, best friends for years, travel on a cruise together with their husbands, three of the couples having been invited by the new groom. As secrets are revealed division between the friends as well as their spouses continue to snowball until a death brings things to a head. Events are at times are seemingly implausible but Keogh’s writing kept me totally engaged.
Many thanks to talented Valerie Keogh, Boldwood Books Ltd, and Net Galley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of The Wives. Keogh’s writing style made this a four star read for me.

From the moment Natasha meets the enigmatic and charming Daniel, I was hooked. The intricate layers of their relationship unfold brilliantly, promising a gripping narrative that's impossible to put down. Daniel, with his allure of the perfect husband, brings an irresistible mix of suspense and charm to the story.

The real twist comes when Daniel proposes an all-expenses-paid cruise for Natasha and her friends, along with their husbands. What seems like the perfect getaway soon spirals into a web of secrets and deceptions. As the ship sails, each character's hidden motives come to light, painting a complex picture of desire, betrayal, and vengeance.

Natasha's journey, from her initial thrill of being with Daniel to the stark revelations about his true nature, is brilliantly depicted. The author masterfully balances suspense with deep, emotionally charged moments, making it a page-turner from start to finish. The tension on board the cruise ship is palpable, keeping you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover each character's secrets.

This book is a testament to the author's prowess in the psychological thriller genre. The plot twists are expertly crafted, leaving you guessing until the very end. It’s a dark, thrilling ride that explores the depths of human emotion and the lengths people will go to for love, revenge, and survival.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you guessing. It’s not just a story; it's an experience that will linger long after the final page is turned. An absolute must-read!

Four couples on a cruise, all expenses paid for by Natasha’s husband Daniel. What could go wrong?

In The Wives by Valerie Keogh, Natasha is thrilled when she falls in love with a charismatic and wealthy man, Daniel. Her friends are a little less than enthused but push their feelings to the side when Daniel offers to pay for all of them to go on a luxury cruise.

But soon Natasha learns that her new husband isn't what he seems and every couple has their own deep, dark secrets. But who wants one of them dead?

I‘ve’ read several of Valerie’s novels and have enjoyed them all. Her books are always suspenseful, entertaining, and quick reads.

Synopsis:

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.

I was amazed these four women i the story had been friends for so long. They're not at all the people I'd have as my best friends! Natasha and Tracy Ann were very unlikeable. Michele had character, which I liked. Natasha, frankly, was selfish and self-centred. Their husbands were mostly likeable, apart from Daniel. The cruise setting is enjoyable and I enjoyed the plot, although at times I got the women mixed up, which was annoying. We understand early on who is going to die, the big question is, who did it? A fun book which kept me entertained.

Valerie Keogh, The Wives, Boldwood Books, November 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

What a clever novel this is, with its hints of being a domestic drama with familiar themes to becoming a thriller, with touches of comedy and a graphic punishment for the most heinous character in the book. The latter makes uncomfortable reading but also fulfills the desire to see the ‘villain’ suffer – all too often not given enough space for the reader who seeks imaginary revenge. Possibly deplorable of the reader but thank you Valerie Keogh for indulging this fault!

The wives are three, until Natasha meets Daniel who is charming, attractive, and wealthy. He provides a pleasant way out of Natsha’s increasing dissatisfaction with her work. She would like to retire, have children, and like her friends lead a more domesticated life. Daniel appears to be ideal husband material. He even approves Natasha’s married friends, dull though Natasha thinks they might be in comparison with her highflyer partner. Daniel and Natasha marry after a short courtship, and the four couples enjoy outings as couples, as well the men meeting when the wives pursue their outings at which Natasha was once the spinster friend. The highlight of this togetherness is the cruise for the four couples with Daniel footing the bill. At the same time, Daniel ensures that he and Natasha have superior accommodation and the diverse benefits that go with this.

Natahsa has been bemused by her women friends’ lack of enthusiasm, quickly masked, for the cruise. She is embarrassed about the huge suite she and Daniel share, although the cruise is clearly very upmarket for all of them. It surely is a holiday made in heaven? Alas, it is not, and what has begun as a possible domestic drama, with Daniel at its centre, but rumblings in the other marriages, becomes a thriller. Suspicion undermines the women’s friendships, the cracks that might have been there all along becoming more apparent as the days pass. One death is followed by another, and at the end of the book it is apparent that these will not be all.

There are some comic moments as well as the well written relationships around the marriages and between the women. Although the characters are not particularly likeable, they are people whose stories are absorbing. The storyline works well, as does the plotting around the deaths. There are no jarring notes with confected twists. Rather, Valerie Keogh’s novel is an engaging read, which seamlessly combines domestic drama and thriller.

I love this author but I find I need to be in a certain mood when I read her novels. I just did not care about these rich girls and their stupid husbands this time. Normally I gobble that up. I just can't imagine going on a fancy cruise with a bunch of fake friends right now.
Still love the author. This just is not my favorite book of hers.

This book is about 4 best friends and their husbands. Natasha is married to Daniel and the story focuses on their marriage and how he is as a person. I was really into the book and then it lost me about halfway through. I solved the mystery and just completed the rest of the book to see if I was correct. This is the first book I have read by the author and I was not very impressed. Was happy it was a quick read. Thanks to Netgally and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Wives is an evenly paced psychological thriller that revolves around eight characters and their secrets that come to light on an intense 7 day cruise.

This was a gripping thriller with chapters dedicated to PoVs of each wife. It kept me hooked with just the right amount of scandal, lies, deception and twists and turns. The exotic cruise was a perfect setting for a locked door mystery.

Intense drama combined with mystery and intrigue, this popcorn thriller makes for a fun vacation read.

Thank you @theboldbookclub @valeriekeogh2 and @netgalley for the digital ARC to read and share my honest review.

📚 PUBLICATION MONTH BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Wives By Valerie Keogh
Publication Date: November 6, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

When I think about the queen of diabollically-delicious domestic thrillers, Valerie Keogh always comes to the forefront of my mind. The Wives is a salacious thriller about a group of long-time friends and the secrets they keep - and the lengths they'll go to keep them.

This book was such a fun read, and one that I devoured with its short chapters and multiple POVs. The tale is told from the perspectives of the four female friends: Natasha, Tracy Ann, Michele, and Barbara, who've been friends since their college days. Natasha has been the only still-single friend among the bunch, until she meets Daniel. The relationship between Natasha and Daniel moves quickly, and once they're married, she's thrilled to finally be a wife amongst her married friends. The four couples agree to take a week-long exotic cruise together - and the decision changes their lives forever.

Something felt shady about everybody in this book from the beginning. This was a whole cast of unreliable characters, and it was fun trying to guess the how, who, and why of this book's mystery. I would have loved just a little more backstory to create a better understanding of how these women became friends, though maybe in the long run it didn't matter for the storyline. To me, it felt like some of the history of these characters was missing, which could have created a greater understanding of the story. All in all, this was a thrilling ride with lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming in the first half of the book.

If domestic thrillers are your vibe, you're going to love The Wives... And everything by Valerie Keogh, to be honest. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review.

#TheWives #ValerieKeough #BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbookclub #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #domesticthrillers #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

Thank you to Boldwood, Valerie Keough and Netgalley for giving me an ARC.
I enjoy reading books about the elite and their lifestyles. Valerie brought these best friends to life on the pages. I enjoyed the different POVs as the story progressed. It made me keep reading as I needed to know what happened next.
I will definitely read more of her books as I love the secrets, scandal and twists in this read.

Thank you Boldwood Books for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Wives is a mystery drama written by UK author Valerie Keogh.
Think rich wives and their husbands on a luxury cruise where someone dies and everyone has secrets and is a suspect.
Natasha is a nurse with a plan.
She meets wealthy, attractive and successful Daniel, knowing he will make the perfect husband.
Then Daniel suggests a glamorous holiday with her best friends and their spouses.
The four couples vacation in opulence and extravagance.
But Daniel has secrets and everyone wants him dead…..
And they all have their own reason to kill…
Unfortunately the lack of suspense, intrigue and surprise, made for an ordinary read.
It started off quite strong, then did a dip and finished with a not bad ending.
So much potential however needing more explanation.

What a great read - 4 stars! If you enjoy soap opera drama, longtime female friendships, and some bad eggs, this is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed the range of emotions, the accusations, the relationships, the messed up feelings, the suspiciousness and the betrayals. Four couples head out on a cruise together. From the outside, everything seems fine. But there is a lot going on. Who can be trusted? Who is keeping secrets? Who is genuine? When life gets tough, who will be there for you? Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC.

The Wives by Valerie Keogh was a brilliant read and I loved it. This was a book that I started and ended up reading it in 1 sitting. WoW this book was so good, its full of twists and turns with great characters you will love Natasha and her 3 best friends Barbara, Tracy-Ann and Michele, they are all very close and they have been friends for years, until Natasha meets Daniel who is rich, handsome and very charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband for her. Their wedding was perfect in every way, they are so happy......

Then, Daniel surprises Natasha with a wonderful cruise holiday......then surprised her by telling her, her best friends and their husbands have been invited to go with them.......and to top it they all are booked in one of the best rooms on the cruise ships..........WoW.......What a gent!

But, as the ship sets sail, Natasha learns that he is 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.

WoW this book is excellent and I can't recommend The Wives enough......But, plan your day wisely as this book will take over your day!!!!!!

With friends like these, who needs enemies??

At first, I thought Natasha was a wholesome, likable character. Boy oh boy, was I ever wrong. Natasha has a whirlwind romance with successful and handsome Daniel. Natasha and Daniel decide to plan an exotic cruise and they invite some of Natasha's friends and their husbands. It seems like such a great idea until they get on the cruise ship and secrets start to fly...

When one of their own ends up dead, there are many suspects regarding who the murderer is. The ending is definitely not what I expected!

I've read several books by this author, and she never disappoints.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

All I can say is wow! This one had me guessing until the very end. Everyone had a motive, but you'll never guess who did it.

The Wives was an engaging read that hooked me very quickly.

The characters, 4 couples, were all deeply flawed and I found them interesting. I wanted to keep reading to see how it would all unfold. I guessed some parts and other parts I did not see coming.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I have enjoyed them both.

Overall this is a quick entertaining thriller and if you are a fan of this genre you should definitely give this one a go.

I really enjoyed this one. Four couples who are friends go on a fancy cruise. It transpires that the wives have been friends for years but they don’t really like each other. Natasha and her husband Daniel are the more recent on the newlyweds. I hated Daniel from the beginning. There is a backstory between the couples that we learn about. A”9t of twists and turns. I have been on a couple of cruises and enjoyed the cruise vibe in this read.