This was a very enjoyable thriller/mystery that constantly has you changing your mind about did he or didn't he do it. Sure, it's generally always the husband who is suspected when their spouse goes missing, and there is a good deal pointing to him having done it. But, as the story unfolds, there is a lot to unpack. This would have been a 5 star read except that I don't like nebulous endings to my thrillers. I just always want to know and not have to infer or wonder or supply my own ideas as to what I'm supposed to take away in the end. All in all, though, if you are a thriller/mystery fan, I think you too would like it.

A well written slow burn with a few too many predictable turns. The characters didn’t quite feel real, which made it hard to fully lose myself in the story.....it left me more puzzled than immersed. Overall, its not the worst book ive read this year and I did love the premise but it felt a bit flat for me

I found The Crime Writer to be an OK read. The description sounded like it was just my sort of book but once I got into it, I found it to be a little slow for my taste and quite predictable in places. I didn't dislike it; I just didn't like it as much as I expected to.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

What a very captivating book this was to read. There seemed to be so many twists and turns in it that you could never really predict what was going to happen next!

I did enjoy this book but found it lacked the punch of The Other Couple which was such an amazing read!
However, on saying that , I did find it hard to put down as I was eager to find out what was happening. Did Chris murder his wife , was it suicide or was it someone else? Chris was as ex policeman and a crime writer so had all the knowledge at his disposal to execute the perfect murder. I enjoyed the two time lines and found them easy to follow. An excellent plot but for me the ending was a little disappointing.

When a crime writer’s wife goes missing, Gabi, a local journalist becomes very interested in the case. Five years later she decides to release a series of podcasts, hoping to uncover the truth.
I enjoyed this book, although more questions than answers were raised at the end. A good read.

I love Diane Jeffrey's writing so was happy to be approved to read The Crime Writer! This novel follows a family after the disappearance of the mother, with suspicion falling on her husband. There is also a podcast five years after Leona's disappearance that is investigating what might have happened to her. Then one day bones are found buried in a garden connected to the family and everything escalates from there. I found this novel so gripping, and I could never quite figure out what had happened. I had my suspicions but then something else would happen and I'd feel like I'd got it wrong. I loved being kept on my toes and I was hooked all the way through this novel. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an E-Arc of this book. The following is my honest opinion *

3.3 ⭐ out 5

This is the second book I've read by Diane Jeffrey. She really has a formula for how she writes her books. I really enjoyed the podcast format to give the reader some exposition. I enjoyed this read. The premise really gripes you: Leona Walsh goes missing and the primary suspect is her husband, Matt, who happens to be a famous crime writer. Evidently the case goes cold because they don't have enough and fast forward some time, this case is subject to crime podcast detectives.

I enjoyed the sections where the format was the transcript of the podcast episode. I was a neat way to do exposition. It was very on trend and as a lover of true crime podcast it, it made me feel seen. Compared to the only other book I have read from her this, wasn't an absolute favorite but I did enjoy it.

Would recommend!

Unfortunately, this book just never really grabbed me. It was too slow and predictable for my interest, but it wasn't a bad book, just not something that held my attention.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review

I’ve read a few of this authors books and enjoyed them however I struggled with this one. I felt it lacked the usual standard of her book and it was very slow. There didn’t seem to be an awful lot happening and the ending certainly didn’t surprise me

This is a great book. When a crime writers wife goes missing he's the obvious suspect especially as his last book had a similar plot! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this book, and the story is a clever one, but it all seemed a bit contrived. I never felt that I was engrossed in the book, and the characters seemed slightly unrealistic.

The Crime Writer has an intriguing premise — a crime that mirrors the plot of a novelist’s own book — but unfortunately, the execution left me underwhelmed. While the book is well-written and has an interesting structure, with two time lines and excerpts from a podcast, it never quite delivers on its potential, the plot seems contrived and some red herrings are too obvious.
The pace felt slow, and the central twist was both predictable and familiar — something that’s been done before, and done better. The concept had promise, but the parallel between the fictional crime and the real one wasn’t really explored.
That said, I did enjoy the courtroom scenes, which added some needed momentum and tension. They were the highlight of an otherwise unremarkable story.
Overall, The Crime Writer is readable and competent, but it doesn’t stand out in a crowded genre. It’s not a bad book, just not a particularly memorable one.

Great read! Not read this author before but will certainly be looking out for her in the future.

Intriguing storyline, you think you've worked it out but in reality, it's not until near the end that you get what maybe the answer....or is it?

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

I love Diane jeffires and I loved her new book. Stories told in a podcast style are gaining popularity in this genre and I am here for it. Another great book to add to this ever growing collection xx

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours and it is definitely a page turner.

I did guess who the guilty party was (no spoilers!) but this didn't spoil the story.

This was a well written story, very interesting and I would like to read more by this author.

Three stars from me means I believe the author achieved their aims and it’s a well-written book, but that I personally didn’t fall in love with it.

In this case, the pool of suspects for the murder is tiny, and if you follow the logic of “who would be the worst person to discover is the killer” it leads you straight to them. I’d have appreciated some red herrings.

That said, I do enjoy the podcast format and how the author has used it to keep the action moving over the long time period of this investigation. It’s a clever, well-structured story and I can really see it doing well if made into a TV series.

Quite an intricate plot where a mother and wife disappears on a winter evening during a run. Her husband is an ex-policeman and a crime writer and although he is suspected, there is little evidence to implicate him at first. The plot is told at different times, around the disappearance and in more recent times after developments in the case. A reporter, Gabi, was at school with Leona who and is interested in the case, establishing a friendship with Leona's husband and starting a podcast about it.
A slow burn, but the book did not really drag and I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of understanding what happened on the winter night as well as Gabi's growing friendship with the family and a fellow reporter. A couple of twists added to the interest and without giving away too much I`m not sure about the ending, not the plausibility, but the possibilities !
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

#TheCrimeWriter #NetGalley
2019. 34 year-old Leona Walsh vanishes on a bitter afternoon while jogging on Exmoor. It’s a mystery which captures public interest and ignites wild speculation. The police have a prime suspect: Leona’s husband, Matthew, a renowned crime writer. He can plot the perfect crime. But is he capable of committing the perfect murder?
Despite extensive searches, the police find no trace of Leona. As public interest dwindles, Matthew returns to raising their daughters, aware the cloud of suspicion is never far away.
2024. Some human bones are discovered in a garden. Could they be Leona’s remains? And if so, is there enough evidence to find out what really happened five years ago? Journalist Gabriela Conti covered the news story back in 2019. The police may have stopped watching Matthew, but Gabriela hasn’t forgotten him. And she is determined this case will define her career… even if that means getting close to a murderer.
I loved it so much.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me an advance copy.

Matthew Walsh is THE CRIME WRITER in Diane Jeffrey’s latest domestic thriller and he has some stories to tell!

Thirty four year old Leona Walsh disappears in 2019 while out on a run leaving behind seven year old Beatrix and 14 year old Scarlett to be raised by their father, Matthew, with help from Leona‘s sister, Roxanne and best friend, Scarlett. When remains are found five years later in a garden, Matthew is again placed under a long-standing suspicion that he had something to do with Leona‘s disappearance.

Journalist turned podcaster, Gabriella Conti has covered this story from the beginning. She never forgot the story or Matthew’s ability to craft the perfect murder. She has been watching him for years. As suspicions continue to mount against Matthew, Gabriella decides that the best way to get inside info is to get closer to Matthew.

Things just don’t add up regarding Matthew’s story and why did Toby Wigmore put up $30,000 towards a reward for information in the case? Was Leona having an affair with Wigmore? And what about Matthew’s alibi around the time that Leona went missing?

I really enjoyed the characters in this one. And the end was a total shock! But also left lingering questions and doubts which had me thinking about the book long after I finished it. That’s the kind of novel I can really appreciate. The writing was clear and concise and led to an enjoyable read that I could not seem to put down. Take this one to the beach buy don’t forget your sunblock.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.