‘The Crime Writer’ is a pretty dark and twisty work I’d class in the psychological fiction genre.

It is a book that is very cleverly written with ‘reveals’ being timed superbly well, such that what you think you know gets turned on its head!

The context for this story is around a podcaster, Gabi, chasing her big break, and believing she has found it in the story of a former schoolmate, Leona, who disappeared without trace 5 years ago. Suspicion was cast in the direction of her husband, Matt (the crime writer) but her body was never found. Certain events cause Gabi to return to this story with a renewed vigour, and the story that plays out is fascinating!

If you like your fiction dark and twisty this is well worth a read!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

🕵🏼‍♂️ 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐲 ~ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫

Publication Date: 13th March 2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

I first read Diane Jeffrey during lockdown and have since read The Silent Friend, The Couple at Causeway Cottage, The Guilty Mother, He Will Find You and The Other Couple. I have LOVED them all. I was therefore overjoyed when @netgalley @hqstories sent me an Advanced Readers Copy of The Crime Writer. @dianefjeffrey

Diane has a way of instantly drawing you into the plot, retains your attention throughout and builds tension effortlessly.

Matt Walsh, crime writer and wife Leona Walsh have two daughters. In 2019 Leona goes for a run with their family dog one cold afternoon and never returns. Matt becomes the number one suspect with the police and their community condemn him despite there being no body or evidence to arrest him. Until in 2024 human remains are found, could this solve the mystery of what really happened to Leona?!?

Gabi Conti is a journalist who becomes emotionally attached and invested in the case of discovering the disappearance of Leona.

Dual timeline and dual point of view. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Gabi’s podcast and audio transcript. The interviews provided a different writing style and made those extracts fast paced.

I was convinced I had figured out the plot twist within the first quarter of the book but I was WRONG!

Thoroughly enjoyed and cannot recommend highly enough 🫶🏽

#bookstagram #booknerd #booklover #bookaddict #thrillerreads #thrillerreadsrecommnedation #thrillerbooks #bookreview #booklove #bookcommunity #crimefiction #crimebookjunkie #thrillerbookvibes #thrillerbookreccomendations #thrillerbookaddict #thrillerbooksaddict #dianejeffrey #thecrimewriter

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for this arc.

I didn’t quite know what to make of this book, was a good start but the ending was a bit disappointing and didn’t really tie up loose ends.

3 stars

A wife goes missing and is not found for some time. A complicated murder mystery with some interesting characters.

The Crime Writer by Diane Jeffrey is a totally gripping contemporary psychological crime suspense that gripped me from the start.
The action is set in 2019 and present day. It alternates between the two time periods as the reader, and the community, try to piece together just exactly what happened to missing mum of two on that snowy night in 2019.
As we follow the events, clinging on for dear life, we wonder where the truth lies. Is a father protecting himself from the media? Or is there something else going on?
A grisly accidental discovery in present day, opens up a whole new can of worms. Once more, the case of the missing mum is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
The novel touches on the topic of domestic abuse. Normally we have the female perspective – but not this time as we learn of a woman with a vicious streak.
How far would you go to protect your family? A father tries to shield his daughters from the publicity. He wants to give them stability which is especially important for his daughter with additional needs.
Diane Jeffrey has created an eclectic mix of characters. She has perfectly captured the daughter, Trixie, with additional needs who is easy to empathise with. Trixie brings out the motherly instincts in me. I, too, want to protect her from the world.
The plotline is extremely well thought out and executed. Diane Jeffrey ramps up the tension and I read with baited breath and rising pulse! She certainly keeps the reader on their toes.
The Crime Writer is a marvellous read that I read in just one sitting. Once you start it, it’s impossible to put down – cancel all your plans for the day!
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

5 Stars from me

Literally blitzed through this book, and had a million theories buzzing around my brain as I read.

Gabi was a wonderful character, I loved her determination, tenacity and humanity, it was nice to read about a journo in a book like this who isn't simply portrayed as a gore thirsty monster. Her interactions with the family, the children in particular, were startlingly compassionate and touching.

The story of Leona going missing had uncomfortable similarities with a recent headline news case (I won't spell that out any further, I'm sure readers will rapidly work it out) and that added a deeply unsettling layer to the story and the impact on the family and local community.

Focus soon turns to her husband, Matthew, as a crime writer he his search history makes for uncomfortable reading, and detectives soon find out that his wife's disappearance bears an uncanny resemblance to one of his 'best sellers'...

I found this book hard to put down and raced through it - this is definitely one I recommend to psychological thriller fans. My thanks to the author, NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I’ve read quite a few by this author and she never disappoints.

I often feel like her plots centre around things we can relate to that have been news worthy events. However as the plot unfolds she focuses on the impact of the events on those individuals involved and the consequences of what has happened and how we get there.

The crime writer kept me up late to finish the story, it’s fast paced and I just knew the ending would deliver an extra layer.

Hugely engaging and gripping book - i couldn't wait for my daily reading slot. The characters are skillfully drawn. Matt the crime writer, whose wife had gone missing in mysterious circumstances, was not a very trustworthy character. We knew he had secrets. Diane Jeffrey releases clues very gradually, leaving us desperate, rather than impatient, for more. The pace and tone changed towards the end and it was as if normality was gradually returning after a maelstrom of agony and deception. Fantastic but devastating twist. Loved it and will seek out more books from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In 2019, Leona disappeared after going out for a run and several of her belongings were found by the river, but no body was found. Her husband Matt was of course a prime suspect. Gabi, a journalist who has never gotten her big break and who knew Leona in high school decides to try to tell Matt's side of the story, but she starts to wonder if she can trust his version of events. Then in post covid 2024 Gabi then starts a podcast to discuss the disappearance and then bones are found that could be Leona's and the story comes back into the forefront.

This book was pretty good overall. I was definitely guessing as to what really happened to Leona. I thought the end was a bit more ambiguous than I like. I prefer when the ending is completely spelled out for me. But still, it was a good read and I always enjoy Diane Jeffrey's novels. I look forward to her next one.

Leona Walsh a wife and mother goes missing whilst out jogging one cold afternoon. The appeal for information sparks major interest and invites speculation. The police have a suspect, Leona’s husband Matthew. He’s a crime writer and his wife’s disappearance is very similar to the plot of one of his books. Public interest dwindles as no new leads are found, then five years later, bones are discovered in a garden. Could they be Leona’s remand and will they finally uncover the truth? A gripping thriller full of intrigue and suspense. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

It's bad enough when you've had a fight with your wife and she subsequently goes missing while out jogging. But it's much, much worse when you're a crime writer. Because being in a position to pull off the perfect murder inevitably leaves you with something of a credibility problem when you are protesting your Innocence to the police...

5 years ago, Leona Walsh went missing, at a time when she was accused of embezzling funds as a local politician. Now, her body has been found but its location throws suspicion on one particular person.

Diane Jeffrey does a good job of sending red herrings and plot twists our way in the course of telling this story, and the novel is entertaining. The only flaw I found was in the lack of clear resolution at the end, because perhaps the author was trying to keep her reader guessing. But overall, this is a book worth reading and a good follow up to her previous novel, The Other Couple, which I loved.

Leona – wife, mother and probably dishonest local councillor – disappears one evening in late November. Despite an extensive police search and intense media scrutiny (chillingly reminiscent of a tragic real-life case) that attracts the attention of amateur sleuths, psychics and true-crime addicts, Leona is still missing after five years.
The story is told across two time lines:
In 2019, during the days immediately after Leona’s disappearance, from the viewpoint of Leona’s husband, Matt. He writes crime fiction for a living and soon becomes the chief suspect.
In 2024, from the viewpoint of Gabi, a journalist. Back 2019, she secured a series of exclusive interviews with Matt. Now, when new evidence emerges, she revisits the case via her podcast.
Diane Jeffrey is an accomplished writer who knows how to plot, build suspense, establish setting and create rounded and intriguing main characters. This story gripped me to the extent that I downed tools to read it in two days. It’s likely to feature on my favourite books of 2025 list.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

On publication, I will post this review on my blog, Amazon and on GoodReads.

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end and then some
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

Leona Walsh's husband Matthew, a crime writer, is the prime suspect after his wife disappears whilst out running.. A body is discovered five years later and once again Matthew comes under suspicion. Local journalist Gabriela decides to make a podcast about Leona’s disappearance and she makes a friend of Matthew.

Set in a Devon village this is a pacy and brilliantly gripping read. I loved the plot. The story unfolded beautifully and as a reader this book was just perfect.

Wow!!!!! Loved!!!!! Speechless!!!!... My head was spinning throughout the whole entire book it kept me guessing and that ending was a complete shock... I raced through each chapter like it was my last.

I really loved the plot it was mysterious, gripping and a real page turner! I’d highly recommend for everyone to read this book! I really liked the podcast chapters they gave a great insight into certain elements of the story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!

This is a really intelligent thriller, tightly plotted and it really made me think. When a writer's wife is missing, her husband is the prime suspect. A story we all know too well. This novel really made me think and I thoroughtly enjoyed it.

Loved this gripping thriller.
Great characters, mainly unlikeable.
Interesting storyline where i kept changing my mind.
Clever writing from this fabulous author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I’ve enjoyed a couple of the author’s previous novels and was drawn to the synopsis of The Crime Writer.
When Leona Walsh disappears after a run one winter’s evening in 2019, her husband Matthew, a crime writer, is the prime suspect and he and his two daughters are soon shunned by those in his Devon village. Five years later when a body is discovered there is immediate speculation that it is Leona and Matthew is once again under suspicion. Local journalist Gabriela befriends Matthew and in 2024 decides to make a podcast about Leona’s disappearance.
The Crime Writer is a twisty and compelling read, I changed my mind about Matthew many times throughout the novel. Gabriela is an excellent character and reflects the readers own doubts throughout. An excellently plotted , fast moving thriller with a clever ending that I loved and would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Diane Jeffrey is back,hurrah and back with a corker of a book

Leona has disappeared,Matthew,her crime writing hubby says he has no idea what has happened to her but 5 years later journalist and confidant Gabriela is starting to wonder if she has been hoodwinked and as things start to come to light is more convinced she befriended a murderer…

Exceptionally well written I was swopping allegiances all the way through,as quickly back and forth as the plot thickened and the likelihoods changed,very cleverley the story demanded the reader be involved and draw your own conclusions as the story evolved

I liked Gabriela’s interviews with all the main players which gave you chance to get to know them a bit better and to decide what you thought of their ‘evidence’

The ending is 2,3 fold and had me thinking then thinking more,you will see what I mean

An effortless read for me as it gave me reading excitement and pleasure and really was flawless in presentation,a fab read