Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

This was really different from the thrillers im used to. Helen was in prison for manslaughter, after two years she gets out and tries to start fresh by opening a bookshop but someone is out to get her. She becomes suspicious of this and thinks that she will have to kill someone again. It’s very intense.

Helen has recently been released from prison, working to start over from her dark part. Helen opens a bookshop which proves to have challenge after challenge. Believing that everyone is after her and could have a reason to want her to fail, she proves that she would be willing to kill again to protect her dreams. Helen’s past catches up with her and she learns to trust those around her.

Thankful to receive an ARC for this book from Boldwood Books and NetGalley. This is my first read from Valerie, and the book had some unexpected twists and turns. I loved the ending and was happy to see how things ended with Helen. She was a difficult main character to love, but ended up redeeming herself in the end.

Valerie Keogh is always on the top of my list of go to authors. In this book Helen has always loved books and growing up, there was a large age difference between her other siblings who as teenagers quite often do not want their little sister tagging along, so she found refuge in books. Her relationships with her parents were fine but it was her father that she absolutely loved, even though he could be a cruel man.

Helen has recently been released on license from prison after killing her partner, Toby. They had a complicated relationship and now Helen has paid her dues but still has restrictions on her life for another two years and if she does not obey the rules, she may find herself locked up again. She has always dreamt of owning her own bookstore and after leaving prison behind and receiving a large inheritance, she makes her dream come true. Her sister thinks she is completely bonkers when she purchases an old run done building, but she is determined to follow through and develop the book shop. But someone out there is trying to destroy this dream and even though she is feeling intimidated she is not going to allow anyone to destroy what she cherishes most.

I have to say this was not my favourite book by this author. Usually when I read her books there are many more oh my gosh moments that have me riveted to the pages, but I felt this book lacked depth and even though I liked Helen I also felt she and the characters were quite one dimensional. Also Helen's paranoia also started to grate on me. They all played their role, but the plot in this book just didn’t grab me the way her books normally do and those intoxicating moments where you keep thinking about it after you have put the book down were just not there. 3.5 stars rounded to 4



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars, actually.

LEAVE THIS OFF OF AMAZON/B&N REVIEWS) For openers, while it's not the most pressing issue in the world, I wish someone would decide whether "bookseller" is one word or two (as a mostly retired journalist, I'm opting for the former). It would make locating this book on listings much, much easier.

That aside, only one thing took away a little enjoyment from this book: the star of the show, Helen Appleby, is overly paranoid; a little of that goes a really, really long way with me. But on the other hand, some of it is totally understandable; after all, she's just been released early from prison after a manslaughter conviction - and most of the folks around her are aware of that. So even an askance glance, I guess, could be enough to arouse her suspicions. Still...

Now that she's been sprung, she's determined to put her past behind her and start a new life. She's got a much-older brother and sister with whom she was never close, although the sister, Sarah Drew, is back in her life and for the most part trying to be helpful. Sarah is less than enthusiastic, though, when Helen buys a delapidated old building to refurbish as a used bookstore. She's an avid reader and doesn't need a ton of money to have a happy and productive life, so it's a chance she's willing to take.

Almost from the git-go, though, things go wrong; the building is closer to a money pit than a solid structure. Next door, she's got a pizza shop - handy for lunches and such, but something about the twin owners gives Helen the creeps. As she starts the refurbishing and stocking process, other oddities crop up - like sounds that go bump in the night and outright break-ins that cost her double the prep work. As while she's happy to meet local people - hoping they're avid readers, of course - she always finds something that prevents her from trusting them fully. Amid all that, her start-up efforts are hindered a bit by an overly aggressive parole officer, Moira Manson, who fluctuates from threatening to send her back to prison to wanting to be her best friend.

For the most part, readers see everything through Helen's eyes, so it isn't till the end when the good guys and gals are separated from the bad and all's as right with the world as it can be. It's an enjoyable journey, though, with a couple of unexpected twists along the way. I'm happy I took the tour, and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the chance to read a pre-release copy.

There are several very interesting storylines throughout this well written and action packed story.
Our main character, Helen, has had some bad breaks in life and in the midst of starting over after
a stint in prison, she has some unexpected challenges, and one really good break that she handles
wisely. This is one of those books with so many twists that when you think you have something
ALL figured out ~ pop! You could not be more off the mark. I enjoyed the struggles of opening a
used bookstore because they are simply the best! I highly recommend this book.
My thanks to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for the download copy of,this book for review purposes.

Exceptional read from this superb writer. Can she ever
rewrite her deadly past.
Helen Appleby is a woman with a dark past that is not easy to forget.
A new start she has done her time, now opening a bookshop called simply Appleby Books, just wanting a quiet life, but life isn't always that simple, she's killed once can she kill again to protect her future.
The past can never stay hidden.
Oh this book is definitely ready to be discovered to readers, the characters family, friends and enemies, blending into ever chapter to savour, it's a fantastic story, as we learn all about Helen and her dark fears that becomes everyones nightmare.
I totally loved everything about it.
It's going to be a best seller in the making.
Fabulous!!!!

I just finished a great book. The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh was an engaging book that kept me turning pages until the very end.

I have read many books by Valerie Keogh, so I was excited to be given the opportunity to read this ARC.

Jess has recently been released from prison, and she wants nothing more than to start her life over. She decides to follow her dreams and open a used bookstore. This is where things start to take a turn.

I tried really hard to like the main character, Jess, but it was so difficult to root for her. She seemed very unappreciative, rude, and brusque.

As with the author's other books, this was a quick and easy read. I did enjoy it, but it wasn't one of my my favorites by this author.

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

Valerie Keogh is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for a quick read. The Bookseller did not disappoint! I was able to devour the book in under 24 hours.

Really tense thriller which will have you turning the pages to find out what is happening. Without giving away the story there is so much going on. Helen is out of prison on license and opening a bookshop to move on with her life after years of domestic violence. The characters that surround Helen as she struggles to cope with the challenges, grappling with guilt and suspicion, make the reader wonder who is actually who and what is going on!

Great read and one I would recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.
A woman just released from prison is able to open a bookstore with the money from an inheritance. It's a dream come true.
Things are not going well to begin with, the poor woman has to deal with some ominous happenings that kept me glued to my Kindle.
Excellent read with a great ending!

Valerie Keogh has delivered another fantastic psychological thriller. She is one of my favourite authors, so I was really looking forward to reading this new book. It certainly didn’t disappoint! It’s another fantastic read and one that I’d definitely recommend.

Helen Appleby is starting over after being released from prison for killing her partner. Due to her portion of the
inheritance from her mother, she is able to purchase a building and open a second hand bookstore. However, it
appears that someone is not eager for her to succeed. Suspicious of most people she comes in contact with,
Helen is prepared to kill again to protect her new life. Helen has never dealt with how her upbringing has distorted
her relationships. Help from an unexpected source will helps her to move forward.
#TheBookseller #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

What a wonderful book. It made my heart happy that things go right for someone who needs a second chance. Perfect blend of different characters that made the book come alive.

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

Helen dreams of opening her own used bookstore two years in prison for manslaughter of her abusive Boyfriend.
After finally getting the bookstore going.Strange occurrences such as knocking sounds in the walls someone breaking in to and vandalizing both her Apartment And the bookstore and receiving threatening messages.She does not know who to trust.
Helen meets a number of interesting people including a woman donating b Books name dilly and a student customer named jess. Helen also receives daily visits from her parole officer Moira.
Seems to be out to Get her.
Fast pace and Suspenseful as helen tries to put Her wife back together a few twists and turns and an interesting ending make for a quick read.

Helen Appleby is released from prison and opens her dream bookstore, but it doesn't go as smoothly as she hoped.
There are break ins and not only in the shop, but at her home as well. Someone is searching for something or trying to hound her out of town.

An absolute page turner! I was totally transfixed by this story, and read this in one sitting, late into the night.
Loved the creepy feel, and Helen's over active imagination.
She really is a very trusting and naive person!
She doesn't realise her past had a big part to play in her future.
The ending will make the reader gasp, it is so unexpected.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the DRC.

Now this is the book to read for unexpected twists and turns. Every assumption, understanding you learn is all shown to be wrong by the end. A cleverly written intriguing book. Recommended read.
My thanks to Netgallery for offering me an advance copy for my unbiased review

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Helen has served 2 years in prison. Now out on licence , she uses her inheritance I set up a second hand non shop. But someone has it in for her and doesn’t want their to succeed.

This was really good. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the process that went into opening the book shop. The slow reveal details of Helen’s crime kept me reading. Helen was definitely a flawed character, but likeable all the same. Other characters were very real in head, but it was definitely hard to trust them.
Recommend this.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and thought it was well written, however I did not feel that it was much of a thriller but rather a cosy mystery. I read this book in one sitting as I it was an interesting and enjoyable read, I thought the plot twists at the end were well thought out and not expected.

Valerie Keogh knows how to compose complex characters navigating thrilling and twisting plot points. I’ve read and enjoyed many of her books and this one yanked me out of my 24 hour book slump wherein I was struggling to find something that instantly grabbed my attention.

But grab my attention, it did! The prologue had me immediately intrigued and I was glued from beginning to end.

Helen is working hard to carve a bright and positive future for herself after serving two of her four year prison sentence. While serving her two years, she brainstormed and dreamt about the second hand bookstore she longed to open using the inheritance left from her mother.

Just as Helen tentatively begins feeling good about her life, unexpected events make her realize she can’t shake the feeling that everyone around her might have nefarious feelings or plans.

Between the two guys running the pizza place next to her shop, her pesky and irksome parole officer who shows up much too often, the grandson of a woman who donated lots of books to Helen demanding to look through them, and the shady college students who stole from her, she doesn’t know who, if anyone, she can trust. Maybe she hasn’t yet paid the price of her crime.

One of the many reasons I loved this book is because it was one where I thought “HA! I know how this ends!” and “ohhh I’m so smart and figured out who the antagonist is!” just to be proven wrong time and time again.

If you’ve not read anything from Valerie Keogh yet, you’re missing out! She has an amazing catalogue of delightfully thrilling and twisty reads available to binge!

I’m enormously thankful for the opportunity provided from NetGalley, Valerie Keogh, and Boldwood Books to read this ahead of the proposed release date of March 3rd, 2025 in exchange for an honest review!