Another dark and twisty read from this author who never lets me down with his books of which I have read them all

The storyline was excellent with great characters and I was involved in the storyline from the beginning until the end. It was a brilliant ending and I hope we will read more from Lewis in future books

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for this great ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

The Boyfriend by John Nicholl is a dark and gripping psychological thriller that is both hard to put down and deeply unsettling. From the very first page, Nicholl pulls the reader into a chilling and emotionally intense narrative that explores the depths of manipulation, control, and violence.

The story follows a young woman who falls for what seems like the perfect man—only to find herself trapped in a nightmare. As the tension builds, the book delves into disturbing themes, including psychological abuse and sexual violence (trigger warning: rape), making it a difficult but powerful read. Nicholl masterfully portrays the terrifying reality of coercive control, making the story feel hauntingly real.

Despite the heavy subject matter, the fast-paced writing and compelling characters make The Boyfriend a thriller that keeps you turning the pages. However, readers should be aware of its intense and unsettling content. If you’re a fan of dark psychological thrillers and can handle the difficult themes, this book is a gripping, well-crafted read.

I was hooked the second I started reading this! I love domestic thrillers, especially ones about dodgy boyfriends but this one felt like it telling the story from a different angle. You are told how horrific this man is from the start so ots not the usual, is he/ isn't he which I quite enjoyed. It felt more like a quest for justice and revenge rather than "is my bf evil" whoch is what I was anticipating. Its well written and very easily to lose hrs of time lost in the story. Its got well written characters that have depth and personality. An all round solid thriller!

Just finished in two giant sittings!
Love this author.
A real dark psychological thriller, gripping storyline and brilliantly written characters good, bad and ugly.
Mark Shady OMG!!
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
Big five stars from me.

Anna loves her relationship with her boyfriend, Mark. He’s tall and handsome … but Mark has extremely dangerous secrets and Anna manages to flee from him when the truth comes out.

DS Ray Lewis wants Mark in prison, but somehow, Mark gets away with his behaviour, making him seem invincible.

DI Laura Kesey is Ray’s boss as well as his friend, they work well together. Kesey wants evidence to get Mark off the streets, fearing his behaviour is going to get steadily worse.

What a dark psychological thriller this story is. It wasn’t an easy book to read but I found myself being pulled back into the story.

I liked Ray’s character, he might have been nearing retirement, as well as being a cynical man, but he cared about people.

My heart went out to Anna and the other women in the story. Anna’s bravery and strength showed through the writing.

This is a chilling and tragic tale about secrets, grooming, and revenge.

Be prepared to sit up until the early hours reading this book as once you’re in its clutches, you’re going nowhere until you’ve finished it.

My thanks to the author and Boldwood Books for a copy in exchange for my honest review.