Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This one was a bit too meta for me. A writer writing her 30th book is writing about a writer writing her 30th book which just so happens to be the author’s 30th book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

While I enjoyed Valerie's books before, this one unfortunately this one fell flat for me. Cara is working on her 30th book but she is having a hard time find something to write about. When she starts receiving threatening notes and doesn't know who they are from she become uneasy. When she is attacked randomly by a stranger, she starts to question things all the while getting ideas for her book. She confides in her friend Trinny, who tells her she is being paranoid and overreacting. While her deadline approaching the line between fiction and truth blur in Cara's head.

While it was slow and had the potential to build, it never really did. Cara was very unrealistic and extra at times. The POVs were at times also hard to follow. It did have some good moments towards the end when some parts were revealed. Over all a decent read. i do enjoy Valerie's books so I will continue to read her books. 3 stars

I usually completely enjoy this author’s books, but this one didn’t hit me that way. It was an interesting storyline, but I just didn’t connect with the characters.

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC! When novelist Cara is on the cusp of her 30th book, no ideas come to her but she starts receiving odd messages. Jacob is out for revenge from a perceived wrong done to him 25 years later. Thru the book we see Cars spiral downward and soon can’t tell fact or fiction in her own life. Was overdone on Cara’s delusions and outlandish thoughts that kept going round and round that it was hard to like her or any of the characters really in this book and felt tiring getting thru this book.

The Writer by Valerie Keogh was quite the surprise. The writing? Descriptive. Thrilling. Feeds into psychological paranoia. Valerie Keogh sure takes the reader on a journey, where one questions his or her sanity along with the protagonist. The best part of this book? The reader will never be able to guess what happens! And what an ending! I definitely recommend this book!

The Writer" written by Valerie Keogh, and wow, what a ride! 🎢 Cara Jenkins is such a successful author and definitely the queen of compelling narratives. Her twisty plots kept me on my toes from start to finish! Keogh truly knows how to weave a story that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. If you're into thrillers that keep you guessing, this one’s a must-read.

A psychological thriller with a plot with potential, silly characters, and poor last sections.

Cara is a writer, married to Artie. She is due to write her 30th book and her agent & publisher are excited. Cara though is struggling for ideas for the book. A note is delivered to their home threatening consequences if a mistake of the past is not rectified. It is not initially clear if the note is for Cara or Artie. Cara feels someone is watching her, and one day is attacked. While it could be random and unrelated, Cara grows to be very uneasy. But what is happening gives her ideas for her book. More notes follow. Cara confides in her friend Trinny, who feels she is overreacting.

I liked how Cara uses the circumstance for ideas for her book. The snippets we are exposed to are good. This could have been a very interesting plot. I found Cara’s behaviour to be unrealistic and over the top in many instances. The silly behaviours really shoot up in the middle section. The last sections have quite a bit of drama and a lacklustre finish.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books & the author for a free electronic review copy.

Valerie Keogh did it again! This was a FULL 5 stars and I wanted to give 6! Full of secrets and questions and twist! I was able to finish this in one sitting! I could not put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book.

Valerie Keogh is truly a master of her craft! The ending took me completely by surprise!
The tension is palpable, and the plot keeps you eagerly turning the pages! Cara and Artie enjoy a very comfortable life and share a wonderful marriage. Cara is a writer, and a very successful one at that; she's about to embark on her 30th novel! Under immense pressure from her publisher to produce another blockbuster, she finds herself struggling. Having never experienced writer's block before, she suddenly faces an obstacle. Soon, letters begin arriving in her mailbox. Initially dismissed as a prank, she and Artie continue with their lives. Yet, the letters persist and take on a more sinister tone, alluding to a wrongdoing from her past—or perhaps they are meant for Artie, given his own troubled history when they met. Fueled by adrenaline and fear, Cara starts documenting the events in the third person, as if crafting one of her novels, weaving in fictional elements along the way. It's shaping up to be a story she never intended to write! As the situation escalates, she finds herself unable to trust anyone with her fears. Now, everyone is a suspect—including her best friend and husband. As the deadline approaches, the lines between truth and fiction blur even further, compounding the tension.

Sadly, I did not enjoy this book.

I found the plot flimsy, confusing, amateurish & unbelievable. The main character was a completely unlikeable neurotic woman and the premise of someone holding such a petty teenage ‘nothing’ grudge for all that time was utterly ridiculous - much less that they were prepared to kill for it!

The threatening letters were lame too, nothing about the story built the kind of tension or suspense I would have expected.

I struggled to stay engaged with it, couldn’t wait for it to end and am unlikely to ever read anything else by this author.

Sorry, this was definitely a ‘no’ from me!

Wow yet another great book by this author. A fast paced psychological thriller that really kept me on my toes. I was addicted from the very first page and boy, what an ending. Definitely recommended and my favourite read this year.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

I loved the premise of the book. The main protagonist struggling with a writer's block and a stalker on her heels. Can it get more interesting?

The book is well written and you feel the chills off the pages. There is also the thin line between real and reel and the unreliability of it that I loved. Overall a gripping read told in multiple perspectives.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

I am happy I was chosen to be an ARC reader for this book. It was a cool story especially about reading about a writer while reading a book. So cool. I recommend this book and the twist and craziness at the end was not seen coming. I enjoyed the story and it can full circle at the end of the book. Go grab your copy

There’s nothing worse for an author than getting writers block. Unfortunately this is exactly what has happened to Cara just as she’s about to write her 30th book. To make matters worse she also finds herself with a stalker. Maybe she can change real life into fiction and write about her stalker. There is lots going on for Cara in this book. I found it a little slow paced to start but it’s definitely worth sticking with it as it gets better the more it goes on.

This story is told from the alternating POV of "Him", and Cara, a writer experiencing a writer's block. The premise revolves around "Him" obsessing over a slight from Cara and others in high school, 25 years ago!!!!!! 😶 Yep- his whole life seems to revolve around this incident.
Meanwhile, Cara uses real life events to write her books . She begins receiving letters in the mail, and the "thriller" has begun. Cara becomes paranoid and frenetic, trying to figure out who is sending these letters.

There were many creepy elements in this story. And there were many twists- some good, some not. Cara is an unreliable narrator, so there were many times I was taken off guard at the direction of the story and the twists.
What worked for me:
1.Easy to read.
2. The 2 POV's. The reader comes to understand each character and the past, which is what motivates "Him".
3. The atmosphere. It is a bit claustrophobic, especially when the reader is in each of the characters heads. At times you could feel the tension, desperation, and the element of danger.
4. What is real and what is fiction? The author really blurs the lines here and you begin to question everything.

What I struggled with:
1. There is a LOT of repetition, especially from "Him".
2. Some of the dialogues seemed a bit...off and unreal.
3. The "clues" were obvious or came out of nowhere.
4. The Pacing. It started off with a bang- then seemed to falter at about 25%.
5. The breaking of the fourth wall at the end. Leaves me wondering was this a serious attempt at misguidance? It did not work well with the overall story here.

I really liked Keough's The Storyteller, so I want to try another book by her. Hoping this was just not a good fit for me! Please check other reviews, as my rating is lower.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is my first book by Valerie Keogh but it will not be my last. i enjoyed the unique plot of the author writing her next book and it being about her life. You never knew what was real and what was fiction but it was done in a way that really flowed with the storyline.

Unfortunately this one wasn't really for me.

The letters weren't particularly threatening, the way the main character went from 0-60 in her actions was a bit unrealistic. I did however like the them of mixing fiction with reality. I just think it could have had more tension and could have been a bit more sinister.
I thought the ending was also a little rushed and abrupt.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


The Writer by Valerie Keogh is a captivating and heartfelt story that beautifully explores the complexities of love, creativity, and self-discovery. Keogh’s writing is engaging and immersive, drawing you into the emotional world of her characters with ease.

The protagonists are wonderfully developed, with realistic flaws and relatable struggles that make their journey compelling. The dynamic between them is tender and authentic, making every interaction feel genuine and meaningful.

The plot flows smoothly, balancing moments of tension with heartfelt warmth. Keogh’s ability to weave together themes of passion and vulnerability kept me hooked throughout.

My only slight reservation was that some scenes could have been a bit more concise, but overall, the story’s emotional depth and rich character development more than make up for it.

If you enjoy thoughtful romances with depth and nuance, The Writer is definitely a must-read.



❤️shaye.readss

Valerie Keogh's "The Writer" is a suspenseful psychological thriller exploring the disturbing realm of Cara, an accomplished writer struggling with a debilitating bout of writer's block on her thirtieth book. The drama takes flight as Cara receives mysterious, escalatingly malevolent letters, giving her ghastly inspiration – but at what price?

The writer skillfully ratchets up suspense, drawing readers into Cara's spiraling paranoia. The dual narrative and unreliable narrator keep you guessing all the time, making you question what is real and what is just fantasy. Although some aspects of the underlying grudge may strain credibility for some, the constant tension and shocking twists keep you on the edge of your seat. "The Writer" is a demonstration of Keogh's talent for penning breathless, brain-twisting narratives, ideal for lovers of domestic noir and psychological thrillers.

Valerie Keogh returns with another twisty thriller, THE WRITER, keeping you cleverly glued to the pages to see how all will unfold, told from HER (author), HIM (stalker), Then and Now.

This one will keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists.

Who will win in this wicked, twisted game of cat and mouse?

About...

Cara Jenkins, a successful author, is working on her thirtieth novel. As the pressure to deliver the next bestseller intensifies, she begins to receive unsettling letters, giving her the sense that she is being watched.

Her husband dismisses the messages as probably pranks, but she is concerned that it is linked to her past.

What happened twenty-five years ago? Is someone playing with her?

My thoughts...

THE WRITER exudes all the psychological vibes, as Cara's writing becomes blurred between fact and fiction.

The author cleverly creates an atmospheric setting, layered with an unsettling and lurking sense of unease, paranoia, and confusion, with every page turn. This psychological tension and threatening letters will keep you guessing and second-guessing every character's motives.

The HIM, psychotic stalker voice adds to the tension and uncertainty, making THE WRITER A spine-chilling and compelling read!

The author skillfully showcases a writer’s anxieties, pressure, deadlines, and obsessions, transforming them into a pulse-pounding, impossible-to-put-down thriller.

Cara is a well-developed character and the alternating POV of HIm and Her, then and now, keeps you hooked and in suspense as all the pieces unfold with unexpected twists, leaving you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the story's secrets.

I enjoy this author's unique writing style and her mind-bending literary twists, which are sure to leave you appreciative and excited about the reading experience!

Recs...

THE WRITER is a must-read for fans of the author and cat-and-mouse suspense, as well as readers who enjoy works by Julia Bartz, Robyn Harding, A.R. Torre, Keri Beevis, and Freida McFadden. Join this community of readers and immerse yourself in this thrilling journey!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing a gifted advance reading copy for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
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