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The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh #Review

  Today I am featurung the latest psychological thriller by Valerie Keogh . The Bookseller was published by Boldwood Books on March 3rd. A woman with a dark past... Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she's trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them - to rebuild her life and move on. When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books the perfect place to find happiness - even if it is all lies. But the past can never stay hidden… As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen's new life and ruin everything she's built. But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again... Don't miss anot...

The Perfect Match by Dandy Smith #Review

 

We have another gripping psychological thriller on the blog today! The Perfect Match by Dandy Smith was published by Embla Books on January 19th. 


Best friend or boyfriend, who would you believe?

Zara has always felt a little ordinary next to her spirited best friend Ivy. Even her dreams seem mundane: a boyfriend, marriage, children... Besides, who would pick her when they could choose Ivy?

So when Zara meets Henry and there's an instant spark, she can't believe her luck. A wealthy CEO who wants to settle down? He's perfect... until Ivy insists he's too good to be true.

As Henry and Ivy repeatedly clash, doubts creep into Zara's mind. Could it be that Ivy just doesn't want to share her best friend with anyone else? Or does Henry have a hidden agenda? Zara is caught in the middle, constantly trying to prove who she loves more.

Then someone winds up dead, and Zara realises there's more to this than jealousy...

My Thoughts

If ever there was a story which takes you on a twisty journey, this is the one. It is all about a complicated web of relationships with people who can manipulate and others who wander into their orbit. Zara and Ivy have a complex dynamic and their friendship feels obsessive at times. You are kept guessing as to what is actually going on in their friendship but they seem to recognise in each other, vulnerabilities which are the result of their childhoods. 

    There are plenty of red flags in the story and points which you hope that Zara will notice. I liked how all characters have a purpose in the story. Nobody is in there as padding. This is a page turner of a thriller and right to the end, you aren’t quite sure how it will pan out. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged and quite a few surprises. 

In short: a pacy, entertaining thriller


About the Author


Dandy Smith
lives in the Somerset market town of Frome with her fiancé and cocker spaniel. She has an undergraduate and master’s degree in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and enjoys all things aerial fitness, true-crime and chocolate orange.

You can follow Dandy here: Twitter

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Book link: Amazon UK  

Thanks to Dandy Smith, Embla Books and Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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