The Staffymum's Book Nook: Psychological Drama

Published: 12th January 2026

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I trusted her. I shouldn’t have…

Samantha Valentine didn’t drift into my life, she collided with it. Soon it was like we had been friends forever. She told me everything about her perfect life, but I always felt there was something she was leaving out.

Then one night, I get a frantic call from Samantha, hysterical and begging me to protect her from her boyfriend. Rushing to her house, instinct takes over and soon my heart is hammering out of my chest as I stand over the body of a man I had never met before this evening.

But by the time the police arrive, Samantha has vanished. The officers tell me that there is no record of her anywhere. The woman I thought was my friend has tricked me into killing a perfect stranger.

As the police slip the handcuffs on my wrists, I know I’ve made a terrible mistake. By protecting a woman I never really knew, I’ve destroyed my life. Who is Samantha really, and why did she make me do this? She’s taken everything from me, but she has no idea how far I will go to get the truth…

A gripping and page-turning psychological thriller absolutely packed with twists. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Frieda McFadden and Daniel Hurst.

MY THOUGHTS:

Another crazy wild ride by Anna-Lou Weatherly in this ninth outing with DCI Dan Riley. And what a ride it is! I do love this author; her style is addictive and engaging with likable main characters, even the questionable ones.

We meet Erin seven years prior having just fatally stabbed Ari Hussein whilst protecting her best friend from his abuse. But what if it was all smoke and mirrors? Soon Erin, who happily told the police everything thinking it would help her case, had sealed her own fate and found herself locked up for manslaughter. And her bestie? Nowhere to be found.

Fast forward to present day London and Tilly Ward has just been found at a similar scene. She has just fatally stabbed Milo Harrison whilst protecting her best friend from his subsequent abuse. The same best friend Erin had protected seven years ago. Samantha Valentine. Coincidence?

DCI Dan Riley surveys the scene and nothing escapes his notice. Not the body on the floor, the knife by his side, the shoes behind the door or the shaking diminutive woman in the next room who had inflicted the fatal wound. Dan is drawn to her story from the start. It's far too complex to be fabricated, surely.

And then the Erin Santos file falls across his desk. And he begins an investigation down the proverbial rabbit hole, unable to let that nagging feeling at the back of his mind go. Something about this whole scenario just doesn't add up. And it's up to Dan Riley and his team to find out what.

As per usual, we are delved straight into the madness and mayhem from the very first page and throughout the entire tale, the reader is pondering what is real and what isn't. It's the kind of tale that messes with your head but Riley and the team were not to be thwarted like the Yorkshire police who dropped the ball far too early in Erin's case, dismissing her as delusional. The question is, is she really delusional? And even if she is, the police had a duty of care to investigate her claims fully instead of dismissing her as a nutjob. And yet, we are left wondering were they right all along? Or did they drop the ball?

Another cracking read by Anna-Lou that had me race through it in under 24 hours (two sittings), despite my somewhat dry spell with reading just now. I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted tale. And can't wait for Dan Riley's next outing.

I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #SheMadeMeDoIt in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou Weatherly is well known for her engaging and compelling mystery suspense novels. Instantly grabbing the attention of the reader, she delivers her stories in a straightforward style that really works for her material. Often writing about darker subject matter, too, she doesn’t hold back when it comes to more serious topics, really delivering gripping narratives. Her work is set in a league of its own when it comes to rich and immersive thrillers that allow the reader to escape into them.

Constantly keeping her audience guessing throughout, she’s a writer gifted in the art of compelling narratives with plenty of twists and turns. Pushing the boundaries of what the romance genre can really do, she allows her stories to speak for themselves essentially when it comes to telling them. Her books come alive off of the page, enveloping the reader and holding them there for the complete duration of the novel. Establishing her own style and tone, too, each book of hers is unmistakeably hers, as she really does have her own voice and approach.

When it comes to characters, she really embeds herself in their mindset, providing readers with a clear view of their perspective. This style gives her readers a front-row seat when it comes to the action, really making it engaging on all levels. Winning awards for her work, too, she’s written for many outlets, from Smash Hits to the NME, to Marie Claire, making her one of the most prolific writers within her area. There are plenty more titles planned for the future, too, as her writing career continues building from strength to strength.

Born in Southampton in England, Anna-Lou was raised in London with a passion for reading and writing. Nurturing this interest of her over time, she would hone and refine her skills as an author, discovering her own unique voice in the process. Studying further, she would continue to apply herself to her craft, building a profile for herself within the literary world.

Going on to work as the editor for several different publications, she would get to sharpen her writing skills for a mass audience. Drawing in inspiration from her surrounds, she would proceed to put much of it back into her writing and work. Currently still living in London to this very day, she continues to write regularly, with lots more set for release on the horizon.

Prior to writing fiction full-time, Anna-Lou Weatherly worked as an editor for prestigious publications such as Smash and J-17. Creating a big name for herself as a novelist, she would slowly come to find her own voice before writing her first complete novel. This would be titled ‘Ibiza Summer’ back in 2006, and it would give her an insight into her many writing processes and what she had to offer.

Before long, she would begin writing suspense novels and mystery thrillers, establishing a profile as a writer known for tension. Beginning her ‘Detective Dan Riley’ series with the novel ‘Black Heart’ in 2018, she would soon be on her way to being a hugely successful author. Winning awards for her work, she’s been in the industry for over ten years and counting as her career grows upwards and onwards.

When she's not writing, which isn't often, she likes to hang upside down on a pole - she's a qualified pole fitness instructor, and drink fancy wine (though not necessarily at the same time, that would be dangerous). She adores creating exciting, three dimensional, glamorous and flawed characters against a backdrop of exotic locations. Revenge, sex, sin, glamour, excess, crime and intrigue is her speciality. Her next novel, title to come, promises all the above and more!

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Thursday, 6 November 2025

REVIEW: The Surgeon by John Nicholl

The Surgeon by John Nicholl

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 5th November 2025

Published: 19th October 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your life is in his hands… Exactly where he wants it 👀

When an eminent surgeon is arrested for murder, he knows he didn’t do it. He knows what it’s like to feel a person die on his operating table, but he didn’t inflict the wounds that ended the life of the girl they say he killed.

So, when the real perpetrator comes forward, and he is released, he feels vindicated.

What nobody knows – not the officer who arrested him, nor the influencer who petitioned for his freedom, nor the girl who escaped a killer years before – is that while he was incarcerated, he was making a plan.

Because revenge is sweet. But murder is sweeter…

A totally twisty, unhinged and gripping suspense thriller that fans of Daniel Hurst, TM Logan and Frieda McFadden won’t be able to put down.

MY THOUGHTS:

Your life is in his hands...which is exactly where he wants it...

Professor Alexander Aitken is one surgeon you would not like to be under, nor his scalpel. He is not like other surgeons who value their Hippocratic oath to first do no harm. When he was found by the body of murder victim Holly Larkin, her blood on his hands and his bite marks on her neck, it was naturally assumed that he was responsible for her untimely demise. And for the past five years, he has sat in prison for her murder - a death for which he was innocent in this case. But innocent was something Aitken most certainly was not. Oh, he was of Holly's murder but he was guilty of so much more than the police and the public at large were totally unaware of. And for the past five years and the months after his release once the real killer was discovered, he then spent planning his revenge. Because revenge is sweet...but murder is sweeter.

Ten years before, sixteen year old Megan Matthews was attacked on the dark streets of Tenby one evening barely escaping with her life and not before she'd been stabbed. She never saw her attacker and could never identify him but when she sees Professor Aitken on the West Wales news after his release and hears his voice, she stops. And then she sees those ice blue eyes. Her attacker wore a balaclava but she remembers those eyes and that caramel smooth voice. She takes her concerns to DI Laura Kesey who was always patient with her each time she thought she saw her attacker in the street. But this time, Megan is sure Aitken is the one.

Aitken curses himself for letting sweet little Megan go all those years ago. And she now sits at the top of his revenge list to be the first of his "lab rats" for him to study and bend at will. She will do as he says and she will feel the blade of his scalpel once again. In fact, it will be the last thing she feels and his will be the last face she sees. He will make sure of that. next on his list is Laura Kesey - the pig who put him away for a crime he clearly didn't commit. He will make sure she pays for her misdemeanour...and he has the perfect way to make that happen. He can almost taste it it is so perfect.

DI Laura Kesey was supposed to be enjoying a holiday with her wife Janet and their son Ed in Lanzarote but she couldn't leave the case of Professor Aitken behind. There was just something about it that didn't sit right. He professes his innocence but she saw the material on his computer. The man is clearly deranged and disturbed. If he is innocent of this crime, he is most certainly guilty of something else. If not now, then he will be. Of that she is sure. But when she returns home and Aitken is freed for being unjustly imprisoned for a crime he hadn't committed, Laura is intent on uncovering exactly what he is guilty of...because he is, that is for sure. But her boss has made it abundantly clear that Professor Aitken of off limits. She is not to investigate him, question him or go anywhere near him in any way, shape or form. Unfortunately for her, that leave Aitken free to his own devices...a clear recipe for disaster for both her and anyone else who gets in his way.

John Nicholl is one of my favourite authors with his gritty writing that pulls no punches in his unique style. He has the ability to draw characters that we can both sympathise and hate in equal measure. Laura Kesey is a mainstay in his standalones and I was thrilled to see her former DS Raymond Lewis return despite his retirement after events that took place in the previous book.

The chapters were a little longer I felt in this one though the book itself is a relatively quick read. Nicholl definitely knows how to paint a villain that readers love to hate. Aitken's scenes certainly do make for uncomfortable reading with disturbing scenes painted in vivid detail.

Not one of my favourite books but still a good read that packs a punch.

I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #BoldwoodBooks and #Netgalley for an ARC of #TheSurgeon in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

John Nicholl, an ex-police officer, social worker and lecturer (and now a "serial chiller") as the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of numerous darkly psychological suspense thrillers. He began writing after leaving his job heading up child protection services.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

REVIEW: What Have You Done? by Nicole Trope

What Have You Done? by Nicole Trope

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 5th October 2025

Published: 17th October 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

“What have you done, Juliet?”

The neighbours look on in shock as two stretchers are wheeled past gated homes on a quiet suburban street. Handcuffs are clipped on a young woman with fear in her face.

The Cordells were the perfect family. But now, in a beautiful home where happy photos line the walls and flowers adorn the dinner table, it looks like a daughter has killed her loving parents.

Everyone tuts and shakes their heads, saying there was always something strange about Juliet.

And one person watching from the sidelines has triumph in their eyes. Someone who knew this would happen all along.

As what really went on in the Cordell’s once-peaceful home starts to unravel, one thing becomes clear:

This perfect family had a big secret. And not everything is as it seems…

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you shocked at the twists and turns! Anyone who loves Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas or Freida McFadden will be addicted.

MY THOUGHTS:

A perfect family...a terrible secret...

"What have you done?"

The words echo throughout the quiet suburban street as 21 year old Juliet is lead from the home she shares with her parents in handcuffs. Neighbours shake their heads in disbelief while others allude to knowing that she wasn't "quiet right" after her time away in "that place" - as if just mentioning it will somehow taint them by association. But all of them, whilst divided in their opinions, have their phones out capturing every moment of Juliet's parade from the house to the police car, each posturing that "they just won't believe this"!

Juliet is returned to the psychiatric facility, St Augustines, she was discharged from just three months before after attempting to take her own life. It was believed that she would recover in the loving arms of her family but the woman who returns is a shell of the one who left just months before. Her accusations of abuse fall on deaf ears as do her claims that "Adam promised to come back for me. He promised".

Juliet had studied ballet after falling in love with it during her first class as a child. She went on to become the female lead accompanied by her then boyfriend Benji as the male lead. But a tragic accident during rehearsal left her with an injury which would mean she would never dance again. Her life was over. Dancing was all she wanted to do and now that was cruelly taken from her. Juliet could see no way out and tried to end it all one night. Thus resulting in her stay at St Augustines.

It was during her therapy with psychiatrist Dr Choudry at the facility that Juliet recalled flashbacks of memories of her as a child. Memories of abuse; some vivid, some distant. But the memories are very real and Juliet's world is rock even more by the flashbacks and sudden realisation. She is discharged to the care of her parents albeit reluctantly as she no longer trusts them. She stays in her room and barely eats. She stops her medication, hating the feeling it gives her. She has no idea how to get through the rest of her life.

And then one morning, she meets Adam. Handsome, funny, charming Adam. And he listens to her. Really listens to her. They meet every morning at the coffee shop and walk in the nearby park, Adam sympathising with Juliet's situation. He is her lifeline; the one true constant in her life, though she keeps him secret from her family. She can no longer imagine a life without him. And then, he offers to help her.

But then everything unravels and Juliet finds herself back at St Augustines, her world fallen apart. No one listens to her claims. No one believes her about Adam. But he was real...wasn't he? Suddenly, Juliet isn't so sure anymore. He seemed so real; it all seemed so real. Her memories, the past and what happened. But now they are telling her that she did it all?

"What have you done?"

They keep asking her, probing her - trying to get the truth out of her. But she's told them the truth and they didn't listen. They didn't believe her. Why didn't they? It's not true...is it?

This is the kind of tale that will have you questioning everything. It is dizzying and emotional and incredibly frustrating. So many times I wanted to slap Juliet in the first half of the book that unfolds through her narrative. We get to live Juliet's life alongside her and see the world through her eyes and we believe it along with her. But then I began to doubt her and the reality of the situation. And I wanted to bang her head as I felt mine was being banged against a brick wall.

You will question everything you read. Is anything Juliet tells us real? Or is a figment of her imagination? Is she manipulating us or is she being manipulated? Do her parents really love her or is that just a lie? Or is everything she remembers just one big lie? She needs love, care and support so thank goodness for Adam, her one constant. But is he as he appears? No one knows who he is except Juliet so is he even real? Just as well she has Lacy, her nurse, back in St Augustines who lovingly cares for Juliet.

One thing is clear as you turn the final page of this claustrophobic thriller; that Nicole Trope is the master manipulator here, leading us down various pathways into the dark recesses as we desperately try to work out what's real and what isn't. She may have hoodwinked me for a good part of the story but I was a wake up to her methods and unravelled the tangled web she had woven for us so expertly.

My only complaint is there was one aspect that wasn't clarified in the end regarding the apparent "text and calls" between Adam and Juliet. I cannot say more without spoilers. But I drop a star for the slow and frustrating start that made me want to put it down so many times with Juliet's constant whining and claims that no one believed her. While we didn't know what to believe ourselves, the repetitive whining nature had me pulling my hair and made Juliet hard to like and sympathise with her. But I'm glad I stuck it out because Trope came back at us with full force in the second half that would have knocked this for a 5 star read alternatively.

Truly a thriller that messes with your head in a way that I thought only Alice Feeney and John Marrs could do.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhatHaveYouDone in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Sunday, 14 September 2025

REVIEW: My Husband's Wife by Carla Kovach

My Husband's Wife by Carla Kovach

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 10th September 2025

Published: 8th September

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Five years ago I buried my husband. Today I saw him with his new wife.

‘Thank you for agreeing to be our wedding planner. Theo is on his way,’ Madison says as we meet to plan her dream wedding. The moment her fiancé enters the room, a newborn baby in his arms, my whole world shifts and I grab hold of my desk to stop myself from falling.

Theo shakes my hand as he introduces himself, but I already know who he is. He’s my husband. The man I thought had died five years ago.

‘Lovely to meet you, Eva,’ he says, carefully avoiding my frozen stare. I’d recognise his smooth voice anywhere.

I want to scream, ask him why he’s doing this to me. But I know just how good a liar my husband is. And he knows my darkest secret. I can’t risk him destroying everything I’ve worked so hard for.

At the end of the meeting, I watch the happy little family walk away, and I don’t miss Theo’s eyes staring at me just a second too long. He knows I’m onto him. But only I know what I’m going to do next…

Readers who loved The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and Gone Girl will love the jaw-dropping twist in this absolutely gripping psychological thriller.

MY THOUGHTS:

Five years ago I buried my husband...today I saw him with his new wife...

Well, that tagline drew me in instantly. While not entirely realistic, it was wholly entertaining and kept me glued to each page swiping them to uncover the truth of what was really happening. It was a little slow on the starting point but once it got going, I couldn't put it down until I discovered the truth.

Eva and her young son Caiden are packing up their life in Malvern (I think is around Worcestershire) and moving to picturesque coastal Devon and a place that held many happy memories before her husband Hugo died five years ago. Now Eva is married to Zach and realising it is a time for a fresh start, they have purchased a gorgeous home with stunning views over the ocean in Combe Martin where Zach has been busily decorating and getting the house ready for their imminent arrival. Eva and Caiden say a tearful goodbye to Hugo and their memories of him before they set off for their new start.

Caiden settles into school and meets Aaron and the two become inseparable. Eva befriends his mother Nicole but it isn't long before she starts questioning just how well she really knows her new friend when a few slips are made and nuances alluded to which give her pause to think. But she hasn't got time to second guess herself - she has a new job as a wedding planner at the Sea Horse Hotel to look forward to. A job she truly loves and thrives in.

Then in her first week in her new job of meeting new couples planning their big day, in walks Madison and her fiance Theo with baby Emily. Eva is shocked and speechless. Theo is the image of Hugo. But it can't be. Hugo's dead. Suddenly, a job she knows so well leaves her forgetting what to do. Eva muddles her way through the rest of the appointment before Madison and Theo leave with their daughter. And her name - Emily. It can't be. Can it? But he moves like Hugo, speaks like Hugo, acts like Hugo and the name Emily is special to them both. He's Hugo...isn't he? But he can't be. Hugo's dead. How can this be?

A couple of weeks later, Eva learns that Madison and Theo have cancelled their wedding with them and have taken an early cancellation at another hotel. So Eva makes it her mission to find out all she can about Theo. Her first move is to have her hair cut at Madison's salon to see if she can wrangle any information out of her about Theo. Her suspicions are only confirmed when Madison confides that they are moving to Loch Ness after the wedding - a place that Hugo always wanted to move to. Between Combe Martin and Loch Ness, both places that were special to them says it all - doesn't it? Theo has to be Hugo, doesn't he? But his death five years ago. DNA doesn't lie, does it?

But the more Eva digs, the deeper the hole she is making herself. She cannot confide in anyone. Her mum will only think she is having another breakdown and seeing things that aren't there. Zach has enough worry and Hugo is a topic they rarely touch on. She doesn't know Nicole well enough to talk with her about it. The only person she can count on is herself...and even then she is beginning to doubt her sanity and trusting what she thinks she knows or sees. Maybe she has imagined it all along...

This is one twisty tale and I dare you to unravel the threads that link it all together. I pieced some of it together while others left me bewildered until revealed. It will leave you guessing and second guessing everything and what's true and what isn't. And the locale of coastal Devon was as atmospheric as the windswept cliffs of Cornwall - neighbouring counties and all.

As the reader, you really will question what's real and what's not. Kovach does a stellar job of gaslighting us throughout, making it all the more brilliant. This is not a thriller that you can unravel easily but it is one that you can properly binge on until that final twist that will leave you still questioning our character's sanity. Normally I don't like books to end with a quesiton mark (I like them all tied up neatly) but the ending here was perfectly sublime. Totally satisfactory as well as a touch insane.

My only complaint is the prologue. I have no idea who the couple were in it - Eva and Hugo or Madison and Theo? It wasn't made obvious in the reveal so I kind of felt it was a tad pointless. But that aside - this book is uputdownable, addictive and totally bingeworthy until the very last page. Kovach is really making her mark as a domestic/psychological thriller author away from her Gina Harte series. A solid 4.5 stars.

I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsWife in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. She started writing more seriously ten years ago after having flirted with musical theatre and occasional writing in her youth.

Since then she has written & produced several stage plays, has four self-published books, has acted in several independent films and is currently in the final stages of production of her feature horror film, Penny for the Guy.

She now writes full time as well as co-owning a film, photography & video production company located in the heart of Redditch town centre.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Wednesday, 27 August 2025

REVIEW: The Liar I Married by D.K. Hood

The Liar I Married by D.K. Hood

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 26th August 2025

Published: 22nd August 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I trusted him with my life. I shouldn’t have…

Opening my eyes, I see a nurse standing over my bed. She wipes away my tears as she tells me I was in a car crash and it was my fault. Confused, I only remember snapshots of my life, but I’m not convinced the crash was an accident.

My marriage had been perfect, until my husband, John, met Rebecca. He said they were just friends and that I was imagining things when I saw them cosied up like they were on a date. Now, as I lie in my recovery bed, fragments of that night come back to me—John late home from work, an empty wine glass, Rebecca climbing out of John’s car, a blazing row on the doorstep…

I beg John to tell me what happened, but he insists I don’t try to recall any details, that it’ll harm my recovery. He reminds me that I’m lucky to even be alive.

But when someone leaves a note, my blood runs cold: Don’t trust anyone. Were my instincts right? Did someone try to kill me? As I look into my husband’s lying eyes, all I can think is, will I make it out of this marriage alive…?

This absolutely nail-biting and addictive psychological thriller is perfect for readers of The Housemaid, The Girl on the Train and The Perfect Marriage. Prepare to be hooked!

MY THOUGHTS:

I trusted him with my life...I shouldn't have...

This is my first foray into D.K. Hood, having never read her series. But as this is a standalone thriller I decided to check it out. It's an unsettling thriller with twists and a sense of claustrophobic mistrust throughout. Like the protangonist, you won't know who to trust.

Jessie wakes from a twelve month coma in a room she recognises but can't place and a nurse caring for her that she's never met. She's hooked up to all sorts of machines beeping and bleeping that it disorients her and she's suddenly afraid of what this all means. Her nurse Dolly tells her she was a car accident and thus a coma for the past twelve months. She has no recollection of what happened or leading up to the accident. She gets flashes of flashbacks...but nothing much to piece together.

Jessie remembers her husband John, who works long hours as a stockbroker in the hope of making partner, and that they have twin girls Emily and Olivia. Over the years, John has had a roving eye and Jessie found it difficult to trust him where beautiful women were concerned. When John takes on a new lawyer, the stunningly beautiful Rebecca Lawson, Jessie's mind whirls with possibilities and mistrust. The way he looked at her and the socials filled with photos of the pair of them at work functions and seemingly enjoying themselves a little too much. It doesn't help when her brother Michael tells her he's seen John lunching a little too intimately with Rebecca. He's strayed before - what's to stop him doing it again?

When John visits her, she tries to ask him about what happened and the girls but he is vague, citing that the doctors have advised against sharing anything she doesn't remember and to let her remember in her own time. But she longs to see her girls. Even just a photo of them.

Then Jessie receives a note passed to her from a trusted housekeeper saying simply "Don't trust anyone." Who could have written it? What does it mean? Are they lying to her? Was the accident really her fault? What is it no one is telling her? And why has none of her family been to visit her? Why does she not have a phone or computer or even a television? What doe the flashbacks mean? And why is she so tired all the time? If she could just get to the office, she knows she will discover the truth and be able to call her lawyer.

I loved Alex. I think he was my favourite character of all. The rest were either OK or unlikeable - but I won't say who as it will spoil the story.

This book raises so many questions as you race through it and it messes with your head. It is an uncomfortable read in parts as you try to decipher what's real and what isn't. There are so many secrets and so much deceit as you try to unpick the tangled web in Jessie's mind. You really won't be able to see the wolf for the sheep in this one.

It was a quick read that was gripping from start to finish. I can't say it was entertaining because I found it very unsettling and uncomfortable. But it is a good read but I was glad to finish because of how unsettling I found it. The line between what's real and what wasn't was well and truly blurred that made for uncomfortable reading at times but also makes it a good read!

Similar to "Before I Go To Sleep" by S.J. Watson, this is a thriller you won't forget in a hurry.

I would like to thank #DKHood, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiarIMarried in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

D.K Hood is THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, USA TODAY, and AMAZON Bestselling Author of the Detective Kane and Alton Series, with over one million copies sold.

Her spine chilling, fast paced serial killer thrillers revolve around Sheriff Jenna Alton and her ex- special forces Deputy, Dave Kane. As the main characters fight crime, their secret pasts are never far away. Set in and around the fictional backwoods town of Black Rock Falls, Montana, known locally as Serial Killer Central, D.K 's imagery takes the reader into the scenes with her. Given the title "Queen of Suspense" by her reviewers, D.K 's writing style offers her readers a movie style, sizzling fast thrill ride.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Friday, 8 August 2025

REVIEW: The Therapist by Nicole Trope

The Therapist by Nicole Trope

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 8th August 2025

Published: 31st July 2025

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Everyone thinks they can trust their therapist. We are good listeners. But what if we’re good liars, too?

The therapist: I love my job. People tell me their worries, their fears. Then Sandy becomes my patient. Something about her tears as she cries about her husband doesn’t feel right. But I tell her she can trust me. I promise to keep her secrets… for now.

The patient: I never should have married Mike. My head is a mess. All I want is for someone to listen. At least I can trust my therapist – she believes everything I say. And I’m going to show the world exactly what my dear husband is really like.

The husband: We used to be so happy. I just want my smiling, beautiful wife back. I was glad when Sandy signed up for therapy. But one day, Sandy doesn’t come home. I’m frantic. Then her therapist knocks on the door and says we need to talk… what has Sandy told her about our marriage?

Someone is missing. Someone is in danger. Someone is a liar. Who will you believe?

A completely unputdownable psychological thriller that will leave you not knowing who to trust, from million-copy bestseller Nicole Trope. Anyone who loves Shari Lapena or Lisa Jewell will be totally addicted!

MY THOUGHTS:

Good listener...good liar...?

Meet Lana. She's a therapist in private practice in Sydney's leafy suburbs and still bearing the emotional scars of her past. She was married to Oliver and together they had Iggy, now seven, until she discovered he was having an affair. Now he's married to a terminally happy and perfect woman named Becky. And Iggy adores her.

But she leaves her personal life behind when she comes to work. Although it's her personal life that has influenced the direction in which her professional life has taken as a therapist. After the tragedy of her past, she knew she wanted to help others better understand themselves and to help understand people better. She shares the practice with Ben, a psychologist from the UK. Everything is going smoothly until, against her better judgement, she takes on one of Ben's clients who has developed transference and is in complete and utter despair.

Meet Sandy. She comes to Lana on Ben's recommendation and confides that she is in a controlling and abusive marriage. She loves her husband but she doesn't love the way he lets his anger get the better of him. She just wants the husband she met and married back...before he hurts her, or worse - one of the children - Lila (5) and Felix (7).

Meet Mike. Sandy's husband is despair of his own. He cannot understand what is going on with his wife. One minute she's up, the next she's down. But either way she's always screaming or crying. He just wants his happy smiling wife back. He'll even go to therapy with her if it means it will help her.

And then Sandy disappears.

When Sandy doesn't show for her next appointment, Lana is worried. Sandy said something in the last session which gives her cause for concern now. She is certain her husband Mike knows more than he's letting on and against her better judgement (again) she goes around to Sandy's house to confront Mike and says that they need to talk. But Mike wonders what has Sandy said to her about their marriage. Surely she hasn't told her...everything?

Lana is caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies and uncertainty. She has crossed the boundaries between patient and therapist by turning up at her door but Lana finds herself questioning just exactly what is truth and what is fiction? She isn't sure what to believe anymore. And then the text message arrives.

"Help me Lana. I think he's going to kill me."

Lana knows whatever has happened, she needs to know that Sandy is safe. And Mike of course doesn't help himself by behaving just the way Sandy claims. It's a classic "he said/she said" with a complex twist. And Lana doesn't know what or who to believe.

Honestly, Mike and Sandy were a train wreck. But who do you believe? Lana has listened to them and watched them both and even she's confused, questioning her judgement as well as reality. What is truth and what is fiction? She can't quite tell. And Lana was a tough one to connect with. She didn't really open herself up at all so it was hard to know who she really was and how she was feeling or what she was thinking.

Like all of Trope's "tropes", this tale is multi-layered with tension and complexity, delving into psychological themes of trust and deception. The story was easily predictable but it didn't ruin it for me - it just wasn't completely surprising as we watch it unfold. Trope drip-feeds us little by little by the climax before pulling the rug out from under us to reveal what's really going on.

It was a slightly slower build than some of Trope's other offerings and I found both Lana and Sandy equally irritating that it was hard to slip into rhythm. But by the end, I had fairly enjoyed the ride. The ending was satisfactory though I would have liked to hear from that last final voice. When you read it, you will know what I mean. It would have been good to get that final perspective.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTherapist in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Wednesday, 6 August 2025

REVIEW: The Baby Group by Jade Lee Wright

The Baby Group by Jade Lee Wright

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 3rd August 2025

Published: 31st July 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Six mothers-to-be. One of us is lying.

My fiancé and I traded our cramped London flat for a beautiful beach house on the Cornish coast. With our first child on the way, it’s the perfect place to start our new life. Quiet. Peaceful. Safe.

But the isolation is suffocating. Alex is working all hours, and he’s showing no interest in our wedding plans.

So I join an antenatal class - a chance to make friends with other mums-to-be. That’s where I meet Cora, Carmen, Violet, Rachel and Lucy. We bond over baby names, birth plans, and the sleepless nights ahead.

But something’s wrong.

I don’t like the way Lucy looks at Alex.

I’ve heard whispers about her husband’s first wife – and how she died.

At one of our get-togethers, she clutches Violet’s baby a little too tightly. The child begins to choke. No one forgets how long it takes her to let go.

I should have trusted my instincts.

The closer I get to my due date, the more frightened I feel. It seems like I’m falling apart – but I know my baby is in danger.

MY THOUGHTS:

This book starts off with an explosive prologue, making me want to swipe the pages of my kindle faster. Darcy has just given birth and her baby has been taken, leaving her and her fiance Alex lifeless beside the birthing pool.

"My baby's been taken," Darcy sobs into the phone. And before she can digest all that has just happened, she slumps into unconsciousness.

Darcy and Alex have been together just under a year when Darcy fell pregnant just a couple of months into their relationship. But this was what she had always dreamed of - being a mum. OK, so it wasn't planned and it was unexpected but it could work. And so they are looking for a fresh start when they decide to move from the busyness of London to the quiet Cornish seaside village of Rock and preparing for the arrival of their baby together.

Darcy decides to join an antenatal class, figuring it might be a good way to make new friends. They could share their experiences together whilst forming firm friendships. But Darcy has always struggled to make friends and she finds it difficult to connect with the women in the group, her past insecurities looming heavily. Add to those along with pregnancy hormones, her paranoia flares.

At first, she connects with Cora and feels an affiliation with her but soon her insecurities cloud her judgement as she begins to feel shut out from the rest of the group. This is highlighted even further as one by one the women begin giving birth and each becomes a mother. The dynamics of each begin to shift as tensions rise and their little group becomes smaller, shutting Darcy out completely.

Stupidly, Darcy confides in no one about her fears but then how could she? Who could she really trust? It was clear from the outset that there are insecurities around her relationships and for the most part it is completely understandable why she in turn shut everyone out. But did she really have no one? It seems so.

Of all the women in the antenatal class, Carmen and Lucy are the ones Darcy trusts the least. But when Cora, Rachel and Violet all start to shut her out, Darcy wonders what she has done to upset them. Why are they meeting up in cosy little gatherings in cafes, some of them with their bundles while others still awaiting the arrival of theirs? Even Lucy, with whom she had grown much closer to in recent weeks, has ghosted her while gathered with the others laughing away - most likely at her. Again, her paranoia flares. She can't confide in Alex her insecurities - he doesn't even know the half of it, let alone will he understand. He's her rock, her security; if he didn't believe her she doesn't know what she'd do. So she kept her fears, her paranoia and her insecurities to herself.

As her due date approaches, despite the women shutting her out of the group entirely, Darcy has noticed Lucy sidling up to Alex. Is something going on there that she isn't aware of? Darcy is sure something is going on but Alex will only deny it and throw familiar accusations at her. And he wouldn't be entirely wrong. Needless to say, a ton of drama ensues.

After most of the book detailing Darcy and her insecurities, constantly whining about having no friends and being left out to be being jealous of all the women for a variety of reasons and berating Alex for a previous infidelity, we get to the culmination of events that precede the penultimate climatic conclusion. And boy, does it get interesting! Up till now I found myself skimming pages with a dragging realisation that Darcy was infinitely annoying and Alex was a complete knob. But now the tension mounts as Darcy goes into labour and things get hairy to say the least. She changes her mind about birthing plans but no one seems to be listening to her. She is terrified and scared and tries calling for help but to no avail. And then secrets burst to the surface as Darcy realises the dreaded reality of her situation. And in the end, her baby is gone. Darcy is inconsolable.

The final twists were revealing in themselves, although it was the very l ast one in the epilogue that I didn't see coming, as I predicted everything else that unfolded with ease. But that was a nice a touch to leave readers dangling.

This is a fairly quick read though it took me longer due to personal reasons and time being a factor. But I raced through over half of the book this afternoon to its thrilling end. Darcy was hard to like because of her constant whining. I could relate to her with not making friends as I too find it hard to make friends but she just constantly moaned on an on about it. I didn't like Lucy either. She was completely transparently fickle and bitchy. The other women were OK but most of the focus was on Lucy and sometimes Carmen and Cora. So it was up to us as readers to work out which one we couldn't trust. Alex was a complete twat. He could have at least tried to be a little more understanding but he didn't even try. Instead he shoved Darcy in the direction of Lucy when it was clear she wasn't comfortable with her. Instead of taking her concerns seriously, he waved them away and told her to get a grip basically. I would have liked to get a grip on him - firmly around his neck!

A quick read, it was intriguing enough but the pacing was a little sluggish in parts and I found it hard to stay fully engaged. I loved the ending though. Everything from where Darcy goes into labour to the birth and the aftermath was nail-biting and I raced through those pages till the final conclusion.

I would like to thank #JadeLeeWright, #JoffeBooks and #ZooloosBookTours for an ARC of #TheBabyGroup in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Whilst writing my next book I am a mother wrangling two under two and pursuing a BA (Honours) in English Literature and Creative Writing through the Open University. I'm currently in my third year and have received a distinction. My writing has also been highly commended in the UK's Writing Magazine and I have been shortlisted for The Marlowe & Christie Novel Prize. I run a popular Bookstagram page called Boho Bookworm, where I share my passion for literature. Through this platform I have connections with various publishing houses and authors.

Now I’m incredibly proud to be signed with Joffe Books on a two-book deal. My debut with them, The Baby Group, is set for release in July 2025. It’s a suspenseful, emotionally charged thriller about motherhood, identity, and trust. My second novel, The Family Secret, will follow in 2026.

When I’m not writing (or daydreaming about the next twist), you’ll usually find me with my nose in a book.

Social Media links:

Sunday, 22 June 2025

REVIEW: The New Family by Victoria Jenkins

The New Family by Victoria Jenkins

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 22nd June 2025

Published: 16th November 2021

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

You just met your new neighbours, but they already know you…

As I open the door to the house I grew up in, I take in the family photos I haven’t looked at since my sister died. It will never be the happy place it once was, not since that night twenty years ago. Renting it to a new family is a fresh start, and single dad Oliver and his sweet son Finley seem like the perfect fit.

Calling by the house, I notice how few belongings they have; no toys for Finley or pictures of his mother. Why does Oliver shut down when I ask him about his life? And who is the man I see him arguing with in the street? I thought he was a stranger to this small town…

Fearing for Finley’s safety, I let myself inside in search of answers. But the smiling face in the photo I find hidden in Oliver’s bedroom chills me to my core. He knows exactly who I am and all the secrets of my past. Breath catches in my throat. Is my life now in terrible danger?

The New Family is an addictive psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming, perfect for fans of The Wife, The Silent Patient and Lisa Jewell

MY THOUGHTS:

I've seen many post trigger warnings for this book but I don't think it is needed as most psychological thrillers often have an element of these things. But not only that, they are so subtle or are just part of a backstory that they are not really the main event. All but one of them, that is. And even so, it is just subtle nuances that allude to it - a photo here, a message there - nothing so in your face to warrant clear cut warnings.

It's been a while since I've read Victoria Jenkins and I've usually enjoyed her thrillers so was looking forward to this one. Especially as they are generally featured in Wales, one of my favourite settings. This tale of woe (and it really is) was published back in 2021 and somehow slipped through my shelf. It's a slow burn with two parallel stories unfolding through alternating chapters with the reader wondering how the two will collide.

September 2019: Brooke is taking a walk along the coastal path to her favourite secluded beach when she meets handsome Oliver and his young son Finley. Oliver is looking for somewhere to stay and as Brooke rents out her childhood home as a holiday let, which is currently standing vacant until her next booking in January, she offers them the use of the little cottage. When he and Finley move in, Brooke is surprised with how few belongings they have but doesn't question it. Who is she to judge anyway with the skeletons rattling around in her closet?

Then the little gallery and loft in which she lives and sells her paintings suddenly burns down in which she loses everything. The fire is investigated and soon deemed to be arson but the police are no closer to finding the perpetrator, leaving Brooke without a home until it is repaired. But her lifelong friend and neighbour Sylvia lets her move into her spare room indefinitely which proves to be a godsend. She begins to spend a lot of time with Oliver and Finley. Despite the little boy being quiet and introverted, he begins to warm to Brooke but it is clear he is haunted by something which makes him withdrawn and always looking so sad. Added to that, he has begun sleepwalking.

The more time Brooke spends with Oliver and Finley the more she in curious about their past. She has so many questions about where they've come from? How did they end up here in Wales? Where is Fin's mother? What is their story? But again, Brooke can hardly judge given her own past. She's just curious.

February 2018: Juggling motherhood and her job as a physiotherapist, Christina is married to Matthew and mother to twins Elise and Edward. But she's not happy and she doesn't know why that is when she has an adoring husband and two beautiful, yet demanding, toddlers. She has been embarking on an illicit affair with lawyer Joel who had come to her a client with a football injury.

But when Christina breaks off their affair, Joel doesn't appear to take it well. Soon he bombards her with bizarre gifts, strange phone calls and messages - all threatening by nature with the undertone of "tick tock, time is running out". For what? Is he threatening to reveal their affair to her husband? Her family? Her friends? Or worse... her clients? Is Joel trying to win her back through his threats or does he want to ruin her life? If Matthew discovers her secret, he will surely take the twins and she wouldn't see her children again. Just the anxiety of this whole debacle is making her sick - and Matthew has noticed her constant headaches and nausea so it won't be long until he figures out just what she has been hiding. And Christina has no idea what she will do then...

The slow burn unfold of each tale is twisted with both women and the secrets they are hiding, giving the reader plenty of questions about how these two women are related to the same story. I must admit, I had no clue at first - so different they were. Brooke in Wales, Christina in London. Not only that, the events take place around 18 months apart. I had many questions running through my mind until I settled on one that seemed to fit. I picked up little nuances, little clues that Jenkins peppered throughout both stories, and I was convinced I had one half of the big reveal. And I did. Once I worked that out, it wasn't difficult to figure out the rest.

I must say though you will have to suspend belief a little - as is usually the way with psychological thrillers - and the story does get a little convoluted, particularly with how it all collides into one big explosion. I will say that things ramped up for the last 20% and that's where it all became interesting and everything fell into place. Prior to that, it was very slow moving. A little too slow for my tastes but my interest was piqued enough to keep turning the pages and I'm glad I did because you do get there in the end. I didn't not like the book - I just think the slow burn was far too long.

This is a hard book to rate. I'm not a fan of slow burns and tend to fall asleep at the non-event of happenings but I think it was one woman's story that kept me turning the pages. I felt more invested in Brooke's than I did in Christina's. I didn't care for her as I felt she had everything and yet it still wasn't enough so she went looking elsewhere. Plus Brooke's story unfolded in Wales which was a far more picturesque setting, if not unstable in both weather and WiFi. LOL It was still an enjoyable read and I am leaning towards 3.5 stars - but to round it up or down? I'd round it down for the 80% slow burn (too much in my opinion) or up for the satisfying conclusion.

Just a bit of trivia: I found it ironic that one of the characters is Christina and her husband is Matthew. My name is Christina and my brother is Matthew.

I would like to thank #VictoriaJenkins, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNewFamily in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Jenkins is a Welsh author who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. The first novel in the series was “The Girls In The Water” that Jenkins first published in 2017 and is an Amazon UK top 30 bestseller, and top 5 bestseller in the Amazon US chart., to much critical acclaim and popularity among crime fiction fans.

The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.

Her first psychological thriller, The Divorce, was published in July 2019. The second, The Argument, was published December 10th 2019 and The Accusation was published June 9th 2020, followed by The Playdate, The New Family and The Bridesmaids.

Victoria lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.