REVIEW: The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland

The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 16th June 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 15th May 2025

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A party. A nightmare. A child gone without a trace.

It started out as a party: six little girls gliding and giggling at the ice rink to celebrate Natalie’s daughter’s eighth birthday.

But by Natalie’s next head count, it’s turned into a crime scene. Six children went onto the ice—and now there are just five. Nobody saw her niece, Elle, being taken. Nobody saw the person in a cartoon costume lure her quietly away.

Traumatised by what happened on her watch, Natalie spends the next decade supporting her sister, Jo, as the years since Elle’s abduction tick by. But as the tenth anniversary approaches, Jo becomes convinced that someone is stalking her—someone who knows the truth about that day on the ice.

As long-buried secrets start to surface, the sisters must relive the horror of losing Elle—and watch the world as they know it shatter before their eyes.

MY THOUGHTS:

It was a day that they would never forget...

I have read most of Shalini's psychological thrillers (except for the first few before I discovered her) and she's always been my go-to author for a good fast-paced quick and thrilling read. And while the last few have failed to live up to the calibre of her previous ones, this one smashes them out of the ballpark! It is probably her best yet with this publisher and it was like reading the Shalini of old. And best of all, it keeps you guessing until the very end.

THEN: Natalie's daughter Georgia wanted an ice skating party for her 8th birthday with her best friends and since she was a December baby (welcome to my world), they had themed characters skating the ice along with the children. What more could any little girl want? So Natalie and husband Theo were tasked with the care of six little girls - Georgia, four of her friends and her 6 year old cousin, Elle. Six little girls went onto the ice...and now only just five remain.

When Georgia's best friend Sasha falls on the ice, Natalie takes her off for a few minutes to recover and thus becomes momentarily distracted. When she looks back, she counts five of them and finds Elle is missing. Frantic, Natalie informs Theo and they immediately take the girls off the ice and try searching for young Elle. When there is no immediate sign of her, Natalie calls the police. Though she dreads telling her sister Jo that she has lost her six year old daughter.

NOW: Ten years later and Natalie is planning Georgia's 18th birthday. But as always, her birthday is shadowed by Elle's disappearance a decade before. How could they possibly celebrate? But every year, Georgia's birthday has been a subdued affair but this year she is 18 and she deserves to celebrate. 

Their lives have stalled since that day ten years ago. For Jo, the mother whose child disappeared; for Natalie and Theo, the ones in charge of all six girls; and for Georgia, whose birthday has never been the same again because to celebrate it would be like forgetting that it was also the day her cousin disappeared. Everyone is stuck in a kind of rut but no one more so than Jo who, understandably lost a child but her behaviour just went from bad to worse. She couldn't face going back to their flat so instead moved in with Natalie and her family, thus placing undue pressure on them. They even converted their garage into a self contained garden flat for Jo so that they could all have their own privacy. Over the course the past decade, they each found their own ways of coping whilst also sweeping everything under the carpet to maintain the peace and stop from upsetting Jo's unstable equilibriam.

But then Natalie receives a phone call from the past and suddenly a new lead offers new hope. Could this be it? Will they finally learn what happened to Elle all those years ago? Or will it be another colossal waste of time?

The story unfolds in the past and present timeline in Natalie's first person narrative with a few chapters by an unknown narrator interspersed throughout. All through the tale the reader is kept guessing - even me! And I could usually pick them! I did have a few suspects but then when Shalini threw in her trademark twist it knocked all my theories out of the water. Although funnily enough, the twists were some of the theories I had pondered but not quite settled on. In fact, I got them around the wrong way! So in effect, I did guess them correctly but in the wrong order. LOL

As for Jo. I get she lost her daughter and that has to be a mother's worst nightmare. But I just could not warm to her. I found her to be completely selfish and too dependant on Natalie, expecting her to clean up her messes each and every time - because she knows exactly that's what Natalie would do. I was incredibly frustrated by her behaviour and though some of it may have been part of her grief, as Natalie ruminates her sister has always been "a bit flaky". Even events prior to Elle's disappearance show her selfish nature. After her daughter disappears, she is quite happy to sponge off her sister and husband indefinitely without contributing to household costs or making an effort around the house. And she always expect Natalie to come running at her beck and call, regardless of boundaries or her own accountability (of which she had none). I didn't like her at all. I think it was because of her that I knocked off half a star.

Despite my incredible dislike of Jo, this is a thrilling fast paced quick read from start to finish that is wholly entertaining.

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #TheBirthdayParty in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

Shalini has recently signed with Thomas and Mercer publishers with her first publication with them being "The Silent Bride".

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

REVIEW: The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland

The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 13th July 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 13th July 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It was the perfect romantic honeymoon. Until her husband disappeared.

It was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. But for newlywed Stella, the dream honeymoon has turned into a nightmare overnight. Her perfect husband, Austin, has vanished without a trace.

Alone in Venice, Stella frantically searches for him. But as fear turns into confusion, she finds herself questioning everything she knows about the man she married. Has Austin really abandoned her, or has someone from his past finally caught up with him—the business partner he threatened to sue? The obsessive ex-girlfriend who refuses to let go? When Stella becomes convinced someone is following her, panic sets in.

As hours turn into days and clues start to unravel dark secrets, a terrified Stella can’t help but ask herself: is her husband who she thought he was at all?

MY THOUGHTS:

The perfect honeymoon...until her husband disappeared...

Stella and Austin are newlyweds just arrived in Venice for the picture perfect honeymoon. After a sumptuous dinner, a little dessert and some rambunctious love-making, Stella awakes to find Austin dressing in the dark. Upon enquiring he tells her the restaurant phoned - he left his credit card there. And so he is just popping out to collect it and a few other things from a nearby supermarket. He kisses her goodbye and leaves their suite...and he never returns.

Frantic with worry, Stella alerts the hotel reception and retraces her steps back to the restaurant to enquire as to whether Austin made it there or not. The fact he had does little to ease her mind because where has he gone from there? And why did he not return?

As hours turn into days, Stella must inform her in-laws, Rob and Vicki, who jump on the first available flight out there to join her in her search for Austin, as the police continue their enquiries also. 

But the longer Austin remains missing, the more Stella begins to question just how well she really knew the man she married. And has she just made a big mistake in doing so?

Told in the NOW and THEN present-and-past-format, this tale is a slow burn for Shalini (I'm used to her fast paced pageturners) and as the story unfolds, we begin to see that all is not as it seems. 

While this was not one of her best, it was still a fairly quick read and I felt the final chapters and Epilogue were its saving grace as Shalini has always been the queen of the last minute twist...and she did not disappoint! She delivered not one but TWO shocking revelations that not even I saw coming. And it was these in the final few chapters and Epilogue that saved what was something of a pedestrian read. I know what Shalini is capable of and I can't wait to see what she delivers us next!

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TheHoneymoon in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

Shalini has recently signed with Thomas and Mercer publishers with her first publication with them being "The Silent Bride".

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

REVIEW: The School Reunion by Shalini Boland

The School Reunion by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 20th January 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 16th January 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The invitation to her school reunion couldn’t have come at a better time for Chloe Flynn. Divorced, broke and bored at work, she’s living a life her teenage self would hate. Turning the clock back fifteen years might be just what she needs to wipe the slate clean and start again. And then there’s the chance she’ll bump into Nathan Blake, the one she still regrets letting get away…

Back at her elite private school, Chloe sparkles as she reunites with old friends and long-forgotten love interests. And then, just as she’d hoped, there’s Nathan, more handsome than ever before. Even better, he’s single too, and seems to be just as keen to make up for lost time…

But as the evening progresses, Chloe can’t help feeling that something’s not quite right—that she’s not the only one who’s come here for more than just a party. When the secrets of the past start to emerge and the reunion takes a sinister turn, it’s clear that nothing is what it seems—and nothing will be the same again.

MY THOUGHTS:

Secrets can only stay buried for so long...

Have you ever attended a high school reunion? Not me. No thanks. Not ever. And if this tale is any indication of such events then I'm lucky to be missing out.

After her divorce, Chloe is living a somewhat bland life in a job she hates but in a flat she loves on Bath's royal terrace, thanks to her divorce settlement. And currently she is on the receiving end of her mother's endless criticism of everything that has ever gone wrong in her life.

And then an email arrives to distract her from her mother's tirade. An invitation to her school reunion back in Bournemouth. Oh no. Not touching that one, she thinks. But before she can hit delete her mother spies the email and its contents, and reiterates all the good things to come out West Cliff high school and she would do well to reconnect with her old friends...maybe hook up with her ex-boyfriend Chris Tamber who is now stinking rich and she could do a lot worse. Chloe just rolls her eyes. She is not touching that one. No way is she getting involved with her ex again. She has all but decided NOT to go...until she catches up with her old bestie, Harriet Walsh, and decides...why not?!

Of course she does have an ulterior motive for attending. And that is to hopefully hook up with Nathan Blake, the object of her secret crush fifteen years ago. If he's as hot now as he was then...

But then the night of the reunion dawns and Chloe finds herself face to face with the group of girls she'd gladly never set eyes on again. Abigail Matthews and her band of mean girls. And it seems age has not improved Abigail and she is as bitchy and as catty as ever.

And let's not forget the boyfriend she'd rather forget, Chris Tamber. But is he ready to let her go? It seems not as where ever Chloe goes, Chris never seems to be far away.

But there is something else bubbling beneath the surface at this reunion. Something out of all of their control...but will they be too late?

Shalini Boland has gone a touch darker with this psychological thriller about bullying, its effects and the revenge plot at its core. It makes for some uncomfortable reading at times, particularly for those familiar with the cruelty of bullies, despite them now being in their 30s.

As with all of Boland's thrillers, nothing is quite as it seems as the twists start to unravel a plot so tightly wound the reader will get whiplash at the change in the story unfolding before their eyes.

It's not the author's fastest plot but it is just as twisty as her others but a whole lot darker than her run of the m‎ill domestic thrillers. We are given a handful of characters, some of whom we'll love to hate, and through them we will sift through the clues laid out before us to see where it is all headed. You probably won't see it coming but if you do, be sure to enjoy the ride.

Once again, Shalini delivers a powerful punch in the form of revisiting teenage angst and the horrors of those school years. And remember...nothing is at all as it seems.

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #TheSchoolReunion in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

Shalini has recently signed with Thomas and Mercer publishers with her first publication with them being "The Silent Bride".

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

REVIEW: The Silent Bride by Shalini Boland

The Silent Bride by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 3rd June 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st June 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In this chilling story from the bestselling author of The Secret Mother, it’s the wedding day of Alice’s dreams. Until it becomes a nightmare…

Alice and Seth are a perfect love story: the handsome doctor and his beautiful fiancée. They’re wealthy, well liked and made for each other—the envy of all their friends. Alice can’t wait for the day of their dream wedding. But when she arrives at the altar, she doesn’t recognise the man waiting to marry her.

When this stranger insists he’s Seth, her husband-to-be, the entire congregation seems to agree. Even her parents try to persuade Alice to go through with the wedding.

As panic sets in, Alice’s world comes apart. Where is the real Seth, and why have all traces of him disappeared from her life? Fearing she’s losing her mind, she sets out to uncover the truth and escape the nightmare she’s living in. But with everyone around her convinced by the fake Seth, how can she ever hope to find the man she loves?

MY THOUGHTS:

It's the wedding day of Alice's dreams...until it becomes a nightmare...

There's been a real wedding theme in books lately - thrillers and historical fiction - it seems. Some with happy endings...others, not so much. THE SILENT BRIDE begins as the perfect love story but ends in anything but.

It's a beautiful summer's day with uncharacteristically stunning weather and Alice Porter is about to marry the man of her dreams. Her beaded bodice and flowing organza silk skirt radiates the bride's beauty as the sun beams its rays upon her as she steps inside the beautiful historic church on her father's arm. She's waited her entire life for this moment. She's ready. With a smile and a nod to her father she steps into the church behind her bridesmaids and looks down the aisle to her groom awaiting her at the altar. Seth Evans. Dr Seth Evans, endocrinologist at a busy London hospital who upped sticks and took a job at the local Southampton hospital to be nearer Alice's family and friends. He did that for her. And now she is to marry him at last. As she lets her gaze wander down the aisle to meet his, he turns to watch her procession with love and a smile.

But wait...stop. Alice freezes. She cannot take another step. She cannot speak. She cannot move. She can do nothing but stare. Stare at the place where her groom stands - where Seth should be. Because the man standing at the altar awaiting her is not Seth. And if he's not Seth, then where is he? And who is the man standing in his place?

Soon everyone is wondering what's the hold up. Alice's father is especially impatient and his brusque words to basically "snap out of it" are far from helpful. Imagine if you woke one morning to find the person you were married to was a complete stranger and you had never seen them before in your life? Personally, it would be terrifying. Hence Alice's shock and apprehension. Of course she couldn't go through with the wedding...not if she didn't recognise the groom, regardless of the reasons why. And yet, the stranger insists he is Seth, her family insists he is Seth and even his family, who she had met and now do not recognise either, insist he is Seth! Everyone is insisting that the man at the altar is indeed Seth...so why is she so intent on him NOT being Seth?

OK, everyone back up a minute, I say. Alice has obviously had a shock and regardless of what has happened she now no longer recognises the man she has been in a relationship with for the past year and was about to marry. She was literally minutes away from becoming his wife. So...something has happened to make her think, or more importantly believe, that "this Seth" is not "her Seth". So why is everyone being impatient with her rather than consoling her? Whether she marries Seth is neither here nor there, but the fact is she had such a terrifying shock that has changed her perception of everything she thought she knew and she begins to question her sanity. Shouldn't her loved ones be more concerned about that than saving face or, as her father seems intent on doing, shoving her and Seth together to fix things so that they can move forward together. But how can they when she doesn't even know him? Has no memory of this man? She has memories of her Seth but this is not him...not in her mind, he isn't. So where is her Seth?

This book is seriously messed up. The premise was so intriguing - a bride not recognising her husband-to-be as she walks down the aisle. Definitely a clever and unique concept and one that will keep you guessing throughout as to what really happened on that June day. The plot is such a ball of confusion that has you question who to believe and who not to believe. It's not entirely complex but it is a definite guessing game as to what is really going on. OK, so you may have to suspend belief a little but who cares? This is fiction. It's meant to entertaining and fun and thrilling...which it is all those things. 

Now I have to say Shalini, you have finally done it and hoodwinked me as to the who. But as to the how...I had a inkling of a suspicion along the way when backstories were mentioned in passing. It really was the only thing that made sense in my mind. So I wasn't completely bamboozled. But that final twist had me blinking in disbelief and going "Say what?"

I really can't say much more without accidentally revealing anything but expect the unexpected...as only Shalini can deliver.

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TheSilentBride in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

Shalini has recently signed with Thomas and Mercer publishers with her first publication with them being "The Silent Bride".

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

REVIEW: The Daughter in Law by Shalini Boland

The Daughter in Law by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 1st November 2022

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Amazon

Audio Links

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US

Listen to Sample

Published: 4th November 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your new husband has a shocking secret. Would your mother-in-law kill to protect it?

From the moment I meet my new mother-in-law in her beautiful country house, she makes it clear I’m not welcome. Lilian Fletcher hates me for marrying her precious boy on a golden beach far away from her.

Starting our marriage living in the Fletchers’ family home is a nightmare. Then I discover Seb was married before and his first wife is dead. I wonder why the man I love didn’t tell me the truth. And I wonder what happened to her: the woman who came before me. How did she die?

Lilian’s steely blue gaze follows me everywhere. Then the accidents start to happen, and I know she is behind them. It starts with small things, like a dropped birthday cake, a spilt glass of wine. But then my mother-in-law accuses me of something terrible. This woman is determined to get me out of her son’s life.

Now I wish I’d never met my handsome, clever husband. Or come to this luxurious house that feels more like a prison.

But I have secrets too. And no-one knows who I really am…

From the USA Today bestselling author, this totally addictive psychological thriller will keep you guessing all the way to the final shocking twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Shalini Boland's tense domestic thriller THE DAUGHTER IN LAW.

Wowsers! This has to be one of my favourite Shalini books to date! But then there are so many. But THE DAUGHTER IN LAW is a different tale and the setting in complete contrast with previous thrillers. I absolutely loved the whole cosy pub setting and felt like I was in an episode of Midsomer Murders there. I could picture the thatched roof, the cosy fireplace, the character-filled rooms with beamed ceilings and the warmth of the booths whilst outside the snow pelted against the heritage listed window panes. That pub alone was the winning aspect of the entire tale...but the plot was just as twisted and deliciously so. As only Shalini does.

Seb Fletcher arrives home after a three week holiday in Australia but with he brings a special souvenir - a wife, Caroline. Needless to say, his family are shocked. His parents Lilian and Brian are speechless and, well, less than thrilled. But, it is what it is and they must move on. Or do they?

Lilian is sure that Caroline isn't all that she appears to be and she sets about keeping her eyes open, keen to prove her suspicions. How can two people meet, fall in a love and just know they are the one to spend the rest of their lives with after just three weeks? And given her son's history she isn't at all sure he knows quite what he's doing. But maybe Caroline does.

Caroline is keen to prove to her in-laws that she loves their son and wants only to make him happy. But the tension between her and Lilian is rife from the outset making them all living together above the pub somewhat uncomfortable. Having managed a bar back in Byron Bay, Caroline eases into her new role as waitress in the pub's restaurant, handling customers with friendliness and ease. Until one of them gets a little too handsy and she puts him back in his place. Unfortunately, Lilian spotted the altercation and steps in to soothe the situation, dismissing Caroline from her duties for the rest of the day. As she makes her way to the staircase leading to their private resident upstairs, Caroline cannot miss the smirk on waitress Mariah's face. Did she set her up?

Things only go from bad to worse as tensions continue to bristle between the family. It is obvious that Lilian doesn't approve of her new daughter in law and Caroline can't seem to put a foot right with her. It seems that Seb and his father are continually trying to put out the fires that appear to ignite between the two women. Is this really just a case of jealousy over a mother's son and his new wife? Or is there something more sinister at play?

Almost from the beginning, it is clear that almost everyone appears to have a hidden agenda. Just exactly who can we trust? It seems there are secrets and lies flying all about and everyone is just a little bit economic with the truth.

The dual narratives from Caroline and Lilian gives the reader two vastly different perspectives in the way that they see each other...as well as the intense power struggle going on. It is clear neither trusts the other. Interspersed throughout are the narratives of sisters Amy and Michelle with no real clue as to how they fitted into this somewhat dysfunctional story. It certainly added a bit of mystery...though it wasn't difficult to figure out. I guess I read so many of these types of thrillers that I learn to look in places others don't. I don't expect the expected but rather the unexpected.

Shalini Boland is one of my favourite go-to authors and I am never disappointed with one of her fast paced thrillers. I loved the atmosphere she created with the pub setting which is so different from her more domestic settings but I loved it! What I also loved is she brought a little bit of my home into the story - Australia (though I'm not from Byron Bay). I am always thrilled when I see Australia referred to or written into a story somewhere. It seems Brits have a something of a love affair with my country! lol

And as usual, Shalini doesn't disappoint with her deliciously twisted reads that are fun, entertaining and fast paced throughout. I read this in one sitting! And as always, she leaves us with a bit of a twist at the end...one that I didn't see coming but that makes oh so perfect sense in hindsight.

Overall, THE DAUGHTER IN LAW is an addictive cat and mouse twist filled read that is fast and compelling throughout. I loved every minute of it and it is by far one of my favourites of hers to date. I think this is about my tenth book by her and never in a million years will it be my last...lol  Keep them coming!!

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDaughterInLaw in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

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.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: A Perfect Stranger by Shalini Boland

A Perfect Stranger by Shalini Boland

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 13th July 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th July 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Two marriages. Three little lies. Someone’s going to die…

I hold my breath as my handsome husband walks through the door. I’ve planned the perfect surprise birthday party for him. Our friends are gathered and the champagne is flowing. But when I catch the look in his deep brown eyes, I realise I’ve got this horribly wrong.

All evening my stomach is churning. And I can’t help but notice Danielle Baines speaking with Aidan. With her salon-styled hair, diamonds glittering on her ring finger and married to a rich businessman she has the kind of lifestyle I can only dream of. I’ve never liked her. And I know the feeling is mutual.

So why is she here and what is she saying to my husband?

Now it’s the end of the party and the man I love is confessing a secret that shocks me to the core. But it’s not what I was afraid of. It’s much worse.

He says we have to take our son and leave the place we call home because our lives are in danger.

I thought I knew everything about my husband. But suddenly he feels like a stranger. Should I trust him with my life?

From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally gripping psychological thriller will have you guessing until the last jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Shalini Boland's tense domestic thriller A PERFECT STRANGER.

“She trusted her husband…She shouldn’t have…”

Shalini does it again! Should I be surprised? She has that uncanny knack of sweeping you up into a twisted and often chilling nightmare in a seemingly normal family in an innocuous setting usually in the picturesque Dorset (well, picturesque to me anyways) and dragging us along with the protagonist through all their inner turmoil. And then...even after she shocks with a big reveal, she delivers a final twist like a knife in the back of her victim. And usually one we didn't see coming.

Opening with a mysterious prologue that will have the reader pondering its relevance, we then meet Emily and Aidan and their three year old son Josh, who are struggling financially and live in a cottage in a village they could only dream of affording to buy there. Emily works as a receptionist at a local GP practice and is pregnant with their second child whilst Aidan has a successful job as a luxury car salesman.

One night, Emily throws a surprise birthday party for Aidan at a local restaurant inviting all their friends including his boss Marcus and his wife Dani. But the moment Aidan walks in the door, Emily sees his face and she knows she has made a grave mistake. Although it was meant to cheer him up, this is not what Aidan wants; not a big lavish party with friends and colleagues. And then when she gives him the present she lashed out on for him, his response is not what she expected. Something is terribly wrong. What is Aidan hiding from her? Becoming more worried by the second, Emily coaxes her husband to confide in her. She fears the worst...but nothing can prepare her for what he is about to tell her. And just how much their lives are about to change.

Wealthy couple Marcus and Dani want for nothing. Marcus is the successful owner of the luxury car dealership where Aidan is one of their top salesmen. His wife Dani spends her days at her expensive health club or lunching with friends. Her husband provides for her in every aspect she could want...except for one thing. Dani longs for a baby of her own and despite several years of trying, they have remained unsuccessful. She knows Marcus will do anything to make her dream come true but she is unaware of just how far he would go and how low he would stoop to achieve the one thing she desires. When Marcus begins inviting suspicious characters back to their home, letting them roam freely about the place and splashing about in their pool, Dani begins to worry about the company he is beginning to keep and that they may lure him into something dodgy. Each time she attempts to voice her concerns, he brushes her off flippantly as nothing but it soon becomes a strain on their marriage.

Until one day, Dani decides to do some snooping to find out what these dodgy characters may have on her husband in an attempt to free him of their grip. But she has no idea what she is about to uncover...

Then just as you think you have it all worked out - you don't! Because along comes Shalini with yet another twist to throw into the mix, shocking readers with the untold secret.

Just wow! I wasn't sure in what direction A PERFECT STRANGER was going at first but it didn't take long for the pace to pick up and lead us on a merry chase in our quest for answers. The plot is complex, without being complicated, and the multi-layered story intense and even chilling. The short snappy chapters keep the pace moving seamlessly as the narrative alternates between the two women - Emily and Dani - with the random inclusion of an anonymous character watching events unfold and plotting their own endgame.

As the plot builds before taking proper shape, the reader may wonder just how Dani factors into Emily and Aidan's story...aside from being the wife of Aidan's employer. And as the tension builds so does the unfolding story with the pieces slotting neatly into place by the book's end. Two marriages, numerous secrets and an abundance of lies - the lives of these two women are intricately woven together with a climatic revelation that explodes to the surface, leaving them reeling from shock and disbelief. The reader too.

Shalini drops little clues throughout - nuances I picked up and pondered - until I joined all the dots in perfect symmetry...with the exception of that final twist that I didn't see coming or even suspect...not even a little bit. We are kept on our toes throughout with all the twists and unfolding drama and loads of tension right up to the end. As layer upon layer, the secrets and lies continue to build.

This is the umpteenth thriller I've read by Shalini Boland and she never ever fails to impress. She is quite honestly the queen of the killer twist, delivering a final surprise within the final pages with impeccable skill.

A PERFECT STRANGER is a perfect collision of worlds, lives, secrets and lies. A must-read for Shalini's fans that will not disappoint.

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #APerfectStranger in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

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.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram