This was a very entertaining read. I enjoyed the plot and I thought it was unique, there was a major sense of fear of the main characters past which wasn’t disclosed to the reader until near the end. I enjoyed the pace of this book as it wasn’t too fast but it did pick up when incidents happened. The ending became very sinister and this is when Ava’s past catches up with her and everything gets revealed.

I thought Ava, the main character, was definitely introverted and she was an over-thinker. In between these incidents that took place, she would ponder over what happened and who could have done it. She managed to work out some answers on her own but she did get deceived at some points during the book. I like how the author made Ava a character would could work things out on her own because it showed how she was independent and determined. Ava’s friend Poppy is the opposite of Ava, she is carefree and extroverted, I liked the dynamic between the duo and how well they get along. Ava’s sister, Judy, also has an important role in Ava’s life and she goes through her own traumatic events in the book.

This book was well written and as I mentioned before, the pace was good. The beginning started slow as the reader was being introduced to new characters and the world building but it picked up a few chapters in. I found this book was gripping and it was a page turner, I couldn’t wait to find out the truth behind it all. There were many twists in this book which made me want to carry on reading. The ending was satisfying and it gave the characters closure on all the events that happened.

I highly recommend this book and this author, I would love to go back and read more from this author.

The story gives you a quick build up that convinces the librarian, Ava Warrington, that someone, possibly the man she rejected at the pub, is setting her up with continuous small incidents that are progressively getting worse. But maybe, the incidents are related to her past, a repeated topic that is slowly explained as Ava tries to find the source of her current troubles. While this storyline may not be original, the twists and unexpected characters Valerie Keogh sets up the reader for a very unique reveal. This was a quick read for me, finished in an afternoon.

The Librarian by Valerie Keogh

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Since that fateful night I have always kept myself to myself. Reserved. Private. Alone.

Some people think I am too quiet. That life is passing me by. But I know there is safety in my own company. That no one can hurt me if I don’t let them get too close.

Until the day I meet him. A handsome, charming stranger. A chance for me to take a risk…finally?

Or a man who threatens everything I’ve worked so hard for?

You’ll be sorry…

And that’s when my whole life begins to fall apart….

My Opinion

When Ava is persuaded to go out for the night with her friend Poppy she has no idea that her life is about to change. Ava is already jumpy from previous events so when weird things start happening around her she is very on edge.

An entertaining thriller that makes for a great read. This was the first book that I have read by Valerie Keogh and what a clever book it was. The first chapter was enough to grab my attention.

Rating: 4/5

Talk about the past coming back to haunt you, bloody hell. What a gripping, dark, and disturbing read. I was hooked! It was a very mysterious read with too many coincidences for my liking. I was beside Ava the whole way, from losing her job to her best friend to her sister and finally all the little strange things. I was shocked Ava didn't go mental herself. She is one determined woman who knows who is behind everything. Or at least she thinks she does. A clever read. Messed up. Toxic. Brilliant ending. A well-deserved four stars from me.

WOW! This was one hell of a crazy ride that had me flying though the Pages. The twists had doubting every little thing we were told. After finishing this I thought to myself just how far would someone go to get revenge? If you love a twisty fast-paced thriller then this is perfect

I love books about librarians and books. I found the story to be great and very entertaining! Definitely a must read.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Librarian' by Valerie Keogh..


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Valerie Keogh, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random resources Tours.

Publication date 21st April 2023


This is the first book I have read by this author.


I was originally drawn to this book by its gorgeous eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated 'Don't miss the brand new thriller by Valerie Keogh! Perfect for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and K.L. Slater.' I am a huge fan of all three of these amazing authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Boldwood. I have yet to read a book published by Boldwood that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 52 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Ava Warrington. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

WHAT did I just read!!!! WOW!!! I mean seriously Wow!! I was NOT expecting that lot fair play!!! This has GOT to start with a MASSIVE WELL DONE VALERIE KEOGH!!!! Ooopps sorry, yes, needed a minute to get over that but I've just left you hanging there... Sorry.... Let me tell you more...


Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! This book is an extremely well written book by this amazing author which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and beautifully written with vivid descriptions I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times. The blurb, title and cover really fit the storyline.


As you can tell I LOVED the storyline. I found it to be realistic, very fast paced and I read it in a day. I loved the setting and atmosphere and just well... Everything!!! Twists after shocks after turns!!! Arggghhh... Its so hard to NOT say anything about them as it will give too much away and spoil it for future readers but it definitely left me speechless over and over!!! I have read hundreds of psychological books and it gets harder and harder to keep my interest and to shock me but Valerie managed it hook, line and sinker Just brilliant fair play and all links in and wraps up perfectly!!! I cannot remember the last time I flew through a book so quickly. Each and every time I went to put it down to do something my fingers were itching to pick it back up as I just HAD to know what happened next!! Valerie's evocative writing skills ensures you are dragged deep into the storyline seeing everything that is happening and feeling the tension and suspense that Ava is going through. My heart was in my throat throughout reading this fast paced, gripping and gritty psychological thriller! This may be the first book I have read by this author but if all her books are like this I cannot wait to get stuck into them and I have added all her previous books to my wish list already. It is ram packed with twists, friendship, tension, stress, suspense and everything you could ask for in a psychological thriller. I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! You won't regret it!!


Just like with the storyline the characters come to life with Valerie's fantastic writing skills. They are well rounded, realistic and strong making them all the more believable. Ava has her dream job working in the Tate but as she managed to get it as soon as she graduated she has times where she feels she has missed out on life. She is a worrier and regrets something that happened 10 years ago but we don't get to find out what this is until later in the book. The 10th anniversary of this event is coming up and she is stressed out about it. She goes out for a drink with her friend Poppy as Poppy wants to do some man hunting. Poppy starts chatting to a guy she meets and Ava goes to leave but is offered a drink by another man at the bar. When Poppy turns him turn he tells her she will be sorry as she is leaving. It doesn't take long that strange events start to happen from broken equipment at work to dead birds in her garden. Could the man she turned down be exacting his revenge? You'll just have to grab your copy to find out!! I really connected with Ava and felt for her as she just wants to keep her head down and get on with her life to the best that she can with her worries over her head. I won't go into more details as I don't want to risk giving anything away but Valerie has done an amazing job constructing an addictive and explosive psychological thriller with fantastic and varied characters that you just won't be able to put down!!


Congratulations Valerie on an explosive success!!! Welcome to my favourite author club!! Here's to many more successes 🥂!!!


Clear your schedules before picking this up as you will not be able to put it down!!! "


Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapters of Valerie's 'The Widow' which looks just as addictive as this one!

Overall an absolutely page turning, addictive, gripping and explosive must read that will keep you addicted from the very start to the fantastic ending!!!


Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Suspense, Hard-Boiled Mystery, International Mystery & Crime, Crime, Thriller & Mystery Adventures, Spy Stories & Tales Of Intrigue, Suspense Thriller, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Psychological Literary Fiction, Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction, and Mystery amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors, fans of Miranda Smith, Sheryl Browne, Sue Watson, K.L. Slater. Shalini Boland, Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware, Gillian Flynn and anyone looking for an explosive page turner!!!


281 pages.


This book is just £1.89 to purchase on kindle via Amazon, free on kindle unlimited and £11.44 in paperback which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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My Review: I had a thrilling time reading this book. Everything is fun, until it's not. We follow Ava on her journey of then and now. Ava had spent many years looking over her shoulder. Judy her sister and her best friend Poppy are the two closest to her. She loves her job at the Tate Modern as Head Librarian. Strange things start to happen, dead birds on patios or not? Is it all down to anxiety or is there more to it? You'll enjoy finding out.

I have read a few of this author’s books now, & this is up there as one of the best. A slow-burning psychological thriller which has a varying pace with plenty of twists & turns.

Ava Warrington is in her dream job, Head Librarian at the Tate Modern, combining her love of art & literature. Her calm & quiet work environment provides her with respite from the memories of her past. Whilst at university, an incident occurred which mentally scarred her &, as it is coming up to the ten year anniversary, it is intruding into her life more & more.
Her best friend, Poppy, meets her in a local bistro & ends up finding the love of her life, Ava, however, rebuffs the advances of another man there. She lives to regret it.

Easy to read & keeps you guessing until the very end.

Valerie Keogh sure knows how to write mind blowing physcological thrillers in fact I think she is the Queen of them. The Librarian sure blew my mind, I stayed up reading into the early hours because I wanted to know how it would end but at the same time I didn't want it to end. Ava was my favourite character as she reminds me a bit of myself she is very reserved and quiet and happy with her own company. Her friend Poppy is the opposite and self centred but I think there is a kind side to her, she just doesn't often show it. I started reading and from the get go was gripped, I could feel something building but was unsure of what it was. It all slowly gets revealed with different twists and turns and a totally unexpected ending. A outstanding physcological thriller!

Valerie Keogh’s latest book The Librarian has a gripping plot with lots of action, twists, and turns. It is full of smartly made and complex characters. I found at times that the book was a bit drawn out and I just want to know the backstory that Keogh referenced to throughout the story. This psychological thriller is a fast and entertaining read.


3.5 rounded up

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Librarian by Valerie Keogh is a thrilling contemporary suspense that entertained me as my pulse rose. It is definitely not a book to be read alone on a dark night or you will be awake listening to every creak and groan!
The past is a dreadful place to inhabit – ten years of guilt tormenting a character who cannot quite get past one night that haunts her memory.
Full descriptions create an eerie atmosphere that plunge the reader, along with the characters, into a nightmare as a life seems to be spiraling out of control. It seems that trouble is following and messing with a mind that is already disquieted.
We see the bond of sisterhood between sisters and friends as they support each other through troubling seasons.
London, though huge, can be very lonely and is a place where no one will hear you scream.
All the characters were well drawn. The leading lady was easy to empathise with and very likable. We understood her fears and her conscience, and she had a lovely bond with her sister.
The Librarian was a heart-stopping read that I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep. It is also a read where I am still picking my jaw up off the floor. A superb read.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Ava works as a librarian at the Tate modern- her dream job. When she is asked out for a drink with her close friend, she is approached by a man who won’t take no for an answer and shouts a threat to her down the street. Ava then remembers, as if she could forget, about a man she knew ten years beforehand, where we are only told that something happened which she feels is her fault. She keeps hearing noises at home which is spooking her rather and when something happens at the gallery she is convinced that the man is carrying out his threat. What on earth is going on and what happened all those years ago?
As with all of Valerie's books I got into this rather quickly and time and real life slipped away from me- to me the sign of a good book and a skilful author. There’s a wonderful tension without anything being obvious to the reader- clever writing indeed. I like Ava and found myself rooting for her. It's clever, it's well thought out and I got to the end rather quickly as I couldn't put it down. A very different read in many ways and one carefully crafted. A stunning, brilliant read.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
#blogtour (amazon posted under misfits farm)
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Ava leads a very quiet life as a librarian. Much to quiet if you ask her sister and her best friend.
After a terrible night many years ago, she made a vow to herself that things would change.
One night out with her friend she meets a handsome man but declines his invitation for another drink. He tries again as she's leaving and when she again declines he tells her she will be sorry.
A couple of days later she's still haunted by the chill in his voice. Then other strange and awful things begin to happen. Could this random stranger really be responsible or is there something else at play here?
I felt like this was a little slow and took a while for any action to happen. It was fairly predictable in places and the flashbacks gave quite a few hints but it was a quick read.

This is a tough book for me to review, so I will skip my normal format and jump right into it.

What I liked: Things started happening in the second half of the book, and it was tense, and I love feeling on edge while I’m reading. I also enjoyed the resolution, and though I had to suspend belief for certain things, I didn’t want to put the book down once we got into the thick of things.

What didn’t work for me: I didn’t care for Ava. She ruminates a lot, which feels like filler and makes the story crawl. Some things were at odds, like Ava claiming she doesn’t drink yet drinks a ton of wine, just not in public. She’s made herself a doormat, and her eyes always fill with tears. Also, a few hits of pot wouldn’t make you forget an entire night, which feels biased.

Back to what I liked: I give this 3 stars for a reason. The book redeemed itself in the second half and became a fun read. The tension was great, and when things started happening, everything went wrong. I’m particular about what characters I like, and after reading some reviews, some people really liked Ava, so definitely give this book a try if it sounds like it would be up your alley because it might just be your next favorite read.

Beautiful cover, beautiful imagery. Thrilling, quick read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Enjoyable read for sure.

Well this took a lot of getting into. Ava works as a librarian at the Tate modern and lives alone. She starts experiencing strange happenings at home and at work . You get that she is feeling paranoid and that something happened in her past but the plot was patchy and beyond the description of her feelings it did not really make much sense. She is suspended from work and obsessed with someone she saw briefly in a bistro .
The book did improve in the second half though, the action picked up and the plot started to make more sense. Ava was, however, too naive in some ways and that added a layer which stretched the credibility of the plot in my opinion.
Not a bad read, I did have to push myself to carry on in the first half . Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Ava Warrington, 29, is the Head Librarian at the Tate Modern. She loves her job and always seems to take on more than she should. She has a nice home gifted to her by her parents and enjoys her single life.

Ava has been friends with Poppy since their university days. Poppy is always looking for the perfect man. So, one night she encourages Ava to join her at a restaurant. While Poppy is intrigued by a man she meets, Ava is taken aback by a man who tries to get to know her. He’s pushy which scares Ava and she gets away from him. He yells after her that she will be sorry.

There was an incident from Ava’s university days with a man named Simon that has always left Ava feeling guilty.

While taking a group on a tour at the Tate Museum, Ava uses her laser light to spotlight a painting only to realize that someone has changed the light to one that cuts through something. She is horrified and so upset that she takes a few days off from her job while the museum investigates it.

The books seems a bit slow at first but it then speeds up and gets really cringe worthy. There are some vicious characters created here and I hope I never run into anyone like that. Suffice to say this is a good read and I think people are going to enjoy it.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Get ready for the thrill...............

Valerie Keogh's books never disappoint. The Librarian brings to you a new world of psychological thriller. With a medium paced and gripping plot, the story enthralls and creates an air of mystery around us. And the most wonderful thing about the plot is that it has only a few characters as the center of interest. Ava's character is wonderful and right from the start she grips us in her aura. But you need to have a little bit of patience as nearly halfway through the book nothing much happens. But after that it was a captivating read.

I went through a chunk of this book wondering how and who would fit together. I got so far and figured out the hows and the whys but oh my, not the complete picture! That shocked me!

I adore Valerie’s writing! In each book, she brings a slightly fresher sting to the tale, and this was not one I was expecting! With this book, there wasn’t a lot set in the Tate Modern or a library which I was a bit sad about. But the bits that are set are the start of the unraveling.

Some of this book gobsmacked me! One shocking scene inside a flat, had me holding my breath that’s for sure! I listened to the audiobook and I was willing for the fantastic narrator to hurry up as I needed to know what was going on, but I was also praying she slow down so that this didn’t end. But I blitz the audiobook in a day, so guess who the winner was there! LOL. I mean there was one bit I was shouting at the characters to not open the front door to a flat!

I must say I didn’t particularly like anyone in the book, I did find Ava was a little tedious at times, and Poppy well she was very self-centered for a stage. It was Judy to who my heart went out. I liked how everyone had time in the book and we got to see glimpses of the other characters’ lives.

Cleverly done as normal. Her twisty mind knows no end! Especially as she unravels a shock that I didn’t even predict, leaving you to make of what you will. I was shocked! It then made me question the entire book and Ava’s previous 10 years!!!!

Another winner by the awesome Ms Valerie and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!!