I love a good killer nurse trope, and this one started off with a BANG when she states that she first killed someone when she was 10 years old. I was immediately hooked and needed to know more about this nurse. This was fast paced, and I really enjoyed the ending, however I did think the middle was a bit slow. Overall though I really enjoyed this one and would say it's one of Valerie Keogh's better books. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just love this authors books..........Valerie Keogh has a big way of pulling you into her books from the very first few pages and her latest one.
The Nurse was No different! It was brilliant from start to finish,

This book starts;

"I was ten when I made the decision to kill Gemma"..........and at the age of ten!

I want more and why did she make this decision........and what a way to start a book!!!!

Lissa McColl is the main character, she came across so sweet and innocent but at the age of ten she has committed her first kill, her good friend. No one around her thought anything about it.

She decided to become a nurse, they are respected and valued and for the first time in her life she was both of those. Sadly, Lissa hates her job and especially the selfish, rude and inconsiderate people she has to deal with every day.
Lissa just smiles and does her job.......But being underestimated in this job has its advantages. Lissa can get close to people, find out their secrets… sometimes with deadly results.......

Can anyone Stop her before someone is hurt?

This book is Soooooo Good. I loved it.....I highly recommend this book and another 5 star book from Valerie.

This is my first time reading something by this author and it definitely won't be my last. This is a breathtaking, suspenseful novel that is quite the page-turner and had me on the edge of my seat. Lissa has had a rough life, and because of that, has done some pretty bad things. When she becomes a nurse, she has the chance to do better, but old habits die hard and things don't always go as they should.
The story is chilling and gripping and piqued my interest from the start and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. The storyline was well crafted and flowed smoothly and the plot twists and turns kept me guessing and turning the pages anxious to see what happens next. The author did a nice job of crafting an entertaining and compelling thriller. She did a good job of describing the scenes and making them come to life, as if you are experiencing them yourself. The characters are so realistic and believable, I had chills going up and down my spine while reading. It's an utterly gripping tale you won't be able to put down. I would absolutely love to read more by this author!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I didn’t think I’d find myself with sympathy for a killer nurse but apparently It is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story revolves around a nurse, whose seemingly ordinary life takes a dark and unexpected turn. Keogh's skillful storytelling and well-crafted characters make this novel a compelling read. With twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end, "The Nurse" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Keogh's ability to create a sense of unease and tension throughout the narrative is truly commendable, making this book a page-turner that's hard to put down. If you enjoy mysteries with a touch of psychological complexity, "The Nurse" won't disappoint.

Quick, engaging read about a woman who has been bullied most of her life. She becomes a nurse. I don’t want to give any spoilers. The chapters are short and the book keeps your guessing. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life and full of fantastic characters that spring to life. I actually felt like I was there in the story with them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Nurse by Valerie Keogh.

I may have made the mistake of listening to this book and reading it, so I may be back to revise my review if I do choose to read it. Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me. It had a strong start, but after a while just felt like a lot of work to get through. I never once felt any connection to any of the characters, it was lacking greatly in the grit and darkness that a novel like this needed. I struggled to feel much at all and eventually put it down.

A really great and intriguing read. I loved the characters and the story. Will look out for more from this author.

Its hard not to feel sorry for Lissa. She does bad things but her life has been so miserable and full of hurt that you can kind of understand why she does them. The realy sucker punch comes when another nurse comes into Lissas life and is not all she seems. Its very interesting to find out why this woman has befriended Lissa, she is she upto…..

Very interesting. Sad, unnerving and quite addictive,

It's one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat because you continuously feel something terrible is about to happen. I really enjoyed reading it, in fact I gulped it in a couple of days although I had a lot of work to do, in fact I've just begun reading the arc of Valerie's next book! The best part of this book, and of Valerie's writing I think, is the excellent, detailed, totally believable personality of the main character. The inner workings of her mind, her thoughts, just seem so real! I wasn't into the ending that much (hence 4 stars and not five) but I'll just say that, since every cloud has a silver lining, (Valerie, can you hear me!?) a sequel could probably be written...

Lissa McColl was 16 and was a topper in her class. She was the only child for her parents who were very proud of her. When she killed Jemma because school was not a happy place for Lissa after Jemma's arrival. Jemma belonged to a group they called all superior. It was painful and confusing to be bullied by Jemma and her gang at school. Lissa was the perfect victim who was smaller and thinner than her tormentors where she was too easily pushed around. As the days go by, bullying becomes more delightful for their fun. Lissa didn't react as it became tearful with the situation. They made fun of her appearance and to Lissa's mother's horror and disbelief it was very painful. Such a nasty and emotional act by Jemma.

Lissa had to face name-calling, pushing, and shoving which she was increasingly subjected to. Instead of telling her father, Lissa took this matter into her hands and one day killed Jemma. Lissa thought the world would be better off without Jemma. Lissa thought by killing Jemma it would be a service to the world if she stopped her from hurting anyone else. Lissa wasn't the forgiving kind of character. Lissa kills Jemma at the school playground without leaving any clue about the plans successfully completed and made it look like an accident. The killing of Jemma looks like a planned tragic accident that was written off by the detectives.

Afterward, Lissa's father was found dead in his car, dies of a massive heart attack or a stroke, and therefore her mother breaks down. They take her mother to the Psychiatric clinic to get her treatment which becomes too costly for Lissa. Being burdened by the medical costs of her mother, abandoned, neglected, and grieving her father's loss was combined with conflicting emotions. She comes to know that her father has another wife - Olivia Burton. Lissa had a bigamous father that was disbelief that Olivia realized her father lived a double life. What Lissa had to cope with was anger, and sorrow towards her father for the treachery and betrayal of her mother. Lissa and her mother were left with no money to pay medical bills and no insurance policy as her father hadn't paid the premium on his life insurance for several months. Therefore, a Second time killing happens. Lissa plans to kill Olivia Burton so that Olivia's house will be sold to pay the arrears on Lissa's mortgage. Without leaving room for doubt Lissa kills Olivia by a knife attack. The money to provide for her mother was the reason for killing Olivia.

A gripping suspense thriller novel with an interesting storyline. There is a surprise twist at the end. Also, the characters change after the first half of the read. In the second half of the story, Lissa plays a Nurse character. An enjoyable and fantastic read as the author took the murders happening in the story from the first page without dragging her point. A quick and easy standalone novel. The story made me wonder how a serial killer like Lissa can be let loose by the police. Isn't that harmful than to give her revenge by her tormentors?

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books Publishers for an Advance copy for my honest review.

Smitha Agy
Novel Nerd Blog: https://smithareading.blogspot.com/

Eek!! Well this didn’t go the way I thought it would, so exciting! I really felt like I got to know the characters through the authors writing.

I loved Lissa, probably shouldn’t, the underdog killer! I felt so sorry for her. The twists and turns were fantastic.

I need to read the authors previous books.

I was obsessed with this book! I couldn't put it down; the tension was sustained throughout every chapter. An absolutely gripping thriller. My only criticism is that it was too short - I would have happily read this if it was twice as long. I hope the sequel won't be too long for publishing!



This book sent me to download a bunch of other titles this author - I can't wait to read them all! A very easy five stars for me.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy.

The Nurse by Valerie Keogh is another must read for fans of the author. Ms Keogh is an automatic read for me, and her latest delivers.

Lissa McColl has been bullied and overlooked her entire life. Desperately seeking approval and love, she becomes fixated at a very early age in seeing that justice is served for any perceived wrongdoing. A sudden shift in the circumstances of her home life have her fending for herself, eventually finding her way into nursing. On the surface, it is a surprising choice, but Lissa quickly realizes that being ignored is nothing but advantageous as she is easily able to get close to those who are the most vulnerable.

Valerie Keogh spins a dark and twisty tale that will keep you guessing and, in Lissa, has created a protagonist you will not soon forget.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Boldwood Books for the DRC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I enjoyed reading The Nurse. The book is about a young woman, Lissa, who has been bullied and overlooked her whole life. This allows for her to grt away with things that she may not have been able to accomplish otherwise.
The suspenseful twisty plot quickly drew me into the well written book. The characterization of the main characters was well done. I look forward to reading more by Valerie Keogh.

This was a fast paced thriller that really had you wanting to look around every corner and see what was coming before the next amazing shock. Don’t miss out on this one. I am off to grab her previous titles.

Many thanks to Valerie Keogh, Netgalley, and the the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review.

The synopsis is repeated on Goodreads many times so I'll jump straight to the review. I had not read Valerie's work before and I went in blind. I found the pace to be quick and tye storyline engaging but some parts were lacking in detail and the plot twists were predictable. I felt that one day she was a neglected child and the next a nurse with not much depth in between. With that said, I will read her books again as it was engaging and a quick read.

OMG - This book is perfection I don't think I will forget this book for a long time. The twists are mind boggling and I was left doubting everyone and oh boy that ending was perfectly plotted and would never have guessed the outcome. I genuinely couldn't read this fast enough but equally didn't want it to end. 5 stars

The storyline for this one had me gripped from the outset! Told in the first person in two main parts, we get to know Lissa both in childhood and as an adult and how events have shaped her actions.

Despite the brutality of some of her actions, the author cleverly manages to evoke empathy from the reader as it becomes clear that she has suffered her own emotional traumas.

The chapters are short and pacy and the writing style allows the reader to get into Lissa’s head as she describes her thought processes.

This is the third book I’ve read from the author and it’s undoubtedly my favourite so far. A real page-turner!

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

This story didn't take the turn I thought it was going to! Lissa did bad things when she was 10, she watched her bully die at her hand and covered it up as an accident, fast forward and now she grown she is a nurse and still feeling under appreciated in her role at the agency she is working for. She meets fellow nurse Sarah who seems to be like Lissa, a killer? perhaps, but she is definitely on the cusp of oath they take to Do No Harm. Sarah has the cushy agency work of a residential whilst Lissa is still doing nursing homes, and she is trying to get the agency to give her those jobs but so far she hasn't been successful. When Sarah asks for Lissa to giver her and hand for 10mins one morning Lissa discovers evidence that wife may be tampering with her husbands medication, but keeps that to herself for the time being in the hopes of using it as a form of blackmail.

Only Lissa has it all wrong and soon her life might be in danger, or at least she thinks it is! This was a read that like I say didn't take the turn I thought, I thought it was going to be a serial killer nurse but what we get is a sinister tale.

4 stars