I was rather disturbed by Lissa’s story as I also experienced bullying. Thankfully, I didn’t imagine their deaths but certainly hoped for an uncomfortable distraction for them. The story opens with a scene-setting description of Lissa’s feelings. Her home life was complicated by her parent’s unusual marriage and especially her Mother’s mood swings which encompassed deep joy and crushing pain.
Faced with a school bully, Lissa deals with the tormentor in an effective yet calculated way. Seen as a victim of a horrible accident, Lissa strolls through the subsequent counselling. When tragedy strikes and she is left alone, she is faced with another situation needing her own unique brand of problem-solving.
I was absolutely swept up in this story and found Lissa strangely hypnotic yet disturbing. Having access to her thoughts was equal parts enlightening and uncomfortable. The story spans several years and it’s difficult not to feel sympathetic to her situation. As a Nurse, she had pledged to ‘Do No Harm’ but that’s a tough promise to keep when you started the harm long before the pledge.
I certainly questioned my own morals as I found myself justifying her actions and not being indignant about her choices. But, as I have explained, Lissa’s past is filled with some of the most challenging choices and it’s difficult to take the moral high ground when you feel sympathy for an unsympathetic character.
I’m sure there are more books from this author in my future.

Thank you #boldwoodbooks for the reading opportunity.

Fast paced, tense, gripping! Really enjoyed this book. It was really hard to put down and I look forward to reading more from this author. 4/5

Omg! Valerie Keogh does it yet again! This is a crazy great thriller with fantastic characters! Keogh is definitely one of my go to authors. This was filled with so many secrets, lies and awesome reveals. Perfectly written and executed. I read it in one day and stayed up way past my bedtime! Could not put it down.
Thank you NetGalley, Valerie Keogh and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this book! It was not what I expected at all. Because of the title I was expecting a medical thriller but I wouldn’t even really consider this a thriller. Just a story that includes some murder. Lol

The story started with Lissa as a child and continued as she grew up. She had a lot of thoughts about killing and even carried through sometimes. Everything she did was extremely well thought out. Whether that was murdering or just snooping through someone’s home. I really liked Lissa as a character.

It’s a really good story but not a must read.

A very good book by Valerie Keogh. Since Lissa was a young child she didn’t really fit in, she was bullied at school by a girl called Gemma and Lissa couldn’t cope. She ultimately found a solution to the problem, a method of fixing things she would later rely on in her life. When Lissa’s father dies and her mother has a breakdown she is all alone in the world, she has to grown up rapidly taking on responsibilities and decisions for herself and her mother.later in her career as a nurse we see her problem solving skills emerge again. A brilliant , fast paced book that will keep you engaged, both being repelled by the character and feeling sorry for her. One to read

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review!

Overall, I enjoyed this book! It was incredibly fast paced and kept my attention! There were some twists and turns that really kept the plot going. If there was one negative, I found some parts to be a bit repetitive. I’m happy that I read it and would be interested in trying more of the author’s books in the future!

Valerie Keogh returns following The Librarian with her best yet, THE NURSE —a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with fun, wicked unexpected, clever twists leaving you glued to the pages in this gripping psychological thriller. Your head will be spinning —Who is the cat, and who is the mouse?

The opening line hooks you: "I was ten when I made the decision to kill Jemma."

Meet Lissa McColl. She was not a beautiful child and was constantly bullied at school. She had no friends, her mom was too fragile to cause conflict, and her dad, a sales rep for a medical company, was gone most of the time. (later, we learn of his other life).

Finally, she had enough and devised a plan to eliminate her worst enemy and nemesis, Jemma. She will never forget those eyes staring back at her. They would haunt her forever. Of course, it was ruled an accident. (one down). No one bothered her at school again. She continued to feel neglected, confused, sad, and lonely and tried to convince herself that her parents loved her.

Then another tragedy occurred when she turned sixteen. Her dad, Mark, died in his company car. When the police came to tell them he had passed, Jemma's mom went into shock and never spoke again. She was never the same after the news and remained in a withdrawn catatonic state. Lissa could not take care of her full-time because she had to work to pay the bills, so a full-time 24-hour care facility was the only option.

Lissa was alone, after discovering her father was a bigamist and had not provided for them. She now had to put her mom in a pricey skilled nursing facility and tend to the arrangements on her own with the help of her mom's attorney.

She then decides she must get rid of the other wife, Olivia, to sell her house for funds to take care of her mom. She never kills unless necessary and needs the funds for her mom's care. Once again, things go off flawlessly.

She has left university, still caring for her mom, and has barely enough money to eat or pay her bills. She is a nurse and not particularly fond of the job. She had to sell her family home and now needs a place to live. She can afford little, eats barely anything, is skinny, and buys clothes at a thrift store.

She decides to work for an agency to set her hours. She finds an ad posted for a studio cottage (converted garage) behind a larger house. She loves it but thinks the owner, Theo is quite strange. He stares at her constantly.

Through the agency, she meets another nurse, Carol. Carol invites her to coffee, and they become somewhat friends. But there is something off about Carol. She can never figure out what she wants with her. Very strange.

She continues taking the bus to her nursing jobs because she cannot afford a car or dine out. The attorney thinks she put her mom in a state hospital, but Lissa would not hear of it. Plus, she has to ensure she gives them money to have her mom's hair done, cosmetics, etc. She prays one day her mom will be normal and knows she has been a good daughter and longs to hear the words. She needs validation and acceptance.

Then one day, Carol asks her to come and help her out at a wealthy home of a dying man that has remarried, Mr and Mrs. Wallace. Lissa snoops and finds some shocking information.

She is undecided on how to use this information to blackmail someone to get more money since her mom's care has increased. She returns later to the mansion without Carol's knowledge and sees another nurse who is not so caring and slack on the job. This same nurse, Jolene, shockingly winds up at her mother's care center. She does not want her to take care of her mom and devises a plan to keep her away from her mom. That works!

Also, her landlord Theo is acting strange.

Now back to the blackmail plan. However, someone winds up dead, and the tables are turned. There is another criminal out there, and this is where the tension and suspense is nerve-wracking. Who is the predator and prey? Has Lissa met her match?

When nothing or no one is as they appear. HOLY MOLEY!

There are so many twists and turns in the second half, and the book takes a different direction than I expected, which was a good thing and took the book to five stars. I loved Theo and my favorite character— Please do not kill him.

Lissa was an interesting character. You feel sorry for her, but her mind goes from good to evil, impulsive and delusional in the blink of an eye. Funny, she thinks serial killers are sadistic and reads all the books, but she never really thinks she is a criminal. I would love to see a sequel. These characters are too good to end!

The drug cart scene was so funny. It reminded me of Frannie Green, a retired nurse in a senior apartment (drug cart) in Rebecca Keller's You Should Have Known (so good), and the neighbor/landlord, Theo, reminded me of Catherine Ryan Hyde's So Long Chester Wheeler.

I know the author was a former nurse, so sure this was fun to write. This is for you if you like twisty entertaining thrillers with jaw-dropping surprises. I enjoy Valerie's books and have read quite a few, but this was my favorite.

Thanks to #BoldwoodBooks and #NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 21, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
July 2023 Must-Read Books

I was drawn in to the story right from the very start. A bit creepy but with twists galore, right up to the very end, Another great read from Valerie Keogh..
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

Lissa was never popular in school and was bullied by one girl in particular. Tired of her meanness, Lissa put a permanent stop to it in a very clever way.

Lissa loves her parents. Her father travels for his job half the week leaving her mother sad. Then, they get the news that her father has been found dead in his car. To top it off, they learn that he has another wife. At the news, Lisa’s mother lapses into a catatonic state and there she stays. The problem of her father’s other wife is taken care of with the great efficiency she took care of her childhood bully.

Lissa attends university and becomes a nurse. She realizes how mean some managers can be and once again “fixes” the problem. Now, she is working for an agency to earn more. She does a lot of night shift work at care homes which pays more money. Her insistence that her mother be cared for at an expensive home means she has very little money for her own needs. But she loves her mother dearly and wants only the best for her. So, she plods on.

Plods on, is how this book went for me. Lissa is a boring and sad person and her deep interest in other people’s lives is pathetic. I have read and loved many other books by this author but, unfortunately, this one just wasn’t that good. I’m sure other readers will enjoy it more.

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

A captivating tale of darkness......................

The Nurse by Valerie Keogh is another psychological thriller by the author whcih enchants you till the end. The plot is so interesting that you would not be able to take your eyes off. The best thing of the plot is that all the characters have a special narration. They feel alive and real. And, with each page the mystery deepens. You can literally feel the thrill while reading it. I really enjoyed a lot.

Definitely 5 stars for the book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to be a part of the blog tour.

Wow Valerie has done it again. Another brilliant read that grabs you from page one. This book has so many twists and turns it’s like you’ve been on the waltzer. The main character Lissa you first meet as a young bullied schoolgirl. Lissa has a rather unusual way of getting rid of the problems that she has in her life. It’s weird as she’s bad but you can’t help feeling sorry for her. It’s just her logic to why what’s she’s done she really believes is ok. Make time to read this as you will not want to put it down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book drew me in from the first line and kept me dangling on a hook right the way through until the last page had been turned!

The story started fast, jumping into the action with both feet and speeding around telling us about Lissa's start in life. It then slowed down a little in the second third and filled in some of who she is now and introduced more characters, each with their own potentially suspicious natures. In the last third of the book, the tempo picks up again and I really wasn't sure who was going to be doing what to whom for much of these sequences! It was such an amazing, surprising read!

As this was my first book by this author, I wasn't sure really what to expect from the brief description. What I discovered in the pages I read has made me take a long look at the other books by Valerie Keogh and make sure a few of them at least are added to my TBR shelf soon!

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Another amazing book by Valerie Keough. I enjoyed all the surprises throughout the book and seeing the dedication and love that Lissa had for her mother. I did wish more for Lissa. I feel her character deserved more then life was giving her, although it was choices she made for herself. I'm thinking she felt she didn't deserve more, which stemmed from her childhood. I did like seeing that she went to school and had a career after what she endured at a young age. Overall, very good story. I really enjoyed how the ending played out.

This book releases tomorrow and it's amazing!! I was on the edge of my seat, as I flipped each page. Lissa is a nurse who took a vow to do no harm....but since she was young, she hasn't liked when people do her wrong, or are rude or disrespectful. This is a stunning thriller and it flew by fast. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this advanced copy.

The Nurse wasn't quite what I had envisioned when I chose it. But I loved it all the same.

When a book s first sentence is: " I was ten when I made the decision to kill Gemma.", you know it has the potential to be a good book. It drew me in right from the start and kept going. It did drag a little in the middle but picked back up again later on.

Lissa is a complex character with multiple reasons for doing what she does. For her, it all comes down to doing what must be done.

I flew through this book. It is my first book by Keogh but it won't be my last. A fun read.

Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood books for the arc.

This is the first book I have read by Valerie Keogh. I have no idea how that happened, but I fully intend to dive into her other publications, after devouring this addictive psychological thriller.

We first meet main character Lissa  McColl at the age of ten years old. Her home life is 'complicated' but not without love and affection. At school she finds herself tormented by the school bully. Did she report it to the Head Master or go home crying to her parents? No, she deals with the problem in her own way!

As a teenager, Lissa's life changes drastically. Again, she faces her problems head on and finds a way forward. She qualifies as a nurse and works long hours but she feels worn out and unappreciated.

It's difficult not to feel some empathy with Lissa. Trauma definitely plays a part in how she reacts to situations. She is devoted to her mother and makes huge sacrifices, despite getting nothing in return.

The author has created a believable yet contradictory character who is truly fascinating.  Lissa is callous and paranoid  yet selfless and craving affection. Secondary characters are just as intriguing and the story moves quickly.

Don't pick up this book if you have things to do or people to see. The hours slip away as you get invested in this fast paced, sinister and compelling story.

Lissa was bullied as a child. Alternating between being overlooked and given extra affection and attention, Lissa learns to look out for herself. After a tragedy Lisa’s mom has to go into a facility while Lissa is left to take care of herself at 16. Everything Lissa has done is merely what needed to be done. This book will make you think long and hard about your caregivers.

I was drawn in to the story right from the very start. Twists galore, right up to the very end, none of which I guessed.. Great story and five stars from me.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

3.5 stars rounded up.

Bullied, over-looked and underappreciated, Lisa McColl learns at an early age to do very bad things. As a nurse she is respected and valued for the first time in her life. But Lissa hates her job and the selfish. rude and inconsiderate people she has to deal with. But being underestimated in this job had its advantages. Lissa can get close to the people and find out their secrets.... sometimes with deadly results.

Lissa's rough start in life has taken her down the wrong path and she does bad things. When she becomes a nurse, she has the opportunity to turn her life around. But things don't always happen the way they should, and the behaviour of others might make Lissa do bad things again.

you can't help but like Lissa even though she has done some bad things in her past. This is quite an addictive read. Lissa is a complex character. The pace is fast, and the chapters are short. Lissa is an unreliable narrator. the ending of the book has a satisfying twist that ties up all the loose ends. I did think the story dipped for a bit in the middle of the book, so I took off half a star for that reason.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #ValerieKeogh for my ARC of #TheNurse in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a terrific book. The story had a great way of keeping me intrigued with starting off the book with the playground scene. Kids can be so brutal. It had me thinking about if this was how M. Myers’s started off. The writing was very good. The writers detailed descriptions is very articulate. The characters a very interesting and brought their mystery to the story.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.