Valerie is one of my favorite authors, and I enjoyed this book so much. It was very well written, gripping from beginning to end, and you never know what to expect at the end! Highly recommended.
TB

I do enjoy this author's style of writing & find her stories very entertaining! I look forward to the next book by this author!!!

What if someone from your past tried to destroy your future?
When Melanie Scott is promoted to junior partner, she thinks she has put her past behind her and while out celebrating her promotion, she meets the handsome and charming Hugo Field.
Melanie has her doubts and is haunted by her mother’s critical voice, which reminds her that she’s messed up before. But when Hugo invites her for dinner, she buries her feeling and accepts his invitation.
She deserves the chance of happiness, doesn’t she?
However, the past she thought she'd buried resurfaces when she receives an email containing a name; Anne Edwards. A name she thought she’d left behind.

This wasn't bad and it was a quick read but I was just not that impressed given the high ratings on Goodreads. I found it pretty predictable and not very engaging. It would be hard to say what I didn't like without spoiling so I won't. I have enjoyed other Valerie Keough books though and I will read more as I typically find them to be less predictable and more exciting.

This book is a complex, twisty, suspenseful psychological thriller. I found myself feeling completely creeped out while reading it, I couldn’t read the pages fast enough I needed to reach the conclusion. Gripping, page-turner with lots of twists and turns. I did not want to put this book down. Highly recommend

A captivating thriller that explores the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. Absolutely riveting

Definitely a story that will keep you wondering about many details until the last page. I particularly enjoyed the red herrings the author uses to surprise the reader.
Just one quick remark: a "tempranillo" wine called Viña Valoria is definitely not Sicilian, not even Italian, it's Spanish, it was just a Google search away and I appreciate a precise reference, especially if you add something from another culture.

Get ready for a twisty ride as you become desperate to discover the outcome. A thrilling hold on tight kind of story that had me reading with my mouth wide open at the suprise.

This book kept me engaged from the very first page. I just had to keep reading to find out what was going on. Its a book about your past catching up with you.

In Valerie Keogh's novel "The Lawyer," Melanie Scott experiences a whirlwind of emotions as she celebrates her promotion to junior partner at a prestigious law firm, navigates a new romantic connection, and contends with unsettling messages referencing a dark secret from her past. Despite her resolve not to be intimidated, Melanie faces escalating threats that delve into her history, triggering feelings of guilt, confronting her mother's negativity, and challenging her determination.

This installment is seamlessly added to Keogh's series, where each title places a woman and her career at the forefront while incorporating elements of romance and domestic drama. In "The Lawyer," Melanie's past as a schoolgirl is explored, unraveling a malicious event with far-reaching consequences and introducing domestic drama fueled by her strained relationship with her mother.

The novel skillfully weaves together professional secrets, romance, friendships, and threats to career and personal life. While Melanie's suspicions and irrational behavior are understandable given the mounting pressure, the narrative at times becomes dense. The predictable twist and occasional awkward dialogue around the resolution and its aftermath may detract from the overall experience.

Nevertheless, the storyline effectively portrays a career woman overcoming her past, achieving success, and facing threats due to her accomplishments. Melanie emerges as a compelling protagonist, and despite some shortcomings, "The Lawyer" offers a worthwhile read, blending elements of suspense and personal growth in the context of a professional woman's journey.

I found this book to be very interesting and intriguing. I would recommend this a friend because this is a book for everyone. I really enjoyed emerging myself into this book and it was just wonderful.

First, I found the title not fitting for the book. She's a lawyer, but that has nothing to do with the plot at all. The book started out fast paced, then kind of dwindled down. I had a hard time keeping track of the male characters, probably because each was being pushed at being the bad guy. I did catch on to the real bad guy very early on. Easy read.
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Thank you to Netgalley for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book from Valerie Keogh-she never disappoints. Recommended.

Every book I have read from this author I have loved from the very beginning till the very end and her latest book The Lawyer by Valerie Keogh was not different. It was and excellent psychological thriller that I just could not put it down, once I read the first few pages.
Valerie has a way of bring her audience into the books and you just want more especially as the characters are brilliant and so believable.

I can not recommend all her books enough!
They have always been a brilliant read and a great book for holidays.

Valerie Keogh, The Lawyer, Boldwood Books, Sep 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Melanie Scott has just been promoted to junior partner at her prestigious law firm, met an attractive man, and received frightening messages on her phone. The messages refer to a secret from Melanie’s past, that at once makes her feel guilty, reminds her of her mother’s negativity towards her, and makes her want to refuse to be intimidated. Melanie does not succeed in the last aspiration. As time passes, the messages become more insistent, and mysterious and frightening events occur.

Valerie Keogh adds The Lawyer to her previous novels, The Narrator, The Librarian, The Nurse, changing the title from The Deadly Truth to fit into this series. I like the titles as they place a woman and her career at the centre of the work, while maintaining romance and some domestic drama. In this case the domestic drama is supplied by Melanie’s past as a schoolgirl, involved in a malicious event which has disastrous consequences. Her mother, already a negative influence in her life, does not forgive her for having to move away from the district in which the events took place.

The Lawyer cleverly combines professional secrets (with a sympathetic boss a satisfying feature of the storyline), romance with the perfect man, or is he? friendship, and threats to career, domestic comfort and friendships. However, although it is understandable that Melanie becomes suspicious of new acquaintances as well as old and behaves irrationally because of the pressure from threats, possible damage to her career and the loss of a blossoming romance the story becomes turgid at times. The twist is predictable, and some of the dialogue around the outcome and its aftermath is awkward.

Keogh’s story line, depicting a career woman achieves her aspiration despite her past and is threatened because of this success, works well. Melanie Scott is an able protagonist, and despite some short comings the novel is worth a read.

A quick-paced read that was enjoyable from start to end. I guessed some of the twists but didn’t see others coming!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this copy.

This book started out great and had me hooked, but the more I got into it I started to hate all of the characters and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I can’t put my finger on why. The storyline was good, I liked the twist, but it did drag on and I really started to dislike the main character.

3 stars because I thought the actually plot was good.

My original reaction to this book was to give it 2 stars, because the pace seemed a little slow. The plot dragged a bit. The final plot twist was so surprising that I added a star!

I don’t know how I went so long not even knowing of author Valerie Keogh’s books. She has several, and I have been reading each one, trying to get through her entire blacklist! What a great author she is, I have thoroughly enjoyed everything she’s written. My favorite was The Trophy Wife which to me, was just the right amount of clever and creepy, with an unreliable narrator, my favorite. You cannot go wrong with any of her fantastic books though!

The Lawyer is her latest, and this one kept me intrigued. A four-star read!



When Melanie Scott is promoted to junior partner, she thinks she has put her past behind her and while out celebrating her promotion, she meets the handsome and charming Hugo Field.

Melanie has her doubts and is haunted by her mother’s critical voice, which reminds her she’s messed up before. But when Hugo invites her for dinner, she buries her feelings and accepts his invitation.

She deserves the chance of happiness, doesn’t she? However, the past she thought she’d buried resurfaces when she receives an email containing a name; Anne Edwards. A name she thought she’d left behind.

When the emails escalate, she knows she has to find out who is behind them, but at what cost? Melanie is about to learn that her past will shape her future forever…

If you like books by Freida McFadden and Kiersten Modglin, you will want to read all of Valerie’s books! The Lawyer is out now.



I have also read these recently and recommend them!

Fast paced and page turner! Well written by an author I enjoy. I look forward to the next book she writes.

I love a Valerie Keogh novel so was super excited to start The Lawyer.

It did not disappoint, it was such a great read that I finished it in a few days, which for me is good.

We meet Melanie, just promoted in her job as a lawyer, she is celebrating and meets dashing Hugo and they very quickly arrange a date.

Melanie also has a bit of a past and is harbouring some secrets. Melanie thinks her secret and past is safe but it is not and someone knows something.

The story is a real page-turner and I devoured it. Fabulous characters and an intriguing plot. Full of the usual Valerie Keogh twists and turns this is a great read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Valerie Keogh and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.