3.75 stars honestly.

I loved the pacing. I loved the plot. I was rooting for Hannah the whole time but my GOD the ending was so disappointing.

The climax was excellent but not the ending. Susan was a sad but relatable character. And my favourite part was how realistic everything was. How in tune people were with their feelings and how thinking that you can murder someone and get away with it sounds so easy in practice.

But, ultimately since the ending disappointed me so, I’m docking the stars. Otherwise it was excellent.

I mean, it managed to get me out of my reading slump and finish this book in a day, well deserved treat I must say.

Another brilliant read from Keogh, the most accomplished of writers. In The Mistress she paints the perfect picture of a woman happy to steal other women’s husbands. Told in alternating narratives, the characters jump off the page, the portrayals eerily accurate.
A huge talent!

Valerie Keogh never disappoints her books are always well written, full of twists and turns and keeps you wanting to read to see what happens.

Hannah is married to Ivan and their relationship is toxic. Susan is married to Mark and they have a son who is getting ready to go off to college and being a helicopter parent this doesn't make Susan happy. Since Hannah dated Mark before Susan and Mark got married, Mark had stated that he would always love Hannah. Then the twists and turns come about and it written amazing!

Valerie Keogh always has the best twists and turns. Feelings toward Susan makes you feel the betrayal that happened in this book. The plot of the book for all the characters was written brilliantly.

Loved this book and will continue to read anything from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Thank you Boldwood books for giving me an advanced readers copy of this couldn’t put down book! I read this in a few hours. It had me from the first chapter !
Full of love, manipulation, and drama! What more could you want in a book!?

The Mistress is a psychological thriller that follows Hannah Parker, a very manipulative woman who makes it her life’s mission to pursue the married men and break up their families. After her latest husband discovers her duplicitous nature, Hannah sets her sights on Mark Shepherd, an old flame who is now very happily married with children.

Keogh does an excellent job capturing the calculating mindset and rationalizations of a very destructive narcissist. Hannah feels fully entitled to steal other women’s husbands, lying and scheming without any remorse. She is superficial, vain, and also lacks empathy, seeing the people around her as objects to acquire and then control.

The book is very gripping as Hannah intricately plans how she will insert herself into Mark’s life, trying to make him fall for her again. She is so convinced of her own charm and the weakness of the men that she believes with some effort, she can make any man leave his wife. It’s chilling to see the ease with which she breaks the many boundaries, spins the falsehoods, and tears the people’s lives apart.

The Mistress explores the provocative territory around the temptation, infidelity, and the complex psychology that drives the other woman. Hannah has depth as an unlikable, even sociopathic character, showcasing the ability some have to rationalize the harmful behavior. While despicable, she makes for a very fascinating character study. Fans of Gone Girl and also other domestic suspense stories with alarming antiheroines will swiftly turn the pages. Keogh delivers a tense, immersive portrayal of the obsession and homewrecking.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Review
This book is fast paced and really cleverly written. I read this in one day, just couldn't put it down.

The book is split into Hannah and Susan chapters which I liked and definitely helped bring the story to life.

I was left a bit deflated by the ending and felt like i needed more but on a whole I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more of Valerie's books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hannah was married to Ivan, who changed once they were wed from the man of her dreams to one of nightmares. Susan is married to Mark and they have a son, who is off to university, something Susan isn't happy about as she has doted on Drew all his life, very much a helicopter parent. Hannah used to date Mark who said he would always love her. Now she has walked out on her husband, she seeks out Mark to see if he is true to his word, with a few tricks up her sleeve. Susan becomes suspicious of Mark's activities but what follows isn't quite what she expected.

This is a clever and dramatic read, I raced through it, it most certainly had me hooked. There’s a tension perceived through the drama of what might be happening without anything being said if that makes sense, almost an unease slowly creeping through the pages before things really begin happening. I felt for Susan and the betrayal of her husband and the following interactions of the main characters were brilliantly plotted. There's a message in this book of writing your own narrative, not letting others live vicariously through your own life. A fantastic read, certainly one to remember.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog
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Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date 25th March. This book will reel you in and not let go till the very last page. I loved this book it had many twists and turns that made it impossible to put down!

My favourite character was Hannah as I would always wonder what she would do next! One word WOW that twist I didn’t see it coming, this author has a clever writing style that leaves you eagerly turning the pages. I didn’t want this book to end! I’d highly recommend everyone to read this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

Oh my gosh! Valerie Keogh knocks this one completely out of the park! Just when I think her writing can’t possibly get better. This one hooked me from the very beginning and just never let go.
So many characters to love (or hate). I just could not decide which way to choose, so many secrets and lies. And I might’ve had to rethink nurture vs nature. So many things to love about this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Valerie Keogh for the opportunity to read and review this book.