This book was so good. It had so much drama and suspense. I had no idea it would end the way it did. Read it, you won’t be sorry!

This is a great psychological thriller.
Natasha is close to her three friends, Barbara, Michele and Tracy-Ann. They are all married except for her but then she meets Daniel.
Things move very quickly and soon he proposes to her. Natasha works hard at the hospital but lately has been struggling, so Daniel tells her to quit as he has enough money for both of them.
Natasha initially enjoys married life but then realises she needs more from life.
Daniel then suggests a cruise for all four couples which they all agree to, but Natasha can sense some hesitancy from her friends.
I won’t spoil what happens when they get on the ship, but be prepared for a few twists and turns.
This is a great read.
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Four best friends and their husbands go on a cruise together. The ladies have talked about going on a cruise for years, so what could go wrong?

Natasha and Daniel seem like the perfect couple, after a short engagement, they decide to treat their friends to an all expenses paid cruise. However is everything as perfect as it seems on the outside?

Barbara loves her husband, but since he retired she’s struggling to like him. Every day he lacks the motivation to leave the house and even shower some days. Will the cruise help save their marriage?

Tracey Ann needs more excitement in her life, more than her husband Blake can provide for her. Blake loves her and would do anything for Tracey Ann, but when he realises what she’s done, will he be able to forgive her?

Michele and Don are hiding something, and they are afraid that on this cruise all their secrets will come out. Will they be able to last the week without someone finding out their terrible truths?

I really loved how every time I read a chapter I had more questions, I really loved a book which makes me wonder and think (although I can never work out the mystery!). Valerie Keogh brilliantly writes this gripping story, with so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up! I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a mystery thriller.

Thank you to Valerie Keogh, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Daniel would take advantage of his own mother if there was something in it for him"

Meet Natasha, Tracy Ann, Michele and Barbara, four best friends who, together with their husbands, embark on the trip of a lifetime: a cruise to the Zanzibar archipelago. Sounds like a dream right? Well, the dream very quickly turns into a nightmare as secrets are slowly revealed, secrets that all seem to have something to do with Natasha's wealthy and super-charming new husband Daniel. What will happen, as they spend eight days together on a ship with nowhere to run?

I am afraid to say, this one didn't quite grip me as much as I hoped it would. Yes it is a quick read and yes, the descriptions of the cruise ship, the food, the drinks, the shows and entertainment, as well as the lush islands our characters explore together off ship had me looking forward to my own next cruise, the story, nor the characters could hold my attention much. It is only at about 55-60 % in the book that anything thrilly starts to happen. Before that point, we are reading the dragged out stories of four women, all unhappy with their lives one way or another and one even more unlikable than the next, who should have never been friends, or at least gone on this trip together, They easily blend together, keeping it hard to keep track of who is who, who is married to who, and what their specific issue was again. Once it finally does start going, it goes, and it goes fast, and it turns into more of the twisty plot I have gotten used to from Valerie Keogh.

I have loved reading previous works by Valerie Keogh, so I am really bummed that this one was only so-so. Onwards and forward to the next one though!

The Wives
by Valerie Keogh
Pub Date: Nov 06 2024

The Wives is a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me eager to turn each page. Lots of secrets, twists, and layers of tension.

The story was told from all four women's ( Michele, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Natasha's ) viewpoints. Natasha is looking to be a trophy wife after a hard career as a nurse, and she finds her place with investor Daniel.. She can finally fit in amongst her friend's. Unfortunately Natasha quickly realizes she’s not in love with Daniel but the perks of being a wife, and trying to fit his perfect mold is not easy, especially since he seems to be ready to leave her (without funds) before their prenup’s payout terms come up. Knowing this Natasha and Daniel embark on a cruise, paying for her friends to join along with their husbands. Daniel is shady and that quickly emerges on the cruise, with each of Natasha’s friends hiding secrets about him that give a dark edge to their images as perfect wives.

Many thanks to #TheWives #NetGalley and #Boldwoodbooks for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

This book was a fast easy read for me. It's about 4 women that have been friends for many years. Things start to change when one friend meets and marries a charismatic man. While some things are made apparent early on. A few things figured out if reader pays attention. There are twists till the very end. If looking for an enjoyable fast paced easy who done it book. I suggest to give this one a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Book for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am definitely a fan of Valarie Keogh and she did not disappoint in this one. Natasha and Daniel are a wealthy couple who are living life and trying to have a baby. Daniel offers to take Natasha and her 3 best friends along with their husbands on an all expenses paid week long cruise. Even though the 3 besties don't particularly care for Daniel, each for their own personal reasons, they agree to this adventure. The trip goes great until one of the friends admits to kissing Daniel and Natasha is furious. As she tries to come to terms with this another devastating incident occurs that will change everyone's lives. I really liked this one and just when I thought all the twists were revealed along comes another that took me by surprise. Enjoy!!!

I want to say thank you to the author @valeriekeogh2 the publishers @theboldbookclub and @netgalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book.

This is my first book by Valerie and oh my life, what a corker to start my journey with!!!

The story is about a lady called Natasha who is an ICU Nurse manager and a Independant Financial Adviser called Daniel, who she meets, has a relationship with and eventually marries.

Natasha and Daniel decided to go on the holiday of a lifetime, an exotic cruise, with Natasha's 2 best friends and their husbands.

Writing this down, it all sounds straightforward, ordinary even. But, don't be fooled. This book is full of secrets, lies and deceit with an ending that no one could predict!

My favourite line from this book is... "There's only 1 way to deal with monsters, cut off their heads"

#TheWives #valeriekeough #boldwoodbooks #arc #ebook #bookreview #NetGalley

This gripping thriller had me hooked from the first page. The author's masterful storytelling and suspenseful plot kept me guessing until the very end with its complex characters and shocking twists, The Wives is a must-read for fans of dark, suspenseful fiction.

Synopsis:

Lies, secrets, deadly decisions…

When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is made. Rich, handsome and charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband. Even if she won’t make the perfect wife…

She is thrilled when Daniel suggests an all-expenses paid cruise for Natasha, her friends, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle, and their husbands. What better way to show everyone that Natasha has finally made it?

But as the ship sets sail, she learns that far from being the perfect husband, Daniel has terrible secrets that are about to be revealed. And each of the wives has their own reasons for wanting him dead.

This trip might cost more than any of them ever imagined…



Review:

This was an absolute page turner from start to finish. Loved the author writing style which kept me hooked from the first chapter. I was definitely on the edge of my seat the entire read. Overall a good thriller and I would recommend picking up The Wives publishing in November 2024. 


Thanks for the ARC Netgalley and Boldwood Books

-Val

Loved it!! Definitely gripped me from the first chapter. If you get the chance to read you won't be disappointed. Gonna be following this author for more releases x

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this early.I couldn’t put it down and kept having to read just one more chapter.This kept me guessing until the end and tied up all the loose ends.

Wow! An excellent psychological thriller that starts with a web of twists, turns, lies, schemes, nobody can be trusted. I thought Daniel was the monster but.... Your own friends can't be trusted. Sad but true.... Or should I rather say some friends cannot be trusted. Just when I thought there's loyalty among friends, then there isn't. Loved the book!

As a dedicated fan of Keogh's work, I was excited to dive into this latest release, and I must say, it did not disappoint. The fast-paced storyline was expertly crafted, keeping me on the edge of my seat with its unexpected plot twists and dramatic turnarounds. I was utterly engrossed in the narrative, eagerly flipping through pages to see what would happen next.

Each main character was thoughtfully developed, adding depth to the story and bringing their unique perspectives to life. They were all equally compelling, contributing to the intricate relationships and conflicts that made the narrative engaging. However, I did have one minor issue that kept this book from reaching a total five-star rating: I was able to predict the ending. While it was satisfying, a greater sense of surprise would have elevated my reading experience even further.

Despite this minor drawback, I believe ‘The Wives’ would be an excellent choice for holiday gifting. It’s a perfect read for book clubs, sparking discussions with its intricate themes and complex characters. Furthermore, it would make an ideal addition to the bookshelves of any avid reader who appreciates the author's style or enjoys this particular genre.

Overall, it's a captivating read that I would highly recommend!

I love a book that takes place on a cruise. 4 best friends and their husbands on the cruise together. They all have secrets. It’s a perfect thriller! I really enjoyed this book and was just what I needed. It was suspenseful and kept you wanting to read more.

Best friends holding onto secrets, a luxury cruise for the 4 couples sounds like a dream come true but the reality is a recipe made for disaster.
Natasha has the perfect husband, rich and successful. Her life seems perfect, being able to give up her stressful nursing job which she was no longer happy at. Her best friends Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michele along with their husbands all get on so well, don’t they?
Daniel suggests an all-expenses cruise for all 4 couples, sounds idyllic. When Natasha calls each of them, they don’t appear as excited as she thought they would, maybe she’s overthinking it.
As the cruise embarks the lies and secrets start to unfold. The who done its and why’s changed for me from chapter to chapter and I didn’t guess the ending either.
Multiple POV told from each of the Wife’s was so well done, the pacing was honestly perfect. My only wish was that I would have loved for a longer epilogue but then I suspect our imagination fills in the blanks.
I love cruising and it felt very true to cruise life, not sure I’d want to cruise with friends now 😊
Thank you NetGalley, Valerie Keogh and Boldwood for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Man what a wild ride! This book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I had no idea where it was going. I really enjoyed the book but hated the characters. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

#TheWives has all my favourite ingredients for a perfect thriller. Luxury holiday cruise location, close knit group of girls with a huge whodunnit thrown in but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. I didn't find myself excited to read "just 1 more chapter" or I didn't care for any of the 4 main wife characters, I especially didn't particularly care about who murder the MCs husband, who was a horrible piece of work anyway.
What I did enjoy, which is unlike me is, is us being the reader not being in the know of our main characters secrets. This is usually something I don't like because I feel that the reader is being lied to but it was wrote in a very clever way that I didn't feel like I was being deceived.
Who did kill this horrible husband when everyone has motive? Although I didn't care too much, I did enjoy the ending. The murderer was predictable but the final twist left me with a smile..... With friends like these, who needs enemies eh? Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy. 3.5 stars rounded to 4

I love Valerie Keogh’s books and I enjoyed this one. The four wives have been friends for years. When Natasha meets Daniel, she thinks she has it made. Handsome, wealthy, career minded - he has it all. He takes them all on a cruise, however, all their lives begin to unravel. Daniel has a dark side which is brought out through the tales of all four women.
The book is well written with a great twist at the end. Definitely one you can’t put down.

The Wives by Valerie Keogh is a gripping, fast-paced psychological thriller that reels you in with its myriad of secrets, twists, and layers of tension. From the first chapter, I found myself thoroughly intrigued, with the author masterfully dropping breadcrumbs of mystery that kept me eager to turn each page. Keogh has a talent for suspense, drawing you into a world where everyone seems to be hiding something, and as a reader, you’re constantly on edge, questioning each character’s motives. The ending was unexpected and satisfying, though it did leave a few questions hanging that I would have loved to see resolved.
One aspect that didn’t work quite as well for me was the characters themselves. I couldn’t feel a connection with any of them and found it difficult to empathise with their choices and personalities. In fact, they all came across as quite unlikable; there was a certain coldness in their relationships, which made it hard to believe they’d formed any genuine friendships. It’s almost as if they were bound together by habit rather than actual affinity, which only added to the novel’s tense and unsettling atmosphere. Oddly, this detachment from the characters didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the plot—it actually heightened the intrigue as I kept reading to understand what kept this group together and how their hidden motives would unfold.
However, some loose ends remained unresolved by the close of the book. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there were a few missing pieces to the puzzle. Did Blake truly know what was happening all along? And what was the real reason behind Daniel’s mysterious decision to book the cruise? These unanswered questions left me feeling slightly unfulfilled as if I was still searching for the final pieces to complete the picture. Nevertheless, perhaps leaving these ambiguities was intentional on Keogh’s part, a way to keep readers thinking about the story long after they’ve put the book down.
In spite of these minor qualms, The Wives remains an absorbing, well-crafted thriller that captivates with its dark, complex plot and constant sense of foreboding. Even without warming to the characters, I was hooked, eager to unravel the secrets they kept from each other—and perhaps even from themselves. It’s a suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the very end, even if it leaves a few lingering mysteries behind.