Lies, secrets and deceit make for another thrilling read from this author

When Natasha meets Daniel she feels as though all her dreams have come true, frustrated with her job as a nurse she takes up Daniels idea of being a stay at home wife with out a second thought

Daniel seems to be evething she could want but why do her friends react differently around him, why do all invites now get rejected?

When Daniel suggests that the 4 couples go on a cruise together Natasha thinks this will bring them all together as the close friends they were before but follows is Secrets,lies and Murder

Love this author and everything she writes

Wealthy couple Natasha and Daniel invite their friends in a cruise, which seems like a lovely gesture. However under the surface of all four couple’s relationships are layers of deceit, with one person at the core. When Natasha met Daniel she thought it would be nothing more than a fling but surprised by his proposal she settled to life as a wife and dreamt of a family. On the cruise it becomes increasingly clear that Daniel has had an impact on the lives of all the couples and when he falls dangerously ill all of them have secrets to tell.

Well written and enjoyable novel. I tried and failed to empathise with or like any of the characters, which I am sure is the authors intention. There is a good build up of tension and the final few chapters were a great finish to the story. This is a good read for those who enjoy a thriller and I liked the setting in the ship, with the added interest of the area they were travelling in.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley! I did not expect where the book was going. It included many twists and I loved the flipping between the main characters, the wives. You’ll enjoy this one

Super glad that I discovered Valerie Keogh, she is a fabulous mystery thriller author who does not disappoint is her latest novel The Wives. I happily flipped through the pages totally engaged the entire time in this twisted novel. It is not a deep plot, but it does not have to be for it be good: four BFF go on vacation together, lots of secrets, murder, more secrets, and scandal – total fun! If you are looking for a fast quick read this, is it!


Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is set. She won’t have to worry about money and he’s charming and handsome. He suggests a cruise with her friends and their husbands. But everyone has a secret in their group, especially Daniel. And each wife has a reason they want him dead……
I was definitely on the edge of my seat for this one. As I got to know the wives, I suspected each one of them of treachery. A must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this

Natasha, a senior nurse, and the only one in her friend group who's still single, has become disillusioned with her working life, and when rich, handsome Daniel proposes, she jumps at the chance. So what if they don't actually know each other that well? It should surprise no-one that he turns out to be a monster.

Her friends Tracy Ann, Barbara and Michele, and their respective husbands (don't ask me to remember their names or which was which) seem to like him well enough. But is it really a good idea to all go on a Zanzibar cruise together at Daniel's invitation? (Probably not.)

I do quite fancy going on a cruise one day, so enjoyed reading about life on board.

Everybody has secrets, and feelings are running high. (I really kept reading because I wanted to know what Tracy Ann's secret was, but it managed to be both disappointing and unsavoury.)

I kind of appreciated - "liked" is the wrong word - the descriptions of Daniel's illness, which had the ring of grisly truth and called on the nursing skills Tasha's turned her back on. I've an idea Valerie Keogh might have been a nurse - she writes very credibly about this. Sounds awful but this might have been the best part!

None of the characters are particularly likeable - the husbands, apart from Daniel, might be ok, but we never really get to know them. It's hard to see where the friendship is between the four women, as they don't seem to like each other that much although they've supposedly been friends since uni days. (The ages don't quite work, either - they should be older.)

We never find out much about Daniel, who's a bit of a cartoon villain. His brother hates him, but we never find out why, other than Daniel being a general bad lot. Then again, he might not be the only one in this cast of characters.

I did enjoy the Lace callback, if that's what it was! ("Which of you bitches...")

Natasha mentions several times about awful things that happened at work, and it took me a while to realise she was probably referencing the pandemic, as this isn't referred to directly.

One reviewer said this story will linger long in the reader's mind - unfortunately I'm afraid it won't in mine. It's an easy read but far from memorable, and lost all credibility towards the end.

The Wives is a story involving Natasha (MFC) who recently has married Daniel - it was a whirl wind marriage, but Natasha may not have been in it for the right reasons. Daniel is wealthy and handsome and charming.

Daniel decides that her friends (and husbands) and themselves should go on a cruise together, but each of them have so many secrets... and slowly they are being revealed to Natasha... before the cruise is over Daniel is found dead... but who killed him?

This is a very fast paced thriller. It was an easy read, but I felt the storyline a little lack luster. The characters were easy to follow, and each of their little lies were interesting! The end I didn't see coming.

Four best friends. Tracy-Ann, Barbara, Michele and Natasha have been friends for years. When Natasha finally gets married, her rich husband takes her friends and their husbands on a cruise together. But being locked away on a claustrophobic boat, secrets come to light.

This was a total slow burn of a story. Hints of lies, secrets and mistrust that slowly come to light within a close friend group. I didn’t find a connection to any character, and the revelations were somewhat mild.

A quick and easy read, but a lacking plot.

A well written novel but had a few character bumps. I didn’t like Daniel, so his demise & all we learn about him didn’t really matter to me. However, it was saved by some unexpected surprises and the rest of the characters, even though they didn’t really seem like friends.

I'm a great fan of Valerie Keogh so was looking forward to reading her latest offering. The wives of the title - Michele, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Natasha are long term friends. Three are married and settled, and it's only recently that Natasha has become wife to Daniel, a wealthy independent financial adviser. Planning a cruise to the Zanzibar archipelago, he offers to pay for Natasha's friends and their husbands to join them. It's clear that Daniel is arrogant, smug and enjoys flaunting his wealth. However, there is a darker side to his character, one that comes to light during the cruise.

Told from all four women's viewpoints, can I begin by saying there's no character I particularly liked. Daniel was a real horror. He was devious, totally crooked and clearly had no real love for his wife. As for the women, two were taken in by his fake charm, and the third had a score to settle after he set her husband up with an illegal investment opportunity, giving him an opportunity for blackmail . This means when Daniel is taken ill and dies, there are no shortage of suspects. Having said that, it was pretty clear who the perpetrator was, but I realised such a reveal meant there must be there must be more to this story - and, of course, there was.

Well written with a huge twist at the end, The Wives will keep you turning the pages and burning the midnight oil to finish this edge of the seat read.

I would like to thank Boldwood, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Wives in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Valerie Keogh book and it most certainly will not be my last. I would have given this one 4.5 stars if it were an option! The Wives follows 4 lifelong friends as the final friend (Natasha) gets married and how her life changes. Natasha and her husband invite the other 3 couples on an unusual cruise through Africa. A series of events cause a spiral of changes as one person is murdered. I was surprised by not only the person who committed the murder, but also by the ending of the book. I will definitely be checking out other novels by Valerie Keough and will also be recommending this one to many!
Thank you to @NetGalley, @BoldwoodBooks and @ValerieKeough for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts.
Publication Date: November 6, 2024
Genre: Thriller

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Wives by Valerie Keogh in exchange for my honest review.

When Natasha meets Daniel, she’s instantly drawn to his charm and confidence. Their whirlwind romance soon leads to a proposal, and to celebrate, Daniel surprises her with a lavish cruise vacation for Natasha and her close friends: Tracy Ann, Michele, Barbara, and their husbands, who have taken Daniel into their fold. But as the ship sails and drinks are poured, it becomes clear that Daniel has secrets—ones that leave Natasha questioning everything she thought she knew about her new husband.

The Wives is a suspenseful, gripping thriller that explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and deception, keeping readers on their toes with unexpected twists and suspenseful drama. Valerie Keogh does a fantastic job of layering tension, especially as Natasha’s suspicions about Daniel grow. The characters are relatable, with each of the wives bringing her own complex relationship history to the story, adding depth and motive as tensions escalate.

While there are moments on the cruise where the detailed accounts of meals and drinks slow the pacing a bit, the story builds into an exciting conclusion. Each woman’s motive for mistrusting Daniel is compelling, and as events unfold, it’s unclear who among them might be driven to dangerous lengths.

An entertaining, well-crafted thriller, The Wives is an engaging read that will keep fans of psychological thrillers guessing until the final page.

The Wives is a fun and thrilling read. I think this would make a great summer read, although I wasn't blown away by the storyline or characters, I found myself finishing this rather quickly and would recommend to anybody who likes and easy reading thriller.

I have enjoyed a few books by this author but struggled with this one. I didn’t really like any of the main characters and couldn’t relate to them. The females were all meant to have been friends for a long time but didn’t seem to like each other which made no sense. Also their ages didn’t add up and again I struggled to make sense of it all

another addictive read from this author. Natasha has been best friends with Barbara Tracy Ann and Michelle since university. Natasha fells the odd one out. with them married. but then that all changes. she meets Daniel. she brings him into her friend's circle. the relationship moves very fast to marriage. he surprises Natasha with a cruise and her friends are invited. and things so hot up. Each of her friends are hiding something so good

A gripping read. Was shocked with what happened to Natasha. Couldn't put it down every time I tried I would get to a bit and need to know what happened next.

Thank you so much Valerie Keogh, Boldwood books and Netgalley for this ARC.

I like the story, but I think it could add more elements to create a stronger emotional response. I do think it is a good read, but I would recommend it to those who like slow suspense, I wish there was more anger and a desire for revenge in the story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

What a mind blowing read! It had me from the beginning questioning where is this going to go and how does this develop. There are quite a few point of views to keep follow of, but it’s easy to follow. I would say once the big shock happens half way through, the momentum although continues to move fast kind of drops. The attempt at the end to have you thinking one way and it turns out to be another is quite delightful but still, I felt a little rushed. Over all I enjoyed the fast paced nature and the story line itself.

I've been lucky enough to read a few books by this author so when I was given the chance to check this one out early I jumped on it. The description sounded just up my alley and I wasn't wrong. There were so many twists on this book that it was great watching them all unravel at the end. I loved the characters mostly but the way that our main character Natasha was written had to make her the best one out of the bunch. The book is all about Natasha who is living a life of luxury thanks to her super wealthy husband. While she is very much appreciative of all his wealth and what that means for her she isn't sure she is happy with just being a trophy wife. When her husband Daniel has to go on a cruise he mentions how she should invite her friends along give her someone to hang out with and help them reconnect. This sounds like a great idea and all the girls jump on board. However this isn't the picture perfect trip that Natasha had in mind as many secrets start to unfold and they all link back to Daniel. This is the kind of book that has you reading until all hours of the night because the characters just won't let you go. I got so invested in this plot that all sense of time went out the window and that is the best teller of a good thriller. While all the characters were amazing and written with lots of depth and dimension it was the plot that really kept me interested as a reader. There was just so much going on and so many plot twists that I was left breathless by the end of it. I'm so glad that I was given the chance to check this story out. If you want to be in the know and want to have a story that you can talk about then this is the book for you.

This is book #8 by Valerie Keogh for me and she just gets better and better and better. This takes 4 couples on a cruise and it’s a quick murder mystery. A nice twist at the end which is what I love about Valerie’s books! Lies, secrets, deceit … this book has it all! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.