The Soulmate is a quick thriller. The premise was engaging but the story didn’t quite deliver for me.

Not wanting to give spoilers so I will say that Holly and Mark meet while he is playing the piano and singing. This sets off a series of unfortunate events.

There is not a lot of tension since you know relatively early that there are issues. It is more about watching how this will unfold. Parts of the book were slow but once it got moving it moved very quickly.

Overall, this is a quick read. If you enjoy thrillers this is one you are likely to enjoy.

The Soulmate by Rona Halsall is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the fine line between love and obsession. Holly, a woman who’s always believed in love at first sight, finds herself drawn to a handsome stranger named Mark after hearing her favorite song. The instant connection they share feels electric, as though they were meant to be together.

However, as the story unfolds, the tension builds and reveals unsettling truths. Holly and Mark may have felt like soulmates, but their connection is clouded by dark secrets. Both have hidden pasts, and as the narrative unravels, it becomes clear that one of them may be willing to go to deadly lengths to keep those secrets buried.

Halsall expertly weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the lines between love, obsession, and danger blur. With twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end, The Soulmate is a perfect pick for fans of intense, mind-bending thrillers like You and Sweetpea. It's an unsettling exploration of relationships and the darkness that can lurk behind the most seemingly perfect connections.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a psychological thriller. Please be aware that the storyline contains themes of domestic abuse, which may be upsetting for some readers.

At the start, I felt a connection with the protagonist, Holly. I identified with her love of music and singing. I felt a connection with Mark too; he seemed like the kind of person that I myself might feel drawn to. Some of the initial interactions between these characters gave me goosebumps, and I think that was because they felt real to me.

I became invested in both of these characters, and after a while, it was hard to put this book down. I found that the more I carried on reading, the more this book played with my head. It was a tense nail-biter, and after reading it, I have a feeling that the characters will stay with me for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

The Sixth book I've read from Halsall, The Soulmate is a timely reminder that not everyone is always as they seem, at least not till they've got their feet well and truly under the table.

It kept me on my toes, I can tell you that much! The tension and stresses were real, and the inconsistencies of the narrators had me questioning everything and everyone.

Moderately paced with a brilliant, solid plot and unpredictable characters, The Soulmate is dark, decisively good and comes with not one, but two unexpected jaw dropper!

Definitely worth the read!

Rona Halsall's books always managed to have me completely hooked, this one was no different as I found myself drawn into the danger and suspense right away.

The Soulmate by Rona Halsall
Do you believe in love at first sight? Despite everything that has happened in her life, Holly does. Sometimes, the thought that her Soulmate is out there is the only thing that keeps her going.
One day, she hears her favourite song being played at a train station. Drawn to the sound, she approaches the source as if by a magnetic force. Sitting at a piano, a young man smiles at her; when she asks if she can join him, they sing together, and she sees his face light up.
Later, she discovers his name is Mark. They both experience the feeling of being struck by a thunderbolt. Although it seems as if they have known each other for a lifetime, the truth is that they are still strangers.
Another gripping thriller with a breathtaking plot comes from the pen of the bestselling author of books such as The Bigamist, The Wife Next Door and One Mistake.
The Soulmate begins slowly as we get to know Holly, her relationship with her gamekeeper boyfriend Finn, and their life together. However, Holly's instant attraction for Mark introduces a fascinating dynamic to the storyline.
Lies, deceit, and coercive behaviour intertwine throughout this tense and atmospheric thriller. The deeper you delve into this chilling tale, the darker it becomes, leading to an intense finale.
The Soulmate has everything you would expect from a Rona Halsall novel; it's a terrific read, and I highly recommend it.
I want to thank publishers Boldwood Books, author Rona Halsall and Rachel's Random Resources for providing a copy to read and review.

This was a fantastic read that kept me hooked the entire book . I love Rona’s ability to weave together a clever story .

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

"The Soulmate" by Rona Halsall is a psychological thriller that explores themes of obsession, love, deceit, and murder. The story follows Holly, who believes in love at first sight despite her troubled past. When she encounters Mark, a pianist playing her favourite song, they both feel an instant, profound connection. However, as their relationship develops, it becomes evident that both are harbouring dark secrets, leading to a suspenseful narrative.

While the novel is filled with numerous twists and turns, I found that some plot developments stretched believability and were challenging to follow. The rapid succession of events occasionally made it difficult to fully engage with the characters' motivations and the story's progression.

Despite these issues, Halsall's writing is engaging, and the premise is intriguing. Readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with complex relationships may find "The Soulmate" appealing. However, for me, the execution didn't fully deliver on its promising concept.

The Soulmate by best selling author Rona Halsall takes the reader to the most unexpected thrilling journey from Scotland to the beautiful Wales. Approaching very sensitive topics such as violence against women, parental abuse and mental health, it is playing so many tricky games with us, the readers, that at the end of the book you are left completely confused.

The story unfolds as a game of masks that are switching from one stage of the story to another. The naive musicians that selflessly followed Holly trying to save her from an violent and controlling boyfriend was in fact a cute psychopats whose only real true friend was a parrot. Holly may be a victim, but her ambiguity may be confusing and her flaws irritating. Mark´s mother was indeed abusive, but does it excuse his game of playing God with her?

The Soulmate not only tells a story with spectacular twists and unexpected changes of situations, but also compells us to answer fundamental questions about life and the train of things - or rather their distorsion. Big questions rarely receive THE answer, but stories may challenge our minds to keep thinking about fundamental life&death choices.

Not my favourite book by the author, whose books I usually find unputdownable, I laboured a bit over this one.
I didn't like any of the characters, not one redeeming feature between them, so in a way I didn't really care what happened to them and I found the plot a bit too unbelievable.
That said its a solid read if you like lots of twists and turns because there are certainly many of them here.

I found this book to be fast paced and entertaining. The characters were completely unlikeable and I didn't think this was super original but overall it was an engaging read that will have you guessing who is good and who is bad right until the end.

From its romantic beginnings, this story turns into a nightmare with unreliable narrators and an increasingly menacing ethos as the suspense increases with every twist. Holly's life is a lie. She is running from her past and always ends up in more trouble. Finn, her current man, is controlling and increasingly violent and meeting Mark unexpectedly seems fated. Mark seems like the perfect man, but neither protagonist is what they seem, and it's challenging to figure out who to believe. There are many twists as the story gets darker and gradually reveals the couple's real characters. It is gently paced but compelling, an addictive mix of psychological suspense and crime thriller.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Soulmate' by Rona Halsall.

Wow!!!! Yet another MASSIVE congratulations to Rona on yet another amazing success!!! Yet again, another absolutely fantastic unputdownable psychological thriller from this extremely talented author. I must admit though I cannot say I am surprised as each and every one of her books have been!! This book is extremely well written as are all Rona's books I have previously read with vivid descriptions that absorb you into the storyline. Rona's absolutely amazing and evocative writing skills sucks you straight into the storyline so it feels like you are standing by Holly's side feeling and seeing everything that she is feeling and seeing. It will have you on the edge of your seat fearing for her safety and shouting at her through the pages so be warned it may be best to avoid reading this in public places which I did at several points and ended up getting some very strange looks from people passing! As with all of Rona's books the storyline is scarily realistic, extremely fast paced and will keep you guessing over and over again!! It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions with twists, turns and surprises that you will never see coming. I know I didn't and after reading hundreds of crime and thriller books it truly is getting harder and harder o surprise me but Rona manages yet again as she does each and every time so she is definitely my go to author if I ever want to be gob smacked by a book!! Congratulations Rona on yet again managing to shock me!! I was completely invested in Holly from the beginning to the end and was rooting for her through every single event. I did end up shouting at her on several occasions. Thanks to Rona's fantastic descriptions each and every one of the characters jump out of the pages and come to life regardless of whether you love or hate them and regardless of how you feel about them every single one of them play their part perfectly in this fantastic, suspense and tension packed psychological thriller that will have you hooked. I gave up telling myself I would only read one more chapter and actually get on with some house work after I said it three times and still could not put it down!! Every single chapter ended in a way that left me needing to know what happens next and I ended up absolutely devouring the whole book in one sitting of several hours so you need to clear your schedules and make sure you are comfortable before turning a single page on this amazing book! I was captivated throughout and the storyline was absolutely rammed with secrets, lies, love, some humour, suspense, tension, shocks, twists , lies and red herrings all the way up until the very perfect ending. Rona's evocative writing skills brings not just the storyline and atmosphere to life but also each of the characters who leap out of the pages at the reader. However, I'm not going to say anything about them as I will let you draw your own conclusions when you meet them yourself!! I cannot wait to get dragged back into another one of this amazing authors books!!

Congratulations Rona on yet another HUGE success and for, yet again, managing to shock me when many fail. This would make an epic movie that I would love to see come out!! This is the exact reason you are one of my favourite authors and here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Overall an addictive, page turning, epic and action packed psychological thriller that will shock you throughout!!

#TheSoulmate #RonaHalsall #BoldwoodBooks #Boldwood #BoldwoodBloggers #theboldbookclub #BookAndTonic #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources

@RonaHalsall @BoldwoodBooks @Boldwood @BoldwoodBloggers @theboldbookclub @BookAndTonic @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources


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Holly has a very colourful past and is known for running when the going gets tough, she's currently planning on doing it again to escape her controlling boyfriend Finn, and she heads to Glasgow to collect her new passport.

Mark is playing the piano in a shopping mall in Glasgow when Holly is drawn to him playing her favourite song. The attraction between them is instant and they each wonder if the other could be their soulmate, but she can't risk getting involved with anyone else and she heads back to Dumfries, certain that's the end of it, until Mark turns up on her doorstep a few days later...

The Soulmate is the latest domestic thriller by this author and what an absolute rollercoaster it is! I was totally hooked on this tense and chilling read right from the first page and to begin with I couldn't say for certain where my loyalties lay, there was definitely a creepy vibe about Mark and, as the story progressed, I was definitely leaning more towards #teamholly, especially when the author divulged what happened in her past. This is a fast paced read which touches briefly on the subject of domestic abuse but thankfully doesn't go into too much detail. Halsall also injected some humour into the tale with the antics from Archie the parrot which provided a brief reprieve from all the tension. This is a story that is full of twists and turns with a very satisfactory ending, which I highly recommend.

I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

this is a gripping and twisty psychological thriller that is a perfect fit for readers who crave a cat-and-mouse game of obsession, love, and deceit, with a dash of suspense and murder, and are fans of authors like Gillian Flynn, B.A. Paris, and Clare Mackintosh.

Rona Halsall’s The Soulmate is a gripping psychological thriller that takes the romantic idea of “love at first sight” and twists it into a dark, heart-pounding exploration of secrets, trust, and obsession. With its cat-and-mouse pacing and deeply flawed characters, the novel keeps readers questioning everything until its shocking conclusion.

The story begins with Holly, a dreamer who clings to the belief that her soulmate is out there waiting for her. When she encounters Mark, a handsome stranger playing her favorite song on a train station piano, it feels like destiny. Their connection is instant and electric, the kind of serendipity Holly has always longed for. But as their whirlwind romance unfolds, it becomes clear that both Holly and Mark are hiding secrets that could unravel everything they’ve built.

Halsall expertly uses dual perspectives and shifting timelines to build suspense, revealing glimpses of Holly and Mark’s pasts while keeping key details hidden. The result is a story filled with tension and uncertainty, where readers are never quite sure who to trust. Holly’s vulnerability and yearning for connection make her relatable, but her choices and hidden motivations add an edge of unpredictability. Mark, too, is an enigma—charming and attentive, but with a darkness that simmers just below the surface.

The novel thrives on its exploration of themes like love, deceit, and the masks people wear to hide their true selves. Halsall taps into the universal fear of betrayal, making the twists hit harder as the truth about Holly and Mark slowly unravels. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter ending on a revelation or cliffhanger that pulls readers deeper into the story.

What sets The Soulmate apart from other psychological thrillers is the way it blends romance with suspense, making the emotional stakes as high as the physical ones. The chemistry between Holly and Mark is palpable, and their connection feels genuine—even as the cracks in their relationship begin to show. This duality keeps the reader invested, torn between rooting for their happiness and fearing what might come next.

Fans of Gone Girl and The Housemaid will appreciate the book’s clever plotting, unreliable narrators, and shocking twists. Halsall’s writing is sharp and immersive, making it easy to get lost in Holly and Mark’s world while constantly looking over your shoulder for the next twist.

The Soulmate is a rollercoaster of a read, blending love and danger into a tale that will leave readers breathless. It’s a chilling reminder that even the strongest connections can be built on lies—and that sometimes, the person you trust most is the one you should fear.

The Soulmate is an intense read, with romance and suspense expertly intertwined. Author Hallsall succeeds where other “romantic suspense” authors have failed by providing equally compelling levels of each theme. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this sub-genre. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for providing me with an advance copy to review. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book OK, and felt like it was a fast read. It centers on Holly and Mark, who have a chance meeting in a train station where they both feel that they might have met their soulmate. However, it turns out that both of them have secrets and everything may not be as it seems.

I thought that these characters did things that real people would not do, throughout the book; while it moved at a fast-pace there was just something not super believable about the actions they took. It got increasingly less believable as the story continued. I thought the ending wrapped things up in a nice way that fit with the rest of the story.

Overall, decent read but not sure it will stand out too much as I move onto my next read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Soulmate by Rona Halsall was another excellent book and every book I have read by this author has been an excellent read from start to finish. Rona has a way of writing all her books with great characters, great storylines that will be full of twists and turns that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The Soulmate was no different I was gripped from the very first few pages and i loved it.

Question!

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Maybe!

Well, Holly does, and in spite of everything that’s happened in her life. Sometimes the thought that her soulmate is out there somewhere and it's the only thing that keeps her going.

A girl has to dream!

Then, she hears her favourite song being played on a piano. She’s drawn to where the sound is coming from, as if by a magnetic force. There is a handsome young man sitting at a public piano, who smiles at her, and she feels that spark she’s always dreamt of having. She asks if she can join him, and sings along, seeing his face light up to her's.

He is called Mark, and there is a spark between them as she finds out later. But even though it seems like they’ve known each other for lifetime, the truth is that they’re strangers.

Because Holly has secrets. And so does Mark.

And one of them might just kill to keep them. . . . . . .

This book was fast paced and a great page turner I loved it. Especially as it was a great quick read.

The Soulmate by Rona Halsall is a psychological thriller with an "in love at first sight" twist. Holly has not been able to catch a break since she was 16. Trying to outrun her past she meets Finn. Sadly, Holly's bad luck continues as Finn is abusive. One day while waiting for the train Holly hears a piano playing her favorite song. The pianist's name is Mark and Holly feels an immediate connection to this mysterious man. Mark can feel the chemistry as well so when Holly leaves him her social media handle, Mark knows he wants to keep in touch. When he messages her to check to see if she is okay he gets a worrying response. He drops everything to travel from Wales to Scotland to find this woman that he feels is his soulmate. But both Holly and Mark are hiding secrets, secrets that have you wondering if it is true love at first sight or if it is just obsession.
This book is filled with the psychological thriller element and a splash of romance. The characters are intense and the story was very well-paced with the suspense building perfectly. Thank you to NetGalley, Rona Halsall, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Expected release day is January 30th 2025.