Helen Applebee has recently been released from prison for murdering her partner. Wanting to start a new life she opens a used bookstore which has been a dream for years. But then strange things begin to happen. Who is behind all this and why are they doing it. So the mystery begins.

What an enthralling read! If you’re a fan of thrillers, a little twist of the psychological, and the possibility of second chances, this book is for you! I got lost in the pages of this book, and couldn’t put it down! The Bookseller is definitely a must read!

I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC of The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning, and I had a hard time putting it down! The twists kept coming, making it impossible to guess what would happen next—which I loved. I never enjoy a book as much when I can predict the ending, and The Bookseller kept me on my toes the whole way through.

The mystery itself was engaging and well-paced, with just the right balance of intrigue without feeling over-the-top or cringy. I especially enjoyed following Helen’s journey and feeling immersed in her life. The relationships she formed along the way made the story even more enjoyable—I found myself worrying for her, rooting for her, and celebrating her wins.

If you're looking for a mystery that keeps you guessing with a well-developed protagonist and an engaging plot, The Bookseller is a must-read!

#TheBookseller #NetGalley

Valerie is one of my favourite authors and I always look forward to her books. This was another great read overall but did lack the nuances and slick writing of some of her other novels. I enjoyed it on on the whole and was eager to see how it would develop. A good read,but lacking in places.

This was my first Valerie Keogh but certainly won't be my last.

A gripping novel about a female killer who opens a book shop in Bath. It plays on themes of deception and trust and explores human connections and first impressions. A true psychological thriller!

This book did not have Valerie's normal suspense in my opinion. Helen is released from prison after killing her significant other and wants to start a book shop. It seems like people are against her: co-workers, probation officers etc, but why? Just seemed slow and wasn't grabbing my attention.

After Helen is released from prison she decides to use some money left to her bu her mother to open a bookshop.

Helean has not had an easy life and now just wants to sell books and live quietly... but it seems someone is trying to ruin her life once and for all..

This is an easy read. it has an intrguing plot and I loved watching Helen trying to keep her dark side under control.

I could not got into this book. Her books seem to be amazing or dull for me. Helen is released from prison after killing her partner. She opens a book shop. Things start to happen. People start to get suspicious. Ending wasn’t what I expected but I just didn’t find it suspenseful.

Oh I totally love Valerie Keogh’s books! This was fantastic! So many great characters that kept me flipping pages long into the night. This was captivating from beginning to end. Tension, mystery and intrigue throughout. Don’t let this gem pass you by. Excellent storytelling.
Thank you NetGalley, Valerie Keogh and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It opens with a prologue that immediately grabbed my attention. Fast forward and Helen Appleby is now an adult but the behaviours of her childhood have coloured her life choices. It was a one sitting read for me as I had to know what happens to Helen, short chapters and quite a quick and easy read.

Briefly, recently released from prison after serving two years of a four year sentence for manslaughter Helen has decided to use the money her mother left her to open a second hand bookshop. She finds a property and soon the bookshop is up and running but from the start someone seems to be out to scupper her plans.

There are some difficult issues dealt with in the book - particularly sadomasochism and coercive control - which are dealt with sympathetically. Helen is a difficult character, I initially didn’t like her a lot. She is quick tempered, suspicious and unforgiving but as the book progressed a softer side is evident and she was right to be suspicious. There are a number of characters who raised my suspicions, but that was a moveable feast! Some really good twists and turns and an ending I definitely didn’t see coming. An excellent psychological family drama. Very enjoyable.

Title: The Bookseller
Author: Valerie Keogh
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: March 3, 2025
My Rating: 3.6 Stars
Pages: 287

Helen Appleby was recently released from prison for murdering her partner, she wants to rebuild her life and move on. She decides to open a bookshop of used/previously owned and loved books. She certain this is the perfect - she can hide from the real world and begin again. The world of books is the perfect place to find happiness – Right?
However, Helen seems to attract negative people- the guys running the pizza place, her parole officer, the grandson of a grandma who donates a lot of books, Then there are the seemly nice college girls who fill bring into the bookshop as they are excited with the old books only it turns Jill is a thief.
This attraction to negative people and the need for love started when she was a child. The Prologue tells us about the parents. A mother who doesn’t disciplined the children for her many rules, but writes down their bad behavior foe when the father comes home. The children would line up to take their punishment. Afterwards he would hold young Helen in his arms to comfort her. Thus Helen learned to accept that affection and pain go together

This is my tenth author, Valerie Keogh novel.
This story was a bit different than her typical thriller. I know Ms. Keogh usually has a signature ending ~ She loves to leave readers thinking!!
In the case, the ending was satisfying.

Want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this this great early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 3, 2025.

An interesting psychological drama. Main character is flawed but sympathetic. Who is out to get her. Or is anyone? Keeps you guessing

Great read from Valerie Keogh, the Bookseller is an immersive read and features one of my favorite subjects, bookstores! I enjoyed this book, flawed and interesting characters, a ton of mystery and intriguing. A good read and kept my attention. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher.

Thank you to Valerie Keogh, Boldwood Books, and netgalley for the arc copy of the bookseller! This was a quick read with short chapters and grabbed your attention from the beginning! There was a lot of character development and twists in this novel! Looking forward to reading more from this author! It publishes on 3/3/25, add it to your tbr!!

I really enjoyed the new psychological thriller by author Valerie Keogh. Full of suspense and intrigue that kept me gripped from start to finish so much so I read it in one sitting.
Helen Appleby is trying to rebuild her life after been released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner. She decides to open a small book shop determined to start a fresh and leave behind her troubled past. Despite her positive mindset she struggles to free herself from the past due to some strange happenings. It appears that someone is set on making her life as unsettled as possible and intent on destroying her plans.

The novel is full of suspense and the tension builds throughout. There are several intriguing characters that all have possible reasons for wanting to cause Helen trouble. Because of this I was constantly suspecting characters before changing my mind and moving on to the next one. Well written and the suspense keeps you guessing with a constant undercurrent of danger and tension.

Helen is a very interesting character with a dark past and although she is trying to make a fresh start there is a feeling that circumstances could result in her returning to to prison. Every person she comes into contact with feels like they may be the saboteur. Each character is suspicious in there own way and this just helps the story build. It is almost impossible for Helen to know who to trust.
“The Bookseller” is a very good psychological thriller that makes it an exciting read and will keep you hooked until the very end.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

#thankyounetgalley #crime

Thank you to #netgalley for the arc for an honest review
A new author for me am so glad I gave her ago as it was brilliant I read it in three sittings I couldn’t put it down any thing with crime and books in a story is good he he I look forward to more books from this author thank you


A woman with a dark past...

Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she's trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them - to rebuild her life and move on.

When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books is the perfect place to find happiness - even if it is all lies.

But the past can never stay hidden…

As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen's new life and ruin everything she's built.

But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again...

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my copy of The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh.
Another winner from this author. This story starts off with a bang and doesn't let up.
So many twists you'll go dizzy.
A great read.

This excellent story is bound to be a hit for the author. The plot is well conceived and the character development takes it up to another level. The former convict just wants a nice quiet life, but someone doesn’t want that to happen. Just when you thought you solved the mystery, another twist takes you in another direction..

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

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Helen Appleby is released from prison where she served 2 years for the manslaughter of her husband who was abusing her. She had always had a dream to own her own bookshop as she loved books and reading. So once released with a little inheritance and help from her sister Sarah, she find a run down shop which she buys and renovates in the town where she is from. She makes new friends with the pizza owners next door, her parole office is always around and of course her sister. After a couple of days, she is broken into both at home and her shop. She hears weird banging and is convinced someone is out to get her. A good psychological novel from Valerie Keogh. The characters are likable the ending of this book will surprise you.