I was curious to see if this would be any different then the same old tropes with a boy friend who seems perfect and dreamy before the truth is found out….it wasn’t, same old same old. Meh

A thrilling story about revenge. I enjoyed this one as it was quite evil at times and I do enjoy a different style of book from time to time. I r ad this one very quickly and so pleased to give it a good r view. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I just finished The Boyfriend by John Nicholl and wow—what a wild ride. At first, it felt like a dreamy romance (hello, charming, rich boyfriend), but things took a dark turn fast. It honestly gave me chills how quickly perfect turned into terrifying.

It’s super fast-paced—I couldn’t put it down—and the twists kept me totally hooked. If you’re into dark thrillers with a creepy edge and strong female leads, this one is so worth it. Definitely had me double-checking my locks at night!

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Boyfriend.
This is a tough novel to read as it deals with sensitive subjects dealing with domestic violence and sexual assault.
This book starts when a horrible man who was so wonderful in the beginning of a relationship shows his true colors to a young woman.
Although she turns to the police she is not victorious in court. This man is free and able to speak badly of the victim.
A local police officer who is on the verge of retirement decides to take matters into his hands. He is sickened by this criminal and has his mind set to fight back against the man who seems to be Teflon to the law.
Good book but the subject matter may be difficult for some. Read with caution.
3 stars

The Boyfriend is a disturbing psychological thriller that explores the dark side of charm, control, and obsession. While the premise is chilling and definitely had the potential to be a page-turner, I found this one to be a bit of a mixed bag.
We follow Anna, who is swept off her feet by the seemingly perfect Mark—wealthy, attentive, and full of romantic gestures. But things take a sinister turn as the mask begins to slip, revealing a controlling, dangerous man with far more than emotional manipulation in his arsenal. The concept is gripping and sadly believable, making for a haunting read that reminds us how predators can hide in plain sight.
What worked for me was the raw, unsettling look into coercive control and psychological abuse. Nicholl doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of toxic relationships, and the theme of how trauma can follow victims long after the relationship ends is handled with sensitivity. Anna’s fear and emotional torment felt authentic, and there were moments when I genuinely rooted for her.
That said, I had a few issues that kept this from being a higher-rated read. First, the plot felt quite linear and predictable—I could see the major twists coming from early on. Mark is portrayed as such an over-the-top villain that he sometimes felt more like a caricature than a real person, which made it harder for me to stay immersed. I also wanted more depth from the side characters, especially the women who came after Anna—there was room to explore their stories, but the book stayed pretty surface-level.
All in all, The Boyfriend is a decent, dark thriller with a relevant theme and some truly chilling moments, but it lacks the complexity and emotional punch I was hoping for. A quick read.

The Boyfriend is a dark and gripping psychological thriller that wastes no time pulling you into its chilling narrative. John Nicholl masterfully builds tension through sharp pacing and unsettling twists, keeping you guessing right up to the end. The characters are flawed and believable, and the creeping sense of dread lingers long after you’ve turned the final page. While some moments feel a touch predictable, the overall suspense and emotional weight make this a compelling, edge-of-your-seat read.

The Boyfriend is the first book I’ve read by John Nicholl. This book was really hard to put down! It was very realistic and kinda creepy. I felt really sad for the victims in this story. I really liked this book, but it definitely has some sensitive topics.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

He is going to bring this flash restaurant owner well and truly down and get him sent away for a very long time or be put in the ground.
And again, Oh Wow what a book,
It's so unputdownable right through to the ending that will chill your bones sending big goosebumps through you.

I just finished this one, and wow it was intense. The story follows a woman who falls for a charming guy who, at first, seems like everything she’s ever wanted. But as their relationship deepens, the cracks start to show. He becomes controlling, possessive, and honestly, terrifying. Watching her slowly realize she’s in serious danger had me holding my breath more than once.

What really got me was how realistic the manipulation felt—it wasn’t over the top, it was subtle and believable, which made it even scarier. The pacing was great for most of the book; I couldn’t stop turning pages. I do wish the ending had a bit more time to unfold it felt a little rushed and I would've liked a bit more development from some of the side characters.

Still, it kept me fully engage A solid 4 stars

The Boyfriend by John Nicholl is a new thriller about a boyfriend who is too good to be true. Anna Edwards found out the hard way that Mark Shady is not the man she thought he was. They had a fairytale romance until one night when he assaults her. DS Ray Lewis is on the case and collects information to bring Mark Shady to trial to pay for his crime.

I really loved the character of Ray Lewis. He is passionate and down to earth and has a great camaraderie with his colleague Laura Kesey. Ray Lewis just reminds me of a big teddy bear who is hard working and cares about the victims of Mark’s crimes. He will do almost anything to get justice.

Later, Mark is found to have a new girlfriend/victim. Can Lewis talk sense into her before it’s too late?

Mark Shady is a despicable person in every area. When he’s not assaulting women, he is there to taunt Lewis even making up disparaging poetry about him. From the first chapter, the desire for Mark to get his comeuppance is real.

This book took a dark turn in the second half. I suggest to check the trigger warnings before proceeding. This second half was so fast paced, which I loved. Overall it was a page turning thriller with great characters minus Mark Shady.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for this advanced copy in return for my honest opinions.

Anna Edwards’ boyfriend, Mark Shady, has viciously raped her and kicked her out of his flat. She goes straight to the police to report him for rape. A trial was held and Mark was pronounced Not Guilty. Anna is beside herself and cannot believe that even though this is not the first time he has been tried for rape, each time he has gotten off. He is very cocky and on social media he is writing nasty things about her.

Detective Sergeant Raymond Lewis is furious at the verdict and how the defense attorney made Anna sound like a tramp. He so wants to see the man finally found guilty and thrown in prison. Lewis is overweight and does not eat properly even though he’s already had one heart attack. His supervisor, Detective Inspector Laura Kesey, is worried about him and knowing how much he hates Mark, she hopes he won’t do something stupid.

Mark has no problem laughing at and taunting Lewis saying that Lewis' own daughter looks good to him. But it’s Mark’s fantasy that he confesses to Lewis that has him truly scared so Lewis warns his daughter to stay away from him. When he learns that another detective’s daughter is under Mark’s spell his fear is heightened even more. When Mark’s pizza restaurant is fire bombed and he is hospitalized, Lewis wonders if someone is finally getting revenge on Mark.

This book infuriated me! The horrible descriptions of the thoughts of a sick woman-hating madman made me ill. I have read two other books by this author but I can honestly say that I will not be reading any more by him. Violence against women is disgusting. Nope. Not for me.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Having not come across this author before I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read something new and boy did this one keep me reading long after I should have stopped to do something else. From its graphic opening chapter, to the final pages, this gritty crime novel never lets up in terms of suspense and psychological terror.

Mark Shady appears to be the perfect boyfriend but he gets his sadistic pleasure by targeting young women, exploiting them in horrifying detail, only to walk free when repeatedly found not guilty of rape and sexual assault. He laughs at the police, keeping one step ahead of the law, confident in his ability to thwart every attempt to bring him to justice, but then on the side of the good guys there is DS Ray Lewis, an honourable detective, who is equally determined to bring Shady to justice.

Brilliantly written, dark and atmospheric, I flew through the book in the space of one terror filled sitting, heart in mouth as this chilling story progressed, ultimately moved by the fate of the victims, but heartened by the conclusion to the story, and a sense of rough justice having been achieved. The Boyfriend’s overall grittiness is perhaps not for the faint hearted, but it’s definitely a page turner.

Not for me.

Very bleak and the writing style was odd. So much tell and so little show. I also found that the way the characters spoke was really unnatural.

I did like how it ended and really hated our villain.

But, ultimately, just not my style.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely read more. The book starts at a slow pace, but this gets you invested into all the different characters. After this it gets gritty and there are lots of graphic details and twists and turns galore. I enjoyed meeting Detective Ray Lewis he definitely isn’t perfect but he takes his job very seriously. If you like this genre I recommend reading this book.

This book kept me engaged from the start. Certain parts were much darker then anticipated and i found myself sad for characters in the book. John writes the characters, with their wants, flaws and motivations flawlessly. It sometimes felt like watching a true crime episode and even if you had some idea what happens it still shocks you. The ending did feel kinda fast. This was my first book by john definitely wont be my last

The Boyfriend is a dark, psychological thriller. There is a lot of abuse, mentally, physically and sexually so it is definitely NOT a book for everyone.

i have not read other books by John Nihcoll before, but I will read more in the future. The book sucked me in from the very beginning and kept me up late reading to find out about Anna and Mark.

John Nicholl’s The Boyfriend is a gripping psychological thriller that takes readers on a dark, twisted ride from start to finish. With a chilling plot and relentless pacing, this novel grabs hold from the very first page and refuses to let go until the final, shocking revelation.

Nicholl masterfully builds suspense through a tightly woven narrative that keeps you guessing at every turn. Just when you think you have it figured out, the story shifts, pulling you deeper into its web of manipulation, secrets, and psychological tension. It’s the kind of book you simply can’t put down—you’ll find yourself racing through the chapters, desperate to uncover what happened and what’s still to come.

As a first-time reader of John Nicholl’s work, this novel is an unforgettable introduction. His writing is sharp, his characters disturbingly real, and his ability to create unease is impressive. It’s clear he understands how to keep readers on edge while delivering a well-structured, fast-paced thriller.

The Boyfriend is an absolute must-read for fans of dark psychological suspense. This won’t be my last John Nicholl novel—and if you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing and gasping, it shouldn’t be yours either.

Fast paced & kept me reading and hooked.
Shady is a manipulative piece or rubbish (to be polite) abusive and worse. He’s got away with things for too long and now the police are after him.
No one likes this guy and know what he’s done but could he get worse?
His latest girlfriend tried to get him locked up and the police did their best. Now what happens
Really good, strong things covered in the book.
Well worth reading and getting into

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Boyfriend' by John Nicholl.

This is the ninth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'Killing Evil' and 'The Doctor' (First book in the 'Dr David Galbraith' series) and 'The Wife' (Second book in the Dr Galbrailth series), 'The Father' (Third book in the Dr Galbraith series), 'The Carmarthen Murders' (First book in the 'Carmarthen Crime' series) , 'The Tywi Estuary Killings' (Second book in the 'Carmarthen Crime' series). 'The Bride' and 'The Cellar'. I would highly recommend each and every single one of them including this one!!

'The Boyfriend' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book John Nicholl discusses/includes rape.

OMG!!!! Yet another fantastic success by John!! What a read!! Just Wow!!! This is one of the best psychological thrillers and series I have read in a long time, in fact that I have ever read!!! Clear your schedules before picking this up because you won't be able to put it down!!

If you are a crime lover then you MUST have already read at least one book by John Nicholl and if you haven't then why not?? How can you call yourself a crime lover yet not ever read a book by John the King Of Crime!! The storyline is absolutely addictive and gripping. I seriously WOULD NOT even start this book unless you have cleared your schedule because you will not be able to put it down!!! I absolutely blew through it in one sitting and it genuinely was unputdownable!!! A true page turner absolutely rammed with suspense, tension and everything you want when you read a psychological thriller. This would be absolutely amazing if turned into a movie, if done right of course!!! This is an absolutely gripping and addictive storyline.


This book is yet another absolutely gripping and addictive page turner from John Nicholl. I will say from the start that it is not for the light hearted so if you are looking for a cosy crime then this is not the book for you but if you are looking for a gritty, action packed, addictive crime then stop wasting your time reading my review and grab you copy of this book now!! I have yet to come across one of his books that I don't absolutely love!! This dark psychological thriller has the perfect amount of suspense, mystery, crime and tension to keep you absolutely hooked throughout!! I love the fact that this book is based in the Carmarthen area which is literally 10 minutes away from me by car. The fact that I recognised so many places really brought the story to life. John really describes Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford perfectly and even when this book is filled with crime and murder he manages to portray the beauty of local areas. I love that John mentions the vegetarian café on Merlin's Lane in Carmarthen (Waverley Stores & Vegetarian Café in anybody is interested to know what it is called and wants to visit themselves). I'm looking forward to my own visit there are my mouth watered from John's description of the vegan mushroom burger!!! In this absolutely addictive page turner John transports his readers to Carmarthenshire where we start of by meeting 20 year old Anna Edwards who is cowering under her scum boyfriend Mark Shady. We are then transported in to the future 9 months later where we meet Detective Sergeant Raymond Lewis who is sickened, angry and shocked at the jury's not guilty verdict on Mark Shady. For anyone who has read any of John's previous books they will recognise Ray who has appeared in several of John's books. I love Ray who I have also met previously, also in 'The Cellar' and 'The Bride' and who made me laugh a few times. He reminded me of Detective Inspector Gareth Gravel from the 'Dr Galbraith' and 'Carmarthen Crime' series by John although not quite as big an attitude problem!! Ray is one of those characters that will stay with you well after finishing the book. He is not the fittest of detectives, in fact he is far from it!! He used to see things as black and white but not anymore and misses the 'good old' police days where it was easier to show criminals a lesson. If it isn't bad enough that that Shady has already been given a not guilty sentence several other times before for rape but he comes straight from the court and celebrates all over social media while also telling the world that Anna is a liar, mocking both Anna and Ray. Things go from bad to worse when Ray discovers that Shady has gone straight into a relationship with Carly, the daughter of Mike Flowers who is a DC in the Pembrokeshire Division and a friend of Ray. When Ray discovers that Shady is not just a rapist but also wanted Anna to play dead the danger increases for Carly but will she listen to her parents warning? Can Shady be stopped before he rapes again, if not worse? Well, to find out for yourself grab your copy of this gripping, chilling and page turner today and I can promise that you will not regret it!! You may even discover your new favourite author just like I did when I started reading John's books!!
With a storyline absolutely ram packed with crime, mystery, murder, suspense, tension, jaw dropping shocks and everything you could ask for in an addictive psychological page turner what are you waiting for??? It also has just the right amount of humour in to lighten the mood which I always love in crime books. Will I say more? Nope, sorry for the tease but you'll just have to pick up a copy to find out more. I can't go spoiling it for future readers now can I? I found the storyline to be unique which always a bonus with so many crime novels around it can get frustrating reading similar story lines constantly. I absolutely loved the ending which was an absolutely fantastic and unexpected twist that I would have never seen coming!!! Although, I am hoping that doesn't mean the last we will see from a certain character. I think I'll have to leave this here as I don't want to risk giving anything away but needless to say this book is an absolute must read with an unexpected ending. I would love to see this turned into a movie!!

I became completely invested in Anna very early on and my heart went out to her. I absolutely loved meeting Ray again, who I mentioned earlier, as well as Detective Inspector Laura Kesey who I also got to know from previous books. She did annoy me a bit in this book with her attitude towards Ray but I could also see her side too. I also felt her frustration that she still has not got the promotion that she has been led to believe is hers especially after she lost out on a family holiday and has had arguments with her partner Jan because of it. was rooting for him to find the answers to the questions he needed answered. It was not just Anna and Ray that I was intrigued and invested in but several of the other characters who I found to have distinctive and realistic personalities although I was not a fan of them all! Just like with the storyline the characters come to life with Iain's evocative writing skills. They are well rounded, realistic and strong making them all the more believable. All the characters may have been realistic but they were not all likeable. I was completely invested in each of the characters and just had to know what was going to happen in the end! I won't go into more details about the characters as I don't want to risk giving anything away but yet again John really has done an amazing job constructing an addictive crime thriller that you just won't be able to put down. Regardless whether you love or hate the characters each of them comes to life and had a part to play, which they did perfectly!!

I really cannot compliment and recommend this book more. It is a heart racing, nail biting, suspense packed psychological thriller that will stay with you for one hell of a long time.

Congratulations John on yet another absolutely addictive nail biting edge of your seat novel. This is exactly why you are my favourite male author!! As always I'm looking forward to reading your next page turner and success 🥂 !!!

Overall another unputdownable, heart racing, nail biting and addictive psychological thriller by the King of Crime John Nicholl!!!

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This was a great read, so much so I had trouble putting it down. Ray Lewis is a detective. Girls are being groomed, everyone knows who is the leader, but nothing ever sticks to get them convicted. Lewis is obsessed with the ring leader. Someone is out for revenge, but who? When a detective friends daughter goes missing,, they need to find her but is it too late? Ray's daughter Bronwen then goes missing, can they get to whoever is committing these heinous crimes?
Nail biter this one !!!!
Highly recommend