"You're invited to a farewell party. I've got something to tell you before I die...."

Heather wants to leave this world with a clear conscience.

One confession. One secret.

Two scores to settle.

Heather accepted the fate of her terminal diagnosis long ago, but now the time is nearing, she arranges a huge farewell party for her nearest and dearest. She wants to say goodbye to everyone personally, but there's another reason she wants the people in her life together. She knows who killed young Simon Eyre all those years ago, and she needs to tell. The boy deserves justice. But she doesn't realise that by releasing her inner demons, she's unleashing much worse secrets, and putting everyone at risk....

Heather has only months to liver after receiving her terminal cancer diagnosis. With Martyn's (her boyfriend) help, Heather plans a farewell party where everyone she has known will be invited. She wants to tell them of her diagnosis and a secret she has been keeping for decades.

The story is told from Heather's point of view. At first, Heather comes across as kind and caring. She wants to unburden herself of a secret she's kept from her friends and family for the past twenty-seven years. But before the truth is revealed, more people have died. The tension and suspense builds throughout. This is a gripping and twisted read. The pace is steady. I loved this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RubySpeechley for my ARC of #Guilty in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fantastic read! The story concentrates on Heather and her illness for a good portion of the book which really sets the scene as characters are introduced. The story then moves on to the big secret and that's when things get very twisty! A fast paced read that is thoroughly engaging.

She wants a clear conscience before she dies but at what cost? I have read a few Ruby Speechley books and this was definitely my favourite I was hooked instantly and couldn’t read fast enough. Every time I thought I knew the culprit there were more secrets and lies revealed that added a new suspect to the list. This was such a compelling read with an ending so explosive I don’t think I will forget it for a long time. If you like a heart pounding psychological thriller that will keep you awake late into the night this would be one of my first recommendations.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Guilty' by Ruby Speechley.

WHAT did I just read!!!! WOW!!! I mean seriously Wow!! I was NOT expecting that lot fair play!!! This has GOT to start with a MASSIVE WELL DONE Ruby!!!! Ooopps sorry, yes, needed a minute to get over that but I've just left you hanging there... Sorry.... Let me tell you more...

Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! This book is an extremely well written book by this amazing author which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and fantastically written with vivid descriptions I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times. The synopsis, title and cover really fit the storyline. As you can tell I LOVED the storyline!!! I found it to be realistic, heart racing, addictive ,extremely fast paced and everything you could ask for in an absolutely gripping storyline!! I absolutely raced through this book and lost count on how many times I was holding my breath as Ruby speeds up the pace, tension and suspense throughout the pages. The best way i can describe the pace of the storyline is when you get on a roller coaster. You start by slowly heading up to the peak, knowing that something is awaiting you at the top but not quite sure what so your heart rate slowly starts building up. You then hit the top and by God Ruby has created a build up and bullet speed drop that will have you speeding through twists and turns through each page, revelation and shock that she has awaiting around the corners!! This fast paced and addictive psychological thriller is ram packed with mystery, secrets, suspense, tension and absolutely everything you could ask for and more!! A huge congratulations to Ruby on managing to shock me with the twists!! I have read hundreds of psychological, crime and thriller books so it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I was absolutely mind blown by the revelations that Heather was coming out with and that were dropping like nuclear bombs on the other characters!! I didn't know if I could trust any of the characters at all!! Ruby's fantastic evocative writing skills ensures the reader is sucked deep into the storyline with the characters, atmosphere and emotions coming to life in front of them. All of the characters were very well developed, strong and realistic. My heart completely went out to Heather at the start. She is dying from cancer and wants to throw a party but it will be a bigger surprise to the guests than they could ever guess!! Although this book talks about cancer which is an absolutely heart-breaking and cruel thing, I don't believe there is any need for a sensitivity warning that I normally mention in book reviews of books that discuss topics such as cancer, violence and other topics that could upset readers. This book was extremely fast paced with something constantly happening to keep you addicted. Every time I kept telling myself one more chapter the one I was in ended at a point where there was no way I could stop reading so I absolutely devoured it in one sitting!! Just brilliant fair play and everything linked in and wraps up perfectly!!! I cannot remember the last time I flew through a book so quickly. Each and every time I went to put it down to do something my fingers were itching to pick it back up as I just HAD to know what happened next!! I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie and would wait up all night to get tickets to watch it!! An absolute must read!! This may be the first book I have read by this extremely talented author but it most definitely will not be my last and I am going to add all of her other books to my wish list as soon as I have finished typing this up. If you are looking for a psychological thriller that will send a chill up your spine and leave you on the edge of your seat then ladies and gentleman this is just the book and series for you!! So, what are you waiting for? Grab your copy of this tense, gripping, atmospheric and addictive page turner now!

Congratulations Ruby on an absolutely explosive success!!! This is the exact reason I would like to welcome you to my favourite author club!! Here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Clear your schedules before picking this addictive psychological thriller up as you will not be able to put it down!!!

Overall an absolutely page turning, addictive, atmospheric, gripping and explosive must read that will keep you addicted throughout!!!

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I absolutely love a book filled with secrets so I couldn't put Guilty down once I picked it up. There's a big whopper of a secret and a bucketful of smaller secrets and lies to be revealed so put on your virtual running shoes when you pick up this incredibly addictive book.

As awful as it is to die too soon, Heather has the chance to say goodbye to all of her family and friends when she receives her terminal diagnosis. Heather doesn't just want to say goodbye though, she wants to confess...

To say things don't go to plan is a bit of an understatement and all of the added drama made my eyes zip down the page faster than they already were. I'm surprised I didn't have a blister on my finger from turning the pages so fast! I loved how just when I thought I had everything worked out, Ruby Speechley threw another spanner in the works. Great stuff!

Addictive, entertaining and blisteringly fast-paced, Guilty may be my first Ruby Speechley book but it won't be my last. I couldn't put it down and I loved every minute of it. A recommended read but make sure you block out a few hours so you can read uninterrupted.

I rreceived a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I loved the premise for this book and I was instantly gripped.

Having received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Heather decides that the best way to let everyone know, and to say goodbye to everyone who has been a part of her life, is to hold a huge party and make the announcement. She also has something to confess, so that she can die with a clear conscience. But someone finds out what she plans to confess and is determined to stop her.

There was a great balance of thriller and emotionally heartwrenching sadness, as Heather and her family come to terms with her short future and I really enjoyed Ruby Speechley's writing style. In the last part of the book though, I felt it got a bit messy and the ending fell a bit flat for me. Still an enjoyable read and I look forward to more from this brilliant author.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Ruby Speechley and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

After a terminal diagnosis leaves her with months to live, Heather's focus is on getting her affairs in order. She updates her will to protect her grown sons and her business. And with the help of her boyfriend Martyn, she plans her farewell party. Everyone will be invited, including friends, former friends, co-workers, and even those who might not like her too much. She wants to gather everyone together to announce her impending death. She also wants to reveal a secret she's been keeping for decades -- one that's tied to the death of her six-year-old brother Alex and the murder of a young man named Simon Eyre.

Some people at the party deserve to finally know the truth. Others want her to keep quiet to save their own necks. But Heather's determined to die with a clear conscience, even if it means putting the lives of those near and dear to her in jeopardy. That's okay, though. Those near and dear have secrets of their own which could be even more deadly.

Emotionally charged and fraught with twists, "Guilty" by Ruby Speechley is a dialogue-driven psychological thriller that is reminiscent of a murder mystery dinner theater. In the chapters where Heather's dinner party takes place, that is. Questions are flying around about some of the guests. When a body turns up, everyone tries to piece together whodunnit, including you.

Told exclusively from Heather's first-person point-of-view, you are instantly drawn to her and think of her as this deeply likeable character who's sadly, yet stoically facing her own demise. She frets over her friends and family, loving them and wanting the best for all of them after she passes on. But as the story continues, Heather's facade slips a bit. Not necessarily an unreliable narrator, she is not totally honest either. She's not being totally honest about the big secret she's keeping with her friends -- or the one she's keeping from them.

"Guilty" is a fast-moving book that doesn't slow down long enough to give you a chance to check the page or chapter number -- or to take a break. It's an ultra-compelling read with an ending so explosive, you'll smell the smoke rising off the pages. It's another brilliant job by author Ruby Speechley. I can't wait to read what's next.

Guilty is an emotive page turner by Ruby Speechley and it is a real roller coaster of a read. I immediately connected to Heather, particularly, as it is revealed early on in the novel that she is dying of cancer. When we meet her she is getting her affairs in order before her situation gets too bad. She is also planning a party, as her way of saying goodbye to everyone she loves, but there are a lot of people who still don’t know she is dying, and she is planning on telling them all at the party. But at the party things take a very dark turn, and we begin to realise that Heather may not be the person we think she is.

When we meet Heather, she comes across as kind and caring, someone who will do anything for the people she loves. She certainly does seem like the type of person who you would want to have in your corner. I could feel the love she has for her family and her friends and the love they have for her. It seems so unfair that she has to succumb to this disease, but Heather has now reluctantly accepted her fate. But she also has a dark secret, and Heather feels that now her time is nearing its end, she cannot go to her grave without revealing what that secret is. This is the part that really intrigued me as we follow Heather. I could really sense how much this meant to her, to finally unburden herself and let the truth, of whatever it was that happened in her past, be known.

Ruby Speechley ups the tension so, so well as the party gets underway, and it seems that there are people there who want Heather to suffer. The book really darkens at this point and I raced through the chapters to find out what was going to happen and what the secret was Heather wanted to let go of. This is what makes this story so intense and so intriguing as well.

The final revelations were shocking and Ruby Speechley does a brilliant job of bringing everything together in an explosive finale. I thought it was executed really well in a highly entertaining way. Guilty is a brilliant psychological thriller. I really enjoyed it.

Guilty is my fourth read from Speechley and quite possibly my favourite to date.

It's a dark, suspenseful fast paced thriller, that's based around one woman's secrets, lies and her 'deathbed' confessions.

Main protagonist Heather, having recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness (cancer) really struck a chord with me. I found it to be a relatable and quite the emotional read in places. Her supporting cast of characters were quite an undesirable bunch weren't they and I couldn't take to them or form any kind of emotional bonds with them.

It's rwisty, tense and the ending will blow your socks off!

This book has an interesting concept: upon learning she has a terminal disease, Heather wants to throw a farewell party. But, she also wants to reveal a secret she has carried with her most of her life. To complicate matters, she's together again with the person who knew her from her younger days, who also knows her secret. And he doesn't want that secret to come out.

While I stayed for the twists, there were some things that made this a slow read for me. There was some repetitiveness, and at times the book felt like it was going into lecture mode. While I felt empathy for her, the character of Heather seemed at times to do more than a person in her condition (often described as "exhausted") could do. It seems everyone except Heather's sons was unlikeable, which was actually a highlight, since it added to the suspense. Overall, this was an interesting story, but I would have liked to have seen a tighter plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader's copy.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This secret filled crime thriller follows Heather who has discovered that her illness is now terminal. She decides to throw a party and invite all the people who have been in her life, even if for good or bad reasons.

During the party, she plans to reveal the darkest secret of her life to clear her conscious before her death.

However, this it won’t be just her own life this revelation would affect and could end up deadly.

Will Heather reveal her secret? What other secrets may also be discovered?

This crime thriller has many dark secrets waiting to be revealed, even more than even Heather herself is aware.
The suspense builds throughout, as tension builds between Heather and her friends.

I did feel for Heather, as she feels it is the right thing to do before her death, and when she discovers more secrets which have been hidden from her must remain strong to discover the truth.

Overall, a secret filled crime thriller in which Heather plans to reveal her darkest secret with deadly consequences.

I found the beginning of Guilty quite promising and anticipated enjoying it; however, it turned out to be rather repetitive in parts, which caused my interest to wane rapidly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Guilty by Ruby Speechley
Boldwood Books, 7th June 2024

Heather is dying, and has decided to tell all before she goes, but there may be some who want her to keep quiet. Years-old secrets, a colourful cast of characters, and a huge smattering of intrigue combine in this captivating thriller.

Protagonist Heather is likeable, with stoicism and grit. But as the story progresses, and with so many characters, there are more than a couple of red herrings thrown in for good measure. I managed to suss out some of the plot reveals, despite the author's masterful storytelling, which is the only reason Guilty doesn't receive full marks from me.

I read this in a single sitting as it was so gripping, and I just had to know if my inklings were correct. I also needed to know how Heather's story ended as she was a character I couldn't help but connect with.
Perfect for fans of other psychological thrillers, this'll have you reading long into the night!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.

#BoldwoodBooks #Guilty #RubySpeechley #ARC #BoldBookClub #ARCReview #NetGalley #BookReview #Bookstagram #BookCommunity

"...The truth always comes out in the end, with or without me, so why not now so I can die peacefully, with a clear conscience?"

"Don't you find...guilt makes you question everything you do?"

Guilt is an emotion that eats away at us from the inside out but for some, with no conscience, it's an afterthought, it's more important to keep the secrets around the guilt. This truth is prevalent in the frenzied Guilty by psychological thriller author Ruby Speechley.

After 27 years, Heather is ready to tell the truth about the death of Simon. The fact that she's doing it after learning about her terminal diagnosis, at her well planned farewell to life party, is a bit disconcerting to say the least. She's invited all her friends and family to tell them all at once that she's dying and to celebrate her life. But before the truth can be revealed, more people will die, other shocking secrets will be revealed and who is really guilty of more than just Simon's death will blow your mind.

Every time I thought I knew the truth there were more secrets and lies. I figured out one of the main culprits of the current deaths but, honestly, almost any name would be a solid guess because everyone is guilty of something in this non stop twisty thriller.

This clever writer managed to combine two completely contrasting themes that somehow worked together. Aside from the shocking twists there was the story of Heather, in her forties dealing with her untimely death. Leaving notes for her sons and future grandchild. I loved the inclusion of the organization blue cross.org.uk's Pet Peace of Mind program that rehomes pets when their owners pass away.

This is an explosive story but you should have no guilt enjoying the wild reveals and the WTF of it all!

I received a free copy of this book from Boldwood Books via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Very interesting premise that hooked me in quickly.

Storyline has many twists and keeps you guessing. I had an idea of the culprit but I was not fully correct. Even though I had figured out parts of it that didn't stop me from wanting to know how it ended.

The main character is terminally ill. Initially I found her sympathetic and then I just found her melodramatic and quite annoying at times. En masse, the characters are extremely unlikeable.

The novel is a glimpse into the ways people's lives change when they are carrying a important secret.

Overall, this is a quick read and will appeal to people who enjoy psychological thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ruby Speechley's emotionally charged page-turner Guilty is an incredible read. Since Heather's cancer diagnosis is revealed early in the book, I felt an immediate connection to her. She is organizing her affairs when we first meet her, trying to prevent things from going too terrible. In addition, she is organizing a party to bid farewell to everyone she loves. However, she intends to inform those who remain unaware of her impending death during the celebration. However, things take a very dark turn at the party, and we start to suspect that Heather might not be who we believe her to be.

Upon meeting her, Heather strikes us as a kind and gentle individual who would sacrifice anything for those she loves. She seems like the kind of person you want on your side, no doubt about it. I could sense her affection for her friends and family, as well as their love for her. Although it seems so unjust that she must die from this illness, Heather has finally come to terms with her destiny. However, Heather also harbors a sinister secret, and since her time is running out, she believes she must tell it before passing away. I found this section of following Heather to be incredibly fascinating. I could definitely feel I could tell how much it meant to her to be able to finally let go of her burdens and reveal the truth about whatever had happened in her past.


As the party begins, Ruby Speechley intensifies the tension to an unbelievably high degree, and it appears that some people are there to see Heather suffer. At this point, the novel really gets dark, and I was eager to turn the pages to see what would happen and what secret Heather was trying to let go of. This is what adds to the story's intensity and intrigue.

Ruby Speechley does a fantastic job of pulling everything together in an exciting climax. The last disclosures were shocking. It was incredibly enjoyable, and I felt it was really beautifully done. The psychological thriller Guilty is excellent. It was incredibly enjoyable to me.

Ruby Speechley's emotionally charged page-turner Guilty is an incredible read. Since Heather's cancer diagnosis is revealed early in the book, I felt an immediate connection to her. She is organizing her affairs when we first meet her, trying to prevent things from going too terrible. In addition, she is organizing a party to bid farewell to everyone she loves. However, she intends to inform those who remain unaware of her impending death during the celebration. However, things take a very dark turn at the party, and we start to suspect that Heather might not be who we believe her to be.

Upon meeting her, Heather strikes us as a kind and gentle individual who would sacrifice anything for those she loves. She seems like the kind of person you want on your side, no doubt about it. I could sense her affection for her friends and family, as well as their love for her. Although it seems so unjust that she must die from this illness, Heather has finally come to terms with her destiny. However, Heather also harbors a sinister secret, and since her time is running out, she believes she must tell it before passing away. I found this section of following Heather to be incredibly fascinating. I could definitely feel I could tell how much it meant to her to be able to finally let go of her burdens and reveal the truth about whatever had happened in her past.


As the party begins, Ruby Speechley intensifies the tension to an unbelievably high degree, and it appears that some people are there to see Heather suffer. At this point, the novel really gets dark, and I was eager to turn the pages to see what would happen and what secret Heather was trying to let go of. This is what adds to the story's intensity and intrigue.

Ruby Speechley does a fantastic job of pulling everything together in an exciting climax. The last disclosures were shocking. It was incredibly enjoyable, and I felt it was really beautifully done. The psychological thriller Guilty is excellent. It was incredibly enjoyable to me.

What a great story with all the secrets and lies these “friends” had. This story was about Heather who has a terminal illness and wants to have a party to celebrate her life and to tell everyone at once that she will be dying. Though that party goes wrong when she gets text from an unknown number and then suddenly one of her childhood friends is being rushed to the hospital during her party. That’s when everything starts to kick off and secrets from the past come out while people start dying.

This is a fast paced thriller with plenty of unpredictable twists to keep you entertained till the end. Great characters and a MAJOR secret that is revealed early on. This book had all the raunchy family drama and was an emotional rollercoaster. This story was unlike anything I've ever read before and makes me excited to read more from this author. I love finding great authors through ARC's. The synopsis will get you interested and I promise the story delivers. Nice twist at the end!

When I started this book I thought, here we go again, starting at the end and then going back in time. I was delighted that I was wrong and the beginning was the beginning. It moved at a pace and kept me engaged throughout. It had a few sneaky twists along the way which added to the enjoyment. My only criticism would be that Heather was too amazing for a terminally ill person. On the whole an enjoyable read.