I really enjoyed reading this; it had a nice flow, and I appreciated the level of detail that went into Helen setting up her shop. That said, the business model did seem wildly unrealistic—selling books for £1-£2 might make for a charming idea, but in reality, she’d need to shift an enormous number of them just to stay afloat!
For the most part, the book felt very contemporary rather than a psychological thriller. There were a few unsettling moments, but nothing that really got my heart racing. The tension never quite reached the level I was expecting.
Helen, as a protagonist, frustrated me quite a bit, especially when it came to Moira. She seemed completely incapable of prioritising the one part of her life that truly mattered. It wasn’t even a case of being forgetful—it was like she just… didn’t bother, which made it hard to sympathise with her at times.
The ending, for me, was a bit underwhelming. The motivations behind certain characters’ actions felt weak, and rather than a dramatic climax, the story just sort of… fizzled out. There was no real punch to it.
That being said, it was still an enjoyable, easy read—what I’d call a “chewing gum for the brain” kind of book. It kept me entertained, even if it didn’t quite deliver the impact I was hoping for.

Fantastic mystery / thriller book. It's not the fastest of reads but it draws you in and keeps your attention very well. Somehow there's even room for some slightly dark humour. The twists and turns keep coming and keep you guessing right until the end and the last line made me cry. A superb book. I'd never read anything by This author before but I definitely will now and i'd recommend the book strongly to anyone.

This is a wonderfully original thriller! It felt like a serious psychological thriller with a lighter side. The story is that of Helen, who we meet with the introduction of her having stabbed her partner to death! Helen serves 2 years and then is released into the care of her much loathed probation officer Moira. Helen has a dream of opening a second hand book store, and with some inheritance money she is able to realise this ambition.

With break-ins to both her shop, and her home, Helen fears that someone is out to ruin her dream and as this novel plays out we discover exactly who and what motives lie behind this plot to bring Helen down.

This book is deliciously well written with plenty of plot twists! 100% recommended!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

I started reading this book.... and simply couldn't stop! The story is about a woman released from prison who opens up a secondhand bookshop. However, some brilliantly compelling characters and several twists in the tale keep you guessing until the end of the story. What's the story behind people who get rid of book collections? Just wonderful.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

In the Bookseller we meet Helen, a seemingly timid bookseller with an interesting past. Having been released early from prison from a manslaughter charge Helen only wants a quite life and hopes her early release isn't overturned. When someone tries sabotaging everything she has worked for Helen will stop at nothing, even if that means killing again.

I wanted to love this story so much more from the synopsis than I ended liking it 🫣. The build up was decent but I didn't love Helen's character and thought after everything she had been through her personality was a little watered down? There was just something off and I couldn't quite figure it out. Without going too far into the mysteries and sabotage they also felt a little thrown in there? Like a few were added in to bring the total sabotage number up? Sorry if that seems a little harsh but it wasn't anything to tell your book bestie.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC copy.

This book hooks you in from the beginning, not knowing how the story is going to go right until the end. A good mystery book with some twists and turns. Very much enjoyed.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC.

I've read a few of these authors' books, so I was expecting great things! This book was full of suspense, mystery & and intrigue, but for me, it just didn't seem to go anywhere. There was just too much going in, and you never seemed to get the end of what was going on. The main character, Helen, I just couldn't seem to gel with her and her paranoia.
Whilst I didn't expect the ending to be as it was, it was the jaw-dropper one comes to expect from this author.
On the plus side, there were some twists and turns, and you generally can't go wrong with a book about a bookshop and Bookseller.

The Bookseller
Helen is about to realize her dream of opening a used bookstore after serving time for the manslaughter of her partner.
She just wants a peaceful life surrounded by her books. But will the past stay hidden or is someone out to destroy her vision?
A well-executed story with remarkable characters.

It was easy to sink my teeth into this slow-burn thriller and just go with it. It was less suspenseful than this author's other works but enjoyable nonetheless. Helen grew up in a household of pleasure and pain and she found herself acting out for punishment. Her unusual physical and mental needs carried into her marriage. She found herself in prison after killing her unlikeable and deviant husband and after her release, her goal was to make a fresh start. She bought a ramshackle building which she filled with books. As a bookseller, she encountered many personalities, some difficult, others kind. But nothing is as it appears and skeletons clink in their closets. The past melds with the present.

I didn't experience heart-stopping twists or suspense in this novel but did enjoy it for its subtleties. Most characters aren't particularly likeable but they were interesting. What rabid thriller reader can resist a thriller involving a bookstore and books? I like that it was different.

This was an intense and intriguing story. There are some heavy topics discussed so certainly something to be aware of before reading. I like this author quite a bit but this is not my favorite of her books.

Helen Appleby has just left prison after being side for Manslaughter of her partner abusive partner Toby. She served two years for crime but, if they knew the truth it would have been for so much longer.
Helen thinks that she has been given a second chance in life. So, to turn over a new leaf, she has always wanted to open a second-hand bookshop. So that’s what she does. But life is not plain sailing from then now on that she thought. Her flat and the Bookshop gets broken into and paranoia set in and doesn’t know who to trust. Especially now and, she has her probation officer on her case as well.
I have read a few books now by Valerie Keogh and really enjoyed them. I found this a slightly different style of writing, but I certainly wasn’t disappointed. This is a fabulous gripping read of someone trying to turn their life around. Even though the crime that Helen did, I still let like I want to root for her and wanted her to do well. One I started this, I didn’t want to put it down I enjoyed it so much. 5 stars from me.

Helen, newly out of prison, wants to fulfil her dream of owning a second hand bookshop - and money inherited from her parents means she can do just that. But it's not all plain sailing. Her parole officer seems to have it in for her, her neighbours at the shop seem dodgy, and she has no support apart from her sister. And strange things keep happening...

I enjoyed reading about Helen setting up her shop and her early days in business (although I'm not entirely convinced of its viability). I'd have happily read a book about its ups and downs, leaving out her somewhat unsavoury back story. There's a bit of a mystery around the crime she committed, but other than to say Helen's definitely got her issues, it wasn't something I could get particularly interested in.

Her sexual issues (and some cod psychology about her childhood) seemed a weird fit for the story. However this is definitely no Fifty Shades of Grey (thankfully), although said volume does in fact appear in the bookshop... and is viewed by Helen with disdain.

Overall it was an easy read and I did quite enjoy it, though the ending was a bit sudden, leaving me feeling slightly dissatisfied.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

As is expected of a Valerie Keogh book, this story was full of suspense, tension and mystery. I simply could not work out what was going on and had as many questions going around my head as the main character! I didn't expect the ending at all, although did find it slightly disappointing as I was hoping for more of a jaw-dropper. I also would've liked an epilogue of many a few months on to round Helen's story up better. That being said there were some great twists and turns, and unexpected surprises. You can never go wrong with a book about a bookshop for me! I tore through this book and actually read it in 24 hours. It was gripping and well told.

This was a really good story. It's what some might call a slow burn. I did like most of the main characters and enjoyed seeing the book store grow. The ending was satisfying. Valerie Keogh books never disappoint. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!

It feels like I am reading a Lifetime movie thriller. Honestly, while I was reading all im asking is WHERE IS THE TWIST? WHERE IS THE “OMFG” MOMENT?

I have read half pages but sorry i cant go on. Maybe this story was a slow paced and its not suit for me. Btw, i love the premises about sisterhood and books about books. Its really insteresting when it related anything about books such as bookseller, library etc.

I really enjoyed this one. The pages were fast to turn and the story itself was gripping and super easy to read. I feel everything was wrapped up awfully quickly and easily, but a good read and one I’d recommend!

Another 5 star rating for Valerie Keogh's latest book. This one crept up on me and kept me guessing. I enjoy the way it's written and I'm sure it's going to be another bestseller.

All Helen wants is to rebuild her life after coming out of prison for the murder of her partner. A few secrets come out along the way, causing things not to run as smoothly as she'd expected.

Another gripping book by Valerie. Enjoyed every minute and couldn't put it down. Helen certainly finds out how far some people will go for a book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Book Seller by Valerie Keogh due to be published March 3, 2025.
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. She opens a bookshop to begin again, but her past can’t stay hidden. She killed once; will she be willing to kill again?
Love Valerie Keogh’s books (see below), and this was no exception. I’m always a sucker for books about book clubs or bookstores so this one drew me in immediately. I felt I knew Helen from her love of books. It was a roller coaster of a ride – couldn’t put it down!
Also recommended by Valerie Keogh: The Wives, The Mother, The Mistress
#NetGalley #ValerieKeogh #BoldwoodBooks #TheBookSeller