Excellent book! I loved reading this novel and will look out for more books by Valerie Keogh. The ending was perfect!

this was just so good this author never disappoints. Helen killed her partner Toby self-defense; she got two years prison sentence. And the day has come she is out and a new life her sister is there waiting for her. Helen wants to open a bookshop, and she finds a run-down property in a perfect spot. with the help of her brother-in-law and his friends the shop looks amazing. but someone does not want her to have a happy ending. Helen starts to trust no one it's a very addictive read.

It appears that I am in the minority when it comes say that this book just wasn’t it for me. The premise had great potential and I feel it could have been so much more. I feel like it ended out of nowhere. In all honesty I thought I was at the middle of the book when it ended. So much just ended out of nowhere. The Moira storyline could have been done with so much more detail and thrills, same with Jess. It was a slow paced and I hate to say it, but boring read.

2⭐️⭐️

A Dark, Twisting Thriller That Had Me Hooked!

From the very first page of The Bookseller, I was completely enthralled. Valerie Keogh has a knack for creating flawed yet utterly compelling characters, and Helen Appleby is no exception. A woman with a past she can’t escape, a new life built on fragile foundations, and a creeping sense that someone is watching—this book had me racing through the pages, desperate to uncover the truth.

The setting of a quiet bookshop was sheer perfection—a seemingly safe haven, filled with stories, yet laced with an underlying tension that simmers beneath the surface. Helen is trying to move on from her past, but when small, sinister events start to unravel her new life, the suspense tightens like a noose. Someone knows what she’s done. Someone wants to see her fall. But the question is—who?

Keogh masterfully plays with the reader’s emotions. I felt torn between sympathising with Helen and fearing what she might be capable of. As the story progressed, I found myself second-guessing everyone, scanning every interaction for hidden motives. The twists were razor-sharp, the pace relentless, and the ending? Absolutely chilling.

If you love a psychological thriller that keeps you on edge, The Bookseller is a must-read. Gripping, unsettling, and filled with unexpected turns, this is Valerie Keogh at her absolute best. I devoured it in one sitting—and I suspect you will too!

I found this book a bit of a struggle to begin with, but it definitely picked up around the middle. I certainly had my concerns about some of the themes, and I struggled to connect with the main character from time to time. It did get a little convoluted at times, and sometimes things did seem to come out of the blue. However, I did eventually get into it properly and found myself far more invested than I thought I would be. This was definitely a fun, interesting read, with some clever writing and a good use of dramatic irony. I did end up really liking it, reading half the book across two days. I do recommend this.

Valerie Keogh always delivers spectacular thrillers. The Bookseller hooked me from the very first page, as Helen.Appleby’s quest for a quiet life, starts to unravel around her. As always, Keogh’s writing is sharp, immersive and utterly addictive. If you love thrillers with a chilling edge, this one is a must read.

Really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists that kept me guessing and interested. Have read others by this author and always find them an engaging read. Would recommend.

This was my first book by Keogh. I immediately requested it due to the cover art and the fact that it had something to do with a bookstore. I enjoyed it, but I think I have just read too many "thrillers" recently about female serial killers. I'm a bit worn out by that trope. I didn't care to much for Helen's character, honestly. I wish I would've loved this one, but I didn't. 3 stars.

Love a story set in a bookstore, love a main character who loves books as much as I do. That's about the end of my love for this one - I think I'm an outlier but this was not for me. I could not deal with Helen. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 3

What a great book! I absolutely loved how twisty and clever this one was! I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and would definitely read from this author again, So, so, so good!

It took me a while to get into this book but once I did I was hooked and couldn't put it down. kept me guessing all the way through

This thriller's main character Helen has just been released from prison and is looking for a second chance at life. She opens a second hand bookstore and faces a series of break-ins. She begins to wonder if her past is catching up with her. The first part of the book was a bit slow. It started to pick up about halfway through. I read a lot of thrillers so I found this to be a bit predictable. There were not any surprising/shocking twists revealed.

Helen Appleby has loved books her entire life, so when she was released from prison, she desperately wanted to open up a used bookstore. Though her crime was manslaughter, she was given only two years, plus two years of probation. With the help of a sizable inheritance, she was able to make her dream come true, but her past kept getting in the way of her future. Helen never felt safe in her new bookstore, nor at home. Strange happenings were occurring and she needed to get to the bottom of it, or lose everything.

I really enjoyed this book, though I didn’t love it. It was a bit slow and predictable. I rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader copy.

All the necessary ingredients for an intriguing thriller featuring some very complex women. It all revolves around a second hand book shop, which Helen has opened after her stint in prison for murder. Apple cheeked old ladies are highly suspicious, as are students, her liason officer and the two cheeky Cockneys running next door's pizzeria. Everything that can go wrong just about does. Great pacey writing by Valerie Keogh. I loved the way some of the Boldwood and Storm stables of her fellow authors got name checks.

I have read many of Valerie Keogh's novels previously and always found them a joy to read.

The Bookseller was an interesting read, not my favourite but still a good read. We follow Helen who has just got out of prison for killing her partner and she desperately wants to open a bookshop. She follows her dreams and finds her shop and sets about renovating and filling the shop with books.

But life is not exactly running smoothly for Helen, things start to happen and Helen is left wondering who and why someone is targeting her.. I enjoyed reading about Helen, her sister and the brothers in the pizza shop next door which added a little extra in The Bookseller.

A good read from Valerie Keogh. 3.5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Bookseller written by Valerie Keogh is a suspenseful story, about a woman with a dark past, who simply wants to sell books, and move on from her past mistakes.

Helen Appleby has recently been released from prison following the manslaughter of her partner. She is wanting to rebuild her life and start fresh, by opening a bookshop and living a quiet life. However, someone seems determined to sabotage her efforts. Helen has killed once before; would she be willing to kill again to protect her future…

I adored the bookshop setting, including all the bookish banter and discussion of stories. I did find our protagonist to be rather paranoid, although she was also endearingly gullible at times. I found this added to the realistic depiction of her conflicting emotions and varying experiences.
I was hooked from the first page and found myself wanting a positive outcome for our protagonist.

With thanks to Boldwood Books, Valerie Keogh and NetGalley for the e-ARC, for review consideration with an honest review.
I am excited to read more thriller stories from Valerie Keogh!

Release date: 3rd March 2025

The Bookseller is a fabulous read. I devoured it in just 2 sittings. I was initially struck by the title and the front cover. I read page 1 and couldn’t stop reading! Completely addictive and I tried my best to work out which characters were trustworthy. Helen got my sympathy straight away despite the fact that she has just been released from prison for murdering her abusive partner.
The setting of the book shop is delightful and I really wanted Helen to do well. A throughly gripping story that keeps you hooked right to the very end.

This has been one of my favourite reads for some time! Based upon a woman who has just been released from prison for the manslaughter of her abusive husband. She decides to fulfil her dream of opening a second hand bookshop. After her time inside, she struggles to trust others and when things start going wrong she suspects everyone. Brilliant characters and a fabulous read.

I loved this book! The storyline was intriguing and had me guessing the entire time. I loved the twists and how everything tied together at the end. Great character development and loved the feeling of love of reading throughout the book. I loved everything by this author!!!

Helen has just been released from prison, after serving time for killing her husband (not a spoiler - we find this straight away). Her dream has always been to open a book store, and she quickly starts looking for, and finding a place. Much of the early part of the book is about her setting up the shop, meeting people and generally settling back into life.

The thriller part of this novel comes from some unexplained noises and break-ins at the shop and her home.

This is a very gentle thriller - the story of her setting up the shop and meeting people is the bulk of it. Helen is an easy character to read, very realistic and so are the people she meets. It's a lovely easy novel to read and I got through it in a bit over a day of reading while I ate.