Monday, 25 March 2024

The Mistress by Valerie Keogh - #bookreview #blogtour

 


I was brushing my hair when Ivan came into the bedroom. He said nothing, just stood there looking at me. I wasn't easily intimidated, but he was a big man and he had an air about him that said he could resort to violence if necessary...

***

She wants what you have...

Hannah Parker is a woman who always gets what she wants.

When her current husband discovers she has been lying to him – again - she knows it’s time to moveon and find someone who can give her the life she desires... The life she knows she deserves...

But who will be the lucky man?

When her eye catches a glimpse of an old flame in a photograph, she’s sure it’s a sign. Mark Shepherd has always been in her thoughts – they’d been happy once, he’d adored her, but she’d made a mistake and let him get away. She won’t make the same mistake again....

Hannah is older now and wiser. She knows what men want and she knows how to keep them happy.

So what if Mark is happily married with a family of his own?

All good things must come to an end...

***

No spoilers here, but wow, that ending was completely unexpected!

This is the story of two women; Susan, who feels unmoored because her only son has left to go to university a long way from home and suspects her husband is having an affair.  Then there is Hannah, a manipulative woman who is used to getting her own way.

The book is written with a dual perspective with the chapters being told by either of the two women. This is what elevated this book as it was easy to understand the point of view of both of them. This made it far easier to like Susan than Hannah. Susan is the wronged woman but Hannah is devious and scheming. I found myself rooting for Susan whilst hoping that Hannah would somehow get her comeuppance. I did feel some sympathy for her as the book progressed and I learned more of her backstory though.

I was gripped from the very first page of this book. It was a page-turner with some nice twists and turns to the narrative along the way. The author is a great storyteller and really knows how to keep the readers interest. She has created an utterly believable scenario and has written an engaging and compelling story.

This is the second book I have read by Valerie Keogh. I also read The Nurse which I enjoyed equally. You can read my review by clicking here. Having now read two of Ms. Keogh's novels and enjoyed them so much it has left me wanting to go and read every book she has ever written. 

Releasing in the UK today, this is an excellent and exciting book which I highly recommend.


ISBN: 978 1805494225

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback, paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  288 (paperback)


About the Author:

Valerie Keogh lives in Wiltshire with her husband and a huge black cat, Fatty Arbuckle. She grew up reading Agatha Christie and initially wrote crime novels - she now writes psychological thrillers.

The Little Lies was shortlisted for the Crime Fiction Lovers Award 2021.



(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

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