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The Bride's Secret
I gaze into my fiancé’s eyes as I toast to our love, relieved that tomorrow we’ll be married. After we say ‘I do’, no one from my past will ever be able to find me.
On our wedding day, I wake with a smile. Today I get to marry the love of my life. He may not know everything about me, but Robert and I fit perfectly together. I can’t wait to put on my perfect white gown and walk down the aisle.
In just a few hours, I’ll be his wife. And my secret will be hidden forever.
I turn to wake him up, but his eyes don’t open. There’s blood smeared across the white bed sheets, across his body, across my own trembling hands. My fiancé is dead.
It’s only then that I realize there’s a knife in my hand…
If you love Gone Girl, The Housemaid and The Girl on the Train, you won’t be able to put this absolutely gripping and addictive psychological thriller down. It’s sure to keep you turning the pages until late into the night.
On our wedding day, I wake with a smile. Today I get to marry the love of my life. He may not know everything about me, but Robert and I fit perfectly together. I can’t wait to put on my perfect white gown and walk down the aisle.
In just a few hours, I’ll be his wife. And my secret will be hidden forever.
I turn to wake him up, but his eyes don’t open. There’s blood smeared across the white bed sheets, across his body, across my own trembling hands. My fiancé is dead.
It’s only then that I realize there’s a knife in my hand…
If you love Gone Girl, The Housemaid and The Girl on the Train, you won’t be able to put this absolutely gripping and addictive psychological thriller down. It’s sure to keep you turning the pages until late into the night.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2025
606 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Walker
6 books66 followersRosie Walker is a novelist who lives in Edinburgh with her husband, daughter, and dog. She has published four novels: 'Secrets of a Serial Killer', 'The House Fire', 'The Baby Monitor' and 'My Husband's Ex'.
Her next book, 'The Bride's Secret', is coming in 2025.
Rosie has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Lancaster University.
Her next book, 'The Bride's Secret', is coming in 2025.
Rosie has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Lancaster University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 15, 2025
Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Bride’s Secret is an intriguing, compelling and interesting tale with very clever twists.
Firstly we are introduced to Maeve….
Maeve and Robert are about to get married.
On the morning of the big day, she wakes up next to Robert and he’s dead.
There’s blood everywhere and in her hand is the knife with her fingerprints.
Maeve knows she didn’t kill him and realises she is being framed.
So she flees and decides to find out who really did it while on the run.
But Maeve has secrets of her own that she doesn’t want to get out.
Next we are introduced to Gilly…..
Gilly is married to Callum with two beautiful kids.
A stay at home mother who volunteers for a hotline who helps people in need.
Whilst at work she gets a call from a person that becomes unnecessarily friendly setting off a chain of events that causes chaos.
What happens next will explode your reading mind…..
No spoilers here but this book is a sharp page turner.
Rosie has really given her audience a psychological thriller with a punch.
I’ve read a few of Rosie’s books and continue to enjoy them.
Get onto this read sooner rather than later….
The Bride’s Secret is an intriguing, compelling and interesting tale with very clever twists.
Firstly we are introduced to Maeve….
Maeve and Robert are about to get married.
On the morning of the big day, she wakes up next to Robert and he’s dead.
There’s blood everywhere and in her hand is the knife with her fingerprints.
Maeve knows she didn’t kill him and realises she is being framed.
So she flees and decides to find out who really did it while on the run.
But Maeve has secrets of her own that she doesn’t want to get out.
Next we are introduced to Gilly…..
Gilly is married to Callum with two beautiful kids.
A stay at home mother who volunteers for a hotline who helps people in need.
Whilst at work she gets a call from a person that becomes unnecessarily friendly setting off a chain of events that causes chaos.
What happens next will explode your reading mind…..
No spoilers here but this book is a sharp page turner.
Rosie has really given her audience a psychological thriller with a punch.
I’ve read a few of Rosie’s books and continue to enjoy them.
Get onto this read sooner rather than later….
May 6, 2025
It’s Maeve and Robert’s wedding day, and she wakes up early that morning from excitement. As she’s planning in her head how the day will go, she leans over to cuddle Robert, and finds that he’s all wet…and stiff…and cold. Soon, she realizes the wetness is blood - they are both covered in it. While trying to figure out how this can be happening on their wedding day, she sees something on the bed. It’s a knife. Only after she threw it across the room did she realize she just put her fingers on the murder weapon. So she does the only thing she can think to do - she runs.
The second woman in this book is Gilly, wife to Callum and mother of two children. She’s a stay-at-home mom who spends her spare time volunteering for a suicide hotline. One day, she violates procedure and lets a caller know when she’ll be working next, setting off a chain of events that takes us through the Scottish countryside.
How the two women are connected is the biggest twist in the book, and I never saw it coming. As the book goes on, the twists keep coming, making this a definite page turner! The only part I didn’t care for was the epilogue, as it seemed like it was building towards a second book about these women, which I don’t find necessary. This is quite an entertaining read though, and if you like twisty-turny books, you won’t be disappointed with this one. Four stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour! “The Bride’s Secret” is set to be released on June 4, 2025.)
The second woman in this book is Gilly, wife to Callum and mother of two children. She’s a stay-at-home mom who spends her spare time volunteering for a suicide hotline. One day, she violates procedure and lets a caller know when she’ll be working next, setting off a chain of events that takes us through the Scottish countryside.
How the two women are connected is the biggest twist in the book, and I never saw it coming. As the book goes on, the twists keep coming, making this a definite page turner! The only part I didn’t care for was the epilogue, as it seemed like it was building towards a second book about these women, which I don’t find necessary. This is quite an entertaining read though, and if you like twisty-turny books, you won’t be disappointed with this one. Four stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour! “The Bride’s Secret” is set to be released on June 4, 2025.)
June 6, 2025
A psychological thriller I never expected to enjoy just as much as I did! I haven't read anything by Rosie Walker, so I went in with an open mind, expecting nothing. I had such an amazing surprise as the plot unfolded!
We are introduced to Maeve, it's the eve of her wedding to the man of her dreams. She can't wait to be the bride. It will be the day of her dreams until it's not.
Rosie Walker certainly grabbed me immediately. I do enjoy my thrillers with plenty of twists and jaw drop moments, The Bride's Secret is jam-packed with them. The chapters are short and definitely pack a punch! It's most definitely a 'page turner' and a 'just one more chapter' book until you reach the end in super quick time.
The best psychological thrillers are the ones where you don't guess the twists and turns. This is one of those, cue the surprises and jaw-dropping moments! Loved it!
We are introduced to Maeve, it's the eve of her wedding to the man of her dreams. She can't wait to be the bride. It will be the day of her dreams until it's not.
Rosie Walker certainly grabbed me immediately. I do enjoy my thrillers with plenty of twists and jaw drop moments, The Bride's Secret is jam-packed with them. The chapters are short and definitely pack a punch! It's most definitely a 'page turner' and a 'just one more chapter' book until you reach the end in super quick time.
The best psychological thrillers are the ones where you don't guess the twists and turns. This is one of those, cue the surprises and jaw-dropping moments! Loved it!
June 5, 2025
"They say I killed him. But only I know the truth."
On the morning of Maeve's wedding to Robert, she wakes up excited about marrying her best friend and partner. As she begins to plan how the day will go in her head, she reaches over to snuggle with Robert but what she finds is shocking. Wet and cold, Robert is covered in blood. As she frantically looks around she sees a knife on the bed. Picking it up and throwing it across the room is a mistake, because now her prints are on presumably the murder weapon. In her moment of panic she does the only thing she can think of. She packs up her belongings and she runs.
Meanwhile, a woman named Gilly spends her days as a stay at home mom and she is also a suicide hotline volunteer. When she violates procedure one day by telling a client when she will be working next, she unknowingly sets off a journey through Scotland. How do these two women connect?
This was definitely a super twisty thriller that I could not put down! At first I was so confused with how the two women's stories intersect but that was the biggest twist that I didn't see coming! I loved Walker's attention to detail and atmospheric setting, I could envision myself in the Scottish countryside. Short and punchy chapters kept me coming back for more. Definitely a gripping thriller that I would recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Walker, and Bookouture for this ARC! Publication date is June 4th 2025.
On the morning of Maeve's wedding to Robert, she wakes up excited about marrying her best friend and partner. As she begins to plan how the day will go in her head, she reaches over to snuggle with Robert but what she finds is shocking. Wet and cold, Robert is covered in blood. As she frantically looks around she sees a knife on the bed. Picking it up and throwing it across the room is a mistake, because now her prints are on presumably the murder weapon. In her moment of panic she does the only thing she can think of. She packs up her belongings and she runs.
Meanwhile, a woman named Gilly spends her days as a stay at home mom and she is also a suicide hotline volunteer. When she violates procedure one day by telling a client when she will be working next, she unknowingly sets off a journey through Scotland. How do these two women connect?
This was definitely a super twisty thriller that I could not put down! At first I was so confused with how the two women's stories intersect but that was the biggest twist that I didn't see coming! I loved Walker's attention to detail and atmospheric setting, I could envision myself in the Scottish countryside. Short and punchy chapters kept me coming back for more. Definitely a gripping thriller that I would recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Walker, and Bookouture for this ARC! Publication date is June 4th 2025.
June 3, 2025
They say I killed him...but only I know the truth...or do I...?
Bride-to-be Maeve lovingly toasts her husband-to-be Robert on the eve of their wedding in front of their close family and friends. Tomorrow is their big day and after three decades as a lifelong happily unmarried woman, Maeve cannot wait. Robert is the love of her life and she cannot wait to be his wife. What could go wrong?
So when Maeve goes to sleep on the eve of their wedding, she wakes in the early hours just before dawn excited at the prospect of the day ahead. What she doesn't expect is to find her beloved fiance laying dead beside her covered in blood with wounds that she, as a martial arts instructor, would know how to inflict. Maeve knows that justice is rarely just and that with the scene before her, she will be arrested for a crime she knows she did not commit. Or did she? Maeve has battled with sleepwalking all her life. Did she do this to Robert in her sleep and not know about it? Either way, she isn't responsible and in a moment of madness she hurriedly packs a few items and escapes to a remote cottage. There, she attempts to come to terms with her grief whilst trying to unpick all that had happened and who could possibly be responsible for Robert's brutal murder.
In the alternating chapters we meet Gilly who is happily married to successful dentist Callum with two beautiful children, Jake (9) and Polly (6). Whilst she is mostly a stay-at-home-mum, she also volunteers for a mental health helpline. The job is thankless and arduous at times but she comes away feeling as though she has made a difference in others' lives at times when they have needed it most. One such caller has kept her on the line for over an hour, saying nothing and only sobbing before hanging up. When the caller calls again, it's pure luck that Gilly picks up the call (which are randomly allocated) and recognises the same sobbing she endured just the day or so before. But this time the caller speaks - to thank her for being there. And in that moment Gilly knows she has made a difference to this person, whoever she may be. So when she violates procedure and insinuates when she will next be on shift at the helpline, Gilly had no idea of the chain of events that she would unleash taking us all on a wild journey through the Scottish highlands.
Two women - two different stories. How do they intersect?
Both women had a sense of hopelessness about them and yet one was doing something with her life while the other drove me mad with her inner self flagellation. I found it hard to sympathise with Maeve - apart from the fact that she was innocent and obviously being framed, so why did she flee? It only made her look guilty! But as we delved into her past and her backstory, we learnt why she did what she did, even though I thought her decision to run was stupid. However, if faced with such a prospect, I may well do the same. One never knows what one would do until they walk a mile in another's shoes. Now Gilly, I felt a whole load of sympathy for. Yes, she made a stupid decision in revealing something of herself to her caller which was not a smart move but Gilly had an air of naivete about her. Maeve does not. She is a strong woman.
The title had me a little puzzled. What exactly is the secret she is carrying? And is it enough to change the course of her life forever? Moving forward, both Maeve and Gilly wonder who they can really trust. After all, someone has surely betrayed both women. The question is - who? And what do they have in store for the women?
Two women - two vastly different lives and stories. How they connect is the biggest twist of the book - one which I easily worked out for myself as I did with the "who" behind it all (I don't think that was too hard to work out). But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story. As long as it's entertaining, I'm happy. In fact, I quite enjoy it when I am able to work out the twists - especially if they aren't predictable ones that leave others speechless. I don't look for the obvious but rather what isn't. Then I look for possible links that may be there or just alluded to. The major plot twist wasn't an easy guess so prepared to be shocked. The "who" wasn't hard to figure out but it is still surprising for those who don't expect it.
The ending chapters were a bit of a confused mess as the reader is thrown various pieces of information that we have to decipher which is reliable and which isn't...leaving us second guessing everything. Just who can these women really trust?
Another addictive read by Rosie Walker that is equally hard to put down.
I would like to thank #RosieWalker, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBridesSecret in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Bride-to-be Maeve lovingly toasts her husband-to-be Robert on the eve of their wedding in front of their close family and friends. Tomorrow is their big day and after three decades as a lifelong happily unmarried woman, Maeve cannot wait. Robert is the love of her life and she cannot wait to be his wife. What could go wrong?
So when Maeve goes to sleep on the eve of their wedding, she wakes in the early hours just before dawn excited at the prospect of the day ahead. What she doesn't expect is to find her beloved fiance laying dead beside her covered in blood with wounds that she, as a martial arts instructor, would know how to inflict. Maeve knows that justice is rarely just and that with the scene before her, she will be arrested for a crime she knows she did not commit. Or did she? Maeve has battled with sleepwalking all her life. Did she do this to Robert in her sleep and not know about it? Either way, she isn't responsible and in a moment of madness she hurriedly packs a few items and escapes to a remote cottage. There, she attempts to come to terms with her grief whilst trying to unpick all that had happened and who could possibly be responsible for Robert's brutal murder.
In the alternating chapters we meet Gilly who is happily married to successful dentist Callum with two beautiful children, Jake (9) and Polly (6). Whilst she is mostly a stay-at-home-mum, she also volunteers for a mental health helpline. The job is thankless and arduous at times but she comes away feeling as though she has made a difference in others' lives at times when they have needed it most. One such caller has kept her on the line for over an hour, saying nothing and only sobbing before hanging up. When the caller calls again, it's pure luck that Gilly picks up the call (which are randomly allocated) and recognises the same sobbing she endured just the day or so before. But this time the caller speaks - to thank her for being there. And in that moment Gilly knows she has made a difference to this person, whoever she may be. So when she violates procedure and insinuates when she will next be on shift at the helpline, Gilly had no idea of the chain of events that she would unleash taking us all on a wild journey through the Scottish highlands.
Two women - two different stories. How do they intersect?
Both women had a sense of hopelessness about them and yet one was doing something with her life while the other drove me mad with her inner self flagellation. I found it hard to sympathise with Maeve - apart from the fact that she was innocent and obviously being framed, so why did she flee? It only made her look guilty! But as we delved into her past and her backstory, we learnt why she did what she did, even though I thought her decision to run was stupid. However, if faced with such a prospect, I may well do the same. One never knows what one would do until they walk a mile in another's shoes. Now Gilly, I felt a whole load of sympathy for. Yes, she made a stupid decision in revealing something of herself to her caller which was not a smart move but Gilly had an air of naivete about her. Maeve does not. She is a strong woman.
The title had me a little puzzled. What exactly is the secret she is carrying? And is it enough to change the course of her life forever? Moving forward, both Maeve and Gilly wonder who they can really trust. After all, someone has surely betrayed both women. The question is - who? And what do they have in store for the women?
Two women - two vastly different lives and stories. How they connect is the biggest twist of the book - one which I easily worked out for myself as I did with the "who" behind it all (I don't think that was too hard to work out). But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story. As long as it's entertaining, I'm happy. In fact, I quite enjoy it when I am able to work out the twists - especially if they aren't predictable ones that leave others speechless. I don't look for the obvious but rather what isn't. Then I look for possible links that may be there or just alluded to. The major plot twist wasn't an easy guess so prepared to be shocked. The "who" wasn't hard to figure out but it is still surprising for those who don't expect it.
The ending chapters were a bit of a confused mess as the reader is thrown various pieces of information that we have to decipher which is reliable and which isn't...leaving us second guessing everything. Just who can these women really trust?
Another addictive read by Rosie Walker that is equally hard to put down.
I would like to thank #RosieWalker, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBridesSecret in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 22, 2025
Wonderful! What an amazing read this was! I just could not put it down. Very highly recommend this stunning book.
April 11, 2025
I would definitely recommend this novel to fans of psychological fiction - A super twisty gripping thriller with plenty of action!
Two stories converge - one is about bride to be Maeve, who wakes up on the morning of her wedding....only to discover her fiancé has been brutally murdered in their bed and the murder weapon is in her possession - fearing she is being framed, Maeve runs away without leaving a trace.
In the second story, bored housewife Gilly, is a volunteer at a mental health helpline. Her life is thrown into disarray when a mysterious caller leaves her feeling shaken...
This is a great novel with plenty of twists - I really couldn't put it down!
Living in the Highlands I am impressed by the authors' attention to detail (I could absolutely picture Maeve's route from Lidl and passing Curry's!)
My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance copy.
Two stories converge - one is about bride to be Maeve, who wakes up on the morning of her wedding....only to discover her fiancé has been brutally murdered in their bed and the murder weapon is in her possession - fearing she is being framed, Maeve runs away without leaving a trace.
In the second story, bored housewife Gilly, is a volunteer at a mental health helpline. Her life is thrown into disarray when a mysterious caller leaves her feeling shaken...
This is a great novel with plenty of twists - I really couldn't put it down!
Living in the Highlands I am impressed by the authors' attention to detail (I could absolutely picture Maeve's route from Lidl and passing Curry's!)
My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance copy.
April 7, 2025
Sometimes you’ve experienced something traumatic in your past and want to leave it behind as quickly as possible. Of course, this doesn’t just happen overnight—it takes time to process everything. And what better way to help that process than by building a new future?
The story begins on the eve of Maeve’s wedding to her dream partner. Just one more night, and she’ll be the bride. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing, you’d think—but nothing could be further from the truth…
What should have been a day spent on cloud nine becomes one with thunderclouds looming over her head.
A book that starts like this immediately puts you on the edge of your seat.
Maeve’s sadness and hopelessness really hit home, and if I could have jumped into the book to help her, I would’ve done it without hesitation.
I was curious to find out whether her past was the cause of the events in the present—and what is the secret she’s carrying?
Fortunately, Maeve has a few confidants—but can they really be trusted, or have they betrayed her? Who does she need to protect from whom?
This book is addictive. I finished it in one day because I just couldn’t put it down until I had uncovered everything from A to Z.
All’s well that ends well… or is it...? 5 stars
Thank you.
The story begins on the eve of Maeve’s wedding to her dream partner. Just one more night, and she’ll be the bride. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing, you’d think—but nothing could be further from the truth…
What should have been a day spent on cloud nine becomes one with thunderclouds looming over her head.
A book that starts like this immediately puts you on the edge of your seat.
Maeve’s sadness and hopelessness really hit home, and if I could have jumped into the book to help her, I would’ve done it without hesitation.
I was curious to find out whether her past was the cause of the events in the present—and what is the secret she’s carrying?
Fortunately, Maeve has a few confidants—but can they really be trusted, or have they betrayed her? Who does she need to protect from whom?
This book is addictive. I finished it in one day because I just couldn’t put it down until I had uncovered everything from A to Z.
All’s well that ends well… or is it...? 5 stars
Thank you.
April 12, 2025
I loved this story because it kept me on the edge of my seat not knowing what was going on and who was bad and who wasn’t. A young bride wakes up on her wedding day but her husband to be is lying dead next to her stabbed to death and she has the knife as she goes on the run she knows no one will believe it wasn’t her and her life will never been the same. We then meet Gilly who works on an anonymous helpline and a repeat caller seems to know her inner most secrets. What links these two and what are all the secrets about to be exposed. A great thriller!
April 9, 2025
Wow. Just wow.
This book threw us straight into the drama which meant I was immediately interested in what was going to happen next. The book has short chapters and almost every single one throws the reader an unexpected twist. From about halfway through it was just one shock after another and I couldn’t get enough of it.
Ended up staying up really late and finishing it all in one evening 😳
This book threw us straight into the drama which meant I was immediately interested in what was going to happen next. The book has short chapters and almost every single one throws the reader an unexpected twist. From about halfway through it was just one shock after another and I couldn’t get enough of it.
Ended up staying up really late and finishing it all in one evening 😳
June 7, 2025
My first book by Rosie Walker and what a fantastic read it was. Very deserved 5 star rating!
Maeve is so overjoyed at her wedding rehearsal dinner, she is over the moon to be marrying her soulmate, Robert, in a matter of hours. However, the next morning when she wakes up with excitement, she turns to find Robert dead in bed beside her, and her fingerprints are on the knife that was used to kill him. She knows she is being framed and so she does the only thing she can do, she runs until she can figure out what exactly happened to her beloved fiancé and who murdered him. Maeve has secrets in her life she wants to keep hidden but whilst on the run she also discovers Robert had secrets too! Meanwhile elsewhere in Scotland, Ginny is busy with her volunteer job at Safeline, an anonymous helpline for people who need a listening ear, but she is made very anxious by one of her callers. Despite all the rules Safeline has put in place to keep the caller and callee anonymous, this caller is determined to keep talking to Gilly and wants to speak to her and no-one else. Things very suddenly become personal when the caller in question gets through to her on her private mobile number and begins to threaten her and her family. Gilly has spent all her adult life running from her secrets, but this mysterious caller seems to know a lot about her life now and her past too. How are Maeve and Gilly connected? And will all their past secrets be uncovered without further bloodshed occurring?!
Wowsers…. Just wowsers, what a read this was! As I said above this was my first book by Rosie Walker and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I now have another favourite author to add to my list, this book was so enthralling! Reading about Safeline was very interesting as years ago I actually did start training to be a Samaritan, however when it came to the crime section of the training I felt I couldn’t go any further as I would have found it too difficult to have someone at the end of the phone who might tell me terrible things that they’ve done (or planning to do) and I was not allowed to comment or judge or even get the authorities involved. Obviously, I understood the reasons for this as everything has to be anonymous, but I felt I couldn’t cope with those types of calls and pulled out of training, so I really thought Gilly was very brave and admired her for volunteering at Safeline no matter what call she received. I found myself waiting and trying to figure out during part 1 how Maeve and Gilly were connected but when I found out at the end of part 1, I really was blown away! I absolutely did not see that twist coming so what amazing writing by Rosie Walker! Part 2 was brilliant filling in all the gaps and also shocked me with another brilliant final twist.
Ultimately this was a really great read which intrigued me and shocked me to the core with the twists- a very tall order when I am a seasoned psychological thriller fan! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers, this will not disappoint. I can’t wait to read more of Rosie Walker’s books, and I already have another one on my TBR. Extremely well deserved 5 star rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Walker and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out now.
Maeve is so overjoyed at her wedding rehearsal dinner, she is over the moon to be marrying her soulmate, Robert, in a matter of hours. However, the next morning when she wakes up with excitement, she turns to find Robert dead in bed beside her, and her fingerprints are on the knife that was used to kill him. She knows she is being framed and so she does the only thing she can do, she runs until she can figure out what exactly happened to her beloved fiancé and who murdered him. Maeve has secrets in her life she wants to keep hidden but whilst on the run she also discovers Robert had secrets too! Meanwhile elsewhere in Scotland, Ginny is busy with her volunteer job at Safeline, an anonymous helpline for people who need a listening ear, but she is made very anxious by one of her callers. Despite all the rules Safeline has put in place to keep the caller and callee anonymous, this caller is determined to keep talking to Gilly and wants to speak to her and no-one else. Things very suddenly become personal when the caller in question gets through to her on her private mobile number and begins to threaten her and her family. Gilly has spent all her adult life running from her secrets, but this mysterious caller seems to know a lot about her life now and her past too. How are Maeve and Gilly connected? And will all their past secrets be uncovered without further bloodshed occurring?!
Wowsers…. Just wowsers, what a read this was! As I said above this was my first book by Rosie Walker and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I now have another favourite author to add to my list, this book was so enthralling! Reading about Safeline was very interesting as years ago I actually did start training to be a Samaritan, however when it came to the crime section of the training I felt I couldn’t go any further as I would have found it too difficult to have someone at the end of the phone who might tell me terrible things that they’ve done (or planning to do) and I was not allowed to comment or judge or even get the authorities involved. Obviously, I understood the reasons for this as everything has to be anonymous, but I felt I couldn’t cope with those types of calls and pulled out of training, so I really thought Gilly was very brave and admired her for volunteering at Safeline no matter what call she received. I found myself waiting and trying to figure out during part 1 how Maeve and Gilly were connected but when I found out at the end of part 1, I really was blown away! I absolutely did not see that twist coming so what amazing writing by Rosie Walker! Part 2 was brilliant filling in all the gaps and also shocked me with another brilliant final twist.
Ultimately this was a really great read which intrigued me and shocked me to the core with the twists- a very tall order when I am a seasoned psychological thriller fan! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers, this will not disappoint. I can’t wait to read more of Rosie Walker’s books, and I already have another one on my TBR. Extremely well deserved 5 star rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, Rosie Walker and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out now.
June 11, 2025
The first few chapters I was really unsure but then all of a sudden I was gripped. So many twists in this I couldn't put it down!
May 31, 2025
THE BRIDE'S SECRET BY ROSIE WALKER.
Release date set for the 4th of June.
This is my 2nd or 3rd Rosie Walker book.
I found this to be gripping and twisty and I really enjoyed it.
I also love the cover for this one and it stood out to me straight away
Release date set for the 4th of June.
This is my 2nd or 3rd Rosie Walker book.
I found this to be gripping and twisty and I really enjoyed it.
I also love the cover for this one and it stood out to me straight away
June 7, 2025
Maeve and Robert are in love and are planning on their wedding set for the next day. The next morning Maeve wakes up early only to find Robert next to her covered in blood and dead. The knife he had been killed with was next to them and she threw it off the bed. Maeve is also covered in blood and cannot believe her love is dead. She's convinced that she must have killed him because as a child she would occasionally sleep walk. Frantic, she packs a few things and leaves their apartment.
Since Robert had told her about a little cottage he had in the Highlands, she has his key and heads there. He was a talented artist and used the cottage for his getaway to paint.
Gilly is a volunteer person at Safeline a place for people to call if they need to talk. When Gilly gets a call from a frantic woman who doesn’t really speak but just cries, she quietly asks if she can help her. After an hour, the woman hangs up but calls back. As all calls and volunteers are confidential with no names given, the woman calling says she only wants to talk to her so Gilly says she will be there next Tuesday and the woman says she will call then.
This story was edge-of-the-seat scary at times and it wasn’t until the very end that things seemed to fall into place. I’m not sure I would read the book again due to its confusing plot. However, it was well-written and I’m sure thriller-readers will like it so, enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Since Robert had told her about a little cottage he had in the Highlands, she has his key and heads there. He was a talented artist and used the cottage for his getaway to paint.
Gilly is a volunteer person at Safeline a place for people to call if they need to talk. When Gilly gets a call from a frantic woman who doesn’t really speak but just cries, she quietly asks if she can help her. After an hour, the woman hangs up but calls back. As all calls and volunteers are confidential with no names given, the woman calling says she only wants to talk to her so Gilly says she will be there next Tuesday and the woman says she will call then.
This story was edge-of-the-seat scary at times and it wasn’t until the very end that things seemed to fall into place. I’m not sure I would read the book again due to its confusing plot. However, it was well-written and I’m sure thriller-readers will like it so, enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 4, 2025
Maeve’s reality completely changes after waking up next to her dead fiancé Robert. She was ready for a new name and a new life. But no, Robert is dead. Stabbed to death while she was right there sleeping. In a confused state of panic, Maeve flees. She ends up hundreds of miles away at a Scottish village that she had only recently learned about.
Then there is Gilly. Happily married to Callum and the mother of two children. Her job should have provided her with complete anonymity when it came to her volunteer work on a telephone hotline. However, after a series of calls, she begins to feel more and more unsafe. She has a secret. She also has a past. If those are exposed, she could lose everything. Her life. Her freedom. Her children. So, she flees.
What an exhilarating read! Is there a connection between Maeve and Gilly? This story has an amazing twist and races at a fast pace. In each case, fleeing seemed the only option, with danger lurking just beyond sight. While this book was incredibly exciting, the ending felt a bit underwhelming. Nevertheless, Rosie Walker has crafted an addictive story that readers will eagerly devour in one sitting.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Then there is Gilly. Happily married to Callum and the mother of two children. Her job should have provided her with complete anonymity when it came to her volunteer work on a telephone hotline. However, after a series of calls, she begins to feel more and more unsafe. She has a secret. She also has a past. If those are exposed, she could lose everything. Her life. Her freedom. Her children. So, she flees.
What an exhilarating read! Is there a connection between Maeve and Gilly? This story has an amazing twist and races at a fast pace. In each case, fleeing seemed the only option, with danger lurking just beyond sight. While this book was incredibly exciting, the ending felt a bit underwhelming. Nevertheless, Rosie Walker has crafted an addictive story that readers will eagerly devour in one sitting.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 4, 2025
I've mostly been reading Romance lately and really wanted to get stuck into a good twisty Thriller, which is exactly what I got with The Bride's Secret. The Bride was most definitely hiding some very big secrets and I had a great time unravelling them. Maeve was an unreliable narrator which made this book even more enjoyable as it was impossible to actually know her and she constantly kept me guessing.
Maeve adores her Fiancé Robert so it's a devasting blow to wake up find him lifeless beside her. She should be putting on her dress and walking down the aisle in a few hours, but instead she's fleeing in desperation as all evidence points towards her as the killer. Her heart has shattered into a million pieces but she knows that she'll be locked up if she stays so she has no choice but to run.
The chapters in this book were short which I enjoyed, and quite a few of them end on a cliff-hanger so It was really hard to put down. The writing was incredibly addictive as twist after twist kept coming and I know I would have been furiously turning the pages if I hadn't been reading on my Kindle.
I don't want to say too much more about it as I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I really recommend this book if you love Thrillers that keep you guessing with shocking twists and a lot of adrenaline!
Many thanks to Sarah Hardy at Bookoture for having me on the tour and for providing a gifted e-book to read and review,
Maeve adores her Fiancé Robert so it's a devasting blow to wake up find him lifeless beside her. She should be putting on her dress and walking down the aisle in a few hours, but instead she's fleeing in desperation as all evidence points towards her as the killer. Her heart has shattered into a million pieces but she knows that she'll be locked up if she stays so she has no choice but to run.
The chapters in this book were short which I enjoyed, and quite a few of them end on a cliff-hanger so It was really hard to put down. The writing was incredibly addictive as twist after twist kept coming and I know I would have been furiously turning the pages if I hadn't been reading on my Kindle.
I don't want to say too much more about it as I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I really recommend this book if you love Thrillers that keep you guessing with shocking twists and a lot of adrenaline!
Many thanks to Sarah Hardy at Bookoture for having me on the tour and for providing a gifted e-book to read and review,
June 7, 2025
The Bride's Secret by Rosie Walker was a excellent psychological thriller with a brilliant twist and I did not see that coming. WoW. . . . . Your wedding day should be the best day of your life and a day that you want nothing to go wrong. Now, Maeve and Robert’s wedding finally arrives. and Maeve wakes up very early all excited for the day ahead, she leans over to cuddle up to her future husband and she feels something is wrong with him. He is stone cold, and wet. He feels like a manakin. She then realises that the wetness is blood and they are both cover in it. Now, trying to figure out what is going on, and wether this is a dream and what has happened she notices something else on the bed! A knife! and it is all covered n blood! But who does t belong to as she has never seen it so she picks it up and throws it to the other side of the bedroom. Maeve then realises she should have not done this as it will have her finger prints on it now!!!
Maeve panics and all she can think of is RUN!!!!!
WoW. . . . . This is so good I loved reading this book and I really felt for Maeve.
I highly recommend The Brides Secret A great holiday read or Honeymoon read! lol
Maeve panics and all she can think of is RUN!!!!!
WoW. . . . . This is so good I loved reading this book and I really felt for Maeve.
I highly recommend The Brides Secret A great holiday read or Honeymoon read! lol
June 9, 2025
Reading in Between the Wines book review #60/125 for 2025:
Rating: 4 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Bride’s Secret
Author: Rosie Walker
Available now!
Sipping thoughts: The Bride’s Secret by Rosie Walker is a n psychological thriller that slowly unravels through dual timelines—one revealing the bride’s haunting past, the other her unraveling present. Small reveals every few chapters build a growing sense of unease, as mystic undertones blur the line between memory and something darker. At its heart is a murder, with the bride at the center of a twisting whodunit that keeps the reader guessing until the final page. Subtle, suspenseful, and satisfyingly dark.
Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @TheBridesSecret.
#TheBridesSecret #RosieWalker #Bookouture #NetGalley #ARC #advancedreader #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bokreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult
Rating: 4 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Bride’s Secret
Author: Rosie Walker
Available now!
Sipping thoughts: The Bride’s Secret by Rosie Walker is a n psychological thriller that slowly unravels through dual timelines—one revealing the bride’s haunting past, the other her unraveling present. Small reveals every few chapters build a growing sense of unease, as mystic undertones blur the line between memory and something darker. At its heart is a murder, with the bride at the center of a twisting whodunit that keeps the reader guessing until the final page. Subtle, suspenseful, and satisfyingly dark.
Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @TheBridesSecret.
#TheBridesSecret #RosieWalker #Bookouture #NetGalley #ARC #advancedreader #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bokreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult
May 17, 2025
Maeve goes to sleep on the eve of her wedding, and wakes up next to her fiancée who is dead, covered in blood. Knowing that she is likely to be arrested for a crime she did not commit, she flees. With the help of a friend, she escapes to a remote cottage, trying to come to terms with her grief, but also trying to learn who could be responsible for the crime. A decade later, she has changed her name and is married with children, working on a telephone helpline. A caller contacts her repeatedly and seems to know way too much about her. When Gilly suspects that someone is out for revenge, she flees with her children and husband, with whom she has not shared her former life.
This is a wild ride, with Gilly not only trying to stay ahead of a potential killer, but also walking a tightrope with her husband, with whom she has not been completely honest. Though the course of events is pretty implausible, it is still a gripping and enjoyable read, and I would gladly read additional books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This is a wild ride, with Gilly not only trying to stay ahead of a potential killer, but also walking a tightrope with her husband, with whom she has not been completely honest. Though the course of events is pretty implausible, it is still a gripping and enjoyable read, and I would gladly read additional books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2025
This is a great book! It’s so engrossing and fast paced. It’s told in two points of view, and if one point of view is giving a little more background, then the other one has the action. So really, there is always something happening in this book. At first you’re left to wander how the second women/POV fits into the story, but once it’s revealed, WOW!!!! That was the biggest twist for me and I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t predict it and my guesses were definitely way off.
There’s also a mental health aspect to this story, which I really appreciated. A character volunteers at a hotline, which I really appreciated it. Yes, someone uses this hotline in a nefarious matter, but explaining the hotline, hearing a few stories of how it was used to help people, that’s what I really enjoyed!
The ending was full of action and suspense. It was a really good ending! It felt a little cliff hangerish with the last line, so I’m wondering if there is going to be more, but otherwise, it was perfect!
There’s also a mental health aspect to this story, which I really appreciated. A character volunteers at a hotline, which I really appreciated it. Yes, someone uses this hotline in a nefarious matter, but explaining the hotline, hearing a few stories of how it was used to help people, that’s what I really enjoyed!
The ending was full of action and suspense. It was a really good ending! It felt a little cliff hangerish with the last line, so I’m wondering if there is going to be more, but otherwise, it was perfect!
June 6, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Bride’s Secret” by Rosie Walker. I love the dual POV’s.
Maeve- is so excited to be marrying Robert. But on the morning of their wedding, she discovers he is stabbed to death in their bed. She does the only thing she can- she runs away!
Gilly- is married with two children. She works at a suicide hotline.
This story is fast paced, with short chapters that make you keep reading. I couldn’t figure out how the two stories were connected but it blew my mind!!! I can’t say too much, just read it!!!
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheBridesSecret #RosieWalker #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #SummerBooks #NewThriller
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Bride’s Secret” by Rosie Walker. I love the dual POV’s.
Maeve- is so excited to be marrying Robert. But on the morning of their wedding, she discovers he is stabbed to death in their bed. She does the only thing she can- she runs away!
Gilly- is married with two children. She works at a suicide hotline.
This story is fast paced, with short chapters that make you keep reading. I couldn’t figure out how the two stories were connected but it blew my mind!!! I can’t say too much, just read it!!!
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheBridesSecret #RosieWalker #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #SummerBooks #NewThriller
May 24, 2025
Maeve is a bride-to-be, who falls asleep the night before her wedding and wakes up to find her fiancé has been brutally murdered. Gilly is an inconspicuous stay-at-home mum who is volunteering at a crisis call centre and receiving some very disturbing calls from someone. As we switch perspectives, we see Maeve navigate her escape, as she’s clearly been framed… right? And why are these two ladies connected?
The pacing of this was fantastic and I simply flew through it. The chapters were just the right length, the suspense built and the characters were easy to connect with and realistic. I liked the twists and the occasional red herring to push the story forward. I had no idea how this was going to land!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC; all opinions are my own.
The pacing of this was fantastic and I simply flew through it. The chapters were just the right length, the suspense built and the characters were easy to connect with and realistic. I liked the twists and the occasional red herring to push the story forward. I had no idea how this was going to land!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC; all opinions are my own.
June 7, 2025
The Bride's Secret by Rosie Walker
The bride-to-be Maeve could not wait to start her new life with her fiance Robert, because she knew her secret could be safe. But then Maeve found that Robert was stabbed to dead in their bed. Maeve had the knife in her hands.
The story was totally intriguing and addictive. The author made me wanted to find out what's going on and what the secret behind. The fast-paced story made everything worked well and it kept me hooked the whole way. The twists and turns were wonderfully placed. The Bride's Secret is a book that I would like my friends to read it and we can have a great discussion out of it.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy.
Pub date: Jun 4, 2025
June 7, 2025
"The Baby Monitor" is the only Rosie Walker book I've read up to now and, given how much I enjoyed that and this one, I'm definitely thinking that I need to get hold of her back list. In this book, we meet two women, Maeve and Gilly, who are both in serious trouble. Maeve is implicated in her fiancé’s murder, and Gilly is being stalked by a caller to her mental health help call centre. The relationship between the women didn't surprise me, but all the details beyond that did. And the run from the villain was fast-paced and exciting. Yes, I don't think the epigraph was necessary, and even the final few pages of the last chapter didn't make much sense. But that didn't spoil the general enjoyment at all.
June 7, 2025
The Brides Secret is a gripping and heart stopping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Sometimes with a book of this genre the story takes a dip halfway through but this was most certainly not the case with this one. The chapters were short and many of them ended on a cliff hanger, which I love in a book. There were many times I felt like I was holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come next as I frantically turned the pages of my kindle. The characters were all described very well and each having a good part to play in the story. This was the first book I’ve read by Rosie Walker but having enjoyed this one so much she is now on my list of Go To Authors.
June 2, 2025
Maeve wakes up to her soon to be husband murdered in bed and is running away from the law. Gilly is a stay at home mother to two kids with a loving husband. Their lives intertwine as both of their pasts come back with vengeance.
I really had no idea where this was going for the first half and then everything really ramped up in part two that had me needing to know what was going to happen! With lots of great twists that had my head turning with possibilities, this was a fun thriller with a cheeky ending. A great popcorn thriller if you’re looking for a quick read.
Thank you to @bookouture for the ARC!
I really had no idea where this was going for the first half and then everything really ramped up in part two that had me needing to know what was going to happen! With lots of great twists that had my head turning with possibilities, this was a fun thriller with a cheeky ending. A great popcorn thriller if you’re looking for a quick read.
Thank you to @bookouture for the ARC!
June 3, 2025
✨✨✨ 1/2
Maeve wakes up on her wedding day next to her fiancé—who’s been murdered. Total nightmare. Meanwhile, Gilly is a stay-at-home mom getting strange calls at the crisis line she volunteers for. At first, I couldn’t figure out how their stories connected, but when it hit… wow. Didn’t see that twist coming!
This was fast-paced, super easy to get into, and full of surprises. A perfect popcorn thriller. Only downside for me was the epilogue—it felt like it was setting up a sequel that I don’t think we need. Still, a really entertaining read!
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review
Maeve wakes up on her wedding day next to her fiancé—who’s been murdered. Total nightmare. Meanwhile, Gilly is a stay-at-home mom getting strange calls at the crisis line she volunteers for. At first, I couldn’t figure out how their stories connected, but when it hit… wow. Didn’t see that twist coming!
This was fast-paced, super easy to get into, and full of surprises. A perfect popcorn thriller. Only downside for me was the epilogue—it felt like it was setting up a sequel that I don’t think we need. Still, a really entertaining read!
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review
October 2, 2025
Loved!!!!! This one is definitely going on my Top Ten List for the year. What made this book so great you ask. Well there were so many things that made it wonderful. I thought the story was great. It was full of twists and turns that I did not see coming. I was not expecting any of it. I was like OMG after I got to end of part one. The second part was just as shocking in my opinion. I was totally speechless by the end of this book. What didn’t I love is the real question. I’ve read several of this author books now and she never disappoints. They are truly fantastic. In fact, I can’t wait for the next one. I’m on pins and needles to see what she comes up with next.
April 28, 2025
First, as always, thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
Surely not the best way to start your day, waking up and finding your soon-to-be husband laying next to you dead. But, not only dead. Stabbed. That is what happened to Maeve. And if that would not be bad enough already, she is also holding a knife in her hand....
Then we also have Gilly, who works for some sort of crisis hotline, with a caller starting to stalk her.
How those two things are connected? Well, you will have to read the book to find out. I promise you are not going to regret it! very much recommended!
Surely not the best way to start your day, waking up and finding your soon-to-be husband laying next to you dead. But, not only dead. Stabbed. That is what happened to Maeve. And if that would not be bad enough already, she is also holding a knife in her hand....
Then we also have Gilly, who works for some sort of crisis hotline, with a caller starting to stalk her.
How those two things are connected? Well, you will have to read the book to find out. I promise you are not going to regret it! very much recommended!
June 3, 2025
You can run but you can’t hide forever.
Walker kept me on my toes with all the clues she deposited within the story. However they also came with forked roads, and I was unsure which direction had the truth.
I did like the part about the martial arts because that would be a heck of a skill to have for defense.
Maeve fought hard for her life but ultimately will it be enough??
I was also suspicious of one character because that person was always in the vicinity when stuff happened and I don’t believe in coincidences.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the early copy.
Walker kept me on my toes with all the clues she deposited within the story. However they also came with forked roads, and I was unsure which direction had the truth.
I did like the part about the martial arts because that would be a heck of a skill to have for defense.
Maeve fought hard for her life but ultimately will it be enough??
I was also suspicious of one character because that person was always in the vicinity when stuff happened and I don’t believe in coincidences.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the early copy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews