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The Boyfriend
He went missing when you were sixteen. Was it all your fault?
Trembling with shock, Jodie picks up the old T-shirt. She hasn’t seen it for twenty years. Her boyfriend had been wearing it – her Ben – the day he went missing. The last time anyone saw him alive.
After her dad’s funeral, all Jodie wants is to clear out her childhood home as quickly as possible and get back to life with her son. But a terrifying discovery changes everything she knew about her kind, loving father.
Her boyfriend Ben went missing when they were just teenagers. His parents still stare out the window desperately waiting for him to come home. So how did the T-shirt he was wearing when Jodie saw him walk away from their last date end up in her father’s attic?
The search for answers leads Jodie to an old family friend who knows all her father’s secrets. She can’t shake his questions about her older brother, and the real reason their dad left everything to Jodie, not him. But when a stranger begins to follow her around their little town, and a deadly fire breaks out in her home, it’s clear someone will do anything to stop Jodie finding the truth about Ben's disappearance. Has Jodie unknowingly put her own son in terrible danger?
An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist, about how even the people we love can hide the darkest secrets. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, I Am Watching You and Shari Lapena.
Trembling with shock, Jodie picks up the old T-shirt. She hasn’t seen it for twenty years. Her boyfriend had been wearing it – her Ben – the day he went missing. The last time anyone saw him alive.
After her dad’s funeral, all Jodie wants is to clear out her childhood home as quickly as possible and get back to life with her son. But a terrifying discovery changes everything she knew about her kind, loving father.
Her boyfriend Ben went missing when they were just teenagers. His parents still stare out the window desperately waiting for him to come home. So how did the T-shirt he was wearing when Jodie saw him walk away from their last date end up in her father’s attic?
The search for answers leads Jodie to an old family friend who knows all her father’s secrets. She can’t shake his questions about her older brother, and the real reason their dad left everything to Jodie, not him. But when a stranger begins to follow her around their little town, and a deadly fire breaks out in her home, it’s clear someone will do anything to stop Jodie finding the truth about Ben's disappearance. Has Jodie unknowingly put her own son in terrible danger?
An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist, about how even the people we love can hide the darkest secrets. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, I Am Watching You and Shari Lapena.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2022
558 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
70 books1,069 followersRecent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
March 25, 2023
3.5🌟
Old secrets never stay buried!
Following her father’s funeral it’s up to Jodie to sort through all his belongings. One thing she never expected to find stashed in a box in the attic…an old tee shirt belonging to her first boyfriend Ben.
Odd for several reasons. One, Ben has been missing and presumed dead for years. And two, why would her father have his old tee shirt hidden away. That’s exactly what Jodie is taxed to discover. What makes it so difficult is the fact that her father was the kindest man, adored by everyone. Is it really worth opening up this can of worms with the possibility of tarnishing his reputation beyond repair? But with the evidence in hand, how can she keep quiet.
This was a good solid thriller, and though it did keep me engaged throughout I did find it rather predictable. But I’ve really enjoyed his past books and will definitely be picking up more of his books in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Old secrets never stay buried!
Following her father’s funeral it’s up to Jodie to sort through all his belongings. One thing she never expected to find stashed in a box in the attic…an old tee shirt belonging to her first boyfriend Ben.
Odd for several reasons. One, Ben has been missing and presumed dead for years. And two, why would her father have his old tee shirt hidden away. That’s exactly what Jodie is taxed to discover. What makes it so difficult is the fact that her father was the kindest man, adored by everyone. Is it really worth opening up this can of worms with the possibility of tarnishing his reputation beyond repair? But with the evidence in hand, how can she keep quiet.
This was a good solid thriller, and though it did keep me engaged throughout I did find it rather predictable. But I’ve really enjoyed his past books and will definitely be picking up more of his books in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
July 7, 2022
A book with a lot of potential, especially since the build-up was pretty good.
Jodie has just lost her dad, who had been the mayor and well known in town. As she goes through his things, she is shocked to find a T-shirt she believes was worn by her boyfriend Ben when he disappeared. Was a man convicted for Ben’s murder then really guilty? Ben was their neighbour and had also saved her from a fire, after which they start dating. Jodie is also surprised that her dad has left the house completely to her. This causes tension with her brother Mike’s wife Samantha who threatens to sue if Jodie does not give Mike a fair share. The T-shirt preys on Jodie’s mind and she tries to know more about her father, and events from many years back. She also has to deal with the stress of her separation and bringing up her son Owen.
A lot of space in the book goes towards the build-up – the present and events of the past. The writing is decent and I had a lot of hopes on how the plot would develop towards the last 25-30% of the book. However, the plot when it unravels is quite disappointing and you feel the build-up was largely wasted. Overall, yet another average “psychological thriller”.
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a free electronic review copy.
Jodie has just lost her dad, who had been the mayor and well known in town. As she goes through his things, she is shocked to find a T-shirt she believes was worn by her boyfriend Ben when he disappeared. Was a man convicted for Ben’s murder then really guilty? Ben was their neighbour and had also saved her from a fire, after which they start dating. Jodie is also surprised that her dad has left the house completely to her. This causes tension with her brother Mike’s wife Samantha who threatens to sue if Jodie does not give Mike a fair share. The T-shirt preys on Jodie’s mind and she tries to know more about her father, and events from many years back. She also has to deal with the stress of her separation and bringing up her son Owen.
A lot of space in the book goes towards the build-up – the present and events of the past. The writing is decent and I had a lot of hopes on how the plot would develop towards the last 25-30% of the book. However, the plot when it unravels is quite disappointing and you feel the build-up was largely wasted. Overall, yet another average “psychological thriller”.
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a free electronic review copy.
June 16, 2022
Another skillfully written and plotted whodunnit by Kerry Wilkinson.
Did I guess who was the ultimate culprit: well, I suspected just about everyone in this story, but in the end, I was suitably flabbergasted.
The ending was definitely satisfying - will she or won't she.... I'll let you discover this for yourself!
Highly recommended! My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this thriller in exchange for an honest review!
Did I guess who was the ultimate culprit: well, I suspected just about everyone in this story, but in the end, I was suitably flabbergasted.
The ending was definitely satisfying - will she or won't she.... I'll let you discover this for yourself!
Highly recommended! My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this thriller in exchange for an honest review!
June 18, 2022
After her father's funeral, Jodie is going through her father's home, hoping to clear it out. While going through boxes in his attic, she finds a shirt. Not any shirt, but the shirt her boyfriend, Ben was wearing the last time he was seen sixteen years ago! Shocked, full of questions, and uneasy, Jodie can't believe what she has found. Why, why, why did her father have Ben's shirt?
Jodie has a lot on her plate, her son is being difficult, her brother's wife is furious Jodie was given her father's home. Jodie's isn't quite sure herself why her father left everything to her and her brother. As Jodie begins to learn more from a family friend, she begins to take a closer look at those in her life.
While reading, I was taking a closer at the characters in this book as well. I found this book to be gripping and I enjoyed doing my own super sleuthing while lining up my suspects and trying to deduce whodunit.
This book had a fair amount of suspense and twists along the way. Family secrets are the name of the game in this book. Will you guess whodunit, or will Wilkinson pull the wool over your eyes?
Gripping, tense and full of secrets.
#TheBoyfriend #NetGalley
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Jodie has a lot on her plate, her son is being difficult, her brother's wife is furious Jodie was given her father's home. Jodie's isn't quite sure herself why her father left everything to her and her brother. As Jodie begins to learn more from a family friend, she begins to take a closer look at those in her life.
While reading, I was taking a closer at the characters in this book as well. I found this book to be gripping and I enjoyed doing my own super sleuthing while lining up my suspects and trying to deduce whodunit.
This book had a fair amount of suspense and twists along the way. Family secrets are the name of the game in this book. Will you guess whodunit, or will Wilkinson pull the wool over your eyes?
Gripping, tense and full of secrets.
#TheBoyfriend #NetGalley
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 5, 2022
Another outstanding psychological thriller
I am a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson’s books and his latest did not disappoint. Jodie’s father was a hero in their small town, the local mayor who volunteered for every committee, helped every citizen in need and just days after his death is about to have a community center named after him. Jodie is going through the unenviable task of cleaning out his house and getting it ready to put on the market when she discovers a t-shirt that belonged to her boyfriend Ben—the same boyfriend who went missing and died over 20 years ago. Someone else was arrested and served time for that crime. But could Jodie’s dad have really been involved?
This novel is about long held family secrets and is very much a character led narrative. I loved watching the individual stories unfold. There’s Fiona, the best friend in a troubled marriage. Jodie’s son, Owen, who has a gaming addiction and is in trouble at school, and the troubled relationship with his father, who has remarried and is devoting all his time and energy to his shiny new family. Jodie’s relationship with her brother Mike and his wife Samantha is also fractured, both in the past and the present and the way that comes into play is cleverly crafted. Perhaps most intriguing of all is the man who was accused of the crime of murdering Ben and served years in jail… he’s now free and a pariah in the community. I loved the way clues to what really happened all those years ago were slowly revealed as Jodie seeks out the truth. 5/5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley for review purposes.
I am a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson’s books and his latest did not disappoint. Jodie’s father was a hero in their small town, the local mayor who volunteered for every committee, helped every citizen in need and just days after his death is about to have a community center named after him. Jodie is going through the unenviable task of cleaning out his house and getting it ready to put on the market when she discovers a t-shirt that belonged to her boyfriend Ben—the same boyfriend who went missing and died over 20 years ago. Someone else was arrested and served time for that crime. But could Jodie’s dad have really been involved?
This novel is about long held family secrets and is very much a character led narrative. I loved watching the individual stories unfold. There’s Fiona, the best friend in a troubled marriage. Jodie’s son, Owen, who has a gaming addiction and is in trouble at school, and the troubled relationship with his father, who has remarried and is devoting all his time and energy to his shiny new family. Jodie’s relationship with her brother Mike and his wife Samantha is also fractured, both in the past and the present and the way that comes into play is cleverly crafted. Perhaps most intriguing of all is the man who was accused of the crime of murdering Ben and served years in jail… he’s now free and a pariah in the community. I loved the way clues to what really happened all those years ago were slowly revealed as Jodie seeks out the truth. 5/5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley for review purposes.
November 29, 2024
2⭐
Genre ~ psychological mystery
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ June 16, 2022
Publisher ~ Bookouture
Est Page Count ~ 296 (49 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 30 minutes
Narrator ~ Emma Newman
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ old secrets, unlikable characters, slooooowwww
Jodie finds a shirt in her dead father's attic that she believes belongs to her boyfriend, Ben, that has been missing for nearly 20 years. How did this shirt get into the "keep" box?
This was really slow moving as Jodie cleans out her fathers house and tries to get to the bottom of the shirt while raising her 14 year old son, Owen, who only wants to play video games and ignore and talk back to his mother. And she allows it! Owen's father is no help at all and is only concerned about what's going on in his life now. Tool.
Overall, this one was not for me. I hated every single character and I'm not even sorry about it. There wasn't even a dog in the story to give me something to like. I was not surprised about what happened to Ben one bit, but I was shocked about the last bit and it almost made me feel bad for what I thought about him throughout the book.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ psychological mystery
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ June 16, 2022
Publisher ~ Bookouture
Est Page Count ~ 296 (49 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 30 minutes
Narrator ~ Emma Newman
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ old secrets, unlikable characters, slooooowwww
Jodie finds a shirt in her dead father's attic that she believes belongs to her boyfriend, Ben, that has been missing for nearly 20 years. How did this shirt get into the "keep" box?
This was really slow moving as Jodie cleans out her fathers house and tries to get to the bottom of the shirt while raising her 14 year old son, Owen, who only wants to play video games and ignore and talk back to his mother. And she allows it! Owen's father is no help at all and is only concerned about what's going on in his life now. Tool.
Overall, this one was not for me. I hated every single character and I'm not even sorry about it. There wasn't even a dog in the story to give me something to like. I was not surprised about what happened to Ben one bit, but I was shocked about the last bit and it almost made me feel bad for what I thought about him throughout the book.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
June 5, 2022
Trembling with shock, Jodie picks up the old t-shirt. She hasn't seen it for twenty years. Her boyfriend had been wearing it - her Ben - the day he went missing. The last time anyone saw him alive. After her dad's funeral, all Jodie wants is to clear out her childhood home as quickly as possible and get back to life with her son. But a terrifying discovery changes everything she knew about her kind and loving father.
Kerry Wilkinson is one of my favourite authors. His books are filled with suspense, twists and they're so easy to read. I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. I did feel the middle of the book could have been a bit shorter. It was a bit repetitive and dragged out a bit. This would have been a 5 star read if the middle had been a bit different. But it didn't really spoil my enjoyment of the story. I liked the main characters, they were realistic and believable. I quickly devoured the pages. The clues are revealed slowly. You need to keep your wits about you to find them though.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #TheBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.
Kerry Wilkinson is one of my favourite authors. His books are filled with suspense, twists and they're so easy to read. I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. I did feel the middle of the book could have been a bit shorter. It was a bit repetitive and dragged out a bit. This would have been a 5 star read if the middle had been a bit different. But it didn't really spoil my enjoyment of the story. I liked the main characters, they were realistic and believable. I quickly devoured the pages. The clues are revealed slowly. You need to keep your wits about you to find them though.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #TheBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2022
A stand alone novel from author Kerry Wilkinson that I found a little underwhelming. I enjoy this author’s books, but found this one rather dull in comparison to many of his other books. It was still an ok read but I was hoping for a lot more. There was plenty of suspense but it never seemed to go anywhere.
Jodie’s father has died and following the funeral she is eager to sort through the family home as soon as possible and get her life back to normal. While clearing the house she finds something that shatters the feelings she held for her father.
When Jodie was a teenager she had a boyfriend named Ben who suddenly disappeared, leaving his family shell shocked and never to be seen again. When he went missing he was wearing an old T-Shirt that was very distinctive and now all these years later Jodie has discovered it in her dead father’s attic.
This discovery sends Jodie’s imagination into overdrive and she is desperate for answers but the more questions she asks the more she sees a different side to the father she loved. Also why did her father leave the house to her solely rather than sharing it with her older brother. The answers to her questions may put both her and her son in danger.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Jodie’s father has died and following the funeral she is eager to sort through the family home as soon as possible and get her life back to normal. While clearing the house she finds something that shatters the feelings she held for her father.
When Jodie was a teenager she had a boyfriend named Ben who suddenly disappeared, leaving his family shell shocked and never to be seen again. When he went missing he was wearing an old T-Shirt that was very distinctive and now all these years later Jodie has discovered it in her dead father’s attic.
This discovery sends Jodie’s imagination into overdrive and she is desperate for answers but the more questions she asks the more she sees a different side to the father she loved. Also why did her father leave the house to her solely rather than sharing it with her older brother. The answers to her questions may put both her and her son in danger.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2022
3.5 stars, actually.
In all honesty, I enjoyed this book overall, just as I have several other of this prolific author's works. Also in all honesty, though, I can't say it's his best.
The story centers around Jodie Parker, whose father, a much-revered community leader, recently and unexpectedly passed away. He and Jodie's mother aren't together anymore, and in his will he left his house to Jodie, totally shutting out her older brother Mike (who, understandably, isn't pleased about it). But as she goes through the house to get rid of unwanted "stuff," she finds an article of clothing connected to a long-ago boyfriend who is assumed to have been murdered. That makes her question everything she believed about her father; why on earth would he have it at all, much less stored in an attic where she was always forbidden to go?
Answering that question forms the basis of the plot, but it also was a source of frustration for me; it seemed like half the book was taken up with her questioning, musing, wondering, suspicions and indecision about whether or not to involve the police (read: over-the-top repetition). The other details, though, kept things interesting - including her relationship with old friend Fiona, her teenage son Owen, her ex-husband Darren (whose current wife is very pregnant) and her brother, whose wife Samantha is intent on making sure he gets his fair share of the inheritance pie. Complicating the whole mess is Paul McIntosh, who was convicted of murdering Jodie's boyfriend Ben all those years ago but swears he's innocent, decides to return home upon his release from prison.
Jodie waffles back and forth for the rest of the book, and I won't say I'm happy with the ending, which brings a tragedy that complicates that decision even more (if that's possible). But even though there was never any question about what I would do if all this happened to me, the ending does provide food for thought and, for those who might think otherwise, underscores the fact that nothing is written in black and white. In short, it's a more-than-decent choice for reading at the beach or next to a cozy fireplace in winter, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
In all honesty, I enjoyed this book overall, just as I have several other of this prolific author's works. Also in all honesty, though, I can't say it's his best.
The story centers around Jodie Parker, whose father, a much-revered community leader, recently and unexpectedly passed away. He and Jodie's mother aren't together anymore, and in his will he left his house to Jodie, totally shutting out her older brother Mike (who, understandably, isn't pleased about it). But as she goes through the house to get rid of unwanted "stuff," she finds an article of clothing connected to a long-ago boyfriend who is assumed to have been murdered. That makes her question everything she believed about her father; why on earth would he have it at all, much less stored in an attic where she was always forbidden to go?
Answering that question forms the basis of the plot, but it also was a source of frustration for me; it seemed like half the book was taken up with her questioning, musing, wondering, suspicions and indecision about whether or not to involve the police (read: over-the-top repetition). The other details, though, kept things interesting - including her relationship with old friend Fiona, her teenage son Owen, her ex-husband Darren (whose current wife is very pregnant) and her brother, whose wife Samantha is intent on making sure he gets his fair share of the inheritance pie. Complicating the whole mess is Paul McIntosh, who was convicted of murdering Jodie's boyfriend Ben all those years ago but swears he's innocent, decides to return home upon his release from prison.
Jodie waffles back and forth for the rest of the book, and I won't say I'm happy with the ending, which brings a tragedy that complicates that decision even more (if that's possible). But even though there was never any question about what I would do if all this happened to me, the ending does provide food for thought and, for those who might think otherwise, underscores the fact that nothing is written in black and white. In short, it's a more-than-decent choice for reading at the beach or next to a cozy fireplace in winter, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
May 6, 2022
Jodie is clearing out the attic of her father’s house after he has passed away and stumbles across the old T-shirt her boyfriend Ben was wearing the day he disappeared 19 years ago.
Ben went missing when they were just teenagers. His parents still stare out the window desperately waiting for him to come home. So how did the T-shirt he was wearing when Jodie saw him walk away from their last date end up in her father’s attic? How can this be and how will this t-shirt and the events that follow put her own son Owen in danger??
Unpopular Opinion but…..nope…. Big Nope!!
I made it to 24% before this book did me in. The sheer amount of times Jodie’s name is used in the first chapter approx. 50 and 1200+ in this 300 pages book, is utterly ridiculous. It was a play by play of the events going on and there was so much unnecessary detail it became painful.
I did my best and i skimmed through the book and found out the killer and what happened in the end and truly I don’t feel like I missed anything because in the first 6 chapters alone there was enough detail about peoples clothing, squeaking shoes, the mention of ‘My Dad’ and who can forget the name Jodie that I didn't need more.
I want to thank Bookoture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview this book prior to release for my honest opinion. Unfortunately this was not for me at all and it was an incomplete read for me.
Ben went missing when they were just teenagers. His parents still stare out the window desperately waiting for him to come home. So how did the T-shirt he was wearing when Jodie saw him walk away from their last date end up in her father’s attic? How can this be and how will this t-shirt and the events that follow put her own son Owen in danger??
Unpopular Opinion but…..nope…. Big Nope!!
I made it to 24% before this book did me in. The sheer amount of times Jodie’s name is used in the first chapter approx. 50 and 1200+ in this 300 pages book, is utterly ridiculous. It was a play by play of the events going on and there was so much unnecessary detail it became painful.
I did my best and i skimmed through the book and found out the killer and what happened in the end and truly I don’t feel like I missed anything because in the first 6 chapters alone there was enough detail about peoples clothing, squeaking shoes, the mention of ‘My Dad’ and who can forget the name Jodie that I didn't need more.
I want to thank Bookoture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview this book prior to release for my honest opinion. Unfortunately this was not for me at all and it was an incomplete read for me.
July 11, 2022
I loved the cover for this book and after reading the blurb, I was really looking forward to reading it.
I am really surprised that I didn't enjoy this one more. I'm not saying I hated it, I just didn't love it. This is just my opinion. There are many readers who really loved it.
I was intrigued and the story was easy enough to follow, but at times I found it a bit dry. I picked it up and put it down quite a few times before finishing it. However, I still wanted to see how things turned out in the end.
I've read and enjoyed other books from this author and look forward to seeing what they come up with next.
May 17, 2022
Jodie can't believe her eyes when she picks up the green t-shirt she finds in her late father's belongings. Holding it in her hands, she can't understand how it could possibly be hidden in her box in the attic. Mainly because this is her teenager sweetheart's top... the one he was wearing when he went missing 19 years before.
Oooo I don't think I need to put more than that to grip your attention do I? It was fast-paced from the first page, I didn't want to stop reading it.
Every time I thought I had it worked out, it completely flipped. The twist at the end, heartbreaking. What a fantastic story, I need to read more by this author very soon.
Add this to your wishlists and preorder... Trust me, you will not be disappointed. One of my new favourites for 2022.
*NetGalley book*
Oooo I don't think I need to put more than that to grip your attention do I? It was fast-paced from the first page, I didn't want to stop reading it.
Every time I thought I had it worked out, it completely flipped. The twist at the end, heartbreaking. What a fantastic story, I need to read more by this author very soon.
Add this to your wishlists and preorder... Trust me, you will not be disappointed. One of my new favourites for 2022.
*NetGalley book*
June 22, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Boyfriend' by Kerry Wilkinson.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 16th June 2022.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Child Across The Street', 'The Party At Number 12' and 'The Child In The Photo' which I would also recommend reading.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, I Am Watching You and Shari Lapena.' I am a huge fan of Shari so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Kerry and if this is as good as 'The Child Across The Street' 'The Child In The Photo' and 'The Party At Number 12' it is sure to be an excellent read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 49 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited England on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that Kerry has based the book on.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Jodie Parker. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Well, well, well Wow!!! What an absolute cracker of a book!!! This book sucked me straight in from beginning to the explosive ending. It was very well written with excellent descriptions which put me straight into the storyline. The blog and the cover suited the book perfectly.
WHAT THE HOLY SMOKES DID I JUST READ!!! ABSOLUTELY GOBSMACKED!!!
The storyline was fast paced and filled with drama, lies, twists, family, shocks, deceit and suspense. A sadly and scarily very believable storyline which kept me on edge throughout. I loved all the twists and turns and throughout it kept me guessing what was going on and who was doing what. I would NEVER have guessed at the ending so a MASSIVE WELL DONE to Kerry . I have read many thrillers and it's getting harder and harder for me to be surprised so great job there. I loved the storyline and just loved everything about it. It was all done perfectly!! I loved the fact that everything was tied up and explained at the end and there were no loose strings. An absolutely addictive page turner that kept my heart in my throat on the edge of the seat and absolutely absorbed me. The fact there were so many different red herrings and so many possibilities that all would have worked perfectly and then the absolutely EXPLOSIVE ending that there was no way I would have ever expected was absolutely fantastic!!! I also enjoyed the fact that it actually makes you think about what you might do in that situation. It is also quite sad about what happened to a certain character and definitely makes you realise some actions have devastating consequences and causes a knock on effect. I could not put this book down!!! I was so invested in the storyline that I was up until 2am!! I would LOVE to see this turned into a movie!!!
WARNING ⚠ DO NOT START THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS THIS BOOK IS ADDICTIVE!!!!
THE characters were fantastic, solid and completely believable, or are they?? You just have no idea who to trust and wow was I blindsighted! They all had such different and strong personalities and all suited the storyline perfectly. I really liked Jodie, she had such a strong personality and my heart really went out to her as she had alot to deal with when she was finding out certain things and they put her in a horrific position. There were such a mix of personalities and its hard really to say too much about any of them without giving too much away!!! My heart did go out to a certain person and I was absolutely devastated in what happened. My mind was absolutely blown when I discovered what really happened and yours will be too!!
CONGRATULATIONS KERRY ON YET ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE PAGE TURNER!!!! THIS IS WHY YOU ARE ONE OF MY TOP 5 MALE AUTHORS!!! HERE'S TO YOUR NEXT SUCCESS 🥂
Overall a compelling, page turning, mind blowing psychological thriller that will keep you up late at night.
Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Noir Fiction and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, T'he Girl on the Train', 'I Am Watching You', C. L TAYLOR and anyone looking for a book with a twist they will never suspect!!!
336 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheBoyfriend #Bookouture #KerryWilkinson #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KerryWilkinson @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
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Review for 'The Boyfriend' by Kerry Wilkinson.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 16th June 2022.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Child Across The Street', 'The Party At Number 12' and 'The Child In The Photo' which I would also recommend reading.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, I Am Watching You and Shari Lapena.' I am a huge fan of Shari so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Kerry and if this is as good as 'The Child Across The Street' 'The Child In The Photo' and 'The Party At Number 12' it is sure to be an excellent read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 49 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited England on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that Kerry has based the book on.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Jodie Parker. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Well, well, well Wow!!! What an absolute cracker of a book!!! This book sucked me straight in from beginning to the explosive ending. It was very well written with excellent descriptions which put me straight into the storyline. The blog and the cover suited the book perfectly.
WHAT THE HOLY SMOKES DID I JUST READ!!! ABSOLUTELY GOBSMACKED!!!
The storyline was fast paced and filled with drama, lies, twists, family, shocks, deceit and suspense. A sadly and scarily very believable storyline which kept me on edge throughout. I loved all the twists and turns and throughout it kept me guessing what was going on and who was doing what. I would NEVER have guessed at the ending so a MASSIVE WELL DONE to Kerry . I have read many thrillers and it's getting harder and harder for me to be surprised so great job there. I loved the storyline and just loved everything about it. It was all done perfectly!! I loved the fact that everything was tied up and explained at the end and there were no loose strings. An absolutely addictive page turner that kept my heart in my throat on the edge of the seat and absolutely absorbed me. The fact there were so many different red herrings and so many possibilities that all would have worked perfectly and then the absolutely EXPLOSIVE ending that there was no way I would have ever expected was absolutely fantastic!!! I also enjoyed the fact that it actually makes you think about what you might do in that situation. It is also quite sad about what happened to a certain character and definitely makes you realise some actions have devastating consequences and causes a knock on effect. I could not put this book down!!! I was so invested in the storyline that I was up until 2am!! I would LOVE to see this turned into a movie!!!
WARNING ⚠ DO NOT START THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS THIS BOOK IS ADDICTIVE!!!!
THE characters were fantastic, solid and completely believable, or are they?? You just have no idea who to trust and wow was I blindsighted! They all had such different and strong personalities and all suited the storyline perfectly. I really liked Jodie, she had such a strong personality and my heart really went out to her as she had alot to deal with when she was finding out certain things and they put her in a horrific position. There were such a mix of personalities and its hard really to say too much about any of them without giving too much away!!! My heart did go out to a certain person and I was absolutely devastated in what happened. My mind was absolutely blown when I discovered what really happened and yours will be too!!
CONGRATULATIONS KERRY ON YET ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE PAGE TURNER!!!! THIS IS WHY YOU ARE ONE OF MY TOP 5 MALE AUTHORS!!! HERE'S TO YOUR NEXT SUCCESS 🥂
Overall a compelling, page turning, mind blowing psychological thriller that will keep you up late at night.
Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Noir Fiction and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, T'he Girl on the Train', 'I Am Watching You', C. L TAYLOR and anyone looking for a book with a twist they will never suspect!!!
336 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheBoyfriend #Bookouture #KerryWilkinson #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KerryWilkinson @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
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April 27, 2022
I love that Kerry Wilkinson has the skill and ability to keep pumping out 5-star thrillers! I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review such phenomenal books.
I personally think this was one of Kerry Wilkinson’s best twisted reads! It’s written to really mess with our heads. Wilkinson’s commitment to exploring the dark recesses of our minds is very clear in this one, as is his laser-focused expertise in maintaining his readers’ interest. I really loved focusing on Jodie’s psychological factors and internal flaws that she needed to overcome. The protagonist, Jodie, is psychologically stressed out even before the funeral, yet she remains driven to understand her past. There are too many things that don’t add up and she’s determined to get to the bottom of them before she moves on with her life. A discovery in the attic of her dad’s home sets her off on a perplexing mystery - how well did she really know her Dad? Her husband? Her brother? Her mother?
As the narrative progresses, Wilkinson leads us towards clues that help Jodie unlock her fears, secrets and impulses that she’s hidden in the darkest corners of her mind. He also helps us untangle the lies that Jodie is wrapped up in; most come as a shock, even to her. Like Jodie, I really didn’t know who to trust and second-guessed each character’s intent and actions. By placing Jodie in a familiar setting (home where she grew up), with family issues such as struggling to parent a wayward teen, sibling rivalry and dealing with divorce, Wilkinson appeals to what we as readers know. He takes everyday situations and frames them so that readers ask themselves what they’d do in this situation. In doing so, he makes it relatable and easier for us to identify with the characters. Jodie’s angst at dealing with both internal doubt and external issues fuels the plot. Yes, it has a dark atmosphere and a mind-bending plot (and some subplots), but it’s the jaw-dropping twists that made me love it even more. I felt like Hansel and Gretel following the crumbs, so painstakingly stretched out (loved that part!) as I followed the mystery of the attic find and the mysteries in Jodie’s past.
I really appreciated Wilkinson’s creative mind and deft ability in creating a truly thrilling psychological thriller.
I was gifted this advance copy by Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I personally think this was one of Kerry Wilkinson’s best twisted reads! It’s written to really mess with our heads. Wilkinson’s commitment to exploring the dark recesses of our minds is very clear in this one, as is his laser-focused expertise in maintaining his readers’ interest. I really loved focusing on Jodie’s psychological factors and internal flaws that she needed to overcome. The protagonist, Jodie, is psychologically stressed out even before the funeral, yet she remains driven to understand her past. There are too many things that don’t add up and she’s determined to get to the bottom of them before she moves on with her life. A discovery in the attic of her dad’s home sets her off on a perplexing mystery - how well did she really know her Dad? Her husband? Her brother? Her mother?
As the narrative progresses, Wilkinson leads us towards clues that help Jodie unlock her fears, secrets and impulses that she’s hidden in the darkest corners of her mind. He also helps us untangle the lies that Jodie is wrapped up in; most come as a shock, even to her. Like Jodie, I really didn’t know who to trust and second-guessed each character’s intent and actions. By placing Jodie in a familiar setting (home where she grew up), with family issues such as struggling to parent a wayward teen, sibling rivalry and dealing with divorce, Wilkinson appeals to what we as readers know. He takes everyday situations and frames them so that readers ask themselves what they’d do in this situation. In doing so, he makes it relatable and easier for us to identify with the characters. Jodie’s angst at dealing with both internal doubt and external issues fuels the plot. Yes, it has a dark atmosphere and a mind-bending plot (and some subplots), but it’s the jaw-dropping twists that made me love it even more. I felt like Hansel and Gretel following the crumbs, so painstakingly stretched out (loved that part!) as I followed the mystery of the attic find and the mysteries in Jodie’s past.
I really appreciated Wilkinson’s creative mind and deft ability in creating a truly thrilling psychological thriller.
I was gifted this advance copy by Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 3, 2023
After her father's death Jodie has returned home to empty his house. Whilst going through his boxes in the loft she stumbles upon an old T'shirt that her boyfriend Ben was wearing twenty years ago, on the day he went missing. Why is it in her father's loft?
Her father was a respected man but Jodie now starts to doubt his innocence and starts to dig for answers and how her dad fits into all of this.
This was a great read, I thought I had it all worked out and I'm pleased to say I was totally wrong.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Her father was a respected man but Jodie now starts to doubt his innocence and starts to dig for answers and how her dad fits into all of this.
This was a great read, I thought I had it all worked out and I'm pleased to say I was totally wrong.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2022
Ben disappeared when they were sixteen years old, but it seems like it was just yesterday to her. She has never gotten over the loss of him, none of it makes sense and the trail went cold a long time ago. That is until she stumbles across an old t-shirt full of memories in her father's attic!
The Boyfriend is a thrilling and mind-bending tale that will keep you on your toes the whole way through! From the get-go this one had my full attention, and it didn't let up until the last page came. Just when I thought I had things figured out I'd be hit with another twist and find myself back at square one... clueless and dying for answers. Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it's words will take you places you never saw coming!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbissed opinion.
The Boyfriend is a thrilling and mind-bending tale that will keep you on your toes the whole way through! From the get-go this one had my full attention, and it didn't let up until the last page came. Just when I thought I had things figured out I'd be hit with another twist and find myself back at square one... clueless and dying for answers. Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it's words will take you places you never saw coming!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbissed opinion.
June 11, 2022
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kerry Wilkinson's latest compelling thriller THE BOYFRIEND.
I'm a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson and never pass up an opportunity to read his standalone thrillers, with each of them suitably different from the previous. I guess what I love most about Wilkinson's books is his witty humour. It is a little dark at times but there are those throwaway lines that just make me chuckle whenever I see them nestled within the pages of an otherwise serious matter.
Jodie Parker is a divorced single mum to the despairingly monosyllabic Owen living in the town in which she was born and grew up in. Everyone knows each other, everyone has dated almost everyone else or known those who have dated them, has grown up with the same people and the same neighbours for decades in a town where not much anything changes. Except if you go to prison for twenty years and come out to find everything has changed.
And now Jodie's life as she knows it is about to come crumbling down...if it hasn't started to already. Her father has passed away after a sudden heart attack and she is left to pick up the pieces, organise his funeral, wake and the clearing out of the house that she and her brother grew up in and of which she is now the sole beneficiary. Much to the annoyance of her sister-in-law Samantha who is now threatening a lawsuit to see her hubby and Jodie's brother Mike share the inheritance. But Jodie's father had a reason for making her the sole beneficiary and she needed to respect that.
Then one day she is in the attic, that she was never allowed into as a child, clearing out some long-forgotten boxes up there when she comes across one labelled in her father's hand "KEEP". She opens it up expecting to find treasures from his public life as town mayor and a pillar of the community, but nothing can prepare her for seeing the green fabric of her long missing boyfriend's t-shirt. The same one he had been wearing the last time she saw him...the night he disappeared.
Jodie was sixteen when Ben disappeared after waving goodbye to her to walk home through "Bramble Alley", as it was locally known. He was her first boyfriend and the love of her life. Part of her has never gotten over the loss of him and everyone, their parents mainly, expected the two to marry and raise a family of their own. But that all ended one night when Ben walked into the alley and was never seen again. No body was found, no trace of him was left behind...except in the van of a local man Paul McIntosh, the same van Jodie had seen near the churchyard on the night Ben disappeared. McIntosh arrested, tried and found guilty of murdering Ben and sentenced to prison. Case closed.
Except now Paul McIntosh had been released from prison and Jodie now held the last piece of clothing Ben had been wearing. So why did her dad have it? And why was it hidden away stashed in his attic? Jodie had so many questions she didn't know who to ask or where to look for answers.
And then things began to happen. Someone broke into her father's house - now her house - one night, although nothing was taken, and then tried to burn the same house down by pouring accelerant through the letterbox along with a match, resulting in only damaging the door beyond repair. Someone knows there is something in her father's house and they want it...but what? And who? And has her father's life all these years been a lie?
Added to her worries is her monosyllabic son Owen, who spends an inordinate amount of time playing violent video games online when he's home and bullying younger kids when he's not. Jodie barely recognises her son anymore and when she tries to speak to him she only gets grunts in reply. His father is useless, cosying up to him and playing video games with him rather than parenting him.
But nothing will prepare Jodie for the truth of what happened to Ben twenty years ago or the wheels that have already been set in motion of what is to come. Is she strong enough to speak up or will she hide the truth forever?
THE BOYFRIEND is a very different thriller in which it does begin rather slowly where Jodie goes through the motions of her life in the wake of her father's death and generally feeling sorry for herself. She doesn't even excel at parenting either, leaving a troubled Owen to his own devices most of the time. When she does try to confront him, I'm not surprised he barely takes any notice of her as I doubt she has taken a lot of notice of him in general before. Her life has been a series of unfortunate choices and bad decisions, Owen the result of one, her life as a single mum another. She isn't actually all that likeable but by the end I did really feel for her.
With its slow start, it is easy to see why THE BOYFRIEND fails to go anywhere in the beginning and it is easy to become frustrated with the irritating characters and the lack of suspense. But it does pick up and while it doesn't really become a fast paced ride the tension throughout is palpable as you try to unravel the complexities Jodie is faced with. There are many clues peppered throughout but you have to keep your wits about you to pick up on them. Wilkinson did not, however, hoodwink me this time.
Unlike other thrillers, THE BOYFRIEND elicits a range of emotions from anger to disbelief to heartwrenching sorrow. It is more emotional than most and extremely devastating as Jodie is left to question everything she thought she knew and we, as the reader, witness her unravelling.
While it is not the thrill-ride some fans are looking for or expecting, it is most certainly a thought-provoking and emotional read all the same. It also is an example of Wilkinson's diversity in his skillful plotting and writing.
A good solid read, THE BOYFRIEND is out 16th June and perfect for fans of dark domestic thrillers.
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I'm a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson and never pass up an opportunity to read his standalone thrillers, with each of them suitably different from the previous. I guess what I love most about Wilkinson's books is his witty humour. It is a little dark at times but there are those throwaway lines that just make me chuckle whenever I see them nestled within the pages of an otherwise serious matter.
Jodie Parker is a divorced single mum to the despairingly monosyllabic Owen living in the town in which she was born and grew up in. Everyone knows each other, everyone has dated almost everyone else or known those who have dated them, has grown up with the same people and the same neighbours for decades in a town where not much anything changes. Except if you go to prison for twenty years and come out to find everything has changed.
And now Jodie's life as she knows it is about to come crumbling down...if it hasn't started to already. Her father has passed away after a sudden heart attack and she is left to pick up the pieces, organise his funeral, wake and the clearing out of the house that she and her brother grew up in and of which she is now the sole beneficiary. Much to the annoyance of her sister-in-law Samantha who is now threatening a lawsuit to see her hubby and Jodie's brother Mike share the inheritance. But Jodie's father had a reason for making her the sole beneficiary and she needed to respect that.
Then one day she is in the attic, that she was never allowed into as a child, clearing out some long-forgotten boxes up there when she comes across one labelled in her father's hand "KEEP". She opens it up expecting to find treasures from his public life as town mayor and a pillar of the community, but nothing can prepare her for seeing the green fabric of her long missing boyfriend's t-shirt. The same one he had been wearing the last time she saw him...the night he disappeared.
Jodie was sixteen when Ben disappeared after waving goodbye to her to walk home through "Bramble Alley", as it was locally known. He was her first boyfriend and the love of her life. Part of her has never gotten over the loss of him and everyone, their parents mainly, expected the two to marry and raise a family of their own. But that all ended one night when Ben walked into the alley and was never seen again. No body was found, no trace of him was left behind...except in the van of a local man Paul McIntosh, the same van Jodie had seen near the churchyard on the night Ben disappeared. McIntosh arrested, tried and found guilty of murdering Ben and sentenced to prison. Case closed.
Except now Paul McIntosh had been released from prison and Jodie now held the last piece of clothing Ben had been wearing. So why did her dad have it? And why was it hidden away stashed in his attic? Jodie had so many questions she didn't know who to ask or where to look for answers.
And then things began to happen. Someone broke into her father's house - now her house - one night, although nothing was taken, and then tried to burn the same house down by pouring accelerant through the letterbox along with a match, resulting in only damaging the door beyond repair. Someone knows there is something in her father's house and they want it...but what? And who? And has her father's life all these years been a lie?
Added to her worries is her monosyllabic son Owen, who spends an inordinate amount of time playing violent video games online when he's home and bullying younger kids when he's not. Jodie barely recognises her son anymore and when she tries to speak to him she only gets grunts in reply. His father is useless, cosying up to him and playing video games with him rather than parenting him.
But nothing will prepare Jodie for the truth of what happened to Ben twenty years ago or the wheels that have already been set in motion of what is to come. Is she strong enough to speak up or will she hide the truth forever?
THE BOYFRIEND is a very different thriller in which it does begin rather slowly where Jodie goes through the motions of her life in the wake of her father's death and generally feeling sorry for herself. She doesn't even excel at parenting either, leaving a troubled Owen to his own devices most of the time. When she does try to confront him, I'm not surprised he barely takes any notice of her as I doubt she has taken a lot of notice of him in general before. Her life has been a series of unfortunate choices and bad decisions, Owen the result of one, her life as a single mum another. She isn't actually all that likeable but by the end I did really feel for her.
With its slow start, it is easy to see why THE BOYFRIEND fails to go anywhere in the beginning and it is easy to become frustrated with the irritating characters and the lack of suspense. But it does pick up and while it doesn't really become a fast paced ride the tension throughout is palpable as you try to unravel the complexities Jodie is faced with. There are many clues peppered throughout but you have to keep your wits about you to pick up on them. Wilkinson did not, however, hoodwink me this time.
Unlike other thrillers, THE BOYFRIEND elicits a range of emotions from anger to disbelief to heartwrenching sorrow. It is more emotional than most and extremely devastating as Jodie is left to question everything she thought she knew and we, as the reader, witness her unravelling.
While it is not the thrill-ride some fans are looking for or expecting, it is most certainly a thought-provoking and emotional read all the same. It also is an example of Wilkinson's diversity in his skillful plotting and writing.
A good solid read, THE BOYFRIEND is out 16th June and perfect for fans of dark domestic thrillers.
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 5, 2022
I loved this twisty book. I had so many characters that could have done the deed that I had no idea who the culprit was until the closing chapters. A good thriller this one and full of guesses. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
June 16, 2022
While Jodie is going through her father’s things after he passed away, she is shocked to discover a T-shirt that belonged to her boyfriend Ben of twenty years ago. Their last parting is forever imprinted on her brain which makes it easy for her to recognize that T-shirt. But, as Ben was tragically murdered, Jodie can’t help but wonder why her father had that T-shirt.
Her father was every man to every person. Beloved and respected. Now Jodie has to wonder about him so she looks for answers. Meanwhile, Jodie is dealing with another conflict. Her father left everything to her, but nothing to her brother. Then, there is someone following Jodie about town. Could the person charged with Ben’s murder be innocent, and was her father involved in any way? While looking for answers, Jodie is also struggling with the tentative relationship she has with her son Owen. With these things doing on, will Jodie be able to find the answers she seeks?
In this character-driven story, readers are given privy to Jodie - her feelings, her concerns, and her motives. The Boyfriend is a compelling story, with shocking twists and a heartbreaking ending. Kerry Wilkinson has written another stellar book for his fans to devour.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/ECm9KMBznE4
Her father was every man to every person. Beloved and respected. Now Jodie has to wonder about him so she looks for answers. Meanwhile, Jodie is dealing with another conflict. Her father left everything to her, but nothing to her brother. Then, there is someone following Jodie about town. Could the person charged with Ben’s murder be innocent, and was her father involved in any way? While looking for answers, Jodie is also struggling with the tentative relationship she has with her son Owen. With these things doing on, will Jodie be able to find the answers she seeks?
In this character-driven story, readers are given privy to Jodie - her feelings, her concerns, and her motives. The Boyfriend is a compelling story, with shocking twists and a heartbreaking ending. Kerry Wilkinson has written another stellar book for his fans to devour.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/ECm9KMBznE4
July 24, 2022
The Boyfriend is a mystery, where the events of the past continue to be felt in the present. A rather slow start, building to an explosive moment which then ends rather more abruptly than seemed to make sense.
After the death of her father, Jodie is clearing out his house when she comes across a green T-shirt in a box. An innocuous object, only the T-shirt was what her boyfriend was wearing sixteen years ago when he disappeared. Why would it be stored in her father’s attic? Jodie wants answers, but sometimes the answers you get aren’t what you expect.
From the moment Jodie finds the T-shirt strange events start to occur. A break-in, a fire and seemingly unconnected concerns regarding her son and his behaviour. As she digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding her boyfriend’s disappearance all those years ago, she starts to learn that those close to her have been keeping their own secrets.
Things build to a rather unlikely conclusion, but the ambiguity of Jodie’s actions at the end frustrated me.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this prior to publication.
After the death of her father, Jodie is clearing out his house when she comes across a green T-shirt in a box. An innocuous object, only the T-shirt was what her boyfriend was wearing sixteen years ago when he disappeared. Why would it be stored in her father’s attic? Jodie wants answers, but sometimes the answers you get aren’t what you expect.
From the moment Jodie finds the T-shirt strange events start to occur. A break-in, a fire and seemingly unconnected concerns regarding her son and his behaviour. As she digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding her boyfriend’s disappearance all those years ago, she starts to learn that those close to her have been keeping their own secrets.
Things build to a rather unlikely conclusion, but the ambiguity of Jodie’s actions at the end frustrated me.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this prior to publication.
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June 12, 2022The Boyfriend by Kerry Wilkinson is packed full of suspense and had me glued to the pages. Couldn't put it down!
July 11, 2022
A good read, technically a 3.5, sadly I guessed the outcome of the main storyline so lost marks for that. I’ll be interested to see if I think of the characters now I’ve finished - always the sign of a great read for me.
May 6, 2022
✨Book Review✨
The Boyfriend
By Kerry Wilkinson
Kerry Wilkinson was a new Author for me! The synopsis of this book sounded really exciting, so I was extremely happy to receive this E-Arc for review.
I really enjoyed this book. The storyline kept me intrigued, the characters were well developed, and all in all there was a wonderful flow to the writing, with just enough twists and turns to keep me wondering what would happen next!
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Wilkinson.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book drops June 16th, be sure to check it out!
Huge thank you to @netgalley and to @bookouture for the E-Arc to review for my honest opinion.
The Boyfriend
By Kerry Wilkinson
Kerry Wilkinson was a new Author for me! The synopsis of this book sounded really exciting, so I was extremely happy to receive this E-Arc for review.
I really enjoyed this book. The storyline kept me intrigued, the characters were well developed, and all in all there was a wonderful flow to the writing, with just enough twists and turns to keep me wondering what would happen next!
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Wilkinson.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book drops June 16th, be sure to check it out!
Huge thank you to @netgalley and to @bookouture for the E-Arc to review for my honest opinion.
June 27, 2022
I really like this author, but this particular book fell a bit short for me. It centers on Jodie, who finds the t-shirt her boyfriend was wearing when he disappeared decades ago in her father's attic. Her father has just passed away and she is cleaning out his house. Not much really happens for the first 2/3 of the book as she stresses over this, but things start coming together towards the end, culminating in a big (though heartbreaking) twist I didn't see coming.
I found the narrative to mostly plod along in this book. Jodie wasn't all that likable of a character and seemed to have strained relationships with everyone around her. I found myself bored many times as I was reading. There was a lot of other stuff happening in her life that didn't have to do with the t-shirt. It finally picked up for more more than halfway through, and though the rest of the book held my interest, there were a lot of questions left unanswered and the surprise ending just made me sad.
Overall, this was not my favorite read, but it was OK. I'd give it 2.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found the narrative to mostly plod along in this book. Jodie wasn't all that likable of a character and seemed to have strained relationships with everyone around her. I found myself bored many times as I was reading. There was a lot of other stuff happening in her life that didn't have to do with the t-shirt. It finally picked up for more more than halfway through, and though the rest of the book held my interest, there were a lot of questions left unanswered and the surprise ending just made me sad.
Overall, this was not my favorite read, but it was OK. I'd give it 2.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2022
Kerry Wilkinson strikes again, doling out another of the psychological thrillers he is known for. 'The Boyfriend' depicts the tale of Jodie, who we are introduced to in the first chapter. The main protagonist and sole narrator, she is struggling in the aftermath of her father's death, especially as he was a major public figure in their small community. Surrounded by constant reminders of him, she goes to clean out her childhood home and stumbles upon a startling revelation in the attic- a t-shirt of her old boyfriend, Ben. Why is this strange, you may ask? Ben disappeared when Jodie was sixteen, presumed dead, and his supposed killer was sentenced to prison. How did his t-shirt end up in her father's house? This question begets the premise of this novel, taking readers on a wild ride through Jodie's past, and how it shaped her future.
So this may sound strange, but the best part of this book for me was the ending. It is important to note- 'The Boyfriend' did not have the traditional happily ever after as a conclusion. There's a saying my Trinidadian mother loves, "The sins of the parents will fall on the children." Without giving any major spoilers, Wilkinson highlights this, making it quite different from the conventional thriller.
Personally, I prefer novels with more flowing prose, whereas the writing style in this one was a bit choppy. For example, Josie's thoughts and movements were oftentimes chaotic, moving from one to the other without much correlation between them. This sometimes made it harder for me to concentrate, and I found myself having to reread certain parts to understand.
With all of the above in mind, I give 'The Boyfriend' a rating of 3 stars. The overarching plotline was solid, and I liked the way it ended, but I did struggle with continuous reading due to the writing style. I recommend this to persons who like twisty thrillers, and books with a difference. There are no instances of obscene language or erotic acts, so this is suitable for children as young as teens. Trigger warnings include: death of a loved one and acts of violence. All in all, a great read to pass a few hours, and I cannot wait to read more from Kerry Wilkinson!
*A great many thanks to NetGalley, Kerry Wilkinson, and Bookouture for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
So this may sound strange, but the best part of this book for me was the ending. It is important to note- 'The Boyfriend' did not have the traditional happily ever after as a conclusion. There's a saying my Trinidadian mother loves, "The sins of the parents will fall on the children." Without giving any major spoilers, Wilkinson highlights this, making it quite different from the conventional thriller.
Personally, I prefer novels with more flowing prose, whereas the writing style in this one was a bit choppy. For example, Josie's thoughts and movements were oftentimes chaotic, moving from one to the other without much correlation between them. This sometimes made it harder for me to concentrate, and I found myself having to reread certain parts to understand.
With all of the above in mind, I give 'The Boyfriend' a rating of 3 stars. The overarching plotline was solid, and I liked the way it ended, but I did struggle with continuous reading due to the writing style. I recommend this to persons who like twisty thrillers, and books with a difference. There are no instances of obscene language or erotic acts, so this is suitable for children as young as teens. Trigger warnings include: death of a loved one and acts of violence. All in all, a great read to pass a few hours, and I cannot wait to read more from Kerry Wilkinson!
*A great many thanks to NetGalley, Kerry Wilkinson, and Bookouture for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
June 8, 2022
Published: June 16, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 334
Genre: Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kerry Wilkinson is originally from the county of Somerset; Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel.' When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
“In one way, nothing had changed. Except… everything had.”
Jodie has known tragedy since she was a teenager. Her boyfriend, Ben, disappeared when she was 16, and his body was never found. When Jodie’s dad dies suddenly, she is stuck in a whirlwind. When she discovers something hidden in the attic, the past comes flooding to the present, and Jodie is caught between the truth and the love she had for the ab she thought her father was.
HOLY BUCKETS. The last sentence of the first chapter was enough to give me whiplash. I was immediately hooked. I could not put this book down.
The plot was a rollercoaster. A lot of back and forth, should I or shouldn’t I, and as things take a turn- they suddenly plummet to the ground at breakneck speed.
I enjoyed the characters. I also appreciated the difficult position Jodie was in. It was represented well, and the emotional turmoil was palpable.
There were so many moments in this book that I wanted to scream… it was the ultimate choice that would leave no winners. This novel will leave you questioning whether karma was delivered or tragedy befell Jodie Parker yet again.
Extremely emotional, intricately twisted, and devastating, this novel is classic Kerry at his best. If you are looking for a writer that will leave you speechless, look no further.
Bookouture
Pages: 334
Genre: Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kerry Wilkinson is originally from the county of Somerset; Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel.' When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
“In one way, nothing had changed. Except… everything had.”
Jodie has known tragedy since she was a teenager. Her boyfriend, Ben, disappeared when she was 16, and his body was never found. When Jodie’s dad dies suddenly, she is stuck in a whirlwind. When she discovers something hidden in the attic, the past comes flooding to the present, and Jodie is caught between the truth and the love she had for the ab she thought her father was.
HOLY BUCKETS. The last sentence of the first chapter was enough to give me whiplash. I was immediately hooked. I could not put this book down.
The plot was a rollercoaster. A lot of back and forth, should I or shouldn’t I, and as things take a turn- they suddenly plummet to the ground at breakneck speed.
I enjoyed the characters. I also appreciated the difficult position Jodie was in. It was represented well, and the emotional turmoil was palpable.
There were so many moments in this book that I wanted to scream… it was the ultimate choice that would leave no winners. This novel will leave you questioning whether karma was delivered or tragedy befell Jodie Parker yet again.
Extremely emotional, intricately twisted, and devastating, this novel is classic Kerry at his best. If you are looking for a writer that will leave you speechless, look no further.
May 20, 2022
I briefly seen a line in someone else's review and the word that struck me as apt for this book, is underwhelming. I have read many books by this author and really enjoyed them, but this one just never took off.
Jodie finds a tshirt that belonged to her boyfriend who disappeared two decades ago, in her late fathers attic. It opens up so many questions and has Jodie thinking did she ever really know her dad, but she does nothing about it. Everyday she thinks about it, whilst she has dramas with her teenage son Owen and estranged ex (whose name I can't remember) and drinks wine with her friend (whose name I can't remember either) the characters are actually so bland and just decoration for Jodie's storyline, that they are not memorable.
The pace was slow and nothing really ever happened. It lacked an actual plot with action and moving characters. The ending is a massive shock and definitely not a good one. It's a horrendous ending and by this point it's totally pointless. Why? Why? Why? I didn't even realise the final paragraph was the ending, until it just ended and didn't continue. Like seriously!! Why?
I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Jodie finds a tshirt that belonged to her boyfriend who disappeared two decades ago, in her late fathers attic. It opens up so many questions and has Jodie thinking did she ever really know her dad, but she does nothing about it. Everyday she thinks about it, whilst she has dramas with her teenage son Owen and estranged ex (whose name I can't remember) and drinks wine with her friend (whose name I can't remember either) the characters are actually so bland and just decoration for Jodie's storyline, that they are not memorable.
The pace was slow and nothing really ever happened. It lacked an actual plot with action and moving characters. The ending is a massive shock and definitely not a good one. It's a horrendous ending and by this point it's totally pointless. Why? Why? Why? I didn't even realise the final paragraph was the ending, until it just ended and didn't continue. Like seriously!! Why?
I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
May 7, 2022
After her Father's funeral and finding out she'd been solely left his house Jodie starts to clear her childhood home. But in almost the first box she opens she finds an old t-shirt. Nothing unusual there you may think, but this t-shirt was last seen being worn by her boyfriend who was last seen nearly 20 years ago. How has it come to be neatly folded in the loft and why has her dad got it and kept it?
This discovery sends Jodie on a journey that she's not sure she will recover from, who can she trust.
Added to this drama with her teenage son, a friend at the end of a relationship, and her brother, who's wife is contesting the will, Jodie will almost be pushed over the edge.
Not a fast paced thriller like so many of Kerry's books but a good solid read nonetheless, you feel all of Jodies emotions and worries as you are engrossed in the reading
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, I am under no obligation to leave my honest review
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
This discovery sends Jodie on a journey that she's not sure she will recover from, who can she trust.
Added to this drama with her teenage son, a friend at the end of a relationship, and her brother, who's wife is contesting the will, Jodie will almost be pushed over the edge.
Not a fast paced thriller like so many of Kerry's books but a good solid read nonetheless, you feel all of Jodies emotions and worries as you are engrossed in the reading
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, I am under no obligation to leave my honest review
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
October 8, 2022
The Boyfriend by Kerry Wilkinson feels like a bit of a departure from past psych thriller stories. There is a lot of character-building and introspection from Jodie. The story is solely hers. As such, the reader only experiences things from her perspective. Period. It is good because the reader gets to really deep dive into Jodie’s frame of mind. But it’s bad because it makes a lot of things one-dimensional. When she finds something suspicious at her father’s house, she evaluates an event from her past. And as Jodie looks at people with a side eye, so does the reader. The author definitely keeps the reader guessing. there are also characters and events that have promise but lack follow-through. But however you think the story is going to end, you are absolutely wrong. I guarantee it. It is a tad uneven, but it is still a good story. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.
June 13, 2022
Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e arc of The Boyfriend by Kerry Wilkinson. My first novel by Kerry Wilkinson and I loved it.
This is a suspense-thriller - psychological thriller -domestic thriller- novel. 4.5+*.
Synopsis: " He went missing when you were sixteen. Was it all your fault?.... But a terrifying discovery changes everything she knew... The search for answers leads Jodie to an old family friend who knows all her father’s secrets. She can’t shake his questions about her older brother, and the real reason their dad left everything to Jodie, not him... An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist, about how even the people we love can hide the darkest secrets.
3 things I liked:
1. I never wanted to "stop" reading; fast paced, never a dull moment
2. I liked the MC and was drawn into the characters
3. I love when I cannot guess the end... I made up a version in my mind, but guessed wrong... love when I can't see it!
3 other things ...(not going to do 3 dislikes because there was not really any dislikes, so I will just say other)
a) I imagined a different end... this is not bad really.
b) Once part of the story was hard. Without giving away much the sense of how little we can control, especially as mothers.
c) I bit my nails bad. This is good in terms of rating the story and just bad for my sore fingers.
I was glad to read this one. I would defiantly recommend to thriller lovers. I will be adding more of Kerry Wilkinson's books to my tbr.
This is a suspense-thriller - psychological thriller -domestic thriller- novel. 4.5+*.
Synopsis: " He went missing when you were sixteen. Was it all your fault?.... But a terrifying discovery changes everything she knew... The search for answers leads Jodie to an old family friend who knows all her father’s secrets. She can’t shake his questions about her older brother, and the real reason their dad left everything to Jodie, not him... An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist, about how even the people we love can hide the darkest secrets.
3 things I liked:
1. I never wanted to "stop" reading; fast paced, never a dull moment
2. I liked the MC and was drawn into the characters
3. I love when I cannot guess the end... I made up a version in my mind, but guessed wrong... love when I can't see it!
3 other things ...(not going to do 3 dislikes because there was not really any dislikes, so I will just say other)
a) I imagined a different end... this is not bad really.
b) Once part of the story was hard. Without giving away much the sense of how little we can control, especially as mothers.
c) I bit my nails bad. This is good in terms of rating the story and just bad for my sore fingers.
I was glad to read this one. I would defiantly recommend to thriller lovers. I will be adding more of Kerry Wilkinson's books to my tbr.
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