The Valet: A Twisty Domestic Thriller

by Bonnie Traymore

In this twisty domestic suspense novel with a touch of dark humor, a struggling valet driver with a shady side hustle and a soft spot for the ladies suspects that one of his targets might be a serial killer.

You never know what hides behind a smile.

It’s tough to get by in Honolulu these days. Prices are high. Salaries are low. Which is why Johnny Silva tells himself he’s not doing anything that bad. The people he and his girlfriend target have a lot of insurance—and a lot of jewelry.

But when not one, but two guests from the resort where he works turn up murdered in a similar manner, Johnny starts to suspect that one of his targets, a regular at The Grand Royal Hotel, is the serial killer terrorizing Honolulu.

When the cops start questioning him, Johnny suspects that someone is trying to frame him. Does his girlfriend know he's been chatting up his ex? Does his co-worker know his dark secrets? Are there other enemies out to get him?

Then Johnny becomes a person of interest in the case, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the real murderer, even if a stone-cold killer might be a little too close for comfort.

And even if it might cost him his life.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Kaira Rouda, Daniel Hurst, Emily Shiner, and Shari Lapena.

Genres: Thriller

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 12, 2026

Reviews

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a suspenseful and humorous read this turned out to be! I had no idea cars come with valet settings—so clever!

In this suspense novel, Johnny Silva, a valet driver in Honolulu with a shady side hustle, suspects that a guest at The Grand Royal Hotel may be a serial killer after two murders occur. As he faces police scrutiny and complications in his personal life, Johnny becomes determined to find the real killer, risking his own life in the process.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Johnny, Lani, and Tina, which allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the story. The characters undergo significant development as the story unfolds, and I particularly appreciated the lighthearted banter between Johnny and Janice, along with the dark humor intricately woven into the plot. Johnny's immaturity makes him even more relatable and endearing.

There are numerous hints scattered throughout that cleverly mislead you, so well done! I felt completely taken by surprise when the big reveal came. And that ending! It was tense and totally unexpected—was it, though? I think Johnny could use some new friends and more mature romantic interests, as he seems indecisive until things spiral out of control. What a character he is! Funny and quirky! I found myself laughing quite a bit, which only added to my enjoyment of the story. I really appreciate a good laugh!

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a gripping domestic thriller that hooks you from the start, filled with hints designed to baffle your detective instincts. I never anticipated the perpetrator would turn out to be who it was—that twist was skillfully concealed. As I’m new to this author, I had no idea what to expect. You might chuckle, and you might feel some frustration, too. But for now, I need to tidy up my car and figure out that valet setting, so I don’t find myself in a tricky situation! Ha!

Thank you, ThrillerBookLoversThePulse and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Valet has a genuinely intriguing premise and opens with a strong hook, but for me it didn’t quite maintain that momentum all the way through.

Johnny is a morally grey lead I wanted to root for — a struggling valet scraping by in Honolulu, making questionable choices that slowly come back to bite him. The hotel setting works well, and I liked the idea of a killer potentially hiding in plain sight among wealthy guests who all have secrets of their own.

Where this one lost me slightly was the pacing. After that sharp opening, the middle stretches felt a little uneven and repetitive, and while the tension does pick up again toward the end, some of the twists were easier to spot than I’d hoped. There are surprises — just not quite enough to fully elevate the payoff.

That said, I appreciated the dark humour threaded throughout and the way paranoia slowly creeps in as Johnny becomes a person of interest. A solid, readable domestic thriller — just one that didn’t quite deliver the punch I was hoping for.

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The Valet by Bonnie Traymore is a suspenseful thriller set against the glamorous backdrop of an elite hotel in Honolulu. The story follows Johnny, a valet driver who becomes entangled in the mystery of a serial killer and takes it upon himself to uncover the killer’s identity.
The novel starts off strong with an intriguing premise and a fast-paced opening that immediately pulls you in. Johnny is an interesting main character, and the hotel setting adds an appealing atmosphere to the story.

While the buildup is solid, the ending is somewhat predictable, which took away from the final impact.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny works as a valet at a hotel in Honolulu, but the pay is far from glamorous. While parking luxury cars for wealthy guests, he quietly notes their addresses, information he later uses with his girlfriend to break into their homes and rob them. When two hotel guests are murdered, Johnny begins to suspect a regular patron. Soon after, he’s brought in for questioning himself and realizes he must uncover the real killer, before the police pin the crimes on him.

3.5* rounded up
The book opens strongly with a gripping first chapter that follows the initial victim just before her death. Unfortunately, the pace slows right down after that, only picking up again near the end. I did consider giving up and moving on to another book, but I stuck with it. The final chapters deliver several twists, some predictable, others not. Johnny’s final revelation, in particular, was unexpected and the reason I rounded my rating up to four stars.

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fluent and fast read.

The setting in Honolulu, gives it a holiday vibe. But beneath the relaxing “ exotic athmosphere” a great danger is lurking.

The Valet was a book that I read without taking a break, I was dragged in and the thriller serial killer vibes, made me hold my breath. While the story was very mysterious, the ending was rather predictable.

This book will appeal to readers who like Frieda McFadden’s style.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Valet” by Bonnie Traymore is a suspenseful, twisty thriller that kept me hooked. The tension is intense, the twists keep coming, and you’re never quite sure who to trust. This story is a sharp reminder of how far someone will go when they’re desperate. A gripping, fast-paced read I couldn’t put down.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'm comfortable when the title includes "A Twisty Domestic Thriller". Can't the reader figure that out? But I guess this book did turn out to be just what it was advertised to be so I guess someone knew what they were doing.

Im big on character development, especially from a deep psychological standpoint. I'd give Joey a big thumbs up. But his supporting cast fell flat. You kind of got a foretaste of that when you see the Table of Contents, and Joey's chapters are 99%.

The story is primarily about Joey who is struggling to make ends meet in expensive Honolulu. He is a valet at a posh hotel, and is running some extracurricular activity that gets him in over his head, or twists and turns his future so to speak.

The book progresses through a lot of antics, players. locations as Joey and his cohorts try to right their wrongs, only to have something more sinister fall into their path. The outcome and the final scene was unexpected.

The book was good. Some of the characters were not developed enough so that their involvement did not make sense. I would have liked to see Joey's actions make more sense at times.

4 stars. Recommended reading especially for you Traymore readers. 🙂

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my unbiased review.

[Beth England · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! This book will be released in Feb! 🫶🏻

3.75 ⭐️

Johnny is a valet at a hotel, who finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation as two of the victims were guests at that same hotel. He has a bit of a dodgy background with his girlfriend Janice, and works to solve the investigation whilst avoiding suspicion on himself.

This book gripped me initially, but I felt the pace dropped during the middle segment of the book before ramping right up again towards the end. There were a number of twists towards the end - some predictable, some definitely not. And the ending was certainly unexpected! I really wasn’t sure where this was going. It felt like you couldn’t trust anyone. I didn’t overly warm to Johnny in the first half of this book, but really started to like him as the book progressed.

This is the first Bonnie Traymore book I’ve picked up, and I definitely am intrigued to read more of her works. This is a fun and quick thriller, so if you like that sort of book this will be right up your street.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Pathways Publishing and Bonnie Traymore for the ARC!

My friends and I at Thriller Lovers the Pulse really enjoyed this fast-paced psychological thriller! The first few pages drew me in, as I honestly haven’t really ever used valet service so I didn’t know much about that job and all it entails. It was clear from the beginning that our MMC character Johnny had a unique side hustle along with his valet job - I found myself laughing at some of the situations he found himself in. I also adored the Hawaiian setting! The idea of a killer hiding in plain sight, in such a beautiful atmosphere was fun as well.

“The Valet” is out February 12, 2026! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[Allicia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story 4.5 ⭐
Spice 1 🌶️

The Valet is a psychological domestic thriller full of suspense. Johnny finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation as a valet who had brief contact with, or been near, the victims. He feels he needs to find the actual murderer before he gets charged with murder. This one will keep you hooked until the end!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bonnie Traymore]

This is my first novel set in Honolulu, where I live, and I hope to give you an insider look at one of my favorite cities in the world, and the place I choose to call home. I stopped over here decades ago on my way back from a trip around the world, and decided to stay awhile!

Johnny Silva is one of my favorite characters, and I hope you will enjoy the ride with him as he attempts to solve a murder, clear his name, and turn his life around. And don't worry, I valet my car all over town without hesitation. The book is pure fiction, except the part about the cost of living, unfortunately. The price of paradise is steep and getting steeper, and there are no easy answers.

Still, many people work two or three jobs to stay here, either because of family, friends, or just because they love it so much. So I hope you enjoy solving this twisty mystery with Johnny, and if you do come visit, sorry but you can't stay at The Grand Royal. It's fictional, but hit me up for recommendations!

[Kristin (Readwithdubs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was an easy thriller read that I couldn’t put down. Johnny was a great MC and his grit and determination to clear his name was top notch. There were a few twists that were revealed and I have to say, I didn’t see any of them coming!

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Janey Beljaars · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Valet is without a doubt a twisty thriller. I finished it within 24 hours because I simply couldn’t stop reading and wanted to solve the case along with Johnny.
Personally, I missed some character development in the main character, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with him or understand the choices he made. That said, the main mystery of the story still managed to surprise me: I didn’t piece it together until the final confrontation. Interestingly, some of the smaller twists felt more predictable and I saw those coming much earlier.
This book will especially appeal to readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers where the focus lies more on plot and twists than on deep character exploration.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the beautiful state of Hawaii this thriller will make you wish you were there. As women start to disappear the police and locals suspect a serial killer. Being set in an island added tension for me because the potential suspect list is smaller. If you enjoy multiple storylines that intersect this is a good book for you.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Valet is a deliciously tense domestic suspense novel that blends danger, dark humor, and a wonderfully flawed narrator into a story that keeps you guessing right up to the final pages. Johnny Silva is the kind of character you can’t help but root for, even as you cringe at some of his choices. He’s struggling to make ends meet in Honolulu, juggling a low‑paying valet job, a morally questionable side hustle, and a complicated love life — and somehow, he still manages to be oddly charming.

The setup is irresistible: two guests from the luxury resort where Johnny works turn up murdered, and the similarities between the crimes are impossible to ignore. When Johnny starts to suspect that one of his own “targets” might be the serial killer terrorizing the island, the tension ramps up beautifully. Suddenly, every smile looks suspicious, every conversation feels loaded, and Johnny’s own secrets begin to close in on him.

What makes this book so engaging is the way it balances suspense with sly humor. Johnny’s inner monologue is sharp and self‑aware, and watching him try to stay one step ahead of the police, his girlfriend, his ex, and possibly a murderer gives the story a propulsive, almost chaotic energy. The paranoia is contagious — you’re never quite sure who to trust, and the author leans into that uncertainty with great skill.

As Johnny becomes a person of interest, the stakes rise quickly. The twists land, the red herrings are clever, and the final stretch is genuinely gripping. It’s a story about bad decisions, worse luck, and the terrifying possibility that the killer you’re hunting might be closer than you ever imagined.

Fast‑paced, darkly funny, and full of sharp turns, The Valet is perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Kaira Rouda, Daniel Hurst, Emily Shiner, and Shari Lapena. A thoroughly entertaining ride from start to finish.

With thanks to Bonnie Traymore, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s tough to get by in Honolulu these days.
Prices are high and salaries are low.
Which is why Johnny Silva tells himself he’s not doing anything that bad.
The people he and his girlfriend target have a lot of insurance—and a lot of jewelry.
But when not one, but two guests from the resort where he works turn up murdered in a similar manner, Johnny starts to suspect that one of his targets, a regular at The Grand Royal Hotel, is the serial killer terrorizing Honolulu.
When the cops start questioning him, Johnny suspects that someone is trying to frame him.
Does his girlfriend know he's been chatting up his ex?
Does his co-worker know his dark secrets?
Are there other enemies out to get him?
Then Johnny becomes a person of interest in the case, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the real murderer, even if a stone-cold killer might be a little too close for comfort.
And even if it might cost him his life.

This was a fun and fast read.
I read 75% of it in one day, and when I do that with a book it’s because I’m engaged and want to keep finding out what happens next.
It’s comprised of several short chapters, so I kept telling myself, “I’ll read one more chapter”, which would turn into ten.
There also wasn’t any part of this book where I felt like things were dragging on or feeling slow, which I appreciated.

If you enjoyed the true crime podcast theme in Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera, you’ll probably enjoy this.

I can also say that the last two pages of this book made me grateful to be gay.
Not that gay men don’t have our own drama, but wow, Johnny, I hope that you just decide to embrace the single life for awhile!

This was my first book by Bonnie Traymore, but I noticed that she’s written several others, which I’d like to check out based on my enjoyment of this one.

Many thanks to Pathways Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review!

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Valet is my first read by Bonnie Traymore, and I’m glad NetGalley granted me an advance copy because this one hooked me quickly. The author builds a tense, layered story around Rachel, a woman trying to regain her footing after past trauma, and Ethan, the valet who seems a little too tuned in to her movements and moods. Their interactions start off innocently enough, but the way their lives begin to overlap almost too neatly creates a steady undercurrent of unease. The supporting cast adds to the tension: Rachel’s husband, her coworkers, and even the people she thinks she can trust all play into the question of who’s truly looking out for her and who might be manipulating the situation. The author uses these relationships well, letting small moments of doubt accumulate until you realize you’re not sure whose version of events to believe. For me, the plot moved with a slow-burn intensity, dropping clues that feel harmless at first but take on new meaning later. There’s a twist that shifts the entire perspective, one of those reveals where you suddenly rethink earlier scenes and realize the truth was hiding in plain sight. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say this: pay attention to the moments where characters “just happen” to be in the right place at the right time. Overall, The Valet delivers a compelling mix of psychological tension, character complexity, and a twist that lands with impact. A solid four-star read that makes me want to explore more of Bonnie Traymore’s work. #netgalley #thevalet

[Robyn Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny Silva is a modern day Robinhood... sort of. He takes from the rich and gives to the poor; the poor being himself and his girlfriend Janice. When a guest at the hotel where he works turns up dead, he doesn't think much of it. When a second guest also turns up dead, he quickly becomes obsessed with finding the killer, believing it to be his most recent target. But when the cops turn their attention to Johnny, he has a new reason to want to find the killer... he needs to save himself!

Let's start with the setting. Honolulu was the perfect setting for this book. While I've never been, the descriptions were beautiful and I really appreciated the author for weaving in Hawaiian culture throughout the book. There was also the feeling (whether intended or unintended) of Johnny being trapped, both in life and on the island.

When it comes to the characters, I can't say I loved Johnny. I understood why he made many of the choices he made, but he was a deeply flawed individual... and he didn't have the charisma to overcome his flaws like some morally gray characters that I've fallen in love with in the past. That being said, while I didn't particularly care for Johnny, I cared about the mystery, and that kept me turning the pages.

The Valet was a fast-paced twisty thriller with short chapters, wry humor, and a setting to die for! Grab some popcorn, throw on some Hawaiian music to set the mood, and Read It!

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Catharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uniquely Distinctive

“The Valet” comes under the Domestic Thriller genre, but don’t be mistaken—there is nothing generic, or even particularly “domestic,” about Bonnie Traymore’s latest offering. This is a novel that sidesteps expectations early on and then cheerfully ignores them.

The protagonist is flawed, occasionally stoned, and sometimes steals, which somehow makes him all the more compelling rather than less. He’s an unusual choice of lead, but one that works brilliantly, and Traymore handles him with a confidence that never once feels apologetic. You’re allowed to like him, even when you probably shouldn’t.

Traymore’s writing style here is wholly immersive. The Hawaiian setting isn’t just a backdrop—it seeps into the story. I could almost smell the sulphur from Kīlauea Volcano and feel the white sand of Kailua Beach between my toes, which made the darker elements of the plot all the more effective by contrast.

The story itself is quirky, smart, and so immensely readable that I actually had to slow myself down, just to make it last a little longer. It has a lightness of touch that sits beautifully alongside the suspense, and that balance is not as easy to pull off as it looks.

If future books are this good, then Bonnie Traymore has very firmly gained a lifelong reader in me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of “The Valet” by Bonnie Traymore.

[Kacey Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Valet by Bonnie Traymore. This was one of those books that hooked me early and kept me reading because I needed to know how everything was going to unravel.

The story follows Johnny, a valet who is just trying to get by, when he finds himself tangled in a situation far bigger — and far darker — than he ever expected. I loved that he wasn’t a perfect, polished protagonist. He’s flawed, makes questionable choices, and feels very human, which made the suspense even more effective.

The pacing was solid throughout, with twists that actually surprised me (always a win in a thriller). Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story shifted again. The setting also added a lot to the atmosphere and made the story feel vivid and immersive.

If I had one small critique, it’s that there were moments where I wanted just a bit more depth in certain character motivations — but overall, this was a fast, engaging read that kept me turning pages.

If you enjoy twisty thrillers with morally gray characters and unpredictable turns, this one is worth picking up.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars Rounded Up

I enjoyed reading this one along with my friends at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse!

When two women go missing and eventually end up dead, Johnny Silva, a valet at the Grand Royal Hotel, begins to suspect that one of his customers is a serial killer terrorizing Honolulu. However, Johnny and his girlfriend have a side “business” that involves taking expensive jewelry from the wealthy, and the man he suspects was his most recent target! When the police start questioning him and he becomes a suspect, Johnny will stop at nothing to find the real killer before anyone else becomes a victim!

This was a very quick enjoyable read. I loved the setting and could clearly picture the beautiful Hawaiian scenery. The story grabbed my attention from the start and I really enjoyed Johnny as a character. Although I did predict the main twist, I flew through it and the reveal at the end was an added surprise! This was the first book that I have read by this author and plan to read more…I already have her book, The Rich Guy’s Wife, on my TBR!

Thank you to Bonnie Traymore and NetGalley for this advance reader copy!

[R.G. Belsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating thriller with an unlikely hero - a valet at a posh hotel who sometimes targets wealthy drivers of the cars he parks for robbery, until he suspects that one of them might be a serial killer. Twist after twist quickly pile up, until the valet driver finds himself as a suspect in the murders. I've read all of author Bonnie Traymore's books, and this is the first one in which she has a male as the main character. She really nails it too, making valet driver Johnny Silva a sympathetic, compelling character that you want to root for despite his shady background. Another plus is that the book is set in Honolulu, and Traymore - who lives in Hawaii - does a wonderful job in giving us an insider's look at an island paradise suddenly plagued by ugly murders. Bonnie Traymore has emerged as one of the most exciting new voices in domestic thriller fiction with her books in recent years. if you haven't read her, start with The Valet right now - and then go back and read all the rest too!

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resorts are lovely...
Valets are many, many places, not just on the gorgeous island of Hawaii. In this case, the valet at the Grand Royal Hotel holds a rather incognito version, which may or may not be at other locations, too. What I mean is, do you really know what they are thinking or going to do when you hand the key(s) over to your vehicle? Do you think they will rifle through your belongings, including the glove box? Do you think they might take down your home address and make a copy of your keys?
I certainly hope they do not! In this book, though, there are not many limits that some have. There is also something that has nothing to do with being a valet at work behind that in this story.
This is one story that makes the reader wonder, go back into their past and wonder where a certain person is now, what may have happened.
Thank you, Bonnie Traymore, for a story to make me wonder some more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my hone

[Gerika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Valet was, well, as the title said definitely twisty. The plot was good. There is someone killing women...and action has to be done with one of his coworkers does not show up to work for a while. Is this related to the string and who is the killer?

The character development was pretty good. I would say Johnny has a good backstory and he does develop and change throughout the novel as things happen to him, to others, or as the story just progresses overall. Side characters DO definitely stand out and you would feel for them.

I admit, the book has slow points and I felt it was definitely several lulls. Like I was very interested in the beginning, then things died down a little, then things gotten interesting again, then slow for a long time before I just wanted to DNQ, then right when I wanted to, it peaked my interest again.

I would recommend the read but only to a patient reader. One who doesn't mind the slow burn.

[Sandra Burkit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast, engaging read that pulled me in right away. I read about 75 percent of it in one day, which only happens when I’m fully invested and eager to see what happens next. The short chapters made it especially easy to keep going. I kept telling myself I’d read just one more, and suddenly I was ten chapters deeper. Nothing ever felt slow or drawn out, which I really appreciated.

If you enjoyed the true-crime podcast style of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, this book has a similar vibe and will likely be right up your alley.

The final pages were especially memorable. I’ll just say they left me feeling very grateful to be gay. Not that gay men don’t have our own share of drama, but wow. Johnny, please consider embracing the single life.

This was my first time reading a book by Bonnie Traymore, but after how much I enjoyed this one, I’m definitely interested in checking out more of her work.

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Valet is a suspenseful domestic thriller with whodunit vibes.
The story follows Johnny, a valet worker with a little side hustle. He notates the addresses of his wealthy customers and passes them down to his girlfriend. Then together, at a later time, they break into the homes of these wealthy people and rob them. But all this takes a turn for the worse when two hotel guests are murdered and all signs are now pointing to Johnny. Johnny refuses to go down for murders that he did not commit, so he joins together with a podcaster and they start doing their own investigations. The question is, is this going to help the police or just make him look even more guilty?
The story is well written and captivating. Joey is a quite a character. He does questionable things. Some of the twists were a little predictable though the final one at the end I didn't see coming. This is a great little thriller you can fly through in a weekend.

[Texas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Traymore writes interesting and intriguing stories that are hard to put down. There is always more to her stories with immersing twists. Source: BookSprout.

THE VALET - For some reason I'm not too excited about this book although I like other books by the author. I didn't care too much about most of the characters, except for Uncle Mel. The story lines were okay but I cannot say interesting enough to me. Source: 3*

THE RICH GUY’S WIFE - Interesting but a bit of a slow pace with good characters and interesting story lines. The last few chapters seemed rushed and too quick, not Ms. Traymore's best work. Source: Booksprout. 3*

THE VALET - For some reason I'm not too excited about this book although I like other books by the author. I didn't care too much about most of the characters, except for Uncle Mel. The story lines were okay but I cannot say interesting enough to me. Source: 3*

SWIPE - Interesting story lines full of twists and messed up characters made for an intriguing read. Well written but the scene in S's apartment was a bit off. 4*

THE HUDSON VALLEY SERIES:
STARK JUSTICE - A short but interesting addition to the Hudson Valley series. Set in Honolulu, concerning a third-year old cold case that has Jack returning, as a retired detective, hoping to solve a case from his youth. Well written. Source: Booksprout. 4*

KILLER MOTIVES, #1 - One of those books that must be finished before putting it down. Interesting story lines with a variety of characters with secrets, and then some. Good pacing kept the pages flying with no vulgar language or sex but plenty of intrigue and happenings. Well written. 4*

LITTLE LOOSE ENDS, #2 - Continues about seven months after Killer Motives ends. Their past catches up with the Mancusios. There are plenty of twists, players and intrigue as they fight for their family's safety. Well written story lines made this another hard to put down book. 4*
THE HUDSON VALLEY SERIES.

THE UNFORGETTING - Probably one of Ms. Traymore's better written books, although it needs better editing, too much repetition. Interesting. Intriguing. Plenty of distractions. Good characters and story lines. Source: Booksprout. 4*

A LITTLE GETAWAY - Great characters. Some unpredictable kinks. Rare profanity, one F-word, and no spicy sex, yes, they have sex but the reader is not invited, so no boring sex scenes. Cannot put the book down until finished. 5*

THE BLUFF - Interesting with a couple of unexpected twists and a fun ending. Good characters and story lines. 4*

THE GUEST HOUSE - Another entertaining, interesting, and intriguing story filled with good characters and immersing story lines that are believable making the book hard to put down. TGH picks up after The Stepfamily ends. There is a lot of easy to understand technical information about hearing aids devices for the D/deaf population as well as the difficulties with communication faced by the D/deaf. 4*

THE STEPFAMILY - Definitely one of the better books I have read lately. Interesting with good story lines. Every time there appears to be an end, there's more and a different story to add to the mess. Many secrets come to light and not all are favorable. Only thing I did not care for was the nose scratching at the end. The scratcher was smarter than that but that story line needed closing, poorly done. 4*

[Thrillerswineandchill · Rating 3 out of 5]

🚘 M U R D E R M O N D A Y review & book tour 🚘 featuring “The Valet” by Bonnie Traymore!

Johnny Silva is trying to get by in Honolulu where the cost of living is high and salaries are low. Johnny works as a valet at the Grand Royal Hotel and has a shady side hustle with his girlfriend. Their targets are people with big money and a lot of insurance, so he doesn’t feel as bad about what they are pulling off.

However, Johnny gets a BAD feeling about one of his targets and is certain that they may be a serial killer targeting Honolulu. Two of the hotel’s guests wind up dead in similar patterns and somehow Johnny becomes a suspect in their murders. Is there someone out there targeting Johnny and trying to frame him?

Read this if you enjoy:
🏝️ Twisty domestic suspense
🏝️ Books set in Honolulu, Hawaii
🏝️ Serial killer stories
🏝️ Dark humour
🏝️ Unreliable characters
🏝️ Twists & turns

Thank you kindly to @bonnietraymore @thrillerbookloversthepulse and Pathways Publishing for my advanced digital copy and spot on this book tour in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on February 12, 2026!

[Andria Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author that I am aware of. Basically the valet at a resort has a little side business with a girlfriend in robbing people's homes and stealing jewelry from the homes. Then there are some murders and maybe a suspected serial killer in the area. Those victims had connections with the resort where the valet works some have connections to the valet. The valet becomes a suspect in the murders. He decides he has to solve the mystery of who the killer is so that he doesn't go to prison for something he didn't do. There are some twists and turns. Some suspense and a few suspects to look into. I enjoyed the book, it kept me reading it to the end to find out who the actual villain is. It is a solid read and I would be interested in reading more books by the author. Thank you Netgalley and Booksgosocial for the complimentary copy.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Valet” with a flawed hero. Thief. Pot head. Struggling with faithfulness. Did I mention thief? Well, that one is going to get him in trouble. Especially when one of the potential victims may be a serial killer.

All of the characters in this novel are suspect. No one is completely likable. All of them have ulterior motives, it seems.

I loved this novel. It was fun and pretty unique. The only issue I had was that the author repeated themselves a few times with different aspects of the story. A good editor should clean this up in the future. I could honestly see this making a good summer movie one day.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.