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The Secrets Between Us
A Richard and Judy recommendation for the 2012 Summer Book Club, this is a brilliant Gothic novel in the vein of Daphne du Maurier.
A chance encounter: When Sarah meets dark, brooding Alex, she grasps his offer of a new life miles away from her own. They've both recently escaped broken relationships, and need to start again. Why not do it together?
A perfect life: But when Sarah gets to the tiny village of Burrington Stoke, something doesn't add up. Alex's beautiful wife Genevieve was charming, talented, and adored by all who knew her. And apparently, she and Alex had a successful marriage complete with a gorgeous son, Jamie. Why would Genevieve walk out on her perfect life? And why has no one heard from her since she did so?
A web of lies: Genevieve's family and all her friends think that Alex knows more about her disappearance than he's letting on. But Sarah's fallen in love with him and just knows he couldn't have anything to hide. Or could he?
A chance encounter: When Sarah meets dark, brooding Alex, she grasps his offer of a new life miles away from her own. They've both recently escaped broken relationships, and need to start again. Why not do it together?
A perfect life: But when Sarah gets to the tiny village of Burrington Stoke, something doesn't add up. Alex's beautiful wife Genevieve was charming, talented, and adored by all who knew her. And apparently, she and Alex had a successful marriage complete with a gorgeous son, Jamie. Why would Genevieve walk out on her perfect life? And why has no one heard from her since she did so?
A web of lies: Genevieve's family and all her friends think that Alex knows more about her disappearance than he's letting on. But Sarah's fallen in love with him and just knows he couldn't have anything to hide. Or could he?
544 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2011
1259 people are currently reading
3097 people want to read
About the author
Louise Douglas
29 books838 followersHello and thank you for visiting my profile page. I write contemporary Gothic novels which are usually inspired by places close to where I live in the Mendips, close to Bristol in the UK, or by places I've visited, especially Italy and Sicily. The House by the Sea won the Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Award in 2021. The Love of My Life, my first book, was longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award. My second book, Missing You, won the RNA Readers' Choice Award, and my third, The Secrets Between Us was a 2012 Richard and Judy Summer Read.
The next book, The Room in the Attic is due to be published in October 2021 and is a ghost story set in a Victorian asylum-turned-boarding school on Dartmoor.
If you'd like to connect, you'll find me on Facebook Louise Amy Douglas or Twitter: @LouiseDouglas3.
The next book, The Room in the Attic is due to be published in October 2021 and is a ghost story set in a Victorian asylum-turned-boarding school on Dartmoor.
If you'd like to connect, you'll find me on Facebook Louise Amy Douglas or Twitter: @LouiseDouglas3.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
August 30, 2023
From start to finish, author Louise Douglas wowed me with this tense, gripping, atmospheric, and captivating tale of love, loss, and a wife gone missing.
Following a painful breakup and a tragic stillbirth, the book's fragile and vulnerable protagonist vacations with her sister and brother-in-law in Sicily.
In Sicily, she meets a handsome man and his young son.
The protagonist forms an instant connection with the man and his son and agrees to be their housekeeper/nanny in Somerset England.
The protagonist later learns that the boy's idolized beautiful mother has "disappeared" and that the number one suspect is the boy's father, the man she now loves.
Reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier's classic 'Rebecca', this book was unputdownable with a gasp-worthy ending.
I listened to the audiobook read by Jenny Funnell, one of my favorite narrators. Jenny Funnell gave an Academy Award performance.
This book was originally released in 2011 and re-released in audio in 2021.
This was my first Louise Douglas book.
Louise Douglas is a gifted storyteller and I look forward to listening to future titles by this talented author.
5 enthusiastic stars!
April 16, 2015
Ah, the trashy summer book! Also known as a 'beach read'. Don't be fooled by the fact that it's almost 550 pages long, this is as feather-light as fiction gets. The unassuming and unremarkable narrator, Sarah, has recently split from her cheating husband when she meets an enigmatic man, Alexander, on holiday in Sicily. The two are immediately drawn to each other and (in a ludicrously unbelievable turn of events) Alexander asks Sarah if she will move into his run-down English countryside home and act as nanny to his young son, Jamie. Drawn in by her attraction to Alexander and mothering instinct towards Jamie, Sarah accepts. However, when she gets to Alexander's home, Avalon (!), Sarah begins to wonder if she's made a mistake. It turns out that Alexander's beautiful and well-liked wife, Genevieve, has recently disappeared - for no reason, and apparently without a trace. Genevieve's family are hostile towards her, the neighbouring village is full of gossip, and Sarah begins to sense something disturbing in Alexander's behaviour.
This has something in common with a book I read last year, Deborah Lawrenson's The Lantern, in that both are loose, modernised updates of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca - right down to the fact that both actually mention Rebecca within the narrative. I liked The Lantern, but I think I enjoyed The Secrets Between Us more. I didn't have great expectations of this book, but I had LOADS of fun reading it. Parts of it are ridiculous and there are certainly many holes I could pick in the plot, but that's not really the point. It's simply a good juicy read, a rollercoaster of twists and revelations, written and constructed with far more panache than I expected. With its fast-moving mixture of mystery, possible hauntings, romance and suspense, the plot drew me in immediately, held my attention and kept me guessing: I was totally rooting for Sarah and desperate to discover what happened to Genevieve. I totally didn't expect to feel this way about this book, but I absolutely devoured it and am really quite keen to read more by the author. A welcome surprise!
This has something in common with a book I read last year, Deborah Lawrenson's The Lantern, in that both are loose, modernised updates of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca - right down to the fact that both actually mention Rebecca within the narrative. I liked The Lantern, but I think I enjoyed The Secrets Between Us more. I didn't have great expectations of this book, but I had LOADS of fun reading it. Parts of it are ridiculous and there are certainly many holes I could pick in the plot, but that's not really the point. It's simply a good juicy read, a rollercoaster of twists and revelations, written and constructed with far more panache than I expected. With its fast-moving mixture of mystery, possible hauntings, romance and suspense, the plot drew me in immediately, held my attention and kept me guessing: I was totally rooting for Sarah and desperate to discover what happened to Genevieve. I totally didn't expect to feel this way about this book, but I absolutely devoured it and am really quite keen to read more by the author. A welcome surprise!
September 9, 2018
I can not remember how I stumbled upon Louise Douglas, but thank goodness I have. The secrets between us had me gripped from page one to the very end. Sarah meets Alex and his young son Jamie while she is on holiday staying at a hotel in Sicily. They both begin a holiday romance. Alex and Sarah have both had an relationship that had ended. Alex ask Sarah to come and live with him to be his housekeeper for him and look after young Jamie. Sarah is deeply in love with Alex and when Sarah arrives at Alex's house in a tiny village everyone does not accept Sarah. Sarah finds out that Alex's wife has disappeared. Sarah see's visions of Genevieve and strange things happen in the old house. Peaole in the village suspect Alex has something to do with his wife's disapperance. This is a clever ghostly thriller.
February 16, 2022
This book was intriguing and it kept me reading all the way through. It started off slowly and gathered pace until it literally galloped to the end. I agree with many reviewers that it was like Rebecca the wonderful classic which is one of my all time favourites but, there wasn’t so much of the creepy undertones which as this book is set in present day isn’t surprising. I loved this book and would happily read more by this author.
October 9, 2011
WOW! This book had me completely mesmerised and once again not getting much housework done on a Saturday afternoon! This third novel from Louise Douglas was quite simply amazing!
Sarah, has just left her husband, finding out that he was having an affair with her best friend following the traumatic experience of having a stillborn baby. To temporarily escape the hurt and devastation that has rocked her life, she takes a holiday with her sister and husband, and meets handsome Alex, father of 6 year old Jamie who has recently found out that his wife and Jamie's Mom Genevieve has left them. Alex and Sarah have a brief encounter one afternoon, and when Alex offers her the job of housekeeper and looking after Jamie while he works, out in the countryside far away from Manchester where she lives, she jumps at the chance, much to the disappointment of her family who think that she's avoiding her issues. Sarah sees this as a way of getting away from the people who have hurt her, and not having constant reminders of her terribly sad ordeal. What Alex hadn't told her was that his wife was a well known and well loved local celebrity and the villagers and her family who were all upset by her disappearance, think that there is a strong possibility that she has been murdered. Even more so, now that he has moved in what they think is his mistress, he is under suspicion and she does not get a warm welcome.
Sarah feels that Alex is holding such a lot back from her, and as she starts to clean the house and get it back to being a lovely home for them, she comes across many discoveries that have even her doubting the integrity of this man who she is becoming growingly involved with. She also feels a deep and eerie presence of Genevieve in the house, seeing and feeling things that don't feel right. Does she continue to defend Alex, or are the discoveries she keeps coming across just confirmation of what he has done?
What a cracking read this was! It was full of drama, suspense and many breath-holding moments. It was exhilarating and exciting. The descriptions of the locations were so well written that you felt that you were there, and were able to touch, smell and feel the places in the book. The mystery behind the story as it unfolded was incredible, with so many twists and turns along the way. The characters were fabulous, they developed well and were easy to relate to. The book was dark and it was deep and it was SO enjoyable and un-put-downable! I am definitely a massive Louise Douglas fan and can't wait to read her other books.
Sarah, has just left her husband, finding out that he was having an affair with her best friend following the traumatic experience of having a stillborn baby. To temporarily escape the hurt and devastation that has rocked her life, she takes a holiday with her sister and husband, and meets handsome Alex, father of 6 year old Jamie who has recently found out that his wife and Jamie's Mom Genevieve has left them. Alex and Sarah have a brief encounter one afternoon, and when Alex offers her the job of housekeeper and looking after Jamie while he works, out in the countryside far away from Manchester where she lives, she jumps at the chance, much to the disappointment of her family who think that she's avoiding her issues. Sarah sees this as a way of getting away from the people who have hurt her, and not having constant reminders of her terribly sad ordeal. What Alex hadn't told her was that his wife was a well known and well loved local celebrity and the villagers and her family who were all upset by her disappearance, think that there is a strong possibility that she has been murdered. Even more so, now that he has moved in what they think is his mistress, he is under suspicion and she does not get a warm welcome.
Sarah feels that Alex is holding such a lot back from her, and as she starts to clean the house and get it back to being a lovely home for them, she comes across many discoveries that have even her doubting the integrity of this man who she is becoming growingly involved with. She also feels a deep and eerie presence of Genevieve in the house, seeing and feeling things that don't feel right. Does she continue to defend Alex, or are the discoveries she keeps coming across just confirmation of what he has done?
What a cracking read this was! It was full of drama, suspense and many breath-holding moments. It was exhilarating and exciting. The descriptions of the locations were so well written that you felt that you were there, and were able to touch, smell and feel the places in the book. The mystery behind the story as it unfolded was incredible, with so many twists and turns along the way. The characters were fabulous, they developed well and were easy to relate to. The book was dark and it was deep and it was SO enjoyable and un-put-downable! I am definitely a massive Louise Douglas fan and can't wait to read her other books.
September 20, 2011
I was given this book as the second title in the Transworld Reading Challenge.I'm sorry to say I found it rather disappointing.Glancing at the cover (which was how we chose the books we wanted to read for the challenge)I thought it was be dark, gothic and full of suspense.I did not realise that it was just another bogstandard romance novel with a hint of thriller thrown in. This author doesnt seem to be a bad writer all round - I found the book very easy to read - but perhaps she has strayed more than a little out of her depth here by writing a novel that differs from her usual romantic genre. The cover makes grand claims by comparing it to Rebecca and indeed the author herself says many classic Gothic novels were her inspiration.Yet this book holds no suspense whatsoever. It begins with the very ludicrous premise that Sarah the protagonist meets a man on holiday briefly, has sex with him once and then goes to move in with him to look after his child - something that would never happen.Every supposed plot twist and turn you can see coming a mile away and there is absolutely no suspense or page turning factor.The love story contains no passion whatsoever and is again rather implausible as the man has sex with her but never speaks to her and indeed is never present on a day to day basis. The missing wife plot is clearly taken from Jane Eyre without the haunting conclusion and I would defy anyone to not realise where Genevieve is gone.
Sorry Ms Douglas - try to stick to romances...
Sorry Ms Douglas - try to stick to romances...
July 31, 2011
I really enjoyed this one, its much darker than her previous books but an excellent read.
November 5, 2015
A solid plot with veins of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca running through it, I found myself engrossed in this romantic thriller.
While on holiday in Sicily, Sarah meets Alex and his son Jamie. Strangely drawn to them, she accepts an offer from Alex to return with him and help look after Jamie, whose mother has 'gone', leaving Alex struggling to cope. Trying to escape heartache and a failed relationship, Sarah sees it as the perfect opportunity to start afresh. On arriving at Avalon though, Alex's house, Sarah soon discovers that his wife Genevieve hasn't just 'gone', but is missing without trace, leaving a village full of people speculating.
As the plot builds, the suspense thickens. Does Alex, whose relationship with his wife was known to be tempestuous, know more than he is letting on about her disappearance? And who or what is guiding Sarah to discover secrets that have been hidden? Very chilling in parts with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I particularly liked the tension created around Alex's character and the final reveal, as well as the wonderful descriptions of the landscape.
An eerie tale perfect for snuggling up with on a winter's night.
While on holiday in Sicily, Sarah meets Alex and his son Jamie. Strangely drawn to them, she accepts an offer from Alex to return with him and help look after Jamie, whose mother has 'gone', leaving Alex struggling to cope. Trying to escape heartache and a failed relationship, Sarah sees it as the perfect opportunity to start afresh. On arriving at Avalon though, Alex's house, Sarah soon discovers that his wife Genevieve hasn't just 'gone', but is missing without trace, leaving a village full of people speculating.
As the plot builds, the suspense thickens. Does Alex, whose relationship with his wife was known to be tempestuous, know more than he is letting on about her disappearance? And who or what is guiding Sarah to discover secrets that have been hidden? Very chilling in parts with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I particularly liked the tension created around Alex's character and the final reveal, as well as the wonderful descriptions of the landscape.
An eerie tale perfect for snuggling up with on a winter's night.
August 16, 2025
I either really enjoy this author's books or find them a complete dud; there's no halfway house. Unfortunately, this is one of the duds. I'm not a fan of the dark, brooding hunk 'hero' trope and this was wallowing in that. The female protagonist hardly meets the man before she's having sex with him up against a fence and agreeing to be the nanny to his son, following the departure of the mother. She's grieving the stillbirth of her own son, and there is a lot about that in this book which I mention as a content warning for anyone dealing with that issue in real life. Despite having a loving sister and brother-in-law and mum who are all very sensibly pointing out the inadvisability of going off into the boondocks with this character, she proceeds to do just that, finding herself more and more embroiled in his dark background. For his wife, Genevieve, is actually missing and the character then starts to believe she is being haunted by her....
The sex scenes in this border on S/M with the character telling us how turned on she is by her new partner's overwhelming strength in bed which allows him to move her around and position her! Meanwhile, he's borderline abusive in other ways, giving her the silent treatment and not letting her in on key information. Genevieve is a local celebrity, and the character ends up on the receiving end of disapproval and even abuse in the local community, rather than the husband for moving in a mistress while his wife is missing. The book then takes a sideways swerve into becoming an investigation by her and her brother-in-law in the truth behind Genevieve. Apart from the distasteful masochistic aspects, the book is a mess basically. I can't give it more than a 1 star rating which on Goodreads means 'I didn't like it'.
The sex scenes in this border on S/M with the character telling us how turned on she is by her new partner's overwhelming strength in bed which allows him to move her around and position her! Meanwhile, he's borderline abusive in other ways, giving her the silent treatment and not letting her in on key information. Genevieve is a local celebrity, and the character ends up on the receiving end of disapproval and even abuse in the local community, rather than the husband for moving in a mistress while his wife is missing. The book then takes a sideways swerve into becoming an investigation by her and her brother-in-law in the truth behind Genevieve. Apart from the distasteful masochistic aspects, the book is a mess basically. I can't give it more than a 1 star rating which on Goodreads means 'I didn't like it'.
June 18, 2012
A chance encounter: When Sarah meets dark, brooding Alex,she grasps his offer of a new life miles away from her own. They’ve both recently escaped broken relationships, and need to start again. Why not do it together?
A perfect life: But when Sarah gets to the tiny village of Burrington Stoke, something doesn’t add up. Alex’s beautiful wife Genevieve was charming, talented, and adored by all who knew her. And apparently, she and Alex had a successful marriage complete with a gorgeous son, Jamie. Why would Genevieve walk out on her perfect life? And why has no one heard from her since she did so?
A web of lies: Genevieve’s family and all her friends think that Alex knows more about her disappearance than he’s letting on. But Sarah’s fallen in love with him and just knows he couldn’t have anything to hide. Or could he?
I read this book as it was a Richard and Judy choice but I was disappointed. It wasn't a ghost story, it wasn't a crime novel, it fell apart as a suspense novel. There was no depth to the characters and I didn't really like any of them - Sarah was really annoying! Actually, it's barely deserves two stars and to compare it to Rebecca is insulting Daphne du Maurier.
A perfect life: But when Sarah gets to the tiny village of Burrington Stoke, something doesn’t add up. Alex’s beautiful wife Genevieve was charming, talented, and adored by all who knew her. And apparently, she and Alex had a successful marriage complete with a gorgeous son, Jamie. Why would Genevieve walk out on her perfect life? And why has no one heard from her since she did so?
A web of lies: Genevieve’s family and all her friends think that Alex knows more about her disappearance than he’s letting on. But Sarah’s fallen in love with him and just knows he couldn’t have anything to hide. Or could he?
I read this book as it was a Richard and Judy choice but I was disappointed. It wasn't a ghost story, it wasn't a crime novel, it fell apart as a suspense novel. There was no depth to the characters and I didn't really like any of them - Sarah was really annoying! Actually, it's barely deserves two stars and to compare it to Rebecca is insulting Daphne du Maurier.
October 13, 2020
The first person narrative with a flat, childish, possibly a bit on the unintelligent side protagonist was not the best viewpoint. Already skewed by her recent experiences, she made a foolish decision and against all the advice from her sensible family followed her heart. The book is way too long. The climax when answers are provided about the missing person who totally dominates the book till you are sick of her is one thing but then it turns a corner and an hitherto minor character pops out of the woodwork and acts as a sleuth to uncover the truth. It’s just poor plotting. The main character is clearly reeling from her own recent past and therefore an unreliable narrator, but there were times when it felt like it was being written by a fifteen year old with good stamina for ploughing on regardless. I finished it because I wanted to know what happened and to see if I was right about whodunnit, but it was completely flat, uninspiring, absolutely tons and tons of telling, not showing, surely the sign of someone who hasn’t really mastered the craft, and littered with cardboard cutouts trying hard to become characters. It’s a quick read, at least you don’t waste much time with it, but it’s completely unmemorable.
August 7, 2020
2.5 stars
I thought the story was quite intriguing and had all of the elements of an atmospheric thriller, but the writing was just too chit-chatty to rate this any higher. At 500+ pages, it could have done with some serious editing to curb the word count and the nervous, inane chatter inside the narrator's head. It was like sitting next to an anxious British woman who worries incessantly for every minute of a 5-hour flight.
That being said, this would make a fantastic TV mini-series, and would have been a more marketable literary thriller if the editing had been tighter.
I thought the story was quite intriguing and had all of the elements of an atmospheric thriller, but the writing was just too chit-chatty to rate this any higher. At 500+ pages, it could have done with some serious editing to curb the word count and the nervous, inane chatter inside the narrator's head. It was like sitting next to an anxious British woman who worries incessantly for every minute of a 5-hour flight.
That being said, this would make a fantastic TV mini-series, and would have been a more marketable literary thriller if the editing had been tighter.
September 21, 2017
This is a "who done it" with a modern twist. I didn't guess who the culprit was until near the end. Some have compared it to a hint of Daphne du Mauriers Rebecca which I disagree with. Rebecca is a beautiful classic. The female character has an innocence to her which Sahra in this book does not have. In fact I found her very apathetic and the ending the same.
January 26, 2013
This is chick lit lite, an ok story but the characters were a bit flat and the book could have done with some serious editing.
January 19, 2024
Sarah is on holiday in Sicily with her sister and brother-in-law when she meets Alexander and his six-year-old son, Jamie. They keep bumping into each other, which is a nice distraction for Sarah. To busy her mind from everything missing in her life. Her relationship fell apart after their son was stillborn. She hits it off with Alexander and Jamie, and he asks her to stay with them as the housekeeper and help care for Jamie while he works. He needs help at home, and she wants to escape her life. Despite her family’s concerns, she takes the job moving to England.
The first few days seem to go well for Sarah, and she’s settling into the new routine in Avalon. It’s in a village, unlike the city life Sarah is used to. During the day, when Jamie is at school, she decides to tackle the cleaning inside the home. She finds items that must have belonged to Genevieve. She doesn’t know much about her and wonders what happened to her. How could a mother leave her son for so long? On one of their drives around the property, they see Genevieve’s mother and know they have to say hello to keep it from being any more awkward. It was worse than Sarah had anticipated. They are convinced Alex must know more about where Genevieve is. Sarah is unaware of how popular, beautiful, and loved by everyone in the village Genevieve is, and the locals do not like Sarah now that they know she is living with Alexander. When she asks Alex questions about her, he closes down and avoids answering. She doesn’t know that the villagers think he has something to do with Genevieve going missing.
As Sarah cleans the home, she discovers things that make her doubt what Alex has told her. She can’t help but feel like she’s not alone in the home, that the creepy feeling is connected to Genevieve. She feels like something is wrong in the home. The tensions are running high as the local authorities open up an investigation to find Genevieve. Sarah doesn’t know how to trust her mind and feelings.
The characters were fabulous, well-written, easy to like and dislike, and relatable. This is another great read-in-one-day book full of drama and suspense with a few spooky moments. The epilogue was a nice conclusion for the characters. You feel like you are still a part of their journey. This book is a great psychological thriller! I enjoyed the mystery and the spookiness that lurked around each corner.
The first few days seem to go well for Sarah, and she’s settling into the new routine in Avalon. It’s in a village, unlike the city life Sarah is used to. During the day, when Jamie is at school, she decides to tackle the cleaning inside the home. She finds items that must have belonged to Genevieve. She doesn’t know much about her and wonders what happened to her. How could a mother leave her son for so long? On one of their drives around the property, they see Genevieve’s mother and know they have to say hello to keep it from being any more awkward. It was worse than Sarah had anticipated. They are convinced Alex must know more about where Genevieve is. Sarah is unaware of how popular, beautiful, and loved by everyone in the village Genevieve is, and the locals do not like Sarah now that they know she is living with Alexander. When she asks Alex questions about her, he closes down and avoids answering. She doesn’t know that the villagers think he has something to do with Genevieve going missing.
As Sarah cleans the home, she discovers things that make her doubt what Alex has told her. She can’t help but feel like she’s not alone in the home, that the creepy feeling is connected to Genevieve. She feels like something is wrong in the home. The tensions are running high as the local authorities open up an investigation to find Genevieve. Sarah doesn’t know how to trust her mind and feelings.
The characters were fabulous, well-written, easy to like and dislike, and relatable. This is another great read-in-one-day book full of drama and suspense with a few spooky moments. The epilogue was a nice conclusion for the characters. You feel like you are still a part of their journey. This book is a great psychological thriller! I enjoyed the mystery and the spookiness that lurked around each corner.
February 1, 2018
In 'The Secrets Between Us', Sarah is reeling from a bad break-up during a vacation when she meets a handsome and mysterious man named Alex. Their passionate affair leads to Sarah agreeing to move in with Alex and his soon-to-be seven-year-old son Jamie. Working as their housekeeper while keeping their relationship a secret, she's over the moon until she finds out that Alex's gorgeous wife, Genevieve is missing. What has happened to her? More importantly, why is he being so tight-lipped about her?
Slow-paced and descriptive, this story had a harmonious balance of relaxing and sentimental moments as well as a (somewhat) suspenseful mystery. It was rich in details regarding the scenic countryside and the large home known as Avalon in which Sarah resided in. As a result, it was easy to visualize the setting and embrace the sense of tranquility and security. Avalon had a certain character and charm of its own, hence having a strong presence throughout the book. It was the one place filled with many memories of Genevieve.
The mystery aspect was drawn out perhaps a little too long but it was initially intriguing as there were several possibilities to consider. Alex frequently got angry or upset whenever Genevieve was brought up (usually by Sarah) and believed that she was never coming back. He showed zero interest in trying to locate her whereabouts despite claiming to love Jamie who understandably missed his mother. As such, it was a question of whether Alex had been involved in her disappearance. Unfortunately, the cops (DI Twyford's pathetic attempt at mind games was embarrassing) were too incompetent and useless for my liking.
Meanwhile, there were other suspects namely Genevieve's creepy half-brother Damian and the brother of her dead (former) boyfriend. Sarah gradually began doubting Alex in addition to hearing strange female voices, seeing visions of a woman in distress and getting calls with no voice on the other end. Carrying out daily household chores was a lot scarier - not just because the house was desperately in need of cleaning and decluttering - especially when she stumbled upon certain items..
Somewhere in the last one-third of the book, the entire story fell apart for a number of reasons. Besides being easy to figure out, the answer to the mystery was simply underwhelming and left some plotholes wide open. Looking back on a couple of obvious red herrings, those made no sense whatsoever. For instance, why would Since that character turned out to be innocent, reactions were ridiculously illogical. Logic was thrown out the window simply to imply guilt and mislead the reader. That's called bad writing.
Another major flaw that I couldn't overlook was Alex and Sarah as a couple. They were supposed to be in love and have fantastic chemistry but neither was convincing at any point in the story. They had huge communication problems namely Alex refusing to open up to her and Sarah being too stupid to leave him while she still could. The only thing they had in common was their boringness. Apart from that, Sarah's love and concern for Jamie was unbelievable considering how little they bonded. Like the romance, it felt contrived.
Overall, 'The Secrets Between Us' tried to be more than what it should have been (a light mystery-cum-romance book) thus becoming a mildly enjoyable story with an unconvincing relationship and thrill-free mystery. That aside, it's the perfect choice for a quick, breezy read.
Slow-paced and descriptive, this story had a harmonious balance of relaxing and sentimental moments as well as a (somewhat) suspenseful mystery. It was rich in details regarding the scenic countryside and the large home known as Avalon in which Sarah resided in. As a result, it was easy to visualize the setting and embrace the sense of tranquility and security. Avalon had a certain character and charm of its own, hence having a strong presence throughout the book. It was the one place filled with many memories of Genevieve.
The mystery aspect was drawn out perhaps a little too long but it was initially intriguing as there were several possibilities to consider. Alex frequently got angry or upset whenever Genevieve was brought up (usually by Sarah) and believed that she was never coming back. He showed zero interest in trying to locate her whereabouts despite claiming to love Jamie who understandably missed his mother. As such, it was a question of whether Alex had been involved in her disappearance. Unfortunately, the cops (DI Twyford's pathetic attempt at mind games was embarrassing) were too incompetent and useless for my liking.
Meanwhile, there were other suspects namely Genevieve's creepy half-brother Damian and the brother of her dead (former) boyfriend. Sarah gradually began doubting Alex in addition to hearing strange female voices, seeing visions of a woman in distress and getting calls with no voice on the other end. Carrying out daily household chores was a lot scarier - not just because the house was desperately in need of cleaning and decluttering - especially when she stumbled upon certain items..
Somewhere in the last one-third of the book, the entire story fell apart for a number of reasons. Besides being easy to figure out, the answer to the mystery was simply underwhelming and left some plotholes wide open. Looking back on a couple of obvious red herrings, those made no sense whatsoever. For instance, why would Since that character turned out to be innocent, reactions were ridiculously illogical. Logic was thrown out the window simply to imply guilt and mislead the reader. That's called bad writing.
Another major flaw that I couldn't overlook was Alex and Sarah as a couple. They were supposed to be in love and have fantastic chemistry but neither was convincing at any point in the story. They had huge communication problems namely Alex refusing to open up to her and Sarah being too stupid to leave him while she still could. The only thing they had in common was their boringness. Apart from that, Sarah's love and concern for Jamie was unbelievable considering how little they bonded. Like the romance, it felt contrived.
Overall, 'The Secrets Between Us' tried to be more than what it should have been (a light mystery-cum-romance book) thus becoming a mildly enjoyable story with an unconvincing relationship and thrill-free mystery. That aside, it's the perfect choice for a quick, breezy read.
February 3, 2016
Sarah has suffered a devastating double blow in her personal life, and has temporarily escaped from her painful loss to Sicily with her sister May and her sister’s husband Neil. There she meets handsome Alexander and his young son Jamie one day by the hotel pool, then on two more occasions, and suddenly Sarah is falling deep into something that will change her life. She leaves everything she knows behind, her life in Manchester, her friends and family, and moves to live in Somerset with Alexander and Jamie as a nanny and housekeeper. A new start, where no one knows her. But this is no straightforward new life leading to romance; this is not what she thought it would be like. Instead, Sarah finds herself right at the centre of a family torn apart by anxiety at the mysterious absence of beautiful, talented Genevieve, Jamie’s mother and Alexander’s wife.
Rich in description of the setting and surroundings, and with a mysterious air throughout, this is such a compulsive novel, with very short chapters of the kind that make you think ‘oh just one more before I put it down!’ Though the original premise was surprising to me, that Sarah would just up and leave her supportive family having met this man so briefly, when she was in an unsettled emotional state, I did get drawn into the storyline and intrigued as to the outcome. I did marvel at how much Sarah trusted Alexander despite him seemingly sharing so little of his past with her. This adds to the intrigue of the storyline. The pace really picked up in the second half of the book as the investigation intensified and the author built towards an exciting ending.
At the end of the book, the author mentions in her notes that she was influenced by some themes from the classic gothic novels she loves, such as ‘Rebecca’, and certainly I noticed echoes of ‘Wuthering Heights’ with the eerie tapping at the window of the trees during a storm at Avalon, the house Sarah inhabits with Alexander and Jamie, and the mysterious supernatural hints at a presence within the house calling to Sarah. She also captures the sense of isolation Sarah feels, at being in a small village where there is a tight community and she is the unwelcome outsider who people are suspicious of. The old houses, abandoned barns, the old disused quarry, all add to the atmospheric portrayal of this place.
I read and reviewed this novel as part of the Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge. Thank you to them for providing the novel and for the opportunity to be part of this. The book was provided free and my review is my own honest opinion.
Rich in description of the setting and surroundings, and with a mysterious air throughout, this is such a compulsive novel, with very short chapters of the kind that make you think ‘oh just one more before I put it down!’ Though the original premise was surprising to me, that Sarah would just up and leave her supportive family having met this man so briefly, when she was in an unsettled emotional state, I did get drawn into the storyline and intrigued as to the outcome. I did marvel at how much Sarah trusted Alexander despite him seemingly sharing so little of his past with her. This adds to the intrigue of the storyline. The pace really picked up in the second half of the book as the investigation intensified and the author built towards an exciting ending.
At the end of the book, the author mentions in her notes that she was influenced by some themes from the classic gothic novels she loves, such as ‘Rebecca’, and certainly I noticed echoes of ‘Wuthering Heights’ with the eerie tapping at the window of the trees during a storm at Avalon, the house Sarah inhabits with Alexander and Jamie, and the mysterious supernatural hints at a presence within the house calling to Sarah. She also captures the sense of isolation Sarah feels, at being in a small village where there is a tight community and she is the unwelcome outsider who people are suspicious of. The old houses, abandoned barns, the old disused quarry, all add to the atmospheric portrayal of this place.
I read and reviewed this novel as part of the Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge. Thank you to them for providing the novel and for the opportunity to be part of this. The book was provided free and my review is my own honest opinion.
September 4, 2011
I was overjoyed to receive this book to review as part of the Transworld book group reading challenge, as I loved the authors previous book The Love of My Life
This one didn't disappoint even though its quite different to the other one by her I've read, although both are undeniably romantic "The secrets between us" is more of a psychological thriller with a little shiver of spookiness.
Sarah heads off to Sicily to lick her wounds after her partners infidelity brings a long term relationship to a bitter end whilst she is still grieving over the death of her baby through a painful stillbirth.
Recent events having left her vulnerable and uncertain about her future, it seems like a dream come true to be almost swept off her feet by debonair Alexander and his adorable little boy Jamie. They seem to be in a similar situation, Alex's wife Genevieve having recently left them and in the balmy Sicilian sun it doesn't seem unreasonable to Sarah to be asked to move in with hunky Alex, albeit as his housekeeper.
Friends and family think she's crazy to accept and soon Sarah begins to wonder whether they might be right, things in the rambling old house in a rural village are far from what this city girl is used to and not quite as she hoped. There is an air of brooding menace which languidly taunts the reader and makes this a real page turner.
Sensationally well written although it seems to proceed at a gentle pace, each twist and turn are unexpected and the menace builds to a great ending.
Louise Douglas is definitely a name to watch out for and I think would be enjoyed by lovers of authors such as Diane Chamberlain and Rosamund Lupton
This one didn't disappoint even though its quite different to the other one by her I've read, although both are undeniably romantic "The secrets between us" is more of a psychological thriller with a little shiver of spookiness.
Sarah heads off to Sicily to lick her wounds after her partners infidelity brings a long term relationship to a bitter end whilst she is still grieving over the death of her baby through a painful stillbirth.
Recent events having left her vulnerable and uncertain about her future, it seems like a dream come true to be almost swept off her feet by debonair Alexander and his adorable little boy Jamie. They seem to be in a similar situation, Alex's wife Genevieve having recently left them and in the balmy Sicilian sun it doesn't seem unreasonable to Sarah to be asked to move in with hunky Alex, albeit as his housekeeper.
Friends and family think she's crazy to accept and soon Sarah begins to wonder whether they might be right, things in the rambling old house in a rural village are far from what this city girl is used to and not quite as she hoped. There is an air of brooding menace which languidly taunts the reader and makes this a real page turner.
Sensationally well written although it seems to proceed at a gentle pace, each twist and turn are unexpected and the menace builds to a great ending.
Louise Douglas is definitely a name to watch out for and I think would be enjoyed by lovers of authors such as Diane Chamberlain and Rosamund Lupton
June 27, 2020
Fun Story - Dodgy Plot
An interesting and sometimes gripping story however the plot itself is completely full of holes. Lots of unanswered questions and some very dodgy character development. In terms of “who done it” I’d worked that out about halfway through the book as there simply was no other character actually in the book who fitted the description of the person they were looking for. I was also confused as to how a couple of the main characters were able to find out information on the other main character - Simply by looking online and this appeared to be information that the police were not aware of. Overall I enjoyed the book but it shortcomings made me feel just annoyed.
An interesting and sometimes gripping story however the plot itself is completely full of holes. Lots of unanswered questions and some very dodgy character development. In terms of “who done it” I’d worked that out about halfway through the book as there simply was no other character actually in the book who fitted the description of the person they were looking for. I was also confused as to how a couple of the main characters were able to find out information on the other main character - Simply by looking online and this appeared to be information that the police were not aware of. Overall I enjoyed the book but it shortcomings made me feel just annoyed.
January 9, 2021
This is a dark, twenty first century, romantic mystery. There is a lot of history in this mix of Charlotte Bronte and Daphne du Maurier . The author's writing mechanics were good, except for the many, many throw away passages. The throw always bothered me at first, but they had a use.
The main character, Sarah, falls in love with a man whose wife has gone missing. Where is this wife named Genevieve? Everything points to Alex, her husband, as being complicit in her disappearance. Sarah follows the voices from the dead to solve the mystery and gain a ready made family. The plot is a bit too melodramatic, but sometimes melodrama is so much better than reality.
Thank you, Ms. Douglas, for a good read.
The main character, Sarah, falls in love with a man whose wife has gone missing. Where is this wife named Genevieve? Everything points to Alex, her husband, as being complicit in her disappearance. Sarah follows the voices from the dead to solve the mystery and gain a ready made family. The plot is a bit too melodramatic, but sometimes melodrama is so much better than reality.
Thank you, Ms. Douglas, for a good read.
December 17, 2022
2 stars--it was OK. A shallow retelling of Rebecca, complete with a scene. The narrator is passive and melodramatic, and without DuMaurier's writing and moral complexity, everything feels really superficial. Still, I was entertained.
March 16, 2013
This was going to be a three star rating BUT the ending was totally unexpected and so I took it to four stars.
I think it could have been less than 550 pages as it went on a bit too long. I don't think I really got to like Sarah until the final quarter of the book - until then she was a bit weak
I think it could have been less than 550 pages as it went on a bit too long. I don't think I really got to like Sarah until the final quarter of the book - until then she was a bit weak
September 18, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up. Man, has Louise Douglas grown as an author since this was published in 2011. I really liked the others I’ve read. A lot. This came very close to a DNF for me. The MC was weak and wishy-washy. Alex was nothing special. At least he wasn’t a neurosurgeon. I chose this one because it was a Richard & Judy pick and I’m so glad I didn’t read this one first, or I’d have missed out on the other splendid novels she’s written—in the 21st century.
January 29, 2025
This is the second book by Louise Douglas that I've read, and while I liked The Room in the Attic better, I'm glad I read this book. I thought it was fun, suspenseful, and kept me turning the pages until the end. I do believe it was longer than needed, as it became a a bit redundant toward the final third of the book. Alex kept brooding and Sarah kept making bad decisions. But overall, I appreciated this book for its ability to keep me guessing and to hold my interest, even during the slow part. I thought the ending was satisfying and wrapped up the loose ends nicely. I'm glad I stumbled across Louise Douglas. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. I listened to much of this book on Audible, and the narration was also good.
April 17, 2021
The book was a page turner. The main character came across as very naive which, for me, detracted from the credibility of the plot
March 21, 2024
Unusual read for me but enjoyed it
November 8, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and did not find it too predictable. My only criticism was that the whole story felt like it was wrapped up over the last few pages, leaving me questions about some of the characters and their storylines. Having said this, I couldn’t put the book down over these last two weeks. Will be reading more from this author.
September 28, 2011
The story starts in Italy when Sarah first meets Alex and his young son, Jamie, on holiday. Sarah is the narrator throughout and she is recovering from the trauma of recently losing her new born baby and then discovering her partner's infidelity, so she is quite vulnerable and that's probably why she jumps at the chance of a fresh start when Alex asks her to come and live with him and help to look after Jamie.
Her family and friends all thinks she's mad and she also has doubts as she thinks "what if Alexander was a conman, or worse? Even if he had not actively abused his wife, she had her reasons for leaving him - and to leave the child, too, he must have done something awful. He may be one of those Jekyll and Hyde characters, a charmer on the surface and an insecure and possessive control-freak on the inside."
Louise Douglas puts this seed of doubt in Sarah's head and this sets the tone for the rest of the book and, because we only know what Sarah is thinking, we don't actually know what everyone else is really thinking. I thought this worked really well as I was never sure who to trust and I kept changing my mind as I wondered what could have happened to Genevieve. Also the fact that Alex didn't talk very much about his feelings and his past life all added to the suspense.
Sarah's imagination starts to play tricks on her as she is all alone in the old creaky house in the middle of nowhere - did she really see Genevieve in the mirror and what are those scratching sounds in the wall?
I was completely engrossed in this story as Sarah tries to make sense of her new life and surroundings and the people around her, with the shadow of Genevieve always in the background.
Although this isn't an original plot .... it has been compared to the classic story of Rebecca which I haven't yet read .... I thoroughly enjoyed it as the tension gripped me until the end.
From Carole's Book Corner
Her family and friends all thinks she's mad and she also has doubts as she thinks "what if Alexander was a conman, or worse? Even if he had not actively abused his wife, she had her reasons for leaving him - and to leave the child, too, he must have done something awful. He may be one of those Jekyll and Hyde characters, a charmer on the surface and an insecure and possessive control-freak on the inside."
Louise Douglas puts this seed of doubt in Sarah's head and this sets the tone for the rest of the book and, because we only know what Sarah is thinking, we don't actually know what everyone else is really thinking. I thought this worked really well as I was never sure who to trust and I kept changing my mind as I wondered what could have happened to Genevieve. Also the fact that Alex didn't talk very much about his feelings and his past life all added to the suspense.
Sarah's imagination starts to play tricks on her as she is all alone in the old creaky house in the middle of nowhere - did she really see Genevieve in the mirror and what are those scratching sounds in the wall?
I was completely engrossed in this story as Sarah tries to make sense of her new life and surroundings and the people around her, with the shadow of Genevieve always in the background.
Although this isn't an original plot .... it has been compared to the classic story of Rebecca which I haven't yet read .... I thoroughly enjoyed it as the tension gripped me until the end.
From Carole's Book Corner
June 27, 2018
After the first few slow chapters this book kept me reading, which is saying something as I generally have a low boredom threshold. However there were several things I struggled with. The style, on occasion, feels very pedantic. One whole chapter is taken up with the heroine sunbathing, showering after sunbathing, and then putting on sun cream. Minute and unimportant details are given in a laundry list format, and it almost kept me from reading more. Once the heroine left Sicily, however, the pace picked up and I became more interested, but overall the character development was minimal. We hear about how Sara bonds with six year old Jamie but we don't see it. We're simply told, two-thirds of the way into the book, that they've been spending a lot of time together and get along really well. Most of Jamie's portrayal in the book makes him seem really annoying, not adorable. As for the main male character, Alexander--I appreciate he is meant to have an aura of mystery, like Max de Winter in Rebecca, but I don't really believe in the relationship between him and Sara. And does Sara grow, mature, develop? Not really. I think we're meant to believe she's going insane and at one point I thought the book was going to have a super twist at the end ****SPOILER, of sorts**** and SHE would end up being the villain. Alas, that didn't happen. All in all, it kept me occupied and broke my reading dry spell, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
July 21, 2011
Sarah has escaped on holiday to Sicily to recuperate following a traumatic event, and whilst there she meets the enigmatic Alexander, and his young son Jamie. Against the better judgement of her family, Sarah follows Alexander to his home in a small Somerset village, and becomes his lover, his housekeeper, and nanny to Jamie. This idyll, however, is marred by the continuing mystery of the disappearance of Alexander’s beautiful wife, Genevieve.
Reminiscent of the Gothic splendour of a modern day Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, I thought that this was a really accomplished novel. Louise Douglas certainly knows how to write a good story and involves the reader in an imaginative and consuming way. The plot is twisted and convoluted right to the very end, and yet is beautifully atmospheric, with some genuinely creepy moments. The characterisation is subtle, and yet all consuming as we begin genuinely to care for Alexander who is flawed and vulnerable, Jamie who is damaged and precocious, and Sarah, who whilst fighting her own demons, must try and keep this family together.
The Secrets between Us is a haunting and passionate love story, which will entertain and keep you guessing from the opening page. There is enough plot complexity to appeal to book groups, and as such would promote lively discussion.
Reminiscent of the Gothic splendour of a modern day Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, I thought that this was a really accomplished novel. Louise Douglas certainly knows how to write a good story and involves the reader in an imaginative and consuming way. The plot is twisted and convoluted right to the very end, and yet is beautifully atmospheric, with some genuinely creepy moments. The characterisation is subtle, and yet all consuming as we begin genuinely to care for Alexander who is flawed and vulnerable, Jamie who is damaged and precocious, and Sarah, who whilst fighting her own demons, must try and keep this family together.
The Secrets between Us is a haunting and passionate love story, which will entertain and keep you guessing from the opening page. There is enough plot complexity to appeal to book groups, and as such would promote lively discussion.
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