Her Best Friend's Secret

by Deirdre Palmer

On the hottest day of the summer, we wait for Molly on the riverbank, desperate to slip into the cool water. But as the sun starts to fade, it’s clear she isn’t coming. We’ll never see our friend again…

Years later, after an unexpected inheritance, Briony returns to her godmother’s grand countryside home where she spent her teenage years. Despite its idyllic appearance, the old stone house carries memories Briony would rather forget. To escape the controlling behaviour of her godmother’s son, Jeremy, Briony spent every possible moment with her best friends, Molly and Samantha, until the day Molly vanished without a trace.

Briony is certain Molly was keeping a secret in those final days. Why else was she acting so strangely? And why did Briony constantly feel like they were being watched? When Briony discovers Molly’s decades-old bathing suit in a locked part of the house, she begins to piece together what happened to her friend. But, as more skeletons come to light, is Briony ready to uncover the truth after so many years?

An atmospheric and utterly gripping thriller about uncovering dark secrets and coming to terms with the past, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Shari Lapena and Susan Lewis.

Genres: Mystery

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2024

About the author

Deirdre writes women’s fiction, with strong themes of family, friendship and love, and the challenges ordinary people face in their everyday lives. She also writes under the name Zara Thorne. Her novels are published by Crooked Cat and Fabrian Books.

Deirdre also writes short stories and is published by D C Thomson for The People’s Friend magazine.

Find out more about Deirdre and her writing here:
http://deirdrepalmer.com/
https://www.facebook.com/deirdre.palm...
https://twitter.com/DLPalmer_Writer
https://uk.pinterest.com/deirdrepalmer2/

Reviews

[Andy Krahling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't badly written, it was just slow. Slow to develop the story, slow for anything to develop. The dual timelines were moderately interesting, but could have added more drama to the story.

This just was a little bland, and sometimes people enjoy bland.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

[Priscilla]

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Her Best Friend’s Secret by Deirdre Palmer due to be published April 23, 2024.
Briony had been left an inheritance from her godmother, Alice – the house, Summerdene, in which she was raised with Alice’s son, Jeremy. Briony spent her childhood with her best friends Molly and Samantha, until Molly vanished. Now she has returned to her childhood home to turn it into a bed and breakfast along with the help of her daughter, Faye. She discovers an old swimsuit of Molly’s in one of the rooms. Why would it be there, and what happened to Molly when she disappeared?
Her Best Friend’s Secret alternates between the current time of the B & B and when Briony was younger and Molly went missing. Lots of secrets are revealed and some interesting people come out of the woodwork to integrate into the Briony’s life – some good and some not.
This was a new-to-me author – I will definitely look into reading more of her books!
#NetGalley #DeirdrePalmer #StormPublishing #HerBestFriendsSecret

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the possibility of being a really interesting and engaging story. It is told in alternating timelines, following three best friends. Then one summer day, Molly goes missing. The "twist" was not shocking- there were so many hints and clues in the beginning. I also felt the interactions between the main characters was not very deep. We were told that they were best friends, but I didn't feel a deep connection between them, and so the plot seemed a little shallow. I liked the timeline from the past better, and wished we could have seen more about the girls.
I did finish the story, and feel that with a little tightening up it would be really good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Deirdre Palmer for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more of a domestic drama than a thriller and it was honestly pretty predictable. The story centers on Briony, who spends her high school years living with her godmother in a rural village where she makes 2 close friends, Samantha and Molly, and has to deal with her godmother’s son’s mildly threatening presence. Fast forward to 36 years later where she has inherited the house from her godmother and is now back in town when secrets from her childhood become exposed.

While I enjoy stories told in dual timelines, I thought the part from when Briony was a teenager did not accurately portray this supposed close friendship between the girls. Their conversations seemed stilted, they seemed to go long periods of time without talking, and neither Briony or Samantha seemed to try that hard to figure out what happened to Molly. I just didn’t buy the friendship at all. I thought the later timeline seemed more realistic, but the problem was that I figured out what was going on early and then I was frustrated with Briony for being so slow on the uptake. I also thought the book could have moved at a faster clip by leaving out so many repetitive details (lots of making coffee, etc.); I wasn’t exactly bored in reading it but it did feel like it was long. I thought the ending tied up the loose ends nicely, but again, there were just no surprises.

Overall, this was an ok read but was really very predictable. Also, if you are anything like me, you’ll have the song “Ob-La-di” in your head the whole time because Molly last name is Jones :) Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[ReneeReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story told in alternating timelines and follows three best friends until one day, Molly goes missing. I will say that the "twist" was not shocking at all to me and I guessed it early on but that could have just been a good guess. I definitely liked the timeline from the 80's better than the present day timeline narrative. I liked the story but overall was a little underwhelmed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Deirdre Palmer for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[TheLisaD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this really lingers as to what is going on and what happened in the past, generally I’m not one for that but I felt it was really needed in this book. Also always go with your instincts that is really the big message here.

[Heather Creeden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slow mystery and at first I forgot that it was though once things started to pick up and the story really took off it was really good. I liked how the years and people were placed in their own chapters that really helped while going through the past and present.

[Alwaysreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this copy in return for my honest review.

It was a good thriller with twists and turns. The twist didn’t shock me as much as I expected it to! But overall a good book.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not care for this book. It wasn’t twisty or entertaining and the plot twist was meh and underwhelming. It was really slow and could have been a lot shorter. I liked the premise but it just fell flat for me.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

As I read this book, I kept thinking, "Surely, something is going to happen."

But it never did. Even the supposed climax of the book is a wet noodle.

I hate to give bad reviews because I know how hard authors work, but this story completely perplexes me. What was the point of any of it? It was so tedious that I finally switched to the audiobook on 2x speed just to get through it.

[Hazel Friday · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very good

First off I have never cared for stories that keep hopping from one time to another, it breaks the flow of the story. I also did not like the main character too wishy washy, and just plain annoying

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Her Best Friend’s Secret
Author: Deirdre Palmer
Publisher: Stone Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date- April 23, 2024
My Rating: 3.5
Pages: 354

This story told in alternating timelines 1986 and 2022 from the POV of several characters –Briony being the primary character

1986 Then: Briony lived with her Godmother, Alice, when she was a teenager.
Alice's son, Jeremy was twenty-one and a creep. He would stalk Briony and her friends-Samantha and Molly.

One hot summer day Briony and Samantha are impatiently waiting for Molly so that they can all go swimming. After a long wait, the sun began to go down, and Molly still hadn’t arrived. As the sun started to fade, it was clear Molly wasn’t coming and Briony and Samantha are fearful something bad happened.

2020 Now: Briony had inherited her Godmother’s home Summerdene, as Jeremy died.
Briony decided to convert it into a B & B, with her daughter Faye.
Briony discovers that Molly had been in the house; which made me more convinced that Jeremy had something to do with Molly’s disappearance.

Story continues with additional characters.

Story kept me curious. I read a lot of thrillers and love to try to figure them out- I know to be open with my suspicions. Although this was not a thriller it was a surprise to me as to what happened to Molly. It indeed was my best friend’s secret.

I enjoyed reading Deirdre Palmer’s ‘A Letter from the Author’.
Love how the characters take on a life of their own (I have read similar things from other authors.) She tells us that Briony, a divorcee needed to recharge and was fully-formed to her as was Jeremy. She also visualized the old Cotswold house with the abandoned doctor’s surgery (in US terms Doctor’s Office). She wasn’t sure how she was going to bring it into the story but she did and it was a surprise and completely made sense to me.

This was my first Deirdre Palmer and I look forward to reading another.

Want to thank NetGalley, Storm Publishing and D. Palmer for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 23, 2024.

[Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows a specific theme that I really love reading and that is a character returning to their childhood home (usually a beautiful home in a rural/small town setting) to explore secrets and mysteries from their past. I do think this book did that very well.

The alternating timeline, shown through the flashbacks, really helped me to understand the character of Briony. I especially loved how the author portrayed the intensity of teenage friendships and the drama of being a teenager in general. This is a more slow paced book but I found that the flashbacks enriched my understanding rather than slowing the story down.

I also really enjoyed the exploration of parent/child relationships and how the early experiences of the characters impacted the people they became. I really felt for Briony with her concern for Faye and her frequent struggle of wanting to protect her but not suffocate her and ultimately push her away.

I will say I was initially underwhelmed because I guessed the “twist” 25% into the book. However, some answers to the mystery are then revealed to the reader early on so I stopped viewing it as a twist that was meant to be shocking. I did then eventually ending up enjoying the fact that we as readers knew the answers before the characters as this meant I could focus on the characters catching up and coming to realisations instead of trying to guess the twist myself.

I think if you go into this book expecting a Mystery/Thriller you could be disappointed so in my opinion it could be marketed more as a Contemporary with elements of mystery.

Overall a very enjoyable book that I raced through in 2 days and would definitely pick up something else by this author!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review🌿

[Eadie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the hottest day of the summer, we wait for Molly on the riverbank, desperate to slip into the cool water. But as the sun starts to fade, it’s clear she isn’t coming. We’ll never see our friend again…
Years later, after an unexpected inheritance, Briony returns to her godmother’s grand countryside home where she spent her teenage years. Despite its idyllic appearance, the old stone house carries memories Briony would rather forget. To escape the controlling behaviour of her godmother’s son, Jeremy, Briony spent every possible moment with her best friends, Molly and Samantha, until the day Molly vanished without a trace.
Briony is certain Molly was keeping a secret in those final days. Why else was she acting so strangely? And why did Briony constantly feel like they were being watched? When Briony discovers Molly’s decades-old bathing suit in a locked part of the house, she begins to piece together what happened to her friend. But, as more skeletons come to light, is Briony ready to uncover the truth after so many years?
This is a slow-paced mystery that kept me curious and guessing from the start to the surprising ending. It is told in alternating timelines from the 1980's and present time. The characters are well-developed with an interesting plot. A good thriller with twists and turns and POV of several characters, mainly Briony. This was a very enjoyable book with a return to the past and how the events impacted the people they became. Briony, in the past, lived with her godmother, Alice, and her son, Jeremy. Briony has now inherited Summerdine and all of its secrets. While waiting for Molly to go swimming, Samantha and Briny realize that Molly goes missing. They figure that Jeremy must have something to do with Molly's missing. If you like secrets then you will love this book.

[Sandra M. Dethlefsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a hot summer day, and Briony and Samantha waited impatiently for Molly as they sat on the riverbank preparing for their heat-relieving swim. After a long wait, the sun began to go down, and Molly still hadn’t arrived. As the sun started to fade, it was clear she wasn’t coming. It wasn’t like her, and they feared something had happened to her.
Briony lived with her godmother in a magnificent country home under challenging circumstances. Her godmother’s son had been controlling and abusive towards her making her life miserable. She looked forward to her time with her friends to escape it all. Now Molly was missing.
Years later, Briony learns that she has inherited her godmother’s home and she and her grown daughter return to live there. She tries to enjoy the quiet of the beautiful surroundings, but the home has very difficult memories. She missed Molly. She was never able to find out what happened to her. Her family had mysteriously moved from the town, and they were sure something bad had happened to her.
When Briony goes through her inherited house, she discovers evidence of Molly's presence there. Gradually, as more skeletons come to light, Briony not only learns of the horrors that once surrounded the house but she learns the terrible secrets surrounding Molly’s disappearance.
This mind-blowing thriller will keep you going from page one to the end, with an ending that will blow you away. It's a stunning must-read!

[Maryann Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Best Friend's Secret by Deidre Palmer is a suspenseful and very satisfying novel. Briony Harrington's Mother died when she very young, her Father was a businessman who was not prepared to raise a child on his own. Therefore Briony lived with her Godmother, Alice Church and her only child Jeremy, in Alice's home Summerdene in the quiet village of Mistlecombe. Briony had a relatively happy childhood, spending a great amount of time with her two best friends Samantha and Molly. Briony knew that Alice loved her, although she was not an overtly emotional woman; she seemed to prefer to keep her personal life private. Jeremy was definitely a thorn in the side of Briony and her friends especially as they matured. Brionly went to college, became a teacher and sadly didn't really keep in touch much with Alice over the years. She was completely surprised when she received a call from an attorney notifying her that Alice had died, and willed Briony her home, her personal effects and her money. Jeremy had died a year prior to Alice from a brain tumor. That background sets the tone for a story filled with suspense, realistic characters and a very engaging storyline, Her Best Friend's Secret is a most satisfying read. Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Deidre Palmer for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for my voluntary and honest review. 3.5 Stars.

[Kristin Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.


Her Best Friend's Secret takes place in the UK in both the late 80s and 2022. It toggles back and forth through time from the point of view of the FMC, Briony. The 80s' portions cover her life as a sixteen year old living in her godmother Alice's home, with her and her detestable son, Jeremy. During that time, Briony had two best friends, and one day, one of them seems to disappear. When reading the synopsis, I though that disappearance was going to be nefarious, but when reading the actual story, it quickly becomes evident that that is not the case at all. During the 2022 portions, Briony has been given Alice's home in her will, and her daughter has convinced her to open a Bed and Breakfast there. There really isn't much action in this novel, and it moves along quite slowly. (As an American, a lot of the slang and terminology in this book didn't make much sense to me, as they aren't used here. Even words we have in common do not mean the same things in this text as they do in the US. Just something to keep in mind if you're not a reader in the UK.) The main thing I wanted but didn't get was I really wish the author would have given me a bit more mystery and suspense throughout.

[Charlotte Le Brecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Storm Publishing, NetGalley and of course D. Palmer for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is the first book I’ve read by Deirdre Plamer and I really enjoyed her writing style and the way it goes back and forth between the two timelines. Her characters are fell formed and the book does keep you keen to find out what is going to happen next. I found myself many times throughout the book asking our heroine Briony why she hadn’t figured it out yet because I had by chapter three. I did become a little exasperated by her not seeing what was right in front of her. I would like to read more from Deirdre and see what she has for us next.

This is a story about childhood friendships but also the pressure and standards we put on ourselves growing up to be like everyone else. It’s about looking back at what felt so huge when we were young but so insignificant now. It’s about secrets and choices that were made as children and the effect it had on others. It’s about finding love in unexpected places and things being too good to me true. It reminds us of what it’s like to be on the cusp of adulthood and how important those years are. Beautifully written,

[Manju Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

#HerBestFriendsSecret #NetGalley
On the hottest day of the summer, we wait for Molly on the riverbank, desperate to slip into the cool water. But as the sun starts to fade, it’s clear she isn’t coming. We’ll never see our friend again… Years later, after an unexpected inheritance, Briony returns to her godmother’s grand countryside home where she spent her teenage years. Despite its idyllic appearance, the old stone house carries memories Briony would rather forget. To escape the controlling behaviour of her godmother’s son, Jeremy, Briony spent every possible moment with her best friends, Molly and Samantha, until the day Molly vanished without a trace. Briony is certain Molly was keeping a secret in those final days. Why else was she acting so strangely? And why did Briony constantly feel like they were being watched? When Briony discovers Molly’s decades-old bathing suit in a locked part of the house, she begins to piece together what happened to her friend. But, as more skeletons come to light, is Briony ready to uncover the truth after so many years?
I loved it. It was a fun read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me an advance copy.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years ago, Molly, Samantha and
Briony were best friends. Supporting Briony and helping her avoid Jeremy, her godmother's son, Samantha and Molly were stalwarts. Until the point when Molly disappeared that summer, the mystery of which has yet to be satisfactorily explained.

Now it's all in the past, a cold case that has no possibility of being resolved. Or does it?

Because when Briony moves to claim her inheritance, her godmother's house, she discovers links to that long-ago event that may hint at what *really* happened to Molly...

While the story is not entirely original, it is engaging in that the readers are given plenty of opportunities to figure out who did what. I would have liked to see greater depth in the portrayal of that youthful friendship though.

The consequences of bad choices and the reverberations that linger in people's lives are made clear in the book, and the writer manages the dual timelines well.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Briony lived with her Godmother, Alice, when she was a teenager. Alice's son, Jeremy was a creep, stalking Briony and her friends, Samantha and Molly.
The three friends spend as much time as possible together, until Molly disappears.
Years later, Briony inherits Alice's house, as Jeremy has passed away, she opens a B & B, and her daughter Faye assists her.
Faye meets Logan, and he seems to want to destroy the close relationship Briony and Faye have.

This is a really slow story, I wouldn't say it is a thriller, and the mystery seems to be easily worked out in the first half of the book.
Told in two timelines, it is the story of friendship, and of course things that people don't talk openly about.

I did enjoy this, but I think it could be classed just as 'fiction with a touch of mystery', not as a thriller.

I would like to read more of this authors work, as the book was well written.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

[Pamela Beckford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Briony, Molly and Samantha are a trio of friends - Briony weaves their stories together - until one of them vanishes without a word. Fast forward 20+ years and Briony inherits the home she was raised in during her teen years. Along with her daughter, Faye, Briony decides to convert the house into a B&B. Follow along for the adventures of opening your home and your life to strangers. Briony meets Marcus and falls in love, while Faye meets Logan and falls in love. Then it all comes crashing down. How do secrets from the past change their lives?

This book was a little too trite and predictable for me. But if you are looking for a light read then this might be the book for you. I definitely felt like I knew these characters and was part of their lives.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kayla Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, but also an incredibly slow read. By about 25% in I was really hoping to having more of a fast pace and unfortunately that didn’t happen. However, it was a good read and I did like the plot.

The plot is told in alternate timelines that go back and forth from modern day to the late 1970’s. When Briony was a teenager, her friend Molly went missing and was never heard from again. As an adult, Briony moves back to her hometown when she inherits her childhood home. She slowly starts to unravel what happened to Molly after making an interesting discovery.

Overall, it was an interesting plot. Just very slow to develop, very slow to grab my attention, and very anticlimactic to be labeled a thriller.

[Jamie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author. This is one of my books where someone has to go back to their hometown. In this one Bri has to come home to assess a property she has inherited. It was her godmother's home. She spent her teen years here as a foster child in the 80s. It is now 2022 and she's got an adult daughter and this house.
I really felt for Bri when her daughter brought home that man. My daughter gets attached to losers/creepers sometimes too. And Logan is a real creeper.
Halfway through I could guess what was happening but it didn't detract from the story at all.
This is a slow burn that left me uncomfortable the entire time. Lots of talk of visits to the pub, walking around the village, and making coffee, and then there is this underlying discomfort.
Wonderful ending!

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in dual time lines, we meet 16 year old Briony, who is living with her godmother, and Briony now in her forties, having inherited her godmother's house. One of her best friends, Molly, vanishes at the start of sixth year and no one seems to find out where she went. Adult Briony has a 24 year old daughter, who meets the enigmatic Logan. In both timelines, there is a sense of threat and foreboding. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I hope to read more, as I enjoyed these characters and the story line. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy to read and give an honest review of..

[sora (sorasbookland) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t usually like past/present timelines but this time I did! The past timeline kept me more engaged than the present one, although I did figure out who did it in the first half of the book the plot was still interesting even though the main character was frustrating and at some points slightly annoying because she couldn’t see what was right in front of her.

Every action has a consequence and we can clearly read it this in slow mystery/thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a digital ARC copy.

#HerBestFriendSecret #NetGalley

[Shauntelle (myglamorousreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entertaining enough. It kept me curious throughout the story. It was a slower pace than what I'm used to. More mystery than thriller, I found myself playing investigator as the plot developed. This story kept me guessing until the end, which was not what I was expecting! There are dual timelines that both help to develop the characters. There are so many secrets in this book, and they are revealed, the story all comes together. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Silver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story told from alternating timelines. This is a slow-burn mystery about three best friends and one goes missing. I was very underwhelmed by this. I couldn't connect with this story and felt like it was missing something or I was missing something the entire time reading this. If you're considering reading this, do it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, & the author of this ARC.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall an interesting story, set in two timeliness. Briony, as a teenager living with her godmother. And then years later, Britney returning to the house she was never quite comfortable in her teenage time. It was abit too rambling by times but I enjoyed the overall story.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Briony grew up in Summerdene. When she was old enough to be off to college and move away she never thought she would go back. Alice her godmother gave her the Summerdene house in her will so she decided to go back.
I figured out part of the mystery early on when her daughters boyfriend started acting a bit cryptic. It kept my attention and i wanted to keep reading to figure out what would happen next.