The Season of Secrets

by D.E. McCluskey

To make sense of what was happening around you, could you believe?

‘This could be your mother’s last Christmas,' were not the words Alison wanted to hear so close to the holidays.

Determined to spend one last festive season with her ailing mother, Alison, her daughter Grace, and Anthony her brother, decide to make the journey back to the town where they grew up.

However, an uninvited guest comes with them. Lisa, Grace’s imaginary friend is along for the vacation too.

When Grace then starts acting out of character, blaming Lisa for urging her on the strangely familiar sounds around the house begin. An old Christmas tune resonates through the rooms, carrying with it long forgotten memories of their late father, the Spirit of Christmas, and the town’s boogieman, Old Mr Sharpe.

As dark, long hidden secrets begin to unravel they find that if they want to make sense of what is happening around them, then they must believe.

The Season of Secrets is a tale of ghosts, forgotten memories, and secrets, from DE McCluskey author of The Boyfriend, The Twelve, Reboot, and The Contract.

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2025

About the author

I love horror, and I love Christmas. Some would say that the two are not mutually associated, I would tell you different.

I started writing at Christmas, back in the days of yore. I was reading The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore to my daughter who was too excited to sleep. But, I used my secret weapon, my boring voice she was soon catching the right amount of zzzzz's... As I tiptoed out of the room, giving Santa the space he needed to do his bit, I thought to myself, you know what? I could write something like that...

So I did...

The good Behaviour Act was written, the first story in Interesting Tymes, my very first publication.

I live in sunny Liverpool in the UK with my partner and daughters, I used to work in IT but don't anymore, and am the happier person for it. I love football, music and film... I also enjoy long walks, pretty flowers, and gratuitous violence and nudity...

I can be found mostly on Facebook @demccluskey_author
or on Twitter @dammagedpro @demccluskey1

my website is www.dammaged.com

Reviews

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden beneath this Christmas story is a tale of heartbreak and pain. After Allison receives a devastating phone call about her mother's health, she, her daughter Grace, and her brother Anthony travel home for one last Christmas together. Strange occurances afoot, as Grace disappears with her new friend, Lisa, we delve into the family history that's been hidden for over 30 years. Town secrets unravel, and the family are forced to look back at the hurtful past, as Allie and Anthony fight with the winter storms for the truth as to why Grace keeps disappearing. Will the truth of her new friend come alive, or will the haunting secrets of the past stay buried forever?

This is a beautiful take on those heartwarming Hallmark Christmas films with a fantastic haunting twist. I genuinely teared up several times through this, and it truly gets you to understand the true value of Christmas. As cheesy as that is, this is a must-read for not just spooky and paranormal fans, but for fans of family tales that spurt out real close-knit family bonds. This is something different for Dave, and I believe you should take a bow. It's a fantastic Christmas tale that leaves a stray tear right to the very last page. 5 big sparkly Christmas trees 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Christmas heartbreaker from DE McCluskey.

Her mother is dying. All Allison wants is one last family Christmas together, with her brother Anthony and her daughter, Grace.

Grace has company - no one else can see her, but her presence is increasingly made known. The family home triggers memories, old fears and secrets. The truth needs to make itself known.

Haunting and creepy, with a classic movie style.

This is a McCluskey book you could happily give your grandmother without her disinheriting you!

[BookSplatterBritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great haunting Christmas story. all Allison wants us to have peace as this is the last Christmas with her mom. but her little girl's "imaginary friend" has other plans. this novel will leak out secrets, definitely not a normal christmas

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Season Of Secrets' by DE McCluskey

CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AND GRAB THIS SINISTER, HAUNTING AND EERIE PAGE TURNER TODAY!! ONE THE BEST GHOST SUSPENSES I HAVE EVER READ!! I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!! YOU CAN THANK ME LATER!

This may be the first book I have read by this extremely talented author but there is no way in hell it it is going to be my last!! What a blooming epic and eerie read!! Seriously, if you are a fan of horrors, ghosts, paranormal, suspense, tension and thrillers you will LOVE this!! If you are looking for a nice, light and sweet read then look the other way as there is nothing sweet about this story!!!

OMFG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS CHILLING, EERIE AND ATMOSPHERIC BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, , HAUNTING, GOTHIC, GHOSTLY AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ!!!

The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the AMAZING author DE McCluskey! Where the hell have you been hiding all my life? As a horror and ghost lover I am SHOCKED I have not read your books before especially with that brilliantly vivid imagination of yours!! I absolutely LOVED it!! Thank God I have rectified that stupid mistake and read this and now I can sink my teeth into the rest of your books. I mean, if this is anything to go by then they are guaranteed to be epic!! This has got to be just one of the most chilling, disturbing and atmospheric paranormal books I have ever read!!! If you are not a fan of the paranormal well just turn away now because this has got it all in abundance and I LOVED this addictive, explosive, mysterious, sinister and chilling ghostly page turner!!! It had the perfect amount of paranormal, suspense, mystery and everything else that you could ask for!!I absolutely devoured this page turner it one sitting a while ago but due to my health have been unable to write about it until now. It is extremely very fast paced and gripping read and I devoured it in one sitting in the space of a few hours!!! You really do need to stop wasting your time reading this which cannot justify how good this book is and just run, don't walk, and grab your copy of this chilling, spine tingling book now !! I can promise you that if you love the paranormal then you will absolutely LOVE this!!! With an addictive storyline ram packed with family, supernatural, tension, suspense, mystery, fear, heartache, shocks, emotions, memories, music, old love, sacrifice and absolutely everything you could ask for and just so much more in a gripping page turning paranormal suspense what on Earth are you waiting for? I mean the concept alone is absolutely epic, fascinating and intriguing let alone the actual storyline!!! This truly is an absolutely addictive, action packed page turner with a unique storyline that will grip you from the moment you open the pages until the very end, and longer!! A huge well done to McCluskey on the absolute uniqueness of this book!! I have read hundreds and hundreds of books so it is getting harder and harder to find books with a truly unique storyline but Justin truly has smashed it out of the ballpark. He has done an absolutely brilliant job of weaving the storyline together perfectly ensuring the reader gets the bigger picture. The setting and atmosphere is perfect for the storyline and McCluskey's fantastic emotive and evocative writing skills really suck the reader into the story ensuring they can see the drama, characters, mystery, suspense and fear all around them and feel the chill up their spine. You have truly got to grab a copy of this fantastic paranormal page turner today!!! I absolutely LOVE paranormal stories and for me the creepier the better but, although I have found some great horror books out there, I struggle to find many filled with enough to creep me out!! That was up until I read this book and Stephen King eat your heart out because this is absolutely packed with a brilliant storyline and chills that I have never come across and as I have read hundreds of horrors and seen hundreds of horror movies THAT is truly hard to come across but McCluskey absolutely slam dunks it!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS!!


Clear your schedules before turning a single page as this book is truly unputdownable!!! However, I recommend you read this in the day with company although I still couldn't guarantee you wouldn't have nightmares!!

This book is one THE BEST paranormal stories I have ever read !!! This book really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up and had devoured within a couple of hours!!! It had absolutely everything you could ask for and more!!!

Well done DE McCluskey on an absolutely addictive and chilling page turner and I would definitely like to the top spot of my favourite authors of all time!!! Congratulations on an absolutely fantastic success and here is to what is guaranteed to be many more 🥂

Overall an absolutely addictive, action and supernatural packed suspense filled and chilling sinister mystery that will keep you turning the pages until you've devoured the book in hours!!

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[Keri Anderson (Gilson) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing like a Christmas ghost story to get you in the holiday spirit and The Season of Secrets delivers exactly that.

This book was hauntingly sad, but beautiful. The author creates an atmosphere that wraps around you like cold winter air, pulling you into a story that’s both chilling and unexpectedly emotional. What begins as a classic ghost tale slowly reveals deeper layers of grief, love, and the echoes we leave behind.

The pacing keeps you turning pages, wanting to understand the truth hidden beneath the haunting. And when that truth does unfold, it hits with a quiet heaviness that stays with you.

A beautiful, melancholy Christmas story.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Alison finds out that her mother is dying, she is determined to have a family Christmas. Bundling up her daughter, Grace, she and her brother Anthony both head home for the season. But it isn’t long before Grace begins hearing music, and something in the snow keeps luring her into the bitter cold outside.

The Season Of Secrets is dripping in atmosphere, intrigue, and Christmas spirit. The characters are all so brilliantly written they really do feel real, and I found myself swept up in their adventures and secrets.
The haunting quality of the story keeps you hooked long after the music has faded, with a genuine mystery that creeps into your soul and sweeps you up in a storm of loss, ghosts, heartbreak, and knitwear.
For the first time in my reviewing career, I can say “Goddamn it, you made me cry on the bus” which is a very high compliment.

This is a quiet story with little gore, and I think is a perfect example of how DE McCluskey can write any genre with a brilliance that few can match. This is a perfect atmospheric Christmas read, and I would recommend it every year.

[Andrew Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this heartwarming, yet heartbreaking tale, we follow Alison, her daughter Grace, and Alison's brother, Anthony, as they all take a trip, from separate destinations, to their country home, where they grew up, and their mother still lives. Their mother is sick, but, they don't know to what extent. They may, or may not have that many Christmases left together, so they all decide to try and have the best one they possibly can. While at their mother's, Grace begins to talk to someone who isn't there. Someone who is trying, and has been trying, desperately for years to have someone, anyone from the family see, hear, and help them. Alison attributes this to little Grace having developed an imaginary friend, until, she begins to have strange dreams, traumatizing flashbacks, and begins to hear, and see things that may suggest that Grace's friend may not be so imaginary after all. Soon, family traumas are dug up, as Alison learns about a history she has no idea about, yet will affect her entire family forever. 'Tis the Season of Secrets. This was so incredibly good! It really hits you right in the heart with some scenes, and chapters (Chapter 25 will make you cry!). This is nothing like anything I have read from this author, and he nailed it! This is a fantastic read for the holiday season, and I highly recommend everyone check this out!
5⭐/5⭐

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alli and her daughter Grace just wanted to spend what was likely their last Christmas together as a family. But even before they left for her mother’s house, things started to get strange. Grace had a new imaginary friend, Alli was experiencing unusual sensations, and an unsettling feeling hung in the air. Once they arrived at her childhood home, the weirdness only intensified—mysterious noises, Grace disappearing and blaming her “friend,” and an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.

This was honestly a heartfelt read, even for a horror story. It was a refreshing change from what I’ve come to expect from McCluskey’s usual dark tone. If you’re looking for a Christmasy ghost story with both chills and emotion, The Season of Secrets is one you’ll definitely want to pick up.

[AJRXII · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your normal DE book and deffo one for Xmas time. Honoured to be a beta reader for this one so thanks for that Dave.

This story flows really well. It has a good pace and it's an easy read. I would read again sometime in the future as it's a nice story with a creepy vibe. I suggest you dive into the world of Mr McCluskey you will be surprised at this one if you've read his other books/genre's

[Courtney Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting how any of this book was going to play out. It made my grinch heart grow 3 sizes bigger and my eyes water (hidden onions I’m sure of it). Even though as I write this Christmas is a couple of months away, the spirit is alive and well in this story.

[Kelly Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting Christmas story. Alison's mother has one last Christmas and so Alison wants to make it lovely. A story of the haunting of memories and past traumas plus an imaginary friend called Lisa getting Alison's daughter in trouble. Things aren't what they seem.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review for The Season Of Secrets by DE McCluskey

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this ghost story set in Alison and Anthony's mum's home but Lisa, a ghost, seems to have attached herself to Grace as her imaginary friend. This sends chills through Alison and she has to wonder sometimes if she is hearing things but little Lisa likes to sing and taunt them about ‘the spirit of Christmas’. It turns out that Alison's mum knows all about Lisa and then the secrets begin to unravel. This is a brilliantly written book that hooked me right from the start. I liked the storyline and that it involved a ghost as I love a good ghost story. The characters were well thought out and described plus there was some history of them as children. I enjoyed the dual time line, including looking back when they were children and used to do dares about knocking on the town's boogieman, old Mr Sharpe's door. The plotting of the story was superbly done and thought out. Reading this story has brought this author to my attention as it appears he writes in the genres I really enjoy so I will be looking into reading some of the stories he has previously written.

Blurb :

To make sense of what was happening around you, could you believe?

‘This could be your mother’s last Christmas,' were not the words Alison wanted to hear so close to the holidays.

Determined to spend one last festive season with her ailing mother, Alison, her daughter Grace, and Anthony her brother, decide to make the journey back to the town where they grew up.

However, an uninvited guest comes with them. Lisa, Grace’s imaginary friend is along for the vacation too.

When Grace then starts acting out of character, blaming Lisa for urging her on the strangely familiar sounds around the house begin. An old Christmas tune resonates through the rooms, carrying with it long forgotten memories of their late father, the Spirit of Christmas, and the town’s boogieman, Old Mr Sharpe.

As dark, long hidden secrets begin to unravel they find that if they want to make sense of what is happening around them, then they must believe.

The Season of Secrets is a tale of ghosts, forgotten memories, and secrets, from DE

[Leanne Tempest · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book opens with Mr Sharpe who is the small town boogeyman for reasons yet unknown. He is a sad character and this introduction to him is a perfect way to start this creepy story.

We next meet Alison and her daughter, Grace who are returning to that same small down to spend a final Christmas with Alison’s mother who is dying.

What follows is a creepy ghost tale which ultimately turns into a heartwarming tale about the importance of family.

It is told across the dual timelines of eight year old and present Alison and at times it can be a little bit confusing although works well to cover the history for the main characters.

It is also mostly told from the first person point of view but occasionally switches to third person from one paragraph to the next. I find it a little strange that Alison often refers to her mother as Delores when the narrative is from her point of view but my guess is that is was to avoid overuse of ‘mother’ and ‘mom’.

Grace is a delightful character with a typical child’s innocence and belief in the goodness of people. Her ghost friend, Lisa is a little more ambiguous, particularly in her motives.

The author unashamedly delivers a happy ending typical of a Hallmark movie and if you take the time to read the acknowledgment this is exactly the feel he was going for which was executed perfectly in the last few chapters.

Overall this is a lovely Christmas read with an undeniably creepy undertone.

Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours and the author for the free review copy.

[Claire Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎄 A haunting homecoming shrouded in shadows 👻

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“Sometimes the ghosts we dread most are the ones we’ve carried with us all along.”

The Season of Secrets is a chilling trip back to a childhood home where memory, myth, and grief tangle together like your Christmas lights seem to in the loft. McCluskey sets the stage beautifully: a mother’s last Christmas, a family returning to the town that shaped—and scarred—them, and a little girl whose 'imaginary friend' may just be more than that. The atmosphere is spot on: cold spots, half-remembered carols whispered through the dark, and the scary figure of local boogieman Old Mr Sharpe—equal parts folklore and nightmare.

Despite the creepy elements, there's a real sense of cosiness and richness about this story that reaches for emotional depth and generational mystery. I loved the concept of a gothic ghost story rooted in family legacy, and those eerie flashes of the past are where the book shines brightest—they made it a real page-turner!

But while the premise is strong, the execution doesn’t always land. I found myself wanting more nuance, more time sitting in the characters’ heads. Alison, Grace, and Anthony felt like they had so much potential that didn't quite reach its full weight. I feel the emotional beats could have plunged deeper.

Verdict: The Season of Secrets is an atmospheric, ghostly Christmas tale with real heart. Imperfect, but memorable—like a cracked bauble you can’t bring yourself to throw away.

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that the author writes in the horror genre, I was put off initially, as I don’t read horror or watch horror movies anymore. But I do like a bit of the supernatural, especially ghosts, though no demons please. I love the type of book where a soul can’t rest until someone discovers how they died, finds their body, and gives them a proper Christian burial. Other religions equally apply.

In The Season Of Secrets, eight-year-old Grace has an imaginary friend called Lisa. But is that all she is? An imaginary friend?

A few days before Christmas, Alison and Grace head over to Alison’s mother’s house, where they will meet up with her brother Anthony. Lisa is coming too, Grace informs them. The house was their childhood home. Their mother is very ill and this will be her last Christmas, the doctor has told them.

But when Grace starts acting strangely and even disappears in the middle of the night, terrifying mum Alison and Anthony, they begin to wonder whether there is more to it than that.

For Alison, memories come flooding back of a time when she was eight years old and Anthony was six. It was Halloween and some local children dared them to go to Old Man Sharpe’s spooky home. It almost ended in disaster. And all the time they can see a light up ahead and hear an old hit song from the late 1960s about the magic of Christmas, sung by ‘Johnny Plaid’.

It’s all very eerie and a bit scary (I don’t scare easily I hasten to add), and full of secrets, memories and old loves. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. You don’t have to believe in ghosts, but it probably helps!

Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

[Sylvia Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a 3.5 star for me, but since that’s not an option, I rounded up to four.

The Season of Secrets by DE McCluskey is the story of Alison, her daughter Grace, her mother, her brother and Grace‘s new imaginary friend Lisa.

The story begins with a phone call that no daughter wants to receive. Alison learns that her mother is terminally ill and that this year will be her last Christmas.

Determined to make every moment count, Alison, her daughter Grace and her brother Anthony return to Wisconsin to spend the holidays with their mother. When they arrive, Alison comes quickly concerned about Grace‘s behavior, which Grace attributes to instructions from Lisa, her new imaginary friend.

I must admit, I spent the first 3/4 of this book on pins and needles. I don’t normally like scary stories and the more uncertainty there was surrounding Lisa, the more uneasy I became. That said, in the end I did end up, enjoying the novel. It took me a while to relax to fully embrace it, but it definitely turned out much better than I was originally anticipating.

From what I have read, I think that this novel is a departure from McCluskey’s typical writing and I’d be very interested to read some of his other works.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this is a surprise read in the best possible way. It manages to be edge of your seat spooky and absolutely heartwarming.
Featuring single mum Allison and her young daughter Grace, who get a call to return home as her mother is terminally ill. She calls her brother Anthony and together they decide to make it the best Christmas ever.
The relationship between Allie and Anthony is just gorgeous. The perfect sibling relationship.
Strange things, mysterious cold spells, strange noises and a creepy song start to make Grace and Allie wonder if they are going crazy. Allison starts getting flashbacks to her childhood, and who is Lisa?
There were so many moments where I held my breath throughout this. The tension is built and held brilliantly. But when it breaks you have these genuinely heartwarming family dynamics and a strange mystery still bubbling underneath.
When everything is finally revealed its really sweet and beautiful.
I read this cover to cover in a day, I couldn't stop, I had to know what the click clack was etc. Well done Mr McCluskey. Loved it.

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allison returns to her hometown to visit her ailing mother along with her daughter Grace and her brother Anthony. But strange things are stirring. Who is Grace’s imaginary friend who leads her away to play? Where is the disembodied music coming from? And what does any of this have to do with the town’s bogeyman, Harry Sharp?

A hauntingly eerie Christmas tale that is soaked in atmosphere and incredible characters. It is a story of heartbreak and family secrets but also of love and sacrifice. The characters feel real and the imagery evokes the chill of the season as well as a feeling of unease that something is coming.

The versatility of the author is remarkable, he writes with haunting pathos here but also pens gruesome horror and action packed thrillers, all so different and yet the storytelling through them all is exceptional.

This is a raw look at the ties that bind us wrapped up in a spooky bow. I recommend reading it by lamplight under a warm blanket.

[Paul Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Chilling

I loved these characters and it truly made it hard to read this story. Hear me out, I have read a few of DE McCluskey's stories so I know that survival of the characters is not a given. Every time I had the chance and dove back into the story, I found that I was nervous. Grace, Alli, and Anthony were my friends and what they were going through with their mother (grandmother in Grace's case) being terminally sick was bad enough.
That being said, The Season of Secrets was a fantastic story and I'm glad I took my time reading it. While it is set during the Christmas holiday, I feel that it could be read at anytime of the year. Cold and wintery outside? Curl up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and immerse yourself in this story. Hot summer day? Cool off as the cold wind and snow blow around you as you become part of the story.
I believe this story is going to sit with me for a long time.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours and the author for this ARC!

I'm gonna start at the end: what a surprise! The author does apologise for it in the afterword, which tickled me. I think it was the right ending and I'm glad it is what was chosen, but it was not what I expected.

The characters were very sweet. I loved Anthony (but I saw through his deceit immediately and knew exactly what was happening - you're not subtle, Anthony!), and I really liked the relationship he had with Alison.

A lot of the storyline felt obvious, but this was a very well-packaged narrative, which made it an enjoyable read regardless - and given its inspiration materials, I think the author was going for adding some creepy flair to a classic formula.

I also really liked the gay rep in this book: completely usualised and very classy.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

When Alison returns to her hometown to visit her mother for Christmas, the family starts to have some very strange experiences.

I've always been a fan of ghost stories, so this eerie read was ideal for me.
I appreciated the festive vibes, making it a great read for the time of year. I think Grace was the character who interested me the most, especially when it came to the concept of her imaginary friend. The imagination of a child is a wonderful thing that often sparks joy, but in this case it was ambiguous and chilling.

This was a spine-tingling spooky story, ideal to get you in the mood for the festive season, and I found it easy to read in one sitting too.

Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Steph's_Creepy _Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light some candles, grab a glass of something festive, sit by the fire and read this book. It will be the best thing you’ve read this year.
Mystery is trickled throughout this book, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
The characters are loveable, puzzling, and at various times they can be damn right creepy! 
This is something completely different from D.E. This is special, and shows the talent of a well rounded author.
David made me feel close to the characters. I needed to find out why their lives were playing out in the manner they were. I felt completely invested throughout the story.
There’s a particular feel to this book. One I can only describe as classic Christmas comfort blended with the best elements of horror.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing the news of her mothers failing health, Allison & her brother Anthony decide to go for one last perfect Christmas with her. Allison and her young daughter Grace arrive first, with a mysterious guest...Grace has a new Friend only she can see called Lisa. What begins as a festive, heartwarming tale soon turns to a mysterious and heartbreaking one.

Full of eerie elements this is a fantastic spooky story that wont expect. There's also old Mr Sharpe, the town Boogeyman (think of the snow shovel guy in home alone). Told between Alli & Ant's childhood and Grace in the present, we see a full picture that is like a gut punch for the emotions. Utterly brilliant!

Perfect for Christmas, especially if you like a bit if eerie with your festivities.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Season of Secrets is an atmospheric christmas read that has the makings of an Hallmark movie with a little more heartbreak and a sprinkle of supernatural. With a small but memorable cast of characters this is certainly an enjoyable read if not a little heartbreaking at times.
I loved the touch of supernatural and ghostly presences throughout the novel, McCluskey adds these in such a way that you hardly even question it and don’t have to suspend your disbelief. All the characters felt realistic, to the point you couldn’t help but be invested. This is most definitely one to read around the holiday season but do bring the tissues just in case.

[Hannah Boyland · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

The Season of Secrets is a gorgeously haunting Christmas ghost story.
This is a story of a mother’s last Christmas with her children, featuring ghosts, and the discovery of many secrets.

Although there’s a layer of unease and fear throughout this book, it was a surprisingly heartwarming (and heartbreaking) tale. Honestly, the way this book was played out just shows the absolute talent that McCluskey has. This is definitely a book that I’m struggling to review without spoiling, but if you’re looking for a Christmas book that’s less romance (aka no romance), but lots of spookiness and familial love, then this is for you!

[Sharon Marie Provost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this wonderful book, The Season of Secrets, by DE McCluskey. While not a horror story, it does have a spooky undertone throughout it. This beautiful story is an intriguing mystery that draws you in immediately and doesn't let go until the heartwarming conclusion (yes, I know DE and heartwarming don't usually go together). The story kept me guessing from start to finish. I highly recommend this Hallmark-esque Christmas story, with a strong paranormal element, of a family spending one last Christmas with their dying mother.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had something tugging on the string where my heart should be.
I'm not a Christmas kinda gal, but throw in a little spooky and I'm there! I read this feeling like it was my own family. Thankfully no imaginary friends here though!
Is it too much to ask for one nice, quiet, last family Christmas? Of course it is! We have imaginary friends, we'll kept (until now) secrets, heartbreak and love.
Definitely one I could read again. Without a tear in the eye next time!
Well done D E Mccluskey! Another brilliant read

[Emmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Season of Secrets is nothing like McClusky has ever written.

Sure it has your spooky ghost story and omg what comes next moments but it has family and heart along with it.

I never knew what I was going to get from one chapter to the next and the ending had me in tears.

D.E. McCluskey has given us a beautiful Christmas present not only of deep dark family secrets but of light and love.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have.

[Lula Von Goth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas time and ghost stories go together like fair lights on a Christmas tree. This book had everything and more.
It pulled at my heart and made me want to hold my family close. However woven within the emotional tenderness there was mystery and heart stopping moments.
It’s the kind of book that if you read it multiple times the reader will notice aspects that become more poignant each time.
I loved it and I’m now officially ready to kick open the door and let Christmas in.