The Secrets of Strangers

by Jess Kitching

A propulsive thriller about a writer who gets caught up in the case of a missing woman, for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Ruth Ware. 

After suffering a loss, Janine and her husband Kamal need a fresh start. They leave their family and everything they know in Manchester and move to Bamblethorpe, a picturesque Lancashire village where they expect nothing but peace and quiet. It’ll be just what Janine, a thriller writer, needs to work on her next manuscript.

But the peace of their new village life is disrupted when longtime local Alexa Clarke goes missing out of the blue. Did she leave her husband like some people suspect? Or is there credibility to the rumours that something more nefarious has happened to Alexa?

Frozen by writer’s block, Janine stumbles into investigating Alexa’s disappearance, and the more she discovers about Alexa’s life, the more complicated things become. Nothing is as it seems, and Janine begins to realise that there are disturbing parallels between Alexa’s life and her own.

What starts as curious procrastination quickly spirals into a tangled web of secrets, lies and a truth Janine may not be ready to face … if she survives.

Genres: Thriller

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess is back in the thriller world 😀 After delving into romance last year (which was also amazing) Jess is back where she started with an incredible thriller with a killer twist. Oh my goodness, you got me good.

This book has it all.. a thriller writer, a missing woman, a small village where everyone knows everyone’s business and a dog. On top of all of this, it is incredibly emotional. You will never guess where it is headed, that ending is jaw dropping.

A book filled with secrets, with grief, with unlikeable characters, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I picked this up in the middle of the Australian Open tennis, which is my favourite time of year. I had to make myself turn the TV off and get lost in this story. Any book that can do that is a winner in my eyes.

A must read, you won’t be sorry.

Published on April 28th, I. Annoy wait to catch up with Jess and hear all about her writing process and thoughts on this one. Thank you Jess, Simon and Schuster and The Pilkington Agency of my advanced copy to read.

[Bo.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

After loving Lucky Number 11 (a 5⭐️ read for me), I went into The Secrets of Strangers with eager anticipation. The premise alone immediately piqued my interest, with a thriller writer getting caught up in a real missing persons case sounding right up my alley.

The prologue was a strong start, delivering a creepy, suspenseful, page-turning opening. But as the story went on, I found myself starting to disconnect, mainly because of the characters. I struggled with Janine, particularly the way she leans on being a thriller author as justification to involve herself in a real investigation. It just felt a bit off and made it hard for me to warm to her character.

Her fixation on Alexa’s disappearance also ramps up very quickly. While their shared experience adds some emotional weight, the level of obsession didn’t fully feel believable to me, and it started to blur into something slightly uncomfortable, like she was crossing a line between genuine concern and using the situation as inspiration.

The initial grip of the story started to loosen as it moved towards the middle, and I found my attention drifting a little during some of the slower parts.

I had a few theories early on, and with one of them proving correct, the reveal didn’t feel quite as impactful for me. A few red herrings along the way meant the final reveal left me feeling more underwhelmed than surprised.

Even so, I did appreciate the themes around obsession, ambition, and life imitating art. It also touches on fertility, societal expectations, and the pressures placed on women in a way that feels grounded and relatable, and may hit home for some readers.

Overall, I’m a little bummed this one didn’t hit the way I’d hoped, especially after how much I enjoyed her previous book, but I still think Jess Kitching is a talented and underrated voice in the thriller genre. I’ve seen a lot of higher ratings for this, so I may be in the minority with my 3⭐️, but I’d still recommend giving it a go.

I’ll absolutely be picking up more of her books in the future and would recommend her to thriller readers.

[Catelyn Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

After taking a detour into the romance genre, Jess Kitching is back with yet another killer thriller!

Boy oh boy, this one got dark at times but it was just. so. good.

the TWIST!?!?! 🤯
I'm still thinking about it...

As she so often brilliantly does, Jess weaves together a compelling and well written story that keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat while also carefully and thoughtfully integrating real world issues (and not just for drama's sake, but for depth). It's classic Kitching thriller but at it's absolute peak.

God I'm so excited for the world to read this book in 2026. Get excited y'all, and brace yourselves 📚

[Asha · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I was addicted to this book would be an understatement! I’ve loved reading Jess’s thrillers, so when I saw The Secrets of Strangers on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it immediately.

The story follows Janine, an author living in a small town that is shaken by a missing persons case. As the investigation unfolds, Janine finds herself relating to the missing woman, Alexa, and begins to play detective in an effort to uncover the truth.

This was such an easy yet gripping read. I flew through it and couldn’t put it down. While the book explores some heavy topics, Jess handles them with empathy and weaves them seamlessly into the story in a thoughtful and impactful way.

Overall, this is a fantastic mystery thriller that completely pulled me in. Jess Kitching is officially an auto buy author for me!

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

[chenaey ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

my rating: ★★★★.5

aesthetic: 📰💻💊👼🏼☕️💵🌳🚓🩸📚⛓️‍💥

Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic small village, the story leans heavily into that close-knit, watchful community atmosphere — where everyone knows everyone, and gossip spreads faster than truth. That small-town tension adds such an addictive layer to the mystery.

Following Janine, a thriller writer grappling with grief and the heartbreak of fertility struggles, the story feels deeply grounded in real emotion. Her pain, her writer’s block, and the weight of starting over are all portrayed in a way that feels raw and authentic — especially with the underlying themes of child loss and grief woven throughout. It gives the story a depth that goes beyond your typical missing person thriller.

The disappearance of Alexa Clarke is where everything begins to spiral, and I loved how the narrative slowly peeled back the layers of her life. The dual POV (particularly getting insight into the victim) made the story even more suspenseful and emotionally impactful. It added this eerie sense of inevitability, like you’re always one step behind the truth.

What really stood out to me was how unpredictable it all felt. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story shifted again. The twists weren’t just shocking — they were earned, and the final reveal genuinely caught me off guard.

Dark, tense, and emotionally charged, this is a thriller that balances suspense with deeply human struggles. If you love stories filled with secrets, messy lives, and that unsettling feeling that something isn’t quite right beneath the surface — this one absolutely delivers.

Thankyou so much @netgalley and the author @jesskitchingwrites for the opportunity to read this ahead of release 🫶🏼

[Jess Theworddegree · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I inhaled The Secrets of Strangers by Jess Kitching this week. It has a real Girl on the Train vibe and as many of you know that’s my fav thriller of all time.

Trigger warnings: infertility & TCC

After several pregnancy losses and a difficult fertility journey, Janine and her husband move to a small country town. An already established successful author, Janine hopes this will help with her writers block and various mental health challenges. After a woman goes missing and the whole town is a buzz with speculation, Janine realizes she knows the missing woman Alexa. They met at a fertility clinic and Alexa helped Janine more than she could ever know with her kind words. Janine decides she will put her mystery writing skills to the ultimate test and find out what happened to this wonderful woman.
Rural small town mystery meets an exploration on the importance of relationships and not suffering alone. Really enjoyed this one.

Thank you @simonschusterau for sending me this review copy and detective goodies 🫶🏻

[Michele (michelethebookdragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that will have you gripped and totally invested in finding out what happened to Alexa Clarke.

When Janine, a best selling author of crime thrillers, moves to the sleepy village of Bramblethorpe after personal heartbreak, she is hoping for a fresh start. Just her and her husband and the peace and quiet to continue writing.

When a local woman, Alexa Clarke, goes missing, the whole village is abuzz. It's all anyone is talking about. Janine is drawn to this mystery and feels compelled to help in any way she can, especially when she realises she has met the missing Alexa before.

Janine puts herself in the midst of this case, befriending Alexa's husband, offering help to the police, attending meetings, acting like a private detective all while lying to her husband and family. What is she hiding? What does she know?

With a cast of possible suspects this story is expertly woven to keep suspense high and enough red herrings to keep you guessing. The build up to the ending is nail biting and will have you holding your breath.

I was oh so close with my guess on who the culprit was.

Another superb outing by Jess who knows how to nail a thriller.

[Emilie (emiliesbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most highly anticipated reads for 2026 and it did not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down, bringing it in a day!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jess brilliantly sets an unnerving, tense scene while perfectly pacing the suspense with each chapter. There is depth and heart to the story as Jess writes a very real world and real sorrow

It’s a page turning epic psychological thriller will leave you shocked!

You won’t know who to trust as you try to piece together the clues and at the risk of giving anything away I will simple say, this fabulous thriller is must read

Thank you so much Simon & Schuster for my gifted ARC

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Jess Kitching has written a stunner, keeping me on edge, needing to know how it was all going to pan out. As Janine delved deeper and deeper into finding out what happened to Alexa, I was so scared something was going to happen to her. The ride was wild and I found myself loving all the different twists the author treated me to. With clever writing and a twist you won't see coming, this solid thriller is one I highly recommend.

[Kimberley (yepanotherbookstagram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jess’ books since reading her first, so I was so excited to be able to read an early copy of this book.

We meet Janine, a thriller author who has moved to a small English village for a fresh start with her husband. Suffering writers block and being a bit of a recluse, she is drawn out of the house when Alexa Clarke, a local woman, goes missing. What happened to Alexa, and who is responsible? As Janine is drawn further and further into the case, she realised that things aren’t as they seem - but she is desperate to find Alexa.

Just wow. I love trying to work out what has happened and who did it, and I didn’t have any guesses until over halfway through the book! So many characters seemed unreliable, with potential motives to make Alexa disappear, but with each of them there was also something that made me think it just didn’t sit right that they were responsible. So incredibly written, and that ending 🤯

If you have read it, please let me know as I’m desperate to talk about it!

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonschusterau for the review copy, and @jesskitchingwrites for writing another amazing book.

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down!!!! What a package!!!!!!!! The most wholesome picturesque village with all the tea and sweet old neighbours combined with a thriller writer solving the crime combined with big themes of loss and infertility added in with some horror and our fascination with true crime…I was wondering after The Life Experiment why Jess Kitchens ever wrote thrillers; this is why..she’s SUCH a master at them; compulsive, twisty and so shadow jumping inducing!!!!!

[Sam “My Cosy Book Nook” · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m writing this having just taken my dog for her morning walk. During which, she threw herself into a lake to go swimming after a stick. No real problem there; she had fun, the water is fresh and clear and I can always dry her with a towel after we get home. But a few minutes later, she met a fellow dog walker and sniffed out the contents of her pocket from half a mile away.

I’ve tried to train her not to jump up at people to accept treats. And to give her just a little bit of credit, she has learnt not to do it to me. But when it’s a stranger, she will still take a chance. And so it was that she suddenly became stone deaf to my calls and leapt up to snatch the biscuit out of the poor lady’s hand, leaving behind two muddy paw streaks down the front of clothes that certainly looked like they were clean on this morning. And me wishing that the ground would swallow me up.

But then, on the way home, I watched her chase enthusiastically after a squeaky tennis ball, and have a play with one of the many canine friends she’s made over the last three years. I can’t tell you the good it does my own mental health to see her living so happily in the moment. Now, she’s laying across the room from me in a patch of warm sunshine. And I’m reminded: yes, she’s not perfect. But I still love her, and wouldn’t change her for the world.

It’s really this point that brings me to The Secrets of Strangers by Jess Kitching. Because this is another example of something that’s not perfect. But despite this, or perhaps because of it, I loved it all the more.

I’ll be honest. I wasn’t initially convinced by the blurb. Indeed, I’ll go so far as to say that if I hadn’t already come to know and love Jess Kitching, as a person as well as an author, I might have found it off-putting. A thriller writer fancying herself as an amateur detective, investigating the disappearance of her neighbour? Really?

No, thankfully. Not really. I’ll avoid details for fear of spoilers, but suffice to say that there’s another connection between Janine and Alexa. And it’s one that’s portrayed so powerfully, and yet so compassionately and tenderly that even if my head hadn’t been entirely convinced, my heart would have been right in there.

The problem for me was that, with this particular chapter having forged an emotional connection between the characters of Janine, Alexa and the reader, I didn’t feel that the following chapters really held it. There were several instances where I found myself questioning Janine’s choices as she made them, whereas for the book to have really worked, I’d have needed to have agreed with every one of them at the time and only thought rationally about them afterwards. Contrast this not only to Jess’ last thriller, Lucky Number 11 but also The Life Experiment, where she effortlessly managed to transport me into the minds of multiple characters, and there seemed to be something lacking. By the time I’d reached about 60% in, I was actually feeling – dare I say it – a little bit frustrated.

That, then, is what I would consider to be the downside of The Secrets of Strangers. In the way that occasional instances of ill behaviour are the downside to having a dog, or a child. Fortunately, however, much like that same child or pet, there are some upsides to this book too.

Firstly, Jess doesn’t shy from exploring some powerful and personal themes. And she does so ab-so-lutely beautifully. I may not have agreed with all of the characters’ actions, but I still felt every ounce of their emotional pain. Then there are some – not too many, but some – horribly, toe-curlingly chilling scenes that show just how far behind Janine seems to be in what feels like a race against time. And on top of that, there’s the intrigue as you realise just how little you might actually know about a neighbour, a colleague, even someone you’d call a friend, if there’s a part of them that they choose not to reveal.

And then … there’s the twist. Oh. My. God. What. A. Twist. Forget about all those ‘jaw-dropping twists you won’t see coming’ described on the front and back covers of almost every other psychological thriller ever published, this one is something else. If there were any clues, I’d missed them completely, it’s one that I wouldn’t have seen coming in a hundred years and yet everything falls into place. Even small details, such as my wondering why some chapters are written in the past tense while most of the book is in the present, are given the only explanation that makes sense.

And yet, it also does more than that. It’s not only the mind that gets blown, but the heart gets a bruising too. Because the solution that’s offered is one that’s so sad, yet somehow so believable and in a weird way, relatable.

I’ve said previously that if Jess Kitching’s first two books, The Girl She Was Before and How to Destroy Your Husband are the dress rehearsal, Lucky Number 11 is the sensational opening night that receives a standing ovation from the audience. Well, if I can take the theatre analogy a little further, The Secrets of Strangers is like a stand-out scene from that performance. Technically, it might not be perfect. Perhaps one of the actors stumbles over a line, or there’s a flaw with one of the props at the back of the stage. But you won’t care, or perhaps even notice. Because overall, it’s so beautifully done, and so resonating that you’ll be ]talking about it on your way home, and left thinking about it for several days afterwards.

That’s why, despite my head telling me there are reasons not to do so, I’m going with my heart. And awarding The Secrets of Strangers five stars.

My thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Australia for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 28th April 2026. My review is also available on my blog at www.mycosybooknook.wordpress.com, and will be published on Amazon and shared on my social media pages.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn’t really hold my attention.
Jess has written other books that I felt are better. The Life Experiment is brilliant and I would love to see that made into a film tv drama.

I read a lot of thriller/suspense novels and can usually relate to the characters and situation in some way. I found this a bit of a stretch to believe that so many people trusted Janine, a complete stranger with so much personal information including the police. I found it odd that the police were not overly concerned about Janine even though she kept appearing where they were investigating.
Sonya, Alexa "so called best friend" spilling so much detail to a stranger (Janine), though that was more about getting people on her side and attention seeking.
Gabby, Otis friend and a lawyer, I felt suspicious of, was she stringing Jaime along, using her has her own investigator. It appears like that, she blew hot and cold and put Janine in uncomfortable situations.

Would you trust a stranger, a writer, with so much personal information at what is a potential crime scene, it’s like trusting a journalist with your life story and hoping they will not write about it. The degree of trust and information that Jaime is being party to I found baffling.
I know the title is the Secret of Strangers but I did find even the police trusting Janine with so much information a little far fetched.

I liked the writing group gossip, that really helped put some links into the story. The chat discussions where as amusing as they were serious.

I felt Jim was a red herring, I thought he was much older than Alexa but was left a bit confused about there relationship at the end.

I loved Dorrit the nosy neighbour, I did however have my suspicions about her, unfounded it turns out.

I struggled with Janine's treatment of her sister Beth and husband Kamal. I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop before she lost them both. I felt sorry for Kamal, his patience was admirable, but there was no real mention of how much he was hurting because of his wife's behaviour and the pain he was going through too. The story of loss was very much centred around Janine and Alexa the mothers, though Otis pain is obvious when Alexa is missing.

The murderer however wasn’t who I expected, that was a twist I never saw coming. Jess pulled that surprise out the bag. There were no clues that I picked up.

Jealously is a powerful emotion and coupled with the drive to succeed it’s deadly.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy of TSOS. I love Jess's books and was keen to read this one. I did feel a bit disappointed that it wasn't as gripping as i hoped but it a great read and the twist at the end is worth sticking with it.

[trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to thank Simon and Schuster for sending me a proof copy of this book. I am beyond grateful to receive it. And of course, I want to thank Jess Kitching for writing this book because I absolutely LOVED IT!

This book follows Janine, who is a published thriller author. She and her husband, Kamal, move to the small town of Bramblethorpe for a fresh start after a traumatic incident. But a local woman, Alexa Clarke, goes missing and Janine wants to find her. While investigating, she begins to realise how similar her life is to Alexa’s, as well as the power of secrets.

As I said, I LOVED THIS BOOK! I was so impressed by the story. It’s not your average thriller book because Jess Kitching constantly shows a parallel between true crime and fictional crime. By making the main character and several other characters writers, she draws notice to how writers can emotionlessly twist real tragic stories for their own benefit. And I thought that was just so clever, and it really made me feel for Janine because she, despite being the only published writer, was the only one with the moral code to not twist the real story. That made me absolutely love her character as well.

I was also so moved by the relationships in this book. First, I loved Kamal and Janine’s relationship, and especially the parallel between them and Otis and Alexa. I loved the emphasis Kitching put on the struggles with mental health in relationships. I thought that was done so well and so delicately. And it was just so beautiful to see how Kamal and Janine’s relationship grew throughout the book, and I loved the message Kitching was giving with that: that patience with your partner while letting them know that you are not going anywhere is so important in relationships.

And lastly, the crime was amazingly thought out. I did not see that ending coming, oh my god! I’m not going to spoil anything, but oh my god, I love a plot twist I don’t see coming. The crime aspect wasn’t the primary focus of the book. As such, I loved how she weaved the parallelism to writing and character connections in with the crime. Kitching balanced all of this perfectly; there was not too much or too little of one.

All in all, this was amazing! I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye out for Kitching’s other books. Babes, if you’re looking for a heartbreaking thriller that will make you pause and think but make you itching to find out what happens next, this book is for you!

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Jess Kitching, although I do have her other novel, The Life Experiment, on my shelf. Before anything else, I feel like I need to preface this by saying I’m not typically a thriller girlie. I tend to gravitate more toward character-driven stories rather than plot-driven ones. That said I did enjoy my time with this.

I absolutely breezed through The Secrets of Strangers. It’s incredibly readable and accessible. I just kept turning the pages without even realising how quickly I was moving through it. It’s twisty in the way I’d expect a thriller to be, and I genuinely didn’t figure out who the villain was. When the reveal came, it did surprise me, which I think is a win for any thriller.

Although, that surprise is a bit of a double-edged sword. While I appreciated not being able to guess the culprit, it also felt like the reveal came a little out of nowhere. I wasn’t fully convinced by the villain’s motive and I found myself questioning whether there was enough grounding there to justify their actions. Maybe that’s just my brain wanting something more logical or clearly built up.

I felt something similar with the main character as well. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about her, particularly in terms of her motivation for getting involved in everything. At times, I found myself asking, why are you here? why are you doing this? But again, I think that might be intentional. Given the personal emotional circumstances she’s navigating, her choices aren’t necessarily meant to feel rational; they’re messy and grief-driven.

Beyond the thriller plot, there’s an exploration of deeper themes like infertility, grief and mental health that I truly appreciate. Those elements added a layer of emotional weight that I wasn’t expecting and I liked how they were woven into the story rather than feeling like an afterthought.

Overall, while I had a few questions about character motivations and the logic behind the big reveal, I can’t deny that this was an engaging and entertaining read. It kept me hooked, it surprised me and it delivered on what I think it set out to do.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start with Janine and Kamal and their fresh start after suffering a loss. They have upped sticks and moved from Manchester to the small Lancashire village of Bamblethorpe. It's hoped that the peace and tranquillity will allow author Janine to better work on her next manuscript which is a bit overdue... But sadly this isn't the case and she is still struggling to work. Until a local woman Alexa Clarke goes missing and Janine decides to both investigate the disappearance and also write about it.
But it soon becomes evident that there is a lot more to Alexa's disappearance than just a women leaving her husband. And things turn quite dark as Janine uncovers more about Alexa and her life and starts to draw parallels with her own.
Ok so I do have a few niggles about how much information Janine would really get from certain people, especially the police, but all of which was necessary to add colour, clarity to the narrative and also progress the story so I was completely ok with accepting things as I found them. They were only really quite minor. I also thought that her trust of Otis was a bit weird initially. Although I do accept that writing crime novels does get you more than average insight than the average Joe.
With an extensive cast of characters, all well drawn, and all the usual twists and turns you'd expect from a book of this genre, served up with a healthy dollop of dysfunctional behaviour, the story held me captive throughout as I tried to second guess what really had happened to Alexa. Spoiler... I gave up! But that only made the jaw dropping reveal even more exciting when it happened and, when the whole truth was finally exposed, I was left completely satisfied.
When I first picked up this book I was sure that I had read books by her before. Looking at her back catalogue, it appears I was wrong, but that can only be a good thing as I now have a bunch more books to add to my TBR.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Valeriya Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much, Simon & Schuster Australia, for sending me an ARC of this highly anticipated book! I happen to know the author in person, so you can imagine how excited I was when I received this book!

Janine and Kamal are surviving the aftermath of a loss and trying to find a way to a fresh start in a new place, Bamblethorpe, after moving from Manchester and leaving the rest of the family behind. The countryside seems to be an ideal place for Janine, who writes thrillers and currently works on a new book. But Janine carries too much inside her soul to move on, and another disturbance in paradise doesn’t help. Janine discovers that one of her brief acquaintances, Alexa Clarke, has disappeared, and for some reason, this situation resonates with her on an unexplained level. Janine feels a great urge to find the woman, or at least to assist in searching for her by approaching Alexa’s husband, Otis, who, against all odds, accepts her help in the form of a writer who has some decent detective skills. But the more information Janine discovers, the more details don’t add up, and this case slowly turns into a very dark rabbit hole…

I could not function properly for the last forty eight hours, because this book consumed me in whole! I could not put it down, because every chapter was like a string you pull, and there is more to follow. WOW.

The twist at the end was absolutely mind-blowing!! I could not believe I didn’t see it coming, and honestly, I wouldn’t, because everything in this book was so perfectly tangled and mixed with many ideas about who to blame for Alexa’s disappearance.

The cast of characters was brilliant, and their psychological profiles are the chef’s kiss! I am in absolute awe of how the author played with the reader’s mind about people’s motivations in this story!

Overall, this is one of my best reads for 2026! Jess Kitching is my official Thriller Queen, because her books are brilliant on so many levels! If you love the genre, this book is a MUST.

[Hu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of The Secrets of Strangers by Jess Kitching through NetGalley, and I’m so glad I made time for it because this was an absolutely gripping read.

Lately I’ve found myself really drawn to stories that centre around writers, whether they’re successful, struggling, or somewhere in between, and this novel delivered that in such a compelling way, layered with a genuinely addictive mystery thriller plot. From the very beginning, I was hooked. It was one of those books that kept pulling me back in every time I tried to put it down.

Janine, the main character, definitely tested my patience at times. She makes choices that put her in dangerous situations, and there were moments where I wanted to yell at her to stop. But at the same time, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. If anything, it added to the tension and pace of the story. It also made me reflect on how differently those same choices might be perceived if the character were male, which added another layer to the reading experience.

A significant part of the story also explores themes around fertility, conception, and the challenges of carrying a pregnancy to term. This is not typically a theme I’m personally drawn to, but I have to give credit where it’s due. The writing was so immersive and emotionally grounded that I didn’t feel disconnected from it at all. Instead, it was handled with such care, compassion, and empathy that it added real depth to the story rather than pulling me out of it.

What really stood out to me was how immersive the writing felt overall. The darker elements of the story, particularly surrounding Alexa’s death, were described in a way that was vivid without feeling over the top. The sensory details, from the physical trauma to the unsettling atmosphere, made the mystery feel incredibly real and heightened the overall intensity of the book.

This was such a fun, fast-paced, and engaging thriller that I ended up enjoying far more than I expected. I’m genuinely excited for my book club to read this because I can already tell it’s going to spark a lot of discussion.

A standout read for me, and one I’ll definitely be recommending.

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘You’re a thriller author. You know twists and lies and people’s dark sides better than most… what’s your theory’?

Bramblethorpe is a small, rural northern English town where nothing much happens—but where everyone knows (or thinks they know) everyone else’s business. So when Otis bursts into the local tea room desperately searching for his missing wife, Alexa, the townspeople seem more interested in gossiping about the couple’s strained relationship than actually searching for her.

Janine moved to this quiet village to escape city life and focus on writing her new novel. But she can’t help wondering about Alexa. After all, “…the woman in the photograph is not a stranger… she’s someone who’s been on my mind every day for the last 11 months.” And although she really shouldn’t get involved, Janine does what all good authors do and searches for plot holes in the story.

From the opening chapters, the novel builds a steady, compelling sense of suspense that keeps the pages turning, without spinning its wheels.

A refreshing aspect of the story is the protagonist’s POV: a thriller author drawn into solving a real-life crime. Janine’s knowledge of crime fiction shapes the way she interprets clues and suspects.

Kitching also weaves in a deeply personal secondary storyline involving fertility struggles and miscarriage. This thread adds emotional depth and humanity to Janine’s journey, making her motivations and vulnerabilities feel authentic and relatable.

The result is a thriller that manages to be both gripping and thoughtful, with a unique narrative perspective that feels refreshingly believable. I finished this in 24 hours. With Midsomer Murder village vibes, a touch of horror, and the clever perspective of a thriller author investigating a real crime, this story will satisfy a range of crime thriller readers.

‘It’s just writing 101, isn’t it? Don’t trust anyone or what they say’.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first thriller book by Jess Kitching that I've read and I definitely wasn't disappointed! It's fantastically written, and I was hooked right from the start. It's set in a rural town where a young woman, Alexa, goes missing after heading out for a walk. She had recently moved there with her husband but spent much of her time isolated from the rest of the community. Another woman, Janine, is in a not dissimilar situation as the missing woman and is drawn into the mystery of Alexa's disappearance. As a thriller writer herself, suffering a little from writer's block, she inserts herself into the investigation. Having this purpose rejuvenates Janine, but she is also risking her marriage and her own safety as she makes certain choices along the way. I don't want to say too much about the details to avoid spoilers, but my only very niggly bit of criticism is around the ending and the "whodunnit". While the motivations all made sense, I felt like more breadcrumbs could have been left throughout the book so it felt more like an "aha" moment. (In saying that, there very well could've been clever little hints that I missed).

Alongside the main storyline, this book also explores pregnancy loss and difficulty conceiving, and how this impacts those individuals and their relationships. I'll admit, as someone who this does not directly impact, I did struggle a little bit at the beginning with Janine's character and how this affected her actions in her relationships. However, as the book went on, I found it much easier to understand and empathise with Janine and thought that this theme was really beautifully written about.

Overall I absolutely loved this and highly recommend!

[Despina O’Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Jess Kitching’s newest novel (to come out on the 28th of this month!!!) today and I need to talk about it….

Because it was FANTASTIC! I couldn’t put this down from the moment I started it. Truly Jess’ best work yet (& she’s written some banger novels!).

This had me feeling sooooo many feelings… one particular scene was so gruesome (and written so well) that I actually had goosebumps.

I also felt such a strong sense of hope that everything would work out in the end, mainly because the main them is all about IVF and the struggles of that + miscarriages, that I really felt for all the characters who had experienced one or both of those unfortunate challenges.

It was written in such a delicate way, that I’m sure anyone who has experienced this will be able to feel the love on the pages… despite this novel being a thriller 🙈

There were a few unreliable characters which I loved! A twist that I didn’t expect. And an ending that was perfection.

⭐️ SYNOPSIS:
After suffering a loss, Janine and her husband, Kamal, need a fresh start. They leave their family and everything they know in Manchester and move to Bamblethorpe, a picturesque Lancashire village where they expect nothing but peace and quiet. It’ll be just what Janine, a thriller writer, needs to work on her next manuscript.

But the peace of their new village life is disrupted when longtime local Alexa Clarke goes missing. Did she leave her husband, like some people suspect? Or is there credibility to the rumours that something more nefarious has happened to Alexa?

A big thank you to @simonschusterau and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this before its release date next week. Be sure to add it to your carts the moment it’s released!!

[Jen James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janine is grieving, multiple miscarriages have taken a huge toll on her, and her relationship with husband Kamal. The move to rural Bramblethorpe hasn’t healed and helped, as she had hoped. Alexa, a stranger who lives in the village, disappears. Janine instantly feels an affinity with the missing woman, and knows she must help.

I found myself turning the pages so quickly, I was gripped by the compelling story, and drawn in by the characters. I liked Janine immediately. I really appreciated her empathy, which brought my empathy for her. I enjoyed the small village claustrophobia, it added an extra layer of pressure on the central characters. There is no such thing as a secret, in a small, insular community.

The author writes beautifully, she doesn’t write that someone is feeling a certain way, her words describe the emotion perfectly. So intuitively, that I know what the character is feeling, as I am feeling it too, alongside them. Jess’ thrillers are far more than a standard thriller, it is this emotional element that stand them apart for me

At the end of a review, for an author whose writing I love, I usually say how much I’m looking forward to whatever they write next. In the past, I thought it was a compliment to the writer, now I know it is extra pressure on them. So I will just say to Jess, thank you for writing such a gripping book, that held me tight for the days that I lived in the world of your imagination.

The Secrets of Strangers is a fabulous, highly recommended read. All the stars from me.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a winner Jess Kitching has absolutely delivered with this new book.

This thriller completely swept me away from the very first page. After suffering a devastating loss, Janine and her husband Kamal move from Manchester to the seemingly idyllic village of Bamblethorpe, hoping for peace, healing, and a fresh start. But the tranquillity they’re promised quickly fractures when local woman Alexa Clarke goes missing. What begins as a distraction from Janine’s writer’s block soon becomes an obsession, and I was utterly hooked as she stumbled deeper into the mystery. The way the author builds tension, layer by layer, secret by secret, is masterful. Every new discovery about Alexa’s life adds another twist, and the unsettling parallels between the two women create a creeping sense of dread that never lets up.

By the time the story spirals into its tangled web of lies, hidden motives, and dangerous truths, I was completely glued to the pages. The atmosphere is pitch perfect, the pacing relentless, and the emotional undercurrent surprisingly powerful. What starts as curious procrastination for Janine becomes a fight for survival, and the final revelations hit with real force. This book is brilliantly executed sharp, immersive, and filled with the kind of suspense that keeps you reading long past the point you meant to stop. A standout thriller that delivers on every promise.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kiirstyannee.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Simon & Schuster Australia & Jess Kitching for this read!

Wow! This book kicks off right from the start. It has a chilling beginning that will grab just about anyone and then is almost important to put down. I am not exaggerating when I say I absolutely binged this book. While I sat and got my hair done at the hairdressers, I was moving this way and that to keep peaking at my kindle. I was on the edge of my seat as each chapter progressed, and for once I did not want my hair to be finished - just so I could read until the very end! Luckily - I managed to finish it by the end of my appointment AND none of my hair was harmed by my movements or as I was hanging on the edge of my seat haha!

Jess is one of my favourite authors and I can't help but notice that this is her most developed and sophisticated work. The plot was perfectly executed - with twists and shocks that I honestly didn't expect. The scenes are at times gruesome and the descriptions vivid, I could picture everything and this enhanced the gripping nature of the book (and this is definitely her darkest book to me). In addition, the suspense builds with each chapter and I think anyone will find the last half of the book IMPOSSIBLE to put down!

Overall, this book was a hit! I think I will find myself using this book as a go-to recommendation from this moment forward! Thriller lovers - you will NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

Dark, shocking and twisty - The Secrets of Strangers is the author's most developed and well executed book. I cannot wait to spread the word about it!

Out 28th April!

[Narelle Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janine, is a thriller writer, with a secret or two, that she is trying to cover up with lies to her family and husband.
1. She isn't writing the draft of her next book.
2. She isn't taking her medication or looking after herself at all.
3. She isn't really coping with life since her last miscarriage.
Her secrets pale into nothing though when she finds herself caught up in a real world problem. Alexa Clarke, a woman who she once connected with in a medical office, has gone missing from very near Janine's home. Janine knows she needs to help find Alexa regardless of the consquences before it is too late.
Suddenly there are secrets and lies everywhere - who knows the truth about Alexa's disappearance and who is hiding their darkness?
This was a super read - you really just had to go along for the ride with Janine. You wanted to hold her hand and hope that she wasn't getting in too deep to situations that she wouldn't be able to escape from. It just totally made sense that for her to escape the pain of her life, she needed to make sure Alexa was found. Jess Kitching has handled some really sensitive ideas with care and consideration. While ultimately this story is a thriller, it is also an exploration of how humans care for each other when painful circumstances cause a loss that is unbearable - how loved ones just want to be there in whatever way they can.
There was great twists that you just didn't seem coming and I loved that my opinions on characters had to keep shifting as new evidence or events came to light. This is one of those books that you start and have to keep going till you find the ending. Highly entertaining and very much worth putting at the very top top of your TBR pile - no secret about that at all.
Thanks to NetGalley as well as Simon & Schuster Australia for the chance to read this arc.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you pick up one book this month, let it be The Secrets of Strangers by Jess Kitching!

Why? Because this is the kind of book you’ll want to binge in a single sitting. One more chapter turns into five, and suddenly it’s way too late, but you’re too invested to stop. It's thoughtful, tender, and incredibly perceptive when it comes to the heavier, more emotional themes, while equally terrifying in Alexa's Chapters.

Janine, as a character, feels so authentic it’s almost uncomfortable at times. Her grief, her choices, the way she channels everything into something that looks like purpose, but is really just a way to survive what she isn’t ready to face. It’s messy and human in a way that really stays with you.

Beyond the mystery of what happened to Alexa Clarke, this story explores loss in a way that feels painfully real. Jess has this incredible ability to put into words the kind of feelings that are almost impossible to explain. She is honest and vulnerable in her portrayal, while still handling the reader with so much care. While reading, I could feel how much intention Jess put into this, ensuring that readers who could relate or were navigating their own grief felt both seen and held within these pages.

And then there’s the twist. 🤯

I’m not exaggerating when I say even the most seasoned bookish detectives won’t see it coming. It’s clever and so well executed that it will make you want to start back at page one and pick up on everything you missed.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Simon & Schuster for a gifted copy to read and review.
After the success of The Life Experiment and switching back to the thriller brand for her newest, Jess Kitching is about to make an eminent impact in the genre.
This isn’t released until May 2026 but I can honestly say that all readers are in for a reading treat.
It’s chilling, dynamic and totally addictive.
Janine and husband Kamal move from the city to the country after a loss.
The English countryside is perfect for Janine, a thriller writer.
While working on her next book a local goes missing.
Many speculate and Janine becomes intrigued by the disappearance.
She begins her own sleuthing and as she gets deeper the more it’s gets troublesome.
An entanglement of secrets climb to the top until finally the shocking truth is discovered……..
A mind blowing psychological domestic noir that pulls you into the drama and doesn’t let go until the final scene.
The plot is gripping, the characters suspicious, there’s a jaw on the floor twist and a very satisfying ending.
An enthralling mystery style that had me guessing until the sneaky ingenious twist.
It’s all killer no filler and will be on many favourites lists for the year, it’s that good.
Gimme more Jess, I need your next book now…..

[McBreakneck · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been far too long since Jess Kitching’s previous thriller Lucky Number 11 - The Secrets Of Strangers has been one of my most-anticipated thrillers ever since.

In The Secrets Of Strangers author Janine and her husband Kamal move to a picturesque village for a new start. The tranquillity is soon disrupted by the disappearance of a young local woman, Alexa. Janine can’t help but be drawn in to start investigating in an attempt to help find Alexa.

Jess Kitching is known for writing ‘thrillers with heart’, characters that you really care about and believe in. The Secrets Of Strangers adds to that reputation, but what this book will be remembered for is the twist. It’s exceptional!

If I think about truly memorable, original twists a few books really stand out, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Ex by Freida McFadden for example. Add The Secrets Of Strangers to the elite list, the kind of twist that leaves you blinking, taking deep breaths, wondering if you’ve been knocked unconscious.

Of all the 2026 thriller releases I’ve read so far The Secrets Of Strangers and Liz Nugent’s The Truth About Ruby Cooper are my two favourites. It’s really that good.

Read it as soon as you can!

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia)

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-3.75⭐️

I am a fan of this author’s work so I was excited to get this book.

Thriller author Janine and her husband Kamal do their very own escape to the country. Only it’s not everything Janine hoped for, she has writers block and is behind on her manuscript deadline.

The chatty first person present tense helps the reader engage with Janine. I found the protagonist naive and young sounding. She decides to try and find a missing local woman Alexa, armed with no more experience than being a thriller author with writers block.
The ‘I can help. I’m a thriller author’ comment to her husband Otis made me chuckle.
It’s told by both Janine’s and to a much lesser extent Alexa’s perspective.

I found this to be more of a slow burn suspense than thriller. It starts with a good hook, but then I found much of the book to be too slow with not enough happening to keep me fully invested. I’m afraid that I didn’t really manage to gel with this book. Some of that might be that I read this one, I struggle reading these days and audio is my go to format. The book has rave early reviews so I’m sure that I’m an outlier here.

The topics of fertility issues and miscarriage is incorporated so this may give triggers for some.

[Terri | Twist & Doubt | Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚂𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 by Jess Kitching has been popping up all over my feed, and so when I was granted access to an eARC, I couldn’t help but be excited for this one - and I was not disappointed!

We follow Janine, a successful but grieving author who relocates to a small English town with her husband, hoping for a fresh start. But not long after they arrive, a local woman - Alexa - goes missing. What starts as curiosity quickly turns into something more, as Janine finds herself drawn into the search, partly because there’s a thread connecting her to Alexa that she can’t ignore.

I loved how this balanced emotional depth with quiet, creeping tension. It’s not just about the mystery of what happened to Alexa, but about grief, perception, and how well we really know the people around us.

The twist is one of those ones that feels obvious in hindsight - but I actually think that worked in its favour. Everything was laid so carefully that nothing felt forced or thrown in for shock value.

Honestly, I couldn’t find a single thing I genuinely disliked. A brilliant piece of writing and I will for sure be reading more of Jess’s work.

𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺.