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The Secret Keepers
From award-winning author Anstey Harris comes an unforgettable story of mothers, daughters and the secrets that can pull a family apart.
Olivia has spent thirty years tending the cemetery next to her home, gently caring for the graves. Since her daughter Lizzie stopped speaking to her after a devastating accident, talking to the dead has been easier than the living.
Olivia thought there would be years ahead—time to persuade Lizzie to come home. But when she discovers her husband is dying, everything changes. Suddenly, time is very short.
For Lizzie to reunite with her parents, Olivia will have to face the truth of her choices, of the secrets she’s been hiding for years. She knows it is time. Time to bring the two halves of herself back together. But if she does, will those she loves forgive her? Or is it already too late?
An incredibly moving story that will stay in your heart, about the secrets we keep to protect those we love and how to find peace when time is running out.
Praise for The Secret Keepers:
“Beautifully rich and expansive... As surprising as it is immersive, I loved it.” —Amy Beashel
“Full of secrets, tricks and intrigue, this is a magical story about family and what it means to truly love. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, yet I wanted to savour every one.” —Emma Robinson
Olivia has spent thirty years tending the cemetery next to her home, gently caring for the graves. Since her daughter Lizzie stopped speaking to her after a devastating accident, talking to the dead has been easier than the living.
Olivia thought there would be years ahead—time to persuade Lizzie to come home. But when she discovers her husband is dying, everything changes. Suddenly, time is very short.
For Lizzie to reunite with her parents, Olivia will have to face the truth of her choices, of the secrets she’s been hiding for years. She knows it is time. Time to bring the two halves of herself back together. But if she does, will those she loves forgive her? Or is it already too late?
An incredibly moving story that will stay in your heart, about the secrets we keep to protect those we love and how to find peace when time is running out.
Praise for The Secret Keepers:
“Beautifully rich and expansive... As surprising as it is immersive, I loved it.” —Amy Beashel
“Full of secrets, tricks and intrigue, this is a magical story about family and what it means to truly love. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, yet I wanted to savour every one.” —Emma Robinson
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2026
About the author
Anstey Harris
8 books522 followersAnstey Harris is based by the seaside in south-east England where she lives with her violinmaker husband and two dogs. She teaches creative writing in the community, local schools, and occasionally as an associate lecturer for Christchurch University in Canterbury. If you'd like to have a go at some writing exercises with Anstey, head over to Instagram and look at her IGTV channel, where she also interviews authors about their journeys and tips for writing.
Anstey writes about the things that make people tick, the things that bind us and the things that can rip us apart. In 2015, she won the H G Wells Short Story Prize for her story, Ruby and The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton (a Richard and Judy pick for July 2019) won the RNA Sapere Books Pomantic Novel of the Year title in 2020.
In novels, Anstey tries to celebrate uplifting ideas and prove that life is good and that happiness is available to everyone once we work out where to look (usually inside ourselves). She enjoys writing issue-driven books where the issues take a back seat to the characters. Her short stories tend not to resolve quite so well and often feature sticky ends...
Things that interest Anstey include her children and grandchildren, green issues and conservation, adoption and adoption reunion (she is an adopted child, born in an unmarried mothers' home in Liverpool in 1965), dogs, and food. Always food. She would love to be on Masterchef but would never recover from the humiliation if she got sent home in the first round.
Anstey writes about the things that make people tick, the things that bind us and the things that can rip us apart. In 2015, she won the H G Wells Short Story Prize for her story, Ruby and The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton (a Richard and Judy pick for July 2019) won the RNA Sapere Books Pomantic Novel of the Year title in 2020.
In novels, Anstey tries to celebrate uplifting ideas and prove that life is good and that happiness is available to everyone once we work out where to look (usually inside ourselves). She enjoys writing issue-driven books where the issues take a back seat to the characters. Her short stories tend not to resolve quite so well and often feature sticky ends...
Things that interest Anstey include her children and grandchildren, green issues and conservation, adoption and adoption reunion (she is an adopted child, born in an unmarried mothers' home in Liverpool in 1965), dogs, and food. Always food. She would love to be on Masterchef but would never recover from the humiliation if she got sent home in the first round.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 16, 2026
Anstey Harris has crafted engaging characters and used them to people her emotionally charged and issue-driven storyline.
If character-driven stories about the power of forgiveness, the challenges between mothers and daughters, and the secrets we keep in an effort to protect loved ones appeal to you, this one may be of interest.
Making peace with our past, especially when there’s a ‘ticking clock’ involved, is always an emotionally fraught experience. Realizing that what we experienced has shaped who we are gives us the freedom to pivot and reframe our future. Most of the time, moving on involves forgiveness. You’ll have to read to find out if Olivia and Lizzie can find a way to move forward…before it’s too late.
I was gifted his copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
If character-driven stories about the power of forgiveness, the challenges between mothers and daughters, and the secrets we keep in an effort to protect loved ones appeal to you, this one may be of interest.
Making peace with our past, especially when there’s a ‘ticking clock’ involved, is always an emotionally fraught experience. Realizing that what we experienced has shaped who we are gives us the freedom to pivot and reframe our future. Most of the time, moving on involves forgiveness. You’ll have to read to find out if Olivia and Lizzie can find a way to move forward…before it’s too late.
I was gifted his copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've always hated magic acts, like some people hate clowns, so perhaps my feelings about this book are somewhat biased. This is a book that explores a fractured family, but the central character is a famous magician and his spouse is his glamorous assistant. There is a lot about his elaborate magic tricks that some will find entertaining. I did not, but I didn't fail to see the importance of one trick in particular as quite relevant to the plot. This is primarily a book about familial relationships and how they can break into bits, particularly when individuals become self absorbed. But it also spoke to me about the importance of women in relationships, about the roles we choose or have chosen for us, and about how we fulfill ourselves and others, or sometimes don't. It also shines a light on the fragility of our humanity and our overwhelming need to be loved. And even more so, to feel loved. While some will be content to feel loved by a smaller audience, for others, that is not enough.
Enter Hugh, the world famous and well loved magician. He has talent, amazing talent, but he is crippled by that need to be loved by the larger audience. He has exaggerated fears of failure and thus suffers from severe stage fright. Enter Olivia, and she is the balm. Paired with Hugh by a booking agent, she is physically gorgeous with a nurturing nature. She can calm Hugh down and get him out on stage to do their act. But what neither of them realize is that their agent is in reality, a government recruiter of spies and Hugh and Olivia's magic act puts them in the perfect position to fulfill this handler's needs. They travel to far flung locations and they are particularly adept at an incredible act called "The Vanishing Woman". Who would ever suspect a traveling magician of espionage? But this handler does not choose Hugh. He chooses Olivia and she is told to tell no one, absolutely no one, and that includes Hugh. Her government demands it. But when Hugh and Olivia's relationship evolves and they marry and later have a child, that sets in motion some rather serious consequences.
When their daughter is young enough, she travels with them. She shares her father's talent for magic, but when she reaches school age, she is necessarily sent off to a boarding school, which she despises. Bitter, defiant and ultimately destructive, she does something stupid and unforgivable. Her coping mechanism is to blame her parents for pretty much everything and separate herself from them, for decades. And then her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer. And that is when the real story begins.
This is a well written novel but for me, it didn't quite make it to four or five stars. The plot delves into some decidedly interesting experiences but not in a lot of depth so it lacks somewhat in excitement. I liked the interesting twist towards the end, but the emotional fracture between daughter and parents is explored in agonizing detail. I wanted to sit the adult daughter down and give her a severe talking to. Overall, I think there was a missed opportunity to explore more deeply Olivia's life as a spy. Instead we got Hugh's life as a magician, and I hate magic.
Enter Hugh, the world famous and well loved magician. He has talent, amazing talent, but he is crippled by that need to be loved by the larger audience. He has exaggerated fears of failure and thus suffers from severe stage fright. Enter Olivia, and she is the balm. Paired with Hugh by a booking agent, she is physically gorgeous with a nurturing nature. She can calm Hugh down and get him out on stage to do their act. But what neither of them realize is that their agent is in reality, a government recruiter of spies and Hugh and Olivia's magic act puts them in the perfect position to fulfill this handler's needs. They travel to far flung locations and they are particularly adept at an incredible act called "The Vanishing Woman". Who would ever suspect a traveling magician of espionage? But this handler does not choose Hugh. He chooses Olivia and she is told to tell no one, absolutely no one, and that includes Hugh. Her government demands it. But when Hugh and Olivia's relationship evolves and they marry and later have a child, that sets in motion some rather serious consequences.
When their daughter is young enough, she travels with them. She shares her father's talent for magic, but when she reaches school age, she is necessarily sent off to a boarding school, which she despises. Bitter, defiant and ultimately destructive, she does something stupid and unforgivable. Her coping mechanism is to blame her parents for pretty much everything and separate herself from them, for decades. And then her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer. And that is when the real story begins.
This is a well written novel but for me, it didn't quite make it to four or five stars. The plot delves into some decidedly interesting experiences but not in a lot of depth so it lacks somewhat in excitement. I liked the interesting twist towards the end, but the emotional fracture between daughter and parents is explored in agonizing detail. I wanted to sit the adult daughter down and give her a severe talking to. Overall, I think there was a missed opportunity to explore more deeply Olivia's life as a spy. Instead we got Hugh's life as a magician, and I hate magic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
An emotional novel centered on grief, family dynamics, and the heavy weight of long-held truths. Anstey Harris crafts a character-driven story about mother-daughter relationships and the messy, hopeful journey toward reconciliation.
The underlying themes of forgiveness and healing are where this book truly shines, making it an engaging and heartfelt drama.
The narrative revolves around Olivia, who has spent decades isolated in her own world and cut off from her daughter, Lizzie, following a tragic past incident. However, when news of her husband’s terminal diagnosis turns her life upside down, Olivia is suddenly forced to confront time’s ticking clock and lay bare the buried truths that fractured her family. This ticking timeline, combined with the delicate attempt to mend her bond with Lizzie while facing her husband’s final days, anchors the entire emotional weight of the story.
At times, I struggled with the dialogue, as some of the conversations felt a bit long and pulled me out of the story. Additionally, after such a rich build-up, the ending felt somewhat rushed, and I wished the resolution had been given a bit more room to breathe.
Publishing Date: October 16
An emotional novel centered on grief, family dynamics, and the heavy weight of long-held truths. Anstey Harris crafts a character-driven story about mother-daughter relationships and the messy, hopeful journey toward reconciliation.
The underlying themes of forgiveness and healing are where this book truly shines, making it an engaging and heartfelt drama.
The narrative revolves around Olivia, who has spent decades isolated in her own world and cut off from her daughter, Lizzie, following a tragic past incident. However, when news of her husband’s terminal diagnosis turns her life upside down, Olivia is suddenly forced to confront time’s ticking clock and lay bare the buried truths that fractured her family. This ticking timeline, combined with the delicate attempt to mend her bond with Lizzie while facing her husband’s final days, anchors the entire emotional weight of the story.
At times, I struggled with the dialogue, as some of the conversations felt a bit long and pulled me out of the story. Additionally, after such a rich build-up, the ending felt somewhat rushed, and I wished the resolution had been given a bit more room to breathe.
Publishing Date: October 16
October 20, 2026
The Secret Keepers AUDIO by Anstey Harris is a study in lies and estrangement. It is full of memories and miseries and is most often instrospection. Hard in an audio book. It involves a spy, a famous magician, and soon-to-be divorcee, and an impressionable teen. Kind of an interesting mix.
Full of personailities, this is very much a character-driven novel. Relationships between mothers and daughters is often complicated and more so in this interesting novel. The story pivots between mother and daughter, who each of problems beyond their broken relationship. It is difficult to get to be elderly with regrets and to not seem to be able to recitify them. A long listen. But worth it.
The narrators are Hannah Curtis and Karen Cass who both did a credible job portraying their individucal characters and the necessary information in between. Good job, ladies!
I was invited to listen to The Secret Keepers by Brilliance Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley @BrilliancePublshing #Hannah Curtis #KarenCass #AnsteyHarris #TheSecretKeepers
Full of personailities, this is very much a character-driven novel. Relationships between mothers and daughters is often complicated and more so in this interesting novel. The story pivots between mother and daughter, who each of problems beyond their broken relationship. It is difficult to get to be elderly with regrets and to not seem to be able to recitify them. A long listen. But worth it.
The narrators are Hannah Curtis and Karen Cass who both did a credible job portraying their individucal characters and the necessary information in between. Good job, ladies!
I was invited to listen to The Secret Keepers by Brilliance Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley @BrilliancePublshing #Hannah Curtis #KarenCass #AnsteyHarris #TheSecretKeepers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret Keepers is one of those books that completely sneaks up on you. I went into it expecting a story involving magic and espionage, but what stayed with me most was the deeply human story underneath it all: a fractured family, decades of secrets, the roles women take on in relationships, and the sometimes devastating consequences of the ways we try to protect the people we love.
At the heart of the story are Hugh and Olivia, once a world-famous magician and his glamorous assistant, and their estranged daughter Lizzie. Their past is complicated by Hugh’s desperate need to be loved and admired, Olivia’s sacrifices and secrets, and a family fracture that has lasted for decades. When Hugh receives a terminal diagnosis, there is suddenly a ticking clock on all the things they have left unsaid.
I was particularly fascinated by Olivia. Her story raises so many questions about how women define themselves within relationships, how much of ourselves we give to the people we love, and what happens when the role we've chosen—or had chosen for us—is no longer enough. The book also beautifully explores our very human need not just to be loved, but to feel loved, and how that need can shape our choices in ways we don't always recognize.
The magic and espionage elements add an intriguing layer, and while I'm not normally someone who enjoys magic acts, I could absolutely appreciate how cleverly the tricks—especially the "Vanishing Woman"—were woven into the larger story. There are some wonderful reveals along the way, and the way past and present gradually come together kept me invested.
But ultimately, this is a story about family, forgiveness, regret, and the secrets we keep believing they're for someone else's benefit. The emotional exploration of the relationship between Lizzie and her parents is particularly powerful, especially as the characters are forced to confront how differently they remember and understand the same events.
Anstey Harris writes with a warmth and emotional honesty that made these characters feel incredibly human. There are no easy answers here, and I appreciated that the book allows its characters to be flawed, selfish, loving, frightened, and complicated all at once.
A beautifully written, emotional story about the secrets that shape us, the people we hurt while trying to protect them, and whether it's ever too late to find our way back to the people we love. Highly recommended.
At the heart of the story are Hugh and Olivia, once a world-famous magician and his glamorous assistant, and their estranged daughter Lizzie. Their past is complicated by Hugh’s desperate need to be loved and admired, Olivia’s sacrifices and secrets, and a family fracture that has lasted for decades. When Hugh receives a terminal diagnosis, there is suddenly a ticking clock on all the things they have left unsaid.
I was particularly fascinated by Olivia. Her story raises so many questions about how women define themselves within relationships, how much of ourselves we give to the people we love, and what happens when the role we've chosen—or had chosen for us—is no longer enough. The book also beautifully explores our very human need not just to be loved, but to feel loved, and how that need can shape our choices in ways we don't always recognize.
The magic and espionage elements add an intriguing layer, and while I'm not normally someone who enjoys magic acts, I could absolutely appreciate how cleverly the tricks—especially the "Vanishing Woman"—were woven into the larger story. There are some wonderful reveals along the way, and the way past and present gradually come together kept me invested.
But ultimately, this is a story about family, forgiveness, regret, and the secrets we keep believing they're for someone else's benefit. The emotional exploration of the relationship between Lizzie and her parents is particularly powerful, especially as the characters are forced to confront how differently they remember and understand the same events.
Anstey Harris writes with a warmth and emotional honesty that made these characters feel incredibly human. There are no easy answers here, and I appreciated that the book allows its characters to be flawed, selfish, loving, frightened, and complicated all at once.
A beautifully written, emotional story about the secrets that shape us, the people we hurt while trying to protect them, and whether it's ever too late to find our way back to the people we love. Highly recommended.
October 20, 2026
While I enjoyed reading the advanced reader’s copy of “The Secret Keepers” I received from NetGalley, I truly didn’t like the daughter’s character. My review is voluntary.
The book’s atmospheric setting in a charming house in a beautiful cemetery is extremely unique and makes for an interesting backdrop for the elderly couple who live there, wandering and tending its grounds, particularly since the man, Hugh, has just received a terminal diagnosis and only has a short time left to live. He and his wife Olivia have been estranged from their daughter Lizzie for thirty years, so much so that they are unaware that she’d married and has a sixteen-year-old son, Clem. Clem also is completely unaware that Lizzie’s parents are alive and living not too far away.
Upon receiving Hugh’s diagnosis, Olivia and he are determined to reconcile with Lizzie, who is full of anger and resentment at her parents for that which no one but she knows stemming from an accident which occurred when she was seventeen and which isn’t described until late in the book. To me, Lizzie is a ridiculous character. The rationale for her anger and resentment seems disproportionate and misplaced, her mother’s efforts to reach out and reconcile throughout the years consistently rebuffed with no effort to understand. Similarly her choice in husband is baffling, since he appears repeatedly to be a narcissistic and irresponsible sleazeball.
Although it turns out that Olivia had been keeping secrets from her husband and daughter for all of their lives, she did so because she had to, not because she wanted to. She was a loving mother who demonstrated her love in a variety of ways, but the young Lizzie chose to forget this for her own, selfish reasons. Once the secrets finally are revealed, however, the family rift is able to be repaired, and a bittersweet reunion is had. The book takes a lot of divergent and surprising turns throughout, keeping it a compelling read, even until the final pages.
The book’s atmospheric setting in a charming house in a beautiful cemetery is extremely unique and makes for an interesting backdrop for the elderly couple who live there, wandering and tending its grounds, particularly since the man, Hugh, has just received a terminal diagnosis and only has a short time left to live. He and his wife Olivia have been estranged from their daughter Lizzie for thirty years, so much so that they are unaware that she’d married and has a sixteen-year-old son, Clem. Clem also is completely unaware that Lizzie’s parents are alive and living not too far away.
Upon receiving Hugh’s diagnosis, Olivia and he are determined to reconcile with Lizzie, who is full of anger and resentment at her parents for that which no one but she knows stemming from an accident which occurred when she was seventeen and which isn’t described until late in the book. To me, Lizzie is a ridiculous character. The rationale for her anger and resentment seems disproportionate and misplaced, her mother’s efforts to reach out and reconcile throughout the years consistently rebuffed with no effort to understand. Similarly her choice in husband is baffling, since he appears repeatedly to be a narcissistic and irresponsible sleazeball.
Although it turns out that Olivia had been keeping secrets from her husband and daughter for all of their lives, she did so because she had to, not because she wanted to. She was a loving mother who demonstrated her love in a variety of ways, but the young Lizzie chose to forget this for her own, selfish reasons. Once the secrets finally are revealed, however, the family rift is able to be repaired, and a bittersweet reunion is had. The book takes a lot of divergent and surprising turns throughout, keeping it a compelling read, even until the final pages.
October 8, 2026
A Beautiful Story of Love, Loss, and the Secrets We Keep
This is a beautifully written, heartfelt story about grief, family, love, and the complicated relationships between the people who know us best, or think they do.
I adored Olivia’ character as well as her secrets. Her gentle nature, quiet kindness, and the beautiful way she cared for the cemetery and its visitors made her memorable. I loved how she viewed those buried there as her neighbors, treating their stories and memories with the same tenderness she showed the living. It was such a lovely reminder that cemeteries aren’t simply places of death, but places filled with evidence of love.
The characters were wonderfully developed, and I found myself invested in their lives and relationships. I appreciated the exploration of how families can become separated by secrets, misunderstandings, and all the things left unsaid. Our parents live whole lives outside of us and it can be easy to forget they are humans too and come with many angles that never show.
While I could anticipate some of the revelations, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story. I was captivated throughout and found the journey both entertaining and moving.
Some stories remind us that love doesn’t end with loss, that grief is simply love with nowhere to go, and that even the people we know best have chapters we’ve never read. The Secret Keepers is a beautiful reminder to look beyond what we think we know, to offer grace where we can, and to remember that every life, no matter how ordinary it may seem, holds a story worth telling.
Also, here’s to Gino! Forever three. Excellent listen!
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this beautiful audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
This is a beautifully written, heartfelt story about grief, family, love, and the complicated relationships between the people who know us best, or think they do.
I adored Olivia’ character as well as her secrets. Her gentle nature, quiet kindness, and the beautiful way she cared for the cemetery and its visitors made her memorable. I loved how she viewed those buried there as her neighbors, treating their stories and memories with the same tenderness she showed the living. It was such a lovely reminder that cemeteries aren’t simply places of death, but places filled with evidence of love.
The characters were wonderfully developed, and I found myself invested in their lives and relationships. I appreciated the exploration of how families can become separated by secrets, misunderstandings, and all the things left unsaid. Our parents live whole lives outside of us and it can be easy to forget they are humans too and come with many angles that never show.
While I could anticipate some of the revelations, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story. I was captivated throughout and found the journey both entertaining and moving.
Some stories remind us that love doesn’t end with loss, that grief is simply love with nowhere to go, and that even the people we know best have chapters we’ve never read. The Secret Keepers is a beautiful reminder to look beyond what we think we know, to offer grace where we can, and to remember that every life, no matter how ordinary it may seem, holds a story worth telling.
Also, here’s to Gino! Forever three. Excellent listen!
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this beautiful audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret Keepers is a beautifully tender and quietly powerful novel that lingers long after the final page. Anstey Harris weaves a story of mothers, daughters, and the heavy weight of unspoken truths with such emotional clarity that it’s impossible not to feel deeply for these characters.
Olivia is a wonderfully complex protagonist—steadfast, wounded, and shaped by decades of grief and hope. Her life tending the cemetery is both symbolic and heartbreakingly intimate, and the contrast between her gentle care for the dead and her fractured relationship with Lizzie adds a poignant tension throughout. The novel handles estrangement with remarkable sensitivity, showing how love can endure even when communication fails.
The impending loss of Olivia’s husband brings urgency to the story, and Harris uses that ticking clock to explore forgiveness, courage, and the cost of secrets kept in the name of protection. Lizzie’s absence is felt on every page, and the slow, careful unraveling of their shared past is handled with grace rather than melodrama.
The writing is atmospheric and immersive, with a quiet magic in the way Harris captures small moments—grief, memory, reconciliation—without ever overstating them. It’s a story that asks you to sit with its characters, to understand them, and ultimately to root for their healing.
A moving, heartfelt novel about the ties that bind us, the choices that haunt us, and the hope that remains even when time is running out. Thoughtful, emotional, and beautifully told.
With thanks to Anstey Harris, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Olivia is a wonderfully complex protagonist—steadfast, wounded, and shaped by decades of grief and hope. Her life tending the cemetery is both symbolic and heartbreakingly intimate, and the contrast between her gentle care for the dead and her fractured relationship with Lizzie adds a poignant tension throughout. The novel handles estrangement with remarkable sensitivity, showing how love can endure even when communication fails.
The impending loss of Olivia’s husband brings urgency to the story, and Harris uses that ticking clock to explore forgiveness, courage, and the cost of secrets kept in the name of protection. Lizzie’s absence is felt on every page, and the slow, careful unraveling of their shared past is handled with grace rather than melodrama.
The writing is atmospheric and immersive, with a quiet magic in the way Harris captures small moments—grief, memory, reconciliation—without ever overstating them. It’s a story that asks you to sit with its characters, to understand them, and ultimately to root for their healing.
A moving, heartfelt novel about the ties that bind us, the choices that haunt us, and the hope that remains even when time is running out. Thoughtful, emotional, and beautifully told.
With thanks to Anstey Harris, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
October 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars!
A weighty, almost haunting tone is established early as we meet Olivia and Hugh, a pair of octogenarians who quite literally call a cemetery home. Hugh has been diagnosed with cancer and given just months to live, and suddenly, the reel of their lives seems to play faster than ever—every joy, every regret, every secret laid bare for their own personal reckoning.
Hugh was once a famous magician, with Olivia as his beautiful assistant. Together, they traveled the world with the circus, often leaving their daughter, Lizzie, behind at boarding schools. The wounds of that childhood have lingered, and we learn early on that the three are estranged, a source of deep sadness and regret for Olivia and Hugh. Told through the alternating perspectives of Olivia and Lizzie, this story unfolds into a tale of reparation, redemption, and the extraordinary magic that can be found in a lifetime of secrets.
I loved this book for its gorgeous prose, evocative imagery, and layers of intrigue. But what touched me most was its celebration of people in the later chapters of life. There is something so beautiful about being reminded that even in our eighties, life is not simply winding down. There are still risks to take, bridges to rebuild, truths to uncover, and perhaps even a little magic left to discover.
If you’re looking for a book that is beautifully written, deeply human, reflective, and full of surprises, The Secret Keepers is one to add to your list!
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
A weighty, almost haunting tone is established early as we meet Olivia and Hugh, a pair of octogenarians who quite literally call a cemetery home. Hugh has been diagnosed with cancer and given just months to live, and suddenly, the reel of their lives seems to play faster than ever—every joy, every regret, every secret laid bare for their own personal reckoning.
Hugh was once a famous magician, with Olivia as his beautiful assistant. Together, they traveled the world with the circus, often leaving their daughter, Lizzie, behind at boarding schools. The wounds of that childhood have lingered, and we learn early on that the three are estranged, a source of deep sadness and regret for Olivia and Hugh. Told through the alternating perspectives of Olivia and Lizzie, this story unfolds into a tale of reparation, redemption, and the extraordinary magic that can be found in a lifetime of secrets.
I loved this book for its gorgeous prose, evocative imagery, and layers of intrigue. But what touched me most was its celebration of people in the later chapters of life. There is something so beautiful about being reminded that even in our eighties, life is not simply winding down. There are still risks to take, bridges to rebuild, truths to uncover, and perhaps even a little magic left to discover.
If you’re looking for a book that is beautifully written, deeply human, reflective, and full of surprises, The Secret Keepers is one to add to your list!
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret Keepers is a story about Olivia and her husband Hugh, better known to the world as magician Mr. Nimmo and his assistant, the dazzling Christiana, and their daughter, Lizzie. Olivia and Hugh are in their late 70s at the beginning of the novel, living near a cemetery in retirement and estranged from Lizzie for many years. When Hugh becomes ill with cancer, Olivia writes a letter to Lizzie, hoping that they all can reconcile while Hugh is still alive. This is a story of mothers and daughters, parents and children, and they secrets that separate them - love, loss, and forgiveness. There is so much going on and it's almost impossible to explain more of the plot without any spoilers. I found the writing just beautiful and as I listened to this on an audiobook, I found myself backing up to listen again to little pearls of wisdom coming from the characters. The author's note was lovely - "This is a book about seeing things that don't really happen and not seeing those that do. We don't know how big the universe is or what makes people fall in love, but not knowing doesn't make it any less wonderful." This is the first book I have ever read by this author and I look forward to reading more by her - and also looking for more audiobooks narrated by this same narrator, Hannah Curtis, as her voice was perfect. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret Keepers is a quiet, emotionally heavy story about what happens when protecting someone turns into hiding too much for too long. Olivia has spent thirty years tending the cemetery beside her home, finding it easier to care for the dead than repair the relationship with her estranged daughter, Lizzie. When Olivia learns that her husband is dying, all the things she assumed she still had time to fix suddenly become urgent.
I’m drawn to family stories built around old hurt and the things people leave unsaid, so Olivia and Lizzie’s relationship was the part I cared about most. The cemetery setting gives the novel a slightly melancholy feel without making it bleak, and I liked the contrast between Olivia’s patience with graves and her much messier relationship with the living. Her secrets are clearly meant to protect the people she loves, but the book keeps asking whether protection still counts as love once it starts causing damage.
This is much more about family, regret, and forgiveness than plot twists, which suited the story. I especially liked the pressure created by the fact that Olivia no longer has unlimited time to decide when, or whether, to tell the truth.
My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
I’m drawn to family stories built around old hurt and the things people leave unsaid, so Olivia and Lizzie’s relationship was the part I cared about most. The cemetery setting gives the novel a slightly melancholy feel without making it bleak, and I liked the contrast between Olivia’s patience with graves and her much messier relationship with the living. Her secrets are clearly meant to protect the people she loves, but the book keeps asking whether protection still counts as love once it starts causing damage.
This is much more about family, regret, and forgiveness than plot twists, which suited the story. I especially liked the pressure created by the fact that Olivia no longer has unlimited time to decide when, or whether, to tell the truth.
My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
August 31, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Anstey Harris for the ARC! 😊😊
The Secret Keepers is a story about a fractured family, complicated relationships, and secrets that have affected them for years.
For me, the most important part of the story was the relationship between Olivia and her estranged daughter, Lizzie. When Olivia’s husband, Hugh, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she feels an urgency to repair the relationship with her daughter that has been broken for several years.
There were secrets that played a huge part in tearing Olivia and Lizzie apart, and I found myself wanting to understand whether their relationship could ever truly be repaired.
The setting was probably the most unusual part of the book for me. Much of the story centers around a cemetery, while other parts involve a circus, Hugh’s life as a magician, and Olivia as his glamorous assistant. It was certainly different!
I found Olivia’s connection to the cemetery particularly interesting. At times, it felt to me as though she showed more care and empathy toward the people resting there than she had shown to her own family—as if she were somehow trying to make up for what had been lost.
Overall, this was an interesting and very unusual story, but I didn’t connect with it quite as much as I had hoped. For me, this one lands at 3.5 stars.
Read & Enjoy 😊😊!!
The Secret Keepers is a story about a fractured family, complicated relationships, and secrets that have affected them for years.
For me, the most important part of the story was the relationship between Olivia and her estranged daughter, Lizzie. When Olivia’s husband, Hugh, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she feels an urgency to repair the relationship with her daughter that has been broken for several years.
There were secrets that played a huge part in tearing Olivia and Lizzie apart, and I found myself wanting to understand whether their relationship could ever truly be repaired.
The setting was probably the most unusual part of the book for me. Much of the story centers around a cemetery, while other parts involve a circus, Hugh’s life as a magician, and Olivia as his glamorous assistant. It was certainly different!
I found Olivia’s connection to the cemetery particularly interesting. At times, it felt to me as though she showed more care and empathy toward the people resting there than she had shown to her own family—as if she were somehow trying to make up for what had been lost.
Overall, this was an interesting and very unusual story, but I didn’t connect with it quite as much as I had hoped. For me, this one lands at 3.5 stars.
Read & Enjoy 😊😊!!
October 16, 2026
What a surprise this book was! It was much more engaging than I expected at the start as Hugh and Olivia are given the dreaded news that Hugh doesn’t have long to live. Both in their 80’s and over 50 years married this brings into sharp focus that there is not much time left for Hugh to reconnect with their daughter, Lizzie who they haven’t seen for three decades.
Hugh was a famous magician in the 1960/70’s but after a serious accident whilst practising for a performance had to give up the act with Olivia who appeared as his assistant. Their daughter Lizzie blamed herself for her father having to end his career and cut herself off from her parents because of her feelings of guilt.
As Olivia and Lizzie each tell their stories, The Secret Keepers is essentially about family, secrets and learning to reconnect with one another. I really enjoyed the characters in this book, the description of their house in the unusual setting of a cemetery and the excitement of the circus as they live on the road as well known performers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Hugh was a famous magician in the 1960/70’s but after a serious accident whilst practising for a performance had to give up the act with Olivia who appeared as his assistant. Their daughter Lizzie blamed herself for her father having to end his career and cut herself off from her parents because of her feelings of guilt.
As Olivia and Lizzie each tell their stories, The Secret Keepers is essentially about family, secrets and learning to reconnect with one another. I really enjoyed the characters in this book, the description of their house in the unusual setting of a cemetery and the excitement of the circus as they live on the road as well known performers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Meet Hugh and Olivia, a former magician and his assistant, now both in their eighties and enjoying a quiet life away from the spotlight.
They have just reconnected with their estranged daughter Lizzie, when an old friend shows up. It is the start of an emotional rollercoaster, confronting a huge family secret.
This book took my breath away. It is well written, fast paced, exciting as well as deeply moving. Memories of circus life, traveling the world and a daughter on the sideline swap place with the peaceful existance Hugh and Olivia enjoy today as keepers of the graveyard.
The characters are well developed and attractive, the natural setting feels airy despite the unrest the family deals with. The past and present hit the perfect balance between light and dark, entertaining and personal.
The ending is almost poetic and pulled my heartstrings for sure. I sat with Olivia for a bit after that, what an impressive moment, what a magnificent read.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
They have just reconnected with their estranged daughter Lizzie, when an old friend shows up. It is the start of an emotional rollercoaster, confronting a huge family secret.
This book took my breath away. It is well written, fast paced, exciting as well as deeply moving. Memories of circus life, traveling the world and a daughter on the sideline swap place with the peaceful existance Hugh and Olivia enjoy today as keepers of the graveyard.
The characters are well developed and attractive, the natural setting feels airy despite the unrest the family deals with. The past and present hit the perfect balance between light and dark, entertaining and personal.
The ending is almost poetic and pulled my heartstrings for sure. I sat with Olivia for a bit after that, what an impressive moment, what a magnificent read.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
October 16, 2026
The Secret Keepers was an interesting read, but one that took a little too long to pull me in.
The story explores family relationships, buried secrets, regret, and forgiveness. I appreciated the emotional depth behind Olivia's complicated relationship with her daughter, Lizzie, but I found the pacing slow at times.
For me, the story really started to get interesting when Olivia's secret life as a spy was revealed. That added a layer of intrigue that I wasn't expecting, and I honestly wished that part of her story had been explored a little more. I think it could have made the book much more engaging.
There are some touching moments and interesting twists, but overall, I struggled to stay fully invested throughout.
Not a bad read by any means, just one that didn't quite grab me the way I'd hoped. Readers who enjoy emotional family dramas with a touch of mystery may appreciate this one more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
The story explores family relationships, buried secrets, regret, and forgiveness. I appreciated the emotional depth behind Olivia's complicated relationship with her daughter, Lizzie, but I found the pacing slow at times.
For me, the story really started to get interesting when Olivia's secret life as a spy was revealed. That added a layer of intrigue that I wasn't expecting, and I honestly wished that part of her story had been explored a little more. I think it could have made the book much more engaging.
There are some touching moments and interesting twists, but overall, I struggled to stay fully invested throughout.
Not a bad read by any means, just one that didn't quite grab me the way I'd hoped. Readers who enjoy emotional family dramas with a touch of mystery may appreciate this one more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Olivia and Hugh are an elderly couple living in the grounds of the local cemetery, to outsiders they are typical pensioners but unknown to anyone they both hold secrets that are unimaginable.
Hugh was once one of the world’s most famous magicians and his beautiful assistant was Olivia. They travelled the world, performing until Hugh had a bad accident which changed the direction of his life.
Lizzie their daughter was sent to boarding school while the couple travelled, this left her with a lot of resentment and she cut off contact with her parents when she was a teenager.
Hugh gets a devastating health diagnosis and his one wish is to reconnect with his daughter again . When she reunites with them, introducing them to her son , secrets begin to unfold, changing all their preconceived thoughts.
Can the family reconnect? Will their secrets tear them apart ? Emotional, thought provoking and full of wonderfully written characters this was a beautifully told story ,
Hugh was once one of the world’s most famous magicians and his beautiful assistant was Olivia. They travelled the world, performing until Hugh had a bad accident which changed the direction of his life.
Lizzie their daughter was sent to boarding school while the couple travelled, this left her with a lot of resentment and she cut off contact with her parents when she was a teenager.
Hugh gets a devastating health diagnosis and his one wish is to reconnect with his daughter again . When she reunites with them, introducing them to her son , secrets begin to unfold, changing all their preconceived thoughts.
Can the family reconnect? Will their secrets tear them apart ? Emotional, thought provoking and full of wonderfully written characters this was a beautifully told story ,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret Keepers by Anstey Harris combines stage illusions, espionage, and a tangled family history. Hugh and Olivia once performed together as a celebrated magician and his assistant, but their life away from the spotlight was far less polished. Years later, Hugh’s terminal diagnosis creates an urgency for them to reconnect with their estranged daughter, Lizzie, and finally address what drove them apart.
Olivia was the most compelling character for me. Her experiences made me think about identity, compromise, and how easily a person can lose herself while supporting someone else’s ambitions. I also appreciated that no one was presented as entirely right or wrong; each person viewed the past through a different lens. The theatrical details and unexpected revelations kept the plot interesting, while the complicated relationships gave the story its real weight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance review copy.
Olivia was the most compelling character for me. Her experiences made me think about identity, compromise, and how easily a person can lose herself while supporting someone else’s ambitions. I also appreciated that no one was presented as entirely right or wrong; each person viewed the past through a different lens. The theatrical details and unexpected revelations kept the plot interesting, while the complicated relationships gave the story its real weight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance review copy.
October 21, 2026
Full of secrets, The Secret Keepers is one of those rare books which has a big, exciting plot and also a depth of characterisation that keeps the emotion and drama real and relatable. Olivia is a fantastic character who has kept a devastating secret for years, at a cost to herself, her family and her relationship with her only daughter.
As always with Harris’s novels, the writing is sublime. Whether we are picking herbs in a graveyard in England, backstage at a magical extravaganza, or sat at an outside table in a café in Eastern Europe, she has the ability to transport the reader through time and place. There are moments of humour, others so poignant my throat hurt, and I was so immersed that I honestly feel that these characters must be real people.
Full of secrets, tricks and intrigue, this is a magical story about family and what it means to truly love. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, yet I wanted to savour each and every one.
As always with Harris’s novels, the writing is sublime. Whether we are picking herbs in a graveyard in England, backstage at a magical extravaganza, or sat at an outside table in a café in Eastern Europe, she has the ability to transport the reader through time and place. There are moments of humour, others so poignant my throat hurt, and I was so immersed that I honestly feel that these characters must be real people.
Full of secrets, tricks and intrigue, this is a magical story about family and what it means to truly love. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, yet I wanted to savour each and every one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this book, all opinions expressed in this review are of my own only.
I absolutely loved The Secret Keepers! What a beautifully written story. We have a story written around a magician family with lots of deep secrets wrapped up around it which has caused family trauma, unspoken truths and decades of hurt.
I did not know what to expect from this book and it honestly left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. I loved the characters! Hugh, Olivia, Lizzie and Clem were fantastic.
I highly recommend giving it ago! Im off to look for this Authors other books because I am hoping they are just as magical as this one.
I absolutely loved The Secret Keepers! What a beautifully written story. We have a story written around a magician family with lots of deep secrets wrapped up around it which has caused family trauma, unspoken truths and decades of hurt.
I did not know what to expect from this book and it honestly left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. I loved the characters! Hugh, Olivia, Lizzie and Clem were fantastic.
I highly recommend giving it ago! Im off to look for this Authors other books because I am hoping they are just as magical as this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret Keepers by Anstey Harris completely pulled me in. I became so invested in this family their secrets, their struggles, and the complicated ways they love each other.
What I loved most was the emotional depth. The characters felt real and messy. I found myself understanding different sides of their relationships, even when I wanted to shake them.
This is one of those beautiful books that makes you feel too much in the best way. Family, love, connection, and heartbreak are at its heart, and I couldn’t look away. Definitely a book that stayed with me after I finished.
What I loved most was the emotional depth. The characters felt real and messy. I found myself understanding different sides of their relationships, even when I wanted to shake them.
This is one of those beautiful books that makes you feel too much in the best way. Family, love, connection, and heartbreak are at its heart, and I couldn’t look away. Definitely a book that stayed with me after I finished.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What Anstey Harris is particularly good at is surprising the reader with the premise of her novels. Here there’s a genre blend of family relationships and spy thriller with the backdrops of the circus and a cemetery. The novel explores the complexities of family relationships — and the importance of them — and even if readers aren’t that interested in magicians, there is a thrill involved in their tricks and the life of a circus magician. It’s a compelling and moving story, beautifully written. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book. Hugh and Olly live in a cemetery, a place they retreated to when they retired following Hugh’s accident. Before the accident he was Mr Nimmo the famous magician and Olly was his assistant Christian’s, but she was also Constance a MI6 spy.
Hugh has just received a terminal diagnosis and a decision is made to write to their daughter, one they haven’t seen for over thirty years. There is one more job to be done though and Mr Nimmo and Constance are called to act.
An excellent book that I could hardly put down, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
Hugh has just received a terminal diagnosis and a decision is made to write to their daughter, one they haven’t seen for over thirty years. There is one more job to be done though and Mr Nimmo and Constance are called to act.
An excellent book that I could hardly put down, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Three and a half stars rounded up to four. It's been thirty years since Lizzie has had any contact with her parents, Olivia and Hugh. But after a terminal diagnosis, Olivia reaches out. Lizzie and Olivia both have secrets. Will they be able to reconcile?
This book was very well written, but the whole magician theme didn't work for me. I've never been that interested in them. Others opinions may differ.
This book was very well written, but the whole magician theme didn't work for me. I've never been that interested in them. Others opinions may differ.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A moving story of magic, family and a lifetime of secrets. This book has all the things: love, loss, family tension, suspense, all through the lens of the lives of magicians. It was so well done. The character development, the storylines, and the way it wrapped up. It was fast-paced, yet so full of heart. I loved the multiple POVs and the dual timeline storytelling. This is a memorable, well written book and I can’t wait for more!
October 18, 2026
I had to sit on this one for a minute before reviewing. Not because it was bad but it was an adventure. What seems like such a simple story of a fractured family trying to find their way back to each other in the face of devastation turns into an adventure of magic, secrets, and forgiveness. It was well written, well paces, the characters were well developed. It was a truly great read.
Thanks NetGalley for the ALC!
Thanks NetGalley for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s difficult to say too much about the book without giving part of the plot away. The synopsis tells you everything you need to know. I’ve read two of Anstey Harris’s books prior to this one and really enjoyed them both, I found them very emotionally intense. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one quite so much. I don’t think I’m giving too much away if I mention Olivia’s husband was a well loved, famous magician in his younger years with Olivia working as his assistant. Obviously there is a lot of talk of the life and culture of illusionists throughout the book but it’s not really my thing, which is the main reason I wasn’t too keen on this particular book. Even as a child, magicians and circus acts didn’t do much for me. I never found the clowns funny and seem to recall even in my young days I was sceptical of magic tricks, I think I knew even then magic isn’t real.
I didn’t warm to the character of Olivia’s husband either. I found him self centred and insecure and although his terminal illness was undeniably tragic, my personal dislike for him made it difficult to feel much empathy for his situation. Nevertheless overall, the underlying themes in the book were good and I had to carry on to see what happened in the end. The last few chapters are quite fast paced and moving. I liked Olivia and she does have a fascinating story to tell about herself. Their daughter has an interesting story too. For a small family they have kept a lot of secrets from each other over a long period of time.
Not my favourite of this authors books but I don’t think I’ve read all her work and I wouldn’t let this one put me off, it just wasn’t a very good match for me.
I didn’t warm to the character of Olivia’s husband either. I found him self centred and insecure and although his terminal illness was undeniably tragic, my personal dislike for him made it difficult to feel much empathy for his situation. Nevertheless overall, the underlying themes in the book were good and I had to carry on to see what happened in the end. The last few chapters are quite fast paced and moving. I liked Olivia and she does have a fascinating story to tell about herself. Their daughter has an interesting story too. For a small family they have kept a lot of secrets from each other over a long period of time.
Not my favourite of this authors books but I don’t think I’ve read all her work and I wouldn’t let this one put me off, it just wasn’t a very good match for me.
October 20, 2026
This book was fascinating. It gripped me from the very beginning. This audiobook qas packed with secrets, drama, and magic. I enjoyed the way the secrets unfolded, but stayed fornthe love in this amazing family. The narrators did a fantastic job drawing you into the book of magic and made you feel as if you stepped back in time. I enjoyed every minute of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In this book, Olivia leads a double life. Entertainer with her husband and a spy. But noone knows she is a spy.
This was an OK book, just now my style.
3 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an OK book, just now my style.
3 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2026
compellingly beautiful and poignant
As always, I found myself thinking about slightly different universes. That is always a good experience, books that leave you feeling and wondering are beautiful
As always, I found myself thinking about slightly different universes. That is always a good experience, books that leave you feeling and wondering are beautiful
October 22, 2026
What a story!
Listened on KU audio and the narrator was perfect! I didn't expect this story to go where it did based on the synopsis, but it was a perfect twist. The emotional, gripping story of Hugh and Ollie was so captivating. Highly recommend reading thisbone!
Listened on KU audio and the narrator was perfect! I didn't expect this story to go where it did based on the synopsis, but it was a perfect twist. The emotional, gripping story of Hugh and Ollie was so captivating. Highly recommend reading thisbone!
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