What do you think?
Rate this book
Her Deadly Secret
A FAMILY BUILT ON LIES…
A dark and twisty psychological thriller, in which a young girl is abducted and her family is confronted with a horror from deep in their past. Perfect for fans of BA Paris and Sue Fortin.
A young girl has been taken. Abducted, never to be seen again.
Joe and Hannah, her traumatized parents, are consumed by grief. But all is not as it seems behind the curtains of their suburban home.
Loretta, the Family Liaison Officer, is sure Hannah is hiding something – a dark and twisted secret from deep in her past.
This terrible memory could be the key to the murder of another girl fifteen years ago. And as links between the two victims emerge, Joe and Hannah learn that in a family built on lies, the truth can destroy everything…
A dark and twisty psychological thriller, in which a young girl is abducted and her family is confronted with a horror from deep in their past. Perfect for fans of BA Paris and Sue Fortin.
A young girl has been taken. Abducted, never to be seen again.
Joe and Hannah, her traumatized parents, are consumed by grief. But all is not as it seems behind the curtains of their suburban home.
Loretta, the Family Liaison Officer, is sure Hannah is hiding something – a dark and twisted secret from deep in her past.
This terrible memory could be the key to the murder of another girl fifteen years ago. And as links between the two victims emerge, Joe and Hannah learn that in a family built on lies, the truth can destroy everything…
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2017
298 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 15, 2017
Wow and wow again,this is a very very good book,i would gladly give it a lot more than five stars if I could.
After their teenage daughter Lily disappears without trace Joe and Hannah her traumatized parents are consumed with grief.But all is not what it seems behind the curtains of their suburban home.
Loretta,the family liaison officer,is sure that Hannah is hiding something - a dark and twisted secret from deep in her past.
Could this terrible memory be the key to the murder of another teenage girl fifteen years ago.As links between the two victims emerge,Joe and Hannah learn that in a family built on lies,the truth can destroy everything.
This twist packed,gripping thriller has chapters that are split into sections,these sections are voiced by either Joe,Loretta or Rosie the sister of the girl who was murdered fifteen years ago.The alternating between the three characters speeds up as the story unfolds and heads towards the shocking,intense final chapter.Although events are narrated by more than one character per chapter each section is named so you know who's point of view you are currently reading.The flow of the story never feels broken by the changes in who is voicing the story.
As well as following Joe`s and Loretta`s separate investigations into Lily`s murder and Hannah`s suspicious behaviour we also get a glimpse into Loretta`s private life,her struggles with her teenage son and with trying to balance work and family life.We also follow Rosie as she reluctantly begins to try and find out the truth about who murdered her sister fifteen years ago.
It's a well written,gripping,twist packed mystery that had me hooked from the first word and totally engrossed by the riveting story that was unfolding before my eyes.I found myself changing my mind about who had done what and the final reveal was both surprising and shocking.This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last.
Many thanks to Harper Collins UK/Harper Fiction,Killer Reads for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
After their teenage daughter Lily disappears without trace Joe and Hannah her traumatized parents are consumed with grief.But all is not what it seems behind the curtains of their suburban home.
Loretta,the family liaison officer,is sure that Hannah is hiding something - a dark and twisted secret from deep in her past.
Could this terrible memory be the key to the murder of another teenage girl fifteen years ago.As links between the two victims emerge,Joe and Hannah learn that in a family built on lies,the truth can destroy everything.
This twist packed,gripping thriller has chapters that are split into sections,these sections are voiced by either Joe,Loretta or Rosie the sister of the girl who was murdered fifteen years ago.The alternating between the three characters speeds up as the story unfolds and heads towards the shocking,intense final chapter.Although events are narrated by more than one character per chapter each section is named so you know who's point of view you are currently reading.The flow of the story never feels broken by the changes in who is voicing the story.
As well as following Joe`s and Loretta`s separate investigations into Lily`s murder and Hannah`s suspicious behaviour we also get a glimpse into Loretta`s private life,her struggles with her teenage son and with trying to balance work and family life.We also follow Rosie as she reluctantly begins to try and find out the truth about who murdered her sister fifteen years ago.
It's a well written,gripping,twist packed mystery that had me hooked from the first word and totally engrossed by the riveting story that was unfolding before my eyes.I found myself changing my mind about who had done what and the final reveal was both surprising and shocking.This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last.
Many thanks to Harper Collins UK/Harper Fiction,Killer Reads for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
August 2, 2017
This was my first introduction to this author and I can safely say it won’t be my last. Her Deadly Secret had me hooked right from the start as I found myself thrown straight into the thick of things.
The story begins with Joe who has just returned from doing a television appeal for his missing daughter, fourteen year old Lily. Joe and his wife Hannah are consumed by grief but Family Liaison Officer Loretta soon realises there is more at play and thinks Hannah is hiding something.
The chapters alternate between Joe, Loretta and Rosie. Rosie’s sister Alice was found dead when she was sixteen. Their father was convicted of her murder and has only recently been released. Could these events, fifteen years apart and miles away from each other, in any way be connected?
I loved getting to know these characters and immensely enjoyed Loretta’s chapters. I must admit at the start I thought they would be too distracting and take away from the actual mystery but in fact, they provided a brilliant balance as Loretta struggles to combine her demanding job and boss with her private life.
Her Deadly Secret is incredibly gripping and absorbing. With a superbly executed plot and a great pace, it had me glued to the pages. Of course, there are secrets and skeletons in closets. Some people turn out to be quite different from what they seem but it was trying to figure out the who/what/why that kept me utterly engrossed. Plenty of twists, turns and some red herrings had me continuously guessing at the outcome as the author quite deftly leads the story to a most satisfying conclusion. I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend you pick up a copy!
The story begins with Joe who has just returned from doing a television appeal for his missing daughter, fourteen year old Lily. Joe and his wife Hannah are consumed by grief but Family Liaison Officer Loretta soon realises there is more at play and thinks Hannah is hiding something.
The chapters alternate between Joe, Loretta and Rosie. Rosie’s sister Alice was found dead when she was sixteen. Their father was convicted of her murder and has only recently been released. Could these events, fifteen years apart and miles away from each other, in any way be connected?
I loved getting to know these characters and immensely enjoyed Loretta’s chapters. I must admit at the start I thought they would be too distracting and take away from the actual mystery but in fact, they provided a brilliant balance as Loretta struggles to combine her demanding job and boss with her private life.
Her Deadly Secret is incredibly gripping and absorbing. With a superbly executed plot and a great pace, it had me glued to the pages. Of course, there are secrets and skeletons in closets. Some people turn out to be quite different from what they seem but it was trying to figure out the who/what/why that kept me utterly engrossed. Plenty of twists, turns and some red herrings had me continuously guessing at the outcome as the author quite deftly leads the story to a most satisfying conclusion. I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend you pick up a copy!
July 19, 2019
I read this page turning thriller over the gorgeous hot Bank Holiday Monday. At first the police didn't take fourteen year old Lily's disappearance seriously. At half past six, Hannah was in a panic like all mothers as Lily was never late back from school, and to make matters worse none of Lily's friends had seen her. Until the police were certain they had the killer no one close to Lily could be ruled out. After the death of their daughter Lily, Joe's wife Hannah isn't coping well and the doctor isn't happy with Hannah's mental state. A killer read with twists in that I didn't see coming, which makes me highly recommend putting this book on your to read list.
February 1, 2019
I thought this was book was very good. It was an easy read. It had a great storyline and was incredibly well written which made it better. I did feel bad for a lot of the people in the book and I also liked a lot of the characters too. It was a great book with a lot of twists and turns which I didn’t see coming. The only thing was sometimes the number of characters confused me and I kept forgetting who was who but that was the only thing the rest was great. It was a heartbreaking book but it was excellent. I can’t wait to read more from the author.
July 22, 2017
wow! such a good book. so many lies so many twists! this was a hard book to put down.. such a good read. thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for a copy of this book to read and review.
July 23, 2017
Joe and Hannah Marsden are struggling to cope after their fourteen-year-old daughter Lily doesn't come home from school one day. Joe appears to be dealing with the situation slightly better than Hannah though, which leads their family liaison officer to think that Hannah is hiding something.
Meanwhile, Rosie Weatherall is following the Marsdens story on the news and it's stirring up old memories. Her sister, Alice, was murdered, so she can completely understand what the family is going through.
The two stories are connected but which character is going to be the one to reveal Her Deadly Secret?
I never know quite what to expect when I read a new (to me) author but I'm pleased to say I loved this book. To begin with I was confused with Rosie's character and couldn't see where she fitted in with the Marsdens but this is a story about secrets so I kept reading, confident that I'd find out soon enough. Joe's character was heart-breaking at times, desperate to do everything he could to help find his missing daughter, whilst knowing that he's being closely scrutinised by the family liaison officer and constantly being rejected by his wife. You could feel the strain and pressure that the relationship was under and my heart went out to him.
Her Deadly Secret is a complex novel, cleverly told from separate view points within each chapter.
Once I realised how the two seemingly unconnected families were linked I was quickly forming a list of potential suspects and conclusions in my head, only to have the rug pulled from under my feet as I read the next chapter. When I reached the end I was genuinely shocked as it wasn't the ending I was expecting, but I mean that in a good way. Chris Curran has written an absorbing and at times poignant story and I won't be leaving it too long before I pick up another one of her books.
If you love your books dark and twisty then this is a perfect book for you.
With kind thanks to author Chris Curran for the review copy.
Meanwhile, Rosie Weatherall is following the Marsdens story on the news and it's stirring up old memories. Her sister, Alice, was murdered, so she can completely understand what the family is going through.
The two stories are connected but which character is going to be the one to reveal Her Deadly Secret?
I never know quite what to expect when I read a new (to me) author but I'm pleased to say I loved this book. To begin with I was confused with Rosie's character and couldn't see where she fitted in with the Marsdens but this is a story about secrets so I kept reading, confident that I'd find out soon enough. Joe's character was heart-breaking at times, desperate to do everything he could to help find his missing daughter, whilst knowing that he's being closely scrutinised by the family liaison officer and constantly being rejected by his wife. You could feel the strain and pressure that the relationship was under and my heart went out to him.
Her Deadly Secret is a complex novel, cleverly told from separate view points within each chapter.
Once I realised how the two seemingly unconnected families were linked I was quickly forming a list of potential suspects and conclusions in my head, only to have the rug pulled from under my feet as I read the next chapter. When I reached the end I was genuinely shocked as it wasn't the ending I was expecting, but I mean that in a good way. Chris Curran has written an absorbing and at times poignant story and I won't be leaving it too long before I pick up another one of her books.
If you love your books dark and twisty then this is a perfect book for you.
With kind thanks to author Chris Curran for the review copy.
April 23, 2023
لیلی دزدیده شده و جو و هانا، والدین لیلی دارن توی بزرگترین کابوس زندگیشون به سر میبرن. و با این حال، لورتا، کارآگاه این پرونده مطمئنه که هانا داره چیزی رو ازش مخفی میکنه.
از طرفی با رزماری آشنا میشیم که مدتها قبل خواهرش رو از دست داده. خواهری که توی خونهی کودکیشون به قتل رسیده بوده. و به همین خاطر سرنوشت لیلی که تقریبا توی همون سن و سال گم شده براش اهمیت ویژهای پیدا کرده و نمیتونه خودش رو از دنبال کردن داستان لیلی منع کنه.
اما پشت پرده رازهای زیادی پنهان شده که هم تمام شخصیتها و هم خواننده رو شوکه میکنه.
داستان واقعا جذابه اما به خاطر این که از سه دیدگاه متفاوت تعریف میشه گاهی میتونه گیج کننده باشه. فراز و نشیبهای زیادی داره و گرچه بعضی جاها شاید خواننده رو کلافه کنه اما در نهایت با پایان بندی خوبی همه چیز رو جمع میکنه.
از طرفی با رزماری آشنا میشیم که مدتها قبل خواهرش رو از دست داده. خواهری که توی خونهی کودکیشون به قتل رسیده بوده. و به همین خاطر سرنوشت لیلی که تقریبا توی همون سن و سال گم شده براش اهمیت ویژهای پیدا کرده و نمیتونه خودش رو از دنبال کردن داستان لیلی منع کنه.
اما پشت پرده رازهای زیادی پنهان شده که هم تمام شخصیتها و هم خواننده رو شوکه میکنه.
داستان واقعا جذابه اما به خاطر این که از سه دیدگاه متفاوت تعریف میشه گاهی میتونه گیج کننده باشه. فراز و نشیبهای زیادی داره و گرچه بعضی جاها شاید خواننده رو کلافه کنه اما در نهایت با پایان بندی خوبی همه چیز رو جمع میکنه.
September 10, 2017
I couldn’t help myself and I HAD to read and review Her Deadly Secret. We are first introduced to Joe, father of missing school girl, Lily and husband of Hannah. The news doesn’t appear to be good and the sorrow you feel for this one character is immense. But this is only the very tip of the iceberg in what proves to be a multi threaded and intricate tale of secrets and lies.
The story is divided into three POVs. You have Joe, father of missing daughter Lily. Loretta, who is the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) for Joe and his wife, Hannah. And finally, Rosie, whose sister Alice was murdered when she and Rosie were just children. I loved Curran’s multi point narration but couldn’t for the life of me work out how Rosie fitted into the plot. It’s only as you progress through the book do you discover exactly how detailed and intricate a tale the author is telling. I confess, I did get a little muddled by the number of characters but once I’d written them all down, I was well away and had no further problems. More to do with me and my ageing memory than anything else I think!
In a story about terrible things happening to normal people, I couldn’t understand why there was so much emphasis on the FLO, Loretta and her own fractured home life. It WAS interesting and I enjoyed reading about her but it did feel a little like ‘filler’ in some scenes. I understand that she was there as part of an ongoing investigation but she did feel a little superfluous at times (as the characters tend to make the big case breaking discoveries more than those that are employed to do it). She’s a great character but at times I wanted her to step away from the limelight so I could focus more on Joe, Hannah, Rosie and her parents.
Would I recommend this book? I certainly would. It’s a tense tale about family secrets and not really knowing those we claim to love. Great twists, one of which I didn’t see coming and it blew my socks off! I would pick up another book written by Chris Curran in a heartbeat.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Her Deadly Secret. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
The story is divided into three POVs. You have Joe, father of missing daughter Lily. Loretta, who is the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) for Joe and his wife, Hannah. And finally, Rosie, whose sister Alice was murdered when she and Rosie were just children. I loved Curran’s multi point narration but couldn’t for the life of me work out how Rosie fitted into the plot. It’s only as you progress through the book do you discover exactly how detailed and intricate a tale the author is telling. I confess, I did get a little muddled by the number of characters but once I’d written them all down, I was well away and had no further problems. More to do with me and my ageing memory than anything else I think!
In a story about terrible things happening to normal people, I couldn’t understand why there was so much emphasis on the FLO, Loretta and her own fractured home life. It WAS interesting and I enjoyed reading about her but it did feel a little like ‘filler’ in some scenes. I understand that she was there as part of an ongoing investigation but she did feel a little superfluous at times (as the characters tend to make the big case breaking discoveries more than those that are employed to do it). She’s a great character but at times I wanted her to step away from the limelight so I could focus more on Joe, Hannah, Rosie and her parents.
Would I recommend this book? I certainly would. It’s a tense tale about family secrets and not really knowing those we claim to love. Great twists, one of which I didn’t see coming and it blew my socks off! I would pick up another book written by Chris Curran in a heartbeat.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Her Deadly Secret. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 21, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley.
This is the longest 160 page book that I've ever read. It becomes interesting and then quickly goes downhill to boring. It does this throughout the book, over and over. The twist at the end takes this up to a three star rating instead of a two star rating. I'm so glad to be finished with this book.
This is the longest 160 page book that I've ever read. It becomes interesting and then quickly goes downhill to boring. It does this throughout the book, over and over. The twist at the end takes this up to a three star rating instead of a two star rating. I'm so glad to be finished with this book.
July 30, 2017
Having previously read Her Turn to Cry by Chris Curran, I was eager to read anything that Chris might write next. I was so impressed with Her Deadly Secret and absolutely raced through it in my haste to get to the thrilling conclusion.
We meet Joe and Hannah when their 14 year old daughter, Lily, goes missing. As the police investigate Lily's last known movements, they find an argument with her mother, a keen interest in a local cult and a hunt for her real father. It is clear that Hannah is harbouring a secret and she is even hiding it from her husband, Joe. Could this be motive for Joe to harm Lily? Even worse, in an attempt to keep her secret buried, could Hannah have harmed Lily? What a great hook...but there's more!
There are also two other linked stories, that of Loretta and Rosie. Loretta is the Family Liaison Officer, allocated to Lily's family. Loretta has her own challenges to deal with both at home and at work, but her persistence with Hannah might just pay off in the end. There is also the story of Rosie whose sister, Alice, was killed many years ago. Rosie's Dad went to prison for his own daughter's murder and even his family thought he was guilty, until letters from a mystery writer claimed he was innocent. The writer seems to know a lot more about Alice's death than they should...but what does this have to do with Lily going missing? We find out after travelling through so many twists and turns, as Chris Curran takes us on a rollercoaster ride, and sometimes a wild goose chase, leaving my heart in my mouth at the end of the book.
Her Deadly Secret is an absolutely thrilling read with so many shocks and surprises that it kept me on my toes from start to finish. It's definitely worthy of a huge 5 stars.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
We meet Joe and Hannah when their 14 year old daughter, Lily, goes missing. As the police investigate Lily's last known movements, they find an argument with her mother, a keen interest in a local cult and a hunt for her real father. It is clear that Hannah is harbouring a secret and she is even hiding it from her husband, Joe. Could this be motive for Joe to harm Lily? Even worse, in an attempt to keep her secret buried, could Hannah have harmed Lily? What a great hook...but there's more!
There are also two other linked stories, that of Loretta and Rosie. Loretta is the Family Liaison Officer, allocated to Lily's family. Loretta has her own challenges to deal with both at home and at work, but her persistence with Hannah might just pay off in the end. There is also the story of Rosie whose sister, Alice, was killed many years ago. Rosie's Dad went to prison for his own daughter's murder and even his family thought he was guilty, until letters from a mystery writer claimed he was innocent. The writer seems to know a lot more about Alice's death than they should...but what does this have to do with Lily going missing? We find out after travelling through so many twists and turns, as Chris Curran takes us on a rollercoaster ride, and sometimes a wild goose chase, leaving my heart in my mouth at the end of the book.
Her Deadly Secret is an absolutely thrilling read with so many shocks and surprises that it kept me on my toes from start to finish. It's definitely worthy of a huge 5 stars.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Read
July 25, 2017Curran's previous novels, Mindsight and Her Turn To Cry blend contemporary lives with the shadows of the past to unsettling effect. Her Deadly Secret creates the same insidious fear in the reader, building uncertainty and doubt in whom we can trust. Each novel is a standalone, so if this is your first, you have more treats in store.
Joe and Hannah's daughter is missing. Lily is only fourteen so they are in a blind panic. Naturally, the searchlight of suspicion falls on the family, turning up surprises. In a parallel storyline, Rose watches the news coverage of missing Lily, forcibly reminded of the loss of her own sister at a similar age. Murdered in the family home.
The two stories connect in a dark and uncomfortable echo, but it's not only the past which is threatened. The danger is present and closer than anyone realises.
The characters' determination to maintain a normal life despite their traumas draws the reader into the emotional tension and dials it up to breaking point.
This is book to devour in one greedy sitting, flipping the pages as the pace increases to the shocking conclusion. And if you're familiar with Hastings, you'll relish the detail of the setting. It adds both beauty and drama, rooting believable characters in a real place.
You’ll enjoy this if you liked: Mindsight, Her Turn To Cry, The Ellen Kelly Series by Sheila Bugler or The Gold Detective Series by Gillian E. Hamer.
Avoid if you don’t like: Psychological drama, police procedurals, the agony of losing a child.
Ideal accompaniments: Bitter lemon with ice, fish and chips in newspaper and a sea breeze blowing through your hair.
Genre: Crime
Joe and Hannah's daughter is missing. Lily is only fourteen so they are in a blind panic. Naturally, the searchlight of suspicion falls on the family, turning up surprises. In a parallel storyline, Rose watches the news coverage of missing Lily, forcibly reminded of the loss of her own sister at a similar age. Murdered in the family home.
The two stories connect in a dark and uncomfortable echo, but it's not only the past which is threatened. The danger is present and closer than anyone realises.
The characters' determination to maintain a normal life despite their traumas draws the reader into the emotional tension and dials it up to breaking point.
This is book to devour in one greedy sitting, flipping the pages as the pace increases to the shocking conclusion. And if you're familiar with Hastings, you'll relish the detail of the setting. It adds both beauty and drama, rooting believable characters in a real place.
You’ll enjoy this if you liked: Mindsight, Her Turn To Cry, The Ellen Kelly Series by Sheila Bugler or The Gold Detective Series by Gillian E. Hamer.
Avoid if you don’t like: Psychological drama, police procedurals, the agony of losing a child.
Ideal accompaniments: Bitter lemon with ice, fish and chips in newspaper and a sea breeze blowing through your hair.
Genre: Crime
October 8, 2017
I'm definitely in the minority judging by other reviews...
This was my first experience of this author - I may look into her other books at some point.
This one wasn't for me I'm afraid but I can't give a reason why - I've given it a lot of thought but came up blank. I'm just glad it was short.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first experience of this author - I may look into her other books at some point.
This one wasn't for me I'm afraid but I can't give a reason why - I've given it a lot of thought but came up blank. I'm just glad it was short.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2017
Chris Curran is a brilliant storyteller and as with her previous books I found that once I’d started this one, I had to read on, and on, building up a picture from all the clues which are skilfully placed, until the ending which I didn’t see coming. I was particularly fascinated by the story of Joe and Hannah and how they were coping after Lily’s disappearance - the dynamics between them were really intriguing.
As a fellow writer, I admire the way Chris Curran weaves together different stories in Her Deadly Secret, which adds constant tension to the narrative. Loretta is a busy working mum, who I really related to, and the fact that one crime sparks memories of previous ones in the victim’s family’s minds is not something I've really thought about before, but Rosie’s parallel story was just as interesting as Joe and Hannah’s, until they build to a great crescendo at the end.
A wonderfully involving read, as ever, from Chris Curran. I can really see her stories becoming great TV series too, they are so visual and have a great sense of place.
As a fellow writer, I admire the way Chris Curran weaves together different stories in Her Deadly Secret, which adds constant tension to the narrative. Loretta is a busy working mum, who I really related to, and the fact that one crime sparks memories of previous ones in the victim’s family’s minds is not something I've really thought about before, but Rosie’s parallel story was just as interesting as Joe and Hannah’s, until they build to a great crescendo at the end.
A wonderfully involving read, as ever, from Chris Curran. I can really see her stories becoming great TV series too, they are so visual and have a great sense of place.
January 15, 2018
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5 "Who Done It" Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
WOW!! Not much more I can say about this one.
Two young girls are murdered and no one will ever guess how these two perfect strangers are uniquely tied together in life and death. The author does a fabulous job of twisting story lines to make the six degrees of separation hard to figure out. I LOVE this kind of story!!
You will NEVER see the murderer coming!
WOW!! Not much more I can say about this one.
Two young girls are murdered and no one will ever guess how these two perfect strangers are uniquely tied together in life and death. The author does a fabulous job of twisting story lines to make the six degrees of separation hard to figure out. I LOVE this kind of story!!
You will NEVER see the murderer coming!
October 27, 2017
Fell a little in love with the narrators of this novel. In a genre that so often depicts the male of the species as a raging psychopath, Joe was a breath of fresh air. Likewise Family Liaison Officer Loretta was straightforward and real. A good series character, perhaps? Loved the swerve in the second half. Will definitely read another book by this author.
October 27, 2017
I highly recommend this thriller by Chris Curran. A really tight, well-paced story with not an inch of flab. It's extremely well-plotted, great writing style, believable characters, and there were so many ways that the story could have gone that it kept me guessing right till the end. I'll certainly be reading Chris's previous novels.
November 21, 2017
Good book with a big twist at the end. I was shocked when it ended.
November 3, 2018
This review was originally posted on my blog: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/
I read and enjoyed Chris Curran’s previous novels so I was thrilled when I was invited to be a part of the blog tour for her new book, Her Deadly Secret. I was expecting great things and I’m so happy to say that it lived up to my expectations!
Her Deadly Secret is told from the viewpoint of two families. Joe and Hannah have just found out that their missing teenage daughter Lily has been murdered and are trying to find a way to cope whilst also being under the police spotlight. Rosie is happily married to Oliver but she still struggles to copy with the loss of her older sister many years ago. From the beginning I was suspecting a link between these two families but as the revelations start coming I was stunned!
I was very quickly invested in these characters, especially Joe, who is trying so hard to hold everything together as his wife falls apart. I also felt for Rosie as she dealt with the minefield of her father being back in her life after many years, and her mother’s acceptance of him. As much as I liked these two characters and generally was on their side, this novel does get so twisty that there were moment when I questioned my judgement of them.
This is a novel filled with secrets and lies, and eventually the house of cards starts to collapse as the truth begins to come out. I loved how some people were outright lying in their own selfish interests to cover their tracks but others were keeping secrets in order to try and protect others from the hurt of what they had believed at the time. This novel really does show the harm that can be done when people keep quiet in order to try to prevent loved ones from being hurt, even if it’s done with the best of intentions.
I raced through this novel in one sitting as it just grabbed me from the first chapter and kept me gripped, and needing answers right to the very last chapter! I thought I had it all figured out on more than one occasion but I have to admit that the final piece of the puzzle was just out of my grasp, which I loved as it’s nice to have a shock that you didn’t see coming in a thriller!
Her Deadly Secret is engrossing, twisty and when you think you’ve got it all figured out the rug will be pulled from under you all over again! I definitely recommend this novel!
I read and enjoyed Chris Curran’s previous novels so I was thrilled when I was invited to be a part of the blog tour for her new book, Her Deadly Secret. I was expecting great things and I’m so happy to say that it lived up to my expectations!
Her Deadly Secret is told from the viewpoint of two families. Joe and Hannah have just found out that their missing teenage daughter Lily has been murdered and are trying to find a way to cope whilst also being under the police spotlight. Rosie is happily married to Oliver but she still struggles to copy with the loss of her older sister many years ago. From the beginning I was suspecting a link between these two families but as the revelations start coming I was stunned!
I was very quickly invested in these characters, especially Joe, who is trying so hard to hold everything together as his wife falls apart. I also felt for Rosie as she dealt with the minefield of her father being back in her life after many years, and her mother’s acceptance of him. As much as I liked these two characters and generally was on their side, this novel does get so twisty that there were moment when I questioned my judgement of them.
This is a novel filled with secrets and lies, and eventually the house of cards starts to collapse as the truth begins to come out. I loved how some people were outright lying in their own selfish interests to cover their tracks but others were keeping secrets in order to try and protect others from the hurt of what they had believed at the time. This novel really does show the harm that can be done when people keep quiet in order to try to prevent loved ones from being hurt, even if it’s done with the best of intentions.
I raced through this novel in one sitting as it just grabbed me from the first chapter and kept me gripped, and needing answers right to the very last chapter! I thought I had it all figured out on more than one occasion but I have to admit that the final piece of the puzzle was just out of my grasp, which I loved as it’s nice to have a shock that you didn’t see coming in a thriller!
Her Deadly Secret is engrossing, twisty and when you think you’ve got it all figured out the rug will be pulled from under you all over again! I definitely recommend this novel!
January 26, 2018
I will agree with many of the reviews that there were too many characters thrown at you in the beginning and it was hard to keep them all straight. I had to laugh when one reviewer wrote that she started to write the names down so she could remember who was who and how they were connected, as I did the same thing about halfway through. Some of the characters were lackluster and probably were not needed in the book at all (Will, Dex, Pearl, Maggie, Raj, everyone at the school to name a few) I would rather have had some of them left out and had the extra time with the more important characters or a shorter book. With that being said, once I got through that I really started to enjoy the book and was glad that I decided to keep reading. By 2/3 of the way through, I was hooked! I had to know who did it and what the secret was. I started coming up with different scenarios of who I thought did what and who knew what. At that point I started reading faster, I had to know the secret, I had to know if I was right! The ending pulled me in. I was right on a few things, but so wrong on a few others. It was a very bittersweet ending. I almost would like to read a sequel, or even a spin-off....but with fewer characters. Overall I would recommend this book. I would have given it 3.5 stars but since I cannot, I am giving 4 as it really was better than a 3.
September 27, 2017
I got this book because the blurb had me intrigued and i wasn't disappointed in the slightest. A brilliant psychological thriller that anybody who likes this genre would enjoy.
November 1, 2017
Her Deadly Secret is a twisty psychological thriller that gained pace halfway through.
The story focuses on the disappearance of a teenage girl and the impact it has on her family, liaison police officer and sister of a girl who was murdered 15 years earlier. The first half of the book is a slow-burning build up, establishing the background of the characters, main plot and setting, and I did wonder at first if it was going to be a book for me.
However, I'm very happy that I persevered. The second half of the book is written at a much faster pace, filled with revelations, twists and turns. These two families are tied together by circumstances, lies and secrets. Alternating narratives by the different characters gradually revealed that everything in the first half that seemed so straightforward wasn't straightforward at all.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
The story focuses on the disappearance of a teenage girl and the impact it has on her family, liaison police officer and sister of a girl who was murdered 15 years earlier. The first half of the book is a slow-burning build up, establishing the background of the characters, main plot and setting, and I did wonder at first if it was going to be a book for me.
However, I'm very happy that I persevered. The second half of the book is written at a much faster pace, filled with revelations, twists and turns. These two families are tied together by circumstances, lies and secrets. Alternating narratives by the different characters gradually revealed that everything in the first half that seemed so straightforward wasn't straightforward at all.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
October 23, 2019
Multi-viewpoint psychological thrillers are the business as they go at a galloping pace and have a similar impact to an exciting film. For me, anyway. I don't get out much.
Joe and Hannah's teenage daughter Lily is missing. It is assumed she's been abducted and things don't look good. Joe is grieving, and confused. Why is his wife acting so strangely? Family Liaison Officer Loretta wonders the same. Rosie's younger sister was murdered years ago.
Joe, Rosie and Loretta narrate and bring the story together. I like that Rosie's presence in the book is initially a puzzle in itself. As the narrators speak on the plot twists and turns and you eat more biscuits and get annoyed about anything in real life requiring an immediate response and oooh this is a hell of a read.
Joe and Hannah's teenage daughter Lily is missing. It is assumed she's been abducted and things don't look good. Joe is grieving, and confused. Why is his wife acting so strangely? Family Liaison Officer Loretta wonders the same. Rosie's younger sister was murdered years ago.
Joe, Rosie and Loretta narrate and bring the story together. I like that Rosie's presence in the book is initially a puzzle in itself. As the narrators speak on the plot twists and turns and you eat more biscuits and get annoyed about anything in real life requiring an immediate response and oooh this is a hell of a read.
September 3, 2017
I thought this was an excellent read and kept me hooked. Joe and Hannah are married and have daughter Lily to complete their happy family. Then Lily disappears what follows is the disintegration of what seemed to be the perfect family. Loretta is the family liaison officer who is trying to keep Joe and Hannah.
Rosie watches the case on the local news and is trying to rebuild her family. What happens when these two families collide and whose relationships will survive?
Rosie watches the case on the local news and is trying to rebuild her family. What happens when these two families collide and whose relationships will survive?
September 24, 2017
Superb
Couldn't put it down, kept you guessing until the end what a brilliant writer, I will definitely be looking for more books by this author
Couldn't put it down, kept you guessing until the end what a brilliant writer, I will definitely be looking for more books by this author
August 23, 2019
I loved the twists and turns. I usually guess things quickly but with book I didn't guess what had happened until right near the end.
The end even brought a tear to my eyes.
The end even brought a tear to my eyes.
December 2, 2019
Loved it.
At the beginning I was finding it difficult to keep track of 2 stories going on in the book at the same time... but got to know the characters a bit better and things fitted into place.
Would highly recommend
At the beginning I was finding it difficult to keep track of 2 stories going on in the book at the same time... but got to know the characters a bit better and things fitted into place.
Would highly recommend
July 28, 2017
this is brilliant story line keeps you wanting to read and the twists wood
August 12, 2019
Really good read
"Her Deadly Secret" is a well written, fun read with good characters and a great plot that has plenty of twists. I recommend it.
"Her Deadly Secret" is a well written, fun read with good characters and a great plot that has plenty of twists. I recommend it.
September 3, 2017
DNF.I hate not finishing books but couldn't finish this one.I just didn't find it interesting,but there are a lot of good reviews so I'm obviously in the minority
December 31, 2017
Was this a psychological thriller? No, not really! But it was an intriguing, easy-to-read book that definitely kept my attention and kept me coming back for more. The way the book was written, the plot twists weren't completely shocking but were interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews