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Dirty Little Secrets
'Dark, funny, well-plotted, sinister. Superb' WILL DEANSix neighbours. Six secrets. Six reasons to want Olive Collins dead.In the exclusive gated community of Withered Vale, people's lives appear as perfect as their beautifully manicured lawns. Money, success, privilege - the residents have it all. Life is good.There's just one problem.Olive Collins' dead body has been rotting inside number four for the last three months. Her neighbours say they're shocked at the discovery but nobody thought to check on her when she vanished from sight.The police start to ask questions and the seemingly flawless façade begins to crack. Because, when it comes to Olive's neighbours, it seems each of them has something to hide, something to lose and everything to gain from her death.*********PRAISE FOR JO SPAIN'Loved, loved, loved' Caz Frear'A chilling, addictive read' 5* reader review'Sensational' Chris Whitaker'Gripping, page-turning, unpredictable, loved it' 5* reader review'I absolutely loved it' Liz Nugent'Jo Spain is such a fantastic writer' 5* reader review'You certainly look at your neighbours with fresh eyes after reading this' Yours'Couldn't put it down' 5* reader review
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2019
829 people are currently reading
6638 people want to read
About the author
Jo Spain
24 books1,177 followersJo Spain is the author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series and several international No. 1 bestselling standalone novels. Her first book, With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 820 reviews
January 8, 2019
This is Jo Spain's latest standalone psychological thriller set in a privileged and wealthy gated community development on the outskirts of a village in Wicklow in Ireland. The police descend on this tiny neighbourhood after the body of Olive Collins, a retired woman in her mid-fifties, is discovered in a liquified state after lying undiscovered in her home for three months. 53 year old DI Frank Brazil is looking forward to retirement, tired after all he has seen, but he is dismayed when evidence suggests that this could be a suspicious death requiring an in depth investigation rather than what appeared at first to be a suicide. His partner, 28 year old detective Emma Child is more ambitious and delighted with the challenge that the inquiry represents.
On the surface the small community appear to be respectable and normal, but why did no-one check on Olive? Surely it would be neighbourly to inquire when she is not seen for so long? In a narrative that is relayed through the perspective of those on this estate and the police officers, we find much bubbles below the veneer. There are secrets galore, porn addiction, affairs, rivalries, petty feuds, efforts to stay below the radar for a number of reasons, confrontations, conflict and more. Olive herself was a desperately lonely woman who made strong efforts to get close to her neighbours, only to be constantly rebuffed which she did not take well. She was partial to interfering in the lives of others, jealous, issuing warnings, taking advantage of others, judgmental, and not above engaging in machinations to engineer particular outcomes. The police begin to uncover the seething mass of emotions of hatred, rage and more directed at the dead Olive, unmasking a host of suspects.
My favourite highlights of the novel was the developing relationship between Frank and Emma, the twisted ending and the characters of Alison Daly and her daughter, Holly, with their traumatic history. Jo Spain's novels are always a delight to read, guaranteed to be gripping and compelling, full of suspense and tension, with a great cast of characters. This is a engrossing and entertaining thriller that I was glued to throughout until I reached the ending. A wonderful psychological thriller! Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
On the surface the small community appear to be respectable and normal, but why did no-one check on Olive? Surely it would be neighbourly to inquire when she is not seen for so long? In a narrative that is relayed through the perspective of those on this estate and the police officers, we find much bubbles below the veneer. There are secrets galore, porn addiction, affairs, rivalries, petty feuds, efforts to stay below the radar for a number of reasons, confrontations, conflict and more. Olive herself was a desperately lonely woman who made strong efforts to get close to her neighbours, only to be constantly rebuffed which she did not take well. She was partial to interfering in the lives of others, jealous, issuing warnings, taking advantage of others, judgmental, and not above engaging in machinations to engineer particular outcomes. The police begin to uncover the seething mass of emotions of hatred, rage and more directed at the dead Olive, unmasking a host of suspects.
My favourite highlights of the novel was the developing relationship between Frank and Emma, the twisted ending and the characters of Alison Daly and her daughter, Holly, with their traumatic history. Jo Spain's novels are always a delight to read, guaranteed to be gripping and compelling, full of suspense and tension, with a great cast of characters. This is a engrossing and entertaining thriller that I was glued to throughout until I reached the ending. A wonderful psychological thriller! Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
March 17, 2019
Strong 3 Stars
I didn't hear anything about Jo Spain until Dirty Little Secrets appeared my horizon. Now I want to read more from her. It was an emotional roller coaster. In the beginning I struggled because the writing style was really hard for me. I met a lot of new words and I was frustrated. It was exhausting, but I continued and I noticed at around 50% I started to understand every little piece and then my problem was gone! What's the lesson? Never give up! Just kidding. So back to the review.
Everything started when Olive died under unknown circumstances. Olive Collins' dead body has been rotting inside her house for the last three months. When the police started to interview her neighbors, it turned out that they have some really serious secrets. But what happened to Olive? Nobody knows...
The story started slow and it took too long build up. At halfway I was bored, and I gave a passing thought to DNF it. It was hard but I got through. From then it was getting better and better. Thank God I didn't DNF it.
The characters were phenomenal! I like all of them. Every family has its own life, problems and secrets... They have a completely different style. Jo made a fantastic job with her characters.
The narration jumps from family to family. We get to know everyone. We also get insight into everyone's life. I enjoyed exploring the neighborhood. I loved that the two cops communicated to each other. It was hilarious. Here is my quote (LOL):
‘Wolf – who’s he? Your dog?’ Lily and David glared at Emma, horrified. ‘He’s our son,’ David said. ‘Oh.’ Emma felt heat creeping up her neck and around her ears. ‘I’m sorry, I just...’ There was no completing that sentence.”
Thinking back I realize that the writing style was great. It was my fault that I didn't understand it at the beginning. I'm very curious about her other books.
Oh man! And the ending was mind-blowing! It saved the book and my enjoyment. I'm speechless... it's incredible. I loved the smart ending. What a wonderful solution. :D Haha.
I recommend to anyone who wants to read an exciting story about a dirty neighborhood. If you like the mind-blowing endings, here you go, this book is for you.
Thank you to Quercus Books and Netgalley who provided me with an ebook of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2019
Six neighbours, six secrets, six reasons to want Olive Collins dead. She had died three months ago, but no one in the gated community even noticed that she was missing. There is only seven houses in the gated community of Withered Vale. Olives house is smaller but she is right in the middle of them all. Olive used to own the only house there. Olive liked to find out other people's secrets. It's fair to say, not many of her neighbours will miss Olive. Detective Clive Frank Brazil and his partner Emma Child's are sent to investigate and it soon becomes apparent that foul play could have played its part in Olives death.
Well it's clear how I have spent my Sunday. I read this book in a few short hours. The book is set in rural Ireland. The chapters are told by many points of view. I loved the fact that all the neighbours had secrets, after all none of us knows what goes on behind closed doors. I like the characters Brazil and Childs, the detectives sent to investigate Olives death. Brazil is due to retire soon and he protects Emma like a daughter. When I discovered near the end how Olive died, there was just a little bit of me pleased at the outcome. But is this so for all the residents in Withered Vale? I literally could not put this book down. Loved it . I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Jo Spain for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Well it's clear how I have spent my Sunday. I read this book in a few short hours. The book is set in rural Ireland. The chapters are told by many points of view. I loved the fact that all the neighbours had secrets, after all none of us knows what goes on behind closed doors. I like the characters Brazil and Childs, the detectives sent to investigate Olives death. Brazil is due to retire soon and he protects Emma like a daughter. When I discovered near the end how Olive died, there was just a little bit of me pleased at the outcome. But is this so for all the residents in Withered Vale? I literally could not put this book down. Loved it . I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Jo Spain for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2019
EXCERPT: The police men and women hovering around my body right now don't know anything of my story yet. They don't know anything at all, really. They’ve spent the last twenty-four hours trying to rid the house of flies and maggots and pests they know are here but can't see - the mice and the rats. The knawing at my fingers and toes speak to their existence. It's amazing there's anything left of me.
It's the heat, you see. After an unusually cold spring and early summer, I was doing okay, sitting there on my chair, silently decomposing. The same chair Ron from number seven bent me over for three and a half minutes of mind blowing passion the night before I died, leaving with my knickers scrunched up in his pocket.
I hope, for his sake, he's got rid of them.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Death stalked the Vale.
In every corner, every whisper.
They just didn't know it yet.
Six neighbours, six secrets, six reasons to want Olive Collins dead.
In the exclusive gated community of Withered Vale, people's lives appear as perfect as their beautifully manicured lawns. Money, success, privilege - the residents have it all. Life is good.
There's just one problem.
Olive Collins' dead body has been rotting inside number four for the last three months. Her neighbours say they're shocked at the discovery but nobody thought to check on her when she vanished from sight.
The police start to ask questions and the seemingly flawless facade begins to crack. Because, when it comes to Olive's neighbours, it seems each of them has something to hide, something to lose and everything to gain from her death.
MY THOUGHTS: What a wonderful read! I romped through this, devouring all the revelations about Olive's neighbours. We get to see things from everyone's point of view, including that of the dead woman, the investigating officers, and Olive's neighbours who, as it turns out, all have good reasons for wanting her dead.
I have to admit to not liking Jo Spain's previous book, The Confession, at all. But I am so glad I decided to pick up Dirty Little Secrets. I loved it. It certainly lives up to its name. Dirty Little Secrets is gossipy and suspenseful, and totally unpredictable. The ending brought a huge smile to my face.
Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain is due for publication February 7, 2019. I definitely recommend pre-ordering this one.
THE AUTHOR: Jo Spain is the author of the Inspector Tom Reynolds series. Her first book, top ten bestseller With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller. The Confession her first standalone thriller, was a number one bestseller and translated all over the world.
Jo is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, a former political advisor in the Irish parliament and former vice-chair of InterTrade Ireland business body.
She now writes novels and screenplays full-time. Her first co-written TV show TAKEN DOWN was broadcast in Ireland in 2018 and bought by international distributors Fremantle.
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Louise Penny. She also watches TV detective series and was slightly obsessed with The Bridge, Trapped and The Missing.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open and all her friends have looked at her strangely since she won her publishing deal.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It's the heat, you see. After an unusually cold spring and early summer, I was doing okay, sitting there on my chair, silently decomposing. The same chair Ron from number seven bent me over for three and a half minutes of mind blowing passion the night before I died, leaving with my knickers scrunched up in his pocket.
I hope, for his sake, he's got rid of them.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Death stalked the Vale.
In every corner, every whisper.
They just didn't know it yet.
Six neighbours, six secrets, six reasons to want Olive Collins dead.
In the exclusive gated community of Withered Vale, people's lives appear as perfect as their beautifully manicured lawns. Money, success, privilege - the residents have it all. Life is good.
There's just one problem.
Olive Collins' dead body has been rotting inside number four for the last three months. Her neighbours say they're shocked at the discovery but nobody thought to check on her when she vanished from sight.
The police start to ask questions and the seemingly flawless facade begins to crack. Because, when it comes to Olive's neighbours, it seems each of them has something to hide, something to lose and everything to gain from her death.
MY THOUGHTS: What a wonderful read! I romped through this, devouring all the revelations about Olive's neighbours. We get to see things from everyone's point of view, including that of the dead woman, the investigating officers, and Olive's neighbours who, as it turns out, all have good reasons for wanting her dead.
I have to admit to not liking Jo Spain's previous book, The Confession, at all. But I am so glad I decided to pick up Dirty Little Secrets. I loved it. It certainly lives up to its name. Dirty Little Secrets is gossipy and suspenseful, and totally unpredictable. The ending brought a huge smile to my face.
Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain is due for publication February 7, 2019. I definitely recommend pre-ordering this one.
THE AUTHOR: Jo Spain is the author of the Inspector Tom Reynolds series. Her first book, top ten bestseller With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller. The Confession her first standalone thriller, was a number one bestseller and translated all over the world.
Jo is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, a former political advisor in the Irish parliament and former vice-chair of InterTrade Ireland business body.
She now writes novels and screenplays full-time. Her first co-written TV show TAKEN DOWN was broadcast in Ireland in 2018 and bought by international distributors Fremantle.
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Louise Penny. She also watches TV detective series and was slightly obsessed with The Bridge, Trapped and The Missing.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open and all her friends have looked at her strangely since she won her publishing deal.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 16, 2019
4★
“It’s the only way when you live in a cut-off community like this. Smile, make small talk, but keep your hedges high and your door closed.”
Ah yes. Keep those hedges high, but there are always back doors, and it seems some neighbours made good use of them. This is not a closed-room mystery, but it’s a closed community with a gate and not a lot of residents.
The original resident was Olive, who lived in a small cottage on a nice piece of land. She was found dead, a good (or bad, if you were one of the first on the scene!) three months after she died. Natural causes, suicide, misadventure? Whatever the reason, she’s a disgusting, flyblown sight now, and the detectives heartily wish that someone had noticed her absence earlier.
“Frank Brazil had never claimed to have a strong stomach. . . Even his partner Emma looked slightly less orange than normal, her naturally fair skin a few notches paler under the caked foundation cream.”
They pull themselves together and begin to investigate. A bit of background first. When the owner of the land decided to develop “Withered Vale” some years ago, Olive’s small cottage became #4 of 7 houses, the other 6 being the kind of large, impressive homes you’d expect to find in an exclusive community. (Its unfortunate name was the result of a farmer who foolishly poisoned all his crops when spraying pests with arsenic.)
The author’s done a great job of differentiating the people and giving us their histories, so much so, that I found I seldom had to look back to remind myself who someone was or which child belonged to whom. Each chapter is introduced with the person or family’s name and house number. Full marks, Ms Spain, for that!
Even Frank and Emma, the detective and his young partner, are fleshed out with back stories that explain their reactions to some of the secrets as they are revealed.
The author also describes well the awkwardness that we may all feel about some neighbours.
“. . . there was a shyness amongst the grown-ups of Withered Vale. In a domestic setting, out of the suits and offices, metres from their own private abodes, each of them felt an odd sense of discomfort, like they should be more relaxed than they were. Like they should know each other more than they did.”
Olive, as the first resident, usually initiated friendly contact and assumed a kind of ownership of the community. She, at least, was keen to know plenty about all of them.
Of the seven homes, three belong to singles, Olive, George, and Ron. Two belong to couples with kids; one belongs to a single mother and daughter; and one belongs to an older couple with no kids.
Each character gets a chance to tell us their own story, including Olive from beyond the grave. There is a point in each story where I found the foreshadowing a bit overdone. Every person lets us know there is something dark in their past . . . but then we move along to the next person’s chapter. And it's obvious Olive irritated them.
"‘She was an awful woman. You should be glad she’s dead.’
. . . ‘You can’t say things like that! When somebody dies . . .’
‘They’re still the same person. . . don’t look at me like that.’”
The detectives are quick to note the discomfort in each house. Frank mulls it over with Emma.
“‘They’re all lying about something. That I’m bloody sure of. But are we being too quick to rule out the possibility of somebody we haven’t encountered yet having it in for her and being in the house that afternoon?’”
Oh no! And just when I thought I was narrowing down the suspects! There were some parts that I thought might have been improved, but overall, it was fun. And, no, I didn’t narrow down the suspects correctly, but, in my defence, I will say only that I am in good company.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books for an entertaining mystery!
“It’s the only way when you live in a cut-off community like this. Smile, make small talk, but keep your hedges high and your door closed.”
Ah yes. Keep those hedges high, but there are always back doors, and it seems some neighbours made good use of them. This is not a closed-room mystery, but it’s a closed community with a gate and not a lot of residents.
The original resident was Olive, who lived in a small cottage on a nice piece of land. She was found dead, a good (or bad, if you were one of the first on the scene!) three months after she died. Natural causes, suicide, misadventure? Whatever the reason, she’s a disgusting, flyblown sight now, and the detectives heartily wish that someone had noticed her absence earlier.
“Frank Brazil had never claimed to have a strong stomach. . . Even his partner Emma looked slightly less orange than normal, her naturally fair skin a few notches paler under the caked foundation cream.”
They pull themselves together and begin to investigate. A bit of background first. When the owner of the land decided to develop “Withered Vale” some years ago, Olive’s small cottage became #4 of 7 houses, the other 6 being the kind of large, impressive homes you’d expect to find in an exclusive community. (Its unfortunate name was the result of a farmer who foolishly poisoned all his crops when spraying pests with arsenic.)
The author’s done a great job of differentiating the people and giving us their histories, so much so, that I found I seldom had to look back to remind myself who someone was or which child belonged to whom. Each chapter is introduced with the person or family’s name and house number. Full marks, Ms Spain, for that!
Even Frank and Emma, the detective and his young partner, are fleshed out with back stories that explain their reactions to some of the secrets as they are revealed.
The author also describes well the awkwardness that we may all feel about some neighbours.
“. . . there was a shyness amongst the grown-ups of Withered Vale. In a domestic setting, out of the suits and offices, metres from their own private abodes, each of them felt an odd sense of discomfort, like they should be more relaxed than they were. Like they should know each other more than they did.”
Olive, as the first resident, usually initiated friendly contact and assumed a kind of ownership of the community. She, at least, was keen to know plenty about all of them.
Of the seven homes, three belong to singles, Olive, George, and Ron. Two belong to couples with kids; one belongs to a single mother and daughter; and one belongs to an older couple with no kids.
Each character gets a chance to tell us their own story, including Olive from beyond the grave. There is a point in each story where I found the foreshadowing a bit overdone. Every person lets us know there is something dark in their past . . . but then we move along to the next person’s chapter. And it's obvious Olive irritated them.
"‘She was an awful woman. You should be glad she’s dead.’
. . . ‘You can’t say things like that! When somebody dies . . .’
‘They’re still the same person. . . don’t look at me like that.’”
The detectives are quick to note the discomfort in each house. Frank mulls it over with Emma.
“‘They’re all lying about something. That I’m bloody sure of. But are we being too quick to rule out the possibility of somebody we haven’t encountered yet having it in for her and being in the house that afternoon?’”
Oh no! And just when I thought I was narrowing down the suspects! There were some parts that I thought might have been improved, but overall, it was fun. And, no, I didn’t narrow down the suspects correctly, but, in my defence, I will say only that I am in good company.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books for an entertaining mystery!
February 1, 2019
Think Lisa Jewell crossed with Liane Moriarty crossed with J.K. Rowling's – The Casual Vacancy.
Withered Vale, an exclusive, private, gated residential community. Seven, large, rich houses for the privileged few. Quiet and peaceful, until one of the neighbours spots a swarm of insects rising out of the chimney at no. 4. Police force entry, and discover the rotting corpse of the cottage’s sole occupant - mid-fifties Olive Collins. She's been dead for three months, yet none of her neighbours appear to have noticed. And behind closed doors their reactions to news of her death are even odder.
George at no. 1 feels nothing.
Lily at no. 2 is irritated.
Holly at no. 3 acts openly hostile.
Chrissy at no. 5 can't stop thinking about that horrible woman.
Ed at no. 6 celebrates by popping the champagne.
Ron at no. 7 seems anxious.
What are these people hiding? And, why did they hate Olive so much?
Crammed to the brim with juicy secrets and neighbours behaving suspiciously, Dirty Little Secrets was an engrossing, entertaining read. A slow burn that I would categorise as contemporary domestic drama, rather than psychological thriller or suspense. Also part police procedural, but detectives Frank Brazil and Emma Childs’ investigation takes place primarily at Withered Vale instead of the police station, and also includes some focus on their personal lives.
There are nine narrators – the six neighbours mentioned above, Olive, Frank and Emma. Seems like a lot I know, but every POV was easily recognisable, essential to the plot, and added a fresh perspective to the overall picture. I really liked how first person omniscient was used for Olive's voice – as in she's speaking to me from beyond the grave, all-knowing, dangling hints about her neighbours in my face. Chapters ending on mini cliff hangers had me eagerly anticipating the next one. The authors usage of subplots to underscore/mirror the main plot was cleverly executed, heightened the emotional impact, and made you feel for the characters. The ‘circle of life’ opening segment was well done, and immediately sucked me into the story.
I felt the last half could've benefited from losing 50 pages. There was too much focus on the same plot points, and I found myself becoming frustrated, more than ready to find out who killed Olive. Also, a couple of the secrets were a tad underwhelming, and I'm not sure they were serious enough to warrant that level of anguish? But, I was happy with how everything wrapped up, thought there was a good resolution to the mystery, and that things went in a couple of unexpected intriguing directions.
Would I read another book by Jo Spain? Absolutely. Would I recommend this book? Definitely.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Quercus, and Jo Spain for the e-ARC.
UK/US Release Date: 7th February 2019.
Withered Vale, an exclusive, private, gated residential community. Seven, large, rich houses for the privileged few. Quiet and peaceful, until one of the neighbours spots a swarm of insects rising out of the chimney at no. 4. Police force entry, and discover the rotting corpse of the cottage’s sole occupant - mid-fifties Olive Collins. She's been dead for three months, yet none of her neighbours appear to have noticed. And behind closed doors their reactions to news of her death are even odder.
George at no. 1 feels nothing.
Lily at no. 2 is irritated.
Holly at no. 3 acts openly hostile.
Chrissy at no. 5 can't stop thinking about that horrible woman.
Ed at no. 6 celebrates by popping the champagne.
Ron at no. 7 seems anxious.
What are these people hiding? And, why did they hate Olive so much?
Crammed to the brim with juicy secrets and neighbours behaving suspiciously, Dirty Little Secrets was an engrossing, entertaining read. A slow burn that I would categorise as contemporary domestic drama, rather than psychological thriller or suspense. Also part police procedural, but detectives Frank Brazil and Emma Childs’ investigation takes place primarily at Withered Vale instead of the police station, and also includes some focus on their personal lives.
There are nine narrators – the six neighbours mentioned above, Olive, Frank and Emma. Seems like a lot I know, but every POV was easily recognisable, essential to the plot, and added a fresh perspective to the overall picture. I really liked how first person omniscient was used for Olive's voice – as in she's speaking to me from beyond the grave, all-knowing, dangling hints about her neighbours in my face. Chapters ending on mini cliff hangers had me eagerly anticipating the next one. The authors usage of subplots to underscore/mirror the main plot was cleverly executed, heightened the emotional impact, and made you feel for the characters. The ‘circle of life’ opening segment was well done, and immediately sucked me into the story.
I felt the last half could've benefited from losing 50 pages. There was too much focus on the same plot points, and I found myself becoming frustrated, more than ready to find out who killed Olive. Also, a couple of the secrets were a tad underwhelming, and I'm not sure they were serious enough to warrant that level of anguish? But, I was happy with how everything wrapped up, thought there was a good resolution to the mystery, and that things went in a couple of unexpected intriguing directions.
Would I read another book by Jo Spain? Absolutely. Would I recommend this book? Definitely.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Quercus, and Jo Spain for the e-ARC.
UK/US Release Date: 7th February 2019.
January 13, 2019
My first novel by Jo Spain and what a treat! Compulsively readable - I was up late trying to finish it.
The main character, Olive is dead. Not newly dead but twelve weeks dead, recently discovered mouldering in her armchair. What sort of community doesn't notice a neighbour missing for twelve weeks?
Middle aged and a spinster, Olive lived in an exclusive gated community - one where everyone should have been close. When the land around her isolated house in rural Ireland was bought up and six other houses built around her, she was happy to have neighbours and looked forward to making friends. But it was not to be. Olive had a good nose for finding out people's secrets and very few of her neighbours were unhappy that she was dead.
Detectives Frank Brazil and Emma Child suspect foul play. Together they make an odd and entertaining couple and the perfect foil for each other. He is the crusty, experienced policeman looking forward to retirement and she is the up and coming bright young woman not long out of training college. In deliciously told alternating chapters Olive tells of her relationship with her neighbours while they tell their side of the story. Frank and Emma soon discover that everyone has dirty little secrets and a motive for killing Olive. An excellent murder mystery - it kept me hooked, right up to that delightful twist at the end!
With thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for a digital ARC to read
The main character, Olive is dead. Not newly dead but twelve weeks dead, recently discovered mouldering in her armchair. What sort of community doesn't notice a neighbour missing for twelve weeks?
Middle aged and a spinster, Olive lived in an exclusive gated community - one where everyone should have been close. When the land around her isolated house in rural Ireland was bought up and six other houses built around her, she was happy to have neighbours and looked forward to making friends. But it was not to be. Olive had a good nose for finding out people's secrets and very few of her neighbours were unhappy that she was dead.
Detectives Frank Brazil and Emma Child suspect foul play. Together they make an odd and entertaining couple and the perfect foil for each other. He is the crusty, experienced policeman looking forward to retirement and she is the up and coming bright young woman not long out of training college. In deliciously told alternating chapters Olive tells of her relationship with her neighbours while they tell their side of the story. Frank and Emma soon discover that everyone has dirty little secrets and a motive for killing Olive. An excellent murder mystery - it kept me hooked, right up to that delightful twist at the end!
With thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for a digital ARC to read
February 6, 2019
My second book by Jo Spain turned out enjoyable. The idea of giving a voice to the victim alongside the other characters is quite intriguing. Yes, this is a murder story but also a story of secrets, some dirty, that are revealed in due course as in any good story. The atmospehere in a small community who live in a posh residential area is dense and gradually they learn a lot about themselves while confronted with the suspicious death of their neighbour.
*Many thanks to Jo Spain, Quercus Books and Netgalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
*Many thanks to Jo Spain, Quercus Books and Netgalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
January 26, 2019
I absolutely loved The Confession by Jo Spain last year and was thrilled to be given an opportunity to read Dirty Little Secrets. And I loved it just as much - absolutely brilliant story that I read in 2 sittings - I could not put it down. Very cleverly written, with just enough back story revealed to keep the tension and the need to keep turning the pages. I loved how we hear the story from the point of view of all the neighbours, including the dead one. And that ending - wow!! This is a book that you need to read!!
From the outside the gated community of Withered Vale looks perfect. Life for these residents is good. but when police are called to the area for a dead body they are shocked to discover that Olive Collins at No.4 has been dead for 3 months and nobody noticed. As the investigation into Olives death continues it seems that all the whole neighbourhood has something to hide, something to lose and nobody is really that upset to learn that she is dead. It is hard to say much more without giving anything away.
Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and in no way biased.
From the outside the gated community of Withered Vale looks perfect. Life for these residents is good. but when police are called to the area for a dead body they are shocked to discover that Olive Collins at No.4 has been dead for 3 months and nobody noticed. As the investigation into Olives death continues it seems that all the whole neighbourhood has something to hide, something to lose and nobody is really that upset to learn that she is dead. It is hard to say much more without giving anything away.
Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and in no way biased.
July 31, 2022
Este estilo de tramas me gustan bastante: Una muerte en un vecindario exclusivo y unos pocos sospechosos con muchos secretos que ocultar. Si además sumas que la muerta es una chismosa metomentodo tienes el disfrute asegurado. Que lleve 3 meses en su casa muerta y que nadie se enterara es bastante inquietante.
Los capítulos son cortos y protagonizados por los distintos vecinos y sospechosos, los inspectores encargados del caso (un veterano hastiado y una joven inspectora con ganas de demostrar) y por Olive, la vecina que aparece muerta en su casa y que nos habla desde "el más allá". Esta situación me ha resultado bastante divertida por momentos y es que las supuestas buenas intenciones de Olive no eran tan buenas.
Mentiras, secretos y muchos motivos para sospechar de todos... hasta de los niños.
Una lectura entretenida perfecta para desconectar.
Los capítulos son cortos y protagonizados por los distintos vecinos y sospechosos, los inspectores encargados del caso (un veterano hastiado y una joven inspectora con ganas de demostrar) y por Olive, la vecina que aparece muerta en su casa y que nos habla desde "el más allá". Esta situación me ha resultado bastante divertida por momentos y es que las supuestas buenas intenciones de Olive no eran tan buenas.
Mentiras, secretos y muchos motivos para sospechar de todos... hasta de los niños.
Una lectura entretenida perfecta para desconectar.
May 2, 2019
I enjoyed this novel much more than the previous offering from the same author.
Olive Collins who is in her mid fifties is discovered dead in her cottage home, a six house development in Withered Vale. Her body has been decomposing for three months, none of the neighbouring residents bothering to knock her door to find out how she is. The Detectives Frank and Emma discover that Olive died from a heart-attack but their suspicions are raised when they also discover that her gas boiler has been tampered with and the windows and vents sealed shut. All the neighbours are questioned and it appears that they all have something to hide. Each of them have encountered disagreements with Olive in the weeks leading up to her death.
The neighbours vegetarian David and his wife Lily, Matt the accountant and his wife Chrissy, who is having an affair with salesman Ron . George, who is addicted to porn, Ed and Amelia the retired couple who are currently on holiday, single mother Alison and her precocious but fragile daughter, Holly. All of them are suspects and each of them have a reason for wanting Olive dead.
This is a really good book that is entertaining with a great plot.
Olive Collins who is in her mid fifties is discovered dead in her cottage home, a six house development in Withered Vale. Her body has been decomposing for three months, none of the neighbouring residents bothering to knock her door to find out how she is. The Detectives Frank and Emma discover that Olive died from a heart-attack but their suspicions are raised when they also discover that her gas boiler has been tampered with and the windows and vents sealed shut. All the neighbours are questioned and it appears that they all have something to hide. Each of them have encountered disagreements with Olive in the weeks leading up to her death.
The neighbours vegetarian David and his wife Lily, Matt the accountant and his wife Chrissy, who is having an affair with salesman Ron . George, who is addicted to porn, Ed and Amelia the retired couple who are currently on holiday, single mother Alison and her precocious but fragile daughter, Holly. All of them are suspects and each of them have a reason for wanting Olive dead.
This is a really good book that is entertaining with a great plot.
November 14, 2018
Oh my gosh I ADORED this, I read it in one huge gulp of a sitting, devouring each new reveal then stopping briefly now and then to peer out of the window at my neighbours houses because after this gawd knows what’s going on over there…
Anyway, Dirty Little Secrets is a fully character driven psychological thriller which basically takes apart one exclusive, gated community that isn’t really a community at all until the death of Olive makes them start to realise that keeping to themselves isn’t necessarily the best thing…
Poor Olive. She’s rotting away for 3 month’s before anyone notices..but as the police investigate it turns out there’s good reason for many of the resident’s to be practically throwing a party celebrating her demise. As layer after layer of their true colours are revealed, you are entirely caught up with this wonderfully eclectic, brilliantly realistic, often very funny group of people.
Intricate relationship issues, hidden quirks, affairs, possible criminal activity all in the mix as we learn more and more about what goes on behind closed doors. Jo Spain does an often witty, always fascinating, highly engaging and very authentic takedown of all those involved – it is completely riveting with an emotional soul that really gets to you.
As for Olive..well. You reap what you sow as the absolutely pitch perfect resolution shows. I’d have left her to rot too…
Fantastic. Highly Recommended.
Anyway, Dirty Little Secrets is a fully character driven psychological thriller which basically takes apart one exclusive, gated community that isn’t really a community at all until the death of Olive makes them start to realise that keeping to themselves isn’t necessarily the best thing…
Poor Olive. She’s rotting away for 3 month’s before anyone notices..but as the police investigate it turns out there’s good reason for many of the resident’s to be practically throwing a party celebrating her demise. As layer after layer of their true colours are revealed, you are entirely caught up with this wonderfully eclectic, brilliantly realistic, often very funny group of people.
Intricate relationship issues, hidden quirks, affairs, possible criminal activity all in the mix as we learn more and more about what goes on behind closed doors. Jo Spain does an often witty, always fascinating, highly engaging and very authentic takedown of all those involved – it is completely riveting with an emotional soul that really gets to you.
As for Olive..well. You reap what you sow as the absolutely pitch perfect resolution shows. I’d have left her to rot too…
Fantastic. Highly Recommended.
January 3, 2019
I haven’t read any Jo Spain novels before, but I am delighted I have discovered her books. This mystery is set in a gated community of luxurious homes. However, despite all the wealth, and security, one of those living there – Olive Collins – is found dead in her cottage; her body undiscovered for three months. Detective Frank Brazil and his partner, Detective Emma Child, are sent to investigate and it soon seems that Olive’s death was suspicious.
As the detectives begin to question the residents of the gated community, everything does not seem as picture perfect as it first appeared. Secrets are unearthed and we hear, not only from the residents, but also from Olive herself, as the book progresses. Among the past crimes, addictions, marital issues and blackmail, there are many motives for killing their neighbour.
I loved both the characters in this book, and the detectives investigating. Jo Spain avoids any really obvious answers and there are lots of shades of grey, with her allowing her characters positive, as well as negative, character traits. I also enjoyed the sections narrated by Olive, who finds her small cottage surrounded by a new estate and manages to totally misjudge her neighbours, as she desperately reaches out for company, despite her lack of social skills. Overall, a really good and enjoyable read and I look forward to discovering Spain’s previous books.
As the detectives begin to question the residents of the gated community, everything does not seem as picture perfect as it first appeared. Secrets are unearthed and we hear, not only from the residents, but also from Olive herself, as the book progresses. Among the past crimes, addictions, marital issues and blackmail, there are many motives for killing their neighbour.
I loved both the characters in this book, and the detectives investigating. Jo Spain avoids any really obvious answers and there are lots of shades of grey, with her allowing her characters positive, as well as negative, character traits. I also enjoyed the sections narrated by Olive, who finds her small cottage surrounded by a new estate and manages to totally misjudge her neighbours, as she desperately reaches out for company, despite her lack of social skills. Overall, a really good and enjoyable read and I look forward to discovering Spain’s previous books.
February 6, 2019
‘Withered Vale’
Gated, Exclusive
6 Neighbours, Many Many Secrets
1 Neighbour Dead
For Weeks
In Her Armchair
No One Knew
No One Cared
Disgraceful
Poor Olive Collins......she didn’t deserve that.....did she??
Dirty little secrets, and they abound, almost jumping from house to house and neighbour to neighbour in this wonderfully dark whodunit
‘Trust none of them’ is my advice, they all have reason to want Olive dead...she misses nothing and knows all, she knows way way too much....
Its soooo good I want to start it again as I am writing this!
The style of writing is easy to fall into as it smoothly takes you through each house and neighbour, who they are, who they REALLY are and what they were doing the day Olive died
The Characters are each just superb and you will like, dislike, trust, untrust and feel many more emotions for each one of them until the truth about each is known!!!
The story itself is fast and at times brutal and there is not a second of daydream time, its all happening constantly as you turn ( or flick ) each page ( or screen! )
Fabulous narrative from each neighbour inc Olive!!! and what really happened that day could go any of so many ways until you get to the last chapter and all is revealed and you dont know wether to laugh or cry be happy or sad, its a shocker!
The author has created a very cleverly put together awesome read and will be reading more of Jo Spain’s books
Wonderful read, I loved every sentence
10/10 5 Stars
Gated, Exclusive
6 Neighbours, Many Many Secrets
1 Neighbour Dead
For Weeks
In Her Armchair
No One Knew
No One Cared
Disgraceful
Poor Olive Collins......she didn’t deserve that.....did she??
Dirty little secrets, and they abound, almost jumping from house to house and neighbour to neighbour in this wonderfully dark whodunit
‘Trust none of them’ is my advice, they all have reason to want Olive dead...she misses nothing and knows all, she knows way way too much....
Its soooo good I want to start it again as I am writing this!
The style of writing is easy to fall into as it smoothly takes you through each house and neighbour, who they are, who they REALLY are and what they were doing the day Olive died
The Characters are each just superb and you will like, dislike, trust, untrust and feel many more emotions for each one of them until the truth about each is known!!!
The story itself is fast and at times brutal and there is not a second of daydream time, its all happening constantly as you turn ( or flick ) each page ( or screen! )
Fabulous narrative from each neighbour inc Olive!!! and what really happened that day could go any of so many ways until you get to the last chapter and all is revealed and you dont know wether to laugh or cry be happy or sad, its a shocker!
The author has created a very cleverly put together awesome read and will be reading more of Jo Spain’s books
Wonderful read, I loved every sentence
10/10 5 Stars
March 1, 2023
Una mujer muerta. La vecina con la que todos tienen un problema, incluyendo a los niños. La urbanización entera es interrogada por dos detectives muy diferentes entre sí que buscan esclarecer los hechos y, sobre todo, entender por qué nadie se había dado cuenta de que Olive Collins llevaba semanas muerta en el interior de su casa.
Me ha gustado. No creo que sea el mejor thriller que he leído, pero ha estado bien, súper entretenido y lleno de intriga e incluso humor. La autora usa una narración divertida y amena, esa que te hace sentir como si estuvieras leyendo una revista de chismes en lugar de un libro sobre posibles asesinatos; logra que las páginas se pasen rápido y que simpatices con la situación de cada uno de los personajes.
Y, bueno, como es un thriller y la mayor parte de su encanto está en no saber qué pasará, seré muy breve: no he dado las cuatro estrellas porque lo sentí muy básico. ¿A qué me refiero? Que pudo dar más, que los personajes tenían todo lo necesario para torcerse más y perder la cabeza. Supongo que la autora quería que se mantuviera dentro de lo "realista", pero... yo sí quería ver el mundo arder:)
Por cierto, no sé qué tiene que ver la portada con nada jajaja
Me ha gustado. No creo que sea el mejor thriller que he leído, pero ha estado bien, súper entretenido y lleno de intriga e incluso humor. La autora usa una narración divertida y amena, esa que te hace sentir como si estuvieras leyendo una revista de chismes en lugar de un libro sobre posibles asesinatos; logra que las páginas se pasen rápido y que simpatices con la situación de cada uno de los personajes.
Cuando la gente te conoce de siempre, no puedes cambiar. Si haces algo distinto, se piensa que o te ha dado un pronto o te crees especial. Te meten en un cajón y de ahí no sales.
Y, bueno, como es un thriller y la mayor parte de su encanto está en no saber qué pasará, seré muy breve: no he dado las cuatro estrellas porque lo sentí muy básico. ¿A qué me refiero? Que pudo dar más, que los personajes tenían todo lo necesario para torcerse más y perder la cabeza. Supongo que la autora quería que se mantuviera dentro de lo "realista", pero... yo sí quería ver el mundo arder:)
Por cierto, no sé qué tiene que ver la portada con nada jajaja
September 28, 2019
"Iets te verbergen is voor mij één van de toppers van dit jaar die ik gelezen heb!"
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2019...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2019...
February 6, 2019
It wasn't the smell that alerted the privileged residents of the gated community of Withered Vale to the fact that something was amiss at number four.It was the black,menacing,humming mass of bluebottles rising out of Olive Collin's chimney.
The neighbours insist that they are shocked when it transpires that Olive's body has been rotting in her home for three months. And yet none of them had thought to check up on her when she vanished from sight.
When Detective Frank Brazil and his young colleague Emma Child start to ask questions, they discover that the neighbours lives are not as flawless as they seem. In fact, the people living in Withered Vale have more issues and secrets than you would see on a whole series of Jeremy Kyle. It seems that everyone of them has something to hide,someone to lose and everything to gain from her death.
Dirty Little Secrets is a enthralling,character driven who did or didn't do it that is voiced by numerous,realistic characters including Frank,Emma and lonely,manipulative,interfering Olive. All the vivid characters had flaws,issues and secrets ranging from porn addiction,affairs,denial to mental and physical abuse,greed and jealousy. My favourite characters were Emma,Matt,Alison,Holly and young Wolf, the rest of the characters were not very likeable although I did change my opinion on a couple of them by the time I finished the book.
I loved Dirty Little Secrets,just as much as I loved The Confession which was one of my favourite reads of last year. I was totally enthralled by every character's part of the story and loved that most of the chapters ended on a cliff hanger,giving the reader a very bad case of Just one more chapter syndrome. Although the story is narrated by numerous characters,the chapters are clearly annotated and the writers words flow with ease drawing you into her characters fictional world. I liked how some of the characters changed as the story unfolded and they realised that the way they were living their lives had to change. I was hooked in from the very first page and genuinely didn't want to put this gripping thriller down. Absolutely amazing book,worth far more than five stars and very highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Millie Reid and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read and review this brilliant book and for the opportunity to take part in the Blog Blast
The neighbours insist that they are shocked when it transpires that Olive's body has been rotting in her home for three months. And yet none of them had thought to check up on her when she vanished from sight.
When Detective Frank Brazil and his young colleague Emma Child start to ask questions, they discover that the neighbours lives are not as flawless as they seem. In fact, the people living in Withered Vale have more issues and secrets than you would see on a whole series of Jeremy Kyle. It seems that everyone of them has something to hide,someone to lose and everything to gain from her death.
Dirty Little Secrets is a enthralling,character driven who did or didn't do it that is voiced by numerous,realistic characters including Frank,Emma and lonely,manipulative,interfering Olive. All the vivid characters had flaws,issues and secrets ranging from porn addiction,affairs,denial to mental and physical abuse,greed and jealousy. My favourite characters were Emma,Matt,Alison,Holly and young Wolf, the rest of the characters were not very likeable although I did change my opinion on a couple of them by the time I finished the book.
I loved Dirty Little Secrets,just as much as I loved The Confession which was one of my favourite reads of last year. I was totally enthralled by every character's part of the story and loved that most of the chapters ended on a cliff hanger,giving the reader a very bad case of Just one more chapter syndrome. Although the story is narrated by numerous characters,the chapters are clearly annotated and the writers words flow with ease drawing you into her characters fictional world. I liked how some of the characters changed as the story unfolded and they realised that the way they were living their lives had to change. I was hooked in from the very first page and genuinely didn't want to put this gripping thriller down. Absolutely amazing book,worth far more than five stars and very highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Millie Reid and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read and review this brilliant book and for the opportunity to take part in the Blog Blast
January 6, 2019
Thank you Netgalley and Quercus for the ARC.
Bam! and we're off! This book starts with the most imaginative prologue I've read in a long time.
Unfortunately it's mainly downhill after that.
We're stuck in a small wealthy gated community in the Irish countryside. When one of the residents is found dead in her home, the other six pretty soon become suspects in the mystery. Is she murdered or was it truly an accident?
The chapters jump from one house to the next and all of the residents appear to harbour secrets that could influence the case. The writing is pleasant enough with indepth characters, but the pace is too slow for me and the stories too trivial. I feel trapped in this sad neighbourhood. Eventually it just sizzles out.
It took me almost two weeks instead of my usually two days to finish this book. I'm a big fan of Jo Spain, but this one disappointed me. Just an okay mystery without thrills.
Bam! and we're off! This book starts with the most imaginative prologue I've read in a long time.
Unfortunately it's mainly downhill after that.
We're stuck in a small wealthy gated community in the Irish countryside. When one of the residents is found dead in her home, the other six pretty soon become suspects in the mystery. Is she murdered or was it truly an accident?
The chapters jump from one house to the next and all of the residents appear to harbour secrets that could influence the case. The writing is pleasant enough with indepth characters, but the pace is too slow for me and the stories too trivial. I feel trapped in this sad neighbourhood. Eventually it just sizzles out.
It took me almost two weeks instead of my usually two days to finish this book. I'm a big fan of Jo Spain, but this one disappointed me. Just an okay mystery without thrills.
May 17, 2020
Olive Collins, a resident in an exclusive housing development rather threateningly named Withered Vale, has been found dead. The strangest element seems to be that it’d been three months before her neighbours realised that something was amiss, and this only after it was accidentally discovered by one of the development’s children that she’d remained sealed inside her property all this time. Why hadn’t she been missed? Why hadn’t anybody checked up on her? It’s ascertained by the police that Olive’s gas boiler may have been tampered with and it’s evident that all air vents in the property had been sealed. There’s also the fact that a call to the police on what’s thought to have be the fateful night has been identified, during which Olive reported that something was seriously wrong – it appears that the call was not properly followed up.
The investigating police officers, veteran Frank and greenhorn Emma, will want to talk to all of her neighbours and quite a few of them seem to have something they’d rather not disclose. And to add a rather different note to this whodunnit tale, Olive is on hand to provide some input from beyond the grave. Anyone familiar with Liane Moriarty’s [Book: Big Little Lies] will be instantly at home with this book - we get to know all of the neighbours as they chat, bitch and worry over deeds done, conversations had and secrets they’d rather not share. Frank and Emma also become significant characters in this tale as their lives become part of the overall story.
It’s a book that probably should have switched me off very early on, but it’s written in such an engaging way that I soon found myself wanting to know more about each of the players and to unwrap their hidden truths as well as finding out what really did happen to Olive. The neighbours are a motley crew, each seemingly having crossed swords with Olive at some point. It also becomes clear that Olive herself was no shrinking violet. To stand back from it is to know that it’s all wildly far fetched but as an intriguing puzzle and a piece of entertainment I think it works really well. I rattled through this one in a few days and enjoyed it a lot. A four star read for me.
The investigating police officers, veteran Frank and greenhorn Emma, will want to talk to all of her neighbours and quite a few of them seem to have something they’d rather not disclose. And to add a rather different note to this whodunnit tale, Olive is on hand to provide some input from beyond the grave. Anyone familiar with Liane Moriarty’s [Book: Big Little Lies] will be instantly at home with this book - we get to know all of the neighbours as they chat, bitch and worry over deeds done, conversations had and secrets they’d rather not share. Frank and Emma also become significant characters in this tale as their lives become part of the overall story.
It’s a book that probably should have switched me off very early on, but it’s written in such an engaging way that I soon found myself wanting to know more about each of the players and to unwrap their hidden truths as well as finding out what really did happen to Olive. The neighbours are a motley crew, each seemingly having crossed swords with Olive at some point. It also becomes clear that Olive herself was no shrinking violet. To stand back from it is to know that it’s all wildly far fetched but as an intriguing puzzle and a piece of entertainment I think it works really well. I rattled through this one in a few days and enjoyed it a lot. A four star read for me.
April 2, 2019
I thought this book was brilliant. I really liked how even after Olive died it still had her point of view. The book definitely showed that you never know what goes on behind closed doors and that everyone is struggling with something in their life. I must admit I was a little disappointed at the ending when Olive revealed it was actually herself who sabotaged the boiler. I really wanted it to be one of the neighbours. Every one of them were suspicious and had something to hide. It had so many moments where you think wow I can’t believe it which I liked. I liked how the families had their own chapters as well as the detectives. I’ve heard so many good things about this book and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2021
2.75 Stars
February 4, 2019
Welcome to the gated community of Withered Vale; where the grass is green, life is good and everyone is happy. Or are they? When Olive Collin’s body is discovered at number four, cracks begin to show and Withered Vale will not quite be the same ever again.
What an absolutely delightful surprise this one was. Think along the lines of Big Little Lies but deliciously darker. There’s a whole cast of not particularly likeable characters, not even Olive and she’s dead. It’s a bit weird when you can’t even find it in yourself to sympathise with a dead person. And yet, dead as she may be, Olive also provides the chuckles and sometimes that was much needed because the issues the residents of this community are dealing with are often quite serious. From manipulation to addiction to infidelity; the amount of skeletons in the closet is pretty impressive.
What happened to Olive though and why was her body left undiscovered for so long? The police start asking questions and it soon becomes apparent Olive wasn’t exactly well liked in the community. She seemed to have a nose for sniffing out secrets and there are lot of them around. Pretty much each and every one of her neighbours has something to hide. So which one felt Olive should be silenced before their secret was revealed? I definitely learned that the whole “fly on the wall” thing is massively overrated. My neighbours need not worry about me watching them like a hawk. I’d much rather not know at all what they get up to behind closed doors, thank you very much.
Dirty Little Secrets was another buddy read with Janel at Keeper of Pages and it’s by far the fastest one we’ve done. We absolutely devoured the pages. Talk about an addictive page-turner! While we did have an inkling as to what had happened, it didn’t ruin our reading experience at all. With such a clever plot and so brilliantly written, Jo Spain kept me enthralled until the very last page.
Dirty Little Secrets is quite different from Jo Spain’s previous book, The Confession and I love that. It’s always a pleasure to know an author can keep surprising you. Immensely engrossing, hugely entertaining and absolutely unputdownable, Dirty Little Secrets shoots right up the list of my favourite books of the year and Jo Spain has found herself a spot on my list of go-to authors. I absolutely can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
What an absolutely delightful surprise this one was. Think along the lines of Big Little Lies but deliciously darker. There’s a whole cast of not particularly likeable characters, not even Olive and she’s dead. It’s a bit weird when you can’t even find it in yourself to sympathise with a dead person. And yet, dead as she may be, Olive also provides the chuckles and sometimes that was much needed because the issues the residents of this community are dealing with are often quite serious. From manipulation to addiction to infidelity; the amount of skeletons in the closet is pretty impressive.
What happened to Olive though and why was her body left undiscovered for so long? The police start asking questions and it soon becomes apparent Olive wasn’t exactly well liked in the community. She seemed to have a nose for sniffing out secrets and there are lot of them around. Pretty much each and every one of her neighbours has something to hide. So which one felt Olive should be silenced before their secret was revealed? I definitely learned that the whole “fly on the wall” thing is massively overrated. My neighbours need not worry about me watching them like a hawk. I’d much rather not know at all what they get up to behind closed doors, thank you very much.
Dirty Little Secrets was another buddy read with Janel at Keeper of Pages and it’s by far the fastest one we’ve done. We absolutely devoured the pages. Talk about an addictive page-turner! While we did have an inkling as to what had happened, it didn’t ruin our reading experience at all. With such a clever plot and so brilliantly written, Jo Spain kept me enthralled until the very last page.
Dirty Little Secrets is quite different from Jo Spain’s previous book, The Confession and I love that. It’s always a pleasure to know an author can keep surprising you. Immensely engrossing, hugely entertaining and absolutely unputdownable, Dirty Little Secrets shoots right up the list of my favourite books of the year and Jo Spain has found herself a spot on my list of go-to authors. I absolutely can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
December 11, 2018
This is my favourite kind of brain-off reading since Spain keeps things on the realistic - if exaggerated - side: there are no psychopaths with Oscar-worthy acting skills, for example, as in so many domestic noir-style thrillers. Instead, this is like Desperate Housewives in Ireland as we infiltrate a tiny group of families living in a gated community. When Olive is found dead, secrets are uncovered and cracks appear in relationships. We hear from the dead Olive as well as having sections focalised through various other characters. Unobtrusive writing and some depth in the characterisation keeps the pages turning. I found the ending just a tad unsatisfying but that's me... Excellent for reading in the bath!
Review copy via Amazon Vine.
Review copy via Amazon Vine.
February 8, 2019
Dirty Little Secret, bestselling writer Jo Spain's new standalone psychological thriller, is hardly an original concept; after all, it's based on the secrets of a small, affluent gated community in and around the area of Wicklow, Ireland. When elderly Olive Collins's decomposing body is found the police are at a loss as to who would want her dead; a lonely, innocent old lady causing no harm to anyone or was she? Things are not as they seem, and the police soon realise Olive was rather spiky and revelled in being a troublemaker. As the secrets begin to unravel it appears that just about everyone living in the development had a motive to kill Olive.
Police have their work cut out, not for the usual reason of too few suspects, but the exact opposite; there are too many here. As with Spain's other books the writing just flows beautifully and getting into the story is so, so easy. Once you're in, those pages just keep a turning more and more frenetically to find out who the perpetrator is. The fast pace, well drawn and interesting characters and how intensely gripping and absorbing the plot was made this a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. This is a suspenseful, tense and refreshing take on well-used tropes of the genre.
Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
Police have their work cut out, not for the usual reason of too few suspects, but the exact opposite; there are too many here. As with Spain's other books the writing just flows beautifully and getting into the story is so, so easy. Once you're in, those pages just keep a turning more and more frenetically to find out who the perpetrator is. The fast pace, well drawn and interesting characters and how intensely gripping and absorbing the plot was made this a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. This is a suspenseful, tense and refreshing take on well-used tropes of the genre.
Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
July 17, 2022
this unsavorily funny tale follows
several points of view, one of them
coming from a corpse rotting on a
chair for three months, forgotten
in a most neighbourly way. ♡
several points of view, one of them
coming from a corpse rotting on a
chair for three months, forgotten
in a most neighbourly way. ♡
March 8, 2020
Dit verhaal is goed in elkaar gezet. Het gaat over de bewoners van een afgesloten buurt. Als één van hen, een alleenstaande vrouw van 55, in haar huis wordt aangetroffen als ze al 3 maanden dood is, vindt de politie dit maar vreemd. Hoe kan het, dat in zo'n kleine buurt, gedurende al die maanden niemand die vrouw gemist heeft?
Uit onderzoek blijkt dat de vrouw gestorven is aan een hartaanval, veroorzaakt door koolmonoxidevergiftiging. Zelfmoord, of heeft er iemand met haar boiler geknoeid? Buiten de buurtbewoners had Olive eigenlijk met niemand contact. En dan blijkt dat iedereen uit de buurt wel eens een ernstige aanvaring met Olive gehad heeft.
We leren dus alle buren kennen, door het politieonderzoek, en ook omdat ze allemaal almaar onrustiger worden naarmate het onderzoek verder gaat, en hun hart beginnen uit te storten bij elkaar. En dan volgt er toch nog een verrassende ontknoping.
Op één van de laatste bladzijden van het boek roept iemand uit 'Dit lijkt wel Dallas! Mij deed het meer aan Desperate Housewives denken....
Uit onderzoek blijkt dat de vrouw gestorven is aan een hartaanval, veroorzaakt door koolmonoxidevergiftiging. Zelfmoord, of heeft er iemand met haar boiler geknoeid? Buiten de buurtbewoners had Olive eigenlijk met niemand contact. En dan blijkt dat iedereen uit de buurt wel eens een ernstige aanvaring met Olive gehad heeft.
We leren dus alle buren kennen, door het politieonderzoek, en ook omdat ze allemaal almaar onrustiger worden naarmate het onderzoek verder gaat, en hun hart beginnen uit te storten bij elkaar. En dan volgt er toch nog een verrassende ontknoping.
Op één van de laatste bladzijden van het boek roept iemand uit 'Dit lijkt wel Dallas! Mij deed het meer aan Desperate Housewives denken....
July 27, 2022
Una urbanización donde aparece muerta una vecina; hay indicios homicidas.
A lo largo de capítulos cortos sobre cada vecino se va conociendo la vida de ellos y como la relación entre todos no es nada idílica. Todos tienen motivos para matar. Todos tienen secretos que debido a la muerte se van descubriendo y uniendoles ante las desgracias.
El final ha sido un poco flojo y me ha dejado bastante indiferente.
Un libro para no pensar y pasar el rato.
A lo largo de capítulos cortos sobre cada vecino se va conociendo la vida de ellos y como la relación entre todos no es nada idílica. Todos tienen motivos para matar. Todos tienen secretos que debido a la muerte se van descubriendo y uniendoles ante las desgracias.
El final ha sido un poco flojo y me ha dejado bastante indiferente.
Un libro para no pensar y pasar el rato.
July 13, 2024
Este libro es puro chisme y salseo. Un vecindario de ricos, cada uno con sus secretos y pecados, todos sospechosos de asesinar a una vecina muy peculiar, de la que conoceremos su punto de vista. Entretenimiento asegurado.
February 9, 2019
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely be looking out for more. It’s a stand-alone domestic suspense novel with a fascinating cast of characters, like an Irish Liane Moriarty. The plot pulled me in straight away and I had no idea where it was going until the final reveal.
Olive Collins, a meddling middle-aged spinster living in an exclusive gated community, has been found dead, but what shocks her neighbours the most is that no one missed her for three months. As the story unfolds from the perspective of various characters including Olive herself, from beyond the grave, we discover that pretty much all of them had reason to want her dead, so it’s up to a mismatched detective duo to sift through the secrets and lies, but will they get to the truth when everyone has something to hide?
I really enjoy this author’s writing style, with her wry observations and dry humour. It’s recognisably Irish without overdoing it - the plot could actually be set anywhere and is actually completely believable. I liked the evolving dynamic between Frank and Emma, as well as the friendships born between neighbours as a result of all the unexpected revelations. Olive was wonderfully awful and there are plenty of red herrings and reason to suspect everyone, but the ending didn’t disappoint at all. Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Dirty Little Secrets is available now.
Olive Collins, a meddling middle-aged spinster living in an exclusive gated community, has been found dead, but what shocks her neighbours the most is that no one missed her for three months. As the story unfolds from the perspective of various characters including Olive herself, from beyond the grave, we discover that pretty much all of them had reason to want her dead, so it’s up to a mismatched detective duo to sift through the secrets and lies, but will they get to the truth when everyone has something to hide?
I really enjoy this author’s writing style, with her wry observations and dry humour. It’s recognisably Irish without overdoing it - the plot could actually be set anywhere and is actually completely believable. I liked the evolving dynamic between Frank and Emma, as well as the friendships born between neighbours as a result of all the unexpected revelations. Olive was wonderfully awful and there are plenty of red herrings and reason to suspect everyone, but the ending didn’t disappoint at all. Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Dirty Little Secrets is available now.
March 25, 2019
Olive Collins lives out of town in a small house in a place called Withered Vale. One day, the land is sold to developers ; and although she can keep her house, she doesn't own the land, and so she becomes part of a small gated street with massive expensive homes.
Flash forward and Olive is found dead. Her rotting body has been in her home for around three months and none of the neighbours in this small street noticed she was missing.
One by one we follow life through rotating POVs of the neighbours, Olive, and the police detectives in charge of determining if she was murdered or took her own life.
Mostly I found this a really easy read and to begin with I was super curious about what happened to her. As we started moving to the end I found all the "big secrets" of the neighbours a little on the side of caricature and as the realism faded so did my interest in the mystery. I think the author possibly tried to put far too much into this book ; developing so many characters ; and then really rushed the end with a "6 months later" chapter.
All in all, it was a pretty good mystery, mostly a page turner, and I would recommend to people who want something they don't want to think about too much but do enjoy a mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Flash forward and Olive is found dead. Her rotting body has been in her home for around three months and none of the neighbours in this small street noticed she was missing.
One by one we follow life through rotating POVs of the neighbours, Olive, and the police detectives in charge of determining if she was murdered or took her own life.
Mostly I found this a really easy read and to begin with I was super curious about what happened to her. As we started moving to the end I found all the "big secrets" of the neighbours a little on the side of caricature and as the realism faded so did my interest in the mystery. I think the author possibly tried to put far too much into this book ; developing so many characters ; and then really rushed the end with a "6 months later" chapter.
All in all, it was a pretty good mystery, mostly a page turner, and I would recommend to people who want something they don't want to think about too much but do enjoy a mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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