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The Secret
You turn your back for a minute. And now your son is in terrible danger …
Louise is struggling to cope. As a busy working mum, she often has to leave her eight-year-old son Archie at her sister Alice’s flat.
Alice and Louise used to be close. But there’s a lot they don’t know about each other now - like the bottle of vodka Louise hides in her handbag, Alice’s handsome new friend and the odd behaviour of her next-door neighbour.
Archie is a curious little boy. He likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
Louise is struggling to cope. As a busy working mum, she often has to leave her eight-year-old son Archie at her sister Alice’s flat.
Alice and Louise used to be close. But there’s a lot they don’t know about each other now - like the bottle of vodka Louise hides in her handbag, Alice’s handsome new friend and the odd behaviour of her next-door neighbour.
Archie is a curious little boy. He likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2018
3760 people are currently reading
3568 people want to read
About the author
K.L. Slater
45 books4,696 followersKim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 532 reviews
August 1, 2018
Heart-stirring from start to finish!
When I want to get lost in a book, I can't think of anything more addicting than K.L. Slater's psychological novels, and this one did not disappoint (my fourth one). The Secret is full of sneak peeks into other people's lives and motivations for doing some less than honorable things. I did not see the end coming, and it couldn't have been more perfect!
The author created some unique characters with distinct personalities with the two sisters Louise and Alice. Louise always looks picture perfect in her shiny heels and blown-out hair, but Alice senses that more is going on with her than meets the eye. Louise has always thought of her sister as a "Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes" and has accused her of being favored by their late mum.
Alice develops an interest in a man on a tram that travels past her flat every morning. He smiles and waves up at her ( we could say she is his girl in the window) and she begins to wonder if they could meet someday. When she confides in Louise about him, she calls him her fancy man on the tram . Do you think they'll have a chance encounter? I really want to spill, BUT I can't!
I really became invested in the characters, including Louise's son, Archie. He is only eight years old, but has a secret that could change the happily ever after ending. Ding dong.
Loved every second of this pacey, twisty page-turner!
Thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When I want to get lost in a book, I can't think of anything more addicting than K.L. Slater's psychological novels, and this one did not disappoint (my fourth one). The Secret is full of sneak peeks into other people's lives and motivations for doing some less than honorable things. I did not see the end coming, and it couldn't have been more perfect!
The author created some unique characters with distinct personalities with the two sisters Louise and Alice. Louise always looks picture perfect in her shiny heels and blown-out hair, but Alice senses that more is going on with her than meets the eye. Louise has always thought of her sister as a "Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes" and has accused her of being favored by their late mum.
Alice develops an interest in a man on a tram that travels past her flat every morning. He smiles and waves up at her ( we could say she is his girl in the window) and she begins to wonder if they could meet someday. When she confides in Louise about him, she calls him her fancy man on the tram . Do you think they'll have a chance encounter? I really want to spill, BUT I can't!
I really became invested in the characters, including Louise's son, Archie. He is only eight years old, but has a secret that could change the happily ever after ending. Ding dong.
Loved every second of this pacey, twisty page-turner!
Thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2018
Having read several of K.L. Slater’s previous psychological thrillers I knew that I was going to be in for one good read with The Secret and thankfully I was right. The Secret took only a few page turns to pull me in and easily became one of those books you just don’t want to put down until the end.
The story is about two sisters, Alice and Louise, and switches the point of view between them while also flashing back at various times in their lives. Louise is the married, confident, working mother who leads a very busy life and looks down upon Alice thinking she has had it too easy in life.
Meanwhile Alice suffers everyday with bouts of anxiety and can barely leave her apartment that she used to share with her mother before she passed. Since Alice is home and not working Louise often calls upon her to watch her young son, Archie. With Archie in her care so often Alice begins to see signs that something is bothering him and vows to find out the cause.
I think we can all guess from the title of this one that there were going to be at least one good secret that needed unraveling between these sisters but really the story had a lot going on to hold one’s attention. To be quite honest though I think K.L. Slater for me is the type of author that could sell me on Kermit the Frog being the villain in the end because the journey is always so enjoyable. Thankfully though the ending also lived up to the journey with this one and I’d definitely recommend this one to the thriller fans out there that enjoy a dizzying ride.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story is about two sisters, Alice and Louise, and switches the point of view between them while also flashing back at various times in their lives. Louise is the married, confident, working mother who leads a very busy life and looks down upon Alice thinking she has had it too easy in life.
Meanwhile Alice suffers everyday with bouts of anxiety and can barely leave her apartment that she used to share with her mother before she passed. Since Alice is home and not working Louise often calls upon her to watch her young son, Archie. With Archie in her care so often Alice begins to see signs that something is bothering him and vows to find out the cause.
I think we can all guess from the title of this one that there were going to be at least one good secret that needed unraveling between these sisters but really the story had a lot going on to hold one’s attention. To be quite honest though I think K.L. Slater for me is the type of author that could sell me on Kermit the Frog being the villain in the end because the journey is always so enjoyable. Thankfully though the ending also lived up to the journey with this one and I’d definitely recommend this one to the thriller fans out there that enjoy a dizzying ride.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 6, 2018
Some secrets are not safe to keep.
Archie, Alice’s 8 year old nephew, has a secret. A secret which could cause irreparable damage if revealed. He has seen something, something awful and the dark shadow of this secret follows him everywhere.
Alice has agreed to take care of Archie while his mother Louise, Alice’s sister, attends early morning or late night meetings. As their relationship develops, Alice notices that Archie is withdrawn, worried and afraid all the time. She resolves to get to the bottom of things and find out what is troubling her young nephew.
The Secret is full of surprises and will keep you on your toes! This was my first book from K.L. Slater and I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to K.L.Slater, Bookouture and the NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.
Archie, Alice’s 8 year old nephew, has a secret. A secret which could cause irreparable damage if revealed. He has seen something, something awful and the dark shadow of this secret follows him everywhere.
Alice has agreed to take care of Archie while his mother Louise, Alice’s sister, attends early morning or late night meetings. As their relationship develops, Alice notices that Archie is withdrawn, worried and afraid all the time. She resolves to get to the bottom of things and find out what is troubling her young nephew.
The Secret is full of surprises and will keep you on your toes! This was my first book from K.L. Slater and I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to K.L.Slater, Bookouture and the NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.
July 19, 2018
This is the 6th book I have read by author Kim Slater and I can honestly say she never lets me down. This is another excellent psychological thriller and yet again I was totally gripped.
This is a story of two sisters Louise and Alice, Louise is a working mother who has debt and very little time for her son Archie. Alice on the other-hand is housebound, short of confidence and is more than willing to spend time with Archie. Her life is spent watching a stranger in a tram from her living room window, imagining what could be. Louise is far from helpful to Alice's predicament and loads her problems on Alice while criticising her for not having a life. Eight year old Archie likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
I really enjoyed this book and was a quick read mainly due to the fact I found it so hard to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story of two sisters Louise and Alice, Louise is a working mother who has debt and very little time for her son Archie. Alice on the other-hand is housebound, short of confidence and is more than willing to spend time with Archie. Her life is spent watching a stranger in a tram from her living room window, imagining what could be. Louise is far from helpful to Alice's predicament and loads her problems on Alice while criticising her for not having a life. Eight year old Archie likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
I really enjoyed this book and was a quick read mainly due to the fact I found it so hard to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2018
Alice and Louise are sisters, but very different personalities. Alice was a confident assistant in a popular art gallery when she experienced a bad car accident that killed her boyfriend and left her with injuries and anxiety to the point where she rarely leaves the house. She enjoys watching the trams go past her window and has started watching out for a particular man on the tram every morning. Louise, her older sister is bossy and controlling and despite a disastrous first marriage to a con man has got back on her feet with a new marriage and a high powered job. She is often so busy at work that she has to ask Alice to look after her eight year old son Archie before or after school. Alice loves Archie but feels there is something disturbing him but Louise refuses to listen to her.
This is a psychological thriller that sneaks up on you. Alice and Archie grow closer as Louise's life seems to spiral out of control and Alice starts to find her voice and speak up for Archie. It's hard to guess what is going on until 'the secret' is uncovered towards the end of the novel and it all starts to make sense. The ending was perfect!
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of the book.
This is a psychological thriller that sneaks up on you. Alice and Archie grow closer as Louise's life seems to spiral out of control and Alice starts to find her voice and speak up for Archie. It's hard to guess what is going on until 'the secret' is uncovered towards the end of the novel and it all starts to make sense. The ending was perfect!
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of the book.
June 18, 2018
I was so excited to get an early copy of this book. I got up early and worked hard on my edits so I could just read and relax, enjoying every single word, guilt free. From the very first page I was captivated by the stories of Alice, Louise and especially, Archie who I absolutely adored. Every time I pick up one of this author's books I am immediately drawn into the mystery and suspense that she weaves from the very first page. I find myself wanting to know every single thing about every character. I want to know how they fit in to the overall tale. I find myself guessing all of the above and I am never, ever right. And this book was no exception. I gobbled up every single word and absolutely flew towards the tense, secret filled climax that delivered over and over again until I finished the story positively breathless. I am already awaiting the next one with impatient anticipation.
June 25, 2018
I always enjoy K. L. Slater books and was delighted to get a ARC of her new book The Secret. This was a good psychological thriller with many twists and turns.
Alice is almost housebound after an accident and is too nervous to go out. Her sister Louise takes advantage of this situation to gets Alice to look after Archie her eight year old son. Alice and Archie become closer the more time they spend together and it becomes clear that the child is being bullied by someone and Alice decides to get to the bottom of the problem. Archie also has a secret that he has been told not to tell.
There are quite a few excellent characters in this book. An enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Alice is almost housebound after an accident and is too nervous to go out. Her sister Louise takes advantage of this situation to gets Alice to look after Archie her eight year old son. Alice and Archie become closer the more time they spend together and it becomes clear that the child is being bullied by someone and Alice decides to get to the bottom of the problem. Archie also has a secret that he has been told not to tell.
There are quite a few excellent characters in this book. An enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2018
This is my sixth read by K.L. Slater, and I'm happy to say it didn't let me down. The Secret only cemented that automatic reaction I have that grabs a new book by her as soon as I see it. At times it moves quite slowly without a lot of action, but we learn so much about the characters and the suspense was definitely enough to keep my attention. This one ended up being hard to predict for me, and I'm very satisfied with the ending. I'm happy that I grabbed it because of the author and didn't read the synopsis too closely, because it actually reveals a couple of things that aren't told to the reader until later in the book when you're actually reading it. That led to a better experience for me, so I'd suggest grabbing this one without looking too closely. I'm keeping my own personal synopsis of the plot purposefully vague.
Alice and Louise are sisters, but they aren't close and couldn't be more different. Louise is a busy career woman and mother to Archie, who her husband adopted from one of her previous relationships. Alice rarely leaves the house, though it's clear she hasn't always been that way. They both have frustrations with each other, which doesn't stop Louise from often dropping Archie off for Alice to care for... and Alice never says no.
Archie seems spoiled at first, and Alice doesn't look forward to his visits. But it isn't too long before they start to connect, and Alice is sure that something big is bothering the boy. She has no idea the secrets he keeps... but as it turns out, everyone in the family is hiding something.
This is a close examination of a very intriguing family, and it's full of surprises. It's rare that I don't guess what's going on before it's revealed, but here we are! I found this to be a really quick read, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers that sneak up on you.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Alice and Louise are sisters, but they aren't close and couldn't be more different. Louise is a busy career woman and mother to Archie, who her husband adopted from one of her previous relationships. Alice rarely leaves the house, though it's clear she hasn't always been that way. They both have frustrations with each other, which doesn't stop Louise from often dropping Archie off for Alice to care for... and Alice never says no.
Archie seems spoiled at first, and Alice doesn't look forward to his visits. But it isn't too long before they start to connect, and Alice is sure that something big is bothering the boy. She has no idea the secrets he keeps... but as it turns out, everyone in the family is hiding something.
This is a close examination of a very intriguing family, and it's full of surprises. It's rare that I don't guess what's going on before it's revealed, but here we are! I found this to be a really quick read, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers that sneak up on you.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
August 13, 2018
EXCERPT: 'If Mum couldn't look after me any more, would I have to go and live in a children's home?'
'What? Where's that come from? I laugh softly and put my arm around him, pulling him closer to me. 'I don't know where this is going, but the answer is no, of course not. If there's some reason your mum couldn't look after you, you'd come and live with me.'
'Because we're family.'
'Too right.' I grin. 'And after everything we've been through, we want no more secrets ever, right?'
'Right,' Archie says faintly. 'Even terrible ones.'
'Especially terrible ones.' I nudge him playfully.
And then he pulls away from my hug, looks me in the eye, and Archie tells me his secret.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You turn your back for a minute. And now your son is in terrible danger …
Louise is struggling to cope. As a busy working mum, she often has to leave her eight-year-old son Archie at her sister Alice’s flat.
Alice and Louise used to be close. But there’s a lot they don’t know about each other now - like the bottle of vodka Louise hides in her handbag, Alice’s handsome new friend and the odd behaviour of her next-door neighbour.
Archie is a curious little boy. He likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
MY THOUGHTS: This book is all over the place, both with narrators and timelines which for me spoiled the suspense rather than adding to it. The Secret is definitely not this author's best book. But it is still a book that kept me turning the pages, waiting for 'that' moment, and when it came it was not what I expected. It made me sit up and take notice. Rocked me back on my heels. Damn, it was good.
However great that moment may be however, there were a lot of things in The Secret that just didn't gel for me. Like how Alice earned Archie's trust almost overnight, for example. It is messy, overcomplicated and felt rushed, and I just didn't feel the suspense that the author was trying to build. There were too many things thrown in, as though the author couldn't quite make up her mind. . . Take for example Alice’s ME. We are told she has it. But one moment she is living her dream life, with her dream job and the next she is debilitated. Nothing in between. And what about the car accident? Other than to kill off a character, what was the point? As I said, it all felt rather rushed and, as a result, lacks both depth and suspense.
Right through, I was thinking that this was a 3-star read, right up until 'that' moment, which earned it another half star. 😍😍😍.5
THE AUTHOR: After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, I went back to university at the age of 40 where I studied for an English & Creative Writing degree followed by an MA in Creative Writing.
Although I also worked full-time during the five years I studied at university, the courses gave me the time and space to try different writing and increased my confidence and belief in my writing. Before I graduated from my MA, I had secured representation with my agent, Clare Wallace, at the Darley Anderson Literacy, TV and Film Agency and had my first book deal.
My first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture is called ‘Safe with Me’ and it actually started life as my dissertation on my English & Creative Writing degree.
The creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away.
I live in Nottingham with my husband, Mac. Between us we have three grown-up kids; my daughter, Francesca and Mac’s sons Nathan and Jake.
I also write multi-award winning YA fiction under the name Kim Slater.(From author's website)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Secret by K. L. Slater 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 blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
'What? Where's that come from? I laugh softly and put my arm around him, pulling him closer to me. 'I don't know where this is going, but the answer is no, of course not. If there's some reason your mum couldn't look after you, you'd come and live with me.'
'Because we're family.'
'Too right.' I grin. 'And after everything we've been through, we want no more secrets ever, right?'
'Right,' Archie says faintly. 'Even terrible ones.'
'Especially terrible ones.' I nudge him playfully.
And then he pulls away from my hug, looks me in the eye, and Archie tells me his secret.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: You turn your back for a minute. And now your son is in terrible danger …
Louise is struggling to cope. As a busy working mum, she often has to leave her eight-year-old son Archie at her sister Alice’s flat.
Alice and Louise used to be close. But there’s a lot they don’t know about each other now - like the bottle of vodka Louise hides in her handbag, Alice’s handsome new friend and the odd behaviour of her next-door neighbour.
Archie is a curious little boy. He likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
MY THOUGHTS: This book is all over the place, both with narrators and timelines which for me spoiled the suspense rather than adding to it. The Secret is definitely not this author's best book. But it is still a book that kept me turning the pages, waiting for 'that' moment, and when it came it was not what I expected. It made me sit up and take notice. Rocked me back on my heels. Damn, it was good.
However great that moment may be however, there were a lot of things in The Secret that just didn't gel for me. Like how Alice earned Archie's trust almost overnight, for example. It is messy, overcomplicated and felt rushed, and I just didn't feel the suspense that the author was trying to build. There were too many things thrown in, as though the author couldn't quite make up her mind. . . Take for example Alice’s ME. We are told she has it. But one moment she is living her dream life, with her dream job and the next she is debilitated. Nothing in between. And what about the car accident? Other than to kill off a character, what was the point? As I said, it all felt rather rushed and, as a result, lacks both depth and suspense.
Right through, I was thinking that this was a 3-star read, right up until 'that' moment, which earned it another half star. 😍😍😍.5
THE AUTHOR: After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, I went back to university at the age of 40 where I studied for an English & Creative Writing degree followed by an MA in Creative Writing.
Although I also worked full-time during the five years I studied at university, the courses gave me the time and space to try different writing and increased my confidence and belief in my writing. Before I graduated from my MA, I had secured representation with my agent, Clare Wallace, at the Darley Anderson Literacy, TV and Film Agency and had my first book deal.
My first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture is called ‘Safe with Me’ and it actually started life as my dissertation on my English & Creative Writing degree.
The creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away.
I live in Nottingham with my husband, Mac. Between us we have three grown-up kids; my daughter, Francesca and Mac’s sons Nathan and Jake.
I also write multi-award winning YA fiction under the name Kim Slater.(From author's website)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Secret by K. L. Slater 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 blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
July 29, 2018
Another great psychological thriller by K.L. Slater that pulled me in right from the spine-chilling prologue!
The Secret is about two sisters, Alice and Louise, who could not be more different. Alice suffers horribly from anxiety and rarely leaves her apartment that she used to share with her mother before she passed away. Louise is Alice's very confident older sister, she is the mother of 8-year-old Archie, a wife, and a very busy businesswoman. Alice and Louise used to be very close. But now, Louise just doesn't understand what Alice goes through with her anxiety and criticises her constantly for not having a life or friends. Since Alice doesn't work Louise has been asking her to watch Archie. Now that Archie has been in Alice's care more often, she starts noticing signs that something just isn't right with him, and let me tell you, she is determined to find out! Is Archie hiding a terrible secret that could put his family in danger?
This book definitely lived up to its name! A gripping page-turner about family, love, and a whole lot of secrets - and I loved every minute of it!
*Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret is about two sisters, Alice and Louise, who could not be more different. Alice suffers horribly from anxiety and rarely leaves her apartment that she used to share with her mother before she passed away. Louise is Alice's very confident older sister, she is the mother of 8-year-old Archie, a wife, and a very busy businesswoman. Alice and Louise used to be very close. But now, Louise just doesn't understand what Alice goes through with her anxiety and criticises her constantly for not having a life or friends. Since Alice doesn't work Louise has been asking her to watch Archie. Now that Archie has been in Alice's care more often, she starts noticing signs that something just isn't right with him, and let me tell you, she is determined to find out! Is Archie hiding a terrible secret that could put his family in danger?
This book definitely lived up to its name! A gripping page-turner about family, love, and a whole lot of secrets - and I loved every minute of it!
*Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2023
Another easy read by this author.
And another nose dive.
It went from 4 stars to 2.
Anyways… I do confess that I was intrigued from the start, and I wasn’t bored at any time.
I do enjoy her writing style and her ideas. but it seems that she uses the same timeline structure on all of her books (based on the ones I have read to date) and always characters with mental health issues. At least, in this one, she was able complete the side stories.
Now, when it comes to concluding a book, everything happens too fast. She is great at developing the tension, to be destroyed by bad endings (at least she does not go for far-fetched ones, like so many contemporary authors).
Paperback: 310 pages divided into 71 chapters (87k words)
And another nose dive.
It went from 4 stars to 2.
Anyways… I do confess that I was intrigued from the start, and I wasn’t bored at any time.
I do enjoy her writing style and her ideas. but it seems that she uses the same timeline structure on all of her books (based on the ones I have read to date) and always characters with mental health issues. At least, in this one, she was able complete the side stories.
Now, when it comes to concluding a book, everything happens too fast. She is great at developing the tension, to be destroyed by bad endings (at least she does not go for far-fetched ones, like so many contemporary authors).
Paperback: 310 pages divided into 71 chapters (87k words)
June 29, 2019
KL Slater is on my list of authors that I have to read whenever a new book comes out. The Secret did not disappoint with its suck you in storyline that was begging to be finished!
Sisters Louise and Alice could not be more different. Louise is the elegant and successful one with her big house, great job, husband and son. Alice is scared to leave the house and anxious. Alice spent the past few years caring for their ill mother until she died. They both have their secrets from each other and the world. Alice starts to look after her nephew Archie as Louise's job gets more demanding. She loves spending time with him and he her but she starts to notice things are not quite right with him. What are Archies secrets? The ending of this book will shock you and you will not see it coming.
A great story about family, love and secrets that I found hard to put down. Loved it! Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are no way biased.
Sisters Louise and Alice could not be more different. Louise is the elegant and successful one with her big house, great job, husband and son. Alice is scared to leave the house and anxious. Alice spent the past few years caring for their ill mother until she died. They both have their secrets from each other and the world. Alice starts to look after her nephew Archie as Louise's job gets more demanding. She loves spending time with him and he her but she starts to notice things are not quite right with him. What are Archies secrets? The ending of this book will shock you and you will not see it coming.
A great story about family, love and secrets that I found hard to put down. Loved it! Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are no way biased.
August 1, 2018
I received a free e-copy of The Secret by K.L. Slater from NetGalley for my honest review.
Louise and Alice are sisters but they are not very close. Alice has been looking after Archie, Louise's son. As she spends more time with him she discovers he is keeping a secret. Now she is trying to find a way to get him to tell her the secret he is not supposed to tell anyone. The secret he is keeping is hurting Archie. It is affecting his mood as he is angry and he is withdrawn.
This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down. Even when I thought I had this book figured out, it took another twist. Loved that it kept me guessing.
Louise and Alice are sisters but they are not very close. Alice has been looking after Archie, Louise's son. As she spends more time with him she discovers he is keeping a secret. Now she is trying to find a way to get him to tell her the secret he is not supposed to tell anyone. The secret he is keeping is hurting Archie. It is affecting his mood as he is angry and he is withdrawn.
This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down. Even when I thought I had this book figured out, it took another twist. Loved that it kept me guessing.
June 22, 2018
I am a long-time fan of K. L. Slater and having enjoyed her previous titles I was eager to read this one. She is particularly adept at creating engaging and well developed characters that you actually care about - that continues in the book. The relationship betweem Alice and Archie is beautiful and they are both likable and realistic. Then there's Archie's mother, Louise, is not at all likeable and dumps all of her problems on sister Alice.
My first thought when I saw the title was "Oh, not another one using the s-word" but after reading it, I can appreciate that it was well suited to the contents. The story is one that is typical of a domestic (psychological) thriller and was interesting but wasn't the best i've read from Slater. I found it quite odd that there was only one chapter for a character that made you think that he was being introduced as the ending includes him in some way, only for him to never be heard from again!
I did enjoy reading this and it was perfect as an easy-to-follow and non-taxing outing but I hope that Slater's next book returns to the very high standards she set in her others.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
My first thought when I saw the title was "Oh, not another one using the s-word" but after reading it, I can appreciate that it was well suited to the contents. The story is one that is typical of a domestic (psychological) thriller and was interesting but wasn't the best i've read from Slater. I found it quite odd that there was only one chapter for a character that made you think that he was being introduced as the ending includes him in some way, only for him to never be heard from again!
I did enjoy reading this and it was perfect as an easy-to-follow and non-taxing outing but I hope that Slater's next book returns to the very high standards she set in her others.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
July 28, 2018
I do so enjoy Kim Slater’s books. I’ve come to rely on her to always deliver a great twisty and tense psychological thriller that’ll keep me entertained for hours and The Secret did exactly that.
The prologue already sent a chill down my spine when Archie stumbles upon something he wasn’t supposed to see. Eighteen months later, eight year old Archie is still fiercely holding on to the secret but things are starting to take its toll.
For the most part, The Secret is a cleverly constructed and character-driven story centred around two sisters, Louise and Alice. Theirs is a complicated relationship that is seemingly fuelled by jealousy. It was hard not to choose a side and I admit I did so from quite early on. My sympathies were very much with Alice and despite the obvious baggage that Louise is carrying around with her, I disliked her immensely.
Throughout the story, we explore the tumultuous relationship between Louise and Alice in the present and the past. Bit by bit, Alice, who’s quite close to being a recluse, finds her feet again. But will the relationship between the sisters survive?
More than anything though, the character I’m sure you too will be rooting for until the very end is Archie. He’s quite obviously a troubled little boy, doesn’t seem to have any friends and the only place where he really comes to life and shows the kind of boy he is, is when he’s staying with his Auntie Alice. He just really captured my heart.
The Secret is quite a slow-burner. Although there are some twists, I felt the majority weren’t meant to dazzle and leave you wondering what the heck just happened. They feel immensely natural to the story and up to a point even rather realistic and believable. The characters sure are and I became incredibly immersed and invested in their lives. The big mystery about the secret Archie is keeping isn’t revealed until the end and what an utterly shocking ending it is too! Now that one I didn’t see coming at all!
So, intriguing characters, a mystery to solve, suspense and a jaw-dropping ending! What more could you possibly want?
The prologue already sent a chill down my spine when Archie stumbles upon something he wasn’t supposed to see. Eighteen months later, eight year old Archie is still fiercely holding on to the secret but things are starting to take its toll.
For the most part, The Secret is a cleverly constructed and character-driven story centred around two sisters, Louise and Alice. Theirs is a complicated relationship that is seemingly fuelled by jealousy. It was hard not to choose a side and I admit I did so from quite early on. My sympathies were very much with Alice and despite the obvious baggage that Louise is carrying around with her, I disliked her immensely.
Throughout the story, we explore the tumultuous relationship between Louise and Alice in the present and the past. Bit by bit, Alice, who’s quite close to being a recluse, finds her feet again. But will the relationship between the sisters survive?
More than anything though, the character I’m sure you too will be rooting for until the very end is Archie. He’s quite obviously a troubled little boy, doesn’t seem to have any friends and the only place where he really comes to life and shows the kind of boy he is, is when he’s staying with his Auntie Alice. He just really captured my heart.
The Secret is quite a slow-burner. Although there are some twists, I felt the majority weren’t meant to dazzle and leave you wondering what the heck just happened. They feel immensely natural to the story and up to a point even rather realistic and believable. The characters sure are and I became incredibly immersed and invested in their lives. The big mystery about the secret Archie is keeping isn’t revealed until the end and what an utterly shocking ending it is too! Now that one I didn’t see coming at all!
So, intriguing characters, a mystery to solve, suspense and a jaw-dropping ending! What more could you possibly want?
April 27, 2023
Oh, I had really high hopes for this novel. It starts off really interesting, leaving the reader with questions and curiosity around the plot. I was originally really hooked in and excited about where it would go.
The middle third of the book just slowed right down and that made my interest levels drop. It seemed like a lot of filling in and contained mostly everyday things that seemed to be out of alignment with the beginning of the book.
I thought the last third would be the great finale. Not to be. Whilst there is a series of twists, despite not seeing some coming they were so quickly visited and presented that it lost that sense of shock and unease that could of been there. It was one reveal after another and felt incredibly rushed to me.
The writing itself is good, it’s the plot and pace that disappointed me. I also found the times of going back into the past somewhat irrelevant and detracting except for one key bit of information near the end. You know when you just want to stay in the present as the timeline backwards isn’t exciting enough?
A 3 star read for me. Somewhat disjointed and I thought it could have a whole lot more punch and depth. The weave of intersected lives just came with a sense of rushed information that left me feeling “is that it?”
I wish the style and pace of the first third of this novel had continued.
The middle third of the book just slowed right down and that made my interest levels drop. It seemed like a lot of filling in and contained mostly everyday things that seemed to be out of alignment with the beginning of the book.
I thought the last third would be the great finale. Not to be. Whilst there is a series of twists, despite not seeing some coming they were so quickly visited and presented that it lost that sense of shock and unease that could of been there. It was one reveal after another and felt incredibly rushed to me.
The writing itself is good, it’s the plot and pace that disappointed me. I also found the times of going back into the past somewhat irrelevant and detracting except for one key bit of information near the end. You know when you just want to stay in the present as the timeline backwards isn’t exciting enough?
A 3 star read for me. Somewhat disjointed and I thought it could have a whole lot more punch and depth. The weave of intersected lives just came with a sense of rushed information that left me feeling “is that it?”
I wish the style and pace of the first third of this novel had continued.
July 19, 2018
I have always loved Kim Slater's book; her books are twisty, mysterious, and loads of fun. Trying to play detective while reading such books has become my favorite past time. A good side-effect of reading thrillers!!
This book too has its moments of secrets coming out as anger, like lava from the volcano. One spark and there are fireworks. The story is a slow start with Alice and Louise's points of view. It does go into the past frequently which disrupted my flow and concentration (my niggles)
Alice as a character was well etched. She was agoraphobic, she had her aches and pains post an accident and there was a secret regarding Jack. (Who is Jack, you ask? Read the book)
Louise and Darren, the sister and her husband along with son Archie add the darker aura to the plot. Louise has her own secrets, massive ones, which nearly cripple her intelligence. Her past with Martyn brings its own tendrils of fear into the present. Her investigation leads to her downfall. (who is Martyn, you ask? Read the book!!)
Neighbor Jenny brings a darker aura to this tale, she has a secret life with Mark (Who is Mark, you ask? Read the book!!). A stranger on the tram pops up often times in the book. Alice finds James' phone too in the café (Who is James, you ask? Yp you are right, read the book!)
K. L. Slater has given a lot of crumbs to follow in this entire book, and believe me like a kid in the fairy tale, I too went about picking up those crumbs. I should have ideally got the gingerbread house or the wicked witch. But what I found was....
Nothing... I am not going to tell you (You ask, I say - Read the book!!)
This book too has its moments of secrets coming out as anger, like lava from the volcano. One spark and there are fireworks. The story is a slow start with Alice and Louise's points of view. It does go into the past frequently which disrupted my flow and concentration (my niggles)
Alice as a character was well etched. She was agoraphobic, she had her aches and pains post an accident and there was a secret regarding Jack. (Who is Jack, you ask? Read the book)
Louise and Darren, the sister and her husband along with son Archie add the darker aura to the plot. Louise has her own secrets, massive ones, which nearly cripple her intelligence. Her past with Martyn brings its own tendrils of fear into the present. Her investigation leads to her downfall. (who is Martyn, you ask? Read the book!!)
Neighbor Jenny brings a darker aura to this tale, she has a secret life with Mark (Who is Mark, you ask? Read the book!!). A stranger on the tram pops up often times in the book. Alice finds James' phone too in the café (Who is James, you ask? Yp you are right, read the book!)
K. L. Slater has given a lot of crumbs to follow in this entire book, and believe me like a kid in the fairy tale, I too went about picking up those crumbs. I should have ideally got the gingerbread house or the wicked witch. But what I found was....
Nothing... I am not going to tell you (You ask, I say - Read the book!!)
September 30, 2020
THE SECRET is the sixth psychological thriller by bestselling author of twelve psychological crime thrillers.by K.L. Slater. After being a huge fan of her novels, I noticed that I have two novels that I haven’t read, which include, The Secret and The Silent Ones, so I am now catching up, as I love her novels. This is the review of The Secret.
Her Novels Include:
Safe With Me (2016)
Blink (2017)
Liar (2017)
The Mistake (2017)
The Visitor (2018)
The Secret (2018)
Closer (2018)
Finding Grace (2019)
The Silent Ones (2019)
Single (2019)
The Apartment (2020)
Little Whispers (2020)
The Girl She Wanted (2020)
The Secret is bound to be well received. and will keep you guessing right until the very end. Her novels just get better and better. This is a fabulous read, that will reel you in …one line at a time…
Everyone has a secret in their past.
Louise, a working mum, struggling to cope, often has to leave her eight-year-old son, Archie at her sister Alice’s flat. Louise and her husband, Darren, Archie’s stepdad, both work long hours, and have little time for Archie.
The sisters used to be close, but not anymore. They live separate lifestyles.
Alice barely leaves the house, and suffers from panic attacks. Alice had dedicated herself to looking after her mum as a caregiver. Louise was her mother’s first born and the less favored daughter, and had no time in her busy schedule for her mum. Alice is more willing to spend time with Archie.
Archie is a curious little boy. He likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
I really enjoyed this book and the characters come alive on the page. My heart goes out to Archie and all that he went through. The story is told by different POV’s and switches back and forth in time. This novel highlights the drama faced by a family, coping with financial distress, control, love and a whole lot of secrets. The ending of this book will shock you and you will not see it coming.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Net Galley for my digital copy.
Her Novels Include:
Safe With Me (2016)
Blink (2017)
Liar (2017)
The Mistake (2017)
The Visitor (2018)
The Secret (2018)
Closer (2018)
Finding Grace (2019)
The Silent Ones (2019)
Single (2019)
The Apartment (2020)
Little Whispers (2020)
The Girl She Wanted (2020)
The Secret is bound to be well received. and will keep you guessing right until the very end. Her novels just get better and better. This is a fabulous read, that will reel you in …one line at a time…
Everyone has a secret in their past.
Louise, a working mum, struggling to cope, often has to leave her eight-year-old son, Archie at her sister Alice’s flat. Louise and her husband, Darren, Archie’s stepdad, both work long hours, and have little time for Archie.
The sisters used to be close, but not anymore. They live separate lifestyles.
Alice barely leaves the house, and suffers from panic attacks. Alice had dedicated herself to looking after her mum as a caregiver. Louise was her mother’s first born and the less favored daughter, and had no time in her busy schedule for her mum. Alice is more willing to spend time with Archie.
Archie is a curious little boy. He likes to play on his own at his auntie’s flat until one day when he sees something he shouldn’t. Now he has a secret of his own. One he can’t tell his mum. One that could put him and his family in terrible danger.
I really enjoyed this book and the characters come alive on the page. My heart goes out to Archie and all that he went through. The story is told by different POV’s and switches back and forth in time. This novel highlights the drama faced by a family, coping with financial distress, control, love and a whole lot of secrets. The ending of this book will shock you and you will not see it coming.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Net Galley for my digital copy.
July 30, 2018
K.L. Slater’s books are always a little bit hit and miss for me, I either really enjoy them or really dislike them and unfortunately with The Secret, it was the latter.
It starts off quite well with us following sisters Alice and Louise, with us finding out that Louise’s son Archie has a terrible secret that nobody must ever find out. As the story progresses it seems that every single character has secrets and something to hide. The word I would choose to describe this book overall is, boring. The two main characters of Alice and Louise felt pretty one-dimensional. Yes we learn about their past as the story moved on but the whole thing was just tedious and dull. I barely cared about the characters. Archie was an interesting character but as an eight year old boy he was written I felt almost like a young teenager and I struggled at times to connect to any of these characters that meant the story just didn’t interest me as much as I would have liked.
Something with K.L. Slater’s books that has annoyed me in the past is her endings can be quite poor, and rushed. That was certainly the case here in The Secret. Everything is just revealed in the space of a few pages with little to no closure for the majority of the characters. Not only that but characters seem to have complete personality transplants in just a few pages and I was left rolling my eyes rather than feeling any emotion to the huge revelations that present themselves in these closing pages. Sadly The Secret did not live up to the hype for me and is one of those stories I will now loathe because of the time I spent reading it when I could have been reading something else but there was a part of me that wanted to read on and that hoped the ending would make up for everything but unfortunately, it didn’t. All that said I have enjoyed some of Kim’s books in the past and would not be against reading another one in the future.
It starts off quite well with us following sisters Alice and Louise, with us finding out that Louise’s son Archie has a terrible secret that nobody must ever find out. As the story progresses it seems that every single character has secrets and something to hide. The word I would choose to describe this book overall is, boring. The two main characters of Alice and Louise felt pretty one-dimensional. Yes we learn about their past as the story moved on but the whole thing was just tedious and dull. I barely cared about the characters. Archie was an interesting character but as an eight year old boy he was written I felt almost like a young teenager and I struggled at times to connect to any of these characters that meant the story just didn’t interest me as much as I would have liked.
Something with K.L. Slater’s books that has annoyed me in the past is her endings can be quite poor, and rushed. That was certainly the case here in The Secret. Everything is just revealed in the space of a few pages with little to no closure for the majority of the characters. Not only that but characters seem to have complete personality transplants in just a few pages and I was left rolling my eyes rather than feeling any emotion to the huge revelations that present themselves in these closing pages. Sadly The Secret did not live up to the hype for me and is one of those stories I will now loathe because of the time I spent reading it when I could have been reading something else but there was a part of me that wanted to read on and that hoped the ending would make up for everything but unfortunately, it didn’t. All that said I have enjoyed some of Kim’s books in the past and would not be against reading another one in the future.
August 6, 2018
Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
After the death of their mother, sisters Alice and Louise have been struggling to save their already-dying relationship. Louise is overcome by stressors from her new job, along with trying to raise her young son while Alice deals with crippling anxiety and physical pain which has prevented her from leaving the house in years. When Alice is unexpectedly left to care for her nephew Archie, she begins to have doubts about how well her sister is really coping with her life. Then when Archie reveals to Alice that he “has a secret”, and Alice notices the bruises on his arm, Alice realizes she must face her fears and confront her sister, in order to save Archie.
“The Secret” is the latest novel by author, K.L Slater. But this is not just a story about one secret, but is, in fact, a story about many, many secrets, and how even a small secret can ruin a life.
As a fan of K.L Slater, I was excited for this novel. An author, in my opinion, known for her psychological thrillers with an English city as a backdrop, “The Secret” fits into this description perfectly. It is definitely a novel that will keep you guessing until the very end, and keep you engaged from page one.
This novel was a bit of a slow starter for me. “Secret” is told from the standpoint of Louise and Alice (and later Archie), and each chapter will jump back and forth in time, so that a single chapter may start in “present day”, then jump to “ten years earlier” than end in “three years earlier”. Although this format does help set the stage for plot and character development, it made the plot a bit disjointed and confusing for me. I felt there were far too many storylines being told, and they were all so different from each other. At the beginning, I was unclear as to where the multiple storylines were going (it does sort itself out toward the end of the novel, however). I would describe this novel’s plot as a “funnel”, whereby a lot of information and characters starts out the novel and it begins to thin out and have a more definitive form toward the end.
I did not really connect with either sister, especially at the beginning. Louise is simply a monster and psychopathic manipulator, whereas Alice is a pushover (although she has good reason for being this way). Alice grows on you though, and Archie (the nephew) continues to be the shining spot in this whole novel.
“The Secret” had an unpredictable ending, and it wrapped up the plot very succinctly. I expected to be left with lingering questions, but everything was answered in a deliciously satisfying way.
Fans of K.L Slater will enjoy her newest novel, and she definitely does not disappoint in providing ample psychological twists and turns throughout. The novel quickly becomes addictive and page-turning, and then it is, quite simply, difficult to put down. Highly recommended for fans of the genre!
After the death of their mother, sisters Alice and Louise have been struggling to save their already-dying relationship. Louise is overcome by stressors from her new job, along with trying to raise her young son while Alice deals with crippling anxiety and physical pain which has prevented her from leaving the house in years. When Alice is unexpectedly left to care for her nephew Archie, she begins to have doubts about how well her sister is really coping with her life. Then when Archie reveals to Alice that he “has a secret”, and Alice notices the bruises on his arm, Alice realizes she must face her fears and confront her sister, in order to save Archie.
“The Secret” is the latest novel by author, K.L Slater. But this is not just a story about one secret, but is, in fact, a story about many, many secrets, and how even a small secret can ruin a life.
As a fan of K.L Slater, I was excited for this novel. An author, in my opinion, known for her psychological thrillers with an English city as a backdrop, “The Secret” fits into this description perfectly. It is definitely a novel that will keep you guessing until the very end, and keep you engaged from page one.
This novel was a bit of a slow starter for me. “Secret” is told from the standpoint of Louise and Alice (and later Archie), and each chapter will jump back and forth in time, so that a single chapter may start in “present day”, then jump to “ten years earlier” than end in “three years earlier”. Although this format does help set the stage for plot and character development, it made the plot a bit disjointed and confusing for me. I felt there were far too many storylines being told, and they were all so different from each other. At the beginning, I was unclear as to where the multiple storylines were going (it does sort itself out toward the end of the novel, however). I would describe this novel’s plot as a “funnel”, whereby a lot of information and characters starts out the novel and it begins to thin out and have a more definitive form toward the end.
I did not really connect with either sister, especially at the beginning. Louise is simply a monster and psychopathic manipulator, whereas Alice is a pushover (although she has good reason for being this way). Alice grows on you though, and Archie (the nephew) continues to be the shining spot in this whole novel.
“The Secret” had an unpredictable ending, and it wrapped up the plot very succinctly. I expected to be left with lingering questions, but everything was answered in a deliciously satisfying way.
Fans of K.L Slater will enjoy her newest novel, and she definitely does not disappoint in providing ample psychological twists and turns throughout. The novel quickly becomes addictive and page-turning, and then it is, quite simply, difficult to put down. Highly recommended for fans of the genre!
July 10, 2018
K.L. Slater is an author whose books are a must read as soon as I hear of them coming out. I know I am guaranteed a dark and gripping read and The Secret was certainly that. In fact I would go as far as saying that this book is my favourite out of the authors so far.
The story is mainly told from Alice's point of view with brief flick backs to the past. There is something in Alice's past that has made her become a bit of a recluse and I was very intrigued to know why. Louise is the total opposite of her sister and at times I wanted to giver a good slap, though saying that, it is obvious that not all is right in her world either.
I loved Archie. The relationship that builds between him and his Auntie Alice was really sweet to read. If anything I think that is what really makes this story as you become so invested in the characters and in finding out especially what his secret is.
The Secret is a tense read that grabs hold and doesn't let go. There are plenty of surprises in store that just added to the enjoyment of this book making for an entertaining and thrilling read. Be warned, once you pick this book up, you wont be able to put it down!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story is mainly told from Alice's point of view with brief flick backs to the past. There is something in Alice's past that has made her become a bit of a recluse and I was very intrigued to know why. Louise is the total opposite of her sister and at times I wanted to giver a good slap, though saying that, it is obvious that not all is right in her world either.
I loved Archie. The relationship that builds between him and his Auntie Alice was really sweet to read. If anything I think that is what really makes this story as you become so invested in the characters and in finding out especially what his secret is.
The Secret is a tense read that grabs hold and doesn't let go. There are plenty of surprises in store that just added to the enjoyment of this book making for an entertaining and thrilling read. Be warned, once you pick this book up, you wont be able to put it down!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
July 18, 2018
I was so lucky to get an Advanced reading copy of 'The Secret' and I devoured it in a couple of days.
I never like the phrase 'easy read' because I know there is no such thing as an 'easy write' but the way this is written makes it enjoyable to soak up the words without confusion. The Plotline is filled with suspense and drama and each character is filled with a mysterious and interesting history that unravels through the chapters.
All the characters are generally likable in the beginning stages of the novel but because you know a twist is coming and that gives you that doubt and distrust of them too. As the story progresses, the characters you grow to like, you end up not liking and the characters you didn't like - you find empathy for! The story truly plays with your emotions and loyalty which really keeps it interesting.
There aren't many characters but that allows them to interweave through the plot nicely and build the suspense and mystery surrounding them.
The Secret is a hugely enjoyable read with a great plot, a fantastic pace, interesting character backstory and twists and turns that keep the pages turning right until the very end.
The way the story opens links directly to the final twist - I absolutely love how KL Slater details her time and place jumps throughout the narrative which completely negates confusion - so come the end you can truly link it back to the first pages you read. There is nothing worse in a novel with twists and turns than having to backtrack because you can't remember what character was where, when and who they even are!
If you are looking for a pacey new read that you can thoroughly enjoy then pick up The Secret - you won't be disappointed.
I never like the phrase 'easy read' because I know there is no such thing as an 'easy write' but the way this is written makes it enjoyable to soak up the words without confusion. The Plotline is filled with suspense and drama and each character is filled with a mysterious and interesting history that unravels through the chapters.
All the characters are generally likable in the beginning stages of the novel but because you know a twist is coming and that gives you that doubt and distrust of them too. As the story progresses, the characters you grow to like, you end up not liking and the characters you didn't like - you find empathy for! The story truly plays with your emotions and loyalty which really keeps it interesting.
There aren't many characters but that allows them to interweave through the plot nicely and build the suspense and mystery surrounding them.
The Secret is a hugely enjoyable read with a great plot, a fantastic pace, interesting character backstory and twists and turns that keep the pages turning right until the very end.
The way the story opens links directly to the final twist - I absolutely love how KL Slater details her time and place jumps throughout the narrative which completely negates confusion - so come the end you can truly link it back to the first pages you read. There is nothing worse in a novel with twists and turns than having to backtrack because you can't remember what character was where, when and who they even are!
If you are looking for a pacey new read that you can thoroughly enjoy then pick up The Secret - you won't be disappointed.
June 21, 2018
Hey, well K.L.Slater has a great rep as a psychological thriller writer and I have enjoyed her previous 5 books so I knew the book would be good, and it is, its good!
In a swamped book arena of ‘secrets’ I thought it was quite brave to call the book ‘the secret’ as when I saw it I thought ‘oh, another one’....
but as the book starts you realise its exactly the right title as the characters lives in the book are all based on ‘secrets’....
Louise n Alice are sisters, but completely different....Louise is successful and outgoing....Alice is scared to leave the house and her daily thrill is waiting for the same man to pass her flat, they smile, then wave, then talk.....but of course nothing is as it seems
Enter strange neighbours, deceitful ex’s, a nephew being physically abused and more and the plot thickens
The story’s secrets eventually do become apparent and things took, well for me, an unexpected turn in a very clever set of ‘twists’ ( sorry, that word again but there you go ) in this case its no exaggeration to use the word and they come quick fire and leave you shook up and WOW’d
My only criticism is one small part of the book where Alice gives up something she has waited for all her life to do to go to her ill Mother but in reality she would have only been an extra hour, that bugged me and I was like ‘noooooooooooooo, just do it’
A good read, easy to pick up snd get back into after a break etc and even though goes between characters and past and present very easy to follow and keep up with
9/10 5 stars
July 17, 2018
Alice and Louise ,two sisters lead completely different lives. Alice is homebound and suffers through anxiety attacks meanwhile Louise is a married, hardworking mother who feels Alice has it too easy.Taking advantage of Alice’s situation Louise often asks her to take care of her 8 year old son Archie.Soon Alice starts noticing signs that something or someone is troubling Archie and she plans to get to the bottom of the problem.
The Secret by K.L.Slater is a gripping , tense ,psychological thriller that is told by different POV’s and switches back and forth in time. The characters are well drawn and the story has lots of twists and turns with a few secrets making it difficult to put it down.
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 24, 2018
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Kim Slater Is one of my favourite authors, I have previously read four of her books and I have happily given them five star reviews.
After reading the prologue to The Secret I was gripped. Eight year old Archie was playing at his grandmas flat. On his way to the toilet he saw something that scared him, frightened he promised the person he would keep it secret.
Alice is Archie`s Auntie. She is house bound with ME after a devastating accident. Alice Is lonely and watches the tram stop opposite her flat for company. Every morning she watches a man on the 8.15 tram, one day he looks up at her window and waves. In the flat upstairs she often hears bangs and shouting. On morning she meets the owner Jenny and Jenny apologies for the noise. Later she confides her boyfriend Mark can be abusive.
Louise is Alice`s older sister. As a teenager she became pregnant by her boyfriend Martyn a successful businessman. Later Louise discovered Martyn was a convicted conman, angry she had given him her inheritance money. Louise swore off men until she met Darren, they quickly married and he adopted Archie. Louise is critical of Alice and makes snide remarks about her having no life.
Louise has been recently promoted and has to work extra hours. Despite knowing Alice is in chronic pain, Louise asks Alice to look after Archie after school. Initially Archie Is sullen, angry and would rather play in his x box. Gradually Alice and Archie becomes close and discovers he is a bright child, eager to learn. One night Archie stays for a sleep over when she sees bruises all over his body. Alice tries to speak Archie but he begs her not to say anything. In fact this Is not the only secret he is hiding from his family.
Worried Alice speaks to Darren who explains that Louise is drinking and has put the family in debt. Louise often takes her anger out on Archie.
Alice loves Archie and is determined to protect him, she tries to speak to Louise but she becomes defensive about the bruises.
I could not put this book down, I had to know how the man on the tram, Martyn, Jenny and Mark were linked to the story. The characters were folded into the story to create the perfect mix.
I appreciated the plot was told through the POV of Archie, Alice and Louise. It was interesting to read the dynamic between the sisters from both sides. The time frame of the plot jumped from the present, to the sisters childhood, and then 8 years earlier and their relationships with Martyn and Jack. I loved Archie, a bright little star who was loyal to his family. I also felt sorry for Alice and understood what it felt like to try a lead a normal life with chronic pain.
There were so many red herrings in the book. I was sure I has worked the plot out but of course I was completely wrong. Well done to Kim for another fantastic book. I highly recommend all her books.
October 29, 2022
This was awesome!
Alice is a fantastic character and Louise was okay, I guess.
I highly enjoyed that while I was pretty sure I knew what was going on, it took till the end of the book to ACTUALLY know what was going on.
Loved it!
💜Side note: Lucy Price-Lewis narrates this and she is a favourite of mine💜
Alice is a fantastic character and Louise was okay, I guess.
I highly enjoyed that while I was pretty sure I knew what was going on, it took till the end of the book to ACTUALLY know what was going on.
Loved it!
💜Side note: Lucy Price-Lewis narrates this and she is a favourite of mine💜
June 18, 2018
Not sure why I keep picking up these psychological thrillers when they really do not appeal to me. This is narrated in a back and forth time lapse way with different character POV. Although everthing was made clear by the end I just did not enjoy the book as a whole. K.L. Slater does have a talent for this type of read and is shown to be a skilled author. So....If the dark shadow books are your thing then you might want to sample this one. "This book was provided by Bookouture via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
June 10, 2022
I appreciated that this brought chronic pain into the conversation, along with agoraphobia and narcissistic moms favoring a golden child to pit them against each other but otherwise it was pretty uneventful for a KL Slater book.
January 23, 2021
4.5 stars
July 16, 2018
Be carefull when you pick someone to believe ...
My first K.L. Slater and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The first page already gives you the creeps but when you read on, it feels a bit like a love story. BUT don't let yourself be fooled by this!! You will soon find out that there is a lot more going on.
It refreshing the way the story was built. You went back and forth in time but not in the usual way. The present was a fluent line, but you were thrown back to different events in the past happening at different ages of the main characters. Was it confusing? No, never! It made your brain work a bit harder (which I love) but it was always mentioned how many years the author took us back.
And then there was Archie ... I wish I could have crept into the book and put my arms around him.
When you think you have discovered everything you need to know, there is still that one more secret ...
Thank you, K.L. Slater, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
My first K.L. Slater and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The first page already gives you the creeps but when you read on, it feels a bit like a love story. BUT don't let yourself be fooled by this!! You will soon find out that there is a lot more going on.
It refreshing the way the story was built. You went back and forth in time but not in the usual way. The present was a fluent line, but you were thrown back to different events in the past happening at different ages of the main characters. Was it confusing? No, never! It made your brain work a bit harder (which I love) but it was always mentioned how many years the author took us back.
And then there was Archie ... I wish I could have crept into the book and put my arms around him.
When you think you have discovered everything you need to know, there is still that one more secret ...
Thank you, K.L. Slater, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
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