Secrets Between Us

by Valerie Keogh

How safe are your secrets?

One letter a week for fifteen years. 780 identical white envelopes brimming with my sister’s darkest secrets. All the intimate details of a life as different to mine as could possibly be.

I read each letter slowly to make sure I understand it perfectly, one day very soon it will be a matter of life and death…

At the end of each letter, after signing her name, there is always one final

Don’t forget to burn this letter.

I’ll let you decide if I do…

A jaw-dropping psychological thriller that you will read in one sitting. If you loved dark, twisty thrillers like The Girl on The Train, The Couple Next Door and Friend Request, this unputdownable novel will have your heart racing long after you’ve finished reading.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Book Club

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2018

About the author

Valerie started to write several years ago. She self-published eight crime novels and one psychological thriller before signing a two book contract with Bookouture in March 2018. The first of these, Secrets Between Us, is available now and the second is due in Feb 2019. She is a registered nurse with a degree in English and a Masters in American Literature. Recently she has given up nursing to concentrate on her writing career.

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was happy to receive this book, as the premise sounded really good, yet between reading the blurb and the first couple of chapters, it seemed quite obvious to me what was going to happen in this book. I pressed on anyway, hoping for a killer twist, but unfortunately it was not to be.

The book sees Ellie, a happily married corporate high-flyer, having to deal with her identical twin sister coming to live with her. Tia, however, is slightly "simple" (Ellie's words, not mine), and has been living in assisted living, but has to go elsewhere when the shelter she is in closes. Ellie can't find anything similar for her, so has to let her come to her home. I wont go into any further details as I don't want to give away the plot to any that might want to read it, but really, it's so transparent even someone as "simple" as Tia could work it out quickly.

It's an ok, quick read, yet there is no suspense and it definitely isn't thrilling. If you're looking for edge of your seat nail biters, it's probably best to look elsewhere.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaceey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s quite rare I find myself only putting up 2 stars for a book. Like every book I read, I always try to find redeeming qualities to balance my review. Unfortunately as you may have guessed, I had a hard time finding the positive.

My believability radar was going off from the beginning. With the entire plot figured out by 10%, I considered a DNF but forged on hoping there would be a pleasant surprise waiting for me at the end. Unfortunately...no.

There may be other positive reviews, so please try this one for yourself. I sincerely hope it works out better for you.

A buddy read with Susanne that left both of us shaking our heads.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Valerie Keogh for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Susanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars.

Ellie and Will have been together for 10 years. As it turns out, Will does not know his wife at all. The secrets she has been keeping from him are doozies - though I figured them out (along with the premise) within the first 12% of the book, which didn’t make for the most captivating read.

“Secrets Between Us” was, unfortunately fairly amateurish and extremely far-fetched, thus I had a hard time from the get go. I think this readers who are able to suspend disbelief are far better suited for this mystery.

This was a buddy read with Kaceey! So glad we had each other on this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Valerie Keogh for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 11.4.18.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whoever wrote the synopsis for this book should be fired. As for the cover and the title, those people should be fired as well. And whoever decided to describe this book as a "jaw-dropping psychological thriller" should, at the very least, be written up. None of them give any indication as to what is actually between the covers of this book.

This story features two sisters, identical twins, Ellie and Tia. While Ellie lives in luxury with her husband, Will, and enjoys a high powered career, her twin Tia has been living for the last 15 years in an institution for the developmentally challenged. After the institution announces it's intentions to close it's doors, Tia comes to live with her sister and her husband. Ellie has always resented Tia and has never even visited her in the 15 years they've been separated.

What follows is more family drama than psychological thriller. There are no secrets in this story for even the most inept reader will know, without question, what's going to happen the moment we learn of Tia's existence.

The characters are unlikable and reprehensible. All three being cold, calculating and selfish.

There are a lot of holes in this plot that are too glaring to forgive. Unfortunately, I can't list them without giving away the story.

Even with all of the above driving me crazy, I inexplicably still enjoyed this book. It's a fast paced easy read that takes zero thought or acuity, which is sometimes refreshing. I read it in two sittings simply because it was fun. I don't always need thrilling, emotional or thought provoking stories in order to delight in a book. It's an entertaining story despite it's flaws.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh was a thriller that I could not put down and I read in one day.
This story is about identical twin sisters. Ellie a successful business woman and Tia who is slow and lives in an assisted residential home. Ellie hasn't seen her sister for fifteen years and her only communication was by letter but when the home Tia lives is in due to close she takes her home to live with her and her husband. Things don't go well with this new arrangement and after a terrible mix up rapidly get even worse.
I really enjoyed this book and found that the story hooked me from the first page.
I guessed what was going to happen because there were plenty of clues but this did not stop me from enjoying the book. I will certainly be looking of for other books from this author. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e- copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tia and Ellie have had a challenging life. They lost their mother during childbirth and their father died when they were 15 years old. You would think they would be close because they are all that each other had, but think again. Did I mention they were identical twins? After the death of their father, Tia was sent to a special needs school and Ellie to a boarding school. Ellie moved on and went to college, got married, while Tia stayed at her special needs school, for 15 years. Ellie did not visit her for 15 years!! What?!

One would think that Tia would be hurt that her sister did not visit her, not even once. That does not appear to be the case, in fact she appears oblivious to this fact. I mean Ellie did write to her every single week. She divulged her innermost feelings about her life. She included strict instructions for Tia to burn the letters, she knew that Tia always did as she was instructed. With little notice the school was shut down and Tia had no place to call home.....unless she were to move in with Ellie and her husband. Then things got a little crazy to put it mildly.

WOW! Just flipping wow! This book takes family dysfunction to a whole different level. I literally could not believe what I was reading at times, it was so shocking. I kept thinking, no we are not going to go there and yep we sure went there! This is an absolute enthralling read that I could not put down. I could not wait to get to the end to see how this panned out. It was like a bad train wreck that I could not look away from, even if it was horrible, twisted and oh so wrong. This book is sinister to the core. I must say I loved it!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One letter a week for 15 years. 780 identical white envelopes, brimming with my sisters darkest secrets. All the intricate details of a life as different to mine could possibly be. Tia and Ellie are identical twins. One is in a high powered job in London while the other was placed in a residential home. Their only means of communication where the letters Ellie sent on a Friday and Tia received every Monday. Ellie and her husband Will have a lovely home and good jobs. Ellie has not seen Tia for several years, but as the home where Tia lives is being closed down, Ellie has no other option but to let her sister live with them.

Though identical, Tia and Ellie are different in many ways. Ellie is a cold business woman where Tia has mental health issues, lives in an assisted living home and bakes bread every day. All three characters are not very likeable, the worst though, I thought was Ellie. There's not a lot I can say about this book as I would give away all the spoilers. The story is tense and twisted throughout the book. The story is well written. I found this book addictive and hard to put down. I did guess the ending.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Valerie Keogh for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was good!! I was completely hooked on this story, even though I had guessed the twists. It was a book that I just had to keep reading. The characters were intriguing, some of their choices and decisions highly questionable and out there. But still I was sucked in and needed to know the ending.

Ellie and Tia are identical twins. End of similarities. Ellie is successful and happily married to Will and about to start a family. Tia is a bit slower and has been living in an institution for most of her life. When the institute closes down Ellie and Will have little chocked but she move Tia in with them, and then their lives start to change forever. Not saying anymore so I don't give anything away.. but so much more happens and you have to read this book!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh from NetGalley for my honest review.

An intense mystery with wonderful characters. So many secrets, so many lies and so much regret. Ellie and Tia are identical twins but their appearance is the only thing that is identical. Ellie, is married, head-strong and a go-get-er. Tia lives in a facility that helps care for disabilities and her and is sweet. They haven't seen each other for fifteen years. Ellie writes to Tia every week about the things that are happening in her life.

Tia's care facility is closing and so Ellie and her husband, Will decide to let Tia stay with them until they find her another place to live. When Tia moves in something changes. Something that will change everything.

[♛ Garima ♛]

DNF at 44%

Mild rant and mild spoilers involved, proceed with caution - or don't read

What I expected-
A Successful woman, a mentally disabled twin, the said successful woman dies and her twin covers the murderer using former's old letters. Little bit of detective work and some surprise elements thrown into mix and voila - amazing book here.

What it actually was -
A successful woman, unable to have child, a mentally disturbed twin, comes to live with family, huge mix up situation with husband, pregnancy, cover up and blah blah blah

The person who has written the blurb should actually read the book first because it seems like, he or she hasn't and it certainly could NOT be author herself, I refuse to believe that.

It could have been so much better if reader was given a chance to know what to expect in the story...the blurb is completely misleading...total disaster

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one heck of a ride from midnight to 3am. I couldn't seem to stop reading, I tried really hard to shut down my kindle, but I had to get to the ending.

Indentical twins, Tia and Ellie, one in a high powered finance job in London with a husband, Will, and the other slightly 'slow' and very innocent, placed in a residential home for 15+ years. The only means of communication between the sisters was the letters Ellie sent every Friday which reached Tia on Monday.

My first book by Valerie Keogh, and it was an addicting ride. The book started with Tia receiving the letters, and Ellie having the worst day of her life with shocking news. And subsequently, Tia comes to stay with them. I liked how the author has started the book with a bang, slowly building up the pitch. There were bread crumbs of clues strewn to raise the suspicions.

The plot and the ending were well written and could be easily deduced, but it is the journey of the writing which kept me captive. There was an alluring quality to it, I literally felt like a fly stuck in a spider's web who had to keep reading on, to escape. The scenes caused a tidal wave of emotions to arise, it had me going OMG constantly. Ellie's pain was so beautifully depicted.

One niggle stayed with me, and I kept hoping that it would come out. It didn't. All I can say is that the autopsy reveals everything. And I did guess the ending, I think I may have seen a movie or read something similar, years ago.

The book was my Venus fly, and any book which can bring me closer to The End can be called nothing but addictive, unputdownable, and a joyride!!

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 2 out of 5]

Touted as "a jaw-dropping psychological thriller," Secrets Between Us, unfortunately, fails to hit the mark and falls flat. The synopsis, cover art and tagline are all incredibly misleading and bear no relation to the plot contained within the pages. This is a domestic/family drama and in no way resembles a thriller. Moving on from that, I found that I had everything figured out by the time I reached the 10% mark and feel that even those who don't regularly consume these type of novels will also easily pick up on what is set to happen. Admittedly, I carried on reading in the hope that I was either wrong with my predictions or, at the least, there would be some redeeming features. Unfortunately, my hope was in vain.

All of the characters are narcissistic, cold and calculating, and they are certainly very unlikeable. However, Keogh's is an adept writer and with a less predictable plot could be successful. Much of the story is so far-fetched that I simply couldn't overlook the lack of believability. Those who can suspend their disbelief would be most suited to Secrets Between Us. There are also rather a lot of plot holes but revealing them would spoil it for potential readers. If you enjoy slow-burning family dramas then you may like this, but if you're looking for a thriller you best look elsewhere.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie and Tia are identical twins. I suppose for people who arn't twins, there is a bit of a fascination surrounding them. Tia and Ellie haven't seen each other though since they were children with Ellie living a normal everyday life with her husband Will whilst Tia has been living in a sort of care home due to her mental abilities. 

Ellie and Will have a lovely home as well as both having good jobs. I was very intrigued to know more why Ellie had no interest in seeing Tia until the home that she is in is closing down and Ellie has no choice but to allow her to come and live with them. To a certain extent I could see why Ellie would not want to have her twin around. Especially as even her husband seems to struggle in telling them both apart.

It's actually hard to know quite what to say about this story as I don't want to give to much away. It really does make for some compelling reading and it's one of those books where you find yourself saying just one more chapter and then the next thing you know it's impossible to put down until you've finished it.

Secrets Between Us will have you gripped from the off and the build up of mystery and suspense throughout was literally spellbinding. I couldn't tear myself away until I had got to the last page. If you love a good psychological thriller that will have you gripped from start to end, then would definitely recommend you giving this one a go. 

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Dario · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non giudicherei la storia come ‘scontata’ però effettivamente il percorso non è super fantasioso. Cmq come libro non mi e’ dispiaciuto, sono rimasto incollato fino alla fine per vedere se la mia idea era giusta o meno .. buona lettura, Dario

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to start with this book? It was shocking and twisty and apart from Ellie, I did not like the other characters, their actions and demeanour were awful and in some cases chilling!


Ellie is happily married to Will, they want to have a family, well he does more than her, but a catalyst of events occur and there is a heartbreak and there is a fresh start. What Will did not realise is that Ellie is a twin, identical in fact to Tia. Ellie is Tia’s legal guardian as she lives in a home due to her mental abilities, and Ellie writes to her once a week on a Friday. The highlight of Tia’s week, but that all changes when the home has to close and Tia has to live with Ellie and Will.

Now I guessed how this would end, but not how we would get to the end, and some of the events chilled me. God this review is going to be hard to write, I read the book blind, in which I forgot the blurb and went with it. The wrong choice of words here could spoil it. I mean the final words of the book sent a chill to my core, how could no one in the book see it!

This book kept me up until 1 am reading because quite frankly I had to know how it would end, despite my guessing! And also because the actions were just damn right crazy! This is a book that will make you look at people twice and probably not trust them! I want to say so much more but I blinking cannot! I felt empathy for Ellie, but also wanted to give her a bloody good shake! Will, he was likeable and then I would have shown him the door. And Tia, the less said the better.

The final lines in the book will chill you, maybe even the last line and it may leave you unsettled or even leave you screaming because of the need to find out more. This reminded me of car crash tv where you cannot take your eyes away in case you missed something and you had to know what would happen next!

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mari Riss - per RFS
.
“Io mi sento più come un coniglietto bloccato in un’enorme trappola. Più si muove e più la trappola si stringe.” (Tratto dal libro)

Ciao a tutti, amanti della lettura!

Segreti e bugie sono il filo conduttore de La gemella bugiarda, thriller psicologico dove la matassa di menzogne intessuta dai personaggi, crea una rete a maglia finissima che finisce per intrappolare i suoi stessi creatori come pesci catturati da una rezza.

Al centro della storia c’è un triangolo formato da Ellie, Will e Tia.

Ellie è sposata con Will Amstrong, è una donna bellissima e brillante che ricopre una posizione di rilievo in un’azienda di prestigio. Fin dal loro primo incontro, la donna è stata chiara col futuro marito sulle sue aspirazioni di carriera e lui – che si è innamorato di lei dal primo istante– non l’ha mai ostacolata. La coppia conduce un’esistenza felice resa un po’ malinconica solo dall’assenza di un figlio che l’uomo desidera disperatamente. La donna però ha sempre taciuto al compagno un triste segreto che sconvolgerà il loro equilibrio nel momento in cui sarà scoperto. Non solo… c’è anche un’altra informazione che ha celato al marito: la sorella di cui parla raramente, e che alloggia in un istituto per persone “con esigenze speciali”, è la sua gemella identica!

Quando Ellie riceve una lettera dal Saint Germain con la comunicazione che la struttura chiuderà entro tre mesi, decide – più per induzione dal marito che per reale convinzione – di accogliere Tia in casa e da quel momento saranno cavoli amari per tutti…

Vorrei potermi unire ai cori entusiastici che hanno accolto questo romanzo, ma mi è impossibile. Nel momento in cui la gemella s’insinua nella vita dei coniugi Amstrong, ho iniziato ad avvertire le prime inquietanti avvisaglie di un Dejà Vu; il tema che si sviluppa intorno al fulcro dei fratelli gemelli mi ricorda un vecchio film del 1997 dal titolo La metà ignota. Nel film assistiamo alla storia di due gemelli separati da piccoli a seguito della morte dei genitori e che vivono due vite opposte: uno diventa un uomo di successo l’altro uno psicopatico. Nel libro leggiamo la storia di due gemelle che vivono separate da quando sono piccole: una diventa una brillante donna con un ottimo lavoro e un marito innamoratissimo, l’altra conduce una triste esistenza in un istituto, riceve sporadiche visite da parte del suo ex tutore Adam e lettere settimanali dalla sorella che però le chiede di bruciarle dopo averle lette.

Tra le due storie ci sono poi differenze sostanziali di sviluppo e di trama, eppure durante la lettura del libro mi ha sempre tormentato la sensazione di sapere già cosa sarebbe successo e non riuscivo a fare a meno di pensare: Speriamo di no!

Passata abbondantemente la metà del libro inizia l’intreccio thriller vero e proprio, ma si sviluppa in maniera molto veloce e pressoché scontata pertanto l’epilogo non sorprende né tanto meno sconvolge. Peccato!

Nel bilancio finale, il personaggio che considero più negativo è Will, un uomo che – seppur mosso da un grande desiderio umanamente comprensibile – trascina la propria compagna in una rete di bugie che gli si ritorceranno contro, solo che non ne avrà nessuna percezione. L’uomo pagherà lo scotto peggiore per le sue azioni, senza però rendersene conto e arrovellandosi in un lacerante senso di colpa inutile e certamente poco tempestivo. Per convincere moglie a inerpicarsi in un sentiero pieno di rovi, punta il dito sul senso di colpa della donna e gioca sul suo senso d’inadeguatezza accrescendo quel sentimento d’inferiorità che già la dilania, ma che nessuna donna dovrebbe essere costretta a provare.

L’uomo si concentra troppo su ciò che desidera, compiendo il grande errore di accantonare o archiviare come lamentele esagerate quelle che in realtà sono richieste di aiuto da parte della moglie. Assorbito dal raggiungimento del suo scopo, non vede il male che sta arrecando alla donna che ama e indirettamente a se stesso.

C’è un momento in cui Will sembra avere le giuste percezioni….eppure tutto finisce in una bolla di sapone.

Questo è il primo romanzo dell’autrice – la pubblicazione del testo originale risale al 2008 – ed è il primo a essere pubblicato in edizione italiana. Personalmente non sviluppo mai un giudizio definitivo su un autore basandomi su un singolo libro letto, non è giusto e sarebbe pretestuoso. La scrittura è indubbiamente interessante, la storia è fluida e si lascia leggere in modo piacevole. I contenuti in sé sono interessanti e avrebbero potuto dare origine a un bell’intreccio se non fosse per la poca suspense e la scarsa originalità.

Io amo i thriller a 360° – nella mia selezione di letture deve essere sempre presente almeno un thriller – per questo ho scelto di leggere questo romanzo. Non mi ha soddisfatto, ma non mi abbatto perché non sarà il primo libro del genere che leggerò né sarà l’ultimo, tanto meno è l’unico libro di Valerie Keogh che mi capiterà tra le mani. Tutt’altro, spesso è proprio una storia poco convincente a spingermi a spulciare la produzione di un autore.

D’altra parte una rondine non fa primavera, non siete d’accordo?

[Denise]

Identical twins. They've been apart for 15 years with one of them, Tia, living in a home for the Differently Abeled and the other, Ellie, an executive who is married to Will living a lovely life. All is well and, in fact, Ellie's been sending letters to Tia all those years, when suddenly she and Will get the bad news that St. Germaine's school is closing and Tia has to be relocated. Unable to find a placement for Tia, Ellie and Will reluctantly agree to have her move into their house until another residential care facility can be found. An obvious mistake and that's when the real trouble begins. NO SPOILERS but there's a lot more between Ellie and Will that plays into it all.

This is definitely a domestic drama that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief and also the willingness to continue reading when you've already dissected the whole plot at the first whiff of the words, "Tia is moving in with us." I read on, hoping that I was mistakenly jumping to predictable conclusions, but alas, it was exactly as I expected and I was quite disappointed though I did finish. I didn't like any of the characters and their decisions and actions were completely the opposite of any way I would have behaved. I think the writing style was fine, it was just the plot that missed the mark for me. I should have believed some of the reviews but I always like to form my own opinions.
I'd still take a chance on another book written by this author but hope for more originality next time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I'm sorry it wasn't my cup of tea.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated from the beginning untill the end by this book. I have to admit I figured most of the story out rather early on, but I was so charmed by the writing style that I could not put it down.

It surely takes one sick mind to do what happened here and isn't this exactely what a psychological thriller is about?

Normally I don't really like the way this book ended, the way an author can keep you hanging and not knowing for certain what the next step is going to be. But in this case, it fitted perfectly with the rest.

What can I say more? I can only repeat myself and say that I was enjoying it enormously.

Thank you, Valerie Keogh, Bookouture and Netgalley.

https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

[Ti Emme Rock · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ci sono troppe cose che non vanno in questo libro. Per citarne alcune:
- Sorella scrive alla gemella ogni settimana e le chiede poi di bruciare le lettere. Il motivo?
- Sorella è una persona istruita, una donna in carriera..ecc. Non ha mai avuto il ciclo e non le viene nessun dubbio sulla sua fertilità? Magari una visita dal ginecologo?
- Sorella prende la pillola da una vita, probabilmente prescritta da...ah no..da nessuno...
- Sorella non sopporta l'altra, nel momento in cui sta per perderla...pioggia di cliché sui gemelli che si completano a vicenda bla bla e non possono vivere separati bla bla ( le due sorelle non si vedevano da 15 anni!)
- Anche Sorella ha qualcosa dalla nascita, ma non ci è dato sapere cosa 🤷
- Il marito potrebbe svegliarsi ( più o meno, visto come ci viene presentato), leggendo i documenti dell'ospedale...sarebbe stato un bel colpo di scena! 😁

[Kayleigh | Welsh Book Fairy · Rating 4 out of 5]

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Secrets Between Us
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Valerie Keogh
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 14th November 2018
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.5/5

I really enjoyed Secrets Between Us. I thought it was imaginative, twisted, and I was tense for the entire duration of the read. This book punched me in the gut over and over until the author decided when to stop. Valerie Keogh provoked all kinds of emotions from me - sadness, jealousy, bitterness - due to her fast-paced, engaging narrative and her three dimensional, relatable characters.

This book features two identical twins who couldn't be further apart if they tried. Ellie is a cold, high flying businesswoman in the finance sector who is married to Will, and Tia is 'differently abled', checked into an assisted living residential home where she bakes bread every single day. Until, the residence shuts down and Ellie, as Tia's official guardian, has to take Tia into her home until she finds another suitable place for Tia to live. However, Tia has other plans, plans that concern Will especially.

I thought that the author captured the nature and dispositions of each character really well, ensuring poignant scenarios that captivate the identifier in each character's personality; Ellie's secrecy, Tia's simplicity and Will's selfishness.

I was hooked with this sadistic thriller that I devoured in two sittings (and one half hour at a bus stop), everything happened how I wanted it and when I wanted it, there was something so utterly fascinating in the story line and I feel that the narrative and dialogue perfectly embodied the age old story of 'one good twin, one bad twin.'

Also, that ending though! Keogh couldn't have been more equivocal yet shocking if she tried. The ending was perfectly satisfying for any of us readers with curiosity for the disturbed.

One thing I don't understand, however, is why Tia has to burn the letters after she reads them? It wasn't clear to me and left vague loose ends that could have been neatly tied by the author. I feel that Valerie Keogh could have done a lot more with the story. There was no occasional peek into Ellie and Tia's past that would have allowed me to understand their resentment towards each other which I was really intrigued about. Ellie had her reservations about Tia from the start, and the reader was stopped from delving into the deep, dark secrets of their relationship and past that could have been really constructive.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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[Melissa In The City · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good read. Predictable. But, great writing and there were points that had me second guessing what I thought was going on. There were twists but I wouldn't call this a psychological thriller. I would call it more of a drama.
Cheers to the author for a really great prose and great storyline.
3.5 stars
Thank you @NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Roma Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light read that does not consume the reader fully! I would not classify this as a thriller really, it is more of a domestic drama. The plot is predictable, pretty much from get go there are no twists that even a novice reader won't be able to predict. If you are looking for a quick easy read then this is a good pick.
All the characters are very self-centered and unlikeable. They make questionable choices many times all through the story. They are very calculating and do not behave like a real family or even a real couple. There are a quite a few loopholes in the plot that made me unable to rate this book better. I do not understand why Ellie would send weekly letters to Tia but not take the time to meet her even once in 15 years! There isn’t enough mentioned about their past to justify the resentment that Ellie holds perpetually for Tia. I also could not understand why Tia had to burn/shred the letters. Despite all this I wanted to keep reading, I give credit the author's writing that makes a reader want to read something that they can predict fairly well. The ending, while being something predictable, helps wrap the story up nicely explaining to the reader the how and the why.
I do think the book needs a little more editing since the basic premise of the dynamics between the characters is established quickly and some of the details and instances do not really sway your opinion one way or the other.
The title really does not do the book any justice because there are no secrets really between them that are central to the plot. The publisher needs to work on the blurbs and descriptions because they are misleading. When the description/synopsis is so different from the actual plot, it causes dissatisfaction to the reader which
leads to a lower rating for a book simply because it does not meet the expectations that are set.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #SecretsBetweenUs

Also shared on: https://romasharma.blogspot.com


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[Kate Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed listening to this on my Kindle today. An ideal book whilst doing chores. have always been fascinated by twins,. Secrets Between Us is a very satisying read if like me you are fascinated by identical twins and enjoy a book that has twists. I loved the pacing of reveal/hints. It was not edge of the seat but a very good book none the less.
I will definitely be reading more from Valerie Keogh.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Secrets and lies. Guilt and regrets" Well this pretty much sums up this book and does make you think well what if !! I really did enjoy it very much, the storyline was an interesting one and my feelings towards the characters changed as the book progressed which made for a book that was as they say “ unputdownable “. I had predicted the ending but because the writing was so good it kept me gripped and so this in no way spoiled the book at all and in fact was very satisfying as it was exactly what I wanted to happen. I haven't read any other books by this author but I will make sure I do as I was impressed by the way the book was written. Enjoyable and different a good solid 4 star read, my thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for being given a chance to read the ARC.

Merged review:

"Secrets and lies. Guilt and regrets" Well this pretty much sums up this book and does make you think well what if !! I really did enjoy it very much, the storyline was an interesting one and my feelings towards the characters changed as the book progressed which made for a book that was as they say “ unputdownable “. I had predicted the ending but because the writing was so good it kept me gripped and so this in no way spoiled the book at all and in fact was very satisfying as it was exactly what I wanted to happen. I haven't read any other books by this author but I will make sure I do as I was impressed by the way the book was written. Enjoyable and different a good solid 4 star read, my thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for being given a chance to read the ARC.

[Cardmaker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, this blurb is on the back cover of the book:

"How safe are your secrets?

One letter a week for fifteen years. 780 identical white envelopes brimming with my sister’s darkest secrets. All the intimate details of a life as different to mine as could possibly be.

I read each letter slowly to make sure I understand it perfectly, one day very soon it will be a matter of life and death…

At the end of each letter, after signing her name, there is always one final sentence:

Don’t forget to burn this letter.

I’ll let you decide if I do…"

It couldn't be farther from what the story was if it tried. Who wrote that blurb?!? They either didn't read the story and made a guess at what it was or they read an entirely different story and mistakenly put the blurb on this one.

This could have been written by a 12 year old lovesick girl. It reads like that. Seriously. I knew how it was going to go as soon as I got through the first couple of chapters. It's not even remotely realistic. It's also not even remotely interesting. I do not recommend it to anyone.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a confession to make. Yes, yet another one. I have to be honest and say that prior to being invited to take part in the blog tour for ‘Secrets Between Us’, I hadn’t actually heard of Valerie Keogh. Sorry. Well I have certainly heard of her now. I very much enjoyed reading ‘Secrets Between Us’ but more about that in a bit.
Hand on heart, I can’t say that I took to any of the characters and I certainly didn’t feel like I could believe a word they say. Each character was devious in their own sweet way and very manipulative. Ellie is one of a set of identical twins and she is a successful businesswoman. There’s one big secret though- she not only has an identical twin, but said twin (Tia) is living in a sheltered housing type complex and I did wonder if Tia had been in care for that long that she had become institutionalised. Ellie hasn’t even told her husband much about her sister and so he is stunned to discover the truth. I get what Ellie said about wanting to be an individual in her own right, which she wouldn’t be if she said she was a twin. Personally I think that she was embarrassed of her identical twin, who has a mild disability. Ellie is cold, hard hearted and ruthless- all good qualities to have if you want to get ahead in business. Ellie soon has to make some tough decisions as the place where Tia is is closing down and Ellie has to make alternative arrangements for her. What will happen? Are Ellie and Tia holding any more secrets? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
‘Secrets Between Us’ is very much a slow burn of a psychological thriller and that totally suits the story. I know most family have their secrets and I admit to being a bit nosy in needing to find out if the families in this book were worse than my own family. I found that I got into the story right from the word go and it wasn’t long before I became addicted to reading this book. I had a bit of a reading binge in the sense that I managed to read the book over the space of a couple of days. I found that helped increase my enjoyment of the story because it helped to ramp up the level of tension. The story gathered momentum and I wasn’t expecting the twist in the tale as it were. I cannot honestly think of one thing about this book that I didn’t enjoy. I loved the author’s writing style, the storylines and the characters, who I found to be very realistic.
In short, I did enjoy reading ‘Secrets Between Us’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more from Valerie Keogh and I can’t believe that I haven’t discovered her until now. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[buzy_reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the next step after being married, for a number of years, is the big talk of having children Ellie and Will receive some difficult news that affects the outcome of having children. Then a convoluted plan takes shape changing the outcome for them.

It turns out that the main character Ellie has an identical twin named Tia. While they look exactly alike they do have some distinguishing personality traits. Her dim witted husband is unobservant to these differences.

When the author chose to insert these words: “Sometimes, I catch her looking at me, Will, as if she’s weighing me up. It makes me feel…a little uneasy”, I expected a more bone chilling eerie thriller. Instead, these characters took advantage of an unfortunate situation. These characters were despicable. I kept trying to understand this so called “differently abled” term to describe Tia’s condition. Other than being innocent minded I found no signature qualities to allude to this so called handicap. I found this description to be a means to make an easy excuse given the circumstances surrounded this unethical situation.

I predicted this going in a completely different direction. Why be so manipulative? Why not ask her sister Tia to help them with their problem? Why not ask her how she feels instead of disregarding her feelings? It was so obvious once Will confused the two what was about to take place.

Will’s character was a good and generous man. Family came first to him. Ellie’s character wasn’t as forthcoming with her past as she should have been.

The story had some plot holes where I questioned certain aspects of the story. The one that plagued me the most was her living situation and the convenience for how long it took to get into another place.

The story was slow. The scenes became monotonous to read. Day in and day out the same scenario with very little progress. I chose to skim the pages looking for more promising information.

The delivery of this story was excruciatingly slow. The timing for all events continued to be delayed. I found this story lacking. I knew from the moment Tia moved into Ellie’s home how this story was going to unfold, yet I hoped the outcome would be different. I kept waiting for more something shocking. It was clever just too predictable. Tia’s behavioral patterns were so obvious I couldn’t understand how blind Will was.

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tia hasn’t seen her twin sister for fifteen years, after their parents died but Ellie sends her a letter every week telling her all about her life. Now Tia’s sheltered accommodation is closing down and Ellie and her husband Will are forced to take her into her home.

At first everything seems fine but Ellie starts to notice Tia looking strangely at her. Will tells her it’s all in her mind but Ellie isn’t so sure. Is she as sweet and naive as everyone thinks?

This is another really difficult book to review because I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I’ll try my best!

Now I know this is a psychological thriller but it’s actually, for me anyway, more domestic noir which tends to be a little more slow burn and has a lot more family drama in it.
There is that sense throughout the book that you know something bad is going to happen but you don’t know what or when, keeping you on tenterhooks.

I did feel sorry for Ellie, I don’t know how she handled so much with both parents dead by the time she was a teenager. She always feeling in her sisters shadow as Tia needed extra attention and love because she was ‘special’. I don’t personally know what it’s like to be a twin but it must be hard to stand out from someone who looks the spitting image of you.

As for the other characters, I did find Will hard to like and especially selfish but of course that is just my opinion. Also Tia was a bit of an enigma for most of the book, sort of lurking in the background being a little creepy.

I have to be honest I kind of guessed the way the story was heading quite early on and the middle lacked a little bit of tension but again that is just my opinion.

I would recommend Secrets Between Us for anyone who loves a good family drama or domestic noir.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve got to say I loved this cover the minute I saw it and the blurb sealed my need to read this psychological thriller. It grabbed me with the minimal of effort with the simplicity of it and yet there was the intrigue that totally piqued my interest! Did the letters get burnt?!? What did they say?
Is Tia to be trusted? She seemed all sweet and innocent but sometimes it’s the quiet ones you have to watch right!?! Ellie’s obviously perturbed by some of the looks Tia gives her. But I questioned whether it was just Ellie’s jealousy of her sister getting the attention. I really didn’t know who to trust! Ellie is far from whiter than white when it comes to plotting!
The whole book is packed with tension. I didn’t know whether to trust Tia or was it just Ellie jealous of her sister having the one thing she couldn’t have! Twins should be the closet set of siblings but these two definitely aren’t.
The final third was a race to the finish, I felt like Usain Bolt as I clicked through the pages, glued to my kindle. Valerie Keogh has written a great psychological thriller that made my eyes widen with each page as sibling rivalry is taken to a whole new level!

[Neja bere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Secrets Between Us on NetGalley and knew immediately it was my kind of reading.
A story about two identical twins living very different lives - Ellie a successful business woman, happily married, popular, beautiful and intelligent. Tia, by her looks almost indistinguishable from her sister, but total opposite reagarding her personality and lifestyle. The two sisters are tied only by genetics and monthly letters Ellie is writing to Tia, but due to circumtances Tia´s life merges with Ellie´s and everything starts to spin out of control.
I liked the plot and the flow, it reads like a very intense movie, I could see the story being played out on a screen. As I liked Laura Marshall´s Friend Request its logical I like this one, as it has very similar vibes. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the free copy and thank you Valerie Keogh for the wild ride.