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Here Lie the Secrets
Mia’s best friend Holly died when they were thirteen. But years later, Holly still hasn’t left her.
Spending the summer in New York, Mia is hoping to escape the visions of Holly that haunt her life at home. There she meets Rav, a parapsychology student, who convinces her to take part in a study into why some people see ghosts. Soon she is caught up in the investigation of Halcyon House, which is reputed to be haunted by a poltergeist. As Mia confronts her fears, what she learns about the house and herself will change her life forever.
A tense psychological thriller for fans of ONE OF US IS LYING, A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER and THIS LIE WILL KILL YOU.
Spending the summer in New York, Mia is hoping to escape the visions of Holly that haunt her life at home. There she meets Rav, a parapsychology student, who convinces her to take part in a study into why some people see ghosts. Soon she is caught up in the investigation of Halcyon House, which is reputed to be haunted by a poltergeist. As Mia confronts her fears, what she learns about the house and herself will change her life forever.
A tense psychological thriller for fans of ONE OF US IS LYING, A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER and THIS LIE WILL KILL YOU.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
384 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2020
7 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Emma Young
6 books5 followersEmma Young is an award-winning science and health journalist and author. She has a BSc (Hns) in psychology from the University of Durham and 20 years’ experience working on titles including the Guardian, the Sydney Morning Herald and New Scientist, for which she worked as a senior online reporter in London and Australasian Editor in Sydney. Now employed by the British Psychological Society as a Staff Writer, she also writes freelance articles and books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 6, 2020
Do you believe in ghosts?Mia is visiting her aunt in Brooklyn over the summer and plans on hanging out with her friend, Tamara, as they save up for their planned road trip.
Meeting Rav was not on the agenda, nor was spending time with him and his colleagues from the Parapsychology Research Institute as they investigate a potential haunting.
Mia is already haunted by the death of her best friend, Holly, and is certainly not wanting to cross paths with any other ghosts.
It is clear the author has spent a significant amount of time researching the methods investigators use to hunt ghosts, as well as the various arguments for and against the existence of ghosts, prior to writing this book.
While I was really looking forward to this read, there ended up being a mismatch between my expectations and reality, and this coloured the way I experienced this book.
After learning about Rav, a student of parapsychology, in the blurb, I spent a lot of time waiting for some creepy, needing to look over my shoulder content. Instead I found the narrative to be more of an exploration of grief. Not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly not what I’d been hoping for.
When I read about a Ghostbusters belt buckle and found a quote from my all time favourite movie, I began my search for Ghostbusters Easter eggs, but never found them. I was initially interested in the discussions exploring why people do or don’t believe in the existence of ghosts but they felt more like info dumps and when the discussions devolved into arguments I lost interest.
I didn’t connect with any of the characters and expected to feel their grief but never did. The information provided about the summer job felt important at the time it was given but seemed more and more irrelevant as the story progressed.
I absolutely loved learning of the existence of the Here Lie the Secrets of the Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery art installation, where visitors write their secrets on paper and place them into the grave.
While this story ultimately wasn’t for me, I would encourage you to check out some of the 4 and 5 star reviews before deciding whether or not this is the book for you.
Content warnings include mention of bullying, domestic violence and mental illness.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
June 25, 2020
Mia sees her best friend Holly everywhere: in class, in the street, in her bedroom. The problem is, Holly died when they were thirteen. When she goes to stay in New York, Mia hopes to lay Holly's ghost to rest, but she becomes involved in a parapsychology study and the investigation into Halcyon House, supposedly the site of a poltergeist haunting which caused the death of a young girl.
I thought this was an okay read. Although the characters were well-written, I didn't really feel drawn into the story until they reached Halcyon House when things picked up a little. I find ghost hunting a really interesting subject and I don't feel that it was explored to the greatest potential. Also the ending was a bit of a disappointment for me, I felt it was too neatly finished just when things were getting interesting. Overall, it was an intriguing read, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Little Tiger Group / Stripes Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I thought this was an okay read. Although the characters were well-written, I didn't really feel drawn into the story until they reached Halcyon House when things picked up a little. I find ghost hunting a really interesting subject and I don't feel that it was explored to the greatest potential. Also the ending was a bit of a disappointment for me, I felt it was too neatly finished just when things were getting interesting. Overall, it was an intriguing read, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Little Tiger Group / Stripes Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
June 25, 2020
Here lie the secrets is a book about grief, forgiveness, and dealing with ghosts from the past. But it's also a book about ghosts, which I was not expecting. I thought part 1 was a bit slow, but I got really into part 2 and the scenes in Halycon house, and understand the need for part 1. The actual thrilling parts probably could have been longer, but they did keep me on the edge of my seat and had me scared, so I guess Young succeeded with her thriller writing, even if it was a little short for an almost 400 page book.
All the characters are super interesting and all have their own reasons for being in Halycon House, as well as their own reasons for being suspicious. I definitely went into this book with very different expectations, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as I ultimately wasn't disappointed by the turn the book took. This was a strong book and could have been a five star read had the actual thriller parts lasted just a bit longer.
All the characters are super interesting and all have their own reasons for being in Halycon House, as well as their own reasons for being suspicious. I definitely went into this book with very different expectations, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as I ultimately wasn't disappointed by the turn the book took. This was a strong book and could have been a five star read had the actual thriller parts lasted just a bit longer.
January 12, 2021
This book is promoted as a tense psychological thriller. It’s not. However, it’s a thought provoking story about guilt, loss, grief and forgiveness, which I enjoyed very much. Quite an emotional read.
It didn’t hook me straight away, rather a slow start, then Young introduced some twists and turns towards the end of the book.
There were a few difficult topics covered which Young wove into the plot sympathetically, including bullying, domestic/child abuse, alcoholism, mental illness, loss, grief and visual hallucination. The core of the story was really about the exploration of grief, loss and guilt intertwined with paranormal events and hallucination. Quite a mix. With a little bit of a ghost story thrown in; dealing with ghosts of the past.
Mia lost her friend Holly at the age of 13, a very difficult experience and ever since Holly has haunted Mia, turning up at every opportune moment. Is she a real ghost or just an hallucination. Mia went to New York to stay with her aunt Sadie, to catch up with her firmed Tamara, not realising that she had a lodger, which was a little disconcerting.
The lodger Rav, was a parapsychology student and he persuaded Mia to take part in a study in why people see ghosts and then involved her in investigating Halycon House, which was assumed to be haunted by a poltergeist. You have to read the book to find out what happens. Quite an interesting result.
Young’s research into para-psychology was detailed and the knowledge she shared was really powerful. And what did attract my attention was the mention of an Art Illustration ‘Here lie the secrets’. Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery are invited to write their secrets on paper, to then place them into the grave.
I would recommend this, especially if you want a quick and interesting read around paranormal activity.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Little Tiger Group for this ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
It didn’t hook me straight away, rather a slow start, then Young introduced some twists and turns towards the end of the book.
There were a few difficult topics covered which Young wove into the plot sympathetically, including bullying, domestic/child abuse, alcoholism, mental illness, loss, grief and visual hallucination. The core of the story was really about the exploration of grief, loss and guilt intertwined with paranormal events and hallucination. Quite a mix. With a little bit of a ghost story thrown in; dealing with ghosts of the past.
Mia lost her friend Holly at the age of 13, a very difficult experience and ever since Holly has haunted Mia, turning up at every opportune moment. Is she a real ghost or just an hallucination. Mia went to New York to stay with her aunt Sadie, to catch up with her firmed Tamara, not realising that she had a lodger, which was a little disconcerting.
The lodger Rav, was a parapsychology student and he persuaded Mia to take part in a study in why people see ghosts and then involved her in investigating Halycon House, which was assumed to be haunted by a poltergeist. You have to read the book to find out what happens. Quite an interesting result.
Young’s research into para-psychology was detailed and the knowledge she shared was really powerful. And what did attract my attention was the mention of an Art Illustration ‘Here lie the secrets’. Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery are invited to write their secrets on paper, to then place them into the grave.
I would recommend this, especially if you want a quick and interesting read around paranormal activity.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Little Tiger Group for this ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
June 21, 2020
First off I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Here Lie the Secrets is about a young woman named Mia who lost her best friend at the age of 13 and it haunts her, literally. Mia decides to spend her summer in New York with her aunt Sadie and meets Rav, a student of parapsychology who ropes her into his study looking at ghosts and the reasons why people see them.
First off, the premise for this was fascinating. I studied parapsychology in university and when I found out that there was an aspect of this in this book, I was excited. To give credit where it is due, it felt as if the author really did do their research into the subjects included in this story in order to make it seem more realistic, but somehow it all fell flat for me.
I found myself actually skimming through a lot of the first part of the book - I was bored. Nothing much was happening, it was a lot of talk and background and setting up the main bulk of the plot and I didn't enjoy it. I didn't care much about Mia or any of the characters, I didn't care really about what truly happened to Holly. I just wanted to know why she was haunting her. I contemplated DNFing this book at about the 30% mark, but I persevered because of my interest in parapsychology and it wasn't until around the 70% mark when I became interested in what was happening. The spooky stuff that I had been waiting for. However, it quickly got boring again. I found that the climax of the story ended too quickly, everything happened then we had an answer and it was done. The End. I was left feeling 'meh' and like I had wasted my time.
I expected more spooky, more psychology. I wanted more haunting, more scares, more intrigue. Then I wanted more theories on apparitions, science behind 'the paranormal' and I felt I didn't get any of that. I wasn't scared, I wasn't on the edge of my seat and I wasn't intrigued to read the resolutions. It was a slow-burn book about unresolved feelings and not a paranormal/parapsychology story - that's more of a plot to enable Mia to come to terms with her friends death. Not a slow, creepy, horror-like story that I was after.
The only thing I liked was the Art Instillation mentioned in the book. I just want to know all the hidden secrets it holds.
2 Stars.
Here Lie the Secrets is about a young woman named Mia who lost her best friend at the age of 13 and it haunts her, literally. Mia decides to spend her summer in New York with her aunt Sadie and meets Rav, a student of parapsychology who ropes her into his study looking at ghosts and the reasons why people see them.
First off, the premise for this was fascinating. I studied parapsychology in university and when I found out that there was an aspect of this in this book, I was excited. To give credit where it is due, it felt as if the author really did do their research into the subjects included in this story in order to make it seem more realistic, but somehow it all fell flat for me.
I found myself actually skimming through a lot of the first part of the book - I was bored. Nothing much was happening, it was a lot of talk and background and setting up the main bulk of the plot and I didn't enjoy it. I didn't care much about Mia or any of the characters, I didn't care really about what truly happened to Holly. I just wanted to know why she was haunting her. I contemplated DNFing this book at about the 30% mark, but I persevered because of my interest in parapsychology and it wasn't until around the 70% mark when I became interested in what was happening. The spooky stuff that I had been waiting for. However, it quickly got boring again. I found that the climax of the story ended too quickly, everything happened then we had an answer and it was done. The End. I was left feeling 'meh' and like I had wasted my time.
I expected more spooky, more psychology. I wanted more haunting, more scares, more intrigue. Then I wanted more theories on apparitions, science behind 'the paranormal' and I felt I didn't get any of that. I wasn't scared, I wasn't on the edge of my seat and I wasn't intrigued to read the resolutions. It was a slow-burn book about unresolved feelings and not a paranormal/parapsychology story - that's more of a plot to enable Mia to come to terms with her friends death. Not a slow, creepy, horror-like story that I was after.
The only thing I liked was the Art Instillation mentioned in the book. I just want to know all the hidden secrets it holds.
2 Stars.
June 5, 2024
This is not my usual genre of choice!
When i picked this one, I expected it to be more of a psych thriller, but it gave of more horror vibes, and so i found myself slightly freaked, lol!
But after about 100 pages, i was obviously invested and still kinda freaked out, but I needed to know the outcome and get the answer to the question, "Do you believe in Ghosts?"
When i picked this one, I expected it to be more of a psych thriller, but it gave of more horror vibes, and so i found myself slightly freaked, lol!
But after about 100 pages, i was obviously invested and still kinda freaked out, but I needed to know the outcome and get the answer to the question, "Do you believe in Ghosts?"
March 4, 2021
Trigger warnings:
This is one of the rare books in which it is exactly what the synopsis says it is. That is, if you ignore the line about it being a psychological thriller (it is not) and comparing it to One of Us is Lying and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (not even CLOSE).
Here Lie the Secrets is an exploration on grief, as well as where the worlds of the paranormal and the explainable blend together.
I enjoyed the story. The ongoing talk about the potential explanations that can be involved in parapsychology was interesting. It was an easy way to make the story feel unique and keep the reader guessing about what was a result of various environmental factors, versus the truly "supernatural".
But overall, I felt the story was pretty flat and single dimensional. This was particularly true when it came to the characters.
Our main character is dealing with a heavy amount of grief throughout the book, something which is a core component of the story's plot. This is done in an interesting way, as it is intertwined with paranormal events and family hallucinations. Outside of this narrative, however, the main character lacks any depth beyond what is minimally required for the story line.
Overall, this was an okay read using a story line that isn't often explored.
This is one of the rare books in which it is exactly what the synopsis says it is. That is, if you ignore the line about it being a psychological thriller (it is not) and comparing it to One of Us is Lying and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (not even CLOSE).
Here Lie the Secrets is an exploration on grief, as well as where the worlds of the paranormal and the explainable blend together.
I enjoyed the story. The ongoing talk about the potential explanations that can be involved in parapsychology was interesting. It was an easy way to make the story feel unique and keep the reader guessing about what was a result of various environmental factors, versus the truly "supernatural".
But overall, I felt the story was pretty flat and single dimensional. This was particularly true when it came to the characters.
Our main character is dealing with a heavy amount of grief throughout the book, something which is a core component of the story's plot. This is done in an interesting way, as it is intertwined with paranormal events and family hallucinations. Outside of this narrative, however, the main character lacks any depth beyond what is minimally required for the story line.
Overall, this was an okay read using a story line that isn't often explored.
Note: Review copy received via NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.
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Happy reading! ❤
June 23, 2020
Eighteen-year-old Mia is spending the summer in New York with her aunt and American best friend Tamara before returning to England to begin her psychology degree. What most people don't know, is that Mia hasn't stopped seeing childhood best friend Holly - even after Holly died right in front of her,
In New York, Mia meets Rav, a parapsychology student. She decides to take part in his study to find out if she really is seeing Holly's ghost or if it's all in her head.
This was a quick, enjoyable read with some decent heightening of tension at the right moments. I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more when I was in my early teens as it reads a bit like a 'Point Horror' or 'Point Thriller' book, which I loved reading back then.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has just finished a heavy series and wants a quick thrill, as there was the odd moment, reading this alone in the dark - where I had to make sure my feet were covered so that nothing would leap up and grab my toes!
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
In New York, Mia meets Rav, a parapsychology student. She decides to take part in his study to find out if she really is seeing Holly's ghost or if it's all in her head.
This was a quick, enjoyable read with some decent heightening of tension at the right moments. I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more when I was in my early teens as it reads a bit like a 'Point Horror' or 'Point Thriller' book, which I loved reading back then.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has just finished a heavy series and wants a quick thrill, as there was the odd moment, reading this alone in the dark - where I had to make sure my feet were covered so that nothing would leap up and grab my toes!
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2021
Mia is on holiday at her aunt’s in the US, trying to escape the ghost who haunts her past. She’s been seeing her best friend Holly ever since Holly died five years ago. It’s a secret she’s been keeping from almost everyone until she meets Rav, her aunt’s boarder. One thing leads to another, and she’s invited to help investigate an alleged haunted house. Are the ghosts real? Or do we just want them to be?
I really enjoyed the book. The first half is all set up, and we see how Mia is coping with life (kind of but not really) and how disruptive she finds seeing Holly. The second half is pure ghost hunting spookiness, and it was so good! The ending was a little unexpected, bittersweet, but totally fit the story as a whole. I would’ve loved more ghostbusting creepiness!!
I really enjoyed the book. The first half is all set up, and we see how Mia is coping with life (kind of but not really) and how disruptive she finds seeing Holly. The second half is pure ghost hunting spookiness, and it was so good! The ending was a little unexpected, bittersweet, but totally fit the story as a whole. I would’ve loved more ghostbusting creepiness!!
June 3, 2020
Wow, I really didn’t know that this book was going to be so chillingly scary! I did find it to be on the darker side, which is definitely okay with me; as I love darker and disturbing reads. It hooked me from page one with it’s absolutely intriguing story. Character development really was amazing, making me more vested in the story! Lots of twists and turns, scares, chills, thrills, and shocks await these pages. Unputdownable, realistic! Highly, highly recommend!
I will buzz around platforms and use low amazon reviewer number on release date!
I will buzz around platforms and use low amazon reviewer number on release date!
August 22, 2020
Here Lie the Secrets was an enjoyable and intriguing story of grief and letting go of the past mixed with mystery, excitement and plot twists!
I wasn’t immediately captured by this book - I didn’t dislike it the opening but I didn’t feel particularly hooked for the first 100 or so pages. I kept going because I was intrigued by the ghost aspects and had a lot of curiosity about where the story was going. I was hoping for a really big plot twist to surprise me! I got more hooked about half way through when they went to Halycon House.
The house is interesting, fascinating and spooky - full of mystery and potential. Things got even better when the storyline became more thriller than mystery, and the story became scary, even more enthralling and heart-stopping, keeping me on my toes. I started to doubt the things I thought I knew and had guessed about the plot.
Despite the slow start, things did get really interesting and I started to really love the book. The big reveals were compelling but not quite as surprising and captivating as I had hoped! They were slightly more realistic than the reveals on lots of thrillers - which made sense as the story was just as much about grief as mystery - but still felt a little underwhelming. The reveal/mystery around the house was pretty riveting, but it was 100% explained which made it harder to be properly astounded by it.
At first I wasn’t a big fan of Mia, as she felt quite 2d. However I did grow to like her and feel sorry and worried for her by the end of the book. I didn’t adore her or deeply emphasise with her but I ended up feeling relatively fond of her. The aspect of her dealing with her mother’s mental health was interesting and did make me feel sympathy towards her.
The big reveal relating to Mia and her past wasn’t quite as big or draw-dropping as I had hoped, but again I feel this was more realistic. It made sense and was quite sad, more of an emotional twist than a thrilling one.
I think her storyline of understanding and letting go of her grief and reconciling with her past was a really powerful and moving one, definitely a highlight of the story.
I quite liked the side characters, they were interesting and added a lot to the story, the ghost-hunting squad and Tamara also brought out a lot of Mia’s best qualities and so made her character more interesting.
Here Lie The Secrets was an emotional story about moving on after loss, and was a compelling and thoughtful story of loss as well as a captivating and exciting mystery thriller about a maybe-haunted house and the ghosts that remain there.
I wasn’t immediately captured by this book - I didn’t dislike it the opening but I didn’t feel particularly hooked for the first 100 or so pages. I kept going because I was intrigued by the ghost aspects and had a lot of curiosity about where the story was going. I was hoping for a really big plot twist to surprise me! I got more hooked about half way through when they went to Halycon House.
The house is interesting, fascinating and spooky - full of mystery and potential. Things got even better when the storyline became more thriller than mystery, and the story became scary, even more enthralling and heart-stopping, keeping me on my toes. I started to doubt the things I thought I knew and had guessed about the plot.
Despite the slow start, things did get really interesting and I started to really love the book. The big reveals were compelling but not quite as surprising and captivating as I had hoped! They were slightly more realistic than the reveals on lots of thrillers - which made sense as the story was just as much about grief as mystery - but still felt a little underwhelming. The reveal/mystery around the house was pretty riveting, but it was 100% explained which made it harder to be properly astounded by it.
At first I wasn’t a big fan of Mia, as she felt quite 2d. However I did grow to like her and feel sorry and worried for her by the end of the book. I didn’t adore her or deeply emphasise with her but I ended up feeling relatively fond of her. The aspect of her dealing with her mother’s mental health was interesting and did make me feel sympathy towards her.
The big reveal relating to Mia and her past wasn’t quite as big or draw-dropping as I had hoped, but again I feel this was more realistic. It made sense and was quite sad, more of an emotional twist than a thrilling one.
I think her storyline of understanding and letting go of her grief and reconciling with her past was a really powerful and moving one, definitely a highlight of the story.
I quite liked the side characters, they were interesting and added a lot to the story, the ghost-hunting squad and Tamara also brought out a lot of Mia’s best qualities and so made her character more interesting.
Here Lie The Secrets was an emotional story about moving on after loss, and was a compelling and thoughtful story of loss as well as a captivating and exciting mystery thriller about a maybe-haunted house and the ghosts that remain there.
May 13, 2020
This book is brilliant! I've expected it to be pretty obvious what it is about, but boy was I wrong. I like how the plot twisted during the second part of the story and when it was about so much more then what you may expect.
So many diverse and great characters, maybe too many at some point. F.e. I would have loved to get to know MIa's aunt better.
The main question of the plot is "How do you live on when you know you may be guilty of something that you cannot undo?". Mixed up with a supernatural background this book will keep you reading until you have finished and leave you with a satisfying ending which could have go on for at least a page longer.
So many diverse and great characters, maybe too many at some point. F.e. I would have loved to get to know MIa's aunt better.
The main question of the plot is "How do you live on when you know you may be guilty of something that you cannot undo?". Mixed up with a supernatural background this book will keep you reading until you have finished and leave you with a satisfying ending which could have go on for at least a page longer.
July 13, 2020
My recent reads have included YA set in the Dominican Republic, Paris and now New York. I am taking full advantage of my lockdown travel options and bringing little glimpses of the world into my tiny English garden. Here are three reasons I would recommend heading to NYC with Here Lie the Secrets:
1. This story was so tense! I had to stay up late to finish it because I couldn't go to sleep until I knew what was going on. It has all the suspense you'd expect from a story about ghosts and the paranormal. Settings are also used to great, atmospheric effect throughout.
2. At the centre of this novel is an exploration of grief, and how we cope with the loss of those closest to us. Believing that a loved one remains close by is a thought that brings comfort to many. Young explores this solace in a way that is touching and heartfelt.
3. I loved the psychology woven through this story, especially the exploration of why we react to certain circumstances in the way we do. The central characters are scientists, rather than 'ghost hunters' and they always consider every possible solution - both scientific and supernatural. There was a great range of characters and view points. Here Lie the Secrets manages to be tense and creepy, without feeling melodramatic.
Thank you Little Tiger Books for sending me a copy to review
1. This story was so tense! I had to stay up late to finish it because I couldn't go to sleep until I knew what was going on. It has all the suspense you'd expect from a story about ghosts and the paranormal. Settings are also used to great, atmospheric effect throughout.
2. At the centre of this novel is an exploration of grief, and how we cope with the loss of those closest to us. Believing that a loved one remains close by is a thought that brings comfort to many. Young explores this solace in a way that is touching and heartfelt.
3. I loved the psychology woven through this story, especially the exploration of why we react to certain circumstances in the way we do. The central characters are scientists, rather than 'ghost hunters' and they always consider every possible solution - both scientific and supernatural. There was a great range of characters and view points. Here Lie the Secrets manages to be tense and creepy, without feeling melodramatic.
Thank you Little Tiger Books for sending me a copy to review
January 1, 2022
Mia has gone to visit her aunt in New York for the summer, partly to escape the “ghost” of her best friend who died five years before. She meets Rav, her aunt’s new lodger, who is a parapsychology student and ropes her into getting involved with some studies.
This book is billed as a “tense psychological thriller” which I didn’t think it was at all.
The first half was boring and nothing really happened, the second half had slightly more going on but not much. There was potential for more of a chilling atmosphere in the second half but I felt the book lacked that.
The whole book was just underwhelming and felt very flat. The characters were vapid and other than Mia thinking she was haunted by her friend, there wasn’t much more to her.
It was an easy and thankfully quite short read, but the story just didn’t grip me at all.
The idea behind the plot was something different but it didn’t work for me.
1.5 stars rounded to 2.
Thanks to Little Tiger Group and NetGalley for a copy for review.
This book is billed as a “tense psychological thriller” which I didn’t think it was at all.
The first half was boring and nothing really happened, the second half had slightly more going on but not much. There was potential for more of a chilling atmosphere in the second half but I felt the book lacked that.
The whole book was just underwhelming and felt very flat. The characters were vapid and other than Mia thinking she was haunted by her friend, there wasn’t much more to her.
It was an easy and thankfully quite short read, but the story just didn’t grip me at all.
The idea behind the plot was something different but it didn’t work for me.
1.5 stars rounded to 2.
Thanks to Little Tiger Group and NetGalley for a copy for review.
March 17, 2020
A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Unfortunately I didn’t finish this book. I didn’t like how it was written and too much going on all the time. Moreover I didn’t identify with, or believe, any of the storyline.
March 28, 2020
Given the sensitive subject matter handled within the story, Emma Young deals with it wonderfully, weaving it so casually and thoughtfully in to the plot that it creeps up and resonates with the reader as they read. The characters are well crafted and each has a purpose and adds something to the overall story. Here Lie The Secrets is an enjoyable and thought provoking read.
May 3, 2020
A fascinating ghost story about a young girl haunted by her dead friend, who meets a group of professional, academic ghost hunters. I loved it!
July 4, 2020
As a teenager Mia’s best friend Holly passed away and she has been haunted by it ever since. Everywhere she goes Holly follows, everywhere that is except New York where Mia feels she is able to relax without the fear of encountering the ever present spirit of her dead friend.
Flying into New York to spend the Summer with her Aunt Sadie, Mia hopes to leave her worries behind and have some fun with her friend Tamara working to make money for their road trip, but all that changes when she meets Rav. Rav is Sadie’s new lodger and just happens to be a trainee parapschologist working on the study of paranormal experiences, something Mia is keen to avoid at all costs. However, before she has even had the chance to sleep off her jet lag she finds herself agreeing to be part of a paranormal study and pulled into intriguing world of ‘ghost hunting’ alongside Rav’s team.
Hoping to finally discover the answers as to why Holly still haunts her after so many years Mia agrees to take part in a real life ghost hunt hoping to find proof of poltergeist activity at the infamous Halycan House. But is Mia ready to discover the truth? and once she does will anything be the same?
Here Lie The Secrets is a quick paced, enjoyable character driven mystery. When I first picked up this book I was expecting a scary ghost tale to have me hiding behind my cushion, however in reality this story was more focused on Mia’s grief and the impact it has had on every aspect of her life. The paranormal does feature heavily in this book with the spotlight firmly being on the investigative side of ghost hunting and being a fan of TV shows like Most Haunted I found this aspect really interesting as it gave me some additional insight into the emotional and environmental influences on the data collected. There were suspenseful moments throughout the book which had the hairs on my arms twitching, but not many jumpy parts!
There are two parts to this book and I definitely enjoyed the second part more. The first section was laying the groundwork and giving lots of background to both Mia’s story and the investigative processes Rav’s teams use. The second part though is where the action happens as the characters embark on their time at Halycan House and the pace certainly kicks up a notch!
Here Lie The Secrets was much more of an emotional read than I was anticipating and I feel the author has done a fabulous job of dealing with some difficult topics. It’s a story of grief, friendship and forgiveness that is perfectly written for the young adult target market. For me personally it was a quick and enjoyable read, however I do feel my teenage self may have enjoyed it even more. It’s story lines and characters are perfectly pitched at a slightly younger age group who may be able to relate more closely than I could.
Flying into New York to spend the Summer with her Aunt Sadie, Mia hopes to leave her worries behind and have some fun with her friend Tamara working to make money for their road trip, but all that changes when she meets Rav. Rav is Sadie’s new lodger and just happens to be a trainee parapschologist working on the study of paranormal experiences, something Mia is keen to avoid at all costs. However, before she has even had the chance to sleep off her jet lag she finds herself agreeing to be part of a paranormal study and pulled into intriguing world of ‘ghost hunting’ alongside Rav’s team.
Hoping to finally discover the answers as to why Holly still haunts her after so many years Mia agrees to take part in a real life ghost hunt hoping to find proof of poltergeist activity at the infamous Halycan House. But is Mia ready to discover the truth? and once she does will anything be the same?
Here Lie The Secrets is a quick paced, enjoyable character driven mystery. When I first picked up this book I was expecting a scary ghost tale to have me hiding behind my cushion, however in reality this story was more focused on Mia’s grief and the impact it has had on every aspect of her life. The paranormal does feature heavily in this book with the spotlight firmly being on the investigative side of ghost hunting and being a fan of TV shows like Most Haunted I found this aspect really interesting as it gave me some additional insight into the emotional and environmental influences on the data collected. There were suspenseful moments throughout the book which had the hairs on my arms twitching, but not many jumpy parts!
There are two parts to this book and I definitely enjoyed the second part more. The first section was laying the groundwork and giving lots of background to both Mia’s story and the investigative processes Rav’s teams use. The second part though is where the action happens as the characters embark on their time at Halycan House and the pace certainly kicks up a notch!
Here Lie The Secrets was much more of an emotional read than I was anticipating and I feel the author has done a fabulous job of dealing with some difficult topics. It’s a story of grief, friendship and forgiveness that is perfectly written for the young adult target market. For me personally it was a quick and enjoyable read, however I do feel my teenage self may have enjoyed it even more. It’s story lines and characters are perfectly pitched at a slightly younger age group who may be able to relate more closely than I could.
June 25, 2020
This book has a fantastic concept and the tagline saying it's perfect for fans of One of Us is Next and Good Girl's Guide to Murder had me sold, I love both of those books.
The story is an intriguing tale of grief, guilt and ghosts! Mia has been haunted by grief and the ghost of her best friend Holly, who passed away when she was 13 years old. She's travelled to New York to stay with her aunt, Sadie and to see her friend Tamara whilst she's there. She wasn't expecting her aunt to have a lodger, nor was she expecting the lodger to be a parapsychologist investigating hauntings. Whilst Mia's trying to escape her ghosts, it would seem her ghosts don't travel too far away.
I was expecting this book to be great with plenty of suspense and a real spook factor. I felt a bit let down in that department. I don't know if my expectations of the book stopped me from enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I think I was expecting to be needing to sleep with the lights on and didn't feel at all creeped out. It's more of a book about grief and emotions, rather than the mystery I was expecting.
There's a lot of information about the parapsychological aspects of the book. It's obvious that the author spent the time to get her information but I don't think it all necessarily needed including in the story.
I wanted to be on the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happened and I just didn't get what I wanted. In books like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, you're constantly kept wanting more and with this, I wouldn't mind pausing and leaving it. I still enjoyed it and it was easy reading despite the subject matter being centred on grief.
Overall, it's a light read despite contending with some difficult subjects. It's less of a ghost story and more of a grief story. It has good characters and an enjoyable plot.
The story is an intriguing tale of grief, guilt and ghosts! Mia has been haunted by grief and the ghost of her best friend Holly, who passed away when she was 13 years old. She's travelled to New York to stay with her aunt, Sadie and to see her friend Tamara whilst she's there. She wasn't expecting her aunt to have a lodger, nor was she expecting the lodger to be a parapsychologist investigating hauntings. Whilst Mia's trying to escape her ghosts, it would seem her ghosts don't travel too far away.
I was expecting this book to be great with plenty of suspense and a real spook factor. I felt a bit let down in that department. I don't know if my expectations of the book stopped me from enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I think I was expecting to be needing to sleep with the lights on and didn't feel at all creeped out. It's more of a book about grief and emotions, rather than the mystery I was expecting.
There's a lot of information about the parapsychological aspects of the book. It's obvious that the author spent the time to get her information but I don't think it all necessarily needed including in the story.
I wanted to be on the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happened and I just didn't get what I wanted. In books like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, you're constantly kept wanting more and with this, I wouldn't mind pausing and leaving it. I still enjoyed it and it was easy reading despite the subject matter being centred on grief.
Overall, it's a light read despite contending with some difficult subjects. It's less of a ghost story and more of a grief story. It has good characters and an enjoyable plot.
January 29, 2022
I don't think Here Lie the Secrets is the "tense psychological thriller" it was advertised to be, but instead a story of a girl grieving a loss.
Mia is visiting her aunt over the summer and never planned on meeting Rav or spending time with him investigating potential hauntings - something Mia knows all too well about. She is already being haunted by the death of her best friend.
Here Lie the Secrets didn't hook me from the beginning, but was more of a slow burn and definitely peeked my attention eventually with some twists and turns. There were some characters I didn't connect with , and I did expect to connect with them, but nonetheless, I did enjoy this book.
Mia is visiting her aunt over the summer and never planned on meeting Rav or spending time with him investigating potential hauntings - something Mia knows all too well about. She is already being haunted by the death of her best friend.
Here Lie the Secrets didn't hook me from the beginning, but was more of a slow burn and definitely peeked my attention eventually with some twists and turns. There were some characters I didn't connect with , and I did expect to connect with them, but nonetheless, I did enjoy this book.
July 27, 2020
3.5 stars
I'll say first that I don't think I was the target audience which is why it probably didn't rate as high for me.
Over all a good story which has obviously had a fair amount of research to do with paranormal activity.
I have to say it was refreshing to have a YA book not primarily based around romance.
Over all a good story just not my cup of tea.
I'll say first that I don't think I was the target audience which is why it probably didn't rate as high for me.
Over all a good story which has obviously had a fair amount of research to do with paranormal activity.
I have to say it was refreshing to have a YA book not primarily based around romance.
Over all a good story just not my cup of tea.
September 20, 2020
A tale of ghosts, grief and guilt
It hooked me from page one with it’s absolutely intriguing story. Character development really was strong, with
lots of emotional twists and turns making me truly invested in the story! Lots of scares, chills, thrills, and shocks with the Parapsychology Research Institute. A real page turner !
It hooked me from page one with it’s absolutely intriguing story. Character development really was strong, with
lots of emotional twists and turns making me truly invested in the story! Lots of scares, chills, thrills, and shocks with the Parapsychology Research Institute. A real page turner !
September 17, 2022
**Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
This book was more about grief than it was a thriller. I was really ever interested in the fact that Mia was being haunted by her dead friend and about the haunted house. I really didnt like the insect part of the book, that was the only really bit that freaked me out.
This book was more about grief than it was a thriller. I was really ever interested in the fact that Mia was being haunted by her dead friend and about the haunted house. I really didnt like the insect part of the book, that was the only really bit that freaked me out.
January 30, 2024
This is one that built the suspense so much and so much... and then fell flat.
I did get the heebie jeebies sometimes, but when it should have been the scariest bit, it just wasn't.
Meh... 7/10 for giving me the creeps but also for not meeting expectations.
I did get the heebie jeebies sometimes, but when it should have been the scariest bit, it just wasn't.
Meh... 7/10 for giving me the creeps but also for not meeting expectations.
March 21, 2021
2,5/5
Read
May 31, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Domestic abuse & violence
Child abuse
Alcoholism
Visual hallucinations
Grief depiction
Death of a friend recounted
Bullying mentioned
Domestic abuse & violence
Child abuse
Alcoholism
Visual hallucinations
Grief depiction
Death of a friend recounted
Bullying mentioned
July 6, 2023
I would definitely read this again
January 20, 2024
I STRUGGLED to finish this…
November 2, 2025
Loved the book, a lot of imformation of the paranormal. Fantastic storyline. Just felt the ending was a bit rushed, could have been 2 or 3 chapters longer for a more well rounded ending.
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