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This Secret Thing
Out of love. Out of protection. Out of fear. Everyone has a reason to lie.
Everyone in Raleigh, North Carolina, is talking about Norah Ramsey, the single mother accused of being a suburban madam. But Norah’s not the only one keeping secrets.
After her mother’s arrest, Norah’s teenage daughter, Violet, is devastated and alone. She has no one to turn to until her grandmother Polly arrives. Polly, long estranged from Norah, is running from her own troubles. Down the street, Bess, once Norah’s best friend, desperately tries to hide secrets while Casey, Bess’s daughter, flees college after a traumatic event, only to find that home isn’t the safe haven she expected. And Nico, the detective who has doggedly pursued Norah Ramsey in hopes that she will lead him to his missing brother, is drawn further into these women’s lives while facing his own domestic disturbance.
Scandal has brought each of them to a crossroads. Now, as they delve into Norah’s secrets, they must come to terms with secrets of their own—ones that still have the power to hurt or to heal.
Everyone in Raleigh, North Carolina, is talking about Norah Ramsey, the single mother accused of being a suburban madam. But Norah’s not the only one keeping secrets.
After her mother’s arrest, Norah’s teenage daughter, Violet, is devastated and alone. She has no one to turn to until her grandmother Polly arrives. Polly, long estranged from Norah, is running from her own troubles. Down the street, Bess, once Norah’s best friend, desperately tries to hide secrets while Casey, Bess’s daughter, flees college after a traumatic event, only to find that home isn’t the safe haven she expected. And Nico, the detective who has doggedly pursued Norah Ramsey in hopes that she will lead him to his missing brother, is drawn further into these women’s lives while facing his own domestic disturbance.
Scandal has brought each of them to a crossroads. Now, as they delve into Norah’s secrets, they must come to terms with secrets of their own—ones that still have the power to hurt or to heal.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2020
6149 people are currently reading
6990 people want to read
About the author
Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
20 books1,073 followersMarybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of When We Were Worthy, The Things We Wish Were True and five previous novels. She speaks to women's groups around the US. She is the co-founder of the popular women's fiction site, She Reads www.shereads.org. Marybeth and her husband Curt have been married for 26 years and are the parents of six children. The family lives in North Carolina. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She is always at work on her next novel. You can find her at www.marybethwhalen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
September 8, 2020
As usual I’m the odd ball that doesn’t like the hyped book. I tried, I really did. The premise was strong, but there was so many side stories that I cared nothing about. I found it unbelievable at times. What mom has a college daughter just drop out and come home and then she never questions her about why?? So many problems with so many side characters it never really focused on the main idea of the story for me.
August 11, 2020
This Secret Thing is a powerful story of friendship and sisterhood, and I fell into Whalen’s vision of a tight-knit Raleigh community willingly and easily. I could see the houses with their shaded windows, feel the sense of people watching, wondering what their neighbors were really up to. Sometimes it’s a big risk to start out a novel with the biggest secret revealed right up front, yet it very much works with This Secret Thing. The world as we/the characters know it is exploded in a way that feels apocalyptic, then the pieces must be put back together. The novel is a fascinating mix of both world rebuilding and the solving of a mystery. I was especially moved by Casey’s storyline. It felt unexpected and surprising, and I found myself cheering for her from the moment she came onstage. Whalen has superior character building skills. There isn’t one character in the novel that wasn’t utterly believable and compelling. A terrific story with a satisfying sense of drama and mystery.
October 29, 2020
It has taken me more than 24 hours to figure out how to write my Book Report on This Secret Thing: A Novel, by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen.
Why?
Well, mainly because I wasn't quite sure of the point she was trying to make. Men bad, women good?
Prostitution of any sort -- high school and college girls having sex for popularity, women in their 20s marrying for a comfortable life, older women succumbing to theft/abuse because they are scared to be alone, actually being a sex worker or a madam/pimp/dare we say "manager" of sex workers -- is bad?
Or is it OK, something we might not really love the idea of, but have come to accept as a basic societal construct in the United States of America?
And, yet another Or: Do some other countries have it right when they say bought-and-paid-for-sex is acceptable -- and taxable -- as long it is between two consenting adults? I mean, really, who was being pressed into service in the Nora parts of this book? No one.
And one final Or: Was the point that men and women are just people, no matter what their age or socioeconomic status in life, and that some of them are well-intended and others are just bad at the core? And that dogs are good, no matter what?
Whatever the point might have been, it did a good job of escaping me. As did the whole detective storyline. [Insert multiple eye-rolls here.]
If you haven't chosen your "free" book from Amazon/Kindle/whatever this month, please don't choose this one.
Please.
P.S. Right before I was about to go to bed tonight I remembered that I thought Bess was pretty much believable, in a lot of ways. And that I appreciated the fact her character took food to people (although the whole Jason thing made me roll my eyes so hard they almost got stuck in the back of my head). Also, I saved the recipe for "her" poppy seed chicken casserole. Looks a lot like my friend Margie's; in short, very good.
Why?
Well, mainly because I wasn't quite sure of the point she was trying to make. Men bad, women good?
Prostitution of any sort -- high school and college girls having sex for popularity, women in their 20s marrying for a comfortable life, older women succumbing to theft/abuse because they are scared to be alone, actually being a sex worker or a madam/pimp/dare we say "manager" of sex workers -- is bad?
Or is it OK, something we might not really love the idea of, but have come to accept as a basic societal construct in the United States of America?
And, yet another Or: Do some other countries have it right when they say bought-and-paid-for-sex is acceptable -- and taxable -- as long it is between two consenting adults? I mean, really, who was being pressed into service in the Nora parts of this book? No one.
And one final Or: Was the point that men and women are just people, no matter what their age or socioeconomic status in life, and that some of them are well-intended and others are just bad at the core? And that dogs are good, no matter what?
Whatever the point might have been, it did a good job of escaping me. As did the whole detective storyline. [Insert multiple eye-rolls here.]
If you haven't chosen your "free" book from Amazon/Kindle/whatever this month, please don't choose this one.
Please.
P.S. Right before I was about to go to bed tonight I remembered that I thought Bess was pretty much believable, in a lot of ways. And that I appreciated the fact her character took food to people (although the whole Jason thing made me roll my eyes so hard they almost got stuck in the back of my head). Also, I saved the recipe for "her" poppy seed chicken casserole. Looks a lot like my friend Margie's; in short, very good.
July 13, 2020
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Marybeth Mayhew Whalen for my copy of This Secret Thing.
The Secret Thing is about a group of women who make hard choices for their families. The book begins with Norah who is arrested for managing a prostitution ring. Her mother, Polly, comes to visit to take care of Norah’s daughter, Violet. Polly has her own set of problems dealing with her gold digger and cheater of a husband.
Bess is a housewife raising her two daughters, Casey and Nicole. Casey suddenly comes home from college dealing with her owns issues while Nicole is dealing with high school angst. On top of this Bess’s husband is also cheating on her and she is developing feelings for the homeless guy she is helping.Then, add a detective and a high school boy with their own set of problems.
This book with all the drama was a slow burn that I really enjoyed. I kept wondering how all the pieces were going to fit together. I was pleasantly surprised with how it all ended and the author even added another twist right at the end. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
The Secret Thing is about a group of women who make hard choices for their families. The book begins with Norah who is arrested for managing a prostitution ring. Her mother, Polly, comes to visit to take care of Norah’s daughter, Violet. Polly has her own set of problems dealing with her gold digger and cheater of a husband.
Bess is a housewife raising her two daughters, Casey and Nicole. Casey suddenly comes home from college dealing with her owns issues while Nicole is dealing with high school angst. On top of this Bess’s husband is also cheating on her and she is developing feelings for the homeless guy she is helping.Then, add a detective and a high school boy with their own set of problems.
This book with all the drama was a slow burn that I really enjoyed. I kept wondering how all the pieces were going to fit together. I was pleasantly surprised with how it all ended and the author even added another twist right at the end. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
October 11, 2020
Picked this up as my "free" Prime member book selection and zipped right through it. It lands a bit more on the "domestic fiction" end than I normally go for, but I'm glad I picked it up. Technically I'd call this domestic suspense, but the suspense thread is lighter than the average thriller. There were a ton of compelling balls up in the air, re: Norah the suburban madame, the kid next door whose girlfriend died a year ago, why Casey came home, etc... but nothing lead to any HUGE SHOCKING TWISTS; this one is more about the characters and relationships and life in the suburbs (and keeping up with the Joneses) than anything else.
It was that "Keeping up with the Joneses" aspect that appealed to me; I liked the Southern suburban setting and some of the deeper characters studies--Bess was interesting. I also really liked Polly's POV and her messy relationship with her daughter (Norah). Violet was a third favorite though she comes with a caveat, which I'll get into a moment. But that's the thing for me here: I didn't need Casey's POV or Nico, the cop. Nico felt the most superfluous ultimately, and in hindsight it does feel he only exists as a POV to inject more suspense into the narrative, re: what happened to his brother. Once that plotline concluded... I just felt I didn't care about him and was glad to see him gone. Casey also probably wasn't needed, IMO... not because she wasn't interesting but because her storyline gets short shrift by being squeezed into the larger book (the #MeToo aspects were both easy to guess and don't feel that important in context of the wider book), and other than her being present for the big climax, her POV doesn't add anything to any of the suspense/mystery threads? Essentially the only three characters who truly matter, re: the primary suspense plot AND in their connection to the "invisible" MC (Norah) are Polly, Violet, and Bess.
I feel through these 5 POV characters that the book threw every imaginable suburban problem into a blender and poured it all into the book, and with the "extra" POVs and alllll these things it feels like the book tried to do too much? Nico covers "broken man leaves family and must regain trust/relationship with kids/wife" and Casey covers "sexual assault and aftermath including complicated feelings about an ex and whether marrying your high school sweetheart is settling" and neither have anything to do with all the OTHER things going on, which are a lot. The book also tackles: teen drinking, suicide, golden boys becoming town pariahs (after being falsely accused of murder!), spousal abuse and stalking, cheating, homelessness, unhappy marriages, cheating spouses, asshole teenagers becoming people their parents don't recognize/like, messy friendships, feeling trapped in a PTA-mom role, and then of course literally "surburban mom runs a prostitution ring." All those are covered in the three POVs I liked best--it's a LOT.
This is all to say: that is why this landed at 4 stars for me. I breezed through the read, really enjoyed it, liked all the characters... but as certain character/POV threads concluded and everything came together, the book didn't impact me as deeply as it might have had the book had a bit more focus. It could have come together a bit better? If Nico were better connected to the other POVs in the end. If Casey had a direct hand in the death of the girl at the party a year earlier, so the conclusion of THAT mystery thread (enough to sustain it's own book, frankly) wasn't just one character discussing "what really happened" with another... Casey knew the girl, and hates the fallen golden boy... I expected her to know more and be directly involved in more of the suspense threads, but she's not. (I wondered when she was first introduced if she was involved int he prostitution ring! I was just grasping for a reason why she was a POV character.)
Now, my quibble with Violet... and this is just as a YA writer and reader; adult readers who are used to third person teen POVs in books like this likely won't care. But my thing with Violet... I really struggled to believe that she was a teen girl. She's supposed to be 15 and there were moments where it felt that way (or even younger really--if you'd told me she was 13 in a few spots I'd believe it; in others she felt a little too adult for my tastes), but it wasn't consistent. Also sorry I got a BIG ICK at her love interest being a senior to her sophomore... that means he's 17, maybe even 18 and she's 15. SORRY NO; that's a kneejerk no for me personally. I know it happens but if it were my daughter I'd give that "about to head off to college" boy some marching orders. Especially given Violet as written is a young 15 in the spots where it counts. (I'm just thinking of myself at 15 and senior boys and just no. Also we NEVER see it reversed--you will never see a senior girl date a sophomore boy, especially in the South. It's only older boys and younger girls.) Frankly there was no reason Violet needed to be 15... wish the author had just made her 16 or 17 so the maturity in her POV would work better, and the romance wouldn't be icky. It just didn't feel like she and her LI were on even footing b/c of a serious maturity gap (since she's played as the lovesick shy little girl. It's also really played up by more than one character that she's a late bloomer and still looks young.).
Fans of domestic light suspense may love this, especially if they're more accustomed to the tropes/structure of these types of books and are also drawn in by the suburban shenganigans, as I was.
It was that "Keeping up with the Joneses" aspect that appealed to me; I liked the Southern suburban setting and some of the deeper characters studies--Bess was interesting. I also really liked Polly's POV and her messy relationship with her daughter (Norah). Violet was a third favorite though she comes with a caveat, which I'll get into a moment. But that's the thing for me here: I didn't need Casey's POV or Nico, the cop. Nico felt the most superfluous ultimately, and in hindsight it does feel he only exists as a POV to inject more suspense into the narrative, re: what happened to his brother. Once that plotline concluded... I just felt I didn't care about him and was glad to see him gone. Casey also probably wasn't needed, IMO... not because she wasn't interesting but because her storyline gets short shrift by being squeezed into the larger book (the #MeToo aspects were both easy to guess and don't feel that important in context of the wider book), and other than her being present for the big climax, her POV doesn't add anything to any of the suspense/mystery threads? Essentially the only three characters who truly matter, re: the primary suspense plot AND in their connection to the "invisible" MC (Norah) are Polly, Violet, and Bess.
I feel through these 5 POV characters that the book threw every imaginable suburban problem into a blender and poured it all into the book, and with the "extra" POVs and alllll these things it feels like the book tried to do too much? Nico covers "broken man leaves family and must regain trust/relationship with kids/wife" and Casey covers "sexual assault and aftermath including complicated feelings about an ex and whether marrying your high school sweetheart is settling" and neither have anything to do with all the OTHER things going on, which are a lot. The book also tackles: teen drinking, suicide, golden boys becoming town pariahs (after being falsely accused of murder!), spousal abuse and stalking, cheating, homelessness, unhappy marriages, cheating spouses, asshole teenagers becoming people their parents don't recognize/like, messy friendships, feeling trapped in a PTA-mom role, and then of course literally "surburban mom runs a prostitution ring." All those are covered in the three POVs I liked best--it's a LOT.
This is all to say: that is why this landed at 4 stars for me. I breezed through the read, really enjoyed it, liked all the characters... but as certain character/POV threads concluded and everything came together, the book didn't impact me as deeply as it might have had the book had a bit more focus. It could have come together a bit better? If Nico were better connected to the other POVs in the end. If Casey had a direct hand in the death of the girl at the party a year earlier, so the conclusion of THAT mystery thread (enough to sustain it's own book, frankly) wasn't just one character discussing "what really happened" with another... Casey knew the girl, and hates the fallen golden boy... I expected her to know more and be directly involved in more of the suspense threads, but she's not. (I wondered when she was first introduced if she was involved int he prostitution ring! I was just grasping for a reason why she was a POV character.)
Now, my quibble with Violet... and this is just as a YA writer and reader; adult readers who are used to third person teen POVs in books like this likely won't care. But my thing with Violet... I really struggled to believe that she was a teen girl. She's supposed to be 15 and there were moments where it felt that way (or even younger really--if you'd told me she was 13 in a few spots I'd believe it; in others she felt a little too adult for my tastes), but it wasn't consistent. Also sorry I got a BIG ICK at her love interest being a senior to her sophomore... that means he's 17, maybe even 18 and she's 15. SORRY NO; that's a kneejerk no for me personally. I know it happens but if it were my daughter I'd give that "about to head off to college" boy some marching orders. Especially given Violet as written is a young 15 in the spots where it counts. (I'm just thinking of myself at 15 and senior boys and just no. Also we NEVER see it reversed--you will never see a senior girl date a sophomore boy, especially in the South. It's only older boys and younger girls.) Frankly there was no reason Violet needed to be 15... wish the author had just made her 16 or 17 so the maturity in her POV would work better, and the romance wouldn't be icky. It just didn't feel like she and her LI were on even footing b/c of a serious maturity gap (since she's played as the lovesick shy little girl. It's also really played up by more than one character that she's a late bloomer and still looks young.).
Fans of domestic light suspense may love this, especially if they're more accustomed to the tropes/structure of these types of books and are also drawn in by the suburban shenganigans, as I was.
September 8, 2020
3.5 STARS
Norah is arrested as the Suburban Madam throwing her daughter, estranged mother and once-quiet neighborhood into a frenzy.
Told from the points of view of Norah’s daughter, mother, former best friend Bess and het daughter, and a cop the story of the neighbors and their secrets slowly unfold. I’m usually disappointed with Amazon Prime’s First Read books, but THIS SECRET THING was above average. The many POVs kept me from knowing any of the characters too well as they weren’t fully fleshed out, but I did enjoy the story. Most of the promised secrets were easy to guess or let downs, but the plot moved quickly enough for me to finish in two days.
THIS SECRET THING is an above average story about a neighborhood in crisis.
Norah is arrested as the Suburban Madam throwing her daughter, estranged mother and once-quiet neighborhood into a frenzy.
Told from the points of view of Norah’s daughter, mother, former best friend Bess and het daughter, and a cop the story of the neighbors and their secrets slowly unfold. I’m usually disappointed with Amazon Prime’s First Read books, but THIS SECRET THING was above average. The many POVs kept me from knowing any of the characters too well as they weren’t fully fleshed out, but I did enjoy the story. Most of the promised secrets were easy to guess or let downs, but the plot moved quickly enough for me to finish in two days.
THIS SECRET THING is an above average story about a neighborhood in crisis.
September 9, 2020
Thank you @marybeth and @amazonpublishing for my review copy.
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2020 is the year for badass women characters. I am here for it. This Secret Thing did not disappoint. MaryBeth brought a fantastic energy to her newest novel. Centered on women...about women....different generations of women. I adored it. Going in you think you are going to see how one women’s secret created an upside down neighborhood. On further inspection you see she ruled the situation. Three generations navigating the secrets a neighborhood is built on.
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It is no secret I love MaryBeth, this novel really had me stepping back. Peeking through the blinds. Side eyeing my neighbors 👀🤣. I can see how she gambled on a story that was amazingly fascinating....but just edgy enough from what she has written before. As always...the “small town” feel was on point.
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In addition. The different perspectives were well done. I love the all around view MB brings to her novels.
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I’m absolutely going to recommend this one. It offers a bit of suspense to keep the pages turning...but it is truly a character study.
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Side note :
Fall is such a perfect time for this one
🍁 ☕️ 🎃
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Out October first. But currently listed as a First Read through @amazon Prime 🤗.
July 25, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
December 29, 2020
This book was an excellent read. It was well written with an interesting plot that kept you wondering what was next. I really enjoyed both perspectives of different points of view in the chapters. It’s easy to follow and a quick read. Definitely recommend.
Everyone has a secret in Raleigh. Norah has clients that she wants to keep secret, Violet, her daughter, has secrets about who she’s interested in, and Polly, Norah’s Mother just wanted to remain hidden. The story is that Norah is a “working woman” and Nico believes it will lead him to his long lost brother. Violet in disbelief that her mother is choosing silence over coming home to her but Norah knows the danger should she tell. Some how she has to find a way to give the police what they need without telling. Polly, came through for Norah even tho they had a falling out several years ago and Violet only vaguely recalls some memories of her grandmother. Will they find a way through this?
Everyone has a secret in Raleigh. Norah has clients that she wants to keep secret, Violet, her daughter, has secrets about who she’s interested in, and Polly, Norah’s Mother just wanted to remain hidden. The story is that Norah is a “working woman” and Nico believes it will lead him to his long lost brother. Violet in disbelief that her mother is choosing silence over coming home to her but Norah knows the danger should she tell. Some how she has to find a way to give the police what they need without telling. Polly, came through for Norah even tho they had a falling out several years ago and Violet only vaguely recalls some memories of her grandmother. Will they find a way through this?
September 9, 2020
I picked this as a free read from Amazon. I did finish it but did not care for any of the characters. The plot was predictable, with upcoming action telegraphed in the earlier chapters. Ho-hum.
October 17, 2020
Whoa what a crazy mess but really entertaining. Trying to keep secrets, jail, prostitution or escort business and the people behind it but not really known. So much goes on in this book that you want to make sure you pay attention. Very interesting story
September 8, 2020
Mothers, daughters, and friends navigate life and face difficult decisions. Told using multiple points of view. Dramatic, engaging, and compelling.
October 2, 2020
A big thanks to the wonderful people at Amazon Publishing for my {gifted copy} of This Secret Thing - my very first novel by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and it will not be my last!
Things I loved:
-I couldn't put this one down!
-The book is very fast paced, full of lots of juicy secrets and side story lines that I promise come together at the end.
-I was able to easily finish this in 1 day and I was definitely surprised at some of the twists at the end.
Things that didnt work for me:
-Some of the characters felt out of place to me. I honestly had no idea why Nico was even in the story until the very last few chapters.
-The epilogue did clear up some questions for me, but the ending of the book came too fast and I still have questions
-I wish there had been chapters written from Norah's standpoint and there was more focus on the actual investigation and what she was involved with.
A great read - definitely one that will keep you engaged!
Things I loved:
-I couldn't put this one down!
-The book is very fast paced, full of lots of juicy secrets and side story lines that I promise come together at the end.
-I was able to easily finish this in 1 day and I was definitely surprised at some of the twists at the end.
Things that didnt work for me:
-Some of the characters felt out of place to me. I honestly had no idea why Nico was even in the story until the very last few chapters.
-The epilogue did clear up some questions for me, but the ending of the book came too fast and I still have questions
-I wish there had been chapters written from Norah's standpoint and there was more focus on the actual investigation and what she was involved with.
A great read - definitely one that will keep you engaged!
January 1, 2021
This book was an excellent read. It was well written with an interesting plot that kept you wondering what was next. I really enjoyed both perspectives of different points of view in the chapters. It’s easy to follow and a quick read. Definitely recommend.
Everyone has a secret in Raleigh. Norah has clients that she wants to keep secret, Violet, her daughter, has secrets about who she’s interested in, and Polly, Norah’s Mother just wanted to remain hidden. The story is that Norah is a “working woman” and Nico believes it will lead him to his long lost brother. Violet in disbelief that her mother is choosing silence over coming home to her but Norah knows the danger should she tell. Some how she has to find a way to give the police what they need without telling. Polly, came through for Norah even tho they had a falling out several years ago and Violet only vaguely recalls some memories of her grandmother. Will they find a way through this?
Everyone has a secret in Raleigh. Norah has clients that she wants to keep secret, Violet, her daughter, has secrets about who she’s interested in, and Polly, Norah’s Mother just wanted to remain hidden. The story is that Norah is a “working woman” and Nico believes it will lead him to his long lost brother. Violet in disbelief that her mother is choosing silence over coming home to her but Norah knows the danger should she tell. Some how she has to find a way to give the police what they need without telling. Polly, came through for Norah even tho they had a falling out several years ago and Violet only vaguely recalls some memories of her grandmother. Will they find a way through this?
December 27, 2020
So, so disappointed in Marybeth Whalen. I have no idea what has happened in her life but she has clearly sold out somewhere. 😢 I loved her previous books under that name. They were fully inspirational Christian fiction. This book is by a seemingly completely different person, which explains the subtle name change and the fact that her previous (good) books aren't mentioned. She is, however, the same human. This book has no place for God and multiple swear words (albeit mild) before even getting to the 24% I made it to. Her two batches of writing couldn't be more different and I couldn't be more disappointed and saddened.
September 5, 2020
2 3/4 Stars: An okay book about lies, betrayal, and redemption. What I liked: the characters (although some were very two-dimensional); the premise. What I didn’t like: the writing (including lack of proper use of commas and adjectives that were misspelled); the editing (could really have used an expert eye); the leaps in relationships (both falling apart and coming together). I would not recommend this novel.
February 25, 2021
I liked the book... different than my usual read of suspense and mystery... this was pretty much like a soap opera.
September 24, 2020
4.5 stars review to come
October 15, 2020
I was very excited to see This Secret Thing available to read and listen with kindle unlimited this month! I downloaded it immediately. If you like neighborhood mysteries or domestic dramas, you will love this book. The description grabbed my attention instantly. A single mother accused of being a suburban madam? Ummm, yes please. Bring on the scandal à la Heidi Fleiss! Ha! I only wish that there was more focus on that. That might be my only complaint. There were a lot of interesting side stories going on that made up for it, but I really wanted to read more about the prostitution ring! Am I a creepy pervert? Yeah, maybe! Hahaha! Anyways, I definitely think you should check this one out. 3.5/5 stars for This Secret Thing!
September 9, 2020
Probably closer to a 3.5, this is a super quick read. I literally read it in a few hours. The issue with this book is the main storyline should just be the storyline. Then there are all these other characters and all these other storylines that make the book super confusing. I enjoyed the book though.
September 22, 2020
Marybeth Mayhew Whelan’s, “This Secret Thing: A Novel,” centers on fifteen-year-old Violet Ramsey, in what I imagine is a subarb(?) in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Events transpired that resulted in Violet’s mother, Norah, being away from home. Norah, however, is in the newspaper headlines and spoken about by the neighbors — and many others— in hopes of discovering what she is doing her best to conceal.
Everyone in the neighborhood has a secret: Micah Berg, the neighbor across from Violet, as well as Casey, who has returned home from her university in Alabama with her secret, and who lives a few houses up from Violet.
The limited description of the women characters had me imagine cookie cutter beautiful women, such as the actresses on the television series, “Friends” and the paucity of dialogue did not reveal much because they all seemed to speak in the same voice: Violet could be Casey or any other person in the book.
The secrets were not as scandalous as I would imagine because I feel as though it has been done before, and was just slightly revised, but not in a way that could hold my attention. Same script, different novel.
I did like how the book contained a few questions for discussion if one were to use for a book club or other setting.
I wanted to like this book, but I did not feel any connection to any character or theme.
Events transpired that resulted in Violet’s mother, Norah, being away from home. Norah, however, is in the newspaper headlines and spoken about by the neighbors — and many others— in hopes of discovering what she is doing her best to conceal.
Everyone in the neighborhood has a secret: Micah Berg, the neighbor across from Violet, as well as Casey, who has returned home from her university in Alabama with her secret, and who lives a few houses up from Violet.
The limited description of the women characters had me imagine cookie cutter beautiful women, such as the actresses on the television series, “Friends” and the paucity of dialogue did not reveal much because they all seemed to speak in the same voice: Violet could be Casey or any other person in the book.
The secrets were not as scandalous as I would imagine because I feel as though it has been done before, and was just slightly revised, but not in a way that could hold my attention. Same script, different novel.
I did like how the book contained a few questions for discussion if one were to use for a book club or other setting.
I wanted to like this book, but I did not feel any connection to any character or theme.
July 13, 2020
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Marybeth Mayhew Whalen for my copy of This Secret Thing.
The Secret Thing is about a group of women who make hard choices for their families. The book begins with Norah who is arrested for managing a prostitution ring. Her mother, Polly, comes to visit to take care of Norah’s daughter, Violet. Polly has her own set of problems dealing with her gold digger and cheater of a husband.
Bess is a housewife raising her two daughters, Casey and Nicole. Casey suddenly comes home from college dealing with her owns issues while Nicole is dealing with high school angst. On top of this Bess’s husband is also cheating on her and she is developing feelings for the homeless guy she is helping.Then, add a detective and a high school boy with their own set of problems.
This book with all the drama was a slow burn that I really enjoyed. I kept wondering how all the pieces were going to fit together. I was pleasantly surprised with how it all ended and the author even added another twist right at the end. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
The Secret Thing is about a group of women who make hard choices for their families. The book begins with Norah who is arrested for managing a prostitution ring. Her mother, Polly, comes to visit to take care of Norah’s daughter, Violet. Polly has her own set of problems dealing with her gold digger and cheater of a husband.
Bess is a housewife raising her two daughters, Casey and Nicole. Casey suddenly comes home from college dealing with her owns issues while Nicole is dealing with high school angst. On top of this Bess’s husband is also cheating on her and she is developing feelings for the homeless guy she is helping.Then, add a detective and a high school boy with their own set of problems.
This book with all the drama was a slow burn that I really enjoyed. I kept wondering how all the pieces were going to fit together. I was pleasantly surprised with how it all ended and the author even added another twist right at the end. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
May 29, 2020
Wow! That's all that I can say about this book! I just finished this book at 3:45 in the morning and am still trying to process everything that happened!
It took me a little bit to remember who the characters were and how they fit in the story but once I did, I was hooked! This book will leave you turning the pages in to the wee hours of the morning like me and then think It about the ending for days!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book!
It took me a little bit to remember who the characters were and how they fit in the story but once I did, I was hooked! This book will leave you turning the pages in to the wee hours of the morning like me and then think It about the ending for days!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book!
October 24, 2020
Different story.Listened on audible! Disappointed in narrator's voice.She did good, then she tried to lower voice & it became a whisper!
February 5, 2021
It wasn't bad. It started off with a lot of speed and then just got kind of boring at the end. I started skimming towards the last 20% and was glad when it was over.
October 27, 2020
I've read nearly all of Marybeth's novels, and what makes them particularly special to me is that I know where she's coming from. She's a wife and mom of six gorgeous humans. She believes in the empowerment of women. She loves true crime as much as I do, and she's turned me on to some pretty addictive true crime YouTube channels and podcasts. Bottom line is that she is one of us, and her books reflect this.
In her most recent novel, we have landed in a small community in Raleigh NC where everyone is buzzing. A local woman, Norah Ramsey, divorced wife and mom to teenage daughter Violet, has just been arrested for being a suburban madam! Scandal! And she's not going anywhere until she releases her client list, which she is not keen to share. Norah's mother Polly has been summoned to take care of Violet in the interim, and she has shown up gladly, even though she has been estranged for years. But she is running from something that could catch up with her. Down the street, Bess, ex-best friend to Norah, is trying to help out where she can with a casserole or two, but is juggling a bad marriage, a college-age daughter who has shown up from the University of Alabama without explanation, and is hiding a hot homeless guy in her garden shed. Nico, a detective on Norah's case, is also foregoing the rest of is life trying to find his brother who has gone missing and suspects Norah's business has something to do with it. Then there is Violet...Norah's daughter who has suffered the most as a result of Norah's illegal activities. It was just the two of them against the world, until this happened. She's being bullied at school as the "daughter of a prostitute", and wishes she could find that stupid client list so she could have her mom back at home. All of these seemingly normal folks in a normal community are hiding things that have the potential to ruin their lives, and the suburban madam is only the tip of the iceberg.
This book was a perfect example of why Marybeth's stories get under your skin...they take a bunch of people like you or me and expose the darker side of what our happy Facebook posts don't show. There are always a few mysteries...who was on Norah's client list? Who was her silent partner? Who was the dead body found in the lake? Did Violet's hot neighbor really cause the death of his girlfriend? Highly entertaining and compulsively readable, these novels never disappoint.
Then let's talk about the narration shall we? I remember when Marybeth's first mainstream book was being published, she texted me and asked me to guess who was narrating it. Jocelyn Jackson of course, who is an amazing author in her own right, and narrates all of her own books. This is really a literary dream team for me, and Jocelyn always captures all that Southern goodness with an undercurrent of trouble in her voice. Brava ladies!
In her most recent novel, we have landed in a small community in Raleigh NC where everyone is buzzing. A local woman, Norah Ramsey, divorced wife and mom to teenage daughter Violet, has just been arrested for being a suburban madam! Scandal! And she's not going anywhere until she releases her client list, which she is not keen to share. Norah's mother Polly has been summoned to take care of Violet in the interim, and she has shown up gladly, even though she has been estranged for years. But she is running from something that could catch up with her. Down the street, Bess, ex-best friend to Norah, is trying to help out where she can with a casserole or two, but is juggling a bad marriage, a college-age daughter who has shown up from the University of Alabama without explanation, and is hiding a hot homeless guy in her garden shed. Nico, a detective on Norah's case, is also foregoing the rest of is life trying to find his brother who has gone missing and suspects Norah's business has something to do with it. Then there is Violet...Norah's daughter who has suffered the most as a result of Norah's illegal activities. It was just the two of them against the world, until this happened. She's being bullied at school as the "daughter of a prostitute", and wishes she could find that stupid client list so she could have her mom back at home. All of these seemingly normal folks in a normal community are hiding things that have the potential to ruin their lives, and the suburban madam is only the tip of the iceberg.
This book was a perfect example of why Marybeth's stories get under your skin...they take a bunch of people like you or me and expose the darker side of what our happy Facebook posts don't show. There are always a few mysteries...who was on Norah's client list? Who was her silent partner? Who was the dead body found in the lake? Did Violet's hot neighbor really cause the death of his girlfriend? Highly entertaining and compulsively readable, these novels never disappoint.
Then let's talk about the narration shall we? I remember when Marybeth's first mainstream book was being published, she texted me and asked me to guess who was narrating it. Jocelyn Jackson of course, who is an amazing author in her own right, and narrates all of her own books. This is really a literary dream team for me, and Jocelyn always captures all that Southern goodness with an undercurrent of trouble in her voice. Brava ladies!
September 22, 2020
Loved it!!! Loved the story, characters and writing style. Enjoyed how the book alternated between all the main characters. It's hard to write a review without giving so much away. Loved finding out who was secretly involved with Norah's illegal activities. It was definitely a shock. I wonder who wakes up and decides to be a madam. That wouldn't be on my top ten job list. There are so many secrets. Everyone in the book is hiding something. Some worse than others. Most of the people make really bad decisions. Norah though prostitution was a great way to make money. Polly makes horrible choices in men. Casey went home with a man she didn't even know. (He ended up being extremely scary and creepy.) That large pumpkin on Norah's porch was mentioned so many times, that I was convinced her client list had to be hidden inside it.
Definitely recommend the book. I was hooked from the moment I started it. I liked reading about the characters and getting to know them. There were many twists I never saw coming. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely recommend the book. I was hooked from the moment I started it. I liked reading about the characters and getting to know them. There were many twists I never saw coming. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 17, 2020
This book most definitely lives up to its title. This Secret Thing weaves together a complicated yet delicate web of the surprisingly interconnected secrets of multiple families.
I think it was bold and ambitious to take on the perspective of so many characters, and so many TYPES of characters at that. And I believe that Whalen lived up to the challenge. The reader is taken into the minds of men and women of all ages, experiencing the inner dialogue and conflict of each. The voices, as well as the trauma responses, of these characters felt realistic and relatable to me.
This story is very, VERY much a domestic fiction. It pretty much only takes place within the confines of the neighborhood where our characters live. But, we quickly see just how many different dynamics can exist within that seemingly simple setting. The pace of the story is a bit slow, but I likened it to doing a jigsaw puzzle. It takes time to put all the pieces together.
The only element that didn't resonate with me was the "family legacy." I felt that it was a bit corny and very unnecessary to the overall experiences of the characters and the more universal takeaways of the story.
I think it was bold and ambitious to take on the perspective of so many characters, and so many TYPES of characters at that. And I believe that Whalen lived up to the challenge. The reader is taken into the minds of men and women of all ages, experiencing the inner dialogue and conflict of each. The voices, as well as the trauma responses, of these characters felt realistic and relatable to me.
This story is very, VERY much a domestic fiction. It pretty much only takes place within the confines of the neighborhood where our characters live. But, we quickly see just how many different dynamics can exist within that seemingly simple setting. The pace of the story is a bit slow, but I likened it to doing a jigsaw puzzle. It takes time to put all the pieces together.
The only element that didn't resonate with me was the "family legacy." I felt that it was a bit corny and very unnecessary to the overall experiences of the characters and the more universal takeaways of the story.
January 5, 2021
I wanted to like this. And I admire its components more than its whole. The theme of empowered women, through generations, is a profound one. I hate to be a reader who says to an author, you didn't write the book I wanted, yet I can't help but feel this book would have been so much better if it had been stripped down to a simple family drama with the focus of women realizing they could be in control of their fates, their destiny, their very lives. The 'suburban madam' pivotal event simply didn't work for me because it seemed unnecessary and it set at least this reader up with expectations for a different kind of book, one that was seamier, edgier, more crime-focused. I always felt like there was something missing. And I can see how this could have been so much better if that focus was removed.
November 29, 2020
Everyone in this book has a secret or three. Not all of them are compelling, but enough of them are that the story works. There were a plethora of good characters and enough things happening to keep me interested the whole time. All of the characters are nuanced, and other than Polly's ex-husband, whom we don't meet until almost the end, there doesn't seem to be any who are really good or bad characters. They are all just people doing the best they can, and that is fantastic. At first I thought the cop was going to be the bad guy, but he's really not and it turns out okay. It's hard to write a book without a villain, but arybeth Mayhew Whalen pulls it off brilliantly.
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