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The Secrets He Kept
You know everything about your husband. Don’t you?
He loves you. He loves your children. He’d never put his family in danger.
One of these is a lie.
It started like any other day at the hairdressers where Sally works as a stylist… until her first client innocently shows her a family photograph; a photograph that causes Sally to collapse in shock.
In one moment, Sally discovers that Tom has been hiding an explosive secret – one that could tear apart the life they’ve built together. Faced with an impossible dilemma - search for the truth, or keep her contented life? – Sally is about to discover that even those closest to us have secrets… and that sometimes the truth is the last thing we want to hear.
review
‘Fantastic read! Great plot that grabs you from the very beginning.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 309 reviews
July 17, 2022
Another day, another "Secrets" book.
"The Secrets He Kept" had a 5-star beginning before it quickly faltered.
When Sally's new hair salon client innocently shares a family photograph with her, she discovers that her husband has fathered a child with another woman.
And when that woman is found murdered, Sally's husband has even more questions to answer and secrets to share.
Although the book's premise was compelling, overall, the book was repetitive and predictable.
The book's protagonist was whiny and many times the book seemed to drag on and on and on.
I listened to the 8.5-hour audiobook that easily could have been a 4-hour book, and I am being kind.
There is a proliferation of "Secrets" books on the market today and this book was not a standout.
2 stars rounded up.
"The Secrets He Kept" had a 5-star beginning before it quickly faltered.
When Sally's new hair salon client innocently shares a family photograph with her, she discovers that her husband has fathered a child with another woman.
And when that woman is found murdered, Sally's husband has even more questions to answer and secrets to share.
Although the book's premise was compelling, overall, the book was repetitive and predictable.
The book's protagonist was whiny and many times the book seemed to drag on and on and on.
I listened to the 8.5-hour audiobook that easily could have been a 4-hour book, and I am being kind.
There is a proliferation of "Secrets" books on the market today and this book was not a standout.
2 stars rounded up.
October 28, 2019
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‘The Secrets He Kept’ by Jackie Walsh published by Hera Books on 6th Nov and available to pre order on Amazon now!!
‘One of those books you can read on the tube, at night or when have a spare 10 minutes, come back to and fall straight back in’
Sally is cutting a clients hair when the girl shows her a picture, she says a family picture, on the picture is a teenage boy, the girl says ‘that’s his dad’ pointing at the man standing next to him with his arm round the lad
Sally looks
And looks again
The man is Tom, her husband
And to her knowledge the only children he has are the 3 he has with her
When she come round from fainting the girl has gone...
Intrigued? So was I, it was a brilliant start to the book and the book then continued in the same exciting style with lies being uncovered, secrets coming to the fore and Sally receiving what seems like a ‘twice a day’ shock to make her life even more unpredictable than it was the day before
I liked Sally with her dark humour thoughts to the situation that was unfolding and her sometimes ‘as honest as we all would be but probably wouldn’t say’ thinking, she was no ‘storming heroine’ just Sally and she wanted normality back, probably one of the unfakest ( if thats a word ) characters read lately in a book
The story progressed really well and concluded suitably shockingly, if not a tad quickly
Good all round story, one of those you look forward to reading when you cant read in one sitting and a welcome casual, chatty style of writing
10/10
5 Stars
‘The Secrets He Kept’ by Jackie Walsh published by Hera Books on 6th Nov and available to pre order on Amazon now!!
‘One of those books you can read on the tube, at night or when have a spare 10 minutes, come back to and fall straight back in’
Sally is cutting a clients hair when the girl shows her a picture, she says a family picture, on the picture is a teenage boy, the girl says ‘that’s his dad’ pointing at the man standing next to him with his arm round the lad
Sally looks
And looks again
The man is Tom, her husband
And to her knowledge the only children he has are the 3 he has with her
When she come round from fainting the girl has gone...
Intrigued? So was I, it was a brilliant start to the book and the book then continued in the same exciting style with lies being uncovered, secrets coming to the fore and Sally receiving what seems like a ‘twice a day’ shock to make her life even more unpredictable than it was the day before
I liked Sally with her dark humour thoughts to the situation that was unfolding and her sometimes ‘as honest as we all would be but probably wouldn’t say’ thinking, she was no ‘storming heroine’ just Sally and she wanted normality back, probably one of the unfakest ( if thats a word ) characters read lately in a book
The story progressed really well and concluded suitably shockingly, if not a tad quickly
Good all round story, one of those you look forward to reading when you cant read in one sitting and a welcome casual, chatty style of writing
10/10
5 Stars
November 6, 2019
Sally works as a hairdresser, where she meets all kinds of different people. When a young girl walks in, she innocently shows Sally a picture of her boyfriend and his father. What Sally sees is a picture of a boy standing next to Sally's husband.... but he doesn't have a son ... .does he?
What Sally discovers is that her husband, Tom, has been hiding secrets.. and he's not the only one in the family. As Sally decides what to do she discovers that the truth is the last thing she wants to hear.
This is a well written psychological drama featuring finely developed characters and twists and turns that keep the reader riveted to the well crafted story premise.
Many thanks to the author / Hera Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of THE SECRETS HE KEPT. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 30, 2019
Wow, this was one gripping read!
Right from the start the author had my full attention. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than seeing an image that could potentially destroy your whole world. I really felt for Sally and have to say she was more understanding than I would have been.
This is a story packed to the brim of lies and secrets. Some of those secrets though, woah! It was like watching your favourite soap as everything started unravelling. I couldn’t get enough. A few times I had to stop myself from shouting out as I was so shocked by what I was reading. There was one revelation in particular that had me picking my jaw up off the floor.
The Secrets He Kept will definitely get the adrenaline going. I could feel my heart racing the nearer to the end I got. Even well after I finished it, it was still pounding. A roller coaster of a read that thrills and excites.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Right from the start the author had my full attention. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than seeing an image that could potentially destroy your whole world. I really felt for Sally and have to say she was more understanding than I would have been.
This is a story packed to the brim of lies and secrets. Some of those secrets though, woah! It was like watching your favourite soap as everything started unravelling. I couldn’t get enough. A few times I had to stop myself from shouting out as I was so shocked by what I was reading. There was one revelation in particular that had me picking my jaw up off the floor.
The Secrets He Kept will definitely get the adrenaline going. I could feel my heart racing the nearer to the end I got. Even well after I finished it, it was still pounding. A roller coaster of a read that thrills and excites.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
October 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this novel. I managed to binge it in a day. When you first start this book you think that Sally has the dream life. She seems to be happily married to Tom. They have three happy and healthy children. Two twin boys who are three that they named Cain and Aaron and a 15 year old daughter named Amber.
We soon find out that this family is far from perfect. One day Sally was blow drying a clients hair ( shes a Hairdressor) who was preparing for a party. The client shows Sally a picture of her boyfriend.Sally looks at the photo and sees this girls boyfriend with her husband Tom. She asks who Tom is and the girl explains that it is her boyfriends dad.
This is when things start to take a turn. We Later find out that Tom has a son who is 16 that was created before him and Sally got too serious in their relationship. This child’s name is Kenny. Kennys mom got murdered and Kenny has to come into this families home.
This book is fully of suspense did Kenny kill his mother? Did Tom?Why is Tom hiding so many things? To find out the answers of these questions i would definitely recommend reading this book. It was very good. Prepare to stay up because you cant put the book down. I enjoyed the authors writing style
We soon find out that this family is far from perfect. One day Sally was blow drying a clients hair ( shes a Hairdressor) who was preparing for a party. The client shows Sally a picture of her boyfriend.Sally looks at the photo and sees this girls boyfriend with her husband Tom. She asks who Tom is and the girl explains that it is her boyfriends dad.
This is when things start to take a turn. We Later find out that Tom has a son who is 16 that was created before him and Sally got too serious in their relationship. This child’s name is Kenny. Kennys mom got murdered and Kenny has to come into this families home.
This book is fully of suspense did Kenny kill his mother? Did Tom?Why is Tom hiding so many things? To find out the answers of these questions i would definitely recommend reading this book. It was very good. Prepare to stay up because you cant put the book down. I enjoyed the authors writing style
December 26, 2019
I really liked the writing style and premise but it was odd.
Sally and Tom’s relationship didn’t feel real. Sally is supposedly madly in love with Tom yet they barely interact. She is working her fingers to the bone to pay off his debts while he is off at his weekly pub meetups and golfing days with no mention of employment on his end. He’s a real catch.
The twists inserted in order to prolong the discussions that needed to take place became ridiculous. What about the cyclist and why even bother? It’s hard to rant because it will all be spoilers. I just found the reason behind the secret weak and the people that banded together to keep it unlikely as to how the characters were written.
I liked the style of writing and think this could have been improved with a less is more approach. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Hera Books for a copy in exchange for a review.
Sally and Tom’s relationship didn’t feel real. Sally is supposedly madly in love with Tom yet they barely interact. She is working her fingers to the bone to pay off his debts while he is off at his weekly pub meetups and golfing days with no mention of employment on his end. He’s a real catch.
The twists inserted in order to prolong the discussions that needed to take place became ridiculous. What about the cyclist and why even bother? It’s hard to rant because it will all be spoilers. I just found the reason behind the secret weak and the people that banded together to keep it unlikely as to how the characters were written.
I liked the style of writing and think this could have been improved with a less is more approach. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Hera Books for a copy in exchange for a review.
October 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this novel. I managed to binge it in a day. When you first start this book you think that Sally has the dream life. She seems to be happily married to Tom. They have three happy and healthy children. Two twin boys who are three that they named Cain and Aaron and a 15 year old daughter named Amber.
We soon find out that this family is far from perfect. One day Sally was blow drying a clients hair ( shes a Hairdressor) who was preparing for a party. The client shows Sally a picture of her boyfriend.Sally looks at the photo and sees this girls boyfriend with her husband Tom. She asks who Tom is and the girl explains that it is her boyfriends dad.
This is when things start to take a turn. We Later find out that Tom has a son who is 16 that was created before him and Sally got too serious in their relationship. This child’s name is Kenny. Kennys mom got murdered and Kenny has to come into this families home.
This book is fully of suspense did Kenny kill his mother? Did Tom?Why is Tom hiding so many things? To find out the answers of these questions i would definitely recommend reading this book. It was very good. Prepare to stay up because you cant put the book down. I enjoyed the authors writing style
We soon find out that this family is far from perfect. One day Sally was blow drying a clients hair ( shes a Hairdressor) who was preparing for a party. The client shows Sally a picture of her boyfriend.Sally looks at the photo and sees this girls boyfriend with her husband Tom. She asks who Tom is and the girl explains that it is her boyfriends dad.
This is when things start to take a turn. We Later find out that Tom has a son who is 16 that was created before him and Sally got too serious in their relationship. This child’s name is Kenny. Kennys mom got murdered and Kenny has to come into this families home.
This book is fully of suspense did Kenny kill his mother? Did Tom?Why is Tom hiding so many things? To find out the answers of these questions i would definitely recommend reading this book. It was very good. Prepare to stay up because you cant put the book down. I enjoyed the authors writing style
November 18, 2019
Wow -- this was a roller coaster ride filled with tension and suspense -- I started it late this evening and couldn't put it down until I reached the end!
What if your husband had a huge secret and you found out while at work one day? That's what happens to Sally Cooper. She sees a picture of her darling husband, Tom, the father of her 3 children, with his arms around a teenaged boy. A stranger. The customer who's showing the picture says that it's her boyfriend and his dad. HIS DAD???? Tom has a son? In shock, Sally goes home to confront Tom and that's when her nightmare begins. NO SPOILERS.
The story kicks off quickly and it doesn't let up as there are surprises with nearly every turn of the page. The characters draw you in and you start guessing about where this might be going. Secrets and lies in a family never turn out to be good things, do they? Filled with drama, the narrative keeps the adrenalin pumped until the shattering conclusion. I really enjoyed this psychological thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
What if your husband had a huge secret and you found out while at work one day? That's what happens to Sally Cooper. She sees a picture of her darling husband, Tom, the father of her 3 children, with his arms around a teenaged boy. A stranger. The customer who's showing the picture says that it's her boyfriend and his dad. HIS DAD???? Tom has a son? In shock, Sally goes home to confront Tom and that's when her nightmare begins. NO SPOILERS.
The story kicks off quickly and it doesn't let up as there are surprises with nearly every turn of the page. The characters draw you in and you start guessing about where this might be going. Secrets and lies in a family never turn out to be good things, do they? Filled with drama, the narrative keeps the adrenalin pumped until the shattering conclusion. I really enjoyed this psychological thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
October 14, 2019
It's a normal day at the hair salon for Sally...until her first client shows her a family photo and points out her boyfriend's dad. There's just one problem: that man is Sally's husband...
I loved the premise for this and was really looking forward to getting stuck in. Unfortunately I found the book disappointing from the start. I just didn't enjoy the writing style at all, and the dialogue in particular was laboured and awkward. The characters were all like cardboard cutouts with absolutely no depth or nuance to them and they were universally irritating. Tom in particular was just hateful, which made the book unbelievable to me - I just found it preposterous that Sally would keep believing in him, and keep giving him chances, when he was so slippery and untrustworthy. I'd have loved to have seen a more realistic relationship between the two of them - as it was, there was absolutely no reason for Sally to stay with him, no sense of the history they might have shared, or that things were good between them once. They don't even appear to like each other, let alone love each other, and there was nothing redeeming about Tom at all, he was just an awful, awful character, so the reader is left questioning why Sally wouldn't have left long ago, even without the lies and deceit.
I just found everything about the storyline forced and over the top, and the ending was frustrating as well.I don't like giving negative reviews, but I can honestly say that if I hadn't been reviewing this one for NetGalley, I wouldn't have finished it - I love thrillers, but this one was so flat and silly, the only thrill I got was when I'd finally finished it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review - sorry it wasn't a better one!
I loved the premise for this and was really looking forward to getting stuck in. Unfortunately I found the book disappointing from the start. I just didn't enjoy the writing style at all, and the dialogue in particular was laboured and awkward. The characters were all like cardboard cutouts with absolutely no depth or nuance to them and they were universally irritating. Tom in particular was just hateful, which made the book unbelievable to me - I just found it preposterous that Sally would keep believing in him, and keep giving him chances, when he was so slippery and untrustworthy. I'd have loved to have seen a more realistic relationship between the two of them - as it was, there was absolutely no reason for Sally to stay with him, no sense of the history they might have shared, or that things were good between them once. They don't even appear to like each other, let alone love each other, and there was nothing redeeming about Tom at all, he was just an awful, awful character, so the reader is left questioning why Sally wouldn't have left long ago, even without the lies and deceit.
I just found everything about the storyline forced and over the top, and the ending was frustrating as well.I don't like giving negative reviews, but I can honestly say that if I hadn't been reviewing this one for NetGalley, I wouldn't have finished it - I love thrillers, but this one was so flat and silly, the only thrill I got was when I'd finally finished it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review - sorry it wasn't a better one!
January 15, 2020
A good fast-paced mystery that grabbed my attention from the beginning and had me questioning what was really going on throughout. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 13, 2020
Dragged on and on.
December 12, 2019
I don’t know how this book averages four stars but it’s 2 days I will never get back. The story was very slow to get going and didn’t get much better. I predicted all twists in the plot and I found it quite boring. Too much description and detail to irrelevant things. The ending is definitely not nail biting as the title suggests. Do yourself a favour and read something else!
March 4, 2020
This is hard to rate. I was interested enough to finish the story, but Sally was such a doormat, and her husband was the wooOooOoOorst character. Would not recommend this one.
December 1, 2019
The Secrets He Kept by Jackie Walsh is a wonderful psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Hera, and the author for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this novel. This review was written voluntarily.
Sally Cooper, happily married to Tom, has a dream life. They have three contented and lovely children - twin three-year-old boys, named Cian and Aaron and a fifteen-year-old daughter, Amber. One day, at the hairdressers where Sally works as a stylist, her first client shows her a family photograph; one that causes Sally to collapse in shock. In one abominable instant, Sally discovers that Tom has been hiding an explosive secret – one that could tear apart the life they’ve built together. So, faced with an impossible dilemma - search for the truth, or keep her contented life – which will Sally choose? She is about to discover that even those closest to us have secrets, and that sometimes the truth is the last thing anyone wants to hear.
The characters in this story are perfect blend of likeable and detestable. I really bonded with Sally and could feel her anguish when she realised the guy she held on in such high esteem throughout their marriage, was not the man she thought him to be. I did not care for the character of Tom, but this did not affect my enjoyment of the story, as he had a great part to play.
I appreciated the easy writing style of Jackie Walsh and her ability to catch my attention right from the start of the novel. With an expertly built and gradually intensifying level of apprehension throughout, the author then cleverly added another dimension as she steered the story in a more sinister direction. This hauntingly devastating tale of betrayal and secrecy was expertly delivered, bringing with it no let-downs, and everything was well-wrapped up in the satisfying and fulfilling finale.
A riveting, stellar psychological thriller that I'm delighted to recommend.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Hera, and the author for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this novel. This review was written voluntarily.
Sally Cooper, happily married to Tom, has a dream life. They have three contented and lovely children - twin three-year-old boys, named Cian and Aaron and a fifteen-year-old daughter, Amber. One day, at the hairdressers where Sally works as a stylist, her first client shows her a family photograph; one that causes Sally to collapse in shock. In one abominable instant, Sally discovers that Tom has been hiding an explosive secret – one that could tear apart the life they’ve built together. So, faced with an impossible dilemma - search for the truth, or keep her contented life – which will Sally choose? She is about to discover that even those closest to us have secrets, and that sometimes the truth is the last thing anyone wants to hear.
The characters in this story are perfect blend of likeable and detestable. I really bonded with Sally and could feel her anguish when she realised the guy she held on in such high esteem throughout their marriage, was not the man she thought him to be. I did not care for the character of Tom, but this did not affect my enjoyment of the story, as he had a great part to play.
I appreciated the easy writing style of Jackie Walsh and her ability to catch my attention right from the start of the novel. With an expertly built and gradually intensifying level of apprehension throughout, the author then cleverly added another dimension as she steered the story in a more sinister direction. This hauntingly devastating tale of betrayal and secrecy was expertly delivered, bringing with it no let-downs, and everything was well-wrapped up in the satisfying and fulfilling finale.
A riveting, stellar psychological thriller that I'm delighted to recommend.
October 14, 2019
The Secrets He Kept by Jackie Walsh is a fast-paced read that kept me fully engaged from beginning to end. This one will have you guessing until the very final page.
Sally is a wife and mother who is working as a hairdresser in order to pay off her husband's debts. One day, a client unwittingly blows Sally's world apart by revealing a photo of her boyfriend's father, a man who happens to also be Sally's husband. This is only the beginning of the nightmare and Sally must question just how well she really knows her spouse, the man with whom she has shared so much of her life. Sally is certainly an empathetic character who fights to keep her family together in the face of one domestic crisis after another, while husband Tom makes a compelling case for remaining forever single. This is a riveting and twisty tale that will have you racing to get to the bottom of it all.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC.
Sally is a wife and mother who is working as a hairdresser in order to pay off her husband's debts. One day, a client unwittingly blows Sally's world apart by revealing a photo of her boyfriend's father, a man who happens to also be Sally's husband. This is only the beginning of the nightmare and Sally must question just how well she really knows her spouse, the man with whom she has shared so much of her life. Sally is certainly an empathetic character who fights to keep her family together in the face of one domestic crisis after another, while husband Tom makes a compelling case for remaining forever single. This is a riveting and twisty tale that will have you racing to get to the bottom of it all.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC.
August 7, 2021
This was very much a ‘usual’ novel for me to get my teeth into; twisty and dark, following an investigation and the secrets entwined into a family.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, but very early on I guessed the key ‘twist’ to the story which is only confirmed in the last line of the book. I found the characters relatable, and some aspects of the novel cemented the normality of a family which I welcomed. There are a few unanswered questions but I won’t let that take away from the fact that I have just spent three hours today with my head trapped in this story!
I thoroughly enjoyed it, but very early on I guessed the key ‘twist’ to the story which is only confirmed in the last line of the book. I found the characters relatable, and some aspects of the novel cemented the normality of a family which I welcomed. There are a few unanswered questions but I won’t let that take away from the fact that I have just spent three hours today with my head trapped in this story!
November 9, 2019
This was a fantastic game!!
A game?
But you read a book!!
I agree.
It was a book which played a game with me. The author's writing was so coated in mystery that my mind kept screaming - what is she trying to tell me? What is she hiding from me? The author Jackie Walsh kept me second guessing the whole time I read the story. I tried to decipher the hidden suspense. But alas, I didn't succeed. Only at the very end could I try to perhaps come to the right guess. Whew!
The story was pretty much simple, but made so convoluted that I had to scream at the characters to react... Show me the truth... Confront him.... What are you doing?... Why are you doing this?... Sal was a hairdresser and her husband was Tom. One day, a client showed a pic on her phone of boyfriend and his father. The father was Tom, Sal's husband. Then cane the story of lies and games, of truth and lies, of fake and reality. Add a murder too and you have a suspenseful mystery.
Innocence was never brilliantly played as this author did with her characters. I could not make out who was innocent and who was guilty. They were unlikable equally with hints of vulnerability. Not all of us are brave enough to rock a comfortable boat. I wanted Sal to confront her louse of a husband. I think I swore at that husband more times I could count.
It was quite a heart wrenching book!!
What? Was it emotional?
No no it was a suspense... All my swear words were wrenched from my heart at the husband and I was drained out at the end.
Whew!! 😂 😂 😂
A game?
But you read a book!!
I agree.
It was a book which played a game with me. The author's writing was so coated in mystery that my mind kept screaming - what is she trying to tell me? What is she hiding from me? The author Jackie Walsh kept me second guessing the whole time I read the story. I tried to decipher the hidden suspense. But alas, I didn't succeed. Only at the very end could I try to perhaps come to the right guess. Whew!
The story was pretty much simple, but made so convoluted that I had to scream at the characters to react... Show me the truth... Confront him.... What are you doing?... Why are you doing this?... Sal was a hairdresser and her husband was Tom. One day, a client showed a pic on her phone of boyfriend and his father. The father was Tom, Sal's husband. Then cane the story of lies and games, of truth and lies, of fake and reality. Add a murder too and you have a suspenseful mystery.
Innocence was never brilliantly played as this author did with her characters. I could not make out who was innocent and who was guilty. They were unlikable equally with hints of vulnerability. Not all of us are brave enough to rock a comfortable boat. I wanted Sal to confront her louse of a husband. I think I swore at that husband more times I could count.
It was quite a heart wrenching book!!
What? Was it emotional?
No no it was a suspense... All my swear words were wrenched from my heart at the husband and I was drained out at the end.
Whew!! 😂 😂 😂
November 8, 2020
I really did enjoy this book - though I did pretty much guess who the killer was before the end.
Sally's character was actually quite frustrating because she would stand up for herself for a while and then just let it go. Tom was an irritating character who literally treated Sally awful and yet she just went along with him. I didn't see the bigger twist coming of the mother so that was a pretty good twist.
Though I did enjoy this book I probably won't read it again. It's definitely worth the read though!
Sally's character was actually quite frustrating because she would stand up for herself for a while and then just let it go. Tom was an irritating character who literally treated Sally awful and yet she just went along with him. I didn't see the bigger twist coming of the mother so that was a pretty good twist.
Though I did enjoy this book I probably won't read it again. It's definitely worth the read though!
December 13, 2019
I don't know how I'd react if I found out my husband may have a sixteen year old son I didn't know about. Sally went through a lot of ups and downs trying to uncover the truth about her husband. Gripping is a good word to describe this book.
I'd like to thank Netgalley for this copy given for an honest review.
I'd like to thank Netgalley for this copy given for an honest review.
October 13, 2019
Sally had been working as a hair stylist for a long time. At 37, she has twins (3 years old) and a daughter, Amber, 15y years old. Sally's husband works to recoup money from a bad deal.
While at work, a 16 year old walk-in customer, Charlie, comes in,for a special hairdo for a party. Sally is assigned to her. The two get to chatting and Charlie shows Sally pics of her boyfriend. That is just the beginning!!!
Fantastic read! Great plot that grabs you from the very beginning. A masterful story that keeps you endlessly intrigued.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Many Thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for a wonderful read!
While at work, a 16 year old walk-in customer, Charlie, comes in,for a special hairdo for a party. Sally is assigned to her. The two get to chatting and Charlie shows Sally pics of her boyfriend. That is just the beginning!!!
Fantastic read! Great plot that grabs you from the very beginning. A masterful story that keeps you endlessly intrigued.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Many Thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for a wonderful read!
November 7, 2019
The day that Sally Cooper`s secure life was shattered into a million tiny pieces started like every other working day. It began with the predictable mad rush to get her three children out of bed,fed and ready for their day and then it was time for Sally`s transformation from wife and mother to Sally the Hairdresser. Sally loved her job,it gave her the opportunity to have a break from the responsibilities of being a mother. She loved laughing and interacting with her work colleagues and their customers. All was perfect in Sally`s world until her first customer of the day showed her a picture of her boyfriend and his father. Sally is shocked and astonished when she realises that the man looks uncannily like her husband Tom.
Sally finds herself facing a impossible dilemma,should she confront Tom, find out the truth or keep her contented life? Sally is about to discover that even those closest to us have secrets....and that sometimes the truth is the last thing we want to hear.
This fast paced,enthralling thriller is mainly voiced from Sally`s point of view and the reader is launched into the action from the end of the first chapter. Despite her having some redeemable qualities,I can't say that I thought Sally was a very likeable character. But who can honestly say how they would react if they found themselves facing the same dilemmas as she did. I most definitely didn't like her selfish,deceitful,lying,scumbag of a husband. I loved the mixed bag of diverse personalities who worked with Sally at the hairdressers and Elsie, the homeless lady who sat outside the shop. I loved how they all sprang into action when Sally needed their help.
The Secrets He Kept is packed full of twists and turns and many of the chapters ended on a cliff-hanger,giving the reader a very bad case of Just one more chapter syndrome. It's a very well written mix of domestic drama,intrigue,thriller and murder mystery that hooks the reader in from the first page,keeps you guessing and frantically turning the pages. I loved this fast paced,page turner and didn't want to put it down. I would love to watch a film adaptation of this thrilling story. Very very highly recommended.
Sally finds herself facing a impossible dilemma,should she confront Tom, find out the truth or keep her contented life? Sally is about to discover that even those closest to us have secrets....and that sometimes the truth is the last thing we want to hear.
This fast paced,enthralling thriller is mainly voiced from Sally`s point of view and the reader is launched into the action from the end of the first chapter. Despite her having some redeemable qualities,I can't say that I thought Sally was a very likeable character. But who can honestly say how they would react if they found themselves facing the same dilemmas as she did. I most definitely didn't like her selfish,deceitful,lying,scumbag of a husband. I loved the mixed bag of diverse personalities who worked with Sally at the hairdressers and Elsie, the homeless lady who sat outside the shop. I loved how they all sprang into action when Sally needed their help.
The Secrets He Kept is packed full of twists and turns and many of the chapters ended on a cliff-hanger,giving the reader a very bad case of Just one more chapter syndrome. It's a very well written mix of domestic drama,intrigue,thriller and murder mystery that hooks the reader in from the first page,keeps you guessing and frantically turning the pages. I loved this fast paced,page turner and didn't want to put it down. I would love to watch a film adaptation of this thrilling story. Very very highly recommended.
November 8, 2019
The Secrets He Kept
by Jackie Walsh
Sally: mother, wife and hairdresser
Tom: her husband
Cian & Tom: twin sons of Sally & Tom
Amber: 15 year old daughter of Sally & Tom
Charlie: The sharer of a photo that upturns everyone’s lives
Sally had no idea that a photo on a phone would set in motion the search for information that had been hidden from her. As each little piece of information is uncovered I believe she was feeling more and more on the outside of what was happening. Everyone seems to have had secrets and been telling lies.
This is a psychologically twisty tale that has a prologue that indicates a murder took place but who was killed is not evident till around page 100 and then who is she and how does she relate to the story and most important of all...who killed her and why? Finding out who did it was a bit of a surprise so I won’t give that away. I will say that I did want to know so kept reading and sometimes skimmed to find out how it would end.
What I liked:
* Not knowing right away who was killed and who the killer was
* The slow unveiling
* The eventual knowing
* Cian and Aaron
* the threads being woven together
What left me unsettled:
* The lying
* The secrets
* The ending – though it kind of had to end as it did
* Wondering how the pieces would be picked up by those that remained at the end of the book
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Hera and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
by Jackie Walsh
Sally: mother, wife and hairdresser
Tom: her husband
Cian & Tom: twin sons of Sally & Tom
Amber: 15 year old daughter of Sally & Tom
Charlie: The sharer of a photo that upturns everyone’s lives
Sally had no idea that a photo on a phone would set in motion the search for information that had been hidden from her. As each little piece of information is uncovered I believe she was feeling more and more on the outside of what was happening. Everyone seems to have had secrets and been telling lies.
This is a psychologically twisty tale that has a prologue that indicates a murder took place but who was killed is not evident till around page 100 and then who is she and how does she relate to the story and most important of all...who killed her and why? Finding out who did it was a bit of a surprise so I won’t give that away. I will say that I did want to know so kept reading and sometimes skimmed to find out how it would end.
What I liked:
* Not knowing right away who was killed and who the killer was
* The slow unveiling
* The eventual knowing
* Cian and Aaron
* the threads being woven together
What left me unsettled:
* The lying
* The secrets
* The ending – though it kind of had to end as it did
* Wondering how the pieces would be picked up by those that remained at the end of the book
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Hera and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
November 19, 2019
Tom and Sally Cooper have twin sons, Aaron and Cian, age 3, and a 15-year-old daughter, Amber. Sally is a hairdresser and works several days a week. One day, a client of Sally’s shows her a picture of her boyfriend’s dad. It’s Tom. Sally is shocked and cannot wait to get home to confront Tom.
Sally is already aggravated at Tom for investing their funds, plus money she had saved to open her own salon, in a business that ended up failing. When Sally confronts Tom, he claims that it isn’t true - he doesn’t have another child. But, Sally soon learns that it is true.
It turns out that Tom is the biological father of Kenny whose mother has just been murdered. Kenny has no other family so it now falls to Tom and Sally to provide a home for him. Sally is livid and does not want the boy in her home. Yet, other things occur that make them think that more danger is out there and is targeted at them.
This story had good promise but there were too many things that made it appear forced. For one, Sally appears to be totally selfish and Tom, while being a loving father, seems to lack maturity. The events that wrapped up this story seemed to be somewhat contrived to find an ending. I simply was left unimpressed.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sally is already aggravated at Tom for investing their funds, plus money she had saved to open her own salon, in a business that ended up failing. When Sally confronts Tom, he claims that it isn’t true - he doesn’t have another child. But, Sally soon learns that it is true.
It turns out that Tom is the biological father of Kenny whose mother has just been murdered. Kenny has no other family so it now falls to Tom and Sally to provide a home for him. Sally is livid and does not want the boy in her home. Yet, other things occur that make them think that more danger is out there and is targeted at them.
This story had good promise but there were too many things that made it appear forced. For one, Sally appears to be totally selfish and Tom, while being a loving father, seems to lack maturity. The events that wrapped up this story seemed to be somewhat contrived to find an ending. I simply was left unimpressed.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 16, 2019
When Sally discovers her husband has been keeping a big secret from her, she begins to question how well she knows her spouse of 16 years. As her unease and questions mount, Sally attempts to get to the bottom of his increasing deceit. This is the premise behind The Secrets He Kept, an impressive and compulsive domestic thriller.
I found this to be a quick read and interesting in a 'rubbernecker' kind of way as the reader witnesses the implosion of a family that once had strong ties. Sally is the main character who is trying to make sense of her husband's deceit and keep her family together. Readers will sympathize with her but may feel frustrated at her initial naïveté as she tries to explain away her husband's growing lies until she can not longer ignore the truth.
As the lies increase, so does the tension making this a hard to put down book. As an avid reader of this genre, I had a few suspicions but soon guessed the big secret. Even so, the journey to the end of this thriller was enjoyable and I was impressed by its twists, growing tension and satisfying ending.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I found this to be a quick read and interesting in a 'rubbernecker' kind of way as the reader witnesses the implosion of a family that once had strong ties. Sally is the main character who is trying to make sense of her husband's deceit and keep her family together. Readers will sympathize with her but may feel frustrated at her initial naïveté as she tries to explain away her husband's growing lies until she can not longer ignore the truth.
As the lies increase, so does the tension making this a hard to put down book. As an avid reader of this genre, I had a few suspicions but soon guessed the big secret. Even so, the journey to the end of this thriller was enjoyable and I was impressed by its twists, growing tension and satisfying ending.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 19, 2021
This book had some good bits, some ok-ish bits but mostly it was annoying.
Sally is a hairdresser and whist working on a customers hair, she is shown an image of a teenage boy with a man, her customer said is the boys Father. The man in the photograph was Sally’s husband Tom!
I thought that plot sounded like the start of a really good book but the problem was the author didn’t make Sally or Tom, very nice people so I felt no empathy for them.
Instead of Tom telling Sally he recently found out he was the father of a teenage son, that was conceived before they were together, he makes some really stupid decisions.
Instead of Sally asking Tom if he has another child, she makes some really stupid decisions.
The combination of those stupid decisions and unnecessary lies and secrets make for a book I could quite happily have stopped reading.
I did stay with it and read to the end hoping it would get better but it didn’t.
There are some characters who are introduced but then left with some really big plot holes and the ending I saw coming a mile off.
November 17, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and Hera books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While Sally is doing a teenager's hair in the salon where she works, the girl shows her a picture of her boyfriend and his father. The father is Sally's husband Tom. The only problem is Tom doesn't have other kids, or so Sally thought. Turns out Tom has been hiding things and so have some other people.
This was a good quick read. There wasn't really anything earth shattering here, but I enjoyed the book. I really like Sally as the narrator because she was very direct and believable. I loved her perspective on things. I would read more from this author.
While Sally is doing a teenager's hair in the salon where she works, the girl shows her a picture of her boyfriend and his father. The father is Sally's husband Tom. The only problem is Tom doesn't have other kids, or so Sally thought. Turns out Tom has been hiding things and so have some other people.
This was a good quick read. There wasn't really anything earth shattering here, but I enjoyed the book. I really like Sally as the narrator because she was very direct and believable. I loved her perspective on things. I would read more from this author.
January 5, 2021
Wow. I didn’t see that coming. Brilliantly written. Plot was intriguing and kept me hooked from the first page. Highly recommend this novel. This novel is one of those that grips you in and when you take a break you cannot wait to dive back into it.
October 14, 2019
Read this one in one sitting. Was a good solid read. Glad I got approved to read it.
Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an early release of this book
Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an early release of this book
January 20, 2022
Wow !!!! Mind blown I think I accused every character in the book 🙈🙈🙈🙈 this book definitely kept me hooked
December 2, 2019
WOW! This was one intriguing read!
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but THE SECRETS HE KEPT by Jackie Walsh was so fast paced it had me gripped from the beginning till the very end. Believe me, this one will keep you guessing until very final page.
What if your husband had a secret so huge that when you discovered it, you questioned its validity as well as your husband at the same time? This is what happens to Sally Cooper while at work one day. She thought she had a good life, happily married to Tom with three wonderful children - 15 year old Amber and 3 year old twin boys, Cian and Aaron. But Tom has already let her down before...when he invested £16,000 of her hard earned money into a "sure-fire" scheme that not only lost the lot, but left them owing money to the debtor Tom also took loans out with. So Sally, who would rather have been at home with her twin boys, went back out to work as a hairdresser to pay the debts and make ends meet.
Sally is at work one morning when a walk-in requests a shampoo and style for her boyfriend's party that night. The teenager flicking through her phone as Sally works shows her a photo of her boyfriend Kenny. But Sally isn't looking at Kenny. She is staring at the man beside him with his arm around the teenaged boy...her husband Tom. The girl tells her it is Kenny's dad. His dad?? But Tom doesn't have a teenage son...does he?
In shock, Sally collapses and wakes in the staffroom to her concerned colleagues. She assures them she's fine and that she must finish Charlie's hair. But Charlie, the teenage girl, has gone...and along with her any answers to Sally's questions.
Suddenly, Sally's life begins to shatter as she begins to question everything about her husband of 16 years and just how well she knows him. The words fall out of her mouth before she can stop them as she asks Tom if he has a son. His answer? Vague in many ways, but the inference was there - no. But then Sally starts to see her husband in a different light. She hears him on the phone in the middle of the night. And then he fails to show for their twin boys' 3rd birthday party, claiming the excuse of helping a friend out whose car broke down. But Sally isn't so sure. How many secrets is Tom keeping from her?
The next day the talk in the salon is about the murder in Sycamore Gardens, an estate close by. Sally pays little attention to it, too busy mulling over the secrets her husband could be keeping. Until one night Tom hits her with a bombshell. He has a son. His mother has just been murdered and as his only living relative and next of kin, Kenny is to come and live with them. That murder in the news...Kenny's mum. No, no, no...Sally screams. He is NOT living there! They know nothing about him and they have a 15 year old daughter to consider. On the one hand Tom agrees with her but then she discovers he also agrees with the social worker - Kenny is to come and live with them. Whose side is Tom on? And what else is he hiding?
As Sally's life begins to implode with the arrival of the polite but guarded Kenny, the moody outbursts from Amber and the realisation that one of her boys is not developing as well as his brother. Not to mention the fact that her husband is being more than economical with the truth. Her one place of solace is work. So when the girls at the salon are all talking about the murder with their thoughts that maybe the boy's father did it, Sally remains tight-lipped. All the while she continues to question Tom's actions, his lies and deceit, and wonders the possibility herself.
As the lies increase, so does the tension making this one intense and unputdownable book. There are surprises with nearly every page as the reader attempts to guess where everything might lead.
I didn't much like Tom, and his loose relationship with the truth, as I didn't see why all the big secrecy around something that could have been properly addressed at the time. And yet, he continued to tell only half-truths...even when caught out. I liked Sally, surprisingly, as female leads tend to annoy me despite my love of this genre. As the reader, you feel almost sorry for the predicament she finds herself in through no fault of her own...but her sorry excuse for a husband. I love how she isn't the strong storming heroine type, but just your regular woman next door, trying to keep her family together through an incredibly difficult situation. I was suitably impressed with Amber...for a 15 year old, she was just the right mix of moody and considerate. The twins? Everyone goes all gooey over children...but I don't. So I could well do without them. As for the many other characters? They were a great mix that added the perfect amount of friendship and tension where needed.
My favourite part of the book was the Epilogue. It was epic. It was so well done and so very clever, it was the best ending I have encountered. The progression of the story left you wondering where it was all going to end that the conclusion, when it came, was suitably shocking to say the least. But the best, by far.
A well-written psychological drama, that is not really a thriller as such, THE SECRETS HE KEPT is filled with tension, suspense and plenty of secrets and lies to keep you guessing and turning the pages.
Prepare to stay up well into the night with this one as THE SECRETS HE KEPT will have your adrenaline going with every twist, every secret, every page, every chapter...that you will be riveted to the very end.
A masterful tale that is incredibly well-crafted, THE SECRETS HE KEPT is a fantastic compelling read that will have you suitably intrigued as every secret is slowly unveiled until that shocking conclusion. Highly recommend!!
I would like to thank #JackieWalsh, #NetGalley and #HeraBooks for an ARC of #TheSecretsHeKept in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but THE SECRETS HE KEPT by Jackie Walsh was so fast paced it had me gripped from the beginning till the very end. Believe me, this one will keep you guessing until very final page.
What if your husband had a secret so huge that when you discovered it, you questioned its validity as well as your husband at the same time? This is what happens to Sally Cooper while at work one day. She thought she had a good life, happily married to Tom with three wonderful children - 15 year old Amber and 3 year old twin boys, Cian and Aaron. But Tom has already let her down before...when he invested £16,000 of her hard earned money into a "sure-fire" scheme that not only lost the lot, but left them owing money to the debtor Tom also took loans out with. So Sally, who would rather have been at home with her twin boys, went back out to work as a hairdresser to pay the debts and make ends meet.
Sally is at work one morning when a walk-in requests a shampoo and style for her boyfriend's party that night. The teenager flicking through her phone as Sally works shows her a photo of her boyfriend Kenny. But Sally isn't looking at Kenny. She is staring at the man beside him with his arm around the teenaged boy...her husband Tom. The girl tells her it is Kenny's dad. His dad?? But Tom doesn't have a teenage son...does he?
In shock, Sally collapses and wakes in the staffroom to her concerned colleagues. She assures them she's fine and that she must finish Charlie's hair. But Charlie, the teenage girl, has gone...and along with her any answers to Sally's questions.
Suddenly, Sally's life begins to shatter as she begins to question everything about her husband of 16 years and just how well she knows him. The words fall out of her mouth before she can stop them as she asks Tom if he has a son. His answer? Vague in many ways, but the inference was there - no. But then Sally starts to see her husband in a different light. She hears him on the phone in the middle of the night. And then he fails to show for their twin boys' 3rd birthday party, claiming the excuse of helping a friend out whose car broke down. But Sally isn't so sure. How many secrets is Tom keeping from her?
The next day the talk in the salon is about the murder in Sycamore Gardens, an estate close by. Sally pays little attention to it, too busy mulling over the secrets her husband could be keeping. Until one night Tom hits her with a bombshell. He has a son. His mother has just been murdered and as his only living relative and next of kin, Kenny is to come and live with them. That murder in the news...Kenny's mum. No, no, no...Sally screams. He is NOT living there! They know nothing about him and they have a 15 year old daughter to consider. On the one hand Tom agrees with her but then she discovers he also agrees with the social worker - Kenny is to come and live with them. Whose side is Tom on? And what else is he hiding?
As Sally's life begins to implode with the arrival of the polite but guarded Kenny, the moody outbursts from Amber and the realisation that one of her boys is not developing as well as his brother. Not to mention the fact that her husband is being more than economical with the truth. Her one place of solace is work. So when the girls at the salon are all talking about the murder with their thoughts that maybe the boy's father did it, Sally remains tight-lipped. All the while she continues to question Tom's actions, his lies and deceit, and wonders the possibility herself.
As the lies increase, so does the tension making this one intense and unputdownable book. There are surprises with nearly every page as the reader attempts to guess where everything might lead.
I didn't much like Tom, and his loose relationship with the truth, as I didn't see why all the big secrecy around something that could have been properly addressed at the time. And yet, he continued to tell only half-truths...even when caught out. I liked Sally, surprisingly, as female leads tend to annoy me despite my love of this genre. As the reader, you feel almost sorry for the predicament she finds herself in through no fault of her own...but her sorry excuse for a husband. I love how she isn't the strong storming heroine type, but just your regular woman next door, trying to keep her family together through an incredibly difficult situation. I was suitably impressed with Amber...for a 15 year old, she was just the right mix of moody and considerate. The twins? Everyone goes all gooey over children...but I don't. So I could well do without them. As for the many other characters? They were a great mix that added the perfect amount of friendship and tension where needed.
My favourite part of the book was the Epilogue. It was epic. It was so well done and so very clever, it was the best ending I have encountered. The progression of the story left you wondering where it was all going to end that the conclusion, when it came, was suitably shocking to say the least. But the best, by far.
A well-written psychological drama, that is not really a thriller as such, THE SECRETS HE KEPT is filled with tension, suspense and plenty of secrets and lies to keep you guessing and turning the pages.
Prepare to stay up well into the night with this one as THE SECRETS HE KEPT will have your adrenaline going with every twist, every secret, every page, every chapter...that you will be riveted to the very end.
A masterful tale that is incredibly well-crafted, THE SECRETS HE KEPT is a fantastic compelling read that will have you suitably intrigued as every secret is slowly unveiled until that shocking conclusion. Highly recommend!!
I would like to thank #JackieWalsh, #NetGalley and #HeraBooks for an ARC of #TheSecretsHeKept in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
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