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Cora Lael #1
The Secret Voices
They said they’d keep me safe.
They said, ‘It’s okay, Hannah. You know you can trust me.’
They lied.
When eight-year-old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk village of St Just, the community is rocked. Heading up the investigation is Acting DS Rob Minshull, but he’s out of his depth in a case that seems to mirror the disappearance of a young boy, seven years ago. That search ended in unimaginable tragedy…and Minshull is praying that history won’t be repeated.
But with an investigation full of dead ends, and a kidnapper taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, the young girl’s life hangs perilously in danger.
Until Dr Cora Lael enters the picture. A psychologist with a unique ability, Cora’s rare gift allows her to sense emotions attached to discarded objects. When she is shown the first of Hannah’s belongings, she hears the child’s piercing scream.
With few leads on the case, could Cora prove Hannah’s only hope? And as time runs out, can they find Hannah before history repeats itself...?
They said, ‘It’s okay, Hannah. You know you can trust me.’
They lied.
When eight-year-old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk village of St Just, the community is rocked. Heading up the investigation is Acting DS Rob Minshull, but he’s out of his depth in a case that seems to mirror the disappearance of a young boy, seven years ago. That search ended in unimaginable tragedy…and Minshull is praying that history won’t be repeated.
But with an investigation full of dead ends, and a kidnapper taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, the young girl’s life hangs perilously in danger.
Until Dr Cora Lael enters the picture. A psychologist with a unique ability, Cora’s rare gift allows her to sense emotions attached to discarded objects. When she is shown the first of Hannah’s belongings, she hears the child’s piercing scream.
With few leads on the case, could Cora prove Hannah’s only hope? And as time runs out, can they find Hannah before history repeats itself...?
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2022
103 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
April 28, 2022
A nom de plume of a romance author and the first of a new series, The Secret Voices by M J White is a most promising beginning to the Coral Lael mysteries. An eight year old girl goes missing and newly promoted Acting Detective Sergeant Rob Minshull is given the case. It is reminiscent of a similar case seven years ago when a small boy disappeared in a tragedy that still haunts those involved. Although the kidnapper sends messages and some of Hannah’s things, the case is going nowhere as the pressure builds on the police. Psychologist Cora Lael has a special gift that allows her to hear emotions in objects and so she is co-opted into the investigative team. An intriguing police procedural with a four and a half star rating, making for a most enjoyable crime thriller. With thanks to Hera Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
April 10, 2022
Cora Lael #1
When eight year old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk Village of St. Jusat, the community is rocked. Heading up the investigation is Acting DS Rob Minshull, but he's out of his depth in a case that seems to mirror the disappearance of a young boy, seven years ago. That search ended in unimaginable tragedy.... and Minshull is praying that history won't be repeated. But with the investigation full of dead ends and a kidnapper taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah's belongings and cryptic notes, a young girls life hangs perilously in danger. Until Dr Cora Lael enters the picture.
Cora Lael is a psychologist who has the ability to pick up vibes from items people have touched. Eight year old Hannah is missing. There's resemblances to the case of a young boy who vanished seven years ago. Acting DS Rob Minshull is investigating the case.
This is the first book in a new series and I liked everything about it. It's well written, the pace is fast, the plotline is gripping, it's twist filled and the tension builds with each turn of the page. The story is told from multiple points of view. The characters are well developed. We also get a few suspects to choose from. This was a great start to a promising new series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeraBooks and the author #MJWhite for my ARC of #TheSecretVoices in exchange for an honest review.
When eight year old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk Village of St. Jusat, the community is rocked. Heading up the investigation is Acting DS Rob Minshull, but he's out of his depth in a case that seems to mirror the disappearance of a young boy, seven years ago. That search ended in unimaginable tragedy.... and Minshull is praying that history won't be repeated. But with the investigation full of dead ends and a kidnapper taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah's belongings and cryptic notes, a young girls life hangs perilously in danger. Until Dr Cora Lael enters the picture.
Cora Lael is a psychologist who has the ability to pick up vibes from items people have touched. Eight year old Hannah is missing. There's resemblances to the case of a young boy who vanished seven years ago. Acting DS Rob Minshull is investigating the case.
This is the first book in a new series and I liked everything about it. It's well written, the pace is fast, the plotline is gripping, it's twist filled and the tension builds with each turn of the page. The story is told from multiple points of view. The characters are well developed. We also get a few suspects to choose from. This was a great start to a promising new series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeraBooks and the author #MJWhite for my ARC of #TheSecretVoices in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2022
There's a new favourite Crime Thriller Author to move straight to the top of my list! This is book one (yes, there will be more!) in a new crime thriller series from author MJ White, aka much loved, bestselling romantic novelist, Miranda Dickinson. If you're like me, and feel slightly worried when an Author steps into another genre, fear not! This is very firmly, 100%, absolutely brilliant. It has everything that we know and love Miranda for (yes, even a little hint of a romance...!) with the added elements of suspense and 'fighting for your life' tension rather than 'will they or won't they...?!'
Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with the ability to pick up on emotions, feelings, and even voices on discarded items that people have touched, is going to be a firm favourite in the crime/thriller world as this series progresses. And yes, I was sceptical if I'm honest, but MJ White has such a way with words that all that falls away and complete immersion in the mystery takes over.
So, if you're between Miranda Dickinson's books, eagerly awaiting her next contemporary publication, step sideways into a different genre and read this one. You'll find everything you love about Miranda's writing, and so much more.
Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with the ability to pick up on emotions, feelings, and even voices on discarded items that people have touched, is going to be a firm favourite in the crime/thriller world as this series progresses. And yes, I was sceptical if I'm honest, but MJ White has such a way with words that all that falls away and complete immersion in the mystery takes over.
So, if you're between Miranda Dickinson's books, eagerly awaiting her next contemporary publication, step sideways into a different genre and read this one. You'll find everything you love about Miranda's writing, and so much more.
March 6, 2023
This book was absolutely BRILLIANT. I have always been a fan of Miranda Dickinson’s writing, and I was excited to learn that she was venturing into a new genre of crime. I was definitely right to be excited because this book was honestly a masterpiece.
A unique story of Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist who can hear emotions that are attached to objects, working alongside a police department who are investigating the potential abduction of 8 year old Hannah Perry. Hannah’s disappearance hits the community hard, as seven years previous, a very similar case occurred, with the young boy who was abducted eventually being murdered, and his killer was never caught. The police department are under an incredible amount of pressure to get things right this time, and Cora is under pressure to use her ability to help try and save Hannah.
To me, this book felt like I was watching a TV crime drama, which I love! I could picture everything so clearly in my head. There was so much suspense, and I would never in a million years have suspected the outcome. It’s a page turner and I just did not want to put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it because the story and the characters felt so real. I hope that this book does get the chance to be made into a TV series because it would be amazing!
I am so looking forward to reading the next two books in the series now. I need to buy the second one ASAP as I’ve been approved to read the third on NetGalley. HIGHLY recommend this book for any crime lovers. It will not disappoint!!
A unique story of Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist who can hear emotions that are attached to objects, working alongside a police department who are investigating the potential abduction of 8 year old Hannah Perry. Hannah’s disappearance hits the community hard, as seven years previous, a very similar case occurred, with the young boy who was abducted eventually being murdered, and his killer was never caught. The police department are under an incredible amount of pressure to get things right this time, and Cora is under pressure to use her ability to help try and save Hannah.
To me, this book felt like I was watching a TV crime drama, which I love! I could picture everything so clearly in my head. There was so much suspense, and I would never in a million years have suspected the outcome. It’s a page turner and I just did not want to put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it because the story and the characters felt so real. I hope that this book does get the chance to be made into a TV series because it would be amazing!
I am so looking forward to reading the next two books in the series now. I need to buy the second one ASAP as I’ve been approved to read the third on NetGalley. HIGHLY recommend this book for any crime lovers. It will not disappoint!!
April 24, 2022
When 8 year old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk village of St Just, it bears a striking resemblence to the disappearance of another young child, a boy, seven years before...with the search for him ending tragically. The community and the police alike are reminded of 10 year old Matthew Cooper and hoping that this case will have a much happier outcome.
Hannah was on her way home from school with her friend Ava and Ava's mother when she announced she was meeting her mother at the Easter Markets. They reluctantly left Hannah to make her way into the village as they made their own way home. Hannah, though, had other plans. She didn't want to go home. Her mum was at work and only her mother's boyfriend Shaun would be there so she decided to wander to the markets instead. She paused to look in shop windows - an estate agents, dreaming of a nice house; the house shop; a pet shop, longing for a dog of her own which she would name Amber. And then she saw the yellow balloons...and made her way over to the smiling face holding them. She would get one for her sisters Lily and Ruby.
And then she vanished.
DS Rob Minshull in heading up the investigation into Hannah's disappearance, as acting DS with the top brass looking to fast track him to DI by the end of the year. His superior, DI Joel Anderson, remembers his father...and not all that fondly. But having failed with the Cooper case, Anderson has been forced to hand the SIO reigns over to Minshull in the hope that history doesn't repeat itself.
And then there is Cora Lael. She is brought in as a civilian consultant on the investigation due to her unique abilities to sense emotions, thoughts and voices attached to discarded items. When given something of Hannah's she hears the girl's piercing scream. Can Cora's unique ability help the police find Hannah before it's too late?
I'm going to be in the minority here with my review but unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I found it hard to get into and incredibly wordy. And I know it's about someone with a "supernatural gift" but I felt so much focus was placed on this that it took away from the crime story itself. Every time Cora was in a scene, it was all about the screaming voices from discarded detritus as she passed...blah blah blah. She hears voices from those who once held those items...we get the picture. There was a lot of excess fluff I felt didn't belong...maybe that was because this is the first book in the series and it somehow needed an introduction of sorts, I don't know. But I felt there was too much that just didn't need to be there.
The concept was intriguing as was the premise but I didn't find the story as gripping as I usually do with crime fiction. In the end, I found myself skimming most of it just to get to the end. Maybe it's just me, but I just couldn't get into the story and found many of the characters irritating.
THE SECRET VOICES was an OK read but I wouldn't be rushing out to read another.
I would like to thank #MJWhite, #HeraBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheSecretVoices in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Hannah was on her way home from school with her friend Ava and Ava's mother when she announced she was meeting her mother at the Easter Markets. They reluctantly left Hannah to make her way into the village as they made their own way home. Hannah, though, had other plans. She didn't want to go home. Her mum was at work and only her mother's boyfriend Shaun would be there so she decided to wander to the markets instead. She paused to look in shop windows - an estate agents, dreaming of a nice house; the house shop; a pet shop, longing for a dog of her own which she would name Amber. And then she saw the yellow balloons...and made her way over to the smiling face holding them. She would get one for her sisters Lily and Ruby.
And then she vanished.
DS Rob Minshull in heading up the investigation into Hannah's disappearance, as acting DS with the top brass looking to fast track him to DI by the end of the year. His superior, DI Joel Anderson, remembers his father...and not all that fondly. But having failed with the Cooper case, Anderson has been forced to hand the SIO reigns over to Minshull in the hope that history doesn't repeat itself.
And then there is Cora Lael. She is brought in as a civilian consultant on the investigation due to her unique abilities to sense emotions, thoughts and voices attached to discarded items. When given something of Hannah's she hears the girl's piercing scream. Can Cora's unique ability help the police find Hannah before it's too late?
I'm going to be in the minority here with my review but unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I found it hard to get into and incredibly wordy. And I know it's about someone with a "supernatural gift" but I felt so much focus was placed on this that it took away from the crime story itself. Every time Cora was in a scene, it was all about the screaming voices from discarded detritus as she passed...blah blah blah. She hears voices from those who once held those items...we get the picture. There was a lot of excess fluff I felt didn't belong...maybe that was because this is the first book in the series and it somehow needed an introduction of sorts, I don't know. But I felt there was too much that just didn't need to be there.
The concept was intriguing as was the premise but I didn't find the story as gripping as I usually do with crime fiction. In the end, I found myself skimming most of it just to get to the end. Maybe it's just me, but I just couldn't get into the story and found many of the characters irritating.
THE SECRET VOICES was an OK read but I wouldn't be rushing out to read another.
I would like to thank #MJWhite, #HeraBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheSecretVoices in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
March 14, 2022
I’ve read many books by this author under the name that we usually know and love her by (Miranda Dickinson, for those that aren’t in the know!). I love her books, so was keen to see how her first venture into the crime/thriller genre worked out! We get to meet Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with an ability to pick up on emotions, feelings and even voices on discarded items which people have touched. Cora’s skills are mind-blowing and, like some of the characters in the book, I treaded carefully as an open-minded sceptic to all things “kooky”! I needn’t have worried though as I was completely won round by the author’s fantastic explanations of how Cora’s condition worked and how it could be used in the investigation of missing child, Hannah Perry.
The story is told from various perspectives throughout, although mainly from Hannah, Cora and Acting DS Rob Minshull. Minshull, like Cora, is a great character and whilst at the beginning he seemed a bit moody and didn’t appear to have a good connection with his team, as the book and investigation moved on his character grew and I really liked him. The investigation is a tricky one, with startling similarities to a case of a missing boy several years before, but the difference this time is that they now have Dr Cora Lael who brings a whole new perspective to things. The storyline cleverly twisted and turned its way through the investigation, and by only a few chapters in I was well and truly hooked. I loved how the book focussed primarily on the investigation as opposed to what Hannah was experiencing and Hannah’s chapters were short and snappy, without revealing too many details, leaving us in suspense for longer! We aren’t given many clues as to who may be responsible for her going missing, but there are a handful of suspects which we can ponder on as the story moves on. As with all good crime books, I found myself waiting for the big reveal, confident that I had guessed correctly, only to be proved completely wrong, and I was left open mouthed as to who was behind it all.
As this author is so good at writing romantic fiction, I had no doubt at all that another genre would be a walk in the park for her! However, I wasn’t expecting it to be THIS good!! It was an excellent police procedural story with the right amount of tension and suspense throughout the book and added to it that a little bit of something different with Cora’s unique abilities. The writing was well researched, the storyline gripping, and the characters were spot on! Once started, I knew I wasn’t going to get anything done until I’d finished it, and I was right! If you think authors can only write one genre of book, then think again! This was fantastic! Would definitely recommend!
The story is told from various perspectives throughout, although mainly from Hannah, Cora and Acting DS Rob Minshull. Minshull, like Cora, is a great character and whilst at the beginning he seemed a bit moody and didn’t appear to have a good connection with his team, as the book and investigation moved on his character grew and I really liked him. The investigation is a tricky one, with startling similarities to a case of a missing boy several years before, but the difference this time is that they now have Dr Cora Lael who brings a whole new perspective to things. The storyline cleverly twisted and turned its way through the investigation, and by only a few chapters in I was well and truly hooked. I loved how the book focussed primarily on the investigation as opposed to what Hannah was experiencing and Hannah’s chapters were short and snappy, without revealing too many details, leaving us in suspense for longer! We aren’t given many clues as to who may be responsible for her going missing, but there are a handful of suspects which we can ponder on as the story moves on. As with all good crime books, I found myself waiting for the big reveal, confident that I had guessed correctly, only to be proved completely wrong, and I was left open mouthed as to who was behind it all.
As this author is so good at writing romantic fiction, I had no doubt at all that another genre would be a walk in the park for her! However, I wasn’t expecting it to be THIS good!! It was an excellent police procedural story with the right amount of tension and suspense throughout the book and added to it that a little bit of something different with Cora’s unique abilities. The writing was well researched, the storyline gripping, and the characters were spot on! Once started, I knew I wasn’t going to get anything done until I’d finished it, and I was right! If you think authors can only write one genre of book, then think again! This was fantastic! Would definitely recommend!
May 3, 2022
When eight year old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk village of St. Just, it echoes a police investigation which ended in tragedy, and which, seven years later, still remains unsolved. DS Rob Minshull is leading the investigation and is determined not to make the mistakes of the past. When he, controversially, enlists the help of psychologist, Dr Cora Lael, Minshull hopes this will help the investigation move forward. For Cora Lael is no ordinary psychologist as she has the uncanny ability of being able to sense the heightened emotions of people from their discarded objects. Seen by some as a charlatan, Cora is nevertheless determined to help the investigation in any way she can.
The Secret Voices is a complex, and engrossing, police procedural which is full of twists and turns and delicious red herrings. I enjoyed trying to piece together the complicated jigsaw puzzle pieces of the case and enjoyed watching how the overall story played out. I especially bought into Cora's unique ability, as her skill, as an emotional synaesthete, is quite different and yet lends itself perfectly to this twisty, crime story.
As with any new crime series there is a sense of getting to know the characters and I found Cora's relationship with Rob Minshull to be particularly interesting, as it's one, I am sure, we will get to know more about as the series progresses. It's exciting to be in at the start of a new series especially as this foray into crime fiction is something of a departure for the author who writes romantic fiction as Miranda Dickinson.
Beautifully written, with the right amount of tension and more than enough surprises to keep you guessing, The Secrets Voices definitely gets the series off to a cracking good start. I raced through the book in one sitting, eager to find out whodunit. I can't wait to meet again with Dr Cora Lael and see where the story goes next time.
October 31, 2025
When eight-year-old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk village of St Just, the community is rocked. Heading up the investigation is Acting DS Rob Minshull, but he’s out of his depth in a case that seems to mirror the disappearance of a young boy, seven years ago. That search ended in unimaginable tragedy…and Minshull is praying that history won’t be repeated.
But with an investigation full of dead ends, and a kidnapper taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, the young girl’s life hangs perilously in danger.
Until Dr Cora Lael enters the picture. A psychologist with a unique ability, Cora’s rare gift allows her to sense emotions attached to discarded objects. When she is shown the first of Hannah’s belongings, she hears the child’s piercing scream.
What a really good start to a series. I really liked Cora and her ability. I also loved how invested she got into finding Hannah, even when it meant putting herself in extreme danger. That poor little innocent girl. What she saw in Daniel I have no idea - it was clear early on he was just using Cora for his own gain. Absolute slimeball of a character.
Minshull did well in his role. New to the DS role and getting pranked from colleagues while having to do his job, would probably be enough to make anyone leave. I was angry with him though when he believed what Daniel was saying about Cora and then ignoring her.
The way this was written was so good as it had me suspecting almost everyone, except the person it was!! I love that about a book.
But with an investigation full of dead ends, and a kidnapper taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, the young girl’s life hangs perilously in danger.
Until Dr Cora Lael enters the picture. A psychologist with a unique ability, Cora’s rare gift allows her to sense emotions attached to discarded objects. When she is shown the first of Hannah’s belongings, she hears the child’s piercing scream.
What a really good start to a series. I really liked Cora and her ability. I also loved how invested she got into finding Hannah, even when it meant putting herself in extreme danger. That poor little innocent girl. What she saw in Daniel I have no idea - it was clear early on he was just using Cora for his own gain. Absolute slimeball of a character.
Minshull did well in his role. New to the DS role and getting pranked from colleagues while having to do his job, would probably be enough to make anyone leave. I was angry with him though when he believed what Daniel was saying about Cora and then ignoring her.
The way this was written was so good as it had me suspecting almost everyone, except the person it was!! I love that about a book.
April 30, 2022
The Secret Voices by MJ White is a really compelling debut crime thriller. I haven’t read this author’s women’s fiction work, so she’s new to me, but I’m incredibly impressed with The Secret Voices! It only took a chapter or two to have me hooked.
This story is told from a few perspectives but the author writes great characters, so it was easy to tell them apart. Cora has a rare gift that allows her to sense emotions attached to objects. I liked the way this was incorporated and explained. It wasn’t too “out there” for the genre and added a unique layer to the investigation.
The plot twists and turns without too many clues for us to guess the conclusion. I had an idea of what was going on and turned out to be wrong. The conclusion made so much sense and surprised me. The story is full of tension and suspense. It is quite a rollercoaster.
Overall, I enjoyed The Secret Voices and look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, Hera Books, and the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
This story is told from a few perspectives but the author writes great characters, so it was easy to tell them apart. Cora has a rare gift that allows her to sense emotions attached to objects. I liked the way this was incorporated and explained. It wasn’t too “out there” for the genre and added a unique layer to the investigation.
The plot twists and turns without too many clues for us to guess the conclusion. I had an idea of what was going on and turned out to be wrong. The conclusion made so much sense and surprised me. The story is full of tension and suspense. It is quite a rollercoaster.
Overall, I enjoyed The Secret Voices and look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, Hera Books, and the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
April 22, 2022
4.5 stars
The Secret Voices is a gripping read that draws you and has you holding your breath from the first page to the last page.
Hannah 8 years old has gone missing in the town of St.Just. This brings back to the community and the police the reminder of a another missing child that did not have a good ending.
DS. Rob Minshull is in charge .
Dr Cora Lael has a unique ability and the team is desperate to find Hannah so Cora is brought on board.
I found myself reading late into the night as I had to know what would happen to Hannah.
Twists and turns keep you guessing.
I can't wait for Book 2 in this series and I will be first in line to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an outstanding new series.
The Secret Voices is a gripping read that draws you and has you holding your breath from the first page to the last page.
Hannah 8 years old has gone missing in the town of St.Just. This brings back to the community and the police the reminder of a another missing child that did not have a good ending.
DS. Rob Minshull is in charge .
Dr Cora Lael has a unique ability and the team is desperate to find Hannah so Cora is brought on board.
I found myself reading late into the night as I had to know what would happen to Hannah.
Twists and turns keep you guessing.
I can't wait for Book 2 in this series and I will be first in line to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an outstanding new series.
April 29, 2022
The Secret Voices by MJ White is a change of genre for Miranda Dickinson, and it is one that has really paid off. This thriller kept me reading into the night because I couldn’t sleep before I had finished the entire book!
As a synesthete myself (numbers/colours), I found Cora’s unusual skill fascinating, and it was such a beneficial skill for the police investigation into the missing child. It clearly created divisions within the team because it divided opinions, with some being completely closed off to the possibilities created by such a strange skill.
I enjoyed that the story was told from different perspectives. I really enjoyed Cora’s voice within the story, as she pushed herself beyond what she thought she was capable of achieving. I also liked Acting DS Rob Minshull, who was dealing with his first major investigation, with most of his team full of resentment with his temporary promotion being perceived as nepotism because of who his father had been in the force.
The voice of Hannah, the little girl who had been taken, practically sang from the pages. Older than her tender years because of responsibilities thrust upon her from an early age, she was intelligent, perceptive and determined. I found myself captivated by her, and desperately hoping for her to be rescued.
This stunning police procedural thriller, with twists and turns galore was entrancing, and I am thrilled to see it is the first in a series of novels starring Cora Lael and her unusual and still developing skills. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
As a synesthete myself (numbers/colours), I found Cora’s unusual skill fascinating, and it was such a beneficial skill for the police investigation into the missing child. It clearly created divisions within the team because it divided opinions, with some being completely closed off to the possibilities created by such a strange skill.
I enjoyed that the story was told from different perspectives. I really enjoyed Cora’s voice within the story, as she pushed herself beyond what she thought she was capable of achieving. I also liked Acting DS Rob Minshull, who was dealing with his first major investigation, with most of his team full of resentment with his temporary promotion being perceived as nepotism because of who his father had been in the force.
The voice of Hannah, the little girl who had been taken, practically sang from the pages. Older than her tender years because of responsibilities thrust upon her from an early age, she was intelligent, perceptive and determined. I found myself captivated by her, and desperately hoping for her to be rescued.
This stunning police procedural thriller, with twists and turns galore was entrancing, and I am thrilled to see it is the first in a series of novels starring Cora Lael and her unusual and still developing skills. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
May 4, 2022
THE SECRET VOICES (Cora Lael #1) by M J WHITE.
This is book one in a new crime thriller series from MJ White, aka romantic novelist, Miranda Dickinson.
When eight year old Hannah goes missing, the case holds striking similarities to the disappearance of a young boy seven years ago, that didn’t have a happy ending.
Cora Lael is a psychologist who has an extraordinary gift, which could be the answer to solving the mystery of Hannah’s disappearance.
The story is told from several different perspectives, with Cora’s voice being a high light and little Hannah was simply captivating.
This is a well written, fast paced thriller. It drew me in and kept me gripped right to the end.
I look forward to more books in this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Out now in paperback and Ebook.
With thanks to #Netgalley and #HeraBooks for a digital arc of this book.
May 8, 2022
A crime thriller with a paranormal twist.
If you enjoy supernatural gifts in your MC's, check out this new series. Told from multiple points of view, this fast-paced story will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for having me on the tour. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you enjoy supernatural gifts in your MC's, check out this new series. Told from multiple points of view, this fast-paced story will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for having me on the tour. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 7, 2022
First book with cora leil a pychologist with a strange ability. When she is asked to help the police find a missing girl she gets a chance to use these abilities.
Basically a police crime thriller with a difference. I read this book really fast as it kept me going good thriller. Id be keen to read her next book in this series coming out later this year.
Basically a police crime thriller with a difference. I read this book really fast as it kept me going good thriller. Id be keen to read her next book in this series coming out later this year.
May 10, 2022
The Secret Voices is a highly unusual, fresh and engaging approach to a police procedural story that hooks in the reader through Dr Cora Lael and leaves them wanting the next book in the series – now! I thoroughly enjoyed it and have my full thoughts on the My Weekly website
April 27, 2022
This is a book I just couldn't miss,
One written by an author I've previously read -with a new twist!
A crime thriller with a heroine with an unexpected gift
Will it enable to give this case a new lift?
Eight year old Hannah Perry walked home from school
Walking alone, maybe no quite so cool!
She never gets home, just disappears
Will this all end with nothing but tears?
Cryptic notes and the child's things
Taunts and danger, no joy they bring.
Then Dr Cora Lael volunteers to try
Seeing if they'll let her help when they know how and why.
Cora's gift could be just what they need
To ensure that at solving the case they'll succeed.
Scepticism, disbelief and doubt, too,
Will all be experience before the story is through.
Such a great read, with that unique twist
Make this a story that's not to be missed.
The first of a new series, I'm happy to discover -
I can't wait to read the sequels and any other!
I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing book
And highly recommend you give it a look.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
A very different read and this is my honest review.
One written by an author I've previously read -with a new twist!
A crime thriller with a heroine with an unexpected gift
Will it enable to give this case a new lift?
Eight year old Hannah Perry walked home from school
Walking alone, maybe no quite so cool!
She never gets home, just disappears
Will this all end with nothing but tears?
Cryptic notes and the child's things
Taunts and danger, no joy they bring.
Then Dr Cora Lael volunteers to try
Seeing if they'll let her help when they know how and why.
Cora's gift could be just what they need
To ensure that at solving the case they'll succeed.
Scepticism, disbelief and doubt, too,
Will all be experience before the story is through.
Such a great read, with that unique twist
Make this a story that's not to be missed.
The first of a new series, I'm happy to discover -
I can't wait to read the sequels and any other!
I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing book
And highly recommend you give it a look.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
A very different read and this is my honest review.
May 4, 2022
Every parent’s worst nightmare, your child going missing, is the basis for this story. The hectic scramble to find them as soon as possible, the fading of hope, the suspicion pointed at family and friends. Inside the police investigation, the officers trawl for leads, trying to get one step ahead of whoever is responsible before tragedy occurs. Pressure piling on from all sides – the press, the public, the family, your superiors. What toll does this take on the detectives charged with finding the missing child, especially if the case has echoes of a similar investigation that failed years before? You might think these are all ideas that have been explored in crime fiction before, what new territory does this book explore? Plenty, I assure you.
Sure, all of these standard elements are present but I have to tell you that Miranda really explores the emotional aspects of this to a degree that I’m not sure I’ve experienced in a crime novel before. I don’t know whether this is some of her experience as a romance novelist making her come at this from a slightly different angle but I really felt the emotional toll of this investigation all the parties involved oozing off the page. Told from the perspectives of the different people involved in the story, including the abducted child herself, the reader is really drawn in to the horror and stress of the story from a full colour, 360 degree perspective. It is totally immersive.
Add to this a completely unique idea for a different dimension to bring to the investigation, and you have a cracker of a story. Cora is a psychologist blessed, or cursed depending on your perspective, with emotional synaesthsia – the ability to detect people’s emotions from their discarded objects. Persuaded to use her ability to help the hunt for Hannah, Cora hopes to find acceptance and purpose for the ability which has made her feel apart and alone most of her life. But is she prepared for the emotional toll the experience will take and will openly revealing her abilities achieve the exact opposite of what she hopes? Following Cora’s journey through the novel was a fascinating and thought provoking process for me and really adds a fresh dimension to the crime thriller genre.
I would say that Miranda’s detour into the world of crime fiction has been a resounding success based on this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, found it to be fresh, complex and accomplished and I can’t wait to read more featuring these characters. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Miranda’s writing, because all the skill evident in her romance novels is at play here too, and anyone looking for an interesting new voice in the crime thriller genre. Outstanding stuff.
Sure, all of these standard elements are present but I have to tell you that Miranda really explores the emotional aspects of this to a degree that I’m not sure I’ve experienced in a crime novel before. I don’t know whether this is some of her experience as a romance novelist making her come at this from a slightly different angle but I really felt the emotional toll of this investigation all the parties involved oozing off the page. Told from the perspectives of the different people involved in the story, including the abducted child herself, the reader is really drawn in to the horror and stress of the story from a full colour, 360 degree perspective. It is totally immersive.
Add to this a completely unique idea for a different dimension to bring to the investigation, and you have a cracker of a story. Cora is a psychologist blessed, or cursed depending on your perspective, with emotional synaesthsia – the ability to detect people’s emotions from their discarded objects. Persuaded to use her ability to help the hunt for Hannah, Cora hopes to find acceptance and purpose for the ability which has made her feel apart and alone most of her life. But is she prepared for the emotional toll the experience will take and will openly revealing her abilities achieve the exact opposite of what she hopes? Following Cora’s journey through the novel was a fascinating and thought provoking process for me and really adds a fresh dimension to the crime thriller genre.
I would say that Miranda’s detour into the world of crime fiction has been a resounding success based on this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, found it to be fresh, complex and accomplished and I can’t wait to read more featuring these characters. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Miranda’s writing, because all the skill evident in her romance novels is at play here too, and anyone looking for an interesting new voice in the crime thriller genre. Outstanding stuff.
July 9, 2022
I’ve known about this story through Miranda’s weekly chat Facebook page group, where I was lucky enough hear the early chapters read by the author herself. This was a story she had written years ago but it had not found it’s publisher yet. If you follow me on social media you’ll know Miranda is one of my favourite authors and her books are always heartfelt, uplifting and the kind that will make you laugh as well as making you shed a tear sometimes too. As a crime thriller, The Secret Voices was a totally different genre to Miranda’s other books, but as soon as she read the first chapter, the whole group became silent (and it’s a really chatty group) as we listened to what we knew it was something special. We later got to celebrate when this book was picked up by a Hera Books and fast forward to the present time, I’m here reviewing this story.*Miranda Dickinson writing as MJ. White.
It starts off with an eight year old child going missing and then brilliantly combines everything that happens thereafter in a small community. We follow the dark path of events mainly told through the voices of Hannah Perry, psychologist Dr Cora Lael and Acting DS Rob Minshull.
When the powers that be at South Suffolk Police department bring in Acting DS Rob Minshull to head up the search, this causes some discontent in the unit, and it's further worsened by the police failure to solve a similar case seven years prior. But there’s office banter and things like putting salt instead of sugar in the newbie's tea to help balance and add a smile at times in what is a dark story.
Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with a rare gift of picking up on emotions and feelings by touching objects is brought in (in secret) to help with the investigation once an item of Hannah’s is sent to the station. For Cora, her ability often reduces her to experience life as an outsider, only ever looking in. It’s a curse she never wished for but working on this case may help her to see it as a gift. It’s all done in such a realistic way that drives the plot without relying on make believe or fantastical story-telling.
*If you're interested, check out conditions like Synaesthesia, a rare neurological phenomenon where a small percentage of the population have the ability to taste words.
Rob is standoffish with Cora at first (and it takes him a while to warm up to his own unit too) but as the story develops we get to see his real character shine through and there’s touching and frustrating moments between the two. Hannah’s voice lends a vital element to the story that makes it all the more real and sometimes chilling.
If you’ve watched police procedural dramas (like The Bill, Ashes to Ashes etc) you’ll see the similarities in police story telling unfolding, but in book form you’ll also gain extra insight through the direct thoughts of Minshull and other members of the CID unit. As well as moving the investigation along, Cora’s special ability adds an original twist to the story. I loved the insight into how she felt emotions when touching objects and her surprise when she heard Hannah’s voice for the first time. If, like me, you love following and solving mysteries you’ll be caught up in the investigation and trying to find out who the kidnapper is. There’s a few clues peppered throughout the book and some I picked up on at the time but I still couldn’t guess correctly.
The Silent Voices is a detective thriller with a gripping plotline that draws you in as you fall down a dark and twisted path while still hoping for a happy ending. As always, Miranda captures her characters perfectly on the page - especially Hannah’s vulnerability and resilience, Cora’s character development of herself and her gift and the complexities of different people working towards a common goal. I can’t wait to read about Dr Cora Lael in the next book.
It starts off with an eight year old child going missing and then brilliantly combines everything that happens thereafter in a small community. We follow the dark path of events mainly told through the voices of Hannah Perry, psychologist Dr Cora Lael and Acting DS Rob Minshull.
When the powers that be at South Suffolk Police department bring in Acting DS Rob Minshull to head up the search, this causes some discontent in the unit, and it's further worsened by the police failure to solve a similar case seven years prior. But there’s office banter and things like putting salt instead of sugar in the newbie's tea to help balance and add a smile at times in what is a dark story.
Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with a rare gift of picking up on emotions and feelings by touching objects is brought in (in secret) to help with the investigation once an item of Hannah’s is sent to the station. For Cora, her ability often reduces her to experience life as an outsider, only ever looking in. It’s a curse she never wished for but working on this case may help her to see it as a gift. It’s all done in such a realistic way that drives the plot without relying on make believe or fantastical story-telling.
*If you're interested, check out conditions like Synaesthesia, a rare neurological phenomenon where a small percentage of the population have the ability to taste words.
Rob is standoffish with Cora at first (and it takes him a while to warm up to his own unit too) but as the story develops we get to see his real character shine through and there’s touching and frustrating moments between the two. Hannah’s voice lends a vital element to the story that makes it all the more real and sometimes chilling.
If you’ve watched police procedural dramas (like The Bill, Ashes to Ashes etc) you’ll see the similarities in police story telling unfolding, but in book form you’ll also gain extra insight through the direct thoughts of Minshull and other members of the CID unit. As well as moving the investigation along, Cora’s special ability adds an original twist to the story. I loved the insight into how she felt emotions when touching objects and her surprise when she heard Hannah’s voice for the first time. If, like me, you love following and solving mysteries you’ll be caught up in the investigation and trying to find out who the kidnapper is. There’s a few clues peppered throughout the book and some I picked up on at the time but I still couldn’t guess correctly.
The Silent Voices is a detective thriller with a gripping plotline that draws you in as you fall down a dark and twisted path while still hoping for a happy ending. As always, Miranda captures her characters perfectly on the page - especially Hannah’s vulnerability and resilience, Cora’s character development of herself and her gift and the complexities of different people working towards a common goal. I can’t wait to read about Dr Cora Lael in the next book.
May 6, 2022
An eight-year-old girl, Hannah Perry, has vanished from the Easter Market at St Just near Ipswich. South Suffolk CID’s DI Joel Anderson was in charge of the last child abduction case in the town seven years ago, that of ten-year-old Matthew Cooper who was found dead after the detective made a terrible and fatal call. Something that led to a breakdown, haunting him badly ever since, and which has led to Acting DS Rob Minshull, an officer only three months into his promotion from DC, being put in charge of the case with Anderson as SIO in name only. The girl’s stepfather looks to be a good suspect but they have no proof. When the police receive an item of Hannah’s from the kidnapper, the case looks ever more similar to that of Matthew’s. Could the killer, never caught, be back? Enter Dr Cora Lael, a psychologist with a strange talent – she hears emotions as voices from objects that people have handled. Calling it emotional synaesthetes, an undocumented psychological skill, it is as much a burden as a gift, but having lived in St Just through the first child murder case, she wants to make a difference and thinks she can help. Grudgingly Minshull accepts and she tells him Hannah is still alive. But for how long and can the police even trust the word of what most of them see at best as a psychic? As the media and townspeople start calling the police incompetent and are baying for blood, will Minshull and Anderson be able to get Hannah home safely and quell the ghosts of the past?
It was easy to guess the truth about Hannah’s abduction fairly early on but still great to be proved right as the story reached its conclusion. I loved the police procedural aspect of this story and indeed Cora herself as a person, but I was not sure about her ability which isn’t a real condition and seemed a little bit too close to being a psychic medium for me. It’s quite a long book and much is taken up with Cora’s thoughts and feelings. There are also quite heart wrenching little snippets of what Hannah is thinking as she is imprisoned, with quite a lot of soul searching from Minshull as he tries to step up to the job whilst constantly being compared to his father and Anderson as he relives his past failings. All in all, plenty for the reader to get their teeth into. I look forward to hopefully more stories featuring a great team of detectives but preferably without Cora. 4*
It was easy to guess the truth about Hannah’s abduction fairly early on but still great to be proved right as the story reached its conclusion. I loved the police procedural aspect of this story and indeed Cora herself as a person, but I was not sure about her ability which isn’t a real condition and seemed a little bit too close to being a psychic medium for me. It’s quite a long book and much is taken up with Cora’s thoughts and feelings. There are also quite heart wrenching little snippets of what Hannah is thinking as she is imprisoned, with quite a lot of soul searching from Minshull as he tries to step up to the job whilst constantly being compared to his father and Anderson as he relives his past failings. All in all, plenty for the reader to get their teeth into. I look forward to hopefully more stories featuring a great team of detectives but preferably without Cora. 4*
April 30, 2022
4.5* review rounded up to 5*
I was very excited to read and review this story. I wasn't disappointed - the prologue had me hooked from the start!
This book follows the disappearance of 8 year old Hannah Perry, who was supposed to return home after a half day at school. Her stepfather Shaun was expecting her at 2pm at the latest, but the little girl didn't come home.
Police are called in and begin their investigation. Soon, they discover that some things don't add up: for example, it were Shaun's relations, and not Shaun, that phoned the police at 9pm, meaning seven valuable hours were wasted. Why? Was it because Shaun was known to the police? Was it because Shaun was abusive towards Hannah's mother and the little girl was scared of him?
As the police interview potential suspects but make no progress, the media are having a field day, blaming it all on the incompetence of local officers, given the fact that few years before, a local boy, 10 year old Matthew Cooper also went missing, his body was found, but killer never apprehended.
Meanwhile, Dr Cora Lael, who works at the University of South Suffolk's Cognitive Psychology unit, offers her services to the police. Cora is an emotional synaesthete, meaning she can sense emotions attached to objects, almost as if they are echoes of the past.
The police agree, but are VERY sceptical. However, when Hannah's abductor starts sending items of little girl's clothing, Cora is adamant that she can hear her voice. Is Cora lying? Can she help the police to find the missing girl?
You'll have to read this book for yourselves to find out. I loved it from start to finish. I liked how the story was told from the perspective of the different characters, allowing the reader to get acquainted with them. I was heartbroken when I was reading Hannah's accounts, she was such a brave little girl.
Just when I was getting to the end and thinking I knew all the answers, M.J. White threw in the final twist - the culprit, someone totally unexpected.
This is the first book in the series and I cannot wait for another instalment. I am looking forward to see how the characters develop and I am hoping for a little romance between Cora and Acting DS Rob Minshull.
I was very excited to read and review this story. I wasn't disappointed - the prologue had me hooked from the start!
This book follows the disappearance of 8 year old Hannah Perry, who was supposed to return home after a half day at school. Her stepfather Shaun was expecting her at 2pm at the latest, but the little girl didn't come home.
Police are called in and begin their investigation. Soon, they discover that some things don't add up: for example, it were Shaun's relations, and not Shaun, that phoned the police at 9pm, meaning seven valuable hours were wasted. Why? Was it because Shaun was known to the police? Was it because Shaun was abusive towards Hannah's mother and the little girl was scared of him?
As the police interview potential suspects but make no progress, the media are having a field day, blaming it all on the incompetence of local officers, given the fact that few years before, a local boy, 10 year old Matthew Cooper also went missing, his body was found, but killer never apprehended.
Meanwhile, Dr Cora Lael, who works at the University of South Suffolk's Cognitive Psychology unit, offers her services to the police. Cora is an emotional synaesthete, meaning she can sense emotions attached to objects, almost as if they are echoes of the past.
The police agree, but are VERY sceptical. However, when Hannah's abductor starts sending items of little girl's clothing, Cora is adamant that she can hear her voice. Is Cora lying? Can she help the police to find the missing girl?
You'll have to read this book for yourselves to find out. I loved it from start to finish. I liked how the story was told from the perspective of the different characters, allowing the reader to get acquainted with them. I was heartbroken when I was reading Hannah's accounts, she was such a brave little girl.
Just when I was getting to the end and thinking I knew all the answers, M.J. White threw in the final twist - the culprit, someone totally unexpected.
This is the first book in the series and I cannot wait for another instalment. I am looking forward to see how the characters develop and I am hoping for a little romance between Cora and Acting DS Rob Minshull.
May 5, 2022
Oh I was so excited by this book for two reasons.
1. It’s written by well-loved romance author Miranda Dickinson under a penname and I adore her writing
2. It’s a new investigative series and I love getting a new set of characters and places.
Dr Cora Lael has a gift. She can sense things from objects that have been previously touched by people. When a young girl named Hannah goes missing and DS Minshull is struggling to find evidence and connections, Dr Cora steps in to lend a hand. With Cora’s unique skills and Minshull’s police expertise, can they work together before time runs out for Hannah?
This is a cracking start to a new series and I am here for it – (as the cool kids say).
I love police procedurals and detective novels and this one is made even better with a little twist of something magical. It’s such a clever concept and it is delivered with intelligence and finesse. It doesn’t read as impossible or out of the ordinary – it works in such a realistic manner. The plot is so intricately planned and every twist and turn has perfect timing.
The narrative comes from several perspectives which gives a different point of view of events and also helps the reader get to know these new characters. Short chapters from Hannah build tension and also reminded me that a child’s life was at stake. I became engrossed and when these chapters came about, I was fully invested in her experience with her.
I loved the early introductions to Cora and Rob Minshull and how their partnership is in its early days. I loved Cora and how determined she was to use her gift to help others. I also enjoyed how she dealt with the doubt and negative feelings people had about her. I am really looking forward to learning more about these characters but also watching their working relationship grow and evolve.
The Secret Voices is such a well written, and cleverly executed police thriller and it has definitely left me wanting more. I cannot wait for more in this series and I am hoping that M.J. White embraces her dark side a little more often.
1. It’s written by well-loved romance author Miranda Dickinson under a penname and I adore her writing
2. It’s a new investigative series and I love getting a new set of characters and places.
Dr Cora Lael has a gift. She can sense things from objects that have been previously touched by people. When a young girl named Hannah goes missing and DS Minshull is struggling to find evidence and connections, Dr Cora steps in to lend a hand. With Cora’s unique skills and Minshull’s police expertise, can they work together before time runs out for Hannah?
This is a cracking start to a new series and I am here for it – (as the cool kids say).
I love police procedurals and detective novels and this one is made even better with a little twist of something magical. It’s such a clever concept and it is delivered with intelligence and finesse. It doesn’t read as impossible or out of the ordinary – it works in such a realistic manner. The plot is so intricately planned and every twist and turn has perfect timing.
The narrative comes from several perspectives which gives a different point of view of events and also helps the reader get to know these new characters. Short chapters from Hannah build tension and also reminded me that a child’s life was at stake. I became engrossed and when these chapters came about, I was fully invested in her experience with her.
I loved the early introductions to Cora and Rob Minshull and how their partnership is in its early days. I loved Cora and how determined she was to use her gift to help others. I also enjoyed how she dealt with the doubt and negative feelings people had about her. I am really looking forward to learning more about these characters but also watching their working relationship grow and evolve.
The Secret Voices is such a well written, and cleverly executed police thriller and it has definitely left me wanting more. I cannot wait for more in this series and I am hoping that M.J. White embraces her dark side a little more often.
May 8, 2022
This is Miranda Dickinson’s first novel writing as M J White and her first crime novel, after many great romcom novels.
Hannah Perry is eight years old and lives in St Just, a village in Suffolk. She shares a house with her mum Ashleigh and her mum’s partner Shaun and a bedroom with her sisters Lily and Ruby.
Cora Lael does research for the University of South Suffolk’s Cognitive Psychology unit. Since she was sixteen, she’s had an ability to hear voices from objects. She’s an ‘emotional synaesthete’ and is currently helping her boyfriend, Professor Daniel Gold, with research into this.
When Hannah goes missing, Cora wants to see if she can use her unusual talent to help find her. She wants to see if she can hear her voice before it’s too late.
The chapters of the book are written from different points of view – Hannah Perry, various police officers (Acting Detective Sergeant Rob Minshull, Detective Inspector Joel Anderson, Detective Constable Kate Bennett, Detective Constable Dave Wheeler) and Cora Lael. This is good, as you see various perspectives on the events. Hannah’s voice is well-written and believable too.
There are a lot of police who feature in the book, but they are distinctive from each other and again very well-written. I especially liked Rob Minshull, who has just been put into a more senior position as Hannah goes missing. This contrasts well with Joel Anderson, who is more experienced, having served twenty years with CID, but he hadn’t saved a missing boy seven years ago and still lives with the guilt.
This book is great, it’s clever, witty, exciting, well-paced and has superb dialogue. The story is easy to get into, with really good characters and you want to read on and find out what happens.
I felt it was very interesting to have Cora with her gift, which made for a different take on a crime/thriller book. Overall, I really enjoyed every aspect of this book and hope there will be more Cora Lael books to come from M J White, as I’ll be first in the queue to get them.
9.5 out of 10
Hannah Perry is eight years old and lives in St Just, a village in Suffolk. She shares a house with her mum Ashleigh and her mum’s partner Shaun and a bedroom with her sisters Lily and Ruby.
Cora Lael does research for the University of South Suffolk’s Cognitive Psychology unit. Since she was sixteen, she’s had an ability to hear voices from objects. She’s an ‘emotional synaesthete’ and is currently helping her boyfriend, Professor Daniel Gold, with research into this.
When Hannah goes missing, Cora wants to see if she can use her unusual talent to help find her. She wants to see if she can hear her voice before it’s too late.
The chapters of the book are written from different points of view – Hannah Perry, various police officers (Acting Detective Sergeant Rob Minshull, Detective Inspector Joel Anderson, Detective Constable Kate Bennett, Detective Constable Dave Wheeler) and Cora Lael. This is good, as you see various perspectives on the events. Hannah’s voice is well-written and believable too.
There are a lot of police who feature in the book, but they are distinctive from each other and again very well-written. I especially liked Rob Minshull, who has just been put into a more senior position as Hannah goes missing. This contrasts well with Joel Anderson, who is more experienced, having served twenty years with CID, but he hadn’t saved a missing boy seven years ago and still lives with the guilt.
This book is great, it’s clever, witty, exciting, well-paced and has superb dialogue. The story is easy to get into, with really good characters and you want to read on and find out what happens.
I felt it was very interesting to have Cora with her gift, which made for a different take on a crime/thriller book. Overall, I really enjoyed every aspect of this book and hope there will be more Cora Lael books to come from M J White, as I’ll be first in the queue to get them.
9.5 out of 10
May 15, 2022
Dark, complex and captivating, The Secret Voices is the accomplished debut crime novel from best-selling women’s fiction author Miranda Dickinson writing as MJ White.
The small Sussex community of St Just is devastated by the disappearance of eight year old Hannah Perry. Acting DS Rob Minshull is tasked with finding the missing child, but he is troubled by the fact that Hannah’s disappearance mirrors another case which ended in heart-wrenching tragedy. Rob hopes that Hannah’s case will have a different outcome, but with his investigation leading him down one dead end after another, his optimism diminishes and disintegrates with each passing day. With the kidnapper laughing at the police from the shadows by sending Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, Rob is at his wits end – until Dr Cora Lael comes into the picture.
Cora is a psychologist with a unique gift. She can sense emotions attached to discarded objects and she is disturbed when the moment she sees Hannah’s belongings, she hears a child’s piercing scream. With time running out and not much to go on, Rob needs to find Hannah – fast! Could Cora be the missing child’s only hope? Will they find her before it’s too late? Or will this be another missing child case that ends in tragedy?
Writing as MJ White, Miranda Dickinson has added another feather to cap with this exciting, layered and unpredictable crime thriller. Packed with twists and turns readers simply won’t see coming, The Secret Voices exquisitely tempers tension, terror and suspense in one jaw-dropping chiller readers will find hard to put down.
Dr Cora Lael is a fascinating character I loved spending time with. Intelligent, forensic and methodical in her approach, she is a heroine I hope we haven’t seen the last of.
An impressive crime debut, M J White’s The Secret Voice heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in the genre.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The small Sussex community of St Just is devastated by the disappearance of eight year old Hannah Perry. Acting DS Rob Minshull is tasked with finding the missing child, but he is troubled by the fact that Hannah’s disappearance mirrors another case which ended in heart-wrenching tragedy. Rob hopes that Hannah’s case will have a different outcome, but with his investigation leading him down one dead end after another, his optimism diminishes and disintegrates with each passing day. With the kidnapper laughing at the police from the shadows by sending Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, Rob is at his wits end – until Dr Cora Lael comes into the picture.
Cora is a psychologist with a unique gift. She can sense emotions attached to discarded objects and she is disturbed when the moment she sees Hannah’s belongings, she hears a child’s piercing scream. With time running out and not much to go on, Rob needs to find Hannah – fast! Could Cora be the missing child’s only hope? Will they find her before it’s too late? Or will this be another missing child case that ends in tragedy?
Writing as MJ White, Miranda Dickinson has added another feather to cap with this exciting, layered and unpredictable crime thriller. Packed with twists and turns readers simply won’t see coming, The Secret Voices exquisitely tempers tension, terror and suspense in one jaw-dropping chiller readers will find hard to put down.
Dr Cora Lael is a fascinating character I loved spending time with. Intelligent, forensic and methodical in her approach, she is a heroine I hope we haven’t seen the last of.
An impressive crime debut, M J White’s The Secret Voice heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in the genre.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 20, 2024
Score: 2/5
When eight-year-old Hannah Perry vanishes from the Suffolk village of St. Just, the case mirrors a similar unsolved tragedy from seven years earlier. Acting DS Rob Minshull, desperate for answers, turns to psychologist Dr. Cora Lael. She has a rare ability to sense emotions from objects, which sparks both scepticism and hope. As a taunting kidnapper delivers sinister clues, Cora’s gift may be the key to saving Hannah before it’s too late.
Despite a promising synopsis, I found this book disappointing. The concept of Cora’s unique gift—hearing voices through objects—was intriguing initially, but it became overly repetitive. Every scene featuring Cora often talked about her ability, which made me skim through it. Another element I didn’t enjoy was the romantic relationship between a researcher and a participant. It is inappropriate and unethical.
On the bright side, the mystery was captivating, and I enjoyed seeing Cora help the police. I also liked Acting DS Rob Minshull. His open-mindedness stood out, especially as he gradually accepted Cora’s unusual abilities. It’s not every day a detective encounters someone claiming to hear voices through objects and manages to keep an open mind. The writing style was enjoyable, and the ending was exciting. Nevertheless, by then, it was too late to leave a lasting impression.
Ultimately, apart from Acting DS Rob Minshull, there wasn’t much I’d want to revisit. While this is the first book in a series, I don’t plan to continue.
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When eight-year-old Hannah Perry vanishes from the Suffolk village of St. Just, the case mirrors a similar unsolved tragedy from seven years earlier. Acting DS Rob Minshull, desperate for answers, turns to psychologist Dr. Cora Lael. She has a rare ability to sense emotions from objects, which sparks both scepticism and hope. As a taunting kidnapper delivers sinister clues, Cora’s gift may be the key to saving Hannah before it’s too late.
Despite a promising synopsis, I found this book disappointing. The concept of Cora’s unique gift—hearing voices through objects—was intriguing initially, but it became overly repetitive. Every scene featuring Cora often talked about her ability, which made me skim through it. Another element I didn’t enjoy was the romantic relationship between a researcher and a participant. It is inappropriate and unethical.
On the bright side, the mystery was captivating, and I enjoyed seeing Cora help the police. I also liked Acting DS Rob Minshull. His open-mindedness stood out, especially as he gradually accepted Cora’s unusual abilities. It’s not every day a detective encounters someone claiming to hear voices through objects and manages to keep an open mind. The writing style was enjoyable, and the ending was exciting. Nevertheless, by then, it was too late to leave a lasting impression.
Ultimately, apart from Acting DS Rob Minshull, there wasn’t much I’d want to revisit. While this is the first book in a series, I don’t plan to continue.
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March 31, 2022
Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Secret Voices by MJ White is a terrifying thriller and police procedural. The story revolves around Cora, a psychologist with a supernatural gift. When she touches objects, she can sense emotions and hear soundbites of what happened last to that object. She's been hired as a consultant on a case. Eight year-old Hannah has gone missing. Will Cora and the rest of the team be able to find her before it's too late?
Here is a chilling excerpt from the Prologue, which is from Hannah's point of view:
"They lied.
They said I only had to wait a while and then I could go home. They said it would be fun to play hide-and-seek till then.
But it isn’t fun anymore.
The Small Space was meant to be the best place to hide. I was so pleased with myself for squeezing through the little doorway into it because They said I couldn’t do it. But now it’s getting dark and cold. And my legs hurt from curling up to fit.
There are shadows creeping across the white walls. They look like monsters. I’m scared they might be real."
Overall, The Secret Voices is a police procedural with a reveal that you'll never see coming. I did take off 1 star, because I'm not a fan of books with multiple POV's, and this book had at least 5. From the synopsis, it looked like this book would mainly be from Cora's point of view, but this book was really more of a "team" police procedural. I took off another star, because the ending was unbelievable and not in a good way. If you're intrigued by the excerpt or if you're a fan of police procedurals, you can check out this book when it comes out in April!
The Secret Voices by MJ White is a terrifying thriller and police procedural. The story revolves around Cora, a psychologist with a supernatural gift. When she touches objects, she can sense emotions and hear soundbites of what happened last to that object. She's been hired as a consultant on a case. Eight year-old Hannah has gone missing. Will Cora and the rest of the team be able to find her before it's too late?
Here is a chilling excerpt from the Prologue, which is from Hannah's point of view:
"They lied.
They said I only had to wait a while and then I could go home. They said it would be fun to play hide-and-seek till then.
But it isn’t fun anymore.
The Small Space was meant to be the best place to hide. I was so pleased with myself for squeezing through the little doorway into it because They said I couldn’t do it. But now it’s getting dark and cold. And my legs hurt from curling up to fit.
There are shadows creeping across the white walls. They look like monsters. I’m scared they might be real."
Overall, The Secret Voices is a police procedural with a reveal that you'll never see coming. I did take off 1 star, because I'm not a fan of books with multiple POV's, and this book had at least 5. From the synopsis, it looked like this book would mainly be from Cora's point of view, but this book was really more of a "team" police procedural. I took off another star, because the ending was unbelievable and not in a good way. If you're intrigued by the excerpt or if you're a fan of police procedurals, you can check out this book when it comes out in April!
May 2, 2022
I am a big fan of Miranda Dickinson and was both excited and cautious when she announced that she would be writing in a new genre. My fears were unfounded because this was a brilliant and gripping thriller.
Thrillers aren’t my normal go-to genre to read, although I do like watching them on the TV, and this was the vibe I had whilst reading The Secret Voices. I was hooked from the start and couldn’t wait to get to the end to uncover the truth.
The Secret Voices is a detective thriller about a child, Hannah, who has gone missing and the investigation to find her. The village in which this happens has experienced the same incident seven years previously when a young boy, Matthew was taken. The police team on the case are under pressure for there to be a different outcome this time round, but keep facing dead ends. Dr Cora Lael, is a psychologist who joins the team to aid the investigation with her ability to hear the emotions attached to discarded objects.
The story is told through multiple viewpoints including Hannah, Cora, Minshull as well as other members of the police team on the case. I really enjoyed it being told from such a number of different perspectives as this gave a more rounded view of how things were unfolding, not only in this investigation but the effects from the previous one.
This book was addictive and had me hooked and guessing right until the end, and I was still left shocked.
I am thrilled that this is the first in the new Cora Lael series, and can’t wait to read more from Miranda in this genre.
Thrillers aren’t my normal go-to genre to read, although I do like watching them on the TV, and this was the vibe I had whilst reading The Secret Voices. I was hooked from the start and couldn’t wait to get to the end to uncover the truth.
The Secret Voices is a detective thriller about a child, Hannah, who has gone missing and the investigation to find her. The village in which this happens has experienced the same incident seven years previously when a young boy, Matthew was taken. The police team on the case are under pressure for there to be a different outcome this time round, but keep facing dead ends. Dr Cora Lael, is a psychologist who joins the team to aid the investigation with her ability to hear the emotions attached to discarded objects.
The story is told through multiple viewpoints including Hannah, Cora, Minshull as well as other members of the police team on the case. I really enjoyed it being told from such a number of different perspectives as this gave a more rounded view of how things were unfolding, not only in this investigation but the effects from the previous one.
This book was addictive and had me hooked and guessing right until the end, and I was still left shocked.
I am thrilled that this is the first in the new Cora Lael series, and can’t wait to read more from Miranda in this genre.
March 20, 2022
A young girl has gone missing in the town where not so long ago, a young boy went missing and then his body was found. The Police really don’t want the same thing to happen. Acting DS Rob Minshull has his hands full- his first major case in the role. Alternate chapters tell us of Hannah and “ the small space”- somewhere she is stuck and really wants to go home. Cora works at the university- where a close friend is studying her emotional synesthesia as part of a study. (she can sense emotions from objects). She is getting bored of the repetitive experiments and would relish something different. When her boss suggests that she could use her gift to help the police, she gets more than the challenge that she was after.
I quickly got into this and enjoyed it being a different crime read. Emotional synesthesia isn't apparently a real thing, despite being a small number of studies on this, colour synesthesia is the real one. I liked Minshull and Cora and how they worked together and the pressure from above kept things on the move. A storyline that keeps twisting with well written tension to keep the pages easily turning.
This is MJ White’s first venture into crime (better known As Miranda Dickinson) and what a stunner this is! A wonderful, entertaining read. A change in genre (not always easy) has proved to be an excellent move and I look forward to more in the series.
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July 9, 2023
I came across this book by chance, drawn in by the intriguing plot and the evocative cover, and as soon as I started immersing myself in the reading, I realized I couldn't stop. The protagonist, Cora Lael, possesses a gift that is also a curse for her: the ability to hear the voices of strangers whispering or shouting to her as if they were all around her, solely because she comes into contact with an object that belonged to them and was discarded or left behind. But this ability will provide her with the opportunity to contribute to the investigation to find the little Hannah Perry, an 8-year-old girl from St. Just, Suffolk, who was kidnapped on her way home from school.
I greatly appreciated the authoress's narrative style, paying close attention not only to describing the characters as active agents but as individuals with their own limitations, their own past, making them well-rounded, complex, and interesting characters at the same time. I loved the descriptions of nature, especially the sea and the strength and energy it contains, along with its regenerative capacity to soothe the human soul.
A well-crafted thriller, a story told through the collective voices of different characters, with a constant focus on the human psyche and its manifold expressions. Congratulations to MJ White for her debut in the thriller genre: "The Secret Voices" is definitely a highly recommended book.
I greatly appreciated the authoress's narrative style, paying close attention not only to describing the characters as active agents but as individuals with their own limitations, their own past, making them well-rounded, complex, and interesting characters at the same time. I loved the descriptions of nature, especially the sea and the strength and energy it contains, along with its regenerative capacity to soothe the human soul.
A well-crafted thriller, a story told through the collective voices of different characters, with a constant focus on the human psyche and its manifold expressions. Congratulations to MJ White for her debut in the thriller genre: "The Secret Voices" is definitely a highly recommended book.
May 3, 2022
Dr Cora Lael has a gift which is both a blessing and a curse. She’s able to hear voices which are attached to people’s belongings, giving her a unique insight into people’s lives and thoughts. The problem is, she can’t escape these voices, they follow her everywhere.
Hannah Perry is a little girl who has gone missing in the town of St Just. It’s not the first time the town has suffered a disappearance - a young boy was abducted and brutally murdered some years before and the community is bracing itself for a similar fate for Hannah.
DS Rob Minshull is heading up the case and Cora has been brought in to help solve it. It’s a race against time to try and find Hannah and prevent history repeating itself.
The premise of this book is what attracted me to it in the first place as I’m intrigued by people who have psychic abilities. The air of mystery is fantastic and the relationship between Cora and Minshull develops into one of mutual respect after a rocky start. I liked them both and wondered what would happen to Hannah and who had taken her. I didn’t trust her stepfather one bit and as the story gathered pace it became more and more fraught and addictive.
The characters are well developed and the plot is excellent and I loved getting lost in this thriller with a mystical edge.
Hannah Perry is a little girl who has gone missing in the town of St Just. It’s not the first time the town has suffered a disappearance - a young boy was abducted and brutally murdered some years before and the community is bracing itself for a similar fate for Hannah.
DS Rob Minshull is heading up the case and Cora has been brought in to help solve it. It’s a race against time to try and find Hannah and prevent history repeating itself.
The premise of this book is what attracted me to it in the first place as I’m intrigued by people who have psychic abilities. The air of mystery is fantastic and the relationship between Cora and Minshull develops into one of mutual respect after a rocky start. I liked them both and wondered what would happen to Hannah and who had taken her. I didn’t trust her stepfather one bit and as the story gathered pace it became more and more fraught and addictive.
The characters are well developed and the plot is excellent and I loved getting lost in this thriller with a mystical edge.
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