The Secret

by Gemma Rogers

Innocence can be deadly…

Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell

It was supposed to be a summer party for my friends like no other to celebrate our last year of high school.

I’d planned everything to perfection but as the night got underway, I never could have predicted how it ended…

Twenty years later, we are thrown back together when my ‘partner’ from that night is killed in a suspicious car accident.
It turns out we are all being hunted.

Someone is picking us off, one by one, for what we did that night.

Someone knows our secret, and they won’t let us forget it…

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2020

About the author

Gemma Rogers is the bestselling author of gripping domestic thrillers that delve into dark secrets, twisted relationships, and shocking betrayals. Her books often explore the hidden dangers lurking behind closed doors in seemingly perfect families and communities.

Writing for Boldwood Books, Gemma has become known for her fast-paced plots, unpredictable twists, and relatable yet flawed characters. Her novels frequently chart in the psychological suspense and crime thriller categories on Amazon.

If you enjoy tense, emotionally-charged thrillers in the vein of Lisa Jewell, B.A. Paris, or K.L. Slater, you’ll feel right at home with Gemma’s books.

When she’s not plotting her next twist, Gemma enjoys include horror and thriller movies, country walks, swimming and anything involving cake.

With over eleven titles published Gemma's twelfth book, The Stranger at No.6 is out on the 8th September and available to pre-order now.

All the below are standalone titles in publication order:

Stalker (2019)
The Secret (2020) *previously published as Payback*
The Teacher (2020) *previously published as Reckless*
The Mistake (2021) *previously published as Bad Girls*
The Babysitter (2021)
The Feud (2022)
The Neighbour (2023)
The Good Wife (2023)
The Flatmate (2023)
The Honeymoon (2024)
The Night Shift (2025)
The Stranger at No. 6 (2025)

Follow her on:

X/Twitter: gemmarogers79
Facebook & Instagram: GemmaRogersAuthor

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ A Twisty and Gripping Thriller, with an Engrossing and Gritty Plot. An Unputdownable Must Read!

Payback is a Gripping, Engrossing and Taut Thriller that i devoured in two nights I struggled to put it down!

Wow! What a Taut and Thrilling Read.
It literally kept me on tender hooks the whole time!
I loved how page by page it ramped up the tension until it became impossible to know who to trust.
At times it was really chilling it felt almost like i was reading a psychological thriller.
So many secrets just when I thought I sussed things out another curve ball was thrown into the mix.

I'm not going to discuss the plot in too much detail as the blurb pretty much tells you what you need to know.
But don't be fooled! This story is so much more!
Yes it's about a group of teenage friends who plan to lose their virginity together, not literally incase your picturing an orgy lol
But something happens that night that no one is aware of. Someone is keeping dark secrets.

Fast forward several years, the friends as you do, move on and drift apart. But the death of one of them brings them back in contact.
As sinister things start to happen... Anonymous Cards with threats appear, a dead rat on the doorstep,.... just who is behind the threats and why?
What happened that night?
As Secrets have a way of slipping out and Truths are revealed the threats start escalating and so does the danger level.

Can they find out who is behind the threats before someone else dies!

This is my first book by Gemma Rogers and I'm so glad I discovered her book. I can't wait to read more.
Her writing is gritty, pacy, easy to read, flows along seamlessly and the chapters are short and snappy just how I like them.

The Characters are Perfectly Written and evoked the right emotions you expect from this genre. Some Characters I really liked, others not so much. Sophie the main character drove me insane at times but if I was being stalked I guess I might be irrational like her!

What I did really enjoy was that the chapters were written in past and present, it was easy to follow and very relevant to the plot.
It gave a nice build up as the reader gets to discover the lead up to how and why Sophie and her friends are being stalked.
Which also helped to create that chilling atmospheric pressure that kept on building.

I loved all the cleverly plotted twists and turns galore, I seriously thought I had things sussed then a cheeky curve ball I didn't see coming was thrown into the mix.
It wasn't till nearly the end I worked it out. Which I appreciated as I don't like it when things are revealed too soon.

If you love Twisty Thrillers that are gripping, a lil bit chilling and sinister at times, keep you guessing, have an Engrossing Plot, then
Payback is the Must Read Book For You!
Gemma Rogers is definitely going on my Authors to watch out for list!

Thank you to Boldwood Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.





My Review is also on my Blog Website :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Payback
By: Gemma Rogers


*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
When you were in high school, did you have a core group of friends? Did you make pacts to do things that you now realize were actually reckless or really stupid? Told in past and present perspectives, we meet Sophie White and her friends in 1997 as they make a deal to all lose their innocence before their last year of school. When all is said and done, one couple in this group will not discuss the true happenings of the fateful night when innocence was lost, but why they remain tight lipped is unknown. Then, we see Sophie White in present day. I won't give too much away, but recent strange and deadly events point to that night in Sophie's past. What really happened? As Sophie gets in touch with her friends from 1997, details begin to surface about the truth, and it's clear someone wants payback. The question is why and why now? Justice? Revenge? Regardless, the secrets held by the past have resurfaced to haunt those involved. This story is a thrilling and suspenseful read with twists and turns aplenty. I enjoyed the guessing game of who did what back then. Sophie is an interesting character with genuine flaws and characteristics. My overall impression of Payback is favorable, and I recommend it for fans of mystery, suspense and drama.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie is being stalked by someone from her past. She had made a pact with her friends twenty years ago. They thought it was a good idea to lose their virginity to each other on the same night. Her dad was an estate agent, so Sophie takes the keys to an empty house. But Sophie lost touch with her friends, she was the only one who hadn't moved away. She eventually takes over her dad's business when he retires. But things start happening that have links to the night twenty years ago.

The story goes back and forward in time from 1970 to the present day. Things start happening, the first being someone getting killed in a road accident. This is a tense and gripping read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. I did guess correctly where this story was going but it did not spoil the book. I read this book in one sitting. This is my first read by the author, but it won't be my last.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldworldBooks and the author #GemmaRogers for my ARC of #Payback in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather R · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. Listened because it was free on Audible. The narration is excellent, and in a way, I found the long-winded descriptions of every minute detail to be charming. For me it felt like listening to my ex’s mom — a very sweet British lady— discuss her shopping at the green grocer and who she’d seen at the store. Exhaustive but adorable detail. Unfortunately, this was not a very thrilling thriller. It was 99% predictable and there were way, way, WAY too many hypothetical questions. Who would do such a thing? And why would they do it?? And what would they do next???? And more importantly… who CARES????

If I had a recommendation to the author, it would be to pen “cozy mysteries.” Of course, I don’t personally care for cozies at all—but I think this style of writing would work better in that genre.

[SueCanaan · Rating 2 out of 5]

My bad. This is totally on me.

This was an audible freebie and it wasn’t on my Goodreads shelves so I downloaded it. Then I began the audio and it asked me if I wanted to start it where I left off. Sooo, that means at one time I’d been listening and dnf’d. With nothing else in the queue I thought “why not?”

About 9 hours later I knew why I should not have tried again.

Hated the plot. Teens led by Miss Bossy decide to pair off with a group of boys, steal the key to a house for sale from Miss Bossy’s family real estate business, have sex at the empty home …..and fast forward to adulthood. I knew the entire, and I mean ENTIRE time, who was the modern day bad guy and why.

Miss Bossy had no clue.

Save yourself.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the authors latest 2 books and wanted to read her previous books so started with this one ‘The Secret’
I read a lot 😀 and lots of books are based on Secrets,however none have been based around a Secret like the one a group of friends have in this book, what they did as teenagers has come back to haunt them…..in the form of threats,murder and mayhem
I liked the main character and found her believable in her thoughts and actions,the writing was good and the story,as said,unusual and even though I guessed the baddie fairly early on it didn’t matter and didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book
A good pyschological whodunit and whydunit cautionary tale

[Rayni · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG. And not in a good way.

A complete waste of time. I never (almost never, anyway) stop reading a book. Even the worst of the worst. And this one was one of the worst of the worst. And, true to form, I did not stop reading. Mores the pity.

So...three fifteen year old girls decide they want to lose their virginity. The leader of the group decides to hook the girls up with a friend (who secretly likes her) and his two friends. The leader rigs the "partner drawing" to ensure that her friend gets the guy who likes her, Gareth. Before the three couples go to their respective rooms, Gareth tells leader girl that he wishes he was paired with her. Oh well, says leader girl.

The partner for Gareth was Haley (I think). She begins acting strange and leaves town after the coupling party. A fifteen year old has sex and leaves town a month or so later. Hmmm? What could be the problem? But, and I am not kidding here, that was "The Secret". Hard to believe....

Fast forward fifteen or twenty years and leader girl is now running a real estate office that was inherited from her father. Most of the rest of the "story" goes like this: She has employees. She sees houses. She eats food. She wears clothes. She talks to people. She drives a car. Someone begins harassing her. She finds out Gareth was killed in a car wreck. She worries. She makes connections with the old group. She worries. She is harassed. She worries. She dates one of the old group. They worry together. And so on. I am actually mimicking the writing style of the author, although I think my version is more interesting.

There is so much unnecessary mind-numbing detail in this book. At one point the author actually describes how the lead person's mother made her peanut butter toast and handed it to her in the morning. It was not a quick description.

My recommendation? Read this one if you want to be bored with mind-numbing detail and a plot that makes absolutely no sense.

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely slow start. Usually I can get through a book of this length in just a couple days but it took even longer than that to grab me.
Once it did it was a rather interesting concept and I enjoyed the dual time lines as well as the pettiness of the antagonist.
Unfortunately most of it was predictable, I guessed quite a few things pretty early on but rhe story was still enjoyable overall.

[Kelsie Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Payback is a gripping new thriller by Gemma Rogers.

As a teenager Sophie White organized a party for her and her friends to lose their virginity to their guy pals. Twenty years later, the group gathers after the death of one of the guys, Gareth. His car accident is followed by threatening notes being sent to Sophie. How did a pact made as teens lead to a campaign of harassment after twenty years? Someone wants vengeance, but who? Sophie is scared but determined to find the culprit.

Payback is a real thriller, revealed through shifting timelines (1997/2018) from the perspective of the main character, Sophie. Flashbacks can be tricky and confusing but Ms Rogers handles them seamlessly with appropriate chapter headers. I was totally engrossed and didn’t want to put the book down. The characters are strong, vibrant and well-developed with complete backstories. The suspenseful plot kept me guessing, incorrectly, until the very end. I loved it and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. If you like thrillers, grab this one and prepare to be intrigued.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I actually enjoyed listening to this reasonably well-narrated book, I found it a little unnecessarily long, predictable and implausible. Not a bad book, but not the best.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free audiobook. Well narrated. Was predictable but would recommend.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable. Had it solved way early.

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not only a terrific thriller it’s also a great nostalgic trip to the 90’s. Any book that has a dual timeline I normally favour one over the other, not the case here at all. The mention of Rimmel Heather Shimmer did bring a smile to my face, although it was late 80’s when I wore it being a decade older than Sophie the protagonist.

I really liked Sophie and you don’t understand why she is being targeted. Yes she made some mistakes but what teenager doesn’t? But as it flicks back and forth you learn more of what happened that fateful night and more potential suspects come to the fore. I was guessing nearly everyone at some point.

The pace is great right from the start but towards the end the tension mounts until the denouement when all is revealed. I did guess who was behind it all but in no way did it spoil my enjoyment.

The only criticism I have strangely enough is the cover. I see this type of cover mostly on gangland thrillers and I personally would lose the woman.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free on audible so thought I’d give it a try. I feel like it had a good story line but it was dragged out and predictable. Not a bad listen though.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

New author to me and I love a new author. So when Payback by Gemma Rogers came out I had to read it. What a brilliant book this was. I just loVed it and was hooked from the very first few pages. Its full of twists and turns and so twisted! It was very hard to put down.

Sophie White tells the story from her point of view. It's set when she was a teenager in 1997 to the present day. Sophie and three of her girlfriends decide they want to loose their innocence before the summer is over and the last year of school. Sophie holds a big party and invites her childhood buddy Gareth and his mates to make it easier for them all to have some fun and hoping they will loose their innocence with them.

However, things to not go to plan!

Why?

They all go their separate way,

Many years go by and Sophie's group of friends are brought back together but not in a good way. Gareth is killed in a car accident and Sophie's has started to receive threatening messages and she does not know who is leaving them! The party Sophie arranged twenty years ago was not so innocent after all!

Who is sending her these messages and Why?

I definitely recommend this book and will find time to read Gemma's first book called The Stalker which was the first book 10th September last year.

Big Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Gemma Rogers the Author for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It passed the time. That was about all.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was like the plot of a movie, and here I was in the starring role, unable to connect the dots. I imagined there'd be thousands of people shouting at the screen at my stupidity. I couldn't sleuth my way out of a paper bag.

No, Sophie, you could not. And you are stupid. Honestly. so many times, you should have called the police. Or, at the end when the detective is on the way, wait for him instead of going off on your own?

This storyline had potential, but there was a lot of repetition and filler. Example-- there was a whole paragraph about Robin shoplifting in the 1997 storyline, and how her friends did not like it when she did it while they were with her. Then, in the 2018 storyline, when Robin mentions getting in trouble at age 19 for shoplifting, the author makes sure to explain to us that Robin used to shoplift, and it made her friends nervous. We already knew that.

I kept waiting for this to get dark and suspenseful, but despite all the scary things that the (very obvious) villain was doing, it never got there. I just knew so early on what the truth about that night was, who the stalker was, and why they were doing the things they were doing.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book at all. I didn't like the story, the characters, the drama, the writing. None of it. Only thing it had going for it was the pace of the book was decent. Simply, just not for me.

[Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didnot want to put this book down, it kept me turning the pages just so I could read more, it didnot disappoint. What a brilliant book. First book I have read by this Author

[Lauren ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Main character was very stupid. 2/5

[Chronicler of Creepy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is currently available via Audible Plus until 8/10/2023! It is also available on Kindle Unlimited for those who prefer ebooks.

The Secret by Gemma Rogers is a unique tale that meshes past and future. Sophie and her friends were generally good kids and stayed out of trouble, but one summer night in their teens they got into some mischief together. Unaware of any repercussions, Sophie continues her life and we fast forward to the present where she's now in her mid 30s.

Unfortunately, strange things start occurring following the sudden death of one of these school friends. And it seems to be tied to that night, more than 20 years ago...

This book is recommended for fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell, and Liane Moriarty. As a huge fan of Jewell, I'd say you might like this but it's got a more... Casual feel. There are real life pop culture references and I think the language and style is not as advanced. That's not to say it's bad, just different.

Rating

★★★☆☆

The reason I can't give this book a four is that I felt Sophie—was made to be dumb in order to facilitate the plot. That's frustrating to me. Rogers wrote her to ignore all common sense and even points it out directly in the book itself:

"It was like the plot of a movie, and here I was in the starring role, unable to connect the dots. I imagined there'd be thousands of people shouting at the screen at my stupidity. I couldn't sleuth myself out of a paper bag."

That just didn't sit well with me. Otherwise I enjoyed the concept and conclusion, it just could have been executed better without forcing the main character to be less than.

In particular, She was told repeatedly by police and others to vacate the flat and stay somewhere else for her safety, but she wouldn't. This is absolutely ridiculous because we know the perp has access to the flat, as well as the real estate business downstairs because of the things they left behind. I can't believe Sophie—who is intelligent and capable—would stay in a place where she knows she isn't safe.

Format

I listened to this from Audible and it was narrated by Georgia Maguire who did a fine job. I like British narrators and I enjoyed her interviewing the author at the end. I just don't think that Rogers is for me unfortunately.

[Blanche Devereaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was decent in the way that you were invested in the different characters to an extent. However the pace was so slowwwwwwww that I was over it toward the middle of the book. The end was also very predictable. Meh!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read, reviewed and absolutely loved Gemma's debut novel 'Stalker'. I have been impatiently waiting for her to release her second novel. Well ladies and gents, the wait is finally over because Gemma's second book 'Payback' was released on 9th January 2020. Gemma has done it again and she has written one hell of a fantastic read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
I wasn't quite sure what to make of Sophie, who is the main character of this book. When we meet her in the present day, she is an estate agent and she has taken on the running of her father's business. She comes across as being a workaholic, devious, cold woman. She doesn't have many if any friends and the only socialising she seems to do is with one of the people, who works for her. Something happened when she was a lot younger which still affects her to this day. Back then she was a schoolgirl with quite a close and small network of friends. They had planned to all do the same thing at the same time but I won't go into any more specifics than that as I would hate to spoil the book for anybody. Needless to say that it didn't go to plan. In the years following this incident, the friends have drifted apart and left the village or town- all apart from Sophie that is. I think that she has thrown herself into her work to forget. The group of friends drifts back together following the death of one of them. At the same time Sophie finds herself the victim of a few unsettling and unnerving incidences. What was it that happened back in the day? What went wrong? Why is Sophie the victim of somebody's hatred? What does fate have in store for Sophie and her former school friends? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It took me no time to all to get into this story. In fact I was addicted to the book from the moment I read the synopsis never mind from when I started to read the story itself. I had an inkling that I was going to love this book from the start and I did. Reading this book became an addiction that I was not willing to break under any circumstances. Once I started to read that was it, I did not put my Kindle down again. The book literally travelled everywhere with me. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see whether my suspicions were correct or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. The pages seemed to turn really quickly and I seemed to motor through the story. I soon reached the end of this gritty, well plotted and fast paced book, which I was gutted about. I don't mean that I was disappointed with how the story ended but I was enjoying the book so much that I just wanted it to carry on and on.
'Payback' is brilliantly written. The author captures your attention from the start and much as an angler reeling in a catch, the author reels you in. Gemma writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself. I found that I went through every experience and emotion that the different characters went through. Gemma certainly kept my attention throughout the book and she certainly kept me guessing. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout. The book is written using two different timelines, which run parallel to each other. One of the timelines describes events as they happened back in 1997 and the other timeline describes things as they happen in the present day. I did wonder if this way of telling the story might be a bit confusing but I needn't have worried because the two timelines interlinked really well and the story flowed seamlessly as a result. I loved the fact that part of the story took me back to 1997, when I had just finished my 'A Levels'. I had a nostalgic trip into my own past as I was of a similar age to those in the story and I recognised a lot of the cultural references that were made.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Payback' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Gemma's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the summer before their senior year, a group of eight high schoolers plans a secret party during which they all lose their virginity. The events of this particular night have changed many lives. Twenty years later, someone is targeting the group, and they are out for bloody revenge.

The Secret by Gemma Rogers begins with a bang, which had me excited but as the story progressed there were times when I lost interest and my attention wavered. The characters in the book were okay. I would have liked more suspense. Overall, it was a good read.

[Aloha4Ever · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main character was TSTL.

[Bef · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read but predicable

[Jenny Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5.
The writing style was great but the ending and the culprit were sadly too obvious from mid-way through the book to keep me invested. Some of the characters' actions felt unnatural, too. The author did try to mislead the readers but it just got me to finish the book and realize my suspicions were all spot-on. I will try more from this author though as I did like their writing style and I hope I'll be more into another of their stories.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year I read my first book by Gemma Rogers called Stalker so when I had the opportunity to read Payback I was so excited!

It did not dissappoint! Set in dual time lines we follow Sophie. The first timeline is set in 1997 where Sophie and her teenage friends decide to make a pact to meet at a house her father is selling. The Pact to pair up together and lose their virginity before they finish highschool, no strings attached, no pregnancies, and no one tells anyone! Nothing could possibly go wrong in this senerio right?
Then 20 years later this group in brought back together when one of them dies in a car accident. Sophie starts to get strange messages and weird things start occuring to not only her but some of the others involved in that crazy night in 1997.
Payback is a great thriller! I was hooked right from the start and devoured this as I just needed to find out both what unfolded in 1997, and who was behind the messages 20 years later. Definitely would recommend to my thriller loving friends!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIBLE EDITION ~ Narrated by Georgia Maguire

Enjoyable, well-paced and British!
I do so prefer British audiobooks! Indeed! I chose this book because of the perfectly skilled duo of Gemma Rogers and Georgia Maguire. Brilliant author Rogers creates an intricate and curious “Secret” between several young friends. Maguire’s narrative vocals are spot-on as she brings each character to vivid life. I thought I caught the two clues as to who was responsible for the mysteriously devious events throughout. Was I? Maybe, maybe not. Following several friends’ storylines from past and present, we are treated to a complexellent suspenseful thriller. I lucked out, as it was in the Audible Plus catalogue at no expense. After a few disappointing starts from my vast Audible library, “The Secret” was the preferable choice and I was content. Recommended with 🍒 🍒 🍒 on top, I look forward to more by these talented women. An awesome nod to Audible and those responsible for making this captivating thriller available.

[Judy Cannioto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a well- written page turner. The premise was a bit odd to me, but that may have more to do with the era of my teenage years. A teen in the 60’s had different challenges and expectations than the characters in this story who were teenagers in the 90’s. I did trust that the events of their teen years had led the adult characters to the terrifying consequences of this thriller, since there is truth to the idea that our experiences in childhood , and certainly as teens, can impact our adulthood. This is central to the plot of this book, so the reader’s acceptance that the impact of childhood events can be long-lasting will determine whether they engage in their reading of it. Add mentally unhealthy and revenge-seeking qualities of an antagonist and thus book is more plausible and engaging. The imagery adds to the reader’s experience and supports the character development. I enjoyed this read and am impressed with the author.