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Children's Secret
Eva Day is enjoying the last few days of summer.It's hard to believe only a few months ago she moved to this sleepy New Hampshire town from England with her husband and daughter. The Days are settling into their new community well, although Eva's daughter Lily has been withdrawn; she's missing home.But Eva has the perfect distraction for the Wrights - another family in town - are throwing a back-to-school party for their son, a great opportunity for Lily to start making new friends. The problem is it's well-known that the Wrights have guns on their farm, and other parents in the town are reluctant to play at the house.In an attempt to bring families together, Eva convinces all the other mothers in her circle - bar one - to attend the party. It's a beautiful day, and adults and children alike having a wonderful time. Until the happy atmosphere is shattered by a gunshot ringing out from the barn where the children are playing.What follows is a tense and claustrophobic story about a tight-knit community fracturing, and the eventual healing process after the children's secret is revealed.
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First published January 1, 2021
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About the author
Virginia Macgregor
11 books165 followersI was brought up in Germany, France and England by a mother who never stopped telling stories. From the moment I was old enough to hold a pen, I set about writing my own, often late into the night – or behind my Maths textbook at school. My maiden name is Virginia Woods: I was named after two great women, Virginia Wade and Virginia Woolf, in the hope I would be a writer and a tennis star. My early years were those of a scribbling, rain-loving child who prayed for lightning to strike my tennis coach.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
June 29, 2021
1.5 stars
thanks for the arc to netgalley and crooked lane books in exchange for an honest review.
This is a free-spoiler review.
First of all, let me clear something.
America is NOT just the United States. It's a fucking continent that includes 35 countries, including my country, yes. But I'm not gonna name all of the 35 countries (North America, Central America, South America and the Carribean). It's a big issue whenever I hear/read "America" just making reference to the US. No, people. Let's not minimize or ignore the other countries.
In Spanish, we don't call it "americans". We call it "estadounidenses" and that's exactly how I'm gonna refer to them, or US to the country. Not America.
In one of my Cultural Studies class, someone asked us "What's America?" and I clearly said this: "America is a continent, but people (I'm not saying everyone, ok?) tend to think first in the US, when it's not like that. Hola, amixes, sí, existimos. No sólo es Estados Unidos; hay muchos países que hablamos español y que existimos también. Gracias."
Now, let's move to the review.
I'm terribly disappointed. I honestly thought that this book was gonna be filled with mystery/thriller, but I found myself getting bored and predicting many "plot twists" of this book.
"Nothing ever happens in a sleepy town like Middlebrook. Until the residents are shaken to their core, when one hot Saturday afternoon, at a back-to-school party, nine children sneak into a barn...and only eight come out unharmed.
The press immediately starts asking questions. What type of parents let their children play unsupervised in a house with guns? What kind of child pulls the trigger on their friend? And most importantly: of the nine children who were present in that barn, which one actually pulled the trigger, and why are the others staying silent?"
That's the synopsis of this book. So, I told myself "this gonna be amazING", and guess who's not amazed anymore with this? Yup, me.
Let's start with the characters.
We have six families involved in this problem. It's supossed that we have different characters and personalities, but they all felt the same: empty and flat. All the characters lacked of personality and I got to think that all of them were the same.
The adults think and speak like children. And the children think and speak like adults. Oh my Gods. This was confusing and amusing at the same time. The adults seemed more like children and viceversa. And it wasn't a funny thing trying to figure it out if the one who was talking was a child or an adult.
The writing wasn't something that I liked. Also, many of the dialogues weren't logical at all.
There was this character, Priscilla, who kept repeating people's words, but in questions.
Here, let me show you.
"No, but I'm saying there have been suggestions that she's unpopular."
"Unpopular?"
And so it goes.
Now, the "plot."
I didn't find one. And I ketp guessing several "plot twists".
Also, I dont' quite know if this was about the kids's secret, the guns or what.
First, I don't know how's the thing of firearms on the US, how los estadounidenses deal with it, but I guess there are laws that say that you need some permissions to have a gun legally. Well, unfortunately, here the thing is different.
In my country, you still need to have permit to carry a gun, to keep it on your house, etc. But the detail is this: people has guns ilegally, gangs sell them and all that bullshit, so you can get one really easily. I'm not normalizing this. No. But we're so used to read in the newspaper about some shooting, or to see in the news that some gang killed someone.
Latinoamérica, pls, saben de qué estoy hablando y no me van a dejar mentir con que es terriblemente común que por día haya más de 10 muertos debido a algún arma de fuego. Y, además, contemos a aquellos de los que nunca se sabe nada que han muerto. Estamos acostumbrados a ello, con que cerca de donde vivimos haya tiroteos o disparos con regularidad (incluso donde yo vivo se da eso) porque, equis, ✨somos✨ tercermundistas✨.
Dealing with guns is serious, people. I'm still trying to understand how people can feel safe knowing that are firearms on their houses. I'd be scared as hell. Yes, it's some people work to carry guns, but teaching to your own kids (mostly, minors) to shoot? That's so twisted. I don't know how the US works with this, but it's fucked up.
This book touches that topic: guns. Priscilla tries to make people realize that it's not right to have firearms on people's houses and I honestly agree. I mean, her daughter was hurted and almost dies because someone shooted at her. tHEY'RE ALL KIDS OF ELEVEN AND THIRTEEN YEARS OLD. OH MY FUCKING GODS. How or why the fuck do y'all normalize have guns on their houses? Nu-uh, this is a big no from me.
This is a big deal, honestly. And at the end, all it's forgiven because... They were children. I mean, I don't blame or excuse that, but I do blame the fact that parents normalize that shit and feel like it's their duty to have them.
I felt this book very white. And the only poc was like "yeah, I wanna be AmErIcAn".
I guess this book would've been good if there were real and actual mystery and thriller on it. Not just a bunch of kids and adults (you don't know who is who anymore) keeping secrets and repeatint each others' final words.
So, nope.
thanks for the arc to netgalley and crooked lane books in exchange for an honest review.
This is a free-spoiler review.
First of all, let me clear something.
America is NOT just the United States. It's a fucking continent that includes 35 countries, including my country, yes. But I'm not gonna name all of the 35 countries (North America, Central America, South America and the Carribean). It's a big issue whenever I hear/read "America" just making reference to the US. No, people. Let's not minimize or ignore the other countries.
In Spanish, we don't call it "americans". We call it "estadounidenses" and that's exactly how I'm gonna refer to them, or US to the country. Not America.
In one of my Cultural Studies class, someone asked us "What's America?" and I clearly said this: "America is a continent, but people (I'm not saying everyone, ok?) tend to think first in the US, when it's not like that. Hola, amixes, sí, existimos. No sólo es Estados Unidos; hay muchos países que hablamos español y que existimos también. Gracias."
Now, let's move to the review.
I'm terribly disappointed. I honestly thought that this book was gonna be filled with mystery/thriller, but I found myself getting bored and predicting many "plot twists" of this book.
"Nothing ever happens in a sleepy town like Middlebrook. Until the residents are shaken to their core, when one hot Saturday afternoon, at a back-to-school party, nine children sneak into a barn...and only eight come out unharmed.
The press immediately starts asking questions. What type of parents let their children play unsupervised in a house with guns? What kind of child pulls the trigger on their friend? And most importantly: of the nine children who were present in that barn, which one actually pulled the trigger, and why are the others staying silent?"
That's the synopsis of this book. So, I told myself "this gonna be amazING", and guess who's not amazed anymore with this? Yup, me.
Let's start with the characters.
We have six families involved in this problem. It's supossed that we have different characters and personalities, but they all felt the same: empty and flat. All the characters lacked of personality and I got to think that all of them were the same.
The adults think and speak like children. And the children think and speak like adults. Oh my Gods. This was confusing and amusing at the same time. The adults seemed more like children and viceversa. And it wasn't a funny thing trying to figure it out if the one who was talking was a child or an adult.
The writing wasn't something that I liked. Also, many of the dialogues weren't logical at all.
There was this character, Priscilla, who kept repeating people's words, but in questions.
Here, let me show you.
"No, but I'm saying there have been suggestions that she's unpopular."
"Unpopular?"
And so it goes.
Now, the "plot."
I didn't find one. And I ketp guessing several "plot twists".
Also, I dont' quite know if this was about the kids's secret, the guns or what.
First, I don't know how's the thing of firearms on the US, how los estadounidenses deal with it, but I guess there are laws that say that you need some permissions to have a gun legally. Well, unfortunately, here the thing is different.
In my country, you still need to have permit to carry a gun, to keep it on your house, etc. But the detail is this: people has guns ilegally, gangs sell them and all that bullshit, so you can get one really easily. I'm not normalizing this. No. But we're so used to read in the newspaper about some shooting, or to see in the news that some gang killed someone.
Latinoamérica, pls, saben de qué estoy hablando y no me van a dejar mentir con que es terriblemente común que por día haya más de 10 muertos debido a algún arma de fuego. Y, además, contemos a aquellos de los que nunca se sabe nada que han muerto. Estamos acostumbrados a ello, con que cerca de donde vivimos haya tiroteos o disparos con regularidad (incluso donde yo vivo se da eso) porque, equis, ✨somos✨ tercermundistas✨.
Dealing with guns is serious, people. I'm still trying to understand how people can feel safe knowing that are firearms on their houses. I'd be scared as hell. Yes, it's some people work to carry guns, but teaching to your own kids (mostly, minors) to shoot? That's so twisted. I don't know how the US works with this, but it's fucked up.
This book touches that topic: guns. Priscilla tries to make people realize that it's not right to have firearms on people's houses and I honestly agree. I mean, her daughter was hurted and almost dies because someone shooted at her. tHEY'RE ALL KIDS OF ELEVEN AND THIRTEEN YEARS OLD. OH MY FUCKING GODS. How or why the fuck do y'all normalize have guns on their houses? Nu-uh, this is a big no from me.
This is a big deal, honestly. And at the end, all it's forgiven because... They were children. I mean, I don't blame or excuse that, but I do blame the fact that parents normalize that shit and feel like it's their duty to have them.
I felt this book very white. And the only poc was like "yeah, I wanna be AmErIcAn".
I guess this book would've been good if there were real and actual mystery and thriller on it. Not just a bunch of kids and adults (you don't know who is who anymore) keeping secrets and repeatint each others' final words.
So, nope.
September 8, 2021
Nina Monroe’s first standalone thriller, The Children's Secret is a suburban noir and her fourth published book. In the small town of Middlebrook, a group of children are at play in a barn unsupervised by adults, when one is shot. The blame game begins as the Press questions how, why and exactly who pulled the trigger? The narrative unfolds from multiple perspectives with secrets and personal issues in danger of being exposed. A note of caution as some readers may feel distress due to a medical incident. An intriguing premise and enjoyable read, with the hidden underside of local communities, so common and popular in fiction today. However, the ending was somewhat saccharine and jarring given the engrossing psychology of the story, so only a three-star rating. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes.
May 20, 2022
A children's party meant to celebrate the start of middle school ends tragically when one of the children is shot while playing unsupervised in the stables. When questioned, the children all stick to a pat storyline, hiding the secret of what really happened. So who pulled the trigger?
A multifaceted story of gun violence, media frenzy and bias, friendship and what makes a family.
A multifaceted story of gun violence, media frenzy and bias, friendship and what makes a family.
September 25, 2021
“The Children’s Secret” by Nina Monroe is a shocking tale that reflects upon the long-standing conflict around gun laws and gun safety. Monroe brings to life these fears and tragedies people have around guns in an unspeakable tragedy that tears through family bonds, a community, and a nation as a whole.
The story is split between the perspectives of the children and the adults, all of them impacted by the violence of a tragic incident that has left them shaken. The children refuse to speak of what took place at the party and won't let anyone take the blame for the incident. Swearing themselves to secrecy, they set aside their differences and create an unexpected friendship strengthened by their shared experience.
The families affected by the violent event are torn apart, blaming themselves and those involved for what occurred. While some believe the gun involved in the incident is to blame, others believe something more happened at the party than the children are willing to admit.
Monroe weaves a complicated story that touches on other issues other than gun violence and gun laws in the United States. Each family deals with their own messy problems that are brought to the forefront in light of the violence that happened in their own community—to their own children. Issues of race, classism, divorce, identity, adapting to a new country, and so much more. These issues add layers to the characters themselves who are not only struggling to grapple with the events that happened at the party but who are faced with their own everyday problems that can no longer be ignored.
“The Children’s Secret” is a powerful tale with a strong message. While the shifting perspectives can be confusing at times, it creates a thrilling mystery that readers will be invested in to find out what really took place at the party and whether the families and community will ever be able to overcome the violence that struck their neighborhood.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an e-copy of “The Children’s Secrets” and the opportunity to share my honest thoughts and opinions in this review.
The story is split between the perspectives of the children and the adults, all of them impacted by the violence of a tragic incident that has left them shaken. The children refuse to speak of what took place at the party and won't let anyone take the blame for the incident. Swearing themselves to secrecy, they set aside their differences and create an unexpected friendship strengthened by their shared experience.
The families affected by the violent event are torn apart, blaming themselves and those involved for what occurred. While some believe the gun involved in the incident is to blame, others believe something more happened at the party than the children are willing to admit.
Monroe weaves a complicated story that touches on other issues other than gun violence and gun laws in the United States. Each family deals with their own messy problems that are brought to the forefront in light of the violence that happened in their own community—to their own children. Issues of race, classism, divorce, identity, adapting to a new country, and so much more. These issues add layers to the characters themselves who are not only struggling to grapple with the events that happened at the party but who are faced with their own everyday problems that can no longer be ignored.
“The Children’s Secret” is a powerful tale with a strong message. While the shifting perspectives can be confusing at times, it creates a thrilling mystery that readers will be invested in to find out what really took place at the party and whether the families and community will ever be able to overcome the violence that struck their neighborhood.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an e-copy of “The Children’s Secrets” and the opportunity to share my honest thoughts and opinions in this review.
August 28, 2021
I received a free ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The children's Secret by Nina Monroe had promise. The little excerpt I read hooked me right in.
That's where the positives end for me.
A child got shot in a small suburban town in the USA. No adults saw what happened, and the kids aren't talking.
The beginning was intriguing. We are right there in the middle of the action. The shooting happens, the investigation begins... then nothing,
Literally nothing happened for the next 200 pages of this book. The plot was thin and predictable. The pacing was a slog, which was odd, because with so many perspective changes it should have zipped right along. But then again, there was a lot of repetition. I felt like I read the same phrases over and over again.
This book had 400 pages, at least 100 of those were redundant repetitions.
There was an extensive cast of characters from various backgrounds and walks of life. From your homeschooling "hippie" to a Muslim immigrant family from Pakistan, English immigrants, a couple of foster kids with a bad history, a family with a kid on the spectrum... overall a pretty diverse group of people, yet they all seemed flat and interchangeable. If you didn't change the names, you would never know someone else was talking.
And the characterization left a lot to be desired. Has the author ever actually talked to a parent with a kid on the spectrum? As an autism parent myself I found the portrayal of Bryar's mom entirely unbelievable. "She wanted to get him a diagnosis other than 'on the spectrum', something treatable." On the spectrum is a diagnosis. It means he has ASD, and there are treatment options, yet besides some music therapy none of that was mentioned. But an end of summer party was going to be the answer to his social isolation? Hmm...
But I digress.
Pricilla, the victim's mom was equally insufferable, as well as unrealistic. Not only was she incredibly hostile (ok, I will give her that, she IS in a lot of distress), but the way she argued with everybody by passive-aggressively spitting their questions back in their faces, was just beyond annoying. Was this supposed to be a lawyer thing? I don't know, but it felt immature and grated on my last nerve.
And from one mother to another....
[possible spoiler} So if your kid is in a coma at the hospital after getting shot, do you jet out of town for a TV interview to peddle your political agenda? I can't imagine what it would feel like to be in that position, but even less can I imagine leaving my child's side for that.
Lastly, the political agenda itself was just... too much.
For context, I am a European immigrant living in a Texas suburb. I am the mother of an autistic child, whom I homeschool and a firm believer that owning firearms causes more harm than good. (None of this makes me an expert on any of that, so this is just my personal opinion, but I did see myself in quite a few of these characters.) I was annoyed. 75% of this book was anti-gun agenda and the actual tragedy of a child getting shot by her peers was almost just a side note. The characters reacted in ways that felt inauthentic, just to fit into the agenda. And even as someone who typically sits on this side of the aisle as far as that debate goes, I felt clobbered by it. If you are preaching to the choir and the choir turns on you, you have a problem.
I really am sorry that I have no good things to say about this book... after all this is someone's baby. Her pride and joy. So I tried. I read every single last word to the very end, but it just didn't come together in a satisfactory way for me.
The children's Secret by Nina Monroe had promise. The little excerpt I read hooked me right in.
That's where the positives end for me.
A child got shot in a small suburban town in the USA. No adults saw what happened, and the kids aren't talking.
The beginning was intriguing. We are right there in the middle of the action. The shooting happens, the investigation begins... then nothing,
Literally nothing happened for the next 200 pages of this book. The plot was thin and predictable. The pacing was a slog, which was odd, because with so many perspective changes it should have zipped right along. But then again, there was a lot of repetition. I felt like I read the same phrases over and over again.
This book had 400 pages, at least 100 of those were redundant repetitions.
There was an extensive cast of characters from various backgrounds and walks of life. From your homeschooling "hippie" to a Muslim immigrant family from Pakistan, English immigrants, a couple of foster kids with a bad history, a family with a kid on the spectrum... overall a pretty diverse group of people, yet they all seemed flat and interchangeable. If you didn't change the names, you would never know someone else was talking.
And the characterization left a lot to be desired. Has the author ever actually talked to a parent with a kid on the spectrum? As an autism parent myself I found the portrayal of Bryar's mom entirely unbelievable. "She wanted to get him a diagnosis other than 'on the spectrum', something treatable." On the spectrum is a diagnosis. It means he has ASD, and there are treatment options, yet besides some music therapy none of that was mentioned. But an end of summer party was going to be the answer to his social isolation? Hmm...
But I digress.
Pricilla, the victim's mom was equally insufferable, as well as unrealistic. Not only was she incredibly hostile (ok, I will give her that, she IS in a lot of distress), but the way she argued with everybody by passive-aggressively spitting their questions back in their faces, was just beyond annoying. Was this supposed to be a lawyer thing? I don't know, but it felt immature and grated on my last nerve.
And from one mother to another....
[possible spoiler} So if your kid is in a coma at the hospital after getting shot, do you jet out of town for a TV interview to peddle your political agenda? I can't imagine what it would feel like to be in that position, but even less can I imagine leaving my child's side for that.
Lastly, the political agenda itself was just... too much.
For context, I am a European immigrant living in a Texas suburb. I am the mother of an autistic child, whom I homeschool and a firm believer that owning firearms causes more harm than good. (None of this makes me an expert on any of that, so this is just my personal opinion, but I did see myself in quite a few of these characters.) I was annoyed. 75% of this book was anti-gun agenda and the actual tragedy of a child getting shot by her peers was almost just a side note. The characters reacted in ways that felt inauthentic, just to fit into the agenda. And even as someone who typically sits on this side of the aisle as far as that debate goes, I felt clobbered by it. If you are preaching to the choir and the choir turns on you, you have a problem.
I really am sorry that I have no good things to say about this book... after all this is someone's baby. Her pride and joy. So I tried. I read every single last word to the very end, but it just didn't come together in a satisfactory way for me.
July 31, 2021
In The Children’s Secret by Nina Monroe, a back-to-school party in the small New Hampshire town of Middlebrook, is marred by tragedy when an eleven year old guest is shot in the chest, and the children, whom were out of sight of the adults in a barn, refuse to explain how it happened.
Unfolding from multiple perspectives, the narrative explores the impact of the shooting and its aftermath.
The characters are diverse, which I appreciate, but it does feel a little contrived, in that the cast tick just about every minority box.
As the parents look to lay, or deflect blame, they find themselves wrestling with various concerns, not just those that relate directly to the tragedy, but also personal problems, ranging from a crisis of faith to a troublesome pregnancy, as well as social issues such as racism, prejudice, media distortion, and political expediency. I felt the personal issues were largely unnecessary distractions though, given the complex and divisive subjects related to the main subject at hand.
I think Monroe manages to be fairly even-handed in her examination of the gun control debate. Studies show that in the US around 3000 children are killed or injured per year in incidents where a gun is accidentally/unintentionally fired by a child under the age of 17*. I believe in gun control. In an ideal world I do not believe any ordinary citizen should own a gun except in very specific instances, and no semi or automatic weapons without exception. I believe in gun registration, background checks, age restrictions, licences/permits, storage requirements, and limits on ownership.
Though as The Children’s Secret shows, none of that necessarily precludes a tragedy (though it was still avoidable, and could have been worse). As the nine children, aged from four to thirteen, steadfastly repeat the same story about the shooting that explains almost nothing, the mystery of the novel rests in discovering how the children gained access to the gun, exactly what happened in the barn, who fired the shot that struck the victim, and why. I found my need for answers to be sufficient motivation to keep reading.
The novel’s tight timeline (it unfolds over the period of about a week) and short chapters helps the story to progress at a good pace. I did feel there were some some flaws in the writing, but nothing egregious.
Provocative and thoughtful, The Children’s Secret has the potential to elicit strong reactions among its readers.
Unfolding from multiple perspectives, the narrative explores the impact of the shooting and its aftermath.
The characters are diverse, which I appreciate, but it does feel a little contrived, in that the cast tick just about every minority box.
As the parents look to lay, or deflect blame, they find themselves wrestling with various concerns, not just those that relate directly to the tragedy, but also personal problems, ranging from a crisis of faith to a troublesome pregnancy, as well as social issues such as racism, prejudice, media distortion, and political expediency. I felt the personal issues were largely unnecessary distractions though, given the complex and divisive subjects related to the main subject at hand.
I think Monroe manages to be fairly even-handed in her examination of the gun control debate. Studies show that in the US around 3000 children are killed or injured per year in incidents where a gun is accidentally/unintentionally fired by a child under the age of 17*. I believe in gun control. In an ideal world I do not believe any ordinary citizen should own a gun except in very specific instances, and no semi or automatic weapons without exception. I believe in gun registration, background checks, age restrictions, licences/permits, storage requirements, and limits on ownership.
Though as The Children’s Secret shows, none of that necessarily precludes a tragedy (though it was still avoidable, and could have been worse). As the nine children, aged from four to thirteen, steadfastly repeat the same story about the shooting that explains almost nothing, the mystery of the novel rests in discovering how the children gained access to the gun, exactly what happened in the barn, who fired the shot that struck the victim, and why. I found my need for answers to be sufficient motivation to keep reading.
The novel’s tight timeline (it unfolds over the period of about a week) and short chapters helps the story to progress at a good pace. I did feel there were some some flaws in the writing, but nothing egregious.
Provocative and thoughtful, The Children’s Secret has the potential to elicit strong reactions among its readers.
July 5, 2021
This was a really gripping read.
10 children are in a barn. A gun goes off. What happened and whose fault is it?
The story is told from several points of view - some of the children and some of the parents. When reading it, I would think some of the parents were bring unfair. Then I would read their side of the story, and see their point.
I thought I knew ahead of time what happened in that barn and I was wrong.
The voices of the children, the parents - everyone rang true.
I really liked how the issue of gun control came up and how the book took a stance, but was not preachy in any way. I liked how this event might have broken relationships, but it healed them too. Overall, I thought this was a very good book.
I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review (trust me - you should see some of my reviews).
10 children are in a barn. A gun goes off. What happened and whose fault is it?
The story is told from several points of view - some of the children and some of the parents. When reading it, I would think some of the parents were bring unfair. Then I would read their side of the story, and see their point.
I thought I knew ahead of time what happened in that barn and I was wrong.
The voices of the children, the parents - everyone rang true.
I really liked how the issue of gun control came up and how the book took a stance, but was not preachy in any way. I liked how this event might have broken relationships, but it healed them too. Overall, I thought this was a very good book.
I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review (trust me - you should see some of my reviews).
August 17, 2021
A powerful story of modern day small town neighborhoods. Anything is possible and anything can happen. In today’s climate it was a very believable tale and because of that it was quite emotional to read. The children were easy to understand and easy to root for. Everything had a reason even if it was a hard one to grasp. Sometimes friendships can trump tragedies.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc
Thank you NetGalley for this arc
July 3, 2021
An extremely well nuanced take on guns and the effect they can have.
I won’t lie- I’m from Texas and I shot my first gun at church camp when I was around 9- a .22 rifle. I also see all the gun deaths in America and wish we had more common sense gun laws.
When I read the first couple chapters, I was worried this was going to be a book of GUNS R BAD NO EXCEPTIONS, but the author wrote an extremely well nuanced novel about the effects they can have, and how a gun in the home can affect children If proper measures are not taken. (And even if most measures are). they also touch on the politics of gun reforms in this novel
I found the story to be captivating, I devoured it over the course of 6 hours. I want to look for more books by the author now, she writes so well and captures a lot of her characters voice in her writing.
I won’t lie- I’m from Texas and I shot my first gun at church camp when I was around 9- a .22 rifle. I also see all the gun deaths in America and wish we had more common sense gun laws.
When I read the first couple chapters, I was worried this was going to be a book of GUNS R BAD NO EXCEPTIONS, but the author wrote an extremely well nuanced novel about the effects they can have, and how a gun in the home can affect children If proper measures are not taken. (And even if most measures are). they also touch on the politics of gun reforms in this novel
I found the story to be captivating, I devoured it over the course of 6 hours. I want to look for more books by the author now, she writes so well and captures a lot of her characters voice in her writing.
June 29, 2021
Nothing brings children together like a secret they get to keep to themselves. But what if that secret contains the answers to how an 11-year-old got shot in their chest?
In the town of Middlebrook, just before school starts, Kaitlin Wright wants to arrange a party for her son Bryar and the kids he'll be going to school with, so that they get to know each other a bit better.
Just opposite to the Wrights live the Carvers, Priscilla Carver along with her daughter Astrid. Due to some past instances Priscilla and the Wrights don't see eye to eye. So Astrid is not allowed to go to Bryar's party, but she does anyway. What happens next, is every mother's worst nightmare.
What I liked the most about this book is how the author explores the psyche of children. The plot really does outshine in that respect.
At the centre of this novel is the issue of Gun Control in America. I thought this was a good enough story to address the rising fatalities due to the unmonitored ownership of arms. This book also asks questions: how much do parents actually know about their children?
There were several characters introduced within the first twenty pages or so and it becomes a bit overwhelming to remember the family names and their relationship to each other. The glossary is present at the end but a small introduction in the beginning would have made things a bit easier, in my opinion. Also, coming to the portrayal of the Sayeeds, a Muslim immigrant family from Pakistan, the stereotype of the woman finding liberation and discovering her true individual self while exploring her faith is getting a bit old, isn't it? I don't find this kind of self exploration with faith in any of the other religious minorities mentioned in books. Do muslims have some kind of autonomy over this field?
In the town of Middlebrook, just before school starts, Kaitlin Wright wants to arrange a party for her son Bryar and the kids he'll be going to school with, so that they get to know each other a bit better.
Just opposite to the Wrights live the Carvers, Priscilla Carver along with her daughter Astrid. Due to some past instances Priscilla and the Wrights don't see eye to eye. So Astrid is not allowed to go to Bryar's party, but she does anyway. What happens next, is every mother's worst nightmare.
What I liked the most about this book is how the author explores the psyche of children. The plot really does outshine in that respect.
At the centre of this novel is the issue of Gun Control in America. I thought this was a good enough story to address the rising fatalities due to the unmonitored ownership of arms. This book also asks questions: how much do parents actually know about their children?
There were several characters introduced within the first twenty pages or so and it becomes a bit overwhelming to remember the family names and their relationship to each other. The glossary is present at the end but a small introduction in the beginning would have made things a bit easier, in my opinion. Also, coming to the portrayal of the Sayeeds, a Muslim immigrant family from Pakistan, the stereotype of the woman finding liberation and discovering her true individual self while exploring her faith is getting a bit old, isn't it? I don't find this kind of self exploration with faith in any of the other religious minorities mentioned in books. Do muslims have some kind of autonomy over this field?
October 28, 2022
*2.5
quick fun mystery that certainly dealt with heavy American topics that could’ve been executed a lot better.
quick fun mystery that certainly dealt with heavy American topics that could’ve been executed a lot better.
June 27, 2021
A children’s party, planned by Kaitlin Wright as a kickoff to the new school year (and a way to encourage her son Bryar to make new friends) goes tragically wrong when a child is shot. Nine children were involved. Eight are interviewed by their parents and the police. Why can’t anyone remember what happened? Or why won’t anyone remember what happened?
The answer to those questions is the secret in The Children’s Secret. These children, who range in age from four to thirteen, demonstrate more control and maturity than their parents. Chief parental villain is Priscilla Carver, a lawyer turned professor and mother of the victim. In her attempt to rally the town (and country) for gun control, she blames her daughter’s injury on all of the children, one by one. Her behavior is upsetting and off putting. The other parents, of course, defend their children. When the secret of what happened is finally revealed, we learn that things are never as simple as they seem.
The Children’s Secret centers on the issue of gun control. Priscilla sees it in black and white only. Kaitlin, in whose barn the shooting took place, knew that her husband kept guns on the property in locked gun safes with ammunition in another location. Another parent is a hunter. So what is the right attitude to have about gun ownership? Can we change gun laws? What is responsible gun use? Of course, those are questions without answers. But thank you to Nina Monroe for bringing them up. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Nina Monroe for this ARC.
The answer to those questions is the secret in The Children’s Secret. These children, who range in age from four to thirteen, demonstrate more control and maturity than their parents. Chief parental villain is Priscilla Carver, a lawyer turned professor and mother of the victim. In her attempt to rally the town (and country) for gun control, she blames her daughter’s injury on all of the children, one by one. Her behavior is upsetting and off putting. The other parents, of course, defend their children. When the secret of what happened is finally revealed, we learn that things are never as simple as they seem.
The Children’s Secret centers on the issue of gun control. Priscilla sees it in black and white only. Kaitlin, in whose barn the shooting took place, knew that her husband kept guns on the property in locked gun safes with ammunition in another location. Another parent is a hunter. So what is the right attitude to have about gun ownership? Can we change gun laws? What is responsible gun use? Of course, those are questions without answers. But thank you to Nina Monroe for bringing them up. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Nina Monroe for this ARC.
June 11, 2021
First, this is slower thriller, for those of you (like me) who usually go for a faster paced or twisty turn one. The whole point is not who did it or why, but how this affected a small-town community and how much change this will bring on. At first, I thought this would be a “problematic child” story and that we’d follow how this one kid became evil enough to shoot a classmate. But the author makes us understand each and everyone of the characters and their motivations and that there’s not one person to blame, but a collectiveness of decisions and sometimes, mistakes. Also, my praising for the author for making a lot of main characters but each one distinctive enough and properly constructed, it’s something really hard to do, especially in a thriller where you can get easily sidetracked with that many people to follow. This was beautifully written and heart wrenching, also an eye opener about standing for what you believe in and fighting for it. I only took a star because even though it was an amazing experience, I thought the forgiveness and believing anyone can change (for the better) that easily was a bit overdone. The ending felt a bit “and all is well in the world” where before, there was a balance. I even liked with the lack of a villain, but everything ended too perfectly.
August 6, 2021
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
I can say I was invested in this book. I wanted to know what truly happened that day. Kids are in a barn, and one gets shot, but how? It is a question that everyone is asking because the children are not saying a word, but why would they be so quiet? As our story unfolds, we learn why they kept the secret, and we see just how well a secret is kept can tear friends, family, and even a community apart. When I started reading, I assumed the author would push an agenda on us about guns being horrible, and they need to be banned. I am thrilled she did not. Though I did get aggravated with one character, who kept just repeating guns being kept in houses and no one should have guns. I understood her meaning behind it all, but it still bothered me. Honestly, small towns that do a lot of hunting will have guns; it is up to the parents to have precautions to prevent accidents like shootings. We are told what is going on via different points of view, and it was easy to with. Overall the story was one you want to keep reading until you find out the ending. No one is perfect, people make mistakes, and sometimes they are deadly. This teaches that sometimes you have to learn not to listen to others when you know their idea is bad. You have to learn how to stand up and say no.
I can say I was invested in this book. I wanted to know what truly happened that day. Kids are in a barn, and one gets shot, but how? It is a question that everyone is asking because the children are not saying a word, but why would they be so quiet? As our story unfolds, we learn why they kept the secret, and we see just how well a secret is kept can tear friends, family, and even a community apart. When I started reading, I assumed the author would push an agenda on us about guns being horrible, and they need to be banned. I am thrilled she did not. Though I did get aggravated with one character, who kept just repeating guns being kept in houses and no one should have guns. I understood her meaning behind it all, but it still bothered me. Honestly, small towns that do a lot of hunting will have guns; it is up to the parents to have precautions to prevent accidents like shootings. We are told what is going on via different points of view, and it was easy to with. Overall the story was one you want to keep reading until you find out the ending. No one is perfect, people make mistakes, and sometimes they are deadly. This teaches that sometimes you have to learn not to listen to others when you know their idea is bad. You have to learn how to stand up and say no.
May 7, 2021
Such an outstandingly powerful book based in a small town where the families dont think a tragedy can strike but strike, one does. A town where you think you know neighbors and their children but do not. A beautifully written mystery with twists and turns I didn’t see coming. A bond so strong that a group of kids stick together, share secrets, have each other’s backs. Marriages falling apart at the hands of what’s right and wrong, a story to tell, and patching things all back together. I absolutely enjoyed this book and could not put it down
July 3, 2021
A complex novel full of surprises covering an incredibly complicated, sensitive topic. Nina Monroe does a really great job of fleshing out so many of the facets of the gun debate, the strong feelings that surround it, and the people involved in it. Her characters are likeable, three dimensional figures that really bring the story to life, and even though there were a ton of individual stories involved, she did a fantastic job of weaving them all together to create a cohesive whole. Really, really well done!
July 22, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this slow mystery. I love a good, face-paced thriller as much as anyone, but this novel is much more of a slow-paced mystery with a deep character study and I just loved it. I connected strongly with nearly all the characters in the novel, even when frustrated with their choices and actions. I think each of the characters will stay with me long after I have closed this book. The complexity of small town life, the influence of media, and the strong emotions surrounding guns leads to a good amount of reflection and a nuanced discussion of each of these aspects.
July 30, 2021
I enjoyed this book A lot it had me guessing back and forth a lot of the time before I truly figure it out what was going on. I read it in two days and I would definitely recommend it. Was a great Thriller
May 29, 2021
Good book with an okay storyline. Some parts get a bit muddled simply because there are so many points of view that at times it’s hard to sort them.
March 30, 2022
Kaitlin Wright decides to have a party for the kids along with their parents that her son Bryer will be going to middle school with. It’ll give Bryer a chance to make friends. Everyone comes except Priscilla Carver and her daughter Astrid. Priscilla tells the others they shouldn’t go because Kaitlins husband Ben has guns in the house, Ben is a border control police officer. Priscilla’s husband left her for another woman and moved to California. Avery who is a minister shows up with her adopted kids, Abi and Cal, who’s mother was a drug addict and in jail. Eva and Will with daughter Lily who are from England attend. True with his kids Skye, Phoenix and Wynn attend (the mother died). Yasmin attends with her twins Hanif and Laila even though her husband Ayaan tells her not to. While her mother is at work, Astrid goes to the party where she finds the kids in the stable. In the stable Wynn breaks his arm and Astrid gets shot in the chest. When the police and parents question the kids they all remain silent, making a promise not to tell what happened. Priscilla points the finger on the kids but also the parents who weren’t watching them. Priscilla and Kaitlin had a falling out before. Priscilla was a lawyer who decided to teach law after trying to protect a woman from an abusive husband who ended up shooting her dead. Ever since that Priscilla has been against guns and for gun safety. During the investigation all couple start to question their private lives especially marriages. The Sayeds who were from Pakistan and came to the US turned to their traditional ways and were building a mosque. Yasmin noticed she changed ever since college and wasn’t happy about it: she dressed in her traditional garb and did everything her husband wanted, not speaking up or making decisions. The shooting made her realize she didn’t want to be like that and decided to change back to someone who dressed American, made decisions and wasn’t religious. Her husband accepted it. Avery questioned if her adopted kids were capable of shooting based on the bad environment they grew up in. Eva found out she was pregnant after many miscarriages and kept it a secret till she ended up in the hospital from bleeding. At that point she wanted to go back to England but she was taught no matter where she goes bad things could happen. Tru’s kids realize it’s ok to be different like their brother Phoenix. Kaitlin realized she wasn’t comfortable with guns in the house so many were removed. In the end a video on Astrid’s phone showed she instigated the shooting by having Bryer get his father’s gun and loading it. The gun accidentally went off when Hanif got the gun from Astrid and wanted to shoot it in the air but the safety catch was off and the gun went off when it wasn’t supposed to and Astrid was in the way. In the end all the families make up and become friends. There’s even a possible reconciliation with Priscillas husband after he came back when Astrid was shot.
The story revolved around the shooting in the stable but the main topic was gun control and safety. It also dealt with issues like forgiveness, ethnicity and racism , blaming based on environment, judging based on appearances, finding yourself, being yourself, second chances, acceptance etc. I enjoyed the second half especially when these issues were brought up and changes happened. The story had dealt with alot of important issues and was thought provoking. I enjoyed the diverse community and how they came together in the end
The story revolved around the shooting in the stable but the main topic was gun control and safety. It also dealt with issues like forgiveness, ethnicity and racism , blaming based on environment, judging based on appearances, finding yourself, being yourself, second chances, acceptance etc. I enjoyed the second half especially when these issues were brought up and changes happened. The story had dealt with alot of important issues and was thought provoking. I enjoyed the diverse community and how they came together in the end
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2021
Ironically released just as kids are finally going back to school in real life, this is all about the secrets a group of pre-teens keep when a back to school party goes seriously bad. Set in a small town, it encapsulates many topical issues but does so with an admirable amount of balance and discretion. Six unsupervised kids, one barn, guns- a bad combination in every world but here the challenge is for the adults in finding out and equally importantly understanding what happened. Long standing simmering tensions are slowly spooled out. It's told by both the kids and the adults. There are perhaps too many characters to have any one stand out (and frankly to keep good track of). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A thoughtful read, especially for parents.
May 14, 2022
There's no question that gun ownership and gun violence are current hotly debated topics in the United States. Nina Monroe has spun a story around the right to bear arms in her novel The Children's Secret, a book that shines a spotlight on the aftermath that follows a shooting among children at a back-to-school party.
The Children's Secret highlights a slice of America; an ordinary neighborhood filled with families from various walks of life. Monroe strings her story along the thread of gun ownership, dividing the families into pro- and anti-camps. After the party shooting occurs and the children make a pact to keep secret what really happened in the barn that day, national attention swoops in on this sleepy New Hampshire community. The Children's Secret examines how fact and opinion can be exaggerated, misconstrued, and used against people, as well as how the media can tear apart otherwise peaceful communities.
The Children's Secret is an easy-to-read, yet heavily issue-oriented novel that covers topics such as gun violence, disabilities in children, immigration, marriage and children, adoption, and media scrutiny. Although often predictable and stereotypical, this novel is also thought-provoking and eye-opening. At its heart, The Children's Secret is a study of Americana: the types of families that make the United States the country that it is, and the issues that fuel and drive the current political environment. Anyone interested in current events that affect the average American family will get something out of this timely novel.
The Children's Secret highlights a slice of America; an ordinary neighborhood filled with families from various walks of life. Monroe strings her story along the thread of gun ownership, dividing the families into pro- and anti-camps. After the party shooting occurs and the children make a pact to keep secret what really happened in the barn that day, national attention swoops in on this sleepy New Hampshire community. The Children's Secret examines how fact and opinion can be exaggerated, misconstrued, and used against people, as well as how the media can tear apart otherwise peaceful communities.
The Children's Secret is an easy-to-read, yet heavily issue-oriented novel that covers topics such as gun violence, disabilities in children, immigration, marriage and children, adoption, and media scrutiny. Although often predictable and stereotypical, this novel is also thought-provoking and eye-opening. At its heart, The Children's Secret is a study of Americana: the types of families that make the United States the country that it is, and the issues that fuel and drive the current political environment. Anyone interested in current events that affect the average American family will get something out of this timely novel.
July 6, 2021
I couldn't put this one down. The length parents can go to protect their children is amazing. The perseverance of children keeping secret is also noteworthy. I won't spill the beans but definitely pick this one up.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this.
June 5, 2023
Tense page turner, I really enjoyed this and deals with a very important and all too familiar, truly american theme. Did get a bit boring towards the end. The last chapter was completely unnecessary and found myself skimming the paragraphs. Worth a read.
July 11, 2021
How well do you really know your child? Your spouse? Your friends? Your neighbors? Yourself? Told from multiple points of view, this story is deeper than first glance.
July 18, 2021
“Nothing ever happens in a sleepy town like Middlebrook. Until the residents are shaken to their core, when one hot Saturday afternoon, at a back-to-school party, nine children sneak into a barn…and only eight come out unharmed.
The press immediately starts asking questions. What type of parents let their children play unsupervised in a house with guns? What kind of child pulls the trigger on their friend? And most importantly: of the nine children who were present in that barn, which one actually pulled the trigger, and why are the others staying silent?”
Just reading the synopsis of this book had me hooked. In today’s polarizing views on gun control, this was one I wanted to read.
Six families living in a small neighborhood. Eva and her husband and daughter recently moved here from England. Eva is hoping with school almost ready to start up, that her daughter, Lily, will make friends.
She encourages one of the other families to host a party so the kids can get to know each other. Kaitlin Wright and her husband aren’t thrilled with the idea. Their son is introverted and prefers being alone. He had a good friend, but no more.
We have a family with twins, from Pakistan, whose father is building a mosque in town. We have the single mom and former attorney whose daughter is a mystery to everyone. We have the off-the-grid single father who is raising three kids alone and the Rev. Avery, who is fostering two kids.
Priscilla, the mother of Astrid has forbidden her daughter to go to the party, but we all know kids. Especially in a small town where they all know each other. She’s going to go.
While the parents socialize, the kids are in the barn with the dog and horses. Until there is a scream and a gunshot. And not everyone is coming out of there on their own two feet.
But where is the gun? And so begins the battle among the families and the press. There were a lot of extremes in this tale. NO GUNS EVER! GUNS ARE FINE. Everyone has an agenda and the children aren’t talking at all.
I enjoyed the story. Although all the parents pretty much seemed the same. The children were great little characters and acted more like adults than the adults did.
NetGalley/ September 7th, 2021 by Crooked Lane Books
The press immediately starts asking questions. What type of parents let their children play unsupervised in a house with guns? What kind of child pulls the trigger on their friend? And most importantly: of the nine children who were present in that barn, which one actually pulled the trigger, and why are the others staying silent?”
Just reading the synopsis of this book had me hooked. In today’s polarizing views on gun control, this was one I wanted to read.
Six families living in a small neighborhood. Eva and her husband and daughter recently moved here from England. Eva is hoping with school almost ready to start up, that her daughter, Lily, will make friends.
She encourages one of the other families to host a party so the kids can get to know each other. Kaitlin Wright and her husband aren’t thrilled with the idea. Their son is introverted and prefers being alone. He had a good friend, but no more.
We have a family with twins, from Pakistan, whose father is building a mosque in town. We have the single mom and former attorney whose daughter is a mystery to everyone. We have the off-the-grid single father who is raising three kids alone and the Rev. Avery, who is fostering two kids.
Priscilla, the mother of Astrid has forbidden her daughter to go to the party, but we all know kids. Especially in a small town where they all know each other. She’s going to go.
While the parents socialize, the kids are in the barn with the dog and horses. Until there is a scream and a gunshot. And not everyone is coming out of there on their own two feet.
But where is the gun? And so begins the battle among the families and the press. There were a lot of extremes in this tale. NO GUNS EVER! GUNS ARE FINE. Everyone has an agenda and the children aren’t talking at all.
I enjoyed the story. Although all the parents pretty much seemed the same. The children were great little characters and acted more like adults than the adults did.
NetGalley/ September 7th, 2021 by Crooked Lane Books
January 8, 2022
This book was a solid thriller but the social commentary was what really pushed it to the five stars
October 6, 2021
I was given an advanced copy of this text by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a tough read for me. Monroe writes a fascinating novel that focuses on timely issues, but it made for a chilling reading experience. Trigger warning for sure because of kids using weapons and the fallout that arises. Recommend with reservations.
July 22, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books & Nina Monroe (aka Virginia MacGregor) for this ARC.
This book is about a bunch of kids at a party that goes wrong. The children then keep what's happened a secret of who's done it. It tears some families apart and makes some bond closer. This book brings on lots of subjects, racism, divorce, gun control laws etc.
Overall it was slow paced, so you can get to know the families better, but a very good book.
#TheChildrensSecret #NetGalley #Goodreads
This book is about a bunch of kids at a party that goes wrong. The children then keep what's happened a secret of who's done it. It tears some families apart and makes some bond closer. This book brings on lots of subjects, racism, divorce, gun control laws etc.
Overall it was slow paced, so you can get to know the families better, but a very good book.
#TheChildrensSecret #NetGalley #Goodreads
July 25, 2021
Thanks to Secret Readers for a free ebook. This book never lost its momentum, I read it in one day. The children at the party made a pact to conceal information which would land them in serious trouble. During the course of the story, their parent’s lives, prejudices and fears are revealed.
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