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bnross925's review against another edition
3.0
3/5. Good...not great. Twist in the epilogue...I didn't predict it, which was nice. But felt the overall plot was predictable and the characters were detestable
kalkie's review against another edition
3.0
I must admit, this was my second attempt at reading "The Darkest Secret" after previously giving up on it. This time I persevered and I'm kind of glad I did. It took me a while to realise the timeline was jumping between past and present events, as the present events aren't dated, but the characters are the same, but once I'd untangled the characters and the style (jumping from emails to witness statements to storyline) I started to get into it and found it was quite gripping. Unfortunately I found the story tailing off somewhat from that point until it limped towards its "not very surprising" ending.
The characters are mostly unpleasant, self-centred, selfish and downright unlikable; so it's hard to find something to hold on to as the story progresses. I also figured out the "twist" at the end way before it was revealed, so there wasn't anything to really draw me in and keep me gripped to the storyline.
It was an OK read, and I may read more from Marwood, but not any time soon.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
The characters are mostly unpleasant, self-centred, selfish and downright unlikable; so it's hard to find something to hold on to as the story progresses. I also figured out the "twist" at the end way before it was revealed, so there wasn't anything to really draw me in and keep me gripped to the storyline.
It was an OK read, and I may read more from Marwood, but not any time soon.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
mrsruthiewebb's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! This book packed a punch. It took me on such a gut-wrenching journey.
The book was told in two time periods. We saw the current day story unfold through the experiences of Mila/Milly who was reluctantly attending her fathers funeral. She was reacquainted with characters we were also meeting in the story told in parallel to Mila’s; the events surrounding the said disappearance of her half-sister Coco. Whilst this sounds a little complicated it was well written so fairly easy to follow.
As a mum of a recently turned 4 year old, I read some parts with tears in my eyes. This book also had me gasping audibly. The second half of the book was an absolute rollercoaster and despite thinking I’d cracked the killer-twist, I didn’t see this one coming. In fact, when I reached the conclusion I had to flick pack a few chapters to re-read some passages.
Recommended!
The book was told in two time periods. We saw the current day story unfold through the experiences of Mila/Milly who was reluctantly attending her fathers funeral. She was reacquainted with characters we were also meeting in the story told in parallel to Mila’s; the events surrounding the said disappearance of her half-sister Coco. Whilst this sounds a little complicated it was well written so fairly easy to follow.
As a mum of a recently turned 4 year old, I read some parts with tears in my eyes. This book also had me gasping audibly. The second half of the book was an absolute rollercoaster and despite thinking I’d cracked the killer-twist, I didn’t see this one coming. In fact, when I reached the conclusion I had to flick pack a few chapters to re-read some passages.
Recommended!
sabpoe's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Plot is predictable and disappointing
tesslinnebank's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
leona_omahony's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely brilliant book and one I highly recommend. It's written in a way that has you going from present times to past and can be a little confusing at first but I soon got into the swing of it. This book had some horrible characters and there wasn't any I warmed to but that's part of the story and it really works . I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.
violavalenza's review against another edition
5.0
What.
This books packs the plot twists, just one after the other, and just when you think that's all you'll need to know it hits you with the last one.
The story kept me thinking about the characters even after I managed to put it down, so I'd say it's a damn great book 🔥
This books packs the plot twists, just one after the other, and just when you think that's all you'll need to know it hits you with the last one.
The story kept me thinking about the characters even after I managed to put it down, so I'd say it's a damn great book 🔥
jonid's review against another edition
4.0
The book starts off with an email from the godmother of 3 year old twin, Coco Jackson who has gone missing, begging for help in locating her. The chapters go back and forth in time from 2004, the weekend Coco went missing after her father Sean's 50th birthday and the present when one of the daughters from the first of his 4 marriages learns of his death and upcoming funeral. It's a slow moving plot, populated with friends and wives and children and step children. The roadie doctor who knows his way around pills and drugs, the PR maven who knows how to spin a story, the daughter of friends who has a huge crush on a friend of her fathers all are in the present and the past. Sean has an amazing capacity for not taking responsibility, shifting blame onto everyone else, a petulant child of a man whose every move revolves around his own happiness. As long held secrets unfold, more les need to be created by many characters all working hard to keep their footing -- and the end is an unexpected treat where the reader gets some answers but nothing ends neatly.
yonde_shiawase's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75