Scan barcode
serenityyou's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book hard to get into and thought I was going to hate this book, but so glad I read it because it was a really good read.
The book goes between the past, 12 years ago when one of Sean Jackson's twin daughters goes missing during his 50th birthday weekend celebrations and to the present, 12 years later, to the weekend of his funeral.
For Sean Jackson's 50th birthday he decides to celebrate by having a few friends and their kids over to his new house to celebrate. He has forgo that his two eldest daughters from his first marriage are supposed to visit him that weekend, and his a bit peeved about it, has he doesn't want no one spoiling his birthday. And his new wife Claire, is always nagging, and his is secretly having an affair with one of his friend wife, Linda. On the last day of the party weekend end, Claire, discovers Sean and Linda in the pool together. She leaves and plans on leaving him. But the next morning Coco, one of the 3-year-old twins in missing.
Claire and the other twin Ruby move away and live a sheltered life in the country. But When Sean Jackson dies, Ruby want's to go to his funeral. Camilla, One of the daughters from his first marriage agrees to take Ruby to the funeral with her. But when the go to stay at her new step=mothers house for the fun al, Camilla finds Coco's bracelet, the one that she went missing with. What really happened to poor little Coco. You will find out, but not the whole truth will come out and and it left me with mixed feelings. It was a really good ending to the book. The characters where great, there was some a really hated and some a loved. There are a few unanswered questions too that leave you wondered what actually happened.
I would give this a 3.5-4/5 stars , as I can't make my mind up.
The book goes between the past, 12 years ago when one of Sean Jackson's twin daughters goes missing during his 50th birthday weekend celebrations and to the present, 12 years later, to the weekend of his funeral.
For Sean Jackson's 50th birthday he decides to celebrate by having a few friends and their kids over to his new house to celebrate. He has forgo that his two eldest daughters from his first marriage are supposed to visit him that weekend, and his a bit peeved about it, has he doesn't want no one spoiling his birthday. And his new wife Claire, is always nagging, and his is secretly having an affair with one of his friend wife, Linda. On the last day of the party weekend end, Claire, discovers Sean and Linda in the pool together. She leaves and plans on leaving him. But the next morning Coco, one of the 3-year-old twins in missing.
Claire and the other twin Ruby move away and live a sheltered life in the country. But When Sean Jackson dies, Ruby want's to go to his funeral. Camilla, One of the daughters from his first marriage agrees to take Ruby to the funeral with her. But when the go to stay at her new step=mothers house for the fun al, Camilla finds Coco's bracelet, the one that she went missing with. What really happened to poor little Coco. You will find out, but not the whole truth will come out and and it left me with mixed feelings. It was a really good ending to the book. The characters where great, there was some a really hated and some a loved. There are a few unanswered questions too that leave you wondered what actually happened.
I would give this a 3.5-4/5 stars , as I can't make my mind up.
niaforrester's review against another edition
4.0
As always, Alex Marwood gives great character studies along with the mystery suspense. This one did not disappoint. Populated with completely believable characters in an extraordinary situation. Even the 'twist' was comprehensible. Surprising, but not at all a shock. Well done. Will be looking for and reading more from this author.
lady_hazy's review against another edition
3.0
I was really looking forward to his after enjoying Marwood's other book so much (The Killer Next Door). Unfortunately this didn't live up to my expectations. The story felt quite disjointed, less interesting, and more predictable.
elaine_angello's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I am not sure how people find the two timelines confusing, it's either 2014 (Daddy Sean's funeral) or 2004 (Daddy Sean's birthday weekend). So many books do this, I listen to audio exclusively and I can keep up!
While the grownups are a despicable, the daughters are charming and worth reading the book for! I will read this author again!!
While the grownups are a despicable, the daughters are charming and worth reading the book for! I will read this author again!!
ccopeland28's review against another edition
2.0
I have some complaints. This book takes some time to get the story moving and then it jumps from timeline to timeline (Sean's 50th Birthday weekend vs. his funeral) without warning. You have to pay attention as to whether or not Sean is alive to know which timeline you are in. All of the players in this book are major narcissistic jerks. You never get the satisfaction of seeing these terrible people get what they deserve. The book is approximately 400 pages long, but it feels twice that. And finally, I TOTALLY saw the ending coming...
bookbuyingaddict's review against another edition
3.0
Wow I don't think Iv ever read a book with such a host of nasty devious characters. There's always one who even though bad you root for or a bad guy turned good guy, but not in this book . There's always one psycho lurking in between the rest & that's what you have here. I can't say it's an enjoyable read at all, and nowhere will you feel sympathy for any of the selfish adults just the poor kids. Why do some people even have children ? Because they think they should ?? Certainly the case here. I wasn't shaken by the ending id half guessed "who dunnit"
But a decent thriller long winded in some chapters with at least two chapters about Mila not even necessary for the plot just page filling. So a stiff 3/5 from me
But a decent thriller long winded in some chapters with at least two chapters about Mila not even necessary for the plot just page filling. So a stiff 3/5 from me
sarah_faichney's review
5.0
Just when you think it isn't possible, Alex Marwood keeps getting better and better. This is an absolute belter of a book. Characters are so richly drawn and the story untangles at a pace that constantly leaves us needing more. This writer is one to watch.
seadaz's review against another edition
3.0
Found this hard to read for the first few chapters, but soon got into the swing of things.
So for new readers of this book, continue reading, it will get easier and is worth it.
Just when you think it has been revealed, there is another surprise at the very end.
What a group of horrible 'friends'. The wicked 2nd wife not as wicked as first thought.
So for new readers of this book, continue reading, it will get easier and is worth it.
Just when you think it has been revealed, there is another surprise at the very end.
What a group of horrible 'friends'. The wicked 2nd wife not as wicked as first thought.
athravan's review against another edition
4.0
This book reeled me in from the start with vivid and engaging descriptions of selfish, narcissistic, egotistical people. The vast majority of the characters are simply despicable, but not overdone - part of the creepy vibe that followed as I read came from the brutal realism. In high society, populated by millionaires, politicians, doctors on call to the rich, their mistresses and wives, you just know deep down that these characters aren't over exaggerated. There is a world like this out there, and it is their children who suffer.
In The Darkest Secret, we follow a whole host of characters, but the main story feels as if it's told from the point of view of Mila, and Ruby, two half sisters who barely know each other, bound together by an absentee father who never seemed to like either of them, too involved with his latest wife and his newest children. It jumps back and forth from the present time, at the funeral of their father, and to the past, to a horrible weekend when Ruby's twin, Coco, went missing. The story unravels slowly as we see first hand exactly what happened, whilst alternately jumping forward to the present time to see the ramifications this weekend had, even a decade in the future.
This book isn't really that big a mystery. I guessed at the outcome fairly early on, and we're told right from the start, from the front cover in fact, that "They lied" about what happened that night. The pleasure - if you can call it that - I took from reading this book was similar to that I imagine people feel as they pass a car crash. I knew it was going to be bad, I knew it was going to be horrible, but I wanted to know what had happened and why. But throughout it all, the story seemed almost secondary - simply a staging post for this host of narcissistic, immoral people, and a look at how innocent children are affected. A well written journey of darkness and deceit.
In The Darkest Secret, we follow a whole host of characters, but the main story feels as if it's told from the point of view of Mila, and Ruby, two half sisters who barely know each other, bound together by an absentee father who never seemed to like either of them, too involved with his latest wife and his newest children. It jumps back and forth from the present time, at the funeral of their father, and to the past, to a horrible weekend when Ruby's twin, Coco, went missing. The story unravels slowly as we see first hand exactly what happened, whilst alternately jumping forward to the present time to see the ramifications this weekend had, even a decade in the future.
This book isn't really that big a mystery. I guessed at the outcome fairly early on, and we're told right from the start, from the front cover in fact, that "They lied" about what happened that night. The pleasure - if you can call it that - I took from reading this book was similar to that I imagine people feel as they pass a car crash. I knew it was going to be bad, I knew it was going to be horrible, but I wanted to know what had happened and why. But throughout it all, the story seemed almost secondary - simply a staging post for this host of narcissistic, immoral people, and a look at how innocent children are affected. A well written journey of darkness and deceit.
scott_thelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This book frustrated me so much. It was very predictable and none of the twists were surprising. It is filled with so many awful people/characters that I wanted to slap pretty much every chapter. The writing was okay, but it did take me a little while to get into the story at the beginning. I will say that the flipping between past and present was sometimes clunky.