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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.
toofondofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally posted on my blog: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
I loved Alex Marwood’s previous novels, particularly The Wicked Girls, so I was thrilled to win a copy of The Darkest Secret last month. This is the first novel I’ve read in 2016 and what a way to start a new year… all the other books I read this year now have a lot to live up to!
The Darkest Secret is a dark and, at times, very claustrophobic novel about the secrets a group of friends keep. The novel is told over two weekends – one in 2004 and one in the present day. Over the course of a summer bank holiday weekend in 2004, a group of friends gather for Sean Jackson’s 50th birthday and by the end of the weekend his daughter is dead. In the present day, Sean has been found dead and some of his remaining children and all of his old friends from that holiday weekend gather together for his funeral.
This novel is brilliant; it’s a real character-led novel, with multiple narrators – all of whom seem very unreliable and most of them are deeply unlikeable. The way these adults behave and the things they do is vile and selfish, but it’s such a compelling novel that although you at times want to look away, you just can’t. I enjoy novels where I don’t like the characters because it takes you completely away from anything you know as in real life as you would never associate with people you hate; I also love unreliable narrators as they add to the unsettling atmosphere in a novel.
This novel isn’t so much about trying to work out whodunit, it’s more a novel of how people behave and why they did the things they did. For me, it was refreshing because this novel wasn’t trying to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller; it is, as Alex Marwood’s novels tend to be, a very disturbing look at the levels people will go to in order to get what they want or to cover up what they’ve done, and it’s brilliantly written.
Maria Gavilla was the most unnerving character for me. The way she coldly and calmly stage-managed all of her friends throughout the novel; she was always at the centre almost conducting events to suit her own ends. Maria appears friendly and caring but everything she does is in her own interest. I found it strange how she worried about her step-daughter Simone attracting the attention of the leery member of their group of friends and yet everyone else, including Simone’s peers, knew that she had a crush on Sean and yet Maria never said a word about that. There was something monstrous about her; I felt very disturbed by her.
Sean’s daughter, Mila, from his first marriage, and Ruby, from his second (twin to the missing Coco) are the only likeable characters in the book, but the damage done to them is telling. Mila doesn’t get close to people, and Ruby is kept a virtual prisoner by her overprotective mother. The redeeming aspect of this novel, although in no way due to the adults, who remain despicable, is that it felt like these two half-sisters had begun to form a relationship with each other that would last, I like to think that they would begin to heal from the damage together over time.
The Darkest Secret is incredibly intense, and the level of horror at the way these people behave just keeps being ramped up as the novel goes on. I couldn’t put this book down and I highly recommend it.
I rated this novel 5 out of 5.
I received a copy of this book from Little Brown via Net Galley and also won a proof print book from Sphere.
The Darkest Secret is out now in ebook, and is out in print on 7th January. Available from Amazon.
I loved Alex Marwood’s previous novels, particularly The Wicked Girls, so I was thrilled to win a copy of The Darkest Secret last month. This is the first novel I’ve read in 2016 and what a way to start a new year… all the other books I read this year now have a lot to live up to!
The Darkest Secret is a dark and, at times, very claustrophobic novel about the secrets a group of friends keep. The novel is told over two weekends – one in 2004 and one in the present day. Over the course of a summer bank holiday weekend in 2004, a group of friends gather for Sean Jackson’s 50th birthday and by the end of the weekend his daughter is dead. In the present day, Sean has been found dead and some of his remaining children and all of his old friends from that holiday weekend gather together for his funeral.
This novel is brilliant; it’s a real character-led novel, with multiple narrators – all of whom seem very unreliable and most of them are deeply unlikeable. The way these adults behave and the things they do is vile and selfish, but it’s such a compelling novel that although you at times want to look away, you just can’t. I enjoy novels where I don’t like the characters because it takes you completely away from anything you know as in real life as you would never associate with people you hate; I also love unreliable narrators as they add to the unsettling atmosphere in a novel.
This novel isn’t so much about trying to work out whodunit, it’s more a novel of how people behave and why they did the things they did. For me, it was refreshing because this novel wasn’t trying to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller; it is, as Alex Marwood’s novels tend to be, a very disturbing look at the levels people will go to in order to get what they want or to cover up what they’ve done, and it’s brilliantly written.
Maria Gavilla was the most unnerving character for me. The way she coldly and calmly stage-managed all of her friends throughout the novel; she was always at the centre almost conducting events to suit her own ends. Maria appears friendly and caring but everything she does is in her own interest. I found it strange how she worried about her step-daughter Simone attracting the attention of the leery member of their group of friends and yet everyone else, including Simone’s peers, knew that she had a crush on Sean and yet Maria never said a word about that. There was something monstrous about her; I felt very disturbed by her.
Sean’s daughter, Mila, from his first marriage, and Ruby, from his second (twin to the missing Coco) are the only likeable characters in the book, but the damage done to them is telling. Mila doesn’t get close to people, and Ruby is kept a virtual prisoner by her overprotective mother. The redeeming aspect of this novel, although in no way due to the adults, who remain despicable, is that it felt like these two half-sisters had begun to form a relationship with each other that would last, I like to think that they would begin to heal from the damage together over time.
The Darkest Secret is incredibly intense, and the level of horror at the way these people behave just keeps being ramped up as the novel goes on. I couldn’t put this book down and I highly recommend it.
I rated this novel 5 out of 5.
I received a copy of this book from Little Brown via Net Galley and also won a proof print book from Sphere.
The Darkest Secret is out now in ebook, and is out in print on 7th January. Available from Amazon.
lorihenrich2021's review against another edition
4.0
This story is told with flashbacks to the year 2004. In 2004 the Jackson family experienced a tragedy that until now has been a big mystery. Now that Sean Jackson has died the story is revealed in short glimpses into the past. The present day follows Mila Jackson journey to identify her father and taking her half sister to the funeral. The story was very engaging and kept my attention. It seemed kind of a slow start to me but quickly picked up the pace. I thought I had figured this one out early but I was totally surprised by the ending. A very good read.
writesofluid's review against another edition
5.0
I feel privileged to have been able to read an advanced copy of Marwood's latest offering via NetGalley. What a captivating read! Right from the start this book is edgy with its flash style of police statements, leading us into the disappearance of a three year old girl. The varying viewpoints told in the past; that fateful weekend, and the present - the point of view of Mila, work really well to fuel the reader's curiosity and later speculation over who took (or did something to) little Coco. Mila is funny and refreshing as a narrator - I laughed out loud at some of her observations. The clues throughout the novel did make me guess the outcome, but I was successfully drawn in and confused by the different interpretations towards the end, so much so that I was wracking my brains and on the edge of my seat wondering if there would be a last minute revelation. This is a shocking and a sad story that delves into psychological torment on various levels, pitting the lifestyle of the rich against raw emotions that we can all relate to in some way. I devoured the book within a day, and it stayed with me afterwards as I replayed the events in light of the outcomes. A brilliant story of family ties and the lengths some people will go to for the ones they love. I loved The Wicked Girls and I loved this latest offering from Marwood who is most definitely now rooted as one of my favourite authors.