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lau_evs's review against another edition
2.0
I was a big fan of the last Karen Perry book that I read, so when this one was going free at work I nabbed a copy and started reading it straight away. We follow Lindsey as she meets up with friends from her past and revisits the site of a murder that took place twenty years ago. I’m not completely sure what to say about this. It’s full of suspense and mystery and it has the standard flashbacks to years past. But there’s something about it that I didn’t quite get. I think the characters could have been explored more as I had so many questions about them. Plus the ending seems incredibly rushed and that really irritates me. There’s nothing worse than a book that doesn’t end well.
beccakateblogs's review against another edition
3.0
I felt like this had great potential, although similar to other plot lines I feel like they could have done a lot with it. I liked the two simultaneous timelines from childhood to present day (2017). I just think it lacked a lot of empathy and I felt that it all got a bit silly towards the end if I’m honest!
snazzybooks's review against another edition
4.0
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
I’m a huge fan of writing duo Paul Perry and Karen Gillecem, who together write as Karen Perry – I really enjoyed Only We Know and Girl Unknown so was really excited to read Can You Keep A Secret.
It’s a very atmospheric novel, weaving two timeframes – 1991, when Lindsey and friends were only 15, and the present day. I love novels that do this, especially when they involve some air of mystery, which this one definitely does. The characters – both as younger versions of themselves and as present-day adults – are intriguing (though not all of them are very likable) and I really enjoyed slowly finding out more and more about them.
It’s packed full of secrets, of varying sizes and importance, and shows how they can affect people and relationships even years later! I don’t want to give too much away about the story, but rest assured there are plenty of twists, tension and surprises in this well written, intriguing plot.
If you're a fan of Karen Perry or just want to give some of their novels a go, this is a great option and one which I really enjoyed - as usual!
Many thanks to Michael Joseph UK for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
I’m a huge fan of writing duo Paul Perry and Karen Gillecem, who together write as Karen Perry – I really enjoyed Only We Know and Girl Unknown so was really excited to read Can You Keep A Secret.
It’s a very atmospheric novel, weaving two timeframes – 1991, when Lindsey and friends were only 15, and the present day. I love novels that do this, especially when they involve some air of mystery, which this one definitely does. The characters – both as younger versions of themselves and as present-day adults – are intriguing (though not all of them are very likable) and I really enjoyed slowly finding out more and more about them.
It’s packed full of secrets, of varying sizes and importance, and shows how they can affect people and relationships even years later! I don’t want to give too much away about the story, but rest assured there are plenty of twists, tension and surprises in this well written, intriguing plot.
If you're a fan of Karen Perry or just want to give some of their novels a go, this is a great option and one which I really enjoyed - as usual!
Many thanks to Michael Joseph UK for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
razmatesz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lamv98's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
hannah_reads222's review
3.0
I love a bit of murder mystery! Waited half the book for the action to begin and then was rewarded with a really half assed ending! I felt like there was a chapter missing!
mad94's review
2.0
Full disclosure this review is predominantly to help me remember what happened in this book in case I come across it in the future.
Ok so to me this in entire book was utterly pointless. There were so many pointless threads that led to nowhere. Like her brain tumor??? What was the point of that?! And then Rachel turns psycho and kills them all (well most of them). And (I’ve forgotten the narrators name already) but the flash backs were like a completely different person and not just a person who had obviously grown up but completely different altogether with no explanation of her life between her time at school and at the estate and the present which meant I could get no sense of how she became who she was. Also I felt that the photos and the father being a perv who sold his books photos of his victims wasn’t given enough gravity, it just felt like a convenient plot convention to fit the series of actions in the plot. Altogether this book was not worth the time I spent reading it
Ok so to me this in entire book was utterly pointless. There were so many pointless threads that led to nowhere. Like her brain tumor??? What was the point of that?! And then Rachel turns psycho and kills them all (well most of them). And (I’ve forgotten the narrators name already) but the flash backs were like a completely different person and not just a person who had obviously grown up but completely different altogether with no explanation of her life between her time at school and at the estate and the present which meant I could get no sense of how she became who she was. Also I felt that the photos and the father being a perv who sold his books photos of his victims wasn’t given enough gravity, it just felt like a convenient plot convention to fit the series of actions in the plot. Altogether this book was not worth the time I spent reading it
4tticb's review
3.0
It was okay I guess.
I enjoyed reading it but I probably won't reminisce this experience at a later date.
It was beautifully written, though, descriptive and evocative.
I enjoyed reading it but I probably won't reminisce this experience at a later date.
It was beautifully written, though, descriptive and evocative.
aprilparker97's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5