A review by writesofluid
The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood

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.