When an old man strikes up a conversation with her on the steps of St. Paul's and makes a mystifying mention of murder and an oddly familiar commen...
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reviews
Aug 21, 2011
Anna
rated it: 
This book is part mystery/thriller, part beautiful romance, and I loved it! I loved the suspense and I loved the poignancy. Some scenes were so tense I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, other scenes were so tender they made me well up.
The action centres around a murderous secret from long ago that leads Kate to chase the clues back and forth across the Atlantic, whilst being pursued by an unknown enemy. This part is exciting, dramatic, and full of nervous energy.
The ro More...
The action centres around a murderous secret from long ago that leads Kate to chase the clues back and forth across the Atlantic, whilst being pursued by an unknown enemy. This part is exciting, dramatic, and full of nervous energy.
The ro More...
32 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Oct 08, 2011
Kim
rated it: 
Highly recommended by some of my GR friends, this is the first book I have read by this author, who generally writes under the name Susanna Kearsley. It has dual intersecting timelines - contemporary and World War II - and is set in London, Toronto, New York, Lisbon and Washington. The different timelines and the range of settings give the book something of the feel of an epic, although it is not one. Rather, it combines traditional (albeit low-key) thriller with history and romance.
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18 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Jan 30, 2012
Reese
rated it: 
What an incredible mystery! A present time quest for a conspiracy to unravel through eyes that had endured the WWI in the 40's, each contributor told their story how it was lived, leading the heroine to put the pieces together and in the end brought that magnificent mystery to justice. It was a chance to dive into the past of the my ever love for the 40's. And of course, Susanna Kearsley could not leave out a little romance in return.
I hadn't realized Emma Cole is Susanna Kearsley, More...
I hadn't realized Emma Cole is Susanna Kearsley, More...
Mar 22, 2010
Annie
rated it:
Emma Cole is another pen-name for Susanna Kearsley - a few of us have enjoyed her stuff recently, things like Mariana, Sophia's Secret, The Shadowy Horses. This is very different, but an equally good read. Reminded me a bit of the best of Robert Goddard, William Boyd's Restless, even early Nicci French. It slips easily backwards and forwards in time and from location to location, with the main historical story taking place in the world of spies in the US and Lisbon towards the end of the war. Th
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(1 person liked it)
Mar 04, 2010
Cathie
rated it:
Every Secret Thing by Emma Cole (aka Susanna Kearsley) is a wonderful read. It is a mystery set during World War II, a murder that happened. Kate Murray, a journalist, is covering a murder trial in London in the present time when an old man sits down next to her and informs her that he could tell her about a long-forgotten murder, deserving of justice. Soon Kate realizes after her brief encounter with the old man that everyone she talks to suddenly dies. Someone obviously doesn't want her to
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 24, 2011
Leilani
rated it:
Susanna Kearsely is a recent discovery for me and I've spent the year tracking down copies of her books. Some have been instant favorites, others have taken a little more effort on my part. Every Secret Thing falls into the latter category.
I was hooked very quickly and curious as to what the mystery was and who had been murdered. However, that interest didn't last. There were times when I had to push myself to keep reading - an unusual experience for me with a Kearsely novel. More...
I was hooked very quickly and curious as to what the mystery was and who had been murdered. However, that interest didn't last. There were times when I had to push myself to keep reading - an unusual experience for me with a Kearsely novel. More...
Apr 26, 2011
Sheila
rated it:
A young journalist is approached by an old man who strikes up a conversation with her. He mentions an old murder that occurred and invites her for dinner. As he starts to leave, he asks how her grandmother is. She responds but before she can engage in further conversation with him, he is killed in a hit and run accident. She investigates further and soon finds herself in danger and running for her life as her grandmother and others she contacts regarding the long past mystery show up dead. Found
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Jan 12, 2010
Tina
rated it:
Loved it! A great page-turning cloak and dagger murder mystery without all the gory details you might find in other books of this genre. It got me from the first page. Suspenseful and unpredictable (things were never what they seemed), very well written, and I loved the characters. Several times I stayed up way too late to find out what would happen. This is one I'll read again, to pick up what I may have missed, and to see how it is knowing the ending and how it all ties together.
**I hav More...
**I hav More...
3 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 24, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
A nice story, with more suspense than romance, that interwinds events of World War II with today.
Journalist Kate is covering a trial in England when an old man approaches her. He's trying to get justice for someone murdered long ago, he says, and he has a report about it he wants to give her. Busy, she puts him off. He leaves, but mentions she has her grandmother's eyes. Surprised, she watches him go, sees a car run over and kill him.
That's the beginning of this engrossing my More...
Journalist Kate is covering a trial in England when an old man approaches her. He's trying to get justice for someone murdered long ago, he says, and he has a report about it he wants to give her. Busy, she puts him off. He leaves, but mentions she has her grandmother's eyes. Surprised, she watches him go, sees a car run over and kill him.
That's the beginning of this engrossing my More...
Jan 19, 2010
Carol
rated it:
Susanna Kearsley writing at Emma Cole - a brilliant novel about courage, bravery, love and hope. Kate Murray is a journalist, approached by an old man on the steps of St Paul's she doesn't have the time to listen to the tale he wants to tell her of a murder done years ago and no justice done. Then the old man, Andrew Deacon walks away from her and is knocked down by a hit and run driver. Kate's whole life changes and she becomes caught up in Deacon's story and what it means for her on a perso
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3 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 20, 2012
Linda
rated it: 
I was really looking forward to this read. The synopsis of the book is about a Canadian reporter who is suddenly thrown into a whirlwind of mystery,foreign espionage and intrigue as she witnesses a murder that is tied to her grandmother’s WWII past. I must say that I was very disappointed in the book as my attention was challenged throughout the book. I don't know if it's Susanna Kearsley's style of writing that was difficult to stay with or if this is just not one of her best works. The storyli
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Dec 19, 2009
Hannah
rated it:
I am so incredibly happy that I have found a current author who I am unabashedly in love with their writing style. I have to confess that most of my favorite authors are either long dead, or too old to write any more books. DuMaurier, Stewart, M.M. Kaye all fit this description, and sadly (to my point of view), Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels is too busy writing about Amelia Peabody and her minute-by-minute adventures to hold much alure for me with her current literary offerings. I love the
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8 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Feb 18, 2009
Angela
rated it:
I have long been a fan of Susanna Kearsley, and so when I heard that she'd put out a book under the pen name Emma Cole, moving over from Gothic/supernatural romance into non-supernatural mystery/thriller, I was honorbound to check it out. Every Secret Thing is her first Emma Cole novel, and is the story of how reporter Kate Murray's seemingly chance meeting with an old man leads her to investigating a murder that dates clear back to World War II--and fleeing for her life when she discovers that
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Aug 11, 2007
LJ
rated it:
EVERY SECRET THING (Mystery-Canada/Portugal-Cont/1940s) – VG+
Cole, Emma (aka Susanna Kearsley) – Standalone
Allison & Busby, 2006- UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0749081864
*** Canadian journalist Kate Murray is approached by an older man, told she has her grandmother’s eyes and that he wants to tell her about a crime never brought to justice. Before learning any more, he is killed by a hit-and-run driver. When the man’s nephew is murdered and then her grandmother, Kate sets off on a jo More...
Cole, Emma (aka Susanna Kearsley) – Standalone
Allison & Busby, 2006- UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0749081864
*** Canadian journalist Kate Murray is approached by an older man, told she has her grandmother’s eyes and that he wants to tell her about a crime never brought to justice. Before learning any more, he is killed by a hit-and-run driver. When the man’s nephew is murdered and then her grandmother, Kate sets off on a jo More...
Dec 16, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
I picked this up from a staff recommends section of the library because I love mysteries and WWI or II stories. Wasn't expecting much, didn't recognise the author. Then, I realise that Emma Cole is a pseudonym of Susanna Kearsley from Ontario. She's a good writer.
This was great! I loved the main character and the description of another character mainly told in flashback was well done.
Fitting tribute to Sir William Stephenson and everyone who worked on the Intrepid project.
This was great! I loved the main character and the description of another character mainly told in flashback was well done.
Fitting tribute to Sir William Stephenson and everyone who worked on the Intrepid project.
Dec 24, 2011
Steph
rated it:
Two of my favorite books are Susanne Kearsley's The Rose Garden and Winter Sea, so I was excited to read Every Secret Thing because not all her novels are available on the Kindle and I was due for a modern suspense story. I liked how easy it was to get into the story and I was hooked right away, however, I was not a fan of how quickly the novel progresses. For a mystery/suspense type story the pace is too quick. The author's hand also feels heavy lacking an organic feeling. A few of the charact
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Dec 31, 2011
Cheri
rated it:
I love the three books that I have read by Susanna Kearsley. This one is a little different then the other two, it is a suspense/romance. Kate Murphy is a journalist on assignment in London, England, when she is approached by an old man who tries to talk to her but she pushs him away. When he hands her a card and says that he wants to tell her a true story about an old murder, and he would like to tell her over dinner, and that she has her grandmas eyes. I love this story, it is more suspense th
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Dec 25, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Despite my annoyance with the "coincidences" plot feature which seems to have gotten quite popular lately, I do enjoy Susanna Kearsley (aka Emma Cole). Her books are fun and keep me hooked, and I also appreciate the research she does into more obscure points of history. I liked the WWII and geographical settings. Another fun read while sitting in the sunshine on the deck of a cruise ship sipping frozen fruity cocktails. =)
Oct 27, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This is one of those books where you read most of the book wondering what the book is about!!!! It opens with Kate being approached by a man who wants to tell her a story of a murder but before he can do so he is killed by a hit and run. The book follows Kate as she tries to find out who was murdered and why. A thoroughly engrossing read travelling forwards and backwards in time and between Canada, Portugal and England.
May 03, 2011
Charmayne
rated it:
this is a book by Susanna Kearsley writing under the name of Emma Cole. I am not sure why she decided to change pen names, all of her books written under the Susanna name are wonderful and I am always waiting for more. She did not disappoint as Emma Cole either. But she only wrote one that I could find and this is it. A very good mystery involving both the past and the present. She just needs to write more. :-)
Jan 03, 2012
Diane
rated it:
Interesting story, part mystery, part historical, as Kate Murray, a journalist, traces her grandmothers life during the 1940's and her job during the war. Covers some interesting facts about the Canadian women who went to London to work for Sir William Stephenson's British security coordination, also Camp X and details about the details of working for the intelligence community during World War II.
Dec 02, 2011
P.
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I found the premise of EST implausible and the plot chock full of coincidence. The story gets moving due to Grandma’s unbelievable secret past [well I didn’t believe it anyway] related seconds before she's shot to death. This propels the story all over the place but the heroine isn't really up to it. I struggled to finish this and only managed by skimming.
Jul 24, 2010
CLM
rated it:
Writing as Susanna Kearsley, this author has been the closest thing to one of my favorite authors, Mary Stewart. I believe she chose a pseudonym because this novel was a slightly different genre but the story pulls the reader in immediately, as with her previous books, and her style is unmistakeable. It is a great read, and well worth hunting down.
Journalist Kate Murray is covering a trial in London when an elderly man tries to tell her about an old mysterious murder - then is kill More...
Journalist Kate Murray is covering a trial in London when an elderly man tries to tell her about an old mysterious murder - then is kill More...
Aug 06, 2011
Jan
rated it:
I LOVE every book by Susanna Kearsley that I've read. They're hard to find - and I've had to buy them on line since they weren't published in the US. But they are ALL worth the work to find. All I can say is that I always sigh when I've finished reading them...and then think about the characters and plots for a long time.
Jan 11, 2012
Jennifer
rated it:
I wasn't entirely certain I would like this book. I absolutely love Susanna Kearsley, however - this book was more of a true crime/mystery book. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did - I couldn't get enough of it. It has to be one of my favorite books of hers and I highly recommend it to anyone.
May 27, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
I liked this story. Unlike the prior three I had read, this was a simple mystery novel as opposed to a novel with a test in the plot. All of Kearsley's novels deal with historic past, and this one deals with the war and a young woman uncovering secrets of her family's past.
May 25, 2011
Nancy
rated it:
I've read two Susanna Kearsley novels and this was my first by her as Emma Cole. The book had a different feel to it but still had the same wonderful storytelling, the fascinating details of history, and intriguing characters. Thoroughly enjoyed it, four and a half stars.
Feb 19, 2012
elisha
rated it:
Another great book by Susanna Kearsley. The Rose Garden is still my favorite but this was a great crime story. It was a bit slow in the middle for me which is what took me a while to read it. I thought there was no possible way she could make this come together after all the dead ends that Kate encountered. There were a few things I expected but many more that I didn't. It was a complex story that ended as it should have. The story of Amelia and Andrew does stick with me. He had so much love for
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Aug 25, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
This book drew me in from the beginning. It's a thriller based in history with a strong, female protagonist; what else could be better? Never having read a book by Susanna Kearsley before, I was pleasantly surprised.
