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Grave Little Secrets
Seventeen-year-old Alex Spurlock finds herself burdened with a tragic secret…
With no one to turn to and wracked with guilt over what she did, Alex shuts herself off from her family and the rest of society. She goes from being the popular girl everyone loved to the weird girl who never leaves her house.
When Alex’s twin sister, Anna, finally persuades her to venture out of her room, Alex can’t help but feel like someone is watching her, following her every move. Constantly looking over her shoulder, Alex tries to convince herself she is just being paranoid…until she starts receiving threatening letters and taunting text messages.
Someone knows what she did and is out for revenge.
Not knowing who to trust, but determined to find the person who knows her secret before it is exposed and her life is forever ruined, Alex takes matters into her own hands. She vows to do anything to keep the events of that fateful day buried… But is she willing to die along with it? When she learns who is behind it all, will she change her mind?
With no one to turn to and wracked with guilt over what she did, Alex shuts herself off from her family and the rest of society. She goes from being the popular girl everyone loved to the weird girl who never leaves her house.
When Alex’s twin sister, Anna, finally persuades her to venture out of her room, Alex can’t help but feel like someone is watching her, following her every move. Constantly looking over her shoulder, Alex tries to convince herself she is just being paranoid…until she starts receiving threatening letters and taunting text messages.
Someone knows what she did and is out for revenge.
Not knowing who to trust, but determined to find the person who knows her secret before it is exposed and her life is forever ruined, Alex takes matters into her own hands. She vows to do anything to keep the events of that fateful day buried… But is she willing to die along with it? When she learns who is behind it all, will she change her mind?
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2017
15 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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August 26, 2017
After a fatal accident, seventeen year old Alex and her family move to escape her family’s shame. While her father serves time for the event, we learn quickly that Alex is the one who is at fault for it all. It haunts her daily, keeping her in a constant state of regret and grief, despite the efforts of her family to raise her spirits. When her twin sister, Anna, finally talks her into leaving the house, her folly to live ‘a normal life’ is ruined by an unknown stalker waiting to make his move. In the style of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” Alex is threatened and pursued by someone who wants her to be punished for a crime she has yet to atone for.
The first several chapters felt familiar as the weight of Alex’s remorse was described in various ways without any specific explanation of what exactly happened. That being said, her constant internal struggle accompanied with threatening messages from a stranger, kept me curious to be let in on the secret. When the story finally reveals itself, I felt sorry for Alex, especially if I tried to imagine my teenage self in a similar situation. Not mature, but highly aware of the opposite sex, I felt her drive to find a new boyfriend, (or rekindle a relationship with an old one), competed with a great story of actions and extreme consequences. I soon found out however, these elements were necessary for the story to move on.
…And when I got to a certain point, I couldn’t put the book down.
What I had experienced in the doughy-eyed, regretful memories of the first half, quickly took a back seat to the roller coaster designed by Stacy R. Collins. I was compelled to go back a few chapters and re-read what I’d glossed over, thankful for a second chance to experience the story for what it was worth – a GREAT read!
The story of Alex is told from her perspective, and in doing so, as the reader, you’re drawn in so deeply into her character that you actually stop seeing the things happening around you. That inward focus blinds you to the story’s periphery and allows you as the reader to shuffle into a finely designed trap. I’m not sure I put the book down for the last 100-pages.
For a book I first considered a ‘predictable read,’ I find myself turning the events over in my mind three days after finishing it. I guess that’s what happens when you’re doing life as normal, then you’re caught completely off guard. It seems Alex and I share that truth and we learned together it in the pages of Grave Little Secrets.
The first several chapters felt familiar as the weight of Alex’s remorse was described in various ways without any specific explanation of what exactly happened. That being said, her constant internal struggle accompanied with threatening messages from a stranger, kept me curious to be let in on the secret. When the story finally reveals itself, I felt sorry for Alex, especially if I tried to imagine my teenage self in a similar situation. Not mature, but highly aware of the opposite sex, I felt her drive to find a new boyfriend, (or rekindle a relationship with an old one), competed with a great story of actions and extreme consequences. I soon found out however, these elements were necessary for the story to move on.
…And when I got to a certain point, I couldn’t put the book down.
What I had experienced in the doughy-eyed, regretful memories of the first half, quickly took a back seat to the roller coaster designed by Stacy R. Collins. I was compelled to go back a few chapters and re-read what I’d glossed over, thankful for a second chance to experience the story for what it was worth – a GREAT read!
The story of Alex is told from her perspective, and in doing so, as the reader, you’re drawn in so deeply into her character that you actually stop seeing the things happening around you. That inward focus blinds you to the story’s periphery and allows you as the reader to shuffle into a finely designed trap. I’m not sure I put the book down for the last 100-pages.
For a book I first considered a ‘predictable read,’ I find myself turning the events over in my mind three days after finishing it. I guess that’s what happens when you’re doing life as normal, then you’re caught completely off guard. It seems Alex and I share that truth and we learned together it in the pages of Grave Little Secrets.
August 23, 2017
Worth the read.
It was very hard to rate this book. As an over all story, it's wonderful and very relevant in our day and age.
It could have easily been a five star if the writing had been cleaned up. There were too many long drawn out cliches, and some information dumps that were either irrelevant or misplaced.
Quick physics note: When you step on the gas you will go backward in your seat not crash into the dashboard...this was an error that pulled me completely out of the story.
There were also a few other facts scattered throughout the book that were a little too unrealistic for me.
The reason I decided to go for four stars instead of three is because despite the errors in editing, the storyline was good enough and it was moral story, something that seems to happen less and less now days, especially for YA readers.
It was very hard to rate this book. As an over all story, it's wonderful and very relevant in our day and age.
It could have easily been a five star if the writing had been cleaned up. There were too many long drawn out cliches, and some information dumps that were either irrelevant or misplaced.
Quick physics note: When you step on the gas you will go backward in your seat not crash into the dashboard...this was an error that pulled me completely out of the story.
There were also a few other facts scattered throughout the book that were a little too unrealistic for me.
The reason I decided to go for four stars instead of three is because despite the errors in editing, the storyline was good enough and it was moral story, something that seems to happen less and less now days, especially for YA readers.
May 28, 2025
The concept of the story was phenomenonal. I felt that it was rushed quite a bit and that the ending was more of a "I need to end it, let's end it in the most cliché way."
January 11, 2023
Grave Little Secrets (48fourteen, 2017) is the first novel of YA author, Stacy R. Collins. We meet Alex Spurlock early one summer morning, and immediately learn three things about her: she has a twin sister, their family has recently moved to a new town, and Alex is hiding a terrible secret. The once-popular Alex punishes herself by quarantining herself to her home and not associating with anybody in New Hope, Rhode Island. But soon, she begins to receive threatening notes, packages, and text messages from someone who knows what she did.
Getting to the heart of what Alex’s devastating secret is, where her father has gone and why, and who’s stalking her will keep readers eagerly turning the pages. Even when we discover the answers to these gripping questions, there are more twists to come. The third act takes on a darker and more tragic tone than expected; although, despite the serious subject matter, readers will find a certain charm and authenticity in Alex’s brusque humor. This is an edgy, contemporary YA thriller told with grit.
Getting to the heart of what Alex’s devastating secret is, where her father has gone and why, and who’s stalking her will keep readers eagerly turning the pages. Even when we discover the answers to these gripping questions, there are more twists to come. The third act takes on a darker and more tragic tone than expected; although, despite the serious subject matter, readers will find a certain charm and authenticity in Alex’s brusque humor. This is an edgy, contemporary YA thriller told with grit.
April 30, 2017
* Note : I was given a copy of this book for review by the author. This does not change my opinion in anyway , shape or form. All words below this note are of my own thoughts and a voluntary review*
Wow... this hooked me from the first page and wouldn't let me go. To be honest , the mystery genre has never really truly hooked me in. But this book... it will leave you wondering just what happens next with every page that you read, and you'll want to read into the wee hours of the morning just to find out what happens.
We meet Alex , who's hiding a terrible secret... She results to quarantining herself inside of her own house and refusing to go out into the public. The plot was interesting , pulled me in , and I'm definitely looking forward to more!
Signing off,
Promisary
Wow... this hooked me from the first page and wouldn't let me go. To be honest , the mystery genre has never really truly hooked me in. But this book... it will leave you wondering just what happens next with every page that you read, and you'll want to read into the wee hours of the morning just to find out what happens.
We meet Alex , who's hiding a terrible secret... She results to quarantining herself inside of her own house and refusing to go out into the public. The plot was interesting , pulled me in , and I'm definitely looking forward to more!
Signing off,
Promisary
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2018
This book!!!! This book had me hooked from the very beginning! It was written with such suspense and deep thoughts!!! When will the nextDepression/anxiety/panic attacks are very real! I'd like to see five of my friends post this message (Not share) to show you are always there if I need to talk. I think I know who will. book be coming?
April 19, 2017
Really good story. Kept me guessing until the end.
April 30, 2017
This book was great, and I couldn't put it down! The unraveling of Alex's secret, and her quest to keep it under wraps while moving on, sucked me right in. If you enjoy thrilling stories that keep you guessing at every turn, then do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!
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