Tell Me A Secret

by Samantha Hayes

Tell her all your secrets and she’ll tell you all her lies…

Everything in Lorna’s life runs like clockwork, from her 6 a.m. morning run to the strict 60-minute counselling sessions she gives. It’s the only way she can deal with the terrible secret she carries.

When a new client arrives for his first appointment, Lorna feels her perfect life unravel in a matter of seconds. It’s Andrew, the man she’s spent the last year desperately trying to forget. It seems he can’t forget her either…

Against her better judgement she anonymously contacts him on a dating site. Messaging him could mean the end of her marriage and her career, but she needs to know if his motives are genuine.

When Andrew is found dead in his home, grief quickly turns to fear when messages from him continue to arrive on Lorna’s phone. Somebody knows her secret and wants to use it to destroy everything she has.

Will she risk her family and her sanity to keep her secret? Will she risk her life…?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

361 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2018

About the author

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by my Goodreads page!

My latest psychological thriller THE ENGAGEMENT is out on 10th January 2023 from Amazon, available in ebook, paperback and audio formats. I do hope you love it!


If you love a good 'domestic noir' thriller that will mess with your mind and keep you turning the pages, then my books are for you! You can check out all my titles on my Amazon page here:

https://amzn.to/3jZ83zU

I do hope you'll love getting stuck into my books and enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. And do let me know what you think - it's great to hear from readers! You can get in touch via my website where you'll find lots of info about me and my books - www.samanthahayes.co.uk or come and 'Like' my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor or follow me on Twitter too @samhayes or @samanthahayes.author on Instagram.

Happy reading!

Samantha xx

Reviews

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Twisted Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Samantha Hayes... WOW! What a crazy ride you just took me on! I’d like to thank you for that and blame you for a sleepless night.... i’d suggest you go into this book completely blind, don’t read the blurb, don’t read the reviews (except for mine😉) this book was filled with twist that I did not see coming, and if you do major props to you! There were so many times I was certain I had figured it all out but NOPE!

Lorna was a serious hot mess... she was self-centered, manipulative, a liar, and a therapist... I found this quite amusing, just what you want from a therapist for them to be a bigger mess than you are....Lorna also has a big secret, she had an affair... now the man is back and she can’t seem to stay away.... her feelings towards this man were obsessive... so obsessive that it caused problems not only in her personal life, but in her professional life as well.... I kept thinking there has to be more to this, to cause a intelligent woman to behave this way....

The majority of the book is told from Lorna‘s point of view, with an occasional journal entry from her, and an unknown character named Nikki... Who is Nikki? Well I had lots of theories on this one, all wrong! Wonderful psychological thriller filled with all the twists and turns you’d want and an ending that was quite explosive!💥

Absolutely recommend two fans of a twisty psychological thriller!

*** many thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for my copy of this fabulous book ***

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well well well. Bravo, Ms. Samatha Hayes. Bravo.

What an unexpected little gem of a psychological thriller. (I downloaded this book on a whim and this has now become a must read author for me!) I am actually blown away by this one - such a fun, twisty read and I have whiplash from all the twists and turns, all of which I did not see coming from a mile away, I’d like to happily add!

There were red flags all over the place from the word go but I am very pleased to report that this one stumped me big time. I love it when I book takes my hunches and flips them around on me and is like HA! You are so wrong!

This was well written, engaging, entertaining ride. Definitely recommend to fans of the psychological thriller and happy to say it’s on sale tomorrow!

Thanks so much to Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy Cannoli! THAT was a SHOCKER!

Talk about having your life unravel before your eyes! Lorna appeared to have it all- a career, a family, close friends and a secret! Things are going great in her life until Andrew walks into her office and her world gets turned upside down. She has fought hard to forget him and but having him there in front of her is a jolt and her seemingly perfect life begins to look not so perfect.

I love when I think I have a book figured out and then out of nowhere the Author pulls the rug out from under me. I am not going to discuss the other plot that is occurring in this book except to say - well done!!! Again, I thought I had it all figured out! WRONG! There are a lot of twists, turns, surprises, revelations, secrets and lies. From the shocking opening page until the very last page, this book had me captivated and glued to my seat!

Many reviewers are advising fellow readers to go in blind and I completely agree with them. The less you know the better (and the more fun it will be when the revelations come out!). I thought this book had a carefully executed and well thought out plot! This psychological thriller was a real page turner that had me on the edge of my seat! I can't really say more as I want to avoid spoilers, but I will say if you are a fan of psychological thrillers, this one does not disappoint!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own,

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lorna has been married for years and has two children with her husband and also works full time as a therapist. When Lorna gets a call from a man insisting he needs to start seeing her she doesn't think much of returning the call but slowly finds herself crossing lines that she shouldn't in her job.

When Andrew walks into Lorna's office her world begins to turn upside down. Having used a fake name Lorna was not expecting the man she had an affair with the year before and tried to put out of her mind to suddenly be back and that pull between them to return. As Lorna's life slowly turns upside down she does everything to fight the urge to see Andrew and not risk her career or marriage again.

Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes is a psychological thriller that starts with a prologue that certainly explodes off the pages to gain a readers interest in the story. It also has an ending that deserves all the stars and more with a twisted web to untangle. However, it was the middle of this book that brought down my rating.

The story is told mostly from Lorna's point of view along with an unknown character named Nikki coming into play occasionally along with chapters looking into Lorna's journal here and there building Lorna's past with Andrew. The affair is compelling to read about to a point but it seemed to continue to drag on a bit too long in my opinion losing my interest after a while leaving at 3 1/2 stars overall. Thankfully an explosive ending awaited me though which is what I've come to expect from Samantha Hayes and what will continue to bring me back to her work.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Fast Paced compulsive Psychological Thriller that kept me on my toes.

Tell Me A Secret is a fast paced compulsive psychological thriller that kept me on my toes.

When Lorna gets gets a call from a mystery person called Andrew, she never expects her world to come crashing down.

Lorna is a married mum and part time therapist. With a big secret to hide!
So who is Andrew and why has he got Lorna so scared?

Tell Me A Secret is Unputdownable, Fast Paced, rollercoaster of a Taut psychological thriller that created an enticing mix of suspense, gripping twists that had me flipping every page till the early hours.
The Characters are flawed and not entirely likeable, but perfect for this exciting thriller.
Oh and I forgot to add the Prologue wow!!

If you enjoy thrillers that create a tense, chilling psychological thriller, that is full of secrets and lies, that will keep you on your toes. Then you will love Tell Me A Secret!

Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily

My Review is also on my Blog Website:

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Before telling secrets on the road, look in the bushes." (Chinese Proverb)

'Cause someone is always gonna know what you did. Too many secrets.....not enough bushes.

Lorna lives within a very demanding life. She's wife to Mark, a successful physician, mother to young Freya, and stepmother to college bound Jack. Lorna has left her previous practice as a therapist to take on the challenges of a new partnership within a new clinic. The wheels keep turning every hour of every day.

But Lorna has a deep dark secret that is akin to dragging a plumber's wrench around in your handbag. If the weight of it doesn't get to you, the clunk of it will certainly leave its mark. And her affair with the handsome Andrew will start seeping into every aspect of her life. When Andrew shows up at her office as a new patient, Lorna knows that the jig is up.

This was my first book by Samantha Hayes. Yowzers! Hayes is relentless with her razor-sharp storyline here. We follow the main character of Lorna as she becomes more and more like the little kitty in the well. We hear the tragic meowing, but can anyone reach her in time before tragedy strikes? Hayes fogs up the glass in the windows so well that we don't see what's barreling in and coming straight at us. Some crazy business going on that keeps escalating to new heights.

If you're looking for something to keep you entertained on your flight, in your favorite chair, or snuggled in your bed, check this one out. People behaving badly.......

[Kylie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book! It sees Lorna, a therapist, taking on a new client, not realising it's her lover she jilted a year ago. As Lorna becomes more and more caught up with him, again, it start creating problems in all aspects of her life. She starts neglecting everything, work, her husband and children, her friends. Her obsession triggers a downward slide as her lies start to catch up with her and you can see where it's heading but then BAM, the truth is revealed and you find yourself stunned, asking yourself what just happened? An engrossing book, with a truly amazing ending. A must read!

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first 50% of the book I wasn’t convinced, then suddenly it veered and slotted into place.

This author never lets you down. So I had complete faith in her.
I found myself completely invested in each character. As always they were well developed and rounded out where they became 3D in my mind.

I made it my aim this year not to give out too much about a book.
Not to write long rambling reviews.

I think it’s much better that the blurb says it all to tempt a reader and a review expresses how it made the reader feel.

I loved the notations at the end of the book where the author says her brother has the same job/career as the main character in this book. And I can see the research that has gone on.

But what if that person in that field of work had complexes of her own?
Lorna did.

Her husband Mark did.

Lorna also trying to be a good Mom to Freya their daughter and to her step son Jack.

There are many mixed up complex people in this read.

Lorna crosses a line.

Getting mixed up with a client. Lovers.

The entire book had me in a spin. I kid you not. The first half I was getting so annoyed at Lorna.
I wanted to shake some sense in her.
The second half I swear I read with my mouth hanging open gasping.

This is definitely a thriller I would be recommending and I thank Bookoutour plus the author (whose paperbacks are on my shell well read by my family) and to Net galley


Feel free to check out my blog
https://readalongwithsue.blogspot.com...

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

My oh my, this book deserves 5 brightest stars in the sky!
I love reading about a beautiful troubled hot mess of a woman with a seemingly perfect life. Those kind of female characters are not rare in psychological thrillers nowadays but what is rare is a character portrayed so perfectly obnoxious you will love to hate her. Lorna is a deceiving, jealous, self centered, self destructive, intoxicating, greatly flawed human and she’s hell-bent on destroying everything good in her life but she’s also just a loving mother and a wife trying to burn her way out of the web of lies she’s been weaving cautiously for years.
“Tell me a secret” has twists in all the right places, there’s a great unexpected ending I did not see coming and If you don’t mind your heroine being a little damaged then go right ahead and devour this book, you won’t be sorry!

Many thanks to the publisher for sending a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

O,WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE WHEN FIRST WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE!

This mesmerizing,riveting thriller has more twists and turns than a roller coaster.It's a gripping tale of two women,deceit,secrets,relashionships,obsessions,manipulation and revenge that had me hooked in from the first page right through to the shocking final chapter.

The story is mainly voiced by Lorna,a psychotherapist who is married to Mark and has two children,their daughter Freya and Mark`s son Jack from his previous marriage.Ten months ago Lorna was seduced into having a very,torrid,intense affair with Andrew who was one of her clients at the previous practice she worked at.But eventually the guilt and other factors became too much for her so she ended the affair,moved to a different practice and did everything in her power to forget about HIM.A year later despite running her life like clockwork,she can't stop thoughts about HIM creeping into her head,filling her with mixed feelings of guilt,regret and longing.Then suddenly Andrew tracks her down and turns up at her new practice and once again Lorna finds herself putting her marriage and career at risk,unable to resist her all consuming feelings for Andrew.He is the drug,she is the addict who despite knowing deep down that she is risking everything,can't resist constantly going back for just one more hit.Then Lorna`s life is thrown into turmoil when Andrew is found dead in his home but she continues to receive messages from him.Someone knows her secret,but who and what do they want from Lorna? How far is she prepared to go to prevent her secrets from being revealed
I can't say I thought Lorna was a very likeable character,never mind being a therapist,I think she needed therapy herself.She was one seriously messed up mix bag of conflicting emotions,a very neglectful parent despite constantly insisting she loved her children,and despite being a therapist couldn't see the truth behind her seemingly perfect marriage.Interspersed throughout the story are extracts from Lorna`s journal detailing her first meeting with Andrew,their subsequent affair and the final shocking conclusion to Lorna`s story.There is also chapters told from the point of view of a woman called Nikki who is also a new client of Lorna`s.Nikki also comes across as a very messed up person but once her back story is revealed,it's hard not to feel some sympathy for her and be more understanding about her actions.I really liked Lorna`s group of friends that she met up with a number of times throughout the story,they were a likeable set of characters who remained loyal and still cared about her well being despite Lorna`s unpredictable behaviour.

The story opens with a heart breaking prologue and contains characters that are vivid,realistic and mostly untrustworthy.Lorna and Nikki`s narratives are unreliable and the twists and turns really keep the reader guessing.There was one jaw dropping,mind blowing twist that almost caused me to drop my kindle in shock,I most definitely didn't see that twist coming.I absolutely loved this enthralling thriller,it's worth far more than five stars and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Running is a good way to work things through, to process feral thoughts".

Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes


Can a book go to far? Get to crazy? T he answer to that question, I believe is yes.

Tell me a secret started off great. I liked it very much. Lorna is not a particularly likeable character but the story interested me, particularly since she is a therapist. The story of a therapist, who herself gets locked into being addicted to a person, potentially endangering their job and family unit was one that captured my interest.

Then it went off the rails.

There is such a thing as being to twisty. I was reading a dark and deeply unsettling book the one moment, and then it morphed into something that was completely unbelievable and bizarre.

Gone was the quiet tension. Suddenly it turned into a typical thriller where everyone is nuts and everything that happens has no basis in reality.

Everything racheted up but in a way that lost me entirely and I was quite let down at the end too which answered virtually none of my questions.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes is a psychological thriller about lies, secrets, jealousy and adultery. Lorna is married with a daughter and stepson. She works as a therapist. Recently she had an affair with one of her clients and although she has moved to another practice and ended the affair she is still infatuated with him. When he comes back into her life she risks loosing everything her job, her reputation and her family to connect with him again. Lorna is unprofessional, selfish and foolish. I found her character to be very annoying. This story had many twists and turns but didn't grip me.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[BIBLIOMANIAC MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorna, a successful therapist, has built up a beautiful life with her husband Mark, her daughter Freya and her stepson Jack. Despite this, Lorna has a guilty pleasure that will surely be her downfall. She knows she needs to put a stop to her affair with Andrew, a patient of hers. Andrew on the other hand, has other plans and refuses to let her go. This is where Lorna's perfect house of cards begins falling apart, both personally as well as professionally.

Add this to the the fact that the author dangles delectable carrots of clues and red herrings alluding to something more sinister than first appearances would suggest, this compelling and intriguing read had me guessing throughout, holding me hostage, as I found it impossible to tear my eyes away from the enigmatic personalities and their dark lies, secrets and betrayals, the plot building up to an explosive outcome that I in no way saw coming. An enjoyable read indeed!

I would certainly recommend this domestic drama by Samantha Hayes and would like to thank her, Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion of this book.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes.. where do I start. This book has it all and then more... literally could not stop reading it.

Lorna is a therapist and from the outside she seems to have it all.. a husband, a family and a career. But Lorna has a big secret that could destroy all of that. She tries to leave it in the past but her past is back and she has to do what she she can to protect her world from crashing down.

There is a lot going on in this book but all of it sucked me in. And the ending knocked me for 6... wow, did not see that coming at all and I loved it! Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lorna is a seemingly happily married woman who has it all. A loving husband, a step son Jack and a daughter Freya. She also works as a therapist. Got to admit listening to peoples issues all day must take it's toll but then Lorna is full of secrets herself.

Having pretty much the perfect lifestyle, I couldn't understand why she would risk all that she has. At times I don't think she knows herself. The chapters flick between certain characters but in the main Lorna. They certainly have you racing through the pages to see where the author is going to take us.

It's hard to know what to put in my review as I don't want to give to much away. I think the least you know before going into this story, the better. What I will say is that Tell Me A Secret is a tense and dramatic read that had me hooked. The pace picks up throughout and had me in a tizzy with how things start to unfold. With plenty of surprises in store, it certainly makes for an entertaining read.

[Sarah Joint · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a little insane, but a bit brilliant in it's insanity. Toss your disbelief out the window and enjoy this crazy, unpredictable ride. More than one time I was thinking something like "no... no, that can't..... well, okay, that actually works" when it came to the twists. The main character is incredibly selfish and makes absolutely terrible decisions, but that's what makes her fun to read. She's a hot mess and a half.

Lorna just wants to keep her life together. She counsels her clients, tries to be there for her children and husband. Tries to keep all the balls in the air. They all drop when Andrew walks into her office. She thought she'd be meeting a new client, not the man she's been desperately trying to get out of her head for the past year. He was committed to finding her, and he doesn't want to let go again.

She still has feelings for him that she's unable to deny, and she contacts him on a dating website using a different name and photo. She just wants to see what he'll be like to another woman... is he really still hung up on Lorna, or is he interested in any attractive woman giving him the time of day?

Everything explodes in her face when Andrew is found dead, and she continues to get messages. Who is she talking to her, who knows her secrets? And what will they do with them?

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely jam packed with deceit this is a book that will blow all of your guesses to pieces

Excellently written as always by this author, the chapters endings leave you needing to read 'just another' and in no time your day is gone and the book is finished! The narration switches between Lorna and Nikki, both with very troubled childhoods, neither are easy to like nor wholly reliable: Nikki is a bit of a free spirit, works cash in hand, gets her rented room at discounted rate by providing 'extras' to her landlord. Lorna is the second wife of a man who is used to getting what he wants, their life looks perfect, two affluent professionals, lovely home, two children ... a seemingly great lifestyle .. so why stray, why put everything at risk and why is Nikki stalking her?

Interesting insights into the the work of a counsellor are seamlessly woven into the plot, as are the stresses of cheating on your partner whilst trying to juggle a stressful career, children and ailing parents. it's something of a slow-burner with the thrills but I was still hooked really early on because of the undercurrent of unease and tension which is gradually ramped up as you helplessly watch Lorna risk making a car crash of her life both personally and professionally. Tell Me A Secret is gripping,unnerving, unsettling and ALL of my guesses were wrong. So, so clever - FANTASTIC ending - 5 stars!!

Many thanks to NetGally and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book - this review is, as always, my honest opinion and thoughts about this book.

[Helga چـو ایـران نباشد تن من مـباد · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…secrets from long ago sometimes stay buried, lying dormant, festering, hidden, waiting for the perfect conditions to strike…”

Samantha Hayes sure knows how to confuse you and drop bombshells, right when you are sure you know what is going on and who’s who and who has done what!

It seems Lorna has everything. A loving husband, a daughter and a stepson, a job as a therapist, caring friends and overall a comfortable life. But underneath it all she is hiding a secret. And when Andrew, her ex-lover re-emerges, she knows that her perfect life is going to be ruined if her secret is out.
What does Andrew want? What other secrets Lorna is hiding? And who is it that’s watching her every move and following her everywhere?

Tell Me A Secret is a great psychological thriller, with twists hitting you when you least expect them!

[Namita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorna is a psychotherapist with a husband Mark and has two kids Freya and Mark’s son Jack from his previous marriage.A year back Lorna broke all the rules and had an intense affair with her patient Andrew.Eventually Lorna broke off the affair to save her marriage and moved to a different practice and spent the past year trying to forget him . But now Andrew is back and Lorna once again puts everything she loves at risk for him but it might prove fatal this time.

Tell me a Secret is a fast moving psychological thriller which is told in most part from Lorna’s point of view along with another character Nikki’s too.The book is made up of lots of twists and turns with an unexpected ending that I didn't see coming . A definite recommend to all psychological thriller lovers.

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Melissa In The City · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE TWISTED STARS!
This book earns the Psychological Thriller in its title. A very dark story of betrayal, lies, secrets, affairs, manipulation, and what happens when you can hold everyone else's secrets except for your own. Watching Lorna unravel while she should be helping others as their therapist is so uncomfortable because she truly is a terrible therapist, like the worst. She can't deal with her own secrets and she should be boarding the hot mess express with a first class ticket.
There is not one reliable character in this book and it made for some AMAZING twists. The whole book is a twist! I loved it!
Oh and that cover! Yes!
It is released on MAY 25th!!!

Thank you #NetGalley, the publisher an author Samantha Hayes for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review. My review will be posted on Goodreads as well.
My review recap: ALL OF THE STARS! I LOVED this book!

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the strangely different book, where the initial premise was mild and calming and then it goes on to become a forbidden love affair gone wrong, and the ending was a culmination of past and present.
Unexpected twists in the last 20% made it a choppy but unexpected ending. The mid part does drag on about the affair.
I am still undecided if I liked the book or not. I suppose I would call it a different read.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Samantha Hayes fan and loving that she is now part of the Bookouture family! Now there is a match made in heaven for me! But I do have to start but saying that I worried that she had lost her touch with her newest book Tell Me A Secret that came out last week. I always pre-order her books and read them straight away but when I started this one, I did think it didn’t seem like her usual style! The first half of the book was a bit of a slow burner and I got very frustrated with the main character of Lorna and her “big secret”. She seemed to have the perfect life, a wonderfully supportive husband and adorable daughter and even though her stepson was sometimes a difficult teenager, their relationship was getting better. Then about a third of the way through I realised I was hooked by Lorna’s stressful life and worried about how she was going to cope with all the drama that was being thrown at her!

I do love a dual narrative and trying to work out how the points of view are connected, and here I spent quite a long time thinking about theories for this book. I’m not going to say anymore than that because I want you to be just as surprised by the twists and turns of the plot as I was! And I have to admit I was way off with my guesses! Because I totally underestimated Samantha Hayes at the start of Tell Me A Secret! Of course she hasn’t lost her touch!! The second half of this book was the pay off for the slowly savoured and increasing tension of the first half and I absolutely loved it! There was some jaw dropping reveals and twists aplenty that just kept on coming!! I physically couldn’t put this down! And I still can’t quite believe I doubted one of my most favourite author’s because she totally delivered for me!

Tell Me A Secret is a shocking and addictive triumph! A psychological thriller that came together perfectly, leaving me desperate for more! Loved it!

[Sofie Hern · Rating 4 out of 5]

What did I just read? Holy wow! I was granted this ARC by NetGalley and I am so glad I requested it.

Very few books can make my heat race the way this did throughout. It is a constant adrenaline rush that keeps pumping in every chapter. You will not be able to put it down! The fester your heart beats, the faster you want to read and the more you want know what happens next! I don't think I have any nails left!

The story follows Lorna, a wife, mother and dedicated therapist. From a distance she seems to have the perfect life, a loving husband and close friends. Dig deeper and you’ll learn that she is far from perfect and her life seems to be falling apart.

You will also meet Nikki, a mysterious woman who comes across as lonely and at times maybe even dangerous. At first you will feel a bit confused as to what role they each play, which is what makes this book so addicting! You just want to keep reading and slowly figure things out.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that Samantha Hayes keeps you guessing until the very last page. When you think you have it all figured out you are hit with a twist that will leave you reeling!

The characters are memorable and likable. Sure there are some that you will hate, some that will creep you out and others will simple leave you wonder WTH?!!

If you like relentless suspense and an unforgettable story, you need to give this one a go. Very well written.

[Stacey Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

**5 Goodreads Stars**

"...the worst kind of secrets are always the ones we keep from ourselves."

"Even therapists have secrets."

Lorna has a deep, dark secret that threatens to destroy her family and her career. Her secret is so thorny that she will do everything in her power to keep it from the people she loves.

What is this secret? 

Lorna has been hiding an affair from her coworkers, friends, and family for nearly a year. It's an intensely passionate relationship, one that caused her to violate her professional code of ethics as a practicing clinical psychologist. This is because the affair involved one of her patients, Andrew. Lorna tries to end the smoldering affair by up and leaving her psychology practice for a new one, but Andrew hunts her down at her new practice. And despite Lorna's best intentions, they rekindle old flames.

But there's someone watching from afar, taking note of Andrew and Lorna. They want revenge. They want to settle the score. They are stalking Lorna like prey. And Lorna and Andrew have no clue.

Samantha Hayes' Tell Me a Secret could be used in a master class on writing a suspenseful psychological thriller, one that shocks at every turn. I can't reveal much without revealing significant plot twists and turns, but I can promise you that this book will keep you on your toes. This would be the perfect book for a women's book club; when I finished it, I wanted to talk about the ending to anyone who would listen. I did not see the ending coming, which is all the more reason I enjoyed it!

Another thing that I enjoyed about the book was the different ways Hayes' told Lorna's story. She gives readers insight into Lorna's deep thoughts by providing snippets of Lorna's journals (take note, readers!). She also incorporates illicit conversations via text and a dating website into the narrative, giving us hints of what is to come with Lorna and Andrew. This writing style kept the book current and fresh for me.

Thank you to the author, Samantha Hayes, the publisher, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy ofTell Me a Secret!

For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram

[Alja Katuin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a really hard time getting into this story, it felt super slow; without anything that really sparked my fire, so to say. After about 70% of the book it was there: I couldn’t stop reading at all. Overall it was a really decent read, a bit too psychological for my taste, but it was good!

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell Me A Secret is about obsession – deep, dark, uncomfortable obsession. Obsession so encompassing it takes over your life, your family, your job, your responsibilities until all you can think about is your obsession.

Lorna is a married woman with a step son and young daughter. She’s also a respectable counsellor with a client list of damaged and vulnerable patients. A year ago she embarked on a passionate and all-consuming affair with Andrew, her patient, and ended it after 10 months, moving practices and completely stopping all contact with Andrew. However he has just found her again, turning up as a new patient under a different name.

This is a really uncomfortable story, not just because the main character Lorna is so unlikable and doesn’t just get under your skin, she makes you itch and squirm, it’s because I felt like a voyeur watching a family self destruct. If you like your psychological thrillers so dark you need a torch, so uncomfortable you need an extra pillow and with enough red herrings to smell like Billingsgate Market – then check out this book.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shit. Wholly shit! Ok, sorry for the cursing but wholly F$(&!!! This is and I mean this when I say it - this is the absolute BEST book I’ve read this year! I’m reeling! Wow. Ok.... breathe.... deep breaths.... so where the heck do I begin?

The book begins with a nine years old little girl finding her father hanging from the rafters. He’s committed suicide and it’s all her fault. You see, he killed himself after the little girl caught Daddy piddling the “lodger” while Mommy was at work. And, so kind of him, Daddy dearest left a note for her:

“This is what happens when you watch people, when you tell secrets. It’s your shame now.....”

But, what poor Daddy never realized is that watching is what she does. But telling dirty little secrets? Never.

Tell Me A Secret is just... well... bloody brilliant- it’s breathtaking. Hayes toys with you, she taunts you up the ladder, and just when you find yourself so taken aback with what you’re reading mesmerized by her words - Bam! It’s too late my friends, when you weren’t paying attention Hayes slipped the noose around your neck and kicked the ladder out from under you! And you’re left hanging, gulping, clawing through the pages until the end. Wow. Again, wow. 500+stars for this must must read!

Merged review:

Shit. Wholly shit! Ok, sorry for the cursing but wholly F$(&!!! This is and I mean this when I say it - this is the absolute BEST book I’ve read this year! I’m reeling! Wow. Ok.... breathe.... deep breaths.... so where the heck do I begin?

The book begins with a nine years old little girl finding her father hanging from the rafters. He’s committed suicide and it’s all her fault. You see, he killed himself after the little girl caught Daddy piddling the “lodger” while Mommy was at work. And, so kind of him, Daddy dearest left a note for her:

“This is what happens when you watch people, when you tell secrets. It’s your shame now.....”

But, what poor Daddy never realized is that watching is what she does. But telling dirty little secrets? Never.

Tell Me A Secret is just... well... bloody brilliant- it’s breathtaking. Hayes toys with you, she taunts you up the ladder, and just when you find yourself so taken aback with what you’re reading mesmerized by her words - Bam! It’s too late my friends, when you weren’t paying attention Hayes slipped the noose around your neck and kicked the ladder out from under you! And you’re left hanging, gulping, clawing through the pages until the end. Wow. Again, wow. 500+stars for this must must read!

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having loved The Reunion I couldn’t wait to read the next psychological thriller from Samantha Hayes. Tell Me a Secret is a rollercoaster ride of a read that completely played with my emotions, consistently made me second guess everything that I read and left me in a state of shock by the end of the story. Everything that I want from a psychological thriller.

I find it hard to review these type of books because so much of what I want to talk about is mostly about the characters and the plot. As the blurb says the story centres around Lorna who is a psychotherapist who one day takes on a new client, only for that client to be Andrew, the man she has spent the past year trying to forget. Now if you haven’t read the blurb - DON’T DO IT. I’ve just read it myself and it gives away a MAJOR plot twist. All I knew about the story going into it was what I’ve just wrote about meeting Andrew and to be honest that’s all you should know before reading this story.

Lorna is a complicated character and if I’m honest I don’t think I ever actually liked her. What Samantha does a fantastic job of here is making the characters believable. From the minute Lorna meets Andrew again it becomes such uncomfortable reading because it felt like I was in the room with them. Their scenes are so intense and feel so private that it almost felt wrong to be spying on them almost. The writing really drew me in and it became a truly addictive read. And then seeing Lorna’s life start to fall apart around her was in one way annoying because I wanted to scream at her but on the other hand it was completely compulsive reading. There’s other characters I want to talk about such as her husband Mark but honestly given where this story goes and how certain characters behave this really is a story you just need to go into without knowing too much about the characters.

My overall enjoyment and overall rating of a psychological thriller is based on the ending. That’s what I read them for, the shocking ending, the ‘twist you won’t see coming’ and hopefully an ending that sets the story apart in an incredibly saturated genre. The ending here in Tell Me a Secret was a satisfying one. I worked out a couple of things but Samantha Hayes certainly kept a few things back that I didn’t see coming and the last chapter in particular is one that will stay with me. Overall this was a hugely enjoyable thriller that I was gripped to as I read, one of those books I had on my Kindle and Kindle for iPhone app so I could keep reading it whilst I was away from my Kindle. Tell Me a Secret is a story I highly recommend and is one of the better psychological thrillers that I have read this year.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, talk about a wicked writer, Samantha Hayes is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I was there reading away thinking that this was a typical sort of mixed family that reflected life today. A marriage with one child from a previous marriage and one between them both. Now the thing was they were a little too sweet and I found myself almost envious of a life like theirs. The only thing it was short of was the Disney blue birds singing in the background. I am so glad that I haven’t had that wish granted!
When Andrew turns up at the centre where Lorna worked as a psychotherapist you could have knocked her down with a feather. The previous year he had been a patient of hers and the two of them had embarked on an affair. He had returned to tell her that he wanted to take back up where they had left off. Now Lorna was feeling a little hot under the collar. Her head was saying run and her body was shouting more!
This is a busy book that holds a multitude of secrets and cover ups. The first third of the book lets you get to know the characters like they see each other. While chapters swop between a couple of people from events in their childhoods to life in present day. The rest of the story is of wowzer quality where I kept thinking what a super end but no there is more and more and more. It is a beaut story. It reels you in nice and steady then it is hook line and sinker! I don’t think I will ever judge my instincts again. I’m ruined! Perfect.
I wish to thank the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read a couple of books by this author before and thoroughly enjoying them, it was one of the reasons why I wanted to read her latest book. The other reason being that the cover was highly appealing.

However, I have to be honest and say that unfortunately this wasn't a great read for me, I struggled with the story on quite a few occasions and found the story slow to begin with. Plus I literally could not gel with the main character of Lorna, I disliked her and found her highly annoying.

Having read other reader's reviews of this book, I am glad to see that there are a lot of readers that did indeed enjoy this book, which to me, means it is true what they say, certain books just aren't for everyone.

Some good points about this book though, it was well written, the characters were well developed, once over the half way point, the book becomes very fast paced and addictive reading, there were plenty of surprises, twists and turns come the final chapters that I literally didn't see coming.