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The Secret She Kept
She’s dead. Why would she lie?
Days before her murder, Anthony’s friend, Lottie, lent him her laptop. Curiosity getting the best of him, he clicks on a file and finds videos recorded by her in the year leading up to her death. Within those recordings, she exposes dark secrets someone will kill to keep hidden, and Lottie’s toxic relationship with Anthony’s long-time friend, Davian.
When Anthony’s childhood friend, Davian is placed under arrest for the murder, Anthony refuses to believe he could do such a thing but Lottie was infatuated by Davian. More damning evidence piles up, Anthony wonders if it’s possible a man he’s known for most of his life has kept a sinister side of himself hidden.
Now, Anthony faces an impossible choice; turn the laptop over to the police and risk being accused of hindering the investigation, or try to solve the case himself. Lottie gave him the computer for a reason. There was something there she wanted him to see. Can he put the pieces of the puzzle together in time to uncover the killer?
Days before her murder, Anthony’s friend, Lottie, lent him her laptop. Curiosity getting the best of him, he clicks on a file and finds videos recorded by her in the year leading up to her death. Within those recordings, she exposes dark secrets someone will kill to keep hidden, and Lottie’s toxic relationship with Anthony’s long-time friend, Davian.
When Anthony’s childhood friend, Davian is placed under arrest for the murder, Anthony refuses to believe he could do such a thing but Lottie was infatuated by Davian. More damning evidence piles up, Anthony wonders if it’s possible a man he’s known for most of his life has kept a sinister side of himself hidden.
Now, Anthony faces an impossible choice; turn the laptop over to the police and risk being accused of hindering the investigation, or try to solve the case himself. Lottie gave him the computer for a reason. There was something there she wanted him to see. Can he put the pieces of the puzzle together in time to uncover the killer?
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2020
34 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Ellis
30 books168 followersJ.S Ellis is a thriller author. She has a degree in creative writing, English literature, and digital marketing. She lives in Malta with her fiancé and their fur baby Eloise. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s either cooking, eating cheese and chocolate, or listening to good music and enjoying a glass of wine or two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
June 27, 2021
This is my first book by J. S. Ellis, but definitely won’t be my last. It’s a very quick thriller with many twists and turns. Lottie has committed suicide and her good friend Anthony is determined to find out why. As the story unravels, all is not what it appears. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who wants a quick read that is full of suspense and mystery. Thank you NetGalley and Black Cat Ink Press for my ARC.
May 18, 2024
This is a thriller. I found this thriller just ok. I really did not like the writing style in this book which is just my personal opinion. This book was just not for me, but I can see some people loving this thriller. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2020
Just days before Anthony's friend, Lottie, was murdered, she lent him her laptop. Being the inquisitive sort, after police had questioned him, he decided to look in her computer. ..maybe there were clues to who had killed her.
What he finds surprises him. There are audio files she made in the year before her death. She exposes deep, dark secrets about her relationship with Davian.. Anthony's best friend.
When Davian is charged with her murder, Anthony refuses to believe it. He just wouldn't ... couldn't ... kill someone. Could he?
It becomes a he said - she said. One of them must be lying .. but who.. why?
The suspense starts on the very first page and never lets up. It's well written with a solid plot and unique characters. The ending came as quite a surprise. This is not the first book of this author's that I've read and none have been a disappointment.
Many thanks to the author / Booksirens / Black Cat Ink Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 1, 2020
How well do you really know your friends? Five days before she died of a gunshot wound to the face Lottie gave her dear friend, Anthony, her laptop to use as his was broken. After she died Anthony was devastated and desolate. He couldn’t believe anyone would kill Lottie. She was so nice, everyone liked her. He turned on her laptop to see if it held any clues about what she’d been up to or been going through.
What he found instead was a series of videos she’d made, sitting in front of the computer, in the form of a diary. Why would she do that? There was nothing for it but to watch them. The story alternates between Lottie’s video diary and Anthony literally undertaking his own investigation. As the story progresses he becomes increasingly concerned and realises that Lottie had been keeping things from him. In fact she had not been entirely truthful. Anthony also started to wonder if his best friend, Davian, had anything to do with Lottie or her death. After all, they had known each other, had worked at the same gallery. In the way of these things the diary entries become more alarming. But it is not until Anthony uncovers her final clue that the truth slaps him in the face. He had never really known Lottie at all.
I thought the plot was really rather good. The characters were well fleshed out and it was not possible to predict the outcome too early. Having the unreliable narrators worked well in this regard. Personally I would have preferred a faster take off for the story and a bit more action but I thought the author did a good job for this style of story. Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for my review copy.
What he found instead was a series of videos she’d made, sitting in front of the computer, in the form of a diary. Why would she do that? There was nothing for it but to watch them. The story alternates between Lottie’s video diary and Anthony literally undertaking his own investigation. As the story progresses he becomes increasingly concerned and realises that Lottie had been keeping things from him. In fact she had not been entirely truthful. Anthony also started to wonder if his best friend, Davian, had anything to do with Lottie or her death. After all, they had known each other, had worked at the same gallery. In the way of these things the diary entries become more alarming. But it is not until Anthony uncovers her final clue that the truth slaps him in the face. He had never really known Lottie at all.
I thought the plot was really rather good. The characters were well fleshed out and it was not possible to predict the outcome too early. Having the unreliable narrators worked well in this regard. Personally I would have preferred a faster take off for the story and a bit more action but I thought the author did a good job for this style of story. Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for my review copy.
May 10, 2020
Whoa! It's like 'Thirteen Reasons Why' with a twist. The Secret She Kept has a suspenseful storyline with well developed characters. So much so that you'll find yourself disliking some characters, and feeling sorry for others. But don't be fooled.
It begins with the murder of Lottie, Anthony's best friend and co-worker. Who could have committed such a brutal act against a nice girl like Lottie? Could it be her toxic boss, Davian? As you read through the book the mystery unfolds as Anthony uncovers a protected file on Lottie's laptop -- the laptop that Lottie entrusted to Anthony.
The file that Anthony uncovers contains recorded videos of Lottie in the year leading up to her untimely death. A video diary of sorts, detailing all the events prior to her death.
An engaging page turner that will keep you guessing until the end. Wow! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Thank you BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
It begins with the murder of Lottie, Anthony's best friend and co-worker. Who could have committed such a brutal act against a nice girl like Lottie? Could it be her toxic boss, Davian? As you read through the book the mystery unfolds as Anthony uncovers a protected file on Lottie's laptop -- the laptop that Lottie entrusted to Anthony.
The file that Anthony uncovers contains recorded videos of Lottie in the year leading up to her untimely death. A video diary of sorts, detailing all the events prior to her death.
An engaging page turner that will keep you guessing until the end. Wow! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Thank you BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 22, 2020
The Secret She Kept is the story of Anthony and the death of his best friend, Lottie, and who may have murdered her.
Anthony borrows Lottie's laptop when his breaks. A few days later she's dead and it looks like a murder. But Lottie's so dang sweet and special, who would want to murder her? Anthony, rather than turn the laptop over to the police, decides to open Lottie's files and sure enough, there he finds a series of videos she recorded for ... someone. Who knows who they were meant for and what they'll reveal?
It turns out Lottie has fallen head over heels for a coworker after Anthony set her up with an interview at his own workplace. This coworker happens to be Anthony's other best friend, although you'd hardly know it based on their interactions. But through the videos and conversations with other coworkers, Anthony learns that Lottie may (or may not) have been a little unstable.
Who's lying, what secrets are Lottie hiding and who really killed her?
My three issues with this book, and the reason for just two stars, are that despite an interesting plot, I had the whodunnit figured out about one-quarter of the way through the book; throughout the novel, the author incorrectly phrased many many questions and that grammar error made reading it so frustrating; and finally, during the video snippets--written in italics so they would stand out from the first-person text--Lottie is talking but some of her dialogue describes surroundings that shouldn't be part of the video. And she speaks too formally in certain instances rather than what you'd expect from a video diary. It's just ... not right.
Two stars for a fine attempt that I was just glad to be done with. And many thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Anthony borrows Lottie's laptop when his breaks. A few days later she's dead and it looks like a murder. But Lottie's so dang sweet and special, who would want to murder her? Anthony, rather than turn the laptop over to the police, decides to open Lottie's files and sure enough, there he finds a series of videos she recorded for ... someone. Who knows who they were meant for and what they'll reveal?
It turns out Lottie has fallen head over heels for a coworker after Anthony set her up with an interview at his own workplace. This coworker happens to be Anthony's other best friend, although you'd hardly know it based on their interactions. But through the videos and conversations with other coworkers, Anthony learns that Lottie may (or may not) have been a little unstable.
Who's lying, what secrets are Lottie hiding and who really killed her?
My three issues with this book, and the reason for just two stars, are that despite an interesting plot, I had the whodunnit figured out about one-quarter of the way through the book; throughout the novel, the author incorrectly phrased many many questions and that grammar error made reading it so frustrating; and finally, during the video snippets--written in italics so they would stand out from the first-person text--Lottie is talking but some of her dialogue describes surroundings that shouldn't be part of the video. And she speaks too formally in certain instances rather than what you'd expect from a video diary. It's just ... not right.
Two stars for a fine attempt that I was just glad to be done with. And many thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
Thank You to NetGalley and Black Cat Ink Press for this free ebook!!
Days before her murder, Anthony’s friend, Lottie, lent him her laptop. Curiosity getting the best of him, he clicks on a file and finds videos recorded by her in the year leading up to her death. Within those recordings, she exposes dark secrets someone will kill to keep hidden.
When Anthony’s childhood friend, Davian is placed under arrest for the murder and evidence piles up, Anthony wonders if he even knew both his friends.
Now, Anthony faces an impossible choice; turn the laptop over to the police and risk being accused of hindering the investigation, or try to solve the case himself.
What attracted me to this book was it's premise but unfortunately it wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be.
What's good about this book is that the secrets, lies and truth are gradually revealed and so the readers can try guessing who is telling lies and who isn't.
But since the book is written in very simple language its a quick read.
Days before her murder, Anthony’s friend, Lottie, lent him her laptop. Curiosity getting the best of him, he clicks on a file and finds videos recorded by her in the year leading up to her death. Within those recordings, she exposes dark secrets someone will kill to keep hidden.
When Anthony’s childhood friend, Davian is placed under arrest for the murder and evidence piles up, Anthony wonders if he even knew both his friends.
Now, Anthony faces an impossible choice; turn the laptop over to the police and risk being accused of hindering the investigation, or try to solve the case himself.
What attracted me to this book was it's premise but unfortunately it wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be.
What's good about this book is that the secrets, lies and truth are gradually revealed and so the readers can try guessing who is telling lies and who isn't.
But since the book is written in very simple language its a quick read.
September 30, 2024
"I thought detectives come in pairs, like socks." - Anthony
I'm trying to get through some old backlist NetGalley, so I've been trying to target books that don't have an audiobook out. The Secret She Kept by J.S. Ellis is a very quick read that kept me guessing but did end up being pretty middle of the road for me as far as thrillers go. I didn't like any of the characters which usually isn't a problem, but they are all adults and some of the childish behavior started getting on my nerves.
I loved the format of this book and the way it alternated with Anthony's viewpoint and the clips of Lottie's videos. It created quite an air of mystery as well as a speedy plot that made me not want to put it down! I did notice a lot of editing mistakes such as missing words and other grammatical errors that were in the finished book which I will admit turned me off a bit as well. Overall, The Secret She Kept was a pretty solid read, but not one that I will be recommending to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I'm trying to get through some old backlist NetGalley, so I've been trying to target books that don't have an audiobook out. The Secret She Kept by J.S. Ellis is a very quick read that kept me guessing but did end up being pretty middle of the road for me as far as thrillers go. I didn't like any of the characters which usually isn't a problem, but they are all adults and some of the childish behavior started getting on my nerves.
I loved the format of this book and the way it alternated with Anthony's viewpoint and the clips of Lottie's videos. It created quite an air of mystery as well as a speedy plot that made me not want to put it down! I did notice a lot of editing mistakes such as missing words and other grammatical errors that were in the finished book which I will admit turned me off a bit as well. Overall, The Secret She Kept was a pretty solid read, but not one that I will be recommending to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 11, 2021
The Secret She Kept by J.S. Ellis
Ok, for me this book was super slow and just didn't hold my interest, the characters did not grab me and make me want to get to know tgem...thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this book and letting me leave my opinion.
Ok, for me this book was super slow and just didn't hold my interest, the characters did not grab me and make me want to get to know tgem...thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this book and letting me leave my opinion.
June 1, 2020
This was a really fast read, but fell a little short for me. I feel like it started and then it ended, with no real build-up of the story or the characters. The premise is that Anthony's best friend Lottie is murdered, and had happened to lend him her laptop a couple days before. Rather than mentioning to the police that he has the laptop, he takes matters into his own hands and takes a peek, finding a series of video clips that Lottie recorded over the past few months.
I liked the overall style of the book, where it went back and forth between Lottie's video clips and Anthony's responses to what he was seeing, but the writing itself felt a little stilted. When her big secret comes out, I didn't think it was that big of a deal, and the outcome left me scratching my head a bit. I also just didn't feel that the characters,or really the overall plot-line, were that well-developed- Davian came off like a huge jerk and I couldn't fathom when/where/how he and Anthony became close friends, or why Lottie was so obsessed with him.
All in all, this just wasn't that memorable of a read for me, though it was a quick one. I would not recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the overall style of the book, where it went back and forth between Lottie's video clips and Anthony's responses to what he was seeing, but the writing itself felt a little stilted. When her big secret comes out, I didn't think it was that big of a deal, and the outcome left me scratching my head a bit. I also just didn't feel that the characters,or really the overall plot-line, were that well-developed- Davian came off like a huge jerk and I couldn't fathom when/where/how he and Anthony became close friends, or why Lottie was so obsessed with him.
All in all, this just wasn't that memorable of a read for me, though it was a quick one. I would not recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2020
It’s official. JS Ellis is one of my new favorites. I’ve read a few of her short stories so when I saw this novel length book I was very excited. I couldn’t wait to start it and I wasn’t disappointed.
Like her short stories, this book also has those moments where your mouth drops open and you don’t know what to think. What I love about this book as opposed to the short stories is that there’s definitely more than a few moments like that.. Every time I was like “oh no she didn’t”. But she definitely did.
It starts off with Lottie’s death being investigated and her friend Anthony has possession of her laptop. He decides not to give it to the police immediately but to wait and see what, if anything, is on it that may be related to her death. What he finds is completely unexpected and goes against everything he thought he knew and believed about his friend.
Anthony gets Lottie a job with him and his best friend Davian. For some reason, Lottie has never met Davian in all the years she’s known Anthony. Then the games begin via video clips Lottie left on her laptop
There are so many subplots to the main plot so it’s hard to really go into detail without giving away spoilers. Everything revolves around finding out who killed Lottie, and why. The characters are all different and they’re not all likable but it works here. it makes you question everybody’s possible motive. And the whole book makes you question what you really do and don’t know about your own friends.
A huge thank you to BookSirens for providing e-copy of this book for my voluntary review.
Like her short stories, this book also has those moments where your mouth drops open and you don’t know what to think. What I love about this book as opposed to the short stories is that there’s definitely more than a few moments like that.. Every time I was like “oh no she didn’t”. But she definitely did.
It starts off with Lottie’s death being investigated and her friend Anthony has possession of her laptop. He decides not to give it to the police immediately but to wait and see what, if anything, is on it that may be related to her death. What he finds is completely unexpected and goes against everything he thought he knew and believed about his friend.
Anthony gets Lottie a job with him and his best friend Davian. For some reason, Lottie has never met Davian in all the years she’s known Anthony. Then the games begin via video clips Lottie left on her laptop
There are so many subplots to the main plot so it’s hard to really go into detail without giving away spoilers. Everything revolves around finding out who killed Lottie, and why. The characters are all different and they’re not all likable but it works here. it makes you question everybody’s possible motive. And the whole book makes you question what you really do and don’t know about your own friends.
A huge thank you to BookSirens for providing e-copy of this book for my voluntary review.
June 23, 2020
Follow me on my Instagram.com/dees_bookshelf
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing me an electronic copy in return for my honest review.
Book to be released 6/23/2020
Lottie is dead. She is found in her apartment, cause of death to be murder. Anthony finds himself in possession of her laptop, after borrowing it a couple weeks prior. Anthony determined to find out what happened to Lottie, he decides to go through her files on her laptop, finding 22 entries of a video journal. Documentation of the last few weeks of her life. Starting after her got her an entry level position at his job, working with his best friend Davian. What Anthony discovers is more than he is ready to believe, he thought he knew Lottie and he also thought he knew Davian. But all is not how it appears. Lottie’s secret ends up being more than Anthony bargained for.
This was a good read. There was nothing earth shattering about it, but a good mystery, plot and story line. The book is in the eyes of Anthony, and Lottie’s video diaries, which keeps it interesting. There aren’t many characters in the book so it does keep the “who did it” factor a little more intriguing. I did figure it out before it was revealed, but it does become more apparent towards the last 20% of the book. There are some little twists here and there, which I can appreciate. It keeps you on your toes. Lottie’s character did become quite interesting, not very relatable but just interesting. This is a quick read, I finished it in 2 nights, although there are a couple of slower parts. All in all it was good.
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing me an electronic copy in return for my honest review.
Book to be released 6/23/2020
Lottie is dead. She is found in her apartment, cause of death to be murder. Anthony finds himself in possession of her laptop, after borrowing it a couple weeks prior. Anthony determined to find out what happened to Lottie, he decides to go through her files on her laptop, finding 22 entries of a video journal. Documentation of the last few weeks of her life. Starting after her got her an entry level position at his job, working with his best friend Davian. What Anthony discovers is more than he is ready to believe, he thought he knew Lottie and he also thought he knew Davian. But all is not how it appears. Lottie’s secret ends up being more than Anthony bargained for.
This was a good read. There was nothing earth shattering about it, but a good mystery, plot and story line. The book is in the eyes of Anthony, and Lottie’s video diaries, which keeps it interesting. There aren’t many characters in the book so it does keep the “who did it” factor a little more intriguing. I did figure it out before it was revealed, but it does become more apparent towards the last 20% of the book. There are some little twists here and there, which I can appreciate. It keeps you on your toes. Lottie’s character did become quite interesting, not very relatable but just interesting. This is a quick read, I finished it in 2 nights, although there are a couple of slower parts. All in all it was good.
July 9, 2020
"The secret she kept" is packed full of lies and betrayal. You are consistently second guessing and doubting everyone. This was a really fast and fun read and It keeps you guessing right up till the end. The Secret She Kept has a suspenseful storyline with well developed characters, you will find yourself loving some and ready to choke others.
Let me tell ya, Lottie is a lady full of secrets and one damn good story teller! You got me girl, I didnt see that coming at all! I dont normally write such short reviews but honestly this is all I want to give you dear readers.
Dont worry Lottie your secrets are safe with me.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Let me tell ya, Lottie is a lady full of secrets and one damn good story teller! You got me girl, I didnt see that coming at all! I dont normally write such short reviews but honestly this is all I want to give you dear readers.
Dont worry Lottie your secrets are safe with me.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2020
Thank you to the author for providing me with a physical copy of the book for the Instagram tour. Visit my profile for more. https://instagram.com/ravens_books?ig...
Since his best friend, Lottie, was murdered, Anthony's life has been consumed by grief. All he has left of her is a laptop, which he wasn't turned in to the police... Yet. He can't, he has to find out who killed her first. But is he really ready to? Can he handle the truth? Is Davian, his childhood friend, somehow involved? Could he be the killer?
I must say, if not for my exams, I would have finished this book in a single sitting.
There were so many questions I wanted answered from the very beginning of the book. The
entirety of the story spins around lies, deceit and wild guesses. Our protagonist struggles to
find a shred of truth behind mountains of lies and his heart is pulled to two opposite directions
the whole time.
I liked the way the story unfolded, part of it from the protagonists POV and the rest from Lottie's video recordings. I had never thought I'd enjoyed it this much but this "mixed media" form of
storytelling definitely added layers to the story. Although I saw the end coming a little after the middle of the book, a single detail made all the difference.
The story deals with obsession and the worst part of a human's nature, revenge. The author
used her craft to blur the fine line between devastation and madness and the reader can feel
the heaviness of the situation and the agony as they proceed to the next chapter. I loved the
ending and the way everything was put into place.
I throughoutly enjoyed this read and I can't wait for the author's next work.
Since his best friend, Lottie, was murdered, Anthony's life has been consumed by grief. All he has left of her is a laptop, which he wasn't turned in to the police... Yet. He can't, he has to find out who killed her first. But is he really ready to? Can he handle the truth? Is Davian, his childhood friend, somehow involved? Could he be the killer?
I must say, if not for my exams, I would have finished this book in a single sitting.
There were so many questions I wanted answered from the very beginning of the book. The
entirety of the story spins around lies, deceit and wild guesses. Our protagonist struggles to
find a shred of truth behind mountains of lies and his heart is pulled to two opposite directions
the whole time.
I liked the way the story unfolded, part of it from the protagonists POV and the rest from Lottie's video recordings. I had never thought I'd enjoyed it this much but this "mixed media" form of
storytelling definitely added layers to the story. Although I saw the end coming a little after the middle of the book, a single detail made all the difference.
The story deals with obsession and the worst part of a human's nature, revenge. The author
used her craft to blur the fine line between devastation and madness and the reader can feel
the heaviness of the situation and the agony as they proceed to the next chapter. I loved the
ending and the way everything was put into place.
I throughoutly enjoyed this read and I can't wait for the author's next work.
June 6, 2020
Well, this isn't your everyday crime story. I expected it to go a certain way but I'm glad it surprised me. It's a well written story that had me changing my mind about what the actual truth was. Even though I guessed who the killer was, I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 22, 2020
To be honest, I almost stopped reading after the first couple of pages because of all the 'I' sentences. It drove me crazy! Fortunately, it got better once the story started. The story was okay, nothing very thrilling and I figured it out early on. Still, I agreed to read and review so I kept reading.
I found the supposed 'video' scenes to be the most problematic as they just didn't read like someone talking to the camera. I found it very jarring, and a common problem with these kinds of scenes. No one gives all the information like that, but the information is required for the reader to understand what is going on.
It is a reasonably quick reading, middle of the road 'thriller'.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found the supposed 'video' scenes to be the most problematic as they just didn't read like someone talking to the camera. I found it very jarring, and a common problem with these kinds of scenes. No one gives all the information like that, but the information is required for the reader to understand what is going on.
It is a reasonably quick reading, middle of the road 'thriller'.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 17, 2020
4-5 stars! While I do think it is a great read while reading, I feel it is a bit forgetful, hence the not full 5 star rating! I think it was really well written, unputdownable, and provided the thrills, chills, and shocks I seek! As I mentioned above I forgot about it; instead or pondering it for days, which is why it isn’t a full 5 star read for me! I do think most will really enjoy it, and unlike me might even be completely mind blown and therefore keep it sticking in their brain! Highly recommend, especially for those looking for a quick read!
Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!
Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!
December 7, 2020
Few days back Anthony's friend Lottie lent him her laptop and now she is DEAD, direct HEADSHOT. His very sweet friend is dead, it's just impossible for him to imagine.
While the police is busy with their investigations, Anthony is still in hold of Lottie's laptop confused whether to surrender it to police or keep it to himself. Curiosity gets over him and he start searching in laptop for some clues & end up finding a secured file full of videos which lead to her death.
On the other hand Anthony's childhood friend Davian is under custody for the murder of Lottie. Again an unimaginable situation. Evidence against him is getting stacked up. Anthony is just stuck between a situation where it's too hard to take any side or make any choices.
Okay this was a short length and light mystery read. Story and characters were interesting but as said story was short I felt little things were rushed to wrap up the story.
While the police is busy with their investigations, Anthony is still in hold of Lottie's laptop confused whether to surrender it to police or keep it to himself. Curiosity gets over him and he start searching in laptop for some clues & end up finding a secured file full of videos which lead to her death.
On the other hand Anthony's childhood friend Davian is under custody for the murder of Lottie. Again an unimaginable situation. Evidence against him is getting stacked up. Anthony is just stuck between a situation where it's too hard to take any side or make any choices.
Okay this was a short length and light mystery read. Story and characters were interesting but as said story was short I felt little things were rushed to wrap up the story.
May 9, 2020
"The Secret She kept"........well she did well keeping that secret!! I loved this book and really enjoyed reading it! "The Secret She Kept" is a fast paced thriller full of guesses and "ohhhh...hang on" moments.
Firstly, I must admit, I did not love the protagonist, Anthony. I don't think I really clicked with him. I mean he was fine, but he is not a character I could fall in love with or would want to punch, or to have a beer with, and do you know what? That's ok. Because I really clicked with the other main character, the keeper of secrets, Lottie. I loved the character of Lottie! I think she was very well established, realistic, relatable and god-dammit I wanted to find out what happened to that girl!
There are a few things I loved about this book, that made it a solid 5 stars for me. Firstly, I loved the layout. The chapters were quite short (which aided in my reading this novel in just two sittings) and the writing style had a great flow. I also really enjoyed that some of the chapters were told through Lottie's perspective (I won't say how), but it was an interesting touch, not one I had encountered before, and it worked really well. Clever technique Ms. Ellis!
Secondly, I really enjoyed the length of this book. The author did a great job creating a compelling novel with a great plot, and unlike other authors, did not need 400+ pages to do it. When I read a thriller I don't like additional fluff. Sure fluff is fine, we can't have a set up, murder and resolution in 100 pages.....can we? Heavens forbid. But I read ALOT of thrillers, (sometimes two a day due to Covid-19 lockdown) and sometimes I find myself reading entire paragrapahs that are clearly bulkers/fillers, there to add to the page number. But no, not with Ellis. I'm not saying the author gets in and gets out, like in a short story or novella. Rather, the pace is perfect at a cosy 250 or so pages, not a Ruth Rendell wannabe length.
And that little rant my friends leads me onto pace. I quite liked the pace of this novel, the development of characters, the sprinkles of plot twists, the climax and the resolution. It fit, and it fit well......until it didn't.
JOKE. This kept me glued right up to the end and I honestly DID NOT WANT THIS BOOK TO FINISH, and I dare you to think you will guess the ending, 'cause ya won't!
Plot: I enjoyed this plot, and hand on my heart- I DID NOT SEE THE END COMING. Wow. I wish I could bottle that feeling. There are only two books, TWO in which I had not guessed the ending before the author wanted me to. And this, fellow bibliophiles, is the third. That to me is a drop-the-mic-moment-go-read-this-book moment right there.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, I must admit, I did not love the protagonist, Anthony. I don't think I really clicked with him. I mean he was fine, but he is not a character I could fall in love with or would want to punch, or to have a beer with, and do you know what? That's ok. Because I really clicked with the other main character, the keeper of secrets, Lottie. I loved the character of Lottie! I think she was very well established, realistic, relatable and god-dammit I wanted to find out what happened to that girl!
There are a few things I loved about this book, that made it a solid 5 stars for me. Firstly, I loved the layout. The chapters were quite short (which aided in my reading this novel in just two sittings) and the writing style had a great flow. I also really enjoyed that some of the chapters were told through Lottie's perspective (I won't say how), but it was an interesting touch, not one I had encountered before, and it worked really well. Clever technique Ms. Ellis!
Secondly, I really enjoyed the length of this book. The author did a great job creating a compelling novel with a great plot, and unlike other authors, did not need 400+ pages to do it. When I read a thriller I don't like additional fluff. Sure fluff is fine, we can't have a set up, murder and resolution in 100 pages.....can we? Heavens forbid. But I read ALOT of thrillers, (sometimes two a day due to Covid-19 lockdown) and sometimes I find myself reading entire paragrapahs that are clearly bulkers/fillers, there to add to the page number. But no, not with Ellis. I'm not saying the author gets in and gets out, like in a short story or novella. Rather, the pace is perfect at a cosy 250 or so pages, not a Ruth Rendell wannabe length.
And that little rant my friends leads me onto pace. I quite liked the pace of this novel, the development of characters, the sprinkles of plot twists, the climax and the resolution. It fit, and it fit well......until it didn't.
JOKE. This kept me glued right up to the end and I honestly DID NOT WANT THIS BOOK TO FINISH, and I dare you to think you will guess the ending, 'cause ya won't!
Plot: I enjoyed this plot, and hand on my heart- I DID NOT SEE THE END COMING. Wow. I wish I could bottle that feeling. There are only two books, TWO in which I had not guessed the ending before the author wanted me to. And this, fellow bibliophiles, is the third. That to me is a drop-the-mic-moment-go-read-this-book moment right there.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2020
She gave him her laptop just a short time before she died. He opened some of the files and now he faces an issue. Does he have the laptop in to the police who are looking into her death? Will he try to solve the case himself? What secrets will be found? See if he can solve what happened
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 5, 2020
"𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬"
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚎𝚙𝚝
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝙹.𝚂 𝙴𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚜
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 228
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝙿𝚜𝚢𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 📕📕📕🔖
•
This is the second book I have read from this author. After reading In Her Words and enjoying it, I was definitely excited to read this book. Thank you J.S Ellis for sending me a copy to read and review. This book has a beautiful cover depicting a cracked laptop screen with a woman on it.
•
Quote from the synopsis: "Days before her murder, Anthony's friend Lottie lend him her laptop. He finds a file on the laptop showing recorded videos by her in the year leading up to her death."
•
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I was emotionally invested from the start. This was a short psychological Thriller that definitely caught my attention. I thought this book was written pretty well, with a unique plot that I have never run before. I definitely enjoyed reading this. I felt the ending fit the book pretty well, and I would definitely recommend this book 2 anyone wanting it short but solid Thriller that might have you guessing. I gave this book 4 stars because of the way it was written. I was able to figure out the ending. If I could critique this book, I would say I think the book could have been written a little bit different to give the ending a little more suspense.
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚎𝚙𝚝
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝙹.𝚂 𝙴𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚜
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 228
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝙿𝚜𝚢𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 📕📕📕🔖
•
This is the second book I have read from this author. After reading In Her Words and enjoying it, I was definitely excited to read this book. Thank you J.S Ellis for sending me a copy to read and review. This book has a beautiful cover depicting a cracked laptop screen with a woman on it.
•
Quote from the synopsis: "Days before her murder, Anthony's friend Lottie lend him her laptop. He finds a file on the laptop showing recorded videos by her in the year leading up to her death."
•
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I was emotionally invested from the start. This was a short psychological Thriller that definitely caught my attention. I thought this book was written pretty well, with a unique plot that I have never run before. I definitely enjoyed reading this. I felt the ending fit the book pretty well, and I would definitely recommend this book 2 anyone wanting it short but solid Thriller that might have you guessing. I gave this book 4 stars because of the way it was written. I was able to figure out the ending. If I could critique this book, I would say I think the book could have been written a little bit different to give the ending a little more suspense.
May 26, 2020
2.5 This is not a 'bad' book, but failed to grab me by the throat and suck me in the same way that Thirteen Reasons Why did, so aside from the recording preceding a death, this is in no way a justified teaser and should removed so as to let the reader determine that correlation if they choose. My main problem with this book is that the writing feels over simplified and more bland than not. Nor were the characters fully developed and it was difficult to care about them, not even Lottie or Anthony and Davian is so over-the-top sinister to the point of comical. That said, some people are likely to find the book an interesting bit of escapism and it is possible that a little more meat may be added before publication. If so, I would up my rating to 3 stars.
A sincere thank you to NetGalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A sincere thank you to NetGalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2020
"The secret she kept" is packed full of lies and betrayal. You are consistently second guessing and doubting everyone. This was a really fast and fun read and It keeps you guessing right up till the end. The Secret She Kept has a suspenseful storyline with well developed characters, you will find yourself loving some and ready to choke others.
Let me tell ya, Lottie is a lady full of secrets and one damn good story teller! You got me girl, I didnt see that coming at all! I dont normally write such short reviews but honestly this is all I want to give you dear readers.
Dont worry Lottie your secrets are safe with me.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Let me tell ya, Lottie is a lady full of secrets and one damn good story teller! You got me girl, I didnt see that coming at all! I dont normally write such short reviews but honestly this is all I want to give you dear readers.
Dont worry Lottie your secrets are safe with me.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2020
*Thanks to Black Cat Ink Press + NetGalley for the ARC!*
The premise reminds me of Thirteen Reasons Why - which I didn’t love - but a little more thriller-y. I felt like the book just jumped in - we got very little background, and then very little character development overall. I can see people really loving it, but it wasn’t a great read for me.
The premise reminds me of Thirteen Reasons Why - which I didn’t love - but a little more thriller-y. I felt like the book just jumped in - we got very little background, and then very little character development overall. I can see people really loving it, but it wasn’t a great read for me.
August 12, 2020
Anthony is stuck between a rock and a hard place. His friens Lottie was murdered and his friend Davian is arrested for the murder. When Anthony starts looking in Lottie's laptop he finds shocking things and he's left trying to figure it all out. This was a slow burn. The plot was good. Not a fast paced thriller
Read
August 3, 2020The Secret She Kept by J.S Ellis is such an awesome story to read. I loved reading this story cause it has mystery and plot twist threw the entire story. I can not wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about mysteries, suspense and thrillers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 18, 2020
The Secret She Kept is a thriller in some ways reminiscent of the popular TV show '13 Reasons Why' and no less intriguing. Young, beautiful Lottie is dead - and no-one knows what happened to her. In the days leading up to her tragic death she accidentally broke her best friend Andrew's laptop and so loaned him hers to tide him over. Now Anthony has found a series of vlogs that Lottie stored on her laptop before her death as well as a mysterious password-protected folder that he just can't get access to. Before he really knows what's happening, he's lying to the police, hiding Lottie's laptop and trying to figure out what the hell happened to his best friend (and secret crush, it seems). As time goes by and the story unfolds it appears that Davian - Anthony's best friend - might have played a part in Lottie's demise.
This is a story of obsession, betrayal, secrets and lies. It's a slow burner, at times a bit too slow - I can't imagine sitting on top of the information Anthony had and not burning through it in one sitting, even if it was going to bring down your house around you - you'd need to know asap. On top of that, I didn't like any of the characters - Lottie was spoilt and obsessive and Davian was just someone you'd avoid at all costs. Anthony was the only one who had anything about him and even he was a bit flat.
It's a good premise and there's some good twists in there, but there was something missing for me. I think it was maybe a bit too slow for my liking, but it is an easy, quick read and has a satisfying outcome.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for my review copy.
This is a story of obsession, betrayal, secrets and lies. It's a slow burner, at times a bit too slow - I can't imagine sitting on top of the information Anthony had and not burning through it in one sitting, even if it was going to bring down your house around you - you'd need to know asap. On top of that, I didn't like any of the characters - Lottie was spoilt and obsessive and Davian was just someone you'd avoid at all costs. Anthony was the only one who had anything about him and even he was a bit flat.
It's a good premise and there's some good twists in there, but there was something missing for me. I think it was maybe a bit too slow for my liking, but it is an easy, quick read and has a satisfying outcome.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for my review copy.
July 28, 2020
A good solid read with an interesting premise. After his best friend is killed, Anthony searches her laptop for clues after she left it with him a few days before. A series of video diary entries show him there’s more to the story and he feels impelled to investigate himself. Not a police officer or detective, he stumbles along very well, Lots of secrets and twists. We like/dislike Lottie as we find out more about her. Easy read and flows well.
July 15, 2020
The story alternates between Lottie's video diary and Anthony literally undertaking his own investigation. Lottie was shot in the face before the story starts and Anthony her nest friend has he laptop - which contains said video diaries..
As the story progresses Anthony becomes increasingly concerned that Lottie had been keeping things from him. and her relationship with his oldest friend, Davian was more than just colleagues who worked at the same gallery. By the time he gets to the end of the video diaries he realises he never really knew Lottie at all.
I found the writing style a little juvenile, I think the main character being "Lottie" really put me of,f I know it is a small thing but I just kept thinking about her as a young child or teenager rather than a grown woman so I really struggled to keep going with the book. the video style entry is reminiscent of 13 Reasons why and I think it was clearly inspired by the lies we hide being uncovered after death scenario that is becoming increasingly popular, however this one for me just fell short.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ADR in exchange for the honest review but in this case I would struggle to recommend this, unless it was for YA in which case I might reconsider.
As the story progresses Anthony becomes increasingly concerned that Lottie had been keeping things from him. and her relationship with his oldest friend, Davian was more than just colleagues who worked at the same gallery. By the time he gets to the end of the video diaries he realises he never really knew Lottie at all.
I found the writing style a little juvenile, I think the main character being "Lottie" really put me of,f I know it is a small thing but I just kept thinking about her as a young child or teenager rather than a grown woman so I really struggled to keep going with the book. the video style entry is reminiscent of 13 Reasons why and I think it was clearly inspired by the lies we hide being uncovered after death scenario that is becoming increasingly popular, however this one for me just fell short.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ADR in exchange for the honest review but in this case I would struggle to recommend this, unless it was for YA in which case I might reconsider.
June 24, 2020
The Secret She Kept has a terrific premise and twist. The problem is the journey to get to that twist, and it does feel like a journey, seems to take forever. The story is a lot of Anthony remembering Lottie as he watches a series of video clips that chronicle Lottie's last year, but very little actually happens until the last couple of chapters. This one does depend a lot on the unreliable narrator as a plot device, and if ever there were a story that could benefit from that, it would be this one. I suppose it does help, but it's just not enough. In addition to both Anthony and Lottie being unreliable, they're not very likable. There are a number of reasons for that, but to go into any of them would include spoilers, so I'll just leave it at try as I might, I just didn't like either of these characters. Now, that's not a requirement for me, especially in this type of thriller, but what I do require are the actual thrills, those elements that create a rising tension to make me want to continue reading to the end. I did finish, but mostly it was waiting for 'breathtaking twist' that's promised right there with the title. Granted, it was a pretty good twist, but it felt like I started a book, read a bunch of video journal entries that were really kind of boring, and then bam, we get this big twist. Incidentally, I had figured that twist out before I got there, but figuring it out wasn't a big deal for me. Sure, it's loads of fun when I'm stumped by a book, but I can still enjoy the read even when I have it figured out. I mean, I can still recognize a great twist even when I do see it coming. The thing here is that I just didn't enjoy the rest of the story all that much.
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