Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre - Starting May 3rd 2021

[Saar The Book owl]

Welcome to the neighborhood. Watch your husband, watch your friends, and watch your back.

Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.

As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

[Dannii]

Just starting this one 😊

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[Rich white people problems are my favourite to read about, in thrillers. This features the same jealousy, one-upping, and backstabbing I had anticipated, but Cat has already hinted that she is capable of more with the poisoned prom queens in school and the torched shed of the woman who revealed this secret to her husband, at the reunion ten years later. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[None of these characters are trustworthy but I feel very sorry for Cat. Neena is determined to steal her husband, despite the adoration she already receives from her own sweet husband. She is an unstoppable force! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Damn! A poisoning, a possible attempted murder, and a home invasion? I wonder if either of the couples is the cause of any of these or if the mystery in the Ryder's past is coming back to haunt them? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[I remained so engaged throughout this, despite the early focus being on an affair and not a mystery. It still had me curious and this was only heightened as more sinister events occurred. I had my suspicions that Cat was behind everything but loved having it confirmed. Her husband's awareness of it and her forgiveness of Neena in the epilogue did shock me, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Starting tonight 🙂

[Dannii]

Ashleigh wrote: "Starting tonight 🙂"

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)

[Karen]

Just read the first part. It’s ticking the boxes in terms of the dynamic between the characters and potential story, but I’m not feeling very engaged with any of the characters.

[Karen]

Part two...hints of a challenge here. Neena is more emotional about this than she likes to think.

[Dannii]

Karen wrote: "Just read the first part. It’s ticking the boxes in terms of the dynamic between the characters and potential story, but I’m not feeling very engaged with any of the characters."

I don't think I super engaged with them either, but I was captivated by their lives and so it didn't really matter to me.

[Ashleigh]

Chapter 9 - (view spoiler)[Okay, so it seems okay so far. I've read many thrillers like this so I'm hoping something will happen to differentiate itself from all the others.

I don't really know what to say about it just yet. Neena seems like she's willing to play dirty to get what she wants, but so does Cat. I don't really care for William, and I think the only person I like is Neena's husband (can't remember his name). I feel bad for him knowing he's probably gonna be dumped at any moment. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapter 9 - ."

(view spoiler)[Neena's husband seemed like such a cinnamon roll! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I was rather surprised by that...definitely suggests she will be more than a match for the other woman who, I assume, will try and get her husband. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Dannii wrote: "Second quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I am curious about her motivation here. What is driving here to look for more? She's obviously doing okay, so what is she trying to prove? (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Finished. Well, that rather took me by surprise! Disliked the characters initially, and felt detached early on...with little to engage me. As the strangeness ramped up, it shifted into more familiar territory and I became more and more invested in establishing the truth. Review on home page.

[Karen]

Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

I loved the open-ended nature of who might be behind this.

[Karen]

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ That epilogue was a bit of a bolt from the blue. What does it say about him that he liked the stuff Cat did? Think he's the more disturbed of the three... (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Karen wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[The end of the epilogue made this end on quite a peaceful note but the beginning shocked me. It seems Cat and her husband are an equal match. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Karen wrote: "Finished. Well, that rather took me by surprise! Disliked the characters initially, and felt detached early on...with little to engage me. As the strangeness ramped up, it shifted into more familia..."

I liked reading of all the characters but didn't really connect with any either.