This is an enjoyable series featuring Detective Jessie Blake. She is investigating a double murder in this well written book which is filled with twists. I liked the character development and the small town setting as well as the writing style. Plenty of tension and surprises throughout. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I haven't read any of the rest of the series. Not a problem because this seemed to be standalone .. I enjoyed this book and the twists and turns in the story . It might have helped if I had known more about the detectives, but I felt that I knew them quite well by the end.
Well written and a believable story . My only criticism is that it seemed to be wrapped up too quickly at first sight .... as the book went on that was not the case. I will definately look for more by this author
I receivedan advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for an iunbiased review

This was a very interesting story of not one but two crimes. I loved seeing how the story unfolded and how the characters worked in the story. I hadn't read the first two books in this one but man I will now. This story had plenty of twists and turns and when I thought I knew what was going on I was surprised to learn I was wrong. This book keeps you on your toes and I couldn't put it down.

Good book to read,plenty going on and not obvious.Reasonable pace as well,and diverse characters .I enjoyed reading this.

Those of you who have read the previous Detective Jessie Blake books will need no persuading to read this one, those that haven’t this book is great to read as a stand alone (and then am sure you will be wanting to read the others 😊)

I love Jessie Blake, one of my fav Police character’s she is vibrant and determined and yes has a past but is working through that and what I like the most is that she makes police procedurals accessible and easy yet interesting to follow, she seems genuinely a good person and I enjoy my time with her when a new book lands

The story.....well, the opening has to be one of THE openings of the year, had me open mouthed and then the book reverts between that crime and a crime just committed, how the 2 could be linked and why and what secrets the stirling cast are keeping

There are parts of the book that deal with subjects such as alcoholism, self harming, autism and grooming but are not overpowering in their delivery, they dont take over the book or the running central story but are there and intertwine with the main story really well

Also the authors love of horses shine through and made interesting for someone ( like me ) who doesn’t usually feel very ‘horsey’

But dont be mistaken this is a grim, dark tale full of scary characters and wrong doings but all written and set out to be a riveting and exciting read that had me guessing ( some bits right, some bits wrong ) until the end

10/10
5 Stars

thank you to Bookouture and netgalley for the advance read, this is the third outing for Jessie Blake and her team and just as intriguing and gripping as the previous two. In this we learn a bit more about Jessie's ex husband as he is back on the scene and we are once more drawn into the investigation of Malcom and Jean Angus killing

This is the first book that I have read by this author and although it's part of a series it works well as a stand-alone. There's lots of characters to keep up with but I managed to stay on top of the story and enjoyed it. I did however find that the ending was a bit muddled but overall a good crime thriller and I will definitely read other books by this author

I enjoyed the first two in the Jessie Blake series and was looking forward to another. This third one has been the best yet. Maybe that's because I've already established a relationship with the main characters, primarily Jessie Blake and her police partner Dylan, both of whom are likeable characters. Was also looking forward to finding out more of Jessie's back story with her ex husband, who's also back in this one. Not such a likeable character! And is he up to his old ways again? He's obviously still obsessed with Jessie but for good or bad reasons?

Good plotline in this one. The blurb provides the basis so I won't repeat it here. I prefer plotlines to have adult rather than child or teenage victims (as per the first 2 books) so I actually preferred this plotline ... especially with a double, double murder!

Hooked me in from the start when the original crime was committed. Really enjoyed the mystery that the second crime was very similar and obvious conclusions drawn and suspicions cast. I questioned each character and really enjoyed Gordon's development! I did draw correct conclusions about a couple of relationships within the plot but maybe because I read so many police procedurals and psycho thrillers, that it's natural for me to look for such clues.

Plenty of suspects to choose from too. Had just the right number of different characters and not too many that I confused who they were. Also having the year at the beginning of the flashback chapters helped me keep the timeline straight. And possibly because there were flashbacks, I was working out characters' ages and how old they were then and now and maybe that's what also helped me worked out possible relationships.

Overall, thoroughly enjoyable to me. I liked the very early reveal of "her secret past", so early that it was a surprise, i.e,, didn't have time to even think about the possibility when it was suddenly shouted out. Plenty of later slow reveals too and twists. Had me questioning every character, motive and opportunities. e.g., lies and cover ups or innocent coincidences and set ups?

And regarding her past with her now ex husband, I can't tell yet exactly WHAT he's up to but it's definitely something! I just wish she'd confide more about this to her sidekick Dylan as they clearly care about each other (not romantically but as working partners).

It's one of those books that I looked forward to reading the next chapter in and made time to fit reading in for.

Of course now, I'm looking forward to the NEXT one but will have to wait (impatiently)!. I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Thanks for the advanced copy, Netgalley..

this series just gets better and better .two elderly people get killed in there home . dc Dylan and DI Jessie blake are working on the case the grandson is acting strange ..there neighbours Rachel and Kenny Ferguson are becoming main suspects over planning , but the story and plot that unfolds is brilliant Jessie s ex is still playing games . its a must read so enjoyed

Her Secret Past is the third book in the Detective inspector Jessie Blake series. On a dark winter night, the bodies of Malcolm and Jean Angus lie cold and still in a pool of blood. Jessie is called in to find out what happened. What should have been an open and shut case turned into something much more.

This book is very gripping and will keep you guessing right up until the end.

Great story, that just kept going and going. I loved this book it got me from the beginning and kept me going until the end. I loved this suspenseful book and can not wait for more of these books from this author.

I enjoyed this book which is part of a series. I hadn’t read any of the others and , although there were a few minor ‘spoilers’ , I’d certainly look to read the previous novels.
Plenty of suspects with twists and turns galore. I found some of the characters a little superficial and the storyline perhaps a little far fetched. In spite of this I did become involved with the story and didn’t guess the ending.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced ebook. This is the first Kerry Watts book I have read - I didn't know that this was part of a series featuring DI Jessie Blake. It reads well as a stand alone but I did have some questions about Jessie's past which if I read her previous books I would get the answers.
Her Secret Past was a good read - kept me in suspense and trying to guess who did it. There are quite a few characters to keep track of - I sometimes had to think back on who someone was. I am giving Her Secret Past - I felt the ending could have been a bit more exciting and I am looking forward to going back and reading her previous books.

Her Secret Past by Kerry Watts
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Publication date - 22 January 2020
Publisher - Bookouture
ARC received from @netgalley and @bookouture
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Description
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Jean Angus pours the last of the lukewarm tea into her chipped cup, shivering as she looks outside into the dark night. Her eyes are drawn to a slow movement not far from her cosy farmhouse. She’s not expecting visitors. And as the back door opens with a bang, she doesn’t even have time to shout for help.
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On a dark winter night, the bodies of Malcolm and Jean Angus lie cold and still in a pool of blood in their kitchen. Detective Jessie Blake is called in to find out what happened to the reclusive pair.
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Searching the couple’s property, Jessie learns about a vicious dispute with a nearby landowner, Rachel Ferguson, and when Jessie looks into Rachel further, she doesn’t expect what comes up. Rachel isn’t the person everyone thinks she is and a previous murder conviction just made her Jessie’s prime suspect.
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The small Perthshire town begins to gossip about the double murder and Jessie’s own past comes back to haunt her when her abusive ex-husband begins to interfere in her new life. As the town starts a witch hunt against Rachel, Jessie is under pressure to find out what really happened in the farmhouse that night. Because if it isn’t Rachel, then who is the murderer living among them, waiting to kill again?
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This is the third book in the Jessie Blake series, however, this the only one I have read. But you can definitely pick it up without having read the previous ones!
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I liked the characters of Jessie and Dylan as the police officers but it was Gordon and Alice/Rachel that I found intriguing. You could feel the chilling aspects of his personality coming through the pages - especially in the first scene with the sandwich! Alice/Rachel, I am still conflicted about whether I liked her and I think that is the point as they are narrative wise two people. However, conflicted feelings is good as it means the character is strong enough to actually make you think about these issues etc.
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The book was tense from the get-go and didn't really let up the pace till about towards the end. The end showdown was a bit anti-climatic, even the stabbing element wasn't a strong plot point. However, there were good surprises throughout the book. The dual timelines were put to good effect - it would have been interesting to see Davids point of view from the earlier timeline as well.
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I would read the next in the series for sure! ❤️❤️❤️

I have read other books by this author which I enjoyed but this book is not as good as her previous ones. I thought the characters were not very likeable and the storyline a bit unbelievable in places. I liked the idea of the book after reading the blurb but the story wasn’t executed as well as it could have been.

Her Secret Past sounded exactly like my sort of book and I was so excited to read it! Which is why I’m a little miffed I’ve been left down.

Firstly the chapters are far too short, it’s difficult to connect with ANY of the characters. Speaking of the characters they all think and sound the same. I need some differences otherwise everyone just blurs into one.
The ending twist was pretty obvious as well. I don’t think I’ve ever put down a book at 87% before but I couldn’t take anymore. It’s not clever and it’s not twisty. I wouldn’t bother recommending this to anyone.

A book loaded with potential suspects in the murder of an older married couple that kept you guessing almost in every chapter. Just when you thought you knew who was guilty, someone else gave them an alibi or another questionable character entered the scene. So reach for your coffee, get comfy in your favorite chair, and try to solve this enchanting tale of “Who done it.”
#NeyGalley
#Her Secret Past

Tense chilling was drawn in from the first pages.So well written so multi layered Unputdownable read late late into the night.Grab this book.@netgalley@bookouture.