A really enjoyable book that flows well and has brilliant characters. Lots of twists throughout and a great ending.

This was a good story and I enjoyed reading it. It is told from two perspectives, Danielle and Beth. Beth is a therapist and Danielle becomes her client. From the start I got the feeling something was up with Danielle but I had no idea what was coming. Beth makes some questionable choices throughout the book which made it a bit hard for me to really like her. For example, she sees clients in her home while her young child is sleeping a few doors away. She doesn't see them in a separate space that has it's own access but allows clients into her home to the top floor for their sessions. This just didn't sit right with me. However all in all I found the story to be interesting and was surprised by the twists.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is narrated by the two main characters Danielle and Beth. Beth is a therapist whose life is not going according to plan, her marriage is in trouble and she’s feeling very insecure. Danielle is a client of Beth’s’ who seems very troubled. She is desperate for a baby but her husband is very reluctant. Both appear to be string women on the outside but as you read it’s hard to decide who is more unstable, the therapist or her client.
This book was a very snappy read, the story was very well written and it wove around each of the characters. As the story progresses little snippets of information are dealt out to the reader leading you very cleverly down the wrong path and leaving you reeling when you get to the truth of the story. The ending was spectacular and kept me guessing right up to the final minute.

This is a story of two women, both of them are keeping secrets and have had troubled pasts and mental health problems. Beth, a therapist, is married to Richard and has a young four year old son Charlie. Danielle, a solicitor, is married to Peter and is desperate for a baby. When Danielle turns up at Beth’s house for counselling Beth could never have dreamed of the consequences, I don’t really want to give away any more of this brilliant storyline because there are so many unexpected twists and turns that you can’t see coming that will leave you gasping. I just couldn’t put this book down, one of my favourite reads this year. Do not miss reading this book!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a book full of secrets with so many twists that I couldn't figure out how it would end. However it was a great ending that answered all the questions. Highly recommended

The synopsis was vague enough not to give away many plot points, which I appreciated. I usually enjoy fast paced books with short chapters, but it made this particular book feel very choppy . Almost every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, some of which were very clever while others seemed much more contrived. I also had a hard time liking or trusting either of the women. They both seemed paranoid, insecure, and sinister at times. And the relationship they have with each other is very odd and unprofessional, both people questioning the other inappropriately, with very little context.

Due to the format the author chose for this book, there is sparse background information revealed about each of the characters. This prevented me from fully relating to and empathizing with either woman. Hints are dropped as a way to foreshadow, but rather than pique my curiosity, it became a source of frustration. When information is revealed, it is difficult to determine the validity and reliability of it.

The entire reading experience seemed overly action-driven and lacking depth. I wanted to DNF the book several times, but the positive reviews and ratings made me believe that it was going to get better. The twist was somewhat unexpected, but it did not make up for the rest of the book.

Beth's partner leaves her after she discovers he has been having an affair. A therapist who can't make her own relationship work, while Danielle and her husband need marriage counselling and have booked in with Beth . Both women are haunted by the past but who is manipulating who?
The deterioration of Beth's personal and professional life is gradual over the course of the book as she becomes determined to undermine Danielle.
I Know Your Secret is a clever psychological thriller told from the perspective of the two women with each taking a chapter in turn. There are plenty of opportunities for us as readers to guess about the motives of the characters which help to engage with the book. The use of the two first person narratives is a really effective way of getting us sympathetic to both women despite their unpleasant behaviour.
The ending has plenty of surprises as the full extent of the connection between the two women is revealed right at the end with shocking twists for both Beth and Danielle. The past is key to understanding the events of the book and clues are divulged by each woman slowly to offer a teaser for the reader.
I liked the way that Ruth Heald has used common life experiences to create an inticate plot that involves love, loss, family and mental health. This is a very human book, if that makes sense: Beth and Danielle are both believable and realistic characters which makes it easier to feel a connection with them. The psychological thriller element of the book develops the tension between the characters and we are drawn in to the story, making assumptions about what will happen next before revealing the truth.

i was given this book by netgalley and publisher for honest review and opinion
great domestic thriller centered around two different women. the story is told in different point of views. Beth a therapist that is seeing Danielle to discuss her marriage issues. It centers on Beth, a therapist, and Danielle, who comes to see her to discuss her marriage issues.
the book was a slow start i think because you could tell that there was a secret that each character is hiding and could not figure it out until close to the end.

A good thriller which kept me guessing the whole way through trying to work out what was going to happen next and how the story would end, and then I loved the ending, I felt it really gave closure. Excellent and recommended

The twists and turns in this novel will keep your hair standing on end and the goosebumps coming! There were so many moments my mouth just completely fell open! The characters in this book were relatable and all too frustrating, and that is a recipe for a GREAT book!

Gosh, what a wonderful thriller it was. I realized I haven’t read a single thriller this year. In pursuance of reading all the kinds of books, I missed out on this genre. I Know Your Secret is an amazing psychological thriller told from two women, viewpoints- Beth and Danielle. The book follows both narratives, switching alternatively in brief and quick chapters, making it a lot easier to be in hold of their stories.
Beth is a marriage counsellor whose own marriage is on the verge of ending; along with raising her four-year-old son, she is fighting her past anxieties. Danielle is Beth’s recent client seeking therapy for preserving her marriage. She also carries a secret past of loss and grief. Both of them had a troubled past and a mental health history, which seems acceptable from outside, but gets daunting at every turn of the page.
Even though I predicted a few turns coming up, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a recent swift thriller, this one would be a great read. Surely won’t disappoint.

I know your secret is a gripping page turner of a psychological thriller that I galloped my way through in one day.
The storyline centres around Beth, a counsellor/therapist and one of her clients Danielle, and how through their sessions we discover a very damaged broken individual.
Can we take at face value the things Danielle reveals about her current life or is she masquerading as someone else? Why has she chosen Beth as her therapist? Is Beth a character we should feel most sympathy for?
These are all intriguing questions that sprung to mind when reading this novel that is full of secrets and lies and desire for revenge. There is a compelling need for a wrong that took place years ago to be righted and it’s quite frightening and unnerving the lengths someone will go to to justify their behaviour. In the intervening years until justice can be served, the author has explored through her characters how hatred and bitterness can eat away at your soul, driving you to distraction.
The interactions between Beth and Danielle felt strange and unsettling from the start. Beth is portrayed as an individual starting to unravel through the very recent breakup of her marriage and finding herself a single mum to Charlie. Her fragility and tendency towards overthinking makes her an ideal character for this storyline since she’s easy to manipulate. Being preoccupied with her current situation makes her blind to the obvious and an easy target for gaslighting.
I think there is plenty of tension throughout but because there are a limited number of characters you know fairly on in the book who is seeking revenge. What is much harder to ascertain are the reasons for this and that’s what kept me turning the pages. I liked the simple format hearing the plot unfold via Beth and Danielle’s perspective making it uncomplicated and easy to follow. With some shocking revelations and twists and turns and a moment when I thought “oh my goodness why didn’t I realise that?”, this is a well written suspenseful thriller that will keep you entertained. The menacing undertone adds to the tension and my thoughts constantly ricocheted between individuals as to who has the most secrets to hide and what can be gained from the truth being told. Exactly who is really to blame? It’s interesting to realise how we can all reimagine the truth to suit our own narrative and hold beliefs about the truth without questioning their validity. I suppose what we then do with this information is what forms the basis for a good psychological thriller!!
Overall I actually felt sad for both Beth and Danielle whose lives were still being haunted by the past though I think with a more hopeful ending they can finally lay the past to rest and move on to a brighter future.
If you read a lot of books of this genre then I’m not sure if there’s enough wow factor to make it stand out from all the others. However, if a book can hold your attention so that you’re desperate to reach the denouement, then in my opinion it’s worthy of a read hence my rating of four stars. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I’m keen to read more.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

#IKnowYourSecret #NetGalley
A page-turning psychological mystery with surprises at every corner.

'I Know Your Secret' by Ruth Heald is set in London and in another English town. It is told in 2 points of view: that of a therapist, Beth, and her client, Danielle. To some extent, both are unreliable witnesses, either to the reader or to each other. Like many 'psychological thrillers', this book is based on truths half-told or withheld from the reader or to other protagonists.

The prologue opens with an arson committed by the person telling that part of the tale. It points to a death, either murder or manslaughter. We find out near the end who the perpetrator was.

In the present, Beth is a marriage therapist. Although she counsels couples about their relationships, her own marriage to Richard has recently broken down after Beth found out that Richard had an affair. They have a four-year-old son, Charlie, whom they both adore. After a brief attempt to make a go of their marriage, Richard has left Beth to set up house as a bachelor. Why Beth would want to remain married to him is beyond comprehension.

Richard is a therapist too, working remotely from home, and he teaches at a local university. Beth does her counselling from home. You can immediately see that there would be a blurring between Beth's personal and professional lives. The entry of strangers into her house adds to the intrusion to her privacy. Given the added stress of her personal grief from her marriage breakdown, the signs are there of Beth giving out poor, subjective therapy instead of objective. Beth is struggling with juggling her work and caring for her child while working from home often late into the evening, without a carer for him.

Thirty-year-old Danielle is a lawyer, married to another lawyer, Peter. When Danielle meets Beth in the book for the first time, her thoughts indicate that she knows Beth, and wonders whether Beth remembers her. I recalled this during the book, wondering when it would rear its head. The reader picks up Danielle's other signals that she is an unreliable witness, but Beth doesn't. To be a more interesting character, Beth should have been more perceptive, especially given her training as a therapist, and because she herself is an unreliable witness. So, starts a cat and mouse hunt, stalking, secrets withheld from each other and the reader until the very end.

This is not a spoiler, as it is forecast clearly in the blurb. It tells you that things are going to take a turn for the worse and that they will end badly.

A minor criticism is that the voices of the 2 protagonists, Beth and Danielle were nearly identical to me. The chapter headings told us who was writing that part, otherwise they seemed similar. Even their life trajectories were similar, except of course that Beth had Charlie, and Danielle wanted to have a baby.

Danielle has prominent facial scars from a recent incident that she tells Beth about. She desperately wants to have a baby; however, Peter is reluctant for reasons he alludes to. Like Beth, they also had a trial separation, but unlike Beth's situation, they each found other partners before resuming their married life within the past seven weeks. The dynamics of their marriage that the author heavily pointed one way at the start, turned in the opposite direction midway through. This element was unresolved by the end; thus, it felt mildly unsatisfying.

To add to Danielle's woes, her mother returns after a long absence and wants to live with her and Peter. Danielle's mother's married life is also full of confusion. Was it happy or the reverse? Hard to tell.

Many questions are raised. Who sent Beth the photos of Richard with the other woman? Who was the other woman? Is Beth right to be OCD about finding out about Richard's affair, or is it par for the course after 5 years of marriage, and years of dating prior? Is Beth becoming paranoid or is someone following her? Why is Charlie so upset, especially around Beth? What's the story about the relationship between Danielle and her mother? Some resolutions were done very well; others a bit grey.

I recommend 'I Know Your Secret' by Ruth Heald. It's a page-turning psychological mystery with surprises at every corner. Thank you to #NetGalley, Bookouture and Ruth Healdfor the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book review also appears in amazon.com, goodreads.com and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/2020/06/i-know-your-secret-ruth-heald.html

EXCERPT: She picks up the photograph of Dad, studying it. 'He looks young here,' she says.

'It was shortly before he died,' I say. 'He wasn't that young.'

'I suppose he'll never age now. Sometimes I just wish I could rewind to a year before he died. Stop everything from happening.'

'Yeah,' I say, fighting back tears. I've tried for so many years to block out my memories, to forget.

'I still can't get the sounds out of my head,' she says softly. 'I heard him screaming. Before he died.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: You're not who you say you are. Neither is she.

She thinks she’s got away with it. She thinks she’s turned over a new leaf, that the past is in the past.

She thinks she’s finally safe, with her perfect son, her devoted husband, and her immaculate suburban house.

She believes the memories of what she did all those years ago are confined to her bedside drawer, tucked carefully away.

She believes she deserves a second chance.

I have to know, how can she live with herself? Isn’t she haunted by the wail of the alarm, the smoke in her lungs, the echoing scream? Doesn’t she lose sleep over the way the flames licked the walls, devouring everything they touched? Why hasn’t the guilt eaten her alive?

So how can I forget? How can I forgive?

Because I know her secret. And I’m not letting her get away with it.

MY THOUGHTS: I must have said this at least one hundred times - but when you put claims on the cover like 'absolutely gripping psychological thriller full of twists' you are setting up the reader for a disappointment. And disappointed I was, gripped I was not. And perhaps I read far too many books of this genre, but I had this figured out early on. Now that is not always the kiss of death for me, but in this case coupled with a writing style that is neither exciting, nor suspenseful, I was often bored and several times debated not finishing. Because I longed to be proven wrong, I persevered.

I was looking forward to a challenging game of cat and mouse between the two protagonists, I didn't get it. I found both and Danielle's characters to be quite similar, and they appear to be of a similar age, which they aren't. Neither character is particularly well constructed, and neither are given much depth. There is a lot of repetition, almost as if the author thinks that if she tells you something often enough, you will come to believe it. I didn't. I merely became bored.
I also think that the promotional blurb is misleading.

Disappointed and Underwhelmed.

😕😕

#IKnowYourSecret #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Ruth Heald is a psychological thriller writer from a suburban Buckinghamshire town. She studied Economics at Oxford and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting.

Seeking a more creative environment, she found a role at the BBC and worked there for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge. She's married with two children and her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of I Know Your Secret by Ruth Heald for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

About halfway through I was pretty sure I knew where this was going. WRONG! Things got flipped on their head and all hell let loose. It was tense. It was sad. It was scary. It was confusing, because who should I be rooting for? The more I got to know about the characters the more conflicted I was. And then... and then we have the ending, Well I wasn't expecting that. This is a great read, I loved how the two different POVs developed. Hated Richard. That was the only thing I was certain of!!! If you like a book that flips your thinking and makes you hold your breath, this is one for you.

OH MY GOSH! This book very quickly became a favourite for me and it is one I will be recommending to EVERYONE! Simply INCREDIBLE!

For this review I’m not going to talk about the story line really, because I couldn’t possible do that without giving too much away and you really have to go in to this book blind to get the full effect! I actually didn’t read the blurb right before I read it so I had no clue what I was going in to! (I read it when I signed up for the blog tour but can’t remember the blurbs when I come to read them)!

However this book chops and changes each chapter between the 2 main Characters talking in first person!

Beth- is a therapist, with past mental illnesses where she became hospitalised, her marriage is breaking down, and she is currently struggling with her life.

and

Danielle – who has a great career as a lawyer and works for a charity helping people who have been wrongly accused! She is married but suffers with confidence issues since an accident happened the year before!

This psychological thriller is just full on, non stop action, that is so captivating and a complete page turner! I could not put this book down! I didn’t even want to go to bed!

I get so excited about books when they make me feel this way, when you just find something you love!

It’s really easy to read and follow even though it’s complicated (in an amazing way) it’s twisted, and shocking, and breath taking and the list goes on!

I was drawn in from page one and there is not one slow part in this book! I couldn’t believe what I was reading, I couldn’t believe the turn of events! This would seriously make an amazing film!

It’s so incredibly clever and the attention to detail is immaculate! It’s quite creepy at times but I also love how it touched on mental illness and how it can really consume you and take over lives! Make you second guess yourself and struggle with everyday life!

I absolutely LOVED this storyline, the characters are misunderstood, devious, clever, dark minded and troubled! All this sets up the book to just be a fascinating read!

Easily easily EASILY 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ from me because it will definitely be one I read again and recommend to EVERYONE! I also HAVE to read more from this author!

Final overview: An exhilarating, fast paced, dark and haunting, terrifying psychological thriller that everyone should be getting excited about!

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I really enjoyed this book. I loved how it was told in parts by the two main characters. It really had me guessing until the end and enjoyed it very much.

Told via dual narration by Beth and Danielle, therapist and client you think you know their stories. But you are so very wrong. Twisted relationships, unreliable narration and so many secrets.

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…..

Like that tangled web, this is such a well spun story. Clear the whole day to read this one as you will get trapped like a fly. With characters that you are completely unsure of and their building anxiety the tension is palpable.

I’m going to purposefully avoid the plot as the less you know the better and I abhor spoilers. One thing I will say though is be prepared to be sucker punched by the amount of twists and jaw dropping moments. This is an absolute belter!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story follows two different women and their viewpoints which I always enjoy as it allows me to understand the characters in more depth. Some parts of the book felt widely unrealistic - a psychiatrist whose security allows patients to walk straight past her son's bedroom unattended?
Despite that, the twist was something I was not expecting and I didn't notice any obvious plot holes which is always a good sign. I really enjoyed the ending as I felt the suspense built up and I was satisfied with the execution of the reveal. Definitely glad I read this book and will defo be having a look at the author's other titles! I highly recommend to anyone who loves a plot twist/mystery!

This book is everything it says it is - gripping, addictive, full of dark secrets. For me it was a little slow to start but then suddenly Beth and Danielle's story speeds up. Written from their two perspectives it gives nothing away. For a good part of the book I was trying to understand Danielle's motives. So many twists, turns and surprises. A totally unputdownable read....