So, one of my favorite things about being a book blogger is following authors I really like as they release new books. Noelle Holten is one of those authors that I may have not found, had I not started my blog. I was so excited when I heard about Dead Secret, and I was not disappointed!!

This series doesn’t necessarily have to be read in order, because each novel has its own case. With that being said, I feel like you’d be missing some of the magic if you jumped into the middle. One of my favorite aspects of Noelle Holten’s writing is her ability to develop these characters, especially Maggie, over the course of the series. You’d miss that without starting from the beginning.

Dead Secret is a tightly written story of seemingly unconnected cases. I didn’t see the link coming, and I was blown away. I absolutely cannot wait for more in this series. Between how amazing the characters are and how incrediblely detailed the plot is, this is probably my favorite in the series, so far.

Highly recommended!!

Thank you to Book On The Bright Side for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

So I’m back in Staffordshire with the tenacious Maggie Jamieson and the other characters I’ve come to love over the past three books. This time there are two cases to solve – are they connected? Is this just a coincidence??!

First up, the brutal murder of a young man. The killer has left evidence pointing in one unbelievable direction. But add to that case two, the missing Hastings family. How can three adults just vanish especially one in the police? These two cases stretch the team to their limits and Maggie’s detective instinct is put to the test.

I love my trips to Staffordshire. The different intertwined story threads make for a fast paced read, jumping from the investigation (with the injection of Maggie’s personal life) to this mysterious individual at Lucy’s so-to-be-opened refuge. This young woman really intrigued me. I wanted to know who or what she was running from but her reluctance to share anything other than her first name taunted my curiosity throughout. And oh my life, the climax to the story 😱😱😱

Holten has crafted another addictive read that I devoured over a couple of evenings. My attention was well and truly kidnapped over that time. This series just keeps getting better! Can’t wait for Dead Mercy later this year after that cliffhanger!!!

Maggie Jamieson was back, and this author Noelle Holten got better with every book. A murder mystery, it started out for Maggie but a clue made it more intriguing. I liked how Lucy was fleshed out when the first entrant into her safe house was someone who didn't say anything. The author kept the pieces of the plot so close to her heart that I had to keep prodding my kindle, hoping some clue would be revealed. The suspense was kept tightly reigned, and I enjoyed the book a bit more as the pages flew. The ending made me gape. All I could do was shake my head and wait for book 5.

And breathe..........I have really enjoyed reading all of Noelle Holten books. I am so glad I came across this newish author to me. Noelle's books just get better and better and is a author you can just get into her books within the first few pages. So when Dead Secret by Noelle Holten was available to read I just had to sit back open my kindle, turn off my Iphone and enjoy her latest book. OMG this book did not disappoint It was brilliant!
This is the fourth book in the fantastic DC Maggie Jamieson series and I would say this is her best book so far. I love a good police procedural, especially one with a strong female lead and a great character.

Well, a Big Fat OMG 5 Stars from me..........I highly recommend this series....Well Done Noelle x

PS....I am so looking forward to book five Noelle - no pressure. ;)

Big thanks to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads, to NetGalley and to Noelle the author You are a star! for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion

If you follow my blog regularly you may know how I much I loved the other books in the Maggie Jamieson series: Dead Inside, Dead Wrong and Dead Perfect sand book 4 is yet another superb addition to the series.
As usual, the novels do work as stand alones however there are links between each one and the character development is superb so you would be missing a treat if you didn’t start at the beginning.
Holten has this knack for crawling inside the heads of depraved criminals and then putting their darkest thoughts on display for us to all see. She goes to the places many find to uncomfortable to be and I love the insight we get into her characters. Dead Secret is no exception as we once again enter the dark world killers.
There are several story lines running in this novel. Lucy is opening her shelter for abused women, Kate is not around and DCI Hastings has disappeared.
The plot isn’t rushed through or racy and there is a balance between solving the case and Maggie’s personal life which I really enjoy.
The plot builds to an explosive finish but there is tension all the way through.
An excellent instalment of a brilliant series.

Thank you @letstalkbookspromo for introducing me to this series by @author_noelleholten 🕵🏻‍♀️

Although Dead Secret can be read as a stand alone, it is in fact book 4 in a series. I will definitely be reading the next one AND I’ll be going back to read the first 3.

If you like crime thrillers/police procedurals, this one is for you. Dual plots, multiple murders, and family secrets are a few of my favorite things and this book has them all and more.

Dead Secret is the fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series and if there is one thing I am certain of it’s a dangerous thing to be friends with this particular DC. That being said you would still want her in your corner when trouble comes calling.
Maggie is investigating the murder of a young boy when she is also thrown into another investigation when DCI Hastings goes missing. Added to this her friend Lucy Sherwood has just had her first resident at her refuge. She clearly looks like she is a survivor of domestic abuse but seems unwilling to talk about it or give many details about herself. As the investigations into all of these cases progress, she is left wondering if they are all connected and if so how.
This is certainly a frustrating case for Maggie as she knows that the disappearance of DCI Hastings and his family is time sensitive, but the investigation is anything but straightforward. After all she has to be sure of what she finds as this is a reputation as well as a career on the line. Maggie does also finally seem to be making some progress in her personal life… not that this is any less complicated than her work life. There is a definite spark between her and reporter Julie Noble, but she is just not sure how far she can trust Julie not to put her career before their relationship or how much damage it could do Maggie herself. Added to that she is only just really getting over her feelings for Kate, and she misses being able to sound her out face to face when things get confusing.
Dead Secret is another fast-paced book full of twists and turns that will have you guessing right up to the end what the eventual outcome will be. This has definitely become a favourite series of mine and I am looking forward to what comes next for Maggie but based on what I have read so far, I am sure it will test both Maggie and her friends to their limits once more

Oh my goodness, Noelle Holten has done it again! Dead Secret is the fourth book in her impressive police procedural series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson and, even though I never thought it could be possible, is even better than its predecessors. In a series that keeps on going from strength to strength, Dead Secret is a fantastic thriller that keeps you on your toes throughout. In this fourth book in the series we join Maggie as she investigates two very different cases; the first a murdered young man who has a curious constellation of black dots inked onto his cheek and the second, the mysterious disappearance of someone much closer to home: her boss, DCI Hastings.

Beginning shortly after the end of Dead Perfect, DC Maggie Jamieson finds herself crossing paths once again with Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood, who is in the process of setting up a women’s shelter when a domestic violence survivor stumbles into her new refuge, unable to speak and desperate for help. As the three seemingly unconnected cases keep her busy at work, Maggie’s private life also becomes complicated as she finds herself attracted to someone new, someone she never would have expected to fall for. But then a shocking connection turns everything on its head, cranking up the tension as the story races to its final, thrilling conclusion.

What follows is a fast paced, exciting and heartstopping thriller that keeps you on your toes throughout. Noelle Holten’s writing just keeps on getting better and better with every book and, as I’ve said in previous reviews, the author draws on her own extensive knowledge of the criminal system, adding an authenticity to the story that is as realistic as it is exciting. In Maggie Jamieson she has created a strong female character who becomes more and more fascinating with every story, and I can’t wait to learn even more about her in future installments of this brilliant police procedural series.

Dead Secret is a dark and chilling read that drew me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the final, thrilling page had been turned. Noelle Holten’s writing is so good and the story so addictive I couldn’t tear my eyes away, not even for a second. Powerful, exciting and gripping, it held me in its thrall from beginning to end!

With a memorable cast of supporting characters and a story that has you hooked from the very first page, this is a crime thriller that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. Dead Secret works very well as a standalone, but with past events mentioned and the personal lives of characters evolving, I would recommend reading the previous three books in the series first.

An exciting addition to a series of books that is going from strength to strength, I’m already eagerly awaiting the next installment of DC Maggie Jamieson’s story. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the Uthor for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy fo theis book in return for a reviwe based upon my honest opinion.

This is the fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series. This book could easily be read as a stand-alone boook, but knowledge of the characters was helpful for me, as I enjoyed the other books in the series.. This is a great series! Maggie is a great chacracter and I love the interaction between her and her colleagues as well as that pesky reporter Julie Noble. This book picks up right at the end of the last book, where Lucy finds a beaten woman at the door of the shelter she is almost ready to open, she takes her in and tries to keep her safe and get her to open up about who she is runing from. Maggie and the other detectives are called out to what looks like a simple homicide, except for markings on his face and a picture hidden in the boy's closet showing DCI Hastings' daughter, Olivia, they then discover DCI Hastings' whole family has gone missing and there are signs of foul play at the home. As Maggie and the rest of the squad try to discover what theses incidents could have in common, it appears that Hastings may not only be missing but might be the perpetrator in these crimes.

A great story that kept me guessing right to the end, with a surprising conclusion. That last chapter though, another set up for a great follow up book. I can't wait to read the next book!

Firstly I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of the ebook, I was so excited to get a spot on this tour and I’m thrilled to be able to present to your my review of this amazing thriller.

This is the fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series and the best one yet. I was hooked from the moment I read the blurb and was delved deeper and deeper into this rollercoaster of mystery with each turn of the page.

This book was filled with incredible writing, from the amazing plot, to the twists that hit you slap bang in the face, but it doesn’t stop there – not with how brilliantly the characters are written or thought out. Needles to say this book was very hard to put down and has pulled me right out of my reading slump.

Well, this book was like a breath of fresh air. It was a great addition to the series. I also felt like everybody had calmed down a little. 

The interaction between Maggie and Nathan was back to how it was before and I was very happy about that, because it felt a bit off in the previous book. 

There was a lot to deal with in this story. The police have more than their hands full with everything that is going on and it is really happening close to home as well. 

It was lovely to see that PC Beth was not stuck behind her desk being snowed under the whole time, but that she found it in her to do some fieldwork too. A big step forward for her. 

You know the feeling when you meet a character in a book and you feel straight away that something is not right. The big  question though is what it is that make you feel uncomfortable about that person.

There are some crazy people out there and I am happy that some only live on paper. :)
A great series with wonderful stories. Keep them coming, please. 5 stars.

Thank you

Dead Secret is the fourth in the DC Maggie Jamieson series. This one focuses the body of a young male is found and shortly after that DCI Hastings, his wife, and daughter are all missing. At first the two cases are treated individually, but Maggie suspects that they may be tied together. Meanwhile Lucy, who has opened her refuge for domestic abuse victims, when a young woman turns up at her door and collapses covered in blood and cuts. Lucy takes her in and promises to help her.

While I have not read the previous books, I think this could have been a stand alone if the last chapter had been left off. The story got off to a slow start. However things did pick up speed about the middle of the book. This just didn't grab me right off the bat. It took awhile before I could get in the flow of the book.. Possibly not having read the previous books made the difference of not being invested in the character.

TERRIFIC series, well written with great characterization & suspense leading up to a fantastic unexpected conclusion. Enjoyed fully & RECOMMEND totally. Thanks to One More Chapter & NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Another excellent DC Maggie Jamieson book, 4th in the series and definitely the best one so far. Maggie is tracking down a psychopath who has murdered at least once but what is the meaning of the black dots drawn on the victim. Meanwhile Lucy is setting up a refuge for domestic abuse victims and receives an unexpected visitor. Great stuff.

I found this book a real slog to read and almost gave up on it several times.
It was dull, flat and I'm sorry to say it but boring.
I'm not sure if this is the authors first book but it read like it was; every possible plot line all crushed into a single book with a conclusion that was far too obvious from almost the introduction of the characters

This is the fourth book in the series but the author did a great job at keeping us to speed. I was able to deduct much about the characters through the little snippets of information that had occurred in the previous book.

At first I was a bit unsure if both the disappearance and murder plot would go well together, but the author proved me wrong. It was impressive the way that the author inextricably linked the two together to create one hell of a ride.

Noelle also did a great job at creating enough suspense and intrigue to keep me on the edge of my seat. A real page turner for sure!

Dead Secret is a highly gripping read and one that I urge all crime novel lovers to go and buy.

Once again this is a belter of a book from Noelle. It's pacing is terrific as it ramps up the tension to the 9th degree, the development of the protagonist is on point and the story was bone-chillingly evil! What more do you need for a cosy wee read of a book?! How about some nods to the book blogger and writing communities! Also, how have we got to book four already?!

Maggie is called to a body that has been found in a local carpark and it looks like a mugging went wrong. Whilst viewing the crime scene she notices on his cheek a constellation of black dots which cause her gut instincts to rumble - might this be another complicated case? At the same time, it looks like DCI Hastings has gone missing along with his family. The pressure is on!

What I enjoyed about this outing was the development of Maggie’s character, which I think was helped by Kate being on the fringes of the story for once. It allowed Maggie to put herself out there and try new things. Her attitudes to her sexuality, her parent’s reaction to that and how both affect her life at present were addressed, which allowed the reader to see a more vulnerable side.

I particularly enjoyed the sections that dealt with the refuge and Lucy’s character. It was illuminating to see how Lucy was dealing still with the trauma from her abusive ex-husband. This is a serious topic and it is addressed by Noelle in such an empathic manner. Seeing the safety of a refuge, how it protects and enables a person to a heal. Hopefully, if just one person is encouraged by this book to use a refuge services then it has done what it is intended to do.

Another smashing book in this series. This is a must-read series for me now and getting to share that love with you guys is why I love blogging! Can’t wait for the next one.

Dead Secret is Noelle Holten's fourth instalment in her gripping police procedural series and heralds the return of DC Maggie Jamieson. This instalment is every bit as exciting as the others. DC Maggie Jamieson is feeling a bit of burnout after closing a particularly difficult case. She is brought in with her colleague Lucy Sherwood when a domestic violence survivor seeks help. Then the murder of a young man with a curious ink marking on his face lands on her desk, and Maggie finds herself in the middle of another troubling case. DCI Hastings goes missing and some evidence points to him as a prime suspect. Are any of these situations connected?

I was completely hooked by the brilliant plot and the characters, and the tension levels are high as Maggie, along with her new partner, Kat, leave no stone unturned when it comes to seeking possible links. As I galloped through the pages in my haste to reach the end of the line, I once again, marvelled at the disturbing and truly gritty writing by Noelle Holten who clearly understands the mind and behaviours of evil, conning individuals. After a denouement to an excellent, and hard-hitting story, that left me open-mouthed I am now waiting with (im)patience to see what Noelle Holten has in store for us crime readers and DC Maggie Jamieson, next!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from One More Chapter via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Dead Secret is the fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamison series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone.

Detective Maggie Jamison, and her colleagues, are working to solve the murder of a local college student when they learn that another colleague, DCI Hastings, and his family have gone missing. When Mrs. Hastings is found dead, they must determine whether the two cases are connected, and whether Hastings himself is a victim or a suspect.

Dead Secret is a fast-paced, police procedural that definitely kept my interest from start to finish!

Dead Secret by @noelleholten is the 4th book in the DC Maggie Jamison series. This is the first one in the series that I have read and I didn’t feel like anything was missing or confusing. So Dead Secret can easily be read as a standalone, since each book is a different case.

What I enjoyed about the book were the many plot lines that Holten wove together to create a puzzle for the reader. It kept me reading because I had to know how it all tied together.

In one plot line probation officer Lucy is almost finished setting up a shelter for victims of domestic abuse when she finds a severly injured deaf woman. Lucy offers he refuge and tries to get her to open up about who hurt her and how she arrived on her doorstep.

In another plotline, a body is found, a man brutally murdered with 3 strange dots on his face. At the same, time DC Maggie’s boss DCI Hastings is apparently missing. What can make the situation worse? All the evidence in the murder cases with victims that have dots on their faces are pointing right at DCI Hastings.

Of course Noelle Holten cleverly ties all the plot lines into a neat bow, connecting all the dots. This novel is fast paced and it could have been confusing with so many characters and plot lines but it wasn’t!! The author wrote is so well I breezed through it without a hitch.

I must warn you though this book ends on a jaw dropping cliff-hanger so if you read it you will be compelled to read Book 5.

Thank you to author @noelleholten @onemorechapter and @netgalley for my digital copy of the book to review.