Book 4’in the series and sometimes I have probz remembering lead ( and other characters ) after a break and it takes me a while until I am at the ‘aha that’s it’ moment, not so with Maggie, as soon as she is back, I am back with her and her life, her ‘ways’ and her new case
This time we have a murder in the woods and a case that affects her work place, are the two linked? and is there a psychopath on the loose?, there certainly is but will say no more on them except to say they are as dark as night
I felt Maggie’s anger with everything and everyone as mentioned in my review for Book 3 had dissipated in this read and I liked seeing her gentle flirting and humour and more of her human side, the police procedural and references to Probation ( and domestic abuse services ) were as always spot on and you cannot beat an authors experience in these fields when writing these books
Again as always there were twists and turns and was kept on my toes until the horrifying ending!
A good solid read and look forward to Book 5 and catching up with Maggie who once again I liked in this book

8/10
4 Stars

Dead Secret is the perfect thrill-ride from beginning to end, as police race to find one of their own before it’s too late. The pace stays fast throughout the novel, keeping the thrills coming turn after turn. A fellow policeman and his daughter are missing, and two other people they know are found dead. The pages flip as fast as they can go as I wanted to find out where they are, if they are safe, and who murdered two people. I love the attention to small details. Maggie, the main character and a police detective, wants a love interest and doesn’t want one. This conflict plays out in exciting ways throughout the story that enabled me to feel like I know Maggie in a manner that most characters don’t reveal about themselves. She is intricately layered with relatable flaws that breathe life into the character. The support characters become much more developed in this installment of the DC Maggie Jamieson series, particularly DI Rutherford. As with other books in the series, it’s all in the little nuances of the person’s reactions- a forehead massaged to lessen a headache, fingers spontaneously running through that person’s hair – all very real mannerisms that are small but say so much about what’s going on in the characters‘ head. This attention to detail is what makes the series stand out for me. And, the ending is delightful, as it shocked and horrified me. If you love never-ending thrills and a character-driven story, Dead Secret is the novel for you!

How on earth is this book 4 already?! Although I feel as though I’ve known Maggie Jamieson forever as she has really become a favourite character of mine now and I do feel as though I know her personally now! Yes, she is that well brought to life by crime author Noelle Holten who has once again delivered a dark, shocking and thoroughly gripping read!

Maggie never seems to get a break does she?! Not only does she have the death of a young man to solve but she also finds out that one of the DCIs and his family have gone missing. And if she’s not busy enough, her friend Lucy also calls upon her for help when a terrified woman lands on her doorstep unable to speak or hear but who has obviously had a very traumatic experience! But Maggie is one of the hardest working police characters around and she packs a lot into this one book as she tries to solve crime and handle her complicated personal life at the same time. And it’s definitely a cast of likeable and relatable supporting characters who make this police procedural for me. Everyone feels authentic and the criminal acts themselves and those who commit them are perfectly described. Noelle has a keen eye for the darker side of the criminal justice system and her experience within that world means that you really do feel like you’re in a real police station watching events unfold in real time much like those who are working there. And the post-mortem examinations also feel very real so be prepared and maybe don’t read this while you’re eating! Although to be honest, you may have to as you probably won’t want to put Dead Secret down once you start it. I picked it up and then read the whole book in one session-desperately turning the pages to find out if my theories were correct-they weren’t!!

This is a brilliant crime thriller that’s part of a brilliant crime series! I absolutely love Maggie Jamieson! What I don’t like is being left hanging and I can’t believe that Noelle Holten finishes this book on such a massive cliffhanger for the next book!! I was like “WHAT?! You can’t leave it there!! I want more!” Yes, I’m now on countdown for DC Maggie Jamieson #5 and know I will be in for a thrilling ride if the last few pages of Dead Secret are anything to go by! If you’ve not read the previous books then do as you’ll get a much rounded picture of one of the best fictional detectives around at the moment and by then you’ll be ready for more…just like me!

Dead Secret is the 4th book in the Maggie Jamieson Series. I enjoyed the first three and liked this one even more. Several dead bodies, many suspects, a few twists and even a bit of humor along the way.
I enjoy the characters in the books. The inclusion of their personal lives adds depth to them. A fast paced read.

Thanks to netgalley and One More Chapter for the advance copy.

First off: this is part of a series (a very good one, btw) but if the reviews and blurb intrigue you, I think it could be read as a standalone. Previous events are brought up, but the author does a good job of referencing them while adding in enough information to bring people up to speed, I think. For example, it had been a little bit since I’d read the previous novel, but there were more than enough context clues to jog my memory right away. And I think new readers could get by, as well.

OK, on to the important stuff: this book is really a great addition to the series. There’s three simultaneous events in the beginning of the novel that seem random, but then the threads of the story begin to weave some of the together, and Maggie and her team, who grow on me more and more with each novel, are forced to piece together everything when things just don’t seem to fit.

As always, there’s some great twists in there which really kept me turning pages and n ending that just leaves you hanging on!

What I love about this series, is that it includes both great suspense and mystery, it also great personal storylines, with Maggie and co. Trying to figure things out and navigate the relationship arena - Oh Maggie, she’s in trouble, lol. I really like that and it makes for great reading overall.

This series is one you definitely need to pick up if you like mystery/thrillers with some great characters and amazing storylines. You won’t be disappointed!

Complex police thriller with many layers. Part of a series and for background it would be best if read in sequence. Good characters and a fast paced story.

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dead Secret’, the fourth in the DC Maggie Jamieson series written by Noelle Holten, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A woman is given shelter in a new refuge soon to be opened by probation officer Lucy Sherwood and at the same time the body of a young man identified as Tim Griffiths is found in woods behind an industrial estate. Just as DC Maggie Jamieson notices strange dots have been marked on the victim’s cheek they learn that DCI Hastings, his wife and daughter are missing from home.

‘Dead Secret’ is a gripping and involving thriller that doesn’t just involve the work of the police but also the probation service as well as long-distance assistance from psychotherapist Dr Kate Moloney who’s featured in previous books in the series. There’s lots of action, suspense, intrigue and drama involved in searching for suspects, although I was surprised that Lucy Sherwood didn’t follow-up on the woman self-harming at the refuge. Also, and this is purely my opinion, I thought there was too much written regarding Maggie’s personal preference of romantic partner which I didn’t think was completely necessary to the story. Nevertheless, the excitement increased as the story progressed and the cliffhanger in the last few pages give me hope of another in the series which I’ll be looking forward to.

The power of words written down can be amazing and it is a rare occassion to have a book that sweeps you away and leaves you thinking of the subject matter and events for some time after putting the book down but this is one of those occassions. The author deals excellently with subjects such as domestic abuse, psycopaths/sociopaths and police procedurals. No wonder the bastions of modern crime fiction like Martina Cole, Angela Marsons, Casey Keller and M.W. Craven have been singing the praises of this wonderful author.
I first came across this author through her great book reviews and crazy TikTok videos and social media antics and I knew that I was going to enjoy her books. I have been meaning to start with Book 1 but still not got around to it so when I got the opportunity to read an advanced review copy of this book I decided to just jump in at book 4 but I will definitely be putting the other 3 books as a priority on my TBR mountain.
I know very little about the author other than what is in the public domain but you can tell by the style of writing, and the knowledge imparted, that she has had personal experiences of events and procedures within the story.
There are more twists and turns than on The Big One at Blackpool fairground and they come along right through the book sometimes when you are least expecting it..
I hope the author has a big cabinet as I think following this book there will be some awards to put on display..
If you enjoy crime fiction you will love this book. Go out and get it and read the book to enjoy the experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins (One More Chapter) and Noelle Holten for providing me with an electronic advanced review copy of this book in return for an unbiased, honest review,
The Kindle edition is published on the 23rd April and the paperback will be published on the 22nd July.

This is the first book that I have read by Noelle Holten and it did not disappoint. Wish I had read the earlier books in the series as would have had more of an idea as to what had happened previously, but it was easy to follow that Maggie had experienced trauma in the previous books but she just keeps on going.
The DCI is missing on top of other murders that have happened.
There is many strong characters in the book and as the story unfolds it seems that are intertwined with each other.

What a crazy fun ride! Loved this multilayered crime/domestic thriller. Great twists and turns in this Noelle Holten book. I loved the characters and storyline.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This review will go live at the link below on 23 April:
Hi and welcome to my review of Dead Secret!

We’re back at DC Maggie Jamieson’s side! Dead Secret is her fourth outing already, time flies when you’re out solving crime! Poor Maggie hasn’t even had time to recover from her last case (the Living Doll Killer) or she’s hit with a new one: a young man has been clubbed to death and on his face four dots haven been drawn in a composition that seems oddly familiar to Maggie. Before she’s fully had time to wrap her head around that one, she’s told that a DCI and his family have gone missing, a possible abduction. No rest for the wicked, Maggie once again has her work cut out for her. Meanwhile, probation officer Lucy Sherwood has an abuse victim on her hands who refuses to talk to the police, looking terrified and more than a little traumatised.

It’s always such a pleasure to catch up with Maggie and Lucy! I’ve been with this series from the start and I do feel that’s the best way to go about it. You might be able to read this as a standalone, especially with regards to the actual cases at hand, but I don’t think you’d enjoy it as much since you’d miss all the nuances and finesses of the characters and their relationships.

Throughout this series I’ve really come to care for Maggie and Lucy. Lucy has been through a lot, suffered from domestic abuse herself, so she’s in an ideal position to help other abuse victims. She’s such a lovely person and while I’m sure she doesn’t need a man to be happy, I do keep hoping she’ll find the love she deserves with that certain someone who keeps hovering about. And Maggie, well, not that I don’t admire Maggie’s work ethic, I do, but I wish she would let her hair down once in a while, put herself first a little more.

In terms of the cases Maggie’s working on this time, I cottoned on to one twist very early on, still I didn’t manage to put two and two together until very late in the game. One thing is for sure: Noelle Holten has outdone herself culprit-wise. Whodunnit? A terrifying killer if ever there was one!

Dead Secret is another great addition to a great police procedural series. I’ll assume that if you read the first three, you’ll want to read this as well, and right you are! And if you’re new to the series, do check it out!

Thanks to HarperCollins UK (One More Chapter) and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Lots of plot threads, some difficult to fathom🤔

3.5-4 🌟stars
I found this latest DC Maggie Jamieson investigation had its highs and lows. The main investigation into seemingly unconnected murders and a missing family was the main draw and the best part. Everyone hustling to keep the body count from growing after they identify markings on the victims that indicate a countdown of murderous mayhem is underway: that kept me hooked.

There were two elements that I found weakened the story. The first relates to my personal preference. I would rather have the story focus on the police work and the criminal, not on the daily domestic routine at home. A bit of romance or family strife is fine but I found the repeated details of the care and feeding of the cats unnecessary and Maggie's life off-duty did not add much to the story for me.

The whole subplot involving Lucy's shelter, her surprise visitor and Mark's sudden turn was puzzling and just did not jive. Why hold up opening the shelter for one person. And, having witnessed her visitor do something harmful when she thought she was unobserved, Lucy's behavior was baffling to me. The sequence of events around Mark's illness also seemed off.

I worked out the killer's identity pretty early on. That did not lessen my interest in the outcome or the reason behind their path of blood and destruction but for some readers it might.

This was a good read but not outstanding.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

3.75* which I’ve rounded up for the stars.
This is #4 in the DC Maggie Jamieson series. It’s the first book of the series that I’ve read. I love the covers, and that they are in a theme.
Maggie is investigating a violent death, whilst trying to contend with a pushy local journalist Julie Noble. Her friend Lucy who has her own domestic abuse history is opening a refuge and unexpectedly taken in her first client after she turned up on her doorstep beaten and afraid and refusing medical or police intervention.
Her other friend and colleague Kate is a psychological profiler,she is still recovering from a previous case.
There’s history between the main players which we are given the basics about, so I don’t feel that I’ve stepped into the middle of something starting with this book. Several previous cases are also mentioned. So it’s probably better to have read them in order to maximise the character development.
I like that the story is based locally, It’s always good to recognise a location.
DCI Hastings and his daughter have gone missing, his wife has been killed. There’s another murder too, Tim, he is connected as he is a friend of Olivia. The question is are they connected? Another question is is DCI Hastings a victim to a set up or a perpetrator?
The writing style makes for easy reading. It on the cosier end of the crime scale. Maggie is a likeable character, and it’s nice to see a budding romance.
The tension and pace increased around 80%. Up til then the pace is on the slower side.
I guessed who the culprit and the missing person were early on, and couldn’t understand why they weren’t investigated earlier, as their behaviour threw up red flags.
The very ending confused me.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

a young man is found bludgeoned to death with a hammer, which is found next to his dead body

a woman is found in her allotment shed stabbed to death, but this one hits closer to home for maggie and the rest of the officer, the victim is married to one of their officers who is also missing

hasting the missing detective is also a person of interest in these crimes.. all the collected evidence points to him and with his missing daughter all the force are on the look out for them

wow this book certainly sets a standard as its action all the way right from the first page and its none stop right to the end...

loved catching up with maggie and the rest of the crew and this time it was high octane right the end...brilliant

cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series

This is the 4th book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series and I have read them all.

This book like the others is fast paced and easy to read and I think the books are getting better and better as we learn more about Maggie and her team.

This book has 2 main parallel plot lines that interlink. This time it’s very close to home to Maggie and the team too. Will they be able to solve the crime before anyone else loses their life.

...and what an ending.

A great read best in the series I can’t wait for the next one.

This is the 4th book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, and while it could be read as a standalone you would get a better idea of the team dynamics if you have read the series.

This is was a really riveting read and one that I feel the author really got to grips with the plot lines. It feels much bolder and more intense as the main characters have quite a lot to deal with. A body is found beaten up, quite a grisly murder with very little to go on, but possibly a robbery.

While this murder investigation is going on a report that a fellow officer and his family have been abducted comes in. Definitely a full workload for Maggie and the rest of the team to deal with.

Lucy runs a refuge that is due to open, a stranger in need of help turns up on her doorstep. Reluctant to speak about themselves or the reason behind their wounds, she is an enigma.

I did mention this story had several plot lines, so along with the cases, there is also additional threads that delve into the more personal lives of some of the key characters. With various threads, the author very craftily weaves her story and gradually gathers the loose ends over the course of the story. I loved how it wasn't just about the cases, but also included personal stuff as well. It adds realism to the characters as they struggle with home and work life.

This is a story that I really, really enjoyed and I loved getting back up to speed with the characters again. The author draws on her knowledge of interagency investigations and her work with the Probation Service and Domestic Abuse cases, it does show as you read the story. It's the little details that are included that make this a riveting read.

This is a tense crime thriller that I read over a couple of days. It has various threads that have been twisted and worked throughout giving a wonderful read. It is one for fans of crime, thriller and procedural genres and one I would definitely recommend.

This is the first book I have read in this series by Noelle Holten. While it is apparent reading it that there is more to DCI Maggie Jamieson and her friends and colleagues, and that reading the previous books would loop you in more, starting this book without having read the previous three did not leave me feeling at a huge disadvantage. The book does a good job of making you feel like you understand what is happening, and who each character is regardless.

As for the story, it is full of twists, with parallel storylines that you are just waiting to link up, urging the characters to make the connections. When they eventually do link up it is fast paced, flying along, and it is not the expected outcome. A fractured police force, a domestic violence refuge, murders, self doubting DCI as the main protagonist, this story weaves a lot throughout, and brings it all together very well. Just what is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath anyway? An extremely enjoyable read, that left me seeking out the previous books in the series to delve further into the world of DCI Jamieson.

*I received this book from NetGalley for review but all opinions are my own.

Dead Secret the 4th instalment in the Maggie Jamieson series and another great addition to this brilliant series. The main plot has you guessing, as the force have to investigate and think the worst of one of their own. Meanwhile Lucy helps a domestic abuse victim that arrives at her door, but all is maybe not what it seems with her. As the plots gather momentum the team seem at a loss as to find an alternative to the unsavoury truth that one of their own could be the culprit.
Lots of twists in the main plot and great character development in the sub plot make for a gripping read.

I loved this book, it was so twisty and kept me guessing all the way through. Although it was a 4th in a series it read as a stand alone book. Another new author to add to my ever growing list. I love discovering new authors and this book didn’t disappoint. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoy this series of books featuring Maggie Jamieson, she is really growing into an interesting character. A strong female lead, plenty twists and turns and a well written narrative with an interesting plot. Really interesting characters and an unexpected ending. The book kept me engrossed and I would recommend the series to lovers of thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.