Noelle's books just get better and better. This 4th installment was amazingly well written. I find that Maggie just gets more interesting the more we get to know her.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book is the fourth instalment of the DC Maggie Jamieson series, and focuses on her murder unit. In this one a body of a young male is found, and then it transpires that DCI Hastings, his wife, and daughter are all missing. The two cases are treated separately, but Maggie has a niggling feeling that she just can’t put her finger on. We also see the other characters from previous books who work alongside Maggie in the murder unit and from other units. Another storyline running through the book is with Lucy, who has just prepared opening her own refuge for domestic abuse victims, when a young female turns up at her door and collapses covered in blood and cuts. Lucy takes her in and promises to help her, and enlists her two friends, Vicki and PC Mark Fielding, to help out, when things take a drastic turn. We also see a return of Maggie’s journalist frenemy, Julie Noble, and they just love to hate each other, but does feelings run deeper than what we see on the surface?

I love this series. Maggie is such a diverse character, and she is relatable, and the author doesn’t hide how vulnerable Maggie can be, which is great. Maggie may be a big tough detective, but she also has feelings of being scared and nervous, which really makes her a likeable character, along with her sometimes dark humour. Maggie also lives with her ex gambler brother, Andy, who is also an underrated character. His humour is off the cuff and makes the story flow nicely, while giving a look into Maggie’s life away from the job. I’d like to see Andy become embroiled in a crime in a later book to see how well Maggie handles it. I also really enjoy the other characters, I don’t think there’s any I dislike. Every character comes with a past and baggage, which makes the story better, and it’s more in touch with reality, everyone has a past or some baggage. I read this book in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down, and despite the nature of the story, it’s such an easy read. And you also get to see all elements of the investigation and how different areas of law enforcement cross over, it’s not just one main hero of the story.
Overall, I think this book was brilliant, and is perfect for fans of crime thrillers. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Dead Secret is the latest book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle Holten, and I think it is my favourite book in the series. This is a series that keeps getting better and better, and in Noelle’s true style, she has left the book on another cliff-hanger. I now need the next book in this series ASAP.

Maggie finds herself involved in a complex, high profile investigation when her boss, DCI Hastings, disappears. His family are also missing, and it is feared that he has done something terrible to them. It’s really hard for the police to come to terms with this, and it causes a lot of tension within the force. They’re not quite sure how best to proceed with these revelations.

This book is really fast-paced. Dead Secret also sees the return of Lucy Sherwood, who appeared in the first book in the series. She is in the process of opening a women’s refuge centre. Although the centre isn’t officially open yet, she finds herself looking after a young woman in desperate need of help. I was really intrigued by this strand of the story, and I wanted to know what this woman had gone through.

Noelle Holten kept me utterly gripped as the investigation into what happened to the Hastings family proceeded. Noelle is a writer who knows how to plant red herrings, and she knows how to write a good twist. It’s what, I’m sure, keeps her readers coming back to her books, and I can’t wait to read her books when they’re announced. The revelations which come at the end are hard-hitting and I did not expect them at all.

What I thought Noelle Holten developed really well in this book was Maggie’s relationship with reporter Julie. There is still some frostiness there between them, but I am interested to see how things for them progress from here. It’s hard to believe that we’re already on book four. I am absolutely loving this series, and I can’t wait to read the next book.

Noelle Holten is such a brilliant author. I highly, highly recommend her books.

# Dead Secret # Netgalley
Wow wow and wow again it’s 2.14 am and I have just finished this novel... Noelle Hilton as done it again, with this new book just blew me away. There are twist and turns which is something I have come to expect with Noelle books. Each taking you down a roast abs it’s so feasible that your convinced yoh know who the perpetrator is the only other option is just much to even contemplate. Maggie is feeling some trepidation of being back at work Especially with the last case ice sculptures only using living people. I am not telling anyone e much about either noon it’s those types of novels that you seriously have to read. Dead secret could be read as a stand alone novel. But as it’s a follow on book with a different case for the murder team it’s fact paced impossible to put down it’s bloody brilliant, fantastic, awsome, brilliant it’s goes without saying it a must must must read

Another enjoyable addition to this series by Noelle Holten.

4 books in and it feels like an author really growing in stature with every read.

Fast Paced , well plotted stories with clever twists.

exciting reads are the name of the game here and Holten doesn’t disappoint

Look forward to further books in the series

Another hit for Noelle Holten. I adore the Maggie Jamieson series. The writing never disappoints. The storyline always gripping. Waiting anxiously for the next.

Dead Secret by Noelle Holten is the fourth installment of this exciting series that features DC Maggie Jamieson, but it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Once again, Ms Holten has delivered a compelling read that will have you in its clutches until the final page is turned. A young man has been found murdered, and as DC Jamieson responds to the call it is discovered that her superior, DCI Hastings, has been reported missing. Can a connection be established? As one would anticipate, Maggie will turn the case on its head in an indefatigable quest for answers.

This is a brilliant series that once begun will have you well and truly hooked.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC.

I am so loving this series. I love Maggie and how we get to see different aspects of not just the police force but probation also. In the latest book, things hit Maggie and the team hard when one of their own goes missing and things are definitely not clear cut when it comes to this case.

There are so many twists and turns in this story, I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. Poor Maggie seems to be getting hit from all sides and I love the tension between her and Julie, the roving reporter, who has a knack of getting under Maggie’s skin. Maggie doesn’t help herself though and seems to have a habit of bending rules which seem to find a way of coming back to bite her. It all makes for an edge of your seat read.

Along with the case Maggie is working on, we get to see more of Lucy who runs a safe house for victims of domestic abuse. I found this aspect really interesting and the thread to do with Lucy and her latest new comer was especially intriguing and I was dying to find out more about the newcomer and what exactly who or what she was running from.

Dead Secret is a whirlwind of a read that left my head spinning with how it all ends and I am on tenterhooks now until the next book. This was a non stop thrill of a read that had my heart racing of which is still pounding now hours after finishing it. A series that just keeps getting better and better. I am praying there are going to be many more books in the series as I am in way too deep and look forward to my Maggie Jamieson fixes.

Lucy Sherwood, now a part-time probation officer, knows what it's like to survive an abusive relationship, in fact it's why she has set up her own refuge, called The Haven. On the day she shows her friends and colleagues around the new building a survivor arrives on her doorstep before she has even officially opened.

DC Maggie Jamieson has had her weekend off interrupted after the body of a young man is found with a curious set of marks left on his body. As they begins to investigate her team receives devastating news about one of their own which could turn everything Maggie thought she knew on its head.

This is an excellent story even though I had a good idea who the culprit was very early on. Knowing whodunnit is quite different from knowing why or how and this is a detailed police procedural which kept my attention throughout. I also felt Maggie's actions were far more realistic this time as I'd struggled with that in book two. I do however like Maggie and her partner Nathan, who is now an acting DS and so her immediate boss, their relationship still seems realistic even as it gradually changes.

Noelle Holten is a talented writer who has, once again, left her book on what could be a traumatic cliffhanger. The split between Maggie's work and personal life was well balanced and there were hints of changes which maybe forthcoming in the next book. Both of these are exciting prospects and I will definitely be on the look out for book four.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a very good  continuation of this series but can easily be read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were parts I enjoyed reading and parts I skimmed through where I felt I lost interest. I still don’t really like the main character but I don’t dislike her either. I find her annoying and irritating more than anything. I thought the book had a good plot line and the story had my attention when Maggie and the team were investigating a murder. The hints of a romance and Maggie pondering on her work/life balance didn’t really add anything to the story for me and my interest dropped. I guessed (correctly) who the murderer but not the reasons why. The ending shocked me which I hope sets up the next book. Overall a good read, just not one that wowed me. 3.5 stars

Another enjoyable instalment in this enjoyable series from Noelle Holten. Maggie Jamieson is an interesting character; her life revolves around her work but she wonders whether a relationship her life. In this case a number of disappearances and deaths appear to be rather close to home and Maggie is tasked with joining the dots...literally!

This was my first book by Noelle and I'm definitely going to grab the other two that go along with this series!!!

This was definitely a sick and twisted read but I was all for it!!! There is cussing and I'm all for that as well haha!!

This was definitely a stand alone but I want to learn more about these characters from the previous books. I was very curious about the Living Doll case that was mentioned.

Don't want to give anything away but I did not expect the killer to be so twisted for their age.

Dead Secret is book number 4 in the DC Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle Holten and it is another well paced, page turning police procedural thriller with numerous twists and a multitude of possible killers.

The book can be easily read as a stand-alone if you are new to the series although I’m sure that the previous books will soon be added to your TBR pile!!!

Highly recommended

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest instalment in the DC Maggie Jamieson series. Fast paced throughout with a great plot that keeps you guessing. Great characters that are developing so well as the series continues. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I think its far better to read the previous ones first. Looking forward to the next one!

Well, it’s always quite difficult to review Noelle Holten’s books, simply because they’re an absolute work of genius, and it’s hard to do them justice!

I was so excited to read the latest in this series. Maggie Jamieson is one of my favourite detectives, and every time I finish one of the books in the series, I just can’t wait for the next one. If you haven’t read any of them, it’s well worth reading the whole series, even though they work fine as standalones. She’s such an authentic character, I feel as if I know her at this stage.

Yet again, Noelle catapults us into the dark and evil world of the serial killer, and no-one really does it better. This time we have a series of killings that seem unrelated, but the killer has left his mark on the victims, and Maggie must try to make the connection before the killer strikes again. This time, one of their own is either at risk, or in the frame, and it’s a race against time.

I was completely held captive by this book, there was no putting it down until the end. It’s a completely compelling and addictive, cancel-everything-read. I only hope that she can write quickly, as I’m already looking forward to the next one!

Interesting story that is book 4 in a series, however I haven’t read any of the others and had no issue so it can stand alone. It follows DC Maggie Jamieson and her team as they investigate the brutal murder of a man who the killer left with dots on his face. Soon after this discovery the DCI and his family appear to have been abducted and the team has to solve both cases simultaneously and figure out if they’re connected before anything happens to the family.
Maggie’s friend Lucy is opening a shelter for abused women and someone turns up looking for help so she takes her in. She won’t say anything about that happened to her so one of the officers tries to work with her to see if he can convince her to talk so they can help her. But if she won’t talk, how can they help? Is her trauma connected as well?
After Maggie discovered a record device in her home, they start to put the piece together once it’s fingerprinted and all they storylines get wrapped up.
I liked the authors writing style, however there were parts that were a bit clinical for lack of a better word that kind of took me out of the story but I think that maybe it’s just me, I think the clinical aspect was intentional. And I like that there were several strong female characters, especially DC Jamieson.
Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

Wow what an excellent book that I couldn`t put down! From the first page to the last. This was my first book by the author and it won't be my last! A body is found starting an investigation by DC Maggie Jamieson., building up to discovering the person responsible . Magic!!

Dead Secret by Noelle Holten, I can't believe that this is all ready the 4th book by this author. It doesn't seem long since reading her debut and I'm thrilled at the success this series has achieved. Since that first book I have eagerly awaited each new instalment and I have to say they are just getting better and better. I didn't think it was possible after the first book. I think this author has an advantage as a book blogger, she knows the sort of books people enjoy and she is now in a position to deliver the exact read that people want. Bravo Noelle, you are smashing this.

so Book 4, what did I think. Simple, loved it. The end.

This is a fantastic addition to the series, familiar characters, new characters and a story that gets you involved, absorbed into the pages, wanting to read as quick as possible, then not wanting it to end.

Its time that Maggie started to think of herself, too much work and not enough fun. But with a missing DCI is that going to be possible.
While investigating a murder, it emerges that DCI Hastings is missing! But then it appears that his wife and daughter are also missing. Is Maggie taking on more than she can handle.
A domestic case brings Maggie into contact with Lucy Sherwood, who has set up a shelter, a safe house to help people from domestic violence. But Who is this lady that needs help and what has happened to her, it's a struggle to find anything out.
With everything going on in her life it's a wonder Maggie knows what day it is, but as always everything she does, she gives her all.

I again found this book really engaging, not wanting to close the pages, needing to know what was happening. It really did pull me in, and oh my god, it spits you out at the end and leaves you gasping, needing more but knowing you are going to have for the next book to find out what is going to happen next. Fantastic ending.

This was the first book of Noelle Hoten's that I have read and while I didn't feel that I had missed anything by not reading the previous books it just didn't do it for me. Very lack lustre writing, it didn't grab me and make me want to keep reading. Too many sub plots and too much of Maggie thinking about what she is going to do with her life. I ended up skipping through a lot of it, just to get to the end.



Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.

This is fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series but my first read from Noelle. I'm kind of kicking myself for not starting from book 1. This can be read as a standalone and I followed it perfect but it was so good that I need to read the rest.

There is a murder case with strange markings on the body. DCI Hastings is missing! Has he been kidnapped and a domestic violence surviver is unable to tell anyone what happened!

There is a lot packed into this murder/mystery/thriller. I really enjoyed this book. It was tense and exciting. I enjoyed the characters and I am looking forward to reading more about them in previous books. Highly recommended