A thriller set in Oxford. As it starts, we follow Chloe who falls to her death. As Nikki and her team pick up the case, there are doubts about her death, did she fall or was she pushed? Another teamline follows Chloe's mother who disappears when Chloe is a toddler. The book has a good plot, there are twists in the story but some aspects of the plot could have done with more explanation (the involvement of the second girl and of Nikki's family) and I thought that it started to drag a little in the middle. A couple of loose ends at the end of the book which have left me feeling a little dissatified with the book as a whole, nevertheless a decent read.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

Fatal Secret is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. This installment in the Detective Nikki Gill series masterfully blends police procedural with personal stakes, creating a tense, twist-filled mystery.

The story starts with the chilling death of an Oxford student—and the discovery of a note that mentions DI Nikki Gill by name immediately pulls her into a case that’s far more personal than she expected. As the investigation deepens, Nikki uncovers unsettling links between the victim, another eerily similar death, and secrets from her own past she thought were buried for good.

The pacing is excellent, with just the right balance of action, investigation, and emotional depth. Nikki is a compelling lead—tough, determined, but also vulnerable as she’s forced to confront old wounds. The twists kept me guessing, and the ending completely caught me off guard.

Fatal Secret by M.L. Rose is a gripping mystery crime thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful and emotional journey. The story is engaging, filled with heartbreaking developments. It is told across multiple timelines and from different points of view, but the events and characters are easy to follow.
This is the third book in the Detective Nikki Gill series, and NO, I didn't know this was a series. Do I feel I missed something - NO! Or, I don't know that I missed something. The storyline is rich enough to get your attention and keep it till the end twists come in like a tornado demolishing leftover emotions...

An Oxford student, Chloe, is found deceased, and DI Nikki Gill is there to investigate the case. When a note with Nikki's name is found in Chloe's pocket, Nikki knows it will be a complicated case. When another student dies similarly, Nikki feels that the killer is connected to her past.

I am so happy Nikki Gill's investigations are a series. I want to read more. She's thoughtful, caring and brilliant.

Fast paced story in which Detective Nikki Gill and her team are tasked with solving the death of a college student. The first question is whether her death was accidental or was it murder? The team relies heavily on CCTV to try and track Chloe's movements. There's also the added challenge of figuring out what is meant by a note that is found in Chloe's pocket. Is someone trying to play a prank on Nikki or is there some hidden meaning. Along the way, there are plenty of twists that will need to be put together in order for the team to solve the case.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

When DI Nikki Gil is called to investigate the death of a student in the grounds of Oxford College, little does she realise that the case will impinge on her own family, putting her own mother at risk.
This is a fantastic continuation of the series, but can easily be read as a standalone.
The story is fast paced with tension abound and plenty of twists and turns along the way. The team dynamic is as strong as ever, with our admiration for Nikki's empathy and resilience growing with each book.
The will they won't they element with Monty adds an extra interesting layer. I'm sure we'll see more of that one in future instalments...
The author clearly knows so much about Oxford, describing it so vividly, that I felt I was there!
The ending is all tied up as neatly as a box of those chocolates, and I can't wait to read the next book.
If you're a fan of Police Procedurals then I'd highly recommend this book.
My thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Storm Publishing for my copy of Fatal Secret by M L Rose.
A young university student is found dead and in her pocket a note "Ask DI Nikki Gill what happened"
Nikki doesn't know the girl, but her and her team must find the truth before anyone else dies. This one is very close to home.
A good read.

I’d like to thank Storm Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Fatal Secret’ written by M L Rose in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The body of student Chloe Pierson has been found on university grounds after falling from the ramparts of New College Oxford. As DI Nikki Gill and DI Monty Sen lean over her they notice a piece of paper with Nikki’s name written on it that appears to have been slipped into the woman’s pocket. As the woman is a complete stranger to the police, they can think of no reason why the woman should know Nikki’s name.

‘Fatal Secret’ is a well-written thriller based around the city of Oxford and its universities that has a story full of suspense and tension especially as DI Nikki Gill realises the connection between the victim and herself, and the life of someone close to her is at risk. I like the characters of Nikki and DI Monty Sen whose relationship appears to be more than just work colleagues, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes in future books.

Another good thrilling chapter in the Nikki Gill series. Great characterisation. Very well written. Loved the backstory. A rollercoaster ride of twists to unravel. Looking forward to the next novel.
.

The third book in the Detective Nikki Gill series and it didn’t disappoint. It was good to be back with Nikki and her team and to continue their story. This one was more personal to Nikki and it kept me turning the pages long after I should have. You could read this as a stand-alone book but I would highly recommend starting the series from the beginning to understand the character development. I look forward to reading more about Nikki and I’m hoping to visit Oxford this year so, you never know, maybe I will bump into her!. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read and review this book.

Oooh. Nasty! Set in Oxford and quite a convoluted network of connections for DI Nikki Gill to unravel in the death of students at the uni. And unfortunately the web surrounds her personal life. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"Fatal Secret"
by M. L. Rose
Pub Date: Jun 23 2025

Fatal Secret by M.L. Rose is book 3 in this fantastic series. I've not read books 1 or 2 but had no problem reading this as a stand-a-lone. A page turner, a 'just one more chapter' book. The story switches between the past and the present, the story never lets up from the first chapter until the last. A quick engaging thriller set in the UK

Synopsis: When Detective Inspector Nikki Gill discovers a young Oxford student dead at the base of New College’s ancient walls, she assumes it’s a tragic accident. But everything changes when a note is found in the victim’s pocket – mentioning Nikki by name. As she investigates the death of Chloe Pierson, Nikki uncovers the student’s secret quest to find out what happened to her mother who vanished years ago.

Many thanks to #FatalSecret #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me an E-ARC of this book.

Will the secrets of the past catch up with DI Nikki Gill? A college student falls to her death in the college grounds, was she pushed? A note inside the victims pocket says ASK DI NIKKI GILL, what happened? Is this personal? Nikki and the team need to put the pieces of the puzzle. When a second college student is found. Who is doing this and why? A link to Nikkis past could be the answer or could it? I really enjoyed this book.

This series is such a cleverly woven set of reads. i love every one of them and have already found myself caring about our heroine. she is so compelling to read and each time we enter a new book im already tense with wondering if she will be ok! the books are always whip smart and clever plots and character developments done to perfection throughout. i have genuine excitement when anew M.LRose book comes out. truly i do.
in this book a student is found dead. was it an accident? DI Nikki Gill is back and on the case. but this one hits close. too close, because in the pocket is a note with her name on it. her name! but this isnt where the connection to Nikki ends. and the rest is....read iiiiiit and find out.
the plot is fast paced that feeds you info as you try and read more and more to keep the twists and turns coming. it hits right to the emotional and more Psychological kind of vibe.
i also love how with each book we get to know our Nikki more.

Fatal Secret is book 3 in the Detective Nikki Gill series. A young student was found dead and it is up to DI Nikki Gill to figure out whether it was an accident or a murder. This book was twisty and thrilling.

Book 3 in the DI Nikki Gill series had me gripped from the start. The pace never let up right from the first chapter to the last. I really liked the plotting, unique and switching between two time frames which worked very well. Nikki is investigating the suspicious death of a young student which appears to have a link to her past. I liked the characterisation, although I would have liked more development but overall this is a very good psychological thriller which I really enjoyed. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This was a fast-paced thriller with some solid twists and turns. I liked the tension and the way the mystery slowly unravelled. The main character had grit, and I was rooting for her the whole way.
That said, some parts felt a bit predictable, and the dialogue didn't always land for me. Still, if you are looking for a quick, suspenseful read to binge over a weekend, this one delivers the drama.
Would I read another in the series? Probably!!

DI Nikki Gill is back. A young Oxford student is dead but has she been murdered? When another is found under the same circumstances the case starts to get personal.
Brilliantly written and another great episode in the life of this fabulous Dectective.
Loving this series and looking forward to more.

It did not take long for me to realise that this was not the first DI Nikki Gill case and I would like to have read the previous two. In this case she is called out to a suspicious death in Oxford college grounds, plus a cryptic note in the body.

Not the best police procedural book I have read, but enjoyable.

Thanks to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read and review.

3.5/5 This was a quick engaging thriller set in the UK. Investigation into the death of a college student. Enjoyed the current and past timeline. The tie in with DI Nicki's mother was a good addition to the plot. Overall a good read and I will be reading more of her books. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.