Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book. If you like Pretty Little Liars, you’ll love this book. For me, this reminded me a little bit too much of PLL so it was just a meh for me. I didn’t see the twist coming, but it was kind of underwhelming for me. In the beginning of the book, I couldn’t tell who the main character was because it didn’t give a lot of information on if the main character was a boy or a girl, what he looked like, or what his name was. It was an ok book, not the worst, but not the best either.

4.5 round up

Vincent Ralph's "Secrets Never Die" offers a chilling and exhilarating thrill ride that kept me engrossed from start to finish. This suspenseful tale immerses readers in an atmosphere that's as mysterious as it is captivating, setting the stage for an unforgettable narrative.

One of the standout elements of this book is its unwavering pace. The plot hurtles forward with a relentless energy that ensures there's never a dull moment. I found myself eagerly listening along, driven by the need to uncover the secrets that loom over the characters.

Speaking of characters, the main protagonists are a dynamic ensemble, each harboring secrets that are as diverse as they are compelling. I appreciated how their individual mysteries ranged in depth, revealing layers of complexity within the group. This multifaceted exploration of secrecy added depth to the story, keeping me guessing about what lay beneath the surface.

The ending of the book was a well-executed. It managed to provide closure while leaving just enough room for speculation, a delicate balance that's often hard to achieve in thrillers. This touch of ambiguity added an extra layer of intrigue, ensuring that the story lingered in my thoughts long after I'd finished reading.

In summary, "Secrets Never Die" is a spine-tingling thriller that masterfully blends suspense and mystery. With its engaging atmosphere, a cast of intriguing characters, and a thought-provoking conclusion, it's a book that deserves every bit of its 4.5-star rating. For those who revel in stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, this one is a must-read. Vincent Ralph has delivered a tale that will haunt you long after the final page is turned.

Secrets Never Die is a thrilling novel of suspense for teens. Former childhood TV star, Sam Hall, and his friends "bury" their secrets in the dark place once a year. This year, someone was there, listening, and remembers everything they've shared. I liked the horror aspects of this story and a twist that kept me guessing. Some aspects were hard to imagine, like what exactly the dark place looked like. For some readers this might have added to the creep factor but for me I found it distracting. Readers who like Karen McManus and Kara Thomas will enjoy this book as well. A recommended purchase for school and public libraries serving teens.

A group of friends go to the Dark Place every Halloween, a physical space where they can spill their secrets and no one else can hear, where they can leave feeling lighter and less burdened. But someone knows their secrets now, and are using them against them.

This was by no means a bad book. There was a lot of suspense and some genuinely scary moments. But the story also felt a little convoluted, and like there was too much going on. The ending chapter packed a punch though. I liked this book, it just wasn’t my favorite of the genre.

I liked the pacing of this book with every chapter ending on a cliff. I went in expecting Pretty Little Liars type secrets so their secrets were a bit of a letdown. I like this author and will read more by him. I can see this book being turned into a mini-series.

I feel like this book could have been so much more and I was a little let down by the “big reveal”. I just felt like the backgrounds and motivations of some of the main people didn’t feel fully fleshed out. Like some of the things they did didn’t seem to make sense.

This book was really good! The plot was engaging and I connected with the characters which is something not a lot of authors can accomplish! Definitely recommending this book.

*Received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

My overall rating is 3 stars. Understand this is a YA book. Had i knew that, i would have adjusted my expectations. This was a fun and fast read. Just in time for spooky season. The chapters were short and I quickly flew through the book. This was the kind of story where you put your brain on autopilot and just go with the story. Halfway through I was going with a four star read. It was the second half that knocked it down a star. The main character started doing things that made no sense. The book could have removed a couple of chapters and it would still flow well. Some of the situations should have been introduced earlier. Then it wouldn't feel like it came out of nowhere. Wasn't crazy about the ending. It leaves it open for a 2nd book and I don't think there's enough to justify one. I did enjoy the book and do like the author's previous books.

#SECRETSNEVERDIE. #VINCENTRALPH. #NETGALLEY

I couldn’t wait ti read this book! The premise of the book was intriguing as I always love a good horror/thriller. The story centers around Sam and his friend group, who take a trip every year to an abandoned hut they call the “Dark Place”, to have a “funeral” for all of their secrets. This year, things go sideways, their secrets are threatened, and no one is sure who they can trust.

There were quite a few characters, which I felt led to them feeling very one dimensional and hard to connect with. I really liked the chapter length and the flow and pace of the story was good. There were some unexpected twists and good tension. The actual ending of the book fell a little flat for me, but overall it was still an entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley + Wednesday Books for the ARC.

Pretty Little Liars vibes with this YA thriller.
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Every Halloween Sam and his friends go to a hut in the woods they call the Dark Place. It’s there that they bury the secrets they have, holding a funeral for them. But this year someone was watching and is now tormenting and blackmailing everyone in the group. Each holds a secret they’re ready to die for—will it come to that?
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I liked this one better than 14 Ways to Die, but I still didn’t really like or love it. The cover and premise? Amazing. The execution, not so much. The ending—absolutely not.
What the hell?! These kids are being punished for something their parents did? Absolutely not. I thought the kids’ secrets were pretty bland; def not something dying over, but to hear the parents are responsible made me so angry. And they never took responsibility! Such a disappointing ending.

CW: stalking, blackmail, blood, car accident, violence, theft, harassment, fire, scars

A tradition, secrets, and a stalker will keep the pages turning and teens, young adults, and adults entertained. At least in the beginning.

If you’re ready for a Halloween party and a tradition that goes awry, grab a flashlight and curl up under a blanket. The story contains blood-filled eggs and dolls’ heads that will leave you searching for answers.

But for me, the excitement slowed far too quickly, and things began to bother me.

My Concerns
--The characters didn’t feel fully developed.

--I needed something more toward the middle to hold my interest.

--The secrets didn’t feel quite right for a “Halloween-type” book.

--Though the ending tied things up, it was disappointing.

My Final Thoughts
I think teens and young adults will have a 50% chance of enjoying this book. Unfortunately, it was a letdown for me. The title and description had me expecting so much more than the book offered.

Sam Hall and his friends have a yearly tradition on Halloween. They go out to ‘the Dark Place’, a hut in the woods, and one by one tell their secrets alone to the empty hut. But after years of doing this, their secrets are finally coming back to haunt them. The group is being blackmailed and threatened by a stalker, a stalker they are determined to unmask.

Secrets Never Die is classified as a YA horror/thriller and I definitely agree with this. The things that happens definitely have that spooky feel of horror and the speed of the story and the stalker for right into the thriller category. When I read YA thrillers, I usually avoid the horror element because I already have an over active imagination and don’t need help stirring it up. I am glad I gave this book a a chance though. This has the perfect amount of spooky Halloween book and a storyline that was easy to follow but full of twists and turns. I enjoyed most of the characters in this book and liked the the surprising twists when the identity of the stalker and the motives behind the stalking start coming to light. Overall this was an enjoyable read, not the best I’ve read in this genre, but still entertaining and able to hold my interest. With Halloween approaching, this seems like the perfect book to pick up if this is your thing!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

This was not good…? Like I’m not even sure what to say because I really just felt like it was kind of pointless and anticlimactic. The secrets weren’t as serious as they were made out to be and bringing the parents storyline into it was weird. Idk this is one that I feel like I just wasted my time on 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm so sad I didn't like this as much as I wanted, but I guess it just wasn't my kind of book. I didn't really enjoy the writing, and the story itself just wasn't as interesting as I had hoped. Honestly, it was a little bit frustrating at times because some of the decisions these characters made were just so insane, and the whole situation they were in just made no sense at some points. I definitely think if I was still in the age group this book is meant for though, I'd have enjoyed ot a lot more, which is why I definitely think my dislike for this book is more that it just wasn't for me. I think younger readers just getting into the myster/thriller genre will probably really enjoy this book.

This was a fast paced book with short chapters. While I really liked his other books - 14 Ways to Die and Lock the Doors, this one felt like I was just reading to finish it. There were twists and turns, but it just seemed to fall flat.

⛧Secrets Never Die by @vincentralphwriter - This book was a wonderful rendition of children paying for the sins of their fathers. The kids thought it was their own secrets they were paying for, but in the end, it turned out to be much more sinister. I enjoyed the authors previous 2 books so I can add his 3rd to that pile.

This is a fast paced, quick thriller about secrets that won't stay buried and how far a person will go to stop them from getting out.

I thought this was an alright story, I'm always eager to see what people have been hiding and how secrets affect relationships. To me, a lot of the secrets weren't that bad and I probably would have just called the police even if it meant things being in the media.

There were a couple surprises that I didn't expect and that helped keep me interested. The main character Sam also has a little sister named Molly and she is pretty adorable. There's a note early on that she can read minds and I'm not sure if that was supposed to be literal or just that she's good at reading people, but either way I loved Molly.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
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I absolutely love Vincent Ralph’s YA thrillers. They suck the reader in fast and they are such a quick read that I usually blow through them in a matter of hours! I thought this was such a unique premise for a book as well, a group of teens going to a secret place to whisper their secrets to get them off their chest but then those secrets come back to haunt them. This book kept me guessing and kept me wanting to turn the pages the entire time! If you are looking for a fast YA thriller read, this one is for you!

Every Halloween, Sam and his friends go to an abandoned hut they call the Dark Place to share their secrets. This year the secrets are coming back to haunt them one at a time. They have to figure out who's behind it all before it’s too late.

I didn’t particularly like this one. I thought it was a bit slow and not very exciting. I think the problem is that I can’t do YA thrillers anymore. I wanted more action. The whole story felt a little underwhelming to me. I do think this story will appeal to a younger crowd. It just wasn’t for me.

Perfect read leading into spooky season. Everyone in the group has their secrets but no one knows each others secrets. This book will keep you guessing down to the final secrets and who those secrets belong to.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.