Wow! If you want a crazy ride that will have you on the edge of your seat, this book one is for you!
"I am who I am. We are who we are." This is the statement that sets the tone to this amazing novel, but the real question is "Who are these people?"
This is what the readers will find out as the chapters progress and they go to "dangerous and unknown places."
I had no idea what was truly happening until the last piece of information was revealed and it more than held my interest while I was holding my breath most of the time!

I love reading psychological thrillers and I admire writers who pen them because to really get in the mind of a sociopath or psychopath, one has to explore the dark side and in this particular case, it’s beyond creepy! Doing so is not always easy and coming up with a premise for these stories, you want to have quite the imagination to keep your readers hooked. Carpenter’s stories do this for me, and she out did herself with Every Single Secret. There is also the fact that this story is set in my state which makes it all the more intriguing.
This story has so many surprises and unexpected twist and turns that keeps you in suspense throughout the book. Carpenter is great at setting the stage for a gothic southern story and she does it with such flare that I am always curious as to what she will write next. Her characters are so complex and at times you feel like you might not want to get too deep into their minds…I say this in a good way. She also has you question the characters actions and motives throughout the story and I find this thoroughly engaging.
When I first saw the book cover and title, I knew I had to get my hands on this story quickly! I had wondered about the cover and how it related to the story and when I got to that part, I was stunned! It’s a whopper and intensely chilling and had me a bit freaked out!
There are monsters all around us…
I rated this book four stars.
I obtained a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
Stephanie M. Hopkins

Three books in, Emily Carpenter has cemented her expertise at creating compelling worlds and read-in-one-sitting suspense. Every Single Secret grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. I got all of one hour of sleep last night because I couldn't put it down. The author owes me a venti-sized coffee! :-) Thank you to Net Galley for a chance to read in advance in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first page of Every Single Secret, I knew I was in for a wild ride, and was I right! Author Emily Carpenter took me on a heart-pounding, pulse-racing adventure, in an isolated setting with hidden cameras, dead birds, and deep dark secrets. My attention was captured and my emotions were engaged from beginning to end. The author did a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere that is creepy and disturbing. I found my self gasping at parts of the book, goosebumps creeping up, wanting to hide my eyes as events unfolded. I was so engrossed in the story and the characters, that the most simple phrases gave me chills. Fast-paced and riveting, this book will take readers to places they’ve never been and evoke feelings they’ve never experienced!

In Every Single Secret, Emily Carpenter weaves the perfect psychological thriller: complex characters and a fast-paced plot shrouded in layers of mystery and suspense. I flipped through the pages eager to uncover the many secrets, and Carpenter skillfully kept me guessing right up until the very end. Fans are in for a real treat. Buckle up. Thank you to Net Galley and the author for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

"There are monsters all around us-people who have to hide because the world can't bear to see them for who they truly are. They're good at keeping secrets, the monsters. Sometimes, too good. Which is why I've always suspected that I am one of them."

Hold the phone and stop the press folks. There's a new sheriff in town, and her name is Emily Carpenter. Ok, she is actually an author and not a sheriff, but minor details-amiright? She has officially passed the "Third Book Syndrome" test, which is a HUUUUUUUUGE accomplishment in my rating system. What is said "Third Book Syndrome" you ask? Let me break it down for you. It all begins with finding a brilliant debut author that you immediately connect with; one that writes about YOUR things and YOUR people and just really gets you. Then they publish their sophomore novel, and its really great too, so you fantasize about how you'll buy their books for the rest of your life and maybe you'll visit them on tour and then you'll become best friends who meet for wine whenever you're in town and so on. Then comes the dreaded THIRD BOOK. I say this because it's usually this book that disappoints me the most. So many times I have reached book three and a real life WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP occurs. It doesn't seem to discriminate between stand alone novels or installments of continuing series, but somehow this dreaded phenomenon seems to hit an author and drain the writing steam right out of them. I know that was a long way of just stating that this book passed the test and was awesome, but guys, it was such a relief to know I can keep Em on my auto-purchase list!

On to the actual book now. If you've read the author's previous novels then you know that they have widely different plots and characters, but they all have a comforting, familiar style of writing. If you're new to her books, fear not; you're in for a treat! I like to say they satiate even the pickiest reading palate; while they have a challenging and intellectual feel to them, they are wholly compulsive and appeal to those wanting a suspenseful mystery focused around domestic drama. Every Single Secret is vastly different in terms of thematic elements, but it still has a dark, emotional pull to it. And one of the main characters name is Heath, which is my maiden name, so obviously it was destined to be a winning read.

At the beginning of the novel, we experience a brief "future" moment where a juicy secret is revealed, followed by being dropped into the present tense life of Daphne and Heath; they are practically perfect in every way, except for those pesky nightmares that Heath keeps having. They want to get those taken care of asap, but Daphne is hesitant when Heath proposes a retreat to the mountains with a counselor. Our cutesy couple consists of two people with dark, secret pasts, and this was never an issue because they agreed early on never to discuss them. New life, who dis? However, Heath decides he wants Daphne to know him fully, and when she doesn't want to reciprocate, this is where the tension truly begins. The rest of the book is a nail-biting experience of this retreat with a few informative flashbacks into Daphne's past. This made for a really exciting, fast-paced reading experience and I didn't want to put the book down!

Per usual Emily, there's no sacrificing meaty characters for exciting plot movement; you get it all in a one package deal. I find this is so rare in the books published today; whether it's the author's lack of ability to include both aspects in their title or simply a case of assuming most readers don't care to have both, I'm not sure. All I know is I can't slap 5 stars on any book that doesn't include the set. Every Single Secret was likely the easiest 5 stars I've given this year, and I think it's due to the author's writing mantra of quality over everything else. If the quality is poor, no amount of flashy twists and shiny action scenes will win over the picky readers. If you're a picky reader, listen up; I'm hollering at you. Read this book. Thank me later. You're welcome. <3