Amazing ending! I totally did not see that coming! I did find the two points of view somewhat confusing as they were both in the first person and I managed to get lost in the narrative a couple of times. I had to slow down and reread while concentrating on who was telling their story in the chapter. But it is a fabulous book, riveting storyline and very realistic characters.

I love psychological thrillers but had never read anything by this author before. I was gripped. A real page turner. Loved it will be reading books by her again

Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked from start to finish. A story about secrets, lies and betrayals that will keep you on your toes. Full of twists and a brilliant ending with a twist I didn't see coming. Definitely worth a read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of Samantha Hayes for quite a while now and I look forward to each book that she releases. I just love the psychological aspects of them and they certainly make you think. ‘Tell Me A Secret’ is her latest book. I really enjoyed reading it but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that I didn’t take to Lorna as she irritated me somewhat. She is a psychotherapist, who crossed the line when she had an affair with one of her patients. She doesn’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation. I guess this is where the safeguarding part of me kicks in. (Many moons ago I used to work in safeguarding vulnerable adults and children and would regularly come across referrals regarding health professionals and their patients). Her patient would have been considered to be a vulnerable adult as he was under her care and she appears to have exploited his vulnerability to get what she wants. Saying that though, I don’t know that Lorna is as cold and calculating as I have made her out to be but I do think she is slightly naïve and unrealistic. Lorna is married to a man called Mark, who is a dentist. Both are obviously career people, who are successful at their work. They have a child together and Lorna is stepmother to Mark’s child from his first wife. Mark & Lorna’s marriage was interesting in the sense that Mark is the dominant one and Lorna is the submissive one, who constantly frets about what Mark wants. Lorna is aware that Mark likes things just so , so she does what she needs to to keep him sweet. It is almost as if she is afraid of upsetting him. I did begin to wonder if she was a victim of domestic violence- not physical but emotional and mental cruelty as certain indicators are there. Lorna is certainly good at keeping secrets and it is only as the book continues that we learn more about her and her activities, which go some way to explaining why she is the way she is. I think that it is fair to say that Lorna was actually the one who needs therapy as she is certainly one messed up woman.
The prologue begins in such a tragic way that grabs your attention from the start. This certainly happened to me and I will not forget the way this book started. I felt so sorry for the girl. The author’s writing style is such that you can’t help but be drawn into the story and before you realise what is happening you are addicted to the story. This is certainly the case for me. I started reading only intending to read a couple of chapters but that intention soon went out of the window. As the book continues the author drip feeds you certain nuggets of information that keep you interested in the story and desperate to read on. The chapters end in such a way that encourages you to read on. I was hooked on this book from the moment I read the prologue and reading it became an addiction. The page numbers were turning so quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I knew it I had finished the book which I was pleased about because I knew how the story ended and the secret that Lorna was so desperate to keep. Reading this book was akin to being on a very unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a snakes and ladders board as well as moments that you just don’t see coming until they hit you so to speak.
In conclusion I really enjoyed reading this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it to other readers, but particularly to those who like a good psychological thriller. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this fantastic author. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I had great expectations for this book and this book far exceeded them! I can thank Ms. Hayes for a sleep deprived, coffee fueled day today! I read this book far into the night, but it was worth it!

You realize right from the start that Lorna has a secret. What you don't know is that virtually every character in this book also has their own secret.

There are so many secrets unraveled towards the end of the book that I was left speechless. I thought I had it all figured out. I was quite wrong on all accounts.

This is a book that will provoke your thoughts far after you are done reading it. If you love a good suspense filled story with some major twists, you are sure to love this book as much as I did!
#TellMeASecret#NetGalley @bookouture @samhayes @netgalley

This book was amazing. I could not stop reading it to save my life. The plot was amazing and the characters even better. Thanks for the advance copy and I would definitely recommend this book

What a brilliant, cleverly written story. I found it an easy to read, fast paced thriller that kept me guessing throughout! The story is told through two female characters Nikki and Lorna. I must admit I am 50/50 about Lorna’s character, parts had me hating her and winding me up while other parts had me feeling sorry for her.

Tell Me A Secret contains short chapters and is a book you won’t want to put down until you’ve finished it. Gripping… This is the first book I have read by Samantha and I am very impressed and would like to read more by this author in the future. I would highly recommend this story to you and it comes with a beautiful cover too! Catches the eye.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the free copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

Samantha Hayes has an unreal talent for winding together tight, complex stories that are deeply suspenseful. I picked this one up one afternoon and found myself unable to put it back down - I was entirely pulled into seeing where the story landed.

Lorna is a successful therapist, with a loving husband, children, great friends and a perfectly structured life. Structure that is holding her together by a thread - and hiding her biggest secrets. Structure that starts coming unraveled when that secret threatens to come to light, putting Lorna's entire life at risk.

This is a story that remains super tense read and wildly absorbing from start to finish. It made me completely paranoid that I was somehow involved in the secret myself, and at one point I had a moment of panic when I couldn't find my own phone. Far from being a standard thriller, this baby will keep you guessing right to the bitter end. A solid read for your summer to read pile!

Tell Me A Secret is a very cleverly-plotted and tense psychological thriller.

It starts with a shocking prologue, leaving you full of questions, and gets off to a cracking start. I wasn’t that keen on Lorna as a character – but that is not a criticism – she is extremely well-written, just not a great human being! Some of the other characters are deliberately difficult to get a handle on and I really did suspect everyone of something at one point or another!

Unfortunately, this is one of those instances – that seem to be becoming more and more common – where I think the blurb gives too much away. I would have preferred not to know quite so much about the plot as was given. I think this may have contributed to my feeling that the middle of the book was a little slow. The beginning is excellent and the ending is superb but I did notice a difference around the mid-point.

That said, it is an absolute humdinger of a conclusion, with revelations flying in from all over the place and one genuine, literal jaw-dropping, head-scratching moment of “WTF, I now need to go back and read this again”. If you like your psychological thrillers to be dark, brooding and complex with a twist then this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of Tell Me A Secret.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

4.5 stars.

I was very excited to get approved for the latest Samantha Hayes novel because I have read and enjoyed many of her books in the past. She is so good at taking you down a path where you think you know what is going on and in the end you were totally wrong. That was the case in this book as well. The story is basically about a married psychologist, Lorna, who has had an affair with a client, Andrew, several months before and is conflicted when he reenters her life because she doesn't want to upset up her seemingly happy home or her career but she is in love with him which complicates things. Then he is murdered and things really get crazy. The only issue I had with this book was that I thought the build up and the back and forth between Lorna and Andrew went on a bit too long before he was actually murdered. But, the ending was so unexpected that it made up for that. I love being surprised and I was surprised almost every bit of the ending and reflecting back, it all seemed feasible despite me believing based on what I had read to that point, that the ending would be totally different. This would have been a 5 star except for the slight boredom I was feeling with the relationship toward the middle of the book.

Absolutely jam packed with deceit this is a book that will blow all of your guesses to pieces

Excellently written as always by this author, the chapters endings leave you needing to read 'just another' and in no time your day is gone and the book is finished! The narration switches between Lorna and Nikki, both with very troubled childhoods, neither are easy to like nor wholly reliable: Nikki is a bit of a free spirit, works cash in hand, gets her rented room at discounted rate by providing 'extras' to her landlord. Lorna is the second wife of a man who is used to getting what he wants, their life looks perfect, two affluent professionals, lovely home, two children ... a seemingly great lifestyle .. so why stray, why put everything at risk and why is Nikki stalking her?

Interesting insights into the the work of a counsellor are seamlessly woven into the plot, as are the stresses of cheating on your partner whilst trying to juggle a stressful career, children and ailing parents. it's something of a slow-burner with the thrills but I was still hooked really early on because of the undercurrent of unease and tension which is gradually ramped up as you helplessly watch Lorna risk making a car crash of her life both personally and professionally. Tell Me A Secret is gripping,unnerving, unsettling and ALL of my guesses were wrong. So, so clever - FANTASTIC ending - 5 stars!!

Many thanks to NetGally and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book - this review is, as always, my honest opinion and thoughts about this book.
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I was given an ecopy of this book by Samantha Hayes publishers Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. This is something I'm more than happy to do.

Tell Me a Secret is a twisty, tense thriller mainly told from the lead characters perspective. Lorna in theory has the perfect life, is a successful psychotherapist, is married to Mark a successful dentist and has two children a shared daughter Faye and stepson Mark.

As the story begins I got the impression that the perfect lifestyle was held together by a taught, invisible thread. One slip and it would all unravel. She has a routine to end all routines and when it is thrown off kilter the tension is palpable, I could feel her heart beating. She has a difficult relationship with her stepson, his natural mother died when he was a toddler and although he can't remember her he keeps Lorna at arms length with his dismissive, insolent stance. Although to be fair Lorna thinks it's all about him not liking her but I think it's a lot to do with simply being a teenager and knowing what strings to pull.

Lorna breaks protocol and calls back a potential new client after he persistently phoned the practise insisting he has an appointment with her. There begins the story and the threads holding her life together begin to fall.

OMG, Samantha Hayes has the ability to weave a plot so intricately you have no idea or clue as to what is really going on - the sub-text is always just slightly out of your grasp and just when you think you may have it sussed the story changes direction.

One thing I was sure of was this was a book with a lead character you wanted to shake - she literally has written her own destiny through a web of lies and deceit and has dug herself a hole that is just that little bit too deep to climb out of. I swayed between not liking her at all and pitying her - the perfect lifestyle with synchronised timings for every aspect of it unnerved more than just a little and then bam, another Samantha Hayes ending to a book that was totally unexpected - HOW DOES SHE DO IT?! I haven't read one of her books yet that hasn't stopped me in my tracks, with mouth hanging open, slowly nodding my head - OMG OMG.

Another thriller that I highly recommend, Samantha Hayes is an author that is always on my wish list when a new book comes out.

Another example of why, when people ask me for psych-thriller recommendations, I always name Samantha Hayes.
I have to say I didn’t really like either of the main characters but I think that’s exactly what Sam intended so I just went with it.
Secrets are always exposed!

Thanks to Bookouture for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Lorna begins a therapy session with a man she had an affair with, her life begins to unravel. Things will never be the same in her ordered life.
Full of twists ending with the biggest surprise of all. I enjoyed the book although it does repeat itself about Andrew but the pages keep me turning.

Let me tell you a little secret……… just a tiny, tiny little secret, you know the kind you want to whisper but there’s no chance in hell….. I want to scream and shout this tiny little secret, well here goes nothing I feel it building, the tension, the suspense is killing me……….

Be Careful Who You Trust……
Tell Me A Secret is a MUST

Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes is her new psychological thriller and damn its amazing.

Lorna is a therapist running her life will almost military precision, married with 2 children, Lorna risks it all for a man, Andrew, how far will Lorna go. After the initial contact, Andrew is found dead but the messages keep on coming, someone knows, now fear is driving Lorna, can she keep her secret or will the truth come out.

Lorna is a love or loathe type of character, I never really knew which way to jump on this one, so I would say I’m on the fence on Lorna’s persona. I mean that in a way not to devalue Lorna as a character, as it was difficult judge her because of her infidelity then because of the fear of danger to life, but I can say that Samantha painted a great picture of Lorna either way you fall.

Tell Me A Secret has a meandering plot, Samantha takes us on a very twisty journey, up through some tasty secrets, the production of lies from the secrets, the dips and delves. The pieces slotting in slowly, but all the while Samantha thrusts a hurdle in front of your mind and the plot is blown out right from the final pages.

All the while Samantha wants to Tell me A Secret…….

Thanks go to Samantha Hayes, Bookouture and Noelle Holten for the advanced readers copy of Tell Me A Secret in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion, its a been a blast. Thanks Noelle for the spot on the Blog Tour x

It’s not often you find a book that grabs you from the first couple of sentences but Tell Me A Secret did just that. The prologue alone had me racing through the pages in the hope the entire book would evoke the same feelings.

Told from varying view points, Lorna is the lady who appears on the surface to have a perfect life, married, two kids and works as a therapist. But like all good stories it’s those that have everything that want more.

A delightful book full of tension, drama and intrigue. the red herrings fooled me, there were plenty of characters who could have been guilty it seemed most had something to hide or mysteriously knew each other. Oh what tangled web we weave when love or lust are involved. What happens as a child can lay buried for years but secrets have a habit of rising to the surface.

I really enjoyed Samantha’s writing style, quick action, gritty on edge chapters that leave the reader saying ‘just one more’ and before you know it the book is finished. The final chapter especially really revs up and will make you breathless .. just remember secrets can be hard to keep!

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Well, that was a prologue that just dragged me right into this book! Right away I knew that this one was going to keep me glued to my seat!

Tell Me A Secret is narrated from the point of view of Laura and Nicki and as a reader I was batted back and forth between the two women as deep-rooted and disturbing secrets were uncovered. Of course you can tell by the title that the theme of this book is secrets and those secrets combined with complex characters and their complicated relationships were explosive! Talk about a house of cards falling down! The complexity of relationships was explored throughout the novel through both Nicki and Laura's lives but also through psychotherapy and what a harrowing journey of trauma and hurt!

Lorna was one of those characters that I really struggled to like but this was good because my dislike of her engaged me to the point that I could not put this down, I HAD to know what was going on even if I wanted to shake her a few times! Watching her unravel through the breakdown of her routines and her control was difficult, did I change my mind by the time I had finished? Well you will just need to read the book and see what you think!

Nicki was an intriguing character, there was something essentially dark about her and it was hard to know whether to dislike or feel sorry for her. What was clear was that these two women shared a link, one that looked like it was about to destroy them both.

A cast of characters supported Nicki and Lorna throughout the book but the two who really made an impact on me where Lorna's stepson, Jack and her daughter, Freya. I felt for both of the children as they watched Lorna descend into a chaos, each of the children were impacted by the adults in their lives and not necessarily in a positive way. It was a dark exploration of how secrets really can have a devastating effect on the lives of others.

It was a slow burner of a psychological thriller, I'm not going to lie, I was sitting there with that kinda smug look on my face thinking I had worked it all out when #BOOM it punched me right in the gut! There was no way on earth that I could have guessed any of that! All my theories went flying out of the window! What a brilliantly twisted read this was! Samantha Hayes, what a dark and devious mind you have!

Tell Me a Secret by Samantha Hayes is a story about secrets, lies and obsession. Lorna is a happily married, therapist who seems to have a thing for making bad decisions. Throughout this story, I was annoyed by this character. Her obsession with an affair that was jeopardizing her marriage and career did not make sense to me. However, her narration was still captivating. Her life was that train wreck that you can’t stop looking at. I knew something bad would happen and so I kept turning pages waiting to see what it would be.

The story is narrated mainly by Lorna. As I have already mentioned, I wasn’t a fan of her character and didn’t understand her decision making. However, hers was still a compelling story. The identity of the second narrator remained a mystery until the end. I thought I had this figured out but the reveal was quite surprising.

This was an entertaining read. Hayes’ writing is beautiful. The characters were well crafted and so was the storyline. The story moved a bit slower for my liking though. I took a while for it to fully grab my interest and then the middle section slowed down again. However, the final chapters were exciting. They were fast, addictive and filled with a number of surprising twists. I think that fans of psychological thrillers who don’t mind slow building suspense will enjoy this one.

Lorna has a very orderly life and a happy marriage. Her big secret is that a year earlier she had an affair and has spent the time since trying to forget Andrew. Then he shows up in her life again. When he ends up dead, she starts to lose control with all of the secrets. I really was not that into this book for maybe the first 2/3 of it, until around the time Andrew died. I was annoyed by Lorna and her disregard for everything but Andrew. The last part of the book made up for it though. So many unexpected twists (and one twist that I saw coming). The ending was a real surprise. Four stars overall (three for the first part of the book and another full star added just for the last third or so of the book).

Ridiculously brilliant! Such a cleverly crafted story whith a gripping storyline that has you hooked from page one. I thought i had the story worked out but with so many twists and turns I was dizzy!! The ending is a heart stopper which I never predicted. Great writing from Samantha Hayes yet again!!