Slater has quickly become one of my favorite thriller writers. Her novels are always intriguing, leaving me turning pages in suspense, dying to know what the twist ending will be.

Alice lives alone in the apartment where she nursed her sick mother. After her mother died, Alice stayed on in the apartment, thinking she would eventually move out. As time passed, the death of her mother and Alice’s own tragic history have left her a bit of a hermit. When Alice’s sister Louise starts dropping off her son, Archie, Alice becomes to come back alive. Her efforts to connect with him build their relationship, but it also becomes clear that he is carrying secrets of his own. What is Archie too afraid to tell everyone?

This one didn’t have the super shocking ending that some other novels by Slater have, but I still really enjoyed it. Watching the relationship between Archie and Alice develop, and how it affects Alice’s strained relationship with Louise, was very interesting and kept me reading.

Overall I definitely recommend!

Alice is scared to leave her flat. She struggles to even go out to buy food. Her sister Louise, on the other hand, is a seemingly successful business woman with an 8 year old son, Archie. Archie isn't quite as settled as an 8 year old boy ought to be. Archie has a secret.

This is a well constructed and interesting thriller with an interesting twist at the end. Although I wouldn't say there was a significant amount of suspense, there was certainly plenty within the plot to keep me reading. What was better is that once I had finished I felt I weanted to go back and re read sections to see it through different eyes.

There aren't many characters in this book. Alice who was once carving her way in the world until something terrible happened. She was put upon and put down by her Mother & also by her sister. She loves having Archie although she struggles at first to relate to him. She is worried about her sister but at the same time resentful - that collection of contradictory emotions which we all know so well. Louise is a complex character. Obviously she carers about Archie, or does she? Why is she always so stressed? Why is she desparate for money despite working long hours? Is her relationship with her husband all it seems?

This book is well constructed with a good plot and well formed characters. There are a few side plots involving a neighbour and a man on the bus which add to the interest of the book. It was a good read that I read in only two sittings - not one I wanted to put down.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

This was an absolutely cracking read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was full of twists and turns and I genuinely didn’t not know what was going to happen or how it was going to end. Would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author

Another brilliant and gripping read from KL Slater. I loved the character of Alice and was drawn into her life from the very beginning. The tension builds with every chapter, especially between Alice and her sister Louise, and the short chapters really help with this. I didn't expect it to end the way that it did. What makes this story so creepy is that it's not a far fetched plot (as you often get with psychological thrillers) and these type of scenes could theoretically play out in a lot of real lives. Lots of twists and turns and more than one secret being held within the family!

Yet another gripping psychological thriller from the excellent KL Slater. .The Secret had me gripped from page one and it has you hurtling towards the tension filled climax. Another 5 star psychological thriller - .Excellent !!!

This is a great read. It is the story of two sisters, Louise and Alice, and those who are connected to them. The story spans generations and is gripping from the very start.

Wow! What a delightfully creepy, absorbing page turner! Alice and Louise are sisters and they couldn't be more different. Alice is essentially a shut in with regrets and fears while Louise is a seemingly successful, fulfilled mother, wife and career woman. Things get a bit uncomfortable for both of them when Louise asks Alice to watch her son Archie several times both before and after school. Archie is a very anxious ten year old boy who has his own burdensome secrets that wind up part of an utterly crazy set of overlapping horrifying situations. No spoilers here, but this is a read you don't want to miss. I strongly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion which I will post on Amazon, Goodreads and Bookbub.

What a cracker Loved this book. Story is based on secrets and family. Lots of twists and turns to keep you wanting more. I am definitely going to be purchasing more of this authors books.

I have read several of Ms Slater's books and always thoroughly enjoyed them. The Secret was no different. A really cracking read which had me glued to my seat. A real master of the psychological thriller genre. 5* from me. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Family, one of the strongest bonds between people. We love them, we hate them, we depend on them. But, is our blind faith in them also our greatest weakness? Personality, perspective, circumstances all play a part in the choices we make.
The author leads us through a maze of circumstances with surprises around each corner. Just, when you are sure you know what is to happen next...

Not sure I would call this a psychological thriller, but a great mystery. Many twists to the expected.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When you pick up a KL Slater book you know it is going to be a gripping story from the start. The Secret is no exception although it should have been called The Secrets - plural - as there are so many. Lots of twists in this story and I enjoyed how the book had alternate chapters from months/years previously to fill in background details. This book is too good to miss. Highly recommended

This is the story of two sisters and the damage that can be done behind closed doors. This story had a few different tendrils to keep track of. One sister had a son to a controlling, manipulating man. The other sister looked after her aging mother in a flat. But nothing is quite as it seems and the secrets that are being kept don't really come out until right at the end.
The ending was satisfying. I enjoy this author and found this story different to her others. I will be continuing to read this author. Well done.

Unfortunately this book was not delivered to my kindle and I have been unable to read and review it. It has now been archived on Netgalley

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion and review.

I enjoyed this book, lots of twists and turns. Great summer read, this was my road trip book and it kept me enthralled for the whole trip. The storyline was good and several times the book surprised me with the turns that the story took. Alice was an interesting character and I really enjoyed the way the book was laid out and the way the author told us her, Archie and Louise’s stories. Will definitely read more books by this author.

Running true to form K.L Slater never let's us down. A brilliant suspense thriller with loads of twists and turns throughout. You just have to keep reading. Highly recommend it.

Louise & Alice are sisters but they couldn't be more different. Louise is a high powered career woman who is juggling a stressful job, a marriage where her husband works away a lot and a young son that she alternately indulges & scolds. Alice is practically a recluse. She has ME and suffers a lot of pain from an accident. She looked after her mother in her last years and in spite of Louise's attempts to get her to move from the three bedroomed apartment (so she can get half the proceeds!) remains firmly where she is.

When Louise suddenly seems to be working even longer hours and dumps Archie with Alice neither of them are thrilled with the arrangement! However Archie seems to respond well to Alice's boundaries and the fact that she is willing to play with him & listen to him. Alice soon starts to care for Archie and is worried at the way he seems to react to events- especially if it means telling Louise anything.

The story jumps around from various timelines which got a bit confusing at times. There are obviously a lot of secrets being kept. I'm always a bit unhappy with secrets as even the nice ones can leave people feeling left out & worried. The secrets being kept in this book certainly weren't nice ones. They also came as a surprise to me.

Once again K. L. Slater kept me up way past my bedtime as I had to find out what happened! Thanks to netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this book.

This was the first book by K.L. Slater that I have read and let me tell you that it won’t be my last. I’ve read many wonderful reviews on this and other books by K.L. Slater so I was very excited to begin reading this book. I was not disappointed.

This book follows the story of two sisters Alice and Louise and Louise’s son Archie. Louise is a very busy woman and often has to leave Archie in the care of someone, while she works long hours. Louise asks her sister Alice to watch Archie and to Alice’s dismay she agrees. Alice suffers from anxiety and this is a big step for her. She is not sure how to care for children but agrees to watch her nephew Archie from time to time.

The book is told from the alternating views of both Alice and Louise, in the present and parts flash back to the past. Louise is a working mother who has had to work for everything that she has and Alice is the sister that has had everything handed to her and Louise feels that Alice has it too easy in life. As a result they have their differences at times but for the most part get along.

While in the care of his Aunt Alice, Archie slowly begins to open up and share details of his life and his feelings. Alice is determined to find out more about what happened and what Archie knows, and slowly we being to learn things and uncover a secret that only Archie knows.

This book was amazing and I was unable to put it down once I started it. There are so many lies, secrets and betrayal in this book, and it keeps you on the very edge of your seat right through to the end. You’ll find the pages are turning themselves to uncover they secrets in this family and learn what Archie knows. Lots of surprises and oh my gosh moments to have you guessing to the very last page.

A must read book to add to your tbr list if you haven’t read it already.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Secret by KL Slater.
I have just started reading books by this author and I am always excited to read them.
Slater has the habit of hooking the reader immediately thru great characters (even unlikable ones) and twisting plot narration.
Alice is a bit of a recluse - her sister Louise is not. Alice still struggles with the death of her mother - Louise has moved on. Alice has no family - Louise has a new husband and her child Archie. Alice has no idea that things are about to change in her lonely life and she may not be prepared - as a matter of fact - she is not prepared.
Alice notices a man on a bus that she watches from her window every day. She fantasizes about him and one she is sure that he has noticed her. She meets him but his actions are strange and he leaves abruptly after a phone call. Alice is confused but then she finds his phone and now she knows there are secrets and she is starting to get scared.
Good Book - Slater's books are always good - Recommend.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and KL Slater for the ARC of The Secret!

The Secret started as a slow burning suspense, but when the pace picked up, there was no stopping it! I couldn't put the book down after I reached the middle of it. There was something always lurking the corners, waiting to be unearthed. There were multiple twists and I had to keep stopping myself from reading ahead. Just when I thought one thing was going to happen, something else happened instead.

**Spoilers**
I truly felt for Alice. Alice lives alone in the flat she shared with her mom. Alice was her caretaker and her mom had passed a year and a half prior. She has chronic pain and extreme anxiety, so she doesn't leave her house often. She cares for her nephew, Archie, on occasion while her sister, Louise, is working. Louise's character is condescending and rubs me the wrong way from the beginning. She acts entitled and as if the world owes her. Archie's character is angry at times and there's a sense from the beginning that this little boy has seen some very bad things.

Alice feels lonely and starts to wonder why she even bothers getting out of bed. Then one morning when she sees him; the man on the tram. She doesn't think he can see her, but she makes it a point to look for him every morning. A few weeks of this go by, and one day, much to her surprise, he looks up and smiles and waves. She can't believe it!

One morning on her walk to take Archie to school (the first time she's left her house in a very long time), she decides to board the tram. She is looking for the man she sees from her window. She sees him and follows at a safe distance. The next day, she gets the courage to talk to him while at a coffee shop. He acts like he doesn't know her. His phone is buzzing all the time and he doesn't seem to really notice her at all. She feels upset as he rushes out of the coffee house, but she notices he dropped his phone. She takes it with her to give back to him later...though she never sees him again. At the same time, Archie's behavior has become worrisome and alarms start to go off when Alice notices some things. She tries to talk to Louise who has an excuse for everything. Then there's her upstairs neighbor, Jenny. The fighting that goes on incessantly. Everything seems to be so close to solving for Alice and then it all explodes and the suspense skyrockets.

The Secret is a great psychological thriller and an exciting read. I even held my breath at certain points, almost afraid my breathing would change whatever was written on the next page! I love Alice and Archie's characters. I also loved the descriptions of Nottingham (which was a very artsy depiction of this town). I can't wait to re-read The Secret and see if there was anything I may have missed or any clues that I could pick out now.

The Secret was a great psychological thriller that hooked me from the beginning. Could not put it down and read it in a day.
Have yet to pick up a book by K L Slater and been disappointed and this one certainly did not disappoint. Worth a read.