An excellent debut novel from an obviously talented author. Robyn revists her former home & her past is slowly revealed. She not only has to remember what happened, but as the memory comes back she has to pay for her part in the events of that long ago summer. Very enjoyable, looking forward to more from this writer.

I really appreciate NetGalley and Agora Books allowing me to read an early digital galley of this debut novel.

I try to be open-minded and read all genres, all stories, but unfortunately I just couldn't work with this book. The author was trying to keep too many things a secret for later "big reveals" and "shocking twists" that the first half of the book didn't make a lot of sense for me.

Author Marianne Holmes offers us multiple mysteries in two timelines as the devastating summer of Robyn's and Kit's youth catches up to them years later. What happened to their mother? Who exactly is the man in the cowboy hat? What specifically has urged Robyn to return home (dragging her brother along) after so long? These questions are supposed to keep you reading to discover their answers. For me, it chafed that all I could feel was confusion instead of curiosity.

It was an okay novel, plotting was good, pacing was slow. I'd definitely pick up Marianne Holmes again when she makes a sophomore effort, and perhaps I'll find her a bit more engaging.

Although I liked the style of writing, I just couldn't get into this book. I don't mind the hopping back and forth between time zones, but I was never sure what was happening and why. I'm so sorry but I had to give up halfway through.
Thank you anyway to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

What a debut!

I really struggled with the beginning of this book though and there were times that I very nearly set it aside for something else. I'm glad that I persevered though this won't be a favourite of mine.
I found myself becoming more and more frustrated with Robyn but had to keep reminding myself that she was just a child and to give her a chance.

Unfortunately, I found this book to be boring and although I persevered, I actually gave up half way through.
Even after reading 50% of the book, I still had no real idea what was going on - what had happened to the mother, why Robyn had gone back, why she was apparently living with Kit...it seemed too long winded and I was forever waiting for the book to get to the point of what was actually going on.

Not a recommendation for me I'm afraid.

I was gripped enough to finish this book, but I didn't enjoy it and felt like it was a chore. It was repetitive, and while we'll written the story did not do anything for me.

Although I felt I knew where this book was heading Holmes kept the questions coming, making this a must-read to the end.
As they continued to unfold, the sequence of events seemed a little far-fetched to me until I remembered they were governed very much by the emotions and actions of a ten-year old child. Bearing this in mind the story-line was more believable and I very much wanted to discover both what had happened and what was subsequently still to take place.
This has elements of mystery and intrigue interwoven with frustration and fear, making it a compelling read. However, I really felt the prologue was unnecessary - the opening of Chapter one is strong enough.

In the summer of ‘76, Robyn and Kit are carefree youngsters spending their days with friends. However a decision that their mother takes to help a young mum changes the way the locals view them, and a stranger bearing gifts is following Robyn. 12 years later and we know something big happened, Robyn and Kit, having left the small town they grew up in are back and Robyn wants answers. A Little Bird Told Me is beautifully written and whilst slow in parts I feel it’s worth persevering because the ending is incredibly though out and quite satisfying when you get there.

I’m afraid this book did not hold my attention and I was unable to finish it.
It seemed to be rambling on so that I couldn’t fall in love with it and find the motivation to complete it.

Marianne Holmes has written a fascinating, mind bending, roller coaster of a story! I could not put down A Little Bird Told Me, and read it in 2 days. Siblings Kit and Robyn return to the town that holds all their family secrets, and all of their demons. This is a multi-layered story, with twists and turns all the way to the epilogue. As soon as you think you've figured something out, the story bends once again. I highly recommend this debut novel...read it on a rainy day, with a blanket...and a flashlight...and lock the door and windows.

A Little Bird Told Me

Robyn is 9 years old in the summer of 1976 living with her brother, Kit, mum, Jemima, and stepfather, Matthew. There are sepia toned, idyllic summer 70s moments, like when the family unit is eating India food in the garden ordained with scarves. Or when the kids are simply forced outside for a day of playing with their friends. But those moments are punctuate by something darker, a secret of blood, lies, and violence catching up with them.
.
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Sounds interesting, right? I thought so too, but the setup of the story took so long, I stopped caring about what the conflict was truly about.

The story unfolds in alternating chapters, the summer of 1976 and when Robyn and Kit return back to their home town in 1988 seeking answers. Well, Robyn is seeking answers, Kit is kind of just there. He becomes a teacher in town, and has allegedly been strong armed into coming back to keep Robyn safe, or to simply pass judgement, it’s hard to tell. But what answer is Robyn seeking? You find out early that it has something to do with their mother, but truly it takes the entire book to piece together what happened. Unfortunately, not in a page turning way, more in an annoying get to the point, why I am I still reading this book sort of way?

We’re also introduced to several characters in 1976 who have absolutely no presence in 1988. We don’t even really find out what happened to them or what happened in between that summer of ‘76 and the return in ‘88. I never felt that connected to any of the characters, and any seemed incongruous across the two time periods.

I was also disappointed by the resolution of the book. It felt rushed and incomplete. Many of the subplots felt unnecessary, particularly in the face of lackluster resolutions.

Overall, this book was just not for me.

A Little Bird Told Me by Marianne Holmes hits the bookshelves next month. I enjoyed this mystery! The book follows 9 year old Robyn during a frustrating summer where she feels left in the dark by her family, and also her returning home years later to unravel what happened and try to find a missing person. Keep an eye out for this one.

This was an intriguing book. It opens with an escape from domestic violence: Little Bird (Robyn) is just a baby and her brother Kit a bit older. You get the feeling throughout that Robyn is being protected from the full horror of the events that led to them fleeing.
The story flips between 1976 when the events unfolded and 1988 when she finally uncovered exactly what had happened.
In her innocence, she believes that her Father can't be bad. He slowly makes contact with her and she gets swept into a sequence of events which mean that the family is totally fractured.
Not all in the book is as it seems. The truth is slowly revealed. `their 'Mother' is, in fact, their aunt and she has taken them to safety away from their violent Mother who actually killed their Mother.
A slow burn: well worth reading.

While I had a hard time getting into this book, I was glad I finished it. Had a satisfying ending but was slow getting there. I kept getting confused as the story jumped around a lot. I will definitely be watching for more books from this author in the future.

I loved this book, I couldn't put it down! I loved the fact that it was written in two parts - the past and the present and the way that the story came together by reading each part. The storyline was well thought out and I was surprised that this was a debut novel as it really was a great read.

I loved the characters in the book; Robyn (Little Bird) and her brother Kit (Christopher) are our two main ones but there are also some outside characters that we get to meet and know. I loved the ending and I would love it if there could be a sequel to it but I'm not sure if we'd be able to have one that would be as brilliant.

I was quite disappointed with this book, and nearly didn't finish it. It is told in 2 time frames, 1976, when Robyn was 10 years old, and then 1988. She and her brother, Kit, have come back to their empty family home. Something bad obviously happened previously, and they want to try and solve the mystery. However, the story is very disjointed, and the author doesn't want to give anything away too soon. I felt this didn't work, and much of the narrative I found quite tedious. But in the end, I was curious enough to want to finish it.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

The story was great. A long time ago when she was a child bad things happened. The effect on her brother and herself was not a good one. It has effected her until present time. Her brother has tried and is trying to move on, but it seems as if Robyn will not let go of the past until it has told her all its secrets.From the beginning you realise that her sibling knew more than he let on. He was protecting his rather vulnerable sister, whether it was a good thing or not in hindsight maybe not but at the time he and his mother thought this was best.The story was set in a small town where memories remained forever. Despite all this, the story did not hit me very much though it had such a lot of potential to be really good. The main thing was that the story felt incoherent and did not flowlike it could have.

I was not able to finish reading this book. I got about a quarter of the way into it and it still didn't grab my interest. I am not saying it's a bad book, it's just not one for me.

I struggled with this book. I found it confusing at times and the story didn't really hold my interest in spite of seeming to have lots of things that I like in a book. The narrative is set in two time frames, 1976 and 1988. In 1976, Robyn and her brother Kit are living with their mother Jemima and her partner Matthew. Their lifestyle is somewhat chaotic with Jemima providing refuge to victims of domestic violence but they seem to be happy enough until one day a man in a cowboy hat speaks to Robyn at the local Lido. This starts a series of events which end in tragedy. Twelve years later, Robyn and Kit are back in their childhood home looking for someone. But the locals are hostile and Robyn is keeping secrets from her brother.

The main problem for me was Robyn. I didn't find her to be either a sympathetic or likeable character. She seems to be one sandwich short of a picnic and her actions can be downright stupid and wilful. She moans endlessly about Jemima, Matthew and Kit keeping secrets from her yet has her own secrets which she is far from willing to share. I'm also not at all sure why it is set in 1976 and 1988. I don't have a problem with this but I didn't get a sense of the time though one or two pointers are put in - one of the characters eating a Zoom ice lolly for example. Much more of this was needed to give a real sense of the period. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This was a very interesting book, it definitely wasn't what I was expecting but that is why I like it! I loved the setting and I love it when characters grow throughout the book. I was able to really understand the main character and her families secrets.. Such a great read, moments of suspense as well!