While I feel like I have been on a hot streak with books lately, this one missed the mark for me. I couldn't find any common ground with the narrators and struggled to stay engaged.

Lovely feel good read. It was well written and flowed well. I enjoyed it very much. The plot was good and interesting. Hard to put down

A mystery thriller mixed with domestic drams, One Little Secret make up for an interesting read. 3 couples on a holiday hoping to unwind and bond, only, one of them ended up as a murder victim and apparently one of them is the killer. Told in multiple POVs and different timelines, we get to know the characters before and after the murder. The characters can be annoying and unlikeable, and not one of them relatable. And as the story progress, alibis were thrown left and right, secrets were revealed and in turn, motives were established. As each character was crossed off as the suspect, it didn't really come as a surprise when the killer was revealed. Still, the story kept me engaged until the end.

I have decided that I am not going to finish this book. There isn't one redeeming character. I usually enjoy unlikable characters but they have to be interesting. Wealthy, vapid people are not interesting they are boring which is why this book became such a chore to read.

A locked room mystery with an unforgettable cast of characters.. Couldn't put this book down and it kept me guessing until the very end.

After a summer of reading fantasies this book was a much needed adult fiction book and I really enjoyed it.

Three couples rent a private beach house together but things quickly take a turn for the worst when one of the wives is found dead on the beach.

I flew through this book. The mystery and intrigue was captivating. I love books where I'm constantly guessing to figure out what happened and this is one of those books.

There is such a layer of secrets and lies amongst the three couples and its interesting to see what people try to hide from everyone in their life.

This book kept me pulled in. It bounced around a bit which is why I am rating it 4 stars instead of 5 but overall I really liked it.

One Little Secret by Cate Holahan is a mystery that literally takes place in a glass house where there are plenty of stones being thrown. Three couples leave the city to spend a child-free week together at a beach house. The six friends, while relaxing and over-enjoying drinks, begin to reveal secrets which include adultery, spousal abuse, lawsuits, etc. By the next morning, one of them is found dead on the beach and the remaining five are pointing fingers at each other. Gabby Watkins is the detective assigned to the case. She soon finds that any of them had a reason to commit this murder. One by one are interviewed and later released. Who is the killer? And why was the victim murdered? I recommend this novel to readers who like to be kept guessing until the end. Nothing is as it seems. This is my first Cate Holahan mystery but I look forward to reading all of her books. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three neighborhood couples rent an East Hampton beach house in the summer for what they hope will be a vacation filled with relaxation and laughs. Instead, one of them ends up dead and the prime suspects are each other. During the murder investigation secrets are exposed and relationships are ruined.

This book has been on my TBR shelf for awhile and I'm glad I picked it to read next. I needed a quick read and it was exactly that. The characters were a little confusing to differentiate in the beginning but I eventually I was able to sort them out. There was one other story line to follow which was about an au pair that was slightly related to the murder at the beach house, but I could have done without that part of the book. I think it was used to give the Detective more depth and tie up some loose ends towards the close of her investigation. This was the first book I've read by Holahan and I would definitely recommend it and will read more by her!

I first read Cate Holahan from my BOTM selection, Lies She Told, almost two years ago which I enjoyed just as much as this novel. The author loves to dabble in multiple view points and shifting time lines, which worked fairly well for this story in my opinion. I really loved how the "little secrets" were gradually revealed throughout the novel while also unraveling each person's backstory and character. I guessed the ending about 85% of the way through this, which is fairly late in the book, so I didn't feel like this was a "typical, predictable" thriller. I really loved the author's subtle message of women standing up for each other and being kind to one another. You really never know what will occur or not occur based on just a little support or kindness shown towards another human being.

I thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. This author was new to me and I was not let down. It was a great story and very well written. The characters were easy to relate to and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this to everyone!!

This was a quick thriller that I finished a couple of days ago. With their kids packed away for a summer camp, three neighbours decide to relax at a beach house with their significant others. But the very next day, one of them turns up dead thus turning the heat on amongst the neighbors. Everyone comes with a secret, and looks like someone's secret was certainly the cause of the death. This book was engaging and had me guessing throughout. I did nail the right killer but the book did not disappoint in the least. Fast paced, short and quite to the point, I really enjoyed the style of writing and the plot. If you are looking for a fast paced thriller to keep you engaged, check this one out maybe!
Overall, it had all the qualities that makes a good book IMO. Though it may not shortlist in the best reads of the year, it still did turn out to be a good read for me!

I'm usually torn one way or the other on thrillers: I either love them or I hate them. One Little Secret is an unusual beast in that it was right down the middle. I really did like the underlying mystery of this novel and the threads that were woven through of everything that happened that night. The novel took a long time to get started; I was consistently confused by the names of the couple and they did not seem to have any distinguishing personalities until far too long into the book.
Ultimately, it was a rough start and the novel was chock-full of cliches and stereotypes, but I did enjoy it after all.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the Netgalley! I rated One Little Secret five stars.

Three neighborly couples have decided to go on a weekend getaway while their children are at camp. Susan and Nadal have rented a beach house and invited couples Rachel and Ben and Louis and Jenny in hopes of having a fun getaway. When the couples start having drinks, a secret is shared that rocks everybody and changes the atmosphere. As the awkward nights turns to morning, Rachel's body is found near the beach. Who killed Rachel and why? Detective Sargent Gabby Watkins comes to investigate Rachel's murder and as she speaks to the remaining couples, she finds out that there is more secrets hidden in the circle.

This is my second Care Holahan book that I have read and One Little Secret has been my favorite of hers so far! I've read plenty of domestic thrillers, but I'm so glad this one had a different twist. It wasn't just about murder and who did it, but it detailed domestic abuse which is something I don't normally encounter. You feel empathetic for the victim and anger towards the abuser while trying to figure out who is Rachel's murderer.

I will say that the story is mostly about the couple, but it also flips to Gabby investigating a second crime that involves an au pair being drug and raped that eventually hits close to home. I'm not really sure that this part of the story related to the main story. I believe that it could have been taken out completely and just focused on the main story of the couples. I would have understood if there was a correlation between the two, but the only correlation of the two was the Detective Sargent. Since she wasn't the main character, I don't believe that this part of the story was needed.

Despite that, I still believe it was well written and the character development was flawless. Cate Holahan is an amazing writer and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

3.5*
A little vacation time at the beach with the new neighbors. All the essential goodies…BBQ, drinks sunshine and ocean water. So what could possibly go wrong...right!?

A great time for both kids and parents. Three couples drop their kids off for summer camp. Let the kids go enjoy their freedom from their parents, while the grown-ups enjoy their own version of carefree time!
As the three couples settle into the exclusive beach house, tensions already are rising! Is it the heat? The long drive? Or are there secrets about to be exposed!

I have to admit I did get a bit confused between the couples, perhaps a scorecard would have come in handy! But to be fair, this book did keep me guessing all the way through and was pleasantly surprised by the ending!

This was the second book I’ve read by Cate Holahan and will definitely be on the lookout for her next!

A buddy read with Susanne!🌸

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Cate Holahan for an ARC to read and review.

If I could sum up The Best Lies in one word it would be stressful. I spent so much of this book wanting to take characters and shake them!! And let me just say this isn't a negative thing ... I'm giving this book a 3.5 star rating. You know the authors writing has got you when you're feeling SO many different emotions, and I probably felt ALL of them throughout these pages. But with that being said, that wasn't always a good thing either ... we've got some serious trigger warnings happening here, parental abuse, domestic violence. This was a heavy read to say the least.

I didn't love the characters, but I don't think we were supposed to. Remy & Elise both made me crazy in their own way ... toxic relationships my friends ... so very toxic. You're in for a very bumpy ride!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my review copy!

A getaway to a secluded glass beach house was supposed to be the trip that Susan dreamed of for so long. This trip was her chance to get to know her new neighbors by bonding over some kid-free time. The three couples quickly notice that not everything is how it seems at home for those around them. Marital tensions and work frustrations begin to slowly come to the surface on the first night thanks to the influence of alcohol.

It seems someone let out a secret they should have left hidden. The next morning one of the women is discovered dead on the beach near the house. Local detective Gabby Watkins is put on the case and quickly discovers these families are more connected than meets the eye. The answers are there for Gabby to find, but will the secret spiral and lead to more chaos before the killer is identified?

Cate Holahan’s ONE LITTLE SECRET is a fantastic modern take on a locked room mystery. The reader finds themselves slowly getting to know the three couples who have come together for a relaxing stay at a glass beach house. This trip should be the ultimate getaway, but unfortunately the secrets these couples are keeping bring the trip down in flames. The seclusion of the beach house drives home the feelings of tension between the group, as the only logical explanation is that one of them is the killer.

Holahan chooses to wisely unfold the story between alternating timelines, giving the reader a glimpse into the day of the murder and the day after when the body was discovered. I instantly was intrigued by what was happening in both timelines. In conjunction with alternating the timelines, Holahan also chooses to focus on different couples with these switches. You might be in the middle of learning something about Susan in one chapter and then the next you’ll start to learn about Ben or Jenny. These swaps allows the interconnectedness of the couples to truly shine through. The reader starts to build up their sense of each couple and have those aha moments where you have discovered a link between characters that wasn’t obvious before.

Despite being a book that is heavier on the family drama than the gore, there are still plenty unsettling things either described or hinted at. For those weary of reading about domestic abuse or discussions of rape allegations, I caution you that they are featured in this book. Holahan does a brilliant job of showing the rawness and horror associated with each of these instances, but stays away from becoming overly graphic and changing the mood of the story to a much darker tale. I appreciate that she didn’t brush them aside, but used them to fuel the ultimate end goal of her story.

ONE LITTLE SECRET is a perfect book for fans of BIG LITTLE LIES! It has all the woven together family drama that fans of that style of book or television show will appreciate. I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR for a great bingeable read!

Disclosure: A huge thank you to Crooked Lane Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

*2.5 Stars*

Going in, this book seemed like it would be right up my alley in terms of the types of mystery/thriller novels I enjoy. So I am disappointed to say that I came out with rather mixed feelings about it—it was just a bit underwhelming for me. On the one hand, this story is packed with a few too many clichés and there are a number of elements of the plot that could have been executed better. On the other hand, it is a fast and fairly entertaining read that still completely held my attention all the way through. All this being said, I have come to the conclusion that the majority of my issues with the narrative are simply connected to my personal taste.

The characters that make up the intriguing cast of this story are definitely not particularly likable people. The tension in the house is incredibly palpable with the constant stilted interactions, nasty thoughts, and full-blown arguments. And they will immediately have you questioning why in the world they would ever agree to go on vacation together for a week in the first place. Despite this, there are still redeemable qualities in some of them and not everyone is quite as bad as they seem in the beginning.

Though my mixed feelings really apply to every aspect of this novel, I thought the characterization was decent. I found most of the characters to be realistic and thought they had a good amount of dimension. The majority of them evolved—along with my opinion of them—as the story progressed and as more of their backgrounds were revealed. Many of them are dislikable, but in a very purposeful way—you are meant to be suspicious of them for a while, and almost all of them do end up acting poorly at some point. I did feel like this only added to their believability. There are a couple characters—only one main one—who are quite one dimensional and somewhat unrealistic, but this is avoided for the most part.

Quite honestly, this novel is absolutely full of adult mystery novel clichés. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Commonly used elements can still make for a great story and I do not think that this is an entirely negative thing when it comes to this one. I do think it is a bit overdone. The topics used to create drama between the couples and in the plot of the novel overall are well written for what they are. There are scenes of domestic abuse that are so realistically portrayed they are quite intense and hard to read. The themes of betrayal are very vivid and the moments of insecurity are extremely relatable. All in all, Holahan truly brings every theme dealt with in this novel to life in a multi-dimensional way.

The issue here—and it is certainly more related to personal preference than an actual problem with the story—is that these commonly used plot points became too overwhelming. Trying to crowd all of them in caused the originality of the narrative to take a significant hit. Every unique moment is overshadowed by tropes like infidelity, abuse, alcoholism, and petty arguments. Though these topics are common in many novels and add a good deal of tension and drama, there needs to be more substance. In this novel, it felt like one was being piled onto the next just for the sake of raising more issues for the couples rather than actually building or progressing the plot.

The most major element of the novel that I feel could have been executed better is the creation of suspicion in the reader’s mind. A mystery novel should allow the reader to form their own thoughts about and distrust in the possible culprits by subtly directing their attention to potential motives. While Holahan does do that in some ways, it lacks a lot of that subtlety and ends up coming across as a bit forced. Though every person in the house is clearly going to be a suspect, there are constant and far too obvious reminders of why they could be guilty. It becomes very over-the-top and detracts from the suspense of the plot.

I definitely think Holahan could have left a little room for the reader to come to their own conclusions about each of the characters’ potential for being the killer. Developing them more naturally and relying solely on laying out personalities and backstories with the progression of the plot would have allowed for this. It is easy to get a clear picture of each character and form one’s own opinion based on the way she does these things over the course of the novel. However, too often the narrative strays toward a less delicate way of weaving in distrust of the characters, instead, pointing the finger quite plainly from one person to the next.

Another element of the novel I feel could have been executed better is the narrowing down of suspects over the course of the story. As the narrative progresses, each of the potential killers is cleared one by one until there are only two left in the end. This approach, for me, sort of killed the suspense. It would have kept me more on the edge of my seat if Holahan had left a few more options in there. This, though, is undeniably something that did not work for me personally and could easily be perfectly fine for a different reader. As it stands, I found the ending to be extremely predictable and it fell rather flat. I have to say, the choice of the killer upset me a bit for a number of reasons as well.

The writing itself is a strong point in this book. I really like Holahan’s writing style—it flows very naturally and is easy to get into. Her descriptions are very vivid and help to pull the reader into the story. She sets the scene for all the mystery and deception well, forming an environment that reflects the tone and emotion of each scene. The narrative never lacks realism, helping to immerse the reader and connect them with the setting and characters.

Now, after all that I have said, it may seem like this reading experience was a primarily negative one, but that is not entirely true. There were a lot of issues I personally had with it but, as I said before, I doubt they would apply to everyone. Personal taste was a big factor here. Also, I was very engaged in the story. I did not absolutely love it but it held my attention from beginning to end and I was truly interested in finding out how everything would resolve. Despite the predictability of many plot points, there were still enough surprises to keep me guessing. Overall, this is a novel that I would recommend giving a try. I know it is something that plenty of readers will find enjoyment in.

This is a quick read, but it fits the formula of domestic thrillers very well. It's familiar, and doesn't lend much to the imagination of what could happen.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

A vacation with your neighbors where one of you is murdered. The story took off slow and got more complicated as everyone had a motive for the murder. The ending wasn’t the best but satisfying enough that some readers might enjoy it.

A thriller that is part police procedural and and part domestic drama. Holahan tells the story from multiple points of view and from different time frames of the day before, day of and day after a murder has occurred. This style gives you a very relaxed sort of getting to know the characters style, even though a terrible incident has occurred. A very well developed who-dun-it with family and domestic drama.