Wow, this book was so good. It starts out as any normal day in the life of the average person. Shopping to do. It’s close to Christmas and Marin has a few gifts left to buy. With her hands full, she tries to hang onto her son, Sebastian’s hand, but he will stay close. He knows they are getting a giant lollipop next. Her phone chimes and it’s her husband. The next thing she knows, her son is gone. After freaking out and alerting security, they watch some security footage of her son walking out of the market place , lollipop in hand and Santa holding the other hand. This sets the course for the beginning of depression. But as she falls deeper into despair, things with her husband aren’t as they seem. Marin will have to snap out of it if she wants to keep him. This was an intense ride. Oh boy, I could hardly hang on. I loved how it all ended. That made it even better. I also like how it was written like someone looking in telling the story of Marin and her surroundings.

This book had me hooked from the beginning! Marin and Sebastian are enjoying a day of Christmas shopping and plan to meet up with Derek to have the perfect family outing. In a matter of seconds, Sebastian is taken and the next sixteen months will never be the same. As the book goes on, more little secrets are revealed and it just left me wanting to dive in even more! There are lots of twists that I didn't see coming. I just want to sit down and reread this one again. Go read it now!

loved loved loved this book. I am pretty sure I am going to be thinking about this one for many days to come. Jennifer Hillier did a fabulous job with this thriller.

Fantastic fast-paced read. The suspense gradually builds throughout the book. I loved that the main character wasn’t perfect yet still likable. Not your typical missing child book. Full of suspense and twists until the end.

I'm not sure Little Secrets quite covers this one because most of the secrets between the covers of this book aren't what I'd call little. Big or little, there are secrets. In fact, it seems like everybody has one at least. Honestly, I wasn't sure how well I'd do with this book. Any time little kids are involved there's a better than average chance that I'll have a problem getting through it. And don't get me wrong, the story is certainly emotional, but it's also filled with an ever-rising tension - the type that has you inching further and further toward the edge of your seat.
I read Jar of Hearts and if I recall, I was impressed by Hillier's characters. The characters here are just as impressive. In most cases, a person isn't all good or all bad. Instead, we're a product of our environment and the events in our lives, and how we handle those events. And I think that's the thing that strikes me with Jennifer Hillier's characters. Good or bad, they're human. They make mistakes, they sometimes don't handle things all that great, and some are just completely unhinged but hide it well. This one has a bit of all that and more, and at any given time I would find myself liking, or at least empathizing with a character I didn't like just pages earlier, or vice versa. I don't think there was a single character in this book who I liked completely. Maybe Sebastian, but you kind of have to like the toddler.
I won't go into the details of the story because just about anything would be at the very least spoiler-ish, but I will say that the author doesn't disappoint when it comes to twists. There were a couple of times when I was sure I knew where things were going only to be surprised by a twist I didn't see coming, which is exactly what a really good psychological thriller should do. Suffice it to say that this is the second book I've read by this author and both have been superb from start to finish.

know you’ve seen it everywhere but if you’re a thriller buff, it needs to be on your tbr. This was a cat and mouse chase at its finest. You have our protagonist Marin who isn’t particularly likable but you still kind of want the best for her. She had a perfect life with a perfect husband and the perfect son until one day her child is taken from her.

A year later the case has gone cold but Marin is still trying to get answers. She hires a P.I that digs up some family secrets and from there things really get interesting. Her husband is having an affair and now his mistress Kenzie is the perfect target for Marin to take all this frustration out on. But not everything is as it appears...

This story is gritty and it really shows what a person will do to get their family back. I loved all the twists with all the emotions and I honestly didn’t see the ending coming. This book isn’t pretty but is sooo good!!

This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Hillier, but it won't be my last!

Little Secrets begins with the disappearance of a 4 year old boy. One minute he is holding his mom Marin's hand; the next minute he is gone. In the aftermath of his disappearance, Marin also finds out that her husband has been cheating on her. So while the story appears to be about the boy's disappearance at first glance, there is much more going on and many secrets still to be revealed.

I think for a thriller to be successful it needs to have great pacing and twists that are unexpected but not too far out in left field. I flew through this book and thought the pacing was perfect. The twists are also good. The characters are a bit crazy and really not likeable. But I was okay with that in this kind of story!

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great thriller!

This is one of those stories that is best to go into blindly as the story takes many twists and turns, some of which that could be spoiled by the synopsis. I have read 3 of Jennifer Hillier's previous books and because of this, I knew that I would most likely enjoy this one. Her writing is very engaging with lots of surprises and often cause me to lose some sleep because I find it difficult to stop reading her books once I start.

I highly recommend this book, it is very unlikely that the reader would be able to guess every twist because it veers off into directions that were very difficult to predict. One of my favorite reads of the year.

I received an e-copy of this book from Minotaur Books and NetGalley to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 suspenseful stars

How would you feel if your small son disappeared during a moment of inattentiveness? This is where Jennifer Hillier’s latest book, “Little Secrets” opens. Marin Machado let go of her small son’s hand for a moment at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. When she looked up from her phone, he had disappeared. CCTV cameras captured Sebastian walking to the Market’s parking garage with an unidentifiable adult. Now fast-forward sixteen months. We see the toll that Sebastian’s kidnapping has had on Marin. It has affected every aspect of her life, including her marriage.

She struggles to get through the day. Only with the help of a very able manager is she able to retain her high-end salon business. She and her husband Derek both have high-profile professions, and are high achievers. They are well known amongst the movers and shakers in Seattle. However, Sebastian’s kidnapping changed all that. Now it is all Marin can do to get through the day, some days just to get to the next minute. She and Derek hardly interact any more as he focuses on his business, and is often out of town.

Then Marin discovers that Derek has been having an affair. That seems to motivate her, or at least kick her revenge motive into high gear. Slowly we learn that all is not as it appears on the surface, and people sometimes make uncharacteristic choices when emotions run high. The story picks up pace, and grows more complicated as it unfolds. Marin continues to recount the ways that Sebastian’s kidnapping still affects her every day. Her sorrow is almost debilitating. Not knowing his fate is almost worse for her than learning that he has died. Almost.

Surprises galore are unearthed as the books careens toward its climax. I was satisfied with the twists at the end. I anticipated a few, but some were true surprises. That is the best kind of psychological thriller, or mystery. I hesitate to give this five stars because after a while I thought the story was a bit bogged down in Marin’s navel-gazing. Ms. Hillier did a good job at describing how I imagine a parent of a missing child might feel like. Unfortunately, for me, the space devoted to Marin’s process slowed down the plot, and made me a bit impatient.

I would recommend this for readers who enjoy a psychological thriller. I would also categorize this as what I call a ‘domestic’ mystery. It is a smart book, if just a tad bit heavy on the angst for me.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books; and the author, Jennifer Hillier for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It's twisty, dark and riveting. So many secrets in this story, many not so little, and the ending was a big surprise. I liked the characters, especially Marin Machado, a woman who does not give up trying to find her missing four year old son. Little Secrets is a thriller that will keep you captivated and reading at all hours of the night. Because I've had trouble sleeping lately, I'd wake up at three or four in the morning and I'd grab my Kindle and would continue reading where I left off. It sure did help keep my mind off other things going on right now. Little Secrets is one to add to your to-read list. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

This is one of the most satisfying mysteries/thrillers I have read in a long time. I can't even remember the last time I finished one and was just so dang pleased with how it ended.

This is definitely a slow burner. There is so much build-up and setting the scene and introducing the characters that it got to a point where I was like “okay… but what about the missing son??” But then things started to come together and I was living for it.

The characters are definitely the shining star of the story. They are complex, morally grey, completely developed, and so imperfectly human. And to discover how everyone is connected was such a rewarding feeling as a reader.

This is my first book by this author, but it most definitely is not my last.

Every parent knows it takes only a moment to lose sight of their child. You turn to smile at a cashier, let go of a small hand to reach for your wallet, are distracted by a phone call. You look back, and your heart plummets into your stomach when you realize your child is suddenly gone.
While running last minute holiday errands at the more crowded than usual Pike’s Place Market, Marin is distraught when she loses her four-year-old son, Sebastian. The intensity of her spiking fear grows as the search turns up no leads or clues, apart from a blurry video of Sebastian in a parking garage with a man dressed as Santa.
A year passes and Marin continues to hope, paying a private investigator against her husband’s wishes. However, when she receives a call from her PI that she has important information for Marin, it’s about her husband-and his ongoing affair with a much younger woman. Already drawn and run ragged with grief, Marin, with the help of a longtime friend, becomes immersed in finding out all she can about the woman her husband has been meeting. But what she doesn’t know at first is that the affair may be linked to her son’s disappearance.
In this tale of obsession gone wrong, Hillier has written a tightly paced thriller that is every parent’s nightmare come true. Marin’s life steadily unravels as her story alternates with the other woman’s, each of their perspectives offering clues into what happened to Sebastian, and more importantly, why he was the kidnapping target. Hillier expertly paints her characters in various shades of gray, making no one strictly a hero or villain. The main character’s connections to one another do not fully come together until the last pages, with Hillier ensuring you feel every second of Marin’s desperation until the shocking ending. Five stars for this gut-wrenching, twist filled suspenseful story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the complimentary copy. This did not influence my review.

After I read Jennifer Hillier's Jar of Hearts, a deliciously dark thriller, I was excited to get my eyes on a digital ARC of Little Secrets (thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books!). Little Secrets an equally strong premise and a gripping opening scene. Our main character, Marin, is finishing her holiday shopping at Pike Place Market with her young son, Sebastian. While she's texting her husband about tacos, Sebastian disappears into the crowd. Sixteen months later, Bash is still missing—and when Marin gets a call from her private investigator, expecting (likely bad) news about her child, she learns instead that her husband is cheating on her with a much younger woman. I will warn that the description of this novel, in my opinion, gives a bit too much away for readers like me, who prefer to know as little as possible about our thrillers. The information revealed in the description on Goodreads, in combination with a sneaking suspicion I developed early in the text, meant I sniffed out the twist far before the end. No matter, though—Hillier is a brilliant writer, constantly building suspense and anxiety on the page. I was glued to my Kindle's screen, eager to see exactly how the twists would play out. For those who have read Jar of Hearts, it's worth noting that Little Secrets isn't quite as dark (it certainly has bleak, heavy, and upsetting moments, but nothing comparable to the most devastating sections of Jar of Hearts).

I have saw so many rave reviews about Little Secrets. After reading Jar Of Hearts which was amazing I had high expectations for Little Secrets. Let me tell you it did not dissappoint!! Absolutely amazing! I have come to love Hillier's writing style, it seems to suck me right in and quickly turns into a novel I can't put down. The only issue is I suspected who might have abducted the child, even though I ended up being correct I still loved the plot and how it all unveiled itself.

The story starts with every parents worst nightmare a child being abducted! Before her son got taken Marin seemed to have the perfect life. Since the abduction she hasn't been herself, with an attempted suicide and not going to work, to finding out her husband is having an affair. Everyone seems to be hiding little secrets from one another. Through all of this one thing remains, Marin needs to find her son. As things Begin to unravel Marin discovers that her husband might know more about the dissappearance of their son then he's shared. Will Marin's marriage make it, what other secrets will be unearthed? Will the dissappearance of their son ever be solved?

Heart pounding, gripping, mind bending, fast paced page turner perfect for a thriller lover.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read Little secrets by Jennifer Hillier. I have been a fan of Jennifer’s books since a friend suggested I read Creep. Little secrets is every Mother’s nightmare. Marin is out with her son Sebastian, let’s go of him for a minute, and he disappears. A year later, her life in pieces, the P.I. she hires tells her, her husband is having an affair, with a younger woman. Marin has no intention of losing the rest of her family- and sets a plan in motion; but how many secrets are there, and can they stay buried? This was an excellent read for me; I let the book take me on the ride. While the premise is about a child disappearance, the story is not all about the missing child, but the psychological turmoil Marin (and other parents) go through, the secrets and insecurities we keep from others. I highly recommend this book!

Little Secrets is the first book I read by Jennifer Hillier and I can say with certainty that it won’t be my last. The story was well-structured and kept me guessing. I did not see the twists coming and was surprised over and over. While it is a sad premise to “lose” your young son, it is also a realistic proposition and the author successfully creates a world that seems like it could be someone’s life. We are taken deep inside Marin’s psyche when she loses her son and when she finds out her husband is having an affair. Marin is a well-developed character and because of that, it was easy to become engaged and invested in the story. The pacing was excellent and the short chapters kept me turning the pages. Be warned — this is a book that’s hard to put down! I highly recommend it.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader. Opt in exchange for my honest opinion.

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier is a story of heartache, revenge, and betrayal. Marin Machado has a great life. A loving husband, a beautiful son, and a successful business, she could not ask for more. Until one dark December day, her son is taken from her side and her whole world shatters. Fast forward 18 months and there has been no sign of her son and Marin is barely living as she tries to find herself in her new world. Her life consists now of work, therapy sessions and a support group. She and her husband, Derek, seem to be hanging on by a thread. Her world is about to shatter again as a private investigator, she hired to find her, finds some startling news. As Marin fills with rage and seeks to find her revenge, she learns who she can trust and who has truly betrayed her. Will she find her revenge? Will Marin ever find out what happened with her son?
What a story! Little Secrets starts with every parent’s worst nightmare and launches the reader into the aftermath as Marin tries to find answers and closure. Throughout the book, I was not sure if I liked Marin or any of the characters as they all had their own secrets and ulterior motives behind their actions. However, Ms. Hillier takes the reader on a roller coaster of a journey as the twists and turns keeps one guessing. The characters feel very relatable with real emotions and flaws. This is the type of story that the reader will not figure out, so do not even try. Just go along for the ride and watch as little clues reveal big secrets. I highly recommend Little Secrets!

Little Secrets
is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Sixteen months ago Marin’s world was turned upside down when her four-year-old son Sebastian was abducted while out Christmas shopping. The case never provided any solid leads as to what might have happened to her son. Marin feels as if she is unable to heal, but she has been trying to put the pieces of her life into some shape that works. She is back at work and attending a support group regularly. Things with her husband, Derek, have never recovered and now it appears that he is having an affair with a much younger woman. As Marin starts to investigate her husband’s extramarital relationship she begins to find hints that may lead her to answers about Sebastian. Could her son still be alive somewhere?

I absolutely loved Jennifer Hillier’s book JAR OF HEARTS and was thrilled to see that she had a new release coming out with LITTLE SECRETS! When I read the synopsis, I knew this was going to be a story I enjoyed, but I wasn’t prepared to find another 5 star read from Hillier!

LITTLE SECRETS is a perfect, binge-worthy, lighter suspense read. Hillier is immediately able to suck the reader into Marin’s life by opening with the disappearance of her young son, Sebastian. Witnessing the event that broke Marin’s spirits allows for an immediate connection between the reader and Marin. From here, Hillier takes us sixteen months into the present where we see how Marin is coping. I have never lost a child, so I do not have firsthand experience on the subject, but for me Marin’s state of mind felt incredibly real. Marin is broken in a way, but she is also strong. She will never let her son’s disappearance rest without answers and she is ruthless in investigating her husband’s affair. Along with Marin, Hillier has included great secondary characters who test Marin to her limits and bring out the multiple facets of her personality.

While Marin is the main character in LITTLE SECRETS, Hillier gifts the reader with sections from a few of the secondary characters throughout the story. This allows the reader to have a chance to learn the other side of the story. In particular, I loved getting to hear from Kenzie, who is Derek’s mistress. It’s so easy to see one side of a relationship, but this allowed me to see much more. I not only got to know Marin and Kenzie individually, but also the character of Derek through them.

Hillier keeps the pace of this story at a rapid pace with short chapters that propel the reader to keep going. This is one of those books that I picked up and somehow binge read 100 pages without realizing any time had gone by. I was instantly drawn to this story from the moment I opened the book and could not put it down! There is so much I want to gush about in this review, but I don’t want to spoil any of the book for readers. My suggestion is to go buy this one ASAP!

A huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

A horrific account of one mother's journey after her son is kidnapped. She experiences devastating lows to wanting the ultimate revenge against the young woman having an affair with her husband. Betrayal is theme of this book. So many people with secrets and ulterior motives.

The who/what/why of the betrayals and who took her son were lackluster though. No where near the shock factor that we got in Jar of Hearts. And maybe that was my biggest problem, that I was expecting that level and it didn't come close.

Happy publication day to author Jennifer Hillier and Minotaur Books for Little Secrets! In case you don’t read any further (I suggest avoiding as much as you can!), the take-away here is, GO GET THIS BOOK! This is one of those rare books that actually lives up to its Girl on the Train or Gone Girl comparisons that sellers love to tout– though such high praise is usually aspirational, if not entirely inappropriate.

For a book populated with unlikable characters, Little Secrets is surprisingly enjoyable. I read a lot of books in this genre, and am consistently disappointed, but I have to hand it to Jennifer Hillier here, because this is definitely one of the better psychological thrillers to come out over the last year.
I’d recommend going into it blindly, as I did, but if you need to know more, read on:
It’s hard to describe what makes this book stand out from an over-saturated genre, since the kidnapped child scenario is so common, as are the characters (philandering husband, distraught wife, younger, Instagram-addicted mistress). I think, actually, what makes it great is that Hillier doesn’t care about her characters’ likability. The central protagonist, Marin, who is the ‘victim’ in that she has lost her son and now her husband, is not ‘innocent’– she is rash, jealous, and even homicidal. This is one of the rare instances where an author isn’t trying to shove any characters down your throat, or throwing in gratuitous ‘save the cat’ moments (i.e. obviously-plotted scenes which are meant to endear the reader/viewer to a character, even though he/she may be difficult). Hillier operates with a confidence so rarely possessed by authors and a trust so rarely given to readers, knowing that her plot is tight enough to keep us engaged and that we’re smart enough to stick with morally complex and/or despicable characters. I call this the Hannibal Lecter approach. While it’s difficult to achieve as an author, it’s so much more rewarding as a reader when you get to read and cheer for characters you love to hate or hate to love.