Marin is shopping for last minute Christmas gifts with her 3 year old son, Sebastian. She is looking for that special gift for one of her friends, while Sebastian is pulling g away from her to go get a lollipop. She wrestling with him, looking at her list, and trying to answer a text message from her husband, Derek, who is waiting for them at the food truck. Then she receives a call from her longtime ex-boyfriend, Sal. In the process of trying to juggle all of this, she notices that Sebastian has managed to escape. She becomes very frantic and panics, when she can’t see him anywhere. She calls her husband and tells him she has lost Sebastian. Because both Marin and Derek are well known and somewhat wealthy, their story made the national and international headlines. The couple offered a one million dollar reward for the return of their son. The security tapes show her son walking calmly out the front gate holding the hand of Santa Claus and holding the lollipop that he has been yelling about. A year and a half later, there was still no word on their son. The FBI had basically put this case on the back burner. Marin has been taking pills and drinking to get through the days. She has also been attending a group of parents that have lost their children. Derek has shut down and won’t talk to Marin about their son. Marin owns 3 salons and eventually returns to work. She only cuts VIPS hair and celebrities. She manages to get through her days, but she will not give up hope that her son is still alive. No ransom was ever asked for. Who would be so cruel as to take her small sweet Sebastian? Why did they take him? She just can’t understand it. To top things off, the P.I. that she has hired to look for her son, finds out that her husband had been having an affair with a twenty something pink haired girl. Her friend Sal, who was her former boyfriend from college, encourages her to hire a fixer to take care of the problem. What will Marin do? Will she hire the fixer? Will she pay him a half million dollars to take care of everything? Will she confront her husband? Is this why he has become so distant? Will she ever find her son? What an spine tingling psychological thriller this book is. I loved every minute of reading this book. The plot was definitely genius. I never would have thought of it. The character development was very well thought out, and displayed all the emotions and flaws of each person. The reader could definitely relate to each one. You have to read this book!!

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier was a gripping thriller about Marin, a mother living with the loss of her son, Sebastian who was kidnapped 16 months ago. One day, the Private Investigator Marin had hired shocks her with the news that Marin's husband has been cheating on her with a much younger woman. As Marin discovers more about her husband's affair, and considers solutions to her problem, she begins to uncover more information that may lead to the truth about her son's disappearance.
I became engrossed in this story from the first chapter. I could relate to Marin's loss of her son, as a mother myself, as well as her anger towards her husband. I highly recommend readers clear their schedule for this one, as you will not want to stop once you start! 5 stars!

Marin and her husband were living a perfect life...success, love, and a beautiful little boy... until, in a matter of seconds, he disappears. Marin’s life falls apart. Her every thought is consumed with finding Sebastian. After a failed suicide attempt, she moves through the motions of her life just trying to get through each day. Her best friend calls her every morning to ask “You alive?”
Then one day, when she thought nothing else could go wrong, Marin discovers her husband is cheating on her with someone much younger. This knowledge consumes her and she sets out to save the little bit of family she has left. Little Secrets is an intriguing tale with lots of surprise twists and turns. Five Stars for the thrilling suspense!

I read Creep and Freak by Jennifer Hillier years ago and found them disturbing and page-turning. Hillier is a thriller writer that is willing to “go there” so to speak, meaning scenes could be graphic and disturbing but she didn’t hold back. I found that to be less the case in Little Secrets, it was more of a traditional thriller that plays nice. However, that said, the writing is very good. The dialogue never feels forced and she handles changing who you feel the “bad guy” to be quite deftly without me ever feeling mislead by the main characters. Instead the remain relatively trust worthy narrators despite questionable morals which i don’t think is easy to achieve. This was a very solid thriller with exciting plot twists. I would recommend to anyone who loves this genre.

After Jar of Hearts, I'll read anything Jennifer Hillier writes and Little Secrets was one of my most anticipated titles for 2020. This one lived up to expectations, a dark and gripping twister that I sucked down in one huge gulp. Jennifer is master at creating complicated, flawed characters who feel 100% human and relatable, and Marin was the star of this one. I loved her, I fussed at her, I cried and cheered for her. A riveting, terrifying thriller.

This was a very engaging and entertaining book. It kept me on my toes throughout the novel, eagerly awaiting what would happen next. I definitely recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller!

A five year old boy is kidnapped by Santa in a Mall. His mother blames herself and falls apart to the extent that she attempts suicide. It is now sixteen months later and she, though still fragile, is roughing her way through daily life without her son when she, through the detective she had hired to look into her son’s case, learns that her husband has been having an affair for six months. She looks up the mistress, a 24 year old graduate student with pink hair, and decides she is going to do something about this. I won’t go into details because of spoilers, but will let you know the reader learns more about her, her husband, her best friend and the girlfriend in each chapter of the novel. The secrets don’t come out until the climax. The lies of commission and omission come out then too. It was gripping reading. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur for an ARC for an honest review.

How am I going to read another book after this one?

I love when a book forces me to stop and take a deep breath just to be able to continue. Little Secrets is gripping and heartbreaking. It hooked me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I read it every chance I could get and wow, it did NOT disappoint.

I suggest not reading much about this one before jumping in. The story is worth unfolding as you move through it. I admit, I’m sometimes a wanna-read-spoilers kind of girl but, thankfully I didn’t search out any on this one! Also, this book is full of AMAZING quote-worthy material!

It is certain to remain on my top reads list for a long while.

You know those books that just suck you in, and won’t let you go? Jennifer Hillier’s Little Secrets is that book. Centered around a successful mother whose devastated after her young son goes missing, this sharp domestic thriller also tackles infidelity — and the aftermath. Hillier is a master at storytelling, and this book falls right in line with her others. A must read in 2020!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well, 2019 has been a stellar year for books! I am a HUGE Jennifer Hillier fan since Creep and receiving this ARC from #NetGalley just solidified that opinion! THIS WAS GREAT!!! Probably her best yet! Marin's son was taken from a busy shopping center 16 months ago. She has deteriorated (obviously) since. She finds out her husband, Derek is cheating and it just gets worse. This is told from 2 POV's. One of which I did not expect and that made it even more interesting. Everyone had MAJOR secrets and the ending is a shocker. I love this one and my only disappoint is that it is over and who knows how long I have to wait for another book from this author who just gets better and better!

Thank you so much #NetGalley #JenniferHillier and #StMartinsPress for this much loved ARC!

Review of uncorrected digital galley

When Marin Machado lets go of her four-year-old son’s hand to answer a text, little Sebastian vanishes.

Sixteen months later, her son is still missing, the case has gone cold, and Marin’s attempted suicide --- twice. When the private investigator she’s hired contacts her, the information isn’t about Sebastian, it’s about her husband, Derek.

And the news isn’t good.

Can Marin’s marriage withstand another blow? Will Marin ever have any answers? And will she ever find out what happened to Sebastian?

Although populated with mostly flawed, unlikable characters, this pulse-pounding thriller is certain to keep readers glued to their seats, turning pages as quickly as possible. Several unexpected plot twists keep the story moving in unexpected directions and though Marin is prone to making seriously questionable decisions, it’s easy for readers to empathize with a mother despairing over her missing child.

Marin lives what seems to be the perfect life, but it doesn’t stand up to close inspection. There are secrets, deceptions, lies, and some cringe-worthy moments. But the captivating narrative draws readers in and keeps them spellbound as the suspense deepens. Astute readers will identify the antagonist before the big reveal, but this compelling story expertly weaves its various threads together to create a can’t-put-it-down tale of diabolical surprises.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#LittleSecrets #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of Little Secrets!

Wow, what a great book!!! I really enjoyed Jennifer Hillier’s last book, Jar of Hearts, so when I got approved for this book I couldn’t wait to start reading. Marin and Derek are living every parents worst nightmare when their 4 year old son Sebastian disappears one day. The story takes place 16 months after his disappearance and both parents are barely coping. Marin eventually finds out that Derek has a much younger mistress and starts putting all of her energy and time into finding out about McKenzie. What Marin doesn’t know is that McKenzie is some how connected to her sons disappearance and the person responsible is closer than her or Derek could’ve imagined. When I got about 80% through the book and the first big spoiler was revealed I literally said “oh wow!” out loud... That, to me, is what makes a great book! When I can sit back and think “wow I did not see that one coming”, nothing is more exciting!!!

Let me start by saying – I absolutely loved this book. I read Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier earlier this year and felt it was the most exciting thriller I had read in a while. Needless to say, I was thrilled to have the chance to read an ARC of her latest, Little Secrets – and it definitely did not disappoint.

As an avid reader of thrillers, sometimes the themes and plots can feel a little “been there, done that”. This book had tons of twists and turns, and I honestly didn’t see the end coming. I also really enjoyed how this story was told from multiple viewpoints, which added a lot of insight to the book. Something about this author’s writing style feels fresh to me, and while she explores very dark themes, I still ended the book on a high note.

This was a gripping, wild ride of a read and really cements Jennifer Hillier on my must-read list. I can’t recommend this book enough – and if you haven’t read her others yet, go get those immediately after finishing this one! Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur books, and Jennifer Hillier for the ARC of this great book.

Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: April 21, 2020

Mini-Review

The story is a decent read regarding a young child’s abduction. It could have been a very good read. It is written as a mystery. This makes sense because when the child is kidnapped and there is no ransom note what else can it be other than a mystery? But, the story is written basically as a thriller with all sorts of twists. This is where the author lost me. Other ARC reviewers seem to love this book. I guess I should have paid more attention to the genre. I thought I was reading a family tragedy story, not a twisty tale. Still, the author did a good job regarding the heartbroken parents, especially the mother’s overwhelming pain and guilt. The missing-child support group scenes are very well written. You can feel just how brutal it must be to not know if your child is dead or alive. It is these scenes that I found fascinating, not the mixing of genres. But if you want a Jillian Flynn read then this is the book for you.

I was really excited to read this book since it was endorsed by Riley Sager. However, I could not get past the first few chapters. I did not find myself emotionally invested in the characters and I really struggled to find any common ground or empathy with them and their situation. Another reader would probably love this book, but it was just not for me.

Marin's son Sebastian went missing, when they were shopping, and she briefly let go of his hand. After 30 days, the FBI stated that the case would remain open, but they would no longer be actively looking. Marin's life, which was amazing before this moment, left her a shell of her former self. She attends a support group with others who have missing children, and she thinks that if she finds out she is dead, she will kill herself, as she just couldn't live if she knew he was truly gone. Marin hired a PI to look for her son, since the FBI was no longer putting effort towards the case. As a result, she learns more news that she does not want to know. Her husband is having an affair. To what lengths will she go, to keep what's left of her family intact?

This is a twisty tale of secrets and deceit. It brings you into the intense pain of having a child missing, in a way that feels raw and honest. It portrays the depths an already hurting person may go, when another curve ball is sent their way, as well as the things others will do in desperation, and out of some perverted version of love. It's a well written story, that will leave you guessing, even if at times you need to suspend your disbelief, to fully enjoy it. You may know something is not right... but I doubt you will be able to guess exactly what that may be, until the big reveal at the stories end.

This book will be loved by people who like Jillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell and Lisa Gardner.

Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

How far would you go to save your marriage?

Marin Machado's entire world fell apart the day her five-year-old, Sebastian, was abducted from a crowded farmers market. She only let go of his hand for a second to answer a text, but in an instant, he was gone.

Sixteen months later, and Marin is barely functioning. Her husband, Derek, is distant and absent, and the FBI have no leads or suspects regarding Sebastian’s disappearance. When Marin is informed of Derek’s infidelity with a twenty-four-year-old, graduate student, McKenzie Li, her numbness morphs into rage. The person who took her son may be elusive, but Kenzie is a threat she can fight. Marin’s already lost Sebastian, and she doesn't intend to lose Derek as well.

Dark and twisty, I devoured this, as desperate as Marin to get to the truth. Little Secret's main focus is on emotional violence – grief, despair, vengeance, betrayal, and post-traumatic stress, therefore it isn't as gruesomely shocking as Jar of Hearts, The Butcher or Wonderland (there was a nod to Wonderland by the way, and the setting shared a commonality with The Butcher), but it is just as utterly addicting. You won't be able to put it down – I guarantee it!

Because the plot involves a missing child, prepare yourself for the onslaught of emotions that evokes – the anguish, heartbreak, and uncertainly Marin experiences, not knowing what has happened to her child, where he is, what he's going through, and whether he's alive or dead. I may have painted a bleak picture, but this is never a depressing read, its aim is to thrill you, and it certainly accomplishes that. So get ready for an exploration into twisted, unhealthy relationships, multiple secrets, lies, and surprises aplenty, as well as the disintegration of a marriage in the wake of unimaginable tragedy.

Chapters are medium length, with few POV's. As I mentioned, Jennifer Hillier held back on this one in terms of graphic content, therefore Little Secrets will appeal to a wider range of audience. Consider this your binge-read alert. If it's not on your 2020 tbr, add it immediately!

I'd like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur books, and Jennifer Hillier for the e-ARC.

Release Date: 21st April, 2020.

I knew it!! I will not post spoilers but some characters are not to be trusted at all and you kind of know they are sneaky and underhanded. I loved this book and every book I have read by this author. If you love books that will challenge your thinking than this author is that person! She writes her characters in a way that you feel connected to them immediately, you either love them or hate them! I'm so glad it had a happy ending. It was a great read for the Holiday season as well!

This book had me hooked from beginning to end. There were so many twists and turns, revealing little secrets here and there. As much as I tried, I couldn’t definitively guess the ending, which I appreciate. Too many times I see the ending coming halfway through.

You know those authors that people will say "oh, I'd read their grocery list, they're such great writers"?? Yeah, Jennifer Hillier is one of the few I'd say that about,,,, & I'd actually read her siri-mangled, auto-corrected grocery list too - & it would still be amazing, I'm sure! If you haven't discovered her yet, please do so NOW - you'll thank me. If you're an avid follower like me, then set aside some time to rip this one out - you'll also be thanking me!