OMG just WOW. As a book blogger I get to read some pretty amazing books but now and again I come across one that absolutely blows everything out of the water – and Little White Secrets is one of them!

Right from her first novel, Carol Mason has delivered an evocative and almost poetic style of prose, and over the years I have seen this grow into something that is quite remarkable. Her last book The Shadow Between Us saw a slight shift away from her usual genre of Women’s Contemporary Fiction, with the plot bordering Psychological Suspense. This was one of my favourite reads for 2019 and how the author has now managed to push the boundaries of her already exceptional voice yet again is quite beyond me. But she has, and Little White Secrets delivers a domestic noir style narrative at its absolute finest.

In true Carol Mason style, the protagonist, Emily, is a strong female character who is both easily identifiable and likeable. At the beginning of the novel it seems as though Emily has a pretty much perfect life: a happy marriage, nice home, two happy and successful children. However; as the story progresses small seeds of doubt are cast as to just how perfect this family is – first with Zara, her introverted daughter who lives in the shadows of her successful brother; and then Eric, Emily’s husband, who not only works away but sometimes chooses to stay away at weekends. The story begins with Emily and her family being interviewed for a newspaper, as her son, Daniel, is a teenage local tennis celebrity. This event leads to the story’s intriguing hook that had me whizzing through so fast, at one point it felt like I was watching the scene playout in front of me with the remote control stuck on fast forward! How was this person involved in Emily’s life – I just had to find out.

The novel is structured around both a dual perspective and timeline. The present day is from Emily’s perspective, and the past timeline is from Eric’s perspective. This complex structure not only draws the reader into the lives of both characters it also adds a layer of dramatic irony as we start to understand how what happened to Eric in the past is affecting the problems his family are facing in the present; and all the while Emily is left in the dark and you're just itching for her to find out. When reading Emily’s present-day perspective you start to think Eric is a bit of a dick, especially when the reader is privy to flashback scenes. But when drawn into Eric’s past timeline you really empathise with him – but just how much can you trust him?

But this twisted and heart-wrenching plot is only part of what makes this such a brilliant read, and as the sub-plots merge, Emily’s true strength of character is revealed, making for one extremely satisfying read. I really can’t recommend this fabulous novel enough, and I am absolutely certain that as brilliant as Carol Mason’s previous books are, this is the one that will bring her reputation as the outstanding and exceptional writer that she is, well and truly under the spotlight.

I would recommend this book for anybody who likes any of the iconic Queens of Domestic Noir such as Louise Jensen, Lisa Jewell, Jane Shemilt, Jane Corry …

Very well written and plotted story about secrets....all kinds of secrets.

The characters were all well rounded and while some I liked and some I didn't, they were the overriding thing that pulled me into the story. I felt sorry for Zara because all the focus was on her brother and sadly, I think that might have been why she went off the rails.

This is an engrossing story, filled with foreshadowing as to what the big secret was. It wasn't difficult to figure out, but it was a good read as the final secret unfolded slowly throughout the book.

I think this is the first book I've read by Carol Mason, but I will be reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for granting my request for an ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own and freely given.

Definitely a novel that had me hooked from the first page!
There are so many secrets! None that are "little"!
The Rossi family is crumbling and the "closet skeletons" are beginning to escape for all of this family!
One of my thoughts as I continued on with this story : "Hell hath no fury like a Mother protecting her Children". Emily will Not let her daughter ruin her life as she learn's of Zara's secrets. There is nothing that will stop her from keeping Zara safe!
Zara who has always been a "good" kid, has gone way off the beaten path and made friends with a girl named Bethany who is nothing but dangerous as we find out.
This is truly an intense, well written book with suspense, anger, crisis and family all rolled into it!
I truly will look for other of Carol Mason's books! Excellent!
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