Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book about women of different generations who make choices, or have other people's choices thrust upon them, was an enjoyable read - with a few caveats. The character at the center of the narrative, Norah, who should be the driving force, is absent as a personality. What little we know of her comes across as rather flat. And there are a LOT of characters and plot lines, which can be confusing The author did a good job of building multiple story lines, and gradually connecting them, but invariably there were some loose threads and open questions at the end. My favorites among the many characters were Violet, Norah's daughter, and Polly, Norah's estranged mother. Their voices were spot-on, and really affecting. The book could have done with a bit more stringent editing, it was a bit long for what it was.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

There is a podcast being hosted. Norah has a daughter Violet. A cop has been snooping around and plan b is formed. Lois and Norah may have to go seperated ways and not talk. Violet's mother is arrested . Violet's mom was arrested for prostitution. Nico is the detective on the case. Violet goes to Bess, Norah's old best friends house. I liked the different points of view. I loved the characters. Casey is coming home from college. Casey is bess's daughter . Bess seems happy for Norah's downfall and jealous of her.

This Secret Thing is a powerful story of friendship and sisterhood, and I fell into Whalen’s vision of a tight-knit Raleigh community willingly and easily. I could see the houses with their shaded windows, feel the sense of people watching, wondering what their neighbors were really up to. Sometimes it’s a big risk to start out a novel with the biggest secret revealed right up front, yet it very much works with This Secret Thing. The world as we/the characters know it is exploded in a way that feels apocalyptic, then the pieces must be put back together. The novel is a fascinating mix of both world rebuilding and the solving of a mystery. I was especially moved by Casey’s storyline. It felt unexpected and surprising, and I found myself cheering for her from the moment she came onstage. Whalen has superior character building skills. There isn’t one character in the novel that wasn’t utterly believable and compelling. A terrific story with a satisfying sense of drama and mystery.

Marybeth Whalen knows how to spin a tale of southern small town secrets, gossip, and lies. Norah Ramsey is the subject of all the gossip in Raleigh, North Carolina. Accused of running a suburban prostitution ring, Norah’s arrest leaves her daughter Violet heartbroken and even more alone than the poor teen was already feeling. Her grandmother Polly swoops in to care for her but brings trouble and secrets of her own. It seems that everyone in Norah’s orbit is covering something up, including her best friend Bess. And Nico, the detective on Norah’s case, isn’t immune to family secrets, either. A page-turning drama with satisfying twists and turns.

I tried but just couldn’t get into this. I didn’t find any of the characters compelling. Not for me.

One great benefit of being a book reviewer is being introduced to a variety of new voices. “This Secret Thing” was an unexpected surprise as I was unfamiliar with Marybeth Mayhew Whalen previously.

The focus of the novel is about women who make the best choices they can for those that they love. The reader is first introduced to Norah. She is arrested because she is accused of managing a prostitution ring. Her mother, Polly, is tasks with caring for Norah’s daughter, Violet, though Norah and Polly had been previously estranged and Violet had not met her grandma until now. As Violet tries to find a way to clear her mom, Polly struggles with her own issues such as being married to a two-timer who is after her money. Additionally, we meet Norah’s friend, Bess, who houses her owns secrets as do her daughters. Casey and Nicole, both who all face plenty of their own angst.

If you are thinking that is a lot of plot (and characters) you are correct, but I found the author quite skilled at building multiple stories as connections between the various characters become clear. I admit the start of the book is slow, but if you persevere, I assure you that there will be a pay off. I found Ms. Whalen’s writing engaging, especially as I got more into the story. When the pieces of the puzzle begin to click into place, the novel becomes difficult to put down.

Three and a half stars.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Marybeth Mayhew Whalen for my copy of "This Secret Thing."

#thissecretthing
#marybethmayhewwhalen

A master of twists and turns, Whalen brings small town gossip to life in "This Secret Thing." An exploration of the complex relationship between women, this book will keep you guessing until the last page.

Lots of secrets in this book! Some more predictable than others but still enough to leave you intrigued and want to keep reading. This book felt short and long at the same time. The book is told from the point of view of several characters, with only one feeling unnecessary to move the story along and left me unsure as to how it fit in the big picture of the book. I did find myself skimming some chapters (felt repetitive at parts) but I like the author’s writing style and will definitely read another book.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed this one. The characters were initially difficult to keep track of but once I did, I was hooked. The storyline is unique and definitely relevant to our current time. It wasn't difficult to put myself into this neighborhood and consider if the events in the story would happen in my own. I think this'll be a perfect read for fall release. I've read a couple of Whalen's books in the past and they didn't disappoint either. I'll continue to read from this author.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Marybeth Mayhew Whalen for my copy of This Secret Thing.

The Secret Thing is about a group of women who make hard choices for their families. The book begins with Norah who is arrested for managing a prostitution ring. Her mother, Polly, comes to visit to take care of Norah’s daughter, Violet. Polly has her own set of problems dealing with her gold digger and cheater of a husband.

Bess is a housewife raising her two daughters, Casey and Nicole. Casey suddenly comes home from college dealing with her owns issues while Nicole is dealing with high school angst. On top of this Bess’s husband is also cheating on her and she is developing feelings for the homeless guy she is helping.Then, add a detective and a high school boy with their own set of problems.

This book with all the drama was a slow burn that I really enjoyed. I kept wondering how all the pieces were going to fit together. I was pleasantly surprised with how it all ended and the author even added another twist right at the end. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Violet mother is arrested for being a Madam. Norah won't give up her client list so she remains in jail. Polly, Violet's grandmother she has never met, shows up to take care of her. Bess, Norah's best friend at one time has secrets to cover up while Bess' daughter flees from college for some unknown reason. I don't know about this story. It didn't affect me in any way and not sure it is worth reading. Too many story lines and too many secrets. #thissecretthing #marybethmayhewwhalen #Oct2020

It's way past my bedtime as I'm writing this but let me say that I LOVED this small town crime/family fiction novel.

I was a huge fan of this author's other title, "The Things We Wish Were True," so I was thrilled to pick up her new book. And it was amazing!

"This Secret Thing" is filled to the brim with scandals, drama and mystery. It tells the story of Norah Ramsey, a mother living her life in a North Carolina town until... she gets accused to running a prostitution network. Her only daughter will do her best to help her mom, but more secrets become revealed in the process as drama evolves. To reveal much more would be a big rude spoiler and nobody wants that, but the most important thing is: EVERYBODY HAS JUICY SECRETS. The question is whether they'll be able to keep them.

I'd highly recommend this book to fans of domestic drama, small town drama and reasonably light mysteries.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of This Secret Thing.

Once I started this book, it was almost impossible to put down. The book starts when Violet's mother is arrested and Violent is sent to her neighbor's home while the police try to figure out what to do with the heartbroken teenager. Finally, Violent is connected with her estranged grandmother and the two of them are able to unravel the many secrets the neighborhood holds.

Intriguing and exciting, this was a fantastic novel.

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is well-known for authoring books that center around intrigue, mystery, and family drama. "This Secret Thing" is an excellent example of everything Whalen is known for. When Norah is suddenly arrested for running an undercover prostitution ring, her daughter Violet immediately starts to clear her mother's name. With the help of her neighbor, a boy she's had a crush on for years, and her Grandmother who she's newly met, what secrets will she uncover? And to what depths will she go to prove her mother's innocence?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book captivated me from the beginning. I would absolutely listen to a nosy neighbors podcast so the first chapter had me hooked- I HAD to know what happened in that neighborhood! The author did a great job of connecting each character and I enjoyed reading storylines from each person's perspective. This Secret Thing was filled with just enough suspense and angst to keep me questioning what would happen with every turn of the page.

Wow! That's all that I can say about this book! I just finished this book at 3:45 in the morning and am still trying to process everything that happened!

It took me a little bit to remember who the characters were and how they fit in the story but once I did, I was hooked! This book will leave you turning the pages in to the wee hours of the morning like me and then think It about the ending for days!

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book!