For whatever reason, this novel did not grab my attention. I have found that reading during the pandemic has been hit or miss, with focus a continual challenge, so that fault my lie with that and not the novel itself. I may try to re-read this at a later time to see if it was simply my mood at the time.

A Dark and Secret Place is the story of... love.

It is the story of young love, naive and cruel, that blossomed in the wrong place at the wrong type between two lost souls only to shutter them even more. It is the story of mother's love for her offspring, about the best of it and the worst of it. It is the story of children's love for their parents and parent figures in their life. It is the story of 'time of love' and its horrors...

Heather Evans returns home after her mother's suicide and is trying to make sense of it, of her mother and of what she is to do with the rest of her life. Heather is not your usual 'good girl gone bad'. She is complicated. Her story is complicated. The story of her mother's even more so... especially when it revolves around serial killer. And now this serial killer wants to talk to Heather... and she agrees.

What Heather uncovers is so horrible and twisted, so out of this world even for the investigative journalist like her, even for the 'bad girl' impulsive and temperamental...

Don't expect clean cut lines between good and evil. Don't expect to love one character and hate another. Do not expect anything. You'd do better to expect unexpected. A Dark and Secret Place is not really about a place but about one's soul, mind and memory. It is all in your head, as they say. Is it? Is it really.

Read on if you dare...

Jen Williams' A Dark and Secret Place hits all the right notes for a thriller, a twisted tale and even more twisted characters. It will leave you gasping, and grasping, wondering and shocked as... A very worthy read.

A Dark and Secret Place starts with Heather returning to her mother’s home after her mother’s funeral. As she is cleaning the house, she finds letters between her mother and a notorious serial killer who is now in prison. Murders like his have started happening again and the police want her to try and talk with him to figure out who is committing them.

CW: Graphic animal abuse. Skip Chapter 13. Please check all the content warnings before reading this.

Three words to describe this book: Forest. Dark. Moody.

Cover: I do think the cover conveys one important aspect of this book – the forest. Overall, it fits the book, but I do not find it memorable.

Character Development: There is a little bit of the Heather character but not enough for my tastes. We do not really find out what makes Heather tick. There is a bit of information about her previous job and some about her childhood and her relationship with her parents, but it was not well-developed.

World-Building: This was a definite highlight of the book. This book feels like you are in a dark forest in the UK after it has lightly rained. This world ups the creep factor.

Plot & Pacing: This is my major critique of this novel. The plot goes all over the place. It starts with a possible serial killer type of story/clues sprinkled into fairy tales then switches to a cult investigation and sprinkles some supernatural vibes in there. Even with all the different plot directions, I felt like the book plodded a lot. There is also a plotline about Heather evaluating and understanding her relationship with her mother – so has family drama mixed in too. This book could have been fantastic if it had stuck to one plotline. Additionally, there is also some graphic animal abuse that is described in detail and not necessary. That ruined my experience reading. I’ve read a lot of serial killer-type books and I know hurting animals is a key characteristic of serial killers. So is murdering people. Why isn’t that enough?

Verdict: Personally, I would pass on this thriller especially due to the unnecessary animal abuse descriptions and unwieldy plot. I love dark and messed up books and this was not an ‘enjoyable’ read even for that type of book.

ARC was provided to me by Crooked Lane Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a book! This is a story about a former reporter estranged from her mother returns to her childhood home to piece together why her mother committed suicide. While going through her mother’s things, she finds an old biscuit tin with letters to her mother from an infamous serial killer. As she investigates her mother’s suicide, she uncovers long lost secrets of a place called Fiddlers Mill Woods. Meanwhile, a copycat serial killer is killing girls again. This was such a spooky, chilling tale that had me jumping out of my seat at every small sound. I enjoyed this as much as an intense suspenseful movie. Kudos to the author for creating that creepy atmosphere. There were a few hiccups here and there but overall a good book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Chilling, fun, and exciting. Pretty dark at times but in a good way! Interesting concept and intriguing characters

This book has an intriguing plot and is very frightening.. It is about a daughter who discovers and then investigate her mother's decades-long correspondence with a serial killer after the mother commits suicide The atmosphere of the book is creepy with several gruesome scenes and graphic animal abuse. A terrifying book for those that can stand the details.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book for my unbiased review.

So I have read a lot of thrillers and ‘A dark and secret place’ or newly named ‘Dog rose dirt’ is up there for so many reasons. It has the gory, creepy elements of a great horror and it has the ebb and flow of a heart-stopping thriller.
It all begins when Heather returns to her family home following the suicide of her mother; the two of them always had a difficult relationship but as Heather begins to sort through the possessions left behind she realises that her mother kept a lot hidden away about her past. Whilst looking through her correspondents she finds that her mother had a prison pen-pal, a convicted serial killer called Michael Reave aka. ‘The red wolf’. Then things get even more complicated when a copycat killer hits the headlines taking Heather down a treacherous path to the truth about her mother’s death.
This book really reminded me of ‘Sharp objects’ because the subject matter is so dark and twisted and every character has their own secretive past so nothing is revealed too soon and the plot doesn’t falter. Personally I loved the Brothers Grimm inspirations behind the murders because I’m a fan of Angela Carter and the creepier side of fairytales. The only downside to this novel was that I felt the ending was a little bit rushed but I understand that it echoes that feeling of a dramatic end sequence that all great horror movies have where the plotlines are all tied up.
Ultimately an amazing debut and I personally loved every page of it.

I love to guess the twist at the end of a thriller and I’m always disappointed when I get it right. There was no chance in getting this one though and I LOVED that! Kept you guessing until the very end and I loved that the end was at the end and didn’t leave half the book for wrapping it up.

This book was so dark and twisted it left me unable to put it down!

The dangerous nature of the writing left me feeling on edge the entire time. I had no idea what was to come and I loved it. I loved how the author wrote of the feeling of being watched it gave me all the creepy chilled out vibes you want.

The main character is Heather Evans. Her mother has died (committed suicide) and Heather has returned home to clean out the house.

She finds a stash of letters that her mother has been writing to a convicted serial killer, Michael Reave. As if this stunning find wasn’t enough, killings have started happening that are copy cats of the Michael Reave murders.

Heather befriends and helps a detective working on the case by going to talk to Michael Reave. She slowly starts to learn things about her mother, who turned out to be so different than the mother she thought she knew.

Plenty of twists and turns, it kept me guessing. I did figure out a few things and some of Heather’s behavior bordered a bit on the unbelievable side, but still a good solid psychological thriller.

I tried really hard to enjoy this book, but the writing style and the characters were not a match for me. It was too slow moving and quiet for me. But I am clearly in the minority here as there are many others who loved it, so I think this is one of those “it’s not you, book, it’s me” situations. Anyway, not terrible, but didn’t hook me and took me forever to finish, but try it for yourself because I’m clearly an outlier!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
This was a definitely a book that kept me guessing what would happen. The mother's back story was entertaining, and present day had a lot of twists and turns. I recommend this title to mystery readers.

Heather returns home when her mother passes away. She finds out that her mother had a past that she had no knowledge of. Heather finds out her mother has been friends for years with a serial killer
This book is a psychological thriller that keeps you wanting to find out fast what happens. I loved it!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, you can get your copy, here:

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Secret-Place-Novel-ebook/dp/B088F1CQHD/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

If you are looking for a light and fluffy book, turn back now. Buckle up, you are going to need that extra protection. This is a heavy and scary book.
We begin this book with a boy cuffed at the throat in a room, cuffed by none other than his mother. Despite being restrained, he manages to overpower his mother and well....there is an altercation where someone ends up unconscious. An unsuspected neighbor with a dog that was very intimidating helps out. Everything is great, well until Heather comes back and begins to investigate her mother’s “suicide”. Oh the plot thickens when Heather finds letters. These aren’t just any letters, these are letters that her mother had been writing to a man in prison for the last twenty-five years, throughout the marriage to Heather’s father, even. Oh, it gets even better when Heather finds out who this pen pal really is- a serial killer from the UK. He murdered five women in Lancashire and Manchester with another possible ten victims. He would plant flowers in his victim’s wounds. Sounds like a great guy to be a correspondent with! This book then takes us on quite the adventure. I was literally FREAKING out the ENTIRE TIME!

A dark and secrect place is a great mistery to read, I really think it has some great factors and some otherws that didn't worked out, but I stilled liked it, it got me very entertained

A Dark and Secret Place by Jen Williams

9781643855745

295 Pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Release Date: June 8, 2021

Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Serial Killer, Grim Fairy Tales

When Heather Evans it told her mother has committed suicide, she returned home after years of being estranged. Going through her mother’s belonging, she comes across hidden documents and photos. As Heather investigates, she finds her mother wrote to a serial killer in prison for years. She is both surprised and horrified by this, and as a journalist she has to investigate the reasons behind it.

The story is well paced, and the characters are developed. It is written in third person point of view. The author has brought the Grim Fairy Tales to a serial killer in the way he commits his murders. If you enjoy murder mysteries with a twist, you will like this book.

This would be a great story to read during the month of October. The serial killer angle of this story gave it a creepy vibe that kept me turning the pages of this dark novel.

I have to say that I am pretty disappointed with all the low reviews I have seen for A Dark and Secret Place by Jen Williams. I didn't let that deter me and I'm glad I didn't because I LOVED this book! Cultish books are so hit or miss for me, and they have to be done just the right way or I really don't like them. This was the perfect dose of it for me and added just enough to the story that it intrigued me more instead of turning me off. The descriptions of the bodies were completely disturbing, and I wouldn't say this is a book for the squeamish reader. I loved the parts where our creepy serial killer Michael is telling dark and creepy fairy tales, and there is a great paranormal aspect that really kept me guessing. I had no idea if there was actually something supernatural going on, or if it was all made up, and that was just another part I really enjoyed. I liked Heather's present viewpoint as she digs to find out what her mom knew, but also that we end up with a couple of other viewpoints as well. Not really sure if it's a spoiler so I won't say who, but the combination kept me glued to the pages and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

I always love it whenever authors I’ve enjoyed jump genres, and Jen Williams has proven she can navigate the stormy waters of mystery and thriller just as effectively as she does fantasy.

A Dark and Secret Place follows Heather Evans, who returns to her hometown after getting the distressing news that her estranged mother had committed suicide. It was unexpected, and even more puzzling in light of the note she left behind. Still, the most shocking moment comes as Heather, when going through her mother’s belongings, comes across a stack of old letters from Michael Reave, also known as the “Red Wolf”, a notorious serial killer who is currently serving a life sentence. As Reave as has been in prison for over twenty years, their correspondence goes back a long way, but the contents of the letters also seem to hint at a relationship that goes back even further than that.

Then, a body of a young woman is found, dismembered and posed inside the trunk of a tree, with flowers meticulously planted and placed around her corpse—the same thing the Red Wolf used to do. But with Reave in prison, who is committing these murders now? Of course, Reave has always insisted on his innocence, despite all the damning evidence against him. It’s possible they may be dealing with a copycat, or someone with intimate knowledge of the Red Wolf’s murders. Then there’s the third option, that’s too disturbing to contemplate. Shaken by the discovery of the letters, Heather decides to take them to the police to see if they can provide any insight into the case. Seeing a possible lead, the detectives arrange for her to speak with Michael Reave to see if she can use his relationship with her mother as a way to extract information about his past. Heather agrees, but secretly, she has her own personal agenda. Coming back home has made her realize how little she knew her mother, and it is her hope that an interview with the Red Wolf will reveal some answers into why she might have killed herself.

Does Williams bring anything all that new to the genre? Maybe not, but A Dark and Secret Place is nonetheless a perfectly serviceable thriller, and I loved that there was also a hint or horror and an element involving dark folklore and fairy tales. The main premise is intriguing, and the details behind the Red Wolf murders are disturbing and chilling. Right away, the author establishes a hook and a reason for readers to want to keep reading and find out what happens next. While it’s true that some of the more usual tropes were being employed, they were dependable and effective. The first half of this book had me completely riveted.

That said, it’s hard to say how long this momentum lasted. I think part of the reason for this slight drag is the split in attention, with one thread focusing on Heather’s own investigation into her mother’s past, while the other (in my opinion, the more neglected) thread focused on solving the resumed murders. The hunt for the new killer struck me as lackadaisical and hardly urgent, as Heather returns to the prison to speak with Michael Reave again and again without making much headway, and bizarrely the detectives on the case seemed just perfectly fine with this questionable use of time and resources. To be fair though, this mystery is probably just as much about Heather’s mother as it is about the Red Wolf killings, and ultimately these two plotlines do converge. Still, with so much going on, I just wish everything had been better balanced.

Nothing confirmed this more for me more than the ending, which was, in a word, overwhelming. In most thrillers this is usually the point where everything starts coming together, but in this case, Williams introduces even more details and clues. Like a burst dam, all the information held back suddenly came in a flood, and while it wasn’t a dealbreaker by any means, the overload still felt jarring. However, I did enjoy the late addition of Heather’s good friend Nicki as her sleuthing partner towards the end, so there were some positives and high points. I just wish the two women had teamed up sooner!

All told, I had a good time with A Dark and Secret Place. Balancing the different plot threads as well the overall pacing seemed to be Jen Williams’ biggest struggle. However, hould she continue to explore the mystery thriller genre, I would definitely keep reading.

A Dark and Secret Place, by Jen Williams, is a horrifying story about a serial killer. But it’s more than that. It’s about evil people and horrendous acts. However, it’s more than just a horror story. It is also a fascinating examination of family dynamics and how people are shaped by their environment.

Ms. Williams explores the degree to which family history affects self-perception. What happens when everything you believe about yourself, is untrue. What impact does that have on you? Does that change who you are?

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Jen Williams for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️️