This was an average thriller. The first part was kind of a slow-burn family drama. The ending was too fast-paced and had a lot of information thrown in and too little time to fully explain everything.

A Dark and Secret Place starts off with Heather trying to understand her mother's sudden suicide. While going through her belongings, she finds letters from a well known serial killer, the Red Wolf, to her mother. At the same time, women start to go missing and a body is found following the same style as the Red Wolf, even though he has been in prison for over twenty years. He always has claimed innocence. To help Heather understand her mother, and to help the police, she agrees to meet and speak to the infamous Red Wolf.

It has been a while since I read an eerie book like this. Since I was listening to the audiobook, it was even creepier, especially the interviews with Michael. I definitely did not listen at night. I think the book did a really good job setting up an unsettling series of circumstances. I do question why Heather never mentioned any of the obvious break-ins to the police. Though, it seems in stories they never do and you're left screaming at them to get smart. I wish there had been more direct action throughout instead of only at the end. I loved the ending and the realizations that came out of it. I always enjoy an ending that I didn't see coming and one where it changes your view of the characters.

If you're looking for an eerie book where fairy-tales are turned into creepy warnings then get this book/audiobook immediately. I would suggest the audiobook because it really adds an extra element. The characters are great, though flawed, and you won't predict the ending.

I received a copy of this audiobook free from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, and the plot was interesting..... but there was just nothing about it that grabbed me. I kept listening and listening but it just wasn’t exciting or compelling. I would still try more from this author though because some of the problem was that the narrator was very one-note.

There were some twists and budding romance that made for a good read, but mostly it's a slow, creeping suspense read that will appeal to those who like long-buried secrets, family drama, and serial killer lore. That said, this should also have content warnings for depictions of/references to child abuse as well as CSA.

The Short Version: A taut English mystery/thriller that evokes the feelings and atmosphere of Dark Places and Sharp Objects with the faintest whiff of The Wicker Man. In equal measure it draws you in to swallow you up then jabs at you when you’re about to get comfortable, like a large sweater knitted from pricker bushes.

The Long Version: I got to listen to the Audiobook version of this book thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

Heather is recently unemployed and dealing with the death of her mother, when heading back to her hometown to lay her mother to rest, she starts digging through her mom’s old things and her life is upended when she finds out her mother has been corresponding with a notorious serial killer for years on end. What ensues is a thorny trek through the sordid past of both her mom and the killer and their intertwined pasts.

This book was a gut punch in a good way. It kicks off quickly, and the investigation into her mom’s past, as well as a new rash of copycat murders is tightly paced. I didn’t want to stop listening, and I didn’t guess the final twists until they were revealed, I did suspect it, but I kept bouncing between so many different ideas I couldn’t settle in and that is a well written thriller to me.

The serial killer, who we eventually meet is brilliantly constructed. He’s likable, and when he claims he’s innocent you want to believe him, even though you’re terrified to do so. He was equal parts charming and chilling but he was by far the most likable character.

The prose is crisp and the story is well laid out, without anything feeling superfluous. It socialites between the protagonist’s investigation, the killer’s story from the past, and the copycat’s abductions/murders in the present. It is fairly graphic in its description of violence so this is not for sensitive readers, like not even a little.

I also really enjoyed the ending, which is satisfying without being overly cheery.

The biggest weakness in this story, was the main character. While she wasn’t terribly crafted and her emotions made sense with how the plot unfolded, I didn’t find her particularly likable, and I didn’t understand why people seemed to gravitate towards her when she seemed incredibly self absorbed and careless with others. It didn’t ruin the story, but if the plot and pacing weren’t strong, the main character could have caused me to lose interest.

The narrator was also a drawback. She did a nice job conveying the emotion and tension in the book, however voices were not a strength of hers. All the women sounded roughly the same and so too did the men. There were times where I struggled to keep the dialogue straight as a result. She wasn’t bad, she just didn’t strengthen the overall audiobook.

Overall a solid 4 out of 5. A solid recommendation for anyone who likes taut thrillers and are not afraid of a little gore.

Component Ratings
Concept/Idea: 5 out of 5
Protagonist: 3 out of 5
Antagonist: 5 out of 5
Supporting Characters: 4 out of 5
Plot: 4 out of 5
Pacing: 5 out of 5
Prose: 4 out of 5
Narrator Performance: 3 out of 5
Dialogue: 4.5 out of 5
Ending: 5 out of 5

Let’s talk about the audiobook first. This was narrated by Lorna Bennett and she did a brilliant job. I really, really enjoyed her voice and I highly recommend listening to this.
Most of the time ill read a mystery-suspense thriller and it’s engaging, pushing me further into the edge of my seat. Making me want to put my whole life on hold so I can finish it. And this story had that!
It was well told with all the right things being told. Very mysterious circumstances with secrets coming out only years later. I really enjoyed it.
But I’m only giving this a 3 because of the ending. Why, why, why? You were doing so well. It wasn’t horrible it just didn’t live up to the start.
Having said that, I feel sure the author will do an even better job next time.
Thanks Dreamscape Media and Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this advance copy of A Dark and Secret Place. This slow burn atmospheric mystery is reminiscent of Jane Harper, one of my faves. Daughter Heather returns to her hometown seeking answers regarding her mother's suicide and discovers a serial killer has returned to town. Its hard to say much without spoiling it for you. What she uncovers is nerve shredding and shocking. So much madness in the world beyond our own personal happy bubbles. This book is DISTURBING and DARK. Monsters in the Woods, Serial Killers? A badass female heroine? Let's do this. I'm terrified, but I'm here for it.

This novel has a lot of delicious creepiness. Heather’s mom just killed herself, leaving behind a cryptic note, so she must come back to her mom’s house to try to settle her estate. She then finds her mom’s letters to a notorious serial killer. Said murderer has been in prison for years, but now someone is copying his “style” in a new series of murders. Heather, who is a disgraced journalist, gets involved and… well, things don’t go quite as planned. There are horrible crime scenes, ancient dark woods, and the backstory of the convicted killer. Some scenes of animal cruelty I had to skip altogether, and other readers may find the human killings disturbing. Lorna Bennett offers a great performance in the audiobook, giving all the characters distinctive voices. The plot is dark and sometimes a little predictable but still enjoyable.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Dreamscape Media!

Heather has returned to clean out her mother’s death after the woman committed suicide. Never very close, Heather hadn’t seen her mother in quite a while, something she feels guilty and conflicted about. While sorting through her mother’s things, Heather finds a tin full of letters. She’s horrified to discover her mother has been exchanging letters with a convicted serial killer known as the Red Wolf, and the letters go back decades. Meanwhile, a woman has been found murdered, displayed in the same gruesome way that the Red Wolf left his victims. Heather decides to visit the killer, Michael Reeve, to try to understand what her mother’s relationship was with him, and the police are hoping he can point them to whoever their copycat killer might be. This is a seriously creepy book with some rather dark passages (animal lovers beware) and Williams throws in plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing. A fantastic read if you have a strong stomach

I loved this audio book!.
It grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go until the end.
I really enjoy books about serial killers and thrillers so this book was a major hit with me!
The story itself is very interesting and had me intrigued the whole way through.
I couldn't stop listening to this one! Amazing writing and great narrator!

Thank You So much NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this audio copy!