I really enjoyed this book! It kept me guessing (and turning the pages) and the plot was full of suspense and twists. I kept thinking I had it figured out, and then I was second guessing and re-formulating what I thought happened, all up to the very end. A great read!

Simply reading the description to I'll Never Tell gave me goosebumps so I was expecting great things from the book and it did not disappoint. It was an unputdownable book that kept me hooked. I could physically feel the tension building with each twist and turn in the story all the way to the shocking ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

I'll Never Tell by Casey Kelleher is a highly recommended psychological thriller.

Alessia has a wonderful life with her husband, Carl, and their young son, Jacob. After her past, which she keeps secret, she never thought she would have this current life of satisfaction and happiness. When a brick with a note tied around it is thrown through a front window, she immediately realizes that her current life is under attack. The note said "Found You" and it is followed quickly by other frightening occurrences that point to Alessia's past coming back to haunt her. She is sure her childhood friend, Sarah, is responsible.

The narrative unfolds through two different timelines in chapters headed as "Now" and "Then" with 20 years separating the action. Emma-Jayne, 12, had a friend named Sarah, 10, and the two played in an abandoned house they called the doll house. Something terrible happened there. Emily-Jayne keeps telling the police that Sarah did it, but they don't believe her. She is the one who was sent to an institution until she was 18. After this, she changed her name and lived a quiet, unassuming life. Meeting Carl was something she never thought would happen in her life.

This is a short, fast-paced novel and Alessia is, in general, a believable character although you will question some of her actions which seem illogical. There is a lot of sympathy for both Alessia and young Emma-Jayne. It becomes clear in both timelines that they are unreliable narrators. The plot is interesting, but after a few chapter you will be able to figure out what is going on. Soon you will be able to predict who is responsible for the harassment and just need to get to the end to see if you were right. Likely you will be correct. Setting the predictability of the plot aside, there will be a few twists and surprises. You will also have to set aside some disbelief in order to enjoy the novel. 3.5 rounded up.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Amazon.

This is a masterclass in twisty suspense. -I don't want to write too much about the plot because I don't want to give anything away, but the premise is a brilliant one and it is executed beautifully. Alessia has escaped her past...but has she? Throughout the story, Kelleher cleverly sways the 'did she/didn't she?' question over the reader, and the moments of revelation are truly shocking. Can't wait for more psychological thrillers from this author.

Wow
What a book
As I write this review, I am still utterly shocked at how amazing this book was

The story takes the form of two storylines. The past and now. I loved the pieces and clues that the author was dropping throughout.

The chapters were short and snappy which worked so well for the book, setting the pace

I really enjoyed this book and will look for more by the author.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This book was the first I've read by this author but it won't be my last. I thought I had the “big twist” figured out from the start, but there was a lot more going on beneath the surface. I can tell you this is a very addicting read right from the start and you will not be able to put it down until you figure out what is going on. I highly recommend this book! Buckle up for this one!

I’ll Never Tell started off seeming like it was one book. It soon came to seem like it was another. It ended up being a third entirely. The first, I didn’t like. This was starting to look like one of those books in which everything that is going on is obvious to the reader but the author plays coy forever. I hate those. They seriously insult me. Underlying that was a compelling story about mental illness and surviving.

About 40% through, I think the book turned more into the book I was hoping it would be. The main character that seemed so scattered and frail at the beginning began to see more like a woman working to make a new life. She left everything behind and became a new person. She probably should have told her husband. But would I?

The ending, of course, devolved slightly into the predictable action. Of course the person following you is who it is! And that person had a bit of a point. Overreacted, but had a point.

I think a lot of publishers are pushing for the additives. You know-the twists-the subterfuge….This was a good book in spite of all of that.

Casey Kelleher's books are new to me. I enjoyed this one and read it quickly.

The story centers around Alessia, her husband Carl and their young son, Jacob. Alessia has everything she has ever wanted, but she also has a shady past that lies unspoken. Something happened when her and her friend, Sarah, were children, someone died, but only Alessia was punished.

It's hard to say much more without giving anything away. The book is written over two timelines, past and present, gradually revealing more and more about the events that happened many years ago.

I found the characters believable and engaging, especially Alessia and her growing fear and unease. I also liked Harriet, the concerned friend and sensible policewomen. There were some good unexpected twists throughout this dark and unsettling story.

This is a suspenseful, twisted psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast paced compelling read.

Thanks to the author, publishers Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A thrilling read. Intriguing. Did find it a little slow burning, but overall enjoyable. This author is new to me, I will look out for more from them.

A person can never really escape the past. The main character has moved on from a horrific event, changed her name, has a family. Except someone knows amd is stalking and taunting her. She puts those around her in doubt with her actions and disclaimer of culpability. The writing was good and the ending was good. All,the questions about the plot were answered sufficiently. The book shows the darker side of humanity/

This unputdownable psychological thriller was probably right up there in my favourite reads of the year. Fast paced, gripping and sprinkled with some unexpected twists, I'll Never Tell is a tale of Alessia who is shaken up by the mysterious messages sent to her by someone of her past, a past she has no intention of looking back on.

Of course, as with any other thriller, I made my prediction early on in the book, and became more and more happy to have it slowly come to light towards the end. What was unexpected was that, the ending I predicted came in before the last 1/3rd of the book and the twists that came in those last few chapters had me reeling.

Although it was a slow start for me, the book had me hooked towards the middle and I couldn't wait to see how this would all play out. I wish the writer focused more on the underlying theme of mental health and delusions vs reality, but it didn't disturb the pace much, and the readers get the ultimate conclusion to focus on without getting too entangled in the subplots of the story.

Overall, a bloody good read! Kept me on my toes almost the entire time and I hope I get to read more of the author's books soon.

As always, thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As young girls, Sarah and Emma-Jayne played in a dilapidated cottage they called the Doll House. Their games turned deadly, but only one girl had to pay. Now 20 years later, the other doll is back and more blood will be spilled.

I like the cover and creepy story concept. I’m reaching deep here because this book almost ties with my worst read of 2021.

Why, you ask? Because this book is an exemplary example of all TELL/NO SHOW! This book includes a NAUSEATING level of ADVERBS that tell you everything! Therefore, the author steals the chance of connecting emotionally or investing into the story from you. You cannot read one simple paragraph—or more importantly a speech tag—without face planting over multiple lazy adverb usage.

There’s also no nuance at all, which is a very telling clue about the unimpressive writing style. At one point, the author uses grey twice in the same paragraph to describe the sky. Umm, really, there’s no other word to use? The entire book was so cringe-worthy that I thought I was reading a first draft from an extremely novice author because the writing is so poorly executed. We readers know the difference and wish to invest in intriguing characters and interesting stories. If an author is so unwilling to invest in their own skill set, why should readers bother investing in their work?

So, I’ll save you the time here and TELL you exactly how I feel about this book. If lethargic writers with dismal skill sets is your thing, and you don’t care about nuance, or wish to connect with any character of the story at all, and you happen to have a 20-year prison sentence where you need to pass the time, then still pass on this book. A thesaurus will come in handy though.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 Stars

One Liner: Quick, Focused, and Intriguing

Alessia has a loving husband, Carl, and a cute little son, Jacob. Her life appears wonderful, and it was until it isn’t anymore.
Alessia has a past. She and her friend Sarah have done something they shouldn’t have. The news became public, and somehow it was only Alessia who stood the trial.
Twenty years have gone by, and some of her fears have subsided. But then, there’s someone intent on digging up the past and ruining her life again.
People didn’t believe her when she said she didn’t commit the crime. Alessia knows they won’t believe her now either. Her family, her life, and her future are at stake. Can she face the past to save her family?
What will happen when the truth comes out? And…what is the actual truth?
The story goes back and forth (now and then, written under the chapter head for convenience). The narration is in the limited third person and gives us insights into the characters’ minds.

Plus Points
• Short chapters and lots of tell (works for the story)
• Good pace throughout
• Focus on what’s necessary for the plot
• No unnecessary twists or subplots (there were many instances to complicate the story and extend it by another 50-70 pages. Thank you for not doing that.)
• Clearly defined characters (not deep but easy to predict their actions)
• Harriet is a sensible cop. I wish she has a book of her own (or even a series)
• No rambling (most of the time. The rest was necessary to provide more information)
• Deals with topics like child abuse, trauma, and mental health without overemphasizing anything
• Sustains interest almost from first to last (I had to rearrange my ideas more than once)
• It's a small book (less than 300 pages) and a quick read

Things That Didn’t Work Me
• Some strange use of adverbs (ref: robotically). It seemed like an attempt to shorten sentences to increase the pace. Doesn’t always work.
• The first chapter! I can’t put my finger on it, but the first chapter just wasn’t right in there for me. It’s perfect bait (something I've done myself). Yet, something felt off. If the book didn’t come with recco, I’d have been wary of the rest.
• The scene in the climax felt a wee bit unrealistic. I see why it was done. Just wished it was a bit more ‘in there’ with the rest of it.

To sum up, I’ll Never Tell is a quick thriller dealing with important social issues. The overall result is more than satisfactory.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This psychological thriller is unputdownable! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this one!!

This is my first novel by Casey Kelleher and she can definitely write a book that will keep readers guessing from start to finish. The dual timelines wound together perfectly and the twists were unexpected. It’s one of those books you’ll be thinking about when you aren’t reading it.

Synopsis: Alessia has a wonderful husband and an adorable son and she’s finally living happily after surviving a traumatic childhood. Just when she realizes she has finally been able to move on, a brick flies through her window and someone seems to purposely run her car off the road.

Fear causes painful memories to come flooding back. She remembers growing up with the name Emma-Jayne and the times she spent playing with her friend, Sarah, in an abandoned workshop in the woods. She also remembers a dead body on the ground, taking the blame for the murder and spending years in a mental institution.

The memories start to become confused with reality as Alessia does whatever she can to keep her family safe from everything in her past that is now threatening her in the present.

This was a good one.

Had me hooked from the first page to the last I just didn't want it to end a twisted read that portrays the lasting effects and damage that trauma can have on an individual, there was so many different elements this story I didn't want it to end! (Although I did)

A mind blowing captivating read which doesn't disappoint.

I'll Never Tell - Casey Kelleher

I've really enjoyed a number of books featuring characters living under protected new identities after committing serious crimes when they were children, so I was really looking forwards to this one.

Alessia is the adult new identity of Emma-Jayne. As a child Emma-Jayne and best friend Sarah were involved in a murder.

Alessia is quietly getting on with his life until she receives the note saying 'FOUND YOU!'.

The writing style is light and easy, I enjoyed reading it. The plot is well structured, but I thought it could have gone deeper and darker given the themes of the books.

There are big twists, I'm not a deliberate 'twist spotter' but I did see all of the big twists coming and guessed them in advance, perhaps I've read too many similar theme novels before.

It does get nicely creepy towards to end.

I wasn't wowed, but I enjoyed it overall.


Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have enjoyed all this authors books and this was no exception. Fast paced, great storyline and would recommend to other readers.

This is a really twisty thriller! All but one of my predictions were wrong and I absolutely love it when that happens. This is a fast-paced book and not much can be said without spoiling it, so I’m just going to leave it at that and recommend it for all who enjoy thrillers.

There is something odd about this book. I could not place my finger on it. I knew at all times I am missing something. There is something I cannot figure out, no matter how hard I try. This bothered me until the end. Turned out it was not really the book's fault, it was me. I was fooled into believe certain things, and this is due to skillful writing. I actually figured out the culprit fairly early on, but I felt like it was not the main point of the book. It is hard to explain what I am talking about without giving away vital information.

This is a fast read with a pleasant pace. I did not think the book had a very unique theme, which was a disappointment, but at the end I realize I had judged the book too soon.

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5!

This is the first book I've read by Casey Kelleher and definitely won't be the last. "I'll Never Tell" is a psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator and is told in alternating POVs between the past and present. The main character, Alessia, has secrets and a dark past that she's kept hidden from her husband and her new friends. When someone from her past comes back to haunt her, it seems like she will do anything to stop them and not let her husband find out what's really going on.

I wasn't expecting this book to be so dark and disturbing. There are a few great twists throughout the book, some of which I was able to guess. But the ending completely shocked me and made the book well worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Casey Kelleher for the free eBook in exchange for leaving an honest review.

*Trigger warnings: child abuse, child molestation, mental health struggles