Read this if…you like scavenger hunts and complex, slow-burn mysteries where everything is revealed at the end.

Cleo is surprised with a scavenger hunt on her 18th birthday. Sounds fun, right? The only problem is the game is digging up a secret that Cleo would rather keep buried. A year ago, she pushed her abusive boyfriend, Declan, off a high ledge into a dangerous river where he presumably drowned, although his body was never found. She thought she could leave this terrible incident in the past, but now, the clues to the scavenger hunt mention information only she and Declan knew. Is it possible he didn’t actually drown and is now out for revenge?

I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed it well enough. It was a little slow for my tastes overall, but the ending had a lot of suspense. I’m just not sure I would have made it to the end if I had been reading it. The mystery itself was complex and had a lot of characters so it kept me thinking. For a YA mystery with only mild violence, I ended up liking it more than I thought I would based on the first half.

My rating: 3.5//5

A big thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

“I know seven secrets:
One caused the fall. One did nothing. One saw it all.
One didn’t care. One used their head. One played the hero.
One was left for dead.”

Cleo loves escape rooms and mysteries and on her birthday she finds herself in a scavenger hunt to keep her secret. On her previous birthday her friends and boyfriend went whitewater rafting and her boyfriend died. Or did he? She’s unsure who is sending them the clues and if they know her secret.

This was a little more fun for me than the average listener because I’ve spent a lot of time in Columbus for work and I knew many of the places they visited around town.

While the story moves a little slow at times, it was a good mystery with an interesting twist. I enjoyed listening to the audio version while I walked. Both the story and the narrator, Natasha Soudek, kept me engaged.

As far as YA mysteries go, this would be a good choice. When I rate books, I rate them against other books of their genre. In that case, this is a solid four star. It’s super fast paced, which makes it easy to fly through. I only wish I’d read the book with my eyeballs instead of the audiobook. I think the reading experience would’ve been a tad bit better.

Cleo receives a gift on her birthday- inside, a clue to a scavenger hunt that seems to be centered around her relationship with her deceased boyfriend.

Seven people went on a rafting trip, only six came back.

One caused the fall
One did nothing
One saw it all
One didn’t care
One used their head
One played the hero
One was left for dead

Does someone know the truth of what really happened at the river?

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. While thrillers has always been one of my absolute favorite genres, I have been unimpressed with most of the ones I've read over the last couple of years. Enough so that I've shied away from the genre. But the scavenger hunt aspect intrigued me. And I am glad I did. I couldn't put it down! While I did have it figured out, I was not completely confident in my hunch. Knowing did not spoil it, either.

I listened to the audio version. The narrator did a good job. Nothing spectacular, but a solid job that I can find no fault with.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable thriller. A group of teenagers are invited to a scavenger hunt but the clues are very personal and can only lead back to the night their friend Declan died but who set them on this path? Is Declan really dead? As the clues mount so does the suspense in this YA thriller I enjoyed this cat & mouse escapade I was never sure who I could trust and who was telling the truth, which I loved! The reveal was good.

This is my first book by this author but it will not be my last! This was also my first book narrated by Natasha Soudek I thought she did a very good job but I wish a couple of the girls voices had had a little delineation and I wish each chapter said who was talking but that’s not her fault. I will definitely pick up other books if I see she is narrating!

4 Stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Dreamscape Media, LLC and NetGalley for a fair and honest review

Didn't grab me with the first paragraph but it did within a few pages. It got bogged down for a bit but the last third more than made up for it. I really didn't like any of the characters very much.

ARC given in exchange for an honest review.

This books is about a group of friends that has tragedy strike on a rafting trip. It starts a year after and totally gave me “I Know What You Did Last Summer” vibes. I enjoyed the storytelling and the consistent back flashes, only wish that it wasn’t all set in first person. The characters are well developed and it’s interesting learning more bits and pieces about their stories along the way. I enjoyed all the twists and turns and like how the author set it up for more possible books in the future. There are some domestic violence trigger warnings that should be included but all in all I enjoyed this story.

Seven Dirty Secrets is a pretty standard YA thriller. I really liked that Hope’s “partners” throughout the whole story were her friend and brother. Yes, the story is a mystery about an ex-boyfriend but it was nice to not have unnecessary romance thrown in the mix. The clues were fun but I would have liked it if there was a little more build-up to them. The ending made up for the parts that bored me in the middle. I didn’t guess the big plot twist which left the book on a positive note and I felt that it wrapped up nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review

When Cleo receives an invitation for a scavenger hunt for her 18th birthday, she’s sure it’s her best friend, Hope. Or maybe her brother, Connor or boyfriend, Bennett. But when nobody claims it, she and Hope decide to get to the bottom of it. As it is coming up on the 1 year anniversary oh her ex boyfriend, Declan’s death, they quickly find that the person who sent it may be digging for the truth.

This audiobook was entertaining enough to keep me listening until the end. There were definite twists and discoveries that I did not see coming. I enjoyed that it was set in Columbus, Ohio, which is close to me and referenced a lot of popular cites throughout the city. The narrator did a great job conveying all the emotions of the characters and keeping me interested.

I went in with no expectations and i was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't amazing but it was good to keep me entertained for a while.

I still cant figure out the age range of the characters (right out of high school or early 20's... i dont know)

Didnt see the end coming so thats good.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed this! It was fast paced and kept my attention.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy!

Twisty turny! I enjoyed the story and how the story line played out. At one point or another I suspected everyone. It’s definitely a quick read/listen. I listened to the audiobook version and finished in a day. My only issue was sometimes i was unable to differentiate characters with the narrator. Only for a few seconds at most but it did take me out of the story.

This was good. It was fast paced and kept my attention. The ending was a nice twist. I am happy I was allowed to read this early

One caused the fall.
One did nothing.
One saw it all.
One didn’t care.
One used their head.
One played the hero.
One was left dead


Cleo receives a mysterious gift on her eighteenth birthday, inviting her to take part in a scavenger hunt. She is certain that someone close to her is behind it. Perhaps her best friend Hope or her brother, Connor are behind it. But no one steps forward and admits they are behind it. Armed with curiosity, Cleo and Hope set about finding clues - clue which all seem to lead to her boyfriend who drowned on a rafting trip a year prior.

This was an enjoyable YA mystery, but I have to say the narrator of the audio version did not impress me at all. If she was going for morose, no emotion, flat and bored sounding then she nailed it. Hats off to her for such a boring delivery. I know Cleo went through a lot but a little emotion, a little inflection would have helped.

But the story itself, was solid. I enjoyed the search for clue although, I kept thinking "how have you not figured this out already" plus some of their friends must have need a ladder to get on their high horses then at the end have a complete well.... maybe turn around. A little too convenient for me, but I still enjoyed it even with the horrifically boring delivery of the narrator.

Most are enjoying this more than I did. I do wonder if I had read this rather than listened to the book if I would have enjoyed it more.

Overall enjoyable but read the book skip the audio.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

Seven Dirty Secrets is an intriguing and suspenseful story that captured me from the start. The scavenger hunt plot is a great touch as we too are playing along with the characters. Only one difference, their clock is ticking!! I went in without any expectations and I loved how the plot started right at the beginning. Several justifying factors come and go as we try to figure out the person responsible, its like a wild chase for a goose you know you had with you all this time! The pacing is steady and the narration made it more interesting. Sometimes I got confused between the characters since the voices were more alike, but it got clearer after. An entertaining thriller!

Thank you Dreamscape media for the ALC via Netgalley.

Seven Dirty Secrets was a really good hidden secrets thriller. Most of the secrets I did not guess and definitely not the big finale. I really liked that, unlike in some other thrillers, they actually had reasons for not taking it to the police. I would have liked to see what happened consequence wise with the characters in the end. The audiobook was okay. There were times when I wasn't sure who was talking since the girls pretty much had the same voice. The voice that was done for one of the guys I didn't like in particular. I think for this one I just wanted to feel more tension and urgency in the audiobook. For me, this was a 3.5/5.

If you like everyone having their own secret, not knowing who's on your side, or want to see the ultimate scavenger hunt, this is the one for you.

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

AUDIOBOOK
Cleo receives a mysterious gift on the eve of her 18th birthday kicking off a scavenger hunt as well as many repressed emotions regarding an accident the year prior. As Cleo runs through the town we interact with her friends and loved ones and learn more about her and the accident and the tone in the "gifts" becomes more and more threatening. Will Cleo solve the puzzle? Who is behind all of this? What really happened during that white water rafting trip?

This is a great novel Gripping and lyrical. I love the voice of Cleo - it's like her brain is on hyperdrive and she literally says (to herself in this case) whatever is on her mind. All YA novels are wrecked with emotion and this is no different. The absentee parents allow the kids, bordering on adults, free range of the town and the house as they get to the bottom of things. There is also some very real, well depicted, situations regarding domestic violence and how it can impact a young woman.

If you like scavenger hunts (even threatening ones) YA novels, strong-ish heroines then this is a great (audio) book for you! #NetGalley #SevenDirtySecrets

Thank you very much to Dreamscape Media, the author and NetGalley for the arc audiobook of this book!

Your 18th birthday is a milestone that you will always remember; you can now vote and buy lotto tickets! In this story however, a seemingly innocent game turns into a fearful series of events leading up to the climax. When our protagonist Cleo finds a birthday gift outside of her shower, she immediately thinks her friends are trying to pull a fast one on her. But is the person behind the hunt a friend or foe? Only time will tell as they solve each clue.

I was very excited when I saw the premise of this book. I have not read any of this author’s previous work, but I do love a murder mystery and a scavenger hunt. A lot of people these days really get into crime shows and escape rooms, but what happens when your actual life is on the line and it’s not as easy as just walking through a door if you don’t complete it?

I thought that this story had a great premise, but I found myself wanting to dig a bit deeper on some backstories and character development. Some serious subjects were brought up that really made you feel for the individuals and more backstory could’ve built on to the closure. I think it would’ve been great to also incorporate more clues depending on who was chosen as her partner to solve the mystery (which also could thrown them off of their scent). As there are the seven main characters brought up in the title, I thought I might get a bit more information, but that could’ve also caused confusion.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as a fun escape from the day to day. It’s not everyday you get to take part in a mystery by scavenger hunt. Who do you think is behind it?

I liked it! The clues that Cleo finds throughout her birthday scavenger hunt lead up to revealing a big secret that a group of seven friends knew, but only six of them survived. I always enjoy books like this, and I felt the author did a great job with the characters, suspense, and of course the twists! I would definitely recommend this book to those that enjoyed A Good Girl's Guide to Murder or One of Us is Lying.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

The description of this book brought me in and I am so glad I read this book. This is my first time reading any book by Natalie a Richard, this will not be the last.

This YA mystery was great from the first chapter. Seven people, seven secrets, and an ominous scavenger hunt. I did enjoy this and the mystery of figuring out what may have happened. I do like this format where you know the end situation but learning the clues from the beginning to possibly fill in gaps till you know the full truth.

There were some things that the main character Cleo does that do seem stupid but also as a teenager I might have done them just like her. I also was a little washy on some of the family dynamics and thought they were just put in to complete the plot and keep the story going without any major stops or consequences.

All in all I feel this was a great little mystery I enjoyed listening too today. 4/5

That you so much to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for sharing this audio arc in exchange for my honest review.