This was a strange book, a paranormal mystery if you will, but the characters and the storyline soon help you forget all the usual tropes that go along with this genre. In fact, it has been a long while since I read a book like this, and I mean this good that it makes you forget the usual tropes that get your backup. This book had evangelists, psychics, private detectives, and a whole bunch of bad men and strange goings on.

This is the perfect "pallet cleanser" read you pick up between heavier novels and series. I found it fun, and I hope you do too.

Delaney is a private eye with psychic abilities. A missing person case turns into something sinister and horrific, until she is forced to confront a supernatural enemy she met as a child.

When the novel is good, it's very good:

The story is original, suspenseful and fun to read, in a delightfully over-the-top way. Delaney is the perfect flawed heroine for a series that reads like a gory 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' meets 'Psychic Investigators'. Although the story takes some wild turns in the second half, those go well with the campy vibe.

But when the novel is bad …

Some scenes made me pause and frown, but I acknowledge that this is subjective to some degree. Sometimes, the writing just fell flat and did not evoke a vivid picture, or there were metaphors that felt very odd to me. In a gruesome scene, somebody's mutilated head is compared to a "watermelon with bones".

But there are also scenes that hint at more objective flaws, which might benefit from additional proofreading:

1) Scenes that are incongruous if you try to picture them. For example, Delaney wakes up to find somebody choking her, but still manages to twist around, grab her gun and fire it. And miss. Meanwhile, her assailant "turns just in time to see" what Delaney is doing – but with their hands wrapped around her throat, why would they *need* to turn to see what she is up to?

2) Inconsistencies. In one scene, Annika is threatened at work and "tears out of the parking lot", then drives around aimlessly. It explicitly says: she "doesn't bother going back to work". After a few pages of her thinking about her dire situation, however, it seems like she never actually left: "Annika feigns that she's sick. Ken is surprisingly cool with her request to go home and thanks her for the extra help".

Conclusion:

Overall, an entertaining read with a unique protagonist and a campy vibe. However, there are some flaws in the writing, which curbed my enjoyment considerably.

The Secret Within is a paranormal thriller featuring Delaney, a rough private detective with a drinking problem, and Anika, a drug-addicted waitress. When Anika her boyfriend Jay disappears, Jay’s parents hire Delaney to investigate the case and find out what happened to him. Delaney has a supernatural gift helping her on her search for missing people, but finding Jay proves more of a challenge than she expected. The only one who might have an idea about Jay’s whereabouts is Anika, but she seems to be struggling with the darkness within her.

While the story was enjoyable and easy to read, it was nothing more than that. The book was not for me. While I did like the premise of the story and the writing style, I found that the authors used unnecessary descriptions of the gore and violence in their book, making the story both less believable as well as annoying to me. Why was sexual violence necessary while it did not add to the story for any other reason than gore and violence? For me, it made the story less believable, because why was the perpetrator not stopped before the event, but only after?

All with all, a perfectly enjoyable book with some minor issues which I could not overlook while reading the story. Perfect for fans of an urban fantasy/horror combo.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the way this one started. I found the dual perspective to be interesting and a great way to drive the story forward on parallel and eventually converging paths. I really enjoyed Delaney as a character, she was strong and tough and I found her to be a great protagonist. I also really liked the writing style of the story, it was active and engaging and really drew me in.

Things were clicking along and I was really enjoying the layers of possibility and confusion that were piling up about what was *really* going on underneath everything - and then about 3/4 of the way in there's a big revelation about a side character that threw me completely for a loop and felt like it was totally out of left field and didn't resonate with the rest of the story. It felt a little Deus Ex Machina, and while it was a character I really liked and I didn't mind the way it played out ultimately, it felt odd to be incorporated into the story as it was unfolding.

It ends with some cliffhangers but not in an inappropriate way, more in a setting-up-the-second-book way. Despite my slightly waning enthusiasm after the strange character and plot twist, I am curious enough about some of those cliffhangers to pick up a second book.

The story is about Anika and Delaney. Anika boyfriend is missing and Delaney is hired to find him by his parents. Anika has blackouts and can’t remember things and Delaney has a gift that she uses to try to solve the case. The plot was interesting but the world building is little lacking.
I didn’t really connect to the two characters and I think it was because every chapter alternated with their POV.
The story did get a little better toward the end, but I most likely will not check out the next one.
The book cover really rocks.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

A bit horror, urban fantasy and paranormal mystery, Dleaney, a P.I. with psychic abilities was hired to find a playboy who disappeared. Secrets and a supernatural enemy that Delaney met as a child soon turned this relatively straightforward case into a twisted fight for survival.

I liked the characters and there was a strong sense of atmosphere (call it horror if you like). I have to admit that a lot of the story left me depressed but there is a strong ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The main characters were interesting, and we learn more about both of them as the book goes on as it’s told from both of their POVs. Even though I mostly figured out what was going on in the book, and at times it felt a little too emotionless, I really enjoyed it. I’m also interested in seeing how Delaney is going to deal with the knowledge she has now, and what comes next. Interesting book.

I recieved this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am quickly becoming a fan of Sean Platt and his team of writers. The books I've read thus far are ones that are marketed one way but very often are something else entirely! This one is no different - marketed as an urban fantasy I think it fits well into a few other genres as well, including horror.

Unlike some of Platt's other writings this one does not have an altogether tied up ending. It seems that there are many loose strings at the end, no doubt the purpose is to set the stage for a series or a duology at least. And for that reason I will have to be on the look out for additional books with these characters.

Platt and his team of writers always delivers a story that will stay with you for several days after you close the book. The writing and story lines always give the reader things to ponder, question, mull over. In fact the story just kind of stays with you - maybe even leaving you a bit unsettled, rattled, off base.

I do wish - just for the readers sakes - that Platt's books were more clearly marketed. As with another one that I reviewed (The Island) I think that a reader may pick this one up expecting one thing and get an altogether different thing. This is fine for people who don't mind surprises, but not so great for those who like urban fantasy but do not like horror.

This was an interesting read. Although marketed as an urban fantasy, I would consider this a horror in the vein of Stephen King instead. This was an fascinating concept, interesting plot, but extremely underwhelming ending. For all the buildup throughout the book, it ends with a clear set up for a second book and lots of unsatisfying loose ends.

Overall, this was interesting read exactly in line with what I like to read.

I just finished with this book, and I am a little lost for words about it. First off, I’m not sure what genre to put this in: horror, urban fantasy, paranormal? Whichever genre you want to call it, it was very good. The main characters were interesting, and we learn more about both of them as the book goes on as it’s told from both of their POVs. Even though I mostly figured out what was going on in the book, and at times it felt a little too emotionless, I really enjoyed it. I’m also interested in seeing how Delaney is going to deal with the knowledge she has now, and what comes next. Interesting book. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This had me hooked from the start. Mystery, suspense and a missing playboy. But things are not straightforward, this tale twists and turns with hidden menace and secrets. All is not as it seems. Will our detective fight through and solve the missing Jay, through danger and intrigue. Who are the Night Society? and what is Jays's girlfriend hiding? Can Delaney survive, solve the case and get to the bottom of a creepy and dangerous situation. This story draws you in and once's it has you it will not let go!

Interesting paranormal mystery/thriller.
The world building was good, but the characters shone. The two female MCs were relateable. The more I learned about their backgrounds, the more interesting they became.

It seems clear there will be a follow-up to this book that will hopefully clear up some loose ends.

I appreciate receiving this ARC. This is my honest review.

I must say this book is out of my “comfort zone” , but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. I was immediately drawn into the story, I did feel that the cursing was a little over the top. Not that people in real life don’t curse, but it was a bit extra.

As a nurse who works in long term care I greatly appreciate the portrayal of the facility in this book. It was a highlight for me.
We all have secrets within, I won’t spoil them for you. Read the book. Now.

Thank you #NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for a review.