When Emma Palmer was 16 years old, one fateful night led to the murder of her parents and the dissolution of her family as she knew it. After the incident, Emma fell out with her two sisters, Juliette and Daphne, and left their family home behind. Now, 14 years later, Emma is forced to move back into her childhood home—the site of her parents' murder—with her husband, Nick, after they are left without jobs and a place to stay. Planning to use it as a temporary space and perhaps fix it up to sell, if she can get her estranged sisters on board, Emma discovers there's more to the past than meets the eye and begins to unravel the mystery at the heart of the home.

I read Kate Alice Marshall's adult debut, What Lies in the Woods, earlier this year and *loved* it. She has a way with words that elevates her stories above other thrillers I've read. I love how atmospheric her writing is, pulling you into the scene and delivering chilling images with almost poetic language. She also develops her characters to be more rounded than just tropes in the genre. This is by no means literary fiction, but it comes closer than most thriller prose tends to be or care about.

Though I can't quote the book because the final version isn't quite out yet, I found myself underlining a lot of passages, either because they were beautiful quotes or because they showed a character in a way that was both succinct and clear.

While the mystery at the heart of this story wasn't as compelling or exciting to me as her previous thriller, I still found myself eager to pick it up to find out what happened next. And the last 10% or so had some fun twists and turns. I truly thought that so many characters in this book were suspicious, that at times I was coming up with multiple conflicting theories about who could have been the murderer and they all felt plausible.

I can't wait to see where she goes in this genre. If she keeps it up, she will become my go-to thriller author. I just vibe with her style a lot and find her books dramatic and a bit over the top but without rolling my eyes or ruining my sense of belief in the characters or story. The perfect mix for a page turning novel!

Whew! This was my second book by Kate Alice Marshall and boy was it a wild ride!

First of all, I loved the way this was written. The multiple POV between the Palmer sisters gave everything an added layer of suspense, and made it harder to know who to trust. The then/now timeline also added a lot, and I liked that small bits of the past were revealed over the course of the whole book.

I am a pretty seasoned thriller reader and even I wasn’t quite sure where the story was going to go. I had my theories, but it felt like every time I was sure what was going on, something happened to make me change my mind. Literally everyone was suspicious here😂 Some things felt a bit murky/confusing at the end, but I liked how the storylines blended together and what I was left with.

Pick this one up if you want a bingeable, edge-of-your-seat read!

Emma doesn't talk about her past much, not even to her husband. So when the two of them are forced to move back to her empty family home, major revelations are obviously in order. Something happened at the house that she and her two sisters have been running from since it happened. And the whole town thinks she is the one responsible. It is an intriguing set-up and manages to deliver on multiple levels.
Emma and her sisters have been estranged since they left, so have never faced together what happened as adults. Yet each of them have different pieces of the puzzle which are gradually revealed. And at the same time, the locals are chilly, sometimes antagonistic, even violent, and law enforcement is watching her every move, positive she is the culprit. It all makes for nice, twisty, psychological suspense that gradually ekes out the truth. Highly recommended.

No One Can Know is a fast paced thriller from start to finish. I was sucked right in from the beginning and couldn't put it down! Emma and her husband, Nathan, are faced with some unfortunate turn of events which brings them back to Emma's childhood home. Emma had no intentions of returning to the home where her parents were murdered, and the last place that she was connected with her two estranged sisters. Upon arrival, the community hasn't forgotten that Emma was the prime suspect of her parents killings, and Emma was able to walk away, but not without hidden secrets and questions. It doesn't take long for pieces of the mystery to start to unravel, and someone is desperate to keep the past in the past.

I loved it, I would highly recommend this new book by Kate Alice Marshall, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller writers!

After loving the authors previous book What Lies In The Woods I was so happy to get my hands on her newest book No One Can Know! The book immediately begins with a bang and I was shocked. So buckle up and get ready to be taken on a twisted ride!
Growing up in a chaotic but wealthy family three sisters Emma, Daphnis and Juliette lives are turned upside down when their parents are murdered. The sisters are the ones who find their parents. It’s soon becomes apparent that each sister is hiding something. The oldest daughter, Juliette, is obedient and her mothers favorite but that fateful night she arrives home after sneaking out wearing someone else’s clothes and her hair is wet. Daphne the younger sister is different, she hides in the shadow she makes herself invisible she hears everything and she was the one covered in blood that night. The middle sister, Emma walked in on her two sisters standing in front of the dead bodies and she helped them come up with a story to cover their tracks so they aren’t considered suspects. Fast forward no one is arrested but Emma was considered the prime suspect since she was seeing a boy named Gabriel. Now Emma is married to a man named Nathan and she’s pregnant, both without job only option is to move back to her family home where her parents were murdered. But now being back she must face her dark past and it’s soon apparent she’s not wanted back the town has held a grudge. Her husband is acting suspicious and the more she digs into her past the more she realizes her entire family has been hiding secrets but which secret was the cause of the murders?

4.5 stars rounded up. I read What Lies in the Woods earlier this year and enjoyed it, so I was excited to get an early copy of Kate's newest thriller. This was faster paced than What Lies in the Woods and I was immediately drawn in. I had a hard time setting it down. The story is told in multiple POVs, each sisters then and now. The dual timelines and multiple POVs really helped the book keep up its fast pace. The twists don't stop and you never know what/who you can trust. I really thought I had a majority of the whodunnit figured out but the ending was not what I expected. I definitely felt like the author was trying to confuse us readers in the last part of the book. It is cleared up pretty well by the very end. This is a twisty thriller full of secrets, some likable and some unlikable characters, and an addictive murder mystery. I think this will be a big book in the new year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hells yes! This was an awesome thriller! The characters were so interesting and the story was so compelling! I loved all the reveals and they just kept coming! I would absolutely recommend picking this one up in the new year and starting your reading off with a bang! Such a fun and exciting thriller!

This was a good read! I was already a fan of KAM after what lies in the woods, and this is another I would recommend. My only complaint is it’s written in third person POV, which I personally prefer first.

Three sisters are separated after their parents are murdered in their home. Years later, one sister and her husband are forced to move back into the home due to financial issues and the girls are reconnected.

I would recommend if you liked Not A Happy Family or The Overnight Guest.

Kate Alice Marshall is a really great story teller, and I’ve read a lot of thriller books but this one seemed to be set apart from others. It is definitely one that will stick with me, and I absolutely recommend giving it a read!

Ok, Kate Alice Marshall, you do know how to keep me up all night. This is a story of a small town, secrets, and complicated relationships. Emma, Juliette, and Daphne were orphaned when their parents were brutally murdered in the family home. 15-year-old Emma took charge of the situation and made sure that she and her sisters were on the same page about what took place. The price she paid was a lifetime of public suspicion of guilt. After the tragedy, the three sisters go their separate ways and are for all intents and purposes estranged from each other.

In the small and insular town of Arden Hills, Emma returns with her husband to the family estate. The town has long suspected her of the murder. Once Emma returns the story takes off and layers of secrets and revelations about the three sisters’ lives as well as the true events leading up to that night come to light and unravel.

This book was twisty and turny and filled with all kinds of intrigue. I am a big fan of small towns with secrets and people coming home to get to the bottom of a past tragedy, and this did not disappoint. One thing I appreciate about many of the characters in this book is how Kate Alice Marshall imbues them with dimension and layers and can make them simultaneously likeable and unlikeable; sympathetic and enigmatic.

This was a really good and suspenseful thriller. I detested Nathan so, so much. I found the relationship between the sisters to be really interesting as it was so nuanced.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Kate Alice Marshall for an ARC of No One Can Know! This book really shows how far someone will go to keep a secret because it about destroyed Emma’s life. Emma and her sisters, Juliette and Daphne, parents were murdered and they became estranged. 14 years later, Emma finds herself going back to where it all started after her husband loses his job and they are running low on money. Oh and also, Emma is pregnant 🫣. Her arrival back in Arden Hills starts stirring everything back up from where it left off and everyone thinks Emma killed her parents. All Emma wants to do is live her life and move on - but she can’t help but start asking questions about what really happened. How far would you go to keep a secret that may destroy everything you thought you knew. I did really enjoy the book and trying to figure out what’s actually true or a lie. It was hard keeping track of what was going on but overall, very enjoyable book!

Wasn’t a big fan of KAM’s first novel, what lies in the woods, but this one was sooo much better. The pacing was better and I enjoyed the premise more. It was a lot less predictable

This one really sucked me in to the story from page one. I loved the multiple POVs combined with timelines of past and present. But man, that ending just left me disappointed? I don’t know what I was wanting, but it felt rushed and I felt a little deflated like.. all this build up was for that? I typically love this author’s writing style and have read 2 of her other books. I guess I just wanted something wild and explosive that felt in keeping with the rest of the story for the ending of this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Alice Marshall and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flatiron Books, for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book for review.

The author masterfully conceals the truth, skillfully scattering breadcrumbs of clues through the three sisters, creating a suspenseful narrative that intrigues the reader from one page to the next.

In their teenage years, the sisters - Juliette, Emma, and Daphne - were devastated by the discovery of their parents' lifeless bodies in their family home. Emma, positioned as the middle sister, was implicated as the culprit, but the absence of concrete evidence left the case unresolved and cold. This traumatic incident splintered the sisters, with Juliette fleeing without looking back, while Emma and Daphne were thrust into separate foster homes. Emma’s financial issues lead her back to their childhood home, unearthing the truth about that dreadful night and setting the stage for a poignant reunion of the sisters.

Each sister is meticulously developed and is convincingly relatable. Despite the parents being portrayed as detestable characters, the sisters evolve uniquely. Juliette, the eldest, conceals her resentment towards her parents under the guise of the ideal daughter, embodying the journey of a young woman coming into her own, particularly in terms of her sexuality. Emma, the temperamental and artistic middle sister, aspires to escape her parents' clutches. The loss of her sisters, however, transforms her into a more subversive character. Daphne, the youngest sister, harbors the most significant secret. Her evolution from a timid teenager into a self-assured woman is a captivating journey to behold.

The narrative employs unreliable narrators as the sisters' perspectives cannot be entirely trusted. Just when you believe you've deciphered the truth, the author ingeniously surprises you with a divergent rendition of reality, keeping you on your toes until the very last page. The task of determining the veracity of the story is left to the readers, inviting them to choose which sister to believe.

The novel's conclusion offers an optimistic contrast to its beginning, a rare occurrence in the realm of thrillers or mysteries. The happy ending is believable enough to be conceivable, providing a satisfying resolution that readers can fully embrace.

I like this author and was really excited for her latest novel. I finished this in 2 days because I just had to get to the bottom of this whodunnit. However, there is a lot of back and forth between past and present so it’s probably best not to rush it. It was good, def kept me guessing. & the end was surprising. Not a favorite of mine but still enjoyable. I think it just had too much going on.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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No One Can Know is the second of Mashall’s books I’ve read and it is just as addicting, thrilling and twisty as What Lies In The Woods. I devoured this in one day and my head was spinning from all the secrets, revelations and twists.
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Told in multiple points of view through the three Palmer sisters, Emma, Juliette and Daphne. In the beginning I felt like I was a bit confused as to who was who, but that only lasted briefly. With each sister comes a new secret, one that once revealed will have you gasping. It’s also told in a dual timeline between the past, (before and leading up to their parents murder) and in the now.
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This was totally gripping right from the start keeping my attention up until the end. I loved this fast paced, twisty and shocking story! There are a ton of twists at the end that will have you second guessing yourself. Be prepared to be unable to put this one down once you pick it up.
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I was able to read and listen to this one. Karissa Vacker did a great job at narrating all three sisters, though I do wish this was a full cast. I thought the audio was well done and definitely recommend it.
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No One Can Know comes out 1/23/24, but is available as a prerelease via BOTM. Be sure to check this one out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Kate Alice Marshall, Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books for my ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Having just completed this captivating book, I find myself immersed in a world where the past echoes loudly, and every page holds the promise of rediscovery. The protagonist, a resilient woman, takes center stage in a narrative that skillfully weaves together elements of nostalgia, tragedy, and heartfelt moments.

The author's ability to paint vivid scenes through words made the journey back to the old house and hometown a sensory experience. Each chapter unfolded with a perfect blend of suspense, emotion, and nostalgia, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

The characters, a diverse ensemble, are expertly crafted, eliciting a spectrum of emotions from empathy to frustration. The ending, while bittersweet, adds a layer of authenticity to the story, leaving me with a profound sense of reflection.

Returning to one's roots is a theme expertly explored, turning the protagonist's life upside down in a way that felt both relatable and profound. The narrative's pacing is impeccable, allowing for a seamless flow that kept me engaged from start to finish.

In conclusion, this book is a literary gem that invites readers to embark on a soul-stirring journey of rediscovery. Highly recommended for those who appreciate rich character development and evocative storytelling.

My thoughts on…

THE STORY: The story itself was wild. Imagine your spouse loosing their job as you find out your pregnant; the house you were going to buy is now off the table as a result, and you paid all of your saving in earnest money, so that is now gone. That’s our main character’s life as the story opens.

The only option to keep a roof over their heads is to return to the home where Emma’s parents were murdered.

This is such a contentious part of the story because Emma does NOT want to go. It’s important that readers know that from the start; there are secrets - which is what the book explores - that Emma “wants” to know but is afraid to know.

While Emma seems to be the main character, the story itself is told from the viewpoint of all three sisters. It also goes back and forth between “Then” and “Now,” which I enjoyed because it gave me a glimpse of what each sister experienced, and things were not always as they seemed to others.

Readers will find themselves guessing about the truth throughout the story. There are so many twists and turns, and just when we think we have it figured out, there’s another missing piece (that we didn’t know was missing) to the puzzle that shows itself.

The ending is a jaw dropper, especially for those that are still fairly new to thriller reads. But even I dropped my jaw, and I’ve been reading for 40 years.

THE CHARACTERS: There is so much complexity around each sister.

Emma is the one everyone in the town thinks did it. While she’s trying to navigate all that the universe has handed her, so is not only returning to a home where her parents were murdered but also to a town that believes she was the culprit. This was masterfully done.

Did I mention Emma is the middle child? Talk about middle sibling syndrome. For those familiar with this term, you will see this as part of Emma’s characterization.

Juliette is the oldest sibling, but she prefers to go by JJ. She was the apple of her parents’ eye until the murder, and then she leaves for college afterward. She does not live her life under suspicion in the way Emma does, but she does carry secrets that weigh her down. Readers will feel this weight the entire novel, even when the truth is revealed.

And then there’s Daphne, the youngest. Daphne is the carrier of secrets. She carries more secrets than her two older sisters because Daphne, being the youngest, learned how to make herself invisible.

I don't even want to talk about Emma’s husband Nathan because as a character, I just wanted to fight him the entire time he was on the page. He is the spouse we all hope we do not end up with. When you read, you’ll know why VERY quickly. The author does not make us work for that.

There are other characters that are brought in to create intrigue, doubt, hope, but I will save those for you when you read this.

THE ATMOSPHERE: This does not have a single atmosphere. It shifts throughout the novel, depending on the time we are in (Then or Now), and depending on where we are. Each character brings a different atmosphere with them, and I liked that. It didn’t let me get comfortable and cozy. I was on my toes the entire read because I was not sure where I was going to be or how I was going to feel (gotta love the use of mood in a thriller).

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I absolutely loved the story, I loved the sisters, and I loved the twists and turns that kept me turning the page. I did not read this in one sitting because I had to put it down and chew on parts of the story, but I can see many seasoned thriller readers zipping right through until the very end.

But we warned, this is a book you will want to discuss, so I heavily recommend having a reading buddy if you can.

WHO WILL WANT TO READ THIS: This book will appeal to thriller readers. If you are new to thrillers, this is a fantastic choice because it brings to the page all the things thriller lovers tend to enjoy.

Following the journey of three sisters whose parents were murdered in their home when they were kids, No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall slowly unwinds through each sister's perspective. Each chapter is told from a different POV and pieces together what happened on that fateful night all those years ago. Emma has always been held as a suspect in the eyes of local law enforcement and the town even though she was never convicted. Once she left town she vowed never to return. Years later a pregnant Emma and her husband must move into her parents old house. With her arrival and the return of her sisters JJ and Daphne, the three must work together to figure out what really happened to their parents.

Overall, No One Can Know is a solid entry into the mystery thriller genre. The plot twists we unexpected and the characters were developed enough to tell them apart during their respective chapters. While no new territory was entered, I really enjoyed the pacing of the book and would recommend it, especially the audiobook.

This thriller takes you through a journey with three sisters, two murders, and a ton of secrets, and overall I liked this book. The aspects of this book I enjoyed were: the flashback to the murders at the very beginning, the three sisters' POVs with dual timelines, and the narrator of the audiobook. The part I did not love was the second tragedy that happens in the middle of the book. It felt far fetched and unnecessary, in my opinion.