The thriller based on a dementia/alzheimers patient story can be contrived and often poorly executed, but somehow Joy Fielding nailed it in Jenny Cooper Has a Secret. This was truly all consuming. I didn't want to put it down and had to get to the end as fast as possible.

Joy Fielding is back and better than ever!!!!!!!! "Jenny Cooper Has a Secret" was worth the wait (although it seems like it was 10 years since her last book)!

Thank you Ballantine for the gifted book!

This is exactly the kind of thriller I like to read! I love books about older people, especially those with secrets that society writes off as crazy!

When Jenny Cooper in the dementia wing says that she "kills people" everyone ignores her, except for one person, lonely Linda Davidson. For some reason, she just can't shake that there is some truth behind what Jenny says, and she won't stop until she finds out for sure.

This was a fun and easy read that didn't take itself too seriously, which I enjoyed!

I think this would be a fun slump-buster for many!

3.5 stars rounded up!

This book had me hooked. I didn't know who or what to believe and I loved that. Would you believe a 92 year old dementia patient who told you she had killed multiple people? Linda doesn't know if she should and so she keeps visiting her new friend, hoping to gain more knowledge. I was riveted right up until the end and wow, that ending! This was my first book by this author and now I can't wait to read more.

A gripping thriller! It grabs you from the first page and does not let go! Secrets, secrets, secrets! Make this book part of your 2025 reads! A top notch thriller!

DNF @ 14%. I found myself not connecting with the characters. The writing just wasn’t drawing me in. I just found myself indifferent to the story.

This was a great read asJoy Fielding winds tension like thread through a tapestry of elder care and emotional fragility.

Jenny Cooper has a Secret by Joy Fielding was one of those books that grabbed me right from the start and never quite let go. It’s got this eerie vibe woven through every page—a persistent chill that makes you glance over your shoulder while you read. The suspense is dialed up perfectly thanks to the quick pacing, short chapters, and those sneaky little cliffhangers that tease just enough to keep you turning pages long past bedtime.

I loved how the whole story revolves around secrets. Everyone seems to be hiding something, which created this intense need to uncover each revelation. But—I have to admit—the big twist wasn’t exactly a shocker for me. I saw it coming pretty early on. Still, even with the predictability, the ending felt satisfying in all its moral grayness. Nothing’s cut-and-dried, and that ambiguity gave the finale a deliciously unsettling depth.

Overall, this thriller definitely hit the mark. It’s creepy, compelling, and delivers on atmosphere, making it a perfect pick if you’re in the mood for something that’s both thrilling and a little unsettling.

Total disclosure: I picked up this book because of the title. See, I know a Jenn Cooper. She isn't old and doesn't have dementia, but how could I resist? And now I know her secret! (lol!) For a good majority of the story, I thought perhaps this book had been miscategorized. It felt like more of that genre I so dearly love: old people not being old. Jenny is such a sassy character! I loved the balance she provided to Linda Davidson's ailing friend and the quirkiness she brought to Linda Davidson's stagnant life. Other than Jenny Cooper, the characters were all pretty stereotypical. No big surprises, but that only made Jenny that much more fascinating. This is almost more a character study than a suspense, but it all made for a great read!

Thank you Ballantine Books for the gifted copy!

I unfortunately decided to DNF this one about 30% in... not enough murder talk and too much old people doin' it for my liking.

NetGalley is the only consumer site I will leave a review on as I didn't finish the book.

Jenny Cooper does not, in fact, have a secret. She shares her "secret" with our unlikable protagonist on the very first page,so the mystery goes immediately out the window. When Linda visits Legacy Place, a memory care facility, to visit her long-time friend, Carol, she immediately comes upon a frail women about 20 years her senior. This woman is clearly nuts. Linda clearly doesn't care. Uncomfortably living with her daughter and her son-in-law in the wake of her husband's passing, Linda is eager to find something to fill her time. For some reason, she selects Jenny Cooper.

This has got to be some of the least enjoyable writing I have ever had the displeasure of encountering. I would say these characters have many uncharacteristic outbursts, but I don't feel that I got to know anyone in this story well enough to know what was uncharacteristic. Most of the dialogue within these pages is completely nonsensical, riddled with chapter-long repetition, useless side characters, and just downright unrealistic back-and-forth. Fielding plops random characters into the story and removes them without much thought. She seems to do the same with major plot points. What became of Carol, Ms. Fielding? Do we care?

There was not a single redherring in this story. I think I figured out exactly how it would end 30 pages in. TRIGGER WARNING for completely unnecessary child sexual assault, spousal abuse, and bad plot development.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this arc.

This book is refreshingly original and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Our main character, Linda Davidson, is going through a rough patch. Her husband has recently passed away, her best friend has been moved into a memory care facility and her daughter and son-in-law have moved in with her, bringing constant conflict. During a visit to her friend, Linda meets Jenny, a 92-year-old memory care resident and that’s when the real fun begins. Despite the serious themes of dementia, abuse, and murder, quirky Jenny brings an unexpected charm and liveliness to the story. Her personality adds a layer of humor and heart ​​that bring lightness to even the darkest moments. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

I absolutely loved this book! Linda and Jenny are the heart of the story—two women who strike up an unlikely friendship at a memory care facility. Linda is dealing with the recent loss of her husband, the decline of her best friend due to dementia, and the slow unraveling of her daughter and son-in-law’s marriage—all while trying to maintain her own independence.

Enter Jenny Cooper: a sharp, hilarious, unpredictable 92-year-old who casually claims she’s killed people. From there, I was hooked. Is Jenny just confused, or is there something darker hiding beneath the surface? Like Linda, I found myself laughing at Jenny’s outrageous behavior one moment and questioning her sanity the next.

This story had everything—grief, love, humor, heartbreak, and mystery. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, and I didn’t want it to end. A beautifully written, emotionally rich story that I’ll be recommending to everyone.

A gripping and twisty thriller with a unique premise. I loved the mix of suspense and emotion, and the question of whether Jenny’s confession is real kept me hooked. A fast, unsettling read!

I do not believe I have ever been more surprised by a book than I was with this one. It was not at all what I expected, especially after reading the blurb. I kept thinking I am not going to finish this book, but I could not help myself. I was hooked on a 92 year old lady named Jenny Cooper. She stole my heart with her mouth, which was foul at times, but more than anything I could see a lonely lady buried underneath all of that gruffness. I also had to know if she was, in fact, a serial killer.

This book is advertised as a psychological thriller, but I think it is more women's fiction with a little suspense on the side. I am not stating this because the book is not good. I just feel that it needs to be more clearly classified.

Linda never dreamt her visit to her best friend in the memory care facility would be a life changing event. There is just something about Jenny Cooper that intrigues Linda, mainly the fact that she confesses she has killed people. Jenny will make you laugh and maybe even cry a little, while you are wondering if this little old lady is a serial killer or are her rantings just the fantasies of a woman who is not quite in her right mind.

Sometimes you find friends in strange places, and Linda needs friends. She also needs to escape from her toxic household where her daughter and lazy son-in-law fight constantly, which is another facet to the story.

Suffice it to say that you do not need to expect to read what I consider a psychological thriller to be, even though there are a few mind games. However, you will find yourself loving the story of two elderly women who each needed friendship. This book addresses a lot of emotional issues including abuse, dementia and family relationships. The author does a great job of handling the emotional issues with grace and care. Each character in this book adds a little more to the story and makes it even more palatable.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jenny Cooper Has a Secret by Joy Fielding is a spellbinding psychological thriller.
This is a super fast paced book. It’s really well written even though some characters weren’t really likable.
Fielding's skillful storytelling weaves a unique twist and turn story that kept me engaged till the very end.
The characters are complex and well-developed, adding depth to the intricate plot.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one early in exchange for a honest review!
Jenny has a Secret by Joy Fielding with a Publicatuon Date of August 2025! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Interesting story that follows Linda, her family and her best friend who has Alzheimer’s.! The book deals with family dynamics but also has a totally different part of the storyline which is perpendicular to the name of the book. Cute story, kept me interested! I Look forward to more from Joy Fielding!!

What a great mystery with some humor thrown in. Jenny Cooper is someone I would love to have as a friend. I am so glad I read this book.

This book had an interesting storyline. Who knew that two older ladies could capture my heart and leave me guessing all until the very end. If you enjoy a good twisty, suspenseful and eye opening read you need to definitely add this one to your TBR.

**Please check trigger warnings because this book touches on several hard topics that could be hard to read.

Another fast paced excellent book by Joy Fielding. Linda Davidson is a widow who is dealing with her best friend’s dementia diagnosis and her subsequent move to a nursing home. On top of the sadness from her friends situation, her daughter and son in law has moved in with her and things are not going smoothly. Linda soon meets a woman in the nursing home with an incredible story. Since the nursing facility is a memory care facility, Linda is not sure if the dark story the woman is telling is fact or fiction. Totally original, sad, and sometimes darkly funny novel that is not to be missed.