3.5/5 This was a quick engaging thriller set in the UK. Investigation into the death of a college student. Enjoyed the current and past timeline. The tie in with DI Nicki's mother was a good addition to the plot. Overall a good read and I will be reading more of her books. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

A good introduction to this author but I found it a bit rushed. I liked the premise of the story but I felt that there were parts of the plot that just weren’t dealt with. There were some good plot twists and I liked the main characters and would happily read another book on this series.

thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I unfortunately hated this. I usually love a book set in the UK but this was almost *too* UK for me… the dialogue was insane😖 the plot felt scattered, the transitions were not smooth, details got repetitive, and the characters seemed dull to me😭 sorry M.L. Rose:(( it didn’t work for me friend. 1/5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ALC.

This was a great book! I really enjoyed the characters and the mystery kept me reading, I wanted to find out what happened and I was engaged the whole read. Didn’t guess the twists and the story pulled together nicely at the end.

I would definitely read more by M L Rose!

I’ve always loved a police procedural set in Oxford and this was no exception. Our DI was born and reared here but finds herself investigating a case that seems to be connected to her. A young women dies falling off a building but why did she have a note with our investigating DI’s details in her pocket? A great procedural that portrays teamwork and camaraderie in the best way. I’d recommend this one. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

4* Decent introduction to this author, and a solid tale set in good old UK, despite some Americanisms creeping in.

This is a decent tale set in Oxford uni, with the death of a student that puts to bed an old mystery, as well as solving the current situation. It's low key and nicely done, and the policing relies heavily on modern-day life's CCTV.

But, we don't use 'vacation' in the UK, nor the other 2/3 Americanisms that crept in. And the drugs cache wasn't explained, nor was the stepmother's...racism?

Still, not a bad read.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.

Fatal Secret by M. L . Rose is the 3rd in the series. Set in Oxford and main character Nikki Gill is on the case. Students keep turning up dead and its up to Nikki and her team to solve it. An enjoyable read. Thank you for advanced copy.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and storm publishing and the brilliant author M.LRose for an early copy of her book to read

This is book 3 in this fantastic series. I really enjoyed reading all three books.A young college student found dead was she murdered or an accident. DI Nickki Gill on the case she discovers a note in the victims pocket with her name on it..has this anything to do with her. Chloe the victim mother disappeared when she was young. Another student dies is there a connection. And the past comes to light..was hooked on this read a five star read and looking forward to reading the next instalment.

This book will be reviewed on Amazon and goodreads.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Fatal Secret by M.L. Rose is the third book in the detective Nikki Gill series. It is a gripping crime thriller that keeps you on edge with its suspenseful plot and unexpected twists. The novel follows Detective Inspector Nikki Gill as she investigates the mysterious death of an Oxford student, Chloe Pierson, whose body is found at the base of New College’s ancient walls. A cryptic note in Chloe’s pocket mentions Nikki by name, making the case deeply personal.

As Nikki delves deeper, she uncovers Chloe’s secret investigation into her mother’s disappearance years earlier. When another student dies under eerily similar circumstances, Nikki realizes she’s dealing with a calculating killer connected to her own past. The story blends themes of justice, memory, and hidden truths, forcing Nikki to confront painful memories while racing against time to stop the murderer.

I really enjoyed this story full of twists and turns and it keeps you guessing until the end!

Enjoyed this story set in Oxford where DI Nikki Gill investigates the murder of a student. The plot races along and it’s easy to rip through this book in just a couple of sittings. I look forward to reading more of ML Rose’s books.

This was a great addition to the series.
I read this very fast, the twists were great
Can't wait till the next installment

Part three of this series and it didn’t disappoint, following the discovery of a round woman’s body at Oxford can the team solve what happened?

I raced through this fab book,can’t wait for the next one

4 stars

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for this arc

DI Nikki Gill is called out to a suspicious death in the college grounds.
A cryptic note mentioning Nikki's name is found in the girl's pocket.
Another student dies in a similar way, and Nikki knows that the killer is connected to her past.

Fast paced, gripping the reader from the first page to the last. Secrets unravelled, and a crack team working on the clues. Nikki is a great leader to the team.
Story is well plotted and switches between the past and present. The killer is ruthless and a master of disguise.

A page turner, a 'just one more chapter' type of book.

This is the 3rd in the series, I read the first, so was not totally in the dark about Nikki's past.

An Oxford student named Chloe is found deceased on the grounds after a late night out, and DI Nikki Gill never would have guessed it would connect to her. While investigating the case, they discover that Chloe had been searching for information on her mother, who disappeared when Chloe was just a small child. Even though she lived happily with her dad and stepmom, she couldn’t help being curious about her mother, as she barely knew her. Unfortunately, Nikki and her team believe that it may have led her into danger. That same danger soon strikes again, and the team has to move even quicker to ensure no one else gets hurt. But is it too late?

The story was engaging, but there was just a little bit of stretching for me when the detectives were interviewing Chloe’s parents. Any investigator would have briefly offered condolences for the loss of the ex-wife, but Nikki randomly pressed for a lot of info about her. It was just too obvious a way to work it into the plot. And the dad and stepmom didn’t even question it, when they typically would at least wonder what the relevance is.

And boy, do Nikki and Monty need to get together! All this build-up better lead somewhere; they are too good together not to be more than colleagues. I’ll be patient for now, though!

The storyline in Fatal Secret by M.L. Rose is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that pulled me into the world of Detective Inspector Nikki Gill. Set against the backdrop of Oxford, the novel begins with a shocking discovery of the body of a young student, Chloe Pierson, found at the base of New College’s ancient walls. What appears to be a tragic accident quickly spirals into an unsettling mystery when Nikki finds a note in Chloe’s pocket that ominously mentions her name.

The author intertwines the past with the present as Nikki’s investigation unravels a web of secrets and reveals a chilling connection to her own history. The dual narrative of Chloe’s quest to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance adds depth and intrigue to the story. As DI Nikki Gill delves deeper into the case, the tension mounts with every turn and the stakes escalate when another student meets a similar fate.

Fatal Secret has a pulse-pounding plot. Nikki is a well-developed protagonist whose resilience and vulnerability are beautifully portrayed. Her struggle to confront her own buried memories while racing against time creates an emotional spirit that kept me invested in her journey. The pacing is managed very well, with enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes without feeling overwhelmed. The author builds a sense of dread that culminates in a fierce finish, ensuring that the revelations are as satisfying as they are shocking.

Overall, Fatal Secret is a gripping read that combines suspense, emotion, and a rich setting into a captivating mystery. If you’re a fan of gritty thrillers with complex characters and intriguing plots, this book is a great read.

I would recommend this book and this author.

#FatalSecret #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

Tense, Twisty, and Unputdownable
Fatal Secret by M.L. Rose is a gripping thriller with a strong, complex heroine and plenty of clever twists. Fast-paced and atmospheric, it’s a great read for fans of psychological mysteries and police procedurals. Another fantastic entry in the DI Nikki Gill series! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy—I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

When Detective Inspector Nikki Gill discovers a young Oxford student dead at the base of New College’s ancient walls, she assumes it’s a tragic accident. But everything changes when a note is found in the victim’s pocket mentioning Nikki by name. As she investigates the death of Chloe Pierson, Nikki uncovers the student’s secret quest to find out what happened to her mother who vanished years ago! Great read! Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had shocking suspense, mystery, murder, great characters and a few wild twists! The storyline was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Absolutely riveting! A girl falls to her death from the Oxford ramparts. DI Nikki Gill is lead investigator and it becomes a convoluted, complex case with twists and turns and connections to Nikki herself. Good, strong characters and a great plot. Plenty of suspense and I couldn't put it down!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and M.L. Rose for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

Another fabulous read in the DI Nikki Gill series of books. Invested in the characters from start to finish. Follows the investigation of Chloe's fall from the rooftop. How does it relate back to DI Gill? Kept me gripped throughout. Highly recommended. I was lucky enough to receive this as an advanced reader copy and leave this review willingly.

Fatal Secret is one of those twisty, page-turning thrillers that worked really well for me. It isn’t too heavy but still managed to grip me in the secrets and betrayals. The plot jumps about and was constantly surprising with so many twists I just did not see coming,
The characters are real, with flaws, and characters issues and they seemed to just keep making the most terrible of decisions. Because of this the plot felt that it was constantly rushing forward with hidden pasts crashing into the book bringing drama and making this a real entertaining read,