I think this is my fourth read by Andrews. It's now my favourite of his to date.

It hooked me with immediate effect and I ended up bingeing in one sitting...it's that good!

The twists and turns just don't stop, and the ending was one of those 'what did I just read' moments. It's told in the then and now, and narrated from the voices of Carol and Brenda.

Secrets and lies abound, and I've since learnt to expect the unexpected...

A great plot with addictive and engaging characters.

Absolutely loved it!

First, I want to thank JA Andrews, BookGoSocial, Rachel's Random Resources and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

YES!!! JA Andrews is back with another psychological thriller and oh how I have missed his books! I have been a die hard fan of his since his first book Mummy Boy. Since his debut book his stories have gotten darker and gone down different paths. Secrets Among Thorns is unique in that it not only is a psychological thriller but has some paranormal/sci-fi aspects to it as well that makes for great read.

Secrets Among Thorns is the perfect title for this fast paced quick read that was so addicting that I devoured it in one afternoon. Not sure why but I have always been a fan of missing person cases in books. JA will pull on your heart strings with Lauren being missing for 10 years and her parents trying to find her. Usually not really into sci-fi or paranormal however the way it was used in this book it really made the storyline so much more interesting.

Secrets Among Thorns was a book that had so many betrayals, earth shattering secrets, and heartaches that totally blew my mind. JA did an amazing job with keeping me guessing that I was too blindsided by one bombshell after another to figure anything out!! But when I did OMG!!! This ginger snapped!!! JA This is your best written book to date!! It deserves more than 5 stars!!

When I finished this story, I thought about giving it a 4.5 star rating and I think that is well deserved. However, as I came into writing this review, I immediately started reflecting on how I have been thinking about this book randomly since completing it and because of that, I'm going to give it a 5-star rating.

The title makes sense to me! Every character left their mark on me. The plot and writing were easy to follow. A twist was provided. I just, I thoroughly enjoyed this and I've already mentioned this title to another reader! lol.

Unfortunately this was my first DNF of the year. I really liked the premise but couldn’t get past so many grammar and spelling mistakes. The writing was extremely repetitive and just couldn’t hold my attention.

JA Andrews wrote this well and was glad I got to read this. This was a strong psychological thriller novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters were everything that I wanted in this and had that secrets that I was expecting. I was invested in what was happening with the characters and the secrets that was hidden. It was a strong psychological element that I wanted and was engaged with the suspenseful atmosphere that I was hoping for.

Very interesting plot. It exploded in my mind. It was well thought out and written well. Exciting and fast paced i couldn't put it down once i started it.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and I read it in one day. I loved the characters and the storyline and thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

This wasn't for me. It's very slooooow and repetitive and very character led which just isn't my vibe. I liked the premise, it just turned out to not be my vibe

This was an interesting idea but the story was repetitive and it feel flat to me. I did enjoy some parts of the story though.

Exciting nail biting I loved it so much thank you for this page turner I couldn’t put it down and I’m sure others will fill the same way as well thank you

Secrets Among Thorns is a thought-provoking and suspenseful novel that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers. Its unique point of view and complex characters make it a standout in the genre.

The plot is well-paced, with twists and turns that maintain tension without resorting to clichés. Andrews' writing is both evocative and precise, painting vivid scenes that linger in the mind. The characters are multifaceted, each harboring their own secrets and motivations, which adds richness to the narrative.

While the novel excels in many areas, there are moments where the pacing slows, and certain plot developments could have been explored more deeply. However, these are minor personal issues that I had with this one. It didn't ruin the overall reading experience for me.

J.A. Andrews' Secrets Among Thorns delves into the agonizing aftermath of a missing person case, intertwining family tragedy with a persistent, almost spiritual, search for truth. The story begins with Carol, a mother already struggling to keep her family afloat amidst her brother-in-law Luke's terminal diagnosis. As Carol and her husband, Darren, grapple with this impending loss, their daughter, Lauren, mysteriously vanishes, igniting a decade-long mystery that gnaws at Carol and strains their already tumultuous marriage.

Years later, the cold case captures the unwavering attention of Brenda, a 63-year-old partially retired woman. After seeing Lauren's face in a local newspaper, Brenda develops a profound spiritual connection to the disappearance. Despite her husband Alan's skepticism, Brenda becomes convinced she is divinely meant to help unravel the truth.

The narrative skillfully weaves together suspense and emotional depth, prompting crucial questions: Does Brenda possess knowledge she shouldn't? What secrets are the family desperately trying to conceal? And, perhaps most importantly, who among them is lying? Secrets Among Thorns promises a compelling read for those who enjoy mysteries where gut feelings and hidden truths slowly, painfully, come to light.

Unfortunately, this story and I just didn't connect, which was a bit of a disappointment. Despite starting with a truly interesting premise that initially piqued my curiosity, I found myself struggling significantly to stay engaged. I'm not entirely sure if it was the specific narrative style used, the somewhat repetitive nature of the plot progression, or perhaps simply that the pacing didn't pull me in enough to generate that compelling drive to figure out what was happening. I ultimately decided to stop reading at the 40% mark, as I just didn't feel the necessary push or desire to continue with this particular story.

Secrets Among Thorns is a slow-burn mystery with real emotional depth and just the right touch of the uncanny. I wasn’t expecting to get so wrapped up in the lives of these characters, but the story stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

The book opens with an emotional gut punch—Carol and Darren trying to cope with the impending death of Luke, Darren’s brother. Just as their world is unraveling, their daughter Lauren vanishes without a trace. That single moment fractures everything, and the book really leans into the quiet devastation of a family trying to survive the unthinkable. Carol’s grief is raw and palpable, and the way her marriage slowly erodes over time felt heartbreakingly real.

Then there’s Brenda—probably my favorite character. At 63, partially retired and stuck in a life that feels a little too small, she sees Lauren’s face in the paper and just knows something isn’t right. Her obsession with the case adds an entirely new layer to the story, and I loved how her intuition and quiet determination drove the second half of the book. She brings this mix of warmth, grit, and mystery that gives the plot some unexpected momentum.

The story unfolds slowly, but in a way that feels intentional. Every character has layers, every secret adds to the tension. There were a few times I wished the pacing picked up, especially in the middle, and I found myself wanting a bit more clarity in the ending—but the emotional payoff was worth the wait.

Secrets Among Thorns isn’t a thriller in the traditional sense. It’s more introspective, driven by character and atmosphere, with a spiritual undertone that may not be for everyone—but it worked for me. If you enjoy mysteries that dig deep into grief, guilt, and redemption, this one’s worth your time.

Thank you for the ARC, however, I simply couldn’t finish this. I read 40%. This book is an absolute mess with the same conversation happening chapter after chapter. The conversations between characters didn’t have a natural flow & was cringy. The idea behind the book is intriguing, but the execution fell flat.

A psychological thriller/mystery told from multiple view points. Brenda is an observant, underestimated elderly cleaning lady with a touch of psychic ability who cannot let go of the 10 year old missing person's case involving a 17 year old girl. When she has the opportunity to connect with the family of the missing girl, she is drawn into the mystery and the secrets of what happened that fateful night.

J.A. Andrews has done a brilliant job of keeping you guessing as he weaves the story from the past to the present in this psychological thriller told from multiple viewpoints. The transitions between the viewpoints are seamless and it's easy to identify the voice of the characters. While all the characters were interesting and relatable, it was Brenda who stood out. She reminded me of a combo of Columbo and Mrs. Marple as the
non intimidating, kind, elderly lady with a mind like a steel trap. There were just enough clues to lead me to solving the mystery. But, they were twisty and interesting enough to keep me reading long into the night. This was my first read by J.A. Andrews but will not be my last. Thank you J.A. Andrews, NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC.

The description of this book is what lured me in. This story, told in multiple POVs, is intense. The author seems to drop hints throughout the book as to what the end result is actually going to be. Even though I had it figured out before the end, there were twists that I didn't see coming. This was a good, fast-paced read.

I kind of have mixed feelings on this book. There were definitely aspects that I loved, but there were also a couple of things that I found kind of off putting. In terms of the premise, I was intrigued from the second I read the synopsis and I knew this was going to be an interesting read!

I really enjoyed the plot, and the characters were really intriguing to me and super interesting to read about. I loved the slight supernatural aspect in terms of Brenda and her psychic abilities, and I thought that was a really interesting element! I also really liked the multiple POVs, and that we went back and forth between the past and the present.

Something that I wasn’t a fan of was that there was a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes throughout the book, and that was kind of distracting me from the actual story. I can definitely overlook a few mistakes, but it felt like there were multiple on every page. I’m not sure if it’s because this is an arc and not a finalised copy, and it’s probably just a me thing! But I thought I’d mention it because the errors got a little annoying after a while.

Some of the book and the writing also felt kind of choppy to me, but then other parts of it flowed really well, so it was kind of hit or miss for me, hence why I have mixed feelings! Overall, I really did enjoy the plot and the plot twist was definitely a shock, but the issues I mentioned before with the grammar and the flow of the book kind of hindered my enjoyment. I would definitely recommend it to any thriller fans though, because the plot was fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Creepy, emotional, and full of secrets—this one pulled me in right away. I loved the way the tension built slowly, and there were a few twists I didn’t see coming. A great read for anyone who enjoys a slow-burn thriller with emotional depth.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Stayed up late to Read this in a night, I really enjoyed this book. I would read more books by this author.