I went into this one with pretty high expectations because of the subject matter but at the end of the day, I was disappointed. It seemed like there could have been so much more detail, more depth and richness to the characters and I found it lacked something overall. At times it was difficult to read because it was sad and depressing but I feel like it was a missed opportunity to really dig into the repercussions of abuse and mental illness. Everything here seemed very one dimensional and forced. I thought the writing was good though so I gave it three stars...

Thank you for the opportunities to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

This was a good suspense novel and I was invested in the story but not necessarily the characters. Shelby and Eddie's relationship was what kept me hooked but individually I didn't care much for them. I can’t say I was surprised by how the story progressed. I thought I knew what had happened and eventually, I was right. This was a solid, sad read and I didn't mind investing time in it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I thought it was a very well written, faced paced book that had me interested the whole time.
I would definitely read another book by this author.

I just finished reading the book, and it has left me without knowing what to think ...
The evolution of little Eddie to become the hated Eddie Evil is something that is not currently new, however, in the middle of the 20th century, situations like those that Eddie lived, it was a taboo subject that made people ashamed so that instead of seeking help, they would remain silent and hide the traumas they went through.
I especially liked the way in which the author interweaves the past with the present, establishing the causes that led the protagonists to act as they did and face the consequences of their actions.

A good but different read The Secrets on Chicory Lane is a story told by 61-year-old Shelby (a writer) as she recalls events with her childhood friend/love Eddie (on death row) over the course of their lives. After Eddie requests to see Shelby before his execution, Shelby, the narrator, takes the reader on a journey about her and Eddie's relationship spanning from elementary school into adulthood, how they felt about one another, things that tore them apart, and so on. The memories held my interest, but at times I became terribly bored.

This novel sounded compelling when I first read the description, but it didn't wow me in any way. I pretty much figured everything out regarding what Eddie did, a little over halfway through the novel, so I didn't experience any great surprise or revelations. The writing style was confusing at times, but overall I found it beautiful and personal making it easy to feel invested in Shelby and her memories.

Solid read overall, though rather dark. Definitely not a happy ending but simply a sad story of how one life can turn out so terribly wrong as a result of tragic circumstances and bad decision-making.

Unable to review this title as it didn't send to my Kindle device

I don't know what I expected from The Secrets of Chicory Lane but it was definitely not what I got. I don't really know how to describe this book. Is it a mystery? Not really. But it's definitely suspenseful. And it's also sad and memorable and it won't leave anyone indifferent.

I admit I wasn't sure I would like it when I started reading it. The writing was not what I expected and at first I didn't feel I'd enjoy the novel's structure. This was a weird one. The narration was told entirely from Shelby's point of view, only she tells us her life story. I thought the present would be important, but it's actually not. Yes. we know that Shelby is traveling to Texas, but what matters are her thoughts, as she recalls her relationship with Eddie during five decades, from the time when they were kids until the last time she saw him during the trial.

While I didn't think much of it during the first chapter, as soon as I started reading about Eddie and Shelby's relationship, I was hooked. Theirs was one unforgettable tale and I was so immersed in their story that I almost didn't want to finish the book. Shelby was a character that grew on me as I got to know her better. I definitely thought she made some mistakes (who hasn't?) but she was a good person overall. Eddie... truthfully, I didn't like him from the very first moment he was introduced, but I felt sad for him anyway.

As much as I liked The Secrets On Chicory Lane, I can't say I was surprised by the how the story progressed. I thought I knew what had happened and eventually I was right. It was still heartbreaking and it definitely made me feel uneasy, but I believe it was the right way to finish the story.

This is not a happy book by any means and it touches several themes that make it a tough read sometimes. This book makes you reflect on how childhood experiences can affect our life paths, and how easily things could've been different.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
A very disturbing story about child abuse- mentally and physically. Although I had already figured out part of the mystery that was revealed at the end of the book, I didn't think that the book ended well. I have a very hard time reading anything about child abuse, so this book was not one I would recommend..

"The Secrets on Chicory Lane" is the story of Shelby Truman recounting her past in the 60s and the events that occurred therein.

Shelby and Eddie were both interesting characters. The story was definitely well written. I don't often read mysteries that have so much to do with flashbacks or small town crime but this one was definitely worth the read. I hadn't heard about Raymond Benson previously, but I definitely will be reading more of his work in the future.

A woman revisits her past on her way to say goodbye to her once-best friend now in death-row. It's a nice trip back memory lane, and interesting discussion on how things used to be as opposed to present day.
Oh and tension never lets up!

I completed this book in one sitting. The main positive of the book in addition to good storytelling, was its length.It is not long enough to get annoying and also not too short to stop us from bonding with the narrator.

Initially at the start of the book I wondered if I had stumbled onto the preface ( of the book) of some sort ( I had not read the story outline in a while , since downloading it a few months ago) and that mistaken assumption made it more interesting. 

The story is of a woman who is facing her past in more ways than one. Being a famous novelist, her old town wants her presence, on the other hand the darker side of her past is starting to dig its way out to meet the present. We spend more time in the past in the book and watch a seemingly innocuous neighbourhood harbour more than its share of secrets.

The reason I gave this only three stars was it did not seem to be a very novel set of secrets. The writing of the book though makes its reading enjoyable.

I had never come across Raymond Benson before, wow, is he prolific. Successful novelist, Shelby Truman, is forced to recall her past when Eddie, a man she grew up with, asks to see her. Eddie is on death row following his conviction for murdering his partner and their unborn child.

The novel moves through the 1960s to the present day and is told from Shelby’s perspective as a woman now in her sixties. This is a very sad book. It deals with mental illness, childhood tragedies and trauma. It is however very readable and there is nothing gratuitous about it. I did guess the ending but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that that was intentional.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Another fabulous thriller I couldn't put down! Obsession, betrayal, satan worshiping, abuse...oh and loyalty, friendship, love, and compassion as well! Famous novelist, Shelby is called to her hometown because her once-boyfriend, Eddie--a confirmed murderer on death row--is scheduled for execution and has something he needs to tell her. Even though she hasn't seen or communicated with him for two decades, she makes the trip and as she does, she reminisces about the past they shared--with all the joys and sorrows of their lives. What could Eddie possibly have to tell her? The answer will shock you!

I rarely DNF ARCs I receive, but unfortunately I stopped reading this novel halfway through. The writing style was difficult for me to get through, and the portrayal of Shelby's mother particularly hard to swallow. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but the events that Shelby's mother (indeed the whole family) has to go through was significantly traumatizing, and the narrator doesn't give her a break at all. There is even a suggestion that because Shelby's mother was older when she had baby Michael, her aged hormones contributed to her inability to cope. Eek. Sorry, this is not for me.

*Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC*

Thank you Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for the eARC.
Shelby Truman, a sixy-one year old successful romance writer, is about to start on her new book when she gets a call asking her to visit her close childhood friend on Death Row in their old town. As kids they lived opposite each other and became best friends. This friendship grew into an intense romantic relationship when they were in their twenties, before ending in a very painful break up. Since then they have not been in contact with each other. She's aware that he has grown from a troubled child into a mentally unstable adult, but feels she owes it to him to have one last talk. Despite Eddie's dire mental health, the crime he committed is so dreadful, the prosecution is asking for the death penalty.
Her last years in her childhood home were very unhappy, another reason she dreads the trip. Her 2-month old baby brother was kidnapped, never to be seen again, which drove her mother into a deep depression and eventually drove Shelby away from Texas.
Once you start this book you'll finish it quickly, that's how good it is: a real page turner. The baby's kidnapping is very sad, but there is, if not a happy ending, at least a satisfactory one.

This book was fast-paced and well written. There is something about a death row story that is fascinating and at the same time terrifying. Eddie is a character that will stick with me for some time. I've been thinking about the story a lot since I finished it and wish my book club would read it so I would have someone to discuss with.

I really enjoyed this book! The mystery & suspense kept me wanting to turn the pages to find out what happened to Shelby's family during her childhood & what her best friend across the street had to do with it? Why was she so drawn to him?
The story flowed nicely, was easy to read, & came all together in the end. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends/family.

At about the halfway point, I was sure that I would be rolling my eyes at the ending of this book, sure that I wouldn't care about Eddie's fate one way or another. I was also equally sure that he would have a miraculous redemption arc in which he's proven innocent of all his various crimes. Instead, this book, though predictable in places, convinced me to like it. I was invested: I needed to know what really happened all those years ago. I got the closure that I was looking for, and so did Shelby.

Shelby wasn't my favorite charcter, I found her self-centered, but after all that she's been through, it is to be expected. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.