I enjoyed hearing the different thoughts and voices of the various characters. It was interesting how different characters saw the same situation e.g. Ruby stopping playing rugby. I thought it captured the emotional impact of bullying, isolation and the use of social media well. I thought it was an interesting take on a "whats beneath the surface isn't whats really going on".

The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for providing feedback. (via NetGalley)

This was easy to get caught up in and moved at a fast pace, with a lot of twists. I enjoyed this and had a hard time putting it down. Well written.

I don't know where to start! An horrific scene to start the story off when police arrive early Christmas morning to find bodies eveywhere. The story goes back to reveal the lives of the family leading up to this. This was my first book by this author but it will not be the last! Lots of unlikeable characters that made for a fantastic read. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookatoure for a copy of this book to read and review.

Each family member harboured their own dark truths - has keeping their secrets pushed Ruby to the edge of sanity?

From the outside the Thomas family appear to have the perfect life. The father, Ben, is hard working man and a successful businessman. His wide Dom, (Dominique) is a stay at home mother to their two children Ruby and Amber, who is lovingly called Mouse by all who know her. But not everything is as it seems. They all have secrets they keep.

I loved everything about this book from beginning to end. Even the characters I disliked, after all it would not make a good read if everyone was angelic, even if that is the impression they try to let people on the outside think they are. The story has a steady pace with the suspense building up slowly. We know from the beginning where this story is going and when it unfolds. I also liked that we get little snippets from the police and what they were finding. It's with books like this that I wish I could read faster than I do. A simply terrific read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Barbara Copperthwaite for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As the title might already suggest, this one is yet another story packed until its limits with lies and secrets. Her Last Secret is mostly a character-driven psychological thriller and focuses on the many different characters that play a role in the event of that damned Christmas day. I do have to admit the pace was initially a lot slower than expected and I found myself struggling a little in the beginning. This was due both to the slower pace and my lack of connection to the characters. Somehow was never able to warm up to any of the main characters (except mayby for Mouse) and some of their actions and opinions actually started to frustrate me (the father is despicable!). I can't deny their development feels realistic and rounded though; each of them having a different web of lies and secrets and adding a different level to the story. This complexity of characters and different subplots is what saved this story for me. Once you get used to the different characters, start learning about the events leading up to Christmas day and start guessing what really happened, you will find yourself hooked. The second half of the story definitely made up for the slow start for me. I loved the whole countdown idea and how slowly more of the present day event is revealed... Leaving you in the dark and guessing what could have happened and who is to blame as you learn more about the characters. And the final part is more than shocking! Basically, Her Last Secret will make you think a lot of things and suspect a lot of people, but I can garantuee you won't guess the final truth about what really happened. I could also really appreciate the role (cyber)bullying played in this story. All in all, if you enjoy reading character-driven psychological thrillers, you will have a great time with this one.

WOW – I am speechless.. well obviously not literally as this review would be pretty short but what I mean is that I am absolutely blown away by this book. This is the 3rd book I’ve read by Barbara Copperthwaite – all different and all fabulous in their own way (#TeamAdam), but this book really, really got under my skin.

The story starts on Christmas Day and the police have been called to a respectable family home in London where 2 gun shots have been reported and upon investigating the house they uncover a really gruesome crime-scene.

The story then takes us back a week prior to Christmas day and is told through several of the main characters and builds up to the inevitable Christmas Day tragedy. My emotions were all over the place ranging from pity to rage and sympathy to anger – each character was so believable and managed to really captivate my imagination.

Barbara Copperthwaite certainly weaves a wonderful and at times twisted tale taking the reader down several paths and then back-tracking with a couple of shocking u-turns! I feel slightly dizzy now and need a lie-down with a soft pillow and lots of chocolate. 5 stars from me.

In a moment I may be able to catch my breath and exclaim properly how brilliant it Her Last Secret is...

.. I may be able to exclaim over how twisty this is, and how I had absolutely no idea how everything was going to turn out, despite being completely sure...until it was clear I could be wrong.

.. I may be able to to tell you how much I loved all the characters, but that would actually be a lie, I didn't really connect with any of them properly, but at the same time, I felt a bit sorry for them, and still wanted to see where the book was going, which is testament to the author.

.. I may be able to give you a hint as to how I feel at the moment, but frankly I'm still opened mouthed at the finale. It was so cleverly crafted throughout, with just hints of what the outcome could be.

.. I may be able to tell you about the characters and explain why I hated them, but to do that would be giving away spoilers. Suffice to say apart from Mouse who is 8 the rest as all caught up in their own lives.

.. I may be able to tell you about the strength and depth of the various themes running through this story, the incredibly large topics and in the case of Ruby's situation something very relevant to teeangers today.

.. however that is only if I can catch my breath. What I will do instead is tell you this book is compelling, unputdownable at times, and as the book progresses takes such a hold over you, that you have to continue reading. Last of all I will say that if you are a fan of books that surprise you, then this is the book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed and honestly.

Have enjoyed every book by this author and this one was no different. A gripping story about a family each with there own secrets ending in a deadly conclusion. This book will keep you guessing till the very end and the characters will stay with you for a lot longer.

Wow! This author NEVER disappoints! This was another of those books that, once I started, I just had to finish as the story stayed with me, the characters burrowing into my head and demanding to be heard. I was thinking about the story, the characters when I was not reading the book. It consumed me and I didn't want it to end at the same time as wanting to know what had happened next. Another brilliant story by an amazing author. I highly recommend this absolutely fabulous book to everyone!

The gripping story of a family, each with their own secrets.
A book that will keep both engrossed and guessing right until the
last page.

This book held my attention from the first page. Gripping with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

On the outside the Thomas family is what most would think of as perfect. Ben the father is a hard working and successful businessman while his wife Dominique stays at home to care for their two children, their teenager Ruby and their younger daughter fondly nicknamed Mouse. However all is not what it seems with this family and they have more than their share of secrets that they hide not only from outsiders but from one another.

On Christmas Day the police are called to the home of the Thomas family to investigate the possibility of shots having been fired in the home but what they find is a horrific scene that no one could have possibly expected. They will now have to uncover just what led to the gruesome discovery of the entire family lying lifeless having become the victims of an unknown assailant.

Her Last Secret by Barbara Copperthwaite is a psychological thriller that has a very dark and twisted feel to it. The reader knows right from the opening pages that something horrible has happened so then the story takes you back a week to begin to learn of the events that led up to that night. It’s told from the differing point of views of the Thomas family who all carry such terrible secrets among them that you are never sure who to trust or who could be the cause of the outcome that we all know is coming for them. There are also glimpses into the police investigating what they had found nestled between the chapters from the past to keep reminding one of the horrible outcome that is just around the corner.

The characters within this story are not ones that are particularly likable as you get to know each of them and what it is that they are hiding and what is going on in this family’s lives. I would say the only one I particularly liked and hoped wouldn’t end up in that house on Christmas was little “Mouse”, she’s the only normal spot and an incredibly cute kid who had gotten her nickname from her ability to hide off in weird places with her books. The rest of the family is a bit of a trainwreck that you can’t take your eyes away from until you know all of the truth and I stayed completely entranced until that moment came. Great gritty and dark psychological thriller that had me hooked from the opening pages and would certainly recommend checking this one out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Where do I start in my review for this book……? How about OMFG this is Barbara Copperthwaite’s best book yet!!?? I am a massive fan of Barbara’s books and there is always that fear that you are not going to enjoy your favourite authors latest work but have no fear; Her Last Secret just blew everything else out of the water. Seriously. This book had me on edge early doors and that creeping feeling of dread just kept growing and growing. I was so overwhelmed at one point that I almost did a Joey and put my kindle in the freezer; my poor nerves were shattered.

Her Last Secret has the perfect ingredients of a recipe for disaster; a rebellious hate fuelled teenager, a trophy wife teetering on the edge, a husband desperate to keep up appearances and a mistress determined to get her man by whatever means. The final touch is beautiful, quiet little Mouse (Amber), named as such because of her demeanour. Having two daughters of my own my heart was in my mouth waiting to discover what would be revealed. As the story flits between the discovery of a crime scene and the days leading up to it we are teased with clues and details that reveal not everything is as it seems.

Buy it, read it, love it! This book gets ALL the stars from me!

Beautiful people, beautiful houses, beautiful cars, perfect lives - or are they!?
This is a cracking read. The book moves between the police called to a house on Christmas Day on reports of a gunshot and the events of the week or so leading up to it. The perfect people's lives are laid bare before you. At one stage I had a possible 3 or 4 scenarios that might have occurred- I was wrong on all counts
Amazing tension in the second half of the book. Off to buy anything else this author might have written.....

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers, Bookouture for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas Day and the Police are called to the home of Dominique and Ben Thomas. They live there with their two children – Ruby and Amber (also known as Mouse, for her love of hiding in small spaces). The police are confronted by a terrible scene, but what exactly happened at their house.

I read the author’s previous book, The Darkest Lies, a while back and I loved it, so was excited to get this book. The story begins slowly, introducing us to all the characters, beginning 7 days before Christmas and counting down until Christmas Day. The story in between these chapters is told from the perspective of the investigating detective when the police attended the family’s house on Christmas Day. If I’m to be brutally honest, at first I did find the two different stories a bit hard to keep up with, but once I started getting into the story, it all began to fit into place.

I remembered from the author’s previous book that she likes to play ‘cat and mouse’ with the reader – leading them down one way and then twisting them back the other – and this book was no different at all. The story of Dominique and her family twisted and turned so much it made me feel giddy! Each character has a different story to tell. Dominique is a trophy wife and her husband keeps her in the style she has become accustomed to. She also has a troubled past and hints of it are shown throughout the book. Benjamin is a hard working accountant who likes to provide for his family….or so it seems. In reality, Benjamin owes a lot of money, which he is trying to recoup by going into business with a shady Russian. He also has to keep his mistress, Kendra, happy as well. Ruby is a troubled teenager who is expelled from her private school. She ends up falling for Harry, a fellow classmate at her new school but trouble seems to follow Ruby to this school also. Amber (Mouse) is the only one of the characters that I felt any empathy to! She is just a little girl, craving the love and attention of her sister and parents. She likes to find small places to hide, usually to read. She also likes to hide when the arguments and rows start in the house.

The story was not a fast paced one. The suspense built up slowly from the beginning, given you chance to think you knew where it was going before it hit you and turned you down a new path. It kept my attention gripped from page one until the very end. I love the way that you didn’t get to find out what had happened on Christmas Day all in one go. The little sneak peaks at what the police were finding out were like mini cliff-hangers – you just had to keep going to find out what happened next. Whilst it was a great thriller book, it was quite disturbing in parts, particularly with Ruby’s hate filled diary – seriously set my teeth on edge!

A great rollercoaster of a story!! Wow, wow, wow!! Five stars!!

There are some secrets you can never tell.

They were the perfect family,successful businessman Ben Thomas and his wife Dominique live a enviable life,along with their beautiful children,teenager Ruby and quirky younger daughter,Mouse.

But on Christmas day the police are called to their London home,only to discover a horrific scene,the entire family lying lifeless,victims of a unknown assailant.

But when Ruby`s diary is discovered,revealing her rage at the world around her,police are forced to look close to home for the key to this tragedy.

Each family member harboured their own dark truths - but has keeping their secrets pushed Ruby to the edge of sanity? or are there darker forces at work?.

This emotional roller coaster starts with the arrival of Chief Inspector Paul Ogundele at the home of the Thomas family where he is confronted with a scene of carnage and numerous bodies.Then the story slips back in time to the 17th of December and we are introduced to Ben,Dominique,Ruby and Amber/Mouse.You then follow the events,secrets,lies and mistakes that lead up to whatever happened in their home in the early hours of Christmas day.The sections of the story alternate between all four members of the Thomas Family but there is also the occasional chapter that follows Inspector Ogundele`s investigation of the crime scene.All the characters are realistic,well developed and believable,I really liked little Mouse,Inspector Ogundele and Ruby`s boyfriend Harry.I know some other readers will probably label Ruby as a spoiled brat but I felt a lot of sympathy for her,it's hard when you feel that no one is listening to you and you feel unloved and unwanted.

As each day passes and the tension builds and builds,Barbara Copperthwaite moves her characters into their positions for the final act in this enthralling drama.You know something bad is going to happen and when it does the events of that fateful night are shocking,breath taking,gripping and heart breaking,at one point I was almost in tears.I absolutely loved this well written,emotional roller coaster,the twists in the story keep you hooked,trying to work out what happened that night.Highly recommended.

This was my first book by Barbara Copperthwaite but certainly won't be my last. This book kept me gripped so much so I read it over two days in two sittings. I like being challenged by a book that keeps me guessing and changing my mind about the outcome and this book most certainly achieved that.

I enjoyed this book in particular the second half, I thought the first half was a littlle slow but it soon picked up into a faster paced action filled book full of twits and turns. I liked the characters and their relationships with each other. I think this hgas the potential to go on to be a really good series. A very enjoyable read.

Those of you that follow my blog will know that I am a massive fan of Barbara’s writing. So I couldn't wait to get started on her latest psychological thriller. Not reading the blurb I jump straight to read a prologue that is takes place on Christmas day where the police find a family in a London home lying lifeless. Here I am thinking its going to be a domestic noir which I have to say I am not a big fan of and I was thinking I am not going to like this.Then Boom a twist that I didn't see coming totally sets the scene for what is to come. I was like OMG that was it for me I was well and truly hooked.

The author takes us back the 17th December counting the days until Christmas day. We follow two story lines running side by side flicking back to the crime scene on Christmas day. Talk about building up the tension is this one very well crafted story that had me guessing right until the very end!

I am not a fan of christmas so a crime set at christmas time was perfect for me.This is one extremely well crafted story that will keep you on tenterhooks that’s for sure.

In this story we meet Dominique, mother of teenager Ruby and younger sister mouse and married to Ben. Who are all very believable and realistic and we get to know each one of them very well. Not only do we feel the tension in this story put we also feel the emotion through the author’s writing. Barbara has an incredible gift of stucking you in and taking you on a rollercoaster ride of your life.

One of the things that I love about Barbara’s stories is that she always gives us something different with every book she writes. And this one is oh so different. I love the use of short and snappy chapters each one leaving me wanting more.

This is one hell of engaging read the author certains knowing how to keep your attention .

This without Barbara's best book to date I am blown away. I cannot recommend this enough it is without a doubt a must read book giving it a massive 5 stars.