The story was not intriguing or entertaining. The writer has a nice style and the words were nice, it the plot and the unraveling of the story was just boring. I dragged myself through this book for the purpose of trying to give it a fair chance to win me over, but in the end I just felt let down and glad to be finished.

Let me start by saying I think this author has a lovely writing style and knows how to do twists that you don't see coming!

This book is set in Robyn's childhood and later as she looks back to fill in the gaps, but the younger child wasn't very helpful in adding to the developing story of a mother who seems to bend over backwards to help others, while neglecting her own responsibilities.

Robyn and her brother go looking for answers and don't get a warm welcome, and I also found it hard to warm to either of them. However, the ending made up for it! I look forward to seeing what this author writes next.

I just couldn't get into this book, if I'm honest I was bored reading it. I persevered for about 20% then did some skip reading. Checking in every 15% or so I still managed to keep track of the storyline without confusion. Unfortunately not going to be a favourite of mine.

I'm not going to lie, at first I couldn't get away with this. The 'now and then' in the paragraphs confused me at the beginning (whichusyally doesn't happen), and I couldn't keep straight with it. But... after halfway I was hooked!

The Cowboy intrigued me a lot, athough I had guessed who he was. But talking about 'her' all the time, and where she was kept me going, I needed to find out!

This was actually good Story which left me quite happy by the end. I'd recommend it.

The story revolves around Robyn and Kit, brother and sister who have have arrived in a small town during a hot summer with their mother, Robyn is just a child so unaware of her past and like they say, the past keeps coming to haunt them.

The story began with a lovely little passage about how the story was nearly lost, which intrigued me and made me want to read more, I was really looking forward to this book but was left sadly disappointed..

At first I was intrigued with the story line and what was going to happen but easily became bored as it takes far too long to be given any clues or information and by the time you are given anything you have guessed the entire plot and the book ruined! I also really did not take to the character of Robyn.

Disappointing.

It started off amazing, got very dull and dragged on, and ended pretty well too. Overall a decent read.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is a beautifully written murder mystery, brimming with nostalgic detail and lyrical, well chosen prose. The storyline sweeps effortlessly between two time lines as it twists and turns towards its highly emotional climax. Heartily recommend.

I received an ecopy of A Little Bird Told Me. Knowing how much work probably went into this book I am loathe to be negative but I cannot say that I enjoyed this book. The characters were pretty one dimensional and I really couldn't get worked up about the plot. It was a pleasant read and no more.

Great book, really enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Marianne Holmes for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

An excellent story as to the twists and turns of family life and what happens when it all goes wrong... Thoroughly enjoyed this and couldn't put it down.

I was not sure what this was really about until the last two chapters and the epilogue. The writing makes it deliberately obscure, trying to tantalise, then slides off into the future or the past with no real link. There were lots of character faults; Kit had no personality of his own, and Ray was unrealistically evil. I found it dificult to keep track of the minor characters, many of whom were irrelevant (I had to look up who they were every time they were mentioned). Annoying things: I don't think Robyn's scar would hurt and need cream on it twenty years later, and what happened in the end with Michelle?
This had the bones of a good plot and the writing is not terrible, but there are so many faults with this, I think the editors should have treated it as a first draft and done a lot of work on it before publishing.

This is such a great book. I loved the story, a mystery, family secrets, a town that can't forget, all set in the 70's and 80's. The pace and the twist is just right.
Really look forward to another one by this author.

I thought some of the language and description was wonderful and very evocative. I read the book quickly, it drew me in. However, it was the story I struggled with. The concept of jumping back and forward in time is not a new one and worked fairly well here. However I think aspects were just too complicated. At the start the book was quite unclear and many elements took too long to resolve. The twists and turns were a bit overdone and there are still bits I didn’t fully understand. I did enjoy reading the book but not sure I’d rush to recommend.

I think this is a book that lost it's way a bit. The premise for the story was good and there are moments of description that are really well done and evoke the long hot summer days of 1976. Halfway through the flasback and forth becomes tedious and the characters are not well drawn enough that you care what happens to them and they don't come to life on the page.The ending with the discovery in the shed was just far fetched and unbeliveable. A shame, with better editing and tighter plotting could have been really good.

This book got off to a great start, and I enjoyed the two time periods. I thought the author could've given it more of a period feel though, to make it clear whether we were in 1976 or 1988, maybe mentioning music of the time, new items, particular food?
The pace was far too slow and I nearly gave up, though it was good enough for me to keep reading, as I did want to find out what had happened in the past.
I struggled to feel much empathy with Robyn or Kit, it didn't ring true that they came back in 1988, why not move on with your life?
I wouldn't recommend anyone to read this, sadly, there's just too many better books out there.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a strange little book that is written with each chapter either being the past or the present..with hints of something happening....and as you progress through the story little titbits are released that keep you hooked until all is revealed in the final chapters...

a believeable storyline and the characters are very well written...gonna keep an eye out for more of this authors work

I really appreciate NetGalley and Agora Books allowing me to read an early digital galley of this debut novel.

I try to be open-minded and read all genres, all stories, but unfortunately I just couldn't work with this book. The author was trying to keep too many things a secret for later "big reveals" and "shocking twists" that the first half of the book didn't make a lot of sense for me.

Author Marianne Holmes offers us multiple mysteries in two timelines as the devastating summer of Robyn's and Kit's youth catches up to them years later. What happened to their mother? Who exactly is the man in the cowboy hat? What specifically has urged Robyn to return home (dragging her brother along) after so long? These questions are supposed to keep you reading to discover their answers. For me, it chafed that all I could feel was confusion instead of curiosity.

It was an okay novel, plotting was good, pacing was slow. I'd definitely pick up Marianne Holmes again when she makes a sophomore effort, and perhaps I'll find her a bit more engaging.

What a debut!

I really struggled with the beginning of this book though and there were times that I very nearly set it aside for something else. I'm glad that I persevered though this won't be a favourite of mine.
I found myself becoming more and more frustrated with Robyn but had to keep reminding myself that she was just a child and to give her a chance.

Unfortunately, I found this book to be boring and although I persevered, I actually gave up half way through.
Even after reading 50% of the book, I still had no real idea what was going on - what had happened to the mother, why Robyn had gone back, why she was apparently living with Kit...it seemed too long winded and I was forever waiting for the book to get to the point of what was actually going on.

Not a recommendation for me I'm afraid.

I was gripped enough to finish this book, but I didn't enjoy it and felt like it was a chore. It was repetitive, and while we'll written the story did not do anything for me.