One thing you can be sure of in a Jo Spain novel is indeed the uncovering of dirty little secrets, although in her DI Tom Reynolds series the guilty secrets are more likely to be not so little, often revealing a dark side to Irish history and society that has been long kept hidden. Spain's second standalone novel (after the thrilling The Confession) gives the author the opportunity to delve into other perhaps more familiar and universally recognisable human motivations that give rise to crime in Dirty Little Secrets, but of course Jo Spain has her own very distinctive take on the subject that opens up other issues related to living in a small isolated community.

So many in fact that - like any good crime thriller - there are any number of possible suspects who may have killed Olive Collins. There are only six houses in the exclusive Withered Vale gated community in Wicklow, but it's taken 3 months for any of the neighbours to notice that Olive has been lying dead and decomposing in No.4. Not only that but there are signs of suspicious activity around her death, and as police detectives Frank Brazil and Emma Child start to question the neightbours about Olive, they find that potentially any one of them might have had the motive and opportunity and maybe even good reason to murder her.

There's not anything particularly new about that kind of whodunit, and Jo Spain has proved to be able to point the finger of suspicion on any number of potential killers before in her previous books only to completely blindside the reader with terrific twists. What the author has here however that she doesn't have so much in her Tom Reynolds books is a greater multiplicity of views, a greater diversity of character, race and personality and associated attitudes that have been fostered in the society they live in; a very closed society that thrives on gossip and is always on the lookout for scandal from outsiders who don't fit in with their narrow views and moral outlook.

Withered Vale is very much that kind of society in the much more manageable form of six families; a closed community, a watching and observing community, a judgemental one that is quick to act out its own form of social justice. To fit in and not be ostracised means you must not draw attention to your differences; any expression of individuality must be suppressed, which means people inevitably keep aspects of their lives secret, and sometimes with good reason. When you have people keeping secrets however, they can develop into a mass of contradictions and you usually find there is someone like Olive Collins ready to poke their nose into what dirty little secrets are being hidden by them.

Frank and Emma's investigation into Withered Vale gradually uncovers the latent tensions between its residents and even the potential homicidal urges they might have had towards a busybody like Olive poking around in backgrounds that they'd rather keep quiet about. It's a classic Agatha Christie situation mixed Jo Spain's usual pertinent observations on Irish people and society, but Spain has another little twist or two to offer in Dirty Little Secrets. One is that the police detectives Frank and Emma have their own little secret histories, and the other is that so too does Olive, who even though dead reveals her own view of her involvement in the lives of each of characters that have led to her demise.

Needless to say, with gradual revelations about other people's lives, their peculiarities and the secrets they might be keeping, as well as the suspicion falling first on one person then another as to who is most likely to commit murder, Jo Spain once again provides an addictive thriller that is thoughtful and well-observed in its social and character detail.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I didn't see it as a psychological thriller, more of a mystery, it didn't detract from the book. Olive lives in a gated community called Withered Vale with 6 other houses...

Olive's body is discovered having been left to rot for over 3 months, why did none of the 6 neighbours realise, surely someone knew something, she was not see or heard from in that length of time.

As the investigation pursues, it turns out, all the neighbours had their own reasons/secrets for wanting Olive dead but which one of them did it?

With Olive telling her story from the grave, the story is untwisted to reveal the truth.

Overall a great read which will keep you captivated, nobody really knows what goes on behind closed doors!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

What an impressive book. At no point did I guess the outcome. At not point did I particularly like any of the characters either, as they were all slightly on the despicable side.

Despite that I couldn't stop reading this, and I did have some sympathy for a few of the neighbours as various aspects of their lives emerged.

There are 7 households in Withered Vale - Olive's and her 6 neighbours. Of those at some point or another she has upset every last person in the Vale, and no one even notices she hasn't been about for three months, until a large number of bluebottles are spotted above her chimney.

This sets in motion a compelling story, where I was hooked on seeing the case from all the neighbour's points of view, the police and also Olive herself.

There are so many different secrets at play here, that the second one was revealed you started thinking that person had the perfect motive, and then within another chapter or two, you are left reeling and thinking in another direction.

The unpredictability of this book is its sheer brilliance. i just knew I had to keep reading it, until I finished it at close to 3am, when I am now writing this review.

This is the second book I have read by Jo Spain, and the second I wasn't able to put down. While I was reading I was completely under this talented author's spell as I whizzed through the chapters and tried to piece together just what happened to Olive.

A dark book, that will keep you on your toes and is from an author that is definitely one to keep an eye on. Highly recommended.

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

Well, Jo Spain has certainly done it again. A wonderful read, I just couldn't put it down.
6 neighbours in an exclusive County Wicklow gated community. They all have their secrets and they all had reasons to want Olive dead, but who killed her?
Olive herself tells her story from beyond the grave and helps full in all the details. Frank Brazil and Emma Child, the detectives working the case, are an odd couple but theit professional relationship develops through the story and they become friends too

A real edge of your sit thriller, I gasped at the ending.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy of this book.

Dirty Little Secrets is the latest standalone thriller from the prolific keyboard of Jo Spain and it is another excellent book.

The story starts with the discovery of a body of a woman in mysterious circumstances but how did she die and why do all her neighbours seem to harbour secrets and all seem to have a motive to have killed the victim.

The story is told from many viewpoints but in the hands of Jo Spain this adds to the story and in no way detracts.

The book is definitely a page turner of clicker and is highly recommended

This is a fantastic read by a genuinely original and ingenious author. I was immediately enthralled by the setting, the characters, their secrets, their relationships and questionable activities. The suspects in the murder case are cleverly lined up however the reader feels all of the frustration of the investigating detectives - who also have their own intriguing backstories. I loved the buildup of tension, suspense and how it finally twisted at the end.

A great book - don't miss it.

Being a huge Jo Spain fan, I not so patiently waited and prayed I would get an early copy of her newest jem and the wait was worth it! You may ask yourself how many secrets can one very small set of neighbors have? The answer in short is plenty! And why does it seem not one of them is sad to hear of Olives passing? You’ll have to read Dirty Little Secrets to find out! You WON’T be sorry that you did. Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy!

This is the first book I read by Jo Spain and now I want to read them all. Dirty Little Secrets is a wonderful read with superbly developed characters and a fascinating unraveling plot.
The plot twists within the story unfolded in ways that I couldn't have predicted and kept me reading. This is a must read page-turning brilliant book. Highly recommended.

I absolutely loved The Confession by Jo Spain last year and was thrilled to be given an opportunity to read Dirty Little Secrets. And I loved it just as much - absolutely brilliant story that I read in 2 sittings - I could not put it down. Very cleverly written, with just enough back story revealed to keep the tension and the need to keep turning the pages. I loved how we hear the story from the point of view of all the neighbours, including the dead one. And that ending - wow!! This is a book that you need to read!!

From the outside the gated community of Withered Vale looks perfect. Life for these residents is good. but when police are called to the area for a dead body they are shocked to discover that Olive Collins at No.4 has been dead for 3 months and nobody noticed. As the investigation into Olives death continues it seems that all the whole neighbourhood has something to hide, something to lose and nobody is really that upset to learn that she is dead. It is hard to say much more without giving anything away.

Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and in no way biased.

When police are called to the luxury, well-off gated community of 'Withered Vale', they aren't surprised to find a body. What they are surprised about is the fact that it's been there for months, sitting in a house amongst the small neighbourhood. Not a single neighbour seems to have noticed that one of their own, Olive, hadn't been seen for 3 months. Once the police investigation is underway, it becomes apparent that each of these neighbours has a secret, each of them a reason to want Olive dead.

I honestly wasn't expecting much from this one, after reading the blurb I had no idea that I was in for such a wild ride. I was hooked from the very first page, sucked straight into the mystery. I quickly became invested in each of the character's, the split point of view allowing me insight into each perspective. I loved that as well as the central mystery, there were also these other questions to be answered. It was fast moving, interesting and the twists and turns kept me unable to put the book down. It's been awhile since a thriller had me so hooked.

When the decomposing body of Olive Collins is found in her home in the very small community of Withered Vale, all the neighbours are shocked. It is more than three months since she was last seen by any of her neighbours but no-one seems to have thought to check on her. As DI Frank Brazil and his colleague Emma Child begin to investigate this possible murder, they soon get the feeling that someone in the street is responsible but with everyone seeming to have something to hide, they have their work cut out for them.

In such a small gated community with only seven houses, everyone should know everyone and know everything about each other. Yet the residents seem to have maintained a polite distance between each other. And oh my goodness the secrets that were hidden behind those doors! What was it that everybody had to hide? Every resident seemed to have something going on that they were keeping from the others. And why did every single person seem to be glad, relieved even the Olive had died? Just what on earth was going on in that small street?  My head was filled with all these questions as I eagerly read on.

The story is told through the voices of each of the residents in short chapters, including the thoughts of the deceased Olive. I felt I got to know the residents quite well as Jo Spain cleverly drip fed details about each one a little at a time. Mostly they seemed an unpleasant bunch, though I did soften to some of them when I learned more about them. 

This is by necessity a rather vague review as I don't want to give any of the "dirty little secrets" away. But I think it says a lot that I couldn't put this book down. I devoured it in two long sittings including one late night bedtime reading session. I thought it was brilliant, compulsive and enthralling and could be Jo Spain's best book yet!

A small exclusive gated community should be idyllic for the residents but most of them have a problem with their lives. A murder? Leaves the police with multiple suspects all with motives to commit the murder. A surprising outcome which leads to the residents finally getting together and divulging their secrets. A fascinating story

Jo Spain never disappoints! Another great read. Olive Collins lives in an exclusive gated community, where everyone knows everyone else. She has been dead in her house for months, how come no one has noticed? Or do they not care?
Who would have a reason to harm her or as the story develops the question is who wouldn't? From the Lothario who has a couple of women on the go to the local headmistress who is living a lie to the young married woman who is a bit our of her depth. Then there is the couple who went on holidays around the time she was last seen what have they got to hide? Everyone has there own secrets and what did Olive know about them?
This is tense and because of the gated community it is very claustraphobic, which adds to the tension!!
Thanks to netgalley, Quercus and Jo Spain for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic murder with a twist. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. Great mix of characters and a unique storyline

Six neighbours, six secrets, six reasons to want Olive Collins dead. Olive is dead, she died three months ago, but no one in the gated community even noticed that she was missing. There is only seven houses in the gated community of Withered Vale. Olives house is smaller but she lives in the middle of them all. Olive used to own the only house there. Olive liked to find out other people's secrets. It's fair to say, not many of her neighbours will miss Olive. Detective Frank Brazil and his partner Emma Childs are sent in to investigate and it soon becomes apparent that foul play could have played its part in Olives death.

Well it's clear how I spent my Sunday. I read this book in a few short hours. The book is set in rural Ireland. The chapters are told by many points of view. I loved the fact that all of the neighbours had secrets, after all no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. I liked the characters Brazil and Childs, the detectives sent to investigate Olives death. Brazil is due to retire soon and he protects Emma like a daughter. When I discovered near the end how Olive died, there was just a little bit of me pleased at the outcome. But is this so for all the residents in Withered Vale? I literally could not put this book down. Loved it. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Jo Spain for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a deliciously dark and intriguing read this turned out to be, starring some of the most obnoxious characters I've met in time.
There are 7 houses in the gated community of Withered Vale. Olive lives in the middle and original, older one, the rest having been erected around her. I say lives, well, actually she's been dead in her house for about three months. Once discovered, her neighbours are shocked but, as it transpires, all had very different relationships with the woman. The police are also shocked as how could it be possible that no one noticed she wasn't around for three months. But as more secrets and lies come out, more duplicitous behaviour is uncovered, it becomes evident that maybe Olive wasn't the sweet old lady as originally thought and her neighbours all had reasons to silence her but who actually did the deed...?
I do love a good character driven story, especially when the story they are playing out is also as intriguing as this one. Each of the neighbours has a dark side to them and even the Police investigating aren't without their own quirks. In fact, there are so many secrets and lies to be found within the pages of this book, I'm shocked that they have managed to keep a lid on them this long. That said though, they do also all have their redeeming characteristics which does keep the balance and also kept me interested in them throughout. Chapters are dedicated to each household and, as the book progresses, you learn a bit more about them as another layer is peeled back. Interestingly, we also hear from Olive from beyond the grave which sounds a bit quirky but, in this case, it really works.
Yes it's a bit of a slow burner initially as the characters have all got to be introduced and fleshed out but, once it gets going, it's a bit of a ride to the end with shock after shock coming thick and fast.
And as for the ending... bravo! Loved it. And that's pretty much all I can say about that...
All in all, a cracking read that gripped me throughout and left me satisfied at its conclusion. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

In the grand old tradition of Golden Age murder mysteries we are presented with a group of suspects living in close proximity to each other who all have a motive and opportunity to do the dastardly deed. Neighbourliness is in short supply in a wealthy gated community as the police investigate a resident’s death. If you can get past the gruesome details of the body’s discovery without fainting with horror, an intriguing narrative lies in wait for you to do your own detective work, as nasty surprises surface like the bluebottles in the opening chapter. Jo Spain has written another cleverly-plotted mindbender to equal her previous novel ‘The Confession’ - but not one to recommend to your maiden aunt!

I’d like to thank Quercus Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dirty Little Secrets’ by Jo Spain in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The six exclusive homes in the gated community of Withered Vale surround the original smaller property belonging to Olive Collins who’s lived there for many years. The residents are shocked when Olive’s body is found in her armchair where she’s been sitting undiscovered for the past three months. It’s only when Detectives Frank Brazil and Emma Child start asking questions that they uncover the lies that the wealthy and successful residents want to keep secret.

‘Dirty Little Secrets’ is a novel about blackmail, adultery, perversion and intrigue. The chapters alternate between each of the characters who are suspected of having a hand in Olive’s demise, and the late Olive herself who wants to be a good neighbour but shows her true self as the story continues. It’s been well-written and is very easy to read, with an interesting plot that draws you in, a variety of characters, and an ending that I had neither predicted nor anticipated. It’s an entertaining novel and well worth reading.

What a great book this is.

Different from your usual police thrillers. It had a cosy feel of the gated community where the suspects all live. Who knew what really goes on behind closed doors.

Enjoyed the relationship between the two detectives too. Would be good if this could be continued in future.

4.5 stars

Want to know why I was so excited to read Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain? Well it’s because I have come to depend on this author to deliver an exciting thriller, that will have flying through the pages, to discover well hidden secrets. And once again she hit the bullseye for me.

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My Thoughts on Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain:

I absolutely devoured this deliciously dark, gossipy insight in to a closed gate community. When one neighbour turns up dead, it seems there lies mysteries behind closed doors in every single house.  And if you love bookish snooping like I do, then prepare for the secrets of the furtive residents in this ritzy neighbourhood to grip you tight.

Between the rocket fast pace, the intriguing characters and their disastrous lives, I couldn’t put it down. I loved discovering what each family was hiding, and then watching them finally come together as a real community.  Most of all I was amazed that I don't think I liked a single character. BUT was absolutely fascinated by them all.

If you like a dark plot, a mystery screaming to be solved and complex family dynamics, then I don’t think this will disappoint.

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Who should read Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain?

I’d recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers with gripping plots.  Or if you like Irish settings, and to those who like to be kept guessing. Fans of The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins  and Can Anybody Help Me by Sinead Crowley should also enjoy.

Thank to Quercus Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.