Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I found the pace a little slow which took away from the plot and there wasn't a huge amount of the suspense I was expecting.

Too slow, unbelievable and to be honest boring.
That is all I can say - please remember it is only my opinion.

The pace was off in my opinion. It was too slow in far too many places which spoiled it for me.
The twists in this book were good which made up for the problems with the pacing.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I had picked up and put this book down several times. I just couldn't get into it. I see rave reviews and that's what gave me hope. Sadly this book wasn't for me. I will try another book by this author.

When Jake’s daughter is brutally murdered he goes back to the town he left, back to where he left Jordan and her mother three years ago. The police think they have the murderer in custody but Jake still wants answers. A fast paced, spine tingling read that will have you holding your breath with every twist and turn of the plot.

Thank you NetGalley, P L Kane and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

After Jordan's murder, her estranged father Jake returns to their hometown. He meets with his ex-wife Jules, his high school friend Matt and the other denizens of the town as he tries to piece together her life prior to the murder. As he does, he finds out more about Jordan's life and uncovers secrets he never thought he would find.

The book progresses slowly as Jake meets with Jules, her new husband, Matt, Jordan's friends, etc. He's reckless and sometimes seems to have no sense of danger as he moves through the book, picking fights and ignoring warnings that he's given. I understand that he's grieving, and following Jake around town sometimes feels like watching a car wreck. I can't stop reading even though I know things can't end well for him, mostly because I felt sorry for him. He'd lost so much, and the memories of his early days with his daughter have such a poignant note to them. There are actually multiple reveals over the second half of the novel, until we get to the final one. I really enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, especially when the pace picked up.

The story gets off to a dramatic start with an opening chapter which sets the scene for what is to come in this cleverly thought out murder mystery.

It would seem almost from the beginning of the murder investigation that the perpetrator of Jordan Radcliffe's murder is pretty much decided, however, Jordan's father, Jake, is determined to leave nothing to chance as he searches for more evidence, determined to put right all the wrongs he feels he is responsible for in Jordan's short life.

Her Last Secret is not so much a police procedural although the investigation into Jordan's death certainly features but rather this is more about the guilt of those who are left behind who feel that they could have done more, been more, helped more and who in the face of such profound sadness feel that they only way to assuage their guilt is do everything possible to catch whoever is responsible.

There's so much to say about Her Last Secret but I don't want to give anything away as this is a story better read without any preconceived notions of where it is heading. Throughout the story there are varied plots twists, and more than enough excitement to keep you guessing. I especially enjoyed getting to know the main characters, particularly Jake, who is carrying more than his share of angst, the reason for his particular sadness is revealed as the story progresses.

Well written with an ability to get right into the heart of the characters, particularly between family members, Her Last Secret is a cleverly controlled murder mystery which will keep you guessing until the very last twist in the tale.

Wow – what a great book. I was hooked from the start. The idea of a father trying to re-connect with his estranged murdered daughter was so poignant. Throw in the thrilling mystery, the secrets and lies and a touch of romance and it has all the ingredients of a fabulous read. Jake’s desire to find his daughter’s killer is poignant and perfectly written. I found myself really rooting for him amid the chaos of his gilt and sef flagellation – who could blame him. But then his dogged determination kicks in and things start to not add up and Jake becomes a father out for justice. I found Her Last Secret cleverly plotted, well paced and thrilling.

The twist really made this one for me. It was a touch slow in places but some parts really kept me interested and wanting to keep reading. The ending was fantastic!

Jordan Radcliffe is found stabbed to death.

Her boyfriend’s finger prints are on the knife and his clothes are covered in her blood.

Case closed… Or is it?

When Jordan’s estranged father Jake learns of his only daughter’s death, he is convinced that there is more to her murder than he is being told. But Jake hasn’t seen Jordan for over three years and, with secrets of her own, she was far from the child he abandoned all those years ago.

Jake’s ex-wife Jules, is reluctant to let him waltz back into her life. But with a question mark hanging over the case, Jake knows that he must piece together the fragments of evidence before it is too late.

Will he ever discover the truth?

This week’s review is the crime debut from author P L Kane, Her Last Secret.

The premise of the story is simple; a grieving father, Jake, is searching for answers. His daughter’s death is so inexplicable, so unexpected, he can barely accept that it has happened. Jake becomes consumed with uncovering the details behind the crime. He can’t move on until he understands the who, the what and the why of it all.

Kane’s taut narrative focuses on the human cost of a tragedy. The complex relationship between Jake and his ex-wife Jules also plays out in centre stage. There is acrimony, but also a sense of shared responsibility. Jordan will always be their daughter, and her death re-ignites all manner of feelings that have been long buried.

I think it is the characterisation where Kane’s writing excels. It certainly raises this above your standard crime thriller fare. Jake and Jules are so well fleshed out, they feel real. These are two ordinary people who have had to deal with an extraordinary situation. What’s the phrase? No parent should ever outlive their children. Jordan’s murder has left Jake and Julie both traumatised. It’s fascinating to see how their already brittle relationship splinters even further. Their actions and reactions are pitched just right, blaming one another one moment and then reminiscing about their old life the next. The shared history that exists between them both keeps bubbling back up to the surface in a jumble of emotions.

This isn’t just a story about a man and a woman dealing with the death of a loved one. This is also the story of a man and woman dealing with the end of a chapter in their lives. Jake and Jules are forced to confront the ghosts from their collective past. Jake walked away from his life because he thought it was the right thing to do, but there was that niggling itch of self-doubt. Jordan’s death ensures there will never be a resolution to the question “what if?” All Jake can do is search for answers as he will never have the opportunity to reconcile with his daughter. I don’t think I can imagine a situation much worse. Missing the chance to even say goodbye, heart-breaking doesn’t even come close to describing it.

As events build to the climactic reveal, each passing scene grows darker and darker in tone. Jake’s desperation becomes all encompassing. He needs to discover the truth surrounding his daughter’s death. Having failed Jordan to often in life he refuses to fail her once again. The final denouement is a satisfyingly twisted pay off.

Fans of television shows like Broadchurch and The Killing, and I count myself amongst them, should seek out this novel. Like its televisual cousins, Her Last Secret tracks how a single violent act sends ripples out into a community. The reader is thrown into the chaos of Jake’s life and we get to experience every detail of his journey. The author expertly details the bonds that exist within a family, even a broken one, and the nature of grief.

Part psychological drama, part character study, Her Last Secret is a captivating and intense experience. It’s not often I find crime novels quite so emotive. I’ve read a lot of Kane’s other genre fiction, if you rummage around elsewhere on the site I’m sure you’ll find a few reviews of his work here and there*. His crime debut is just as self-assured and compelling as any of his other books. I look forward to more in the future.

My musical recommendation is the soundtrack to the television series Unforgotten by Michael Price. It perfectly captures that sense of tragedy and loss that Kane imbues his entire novel with.

Her Last Secret is published by HQ and is available now.

*For reference, P L Kane is a pseudonym for Paul Kane.

Just the title made me want to read this one ASAP! I loved the writing style and the drama of the storyline was amazing! Such a good read.

This was an enjoyable read with a great twist for the end. It was a little slow at times but the twist was worth sticking around for. I will be interested to read more of this author’s work.
Many thanks to HQ Digital and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well, I managed to power through and finish this one, but it felt like work.

Jordan Radcliffe is brutally murdered and her estranged father sets out to figure out what actually happened. The police have what seems to be a completely locked down case, with the suspect in custody, but Jake just has a feeling that there is something more to this story. He starts to dig into things and comes across more than he bargained for.

I will be completely honest, this was almost a DNF. The story was incredibly slow and not suspenseful at all for 90% of the book. I did not like the characters, they were infuriating to be honest and just seemed quite stupid at times. I also pretty much knew the twist at the end was coming and it still felt unnatural and disjointed. The first bit with the Mayor didn't seem to have anything to do with the story at all except to maybe try and throw off the twist at the end...but I'm not entirely sure what the goal was with that as it really didn't work for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy for an honest review.

Taut, smart, and compelling.

When Jake Radcliffe learns of his troubled daughter’s death, he is determined to find out what really happened on that fateful night. But Jake hasn’t seen Jordan for over three years and there is a lot he doesn’t know about his only daughter. But when Jake makes a shocking discovery, he is convinced that there is more to her murder than he and his ex-wife, Jules are being told. Full of regret and grief, Jake is desperate to protect his daughter’s memory and to understand her final hours… With a question mark hanging over the case, will Jake be able to piece together the fragments of evidence, uncover the truth behind Jordan’s death, and make amends for the time he has lost?

The story opens with a short prologue that immediately sets the tone of the book and from this point I was totally engrossed in the story. The plot is cunningly crafted and brilliantly executed, reaching for me when I wasn't expecting it. I adored the descriptive style of P.L. Kane which I found to be emotive and affecting. In a well structured narrative of twists, secrets and lies, there are abundant descriptions of reminiscences and anecdotes. Even though the characters weren't particularly likeable, I still enjoyed their specific contributions to the story. There was more going on than I first assumed and I loved trying to guess how Her Last Secret was going to end, though that didn’t happen as I thought it would.

The writing flowed effortlessly and the story was packed with mystery and twists as it spiralled its way to the surprise denouement. I read Her Last Secret with relish and though it was not the most sensational psychological thriller I have ever read, it was still a very good crime début for me, and I will be looking out for more from P.L. Kane. Her Last Secret is a must-read for fans of the psychological thriller genre.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from HQ Digital via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

When a book starts with a girl dying and asking for her daddy to come make things right, you'd know that this is going to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride.

Slow paced, really slow paced, I almost didn't finish and was slightly unmotivated but I still was curious and I was rewarded because the twist in it had me shook.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tense and twisty! A few times I held my breath and raced through the pages to immerse myself in more of the story. Jake is on a mission to uncover the secrets of his daughter's death, but in doing so he uncovers more than he bargained for.

Overall, very well paced and enough secrets and reveals to have you not wanting to put this book down. Characters are very engaging, some will have you raging, but I absolutely enjoyed it.

Can't wait for more from P L Kane.

This is a gripping book that I just couldn’t put down. I found that I read it really quickly because I was really keen to know more. A tragic story of loss and grief, you feel the guilt, the regret, the ‘what ifs. An exciting murder mystery that will leave you emotionally drained but wholly satisfied.
Although at heart this is a crime story, you work through themes of family breakdowns, relationships and the pain of not being there for those that need you the most.
I enjoyed that there were many secrets uncovered throughout the book, some were just small and inconsequential, but some were huge (of course!) I was thrilled with some rather big plot twists – I didn’t predict them at all, and I generally can, well at least in some small part.
I enjoyed the authors writing style and characters that I would like to see more of in future books.
I would recommend if you fancy something exciting or enjoy the genre. I will look forward to more from the author.

I think I have quite a gooey heart, this book, a pure murder mystery, had me quite emotional at times.

The story started with a girl dying and wanting her father to make it all right. Somebody had murdered her. Cop and family friend Matt, father Jake, and mother Julie were all devastated when Jordan’s body was found. The step-father didn’t care less about it.

My first book by author P L Kane, I too wanted to know who killed this child who was so troubled in life that she was scuttling herself. My insides twisted as the family life unfurled. I felt sad for the parents for their loss of love and relationship, and the way they lost their only child. The story was quite a domestic drama.

The story was quite slow, some parts jumped up at moments to prod me to keep reading, especially the ones with lawyer Sam Ferrara. But it was the twist which shook me and made this book come alive. I loved the rush of excitement, the heart beat rising with every page, and the ending which caused a surge of adrenaline. It was this twist which invigorated me and made this book a fun read.