Living in NC, I am instantly drawn to read all books set in NC. This book was full of all the drama and had twists and turns until the end. IT was definitely not what I was expecting, but a good domestic suspense read.

OMG there are SOOO many characters to keep track of and I got about 50 pages in before I had to stop because I couldn't keep track of them and I was stressed just opening the book

DNF @ 24%. I tried, I really did, but this book was just not to my taste. Normally I love small town dramas, but this was just too blah for me. Sorry!

I gave this book a try. I was about 30% in and it’s a DNF for me. I found it extremely hard to keep track of all the characters and the side stories each of them had.

This Secret Thing is a mystery/thriller that I just couldn't get into. I finally had the chance to give it a read and I had so much trouble paying attention to the plot. I normally enjoy books with multiple POVs but I felt like there were a bit too many for this story. I really wanted to like this book, but I sadly couldn't get into it.

This was a fast paced book full of secrets, scandals and lots of family drama. It is told by multiple characters. The characters were easy to connect to , I couldnt stop reading. It was great how the story all came together at the end.. It held my interest the whole way through.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. The description was intriguing but not what I expected once I started reading. I thought there would be more of a story from Norah but that wasn't the case at all. Instead we read about the other characters and how their lives were upended from what happened with Norah. This was a unique perspective from what you're used to in reading a book that starts with an arrest. I was quite drawn to the stories of Violet, Casey, and Polly. Each had their own secrets to deal with and turned out to be such strong female voices in the book. And after all this the ending was quite surprising. I really enjoyed this book. One thing I felt that could have been removed from the book and it still would have had the same story was the story line of Nico. I felt it was pointless really. It didn't add to the book at all.

I love every book Marybeth Mayhew Whalen has written and this one is my new favorite. I love how real and flawed her characters are and that she always writes about real life problems.

I'm a big fan of family drama novels and especially those set in suburban America.
This is a very character driven book and is told from several points of view which at times made me feel a bit overwhelmed as there seemed to be so much going on I was having to keep flipping back and forth however all the secrets and scandal that were emerging kept me interested and wanting to read on. It's quite a complex storyline I felt but it worked for me , I was just a it disappointed with the ending and left me feeling a bit flat.
This would make a good Netflix series!

This was a well written neighborhood drama, my favorite kind of drama. I loved the character development and felt like I was right there living it with everyone. It was fast paced and kept me involved from beginning to end. I feel the ending was not expected, but definitely fitting to the story. I am only disappointed that it took me so long to pick it up.

What happens when an admired but aloof woman in a middle-class suburb gets arrested for running a prostitution ring? Although starting with a tawdry premise, This Secret Thing is extremely PG. Nora's arrest is always present, but she is barely mentioned. In fact, the book completely whitewashes over sex trafficking and the darker side of prostitution, making it seem like more of a white-collar crime. The story focuses on the lives of those around her: her daughter, mother, and former best friend. The presence of a police detective makes them each worried that their own secrets will come to light. In all, it's a bubblegum story which, despite its many flaws, I enjoyed reading as a light distraction.

This book was an excellent read. It was well written with an interesting plot that kept you wondering what was next. I really enjoyed both perspectives of different points of view in the chapters. It’s easy to follow and a quick read. Definitely recommend.


Everyone has a secret in Raleigh. Norah has clients that she wants to keep secret, Violet, her daughter, has secrets about who she’s interested in, and Polly, Norah’s Mother just wanted to remain hidden. The story is that Norah is a “working woman” and Nico believes it will lead him to his long lost brother. Violet in disbelief that her mother is choosing silence over coming home to her but Norah knows the danger should she tell. Some how she has to find a way to give the police what they need without telling. Polly, came through for Norah even tho they had a falling out several years ago and Violet only vaguely recalls some memories of her grandmother. Will they find a way through this?

This Secret Thing
By Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

This Secret Thing is a story told in multiple point of views about a single mother running a prostitution ring in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina. This story is full of secrets, scandals, and family drama. A deeply complex story line about the secrets and lies people keep. A great character driven story and a slow burn drama. Overall an enjoyable read that kept me entertained.

A big thanks to the wonderful people at Amazon Publishing for my {gifted copy} of This Secret Thing - my very first novel by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and it will not be my last!

Things I loved:
-I couldn't put this one down!
-The book is very fast paced, full of lots of juicy secrets and side story lines that I promise come together at the end.
-I was able to easily finish this in 1 day and I was definitely surprised at some of the twists at the end.

Things that didnt work for me:
-Some of the characters felt out of place to me. I honestly had no idea why Nico was even in the story until the very last few chapters.
-The epilogue did clear up some questions for me, but the ending of the book came too fast and I still have questions
-I wish there had been chapters written from Norah's standpoint and there was more focus on the actual investigation and what she was involved with.

A great read - definitely one that will keep you engaged!

If you like a fast-paced thriller that keeps you guessing nonstop, this one might be for you! It's a super quick read - I read it in a day, but for me it was one that left me with questions & seemed a little rushed at the end. I think it was just not the book for me, mainly because I had trouble keeping up with the characters and who was who to whom - I can see where this ever-growing cast of characters could really appeal to readers too but for me it just left me flipping back to make sure I knew which character that was!

I loved the original premise of the novel - and the first third or so was enthralling.. Then it got a little weird, for me at least, as these 4 characters engaged and then ending....... a little expected..

I found this to be an interesting work of fiction that hooked me in. It would appear this street has a number of secrets and interestingly you get to explore them through a variety of different perspectives. From the timid Violet to the older girl Casey, I found myself invested in their stories. Good for a degree of drama.

I really liked the premise of this book. A suburban mom gets busted for being a madam and goes to jail because she won’t give up her book. Her daughter, Violet, is thrown into the middle. However, about halfway through the book there are so many sub plots and characters that don’t seem to fit. I thought they would show up at the end in a bow, but nope. Not a bad read, but probably could use some editing.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. When you’re 75% of the way into a book and it still makes zero sense of what’s going on or where this is going, that’s a problem. While yes the events are relatable, they didn’t go anywhere. The book was a constant ramble with no end in sight.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

There were some things I loved about this book. I loved the strong female characters. I also enjoyed their nontraditional roles.

However, I just didn't love it. It is very character driven, but for me there are too many characters for that to happen.

Through the majority of the book I was wondering what the point of the book was. But as always this is my opinion. And I have seen a ton of great reviews for this book, so definitely read it if you think it sounds like something you would enjoy.