"She’s married to him. But does she know him at all?" Claire is watching her marriage unravel, and trying desperately to get her son to safety before she leaves her husband and all of his secrets behind. This story is told in an interesting before/after way (for a very long time it is not revealed what exactly each chapter takes place before and after). There is a massive twist at the end of the story, and plenty of mysteries throughout, but something about this story just couldn't hold my interest. I just wasn't able to feel for any of the characters, so the twist at the end really didn't mean much to me. Sophie Draper writes very well, this story just wasn't for me.

As other reviewers have stated this book was very difficult to get into and for me I was unable to finish reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Draper for providing a digital review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Draper’s concept of a before-and-after timeline of a tumultuous marriage, their child, infidelity, and ultimate separation is lovely. The story itself is fun, mysterious, and stimulating. Draper’s writing and imagery is excellent throughout. Unfortunately, my personal reading preferences did not align with the way The House of Secrets was styled.

All of the characters were unlikable to me. Claire seemed to be paranoid, bitter, and insecure. Dunkin had one redeeming quality (his love for animals), but other than that, I felt he was a narcissistic, emotionally abusive, unfaithful, angry character. In fact, I believe Dunkin and Claire both were easy to hate. Their son, Joe, had the most potential to be a likable, relatable character, but his character wasn’t developed enough for me as the reader to establish a connection to him.

I thought that throughout the majority of the book, nothing of true substance was happening. It was a lot of description, imagery, and dreams, but no real content.

I felt this story was very “jumpy”. The timeline was confusing to me; throughout it I couldn’t tell what the main story line was. It took 98% of the book to establish what the before-and-after event was. Without spoilers, I can only say that the reveals of this book were disappointing to say the least, while also being a bit boring. I’m sorry to say this book wasn’t one I enjoyed reading.

TW for this book: elderly animal abuse/animal pain

She’s married to him. But does she know him at all?
Claire lives with her family in a beautiful house overlooking the water. But she feels as if she’s married to a stranger – one who is leading a double life. As soon as she can get their son Joe away from him, she’s determined to leave Duncan.


But finding out the truth about Duncan’s secret life leads to consequences Claire never planned for. Now Joe is missing, and she’s struggling to piece together the events of the night that tore them all apart.

This book was hard for me to read.
I couldn't really get into it.
The charterers I just could not relate to.
The story was also a little bleek to me.
It just wasn't my cup of tea I guess.

I'm not quite sure what I think of this book, to be honest. Sophie Draper writes a literary and atmospheric novel about the unraveling of a marriage and its profound effects on everyone involved, but this book can't quite decide what it wants to be. Things that it is: well-written, with an excellent sense of place and setting; a well-rounded main character in our heroine Claire, but the other characters remain a bit flat; and a well-steeped mystery with a twist. But while it is all of those things, it is not particularly suspenseful, OR particularly thrilling, OR particularly gripping. It's as if the author couldn't quite decide what type of book to write and so she tried to write both a psychological thriller and an atmospheric mystery and it just doesn't work here. There were way too many weird asides, red herrings that don't resolve, and "dreams" sprinkled throughout the narrative and while I think to some extent that might be to show the mental state of our main character, it just doesn't work particularly well here. The husband, while flat, is also particularly deplorable as a human being. I wanted to love this one, but alas.

Trigger warnings for accidental violence against animals & described abortion.

Unfortunately, I agree with the reviewers who found it really tough to get into this book. The premise sounded really intriguing (houses with secrets are, no pun intended, one of my favorite thriller tropes), but the writing wasn't a fit for me. I would consider trying one of the author's other books, though.

Claire has given up a career to care for their child. He is now eighteen and she still needs to keep an eye on him. He was never diagnosed but she thinks he may have ADHD or maybe Asperger's. Either way he can disappear for weeks at a time and she worries about him. Her husband is doing wonderful in his veterinary practice. Everyone is just so enthralled by his work and his love and caring of his animals. As for her, she doesn't recognize him as the dated and married. For one he has disdain for their son and he's impatient and mean. Plus he's a dirty lying cheat. She is less than in love with him. He has a lot to answer for and he just better be ready for it!
Excellent read. Had the to the very end!

My thanks to Harper Collins/Avon, Sophie Draper and Netgalley.
I quit this book soon after 30%. It's not that the content was bad...it was just that the back and forth, before and after was too confusing! I often pride myself on keeping up with stuff like this, but it was ridiculous! Too damned much!
I think that I might have liked this story, but only in a more linear and cohesive manner. I believe that Ms. Drapers editors screwed the pooch.
Yes! I would probably read more from this author! I just need more cohesion. And, a much better editor. Some author's should be told to get their shit together. Not the authors fault. Again, I blame the fucktards who let this be published.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I am in the minority’s here, the story was well crafted but the characters were all so flatly unlikable i has a hard time getting sucked in. I just wanted everyone to do better. It was s relief to finish and get away from them

The House of Secrets
2 Stars!

I’m not even sure where to start with this book. I can not recommend The House of Secrets. It’s slow and drags way too much. The switching between before and after has left me confused. I did not like, let alone connect with any of the characters no matter how hard I tried.

I decent middle of the road book. Had trouble keeping going. The ending wasnt worth it to me. I think with a little more twists this could be a great book.

Tried and just couldn’t get into this one. Finally read the ending and was like ok but still not wanting to go on this journey. Not for me I guess.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read this book. Wow, this was a tough book to read. I was so confused, not only were there two POVs there was also 'before' and 'after'. No idea what "before" was before what. happened. None of the main characters were likable to me.
The 'secret' was such a let-down. I googled the puppetrider coin and it's a real thing, I wish it had more to do with the story. That could have been intriguing.
I appreciate the fact that writing a book is hard work and it pains me to only give this 2 stars.

This book wasn't for me. I had a hard time following along and the story felt convoluted.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Disappointing story. Muddled, convoluted story that seemed to have no idea where it was going. I cannot recommend.

I read a lot of thrillers, so I feel with most that I've kind of seen it all before. Unfortunately this one felt predictable and a little silly. Not my favorite.

THE HOUSE OF SECRETS is an entertaining read as long as you're okay with a bit of rambling. The characters and setting are very interesting and I like the "before" and "after" structure. But although this is marketed as a suspense novel, it unfolds at a much more "leisurely" pace. I felt like it could've been edited down into a tighter storyline. However, it does keep the reader's interest for the most part.

You can live with someone for years, but can you ever truly know them? Author Sophie Draper explores this question in her novel The House of Secrets. Married couple Claire and Duncan share a home, a son, a dog ... and a secret they've kept for decades -- a secret that's been driving them apart for so long that there is nothing left between them but suspicion and animosity. The House of Secrets is a well-written, suspenseful novel for readers who like family drama with a mystery. The two main characters come to life well as the narrative shifts between Claire's and Duncan's perspectives both "before" and "after." By the end, you will also be asking yourself "What if?" about situations in your own life, contemplating Draper's lines: "One split second when before was 'normal' and everything was okay. And after, when everything was not."

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Personally, I didn’t even want to finish this book. I felt like nothing made sense, and I didn’t enjoy the plot either.

I actually read this book recently with a different title, Magpie, so I thought this was a newer or later release. It’s not. It’s just renamed. It’s the same with a different title. I enjoyed it the first time!