Dead Secret by @noelleholten is the 4th book in the DC Maggie Jamison series. This is the first one in the series that I have read and I didn’t feel like anything was missing or confusing. So Dead Secret can easily be read as a standalone, since each book is a different case.

What I enjoyed about the book were the many plot lines that Holten wove together to create a puzzle for the reader. It kept me reading because I had to know how it all tied together.

In one plot line probation officer Lucy is almost finished setting up a shelter for victims of domestic abuse when she finds a severly injured deaf woman. Lucy offers he refuge and tries to get her to open up about who hurt her and how she arrived on her doorstep.

In another plotline, a body is found, a man brutally murdered with 3 strange dots on his face. At the same, time DC Maggie’s boss DCI Hastings is apparently missing. What can make the situation worse? All the evidence in the murder cases with victims that have dots on their faces are pointing right at DCI Hastings.

Of course Noelle Holten cleverly ties all the plot lines into a neat bow, connecting all the dots. This novel is fast paced and it could have been confusing with so many characters and plot lines but it wasn’t!! The author wrote is so well I breezed through it without a hitch.

I must warn you though this book ends on a jaw dropping cliff-hanger so if you read it you will be compelled to read Book 5.

Thank you to author @noelleholten @onemorechapter and @netgalley for my digital copy of the book to review.

Dead Secret is the fourth novel in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, but can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous books and aside from a few references, I wasn’t confused.

The novel has multiple plot lines that connect in interesting ways. While DC Maggie Jamieson is investigating a murder after just finishing another case, PO Lucy Sherwood tries to help a domestic violence survivor who can’t speak and is spooked easily. On top of it all, a colleague and family are missing and Maggie must figure out how it’s all connected.

I think this was an intriguing story and was told at a good fast pace. I will have to read the others as well!

Thank you to the author, publisher and PR companies for this gifted copy and for the opportunity to be part of this tour!

A great read with plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing. This is the fourth in a series but reads very well as a stand alone. I need to go back now and read books 1-3. Well written characters which draw you in, plenty of action and suspense throughout.
ARC copy.

Dead Secret is the fourth book in Noelle Holten's D.C. Maggie Jamieson series and although each can easily be enjoyed as a standalone, it has become such a treat to follow the ongoing development of the recurring characters. Following hot on the heels of the emotionally exhausting case in Dead Perfect, Maggie and her colleagues have no time to rest before another body is discovered and it soon becomes another intensely draining investigation, with the whole team affected by the implications of the disappearance of D.C.I. Hastings and his family.
Meanwhile, Lucy Sherwood's refuge for survivors of domestic violence isn't even open before an injured young woman arrives needing her help. Lucy featured prominently in the first book in the series, Dead Inside and I loved seeing the change in her since then. She is a strong, courageous woman but her traumatic past is never ignored and I applauded the scenes where she is clearly affected by her memories of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex. Noelle Holten always imbues her novels with authenticity but they are invariably empathetic too; it's patently obvious that she cares for her characters - and for the real-life victims of similar crimes.
Maggie's personal life undergoes some intriguing changes here too but although I enjoyed seeing her potentially take the first tentative steps towards risking opening up to somebody, I thought her moments of burgeoning self-awareness were even more interesting. As much as I enjoy following each new investigation, it's discovering more about the characters - particularly the complex Maggie - which has really hooked me.
As the narrative switches between Maggie and Lucy's storylines, there is so much to admire about this intricately plotted thriller. The disturbing actions of the killer opens up a thought-provoking discussion about psychopathic and sociopathic behaviour while the responses of the police officers to one of their own being involved, and how they are forced to confront their growing doubts and fears is compelling throughout. I must admit to figuring out a key part of the plot but this didn't impact my enjoyment of the book; I was fascinated to find out if my theories would be proved right and to discover how and when the revelations would occur. I certainly wasn't disappointed! I might have guessed the who but there were still plenty of twists and turns which kept me absolutely riveted to this top-notch police procedural.
As always the book ends with an enticing glimpse into what the next instalment has in store for us, and it looks to be heartbreaking - I can't wait to read it! Dead Secret is a dark and disturbing thriller but it is deeply compassionate too; D.C. Maggie Jamieson is rapidly becoming one of my favourite fictional detectives and this series just keeps getting better.

Thanks to @letstalkbookspromo, @berittalksbooks & @whimsicalyme, I was able to snag a copy of #deadsecret by @author_noelleholten. This one was published on April 16 by @onemorechapterhc. Definitely add to your #TBR ASAP!⁣
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I really enjoyed this one. It's book #4 in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I loved the writing enough that I want to read the others now. This is a fast paced, easily 'digestable in one sitting ' read. I would highly recommend to my #crimethriller friends!⁣

Out of the three books I've read in this series, this was my least favorite. To begin with, a lot of the suspense was (for me) missing due to the fact that it was a fairly simple deduction to figure out what had happened with "Ronnie". In fact, this was such an obvious plot point that I cannot figure out how two people (the one spending the most time with her, and a seasoned police officer) couldn't figure out the truth.

Secondly, I understand that these are first and foremost police procedural novels, which means you spend a lot of time "in the office" and "in the field" with these characters as they follow up leads, speak to witnesses, and visit crime scenes. To some extent, I have come to expect these books to be slower than some of the others I typically read, but this one seemed to drag on so much that I felt myself wanting to skip pages just to get to the end. I understand these characters are under a lot of stress to the severity of their missing DCI - I don't need to read about it every other page. Nor do I need to read about how their DI is seemingly falling apart at the seems due to both job stress and home stress. In my opinion, not only is it not necessary to the plot, but it becomes distracting. This goes double for Maggie. While it is always nice when a character recognizes their shortcomings, or develops outside interests, I don't need to read about them every few pages. I have not forgotten that she is interested in Julie (just as I have not forgotten all of the reasons Julie is wrong for her). And speaking of Julie, how self-centered is she that she can't see just how (and why) being in a relationship with Maggie could hurt Maggie's career even if she was innocent of any wrong-doing?

While I felt the author wrapped things up nicely, I will say that the amount of graphic detail the suspect goes into may be a bit too much for some readers. Sadly, once again this book ended on a cliff-hanger in regards to a different character that we just met in this book, and at this point, I'm not sure if I care enough to continue on with this series or not.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

I felt terrible reading this out of order although it can be a standalone!

Maggie is my kind of girl and I love a good police procedural.

Red herrings were thrown in to throw us off the trail but I got the one twist all on my own :)

I’m definitely going to read the whole series.

This is the 4th book in DC Maggie Jamieson series. I haven’t read the first 3 novels but I had no trouble reading Dead Secret as stand alone even though there were many recurring characters. There were enough introduction to dispel confusion. Although it seems like there’s so many crimes to investigate, the puzzle begins to make sense as you go along the story. It’s actually quite clever how the pieces connect to one another. I don’t read much police procedural novels but I sure enjoyed reading this one. I also loved getting to know Maggie. She’s unlike any other detectives I’ve read. She knows her limitations and isn’t afraid to ask for help when she’s stumped. However, the twist was a bit predictable for me, I was able to guess who the villain was. But that ending!!! It was such a cliffhanger! Now I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! I guess I need to go back to the first 3 books while waiting for the 5th one.😁 If you enjoy a good police procedural, then this series is perfect for you.

a very good book it kept my interest right till the end, it was clear that there was a book before this one, that i hadn't read but it didn't matter because the storyline was great and if a book follows on from this i will definitely want to read it

If you enjoy police procedurals with multiple murders, action right from page one and non-stop twists & turns then this is for you!⁣
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I love a good police procedural, especially one with a strong female lead so I was excited to delve into this one, even if it was book 4 in the series. I will say that while not reading the previous three books didn’t hinder me or prohibit me from fully enjoying this one, I usually like to have the build-up in history from a series such as this. Which means I need to read the other books now. ⁣
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There as a lot going on here with multiple plot lines in play. It all definitely kept me turning the pages quickly because I wanted to see where it was all headed and if my suspicions were correct. DC Maggie Jamieson had her hands full with multiple murders, a missing boss and a possible blossoming love interest! ⁣
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I love how well crafted the story was and how Holten throws in some red herrings while carefully peeling back the layers, revealing an intricately plotted thriller. Be forewarned, this ends in a mouth open kind of cliffhanger, making you want to jump right into book 5 which sadly we can’t do. We can only hope Noelle Holten is furiously writing so we get to see what happens next soon. ⁣
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Love love love Noelle Holten and this series is a must read for any and all crime thriller fans.

Although the wonderful Noelle takes great care to leave bits of backstory in her books – meaning that each can be read on its own – you would undoubtedly get more from them if you read them as a series. So, in my opinion, before reading Dead Secret you should do yourself a favour and read:

Dead Inside

Dead Wrong

Dead Perfect

I am growing very fond of DC Maggie Jamieson and those in her professional realm. They seem like a good bunch of people to have as colleagues. Much like with the teams in the background of Vera and Banks, I am confident they will soon feel like old friends.

Picking up where the last book left off, with DCI Hastings missing, Dead Secret is exciting from beginning to end.

I felt like Maggie was a little more rounded in this book and beginning to ‘know’ herself a little better, for although at times she is a bit of an odd character she seemed a little more comfortable in her own skin and less prone to outbursts.

I really like that her character is evolving as the series goes on. One thing is for sure though, she is super loyal and caring and those close to her most certainly would feel loved and appreciated.

I have said in a previous review that ‘these books in the ‘Dead’ series have a wonderful mix of intelligence, a lively sparkyness and a depth of believability all of which are perfectly honed into a gripping thriller‘ and I am going to add to that, that it is Noelle’s experience and years of working in the field that makes these books stand out. It makes them authentic.

Noelle Holten gets better and better with every single book and I loved that ‘Sarah Hardy’ was a character! Oh and (as I seem to find myself saying at the end of everyone of Noelle’s books) as for the ending…

I love UK-based crime and mystery television shows so I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the latest installment in the DC Maggie Jamieson crime series, Dead Secret.

This is the first book I have read from the series and it does fine as a stand-alone story. There are references to previous events just enough that I am curious to go back and learn the backstory.

In this latest story, DC Maggie Jamieson is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of an unidentified young man.

Meanwhile, another recurring character, Lucy Sherwood, has been working to open a women’s shelter when an unexpected visitor in the form of a traumatized young shows up at the door, unable to speak.

As they work on the murder case, Maggie and her colleagues will soon learn that learn that a senior officer, DCI Hastings has inexplicably vanished and wonder if the two events are somehow related while we wonder if the woman in Lucy’s shelter is also connected.

Author Noelle Holton has an extensive work and educational background in the UK criminal system and it shows as police procedures and relationships between departments are described. She takes a measured, steady approach which builds until the page-turning conclusion is revealed.

Thank you @author_noelleholton @letstalkbookspromo @onemorechapterhc and @NetGalley for the eARC of this book. Opinions are my own

This was the first book I've read of the Maggie Jamieson series. Each is a self-contained case and can be read as a standalone, and the backstory was explained enough that I felt like I knew what was going on. I really feel like I would have gotten more out of this book if I had read the previous ones. Some twists may have been more shocking if I had more connections to the characters from previous books! Regardless, it was an enjoyable read. I particularly loved Lucy and the work she was doing.

Noelle Holton has grabbed my attention with this book, and I'm looking forward to catching up on the previous three in the series!

Dead Secret is book four in a series, and it’s full of action, twists and turns. In this book, DCI Maggie meets up with Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood again with a domestic abuse survivor needs help. On top of that, a man has been murdered and DCI Hastings goes missing.

This police procedural novel is well done and full of surprises. As soon as you think you’ve solved the mystery, there’s another twist!

The characters in this book are well developed. Even though it is part of a series, it can easily be a standalone novel.

Thank you @letstalkbookspromo @author_noelleholten @onemorechapterhc and @netgalley for including me on this book tour.

Every family may hide secrets, but not every family buries them…

Thrilling, fast-paced and suspenseful!
Dead Secret is book four in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, I was nervous because I haven’t read the previous books, but I started reading and I was invested in the story since the first chapters.
Twisty and easy to read this book kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time.

Thank you Let’s Talk Book Promo , One More Chapter Books NetGalley and Noelle Holten - Author for the opportunity to read this book.

http://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeepleasemx

Thank you so much to the author, publisher & Let’s Talk Books Promo for gifting me an ebook of Dead Secret as part of the book tour!
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Dead Secret is the fourth in the police procedural thriller series of DC Maggie Jamison. While I have not read the previous books, I had no problem following the current story which acted as a standalone.

The novel contains multiple plotlines in the form of various seemingly unconnected cases that revolve around the central character
DC Maggie, as she swiftly works her way around each. In one trajectory, probation officer Lucy Sherwood is setting up a shelter for victims of domestic violence and comes across an extremely abused woman. In another trajectory, a man is brutally murdered and marked with three dots on his cheek. At about the same time, DCI Hastings has gone missing and the murder evidence is piling up against him even though DC Maggie is working on another angle.

Of course, all the trajectories are somehow connected and it becomes the joy of the reader to try to piece the puzzle together....of which I clearly failed. The whole crime thriller is fast-paced and zigzags between the stories but smoothly where I did not feel lost as I sometimes do with other books. Because this is part of the series, the ending is a jaw dropping cliffhanger...Once you’ve read this book, you cannot resist reading the fifth!

4.5⭐️

Dead Secret is a gripping, engrossing, and fast-paced crime thriller!

A murder victim with mysterious black dots on his cheek. A woman who was assaulted and is too afraid to talk. A DCI who’s gone missing along with his wife and daughter. Intrigued?

The riveting plot immediately pulled me into this story! There were so many twists and turns that kept me furiously flipping the pages! Maggie is a strong female character whom I enjoyed getting to know, and I loved the interactions between Maggie and the rest of the police team. The tension and stress felt by the characters really came across through the author’s skillful writing. You feel like you’re investigating the cases along with Maggie, trying to put together the pieces and figure out the connections. Of course, I was wrong! Good thing Maggie is so amazing at her job!

Although this is the 4th book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, I haven’t read the previous books. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but I want to read the first 3 books and get to know more about the characters and the previous cases. Dead Secret is a fantastically compelling read, and I can tell this is a series you can easily get hooked on!

If you’re a fan of crime thrillers or police procedurals, then I highly recommend checking out this series! I definitely plan to read the previous books before the next book comes out because that ending left me craving more!

Dead Secret just grabs on to you and doesn't let go! I loved how there was always something happening.

With three cases presumably all connected but with confusing evidence, DC Maggie Jamieson has her hands full. Maggie is trying desperately to balance her work/life balance, when all of a sudden, her personal life collides with the case on multiple levels! Can Maggie relax and enjoy a new relationship or is she pining for someone who is unreachable? (This is where it would be helpful to have read the previous book, but not necessary!)

Then you have the story of Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood, who has barely just opened a sanctuary for women when her first client, who is hard of hearing, turns out to be very secretive. Scared that the woman's unknown assailant might be trouble, she's forced to close her doors to others while she tries to help the woman break free of her trauma and share her story.

There's a great deal of background knowledge of how the social service agencies interact to help the police as they investigate. The conclusion is woven together wonderfully. This was my first book by Noelle Holten and I'll be reading more!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advanced reader’s copy.

This procedural police drama was a fun read! DC Maggie Jamieson finds herself immersed in another murder case. Unfortunately her superior DCI Hastings also goes missing with his wife and daughter... and the family has a strange connection to the murder. Around this time a mysterious woman finds her way into a women’s shelter. Her lack of hearing makes communication and building trust difficult....

This was my first book in this series. It took a little time to figure out who was who but despite that, I think it reads just as effectively as a stand-alone. Maggie is a fantastic heroine, her dedication and ability to be authentic shone throughout the novel. The chemistry between her and sassy journalist Julie was palpable. I would definitely be interested in reading more books in this series!

In Dead Secret, Book Four of the DC Maggie Jamieson series, by Noelle Holten, Maggie’s friend and confidant Kate, a psychologist who has consulted with the squad, has taken a leave of absence while Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood is occupied with organizing her new domestic violence shelter and tending to a woman who arrived at the shelter savagely beaten and so traumatized she can hardly speak. Maggie is feeling lonely so that even the advances of journalist Julie Noble seem appealing—though she is from the enemy camp.

Personal concerns take a backseat, however, when Maggie is called to a murder scene. A young man was bludgeoned then marked with an unusual pattern of black dots on his cheek. Shortly thereafter, the team learns that their supervisor DCI Hastings has gone missing under suspicious circumstances—and that the murder victim had a tenuous connection to his daughter.

Although no one wants Hastings to be the killer, evidence builds up against him, even as Maggie tracks alternative suspects, such as a man on probation who claimed Hastings framed him for his original crime. No matter who is guilty, she must find them fast before the body count rises.

Maggie’s a refreshing detective because she expresses her frustration and her exhaustion and worries about the intersection of her professional and personal lives, unlike some detective figures who are lone wolves or completely self-assured. This book also shows how different agencies work together (or not), particularly police and probation. While probation in the UK sounds similar to that in the US, some of the rules are different and it sounds like probationers there have more rights, so that aspect was pretty interesting.

Fans of UK procedurals, such as those by Val McDermind and Robert Bryndza, will be particularly interested in this book!