This is fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series but my first read from Noelle. I'm kind of kicking myself for not starting from book 1. This can be read as a standalone and I followed it perfect but it was so good that I need to read the rest.

There is a murder case with strange markings on the body. DCI Hastings is missing! Has he been kidnapped and a domestic violence surviver is unable to tell anyone what happened!

There is a lot packed into this murder/mystery/thriller. I really enjoyed this book. It was tense and exciting. I enjoyed the characters and I am looking forward to reading more about them in previous books. Highly recommended

Great fast paced thriller.
Keeps you interested until the end. Great author who doesn't disappoint.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Intriguing Mystery. Explosive Ending. This was my first book from Holten, and thus obviously I hadn't read the prior three books in this series. And yet this book totally works. Yes, there are references to prior events, but they are explained enough to keep the current story going without overburdening the current story with prior details. If you've ever started in the middle of a military technothriller series ala Tom Clancy or Dale Brown - similar feel here.

Overall, the world is interesting in that you get a typical-yet-not detective and an entire cast of well developed characters all working together almost in an ensemble fashion that works so well in so many mediums. Holten shows herself adept at the technique of using the final sentences of a chapter to hook the reader into reading the next, and indeed uses the final chapter of the overall book to similar effect - the reader is left almost breathless in desperate need for the next book.

If you're open to police procedurals at all, particularly those set in the UK, you're going to enjoy this book. Even if you're not, you should really give this book a chance - the characters are that strong. Very much recommended.

Thanks NetGalley for my copy. A really enjoyable police crime story with a good storyline. Kept me guessing until near the end of the book when I worked out who the murderer was. Great characters. Well thought out and written. Would definitely read more of noelle’s books

Dead Secret is the fourth book in the DC Maggie Jameson series. I always say that it's all about the beginning and end of a book and Noelle certainly knows how to draw you in from the start where it carries on from where the last book Dead Perfect ended. OMG what an awesome start. Not forgetting I left with a total jaw dropping ending talk about leaving me hanging. The last chapter was flipping brilliant.

I love that Noelle doesn't overly describe the characters and having characters I actually know makes this an easy read.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I would have liked to have read more plot. I felt like there was more going on in Maggie's personal life than the case in the middle of the book. Book three is still my firm favourite.

Nevertheless I was hooked from start to finish and I cannot wait to see what happens. That was a full on OMFG moment.

thank you to one more chapter for an ARC all thoughts are my own and not biased in anyway.

Dead Secret by Noelle Holten
I give this book 4.5 stars

DC Maggie Jamieson crosses paths once again with Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood when a domestic violence survivor stumbles into her new refuge, desperate for help.
Then another case hits Maggie’s desk. A young man has been murdered.
That’s when DCI Hastings goes missing and Maggie uncovers a shocking connection that turns the case on its head.
Every family may hide secrets, but not every family buries them!

Book 4 in a series but can also be read as a standalone.
This clever crime thriller has it all for me, a strong female lead (l love Maggie) all the main characters are well rounded and believable.A great plot,with clues gradually surfacing and everything coming together.lt has just the right amount of twists sprinkled throughout the storyline to keep me turning the pages..l was completely invested from start to finish.....and the last chapter,how long do l have to wait for the next one!!
A highly recommend read.
With thanks to Netgalley,Noelle Holten and Harper Collins Uk,One More Chapter for the chance to read and review this book.

Another excellent book in the Maggie Jameison series. I have read and loved them all and the books just keep getting better. A great storyline with twists and turns that had me gripped from the first page and didn’t ease up until the end. Strong likeable characters make for an exciting read. Although it can be read as a stand-alone I’m glad I read them in order to get the background information I thoroughly recommend this book and author 100%. Can’t wait for the next book.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle Holten and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously posted on https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/dead-secret/

Dead Secret is Noelle Holton’s fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series. I recommend reading the three books before this one.

A young man has been found murdered behind an office building, and DC Maggie Jamieson is one of the first ones at the scene. At the same time, DCI Hastings, Maggie’s boss, has been discovered missing, along with his teenage daughter and his wife. While Maggie and her team begin the process of notifying the young man’s family and looking for suspects, she also begins to investigate the disappearance of the Hastings.

Lucy Sherwood, probation officer, is creating a safe house for victims of domestic violence. Having been a victim, she is sensitive to those who need a safe and temporary home. Though her safehouse is not ready yet, she receives a knock on the door. A young girl covered in blood and bruises needs a temporary place to land. She will not provide any details about where she came from or what she is frightened of. As Lucy moves forward with having the girl stay at her home, she realizes that her new tenant may not be who she says she is.

As the bodies start piling up, DCI Maggie begins to see that these three very different situations may all be connected. Having previously lost her partner, Maggie is having a tough time adjusting to her new partner, Kat. Furthermore, she is also dealing with Julie Noble, an intruding reporter and a potential love interest for Maggie. With all of these things happening at one time, she is overwhelmed.

Despite having not read the first three books, this book kept me on my toes from beginning to end. The wonderful thing about Dead Secret is that very few people will be able to see the twist coming at the end! I will definitely be reading the previous three books in the series, Dead Inside, Dead Wrong, and Dead Perfect. I really enjoyed the character of Maggie, seeing how she figured things out, and also her relationships with her team and family. Her feelings and confusion regarding a relationship with Julie Noble are both relatable and interesting. Dead Secret is a solid read for those who love mystery mingled with some suspense and humorous moments.

I’ve been following this series with interest from the beginning and I’ve found them to be really engaging crime thrillers. I like the camaraderie between the characters and I found the story easy to follow. Between the short chapters and the flow of the story it made it hard to put the book down. It’s just too easy to keep going. Noelle Holten is definitely onto a winner with this series!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Fast paced, page turner thriller that will have you hooked from the beginning. Great read

Set in Staffordshire this story is full of plots and subplots. DC Maggie Johnson works on the case of a young man who is found murdered. His murderer left an unusual calling card. Maggie's boss disappears which leads investigators to wonder whether the cases are somehow tied together. Lucy Sherwood, a probation officer, houses terrified Ronnie, a domestic abuse victim who lives in her own world. Through the book we follow the investigators as they are baffled by the alarming crimes and catch personal character glimpses as well.

The subplots are interesting but I guessed the twist early in the book, Still, that wasn't a deterrent. What didn't appeal to me was the irritatingly frequent adult language and the lag of about half the book which tempted me to skip pages. I did like the ending. However, the book wasn't a good fit for me.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK - One More Chapter and NetGalley.

DC Maggie Jamieson is given an interesting case when the body of a young man is found with some unusually black marks inked on his face. Meanwhile Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood has her first resident before she’s even officially opened her refuge, when a young woman is found on her doorstep, bruised, unable to speak and desperate for help. When DCI Hastings Maggie's boss goes missing, can she uncover the connection to solve the case before more people end up dead?

The novel started strong but sadly went downhill from there. I thought the initial plot was interesting but then it became predictable and I’d already worked out the ‘big twist’ before half way through.

I did enjoy the shorter chapters, but I found some of them monotonous and it gave unnecessary bulk so it became slow-paced and stodgy. Furthermore, I think it would read better in series; I don’t think it works as a standalone as there’s too much reference to things that have come before which is alienating for a new reader.

There was far too much time and focus spent on the supposed love interest, which became repetitive and boring. Instead of new and fascinating characters, they became caricatures of the genre.

Disappointing after such a strong start.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Just for once, DC Maggie Jamieson would like a case that was straight forward and didn’t involve her crossing paths with Julie, her newspaper nemesis. But this latest case is going to push not just Maggie but all her colleagues to their limits. After all, one of their own is missing and the ensuing investigation shakes everyone to their core. Secrets need unravelling and lies uncovered before there is any more bloodshed and a media frenzy goes haywire. However, Julie the intrepid journalist doesn’t just have work on her mind, she’s determined to get Maggie to let her guard down for more than professional reasons, but will Maggie let her?

This ongoing procedural series goes from strength to strength and I love how Holten links all the characters together so smoothly as they weave through the ongoing gripping drama. As it's becoming her trademark the end of the novel has an explosive look ahead to entice the readers into the next whirlwind which leaves you on tenterhooks. I found this to be a stronger book than the previous instalment and devoured it even quicker. It was very enjoyable and for me, it’s the best in the series.

Noelle Holten has done it again. Such a strong story with an amazing character. Maggie is one of the strongest female characters that I have seen in a long time. She is fast becoming one of my favourites.

DC Maggie Jamieson works with Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood again helping a domestic violence survivor in the refuge who is unable to speak but needing help. Maggie is simultaneously working on another case of a young man murdered with a constellation of black dots inked on his cheek. DCI Hastings then goes missing with Maggie figuring out everything as usual
I have read all four books in the series now and love them all They are all fast paced and I love the way Maggie works The books are easy to read and draw the reader in I hope book 5 isnt long behind book 4 as I will certainly be getting it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to review this book

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dead Secret by Noelle Holten.
I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get to grips with the story/characters, as I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, but this wasn’t the case at all.
I enjoyed the characters and warmed to Maggie more and more as the book progressed.
A well written book, with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers, I now plan on reading the previous books to find out more.

This book follows DC Maggie Jamieson and her team after a young man has been murdered and found with some mysterious black dots on his arm and soon after DCI Hastings goes missing. Meanwhile, probation officer Lucy helps a domestic violence survivor who is so traumatised she is unable to speak.

This book is the fourth in the DC Maggie Jamieson series which I hadn't initially realised however, this had no impact on my ability to follow the plot or the characters as I was quickly immersed into the storyline.

I liked Holten's writing style and found the book easy to follow but I did find at times I needed to re-read certain parts to prevent me from missing important details of the case. I enjoyed the characters, in particular the strong female lead, Maggie, as well as the dynamics between the police team. Holten definitely kept me guessing until the very end and I didn't want to put down this book.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a crime thriller and I am planning to read the rest of the series including the earlier books.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unedited review.

A death in mysterious circumstances and with strange markings on the body and a domestic abuse victim turning up and seems too scared to divulge any information. The start of this book is full of promise and caught my interest me then when a DCI and his family go missing, presumed kidnapped, it has the hallmarks of a gripping story. Unfortunately I found the whole midsection a little too slow paced, for my liking, it also focused heavily on the (not very interesting) relationship between one of the detectives and a love interest.
The ending was back up to speed and I didn’t guess the ‘twist’ which is always a bonus, I just wished the rest could’ve provided the page turning qualities it had the potential to.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is yet another great book featuring DC Maggie Jamieson, as always brilliantly written and leaves you wanting more.

Another fab book in the dc maggie jameison series. As soon as i saw it on netgalley i requested as i had the previous book. This had me on the edge of my seat, i was gripped from the start and found hard to put down. FAB story and strong characters. Anyone who likes a police procedural you have to read this series Its a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. Highley recomnended