All Her Little Secrets by Wanda Morris was indeed a fast-paced thriller. I was drawn to the plot about corporate attorney Ellice Littlejohn, who is having an affair with her married boss who subsequently gets murdered in his office. Upon finding the body, our protagonist quietly leaves, which is the first of her poor decisions. The very next day she is promoted to his job. Things spiral out of control from there.

The character of Ellice was likable, but since she was an attorney, I would have expected her to behave differently than she did. She got herself into a lot of tight spots that seemed pretty unbelievable.

The plot covered some timely social issues around racism and sexism along with corporate corruption. I wonder if perhaps there was too much going on to give every issue the focus it deserved.

I really liked the intense pace of the story, and the flashbacks to her childhood were my favorite parts of the book. Everyone should be so lucky as to have an Aunt Vera in their lives; that lady rocked.

I will recommend this to readers who like suspenseful fiction.

I thank the publisher, William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Elise Littlejohn has a lot of secrets and makes a lot of really questionable choices. She is a corporate attorney (one of the only Black employees in an uber white male company), and she’s sleeping with her married boss. She comes into work early one morning and finds him dead in his office of an apparent suicide. Instead of reporting it, she walks away, leaving his corpse for his assistant to find (not cool). She is then immediately promoted to her dead boss’s position (making her the ONLY C-suite Black employee at the company), a move that is highly suspicious to both her and the police. At the same time, a secret from her past is threatened to be revealed and everything devolves into suspicion, conspiracy, and danger.

This was one of my most anticipated fall/winter books (THAT COVER!), and I wanted to like it much more than I did. I overall found it kind of dull. Elise was super smart but kept making the stupidest decisions that didn’t make any sense and the plot dragged. The secret from her past was pretty obvious, and the conspiracy was overly convoluted. I did really enjoy the “Interstitial” sections describing Elise’s childhood.

I’d definitely read another book by Wanda Morris in the future, but did not love this one.

This legal thriller told from the POV of a black woman working in a 99.9% all-white law firm in Atlanta is deceptive but in the best way. You think you're in for a simple tale of a black woman caught in a bad situation and trying to find her way out, what Morris has actually written is an eye-opening social commentary on race relations in the corporate world. Morris is true to the legal format enough to keep readers highly engaged in the "who is the bad guy here" dilemma, but she is extremely skillful in her craft of writing a powerful piece of writing about growing up poor and black. This book gave me so much more than I was prepared for and I am ever grateful for Morris for this. I can only hope that we'll be hearing a lot more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this title. (Minus one star for a few lagging storylines that drag the book in several places. But look at that amazing cover!)

In general, this was a fast-paced thriller with a number of twists to keep the reader engaged. The main character wasn't as likeable as I prefer, and it made it a bit hard to truly connect with the story. Some plot points were predictable but it was a quick read overall.

This book is a spectacular thriller! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It tackles some really important issues and also made you think about a lot of uncomfortable things. It's a must-read for thriller fans.

Ellice Littlejohn definitely DOES have some secrets…

The first being that she is sleeping with her married boss, Michael. Ellice is a Black corporate attorney in a VERY predominantly white office, and when Michael asks to meet her at the office early one morning to talk about something important, she obliges…only to find him dead with a gunshot wound to the head.

Instead of calling the police, shock causes her to walk away and pretend she was never there. Very soon after, Ellice is promoted as Michael’s replacement. It feels way too soon, and the timing and reasoning seems a bit suspicious.

Soon enough, past and present collide as Ellice uncovers shocking things about the company she works for...things that could kill her and her loved ones if she’s not careful.

I’ll be short and sweet because I don’t have too much to say. The writing is fantastic, and this book covers many relevant topics that should NOT be overlooked. The story is entertaining, and I didn’t dislike it.

However, Ellice is initially portrayed as strong, sensible, and smart. So it grew to be a bit frustrating reading about her making wrong decision after wrong decision that puts her in mortal danger. I feel like things could’ve been resolved earlier if she seeked help. The “secrets” in the plot aren’t as exciting as I thought they’d be, and I wasn’t a fan of the convoluted climax.

So, a bit of a mixed bag for me. Many reviewers seem to have enjoyed this more than I did. I’m glad to have read it, and look forward to reading another book by the author, but this one won’t stick with me for long.

2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to William Morrow and Scene of the Crime for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 11/2/21.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

All Her Little Secrets is a compulsive murder mystery and thriller all rolled into one, well plotted with a rich lead character in Ellie Littlejohn. As implied in the title, Ellie has plenty of secrets she’s hiding, mainly tied into her impoverished childhood and complicated family – but she’s also been sleeping with her boss – who she finds murdered in his office when she goes in for an early morning meeting. His death is the invitation that she’s always wanted to the executive offices of her company, but she quickly finds that there are some shady and illegal activities taking place and other executives are willing to use her past and her troubled brother to keep her in line. I really enjoyed the fact that the plot is so intricate, and that without being a truly bad person, that Ellie is a complicated person who is difficult to believe as evidence increasingly points to her being a part of her boss’ murder. As you root for her to overcome conspiracies and racism, you still understand why other characters would have a difficult time believing in her innocence. The storyline at some points almost feels like it gets a little bit too complicated, leaving the reader with a lot of details to keep track of, but also prevents the easy “twist” for readers to figure out without reading through all of the details coming together for a satisfying ending. Four and a half stars for this book, but rounding up to five!

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow and Custom House for the arc of this book. I was blown away by this book. The writing was spectacular. I thought racism was woven onto the story in such a matter-of-fact way. '
Ellice was such a good character, and the past narratives were heartbreaking. Sam was also a good character, and I could feel his struggle to get on with his life. I loved learning more about Juice and his life also. There were so many times I gasped or said OMG when reading this book! So needless to say the book was full of surprises. I was so involved with the characters, I might have shed a tear or two at the ending...it was that good! I will be looking forward to more books by Ms Morris.

All Her Little Secrets is one you won’t want to miss! This part mystery - part legal thriller was so good I didn’t want to put it down… my favorite type of book! Definitely a “just one more chapter” kind of read. If you are a fan of the show How to Get Away With Murder like me, you’ll probably love this book!

I loved the past and present storylines of this book and I enjoyed the character of our protagonist, Ellice. I LOVE a good, strong, engaging female main character!

A high paced legal thriller that at the same time explored the roles that the past and family plays in a person’s life. I had a hard time putting it down and will be waiting for more from this author.

Wow! That is the first word that comes to mind upon finishing All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris. This book was seriously a page-turner; once I started it I wanted to keep reading until I finished it. This was a well-paced, interesting, legal thriller focused on familial bonds, power dynamics, and the effects of racism upon society. I loved how the author alternated between the past and present in order to tell Ellice's story. I loved how frank the author was when dealing with topics such as racism and sexism in the workplace; a topic which I feel is not examined nearly enough in literature. I really enjoyed the twists and turns presented in this novel and it will be one that I will be recommending to all of my friends!

A fantastic debut! Wanda M. Morris has crafted a high stakes, stay-up-late, page turner of a legal thriller.

It's like Fried Green Tomatoes meets When No One is Watching. Told in two timelines, one from Ellice Littlejohn's past in Chillicothe, Georgia in the late 70s - growing up poor, Black, and with a mother who battled addiction, Ellice had few options. Her one solace was a woman named Miss Vee who looked after the Black children in their underprivileged, racist town. The second and main storyline is present day, with Ellice Littlejohn working as a corporate lawyer, sleeping with her white boss, and discovering his dead body, only to shut the door and tell no one what she found. What follows is a past and present tour de force of murders, mystery, and mayhem grounded in a very real world of hate crimes, white privilege, and illegal activities.

All Her Little Secrets is full of well-developed characters and plenty of twists. You won't be able to put the book down wondering HOW IS SHE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS NOW?

I really loved this quick paced legal thriller about a Black woman lawyer who finds her boss dead. The boss she's having an affair with! It reminded me of Scandal with all the big stakes, corporate intrigue and the Ellice's troubled past catching up to her.

In this novel, Ellice is working at a powerful company when she comes to work and finds her lover, one of the upper managers has been murdered. She wants to avoid being questioned by the police so she goes to work like nothing happened, after all, she is one of the only black women working there. When she is immediately promoted to his position but encounters hostility and racism from the other managers. Elli starts to get suspicious. The story snowballs into accusations to Elli's brother and then to her...

I enjoyed this story and it reminded me of "The Other Black Girl" with a murder mystery thrown in. There was some editing that could be done to the ARC, at every surprise the main character either felt faint or had her knees buckle... which got to be repetitive after several chapters.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Ellice grew up in a poor neighborhood but managed to become a lawyer. Her boss asks her to come in early and she finds him dead. She leaves and heads to her office. Overtime their is odd things happening at the office that she wants no part of. This book kept me interested from the beginning.

An attorney running away from a murder scene? What was Ellie thinking?

She should have reported what she saw.

When they first thought Michael had committed suicide, Ellie was a bit relieved, but when it was confirmed Michael was murdered, it was something for Ellie to be worried about.

Since Michael was her boss and they needed to fill his position, not surprisingly Ellie got his job.

And out of the blue Michael's wife summoned Ellie to her home. This had Ellie worried since she was having an affair with Michael. Is that what his wife wanted to confront her with or was it something else?

We follow the investigation, Ellie’s worries about people knowing she was there and ran from the scene, her new high-level position, as well as learning about her life as a child. Her childhood was filled with an-always-in-trouble brother.

Many people to not trust and lots of things kept under wraps in this tense mystery.

ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS actually was slow off and on, but very well written.

There is a lot of sensitive information in this book and makes reading it difficult at times. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris is a riveting story about the repercussions of lies, the bonds of family, and the effects of racism on society. Elliice Littlejohn, the main character, escapes her small southern town and family by accepting a scholarship to a private boarding school as a young teenager. Further education provides her with additional opportunities as she forges a new identity for herself and has a successful career. But at what price? The story is revealed by alternating chapters about her past and present, a device that makes you want to keep reading. The author’s characters are believable and come to life in her portrayal of them. It is a story that will keep you thinking long after you finish reading it. I highly recommend this book.

ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS is a fun, fast-paced legal thriller. The main character is sympathetic and relatable and I particularly enjoyed how she is accomplished and smart, while at the same time, trying to get her life together. Wanda M. Morris has crafted a propulsive narrative with good dramatic pacing and an intriguing storyline culminating in a thorny ethical dilemma. I also enjoyed how the author handles moving between the past and present storylines.

All Her Little Secrets is a twisty, smart thriller that hooks the reader immediately.

The story centers around Ellice Littlejohn, whose boss/lover is dead and she is very quickly promoted to replace him and join the all-white Executive Committee of her Atlanta-based company. She has a complicated past that she is trying to keep out of her increasingly complicated present--and it's an action-packed ride for the reader to see how that all plays out!

I especially loved how author Wanda M. Morris weaves the past and present throughout the novel. It was masterful how she paced the little nuggets she would give readers along the way and really made it hard to put this one down.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Custom House for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

No doubt I am in the minority with this one. While the premise was good and the prologue pulled me in the rest just was not what I thought it was going to be. It was a fast paced legal thriller and the "Interstitial" parts between that went back to when Ellie was a child was the best parts. I looked forward to reading more about her childhood even tough I knew where it was headed. It was set in 1979 in a small rural town in Georgia. A black community that was surrounded by a lot of white racists. The current time period was also filled with a lot of very racists people. The fact that a black woman was hired to work at this firm was shocking. She was a bit shocking. Being a lawyer you would think she would have made much better choices. As an adult that is...

This book is well written and the main subject matter is very much how life is in this country. Even now in 2021 it's a very racist country and isn't that sad. As a child in the seventies I didn't notice it as much but it certainly existed then too. You would think we would learn something after all these years... Ellie was a smart young woman who went through a lot in her life. Some things she sort of brought on herself though. She should have known better than having an affair with her boss. But that was part of the story and made her who she was.

The characters in this story were pretty likable. The ones from the seventies that is. Not many for the current time period were. The descriptions were great. They made me feel like I was there. Like I was in the small town during the seventies and in the building when Ellie found her boss deceased. Why she did what she did after finding him really was lost on me. I know it was a key part of the storyline but still it made her look weak. She was a lawyer not a runner. She was a survivor, not a runner. So that just didn't go over so well for me. But like I said it was part of this story and you will learn what happened. Who did what.

This book is filled with a lot of racist things that made my skin crawl. Country Clubs that only have one black member, just to show they are not racists. I would wonder why any black person would want to be a part of that club. It's not good enough in my opinion. But then again I am not black so I would not begin to understand. There is a lot going on and I won't give anything away. Let's just say that there is a bit of everything going on and read the story to find out just what.

While I did not really enjoy this book I have to say it was pretty well written. I had a hard time with the 1970s setting as it seemed to bounce around a lot. From one part to the next you might be before she left or before what happened happened. The main story stayed pretty much on track, yet I enjoyed the back story the most. The book is interesting and there are no loose ends to wonder about. You will find answers to all your questions. Some characters you will like and some you will despise.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #WandaMMorris, #WilliamMorrowpublishing for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

It's a 3/5 stars for me. Read it and decide for yourself what you think. I think I was expecting something different after all I heard about it. That's just me.