Lots to love with this book! The family has multiple layers of drama, and it's interesting to figure out what happened to Meredith. The story went places I wasn't expecting but kept me engaged the entire time. Liz isn't a likable character, but I don't need that to enjoy a book. Thanks for the advance review copy.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, S.C. Richards, and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After receiving an ARC for this novel, I was eager to see how S. C. Richards would grow on me, as I have heard of her writing in the past. A strong story and well-developed ideas emerges early on, leaving me to lose myself in all the action and suspense. I am pleased to have had the time to devour this book and am eager to find some more of Richards’ work soon to whet my appetite.

After losing their parents at a young age, Liz and Meredith McCallister are forced to rely on their sibling connection. All this takes a turn for the worse when Liz learns that her sister was murdered. However, this is not the only mystery that Liz must shoulder at present. While trying to find her sister’s killer, Liz discovers that Meredith had a deep secret, one that could have fuelled the motive for her murder. Liz must come to terms with the fact that her sister had a child in secret, who is now a teenager and asking questions.

While piecing together both these mysteries, Liz is forced to confront a past that she and Meredith thought was buried away. Liz cannot stomach digging into all these dark corners, but soon realises that secrets may have been the one constant Meredith had in her life over all these years

Seeking some help from her step-mother, Liz discovers that the secrets continue to emerge, both held by Meredith and others. Liz looks back at her life and wonders how much of it took place under a rock, while those around her lived secret or mystery-filled lives of their own. It could prove to be the key to learning about Meredith’s murder, but the truth has a way of also derailing the bucolic nature of some people’s everyday, as Liz is learning all too well. What other secrets will emerge and how might Liz handle them all before things come crashing down before her? Richards does a masterful job weaving this tale of deceit and deception.

I have always enjoyed a good book where mystery and deception fuel the narrative flow. S.C. Richards has a knack for making things work well and keeps the suspense high for those who like it. A plot that twists throughout and some characters with strong backstories help turn this book into an enjoyable reading experience.

Richards has strong narrative capabilities and keeps the reader wondering how things will progress throughout. The characters who emerge are both multi-dimensional and well placed, keeping the story on track throughout. I enjoyed how it all added depth to the plot and provided some needed mystery, and the story progressed with ease. Richards never lets up, keeping the reader wondering until the end as the mystery finally has some resolution. I’d try another S.C. Richards novel in the future, if only to compare to this addictive piece.

Kudos, Madam Richards, for a great introduction to your abilities. I will have to see if I can get my hands on more of your books soon.

Very well written book. I felt like my emotions changed along the main characters as I read. It keeps you guessing the entire way through without seeming to drawn out.

This book is the perfect combination of thriller, crime, family drama, and the twisted people that become intertwined in our lives. I easily flew through every page just to find out what happened next. When Liz discovered the truth, there were no words and I let out a gasp! I was hooked right from the beginning. Such a well written book with plot twists, suspense, relationships, and just how far we will go to uncover the truth for the ones that we love...

4.5*
An awesome dynamic look at family secrets that I'm glad I picked back up after sitting it down to finish another one..Just Wow!! This will win over the psychological thriller fans. It was captivating and a page turning gripper!! This is fast-paced and creates an intense sleuthing for answers and piecing together evidence. It is hard to fathom their experiences and is very intense.
You think this family saga couldn't get any worse after Liz and Meredith's parents died when they were young. Their relationship was close and dependent on one another. Their bond couldn't be broken even after their bad experience with their stepparents.

Under a drunken stupor most of the time, Liz is devastated when her sister is murdered after receiving a confusing voicemail from her. The clues lead to someone she knew. Meredith was always the lovable one, and as a teen she became pregnant and put her daughter up for adoption. Liz meets the troubled child that had resurfaced into Meredith's life and can't help but think Meredith's death is related. She uncovers more than she wants to know about their family secrets and someone doesn't want it to come to light and will kill to keep it that way.

Trigger warnings: child rape, pedophile, abandonment

Thanks NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

**full Instagram review & linked post to come shortly **

I really loved this one! I love novels with a lot of family dynamic aspects and dark secrets, so I knew I’d like this!

I loved that it wasn’t too graphic/gruesome, making it an enjoyable thriller to fly through

When Lizzie's sister Meredith is brutally murdered, Lizzie sets about finding the culprit. Unbeknown to her, she is about to start unravelling hidden family secrets going back years. I never once guessed who murdered Meredith and I definitely didn't figure out the motive. There were a number of "gasp out loud" moments in this book where the unexpected happened. Twisty and turning and secrets galore!

I was craving a good murder-mystery book, and this was it: I couldn’t put it down. This is an intense and fast-paced book, which is exactly what I needed. The storyline constantly kept me guessing and waiting for what would come next, so for me that’s an easy 4 stars.

I absolutely loved this crazy, wild, full of crazy twists thriller and the ending has me in complete disarray. A definite recommend

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone else.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

***4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account***

"Sometimes you just know, long before you're ready to accept it, that things aren't going to end well."

Right from the first line, Where Secrets Live by new to me author S.C. Richards, grabbed me and never let go till the very end. I read this book in one day blocking out everyone and everything. It was detailed, shocking, and a constant twisty domestic thriller.

Liz's life, despite her family's wealth, is a sad one. Raised by her cold snobby step mom after her father's death in an accident, and then a new step father after her step mom remarried she has only her sister Meredith and her cousin Fred to count on. Until she finds Meredith brutally murdered in her home.

Meredith's former boyfriend, Tom, is the detective on the case and Liz keeps angering him when shows up everywhere his investigation is taking him to catch the killer. Liz feels she needs answers not just about who killed Meredith but why. Every answer leads her to more questions but one thing is for sure, everyone in her life has been lying to her and discovering the truth may cost her life.

Some of the reveals in this story absolutely shocked me. There are twists and turns throughout and everytime I thought I knew everything another secret came undone. This writer has written a fast paced, attention grabbing, murder mystery filled with some despicable characters but Liz, Meredith, Fred and Tom redeem the human race. A must read for thriller fans.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The story is told by Liz, Meredith sister. Liz is not a likeable character. By her own admission she is spoilt, selfish and a budding alcoholic but the one good thing in Liz’s life is her sister Meredith. When Meredith is murdered Liz is overcome with remorse that she wasn’t there for her sister. Instead of retreating into her normal go to behaviour of losing herself in alcohol and sex Liz vows to make it up to Meredith by finding out who murdered her. That is when the extremely dark secrets of her childhood are revealed. The more Liz finds out about what was troubling Meredith in her final months the more dangerous her quest becomes. And what Liz finds out is truly shocking.

This is an incredibly fast paced thriller with a real twist at the end.

The book opens with cousins Elizabeth (“Liz”) and Fred rushing to Meredith’s home after they each received a disturbing voicemail from the night before. Meredith is Elizabeth’s older sister, and even before they arrive at her home, they know something is very wrong. They rush in using Elizabeth’s key after Meredith does not answer the door, and find her dead in her lake home. Elizabeth goes through Meredith’s house, finding and taking any piece of what she hopes will lead her to her sister’s murderer. She is interfering with evidence, and the agent on the job, Meredith’s old boyfriend Tom, tells her to stay out of police affairs. Devastated and unable to let go of the sister who meant everything in the world to her, she decides to ignore Tom’s stern warnings, and find the person killed Meredith. Elizabeth feels she owes her sister, who took care of her and was there for her all of her life, at least that much. She discovers a few things, then a few more, piecing together all of the clues, unraveling a secret, which leads to another, which leads to another…

I think it’s fair to say that I am suffering from whiplash after the final chapter! All of the unexpected twists and turns, the eruption of the illusion of a “perfect” family, perfect appearances, perfect shells. Everything Elizabeth thought she knew about her family? Suffice it to say that after the mind-blowing revelations, she found she didn’t know them or anything at all, completely unnerving her. Liz fights to uncover everything that has been hidden from her, causing her to put herself in grave danger. Can Liz expose the murderer before she becomes the next one killed?

I’d like to thank NetGalley, S.C. Richards, and CrookedLane Publishing for the ability to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THIS COVER DOES NOT DO THIS STORY JUSTICE! A colorful and complicated mystery thriller!

When her older sister Meredith is murdered, Liz comes back from the brink of alcoholism to investigate behind the scenes. Raised by a stepmother AND a stepfather, Liz missed out on loving parents and relied on Meredith for protection and kindness. Shadowing an old school friend turned detective, Liz unravels a complicated maze of deceit. This is not a book for the faint hearted nor will you guess the twisty turns! If you love a page turner, a flawed heroine, or the stories of the prodigal daughter returning to prove they are worthy, then Where Secrets Live is for you!
#Crookedlanebooks

"Sometimes you just know, long before you're ready to accept it, that things aren't going to end well."

From this first line, I knew that I would like this thriller. It's a story of two sisters that were not raised by their biological parents and when one of them is found murdered in her apartment, the other sister is determined to find her killer and uncover all the secrets left behind. It was my first book by this author and I liked the pace. It just grabbed my attention and I was interested in it. In the middle, it started to drag a bit and I waited for the end which did not surprise me to be fair. But still, it was a good book. Some parts felt a bit unnatural and staged but overall I was very pleased with the plot and the writing. So, I'd recommend this book - it comes out at the beginning of September this year.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Absolutely loved this book! If you are looking for a fast paced, exciting thriller, this book is for you. I didn't see some of the twists coming.

I really enjoyed this book, the first I have read from this author.
The book was full of twists. I really enjoyed Lizzie as the heroine of the story. She has her faults and weaknesses but I liked her more for them. I also enjoyed Fred, Rachel and Edman. The relationships between various family members was well explored.
I thought the storyline got a little over the top and a bit rushed towards the end but still definitely enjoyable.

I’m usually a romance/fantasy reader but love to dive in to thriller/mystery books from time to time. Though this is not necessarily my cup of tea, it was a good read that took me out of my comfort zone and makes me want to get into this genre of literature more.

The quick synopsis: The lives of sisters Liz and Meredith McCallister are woven together after the loss of their parents at a young age. Their step parents provide for the girls. But the sisters start to grow up dependent on each other for emotional support. Since the sisters have such a strong bond, the discovery of Meredith's brutally murdered body at her lake house turns Liz's world upside down. Meredith didn't have any enemies so why would anyone want her dead? Liz is determined to find out who killed her sister Meredith. She uncovers shocking family secrets as she begins her search for the truth.

Where Secrets Live is available on September 6th.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel started off strong. But then around the midway point, it felt flat to me. And I had a hard time getting back into it

A really fast paced and exciting thriller.
I raced through it!
Not too graphic or gritty, more of a sleuth story.
Recommended for psychological and crime thriller fans.