This is a wonderfully gripping thriller and I could not put it down.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great thriller centred around Emily and Francoise.
Emily makes a mistake and is suspended from her job as a midwife.
She decides to go and stay with her Dad but is shocked to find a live in carer there.
Emily is immediately suspicious of Francoise and whilst she knows deep down she should have visited her Dad more, she thinks Francoise is taking over.
When she finds out her Dad has terminal cancer Emily wants to be there for him, but so does Francoise, who has her own reasons to get to know Harold.
Both Emily and Francoise have secrets and it was great to see them sparring with each other but neither of them really knowing what they were up against.
This is a great read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

You know she's lying...
But so are you.

Emily is a midwife living in London and, after being suspended from work due to an incident, she decides to flee back to her childhood home, Willowmead House on the Cornish coast, the only place she really feels safe, and spend some time with her 93 year old father who is showing signs of dementia, but she's not prepared when a beautiful young woman opens the door claiming to be Harold's carer and Emily sets out to uncover Francoise's reasons for being there, but some secrets are best left alone...

We All Have Our Secrets is a two part domestic thriller with alternating chapters narrated by Emily and Francoise, occasionally peppered with scenes also from Harold's time in France during the war in 1945. The main characters are all very complex, each of them with secrets to hide and some to uncover. I spent most of the time not knowing who to believe throughout this story, as both women were very plausible. I enjoyed the scenes during 1945 as it explained why Harold acted how he did, switching personalities at the drop of a hat, clearly still affected by the war, even after all this time. I was torn between Emily and Francoise, both wanting to get to the truth, not knowing how the outcome would affect them when all was revealed. It's a well written, compelling read which grabbed me from the start and held my attention throughout, with many twists that I didn't see coming. This is the fifth book I've read by this author, which I finished in less than a day and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

I'd like to thank Penguin for inviting me to read this, I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Henry is terminally ill and also suffering from dementia . His daughter Emilie flees home after suspension from her job as a midwife. She finds Francoise has moved in to care for Harold and these three characters circle round each other dipping in and out of secrets . The book looks at how their lives have been affected and how they will move forward to live out the rest of their lives.
Who can you trust. What is being hidden and why?

A fast paced story dealing with family secrets. This is another good story that we have come to expect from Jane Corry

It's impossible for me not to feel thrilled at the thought of reading a new Jane Corry novel. She's one of those authors whose books I'll snap up without even reading the blurb, or even the title. I only need to see her name on the cover and it's mine.

The reason for this is that I know she's capable of leaving me in awe in a way that very few other writers can match. In her last novel, 'The Lies We Tell' and especially in 'I Looked Away', she managed to absorb me into the life of a particular character to such an extent that I read the words and felt everything they did. And because the characters in question were struggling with their own dilemmas, they felt a lot. I absolutely understood each decision they made, each action they took and was left wondering, both whilst reading the books and for some time afterwards, whether I'd have done the same thing.

The problem is that, even if you happen to be as skilled a writer as Jane Corry, writing a character-driven plot that not only manages to please everybody all of the time but wow them is something that simply cannot be done. And her two other novels that I've read: 'I Made a Mistake' and 'Blood Sisters', even though they're anything but bad, lacked that special connection. Which meant that I couldn't help but feel a little bit underwhelmed.

Unfortunately - and there's no easy way to say this - for me, 'We All Have Our Secrets' fell into the latter category.

It starts well. Something has gone wrong with Emily Gentle's work as a midwife in a London Hospital. She is compelled to flee London and return to her childhood home in Cornwall, feeling the same thing that so many of us never stop feeling throughout our lives: somehow, if she can just tell her dad what's happened, everything will be all right.

But she arrives to find that her dad, Harold, is not alone in the house. There's also a stranger in residence, a French girl by the name of Francoise. Is it true that she answered an advertisement for a full-time carer? Is that really her only motivation? And from Francoise's perspective, is Emily really the loving, caring daughter that she seems to make out to be, given that she hasn't visited her father in months?

Half-way through the book and I was well and truly glued to my kindle. But - and I'm loath to say this - I'm afraid the ending fell rather flat for me.

The problem, I think, is twofold. Firstly, the character whose back story we hear the most of is Harold's. And while this is interesting, and relevant, Harold isn't the character that the reader really needs to bond to in order for the book to work.

The second problem - unusually for a Jane Corry novel - lies not with the characters but with the storyline. It seemed to be working itself up to a big final twist, that I hoped would leave me gasping. But it never really came. The ending that is offered is believable, perhaps even lifelike. But it lacks the sense of drama that a psychological thriller really needs to have. Think of it as a firework that shoots into the sky at an awesome rate, leaving a trail in its wake. But then, instead of a big bang and a visual explosion of colour that lights up the night sky, we get only a puff of smoke in the air.

Does this mean though that I think you should give this book a miss? Or that I'm any less excited about reading any more of her books? The answer to both those questions is: hell, no. It means only that, this time, I'm one of the readers for whom this particular book didn't manage to find it's target. But I know that others can. Maybe discovering which those are is all part of the fun.

My thanks to the author, Penguin General UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

Harold Gentle advertised for live-in help as he was failing to cope at Willowmead House on his own. His advert was fairly specific: he was a retired lawyer needing help but he also spoke of the ability to cook a good steak, enjoy decent wine and be free from any food fads. The first person who came to the house was Francoise, a French woman in her early twenties, who fit the bill perfectly. She got the job but Francoise didn't know about the advert: she was there for a completely different reason. Emily Gentle is Harold's daughter and she came to Willowmead House because she was running away from a problem in London. Emily's a midwife and her last shift had seen her lacking concentration and a complaint had been made.

On her way back to the hospital Emily had an accident when a fox ran in front of her bike. She chose not to have her head injury attended to (she really didn't want to go near the hospital) but fled to Cornwall where she felt safe. Well, she had felt safe until she got to Willowmead and a strange woman opened her father's door and asked who she was. It wasn't the best of starts and it was going to get worse. Emily felt guilty for having neglected her father and it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that Harold was not above playing the two women off against each other.

Harold's not told anyone the truth about his health but neither of the women have been open about why they are in Cornwall. Emily had come to Willowmead in the hope that her father could help with the charge she is facing at work but somehow the opportunity to talk to him alone never arises. Francoise came to Cornwall because she believes that Harold is her father. She's adamant that it isn't money she wants (though she does accept a substantial cheque from Harold) but acknowledgement and recognition. You can imagine what Emily thinks about that.

The plotting is superb: it's a book to read once to find out what really happened and then to read again to find out how the author did it. Essentially, we have three main characters: Emily, Francoise and Harold and, as you read, you'll change your mind time and time again about all three. Both women know that the other is lying - but they're honest enough to admit to themselves that they are too.

Don't start reading this book until you can put plenty of time aside to finish it because it isn't one that you're going to be able to put down until you know what happened. And the ending is completely satisfying: this is a real pleasure of a read. I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

Emily, a midwife, makes a serious mistake when delivering a baby, she is suspended pending an enquiry. Emily decides to return to her family home in Cornwall where her elderly father Harold, still lives. Prior to catching the train she has a bike accident where she bangs her head but refuses to go to hospital to get checked over.
On arriving at her family home she is surprised to find a French woman called Francoise living there and caring for Emily's father Harold, who is quite ill. Emily is instantly suspicion of Francois and takes an immediate dislike to her. Francoise also dislikes Emily for not visiting her father more often or looking after him during his illness. Both women have secrets. The relationship between them is fractious and they do not trust one another. Secrets begin to unravel as the book progresses. There are plenty of twists and turns. The story goes between present day and Harold’s time
in WW2. in France. The characters are well drawn, the plot is intriguing and the end rather surprising. The story is a mixture of secrets, lies, compassion, forgiveness and more than anything both women need to find a sense of self worth and belonging. I enjoyed the book enormously. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest opinion

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review. Absolutely loved this book, I enjoyed the difference prospective views and the extra layers of Harold's life story.

This is an interesting tale with many layers.

Emily is a midwife who has made a mistake, causing her to be suspended. So, she returns to her childhood home where her father's health is deteriorating. Then, there's a French helper of whom Emily is suspicious and jealous.
The story is a woven one telling each person's perspective and at times I found this to be disjointed and stilted, but, overall, it's a decent 3* read about secrets and lies.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to preview.

A strong start to this dark domestic psychological thriller, with an historical element. Told from the POV of Emily and Françoise in the present and Emily’s father, Harold, from his wartime horrors in 1945. Well written and plotted with the three main characters all hiding a secret. As the narrative switches between the two women I found myself changing my mind about who, if either of them, to trust.

Briefly, Emily is a midwife working in London when following an allegation of medical negligence she is suspended so returns to her fathers home in Cornwall. On arrival she discovers that her elderly father has hired a twenty something French girl called Françoise as his carer. She and her father appear to be particularly close much to Emily’s rage. Who is she, where did she come from and is she really a gold digger just after his money?

A character driven story with plenty of suspense and twists and turns that had me fooled about the ending, which was satisfyingly good ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An excellent story from Jane Corry , the writing is of her usual high calibre and the twists and turns are addictive!
Emily is a midwife and sadly makes a mistake which may have a huge impact on her career, she decides to return home to her elderly father.
Her father is a complex character and has taken on a live in carer Francoise , there is a lot of animosity between the two characters and the story plays out flawlessly .
What are the true reasons behind Francoise caring for Harold ?
The characters are expertly written and initially I didn’t like either of them but by the end of the story my opinion had completely changed , the twists in this book makes it a must read!
An enjoyable read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK.

Wow what a brilliant thriller I was totally gripped from the start. Fantastic novel and brilliant writing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy.

I’d like to thank Penguin UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘We All Have Our Secrets’ written by Jane Corry in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Emily is a midwife at a London hospital and due to a bad decision is suspended while the matter is investigated. On her return to Willowmead House in Cornwall where her father Harold Gentle lives, she’s surprised to be greeted by a young French woman, Francoise, who says she’s his carer. Emily is at a loss to understand why her father is giving gifts to Francoise that should be hers from her late mother’s possessions. But secrets are being kept and there’s little trust between the two women so which one of them is lying?

‘We All Have Our Secrets’ is a domestic drama with a complex and well-documented plot of relationships that spans the years from when Harold Gentle joins the Army at the age of fifteen to fight in France to the present time. The characters are well-described and the story absorbing with twists and turns and surprises, but although the conclusion is unexpected it isn’t as surprising as I’d thought it would be. I’ve enjoyed reading this novel as it’s well-written and has kept me involved to the end.

Emily is having a bad time. Her midwifery career is in jeopardy and her father is terminally ill. Then there's her boyfriend! Emily's father is being cared for by Francoise, who has a secret in her past that will affect them all. a great thriller with a perfect ending.

This kept me guessing as I wasn't quite sure who to believe/trust as the book went on. There were also interesting observations about the effects of war, not just on the soldier but across generations.

All in all another great read from Jane Corry and all tied up nicely in the ending.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Emily is a midwife, with a troubled career. After problems at work she decides to visit her elderly father, a retired lawyer, in Cornwall. Unknown to her, Harold has advertised for a carer, and Francoise is now living in the house too.
Both women distrust each other, and each other's relationship with Harold.
Harold's life story is told, with clues from the past affecting the present.
Great book, I stayed reading til late as I wanted to discover who was telling the truth, and what the past meant. Great twisty story.

Emily is a midwife, dedicated but overworked, and when she makes a mistake, she runs to her Cornish childhood home. Her elderly father has dementia; she has avoided going home in the past, but now she has nowhere else. Francoise is her father's carer. Her presence undermines Emily. Told from Emily and Francoise's viewpoints, the reader is immersed in their emotions and motivation but are their perceptions of the situation reliable? Harold's viewpoint from 1945 gives the reader insight into his younger self and the events that shaped his character.

The author builds a domestic world full of mistrust and simmering anger. All the characters are hard to empathise with at some point in the story. I enjoyed the detailed characterisation, the plot's originality and the emotion woven into the story. The quality of the characters and clever plot twists make this an addictive domestic suspense.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

4.25⭐️

A domestic thriller, by an author who I had read and enjoyed previously.
Emily has been suspended after an event as a midwife at work, she runs away from the situation seeking solace from her father at her childhood seaside home. Only she finds that he has François’s a young beautiful woman ensconced in the house as his carer. Emily is immediately suspicious of her motives.

The time frame is split between now and 1945, the pov is Emily in the current time frame and Harold in France in the war.

I really got drawn into this, the family dynamics, so many twists and turns throughout. For much of the book I wondered what the relevance of the French thread was.

It was an easy engaging and enjoyable read, the twists kept me entertained. One that I’d recommend.

We All Have Our Secrets.
By Jane Corry .

This was my first book by the Author Jane Corry, If I'm honest it took me a while to get into the story but I think that was whilst getting to know the authors writing style as it wasn't look before I got hooked with all the secrets, lies and plot twists as they was discovered.

The story is told from two view points.
Emily who has come back home following an incident at work and finds a stranger moved into the family Gentle home and Francoise, the stranger who has moved Into Harold Gentles home to be a carer following his advert for help.
Both women have secrets and hiding things from each other and both are determined to find out the truth.
I was lucky enough to get the chance to read this ahead of this publication date on 23rd June thanks to Netgalley, PenquinUK and VikingbooksUK.