Wow.....I actually enjoyed reading this book. From the start to finish, I was literally hooked into the book.

The story starts with Rachel Verma, who is happily married receives a call from her sister Victoria to help her to take care of their ailing mother. Rachel had an estranged relationship with her mother and was determined to rekindle her relationship with her mother. While cleaning up the cellar, Rachel comes across a faded photograph and a skeletal remains of a woman. Now Rachel realizes that her family had been hiding dark secrets.

The story divides between the present day in Rachel's perspective and the past dated 1986 told in the form of a woman named Sam, who comes to the small village and meets a man named Sean and fall in love with him. As the story progresses, we find Rachel determine to protect her mother as she is trying to rebuild the relationship with her and the suspicion that Sam's new boyfriend Sean might be married. The ending was what blew me away, although I kind of knew that it was going to happen. The author also has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story and making the reader feel like part of the story. I also like Rachel's married life and her friendship with the policeman, Lucas.

Overall, if you like a family drama book packed with family secrets, then this book is one for you--quite unputdownable and emotional and heartbreaking as well. As this is the first time I am reading a book by this author, I am looking forward to read more. Worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Leah Mercer, A Secret in the Family, Bookouture, 2022

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

I found A Secret in the Family a disappointing read after having been pleased with Leah Mercer’s deftly observed family relationships mixed with social commentary and a well written story line in Why She Left. The secret in the family was predictable, and while that is not necessarily a flaw that cannot be overcome, there was little complexity to entice the reader into exploring any further. Although the value of family appeared to be at the heart of the novel, this was an uneasy theme. The motivation for improving family relationships or accomplishing a family unit showed the negative aspects of seeing family as the panacea for loneliness and unhappiness.

Rachel, the main character, is indeed lonely and unhappy, despite being at the hub of a nuclear family with three lively children to keep her occupied. She also has paid work, which is largely self-motivated. Her unhappiness arises from her relationship with her biological family with whom she has loosened ties until the imminent loss of her mother encourages her to make decision that will change her feelings about her family and the past. Rachel replaces her sister Victoria as her mother’s caregiver, leaving her own family behind. Rachel is determined to try and change the relationship between her and her mother before the opportunity is lost.

Here there was the opportunity to develop a nuanced character as Rachel was torn between leaving her husband and children, and her desperate desire to ‘make things right’ with her mother. However, Rachel’s desperation is overdrawn. Her secrecy about her past seems at odds with the warmth of her husband, and his acceptance of her choices. A glimmer of interest appears in Rachel’s recognition that she has made herself the hub of the family, and that has been for her sake, rather than her children. She is uneasy when the family functions well without her. This is an awakening that would have been interesting to pursue and would have tied in well to the theme of family, contrasting the challenges and constructive aspects of family.
The neediness expressed by Rachel, and Sam, the young woman whose story is developed in independent chapters, also shows the beginning of a theme which could have been developed. The question for each woman - is being part of a family a worthwhile pursuit above all others?

A Secret in the Family slips over the serious questions it appears to be asking, and the story line is not engrossing enough to carry the novel. Yes, I was disappointed in A Secret in the Family. Would I try another of Leah Mercer’s novels? Yes, I would, based on my interest in Why She Left.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Bookouture and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This one has me from the first page. Suspense, thrills, turns and twists galore.

Wow! The secrets some families keep. And in this case, it's a whopper!

I love the present and past chapters, although there were times in the past, I wanted to tell Sam 'if it's too good to be true it usually is,' or 'give your head a shake, woman'. However, that didn't detract from the enjoyment of the book.

I loved the characters. Even the creepy Alex. I would have liked to have seen more of him. Was he really as scary as Sam thought?

This is another great suspenseful read penned by Leah Mercer.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine living your whole life thinking one way, only to find out on your Mother’s death bed, that you got it all wrong. This is the premise of Secret in the Family by Leah Mercer. This family drama has many twists and turns along the way and a totally unexpected ending. Be prepared to want to read this in one sitting. Thanks to NetGallery for the ARC of this book.

I felt so much empathy for Rachel in the beginning and hoped for a good outcome. I wasn’t a fan of how Rachels character handled certain family situations and she seemed naive at times, which didn’t feel realistic. The mystery was good though and I would recommend the read.

Rachel has had a strained relationship with her mother since her father died in a terrible motorcycle accident when she was young. She feels responsible for the accident and thinks her mother blames her as well. When Rachel’s sister, Victoria, calls with the news that her mom has terminal cancer, she decides to move back into her childhood home to help care for her mom and hopefully mend their relationship.
Rachel soon makes a dismal discovery in the basement when she unearths a body of a woman behind a wall. Who is this woman and what how did she get there? Family secrets will unravel and every truth Rachel knows about her family will be up upended.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the overall storyline of this book, but I could not give it five stars because the main character, Rachel, really got on my nerves. I am pretty sure that we are supposed to like her, but I just could not get behind that thought process.

Two sisters (Victoria and Rachel) come together to care for their mother who is dying with terminal cancer. Never the favorite daughter and believing that she was the cause of her father's death, Rachel has come back to help. While caring for her mother, she discovers by accident a body in the walls of her parent's basement. From there, the story takes off. Who was this person and how did the body get where it was. Trying to shield her mother from the police and the press, she discovers past secrets of her family and why she never felt loved by her mother. A suspenseful read that kept me reading all night.

I got that prickly feeling soon after beginning this book. Many secrets are divulged, lies that were told and covered up.
Rachel makes a gruesome discovery when caring for her ailing mother and it leads to most of her life story fabric unraveling.
It’s a suspenseful novel, one that challenges conventional thought about what family really looks like.

Parents and children. The relationship between them should be the most relaxing and easiest of all relationships, but unfortunately it’s not always the case. There are lots of them who are on the best of terms. Some children like their father best, others their mother and some like neither of them a lot. Parents have favourites too and treat them better than the rest.

What is love though? Is giving material things loving someone? In a way it is, yes, but opening your wallet is not enough. That’s more like taking the easy way out. Love is an all consuming emotion that runs a lot deeper than that.

Feeling guilty and seeing the effect your action has on someone, makes you put distance between you. One day you realise it’s time to reconnect, before time runs out. That’s what is happening to Rachel.

She returns to your childhood home. She could never have imagined the kind of nightmare she would find herself in.

Rachel thought she knew it all. It seems like she knew nothing at all…

You can live under the same roof for years and find out you never saw through them. You never thought they would be capable of this.

This is an amazing story. I would advise you to keep a few tissues handy, because the emotions run high. I would also advise you to clear your schedule, because you will be unable to put this book down.

I loved all the characters… in the beginning. 😉 Afterwards there was one person I could have slapped around the face a few times.

A great read. 5 stars.

Thank you

You always know that when you get a Leah Mercer book that you are going to get a hard hitting, thought provoking read and this was no different.

We have Rachel who goes to her home to help her mum and she uncovers some pretty shocking secrets that change her whole life and what she always thought she knew.

I really liked Rachel but at sometimes I wanted to hit her around the head because some of the things that happen I thought come on you must have known about this as it seemed so obvious. I guess we only see what we want to see at times and ignore the other things. Ignorance is bliss.

The author does a really good job of building the suspense within the story. Whilst reading I had a number of theories but when I got to the climax I was a bit shocked because I didn't see it! I think that is a sign of a good writer to keep you guessing right till the very end.

I really enjoyed this book. Is it my favourite from this author? Probably not but it is a gripping and thought provoking read that will stay with you until the end and have you thinking about it afterwards.

A Secret in the Family by Leah Merce was a compulsive, tragic story about deceit and the mystery that lie behind a seemingly normal family.’

I've read and enjoyed most of this authors books but I must say this was a favorite of mine by her.
This book is so good and I loved every single second of it!
Once again Leah Merce has delivered another smashing read that you just have to experience for yourself. Riveting and extremely twisted, there was no way I could put this one down and it resulted in an all night read and a major book hangover!
Leah had my mind jumping from one conclusion to another until the final pages. She understands the recipe for intrigue, and she serves it to her readers in this book!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Bookouture,
Thank you for your generosity and gifting a copy of this approved eARC!

A lovely book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one. A clever, engrossing story with fabulous characters holding lots of family secrets……

Rachel lives her life with her husband and children. She has a sister and mother who she is in touch with but lead their own lives. When she gets a phone call from Victoria, her sister, that her mother is terminally ill she decides that this is her last chance to put things right with her mother- the person she has longer for approval from. When she arrives at her mothers she soon makes discoveries that have her shocked to the core and repercussions for the whole family. Can she mend things with her mother before it's too late and unravel the mystery?
I resonated with this. You never quite know what you will find in your childhood home and you may be taken by surprise. I liked Rachel and quickly found myself enveloped between the pages, invested in the story. I thought I could see where it was going but….. I won’t spoil anything. Of families and secrets, of long deep scars and wounds. Of how making those around you your family- they don’t have to be blood.
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3+

In the present day Rachel Varma is distanced from her sister and mother, a long held carryover of guilt she feels about the death of her father. When her sister Victoria rings with devastating news about their mothers health, Rachel makes the difficult decision to temporarily leave her family and move in with her mother. Her overriding aim is to try to heal the rift and old wounds. Shortly after she moves in, Rachel unearths a buried secret which takes her on a shocking path of discovery which implodes her world.

The novel starts really well and grabs your attention that’s for sure. Rachel’s strain and desire for things to be better between her and her mother are almost palpable with the dynamics between them being strained, strange and somewhat weirdly mysterious.

The characterisation is good, most are likeable, two in particular but they are also desperate and delusional. Rachel keeps airbrushing situations which is understandable but you also want to yell at her to get real. One other also needs to read the warning signs that are almost flashing in neon. The pace is fast, it’s a glide through easy read but it’s so easy to see where this is heading despite the red herrings. There are a couple of intriguing twists towards the end which I like and although I do enjoy the book it’s a tad too predictable for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

My Gosh! You just never know what you will find when you go back to your childhood home! People say that things are not as they were when we were in our home as children, but-- wow!
The suspense gets crazier and more intense and layered in detail with every page I read.
I was absolutely 100% positive that I had figured out the story and then??? NO!
There are so many secrets in this family and it is not until the last few pages that I really learned ALL concealed for many years!!

Hang on folks! This is so well done and anyone who adores a good thriller will truly want to grab this novel!

Thank you to #LeahMercer, #NetGalley and #bookouture for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

A Secret in the Family is a story of Rachel, who when she discovers her estranged mother is terminally ill puts her own family on hold to care for her. The book also follows the story of Samantha Hughes a barmaid in 80s London. A series of events links Samantha and Rachel but it's a tangled web of lies and family secrets. While the book is well written the plot is quite easy to predict. An easy reading, family mystery

Rachel sat at the kitchen table, trying to take everything in. She still couldn’t believe what her father had done. Clutching a faded photograph and a necklace in her hands, all she knew was that in her mother’s final days, she would do anything to protect her.
The call came on a seemingly ordinary day. But as soon as Rachel heard the pain in her sister’s voice, she had to face the fact that life as she knew it was about to be shattered: “It’s mum. She’s not well. She doesn’t have much time.”
Though her heart breaks to leave her husband and children behind, Rachel knows the right thing is to return home to care for her mother Janet. Their relationship has been strained for years. This may be the last chance for them both to heal.
Walking up to the front gate of her childhood home, Rachel is overwhelmed with memories: of hazy summers playing with her sister, of laughter ringing through the house, of the accident which cost their father his life. After that day, Rachel’s relationship with her mother changed forever.
Rachel has never forgiven herself for what happened and it is clear Janet hasn’t either. Determined to make amends, Rachel begins to get her mother’s house in order. But hidden in the cellar, Rachel unearths a devastating secret. A faded photograph and a tarnished necklace are the only clues to unravelling a secret that should have remained hidden.
I really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture
I just reviewed A Secret in the Family by Leah Mercer. #ASecretintheFamily #NetGalley

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy. Family dynamics…murder…illness…history of secrets…children…love and romance…marriage and more secrets…this author has written a cannot put down mystery. This reads like a television crime series…it could be true…it might not…the characters are not totally likable…just real people making mistakes…this is a story that keeps the reader’s attention from the beginning to the end…it moves at a quick pace…enjoy…

I could not put this down. Despite the characters all being pretty unlikable, I was sucked into their lives straight away. The author added a few red herrings to keep things interesting, ultimately tying up the loose ends in a very satisfying way.