This was a twisty read, it was an interesting story regarding old friendships and very twisted people. I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by this talented author and I hope it won’t be the last. A fast paced book that alternates between events of twenty years ago and the present day. As lonely teenagers Liz and Tamsin become friends despite their vast differences in backgrounds. They befriend a teenage boy, Gabe but when tragedy strikes, their unlikely friendship comes to an abrupt end and Tamsin and her wealthy mother move away. Twenty years later Tamsin returns to her manor home after her mother’s death, ready to face her demons. Ready to renew her friendship with Tamsin, Liz visits and is pleased they still seem to like one another. However, the next time they meet Tamsin seems different somehow and won’t admit to remembering anything about their past. Why the sudden change and will Liz get to the bottom of it? Risking everything she holds dear, Liz decides things just don’t add up and embarks on a dangerous mission to get the truth. A great read that flows well and has the reader wanting answers as desperately as Liz does. A real page turner.

Tracy Buchanan can be relied on for intriguing, suspenseful page-turners and Secrets Between Friends is no exception.

The narrative is in the first person, told by Liz, the mother of two teenage daughters, currently having to live with her dreadful mother, and facing the possibility of losing custody of her girls to her ex. Having had to give up her dream job as a journalist, she’s now working for Royal Mail, delivering post around Easthaven, the seaside town she grew up in.

The timeline switches between now and 20 years ago. I must say I was brought up short to realise 20 years ago is 2002!!! Surely that was only yesterday!

Something dreadful happened back then, causing the death of a young man and leading to her best friend rapidly leaving the manor house at Easthaven and returning to London. Suddenly that friend returns, now, 20 years later, but something’s definitely not right about her and Liz is determined to get to the bottom of what’s going on. Is her friend in danger? Can Liz save her? Or is Liz herself losing it?

The suspense is piled on as we are teased with references to something that happened in Liz’s life a year ago, which caused her to lose her job, necessitated her move back to Easthaven, and hangs over her as a threat to her chances of keeping custody of her children. While urging Liz on in her detective work, I was also fearful about the damage her actions could do to her and her daughters’ lives. It certainly kept me on tenterhooks.

I can’t pretend the story isn’t far-fetched, but it’s great escapism and I eagerly devoured it.

Not my cup of tea. Struggled to finish this book. Didn't like the characters and the story dragged. Slightly better towards the end.

This book is filled with what ifs and what's next. I loved the suspense and how the details were laid out in the book. The ending with Liz' family really surprised me, but made me so happy. Definitely recommend this book for someone who likes some suspense but nothing too gory.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tracy Buchanan’s book “Secrets Between Friends”. This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last. Taking place in an English suburb, it was an easy to read mystery with engaging characters. I enjoyed Ms Buchanan’s writing style.

I requested this book on Netgalley because I was intrigued by the plot line. Even though this was a slow burn it drew me in from the start. There are so many twists and also red herrings, that keep you turning the page at breakneck speed. Every time I thought I knew the outcome I realized I was totally wrong and I still haven't got my breath back from that ending.

An excellent thriller with one of my favourite tropes, not knowing if we can trust the narrator. Following Liz as she meets her childhood best friend for the first time in 20 years we know Liz has something to hide.

I found the premise of a possible imposter really intriguing and I enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded. The only thing to slightly take me out of the story was the lack of consequences for some pretty big things at the end. Although, I kind of understand how that could happen.

I would highly recommend this book and author.

Due to a nasty divorce, Liz is forced back to Easthaven, her hometown that she left 20 years ago. Back then, she and her best friend Tamsin shared a terrible secret that caused them to drift apart. Tamsin went on to become a reclusive writer. Shortly after Liz arrives she learns of Tamsin's mothers death and that Tamsin is also moving back to her family home to settle her mother's estate.

Liz decides to visit Tamsin and they have a nice chat and agree to see each other again. Liz also meets Tamsin's fiance.

A few weeks later, Liz returns to see Tamsin, but when she comes face to face with her, she realizes that this person who claims to be Tamsin, cannot be her. There are subtle differences in her looks, but most importantly, this imposter does not remember Liz's previous visit.

Liz starts to worry that something bad has happened to Tamsin and she sets out to figure out what is going on.

Although this seems like an implausible story, it is very well written and I really enjoyed the mystery.

It was an ok book.

I didn’t really relate to any of the characters and I didn’t feel like they were very well fresher out. Most of the motivations were also questionable and not really fully made sense to me.

However, it was an easy read and I did want to pick it up to finish it, which is saying something :)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

There were pros and cons to this book. If I didn't catch the before and after listed at the beginning of each chapter, I'd get confused. Liz and Tamsin were very different and yet made good friends. I'm glad we found out what happened that day 20 years prior that changed them and put distance in their friendship. Parts were very predicable, like the true identity of "fake Tamsin". At least by the end of the day, most of the people in the story who were not nice had some karma come their way. I think the only exception to this was the mother of Liz. What a horrid example of a mom. Some parts were a little far fetched with Liz and her sleuthing to find out what happened to Tamsin. Some very unlikeable characters but at least a few likeable ones too. I appreciate no cliff hangers at the end as everything was explained.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

"Secrets Between Friends" did many things right, in terms of creating a strong race-against-the-clock plot -- our likable protagonist Liz has her work cut out for her, correcting both historical and present-day wrongs -- and I found myself reading quickly through to the end to see how things were resolved. However, there were many weak spots, little character development other than Liz, and most difficult for me as a reader, WAY too many "there's seriously no chance of that happening in real life" moments for me to love this book, especially towards the end, when things felt a little thrown-together. This book is a solid 3/5 stars for me.

This was a fun and fast-paced read. The story centers on Liz, who returns home to stay with her mom after a nasty divorce and looming custody battle She had been best friends with Tamsin, who lives in a mansion up on the cliffs, until a bad shared experience caused her to leave the area as a teenager. Turns out that Tamsin is also back in town and Liz feels like their friendship could be rekindled, but then weird things start happening and it's clear that someone knows about Liz's secret from all those years ago. The book goes back and forth between current times and that fateful summer when Liz was younger.

Liz was a mostly likeable character, though I couldn't understand how she could possibly put up with the way her mother treated her- it was sad. The relationship between her and her daughters was very heartwarming. I also appreciated her doggedness to keep pushing when she felt something was wrong with Tamsin but everyone thought she was crazy. There were a couple good twists in the story and I found myself having ah-ha moments right along with the characters. The author did a good job at tying up the loose ends and making connections between various parts of the story. I found the end to be satisfying, though was on the verge of suspending disbelief.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was unique and memorable. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A superb fast paced thriller. I absolutely loved the story and couldn’t stop reading it. It’s perfect for all readers, especially thriller lovers.

Liz is back in Easthaven, living with her mother again but this time with her two daughters in tow as she goes through a messy divorce. When she finds out Tamsin is back as well and living at Lakewell Manor, Liz decides to reach out and try to rebuild the friendship she shared with her once best friend. Their initial meeting is promising, only for Liz to return and find that another woman has taken Tamsin’s place, using her identity and living in her home. For Liz to find out the real truth may cause her more problems than she can afford, but what happened to the real Tamsin? I enjoyed this book, even if the characters annoyed me at times. It held my attention and I thought some of the twists were well thought-out. At other times, I found myself wanting to shake Liz and tell her to think…but I guess that’s how it is with real people sometimes, too. 😊

Special Note: Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great book this was to read. Really keep you captivated all the way through with a fantastic storyline. One to highly recommend!

The twists and turns in this mystery will keep you guessing! There is always another surprise to consider in trying to see where these characters are headed. Clear your weekend for this adventure.

This wasn't a bad read. There was an interesting mystery and time jumps between 2 periods. I didn't really get Liz's character and her complete obsession with her friend. Her mother was completely over the top.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Twenty years ago, Liz left Easthaven to escape the memory of one tragic night at Lakewell Manor. Only she and her best friend Tamsin saw what really happened, and in the aftermath they drifted apart. Now she’s forced back after a nasty divorce, with two daughters in tow, the shadows of that terrible night lurking on every corner. With a custody battle looming, she’s one wrong move away from her life falling apart completely.

So when news arrives that Tamsin, too, is returning to Easthaven, Liz fears their reunion will bring the awful truth spilling out into the open. But when she finally meets Tamsin, now mistress of the clifftop house whose locked gates have guarded the friends’ secret all these years, she’s in for a surprise. Tamsin looks different, and she doesn’t remember Liz, let alone what happened that night…

Something is clearly wrong. But confronting Tamsin means reliving the nightmare Liz has been running from for twenty years. Can she risk exposing what happened that night, knowing that the truth will destroy everything?Do not miss this book. It is sooo well written, completely gripping so make sure you set aside many hours so that you can greedily devour it in one swoop. With an eye for precise detail balanced by a sweeping imagination, this beautifully constructed book is built on deep foundations. Read it at least twice….
This is an author to know. Just when you think you understand the motives behind the characters and the way their story lines are being presented—bam!—It will hit you with twists you won’t see coming!

An enjoyable read. The story drew you in and had you guessing (mostly wrongly in my case) what had happened 20 years ago. Good twists and turns with a satisfying ending.