Title: Secrets Between Friends
Author: Tracy Buchanan
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Liz and Tamsin were best friends twenty years ago. Tamsin lives behind the gates in a manor whereas Liz struggles. Liz wants what Tamsin has. What happened twenty years ago?
Alternating between two timelines Secrets Between Friends is a story where you know what is coming yet there is an element of mystery.
What I liked:
💧Fast paced book
💧Liz's daughters
💧Liz has a quirky character
💧Atmospheric and I could imagine the story in my head
💧The author's writing is very lyrical and I really liked it
Some parts of the story is a little unbelievable but in the overall scheme it works and I enjoyed the book.
CW: Cheating, a character who is narcissist, Mentions of body image

Secrets Between Friends was a fast-paced mystery. It wasn't mind blowingly amazing, but it definitely kept my interest.

We are introduced to Liz and Tamsin, who became friends as teenagers and experienced a traumatic event that separated them for twenty years. When Tamsin returns, twenty years later, something isn't right and Liz is determined to get to the bottom of it. Liz is going through her own hard times, fighting for custody of her daughters, dealing with an emotionally abusive mother, and trying to keep out of trouble at work. As Liz begins to notice weird things related to Tamsin, she starts to investigate and get into trouble. But when her daughter becomes involved, things become even more urgent.

This book was a super quick read. It kept me guessing until the very end, but I will also say the ending was a bit anticlimactic and kind of out of the blue. The reveal of what really happened to Gabe seemed random. The link between Gabe and the murderer was essentially non existent in the book. Typically, authors like to leave little clues as to the relationship between murderer and murdered, but I really can't recall any interactions between the two.

I did enjoy the author's description of the manor. I always enjoy when a house is essentially a character in a book and the manor definitely played a huge role, so the descriptions were key. I had a solid picture in my head of what I expected this house to look like and this definitely made me enjoy the book more.

I had trouble relating to the main character, Liz. Personally, I felt like all her decisions were destructive. But this also could have stemmed from the emotional abuse at the hands of her mother. So, while I can't relate, I do understand.

To me, this was a decent mystery but it could have been better and more suspenseful.

I enjoyed this one for a bit of a lighthearted mystery although I guessed quite early what was going on.

The main character, Liz, returns to Easthaven with her two daughters after splitting from her husband. They move in with her absolute witch of a mum, honestly think she’s one of the most awful characters I’ve read in ages! Soon after returning, her best friend who she hasn’t spoken to in twenty years returns as well but she isn’t quite the same.

The dual timeline shows us bits of what happened all that time ago to make both girls leave and follows Liz in the present day as she investigates the changes in her friend.

I found Liz to be quite an annoying main character as she’s ridiculously nosy 😂 I also thought some of the plot wasn’t that well thought out or written as it was too obvious for the reader but the characters were full of doubt so it didn’t seem realistic. However, I did enjoy reading this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

There are so many secrets between these friends. They say you can't go home but Liz has gone home after her divorce. She and her daughters are living with her mother. She had a hard time living with her mother when she was growing up and it seems doubly hard now. When Liz sees that her old friend Tamsin comes back, Liz is hoping that her friend will make things easier. The problem is that the girls have an old secret that tore their lives apart many years before and it is likely that the ugly truth will come out now. And Liz's ex is suing for custody of their daughters. Liz doesn't need one more problem. Can they get through all of this?

An enjoyable read that keeps you guessing to the end. All the characters are well defined and you are kept involved in what happens to them. I love a happy ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tracy Buchanan for the ARC of this book. I am leaving an honest review.
The story takes place in the present time and 20 years ago. Liz is the main character and I could not get my head around her and maybe I was not supposed to. Because of this, I felt I was somewhat disconnected from the whole story. Liz's Mom is just one scary character and I would cringe when I had to read anything with her in it. The storyline is interesting and develops well and the back and forth of the 20 years is well done. Overall I would recommend the book it just was not one of my favorites.

This book gripped me afte4 a couple of page. Liz is the local Postie in a village by the sea. She has returned after 20years now divorced with two daughters. She however has a secret she has kept for 20 years to protect her childhood friend Tamsin. Tamsin has now returned to the large Manor house on cliff overlooking the sea, following the death of her mother.
Murder, mystery and intrigue ensue as Liz reverts to her experience as a journalist, to uncover what is going on at the Manor.

A woman tries to figure out why her longtime best friend is acting so out of character. As the she battles her own challenges and tries to get to the bottom of the issue, the woman deals with unwanted advances, small-town gossip, and the memories of the worst night of her life. Author Tracy Buchanan offers readers a mostly satisfying mystery in her latest book Secrets Between Friends.

After 20 years away from Easthaven, Liz Barrowman has returned to the small English town by the sea. She’s brought her two daughters, Ruby and Mia, with her following a nasty divorce from her husband, Scott. Liz wants full custody of their girls, but, of course, Scott is fighting her. In order to prove she’s a reliable, responsible parent, Liz takes a job as the town mail carrier. It’s a far cry from her dream to become a journalist, but at this point Liz will take whatever she can get if it means she can keep Mia and Ruby.

The one consolation is that Liz runs into Tamsin Lakewell, her one-time best friend. Liz hasn’t seen Tamsin since she left Easthaven, but knowing Tamsin is back in town too makes life a little more bearable. In order to save money, Liz and her daughters have moved in with Liz’s mother who is disabled and bitter about everything in life—including the fact that she has actually to be a mother and grandmother now. Seeing Tamsin again brings back good memories for Liz of spending time at Lakewell Manor, the mansion where Tamsin and her mother lived all those years ago.

Unfortunately, it also bring back memories of a terrible accident. Liz does her best to handle the nightmares. Now that the women have reunited, maybe they can face it together. Then Liz sees Tamsin again, and her friend doesn’t seem to recognize her.

It doesn’t make sense. Just because Tamsin has a new boyfriend in her life, why would she suddenly forget about all the good times with Liz? And why does it feel like Tamsin isn’t herself? The longer Liz observes her friend, the more she gets the feeling that something fishy is going on. Soon enough, she gets the sneaking suspicion that something has happened to Tamsin and that an imposter has taken her place. But why? And what does it mean that bad things keep happening to Liz ever since the fake Tamsin has shown up?

Against her better judgment, and risking the custody of her children, Liz starts to search for answers. The more information she uncovers, the more unease she feels. Somehow, though, she knows that her friend is in trouble, and if Liz doesn’t help her it might be too late for both of them.

Author Tracy Buchanan gives readers a lovely look at a different part of England, describing the town by the sea in enough lush detail to make it come alive. Leaning into all the trappings of a small town, Buchanan takes advantage of all the complications that come with a place that’s so small everyone has grown up together and knows one another’s business. By making Liz the mail carrier, Buchanan gives her a unique vantage point on the town.

The mystery itself feels a little predictable in parts. Buchanan’s over-reliance on exclamation points might fatigue some readers; at times, the narrative aims to hype up a plot twist or story reveal with the explosive punctuation, but the excitement doesn’t always land. In fact, Liz comes off as just a touch flighty.

While some parts of the story might surprise readers, some of the subplots feel a little extraneous. The resolution also feels a little too pat. It’s clear the narration is trying to give readers the satisfaction of all questions being answered; the result comes off as quaint.

For the most part, however, Buchanan has created a likeable cast of characters and a satisfying novel. Those looking for a fun mystery might enjoy this one.

This is a twisty mystery, which I enjoyed. The ending was quite a surprise and not at all what one is expecting! I could not put the book down from the middle to the end. Thank you #SecretsBetweenFriends and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

Twenty years ago 15year old Liz and Tamsin become friends. Liz is the daughter of a single mum, who has never shown her any love and Tamsin is the introvert daughter of the lady of the manor Dorothy. They become firm friends and Liz sees what family life could be like with a mother who loves her instead of one who resents her and claims she ruined her life! The 2 girls bond despite their differences and begin spending most days together. Then the handsome and wealthy Gabe grandson of the local hotel owner junks the pair and they strike up a friendship. However secrets are being kept and the truth isn’t being told.
20 years later we meet up with Liz as she reestablishes herself back in her childhood home after her divorce. Her mother is still an old tyrant who belittles Liz at every opportunity. Liz is hiding something that happened in the past and when Tamsin suddenly returns to the manor old Nightmares come back to haunt them both.
Spread between the past and the present we learn what happened the night Gabe disappeared and the present as Liz tried to discover what has happened to Tamsin as she’s not acting herself and Liz believes she has been replaced by a fake Tamsin.
Who is telling the truth and can Liz save her old friend without losing her own family?

I enjoyed this story, I liked Liz and found her a likeable character despite the way she is portrayed to the local Easthaven residents.
I loved how the story flowed, but felt the ending was just a little unbelievable at times.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this title

Wow!!! This cover is amazing!! Loved this book so much! It will keep you guessing and wondering throughout your read. Grab a glass of wine and sit by the fire and prepare to pull an all nighter!

I really liked this! I was captivated by the cover art and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read! I liked getting the two perspectives from the past and present, I always feel like that adds a level of complexity into a mystery! I can't wait to dive into more books from this author.

This is my fourth novel by Tracy Buchanan I think I can safely claim that this talented author is a bit of a favourite. Liz Barrowman has returned to her home fishing village of Easthaven, the place she and her friend, Tamsin Lakewell left twenty years ago. Liz is facing a custody battle over her two daughters and an acrimonious divorce and feels she has no place else to go. Easthaven is the last place she wants to be, living with her mother. Postal worker, Liz is informed by a neighbour that Tamsin is back too and the women meet again but Tamsin has changed, in appearance as well as behaviour...

Deeply engrossing, I really enjoyed reading Secrets Between Friends. Told in past and present format, I could not stop turning the pages of this intense tale. Mysterious and unpredictable, this is one you shouldn't overlook.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Amazing storyline,kept me in suspense all the way through,a real page Turner,loved all the characters,and friendship the book displayed.
A must read,so please put this title on your reading list

This was a really good read! It had a little bit of everything. Including but not limited to Family, love, friendship, mystery, mayhem, murder and a great ending.
Story told as a dual timeline past/present from the main protagonists POV.
My first read from this Author and won't be my last.
Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK Lake Union Publishing and the Author Tracy Buchanan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an enjoyable and entertaining mystery about Liz, who lives in Easthaven with her daughters and her impossible mother. Twenty years ago, Liz had a best friend, Tamsin, who lived at Lakewell Manor, but a tragic event divided them.....until now. Present day Liz delivers the post around the coastal village of Easthaven and this brings many opportunities for drama and nosiness! Liz is a great character, a single mother who adores her daughters. Sometimes I found myself thinking, ‘oh no, you can’t do that!’ as she interfered in something that wasn’t really her business but she’s a delightful character and it was easy to root for her and hope everything was going to work out well. Secrets, lies, twists and turns, an unexpected ending - lots to enjoy!

Secrets Between Friends by Tracy Buchanan.
Postwoman Liz is excited to hear her old friend Tamsin is returning to their childhood town after years of being away. But when Liz delivers mail to Tamsin’s clifftop manor, she discovers another woman there claiming to be her friend. As Liz tries to prove this woman is an imposter, she finds herself thrust back into a dark past she’s spent years trying to avoid.
Wow. Brilliant read. Twisty and tense. Love this author. 5*.

What a wonderful read Secrets Between Friends is.
The book is set in the present day and what happened twenty years ago.
Friends Liz with an L and Tasmin are the best of friends an unlikely match with Tasmin being from a wealthy family and Liz a poor one.
When the mysterious Gabe enters their lives that summer will change everything.
There are a lot of surprises in this book and it doesn't disappoint.

A good mystery with references to past that impact the present. I loved the atmosphere, the well developed characters, and the mystery kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I love this novel. Fascinating characters, not all loveable. An old mystery, a new mystery, Old friends, new friends, love found, love lost, love blossoming. This was a great read that kept me engaged until the very end. I like the way the mysteries unfolded, bringing the past and present face to face. A good mother, a bad mother, a motherly challenge. What a story. I highly encourage readers to start this journey.