4.5 ⭐️
Another great read from Mark Edwards.
I felt this one was more ‘Edwards’ style than a couple of his others that have seemed just a little far fetched for my licking but this is more what I expect from him.
As ever, you can tell he has done his research. Research of the places they visit so you can visualise them as you read. He develops the characters well leaving you not sure quite who you can trust or not!
Edwards keeps you guessing as you twist and turn through every page of this book, not quite sure who to believe or where the plot will take you next.
I’m not going to give anything away but will say, clear some time in your schedule as you will want to keep reading to find out what happens next!
Looking forward to the next read from Mr Edwards!

3.5 rounded down

It’s September 2022 and two hikers separate from their walking group in Iceland. This is Helena and Matthew, exes from university days but recently back together following the death of Helena’s husband Lee. The Icelandic scenery is superb and Helena is determined to have a final attempt at that Insta worthy picture when disaster strikes. She is now desperately clinging to the rock face, a certain death awaits, she’s held only by the sturdy strap of her rucksack. Matthew is terror struck, he can neither leave her nor pull her up when Helena makes some very strange statements in her panic.....

The start of this is terrific and I’m on the edge of my seat and hooked for the first half which is really good as it explores the extraordinary lengths people will go to in order to keep secrets as things go from bad to worse. The pace is definitely fast as we barrel from one disastrous situation to another and it’s an entertaining ride.

However, whilst the plot certainly keeps you guessing it starts to become OTT and a bit Fred Karnos. The twists become less and less believable but at the same time there’s one that is so predictable! As for the ending, that is deliciously good. Ha ha!!!!

Overall, it does keep you focused, it’s an easy read which is engaging and diverting which is always a plus!

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

Wowee just when you think Mark Edward's books can't get any better. This is one rollercoaster of a read. Superbly plotted right up to the last page. I honestly could not put this book down. Gripping, fast paced, brilliant characters. Well done Mark, absolutely amazing!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Helena and Matthew dated twenty years ago in college. After a chance meet up at a reunion, they embark on a trip to Iceland. On the last day Helena has a traumatic accident and cheats death, later that night she confesses her darkest secret to Matthew.

Somebody overheard and then tries to blackmail her.

The initial build up to the blackmail was fantastic. I found the second part onwards unbelievable and far fetched. I still enjoyed the book but I found parts predictable.

Matthew and Helena dated in college and recently became reacquainted after seeing each other at a reunion. They go on a brief getaway to Iceland where Helena almost has a tragic accident, and she confesses a crime to Matthew. Once all of the drama passes, she explains in greater detail and is worried that now she'll lose him for good. Thus, he's left with the decision to turn her in or keep her secret. I'm sure you know what he'll decide, especially if you're used to this author's writing. The male characters are typically pretty wimpy but hey, he likes to write nice guys, which is a change from the typical domineering and secretive men of late in these types of stories. I always picture the author as the main character of his books, I just can't help it!

Anyway, it gets worse once they get back to England. As the synopsis states, Helena is blackmailed by one of their fellow travelers who overheard her confession to Matthew. Now things get interesting because your boyfriend is one thing, but a complete stranger knowing what you did? And this person doesn't even care about why she did what she did, but there's a reason for that which eventually adds another element to the story which by this point has become a big tangled mess. There really doesn't appear to be any easy way out for Helena and Matthew. You're reading the story like "wow, this is going to blow up in their faces' but you can't look away or stop reading because you just have to see how it ends. And boy does it end!

I really enjoyed this story and I think it's one of Mark Edwards's better books, and I've read them all. I get disappointed when you can easily see where a story is headed and this one wasn't like that. It doesn't need all the hoopla of big twists - something other authors should take note of. The author is a master of authentic storytelling and his books speak for themselves. This is one you should not miss!

Such an intriguing, unique premise.

Matthew and Helena were college sweethearts, who have recently reconnected romantically.

While hiking on the last day of their dream holiday in Iceland, Helena slips and falls over the side of a cliff, but is prevented from falling to her death by the metal strap of her rucksack.

When Matthew tries to leave to get help, Helena begs him not to go, and then goes on to say that she deserves to die, that this is her punishment for what she did to him.

Before she can explain further, rescue arrives, and Helena is pulled to safety.

Back at their cabin Helena confesses all to Matthew.

The secret is a big one.

But, Matthew will go to any lengths to protect Helena. And his loyalty and devotion is about to be tested.

Wow, this psychological suspenseful domestic thriller definitely delivered plenty of nail biting twists, and the tension and excitement never let up from start to finish. It was a tad predictable during the last half, but the story was fun and engrossing, and I was utterly invested in Matthew and Helena’s messed-up, train-wreck predicament, and the many crazy ways their situation escalated. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was also an easy, hassle-free read, perfect for those with busy lives, who want to read, but don’t have much time to devote to reading.

Mark Edwards is always an author whose book/s I look forward to every year, and Keep Her Secret did not disappoint. If you enjoy John Marrs’ mind-bending psychological thrillers then this novel is definitely in the same vein.

I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Amazong Publishing UK – Thomas & Mercer, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 30th May, 2023.

Keep Her Secret is yet another great page turner from Mark Edwards. I loved the setting for the start as it was in Iceland. Helena and Matthew have very recently rekindled their teenage romance just months after Helena’s husband, Lee, died in an accident. Lee was part of the school friendship group and not liked by Matthew but he didn’t say anything when he found that Helena had married him several years later. While on a walk in a remote part of Iceland there is a slip and Helena is left in a precarious situation. Believing she is about to die she mutters something alarming which sets the whole rest of the book off at a very fast pace with non-stop tension and twists and turns.

It was one of those plots that constantly left me wondering how anything was every going to be resolved in a satisfactory manner. I was quite happy with the ending but then there was an epilogue that threw things again. A sequel?

Catalyst For Catastrophe..
The rekindling of a former romance becomes a catalyst for catastrophe in this swiftly moving, tension fuelled domestic psychological suspense as this author returns to his old stomping ground with a fanfare. For Helena and Matthew, a trip to Iceland means an opportunity to properly reconnect but when a near death experience prompts a confession events soon begin to escalate out of all control. Deftly drawn characters populate a pacy plot with an undercurrent of menace, fraught with tension and twists and turns aplenty, as it leads to a, perhaps, unexpected denouement. Bravo!

Helena and Matthew who were a couple at college when they were young meet up at a reunion and decide to get back together again but a lot of things have happen during the time they were apart and their past is about to catch up with them.
A fast paced thriller that I couldn’t put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards for my ARC of 'Keep Her Secret' in return for an honest review.

I have read several of this author's novels and have always enjoyed them. This one was superb.

Matthew and Helena dated at university and are now on holiday in Iceland after meeting up at a reunion recently. Although they haven't been together long this time they have rekindled their romance. A fluke event occurs and Helena nearly dies, As a result of this she makes a confession to Matthew which completely floors him. he agrees to keep the secret.

On their return from holiday they discover somebody else overheard the confession and intends to blackmail Helena. This unleashes a chain of events which blew me away.

Highly recommended.

Wow, this book was amazing. Matthew and Helena rekindle their romance after twenty years apart and go to Iceland together. Helena confides in Matthew about a terrible thing she has done. When they are back in England they discover someone heard her confession. This is one of Mark's best books and I highly recommend it.

If you are looking for a fast paced psychological thriller you have found your book! I could not put this book down! Mark Edwards has a way of taking everyday situations and turning them into the most exciting and sometimes terrifying events that will stay with you for days. This is a book I would reread to make sure I had not missed any details as the plot was twisting and turning! I can't wait to see what comes next ...

Absolutely crushed it! Loved the story, love how you think it is one person then another not really knowing who! Definitely a 5* read for me

Mark Edwards' books, like a favorite singer or band, always go on my buy/listen to/read immediately list because I always know I'm going to love whatever the newest work is. Keep Her Secret did not disappoint, it's a master class in tension building and drew my favorite reactions to suspenseful reads like screaming at characters and watching the dominoes of bad decisions snowball, without making me dislike the characters or question the believability of the plot. It's a fine line that has to be walked when writing stories like this, and it was incredibly entertaining to watch all the separate facets come together for the climax of the book. Absolutely great read!!

..Another Fantastic book from Mark Edwards. I could not put it down.From beginning to end.Everything just fell into place perfectly. So,well written like seeing it as a movie in your head. Definitely a must read!

I did not love this one as much as I wanted to.

While I was curious about the blackmail aspect, I quickly realized that I hated everyone and wanted everyone to die. I mean…there was no one to root for.

The situations they get themselves into were kind of silly to me and my logic sensors kept sounding alarms at every turn.

I finished the book and found parts of it entertaining, but it wasn’t something I loved.

• ARC via Publisher

Loved the opening of this with the beautiful Icelandic backdrop, and then it was full throttle into peak Edwards territory with a twisted love story that goes very, very wrong. Brilliant.

Edward’s is on top form in this novel, whilst not as dark as earlier books the revelation early in the story sets up a compelling series of events and revelations with plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing. Loved the central characters, settings and pace, a great read.

I just love Mark Edwards books, I didn't need to read the blurb before requesting this book. Once approved, I got straight to it. This book didn't disappoint. Fast paced from the start and keeps you gripped right to the end. Loved the twist and turns throughout. I would highly recommend this book.

This book grabbed me right away. Matthew and Helena are old sweethearts newly reunited and taking an impromptu trip to Iceland. While separated from their tour group, Helena almost dies. She survives but reveals a devastating secret to Matthew. When they return home, they are surprised that someone heard that secret. This book is about the lengths they go to in order to keep that secret.

This is a quick read with expected twists and turns although there were some reveals at the end that I definitely didn’t see coming. My main problem with the book is believability. Matthew and Helena just happen to meet at a college reunion and in short order they are taking a trip together. Then when Helena realized what is at stake, Matthew is willing to risk a lot to “Keep Her Secret”. I could jot relate to the awful decisions literally everyone in the book made. But it was a nice twisty thriller that I would recommend. The conclusion was open ended and a little too convenient.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.