3.25/5. Read this back in 2023 and did not review it back then. I don't remember enough about it to give it proper feedback.

Couldn't put this book down, usually I can work out whodunit but I never saw this twist coming its incredible And kept me thinking for days afterward

This was the first book I have read from this author. I will be looking for more! I loved the characters and the storyline! I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book! Wow, this was really twisty! I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to future works from this author.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a good read. Intriguing and suspenseful storyline full of secrets and twists. The characters were well drawn but I would have liked to know a little more about them. Overall an okay read.

A riveting story about secrets and lies and deciet. How far are you willing to go to keep your secret. Rob is about to find out!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC! I liked this book! It was creepy and frustrating. I expected more out of it but it did keep my attention.! I rate the book a 3.2

I did enjoy this story & was intrigued to find out what was going to happen! Will definitely keep a look out for more books by this author!

Rob runs a successful, high end restaurant. He has the perfect marriage with a loving wife and daughter and a newborn son. But everything is under threat when an old friend Dan turns up and starts making demands,. We learn that Rob has been keeping a terrible secret for twenty years and Dan was involved in this. When human remains are found in a local reservoir the police come to question Rob as he lived in the area around 2002 when the person was murdered, Rob starts to receive silent phone calls and anonymous messages and thinks that Dan is blackmailing him. What can he do to stop his life from falling apart? I thought this book was well written, with plenty of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. A gripping book and a great read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Boks for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A fast paced and captivating thriller with a terrific plot and first-rate characters. I really enjoyed it.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Secrets We Keep' by M.I. Hattersley.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for M.I. Hattersley, Inkubator and Zooloos Book Tours .


Publication date 23rd May 2023

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that ''The Secrets We Keep is a riveting and enthralling read that’s perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst and K. L. Slater.' I am a MASSIVE fan of all three of these amazing authors so am looking forward to seeing if it lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Inkubator. I have yet to read a book published by Inkubator books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book.

This novel consists of 23 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in Glossop, Derbyshire, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in Chester on many occasions including this year and next year again so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.


This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Rob. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Absolutely loved this fast paced, gritty and unputdownable psychological thriller filled with emotions and secrets!!!

This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all making your heart pound and you constantly second guessing.


A huge success by M.I. Hattersley!!! This may be the first book I have read by this fantastic author but it most certainly wil not be my last and I've already added all the rest of his books to my Amazon wish list. This book had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliffhanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! This kept on happened over and over until before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this this morning and finished it at approx 2pm, reading it in one sitting. Rob is working as a chef in his restaurant 'Fire and Ice' and his wife Jess has just given birth to their son Noah and his suffering from postpartum depression. They also have a 4 year old daughter called Fern. Rob is struggling to make ends meet after the pandemic and Jess is certain that Rob is cheating on her. Rob's old friend Dan turns up and a secret they have kept hidden for 20 years is at threat of being revealed when climate change sucks the local reservoir dry and reveals its own secrets. Rob is feeling the pressure from his business, his wife and now his past. Will his past be discovered? Will their marriage survive? What will happen to Rob and Dan? Grab your copy of this absolutely addictive page turner today and find out the answers for yourself!!! M.I Hattersley has created a multilayered psychological thriller that dives into the complexities of human behaviour and emotions and weaves it all together perfectly with a storyline filled with guilt, love, Crime, mystery, stress, turmoil, suspense!!! He takes us on a journey from present to past telling us Rob's past and what led him on the path he is on today. M.I Hattersley's evocative writing ensures you are whisked away to Derbyshire feeling your heart pounding and the hair on your arms raise. This book is rammed with suspense and tension and will keep you biting your nails, on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding while your flipping the pages because you just cant stop. I loved the fantastic ending that left me wanting to pick up more of Hattersley's books and get stuck straight in.
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This may be the first book I have read by this very talented author but it most certainly won't be the last and I cannot wait to get stuck into more of his previous and future books!!!


The authors evocative writing skills brings each of the characters to life and leaves you feeling that you are standing next to Rob as his story unfolds and his life starts to tumble around him. Each of the characters were realistic, well rounded and strong characters which makes it a realistic read. All the characters were strong and realistic as well as hiding their own secrets. I was completely invested in each and every one of them. My heart went out to Jess as I could see how much she was struggling and how Rob's freedom to be able to just pop out for a run or nip in and out of the house as he wishes would upset and annoy her when she is struggling at home with two young children at home while also suffering with postpartum depression. I also felt sorry for Rob who was under alot of pressure but at the same time he wasn't an innocent man. I couldn't stand Dan from the moment I met him and is attitude and just the way he was just annoyed me. I don't want to risk saying more about how I felt about the characters as I don't want to give anything away to future readers but I will say that I was annoyed, angry, upset, disappointed at the different ones for many different reasons!! Regardless of whether you love them or hate them they each played their parts perfectly!!!


Overall an addictive and gripping emotional rollercoaster of secrets, family, suspense, tension and everything you could want in a gripping thriller!!



Genres covered in this novel include Women's Psychological Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Literary Fiction, Suspense Thriller, Psychological Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Noir Fiction, Womens Psychological, Domestic Thriller, Thriller, Mystery ,Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction, Psychological Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Domestic Thriller and Thriller amongst others.




I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', 'The Wife Between Us', 'The Woman in the Window', 'The Girl on the Train' ,Lisa Jewell, ,Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, Gillian Flynn , Freida McFadden, K.L Slater, Daniel Hurst. Shari Lapeni, 'The Wife Between Us', 'The Housemaid' aand anyone who loves a book filled with suspense and surprises!!


216 pages.


This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.24 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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Rob is the main character. He's hiding something from us. He is married to Jessie, who is currently having a storm of hormones because she recently gave birth to a son. Jessie had three miscarriages. They have another child together. Rob owns a restaurant. He would like to spend more time with his family, but after the Covid-19 pandemic, his restaurant is barely spinning. He can't afford to hire a chef. He doesn't want to worry his wife. Body found in a tank. What does Rob have to do with this? Someone knows his secret. Someone leaves him notes. What will our hero do? With less than 200 pages, I read the book very quickly. However, it didn't impress me much. The action was slow. The story could have been more developed. I wanted to get to know the characters in this book better. If you are looking for a thriller with twists, then read "The secrets we keep". I have to say that the ending took me a bit by surprise. I didn't expect this turn of events. You will surely be surprised, too.

Secrets Will Out..
Secrets, lies and duplicity abound in this pacy psychological suspense with a sharp edge. Rob has carved out a new life, left the old behind, and strives to make everything just right but when old friend Dan turns up out of the blue Rob realises that everything he has built just may be threatened. We all know that eventually secrets will out, right? And so they do. Swiftly moving with an edgy plot populated by a well drawn cast with abundant twists and turns along the way.

Amazing story line with great twists and turns, characters were well written and relatable and I enjoyed the story from start to finish

The Secrets We Keep by M. I. Hattersley.
Twenty years ago on a midnight drive along a country lane, Rob’s life was almost destroyed.Since then, he's fought hard to get things back on track. Now he runs his own high-end restaurant, has a loving wife and daughter. And a newborn baby only adds to the joy.But when an old friend, Dan, shows up, Rob realises the life he’s carved out for himself is under threat.
Brilliant read. Twisty and gripping. I certainly didn't see that twist coming. I did like Rob though. 5*.

A secret that has been buried for years is going to be revealed. I found some of this book to be a bit repetitive but with an ending I did not see coming
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC

A buried secret...a guilty conscience...and an old friend who could destroy everything...

This is the first book I've read by Matthew Hattersley (writing as M.I. Hattersley) and I'm always a sucker for a domestic suspense tale. But boy, what a tangled web that was woven!

Rob Wilkes has lived in Glossop in Derbyshire for most of his life. Apart from the wayward years he spent trying to lose himself in London after an incident in his teens that changed the course of his life forever. Then ten years ago he met and married the love of his life, Jessie, and just when they thought parenthood was not to be, five years ago Jessie fell pregnant with Fern and just three weeks ago gave birth to their son Noah. Of course it has thrown their life into turmoil as it had been the couple's dream to open their own restaurant which they did with Jessie working front of house and Rob as head chef. But after the birth of their children, Jessie is now stuck at home with three week old Noah who seems to scream every minute of every day and night, wearing down Jessie's last nerve.

And then there's the secret he's keeping from her. It all goes back to when he was a teenager twenty years ago with his best mate Dan, a childhood friend with whom he went separate ways. And then one day Dan knocks on his door with a need to unburden himself and cleanse his soul.

Dan's timing couldn't be worse. The restaurant they worked so hard to make happen suffered during the pandemic and he is so badly in debt he isn't sure its resounding the success is enough to bail him out of hot water. And then there is Jessie at home, who is obviously suffering from post natal depression - any idiot can see that but Rob, it seems, could not. It was slightly disturbing that he didn't see that there was clearly something wrong with her. Her constant snapping and sniping and mood swings were enough to give me whiplash and grate on my nerves but poor Rob, no matter what he did, just couldn't do a thing right. She is obsessed with the notion that he is cheating on her though where she gets that idea from is anyone's guess. It's hard not to sympathise with him despite his situation as dealing with Jessie's moods are increasingly difficult. So when Dan turns up, things only go from bad to worse. Jessie knows Rob is hiding something and that Dan is involved and she wants to know what.

OK, so yes, Rob is keeping secrets from his wife. On that score, she is correct. But I do believe Rob when he says he is keeping them from her to protect her and save her from worrying because if she knew the state of the business' financial affairs she would inevitably worry. But when it comes to the big secret he is keeping, it is a little hard to accept though I do in part grudgingly understand. To tell her would only cause goodness knows what given her current state of mind. I do believe he had the best of intentions but he was just so wrapped up in what was happening I guess his judgement was a little off. He clearly loves his wife and yet while he continued to keep secrets from her I think he was doing so from a good place. But at the same time he was guilty of something bigger that couldn't be undone. How he was going to get past that I've no idea.

I do have to wonder at how an author, proof readers and an editor can fail to spot the difference between "desert" and "dessert" because at Rob's restaurant they served an awful lot of "desert". And there was one point where Rob had just been telling Jessie he will stay home today and that the staff can run the lunch service and that he won't be needed till dinner...and then he drops Fern off at pre-school and then texts Jessie to say he was going to the restaurant, where he then helped with the lunch service. But he had just finished telling his wife he was staying home to help her. *scratches head*

At just 216 pages, this was a quick read that begins with a deadly secret and ends up a tangled mess of lies and deception...and an even bigger hole he has dug for himself. And while I found the storyline compelling I did feel something was missing from it though I can't quite put my finger on what. I did enjoy it though. It was fast paced and whilst a tad predictable, an entertaining read.

I would like to thank #MatthewHattersley, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheSecretsWeKeep in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

The Secrets We Keep, by M. I. Hattersley

Rob is keeping a dark secret and for the past 20 years, he’s been able to push it to the back of his mind. With a wife, two young children and a struggling business, he’s already juggling too many plates and the return of his childhood friend, Dan, threatens to push him over the edge.

Dan was there that night and he claims to want to come clean, but that means Rob will lose everything and he’s not prepared to take that chance.

An enjoyable read, a little repetitive at times, and I was frustrated with Rob’s weakness at points, but the emotional roller coaster towards the story’s conclusion was really well written.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Rob and Danny were two boys who were childhood friends one made it and one did not. Rob is now a chef with his own restaurant called Fire And Ice that he owns with wife Jess and she is also the mother to six week old Noah and four year old fern. Danny however lives off of public assistance owes money to Badman and suffers from PTSD. They haven’t spoke to each other in 20 years ever since that night that neither one wanted to talk about but thanks to the floundering environment Rob knows any day now he’s going to talk to Danny and he is absolutely right. When Danny does show up he knows his problems or tenfold in with his wife Jess suffering from postpartum depression and constantly think him cheating, his restaurant trying to get back on his feet since Covid he really thought his problems couldn’t get any worse but when he receives a letter at the restaurant insinuating the person knows his secret and his time is almost up he first thinks Danny is the culprit but when Danny faines innocence, there is something in his demeanor that causes Rob to believe him. Danny wants to go to the police he claims, Jess wants to know what Rob is hiding and Rob wants to know who is sending the ladders when all of this comes to a tragic end it will shake the foundation of each of their lives and not all of them will live to look back with regret. This was a great twisted swervy tail of deception it right like a powder keg waiting to blow up and when it does OMG be prepared. This was really an awesome awesome book and one I found hard to put down. I have read those authors books previously and enjoyed them but this one I do believe is the best. I highly recommend this book for any thriller fan it is unlike any thriller I’ve read before. I received this book from NetGalley and a publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thanks to NetGalley & Inkubator Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest & fair review.

"The Secrets We Keep" follows Rob Wilkes, a married father of two and chef, who has a dark secret in his past. His business is struggling, his marriage is going downhill, and then that dark secret comes back to haunt him in a number of ways....

I enjoyed reading this thriller novel, and what I liked about it was that it was well plotted out especially with the ending twist. There were elements of it being a little repetitive but it didn't take away too much from the book. I enjoyed this and will read future novels from this author.