Nate & Stevie, besties since high school, now run a true-crime podcast together. Their podcast, "All the Gory Secrets", comes under scrutiny when they falsely blame the boyfriend in an unsolved murder case in their hometown. Forced to take a break from the podcast, Stevie begins to notice that murders taking place in towns nearby begin to feel as though she is living in one of the episodes of her podcast. Nate insists they should restart the podcast, but Stevie is hesitant...As they investigate these new crimes, Stevie realizes she may not know as much about the hometown murder & about Nate as she thinks she does...

If you enjoy true crime Netflix series or podcasts, I highly recommend you read this book! It seems to be a popular trend this year to incorporate podcasts/Netflix series into books & I am here for it! I loved how some chapters were podcasts from the book. The story took place from multiple POVs, which left me wondering who I should trust! Although I am not a fan of unreliable narrators, this book slowly revealed different secrets (one might say "Small Secrets" ) that allowed me to figure out who the killer was! I will say that I predicted the ending, but none-the-less enjoyed the journey to the end of the book.

Lastly, be sure to read the acknowledgement at the end! This crime fiction novel held an underlying concept of reflecting on respect when it comes to true-crime, as well as being conscious of how we process real-life events vs. stories. I loved this deep underlying concept & it truly made the book enjoyable for me. Lucy Goacher also has another thriller, The Edge, that was published in 2022 that I will for sure be adding to my list!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my (as always) honest review!

Out October 17th, 2023!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lucy Goacher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Small Secrets, to be published 17 October 2023. Two podcasters start off with a bang and end up accusing the wrong person for a murder that occurred locally. They soon discover another murder with similar details and decide to attempt to restructure their podcasts to address the earlier faux pau. 5/5 Stars for this intriguing crime thriller. #NetGalley #Thomas&Mercer #LucyGoacher #SmallSecrets

#79. Wow.

This one is an advanced copy (thank you, NetGalley!!) and I didn't expect much. But wow, it was incredible!

The first chapter is a podcast episode. We meet Stevie and Nate, two best friends for years who are now doing a murder podcast together. One of their episodes, the one that begins the book, is about a girl named Lauren from their hometown who was murdered. In the podcast, they heavily imply that her boyfriend had something to do with it.

In chapter two, months later, we find out that the boyfriend has been exonerated by DNA and it is revealed that the killer is still at large. We find out that their podcast has been met with some pretty serious backlash, and Stevie and Nate are currently on hiatus from both their podcast and their friendship. But when another murder pops up, one that is frighteningly similar to Lauren's, everything changes.

Is the same killer back? Is it someone Stevie and Nate have known all along? And when even more murders start happening, murders that are eerily similar to the ones Stevie and Nick have covered in their podcast, they have to consider the fact that they may be next.

But can they trust each other?

This one was awesome. There were a few red herrings, a lot of serial killer references, and some great character development. I am still shaking from the ending. I loved how it went back and forth between the story and the podcast episodes.

PLEASE check this one out when it comes out on October 17!! It is PERFECT for spooky season!!

Four years in, Stevie and Nate’s true-crime podcast, All the Gory Details, is forced onto hiatus when their conclusions in their first-ever episode, about the unsolved murder of teenager Lauren in their hometown seventeen years ago, are proven wrong. Their mistake ruined a life, and Stevie and Nate are still reeling from the consequences

This kept me on the edge of my seat. Great story-telling, wonderful twists, well-done suspense.

I am fan of true crime so when I read the description for Small Secrets, I just knew I had to read it. Steve and Nate have a true crime podcast called, “All The Gory Details which covers murder cases.. The podcast is forced to go on hiatus after some backlash they receive about a local murder they covered that happened in their hometown. Another murder happens that is very similar to the murder from their hometown that causes the hosts to take a look back into their hometown murder.

In the beginning, I was a little confused about Stevie’s gender. The distinction wasn’t too clear at first. The switching between Nate and Stevie’s point of view wasn’t very clear.

The book kept me guessing on who was behind the murders. I had several suspects in mind going back and forth between them. I liked the banter between the characters and the references to real true crime stories.

I wasn’t a fan of how the book ended and thought it could have been better. Overall, the book kept my interest. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publishers for an advance copy of the book.

I loved this book - it had a really modern edge to it as it was centred around a podcast which I thought was great.
This story focuses on two true crime podcasters as it all goes horribly wrong. The book kept me on toes as I was in a spin between who I thought was guilty, this had me reading on at a frantic pace to see who would be unmasked!
Well done, great book.

This book was soooo good! It keeps you guessing throughout the whole book! I couldn't wait to finish it. The ending was such a twist! I definitely recommend this book!

Stevie and Nate run a true crime podcast but are forced to go on a break when their accusations about the culprit of a local murder are proven to be incorrect. Soon a new murder occurs which has a lot of similarities to this past case and the pair decide to look back into it, however are unprepared for the horrors that follow.

I took a chance randomly on The Edge, Lucy Goacher’s first book, last year and I loved it, therefore was very excited to read the second novel and it has proven that the author is not just a one hit wonder. The author has demonstrated that she is a very talented writer who creates well crafted, clever stories which are definitely thrilling!

I really enjoyed the use of true crime and the references to some real cases. I found I was very engaged in the story and connected to the two main characters. The character development was very well done and I enjoyed the easy banter between them. What I also really liked about this book was that the author did not shy away from including very dark, gory detail (I don’t know what that says about me!) and I found myself shocked at a few of the cases. At first I wasn’t sure about the podcast element but I quickly grew to really enjoy it. Although some elements were slightly unbelievable and I was able to predict the majority of the twists and turns this had no effect on the overall story and I found myself gripped throughout. Overall this was a fantastic, fast paced thriller and the author has quickly risen to be one of my favourites. I hope there will be a new one soon! Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

If you love podcasts then this is a really great thriller for you, following two true crime podcasters as it all goes wrong for them; it had me guessing throughout and I was really going back and forth between who I thought was guilty. It's a really interesting concept and the book is well written!

Small Secrets by Lucy Goacher is a gripping mystery novel that centers on the lives of Stevie and Nate, best friends and true crime podcast hosts. After their initial podcast about an unsolved murder case leads to devastating consequences, they embark on a journey of redemption when a new murder with eerie similarities emerges. The story unfolds with a rich blend of true crime references, intricate character dynamics, and constant suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Small Secrets is not just a thrilling mystery but also a profound exploration of friendship, guilt, and the power of storytelling. Lucy Goacher's narrative expertise shines in this hidden gem of a book, making it a must-read for mystery enthusiasts seeking an enthralling and thought-provoking experience.

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of Lucy Goacher's "Small Secrets." Initially, I had some reservations about the true-crime podcast banter that annoyed me, leading me to set the book aside. However, when I decided to give it another chance, I found myself utterly captivated by the story, unable to put it down.

Stevie and Nate, the central characters, were exceptionally well-crafted and relatable, and the supporting characters added depth and intrigue to the narrative. The gradual unraveling of the new murders and Stevie and Nate's investigative journey kept me engrossed throughout.

While the reveal of the culprits and the ending might not have held any major surprises, it didn't detract from the overall quality of the book. "Small Secrets" is undeniably a highly readable and engaging thriller that deserves praise.

I'd like to acknowledge that the author's ability to create such compelling characters and maintain a sense of intrigue is commendable. I'd rate this book 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who enjoy a well-crafted mystery with engaging characters and a captivating storyline. Lucy Goacher has delivered a noteworthy addition to the genre with "Small Secrets." 📚🌟🌟🌟🌟

Small Secrets by Lucy Goacher is about how well we really know our friends. I have gone back and forth on how to rate this book and how I felt. It read okay but was very slow and tedious to get through at times. It did have a good ending, though.

The premise of the story is Stevie and Nate’s true-crime podcast is forced into hiatus when their conclusions in their first-ever episode about the unsolved murder of teenager Lauren in their hometown 17 years ago are proven wrong. Their mistake ruined a life, and Stevie and Nate are still reeling from the consequences.

But, when a fresh murder similar to Lauren’s is brought to their attention, Nate is adamant that they should resurrect the podcast. He tells a hesitant Stevie that this is their chance to redeem themselves and maybe even to solve the murder for real. Nate becomes fixated on the podcast above anything else, and Stevie begins to wonder if she really knows Nate after all.

The beginning of the book was very slow, and I did not like the banter between the main characters, and the shifts in POV were daunting at times to get through.

Overall, Small Secrets is just an okay read for me. This story has an audience, but I did not match the target market.

#SmallSecrets #NetGalley @AmazonPub

Another absolute banger from Lucy Goacher!

WHAT. A RIDE. The book was expertly crafted from start to finish, with fabulous red herrings and subtle sinister turns, and I got literal chills at more than one point. At first I wasn't sure where the book was going with the true-crime obsessed characters, but I ended up loving how the story tackles how easy it is to see true crime as pure entertainment--and the consequences thereof. It read as both a cautionary tale and an homage, and was masterfully done.

All the gratefulness to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the arc--I'll be ordering my copy!

Nate and Stevie are best friends, having parlayed their true crime obsession into a niche but successful podcast about various peculiar criminal cases over the years. That is, until it all went awry because of Stevie's unwise - if statistically sound - assertion, in their very first podcast, that it's always the boyfriend.

She was referring to the case of a 17 year old girl, Lauren, from the same small town where Stevie grew up, who disappeared after a serial killer themed mega-party held at Nate's parents' house. This is also the occasion where Stevie and Nate met, spending the night poring over Nate's father's case files as a defence lawyer for various lowlifes, instead of partying like everyone else.

Years later, as new evidence has surfaced, it's turned out that Lauren's boyfriend Mike was in fact innocent. But the duo's podcast effectively made Mike's life hell, because so many people took matters into their own hands after assuming that he was in fact guilty.

Now - after a hiatus of many months - Stevie wants to make up for the part she played in worsening Mike's situation by solving a new murder which has eerie similarities to Lauren's case. Could Lauren's killer be active once again?

But whether or not that is indeed the case, Nate's interests lie elsewhere - with a new serial killer nicknamed the Mimic. Meanwhile, Stevie worries that they may have played a part in encouraging whoever that is to carry out their grisly designs...

I found this easy and quite compelling reading. Parts of it were fairly graphic, so it is not for the faint-hearted. But Stevie, Nate, August, Logan, and other characters fairly leap off the page, and I would say it is well worth a read.

I'm on the fence with this one. I wasn't keen on the format and the podcast element and found it really slow to start. It did pick up about 1/3 of the way in and had some really good writing and plenty twists and turns but I also wasn't too keen on the ending. It felt like there were a few plot holes and such. It was a really original way of telling the story though and the multiple povs added to the plot and the character insight. They could have done with being labelerld though as to who's pov it was but that's a minor niggle really. It's certainly very relevant to modern day which i loved and very true to the current climate and fascination with true crime podcasts. If you pike the podcast format then you'll love it but as I said, it wasn't really for me even though it was quite a good story

Small Secrets by Lucy Goacher is the perfect October read. I throughly enjoyed the characters and the true crime references. The observations about the lines of true crime blurring in society were really spot on. I will look for more from this author and appreciated being able to read this book. #netgalley #lucygoacher #smallsecrets

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of Small Secrets by Lucy Goacher. I started this book a while ago, and the banter of the true-crime podcast annoyed me so I put it down. (Read the Acknowledgements for more on this!) When I picked it up again I just powered through the podcast because I liked the description of the book and I couldn't stop reading! Stevie and Nate were great characters, and the other characters were interesting too. I liked how the new murders unfolded and how Stevie and Nate investigated them. I’m not sure if enough characters were given reasons to seem suspicious though, because the reveal wasn’t a huge surprise and neither was the ending. But, the book was still great - immensely readable and engaging. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE SESSION, I LITERALLY COULD NOT CLOSE IT, I THINK NATE AND STEVIE ARE WONDERFUL CHARACTERS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

WOW!!! The author has an incredible gift of writing psychological thrillers…I was just blown away by everything in this book and need to read more by this author. Needless to say I am an instant huge fan

I really enjoyed this book, It was a great suspenseful read and it had me paying close attention for details that may help me solve the case! Secrets can reveal many things! This book was proof. I did enjoy how the story was told from different POVs.