Member Reviews
I have been a big fan of Marshall’s books for a while now and this one definitely continues that trend. It was twisty, messy and I could not stop reading until I found out what was happening.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my review copy!
There is a long, long setup to this novel. So much set up. So many mentions of secrets, "no one can know" and it just got tedious for me. Once the twists started happening, the book got more interesting, but I never really warmed to or connected with any of the characters. There are just too many twists at the end though, it gives the vibe that the author just couldn't figure out which direction to go so she threw in every possibility.
3.5 stars.
This book follows three estranged sisters after their parents' murder. Fourteen years have passed, and all three sisters have secrets from that fateful night. Emma returns to her childhood home, where the memories create questions and trials for her and her husband. Juliette, wondering why Emma would return, surprises Emma by showing up at her door. Daphne also returns to their hometown but keeps her presence a secret. With multiple POVs and time hops, the audio set up was perfect for easily following who and when each chapter focused on, and I appreciated that greatly. Which sister has the most to lose or the most to hide? What really happened the night their parents died? And will these women ever be free of their secrets.
This novel traveled back and forth between sisters and time periods to puzzle together what happened. Marshall created 3 very different women with different motivations and personalities all influenced by the home they grew up in together, the shocking deaths of their parents, and the subsequent trials each faced. I appreciated how these three threads were both greatly varied and intricately intertwined. As I listened to the audio version of this book, I made my guesses. Some were right; some were wrong, and I continuously second guessed myself, which made for an enjoyable ride.
My first Kate Alice Marshall thriller read and it did not disappoint. The unsolved deaths of their parents was told from the perspective of three sisters, past timeline and present; all of whom had their own secrets. Each one left town after the incident and one by one all three came back home. I was able to drum up some sympathy for Emma and Juliette but there wasn't anything in Daphne's character to draw me in. It was an intriguing audio read; narrated by Karissa Vacker who is slowly becoming one of my favorite narrators. She gave a different voice to each sister although there were times when it did becoming a bit confusing as to which sister was narrating. It did keep me guessing up until the very end! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio!
This was my type of book! I love trying to figure out the "Who did it." I felt like I was constantly changing my mind, going back and forth between characters. I finally finished a book that didn't make me yawn because I 100% knew the ending ahead of time.
I was able to connect with the family loyalty, even not really knowing your siblings. That need to defend, protect and keep each other's secrets, I know that feeling.
I usually don't like the back and forth from time period and character, but I think it worked well for this story line.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house, the narrator and the author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.
Emma finds out her husband is out of a job and has lost the money they put down on a new home not long after she finds out she’s pregnant. They desperately need to find somewhere to live and he tells her they already have an option, her parents home that she and her sisters, Daphne and Juliette inherited and has been sitting empty for years. Emma thinks that is a terrible idea but there is no other option, so she reaches out to her sisters, to whom she is estranged to tell them that she and husband will be occupying the house. The reason Emma doesn’t want to move back, is that she hasn’t been home since her parents were brutally murdered and she was the lead suspect.
These sisters were good at keeping secrets, others and their own. They shared so much as girls but that one night, left them scattered and apart in more ways than one. Who really did kill their parents, was it one of the girls, or someone close to home? As Emma tries to piece together that night, will she be putting herself or others in danger or will she fund herself on the hook for murder again. Lots of twists and a great ending. I found myself frustrated now and then by the actions of some of the characters but overall I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to more books by this author. The narrator was great to listen to, she had a good voice and her cadence and pace was good.
I was a little behind on finishing this but that’s on me not the book. I really enjoyed it. At no point was I ever confident on who the killer actually was for sure. Kariss Vacker is an excellent narrator and really added to the story. Definitely would recommend this and KAMs other books.
Sisters, secrets, the past, the present and the truth, I can’t resist an interesting mystery. At times it was a bit slow but kept my interest right up to the end. The narration was done well.
A great suspense. Emma has so many secrets and her husband keeps digging for the wealth. Meanwhile Emma learns things with b her marriage are not what she thought.
No One Can Know is a whodunit style mystery psychological thriller by Kate Alice Marshall. The story begins with the murder of a couple and a pact made by the three daughters of the couple to never reveal the secrets they each keep regarding the night of the murder. This psychological thriller follows the lives of the three sisters with a focus on Emma – the middle sister. While the three sisters have honored the pact and not revealed anything regarding the night, suspicion of the murder somehow falls on Emma. Years after the murder, Emma and her husband Nathan are forced to move into the house due to unforeseen circumstances. This comes with a set of challenges for Emma who had not revealed the truth about the circumstances of her parents’ death to her husband.
The townspeople still think Emma as the suspect, treating her in a hostile manner including vandalizing the house when Emma and Nathan were at home. Her parents murder case remains open, and few vindictive officers still pursue her as the prime suspect of the crime. Despite honoring the pact, the sisters were not in touch after the incident. Soon, Nathan’s secret phone calls and other suspicious behavior and her estranged sisters' unexpected visits open Emma into a whole new list of problems including a new murder in the house and a new list of secrets her family kept from her. At this point, Emma has no option but to embark on a journey to find the real truth about the night of her parents murder and the actions of her sisters that night.
The pacing of the book was slow at first but it picks up towards the end. The plot was well executed but the book felt slightly longer than necessary. Emma’s sisters – JJ and Daphne were interesting characters but there wasn’t much to read from them despite this book being multi-pov.
I enjoyed the book especially the ending. The reveal at the end was a twist that I saw coming but the way the author tied it all together made for an interesting read. I am rating this slightly lesser than normal because of the pacing and the fact that it took me a while to get into the book.
I give it a 3.5 out 5 stars.
The narration by Karissa Vacker was excellent and made for an entertaining listen.
Many thanks to NetGalley and McMillan Audio for sharing this audiobook ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
I've read a couple Kate Alice Marshall books and really enjoyed the suspense she conjures with her writing. The last book, What Lies in the Woods really resonated with me because the Slenderman case was near my home. So I thought, I'm not sure if I'll like this one as much...but I did! It reminded me of The Only One Left by Riley Sager. A family with secrets and dead parents? Sorry for being dark, but I'm in. I need to know what happened! This one was no exception. I was thrilled till end.
Ever since they discovered the bodies of their murdered parents 14 years ago, Emma and her two sisters have been estranged. But after recent financial hardships, Emma and her husband have moved into her childhood home. Her sisters follow soon afterwards. They are now talking about the past for the first time. Adding to the stress of trying to figure out what happened, some people in the town think that Emma was responsible for their parents murders. And others are worried that their small town secrets are about to be revealed and they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen.
In dual timelines, we learn from all three sisters perspectives from the past and present. I listened to the audiobook and loved both the story and the narration.
Thank you the NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook.
No One Can Know is a twisty tale with a mystery at the heart of this family drama. 3 sisters, 2 dead parents and too many secrets to count. When one of the sisters moves back into the family home with her husband where her parents were murdered, the sisters she hasn't spoken to for years are suddenly back in her life, and trying to keep the past buried. Through a plethora of twists and turns, all that was hidden in the dark will be revealed and brought into the light. I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and interesting throughout the story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a few thrills.
We’re snowed in today, friends! So excited to have the fire going with some hot cocoa and have the coziest day ever!
Anyway so this book! I was so excited to pick this up after all of the reviews I’ve seen.
Three sisters. Two murders. One creepy house in the cover! Obviously, it had me intrigued!
This has a return to small town/ home feels with the main character being suspected of her parent’s murders. It has family secrets + drama, the complexity of sisterhood, and a reopening of an unsolved case.
It was bingeable with a good whodunit aspect to it that would keep you guessing but I found myself getting lost at times as this is told in 3 POV with each character having their own then and now timelines. I did like the ending but I feel like getting there was a bit dragging for me that it wasn’t as suspenseful as what I would’ve wanted it to be.
I’m still rating it a 4⭐️ as I did enjoy reading it and would still recommend as the ones I didn’t like from this book might just be purely subjective and more of like a me thing than the quality of the book itself.
Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the free audiobook!
💭 What’s your favorite snowed in snack/ movie/ drink? I need suggestions!! I’ll be making a hashbrown casserole for brunch but I don’t think it’s cozy enough 😂
Loved it! Takes place both past and present and jumps between the sister’s point of view! Definitely a solid thriller that I do recommend! Read if you enjoy lots of family drama and secrets and multiple POV’s
This book is probably one of my top favorites of 2023. There was twist and turns when i least expected it. The author kept us in the dark about who really killed Emma's parents until about the last couple of chapters. I love that the book kept me guessing on every chapter. I listened to the audio book and i really enjoyed the narrators and the enthusiasm behind their voices. It really made me feel like i was actually inside the book. I definitely wasn't bored because I felt like i was on the edge of my seat with this book! So well written and thoughtfully put together.
The beginning of this book gave me so much anxiety. In a good way but still very real. This book pulled me in immediately and had me hooked, the character dynamics were so interesting and i dindnt know who i was rooting for or even trusted.
No Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall is a mystery thriller novel that follows three sisters whose parents were murdered in their home. Years have passed since the murders and the middle child Emma, is down on her luck. She's just found out that she is pregnant, her husband lost her job, their lease is up, and they just lost all her money. Because of this Emma is forced to go back to her childhood home, which brings back old terrible memories. Wanna a fresh start is easier said than done especially when the townspeople haven't forgotten the past and her sisters start to come back to town. Emma starts to realize that the thing that she left unspoken will once again put her in danger once again.
I will be honest when I picked up this book I expected to read a murder mystery with twists and turns but instead, all I got was family trauma. I think that this novel had one good twist that I didn't expect to happen, but the rest of the novel you could figure out. Especially if you are a fan of true crime, and you can see the warning signs in the characters. It didn't take much to put two and two together.
However, I was shocked by the storyline with JJ and how much I enjoyed it. I liked how JJ was seen as the perfect daughter but in reality, she was struggling with a whole other thing. Part of me was glad that JJ was able to live her life the way that was true to herself. Daphne well she was another story, and I honestly am still scared of her.
But at the end of the day, I wasn't a fan of the book, I was expecting something different. I wanted twists and turns and complex characters instead I felt like there were too many POV and that took me out of the storyline. There were times when I was getting into a certain sister's side then it would just switch to another sister and it would just take me out. I would have loved it if this novel was in one POV, and the narrator was unreliable so it made you question who did it.
If you are looking for a novel that has a good twist or a good mystery then I wouldn't look at this book. But if you want a complex book about family, sisterhood, and what you would do to protect your baby then, yes this I the book for you.
If you would like to know more of my thoughts on this book then check out Just One More Page Podcast, you can find it on Spotify, audible podcasts, google podcasts, and Apple podcasts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC for an honest review!
This was my first Kate Alice Marshall book and I enjoyed it. It is a pretty standard “family secrets kept to protect the family but wait- it didn't really happen how we thought” thriller. Nothing life changing, nothing deep, but a fun story that moves quickly and keeps you entertained.
If you're looking for likable characters dealing with problems that could be solved by just talking to each other, this is not the book for you. If you're looking for short chapters, tons of misunderstandings and corruption, or people willing to do anything to keep old secrets buried, this will probably be up your alley.
The narration from Karissa Vacker was incredibly well done and kept me engaged. Dual timelines are usually hard to follow with just one narrator but this one worked.
Family can be tough. Especially when your parents are murdered and the small town is convinced Emma, one of three sisters, was behind it. They don’t speak of that night, in fact, they don’t really speak to each other at all anymore fourteen years later. Emma also hasn’t really told her husband much about that night, and when he gets laid off as she finds out she’s pregnant, they decide the only affordable solution is to move back into her parents’ house. She just has to tell her sisters, oh and her husband, and the judgment of the town starts all over again once they arrive.
I really enjoyed this one, it was a little on the slower side but it was steady so I did not mind it as I was enjoying the story and what was going on. Secrets are coming out of the woodwork all around, there is another death, and goodness I did not see where this twisty read was headed. The audio was great, Karissa Vacker narrates so you know I absolutely loved listening to this one.
I have now enjoyed both reads of Marshall’s, consider me a fan and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.