Member Reviews

Don't Tell a Soul is a great psychological thriller. It is full of twists you would never guess. Elle escapes her home and is running from her alcoholic father that has abused her for years. When she arrives in a new town everyone is so secretive but soon finds a place to stay. The owner of the place she lives has very strict rules and most of the house is off limits to Elle. When Elle runs to the basement to hid she finds Vera is not who she thinks at all.

Was this review helpful?

Another quick and fast paced read by Jessica. She is such a talented author. This was a fun read with a great storyline, well constructed plot and engaging story. It kept me invested from start to finish. So many layers to this story and I just loved it.

Was this review helpful?

This was actually really good, I would recommend this to a lot of people. I liked how realistic two main characters were and how dark the book could get at times. And what was really enjoyable was the whole plot twist we got at the end.!

Was this review helpful?

This book was definitely deceiving… It starts off slow by showing us a girl escaping an abusive home and finding shelter in Vera’s house. The plot, however, thickens and makes you go on a spiral with how much is not as it seems. it is definitely a book that will keep you on your toes because you never know what’s going to happen next.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to have this book way before it was published.

Was this review helpful?

So twisty, but also a lot to handle.

Lots of flashbacks of child abuse which make it sensitive material.

Although, it is extremely engaging and will hook you a couple chapters in. I couldn’t put this one down. Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed the book! The cover captivated me and the plot made me stick around!

It truly did not disappoint!

Was this review helpful?

I was hooked on Jessica Huntley's writing after I read "How to Commit Murder in Ten Easy Steps." So, when I got approved for "Don't Tell a Soul," I was really excited.

The way the main characters, Elle and Vera, unveil their dark and turbulent pasts through alternating chapters had me on the edge of my seat. Their shared secrets and the sinister mysteries lurking within the story left me guessing until the end. While I found it slightly less gripping than the author's previous work, I couldn't deny the intense and chilling atmosphere that Jessica Huntley was able to create.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a psychological thriller story. It had a relatively quick pace, which made it an easy read. I found it to be somewhat predictable with the foreshadowing that was provided, but not in a way that ruined the read. I think it would be a good read when you don't need to give your full mental attention to a book!

There are some trigger warnings that should be considered if you are cautious of exposure to certain themes, so make sure to check those out as needed.

I think it was a medium read overall, but not a waste of my time.

Was this review helpful?

This was great! It's paced really well and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how it was going to end. This is a really solid thriller! I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Jessica Huntley, Inkubator books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Slightly predictable but caught my attention and held it. Super good and quick thriller! Definitely worth the read.

Was this review helpful?

3.5*

For fans of John Marrs & Lisa Jewell books

Things I loved:
• Dual perspective
• how unstable the characters were
• the beginning & intro of different characters and what it takes for someone to snap was great
• snappy chapters & very easy reading

Things I struggled with:
• it was all very predictable. I was hoping for a shock or two but guessed it all.

Was this review helpful?

Jessica Huntley's "Don't Tell a Soul" is a suspenseful tale that draws readers into a world of secrets, lies, and danger. The story revolves around Elle, a young woman escaping a troubled past, who finds refuge in a seemingly idyllic coastal town. There, she forms an unlikely bond with Vera, a mysterious woman with a dark secret.

Was this review helpful?

This book was pretty good. I hadn’t heard of the author before but the title, cover and description were my vibe. This book has enough twists that kept me entertained and made me feel like I could not trust anyone who was in it.

Was this review helpful?

Don't Tell A Soul was a tense and twisty, fast-paced thriller. I read it in one sitting, I honestly couldn't put it down.

Elle and Vera were great main characters, they were interesting and likable. Vera was very complex and mysterious.

I thought I knew exactly where it was headed, but I was wrong. The twists were crazy, I didn't see them coming.

Although I've purchased a few of Jessica's books, this is the first I've read from her. It definitely won't be the last.

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Inkubator Books, and Jessica Huntley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Don't Tell a Soul.....

Eek!!

Jessica Huntley, you are just a ball of sunshine, aren't you ?

This book needs to be on everyones list and im not talking about adding this one to the bottom of the TBR pile, Im talking priorities !

Don't Tell a Soul, is haunting and straight up chilling to the core.

I recommend reading this one with the lights on!

Check out this teaser :

She thinks she’s safe. She couldn’t be more wrong.

Elle, desperate to escape her abusive home, runs away to a seemingly cute small town where she gets a job as a waitress. And meets Vera, who offers her an attic room in her large house.

For the first time in years, Elle feels something like contentment as she bonds with Vera who becomes almost like a mother to her. Blossoming, Elle slowly begins to piece her life back together, make new friends and stand on her own two feet.

But all is not as it seems.

Because this old house contains a dark secret. And much as she cares for Elle, Vera will do anything to protect it. That’s why she’s warned her young tenant that she must never, ever go down to the basement.

But Elle doesn’t obey this simple rule and when she sees what’s down there, she finally understands that her lovely new life is actually the gateway to a special kind of hell…

Was this review helpful?

What an incredibly dark and twisty read. The storyline kept me engaged and I literally could noy put it down. Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

For me, this one was a DNF. It just couldn’t hold my attention so I decided not to torture myself. (I saw many good reviews so if you’re interested give it a try)

Was this review helpful?

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for this book and exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately, I was completely disappointed in this book from the first chapter on. Therefore, I was unable to finish it and did not have any desire to do so.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator publishing for a copy of this book.

Looking to get away from her abusive home, Elle seizes an opportunity and makes an escape. She finds her way to the small, quiet town of Barrow-on-the-Water, where she meets Vera, the town recluse who offers to take her in. A product of a similar upbringing, Vera understands Elle, and the two form a bond. Now that she is finally free from the wrath of her father, Elle is able to breathe a sigh of relief. What she doesn’t know, however, is that sometimes even the most picturesque of small towns have terrifying secrets buried beneath them.

This story starts with a bang and immediately grabs the reader’s attention. The author does a great job in setting up a suspenseful atmosphere, to the point where I didn’t trust a single character that was introduced. The pacing on this book was fast, and I literally flew through it in one sitting. While I thoroughly enjoyed the first 75% of this book, it did fall apart a bit at the end for me. While a certain amount of suspension of belief is required for this genre in general, I felt that the end had me shaking my head more than causing my jaw to drop in surprise. Overall though, it was worth the read.

Was this review helpful?