3.5 Stars
Thank you netgalley for this ARC. The first half of the book sucked me in, the second half kind of went down hill. But over all an enjoyable read

There's a lot to like about this novel, not the least of which being the ambitious plot. The "out of the frying pan into the flame" storyline is a popular one, for good reason, and I think the author made a strong swing here. Fans of the genre might enjoy this! Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. The writing felt jumpy and unpolished, and the plot was rather hard to follow and somehow simultaneously unsurprising.

I really enjoyed this book and inhaled it it 2 days, which is saying something with a 5 month old baby!!

Elle runs away from home and her abusive father and finds refuge with Vera, who offers her a spare room to stay in. Elle finally feels safe and that things are coming together - she has found a friend, a safe place to live, a job and a potential boyfriend. But is everything really as it seems? Lots of old secrets are held in the old house and are in danger of being revealed…what is the cost of keeping them hidden?

A story full of intrigue, suspense and surprises throughout with a good dose of emotion too.

A must read for fans of crime/thriller books.

This book started out pretty good but got a little fantastical as it continued. It centers on Elle, who runs away from home and ends up stay with a woman named Vera, who has a similar background and a lot of hidden secrets.

Elle is a likable, albeit naive, character and is easy to root for. Vera is less likable but there a dynamic between the 2 that was interesting. As the story continued I had to suspend my disbelief, but the pacing was fast. I felt like it became a little ridiculous in the last couple chapters but at least all the loose ends were tied up.

Overall, decent read that held my interest but I’m not sure it will be super memorable later. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC REVIEW❤️

The beginning of this book just pulls you in straight away, and then through out reading there are a few twists and turns you’re not expecting!
I binged this book and did finish in 2 days… life just made me have to put it down.
It is told in multiple POVs which gave different perspectives throughout and it does have a then a now storyline too.
It covers some difficult topics, such as child abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism and death.
Definitely pick this one up in you love a great phsycological thriller that you don’t want to put down!

Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Huntley for the arc.

Don't Tell a Soul is a compelling and thrilling read that will appeal to fans of mystery and suspense. Jessica Huntly's skillful storytelling, combined with well-drawn characters and a gripping plot, makes this book a standout in the genre. It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions and revelations, leaving readers both satisfied and eager for more from Huntly.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with plenty of twists and a strong, relatable protagonist. Jessica Huntly is definitely an author to watch in the thriller genre.

Don't Tell A Soul
Jessica Huntly

Stars: 4
Spice: 0
Format: E-Book
Review: Such a solid thriller/suspense read. From the beginning, I was hooked. I thought this book had great pacing which made it completely bingeable. While a couple of the twists felt a bit predictable, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. This was a great introduction to Jessica's work and I am excited to add more to my TBR.
Pros: Great ending!!! Super Bingeable!!!
Recommend (Yes/No/Maybe): Yes, Absolutely
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review the title.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for the book #DontTellASoul by #JessicaHartley. This captivating book is full of suspense and drama and I could not put it down. Loved it! Elle has left her home at 17 to get away from her abusive father. She travels to another town and ends up staying with a strange woman named Vera. Not everything is what it seems in Vera’s house. There are some very strange noises and secrets hidden. What is really going on in this house?

Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

This was an enjoyable and quick paced mystery. When Elle runs away she finds herself a new place to stay.

The story had lots of twists and turns. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters but I'm not sure I was supposed to given the nature of the book.

If you want a quick and easy read give this a try.

Unfortunately, this is a miss for me. While the premise of the book was very interesting, I believe the author failed to deliver. The writing was okay, nice and easy to read, which made this a very fast read, which was actually really cool. While I wasn't too into the story, I still didn't want to put the book down, that's how easy it is to read! On the other hand, this book is very, VERY predictable. I mean that in the sense that I predicted absolutely every single thing, from the twists to pretty much how the book would go. It's a shame, because I found the characters and their backstory interesting, but there was no real depth to them or the plot. Guessing everything meant that I wasn't surprised nor by the twists or the ending (which was, also, very obvious to me). I think that if the characters had more depth, the twists wouldn't be that easy to guess.
Overall, Don't Tell a Soul has the potential to be an very good book, if only it wasn't so predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange of an honest review.

Don't Tell a Soul by Jessica Huntley was a gripping thriller with engaging characters.
This is a pacey tense thriller that I flew through!
This book is a propulsive thriller and an addictive mystery.

4 stars! My first Jessica Huntley book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!

I was hooked from the beginning, and it kept my interest the whole time. It had a slower start, but once it picked up the twists kept coming. I did guess some of the twists, but I will say that there were a couple that I did not see coming. The book did wrap up nicely and you got answers to everything.

This book was a nice palette cleanser for me. Characters were good and i enjoyed the writing style, it was an easy read.
The story was quite predictable though and none of the twists surprised me.
Would read this author again though.

3.5 stars

What the hell did I just read?! Those were my first thoughts as I finished this book and I think it still stands. The first half of this book felt like a pretty standard thriller and then it went completely off the rails. It definitely got super dark and twisty but also the ending felt a little rushed and incomplete. It felt like once the big reveals had happened about halfway through the book that the author just felt hurried to throw all this action and consequence into the latter half and it wasn't the most successful. There was way more gore in this book than I had expected. I don't think it was really a matter of the twists in this book being hard to predict - in fact, I think if you paid enough attention you could see a lot of them coming or at least guess the outcomes of this book pretty easily but the amount of violence that comes into play throughout the story is where the shock lies. There are very graphic depictions of physical abuse in this and that was hard to read especially since I spent the majority of the novel wishing we were getting more exploration into the characters and their motives. It ultimately felt like we just watched these characters do the things they did and it was just because instead of breaking down the true intentions.

A story of two abused women who come together in a kind of mother/daughter relationship, until a shocking secret is discovered that threatens to destroy one of their lives and puts the other one in danger.

A great premise and an interesting plot, but there was something missing that I can’t quite put my finger on. It didn’t feel like it flowed well and the storyline was quite predictable, with a sudden and maybe a little rushed, ending.

I did enjoy it overall and it entertained me.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Huntley and Inkubator for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This was an eerie thriller that immediately hooked me in trying to figure out the hidden secrets. And let me tell you, I was not prepared for it. I really enjoyed the dual POVs between Vera and Elle, as well as the flashbacks from Vera’s past. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

**Book Review: "Don’t Tell A Soul" by Jessica Huntley**

Jessica Huntley’s “Don’t Tell A Soul” is a psychological thriller that’s so compelling I read it in one sitting. It had me on the edge of my seat so many times that I had to put it down a few times just to catch my breath—my stress levels were through the roof! 😂

The suspense is expertly handled, and while I managed to predict a few twists, most of the plot was full of surprises, which is exactly what I want from a thriller. The ending is particularly impressive, tying together all the plot threads in a creative and satisfying way.

One element that left me a bit puzzled was the spider named Trevor. He’s described as being so large he could take over a mouse and being a comfort to Elle in her basement so she doesn’t feel so alone, which felt unrealistic to me. I initially thought Trevor might be a figment of Elle’s imagination because of his exaggerated size. By the end of the book, Trevor’s role still seemed unclear— perhaps he was a symbol of something? A distraction to the reader to throw them off from guessing?

Additionally, some of the violent scenes were a bit too gory for my taste. I don’t handle gore very well, so while others might not find it as disturbing, it’s worth mentioning for those with similar sensitivities.

Overall, “Don’t Tell A Soul” is a thrilling read with plenty of twists to keep you hooked. Just be ready for some intense moments—and maybe have a break plan if you’re easily stressed!

**Disclaimer:** While I used AI to help craft my review, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

I literally could not put this book down! I would finish a chapter and tell myself that I needed to take a break but I just couldn’t. This author knows how to write thrillers and I look forward to reading more from them.

digital ARC was provided by Netgalley and Inkubator Books

Synopsis
Vera was a victim of domestic abuse, and when she saw Elle, she knew she had to take her under her wings. Elle was a runaway and leaned on Vera, but not without suspicion. Soon, she would know why.

What I like
Strong opening. Seriously, it made me care about Vera (and her twin). But nothing, apart from introducing Elle, happened in the chapters after. Expect changes nearing the end, of course. The book is filled with twists that I'm not even sure that they work.

What I don't like
Although the dual Elle/Vera povs performed well, I think Elle deserve more background than just generic abusive Dad/distant Mother. Vera's story was explained quite in detail so I wish Elle would have that too.

Final thoughts
It was an OK book, gripped you right during the climax but lack in everything else.

This thriller was such a quick read, it kept me engaged from beginning to end and even though I saw some twists coming I still was surprised at how the story unfolded.

The characters were definitely interesting even though you can somewhat understand that what they went through made them who they are now it’s still morally dark, I loved the comparison between Elle and Vera and the setting gave the story a unique and eerie feeling making the plot creepier.

Fast paced and full of twists and turns thriller lovers, this one is for you.

Thank you Jessica Huntley, Inkubator Books & NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

#DontTellASoul #NetGalley