Thank you to Netgalley and the pubisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. At seventeen, Elle decides to flee her home, getting away from her abusive dad, and quiet mom. She goes to a town and gets a job. She finds a place to stay with Vera, an odd lady, but nice in her own way. Her one rule - stay away from the locked basement. I absolutely loved reading from each character's point of view and did not want to put this down until I found some answers!! This is for sure an edge of your seat thriller, and I could not wait to see what would happen next. Five stars!

First and foremost, thank you for Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

This book follows the stories of Elle and Vera - two women with similar childhoods who collide in a small town. Vera, the mysterious (read: creepy) townie soon takes Elle under her wing, providing her a place to stay and, ultimately, a maternal/sisterly shoulder. As you learn more about their pasts, through either flashbacks or them relaying the story to another character, it becomes clear that they are two very different people.

I have to say - I did not see the ending coming. The twists and turns through this book kept me on my toes. I thought I had figured it out, had it “confirmed,” and then another turn knocked me off my feet! I couldn’t wait to pick it back up when I had to put it down - definitely would have been a one-sit read if I wasn’t busy!

My only complaint is that I noticed minor repetition and times, and noted one contradiction. But those are easily ignored based on the totality of the book.

I would highly recommend this read to anyone who loves suspense and thrillers, with the caveat that the child abuse/domestic violence is explicit.

I can’t wait to read more from this author!

I really liked this book but it wasn’t a 5* read for me. Maybe a 3 or 4 star. It was full of twist and turns that just kept coming all the way till the end

This book contains abuse against children and can be a tough read at times. But Elle has a plan to escape her abusive father and make a new life for herself. When she rents a room from Vera, someone who was also abused by her father, she seems to have found a kindred spirit and she thinks Vera will look out for her. And Vera does look out for her.......but there is a very big secret Vera is hiding and if Elle uncovers it, will she be in great danger???

4.25 / 5 ⭐️


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

Wow, what an adventure from start to finish! I need a book to hook me from the very beginning, otherwise I get bored easily and struggle to finish it, fortunately this book captured my attention very quickly.

I won’t lie, I think I saw the first twist coming, but it definitely still blew me away to come to terms with how high the stakes would be in this book so it didn’t disappoint.

I found Elle to be a likeable character, similar to myself in some aspects, which made it that much easier to emphasise with her situation. Jessica Huntley does a good job at creating characters you care about by giving them a compelling backstory and a high stakes journey to fight through, keeping you thoroughly invested in what happens to them.

Vera was a very intriguing character from the get go, though it was obvious there was something off about her. I loved reading her and Elle’s relationship growth, it was sweet to see her so concerned for Elle.

Each twist made me gasp and had me desperately devouring the words on the page to see what happened next.

The one thing that holds me back from a 5 star review is how easily I guessed a lot of the twists. I knew from the second we read about the bracelet what was happening there. Now, this is likely just a personal thing, but I am never too good at guessing twists, so the fact that I guessed a lot of them did throw me off a little- whilst also boosting my ego that I was right 😅 But this didn’t distract from the good time I had reading the book overall! I finished within 6 hours, with a dinner break in between, so suffice to say I had a good time :)

It was wrapped up nicely, a very satisfying ending with all plots neatly tied up with a nice little bow!

An excellent first traditional publication from Jessica Huntley, I look forward to reading more from her. And once again, thank you very much for the ARC! 🤍

In 2004, on her sixteenth birthday, Vera is bedridden with the flu. Her father, intoxicated and enraged, continues his pattern of abuse towards her, her mother, and her brother Kevin. Vera is fiercely protective of Kevin, and he is just as protective of her.

Fast forward twenty years, Vera now lives alone in her childhood home. Her family has relocated to Australia, leaving her behind. She leads a reclusive life, working as a cleaning lady, but financial struggles loom as bills accumulate. Desperate, Vera makes a bold decision and takes in a boarder, a young girl named Eleanor who arrives in town with visible bruises. Vera sees a bit of herself in young Eleanor, and maybe that is why she decides to take her in.

Elle is just a few months shy of her eighteenth birthday, but she knows she has to escape. Her father's abuse has gotten worst recently, and Elle fears for the worst. And so, Elle escapes with a fake ID and ends up in a small town. She adopts the name "Eleanor" and pretends to be eighteen. By chance, Elle lands a job as a waitress, and she quickly finds accommodation with a mysterious lady named Vera. Elle feels as if there is something off about Vera and her grand house, but she is in a desperate situation. Without a place to stay, Elle will have to return home and back to her father's abuse.

As the days go by, Elle begins to adjust to her new life, but she knows that she will never be safe as long as her father keeps searching for her.

I finished this book within a day. Even though I tried to pace myself and slowly devour this book, I just didn't have the willpower. I had to know Vera's secrets and whether Elle had any secrets of her own. Is Vera just a normal woman with an unfortunate past of domestic abuse at the hands of her father, or did something strange happen to Vera? Will someone realize that Eleanor is actually Elle and return her to her father? I had so many questions.

There was something delightfully atmospheric about this book. It takes place in a fictionally town in England. I really liked the setting, it added to the mysterious vibe. I could easily picture this book as a movie.

If you're looking for a fast-pace thriller, full of twists and turns until the very end, this is the book for you!

*I received an advanced reader's copy of Don't Tell a Soul by Jessica Huntley from Inkubator Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Elle escapes her abusive home and finds refuge in a small town, where she befriends Vera who offers her a room in her house. Elle finally feels safe and begins to rebuild her life, but she discovers a dark secret in the basement that threatens everything she has worked for. Vera will do anything to protect this secret, leading Elle to realize that her new life is not what it seems...

Wow, I was completely captivated by this book from the very beginning. It had a perfect balance of suspense and intrigue that kept me hooked right from the start. By the time I reached 25% of the way through, I found myself unable to set the book down. The author skillfully answered all of my burning questions by the end, but the unexpected twists and turns left me in awe. Just when I thought the story had reached its peak, even more excitement unfolded. This book exceeded all of my expectations and more... I highly recommend this fast-paced read to anyone looking for a thrilling escape. If you're in a reading rut, this book is sure to reignite your passion for books.

I recommend this book, but Don't Tell a Soul or you will end up like... shhhh no spoilers!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first book I've read by Jessica Huntley. This is a fast paced book, good storyline and characters but must confess I found the ending a little unbelievable. 17 year old Elle runs away from home after a beating too many from her father. She ends up in a village near Gloucester. She manages to get a job in a local cafe and a local woman, Vera, offers her a room in her large house. Vera is known as something of an oddball in the village and Elle soon finds out that both of them had abusive fathers. Domestic violence and psychological galore at the fore told in POV from both Elle & Vera.

Never a dull moment with this story! From the very first page it captivates you and keeps you locked up ( see what I did there ) until the end.
Many, many characters and everyone seemed shifty enough - so you didn't trust anyone easily.

The back and forth between timelines was perfectly executed and if I could, I would have read this book in one setting.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

This thriller was not disappointing me but I will not remember it. It’s good entertainment and the twists are twisting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Elle, a young girl with an abusive father, and no help from her mother, decides she cannot live her life like this any more and decides to run away. She catches a random bus, and ends up in a small town where she knows no one, and no one knows her. She finds herself a job as a waitress, and meets Vera, a woman who offers her a room to rent in her large but dilapidated house. Ellie takes the room, and in time, feels safe with Vera, and a friendship forms which is almost like mother and daughter.
Vera has one main rule, which is Elle must never, ever, ever go into the basement. There are locks on the door to the basement, and Vera explains that the stairs are unsafe, and dangerous equipment is stored in there, she would not want Elle to hurt herself.
Although Elle is content living with Vera, she is curious, and so fails to keep the rule. She discovers that she is not alone in having secrets, Vera has her own secrets, as do others in the town, and Elle is not as safe as she believed.
I loved this book, the plot twisted and turned, and each time I thought I had figured it out, I hadn't!
A fantastic psychological thriller.

Don't Tell a Soul is the kind of book you don't start unless you know you have uninterrupted time to devour this edge-of-your-seat novel. I was glued to this psychological thriller until the very last page.

Seventeen-year-old Elle leaves home to escape her alcoholic, abusive father and start fresh in a new town. She lands a waitressing job and a place to stay with a lady named Vera in her large, run down, old house. Vera, also the product of an abusive father, sees similarities between herself and Elle. Needing help to make ends meet, she offers to rent Elle a room and soon develops maternal feelings for the girl. But Vera has secrets—secrets she's not willing to share with another soul.

I loved the twists in this novel. Some I saw coming, and others were a complete surprise. The characters are well fleshed out and relatable. I wanted Elle to find peace and happiness, and I really felt for Vera. There was so much depth to both characters, and it was intriguing to see the aftereffects and psychological damage done to both of them and how they each coped in their own ways.

When I'm in the mood for a psychological thriller, this is exactly the type of book I'm looking for. I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Books for providing a digital copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Solid 4⭐!!!

I'm a slow reader, but for a fast one you can definitely read this in one sitting. Absolute page-turner. The story made me feel a lot of emotion: tension, thrill, sadness and excitement.

The main characters have this compelling features that you can't help but understand what they've become because of ehat they've been through.

Definitely worth reading! Thank you Netgalley, Inkubator Books and Ms. Jessica Huntley for this masterpiece 😊

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Don't Tell a Soul by Jessica Huntley is a breathtaking, heart-braking, thrilling and suspenseful domestic/psychological thriller written in a dual timeline, presented from different points of view. Even though this story is heavy on child abuse and alcoholism it sucked me in immediately I couldn't put it down until the last chapter. What can I say, I love Jessica Huntley!
As usual, the main topic is well-researched and shows the psychological effects of abuse. The main characters are well-presented, and the storyline is easy to follow.

Vera is trying to keep her property on the water but she is drawing in the pail of bills. There is no option to sell the property, so she must figure something out.
When 17-year-old Elle runs away from home to escape her abusive father all she wants is a new start. She moves to a small town, far away from home and gets lucky when Vera offers to rent a room for a reasonable price. It's a win-win situation so both are happy with the arrangement.
Soon Elle feels Vera's caring side but she doesn't know how over-protective Vera becomes when she cares about you.
They both are dedicated to keeping their secrets but life has different plans.

There are some good twists that I didn't see coming and some violent scenes that are easy to skip if you don't want to read them.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this copy!

Wow! I enjoyed this from the start. The background story of Elle, and Vera had me hooked. I felt sorry for Vera, I liked her character. You never know what's going on behind closed doors, and what secrets people may have. Suspenseful and just a brilliant mystery/thriller, unpredictable!

This isn't the first Jessica Huntly book that I've read, and it certainly won't be the last.

I always enjoy reading Jessica's books and can get through them really quickly. This one was no exception.

Don't Tell A Soul is written from the perspective of a number of characters while also switching between a past and present timeline.

Both Vera and Elle have suffered abuse at the hands of their violent fathers but have very different ways of dealing with it.

Elle runs away and is taken under Vera's wing, not knowing that Vera is hiding a dark secret within the dark depths of her shabby home.

There are secrets and betrayals throughout the story, and I definitely felt the familiarity of Jessica's writing, comparing it to her brilliant My_Self series.

Thanks to Net Galley and Jessica for an arc copy to read and review.

I loved this book. Absolutely breathtaking, I couldn’t sleep till I finished it. I highly recommend it

I love Jessica Huntley! She tells a great story. Interesting characters. Great plot. Enough to keep everyone interested! There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. It drew me in immediately which is something I look for!

17 year old Elle runs away from home to escape her abusive father. She wants to keep her true identity a secret.
Vera knows all too well what an abusive father is like. Vera wants to keep everything in her life a secret.

“Nice people aren’t always who they appear to be on the outside”

Don’t Tell A Soul is my first Jessica Huntley book and it delivered on being a suspenseful domestic thriller. This is written in a dual timeline format of current and past to provide details needed to understand how we get to the events of now. It’s very well done and doesn’t cause confusion for the reader, even when the POV is from a different person other than Vera and Elle, everything flows well together.

Reading this, you can tell the author put a lot of thought into how to plot out this book and the events that happen in both Elle and Vera's lives to shape who they are now and what they go through. This was a really well done book.

Definitely an enjoyable read for anyone who likes twists and turns in their thrillers!

** Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Jessica Huntley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. **

This was my first book by Jessica Huntley, and I really enjoyed it. Check your trigger warnings. The book is heavy on abuse and alcoholism but is so captivating!

Vera, who is 17, has had enough of her father's abuse and decides to run away to another town. Her mom has never stepped in to help her so she feels the only way she can get freedom is to run away. When she gets to the new town, she finds a place to stay and hopes that she has left her trouble behind. She soon finds out that the lady she is staying with has more in common with her than she realizes, but she is also hiding many secrets!

This book left me on my seat after every chapter. I couldn't put it down and really enjoyed it. I did feel like I could predict a little of what would happen, but it was still very thrilling! I did find some grammar errors, but it was an ARC, so I didn't get caught up too much on that. I will definitely be reading more by Jessica Huntley in the future!

Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with the ARC and the opportunity to read it!