A REAL thriller at last!
Great characters and a terrific storyline.
Some real moments when i wanted to shout ''don't go in there.''
This left me thinking about the book long after i had finished it.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my early copy.

Elle, a teen living in an abusive home, runs away to a small town a friend of hers moved to. She soon meets Vera, a quirky type of lady who offers her a room to rent in her large home where she lives alone.

Their relationship quickly turns into a mother/big sister type of relationship. Elle starts to make friends in the new community she found and enjoys her sense of independence. Until she stumbles upon Vera’s dark secret.

This is the first book I have read of Jessica Huntley, I would look at other works she has written. The story was fast-paced, and although I had thought I knew where it was going, it quickly changed direction. .

I loved Elle and was hoping she would finally find a life free from abuse, I even felt a bit for Vera, whose life took a very different turn when she was Elle’s age. , Not only was the theme of child abuse, and domestic violence weaved throughout this story, also showed the affects of what that childhood abuse could do to one's mental health.

I would definitely recommend this read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Elle escapes her abusive father and runs away to stay with a friend. The friend has moved, and Elle is on the streets. She meets Vera, who was also from an abusive home. Vera offers Elle a place to stay, but gives strict instructions that Elle is never to go to the basement.
Of course Elle disobeys, and is shocked at what she finds.

Well written, well plotted, shocking and absorbing. I couldn't put this book down and read it in one sitting.
Twisty, but I did figure out a couple of the twists - but the amazing twist at the end was fantastic.

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This was my first Jessica Huntley read and I was very impressed! I was hooked right from the start and I loved the storyline. I found it very easy to read and loved the twists and turns! I’ll definitely be checking out more of Jessica’s work.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a great length, it felt sinister and dark from start to finish. I liked the characters, their actions and reactions felt real. Both Vera & Elle were both excellent protagonists - I was rooting for them both in different ways!

I've got a few of Jessica Huntley's books on my TBR list but this is the first one I've read so far. I really enjoyed this one, which is a stand alone thriller. I found it different to a lot of thrillers I've read, in a good way. I liked how some things were revealed bit by bit throughout the book instead of leaving everything until the end, it added to the suspense because the more I found out the more I wanted to know. It was hard to know who was telling the truth or not and it still packed a punch at the end with more revelations. I will definitely be reading more Jessica Huntley books in the future, especially thrillers. Thank you netgalley for the chance to get an early copy.

Here is your perfect summer thriller binge read that will keep hold of you for the entire duration of the book!
Absolutely grab a copy of this well written psychological thriller that will throw dark twists and surprises at you until the end.
An easy read but one that you'll struggle to put down as the author moves in multi-character points of view alongside timeline shifts with ease.
If I could give this book a 4.5 I would, as I couldn't put it down and was excited to find a few twists I didn't quite see coming. The author does a great job of keeping you guessing what's next and who did it.
I loved the many points of view surrounding so much mystery as we unlock more and more secrets behind Vera, the town eccentric, who seemed so kind hearted despite her tragic past.
You'll be surprised and on your toes throughout this story!

Definitely pick this one up this summer for a dark, twisty story that just keeps building as you go.

I look forward to reading more from this author 👍👌

Jessica Huntley has done it again. WOW! Twist after twist. I didn’t see some of them coming. This book was hard to stop reading after I started. I loved every bit of it. I will own this one when it comes out and I will suggest it always. I am so thankful I got this ARC from NetGalley. I saw Jessica Huntley post it on her instagram and downloaded it immediately. You should do the same! Job well done.

This psychological thriller, “Don’t Tell a Soul”, written by Jessica Huntley (my favorite author), is rather an interesting and suspenseful story. It is based on Elle, a lady who chooses to transform and stop being violent and seeks help from the people of the town and her close friend Vera. As the movie progresses, Elle starts to build a friendship with Vera and tries to start a new life, but the reality hits her from the life in their house. She makes a friend in Vera and starts planning to start a new life for herself, but she does not expect to discover the dark secret of the house she is living in.

The pacing is superb; Jessica’s complicated storytelling slowly leads the audience from comfort to unease as Elle. The bond that is shown between Elle and Vera is very real and natural, thus enhancing the plot and the narrative. This rather ominous statement helps the reader feel the tension of the basement and the anticipation of the malevolent force hidden in the house.

The action in the story can also be described as intense, with many twists and turns leading readers to the final and important twist that turns the story into a nightmare. The traditional storytelling features and the manner of depicting the anticipation of each tragedy also add tension and anxiety.

In conclusion, ‘Don’t Tell a Soul’ is a drama that is told in a very effective manner, and any fan of psychological thrillers will most definitely enjoy it. This book is really interesting and thrilling for the following reasons: the author can maintain some psychological suspense in the atmosphere of the book and create an evil twist in the story to make it very interesting in the genre of thrillers. Prepare to meet the ultimate in suspense and get ready to be taken into a world where the difference between safety and danger is a fine line, and trust means life or death. I HIGHLY recommend this book. You'll love it!

Thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

If life didn’t get in the way I would have read this in one sitting! It’s the very definition of a page turner! A true Psychological Thriller with a great story and some very interesting characters. I got some parts of the twist correct but there was many more layers to the final conclusion that was chefs kiss. 🤌🤌🤌 highly recommend picking this one up!!

Don’t Tell a Soul is a masterfully written psychological thriller with a captivating storyline and unpredictable twists. Just when you think you know what’s going on, the author sends another shocking blow, keeping you hooked and begging for answers.

This book has excellent character development, and it’s easy to become engaged in their stories. The vivid descriptions of both the people and scenery really sets the stage for an immersive read. The alternating POV’s and timelines are paced perfectly for gripping slow burn suspense and feed you just enough info to stay engaged throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh. My. Goodness.
I read this in one sitting. Could not put it down.
Just when you think you know what's going on, you realise you don't. Or do you?
Well paced and drip feeding just enough info to keep you hooked.
I look forward to reading more of this author!

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! Fantastic read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had great suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, kidnapping, and some really crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fivestars for Jessica Huntley's dont tell a soul

Vera & Elle’s story held me captive from page one. A true page turner the way she jumps back and forth from current to past is done masterfully with the perfect amount of detail in each to keep you wrapped up in the story.

Amazing story line & phenomenal writing

Tense, addictive, and somewhat claustrophobic - this one will keep you up late into the wee hours to finish, guaranteed. A solid mystery, twists abound, and the lines between good and bad definitely blurr. A satisfying ending, well for some...

It’s never taken me longer than 2 days to finish a Jessica Huntley book, because they’re always so gripping and thoroughly entertaining. This one was absolutely no different! One of best things about Jessica’s books and ESPECIALLY this one is that the characters she writes are always spot on! you really get to know the characters she creates and gain an understanding of their motives, actions, backgrounds and through that you become attached to them. It’s such an important aspect of a book for me because if I don’t feel like I know the characters I can become disconnected. With Don’t Tell a Soul, both Elle & Vera’s characters are brilliant for different reasons. Elle is a lovely, warm character who you’re always rooting for and want to protect, and then Vera is so intriguing and had a creepy warmth to her. The intrigue of the characters was such a winner and had me hooked straight away. The different time line and characters POV worked very well & was well written and flowed brilliantly. You got to know the backgrounds and experiences of the characters and the story was just brilliant throughout. It was dark, creepy, full of suspense and had you feeling so many different things for the characters. There was some gruesome descriptions, some twists & turns and a creepy, secret filled house, I’d DEFINITELY recommend to thriller lovers,

Don’t Tell a Soul by Jessica Huntley
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 4 August 2024

Desperate to flee her abusive past, Lily finds refuge in the quaint picturesque English village. She secures a job as a waitress and meets the enigmatic Olivia, who offers her a cozy attic room in her sprawling Victorian home.

For the first time in years, Lily experiences a semblance of peace. As she bonds with Olivia, their relationship blossoms into something akin to mother and daughter. Slowly, Lily begins to rebuild her life, forging new friendships and rediscovering her independence.

But beneath the village’s idyllic facade and Olivia's maternal warmth lies a chilling secret. Despite her affection for Lily, Olivia will go to extreme lengths to protect what's hidden in her house. She issues one strict rule to her young tenant: never enter the cellar.

Curiosity eventually overpowers Lily's obedience. When she ventures into the forbidden space, she uncovers a horrifying truth that shatters her newfound tranquility. Lily realises her escape to this charming village has led her into a nightmare far worse than the one she left behind.

“Don’t Tell a Soul” is a gripping psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of domestic noir and small-town mysteries.

The plot is meticulously crafted, maintaining suspense throughout without the mid-story lull common in some thrillers. This pacing is largely due to the well-developed, intriguing characters. Olivia, in particular, stands out as a fascinatingly complex and eccentric figure.

The vivid descriptions of village life create an immersive atmosphere that draws readers in, making the eventual revelations all the more shocking. “Don’t Tell a Soul” is a masterclass in slow-burn suspense that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and the author, Jessica Huntley, for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Being no stranger to Jessica’s work, I was eager to get my hands on this latest offering.

To say I read it in two sittings is no exaggeration. The punchy opening grabbed my attention right from the first page. This together with the dual timeline and multiple POVs ensured I was provided with a gripping and page-turning reading experience right until the end.

I loved the decision to set the story in an English village and found the descriptions strangely comforting. The location also offered the perfect balance of unnerving meets familiar, which I always welcome when reading this genre.

Without giving too much away, the plot is well-structured and perfectly executed. There's no lull that some thrillers seem to have on the home straight. I think this is largely to do with the characters, all of which intrigued me and are well-developed- special mention for Vera who I found brilliantly and utterly weird.

Is Don’t Tell a Soul what I was expecting from Jessica Huntley? Honestly, no. It was better.

I always expect really dark themes when I think of Jessica’s plotting and storytelling. And although there are some darker moments in this standalone, I wouldn't classify Don’t Tell a Soul as overly dark. I'm squeamish and there was no part where I was even straddling the I need to skip this part feeling that I sometimes get when reading thrillers.

Overall this book is a triumph and Jessica has more than proved with this traditional debut that she's as adaptable as she is skilled.

So, who would love this book? Well, honestly anyone who has enjoyed titles by Mark Edwards, John Marrs and Charlotte Duckworth (DTAS gave me lots of What Lies Between Us and The Wrong Mother vibes) - needs to request this one immediately.

And, just any reader who enjoys a pacy well-written domestic thriller with some killer twists.

No pun intended.

Congrats Jess, I hope it does great things.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC.
When I started this book I enjoyed it, but as it continued and became more and more creepy ... not so much.
There was so much uneasiness, I felt uncomfortable and couldn't wait to finish it. I give it 2-1/2 stars - it was well-written and I imagine a lot of readers (who are not as squeamish as I am) will like it.