Her Final Secret
by Paul J. Teague
Pub Date: Nov 08 2024

The first thing I must mention is, "did you see the cover of this book!" WOW is all I can say, that alone is a 5 star seller! On to my review of "Her Final Secret" by best selling author: Paul J. Teague. This is the fifth book I have read by this author and I have loved every one of them! His books are the best unputdownable thriller books ever!

Her Final Secret is written in a dual timeline, we follow Detective Hollie Turner as she investigates a case that brings back haunting memories in her past when her best friend, Moira disappeared without a trace. Now present day Hollie is called to investigate a similar case, is it all connected somehow?

This is a very fast paced, unforgettable, heartbreaking, thrilling and suspenseful story. Definitely one of my favorites!

Many many thanks to #HerFinalSecret #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star book!

I thought this was a good intense police/detective procedural book. It was a twisted story which was probably a bit predictable but it was still good. I will definitely be looking for more in this series

This crime thriller starts out with a murder and once the murder weapon is found, it has Detective Hollie Turner questioning whether it is related to the disappearance of her friend over 20 years ago. And if it is, will she be allowed to continue to investigate? This case presents challenges to Turner but thankfully she has a team that has her back and who help her navigate the emotions brought out in her as the case progresses. While it's not hard to guess what had happened at the Ambrose House, it a mystery as to who the current killer is (or are there multiple killers) and why the murders are happening now after all the years that have passed. There are plenty of twists and turns as the murders are solved that will keep you guessing.

I like this series. It's good to "see" Hollie Turner again.

I liked the then and now aspect of the book. I also enjoyed that Hollie had a connection to the case through something that happened many years ago. The things that happened when Hollie was a teenager are what led her to join the police department.

I liked that there were two different cases to solve, but that they were also linked was a bonus.

This case was an emotional one for all involved including the reader.

I couldn't have asked for a better addition to the series.

Keep them coming! I want more.

Thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.

This is a great crime thriller.
When a retired Policeman is found murdered at Hull Fair, Detective Hollie Turner is forced to confront an event from her past.
Twenty five years earlier, her friend Moira vanished without a trace at that very same fairground, and memories from that time flood to the surface.
Soon the investigation takes a more sinister turn with historical abuse allegations at a local children's home, and this links to Moira.
Hollie has her hands full trying to solve the recent murder and also tries desperately to find out what really happened to her best friend.
Thanks to Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

This will be a difficult case for Detective Hollie Turner as it transports her back to a traumatic night 25 years ago when her best friend, Moira, disappeared at the Hull Fair. It was if she simply vanished. The only thing that was left of her was a hair tie and a bloody stuffed animal she had just won. Fast forward to the present where a retired police superintendent's body has been found at the same fair.

As the investigation deepens, buried secrets and past allegations of abuse are coming back to the surface. It seems that disgusting past behavior may have future consequences because someone remembers the past.

This fantastic twisty mystery will take you back and forth from 1999 to the present so you can get the full picture of all of the characters and the part they played and are still playing. This was a superb, yet disturbing mystery, which will hook you in the from the first chapter. The twists will fool you into thinking you have it figured out, but then you will learn that you are wrong. Detective Hollie Turner is an intriguing character with a razor sharp mind who presides over her job without fear and a strong sense of justice. This is another winning installment in the Detective Hollie Turner series which earns a solid five stars from this reader.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Detective Holly Turner's back in an investigation that turns personal. A retired superintendent is found murdered as Holly and her team Investigate they find links that lead back to Holly's best friend who disappeared twenty five years ago. Told in two timelines this is a novel has plenty of twists that keeps you hooked till the end. We find out more about Holly's past. Thanks to Storm publishing and Netgalley for this review ARC

The fifth Paul I Teague book I have read this year and another enjoyable read from one of the best authors I have been introduced to this year. Having read over 200 books so far this year I feel that is praise and a recommendation. Looking forward to more of the same.

This is a murder mystery that jumps back and forth from 1999 to the present year. Moira is an 18 year old woman who has disappeared without a trace. The police have never found her body and they have never found any clues to her disappearance.

Next up, in present day at the Hull fair they find a dead retired police officer. Same basic MO as Moira's was 25 years earlier. A bloody mallet, the death at the fair. This time though they aren't expecting Hollie Tucker. Detective Hollie Tucker who was best friends with Moira and at the fair when she disappeared. She became a detective for her friend so she could try to solve it and each case that she did solve was for her. This time things were so close she knew they had to be related to each other so she started digging.

Come along for this very messy and twisted who done it mystery. Paul J. Teague wrote quite an intriguing book! Highly Recommend!

Happy Reading!!

I love how my pace to read ramped up alongside the pace of the plot. I was hooked. I was in from the beginning. I love topics like this. With a dark history to solve around something dark happening in the present.
It was great to read a bit more about how and why our detective came to be the roll she's in and how it effected, and effects her to this day.
When the first few books followed a particular case I was worried how the author Paul was going to carry on the books and better it. But he's managed it just fine. And I'm so glad because I do enjoy this detective and more importantly Paul's books.

This is my first read by this author and I thoroughly loved it.
Detective Holly was transported back in time in her memories to when she was 19. Her best friend vanished, she tried to help the police but it seemed there was a lot of cover up in play. This decided her future, to become a cop.
In the present day a new murder then a suspicious death. They seemingly were tied to the disappearance of her friend.
Corruption in high places, evil and disgusting acts were coming to light.
Was someone seeking vengeance and why are more than two decades?
I read this story in one setting as I couldn't put it down.

Her Final Secret was a chilling read, it’s a dual book set back in 1999 and the present day. Moira lives at the Care Home in Hull when she goes missing at the fair, her friend Hollie is now a police officer, when a body turns up at the fairground she knows they must be linked. She has never stopped looking for her friend.
It’s an intense, quick read that I read in one sitting, it’s a great crime mystery read. The fair was a great location and I liked the different views of the dates involved, plus the lack of support that there was back in the 90’s. Really enjoyed this book and will need to read the previous books in this series. A unputdownable 5 star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. The 5th book in the series and I have read them all. It was good to read what had happened to Hollie Turner's best friend in 1999. As a missing person, it had haunted Hollie eversince then and was the reason she became a Police Women. The team have come together stronger over the book series, since Hollie joined the Humberside force from Lancashire and took over their leadership.
A well written story that I was quickly drawn into and I couldn't put it down. It is set in different timelines and told through the eyes of Hollie, Moira and others. I look forward to learning more of Hollie's story and her work as a DI. I can recommend this book to lovers of crome fiction.

**Her Final Secret** by Paul J. Teague is a gripping procedural thriller that revolves around a twenty-five-year-old cold case tied to a current investigation. Detective Hollie Turner, motivated by the disappearance of her university friend Moira at the Hull Fair, strives to solve the mystery after a retired police superintendent is murdered there. As she delves into the case, Hollie uncovers connections between Moira's disappearance and a local children's home abuse allegation from years past.

The story shifts between 1999 and the present, showcasing Hollie's determination as a Detective Inspector to uncover the truth behind her friend's vanishing while tackling new murders. This fast-paced narrative features realistic characters and multiple twists, keeping readers engaged throughout.

Although part of a series, it functions well as a stand-alone novel.

Thanks to Storm Publishing for the advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.

I have loved all the books in this series and this one was no different, immediately I fell in to the danger and mystery with Hollie and couldn't put it down.

*3.25 Star Rating*

I received this ARC from Storm Publishing on NetGalley. This book publishes on November 8th.

When I initially went into this read I didn’t not read the premise I just requested it and went in blind. As the book started to develop, it gave me a slow burn vibe.

I took a lot of breaks because I wasn’t really connecting to it. Once I kept going, on the 70% mark and after is when it started to pickup and the pieces began to come together.

I feel like once I go back to Book 1 it will all interconnect and I may have a different rating.

25 years ago Hollies college friend Moira disappeared at Hull fair. Present day murders are occurring linked to the disappearance of Moira . This was a great story with many interesting characters that held my attention from start to finish. Thanks NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC that will be released November 8, 2024!

Her Final Secret by Paul J. Teague is an addictive procedural mystery that combines cold cases with the suspense of a new murder investigation, all woven into an intricate plot. When Detective Hollie Turner is called to Hull Fair, where a retired police superintendent has been found murdered, memories of her friend Moira’s disappearance at the same fair twenty-five years ago come flooding back. The case that once haunted Hollie’s youth now resurfaces with chilling familiarity, forcing her to face a past that’s never truly been laid to rest.

Main Characters and Themes

Hollie Turner: As a seasoned detective, Hollie is a relatable and determined protagonist whose personal ties to the case add a unique tension. Her dedication to uncovering the truth for her friend Moira makes her journey both gripping and poignant. Her flashbacks to the time of Moira’s disappearance help readers piece together the mystery as Hollie relives painful memories in order to find closure.

Moira’s Legacy: Moira’s past in the children’s home—and the long-buried secrets that resurface during Hollie’s investigation—adds a disturbing layer to the story. Teague addresses difficult themes, like institutional abuse, without sensationalizing them, and it adds emotional depth to the story. The case uncovers a web of deceit that has kept the truth hidden for decades.

Plot Structure and Setting

The narrative switches seamlessly between 1999, when Hollie and Moira were university students, and the present, showing how secrets of the past impact the present. The flashbacks are well-timed, lending the book an urgent pace as Hollie’s investigation brings long-overlooked details to light. Teague’s descriptions of Hull Fair and the moody, atmospheric settings add a haunting quality to the story, making you feel as though you’re right there alongside the characters.

Final Thoughts

Paul J. Teague has crafted a suspenseful, multi-layered mystery that will keep readers guessing until the last page. Her Final Secret is more than a procedural—it’s a story about friendship, loss, and confronting one’s past. Hollie’s investigation is thrilling, and the shocking twists will surprise even seasoned mystery readers. Though part of a series, this fifth book stands well on its own and is perfect for newcomers.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy. This is a must-read for mystery lovers and anyone looking for an immersive, well-crafted procedural. Highly recommended!

DI Hollie Turner is called out to the discovery of a body on the ghost train at Hull Fair. This brings back awful memories for Hollie. Twenty-five years ago in 1999, Hollie Turner and her friend Moira Kennedy were both 19 years old and at university. They decided to have a fun evening enjoying themselves at Hull Fair. In an awful turn of events, they get separated and Moira ends up disappearing without a trace. Now, 25 years later, the body on the ghost train is identified as Gordon Carrick, an ex-police superintendent. Gordon had a link with a local children’s home, the same home where Moira lived before going to university. Then a care worker at the same home is also found killed, and Hollie realizes there must be a link between the killings and her missing friend. Can Hollie remain impartial while investigating, despite missing her old friend every day.
This is a first-class addition to the Detective Hollie Turner series, a proper page-turner and a fast-paced complex story. One of the best additions is seeing Hollie’s earlier life and her motivation for joining the police.
The Detective Hollie Turners series continues to grow and mature and is becoming one of my favourite police procedurals. Paul J Teague is adept at these dual-timeline stories.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Paul J Teague for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I have been reading this book for at least 2 weeks and I just cannot bring myself to care enough about the characters or the plot enough to finish. I stumble over all the formalities in the British Police Department. The author keeps referring to some of them by first name, some by last name and is inconsistent with the D_ and what that means. I have dreaded going back to reading this book.