AJ McDone does it again it crafting a book that pulls me in and keeps me engaged and not wanting to take a break from reading!

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was great. The natural voice and speed were listenable without any manipulation. How we o did listen to it on 1.75x as I couldn’t get enough of listening.

Now it’s listed as a mystery thriller and a tag line has it as “An utterly addictive and gripping psychological thriller with edge-of-your-seat suspense” but I disagree. I didn’t find suspense in that way at all. It also wasn’t really a thriller. A mystery, absolutely. A page turner to find out the ending, absolutely. Unexpected twists? Yup!!

Now it has suspense in that since you are told some information fairly early on and you wonder how things will change or what twists are coming but it’s not that edge of your seat type.

Sorry maybe I don’t have the words! But the book is well written with likable characters for the most part. It also takes pace in the UK which I love as I always learn something new. This time it was how they pronounce the word nauseous 😝

The book comes out on October 22nd 2024. I highly suggest picking this up as it really is a page turner.

I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Netgalley and Bookouture Audio so I can leave my voluntary review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Eve Griffiths seems to have the perfect life in a lovely home with her husband and teenage son, and her best friend close by in the beautiful village where they all live.

Until her friend's daughter Annie is found half dead in Eve's home and everyone wants answers. What really happened to Annie? Were any members of the Griffiths family responsible for her situation?

Eve is determined to get to the truth, but to do so she will have to uncover a series of secrets kept by those around her...

Although Eve is a bit of a control freak, hard not to feel some sympathy for her. She is in a situation where literally nothing is as it seems, and she is trying to make sense of it all even though she only has some of the puzzle pieces at hand.

This was an absorbing read and quite entertaining too.it gets 3.5 stars.

I found this to be more a domestic drama rather than the thriller it is described as, up until the last few chapters.
Though not what I was expecting, I enjoyed the story for the most part and being a parent, could empathise with what the characters were going through. I did not particularly like the main character and found some of her behaviour odd and difficult to believe. I found it frustrating that she was apparently blind to what was blatantly obvious to the reader. I would have much rather have spent more time hearing from some of the other characters and more about the police investigation and drug bust.
I did enjoy the ending however, felt it was rushed and summed up rather quickly. The story starts off well, drags on a bit in the middle then has an unexpected twist at the end.
I know books with a twist are popular and while I didn’t see the final twist coming, for me it is as much about the journey as it is the destination and I nearly gave up before getting there.
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my copy of the audiobook for review.

This book is a twisted family drama where everyone truly has secrets. I enjoyed the suspenseful build-up and the layers of deception throughout the story. However, I found myself a bit irritated by Eve’s gentle parenting approach. While she’s a good mother, friend, and wife, some of her decisions left me questioning her judgment, especially when it came to handling her son Joe.

The narration was fantastic and really brought the tension to life. Every time I thought I had figured things out, I was proven wrong, which made the story even more engaging. If you're looking for a domestic thriller filled with twists and secrets, this one will definitely keep you guessing.

Everyone DOES HAVE SECRETS apart from about three characters in this book! The pace of the book is exactly right, to assimilate all the necessary details.

The story takes place in the leafy village of South Langley. Eve, her husband, and their sixteen-year-old son live in the beautiful home they have always dreamed of. Eve’s best friend Lisa, and her teenage daughter Annie, live in a charming cottage right across the street. Everything seems perfect until one night the unthinkable happens in the most mysterious way and turns the entire peaceful neighborhood, with all its friendships upside down. The family is feeling stressed out and humiliated as never before! But somebody, somewhere, surely knows the truth. Is there something or somebody more sinister at work here that can't even be imagined? One thing is sure, lives will be changed forever on the night of this 16 yr. old boy's birthday party, and one person has sworn to find the underlying cause of it and find the truth. But at what cost?

The narrator, Tamsin Kennard, does an excellent job with the story. Clear, with emotion and fluency in all the right spots. The author A J McDine, weaves a fascinating tale that stays on my mind way after the last word read.

5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oooh this was a great book!
I was gripped from the start and flew threw it.

The narrator, Tamsin Kennard, was perfect for the story and really brought the characters to life.

Love A.J. Mcdine's books, pretty much autoread for me.

Thanks to Bookouture Audio via Netgalley for gifting me an advance copy of this terrific new book.

3.5 ⭐

Oh, I did not like Eve at all.
She was the worst case of control freak and helicopter parent combined.
I actually enjoyed watching her perfect life unravel.
A highly believable scenario, where kids and drugs are involved, and how almost everyone has secrets.
Also how good they can be at keeping them.
This nicely exposes them all.
It was a very entertaining read, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

I really like the narrator and the speed of narration.

I like the descriptions of the settings and the unique landscape.

The characters are flawed, realistic yet likeable enough to make you keep reading.

The plot starts with a kind of mediocre occasion, to build the context before a dramatic event that goes on unresolved for much of the novel.

I kept reading on and on. It's dramatic and exciting enough to make you addicted to the drama and really wanting to find out what happens next. I love these types of novels and movies, where you're on the edge of your seat waiting for the characters to find out secrets and learn why certain things happen.

I really felt for the mother. Even though she is flawed and has made mistakes in the past, she really tries to look out for her loved ones and protect those closest to her.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookulture Audio and A J McDine for providing me with an advance reader copy ebook in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

"Everyone Has Secrets" by AJ McDine
explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the impact of societal judgement.

The audiobook format allows these themes to resonate deeply, and Tasmin Kennard's wonderful performance underscores the emotional weight of the characters’ experiences.

The story's examination of how far embittered individuals will go to destroy others perceived happiness provides food for thought.

“Everyone Has Secrets” is a compelling audiobook is a captivating psychological drama, with themes we can all relate to, including: the strength of the bonds of family (both those that we chose and those we are given), trauma and loss. A.J. McDine’s expertly crafted plot, combined with Tamsin Kennard's exceptional narration, makes for an unforgettable listening experience.

Whether you’re a fan of psychological thrillers or new to the genre, Everyone has Secrets" this is a must-read/must-listen.

In a leafy village called South Langley, the Griffiths family seems to have the perfect life. However, everything changes when Annie, the daughter of Eve's best friend, is found struggling for her life in Eve's kitchen. As Eve seeks the truth behind the incident, she starts to question who she can trust, as someone close to her is lying. The story delves into the secrets and lies that people are willing to kill to protect.

This audiobook immediately drew me in with its suspenseful storyline. I found myself unable to stop listening, eager to uncover the truth and identify the culprit. The narrator skillfully portrayed each character, making it easy to follow along and distinguish between them. Despite the numerous characters to keep track of, their hidden secrets were gradually revealed, adding depth to the story.

Although Eve, the main character, could be somewhat irritating at times, her flaws only served to enhance her character development. As the mystery unfolded and the perpetrator was finally revealed, I was left wondering about the outcome. This book kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat until the very end.

A captivating blend of family drama, tragedy, and unexpected twists, this audiobook is a must-listen. It was my first experience with this author's work, and I am eagerly anticipating more.

Thank you, Bookouture Audio for ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved everything about this book and I will definitely be keeping this author on my watch list. It is perfect for fans of Lucinda Berry and Freida McFadden.
I finished this book in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down!

I was a little nervous when I first heard the narrator’s English accent but it ended up being perfect for this book! I listened to it at 1.25 speed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publish date: October 21, 2024

I am a reviewer who hands out 5 stars like it's my own money and I only have so much to give away. A 4? Sure, take it. Run with it. A 1? Absolutely. Easy to give those out to poorly written books. Everyone Has Secrets was an absolute stellar 4, but as I prepared to write this review, I began to question myself. What makes a 5 star read? Good writing? Interesting premise? Well developed characters? Believability or the exact opposite and fantasy? Keeps the reader invested?

Once I started checking boxes, I switched this to a 5. Absolutely recommend. I had the Netgalley audio and set up my earbuds, loaded the backpack, started to listen and my solo hike of 3 hours passed by more quickly than can be expected. I was all in from the start.

Set in a neighborhood with two close female friends, same aged/opposite sex teenagers, a stepson, a seemingly successful husband, extramarital affair, doubts, drugs, friendships tested.......AJ McDine gives the reader a little bit of everything and I got all my steps in and loved the day. I would definitely pick up anything this author throws down.

Thank you to NetGally for letting me get a sneak peak into this book. I got to listen to the audio book version.

This book takes place in a village of South Langley in the London I believe. But do not quote me in this. So there is a heavy accent but I personally did not mind.

Having a son who is going to be a teenager I feel like this is a situation that can happen to anyone. What seemed to be a fun house party that gets a little too wild.

A leafy English village is the setting. Eve Griffiths’ world is about to be turned upside down when one of her son’s friends end up in a coma at his sixteenth birthday party.

I’ve been a fan of AJ McDine’s thrillers since first discovering her with The Baby. Everyone Has Secrets has more of a domestic drama feel but we know to expect the unexpected from McDine who once again turns up the heat.

It’s really quite moving in places and well worth a read.

The audiobook performance was pretty good, I preferred the female narrators female voices to her male ones, but I say that about a lot of audiobooks.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio

Secrets.
❓❓❓❓❓❓❓❓

It's no secret that AJ McDine is one of my favorite go-to authors.

This "Secrets" book showcases a parent's worst nightmare:
* A teenager secures parental permission to have a house party.
* A female teen attendee overdoses and is rushed to the hospital. The teen is unresponsive and her survival is uncertain.

Who gave the teens attending the party drugs?

Who is to blame for the tragic event that happened?

This compelling, pacey, and intricately plotted story is not just a book about secrets.

Instead, it's a gripping story about parental love, blended family conflicts, spousal trust, drug abuse, and friendship.

It should be noted that this book is more of a domestic drama than a psychological thriller.

I listened to the audiobook read by Tamsin Kennard, who did an outstanding job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This book drew me in from page one and I just needed to know what happened. I did suspect what had happened from the beginning but I got some of the details wrong. I will say this was a great mystery thriller with some surprising elements and some not so surprising elements. I really felt for Eve as a parent, godmother and wife. I didn't really love Noah's character and maybe that is the point. The epilogue was a bit over the top for me but overall this was a fun, enjoyable read.

Narration by Tamsin Kennard is done well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I will say, I was instantly interested in this story because the action starts from the beginning. I quickly realized that this was the same premise from at least 3-4 books I’ve read this year. Neighbor girl gets hurt, mom runs around like a maniac trying to figure out who hurt the neighbor girl. Was it her son? Her husband? Someone else? Is her husband having an affair? Everyone has secrets. Not really twisty.

The ending was so odd to me. Doesn’t necessarily seem like it would connect or become plausible.

I did like the narrator, and the story did keep my attention enough to finish.

Immediately sucked in. Has believable twists and turns. The ending seemed abrupt and not as believable as the rest of the storyline.

★★★★

Noah and Eve Griffiths live in the postcard-perfect village of South Langley with their son, Joe. After a bit of a rough start, they eventually settled in and became part of the local community, thanks to their neighbor Lisa. The women have supported each other through all of life’s highs and lows, becoming like sisters in the process. Lisa’s daughter, Annie, is just two weeks younger than Joe, and the kids grew up like siblings. At first glance, everything seems picture-perfect, but Eve and Noah’s idyllic world is about to be turned upside down.

When a tragic incident occurs in their home, their lives are disrupted. With the emerging police investigation, Eve is suspended from her teaching position, which gives her plenty of time to deal with the changes in her family that she was previously too occupied to notice. The incident sends ripples through their village, and suddenly, lines are drawn. Eve and Noah feel like outsiders again, and the strain begins to test their friendship with Lisa, as well as their standing in the community. As Eve tries to make sense of it all, she starts her own search for the truth, only to discover that more than one of the people closest to her has been lying. And things are about to get much worse...

I love a domestic suspense story set in a small town or village—there is no shortage of local secrets and conspiracies. A J McDine did not disappoint! The traumatic incident was hard enough for Eve to manage, but McDine expertly unraveled all aspects of the Griffiths family life. As a reader, I felt immense anxiety and struggled to see a way out. As we slowly start to understand the events leading up to that fateful night, my anxiety dwindled until I reached the epilogue. I was not prepared! It was so unsettling and sent me right back into my anxious existence—well done!

Eve’s persistence in uncovering the truth reminded me of Gillian McAllister’s protagonists. If you are as obsessed with her books as I am, you will definitely enjoy this one! Thank you, NetGalley, A J McDine, and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🎧 Tamsin Kennard did a fantastic job narrating the story!

WOW!!!!!! is all I can say! This book was really amazing! The characters! The plot!! Everything!
This is my 1st book from this author and I can already tell you it will not the be the last!! This book! I listened to in 1 sitting! I didnt wanna pause! I didnt wanna stop!