All Our Darkest Secrets

Disclaimer: I received an advance electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not paid for this review nor otherwise compensated, and it contains my thoughts and mine alone.

Content Warnings for this book: gun violence, drug use/addiction, suicide

In writing this review and considering this book, I'm reminded of a line from Hannah Gadsby's excellent standup show Nanette, that comedy is about tension, and that good comedy involves finding the right amount of it and trusting the comedian to know exactly when and how to release it. Now, All Our Darkest Secrets is not a comedy (though it could certainly be read as a particularly dark and violent comedy of errors), but Martyn Ford takes this principle of tension and wields it with spectacular deftness. I felt tense as I read this book, in the absolute best way, thoroughly gripped and anxious to see what would happen next. It's almost 400 pages, and I read it in less than 24 hours, that's how hooked I was.

To put it simply, this was an electrifying read and one of the most thrilling books I've read this year. The plot moves extremely fast, and yet I never felt as though I had missed a key detail or important point. Martyn Ford deftly weaves in flashbacks and scenes from the main character's life prior to the events of the main plot, using them to plant seeds he harvests later in the narrative. Ford's prose is smooth and highly characterized, like a fine bourbon, and goes down just as easily. A book like All Our Darkest Secrets could very easily fall into tropes and generic posturing, too weighted down by its own self-awareness to actually be enjoyable. Fortunately, it does nothing of the sort.

The particular context of the opioid epidemic in the United States is a useful backdrop for the characters; it ensnares them so thoroughly that they are never truly able to escape. James and Rosie are a fascinating couple, and the nuances of their interpersonal interactions and relationship, both as characters in the story and as a married couple, are themselves enough to fill a book, let alone the actual events presented here. I loved that these characters (not just James and Rosie, but virtually all of them, in the whole book) felt smart, felt clever and seemed aware of the situation rather than merely passive actors within it.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book. It's a compelling, clever read that built my attention with every page.

Webster defines riveting as “having the power to fix the attention.” That would be an understatement for All Our Darkest Secrets. It has been a long time since I have read a thriller that left me in such shock at the ending. Martyn Ford could not have told this story or ended this book any better than he did.

Ford sets the tone for his latest novel All Our Darkest Secrets in the prologue, which gives a glimpse into the earliest days of the love story of James and Rosie, back when James’s love for Rosie is unrequited.

James is a DEA agent married to Rose, the only girl he has ever loved. He has been there for her triumphs and her sorrows. He has kept her secrets, even from childhood. When she crosses a deadly line, James must choose between helping Rosie or doing the right thing.

Throughout the book, James has flashbacks to his childhood, when he was growing up with Rosie and her brother Matthew, James’s best friend. At times, James is tormented by these vivid recollections and unsure if he is in that moment or just remembering. The lines are even blurred for the reader on a few occasions. As the back story is coming into better focus for the reader, the current situation in which James finds himself begins to make more sense.

Ford presents an enthralling tale of love and loyalty. All Our Darkest Secrets has plot twists that keep the reader anxious to know what happens next. The story is told in such a way that the reader can feel James’s dilemma and fear and pure horror when Rosie’s darkest secret of all is revealed.

All Our Darkest Secrets kept me on the edge of my seat. Having James and Rosie becoming friends before they were lovers was refreshing in a world where friendship is often overlooked. It was love at first sight for James. However, in time, he won over Rosie’s heart. Or did he? The reader is left to decide for himself/herself whether Rosie truly loved James or if she was using his feelings for her to manipulate him. James will do anything for Rosie, but how far will James go to protect the woman he loves? How far will Rosie go to protect her secrets? Will their bond be strong enough for the most difficult challenge they have ever faced?

A great book from the start to finish with some of the little endings to certain chapters or sections being real OMG moments.

The book has flashbacks from different periods in James life from when he was 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 where he infatuated with Rosie the 2 year older sister of his best friend Matthew to 17 when they start dating and then present day where they are married.

James has always loved Rosie and will do just about anything to protect her even during her Red days!

All Our Darkest Secrets is a fast paced book which is hard to put down – $333,333

Will be on the look out for more of Martyn's books

James Casper is one of the good guys. A DEA agent. A loyal husband. With his sights set on the man at the top of the city’s opioid crisis, James is about to make the biggest bust of his career. Then his beloved wife Rosie does something terrible, and James must choose: report it—or help her. He knows how this works, and he tells himself he’s smart enough to get away with murder. But James’s worst enemy knows what they have done—and he won’t hesitate to use it to manipulate him.

Wow, this would have to one of the best books I have read recently. A thrilling ride that just did not let go until the end. If I could give this more than five stars I would give it 10. I had to read the last couple of pages a couple of times to be sure that what I thought had happened had, I guess a fitting end. Fabulous plot, fast paced and wonderful characters who you were rooting for even if their personalities veered on the border line side of psychopathic behaviour. Now off to get Martyn Ford's other book that is available on Amazon Australia, hope it is as good as this. I highly recommend this book to one and all and thank Netgalley the publisher, and author for a copy of this book.

This is a different type of book to what I usually read. But I really enjoyed it all the twists and turns. I did not expect the end twist. Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC.

This book shamelessly takes the reader to some dark places both in terms of content and in challenging us to question just how far we would go when faced with a seemingly impossible choice - protecting the person you love or doing what society demands of us. Every page is relevant - the text is tight and compelling. The characters are an interesting mix of sympathetic and frustrating, adding up to a book which is dangerously real.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
And what a thriller it is!!!
Rosie and Matthew were adopted and then came James. Matthew begins a life of drugs - James admires and falls in love with Rosie.
James becomes a DEA agent and hopes to clean up the drug scene after seeing the life Matthew has had.
Rosie hates her job and her boss and when James comes home to find him murdered in their home...their life tumbles.
Matthew has always told James take care of Rosie - so they try to cover up the murder - but as always happens one thing leads to another - and another - but hopefully he will always have his Rosie - or will he?

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Author for the chance to read and review All Our Darkest Secrets!

This was a really good twisted read!
I loved how the main character DEA James was that a drug force agent wanting to clean the streets from narcotics. His life is simple until.his wife does something wild and then turns his life upside down!
The characters were great and intriguing.
What I loved most here has to be the writing. Ford knows how to keep the readers attention and keeps them guessing till the very end!
I couldn't stop reading. For real stayed up till two am.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read and review this novel!
I will post to my Bookstagram, Goodreads and Facebook accounts closer to pub date!

This was a very good book. It reminded me of a movie I had watched a long time ago where the main character kept trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, though the name of the movie escapes me,. James Casper is a DEA agent, something he decided to do after watching his very best friend struggle repeatedly with drug addiction. His best friend, Matthew, eventually overdoses and this becomes the driving force behind James to bring down the biggest drug dealer in the area. Rosie, his wife and Matthew's sister, does something that starts the action rolling, James finds himself in an untenable position of helping his wife or her going to jail. That decision resonates down the line and drives every decision he makes. There are flashbacks to the childhood of James, who lived with Matthew and Rosie and where his friendship and love for Rosie started. There is a lot going on in this book though the action never stopped, I literally could not turn the pages fast enough. There is a lot of violence, some a bit graphic, but I didn't find it out of line considering the characters. and their less than legal activities. I highly recommend this book and I will look forward to another by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

As much as any novel I have tried to read, the beginnings of All Our Darkest Secrets left me confused. It seemed to be an awkward way to start a novel. Once I finally figured out who is who, it was a further disappointment as Rosie soon shows herself to be a mean, vicious person. And that theme goes all the way to the end. Unlikable characters, violence and betrayal are hardly things that make up a good novel for me. I did stick it out, though. The writing, once you get past what it is saying, is crafted well. I would not read this book again though.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

All our darkest secrets by Martyn Ford is an enthralling thriller right from the get go.
In short, James Casper, a DEA agent, and his wife Rosie find themselves in a very troubling situation and as events unravel it gets more difficult for James who is hell bent on protecting his wife…yet something is off, very off!
The story is narrated by James where he also reveals his back story as a young boy and the relationship he formed with Rosie and his best friend Mathew, her brother…this is expertly woven through the story and the situation he is now dealing with.
It’s such a pacy, action packed story with brilliant twists and turns which just keep on coming. Without giving anything away, it is pretty obvious from the beginning of the book that Rosie is nuts and that James is simply besotted by her, which results in him being dragged into a dark and dangerous world…as quoted by James, ‘I am not corrupt. I am not a criminal. This is not who I am.’
With a twisty plot, riveting characters and relentless suspense it has all the ingredients needed for a good solid thriller…I look forward to reading more from Martyn Ford.
Big thanks to Martyn Ford, Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

That was interesting... A twisted story, few psychological aspects, an addicted thriller that keeps me intrigued all day long.

James as a DEA agent is perfect for someone who can get away with murder. He does not expect to find his wife in a situation when he must risk his career, life to protect her from jail. Trying to hide any footprints which lead the investigators to them, he found himself in the middle of the world that becomes more and more dangerous and demands more each day. An agent does not expect that the worst danger came from the most unexpected direction.

I love the pace of it. The excitement, unveil the story page by page. Very complex, involving all the senses and playing with the readers by talking round over the truth. Dual timeline (cause we had some chapters referring to the past of Jasper and her wife) gives more information about their marriage, the unusual relationship formed from a very young age, and difficult experiences.

The whole book is so "polished". The ending is well prepared. Of course, it is surprising cause even though I had in mind that these could lead to this particular person, but I would never ever thought about the motivation in such a way that the author planned it. Well-done!

One of the most intriguing books lately!

Definitely not one to read whilst you're (for example) waiting at the dentist office or cooking dinner as I guarantee, you will be so absorbed that the dinner will burn and you won't hear your name being called for your appt.

There is no easing into this one, it shallows you whole, shakes you about, leave you questioning the characters choices as well as what your own would be, and then spits you out as a conflicted, sweaty mess.

If you want something that will have you hooked and never stop guessing g then this book is it!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a great read, i didnt want to put it down! I would recommend this to my friends and family

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this advanced copy!!

James, a DEA agent is married to his childhood sweetheart Rosie. He loves her and after his best friend Mathew, Rosie’s brother commits suicide he promises to always look out for her. How far would you go for your spouse? Would you lie, cheat, steal…kill? Rosie does the unthinkable and James spirals down a dark path on keeping her safe.

Holy mother…….this has got to be hands down my favorite book I’ve read this year!!!! I picked it up and couldn’t put it down, didn’t want it to end. I had so many shocks and emotions reading this book. I don’t know who the author’s agent/publisher needs to contact but this needs to be a movie ASAP!!!!!!

Bravo!!!!!!!!!

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a good read, I enjoyed it. A great suspenseful thriller with a few twists. Have to say I wasn’t expecting the ending. Overall a good read, would recommend.

All Our Darkest Secrets by Martyn Ford takes it’s genre very seriously, as there was not one moment throughout this entire novel where I felt as though I knew how it was going to end. Nonstop twists and turns, so many heart stopping and stomach dropping reveals, it was like I had somehow managed to get over my fear of absurdly high and fast roller coasters. This novel follows the story of a man named James Casper, who’s a DEA agent hoping to start a family and find some semblance of retribution for his best friend’s suicide, which he entirely blames on drug addiction. James is quickly faced with the terrible question of “how far will you go”. How far will he go to defend his family? Or himself? How far will he push for redemption?

The moment I began reading this novel, I knew I wasn’t going to put it down. Short of working and sleeping, I didn’t stop reading. I couldn’t because there was no way for me to know where Ford was going to take this story, no where I felt safe as if I could leave James and know in the morning, when I picked the book back up, I wouldn’t turn a page to find him scrambling to cover things up again. The best part about All Our Darkest Secrets is that it isn't a chore to follow. Ford feeds the reader the information they need for the big reveal to feel even bigger, ensures the reader recalls the small details without pointing them out and saying “that’s important, remember it”. We see everything about James’ life that we need to, even if it doesn’t feel like we need it at the moment. We readers are introduced to a world where everything seems normal, but up until the chapter we really never, actually, know the half of it. It takes a lot of skill to strategically place circumstances and characters in scenes and memories with no added weightiness in the story the way Ford does, and still reach an intense, unforeseeable ending. I kept thinking I knew, I really did, and I was so wrong. The worst part of this novel? We should’ve seen the ending coming. It was all there… and that’s what makes this such a phenomenal read.

I recommend this book to every reader, regardless of interest or age. I am not a big crime mystery fan, but I think this novel has single-handedly altered that.

Title: #All Our Darkest Secrets
By: # Martyn Ford
Source: #NetGalley
Read on: Kindle Paperwhite
Published by: #Amazon Publishing UK
Pub Date: 01 Sep 2021
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4/5
Caution: Suicide, Gun Violence, Drug Use, Drug Addiction

I got the ARC for this book from Netgalley, so I’m so thankful to #NetGalley again for adding this book on your READ NOW section. This doesn’t affect my review in any way – I always give a non-biased review, whether I got the book for free or not.

“Take care of Rosie.”

That was all James ever wanted. All he ever wanted was to protect and take care of Rosie. He was a DEA agent who wanted to rid the world of drug cartels because he knows that these drugs cause nothing but harm. Especially because of what happened to his best friend Matthew. He was about to make the biggest bust of his career but then because of her beloved wife Rosie – he was then torn between the love of his life or his career. With everything spiralling down and plans go haywire – it gets to the point where he doesn’t care about anything in the world so long as she still has Rosie. But will she still have Rosie even after everything? Will anything ever go as planned for James?

Wow, this was fascinating for me. This is the first novel that I’ve read in a while where the main character was in a war against drugs. It was like a film with a twisted story, and it kept me intrigued the entire time. To say hooked is definitely an understatement – I just felt like I was falling deeper and deeper into a crazy rabbit hole. I love how fast-paced it was – chapters weren’t that lengthy as well. It was such a roller coaster ride of emotions, and it’s one of those books where you thought you already knew where it was going but then just at the last few pages Martyn Ford crafted a sublime ending.

To be honest, on the first half of the book I really thought that the story was extremely predictable to the point where it was going to bore me, but Martyn Ford changed my mind halfway through the book and sealed that 4/5 rating for me with his mad ending. I highly recommend this book especially to those who are looking for page turners, thrilling and quick reads.

After the first couple chapters I was hooked! James is a good guy, a DEA agent trying to remove the opioid problems where he lives. He’s married to Rosie, his childhood love. Rosie does something unspeakable and James is out between a rock and a hard place. Help clean up her mess or report her. From there everything just spirals out of control for James and he soon finds out even more about Rosie than he thought would be possible.

I loved the characters in this book and it kept me interested and wanting more from the beginning! Twists and turns the whole way through! You won’t be disappointed in this read!

“Look after Rosie” these are the words from a suicide note left by Matthew before he overdosed a died. Matthew was James best friend since his childhood days, Rosie is Matthews sister now married to James. These words look after Rosie are with James every day of his life but how far will he go to honour Matthews wishes and look after Rosie.

James has worked hard his whole life and is now a DEA agent. Ever since Matthews untimely death James has dedicated his life to bringing down drug dealers and is just about to bring down one of the biggest dealers going things couldn’t be looking better for James right now both at work and at home; however on evening James goes home to his wife Rosie only to find she has committed a terrible crime James is faced with an agonising decision does he report his wife or does he help her.

James knows he is able to cover up a murder with his knowledge from the job he decides to “look after Rosie” and help his wife. Just as James thinks all is well his world is once again flipped upside down when he learns one of the drug dealers he is about to bring down Edward knows exactly what James and Rosie have done. James then realises he must take extreme measures to cover this up and finds himself falling deeper and deeper into a life of hard core crime.

This book is told from James point of view both from the current day to his childhood days. Throughout the telling of the story we learn a lot about James and Rosie and I tell you what those 2 have some really dark secrets between them. This book was an absolute blood bath of a read and nothing like I’ve ever read before, I’d also say not for the faint hearted but I loved it. The only thing I did find was at the start I found it took me a while to get into but once i persevered with it and i got into it I couldn’t put it down. There were so many surprises hidden round every corner it was impossible not to want to keep reading.

I was really grateful to be able to read All our darkest secrets before it’s official release day and I’d defiantly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a fast paced book to read and enjoy!

Well, this was one heck of a read! My mind is completely blown over the complexity and narration of this novel. Martyn Ford has easily won me over with All Our Darkest Secrets.

James and Rose are married, they met as children. James, now a respected DEA agent is faced with the ultimate decision. How far would you go to protect the one you love? Would you lie, cheat, steal or murder? Rosie, has done something that she can not take back and she puts James in a position that he begins to lose control, obsessing over how to keep his wife safe.

All Our Darkest Secrets, has become an instant favorite of the year. This needs to be on everyone's list! Talk about "made for the movies". If I don't see this being made into a movie within the next year I will truly be shocked.

Five star read without a doubt.

Wow I found this to be a superb read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Very good novelist. Exciting, engrossing, page turner. Keeps you involved even if you know it's fiction.

A very thrilling read. I will definitely recommend to my thriller friends. It’s very action packed and goes at a fast pace with twists and they just keep coming. Thanks to NetGalley and Martin Ford for this suspense of a book.

This is a twisty topical thriller about love, secrets, lies, and doing the right thing. James and Rosie have been together since they were children- their story, as well as that of her brother Matthew, is revealed in a series of what are essentially flashbacks. In the present, he's a DEA agent and Rosie, well no spoilers but know that Rosie has, to put it mildly, issues. There's a crisis point, there are tough decisions, and there are bad decisions. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Hard to review without spoilers this is one that will keep you turning the pages.

Wow! What a ride. The best kind of suspense novels start turning the screws at the very beginning, and just build and build on all the preceding cascade, and this books delivers that exceptionally. A stellar DEA agent, getting ready to take down the biggest pharmaceutical head - bringing some closure to the suicide of his best friend via heroin, gets sucked into an ever spiraling disaster thanks to the actions of his wife. What is one supposed to do, when your very life and future are on the line, and could be completely lost if what she did gets out? The rest of this book does an amazing job answering that question with increasingly bad decisions leading to a drama filled dénouement. Really great read!

How far would you go to protect someone you love? Would you lie, steal, compromise your ethics, or even kill? Would it matter what they did or why?
James has been in love with Rosie for most of his life. As a child, he was best friends with Matthew and Rosie was his older sister. Grown-up now and married to Rosie, there is a hole in his heart where Matthew used to be. He is the reason James became a DEA agent as he has first-hand knowledge of the devastating consequences of drugs on people's lives. He has worked for years to build a case against a very clever dealer who hides in plain sight. He is finally going to arrest this man until Rosie does something terrible that James covers up, and the only other person who knows is this dealer.
From the moment James decides to put Rosie first, I knew that something would have to go wrong. His loyalty is to her, and he will wind up making terrible decisions to ensure her safety. As the story progressed, we learn more about James' childhood, and I have to say that his view of his wife was more what he wanted to see rather than the truth. I imagined a few different outcomes and no spoilers, but I didn't get the one I hoped for.
Told entirely from James' perspective, every choice he makes leads to another unbearable choice. Just when he imagines the worst is behind him, he learns a devastating truth. Will the cost of saving Rosie be worth it in the end? This is the kind of book that makes you question what you would do in a similar situation. As much as I felt bad for James, the body count was just too high. All Our Darkest Secrets kept me flipping the pages and I don't think even the moments that were not action-packed slowed me down.

This book was an absolute doozy. I won't go through the plot too much because the description does the book plenty of justice for me. The book moves through the plot pretty quickly which can be a lot of fun but also it keeps the energy so high that I started getting a little bored. Character-wise, I really can't say that I found much development in the characters outside of James, but in a lot of ways, I wouldn't really say, James, changed. James as a character was determined to make himself feel as though he is the "good guy" in the story, as the plot unfolds he does things that seem "uncharacteristic" of him, but the author implies that he has already had some bad or ill-minded transgressions as well as a history of trying to push the responsibility of his actions on others. Edward is James if he would not only take responsibility for his actions but also drop the moral high ground complex. Rose and Adam are the most honest characters to me and I honestly love Adam. Rosie is written as a crazy b** but she is just honest with herself and doesn't care about how she gets what she wants. I personally really wished there was some form of epilogue to explain what happened to Rosie as well as some deep dive into her and Matthew's relationship. I think this book was a worth it read.

This is how a thriller should be written. Our Darkest Secrets keeps you hooked from the start and doesn’t let up. This is an enthralling, action-packed story with so many twists and turns that it will keep you guessing throughout.

Our Darkest Secrets follows James Caspar, a DEA agent who is determined to rid his city of Heroin and the dealers who sell it. It is a personal vendetta which makes the latest bust he is about to make all the more important to him (and of course his career). However, his wife, Rosie puts a spanner in the works one evening and before he knows it, his life is spinning out of control and there are several hard decisions he must make. One of which includes choosing between his wife and his career. As the story progresses, we see James sticking by his original decision and the consequences which occur because of this.

I loved this novel, the writing was often fast paced, and the character arcs were so full of twists that a simple act/decision at the start turns into a dark, spiral of sinister events as the story progresses. It is hard to fault this story, from the writing style to the pacing to the scene setting, this novel will keep you hooked.

By the last few chapters my heart was literally pounding in my chest as I was desperate to know what was going to happen. The sign of a great novel is the ability to relate and empathise with the characters, and when it comes to James it is hard not to empathise with him which makes the final few chapters all the more dramatic.

This was a story made to be consumed quickly as once you pick it up, it’s hard to put it down. There is always something happening, and this dark, twisted thriller will have you biting your fingernails and staying up late just to finish it. If you are looking for a sinister tale full of twists and a dramatic, heart pounding finale I highly recommend this story.

All our darkest secrets is out on 1st September which all just happens to be my birthday!!

 – without a doubt, one of the best thrillers I have read in a long time. If you like dark and twisted thrillers, check this out!

<b>That unassuming cover does not do justice for what a hidden gem this story is.</b>James Casper is easy to like. He's a dedicated DEA team player and, slowly through the back and forth chapters, you learn his sad childhood story that brought him there. He's a good husband, a hard worker, and always trying to live up to a promise he made to his best friend. Take Care of Rosie.

The kick off of that horrible night was shocking. The rest of the story was a complete race to finish each chapter. Each turn, I couldn't figure out how it would all play out and that kept me absolutely glued to the page! I'll definitely be looking for more from this author. I loved this one.

<i>A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

So many twists, so much evil. There was really nobody to like in this book. James was too weak to really like him though I did feel somewhat sorry for him. Rosie was impossible to like - just a horrible psycho person! A lot happened in the 8 month span of events in this story. The writing is good and the ending is a surprise - and yet not really.

i found this whole story hard to believe. i especially hate when the characters act so naive to the point where u're palm facing every time. maybe it's just me, but this book didn't really work out for me. can't recommend this tbf :/

Wow, this was a read! I didn't see that twist coming.... The characters are amazingly fleshed out and realistic, and I rooted or hated them the entire way.

I swear, this book scared me in the best way possible.

Thank you netgalley for the arc copy!

I was rather disappointed overall with this book. It was so frustrating when the characters repeatedly decide£ to follow the most obviously wrong paths.

This is a strange, tense psychological thriller. Kind of hard to follow at first but after a few chapters it falls into a pattern that is both lovely and frightening. Kept me entranced to the suspenseful end.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

All Our Darkest Secrets by Martyn Ford was a dark and at times confusing read. Opiate addiction and smuggling with combined with the sociopathic behavior of the main characters, the story was hard to follow with it's many twists and turns. How Rosie evoked such strong feelings of loyalty and love from James was hard to comprehend being she was such a horrible person.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

James Casper is a DEA Agent who comes home to find that his wife has murdered her boss Frank.
James makes a decision to protect his wife Rosie and they dispose of the body and think they have got away with murder.
James then finds himself in a situation with the man that he is pursuing for the city's opioid crisis.
As the novel continues there are more dead bodies along the way.
The book tells the story of James and Rosie's relationship from their childhood and is interesting the relationship that we can see from early on, but James is just becoming to realise what Rosie is all about.
Great read and eventful from start to finish.

There's some seriously fine writing here, but I'm baffled about the choice to burden an original and propulsive narrative line with lengthy and incredibly dull chapters filled with rambling flashbacks to the main characters' childhood. Yeah, I get that the man is formed by the child, but what readers really care about is the development of the main narrative line, and the main narrative line here is terrific. After a while, I simply started skipping the flashback chapters altogether and I found the book read far better for it. Note to publisher: there' no charge for my editing work.

And what was with the constant repetition of a silly grammatical error: 'Me and Nell went...'etc etc. The first time it was jangling; the second time it was annoying; and all the other dozens of times it was downright ridiculous.

As it stands, this is a 3* book at best, but some of the writing is so damn good I've just got to give it 4* in spite of the glaring flaws that a decent editor could and should have fixed.

I need to know right now if there is another book to this series. Rosie's character definately could have her own book with her viewpoint on what happened after the ending. I liked this one but holy crap it's hard not to question every single move that James makes! Thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

James Casper is one of the good guys. DEA Agent. Loyal husband to his childhood sweetheart. Smart. Honest.

He’s closing in on Edward Lang, the powerful head of a pharmaceutical company, and about to make one of the biggest busts of his career and bring down the kingpin of the city’s opioid crisis.

Then his beloved wife Rosie crosses a deadly line and kills her abusive boss. James must choose: report it or help her. He decides to help and tells himself he’s smart enough to get away with murder.

Instead, his worst enemy learns of his deed and he’s dragged into a vicious spiral of lies and blackmail. He realizes the only way out is to be even more ruthless than the people he’s working for.

But it’s worth it. No matter what, he’ll still have Rosie. Or will he?

The book is told from James’ point of view. Throughout, he has flashbacks to his childhood, growing up with Rosie and her brother Matthew, James’s best friend.

The jumping back and forth between past and present was disconcerting. But as the back story comes into better focus, the current situation in which James finds himself begins to make more sense. The story becomes even more horrific when Rosie’s darkest secret of all is revealed.

I should have seen the ending coming, but I had to read the last few pages a couple of times to be sure what I thought had really happened.
While the ride was thrilling, the characters throughout were thoroughly unlikeable, full of violence and betrayal. I did stick it out, though. The writing is well-crafted. From the very beginning I disliked Rosie. Even as a ten-year-old girl she manipulated James. It’s later clear he fell pathetically in love with a sociopath and make the wrong choice in protecting her.
For those reasons, I give the book four stars, but not a recommendation.

Amazing book! Loved this story and highly recommend it! I look forward to more books by this author!

DNF at 46%

I can't put my finger on why, but I could not get into this at all. I love mystery/thrillers but I really couldn't finish this. The writing in my opinion just wasn't anything special and I didn't care about the characters at all. I found myself getting distracted and could not focus on this book. It's such a shame because I was really excited to read this.

James is devoted to Rosie and would do anything to help her. There are so many twists and turns in this thrilling read. I had memes of Ozark playing in my head. The plot is cleverly crafted and would make a great movie.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book! Whilst it deals with some heavy topics like suicide and drugs among other things, I think it was all done really well.
The characters are so messed up... but it a way that you can't look away. A real page turner that I just couldn't put down.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

All Our Darkest Secrets by Martyn Ford is a DEA / police thriller that also weaves in elements of a domestic thriller. The story revolves around James Casper, a DEA agent who has always fought for the common good. But when his wife Rosie commits a terrible crime, James has to choose between helping her hide her crime or turning her in. What will he choose to do? Will he choose his wife or his duty?

Here is a gripping excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Special agent James Casper," he reads. "You seem a confident young man. But your hand is shaking. It's always shaking, isn't it?
Clasping my fingers together, I hold them as still as I can.
"Do you know why?" he asks.
"Go on."
Edward stares with wide, mad, open eyes. "It's doubt," he says. "You're anxious because you're afflicted by doubt."

Overall, All Our Darkest Secrets is a DEA thriller that goes beyond a standard police procedural. One highlight of this book is how it blends James's personal life with his work on the force. I was captivated by the premise. I did take off 2 stars, because I lost interest midway through. I couldn't relate well to James's character and didn't really care about his problems anymore. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, you can check out this book, which is available now!

"James Casper is one of the good guys. A DEA agent. A loyal husband. With his sights set on the man at the top of the city’s opioid crisis, James is about to make the biggest bust of his career. Then his beloved wife Rosie does something terrible, and James must choose: report it—or help her."
I wasn't expecting to find this so compelling and addictive! When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it. James and Rosie's problem is bad and how could she do this to him??!! He's the good guy! They realize they have two options. They make their choice and there's no going back...James is so likeable. I was holding on to my seat until the very end! wowza, 5 stars