She has a killer of a secret she’s just dying to tell…This page-turning, psychological suspense is a “twisted, diabolical web of deceit, manipulation, and murder that grips from the very first line,” according to Samantha M. Bailey, #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge.Everyone has secrets—some deadlier than others.She was on cloud nine after accepting an offer of a lifetime. A simpler … of a lifetime. A simpler life than what she was accustomed to. What could go wrong?
Starla Bishop learned to survive in the foster-care-to-jail system in New York City. There she learned the tools and skills she put to work later to con jewel thieves, drug traffickers, and mobsters out their fortunes. Now fresh out of her latest stint in jail, she accepts a too-good-to-refuse offer—a perfect life on a silver platter.
Starla has everything she ever wished for: a simpler life, a normal life, a new start with new job, a straight job—as receptionist for Soil and Springs Landscaping run by a famous botanist. And it got even better—a whirlwind romance and engagement to her boss’s charming ex-husband.
But everything comes with a price. When bodies start turning up in the gardens of her employer, Soil and Springs Landscaping, Starla and her fiancé are hauled into jail for questioning. The revelation of Starla’s secret, previous life and her special skills make her a prime suspect.
How much does Starla want the perfect life, and did she use her special skills to keep it, or is this just her biggest con yet? The shocking truth is closer than anyone thinks?
Everyone has secrets, some worth killing for.
Read the latest novel by the NYT and USA TODAY Bestselling Author who also wrote THE PATIENT and THE MEMORY CHILD.
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The Perfect Secret by Steena Holmes
Did you ever meet someone who seems to be a Godsend at just the right time? Finally, everything is falling into place. Donald Dixon is just that person to Starla. But make no mistake, Starla is no dummy.
Steena Holmes has carefully developed the characters in this story. This is a twisted tale. Each chapter is full of surprises and subtle twists and turns that you will not see coming. You will stay up late, not wanting to put this book down. Just one more chapter. The horrors cannot be undone. But justice prevails in one form or another, right?
I really enjoyed this book. Steena Holmes does a great job. Pick up this book!!! You will not be disappointed.
Wow, what a creepy,twisted plot! You will not figure out the ending. Steena at her best. Starla’s past has not been easy or on the straight and narrow but she is trying hard to stay on the right path. She is determined to make better choices. Things at her new job are going great…until they aren’t…
Buckle up you won’t be doing much till you get to the end. I promise you will not guess the ending
Steena Holmes is one of my absolute favorite authors. I love that her books grab your attention on the first page and you are hooked! The Perfect Secret is no different. The first chapter has you wondering what’s going to happen and you can’t put the book down until you know for sure. Even with Starla’s checkered past you root for her to be innocent. I never guessed what was coming at the end! This is a must read!
The Perfect Secret by Author Steena Holmes is releasing in just two weeks, May 19th – 2020! A 5 Star read, and one I highly recommend.
Book Review: The Perfect Secret by author, Steena Holmes
ARC
The Perfect Secret has all the elements of a suspenseful read, and then some. It’s tense, intelligent, chilling and fast paced. A story that will surprise you, make you cringe, gnaw at you, and keep you turning the pages during this frenzied ride of mystery, murder and mayhem.
Starla, trying to keep herself on the straight and narrow after several prison gigs, finds herself riding the coattails of a new journey that was handed to her on the proverbial silver platter. A new life that seems to good to be true, and you know what they say about that.
That is, until one day the phone rings. One phone call~ the call that sets everything in motion in this twisty novel of good and evil, right and wrong, the bizarre- and brings that life with its promises of hope and visions of the future, as brief as it may have been, to a screeching halt…
The Perfect Secret delivers on all aspects of an expressive, impressive and satisfying narrative that will frazzle the nerves, spark the emotions and have you holding out for hope from beginning to end…
5 Stars
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Grateful to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of her upcoming novel. I am a huge fan of Steena Holmes and her books. This book is certainly about secrets but it is also about rooting for the little guy / girl and hoping he / she can turn their life around ! In trouble all her life , making poor choice after poor choice, has she done it again ? Or has she found Mr. Right ? Is she being played for a fool or is she playing others for the fool ? If you have read other books by this author, you know that she is the master of the epic twist at the end of each book. This is certainly true here. I highly recommend this book ! Enjoy ! #buythebook
Among the Creepiest Book Villains I’ve Ever Encountered. Seriously, I can’t go into too much detail there without venturing into spoiler territory, but that is arguably the strongest selling point of this book. Literally only two books – of the thousand or so I’ve read in my lifetime – readily come to mind as being anywhere close to this level of creepy with their villains. (Though, disclosure: I typically don’t read creepy books and wasn’t really expecting that here.)
But while the ultimate criminal in this tale is super creepy, the book itself has a fairly tight cast and is a somewhat standard ish mystery. A multi-time convict gets another chance at life outside prison walls and is determined never to see the inside of them again. The story follows a present day investigation she winds up in the middle of as well as the last few years of her life from the moment of her last release from prison and joining up with the current timeline. Excellently paced, some of the creepiness is apparent early ish but I did not see the full details coming at all. Even then, the author keeps revealing surprises almost until the last sentence. Excellent work, and very much recommended.
Holy Crap!
This book is not for the faint at heart! It is a well written novel of suspense, gore and just Holy Crap!
Donald Dixon has an old family grown business.
His partner and ex-wife, Alexius is a botanist for this company called “Soil and Springs Landscaping”. She loves to experiment with different “fertilizers” and is doing some outstanding work!
When the company “needs” a receptionist, they join a prison program and hire ex-con Starla Bishop who needs a fresh start.
Starla cannot believe her luck. It is the beginning of a new life for her.
OR IS IT!
She may go back to jail for more than being a con- artist. It may be murder or murders!
You have to read this novel for yourself because you just won’t believe the incredible details and secrets that are happening!
There were quite a few times when I will admit I had to stop reading for a bit to calm my stomach down! I suggest you do NOT read at the dinner table!
Remember- “A LIE IS A LIE IS A LIE.”
One of the things I look for in a book is how quickly it hooks me from page one which Steena Holmes does. So, of course, I was anxious to keep turning the pages. What I found was a carefully woven plot with a punch in the gut end that totally caught me off guard. I could see this as a movie. It was my first Steena Holmes book and I look forward to reading more.
Wow! Steena Holmes really knows how to weave a story that keeps you turning the pages from beginning to end. This is one that will keep you guessing until the shocking ending. Starla Bishop is the main character, she has been in and out of jail. She’s a con but is she the one being conned this time? She gets out of jail and is taken under the wing of Donnie and his ex-wife. They give her a job and a place to live but is the joke on her? There’s mystery and murder in this incredible book. At times I was on the edge of my seat. Who’s the murderer? The characters are well developed and believable. I could feel what Starla felt. The fear, the love and the loneliness. This book flowed flawlessly. This is a definite must read! The ending will leave you speechless!! Awesome book!
If you are a fan of crime dramas, or can’t get enough CSI, this is the book for you!
Starla is an ex-con, offered a new life by a “prominent” politican and business man. But what is the price she will have to pay? Donald is a politican and business man, but is he more than meets the eye? This is a twisty ride, full of grim details that will leave you guessing until the end.
The book’s timeline does jump around a little, but in the last couple of chapters everything ties together nicely.
*Thanks to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read & review*
In Perfect Secret we meet recently released con artist Starla. On her release from prison Starla is introduced to Donald Dixon a wannabe Mayor, car dealership owner and business owner and his ex wife Alexius who owns a horticultural business. She is offered a chance of a new beginning with Donald claiming to be her Fairy Godfather. She moves to the beautiful town and starts work in the offices of Soil and Springs. She quickly falls for Donald’s charms and seems to be taken in by him. I saw he for real or is it all an act?
Steena has woven a dark tale. Is everything as it seems? Who’s playing who? What secrets are being kept and by who?
I would recommend reading this book.
Thanks Steena for the opportunity to read and early release of this book
Wonderful book of twist and turn and a surprise ending. Steena doesn’t disappoint in this book of mystery and con. Starla is trying to get her life back on track after a few stints in jail. I was surprised by the ending which usually doesn’t happen, and there is someone that she runs into that is never exposed that leaves you scratching your head and ready for what is next. Excellent book and writer.
Steena Holmes has again ventured into the suspense genre with excellent results. A sympathetic protagonist and a truly evil villain make for a very good read. This book also ventures into the truly creepy and gross. Not for the faint of heart! Keep them coming Steena!
Starla, An ex-con with the opportunity to redeem herself with a dream job. Littles does she knows she is going to be caught in an spider web and must do what she can to get ou unscathed. Some secrets are deadly than others. Brilliant plot and brilliant audiobook.
Starla Bishop has trouble staying out of jail. Her poor mother tries to remind Starla of why she lands there every time. Somehow her habit of conning people overtakes her common sense.
But now she wants to turn her life around. She has a job, a real job. She’s met a man who is interested in her. She’s finally feeling valued. This time she has a real chance.
Or does she?
Steena Holmes latest thriller The Perfect Secret twists and turns, rises and drops like a roller coaster. I can’t give too much away as I don’t do spoilers, but you can count on being upset or frustrated when someone or something interrupts your reading time.
Before you dive back into the U.S. reopening and summer calling you to the great outdoors, give yourself a treat, cuddle up with your favorite blanket, settle in with your favorite snack, and read The Perfect Secret. But buckle up for a crazy ride.
Does Starla really believe she’s met the man who proclaims he loves her and is her fairy godfather? Who in this story is really in love with whom? What is going on in that shed? Can you really trust a car salesman—or his ex-wife who is married to her research of plants and is Starla’s boss? Pay close attention, readers. The game gets very complicated. What’s right under your nose or feet isn’t what you think it is.
We meet Starla who just came home from to frantic texts and calls from her mom. It seems that Starla’s fiancé, Donald, an ex congressman and his ex- wife, Alexius were just arrested on suspicion of multiple murders.
Starla was devastated to find our her engagement ring to Donald was a fake and that he used her. If I were her, I would have knocked his teeth out.
I absolutely loved Starla and Alexius I can’t wait to read more. Highly recommend
In THE PERFECT SECRET, Steena Holmes has created one of the most fascinating protagonists and plots I’ve ever read. Holmes weaves a twisted, diabolical web of deceit, manipulation, and murder that grips from the very first line. Brilliantly constructed and creepy, with a truly shocking ending, this is a psychological suspense that will blow your mind.
Off the charts suspense!!
Thrilling, Chilling and COMPLETELY addicting!! The Perfect Secret is edge of your seat greatness. It’s a wonderfully twisted story, that keeps you guessing till the very end.
It’s was unbelievably easy to get lost in this book. It’s so fast paced. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was completely hooked.
These pages are filled with jaw dropping, gasp out loud, crazy awesomeness! This is an absolute MUST READ!!!
This book is a hard to put down psychological thriller. Starla Bishop is an ex-con who doesn’t have a lot of options after being released from jail. She receives a job offer as a receptionist at a landscaping company. She is also given a furnished apartment and car. Starla becomes engaged to the ex-husband of her boss. Starla is living the American dream and can’t believe her good fortune. Then the dead bodies start turning up in the gardens of homes serviced by the landscaping company she works for. Starla realizes she will be considered a prime suspect because of her criminal background. The police investigation reveals some disturbing information about the dead bodies. Some of Starla’s secrets are revealed during the police investigation. There are lots of twists and turns in this book. The ending is quite unexpected.