Deeply buried secrets make for a disturbing family reunion in bestselling author Catherine McKenzie’s tantalizing novel of psychological suspense, named one of the Hottest Books of Summer by Goodreads.What happened to Amanda Holmes?Twenty years ago, she was found bludgeoned in a rowboat at the MacAllister family’s Camp Macaw. No one was ever charged with the crime.Now, after their parents’ sudden … crime.
Now, after their parents’ sudden deaths, the MacAllister siblings return to camp to read the will and decide what to do with the prime real estate the camp occupies. Ryan needs to sell. Margaux hasn’t made up her mind. Mary believes in leaving well enough alone. Kate and Liddie—the twins—have opposing views. And Sean Booth, the groundskeeper, just hopes he still has a home when all is said and done.
But it’s more complicated than a simple vote. The will stipulates that until they unravel the mystery of what happened to Amanda, they can’t settle the estate. Any one of them could have done it, and each one is holding a piece of the puzzle. Will they work together to finally discover the truth, or will their secrets finally tear the family apart?
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5 stars
Mr. Swift is the the lawyer. Amanda Holmes was the girl who was killed twenty years earlier at Camp Macaw. There are cameos inserted in the story told from Amanda’s point of view. The MacAllister siblings are Ryan who is the eldest and has a very bad temper, Margaux is the eldest daughter and sometimes more of a mother to the other girls, Kate and Liddie are twins and Mary who loves horses and has built her life around them in the home she lives just four miles away from the camp their father owned and where they all spent their youth. Sean Booth is the groundskeeper and has been with the family for many, many years. He is almost like one of the family.
The year following their parents’ deaths, they all gather at the camp to hear Mr. Swift read the will. Ryan hopes to convince the girls to sell the property as his business is in trouble after his business partner was convicted of fraud. The girls are pretty much undecided about whether to sell of not, except for Mary who wants to keep the camp in the family.
When “Swifty” as Liddie calls him, reads a letter from their father to the siblings, he drops a bombshell. Almost immediately a fight breaks out. They have until Sunday to make a very important decision.
The siblings go about trying to sort out their individual feelings about their father’s letter. They dredge up not quite forgotten memories, and some they wished they had forgotten. They begin to see their relationships with one another and with Sean anew; things about their siblings they thought they knew, but didn’t. They discover explosive and unbelievable secrets about each other, about their father and mother.
Then the truth begins to trickle out.
There are plenty of surprises and twists in this story right through to the end. Just when you think that you have it figured out, another turn occurs. I wasn’t too sure about the family to begin with, but over time, they grew on me. I didn’t care for Ryan’s temper and wondered just how he developed such a handicap. I kept trying to decide what the truth was, and who was being the most enigmatic.
The book is extremely well written and plotted. The transitions are smooth and almost unnoticeable. It was a joy to read. I HAD to keep reading!! Ms. McKenzie is a very talented writer who can turn a phrase with precision. This is my first Catherine McKenzie book, and I immediately went to Amazon to look for others of her novels.
I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review.
A book of secrets that all center around a family and a dead friend. You find yourself trying to figure it out all the way till the end and then surprise!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for an ARC of this book. This review is in my own words.
Secrets and more secrets. A family full of secrets. Another great mystery to unravel by CM. Interesting and exciting plot twist at the end. Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC of this great read.
This book grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the very end. So many twists and turns keeps you guessing! Just when you think you have it figured out another twist! The characters are complex with a ton of secrets and the setting was amazing- you can smell the trees! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Catherine McKenzie has written another amazing book!!! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing. All opinions are my own.
I’ll Never Tell is a story about the five MacCallister siblings who grew up at the family’s Camp McCaw and the 20 year old mystery of who killed Amanda Holmes. The story had me turning pages late into the night as I tried to figure out the mystery. I thought I had it figured our until I reached the OMG ending. The story is told from different points of view including Amanda’s. It also goes back and forth in time. The story was well written and the characters interesting. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Catherine McKenzie, Netgalley, and the publisher for an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
Hmmm…how many secrets can one family conceal? You’ll be surprised with Catherine McKenzie’s new novel, I’ll Never Tell. This story follows the MacAllister family as they return to their family’s summer camp for a memorial and a reading of their father’s will. A lot of secrets and admissions bubble their way to the surface, but who can you believe?
Told through seven different viewpoints, this story keeps the pages turning long into the night. There are plenty of twists and turns in this plot as new information is discovered. Each character is very much his/her own self and their personalities shine through.
I wish I had a little more backstory on Ryan’s family and his parents’ (especially dad’s) upbringing. But, that all adds to the mystery. So. Many. Secrets.
I accepted an ARC for an honest review. I’ve read all of her books and still have yet to be disappointed. Go! Read!
If you like twist and turn suspense, you’ll love this novel. Catherine McKenzie, develops strong, complicated characters and in this case, just about everyone has a secret or is suspicious of a sibling.
Although growing up close in their large family, a tragedy 20 years ago, left the family fractured and distant. After their parents die in an accident, they come together for the memorial and reading of the will, and it’s terms cause more suspicion and turmoil.
It’s a page turner and you won’t guess the ending. My thanks to the author, Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC.