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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I’ll Never Tell
5 Stars
Oh my words!! This is sooo darn good! One of those books that I couldn’t put down and would love to reread again! This is most definitely one of the best stories in the series!
One- click today!! You will absolutely love it!!
Favorite Quotes:
She leaned toward Liddie. She smelled like her father used to, a mix of coffee and marijuana. “Waking and baking these days?”
“Have you ever thought about what they must’ve been like before all of us? … I think about it. They met. They fell in love. They were regular people once.” “And what? We made them into irregular people?”
They always got the leftovers. The things left in the lost and found. If Liddie wrote a biography of her childhood, it would be called Nothing Was Ever Mine.
That was the bargain of being a twin. You didn’t need to talk about it; you simply knew that sometime in the not too distant future, you’d be living together in some old-age home, dressed alike the way you’d been as children.
He always smelled the same— slightly refrigerated. It was a smell Mary liked because it meant coolness to her. Not in a fashion sense but in the temperature way. He was calm, steady.
Of everyone in their family, the person she’d understood the least had been her mother. When Kate thought of her, she always seemed diaphanous. Like one of those Instagram filters had been applied to her, washing her out, smoothing away the lines. Nothing ever seemed to stick to her, not criticism or her children, not even her husband. She simply floated around, photographing it all, removed.
My Review:
Quite a clever gal, that Catherine McKenzie! This well-crafted mystery was full of simply explained yet brilliantly placed twists and turns that kept me on edge and off-center. The storylines were highly eventful and ingeniously paced with tension and intrigue steadily ratcheting up the scale, and I was sucking it all in like the latest and greatest vacuum on the market. I enjoyed the shrewdly discerning tale as much as the skill and cunning in the telling of it.
This family was well beyond quirky, they were each oddly peculiar and self-absorbed. I didn’t care for any of them by the time I finished the book, yet I was driven to know all about them. I had great empathy for the stalwart employee and held my breath for him and cringed each time evidence pointed his direction. Each character was fascinatingly flawed and I enjoyed unearthing their many secrets. This was only my second time reading her work but I am eager to see what Ms. McKenzie comes up with next, she now has a rather rabid fangirl on her hands.
Catherine McKenzie, Author of “I’ll Never Tell” has written an edgy, suspenseful, intense, mysterious, captivating, and intriguing novel. It certainly makes one think if going to camp is a crime. I felt as I was thrown into the pages of this book to help solve the murder of a former camper, Amanda Holmes, twenty years before. Camp Macaw, owned by the MacAllister family had many things to offer the wealthy campers. The Genres for this Story are Mystery, Suspense, and Fiction. The author describes her dramatic cast of characters as complex, complicated, volatile, and suspect. The helpers have been treated as family as well. The timeline for this story goes back twenty years to the past crime and is also set in the present.
When Mr. and Mrs. MacAllister are accidentally killed, the adult children are called for the reading of the will and a Memorial service. The MacAllister children do have memories of the camp and the activities, but also realize that the location and real estate could be quite profitable if they sell. Although no one person was convicted of the crime, there are doubts that are raised in the will. All of the adult children have to make a unanimous decision on the fate of not only their family but the real estate. Will the camp still remain in the family or be sold? What complicates things are deep family secrets and complicated motivations.
There are clues that are provided as well as twists and turns. Everything is at a stalemate until what happened to Amanda is solved. Solving this crime is going to take lots of work. Looking back at the past, seeing the family dynamics presently, and anticipating the future is a major task. I would highly recommend this thrilling mystery.
Catherine McKenzie never disappoints! Clear your schedule because you will not be able to put this down!
“I’ll Never Tell” is a gripping tale that follows the MacAllister family on a quest to bring closure to an unsolved murder of Amanda Holmes that happened 20 years ago at the MacAllister’ family’s Camp Macaw. The intense level of secrets revealed and the answer to who killed Amanda will have you guessing throughout and completely surprise you.
A mix of exquisite character development and the intricately detailed setting of the camp drops you in the scene surrounded by cool water, tall trees and secrets lurking throughout.
Catherine McKenzie is at her best and I will be anxiously awaiting her next book. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an ARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Another winner from Catherine McKenzie!
Catherine McKenzie’s latest psychological thriller I’ll Never Tell is perhaps her best so far. The plot filled with family secrets kept me in suspense until the very end.
for the most recent thriller by Catherine McKenzie.
Five siblings are summoned back to the camp that their recently deceased parents ran for a reading of their will. In order for the fate of the camp and their inheritance to be determined, the siblings must revisit a horrible crime that happened years earlier. The siblings are forced to look at each other, along with other key members of the camp staff, to put an end to the unresolved event in the camp’s past.
I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley and I’ve also purchased a copy for my home library.
What Book Are You Reading? I’ll never tell. (Ok, so that was a fun joke. The first couple… thousand… times I used it when people were asking me what I was reading.) But seriously, this is an awesome book. McKenzie does an excellent job here of keeping the reader guessing until the final reveal within the last 10% of the book, and even includes an unexpected bonus surprise closer to 2/3 in. Great job of keeping the tale moving through multiple characters’ perspectives, and fantastic story overall.
The author hit the name of this book right on the head, and it played so well with the plot.
You won’t get very comfortable here and you will be guessing right to the end what really happened to Amanda on that Island. I am often able to figure out the end of my reads way ahead, but not this one. Nope! I thought several times I had it all figured out, and maybe you will, but the author really had me fooled with her little dropped clues.
If you like a mystery with a lot of drama, this one should satisfy.
Be aware surprises abound and you won’t see them coming!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Lake Union, and was not required to give a positive review.
The MacAllister family’s camp had been rocked when Amanda Holmes was bludgeoned and found in a rowboat. No one has ever been brought to justice.
Twenty years later, it’s all comes out again. Five siblings are all that remain of the family. When the father’s will is read, it comes as quite a shock to them all.
The will states that all 5 siblings will have to decide unanimously what to do with the camp. But it’s more than just a will …. they have to find the one who attacked Amanda .. and he is sure it is one of his children.
Ryan, the only son, is the first suspect. Then come Margaux, Kate, Mary and Liddie. Also thrown in the mix is Sean Booth .. the caretaker of the camp for many years.
This seems to have always been a dysfunctional family … can they, for once, work together to solve the mystery?
One by one, the reader gets to hear about their childhood … the coldness of the father, the mother who didn’t seem to care, and the sibling rivalry among them all. The reader also gets a glimpse into the minds of Amanda and Sean. They all have secrets of one kind or another.
Many people simultaneously love and hate their families. The interaction between family members is at the core of family dynamics… and this well-written story. With so many suspects at hand, there was no easy way to see “who done it”. The ending was so unexpected, it sort of took my breath away.
Many thanks to the author / Lake Union Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Psychological Suspense. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Many years ago Amanda Holmes was murdered at Camp Macaw. Her murderer was never found. Now, the owners have passed away and left the real estate to their children. They must first solve the mystery of the murder before anything can be done. Each of these siblings knows something. But past aggressions and the usual family squabbles may tear them apart.
What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! That what came to mind as I was reading this book. So many secrets, so many lies! I swear! I had no idea who was involved with Amanda’s death. I was kept changing my mind, then changing it back again.
No one writes a twisted piece of fiction like Catherine McKenzie! This story kept me intrigued and captivated till the end. I was hooked from the get go! Don’t miss this one!
I received a copy of this book from the author for a honest review.
This book is full of twisty suspense! I love such a fabulous who done it where when I think I have it all figured out it takes a sharp twist turn! And at the end, totally surprised! A great must read!
Wow! The ending. Didn’t see that coming! Once again Catherine McKenzie has written another riveting novel. A “who-done-it” family drama that’s going to keep you guessing until the very end. What a great cast of characters but quite the dysfunctional family. I thought I had it figured out but even with my guess changing several times, I still got it all wrong. Ms. McKenzie’s books just keep getting better and better. This is a must read for the start of your summer reading.
I received a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Twenty years after a tragedy occurred at their family’s summer camp, four sisters and their brother reunite to commemorate the lives of their parents. What unfolds, however, is much more sinister—a taut whodunnit which reveals long-buried family secrets, jealousy, guilt, and fear. The story is told from multiple points of view, including Amanda, the victim from twenty years ago. Each chapter is a revelation as the author slowly reveals the truth of that night, as well as all of the other things the siblings keep hidden from each other. This book kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, completely engrossed by the story and the relationships in this riveting novel.
I’ll Never Tell is an intriguing story about summer camp, family dynamics, and secrets—lots and lots of secrets. Everyone in the family has a secret and they all come out when the family gathers to determine what to do with the family camp, Camp Macaw—a summer camp that holds special memories for a lot of people. But after the tragedy that happened 20 years ago, some of those memories aren’t so happy.
As the family secrets start to unravel, the reader is left trying to figure out who the guilty ones are. As I read I’ll Never Tell, I was constantly going back and forth, sure I knew who-done-it. Then another secret was revealed and I had to change my thinking. The guessing and second guessing drove me to devour this book and I was still surprised at the ending. And more secrets.
Catherine has created another wonderful, page-turning, exciting story that will keep you engrossed until the end. It’s full of interesting characters, with plenty of twists and turns, and like I said before, lots and lots of secrets. Once you start it, you’re not going to want to put it down.
I can’t believe this is the first book I’ve read by this author. I have another 3 on my Kindle that I’ll be moving up!
A mystery that had me guessing until the end and I was wrong! Five siblings get together to hear their parents will and hold a memorial service. They think it should be a fairly straight forward weekend, until the Will is read and their Dad throws a twist in the will. Secrets have been kept and need to be uncovered! Soo many secrets….
There are a lot of characters in this, so I found it a little hard to keep them straight at first. Then add in the significant others, and all the secrets! Told in different voices, which adds to the growing mystery. A fast-paced book perfect for the beach or a weekend of reading. Have another book handy, cause you’ll fly thru this!
I received an ARC of this book. Opinion is mine alone.
After the death of their parents, the five MacAllister siblings learn that the fate of the family’s summer camp, Camp Macaw, will not be as simple as they assumed. The kids’ father wants them to vote on the suitability of eldest child Ryan, who is also the only son. Is he capable of deciding the fate of Camp Macaw? The answer to that isn’t debatable due to any corporate mismanagement but rather to one simple question: is Ryan at fault for what happened to Amanda Holmes twenty years ago?
Catherine McKenzie‘s mysteries always center around a fairly simple question, yet the characters she draws are immensely complex. In this case, she takes the five MacAllisters plus Sean, the camp caretaker, puts them back at the camp, and unleashes their conflicts and personalities. You learn what each thinks, why they think it, what’s true, and what is myth. You will be convinced that you know who hurt Amanda, only to have that assumption proven wrong as Catherine McKenzie sends you from one suspect to the next, from this motivation to that.
The dynamics between the MacAllister clan are great fun to read, packed with the sort of details that immerse you in this story. Ryan takes his role as eldest seriously, if not as seriously as he takes himself. His sisters captivated me endlessly with their own wheeling and dealing amidst family politics. As each sibling reveals his or her secrets, you begin to realize that any of them could be guilty. Sean, too, proves fascinating. McKenzie gives him an interesting back story that makes you wonder about this guy even as you dearly hope he is innocent. His outsider status made me a fan, although I tried to remain vigilant in observing his behavior. Could he be the one? Is he culpable?
I love the way Catherine McKenzie writes her mysteries. I love how she keeps me guessing, and I love how she makes me care about these people, flaws and all. Sometimes I want to grab them by the shoulders and shout at them, sometimes I want to hug them, and sometimes I want to sit with them at a bar, taking shots and trading stories.
The title, by the way, is perfect. This family may not always like each other, they may not always think the best of each other, but they hold their secrets. Regardless of how much they like each other or can’t stand one another, they will never tell.
I’ll Never Tell is a book that will get you hooked in the first few pages.
There are families, then there are the McAllister’s: they have it all, secrets, murder, intrigue, sibling rivalry , a tragic accident.
The book takes place at a summer camp site that the family have run for years and the siblings have gathered after the sudden death of their parents for the reading of the will.
Which is not simple , will make them choose and it will either unite them or tear them apart.
The pages will fly by, you will think what would I do ?.
A great read that holds your attention all the way to the last word.
Family secrets.
We all have them. Dirty little tidbits that we may never tell anyone about.
This book took a moment for me to get into it. At first it flipped around viewpoints a lot, and didn’t really get me anywhere solid to start drawing a picture. But about halfway through it picked up and I wanted to know who really did this to Amanda.
In the end, you do find out the whole truth, though justice is not gratifying. I thought the ending was a little rushed compared to the rest of the story.
Still as a whole I liked it. Just didn’t love it like I expected to.
This was a very compelling read! I really liked how each chapter alternated between each of the main characters (who also happen to be suspects) and also included chapters dedicated to that fateful night twenty years ago (and told from Amanda’s perspective as the night/early morning unfolded). One of my favorite parts of the book was the timeline chart outlining everyone’s whereabouts which slowly fills in as the story unfolds. The MacAllisters are definitely a family filled with secrets and assumptions. When the siblings are forced to dig deeper into what happened to Amanda after the death of their parents, they discover a lot about one another – including where each of them were on that July night…
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.