“A book you won’t be able to put down, although you may occasionally want to hide your eyes” (Stephen King) from internationally bestselling author Michael Robotham, a psychological thriller about an unlikely friendship between two pregnant women that asks: how far would you go to create the perfect family?Agatha is pregnant and works part-time stocking shelves at a grocery store in a ritzy … ritzy London suburb, counting down the days until her baby is due. As the hours of her shifts creep by in increasing discomfort, the one thing she looks forward to at work is catching a glimpse of Meghan, the effortlessly chic customer whose elegant lifestyle dazzles her. Meghan has it all: two perfect children, a handsome husband, a happy marriage, a stylish group of friends, and she writes perfectly droll confessional posts on her popular parenting blog—posts that Agatha reads with devotion each night as she waits for her absent boyfriend, the father of her baby, to maybe return her calls.
When Agatha learns that Meghan is pregnant again, and that their due dates fall within the same month, she finally musters up the courage to speak to her, thrilled that they now have the ordeal of childbearing in common. Little does Meghan know that the mundane exchange she has with a grocery store employee during a hurried afternoon shopping trip is about to change the course of her not-so-perfect life forever…
Once again, bestselling author Michael Robotham delivers a dark and twisted page-turner that “will keep you reading as fast as you can” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). With its brilliant rendering of the secrets some women hold close and a shocking act that cannot be undone, The Secrets She Keeps is “a can’t-put-down mama drama…a premium delivery” (People).
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I loved the way this story unfolded. Though I knew early on where the book was heading, the author’s clever dribble of information about Agatha’s character was nothing short of riveting. Agatha is the very definition of an unreliable narrator. Early on you realize that she’s obsessed with Megan and Megan’s seemingly perfect life, but as little bits of information are revealed about her past and her state of mind, the tension continues to build until you cannot put this story down. I found myself sneaking off with my phone and earbuds when I should have been doing other things, so I could listen to the ending. I was not disappointed. The narration was superb. If you love flawed characters as much as I do, you’ll enjoy this book.
This book has really engaging characters and plenty of plot twists. The best psychological thriller I’ve read lately.
Why have I never read anything by this author before?
I will certainly be checking out Michael Robotham’s back catalogue of fiction in the future, I enjoyed this bucket loads.
This is so how you make a page turning Psychological thriller, it hooked from the start, drawing me in and I was so engrossed in this I finished it in a few hours.
It’s one of those easy reads where you lose track of time, so wrapped up in the story you get.
So The secrets she Keeps is one of those novels that the least you know the better it is so I’m going to try and keep this as spoiler free as possible.
The story revolves around two expectant mothers Agatha and Meghan.
These two females are like chalk and cheese, the only thing they have in common are their babies, Agatha watching Meghan from afar living her perfect life with her gorgeous husband and children can’t help both admiring but also envying Meghan’s Picture Postcard lifestyle.
Agatha herself is stacking shelves at an upmarket supermarket while waiting for her baby to arrive.
She then goes home to her little one bedroomed flat where she patiently waits for her absent ex to return her calls.
So As you can see the lifestyles of these two ladies are polar opposites.
When their lives intertwine the fallout is epic with twists and turns that knocked my socks off.
The secrets she keeps has so many layers to it and as this story was slowly revealed to me in stages I loved discovering each and every one of those levels.
It was full of diverse well thought out individuals and we are reminded throughout that what is often portrayed to the outside is only a glamour or mask we use to hide our true selves.
That even the most self-assured person is human under the facade they present and that the grass isn’t always greener.
We also get to dip our toes into the mires of mental illness and maybe at the same time gain an insight and understanding into what motivates and drives us to behave in a certain fashion.
The characters in this, through flawed with some undesirable traits were also very surprisingly likeable in their humanity.
It’s so much easier to identify with imperfect people.
So that’s it I’m going to leave this here and urge you to take a chance on this excellent thriller, that has action and angst in spades so if you like your fiction gritty with human character’s I am sure you will enjoy The secrets she keeps as much as I did.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of the secrets she keeps. This is my own unbiased honest opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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I enjoyed the writing and character building. I liked it so much I am now reading his 7 book series of mysteries.
Unforgettable, riveting, addictive reading. The magic of a skilled writer is seen through the eyes of the two main characters, both expecting a baby at the same time. Alternating chapter by chapter between the two women, we see snapshots of their finely nuanced lives, but as their stories unfold we see subtle indicators that one woman’s story is off kilter. Both women have secrets, one of them cringe-making, the other’s secrets are shocking.
When the unthinkable happens, the reader is treated to a breathtaking, page-turning ride through a brilliantly told story, aware that one woman is a criminal, yet feeling her pain and the justifications for her actions. There is nothing overblown in the characters individual stories, in fact, their actions are almost understandable – and yet, and yet… – the actions are unbelievably wrong for one woman. A fabulous novel, I would give it more than five stars.
Anything Michael Robotham writes is an instant buy for me now I’ve discovered him.
Good twisty, suspenseful tale!!
great read with lots of twists and turns
I loved this book! Great characters! The twists were unexpected and kept me reading late into the night.
Life is not picture perfect. It requires the bad to make one appreciate and long for the good. This book has been the ideal read during the C-19 pandemic, reminding readers to take nothing for granted.
For the first half of this book I felt it rather ho-hum. But by the time I finished I felt it ranked with the best and most unique books I’ve read. It really inspired me to appreciate the gifts that life has given me and made me think about the day to day struggle to just contend with life. I liked the format of two characters switching off to tell the story from their perspectives. Character development was excellent.
About 3 stars. Interesting premise but not too engrossing development.
Oh my — what a twisted plot filled with unusual characters!
One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year.
Perhaps not the best read during stressful times, this is not a feel good book. But it’s well written, with well developed female characters.
I had such a good time reading this book! The story is told from Agatha and from Meg, back and forth. Agatha and Meghan are two totally different people, yet seem to find some common ground near the end. Their not so chance meeting at the grocery store ends up changing both of their lives in huge ways. Both Agatha and Meghan are pregnant, expecting at the same time, yet one is not. It is indeed a page-turner, and I didn’t like having to put it down to sleep, work, and those other interruptions called life. How Michael Robotham tells such a tale from women’s points of view is beyond me! Such talent!
Oh my goodness!!! I loved this book! I listened to this with Audible and the narrator was wonderful…the voice of the “creature” in Agatha was spot on. Can’t wait to start the next one by this author.
Quite the page-turner! What I love most about this book is the author’s depiction of the two main characters, Agatha and Meg — two complicated, smart, fallible women whom he renders with delicacy and honesty. I look forward to reading more from Michael Robotham.
Couldn’t put it down.
Chilling Psychological Thriller- Well Done! The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham is a chilling psychological thriller filled with dark truths and secrets. The alternating perspectives leave you torn as to who you should be rooting for. Narration by Lucy Price-Lewis is outstanding!!! She is an absolute fave of mine. Highly recommended.