Title: Can You Keep a Secret?
Author: Karen Perry
Publisher: Michael Joseph
[Synopsis]
It’s time for a reunion
Lindsey hasn’t spoken to Rachael in twenty years, not since her brother’s 18th birthday party at their parents’ remote country house. A night that shattered so many friendships – and left Rachel’s father dead.
Now Thornbury Hall is up for sale, and the old gang are back there, together again. A weekend to say goodbye to the old place, to talk about the past. But twenty years of secrets aren’t given up lightly. Some won’t speak about what happened that night. While others want to ensure that no one does. Surviving the weekend is going to depend on whether you can keep a secret…
[My Review]
I’m a huge fan of writing duo Paul Perry and Karen Gillecem, who together write as Karen Perry – I really enjoyed Only We Know [my review] and Girl Unknown [my review] so was really excited to read Can You Keep A Secret.
It’s a very atmospheric novel, weaving two timeframes – 1991, when Lindsey and friends were only 15, and the present day. I love novels that do this, especially when they involve some air of mystery, which this one definitely does. The characters – both as younger versions of themselves and as present-day adults – are intriguing (though not all of them are very likable) and I really enjoyed slowly finding out more and more about them.
It’s packed full of secrets, of varying sizes and importance, and shows how they can affect people and relationships even years later! I don’t want to give too much away about the story, but rest assured there are plenty of twists, tension and surprises in this well written, intriguing plot.
If you’re a fan of Karen Perry or just want to give some of their novels a go, this is a great option and one which I really enjoyed – as usual!
[Rating: 4/5]
Many thanks to Michael Joseph UK for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.