‘I tried to talk to you today but you snubbed me and walked away. It wasn’t wise to give me the brush-off, Gemma. I can be a truly good friend but I also make the perfect enemy.’
Sasha’s eighteen-year-old daughter Gemma was all she had in the world. Sasha fell pregnant with Gemma when she was still at school, and the two are as close as sisters. So when Gemma’s burned and broken body is found, Sasha’s world ends. What kind of person would want her beautiful daughter dead?
Leading the case is Detective Natalie Ward, scarred by her own recent tragedy. When she finds a note in Gemma’s diary from ‘a secret admirer’, she moves quickly, determined to un-mask them. But interviews with Gemma’s devastated ex-boyfriend, and her charismatic teacher, who has been seen embracing his student far away from the classroom, don’t give Natalie the answers she’d hoped for…
And then the case takes a devastating, personal twist. CCTV footage reveals Natalie’s estranged husband David followed Gemma home every evening the week before she died.
Natalie is forced to put personal feelings aside and follow procedure, even though she can’t believe David could be guilty. But when Gemma’s housemate is found murdered, Natalie thinks the killer could still be at large. Is she right to trust her instincts about David and can she discover the truth before another precious life is taken?
Sasha’s eighteen-year-old daughter Gemma was all she had in the world. Sasha fell pregnant with Gemma when she was still at school, and the two are as close as sisters. So when Gemma’s burned and broken body is found, Sasha’s world ends. What kind of person would want her beautiful daughter dead?
Leading the case is Detective Natalie Ward, scarred by her own recent tragedy. When she finds a note in Gemma’s diary from ‘a secret admirer’, she moves quickly, determined to un-mask them. But interviews with Gemma’s devastated ex-boyfriend, and her charismatic teacher, who has been seen embracing his student far away from the classroom, don’t give Natalie the answers she’d hoped for…
And then the case takes a devastating, personal twist. CCTV footage reveals Natalie’s estranged husband David followed Gemma home every evening the week before she died.
Natalie is forced to put personal feelings aside and follow procedure, even though she can’t believe David could be guilty. But when Gemma’s housemate is found murdered, Natalie thinks the killer could still be at large. Is she right to trust her instincts about David and can she discover the truth before another precious life is taken?
Review
How could Carol top The Blossom Twins? With something like that, i was really intrigued to see where this could actually go, like how could anything continue on? Well - she did it!
The Secret Admirer is brilliant.When Gemmas broken and burned body is found it seems there is no clues or evidence to suggest who would do something as horrific as this, only a note from a secret admirer. As usual the team start to knuckle down although Natalie is a bit more wary than usual.
However she is soon forced to push all this aside when her estranged husband is seen following Gemma home & when her housemate is found dead, and David is still linked - can she discover what is really going on?
This book was so gripping, i really had no idea how it was going to play out as we followed the investigation. We also managed to see how Natalie was managing in her life, and how David was in his. With some serious subjects that have been handled with respect and tact it was almost refreshingly honest with handling grief.
I as always continue to love the characters and their development, as they change over time and over the cases that have an impact on them and it isnt just Natalie. Whilst this could be read alone, i really feel you need to spend the time getting to know everyone and their lives before dealing with this.
A wonderful wonderful read that continued the series in a high impact way. One to pick up.
Happy release day.
*Gifted review*
Oh, Em! I am blown away. Seriously. I pour everything into these books and every characters has a place in my heart and reading your review has made me want to punch the air and shout, 'Yes!'
ReplyDeleteI am very mindful of how I handle grief. and some of the more delicate subjects in this book. Much is based on personal experience, mine and close friends'.
I am delighted you enjoyed it, glowing thanks to your praise and incredibly thankful to you for sharing your thoughts and the book love. Book bloggers like you are unsung heroes whose reviews and #booklove helps us writers get our work out there.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. x