The Darkest Secret
An utterly compelling thriller you won't stop thinking about
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3.9 • 347 Ratings
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
'If there has been a better mystery suspense story written in this decade, I can't think of it' STEPHEN KING
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Apologies for the general email, but I desperately need your help.
My goddaughter, Coco Jackson, disappeared from her family's holiday home in Bournemouth on the night of Sunday/Monday August 29/30th, the bank holiday weekend just gone. Coco is three years old.
When identical twin Coco goes missing during a family celebration, there is a media frenzy. Her parents are rich and influential, as are the friends they were with at their holiday home by the sea.
But what really happened to Coco?
Over two intense weekends - the first when Coco goes missing and the second twelve years later at the funeral of her father - the darkest of secrets will gradually be revealed...
Taut, emotive and utterly compelling, THE DARKEST SECRET is an unputdownable 'ripped from the headlines' novel that you will want to talk about with everyone you know.
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Don't miss the shocking new novel from Alex Marwood - THE POISON GARDEN is out now
Praise for Alex Marwood
'So good I wish I'd written it myself'
VAL McDERMID
'Without a doubt, she is one of crime fiction's brightest stars. Not to be missed'
MEGAN ABBOTT
'Alex Marwood has become one of my must-read crime writers'
SOPHIE HANNAH
'I cancel all engagements for a new novel from Alex Marwood'
ERIN KELLY
'Crime writing at its best'
LISA JEWELL
'I can't wait to see what Alex Marwood comes up with next'
JOJO MOYES
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
An iBooks Best of 2016 selection. We couldn’t stop reading Alex Marwood’s dark and intense psychological thriller. Orbiting two pivotal weekends spaced 12 years apart—the date that three-year-old twin Coco Jackson disappears and, later, the funeral of Sean, her philandering, fabulously wealthy father—The Darkest Secret mines family secrets. Marwood pieces together the mystery of Coco’s suspected kidnapping and builds suspense by letting key protagonists take turns picking up the twisting tale. Her rogues' gallery of selfish, desperate, and shadowy players made for compulsive company—and kept us guessing the whole way through.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Edgar-winner Marwood's compulsively readable if not wholly satisfying psychological thriller, real estate magnate Sean Jackson throws himself an elaborate 50th birthday bash in the posh British seaside town of Bournemouth one summer weekend in 2004. When Sean's touchy second wife, Claire, fires the nanny before the weekend, the couple take charge of their three-year-old twins, Coco and Ruby. Then Coco disappears overnight from the room she shares with Ruby at the Jackson holiday home and is never seen again. Twelve years later, Sean is dead of a heart attack, discovered handcuffed to a bed with a woman who isn't his fourth wife. Mila, one of Sean's daughters by his first marriage, reluctantly identifies the body and later agrees to accompany Ruby to Sean's funeral. The toxic Jackson family air soon envelops the half-sisters amid the lingering questions surrounding Coco's disappearance. Marwood (The Killer Next Door) shifts time periods effortlessly and creates a noxious cast of characters, but keen readers may predict the final twist. Five-city author tour.
Customer Reviews
Bit of a drag……..
Somewhat boring with an obvious end.
Excellent!
Really enjoyed reading this, although the twist was apparent quite early on, I was hoping that simone’s parents would have a final thought / chapter - alas, great read!
Terrible ending!
I really enjoyed this book to a point! Great mix of vile characters and quite clever “time jumps” sadly the ending was pretty disappointing! So many questions left unanswered and makes you feel abit cheated! So many things were hinted at throughout the story and pretty much all of them were never mentioned again?? Shame as it had me gripped for at least half of the story...