Dead Secret by Noelle Holten : REVIEW

DEAD SECRET by Noelle Holten

Series: Maggie Jamieson #4

Release Date: 23rd April 2021

Publisher: One More Chapter

Genres: Crime / Thriller

Psychopaths can take root in the unlikeliest soil…

DC Maggie Jamieson crosses paths once again with Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood when a domestic violence survivor stumbles into her new refuge, unable to speak, desperate for help.

Then another case hits Maggie’s desk. A young man has been murdered, and a curious constellation of black dots has been inked onto his cheek.

That’s when DCI Hastings goes missing and Maggie uncovers a shocking connection that turns the case on its head.

Every family may hide secrets, but not every family buries them…

Don't you just love a series of books that just keeps getting better and better and loses nothing of the wonderfulness that drew you to the series in the first place? Dead Secret by Noelle Holten has done just that. This 4th book in the Maggie Jamieson series delivers yet another punchy, thrilling story that had me gripped from start to finish. 

Maggie has barely caught her breath from her last case when another one lands in her lap. Maggie is in danger of feeling burned out but what can she do? She doesn't have a choice. She must find the murderer of a young man and solve the clues about the strange marks on his face. Who would commit such a heinous crime? And, as if life wasn't exhausting enough, there's trouble closer to home when one of her own colleagues and his family go missing. Her good friend Kate is no longer on hand to offer her practical support but can provide a listening ear at the end of the phone. Maggie misses her terribly but given the horrific experience Kate had to endure in the last book, its hardly surprising she is seeking comfort with family. 

I found the character of Lucy an interesting one and liked how she had developed from book 1. Her role providing safe haven to those who have suffered domestic abuse was one I could totally relate to. I worked in a women's refuge for 3 years so was impressed by how the author has written about the experiences of survivors of abuse and the desperate need to find a safe place to go. The fears and anxieties just jumped out of the book and really hit home. When Ronnie first came to Lucy for help I felt anxious on her behalf. Ronnie turning up at Lucy's door the way she did left me a little bit unsettled.

I think the best thing about this entire series is the development of each character and the way they lean on one another, although not in an entirely obvious way. Each person brings their own unique skills which ultimately seem to click with another person's skills and everyone seems to compliment one another. I love a good procedural crime novel and this was without a doubt a real hit with me. And I have to admit to being one of those people who love a good gory, twisty, shocking spine tingling crime! Does that make me weird? Probably! Does it make Noelle Holten a good writer who is able to deliver the goods? Most definitely! A highly recommended read that left me sitting open mouthed! 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle's hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the book love via her blog. 

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noelleholtenauthor/

Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18489795.Noelle_Holten

Blog: https://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk

Instagram: @crimebookjunkie