The Secrets We Keep

By: A J Wills

Narrated by: Andy Cresswell, Penny Andrews

Ten-year-old Annie Warren hasn't made it home from school and with every passing hour, hopes of finding her alive are fading fast.

Her parents, Cathy and Kit, are frantic with worry, fearing the worst.

Could their daughter, the miracle child who came as a surprise to them both, have been abducted?

The police are coordinating a massive search but seem totally clueless, while the Warrens' home is under siege from a news-hungry press pack crawling over themselves to cover the story.

Among them is Yannick Kellor, an ambitious TV news reporter who's spotted an opportunity to make his name with a career-changing scoop.

He has a unique reason for wanting to solve the mystery and to find Annie alive.
But as he peels back the layers of deception and deceit Cathy and Kit have carefully crafted, he begins to suspect the truth of what's happened to her might lie much closer to home…

©2022 A J Wills (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd

Good book

The premise of the book was very good. However, I was very glad it was over because of the female narrator. The male narrator was very talented.

Lacking emotion

I think the concept was there but the delivery was flat. Definitely left me wanting more.

decedent twist but…

nice job on creating quite despicable characters, and not the kind that have redemptive qualities or potential — i usually appreciate this if their personalities develop and can be redeemed. i didn’t feel it was the case in this story. it held my attention throughout, seemed like a typical and banal missing kid story but there is a little more to it. i almost stopped twice due to the narration which almost never, ever bothers me. nothing to write home about but kept my interest just enough.

A good listen

Quite an average book but it was easy to listen to. Dragged in a few places.

Great read

Great twist and ending. Definitely recommend if you want a book to read quick or on a holiday!

Oh, the things people get themselves into

Good story, nice twists. None of these characters had any redeeming qualities except Annie, of course. I loved the story. It really shows you how fast things can spiral out of control.

Secrets

The story was really like living on the edge, but I hated the end. I will most likely listen again!

It’s too looonnnng

Brevity! The author needs to learn to cut down the manuscript judiciously. 52 chapters! It could have been told with just 30. By the time you get to the twist and turns, you have probably nodded off several times. Yes it’s an abduction case, but no we don’t have to go through every hour of the search with them. Then you get to the last few chapters and the author throws in everything’s but the kitchen sink.

Really you will need a score card to keep all the twist straight..and I was so bored by then … well you get the idea.

Leave this one on the shelf and read The Lovely Bones instead.

Bizarre plot and disappointing ending

Quite a psychological thriller that took you for ride, and decent narration, but not a thrilling story. Unlikable characters and unsatisfying ending.

Torn

This listen had me torn. It gave me so many feels. Sad, angry, annoyed, and super angry. Yet what I’m torn about is part of me understands the last 5 minutes of this listen. I wanted to throat punch Yannik. He’s so vain and selfish. Even the main characters ticked me off. However it kept me interested and eager to learn the ending. I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just leave it alone.