My third would be Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles. I first read this book at school and have loved it ever since. It is a tragic story, brilliantly told and it themes resonate today more strongly than ever. READ THE ABOVE AGAIN. THAT is how conFUSING this plot was!! (I haven't actually proofread the paragraph because I really couldn't care less about this book tb honest.) Il finale devo ammettere che mi ha un po' fregata e un po' no: avevo indovinato qualcosa... ma non tutto. Ben - Brother died, best friend died, mother died, surrogate mum is a serial killer, best friend being raped As an author, and even more as a debut author, sitting down with a blank screen or blank sheet or paper at the start of the writing process can be the most intimidating thing in the world.

As the story progresses we start to uncover some of the secrets being kept in this small town. Some were deeply upsetting and some made me angry for those affected but they all served a clear purpose in helping to bring together a compulsive read. The multi-layered plot brings all the myriad characters together in a believable way, and it has enough twists and red herrings to satisfy the most ardent of thriller fans. Ben is a sympathetic character, you can really feel his turmoil at having to relive the past. As the story develops we understand the devastation his family and friends went through 20 years previously. The unanswered questions following his mothers unexpected suicide have haunted Ben for 10 years.Lots of people are comparing your novel to Broadchurch because it’s about a small community and everybody is somehow involved in the central case. Did you base Haddley on a real place? Well this book took me completely by surprise. In a good way. a very good way. I’m not sure quite what I was expecting when I started reading, but what I found was a story that was compelling from the off, my interest well and truly piqued as we are introduced to journalist Ben Harper. It’s clear from the very beginning that his family history is not that of your run of the mill journalist, and when he is asked to produce a personal piece for his paper on the anniversary of his mother’s death, he agrees to do so, but only on his own terms. For Ben’s brother was murdered and his mother died in very difficult circumstances, but something inside of Ben is telling him there is far more to the story than the tragedy that the world has so far been told. And boy is there.

The reader response to Twelve Secrets has been amazing, and way beyond anything I had ever imagined possible. I hope all of those readers who do return to Haddley and St Marnham find something strangely familiar, while discovering a story that is both new and full of unexpected turns. Twelve Secrets is a smart, satisfying, one-of-a-kind thriller that entertained me from start to finish. It examines the confluence of family loyalties and dark secrets while keeping the plot boiling. -- JAMES PATTERSONIn this new book, we see the return of leading characters Ben Harper and Dani Cash, with the story allowing the reader deeper inside their lives. By introducing new areas of the town, such as the centuries old church standing on the riverbank and the terraced homes built on Haddley Hill, I was also able to bring in new characters and new lives, each one embedded in the darkest parts of Haddley’s past. I loved exploring and imagining new parts of the town and meeting characters who had made Haddley their home for decades. This is a multi-cast narrative with lots of POVs. We follow a host of characters, but the central figure is Ben. Ben is a journalist, and it’s the 25th (I think) anniversary of the horrific death of his brother and his brother’s BFF. 25 years ago, when Ben was eight, his 15-year old brother was brutally murdered alongside his BFF in the woods. Ben was one of the eye witnesses. He saw his brother following two teenage girls into the woods. The girls were arrested shortly and sent to prison. Then 12 years later, when Ben was 20-years old, his mother killed herself. Poor Ben has been through a lot to say the least. His editor wants him to write an article for the anniversary. Ben is reluctant. Then shortly, the police turn up at his door...His brothers’ killers were set free with new names after serving eight years. And one of them is dead... The many themes were handled with care, such as underage sex, child grooming, marital problems and death of two young boys. The novel was divided into twelve parts, each starting with a couple of lines of crucial dialogue or thought contained in the upcoming group of chapters – a tantalising taste of one of the many secrets to come, an original use of foreshadowing, and a clever way to come up with your title.

Secrets are always fascinating fodder for a novel. They can bind people together, they can destroy dreams, they can damage lives. Twelve secrets here as the title suggests. Twelve secrets that have impacted Ben Harper’s life in the most profound way. So on top of the excellent plot and writing we also have a whole heap of wonderful characters and I was never quite sure about any of them they all seemed to have something to hide and my head was spinning ….oh it really was such a devilish plot to die for ! The ending was a bit predictable despite the twists throughout. That same old chestnut. It’s the good guys you have to watch. (this does not spoil the plot though!!!). Take a Look at Our Summary of November Highlights, Whether You're Looking for the Latest Releases or Gift InspirationIt was at the start of the Clinton presidency and I can remember going along to interview different senators in their congressional offices – I was just the bag carrier! – but it seemed like a different world.