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A Dark and Secret Place
A Dark and Secret Place: A Novel | Jen Williams
For readers of Jane Harper and Rachel Caine comes a chilling thriller from award-winning author Jen Williams about a woman who discovers her late mother had been secretly corresponding with a serial killer for decades. When prodigal daughter Heather Evans returns to her family home after her mother's baffling suicide, she makes an alarming discovery--stacks and stacks of carefully preserved letters from notorious serial killer Michael Reave. The "Red Wolf," as he was dubbed by the press, has been in prison for over twenty years, serving a life sentence for the gruesome and ritualistic murders of several women across the country, although he has always protested his innocence. The police have had no reason to listen, yet Heather isn't the only one to have cause to re-examine the murders. The body of a young woman has just been found, dismembered and placed inside a tree, the corpse planted with flowers. Just as the Red Wolf once did. What did Heather's mother know? Why did she kill herself? And with the monstrous Red Wolf safely locked inside a maximum security prison, who is stalking young women now? Teaming up with DI Ben Parker, Heather hopes to get some answers for herself and for the newest victims of this depraved murderer. Yet to do that, she must speak to Michael Reave herself, and expose herself to truths she may not be ready to face. Something dark is walking in the woods, and it knows her all too well.
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Gryffleclaw95
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️

At first I found that “A Dark and Secret Place” was an interesting read that was a bit creepy, however by the time I reached the end I was confused and disappointed. I didn‘t understand the rationale for some of the character‘s actions and the ending didn‘t make sense. I found the end of the book and plot line lacking and unsatisfactory.

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TheNerdyProfessor
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Pickpick

This is one of the better thrillers that I've read in a while. A mix of dark suspense and fairy tales that was original in it's storyline. While some thrillers are easily guessable or lose their gusto midway through, this one held my attention start to finish. It had elements of literary fiction and several clever surprises that I didn't see coming. There are themes of child abuse that may be difficult for some. Overall, a clever thriller.

77 likes3 stack adds
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abookishbutterfly
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Mehso-so

Jen Williams definitely knows how to write creepiness. The imagery she created in this book was vivid and chilling. I had to pause to chew on certain lines, as I was so impressed by how palpable those moments of shock and terror were.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3761471394

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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

With an attractive cover & an intriguing premise, this one hooked me right in! After Heather‘s mother unexpectedly passes away, she returns to the home that she hasn‘t felt welcome in since she was 16. Once there, she learns her mother had a lifelong pen pal - a notorious serial killer known as the Red Wolf. Though incarcerated, a new string of murders bears an uncanny resemblance to his crimes! Fast paced & a twisting plot makes this a fun read!

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Lsmoore43
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A DARK AND SECRET PLACE by Jen Williams
This is one dark and creepy book. A thriller that kept me turning pages. My first book by this author.
Can you turn a child into a future serial killer? Can you groom them and shape them to be evil? Is that even possible? What happened in the commune all those years ago?
4/5 stars
Full review here: https://tinyurl.com/mfxekve2
NetGalley
Crooked Lane Books

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rather_be_reading
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Mehso-so

A womans mother dies and she finds out shes been writing letters for years to a serial killer. That sucked me right in. Started out great, had some weird added in stories that didnt need to be there and the last quarter just flew! Definitely a thriller based on that synopsis. I didnt figure anything out until closer to the end and even then I still had my doubts. Good but not great.

61 likes4 stack adds
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rather_be_reading
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Im enjoying sitting outside, eating my soup for dinner and finishing up this book!

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rather_be_reading
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Cant focus to read today!

65 likes4 comments
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rather_be_reading
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Im almost too nervous to read

SW-T Understandable 4y
Leftcoastzen 😱🍷 4y
Sleepswithbooks Same. I can‘t focus. 4y
SomedayAlmost Totally! 4y
Tera66 It's torture. 4y
56 likes5 comments
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rather_be_reading
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Needed this today, badly.

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Looks delicious! 🤤 4y
65 likes2 comments
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rather_be_reading
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My favorite lunches. Coffee and scary books!

Jemgirl2014 The Christmas holiday drinks are back! Sorry. I'm excited! 😅 4y
rather_be_reading @Jemgirl2014 haha im drinking a cookie butter latte already!! i was so excited to see them back! 4y
Jemgirl2014 @rather_be_reading I love the vanilla peppermint latte. I may have to try cooking butter though. 🤔🙂 4y
rather_be_reading @Jemgirl2014 oh tht sounds yummy! i wanna try the red velvet also 4y
Jemgirl2014 @rather_be_reading It really is! I like the red velvet too. It's worth a try. 😊 4y
65 likes1 stack add5 comments
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rather_be_reading
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43 likes3 stack adds
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rather_be_reading
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I changed my mind! Thinking of ebooks on my kindle so I wont have to worry about holding flashlight or lantern. But of course taking 1 physical book as backup!

55 likes1 stack add