Dead Secret by Noelle Holten

5 Stars from me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Love love love Noelle Holten and this series is a must read for any and all crime thriller fans.

Although the wonderful Noelle takes great care to leave bits of backstory in her books – meaning that each can be read on its own – you would undoubtedly get more from them if you read them as a series. So, in my opinion, before reading Dead Secret you should do yourself a favour and read:

Dead Inside

Dead Wrong

Dead Perfect

I am growing very fond of DC Maggie Jamieson and those in her professional realm. They seem like a good bunch of people to have as colleagues. Much like with the teams in the background of Vera and Banks, I am confident they will soon feel like old friends.

Picking up where the last book left off, with DCI Hastings missing, Dead Secret is exciting from beginning to end.

I felt like Maggie was a little more rounded in this book and beginning to ‘know’ herself a little better, for although at times she is a bit of an odd character she seemed a little more comfortable in her own skin and less prone to outbursts.

I really like that her character is evolving as the series goes on. One thing is for sure though, she is super loyal and caring and those close to her most certainly would feel loved and appreciated.

I have said in a previous review that ‘these books in the ‘Dead’ series have a wonderful mix of intelligence, a lively sparkyness and a depth of believability all of which are perfectly honed into a gripping thriller‘ and I am going to add to that, that it is Noelle’s experience and years of working in the field that makes these books stand out. It makes them authentic.

Noelle Holten gets better and better with every single book and I loved that ‘Sarah Hardy’ was a character! Oh and (as I seem to find myself saying at the end of everyone of Noelle’s books) as for the ending…

Blurb: 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…

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 was 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 booklove via her blog.

Connect with Noelle on Social Media here – you should, she’s lovely:
Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noelleholten…
Blog FB page: https://www.facebook.com/crimebookjun…
Instagram: @crimebookjunkie