Blog Tour: The Secrets He Kept by Jackie Walsh

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

‘will have you gripped from start to finish, so much so that you really don’t want to stop reading!’ (5 stars) Reader review
'I was hooked straight in from the first chapter and it really didn't let up. Fast paced and thrilling.’ (5 stars) Reader review
You know everything about your husband. Don’t you?
He loves you. He loves your children. He’d never put his family in danger.
One of these is a lie.
It started like any other day at the hairdressers where Sally works as a stylist... until her first client innocently shows her a family photograph; a photograph that causes Sally to collapse in shock.
In one moment, Sally discovers that Tom has been hiding an explosive secret – one that could tear apart the life they’ve built together. Faced with an impossible dilemma - search for the truth, or keep her contented life? – Sally is about to discover that even those closest to us have secrets... and that sometimes the truth is the last thing we want to hear.
A completely gripping, suspenseful psychological thriller that fans of T.M. Logan, My Lovely Wife and K.L. Slater won't be able to put down.
Readers can’t get enough of The Secrets He Kept:
‘I read this in one sitting, loved it!! Quickly paced, great story!! Kept me guessing to the very end!!’ (5 stars) Reader review
‘I loved, loved this book. It was engaging from the first page and kept me up half the night.’ Reader review
‘Every few chapters provide a new twist in this story, all ending with a very satisfying conclusion...I could not recommend this book more!’ (5 stars)
‘Wow, this was one gripping read!...A roller coaster of a read that thrills and excites.’ (5 stars) Reader review
‘a fast paced and twisty ride that kept me gripped from start to finish...kept me addicted till the very last page.’ Reader review
‘A fast paced, twisty domestic thriller...an engrossing read with a likable character and a host of thrilling twists and turns, enjoy!’ Reader review
‘I was intrigued by this book from the start... A highly recommended and enjoyable read’ Reader review
‘a very compelling thriller...I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy psychological thrillers.’ Reader review
‘The moment the first jaw-dropping bombshell landed in the first chapter, I was hooked... Clever cliff-hangers...and a twist you couldn't guess even if you tried. A gripping, hard-hitting read’ (5 stars) Reader review
‘a splendid thriller that will leave you guessing until the end...I would recommend this book to anyone who loves psychological thrillers.’ (5 stars) Reader review
‘What a brilliant fast paced book. I was guessing all the way through.’ (5 stars) Reader review
‘Fantastic read! Great plot that grabs you from the very beginning. A masterful story that keeps you endlessly intrigued...HIGHLY RECOMMEND!’ (5 stars) Reader review
‘A brilliant roller coaster of a read...full of twists and turns and I was gripped from the very first page’ Reader review
‘The characters were well drawn and the story flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended.’ (5 stars) Reader review
‘kept me fully engaged from beginning to end...a riveting and twisty tale that will have you racing to get to the bottom of it all.’ Reader review
‘The story is full of twists and turns and kept me hooked throughout...will have you flying through the chapters to see how it will all unravel.’ Reader review
‘loved all the twists and turns; kept me guessing! I really enjoyed this, read it in one sitting!’ (5 stars) Reader review

Thank you to Sarah from Books on the Brightside publicity and the publisher for my spot on the blog tour and the arc of the book.  My review is unbiased and honest.  Books in the Psychological Thriller genre are my absolute favourite and the secrets he kept was an instalove affair with the cover, its intriguing and atmospheric and it didn’t disappoint.

How can I put into words just how this book made me feel? Well the only way is, Alice falling into the rabbit hole.  This analogy is I’m sure accurate for Sally who ends up having her world destroyed at its axis.  At first glance Sally seems to have the perfect life but Sally is struggling in the aftermath of a revelation that leaves her reeling.  The novel doesn’t do gentle, the tone is immediately felt, and its haunting.  Sally is a hairdresser and during her usual uneventful day has a client that shows her the one thing that can decimate her perfect existence, a photograph of her husband and this girl’s boyfriend but also her husband’s son.  He doesn’t have a son, does he? Sally can’t process, her mind is like mashed potato.  Things don’t make sense…her husband wouldn’t keep secrets of this magnitude, would he?  I really enjoy the spousal secret plotline, but this novel uses it in a powerful depiction. 

Reading The secrets, he kept felt like being in a super busy train station.  Everyone and everything was moving around me, but it was all a blur.  My psyche knew that they were moving but I couldn’t bring myself to look up.  It was engrossing.  Why is Tom lying? Is he protecting something or someone?  Does Sally really want to know, or is this secret better left buried?  The chapters were dark and disturbing, and it just increased the secrecy and level of paranoia surrounding Sally.  Jackie Walsh is a master of the creeping unrest, the suffocating feeling of complexity, as if everything isn’t as it should be.  The lies stabbed at me, why couldn’t Tom share this secret with her.  Could this discovery kill her also?  Just what level of interference did Kenny have?  I wanted to hug Sally, the impact of this upon her life was irreparable.  Be fully prepared to shout at your book or throw it across the room like I did, seriously.  Some of the turns that came up had me not believing what I was reading, poor Sally. 

It’s been a while since I read a book that had me feeling anxious and worried for a character.  I struggled with my feelings for Tom and Kenny, the way things played out made me dislike them for the way they treated Sally, it was incomprehensible.  What could possible justify behaving like that towards someone that is on your team?  There through the darkness and the light, your biggest advocate.  The story was complex, and the final picture would manifest itself and leave Sally and myself reeling.  The truth must have been festering within Sally’s mind, how, what, where and when must have turned into a poisoned wound within her mind.  Pushing for the truth was bold, but what would she do when she got it? 

The authors writing skill is transcendent.  The character arcs were fulfilled and brought to fruition.  She draws you in and the story delivers a hauntingly devastating tale of betrayal, secrecy and the pace will ensure you buckle your seatbelt because you are in for a hell of a ride!

Jackie Walsh lives in Dublin with her husband Paul and dog Layla. After years spent building her own business, she decided to take time out and pursue her interest in writing. With a lot to learn, she spent years attending classes and writing groups, going to festivals and launches, writing and rewriting, until eventually sending her words out into the world.  Now she is thrilled to have landed a publisher. Especially Hera Books, a new company headed by two women who have years of experience and love a good story.

Jackie is a member of the Irish Writers Centre, The Irish Crime writers group and proof that perseverance can work.