I really enjoyed this book with an interesting storyline following events in the present day and the unfolding events which took place over twenty years ago.
I really liked the main character Lindsey and was intrigued by her developing relationship with Patrick and wanted to know the history and how the story would end.
The only reason I did not give this book five stars was that I felt the build up to the reunion, which was set in the present day, was unnecessarily long and should have been reduced to make for a more concise read.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Can You Keep A Secret is the fourth book from Karen Perry, writing duo Karen Gillece and Paul Perry, but despite having several of their previous books in my TBR pile it's the first that I've had the chance to read. I'd like to thank Laura at Penguin Books for inviting me to be part of this blog tour and sending me a copy of the book to review.

The story alternates between 1991 and the current date featuring the Bagenal family, Peter, Heather and their children Patrick and Rachel, and their ancestral family home Thornbury Hall which over the years has been at the centre of many secrets and tragedies. Through the alternating timelines we follow their lives as we're drip fed snippets to events in the past that lays the groundwork to lead up to everything that is happening in the current day.

In 1991, we see Patrick and Rachel as teenagers at a boarding school with their school friends Niall, Marcus, Hilary and Lindsey, the central character despite not being a member of the Bagenal family, who are often invited to Thornbury Hall for weekend visits. Spring forward to 2017 and it's clear that these friendships are now strained and that Thornbury Hall has definitely seen better days. Patrick inherited the property following the tragic deaths of his parents but he's finally realised that it's now time to sell up but before he does he invites everyone back for one final party...

From the moment we see Thornbury Hall through Lindsey's eyes in 2017, you know that there is a story to tell but with every chapter I read I thought I knew what was coming but I was very much mistaken. The characters and their relationships were tortured and complex, and the authors have excelled in creating flawed characters that you don't exactly warm to but at the same time you feel compelled to hope that everything turns out OK for them.

It's hard to say anymore without giving anything away but it's fair to say that this was an intense, gripping read that once the drama got going, I couldn't put the book down until I reached the final shocking conclusion of events.

I’m a huge fan of writing duo Paul Perry and Karen Gillecem, who together write as Karen Perry – I really enjoyed Only We Know and Girl Unknown so was really excited to read Can You Keep A Secret.

It’s a very atmospheric novel, weaving two timeframes – 1991, when Lindsey and friends were only 15, and the present day. I love novels that do this, especially when they involve some air of mystery, which this one definitely does. The characters – both as younger versions of themselves and as present-day adults – are intriguing (though not all of them are very likable) and I really enjoyed slowly finding out more and more about them.

It’s packed full of secrets, of varying sizes and importance, and shows how they can affect people and relationships even years later! I don’t want to give too much away about the story, but rest assured there are plenty of twists, tension and surprises in this well written, intriguing plot.

If you're a fan of Karen Perry or just want to give some of their novels a go, this is a great option and one which I really enjoyed - as usual!

This mystery, crime fiction novel is mainly central to Thornbury Hall home to the Bagenal family. The book has alternating chapters between 1991 and 2017. It took me awhile to get hold my attention as at first I thought the story was just about eccentric adults and posh stuck up kids which I couldn’t relate to. However I persevered with the story and clues were hinted at which finally revealed secrets hidden in both eras. This novel reminds me of a mishmash between Downton Abbey and Murder She Wrote.



In 1991 Rachael Bagenal and her friend Lindsey just 15 years old are enjoying life with weekends and holidays spent at Thornbury Hall with Rachael’s parents who accept Lindsey as one of their own and Patrick Rachael’s brother and his friends. The place appears so lively and fun, something that Lindsey doesn’t have within her own family. This quite idyllic time comes to an abrupt end when the sudden death of Peter Bagenal occurs leaving everyone in shock and they go their separate ways. It is not until 2017 when Lindsey, now a forensic photographer, meets up again with Patrick that she falls in love with him and a reunion weekend is planned for a final shindig at the now crumbling Thornbury Hall before it is sold. Hidden secrets are finally revealed with horrendous consequences that left me shocked and aghast.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC this is my own honest opinion

I enjoyed this book but it did take me a while to get drawn into the story.
The story is told in alternating chapters between the past and the present and it’s seen mainly through Rachel’s eyes.
The relationships between a group school friends is explored and a tragedy at a party has a lasting effect on them. As they all get together once more to say goodbye to Patrick’s home before it is sold you get a real sense that somethings going to go wrong...
I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it but if you like a thriller centred around secrets than you’ll enjoy this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for sending me a copy to read and review.

Actually 4.5 stars.
Lindsey and Rachael were best friends; at one time inseparable. At boarding school together they spent many holidays at Rachael's estate, Thornbury Hall, along with her brother Patrick and his friends. But something happened on the lead up to Patrick's 18th birthday that drove a wedge between the two girls and then, at the event itself, something even more shocking happened that was the final nail in the coffin of their relationship. So much so that there has been no contact since.
Fast forward several years and Lindsey's job in forensic photography brings her close to the Hall. Biting the bullet, instead of returning home, she decides to revisit her past. The door is opened by Patrick and the two of them start to chat about the past. What has happened in the intervening years, what they are doing now, all the usual stuff. Lindsey has health issues and confides her fears to Patrick. He in turn confides his money worries to her and tells her that he is selling off some of the estate, including the Hall. The two become close and start to see more of each other. Then an idea is born. A reunion of the old gang, a last hurrah to the place where there were some happy times as well as, well, the not so good ones. But Lindsey hasn't seen or heard from Rachael since their rather acrimonious friendship breakdown. Sworn enemies at the end but the why has never been spoken of. But hey, the past is the past and it was a long time ago, surely the troubled waters have calmed. Or have they?
It's a story that has been told many times. A reunion of people who haven't seen each other in time, with secrets still hidden and hatred still rife, things not spoken of have escalated by their silence... what could possibly go wrong? Told in the present day from when Lindsey reconnects with Patrick and moving forward to the reunion itself, there are chapters going right back to when Lindsey and Rachael first met. Their first trip to Thornbury Hall with the others, the play they put on, how close Lindsey became to Rachael's father; born from their mutual love of photography. It soon becomes evident that the die was cast long before anyone really noticed and that certain things have been eating away at certain people for an awful long time. How Rachael's behaviour at school changed when there were rumours of an illicit relationship which was the start of the rift between her and Lindsey; or was it? This book had me eating every single word as I read on, pretty much gobsmacked at some of the things I was reading. Reeling at every delicious tid-bit that was revealed, when the story took on a whole new direction that even I, a hardened reader of the genre, really did not see coming.
Characterisation was spot on too. It must be hard to write wounded characters convincingly as I have witnessed some pretty poor attempts, but here, the authors have it down to a tee. They are also, on the whole, rather complex but again the authors stay on the right side of things here to keep them real. I can't say I really liked many of them, they were all a bit dodgy with their behaviour and personal motives to say the least but I have to say that I was intrigued by and interested in every one of them as I was told more of what happened.
Pacing is also darned near perfect. There is enough going on in the present for the past to be scene setting initially, with certain things hinted at but not yet revealed. Then, as the book progresses, the two threads ramp up in pace as more secrets come to light. Deep, dark secrets that lend themselves well to the overall sometimes claustrophobic atmosphere going forward.
All in all, a great story told over many years by two cleverly interconnected timelines, played out by a great cast. Leaving me satisfied at the end, albeit also a bit shocked. This is my first book by this partnership but, on the face of what I read, I will definitely be checking out the authors; both individually and collectively to see what else they have written.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Crimeworm is back in the saddle – with apologies for my tardiness – with (admittedly a favourite genre) a psychological thriller. This is one of these novels which involves adults returning to a house which meant a great deal to them as teenagers. The reason for the final get-together is that, despite trying everything, Patrick cannot make the estate viable, business-wise, so is selling up.

Naturally, there’s nothing simple about the reunion, as secrets are teasingly revealed, and old humiliations and grudges return to the fore. The shadow of old events is always there – particularly the occurrence which led to the end of the glorious weekends at Thornbury: the seemingly senseless death of the family matriarch.

The house has went to rack-and-ruin in comparison to it’s glorious past, when the family had money. We learn of everything that’s occurred from Lindsey, who tells the story in first person past tense, and whose tale moves between 1991 and the present. She now works as a crime scene photographer. Particularly intriguing is the relationship between her and Rachel, who co-owns Thornbury with her brother, despite living in London. Formerly best friends, we are aware from the beginning that their friendship is now very sour. This isn’t helped when Rachel learns Lindsey is seeing her brother Patrick, leading to accusations of her being a gold-digger.

Secrets from the past, and the present, come spilling out in a hugely enjoyable psychological thriller. I was engaged from the very start, and remained so until I closed the book. The author moved impressively back and forth between the years, allowing tension to build, before switching decades at just the most effective points possible.

The only criticism, and it’s a very small one, is that not all the characters feel fully rounded – some are ever so slightly “meh” – probably an unavoidable side-effect of what amounts to six possible…what? Victims? Villains? Both? I’m not saying…! But as I already mentioned, the events are definitely enough to keep you reading avidly.

There are shades of Brideshead Revisited, in its theme of someone in thrall to a richer, more sophisticated family. It also reminded me a little of Lucie Whitehouse’s The House At Midnight, as well as some of Erin Kelly’s work, particularly when she so skilfully writes about how the past can never be forgotten and will always impact in some way on the future.

Definitely a “must read” for the many fans of psychological thrillers out there – add it to your list – and definitely not a book where you’ll easily figure out it’s destination. It’s original, and compelling, and shows Karen Perry (this is her fourth novel) is set for considerable success.

Highly recommended.

This is an excellent psychological thriller from the authors set in Dublin, and a country estate just outside, Thornbury Hall, with two timelines, the early 1990s, and the present day. Lindsey is a forensic crime scene photographer working the police, with an eye for the gruesome and bloody details of the crimes she takes pictures of. A feeling of nostalgia for the halcyon days spent with Rachel Begenal, her best friend at school and her family, has her impulsively visiting Thornbury Hall. There she meets Patrick, Rachel's brother, who has struggled to maintain the upkeep of the place, now severely run down and dilapidated. To Lindsey's joy, she and Patrick become a couple, her younger self had a huge crush on him. At the same time, a tumour is discovered behind her eye, which affects and distorts her vision on occasion. After making the momentous decision to sell Thornbury Hall, Patrick invites a close group of people to say a last goodbye to the place and a shooting party to kill and scare the huge numbers of ominous and menacing crows. An apprehensive Lindsey worries about seeing Rachel again after their spectacular fallout at Patrick's 18th birthday party, where so much happened including the father, Peter Begenal's suicide.

The younger 15 year old Lindsey is out of her depth and rather naive when it comes to understanding the Begenals and the circles they move in. However, she is dazzled by them, and to her shame, wants to be closer to them and a part of them, not her own family where she is experiencing problems with her father. Hilary, Rachel's cousin, stops coming to the Hall after a social shindig where she participates in putting on a play. Marcus is gay, something that Lindsey fails to cotton on to. Niall, is rather brash, irritatingly displaying a braggadacio that puts Lindsey on edge. The growing sophistication of Rachel and her move towards a sexual affair with an older man begin to lead to a growing rift between the two girls. Peter exacerbates the situation by saying that Lindsey is the daughter he never had and by gifting an expensive Leica camera to her, thus sparking Rachel's resentment. Rachel's mother, Heather, never really warmed to Lindsey, and initially is rather hostile to her. However, as secrets from the past begin to emerge and Lindsey learns that she was blind to so much that occurred, the repercussions are both deadly and devastating.

This is a highly enjoyable and entertaining story with plenty of twists, details and suspense. The Karen Perry writers present a well written and tense narrative that held my attention throughout. There was plenty of intrigue, not to mention an air of creepiness and menace that pervaded Thornbury Hall. Ghosts of the past seem to be ever present, an omen of the horrors to come. A number of the characters are downright unlikeable but compelling nevertheless. The authors capture a particular era in which lies a world of privilege, power and wealth, below which run strong, unsettling and disturbing currents. A great read which I highly recommend! Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.

This is the first book I've read by Karen Perry but I certainly don't think it will be my last. Can You Keep A Secret had me gripped from the very first page when we are thrown straight into the action and into the mystery contained within its pages.

I love a book which has a time jump and I thought that was executed really well in this novel - there was a distinctive change in voice between 1991 Lindsey and present day Lindsey which accurately represented the passing years. I was intrigued by the events that had taken place in 1991 and why they had had such an impact on this group of friends and in particular the protagonist- there were sufficient hints and nudges to keep me guessing but enough concealed to leave me in the dark until the reveal.

This is a well-written and well plotted book and it is more literary than the cover would suggest. It had real echoes of Tana French and reminded me of some of my favourite books of hers, especially in the passages set in 1991 which were sepia toned and very lyrical.

I will post a full review of Can You Keep A Secret around publication date on my blog and will post links on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I will also post a full review on Amazon and Goodreads.

I liked Can You Keep a Secret, but i didn’t love it. It seemed that you were half way through the book before anything of real significance happened. I’m all for setting the scene but I felt this could have been done much quicker.

The book is set between present day and 1992. Each chapter is clearly identified so there’s no confusion as to which era you are in. There are numerous characters but they work well together but I found the whole book just lacked pace and I couldn’t connect with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin and the author for the chance to review.

This is a slow burner of a read, set in two time zones, 1991 & 2017. Rachel and Lindsey, who narrates, become friends at school and during school holidays both girls spend time at Thornbury, the home of Rachel's family, the Bagenals. The family is composed of artistic types, eccentric parents who let the children and other relations have a great deal of freedom to explore and experiment with life. So far, so Famous Five or other upper class narratives. Schooldays and secrets are brought out into the open, when in 2017, Thornbury is being sold and a farewell party is planned to bring the gang back for one last time.
Boy, what secrets are revealed!! Betrayals of confidences, suicides, murders, vengeance and pornography to mention just a few!! A surprising amount of violence in the latter parts of this book help to elevate this story from ' another typical country house murder' and add to the haunting atmosphere. It could be said that there is almost too much melodrama, but when I read this book late at night in a very quiet house, it did make the pulse race and the tension rise!!
The characters were almost stereotypical and I didn't warm to any of them , but I was intrigued enough to forgive the earlier chapters of this book, they were rushed and confusing, due to having to introduce so many people and personalities in various locations. There were twists and turns aplenty but all loose ends concluded quite satisfactorily. I enjoyed this read very much. I have posted a copy of this review on Goodreads today.

Wow. I have just finished reading this book, and have to say it really isn't what I expected from the title. Can you keep a secret? A secret- singular. This book is riddled with secrets and shadows. Just about every character has a something to hide.
The book moves between two time frames, 1991: The group of youngsters who feature in the story meet at a private school after Lindsey moves there to try and avoid the attentions of bullies at her local state school. She is befriended by Rachel Bagenal whose family quickly seem to welcome her into their family home, Thornbury Hall. A huge family seat of a mansion in Ireland, a setting far removed from Lindsey's family's background. The Bagenal family all accept Lindsey into the fold, all except mum Heather who for some reason seems to mistrust her and suspects she has ulterior motives for visiting Thornbury - even though there is no apparent reason for her suspicions.
2017: Rachel's older brother Patrick is now head of the family after tragic events over the years leave both his parents dead. Thornbury is falling into disrepair and he has decided to hold one last reunion party of the old gang of school friends before he finally lets the house go for sale.
I was completely absorbed into the middle class world of Thornbury Hall, with its noisy plumbing, sprawling grounds and tales of hauntings in the attic. The excellent descriptive writing in this book made me feel like I was actually part of the cast of characters - a fly on the wall watching and listening as the different events unfolded both in the earlier time frame and later on as revelations and accusations started to come out.
There is so much going on in this book that it is hard to encompass everything within a review without either watering it down or giving too much away that it would ruin the overall story. The Bagenals are rather a dysfunctional family in their own way with liberal parenting, raucous parties and too many secrets and misunderstandings between the family members it was only a matter of time before things were to go tragically wrong. I was shocked but impressed by the author's ability to keep some of the secrets so closely guarded until the conclusion of the book - not one of the characters knew the whole story of how each other fitted in to the grand scheme of events at Thornbury over the years and while I felt quite sad at the closing scenes of the book, there really didn't seem to be any other more appropriate ending for the old place.
I would definitely recommend this book - it's like a modern Downton Abbey (with fewer servants) crossed with EastEnders! My review will be posted nearer publication day at www.sandiesbookshelves.blogspot.co.uk

I am sorry but this book did not resonate with me at all. Totally unbelievable collection of characters that I could not relate to at all and a plot that led nowhere really.
Not for me.

Lindsey is a photographer working for the guards, photographing dead bodies. She is also a character with a secret. The book is set in two time periods: now and 1992. We know Lindsey is now estranged from her best friend, Rachel but we don't know why. The book tells the story of how the two girls fall out and the devastating secret Rachel tells Lindsey. We learn Lindsey is a complicated character with her own secret. The themes of jealousy are explored and the book shows how toxic jealousy can be. Old friends are reunited and grievances and old scores are finally put to rest. A dark, shocking read which leaves you turning the pages to find out more. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Forensic photographer Lindsey returns as an adult to the house where she spent many teenage holidays in the early 1990s with her school friend Rachel Bagenal, Rachel's brother Patrick and their parents Peter and Heather, along with other friends. The present day Thornbury, though, is a crumbling shadow of its former self, inhabited only by Patrick and his dog, and ultimately there seems no choice for Patrick but to sell up. Before doing so though he reconvenes the old group of friends - Lindsey, Niall, Hilary, Marcus and Rachel - for a final gathering at Thornbury. But past and present secrets, betrayals, and ultimately violence come together explosively.

The narrative moves between past and present - fifteen year old Lindsey is entranced by Rachel and her family and overawed by their magnificent home. Over twenty years later Lindsey has forged a career in photography - to which she was first introduced by Peter Bagenal - but is facing her own challenges - most specifically, a tumour which is affecting her vision.

I was reminded of both Rebecca and Jane Eyre - the latter is actually namechecked early on and I felt there were some definite echoes, not only in the name of the house (Thornbury is instantly reminiscent of Thornfield Hall) but in certain other ways too.

The title, I have to say, is not great - there must be at least half a dozen other novels out there with the exact same title. It's hard to believe the authors (apparently "Karen Perry" is a partnership) couldn't have come up with something a bit better than that. However that's really the only significant criticism I can level at this book, which was intriguing and very well written, and which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

I really did not enjoy this book. I couldn't relate to any of the characters. A reunion of old friends revisiting and/or revealing dark secrets has been done so many times before and in much more compelling ways..

Following the formula of a 'now' (2017) and 'then' (1991) narrative, this uncovers long-held secrets between a group of school friends, and the events that took place during an 18th birthday party.

I found it pretty slow and long-winded with lots of padding (such as the narrator's tumour in the present) so this is best for readers who like detail and a slow unfurling in their books. Price writes well in both descriptive and dialogue mode - it's just that the 'secrets in an old house' trope has been surely overused and this doesn't push any boundaries or offer anything fresh. Competent switch-off reading, all the same.

Everybody has secrets. When Lindsey meets Patrick, an old friend, it stirs up lots of memories. As teenagers Lindsey met Rachel, Patricks sister, and was soon adopted into their gang of friends who spent all their holidays in Thornbury Hall. This all ended with the death of Patricks father and everyone went on to live their lives.
Patrick has decided to sell Thornbury and invites everyone to one last weekend at the hall to celebrate. And all the secrets rise to the surface.
I enjoyed this book, the flashbacks give a great insight into their teenage years and the family who lived in Thornbury. All through the book there is a creepy undertone which eventually comes out.

This is a really well written book, the feelings of suspense are tangible throughout. After many years a group of old school friend's are reunited at Thornbury Hall the home of the Bagenals where they once spent there spare time. The reunion doesnt go as planned and years of unspoken secrets finally come to the surface. Although i didnt love this book i would recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller.

Can you keep a secret

Absolutely loved this! It's one of those books that had me checking the percentage on my kindle to make sure there was plenty left, then reading slower towards to the end to make it last longer. I just didn't want it to end.
Forensic scientist Lindsey is attending a crime scene when she realises she isn't far from Thorbury Hall, the home of her once best friend Rachel and her brother Patrick. Memories of 20 years ago comes crashing back making her head towards Thorbury just to have a look at the place she had spent many weekends at as a teenager. Lindsey is shocked at the sight of the place, neglected and a shadow of its former beauty but even more shocked when Patrick opens the front door! She hasn't seen him for 20 years. Patrick can't cope with the up keep of Thornbury Hall and decides to host one last weekend for the old crowd to all get together. They have all moved on with their lives but they are all still drawn to the great Hall, some good memories but some dark hidden secrets that probably should stay hidden. Brilliant novel full of intrigue and mystery.