Her Secret Past
By Kerry Watts
A completely thrilling and heart-stopping crime thriller.

This was an intense thriller! It definitely keeps you guessing! 'Her Secret Past' was a very well crafted story of not one but two horrific murder crimes, set 30 years apart. I loved seeing how the story unfolded and how all the different characters worked into the story as the plot unfolded. It was very suspenseful and had plenty of twists and turns! So just when I thought I knew what was going on, or had it solved, I was thrown yet another curveball and surprised to learn that I was wrong. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. The ending caught me off guard and it was perfect! Although this is the third book in the Detective Inspector Jessie Blake series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it!

I’d like to thank the publisher, Bookouture, #NetGalley, and the author, Kerry Watts for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 22 Jan 2020

DNF at 52%

The premise of the book sounded so good, but it just wasn’t working for me. There were too many story lines that didn’t make sense. At this point in the book, only a few of them had begun to be tied together. I think if I try this series from the first one and then come back, it may make more sense and I might have a different opinion. But not knowing it was a third book in a series threw me off. Even the basic storyline with characters not from previous books in this series was hard to follow.

I really enjoyed this book so much. It has a really great plot, superb main characters and I read it in one sitting. I would highly recommend this book.

Two horrific murders years apart. Can DI Jessie Blake and her partner DI Dylan Logan find the link between these two killings before the murderer chooses another victim? Set in atmospheric Perth, Scotland, this fast paced mystery begins as 14 year old Alice Connor and her older boyfriend are arrested for the bludgeoning deaths of her grandparents.

Now in the present day, Jessie and Dylan are called to a murder scene and discover two grandparents, shot to death. They were in a feud with their wealthy neighbors over land use and, during preliminary questioning, neighbor Rachel Ferguson reveals herself to be the now adult Alice Connor. Is this a strange coincidence? Is Tommy Angus, a disinherited son, somehow involved? What about his son Gordon, whose odd behavior always sets him apart? And who are the two women, employees of the Fergusons, who may be overly friendly with their boss?

There are many questions to answer and author Kerry Watts leads you through this psychological thriller to a totally unexpected ending. Well developed characters, a twisting plot with many surprises that treats contemporary issues make Her Secret Past a must read. 5 stars.


Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kerry Watts for this ARC.

Disturbing thriller with many strands which eventually all come together. Lots of twists and turns before the detectives get to the truth.

A good read. How we use people's past to colour how we see them now. The story is absorbing and the police are human. The characters are interesting. What more could you ask for!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion

wasn't sure to start with as it was set in two different timelines but a couple of chapters in I was hooked and found it a real page turner with strong characterization.

This is the third in a series featuring Detective Inspector Jessie Blake, but it's a first for me. Happily, this one seems to stand on its own well - at least I didn't feel at a disadvantage for not having read the other two. Better still, it's good enough that I won't hesitate to grab the next one.

The prologue is set in 1990, when a man and his wife are brutally murdered - admittedly by their teenage daughter and her older boyfriend. Fast forward to the present, when Jessie and her partner Dylan are called to the scene of another murder on Boxing Day - also a married couple. Confounding matters is that their grandson, the son of their only son, is nonchalantly noshing in the kitchen amid the bodies and a ton of blood. Needless to say, he's a suspect, but there's no evidence that he's actually involved in any way. Such is also the case with the boy's father, who seems truly devastated that his parents are dead.

Soon thereafter, Jessie learns that the dead people were locked in a property dispute with a neighbor, Rachel Ferguson; further checking reveals that Rachel and her wealthy husband are hiding a dark secret about her past that puts her right at the top of the suspect list. Evidence begins to point to Rachel as the killer, but while her superiors at the police department are sure they've got their woman, Jessie has her doubts and insists on continuing the investigation. Meantime, Jessie must deal with a past of her own as her abusive ex-husband Dan keeps showing up at all hours - often with his new girlfriend in tow - ostensibly to beg Jessie to let bygones be bygones.

The story moves along quickly and with almost constant excitement (plus a few twists). An overabundance of characters overwhelmed me a bit, and overall, the whole thing seemed a titch choppy. Nonetheless, my attention was captured from start to finish (an ending, by the way, that didn't make me very happy with Jessie's actions, or lack thereof). As I advise with all series, it's always best to start at the beginning, but you won't go wrong to start here. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to test drive this one.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Her Secret Past, the third novel to feature DI Jessie Blake of the Perthshire Police.

When Malcolm and Jean Angus are shot in their kitchen suspicion immediately falls on their neighbour Rachel Ferguson who has had an angry exchange with the dead couple and is not all she seems. Jessie isn’t so sure and continues to investigate.

I enjoyed Her Secret Past which has a convoluted plot and a fast pace that propels the reader forward. It is told from various points of view and has flashbacks to 1990/1 and the story of a teenage Alice Connor. This is not as distracting as it could be because Jessie’s voice is strong and holds the narrative together and also the different voices and flashbacks all inform current events. There is, however, a lot of events and developments so the reader doesn’t really get the chance to reflect on them during the read. It isn’t difficult to follow but it feels crammed. It’s a bit of a relief to arrive at the solution.

Jessie Blake is an abuse survivor so she’s not happy that her ex-husband, Dan, appears to be stalking her as she’s trying to start a new relationship. It’s another twist in a full plot but she manages fine, keeping him at arm’s length and conducting her investigation. I like her as she’s smart and dedicated and likes to kick back with a glass of wine. My kind of woman.

Her Secret Past is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Her Secret Past is a very well crafted murder mystery. A real edge of your seat plot. Throughly enjoyed this book. Mystery fans will love this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Her Secret Past’ by Kerry Watts in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

An elderly couple, Malcolm and Jean Angus, are shot dead in their secluded Perthshire home and when DI Jessie Blake and DC Dylan Logan arrive their grandson Gordon is sitting at the table next to his grandfather’s body eating a sandwich and playing games on his phone. On investigation they discover that Rachel Ferguson, their next-door neighbour, has had a dispute with the couple about land and the evidence points to her being guilty of the crime. This is just the beginning of the tangled web Jessie and Dylan have to make sense of.

‘Her Secret Past’ is the third in the Detective Jessie Blake series and has an action-packed, well-written and entertaining plot that further fleshes out the character of Jessie, her relationship with ex-husband Dan and her growing romance with Benito. As the story reverts back from the present time to events in 1990 in which Rachel was involved, there’s excitement, drama, twists and turns, and a bloodthirsty and thrilling finale, all of which kept me hooked from page one to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thriller and after ending with a cliffhanger I’m looking forward to the next in the series to find out what happens next.

A well written novel with a clever plot and intriguing characters but lots of unanswered questions. I found Jessie's reluctance to deal with the Dan situation infuriating.

Just WOW! You know when a book grasps you by the first sentence and pulls you into the author's world? That!

I loved the twists and turns, the details that Kerry had obviously researched and then explained well.
I did think that the emphasis on mental health was excellent as well as touching again on domestic abuse. These taboo subjects in books need highlighting to help people feel confident to discuss openly.

A definite 5 star read for me again and I can't wait to see where Jessie is going in the next book.

An excellent novel, a real page tuner. I struggled to put the book down. Well drawn plot and characters. This is the first novel 8 have read by this author, but it won’t be the last

If you like psychological thrillers and police procedurals this latest book in the Detective Jessie Blake series is perfect for you.
From the very start we are exposed to a horrific murder of an elderly couple at their farmhouse, Jessie and her partner Dylans investigations point to a dispute over land with their nearest neighbour, Rachel Ferguson.
On closer examination Jessie discovers Rachel is not the person everyone thinks she is, a previous murder conviction makes her Jessies prime suspect.
As the story unfolds further suspects are thrown into the mix, the tension building throughout, I found myself questioning the characters motives and opportunities.
It certainly kept me guessing and held my attention from start to finish.
Thoroughly enjoyable read and I have no hesitation recommending it. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this as an ARC.

This is the third in the Jessie Blake series and I thoroughly loved it! We know of one of the characters ‘Secret Past’ early on in the book and that adds to the development and richness of the story. A double murder, similar to one in the past, needs to be solved and there are several people in the story we keep switching from and to, whether they are guilty or not. Meanwhile our Jessie is focused on the case, although fondly distracted by a new beau and scarily distracted by an abusive ex husband. Again assisted by her police partner Dylan, Jessie has a nagging feeling she focused on the wrong suspect. Dark and disturbing side stories abound in the book. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

I am afraid I am repeating myself but this is another cracker of a series. 

DI Jessie Blake and her partner Dylan are amazing characters and they are almost like family to each other. Jessie has not had the best of lives in the past, but there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Her job is still her first priority, no matter what keeps her busy in her private life.

The book really opens with a bang. I am glad I had not eaten yet. ;) The author most certainly has created some weird characters who turn the story into an absolute gem. The short chapters make you race through the book like a TGV on fire. 

Once again it's proven that traumatic experiences can turn the most sane person into a very disturbed one.

It seemed like every person in this book had something to hide which made it very difficult to guess the culprit. Of course I failed again and kudos to the author for making it such a great read. 5 stars.

Thank you, Kerry Watts and Bookouture

Whoop whoop we’re back with the third series in the Jessie Blake series and what an explosive one… the intro was not for the faint hearted…. Alice Connor was just 14 when herself and her boyfriend stabbed her grandparents to death, aided with a new identity, 30 years later nobody knows who she is but will it stay that way?

Detective Jessie Blake is called to the murder scene at a farmhouse where the bodies of Malcolm & Jean Angus have been discovered brutally murdered, gunshot wounds…. Another mystery to unravel for Jessie and her partner, Logan, as the strands begin to unfold, they find motive close to home but can her son/grandson be behind their deaths? Its hard to say more without giving some of the game away so I’m afraid this time you are just going to have to read it but to say you will not be disappointed is an understatement.

A gripping psychological detective thriller that you will not want to put down.

I wanted a good book to end 2019 and Her Secret Past was just perfect. I’ve read one of Kerry Watts previous books and this book has made me realise I need to read more. This novel is explosive, gripping and you’ll be addicted within the first few pages. Loved it!

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

Ms Watts never fails to amaze me! This is the third book in the Jessie Blake series and it shows no signs of slowing down! Each story has so many mini-stories to keep you guessing to how they are all linked with the main story. I guessed a couple of things in this book but rather than it disappoint me, it made me so happy!

After such a brutal beginning, exposing us to the horrific murder of an elderly couple that happened in 1991, I just couldn’t see where we were going with this. Fast forward to present day with another elderly couple being murdered, it made me wonder if history is repeating itself?

Watts usual makeup of a small pool of characters to provide a well-rounded point of view and information just works wonders. I am never bored when reading her books, more frustrated that I have to do adulting. Watts’ books do need to come with a warning, once you start reading you don’t want to stop! A bit like a Pringle!! I started the book crazily at midnight but had to go to bed and I couldn’t sleep for ages because I wanted to get back to the book but I knew I had to do some adulting, so instead, I devoured most Her Secret Past in a 2-hour car journey! Tsk!

At the start, you can’t see how all the pawns in the book would fit it, but boy does it get juicy and taut when you do, each moving around a chessboard until it is checkmate! When past and present collide there are a lot of fireworks. However, it’s not just the case that is causing problems for Jessie, it’s when her past is catching up with her and that is also truly terrifying especially as it seems history really does repeat itself!

I really can’t praise this series enough. The first two both hit my books for the year, as I just love the writing style and structure of Ms Watts writing. She has a magic formula where she has struck gold. You are kept on the edge trying to figure out the jigsaw puzzle of people. You are drip-fed information until the right time and then bam! You wish you had more warning. It makes the book flow so fast-paced and it sucks you in. It whispers to you to keep reading just another chapter…go on you know you want to!

Jessie is a strong woman, so strong that it has taken three books before she finally considers confiding to someone her past. She takes this strength and realised that the past can’t hold her back anymore and that everyone is not the same. It drives and pushes her forward in a more determined state to solve this mystery, more so when it encroaches into her personal life. *shivers*

This book I think might just be the darkest one yet with all the topics covered and used to drive Her Secret Past. Abuse in all forms, mental illness and alcoholism are at the foundations of the characters, all dictating how everything will play out. The ending left me with some chills because it’s open-ended and it will be interesting to see what explosions we have in book four. I love that Ms Watts can keep surprising me with every book and I am excited to see what will happen in the next book! Just hope I don’t have to wait too long.