Twelve Secrets had me hooked immediately. It was full of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages and reading just a little bit more until I had actually read it all in one sitting. The ending was great and I did not see it coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

An excellent thriller, highly recommended!
Ben Harper is an investigative journalist , who has endured more tragedy than most , his brother was murdered and his mother committed suicide , or did she?
Ben has always harboured nagging doubts about his mother’s death, when one of his brothers killers is found murdered , old wounds are reopened.
This book was an excellent read it contains many different threads expertly woven together. The conclusion was one I didn’t envisage.
I look forward to reading more from Robert Gold.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little , Brown Book Group UK.

A brilliant crime thriller that had me completely engrossed from the very beginning. A book full of twists and turns with plenty of OMG moments. I loved it.

4.5* --> 5*

Goodness me! There is SO MUCH awesome crime fiction out there right now and this is another goodie! If you like tv series like Broadchurch, then I think you’ll enjoy ‘Twelve Secrets‘ too.

Ben Harper is a true crime reporter. Twenty years ago, his older brother Nick and his friend were brutally murdered by two teenage girls. Ten years later, Ben’s mum jumped in front of a train. And it’s because of that anniversary that Ben’s boss asks him to write an article. Ben is reluctant, happy to finally be living his life away from the spotlight, and with no desire to see his name and face on the front page again. But then, he learns about a murder case. One that has links to his brother’s shocking death.

Nothing in this small town is what it seems. We meet a variety of intriguing characters, many of whom get their own POV chapters, and most of them seem to be hiding something. Actually, there are more secrets than you can shake a stick at! That alone already made this book extremely compelling and addictive because as the reader you’d obviously like to figure out the secrets before they’re revealed to you and how this cast of characters is connected. Yeah, good luck with that!

‘Twelve Secrets‘ is incredibly well written. Throughout the story, I could see the scenes playing out in front of my eyes and I think it would make an excellent tv show. It’s fabulously plotted, very cleverly done, and with truly delightful twists and turns. Most of which I didn’t see coming at all and honestly, that doesn’t happen all that often these days. ‘Twelve Secrets‘ had me hooked from start to finish and kind of took me by surprise. In a good way. While the description sounded really enticing, I was worried that I’d have to pull out my “been there, read that” t-shirt but no! Not even close.

There’s more to ‘Twelve Secrets‘ than just finding the skeletons in the closets and the truth of past events. Delving into his past isn’t easy for Ben but he’s not the only one who’s dealing with grief and loss. There are other topics that are brought up that add a rather emotional side to this crime fiction tale. It feels like there are some loose ends but I think that this might be the first in a series and I’d be very much okay with that. I thoroughly enjoyed this remarkable debut by Robert Gold. Did I mention addictive? Compelling? Binge-worthy? Right then, off you pop to get your copy!

Lots of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, a page-turner that keeps you gripped. Its a shocking tale of a brother killed by another child and a mother who kills herself, unable to cope with the grief but maybe all is not as it seems and some investigations start ripples in the community. A good read, a proper thriller.

I assume there are twelve secrets in this book. I haven’t counted them, but there are certainly plenty. We follow a number of different characters as they gradually reveal their secrets, although it is only the character of Ben Harper who we see through his own eyes as his chapters are written in first person.

In the early stages it was a little challenging to keep up with the characters and the things they were keeping hidden, but the writing keeps looping back as the author reveals a bit more and a bit more, so it all makes sense in the end. The characters are a mixed bag, most of them straddling an interesting range of shades of grey rather than being too good or too evil, which made for an interesting mix. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see enough of one particular character who was essential to the resolution which meant that what happened to them was left impactful than it probably should have been.

I was gripped for much of the book, but the last section felt really rushed wrapping up quite a complex series of interweaving plot points a bit too quickly. It’s a shame because a stronger ending would have made this a really fantastic thriller.

I never repeat the blurb. A complex but enjoyable read, full of twists and gradual reveals and a shed load of red herrings. Good stuff.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the advance copy of #TwelveSecrets by #RobertGold

A totally engaging book. Twenty years ago Bens 14 year old brother and his best friend were murdered. 10 years ago his mother committed suicide. Ben has become one of the best investigative journalists there is and now it’s time to investigate his own history. You twisty read that keeps you guessing to the end.
I hope this is the first of many.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This has to be one of the best mystery thrillers I have read in a long time. Ben has grown up in the shadow of his older brother and friend being murdered by two young girls from their school. Fast forward to the present and both girls are now living in different communities with new identities. Ben has become a successful crime reporter and following the death of his mother he is asked to write a piece about the effects of the murders on his family but when one of the offenders is found dead he is thrown into trying to unearth the secrets of both the past and present. So many twists on almost every page that kept me guessing right to the end of the last chapter. A fabulous read.

Another new writer to me and a cracking read! Ben Harper is an investigative journalist whose brother was murdered by class mates 20 years ago and whose mother died ten years ago. A fresh crime in the small town where the murder took place brings historic events back under consideration and the ensuing revelations are mind-blowing. Well written with fascinating characters, I look forward to more of Mr Gold's work.

All I can say is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!
What a riveting read! The story pulled me in from the beginning and spit me out exhausted at the end. What an absolute humdinger of an ending with a twist that I did not see coming at all!

Ben Harper is an award-winning true crime reporter. He is used to being in the public eye since the age of eight when his brother and his brother's best friend was brutally killed. A murder that shocked the nation because it was committed but two 14-year-old girls. It is now 20 years since the murder and 10 years since he lost his mother who committed suicide and his editor Madeline wants him to write a personal story on how the tragedy affected him. Something he's not interested in doing at all but then a murder is committed that seems very similar to his brothers killing. What is the meaning of this and is it linked to the fact that the two girls that killed his brother have been released? What was the true motive behind these killings? Soon Ben finds himself in the middle of the investigation. What will he find out and will it bring closure or more sorrow?

I can't wait for the next book by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book group for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well this book took me completely by surprise. In a good way. a very good way. I'm not sure quite what I was expecting when I started reading, but what I found was a story that was compelling from the off, my interest well and truly piqued as we are introduced to journalist Ben Harper. It's clear from the very beginning that his family history is not that of your run of the mill journalist, and when he is asked to produce a personal piece for his paper on the anniversary of his mother's death, he agrees to do so, but only on his own terms. For Ben's brother was murdered and his mother died in very difficult circumstances, but something inside of Ben is telling him there is far more to the story than the tragedy that the world has so far been told. And boy is there.

I really like the way in which the author has set up the story, and the narrative style he has taken. The lion's share of the narrative is told in first person from Ben's perspective, but to add weight and context to the story, there are scenes in a third person perspective where we meet the other main players in the story, people who Ben and his brother Nick grew up with and who had significant impact on their lives. The story is further broken down into twelve segments, headed by the 'twelve secrets' that follow key revelatory moments in Ben's investigation. They act almost as a pause, a chance to allow those little clues to sink in and serve to heighten their importance in the story. It's quite clever, the literary equivalent of an Eastenders post episode drum beat, driving home the surprise factor.

I really liked Ben as a character, and found him an easy person to spend time invested in, in spite of the dark nature of his past. You could really feel his conflict, the turmoil that being back in his hometown creates in him, and the secrets he uncovers about his mother and her past really do hit their mark. Pacing and tension in the book are spot on, but characters are key and Robert Gold has created a whole cast of people who felt authentic, if not always trustworthy. There is far more to the story than meets the eye, and the author does a brilliant job of keeping the truth just out of reach, introducing different people who clearly have less than honest intent and seem to muddy the water in terms of culpability over what comes to pass. I certainly didn't foresee the ending, but when we got to the truth, it felt believable, and somewhat heart wrenching.

The book is packed with mystery, and a good deal of emotion, based around a story that could easily have been ripped from the headlines. Although never covered in a gratuitous way, the original case, the murder of Ben's brother and his friend, is no less shocking and the repercussions are felt long after the victims have been laid to rest. A story of lies, misdirection and jealousy, this is one that stayed with me long after reading. Definitely recommended.

Twenty years ago Ben Harper's older brother was brutally murdered by two classmates. Years later Ben's mother committed suicide. On the 10th anniversary of his mothers suicide Ben's boss at an online news website encourages him to write an article documenting his side of the story. Ben is initially reluctant to dredge up the past but when the police turn up to ask Ben about a murder miles away it raises questions about the original murder.

This debut novel from Robert Gold had me gripped from the start. A double murder followed by a suicide had me wondering what had happened and intrigued to know more.

Ben is a sympathetic character, you can really feel his turmoil at having to relive the past. As the story develops we understand the devastation his family and friends went through 20 years previously. The unanswered questions following his mothers unexpected suicide have haunted Ben for 10 years.

The setting of the small town of Haddley, a close knit community, offers a range of characters. Characters who've grown up together, suffered the same shock and supported each other. As Ben investigates events of the past it's like layers of an onion being peeled away and secrets are discovered. The main question though is who is willing to commit murder to keep their secret hidden.

This is a new author for me which I look forward to reading more from him in the future. This is a well written, suspenseful story that brought the twists and turns to a new level. I enjoyed the author's use of details to bring the suspense to a level of page turning action. This is a fast paced, engaging story that was hard to put down. The characters are relateable and kept the story engaging. They made the story easy and entertaining to read. This is a story about Ben and how his brother was murdered.. Fast forward twenty years and the past is the past for him until a murder links with his brother's case. He finds himself caught up in secrets and how deadly those secrets can be. I enjoyed his character and what he brought to the story. He is a supportive and strong character that made the story for me. I enjoyed the growth of the plot as well as the characters throughout the story. This is a really great story that I truly enjoyed. I highly recommend this book.

Ben Harper, true crime journalist, is about to unravel his most shocking story yet . . . his own.

The day his older brother was murdered was the day Ben Harper's life changed forever.
In one of the most shocking crimes in national history, Nick and his friend were stabbed to death by two girls their own age. Police called the killings random, a senseless tragedy.

Twenty years on Ben is one of the best true crime journalists in the country. He has left the past behind, thanks to the support of his close-knit hometown community.
But when he learns about a fresh murder case with links to his brother's death, Ben's life is turned upside down once more. He soon find himself caught in a web of lies, one that implicates everyone around him. And on his quest for answers, Ben discovers one very important truth:

Everyone has secrets.
But some secrets are deadlier than others.

This was so gripping and so complex.
I loved the intense plot and the characters.

What a brilliant debut to the crime fiction stable!

There is a journalist, Ben Harper, but one with a difference, a man whose family made the headlines themselves because of the horrific murder of his older brother Nick. Nick was murdered by two teenaged girls, alongside his friend Simon. The girls went to prison, were released and life moved on for the village of Hadley after the inevitable fallout.

Many years later Ben is asked to do a piece on his mother who died 10 years earlier by his boss. He refuses at first but then some new information comes to life and he decides to investigate. This book is the outcome.

A twisty thriller that does not follow a predictable path and so feels fresh and exciting. I can absolutely see this being made for a TV series to high acclaim.

A real winner, can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

Twelve Secrets By Robert Gold

The day his older brother was murdered was the day Ben Harper's life changed forever and so our story begins.
We follow Ben Harper true crime journalist who by his editor is asked to write an anniversary piece reluctantly Ben agrees but when one of his brothers killers is found murdered the story takes on a life of it's own.
This is a good thriller and one that I did enjoy to a point however I do have some issues with the book which is why My rating is not higher.
We follow 12 interconnecting characters each with there own story to tell and this for me is what let the book down, we just have to many threads to follow and never really focus on the main story (Bens) which is told from all the characters point of view of the events surrounding that dreadful day and how it effected the lives of who it touched and we are left to trawl through endless accounts.
The story is twisty with many red herrings thrown in but ultimately if you are paying attention it's easy to figure out who did what.
No doubt this book will appeal to many readers and I suspect is one we will see on many holiday makers reading lists this year, its a solid read but with less characters and a more tightly woven plot could have easily been a 4 or 5 star read.

Worth your time and hard earned cash.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I'm so delighted that my wish was granted for this compulsive page turner of a thriller. It's a cracking read about a journalist whose young brother was brutally murdered and whose mother committed suicide. The book takes you on the journey to find the truth behind both of these events and more and it's written really well.

I believe the author has co-authored with James Patterson and this shows in the way you are drawn into all characters lives and also in the pace of the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking out for future works by this author.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this cracking read and I wish the author deserved success.

I liked the plot of this book, Ben Harper, an investigative reporter and the death of his brother 20 years previously, but I didn’t always find Ben to be very likeable and I found the amount of characters a bit confusing but this could just be down to my state of mind at the moment, it was still intriguing and I enjoyed the twists and turns, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this early copy.

This is a superb crime mystery drama, the first in a series featuring true crime journalist, Ben Harper, who has his own traumatic family history set in London. At the age of 8, young Ben sees his 14 year old older brother, Nick, and his best friend, Simon Woakes, follow schoolgirls, Abigail Langdon and Josie Fairchild, into the Haddley woods. It is Ben who discovers their blood covered dead bodies, leading to the murder convictions of the girls in one of the most sensational national trials, the girls labelled 'evil' by the media. Ben is further traumatised years later by the 'suicide' of his mother when she stepped in front of a train. With a significant anniversary of his brother's killing coming up, his hard nosed editor, Madeline Wilson, who had been involved in the story from the very beginning, a woman who sees exclusives in tragedy, wants Ben to revisit his painful personal traumas and grief and write an article for their news website.

Initially, Ben has no intention of complying with Wilson's relentless demands, but then he hears about a woman murdered in Farsley, Yorkshire, her killing emulating the exact MO used on Nick and Simon. The woman turns out to be Abigail Langdon, living under another name, her death generating little sympathy, as it connects her once again to Haddley. Before long, Ben is questioning whether his mother did in fact commit suicide as he chases the biggest true crime exclusive, his own life story. In a complex and multilayered narrative, the reader is going to need to pay close attention to the numerous characters that form the Haddley and St Marnham local community, and the details of their lives, for they form an intricate web of connections to the long ago historical tragedy and Ben. All harbour secrets, secrets that start to spill, one after another, some downright nasty and some deadly, in this riveting crime read.

Gold is certainly going to make a splash with this, the first of a series, particularly with the creation of his central protagonist, Ben Harper, who has his life derailed as a child with the loss of his beloved brother, Nick, a grief that goes on to be compounded with the loss of the only person he had left, his mother. There is oodles of suspense and tension in this well plotted story with its wide ranging cast of characters, including Elizabeth Woakes, Simon's mother, whose life and family were similarly wrecked by the horrors of the tragedy and a care home worker, Corinne Parsons. I found myself completely immersed and captivated by this dark and engaging crime read, and I can see it doing very well on publication. I think many crime and mystery readers will enjoy this too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.