Adele Parks is back once again with her latest novel “One Last Secret” an addictive and entertaining story about power, sex work and men’s misogynistic attitude to women who work in this industry.

“One last client…. A week at a beautiful chateau in the South of France - it should be a straightforward final job for Dora. She’s a smart, stunning, and discreet escort and Daniel has paid for her services before.
One last secret…. Dora finds herself face-to-face with a man she has never forgotten, the one man who really knows her. And as old secrets surface, it becomes terrifyingly apparent that one last secret could cost Dora her life.”

I found it took me a while to get into the story, as Dora came across as rather unlikeable. It’s nearly half way through the book when we learn Dora’s back story and I started to feel some empathy for her. I thought I had it all worked out but to be fair Adele does like to keep her readers on their toes and this story certainly had its twists and turns. The tension unquestionably ratchets up towards the denouement and the final chapter certainly came unexpected but very satisfying. Dubbed as the best beach read of 2022, this ‘locked room’ type mystery thriller featuring revenge, lies and the use of power and money held over people, will entertain you for hours. Addictive and well plotted - an excellent escapism read.

#OneLastSecret - 3,5 stars

Adele Parks MBE is one of the most loved and biggest selling women's fiction writers in the UK. She has sold over 4 million books and her work has been translated into 30 different languages.
She has published 21 novels, all of which have been London Times bestsellers.

I got 0ne Last Secret by Adele Parks from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.


One Last Secret, tells the story of Dora, a high class escort who after being beaten up after going to a client, she is asked and accepts an offer of marriage and leaves the escort agency that she works for.

Although before she gets married a regular client asks her to do one last job, by playing as his boyfriend for a week, but this trip may not be what she expects.

One Last Secret is told through the eyes of the main character Dora with her telling the story. By breaking the fourth wall, the novel has a real personal feel, especially at the start of the novel which really is done in a chatty way.

With the novel starting in such a jovial manner, it really gives the story a more impactful way as it gets darker and the twists and turns start to appear throughout the story.

While there are major twists that really do come out of the blue and the sudden flashback scene really does come out of the blue, and there are some reviews I have seen where this bit dragged on.

However for me without this section being written in the way it was then Dora all though the narrator and the main character may not have been fleshed out enough to carry the novel on its own.

This made Dora an interesting character and not the normal lead in Adele Parks’ books as who are normally British middle class women dealing with various issues.

However in This novel we have a young woman who, is the daughter of imigrants and a sex worker, however with the writers symperthetic style and the narrative style, as a reader you really are on Dora’s side.

All this makes One Last Secret by Adele Parks, a novel with an interesting character and a thriller that is well worth reading

If you like twisty psychological thrillers you’ll love Adele Parks’ latest novel. It has everything including an extremely unreliable narrator called Dora. Dora is an escort or sex worker as she calls herself although admittedly she is a high class one with Elspeth at the end of a phone arranging her appointments..
However she has a dear friend Evan who despite her profession is keen to settle down with her. Dora agrees to do one more job before giving up her precarious life to marry Evan and she is whisked off to a Villa in the South of France in order to pretend to be the girlfriend of an old client. Unfortunately things don’t turn out as expected and she soon discovers her life is in danger. Her back story is told via flashbacks and the reader learns how she ended up becoming an escort.
I loved the character of Dora who is chameleon like and clever, changing herself depending on whom she is with. She is definitely resourceful and her career choice is explained as the novel progresses.
She does make one or two bad decisions but some of this can be put down to her youth and lack of opportunities.
The twists in the novel were very clever although I did guess one of them before it was revealed. There was a lot going on and Dora, the narrator for the most part, only reveals what she wants the reader to know. The tension ratchets up quickly and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what life finally has in store for this flawed heroine. The twists just keep coming and I must admit that I didn’t see the final one revealed on the last page! What a great read and definitely a five star one for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for my arc.

Dora, the main protagonist in this darkly delicious psychological suspense, is likeable and intelligent. She's a survivor, but her last foray into the world of escorts is perilous for her and disturbing to read. The story leads the reader into a world of danger, deceit, and depravity, full of twists and unexpected occurrences. I enjoyed the story's addictive quality and originality. The world created defies belief, but there are enough recognisable elements to make the reader wonder if it could happen.

It's a compelling mix of poignancy and shocking that makes a riveting read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I love Adele Parks books. They are never straight forward and the plot thickens and thickens keeping you interested. Every time I thought I knew what was happening there was another surprise to throw me off. Great storyline and great characters

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I’ve read the book in one sitting. It was hard to put down.

A professional escort, Dora, a client beats her up, after which her friend, Evan, asks her to marry him and not to be a escort.

Following this, Dora ends her alliance with the escort agency, but, then a client gets in touch, asks her to go with him to a chateau in France, as a fake girlfriend.

Arriving at the chateau, she discovers, that she should never have come. Those present, at the chateau are looking shady.

It was nice to read about Dora’s story before she started being an escort.

The book kept you hooked as there was some twists and the plot was fabulous.

I highly recommend this book.

This is only the second book I have read from this author but it definitely won't be the last.

Dora is a high class escort who has made poor choices throughout her life.

After a beating and being threatened by a new client, her best friend Evan wills her to give it up. Following a proposal, Dora decides to stop but then one of her favourite clients asks for her help and she just can't refuse. All she has to do is pretend to be his girlfriend for a few days, no physical contact needed, just convince all the other guests that they are in a relationship. Dora can't resist the money but could this be the biggest mistake of her life?

When Dora arrives at the idyllic setting in France she thinks she sees the man who beat her. Then she starts missing parts of the day and forgetting things. She doesn't know who or what to believe anymore. Things then go from bad to worse with her past coming back to put her life in more danger.

Written in chapters mainly narrated by Dora, past and present made it a page turner, realising why she made certain life choices and why she was put in this position.

Quite disturbing to read at times as abuse, rape and mental abuse are at the forefront of this novel.

I had to keep reading to see if there would be a happy ending for Dora after everything she had been through.

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc.

Firstly a big thank you to HQ for my gorgeous copy and having Me on the tour. Adele has been one of my favourites for years ,even before I knew what a book blogger was! In my opinion she just gets better and better.

This is a sizzling scandalous summer read for you to really get lost in. Perfect for that holiday read.

Packed with twists and turns it’s hard to keep up with the actual truth . Lies ,revenge , sex and power this is a captivating read about the lengths people go to for survival .

Written in alternate timeliness we get to see two very different versions of Dora . But the priorities and mindset remain equally as determined.

Gripping from the very first page and will have you hooked until the very last. Despite its warm location its a tense and chilling read.

Guaranteed to be flying off the shelves !

Published 7th July and do check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.

An intriguing book with so many twists.
I liked the main character Dora but she has made some poor choices in her life and for much of the book I felt an uncomfortable sense of foreboding that at times felt like the equivalent of watching a scary film through your fingers. You know something is going to happen but you are not sure exactly what or when.
It was almost a relief when it all came to the fore and you could just let Dora deal with it. Even then the twists kept coming right up to the end.

Wow what a book, I found myself so immersed in this story I felt like I was Dora. Especially when things were happening to her I kept going back thinking surely I read that right and I wrong and I really going mad. The twists at the end were shocking too I had no idea any of that was going to happen. Another thrilling ride from Adele Parks that’s for sure.

I really, really enjoyed this read. It's the perfect Summer holiday escapism and I read in (literally) one sitting.

Dora is an escort and her character is so well written, I was engaged from the start. She's had a hard life and some of her experiences make for heartrending and difficult reading. Her one close friend, Ewan, is her saving grace.
Then, she's invited to a chateau, where things go very wrong and nothing is at it appears. I found the writing incredibly real as the tension mounts and suspense grows and I found myself thinking "I'll just read one more chapter" only to find that impossible and so, stayed up and read until the end.

I genuinely don't want to say too much, as I found it such a thrilling read, knowing little before I started it. Suffice to say, if you're looking for a gripping read, look no further. It's got thrills, twists and great characters and storyline and I so enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to preview and many congratulations to the author. Four star fabulous!

This was my literary equivalent of getting onto a roller coaster and realising you don’t like heights! What a ride! At times I was able to admire the view but at times I didn’t know where to look!

This is the story of Dora. She’s a female escort ..a retiring female escort who has agreed to do one last job…Arriving at a beautiful chateau in France she is not the only one who is not who they seem..and things rapidly take a sinister turn..

The first few pages took me by surprise…I almost spat out my tea. I’m a woman of mature years and I suspect a little naive..I learnt a lot!! I’m a huge fan of Pretty Woman - wrong on so many levels probably - but it leaves a lot to the imagination whereas this book doesn’t. Dora is very keen that you know her working arrangements and the all the little details of her occupation.. and she’s certainly been around. Dora of course has a back story ..this is not the occupation of her dreams and tragic events have led her to this..

The setting is of course luxurious but neither Dora nor the reader can really enjoy it because the house guests are so unfriendly…more than unfriendly and pretty soon Dora’s fighting for her life.

Many reviewers have asked why Dora decides to do this last job…Dora does go to great lengths to explain that..and it is up to the reader to pass judgement. All I can say is , Why Dora, Why?

I found this a hard book to ‘like’ - I think the characters and their behaviour just made me feel uncomfortable..But I would definitely like to try another book by this author.

Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ stories for my copy.

This is a great read but it’s hard to describe the genre.
Dora is an escort and whilst she is resigned to doing this job, it’s clear she wants more from life.
She receives a proposal but must give up the escort work and she feels she is ready to do this. However one of her old clients has other ideas.
It’s hard to go into too much detail as there’s quite a lot linked together so I can’t really say any more about the story.
I thought some of the decisions Dora made were questionable but it didn’t spoil the story for me.
Overall a good read.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

have to admit i was in no rush to read this book....not sure why because as soon as i started it i was hooked...think pretty woman...high class hooker, but this is more than that....

dora never set out to be a high class call girl, she even admits it at the beginning and thats when i knew i was hooked into this storyline...i loved the flow of the whole book...though i must admit the then and now chapter i wasnt expecting...just at a good bit as well....throwing you back to 11 years ago....and i had to wonder what was going on how could this even be in the storyline...but hang with it...it will all make sense.....eventually.....

there are so many twists and turns with this book that you cant even see coming...and even at the end i was utterly spent and needed time to unwind from it

so its an easy storyline to fall into the only problem is you wont want to put it down as the hits keep coming and coming... no pun intended....

This is another gripping twisty story from Adele Parks, as we have come to expect. Compulsive reading right to the very last page. A book that I would highly recommend
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

Well!
Sometimes a review comes easy, sometimes you can’t find the right words to describe it to put over how you feel, for this book I am just going to list the words and feelings that came to mind when read the last sentence~

Dark
Chilling
Seamless Writing
Engaging
Delicious
Very well researched
Mesmerising
Intoxicating
Thrilling
Unbelievably believable
Entrancing
Unique
Flamboyant
Flawless Storytelling
Unputdownable ( if that annoys pretend you’ve not read it 😎🤗)

B R I L L I A N T

10/10
5 Stars

Natalya is an escort. Well, her name's not actually Natalya: that's her professional name but it is a nod to her Serbian heritage. She's actually thirty-one-year-old Teodora Dziewulski, usually known as Dora Wulski. If you're thinking of 'escort' as being a polite description of a prostitute, run by a pimp, who's turning tricks to fund a drug habit, forget it. Dora is a professional in all senses of the word. She has an agent, Elspeth, who takes 30% of her income and deals with the payments but checks out the clients to see that Dora is going to be safe. Dora describes herself as a self-employed clairvoyant to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

She's always immaculately dressed for her appointments and, generally, her clients are good to her. Daniel is one of her favourites. He's ostensibly there for the sex but Dora thinks that he really wants to talk about Sisi, his sister-in-law with whom she suspects he's in love. Three or four appointments a week are what Dora's comfortable with as she goes out of her way to make the time special for her client, so she was reluctant when Elspeth asked her to do back-to-back appointments. One of her existing clients had made a recommendation – and Dora obliged. She came home – via the hospital – badly injured.

Evan isn't a client. He and Dora have never slept together but they're best friends and have been for quite some time. Evan's wealthy but he can relax with Dora as she doesn't see him as a meal ticket. She does suspect that he's a bit in love with her – and when he sees how badly injured she is he says that she should stop being an escort. They should get married. Dora's vulnerable but still feels happy at the thought and Evan gives her a ring just before he flies off on business for a week. When she's offered a week's work in the south of France, with no sex involved, she decides to take it.

I did so want Dora to refuse the work: she didn't need the money but Daniel was insistent that she go as his girlfriend. It seemed such an innocent thing to do and he'd been a good client. It's the constant quandary of the immigrant: will the good luck last? Wouldn't it be better to make certain that you have some money behind you for when he tires of you, six, twelve months down the line?

Some books grip you before you get to the bottom of the first page and this is one of them. I didn't just like Dora, I respected her for the choices she made. I might have done differently but I could see why she was where she was. She was making the best of the situation. There were occasions when she was abused but that wasn't the feeling you got about her job. It makes for a brilliant background to a story about sex, wealth and power but, most of all, it's about revenge and you'll be constantly surprised about who is exacting the revenge. It was a great read and I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

If you'd like more from Adele Parks, we can recommend Both of You.

Another fast paced thriller. Set in a remote part of the South of France in a stunning villa this should be paradise. Dora takes one last job as an escort as she is promised it is just to act as a girlfriend with no strings. The narrated mostly by Dora with a few other narrators goes dark when strange things happen. Is Dora losing her mind or being gaslighted. A gripping story with a twisty ending.

Twisty, dark and impossible to put down. Don’t pick this up if you have something important to do! A brilliant read and sure to be a bestseller.

Another superbly twisty tale from master storyteller Adele Parks. As usual she manages to portray flawed and believable central characters, and Dora's narration encourages empathy in the reader and wanting her life to work out well
Thank you to netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of this book