A book that was difficult to put down. A perfect example of a page turner, I just kept reading a page more and then another!
Told in two timelines but very easy to differentiate between them unlike some books I've read recently.
The two main female characters were well drawn and the reader really got to know and understand them. This is not a cosy read and has some difficult scenes but is gripping and compelling.
I'd be happy to read more by this author.

I read this thriller in one sitting - it is told in parallel. Julia - perfect, wife, mother, chef and speech writer and 13 year old Sofie whose life is destroyed by the events of the summer of 2003 on Paxos.

Inevitably the stories of both women interact with an explosive ending I had not expected.

The subject matter - sexual abuse and exploitation - is hard to take but is done in a sensitive way stressing the lasting impact on those involved - the individuals and their wider families.

The characters are well drawn and I empathised with both suffering women who went through so much but retained their humanity.

One to be recommended.

Julia’s family’s annual holiday at their house on Paxos is shattered following an assault on their young servant, Sophie. But Julia doesn’t know about that because she’d left the day before. It is 2003, and Julia, late teens, had finally decided to rebel against her controlling father, Peter, who had used her to seduce a business partner and thus gain his ‘loyalty’. Totally wrapped up in her own issues she had ignored everyone anyway, including Sophie. In previous years, she had been a sort of older sister to Sophie, now 13, who felt the pain of this rejection. Two of the guests, teen age boys Jay and Ginger, got her drunk the day after Julia left and then sexually assaulted her. Peter sought to put a lid on the whole thing, swearing everyone to secrecy using his wealth and status to enforce it. The guests all returned to the UK, Sophie’s family abandoned the island, and the house was shut up. Julia was mildly curious about why they had withdrawn from the island but was fobbed off by her mother, with a tale suggesting that the Greek family had simply upped and left.
Twenty years later, Julia is married to James, the Headmaster of an exclusive school in London. This is Julia’s second marriage and she has a daughter, Lottie, by her previous husband. Outwardly they seem an ideal family, but, in private, James is coercive, treating her more like a secretary, come housekeeper, come school administrator, and sexually aggressive, as in anytime any place anywhere. The school has a great reputation, although there was a bit of bother a year ago when a pupil accused, Cosmo, the Art Master, of assault. This had been tidied up neatly by James and the girl had left. Julia has no qualms about Cosmo and is quite happy for Lottie to work closely with him on the production of her folio. She is, however, concerned about her marital situation. She needs to stay with James because of the security, financial and otherwise, he provides for her and Lottie, but does she still love him? Did she ever actually love him? Seeking counselling, she becomes a client/patient of a new therapist, Laurel Rossi. She is also involved with a charity which provides hot food to rough sleepers. In this capacity, she sometimes identifies individuals who show talent at cooking, providing lessons in her home kitchen with a view to getting them a job. A new refugee, Rasul, possibly Syrian, clearly has had experience in his homeland and becomes her latest protégé. Acting on a suggestion from Laurel, Julia decides to visit the house on Paxos, unused since 2003, to see what condition it is in and perhaps find out why everybody abandoned it. She leaves Rasul in charge of cooking for James and Lottie and flies off. And so the stage is set for the events of 2003 to collide with the present.
This is a beautifully, even poetically, written tale; an effortless read. I’m not surprised by this, it echoes what I said in my review of the author’s previous book. I’d be happy to read anything she wrote because I love the way she uses the language. As to the story itself, it is told alternately from Sophie’s viewpoint in 2003 and Julia’s in 2023. The reader knows about the assault (detailed but not salaciously described; a model of how to handle this type of event) so the ostensible plot is of Julia unravelling the mystery and bringing justice for Sophie. In addition, there are plot lines around all of the other characters which have to be woven into the resolution. The main problem I have is with the plot, a great idea but really far too obvious. I also feel that the resolution requires an over reliance on coincidence. In terms of rating, therefore, I am conflicted. Purely as something to read I have no problem with 5, as a mystery I think 3.5. That gives a 4 (rounding down).
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I enjoyed this book. Good writing style . More a mystery than a thriller. I guessed the reveals but did not stop me liking it. Would definitely read her next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I am very torn with this one! Whilst I feel like I would never like to read it again, it was brilliantly written, tackling a very difficult and horrendous subject, and tied everything up in quite a perfect way for me – not totally over the top, but just what was needed.

Throughout the book we switch between two time periods, narrators and locations: Sofie, a 13-year-old girl living in Paxos, Greece in 2003, and Julia, a woman in her late-30s living in London in 2023.

In 2003, Sofie and her family are employed by a rich British family, Peter and Jane, who own a large holiday home in Paxos and allow Sofie’s family to live there in exchange for maintaining the house and cooking and cleaning for them whilst they are there. The family’s daughter is Julia – who we meet in the present day in London. In 2003, Julia is an aloof 19-year-old, who doesn’t pay too much notice to what is happening around her in Paxos and some of the incredibly entitled behaviour and attitudes going on with her family and their guests (some of which comes from her).

That summer, something terrible happens to Sofie. Afterwards, her family packs up and moves away from Paxos and Julia’s family forever.

In the present day, Julia is in an unhappy marriage to the rich and influential James – a figure not unlike her father was during her childhood. Wanting to gain some more independence, Julia takes up the offer of some therapy from the mysterious and intriguing Laurel. And now the changes in Julia’s life begin to escalate and she begins to look back at her memories of Paxos in a different light.

A slow burner, this book became really quite disturbing and I couldn’t wait for parts of it to be over. I really felt for the innocent and sweet character of Sofie, and began to warm to Julia as her story unfolded and I began to realise that she too was a victim of abuse from her father and now her husband.

I could guess some of the reveals that occurred later in the book, but enjoyed them nevertheless. And I felt that what transpired was very well-written – there must have been the temptation to go for an over-the-top revenge plot (which I must admit, I would still have enjoyed immensely – certain characters really deserved it!) but what happened was more subtle and clever and surprisingly satisfying.

Very disturbing, but some great writing!

Thanks netgalley and publishers for arc
I love this authors previous novels
I found this book really hard and upsetting to read at times as it deals with childhood trauma and a young girl being assaulted I then found the going forward and backwards quite disturbing and so I sadly didn’t complete the book I am very sorry

A revenge storyline covering two timelines and viewpoints - present day London, with Julia, dutiful and supportive wife to James, an ambitious head teacher at a well regarded private school, and Paxos, twenty years earlier, with Sofia, teenage daughter to the Greek caretakers of a holiday home owned by Julia’s father. It is fairly obvious from the start who the young English boys in Paxos have turned out to be, but the detail of the plotted revenge is more subtle and dark. The overt misogyny is uncomfortable to read and full credit to the author for taking on the difficult subject matter of grooming and sexual abuse. The storyline may be triggering for some readers.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The novel is spilt between present day London and past in Paxos told by two different characters - Julia and Sofie. Sofie (13) and her family work and live at a villa in Paxos owned by a wealthy businessman (Julia's father). The family only ever go to stay in the summer and it is one of these summers that changes Sofia and her families lives forever! She has an encounter with friends of the family (two young boys) who have come to stay at the villa with them unfortunately for her it is this that will change the course of her life forever. Julia on the other hand has her own problems to contend with and is jealous of the innocence Sophie has.
In present day London Julia begins to see a therapist called Laurel she feels her life isn't her own anymore and her husband James is becoming more controlling over her life and demanding sex when he wants it and how! Julia decides with a bit of promoting from Laurel Th hat she should go back to the villa in Paxos for a couple of weeks and take time for herself. Whilst she's on this holiday Laurel makes a move on James and he's ready to throw his marriage away for her. All is not as it seems.

Loved reading this novel though extremely distressing in places due to what happens to Sofie. Well done Jane another fabulous and hard hitting novel! Many thanks for letting me read this, will be recommending to friends and family.

In many ways a very dark and disturbing story that has some very uncomfortable reading ,I did not find this book easy to read at times and did not like a lot of the characters but I think that was the intention,but it is undeniably very well written

All Her Secrets Jane Shemilt

5 stars

Absolutely brilliant

This is the second book that I have read by this author and I will definitely try and catch up on all her books. I absolutely loved this book and read it in a couple of days.

The story starts in Paxos where Julia, the main character in the book stays with her family in their farmhouse every summer. They are looked after by a local Greek family who cater to their every whim receiving no thanks in return. When Sofie, the 13 year old daughter of the Greek family is attacked and raped by some of the boys staying with Julia’s family everything is hushed up.

Fast forward twenty years and Julia is in an unhappy marriage with the controlling James, the headmaster of a private school. As a single mother to Charlotte, Julia had been grateful that James was happy to marry her and help her bring her daughter up but she is expected to do everything that her husband requires at the loss of her own ambitions and desires.

She meets Laurel Rossi, a therapist, at a meeting at the school and finds relief in opening her heart to her regarding her life. Laurel encourages Julia to go back to the family house in Paxos for a rest. Julia had left the island before the attack on Sofie and is horrified when she discovers what had happened and even more horrified when she discovers that Laurel is not what she seems.

I will not go into any further details about what happens next as it will spoil the book but suffice it to say it was incredible. The plot of this book was brilliant but also I love this author’s style of writing, it is so easy to read and just leaves you wanting more. I will look out for any further books by this author, highly recommended.



Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

I enjoyed this emotionally charged thriller set between Paxos in 2003 and present day London. Although I guessed two thirds in the true background of the main characters, this did not detract from my immersion in the story Sofies suffering at the hands of the two two boys was harrowing and well written and so was Julia's experience of coercive control by her second husband. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Not going to lie but this started off very slow for me and if it wasn’t for my stubbornness I would have DNF it a few chapters in. I just wasn’t vibing with the characters or the storyline. I did however persevere and it was worth it.

The Greek storyline was a bit harrowing especially as what happened to young Sofie. I did sort of guess the link between the 2 women but this didn’t spoil the book for me. I wasn’t keen on the Julia character at first and I hated James and Cosmo but Julia did grow on me. I also twigged the James and Cosmo characters and I think that’s why I despised them so much. Parts of this book made me so sad for Sofie and her family. Just when things couldn’t get much worse they did.

I’m glad I persevered with this book and I’m glad the book ended in the way that it did because it was the perfect ending for all those characters involved.

Another beautifully written, absolutely captivating gem of a novel by Jane Shemilt, one of the books you wish would never end!
Set in lavish in London, Cornwall and on the island of Paxos respectively, this is a gripping story about two families whose fates become forever entwined when the Greek caretaker‘s unawakened 13 year old daughter is groomed and raped by two teenage houseguests of the villa‘s powerful English owner in 2003, causing the consequences to culminate two decades later. Highly recommended.

There’s no arguing with the idea that ‘All Her Secrets’ is an excellent example of the Thriller genre. The author has taken care to establish well-developed characters within a carefully crafted plot. For readers who like to be teased this book will tick the ‘does it keep me guessing’ box - always the mark of a thriller that is hard to put down. The writing style is fluent and the author does a good job in balancing an excellent pace with the feeling of a building of tension. Thrillers can suffer from an only tenuous connection with maintaining credibility - not so with this book that keeps the narrative well-grounded. For this reader the novel passes the ‘just one more chapter’ test again and again and is recommended for readers who like a novel that grabs their attention and maintains that engagement to the very end.

Loved this story about 2 different girls one called Julia who comes from a rich family and one called Sofie who is from a poor family in Greece.
Julia's family own a house in Greece and Sofie's and her family worked for them cleaning and cooking and everything was great until Sofie suffers a horrific ordeal at the hands of friends of the family and this is where you really get involved with the story.
I loved how we went from the past to the future told from Sofie and Julia's side it stirred my emotions and could not wait to finish it, the author did a great job in making you feel you were part of the journey.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for a ARC for a honest opinion.

All Her Secrets is an emotionally packed drama alternating between Paxos in 2003 and England 2023.
On the tranquil Greek island of Paxos, a young girl Sofie and her family lives are changed forever when Sofie encounters two boys on the beach. She suffers a horrendous ordeal at their hands that her shame she feels rocks the community.
In London England Julia’s life is also in turmoil as she is manipulated and tormented by her husband. Julia is determined to travel back to Paxos to uncover secrets that the family home holds.
As the story unfolds the connection between the two stories are revealed. Sofie’s trauma is hard to read at times but well written.
My thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

"Thriller" is a genre that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, and this definitely delivers. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, making it difficult to put the book down. The characters are well-developed and the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who is hiding something. The pacing is spot-on, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. The writing style is gripping and evocative, making it easy to visualise the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters. The author's attention to detail and ability to create a believable world adds to the overall experience of the book. Overall, this is an excellent example of the thriller genre. It's a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end and is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspenseful read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A cleverly written book about a Greek girl,Sofia, who in 2003 was attacked by two British boys when she was only thirteen. The contrast between her life and the privileged life of these boys and their families who help cover up the crime, is stark. Sofia's life is changed beyond recognition.

I've read all of Jane Shemilt's books and this is one of the best. It deals sensitively with the issues raised especially that of toxic masculinity which is apparent not only in the boys involve but in the owner of the villa where the crime takes place. There are surprises on the way to please the most avid twist hunters. Some scenes might be triggering so it is as well to be aware of this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Recommended.

An emotionally rich storyline, where everything flowed really nicely throughout. There are some darker topics covered in this book so a little bit of caution might be needed if you think it could be triggering for you
But they are written sensitively throughout. There are a few surprises in the storyline along the way and this helped keep the reader engaged. I also liked the way that the alternating timelines worked well together. The characters were also well written.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book