The main character of this is Isla, a small town librarian who harbors a secret dark side. She is obsessed with true crime and more specifically, committing a ‘perfect’ murder. Her job provides the perfect cover for her to do plenty of research. The story focuses on what happens when a dark, true crime interest ignites into a full-blown obsession. Because Isla seems fairly meek and mild on the outside, but comes into contact with lots of library patrons from her town, she has a window into their lives and interests and becomes particularly interest in her human subjects.

Another reviewer compared Isla to the character of Dexter and while isn’t exactly analogous, there are definitely common threads.

The novel is fairly short and propulsive read. This one hasn’t gotten near the attention I think it should and Isla is a strong and interesting enough character around which a series could be built. Would recommend to those who like psychological suspense.

This is a psychological thriller that delves into the unsettling mind of Isla, a librarian with a dark obsession and fascination of true crime that escalates to the desire to commit the “perfect murder.” The author does a good job of detailing the transformation through this well thought out yet disturbing journey.

There are moments where the story tends to drag, but all in all a decent, quick read that leaves you questioning the lines between interest and obsession.

Oh my word! Gripping does not do this book justice! I honestly felt like I was there with isla as her obsession deepens. I couldn’t sleep until I finished it.

This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

My Dark Secret by Dawn Hemmings is a haunting psychological thriller that delves deep into the mind of Isla, an unassuming librarian with a growing obsession for true crime. As her academic interest turns into something darker, Isla begins to blur the lines between research and reality, inching closer to a chilling and unthinkable act. Hemmings skillfully explores the fragile boundary between obsession and madness, building a slow, tension-filled narrative that keeps the reader on edge. This eerie and unsettling story is a fascinating dive into the complexity of the human psyche.

I really enjoyed the plot and that the main character is a librarian. It's something us book nerds can appreciate! The book was eerie and twisty and really made you think about all of the other true crime cases out there and what is given to the public. I enjoyed this read and would recommend!

A sinister look at what goes on in someone else's life. One gets a view into the mind of our main character and how she evolves into her obsession. A well-paced story that kept me interested and the ending had me asking for more.

Dawn Hemmings takes readers on a chilling and unforgettable journey in My Dark Secret, a dark thriller that explores the twisted psyche of a character driven by a sinister dream. This short story is as gripping as it is unsettling, offering a unique perspective on the thriller genre by placing the reader inside the mind of a would-be murderer.

Hemmings crafts a narrative that is both disturbing and compelling. The protagonist’s inner monologue is vividly detailed, pulling readers into their warped motivations and obsessive planning. This deep psychological dive makes for an unnerving experience, as Hemmings skillfully blurs the line between ambition and madness.

Despite its brevity, the story is well-paced, building tension as the protagonist inches closer to their grim goal. Hemmings’ writing is sharp and evocative, ensuring every moment is charged with dread and anticipation. The moral ambiguity of the tale leaves readers questioning their own limits of empathy and fascination with the darker side of human nature.

What sets My Dark Secret apart is its bold approach to the thriller genre. Rather than focusing on the pursuit of justice or unraveling a mystery, it forces readers to confront the mind of a killer in the making. This unconventional narrative choice creates a deeply immersive, albeit unsettling, experience.

In conclusion, My Dark Secret is a daring and thought-provoking read. Dawn Hemmings has crafted a dark, psychological thriller that lingers in the mind long after the final sentence. It’s a perfect pick for readers seeking a thriller that ventures into the darkest corners of human ambition and desire.

My Dark Secret by Dawn Hemmings is a mystery/thriller novella that could've benefited from being much longer. It had a lot of potential, but not enough payoff.

I really enjoyed the idea of this book, the synopsis and cover really gained my interest.
It was a quick, fast paced read.
I liked that Isla enjoyed true crime!

I do think it was a bit repetitive so at time this made the book seem a little dragged out and boring.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the copy in exchange for a honest review.

Would really highly recommend this book as a must read. It was such a fantastic psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns and such good mystery read with such a great story and so well written that I could not leave it down. It had very interesting characters and so well written.

This was a really short book! just over 100 pages. It was super wordy, slow, and really repetitive. DIdn't feel like a short book at all! The premise was ok but for these reasons it made for a difficult and boring read. It reallyyyyyy dragged on!

Thank you Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Isla is a librarian with a Dark Secret. She wonders what it is like to commit the perfect murder. Her workplace, the library, is a perfect place to do research. She makes a list of details, where, who, how, and such.
Such a short book, a bit over 100 pages. However I was turned off by too-long sentences. People don't really think or talk in that kind of language, grammar and vocabulary do they? If you like true crime stories, you may enjoy this novella.

I think the idea behind My Dark Secret has such potential but fell flat with its POV and anticlimactic story. I found it very repetitive which had me skimming and skipping through the story. I am not a big True Crime fan, that might be a reason it didn’t pull me in…so for those who love True Crime, I recommend giving it a try.

3.5 / 5

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy/early read opportunity!

My Dark Secret by Dawn Hemmings  is  a psychological thriller -- I think (maybe horror).

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Atmosphere Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Isla Wilde is a librarian who, from an early age, was fascinated by the criminal mind.

In her mind, she explored the idea of committing the perfect crime.  She researched her obsession non-stop.  Her job at the library was a perfect research center, filled with aisles of books on true crime.  She could also log onto the internet under the names of others, thereby hiding her own rather dark interests.

Isla started a journal, filled with scribbles and sketches, as well as websites and quotes.  It continued to evolve with newspaper articles and post-it-notes.  She learned from the mistakes of others.

So...would she actually commit murder?


My Opinions:
As short as this book was, the slowness of the story made it drag....and it was somewhat repetitive.  

I actually liked the premise of this, and was really looking forward to it.  The idea that an interest can move to become an obsession, and from there can become reality is somewhat disturbing...but only because this was a rather dark interest to begin with.  Although I have always been a fan of  true crime, it's never become a reality for me, so....I guess it depends on your mindset, or lack of morals and good judgement.

Anyway, I did like how the author used each chapter as a step in the process...that was quite interesting....and again a little disturbing.

I really wanted to love this one, and don't get me wrong, it was good.  It just missed the mark... I couldn't relate to the character (which is probably a good thing), and it really dragged.  It could be because, other than the victim, Isla didn't seem to have any friends, so there was no dialogue per se....just her never-ending monologue/thoughts.

Again, this was good, so don't judge it on my negativity.  Again, I loved the whole premise!

The idea behind My Dark Secret is such a darkly clever one—and it could have been a smart and entertaining read about a crime novel enthusiast executing a crime of her own. But because of its awkward voice and its anticlimactic story, it fails to live up to its promise.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and one of the things that set it apart for me was that the main character was a librarian. I noticed similarities between myself and the main character, particularly our shared obsession with true crime and the inner workings of criminal minds. Given my interest in true crime, unsolved mysteries, and the psychology of serial killers, I found this story to be relatable and engaging and the details about "how to get away with murder" in the book were both chilling and fascinating. Although I wished there was more interaction between the main character and the victim to further develop their relationship, I still found the book enjoyable. Another notable aspect of the book was its structured approach, presented in steps, which cleverly broke up the story. It was evident that the author conducted thorough research, and this attention to detail made the reading experience more enriching.

This is a fun fast pace mystery, it was written beautifully. I really enjoyed reading this, it definitely kept me turning the page.

My Dark Secret written by Dawn Hemmings had the potential to be so good, but the repetitiveness drove me insane, don't get me wrong, it was a pretty good story, but repeating the same thing numerous times didn't work for me, I found myself skimming a little bit. The synopsis and cover really had my attention, but like I said before, with the repetitiveness it fell short for me. It wasn't a horrible book at all, it just felt like the author needed some filler, so multiple things were repeated numerous times. The story line was super intriguing, I found myself gasping a few times due to some of the events taking place. I read this novella in one sitting, so if you are a true crime junkie or want something short and quick, look no further than My Dark Secret written by Dawn Hemmings. This novella does get gory at times, and literally right down to the details, so if that would bother you, this book is NOT for you. Despite this book falling a bit short for me, I was still pleasantly surprised by the story line. If you do decide to read this book, don't let my rating scare you away, these are just my opinions and how I felt about this book.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ATMOSPHERE PRESS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

"There's something magical about the sound of laughter, as it creates an instant connection and brightens even the dullest of moments".

"The idea of murder- it's more than just an act; it's an art, a dark and mesmerizing dance".

Isla Wild is an introverted librarian at her local library. Isla doesn't really like talking to people, so she finds solace in books, and her companion Apollo, a giant male Maine coon cat. Isla has a dark secret, she wants to commit murder, but she doesn't really know why. As a young teenager while other children were captivated by dolls and fashion, Isla's fascination lay in the enigmatic terrain of human psychology. Isla was absolutely obsessed with true crime tv shows, movies, podcasts, and Isla had crime themed posters plastering the walls of her bedroom. For her love of books and being a librarian, Isla would do research every single day and learn new facts such as men tend to kill for sexual reasons, while women kill for reasons like money or revenge. Freeda is Isla's campervan, Freeda became Isla's confidant and Isla even told Freeda her dark secret, but get this, Freeda never judged Isla, but only helped her with her dark secret of wanting to commit murder.

Even though Isla is an introvert, she comes across a homeless man named John who is living on the streets in front of the library where Isla works. One day Isla stumbles upon John and they start talking. John lost his wife and daughter in a hit and run accident. John spirals into depression, he loses his job, and his house, so now he's on the streets. John and Isla form a bond, Isla brings John warm drinks and food, and after doing this for a while, Isla soon loans John her spare bedroom. Isla has this twisted logic to murder John, but she's convinced herself that she was granting John mercy, freeing him from a life of misery. I never really understood Isla's logic for just wanting to commit murder for the hell of it, I thought she was twisted and needed some help. I mean, where does one person just wake up one day and says "I'm going to commit murder today"? I was intrigued by the story, but I just felt no connection to the characters, like I felt extremely sorry for John's loss of his family, but I absolutely felt no connection to Isla. Maybe I'll reread this book one day and my rating may change, but for now I'm sticking with three stars due to the skim reading and repetitiveness.

Isla has been fascinated with true crime since she was young. She has researched for years, wanting to know what makes people kill, how they choose their victims, and how they get caught. Now grown, Isla decides she wants to know how it feels to take a life. And after years of researching, it's now time to find out.

I really wanted to like this one. Mainly because the main character sounded like me. I've been fascinated with true crime and serial killers since I was young. But honestly, I found myself feeling bored. It's under 200 pages, and it took me the better part of 2 days to read because it was just so incredibly slow. I also found it very very repetitive. I was constantly thinking I had reread pages because the exact same wording or phrasing were used on several pages. It was definitely a challenge to get through this one.