I was weary upon knowing that the book was based on a group of podcasters being the ones to inevitably solve the crime but there was a good storyline making the read rather enjoyable.

An engrossing book that covers an intriguing cold case alongside everyday life, as the producers of a podcast try to uncover the truth behind three brutal murders.

Susan Lewis is one of my favourite authors but I just couldnt get in to this book. I found the plot just too slow, and the number of characters just too hard to keep track of.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Christy Ward and her colleagues are true crime podcasters and reevaluate the Kellon Manse Murders which have remained unsolved for 16 years. Lexie was killed in a triple murder, along with her mum and therapist and her 10 year old sister, Amelia has disappeared. Lexie’s husband was the main suspect, but no one was ever convicted.
The investigation gains traction but it seems someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. A fast paced thriller, with lots of red herrings and twists.

**Nothing to See Here** by **Susan Lewis** is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that deftly combines elements of mystery, family drama, and social commentary. Set in both contemporary and historical contexts, the book tackles themes of grief, family secrets, and the complexity of human relationships, all while keeping the reader invested in an intriguing, layered narrative.

### Plot Overview:
The story centers on **Maggie**, a woman who, after the death of her father, returns to the small town where she grew up. Upon her return, she discovers that her father’s death was not as straightforward as she had been led to believe. Maggie soon finds herself uncovering hidden truths about her family’s past, including a deep-seated secret that has been buried for decades. As Maggie digs deeper into the mystery surrounding her father's death, she is forced to confront her own painful history and the complicated relationships with her family members.

The novel alternates between Maggie’s investigation in the present day and flashbacks to her childhood, offering a glimpse into her formative years and the events that shaped her perception of her family and herself. As Maggie pieces together the truth about her father’s past, she also learns more about herself and her emotional resilience.

While the story has elements of mystery and suspense, it is primarily a character-driven exploration of how personal history, family ties, and unresolved trauma shape a person’s life. Maggie’s emotional journey, as she comes to terms with the past and her identity, is central to the narrative.

### Character Development:
One of the standout features of *Nothing to See Here* is its well-developed, relatable characters. Maggie, the protagonist, is a flawed yet deeply sympathetic character. Her return to her childhood town and the emotional baggage she carries from her past make her a complex figure who evolves throughout the novel. Her investigative journey is as much about uncovering family secrets as it is about reconciling with her own grief and trauma. Her vulnerability, strength, and determination resonate with readers, and her transformation over the course of the novel feels earned and authentic.

The supporting characters, particularly those from Maggie’s family, add layers of complexity to the story. Maggie’s relationship with her mother, in particular, is fraught with tension, as both women struggle to communicate and understand each other. The tension between them is emblematic of the broader theme of unresolved family conflicts and generational trauma. Maggie’s relationship with her father, who remains a central figure even after his death, also plays a significant role in her emotional journey.

In addition to the family members, the secondary characters help shape the narrative’s themes of secrecy and discovery. Their individual stories provide insights into the broader themes of grief, loss, and healing, making the novel feel richly textured.

### Writing Style:
Susan Lewis’s writing is emotional and evocative, with a strong focus on character development. The prose is accessible but layered with enough complexity to keep readers engaged. Lewis effectively uses the dual timelines of Maggie’s present-day investigation and her childhood memories to create a narrative that unfolds gradually, offering both mystery and depth.

The pacing is steady, with the author striking a balance between the unraveling of the central mystery and the emotional arcs of the characters. The moments of suspense are well-timed, creating a sense of anticipation without overshadowing the emotional core of the story.

Lewis’s skill in capturing the emotional undercurrents of the novel is one of its greatest strengths. The tension between Maggie’s desire to uncover the truth and her reluctance to confront painful memories is palpable, making her journey feel both relatable and poignant.

### Themes:
1. **Grief and Loss**: The theme of grief runs throughout the novel, from Maggie’s mourning for her father to her exploration of the unresolved grief in her family’s past. The novel examines how different characters cope with loss and how it shapes their actions and decisions.

2. **Family Secrets**: At the heart of the story is the idea of secrets—particularly family secrets—and the damage they cause. Maggie’s search for truth brings to light hidden aspects of her family’s past, forcing her to reckon with the lies that have shaped her life. The novel delves into how families can both shelter and betray each other through their unspoken histories.

3. **Identity and Self-Acceptance**: Maggie’s journey is not just about uncovering family secrets; it’s also about coming to terms with who she is and how she fits into the complex web of her family’s history. The novel touches on the struggle for self-acceptance, especially when one’s identity is entangled with the pain and secrets of the past.

4. **Generational Trauma**: The book explores how trauma is passed down from one generation to the next. Maggie’s attempts to understand her father’s behavior, as well as the relationships within her family, highlight the impact of unresolved issues and how they continue to affect future generations.

### Emotional Impact:
*Nothing to See Here* is a deeply emotional read that touches on universal themes of loss, betrayal, and the quest for truth. Maggie’s journey is both painful and redemptive, and readers will find themselves emotionally invested in her quest for closure and understanding. The emotional depth of the story ensures that it resonates long after the final page is turned.

The themes of family secrets and generational trauma may hit particularly hard for readers who have experienced similar challenges in their own families. The novel’s exploration of how people cope with grief and how the past can shape one’s sense of self is poignant and thought-provoking.

### Final Thoughts:
*Nothing to See Here* by Susan Lewis is a rich, emotionally engaging novel that skillfully blends family drama with mystery and suspense. The book’s strength lies in its character-driven narrative and its exploration of universal themes, such as grief, family dynamics, and the impact of secrets. Maggie’s emotional journey is both relatable and deeply moving, and her search for truth serves as a vehicle for broader reflections on the complexities of family relationships and personal healing.

For fans of emotional, character-driven stories with a touch of mystery, *Nothing to See Here* is an absorbing and thought-provoking read. Susan Lewis’s skill in blending suspense with deep emotional insight makes this a book that will resonate with a wide range of readers. Whether you’re drawn to family dramas, psychological mysteries, or stories of personal transformation, *Nothing to See Here* offers a compelling and rewarding reading experience.

Podcasters Christy Ward and her team try to solve a triple murder from 2008- a mother, her daughter Lexi and Lexi’s friend were brutally murdered. Lexi’s younger daughter goes missing and her husband is arrested but later released. The murder remains unresolved 16 years later, Christy and her team set out to solve the murder and to find out what happened to Lexi’s daughter Amelia.

I really like Susan Lewis’s books and was really excited to read this book. I enjoyed the storyline but the book was slightly longer than it needed to be- It was very slow paced but I continued reading. There were parts that I did enjoy but overall it wasn’t the easiest of books to read, despite this I will still continue to read Susan Lewis’s books. This book just wasn’t for me.

#NothingToSeeHere #NetGalley
Susan Lewis delivers a gripping and fast-paced crime thriller in Nothing to See Here, a novel that captivates from the first page with its intriguing premise—especially appealing to fans of true-crime podcasts. The story centers on Christy Ward, the lead producer of the Hindsight podcast, as she dives into the cold case of a 2008 triple murder. The victims included Lexie Gaudion, her mother, and her therapist, while Lexie's young daughter, Amelia, vanished without a trace. The prime suspect, Lexie’s husband, David, was released without trial, leaving the case unresolved. Sixteen years later, Christy and her team are determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedy.
The narrative is expertly crafted, with Christy and her colleague Connor Church conducting interviews with key figures connected to the case. Each interview reveals new, tantalizing details, and as their podcast episodes gain popularity, the influx of tips from listeners adds layers of suspense and complexity to the investigation. Christy's personal life provides an emotional undercurrent to the story. Her complicated feelings toward David Gaudion, the man at the center of the case, create tension, especially as she grapples with the betrayal of her ex-husband, Matthew. Adding to her challenges is the awkward friendship she finds herself navigating with Matthew’s much younger wife, who is overly eager to bond with her. These personal struggles enrich Christy’s character, making her journey both relatable and compelling. The book’s structure mirrors a true-crime podcast, with suspense building as Christy and Connor uncover shocking truths about the case and its players. The unexpected twists and turns keep readers engaged, and the ultimate resolution is both surprising and satisfying.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for giving me an advance copy.

Would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

Oh wow a totally different book from this author but man it kicks a punch and leaves you wanting more

A brutal murder occurs 3 women are dead and a young girl is missing at first the husband is arrested and about to go to court where it’s expected he will be sentenced to prison only got the case to be thrown out and nobody is ever arrested or charged with the murders

Until one day a podcast tries to unearth what happened and then all sorts begin to happen ….

Totally diffferent road from the normal but so well written and still in the style of this author thst you really get to know the characters in depth … a welcome change and one I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author

5* intro to this author with a tale that drew me in and didn't let go.

Quite often when a killer or bad guy's identity is revealed in a book/film/show, it feels faux or anticlimactic, but here, though motives weren't fully revealed, it's a shocker, and incomprehensible. I think a plain, basic ugly emotion was at the core of it, but it's still horrifyingly shocking.

The subject of the book, plus how the podcasters went about things, was engrossing. It actually made me voluntarily listen to my first podcast ever, and made me appreciate the time, research and hard work that goes into them. I liked both Connor and Cristy, though the latter's voice is what's mostly heard. The supporting characters, particularly the 2 researchers, added to the tale with how they managed to get witnesses to open up and provide clues and insight. It was also nice to see a successful Indian female in media, in a mixed-race marriage to a guy who considered her his partner, perhaps even the boss!

But, ugh, Matthew and Marly. Two utterly selfish, irritating, narcissistic characters who wholly deserved each other. But, they were too-present and too irritating, and at times were just a bit too much obviously filler. Their interference and drama went nowhere, and tbh, less would've been more.

The tale had a hint of romance that didn't work for me, but it didn't spoil the tale. It was nice that life was looking up for 2 people wronged by others, though not organic, it didn't feel like. I'll definitely be looking for more from Susan Lewis.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Harper Collins for my reading pleasure.

Nothing to See Here by Susan Lewis is a gripping and fast-paced crime thriller that immediately captured my attention with its intriguing premise, especially as a fan of true-crime podcasts. The story follows Christy Ward, the lead producer of the Hindsight podcast, as she delves into the unresolved triple murder case of Lexie Gaudion and her mother and therapist, all killed in 2008. Lexie's young daughter, Amelia, vanished without a trace, and the prime suspect, Lexie’s husband David, was released without trial. Sixteen years later, Christy and her team are determined to uncover the truth behind the murders.

The narrative is well-crafted, with Christy and her colleague Connor Church investigating the case through interviews with key people connected to the tragedy. Each interview unravels new revelations, and as their podcast episodes gain traction, they begin to receive a flood of messages and potential leads from the public, adding layers of suspense and intrigue.

Christy's personal life adds an emotional layer to the story, particularly her complex feelings towards David Gaudion, the man at the centre of the murders. She’s still recovering from her ex-husband Matthew’s betrayal and now finds herself entangled in an uncomfortable friendship with his new, much younger wife, who’s keen to befriend Christy. These personal struggles provide depth to Christy's character, making her journey all the more compelling.

The book is cleverly structured, much like a true-crime podcast, with the suspense building as Christy and Connor uncover more about the case and the people involved. The twists are unexpected, and the solution to the mystery took me by surprise, which is always a sign of a well-executed thriller.

Nothing to See Here is a must-read for fans of gripping crime stories and true-crime podcasts. With its intricate plot, unexpected twists, and well-developed characters, it’s a thrilling ride from start to finish.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A murder mystery created around a podcast - quite an original concept.. The podcast team work really well together, each with their own take and this creates a plot full of suspects and twists. The case they take on is a triple murder committed 16 years ago with now no suspects.
Some lighter moments are centred around Rosie, a delightful character.
I was hooked from the start and enjoyed the twist at the end. An excellent thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This is a totally different fresh style from Susan Lewis.
A sixteen year old cold case where 3 woman were murdered at the Gaudian family home, the Kellon Manse murders
Cristy Ward and her team are piecing together the story as a podcast, they are turning over stones and ruffling feathers in the process. Each week they upload a new episode, raising lots of questions which are hard hitting and direct. The podcast has forced the police into reopening the cold case, there are several suspects each with motive.
Cristy is juggling the pressures of work and her complicated home life
This is a fast paced rollercoaster read, with lots of twists and surprising turns, can Cristy and her colleagues uncover the truth which has been hidden with secrets and lies.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Great read which I highly recommend.
4.5 stars .

It was twenty-five years ago that I first read a novel by Susan Lewis and I have continued to read her writing from time to time over the years. She is a prolific author, who writes across a broad range of genre, crime, thrillers, suspense and family drama. Last year I read A Sicilian Affair which I found captivating and I promised myself to read more of her novels.

With 'Nothing To See Here' the author has written a bumper thriller of just over 500 pages! A cold case, an apparently unsolvable crime is at the centre of the story. Cristy Ward has decided to feature this particular case in her next True Crime Podcast. The Kellon Case Murders is particularly mysterious as sixteen years previously the police appeared to have solved the case. Then suddenly without explanation it was cited that there was not enough evidence to pursue the case against the husband. Will fresh eyes be able to unravel this complicated story?

I loved this such a C21 idea to create story around a podcast theme and it works well. One feels that Cristy, Connor and the team could feature in more novels if the author feels so inclined. With great character portrayal and so many twists and turns that will keep you guessing, this is recommended for any thriller fans that enjoy a substantial read.

Thanks to Net Galley, Harper Collins UK and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

I always enjoy a new Susan Lewis book. This was a good one. I did get "whodunnit" fairly early but that didn't take away from the jeopardy of - was I right? A very modern day concept- a podcast opens up a 16 year old unsolved murder case. Lexie Gaudion, her mother and therapist are found murdered in her home. Her 10 year old daughter has been missing ever since. Husband David was arrested and later released although everyone assumes he's guilty. Cristy and Connor's respected podcast opens up all the old rumours. Hard hitting, direct and clearly worrying to some. Why did the murders take place? What is the role of the so called cult? Cristy is dogged in her investigation and ultimately the police reopen the cold case. Meanwhile her personal life is anything but easy, another thread to the story. An engrossing read. #netgalley #nothingtoseehere

Suspenseful..
A triple murder, a disappearance, a suspect. An unsolvable crime. Or is it? Cristy Ward decides to choose this particular case for her series of true crime podcasts. Will it eventually be solved and what will the podcast ferret out along the way? As the podcast becomes all the more popular, all the more people are prepared to talk. With a well drawn cast of many characters, a complex and twisting plotline and an intriguing puzzle at its heart, this is a slow burn yet well paced suspenseful read.

I was granted an ARC of this book on NetGalley and the description really interested me so I was excited to read it. The idea behind this book had a lot of potential for me to really enjoy, however I just didn’t feel like it was gripping and fast paced in the way that I want a thriller to be. It was extremely slow starting and I got a good half of the way through before I felt any great interest in the book.

The first half felt very dragged out with no great progress to the storyline. There were so many characters going on it the book, all of which felt like the author wanted to be main and important characters in the plot, however in my opinion there were too many to actually get your head around who was who. The second half did pick up a bit and I found myself slightly more invested and eager to read on, however it still didn’t blow me away.

I never felt desperate to pick this book up, and how slow paced it was made it really difficult for me to become invested. I really wanted to love this book based on the description, however unfortunately it wasn’t for me and certainly wasn’t one of my favourites that I’ve read recently.

Nothing To See Here by Susan Lewis is the story of a true crime podcast team and their efforts to unravel and solve a cold case from sixteen years ago.
The police at the time were convinced they had their killer but he was suddenly released and no one else was found accountable for the murder of three women and a missing daughter.
Christy Ward and her team investigate the case. Will they be able to find out who was responsible for the death of a mother, daughter and therapist who all were murdered and a child missing, presumed dead.
Highly recommended

I'm torn about this one. It's a good concept but it's far too long. If at least 25% of it had been edited out, this would have been a much better book.

I love podcast-themed murder mysteries and this one has a great case, good twists and suspense. The problem is excessive details on protagonist, Cristy Ward's life. It felt like this was being set up to become a series but I couldn't find Cristy's choices to be relatable at all. The last 10% of the book is typing things up for all the characters after the case is solved which could have been done as an epilogue in a few pages instead.

Overall, I liked the story but thought it could have been shorter. I'm open to checking out more books from the author. Thanks to Netgalley & HarperCollins UK for the e-copy!

When I started this book on my kindle it stated approx 12 hrs to finish. OH, ,my word I thought, one of the longest I have read in a long time. Most are appro 6hrs. I was apprehisive as I thought I would get bored. I was so wrong. This book gripped me from the start - the storyline was exciting, great twists. I couldn't wait to hear the next podcast. Great writing, another great Susan Lewis book. Well done

Wow a complex compelling read. There is no second guessing with this latest from Susan Lewis and very unlike her previous works. It is a long book, but with the complexity of the story you need all the details. I did have to put it down now and again in order to absorb what the heck was going on or happening!!
Cristy Ward a journalist from Bristol has started doing successful crime podcasts after a horrible marriage break up. The cold case of the Kellon Manse murders where a local mum, daughter and their friend are horrifically killed on a summer day in 2008 is their focus. The murderer has never been found, with the case mysteriously dropped for the accused husband and key evidence is now missing. Can Cristy and her colleagues uncover the truth behind this complicated story of cover ups and secrets, strange practices in a cult and the undercover network at the university they attended.
There is so much here, I was quite exhausted by the end which was full of surprises.
Fascinating, gripping, quite a roller coaster of plot twists and turns. Fantastic modern crime thriller!!
The writing is just brilliant. The characters and places so easy to engage with and conjure up in your minds eye.
Hugely recommended, for an immersive immense ten course meal of a book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the early read!! This is excellent!