3.5 Stars

No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle is a twist-filled, suspenseful novel that keeps readers on edge, though it takes its time getting there. The plot follows Eve Sylvester, a woman down on her luck who thinks she’s hit the jackpot when she’s hired by Julia and Christopher Hygate, a wealthy couple, to be their son’s nanny. The job, set on a remote island with promises of a luxurious life, quickly reveals its dark side, as Eve becomes entangled in the couple’s dangerous secrets and manipulations.

This is the second book I’ve read by Carlyle, and while I enjoyed both, I’m torn about this one. On the positive side, there are some genuinely gripping moments, especially toward the end, where the twists really come to life—some expected, others completely shocking. Carlyle’s signature ability to create complex webs of deception and suspense shines through, but the pacing left much to be desired. The slow burn made it hard to stay hooked until the later chapters, and I wish the relationship between Eve and Xander had been more central, as it would have helped me feel more invested early on.

Eve’s character, unfortunately, was a struggle for me. Despite being portrayed as intelligent, she made bafflingly poor choices that were difficult to understand. While I can appreciate flawed protagonists, Eve’s decisions seemed too far-fetched, making it hard to root for her. It’s a shame because her circumstances and backstory had the potential for a much more compelling arc.

The ending also stretched the limits of believability, which, combined with a lack of depth in the characters' motivations, kept this from being a 4-star read. That said, Carlyle delivers on the twists, and if you enjoy unpredictable psychological thrillers, this may still hit the mark for you.

Thank you to Rose Carlyle, Text Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

The Girl In The Mirror was one of my favourite reads of 2020 so there were squeals of delight when I was sent an early reading copy of No One Will Know. Rose Carlyle has outdone herself with her latest offering, it is such a fast-paced riveting thriller that I struggled to put down.

The twists and turns left me gobsmacked and glued to the pages desperate to see what would come next. I devoured this book in two sittings and loved every minute. Never knowing what would happen with each turn of the page made it exciting to read and the range of unlikable characters had me yelling out loud in frustration. While it is unlikely a story like this would play out in real life it was so much fun to immerse yourself for a few hours and let your imagination run wild.

Thank you to Text publishing and NetGalley for providing me with such enjoyment, 5 of the biggest stars for me, I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen.

No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle was not at all what I was expecting. As usual I hadn't read the backcover blurb just before starting so I got my villains wrong from the outset, thinking it involved those we're introduced to early in the novel - namely the family of Eve's partner. But then things take an unexpected twist - devastating Eve, until she's offered a lifeline - a nanny job that will allow her to afford to keep and raise her child.

I was a little surprised that Carlyle didn't loop back to the book's opening and Eve's love interest (Xander), the father of her child. I kept expecting that we'd meet Xander's family again or there would be some recourse. In some ways it made that initial (quite pivotal) plotline redundant as Eve could have been pregnant to anyone and remained committed to the safety and livelihood of her child. Though perhaps it's meant to remind us that Eve's been hurt in the past and more resilient (albeit more naïve) than we expect.

I enjoyed this though the pacing was a little off for me. I'm conscious that some elements need more detail and time, but then we sped forward on a couple of occasions with a very brief recap. I realise that Carlyle needed to keep the momentum by fast-forwarding but it meant I disengaged a little and felt myself distanced from what was unfolding. That said, she also drew me back into the plot quickly given we'd sped forward to pivotal moments. There's also some inconsistency in the characters, some of whom were evil at times, with few qualms about taking a life but at others showing mercy or sympathy. I did however like that readers are challenged with characters cloaked in many shades of grey. Not necessarily all bad or all good.

The plot itself is twisty and intriguing but also somewhat surreal. Things (and people) are most certainly not who they seem, which I liked but the direction the plot takes seemed a little far-fetched... perhaps too much so? That said, I appreciated the little twist at the end which may have readers pondering later... which is a good thing and many felt following Carlyle's first book, The Girl in the Mirror.

3.5 stars

I absolutely was immersed in this novel from the first page. Our main character Eve is in love with Xander and they are planning a life together, when tragedy strikes. Eve is left in a tricky situation with no money or place to live, she receives an incredible offer from a couple that live on a remote island off the coast of Hobart in Tasmania.

With no other options available she takes them up on her offer to nanny their expectant baby with a home to live and a well paid job. All seems too good to be true, and it is. What follows is a gripping story of lies and betrayal where you don't know who to believe, and don't expect what happens next.

I am a huge fan of Rose Carlyle after devouring her first novel The Girl in the Mirror and have been patiently waiting for her next book and this one is just as good as her first book. The description of the island where Eve lives makes me want to go to Tasmania. Rose uses her experiences as a sailor to accurately describe the techniques of sailing a yacht in the novel too.

Highly recommend this novel to readers of domestic suspense and women's fiction.
Thanks go to Text Publishing and Net Galley for a copy of this book for review purposes. 5 Stars.

Four years ago, adventure-loving Auckland lawyer Rose Carlyle grabbed global attention with her #1 internationally bestselling debut, The Girl in the Mirror. Now she’s back with another cracking thriller that shows no let-up or ‘difficult second novel’ wobbles.

Fans of Carlyle’s smash hit debut and new readers alike will find plenty to enjoy in No One Will Know, a twisting, propulsive tale centred on Eve Sylvester, a young woman scrabbling to survive after her life is upturned by fate and circumstance. After a car crash rips away the future Eve was hoping for on her return to Sydney from adventures sailing across the South Pacific, the former foster kid is left broke, desperate, and pregnant.

No living relatives, no good friends, no one to help. Acutely aware of the impact of growing up in tough circumstances, Eve can’t resist a lucrative offer to live-in nanny for glamorous couple on their mansion estate in Paradise Bay on a remote island off the southern coast. But has Eve made a deal with the devil, out of love for her unborn child?

Carlyle shows great mastery of pace and narrative drive in No One Will Know, luring readers into Eve’s story and keeping pages whirring with harrowing events and danger. The read hurtles along like a record-breaking Sydney to Hobart maxi yacht. A cracking ‘beach read’ that also engages emotionally with character and underlying themes.

No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle has my award for the WOW factor!! This was absolutely amazing and had me totally spellbound and then totally blown away with so many unexpected twists and turns.

Set on a remote Island off the coast of Tasmania the location adds to the mystery and intrigue.

The publisher’s blurb is an excellent introduction:


“Eve Sylvester is young and broke and needs a job fast. After years of foster homes, backpacking and a sailing trip across the Pacific Ocean, she has lost contact with friends and family. She is alone, desperate—and pregnant.
Then she meets Julia and Christopher Hygate, a charming and glamorous couple, who seem to have the perfect life: loads of money and a breathtakingly beautiful mansion on a remote Tasmanian island. They make her a lucrative offer. Eve can move into their empty summerhouse and take up a very easy job.
Eve thinks she’s fallen on her feet—she has found a home, and her child will grow up in the aptly named Paradise Bay. But some things about the job don’t add up. Why must Eve stay out of sight? Why have the Hygates employed an ex-con to run their yacht-charter business? And what about the mysterious boats sailing in and out of the Hygates’ private marina? Has Eve made a deal with the devil? It’s too late to ask questions. Eve is already in far too deep.”
Mystery and tension are in abundance in the novel. People are not what they seem; in fact nothing is what it seems! Incredible job by the author to keep me totally absorbed and totally bamboozled!

Highly recommended read.


This review is based on a complimentary copy from Text Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#NoOneWillKnow #NetGalley

Well didn't this book have all the twists and turns in it.

Eve is pregnant and alone. She has no money, and is left wondering how she is going to raise this baby on her own. In come Julia and Christopher Hygates. They are wealthy, and they have a plan in place - they just need to find the right person to help them... a pregnant person.

This book was action packed with twists and turns and so many things you don't see coming. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting, but the ending turned out really good.

I did find Eves character to be a little annoying and naive - but I do know she had to be portrayed that way. Overall it was a good read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eve, who has no family, no money, and whose boyfriend has just been killed in a car accident, goes to a remote island off of the coast of Tasmania to be a nanny for a very rich couple, Chris and Julia. But some of their associates are shady and some of the things they ask her to do are questionable.

I loved the first novel from this author and I liked this one but not quite as much. I felt like the whole story hinged on Eve being over the top naive and trusting. I know that her back story was set up to make this more believeable, but it still was too much for me. Regardless, I found this to be a quick read and I was definitely interested in finding out what was really going on, because clearly Chris and Julia were not on the up and up. Overall, another good one from this author and I look forward to her next novel.

Wow. What a fantastic book! I absolutely LOVED it.
It's definitely one of my favourites for the year so far.

No One Will Know was full of suspense, drama, betrayal, and deceit.
I got very invested in the characters very quickly, especially Eve. There were a few times I wanted to shake her for being far too trusting and naive, but it added to the suspense, making for a tense read at times.
Julia and Christopher were interesting characters, although they were very self-absorbed.

Rose did a fantastic job keeping me guessing throughout the story. I thought I had it all figured out, but then that final twist threw me.
I enjoyed her writing style and I'll be eagerly awaiting her next novel.

I very highly recommend.

5 well deserved stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Text Publishing, and Rose Carlyle for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eve Sylvester is a young, very naive girl with a lot of tragedy in her life. Raised partly in the foster care system, she's been restlessly moving around most of her life, when a chance meeting with a young Australian man overseas leads to a yacht journey home. It's a short lived period of bliss with the love of her life, Xander, who then dies in a car accident on the way to introduce Eve to his very wealthy parents. Who were convinced their son was going to marry a much more suitable previous girlfriend, and are very sceptical when, after being released from hospital recovering from her own injuries, Eve announces she's pregnant.

Cut a long, awful story short, cut off, disbelieved, homeless and aimless, a pregnant Eve is approached at Xander's grave by an elderly woman with an unbelievable job offer. The role of nanny for a ridiculously wealthy couple who live on a secluded island off the coast of Tasmania.

The setting, needless to say, is fictional here, so the island is anything the author wants it to be. She wants it to be luxurious, remote, populated by just enough people to support a small town where staff can come and go from, and provide a mansion of a house, a detached summer house (where Eve is accommodated), a secluded harbour which sailing ships come and go from unseen, and a nearby isolated lighthouse. All of these elements feature in a story that gets, well, complicated. Eve's pregnancy proceeds, her job includes a few very hairy complications, and six years later things become life threatening and, well more and more odd. Can't say much more than that without giving away a plot that is most certainly a wild, very wild, wierd, wild ride.

NO ONE WILL KNOW is going to work well for readers that can connect with Eve who is part naive ingénue, part annoyingly thick as a brick, brave and incredibly daft all at the same time. It's a sort of a mother's love will overcome everything story, (stand by for some twists and turns in there), which is definitely going to work well for readers open-hearted enough to understand and/or forgive her naivity, possessed of determined suspension of some hefty disbelief along the way.

This reader found it an interesting, frustrating, unexpected ride. On the one hand fast paced, intriguing and engaging. On the other, I had to restrain a physical reaction to some of the plot twists that had me eye-rolling and sighing more than a bit. There were points where I couldn't put the novel down, and there were points when I wanted to pitch it against the nearest wall. From memory, a similar reaction to the author's earlier novel, and maybe that's the point. Make things as out there as you possibly can, and see if you can engage a reader with a character whose flaws, and the mess they find themselves in, are so unlikely, that they make you suddenly think, "is it really that unlikely?" In this day and age who knows, anything's increasingly possible.

(This review will be pushed live on AustCrime on the 1st October / release date)

This is an entertaining thriller by an Australian author. It’s Rose Carlyle’s second novel, following "The Girl in the Mirror", which I haven’t read, but which received considerable acclaim.

This novel is told (mostly) from the first-person point of view of a young woman, Eve Sylvester. Shortly after the start of the book, Eve discovers she is pregnant, but she when she approaches the rich family of her boyfriend, who died in a car accident, they shun her, treat her coldly and offer no help. Eve is an orphan, so has no family of her own to support her, has few skills and no savings, so she is becoming desperate.

While she’s grieving her boyfriend in the cemetery, an older woman approaches and strikes up a conversation. It seems like a gift from Heaven when this woman, Zelde, tells her that her wealthy employers, Christopher Hygate and his wife Julia, are looking for a nanny for their baby, and all but offers her the job.

After Eve gets the job and moves to the island off the coast of Tasmania where the Hygates have their mansion, the story takes many unexpected twists and turns, which I won’t reveal, other than to say that this apparently heaven-sent job turns out to be anything but. Zelde and the Hygates have deceived her. Their deception goes much deeper than it first appears, and keeps on getting deeper. A high level of tension is kept up throughout as Eve tries to escape from the coils in which she finds herself.

There are some touching scenes as the story jumps six years forward shortly after Eve gives birth. A focus of the book is on the strength of the bond between a mother and her child, and the extraordinary lengths she will go to protect it.

I did think that a weakness of the book was the rather pat ending in which all the bad guys get their just deserts and all the good guys triumph. I would rather have had more shades of grey, and some ambiguity, but perhaps that’s just me.

Setting that aside, I did enjoy the book, which kept me turning the pages, and I’d be happy to read anything else the author writes.

Eve is alone, pregnant and desperately needs a job. She meets Julia and Christopher, a seemingly picture-perfect couple, who wants to hire her as a nanny. She quickly realises that they have hidden intentions and she will have to fight for her survival.

This was a slower-paced mystery, but it did keep me guessing throughout. The way the different character perspectives was written felt disjointed and the first part of the book felt like it could have been a separate story from the rest of the book. It was difficult to root for Eve as she was very naive and constantly made questionable decisions. The other characters weren't likeable either with their ulterior motives.

Very much a page turn but a good one that is well written and creates a story that moves fast. Set on a fictional island in Tasmania there is much to worry the reader from the moment Eve arrives. She comes with a tragic backstory that increases her vulnerability into a world in which it’s very hard to find a posit trustworthy person. So it’s Eve against the world and we want her to win. I couldn’t put it down which was perfect as I needed an escape read for the weekend. Thanks to @netgalley and @textpublishing for an advance reader copy in return for my review.

Eve has no family, no money and has recently found out that she is pregnant. Her luck changes when she is offered a job by a wealthy couple and the chance to bring up her child on a beautiful Tasmanian island. But everything is not as it seems.

Wow! This book was amazing. It's split into 3 parts, starting out as a slow burn domestic thriller but really picking up the pace in part 3.

The plot is clever, you don’t know which characters to trust. You know something is off, but you have no idea how things will pan out and the twists and turns keep coming.

The island setting made me want to go on holiday and the pregnancy/mother-child bond theme really pulls at the heartstrings. I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks to Netgalley, Rose Carlyle and Text Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review.

If you enjoyed the Girl in the Mirror, you will also like this book by the same author.

Eve meets Xander and they have an idyllic life traveling and sailing around different places on a boat together. Both are madly in love with each other and are really enjoying their time together. Xander wants his parents’ to meet Eve and after he is summoned home. Eve is extremely nervous as Xander has been asked to lunch with them and he wants her to attend with him. Unfortunately, Xander’s ex-girlfriend is also going to be there, a girl that his parents love.

Soon after, Eve is now on her own, penniless and homeless. She then receives an offer of work as a nanny by an extremely rich and private couple, Julia and Christopher Hygate. Eve has previous experience in child minding and is over the moon thinking she is now in a great place and will be able to earn a decent living all while living on a beautiful luxurious island. But she is also hesitant after meeting the couple, she feels there is something off about them and wow is she right. After thinking it through she decides to accept, this may be a decision she soon regrets. Sometimes we should just follow our gut feelings

Lots of drama and twists that will keep you entertained with characters that are extremely strange, underhanded and devious. I really think it is best to just go into this one without knowing too much more but be prepared for a very rocky ride.

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publisher for an ARC, all opinions are my own.

WOW! What a ride! I was hooked on this book from the very first page as Eve, a young, naive and pregnant woman finds herself alone in the world, after the death of her boyfriend in a car accident. When Eve is offered a job as a Nanny to a wealthy couple on a private island, it seems like a dream come true, but Eve has no idea what she is walking into and it's more complex, thrilling and twisted than I could ever have imagined!

It's difficult to say too much without venturing into spoiler territory, but this book is no ordinary thriller and Christopher and Julia Hygate, Eve's employers, have SO many secrets!

Twist after fast-paced twist had me reeling and it didn't let up until the mind-blowing epilogue.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Rose Carlyle and Text Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Read this on holiday and it was the perfect beach read, held my interest and wasn't too taking. It's a pretty standard thriller with nothing new but it was good nonetheless. Beachy trash perfect to escape with

#NoOneWillKnow #NetGalley
Eve Sylvester is young and broke and needs a job fast. After years of foster homes, backpacking and a sailing trip across the Pacific Ocean, she has lost contact with friends and family. She is alone, desperate—and pregnant. Then she meets Julia and Christopher Hygate, a charming and glamorous couple, who seem to have the perfect life: loads of money and a breathtakingly beautiful mansion on a remote Tasmanian island. They make her a lucrative offer. Eve can move into their empty summerhouse and take up a very easy job. Eve thinks she’s fallen on her feet—she has found a home, and her child will grow up in the aptly named Paradise Bay. But some things about the job don’t add up. Why must Eve stay out of sight? Why have the Hygates employed an ex-con to run their yacht-charter business? And what about the mysterious boats sailing in and out of the Hygates’ private marina? Has Eve made a deal with the devil? It’s too late to ask questions. Eve is already in far too deep.
It was mind blowing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for giving me an advance copy.

Obsessed with thrillers at the moment even though I read them with my heart in my mouth most of the time! Couldn’t put this one down and read it all in one go!
Every single time I thought it was ok again there was another twist or another turn that changed everything and even right at the end there was one last twist!
I did thoroughly enjoy the suspense once it was over but there were a few times during I thought I was going to put the book down and not pick it back up! Clearly the making of a good thriller!
There could be some triggers in here for people so deffo check them before you read!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Whst a fantastic read I flew through the book in less than a day.

Would definitely recommend to others

Thank you for the opportunity to review