DI Hollie Turner is called out to the discovery of a body on the ghost train at Hull Fair. This brings back awful memories for Hollie. Twenty-five years ago in 1999, Hollie Turner and her friend Moira Kennedy were both 19 years old and at university. They decided to have a fun evening enjoying themselves at Hull Fair. In an awful turn of events, they get separated and Moira ends up disappearing without a trace. Now, 25 years later, the body on the ghost train is identified as Gordon Carrick, an ex-police superintendent. Gordon had a link with a local children’s home, the same home where Moira lived before going to university. Then a care worker at the same home is also found killed, and Hollie realizes there must be a link between the killings and her missing friend. Can Hollie remain impartial while investigating, despite missing her old friend every day.
This is a first-class addition to the Detective Hollie Turner series, a proper page-turner and a fast-paced complex story. One of the best additions is seeing Hollie’s earlier life and her motivation for joining the police.
The Detective Hollie Turners series continues to grow and mature and is becoming one of my favourite police procedurals. Paul J Teague is adept at these dual-timeline stories.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Paul J Teague for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I have been reading this book for at least 2 weeks and I just cannot bring myself to care enough about the characters or the plot enough to finish. I stumble over all the formalities in the British Police Department. The author keeps referring to some of them by first name, some by last name and is inconsistent with the D_ and what that means. I have dreaded going back to reading this book.

Her final secret" was a great book! Such an intriguing storyline, it kept me guessing up until the end. Moiras fate was tragic and quite realistic because unfortunately, its a heavy topic we as a society really have to deal with these days, even more than ever. Anyways; great thriller and worth a read!

Detective Hollie Turner is working on a case that has unfortunate similarities to an event in her. Hollie Turner and Moira Kennedy were 19 year old University students, who were attending the Hull Fair in 1999 when their night takes a horrific turn. In an instant Moire is gone. Hollie tirelessly tries to find her friend but with no leads, the case soon goes cold. Unable to cope with the tragedy, Hollie drops out of school and pursues a career in law enforcement. Now, 25 years later, a body has been found at the same location and she can’t help but worry there might be a connection. The deeper the investigation goes, the more she realizes that unfortunately, she was right. Another body is found, and the connection is made that the victims were involved with a children’s home in the past. The same children’s home that Moira lived in.

This is another great book in this Detective Hollie Turner series, and I like Hollie’s flashbacks showing how she decided to join the force because of Moira’s disappearance and the lack of movement on the case after time passed. It’s not at all surprising that she’d want to do a better job for other people than the police did for her when her friend went missing. The way she was treated was horrible. If only that behavior wasn’t so true to life.

This book, like the others in the series was such an attention grabber. I needed to find out what happened next and continued to read. It is fast paced and heart pounding. It was great with the dual timelines from the 1999-present. Paul Teague does an incredible job of keeping the mystery flowing throughout the book.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stormbooks_co and @paulteagueauthor for granting me the ARC of Her Final Secret.

#HerFinalSecret #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

DI Hollie Turner is called to a scene at the Hull Fair, where the body of a retired police officer has been found. Along with her team, they need to investigate the why, how, what, and who did the crime. They discovered connections with Ambrose House and an historic case of a missing student from almost 25 years. Secrets will always come out when Hollie is on the case. It's rollercoaster of a read, full of twists and turns with a few red herrings thrown in. It's told in multiple points of view and over several time lines, leading to a dramatic conclusion. More Hollie please!!!

4* Solid police procedural, though I'm not sure how Hollie was permitted to remain on the case, given her connection to events from the past.

This is sad and horrifying in parts, as well as satisfying when you read about the awful deaths inflicted on those who frankly deserved what they got. It's a well-orchestrated tale that has more than meets the eye, and the ending was a pretty decent surprise.

I suspect it drew more than a little from child trafficking rings that've made headlines in places such as Rochdale in the not too distant past, but here, most of the guilty paid for it, satisfyingly, an eye for an eye (not PC, I know, but who cares?). I liked that there was closure for Hollie, Moira and 2 others, whose lives had no doubt gone down the 'if only' route. There's some solid old-fashioned policework here, although that Hollie was allowed to remain on the case required a lot of suspension of disbelief.

I'm not sure I liked Hollie enough, though, to want to read the previous tales in this series. It's easy to judge when you read that her 2 youngest kids are with her ex, whilst her eldest (not the ex's) is with her towards the end of the book. I don't think I recall even one interaction or Facetime or call with them, or any talk of having them, which felt a little weird. At the same time, it's a bit convenient as with the kids in her care, she wouldn't be able to do her job. Still, it was a cohesive and believable read.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.

The story has so many twists that keep you trying to work out what happened to Moira, DI Hollie Turner’s best friend who went missing at the Hull Fair. After the body of an ex-police officer is discovered in the ghost ride it stirs up a lot of memories for Hollie. Is Moira still alive. And who was responsible for murdering the ex-policeman. I certainly will be following Paul J. Teague in future and hope there will be more books with DI Turner in them. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and precious books.

Very good! A fairly well trodden storyline about abuse at a children’s home and the impact which is long lasting for the victims who demand retribution. This version of a classic tale, however, has some great atmospheric writing and a relatable setting of the bright lights and excitement of a funfair. The writing was so good I could really feel, smell and see the backdrop and feel the teenage excitement coming off in droves. To then turn the place into something evoking much more sinister feelings is very clever and you really feel the drama of teenage disappointment, drama and distress as something so good turns into something so bad. The tension builds brilliantly and I was involved and engaged with all the characters. A recommend from me.

Her Final Secret by Paul J Teague is a very highly recommended procedural in which a twenty-five-year-old cold case may provide the clues needed to solve the current case.

Detective Hollie Turner had her university friend Moira vanished 25 years ago at the Hull Fair. The tragedy is what propelled Hollie to leave the university and pursue a career in law enforcement. Now the body of a retired police superintendent is found murdered at Hull Fair and it brings back memories from the past. Hollie never forgot Moira. As she works the current case and another body shows up it becomes clear that the disappearance of Moira and the potential link to abuse allegations at a local children's home a quarter of a century earlier are tied into the present murders.

Chapters in the narrative alternate between events from 1999 and the present day. In 1999 when Moira disappeared at the fair, both she and Hollie were 19 years-old. Hollie never liked the way the disappearance or her account of it was handled by the police. Now, as a Detective Inspector, Hollie is in the position to uncover what happened to her friend if she can solve who is committing the current murders today. With the okay by her superior officers she is allowed to stay on the investigation.

This is a well-written, fast-paced, compelling procedural and will hold your complete attention as the team unravels a web of lies and cover-ups spanning decades. The characters are all realistic and likeable. You will be closely following their investigation and wishing them well. The abuse that occurred at the children's home may be difficult topic for some readers, but it is not graphically explained. Expect several suspects and twists along the way.

Even though this is the 5th in the series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone. 4.5 Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Paul J. Teague, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for November 08, 2024.

🎡Cover Appreciation Mention🎡 Before I start, I feel the need to take a brief pause to admire the cover art 😍😍😍……and….now you can continue.

Her Final Secret is the fifth instalment of the Detective Hollie Turner series by author, Paul Teague.

Written with a dual timeline, we follow DS Turner, as she is faced with confronting some painful memories in her past, while investigating a current case – the murder of a retired police superintendent.

Then: Hull Fair, October 1999. Twenty-five years ago, Hollie and her best friend from university, Moira, were enjoying the festivities, foods and fairground attractions at the annual Hull Fair. The pair got separated in the crowd and, while Hollie scoured the Fairgrounds for her friend, Moira, it seemed, had just disappeared without a trace.

Now: Present Day. DS Turner and her team are called to an incident where the body of retired police superintendent Gordon Carrick was found hidden in an amusement park ride at the annual Hull Fair, situated near the body was a sign which read: Your turn to die. Coincidence?? Or was it intentionally placed??

As Turner and her team begin their investigation, buried memories and secrets Hollie had compartmentalised and boxed away begin to push their way to the surface. The fairground; Moira; and now, Gordon Carrick; is it all connected somehow?

🎡Fairground Cheers🎡

🎡Characters: Teague has written a strong, intelligent protagonist, who, even though was obviously fighting with her own past personal experiences in this story, the reader couldn’t help but cheer for her to succeed.

🎡Alternating chapter timelines where the reader is gifted with more detail of Moira’s disappearance each time. As the two threads continue, more and more connections are made; until the final curtain call reveal at the end.

🎡Plot and Pace are equally absorbing. Teague’s writing is clear and concise. Both plot threads are compelling and the two become so enmeshed it’s difficult for the reader to differentiate them as two separate cases, which makes for captivating reading.

With unique and different place settings and unmatched storylines it’s easy to see why this series is quickly becoming one of my favourite reads.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 08, 2024.

This is the fifth book I've read to feature Detective Sergeant Hollie Turner and they just keep getting better. When Hollie is called to a murder scene at Hull Fair it becomes personal as 25 years ago her best friend Moira disappeared from the same place. Children's homes, allegations, cover-ups, lies and murders all feature in this gripping and suspenseful police procedural written in dual timelines. I also really enjoyed learning more of Hollie's history. Highly recommend you put this one right at the top of your must read list. Hopefully there will be another book in the series soon. Thanks to the publisher, netgalley and author for an arc.

I really enjoyed this mystery thriller. It moves quickly and I love the flash backs to the past and drawing the connections between the past case and the current one. Plus the addition of a creepy carnival? Perfection. The characters are relatable and I love a good whodunit. I would read more by this author!

Hollie Turner is back with a new case.

This is book five in the series and as with the other four books that I have read in the series it was well deserving of its five stars.

The author writes with emotion, clarity, depth and thought and has a way of drawing you into the drama..

An engaging read which dealt with some challenging themes Karma is all I'll say.

Do you ever wonder why police officers choose that line of work? For Detective Hollie Turner - a lot of her reasoning was due to the disappearance of her best friend 25 years prior, which remained a cold case.

When a retired police superintendent is brutally murdered and placed on a ride at the Hull Fair, this brings back memories for Hollie, as that's the last place her bestie had been seen. Upon further investigation, it seems there are so many coincidences that lead back to the children's home where her friend grew up. I certainly didn't have this storyline worked out, and was quite enjoyable to follow the story!

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Paul J. Teague for the eARC.

Hollie finds herself entwined with a murder case which links to her friend Moira, who went missing years previously, but how? A difficult one for Hollie to face as memories of Moira come to the fore, abused at a childrens home and missing. Well written with action throughout. I like the way Hollie interacts with her team and how well they work together. Highly recommended.

Her Final Secret takes us on a gripping and emotional journey alongside Detective Hollie Turner, who is forced to confront the dark shadows of her past when a new murder case reopens old wounds. Set against the backdrop of Hull Fair, the story begins with the murder of a retired police superintendent, pulling Hollie into a case that seems disturbingly familiar.

Twenty-five years ago, Hollie's university friend Moira disappeared without a trace from the same fairground, and now, as buried secrets start to resurface, Hollie finds herself revisiting the trauma of that night. As she delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a potential link to historical abuse allegations at a local children's home and the suspicious death of a former care worker. The stakes are high as Hollie races against time, determined to untangle a web of lies, cover-ups, and betrayals that stretch back decades.

The book masterfully shifts between 1999 and the present, slowly revealing the events that shaped Hollie’s life and career. As a character, Hollie is complex and compelling—a force to be reckoned with, both in her pursuit of justice and her battle with personal demons. The way the author explores her past adds depth to the story, making it not only a tense police procedural but also an emotionally charged mystery.

Her Final Secret is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful thriller that will keep you turning the pages. The blend of past and present timelines is flawlessly handled, drawing the reader into an unforgettable narrative that exposes the chilling truth of what happened to Moira all those years ago. It's a gripping read—full of twists, deeply personal stakes, and a resolution that will leave you breathless. Truly, it's that good.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Lots of surprises!!! Twists and turns in every chapter. Characters, plot, story, all of it was captivating! Fantastic!

A police procedural, Her Final Secret (2024) by Paul J. Teague is the fifth book in the Detective Sergeant Hollie Turner series. The death of a former policeman in an amusement park ride is personal for Hollie, as her university friend disappeared from the same annual local fair twenty-five years earlier. As the team investigate, Holly struggles with flashbacks and the dark secrets of long-ago crimes that are somehow connected to the present day. This was a standalone read with no previous knowledge of the prior books and was nonetheless an enjoyable police procedural with a three stars rating. With thanks to Storm Publishing for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

I really enjoy this ever improving series with DI Hollie Turner as the main character. This was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster as we discover more of Hollie's background and past events come back to haunt her. The characterisation is very believable and the plot is very well crafted with scenes from 1999 and the present day expertly woven. I was glued to the book from the beginning right until the end. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

The past collides with DI Hollie Turner when she is called to a murder of retired police superintendent.
Twenty-five years ago while in college, Hollie’s best friend disappeared at the Hull Fair. The same place where she is investigating the new murder.
A suspenseful thriller that ties the present day to that terrible day so long ago. As others involved from that day so long ago are found dead, Hollie is hopeful that she will finally learn what happened to her friend and why. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy. This review is my honest opinion.