"A notorious prison turned luxury hotel makes a fabulous setting for this compelling dual timeframe, locked-room murder mystery."
If you are an avid armchair detective and enjoy solving mysteries as you read then it is rub your hands with glee time. With a ‘then and now’ timeframe, a whole host of interesting characters to get to know, a tight plot, and the most secure of locked rooms mystery to get to grips with, this is a compelling read.
Little Secrets is award-winning author Victoria Goldman’s first standalone novel after her Shanna Regan series which began with The Redeemer. The setting is just fabulous, the prison was at the heart of a scandal in 1999 when five prisoners were killed just as it was closing. In the here and now, it is a luxury hotel with an owner who plays on its links to the past.
The setting sits front and foremost, and I could feel the atmosphere as I read which sent chills thudding through me. There are two main characters, Anna from 1999 and Madeleine in the present. These are two women who have depth and their motivation is questionable which ensures the tension remains high.
The dual timeline is handled with a beautiful precision, each holding equal weight and importance. I loved how links are forged, twisted, and play out within this novel. The smart plot kept me guessing, allowing my mind to overthink and suspect everyone. Little Secrets has been chosen as a Liz Pick of the Month because each essential part of plot, setting, timeframe, and characters come together to form an intriguing and oh-so satisfying read.
Welcome to the true-crime controversy that’s divided the media for the last twenty years. To discover the truth, we need to delve back into the past…
| Primary Genre | Crime and Mystery |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Win Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series So Far!
Closing date: 30/09/2026
Win a Pair of Tickets to Agatha Christie’s The Hollow at a Venue of Your Choice.
Closing date: 15/10/2026
Welcome to the true-crime controversy that’s divided the media for the last twenty years. To discover the truth, we need to delve back into the past… THEN: In June 1999, the last five prisoners at HMP Panbrook were killed just before the prison closed its doors for the final time.
Little Secrets features in the following genres: Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, Crime and Mystery, Thriller and Suspense, Crime and Mystery, Crime and mystery: women sleuths, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss
Paperback. Not Available.
Little Secrets was written by Victoria Goldman and published by Three Crowns Publishing UK
