The Secrets She Keeps

A Novel

By: Michael Robotham

Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Bonus Audio Content: Includes chapter one of Michael Robotham’s 2019 thriller GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL!  

In the best-selling tradition of The Girl on the Train and In a Dark, Dark Wood, from the internationally best-selling author whom Stephen King called "an absolute master" of the psychological thriller, comes a riveting suspense novel about the unlikely friendship between two pregnant women that asks: How far would you go to create the perfect family? 

Agatha is pregnant and works part time stocking shelves at a grocery store in a ritzy London suburb, counting down the days until her baby is due. As the hours of her shifts creep by in increasing discomfort, the one thing she looks forward to at work is catching a glimpse of Meghan, the effortlessly chic customer whose elegant lifestyle dazzles her. Meghan has it all: two perfect children, a handsome husband, a happy marriage, and a stylish group of friends, and she writes perfectly droll confessional posts on her popular parenting blog - posts that Agatha reads with devotion each night as she waits for her absent boyfriend, the father of her baby, to maybe return her calls. 

When Agatha learns that Meghan is pregnant again and that their due dates fall within the same month, she finally musters up the courage to speak to her, thrilled that they now have the ordeal of childbearing in common. Little does Meghan know that the mundane exchange she has with a grocery store employee during a hurried afternoon shopping trip is about to change the course of her not-so-perfect life forever.... 

With its brilliant rendering of a shocking kidnapping plot and the secrets some women hold close, The Secrets She Keeps delivers a dark and twisted thriller. 

©2017 Michael Robotham (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio

Struggled to finish

Ugh. This book was neither mysterious nor thrilling. There was no plot twist. It was like a Tuesday night Lifetime movie - totally predictable. If anything, recommend it as a book for expectant mothers on the baby bonding process. I gave it two stars overall because i enjoyed the narration.

Secrets - but Nothing New here

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would, but hindsight I would get it on sale :). It was not a horrible book, but the story has been done, and the writing was ok. It was somewhat intense, but overall predictable. Strong language and somewhat sensitive material if you are tenderhearted.

What did you like best about this story?

I did love the ending and the moral of the story, so to say. There was much sadness in the story, but the ending was worth it all. Good character development, good insights of psychological moments.

What does Lucy Price-Lewis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She did an excellent job!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Although I guessed most of it, I did listen to it as soon as I got in my car. I wanted to see if I was right.

Any additional comments?

If you are into this genre of books it would be a good "commuter" book. You won't learn anything per se, but it's worth a listen. You can't listen again to it, cause you know the ending.

MUST LISTEN!!

This book is worth your time and credits! Love the narration and the writing. If you love suspense and great twists and turns you must listen to this one. I won't give anything away except to say that nobody is what they seem to be, everyone has secrets and it all comes together quite well. I literally would take the long way home in my car to keep listening! This is a MUST LISTEN!

High praise!!

This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish. You could feel the depth and quality of the story. The editing was brilliant! Not a wasted, word here. A kidnapped child is not exactly fresh ground in a psychological thriller, but the author's clever depiction of the back story made this exciting and fresh.
The performance was genius! Without giving too much away, the narrator was able to create a very chilling persona for an unnamed character within a character. Next to Imogen Church, Lucy Price - Lewis is my favorite narrator and the only one I've heard who can hold a candle to Church. She'd made a crappy story tolerable with her talent.
This book is a thriller, but it's so much more than that. Many books in this genre don't allow you to appreciate why someone made the horrible decisions they made. Robotham created such a tragic story for his protagonist that I found myself justifying every despicable thing the character did. I actually rooted for the character, even though it conflicted with the sound judgement I would've credited myself with before hearing this story.
I wish every book were this good, or, at least, half this good, but I realize I enjoyed it more because they just aren't. I highly encourage you to buy this book, because it just might make you appreciate what you're currently taking for granted. It's on a whole new level.

Here we go again.

Would you try another book from Michael Robotham and/or Lucy Price-Lewis?

I'm unsure. To be honest, I don't know of any of other Robotham's works. I feel this book, among any others, is just part of a glut of novels that have come out as a result of the success of "Gone Girl" and "Girl on the Train." They are female-centered stories (which I don't mind), told from the perspectives of different characters (which I enjoy when done well), with some type of shocking twist at the end. It's no longer about writing strong characters and a coherent plot - it seems like it's more about following a specific formula to get the book off the shelves.

Do I think the characters are better written than some similar books? Yes.
Did the "mystery" evolve in a more suspenseful way? Yes.

But ultimately, the book left me a bit empty. I also continue to be challenged by the idea that women are deemed complicated and complex just because they have mental health issues, alcoholism, drug dependency or fertility issues. It's a plot device that is used often with varying results.

One also needs to have some reasonable level of suspension of disbelief to believe the story rolls out the way it did.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something that doesn't involve a mentally ill woman with fertility issues. It's cliche at this point.

Favorite Book of 2017

I have read over a hundred books this year and this has been my absolute favorite. beautifully written and engaging I felt like I was right there with the characters the whole way through. perfect narration as always from this narrator. don't miss this book

I couldn't stop listening.

It's a story you never want to end. Amazing characters and is full of twists and turns.

Not a fan!!

This book is soooo dark! I did not like it at all.. Tooo much for me

Wow!

Amazing story, but the narrator MADE listening to this book an experience to remember! Loved it.

Fascinating!!

If you could sum up The Secrets She Keeps in three words, what would they be?

Very Very Emotional!!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. This book was definitely a page turner. It was hard to make time to stop and take breaks. So many twists and turns. Loved the narrator Lucy Price-Lewis. So talented!

Which scene was your favorite?

I would have to say the final scene, spoken by Agatha. It really made me sad.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. A great story that I won't forget!! This is the first book I've listened to by Michael Robotham. I hope his other books are just as good as this one.

Oh, thank you Stephen King for your words about the author. They really made me decide to listen to The Secrets She Keeps. Highly Recommend!!

Any additional comments?

It's interesting that when you're searching for a really good book to read, one that you've never heard of (such as this one) just pops up out of no where. And you also find writers that you haven't ever read that are terrific. Great!!!