The Perfect Secret


Starla Bishop is a woman with a past. Repeatedly in and out of prison, she's decided this will be her last stint in jail, so when she's offered a dream job in a small town, she promises her foster mother that this time she'll make a clean start.

The story follows dual time lines that bounce between the present day police investigation and when Starla is first released from jail. As the two timelines converge, readers are pulled into a plot that is a chilling puzzle where pieces are expertly revealed, leaving readers eager to know what exactly is happening in this small town.

I thoroughly enjoyed the creepy edge that pervades the story, the feeling of not exactly knowing who to trust and Starla's emotional progression. She has a nefarious past and a brash demeanor, but Holmes gives her depth and I despite her shortcomings, I felt myself rooting for her.

I may have figured out a few of the dark secrets but the strength of this book is in its execution. This is a tightly woven story that will keep readers glued to the pages as they try to piece together characters' motives and what's really going on in the town. Filled with twists, an interesting main character, and a chilling story, this is an impressive, fast-paced, and creepy psychological thriller that would be a great pick for suspense fans. Look for it May 19, 2020!


Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


My Rating: 5 stars
Author: Steena Holmes
Genre: Suspense, Canadian
Type: eBook
Source: Author
Publisher: SH Press Inc.
First Published: May 19, 2020

Opening Lines: Premonition. Pay attention to that nudge of warning, and it can safe you rlife.  Ignore that shiver, ignored the advice Mom told me on-so-long ago. Ignored it even when I knew etter. Every time I don't listen, I tend to end up in jail.



Book Description from GoodReadsEveryone has secrets — some deadlier than others

She was on cloud nine after accepting an offer of a lifetime. A simpler life that what you she was accustomed to. What could go wrong?
 
Starla Bishop learned to survive in the foster-care-to-jail system in New York City. There she learned the tools and skills she put to work later to con jewel thieves, drug traffickers, and mobsters out their fortunes. Now fresh out of her latest stint in jail, she accepts a too-good-to-refuse offer—a perfect life on a silver platter. Starla has everything she ever wished for: a simpler life, a normal life, a new start with new job, a straight job—a receptionist for Soil and Springs Landscaping run by a famous botanist. And it got even better—a whirlwind romance and engagement to her boss’s charming ex-husband.
 
But everything comes with a price. When bodies start turning up in the gardens of her employer, Soil and Springs Landscaping, Starla and her fiancé are hauled into jail for questioning. The revelation of Starla's secret, previous life and her special skills make her a prime suspect.
 
How much does Starla want the perfect life, and did she use her special skills to keep it,  or is this just her biggest con yet? The shocking truth is closer than anyone thinks?
 
Everyone has secrets, some worth killing for.