‘No Secrets’ by David Jackson

Published by Viper,
7 July 2022.
ISBN: 978-1-80081-091-8 (TPB)

Izzy Lambert has a gift, or sometimes it can be a curse. She can tell when people are not telling the truth and if they are being treacherous.  She lives with her partner Andy – short for Andrea.

Watching television one day, they learn of the disappearance of a Rosie Agutter, who went to the same school as Izzy attended. There followed an interview with the school’s caretaker, Kenneth Plumley, who claimed he had witnessed a girl looking like Rosie being put in a car by Middle Eastern looking men. Izzy immediately knows that he is lying. She remembers him from her school days, he was shy and an outsider. Even so she can tell he is now being very devious. Why so out of character?

When she tells Andy she knows he is not telling the truth, she persuades Izzy to ring the police. However, they are very sceptical. She decides to go to the police station and sees a Detective Sergeant Josh Frendy. He doesn’t dismiss her out of hand but finds it hard to believe that she knows Plumley is lying.

Then Izzy learns of the earlier disappearance of another girl. She decides that if the police are not going to do anything, she will try and get proof of Plumley’s involvement. She manages to bump into him “by accident”, he remembers her from school, they go for a coffee. When she tells him she saw him on television describing what he saw, he says he could not be one hundred percent sure it was Rosie – it just looked like her.  However, she is more convinced than ever that he is lying. He cuts the conversation short and leaves.

More determined than ever, Izzy decides to start following him and this reveals a lot more than she could ever have imagined. Seriously underestimating him, she is not prepared for the dreadful trouble she causes and how it affects other people close to her, some tragically.

Outstandingly clever story telling. I really did find it difficult to put this book down. Just as I found myself thinking I knew what had happened my theory was turned on its head, it’s so full of unexpected twists and turns! Really highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

David Jackson is the author of a series of crime thrillers featuring New York detective Callum Doyle. His debut novel, Pariah, was Highly Commended in the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Awards, and translation rights have been sold.  He lives on the Wirral peninsula with his wife and two daughters.

 

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.