Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph is a young adult horror/thriller novel about a group of friends whose darkest secrets, confessed yearly in an abandoned hut, are used to blackmail and terrorize them. The
...
Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph is a young adult horror/thriller novel about a group of friends whose darkest secrets, confessed yearly in an abandoned hut, are used to blackmail and terrorize them. The book was published by Wednesday Books on August 29, 2023.
Synopsis
Every Halloween, Sam Hall, a former child star, and his four friends gather in an abandoned hut they call the "Dark Place" to hold funerals for their secrets, a ritual to relieve themselves of guilt. However, this year, their ritual is interrupted, and the friends begin receiving threatening messages from someone who seems to know all their buried truths. The threats escalate, and the friends must uncover the blackmailer's identity before their secrets are exposed and their lives ruined. The mystery eventually links back to an even older secret involving their parents, leading to a series of twists and turns.
Reviews and Themes
- Suspenseful and Fast-Paced: The book is generally praised for its fast pace, short chapters, and ability to keep readers guessing who the culprit might be.
- Twists and Intrigue: Many reviewers found the ending and the reveal of the blackmailer's motives surprising and hard to predict.
- Themes: The novel explores themes of parental expectations, the cost of fame, friendship, betrayal, and mental health.
- Character Development: Some reviewers found the characters, particularly the friends other than Sam, lacked depth, which made it difficult to fully invest in their struggles.
- Genre: The book is a YA horror/thriller, with some reviewers noting it reads as "creepy" and has "Pretty Little Liars" or 90s horror movie vibes.
Publication Details
- Author: Vincent Ralph
- Publisher: Wednesday Books
- Publication Date: August 29, 2023
- Print Length: 368 pages
- Reading Age: 13 - 18 years
If you'd like a more detailed look at the plot or specific reviews, let me know your main interests (e.g., the plot twists, the horror elements, etc.)!
[Show More]
Preview 10 out of 258 pages