Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold

 

Twenty years ago, Ben Harper's older brother was brutally murdered by two classmates. Years later, Ben's mother committed suicide. On the 10th anniversary of his mother's suicide, Ben's boss at an online news website encourages him to write an article documenting his side of the story. Ben is initially reluctant to dredge up the past, but when the police turn up to ask Ben about a murder miles away, it raises questions about the original murder.

This debut novel from Robert Gold had me gripped from the start. A double murder followed by a suicide had me wondering what had happened and intrigued me to know more.

Ben is a sympathetic character; you can really feel his turmoil at having to relive the past. As the story develops, we understand the devastation his family and friends went through 20 years previously. The unanswered questions following his mother's unexpected suicide have haunted Ben for 10 years.

The setting of the small town of Haddley, a close-knit community, offers a range of characters. Characters who've grown up together, suffered the same shock and supported each other. As Ben investigates events of the past, it's like layers of an onion being peeled away, and secrets are discovered. The main question though, is who is willing to commit murder to keep their secret hidden.

Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold will be published on 3rd March 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown UK for a review copy.