With The Rule and The Resident still awaiting my attention on my TBR I was determined to read David Jackson’s latest book No Secrets. My enormous thanks to the team at Viper for sending me a surprise copy. I’m delighted to share my review of No Secrets today.

No Secrets was published by Serpent’s Tail imprint Viper on 7th July 2022 and is available for purchase through the links here.

No Secrets

THEY BELIEVE HIS LIES. SHE KNOWS THE TRUTH.

You can’t lie to Izzy Lambert. Her highly developed empathic abilities allow her to read people’s emotions with terrifying accuracy – and consequences. As a child her insights sparked her parents’ divorce. As an adult she avoids getting too close to people for fear of what she might learn.

But now young girls are going missing in her town. The police have no suspects but, seeing her old school caretaker interviewed on the news about the story, Izzy comes to a chilling realisation: he knows where the missing girls are. When the police won’t take her seriously despite the lives at stake, she will risk everything to uncover the truth.

My Review of No Secrets

Izzy can tell when people are lying.

Good grief. Can anyone explain to me why I have been stupid enough not to have read David Jackson before? What a talent! I thought No Secrets was absolutely brilliant because it held me spellbound from start to finish to the extent that I put life on hold to gulp it down over a weekend. I loved David Jackson’s writing style. Through variety of sentence and paragraph length, and with natural dialogue, he seems to have a natural ability to convey life incredibly effectively.

No Secrets is so well plotted that I simply didn’t anticipate some of the actions and that element of surprise enhanced my enjoyment immensely. The pace is fast and captivating, with short chapters that create an almost breathless pace. I definitely had willingly to suspend my disbelief at some of Izzy’s actions, but not because David Jackson didn’t make them plausible in the context of the narrative and her ability to know when someone is lying, but because I couldn’t conceive of having her level of doggedness and conviction. This made her fascinating and frustrating – just like a real person.

Indeed, Izzy is a superb character because she illustrates how those who do the right thing for the right reason don’t always achieve the right outcomes. This means that, as well as being a snappy, enthralling thriller, No Secrets is a mature and contemplative insight into morality, our past and how we are affected by the events life throws at us. Whilst I had expected an exciting story, I wasn’t prepared for the level of emotion I felt too, especially with regard to Izzy and Josh. I was thoroughly entertained, but I was emotionally touched too.

On the surface No Secrets is another thriller revolving around missing young women, but it is so much more than that. I’m not able to say too much about plot or theme as both would reveal too much of the story for others, but I loved this book. Simultaneously unsettling, emotional, exciting and witty, No Secrets is a fantastic read that I thoroughly, thoroughly recommend. I’m so glad I’ve finally got round to reading David Jackson’s excellent writing.

About David Jackson

David Jackson is the acclaimed author of the crime thriller series featuring New York detective Callum Doyle. Pariah, his debut novel, was Highly Commended in the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Awards. It is published in the UK by Pan Macmillan, and various audio and foreign rights have been sold. Follow-up novels in the series are: The Helper, Marked, and Cry Baby. The Guardian newspaper said of David’s writing: ‘Recalls Harlan Coben – though for my money Jackson is the better writer.’

For further information visit David’s website and follow him on Twitter @Author_Dave. You’ll also find David on Facebook.