She doesn’t know her sister, Alice, has been scared of leaving the house since their mother died. She doesn’t know when Alice babysits her little boy, Archie, he sometimes sees things he shouldn’t. She doesn’t know Archie has a secret.

A secret that could send cracks through the heart of Louise’s carefully constructed life....

Listening Length

7 hours and 43 minutes
Author

K. L. Slater
Narrator

Lucy Price-Lewis
Audible release date

October 9, 2018
Language

English
Publisher

Audible Studios
ASIN

B07G38P1N3
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
See all details

Read & Listen

Switch between reading the Kindle book & listening to the Audible narration with Whispersync for Voice.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $1.99 after you buy the Kindle book.

Enjoy this audiobook free + more

Click above to get a preview of our newest plan - unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.

Learn more about membership

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

List Price: $16.35

You Save: $1.36 (8%)

By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

People who viewed this also viewed

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Finding Grace
K. L. Slater
3,484
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Closer
K. L . Slater
3,016
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Missing
K. L. Slater
2,733
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Safe with Me
K. L. Slater
4,652
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Blink: A psychological thriller with a killer twist you'll never forget
K. L. Slater
5,953
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

People who bought this also bought

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Little Whispers
K. L. Slater
6,983
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Girlfriend
K.L. Slater
3,767
in Audible Books & Originals

Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Widow
K. L. Slater
12,061
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Narrator
K. L. Slater
716
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Secret Mother
Shalini Boland
7,738
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

Related to this topic

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

The Guest Room
Rona Halsall
1,457
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Lost Child
D. S. Butler
2,920
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Close My Eyes
Sophie McKenzie
474
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Lost Ticket
Freya Sampson
417
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Girl with No Past
Kathryn Croft
5,381
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

Product details

Listening Length	7 hours and 43 minutes
Author	K. L. Slater
Narrator	Lucy Price-Lewis
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 09, 2018
Publisher	Audible Studios
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07G38P1N3
Best Sellers Rank	#94,807 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #571 in Psychological Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #1,945 in Psychological Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals) #5,232 in Psychological Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

3,466 global ratings

5 star		55%
4 star		25%
3 star		13%
2 star		5%
1 star		3%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all customer images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

DDixon

A Very Riveting Book!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 22, 2022

Verified Purchase

Wow what a great book!! So many twists and turns, jaw dropping events, mystery, lies, deceit, and suspense. The ending was a shocker and totally unexpected. KL Slater did it again. You can’t go wrong reading anything she writes.

Helpful

Grimfrost

Good

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 6, 2021

Verified Purchase

Was a decent enough story but I felt that there was almost too much back and forth and some wasn't pertinent to the story. Also I felt that Martyn's character would resurface somewhere but didn't.

Helpful

Amanda Terry William Terry

Movie

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 1, 2022

Verified Purchase

Good movie

Helpful

Pheadra Farah

Gripping, Page-Turner

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

The dynamic and often intense relationship that exists between sisters is brought to the fore in this gripping tale with the story being told from both Louise and Alice’s viewpoint, in different timelines. It begins with what 11-year old Archie (Louise’s son) witnessed 18-months earlier, who has been viciously sworn to secrecy.
The sisters were raised in a home where they witnessed their mother suffer abuse at the hands of their controlling father. His death was a huge relief to their mother but his absence does not improve the jealousy that exists between the sisters. If anything, the money they inherit complicates matters and when Louise parts with her's foolishly, the money that their mother will leave on her death becomes of utmost importance to her. Her poor choices result in her son Archie having to keep burdensome secrets.
As it turns out, it is not just little Archie that is keeping secrets. Others in this intriguing story have things to hide as well. The question as to how they are connected makes for a gripping read and a link I particularly enjoyed was Alice sitting by the window and watching the tram go by outside. Every morning she sees the same man in the same seat in the same car. He is handsome and she finds she looks forward to seeing him. When he looks up and waves one morning, she thinks he is waving to her. His role in the story is clever and well thought out.
There are so many good things to say about this book; it was enthralling a definite page-turner.

25 people found this helpful

Helpful

MissionATL

Thoroughly enjoyable

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 26, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book kept me guessing every step of the way. There were twists and turns I didn't expect. I appreciated the main character, Alice, for her pure heart, insight and common sense. This one is a page turner.

Helpful

Tina O.

The Secret is gripping

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 31, 2022

Verified Purchase

This one seemed a bit different than the other books I've read by K.L. Slater, but still riveting. The twists and turns were so unexpected...and the ending- I didn't see it coming, but was pleasantly surprised.

Helpful

Author Tanisha Stewart

Archie Stole My Heart

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 23, 2021

Verified Purchase

After reading a series of psychological thrillers that were way longer than they needed to be with extremely predictable twists and easily forgettable characters, I stumbled upon this read. When I first started, I thought it would be just like the others. Boy was I wrong. Each character was extremely well developed, there were genuine twists and turns that were so natural to the story that it felt true to life. That's not to mention all the highly relatable gems about psychology, life, and family dysfunction. This author has gained a new fan.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

grace m skowronski

DON'T GIVE UP

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 1, 2021

Verified Purchase

THE FIRST HALF IS OKAY. THE LAST HALF IS EXCITING.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Martin

A toxic relationship

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

K.L. Slater’s novel, ‘The Secret’, tackles several different themes while successfully weaving them into a compelling story that is full of suspense. Set within a dysfunctional family, the novel explores the complex emotions of jealousy, hatred, domestic coercion, guilt, betrayal and secrecy – all of which add fuel to an already tense situation.

Sisters Alice and Louise have always had a turbulent relationship. Not only was their father a controlling and coercive man who demanded absolute obedience from his family, but also their mother openly favoured Alice over Louise, leaving Louise feeling undervalued and excluded. Desperate to find approval, when she meets Martyn – an older man who soon displays the same characteristics as her father – she blindly believes all his lies about his dubious business dealings, allowing him to systematically defraud her of all the money left to her by her father and very nearly destroy her life.

‘The Secret’ opens with Archie – Louise’s son from her relationship with Martyn – witnessing something he is sworn to secrecy over. The story then fast-forwards 18 months. Louise is now married to Darren, who has adopted eight-year-old Archie as his own. Too busy with her high-powered lifestyle to take much interest in Archie – and with Darren constantly travelling with his own work – Louise uses emotional blackmail to get Alice to take Archie to and from school and babysit him overnight while she attends her many business meetings.

However, Alice has her own problems. Ever since her mother’s death, she has been unable to leave her home. Feeling responsible for the death of her partner, Jack, she is convinced it is safer to keep away from other people – although her sister is unaware of these fears.

Growing up Louise was never an easy person to live with. Bitter and resentful towards Alice for receiving all her mother’s attention, she never missed an opportunity to undermine Alice’s confidence. Unfortunately, things have not changed between the sisters and Alice constantly has to deal with Louise’s barbed comments and general manipulative behaviour.

Told from the viewpoint of both Alice and Louise, the novel alternates between past and present events in a series of flashbacks, gradually revealing the sisters’ backstory. This not only gives the reader a greater understanding of the sisters’ relationship but also how it drives their behaviour.

However, the key to the ever-increasing drama is Archie. With his behaviour shifting from aggression to withdrawal, Alice soon begins to worry about him, especially when she discovers the bruises on his arms. Unaware of the secret he is harbouring – and with Louise refusing to accept there is anything wrong – Alice decides it is time to start asking questions.

‘The Secret’ is a cleverly crafted and structured novel that leads the reader in one direction only to suddenly change course with the introduction of new information. As the suspense builds and Archie’s secret is finally revealed, the ending is both surprising and explosive.

19 people found this helpful

literatureloveuk

Domestic Noir delving into toxic sibling rivalry

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

The Secret is an addictive ‘Domestic Noir’ style psychological thriller that delves into the toxic relationship between two sisters. Louise is a married career woman with an eight-year-old son, Archie. Alice is out of work and childless; she also suffers with ME and anxiety, and is scared to leave her home.

The story starts with a dual prologue: then and now. This is in first-person and from Archie’s perspective. What happened in the past, was witnessed by Archie, and it is this secret that fuels the narrative and keeps the pages turning.

Most of the story is narrated in first-person from Alice’s perspective, with some narration in third-person from Louise’s perspective. This dual narration adds to the ‘who’s telling the truth?’ element and allows a degree of empathy for Louise; although to be honest, she isn’t nice at all. Alice’s character is in first-person and this works really well, leaving the reader with no uncertain terms as to who the protagonist is. Alice suffers with ME and anxiety; I could feel the exhaustion and pain radiating throughout her body. Readers will be screaming at Alice and telling her to say ‘no’ to the demands of her bossy and overbearing sister. We learn early on that Alice’s health issues are linked to a previous relationship. I won’t say why this is as I don’t want to spoil things, but when she sees a stranger who looks similar to her ex, you start to question Alice’s sanity.

Alice’s nephew, Archie, is a wonderful character and really brings the story to life. Dealt a raw deal in life, with a mother and step-father who both put themselves and their own careers before their child, Archie finds solace in spending time with his Auntie Alice. This isn’t an easy relationship at first. Alice barely has enough energy to look after herself let alone stepping in to care for her sister’s child. But Louise is controlling and uses emotional blackmail, forcing Alice to agree to look after Archie. According to Louise, Archie has ADHD but when Alice starts to get to know him, and gives him the time and attention that is lacking at home, the pair bring out the best in each other, and Alice starts to questions whether this is true. Alice has had a horrendous past, and her health is at a point where it looks it is on a downward spiral with no way out. But whilst helping Archie, Alice unwittingly starts to turn a corner and she starts to integrate with the outside world.

Alice also starts to get to know one of her neighbours, Jenny. Jenny also has her own set of problems. But somebody doesn’t like Alice helping Jenny – or is it Archie they don’t like her helping? And just who is that guy who waves to Alice each morning from the tram, that reminds Alice of her ex?

True to its genre, the story is full of red-herrings. And just when you think you know what ‘The Secret’ is, think again! There’s yet another twist!

I really enjoyed reading this book. The things I will take away from this as a New Writer, are pacing of the narrative and how to drop seemingly inconsequential hints into the plot that only make sense once the twist is revealed.

6 people found this helpful

Booklover Catlady

Kicked off really well but lost it’s buzz along the way.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

Oh, I had really high hopes for this novel. It starts off really interesting, leaving the reader with questions and curiosity around the plot. I was originally really hooked in and excited about where it would go.

The middle third of the book just slowed right down and that made my interest levels drop. It seemed like a lot of filling in and contained mostly everyday things that seemed to be out of alignment with the beginning of the book.

I thought the last third would be the great finale. Not to be. Whilst there is a series of twists, despite not seeing some coming they were so quickly visited and presented that it lost that sense of shock and unease that could of been there. It was one reveal after another and felt incredibly rushed to me.

The writing itself is good, it’s the plot and pace that disappointed me. I also found the times of going back into the past somewhat irrelevant and detracting except for one key bit of information near the end. You know when you just want to stay in the present as the timeline backwards isn’t exciting enough?

A 3 star read for me. Somewhat disjointed and I thought it could have a whole lot more punch and depth. The weave of intersected lives just came with a sense of rushed information that left me feeling “is that it?”
I wish the style and pace of the first third of this novel had continued.

6 people found this helpful

EllaNoel

Gripping tale with well drawn characters

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 29, 2020

Verified Purchase

A truly gripping story charged with toxic sibling rivalry. I hated Louise from the start, the older 'hard-done-by' sister, who thinks their mother treated them unfairly as children, preferring her younger sister, Alice. Louise is hard hearted, selfish and obsessed with money (so true! I have met people like this in real life) and blames everyone for her mistakes. Whereas Alice I felt sorry for, the more artistic, sweeter sibling and unmistakably the carer; more so when their mother falls ill. Yet after a lifetime of being ridiculed by Louise, she is expected to drop everything - gives up her dream job, loses the man she loves in a car crash and is left with spinal injuries.

But at the heart of this story is Louise's 8 year old son, Archie. What I loved most was the developing bond between Alice and her nephew, as she draws him out of his shell. But Archie is troubled, shows signs of physical and emotional abuse and it doesn't take Alice long to figure he is terrified - until it gradually emerges the secret he harbours is so shocking... Well, it took my breath away. The mystery man who waves at Alice from the tram in the mornings add a spark of romance and mystery to the story, the strands fusing together to make a compelling unforgettable read.

2 people found this helpful

K. Walton

Average read, not a thriller

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 27, 2018

Verified Purchase

The book seemed to start well and was building up to something, but the climax of the story was over in one rushed chapter which made no sense and wasn’t remotely entertaining when it got there. None of the characters were like able and I really don’t think this was anything like a gripping thriller. I like some of the books by this author and others are not so great. For me this was not so great and pretty dull.

16 people found this helpful

See all reviews

The Secret Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Read & Listen

Free title with your free trial! $0.00$0.00

Buy with 1-Click $14.99$14.99

People who viewed this also viewed

People who bought this also bought

Related to this topic

Product details

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Free title with your free trial!

$0.00

Buy with 1-Click

$14.99