{"product_id":"the-darkest-secret-isbn-9780143110514","title":"The Darkest Secret","description":"\u003cb\u003e“If there has been a better mystery-suspense story written in this decade, I can’t think of it . . . transcend[s] the genre.” —Stephen King\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A cruel and cunning mystery . . . Plot-twisting, mind-altering and monstrously funny.” —\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe latest gripping psychological thriller from Edgar Award winner Alex Marwood\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen a child goes missing at an opulent house party, it makes international news. But what really happened behind those closed doors?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003eTwelve years ago, Mila Jackson’s three-year-old half-sister Coco disappeared during their father’s fiftieth birthday celebration, leaving behind her identical twin Ruby as the only witness. The girls’ father, Sean, was wealthy and influential, as were the friends gathered at their seaside vacation home for the weekend’s debauchery. The case ignited a media frenzy and forever changed the lives of everyone involved.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Now, Sean Jackson is dead, and the people who were present that terrible night must gather once more for a funeral that will reveal that the secrets of the past can never stay hidden. Perfectly paced all the way through its devastating conclusion, \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e is one that fans of Gillian Flynn and Liane Moriarty won’t be able to put down.“If there has been a better mystery-suspense story written in this decade, I can’t think of it . . . transcend[s] the genre.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Stephen King\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] cruel and cunning mystery. . . . Plot-twisting, mind-altering and monstrously funny.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Marilyn Stasio, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Perhaps the most heartfelt praise I can give the English novelist Alex Marwood’s unsettling new thriller \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e is to report that it kept me up way, way past my bedtime . . . one astonishment follows another . . . [with a] cool eye . . . [Marwood] does a remarkable job of blending her sophisticated humor, her mordant view of the rich and the heartbreak of a missing child.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Patrick Anderson, \u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This third novel from one of psychological suspense’s best writers confirms Marwood’s first hat trick with its chilling tale of a long unsolved child disappearance and the years-later death of the child’s wealthy, philandering father, striking at the heart of the area where familial and other relations meet personal self-interest.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Boston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e (Best Books of 2016)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e is no whodunit. In crafting what might be called a cutting ‘whodidn'tdoit,’ British novelist Alex Marwood takes aim at an entire social class for its self-directed, destructive ways.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—The \u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Compelling. . . . Marwood delivers a gripping cautionary tale about how one person's dominating personality can infect those around him. . . . Marwood’s keen sense of suspense and observations of human fragility lead \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e to a stunning finale.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eYahoo\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Brilliant.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Cutting expertly from past to present among a cast of deliriously unpleasant characters, Marwood’s devilishly plotted tale arrives at an unexpectedly moving, human climax before its utterly devastating epilogue. . . . As much a black comedy of contemporary bad manners as psychological thriller, \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret \u003c\/i\u003eis a triumph and a treat.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Irish Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A tense, poignant and ingeniously crafted mystery about a missing child, toxic relationships and family secrets.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e (“If you only buy one” crime novel, summer 2016)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Unsettling . . . cleverly plotted and gripping.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSunday Mirror \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A riveting read. Alex Marwood [is] the killer thriller writer. . . . Rarely have I found a book so unputdownable.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSunday Independent\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Jackson, an identical twin, is just three years old when she goes missing. But, as the plot begins to thicken, it reveals  a far more complex story than simply one of abduction by an unknown person. . . . The mystery does not give up its secrets easily. . . . compellingly told.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tightly woven, precisely detailed, and consistently involving . . . truly engrossing . . . exactly what a mystery novel should be: suspenseful, comprehensive, fast-paced, upsetting, and fulfilling. Marwood proves once again why she’s become so celebrated so quickly, as she packs her sophisticated yet gritty storytelling with characters that you’ll grow to hate and\/or pity. . . . Without a doubt, \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e will stay with you for a while.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePop Matters\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A book you will feel you have to finish as soon as you start reading it. A thriller with twists and turns that keep you fascinated right to the very end.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Mature Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e“She won an Edgar Award for her word of mouth bestseller \u003ci\u003eThe Wicked Girls\u003c\/i\u003e and a Macavity Award for \u003ci\u003eThe Killer Next Door. \u003c\/i\u003eNow Marwood intrigues with another tastily twisty thriller.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Evening Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“It's a cliché, but I really could hardly put down this excellent new thriller by Brit Alex Marwood. [A] twist- and passion-filled mystery.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Cleveland Plain Dealer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The reader’s heart sinks and pulse races as the author . . . teases out the true story. Marwood is emerging as a first-rate teller of twisted tales and ‘don’t let it be so’ suspense. Think Minette Walters and Barbara Vine with a little Gillian Flynn thrown in.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“For readers who prefer their psychological thrillers dark, twisty, and filled with loathsome people, Marwood serves up the perfect dish.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Compulsively readable. . . . Marwood shifts time periods effortlessly and created a noxious cast of characters.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e is Alex Marwood's best book yet—no small thing when one considers that her first two crime novels were both award winners. Her plots are always top-notch—deft, twisty—but it's the humanity she grants all her characters that makes her one of our best. This story will grip you to the final page, but Milly and her troubled family may never leave you.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Laura Lippman\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWhat the Dead Know\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eEvery Secret Thing\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With the psychological acuity of Kate Atkinson and a dark wit all her own, Alex Marwood draws us into \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e with utter narrative cunning, then surprises with its emotional wallop, its deeper resonances. In so doing, she demonstrates, without a doubt, that she is one of crime fiction’s brightest stars. Not to be missed.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Megan Abbott\u003c\/b\u003e, Edgar award winning authof of \u003ci\u003eDare Me\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Fever\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“At turns suspenseful, chilling and deeply, unexpectedly moving, \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e is a true tour de force. Alex Marwood's richly detailed, heartbreakingly human characters will stay with you long after the book's shocking conclusion. I loved it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Alison Gaylin\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the Brenna Spector Series\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With \u003ci\u003eThe Darkest Secret\u003c\/i\u003e, Alex Marwood has become one of my must-read crime writers.  It's an amazingly gripping book, and the structure is a thing of beauty.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Sophie Hannah\u003c\/b\u003e, internationally bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Wrong Mother\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Dead Lie Down\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Simply tremendous, so tense and packed with pathos. I loved every page of it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Sarah Hilary\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eSomeone Else's Skin\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNo Other Darkness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlex Marwood\u003c\/b\u003e is the pseudonym of a journalist who has worked extensively across the British press. Her first novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Wicked Girls\u003c\/i\u003e, won the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original, and was nominated for the Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel and the Anthony and ITW Awards for Best Paperback Original. \u003ci\u003eThe Killer Next Door\u003c\/i\u003e, her second novel, won a Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, was nominated for the Anthony and Barry, and has been optioned for film by James Franco and Ahna O’Reilly. Marwood lives in south London and is working on her next novel.","brand":"Penguin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304163234021,"sku":"NP9780143110514","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780143110514.jpg?v=1767738932","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-darkest-secret-isbn-9780143110514","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}