Review: English story more than a murder mystery!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 20, 2011
The Secret by Jan Warburton starts as a typical murder mystery which in part it is, but is so much more than that and by the end you will have journeyed through a range of emotions that this author has carried you on along with her plausible characters emotive and intertwining stories. I did note one 2 star review and the reviewer states they got half way, but that's their loss as if they had persisted they would see the gradual build up and from halfway through the story takes off as good classical music builds to reach it's exciting crescendo so this story does.  The  story starts with the gruesome death of James' flat mate, Karl and covers how it effects everyone concerned but especially the main characters James, his on/off girlfriend Ellie, second cousin and would be lover Fran. Who the murderer is becomes secondary but is an essential part of the storyline that is ultimately revealed. After the initial murder and police enquiries the story slows somewhat as daily life begins to resume for the characters with work, sex & the relationships of daily life with it's intertwining and all it's aspirations. There are developing sexual relationships, questions of fidelity, honesty & trust. There are health issues & their consequences. There are numerous hidden issues within this story and issues trying to be hidden that are revealed in all there secrecy bit by bit but the biggest secret that answers all is left right to the end. Warning I needed tissues! I feel this fits between 4 and 5 stars. A couple of errors found would lower it toward 4 stars but for a first novel I err on the side of encouragement and have given it 5 stars and look forward to further work by this author. Genres it fits in with include murder mystery, women's contemporary and romance fiction.