I'll Never Tell by Casey Kelleher - Book Review

I'll Never Tell by Casey Kelleher

Publication Date: 3rd Dec 2021
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Quick, Focused, and Intriguing 

*****

Alessia has a loving husband, Carl, and a cute little son, Jacob. Her life appears wonderful, and it was until it isn’t anymore. 

Alessia has a past. She and her friend Sarah have done something they shouldn’t have. The news became public, and somehow it was only Alessia who stood the trial. 

Twenty years have gone by, and some of her fears have subsided. But then, there’s someone intent on digging up the past and ruining her life again. 

People didn’t believe her when she said she didn’t commit the crime. Alessia knows they won’t believe her now either. Her family, her life, and her future are at stake. Can she face the past to save her family? 

What will happen when the truth comes out? And…what is the actual truth?

The story goes back and forth (now and then, written under the chapter head for convenience). The narration is in the limited third person and gives us insights into the characters’ minds. 

Plus Points

• Short chapters and lots of tell (works for the story) 
• Good pace throughout
• Focus on what’s necessary for the plot
• No unnecessary twists or subplots (there were many instances to complicate the story and extend it by another 50-70 pages. Thank you for not doing that.)
• Clearly defined characters (not deep but easy to predict their actions)
• Harriet is a sensible cop. I wish she has a book of her own (or even a series) 
• No rambling (most of the time. The rest was necessary to provide more information)
• Deals with topics like child abuse, trauma, and mental health without overemphasizing anything 
• Sustains interest almost from first to last (I had to rearrange my ideas more than once)
• It's a small book (less than 300 pages) and a quick read 

Things That Didn’t Work Me

• Some strange use of adverbs (ref: robotically). It seemed like an attempt to shorten sentences to increase the pace. Doesn’t always work. 
• The first chapter! I can’t put my finger on it, but the first chapter just wasn’t right in there for me. It’s perfect bait (something I've done myself). Yet, something felt off. If the book didn’t come with recco, I’d have been wary of the rest. 
• The scene in the climax felt a wee bit unrealistic. I see why it was done. Just wished it was a bit more ‘in there’ with the rest of it. 

To sum up, I’ll Never Tell is a quick thriller dealing with important social issues. The overall result is more than satisfactory. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#IllNeverTell #NetGalley