3.5 out of 5 Stars
Thank you to Joffe Books and Books n All for involving me with this tour!
Synopsis
Looking for a gripping crime thriller which you won’t want to put down?
DISCOVER THE NEW MYSTERY FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JANICE FROST
Businessman Russell Marsh is found shot dead in his home. Russell’s ‘angel investment’ company had made him many enemies. His business was struggling and his family and friends were not all on his side. But did any of them really want him dead?
DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry are called in to investigate a very complex murder.
Then another body is found in the woods and the case gets much murkier.
There are some very dirty secrets hidden behind the seemingly happy lives of the families involved.
And the trail will lead them into a dangerous world of crime.
Great for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham.
THE DETECTIVES
DS Ava Merry is a young policewoman, recently promoted to detective sergeant. She is fitness fanatic with a taste for dangerous relationships. DI Jim Neal is single dad who juggles his devotion to his job with caring for his son.
DS MERRY & DI NEAL SERIES
Book 1: DEAD SECRET
Book 2: DARK SECRET
Book 3: HER HUSBAND’S SECRET
Book 4: THEIR FATAL SECRETS
Book 5: DIRTY SECRETS
My Thoughts
We all want to know how the other half lives.. Well, unless you are the other half, in which case, lucky you. 😉
This is a story of two upper class families who both have their “dirty secrets”. After the patriarch of one of the families is found shot (is it murder? Or is it suicide?) the investigation begins, and no one is safe. Murder, drugs, abuse, money laundering… It’s all fair game!
The story is definitely slower paced and the conclusion was fairly obvious, but it was the writing kept me interested, and not every story needs a shocking twist! Everything is tied up nicely and the progression is quick enough to keep you interested.
Beyond the actual murder mystery, I found myself more invested in the lives and relationships of the investigators involved. I was worried going into this one, as it is not the first of the series, but I could easily discern the personalities and relationships of the characters without backtracking and boring recaps. Janice goes full steam ahead hinting at possible relationships blooming while other’s fall apart. I’d really love to continue the series to find out what happens next with Neal, Ava, PJ, and Tom!
The Author
JANICE FROST
Janice was born and grew up in West Lothian, Scotland. After completing an English degree at St Andrew’s University, she moved to London where she lived for ten years doing an assortment of jobs. Her passions are reading, writing and walking in Scotland and the Lake District. She lives in Lincolnshire with her husband and two sons.
Dirty Secrets is Best Served with
a Dirty Little Secret Cocktail
I found this one over at The Nest! What a perfect pairing!
Ingredients:
• 5 z Olive Brine
• 1 oz Dry Vermouth
• 2 oz Vodka
• 2 dashes Celery Bitters
• Less than the back of a bar spoon of A.1. Steak Sauce
Directions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a tin shaker and shake to combine.
- Strain into a martini glass and garnish with olives.
- CHEERS!!
Beautiful 💛
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Thank you!
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Ha! Love the cocktail pairing 😂
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It fit so well! I will say… I’m not much of a big fan of the steak sauce in my Martini. I like mine dry as the desert, and I like it stirred, not shaken (I find shaking bruises the alcohol). But, I don’t mind it a little dirty sometimes! 😉
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Oh I love a dirty martini! Yum!
There’s a bar in Melbourne that sells their martinis in order of dirtiness.
“The Britney” only has a dash of olive brine. I think “The Miley” has a tablespoon 😂
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Ha ha ha!!! That is AMAZING!! 😆😆💖
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Interesting read and drink! I’m glad you enjoyed the book. It sounds pretty good even with the slow pacing. I enjoy reads like this occasionally. Hope you have a great week! ❤
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It was definitely nice to read a book mystery without trying for some crazy twist at the end. Not all mysteries need shock factor! I hope you had a great weekend, as well! 💖💖
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Hahaha… Didn’t you make the cocktail? How will I know if they go together looks wise? I am the one who is heartbroken… Hmm sorta kinda. I need to look at alcohol if not drink.
Great review… I am so glad you enjoyed the book
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Oh crap! I made the cocktail late last night and forgot to put the picture in!! .. Adding it now.. I’m an idiot.
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I agree. And you said it!!!
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Hey, I never have a problem admitting when I’m an idiot!… Especially since it’s probably about 80% of my life.
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Same here!!
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That’s why I love you. 💖💖😍
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I love you too babes ❤️💜
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There is now a picture up for your viewing..And non-drinking, enjoyment! Thanks for reminding me darlin!! 💖💖
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What is that yellow thingy in it?
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Ha ha ha!!! It’s a little hors d’oeuvres fork with a guy with big ears on it.. Ha ha! I couldn’t find my olive spears!! (I shouldn’t make drinks for blogging purposes at midnight. 😉😂)
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Nothing can beat ‘little dirty secrets’ floating in the glass…of martini 🙃
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Ha ha!! I prefer vodka to be floating in that glass… But, too much of that may cause me to do things that CAUSE dirty little secrets! 😅😂
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Haha I don’t want imagine that even 😅😱😱
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Oh… In my younger crazy days….
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😂😂👏
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Now I want to know pronto!!
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On the interweb?? Shalini, doll, you know “the man” is always looking for this stuff to use against me… Compiling their files… 😂😉📂📁
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Nahhh via our secret code language barring and baring and bearing. Or via insta 😉😉😂😂
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Ha ha ha!!! Oh… The stories… And they definitely involve baring…. No bearing, thankfully… I’m not like Lou.. I’m not going to be smothering honey on my labia for a bear. 🐻 (for those of you who DIDN’T read my review of Bear… Please ignore this comment! 😂😂)
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Hahaha…. Or please go and read that review it was hilarious!!
BTW I don’t like honey
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Who DOESN’T like honey???… Why oh why don’t I fork over the money for a better package with WordPress so I can send GIFs in comments… I can just picture pooh bear wiggling his butt trying to get that honey right now… Oh, Ya. It’s because I don’t HAVE money. 💸🤑😂😂)
https://giphy.com/gifs/chuber-thanks-thank-you-honey-l2Sqgnr6m7zBGob9C
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Hahaha I don’t have honey or money… But you are my honey and that love is my money
How’s this
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🍾🥂🎉💖🎈 That’s how I feel about that, honey! 🍯
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Well I do like the look of that drink, though I’d probably leave out the olive brine, steak sauce and celery stuff 😉
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Well, there’s an actually pic up now! I forgot to add it as I wrote up the post on my computer and took the pic on my phone telling myself “I’ll add the picture later through my phone!” did I?? Not a chance… Enjoying too many dirty little secrets. 😜… Although, not really. I prefer my martinis as dry as the desert and stirred. (don’t want to bruise the alcohol)
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I can show you a “dirty secret”!😝 Bow chika, Wow, Wow! Lol. Jk. But on a real note, Fantastic Review!❤💙❤💙
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Are you? Really? Joking?
I bet you can show all of us a thing or two!! Hehe😉😉
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Psh, child’s play. 😉😂💖💖💖
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Haha haha! Maybe!😉😉
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Okay… Now I want to see this too! Dirty it up gal pal!! 💖🍻👀
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The title alone is enough to give this one a go (and I have to say the comments above here were priceless 😂😂), but this does sound like an interesting read. With too many books on my list at the moment, I won’t be reading this anytime soon…but who knows when I have a need for a dirty secret 🤔
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Well, as per the comments above… Might I recommend the paired beverage to help you with those dirty secrets?? I mean, read the book for sure… But, wouldn’t it be more fun to have you own?? 😘😂🤔🍻🙄
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Haha…hmmm…I think there are instances when it is better not to say anything anymore 🤐🤐🤐 😂😂😂
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Remember that conversation we just had about saying things we shouldn’t without thinking about it?? Shalini is here to remind me about a lot of my interweb faux pas. 😉😂
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Lol…how could I forget about that. So yeah, back to that…going to keep being quiet now: before you know it, it will be used against me in a court of law 😂😂
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It’s safer for everyone that way. I try… But, she’s just too Damn cute to ignore! 😘
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I do hear that silence is a virtue… Or, is that patience… Should be silence. 🔇🤐😉😂
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Our comments are always this crazy… Sorry I stand corrected… The bookworm drinketh’s comments are always crazy… We just play a tiny part in it
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Ha ha ha!!! LIES! SUCH LIES!! You know that I’ve been chatting with Raistlin for a while now, he knows the truth!! 😅🤔😜
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Hahaha nopes most of our x-rated chats have occurred on my blog… And girl he ain’t there following me. He knows nothing about no comments.
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Ya. And I’M the one starting those?? ….. Hmmm. Let’s roll back that tape, shall we Shalini babe?? I’m pretty sure that half the time comments get out of hand, I’m at work and not even around to partake! 😉
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Hahaha oh those were the comments that happened on Nina’s blog.
You are at work and hardly partaking, and yet the comments are daring and baring hahaha wonder how that happens and whose influence they are
(Hint : it is you DEVILESS) 😂😂😈👿😈👿
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Hmmm…. I plead the 5th…..
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I managed to silence you 🤔😱😱
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Psh. I WILL NEVER BE SILENCED!! 🤣
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Praise the high skies… I am so glad… You like you crazy talking
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And why re not CRAZY. Let’s back that “crazy” train up, they’re… Colourful? Unique?… My mothers favourite descriptor for things she doesn’t understand “Different”?? 😂😂
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Hahaha we are different in all ways.. Hahaha we said ‘I do’ on WordPress hahaha how much more different can we get and how not so crazy are we??
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Haha lol…well as I am little bit crazy myself, I always like crazy comments 😂 And sure…I totally believe you 😇😇😂😂
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There you go Nicole. He also believes you are the crazy one hahaha he just said it….
I strictly maintain at all times – I am innocent
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Lol…I think I am going to run away now very fast and very quietly 😂😂
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Hahaha no chance… Nicole sees everything and knows everything… She has a cat which is her familiar. She has wicked ways… Michel you can’t escape… Hahaha😂😂😂😂
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hmmmm…but I have magical powers, that no one knows of (oooppsss…I just let the secret out 🤔🤔). 😂😂
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Gawd all of you are magical… How are we, mere humans, supposed to deal with all this… Well, I can say I have great connection to the DEVILESS Nicole👿😈
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I think me earlier statement of running away fast and quietly is beginning to make more sense by the minute 😂😂
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Shalini has that effect on people…. 😜
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Awww…. Wish I could post a pic of my cat in the comments, as he’s sleeping with me right now! Grrr…. Stupid WordPress…. Check my Instagram! I’ll post one there! 😹😻
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Cool I will
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He said HE was crazy, Shalini. Don’t be putting CRAZY words into people’s mouths! 😒🙄🤐😜🤣
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No no he also added he believes me when I said the bookworm drinketh is crazy… I am innocent… Not putting words into his mouth… (Psst I hardly know him to show my crazy side)
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😂😂😂 Ya, let’s wait until AT LEAST the 2nd crazy conversation we yank him into against his will to unleash the REAL crazy! 😉
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He is more keen in running away… But you are right… I am going to be sane and sweet, you know my natural self… ☺️
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So…what should you read with Scotch…neat? 😉
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hm… I haven’t done scotch yet, funny enough. I’ve done rye or “Canadian whiskey”
https://thebookwormdrinketh.com/2018/01/22/you-only-get-one-shot/
And Southern Comfort an “American whiskey”
https://thebookwormdrinketh.com/2018/02/15/a-book-with-no-pictures-a-short-story/
But, I have yet to do Scotch (with a book, I did have my Robbie Burns celebration)
https://thebookwormdrinketh.com/2018/01/25/happy-robbie-burns-day-authentic-robbie-burns-dinner/
Sorry, with the link overload, ha ha!!! I’m waiting to pair scotch with something that suits the content of a book, or some gritty scottish thriller …probably pair it with a cigar as well!
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Perfect!! 😉
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I agree… stories don’t always need a shocking twist to make them interesting. Good writing goes a long way! Lol
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Exactly!! Frankly, I’m pretty tired of the shocking twist… give me a normal twist or just a regular ending right now and I’ll be happy!
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Oh yeah! Stop trying so hard… they’re tiring me out. Lol
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Hmmmm, interesting – there seems to be a lot of rich-families-with-dirty-secrets stories coming out lately, wonder why that’s trending?? So many of them seem to be going for the “shock plot twist” angle as well, so it’s nice to hear that Frost hasn’t pushed that too hard 🙂 And hats off for working in some celery bitters, a criminally underused cocktail ingredient IMHO!
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Isn’t it?? Probably because it’s so annoying to find! I had to order them online! 😕 And I agree.. There does seem to be an inordinate amount of rich people with secrets books coming out! I’m actually on a blog tour for another one later this week!
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