Book Review: Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph

Title: Secrets Never Die

Author: Vincent Ralph

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Publishing Date: August 29th, 2023

Read: April 2nd, 2024

Pages: 368

Audio Length: 8 Hours 52 Minutes

Genre: YA mystery thriller

TW: Suicidal ideation, failed suicide attempt, fire, injuries and scars due to fire, mortal peril, car accident, violation of privacy, violence with a knife, cyberstalking, cyber abuse, threat of danger to a child.

Series: Standalone

Source: Audio

What it's about:

We call it the Dark Place. I don’t know who built it or when but, for us, it’s special.

Every year Sam Hall and his friends hold funerals for their secrets in an abandoned hut in the woods that they call the Dark Place. But this year, their secrets are coming back from the dead...to terrorize them.

Sam is a former child star whose career went up in flames – literally. And no one, not even his best friend knows why. His friends each hold a secret pertaining to the night. A secret they would all like buried.

Now someone from the past is blackmailing them with their dangerous secrets. Sam isn’t sure who he can trust, who’s watching him – or how far he’s willing to go to bury the past once and for all.

When you’re alone in the dark, some things won’t stay hidden.

What I thought:

At the time this was the second Vincent Ralph book I read, and the first one I read was just kind of meh to me, so I was skeptical. But honestly I really enjoyed this one, a lot better than the first one I read (Lock the Doors) I think it was unique in the way it was done, even if it is just a regular black mailing teens because of their secrets book.

Cover:

It's okay, it's kind of bright and spooky at the same time. I'm just not a fan of the art style.

Story:

The story was interesting enough, like I said it's a typical black mailing teens because of their secrets, but it had it's own unique feeling. It felt almost supernatural at times. 

Pace: 

It was a bit slow, and then a bit of a fast read, then it slowed down. It was like a rollercoaster. 

I also didn't feel like the secrets were that.. crazy? I guess? Yeah it would suck if people found out but it wasn't end of the world type secrets.

Writing: 

It was a well written book, I didn't feel like it was immature or too informative. It was just right.

Characters: 

The characters weren't all that memorable, to be honest. I don't remember if I hated them, loved them, what. They were just there. I didn't feel much for them one way or the other and I didn't really care if something happened to them to be honest.

Ending: 

I don't even really remember the ending to be honest, how sad is that?? I suppose there was probably a big ol twist, but damn if I remember.

Narrator:

Overall:

It wasn't bad! I did enjoy it, I just don't really feel like it's a super memorable book. 

A little Snippet:

“You can’t always look away from scary things. Sometimes they’ll come for you regardless.”
― Vincent Ralph, Secrets Never Die

Possible books of likeness:

Author's info:

Vincent Ralph is the bestselling author of YA thrillers 14 Ways to Die, Lock the Doors and Secrets Never Die. All three novels are New York Times bestsellers and Lock the Doors is also a USA Today bestseller, an Edgar Award nominee, and the winner of the Southern Schools Book Award. His fourth book - One House Left - is out in August 2024, as is his first story for younger readers - A Boy Called Book.

Other books I've read by this author: