In the exclusive gated community of Withered Vale, the residents seemingly have it all – money, success and privilege. Their lives appear as perfect as their carefully maintained homes and beautifully manicured lawns…
However, there’s a very serious problem! For the last three months, Olive Collins’ dead body has been decaying inside number four. Her neighbours all say they’re shocked at the discovery, but nobody thought to check when she disappeared.
Detectives Emma and Frank learn that Olive, in her mid-fifties, died from a heart attack. But when they discover her gas boiler was tampered with, the windows and ventilation sealed shut, their suspicions are raised.
They start to ask questions and the façade of perfection begins to crack. When it comes to Olive’s neighbours, each of them has something to lose and everything to gain from her death. Six neighbours, six secrets, six reasons to want Olive Collins dead…
What makes this psychological thriller so enthralling, is nearly every character is potentially guilty of murder. While in a sense the novel is formulaic, it’s one that works, with equal parts murder mystery and neighbourhood drama.
Dirty Little Secrets is Jo Spain’s sixth novel in four years, all of which have been bestsellers. She has also written crime drama for television and lives in Dublin with her family.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy Hachette, RRP $34.99