Anna Kendall was guilty
The words on the lift mirror are as crimson as fresh blood. As I trace each letter slowly with my finger, the writing leaves a faint sticky residue on my fingers...
The Blurb
Welcome to the true-crime controversy that’s divided the media for the last twenty years. To discover the truth, we need to delve back into the past…
THEN: In June 1999, the last five prisoners at HMP Panbrook were killed just before the prison closed its doors for the final time. Anna Kendall, the nurse accused of their murders, died before the case went to court. Her motive and guilt have never been proven.
NOW: The Panbrook Prison Hotel is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Hotel manager Madeleine Batten is determined to discover what happened there twenty years earlier. But as the prison’s dark secrets are gradually exposed, danger lurks in the shadows. And someone is determined to keep the truth locked away.
My Review
I have been fortunate enough to read and review all of the books written by this talented author. Her previous novels, The Redeemer and The Associate form the Shanna Regan Murder Mystery series, which are well worth checking out. You can also find my reviews of these books by clicking on the respective titles.
Little Secrets is an exciting mystery set in The Panbrook, a former prison which has since been converted into a luxury hotel. In 1999, Anna Kendall was accused of killing five of the inmates when she worked there as a nurse. The narrative switches between Anna (then) and Madeleine (now), the hotel manager in the present day.
It was a story that had me gripped as I tried to work out what really went on. The author does a great job of making the reader question the narrative - was Anna really guilty of the murders? Is it possible that someone else killed these men? Why is Madeleine so anxious to find the truth? Anna has committed suicide before the case comes to trial, which the police took to be a sign of her guilt.
For the tenth anniversary of the hotel opening, the hotel owner throws a special weekend party with only specially selected guests and staff present. As the hotel manager, Madeleine is there to ensure everything runs smoothly. However, it doesn't take long before the reader begins to question whether she has her own agenda in place.
There were several layers to this story, which are only revealed as the plot moves forward. There were a number of twists and turns, and when the reveal at the end of the book arrives, I can honestly say that I hadn't seen it coming!
I thought this was a fantastic novel set against an unusual background. I enjoyed reading it very much. The author brings to life the setting, plot and characters extremely well. The story is tense and suspenseful, and made for engaging reading.
I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good, slow burn story which you can become completely immersed in. It made for great reading and I already can't wait to read what this author might produce next.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1739695453
Publisher: Three Crowns Publishing UK
Formats: e-book and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 344 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Victoria has been a freelance journalist, editor and proofreader for over 25 years, with specific expertise in consumer health and science communication. She is Freelance Health Editor for Bupa. She also writes for several consumer and pharmacy magazines on a regular basis.
Her debut crime novel, The Redeemer, was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards 2022. The sequel, The Associate, is the Editor’s Choice Winner of Best Indie Crime Novel of 2023 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards 2023.
She has a BSc. in Biomedical Science from King’s College London and an MSc. in Science Communication from Imperial College London.
She proofreads and copy-edits fiction and non-fiction (including memoir). For more information about her writing, editing and proofreading work, please click on the links.
She is a member of the Guild of Health Writers, the Medical Journalists’ Association and the Society of Authors. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).
She was first runner up in the DHH Literary Agency New Voices Award 2019 with an Honourable Mention for The Redeemer.
You can also find Victoria at:
(ARC and media courtesy of the author)
(all opinions are my own)
