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Preview
  • Dead Secret

  • DS Merry & DI Neal Series, Book 1
  • By: Janice Frost
  • Narrated by: Madeleine Brolly
  • Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (255 ratings)

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Dead Secret

By: Janice Frost
Narrated by: Madeleine Brolly
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Summary

Who killed Amy Hill? Amy Hill, a 19-year-old student, is strangled and her body dumped on open ground in the city. New police partners, DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry are called in to investigate this brutal crime.

The last person to see Amy alive was Simon, the son of a family friend, but before he can be properly questioned he disappears. Detectives Neal and Merry are led on a trail of shocking family secrets and crimes. Can this duo track down the murderer before anyone else dies? Stopping this tragic cycle of violence will put DS Merry’s life at risk in a thrilling and heart-stopping finale.

©2015 Janice Frost (P)2018 W.F. Howes Ltd
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Critic reviews

"If you read one detective thriller this year make it Dead Secret. I really couldn't put this mystery down. Great pace, well-developed characters with some very dark pasts." (Ann Abrams)

"A brilliant new detective writer who will have you reading all night. I loved it." (Chris Child)

What listeners say about Dead Secret

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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    38
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Performance
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Slow pace

Guessed a lot of the events in the early parts of the story. The writing is very slow and deliberate verging on tedious and simple vocabulary much of which is repetitive.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Engaging occasionally irritating

This book has a good cast of believable characters and the story is narrated really well.
Although the search for Amy’s killer is the main theme of the story I didn’t feel that it reached a totally satisfying conclusion. There’s just enough chemistry between the two leads to sustain a series. However, Ava, the female lead is often irritating - she’s physically perfect, intellectually limited and (of course) she lives in an isolated cottage that’s perfect for a narrative cliff-hanger.
Overall, it’s an undemanding tale told well with enough unexpected twists and turns to make it a worthwhile listen. I’m lining up the next book in the series (which is easy since Audible has included it in their Plus catalogue). However, I would have done so even if I had to spend a credit! Thank you author and Audible.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

ok

I quite liked the story but throughout the book there is a lot of repetition. We are given the history on the two main characters 2 or 3 times

every student is usually neat and tidy.

every significant character is good looking

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Ok police mystery

This is the first episode in the Ava Merry and Jim Neal series. For me it was ok , but nothing particularly exciting.
It was well narrated.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

OK Quality for Plus Category

Good pace, a few good twist and turns. Maybe just a little stereotypical focusing on the hot girl cop. One also may take issue that she sleeps with a witness/suspect and seems to not be reprimanded for crossing over the line...not once, not twice but 3 times...to be fair the 3rd time was aborted but her plan to use her sex to get what she wanted was on the agenda.
I will listen to the next installment before I complete declare Ava exercising sexual entrapment to solve her crimes. Somebody needs to let her know that any evidence she discovers might be inadmissible.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good storyline

A good storyline was spoilt by a poor monotone narration which was disappointing. I won’t be listening to this narrator again!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

boring

narration clear but boring much like the story no excitement or imagination not for me

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really great!

Really enjoyed the story (though the police were a little slap dash in their enquiries!) great narration too. Will listen to more!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved the narration

Really enjoyed the storyline and characters, loved the twist at the end. Particularly enjoyed the narration

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not the best

Drawn out too much. Twist to the story. A bit repetitive. A bit far fetched storyline

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