All her little secrets12/5/2023 Oftentimes, when a writer tries to implement a dual timeline into their work, it feels forced-an inorganic excuse for them to try and jam unnecessary exposition or flashbacks into the narrative. The thing that impressed me most, though, was how Morris utilized one of the most difficult-to-nail structural elements that a piece of fiction, regardless of the medium, can attempt to execute: the dual timeline. The authenticity of the novel’s corporate legal backdrop really shines, too-an obvious product of Morris’ own career in that field. Equal parts psychological thriller and gripping mystery, All Her Little Secrets completely deserves all of the plaudits it’s receiving. Achieving and intertwining all that as effortlessly as Morris does is an incredibly delicate balancing act. The themes touch on incredibly relevant social/racial issues that plague humanity, and the main character is a richly-crafted, yet highly-flawed woman who is both familiar and mysterious. The plot is shot through with twisty, tense suspense. As Ellice starts to investigate further her company’s murky activities, and Michael’s death is in fact ruled a murder, she becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy that has vile intentions-one that will threaten to expose everything she has worked so hard to keep buried.Īll Her Little Secrets is a svelte, tightly-crafted thriller that will undoubtedly satisfy fans of the genre. ![]() Making matters even worse is the fact that Ellice has a deep, dark secret from her past-something that, if revealed, would be the end of her life as she knows it. But when Ellice is almost immediately promoted to replace Michael, she becomes suspicious of the company’s true objectives. Everything stops on a dime, though, when she finds Michael dead in his office of an apparent suicide. For now, though, Ellice is just putting her head down-focused on excelling in her position and keeping the flame stoked on the clandestine relationship she’s having with her boss, Michael. Don’t worry, Mom-I’m not driving around Brooklyn sans hands.Īll Her Little Secrets follows Ellice Littlejohn, the lone, black, corporate attorney at a company under-fire in the media for their diversity hiring practices-or lack thereof. I’m delighted to say that not only was reading All Her Little Secrets the complete antithesis of that-but it proved to me that, sometimes, the best thing you can do is take your hands off the wheel and let the car drive itself. So, I went into it with essentially a clean slate. I barely even took the time to read what it was about-other than the fact that it was an #OwnVoices thriller set in Georgia. In the spirit of this endeavor, I immediately ordered it. In any event, I put out a call on Twitter for suggestions, and the wonderful Chantelle Aimée Osman, an editor at Agora Books, immediately directed me towards All Her Little Secrets, the debut thriller from Wanda M. See what I did there? I know, I know-hold your applause. ![]() I’m trying to think of a third clichéd expression but … I stepped up to the plate and struck out. However, this month, I wanted to buck that trend, go against my inherent nature, and do something I’ve never done before: take a blind recommendation and just go with it. I, Peter Malone Elliott, am a control freak. And, surprising to no one who knows me, this is a characteristic that transfers over to almost every aspect of my life. Furthermore, I’m very meticulous about what piece I select for each review-and why. I analyze everything from the sales numbers, their genres, the publishing pedigree of the author, and much more. Usually for my book reviews, I spend quite a lot of time researching potential picks.
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