![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annathepiperI have long been a fan of Susanna Kearsley, and so when I heard that she'd put out a book under the pen name Emma Cole, moving over from Gothic/supernatural romance into non-supernatural mystery/thriller, I was honorbound to check it out. Every Secret Thing is her first Emma Cole novel, and is the story of how reporter Kate Murray's seemingly chance meeting with an old man leads her to investigating a murder that dates clear back to World War II--and fleeing for her life when she discovers that some are still bent on keeping that murder from ever coming to light.
Most people who think "thriller" may not find that word appropriate for this novel; this is not a high-paced, fast-action adventure. Rather, this is a subtler sort of thriller, dependent more on one or two sharp spots of active danger in between longer stretches of our heroine being deeply uncertain about what's going on and who she can trust, and traveling around either fleeing from (apparent) bad guys or else talking with people who can clue her in. Much, too, depends on the fact that in a way this isn't really Kate's story. It's the story of Andrew Deacon, the man who alerted her to the long-unrevealed murder, and what surprise connection he has to her very own family.
Because the action keeps shifting back to the days of the war, the novel overall has a classic period feel to it, and the pacing and atmosphere are appropriate. Think Mary Stewart novels going in, and you'll have about the appropriate level of action and tension to expect. And, that said? Cole/Kearsley does exhibit her same style of characterization here that I've loved in her other work, though it's the principles in the older war-era story that really shine; Kate herself stands out less as a heroine than she does as a channel for the story that came before. Bonus points too for an ending that is, if not precisely happy, very much appropriate.
The novel doesn't work for me completely; there are parts where I do wish that more action would take place, and that our heroine would have more to do than just travel around and mostly talk to people. On the strength of the older core story and its characters, though, four stars.
Most people who think "thriller" may not find that word appropriate for this novel; this is not a high-paced, fast-action adventure. Rather, this is a subtler sort of thriller, dependent more on one or two sharp spots of active danger in between longer stretches of our heroine being deeply uncertain about what's going on and who she can trust, and traveling around either fleeing from (apparent) bad guys or else talking with people who can clue her in. Much, too, depends on the fact that in a way this isn't really Kate's story. It's the story of Andrew Deacon, the man who alerted her to the long-unrevealed murder, and what surprise connection he has to her very own family.
Because the action keeps shifting back to the days of the war, the novel overall has a classic period feel to it, and the pacing and atmosphere are appropriate. Think Mary Stewart novels going in, and you'll have about the appropriate level of action and tension to expect. And, that said? Cole/Kearsley does exhibit her same style of characterization here that I've loved in her other work, though it's the principles in the older war-era story that really shine; Kate herself stands out less as a heroine than she does as a channel for the story that came before. Bonus points too for an ending that is, if not precisely happy, very much appropriate.
The novel doesn't work for me completely; there are parts where I do wish that more action would take place, and that our heroine would have more to do than just travel around and mostly talk to people. On the strength of the older core story and its characters, though, four stars.