The Secrets of Us - by Lucinda Berry (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Dangerously addictive, The Secrets of Us is a pulse-pounding exploration of a disturbed psyche and the bond between two sisters desperate to escape a troubled past.

Foster sisters Krystal and Nichole have always been there for each other, so when Nichole is committed to a psychiatric hospital after trying to kill her husband, Krystal drops everything to defend her.

Scarred by a hard upbringing, Nichole and Krystal managed to construct comfortable lives for themselves. Krystal became a respected lawyer, and Nichole was happily married to an architect--until Nichole starts raving that her husband isn't her husband, believing that he's an imposter.

Driven by fierce loyalty, Krystal starts asking questions, but she's not sure she can bear the answers. Her investigation leads to the sisters' dark shared past...to a horrible tragedy and a well-guarded lie that cemented their sisterly bond.

But that lie can't kill the truth--the battered, gasping, clawing truth that's coming for them both. Now Krystal and Nichole must both fight for the lives they've built before they're consumed by the one they left behind.

Review Quotes

PRAISE FOR LUCINDA BERRY

THE SECRETS OF US

"Those looking for an emotional roller-coaster ride will be rewarded." --Publishers Weekly

"Combine Lucinda Berry's deep understanding of the complexities of the human mind with her immense talent for storytelling and you have The Secrets of Us, an intense psychological thriller that kept my heart racing until the shocking, jaw-dropping conclusion. Bravo!" --T.R. Ragan, New York Times bestselling author

"The Secrets of Us is an unputdownable page turner with two compelling female protagonists that will keep readers on their toes. Fantastic!" --Cate Holahan, USA Today bestselling author of One Little Secret

"Lucinda Berry's The Secrets of Us is a tense, psychological thriller that explores the dark corners and turns a mind can take when it harbors secret guilt. The interplay between sisters Krystal and Nichole and their hidden past is gradually revealed and in the end, the plot twists keep coming. Right and wrong can be ambivalent and this story explores all shades of gray, from their dysfunctional family, to an old childhood friend, and to a husband that may or may not be too good to be true. Berry's background as a clinical psychologist shines in this novel with a character so disturbed they spend time in seclusion lockdown at a psychiatric ward. Don't miss this one!" --Debbie Herbert, USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author

"The Secrets of Us is an utterly gripping, raw, and heartbreaking story of two sisters. Berry's flawlessly placed clues and psychological expertise grab you from the first word, not letting go until the last. Compelling, intricate, and shocking, this inventive thriller cleverly weaves from past to present with stunning precision. I was absolutely enthralled." --Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

"The past and present collide with explosive consequences in this addictive, twisty thriller from an author at the top of her game. The Secrets of Us grips from the first page and doesn't let go until the final shocking twist." --Lisa Gray, bestselling author of Dark Highway

THE BEST OF FRIENDS

"A mother's worst nightmare on the page. For those who dare." --Kirkus Reviews

"The Best of Friends gripped me from the stunning opening to the emotional, explosive ending. In this moving novel, Berry creates a beautifully crafted study of secrets and grief among a tight-knit group of friends and of how far a mother will go to discover the truth and protect her children." --Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence and This Is How I Lied

"In The Best of Friends, Berry starts with a heart-stopping bang--the dreaded middle-of-the-night phone call--and then delivers a dark and gritty tale that unfolds twist by devastating twist. Intense, terrifying, and at times utterly heartbreaking. Absolutely unputdownable." --Kimberly Belle, international bestselling author of Dear Wife and Stranger in the Lake

THE PERFECT CHILD

"I am a compulsive reader of literary novels--but this has been a terrible year for fiction that is actually readable and not experimental. I have been so disappointed when well-known writers came out with books that, to me, were just duds. But there was one book that kept me reading, the sort of novel I can't put down...The Perfect Child, by Lucinda Berry. It speaks to the fear of every parent: What if your child is a psychopath? This novel takes it a step further. A couple, desperate for a child, has the chance to adopt a beautiful little girl who, they are told, has been abused. They're told it might take a while for her to learn to behave and trust people. She can be sweet and loving, and in public she is adorable. But in private--well, I won't give away what happens. But needless to say, it's chilling." --Gina Kolata, New York Times

"A mesmerizing, unbearably tense thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder and sleeping with one eye open. This creepy, serpentine tale explores the darkest corners of parenthood and the profoundly unsettling lengths one will go to to keep a family together--no matter the consequences. Electrifying and atmospheric, this dark gem of a novel is one I couldn't put down." --Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author

"A deep, dark, and dangerously addictive read. All absorbing to the very end!" --Minka Kent, Washington Post bestselling author