Our Little Secret: a gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist from bestselling author Darren O’Sullivan
‘Immensely talented new author.’ John Marrs, author of The One and When You Disappeared‘Engrossing, compelling and twisty from the first page to the shocking ending. This book grabbed me and didn't let go.’ Michele Campbell author of It’s Always the Husband'Unique and utterly compelling. This twisty psychological thriller will chill you to the bones.' Gemma Metcalfe author of Trust Me‘A stellar and original concept, brilliantly executed. The final chapters had my heart in my throat! O’Sullivan is certainly one to watch.’ Phoebe Morgan, author of THE DOLL HOUSEA deserted train station: A man waits. A woman watches.Chris is ready to join his wife. He’s planned this moment for nearly a year. The date. The time. The train. But he hadn’t factored in Sarah.So when Sarah walks on to the platform and sees a man swaying at the edge she assumes he’s just had too much to drink. What she doesn’t expect is to stop a suicide.As Sarah becomes obsessed with discovering the secrets that Chris is clearly hiding, he becomes obsessed with stopping her, protecting her.But there are some secrets that are meant to stay buried…Pre-order Close Your Eyes… Darren’s thrilling second book, coming May 2018!Perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh, BA Paris and Holly Seddon.Praise for Our Little Secret’Darren O’Sullivan keeps the reader on the edge of their seat in this dark, clever look at what drives people to the edge and how quickly a life can change.’ Phoebe Morgan author of The Doll House‘This is one of the best books I have ever read. It was nail-biting and had me on edge from start to finish… a must buy!’ Greta Halliday‘An absolutely phenomenal debut.’ Rebecca Pugh‘One of the best books of its genre.’Julia Beales‘The only thing unbelievable about this thriller is that it's the authors debut.’ Jennifer Kelly‘Gripping from the moment you start reading it.’ Emily Charlton‘Incredibly well-written debut.’ Susan Anne Burton‘One of the best novels I've read in a long time.’ Paul Lane
Читать Our Little Secret: a gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist from bestselling author Darren O’Sullivan онлайн беплатно
A deserted train station: A man waits. A woman watches.
Chris is ready to join his wife. He’s planned this moment for nearly a year. The date. The time. The train. But he hadn’t factored in Sarah.
So when Sarah walks onto the platform and sees a man swaying at the edge she assumes he’s had too much to drink. What she doesn’t expect is to stop a suicide.
As Sarah becomes obsessed with discovering the secrets that Chris is clearly hiding, he becomes obsessed with stopping her.
But there are some secrets that are meant to stay buried…
Perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh and Holly Seddon.
Contents
DARREN O’SULLIVAN lives and works in Peterborough as a theatre director, writer and actor. He is also the author of a children’s book The Sleep Taker.
Our Little Secret is his first thriller.
You can find Darren at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/darrenosullivanauthor. Twitter: @darrensully
There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me bring this novel to life but none more so than my editor Hannah Smith and the team at HQ for seeing the potential, having faith and guiding me through the journey in shaping Our Little Secret.
A special thank you also needs to go to the wonderful author and mentor Sarah May who I am lucky to know through the Faber Academy. Without her wisdom, passion, and support, I would not be the writer I am today. I must also thank the entire group of 2015-16 Faber Academy: Aysha, Bryony, Carly, Jean, Jen, Oz, Rob, Rosie, Sarah, Simone, Will, Yair and Zaz. Thank you for listening to the many readings of early versions and giving honest feedback. We had a wonderful six months together guys. I would also like to thank Nicci Cloke and Richard Skinner at the academy for helping to answer the many questions I had in developing this novel.
To Richard and Diane Card, thank you for reading early versions and giving feedback, and to Jacqui Howchin and Jonathan Austin, thank you for taking the time to pick apart the opening ready for submissions.
Mum and Dad, for, well, being Mum and Dad. As always you guys rock!
Hayley Chilvers, thank you for being a part of this since the early days of the first few chapters and being an ear for when doubt dances around me. Darren Maddison for being the rock who pops up when it’s most needed and John Ormandy, for helping me see that dreams can work with a lot of work.
The long nights at my computer and constant discussions about characters that took over my life were tough, so finally, to Helen, thank you for your understanding and patience.
For Ben, who shows me that anything is possible.
5th May 2016
The first final day
10.39 p.m. – March train station, England
Eight minutes.
Chris looked up at the analogue dials of the train station clock, its ticking unperturbed by what was about to happen. It read ten thirty-nine. He stood and watched the seconds pass by slowly. Eight minutes, that was all he had to wait. Looking around the station he noted how dilapidated it was. The benches that were once sky blue were now covered with an assortment of profanities – as were the walls behind them. Pictures of male genitals and insults to people’s mothers were lit by a dull orange light in the roof of the old station and the flickering of a half-empty vending machine.
The old Chris might have had an opinion about it. Not now. Not anymore. Instead, reading the walls and the bench just made him feel more tired, more ready.
The station was the kind of place that had damp autumnal leaves even in the middle of summer. The kind of place the wind always fiercely travelled. He listened as it howled and moaned its way through the entrance and past him, stirring empty crisp packets and bottles of beer that had overflowed from the bins.
Letting out a sigh, he could see his breath hitting the air like cigarette smoke. Although it was May, the weather was unseasonably cold, barely six degrees. He hadn’t noticed how cold until now. He hadn’t noticed much lately, besides time. It was his only constant.
Chris then observed, in the same way a person might observe through a window, that his shirt was wet. It was raining and, now more aware of his surroundings, he realized the wind was giving him a chill.
He had been painfully passing the time walking through the quiet streets of March, a small fenland town thirty-two miles north of Cambridge, for an hour before arriving here. A town that was tired and had been left behind, full of charity shops and bargain outlets that displayed items for a pound or less. The shop signs that hung above paint-stripped doors were crude and cheap, almost shouting their names at him as he passed by. He’d noticed those inconsequential things but not the fact it was cold and he was wet. He briefly wondered why before shaking off the thought. He had to keep his focus now more than ever.
