The novel builds well, there is tension and suspense though disbelief suspenders are required on occasions but hey, it’s fiction! There are several twists and turns although one is easy to figure out but not entirely the reasons behind it. The end twist is good.

One Last Secret (Audio Download): Adele Parks, Kristin One Last Secret (Audio Download): Adele Parks, Kristin

As the story developed, I could not believe some of the surprise revelations that Parks includes. At some points I was gasping in disbelief, finding myself re-reading some paragraphs in case I had missed something! There were some clever plot twists that come in the final chapters, so this is definitely a book you need to see through to the end to truly appreciate Parks thrilling narrative. Adele’s latest novel is “One Last Secret,” a psychological thriller told from the perspective of a high-end sex worker who takes one last job before hanging up her garters for good. It’s about “power, sex, money and revenge,” and is filled with fabulous twists and turns. It was abrupt but absolutely necessary! I was about to give 2 stars to this book! But last third changed my mind: at least so many of my questions answered even though they were far fetched explanations! I really warmed to Dora’s character, there were many unlikeable characters in the story and I enjoyed trying to guess what’s going to happen next. A thoroughly entertaining read of revenge, power and wealth….. and murder!I thought the audiobook was nicely done, and Kristin Atherton was a great narrator who I thoroughly enjoyed listening to. Dora is in her early 30s and to me, Atherton sounded much older than that, but I also never would have guessed Dora's age unless it was said in the book. She felt like an older character to me and for that reason, I thought Atherton was the perfect fit voice-wise. This is a slow burner for the most part, but the story gets crazy wild, so hang onto your horses! I would recommend One Last Secret to readers that enjoy domestic suspense, revenge, and healthy doses of uniqueness. I couldn't get behind some of Dora's decisions which seemed silly compared to how she is in the rest of the book, but I was here for all the rest. This book took too long to catch my attention. The beginning is a primer to sex work. I think it’s an honest one – and a respectful one – but the ABCs of sex work do not an exciting thriller make. After she is beat by a client her best friend Evan asks her to marry him and quit the business. She agrees. He just wants to keep her safe. He is also very much in love with her and they have not slept together. He knows her in a way that no one else does. But she still has a couple of secrets that she will take to her grave. I can't say that I blame her though. One Last Secret by Adele Parks is engaging and twisty, this psychological thriller will hold your attention that’s for sure!

One Last Secret on Apple Books ‎One Last Secret on Apple Books

Dora is a sex worker. Or a ‘hooker’ or ‘whore’ - words that are littered throughout the text…not sure that was necessary. When she’s beaten by a dangerous client, she’s more than a little shaken and her millionaire boy best friend offers her an out. Whip-smart protagonist, immensely satisfying"—Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, ForgottenNarrated by Kristin Atherton for 13 hours and 42 minutes (not sure why it says 10 hours and 45 minutes here?). She did a lovely job and showed proper emotion when necessary. I don’t know how I exactly feel about this book! It really made me confused! It was smart but there are so missing pieces for me to enjoy it completely! One Last Secret by Adele Parks took me on quite a ride. I didn’t know what to expect at any given time, and I like that in a thriller. In fact, I usually don’t like super-gonzo twists, but in this case, the ones that occurred were just plausible enough to keep them from being too over-the-top. Dora was an interesting character, hardened by life but still caring enough to help a friend out – at her own peril. The author carefully chooses when to reveal another piece of Dora’s puzzle so that it coincides with what is occurring in the present narrative.

ONE LAST SECRET | Kirkus Reviews

This is told mostly from the first person account of Dora/Teodora, who is a high end escort/sex worker. She isn't ashamed of the way she earns money, but when a client gets too rough she decides it's time to leave the business. Dora can't resist but take one last job as a favor to a client, a weekend away at a luxury home, yet what happens there is not what she was expecting. Dora quits her job but her old client Daniel she’s seen for 6 months need her help to attend a celebration party of his colleague at a chateau in South France. The girl he has a crush on for years who is also married will be there! He needs a pretending girlfriend urgently and Dora knows him so well, she’s the only one who can make his friends believe in their relationship! Although there were some eye-rolling moments, overall, the book was compulsively readable, entertaining, and unputdownable. This was my first time reading an Adele Parks book, and it did not disappoint. Dora’s character was so well done and had me rooting for her the entire time. The author's use of characterisation is, as I have come to expect, top notch and the portrayal of Dora is particularly impressive. This is perhaps just as well, as Dora is primarily responsible for conveying the narrative, although there are also brief interjections from the viewpoints of four other characters at various points. It wasn't long before I had found myself fully drawn into Dora's world and was feeling both sympathetic and empathetic towards her.

Member Reviews

This was a sultry, suspenseful read. It is quite slow to get going but the tension builds to unexpected revelations at the closing. There are good points. The prose is smooth, and the pacing is excellent. Another positive is that the beginning – where Dora talks about her life as a prostitute, and the setup for the trip takes place – is intriguing. The story follows a high end escort, Dora, as she finds love and the man who knows and loves her proposes to her. She decides (stupidly) to take on one last job and suddenly she’s a prisoner there and needs to figure out who is behind it all. This book started off with a bang! And I was ooh! This is different! And these days different is as rare as a unicorn sighting!