Don't Tell a Soul

Don't Tell a Soul

  • Downloads:8736
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-03-23 14:19:57
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Kirsten Miller
  • ISBN:0525581200
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A story about a new girl in an old town filled with dark secrets 。 。 。 that might just kill her。

People say the house is cursed。
It preys on the weakest, and young women are its favorite victims。
In Louth, they're called the Dead Girls。


All Bram wanted was to disappear—from her old life, her family's past, and from the scandal that continues to haunt her。 The only place left to go is Louth, the tiny town on the Hudson River where her uncle, James, has been renovating an old mansion。

But James is haunted by his own ghosts。 Months earlier, his beloved wife died in a fire that people say was set by her daughter。 The tragedy left James a shell of the man Bram knew—and destroyed half the house he'd so lovingly restored。

The manor is creepy, and so are the locals。 The people of Louth don't want outsiders like Bram in their town, and with each passing day she's discovering that the rumors they spread are just as disturbing as the secrets they hide。 Most frightening of all are the legends they tell about the Dead Girls。 Girls whose lives were cut short in the very house Bram now calls home。

The terrifying reality is that the Dead Girls may have never left the manor。 And if Bram looks too hard into the town's haunted past, she might not either。

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Reviews

Angelique Torres

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 5/5 stars。 FUCK JAMES。 FUCK GAVIN。 FUCK DANIEL。Death to every man who's ever taken advantage of a child and or woman。I threw this book against the wall so many times that's its broken and dirty but I am so satisfied。 This book was so good, a little slow in the beginning (in no way was it bad) but it picks up and it made me angry and had my heart racing in the most bloodthirsty way。 Definitely a book I'll be keeping and rereading。 5/5 stars。 FUCK JAMES。 FUCK GAVIN。 FUCK DANIEL。Death to every man who's ever taken advantage of a child and or woman。I threw this book against the wall so many times that's its broken and dirty but I am so satisfied。 This book was so good, a little slow in the beginning (in no way was it bad) but it picks up and it made me angry and had my heart racing in the most bloodthirsty way。 Definitely a book I'll be keeping and rereading。 。。。more

kyle

3。5!

Angie

I thoroughly disagree with anyone who uses Rebecca and this book in the same sentence, other than to say, "this book has no similarities to Rebecca at all。" Every book with a big old mansion is not a gothic masterpiece。 Not that I was expecting anything exceptional, but I admit that seeing someone compare this to one of my favorite books intrigued me。 I also loved the cover and I am having a thing for YA at the moment, so why not? I was pretty disappointed with most of the reveals, and found m I thoroughly disagree with anyone who uses Rebecca and this book in the same sentence, other than to say, "this book has no similarities to Rebecca at all。" Every book with a big old mansion is not a gothic masterpiece。 Not that I was expecting anything exceptional, but I admit that seeing someone compare this to one of my favorite books intrigued me。 I also loved the cover and I am having a thing for YA at the moment, so why not? I was pretty disappointed with most of the reveals, and found myself thinking, "that's it?" Admittedly, horror is my favorite genre, and I know better than to come to a ghosty YA novel and expect to be scared or even creeped out, but it felt like the author went out of her way to make an interesting set up turn out as mundane and tidy as possible。 (view spoiler)[ And the trellis??? With all that build up around the secret escape route, I don't think I could have come up with something more BORING if I tried。 (hide spoiler)] Most of the characters were completely flat and some of them contributed absolutely nothing to the story。 (Looking at you, Sam。) I loved Lark the idea, but Lark the person was a lame duck。 A lot of wasted potential with her character。 I HATED the last chapter or so of the book。 It was really irritating that everything tied up in a nice pretty bow and everyone lived happily ever after。 It was the biggest disappointment of all to have so much tidying stuffed into the very end of the book。 Overall, it was a quick read and I appreciated the message to believe women。 But, I think the book was a bit misrepresented and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else。 。。。more

Kari

3。5 stars rounded upIn Don't Tell a Soul, Bram has come to live with her uncle to escape something that happened back home。 Hoping to make a fresh start, she tries to settle in to her new town。 Strange things are happening in the big creepy house。 Soon she gets roped into finding out more information about the "Dead Girls。 I'll start by saying that part of my disappointment with this book was my thinking it was a paranormal YA。 That is what I was expecting, but that isn't what I got。Don't get me 3。5 stars rounded upIn Don't Tell a Soul, Bram has come to live with her uncle to escape something that happened back home。 Hoping to make a fresh start, she tries to settle in to her new town。 Strange things are happening in the big creepy house。 Soon she gets roped into finding out more information about the "Dead Girls。 I'll start by saying that part of my disappointment with this book was my thinking it was a paranormal YA。 That is what I was expecting, but that isn't what I got。Don't get me wrong, I did ultimately like this book。 The mystery was good and there were a couple of surprises。 I liked that Bram didn't know who she could and couldn't trust。 Bram herself was a strong character in spite of what she had been through the past few years。 Her mother was a real winner。 I actually felt badly for Bram。 The beginning was a bit slow, but by the 25% mark it picked up and I was hooked。 I think YA mystery readers will enjoy this。 Just don't go into it expecting ghosts like I did。 。。。more

Jane Meganck

This was such an interesting read! It had great characters and an unpredictable plot that impressed and thrilled me。 Bram was well-written and her story pulled me in。 The side characters as well were amazing and I loved their interactions。 I could also feel all the emotions and the suspicion throughout the story。 I liked the feeling created throughout this book and the plot sucked me in。 However, the writing didn't really pull me in and keep my attention。 That being said, it was still good and I This was such an interesting read! It had great characters and an unpredictable plot that impressed and thrilled me。 Bram was well-written and her story pulled me in。 The side characters as well were amazing and I loved their interactions。 I could also feel all the emotions and the suspicion throughout the story。 I liked the feeling created throughout this book and the plot sucked me in。 However, the writing didn't really pull me in and keep my attention。 That being said, it was still good and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, exciting mystery with a paranormal twist。 。。。more

Kelly

3。5

Leslie Cernosek

Great YA suspense/thriller that doesn’t think kids are dumb。 Atmospheric and nothing gratuitous

Tammy (TheTeaOnBooks)

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I wish I could rate this book higher, but it was predictable at times and all the mystery points just fell short for me。 I’m also pretty tired of reading ghost stories that aren’t ghost stories。 Overall enjoyable but not as much as I’d hoped for。

Sanjali

The rising tension was perfect for a thriller reader。。。I'd hoped there would actually be something paranormal instead of a logical explanation, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless。I need more horror books。。。 The rising tension was perfect for a thriller reader。。。I'd hoped there would actually be something paranormal instead of a logical explanation, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless。I need more horror books。。。 。。。more

Jennifer

4。5 stars

KayLa

Absolutely loved this book finished it in 2 days。 Could not put it down!

Britt Samples

4。5 TW/CW drug abuse, sexual assault

Blue

Want to see more。。。 Bookstagram WebsiteCreepy, creative and beautiful Want to see more。。。 Bookstagram WebsiteCreepy, creative and beautiful 。。。more

Steph (stephaniebookish)

Whew。。。

Sasha

I am always intrigued by YA and contemporary re-tellings of classic literature。 This did not disappoint! I loved the characters, and the mysterious setting。 It was a quick read, but interesting the whole way through。 Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Ashley (Tiny Navajo Reads)

TW: rape, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, drug abuse/addictionThis book had me going there for about half the book, where I thought it was a horror mystery with dead girls everywhere and ghosts roaming the halls。 But when things started to come together, you can see just how clever the book is written and how things turned out。 Definitely more mystery towards the end than horror (which I'm thankful for, I don't do spooky very well), and definitely a story about there is more to to TW: rape, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, drug abuse/addictionThis book had me going there for about half the book, where I thought it was a horror mystery with dead girls everywhere and ghosts roaming the halls。 But when things started to come together, you can see just how clever the book is written and how things turned out。 Definitely more mystery towards the end than horror (which I'm thankful for, I don't do spooky very well), and definitely a story about there is more to to what's going on that first meets the eye。 。。。more

N。

Don't tell a soul is described as a modern day Rebecca, that is part mystery, part suspense and ghost-story。It involves a story of an alleged haunted mansion and it's ties to three mysterious deaths of the women which inhabited it。 In comes our main heroine Bram Stoker, which is the latest inhabitant of the house along with her uncle and his staff。The book introduces us to The town of Louth, where we meet it's inhabitants, some of which Bram befriends, as well as their secrets and pasts。 The sto Don't tell a soul is described as a modern day Rebecca, that is part mystery, part suspense and ghost-story。It involves a story of an alleged haunted mansion and it's ties to three mysterious deaths of the women which inhabited it。 In comes our main heroine Bram Stoker, which is the latest inhabitant of the house along with her uncle and his staff。The book introduces us to The town of Louth, where we meet it's inhabitants, some of which Bram befriends, as well as their secrets and pasts。 The story twists and turns at several points, leading us slowly to the real history of the deceased women and how their stories came to be, as well as the dark past our main characters hide。 。。。more

Mel

Help I’m on a “books I enjoyed but definitely didn’t love” train and am desperate to get off! This book was a fun, quick read, but the ending was a miss- I don’t know if I’ll ever understand the desire some authors have to unveil the truth behind a book’s central mysteries in painstaking detail during the final chapters。 It starts feeling like a Scooby Doo villain monologuing rather than the ending to an atmospheric novel。 Some big reveals need space to breathe, a little ambiguity or lingering m Help I’m on a “books I enjoyed but definitely didn’t love” train and am desperate to get off! This book was a fun, quick read, but the ending was a miss- I don’t know if I’ll ever understand the desire some authors have to unveil the truth behind a book’s central mysteries in painstaking detail during the final chapters。 It starts feeling like a Scooby Doo villain monologuing rather than the ending to an atmospheric novel。 Some big reveals need space to breathe, a little ambiguity or lingering mystery isn’t a bad thing! I enjoy when books leave the reader something to mull over and draw inferences about for themselves rather than drawing back the curtain and revealing all the magic tricks。 Overall, the comparisons to Rebecca are certainly there on a superficial level, but I missed the intrigue and building sense of dread from the OG gothic classic。 I think the themes of gaslighting and claustrophobia in the dilapidated mansion weren’t dialled up enough to be a true successor, but it was a valiant effort! 。。。more

Heather

This book is SO GOOD。 I could hardly put it down。 This is a murder mystery saga that spans decades。 It was unpredictable。 There's a sense of mystery and uncertainty as much for the reader as for the heroine。 She is certainly a different kind of protagonist from the norm。 It took me a while to warm to her, the way she took time to warm to everyone else。 The other characters are equally fantastic and always keep you guessing about their motivations and intentions。 I loved the way the story unfolde This book is SO GOOD。 I could hardly put it down。 This is a murder mystery saga that spans decades。 It was unpredictable。 There's a sense of mystery and uncertainty as much for the reader as for the heroine。 She is certainly a different kind of protagonist from the norm。 It took me a while to warm to her, the way she took time to warm to everyone else。 The other characters are equally fantastic and always keep you guessing about their motivations and intentions。 I loved the way the story unfolded and truths were revealed。 There were plots within plots, mysteries within mysteries。 This just all felt so original and real。 I truly cannot recommend this book highly enough!Side note: if this ever becomes a movie, John Malkovich must play James。 。。。more

Adibah Hakim

<>🌟🌟🌟⚠️ Trigger Warning ⚠️ : drug addiction, suicide, and murder。 Don't Tell A Soul is a partly ghost story followed by Bram a troubled teen with quite a spotty past。 Her mother then decided to send her off to the manor and live with her uncle that also has his own history。 Her wife died in a fire and sickened her own daughter。I am a visual reader and Kirsten Miller wrote some scene which terrified me when I start to imagine it。 And sometimes I had to look around me because I read this book at n <>🌟🌟🌟⚠️ Trigger Warning ⚠️ : drug addiction, suicide, and murder。 Don't Tell A Soul is a partly ghost story followed by Bram a troubled teen with quite a spotty past。 Her mother then decided to send her off to the manor and live with her uncle that also has his own history。 Her wife died in a fire and sickened her own daughter。I am a visual reader and Kirsten Miller wrote some scene which terrified me when I start to imagine it。 And sometimes I had to look around me because I read this book at night。I love how fast forward this story is and I still can catch the story nicely。 In the beginning, we were given some background history, and from that, we know Bram had some trouble in the past and she tried hard to pick the pieces together when she arrived at the manor。 The locals start to tell her that the manor she's living in is haunted and acknowledge its existence is haunted to young girls like her。 I can't believe Bram sometimes is so brave enough to explore the secret like walking alone in the basement。 She scared me so much sometimes。I enjoyed the twist in the book because it is far away from anything I am guessing。 I felt bad for Bram's uncle, James because he still suffers from his wife's death and still thinks Lark, his step-daughter is the reason for the fire。 I like how terrifying this story is and how haunted it is。 However, I think there are many questions left unanswered thus I give it a 🌟🌟🌟。 Would recommend this if you like The Push then you'll like this one too😍😍😍Thank you @putrifariza and @times。reads for the review copy✨ 。。。more

Anna Bowling

Biggest issue I had with this book was that I would have called it The Dead Girls, a phrase that repeats often and centers on the multiple mysteries inherent to the book as a whole。 The Upstate NY manor where our heroine, Bram, finds her only recourse when she flees Manhattan, has bad luck with and for women。In the 19th century, one escaped it, only to drown in the Hudson。 In the 1980s, another froze to death in its woods。 Most recently, the new owner's wife died in a fire that destroyed one win Biggest issue I had with this book was that I would have called it The Dead Girls, a phrase that repeats often and centers on the multiple mysteries inherent to the book as a whole。 The Upstate NY manor where our heroine, Bram, finds her only recourse when she flees Manhattan, has bad luck with and for women。In the 19th century, one escaped it, only to drown in the Hudson。 In the 1980s, another froze to death in its woods。 Most recently, the new owner's wife died in a fire that destroyed one wing, the same night his stepdaughter tried to leap to her own death。。。or so the stories go。 Now Bram, his niece, finds her once-beloved uncle much changed, and a colorful cast of locals。Who can Bram trust? Who's telling the truth? Who should the reader believe? Can Bram trust even her own memory, when each passing minute takes a stranger turn, ghosts are said roam the halls, and savage winter storms rage? The remote Upstate setting gets five stars from this New Yorker, and some of the imagery, especially the topiaries :shudder: will stick with me for a very long time。 Bram definitely breaks the typical YA heroine mold, and if anyone has what it takes to break free from the sticky web of tragedy and disaster, she's the one。 Forget the ghosts; the living are much, much scarier。 。。。more

Bethany Dickey

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I had such a good time reading this! I found the end when you got the explanation of the mystery reminded me of Scooby Doo a little bit (LOL) in the way that they literally laid everything out for you during conversations。However I loved the themes of feminism, girls banding together, and of course the atmosphere!

Tabitha

Wow! This one totally had me glued to my seat until the end。 The genres--thriller, ghost story, feminist--are blended perfectly。 If you like plot twists, spooks, and/or strong-but-flawed female characters, this book is for you。 I don't think I've really read anything like this before--A Study in Charlotte maybe comes closest。 Also, there's no romantic sub-plot! No love triangles! Hallelujah! That being said, I did predict some of the plot twists and the denouement felt rushed。 Honestly, I love H Wow! This one totally had me glued to my seat until the end。 The genres--thriller, ghost story, feminist--are blended perfectly。 If you like plot twists, spooks, and/or strong-but-flawed female characters, this book is for you。 I don't think I've really read anything like this before--A Study in Charlotte maybe comes closest。 Also, there's no romantic sub-plot! No love triangles! Hallelujah! That being said, I did predict some of the plot twists and the denouement felt rushed。 Honestly, I love How to Lead a Life of Crime so much it might be difficult to judge anything else Kirsten Miller writes。 Still, I loved this one and I can't wait to see what she writes next! 。。。more

filming。pages

Actual rating: 1。5 starsI don't really know how to explain this book。 I think it's more complicated than it should be。 It's so slow at first, which is understandable for a mystery/thriller, but personally the big cast of characters and the slow pace made me lose my interest, so when the exciting stuff started to happen (at around chapter 25 out of 34) I was a bit wary and didn't enjoy the reveal as much as I hoped! There were some excellent cinematic moments though, which I found very intriguing Actual rating: 1。5 starsI don't really know how to explain this book。 I think it's more complicated than it should be。 It's so slow at first, which is understandable for a mystery/thriller, but personally the big cast of characters and the slow pace made me lose my interest, so when the exciting stuff started to happen (at around chapter 25 out of 34) I was a bit wary and didn't enjoy the reveal as much as I hoped! There were some excellent cinematic moments though, which I found very intriguing! 。。。more

Shalaine

Very good

Nannette Demmler

This was a pretty good suspenseful story, that will keep you entertained。 It isn’t as scary as I thought it might be, but it still kept me guessing until the end as to what was really going on。Bram was kind of a hard character to like, but you do eventually come to respect her。 She has had a very hard life and is a recovering addict。 I can appreciate her need to figure out what really happened at her uncle’s estate, but there are a few times when I wanted her to just give up and go because it wa This was a pretty good suspenseful story, that will keep you entertained。 It isn’t as scary as I thought it might be, but it still kept me guessing until the end as to what was really going on。Bram was kind of a hard character to like, but you do eventually come to respect her。 She has had a very hard life and is a recovering addict。 I can appreciate her need to figure out what really happened at her uncle’s estate, but there are a few times when I wanted her to just give up and go because it was quite dangerous for her to stay。 She ends up being a pretty brave young lady who isn’t afraid to confront her fears。The book starts off as almost a ghost story, many girls have been rumored to have died in the house over the years since it was built, and Bram becomes obsessed with finding out the truth about them。 But as the truth is unraveled, the story become more of a psychological thriller, where you are not sure who to trust or what the truth is。 The plot was well done, with lots of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing。 Lots of quirky characters too, and some of them will surprise you when they turn out to be one of the good guys。The setting of a small upstate New York town, in winter, was perfect。 And the manor at the top of the hill, was just as spooky and gothic as one would expect。 There were some creepy moments in that house, especially when you weren’t sure if the ghosts were real or not。 The descriptive writing was also well done as was the fast pacing of the book。 It was a hard one to put down at timesIf you like creepy stories, with lots of twists and turns, then this is one that you might want to add to your TBR。 It has a great setting, a young woman that you can get behind even if you don’t like her very much, and a mystery that is bigger than it first appears to be。https://elnadesbookchat。com 。。。more

Angie Jenkins

This is a story about being haunted by the past。This was a solidly okay book, with some interesting elements。 I can’t pinpoint what didn’t work perfectly for me, because the book was fine。 I think I just didn’t feel the connection to the characters I was hoping for; however, I’ll definitely pick up more by the author!⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Andreas Aristodemou

I was between three and four stars This book was a fast read。 The author wrote it beautifully, and wasn't one of those that tried to overdo it and sound cool。 Not too much effort。 It felt like a campfire story, you know, you were sitting down with friends and someone was telling you a scary story。 The book goes from "The haunting of the hill house", to "You", to "Home before dark" I know it is an odd combination, but it did kinda work。 I would prefer to be honest if it stayed at one genre, rath I was between three and four stars This book was a fast read。 The author wrote it beautifully, and wasn't one of those that tried to overdo it and sound cool。 Not too much effort。 It felt like a campfire story, you know, you were sitting down with friends and someone was telling you a scary story。 The book goes from "The haunting of the hill house", to "You", to "Home before dark" I know it is an odd combination, but it did kinda work。 I would prefer to be honest if it stayed at one genre, rather than going from a ghost story to a mystery one。 I was kinda disappointed with the ending, but not so much。 I didn't expect it yes, but that does not mean it was awful。 The ending was too fast though。 It was like BOOM。 This book would translate amazingly as a limited TV series, to be honest。 It has something so captivating, that you want to keep reading。 Did I fall in love with it? No。 Did it scary the shit out of me? No。 Would I watch a show based on this? Definitely。 Should you read it? Yes。 It's not like you have anything better to do, anyway。 。。。more

Fatirah Murtaza

3。8Recommend me a book that can get you back into reading or a book that can get you out of your reading slump。 I’ll start first。 -tDon’t Tell A Soul is a kind of book that made me forget I was actually reading it。 With a simple use of language driven by a riveting multi-layered story, it’s easy for me to get absorbed into the story and have a TV playing inside my head。 I finished this book within a day and I’m ready to recommend this book to anyone who wants to start reading a horror book (begi 3。8Recommend me a book that can get you back into reading or a book that can get you out of your reading slump。 I’ll start first。 -tDon’t Tell A Soul is a kind of book that made me forget I was actually reading it。 With a simple use of language driven by a riveting multi-layered story, it’s easy for me to get absorbed into the story and have a TV playing inside my head。 I finished this book within a day and I’m ready to recommend this book to anyone who wants to start reading a horror book (beginner) with less inclination towards romance。 This book instead is full of riddles, mystery, and something that you can’t get enough of – the chilling vibe exuded by the ghosts inside this story。 “All the best ghosts are girls。”Bram Howland is forced to be sent to a desolate countryside of New York, burying her dark pasts behind by living in her Uncle’s manor。 In Louth, it’s a small town whereby everyone practically knows everyone。 It’s a typical story about a newcomer moving into a new place and feels unwelcomed by its locals。 However, it’s in a different font because I felt betrayed at the end when things that I’d guessed and predicted came out all wrong。 The manor she’s living in is rumoured to be haunted and the locals acknowledge that its existence is a curse to young girls - someone who scream trouble at the same time seemed as an easy prey; someone like her。 Having a two-faced Uncle and a suspicious housekeeper along with her brusque son doesn’t help accommodating her stay。 What would be more unsettling when the room she’d lived in contains stories of dead girls and worse, the sightings of them that keep appearing in her sight?I found myself shaking head so often when Bram always puts herself in situations that most people would probably stay out; like going alone into the basement or wandering alone in a dark hallway。 She’s built different I guess, but it doesn’t irk me because I have some hots for independent and intelligent women。 The main theme in this story would be women empowerment as I’ve witnessed girls helping out each other in upholding the truth of their miseries – and that’s a pleasant thing to see! I was also awed by the revelation in the final part of the story as there’s quite a sum of red herrings left by the author and thought that this book is quite a fitting read for young adult horror fiction。 On a side note, if I’m going to review this book on a level of scrutiny, there’ll be issues of info dumps at the final part, how some characters felt uncanny and some plot holes that make your questions or doubts left unanswered and unfulfilled。 But I’m not going to do that here since I don’t want to discourage anyone from picking up this book as I still think it’s a quite decent horror read for the targeted audience。 It’s a clean read by the way!cw: drug abuse, sexual assault。 Thank you @timesread and @putrifariza for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review。 This book is out in all good bookstores。 。。。more

Rebecca

Modern Gothic? Haunted mansions? Outcast in a new town? Yes, please。 Bram is running from her past but also running to solve a story that doesn’t quite add up to her。 It’s easy to say that a house is haunted and just accept the narrative that’s been presented, but Bram thinks there’s more to the story。 Why? Because she’s been a part of a story that was more than what was told, and while she doesn’t know how to make her story believed, she will do anything it takes to reveal the truth of what hap Modern Gothic? Haunted mansions? Outcast in a new town? Yes, please。 Bram is running from her past but also running to solve a story that doesn’t quite add up to her。 It’s easy to say that a house is haunted and just accept the narrative that’s been presented, but Bram thinks there’s more to the story。 Why? Because she’s been a part of a story that was more than what was told, and while she doesn’t know how to make her story believed, she will do anything it takes to reveal the truth of what happened to her cousin。 。。。more