Book Review: Dark Secrets 1 by Elizabeth Chandler

Dark Secrets 1 by Elizabeth Chandler

Series: Dark Secrets #1

Genre: YA Paranormal 

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Format: Paperback

Pages: 496

Source: Borrowed from friend

Two girls haunted by the past...and destined to relive it In Legacy of Lies, Megan has to stay with the uptight grandmother she wants nothing to do with. She's determined to get through the visit without any drama, but when she falls into a twisted love triangle with potentially fatal consequences, Megan may be caught up in her family's legacy in more ways than she realizes. In Don't Tell, Lauren knows that by returning to the town where her mother drowned seven years ago, she'll be reliving one of her most haunting memories. When she arrives, she is propelled into a series of mysterious events that mimic the days leading up to her mother's death. Maybe her mother's drowning wasn't an accident after all...and maybe Lauren is next. (Summary from goodreads.com)

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Both of these books were extremely quick reads. They were fast-paced, mysterious, and actually quite creepy! 


Legacy of Lies, the first book in this bind-up, was originally published in 2000, and Don't Tell, the second book, was published in 2001. Keeping that in mind, the writing was different than what I'm used to. However, I will be reviewing it as normal. 


Both of the plots were interesting. They both had secrets and betrayal and subtle paranormal aspects, and that was cool. The author did an excellent job of making you guess who is really responsible for all the bad things happening. While I'm happy the romance didn't overshadow the main story, I wish there was a little more depth to the relationships. It's not exactly insta-love, but in both the books the main character falls for the boy and we really don't know why. I kind of feel like both of the stories could use more depth in general. I couldn't really connect to the characters and I didn't feel like I really got to know any of them. The writing wasn't bad but it was certainly lackluster. 


But really, the intrigue of the plot was what kept me interested. After I finished I could genuinely say I enjoyed the story, though I didn't emerge from the book with the characters in my heart and constantly darting through my mind. Both of these stories were quick, creepy, and pretty fun reads. I liked Don't Tell a little bit more than Legacy of Lies because it's creepier and the characters are certainly more interesting. I'd recommend this bound edition if you're looking for something interesting yet doesn't require a deep emotional investment.