Marin Lawson had it all. Or at least, that’s how Jennifer Hillier wants you to feel before she pulls the rug out from under your feet in Little Secrets a novel. If you’ve spent any time in the psychological thriller community, you know the name Hillier carries weight. She doesn't just write suspense; she writes trauma that feels uncomfortably itchy.
The book starts with every parent's absolute worst-case scenario. It’s four minutes. Marin is at a crowded Christmas market with her son, Sebastian. She lets go of his hand for a heartbeat to grab a phone charger. When she turns back, he’s gone. This isn't just a plot point; it's the anchor that drags the reader into a deep, dark pool of grief and obsession that lasts for the next sixteen months of the timeline.
Honestly, most thrillers would spend 300 pages on the kidnapping itself. Hillier doesn't. She fast-forwards to the "after." The part where the media has moved on, the police files are gathering dust, and Marin is a shell of a human being. It’s gritty. It’s raw. It’s why people keep recommending this specific book even when their shelves are overflowing with "The Girl Who [Insert Action Here]" titles.
The Affair That Changes Everything in Little Secrets a Novel
About a year and a half after the disappearance, Marin is barely hanging on. Her marriage to Derek is basically a ghost ship. They’re living in the same house, but they haven't "lived" together since the day Sebastian vanished. To keep herself from completely shattering, Marin hires a private investigator, McKenzie Li. She’s hoping for a lead on her son.
She gets something else instead.
🔗 Read more: One More Time Lyrics: Why We Still Can’t Stop Singing Daft Punk and Blink-182
She finds out Derek is having an affair.
The woman is Kenzie Li's discovery, but the impact is all Marin's. The mistress is 24-year-old Kenzie (not the PI, but a girl named Kenzie), and suddenly, Marin’s grief has a new outlet: rage. It’s a pivot that shifts Little Secrets a novel from a kidnapping drama into a high-stakes domestic noir. You’d think a mother mourning her missing son wouldn't have the energy for a vendetta against a mistress, but Hillier writes it in a way that makes it feel like the only thing keeping Marin alive. It's a "burn it all down" mentality that is terrifyingly relatable.
Why Hillier’s Writing Style Hits Different
Hillier has this way of making Seattle feel claustrophobic. Even when she’s describing high-end boutiques or expensive homes, there’s a layer of grime. It’s the Pacific Northwest noir vibe. She avoids the "perfect" prose that makes some bestsellers feel like they were written by a committee.
Instead, we get short, punchy sentences.
"He was gone."
That’s it. That’s the terror.
She mixes this with long, winding internal monologues where Marin questions her own sanity. It’s a frantic pace. One minute you’re reading about the mechanics of a PI’s surveillance, and the next, you’re inside a character's head as they justify doing something truly heinous. People often compare her to Gillian Flynn or B.A. Paris, but Hillier is meaner. She’s willing to let her characters be genuinely unlikable, which, ironically, makes them feel more like real people. Real people are messy. They make bad choices when they're hurting.
The Problem With Modern Thriller Tropes
Let’s be real for a second. The "missing child" trope is exhausted. We’ve seen it a thousand times in suburban thrillers. Usually, it turns out the neighbor did it, or the kid ran away, or some secret twin appeared. Little Secrets a novel avoids the eye-roll because it doesn't rely on a cheap "gotcha" moment at the very end.
The reveals are staggered.
You get a piece of the puzzle at the 40% mark. Another at 60%. By the time you reach the final act, you think you know where it’s going. You don't. Hillier uses "The Mid-Point Twist" better than almost anyone in the business right now. If you’re a fan of the Jar of Hearts author, you know she doesn't play fair, but she always plays smart.
What Most People Miss About the Ending
Without spoiling the specific "who" and "how," the ending of Little Secrets a novel is divisive. Some readers find it a bit "extra," bordering on soap opera territory. But if you look at the themes of the book—obsession, the weight of wealth, and the lengths a mother will go—the ending actually fits the internal logic perfectly.
The "secret" isn't just about the kidnapping.
It’s about the secrets we keep from ourselves to stay sane. Marin’s journey isn't a healing arc; it’s a survival arc. There is a huge difference between the two. In most books, the protagonist finds "closure." In this one, she finds a way to keep breathing, even if the air is poisoned. It’s a cynical take on motherhood and marriage that feels incredibly honest in a genre that usually tries to wrap things up with a neat bow and a "six months later" epilogue.
Why Kenzie is the True Villain (Or Is She?)
The mistress, Kenzie, is a fascinating character because she’s not just a plot device. She has her own motivations, her own desperate need for a better life, and her own flaws. Hillier gives us chapters from her perspective, which is a bold move. It’s hard to stay purely on Marin’s side when you see the humanity (and the greed) of the "other woman."
It creates a moral gray area.
You find yourself wondering: if my life was destroyed, what would I do? Would I be as cold as Marin? Or as opportunistic as Kenzie? This tug-of-war is what keeps the pages turning. It’s not just about finding Sebastian anymore; it’s about watching these women on a collision course.
👉 See also: Why The Grand Budapest Hotel Cast Still Feels Like the Ultimate Movie Ensemble
Reading Recommendations for Fans of the Book
If you finished the book and now have a massive book hangover, you aren't alone. It’s a common side effect of Hillier’s work. You should definitely check out Jar of Hearts if you haven't already. It’s arguably darker than this one.
For something with a similar vibe but a different setting, The Push by Ashley Audrain deals with that same "unhinged motherhood" energy. If it's the twisty, suburban secrets you're after, The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth hits some of those same notes, though it’s a bit lighter on the gore.
But honestly? Nothing quite captures the specific brand of Seattle-based dread that Little Secrets a novel provides. It stands in a league of its own.
The Real-World Fear Factor
One reason this book resonates so much is the setting. The Pike Place Market. The crowds. The rain. These are real places where kids actually get lost for a second, and your heart stops. Hillier taps into a universal phobia. She takes that one second of panic and stretches it into a 400-page nightmare.
It’s also a commentary on the "perfect" lives people project on social media. Marin and Derek were the "it" couple. They had the money, the house, the beautiful kid. The book peels back the wallpaper to show the mold underneath. It’s a reminder that everyone is hiding something, and sometimes those secrets are lethal.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Read
If you’re planning on diving into this one, or if you’ve just finished, here is how to handle the experience:
💡 You might also like: How Hawaiian Singing Over the Rainbow Changed Music Forever
- Check the Trigger Warnings: Seriously. This book deals heavily with child loss, infidelity, and violence. If those are hard "no" categories for you, proceed with caution.
- Pay Attention to the Side Characters: The PI and the best friends aren't just there for flavor. They hold pieces of the narrative that pay off later.
- Don't Google the Ending: I know it’s tempting. Don’t do it. The shock value is part of the "fun" (if you can call it that).
- Read the Acknowledgments: Jennifer Hillier often talks about her process and the real-life inspirations for her dark themes. It adds another layer of appreciation for the craft.
- Look for the Symbolism: Notice how water and rain are used throughout the story. It’s not just the Seattle weather; it’s a reflection of Marin’s drowning state of mind.
The book is a masterclass in pacing. It starts with a sprint, slows down for a psychological mid-section, and then ends with a literal explosion of plot. It’s the kind of book you finish at 2:00 AM because you "just needed to know" one more thing. It’s messy, it’s violent, and it’s deeply emotional. That’s why it’s a staple of the genre.
If you’re looking for a happy story about a family finding their way back to each other, this isn't it. But if you want a story about the jagged edges of love and the high price of silence, you won't find a better example. Hillier remains the queen of the "uncomfortable read," and this might be her crown jewel.
Next time you’re in a crowded place and you feel that urge to check your phone, you’ll probably think of Marin Lawson. You’ll probably hold your kid’s hand a little tighter. That’s the power of a really good thriller. It follows you home. It stays in the back of your mind when the lights go out. It makes you double-check the locks.
And it makes you wonder what secrets your own neighbors are keeping.
The most important thing to remember is that in the world of Hillier, no one is truly innocent. Every character has a price, and every secret has an expiration date. When that date hits, things get messy. Very messy.