Although at times Joanna and her gang do read like stereotyped Valley girls, nonetheless they’re much more flawed and human than most depictions of the ‘popular girls’ I’ve read. French has always been a master at creating compelling characters and using their fears and vulnerabilities to drive plot and ram up tension, but in this one she outdoes herself.

I loved the characterisation of each and every character. This narrative follows Holly and her three friends, Julia (the flippant, head-strong, sassy one), Becca (the small and meek one), and Selena (the beautiful, kind, gentle, although at times enigmatic one), and how they clash with Joanne (pretty, vindictive and alpha of her group) and her friends: Gemma, Orla and Allison, and the secrets they’re all keeping that links them to Chris…

The second arc of the story is set approx a year before Chris dies, counting down the months he has left.

One of these girls knows who the killer is…Could one of these girls be the killer?… This arc of the story is set over one day, as they narrow the girls who had access to The Secret Place down to eight. Teaming up with Detective Antoinette Conway, who was assigned the case last year, the two head over to St Kilda’s.

A year later Holly has found a card with a picture of Chris, the dead boy, and the caption ‘I know who killed him’, stuck to a board referred to as The Secret Place, where girls can anonymously post their secrets.

Holly is boarding at St Kilda’s, where a year ago a boy from the neighbouring Colms school was found dead, but after no leads the case closed. The first follows Detective Stephen Moran, who gets a visit from Holly Mackey, the 16-year old daughter of Frank Mackey.

The secret place tana french summary