Review – Sophie HANNAH – “The Fantastic Book of Everybody’s Scerets”

Publ: 2008 Sort of Books
Pensby Library
ISBN: 978 0 95489 954 7
Genre: Suspense, Short stories
Pages: 272p
Found by Serendipity
Rating: ***** **


What led you to pick up this book?
It was on the ‘New Books’ shelf and I loved the title. I also like to keep the occasional book of short stories on the go for when I just want a brief read.

Describe the plot without giving anything away.
Ten separate short stories including the prize-winning ‘The Octopus Nest’ which is, without doubt, the best of the ten. Twelve Noon is another excellent story. The subjects vary considerably but all have a dark, obsessive side and remind me of Jeffrey Archer’s ‘Twist in the tale’ but with greater suspense and a decidedly macabre approach. Some of the stories were first class, others fairly average.

What did you think of the characters?
Some were difficult to believe in but that didn’t really matter with this style of story. The key is in the writing and the twist in the tale.

What did you think about the style?
All were enthralling, even those in which the plot was not top class, and there was no one style. The nature of the story dictated the style.

What did you like most about the book?
The variety – the reader has not a clue as to what type of story will come next.

Was there anything you didn't like about the book?
Nothing in particular.

Thoughts on the book jacket / cover.
Nothing special but the title alone makes you pick it up.

Would I recommend it?
Only to someone who enjoys short stories as a style in themselves.


SOPHIE HANNAH, born in 1971, lives in West Yorkshire with her husband and two children. She is a best-selling and award-winning poet. Her latest collection, First of the Last Chances, was chosen for the Poetry Book Society`s ‘Next Generation’ promotion in June 2004. She regularly performs her poetry to live audiences nationwide and abroad, and recently won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her psychological suspense story ‘The Octopus Nest’. ‘Little Face’ is her first psychological crime novel.