The Family Secret

Detective Lottie Parker, Book 16

By: Patricia Gibney

Narrated by: Michele Moran

Completely gripping crime fiction with a jaw-dropping twist

Deflated balloons on the floor. Sandwiches curling on plates. The evidence of a normal birthday party a shocking contrast to the bodies of the mother and her twelve-year-old daughter lying on their beds, their secret taken to the grave…

When Detective Lottie Parker arrives at the devastating scene the day after Freya Healey’s birthday party, a wave of sorrow overcomes her. Holding Freya’s cold white hand, she vows to find justice for her and her parents lying dead in the next room, killed just after the last guest had gone.

Determined to solve this terrible crime, Lottie rushes to interview the party guests, including Freya’s best friend Lily. Shy and tearful, the little girl is unwilling to talk about Freya and her parents, at least in front of her over-protective mother. But when her mother reveals that Lily changed her mind about sleeping over at the Healeys at the last minute on the night they were killed, she feels certain that she is hiding something crucial…

The next morning, she is shocked to receive a phone call from Lily’s terrified mother. Lily has been stolen from her home – could the Healey family secret have something to do with her disappearance?

Digging deeper, desperate for answers, Lottie discovers a connection between Lily’s father and Freya’s mother that chills her to the bone. Do both families hide dark secrets? What evidence can she trust and who is lying to her? And can she find the truth before another innocent little girl is lost forever?

A totally addictive and gripping listen from bestselling author Patricia Gibney. If you like Rachel McLean, Kendra Elliott and Robert Dugoni, After the Party will have you hooked.

©2026 Patricia Gibney (P)2026 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Another cracking book from Gibney!

The latest installment in Lotte Parker's story does not disappoint! The ground keeps shifting below the reader's feet as focus moves from one suspect to another while Gibney peels back the truth layer at a time. And as usual, Lotte's family provides its share of drama and the baddies keep being baddies! I can't wait for the next book after consuming this one like a greedy pig!

This does not disappoint!

Lottie is one of my favorite characters. The story line is interesting, twisting, and surprising. Great book. The cliffhanger is the best. I await the next story!

Chloe's predicament

it took a while but was mezmerizing with different clues and storylines woven in. loved it, as all the books in this series.

Entertaining

This story kept me guessing but there were so many twists and turns the result was overkill (pun intended). Too many rabbit holes for the investigators that toward the finale it seemed contrived and implausible. That said, I was absorbed in the various plots twists and so it was very entertaining. I read other reviewers' comments that were by those who had read previous stories by this about this detective, Lottie Parker and liked her. I didn't find her a very sympathetic or relatable character. Consequently, I may read other Lottie Parker stories, but she won't be high on my list of detectives.

The family secret

Liked it all. Love following lottie Parker and her family. Always e good plot twist