Book Review – I’ll Never Tell

I’ve always been drawn to mysteries that explore family dynamics – there’s something so compelling about secrets buried beneath years of shared history. “I’ll Never Tell” by Catherine McKenzie delivers exactly that kind of story, weaving together past and present in ways that kept me guessing until the final pages.

The premise pulled me in immediately: the MacAllister siblings gather at their family’s summer camp for the reading of their parents’ will, only to face an unexpected challenge. Twenty years ago, a young woman named Amanda Holmes was found severely injured in a rowboat at Camp Macaw. Now, before they can decide the camp’s fate, they must finally uncover what happened that night.

The mystery itself is masterfully crafted, with layers that peel back slowly to reveal new possibilities and suspects. I found myself scribbling theories in my reading journal, crossing them out, starting fresh – exactly the kind of engagement I love in a good thriller. McKenzie cleverly uses timeline charts throughout the book that made me feel like a detective piecing together the puzzle alongside the characters.

As someone with multiple siblings myself, the family dynamics felt painfully real. The way the MacAllisters fall back into childhood patterns the moment they’re together reminded me so much of my own family gatherings – how old rivalries and resentments bubble up no matter how much we’ve supposedly grown. There’s this electric tension between them that crackles through every interaction.

The chapters from Amanda’s perspective particularly grabbed me. Though relatively few, they carry such emotional weight that I found myself thinking about them while cooking dinner or folding laundry. Her voice feels authentic and heartbreaking in a way that made me deeply invested in seeing justice done.

Camp Macaw itself becomes almost another character, with McKenzie bringing the setting vividly to life. The isolation of the camp creates this pressure-cooker atmosphere where tensions just keep building. I could almost smell the pine needles and feel the evening chill rolling off the lake as I read.

I will say that some of the siblings were difficult to warm up to – their sharp edges and prickly personalities sometimes made me want to reach through the pages and give them a good shake! But honestly, that felt true to life. Families are complicated, and trauma doesn’t always bring out our best selves.

The ending comes together in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable – like all the best mystery solutions. Everything clicks into place, but not quite how you might expect. It reminded me of those moments when you finally solve a puzzle only to find the picture isn’t what you thought it would be.

My tea has gone cold as I’ve been writing this review, lost in thoughts about family secrets and the stories we tell ourselves. That’s always a sign of a good book – when it keeps pulling you back in to reconsider what you thought you understood.

If you enjoy stories about complex family relationships, atmospheric settings, and mysteries that keep you guessing, “I’ll Never Tell” is definitely worth picking up. Just maybe don’t read it late at night when you’re alone at a lakeside cabin!

This isn’t a light beach read, but it’s perfect for those rainy days when you want something that will keep you turning pages while making you think about your own family dynamics. Just remember – some family secrets are better revealed in daylight.