Overview

In What Stays Unsaid, long-time friends gather for a surprise joint hen weekend in a remote Dartmoor farmhouse. They’re all smiles—but beneath lies the fracture caused by the childhood loss of their friend Becca. As secrets resurface and old loyalties unravel, someone is willing to expose the past—and the fallout may be deadly.

Writing & Voice

Flynn delivers a slick and twist-filled narrative, weaving multiple points of view and a dual timeline to build suspense. The tone is tight, and the storytelling keeps the reader engaged. That said, the format leans heavily into genre-familiar beats, so while the ride is enjoyable, it doesn’t always surprise.

Characters

The friend group is depicted with believable tension and history—each woman carrying a mix of guilt, anger and longing. Becca’s absence haunts them all. Some individual backstories stand out strongly, but with several voices and timelines, a few characters feel less developed than they might have been.

Themes

The novel examines how silence, friendship and betrayal interlink: what we don’t say can shape who we become. It explores how past trauma lingers, how group dynamics can suffocate, and how the place of a lie or loss defines more than the event itself.

What Worked

• Strong setting: remote farmhouse + stormy moors create an atmospheric backdrop.
• Good tension: the interplay of timelines and perspectives keeps you guessing.
• Relatable conflict: friendships, regret and envy feel grounded even amid suspense.

Minor Quibbles

• The number of characters and POVs sometimes makes following threads a little complex.
• Some twists feel less earned because familiar thriller tropes are in play.

Final Thoughts

Engaging and tidy, What Stays Unsaid is a solid psychological thriller about friendship and secrets. While it may not break entirely new ground, it offers a satisfyingly twisty ride with strong emotional undercurrents.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.0 / 5)