All Her Little Secrets: A Novel

Written by Wanda M. Morris

Narrated by Susan Dalian

“All Her Little Secrets is a brilliantly nuanced but powerhouse exploration of race, the legal system, and the crushing pressure of keeping secrets. Morris brings a vibrant and welcome new voice to the thriller space.” —Karin Slaughter, New York Times and international bestselling author  

In this fast-paced thriller, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a black lawyer who gets caught in a dangerous conspiracy after the sudden death of her boss . . . A debut perfect for fans of Attica Locke, Alyssa Cole, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng, with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

Everyone has something to hide...

Ellice Littlejohn seemingly has it all: an Ivy League law degree, a well-paying job as a corporate attorney in midtown Atlanta, great friends, and a “for fun” relationship with a rich, charming executive, who just happens to be her white boss. But everything changes one cold January morning when Ellice arrives in the executive suite and finds him dead with a gunshot to his head.

And then she walks away like nothing has happened. Why? Ellice has been keeping a cache of dark secrets, including a small-town past and a kid brother who’s spent time on the other side of the law. She can’t be thrust into the spotlight—again.

But instead of grieving this tragedy, people are gossiping, the police are getting suspicious, and Ellice, the company’s lone black attorney, is promoted to replace her boss. While the opportunity is a dream-come-true, Ellice just can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

When she uncovers shady dealings inside the company, Ellice is trapped in an impossible ethical and moral dilemma. Suddenly, Ellice’s past and present lives collide as she launches into a pulse-pounding race to protect the brother she tried to save years ago and stop a conspiracy far more sinister than she could have ever imagined…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Nov 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063082489

Wanda M. Morris

Wanda M. Morris is the award-winning author of All Her Little Secrets, which has been praised by Karin Slaughter as “brilliantly nuanced” and reviewed by The Boston Globe, LA Times, New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Seattle Times, and South Florida Sun Sentinel among others. Her second novel, Anywhere You Run, won the Anthony award for Best Historical Novel of 2023 and was longlisted for the prestigious Mark Twain Voice in American Literature Prize. She is married, the mother of three, and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews for All Her Little Secrets

[Deniece Mason · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully written novel . Just enough suspense to keep you guessing.

[Ladyj Reshon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A little slower than I like but it was still on ok read.

[Amy Cobb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the setting (Atlanta) and the author’s storytelling prowess. A multi-faceted thriller full of rich characters and emotion.

[jericajmitchell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love love love! It reminds me of how to get away with murd3r

[Kristen Hayman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It took a long time for me to warm up to the character but by the end I really liked her. Her disposition made a lot of sense after hearing her background.

[ShaTonya Wooley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is incredible. I couldn’t put it down!!! I love the way this author writes. The characters where well thought out but still had flaws, which makes the story easier to relate to and understand. Theses characters and the plot where so engrossing I found myself screaming out loud at some of the characters,???. Overall, this was an enjoyable book and one of the best mystery thriller books I’ve read in a long time.

[Tamara Lyons · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great suspense read with a twist. I really enjoyed this book.

[Dedria Blunt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an awesome storyline. It held my interest all through the book. I literally read it in 2 days!! Great read!!!!

[Taqueesa Davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Excellent narration!! Definitely a memorable book that has left a mark on me

[Nicole McClenic · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5 meows! I loved this book. The author kept me guessing throughout the story. The characters were so realistic. Actually, I am like the main character minus the secrets. It must read if you enjoy mysteries. Of course, you have to suspend your beliefs at a point when the character was not killed, but that happens in every mystery. Happy reading!

[Aisha Denis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was great! Lots of plot twists. Very engaging.

[Rose Chevallier · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the twists and turns of to hide lies that eventually comes out. Great book for a Sunday afternoon!

[Shayla Lowe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Started out a bit slow, but picked up a steady pace. I was really surprised by the ending. Good listen ?

[Shanice Petion · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a great book and wonderful ending. I loved it

[Judi flores · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent read! Every chapter kept me wanting to find out what happens next! Highly recommend it! ?

[geraldine sylvester · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent writing! Vivid descriptions; paints a picture in your mind while listening!

[Queen Audiobook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome read!! I finished it in just 2 days!! I want to read from this author!

[Shirley Alcide · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the audiobook. It was brilliant and relevant for 2021.

[Shakira Eakins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great writing and well paced story that keeps you on the edge of your seat!

[ccayne_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fast paced novel with many twists and turns.

[Laura · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I couldn’t even get half way through this book. The author obviously hates white people, conservatives and Fox News. I wish there was more warning before I started reading this. If a different ethnicity write this they would be crucified. Just unnecessary…

[jepeters333 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ellice Littlejohn seemingly has it all: an Ivy League law degree, a well-paying job as a corporate attorney in midtown Atlanta, great friends, and a “for fun” relationship with a rich, charming executive—her white boss, Michael.But everything changes one cold January morning when Ellice goes to meet Michael… and finds him dead with a gunshot to his head.And then she walks away like nothing has happened. Why? Ellice has been keeping a cache of dark secrets, including a small-town past and a kid brother who’s spent time on the other side of the law. She can’t be thrust into the spotlight—again.But instead of grieving this tragedy, people are gossiping, the police are getting suspicious, and Ellice, the company’s lone black attorney, is promoted to replace Michael. While the opportunity is a dream-come-true, Ellice just can’t shake the feeling that something is off.When she uncovers shady dealings inside the company, Ellice is trapped in an impossible ethical and moral dilemma. Suddenly, Ellice’s past and present lives collide as she launches into a pulse-pounding race to protect the brother she tried to save years ago and stop a conspiracy far more sinister than she could have ever imagined…

[suesbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am not usually a reader of mysteries, and I felt there were too many coincidences to make this credible, but the book was worth reading for other reasons. I appreciated gaining insight in to how this Black woman and many people of color feel they must live and present themselves. I also learned about the rampant racisim, sexism, anti-semitism, and misogyny that is part of corporate America. I also liked reading about the everyday life of the main Blackl character.

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When the promotion of lawyer, Ellice Littlejohn, turns out to be a token promotion of a Black female to hopefully prove that Houghton Transportation is not racist proves to be a token move, Ellice is troubled by many things. First there’s the death of her lover and chief legal counsel. It looks like suicide but its murder. Ellice has so many secrets to hide ranging from the romance she hoped to keep under wraps to events that happened to her growing up poor in rural Georgia and the brushes with the law her brother, Sam, finds himself enmeshed in over and over. Ellice finds herself the suspect of the Atlanta police and searches for what really happened. There’s a lot in this story about the “boys’ network” and the power of white supremist groups. The more she uncovers the more sinister the plot is. This debut thriller packs a real punch as the action moves swiftly, exposing the deep racism in the workplace. The audio version is competently read by Susan Dalian whose ability to portray both male and female characters and Black and white characters.

[jnmegan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

John Grisham and Michael Connelly should be looking over their shoulders now that Wanda M. Morris has released her debut, All Her Little Secrets. Tightly plotted and unpredictable, Morris’ novel is a welcome addition to the canon of legal suspense thrillers. Ellice Littlejohn has carefully sculpted her life to reverse the trauma and abuse of her childhood. Now a respected attorney at an Atlanta law firm, Ellice has created an entire new identity for herself. The character is ambitious and determined, but also insecure about her chances of success in a firm where no one else looks like her. When one of the executives dies unexpectedly, Ellice is thrust into a promotion for which she feels inadequate. In her new position, she begins digging into the firm’s dealings. Ellice notices some underhanded activity that may be connected to the earlier death of the boss. It may even be part of a larger, more insidious conspiracy. Meanwhile, remnants of Ellice’s past have tracked her down and threaten both her status and safety. Ellice is a flawed but forgivable protagonist who is strong and complex. All Her Little Secrets also deftly handles issues of discrimination and power imbalance without becoming too didactic. With this promising debut, Morris provides an enticing plot, a unique point of view, and cleverly woven commentary about current social ills. Thanks to the author and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.