FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YA Murder Mystery Set in Scottish Coastal Town Delivers Twists, Secrets—
and a Dead Body in an Abandoned Theme Park
NO ONE KEEPS A SECRET by Kirkcudbright resident Denise Brown
Out 1 August 2025 from Hashtag Press
Paperback and eBook | ISBN: 9781913835392 | RRP: £8.99
"Fans of Holly Jackson, Faridah Abike-Iyimide, Kathleen Glasgow, and Kit Frick will love
this new YA murder mystery set in Scotland, from the brilliant Denise Brown."
Kent, UK- A body in a forgotten theme park. A small town with big secrets. And three teens who should never have found the corpse.No One Keeps A Secretis the latest YA mystery from rising star Denise Brown, whose gripping, genre-blurring novels have fast become must-reads for lovers of pacy, addictive storytelling. This is Denise's fourth book with prize-winning indie publisher Hashtag Press, and follows hot on the heels of success with It All Started With A Lie (released February 2024) which was a finalist in the prestigious Crime Fest Award - YA Book of the Year in May 2025 and shortlisted in the Spark! Book Award (June 2025).
Set in a remote Scottish coastal village, this clever, twisty murder mystery centres on three teenagers—Haigh, Cherry, and Sunrise—who track a missing chihuahua to an abandoned funfair... only to stumble across a corpse, strangled by his own camera strap. The man was meant to be 400 miles away in London. So why is he lying dead in their village?
As the investigation spirals, so does the danger—revealing mafia ties, gossiping grannies, and a still-operating ghost train. For these teens, the truth might be closer to home than they think.
Early reviews have been glowing, praising Brown's signature blend of suspense, humour, and heart. "Full of secrecy and suspicion - intense and immediate," says Scottish author Barbara Henderson.
Denise Brown, who lives in Kirkcudbright, has drawn inspiration from real places in Scotland—including a harbour, a local bandstand, and even a mysterious willow tree shelter that features in the story.
"I felt like I'd come home the first time I visited Ballantrae," she shares. "Scotland gave me the peace I was craving after a difficult chapter of life. And it gave me stories too."
No One Keeps A Secretfollows on the success of Brown's hit debutIt All Started With A Lie, which sold out within hours at YALC 2023. She returned to YALC in 2024 with a reissue ofWe Know What You Did, and will appear again in 2025 at the Hashtag Press stand with exclusive copies ofNo One Keeps A Secretavailable for purchase and signing.
Denise is available for interviews and features. Press copies (paperback or digital) are available on request.
Q&A with Denise Brown, Author of No One Keeps A Secret (Hashtag Press)
- When did you first visit Scotland, how old were you, where did you
go, what stands out for you from that visit?
"I didn't visit Scotland until I was in my 40s. I'd always wanted to, but it was as if I was subconsciously saving it for when I needed it most, like saving your favourite chocolate till last, knowing how much you'll enjoy it. So, it wasn't until I'd finally taken back control of my life as a single parent of five children, that I arranged my first trip with my two youngest daughters. We stayed on a farm overlooking the sea in Ballantrae on the west coast and first impressions: I'd come home. With the waves crashing onto the shore and the wind howling across the hills, I felt an immense sense of inner peace. I remember watching my daughters climbing in rock pools with the sun setting on the horizon and thinking that I could stay forever. My mind was already made up. Even now, years later, Ballantrae still has the same effect on me.
- When did you move to Scotland (Kirkcudbright) and what attracted you
to this particular part of the country?
"I relocated to Scotland in 2015. I'd been struggling since my extremely traumatic divorce in 2006 and had no idea how I was going to make it happen, but I'd told the universe that I wanted to be in Scotland. So, when the construction company that I worked for won a major project in Dumfries, I applied for the role of admin manager and was successful! I'd been visiting the area for years by this point, and Kirkcudbright is such a pretty little town with a lot going on, and great schools, that I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered a property available to rent."
- How different is life now from previously (when you lived in Essex) and what do you particularly love about Scotland life now?
"Life in Kirkcudbright happens at a much slower pace than in Essex. I went from navigating the M25 five days a week (often spending hours stuck in traffic to complete a 16-mile journey to and from work) to driving past vibrant green hills and not a traffic jam anywhere! When I want to take time out from my laptop, I can walk my dog down to the harbour or through the woods. Everyone says hello and stops to chat because no one is desperate to beat the rush hour or to smash their next deadline or to make their next appointment. And more importantly, there's a strong sense of community here; everyone looks out for one another."
- Tell us a few of your favourite things to do in Scotland.
"I love Edinburgh of course, with its history and cobbled streets and hidden winding staircases. And I regularly visit Wigtown which is known as Scotland's book town! I love that I can take my dog to the beach, and it will more often than not be deserted. But what I love most is that there are so many hidden areas to explore that are open to the public but with little or no advertising. When found, these places end up being breathtakingly beautiful and utterly peaceful with waterfalls, burns, and lochs that you didn't expect to find."
- The little coastal town in No One Keeps A Secret is in Scotland - is it basically
inspired by where you live? Are there real places that are featured in
the book? Can people who read the book go to your town and walk in the
shoes of Haigh?
"Absolutely! The harbour, the trawlers, the bandstand: they can all be found in Kirkcudbright. Scottish nights are held throughout the summer, complete with unbeaten tug-of-war team, and Oona the unicorn is real too. Well, she's made of wicker, and she isn't known as Oona, but she exists! There is even a willow tree shelter similar to the one in which Haigh and Cherry discover Haigh's mum. And if readers visit on the last Sunday of the month, they'll be able to visit the farmer's market too."
NOTES TO EDITORS
Book title:No One Keeps A Secret
Author:Denise Brown
Publisher:Hashtag Press
Publication Date:1 August 2025
ISBN:9781913835392 (Paperback)
Page Count:288
RRP:£8.99
Availability:International distribution; B format paperback and ebook
Social Media:
Instagram: @denisebrownUK
Twitter/X: @DeniseBrownUK
MEDIA ENQUIRIES & PRESS COPY REQUESTS:
Email: publicity@hashtagpress.co.uk
Website:www.hashtagpress.co.uk
Media folder for photos and more info:https://bit.ly/Denise_Brown