Every Last Secret by A. R. Torre

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💋 Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5)
Quick Take: Twisty. Cutthroat. Deliciously dark.
Mood: Rich people behaving badly — and it's so addictive.

💬 The Premise:

How far would you go to get what you want? In the sunny, privileged neighborhood of Atherton, California, wealth hides wicked secrets — and the gloves are off.

🏡 Two Houses. Four People. One Deadly Summer.

Every Last Secret follows two women locked in psychological warfare: Catherine “Cat” Winthorpe, the queen bee of a tech empire dynasty, and Neena Ryder, her ambitious, social-climbing new neighbor. Told in alternating POVs (and timelines), the story peels back the layers of status, seduction, and secrets in the world of Silicon Valley’s elite.

Let’s break it down:

🧠 Neena & Matt: Buried Secrets

Neena and her husband Matt have a very dark past. Years ago, Matt — her childhood neighbor — saved Neena from her abusive father by strangling him to death. Together, they buried his body in the backyard of Neena’s childhood home. No one ever found out.

Now in their 30s/40s, the Ryders move next door to the Winthorpes — Cat and William. Neena works for William’s tech company and sees the move to Atherton as her big chance to level up her lifestyle. Their new home? A foreclosed mansion left behind by tax evaders. What Neena doesn’t know: Cat explored the house before they moved in and stole a spare key. Uh-oh.

👠 Cat & William: Power Couple Under Siege

Cat Winthorpe is everything Neena wants to be: beautiful, wealthy, poised, and established. William is the CEO of Winthorpe Technologies, and their life is dripping in luxury — think private jet, chef, mansion, staff, and a vacation home in Hawaii. Their one struggle? Fertility. (Which makes Cat especially territorial about her marriage.)

As Neena sets her sights on William — either for seduction or blackmail — Cat immediately smells the threat. And she doesn't just play defense — she attacks.

🧨 Let the Games Begin: Affairs, Framing, and Antifreeze

Neena, no stranger to scandal (she blackmailed her last boss for $1M after an affair), begins scheming to get close to William. But Cat? She’s ten steps ahead:

  • 🧪 Poison: At a dinner party, Cat poisons herself with antifreeze, then makes it look like Neena did it.

  • 🧗‍♂️ Sabotage: After Matt falls off a balcony, Cat manipulates the evidence to suggest Neena loosened the screws.

  • 🗝️ Planted Evidence: Using the stolen house key, Cat sneaks into Neena’s home and hides bundles of cash, creepy defaced photos, and even manipulates Neena’s will — which includes a confession about the murder of her father.

And just when you think it can't get messier...

🔫 A Gun, A Misfire, A Meltdown

One night, Matt wakes up with a gun in his mouth — an attempted hit gone wrong. The police call it a burglary. Cat calls it murder.

As the police start investigating, all of Cat’s breadcrumbs begin to frame Neena:

  • William’s affair with Neena? Exposed.

  • The blackmail history? Discovered.

  • The planted “evidence”? Found.

Even Matt turns on Neena, especially after finding out about her affair and the $5 million life insurance policy on him. Yikes.

🕵️‍♀️ The Big Reveal: Cat’s Power Play

It all comes crashing down for Neena. She loses:

  • Her job

  • Her husband

  • Her social status

  • Her house

And Cat? She finally admits to the reader — yes, she framed Neena. Every piece of Neena’s life was carefully dismantled.

📦 One Year Later: The Epilogue(s)

🔹 Cat’s POV: She visits Neena, now working at a grocery store, and returns the stolen will. She also gifts Neena her childhood home (the one with the body buried in the backyard), warning her that it’s better she owns it than someone who might dig up a pool. Savage.

🔹 William’s POV: His only chapter in the entire book. He reflects on his “penchant for crazy women” and admits he now realizes Cat orchestrated everything. Instead of being horrified, he’s impressed. Obsessed even. They remain together, stronger than ever, and buy Neena’s old house to expand their estate.

😈 Final Thoughts

This book is a juicy, twisted battle of two ruthless women — and I was here for it. It’s rich in social commentary, full of mind games, and unafraid to lean into the messy.

Was anyone likeable? Honestly, no. Everyone's awful in their own way:

  • Cat is manipulative and cold-blooded.

  • Neena is toxic, gold-digging, and reckless.

  • Matt is kind of a doormat.

  • William’s only redeeming quality is that he’s rich and hot. Even that wears thin.

But that’s also the fun of it.

🧠 Read This If You Liked…

  • 🔪 The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

  • 👠 Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

  • 💅 The Replacement Wife by Darby Kane

  • 🖤 My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

  • 🔥 The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

📣 Final Verdict

Every Last Secret is a total popcorn thriller: high drama, high stakes, and high society dysfunction. The slow-burn build-up and dual perspectives create just enough tension to keep you flipping pages fast.

💣 4 out of 5 stars.
💄 Come for the catty neighbors — stay for the final mic drop.


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