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Secrets #2
Secrets in the Shadows
Everyone Says
Her Mother Was Crazy.
Is She Doomed to Repeat the Past?
Her Mother Was Crazy.
Is She Doomed to Repeat the Past?
Up in the attic, that's where Alice's mother used to escape to...and it's where, so Alice has been told, she plotted the murder of her own stepfather. Now, years later, with her mother locked away for life, the attic is where Alice finds comfort in her aloneness, writing poetry and painting pictures. When Alice finally finds the courage to come out of her shell, exchanging her dowdy looks for flattering clothes and makeup, her life completely opens up -- she even attends the prom with a cute, popular boy. But it's a night that turns quickly tragic -- sending her newfound happiness crashing down around her, and hurtling Alice into a shattering new life, one that leads her to a shocking reunion with the shadows she had fled.
From the imagination behind Flowers in the Attic comes a sensational new novel that spins a seductive web between fantasies and lies -- and uncovers the price for keeping secrets in the shadows.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
53 people are currently reading
2,508 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
365Ìýbooks8,772ÌýfollowersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels�Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels�Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 14, 2023
This has to stop, seriously. When Neiderman first ghostwrote for VCA, he did a decent job. I liked the Cutler series, and he did a good job of finishing up the books that VCA had started but didn't finish for the Dollanganger and Casteel series. The Landry and Logan series, while not the best, were still very decent, and I enjoyed them. However, it all started to go downhill with Orphans. That was not what VCA would have written. I endured the Hudson and DeBeers series with disgust. The April Shadows and Broken Flower series are making VCA spin in her grave right now. Mr. Neriderman, please stop writing for VCA and go back to your own work. You're a old man, stop writing as if you were a young girl. It's just gotten really creepy!
This book is no better than the first one. We focus on the daughter of the crazy bad girl from the first book, and this actually sounds good because the last few series didn't move through generations. However, this book is just as bas as the first one, and is NOTHING compared to the true and original 'Flowers in the Attic'. Seriously, any 'revelations' this book has, the reader can see coming from a mile away. It feels like this series was written simply to fill some quota or some such, it lacks passion and heart.
This book is no better than the first one. We focus on the daughter of the crazy bad girl from the first book, and this actually sounds good because the last few series didn't move through generations. However, this book is just as bas as the first one, and is NOTHING compared to the true and original 'Flowers in the Attic'. Seriously, any 'revelations' this book has, the reader can see coming from a mile away. It feels like this series was written simply to fill some quota or some such, it lacks passion and heart.
June 28, 2011
As I get older, these stories grow sillier to me but yet I keep reading them. Blah! As I read about Duncan's situation with the overly religious mother who punished him for looking at a girl and sinning, it reminded me of the movie, "Carrie." Of course, as always, the ending is all rainbows and happiness. The characters never really developed for me. On one page Duncan is a stranger and two pages later they are dating. Ho-hum!
February 1, 2014
Alice has shit taste in men. Her first boyfriend smokes weed whilst driving. Her second boyfriend lies majorly to Alice, and his reason is lame: he thought she wouldn't like him if she couldn't relate to him, so he made up stuff. And she forgives him! Totally not cool.
June 20, 2015
Ugh, this book. Andrew Neiderman is the ghost writer for V.C. Andrews. Any dedicated fan knows that. I have essentially given up on him. I confess, I still buy the books. Primarily for collector purposes. I hoard them. I do read them every now and then. Sometimes Neiderman surprises me. The book before this one - Secrets in the Attic - was one of those surprises. SitA - aside from clearly ripping off the title from Flowers in the Attic - was a really captivating book. While the characters all met the predictable Neiderman formula, the plot was not as predictable. I found it to be a fairly easy read, that kept me turning the pages until the end.
Secrets in the Shadows, on the other hand, was disappointing. If you like reading about how nothing happens to a girl, and how she learns absolutely nothing, and how she knows nothing about something and spends the entire book knowing nothing before she can learn something... this might be the book for you. It seems every other book churned out by the ghostwriter goes this way. He is clearly grasping for straws, and to meet a quota (what is it? Something like 2 or 3 books a year?) he is churning out books that have absolutely no plot at all. I don't believe for a second that V.C Andrews would have written this travesty if she were alive today. Alice is perhaps the most unlikable character ever written by Neiderman, and this entire book has zero plot at all.
I had initially given it 2 stars, but that was being generous. One star definitely seems more fitting. I never even finished this book. That's how bad it was.
Secrets in the Shadows, on the other hand, was disappointing. If you like reading about how nothing happens to a girl, and how she learns absolutely nothing, and how she knows nothing about something and spends the entire book knowing nothing before she can learn something... this might be the book for you. It seems every other book churned out by the ghostwriter goes this way. He is clearly grasping for straws, and to meet a quota (what is it? Something like 2 or 3 books a year?) he is churning out books that have absolutely no plot at all. I don't believe for a second that V.C Andrews would have written this travesty if she were alive today. Alice is perhaps the most unlikable character ever written by Neiderman, and this entire book has zero plot at all.
I had initially given it 2 stars, but that was being generous. One star definitely seems more fitting. I never even finished this book. That's how bad it was.
November 28, 2012
You can't tell a family saga in two books. I hate this whole two book thing. Bring back 5 books! I'm getting annoyed with every new Virginia Andrews book that comes out. They just ain't what they used to be. Alice annoyed me quiet abit. She just wasn't very likeable. And why is it when she meets a guy, shes so eager to get all hot and heavy with them? They've only just met! Not very believable considering she's been shy and hidden away from people her whole life. I didn't like Craig or Duncan. I liked Zippoarh best in this book which is strange becuase I didn't like her in the last one. The story is alright but there is no one you can really get behind. I hope the next Andrews Saga I'm about to start is more interesting.
Read
July 28, 2011Great book. I read some VC years ago (Casteel series) and loved it. This was no exception. Edge of your seat stuff.
February 10, 2016
I have a lot of spoilers in my review below. Read with caution
Alice is the daughter of Karen. She is now 16 and wonders if she’s inherited the evil of her mother. While Alice thinks she’s a nothing Rachel (her father’s wife) sees her true beauty and helps her blossom. She visit’s the house where her mother lived and the people living there have completely changed everything, erased traces of what was. Craig, he lives in Karen’s old house, asks Alice to prom. During the drive to the after party he crashes. Alice wakes up in the hospital and finds out terrible news. Craig died in the crash. Alice wants to move away from the town where everyone knows her past and judges her. So she moves in with Zipporah and her husband. She meets a guy there that Zipporah warns her may not be the best friend to make.
This sequel to Secrets in the Attic seemed to reflect the spirit of VC Andrews much better. The questions Alice had about herself and the questions about the choices she made, how it affected people around her really made me enjoy reading this book.
Alice is the daughter of Karen. She is now 16 and wonders if she’s inherited the evil of her mother. While Alice thinks she’s a nothing Rachel (her father’s wife) sees her true beauty and helps her blossom. She visit’s the house where her mother lived and the people living there have completely changed everything, erased traces of what was. Craig, he lives in Karen’s old house, asks Alice to prom. During the drive to the after party he crashes. Alice wakes up in the hospital and finds out terrible news. Craig died in the crash. Alice wants to move away from the town where everyone knows her past and judges her. So she moves in with Zipporah and her husband. She meets a guy there that Zipporah warns her may not be the best friend to make.
This sequel to Secrets in the Attic seemed to reflect the spirit of VC Andrews much better. The questions Alice had about herself and the questions about the choices she made, how it affected people around her really made me enjoy reading this book.
May 26, 2008
Secrets in the Shadows continues the story that started with Secrets in the Attic. The story focuses on Alice, the daughter of Karen and Jesse who readers meet in the first book of the series.
As with the first book in this series, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the story well written with all the twists, turns, and tragedies one would expect from a story created by Andrew's. And although this story includes characters (and refrences) from Secrets in the Attic, readers will have not trouble following and/or enjoying this story. In addition to a good story, I thought the characters were well developed and found myself alternately rooting for and sympathizing with Alice. As always, I liked how the characters' struggles and tradgies reflected those one might experience in real life.
I would definately recommend this book to others, even those who have not read Secrets in the Shadows. Enjoy!
As with the first book in this series, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the story well written with all the twists, turns, and tragedies one would expect from a story created by Andrew's. And although this story includes characters (and refrences) from Secrets in the Attic, readers will have not trouble following and/or enjoying this story. In addition to a good story, I thought the characters were well developed and found myself alternately rooting for and sympathizing with Alice. As always, I liked how the characters' struggles and tradgies reflected those one might experience in real life.
I would definately recommend this book to others, even those who have not read Secrets in the Shadows. Enjoy!
October 17, 2015
Well I definitely liked this book much better than the first!!!
This novel takes place 16 years after Karen gave birth to her and Jesse's daughter. Alice is living with her grandparents and is a social outcast.. Dresses dowdy and is very shy and tormented by her past.. She wants to know about her mother who has been in a psychiatric facility ever since the last book and is permanently living in the past - no memory of having given birth or that it's 16 years later..
Gradually Alice comes out of her shell with her aunts help and meets a boy who she connects with.. Although tragedy ensues once more..
So she decided to move in with her Aunt Zipporah and stay her senior year - make a fresh start..
She meets Duncan Winning - a fellow tortured soul and they bond.. But more tragedy!! But is it permanent??
Yep.. Way better book than the first.. I liked the characters and it was a swift read.. Interesting..
This novel takes place 16 years after Karen gave birth to her and Jesse's daughter. Alice is living with her grandparents and is a social outcast.. Dresses dowdy and is very shy and tormented by her past.. She wants to know about her mother who has been in a psychiatric facility ever since the last book and is permanently living in the past - no memory of having given birth or that it's 16 years later..
Gradually Alice comes out of her shell with her aunts help and meets a boy who she connects with.. Although tragedy ensues once more..
So she decided to move in with her Aunt Zipporah and stay her senior year - make a fresh start..
She meets Duncan Winning - a fellow tortured soul and they bond.. But more tragedy!! But is it permanent??
Yep.. Way better book than the first.. I liked the characters and it was a swift read.. Interesting..
December 28, 2008
This second bood in this series was better than the first. It was slightly entertaining, but as with most of VC Andrews books, predictable. The main character, Alice, is the offspring resulting from the first book. She obviously has social issues resulting from her mother's 'sins' and therefore in need of a makeover. Her makeover results in the attraction of the most popular boy in the school...yes, you guessed it, class president and baseball star, Craig. Wouldn't you know tragedy befalls the couple and Alice becomes more withdrawn. She goes to live with her Aunt and Uncle, the tragic saga continues. I won't give it all away, you can probably guess most of it. It was slightly more believable than the first book. It's a quick, easy read.
May 11, 2012
no review as such... it was bland!!! the climax was so poorly thought of that i wondered if d book really finished or not... d suspense created had a very bad downfall in d end... they cud hv elaborated more on the past of her mother to really put some light into the whole story... d girl alice was so naive and so pessimistic about her own existence , i hardly sympathised, n sometimes she evn desrved a full blown slap to make her come to senses... as for the entire family, they shud hv thot abt reunitig mother n daughter for mental stablilty of alice , if not, for any1 else... she wud hv been cured of her shadows a long time back!!! dont knw why d author created such a fuss out of nothing!!!!
January 8, 2016
I think that the storyline for this book is really good and I looked forward to reading it. I enjoyed the book for the most part but hated the main Character Alice. She started of been a recluse, staying out of the light because of her Mother’s dark past. The one day her family buy her new clothes and makeup and she transforms, gets a Boyfriend, (actually has 2 in the book). I just find it strange that she changed so drastically. From the first day of wearing new clothes she meets Sean and pretty much gets with him right away. Her Aunt Zipporah (from the first book) is a totally different person in it. There is more that happens in this book than the first and It is easy to read however I am glad that there is no more in the series. 6/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2015
Rating: 4.5
"The river's power comes from its movement. It never repeats itself. Like they say, you can't step into the same river twice. That's the way I wish our lives would be."
-Duncan Winning-
I am stoked. I love Alice Stein's witty thoughts and smart sarcasm and so with Duncan Winning's gloomy and moody behavior.
As far as I am reading V.C Andrew's novels, this is by far the highest rating I ever gave. Well, I like the flow of the story from beginning to end. Especially when Alice visited her mother. It was touchy.
Pardon my crappy review and if you have read some spoilers.
"The river's power comes from its movement. It never repeats itself. Like they say, you can't step into the same river twice. That's the way I wish our lives would be."
-Duncan Winning-
I am stoked. I love Alice Stein's witty thoughts and smart sarcasm and so with Duncan Winning's gloomy and moody behavior.
As far as I am reading V.C Andrew's novels, this is by far the highest rating I ever gave. Well, I like the flow of the story from beginning to end. Especially when Alice visited her mother. It was touchy.
Pardon my crappy review and if you have read some spoilers.
August 20, 2008
Slightly better than the first book in this series, but not by much.
None of the books written after the Dollenganger series have ever measured up to that standard.
** Spoiler Alert?
Did anyone else notice the error? When Alice was shopping for a prom dress she was with her grandmother, only. BUT later in the book she mentions shopping for it with her grandmother, aunt Zipporah, & stepmother. Nope, that happened when she was taken shopping to buy NEW clothes for school.
None of the books written after the Dollenganger series have ever measured up to that standard.
** Spoiler Alert?
Did anyone else notice the error? When Alice was shopping for a prom dress she was with her grandmother, only. BUT later in the book she mentions shopping for it with her grandmother, aunt Zipporah, & stepmother. Nope, that happened when she was taken shopping to buy NEW clothes for school.
November 26, 2015
Brand loyalty at it's finest. I know these books are going to be terrible. The writing is dated and corny. The stories always seem to take place in the 80s, the title has Secret or Shadow in it (this one has both!), and there are always the same characters: overly religious zealot, super innocent teen on the cusp of womanhood, rich grandparents that live in houses with "history", bad boys, etc. I keep punishing myself and reading these damn VCA books bc of my 9th grade obsession with Flowers in the Attic. I'm 31 years old! I gotta let these books go. Just an awful waste of time.
July 15, 2017
This book is the second book of secrets in the attic. this continues the story of Karen and Zippoarah and some surprising twists along the way. A child. it leaves you wanting to know weather or not Alice (Karen's daughter) will go bad apple or be good. It makes you feel such deep feelings for Alice and what she goes thru. it is a journey you and Alice take together and pulls at your heart strings.
September 15, 2008
I love all of the books ever written by V.C. Andrews. Throughout the years I've read the work written by her ghost writer and slowly lost interest as many of the books seem to all have the same plot. But I do have to say that this series in particular is pretty entertaining and reminds me of Flowers in the Attic.
Want to read
March 26, 2016#
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Imagine you're a sixteen year old girl growing up in a small community where everyone you knew and who knew you was aware that your mother had murdered someone when she was your age and was now and has been in a mental institution ever since."
LS: "There was no greater gift to give."
NC
Own in paperback.
FS: "Imagine you're a sixteen year old girl growing up in a small community where everyone you knew and who knew you was aware that your mother had murdered someone when she was your age and was now and has been in a mental institution ever since."
LS: "There was no greater gift to give."
January 23, 2009
This book is an amazing book!!
It is about this girls mom who is dying and really has no hope on surving...
A part of me is scared to finish the book because it is heart breaking.
But i know if i dont finish it i will always wonder how it ends...
It is about this girls mom who is dying and really has no hope on surving...
A part of me is scared to finish the book because it is heart breaking.
But i know if i dont finish it i will always wonder how it ends...
April 9, 2011
I think the only reason I keep reading these books is because I keep hoping they'll get back to how good they used to be. This one for instance, I never could like the character, which means I probably won't like the book all that much. Not to mention the plot was below par.
Read
July 29, 2011Pretty good book. Wasn't as dark and twisted as the first. I still hate not really knowing if Karen's stepfather really was abusing her. It leaves you still with a feeling that it was possible, but no solid answer. But what is with the nutty people in this series?
December 5, 2014
one of the best, most loved series/authors of all time. V.C. Andrews books are something so easily recognizable and new books continue to evolve to go with the times and bring in a whole new generation of loving readers
August 15, 2019
I liked the storyline better than the first book of this 2-book series. However it was so wooden in character and dialogue and with predictable situations, that I could not truely enjoy this book in any way.
June 28, 2023
Why on earth after reading book one and rating it one star did I even read this? I guess I was hoping for a decent conclusion to the family saga. That said, this book is an improvement on Book One, but not by much.
July 30, 2008
This book is soo good. If you like the first one, you'll enjoy this.
May 21, 2008
i loved it just like all of them! there hasnt been a v.c. andrews book i havent loved. ^_^
May 22, 2008
This was a little better than the first one, but it still was bad. Nothing near the genius of the late V.C. Andrews.
August 9, 2008
I liked this book. It was a little different from most VC Andrews books which tend to be "all the same". It was more current and up to date and realistic.
June 30, 2008
Very good book!
April 25, 2009
Eh, not a very good book. Wasn't the worst I've ever read, but I felt like it was a waste of my time.
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