Diana Urban
Author of All Your Twisted Secrets
Works by Diana Urban
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th Century
- Gender
- female
- Short biography
- Diana Urban is an author of dark, twisty thrillers, including All Your Twisted Secrets (HarperTeen), These Deadly Games (Wednesday Books), and a to-be-announced third novel. Her novels have been published internationally, and she’ll be featured in the Firsts and Lasts anthology (Penguin Workshop, 2023). When she’s not torturing fictional characters, she freelances in content writing and digital marketing. She lives with her husband and cat in Boston and enjoys reading, playing video games, fawning over cute animals, and looking at the beach from a safe distance.
- Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Massachusetts, USA
Members
Reviews
After being betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, Jade signs up for a semester-long study abroad program at sea, hoping to escape the drama and start afresh. But her plans for a peaceful getaway are quickly dashed when she discovers the backstabbing duo are also onboard. Tensions rise, and then the murders begin, turning the idyllic ocean voyage into a nightmare.
"Lying in the Deep" hooked me early on with its unique premise and isolated, ocean-bound setting. There’s something show more undeniably eerie and atmospheric about a murder mystery on a ship in the middle of the sea. Unfortunately, while the setup was strong, the execution didn’t fully live up to its promise.
The story began to drag around the midpoint, and I struggled to stay invested. Much of that had to do with Jade herself - her tendency to leap to conclusions and overreact to every twist left me frustrated more often than intrigued. Her impulsive decisions and emotional outbursts felt more like those of a younger teen than a college student, and I found myself wishing for more maturity and nuance in her character.
While the concept was solid and there were a few tense moments, the book ultimately didn’t deliver. "Lying in the Deep" had the potential to be a gripping thriller, but for me, it ended up as a mediocre read. show less
"Lying in the Deep" hooked me early on with its unique premise and isolated, ocean-bound setting. There’s something show more undeniably eerie and atmospheric about a murder mystery on a ship in the middle of the sea. Unfortunately, while the setup was strong, the execution didn’t fully live up to its promise.
The story began to drag around the midpoint, and I struggled to stay invested. Much of that had to do with Jade herself - her tendency to leap to conclusions and overreact to every twist left me frustrated more often than intrigued. Her impulsive decisions and emotional outbursts felt more like those of a younger teen than a college student, and I found myself wishing for more maturity and nuance in her character.
While the concept was solid and there were a few tense moments, the book ultimately didn’t deliver. "Lying in the Deep" had the potential to be a gripping thriller, but for me, it ended up as a mediocre read. show less
"All Your Twisted Secrets" was a compelling YA mystery that kept me engaged until the end. The story moved from the present where six are trapped in a room with a bomb and a clock ticking down to zero, to the past giving different moments over the past year.
While the present chapters were nail-biting as the teens try to decide who is going to die within the hour, I also found the flashback chapters interesting as they gave a good insight into the various characters, the relationships between show more them and what they did to end up in the situation they find themselves in. Bullying, suicide, drugs, peer pressure, ambitions and parental expectations were all big themes throughout the novel and each character had been affected by at least one of them.
The characters were fairly stereotypical and were all flawed. Each of them had done things they shouldn't have but some were nicer than others, especially Diego, who was my favourite. I was unsurprised when the person who had set the trap was revealed. I had already worked out who it was, but I still found "All Your Twisted Secrets" a fun thriller with many twists and secrets. A great debut. show less
While the present chapters were nail-biting as the teens try to decide who is going to die within the hour, I also found the flashback chapters interesting as they gave a good insight into the various characters, the relationships between show more them and what they did to end up in the situation they find themselves in. Bullying, suicide, drugs, peer pressure, ambitions and parental expectations were all big themes throughout the novel and each character had been affected by at least one of them.
The characters were fairly stereotypical and were all flawed. Each of them had done things they shouldn't have but some were nicer than others, especially Diego, who was my favourite. I was unsurprised when the person who had set the trap was revealed. I had already worked out who it was, but I still found "All Your Twisted Secrets" a fun thriller with many twists and secrets. A great debut. show less
Beneath the streets of Paris lies a vast, dark maze, the catacombs, where secrets are buried just as deeply as the bones. When a group of teenagers becomes trapped underground, what begins as a chance to attend a party quickly turns into a desperate fight for survival. As fear, betrayal, and long-hidden truths rise to the surface, escape becomes more than just finding a way out, it becomes a race against time. Above ground, someone is searching for answers, but will anyone listen?
"Under the show more Surface" by Diana Urban delivered an eerie, creepy setting that was absolutely delectable. Using the real-life Paris catacombs was a brilliant choice by the author and created a constant sense of claustrophobia that made the story feel intense and unsettling from the very start. The pacing was strong and heart-pounding, with a cat-and-mouse feel as secrets unravelled and the stakes kept rising.
The story was twisty, mysterious, and full of dark revelations - betrayals, hidden motives, and unexpected reveals kept me hooked. Ruby was a particularly strong protagonist: flawed, resilient, and very likeable. I also really liked the other characters, especially Sean and Selena. Each had their own distinct personalities and backstories, which made the danger feel more personal and the losses harder.
The novel was told mainly from Ruby’s perspective as she and the others struggled to survive and find a way out, with interspersed chapters from Sean’s point of view as he desperately searched for her above ground. His chapters provided a much-needed breather from the relentless tension underground but they aLSO another layer of suspense - can he uncover the truth before it’s too late?
While the story occasionally stretched credibility and the ending felt a bit rushed, it was still a gripping and exciting read overall. I’d highly recommend this to readers who enjoy dark mysteries, crime elements, and fast-paced, roller-coaster thrillers that keep you on edge until the very end. A great read. show less
"Under the show more Surface" by Diana Urban delivered an eerie, creepy setting that was absolutely delectable. Using the real-life Paris catacombs was a brilliant choice by the author and created a constant sense of claustrophobia that made the story feel intense and unsettling from the very start. The pacing was strong and heart-pounding, with a cat-and-mouse feel as secrets unravelled and the stakes kept rising.
The story was twisty, mysterious, and full of dark revelations - betrayals, hidden motives, and unexpected reveals kept me hooked. Ruby was a particularly strong protagonist: flawed, resilient, and very likeable. I also really liked the other characters, especially Sean and Selena. Each had their own distinct personalities and backstories, which made the danger feel more personal and the losses harder.
The novel was told mainly from Ruby’s perspective as she and the others struggled to survive and find a way out, with interspersed chapters from Sean’s point of view as he desperately searched for her above ground. His chapters provided a much-needed breather from the relentless tension underground but they aLSO another layer of suspense - can he uncover the truth before it’s too late?
While the story occasionally stretched credibility and the ending felt a bit rushed, it was still a gripping and exciting read overall. I’d highly recommend this to readers who enjoy dark mysteries, crime elements, and fast-paced, roller-coaster thrillers that keep you on edge until the very end. A great read. show less
A fine example of the dread shared secret forcing teens to bond together with it slowly revealed as the other part of the plot unwinds. Five years ago Crystal and her friends were at a sleepover, but one boy who she was friends with outside the rest of those at the party, met with a tragic end. Now, she and most of the others present that night, are trying to qualify for an online gaming tournament with a big payoff at stake. Right before that happens, her younger sister goes to a weekend show more school trip. The next thing Crystal knows, she's getting scary messages, accompanied by terrifying images of her sister bound and gagged in a dark room. She's told that her sister will die if she says anything
After the earlier tragedy, she vowed to make certain her sister always remained safe. Desperate to avoid harm coming to her sister, she embarks on a frenzied series of twisted games dictated by whoever has her sister. Believing her every move and word is being monitored, Crystal embarks on a desperate journey to keep her sister alive. The longer the games go on, the tighter she's squeezed, until she reaches a point where she's between that rock and a hard place. Toss in a couple dandy twists at the end and you have a really great mystery. show less
After the earlier tragedy, she vowed to make certain her sister always remained safe. Desperate to avoid harm coming to her sister, she embarks on a frenzied series of twisted games dictated by whoever has her sister. Believing her every move and word is being monitored, Crystal embarks on a desperate journey to keep her sister alive. The longer the games go on, the tighter she's squeezed, until she reaches a point where she's between that rock and a hard place. Toss in a couple dandy twists at the end and you have a really great mystery. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 8
- Members
- 924
- Popularity
- #27,776
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 57
- ISBNs
- 29
- Languages
- 2