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Deadly Secrets
Deadly Secrets is a high-stakes political thriller that drops readers straight into a near-future America fractured by extremism and secession. Centered around Annie Price, an investigative journalist still healing from a past ambush, the story unpacks the creation of a new state called Westcarolina—a theocratic breakaway backed by religious fanatics, corrupt politicians, and shadowy powerbrokers. As Annie chases leads through bombings, government secrets, and personal betrayals, the book balances political commentary with the pulse of a fast-paced mystery.
Let me just say it up front: I devoured this book. The writing has that brisk, no-nonsense cadence you want in a thriller—nothing bloated or overly poetic. Every sentence moves the story forward. Nancy Stancill doesn’t waste time. Her protagonist Annie is sharp without being snarky, tough without being cartoonish. And while the plot careens through explosions, shady politicians, and mounting paranoia, it never forgets the emotional toll all this takes. Annie’s moments of doubt and trauma hit hard. You don’t just watch her chase a story—you feel the cost.
Some characters lean toward caricature, especially the villains. Reverend Kingston Avery, the zealot who builds a “Christian state,” reads at times like a mashup of every televangelist villain trope. That said, his hypocrisy and ambition feel eerily relevant. What really surprised me, though, was how layered the story becomes—especially in the way it weaves Annie’s personal entanglements with broader questions about truth, faith, and power. The romantic subplot adds tension without slowing things down, and there’s this subtle ache in Annie’s longing for normalcy that sneaks up on you.
Deadly Secrets feels like a warning disguised as entertainment. It’s a propulsive, emotionally grounded novel that juggles political fiction, crime drama, and character study without dropping the ball. I’d recommend it to fans of investigative thrillers, political dramas, and anyone who likes their mysteries with a bite of real-world grit. If you’ve ever wondered how close fiction can creep to reality, this one might leave you a little uneasy, in all the right ways.
Pages: 240 | ASIN : B0DHWFSXF4
Making My Characters Real
Buried Bones follows a 75-year-old retired prosecutor who stumbles into a murder case in a small Utah town, forcing her to face the ghosts of her past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I started putting the story together, I had two strong desires. I wanted a woman investigator, and I wanted to emphasize the importance of due process and the rule of law.
I wanted a woman investigator who could reflected on the reality of working on a very difficult and emotionally draining investigation. She would naturally gravitate toward those nuances and tiny details that women seem to find. I also wanted to write about people who are wrongly accused, because it does happen and due process is incredibly important.
I retired to Utah a couple of years before I started writing in order to be near family. It’s a great place with a wholesome and practical approach to most issues, and great scenery, including pioneer cabins. I invented a small town in the mountains with a very traditional and typical approach that would challenge Maggie’s more eclectic lifestyle and create the conflict that is always found in a criminal investigation.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I enjoyed creating Maggie Anderson the most! She became a lot like many of the strong career women I knew and admired who came of age during the wave of feminism in the 1970s -1990s. I also knew that many of “us” had secret pains and self- doubts, and I wanted her to be as real as possible. It was gratifying to watch her move from her self-doubt to a deep understanding of the motives behind the crime and control over the investigation. I’m planning a series where Maggie’s life will continue to unfold in what may be surprising ways.
Logan Harris, the DA, didn’t know what to do with a case that implicated the most prominent family in a small town and his uncertainty made him challenging. He didn’t want to arrest the wrong person, meaning a member of this very extensive family. He was near retirement and ready to hang up his gloves and call it a cold case, but Maggie kept digging up “the wrong” evidence. Logan stayed on the right side of the law, but barely.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
I’ve lived long enough to be able to count multiple life-changing moments in the same way that Maggie’s life unfolded in unexpected ways. I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but some of these major events, and major decisions, changed the course of my life. Sometimes I’ve wished I could call it a first draft, and do some editing, but life doesn’t work the same as a manuscript. As Maggie’s creator, I think I’ll give her more of these events as the series unfolds.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Buried Bones is the first in a series I’m planning which will take Maggie Anderson and her friends into many situations. She will run into legal quagmires that overwhelm ordinary people. In the first book, we had someone who was wrongly accused. In the second book, an adolescent boy kills someone who is about to rape a child. Maggie maneuvers through an archaic legal system that has a hard time addressing children who have legitimate and sensitive issues. It’s a challenge which I hope to have ready for a publisher within a year.
Author Links: Facebook
While vacationing in the mountains east of Ogden, Utah, retired prosecutor Maggie Anderson learns about the discovery of Audrey Stillman’s body buried near the home she once shared with her former husband, Ben. Maggie witnesses Ben threatened by a gang of local cowboys and the town quickly blames him.
Haunted by her past failure to save another innocent man, Maggie offers Ben help and begins investigating.
As she delves into the case, Maggie uncovers ties between Audrey’s murder and the influential Stevenson family, who control much of the town’s political and economic life. It’s discovered Audrey was pregnant when she died, and Maggie suspects the father may be the killer. But the deeper Maggie digs, the more secrets she uncovers-secrets that certain powerful people will go to great lengths to protect.
With help from the district attorney and her growing connection to her friend Robert, Maggie secretly collects DNA samples and interviews witnesses. As the investigation leads closer to the truth, Maggie believes the key to the murder lies within the Stevenson family itself.
Was the responsible person much closer to the victim than she realizes? If so, what lengths will be taken to keep the truth buried? Will anyone else die?
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and older women, Buried Bones promises a 75-year-old protagonist with compassion, a tender heart, and a thirst for justice, even when she believes she has lost her competence.
The Case of the Amorous Assailant (Beachtown Detective Agency Book 1)
Terry Ambrose launches his Beachtown Detective Agency series with The Case of the Amorous Assailant, a sharp and spirited mystery that introduces readers to Jade Cavendish, a rookie private investigator stepping into her father’s shoes. Determined to prove herself, Jade accepts her very first case, one that directly defies her father’s explicit warnings. But desperate to keep the fledgling agency afloat, she takes the risk.
Her client, Gina Rose, suspects her husband of draining their finances and possibly worse. Despite Jade’s personal relationship complications and her father’s advice still echoing in her mind, she follows the money and her instincts. What begins as a straightforward case of infidelity morphs into a far more tangled mystery, one that leads Jade toward the elusive figure known only as the Amorous Assailant. Or at least, that’s what she believes.
Jade Cavendish stands out as a compelling protagonist, smart, composed, and willing to face down challenges that would rattle a more seasoned detective. Her independence is admirable, though her reluctance to lean on her father for guidance occasionally frustrates. In moments of real trouble, that pride edges close to recklessness. Still, her strength as a lead character is undeniable.
Gina Rose remains a mystery in her own right. Her motivations often seem murky, making it difficult to trust her entirely. That constant uncertainty kept me guessing. Then there’s Zoey, the fiery blogger and chaotic ally. She’s unpredictable, occasionally reckless, and often difficult to work with. While her impulsiveness grated on my nerves, her presence raised the stakes in several scenes. At times, I genuinely feared for her safety. I only wish we had seen more from the other women in Jade’s self-defense class; they were introduced with promise but faded too quickly.
Ambrose’s writing is smooth and accessible, perfect for audiobook listeners and cozy mystery fans alike. The plot moves at a satisfying pace, with just enough misdirection to keep the reader guessing. I found myself constantly questioning: Can Gina be trusted? Is her husband hiding something darker than an affair? By the final pages, all those questions find their answers, but getting there is half the fun.
The Case of the Amorous Assailant delivers a clever blend of mystery, character-driven drama, and small-town intrigue. With Jade Cavendish at the helm, Terry Ambrose sets the stage for a promising series full of grit, heart, and just enough danger to keep readers hooked. It’s an entertaining start that balances suspense with humor and emotional depth.
Pages: 305 | ASIN : B0B8TQVFZ5
Buried Bones
Buried Bones is a slow-burn mystery wrapped in emotional complexity and carried by a deeply human cast of characters. It follows Maggie Anderson, a retired prosecutor who stumbles into the murder case of Audrey Stillman in a small Utah town. When the victim’s ex-husband, Ben, is immediately seen as the likely killer by locals, Maggie is pulled into a vigilante-charged atmosphere that drags her back to her prosecutorial past—and her ghosts. As she digs deeper, with a small, tight-knit investigative team, what unfolds is not just a whodunit but a layered tale of justice, loss, love, and second chances.
What I loved most about this book was Maggie herself. She’s 75, sharp, wounded, and resilient in a way that doesn’t feel performative or glamorized. The writing lets her age show—not in weakness, but in wisdom. When she confronts the vigilante threats against Ben in the opening diner scene, I felt her pulse pounding as mine did. That moment set the tone: this is a mystery where justice is messy and personal, not clean-cut or formulaic. I especially appreciated how Moore doesn’t just give Maggie a case to solve—she gives her something to heal. That backstory about the wrongly accused Trevor broke me. It’s one of the rawest, most emotional moments I’ve read in a mystery novel in a long time.
I also found the writing charmingly old-school in a way that works for this story. The pacing is deliberate—some might call it slow, but for me, it mirrored the dusty, insular Utah setting perfectly. There’s a quiet beauty to how Moore describes Maggie’s time at the cabin with Robert, Gwen, and Peter. The lavender garden behind the cabin where Audrey’s body was found sticks in my mind—it was eerie, yes, but also strangely peaceful. And then there’s the ghostlike vision Maggie has of Audrey in her old home—subtle, quick, and never overplayed. That scene gave me chills. Moore walks a fine line between realism and something just a little more haunting, and she does it well.
In early exposition scenes characters sometimes explain themselves a bit too neatly. And while I enjoyed the romantic undercurrent between Maggie and Robert, it leaned a little Hallmark for me at times. Still, the emotional honesty always pulled it back. When Maggie finally lets herself be vulnerable with Robert after sharing her past failures, I teared up. It felt earned. Real. Not just romance for the sake of it, but something deeper—companionship that comes from surviving life’s worst parts and still choosing connection.
Buried Bones isn’t just a mystery—it’s a story about reclaiming faith in yourself when you’re not sure you deserve it. It’s for readers who want their crime fiction to have heart, for people who don’t need nonstop action but crave characters who feel like real people. If you liked Louise Penny or early Sue Grafton, or if you’ve ever wanted to see what happens when justice is served by someone who’s lost faith in the system, then this book is for you. I’m so glad I read it.
Pages: 428 | ASIN : B0F2SHXVV4
The Tangled Mane
Charlie Tyler’s The Tangled Mane is a tangled web of mystery, trauma, and resilience, bouncing between two timelines to tell the interconnected stories of Mikey and Cally. Mikey’s childhood is one of neglect, hunger, and a deep, unwavering bond with his sister, Lucy. Their lives are spent navigating the bleak reality of Hazelton Towers, dreaming of escape, and finding solace in small kindnesses, a tattered copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a stolen moment with a caged lion they call Aslan, or the rare indulgence of a cheap hotdog. In the present, Cally is an undercover investigator at an elite country club, caught up in a case of theft that takes a dark turn when a wealthy bride-to-be is found dead in her bathtub. As these two stories unfold, the past and present inch closer together, revealing long-buried secrets and shocking connections.
Mikey’s chapters, set in 2004, broke my heart. His voice is a mixture of innocence and desperation, a kid who finds magic in the smallest things while surviving a childhood no one should have to endure. Lucy, his older sister, is his rock and his protector, and their dynamic is beautifully written. Tyler doesn’t sugarcoat their reality, the grimy flat, the mother who cares more about drugs than her kids, the men who come and go. And then there’s Aslan, the lion in a cage, who mirrors Mikey’s own trapped existence. Every time Mikey sneaks him scraps of food or strokes his matted mane through the bars, I found myself hoping against hope that this boy would one day escape his own cage.
On the other hand, Cally’s chapters felt like stepping into a different world. If Mikey’s life is about survival, Cally’s is about intrigue. Her job at The Phoenix, a club catering to the rich and powerful, seems glamorous on the surface, but beneath the expensive champagne and designer suits, something sinister lurks. The death of Luella, the spoiled influencer-bride, is chilling, and Cally’s sharp, no-nonsense attitude makes her an engaging protagonist. I loved her banter with Dan, her detective fiancé, even when he annoyed her (which was often). And the little details like her regrettable pixie cut and her deep-seated love for hot chocolate made her feel like someone I could be friends with.
What ties this novel together is the way the past and present slowly converge. Tyler drops breadcrumbs throughout the story, each clue tightening the tension. By the time I started seeing how Mikey and Cally’s lives might be linked, I was flipping pages at lightning speed. And the final reveal? Gut-wrenching. The book makes you question how much of our past defines our future, how trauma shapes us, and whether escape is ever truly possible. It’s dark, yes, but it’s also about love, the love between siblings, the bonds we make in the unlikeliest places, and the quiet hope that even in the worst circumstances, there’s still a way out.
I’d recommend The Tangled Mane to anyone who loves a gripping mystery with deep emotional stakes. If you’re into crime thrillers with heart, this one’s for you. It’s not a light read, it hits hard and lingers long after the final page but that’s what makes it brilliant.
Pages: 274 | ASIN : B0DP1886LH
Murder in Monte Carlo
Kathryn Lane’s Murder in Monte Carlo delivers an electrifying blend of intrigue, adventure, and high-stakes sleuthing. At its center is Nikki Garcia, a sharp and resourceful private investigator, whose latest mission draws her into a thrilling chase across international waters. Partnering with her husband, Eduardo, Nikki aims to track down a mastermind behind a series of audacious art thefts. The couple’s pursuit of justice is intertwined with the allure of a luxury cruise, balancing intense investigative work with moments of opulence and leisure. What begins as a seemingly straightforward investigation swiftly unravels into a labyrinth of deception. The case grows more intricate with each discovery, leading Nikki and Eduardo through a whirlwind of surprises and perilous encounters. Lane masterfully keeps readers on edge, weaving a narrative rich with unexpected twists and escalating stakes.
This sixth installment in the Nikki Garcia series stands firmly on its own, making it accessible to both newcomers and long-time fans. Lane’s talent for crafting compelling mysteries shines brightly here, blending a fast-paced plot with the charm of European settings. Her descriptive prose vividly captures the grandeur and mystique of the locations, immersing readers in a world of sophistication and danger.
One of the book’s standout elements is Lane’s evident passion for art, which adds authenticity and depth to the story. The art thefts central to the plot are more than just a narrative device; they are enriched by Lane’s detailed knowledge, enhancing the tension and stakes. Despite its many strengths, Murder in Monte Carlo leaves some room for improvement. I feel that the rapid pacing, while exhilarating, somewhat limits the opportunity for character development. Nikki and Eduardo’s personalities are intriguing but feel underexplored. I believe more nuanced backstories or emotional depth could have elevated the narrative, allowing readers to connect more deeply with the protagonists.
Murder in Monte Carlo is a dynamic and engaging addition to the cozy mystery genre. Its clever plot, vibrant settings, and gripping twists ensure it is a page-turner from start to finish. Lane’s storytelling prowess leaves readers eager to see where Nikki Garcia’s adventures will lead next.
Pages: 294 | ASIN : B0DJCH3WQ1
Killing Buddhas
Craig Allen Heath’s Killing Buddhas is a philosophical mystery that blends small-town drama with existential intrigue. Set in the eccentric town of Eden Ridge, the novel introduces a cast of flawed, layered characters navigating their personal struggles amidst a backdrop of suspense. From the troubled pastor Alan Wright to the enigmatic philosopher Branden Frank, each figure contributes to a narrative that keeps readers guessing.
Alan Wright, the local pastor, is a man at war with himself. His hidden past and struggle with faith, loss, and the weight of leadership make him a deeply human character. Many readers will see reflections of their own internal battles in his journey. Branden Frank, the philosopher with magnetic charm, exudes an allure that captivates the town, yet an undercurrent of arrogance and emotional detachment leaves a lingering unease. Heath skillfully crafts him as both fascinating and unsettling, keeping readers intrigued by his contradictions. Zack Featherstone, a teenager ensnared by family secrets, embodies the universal search for identity and purpose. His confusion and aspirations make him relatable, a character who feels both real and poignant.
Heath’s strength lies in giving his characters moments of raw vulnerability and unexpected resilience, though at times the reader might yearn for deeper psychological exploration. I feel the dialogue, while often thought-provoking, occasionally veers into territory that feels somewhat overly crafted, pulling the reader out of the flow. However, the camaraderie among the amateur sleuths known as the Little Red Hens offers genuine, refreshing moments of connection. Their interactions bring warmth and levity, balancing the novel’s heavier themes. The ending leaves some threads unresolved, inviting contemplation but potentially frustrating readers who crave definitive closure. Yet this ambiguity aligns with the book’s philosophical undertones, challenging readers to grapple with their own interpretations.
Killing Buddhas captures the imperfections of humanity through its complex characters and unpredictable plot. It’s a story about faith, identity, and the messy beauty of being human. For those who appreciate nuanced storytelling with a touch of mystery and a dash of philosophy, this book is a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.
Pages: 392 | ASIN : B0DK7X3ZHL
A Perilous Premiere
Gail Meath’s Perilous Premiere masterfully captures the glitz and grit of the 1930s Hollywood film industry, blending a spellbinding murder mystery with a rich historical backdrop. The story begins with a heart-stopping tragedy: Vivian, a fashion designer and boutique owner, witnesses her husband’s shocking murder just days before their first anniversary. Six months later, as she finally starts to believe justice has been served, fresh evidence shatters her fragile peace, revealing that the real killer still roams free. Determined to find the truth, Vivian follows a trail of elusive leads. As shocking revelations come to light, Vivian uncovers her husband’s shadowy secrets, including a link to a set of stolen, highly coveted coins that have painted a target on her back. Now, ruthless killers will stop at nothing to retrieve the coins.
Meath’s narrative flows with relentless pace and captivating tension. Her portrayal of 1930s Hollywood is vibrant yet sinister, highlighting the industry’s glamorous facade and the murky underbelly of power and deception. The plot, intricately woven and fast-moving, grips the reader from start to finish. While I believe the character development could have been more nuanced, it does not detract from the novel’s intense and thrilling storyline. Vivian and Preston’s evolving dynamic leaves much to anticipate in future installments, and there is plenty of promise for richer character arcs in upcoming books.
Meath deftly weaves historical facts into the fiction, making the story both enlightening and immersive. Her commitment to historical accuracy is underscored in a thoughtful disclaimer, enhancing the novel’s appeal to history enthusiasts.
Perilous Premiere is a dazzling opening to the Stone & Steel Mystery series, offering a thrilling dive into a bygone era brimming with suspense, secrets, and high-stakes drama.
Pages: 200 | ASIN : B0CZS3J93M
LITERARY TITAN 