Review: Keeper of Secrets by Lynda Stacey

Keeper of Secrets by Lynda Stacey

Release Date: 22nd October 2019
Publisher: Ruby Fiction

Genres: Romantic Suspense

Should some secrets stay buried?

For as long as Cassie Hunt can remember her Aunt Aggie has spoken about the forgotten world that exists just below their feet, in the tunnels and catacombs of the Sand House. The story is what inspired Cassie to become an archaeologist. 

But Aggie has a secret that she’s buried as deep as the tunnels and when excavation work begins on the site, Cassie is the only one who can help her keep it. With the assistance of her old university friend, Noah Flanagan, she puts into action a plan to honour Aggie’s wishes. 

It seems the deeper Noah and Cassie dig, the more shocking the secrets uncovered – and danger is never far away, both above and below the ground …

Cassie and her sister have their world turned upside down as children after Cassie wishes for things to be different. She's fed up with being bullied and wants her world to change. Unfortunately things take a very sinister turn and Cassie's wish for change is something she lives to regret. Fast forward a number of years and Cassie is an adult working on an archaeological dig in Italy when she receives a phone call from her sister about their aunt Aggie. Aggie shares a shocking secret with Cassie and begs for her help. A secret is buried and Aggie does not want it uncovered. Cassie feels she has no choice but to help Aggie who is very ill. She loves her aunt and owes her so much but feels very torn. 

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the underlying sense of mystery throughout.  Family relationships were a prominent feature throughout and Cassie's loyalty to her family was heartwarming. I did find her sister to be one of my least favourite characters however as she was a little needy at times. Cassie on the other hand really underestimated her own strength and resilience and although torn at times, she shone through for those she loved. I loved watching her grow throughout the book and admired her loyalty. Throw into the mix a love interest then you have a brilliant romantic suspense that was peppered with little nuggets of clues throughout that drew the reader in right from the beginning. Equally the many red herrings completely threw me off course and just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, suddenly I didn't. I really enjoy this type of story, particularly when it is well written and this book definitely delivered on that front. The story was well paced and kept me hooked from page to page. Lynda Stacey has managed to create an interesting cast of characters in an intriguing story. Highly recommended.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynda is a wife, step-mother and grandmother who grew up in the mining village of Bentley, Doncaster, in South Yorkshire..

She is currently the Sales Director of a stationery, office supplies and office furniture company in Doncaster, where she has worked for the past 28 years. Prior to this she’d also been a nurse, a model, an emergency first response instructor and a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor … and yes, she was crazy enough to dive in the sea with sharks, without a cage.

Following a car accident in 2008, Lynda was left with limited mobility in her right arm. Unable to dive or teach anymore, she turned to her love of writing, a hobby she’d followed avidly since being a teenager.

Her own life story, along with varied career choices, helps Lynda to create stories of romantic suspense, with challenging and unpredictable plots, along with (as in all romances) very happy endings.

She lives in a small rural hamlet near Doncaster, with her ‘hero at home husband’, Haydn, whom she’s been happily married to for over 20 years.

Lynda joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2014 under the umbrella of the New Writers’ Scheme and in 2015 her debut novel House of Secrets won Choc Lit’s Search for a Star competition. Lynda writes for both Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction.

Social Media Links 

Facebook www.facebook.com/lyndastaceyauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/LyndaStacey

Website www.Lyndastacey.co.uk