All That Is Secret

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ

RAYBON, PATRICIA

ALL THAT IS SECRET

From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle confronting the hidden secrets of class, race, family and love.

Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father's murder?

In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain -- a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college -- receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.

For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero, Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee's heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.

With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver's powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the dangerous truths and beliefs that could maker her a victim too.

My Review:

Whoa -- a new mystery series set in one of my favourite eras?! I am so in!!!! And what an unputdownable reading experience All That is Secret was! So many secrets! A knotted, mangled heap of them and Annalee so stubbornly intent on releasing each and every one. At great peril to herself and those close to her.

This is definitely not a cozy mystery. It's grittier, uglier and much too serious for that. But I found myself mesmerized right from the chilling prologue through to the heart-racing, gasp-out-loud climax. And I learned a ton about this time and place. I had no idea that Denver of all places was so ensnared by the KKK! The author shows the underbelly of a corrupt city ruled by greedy opportunists who crave power and fortune and are willing to do anything -- even murder -- to achieve their ends.

And in waltzes Annalee, connoisseur of all things Sherlock Holmes, ready to live out her very own mystery. Only it isn't as easy as the books make it seem. But Annalee forges on -- a unique combination of grit, impulsiveness and steadfast charm. And she's unstoppable.

Raybon has created a heroine who is easy to cheer for and also to lament over because....gah!...Annalee doesn't waste time thinking. Or planning. She's a sleuth in motion, relying on instincts and plain nerve to find the answers she's looking for. She finds them...but uncovers a whole new set of questions. Which is fine by me since this is the first of a new series!

She is also a theologian who has lost her connection with God and her journey back to faith is both inspiring and touching.

There's a great cast of secondary characters with complicated back stories who help or thwart Annalee's quest. Including one very dapper, toe-curl inducing pastor. Jack is as enchanted as he is exasperated by Annalee and their romance is heading in the right direction by the end of this first Annalee Spain Mystery.

An intriguing mystery with enough heart-stopping moments to require a defibrillator on standby.

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of All That Is Secret, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 3 2022 . Offer open to