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Secrets Can Be Deadly
A journey of secrets, lies, revenge, and death. Tragedy strikes the lives of two children in 1968. A house fire kills Sam’s father and brother. Three weeks later, Sam’s mother disappears and Sam must grow up with strict grandparents. Mason’s mother and sister die in a fiery automobile accident. Mason’s father moves them to a new city in Iowa to forget about the life they left behind. Twelve years later, Mason receives mysterious notes and phone calls about his past. Mason searches for the truth about the family he never knew, only to discover secrets that force him to choose between his father and the woman he loves. Mason and Sam set out on separate quests to determine who is telling the truth, who is keeping secrets, and who must die.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2013
17 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Roe
9 books15 followersNancy is an award-winning author and has self-published nine books including six mystery novels and one non-fiction book on organizing.
In August 2021, The League of Utah Writers recognized Nancy, receiving the Gold Quill Award for her book, The Accident, and First Place for the first chapter of her novel, Butterfly Premonitions.
Nancy served as a panelist at the Killer Nashville International Writer’s Conference, speaking on the subjects of self-publishing, minor characters, and dialogue. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Guppy Chapter, League of Utah Writers, and Just Write Chapter.
Nancy is a Midwest farm girl at heart and currently lives in Utah with her husband and four-legged children, Max and Addison.
Follow Nancy:
…Website: http://www.NancyRoeAuthor.com
BookBub: BookBub.com/profile/Nancy-Roe
…Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NancyRoeAuthor
…Twitter: http://twitter.com/NancyRoeAuthor
…Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/NancyRoeAuthor
…Amazon: http://NancyRoeOnAmazon.com
In August 2021, The League of Utah Writers recognized Nancy, receiving the Gold Quill Award for her book, The Accident, and First Place for the first chapter of her novel, Butterfly Premonitions.
Nancy served as a panelist at the Killer Nashville International Writer’s Conference, speaking on the subjects of self-publishing, minor characters, and dialogue. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Guppy Chapter, League of Utah Writers, and Just Write Chapter.
Nancy is a Midwest farm girl at heart and currently lives in Utah with her husband and four-legged children, Max and Addison.
Follow Nancy:
…Website: http://www.NancyRoeAuthor.com
BookBub: BookBub.com/profile/Nancy-Roe
…Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NancyRoeAuthor
…Twitter: http://twitter.com/NancyRoeAuthor
…Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/NancyRoeAuthor
…Amazon: http://NancyRoeOnAmazon.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 14, 2016
This was a good story by a new author for me although it got really confusing for me in places trying to figure out who was related to who and who was married to who, etc...
There were some real surprises along the way as well which kept me turning the pages and I finished it within a day.
I did notice that it said Sam's mum went off after 2 weeks yet it said 3 weeks in the description which confused me. Then two properties were mentioned when I think three were meant since it had only just been stated -"He wondered who owned the properties where he lived as a child and who owned his grandfather's farm". To me that means more than only two. Quite was used in place of quiet which was a big oops for me and the apostrophe in parents' was correct one minute then wrong the next which is annoying when an author can get it right.
I felt so sorry for Sam. What a miserable and sad life to live. You had to wonder why any mother would leave their child in those conditions. Red featured heavily and was this shadowy and not very likeable figure always in among things. I think Mason could have cared a little more about Sam as well. All in all, quite the tragedy but despite this a fast-paced read.
There were some real surprises along the way as well which kept me turning the pages and I finished it within a day.
I did notice that it said Sam's mum went off after 2 weeks yet it said 3 weeks in the description which confused me. Then two properties were mentioned when I think three were meant since it had only just been stated -"He wondered who owned the properties where he lived as a child and who owned his grandfather's farm". To me that means more than only two. Quite was used in place of quiet which was a big oops for me and the apostrophe in parents' was correct one minute then wrong the next which is annoying when an author can get it right.
I felt so sorry for Sam. What a miserable and sad life to live. You had to wonder why any mother would leave their child in those conditions. Red featured heavily and was this shadowy and not very likeable figure always in among things. I think Mason could have cared a little more about Sam as well. All in all, quite the tragedy but despite this a fast-paced read.
February 6, 2016
As with my review of Nancy's other mystery, I feel that I should state that the author is a personal friend. I enjoyed reading the book so much that I forgot that the book was written by a friend, which I feel is high praise.
The book traces the life of a serial killer. It is told in alternating chapters between two main characters. I normally hate alternating chapters, but Nancy handles it so well that it didn't bother me with this book.
Another friend commented to me that she liked Nancy's second mystery better and I agree with that although I enjoyed reading this book. There is a minor typo on Page 4--"to" when the word should have been "too." Many readers wouldn't even notice, but I do a lot of proofreading so I found it distracting. Also, I figured out one of the major secrets of the book by the second chapter. I think I enjoyed reading the book more because I had a better understanding of the characters. There were a couple of things in the book that didn't quite add up, but it was a good read.
The book is 268 pages and I would recommend starting it when you have time to sit down and read the book in one or two sittings.
As with Nancy's second mystery, half the characters in the book are murdered. Nancy is a fairly quiet lady and not a person you would expect to write bloodthirsty novels. When I mentioned to Nancy that I was surprised how many of her characters she murdered, she told me that her husband sleeps with one eye open.
I recommend it as a fun read and look forward to reading Nancy's next mystery.
The book traces the life of a serial killer. It is told in alternating chapters between two main characters. I normally hate alternating chapters, but Nancy handles it so well that it didn't bother me with this book.
Another friend commented to me that she liked Nancy's second mystery better and I agree with that although I enjoyed reading this book. There is a minor typo on Page 4--"to" when the word should have been "too." Many readers wouldn't even notice, but I do a lot of proofreading so I found it distracting. Also, I figured out one of the major secrets of the book by the second chapter. I think I enjoyed reading the book more because I had a better understanding of the characters. There were a couple of things in the book that didn't quite add up, but it was a good read.
The book is 268 pages and I would recommend starting it when you have time to sit down and read the book in one or two sittings.
As with Nancy's second mystery, half the characters in the book are murdered. Nancy is a fairly quiet lady and not a person you would expect to write bloodthirsty novels. When I mentioned to Nancy that I was surprised how many of her characters she murdered, she told me that her husband sleeps with one eye open.
I recommend it as a fun read and look forward to reading Nancy's next mystery.
March 18, 2020
I thought the author was very clever and imaginative in how she wove the two story lines together until they intersected. If not for some loose ends and the lack of most of the characters' descriptions (what did they look like-- age, tall, short, thin, fat, dark-haired, blond, eye color, etc.?) which made it hard for me to imagine them, I thought this was a well-plotted book. The author has potential and I look forward to reading her next books.
November 13, 2013
Sam and Mason both experienced the tragic loss of a parent and sibling in 1968. But while Mason had a happy childhood, Sam was left in the care of an abusive grandfather and a grandmother who does nothing to stop it. Both of them deal with secrets and lies in their lives and come to learn that sometimes secrets can get you killed.
Secrets Can Be Deadly is told from two perspectives. Sam’s is in first person, and Mason’s in third. This does a wonderful job of helping the reader keep track of whose story they are reading, and also allows for a deeper understanding of both. While Mason has a large social group (his father, a serious girlfriend, a job as a police officer, and four childhood friends), Sam is very much alone and has no one to confide in but a diary.
Mason’s story is also set solely in the novel’s present day (1980), whereas the reader gets to see Sam grow and change from an emotionally weak child to an angry adult.
The story starts off with a mystery – two, really, if you want to get technical. Who is sending Mason cryptic messages about secrets from his family’s past, and what exactly are those hinted at secrets? While the mystery takes center stage in Mason’s life, and Sam’s life is shown to be incredibly bleak, the book sucks you in, wanting desperately to know how Sam and Mason are connected other than by both experiencing a tragedy early in life, what sort of “skeletons” are in their family closets, and what is going to happen to both of them and the cast of supporting characters.
You can read the rest of my review at my blog: http://readerlymusings.com/2013/11/12...
Secrets Can Be Deadly is told from two perspectives. Sam’s is in first person, and Mason’s in third. This does a wonderful job of helping the reader keep track of whose story they are reading, and also allows for a deeper understanding of both. While Mason has a large social group (his father, a serious girlfriend, a job as a police officer, and four childhood friends), Sam is very much alone and has no one to confide in but a diary.
Mason’s story is also set solely in the novel’s present day (1980), whereas the reader gets to see Sam grow and change from an emotionally weak child to an angry adult.
The story starts off with a mystery – two, really, if you want to get technical. Who is sending Mason cryptic messages about secrets from his family’s past, and what exactly are those hinted at secrets? While the mystery takes center stage in Mason’s life, and Sam’s life is shown to be incredibly bleak, the book sucks you in, wanting desperately to know how Sam and Mason are connected other than by both experiencing a tragedy early in life, what sort of “skeletons” are in their family closets, and what is going to happen to both of them and the cast of supporting characters.
You can read the rest of my review at my blog: http://readerlymusings.com/2013/11/12...
April 3, 2014
Although the book was written well enough, and the alternating, by chapter, of viewpoints was interesting, the absolutely horrific main character turned me off from this book completely.
I read it all the way through, and after doing so wished I had never started it. I wish I could just pluck the images from the book out of my brain and never have to imagine such scenes ever again.
I do not blame the author. I just wish there was a better way of getting the flavor of a book than by reading the whole thing.
I read it all the way through, and after doing so wished I had never started it. I wish I could just pluck the images from the book out of my brain and never have to imagine such scenes ever again.
I do not blame the author. I just wish there was a better way of getting the flavor of a book than by reading the whole thing.
April 16, 2014
Is evil genetic or is it beaten into a person? Both theories are at play in this tension filled thriller. The twists and turns are rampant throughout this entertaining book. Those who enjoy good mysteries will enjoy this one.
April 28, 2014
Good book
Good book
This is a great story about a family torn apart by mental illness and revenge. I enjoyed reading it and held my attention so didn't take long to read.
Good book
This is a great story about a family torn apart by mental illness and revenge. I enjoyed reading it and held my attention so didn't take long to read.
May 19, 2014
An interesting plot line and a great idea for a story. At first I thought I knew where it was going, but happily I was wrong. It's well written and a good read and carries the reader along at a good pace, with strong characters. Thoroughly recommended
July 21, 2014
Very intriguing mystery . Well written , quick easy read with short chapters - doesn't get much better than that .
August 16, 2016
Great story
Good writer.
Story very interesting.
Can't wait to Read more of her books
Bet them are good as this book
Good writer.
Story very interesting.
Can't wait to Read more of her books
Bet them are good as this book
September 9, 2016
I really liked this book, the characters were well written so that I either cared about them or didn't like them. I will look for more books by Nancy Roe.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews