Kept in the Dark

by Lindsey Acosta

Some secrets...

Thirteen years ago, Hailey Gallagher’s life was torn apart one fateful summer’s night. The love of her life broke her heart, she was brutally attacked and left for dead, and her mother was murdered- her sister arrested and convicted for the heinous crime. Wanting to outrun her past, Hailey left town and never looked back.

Sara Gallagher desperately wants to prove her innocence...but she wants revenge even more. She spent thirteen years being silent, caged for a crime she didn’t commit. Now, she’s free. And the secrets that were buried with her mother will soon surface. And Sara will be the one holding the shovel.

When new evidence comes to light, it leads to a tangled web of lies and deceit as someone works to keep the truth hidden. Now, Hailey and Sara must trust each other in order to find the real killer; all while trying to keep their own secrets hidden. And sparks start to ignite when Hailey seeks out help from Trey Harbor, the man who shattered her heart all those years ago.

Because the once quaint and quiet town of Auburndale, Florida has now become the hunting ground of a ruthless killer. But the more secrets they uncover, the more desperate this killer becomes…

Someone wants their secrets to stay buried and they'll do whatever it takes to keep them in the grave.

...are better kept in the dark.

Kept in the Dark is the prequel in the Trinity Harbor series and must be read first before beginning the series.

Genres: Fiction

393 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2024

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read Kept in the Dark by Lindsey Acosta prior to pub day, and what a twisty ride this was! I will say that Hailey and Sara weren't always my favorite characters due to some REALLY dumb decisions they make throughout the book, but the sisterly bond they shared was gold. Revenge and trauma are at the heart of this story and some parts are both heartbreaking and uncomfortable to read. Acosta did not shy away from sensitive topics, and I loved the depth she brought to the characters and storyline.

I kept thinking I knew what was coming during Kept in the Dark, but I never figured out the extent of what was in store for me, and the author definitely kept me turning those pages. I was completely shocked by the ending and now dying to know exactly what is going to be in store next. This is the first book of a new series, and if you are a fan of bingeable thrillers with plenty of family drama, I highly recommend picking this up and supporting an up-and-coming indie author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[BrownBookNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a ride that I did not expect to be on! Soo many secrets and a very twisty plot. I was hooked from the beginning. The relationship between Trey & Hailey had me so invested I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen between them. I was bit expecting the ending at all and that is what I love the most about thrillers and this one did not disappoint. Highly Recommend!!

Thank you Lindsey for the opportunity to be apart of your
ARC team 🩷

[J.L. Hyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read by a debut author. She's already skilled at character development and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for Trinity Harbor!

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Lindsey Acosta for choosing me to be apart of her ARC team for this amazing book. I cannot believe this was a debut by this author. I read a lot of thrillers and it takes a lot to have me not figure things out and this one I did not see coming. I was hung up on it being someone else than who the murderer actually was. It felt like I was reading a Karin Slaughter novel. I realized at the end of this book that it was a prequel for a new series coming out. I cannot wait for to read more about this insane plot and lovable characters!

Family secrets, murder, jealousy, deceit are just some things included in this heart pounding thriller. This was easily one of my favorite books of the year and I won’t be shutting up about it for a long time.

The characters were so well written as well as the plot. It kept me at the edge of my seat trying to play detective and piece everything together. This is a 5 star thriller done right. This book will be out this September 2024 so mark your calendars and add to your tbr NOW!

[Kristin (Readwithdubs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of reading an ARC of Kept In The Dark and let me tell you, you do NOT want to miss out on this read! You’d never guess that this is the author’s first thriller - she knows what she’s doing friends!! The characters (and the story) were so well written that you feel like you know them. I loved the chapters between the past and the present as it helped learn who the characters were and what made them tick. I did not guess the twist AT ALL 🤯 the ending was PERFECT and definitely paves the way for a sequel (I hope!!!) I cannot say enough good things about this one - make sure to grab your copy when it releases in September! I’ll be buying this one for everyone I know!

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book published one week ago today, and it is SO GOOD! It is the first in a series, and I loved it! Talk about family dysfunction, this one has it and then some. Sara has just been released from prison for killing her mother, her sister Hailey has come back to town after leaving when she was brutally attacked and left for dead, the same night their mother died, and with her is a daughter no one has met. Now it comes to light that perhaps Sara did NOT kill their mother, and Hailey has to enlist the help of police chief Trey Harbor, who happens to be the love of her life that left her all those years ago. We haven’t even gotten to the dad yet, but he is a whole other mess let me tell you. Once Hailey and Sara start digging into the past, the body count starts rising as someone is taking people out one by one to keep the truth buried.

I thought I had this figured out, and I did NOT, like AT ALL. This was very well done, entertaining, and even though there were some dumb decisions being made (looking at you Trinity), this was an intense page turner that kept my attention the entire time! And I did not see that ending coming!

Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one! A HUGE thank you to Lindsey Acosta for the digital copy to review.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acosta really surprised me with this debut. Overall, it's got great characters, an interesting storyline, and decent twists. Also, peep that gorgeous cover. This is definitely shelf worthy!


This is definitely going to be a series I will continue reading. If you enjoy thrillers and family drama and don't mind a little romance too, then I recommend you grab this book and check it out.

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Kyla Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

So thankful to be chosen as an ARC reader for this new thriller! The setting is right here in Central FL. It was really cool reading it & truly being able to picture some scenes in the story such as Downtown, Orange Groves, and The Strawberry Festival. The plot twist at the end was nothing I was expecting at all. Hailey really went through it in this book! The book is about twin sisters Sara & Hailey. Sara spent 13 years in prison for a murder she didn’t commit. When she returns to her home town, the truth comes out in a way you would never guess!

[Terah ~ pitties.and.pageturners · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5, rounded up)

First of all, thank you to Lindsey for reaching out to me and for the opportunity to read her debut novel in exchange for an honest review. She has been such a joy to work with through the whole process.

✨️all opinions are my own✨️

WOW. I'm having a hard time grasping the fact that this is the author's debut novel. She writes with the detail and attention akin to beloved thriller authors like Mary Kubica, Wendy Walker, and Sarah Pearse. Her writing evokes emotion and keeps you turning page after page after page.

It was easy to sympathize with both Sara and Hailey. What they (and their mother) went through was heartbreaking. It was even easier to loathe their father, David. The man's selfishness and cruelty seemed to know no end. Lindsey refused to give my heart a break with this book, the story had it racing from beginning to end.

I thought I was so clever and that I had guessed who the killer was when I was only 20% into the book. Well played, Lindsey, well played. And the epilogue!? That was cruel leaving us hanging like that but I'll forgive you if it means we get to see more of these characters👀 Needless to say, I can't wait to see what's in store from this Best Selling Thriller Author in the making!

- gripping mysteries
- twists and turns at every corner
- intricately woven plots
- multiple POVs
- Killer's POV
- diary entries
- small town/family secrets

Please be aware that this book contains graphic depictions of physical abuse and assault that may be difficult for some readers.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, first of all I would like to thank Lindsey Acosta for being part of this ARC team, I am so blessed and grateful for this opportunity. Thank you so much!

I am in shock that this incredible book is a debut thriller! What in the world did I just read?!

Now, let’s get to business…

This book was AMAZING! I am still without words to express myself on how much I loved this book.

I loved the writing style, the characters were so well developed, you will sympathize with some of the characters that really went through so much. I really enjoyed every single line of this book, and I can see this turning into a movie! Yes, a movie!

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, it was so tense and dramatic, it was so clever, kept my heart on check because it was racing and pounding!! And did I mention the twists? OMG, the twists 🤌🏻🤌🏻

Do yourself a favor and get this book as soon as it comes out on September!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

[southern_bookbabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sara Gallagher was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it altered her entire life. 😮‍💨

Super huge shoutout to my book besties for putting me in alignment with this amazing new author and her equally amazing debut novel. This book published Saturday Sept 14 and is right on time for spooky/thriller season! There are so many twists and turns and jaw dropping moments 😲😲 it was a pleasure being apart of this ARC team and I can’t wait for the next installment of this series.

Killer POV
Family drama
Small town
Multiple POVs
Secrets galore

HIGHLY RECOMMEND adding this one to your CURRENTLY READING NOW!

[Leilani Laurencio · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC Review✨️

Kept In The Dark
Lindsey Acosta
Publication date 9/14/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much @_lindsey_acosta_author for allowing me to be part of your ARC team! This was my first ever ARC read, and I was so excited for it!

I really enjoyed this book, I usually won't jump at a thriller because I'm a chicken 😆, but I'm so glad I read this because it was worth it. This book gave me big time Pretty Little Liars vibes, but in a more intense adult way. I loved every moment of this book, I could not put it down!. There were so many layers to this story - Family drama, secrets, trauma, romance - and I enjoyed all of it! The last few chapters had me abandoning my real life because I just had to get to the end and find out who it was! 😆 the ending also left me very excited for what's to come! Also Hailey and Trey! Ugh, I love them 🫶🏼

[Kayleigh Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
This book was a real slow-burn for me, but chaos reigned from around 1/3 of the way in. There are lots of characters & just as many plot twists, which keep you on your toes as a reader, though for me there was so much going on, I found it hard to keep up.

I was here for the romance sub-plot of this book. I often think romance can take away from thrillers, but this one did the opposite. That being said, I didn’t buy in to all of the conversations and relationships as much as I did this one. I found myself shocked at times, that the characters were so chill when put in different scenarios, especially at the beginning. It will be interesting to see where this story leads, as there’s bound to be a sequel with that ending.

I’m very grateful to have been given an ARC by this genuinely lovely author & wish her all the success with her debut novel.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Keeps you thinking, keeps you guessing and keeps you wanting to know more! I found some of it to be repetitive which is why I gave 4 stars. Definitely worth the read, I would recommend!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

great first novel for this author

First off, let me say that the plot was fantastic and original. I found this book after seeing a mutual friend of the author posting about it on FB, and after realizing it was set in my hometown, had to give it a shot.
-It did start off a little choppy (overused character names instead of pronouns, etc),but you could tell the author really found her rhythm about midway through and it began to flow a lot better.
-My only real complaint is that it tended to get really repetitive in places. Literally paraphrasing and repeating the same thoughts/details over and over again. This really burned through a lot of pages and I suspect is why some parts of the story felt rushed in an attempt to keep the page count down.
-This is a closed door romance, so if you’re looking for spice, this ain’t it.
-I figured out the plot twist pretty early on, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book, and the end does a very tidy job of answering all questions.
-it has multiple POVs which I usually dislike, but in this case the author made it work and it was clear who was speaking, when.
-I really loved the dark creepy setting for the last suspense scene, and the follow up of the villain at the end (don’t want to spoil it, but it definitely left the door open for a sequel). Not to worry though, no cliff hangers, just an unfinished story line for one of the characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.

[Kate Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book and provide a blurb for the cover. It's a fantastic debut filled with all the things I love - secrets, jaw-dropping twists, and a whole lot of lying. This dark, twisty, and layered book is hard to put down and even harder to forget!

[Marisha (MarishaReadsALot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to author Lindsey Acosta for the gifted digital ARC!

This is a wild ride of a thriller with twists on twists on twists. Just when you think you have everything figured out, Acosta goes and throws another curveball your way! I'm very impressed that this was a debut novel, it did not read like one.

I have the honor of being on Acosta's ARC team and getting to read and review this early has been a pleasure! Thriller lovers will want to add this one to their TBR.

Kept in the Dark pub date is September 14.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Ebook

This one is presented as an “anything that can go wrong will go wrong” for Sara and Hailey Gallagher….esp for Sara who is wrongly convicted of her mother’s murder and looking for revenge. This poor girl…I mean this is dysfunctional family to the max.

When I heard of all of the components of this story I was like ooooooh the drama, I’m here for it! Unfortunately, I think this one actually did TOO MUCH. Hear me out…

I love a good twist & turn, but there were so many that it ended up being more distracting than thrilling. It made me lose interest a bit because it was one thing after the next. So I had a hard time pushing through it at times.

It was long and there were way too many storylines squished into this book, which for me, made it loose some of its appeal. I was like oh no another storyline. So it threw the flow of the book off.

I’m glad this book is leading to others because this really does seem like the type of story that is perfect for a series BUT I think this one book could’ve been broken up into maybe 3 separate books rather than a single book of 400+ pages + the rest of the series.

This author certainly has a lot of really cool ideas for this series…I just think this is a case of less is more, at least for me. Lindsey Acosta is a debut author with a lot of promise so I’m excited to see how she grows with her next novel and to see how the series blossoms.

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books can take ages to get into. And some you know you're going to love from the first page. This book was definitely the latter. From the very first page, I was hooked, and I could not stop reading. The storyline was amazing; the characters were flawed and complicated, and there were so many secrets and twists that just kept me devouring it.
Now, you all know how I feel about romance, and there was a fair bit of that in this book, but it wasn't overkill. It was tasteful (all closed door scenes thankfully), and it didn't take over the story.
I absolutely loved this one, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Keep them coming, Lindsey!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Kept In The Dark
Author: Lindsey Acosta
Publication date: September 14th, 2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❗️THRILLER LOVERS❗️- you will no doubt want to add this to the front of your TBR!

•Synopsis•

Thirteen years ago, Hailey Gallagher’s life was torn apart one fateful summer’s night. The love of her life broke her heart, she was brutally attacked and left for dead, and her mother was murdered- her sister arrested and convicted for the heinous crime.  Wanting to outrun her past, Hailey left town and never looked back.

Sara Gallagher desperately wants to prove her innocence...but she wants revenge even more. She spent thirteen years being silent, caged for a crime she didn’t commit. Now, she’s free. And the secrets that were buried with her mother will soon surface. And Sara will be the one holding the shovel.

When new evidence comes to light, it leads to a tangled web of lies and deceit as someone works to keep the truth hidden. Now, Hailey and Sara must trust each other in order to find the real killer; all while trying to keep their own secrets hidden. And sparks start to ignite when Hailey seeks out help from Trey Harbor, the man who shattered her heart all those years ago.

Because the once quaint and quiet town of Auburndale, Florida has now become the hunting ground of a ruthless killer. But the more secrets they uncover, the more desperate this killer becomes…

Someone wants their secrets to stay buried and they'll do whatever it takes to keep them in the grave.

“Secrets don’t stay buried forever”

Y’ALL! This debut has it all:
❔ Who done it?
🖤 Romance
👻 Suspense
🔪 Killer POV
🫖 Family secrets/drama

The characters in this story were so well thought out & written - it was as so easy to connect to each one of them and root for their revenge, justice, love and more! I knew in the first few pages this was going to be a story I was itching to finish. Cannot wait for the sequel and honestly, anything written by the talented Lindsey Acosta!

[Andrea- The Shelf Life Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe that this is a debut author! This twisty page turner feels like it was written by a seasoned author. I can’t wait to read what Lindsey come up with next.

This debut novel was definitely a read in one sitting, page-turner for me. It was a mix of thriller, family drama, and just a tad of romance.

When I tell you that my happy place is in the family secrets, reluctant return home, and a POV from the murderer! This book delivered all on a pretty plate.
I was able to figure out the main twist, but that did not distract me from loving this story. I felt that it was a bit of a slow burn in the beginning, but when it took off…HOLD ON TIGHT.

Over all this was a great debut book and loved the characters and concept. I highly recommend to my psychological/ thriller friends. Publishing 9/14/25.

I wanted to say thank you to @_lindsey_acosta_author for inviting me to be part of her ARC team and allowing me to experience this with you. I look forward to reading everything you put on paper! To all of the other ARC team members, this was a wonderful time in the chat group.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review - Thank you to the author for the gifted copy

4.25 ⭐️

I have had the pleasure of being on Lindsay Acosta’s ARC team for this debut novel, and she’s been nothing short of amazing.

This was a twisty and gripping thriller that had me hooked from the start. The story was told from multiple POV. The characters were very well developed. The plot was so intricately woven and detailed. The twists were not super predictable. I was turning pages so fast to see what was going to happen next. I love small town vibes in all things so the setting was perfection. The family dynamics and drama were abundant… Hailey and Sarah’s father was the absolute worst.

This is a solid debut novel. The detail that Lindsey put into the development of her plot and characters was impressive. The epilogue left the reader begging for book two to be out immediately. I can’t wait to see how this story continues and how Lindsey continues to grow as an author!

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel was definitely a twisty page-turner of a read!! A mix of thriller, family drama, and a touch of romance, filled with characters you love and characters you love to hate! 🙌

I did figure out the big twists, but it didn’t detract from enjoying the story! I do think the length was a little long - definitely slow in the beginning, but I also understand the focus was on the background and history of the characters at that point. All in all, for a debut, it was well done and really drew you in!! 👏 I definitely recommend checking it out!

Thank you to Lindsey Acosta for inviting me to be a part of her ARC team and allowing me the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️ Looking forward to reading more from you!!

[Kaylene McPhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I would just like to thank Lindsey for giving me the opportunity to be part of her ARC team. As soon as she announced her debut novel was releasing knowing that it was a thriller, and from seeing little snippets on her IG about this book, I was immediately drawn in.

Let’s just say she did not disappoint! This was an amazing debut novel! This book kept me on my toes trying to guess who the killer was; the ending though ? 😩 please tell us that there will be a sequel coming! You can’t leave us hanging like that!! Just makes me crave more !

This book releases in September ! Add it immediately to your list!!!

[Erika May Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC review ✨

Kept In the Dark by @_lindsey_acosta_author
my rating: 4 ★
publication date: 9/14

Thank you to the author for reaching out to me & trusting me with an ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and suspenseful novel that I didn’t realize I was almost halfway through the book! I was hooked from the beginning and the story kept building up that I just NEEDED to know what happened. It hits the usual suspense/thriller tropes with traumatic family drama, a small full of secrets, and an unsolved murder. What is not to like?

What I loved about the story was the gradual, albeit tense, development of sisters and return of lost loved ones. You’re rooting for Trey and Gavin and can feel their protectiveness of their women through the pages. Also - Trinity is a warrior and I think she was a nice addition to the story that seems to take a more important role for a potential sequel?!

I can’t wait for my physical copy of this book! Definitely worth reading if you’re in the mood for a quick and page-turning suspenseful whodunnit!

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Full of drama, suspense and murder, I highly recommend this book! Hailey and Sara are twins and couldn’t be more different. Thirteen years ago, tragedy hit and Sara was sent to prison for killing her mother. Hailey left town shortly after this to get away and start over. Now, Sara has just been released from prison and is looking for revenge and Hailey has just come back home. Sara and Hailey together set out to prove that Sara was innocent and try to find the person responsible for killing their mother. But who is trying to kill them?

[laur’s little library · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc review!! 🩶

i got the honor to be a part of the arc team for this amazing debut novel and boy did she not disappoint!

this was my first introduction to any mystery or thriller novel & i loved it! there were so many layers and aspects, myself and others have found it hard to believe this issue her debut! the characters were dynamic and the story kept me captivated! i love lots of twists so i was kept on my toes the entire time! jaw dropped. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

if you like:
- romance
- family secrets
- drama
- mystery / thriller
- multiple POV (including the killers!!)
- lots of twists and turns

this book is the one for you! its release date is set to be september 14th so make sure to mark your calendars! 🤫🩶🔪

[Ashley Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. With its relentless pacing, unexpected twists, and complex characters, the story unfolded with a perfect blend of suspense and intrigue. Every chapter ended with a cliffhanger, making it impossible to put down. The surprising climax was both satisfying and mind-blowing, cementing this book as a must-read for any thriller enthusiast!!!! I need more ASAP!!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for the McFadden fans, the sager fans, the ones who love a good mystery/thriller that keeps them guessing 😉 I didn’t want to stop once I started, and every time I thought I had it figured out I learned I was wrong. It’s dark, it’s twisty, it’s depraved. Highly recommending this one to all my mystery lovers!!

[booked.with.julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to be apart of this amazing arc team for Lindsey Acosta and extra stoked to be now recommending this book to everyone!

🖤Murder
🖤Family Secrets
🖤Drama
🖤Mega Twists
🖤Multiple POVs

I absolutely loved this book. It’s the type of thriller you are convinced you have figured out and then towards the end you are completely wrong. I found myself really rooting for the main characters and their development. It’s also set up to possibly have more books?! Which, YES PLEASE!!!!
A dark and twisted read that you won’t want to put down.