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The Secrets We Keep
Detective Nate Fisher must go back to the Amish community he left behind and confront his past to help the woman he once loved in this dual-POV mystery, perfect for fans of Linda Castillo.
Back to active duty after an administrative leave of absence for the use of deadly force, the last thing Detective Nathan Fisher wants to do is return to the conservative Amish community he left behind, but when his father passes, he has no choice. Hoping to clear his head and perhaps mend fences with his family, he returns to his small Mississippi hometown despite not being welcome. What was supposed to be a quick visit turns into a prolonged stay when his former love pleads for his help.
Rachel Hostetler’s world is turned upside down when she finds her brother’s body hanging in her family’s barn. Rachel is sure her brother Albie did not kill himself, but neither her father nor the police are willing to listen. When she spots Nate, her ex, now a detective in Oklahoma, back in Cedar Creek, she knows he is the answer to her problem and begs him to intercede.
As Nate and Rachel come to terms with their shared history, despite knowing nothing can come of the longing they have for each other, the pair must look into Albie’s death as suspects stack up. The truth is out there, but can they find it before Nate has to return to his real life and face the shooting that has him so desperately searching for peace?
Back to active duty after an administrative leave of absence for the use of deadly force, the last thing Detective Nathan Fisher wants to do is return to the conservative Amish community he left behind, but when his father passes, he has no choice. Hoping to clear his head and perhaps mend fences with his family, he returns to his small Mississippi hometown despite not being welcome. What was supposed to be a quick visit turns into a prolonged stay when his former love pleads for his help.
Rachel Hostetler’s world is turned upside down when she finds her brother’s body hanging in her family’s barn. Rachel is sure her brother Albie did not kill himself, but neither her father nor the police are willing to listen. When she spots Nate, her ex, now a detective in Oklahoma, back in Cedar Creek, she knows he is the answer to her problem and begs him to intercede.
As Nate and Rachel come to terms with their shared history, despite knowing nothing can come of the longing they have for each other, the pair must look into Albie’s death as suspects stack up. The truth is out there, but can they find it before Nate has to return to his real life and face the shooting that has him so desperately searching for peace?
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2025
9 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lillard
101 books672 followersI'm a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess.
I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I've retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I'm from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son--a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!
I love homemade tacos, nail polish, and romance novels--not necessarily in that order. I'm a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I'm shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.
I believe that God is love. I guess that's why I adore romances.
I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I'm a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture. I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that's me June Cleaver with a laptop.
I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I'll get to it or I won't, either way I'm good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I'm alone on this last one, and again, I'm good with it.)
Favorite movies--(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940's movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven't seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn's and Audrey's.
I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I've retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I'm from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son--a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!
I love homemade tacos, nail polish, and romance novels--not necessarily in that order. I'm a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I'm shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.
I believe that God is love. I guess that's why I adore romances.
I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I'm a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture. I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that's me June Cleaver with a laptop.
I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I'll get to it or I won't, either way I'm good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I'm alone on this last one, and again, I'm good with it.)
Favorite movies--(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940's movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven't seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn's and Audrey's.
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June 12, 2025
The Secrets We Keep was hard to put down and flowed smoothly. Nate Fisher, a deputy sheriff, travels from Tulsa to his hometown of Cedar Creek, Mississippi after hearing of his father's death. Raised Amish, he is shunned since he left his faith and can't attend the funeral but he wants to visit his father's grave. Rachel, his Amish girlfriend from his youth has just lost her brother to an apparent suicide and wants Nate to help her prove he was murdered. This is a complicated story with different leads to follow and he is able to work with an old friend from the local sheriff's office but he is not supposed to speak to anyone Amish. I liked Nate and felt his pain and hurt at how his family treated him although that is their faith. Rachel seemed a little demanding and pushy, especially for an Amish woman. The mystery was good and when it was solved, heartbreaking. This is different from other Amish stories that I have read by th author and is a mainstream mystery. I do look forward to reading the next in the series.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts
June 24, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
2.5 🌟
The concept for The Secrets We Keep, was really interesting, a cop who has been shunned from his Amish family tries to make a brief return to “drive by” to check on his mother, but he finds himself embroiled in a situation where a young member of the community appears to have died by suicide, but his sister believes it to be murder.
The story had far too many gaps and loose ends for me to rate it any higher unfortunately and I wasn’t huge fan of the narration.
My thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
2.5 🌟
The concept for The Secrets We Keep, was really interesting, a cop who has been shunned from his Amish family tries to make a brief return to “drive by” to check on his mother, but he finds himself embroiled in a situation where a young member of the community appears to have died by suicide, but his sister believes it to be murder.
The story had far too many gaps and loose ends for me to rate it any higher unfortunately and I wasn’t huge fan of the narration.
My thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
July 6, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Detective Nate Fisher left his Amish family behind in Mississippi with a plan to help his sister, but when his plan fell apart, he ended up in Oklahoma working in law enforcement. He had just returned to work following a leave for using deadly force, and was still having trouble dealing with what was called “a good shoot” when his brother called to tell him his father had passed away. Torn about returning to the place where he is shunned, he decides that it may be the place to heal, and maybe start to repair his relationship with his family.
What started out as a quick trip ended up taking a turn when the woman he loved and left behind in Cedar Creek begged for his help after her brother’s death. A death that looked like it was clearly suicide. Rachel couldn’t get anyone, including her father or the police, to hear her feelings or concerns. She hopes Nate will listen and help her prove that her brother Albie was murdered.
They both know they still have feelings for each other that they must ignore as they try to focus on finding the truth about Albie’s death. They also know that when they do, Nate will be going back to Oklahoma to deal with that fatal shooting and try to get on with his life.
Ms. Lillard created characters in this story that will touch your heart. Nate is a genuine, caring man who left Cedar Creek with one mission: to use his God-given talent to raise enough money to save his sister Mattie. She needed a new heart, and the medical costs were daunting. He feels like he let his family down because he failed, and Mattie died a few years later. Because he left the Amish community shortly after joining the church, he was excommunicated and couldn’t go back. Also, his “clean shoot” was anything but clean in his eyes. His head and heart are unable to deal with going against what he was taught all his life. Rachel Hostetler is not your typical young Amish woman. Life hasn’t been easy, and she had to be strong-willed and minded to care for her daughters and her sister, Miri, who has the rare Angelman syndrome. Losing her brother Albie has shaken her to her core, and she needs justice for him. These characters, along with many others in the cast, are complex and very well written.
I was touched that one of the characters had Angelman syndrome. I had never heard of it until a little girl of a young mom I have known all her life was diagnosed with the genetic condition. This mom is a warrior when it comes to fundraising and awareness. She organizes a fundraiser each summer and is involved nationally. Her daughter just finished her kindergarten year and is a delightful ray of sunshine. Care for this syndrome is hard, but like Rachel in the story, families do make it work and do their best to give them the best lives possible. Including it in stories like this one brings awareness. Hopefully, someday there will be a cure.
The mystery of Albie’s death is complicated. Nate doesn’t have jurisdiction, and the Sheriff does everything he can to avoid dealing with the Amish. He delegates any investigations to his Chief Deputy, Shane Johnson, whom Nate had known “back in the day”. Shane acts as a go-between for the sheriff, Nate, and Rachel, but points out many times that Nate has no authority there. Every day, Nate thinks he has done all he can and makes plans to leave, but more clues and secrets are uncovered, which keep pulling him back into the case. I was surprised by some of the things brought to light and how they twisted the reasons for what happened. I knew what was coming, and my heart was breaking as all was revealed.
Ms. Lillard is an awesome storyteller. The Secrets We Keep is so much more than a mystery; it is an emotional story that will grab you and hold on tight. It is the story of Nate and his family, his brother Leroy, sister Mattie, mother, and father Karl. It is the story of Rachel and her family, her two daughters Kate and Amelie, her sister Miri, her father, and her brother Albie. It is a story of the Amish and the Englisch and their interactions. It’s a story of love and trying to understand life when it is different from what you believe. It is a story of knowing what’s right and doing the right thing.
While this appeared to be a standalone, there are still mysteries to solve in Cedar Creek, including a new homicide. I am invested in these characters and would be thrilled to see it turn into a series.
Warning – This book has a suicide theme that is graphically described in the Prologue.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Detective Nate Fisher left his Amish family behind in Mississippi with a plan to help his sister, but when his plan fell apart, he ended up in Oklahoma working in law enforcement. He had just returned to work following a leave for using deadly force, and was still having trouble dealing with what was called “a good shoot” when his brother called to tell him his father had passed away. Torn about returning to the place where he is shunned, he decides that it may be the place to heal, and maybe start to repair his relationship with his family.
What started out as a quick trip ended up taking a turn when the woman he loved and left behind in Cedar Creek begged for his help after her brother’s death. A death that looked like it was clearly suicide. Rachel couldn’t get anyone, including her father or the police, to hear her feelings or concerns. She hopes Nate will listen and help her prove that her brother Albie was murdered.
They both know they still have feelings for each other that they must ignore as they try to focus on finding the truth about Albie’s death. They also know that when they do, Nate will be going back to Oklahoma to deal with that fatal shooting and try to get on with his life.
Ms. Lillard created characters in this story that will touch your heart. Nate is a genuine, caring man who left Cedar Creek with one mission: to use his God-given talent to raise enough money to save his sister Mattie. She needed a new heart, and the medical costs were daunting. He feels like he let his family down because he failed, and Mattie died a few years later. Because he left the Amish community shortly after joining the church, he was excommunicated and couldn’t go back. Also, his “clean shoot” was anything but clean in his eyes. His head and heart are unable to deal with going against what he was taught all his life. Rachel Hostetler is not your typical young Amish woman. Life hasn’t been easy, and she had to be strong-willed and minded to care for her daughters and her sister, Miri, who has the rare Angelman syndrome. Losing her brother Albie has shaken her to her core, and she needs justice for him. These characters, along with many others in the cast, are complex and very well written.
I was touched that one of the characters had Angelman syndrome. I had never heard of it until a little girl of a young mom I have known all her life was diagnosed with the genetic condition. This mom is a warrior when it comes to fundraising and awareness. She organizes a fundraiser each summer and is involved nationally. Her daughter just finished her kindergarten year and is a delightful ray of sunshine. Care for this syndrome is hard, but like Rachel in the story, families do make it work and do their best to give them the best lives possible. Including it in stories like this one brings awareness. Hopefully, someday there will be a cure.
The mystery of Albie’s death is complicated. Nate doesn’t have jurisdiction, and the Sheriff does everything he can to avoid dealing with the Amish. He delegates any investigations to his Chief Deputy, Shane Johnson, whom Nate had known “back in the day”. Shane acts as a go-between for the sheriff, Nate, and Rachel, but points out many times that Nate has no authority there. Every day, Nate thinks he has done all he can and makes plans to leave, but more clues and secrets are uncovered, which keep pulling him back into the case. I was surprised by some of the things brought to light and how they twisted the reasons for what happened. I knew what was coming, and my heart was breaking as all was revealed.
Ms. Lillard is an awesome storyteller. The Secrets We Keep is so much more than a mystery; it is an emotional story that will grab you and hold on tight. It is the story of Nate and his family, his brother Leroy, sister Mattie, mother, and father Karl. It is the story of Rachel and her family, her two daughters Kate and Amelie, her sister Miri, her father, and her brother Albie. It is a story of the Amish and the Englisch and their interactions. It’s a story of love and trying to understand life when it is different from what you believe. It is a story of knowing what’s right and doing the right thing.
While this appeared to be a standalone, there are still mysteries to solve in Cedar Creek, including a new homicide. I am invested in these characters and would be thrilled to see it turn into a series.
Warning – This book has a suicide theme that is graphically described in the Prologue.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
July 8, 2025
THE SECRETS WE KEEP is not the first book I’ve read by Amy Lillard and it surely won’t be the last. Cedar Creek Mississippi is a quiet and peaceful small town and it is where we find Nate, back to say goodbye. He was Amish twelve years ago, but jumped the fence to try and make it in a big way as a major league baseball player. His family needed the money to help his sister who was very sick. Of course, Nate is shunned and really can’t have any contact with his family. His father has passed away and he needs to say goodbye.
Rachel thought she knew what happiness was and what a good marriage was supposed to be like. Boy does she have a lot to learn. She always assumed she and Nate were meant to be married and that it was Gods plan for them. But then Nate left her behind and she marries someone else. But her husband Freeman has been gone for three years. She is so confused on her feelings! You wont be able to help yourself by feeling for Nate and Rachel as Rachel tries to figure out what God has in mind for her. THE SECRETS WE KEEP is a quick read filled with faith, love, mystery, and friendship.
Once I finished THE SECRETS WE KEEP I wanted more. I can’t wait to continue with this wonderful and mysterious series by Amy Lillard. Amy’s books always make me happy and leave me with a peaceful feeling, but she sure did keep me guessing. Once I started reading THE SECRETS WE KEEP I had a hard time putting it down as I had to know what was going to happen with Nate and Rachel and if Rachel would ever see what was right in front of her. Will she whenever learn the truth about what happened to her brother? Will Nate stay and try to help her? Did Albie really commit suicide? Was her brother murdered? Rachel seems to think so and needs to convince Nate! When the mystery of Rachel’s brother is finally solved, it’s truly heart breaking.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rachel thought she knew what happiness was and what a good marriage was supposed to be like. Boy does she have a lot to learn. She always assumed she and Nate were meant to be married and that it was Gods plan for them. But then Nate left her behind and she marries someone else. But her husband Freeman has been gone for three years. She is so confused on her feelings! You wont be able to help yourself by feeling for Nate and Rachel as Rachel tries to figure out what God has in mind for her. THE SECRETS WE KEEP is a quick read filled with faith, love, mystery, and friendship.
Once I finished THE SECRETS WE KEEP I wanted more. I can’t wait to continue with this wonderful and mysterious series by Amy Lillard. Amy’s books always make me happy and leave me with a peaceful feeling, but she sure did keep me guessing. Once I started reading THE SECRETS WE KEEP I had a hard time putting it down as I had to know what was going to happen with Nate and Rachel and if Rachel would ever see what was right in front of her. Will she whenever learn the truth about what happened to her brother? Will Nate stay and try to help her? Did Albie really commit suicide? Was her brother murdered? Rachel seems to think so and needs to convince Nate! When the mystery of Rachel’s brother is finally solved, it’s truly heart breaking.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 19, 2025
This was a real page-turner. The mystery surrounding a man's death in the Amish community pulled me in right away. And Amy pulls you into the story on the very first page. so be prepared! Nate, a former Amish man turned cop, returns to help solve the case and face his past with Rachel, the woman he once loved. Did the Amish community kill the man after uncovering his secret? Did family? Or the politicians' kids that had been bullying him?! Nate needs to help solve the crime quickly, in a community he is technically banned from... and do so alongside the woman he has always loved, but could never have.
I flew through this book in a day. The mystery was definitely a page-turner and kept me hooked from the beginning. The suspense was strong, but I had a few issues. The plot felt a little scattered, and some threads were left unresolved. The pacing was uneven, with parts that dragged and others that felt rushed. One line was also repeated more than it needed to be.
The romance didn’t quite work for me. Rachel is still technically married, which made that part of the story feel confusing.
Even with those problems, I gave it 4 stars because the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. I’m hoping the next book clears up some of the unanswered questions.
There is no explicit content, but the book includes some strong language, violence, and sensitive topics. Homosexuality is mentioned and portrayed as forbidden in the Amish community.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
I flew through this book in a day. The mystery was definitely a page-turner and kept me hooked from the beginning. The suspense was strong, but I had a few issues. The plot felt a little scattered, and some threads were left unresolved. The pacing was uneven, with parts that dragged and others that felt rushed. One line was also repeated more than it needed to be.
The romance didn’t quite work for me. Rachel is still technically married, which made that part of the story feel confusing.
Even with those problems, I gave it 4 stars because the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. I’m hoping the next book clears up some of the unanswered questions.
There is no explicit content, but the book includes some strong language, violence, and sensitive topics. Homosexuality is mentioned and portrayed as forbidden in the Amish community.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
June 22, 2025
Genre: Mystery
Type: Standalone
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Detective Nate Fisher was at a crossroads, reconsidering his career and his life. A loss in the family pulled him back into his conservative Amish hometown and into the path of his former lover, Rachel Hostetler. When she sought answers for her own personal tragedy, Nate offered his expertise. But working together brought back memories neither of them were ready to face.
I liked how Rachel took responsibility for her family and had defiant streaks beneath her quiet strength. Nate was understandably conflicted but I wished he had put in more effort in the things he pursued.
She wouldn’t trade her life for anything. It was hers and hers alone, but sometimes the pressures and responsibilities became more of a burden than a blessing.
This book started with a good hook, but plot-wise, I felt it lacked direction with plenty of loose ends and repetitive information. That said, as this was my first book involving Amish culture, I found the cultural aspect of the story fascinating
The Secrets We Keep is a story of duty, honor, and the search for truth. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a light mystery with a hint of romance.
🔹️🌳🔹️. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC . . . 🔹️🌳🔹️
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June 19, 2025
The premise of *The Secrets We Keep* by Amy Lillard is intriguing. However, its execution did not fully realize its potential. Expectations for a mystery filled with twists, turns, and tension were unmet, as the story lacked these characteristics. The story features several unlikeable characters. However, I liked Rachel’s spirited and curious daughter, Kate. I did not understand why Nate was shunned. He left the Amish community, but I thought you were only shunned if you were a baptized member of the community (did I miss where it said he was baptized). Of course, they do have a strict bishop (no running water in their homes—can you imagine?). The story is filled with repetitive details such as Nate stating he is leaving each day and Rachel wanting the truth regarding her brother’s death. The story moved slower than a three-toed sloth. I was hoping for a satisfying conclusion (a reader can dream), instead it was anticlimactic with several threads left unanswered. The ending has a cliffhanger, but I am not interested in reading the next book (sorry).
June 28, 2025
IS THAT A SETUP FOR BOOK 2?! Ooohhh. I feel like there will be more murders/bodies found. Especially with a missing husband and someone else's missing wife. Oohh the saucy, secret lives of the Amish definitely have my attention if there are more books coming! And to think, I was going to pass on this because I thought an Amish thriller would be boring. MY BAD for being ignorant 👀
July 2, 2025
This book is a page turner and keeps you guessing. I love getting to know the characters and what they were going through.
I was given an ARC of this book and I am under no obligation to give a positive review.
I was given an ARC of this book and I am under no obligation to give a positive review.
June 22, 2025
3.75★
Upon receiving news of his father’s passing, and despite being shunned as an outsider, Detective Nate Fisher returns home to his family’s Amish community to pay his respects. While Nate expected a cold welcome, he did not foresee Rachel Hostetler’s plea for to help find answers regarding her brother’s mysterious death.
In this crime investigative, Nate is a man with a solid moral compass who is conflicted by recent developments in his job and his longstanding love for Rachel. Having left the community with good intentions, he agrees to assist Rachel knowing the backlash he may receive. As for Rachel, she is determined to clear her brother’s reputation despite she is relatively powerless. Together, old wombs are reopened and they must decide where home may be.
While I was intrigued to delve into the nuances of the Amish community, and empathized with the oppressive actions these characters had to endure, the actual mystery was not a surprise. I was also hoping for closure regarding certain plot points, but the ending leaves it more open than expected.
*An ARC was provided for a review. *
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Upon receiving news of his father’s passing, and despite being shunned as an outsider, Detective Nate Fisher returns home to his family’s Amish community to pay his respects. While Nate expected a cold welcome, he did not foresee Rachel Hostetler’s plea for to help find answers regarding her brother’s mysterious death.
“You can’t go home again.”
In this crime investigative, Nate is a man with a solid moral compass who is conflicted by recent developments in his job and his longstanding love for Rachel. Having left the community with good intentions, he agrees to assist Rachel knowing the backlash he may receive. As for Rachel, she is determined to clear her brother’s reputation despite she is relatively powerless. Together, old wombs are reopened and they must decide where home may be.
While I was intrigued to delve into the nuances of the Amish community, and empathized with the oppressive actions these characters had to endure, the actual mystery was not a surprise. I was also hoping for closure regarding certain plot points, but the ending leaves it more open than expected.
*An ARC was provided for a review. *
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
December 8, 2025
Let me start out by saying I am obsessed with all things Amish culture! I grew up an hour outside of Lancaster and was always drawn to them. I loved the premise, especially once someone is ex-communicated only to return for the purposes of investigation. This was definitely something that immediately grabbed my attention- it just didn’t hold it. This book seemed a little scattered as though the plot was wobbly. I feel like the author over-reached while trying to capture love, loss, grief, thriller; and instead just winged it. Overall, not a book I would recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this arc.
June 23, 2025
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
The comp to Linda Castillo is what drew me to this one, and it's an accurate and welcome comparison for me. I found that this one did an interesting job looking at Nate's emotional and mental journey returning to his home community after leaving the Amish sect he grew up in, and being drawn back into the world thanks to "the one that got away". Solid, heavy mystery.
The comp to Linda Castillo is what drew me to this one, and it's an accurate and welcome comparison for me. I found that this one did an interesting job looking at Nate's emotional and mental journey returning to his home community after leaving the Amish sect he grew up in, and being drawn back into the world thanks to "the one that got away". Solid, heavy mystery.
October 11, 2025
Story dragged on. Had a hard time staying interested. Most books you hate to see end. But not this one.
June 25, 2025
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
Okay, I try very hard never to write scathing reviews, especially for books I've received free ARC for because I'm so thankful for them. But I also agree to give my honest opinions about the ARCs I receive, and in this case, there's just no way around it.
I applaud any author for sitting down and writing a book and getting it published. Truly. It's hard to send your literary baby out in the world for people like me to judge. So full kudos to Amy Lillard for that. But that's the only kind thing I can say about this one.
Frankly, I found this book totally unrealistic and completely pointless. And yes, I know how harsh that sounds, and I apologize for it, but it is the truth -- or at least MY truth.
As someone at least mildly familiar with Amish communities, I was frustrated by the way the story depicted events that simply would NOT happen in real life. Yes, teenagers will be teenagers, but the plot twists here stretched all credibility—especially the suggestion that the main character might discover he’s the father of a "bastard" Amish child in a possible sequel. Am I saying there are never illegitimate or unplanned babies in Amish communities? Of course not. But all the instances mentioned of the male and female protagonists lying together by the river and sneaking away to be alone? Yeah. No way they got away with that much unchaperoned sneaking around. Ridiculous.
Again, while I know such things aren’t impossible, the way it was handled, along with all the other implausible events, was just too much.
What really pushed me over the edge, though, was the ending. A police detective who decides not to arrest a murderer just because he thinks the person is unlikely to kill again? Come the heck on!!!
That’s not just unrealistic; it’s absurd!
The entire book felt like a string of forced, unbelievable scenarios, and I honestly disliked it from start to finish. I won’t be reading the next installment, and I can’t recommend this one to anyone looking for an authentic or engaging story. If I hadn't received an ARC, I wouldn't have even finished it myself, and I can count on .... maybe two hands now... the number of books I have started and not finished in my 41 years on earth.
Definitely not the book for me.
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
Okay, I try very hard never to write scathing reviews, especially for books I've received free ARC for because I'm so thankful for them. But I also agree to give my honest opinions about the ARCs I receive, and in this case, there's just no way around it.
I applaud any author for sitting down and writing a book and getting it published. Truly. It's hard to send your literary baby out in the world for people like me to judge. So full kudos to Amy Lillard for that. But that's the only kind thing I can say about this one.
Frankly, I found this book totally unrealistic and completely pointless. And yes, I know how harsh that sounds, and I apologize for it, but it is the truth -- or at least MY truth.
As someone at least mildly familiar with Amish communities, I was frustrated by the way the story depicted events that simply would NOT happen in real life. Yes, teenagers will be teenagers, but the plot twists here stretched all credibility—especially the suggestion that the main character might discover he’s the father of a "bastard" Amish child in a possible sequel. Am I saying there are never illegitimate or unplanned babies in Amish communities? Of course not. But all the instances mentioned of the male and female protagonists lying together by the river and sneaking away to be alone? Yeah. No way they got away with that much unchaperoned sneaking around. Ridiculous.
Again, while I know such things aren’t impossible, the way it was handled, along with all the other implausible events, was just too much.
What really pushed me over the edge, though, was the ending. A police detective who decides not to arrest a murderer just because he thinks the person is unlikely to kill again? Come the heck on!!!
That’s not just unrealistic; it’s absurd!
The entire book felt like a string of forced, unbelievable scenarios, and I honestly disliked it from start to finish. I won’t be reading the next installment, and I can’t recommend this one to anyone looking for an authentic or engaging story. If I hadn't received an ARC, I wouldn't have even finished it myself, and I can count on .... maybe two hands now... the number of books I have started and not finished in my 41 years on earth.
Definitely not the book for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2025
Nate is a police officer who has been involved in a line of duty incident. When he hears of a death back home, he goes back home to Mississippi- to the Amish community he’s been shunned from.
He sees his old flame Rachel right off the bat and she finds him at his hotel to have him help solve her brother Albie’s suicide which she believes to be a murder.
Nate does just that, having always had a soft spot for Rachel. You learn he left home to play MLB to get money to get his sister a heart transplant, but she dies, and because he left, he was shunned, no matter the reason.
We learn Albie is gay, this is not okay with the Amish community, and because he’s both Amish and gay, the English community hazes him.
There’s also a mysterious Jay Anderson, who wanted a puppy, which was also hinted as someone who could have killed Albie, yes, over a puppy,
Also going on, Rachel’s husband is missing along with her BIL’s wife, this is never resolved. Her BIL is a creep. Rachel
Is sure her dad bashes Nate in the head, but we never find out who did, the journal is never found nor is the person who took it, We learn Albie dies because of the shame of him being gay and Amish, but by someone Amish, and Rachel and Nate don’t work it out, BECAUSE HE SOLVES THE CASE.
Also!!! He gets an air bnb for 2 days, somehow the renter wants to get with him and he has to be “only hers” after one spaghetti and one taco night but he can’t because of the girl and cat back home, and you guessed it, Rachel.
Nate goes back to OK, the cop from MS calls him to come back because another Amish murder happens, but this time to the creepy abusive bishop.
I tried so hard to get into this book and enjoy it. I couldn’t get a good rhythm, the book was pieced together and there were so many pieces and parts that never got resolved. At about 80% when the puppy part came into play, I just had a really hard time continuing. With 40 minutes left, I pushed through, and the conclusion was exactly what I thought it would be.
It felt like the author just had too many things going on, the slow burn never caught fire, and making Albie die because he was gay in the Amish community hurt my heart. Poor Albie. I also just couldn’t with Nate going back to beg his way back into the Amish community after the ending to go back and solve the murder of the bishop.
**Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Random House for the ARC and the ability to leave an honest review
He sees his old flame Rachel right off the bat and she finds him at his hotel to have him help solve her brother Albie’s suicide which she believes to be a murder.
Nate does just that, having always had a soft spot for Rachel. You learn he left home to play MLB to get money to get his sister a heart transplant, but she dies, and because he left, he was shunned, no matter the reason.
We learn Albie is gay, this is not okay with the Amish community, and because he’s both Amish and gay, the English community hazes him.
There’s also a mysterious Jay Anderson, who wanted a puppy, which was also hinted as someone who could have killed Albie, yes, over a puppy,
Also going on, Rachel’s husband is missing along with her BIL’s wife, this is never resolved. Her BIL is a creep. Rachel
Is sure her dad bashes Nate in the head, but we never find out who did, the journal is never found nor is the person who took it, We learn Albie dies because of the shame of him being gay and Amish, but by someone Amish, and Rachel and Nate don’t work it out, BECAUSE HE SOLVES THE CASE.
Also!!! He gets an air bnb for 2 days, somehow the renter wants to get with him and he has to be “only hers” after one spaghetti and one taco night but he can’t because of the girl and cat back home, and you guessed it, Rachel.
Nate goes back to OK, the cop from MS calls him to come back because another Amish murder happens, but this time to the creepy abusive bishop.
I tried so hard to get into this book and enjoy it. I couldn’t get a good rhythm, the book was pieced together and there were so many pieces and parts that never got resolved. At about 80% when the puppy part came into play, I just had a really hard time continuing. With 40 minutes left, I pushed through, and the conclusion was exactly what I thought it would be.
It felt like the author just had too many things going on, the slow burn never caught fire, and making Albie die because he was gay in the Amish community hurt my heart. Poor Albie. I also just couldn’t with Nate going back to beg his way back into the Amish community after the ending to go back and solve the murder of the bishop.
**Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Random House for the ARC and the ability to leave an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2025
The Secrets We Keep is a dual point of view story involving Detective Nate Fisher and Rachel Hosteller a woman from his past..
Nate has been on hiatus after an incident involving the use of deadly force. The last place he wants or even expects to re enter his duty is in the conservative Amish community he left behind. Now his father has died and he has no choice. Hoping to clear his head and perhaps mend fences with his family, he returns to his small Mississippi hometown knowing he most likely won’t be welcomed. Well it’ll just be a quick visit which turns into a prolonged stay when his former love, Rachel, pleads for his help.
Rachel Hostetler found her brother’s body hanging in her family’s barn, but is sure her brother, Albie p, did not kill himself. Albie was a gay man living in an extremely conservative Amish community. So you see Rachel is alone in her theory as everyone else sees it as a suicide. When she sees Nate, her ex, she enlist his help knowing he is the only one who may possibly believe and help her.
A past romance, some mysteries and secrets makes this story intriguing, but I found the events to be confusing and at times unresolved to this reader’s liking.
To me the author just had too many things going on, causing the slow burn to never catch fire.
Nate has been on hiatus after an incident involving the use of deadly force. The last place he wants or even expects to re enter his duty is in the conservative Amish community he left behind. Now his father has died and he has no choice. Hoping to clear his head and perhaps mend fences with his family, he returns to his small Mississippi hometown knowing he most likely won’t be welcomed. Well it’ll just be a quick visit which turns into a prolonged stay when his former love, Rachel, pleads for his help.
Rachel Hostetler found her brother’s body hanging in her family’s barn, but is sure her brother, Albie p, did not kill himself. Albie was a gay man living in an extremely conservative Amish community. So you see Rachel is alone in her theory as everyone else sees it as a suicide. When she sees Nate, her ex, she enlist his help knowing he is the only one who may possibly believe and help her.
A past romance, some mysteries and secrets makes this story intriguing, but I found the events to be confusing and at times unresolved to this reader’s liking.
To me the author just had too many things going on, causing the slow burn to never catch fire.
July 22, 2025
what i read was very interesting
February 6, 2025
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
This book had potential—a murder mystery set in an Amish community with a detective forced to confront his past—but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver. The story dragged in too many places, making it hard to stay engaged. The dual-POV should have added depth, but instead, it felt repetitive. Nate’s internal struggles were over-explained, and Rachel’s determination to prove her brother didn’t take his own life was admirable, but the pacing made it hard to stay invested. While intriguing at first, the romance felt flat, and the mystery lost its momentum with unnecessary filler.
One thing I did appreciate was how Albie’s sexuality was handled. The way his being gay was discussed in the context of the Amish community felt nuanced and added an interesting layer to the story. I just wish the rest of the book had been as compelling. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but I was more relieved than satisfied when the story reached its conclusion. If you like slow-burn mysteries, this might work for you, but for me, it was a struggle to get through.
This book had potential—a murder mystery set in an Amish community with a detective forced to confront his past—but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver. The story dragged in too many places, making it hard to stay engaged. The dual-POV should have added depth, but instead, it felt repetitive. Nate’s internal struggles were over-explained, and Rachel’s determination to prove her brother didn’t take his own life was admirable, but the pacing made it hard to stay invested. While intriguing at first, the romance felt flat, and the mystery lost its momentum with unnecessary filler.
One thing I did appreciate was how Albie’s sexuality was handled. The way his being gay was discussed in the context of the Amish community felt nuanced and added an interesting layer to the story. I just wish the rest of the book had been as compelling. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but I was more relieved than satisfied when the story reached its conclusion. If you like slow-burn mysteries, this might work for you, but for me, it was a struggle to get through.
June 27, 2025
Amy Lillard’s The Secrets We Keep is a moody, emotionally resonant mystery that blends the slow burn of small-town secrets with the rich cultural backdrop of the Amish community. It’s a book that deftly combines suspense, heartbreak, and unresolved love, creating a story that lingers long after the final page.
At the heart of the novel is Detective Nate Fisher—a man with more baggage than a Greyhound terminal. Recently reinstated after a shooting that left his career and conscience in shambles, Nate returns to his estranged family in Cedar Creek, Mississippi, after the death of his father. It’s meant to be a short, reluctant visit, but when his former flame Rachel Hostetler begs for help investigating her brother’s suspicious death, Nate is pulled into a mystery that’s far more tangled—and personal—than he expects.
The story unfolds in dual points of view, giving readers intimate access to both Nate and Rachel’s thoughts. Lillard handles this well, offering contrasting emotional textures: Nate is hardened, haunted, and duty-bound, while Rachel is determined, grieving, and still tethered to a world Nate tried to leave behind. Their shared history adds a poignant, simmering tension that never quite eclipses the central mystery but enhances it meaningfully.
What makes The Secrets We Keep stand out in the crowded field of rural mysteries is its grounded portrayal of the Amish way of life—not overly romanticized, but treated with respect and nuance. Lillard uses the community’s rigidity and reticence as both setting and obstacle, making Nate’s investigation not just about solving a crime, but about navigating the cultural codes he once knew and now struggles to respect.
The mystery itself is well-paced, layered with red herrings and buried secrets. As Nate digs deeper into Albie’s death, what begins as a potential suicide evolves into a web of motives, lies, and unresolved trauma—both within Rachel’s family and Nate’s own fractured past.
If there’s a shortcoming, it’s that the story occasionally leans heavily on well-worn tropes: the tortured detective, the hometown he tried to escape, the love that never quite died. But Lillard brings enough emotional depth and atmospheric detail to keep these familiar elements fresh and engaging.
Perfect for fans of:
• Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series
• Romantic suspense with real emotional stakes
• Mysteries rooted in family, faith, and forgiveness
Final thoughts:
The Secrets We Keep is a quietly powerful story about the things that haunt us—regret, grief, and the truths we’d rather leave buried. With sharp emotional insight and a gripping central mystery, Amy Lillard delivers a satisfying blend of crime and character that’s as much about healing as it is about justice.
At the heart of the novel is Detective Nate Fisher—a man with more baggage than a Greyhound terminal. Recently reinstated after a shooting that left his career and conscience in shambles, Nate returns to his estranged family in Cedar Creek, Mississippi, after the death of his father. It’s meant to be a short, reluctant visit, but when his former flame Rachel Hostetler begs for help investigating her brother’s suspicious death, Nate is pulled into a mystery that’s far more tangled—and personal—than he expects.
The story unfolds in dual points of view, giving readers intimate access to both Nate and Rachel’s thoughts. Lillard handles this well, offering contrasting emotional textures: Nate is hardened, haunted, and duty-bound, while Rachel is determined, grieving, and still tethered to a world Nate tried to leave behind. Their shared history adds a poignant, simmering tension that never quite eclipses the central mystery but enhances it meaningfully.
What makes The Secrets We Keep stand out in the crowded field of rural mysteries is its grounded portrayal of the Amish way of life—not overly romanticized, but treated with respect and nuance. Lillard uses the community’s rigidity and reticence as both setting and obstacle, making Nate’s investigation not just about solving a crime, but about navigating the cultural codes he once knew and now struggles to respect.
The mystery itself is well-paced, layered with red herrings and buried secrets. As Nate digs deeper into Albie’s death, what begins as a potential suicide evolves into a web of motives, lies, and unresolved trauma—both within Rachel’s family and Nate’s own fractured past.
If there’s a shortcoming, it’s that the story occasionally leans heavily on well-worn tropes: the tortured detective, the hometown he tried to escape, the love that never quite died. But Lillard brings enough emotional depth and atmospheric detail to keep these familiar elements fresh and engaging.
Perfect for fans of:
• Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series
• Romantic suspense with real emotional stakes
• Mysteries rooted in family, faith, and forgiveness
Final thoughts:
The Secrets We Keep is a quietly powerful story about the things that haunt us—regret, grief, and the truths we’d rather leave buried. With sharp emotional insight and a gripping central mystery, Amy Lillard delivers a satisfying blend of crime and character that’s as much about healing as it is about justice.
June 20, 2025
The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard
A Mystery
Detective Nate Fisher must go back to the Amish community he left behind and confront his past to help the woman he once loved in this dual-POV mystery, perfect for fans of Linda Castillo.
Back to active duty after an administrative leave of absence for the use of deadly force, the last thing Detective Nathan Fisher wants to do is return to the conservative Amish community he left behind, but when his father passes, he has no choice. Hoping to clear his head and perhaps mend fences with his family, he returns to his small Mississippi hometown despite not being welcome. What was supposed to be a quick visit turns into a prolonged stay when his former love pleads for his help.
Rachel Hostetler’s world is turned upside down when she finds her brother’s body hanging in her family’s barn. Rachel is sure her brother Albie did not kill himself, but neither her father nor the police are willing to listen. When she spots Nate, her ex, now a detective in Oklahoma, back in Cedar Creek, she knows he is the answer to her problem and begs him to intercede.
As Nate and Rachel come to terms with their shared history, despite knowing nothing can come of the longing they have for each other, the pair must look into Albie’s death as suspects stack up. The truth is out there, but can they find it before Nate has to return to his real life and face the shooting that has him so desperately searching for peace?
This is Nathan Fisher, his brother Leroy, sister Mattie, mother, and father Karl's story.
This is Rachel Hostetler, two daughters Kate, Amelie, sister Miri, father, brother Albie's story.
Raised Amish, Nathan Fisher has been banished from the community. He joined church before leaving. His presence is not welcome. The news of his father passing, he returns to pay his respects. His former school sweetheart asks Nate to help reopen the investigation into the tragic death of her younger brother. The local Sherrif accepts the family’s reason for a quick burial and has determined no further action is warranted.
Rachel cares for her disabled sister and her kids.
Sure that her brother would never commit suicide, she has to fight to find answers. After seeing her ex back in town.
Rachel begs Nate for his help.
Was Albie’s death suicide or something more sinister?
I recommend this book.
The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard is a 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Amy Lillard.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.
A Mystery
Detective Nate Fisher must go back to the Amish community he left behind and confront his past to help the woman he once loved in this dual-POV mystery, perfect for fans of Linda Castillo.
Back to active duty after an administrative leave of absence for the use of deadly force, the last thing Detective Nathan Fisher wants to do is return to the conservative Amish community he left behind, but when his father passes, he has no choice. Hoping to clear his head and perhaps mend fences with his family, he returns to his small Mississippi hometown despite not being welcome. What was supposed to be a quick visit turns into a prolonged stay when his former love pleads for his help.
Rachel Hostetler’s world is turned upside down when she finds her brother’s body hanging in her family’s barn. Rachel is sure her brother Albie did not kill himself, but neither her father nor the police are willing to listen. When she spots Nate, her ex, now a detective in Oklahoma, back in Cedar Creek, she knows he is the answer to her problem and begs him to intercede.
As Nate and Rachel come to terms with their shared history, despite knowing nothing can come of the longing they have for each other, the pair must look into Albie’s death as suspects stack up. The truth is out there, but can they find it before Nate has to return to his real life and face the shooting that has him so desperately searching for peace?
This is Nathan Fisher, his brother Leroy, sister Mattie, mother, and father Karl's story.
This is Rachel Hostetler, two daughters Kate, Amelie, sister Miri, father, brother Albie's story.
Raised Amish, Nathan Fisher has been banished from the community. He joined church before leaving. His presence is not welcome. The news of his father passing, he returns to pay his respects. His former school sweetheart asks Nate to help reopen the investigation into the tragic death of her younger brother. The local Sherrif accepts the family’s reason for a quick burial and has determined no further action is warranted.
Rachel cares for her disabled sister and her kids.
Sure that her brother would never commit suicide, she has to fight to find answers. After seeing her ex back in town.
Rachel begs Nate for his help.
Was Albie’s death suicide or something more sinister?
I recommend this book.
The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard is a 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Amy Lillard.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.
May 24, 2025
Nate Fisher is on extended leave from his job as a deputy sheriff in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nate has been cleared of any charges relating to the shooting death of a young offender, which has left him traumatised. He hears from his brother that their father has died in the Amish community in Cedar Creek, Mississippi, which Nate had left ten years earlier. Although Nate has been banned from returning to the community he travels to Cedar Creek to visit his father’s grave.
Nate had been in love with an Amish woman, Rachel, who had refused to go with him when he left, aiming to earn enough money, originally trying to make it as a professional baseball player, in the hope of paying for treatment for his terminally ill sister. When he arrives back in Cedar Creek ten years later Rachel approaches him and asks him to help her prove that her brother’s death was a murder, and not suicide as has been recorded. Rachel is now married with two daughters, although her husband has disappeared.
I used memories from the Harrison Ford movie, Witness, which I’d watched again recently, to picture Amish people and their kind of country; but although Nate was a police detective like the character, John Book, the similarities to this story ended there. It was a good, solid mystery with emphasis on the main characters’ private lives, just as I like it. The Amish people, including Nate’s mother, are rigid in their condemnation of Nate for having left the community, in contrast to which Nate has gained, as an outsider, tolerance and compassion; he still cares for Rachel and agrees to look into her brother’s death.
I do hope Amy Lillard is thinking of writing another book explaining the disappearance of Rachel’s husband. I would love to read it! Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Nate had been in love with an Amish woman, Rachel, who had refused to go with him when he left, aiming to earn enough money, originally trying to make it as a professional baseball player, in the hope of paying for treatment for his terminally ill sister. When he arrives back in Cedar Creek ten years later Rachel approaches him and asks him to help her prove that her brother’s death was a murder, and not suicide as has been recorded. Rachel is now married with two daughters, although her husband has disappeared.
I used memories from the Harrison Ford movie, Witness, which I’d watched again recently, to picture Amish people and their kind of country; but although Nate was a police detective like the character, John Book, the similarities to this story ended there. It was a good, solid mystery with emphasis on the main characters’ private lives, just as I like it. The Amish people, including Nate’s mother, are rigid in their condemnation of Nate for having left the community, in contrast to which Nate has gained, as an outsider, tolerance and compassion; he still cares for Rachel and agrees to look into her brother’s death.
I do hope Amy Lillard is thinking of writing another book explaining the disappearance of Rachel’s husband. I would love to read it! Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
Published by Crooked Lane Books
May 25, 2025
The Secrets We Keep
By Amy Lillard 3.5⭐
📚 June 24,2025 Release Day
"You can't go home again"
When I received this ARC in the mail, I knew my reader vibes have been confirmed. I'm back in my thriller era. This book did NOT fail. Amy Lillard I don't know what you put into this book, but I could not drop it. Prologue had me, I needed to know what happened!
Nathan Fisher left the Amish community in bad terms with his father because his sister needed a new heart. Years later Nate is a cop and learns one day by phone call from his brother that his dad has passed. Since he's shunned, he can't attend the funeral, but he still decides to go back home and "pay his respects."
While at the cemetery he sees a pair of familiar green eyes, attached to those eyes was a memory of Nate & Rachel before he left he promised her when he comes back in 4years, they'll get married.
Who's Rachel you ask? She's the one who tickled my curiosity because of the Prologue. Rachel a couple weeks ago found her brother hanging in the barn. Rachel doesn't want to believe that this was suicide, her brother wouldn't. Her father didn't want to get the police involved, so while Rachel was making breakfast for her daughters and sister, her father took the brothers body and buried it with the bishop.
RIGHT!! And now 12 years later HELLO Rachel, but here's the good part, she comes knocking on Nates motel door that night dripping wet from the rain saying "I need your help, perhaps you're the only one who can help me," then proceeds to tell him about her brother, Albie.
As they both slowly investigate quietly bc he is forbidden, secrets start to unravel and the truth becomes clear to Nate.
Was this my favorite read? No.
Did I enjoy reading? Yes.
Thank you so much for sending me an ARC crooked lane 💕📚
By Amy Lillard 3.5⭐
📚 June 24,2025 Release Day
"You can't go home again"
When I received this ARC in the mail, I knew my reader vibes have been confirmed. I'm back in my thriller era. This book did NOT fail. Amy Lillard I don't know what you put into this book, but I could not drop it. Prologue had me, I needed to know what happened!
Nathan Fisher left the Amish community in bad terms with his father because his sister needed a new heart. Years later Nate is a cop and learns one day by phone call from his brother that his dad has passed. Since he's shunned, he can't attend the funeral, but he still decides to go back home and "pay his respects."
While at the cemetery he sees a pair of familiar green eyes, attached to those eyes was a memory of Nate & Rachel before he left he promised her when he comes back in 4years, they'll get married.
Who's Rachel you ask? She's the one who tickled my curiosity because of the Prologue. Rachel a couple weeks ago found her brother hanging in the barn. Rachel doesn't want to believe that this was suicide, her brother wouldn't. Her father didn't want to get the police involved, so while Rachel was making breakfast for her daughters and sister, her father took the brothers body and buried it with the bishop.
RIGHT!! And now 12 years later HELLO Rachel, but here's the good part, she comes knocking on Nates motel door that night dripping wet from the rain saying "I need your help, perhaps you're the only one who can help me," then proceeds to tell him about her brother, Albie.
As they both slowly investigate quietly bc he is forbidden, secrets start to unravel and the truth becomes clear to Nate.
Was this my favorite read? No.
Did I enjoy reading? Yes.
Thank you so much for sending me an ARC crooked lane 💕📚
June 17, 2025
✨Audiobook Review✨
📖 The Secrets We Keep
✍️ Amy Lillard
📅 Publication: June 24, 2025
🎤 Greg D. Barnett
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Detective Nate Fisher returns to the Amish community he left behind and the woman he once loved in this gripping dual-POV mystery.
Fresh off administrative leave for a deadly force incident, the last place Nate wants to be is Cedar Creek. But when his estranged father dies, duty pulls him home. What starts as a brief visit turns complicated when Rachel Hostetler, his former love, begs for help investigating her brother’s suspicious death; one the police call suicide, but she’s convinced was murder.
As Nate and Rachel uncover buried secrets and old feelings resurface, they must race to find the truth before Nate’s past catches up with him and he's forced to walk away once more.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The premise of this story drew me in it had great potential, but overall, it just didn’t work for me. While the small-town mystery and emotional undertones were compelling, I was left feeling unsatisfied due to several unresolved plot points. One that stood out was the lack of closure around what happened to Rachel’s husband.
It took me quite a while to finish. I read another review that said the story felt “pieced together,” with too many loose ends, and I must agree. There were some strong ideas here, but the execution fell short. While this book didn’t fully work for me, I do think the author did a good job overall and showed real potential. I also think the narrator did a good job bringing the story to life, even if it didn’t add much extra impact to me personally.
📖 The Secrets We Keep
✍️ Amy Lillard
📅 Publication: June 24, 2025
🎤 Greg D. Barnett
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Detective Nate Fisher returns to the Amish community he left behind and the woman he once loved in this gripping dual-POV mystery.
Fresh off administrative leave for a deadly force incident, the last place Nate wants to be is Cedar Creek. But when his estranged father dies, duty pulls him home. What starts as a brief visit turns complicated when Rachel Hostetler, his former love, begs for help investigating her brother’s suspicious death; one the police call suicide, but she’s convinced was murder.
As Nate and Rachel uncover buried secrets and old feelings resurface, they must race to find the truth before Nate’s past catches up with him and he's forced to walk away once more.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The premise of this story drew me in it had great potential, but overall, it just didn’t work for me. While the small-town mystery and emotional undertones were compelling, I was left feeling unsatisfied due to several unresolved plot points. One that stood out was the lack of closure around what happened to Rachel’s husband.
It took me quite a while to finish. I read another review that said the story felt “pieced together,” with too many loose ends, and I must agree. There were some strong ideas here, but the execution fell short. While this book didn’t fully work for me, I do think the author did a good job overall and showed real potential. I also think the narrator did a good job bringing the story to life, even if it didn’t add much extra impact to me personally.
June 24, 2025
The Secrets We Keep has a lot going for it.
When he learns of his father’s death, a son, a policeman in Tulsa, returns to the small town and the Amish community in Mississippi where he grew up. There he once again must deal with the animosity of the family—mother, brothers, and sisters who rejected him when he decided to leave. But he also is drawn back into a romantic relationship with the Amish woman he once loved. What draws him back is a plea from her to help uncover the truth about the mysterious death of her younger brother. Was it a suicide as it appeared? Or, as she believes, was there more to it? Could her brother have been murdered? Could it have been a murder committed by the gang of rich kids—from the non-Amish--or “Englisch”--population in the town--who had been bullying and otherwise tormenting her brother?
The location. The clash of cultures. The clash of rich “Englisch” who hold power in the community vs “plain” Amish who want to keep to themselves. The return of the prodigal son, who struggles with his desire to be accepted by his family, as well as his desire to rekindle the passionate love affair with the woman who seems only to be asking for his help now. Her struggles to balance the need for his help with her renewed desire for him, while also, as a single mother, seeing to the needs of her young children and the demands of her elderly father. All of this, plus the mystery that is at the center of the story, kept me turning the pages and spurred my interest in the many subsidiary characters who populate the intriguing world of this book.
As I said at the start, The Secrets We Keep has a lot going for it.
When he learns of his father’s death, a son, a policeman in Tulsa, returns to the small town and the Amish community in Mississippi where he grew up. There he once again must deal with the animosity of the family—mother, brothers, and sisters who rejected him when he decided to leave. But he also is drawn back into a romantic relationship with the Amish woman he once loved. What draws him back is a plea from her to help uncover the truth about the mysterious death of her younger brother. Was it a suicide as it appeared? Or, as she believes, was there more to it? Could her brother have been murdered? Could it have been a murder committed by the gang of rich kids—from the non-Amish--or “Englisch”--population in the town--who had been bullying and otherwise tormenting her brother?
The location. The clash of cultures. The clash of rich “Englisch” who hold power in the community vs “plain” Amish who want to keep to themselves. The return of the prodigal son, who struggles with his desire to be accepted by his family, as well as his desire to rekindle the passionate love affair with the woman who seems only to be asking for his help now. Her struggles to balance the need for his help with her renewed desire for him, while also, as a single mother, seeing to the needs of her young children and the demands of her elderly father. All of this, plus the mystery that is at the center of the story, kept me turning the pages and spurred my interest in the many subsidiary characters who populate the intriguing world of this book.
As I said at the start, The Secrets We Keep has a lot going for it.
May 25, 2025
Nate Fisher left the Amish faith as a young man. He wanted to stay but he also was very good at baseball and thought he could earn enough through the game to pay for his sister's heart transplant. That didn't work out. He ended up working as a cop in the next state. Detective Fisher is on leave for fatally discharging his weapon. Though cleared of all wrongdoing, he is torn about whether or not he will return to the force. When his father passes away back in the Amish settlement in Mississippi, Nate heads for home. Though he isn't welcome there, he drives by his mother's house repeatedly.
The woman who everyone thought Nate would marry has married another. Rachel Hostetler comes by his hotel to ask for his help. Her brother Albie is dead, an apparent suicide by hanging and Rachel doesn't believe it. She wants the stigma of suicide removed so her brother can be buried in hallowed ground. Nate decides to help Rachel since he is al loose ends. After speaking with the local police, Albie's body is exhumed and Rachel desperately hopes that and the journal she hands over will prove that Albie's death was no accident. Nate is still in love with Rachel.
It's clear that Nate isn't welcome among the Amish or with the local police. He perseveres though in getting to the bottom of Albie's death.
Lillard has set the scene for future novels with Nate and Rachel. Fans of Linda Castillo will enjoy this one as well. Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries.
Note: I read an ARC, courtesy of NetGalley.
The woman who everyone thought Nate would marry has married another. Rachel Hostetler comes by his hotel to ask for his help. Her brother Albie is dead, an apparent suicide by hanging and Rachel doesn't believe it. She wants the stigma of suicide removed so her brother can be buried in hallowed ground. Nate decides to help Rachel since he is al loose ends. After speaking with the local police, Albie's body is exhumed and Rachel desperately hopes that and the journal she hands over will prove that Albie's death was no accident. Nate is still in love with Rachel.
It's clear that Nate isn't welcome among the Amish or with the local police. He perseveres though in getting to the bottom of Albie's death.
Lillard has set the scene for future novels with Nate and Rachel. Fans of Linda Castillo will enjoy this one as well. Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries.
Note: I read an ARC, courtesy of NetGalley.
June 4, 2025
THE SECRETS WE KEEP was an interesting mystery set in Mississippi. Detective Nate Fisher left his Amish community with the goal of playing professional baseball to earn the money his sister needed for a heart replacement. He left behind the woman he loved who wouldn't give up the Amish lifestyle because she had a severely disabled sister to care for.
Nate's baseball dreams didn't come true. He's made a career as a Sheriff's Deputy in Tulsa. But a shooting in the line of duty has rocked his world. And, while the shooting was determined to be justified, Nate still suffers from huge amounts of guilt.
When he learns that his father has died, he decides to go back to Mississippi to be near the funeral even though he is banned from attending. While there, his first love Rachel come to him to ask him to intervene with the local sheriff to convince him to investigate her younger brother's death. She found him hanging in the family barn but is certain that he didn't commit suicide. However, her father cut him down, burned his clothing and the rope, and buried him just outside the Amish cemetery.
With no physical evidence, Nate isn't sure what he can do but decides to investigate the death anyway while trying to decide what to do with the rest of his life.
Parts of the story are told from Nate's point of view and the rest from Rachel's. Both are looking for something. Rachel wants the truth; Nate wants to find a future.
I enjoyed this look into the Amish of Mississippi. I empathized with both Nate and Rachel's search for answers.
Nate's baseball dreams didn't come true. He's made a career as a Sheriff's Deputy in Tulsa. But a shooting in the line of duty has rocked his world. And, while the shooting was determined to be justified, Nate still suffers from huge amounts of guilt.
When he learns that his father has died, he decides to go back to Mississippi to be near the funeral even though he is banned from attending. While there, his first love Rachel come to him to ask him to intervene with the local sheriff to convince him to investigate her younger brother's death. She found him hanging in the family barn but is certain that he didn't commit suicide. However, her father cut him down, burned his clothing and the rope, and buried him just outside the Amish cemetery.
With no physical evidence, Nate isn't sure what he can do but decides to investigate the death anyway while trying to decide what to do with the rest of his life.
Parts of the story are told from Nate's point of view and the rest from Rachel's. Both are looking for something. Rachel wants the truth; Nate wants to find a future.
I enjoyed this look into the Amish of Mississippi. I empathized with both Nate and Rachel's search for answers.
June 17, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
J. Amy Lillard’s The Secrets We Keep wraps its mystery not in sensational twists, but in the slow hush of rural life—where silence carries weight, and trust is as fragile as spun glass.
Set in the sleepy hollows of Sugarcreek, Ohio, "The Secrets We Keep" isn’t your typical breakneck thriller. Instead, it draws its suspense from a slower burn—the kind of anxiety that simmers beneath smiles, in glances across potluck tables, and in the measured steps of people walking through old grief.
Lillard introduces us to a cast of characters as ordinary as they are unknowable. When a long-buried secret begins to surface, the story doesn’t explode—it uncoils. There’s grace in that approach. As a mystery, it’s more meditative than shocking, but that becomes its strength. Lillard is more interested in why the truth was buried than merely what it is.
The narrative voice, tinged with empathy, explores themes of loyalty, generational trauma, and the complicated choreography of keeping up appearances in a close-knit community. The town itself becomes a character which is nurturing and judgmental, a mirror for its residents’ deepest desires and regrets.
Lillard isn’t out to dazzle with clever sleights of hand. Her mystery is deeper, more emotional: How do the secrets we bury shape the lives we live? What happens when silence no longer protects but condemns?
The Secrets We Keep proves that truth doesn’t always shatter like a windowpane—it sometimes erodes like stone, slowly, and with consequence.
J. Amy Lillard’s The Secrets We Keep wraps its mystery not in sensational twists, but in the slow hush of rural life—where silence carries weight, and trust is as fragile as spun glass.
Set in the sleepy hollows of Sugarcreek, Ohio, "The Secrets We Keep" isn’t your typical breakneck thriller. Instead, it draws its suspense from a slower burn—the kind of anxiety that simmers beneath smiles, in glances across potluck tables, and in the measured steps of people walking through old grief.
Lillard introduces us to a cast of characters as ordinary as they are unknowable. When a long-buried secret begins to surface, the story doesn’t explode—it uncoils. There’s grace in that approach. As a mystery, it’s more meditative than shocking, but that becomes its strength. Lillard is more interested in why the truth was buried than merely what it is.
The narrative voice, tinged with empathy, explores themes of loyalty, generational trauma, and the complicated choreography of keeping up appearances in a close-knit community. The town itself becomes a character which is nurturing and judgmental, a mirror for its residents’ deepest desires and regrets.
Lillard isn’t out to dazzle with clever sleights of hand. Her mystery is deeper, more emotional: How do the secrets we bury shape the lives we live? What happens when silence no longer protects but condemns?
The Secrets We Keep proves that truth doesn’t always shatter like a windowpane—it sometimes erodes like stone, slowly, and with consequence.
June 19, 2025
"𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝑜 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃'𝓉 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒"
Nate left the Amish community twelve years ago, fully aware that he could never return. He embarked on his journey with a mission and high hopes. However, things did not unfold as he had anticipated. Upon learning of his father's passing, he feels an overwhelming compulsion to return home, despite being unwelcome.
While remaining on the outskirts of the community, his former love, Rachel, approaches him to request his assistance. She explains that she discovered her brother, Albie, hanging, and she needs his help to prove that he did not take his own life. Nate has experience in law enforcement, and she believes he is the only one who can assist her.
Nate struggles with his feelings for Rachel and his longing for his family, who are still part of the Amish community. Meanwhile, Rachel must confront the backlash from the community when she is seen with Nate while he is under the 𝐵𝒶𝓃𝓃.
Will Nate and Rachel be able to set aside their feelings and the opinions of the community in order to uncover the truth about what happened to Albie?
࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪
I called the ending despite the red herrings; however, I still wanted to continue reading to see how the story would unfold.
This was an intriguing mystery novel that provided insight into the life of the Amish and what it is like to leave the community and be under the 𝐵𝒶𝓃𝓃.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥.
Nate left the Amish community twelve years ago, fully aware that he could never return. He embarked on his journey with a mission and high hopes. However, things did not unfold as he had anticipated. Upon learning of his father's passing, he feels an overwhelming compulsion to return home, despite being unwelcome.
While remaining on the outskirts of the community, his former love, Rachel, approaches him to request his assistance. She explains that she discovered her brother, Albie, hanging, and she needs his help to prove that he did not take his own life. Nate has experience in law enforcement, and she believes he is the only one who can assist her.
Nate struggles with his feelings for Rachel and his longing for his family, who are still part of the Amish community. Meanwhile, Rachel must confront the backlash from the community when she is seen with Nate while he is under the 𝐵𝒶𝓃𝓃.
Will Nate and Rachel be able to set aside their feelings and the opinions of the community in order to uncover the truth about what happened to Albie?
࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪
I called the ending despite the red herrings; however, I still wanted to continue reading to see how the story would unfold.
This was an intriguing mystery novel that provided insight into the life of the Amish and what it is like to leave the community and be under the 𝐵𝒶𝓃𝓃.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥.
June 22, 2025
The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard is a slow-burn Amish mystery.
Nate Fisher left the Amish community for the best of reasons yet he cannot forget the woman he left behind, Rachel Hostetler. After learning of his father’s death, he goes to visit the grave even though he has been shunned. When Rachel approaches him to help her find out the truth about her brother Albie’s death, Nate cannot say no.
Nate is uncertain about his future in his chosen career but he believes there might be more to Albie’s death. He is frustrated by the local sheriff’s indifference to opening an investigation. Nate is surprised to learn his Englisch friend Shane Johnson is an investigator in the sheriff’s office. Unable to know if he can trust Shane to look into what happened to Albie, Nate continues searching for answers.
Rachel is dealing with a lot at home, but she is certain her brother would never take his own life. Going against her Dat’s wishes is not something she wants to do but cannot let go of her concerns. Rachel is also still drawn to Nate despite the reality there is still no future for them.
The Secrets We Keep is an intriguing mystery with plenty of drama and angst. Nate has a strong moral compass and he is at a career crossroads. Rachel is a bit pushy but her heart is in the right place. The investigation is stymied by Nate’s status with the Amish and their distrust of law enforcement. While Albie’s death is solved, Amy Lillard leaves readers hoping for another mystery starring Nate Fisher.
Nate Fisher left the Amish community for the best of reasons yet he cannot forget the woman he left behind, Rachel Hostetler. After learning of his father’s death, he goes to visit the grave even though he has been shunned. When Rachel approaches him to help her find out the truth about her brother Albie’s death, Nate cannot say no.
Nate is uncertain about his future in his chosen career but he believes there might be more to Albie’s death. He is frustrated by the local sheriff’s indifference to opening an investigation. Nate is surprised to learn his Englisch friend Shane Johnson is an investigator in the sheriff’s office. Unable to know if he can trust Shane to look into what happened to Albie, Nate continues searching for answers.
Rachel is dealing with a lot at home, but she is certain her brother would never take his own life. Going against her Dat’s wishes is not something she wants to do but cannot let go of her concerns. Rachel is also still drawn to Nate despite the reality there is still no future for them.
The Secrets We Keep is an intriguing mystery with plenty of drama and angst. Nate has a strong moral compass and he is at a career crossroads. Rachel is a bit pushy but her heart is in the right place. The investigation is stymied by Nate’s status with the Amish and their distrust of law enforcement. While Albie’s death is solved, Amy Lillard leaves readers hoping for another mystery starring Nate Fisher.
January 5, 2025
The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard is my first NetGalley read so I was unsure what to expect when I started it.
I wasn’t sure if I received a copy currently in the editing process or if this was a final draft before publication. It was a little hard to get into a rhythm with reading at first due to where this copy is in its editing process and all of the “hads” thrown in, but I was finally able to find my cadence, and this turned out to be a delightful read.
I have always found the Amish community interesting, and the author did a great job establishing the setting for the central part of the story.
Nathan’s character is very relatable, as a cop stepping up to help Rachel in her desperate time of need and as a shunned member of the former community he loved. The author carefully crafted the storyline between Rachel and Nathan in such a way that I literally could not put this read down until I saw how this would end for them.
I am a little disappointed that several lines in the story didn’t come to completion and left me hanging, like the mystery of what happened to Rachel’s husband. That question will live with me in contemplation for a while, but I am excited to see that the ending leads to the possibility of a future book with these same characters so I may get my answer in a future read. Fingers crossed.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with this ARC.
I wasn’t sure if I received a copy currently in the editing process or if this was a final draft before publication. It was a little hard to get into a rhythm with reading at first due to where this copy is in its editing process and all of the “hads” thrown in, but I was finally able to find my cadence, and this turned out to be a delightful read.
I have always found the Amish community interesting, and the author did a great job establishing the setting for the central part of the story.
Nathan’s character is very relatable, as a cop stepping up to help Rachel in her desperate time of need and as a shunned member of the former community he loved. The author carefully crafted the storyline between Rachel and Nathan in such a way that I literally could not put this read down until I saw how this would end for them.
I am a little disappointed that several lines in the story didn’t come to completion and left me hanging, like the mystery of what happened to Rachel’s husband. That question will live with me in contemplation for a while, but I am excited to see that the ending leads to the possibility of a future book with these same characters so I may get my answer in a future read. Fingers crossed.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with this ARC.
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