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ALBA
Sixteen-year-old Rebecca is consumed by grief after the sudden, tragic death of her boyfriend, Alastair. Her pain is exacerbated by the fact that their relationship was a secret, a love story hidden from the world. Now, as she mourns in silence, she feels trapped, torn between the anguish of losing him and the guilt of revealing their bond.
Calum, Alastair's brother, remains unaware of their relationship. As Rebecca grows closer to Calum, their friendship takes an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a mysterious suitcase in an abandoned ice house in the remote northern Scottish village of Cromarty. They also find a 19th-century diary written in code by a girl named Martha, also sixteen, whose secrets echo Rebecca’s hidden grief.
As Rebecca and Calum work together to decode the diary and uncover the truth behind Martha’s life, their bond strengthens. But with each revelation, Rebecca is forced to confront her own secrets and the emotional burden she has been carrying since Alastair’s death. The discovery tests their growing relationship, as Rebecca struggles with the Is it better to keep our deepest secrets hidden, or should we reveal them and let others help carry the weight of our grief?
"ALBA" explores the delicate balance between love and loss, secrecy and truth, and the healing power of sharing one’s heart with those willing to listen.
Calum, Alastair's brother, remains unaware of their relationship. As Rebecca grows closer to Calum, their friendship takes an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a mysterious suitcase in an abandoned ice house in the remote northern Scottish village of Cromarty. They also find a 19th-century diary written in code by a girl named Martha, also sixteen, whose secrets echo Rebecca’s hidden grief.
As Rebecca and Calum work together to decode the diary and uncover the truth behind Martha’s life, their bond strengthens. But with each revelation, Rebecca is forced to confront her own secrets and the emotional burden she has been carrying since Alastair’s death. The discovery tests their growing relationship, as Rebecca struggles with the Is it better to keep our deepest secrets hidden, or should we reveal them and let others help carry the weight of our grief?
"ALBA" explores the delicate balance between love and loss, secrecy and truth, and the healing power of sharing one’s heart with those willing to listen.
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2024
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Verity Croker
6 books22 followers Verity Croker writes in a variety of genres and for a range of age-groups. Her yoing adult books, Jilda's Ark and May Day Mine, are published by Harmony Ink Press, US, and ALBA - Hidden Secrets by GenZ Publishing, US. Her five junior fiction and two non-fiction titles are published by Sunshine Books/ Wendy Pye, NZ. Hot Pot is her debut adult novel.
Some of her short stories and travel tales appear in journals, newspapers, and competition anthologies. She is also a published poet.
Verity completed her Master of Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Tasmania in 2013, and lives in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia when she is not in her beloved second home, Hobart, Tasmania.
Some of her short stories and travel tales appear in journals, newspapers, and competition anthologies. She is also a published poet.
Verity completed her Master of Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Tasmania in 2013, and lives in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia when she is not in her beloved second home, Hobart, Tasmania.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 16, 2025
An enjoyable book, very well written with interesting characters. I’m very much into genealogy so it was a joy to read a book that has that element to the story as well as mystery and intrigue.
November 11, 2024
A well crafted novel and an enjoyable read.
December 27, 2024
Rebecca is a sixteen year old girl who is angry at her mum for leaving them for another family. She is also mourning the tragic death of her boyfriend, Alistair, whose relationship was secret at the time. This makes it difficult for those around her to fully understand the depth of her grief. To complicate matters further, her best friend Callum is Alistair’s brother. Callum is also trying to navigate the loss of his brother which adds another layer to their increasingly complicated friendship.
Together they uncover a diary written by 16 year old Martha in the 19th century. Rebecca and Callum agree to work together and decode the diary and try to uncover the secrets exposed. The reader is drawn into the historical world with enough detail and mystery to really care about Martha and what happened to her. Rebecca realises that just like the secrets kept back in the 19th century that caused hurt and turmoil, so to is the secret that she is keeping about her and Alistair’s relationship.
Croker has woven a terrific web of connecting characters set in the Scottish highlands that joins Rebecca’s world with Martha’s world. It has the right blend of a dual storyline whilst also addressing the delicate subject of grief and how those left behind cope. Croker demonstrates great sensitivity when addressing the fall out of broken families by using the, at times, delicate mother/daughter connection.
Alba is an enjoyable tale of mystery and intrigue and is suitable for a 13+ readership.
Together they uncover a diary written by 16 year old Martha in the 19th century. Rebecca and Callum agree to work together and decode the diary and try to uncover the secrets exposed. The reader is drawn into the historical world with enough detail and mystery to really care about Martha and what happened to her. Rebecca realises that just like the secrets kept back in the 19th century that caused hurt and turmoil, so to is the secret that she is keeping about her and Alistair’s relationship.
Croker has woven a terrific web of connecting characters set in the Scottish highlands that joins Rebecca’s world with Martha’s world. It has the right blend of a dual storyline whilst also addressing the delicate subject of grief and how those left behind cope. Croker demonstrates great sensitivity when addressing the fall out of broken families by using the, at times, delicate mother/daughter connection.
Alba is an enjoyable tale of mystery and intrigue and is suitable for a 13+ readership.
December 8, 2024
Rebecca asks Callum to break into the icehouse on the beach. The lock was rusted shut. No one had been there for years. Once they got inside they found a suitcase with hidden secrets.
There is a diary to decode. Rebecca and Callum spend time together talking about Martha and her sad life.
Unbeknown to Callum, his brother Alastair was Rebecca’s boyfriend. Alastair had died in a car accident and they were both still mourning him.
Learning the secrets of Martha and Rory from a past age, helps them to face their grief and face the consequences of their friendship.
This is a very Scottish story, with Highland dancing an obsession of Bec’s. Cable tossing, a Callum activity. Bagpipe playing by Lachlan, who drove the car that fateful night, still traumatized by the accident.
The village of Cromarty is still needing the healing sounds of a song of forgiveness Callum writes for Lachlan to play.
I loved this story.
There is a diary to decode. Rebecca and Callum spend time together talking about Martha and her sad life.
Unbeknown to Callum, his brother Alastair was Rebecca’s boyfriend. Alastair had died in a car accident and they were both still mourning him.
Learning the secrets of Martha and Rory from a past age, helps them to face their grief and face the consequences of their friendship.
This is a very Scottish story, with Highland dancing an obsession of Bec’s. Cable tossing, a Callum activity. Bagpipe playing by Lachlan, who drove the car that fateful night, still traumatized by the accident.
The village of Cromarty is still needing the healing sounds of a song of forgiveness Callum writes for Lachlan to play.
I loved this story.
January 24, 2025
ALBA suits readers who enjoy mystery, Scottish landscape and intrigue with the themes of friendship and loss. Bec and Calum connect through a heartbreaking event that filters throughout the story. Suppose you like to discover what lies beneath crumbling cemeteries, or headstones, a mysterious lavender scent and an ancient diary written by Martha in 1854. In that case, you will find Verity Croker's book, ALBA, HIDDEN SECRETS, both engaging and tempting. Add to this surprises, a memorial, a birth certificate, family trees and love - and a combination of Scottish dialect! Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews