A Place of Secrets

Northern Gothic Mysteries #2

by Shane Peacock

The elderly Mrs. Massey’s death looks open-and-shut — until poison is found in her system and human remains are found in her basement. As Sergeant Alice Morrow investigates this double murder, decades apart, she unearths the possibility of one or more serial killers quietly at work in this quiet northern town.

Three days after Christmas, the elderly Mrs. Evelyn Massey is found dead in her home, a victim of old age and heart failure. The case looks open-and-shut to Sergeant Alice Morrow, until traces of poison are found in Mrs. Massey’s blood. Then, the remains of a body some sixty years deceased are discovered in her basement.

To solve these murders, committed many decades apart, Morrow recruits the help of former NYPD homicide detective Hugh Mercer, with whom she has developed a professional and personal relationship. Together, they unearth stunning truths about Evelyn Massey’s life, a dead lover from her youth, and other disappearances over the past sixty years. Was a serial killer quietly at work in this Ontario town? Could the villain — or villains — still be among its citizens, hidden in plain sight? And is Alice Morrow’s great secret somehow connected to it all?

Genres: Mystery

302 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2025

About the author

Shane Peacock was born in 1957 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, one of four brothers. He attended school in the northern town of Kapuskasing, Ontario, before attending university, where he studied History and English literature. A biographer, journalist, and screenwriter, he is also the author of eighteen novels, a picture book and three plays, and has been won and/or been nominated for numerous awards including two Arthur Ellis Awards for crime fiction, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for historical fiction, the Violet Downey Award, the Libris Award, seven times honored with Junior Library Guild of America selections, and has been on three shortlists for the Canadian Children's Literature Award, and one for the Governor-General's Award. His books have been published in 20 languages in 18 countries. He and his wife, journalist Sophie Kneisel live in Cobourg, Ontario and have two daughters and a son.

Series:
* The Dylan Maples Adventures
* The Boy Sherlock Holmes
The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim
The Seven Series

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2008): Eye of the Crow
The Arthur Ellis (2013)
The Violet Downey Award
The Libris Award
The Geoffrey Bilson Award
The Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award
Anne Izard Storyteller Choice Award
Junior Library Guild of America Selection (7 times)
Governor-General's Award (shortlist)
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award (shortlist)

Reviews

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

41/2 ⭐️
Almost as good as the first book though I’ve no intentions of explaining the missing 1/2 star. That’s for you to decide.
Definitely looking forward to the next instalment. Fingers crossed there will be a third.
P. S.
Surprisingly, I guessed the odious, wicked culprit.

[Sam Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to read stuck indoors in the -30C Canadian winter. A well-written, compelling mystery with real stakes and characters who had depth. The second in an ongoing series. I look forward to reading the third.

[John Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Place of Secrets" is a must-read for fans of crime fiction. Set in a rural Canadian town with a local police force, the story initially presents the typical slow pace of small-town life. However, a shocking twist occurs when the police realize they are dealing with a serial killer—someone who has been part of the community for the past sixty years.

In many ways, the book resembles a traditional whodunnit. What sets it apart is that, when the perpetrator is finally revealed, readers gain insight into the motives behind the horrific actions. This approach is similar to the TV miniseries "Adolescence," which not only addresses the "what" of the crimes but also delves into the mind of the criminal to explore the "why" behind their actions.

[Brianne Sommerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is the second novel in his Northern Gothic Mysteries series, you can read this as a standalone (I did and now I’m going back to read the first, that’s how much I loved it). Follow Sergeant Alice Morrow as she uncovers a series of mysteries/cold cases from the 60’s after the death of local woman reveals a secret she’s been harbouring for years (a body in her basement!) This mystery was rich in setting and character development and included some nods to Canada, which I loved. Prefect for cozy/spooky season.

[Bobolinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Enjoyable read

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…the truth is what matters. You cannot run from it.”