Smoke and Secrets

Charlie and Simm Mystery #4

by A.J. McCarthy

Charlie and Simm, Montreal pub owners with a knack for sleuthing, thought they were taking on a straightforward case when Noah Wolfe hired them to find his missing family fortune. Their search leads them to the idyllic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, where they quickly realize this is no ordinary investigation. Joined by Noah's sharp-witted sister-in-law, Sarah, they dig into the Wolfe family's past at a grand estate brimming with secrets.

As tensions rise, Simm's estranged brother and his wife arrive at the mansion, adding to the already crowded and mistrustful atmosphere. A simple search for lost money turns menacing with suspicious deaths, an attempted murder, and buried mysteries that refuse to stay hidden. The deeper they delve, the more dangerous the case becomes. Charlie and Simm are forced to confront their own fears and face a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to protect dark secrets, leading to a shocking climax that will change everything.

Genres: Fiction, Adult

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 2025

About the author

As an author of mystery suspense novels, A.J. McCarthy is always on the lookout for new ideas. Her friends and family are cautious, concerned they may become a victim in her next novel. Those who are more adventurous offer up ideas and are willing to sacrifice certain family members for the cause. A.J. bides her time, waiting for the right moment and the perfect victim. She hides behind a quiet façade, and few know what she’s really thinking.
A.J. grew up reading Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon, and many other masters of mystery and suspense. A lifelong love of the genre evolved. She’s a member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. When she isn’t writing, chances are she is reading.

Reviews

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure how I felt coming into this book as I at first wasn’t particularly in the mood for a gothic thriller but with its publication date coming this week on July 3rd, I wanted to make sure to get it done.

Thankfully my mood changed very quickly as I got entrenched into the world that AJ McCarthy created. The book was definitely engaging and filled with twists and turns, some predictable and some not. It was a very well written book which definitely put the reader into the creepy run down mansion of a setting.

On a side note if there was a real life setting such as this, which I’m sure there is somewhere, it would have been a perfect marketing opportunity to do a “giveaway” of an k weight experience in said place like what Simon and Schuster did with A J Barkers newest release. But I digress…

If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you on your toes and draw you into the prose, this is a perfect read for you!
It comes out July 3, 2025 .

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Black Rose Writing through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

[Travis Tougaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.J. McCarthy’s Smoke and Secrets offers a fresh take on the classic gothic mystery. Set in the picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake, Charlie and Simm’s latest investigation includes a mysterious death, a missing fortune, a creepy mansion, hidden passages, and family secrets that someone will go to great lengths to keep buried. As the detectives piece together what really happened to their friend’s brother in a fire, they find themselves in peril and wondering who will be the next target.

McCarthy’s writing is vibrant, bringing the scenery to life and putting the reader in the middle of the action. The book moves at a perfect pace, with enough tension to keep the pages turning. The mystery itself is well-crafted with plenty of plausible suspects and surprising reveals. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Charlie and Simm or you’re new to the series, like me, Smoke and Secrets is a great read that you won’t want to miss. I highly recommend it!

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCarthy creates a complex web of personalities, friendship, love, and intrigue that keeps readers guessing. Charlie and Simm investigate another dangerous and thrilling mystery, keeping me on the edge of my seat to find out who the killer was. 'It's a terrible thing, what people will do for money.' I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Smoke and Secrets
✍🏻A.j. McCarthy
Blurb:
Charlie and Simm, Montreal pub owners with a knack for sleuthing, thought they were taking on a straightforward case when Noah Wolfe hired them to find his missing family fortune. Their search leads them to the idyllic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, where they quickly realize this is no ordinary investigation. Joined by Noah's sharp-witted sister-in-law, Sarah, they dig into the Wolfe family's past at a grand estate brimming with secrets.

As tensions rise, Simm's estranged brother and his wife arrive at the mansion, adding to the already crowded and mistrustful atmosphere. A simple search for lost money turns menacing with suspicious deaths, an attempted murder, and buried mysteries that refuse to stay hidden. The deeper they delve, the more dangerous the case becomes. Charlie and Simm are forced to confront their own fears and face a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to protect dark secrets, leading to a shocking climax that will change everything.

My Thoughts:
Charlie and Simm agree to look into the mysterious death of a friend's brother and the disappearance of his inheritance money. The setting in Smoke and Secrets is the scenic Niagara-on-the-Lake. But instead of enjoying the charming sights, their sleuthing takes them through a dark, underground tunnel. Instead of wineries is poisonous whiskey. In place of serenity, trouble. The kind that can get them killed. Believing the murderer could be among them adds tension and challenge for crime fiction lovers as author McCarthy deftly drops clues that will keep you guessing, delivering a fast, enjoyable read. And just when I thought I had it figured out, nope I was wrong.
Read in one setting,. If you're looking for a suspense thriller this is the one.
Thanks NetGalley, A Charles & Simm Mystery and Author A.J. McCarthy for the complimentary copy of "Smoke and Secrets" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
# Charles&SimmMystery
#SmokeandSecrets
#A.J.McCarthy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
EDITORIAL REVIEW
17th June 2025
TITLE: Smoke and Secrets
AUTHOR: A J McCarthy

Star Rating: 5

‘A cleverly plotted mystery with an atmospheric setting and two charismatic protagonists to root for. A Wishing Shelf Recommended Book!’ The Wishing Shelf

REVIEW
I do enjoy a good mystery – and this is good on many levels. The author, A J McCarthy, is a talented writer who knows her readers (and what they want) offering a tantalising mystery, a spooky setting, strong, relatable protagonists, and a number of other characters you never know if you can trust – or not!
I see this if the fourth book in the set following Charlie & Simm who, it seems, own a pub or two but do a little ‘investigative’ work on the side, hunting a missing family fortune for Noah Wolfe. I loved the setting for the story, the idyllic, rather restful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake – and the rather dilapidated (and spooky) Wolfe mansion. I also loved the chemistry between the two MCs – who want to have a baby, by the way. They work well together, and I was rooting for them from the start. But, for me, the best part of the book is the mystery itself. With the help of Sarah, Noah’s sister-in-law, there’s a lot for the duo to solve here – puzzle after puzzle – which kept me turning the page.
So murder mystery fans, I’m happy to recommend this novel to you. I think most readers of this popular genre will find a lot to enjoy here, particularly the smartly plotted story, the excellent pacing, and the crisp writing style. I’m also delighted to report it works as a standalone novel; although, saying that, I do like the look of the first book, Sins of the Fathers. In fact, I just added it to my Kindle; the prefect holiday read by the look of it!

A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk

[Sandro Martini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I walked into "Smoke and Secrets", the fourth Charlie & Simm mystery, finished it in a day (and half a night!), and then ordered the first three Charlie & Simm mysteries right after that last page. This is a cracking mystery! A.J. McCarthy’s mystery novel exudes charm and joy—think classic "Hart to Hart" set in Montreal and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Charlie & Simm are the kind of people you wish you had as friends—exciting, delightfully amusing, and here embroiled in a genuinely puzzling mystery that involves a missing fortune, dodgy families, and a very gothic mansion. Pure fun, with McCarthy’s award-winning prose deliciously pushing the narrative along with no fuss and no fat. You’ll be turning the pages to solve the mystery (the final twist is really good!), and you’ll be turning the pages to see what happens next to Charlie and Simm, wonderfully drawn characters who are achingly in love. Those who have a nostalgia for classic mystery writing with a contemporary feel, this one is for you. Here's to the next Charlie & Simm!

[Scott Eveloff MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There are a lot of moving parts. Can’t decide which shoulder to look over.” Uttered by the engaging main protagonist of Smoke and Secrets, Charlie’s warning truly describes the intricately plotted fourth Charlie & Simm novel. With more twists and turns than the secret tunnel at the heart of the mystery, author AJ McCarthy has created a gripping combination of creepy Gothic old mansions, dark family secrets, hidden passageways, and mysterious manuscripts with contemporary criminal forensics and modern-day technology both used and abused. First pulled in by their intriguing backstories and relationships, the characters maintain a hold on the reader as they weave through cryptic puzzles, unexpected attacks, attempted murder, and stonewalling police on their way to solving a murder that ripples through generations. A classic whodunit in the truest sense.
-Scott Eveloff MD, author of Do Not Resuscitate and The Golem’s Holocaust

[Lea O'Harra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke and Secrets is the fourth in A.J. McCarthy’s series of a sleuthing Canadian couple—attractive Charlie, who owns a successful pub in Montreal, and Simm, the private investigator she hired a few years earlier when she began getting anonymous, threatening letters. The two ended up falling in love. Now they run the pub together and, when chance offers them a mystery, collaborate on solving it.

Although Smoke and Secrets is a standalone, it features characters—and storylines— appearing in earlier novels of the series, relying to an extent on familiarity with that background. Even still, it is an entertaining thriller featuring a mysterious murder, a stolen fortune, a dilapidated mansion, and a compelling cast. The human emotions are raw and convincing; the setting is suitably spooky; there is an intriguing twist in the tale at the end.

[Stephanie Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book to read in this mystery-solving duo series of books and I rather quite enjoyed it! What made me choose this book was the setting being in Montreal and Niagara-on-the-Lake; Montreal is a city ripe for a good crime series, and Niagara-on-the-Lake just as perfect for the quite town, big murder story. I wasn't disappointed. While the story quickly moves on from Montreal, it seems like other books spend more time there. The fun loving Charlie and more serious, but still fun, partner, Simm, pick up the trails of a previous mystery into this one (you don't need to have read previous books to enjoy this one), as a murder ruled as a suicide becomes more suspicious. On a tight deadline and dead ends coming faster than answers, will the dead have their story told?
Definitely a fun, light, read, and I love seeing some of my local geography get some good mystery exposure!

[Amber Daulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie and her husband, Simm, are a pub-running, private investigating duo who have a knack at solving hard cases, so when an acquaintance from a previous case ask for their help, they go to the beautiful countryside where secrets and old-established families are the norm. From missing money to secret tunnels to complicated family histories to murder and death threats, Charlie and Simm get much more than they bargained for.
I enjoyed the story for the mystery aspect, but I didn’t feel emotionally involved with any of the characters. There were pacing issues and far more telling than showing, especially with the big reveal at the end, which was a massive info dump. I’m still not entirely sure what happened.
Overall, it’s an intriguing mystery. Readers of the genre will surely enjoy it.
3 Stars

[Jann Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grisly death that turns suspicious under the magnifying glass of a sleuthing couple, Charlie and Simm, who stage their investigations from a magnificent but neglected mansion, quickly turns spooky. They uncover camouflaged entrances, secretive missives, mysterious clues tucked in books, hidden staircases, long-lost tunnels and more. There's plenty of smoke, and lots of secrets, for a reader to work her way through in A.J. McCarthy's "Smoke and Secrets." With a complex cast of (potentially suspect) characters to scrutinize, this caring Canadian duo gets to the bottom of a surprising whodunnit . . . and solves some relationship problems along the way for a satisfying, feel-good finish.

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie and Simm agree to look into the mysterious death of a friend’s brother and the disappearance of his inheritance money. The setting in Smoke and Secrets is the scenic Niagara-on-the-Lake. But instead of enjoying the charming sights, their sleuthing takes them through a dark, underground tunnel. Instead of wineries is poisonous whiskey. In place of serenity, trouble. The kind that can get them killed. Believing the murderer could be among them adds tension and challenge for crime fiction lovers as author McCarthy deftly drops clues that will keep you guessing, delivering a fast, enjoyable read. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out…think again.

[Sarah Nakawatase · Rating 5 out of 5]

-A page turner with a satisfying ending

Cloaked in old money, the Wolfe family convenes in their historic family mansion, where surreptitious practices have been conducted ever since net worth has defined which rules apply and which do not.

Private investigators Charlie and Simm have been commissioned to find the family’s missing fortune after the death of the current heir. The secrets they uncover expose them to a killer, placing themselves and the entire Wolfe family in danger.

Smoke and Secrets will have you gathering clues alongside the investigative team, racing to solve the mystery, but you’ll never guess who is behind everything.

[Edward J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her fourth Charlie and Simm novel, A. J. McCarthy takes us to Niagara-on-the-Lake for the pub-owning couple’s latest case. Ethan Wolfe’s death in a fire has been ruled accidental, but his brother isn’t buying it. When Charlie and Simm learn that Ethan’s finances have disappeared, they’re not buying it, either. Their path to the truth leads them through a labyrinth of secret passages, stonewalling cops, coded messages, and ominous anonymous threats. A roller-coaster ride of a book I couldn’t put down.

[Regina Buttner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The shadowy rooms of an elegant but badly neglected manor house set the tone for A.J. McCarthy's new mystery. Spunky Charlie and her adventurous husband Simm on are the job once again, attempting to track down a friend's missing inheritance. But the lost money soon becomes the least of their worries as a series of sinister events unfold in a mansion that's chock-full of danger and secrets. Don't miss this entertaining addition to the Charlie & Simm series!

[Gail Olmsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wait is over; Smoke and Secrets, the next Charlie & Simm mystery is here! The Montreal pub owners are once again on the case, this time attempting to find a missing fortune for an old friend. But they quickly discover that nothing is as it seems when they arrive at the crumbling family estate that houses more secrets than people. Add in a quickly rising body count and you've got a suspenseful thriller worthy of the Charlie & Simm mystery legacy.

[George Stenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie and Simm run a bar in Montreal and occasionally take personal detective cases. They embark on a new case in a very gothic setting. The setting is in an old mansion with secret passageways. Also, there are multiple layers of deception and the tentacles of deception run deep.

Soon after they start investigating, there are warnings that they are getting close to the answer. Attempted murder, assaults, and other strange occurrences. A very well-done mystery book.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke and Secrets by A.J. McCarthy is an engaging mystery featuring pub owners Charlie and Simm, who uncover dark secrets and face deadly dangers at a haunted mansion while searching for a missing family fortune. The story combines suspense, layered puzzles, and character dynamics, culminating in a shocking climax. Fans of cozy mysteries with darker twists will enjoy this well-crafted, fast-paced installment.

[Timothy Sojka · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A dilapidated mansion full of secrets, a mysterious murder that hides multi-million dollar fraud; Smoke and Secrets taunts readers to solve the puzzle each step of the way.” –Timothy Gene Sojka, award-winning author of Payback Jack, Politikill, and Claws

[Karen Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fourth novel by A. J. McCarthy and like all the others this one had me ready for the next one. Well-developed characters you quickly care for. A tense, twisty plot. The setting adds to the drama. And the relationship between the protagonists adds to the enjoyment. Highly recommend.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I was all in and excited that I had found a new author whose writing I loved. This kept my interest however the ending was really disjointed, hard to follow, and lacked explanation. In still left with what the culprit did wrong and why?

[Brian J · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent mystery

I really enjoyed a chance to travel with Simms and Charlie to Niagara on the Lake and solve a family mystery and a crime.
The pace was great, never a dull moment and the characterization was terrific. The solution was solid but surprising.
Highly recommended

[Cam Torrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCarthy's investigator series nails it again! One house, six people, and a myriad of secrets...her Niagara noir mystery is a tunnel of twists and turns!

[Dianne Gow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Charlie and Simm adventure solving another crime. AJ is such an amazing author each book better than the last.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than I expected! Good read! One that you find yourself wanting to know more.

[Janice Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little twisty murder mystery. This was a quick read and I figured out the murderer, but not the reasons behind it till the end. Makes a nice beach read. It kept my interest to the end.

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

This is a great book. I liked the flow and the characters. This is the first Charlie and Simm mystery that I have read.