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Anna Sweet Mystery #3
To Keep a Secret
Anna Sweet's PI business partner, Jada Price, has gone missing. Anna and new hire Nick Roma team up to find her. The trail leads them to a teenage girl's murder and a secret internet dating site. Anna is about to discover how far people will go to keep a secret, and who they will betray. She must work quickly to uncover the answers before a second victim dies. Will this case prove too difficult for Anna Sweet? Or will she put the clues together in time to outsmart a killer who has everything to lose?
- GenresMystery
104 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2014
8 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Chapman
40 books356 followersI'm an Ottawa author with 18 published novels in the mystery genre, both adult and YA. I am currently writing two adult mystery series: The Stonechild and Rouleau police procedurals from Dundurn include Cold Mourning (2014), which was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for crime novel of the year, Butterfly Kills, Tumbled Graves, Shallow End and Bleeding Darkness. Turning Secrets, 6th in the series, will be released spring 2019.
The Anna Sweet mysteries are novellas from Grass Roots Press for adult literacy or those wanting a quick read. My Sister's Keeper and No Trace were both shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis award and The Hard Fall and No Trace were shortlisted for the Golden Oak award.
Previous published fiction includes: the Jennifer Bannon mysteries for ages 10+, a full length adult murder mystery In Winter's Grip (Dundurn 2010), and a Rapid Reads mystery The Second Wife (Orca 2011), which was shortlisted for a Golden Oak award. Second Chances, a YA novel for ages 13+ was released by Dundurn in September 2012.
The Anna Sweet mysteries are novellas from Grass Roots Press for adult literacy or those wanting a quick read. My Sister's Keeper and No Trace were both shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis award and The Hard Fall and No Trace were shortlisted for the Golden Oak award.
Previous published fiction includes: the Jennifer Bannon mysteries for ages 10+, a full length adult murder mystery In Winter's Grip (Dundurn 2010), and a Rapid Reads mystery The Second Wife (Orca 2011), which was shortlisted for a Golden Oak award. Second Chances, a YA novel for ages 13+ was released by Dundurn in September 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 4, 2021
This book didn’t do it for me. I found it written simply, not juvenile but as though written by someone young without a lot of experience. I found it choppy without a flow of reading. I did enjoy the mentions of various places in Ottawa since I had recently been there but that was the only excitement I got from this one.
September 30, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/t...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
To Keep a Secret, the third book in the Anna Sweet Mystery series by Brenda Chapman is a hidden gem of a novella. I was thoroughly engaged from the very beginning. Early on, I was able to figure out one of the major questions but was quite surprised by other twists that arose and thus did not see the ending until it was revealed. A satisfying way to read a mystery!
Anna Sweet continues to grow her PI business with Jada Price but when Jada goes missing, Anna is determined to solve the mystery with the help of a new employee to the firm, Nick Roma. It turns out that Jada is with her younger brother, Henry – trying to remain under the radar as a result of Henry’s friend, Mandy’s death. Henry and Mandy were involved in some nefarious antics when Mandy goes missing and subsequently found dead in a dumpster. Seems the killer is intent on finding Henry to shut him up permanently so Anna must work quickly to save him.
There are three suspects (one of which is a police officer). As Anna works through the list of suspects with her ex-husband (and brother in-law) and new employee Nick Roma – more questions arise. This is what, in my mind, makes the story engaging.
I found, as what I have come to expect, the writing of Ms. Chapman engaging and easy to read. Once I began reading, I could not put To Keep A Secret down until the last word was read. While having read the first two books in the series might add some depth to the characters, one can read this title as a stand-alone as there is sufficient back story presented.
If you like quick, engaging mystery novella’s, then I suggest picking up this book, sitting down and spending a small amount of time being taken away by Brenda Chapman’s writing in To Keep a Secret. You won’t be disappointed ☺.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
To Keep a Secret, the third book in the Anna Sweet Mystery series by Brenda Chapman is a hidden gem of a novella. I was thoroughly engaged from the very beginning. Early on, I was able to figure out one of the major questions but was quite surprised by other twists that arose and thus did not see the ending until it was revealed. A satisfying way to read a mystery!
Anna Sweet continues to grow her PI business with Jada Price but when Jada goes missing, Anna is determined to solve the mystery with the help of a new employee to the firm, Nick Roma. It turns out that Jada is with her younger brother, Henry – trying to remain under the radar as a result of Henry’s friend, Mandy’s death. Henry and Mandy were involved in some nefarious antics when Mandy goes missing and subsequently found dead in a dumpster. Seems the killer is intent on finding Henry to shut him up permanently so Anna must work quickly to save him.
There are three suspects (one of which is a police officer). As Anna works through the list of suspects with her ex-husband (and brother in-law) and new employee Nick Roma – more questions arise. This is what, in my mind, makes the story engaging.
I found, as what I have come to expect, the writing of Ms. Chapman engaging and easy to read. Once I began reading, I could not put To Keep A Secret down until the last word was read. While having read the first two books in the series might add some depth to the characters, one can read this title as a stand-alone as there is sufficient back story presented.
If you like quick, engaging mystery novella’s, then I suggest picking up this book, sitting down and spending a small amount of time being taken away by Brenda Chapman’s writing in To Keep a Secret. You won’t be disappointed ☺.
February 6, 2017
Anna and Jada, both former police officers, run a private investigations firm. Henry, Jada's teenage brother, has been threatened and he and Jada go into hiding. Henry and his school friend, Mandy, had hacked into a dating site where married men are looking for action on the side and they blackmailed a few of the men. Mandy turns up murdered and it seems that Henry may be next.
Understandably, Mandy's family is devastated. Anna and her brother-in-law, Jimmy, who is a police officer, start investigating the men who had been blackmailed, one of whom is a cop.
I've read quite a few books by this author and I liked this one. It's a quick read at about 100 pages. It's set in the author's hometown of Ottawa. I like this author's writing style. It is written in first person perspective in Anna's voice.
Though it's the third in the Anna Sweet series, it works as a stand alone.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/01...
Understandably, Mandy's family is devastated. Anna and her brother-in-law, Jimmy, who is a police officer, start investigating the men who had been blackmailed, one of whom is a cop.
I've read quite a few books by this author and I liked this one. It's a quick read at about 100 pages. It's set in the author's hometown of Ottawa. I like this author's writing style. It is written in first person perspective in Anna's voice.
Though it's the third in the Anna Sweet series, it works as a stand alone.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/01...
February 13, 2024
I didn't know this was a novella when I started it, but soon became engrossed in the story. I am not sure if I have read any other Anna Sweet stories or not, but the characters were believable except Vine who was a little over the top. It is unlikely he would have jeopardized his career in the way he did. I had already begun to suspect something was off with Mandy's family, and had guessed the reason for Mandy's behaviour even before it was revealed. All in all a good, quick read.
September 30, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/t...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
To Keep a Secret, the third book in the Anna Sweet Mystery series by Brenda Chapman is a hidden gem of a novella. I was thoroughly engaged from the very beginning. Early on, I was able to figure out one of the major questions but was quite surprised by other twists that arose and thus did not see the ending until it was revealed. A satisfying way to read a mystery!
Anna Sweet continues to grow her PI business with Jada Price but when Jada goes missing, Anna is determined to solve the mystery with the help of a new employee to the firm, Nick Roma. It turns out that Jada is with her younger brother, Henry – trying to remain under the radar as a result of Henry’s friend, Mandy’s death. Henry and Mandy were involved in some nefarious antics when Mandy goes missing and subsequently found dead in a dumpster. Seems the killer is intent on finding Henry to shut him up permanently so Anna must work quickly to save him.
There are three suspects (one of which is a police officer). As Anna works through the list of suspects with her ex-husband (and brother in-law) and new employee Nick Roma – more questions arise. This is what, in my mind, makes the story engaging.
I found, as what I have come to expect, the writing of Ms. Chapman engaging and easy to read. Once I began reading, I could not put To Keep A Secret down until the last word was read. While having read the first two books in the series might add some depth to the characters, one can read this title as a stand-alone as there is sufficient back story presented.
If you like quick, engaging mystery novella’s, then I suggest picking up this book, sitting down and spending a small amount of time being taken away by Brenda Chapman’s writing in To Keep a Secret. You won’t be disappointed ☺.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
To Keep a Secret, the third book in the Anna Sweet Mystery series by Brenda Chapman is a hidden gem of a novella. I was thoroughly engaged from the very beginning. Early on, I was able to figure out one of the major questions but was quite surprised by other twists that arose and thus did not see the ending until it was revealed. A satisfying way to read a mystery!
Anna Sweet continues to grow her PI business with Jada Price but when Jada goes missing, Anna is determined to solve the mystery with the help of a new employee to the firm, Nick Roma. It turns out that Jada is with her younger brother, Henry – trying to remain under the radar as a result of Henry’s friend, Mandy’s death. Henry and Mandy were involved in some nefarious antics when Mandy goes missing and subsequently found dead in a dumpster. Seems the killer is intent on finding Henry to shut him up permanently so Anna must work quickly to save him.
There are three suspects (one of which is a police officer). As Anna works through the list of suspects with her ex-husband (and brother in-law) and new employee Nick Roma – more questions arise. This is what, in my mind, makes the story engaging.
I found, as what I have come to expect, the writing of Ms. Chapman engaging and easy to read. Once I began reading, I could not put To Keep A Secret down until the last word was read. While having read the first two books in the series might add some depth to the characters, one can read this title as a stand-alone as there is sufficient back story presented.
If you like quick, engaging mystery novella’s, then I suggest picking up this book, sitting down and spending a small amount of time being taken away by Brenda Chapman’s writing in To Keep a Secret. You won’t be disappointed ☺.
July 16, 2023
Quick read but good!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews