Buried Secrets

Mirror Estate #1

by S.F. Baumgartner

A hidden past. A deadly inheritance. A faith that must stand the test.

Dylan Roche has always lived a quiet life, far from the family his mother never spoke of. But when a lawyer shows up with a message from a wealthy grandmother he’s never met, Dylan is drawn into a world of privilege, secrets, and danger.

What begins as a chance to learn about his past quickly becomes something darker. Someone is watching. Following. And the more he searches for answers, the more perilous his position becomes.

To survive, Dylan must make an impossible walk away and return to the life he knew—or claim the legacy his mother wanted for him, even if it puts his life on the line. Because someone is willing to kill to steal what should have been his all along.

If you like James Patterson’s pulse-pounding thrillers, Terri Blackstock’s faith-filled suspense, and Lynette Eason’s action-packed danger, you’ll devour this Christian suspense with psychological tension.

Follow Dylan on his journey to his ancestral home, starting with Buried Secrets.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2025

About the author

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets—Book 1 of her Mirror Estate series—named a Top Pick in the thriller category at Killer Nashville, 2024. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson's style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.

Reviews

[Ruben · Rating 5 out of 5]

All in all, I believe this is a nice short thriller story, which focuses mainly on Dylan Roche, the heir to the Marino's empire.

How come he never knew about his rich family before? It seems his recently deceased mother kept him in the dark about many things, but why? What could have been her reasons behind her unwillingness to let her only child know about her roots. Now he knows he's got a very wealthy grandmother and it seems his only chance of finding out is by accepting her invitation to visit her in Florida, although he might be facing certain dangers if he wants to unveil the truth.

Being this the prequel to what's yet to come I feel it fulfilled its purpose of hooking us up so as to be willing to read the next instalment in the series, hopefully there'll be more background on the characters and the connection between their past and present lives.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm intrigued. This series prequel has convinced me to dive into book one now that I have a taste of what's coming.
Frankly, some things shouldn't work. We have things that should be kind of overdone used in new, fresh ways, and that took what I shouldn't have enjoyed into something I really did.
Additionally, the audio narration worked well. I look forward to continuing.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried Secrets is A Psychological Suspense Thriller by S F Baumgartner. I thought that this was an excellent thriller. Dylan has lost his mother and it appears that he found a family he did not know about. I thought the characters were well written and perfect for the story. I felt that the author wove a story that had twists and turns with unexpected moments sprinkled here and there. I was not ready for the book to end and I hope we get another book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Ashley Chmielewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast-paced, quick read had me hooked from the beginning! Loved the moody and mysterious atmosphere throughout the book. A long lost family with criminal ties, nobody seems to be who they say they are and investigators searching for the truth. The ending left me questioning people and wishing there was a part two!

[Beth Roger aka Katiebella_Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not really sure what to say....

This is a mafia/crime/thriller book. A short read, only around 100 pgs. For the most part, it follows Dylan our POV MMC. Dylan mother just died, and he finds out the grandmother he thought was dead is looking for him.

Dylan's family is mafia rich and want him to join the family business now that they have gone legitimate and gotten out of crime.

Someone wants him to leave. Someone is trying to get him to go home and forget his rich relatives.

I found this book somewhat disjointed and hard to follow. It jumps between timelines and points of view at a rapid fire pace. There seems to be way too many cliches. ( The priest who saved his parents, the lawyer who knows everything but isn't what he seems, the butler whose whole family works for Mrs. Carol, not to mention a secret twin.) The ending didn't even feel finished. Apparently, it's part of a series that I won't be reading.

It's not a horrible story, but not one I want to continue. The author obviously can write but isn't quite there yet. The book was a little amateurish and obvious for my taste.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the opening for the Mirror Estates Series. Ms. Baumgartner lays a solid foundation for the remainder of the series. The characters are fully developed and realistic. But my favorite element of the story is the way in which Ms. Baumgartner blends suspense and faith. She never beats her readers over the head with her beliefs but makes those beliefs an essential part of her characters' personalities. The changing POV and movement from past to present are handled well. There's no jarring, just a smooth transition back and forth. The only criticism is a very small one and really speaks more to Ms. Baumgarten's writing skill. I would have liked to see the story go on longer. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but continues in the next book. Now I'm impatient to get my hands on book 2. Actually, the perfect thing for me would be to find all of the books in the series in one box set. That way, I could binge-read to my heart's content. I received a review copy via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.

[Humble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brief thriller offers an engaging introduction to a story shaped by secrecy, legacy, and unexpected revelations. At its center is a protagonist whose life takes a dramatic turn upon discovering ties to a powerful and affluent family he never knew existed. The narrative carefully builds intrigue by hinting at long-buried truths and unresolved tensions, particularly surrounding the choices of a parent who chose silence over disclosure.

The invitation that sets the story in motion serves as both an opportunity and a warning, creating an undercurrent of suspense that keeps the reader invested. There is a palpable sense that stepping into this newly revealed world comes with risks, adding depth to the unfolding mystery.

As an opening installment, it effectively sparks curiosity and lays a strong foundation for what follows. The story leaves enough unanswered questions to encourage continued reading, with the promise of deeper character exploration and more intricate connections in future entries.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the re-edited expanded edition of Buried Secrets which released on 9/15/25. This is the first book in the Mirror Estate series. This was a relatively quick read. The pacing felt comfortable and the shifts between time periods was done well. Sometimes going between time periods can be confusing for me and I did not experience that with Buried Secrets. The characters were all interesting, and some still have plenty of unknowns that I hope are developed further in later installments in the series. My one critique was that it felt like once the big reveal and climax happened, everything happened very quickly and the book wrapped up rather quickly. That pacing at the end was a bit off. However, I enjoyed this and definitely plan to continue the series. I received a gifted advanced digital copy from the author through Bookworm Books PR and leave this honest review voluntarily.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buried Secrets ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you S.F. Baumgartner for selecting me as an ARC Reader! Buried Secrets was a quick read that I really enjoyed and I will say that I did not expect the story to play out as it did. The twist!

Dylan is left to find the truth about his mother's past and left with a key that will unveil it all. He plans to uncover the secrets she kept hidden from him, but in doing so is left feeling an ominous presence lurking. And why does he keep seeing his mother in the shadows? What unfolds along the way is more than what he expected.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some shocking twists that I didn’t see coming. It was interesting watching everything unfold and to discover how things worked out. I’m anxious to know how the rest plays out through the series!

[April Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a well written prequel novella. It definitely did it's job of getting me invested in the characters and curious as to where the story will go. I liked the way the suspense around Dylan's biological family was built up and I was definitely questioning who knew what and how he was going to find out the truth. I'm looking forward to reading more about these characters in future books.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, I had the pleasure of reading Buried Secrets, by S.F. Baumgartner. I didn’t know what to expect as this is listed under Christian Thriller, and depending upon how the author addresses the religious aspects of the book, it might be more awkward than enjoyable. However, I found the book to be wonderful! It drew me in, and kept me wanting more. The story constantly unfolded, with little tidbits that made me wonder what could possibly be coming next? Near the end, so much new information was coming at once that I did find I needed to re-read some sections. This I did not mind.

On another note, the editor is excellent as I never had any awkward moments where I was pulled out of the story because of a typo.

I received an advance review copy of Buried Secrets for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This extended version of the first book expands on the story of Dylan Roche as his mother dies and he suddenly finds out he has family out there, that he never knew about He had been brought up by a single mother, never really knowing his father, who worked hard to make ends meet. He was struggling to make his rent after her death, especially with all the medical bills, when a wealthy grandmother, Carol Marino, invites him to the Mirror Estate, where his mother had grown up. He takes some time to think about the offer, before being flown to the estate, where he hopes to get some answers about his mother’s past and the family, he knew nothing of. Walking the grounds, he gets the strange sense that someone is watching him, even catching a glimpse of someone in profile that looks exactly like his dead mother! Carol sees him as the rightful heir to her family’s fortune and businesses, but needs to know more about him before she offers him access to everything her father and grandfather built. His mother had given him a key just before she died and also knowledge of a secret someone else clearly wanted her to know about. He gets a tour of some of the secrets of the estate by Sean, the young grandson of the butler, who has a very inquisitive manner and knows a lot of the hideaways on the estate.

A message left for Dylan by his mother, tells him that the key will show him everything, when he’s ready to go to the estate, along with some clues to the location of a hidden item. This secretive side of his family that he has only just discovered, seems to have dangerous history and it seems some might not want him to inherit anything! His own mother left clear pointers that she wanted him to claim his legacy, but he will be putting his life on the line if he stays! His own father Mickey was gunned down after they ran away from the estate and there is a figure known to the FBI only as the Ghost, who wants him dead. Mickey’s father and grandfather were both cops and Dylan will find evidence they had against certain members of his family and trusted employees, in the item his parents hid on the estate, before they ran, and the FBI would be very interested in that material. So much more information about Dylan and his family, as well as all the other characters who will become key to the story as the series continues, especially Fr. Phil. Dylan visits the restaurant and chapel that are on site, as well as getting an introduction to the tunnel and told of hidden doors and more yet to be discovered. He is determined to continue with finding out more about his mother and why she left, as well as the past of the Marino family history, legal and illegal. Carol gives him a new future at the end of this book, along with his best friend Tommy, in one of the Marino & Marino (M&M) businesses. A much better introduction to the Mirror Estate and some of its characters than previously and gives clearer information on the wide scope of characters, as well as how the Ghost came to be captured and the FBI’s attempts to get her put away for a long time!

I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Mahnoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buried Secrets is a suspenseful mysterious novel that follows the life of Dylan, a young man who is struggling after the death of his mother. While dealing with grief and financial problems, his life suddenly takes a strange turn when he starts receiving unexpected money and is contacted by a lawyer who tells him about a rich grandmother he never knew existed. Curious and confused, Dylan travels to a grand estate in Florida, where everything looks beautiful but feels mysterious and unsettling.

As he spends more time there, he begins to notice odd things like hidden areas, secrets in the house, and the feeling that someone is watching him. Slowly, he realizes that his mother had a hidden past and may have been running from something serious.

The book also does a good job of building curiosity through small hints and clues instead of revealing everything at once. This keeps the reader thinking and guessing throughout. At times, the story may feel slightly repetitive, particularly in the use of suspense elements like being watched or sensing danger. Overall, the novel is enjoyable for readers who like light suspense and mystery without overly complex language. It is not extremely deep or complex, but it is engaging and entertaining, making it a good choice for a quick and interesting read.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This introductory installment in the Mirror Estates series proves to be a compelling and thoughtfully crafted beginning. The author establishes a strong narrative framework, drawing readers into a world where the characters feel authentic and multidimensional. Each individual is portrayed with a sense of realism that makes their motivations and struggles resonate.

One of the novel’s most distinctive strengths lies in its seamless integration of suspense with spiritual undertones. Rather than presenting these elements in a heavy-handed manner, the author allows them to emerge naturally through the characters’ perspectives and experiences, adding depth without overwhelming the storyline.

The structure of the narrative is also noteworthy, with shifts in perspective and timelines handled with clarity and fluidity. Transitions between past and present feel organic, maintaining the story’s momentum without causing confusion.

If there is any shortcoming, it is simply that the story concludes sooner than one might hope. While it provides a satisfying sense of continuation rather than an abrupt ending, it leaves a strong desire to immediately move forward with the series. Readers who appreciate immersive storytelling may find themselves wishing for uninterrupted access to the entire collection.

[Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first installment of the Mirror Estates series delivers a captivating and well-executed start, immediately drawing readers into its carefully constructed world. The author demonstrates a clear command of storytelling, creating characters who feel genuine, layered, and emotionally engaging.

A particularly noteworthy aspect of the novel is its subtle weaving of tension with themes of faith. These elements are integrated with restraint and purpose, allowing them to enrich the characters’ identities rather than overshadow the narrative. This balance adds a meaningful dimension to the story without compromising its pace or intrigue.

The narrative structure is handled with precision, as shifts in perspective and timeline unfold smoothly and intuitively. The transitions between different viewpoints and time periods are seamless, maintaining clarity while enhancing the overall depth of the story.

If there is any minor drawback, it is simply that the story leaves readers wanting more. While it flows naturally into the next installment rather than ending abruptly, its engaging nature makes it difficult not to wish for a longer read. It is the kind of book that encourages readers to continue immediately, ideally with the entire series readily available for uninterrupted enjoyment.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Originally published as "The Secret".
A destitute young man. Wanted dead by a criminal mastermind. Will he prove to be the downfall of the psychopath?
Dylan Roche is shocked. A destitute young man. Wanted dead by a criminal mastermind. Will he prove to be the downfall of the psychopath?
Dylan Roche is shocked. The twenty-five-year-old management trainee is astonished by the visit of an attorney. After years of blissful ignorance of his heritage, he is leery of the invitation to visit his wealthy maternal grandmother.
Wishing his mother was alive to advise him, Dylan sets off to investigate the family’s history, despite his feeling of foreboding. But with the sinister maniac creeping at each turn, he fears his mother’s faith in him was grossly misplaced.
Will Dylan find the secret hidden by his mother and survive the attack by the lunatic?"

Great book, lots of twists and turns, fast paced, you're not going to want to put this book down, new author to me, would love to read more from them.
Thanks to books go social, netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and leave an honest review.
Published June 27th, 2023

[Gwen Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so many secrets and twists and turns that is was hard not to get lost in the maze. Here we have a family of power and greed that Dylan Roche never knew of. His mother Maggie has just died of cancer and she tried to tell him of her heritage on her death bed. Carol Marino, Maggie's mother and Dylan's grandmother now wants to meet him. So she sends her fancy lawyer Charles Townsend to convince Dylan to return home to his roots with him. Dylan has always lived a quiet life far from the life he is now being drawn into. This new life is a world of privilege, secrets and danger.

As Dylan is exploring his new life he realizes something darker is right around the corner. Someone is watching him, following him and the more he searches for answers the more dangerous it becomes for him. To survive Dylan must make an impossible choice -- walk away and return to is quiet life or claim the legacy that his mother wanted for him. But now he finds that someone is willing to kill to steal what should have been his all along.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is a Christian thriller and part of the Mirror Estate series. The main character is Dylan. Dylan receives a message from a lawyer that was written by his grandmother he never met. Will Dylan investigate and find out why his mom kept him from her? Will he give in and go to Florida to learn more about his family? This is the first book I have read by this author and it did not disappoint. It had suspense and was faith filled which I loved. Will Dylan make it out alive? The side characters were great. I normally don’t like books that switch from past to present throughout the book but this worked. I didn’t want to put the book down. This is a prequel to the series so I can’t wait to read the other books. Overall, this is a good book.

[Drishti Engineer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thriller Buried Secrets starts with an immediate hook at page one and maintains its grip until the very end. The story maintains escalating tension throughout its chapters while making readers doubt the true intentions of all characters.
The writing style creates an eerie atmosphere through its prose which explores both deception consequences and hidden truths. The characters display human imperfections which intensify the rising tension when their narratives merge. The story presents a twist that completely disrupts your understanding of the plot.
The narrative progresses not too quickly giving characters room to form relationships and the unexpected plot twists keep readers anxious to know what comes next. The Book isn’t predictable at all and the ending is just chef’s kiss.

[Meghan Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting and fairly quick thriller which was quite refreshing! I really enjoyed the plot, and the character building was really well done. The characters were all reasonable human beings that you could understand and somewhat relate to.

The atmosphere throughout was mysterious and moody which helped make the reader feel more wrapped up in the suspense.

Although it was listed as a christian thriller, the religious aspect of this book was not at all overwhelming. The author had lots of good twists and turns throughout, and it was tied together really well at the end. I was definitely shocked at the ending!

I am looking forward to seeing where the rest of the story behind the Marino Family goes!

Thank you to the author for allowing me to review this book.

[Sarah VanBuskirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buried secrets is the first book in the Mirror Estates series by S. F. Baumgartner. This is a clean, Christian, more Catholic centered, mystery thriller mix. It’s not too spooky or anything but it did keep me on my toes trying to figure out who was this “ghost”. Is he losing his mind and just grieving the loss of his mother? Has she come back to help him in some weird spirit form? I don’t want to spoil it so I’m not gonna tell. This was an easy, quick read. The story came smoothly together and has you itching to read the second book to find out what happens next in the investigation. A grieving son finds out he might not be as poor and alone as he thought, but has to decide if he wants to align himself with this long lost family. I love the twists and turns of him searching for the truth about who his parents were. And secrets buried in the dark always come to light at some point. I hope you pick this spooky read up in October!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Dylan accepted the offer to learn more about his mother's family, he had no idea what he was getting into.

I received this ARC book for free and I am leaving my honest review.

I loved Buried Secrets! I can't wait for the next book. I think that what I loved best was that family, no matter what, does really care for you; but also not all family can be trusted based on previous actions of said family.

Dylan, learns after his mother's death, of her family that she ran away from years ago. He had assumed, based on everything she told him, that her family was dead and had died years ago.

He then learns of a grandmother who wants to meet him, along with a family business that may or may not be legitimate.

[Britney Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried Secrets is a strong, brisk thriller novella. It excels at building tension, teasing secrets, and setting up a larger story. The revisions in the expanded edition improve the flow and help clarify some plot threads. While it doesn’t offer the deep character study or fully fleshed-out world of a full-length novel, it more than delivers in suspense, intrigue, and emotional stakes for its length.

If you enjoy suspenseful reads, fast pacing, mysteries about family legacy, and Christian themed undertones without overly heavy preaching, Buried Secrets is a very good pick.

If you prefer character-heavy stories, slower reveals, or self-contained endings, you might find elements of this book less satisfying but even then, the novella is worth your time if you like mysteries.

[Sian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I look forward to finding new-to-me clean suspense reads but this did not work for me. Everything about this felt disjointed. It felt like reading fragments of different versions of the same story. It was difficult for me to follow and the dots only connected when they were spelled out after each next thing in the plot. This was fast-paced but not in a good way. The reader has to suspend disbelief for the pacing to make sense with everything that was coming together. Nothing felt developed to me and I couldn't picture this writing. The dialogue stuck out as one-dimensional, there wasn't any nuance to it. The storytelling was plain. I never connected with the protagonist and many of the side characters blurred together. This retained a second star from me because it was still written well on a technical-basis...technically.

I really don't have much more to say. I suppose this was a mystery at the very most but I cannot say it was suspenseful or thrilling. And I read Christian suspense/fiction all the time but did not connect with the faith content in this one at all. The biggest reason I chose not to DNF is because it's short and only took me 2.5 hours to read.

This is an expanded novella (re-released with 188 pages) introducing a series with later more full-length novels, but I am not interested in continuing the series. I was sent an eARC to read and review, but these are my thoughts.

In this book:
-male protagonist
-multi-POV
-family secrets
-mafia
-conspiracy

Content Guide:
romance - none/clean
language - clean
violence - brief and non-descriptive

Potential Content Warnings:
-recent loss of a parent

[Paulina Bellantonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but so good - absolutely enthralling!
I literally read this in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep! Stayed up till morning to finish! Then found an extended epilogue and some other bonus content on the author’s website! I cannot wait till the full length books come out!
I loved Dylan! He’s such a great character and I am looking forward to seeing what becomes of him in this series. I love how the characters are multi-faceted and you don’t really know where everyone’s allegiance lie. I’m looking forward to figuring all that out in this series!

[Devons book corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short, easy to read thriller was fun and fast paced. I grabbed it as an in between kind of read, and ended up really enjoying it. This book gave me dark and moody vibes, and all I can think about is how perfect this book would be on a cold, dark and gloomy October day, curled up next to a fireplace and enjoying. I was invested in the story and the characters, and I can't wait till the full length novels come out. This prequel novella was great.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is compelling and mysterious. The characters are interesting and secretive. After the death of Maggie, his mother, Dylan Roche gets to know about his grandmother and Mirror estates but Marino family seems to be harbouring sinister secrets. He has a lot of questions in his mind and he is curious to know why his mom concealed truth from him? As he get to the bottom of the mystery, some sinister secrets comes in full view putting his own life at stake. He finds himself tangled in twisted family secrets, buried truth, threats and dangers.

•Fast Paced
•Short Chapters
•Wealth and Power
•Twisted Family secrets
•Threats and Dangers

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried Secrets is Book 1 in the Mirror Estate by S F Baumgartner. I thought that this book and the series was an excellent Christian thriller. Dylan is a wonderful main character. In Buried Secrets, Dylan discovers a family he knew nothing. But, this new family has dark secrets and someone wants Dylan dead. This author writes books that I can't put down. She writes surprises, twist and turns and she has a way of perfectly ending the book while leaving me anxious for the next book. If you enjoy thrillers that are truly exciting… Buried Secrets should be on your TBR list. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Bette Reith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to a fantastic series. Written first in a shorter form, this new expanded version more clearly shows Dylan's life before finding out he is an heir to an enormous estate, from a grandmother he never knew existed. An interesting tale of giving up everything you know about your life and entering a different world of money and intrigue. I love this series and highly recommend that you read this book first. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book