Deadly Secret

Cooper Harrington Detective #7

by Tammy L. Grace

A vanished intern. A city of secrets. A truth worth dying for.

In the busy streets near Capitol Hill, Brooke Donovan, a young intern from Nashville, meets a tragic end, her death dismissed as a random mugging. But her family smells a cover-up, and they call on Cooper Harrington, their hometown’s sharpest private eye, to unearth the truth. With his tech-savvy partner Annabelle, trusty dog Gus, and a penchant for snarky t-shirts and strong coffee, Coop dives into the capital’s shadowy elite, where a whispered secret sparks a brutal murder. Each clue drags him deeper into a web of power and lies, where one wrong move could bury the truth, and Coop, for good.

Deadly Secret, the seventh installment in Tammy L. Grace’s acclaimed Cooper Harrington Detective Novels, delivers a taut, twist-filled mystery laced with Southern grit and charm. Perfect for fans of clever sleuths, mysteries that grip until the final page, and cases that unravel with heart-pounding suspense.Dive into the latest in the award-winning Cooper Harrington Detective Novels, featuring Coop, a Nashville lawyer turned private detective known for his love of coffee, snarky t-shirts, and talent for solving cases. He, along with his faithful dog, Gus, and his right-hand assistant, Annabelle, work together to solve murder cases full of twists and turns. You’ll find a bit of humor, a dash of southern charm, a dog who is more like a furry best friend, plenty of comfort food, and murder, of course. If you enjoy complex characters with a few quirks and plots that keep you guessing, you’ll love Tammy L. Grace’s mystery series.

The series may be read as stand-alone novels, but are more enjoyable when read in order.

Read more from USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace

COOPER HARRINGTON DETECTIVE NOVELS

Killer Music (2016 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)Deadly Connection (2017 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)Dead WrongCold KillerDeadly DeceptionDeadly PursuitDeadly SecretQUINN STONE NOVELSShadows of the PastHOMETOWN HARBOR SERIESHometown The Beginning (Prequel Novella)Finding HomeHome BloomsPromise of HomePieces of HomeFinally HomeForever HomeFollow Me HomeLong Way HomeCome Home for ChristmasFeels Like HomeSISTERS OF THE HEART SERIESGreetings from Lavender ValleyPathway to Lavender ValleySanctuary at Lavender ValleyBlossoms at Lavender ValleyComfort in Lavender ValleyReunion in Lavender ValleyGLASS BEACH COTTAGE SERIES

Beach HavenMoonlight BeachBeach DreamsCHRISTMAS BOOKS

A Season for Hope (Christmas in Silver Falls)The Magic of the Season (Christmas in Silver Falls)Christmas in Snow Valley (Hometown Christmas Series)One Unforgettable Christmas (Hometown Christmas Series)Under a Christmas Star (Hometown Christmas Series)Christmas Sisters (FREE PREQUEL to Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge)&l

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2026

About the author

Tammy L. Grace is a USA Today bestselling and award winning author who writes women's fiction, mysteries, and sweet Christmas stories. She also writes about the bond we have with dogs using her pen name, Casey Wilson. Tammy is known for creating perfect escapes, unforgettable characters, and binge-worthy series.

When Tammy isn't working on ideas for a novel, she's spending time with family and friends or supporting her addiction to books and chocolate. She and her husband have one grown son and a spoiled golden retriever.

Tammy enjoys connecting with readers.
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/tammylg...
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Reviews

[Sue Librandy]

I love all these Cooper Harrington novels. They all have a mystery plus good characters that feel so down to earth. Who doesn't love a dog! This book brings us to Washington DC and the corruption. It is so appropriate with everything happening now in this country. I keep hoping that Coop and AB finally decide to be a couple.

[Carla Eacret]

non stop, riveting action from start to finish! another amazing story, makes you even more anxious for the next one!

[Suzanne]

I really loved Deadly Secret by Tammy L. Grace, the seventh installment in the Cooper Harrington Series. I’ve loved this series since the very first book and have become deeply invested in the characters. As with the previous books, this one captured my attention from beginning to end, and I found myself genuinely engaged in both the mystery and the characters’ journeys.

This book follows Cooper as he travels from Nashville to Washington, D.C., to investigate the murder of a young woman. Brooke, the granddaughter of a family friend of Cooper’s aunt, had gone to Washington, D.C., to intern for a Tennessee senator at the Capitol. When she is murdered, the police dismiss it as a mugging. However, Brooke’s family believes there is more to the story and has hired Cooper to uncover the truth behind the death of their daughter and granddaughter.

Coop is a strong lead character. I loved his determination to solve the case, even when it became complicated and messy. His persistence makes him a character you can’t help but root for. I also love AB. She adds depth to the story. Their dynamic was engaging and helped maintain a steady pace throughout.

I love a great story with a compelling family dynamic, and this series checks all the boxes—except for Coop’s mother! She is a total mess, but Coop is managing her. His relationships with his aunt and dad are amazing. He and his associate Abigail (AB for short) have a great connection. I keep hoping for a romance to develop there, but time will tell in future books.

This book is an engaging and well-crafted read, with strong characters, solid suspense, and emotional depth that keep readers captivated. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys mysteries filled with characters you can’t help but be invested in, along with a touch of humor. Coop is known for his T-shirts featuring funny sayings, which I love. AB is always there to keep him in line. Plus, who doesn’t love a story that includes a dog? Gus, Coop’s Golden Retriever, is a great addition to the story.

While this book can be read as a standalone, I suggest starting the series from the beginning to know the characters and fall in love with them, just as I have.

[Sheri]

Deadly Secret by Tammy L. Grace is the seventh book in her award-winning Cooper Harrington Detective Series. These novels are what I would call "cozy mysteries" or "who dunnit" kind of books. Deadly Secret is set near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where a daughter of a family friend working as an intern is found dead in a sketchy park. The local police write it off as a mugging gone bad, but her family said there is no way she would have put herself in that situation.

You will love getting to know Cooper Harrington (Coop) who wears silly sarcastic t-shirts and is a Nashville lawyer turned private detective after inheriting the family business from his late Uncle John. Coop has a knack for solving cold cases with the help of Annabelle (AB) his trusty assistant (who is also somewhat of a master of disguises), and Gus his golden retriever. Coop’s father Charlie, and his Aunt Camille with her southern charm and flare for digging up information (or gossip) from her friends in town, round out his little agency. Don’t let the size fool you though, together they solve cases the big agencies with many detectives are unable to solve.

In his latest case Coop is hired by the Donovan family (close friends of Aunt Camille), to find out what happened to their daughter Brooke. Did Brooke really fall victim to a violent mugger in a dreary park, or was it something more sinister? There are plenty of people who would kill to get their way as they climb the political ladder, could Brooke have stumbled upon something? As Coop and AB work to unravel the truth, they also uncover something dark and sinister and prove that in this case power and corruption go hand in hand. It is a race to discover the truth, because even they aren’t safe, and the parties involved would take out anyone who gets in their way.

The story is so well written you feel as though you are right there with the characters, and the intricate plot will keep you guessing until the very end! Grab your favorite warm beverage and snuggle up in your cozy reading spot with Deadly Secret: A Cooper Harrington Detective Novel. You won’t be disappointed!

[Phyllis Jones Pisanelli Reviews]

Tammy L. Grace never fails to deliver a book that will provide me with reading pleasure. Deadly Secret is book 7 of the Cooper Harrington Detective Novels. I have enjoyed these books since I started reading them. Let me tell you why I enjoy them so much.

The first reason is the characters. I really like Coop Harrington. He is caring and a hard worker. He has developed a lot of friends in his work that often help him out or at least send him in the correct direction. His assistant is AB. I think these two have a crush on each other but, I don’t think it has been addressed except maybe a little hint. He lives with his widowed Aunt Camille and his Dad has started to visit and stays with them also. His mother is a piece of work who is always getting into trouble and expects Coop to bail her out. She left Coop and his dad and brother years ago. It is entertaining to see what trouble she gets herself into in each book. Oh! I don’t want to forget his faithful dog, a Golden Retriever named Gus.

Coop is a private detective and has his own office in Nashville, Tennessee about 20 minutes from my home. I love that I can enjoy the feel of home while I’m reading. I enjoy seeing his world from his eyes. He is always called upon to help solve a crime or murder of some sort. I like how he and AB work together, but I can never solve the crime before they do. I am hopeless!

This book is about the granddaughter of a friend of Aunt Camille’s who moves to Washington D. C. to be an intern. She understands what her grandmother went through getting an expensive medication that she needed. Brooke Donovan wants to help fix the health care system. She is so excited to move and work on Capitol Hill. She died a short time after she started working. Police consider it a mugging gone wrong. Her parents aren’t buying it and hire Coop to go figure it out.

If you love detective stories that have a lot of heart, a murder you can’t figure out with a lot of twists and turns then Deadly Secret by Tammy L. Grace comes to you highly recommended for your reading pleasure. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review. Even a few words help.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Pam Fleming]

Politics can be messy. Coop, Gus and his assistant AB travel
To Washington DC to investigate the death of Brooke, a promising young Tennessee intern. Her family doubts the police determination of a mugging. An unintentional voice mail causes Coop to doubt the “mugging”

At first the investigation stalls but Coop and AB have tactics to continue to leave no stone unturned. Lots of political intrigue, along with lobbying and political contributions are uncovered. Even Gus helps out when AB goes out alone.

Throw in the fact that Maureen, Coop’s mother is once again in trouble and bothering Ain’t Camille. Coop does not need this interrupting his investigation

The reader will be immersed in the plot and will
Want to continue to read to find out who is guilty

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion

[Carol Ardeeser]

I will first say, I'm not the biggest mystery fan but I have fallen in love with this series; the characters are so well developed and you feel that they are your close friends....not to mention Gus, Coop's golden who is a big part of the family! This book leads Coop out of state to help find the daughter of Aunt Camille's acquaintance. So it hits close to home. The daughter of the acquaintance got a job as an intern in Washington, DC and is missing. There are great descriptions of the city and the bureaucracy and with some awesome detective work and help from a few local officials, Coop, AB, and Gus work diligently to solve the mystery and bring closure to the family. The books in this series may be read as a stand alone but I think it's a great binge worthy series since you don't want to miss any of the history!!

[Barbara Fricks]

Another great case for Coop and AB. A young woman just starting to intern for a US senator has gotten a mistaken phone message implicating corruption by another senator. Unfortunately her naivety about how things work in DC ends with her murder. Coop is contacted by the family of the young woman when the police determine she was killed by a mugger. The family feels that her case was not a priority and that the police took the easy angle to wrap it up. A lot of leg work in DC for Coop and AB but I kept wondering why they never took the time to cook in the B&B they rented. I also like the ambiguity the author uses concerning the relationship between Coop and AB. Maybe the author is longing for a break in her home cooking. :-) And, I want to know about the relationship, but not really. I’m happy just the way they are. Such a great series to follow!

[Helen Tawney]

deserves 5+ stars, great story

This story is full of suspense but, the unraveling of how the case was solved was so interesting. Also the detail and description of the capital. The senator and staff, what they do was so interesting the way Tammy Grace explained it. It wasn’t just a great story but a little history also.
I enjoyed the interesting facts about the restaurants and taking Gus on walks and the parks the went to. The people they interviewed to get the information they needed to solve this case. I didn’t want to go to sleep I wanted to keep reading. I am disappointed it ended. I always enjoy Aunt Camille and Coop’s dad, and a little drama surrounding Coop’s estranged “mom”. 5+ stars.

[Vicky]

This is #7 in the series. It ranks top of the list. I love all the characters especially Gus! In this book, Coop , AB and Gus travel to DC to investigate a murder of a young intern from TN. The police say she died of a mugging but her parents think otherwise. Coop snd AB rent a home close to Capitol Hill as a base for their investigation. Things go south when AB is attacked and Gus slightly injured in protecting AB. Coop gets the help from the FBI , someone in the police department and the senator from TN. It takes a lot of work and a plan to catch the killer(s).
All ends well. As the plot to catch the killer is formulated the reader hopes all will go well. I love this series and can’t wait for book #8!!!

[Margaret Osmond]

Deadly secret

OMG what a book! It takes you from hope to heartbreak. I even shed a few tears. Tammy Grace is a very talented writer, never a dull moment in any of her Cooper Harrington books . She fleshes out her characters very well, Coop the detective, AB his assistant and best friend, Coop’s dad Charlie and his Aunt Camille and his constant PIA mother Marlene. I’m not one to drop too much information about a book but trust me you will be held captive by the plot twists and turns. This story takes you from the peaceful town of Nashville to the dregs of DC, it’s a book that will destroy your illusions and reaffirm your hope in humanity at the same time.

[Debbie Vetter]

Politics!!

Young and wanting to help save gets a job for a Senator and leaves Tennessee to go to DC. Brooke is very interested in health care and pharmaceutical pricing. She is working for a Senator that is trying to pass a bill that would make health care more affordable for all and harder for big pharma to become richer. Brooke is found in a park not to far from her house one morning dead, the victim of what looks like a mugging. Her parents don't believe it, too many things don't add up. Coop, Ab and Gus go to Washington DC to try to find out what really happened. The investigative work and foot work done by Coop and Ab is compelling. Great job. Thank you.

[Patty Guerard]

Excellent storyline set in Washington DC. Coop and AB are asked to take on a case of a young murdered intern in a Senator’s office, presumably mugged. Her parents and grandparents, friends of Aunt Camille, do not believe the police decision, and therefore hire Coop to dig deeper. The political swamp in DC is pealed back and the situation becomes more dangerous the closer they get to the truth. And, of course, Marlene comes out of the woodwork in Vermont to make life a little more anxious for Coop as he is trying to find the killer in DC. I could not put this down, it kept me so engaged and on the edge of my seat, all the way to the end.

[Ang]

What a great addition to the Cooper Harrington series. This was a great story and of course the characters are fantastic. Such a warm loving group of people and Coopers dog Gus is just wonderful. Tammy has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are there right along side the characters.
I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. Looking forward to book 8 and any new books Tammy writes, she is a very talented author. Thank you Tammy and please keep them coming.

[Kathy Dryden]

Marlene’s antics add a touch of humor to lighten the mood in this intense Washington murder and scam. With so much corruption, it’s hard to know who to trust. Brooke set out to make a difference when she went to Washington—and she did. AB and Coop made a great team, with sweet Gus always by their side. I really enjoyed this thrilling mystery, which felt perfectly in tune with today’s time and politics.

[Paulette]

Secrets and Corruption

An idealistic woman wants to be part of the fight in Washington to lower drug prices. But an overheard conversation leads to her death. It’s up to Coop and AB to prove her death was murder. There’s danger and corruption in Washington and not all of it is on the streets. It’s in the hallowed halls and reaches places it should never be. An engaging book and a series I really enjoy.

[Victoria Bahnsen]

Hang onto your bookmarks, readers. You are in for a gripping Cooper Harrington story that will release in January. This is the seventh installment in a best-selling detective series that includes some of my favorite characters. It's a fast-paced story that will keep you hooked as Coop and AB travel to Washington DC to solve their latest case.

[Karen Lowe]

Coop and AB strike again!

Coop and AB take on Washington, D.C.. to solve the murder of a Nashville intern. Corruption, politics, and dedicated detective work make for a suspenseful but satisfying conclusion. You don’t want to miss this one! This series gets better with every new case!

[Lisa]

Another great book!

Tammy did such a wonderful job giving us another thrilling political read with Coop and AB! This series just gets better and with each book! The details written about the DC surroundings and monuments made it feel like you were right there with the characters! I enjoyed this book so much! Best one in the series by far! Keep them coming!

[Bettie A Covington]

Exposure of corruption in the government. Unfortunately, this story line was way too believable. It makes me sad, and yet this story was so real, based on my contempt for the news coming out of Washington DC these days. Like Coop, I feel disdain for modern political shenanigans. I love these characters.

[Maggie Smalley]

Love Coop and AB and the mysteries they solve

I've really enjoyed this series and a break from the romance genre. The stories are well written and I like the characters that repeat. It's fun to try to figure out the mysteries and interesting to see how they gather their info and figure them out.

[Linda Woodarf]

This one might be my favorite.

I enjoyed this book. It moved along fairly quickly, and although you sort of knew, what team was responsible for the murder there were still a lot of surprises along the way.

I do hope we’ve seen the last of Coop’s mother, however. Let’s move on from that thread.

[Pamela K.]

Wow!

Once again, Tammy Grace demonstrates her versatility as an author, excelling at suspense. I loved the up-to-date political intrigue in a familiar DC setting. You will want Coop and AB to get the bad guys but at the same time will wish the story would continue.

[Barbara Basile]

Another great one by Tammy Grace. I really love this series. I am very invested in the characters. Great story. I shed a few tears for sure. The good guys win in the end, just as you would want. Can't wait for the next one.

[Jody Daubert]

Political thriller

As much as I enjoy Coop and AB, this book was not one of my favorites. Unfortunately, our political system is so broken, and so much on the news, I have had my fill of it. The book and the writing was very well done, just not for me at this time

[Judy L Prins]

Awesome Reading

After beginning the first book I was hooked. Just finished up the 7th and can’t wait for the next adventure. These are all worth reading & I’m sure you will be hooked. Excellent writer. Highly recommend.
Judy P

[Grace Bergo]

I love the series, but the dog coop and 80 it is full of adventure, mystery, and everyday life. Tammy Grace brings action to her her characters. I can hardly wait for the next series wondering if coop and A.D. will ever become a couple.

[Judy Dick]

Excellent as always.

[Nancy Hooper]

Another Awesome Book

Another Awesome book. Love this series, One of my favorites and have most of her books. She is Awesome and Can't wait to read next book in the series

[Nancie]

Loved it. This is such a great series. Having worked in Washington DC, the details are quite accurate. Well done.