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Killer Secrets: An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery
Speed dating sabotage?
Or straight-up murder?
Kate Sloan’s best friend, Bess Walker, decides to try speed dating and convinces Kate to go with her for moral support.
The night of the event is filled with many emotions. Excitement, hope, jealousy, fear, greed, and even anger. Emotions spiral out of control for one person.
Before the second round, the event’s host is murdered.
Kate will use her skills at organizing, list-making, and questioning to try and solve the murder. Can she unravel the mystery before the killer leaves town for the next weekend of singles events?
Or straight-up murder?
Kate Sloan’s best friend, Bess Walker, decides to try speed dating and convinces Kate to go with her for moral support.
The night of the event is filled with many emotions. Excitement, hope, jealousy, fear, greed, and even anger. Emotions spiral out of control for one person.
Before the second round, the event’s host is murdered.
Kate will use her skills at organizing, list-making, and questioning to try and solve the murder. Can she unravel the mystery before the killer leaves town for the next weekend of singles events?
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2025
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 7, 2026
Murder sounds scary, right? Well how about dating…after decades of not dating? Have no fear, Kate Sloan, co-owner of Let’s Get Organized, is here to help by playing date night wingman to business partner and bff, Bess King. Book three of the Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series. Kate has “mama bear” instincts like any good friend and only the best of intentions when it comes to her timid friend who couldn't possibly be on the suspect list. Could she?
Bess’s sister insists that Bess get out and meet a man. Bess decides to take part in the singles weekend event hosted at the Seaside Hideaway Resort by Clint Speck. I have to wonder if Clint, the host of the singles events which take place in various locations, could have been a sailor because he seems to have a gal or two in every “port.” Kate can’t help but notice warm embraces in slightly secluded places, which sends her curiosity on overdrive even though Reid, her new hubby, gently reminds her that it isn’t their business. But that is how it usually starts, an amateur sleuth who can’t help but to get involved, be it one way or another.
Oh, what a tangled web was weaved when one too many people tried to deceive, but there is no fooling Kate when she has her notebook at the ready. For this mystery, Reid gifted Kate with a brand-new notebook to show his love and support because Kate is going to ask questions and get involved. If organization is a good skill for an amateur sleuth, then Kate Sloan has it in spades since she is a professional organizer. Killer Secrets is book number three of the Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series, and it is just as entertaining as its predecessors. Since each story is a standalone cozy, you don’t need to have read either Clutter Free or The Con to be able to keep track of people or places. I also appreciated that Ms. Layton does not reveal who did the deeds in the previous stories.
In addition to lonely hearts, there are scams, unrequited love, love lost, and even possible embezzlement. Kate has several suspects to choose from and none of them like to be questioned. On the bright side, this event has brought a possible love match for Kate’s son and her new assistant as a result of both being at the event due to work.
This story follows a well laid and organized plot with great clues and sneaky misdirection. Kate is an engaging and realistic character. She usually does a great job at not being in the wrong place at the wrong time on her own and she is very direct with her questioning. I couldn’t wait to see what she was going to say next as suspects found themselves on the hot seat more than once. I am looking forward to seeing how she organizes her next murder mystery.
Bess’s sister insists that Bess get out and meet a man. Bess decides to take part in the singles weekend event hosted at the Seaside Hideaway Resort by Clint Speck. I have to wonder if Clint, the host of the singles events which take place in various locations, could have been a sailor because he seems to have a gal or two in every “port.” Kate can’t help but notice warm embraces in slightly secluded places, which sends her curiosity on overdrive even though Reid, her new hubby, gently reminds her that it isn’t their business. But that is how it usually starts, an amateur sleuth who can’t help but to get involved, be it one way or another.
Oh, what a tangled web was weaved when one too many people tried to deceive, but there is no fooling Kate when she has her notebook at the ready. For this mystery, Reid gifted Kate with a brand-new notebook to show his love and support because Kate is going to ask questions and get involved. If organization is a good skill for an amateur sleuth, then Kate Sloan has it in spades since she is a professional organizer. Killer Secrets is book number three of the Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series, and it is just as entertaining as its predecessors. Since each story is a standalone cozy, you don’t need to have read either Clutter Free or The Con to be able to keep track of people or places. I also appreciated that Ms. Layton does not reveal who did the deeds in the previous stories.
In addition to lonely hearts, there are scams, unrequited love, love lost, and even possible embezzlement. Kate has several suspects to choose from and none of them like to be questioned. On the bright side, this event has brought a possible love match for Kate’s son and her new assistant as a result of both being at the event due to work.
This story follows a well laid and organized plot with great clues and sneaky misdirection. Kate is an engaging and realistic character. She usually does a great job at not being in the wrong place at the wrong time on her own and she is very direct with her questioning. I couldn’t wait to see what she was going to say next as suspects found themselves on the hot seat more than once. I am looking forward to seeing how she organizes her next murder mystery.
December 5, 2025
Organizational guru Kate and her awesome hubby, Reid, team up to find the killer of the owner of a speed-dating service. The story is set in a small town on the sultry Georgia coast. I could feel the heat and humidity and even the sand (and loved it!). Killer Secrets is the third book in Layton’s Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series with recurring characters, and reading the books in order is the most fun way to enjoy the series, but Killer Secrets does work well as a standalone.
Think of all the hilarious things that could go wrong at a speed dating event … it was pretty funny when Kate and Reid crashed the party. Clint, the victim, is a ladies’ man and not so likable. Plenty of people had reason to kill him, and plenty of people are bad guys, too, so there are lots of suspects.
This is where I should probably confess that I had four suspects, one right after the other, and just when I settled on my fourth pick as the killer, Kate figures out it was my first suspect, LOL! A great mystery and great reading fun!
Layton adds a layer of seriousness with talk of forgiveness, especially within a family, and what that may mean to the person who is wronged.
Overall, Killer Secrets is a clean read with classic red herrings, surprise elements, secrets, and humor. Five stars!
Think of all the hilarious things that could go wrong at a speed dating event … it was pretty funny when Kate and Reid crashed the party. Clint, the victim, is a ladies’ man and not so likable. Plenty of people had reason to kill him, and plenty of people are bad guys, too, so there are lots of suspects.
This is where I should probably confess that I had four suspects, one right after the other, and just when I settled on my fourth pick as the killer, Kate figures out it was my first suspect, LOL! A great mystery and great reading fun!
Layton adds a layer of seriousness with talk of forgiveness, especially within a family, and what that may mean to the person who is wronged.
Overall, Killer Secrets is a clean read with classic red herrings, surprise elements, secrets, and humor. Five stars!
December 3, 2025
Kate Sloan is newly married and trying to solve another murder. Killer Secrets will keep you guessing until the end. There are a lot of guilty parties, but only one who did the crime. You'll love following Kate and her hubby as they search for the killer. The resort setting is fun, and I love all the secondary characters. I purchased a copy and opinions are my own.
February 13, 2026
Intrigue, romance, music, killer secrets, and murder -- all at dating event. Match-making can be deadly. Add Layton's latest to your TBR list.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews