Veil of Silence

Fog Lake: Homecoming #2

by Christy Barritt

As the oldest sister, Nora Loveless spent the last ten years trying to hold her family together after her little brother disappeared. With Christian finally home, her family should feel whole again.

Instead, her instincts are screaming that something is wrong.

Nora suspects seventeen-year-old Christian is keeping secrets. But after a devastating betrayal in her own life, Nora isn’t sure she can rely on her own judgment—or know whom to trust.

FBI Agent Austin Donnelly has questions of his own. His father led the investigation into Christian’s disappearance a decade ago, but now the retired agent has vanished, along with the case files he kept all these years. When Austin’s search brings him to Fog Lake—and to Nora—he suspects her family’s past holds the answers he needs.

When another child in Fog Lake vanishes under eerily similar circumstances, Nora and Austin realize the connection they’ve been searching for reaches farther than either of them imagined.

Veil of Silence, Book 2 of the Fog Lake: Homecoming trilogy—three sisters, one missing brother, and a decade of secrets.

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2026

About the author

Christy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life—and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.

Reviews

[Kim English]

I have been waiting impatiently for this book and it did NOT disappoint!
Spoiler: do NOT read if you want a nice tidy bow that wraps up the story, because it does have a cliffhanger, but yet it answers so many more questions:
Is Christian who he says he is?
Can Nora trust again after what Jacob did to her in book #1?
Can Fog Lake survive all that has happened to them?
I was sucked in from the very beginning and loved getting to know the people of Fog like, celebrating and grieving with them. Christy writes so realistically, I could picture myself there, walking the streets with a hot coffee in hand. Can't wait for book #3.

[Rebecca]

"Whoever had done it wasn't afraid of being caught. Whoever had done it most likely blended in."

Nora Loveless' family was in the throes of adjusting to the fact that their missing brother was back home, except that the Christian they remembered couldn't remember . . . . where he had been or what he had been doing for the previous ten years. And then there was the matter of her sister Wren's young son Mason having been abducted, and thankfully found but understandably still anxious about the entire experience. Now the retired F.B.I. agent who originally investigated Christian's disappearance has gone missing, and his son F.B.I. Agent Austin Donnelly has arrived in Fog Lake to find answers.

Just as Nora begins to assist Austin in his search for information, another young boy from Fog Lake mysteriously disappears.

Peeling back the layers of the Loveless' family past in the southern gospel music industry reveals some curious clues which raise legitimate questions but provide no answers. Days go by, and Nora's self confidence, or lack thereof, keeps getting in her way; as the oldest of three sisters she has always played the role of protector after her family fell apart, but now? She is questioning everything, even whether or not she can lean on Austin to help carry the load.

"Nora is going to be a problem. That's why I have to keep an eye on her."

Stay tuned for book three in this series!

[Mary Hake]

The suspense continues in this second book of the Fog Lake Homecoming mystery series. This novel focuses on Nora Loveless, the oldest of the tree sisters whose little brother was kidnapped ten years earlier. Too many secrets still rob them of peace as the family tries to move forward. Now FBI Agent Austin Donnelly gets involved in the disappearance his FBI Agent dad had been investigating. The uncertainty and tension keep the reader hot on the trail along with the compelling characters in this intriguing drama. Why do young boys keep being abducted? I eagerly anticipate the next book! I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Sandra Hartzel]

I had a BETA copy of this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. Oldest sister, Nora Loveless has always tried to protect her siblings and parents. When FBI agent Austin Donnelly’s retired father dies, he believes he was murdered for something he found about the Loveless kidnapping. When another young boy goes missing, Austin and Nora work together to search for him and to find what his father had discovered. Things heat up when Christian also disappears. A thrilling book about disappearances, family, and trust.

[Angelique Connell]

A fantastic second in the series that keeps you hooked from start to finish! This book is a gripping, twist filled page turner that leaves you desperately craving the next book in the series. I love the way that the characters find space in your heart, sometimes giving you conflicting feelings due to what’s going on in the book. Nora is written perfectly as the oldest sibling in ways that many first borns will be able to relate to.

[Kristalyn]

This story about the Loveless family is the second in the series, and brings us closer to finding out the truth of what happened with their brothers disappearance 10 years ago. Some things come to light, but the story is still unfolding! I usually don't like cliff-hangers, but knowing more of the story is yet to be told is worth the wait!
* I received a copy of this book from the Author but all opinions are my own

[Deborah K DeLaVina]

Veil

Fog Lake has been through a lot. Missing boys, one in particular stays unsolved. The mystery behind this story is very intriguing and the suspense keeps you reading. Christy Barritt captures the essence of the characters precisely.

[Joni Truex]

Welcome back to Fog Lake where the mysteries never end. Dissapearing boys. Families trying to recover. Definitely worth the read. This book was provided by the author for me to beta read. Thd opinions expressed here are my own thoughts.

[Sandra Arbeni]

Engaging

What a wonderful work of Christian fiction. It's a Christian psychological thriller which is 2nd in a series.
It's so captivating and I read it as a marathon.
I've pre-ordered the 3rd and last one. Unfortunately, I have to wait until November to read it.

[SUSAN SKOGLUND]

One of Christy’s best series yet! Intriguing mystery, full of bizzare twists & turns- a most unusual story. Can’t wait for the next one!

[DJ Angel]

Good sequel. Looking forward to the next

[Donna M.]

great novel.

I enjoy the twists and turns Christy puts into her books. I can’t wait for book 3. The Christian influence is great. It is nice to read clean books.