Murderous Secrets

Shandra Higheagle Mystery #4

by Paty Jager

Book four in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series Jealousy…Deception…Murder The accident that took her father’s life has always haunted Shandra Higheagle. When her dreams become too real, she knows it’s time to discover the truth. It doesn’t take long to suspect her father had been murdered and that someone is unhappy with her probing. Detective Ryan Greer knows Shandra well enough to insist he be kept informed of her investigation into the decades old death of her father. When signs implicate her mother, he can’t withhold the information, even though he realizes it could complicate their relationship.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2015

About the author

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 55+ novels, novellas, and short stories of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure.
All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Paty and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.

Reviews

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 4th edition of Shandra Higheagle finds her looking into the death of her father. It was ruled an accident but her dreams from her Indian grandmother, Ella inform her something was wrong and the clues led to her Mother. Shandra spends some time with her Father's family to learn more about her Father. Detective Ryan keeps a close watch on what Shandra finds out and as she learns she was unwanted. Her Grandmother put a fear that if her Mother that if aborted her she would place a curse on her Mother. Who was responsible for changing horse the Father was to ride? Was he given a drug? What will Shandra discover? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shandra and Ryan are chasing down old family secrets this holiday season. And with every secret they uncover, they’re left with more questions that need answering. I didn’t want this to be the truth they’d discover, but I had a feeling that this might be the direction it would go. Now that these old ghosts have been laid to rest, I can’t wait to see what new mysteries they’ll be tackling next.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 4 out of 5]

a woman finds out her dad's deadly accident was actually murder and suspects her mother did it.

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Murderous Secrets by Paty Jager, Shandra Higheagle sets off to look into the death of her father, a rodeo star from the Nez Perce Native American tribe killed by a particularly mean horse during a rodeo when Shandra was four. Recently Shandra has gotten in touch with a friend of her father’s now living in a nursing home who has inspired Shandra to look into both her father’s death and her own Native heritage. Afraid that her Native relatives might not accept her for being half- white, especially since her mother brought her up to avoid all elements of her Native heritage, Shandra nervously sets out on a trip to her father’s people. Fortunately, she finds a family happy to welcome her and which helps her to locate some people who might be able to assist her.

Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation

[Anne Rightler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Paty Jager has offered readers another intriguing book in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series. Murderous Secrets finds Shandra looking into the death of her father. The supposedly accidental death had occurred a number of years ago. Yet Shandra became absorbed in finding out what really had happened because of a dream visit from her Nez Perce grandmother, Ella. Jager has crafted a great story with characters that are realistic and relatable and dialogue that flows seamlessly without sounding forced. With interesting twists and turns to the plot, a surprising culprit, and a budding romance, the pages almost turned themselves. Readers who enjoy murder mysteries with a bit of romance will not want to miss Murderous Secrets. I listened to a complimentary copy of the audiobook and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own. Ann M. Thompson does a great job narrating Shandra's story which makes for an enjoyable listening experience.

[Carolyn J Pitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gran

I m having trouble with my tablet so writing this is complicated. I love your plots and stories, but I don't understand your propensity for bad grammar . Don't you have someone to edit your manuscripts foe you? Please answer. You are not the only published author these days to have bad grammar. I just don't understand an editor or book publisher allowing such mistakes Please explain. If you don't have anyone to edit your books, I would be glad to help. I am an 84 year old retired teacher with nothing to do, but for the pleasure of reading your stories I would do it for free. Please let me know. I realize this offer seems naive but if I could help you in this way I would regard this as a privilege As I said it would be for free and nothing would be revealed about your stories or the fact that I waa straightening out the grammar You are too good a writer to let this continue. Please let me know

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shandra has the gift of seeing, as her grandmother Ella comes to her in a dream. Her father was in the rodeo circuit, and a bull threw him. Which they say was unusual was he drugged, and couldn’t roll away. On the strength of her dreams she returns to the reservation, and was welcome. Been a long time, and that surprised her, in time cousins and others will be more open with her. Finding others that rode the bulls,alive, going and talking with them.The one surprise was that her stepfather, her mother had dated before her dad. With threats she married him, when killed she went back to the first man. Secrets she never knew, what more will she find out.
Great story as well as series.

[Holly Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murderous Secrets is an interesting murder mystery in which Native American Artist Shandra Higheagle investigates her father’s death. For those who have read other books in the series, it’s nice to get to know Shandra’s family better.

Contains talk about sex and affairs. This would be a PG13 if it were a movie.

The narrator does a decent job, though some of the voices she uses for characters are not to my liking.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysteries typically are not my normal read. This one was okay. I am tending to think I have an abnormal view on how adult relationships work, because a lot of the books I come across have this unrealistic ( in my opinion) way of how adults act around each other. Other than that, this was a good story. Narration was okay. Although this is book 4, I have not read any of the other books and had no problems jumping right into this book.

[Patricia S. Begonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly addictive series.

This series caught me by surprise. Thought I'd try one and now I'm hooked. The characters are realistic. The twists and turns keep you on your toes. Even if you think you have it figured out getting to the end is an adventure. You can't go wrong with this one. I'd love the author to add A little happiness to Lil's life and I think we saw the start of that in this book. Still have !any to read but I don't think I'll be disappointed

[Joyce Burk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Shandra Higheagle Mystery

I enjoy the characters in Paty Jagers mysteries. This one had many romantic moments and I am eager to see how Shandras romance develops. The dream sequences are also quite unique.

[Julie Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Absolutely love the story would highly recommend this book to anyone. Another great book. Thank you for sharing your stories.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shandra Higheagle is determined to find out what really happened to her father all those years ago. Did he really died in a rodeo accident or was it murder? Shandra feels she needs to find out the truth about her father. Her mother and step-father kept Shandra from her Native American roots and they refused to discuss her father or his family. Shandra nervously reached out to her father’s family, but she was worried for nothing as she was welcomed with open arms. Fueled by this acceptance and information from one of her father’s rodeo friend Shandra with Detective Ryan Greer’s help launches her own investigation into her father’s death. She has to know what happened even if someone close to her was involved.

We get to see a more emotional Shandra in the story since the investigation is personal for her. I am really happy that she meets her father’s side of the family and is accepted into their lives. I am also glad that she has Detective Greer to lean on for emotional support. With each book, the couple is growing closer to a possible romantic relationship. I could not put this book down, I had to know how everything was going to turn out for Shandra and her family. I was very pleased with the storyline and happy that Shandra can finally get closer to a lot of what she has been missing in her life.

I listened to the audio version of this book, Narrator Ann M. Thompson does a great job bringing this book to life. She has great pace and diction in this book. I love her accents, in all her narration was a great addition to this book.


I recommend this book to all mystery fans. It can be read as a stand-alone mystery but you it might be better enjoyed if you know Shandra’s backstory from the previous books. *I was given a copy of this book in hopes I would submit a review. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own and in no way influenced.

[Judy Thomas-Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Dorothy Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to have the mystery of Shandra's father's death revealed. Surprises all the way, as usual.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 in this very readable series, mix of mystery and romance.

Shandra has always thought her father's death was not as it seemed, and her dreams featuring her Grandmother prompts her to do some investigating. Unfortunately, this means she will need to contact her Mother and Step-Father at some point, something she is loathe to do.

Her journey takes her back onto the Colville reservation and back to her family, this time she takes Ryan which sets tongues wagging.

Will she proove her father's death was anything but an accident, and if so, is the person still alive who killed him?

Her journey will uncover some unsavoury actions and she will find some things out about her past which she finds difficult.

As usual, Sheba (her big bear of a dog), Lil and Lewis (the gorgeous cat) feature heavily in the story.

I really enjoy reading these books and will be sad when I've read them all.