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House of Secrets #3
How Secrets Die
As Laurel Ridge embraces a stranger hungry for answers, a sinister truth is awakened.
A hard-hitting reporter, Kate Beaumont unearths the deepest lies and brings harsh truths to light, but the story that lures her to the gentle town of Laurel Ridge, Pennsylvania, is closer to her heart than anyone knows. The details of her half brother's sudden death have never made sense. She owes him justice, yet the one man who can help her is the stubborn sheriff she can't stand.
Protecting his town is Mac Whiting's top priority. Everything else, including pacifying a beautiful crusader on a mission best left resting in peace, is secondary. But as Kate's search embeds her in his world and attracts a skilled criminal, she needs Mac's protection. Drawn together by deadly secrets, they must find a way to trust each other before a killer silences them both.
A hard-hitting reporter, Kate Beaumont unearths the deepest lies and brings harsh truths to light, but the story that lures her to the gentle town of Laurel Ridge, Pennsylvania, is closer to her heart than anyone knows. The details of her half brother's sudden death have never made sense. She owes him justice, yet the one man who can help her is the stubborn sheriff she can't stand.
Protecting his town is Mac Whiting's top priority. Everything else, including pacifying a beautiful crusader on a mission best left resting in peace, is secondary. But as Kate's search embeds her in his world and attracts a skilled criminal, she needs Mac's protection. Drawn together by deadly secrets, they must find a way to trust each other before a killer silences them both.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published June 28, 2016
160 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Marta Perry
198 books776 followersMarta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 14, 2016
Unlike cozy mysteries where a civilian (usually female) investigates a crime (usually a murder) without the benefit of training or official support and often ends up in carefully-arranged danger, this one had depth.
Certain that there's more to her brother's story than has been discovered, and knowing that he was recovering, Kate returns to her brother's last home to find something to explain Jason's death, but life in this small town is not as she expected.
Part mystery, part romance, the story deftly draws all the characters together, forming cohesion from a mess of tangled threads, offering truth about addiction along the way.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Certain that there's more to her brother's story than has been discovered, and knowing that he was recovering, Kate returns to her brother's last home to find something to explain Jason's death, but life in this small town is not as she expected.
Part mystery, part romance, the story deftly draws all the characters together, forming cohesion from a mess of tangled threads, offering truth about addiction along the way.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2025
Marta Perry has always been a favorite author of mine and her this novel, HOW SECRETS DIE is exactly why I am a huge fan. HOW SECRETS DIE takes place in Amish country, but the main character, Kate Beaumont is English. She has come to the town of Laurel Ridge after the death of her brother Jason. Jason took his own life and Kate travels there to try and find out why. She is trying to find any information about his final days. The local police dismissed the case as an accidental death, a former drug addict who slipped off the wagon and committed suicide. She can not accept that he wanted to die.
HOW SECRETS DIE is the third book in the House of Secrets trilogy. I always have such a good time reading Marta Perry’s Amish stories. She brings these communities to life and I learn something new about the Amish each time I read one of her books. Someone doesn’t like the fact that Kate is digging around looking for clues and tries to get rid of her more than once. I really enjoy how the Englisch and the Amish work together respectfully, both professionally and personally. Their differences can cause obstacles so I enjoy reading how the Amish keep their faith strong within constant temptation. HOW SECRETS DIE is filled with mystery, suspense, family, friendship, and even some romance.
HOW SECRETS DIE is a mystery of who done it with the twists and turns of a great page turner that I just couldn’t put down. Common sense and kindness prevails when the characters are faced with adversity, but it is never so sweet that it becomes unrealistic. If you’ve read Amish stories before and have been disappointed, I think you’ll find this author’s style refreshing. Marta Perry creates a suspenseful atmosphere, and leads the reader to a variety of conclusions before revealing the true identity behind the criminal activities. She had me convinced I knew “who dunit” a few times, before leading me in yet another direction. To me that is a sign of a good mystery novel! I always look forward to reading Marta Perry novels and HOW SECRETS DIE is exactly why.
HOW SECRETS DIE is the third book in the House of Secrets trilogy. I always have such a good time reading Marta Perry’s Amish stories. She brings these communities to life and I learn something new about the Amish each time I read one of her books. Someone doesn’t like the fact that Kate is digging around looking for clues and tries to get rid of her more than once. I really enjoy how the Englisch and the Amish work together respectfully, both professionally and personally. Their differences can cause obstacles so I enjoy reading how the Amish keep their faith strong within constant temptation. HOW SECRETS DIE is filled with mystery, suspense, family, friendship, and even some romance.
HOW SECRETS DIE is a mystery of who done it with the twists and turns of a great page turner that I just couldn’t put down. Common sense and kindness prevails when the characters are faced with adversity, but it is never so sweet that it becomes unrealistic. If you’ve read Amish stories before and have been disappointed, I think you’ll find this author’s style refreshing. Marta Perry creates a suspenseful atmosphere, and leads the reader to a variety of conclusions before revealing the true identity behind the criminal activities. She had me convinced I knew “who dunit” a few times, before leading me in yet another direction. To me that is a sign of a good mystery novel! I always look forward to reading Marta Perry novels and HOW SECRETS DIE is exactly why.
June 10, 2016
Originally published at Reading Reality
I just plain liked this book. I think it may have been a case of the right book at the right time, but I definitely found myself slipping into the book, and the world of Laurel Ridge, very easily. And I say this in spite of this book being the author’s third trip to Laurel Ridge, after Where Secrets Sleep and When Secrets Strike, which I have not read and did not miss having read for the purpose of getting into How Secrets Die.
But I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to go back and read the first two.
How Secrets Die is a lovely small-town romantic suspense story. Reporter Kate Beaumont comes to Laurel Ridge to investigate the death of her brother the previous year. The local cops dismissed the case as an accidental death – a former drug addict who slipped off the wagon to an untimely end.
But Kate can’t let it go. Her brother Jason had had some trouble, but he had been clean and sober for years, and was doing well in college and seemed to be doing well at his internship at a local financial firm. Kate is certain that something must have gone seriously wrong to drive Jason back to his old, bad habits.
After endless viewings of Jason’s somewhat cryptic video journal, Kate just doesn’t see what drove him off the rails and to his death. So she comes to Laurel Ridge to search for herself, and runs right into the local police chief, Mac Whiting.
Kate blames Mac for the quick dismissal of her brother’s case. Mac is, at first, worried that Kate is just there to stir up trouble. But when that trouble strikes, Mac finds that he is just plain worried about Kate. And guilty that he didn’t look deeper into the case at the time. Because when the attacks on Kate escalate, it becomes clear that there must be something he overlooked.
If the case were as open and shut as it initially appeared to be, no one would feel threatened by Kate’s presence in town. But someone obviously is. And they’ll stop at nothing to make sure that whatever secret Jason uncovered, it stays dead with him. And if necessary, with Kate.
Escape Rating B: As I said at the top, I just plain liked this book. I was in the mood for a relatively familiar type of story, one with likable characters and a few interesting twists, and How Secrets Die fit the bill.
And although the romance is quite lovely, this is a surprisingly clean book. The author does a good job of portraying the heat between Kate and Mac while giving them plenty of logical reason for not indulging in that spark at first, second or even subsequent involvement. This is a story where postponing the romantic payoff until the very end made sense. Also you might see this book billed as “Inspirational”. After reading it, I can say that it does not fall into that genre. How Secrets Die falls squarely into romantic suspense.
Kate and Mac certainly have one thing in common – they are both dealing with a load of survivor’s guilt. Kate’s is pretty obvious from the outset – she feels guilty that she didn’t notice her brother’s cry for help. It isn’t until well into her investigation that she starts to realize that she didn’t respond because there wasn’t one. He never knew how much trouble he was in until it was far too late.
Mac’s heavy dose of guilt is both recent and long-term. As Kate shakes things up in Laurel Ridge, she often accuses him of being too protective of the local citizens to dive into things that need to be dove into. And she’s right. He dismissed Jason’s case much too easily, even though there were a whole bunch of loose ends that he never tied down. He knew too many people too well to question them the way he should have.
He also lives with an overwhelming need to protect his community, because he feels that he let so many people who depended on him down when he served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The people that he couldn’t save haunt him.
Kate and Mac do not start from a position of trust. Kate doesn’t much like cops – her stepfather was one and was a rigid taskmaster who insisted that his many rules be followed to the letter. While there was no abuse, there was also no love or respect. Instead, Kate found herself raising her younger half-brother, and trying to protect his very quirky nature from his by-the-book father.
While we never hear if Jason was diagnosed with anything in particular, it sounds like he might have been somewhere on the Asperger spectrum.
So the story in this romantic suspense story is Kate moving to Laurel Ridge to find out what happened to her brother. Along the way she falls for the police chief, who is tied to the community, while Kate plans to leave when her quest is over. Along the way they trip over several secrets that the owners would rather remain buried, and who would be happy to bury Kate right along with them.
At the end, the perpetrator finally reveals themselves in an attempt to kill Kate and cover their tracks one more time. And once we discover who it is, we see that it was obvious all along, but hidden just as well from the reader as from the community.
I just plain liked this book. I think it may have been a case of the right book at the right time, but I definitely found myself slipping into the book, and the world of Laurel Ridge, very easily. And I say this in spite of this book being the author’s third trip to Laurel Ridge, after Where Secrets Sleep and When Secrets Strike, which I have not read and did not miss having read for the purpose of getting into How Secrets Die.
But I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to go back and read the first two.
How Secrets Die is a lovely small-town romantic suspense story. Reporter Kate Beaumont comes to Laurel Ridge to investigate the death of her brother the previous year. The local cops dismissed the case as an accidental death – a former drug addict who slipped off the wagon to an untimely end.
But Kate can’t let it go. Her brother Jason had had some trouble, but he had been clean and sober for years, and was doing well in college and seemed to be doing well at his internship at a local financial firm. Kate is certain that something must have gone seriously wrong to drive Jason back to his old, bad habits.
After endless viewings of Jason’s somewhat cryptic video journal, Kate just doesn’t see what drove him off the rails and to his death. So she comes to Laurel Ridge to search for herself, and runs right into the local police chief, Mac Whiting.
Kate blames Mac for the quick dismissal of her brother’s case. Mac is, at first, worried that Kate is just there to stir up trouble. But when that trouble strikes, Mac finds that he is just plain worried about Kate. And guilty that he didn’t look deeper into the case at the time. Because when the attacks on Kate escalate, it becomes clear that there must be something he overlooked.
If the case were as open and shut as it initially appeared to be, no one would feel threatened by Kate’s presence in town. But someone obviously is. And they’ll stop at nothing to make sure that whatever secret Jason uncovered, it stays dead with him. And if necessary, with Kate.
Escape Rating B: As I said at the top, I just plain liked this book. I was in the mood for a relatively familiar type of story, one with likable characters and a few interesting twists, and How Secrets Die fit the bill.
And although the romance is quite lovely, this is a surprisingly clean book. The author does a good job of portraying the heat between Kate and Mac while giving them plenty of logical reason for not indulging in that spark at first, second or even subsequent involvement. This is a story where postponing the romantic payoff until the very end made sense. Also you might see this book billed as “Inspirational”. After reading it, I can say that it does not fall into that genre. How Secrets Die falls squarely into romantic suspense.
Kate and Mac certainly have one thing in common – they are both dealing with a load of survivor’s guilt. Kate’s is pretty obvious from the outset – she feels guilty that she didn’t notice her brother’s cry for help. It isn’t until well into her investigation that she starts to realize that she didn’t respond because there wasn’t one. He never knew how much trouble he was in until it was far too late.
Mac’s heavy dose of guilt is both recent and long-term. As Kate shakes things up in Laurel Ridge, she often accuses him of being too protective of the local citizens to dive into things that need to be dove into. And she’s right. He dismissed Jason’s case much too easily, even though there were a whole bunch of loose ends that he never tied down. He knew too many people too well to question them the way he should have.
He also lives with an overwhelming need to protect his community, because he feels that he let so many people who depended on him down when he served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The people that he couldn’t save haunt him.
Kate and Mac do not start from a position of trust. Kate doesn’t much like cops – her stepfather was one and was a rigid taskmaster who insisted that his many rules be followed to the letter. While there was no abuse, there was also no love or respect. Instead, Kate found herself raising her younger half-brother, and trying to protect his very quirky nature from his by-the-book father.
While we never hear if Jason was diagnosed with anything in particular, it sounds like he might have been somewhere on the Asperger spectrum.
So the story in this romantic suspense story is Kate moving to Laurel Ridge to find out what happened to her brother. Along the way she falls for the police chief, who is tied to the community, while Kate plans to leave when her quest is over. Along the way they trip over several secrets that the owners would rather remain buried, and who would be happy to bury Kate right along with them.
At the end, the perpetrator finally reveals themselves in an attempt to kill Kate and cover their tracks one more time. And once we discover who it is, we see that it was obvious all along, but hidden just as well from the reader as from the community.
November 10, 2024
Love anything by Marta Perry .This story had several twist & turns which made the story real interesting.
The romance was sweet .
The romance was sweet .
September 8, 2016
I could not put this book down! I was rabidly compulsive about reading to the end! And then I was frustrated when it was all over. LOL There's no pleasing a reader sometimes. How Secrets Die is the third and final book in the Laurel Ridge series and that fact right there makes me sad. :-( Luckily I'm still basking in the afterglow of a tale well told. And no worries if you haven't read the other two books, each works very well as a standalone. Mind you, I found it so much fun to be back visiting familiar characters in Laurel Ridge so that was an added bonus.
The romance is sensational. Tension explodes from the first time Mac and Kate meet -- and oh what a memorable scene that is! They are at odds with each other, often working at cross purposes as they strive to solve a mystery for different personal reasons. Mac is infuriated by Kate's stubborn determination. Kate is affronted by Mac's take-charge attitude. Their wary truce isn't always peaceful but the dynamics between these two is so much fun to read. And stew over.
Perry knows how to draw out a suspenseful plot. I thrilled every time I picked up on something I thought was significant and then writhed with anxious anticipation to see if I was right. A thrilling read from beginning to end.
The romance is sensational. Tension explodes from the first time Mac and Kate meet -- and oh what a memorable scene that is! They are at odds with each other, often working at cross purposes as they strive to solve a mystery for different personal reasons. Mac is infuriated by Kate's stubborn determination. Kate is affronted by Mac's take-charge attitude. Their wary truce isn't always peaceful but the dynamics between these two is so much fun to read. And stew over.
Perry knows how to draw out a suspenseful plot. I thrilled every time I picked up on something I thought was significant and then writhed with anxious anticipation to see if I was right. A thrilling read from beginning to end.
June 23, 2016
Kate Beaumont does not believe her beloved brother committed suicide and has gone to Laurel Ridge, Pennsylvania, where his heart last beat, and try to put some meaning to his sudden death. This is the third book in the Laurel Ridge series, and it definitely can be read alone, but we are reunited with many of the characters that we grew to know from the previous books.
This story also focuses on Nat’s brother Mac the Chief of Police, and we find out just how much he loves his hometown, maybe more than his growing feeling for Kate? Things rather go South for Kat, when she becomes a target, and it seems that someone wants her to leave town, or maybe more sinister, they want to kill her.
She is digging up secrets that some people in this town want left buried, and will do everything they can to make it so. Whom can Kate trust? It seems every time she goes someone or to meet someone something happens.
If you enjoy a good suspenseful mystery this one is right up your alley, a great summer read.
I received this book from the Publisher HQN books, and was not required to give a positive review.
This story also focuses on Nat’s brother Mac the Chief of Police, and we find out just how much he loves his hometown, maybe more than his growing feeling for Kate? Things rather go South for Kat, when she becomes a target, and it seems that someone wants her to leave town, or maybe more sinister, they want to kill her.
She is digging up secrets that some people in this town want left buried, and will do everything they can to make it so. Whom can Kate trust? It seems every time she goes someone or to meet someone something happens.
If you enjoy a good suspenseful mystery this one is right up your alley, a great summer read.
I received this book from the Publisher HQN books, and was not required to give a positive review.
June 23, 2016
I liked the small town feel and the cop hero and the mystery was okay too. Didn't love the heroine.
Review to come
Review to come
July 30, 2019
A great ending to this series! This has just the right amount of suspense and romance. I was really glad to see Mac Whiting get his story. Each of the books can be read on their own, but I enjoyed them so much more reading in order.
August 10, 2017
"How Secrets Die" by Marta Perry, third book in the series, House of Secrets, I gave three stars because I felt the story didn't hold my attention like the other two books in this series did. The mystery unfolding as you read the story with victims falling at the hand of the predator.
Yes, this mystery story was different because this story the deceased had been buried for a year. Life events happened after Jason Reilley's suicide, now Kate Beaumont is in Laurel Ridge to get answers about her half-brother's death.
Will the small town of Laurel Ridge be able to give up it's secrets?
Or will Kate fall victim herself?
"How Secrets Die" was easy to read. Marta Perry develops characters that come alive as you read the pages to her book. The details of the area the story takes place comes alive in your imagination. I liked how Marta approached the topic of suicide; it's not an easy subject to write about. Well done.
I received a free copy from NetGalley with the only request to write an honest review about the book. No money was exchanged. This is my review written in my own words.
Yes, this mystery story was different because this story the deceased had been buried for a year. Life events happened after Jason Reilley's suicide, now Kate Beaumont is in Laurel Ridge to get answers about her half-brother's death.
Will the small town of Laurel Ridge be able to give up it's secrets?
Or will Kate fall victim herself?
"How Secrets Die" was easy to read. Marta Perry develops characters that come alive as you read the pages to her book. The details of the area the story takes place comes alive in your imagination. I liked how Marta approached the topic of suicide; it's not an easy subject to write about. Well done.
I received a free copy from NetGalley with the only request to write an honest review about the book. No money was exchanged. This is my review written in my own words.
August 31, 2019
Reviewed by Aubrey
Book provided by NetGalley
At first I was rather confused reading this book and then realized it is the third in the series. As I read more it started to make sense and just made me want to read the first two. Perry has a way with creating her characters that get under your skin and it was no different with this book.
I couldn't read fast enough because I wanted to know what was going on and how everything happened. I was totally surprised when all my questions were answered. I was completely blown away and surprised at the twists and turns the story took.
I wasn't a huge fan of Mac in the beginning. He did start to grow on me and I understand why he was the way he was. His motives and intentions were pure just the execution of what he wanted was a bit flawed and misguided.
Kate was a lovely character. I love her loyalty to her dead brother and wanting answers to what exactly happened to him. She was full of spunk and attitude. My favorite kind of character.
I like that there was an equal amount of mystery and romance. One didn't overshadow the other. I really want to go out and read the first two novels as soon as I can.
Book provided by NetGalley
At first I was rather confused reading this book and then realized it is the third in the series. As I read more it started to make sense and just made me want to read the first two. Perry has a way with creating her characters that get under your skin and it was no different with this book.
I couldn't read fast enough because I wanted to know what was going on and how everything happened. I was totally surprised when all my questions were answered. I was completely blown away and surprised at the twists and turns the story took.
I wasn't a huge fan of Mac in the beginning. He did start to grow on me and I understand why he was the way he was. His motives and intentions were pure just the execution of what he wanted was a bit flawed and misguided.
Kate was a lovely character. I love her loyalty to her dead brother and wanting answers to what exactly happened to him. She was full of spunk and attitude. My favorite kind of character.
I like that there was an equal amount of mystery and romance. One didn't overshadow the other. I really want to go out and read the first two novels as soon as I can.
October 17, 2019
Loved the book! Definitely wouldn’t classify it as Christian fiction though. There wasn’t any talk of doing things God’s way or the Bible. Lots of talk of dragons which I don’t like. The only reason the couple in the story didn’t have sex was because of legal reasons, not to honor God in the relationship. With their talk of waiting for something to be over so they could, I was afraid a bad scene would sneak in on me. But thankfully it didn’t. I fear that might be the case in other books by her since this book and the first in series left me with that impression. One cuss word, but otherwise clean. due to possible sex scenes in other books in the future, I’ll just stick to her Amish fiction books.
March 2, 2017
Another interesting romantic suspense set in a town in Amish farm country, with a big house converted to a craft centre at the focal point.
A man who was supposed to be a reformed addict but died of an overdose may have not died accidentally - that's what his journalist sister thinks. The town cop thinks she is just being nosey and trying to make her brother look better. But maybe there is more going on here than meets the eye. The mix of Amish and English characters is good and several interesting contrasts arise.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley and I wrote an unbiased review.
A man who was supposed to be a reformed addict but died of an overdose may have not died accidentally - that's what his journalist sister thinks. The town cop thinks she is just being nosey and trying to make her brother look better. But maybe there is more going on here than meets the eye. The mix of Amish and English characters is good and several interesting contrasts arise.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley and I wrote an unbiased review.
June 27, 2016
I like my mysteries with a little more grit to them. This was a perfectly good cozy mystery that kept me reading to the end. Although I did figure out the bad guy pretty quick, Perry develops her characters and leaves many to choose from without making it hard to keep up. This can be read as a stand alone but there are characters from the series who make appearances so knowing the history might enhance the enjoyment of reading this novel. There is a recipe for readers at the end. A success as a cozy mystery entry.
Provided by publisher
Provided by publisher
January 2, 2026
This is the first book I have read by Marta Perry and I sure enjoyed it. I started reading it, stopped, had much to do. I picked it up again until I finished it, couldn't wait to find out what happened. Kate Beaumont was hard headed, but got to find out what she needed to know. Mac kept telling her to be careful. I did get mad at Kate for not listening, but wanting to do things in her own way.
The book begins in a pretty little Amish town in Pennsylvania during fall, the most beautiful season of the year. "A cemetery should be a place where people were buried--not where they died." Kate was wondering why her half brother, Jason, had committed suicide. He had so much to live for. He was just starting his life. Kate felt something was wrong. Something was being covered up. But why? And what?
The story is told by Kate Beaumont who was a journalist who lost her job in Baltimore because of cut backs. People were not buying newspapers, watching news on television. Kate had time to look, to find out more about her brother's suicide. Jason loved life too much. The pair were very close, their mother was killed in an automobile accident caused by her. Jason's father, a policeman, was strict on the kids. Kate's stepfather was dead.
Mac Whiting, chief of police of Laurel Ridge, tells his part in the story. He had served in Iran and Afghanistan, came back to his home town, to his loving family changed. He worried about Kate who took too many chances, meeting and talking to people who were scary, going to dark places at night alone.
Yes, there is romance. Mac meets blonde haired, brown eyed Kate, very attractive. Kate was attracted to Mac though she distrusted cops. Her stepfather was mean, especially toward Jason who was dreamy, loved fantasy books and stories. The two like each other, then dislike each other. Different, yet the same. Kate needed to hear what really happened to her brother. No, he would never take his own life.
Read and find out.
The book begins in a pretty little Amish town in Pennsylvania during fall, the most beautiful season of the year. "A cemetery should be a place where people were buried--not where they died." Kate was wondering why her half brother, Jason, had committed suicide. He had so much to live for. He was just starting his life. Kate felt something was wrong. Something was being covered up. But why? And what?
The story is told by Kate Beaumont who was a journalist who lost her job in Baltimore because of cut backs. People were not buying newspapers, watching news on television. Kate had time to look, to find out more about her brother's suicide. Jason loved life too much. The pair were very close, their mother was killed in an automobile accident caused by her. Jason's father, a policeman, was strict on the kids. Kate's stepfather was dead.
Mac Whiting, chief of police of Laurel Ridge, tells his part in the story. He had served in Iran and Afghanistan, came back to his home town, to his loving family changed. He worried about Kate who took too many chances, meeting and talking to people who were scary, going to dark places at night alone.
Yes, there is romance. Mac meets blonde haired, brown eyed Kate, very attractive. Kate was attracted to Mac though she distrusted cops. Her stepfather was mean, especially toward Jason who was dreamy, loved fantasy books and stories. The two like each other, then dislike each other. Different, yet the same. Kate needed to hear what really happened to her brother. No, he would never take his own life.
Read and find out.
December 11, 2019
This is the third Marta Perry book I’ve read.
1st. “Amish Outsider”, gave an interesting insight to Amish life, values, social structure. When I used to live in Canada I wanted to visit an Amish village but couldn’t. This opened a pleasant window into their commune.
2nd. “Mission: Motherhood” was about bringing a wounded orphan from Middle East for heart surgery. My thought on invasion of Iraq and bringing a few orphans to U.S. is that they do not equate. Anyhow, I respect Marta’s Christian approach to love and human life which she conveys thru her characters.
3rd. How Secrets Die (House of Secrets #3) is supposedly a mystery.
A female journalist is looking into the motivation of her brother’s suicide. She has to cooperate with the chief of police, and together they create… very low levels of IQ. Halfway to the story, I got frustrated with their naivety and the absence of her journalistic instincts.
How Secrets Die (House of Secrets #3) was like solving Sudoko level easy. No mystery at all.
1st. “Amish Outsider”, gave an interesting insight to Amish life, values, social structure. When I used to live in Canada I wanted to visit an Amish village but couldn’t. This opened a pleasant window into their commune.
2nd. “Mission: Motherhood” was about bringing a wounded orphan from Middle East for heart surgery. My thought on invasion of Iraq and bringing a few orphans to U.S. is that they do not equate. Anyhow, I respect Marta’s Christian approach to love and human life which she conveys thru her characters.
3rd. How Secrets Die (House of Secrets #3) is supposedly a mystery.
A female journalist is looking into the motivation of her brother’s suicide. She has to cooperate with the chief of police, and together they create… very low levels of IQ. Halfway to the story, I got frustrated with their naivety and the absence of her journalistic instincts.
How Secrets Die (House of Secrets #3) was like solving Sudoko level easy. No mystery at all.
May 20, 2017
Complex characters, mystery, intrigue, and danger kept my attention. Kate Beaumont returns to Laurel Ridge to learn the truth of her brother’s death. Suspicion mounts as Kate searches for clues. Chief of Police, McKinley Whiting has his hands full trying to “keep Kate safe, keep the peace, and find the truth.” Their romance builds gradually. “He maintained a careful balance between the grief and pain of the past and the duties of the present.” This story discusses the topics of drug addiction and suicide. “After suicide…the victim ends his pain. But for the survivors, the pain is just beginning.”
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are uniquely my own.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are uniquely my own.
June 2, 2022
I got Marta Perry's first book at a little neighborhood book exchange spot! My interest in Amish stories was what attracted me to it. I read it and I was hooked on her writing! Thoroughly loved
all the Secrets series, but think I read the last book. I need to know if the sheriff and (forgot name) married and if she decided to stay in Laurel Ridge!! Is there another book in this series? Am an avid Kindle reader and have also read some of her others, but my brain needs the orders of the series, and them being very popular, I have to put things on the waiting list!! Its ok! Love, love love the mysteries as, these are my first time reading an Amish mysteries series! On another note, I have not bought any book, I get mine through our public library and read them on mu Kindle.
all the Secrets series, but think I read the last book. I need to know if the sheriff and (forgot name) married and if she decided to stay in Laurel Ridge!! Is there another book in this series? Am an avid Kindle reader and have also read some of her others, but my brain needs the orders of the series, and them being very popular, I have to put things on the waiting list!! Its ok! Love, love love the mysteries as, these are my first time reading an Amish mysteries series! On another note, I have not bought any book, I get mine through our public library and read them on mu Kindle.
June 13, 2017
I picked this one up at a convention; otherwise, I'd never have read book three because I always read in order, but hats off to Marta Perry because she did a good job of making it a stand alone as well as convincing as a reader that I need to go back and read books one and two.
I like the idea of a big sister taking the time to hunt for the truth concerning her little brother. And, I like how Perry made the small town welcoming yet dangerous. I liked the details and the pace.
As a journalist, I wondered why she didn't do a little more research into the town's people, but there was enough going on with the cop that it didn't stop me.
I figured out the bad guy early on.
I like the idea of a big sister taking the time to hunt for the truth concerning her little brother. And, I like how Perry made the small town welcoming yet dangerous. I liked the details and the pace.
As a journalist, I wondered why she didn't do a little more research into the town's people, but there was enough going on with the cop that it didn't stop me.
I figured out the bad guy early on.
June 12, 2017
This was a pretty good story. Kate Beaumont's half brother supposedly kills himself with a deadly cocktail of prescription painkillers and alcohol. She goes to where he died to investigate. Because of their close relationship she can't believe he killed himself. He had been clean and sober for 3 years.
When she starts asking questions, attempts are made on her life. Of course, there's a romance involved too. Anyway, the actual culprit was a surprise to me. Her brother was murdered by someone in the company where he was an intern.
When she starts asking questions, attempts are made on her life. Of course, there's a romance involved too. Anyway, the actual culprit was a surprise to me. Her brother was murdered by someone in the company where he was an intern.
May 2, 2018
I tried to listen to this on CD while I drove and after five of eight discs I couldn't take it anymore and gave it back to the library. I found the mystery slow and after a while didn't care what happened... had it been a book I might have flicked to the end but didn't bother to listen to the end disc. Most annoying to me was the two main characters of whom we constantly got to listen to their inner voice which was repetitive. The attraction was written full of lines like 'their eyes tangled' making my eyes roll.... needed to stop before I crashed.
April 29, 2024
A young man dies but is it suicide or murder?
The third book in the series and multiple mysteries. Marine, now Chief of Police, is a strong & likeable character. He is not quite sure about the young man's sister. But he agrees that just maybe there was more to Jason's death than what is believed.
This book has little connection to the Amish other than the sweet lady who runs the cafe is Amish. For me, that was a bit disappointing.
The third book in the series and multiple mysteries. Marine, now Chief of Police, is a strong & likeable character. He is not quite sure about the young man's sister. But he agrees that just maybe there was more to Jason's death than what is believed.
This book has little connection to the Amish other than the sweet lady who runs the cafe is Amish. For me, that was a bit disappointing.
July 31, 2023
This was such an amazing book and well written.
Kate came to Laurel Ridge, PA a year after her brother died to find answers to why he committed suicide as she did not believe it. She was right to doubt it as he was murdered for discovering funds were being stolen from the firm he was working for.
Kate did not expect to fall in love with Mac (the town sheriff) who helped her uncover the truth.
Kate came to Laurel Ridge, PA a year after her brother died to find answers to why he committed suicide as she did not believe it. She was right to doubt it as he was murdered for discovering funds were being stolen from the firm he was working for.
Kate did not expect to fall in love with Mac (the town sheriff) who helped her uncover the truth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2016
I thought that this was a good book. it's the last of the series and I'll say that I'm a little sad to see everyone go. I like all of the characters. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I would recommend this book to others.
July 26, 2023
This book was a big disappointment. It was hard to believe that the main characters were so oblivious to clues all around them and the dumb choices they made.
Very predictable and too much angst about guilt.
Very predictable and too much angst about guilt.
August 10, 2018
4.5 stars
June 10, 2019
I thoroughly enjoy these books. A good cozy mystery with a touch of Amish thrown in. I have now read #2 and #3 of this series. I have requested #1 from the library.
March 21, 2020
I had a hard time putting it down
I enjoyed reading this immensely. I think that anyone could read it. It was nice to read Macs story. Thanks
I enjoyed reading this immensely. I think that anyone could read it. It was nice to read Macs story. Thanks
April 28, 2020
Love Marta Perry! What a great book to end this series. Well written and I didn't figure it out. I love a writer who keeps me guessing.
June 15, 2020
Great reading
Very enjoyable story with lots of mystery & surprises throughout the entire story. Surprise end. Would recommend to serious readers. 😎
Very enjoyable story with lots of mystery & surprises throughout the entire story. Surprise end. Would recommend to serious readers. 😎
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