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Ngaire Blakes #3
The Only Secret Left to Keep
Sometimes a secret is all you have left.
Detective Ngaire Blakes is back on the case when a skeletonized murder victim is discovered thirty-six years after his death. While a fierce and glorious fire lights up the Port Hills of Christchurch, Ngaire fights to piece together a crime that took place during the Springbok Tours of 1981. A period that pitted father against son, town against city, and showed the police using batons to beat back protesters on the evening news, night after night.
When the victim is identified as Sam Andie, a young African American man transplanted from the States to NZ by his family, Ngaire must investigate whether racial motives were behind the death. In line with evidence from the forensic pathologist, a police baton could easily have been the murder weapon. Or was his death connected to Sam's girlfriend—a young woman convicted of a savage double homicide in the same week that Sam disappeared?
With files missing, memories hazy, and a strident false confession muddying the waters, Ngaire must sift through the detritus if she hopes to find the truth hiding deep beneath the lies.
The Only Secret Left to Keep is the third book in a series of mystery novels set in the darkest shadows of New Zealand. If you enjoy puzzling mysteries, strong female leads, and the thrill of psychological suspense, then you'll enjoy the latest story in the Ngaire Blakes trilogy.
Scroll up to purchase The Only Secret Left to Keep and crack the case today.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
681 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Hayton
64 books492 followersI'm a middle-aged woman who works in insurance, doesn't have children or pets, can't drive, has lived in Christchurch my entire life, and currently reside a two-minute walk from where I was born.
For some reason, I've developed a rich fantasy life.
I like to write mysteries, some set in my hometown of Christchurch, others ninety minutes up the road in the beautiful township of Hanmer Springs, or in the quasi-fictional town of Pinetar. These mysteries range from hard-hitting psychological thrillers, through to police procedurals, or the lighter adventure of a cozy mystery.
For some reason, I've developed a rich fantasy life.
I like to write mysteries, some set in my hometown of Christchurch, others ninety minutes up the road in the beautiful township of Hanmer Springs, or in the quasi-fictional town of Pinetar. These mysteries range from hard-hitting psychological thrillers, through to police procedurals, or the lighter adventure of a cozy mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 10, 2018
The third book in the Ngaire Blakes series, THE ONLY SECRET LEFT TO KEEP finds Blakes back in the police force (see my review of the second book: THE SECOND STAGE OF GRIEF for more), confronted by a very unusual case. The skeleton of a murder victim, found on a fireground, is eventually identified as a young African American, Sam Andie, who went missing around the time of the 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand.
In the first two novels in this series a fair amount of time has gone into setting up the character of Ngaire Blakes. A cop who suffers from PTSD she's been assaulted, left the force, solved a case that she was being framed in, and is now back on the force, with a baffling historical crime to solve. In this outing the concentration has moved away from the character back story and more towards the investigation - a promising sign that this series is going to continue to evolve and improve from the potential heralded in the first two novels.
The plot here is nicely complicated by a series of factors - the Springbok Tours in New Zealand (and Australia) were fraught times, accompanied by many protests, strong opinions for and against, and the potential for a protest to have been a catalyst for murder is highly feasible. As is the possibility that a young African American man, transplated from the States to New Zealand by his family, could have met with racial prejudice and violence. Further complicated by the double homicide conviction handed down to Sam's girlfriend in the same week that he disappeared.
Because there has been so much concentration of Ngaire Blakes in the earlier books there is always the possibility that this is a series that would work better if you started at the very beginning, although you can step into it at THE ONLY SECRET LEFT TO KEEP, accept that Blakes has some hefty baggage, and enjoy the novel as a police procedural / investigation in its own right. There's plenty to this plot, to Sam Andie himself, and to events around the time that he was murdered to keep a reader involved and occupied. Knowing a lot more about Blakes certainly means that you can see exactly how this series is progressing, and get a feeling for the way it keeps moving forward, adjusting the focus, and heading into very interesting territory indeed.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
In the first two novels in this series a fair amount of time has gone into setting up the character of Ngaire Blakes. A cop who suffers from PTSD she's been assaulted, left the force, solved a case that she was being framed in, and is now back on the force, with a baffling historical crime to solve. In this outing the concentration has moved away from the character back story and more towards the investigation - a promising sign that this series is going to continue to evolve and improve from the potential heralded in the first two novels.
The plot here is nicely complicated by a series of factors - the Springbok Tours in New Zealand (and Australia) were fraught times, accompanied by many protests, strong opinions for and against, and the potential for a protest to have been a catalyst for murder is highly feasible. As is the possibility that a young African American man, transplated from the States to New Zealand by his family, could have met with racial prejudice and violence. Further complicated by the double homicide conviction handed down to Sam's girlfriend in the same week that he disappeared.
Because there has been so much concentration of Ngaire Blakes in the earlier books there is always the possibility that this is a series that would work better if you started at the very beginning, although you can step into it at THE ONLY SECRET LEFT TO KEEP, accept that Blakes has some hefty baggage, and enjoy the novel as a police procedural / investigation in its own right. There's plenty to this plot, to Sam Andie himself, and to events around the time that he was murdered to keep a reader involved and occupied. Knowing a lot more about Blakes certainly means that you can see exactly how this series is progressing, and get a feeling for the way it keeps moving forward, adjusting the focus, and heading into very interesting territory indeed.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
December 5, 2017
Well written and a story that kept me guessing and thinking about what had been done and the consequences from this. An old murder of an over twenty year old boy Sam Andie who liked to dress as a girl was brought to light of day when his deceased body was found, bringing up way more questions than answers. A female who liked to dress as a male has served fifteen years in jail for the death of two boys around the same time that Sam disappeared. Many times I was made incredibly sad after reading the stories of Sam and Shannon’s lives as well as others in the entwined story. As sad as this story was, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and getting to know the characters. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed it. A great read.
November 8, 2022
I'm a fan
June 23, 2019
This murder mystery / police procedural sucked me in from the first page. The main character was a female police officer of Maori descent who struggles with PTSD. She becomes involved in a decades-old case when skeletal remains are found after a wildfire. As the investigation progressed, the story offered a sensitive treatment of LGBTQ issues and the violence, exclusion, and discrimination people of non-binary gender face. I downloaded this book during a Bookbub promotion.
May 17, 2019
Chasing the Cold Hard Truth...
Murder mystery, set in Christchurch. The remains of a long missing man of color is unearthed on a hillside, and linked to the violent murder of two teenagers around the same time he disappeared. The convicted killer of the two boys, now out on parole, also has ties to the dead man. The police suspect the killer may also have been involved in the death of the newly discovered cadaver, but the case files are incomplete, and it begins to look like incompetence or a cover up on the part of the earlier investigators. The female detectives doggedly pursue the meager trail of crumbs, until the case is transferred to a different department, and one of them is temporarily reassigned to assist the new team. More twists, turns, and red herrings follow as they dig ever deeper into the relationship between two seemingly unrelated but mysterious murders. Kept me interested to the very last page. Hated fir it to end. Good news is, there are more books to follow in this series.
Murder mystery, set in Christchurch. The remains of a long missing man of color is unearthed on a hillside, and linked to the violent murder of two teenagers around the same time he disappeared. The convicted killer of the two boys, now out on parole, also has ties to the dead man. The police suspect the killer may also have been involved in the death of the newly discovered cadaver, but the case files are incomplete, and it begins to look like incompetence or a cover up on the part of the earlier investigators. The female detectives doggedly pursue the meager trail of crumbs, until the case is transferred to a different department, and one of them is temporarily reassigned to assist the new team. More twists, turns, and red herrings follow as they dig ever deeper into the relationship between two seemingly unrelated but mysterious murders. Kept me interested to the very last page. Hated fir it to end. Good news is, there are more books to follow in this series.
September 28, 2017
This is my first read by this author and I love it. So many intricate levels of investigation to unravel on this cold case. The emotional toll was felt to the core, the anger was real, the twist and turns had your head spinning. The characters were strong so the story flowed and we see the detectives may have had some secrets as well. This was an amazing read that kept you guessing and revisiting the evidence as the people you knew were guilty or the story pointed to kept changing. Great story I am so glad I tried this new to me author.
This was a story of prejudice and anger masked as a murder and the detective has gotten herself in a fine pickle. Slowly earning a rep for closing cold cases may be good but this one could be the end of her career or it could propel her into big things.
This was a story of prejudice and anger masked as a murder and the detective has gotten herself in a fine pickle. Slowly earning a rep for closing cold cases may be good but this one could be the end of her career or it could propel her into big things.
May 9, 2019
Another excellent police procedural
Katherine Hayton does it again. This police procedural featuring Ngaire Blakes set in Christchurch New Zealand grabbed me and wouldn’t let go til I finished reading. The main character, Ngaire, is well developed but enough is left unsaid that I look forward to the next book to fill in some of the blanks.
This book deals with a cold case that highlights the changes that have occurred regarding gender equality and is very good at looking unflinchingly at both time periods-the past and the present day.
I am a big fan of Ms Hayton and am thankful to have read this in exchange for an honest review.
Katherine Hayton does it again. This police procedural featuring Ngaire Blakes set in Christchurch New Zealand grabbed me and wouldn’t let go til I finished reading. The main character, Ngaire, is well developed but enough is left unsaid that I look forward to the next book to fill in some of the blanks.
This book deals with a cold case that highlights the changes that have occurred regarding gender equality and is very good at looking unflinchingly at both time periods-the past and the present day.
I am a big fan of Ms Hayton and am thankful to have read this in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2017
Wow! Yet another great novel from a wonderful writer who deserves to be much better known. Like the other books in this series, the story is well-paced and plotted, the dialogue is realistic, and most importantly, the characters have depth. While the book centres around a cold case, the issues central to this case are very relevant to readers today. The book also contains some interesting revelations about Ngaire. While this book works as a stand alone novel, reading the books in order will give you a much greater appreciation for Ngaire and all that she has endured.
May 15, 2019
I certainly agree with the post I copied and pasted here. easier to do that than to write and waste my time. But I would have TOO VERY WORDY.
Jimmy D. Law rated it May 10, 2019
Deals with a sensitive subject.
Although the monograph was informative and, for the most part, interesting, I found it to be too wordy. Long discourses and discussions were mind numbing at times. Hence only three stars. Be that as it may, it was still a descent read.
liked it
May 10, 2019
Jimmy D. Law rated it
Jimmy D. Law rated it May 10, 2019
Deals with a sensitive subject.
Although the monograph was informative and, for the most part, interesting, I found it to be too wordy. Long discourses and discussions were mind numbing at times. Hence only three stars. Be that as it may, it was still a descent read.
liked it
May 10, 2019
Jimmy D. Law rated it
November 22, 2017
A complex mystery
This Ngaire Blakes novel seemed to be more about the unsolved missing person's case than about the main character. A lot of time was spent familiarizing the reader about social injustices in 1980's New Zealand. Understanding that climate sheds light upon the unfolding mystery. More of Ngaire's development since book one would have been welcome, but the complications of the crimes took precedence.
This Ngaire Blakes novel seemed to be more about the unsolved missing person's case than about the main character. A lot of time was spent familiarizing the reader about social injustices in 1980's New Zealand. Understanding that climate sheds light upon the unfolding mystery. More of Ngaire's development since book one would have been welcome, but the complications of the crimes took precedence.
June 3, 2019
Tip topping true mystery story
Wouldn't miss this for the world. Another well written detective story from Katherine Hayton. When the South Frican rugby team visits for a tour of New Zealand it is more than a simple matter of apartheid that has Ngaire Blake in a quandary. A boy who likes to dress as a girl and his partner, who likes the opposite are involved in a mysterious crime which isnt brought to light for another 40 years. Can Ngaire get to the bottom of all this?
Wouldn't miss this for the world. Another well written detective story from Katherine Hayton. When the South Frican rugby team visits for a tour of New Zealand it is more than a simple matter of apartheid that has Ngaire Blake in a quandary. A boy who likes to dress as a girl and his partner, who likes the opposite are involved in a mysterious crime which isnt brought to light for another 40 years. Can Ngaire get to the bottom of all this?
May 6, 2019
Clearly Drawn Portrait of a Three Dimensional Protagonist
Procedural starts with the discovery of a decades old set of human remains in a New Zealand community and the mystery of who committed the crime and why unfolds through layers of self-deception, repression and finally redemption
Procedural starts with the discovery of a decades old set of human remains in a New Zealand community and the mystery of who committed the crime and why unfolds through layers of self-deception, repression and finally redemption
June 17, 2019
Intriguing
I like Katherine Hayton's Ngaire Blake's series. Ngaire is a complicated character, full of self doubts and feelings of not being good enough. The mystery was really interesting and made me want to keep reading. Some sharper editing would have gotten rid of all those annoying typos.
I like Katherine Hayton's Ngaire Blake's series. Ngaire is a complicated character, full of self doubts and feelings of not being good enough. The mystery was really interesting and made me want to keep reading. Some sharper editing would have gotten rid of all those annoying typos.
February 2, 2020
Hayton's writing just keeps getting better and better. Ngaire Blakes is a unique heroine with a complex backstory that drives every plot in this series. Just when I thought I knew where we were going, the author threw in a curve ball or two. I LOVE a good curve ball! Highly recommend this atmospheric, psychological procedural.
September 29, 2017
Very good book. This is the first book in this series that I have read. I want to go back and read the earlier ones now. There were a lot of secrets to be found, and finding out what they were made tbis a very interesting book.
May 11, 2019
Deals with a sensitive subject.
Although the monograph was informative and, for the most part, interesting, I found it to be too wordy. Long discourses and discussions were mind numbing at times. Hence only three stars. Be that as it may, it was still a descent read.
Although the monograph was informative and, for the most part, interesting, I found it to be too wordy. Long discourses and discussions were mind numbing at times. Hence only three stars. Be that as it may, it was still a descent read.
May 11, 2019
Murder mystery
Good book. Kept me guessing till the end. Every time I thought I had it all figured out it took another twist. I didn’t want to put this book down. Loved Ngaire with all her flaws!
Good book. Kept me guessing till the end. Every time I thought I had it all figured out it took another twist. I didn’t want to put this book down. Loved Ngaire with all her flaws!
May 14, 2019
This was a great book that kept my attention throughout the book. I really liked the main character. The story was unique and the clues were forever coming to solve this unusual crime. I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. I will be looking into more from this author too!
July 27, 2018
Nothing like a murder-mystery to fall into... And set in NZ, by a Kiwi author, no less!
April 30, 2019
Really good, intricately woven mystery!! The characters are outstanding! Really liked the book!
May 4, 2019
Excellent mystery with strong characters and the story was amazing
May 6, 2019
Well Written
Better than most of the inexpensive books on Amazon.. It can stand alone but would be better if you read the first two first
Better than most of the inexpensive books on Amazon.. It can stand alone but would be better if you read the first two first
May 6, 2019
I so wanted to like this book, but found this book too convoluted to even finish... 😢
May 6, 2019
Profanity
Another author that feels profanity is acceptable and what people want to read. So sad. I did finish this book.
Another author that feels profanity is acceptable and what people want to read. So sad. I did finish this book.
May 12, 2019
I enjoyed this book. Especially learning about the springing protests as I was not in the country at the time
May 15, 2019
This mystery is an odd one. It held my interest, and the ending was unexpected.
May 16, 2019
Fascinating!
An interesting look into police work and their personal thoughts and experiences that shape their investigations. This story is well worth reading.
An interesting look into police work and their personal thoughts and experiences that shape their investigations. This story is well worth reading.
May 20, 2019
Excellent fast paced page turner! I very much enjoyed my first experience with this author and detective! Well written even if I didn’t understand some of the words! I highly recommend this book!
May 24, 2019
Not my cup of tea. I didn't care for the way it jumped back & forth between current & past times. I probably would have understood Ngaire better if I'd read the previous books in the series.
The mystery was good, though, & the writing good. I just didn't "like" it.
The mystery was good, though, & the writing good. I just didn't "like" it.
September 30, 2019
Don't bother!
I just couldn't get into this book. I didn't like the subject matter and half the time I didn't know what it was saying..
I just couldn't get into this book. I didn't like the subject matter and half the time I didn't know what it was saying..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews