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Deadly Homecoming #1
Small Town Secrets
Dark and abandoned, Marston's Tunnel is a place no one dared enter, except the teenage girl who is found murdered there. When FBI Agent James 'Mac' McLane returns ten years later, he hopes to clear the black cloud that has haunted his home town since the grisly murder. What Mac doesn't foresee are the town's secrets which have been buried since that horrific night. Nor does he anticipate the passion that ignites upon seeing Lizzie Signorino, his former high school flame. But some people will do anything to keep their secrets hidden...even kill again.
238 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Allie Harrison
35 books167 followersAllie Harrison lives in Southern Illinois. She loves reading, writing, crafts, music and always family and friends! She loves suspenseful books and movies as well as cozy fires and camping.
Allie is an international best-selling author. Her books have won various awards.
Allie is an international best-selling author. Her books have won various awards.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 11, 2018
Another outstanding book from an amazing author. I have read a few of her books and she never fails to blow me away. Honestly I don't think she could write a bad book. And I will grab any book she writes as soon as it is out. This book was about a dark mystery that has haunted a small town for years. After a dance a young girl was murdered. 11 years later Mac comes back to town to solve this murder and save his town. People wouldn't even go to the tunnel where she was murdered. Mac runs into Lizzie his high school girlfriend. From the first meeting I knew there was still something between them. As they both try to find out what really happened that night. Things start happening.... This author pulls you into her stories. She makes you feel like you are there. It takes a special author to pull that off. Can Mac and Lizzie find answers? Can they make a life together? Or will secrets be the end of them both??
August 15, 2025
Quick and fun mystery. Definitely was tense and some trauma. I had a lot of time to read today so read it all today!
October 9, 2018
I do floved this story. I could see this small town where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everyone's business, or thinks they do. It makes me wonder what kind of secrets my little has buried, because I have no doubt there are some.
I did NOT want to put this book down once I started reading. Mac is our main male character who dates the ugly duckling on a dare. Lizzy turns into a beautiful swan when Mac picks her up and he loses a piece of his heart to her. The pair find some trouble (not their fault) her dad flips out and tells him to never see her again. 11 years later Max is back, old feeling stir and dark secrets are revealed. This other pulls the reader in, making me want to turn the page. At times making *gasp. At times making say "eeww". There are even some "awes" and "wth" in there. You just don't know what will be uncovered in this small town while Mac digs into the cold case murder. I am so glad that this does NOT have a cliffhanger ending. If your looking for a super interesting read, I think this is it. RECOMMEND!
Merged review:
I do floved this story. I could see this small town where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everyone's business, or thinks they do. It makes me wonder what kind of secrets my little has buried, because I have no doubt there are some.
I did NOT want to put this book down once I started reading. Mac is our main male character who dates the ugly duckling on a dare. Lizzy turns into a beautiful swan when Mac picks her up and he loses a piece of his heart to her. The pair find some trouble (not their fault) her dad flips out and tells him to never see her again. 11 years later Max is back, old feeling stir and dark secrets are revealed. This other pulls the reader in, making me want to turn the page. At times making *gasp. At times making say "eeww". There are even some "awes" and "wth" in there. You just don't know what will be uncovered in this small town while Mac digs into the cold case murder. I am so glad that this does NOT have a cliffhanger ending. If your looking for a super interesting read, I think this is it. RECOMMEND!
I did NOT want to put this book down once I started reading. Mac is our main male character who dates the ugly duckling on a dare. Lizzy turns into a beautiful swan when Mac picks her up and he loses a piece of his heart to her. The pair find some trouble (not their fault) her dad flips out and tells him to never see her again. 11 years later Max is back, old feeling stir and dark secrets are revealed. This other pulls the reader in, making me want to turn the page. At times making *gasp. At times making say "eeww". There are even some "awes" and "wth" in there. You just don't know what will be uncovered in this small town while Mac digs into the cold case murder. I am so glad that this does NOT have a cliffhanger ending. If your looking for a super interesting read, I think this is it. RECOMMEND!
Merged review:
I do floved this story. I could see this small town where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everyone's business, or thinks they do. It makes me wonder what kind of secrets my little has buried, because I have no doubt there are some.
I did NOT want to put this book down once I started reading. Mac is our main male character who dates the ugly duckling on a dare. Lizzy turns into a beautiful swan when Mac picks her up and he loses a piece of his heart to her. The pair find some trouble (not their fault) her dad flips out and tells him to never see her again. 11 years later Max is back, old feeling stir and dark secrets are revealed. This other pulls the reader in, making me want to turn the page. At times making *gasp. At times making say "eeww". There are even some "awes" and "wth" in there. You just don't know what will be uncovered in this small town while Mac digs into the cold case murder. I am so glad that this does NOT have a cliffhanger ending. If your looking for a super interesting read, I think this is it. RECOMMEND!
September 3, 2018
I have read several books by Ms. Harrison, all of which involved ghosts and/or haunted mansions. This is a very different kind of book, but still wonderful!
I grew up in a small town and currently live in a very small town, so I was intrigued to see what the secrets might be in this small town.
James "Mac" McLane returns to his hometown for a high school reunion after being shot. Eleven years ago, Mac and his girlfriend, Lizzy, discovered the body of a classmate, Kelly Mattis, after a dance. That discovery changed their lives as well as the entire town. Lizzy's father forbids her from ever seeing Mac again and Mac leaves town to go to college and later join the FBI.
Mac hopes to find the murderer and remove the cloud that hangs over the town, as well as try to make things right with Lizzy. Little does he know what secrets he will uncover as he tries to find the murderer.
There are plenty of things to find and lots of secrets, but will Mac be able to repair his relationship with Lizzy? Will he be able to find the murderer? What other things are lurking under the surface?
Plenty of tension, lots of perversions, and a few intense sex scenes are all found in the book. Ms. Harrison is a great writer and is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. I have yet to be disappointed by anything that she writes!
I grew up in a small town and currently live in a very small town, so I was intrigued to see what the secrets might be in this small town.
James "Mac" McLane returns to his hometown for a high school reunion after being shot. Eleven years ago, Mac and his girlfriend, Lizzy, discovered the body of a classmate, Kelly Mattis, after a dance. That discovery changed their lives as well as the entire town. Lizzy's father forbids her from ever seeing Mac again and Mac leaves town to go to college and later join the FBI.
Mac hopes to find the murderer and remove the cloud that hangs over the town, as well as try to make things right with Lizzy. Little does he know what secrets he will uncover as he tries to find the murderer.
There are plenty of things to find and lots of secrets, but will Mac be able to repair his relationship with Lizzy? Will he be able to find the murderer? What other things are lurking under the surface?
Plenty of tension, lots of perversions, and a few intense sex scenes are all found in the book. Ms. Harrison is a great writer and is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. I have yet to be disappointed by anything that she writes!
May 10, 2019
Secrets, lies, blackmail and death. So many things swirling in the air of this sleepy town that had a cloud of blackness that hung over it's head since the death of that girl. Nothing was ever the same especially since her killer was never caught. Life seemed to go on marked by that night. Now Mac's back. Back to clear the air and solve the death that changed his life. I thought Small Town Storm from this author was good but this one, man this one takes the cake. This author held it all in until the very end. There's a point when you think okay it's done but don't blink cos there's more. Yeah once it starts spilling it doesn't stop. This author has quickly whittled herself into my heart with the thrills and suspense with just a touch of steam. Lizzie is no damsel in distress that needs rescuing since she seems to take care of herself rather well. There's so much going on but the author makes it flow so well that it isn't overwhelming or confusing it just works. Get ready for one heck of a ride because this towns secrets are now at your fingertips.
October 8, 2018
Mac is returning to his hometown after more than a decade to recover from being shot. But the murder of one of his high school classmates is on his mind. It's still unsolved and he wants to get to the bottom of it. The town just can't seem to get over it either, so even though they don't know Mac is FBI, they know they want to put the whole thing behind them. But who killed her, and why?
Lizzie is shocked to see Mac back in town. After finishing out his senior year, in which they didn't talk at all, he up and left. Those old feelings she's trying so hard to bury are starting to swim back to the surface.
This was a really good read, I thought the characters were well-developed and I liked the small town feel that Harrison put out in the book. Romantic suspense is a newer genre for me and one I really dig, and the author did a great job combining the two. Nicely done.
Lizzie is shocked to see Mac back in town. After finishing out his senior year, in which they didn't talk at all, he up and left. Those old feelings she's trying so hard to bury are starting to swim back to the surface.
This was a really good read, I thought the characters were well-developed and I liked the small town feel that Harrison put out in the book. Romantic suspense is a newer genre for me and one I really dig, and the author did a great job combining the two. Nicely done.
July 31, 2025
Secrets, sparks, and a tunnel I will never mentally recover from.
There’s something about the way Allie Harrison tells a story that lingers. Small Town Secrets gripped me from the first page and had me questioning every creak in my house by chapter three. The atmosphere is perfectly unsettling, and the balance between mystery and romance is handled with a kind of elegance that’s hard to pull off.
Mac and Lizzy’s chemistry? Subtle, real, and rooted in history. I found myself rooting for them while also side-eyeing every other character in town. And that tunnel? I’m still not okay.
What I love most is that this isn’t just a whodunit, it’s a why-the-heck-did-they-do-it wrapped in should-I-be-worried-about-my-neighbors?
If you like your thrillers with edge, emotion, and an eerie sense of nostalgia, don’t sleep on this one.
(Though you might not sleep after this one.)
There’s something about the way Allie Harrison tells a story that lingers. Small Town Secrets gripped me from the first page and had me questioning every creak in my house by chapter three. The atmosphere is perfectly unsettling, and the balance between mystery and romance is handled with a kind of elegance that’s hard to pull off.
Mac and Lizzy’s chemistry? Subtle, real, and rooted in history. I found myself rooting for them while also side-eyeing every other character in town. And that tunnel? I’m still not okay.
What I love most is that this isn’t just a whodunit, it’s a why-the-heck-did-they-do-it wrapped in should-I-be-worried-about-my-neighbors?
If you like your thrillers with edge, emotion, and an eerie sense of nostalgia, don’t sleep on this one.
(Though you might not sleep after this one.)
August 14, 2018
My husband is from a small town just like Mayberry! I lived there for twenty years and believe me this hit home! Mac, is the son of the sheriff and the high school football captain. On a dare he asked the bakers daughter to go to the homecoming dance. When he sees her that night he's so blown away! So after the dance his and everybody's girl is murdered in an old tunnel everyone is afraid of. At the same time Mac is making out in his truck with the bakers daughter outside the tunnel. This book blew me away! You can't go wrong with a book by author Allie Harrison! I've loved everyone of them so far.
July 26, 2018
The author surprised me in this book because I was expecting some sort of ghost but we don't get any this time. There is more of a murder mystery to solve compared to the authors other books that is more heavy on the romance.
This is more darker, in that we see that darker side of humans so it is for 18+ due to mature content.
It is fast paced and I read it quite quickly.
I usually like cozy mysteries but I will make an exception for this one. I don't know what it is about it that I really liked but it could be due to the fact that it is not a mystery book that I read.
This is more darker, in that we see that darker side of humans so it is for 18+ due to mature content.
It is fast paced and I read it quite quickly.
I usually like cozy mysteries but I will make an exception for this one. I don't know what it is about it that I really liked but it could be due to the fact that it is not a mystery book that I read.
October 11, 2018
Small Town Secrets by Allie Harrison. Boy did they have secrets. I came from a small and everyone knew everyone there. They knew if someone was parked in front of your house at 2am. lol.
This book was well written and great to read in a day. I loved that Mac and Lizzy had their chance. It was wonderful to see old flames rekindled, even thought is wasn't hot and heavy in the beginning.
If you're looking for a mystery to curl up to for a weekend, this one is it.
This book was well written and great to read in a day. I loved that Mac and Lizzy had their chance. It was wonderful to see old flames rekindled, even thought is wasn't hot and heavy in the beginning.
If you're looking for a mystery to curl up to for a weekend, this one is it.
August 21, 2018
Another great book by Allie Harrison. Enjoyed the twists and turns that let you to suspect many people till the real killer was revealed. Lizzy and Mac's story went full circle till the end when Luca finally arrives at the end. It's so hard to say much without giving away spoilers of the book. I can't wait to read what she publishes next.
October 23, 2018
This was my first book from Allie Harrison and will not be my last!
Small Town Secrets was well written and had the perfect amount of suspense to keep you guessing and wanting more.
I look forward to checking out more work from Harrison in the future!
Small Town Secrets was well written and had the perfect amount of suspense to keep you guessing and wanting more.
I look forward to checking out more work from Harrison in the future!
April 15, 2019
When the book title says Small Town Secrets they are telling the truth.
Just when I though I knew who did what---I was surprised.
There is also a nice twist near the end.
This is a town that appears to be a town you would like to live in---and it has more than one dark secret.
Just when I though I knew who did what---I was surprised.
There is also a nice twist near the end.
This is a town that appears to be a town you would like to live in---and it has more than one dark secret.
August 13, 2018
Allie Harrison is an amazing author. So many twists and turns. Kept me guessing till the end. 5 stars and a must read.
December 29, 2022
A stranger gifted me with this treasure in a book exchange, and I cannot say Thank You enough for introducing me to the wonderful books by Allie Harrison. It is rare that I find an author that has the ability to blend home and family in such a way as Ms. Harrison has done in Small Town Secrets, but I'm thrilled to have read this book as I was transported to a Small Town that on the surface cherishes family and small town values. The main characters Mac and Lizzy only had one date that ended in disaster but until that point I believe they were each indelibably imprinted on each others souls. The sheer magnitude of feelings their first encounter after a decade apart is enough to power the book, but the author so graciously gave us readers so much more to go with as well. If you like books that encompass the highs and lows without shying away from some of lifes hard facts this book is definitely for you and as an added bonus there is quite the variety to be found here in the form of romance, mystery, drama, camaraderie and old fashioned who dunnit all in one book. This is such a riveting and fast paced book all I can say is get comfy and enjoy.
October 3, 2018
Small Town Secrets: Allie Harrison ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allie has done it again, with her story writing ability. You can close your eyes and see the small town, or at least I can because I came from a small town, where everyone knew your business or at least thought they did.
When a hs dance ends in a tragedy, it takes 11yrs for Mac to make his way back to town and into Lizzy's bakery and realize he will do anything to protect the one that got away, while juggling the small town shady dealings going on..
Merged review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allie has done it again, with her story writing ability. You can close your eyes and see the small town, or at least I can because I came from a small town, where everyone knew your business or at least thought they did.
When a hs dance ends in a tragedy, it takes 11yrs for Mac to make his way back to town and into Lizzy's bakery and realize he will do anything to protect the one that got away, while juggling the small town shady dealings going on..
Allie has done it again, with her story writing ability. You can close your eyes and see the small town, or at least I can because I came from a small town, where everyone knew your business or at least thought they did.
When a hs dance ends in a tragedy, it takes 11yrs for Mac to make his way back to town and into Lizzy's bakery and realize he will do anything to protect the one that got away, while juggling the small town shady dealings going on..
Merged review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allie has done it again, with her story writing ability. You can close your eyes and see the small town, or at least I can because I came from a small town, where everyone knew your business or at least thought they did.
When a hs dance ends in a tragedy, it takes 11yrs for Mac to make his way back to town and into Lizzy's bakery and realize he will do anything to protect the one that got away, while juggling the small town shady dealings going on..
August 11, 2018
This is the first book I read by this author! It was great! At first, you think you figured out who the murderer is...but really you do not! The book is about a man Mac, who comes home after being shot in the line of duty to help solve a decade old case. It is coming up on the eleven year anniversary of a murder committed in Mac's hometown. The night of the murder, Mac and Lizzy were parked and making out when they noticed the body of a girl they both went to school with. Her murderer was never found. Mac came back for the reunion, the cold case, and Lizzy. He suspects one of his old classmates as the murderer. But who could it possibly be? His dad was the chief of police at the time of the murder. Buy the book and be prepared to discover Small Town Secrets....
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews