Bayou Secrets

The Crane Diaries #5

by Apryl Baker

Deep in the bayou is a place so dark even nightmares tremble in fear. It has been whispered about for a century, and even the hunters of New Orleans don't trek into the shadows of Madame's island, a Necromancer more feared than any other. But all that is about to change.A hunter has gone missing.Cass Willow calls in Emma Rose Crane, AKA Mattie Hathaway, to help him investigate the disappearance of his best friend, Alice, but they discover more than a missing hunter. There are eleven other women who have vanished.Alice tracked the disappearances to a bar, but more importantly, to one man. Emma and Cass trace her footsteps and land right in the heart of shifters who don't like Cranes any more than the rest of the bayou. Through a little investigation and more than a few threats, they discover the name of the man who took the other women.Kristoff.Madame's first child, as she called her vampires. Now that Madame is gone, Kristoff has taken over the island.Cass and Emma must not only breach the island, but also deal with the onslaught of questions about themselves the shifter bar revealed.But will they be too late to save Alice?

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Supernatural

274 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2019

About the author

So who am I? Well, I'm the crazy girl with an imagination that never shuts up. I LOVE scary movies. My friends laugh at me when I scare myself watching them and tell me to stop watching them, but who doesn't love to get scared? I grew up in a small town nestled in the southern mountains of West Virginia where I spent days roaming around in the woods, climbing trees, and causing general mayhem. Nights I would stay up reading Nancy Drew by flashlight under the covers until my parents yelled at me to go to sleep.

Growing up in a small town, I learned a lot of values and morals, I also learned parents have spies everywhere and there's always someone to tell your mama on you. So when you get grounded, what is there left to do? Read! My Aunt Jo gave me my first real romance novel. It was a romance titled "Lord Margrave's Deception." I remember it fondly. But I also learned I had a deep and abiding love of mysteries and anything paranormal. As I grew up, I started to write just that and would entertain my friends with stories featuring them as main characters.

Now, I live Huntersville, NC where I entertain my family and watch the cats get teased by the birds and laugh myself silly when they swoop down and then dive back up just out of reach. The cats start yelling something fierce...lol.

I love books, I love writing books, and I love entertaining people with my silly stories.

You can reach me at any of these places:
Blog: http://apryl-baker.blogspot.com/
Twitter:@AprylBaker
The Promise Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO2zTi...

PS: DO NOT GET IN MY WAY IF THERE IS A SALE ON AT TARGET - my home away from home!

Reviews

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bayou Secrets is the latest instalment of The Crane Diaries. Emma Crane is has been asked to help search for Alice, a hunter who has gone missing along with a string of other girls from a local tavern.

In the search for Alice, the hunters learn about a very old vampire called Kristoff who they believe may be responsible for the missing girls.

The hunters head deep into the Bayou in search of Kristoff and Alice. What will they find in their search for Alice? Will they even find Alice?

This book is a shortish story without a resolution and will complete with the next instalment called Bayou Revelations.

I can’t wait to see how the next story ends...Will Emma come up against Kristoff and if so will she come out in one piece?

[Mummy's Naughty Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this is a weird one. I felt the book left you with more questions then answers. I like the added wolfs and the Vampire plus the new Angels. I just felt the story line was a little flat. I hate to say it as I have loved this series. Hopefully the next book will be better.

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re nearing the end of the series here and I really don’t think breaking the last two books up was necessary. There was quite a lot of buildup and I felt like it ended in the middle. This time around we have a vampire which is a first for the series. Not only is this new nemesis the child of a necromancer, this particular vamp and his brethren were Deleriels kin, the fallen angel Mattie took out at the end of the first series..... I feel like there’s still so much to be wrapped up I don’t know how the author plans to go, answer all the questions and deliver a HEA. I’m worried dan and Mattie may not get their HEA, I mean demons, Angel, humans etc, everyone has it out for her and even her own body is rebelling what she is. Her ability of absorbing the power of others around her is hella useful, I wish she wouldn’t have had it shut off. I’ve absolutely loved this series and I appreciate how even with a book as short as this, the author is able to bring back all the fav side characters. I still don’t think her hellhound Peaches gets enough attention but that’s probably because Mattie is always in the hospital and she needs tender loving care lol. On that note I had to laugh that Mattie finds her way back to the hospital for a significant time period. In almost every book the girl managed to find herself a patient at least two times sometimes more-so it feels weird saying it, but her waking up to beeping, Dan at her bedside and an evil creature out to get her felt normal and natural for her lol. While the overall story was short, there was still a lot of information crammed in. Mattie is seeing first hand the predjudice she will face in New Orleans opening her Hunter Assistance program. Mattie never balks at a Challenge, but instead faces said challenge flips it off and pours gasoline on it. I cannot wait to see how it will end, I’m already getting sad thinking of letting all these characters go. There’s enough story here maybe there will be another offshoot series?!?! A girl can dream 😂

[Tina H · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There are all different sorts of families. The one you’re born into is the one you have no control over. Then there’s the one you make for yourself, and that consists of who you chose to call family."

Love this series! I absolutely adore Emma/Mattie!!

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great.  I can't wait for more!  I enjoy going these hunts with Emma/Mattie and all her friends.  This book has it all and more.  I just love this series so much and I can't wait for any movies or TV shows that maybe made from this wonderful series.  I hope the series is picked up and we get to see this wonderful world even bigger than just in my mind.  Great series!  Love it!

[Deana Evers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great edition to series

I love these books and as usual they keep you up all night until finished. Unfortunately this one is a cliff hanger. I will say my main prob though is that the main character almost died and ends up in the hospital constantly. Like once a month. That's getting old. I understand she has to face danger but the constant pain, injury etc.. is too much.

[Alice Blessing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great storyline from Apryl Baker. I have become so addicted to this series i am going to be heartbroken when it finally comes to an end. I absolutely love everything she writes (minus a couple but they aren't my genre).

[Sarah Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can never say a bad thing about any of the ghost files/ crane diaries series. Apryl has a fantastic way of sucking you into the story and before you know it you've finished the book and screaming for the next installment because this is going to get so good!

[Fran Zoch, LSoR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book left you with more questions and I know they will be answered in the next book but wow going in search of Kristoff in the Bayou is not an easy thing to do and going against a vampire like him even worse.
I am so ready for the next book!!

[Misty Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

sneak peak at next book

I new Blackburne last name sounded familiar. Before you get into the next book I encourage you to read THE BLACKBORNE LEGACY by the same author. it will help you better understand the next book. already excited about what other adventures await Emma

[Lady Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

More suspenseful mysteries that I can't wait to get answers to!

This book was great too, the same as all the others in this series. The one thing it has done though, more so than any of the others, is reveal even more mysteries to be solved and secrets to uncover! I can't wait!

[Susan Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again.....

I'm amazed at how enthralled I get in the stories. I am dreading coming to the end of the series. Well done Apryl Baker not many books I've read have kept me this invested in your stories.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crane Diaries

Once again I couldn't put this down. How they all keep fighting the creatures and living is beyond me. I have to keep reading though. Got to know what happens next. Highly recommend reading.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did it again!

There goes Emma doing what she does best, helping other people out and kicking supernatural creatures in the rear. I can’t wait to read the next story to see what she does about kristoff.

[Regan Mandzij · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Emma will get out of this one I don't know...

So suspenseful at the end there and a whole new host of problems. I was surprised to see I'd already reached the end of the book and I honestly don't know what will happen here. Looking forward to the next book!!

[Deeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story☺️

This story was awesome, sad, exciting, entertaining and just WOW!!. I sure hope she don't end up getting killed before her and Dan can get their lives started!!!. Apryl is an amazing storyteller and is a PHENOMENAL writer!!.

[Kelli D Whitla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful read

This series gets better and better with each book. I look forward to each book and can't put them down until I finish it!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I love Mattie/Emma. Every book we learn a little more about her. This book definitely wasn't long enough. I'm glad I don't have to wait for the next one.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, amazing cliffhanger!

[Nicole Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit!!

I have read several of April Bakers books and I just have to say that they have all been exceptionally good. Each one has been hard to put down.

[Barbra Athill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I've been a fan of this series since the fry first book, and as usual I as not disappointed. I can't wait to start the next one

[Heather Mahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy great read and story

I am very much enjoying this series. I would write more, but I want to see what happens next, so on to the next book I go! :)

[Janelle Halstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great book!!

Love these books! Highly recommend any And all April Bakers books!! The Ghost Files and Crane Diaries are very good books!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am death...

Love this family! They all complete each other so well!
Loving every single book! The story just gets better and better!

[Soraya (Kenji's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good but it wasn't as good as the other books in the series but it definitely had me on a the edge of my seat too

[lorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another unforgettable book in this series. I loved every one of them. This book is well written with an amazing storyline. That pulls you in until the end.

[Lanelle Wald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bayou revelations

Ok so I’m just trying to figure out how long I got to wait for the next part bayou revelations to come out because I done read all three of the newest books in less than 24 hours and I want more.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed that the book was so short, but then I realized its part one of two, so I am excited to have more to look forward too! There was a lot of action and a lot of reveals and lead-up-toos.
But in some ways the books are starting to get repetitive. Not only do we always have to read the same lines from every book that catch us up on the past. But it seems like its always got the same layout; big super bad evil and Maddie getting seriously hurt almost killed. Her vulnerable body always has me worried. Will it not be a big bad that finally kills her, but her own body giving out to all her powers?
I kind of feel like this should have been the book that came before Red Church. Because it seems like it shouldn't be that hard to kill Kristoff after she's already killed a primordial evil.
That said, I am still looking forward to reading Bayou Revelations. And love that it's a crossover.
I am a Ghost Files / Crane Diaries fan for life!

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bayou Secrets is an installment in The Crane Diaries universe that takes the hunters to the darkest, deepest bowels of Necromancer country while on a rescue mission for a fellow hunter who has been kidnapped. Little do they know that this disappearance is just the tip of the iceberg and they uncover a serial killer. Can they catch the serial killer? I'll admit that I came into this series a little late in that I hadn't read all the installments leading up to this one. I felt a little lost, but not so much that I wasn't able to pick up on the primary story lines. It was apparent to me that Emma and Officer Dan have been through a lot and they have a very strong bond. Cass is a very intriguing character and provides good opportunity for some interesting story development. Looking forward to seeing where things go from here.

[Cody Smith-Candelaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Crane Diaries story is amazin. I love the charcaters so much and getting to watch them grow and mature is amazing. This story brings us a tie in with one of Apryl's other series, the Bloodlines Legacy. I admit, I hadn't read that series yet and it was still very easy to follow along with the story line, but also prompted me to immediately read that series and get caught up. LOL This one takes us deep in Bayou country and introduces a new foe. I have to say, I enjoyed this one more than some of the others just because it's a slightly new turn. I can't wait to see how more of the new characters come into play. It's a great read in the continuing saga of Emma Crane. Love it so much, but dying for the next book!!!