Keeper of Secrets

by Lynda Stacey

Should some secrets stay buried?

For as long as Cassie Hunt can remember her Aunt Aggie has spoken about the forgotten world that exists just below their feet, in the tunnels and catacombs of the Sand House. The story is what inspired Cassie to become an archaeologist.

But Aggie has a secret that she’s buried as deep as the tunnels and when excavation work begins on the site, Cassie is the only one who can help her keep it.

With the assistance of her old university friend, Noah Flanagan, she puts into action a plan to honour Aggie’s wishes.

It seems the deeper Noah and Cassie dig, the more shocking the secrets uncovered – and danger is never far away, both above and below the ground …

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2019

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

Archaeologist Cassie Hunt is working on a dig in Italy when she gets word that her beloved Aunt Aggie, who raised her and her sister Lisa, is extremely sick and asking to speak to her. Heading home right away Cassie is shocked to see how bad it looks for her aunt, but more shocked at the secret her aunt reveals to her.

Her aunt buried a secret many years ago in the catacombs near her home which are now being explored by Cassie’s school friend Noah. Aggie needs Cassie’s help to keep her secret but with dangers lurking for both her and Noah will she be able to help or is she putting herself in grave danger?

Keeper of Secrets is unlike any book I have read before, possibly because I don’t recall reading a book featuring archaeology before. The plot is superb and had me rushing through the pages. It is an emotional roller coaster with suspense, intrigue, mystery, and thrilling moments in every chapter.

Aggie’s story is raw and if you are an emotional person you just might shed a few tears at her past too. I certainly felt sorry for her and really hoped that Cassie and Noah were able to help with her last dying wish.

This is a real adventure of a book. It is fast-paced and keeps you on your toes and the edge of your seat. I loved how there were plenty of subplots that weaved their way into the main, I also loved the opening scene from when Cassie was just eleven-years-old and being bullied at school, it set the story up perfectly and made you understand why Cassie was the way she was.

My second book by author Lynda Stacey and I now can’t wait for the next.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archaeologist Cassie Hunt had to leave the dig she was on, heading home because her Aunt Aggie was desperately ill, in hospital and not expected to return home. Cassie was devastated; Aunt Aggie had been there always for her and her sister Lisa, since Cassie was eleven years old. She couldn’t begin to imagine life without Aunt Aggie in it.

The secret that Aggie confided in Cassie when she arrived home was a shocking one, but Cassie vowed to do everything in her power to help her. The nearby site where the tunnels and catacombs were being explored and excavated was run by Noah Flanagan, Cassie’s friend from university. Cassie knew she needed to work on the dig to achieve what she had to – but would Noah give her a job? When danger loomed, threatening Cassie and all she held dear, she wasn’t sure what, who or why; but she needed to find out.

Keeper of Secrets by Lynda Stacey is a fast-paced, gritty mystery which I enjoyed. A lot of intrigue, plenty of twists and dark secrets along the way, made Keeper of Secrets very readable. Recommended.

With thanks to Choc Lit Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[K.S. Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie is an experienced archaeologist; she is called back to her hometown, as an old family mystery is threatened to be unearthed.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Cassie, who has recently scored one of the best jobs, working at the Herculaneum. This is interrupted when she learns her aunt is very ill, and she needs to go back whilst there's still time.
Cassie heads to her hometown of Doncaster, where she learns they are unearthing the Sand House. Cassie has to face her own past, as well as uncover family mysteries.

Making things easier is the unexpected presence of her friend and unrequited crush, Noah. Even if he is in a relationship, and there's no hope of anything else; Cassie realises how much she missed him.

This was a sweet, cozy mystery, binding together the secrets of a family, and a local landmark. When I say local, I mean it. Doncaster happens to be my hometown, and I was giddy to read about the real history of the town, mixed with a new fiction.

The mystery is a good one, with plenty of twists and misleading clues. The building romance between Cassie and Noah is realistic and doesn't detract from the main story, which is always a bonus!
I would have liked a little more closure on some of the sideplots, especially with Declan.

I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more of Stacey's work.

[Nae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really at all a mystery…. The “secret” that drives the book is very sad, but not very interesting & is revealed to the main character in the beginning. Some things are brought full circle, but I just didn’t find any of the reversals very gripping or interesting. The entire book is just fulfilling a dying aunt’s last wish, there’s not really mystery or suspense or action, just some random events that happen that manage to overlap. I personally wasn’t a fan of Cassie, so I found her annoying me and getting bored with a lot of the plot and her reactions to things.

I’d categorize this more as a family drama with archaeology thrown in.

There was also a lackluster friends-to-lovers romance that was weird in that they always liked each other, but never acted on it, so there wasn’t really a ta-da moment or deep investment in their connection as it built. Plus, not loving Cassie’s character didn’t help for being invested in her love life. She came across as wimpy too often for me, with overreactions & dumb thoughts/actions. There was definitely some TSTL vibes with multiple characters here.

And I’m sorry, but Aggie’s request (her “big secret”) …her tragedy was horrible, but after losing the love of her life while he tried to run to their stillborn baby’s body underground, it doesn’t make sense that she’d want her beloved niece to take the same risk to bring up bones of the baby who died so many years before. Like she already buried her in her own way, why would she want the niece she loves so much to risk her career AND safety for that? Nah.

[Lisa Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie has to come back home when her Aunt Aggie is dying. Aggie asks Cassie to do something for her, which brings a lot of danger with it. I enjoyed this and it was good to read about the Sand House as it's something I wasn't aware of in Doncaster. I liked Cassie's character and how she never gave up even when she was in danger.

[Julie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book from the moment the author first told me about it, because it is based around a bit of history of my home town that I had no idea about. Sometimes a book which I am so highly anticipating can fall a little flat in reality, but this one did not disappoint in the execution.

Th author has created a really compelling narrative here, which is all the more fascinating for being built around a piece of lost South Yorkshire history. Since Lynda first talked to me about it, I have done a lot more reading about the Victorian Sand House, and the author has done a marvellous job of building a compelling story around the uncovering of this lost marvel, so I am sure anyone picking up the book will be as fascinated by the whole idea as I was and will want to learn more about it afterwards.

The story itself is totally gripping. I was hooked from the beginning and raced through the novel in two days, desperate to find out what was going to happen. The atmosphere is dark, forbidding, claustrophobic, it reveals a side of my home town that is unfamiliar to me, which is always exciting, and I was riveted by trying to piece together my knowledge of Doncaster with the locations in the book, but I am sure anyone who isn’t familiar with the locale will be equally drawn in by the tension and darkness of the setting, although it may not do much for the appeal of Doncaster to tourists! (It’s a great place, do visit us, we aren’t all crazy!)

Lynda has created some very sympathetic characters to carry the story. I loved the relationship between Cassie, her sister and her Aunt Aggie, and you could not help but be moved by the plight of the girls, and their aunt and their sad, individual histories. The romance in the book was also beautifully unveiled, but it was really the relationship between the girls and their aunt, and what they were prepared to do for each other that made the book for me.

I loved the contrast between the light and openness and carefree descriptions of Cassie in Italy, and the dark, oppressive tension of her life back in Doncaster, and the way the plot of the book began and ended gave a wonderfully rounded narrative. This is my favourite book of Lynda’s yet, and as an author you can see she is getting stronger and stronger. Wonderfully accomplished, I highly recommend it.

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you have been in another life? With a love of history and a thirst for knowledge, I’ve always imagined myself as an archaeologist. A female Indiana Jones, if you will (complete with whip *winks*). Uncovering lost civilisations and treasures. How exciting must that be?

There’s only one problem – well, let’s be honest here, several problems. An aversion to dirt, creepy crawlies, enclosed spaces and a fear of heights, to name but a few *shrugs*.

Oi! It’s not that funny... *rolls eyes*

So, back to the business at hand.

Real-life history is woven into this tale of family secrets, tragedy, suspense and second-chance romance centred around the catacombs of The Sand House in Doncaster.

Family means everything to archaeologist, Cassie Hunt. So, when her Aunt Aggie entrusts her with a family secret and asks for help there is only one answer Cassie can give; a resounding yes.

Easier said than done, as historical mystery meets modern day thriller, in which Cassie finds herself an unwitting player in a game she knows nothing about. Who can she trust?

I’ve never read Lynda Stacey before, but she certainly knows how to grab a reader’s attention. Keeper of Secrets was a story that kept me hooked even when I wasn’t reading it – So. Many. Questions!

Chock full of action (interpret that how you wish, lol), the different relationships really shone through to me in KoS. Most especially between Cassie and her aunt (which really resonated with me for personal reasons) and, of course, the will they/won’t they romance with Noah – le swoon. You know me, I enjoy running the full gamut of emotions when I read *snorts*.

Personally, I would have loved more in the big reveal at the end. Coz *shrugs*, you know, I’m greedy like that *blushes*.

If you enjoy suspense/thriller reads with a difference, then KoS is definitely for you.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book filled with suspense, secrets, robbery, archeology, love, friendships, and relationships.

Cassie, an archeologist, had to come back home when her aunt Aggie was seriously unwell. A secret kept hidden by her aunt needed to be unearthed. Her last wish before dying. Noah her friend from college entered Cassie's life. He decided to help her, but the secrets uncovered were more than either of them had bargained.

My first book by author Lynda Stacey, the story was fast paced with Cassie at the helm. The main character was strong with moments of vulnerability. She was a dedicated, focused archeologist, but family and her loved ones ruled her heart. I loved her relationship with sister and her children. Love too made its appearance in her life.

The story at its core was the secret. I liked how the author linked escavation to other subplots. Lynda has played with the moments in the scenes well, suspense and love were balanced equally. A couple of twists added spice to the story. I wanted a bit more thrill and the sub-plots to be tighter. But those were minor points. The writing brought the intrigue and curiosity to the forefront.

Overall, an entertaining read over breakfast which soothed by thriller-y heart.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love to discover new authors and Lynda Stacey is definitely a new author for me. After having enjoyed reading 'Keeper Of Secrets' as much as I did, I can guarantee that I will be reading more of her work in the future as well as reading her previous books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Keeper Of Secrets' but more about that in a bit.
Cassie Hunt is a woman with a less than happy childhood. When the story begins, Cassie is being bullied by some older children. My heart broke for her for reasons which I will explain later. The older kids are taunting her about her father as well as physically assaulting her. Cassie's sister does manage to save her and both girls make their way home. Before they get there they sort of witness the tragic murder of their father but they don't say anything. We then move forward in the story and meet Cassie the adult. Cassie is still affected by her past but she works in archaeology, the love of which she inherited from her aunt. Cassie is on a dig when she gets the sort of call that we all dread- the phone call to tell her that her beloved aunt is dying. Her aunt has some secrets that she doesn't want revealing and she enlists Cassie's help to ensure that they remain hidden. However, the deeper Cassie digs, the more secrets she uncovers. Will Cassie manage to honour her aunt's wishes? What does Cassie uncover? Is her safety under threat? Well for the answers to those questions and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As I mentioned above, my heart broke for Cassie when the story started because I too was a victim of bullying or a bullying survivor as I like to call it. I was subjected to emotional and mental bullying, which have left their mark on me and I still suffer the after effects of them even now all these years/ decades later. I was also physically assaulted at school, which has left me with chronic back pain, which I will have for life. Reading the beginning of Cassie's story took me back to my own school days and made me remember how I felt when I was being bullied at Cassie's age. So I hope you can appreciate why the beginning of Cassie's story affected me so much.
I have to be honest and say that I wasn't sure whether or not I could read this book as the beginning of the story brought back unpleasant memories. I gave myself a talking to and pulled my big girl pants up and thought that I couldn't allow my memories to spoil my enjoyment of the book. I am so glad that I did read the book as I loved it. After I got over the beginning of the book, I became seriously addicted to reading 'Keeper Of Secrets'. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would still be sat there half a dozen chapters later. I didn't want to miss a single second of the story so the book travelled everywhere with me. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time. I usually have the attention span of a gnat and I am usually easily distracted but not with 'Keeper Of Secrets'. My focus was on the book and on the book alone. In fact the world outside could have ended and I wouldn't have known anything about it.
'Keeper Of Secrets' is well written. Lynda has a writing style that is easy to get along with and easy to get used to. The author grabs your attention from the start and from then on, she draws you into the story much as a fisherman reels in a catch. Lynda uses such powerful and vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and I went through the same emotions that Cassie went through.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Keeper Of Secrets' and I would recommend it to other readers. 'Keeper Of Secrets' is a gripping and emotional read that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I will definitely be reading more of Lynda's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you enjoy romance? Do you like archeology? Do you enjoy strong family bonds? Do you like suspense? And are you looking for a story that binds al of the above together? If that’s the case, you should read this book.

I was touched by Aggie’s beautiful story and at times the suspense had chills running down my spine.

I certainly believe people can change for the better, but when money is involved the best intentions seems to fly right out of the window once again.

A book that shows that true love always wins even it takes a while. A story that breaks your heart but fills it with warmth as well. 5 stars

Thank you, Lynda Stacey, Choc Lit

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was born a few miles outside Doncaster, this story fascinated me as I had never heard of the Catacombs. This is such a moving and gripping story it will have you hooked. It was quite scary in parts yet it makes you want to keep turning the pages. The secrets of the Catacombs will have far-reaching effects on all the characters but is Aunt Aggie whose secret will shock. I must admit to shedding a tear at the outcome. Brilliantly done.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cassie is an archaeologist working in Herculaneum when she gets the call to say that the aunt who raised her is dying. She returns home to Doncaster where secrets are about to be unearthed. This was a decent thriller made more interesting to me for being set in my hometown and for featuring The Sand House, part of Doncaster's history that few outside of heritage circles know about.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t in love with the writing style, lots of questions all peppered together, it sounded like a movie trailer at times.... I nearly gave up halfway through, I felt like we knew the secret and the dilemma behind it, but I’m glad I persevered, there were twists and turns at the end, worth reading, not great writing...

[Kim Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was fast paced and with a decent twist. The end just happened all so quickly. Once the culprit had been revealed its just quickly wrapped everything up which didn't feel to have the same pace as the rest of the book.

[Hazel Tyson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately boring and predictable. No other words can be said

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amateur
At times badly written
Mostly interesting
Tied up well
Quick read

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie Hunt an archeologist, had been brought up by her Aunt Aggie, after the death of her mother at a young age and the murder of her father. She is working in Italy on a dig when her sister Lisa calls to give her the terrible news that Aggie is dying and needs her to return home.

At Aggie's hospital bedside Cassie hears a sad, shocking secret from Aggie's past and she begs for her help to put right a thing she has never been able to, before it is too late for her.

The story was a lovely blend of mystery, romance and shocks. As with House of Secrets it had it's share of surprises along the way. I listened to it on the MP3 audio book version and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Rose English · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me a real page turner

Being a Donny (Doncaster) lass myself this book was irresistible. I had only ever heard of The Sand House when the author was discussing this book on social media. Of course I couldn't resist seeking out more information then grabbed at the chance to download a copy of this wonderful story.

I was drawn in immediately and could not help but fall in love with the story. It was heart breaking at times but such a gripping tale. Well worth checking out. The book had me wanting to find out more about other events from the past too.

Happy Researching

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating twisty, windy and surprising romantic suspense. A totally beguiling mix of romance, thriller and wonderful archaeological detail - I had no idea this extraordinary building lurked beneath the city of Doncaster, and was totally charmed by Cassie and Noah's tale of discovery and romance. Another great page-turner for one of my favourite author's. Highly recommended.

[Lizzie Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie is an archaeologist and this stands her in good stead as the mystery unravels. The answer to this suspenseful novel and Aunt Aggie’s request quite literally lies beneath the heroine’s feet in the tunnels and catacombs of the Sand House.. Aided and abetted by the gorgeous Noah she works everything out in the end although not without personal danger. Another five star read from Ms Stacey. PS - loved the Italian connection, too.

[Carrie-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a few years ago so hard it’s for me to remember the details but I kept the book on my bookshelf for a reason! 😝

I do remember the outline of the story and I know I liked the unique concept of it and read it fast and couldn’t put it down.

Something is in the tunnels beneath the level of the city; secrets and suspense and I remember being so intrigued, I had to know what happened next and didn’t know who to trust!! 👏

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book, audio was good. It just felt kinda anticlimactic. The buried secrets weren’t exactly mind blowing, so I didn’t feel like it was very thrilling. But it was interesting enough for me to listen to it once.

[Kim Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Gripping read from the first chapter. Strong characters, which when the
srory unfolds, hold a history of long held grief. Love held each character during the troubled time, and came out winning,

[Sue Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story of past and present with plenty of mystery and intrigue

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Kerry Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book!
Definitely didnt see some parts coming!
Beautiful, sad and loving all in one go.

[Sharon Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book not what I’d normally read but definitely will read more like this

[Anna Greenaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught my attention and I struggled to put it down. Lots of twists when you think you know what will happen and it isn’t how you think at all
Can’t wait to read this author’s other books

[Bonnie Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this novel, and loved the little known history of Doncaster. It was a novel of many unexpected twists and turns.

[Doreen Mattox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iv really enjoyed this book from beginning to end