The Hidden Gate

Savannah Secrets #1

by Marlene Chase

Meredith Bellefontaine has recently reopened her late husband's investigation agency with her best friend and retired juvenile court judge, Julia Foley. Despite the anxiety that comes with starting a new business, leaving the comfort of her job as president of the historical society in Savannah, and recovering from a near-fatal heart attack. Meredith truly believes that this is God's next step for her life.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Cozy Mystery

257 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like any good cozy mystery worth it's salt, it takes you on a gentle ride from beginning to end. The ending of this book was simply wonderful with words I say all the time when asked why do I move around so much, where the Lord leads I go without question. It frustrates my friends and family...but they should be used to me packing up and going places by now, lol. I HIGHLY recommend this for any cozy mystery lover and Christian that may be going through a time in their life when they need physical reassurance...not just spiritual.

[Kristi Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Savannah, so I may have been a little biased in my review....Haha.

I really enjoyed The Hidden Gate. I love trying to solve mysteries....I loved the friendship that Julie and Meredith shared. I love reading about these women. I thought it was cool that they were go-getters instead of slowing down at their age.

"Everything That Rises Must Converge"
~Flannery O'Connor

[Emery Hitchcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but kinda slow at the beginning. Its a great christan mystery!

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meredith and Julia re-open her late husbands detective agency and commence to solve mysteries. Unfortunately the book ultimately is a story of racial issues in Savannah Georgia in the 1950's.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim at a library book sale. I was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy it. It has many the elements that I love in a mystery, including the 60 year-old mystery of a missing child. The two mysteries in the book are connected by a thread and it was intriguing how the author wove them together.

Meredith and Julia, retired friends from college, and who live in Savannah, decide to reopen Meredith's deceased husband's private detective agency. Their first case comes from the historical society who hopes to purchase a moldering old mansion that has been vacant for decades. Nearly 60 years ago a child went missing on those grounds and the two women wonder if they can solve that very cold case. Deep into the investigations of a man who claims to be heir to the mansion, a local woman comes to them with another case- she wants to find her missing mother. The cases are neatly sewn up with all questions answered.

This promises to be a great series if they all follow through in the same vein as this first book.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Hidden Gate" is a mystery. Meredith and Julia investigated a case that Meredith's dead husband appears to have been investigating while also trying to learn more about a local family for a historical society. A local woman also hired them to find her mother, who deliberately disappeared from her life. Since the reader also gets the viewpoint of the hiding mother, we learn why she left. She knows what happened to the girl that disappeared years ago and fears retaliation. While Meredith did do some following up on leads and talking with people, the first case was basically solved by finding the hiding woman.

Since we know more than the investigators, the story read more like a romance (as Meredith literally ran into a love interest) and a historical (with the ongoing story of a white daughter of a prejudiced plantation owner befriending the black, hired help's daughter). There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical/mystery.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savanna Secrets. Welcome to the first book in a new series.

Welcome to Savannah, Georgia and the Magnolia Investigations. Meredith Bellefontaine, a recent widow, reopens her late husband's investigation agency. She also had been President of the Savannah Historical Society for over 25 years. Julie Foley, retired juvenile court judge and best friend, joins the agency. Carmen, a former juvenile in Julie's court, is hired as their receptionist and Gal Friday.

Upon finding a rusty key in the dirt of an overgrown garden, the partners discover that various items found lead to a 64 year old unsolved mystery regarding the death of a young girl. As the mystery unfolds many twists and turns seem to point into the unsavory chapter of Savannah's history who had been buried deep.

Can our ladies unfold the mystery? Who killed the young girl? Shall we begin?

[Abbie Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think of an older mature Nancy Drew set in Savannah, GA with a private detective agency...The Hidden Gate was a somewhat predictable mystery written in a simplistic style and filled with overused and redundant phrases. However I feel this would be a good introduction to the mystery genre for younger readers or anyone interested in mystery/thrillers without the dark and gory/raw details that often accompany books of this nature. I would have loved to read this as a younger reader when I was reading Nancy Drew and getting intrigued with mysteries and thriller books. This is also sprinkled with bits of faith and reminders of God's eternal love for us and redemption we can find with him. I would recommend this for anyone interested in Christian fiction.

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a refreshing change to find a series with characters in their 60's. It was filled with a lot of geographical /historical facts that were quite interesting. I love the premise of the series and plan on continuing to read since it is written by different authors.

The Hidden Gate was a little confusing with all the characters involved. And sometimes I thought it was bogged down in details that had nothing to do with the plot . But perhaps that was supposed to help us get to know the characters better. It is all personal preference and just didnt cut it for me. But a mother/grandmother might enjoy that aspect of the book. I am sure I will read additional books from this author as I read the rest of the series.

[Linda M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing cozy mystery. Meredith Bellefontaine, a widow, decides to reopen her late husband's investigation agency, with her good friend, Julia Foley. Their first case is to see if there are any heirs to the home of the late Geoffrey Besset. Finding a rusty key in the overgrown garden, starts them on their way to solving a sixty-four year old mystery connected to the home; the whereabouts of Harriet, his sister, who disappeared. Also entwined with the mystery is the whereabouts of Charlene Jackson's mother, who has been missing for three years.

This is an enjoyable story with a plot that intertwines the lives of several characters.

[Afton Rorvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one kept me guessing and kept me reading as the author explored themes of fear, faith, and friendship across racial divides. How I enjoyed the energetic, unpredictable main characters—two women of a mature age, one a widow and one a retired judge. And I also enjoyed the southern setting and references to Flannery O’Conner. I want to read more of this series.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book in this series! Has a bit more depth then some cozies and I enjoyed following Meredith and Julia as they begin their adventure together in later life. Well-thought out plot and a glimpse into the past at a sad time in history.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy mystery is a good description of this book--several mysteries all related--no blood and gore--a brief look at Savannah, which is a wonderful city to visit. Good mental break to start the weekend.

[Jenny Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, this book was a little disappointing. I do not like the way African Americans are painted in this book. I got to page 55 and could not read any further. I am not saying it's a horrible book, I just have my own personal convictions.

[Beverly Duell-Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book to the start of a new series!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written. Thought provoking.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute mystery series from Guideposts by various authors. On to book two....

[Dolores Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good mystery. I enjoyed it.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little slow to start out, but I enjoyed this!

[Janet Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is captivating. I'm ready for the next book, A Fallen Petal.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Great characters and an intriguing story. Looking forward to more of their adventures.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Cozy Mystery was just ok

[Sarah Messenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy mystery and enjoyable read.

[SabrinaTheBookDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book earned the five 🌟 i gave it!! It's the first cosy mystery I've read and now I look forward to many more!! Plus the little touches of elderly romance was so cute! 😍

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so incredibly bored with this. I'm not really even sure what the mystery is supposed to be.

[Olya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallmark detectives, nursing home reading.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have discovered a new series to love! Two friends recently retired decide to reopen a detective agency. I couldn't put this one down and can't wait to start on #2.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

why do all the characters have 2 names