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An Annalee Spain Mystery #1
All That Is Secret
2022 Christy Award Winner!
Stephen Curry's March 2022 Literati Book Club Pick
Parade Magazine pick for Fall 2021 "Mysteries We Love"
PBS Masterpiece's "Best Mystery Books of 2021: As Recommended by Bestselling Authors"
CrimeReads "Best Debut Novels" pick for October 2021
BookBub's "16 Best Historical Mysteries of 2021"
From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle about a young Black theologian―and Sherlock fan―seeking to solve her father's cold case murder in a city ruled by the KKK.
Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father's murder?
In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain―a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college―receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.
For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee's heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.
With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver's powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, how will Annalee confront the dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim, too?
"Raybon's lively style keeps the novel moving...I'll look forward to Annalee's next case." -- Historical Novel Society
Stephen Curry's March 2022 Literati Book Club Pick
Parade Magazine pick for Fall 2021 "Mysteries We Love"
PBS Masterpiece's "Best Mystery Books of 2021: As Recommended by Bestselling Authors"
CrimeReads "Best Debut Novels" pick for October 2021
BookBub's "16 Best Historical Mysteries of 2021"
From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle about a young Black theologian―and Sherlock fan―seeking to solve her father's cold case murder in a city ruled by the KKK.
Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father's murder?
In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain―a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college―receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.
For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee's heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.
With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver's powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, how will Annalee confront the dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim, too?
"Raybon's lively style keeps the novel moving...I'll look forward to Annalee's next case." -- Historical Novel Society
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2021
266 people are currently reading
5940 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Raybon
37 books350 followersA newspaper journalist right out of the gate, Patricia turned to writing historical mystery novels during the pandemic and hasn't looked back. Her first fiction is the award-winning Annalee Spain Mystery series whose debut, “All That Is Secret,” won a Christy Award for First Novel. The series' second installment, “Double the Lies,” won the Christianity Today Book Award for Fiction. The third in the series, “Truth Be Told,” was a New York Times' pick among "4 Great Fictional Detectives."
“...[M]ystery novels that incorporate religion in a significant way aren’t all that common. Thankfully, the inspiring Patricia Raybon, a veteran nonfiction writer and novelist, has been threading the needle in just the right way with her Annalee Spain series, set in 1920s Denver.” (Sarah Weinman, New York Times).
"It's something special," says NBA star Steph Curry about the Annalee story. Others agree. "Brava, Patricia. It is captivating." (Jerry B. Jenkins) "Rich with romance and spiritual searching." (Sujata Massey) "A fast-moving mystery.” (Publishers Weekly) “Not only a good mystery, but a realistic insight into the African American experience in the 1920s in the West.” (Rhys Bowen)
Patricia cut her writing teeth in high-pressure newsrooms and won multiple awards for feature writing during her years at The Denver Post and later at the Scripps Howard Rocky Mountain News in Denver. Mid-career she taught print journalism for 15 years to bright graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Now writing full-time, she is a regular contributor at Our Daily Bread and, in addition to writing historical mysteries, is author of two notable memoirs, “My First White Friend,” a winner of the Christopher Award and a Books for a Better Life Award, and “I Told the Mountain to Move: Learning to Pray So Things Change,” a Book of the Year finalist in Christianity Today’s Book Awards. Patricia was also inducted into the Colorado Authors' Hall of Fame.
A lifelong Colorado resident, Patricia is mom to two grown daughters, a “Grammy” to five grandchildren, mother-in-law to one “son,” and the wife of 48 years to her husband Dan Raybon, a retired educator. Patricia and Dan share a passion for movies, popcorn, college hoops, and historical dramas and mysteries on Masterpiece on PBS.
Join her on the journey at her Reader’s Circle at patriciaraybon.com and get her free prayer download, “The Busy Person’s Guide to Hearing God.”
“...[M]ystery novels that incorporate religion in a significant way aren’t all that common. Thankfully, the inspiring Patricia Raybon, a veteran nonfiction writer and novelist, has been threading the needle in just the right way with her Annalee Spain series, set in 1920s Denver.” (Sarah Weinman, New York Times).
"It's something special," says NBA star Steph Curry about the Annalee story. Others agree. "Brava, Patricia. It is captivating." (Jerry B. Jenkins) "Rich with romance and spiritual searching." (Sujata Massey) "A fast-moving mystery.” (Publishers Weekly) “Not only a good mystery, but a realistic insight into the African American experience in the 1920s in the West.” (Rhys Bowen)
Patricia cut her writing teeth in high-pressure newsrooms and won multiple awards for feature writing during her years at The Denver Post and later at the Scripps Howard Rocky Mountain News in Denver. Mid-career she taught print journalism for 15 years to bright graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Now writing full-time, she is a regular contributor at Our Daily Bread and, in addition to writing historical mysteries, is author of two notable memoirs, “My First White Friend,” a winner of the Christopher Award and a Books for a Better Life Award, and “I Told the Mountain to Move: Learning to Pray So Things Change,” a Book of the Year finalist in Christianity Today’s Book Awards. Patricia was also inducted into the Colorado Authors' Hall of Fame.
A lifelong Colorado resident, Patricia is mom to two grown daughters, a “Grammy” to five grandchildren, mother-in-law to one “son,” and the wife of 48 years to her husband Dan Raybon, a retired educator. Patricia and Dan share a passion for movies, popcorn, college hoops, and historical dramas and mysteries on Masterpiece on PBS.
Join her on the journey at her Reader’s Circle at patriciaraybon.com and get her free prayer download, “The Busy Person’s Guide to Hearing God.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
November 17, 2021
This novel kept me turning the pages right to the end! I loved the protagonist, Annalee Spain, and the fact that this mystery didn't sacrifice character development for clues and red herrings. It's a great blend of action and reflection, faith and doubt, puzzles and solutions. I can't wait for more in this series!
March 9, 2022
All That Is Secret was a book that I initially heard about last month on Colorado Public Radio inviting me to a ZOOM interview with its author, Patricia Raybon, and which I attended last month even though my book was still on hold at the library. I have long been fascinated with the early history of Colorado, specifically Denver during the Jazz Age and Prohibition. But sadly, that history included a large and threatening presence of the Ku Klux Klan infiltrating much of the local businesses and government, including the office of the governor of Colorado. In fact, with the resurgence of the KKK in the 1920's, Denver became the second largest membership per capita in the United States. The historic downtown Denver black neighborhood of Five Points exploded during the Jazz Age and second only to New York City's Harlem. Nicknamed the "Harlem of the West," the legendary jazz hotel The Rossonian was host to some of jazz greatest entertainers, the likes of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald.
And this is the historical backdrop of All That Is Secret as we first meet Professor Annalee Spain in Chicago where she is described as an overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college. Living in a small rooming house, her solace is her extensive collection of volumes of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, her literary hero. Confronted with the unsolved murder of her father a year ago, Annalee Spain makes the decision to return to Denver to attempt to come to terms with the many unanswered questions surrounding the death of her father. In boarding the train from Chicago bound for Denver, strange things begin to happen foreshadowing the dangers that may lie ahead. In Denver, accompanying her is an orphan in search of his father as well as the pastor of the local AME church of Annalee's youth. This is a book with a lot of characters and a lot of history only adding to the mystery. I will be looking forward to the sequel of Annalee Spain's quest for the truth.
One of the intriguing aspects of this book was the epigraph opening each chapter with a quotation from Sherlock Holmes from one of his mysteries that had a tangential relationship to the book as the mystery unfolded, although Annalee Spain admitted to relying on her intuitive skills more than the deductive reasoning attributed to Sherlock Holmes.
And this is the historical backdrop of All That Is Secret as we first meet Professor Annalee Spain in Chicago where she is described as an overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college. Living in a small rooming house, her solace is her extensive collection of volumes of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, her literary hero. Confronted with the unsolved murder of her father a year ago, Annalee Spain makes the decision to return to Denver to attempt to come to terms with the many unanswered questions surrounding the death of her father. In boarding the train from Chicago bound for Denver, strange things begin to happen foreshadowing the dangers that may lie ahead. In Denver, accompanying her is an orphan in search of his father as well as the pastor of the local AME church of Annalee's youth. This is a book with a lot of characters and a lot of history only adding to the mystery. I will be looking forward to the sequel of Annalee Spain's quest for the truth.
One of the intriguing aspects of this book was the epigraph opening each chapter with a quotation from Sherlock Holmes from one of his mysteries that had a tangential relationship to the book as the mystery unfolded, although Annalee Spain admitted to relying on her intuitive skills more than the deductive reasoning attributed to Sherlock Holmes.
"It is my belief Watson, founded on my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not represent a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside."---- SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE ADVNTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES
"It is one of those cases where the art of the reasoner should be used rather for the sifting of details than for the acquiring of fresh evidence."---- SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE ADVENTURE OF THE SILVER BLAZE
December 7, 2021
1923 Denver, Colorado
What a great start to a new mystery series! This debut has a strong story line, engaging characters and interesting historical detail.
My gratitude to author Jennifer L Wright for hosting a giveaway of this novel. I was pleased to be the winner.
What a great start to a new mystery series! This debut has a strong story line, engaging characters and interesting historical detail.
My gratitude to author Jennifer L Wright for hosting a giveaway of this novel. I was pleased to be the winner.
September 20, 2021
"All That Is Secret" is a romantic suspense set in Nov. 1923 in America. I was expecting Annalee to be smart, logical, and a Christian. Nope. She knows the Bible but hasn't prayed in a long time. She's more of a philosopher and doesn't follow any of Sherlock Holmes' methods. She tells herself things like, "Stop trying so hard. Let the answers find their way to you." Or when a child pointed out that Goldilocks didn't break in, Annalee's suddenly sure that her father's mysterious key must unlock something that's already open. Huh? She's very impulsive, makes foolish choices, and has scattered thoughts. The author used a lot of short, partial (poor grammar) sentences, giving it a poorly edited feel.
By 20% into the book, I wasn't even sure why Annalee had quit her good job to follow up on a cryptic message that might have to do with her father's murder. Everything seemed so disjointed that it's hard to follow what's going on or put clues together. Her thinking was hard to follow, especially since coherent ideas about the case were kept out of her thoughts until nearly the end. For example, she told someone she needed a distraction, but we're not told why or what she's looking for until her actions show her intent.
I also felt like some things that happened weren't probable for the time period. For example, the pastor knew he was picking up a single woman, and he's a single man, living alone. There's a rooming house within view of his house with rooms available. He didn't arrange a place for her to stay, though, so she ended up sleeping in his bed (with him in another room). Really?!
In the end, Annalee basically solved the mystery by happening to hide from the bad guy and overhear his confession. So many details were never explained, especially things that happened on the train. The Christian element was Annalee starting to pray again as she realized she needed God's help. There was no sex or bad language.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
By 20% into the book, I wasn't even sure why Annalee had quit her good job to follow up on a cryptic message that might have to do with her father's murder. Everything seemed so disjointed that it's hard to follow what's going on or put clues together. Her thinking was hard to follow, especially since coherent ideas about the case were kept out of her thoughts until nearly the end. For example, she told someone she needed a distraction, but we're not told why or what she's looking for until her actions show her intent.
I also felt like some things that happened weren't probable for the time period. For example, the pastor knew he was picking up a single woman, and he's a single man, living alone. There's a rooming house within view of his house with rooms available. He didn't arrange a place for her to stay, though, so she ended up sleeping in his bed (with him in another room). Really?!
In the end, Annalee basically solved the mystery by happening to hide from the bad guy and overhear his confession. So many details were never explained, especially things that happened on the train. The Christian element was Annalee starting to pray again as she realized she needed God's help. There was no sex or bad language.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 4, 2023
3.5 Stars
This book is too long....but I still enjoyed it.
I've always been a fan of Cozy Mysteries both as books and on tv. Murder She Wrote and Hart to Hart are 2 of my favorite tv shows. Those shows were of course contemporary but in books I prefer my Cozies to be Historical and it's even better if the author is Black.
All That Is Secret takes place in 1923(I love the 1920's) and follows Annalee Spain who is a Black Professor at a Bible College in Chicago who upon learning of her father's murder goes back home to Colorado. Before even arriving in Colorado her life is endangered and she quickly realizes that if she wants to know what happened to her father she is gonna have to investigate. Along the way she has to deal with an orphaned white boy who wants to be a detective, a handsome pastor and the Klan.
Despite feeling like this book was too long and that it meandered at times I did enjoy my time reading this book. The world building was great, the characters felt like real people and the mystery made sense. I've already ordered the 2nd book in this series and I'm hoping that Patricia Raybon becomes a go to Cozy Mystery author for me.
If you like Cozies, Historical Fiction and books about cool women trying not to get themselves killed then I think you'll enjoy this book.
This book is too long....but I still enjoyed it.
I've always been a fan of Cozy Mysteries both as books and on tv. Murder She Wrote and Hart to Hart are 2 of my favorite tv shows. Those shows were of course contemporary but in books I prefer my Cozies to be Historical and it's even better if the author is Black.
All That Is Secret takes place in 1923(I love the 1920's) and follows Annalee Spain who is a Black Professor at a Bible College in Chicago who upon learning of her father's murder goes back home to Colorado. Before even arriving in Colorado her life is endangered and she quickly realizes that if she wants to know what happened to her father she is gonna have to investigate. Along the way she has to deal with an orphaned white boy who wants to be a detective, a handsome pastor and the Klan.
Despite feeling like this book was too long and that it meandered at times I did enjoy my time reading this book. The world building was great, the characters felt like real people and the mystery made sense. I've already ordered the 2nd book in this series and I'm hoping that Patricia Raybon becomes a go to Cozy Mystery author for me.
If you like Cozies, Historical Fiction and books about cool women trying not to get themselves killed then I think you'll enjoy this book.
November 8, 2021
Patricia Raybon's first mystery in this series grabbed me from the very first page. Annalee is a compelling character faced with a mystery she is determined to solve. The plot twists and surprises kept coming, as did a cast of fascinating supporting characters that I grew to love and hate. The mystery was perfectly laid out to keep me turning pages long past my bedtime. Highly recommended for anyone who loves history, drama, and spiritual weight in a fast-moving story.
November 2, 2021
Whoa -- a new mystery series set in one of my favourite eras?! I am so in!!!! And what an unputdownable reading experience All That is Secret was! So many secrets! A knotted, mangled heap of them and Annalee so stubbornly intent on releasing each and every one. At great peril to herself and those close to her.
This is definitely not a cozy mystery. It's grittier, uglier and much too serious for that. But I found myself mesmerized right from the chilling prologue through to the heart-racing, gasp-out-loud climax. And I learned a ton about this time and place. I had no idea that Denver of all places was so ensnared by the KKK! The author shows the underbelly of a corrupt city ruled by greedy opportunists who crave power and fortune and are willing to do anything -- even murder -- to achieve their ends.
And in waltzes Annalee, connoisseur of all things Sherlock Holmes, ready to live out her very own mystery. Only it isn't as easy as the books make it seem. But Annalee forges on -- a unique combination of grit, impulsiveness and steadfast charm. And she's unstoppable.
Raybon has created a heroine who is easy to cheer for and also to lament over because....gah!...Annalee doesn't waste time thinking. Or planning. She's a sleuth in motion, relying on instincts and plain nerve to find the answers she's looking for. She finds them...but uncovers a whole new set of questions. Which is fine by me since this is the first of a new series!
She is also a theologian who has lost her connection with God and her journey back to faith is both inspiring and touching.
There's a great cast of secondary characters with complicated back stories who help or thwart Annalee's quest. Including one very dapper, toe-curl inducing pastor. Jack is as enchanted as he is exasperated by Annalee and their romance is heading in the right direction by the end of this first Annalee Spain Mystery.
An intriguing mystery with enough heart-stopping moments to require a defibrillator on standby.
This is definitely not a cozy mystery. It's grittier, uglier and much too serious for that. But I found myself mesmerized right from the chilling prologue through to the heart-racing, gasp-out-loud climax. And I learned a ton about this time and place. I had no idea that Denver of all places was so ensnared by the KKK! The author shows the underbelly of a corrupt city ruled by greedy opportunists who crave power and fortune and are willing to do anything -- even murder -- to achieve their ends.
And in waltzes Annalee, connoisseur of all things Sherlock Holmes, ready to live out her very own mystery. Only it isn't as easy as the books make it seem. But Annalee forges on -- a unique combination of grit, impulsiveness and steadfast charm. And she's unstoppable.
Raybon has created a heroine who is easy to cheer for and also to lament over because....gah!...Annalee doesn't waste time thinking. Or planning. She's a sleuth in motion, relying on instincts and plain nerve to find the answers she's looking for. She finds them...but uncovers a whole new set of questions. Which is fine by me since this is the first of a new series!
She is also a theologian who has lost her connection with God and her journey back to faith is both inspiring and touching.
There's a great cast of secondary characters with complicated back stories who help or thwart Annalee's quest. Including one very dapper, toe-curl inducing pastor. Jack is as enchanted as he is exasperated by Annalee and their romance is heading in the right direction by the end of this first Annalee Spain Mystery.
An intriguing mystery with enough heart-stopping moments to require a defibrillator on standby.
February 8, 2022
It's 1923. Annalee Spain, a young theologian at a Chicago Bible college, receives a telegram urging her to go to Denver and investigate her father's murder. But trying to solve a mystery in a city infested by the KKK is a critical danger for Annalee in All That Is Secret by author Patricia Raybon.
I've been anticipating this ChristFic novel since I first saw a cover reveal for it last June. I didn't have to read the blurb or anything; I just heard it's a historical mystery featuring a Black young woman as the sleuth, and I was in.
Granted, given that I prefer short novels these days, I can feel a little iffy picking up a book that's around 400 pages, considering the likelihood that I may tire of the read before I'm even halfway through it. But I wound up getting engrossed enough in this novel to finish it in two sittings.
Now, I did find some of Annalee's reflections to be repetitive or drawn-out, sometimes with too many questions strung in a row. The rather angsty romantic thread wasn't my favorite aspect of the story. And I found the high frequency of words emphasized by italics to be pretty distracting. I believe that when writers use effective words and have a strong grip on phrasing, they can trust that readers' instincts will fill in most of the emphasis where they need it, without the writer having to visually force it multiple times per page.
Nevertheless, I appreciated the twists and substance of this story, and I'll be keeping an eye out for the second Annalee Spain Mystery.
I've been anticipating this ChristFic novel since I first saw a cover reveal for it last June. I didn't have to read the blurb or anything; I just heard it's a historical mystery featuring a Black young woman as the sleuth, and I was in.
Granted, given that I prefer short novels these days, I can feel a little iffy picking up a book that's around 400 pages, considering the likelihood that I may tire of the read before I'm even halfway through it. But I wound up getting engrossed enough in this novel to finish it in two sittings.
Now, I did find some of Annalee's reflections to be repetitive or drawn-out, sometimes with too many questions strung in a row. The rather angsty romantic thread wasn't my favorite aspect of the story. And I found the high frequency of words emphasized by italics to be pretty distracting. I believe that when writers use effective words and have a strong grip on phrasing, they can trust that readers' instincts will fill in most of the emphasis where they need it, without the writer having to visually force it multiple times per page.
Nevertheless, I appreciated the twists and substance of this story, and I'll be keeping an eye out for the second Annalee Spain Mystery.
December 2, 2021
All That is Secret is the first book I have read by Patricia Raybon. It is also the first book in the Annalee Spain Mystery series. I requested this book because it sounded amazing.
The prologue was exciting and drew me in. I wanted to hear more about the incident described in the prologue, but it took a long time to get to that point. Joe Spain seemed like a good guy, trying to do the right thing, but it ended up getting him killed.
However, once I got into the story it seemed to drag a bit. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, I found several things unrealistic to the time period, and the phraseology of the story was awkward throughout. Also, the overuse of italics distracted me from the story and annoyed me to no end.
I appreciate that Annalee is a smart, educated woman, which is rare for that time, but she didn't always act educated. I also appreciated her taking on Eddie Brown Junior and trying to help him out. I am trying hard to find the right words, but the story just felt disjointed.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The prologue was exciting and drew me in. I wanted to hear more about the incident described in the prologue, but it took a long time to get to that point. Joe Spain seemed like a good guy, trying to do the right thing, but it ended up getting him killed.
However, once I got into the story it seemed to drag a bit. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, I found several things unrealistic to the time period, and the phraseology of the story was awkward throughout. Also, the overuse of italics distracted me from the story and annoyed me to no end.
I appreciate that Annalee is a smart, educated woman, which is rare for that time, but she didn't always act educated. I also appreciated her taking on Eddie Brown Junior and trying to help him out. I am trying hard to find the right words, but the story just felt disjointed.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 7, 2021
I'm already a Patricia Raybon fan and love her nonfiction books, so I've been eagerly anticipating her foray into fiction -- and what a stellar debut! All That Is Secret is the riveting story of Professor Annalee Spain's quest to unravel the mystery of her father's murder. I was completely absorbed by page 2 of the Prologue and found the setting and period details of Denver in the late 1920s especially fascinating. Patricia's precise narrative and well-drawn characters make this book a joy to read from start to finish, and I'll be thinking about this story for a long time to come. Compelling and beautifully written - can't wait for book #2!
June 9, 2021
What a wonderful story! I love how the author wove in the Christian faith so seamlessly. Annalee captivated me as did the time period.
I'll write more when I select this book for the Woman Alive book club, which I run. In the meantime, read it!
I'll write more when I select this book for the Woman Alive book club, which I run. In the meantime, read it!
September 27, 2021
I loved this story! Annalee Spain is a smart and savvy protagonist, and one I'll want to revisit in future books. All That is Secret is an engaging page-turner and a wonderful fiction debut.
August 23, 2021
This book caught me by surprise, There are some books that really grab you from their first line and this was one of them. From the very first moment, with a dying infant to set the tone, this book was intensely atmospheric and kept a really good pace. It felt like watching a detective show set in the 1920's, Raybon painted the picture very well. The use of Sherlock Holmes quotes at the start of each chapter also helped set the tone.
This book is about Annalee Spain, a theology professor whose father is murdered, a crime she is intent to solve with some unorthodox sidekicks she meets on the way, including an orphan and a pastor.
I loved Annalee, she felt very organic as a character. She was smart, strong, and independent, but without it being her sole traits, she was also vulnerable, insecure, and scared. She felt relatable, even when she went of as an amateur sleuth, which most of us wouldn't. I also really, really enjoyed that when she is being slightly scolded by her romantic interest for going off on her own, she actually stands up for herself and frankly states that what she wants him to say is that he is impressed by her boldness and willing to listen to her side. Which, yes girl! Annalee is no damsel, even if there is a lesson about caution and not having to do things alone, I still salute that she refuses to swoon into some big strong man's arms and rightly stands her ground.
"There are times in a woman's life when things seem as if they should add up but don't. Because they're not supposed to add up. Life will show a woman that, if she's paying attention."
I really enjoyed the writing and pacing of this novel, it never felt like it was being too on the nose, there was subtlety and nuance which I really enjoy. What I enjoyed the most was Annalee reflecting on her flawed relationship to her father, it was very moving and heartfelt.
The mystery itself is also quite intriguing, more names to keep track of than I thought there would be so I had to pay attention.
What I learned from this book is that the 1920's makes for a great atmosphere for a murder mystery, but Lord, let's leave that past in the past, the casual sexism and blatant racism are, naturally, very upsetting and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I thought Raybon wrote it very well, but I'm quite glad just to read about it, not experiencing it.
If there is one minor gripe I have about this book it is that it uses the word theology a it much, as a theology major myself, I do enjoy theological aspects and points made, however the word itself - when used repeatedly - is a bit clunky. However it might be necessary as familiarity with the term may vary. I also wasn't sure the romance was necessary, but if the relationship continues in future books I may change my mind (I mostly mind when there is a new romance in each story)
Either way, that was a very small complaint from an otherwise excellent mystery. I tend to get very loyal to crime writers, I'll pick an author and read everything they put out if I enjoy their style, I am intrigued where Annalee might go from here (as this case was very personal), so I'm looking forward to seeing where this series will go.
Thank you so much to Tyndale publishers and Netgalley for enabling me to read this ARC. I hope to see it in print soon.
This book is about Annalee Spain, a theology professor whose father is murdered, a crime she is intent to solve with some unorthodox sidekicks she meets on the way, including an orphan and a pastor.
I loved Annalee, she felt very organic as a character. She was smart, strong, and independent, but without it being her sole traits, she was also vulnerable, insecure, and scared. She felt relatable, even when she went of as an amateur sleuth, which most of us wouldn't. I also really, really enjoyed that when she is being slightly scolded by her romantic interest for going off on her own, she actually stands up for herself and frankly states that what she wants him to say is that he is impressed by her boldness and willing to listen to her side. Which, yes girl! Annalee is no damsel, even if there is a lesson about caution and not having to do things alone, I still salute that she refuses to swoon into some big strong man's arms and rightly stands her ground.
"There are times in a woman's life when things seem as if they should add up but don't. Because they're not supposed to add up. Life will show a woman that, if she's paying attention."
I really enjoyed the writing and pacing of this novel, it never felt like it was being too on the nose, there was subtlety and nuance which I really enjoy. What I enjoyed the most was Annalee reflecting on her flawed relationship to her father, it was very moving and heartfelt.
The mystery itself is also quite intriguing, more names to keep track of than I thought there would be so I had to pay attention.
What I learned from this book is that the 1920's makes for a great atmosphere for a murder mystery, but Lord, let's leave that past in the past, the casual sexism and blatant racism are, naturally, very upsetting and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I thought Raybon wrote it very well, but I'm quite glad just to read about it, not experiencing it.
If there is one minor gripe I have about this book it is that it uses the word theology a it much, as a theology major myself, I do enjoy theological aspects and points made, however the word itself - when used repeatedly - is a bit clunky. However it might be necessary as familiarity with the term may vary. I also wasn't sure the romance was necessary, but if the relationship continues in future books I may change my mind (I mostly mind when there is a new romance in each story)
Either way, that was a very small complaint from an otherwise excellent mystery. I tend to get very loyal to crime writers, I'll pick an author and read everything they put out if I enjoy their style, I am intrigued where Annalee might go from here (as this case was very personal), so I'm looking forward to seeing where this series will go.
Thank you so much to Tyndale publishers and Netgalley for enabling me to read this ARC. I hope to see it in print soon.
December 14, 2023
I was super intrigued by the premise but it didn't quite deliver. (MC is a Bible college professor and we never see her in the classroom, hear about her higher ed background/research specialties, or get the name of the college. Don't lead with that in the blurb if you are not going to deliver.) The plotline centered around the Colorado KKK in the 1920s was spot-on. I will read the second book to see if the series picks up.
June 27, 2021
Synopsis: Invited by her hometown reverend to investigate her father’s untimely death, Bible professor Annalee Spain returns home to begin making inquiries. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes and aided by the reverend (as well as an orphan boy), Annalee goes undercover to research the local suspects. Set in the 1920s, this well-researched historical novel also provides insight into the real-life atrocities of the resurgence of the KKK in Colorado.
*I received a complimentary e-ARC of the book through the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Impression
I was surprised, and very impressed, to learn that this was Raybon’s debut novel. Wow! The writing is stellar, the plot well-paced and intriguing, the message insightful. Even though I don’t usually gravitate toward historical fiction, I really enjoyed the novel.
The Writing
Raybon’s writing is excellent. Whereas some books make up for in plot what they lack in writing, Raybon’s storytelling demonstrates skill and ease. I was not surprised to learn that the author previously won awards for her nonfiction memoir. I also found that the book’s endorsements rang true.
In my opinion, Raybon’s writing stands out because of its lyrical quality. To my observation, strong writing often demonstrates a poetic quality, and Raybon certainly delivers. I noted at least one passage that read like a poem, with its descriptiveness and symbolism.
Raybon also demonstrates a knack for voice, crafting a believable and engaging narrative through Annalee’s eyes.
Premise and Genre
One of the reasons I was drawn to this book was due to its unique perspective and premise. Historical romance novels, particularly in the Christian fiction genre, are often/usually written from a white perspective, and it was refreshing to read an #OwnVoices novel by a black author with a black protagonist, which acknowledged the presence of members of other races. I also really appreciated the fact that, although the book was set during Prohibition, it was not all about flappers and Speakeasies. Raybon deftly navigates the period setting, seamlessly incorporating historical elements, without falling prey to period cliches. While the details clearly conformed to the time and place of the setting (as detailed in the Author’s Note), historical elements felt effortlessly integrated, rather than self-consciously placed. I didn’t feel like I was being bombarded with reminders that the book was set in a different time period, but the historicity was sharp. While the book was educational, I didn’t feel like I was being forced to learn— and that is something I look for in historical fiction.
Romance
The romance was both light and tasteful, and I was impressed that the romance plot was a subplot. I would categorize the novel, first, as mystery, then as historical fiction— with a thread of romance. While the romance added to the plotline, it wasn’t the reason I kept reading. Plus, the content was clean 🙂
Content Disclosure
One piece of content I would like to note is that there were several instances where the character would use the term “Lord,” in her thoughts. I think this was more colloquialism than prayer.
Spiritual Elements
Beautiful. This book was full of gems in its exploration of Annalee’s faith and relationship with God. I bookmarked multiple meaningful passages throughout the text. While I recommend some titles more because they are “clean” than because they are uplifting, this was an instance in which I can recommend the book on both grounds.
Favorite Quote:
“Absolutely nothing random… in God’s doings. Not just letting things unfold, drifting along, hoping to get to where you’re aiming and struggling to go.”
Patricia Raybon
*I received a complimentary e-ARC of the book through the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Impression
I was surprised, and very impressed, to learn that this was Raybon’s debut novel. Wow! The writing is stellar, the plot well-paced and intriguing, the message insightful. Even though I don’t usually gravitate toward historical fiction, I really enjoyed the novel.
The Writing
Raybon’s writing is excellent. Whereas some books make up for in plot what they lack in writing, Raybon’s storytelling demonstrates skill and ease. I was not surprised to learn that the author previously won awards for her nonfiction memoir. I also found that the book’s endorsements rang true.
In my opinion, Raybon’s writing stands out because of its lyrical quality. To my observation, strong writing often demonstrates a poetic quality, and Raybon certainly delivers. I noted at least one passage that read like a poem, with its descriptiveness and symbolism.
Raybon also demonstrates a knack for voice, crafting a believable and engaging narrative through Annalee’s eyes.
Premise and Genre
One of the reasons I was drawn to this book was due to its unique perspective and premise. Historical romance novels, particularly in the Christian fiction genre, are often/usually written from a white perspective, and it was refreshing to read an #OwnVoices novel by a black author with a black protagonist, which acknowledged the presence of members of other races. I also really appreciated the fact that, although the book was set during Prohibition, it was not all about flappers and Speakeasies. Raybon deftly navigates the period setting, seamlessly incorporating historical elements, without falling prey to period cliches. While the details clearly conformed to the time and place of the setting (as detailed in the Author’s Note), historical elements felt effortlessly integrated, rather than self-consciously placed. I didn’t feel like I was being bombarded with reminders that the book was set in a different time period, but the historicity was sharp. While the book was educational, I didn’t feel like I was being forced to learn— and that is something I look for in historical fiction.
Romance
The romance was both light and tasteful, and I was impressed that the romance plot was a subplot. I would categorize the novel, first, as mystery, then as historical fiction— with a thread of romance. While the romance added to the plotline, it wasn’t the reason I kept reading. Plus, the content was clean 🙂
Content Disclosure
One piece of content I would like to note is that there were several instances where the character would use the term “Lord,” in her thoughts. I think this was more colloquialism than prayer.
Spiritual Elements
Beautiful. This book was full of gems in its exploration of Annalee’s faith and relationship with God. I bookmarked multiple meaningful passages throughout the text. While I recommend some titles more because they are “clean” than because they are uplifting, this was an instance in which I can recommend the book on both grounds.
Favorite Quote:
“Absolutely nothing random… in God’s doings. Not just letting things unfold, drifting along, hoping to get to where you’re aiming and struggling to go.”
Patricia Raybon
October 14, 2021
GIVEAWAY ENTER TODAY - https://psalm516.blogspot.com/2021/10...
This story and its well-developed characters grabbed my heart and emotions from the start, here’s a peek…” The little baby was four hours old. Still unwashed. Barely crying. But Joe Spain’s old ears recognized the sound. A human infant. Somebody’s mistake, left in the Colorado cold to die.”
Oh, my I was hooked, and surprised by this gripping, powerful and emotional opening situation where we meet Annalee’s father. I felt a part of the investigation as this brave young lady, makes her way to the scene of the crime. I like the way readers are introduced to this determined, educated, and confident woman who isn’t afraid to do the right thing, even if it looks impossible. As the story builds, Annalee faces incredibly difficult situations as she tries to dig up clues leading to her father’s murderer.
There is a quote under the chapter number from Sherlock Holmes novels. Chapter one says, “Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others overlook.” Sherlock Holmes, A Case of Identity. I liked reading about this young female sleuth from the 1920s. My heart went out to the orphan boy and the pastor, who were unlikely back for Annalee. I liked how historical events were woven into this murder mystery, which gave the reader a different point of view.
I liked what the author says about the main character, “Amid this hostility, my character Annalee Spain found respite in stories of Sherlock Holmes, the iconic fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All of the Holmes epigraphs featured in All That Is Secret are from stories first published in the Strand…Annalee doesn’t solve crimes like Holmes, famous for creative solutions using deductive reasoning. She affirms his belief, however, that a women’s instincts are valuable crime-fighting skills. So, I enjoyed letting Annalee deploy her instincts to unravel the mystery in this novel. How will she grow as a detective? Her next mystery will be coming soon.”
The author includes twelve discussion questions to help create a lively discussion for your book club. This is the authors’ debt novel. I look forward to seeing where the author takes Annalee and what mysteries she will solve. This page-turner that will grab your heart and never let it go.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
This story and its well-developed characters grabbed my heart and emotions from the start, here’s a peek…” The little baby was four hours old. Still unwashed. Barely crying. But Joe Spain’s old ears recognized the sound. A human infant. Somebody’s mistake, left in the Colorado cold to die.”
Oh, my I was hooked, and surprised by this gripping, powerful and emotional opening situation where we meet Annalee’s father. I felt a part of the investigation as this brave young lady, makes her way to the scene of the crime. I like the way readers are introduced to this determined, educated, and confident woman who isn’t afraid to do the right thing, even if it looks impossible. As the story builds, Annalee faces incredibly difficult situations as she tries to dig up clues leading to her father’s murderer.
There is a quote under the chapter number from Sherlock Holmes novels. Chapter one says, “Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others overlook.” Sherlock Holmes, A Case of Identity. I liked reading about this young female sleuth from the 1920s. My heart went out to the orphan boy and the pastor, who were unlikely back for Annalee. I liked how historical events were woven into this murder mystery, which gave the reader a different point of view.
I liked what the author says about the main character, “Amid this hostility, my character Annalee Spain found respite in stories of Sherlock Holmes, the iconic fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All of the Holmes epigraphs featured in All That Is Secret are from stories first published in the Strand…Annalee doesn’t solve crimes like Holmes, famous for creative solutions using deductive reasoning. She affirms his belief, however, that a women’s instincts are valuable crime-fighting skills. So, I enjoyed letting Annalee deploy her instincts to unravel the mystery in this novel. How will she grow as a detective? Her next mystery will be coming soon.”
The author includes twelve discussion questions to help create a lively discussion for your book club. This is the authors’ debt novel. I look forward to seeing where the author takes Annalee and what mysteries she will solve. This page-turner that will grab your heart and never let it go.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
November 25, 2021
An African American cowboy is murdered while riding a train in the 1920’s. His daughter, a theology professor in Chicago, decides to investigate the murder. A cute but exceedingly silly and mushy book. Good writing and some good characters, especially Eddie Brown.
February 23, 2024
4.75 stars!
1923. Very good mystery with great Christian Content! Loved Annalee Spain! She is so brave looking into her father’s murder. The KKK is in this story so be aware of that. Great suspenseful moments. I definitely recommend!
Content: death of baby(killed), murder of man, other killings, KKK related events
1923. Very good mystery with great Christian Content! Loved Annalee Spain! She is so brave looking into her father’s murder. The KKK is in this story so be aware of that. Great suspenseful moments. I definitely recommend!
Content: death of baby(killed), murder of man, other killings, KKK related events
September 30, 2021
Transforming a nonfiction writer’s voice to that of a fiction writer is not an easy task. Yet in All That Is Secret, Patricia Raybon has not only exchanged the journalist’s “who, what, when, where” for “who dunnit,” she has managed it very well.
Reading this book is like taking a ride on one of those old wooden rollercoasters. The first few chapters build suspense as they clatter and clank up that first steep hill. Then, when it lets go the twists, turns and plunges keep coming until the very end!
All That Is Secret is set in Denver, Colorado during the 1920s when the KKK held sway over the city. Annalee Spain, Raybon’s heroine, is an educated black woman who teaches on prayer. Chapter after chapter, she faces what look like insurmountable difficulties while solving her father’s murder. In the end she learns life’s big mysteries are solved one small piece at a time.
If you love a fast moving mystery don't miss this one! Thanks Tynedale House and Net Galley for providing an advance copy for me to enjoy.
Reading this book is like taking a ride on one of those old wooden rollercoasters. The first few chapters build suspense as they clatter and clank up that first steep hill. Then, when it lets go the twists, turns and plunges keep coming until the very end!
All That Is Secret is set in Denver, Colorado during the 1920s when the KKK held sway over the city. Annalee Spain, Raybon’s heroine, is an educated black woman who teaches on prayer. Chapter after chapter, she faces what look like insurmountable difficulties while solving her father’s murder. In the end she learns life’s big mysteries are solved one small piece at a time.
If you love a fast moving mystery don't miss this one! Thanks Tynedale House and Net Galley for providing an advance copy for me to enjoy.
February 13, 2025
I enjoy and watch a ton of good mystery TV shows and movies, but have not, in recent years, read many books that would be labeled outright mysteries. No particular reason other than that I read very widely, so I tend to come across more books that are technically another genre (fantasy, scifi, historical romance, etc), but have some mystery in them, if that makes sense. So it was refreshing to come across one that is an outright mystery, especially from a Christian perspective and an author I haven’t read before.
This book was generally right up my alley with vibes that felt, in some ways, a lot like Hallmark’s style of mystery movies (mystery with a side of romance, following a plucky female heroine as she solves the crime) but it was also nice that it went a lot deeper in themes than Hallmark does, and without getting cheesy or shying away from tougher subject matter.
Annalee was an interesting heroine to follow and I really liked how she allowed her faith to influence every aspect of her life and that she really grappled with and grew her faith throughout the story, including and especially during the hard times.
This story does what many generic murder mysteries do not, which is really deal with the fact that murder is not only a crime, it is a sin, and it stems from other sins. The more Annalee dug into the mystery of her father’s death, the more she realized that investigating a murder isn’t fun like in the mystery books she reads, it exposes you humanity at its worst. Not only do you witness the evil humans can do to each other, but you are put at risk of having it happen to you to when evil naturally wants to keep trying to cover itself up and keep from getting the justice it deserves and which God lifts up people like Annalee to bring about. Because, as Annalee herself realized, God is not distant during times like this, and He isn’t ignoring evil. He is working, often through His followers, like Annalee, to expose wrongdoing and punish it.
I especially enjoyed the characters of this story and how so many different people with different personalities came together to solve the mystery. My favorite was Annalee’s friendship with the pastor’s young son whom she met early on. At first, it seems like their stories are separate, but by the end, they wove together in ways that I didn’t expect.
The main reason this wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me is simply the fact that this book is this author’s fiction debut and there is room for growth in her writing, as is the case for every new fiction author. I thought she had a very nice, unique writing voice that had almost a poetic rhythm to it. (While this doesn’t affect my rating, I thought the audiobook narrator didn’t quite do this writing style justice with the way she read the book. It took getting an ebook copy and seeing the flow of the words on the page and interpreting them with my mind’s voice to really appreciate the stye.) However, sometimes the rhythm leaned a little toward repetitive in her choices of phrasing and the flow of Annalee’s internal dialogue, so that’s what I mean when I say there’s room for growth. She clearly has the skill, though, and I think she’s going to improve and write some beautiful prose as time goes on, which I look forward to reading!
Content Advisory:
Language:
Christian characters use swear word replacements like “darn” and “heck” occasionally. Sometimes Annalee thinks the term “Lord” as a prayer, but sometimes it’s more of an exclamation or colloquialism.
Violence:
This is a murder mystery, so, naturally, there is some violence involved, however it never gets more graphic than your standard Hallmark murder mystery movie where you might see some blood when the body is found and little more. In this instance, the inciting murder isn’t described at all, we only are told the fact that the man died after someone pushed him off a train.
The story opens with a man finding and carrying a baby who was abandoned and injured. Mention of blood on the baby’s head. The baby dies (no description, the baby just stops breathing) before the man is able to find help.
Mentions of lynching and other violent acts driven by racism (burning buildings and the like), but these things are not described.
People get pushed around, threatened with guns, and threatened in general.
While not a result of violence, Annalee discovers a mattress with a huge blood stain on it. It turns out this was caused by a woman having a baby on it and losing a lot of blood in the process.
There are passing mentions of rape that occurred in the past, but absolutely no description thereof.
Sexual/Romance:
Romantic attraction between Annalee and a man. They kiss a couple of times (description of emotions and some physical sensation, but the emphasis is more on the emotions.) Annalee somewhat frequently thinks of the first kiss and the physical and emotional sensations of it, along with wanting to kiss the man again.
A not-very-nice woman calls another woman a “ho.”
As the story itself acknowledges, murder is a sin and the motives for murder frequently stem from other sinful acts, including sexual misconduct. Without spoiling any details, sexual misconduct that occurred in the past is part of the reason the murder occurred, however there is no description of these sexual acts, only mentions of the fact that it occurred.
Spiritual:
This is Christian fiction and our main character, Annalee, is a professor writing a theological paper when the story starts, so she thinks a lot about her faith, her doubts, and God’s influence on her life and the life of others throughout the story, eventually drawing redemptive conclusions by the end. As stated above, the story itself also calls out the fact that the terrible things like murder and the actions that lead up to it, are all sin. But it also points out the ways God exposes the sin and brings about justice.
As the story deals heavily with racism, Annalee, being a Christian herself, expresses disgust over how some people have twisted Holy Scripture and their own minds so badly that they commit racist acts supposedly in the name of Jesus and the cross, when that’s the exact opposite of what Jesus taught, and certainly the exact opposite of the meaning of the cross.
Other:
As stated in the book’s synopsis, this book is set in 1923 in a city where the KKK was running rampant, so we read multiple examples of historically accurate racist acts and talk.
This book was generally right up my alley with vibes that felt, in some ways, a lot like Hallmark’s style of mystery movies (mystery with a side of romance, following a plucky female heroine as she solves the crime) but it was also nice that it went a lot deeper in themes than Hallmark does, and without getting cheesy or shying away from tougher subject matter.
Annalee was an interesting heroine to follow and I really liked how she allowed her faith to influence every aspect of her life and that she really grappled with and grew her faith throughout the story, including and especially during the hard times.
This story does what many generic murder mysteries do not, which is really deal with the fact that murder is not only a crime, it is a sin, and it stems from other sins. The more Annalee dug into the mystery of her father’s death, the more she realized that investigating a murder isn’t fun like in the mystery books she reads, it exposes you humanity at its worst. Not only do you witness the evil humans can do to each other, but you are put at risk of having it happen to you to when evil naturally wants to keep trying to cover itself up and keep from getting the justice it deserves and which God lifts up people like Annalee to bring about. Because, as Annalee herself realized, God is not distant during times like this, and He isn’t ignoring evil. He is working, often through His followers, like Annalee, to expose wrongdoing and punish it.
I especially enjoyed the characters of this story and how so many different people with different personalities came together to solve the mystery. My favorite was Annalee’s friendship with the pastor’s young son whom she met early on. At first, it seems like their stories are separate, but by the end, they wove together in ways that I didn’t expect.
The main reason this wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me is simply the fact that this book is this author’s fiction debut and there is room for growth in her writing, as is the case for every new fiction author. I thought she had a very nice, unique writing voice that had almost a poetic rhythm to it. (While this doesn’t affect my rating, I thought the audiobook narrator didn’t quite do this writing style justice with the way she read the book. It took getting an ebook copy and seeing the flow of the words on the page and interpreting them with my mind’s voice to really appreciate the stye.) However, sometimes the rhythm leaned a little toward repetitive in her choices of phrasing and the flow of Annalee’s internal dialogue, so that’s what I mean when I say there’s room for growth. She clearly has the skill, though, and I think she’s going to improve and write some beautiful prose as time goes on, which I look forward to reading!
Content Advisory:
Language:
Christian characters use swear word replacements like “darn” and “heck” occasionally. Sometimes Annalee thinks the term “Lord” as a prayer, but sometimes it’s more of an exclamation or colloquialism.
Violence:
This is a murder mystery, so, naturally, there is some violence involved, however it never gets more graphic than your standard Hallmark murder mystery movie where you might see some blood when the body is found and little more. In this instance, the inciting murder isn’t described at all, we only are told the fact that the man died after someone pushed him off a train.
The story opens with a man finding and carrying a baby who was abandoned and injured. Mention of blood on the baby’s head. The baby dies (no description, the baby just stops breathing) before the man is able to find help.
Mentions of lynching and other violent acts driven by racism (burning buildings and the like), but these things are not described.
People get pushed around, threatened with guns, and threatened in general.
While not a result of violence, Annalee discovers a mattress with a huge blood stain on it. It turns out this was caused by a woman having a baby on it and losing a lot of blood in the process.
There are passing mentions of rape that occurred in the past, but absolutely no description thereof.
Sexual/Romance:
Romantic attraction between Annalee and a man. They kiss a couple of times (description of emotions and some physical sensation, but the emphasis is more on the emotions.) Annalee somewhat frequently thinks of the first kiss and the physical and emotional sensations of it, along with wanting to kiss the man again.
A not-very-nice woman calls another woman a “ho.”
As the story itself acknowledges, murder is a sin and the motives for murder frequently stem from other sinful acts, including sexual misconduct. Without spoiling any details, sexual misconduct that occurred in the past is part of the reason the murder occurred, however there is no description of these sexual acts, only mentions of the fact that it occurred.
Spiritual:
This is Christian fiction and our main character, Annalee, is a professor writing a theological paper when the story starts, so she thinks a lot about her faith, her doubts, and God’s influence on her life and the life of others throughout the story, eventually drawing redemptive conclusions by the end. As stated above, the story itself also calls out the fact that the terrible things like murder and the actions that lead up to it, are all sin. But it also points out the ways God exposes the sin and brings about justice.
As the story deals heavily with racism, Annalee, being a Christian herself, expresses disgust over how some people have twisted Holy Scripture and their own minds so badly that they commit racist acts supposedly in the name of Jesus and the cross, when that’s the exact opposite of what Jesus taught, and certainly the exact opposite of the meaning of the cross.
Other:
As stated in the book’s synopsis, this book is set in 1923 in a city where the KKK was running rampant, so we read multiple examples of historically accurate racist acts and talk.
September 12, 2021
I was drawn in right from the start with the powerful and emotional prologue. All That Is Secret offers a bit of everything - mystery, intrigue, romance, action and danger - which made for a very enjoyable read. I would sum up this novel with a quote from heroine Annalee Spain. "Oh, Mrs. Stallworth, solving a murder is not about crime. It's about finding fear and greed, and well, about lust." I enjoyed Annalee's dialogue with God, her questions, and her search for answers from above. I can imagine Annalee's relationship with God will be ongoing throughout the series, as she grows and learns. This book is a great choice to curl up with, whatever your level of spirituality.
August 20, 2022
Loved this book! Mind you, I was skeptical that I would like it after I read it described as a Christian mystery novel. But kudos to the author! She showed skillfully how a protagonist who makes her living teaching religious subjects can also doubt if there is a God. The Christianity in this book is a testament to the struggle to do good and be the good in the world.
This is also historical fiction featuring African Americans in the West (Denver specifically) and was very well done.
I'll happily read the next installment!
This is also historical fiction featuring African Americans in the West (Denver specifically) and was very well done.
I'll happily read the next installment!
October 6, 2021
If you enjoyed All THAT IS SECRET, then you'll love my interview with Patricia Raybon on the Crime Writers of Color Podcast!
https://www.crimewritersofcolor.com/c...
https://www.crimewritersofcolor.com/c...
December 20, 2021
thoughts coming shortly
November 26, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed All that is Secret by Patricia Raborn.
Luke Chapter 8, verse seventeen
Older people I knew often paraphrased this elegant verse by saying, “Chile, what’s done in the dark will sho shone in the light.”
I am a native of Chicago and I know very little about the history of Colorado. The fact that this mystery that was set in the 1920’s was set in both places was an engaging part of the story. The powerful first chapter was seeded with so many clues that propelled me through this lovely book. I both loved and empathized with Joe Spain from the beginning, which helped me to see into him and to understand the spirit of the little girl, turned theologian that he raised.
I appreciated learning the history of 5 points Colorado. Like many of us who don’t know as much about our history as we should, I always thought that the Klan was predominate in the south and along the winding of the Mississippi river. It was news to me the Colorado in the 20s had a population of Klan membership second only to Indiana, which was the #1 in Klan membership in the United States.
I loved her connection with the white orphan that tied them both into an unlikely friendship in which the small white child becomes a critical ally. Her connection to the young pastor was fated and unfolded in a very tender way.
The introduction of the Sherlock Holmes quotations also anchored Analise with a legacy detective.
I loved this book and will continue reading the mystery revelations of the reluctant detective, Analise Spain.
I purchased the book on audible and the performance was also very engaging.
Luke Chapter 8, verse seventeen
Older people I knew often paraphrased this elegant verse by saying, “Chile, what’s done in the dark will sho shone in the light.”
I am a native of Chicago and I know very little about the history of Colorado. The fact that this mystery that was set in the 1920’s was set in both places was an engaging part of the story. The powerful first chapter was seeded with so many clues that propelled me through this lovely book. I both loved and empathized with Joe Spain from the beginning, which helped me to see into him and to understand the spirit of the little girl, turned theologian that he raised.
I appreciated learning the history of 5 points Colorado. Like many of us who don’t know as much about our history as we should, I always thought that the Klan was predominate in the south and along the winding of the Mississippi river. It was news to me the Colorado in the 20s had a population of Klan membership second only to Indiana, which was the #1 in Klan membership in the United States.
I loved her connection with the white orphan that tied them both into an unlikely friendship in which the small white child becomes a critical ally. Her connection to the young pastor was fated and unfolded in a very tender way.
The introduction of the Sherlock Holmes quotations also anchored Analise with a legacy detective.
I loved this book and will continue reading the mystery revelations of the reluctant detective, Analise Spain.
I purchased the book on audible and the performance was also very engaging.
October 17, 2025
Annalee Spain is an unlikely sleuth—a black theology professor—in this riveting mystery set in Denver during the early 1920’s. Author Patricia Raybom won a Christy Award for First Novel for this book, “All That is Secret”. I’m glad she has written others in this series.
March 30, 2023
3.5 stars (rounded up). This was a hoot! It was captivating, grounded and very good mystery. The faith elements really shined through in this book and I can appreciate the main character's faith journey. I especially found the setting of 1923 Denver Colorado a refreshing with a nod to Rossoninan Hotel which was one of the most important jazz clubs during this time period. Truly a mix of history, romance and mystery/intrigue. I am really excited to read the next one!
October 25, 2021
A great new mystery series begins!
When theologian professor Annalee Spain receives a cryptic telegram hinting at foul play for her estranged father’s death, she takes a hard look at her life in Chicago and decides that she should follow the trail. She’s always been daring, known as the colored professor at the bible college, but in 1923, it doesn’t always pay to be daring. Aboard the train to Denver, trouble manages to find her as someone seems to want to keep her away. As she explores the events related to her father’s death, she finds a trail that leads to more danger mixed with high-ranking members of the KKK. Along with colorful supporting characters, Annalee must charter the skills of her favorite literary detective, Sherlock Holmes, if she hopes to find the truth.
I always love getting the start to a new series and mysteries are the best. This one sets the characters paths for future installments and I just love Annalee Spain. She has spunk and is daring, but also has times of self-doubt that made her seem human. There wasn’t a tremendous amount of descriptive scenery set throughout the book, but it did not take way from the story line at all. There were hints and traces of 1923 Denver, but the mystery is what really drove the story. I can’t wait to see how the relationship between Jack and Annalee blossoms in the future and I’m curious about how young Eddie will progress and grow as a character. The book is colorful, exciting, and mysterious; just what anyone needs for these upcoming cold nights.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
When theologian professor Annalee Spain receives a cryptic telegram hinting at foul play for her estranged father’s death, she takes a hard look at her life in Chicago and decides that she should follow the trail. She’s always been daring, known as the colored professor at the bible college, but in 1923, it doesn’t always pay to be daring. Aboard the train to Denver, trouble manages to find her as someone seems to want to keep her away. As she explores the events related to her father’s death, she finds a trail that leads to more danger mixed with high-ranking members of the KKK. Along with colorful supporting characters, Annalee must charter the skills of her favorite literary detective, Sherlock Holmes, if she hopes to find the truth.
I always love getting the start to a new series and mysteries are the best. This one sets the characters paths for future installments and I just love Annalee Spain. She has spunk and is daring, but also has times of self-doubt that made her seem human. There wasn’t a tremendous amount of descriptive scenery set throughout the book, but it did not take way from the story line at all. There were hints and traces of 1923 Denver, but the mystery is what really drove the story. I can’t wait to see how the relationship between Jack and Annalee blossoms in the future and I’m curious about how young Eddie will progress and grow as a character. The book is colorful, exciting, and mysterious; just what anyone needs for these upcoming cold nights.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
March 7, 2023
A black female professor of theology who loves Sherlock Holmes- a 1920’s murder mystery - a Reverend/Pastor love interest - an orphaned kid- local politics - the KKK - a perilous train ride, going undercover as a maid in the home of a wealthy family — need I say more?
If you enjoy a good 1920’s murder mystery, this is great. It’s a unique spin on the quintessential cozy mystery. Also, it’s the first in a series! So the excitement continues!
If you enjoy a good 1920’s murder mystery, this is great. It’s a unique spin on the quintessential cozy mystery. Also, it’s the first in a series! So the excitement continues!
September 16, 2021
“For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” Luke 8:17
Set in 1920s Colorado, All That is Secret tells the story of Bible college professor Annalee Spain and her search to find answers following her father’s death. The story begins with a bang and the plot continues to be fast paced through much of the book.
There were two things in these pages that felt special or unique to me. First, each chapter begins with a Sherlock Holmes quote as the epigraph, a nod to the original mystery solver and Annalee Spain’s love of his novels. Second, the setting felt fresh to me in the historical fiction genre. The KKK plays a role here, and I learned some surprising (to me) new information about their presence in Colorado.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the advanced review copy.
All That is Secret releases October 5 as the first installment of the Annalee Spain mystery series. There is something for everyone here: mystery, romance, faith, identity, and more. Let me know if you pick it up!
Set in 1920s Colorado, All That is Secret tells the story of Bible college professor Annalee Spain and her search to find answers following her father’s death. The story begins with a bang and the plot continues to be fast paced through much of the book.
There were two things in these pages that felt special or unique to me. First, each chapter begins with a Sherlock Holmes quote as the epigraph, a nod to the original mystery solver and Annalee Spain’s love of his novels. Second, the setting felt fresh to me in the historical fiction genre. The KKK plays a role here, and I learned some surprising (to me) new information about their presence in Colorado.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the advanced review copy.
All That is Secret releases October 5 as the first installment of the Annalee Spain mystery series. There is something for everyone here: mystery, romance, faith, identity, and more. Let me know if you pick it up!
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