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Hale Mary Mysteries #3
The Trouble with Secrets
She needs another client…not another corpse.
Please note this book was previously published as The Enforcer.
Hale Mary has always had a soft spot for lost causes. Perhaps because she’s always felt like one herself. Which is why her talent management agency’s client list is filled with misfits, miscreants, and underachievers.
But Ross Johnston is not an underdog. As the fan-favorite on the Arizona NHL hockey team, he’s one of the best enforcers in the league. And one of the most well-compensated.
And if it wasn’t for the hooker incident at the Four Seasons, he’d be Hale’s ideal client.
But the hooker incident isn’t the worst of Ross’ problems. His wife and her alleged lover have gone missing with half-a-million dollars of their savings. And when the lover is found murdered, Ross becomes the primary suspect.
With Ross proclaiming his innocence, Hale jumps to his defense. But when the clues lead down paths she hadn’t expected, will her doubts in Ross’ seal his fate? Or will her belief in him help a killer get away with murder?
Olivia Pope meets Stephanie Plum in this humorous mystery series featuring professional cat-herder Hale Mary, her (growing) roster of misfit clients, and her continuing efforts to save them from themselves.
The Trouble with Secrets is the third book in the Hale Mary Mystery Series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Please note this book was previously published as The Enforcer.
Hale Mary has always had a soft spot for lost causes. Perhaps because she’s always felt like one herself. Which is why her talent management agency’s client list is filled with misfits, miscreants, and underachievers.
But Ross Johnston is not an underdog. As the fan-favorite on the Arizona NHL hockey team, he’s one of the best enforcers in the league. And one of the most well-compensated.
And if it wasn’t for the hooker incident at the Four Seasons, he’d be Hale’s ideal client.
But the hooker incident isn’t the worst of Ross’ problems. His wife and her alleged lover have gone missing with half-a-million dollars of their savings. And when the lover is found murdered, Ross becomes the primary suspect.
With Ross proclaiming his innocence, Hale jumps to his defense. But when the clues lead down paths she hadn’t expected, will her doubts in Ross’ seal his fate? Or will her belief in him help a killer get away with murder?
Olivia Pope meets Stephanie Plum in this humorous mystery series featuring professional cat-herder Hale Mary, her (growing) roster of misfit clients, and her continuing efforts to save them from themselves.
The Trouble with Secrets is the third book in the Hale Mary Mystery Series but can be read as a stand-alone.
- GenresMystery
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2022
352 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 13, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this arc.
I've not read this author nor this series before reading The Enforcer. I based my request on the comparison to Stephanie Plum. While there were a couple of wisps of Stephanie, I felt it more like a Mike Lupica's characters mashup with the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
An easy-breezy sports mystery with mostly likeable and engaging characters. Mystery provided enough tension to keep the story moving forward, more so than most "cozy" mysteries, but nothing like "edge-of-your-seat". I enjoyed the characters even more than the story.... enough to add the earlier books of this series to my tsunami of a TBR pile.
Easy escapist fun read
4.0 stars
I've not read this author nor this series before reading The Enforcer. I based my request on the comparison to Stephanie Plum. While there were a couple of wisps of Stephanie, I felt it more like a Mike Lupica's characters mashup with the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
An easy-breezy sports mystery with mostly likeable and engaging characters. Mystery provided enough tension to keep the story moving forward, more so than most "cozy" mysteries, but nothing like "edge-of-your-seat". I enjoyed the characters even more than the story.... enough to add the earlier books of this series to my tsunami of a TBR pile.
Easy escapist fun read
4.0 stars
January 11, 2022
This is the first book by Katrina Kyle in her Hale Mary series that i have read. I dare readers not to fall in love with the characters. The Enforcer is a perfect blend between Cozy Mystery and Harder Darker mysteries.
The author brings to love fun characters and a story that readers will be able to enjoy.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of The Enforcer.
I will be going back reading book 1 and 2 while I wait for the next book in this fun, exciting new series.
The author brings to love fun characters and a story that readers will be able to enjoy.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of The Enforcer.
I will be going back reading book 1 and 2 while I wait for the next book in this fun, exciting new series.
February 11, 2022
Great Mystery
This series gets better with each installment. Hale and Norma have set up in Phoenix with their new company. Her new client is accused of murder and she sets out to find the truth. love these characters and as usual, the mystery kept me guessing! Looking forward to more Hale Mary Mysteries!
This series gets better with each installment. Hale and Norma have set up in Phoenix with their new company. Her new client is accused of murder and she sets out to find the truth. love these characters and as usual, the mystery kept me guessing! Looking forward to more Hale Mary Mysteries!
April 3, 2023
Another good one
Finished this book quickly because the mystery had me enthralled. I could not figure out who the killer was. This author writes a great mystery and I'm still curious about the rest of Hale's brothers. I'm also wondering what's up with the Teach angle. Does he have a secret crush on the leading lady?
Finished this book quickly because the mystery had me enthralled. I could not figure out who the killer was. This author writes a great mystery and I'm still curious about the rest of Hale's brothers. I'm also wondering what's up with the Teach angle. Does he have a secret crush on the leading lady?
August 3, 2025
Unique
The novel weaves a captivating narrative that explores complex relationships against the backdrop of stunning mountain and desert landscapes. The story's intricate plot and deeply developed characters are enhanced by a passionate and uninhibited love story, creating a truly memorable reading experience that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
The novel weaves a captivating narrative that explores complex relationships against the backdrop of stunning mountain and desert landscapes. The story's intricate plot and deeply developed characters are enhanced by a passionate and uninhibited love story, creating a truly memorable reading experience that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
September 22, 2023
Very good read
Hale is trying to get some new clients but things keep going wrong. Ziggy shows up out of blue to help with the business
Hale is trying to get some new clients but things keep going wrong. Ziggy shows up out of blue to help with the business
October 10, 2025
Fun read
Nice story, kept my attention to the end. Nice character development. Felt like you were there as she traveled to her destinations and sought out the facts.
Nice story, kept my attention to the end. Nice character development. Felt like you were there as she traveled to her destinations and sought out the facts.
December 14, 2025
Entertaining
This book was intriguing with its murder mystery. It kept me engaged throughout the story. I loved the characters and the plot twist at the end.
This book was intriguing with its murder mystery. It kept me engaged throughout the story. I loved the characters and the plot twist at the end.
November 16, 2021
Hale Seton is an ex- snowboarder trying to make a go of it representing troubled athletes and managing their lives. She comes from a large family of athletes all successful and she is the only girl and went through some troubled times with sports hence the inspiration for her career change. This latest case involves an NHL player accused of battering a woman. He claims his innocence and is persistent enough to get her to take him on as a client. When things go sideways in his personal life and the police get more deeply involved Hale must dig deep to find the truth of the matter.
Twists and turns and shocking surprises abound as Hale, Norma and Hale’s brother Ziggy work to unravel the mystery.
Funny, irreverent, quirky and enigmatic are all wonderful words to describe this story. I loved Hale the black sheep of her family trying to start a career helping other like her. Norma is a hoot and a half, her directionally challenged episodes are just laugh out loud funny. Ziggy the brother who Hale loves and hates in equal measure, a man with the attention span of a gnat who has had more careers than she can think of. Yet he somehow fits in the rag tag group and makes it work. They’re unconventional but they have your back no matter what. An absolute delight to read.
I received an ARC from the author.
Twists and turns and shocking surprises abound as Hale, Norma and Hale’s brother Ziggy work to unravel the mystery.
Funny, irreverent, quirky and enigmatic are all wonderful words to describe this story. I loved Hale the black sheep of her family trying to start a career helping other like her. Norma is a hoot and a half, her directionally challenged episodes are just laugh out loud funny. Ziggy the brother who Hale loves and hates in equal measure, a man with the attention span of a gnat who has had more careers than she can think of. Yet he somehow fits in the rag tag group and makes it work. They’re unconventional but they have your back no matter what. An absolute delight to read.
I received an ARC from the author.
November 29, 2021
I challenge you to read these books and not love Hale Mary. Apart from the corny name, which I think is great, she is down to Earth and completely relatable. She doesn’t go looking for trouble, but it always seems to find her. The way she handles it is realistic and believable, especially with her family issues thrown in. This one is no exception. There’s murder, disappearances, blackmail, fraud and the mob, but it doesn’t get complicated or confusing.
What I like most about these books is that they are not all set in the same place or focused around the same sport. The variety keeps me interested and you don’t have to know anything about sport, or even like it, to find these books enjoyable. This is the third book I have read by this author and they keep getting better. Book 4 here I come.
If you haven’t read anything by this author yet, start at the beginning as there is an ongoing story which intertwines well with each of the books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I like most about these books is that they are not all set in the same place or focused around the same sport. The variety keeps me interested and you don’t have to know anything about sport, or even like it, to find these books enjoyable. This is the third book I have read by this author and they keep getting better. Book 4 here I come.
If you haven’t read anything by this author yet, start at the beginning as there is an ongoing story which intertwines well with each of the books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2022
Hale Mary Seton is a manager of public figures who need their image rescued or, at the very least, maintained. Most of her clients are struggling – underachievers, misfits, or they simply don’t know how to stay out of trouble. One of her newest clients is a successful hockey player and a fan favorite. But he doesn’t have an ounce of sense when it comes to managing his image or even his life. So, when he is accused of murder, Hale jumps in to prove his innocence. The question is, can she?
The Enforcer is the third book in the Hale Mary Mystery series, but the first one I’ve read. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone and I found it quite enjoyable. It is a good story, filled with a variety of characters, a touch of humor, and a nice pace. This is one series I will be on the lookout for and I hope the author has more books in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
The Enforcer is the third book in the Hale Mary Mystery series, but the first one I’ve read. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone and I found it quite enjoyable. It is a good story, filled with a variety of characters, a touch of humor, and a nice pace. This is one series I will be on the lookout for and I hope the author has more books in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
December 2, 2021
Once again the Hale Mary series has delivered a book full of twists and turns. Along with the authors straight forward descriptions and her characters, (I don't care what you think), ponytail , you will find a book that that keeps you entertained. I've read each of the Hale Mary ,advanced review copies, books as they become available because I truly enjoy the stories. You can read the book as a stand alone, or if you want to know more about Hale's journey you can read the series from the start. Either way you will find yourself rooting for her down in thier luck client. Looking forward to the next book.
December 6, 2021
The enforcer by Katrina Kyle.
Hale Mary Mysteries Book 3.
Hale Mary has always had a soft spot for lost causes. Perhaps because she’s always felt like one herself. Which is why her talent management agency’s client list is filled with misfits, miscreants, and underachievers.
This was a very good read. Good story and characters. 4*.
Hale Mary Mysteries Book 3.
Hale Mary has always had a soft spot for lost causes. Perhaps because she’s always felt like one herself. Which is why her talent management agency’s client list is filled with misfits, miscreants, and underachievers.
This was a very good read. Good story and characters. 4*.
November 21, 2021
A very delightful mystery. Fully developed characters and believable situations. I received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 3, 2021
Hale Mary is sports agent with an eclectic group of friends and perhaps an even more eclectic group of clients. This was a fun book with a surprise twist at the end. An enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews