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ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition
4.0
~This ARC has been gently provided in exchange for an honest review~
Shea O’Connor is a twenty-three-year-old Buffalo police officer who has worked undercover for the FBI to help them catch a serial killer called Terry Roberts. After the traumatic events of this assignment, she has been mainly doing paperwork and patrolling the streets of Buffalo until Bill Walters -the same FBI agent who asked her to work in the “Roberts case”- asks her to go undercover again. She is reluctant at first, because of how things ended for her in the previous case, but then she accepts.
She is now Shea Anderson, an orphan eighteen-year-old college student and the Kelly’s Falls chief’s niece. She is a freshman at the town’s Community College, so she can blend in with the rest of the students, especially the friends of the three missing girls. Skyler, Olivia, and Emma disappeared two months ago. The police and the people of Kelly’s Falls have been looking for them intensely, but without any results. There isn’t a simple trace of them. Although, they have left the only thing that can help Shea find them: their secrets.
This is a very well-paced story, with interesting characters and a peaceful little town, or at least that’s how it looks like at first. Little by little, Shea realises that there are more secrets than she could have imagined. Definitely, a fast-read novel that keeps you interested all the time.
Shea O’Connor is a twenty-three-year-old Buffalo police officer who has worked undercover for the FBI to help them catch a serial killer called Terry Roberts. After the traumatic events of this assignment, she has been mainly doing paperwork and patrolling the streets of Buffalo until Bill Walters -the same FBI agent who asked her to work in the “Roberts case”- asks her to go undercover again. She is reluctant at first, because of how things ended for her in the previous case, but then she accepts.
She is now Shea Anderson, an orphan eighteen-year-old college student and the Kelly’s Falls chief’s niece. She is a freshman at the town’s Community College, so she can blend in with the rest of the students, especially the friends of the three missing girls. Skyler, Olivia, and Emma disappeared two months ago. The police and the people of Kelly’s Falls have been looking for them intensely, but without any results. There isn’t a simple trace of them. Although, they have left the only thing that can help Shea find them: their secrets.
This is a very well-paced story, with interesting characters and a peaceful little town, or at least that’s how it looks like at first. Little by little, Shea realises that there are more secrets than she could have imagined. Definitely, a fast-read novel that keeps you interested all the time.
pam2375's review against another edition
4.0
Three college freshman goes missing with out a trace at the same time. A young detective goes undercover to try to find out what happened to the three young women.
This was a bit of mystery and a bit thriller and the story kept me going throughout.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in April 2020.
This was a bit of mystery and a bit thriller and the story kept me going throughout.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in April 2020.
nahyee's review against another edition
3.0
See my full review of this title on my blog: Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight): https://booksundertheblanket.com/what-do-we-have-on-the-dvr.html
kgnade's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced reader copy of The Secrets They Left Behind from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion.
The Secrets They Left Behind by Lissa Marie Redmond is a story about friendship, trust and secrets. Shea O’Connor, a 23 year old Buffalo police officer, is still licking her wounds from the last time she went undercover, when the FBI requests her assistance again. In rural Kelly’s Falls, three teenage girls have disappeared.
Shea, goes undercover as a college freshman and the police chief’s niece to help solve the case. The FBI has given her little information to work with so she doesn’t go in with any presumptions. The police chief is a proud man and isn’t happy to have Shea stirring up problems in his town. Shea befriends the friends and family of the missing girls, while also making a few enemies. Will Shea be able to solve this case before her cover is blown?
I loved this book- it was hard to put down, had a great pace, and a few surprises. The Secrets They Left Behind is available today, Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
#lissamarieredmond #thesecretstheyleftbehind #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #thriller #thrillerbooks #mysterythriller #readin2020 #crookedlanebooks #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
The Secrets They Left Behind by Lissa Marie Redmond is a story about friendship, trust and secrets. Shea O’Connor, a 23 year old Buffalo police officer, is still licking her wounds from the last time she went undercover, when the FBI requests her assistance again. In rural Kelly’s Falls, three teenage girls have disappeared.
Shea, goes undercover as a college freshman and the police chief’s niece to help solve the case. The FBI has given her little information to work with so she doesn’t go in with any presumptions. The police chief is a proud man and isn’t happy to have Shea stirring up problems in his town. Shea befriends the friends and family of the missing girls, while also making a few enemies. Will Shea be able to solve this case before her cover is blown?
I loved this book- it was hard to put down, had a great pace, and a few surprises. The Secrets They Left Behind is available today, Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
#lissamarieredmond #thesecretstheyleftbehind #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #thriller #thrillerbooks #mysterythriller #readin2020 #crookedlanebooks #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
nixbix_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an engrossing read. I thought it was well written, and while it was a little slow moving in some places, it all added up to an outcome & murderer that I did not guess.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Secrets They Left Behind is a standalone (?) procedural thriller mystery by Lissa Marie Redmond. Released 7th April 2020 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a well written FBI procedural with a young female protagonist on loan for fieldwork from the Buffalo PD. She has a history with the FBI and the supervisor with whom she's working which is revealed through a series of flashbacks throughout the novel. Her particular appeal for this case (and the prior assignment she completed for the FBI) is that she looks much younger than she actually is.
The story itself is interesting and set up well: the disappearance of three freshman women at a local small-town community college has her placed in the field undercover as a freshman in the same social circle as the missing girls. The plotting and story arc seemed oddly paced to me and moved forward somewhat unevenly however. The author devoted a fair amount of wordage to the interactions of Shea (undercover cop) and her freshman girlfriend group; exchanging clothes, doing one another's hair and makeup, talking about boys, and slagging off girls they don't like.
The book will likely find a willing audience in the new adult market and the strong romance subplot will probably be a bonus for those readers. I will say that the denouement and big reveal were strongly foreshadowed throughout the book and not much of a surprise. I also found my suspension of disbelief hiding behind the sofa over the deux ex machina methods that the author utilized to get Shea out of her predicaments.
The writing is capable. I recommend it to fans of procedurals who enjoy a large dose of romance with their mysteries. Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Secrets They Left Behind is a standalone (?) procedural thriller mystery by Lissa Marie Redmond. Released 7th April 2020 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a well written FBI procedural with a young female protagonist on loan for fieldwork from the Buffalo PD. She has a history with the FBI and the supervisor with whom she's working which is revealed through a series of flashbacks throughout the novel. Her particular appeal for this case (and the prior assignment she completed for the FBI) is that she looks much younger than she actually is.
The story itself is interesting and set up well: the disappearance of three freshman women at a local small-town community college has her placed in the field undercover as a freshman in the same social circle as the missing girls. The plotting and story arc seemed oddly paced to me and moved forward somewhat unevenly however. The author devoted a fair amount of wordage to the interactions of Shea (undercover cop) and her freshman girlfriend group; exchanging clothes, doing one another's hair and makeup, talking about boys, and slagging off girls they don't like.
The book will likely find a willing audience in the new adult market and the strong romance subplot will probably be a bonus for those readers. I will say that the denouement and big reveal were strongly foreshadowed throughout the book and not much of a surprise. I also found my suspension of disbelief hiding behind the sofa over the deux ex machina methods that the author utilized to get Shea out of her predicaments.
The writing is capable. I recommend it to fans of procedurals who enjoy a large dose of romance with their mysteries. Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
brandolph's review against another edition
3.0
I was granted an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a fun mystery to read. I was a little confused for the first half of the book, thinking that this was the second in a series and I had somehow missed it - it's not.
I found the main character to be incredibly frustrating at times, and her poor judgement had me internally screaming, until I remembered she is essentially a rookie.
As for the big reveal, I can honestly say I didn't see that coming- although I should have. I had thought I had it all figured out, things were going my way, and then suddenly they weren't.
Overall it was an enjoyable read that I reccomend to fans of small-town mysteries.
This was a fun mystery to read. I was a little confused for the first half of the book, thinking that this was the second in a series and I had somehow missed it - it's not.
I found the main character to be incredibly frustrating at times, and her poor judgement had me internally screaming, until I remembered she is essentially a rookie.
As for the big reveal, I can honestly say I didn't see that coming- although I should have. I had thought I had it all figured out, things were going my way, and then suddenly they weren't.
Overall it was an enjoyable read that I reccomend to fans of small-town mysteries.
annliao's review against another edition
4.0
When I saw the plot for this book, I was immediately on board with the dark and twistiness. It felt like a Crime Junkie/Unsolved Mysteries come to life.
I was able to solve the mystery quickly but it was still a fun and exciting read!
I was able to solve the mystery quickly but it was still a fun and exciting read!
kbranfield's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
The Secrets They Left Behind by Lissa Marie Redmond is a perplexing mystery with an unusual premise.
Twenty-three year old police officer Shea O'Connor is asked to go undercover by FBI Agent Bill Walters. Three freshman college women have been missing for several months and local Police Chief Roy Bishop has not uncovered any leads. Although a bit reluctant, Shea readily agrees to take the assignment. Fitting in right away in the small town of Kelly's Falls, she becomes fast friends with the missing young women's inner circle. Shea feels bad about lying to everyone. However, she feels even more uncomfortable when she becomes involved with Luke Stansfield, the brother of one of the missing women. Despite her uneasiness, Shea begins making progress with the case, but will she uncover the truth about what happened to Olivia, Emma and Skyler?
Shea is still struggling in the aftermath of her previous undercover stint, but she knows she has the best shot at hopefully unearthing leads in the case. She is surprised by how quickly she befriends Kayla, Maddie and Jenna. Although she knows better than become personally involved with anyone connected to the investigation, Shea cannot resist saying yes when Nick asks her out. Hoping to find answers before Nick and her new friends learn the truth about her, Shea becomes even more determined to discover the women's fate.
Roy is not at all enthused about Shea's involvement with the case. They forge an uneasy alliance but they find themselves at odds more often than not. But when Shea begins unearthing leads, Roy becomes a bit more enthusiastic about her assistance. With the clock ticking, will he and Shea solve the puzzling mystery surrounding the victim's disappearances?
The Secrets They Left Behind is an interesting mystery but the pacing is a little slow. Due to the age group, the story reads more like a young and/or new adult novel so be prepared for the typical college hijinks such as drinking, gossiping and irrational jealousy. Shea comes across as a bit immature and some of her decisions are somewhat unprofessional. Through clever misdirects and red herrings, Lissa Marie Redmond keeps readers the guessing the perpetrator's identity until the mystery's unexpected denouement.
The Secrets They Left Behind by Lissa Marie Redmond is a perplexing mystery with an unusual premise.
Twenty-three year old police officer Shea O'Connor is asked to go undercover by FBI Agent Bill Walters. Three freshman college women have been missing for several months and local Police Chief Roy Bishop has not uncovered any leads. Although a bit reluctant, Shea readily agrees to take the assignment. Fitting in right away in the small town of Kelly's Falls, she becomes fast friends with the missing young women's inner circle. Shea feels bad about lying to everyone. However, she feels even more uncomfortable when she becomes involved with Luke Stansfield, the brother of one of the missing women. Despite her uneasiness, Shea begins making progress with the case, but will she uncover the truth about what happened to Olivia, Emma and Skyler?
Shea is still struggling in the aftermath of her previous undercover stint, but she knows she has the best shot at hopefully unearthing leads in the case. She is surprised by how quickly she befriends Kayla, Maddie and Jenna. Although she knows better than become personally involved with anyone connected to the investigation, Shea cannot resist saying yes when Nick asks her out. Hoping to find answers before Nick and her new friends learn the truth about her, Shea becomes even more determined to discover the women's fate.
Roy is not at all enthused about Shea's involvement with the case. They forge an uneasy alliance but they find themselves at odds more often than not. But when Shea begins unearthing leads, Roy becomes a bit more enthusiastic about her assistance. With the clock ticking, will he and Shea solve the puzzling mystery surrounding the victim's disappearances?
The Secrets They Left Behind is an interesting mystery but the pacing is a little slow. Due to the age group, the story reads more like a young and/or new adult novel so be prepared for the typical college hijinks such as drinking, gossiping and irrational jealousy. Shea comes across as a bit immature and some of her decisions are somewhat unprofessional. Through clever misdirects and red herrings, Lissa Marie Redmond keeps readers the guessing the perpetrator's identity until the mystery's unexpected denouement.
kristicuse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0