Book picks similar to
The Secret by Stephen Bentley


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Rough Country


T.J. Brearton - 2020
    A town with a dark secret.A young girl, Kasey, is murdered in the woods of northern New York, a strange symbol carved into her stomach.Investigator Reed Raleigh, Major Crimes, is tasked with finding the killer.Reed has his own troubles. He’s in therapy, divorced, estranged from his son. But he desperately needs to solve this case - his own stepdaughter vanished when she was a teenager and Reed knows all about the agony of having no closure. No way is he letting Kasey’s mother go through that.But as Reed begins to dig, the case grows ever more complex. Why is Kasey’s boyfriend acting so strangely? And why is her mother lying to the police?As evidence of Kasey’s bizarre secret life starts to emerge, Reed realises this case isn’t just about a dead girl. There’s something much bigger at play in this small rural town, a decades old secret that needs to be protected. At any cost.

Camp Chaos


Anne Fox - 2019
    A foul-mouthed woman with a gun on her hip and a badge on her belt. And she's good with a gun. Very good. She's dying to be a member of the unit - literally. Meet Special Agent Kathryn Hanko as she joins the clandestine law enforcement team known only as "the unit" and faces her first mission with them against the terrorist group Camp Chaos.

True Deceit


A.J. Carella - 2015
    Little does he realize that it’s just the beginning and things are about to get worse. A lot worse. But all is not as it seems and soon he is forced to face the truth of his past in order to protect his future. Intense and fast-paced, this ride will have you on the edge of your seat.

Not Like Her


H.K. Christie - 2019
    A possessive boyfriend. Can she save herself from a similar fate?Selena longs to flee her uneasy home life. Prepping every spare minute for a college escape, the headstrong, high school senior vows never to be like her alcoholic mom with her string of abusive boyfriends. So when Selena finds her beaten nearly to death, she knows safety is slipping away...With her mother's violent lover evading justice, Selena's cute new beau's offer to move in seems Heaven-sent. But jealous rage and a renewed search for her long-lost father threaten to pull her back into harm's way.Can Selena break free of an ugly past, or will brutal men crush her hopes of a better future?Not Like Her is the first book in the suspenseful Selena Bailey series. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you'll love H.K. Christie's new mystery series.

Another One


Tony Faggioli - 2017
    After two tours in the Afghanistan War, he thought the horrors that he witnessed there were behind him. But the death of his partner has now opened a dark hole of memories that are threatening to swallow Parker alive. Desperate to maintain his grip, he focuses on the last unsolved case his partner left behind: the brutal murder of Hymie Villarosa.  Father Bernardino Soltera is being destroyed by the present. After ministering to the gang ridden streets of East L.A. for over twenty years, he's unable to see past the pain and suffering that drugs and violence have wreaked on his neighborhood; he’s ready to give up. But when a young girl confesses that she's pregnant and her boyfriend will hurt her if she doesn't get an abortion? Father Soltera decides to make one more stand. Hector Villarosa is being mocked by the future. After being released from jail he discovers the love of his life is with another man. As the leader of his gang, losing face could mean losing his life, and the fact that detectives are now asking questions about the death of Hector's cousin, Hymie, isn't helping. But Hector's bigger problem is the demon that has followed him out of jail and on to the mean streets of East L.A. Three men, one neighborhood. All about to discover that the veil between this world and the next is razor thin. “Faggioli does an astonishing job bringing both criminals and cops to life as three-dimensional, sympathetic characters.” – Amazon 5 Star Review “This is a book that so profoundly illustrates the never ending battle of good and evil, I'm almost without the words to explain it.” – Amazon 5 Star Review

The Sister Wife's Secret


Anya Mora - 2021
    I’ve even started my own home business.Things are looking up … until I find my friend murdered.I know my ex-husband did this to get back at me. He’s been looking for me since I fled Garden Temple. He wants control — over me and our children.For the last year I’ve been acting the part of a suburban mom, hiding from my past. But it’s catching up to me.I have no choice.I was the sweet sister wife long enough. Now it’s time to be the woman who fights back.The Sister Wife’s Secret is the first book in a new suspense series.

Fireplay


Steve P. Vincent - 2015
    A reporter in the right place. A scandal that will rock America.
 Journalist Jack Emery has seen it all. Embedded for the New York Standard with the 8th Marine Regiment in the heart of Afghanistan, he has covered everything from firefights to the opening of new schools. But nothing has prepared Jack for the story that is about to explode right in front of him.
 When a convoy Jack is riding in is attacked by a lone zealot, Jack asks a question that puts him on the path to a sensational story. But he’ll soon learn that his struggles to find the hook are nothing compared to the dangers of getting it out. You’ll love Steve P. Vincent’s thrillers. Get to know Jack Emery before everyone else does.

Trick or Treat Murder (A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery)


Rachel Woods - 2020
    

The Veil of Deceit


Nora Kane - 2020
    Until she got a phone call from an unknown number saying they had evidence about her partner's murder. Which makes her return to her hometown Wolverine Harbor. But, the comforting feeling of the familiarity and warmth of her hometown is short-lived when another woman goes missing, her body to be found in the woods a day later. Were the two murders somehow related? Was it just a coincidence?The piece of evidence that is left on her front door, is it taking her in the right direction, or is it meant to throw her off the tracks? The shot that grazed by her head was it only a warning shot or was she plain lucky to have missed it?Read on as Salem Montgomery navigates the rural landscape of Wolverine Harbor chasing the murderer and putting her life at risk. Will she be successful or end up dead like her partner?

Origins: The Road To Power


Ricky Black
    Life is punishing, and with limited opportunities, Lamont turns to the crime life.Spurred on by his newfound responsibilities, backed by his fierce friend, Shorty Turner, he quickly graduates from boy to man . . . from Lamont to Teflon.But, the rise comes at a price. With the city’s Kingpins seeking to test his mettle, Lamont finds himself targeted.With the stakes at their highest, Teflon has to live up to his name and prove himself worthy of the crown. The road to power is never easy, and this is a game Lamont cannot afford to lose.

The Justice Series Boxed Set


M.A. Comley - 2014
    CRUEL JUSTICE The woods held secrets... ...and a headless body. It's not the only one. When the news broke, it was chaos. With the two best detectives on the case, there were sure to be some answers. At least that was the hope. They're stumped. And people are scared. DI Lorne Simpkins is getting bad vibes on this one. She can't shake the feeling that she's being watched. Are they dealing with a serial killer or are there two murderers on the loose? Now she and her partner are besieged on all sides by the press, their new boss, and every person they see on the streets. People want answers. Nobody's happy with how it's going... ...especially not the person who sent her the most frightening letter she's ever read. You won't believe the twists and turns in this thriller. Get ready to turn pages until well past your bedtime. This one's addictive. IMPEDING JUSTICE A vile criminal with an evil agenda. The streets of London are on red alert. When the call came in... it struck fear into Lorne's heart. She's spent eight frustrating years tracking him. The sound of helicopters overhead... the masked gunman is in sight. Evil and corrupt... this criminal takes pride in having top men in authority in his pocket. Can Lorne succeed where MI6 and others have failed in the past? He takes pleasure in mocking her, goading her and even leading her into a fatal trap. Her confidence is shaken, she has to dig deep to combat her fears and overcome his antics. Can this extraordinary ballsy detective keep those around her safe? It's going to be her toughest assignment yet as the threats are coming at her from every angle. FINAL JUSTICE Foreign shores are calling... DI Lorne Simpkins is forced to revisit her ugly past. Shaken and confused after her last investigation disrupted both her personal and professional life, Lorne finds herself embroiled in a MI6 covert operation to hunt down an old enemy. The sadistic, merciless criminal has a new ambition... one that he's determined to achieve on foreign soil. Can Lorne thwart his outrageous plans and finally bring the vile criminal to justice? Grab your copy today if you love edge-of-your-seat thrillers.

Treated as Murder


Noreen Wainwright - 2014
    Her brother is suspected of murdering an elderly wealthy widow, and sins of the past have echoes in her life and the lives of those close to her.

Shock And Awe (Matt Brunner, #1)


Hervey Copeland - 2019
    The victim is a high ranking drug cartel member, and the leadership of the organization wants revenge. The mission is given to their most ruthless and effective assassin and the order is clear, track down and eliminate the killer. Matt Brunner, a former US Marine and Gulf War veteran becomes an accidental pawn in the cat and mouse game that follows, and has to use all his expertise and experience to stay alive. But is it enough? The cartel is powerful and has tentacles that reach far and deep, and very few people manage to escape its grip. Shock and Awe is the first installment of the Matt Brunner quadrilogy, which follows the protagonist as his life starts to spiral out of control. A fast paced action thriller that is guaranteed to get your heart pumping!

The Abducted


Roger Hayden - 2019
    Amidst the vast wetlands, suburban sprawl, and tropical heat, the Lee County police department knows what to expect on any given day. But when a serial child predator stakes his claim in the area, there is no knowing when and where he will strike. The parents of the latest victim are baffled to receive no ransom demands, given their wealth and influence. And the town is in an uproar as the girl marks the fifth child to vanish.

Ouna Bay Cozy Mystery


Deany Ray - 2016
    But Becky's life is turned upside down when someone puts their eye on her beloved Blue Bay Café. Who would want her to give up her café? And most importantly, why? Could the new, handsome man in Becky's life have anything to do with it? As things heat up and sinister events become the norm, Becky decides to take matters in her own hands. Join Becky and her best friend, Rosalie, as they try to get to the bottom of this mystery and stop the madness. VANILLA BEAN MURDER What would you do if your best friend were a person of interest in a murder investigation? Rosalie just finished the last day of her job as a cashier and she's excited to start working at Becky's Blue Bay Café. But things take a bad turn when Rosalie finds the body of the bank director who inadvertently involves her in his murder before he dies. Now it's up to Becky and Rosalie to solve the murder and re-install normality in their lives. CAKE CONTEST MURDER Everybody in Ouna Bay looks forward to the annual town fair and the cake contest. It's that time of the year when they can enjoy throwing rings around a bottle while eating snow cones and catching up with friends. But nothing will be the same this year! Ouna Bay is rocked when the most hatred woman in town drops dead smack dab in the middle of the cake contest. Once again, it's up to Becky and Rosalie to find the killer, save the Blue Bay Café and bring back sanity into town. PEANUT BUTTER CRUMBLE MURDER Houston’s company lands a deal that could pave the way for the first shopping center in Ouna Bay, which is enough reason to celebrate at the local country club. But when the guest of honor is found dead at the party with one of Becky’s famous peanut butter crumble cupcakes, all eyes are on her! How did the cupcake make its way to that party? And who would want to frame Becky for the murder? And most importantly, why did the murder occur in the first place? Can Becky clear her name and find the real killer?