Book picks similar to
Deadly Secrets by Frank Richardson


lds-fiction
suspense
mystery
started-it-but-quit

The Madera Murder


Deanne Blackhurst - 2014
    But what self-respecting twenty one year old can resist the promise of a vacation in Mexico? She should have known it was too good to be true. Her dreams of exotic adventure come crashing down when she and her father arrive at their destination: the Madera Hacienda. Once a proud symbol of wealth and success, the ramshackle estate is falling apart, and the Madera family has hired Ashley's lawyer father to help save the family home. A dusty derelict ranch is not the vacation she had in mind-but Ashley can't deny a thrilling shiver of premonition. When she hears rumors of a tragic eighteenth-century death and a long hidden treasure, Ashley joins the centuries-long search of the mysterious trove in the company of a group of American archaeological students. But as the shocking clues lead Ashley closer to the hidden riches, it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep the secret of the treasure--and the next tragic death may well be her own...

Disruption


Clair M. Poulson - 2021
    But when he returns home from an evening out with his older sister, Lilia, Timmy is faced with his greatest challenge yet: the house has been ransacked, and their parents have disappeared without a trace. With the help of two detectives who take a special interest in the case, Timmy and Lilia embark on a unique investigation guided by Timmy’s photographic memory and relying on one subtle clue from the night of their parents’ disappearance: the unusual presence of an old Ford Bronco. Using that single piece of information, Timmy and Lilia are drawn into a deadly conspiracy spanning the globe and are staying just ahead of a mysterious foe who has no patience for their meddling. The success of this unlikely team of investigators rests with Timmy’s intrepid problem-solving skills as the siblings race to find their parents before time runs out.

Cold Justice


Kathi Oram Peterson - 2012
    On the eve of their wedding, however, Samuel disappears, and Regi wonders if once again he has run away from both a life with her and a membership in the Church. Quite the opposite; Samuel has been kidnapped by the Raven Clan, a powerful Alaskan tribe, and is en route to stand trial in front of their justice council for a puzzling crime that happened years ago. When Regi and Samuel’s close friends suspect a kidnapping, Regi—with the help of her sister, Claudia, and friend Wakanda—resolves to follow Samuel to Alaska but soon learns secrets about her fiancé she hadn’t bargained for. While Samuel struggles with his faith and with understanding why he has been accused, Regi risks life and love to set him free.

Between the Lines


Erin Klingler - 2010
    Days later, Salt Lake Tribune reporter Justin Mickelsen receives a letter from a childhood friend—the murder victim—written just prior to his death, leading the two reporters to team up in San Francisco to expose the scandal. In the intensity of the investigation, the pair's attraction quickly grows, along with proof of money laundering, drug trafficking, and grand theft. But as the evidence builds, so do the tempers of certain billionaires and heavy-hitting politicians—soon it seems the dangerous career path chosen by the two ace reporters can only lead to a very dead end. "Between the Lines will melt your heart one minute and make it pound the next with its balance of romance and suspense. Klingler has hit the mark—definitely a must-read!" —Julie Coulter Bellon, author of Dangerous Connections Erin Klingler grew up in northern California and graduated from Ricks College with an associate's degree in preschool education. When she's not shuttling her kids to their activities or working part-time from home as a medical transcriptionist, she loves to indulge in her two favorite pastimes— reading and writing. She never goes anywhere without a book in her purse and her trusty eBook reader that she uses to download her current works and edit them while sitting through kids' soccer practices or red lights. Her passion for writing romantic suspense comes from a penchant for television shows that mix romance with criminal investigation. She loves writing bad guys almost as much as she loves writing romance. In her spare time, she loves to decorate homes, sew, design websites, and run errands in her classic yellow 1979 Volkswagen Beetle convertible, affectionately named "Tweety." Unabridged. Narrated by Jason Tatom. ISBN 978-1-59811-767-7

One Fell Down


Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen - 2017
    But soon after, Mikaela and her fiancé are in a tragic car accident, resulting in her husband-to-be’s death. Then when Mikaela’s grandmother loses her life in a hiking accident one year later, an old man gives Mikaela another mysterious blue card at the funeral. After the service, Mikaela’s grandfather asks that she oversee the renovations on his bed & breakfast in New Zealand. When she arrives, Mikaela meets Tui Davies—the inn’s manager—and Brentin Williams, the man Tui expects her daughter to marry. Tui helps Mikaela retrieve a doll from the cellar vault, but the doll turns out to be an evil omen that Mikaela is told she must get rid of before someone is murdered. Meanwhile, the old man from the funeral is bent on revenge and is plotting against everyone who has ever wronged him, and Mikaela is next in line. But until she discovers the killer’s contact in New Zealand, whom can she trust? And while Brentin attempts to help Mikaela overcome her grief, she must decide—is she ready to love again?

The Insider


Sian Ann Bessey - 2014
    Two weeks ago, his twin brother, Jed, was killed in a car accident--and Ben was given guardianship of Jed's daughter Zoe. Setting aside his grief, Ben rushes to Salt Lake only to find escalating chaos-and a rising mystery. Jed's heartless ex-wife and her powerful husband have taken Zoe, and forensic evidence indicates that Jed's demise was no accident. Now Ben must draw on his arsenal of investigative expertise to uncover the truth about his brother's death and to save his niece from a terrifying conspiracy more deadly than he could have imagined.

Run for Your Life


Jean Holbrook Mathews - 2014
    He stumbled on a conspiracy that extended to the upper echelons of the US government—and wrote a legal brief to kill for… After a long and prestigious career, Congressman Max Southland is ready to retire, and as a member of his staff, Mattie Mathis is on hand to help her uncle wind down his career. When Mattie receives a cryptic call from her boyfriend and fellow staffer Craig, she’s left with more questions than answers: an interesting bit of research by a young law student has surfaced that could have national consequences. A copy is on its way to her. Before she can process this information, Craig is dead . . . and Mattie will be next. There is only one person who can help Mattie: Jack Summers, a cop whose sense of duty stems not only from his assignment but from his growing feelings for the woman he’s bound to protect. As the pair runs for their lives, it is clear that a violent cover-up has been plotted—and they must unravel the conspiracy if they hope to survive.

Beyond the Narrows


M.R. Durbin - 2016
    Facing gunfights and car chases, the treasure hunters locate a 500-year-old Mayan codex, the next clue on their adventure. Peter’s grandson, Charley, and Obie’s granddaughter, Mac, come along for the quest, but they may find themselves drawn to a different kind of treasure.Constantly one tiny step ahead of their enemies as they scour the caves, cliffs, and canyons of Southern Utah, Obie’s team will have to rely on each other if they want to reach the treasure before their pursuers. But what will they do if not all in their numbers can be trusted?

Light on Fire Island


Marlene Bateman - 2009
    Before her mother's tragic death she'd promised to care for her young brother, Joshua, and teach him the gospel. But her father, Matthew, a lighthouse keeper devastated by the loss of his wife, banished Celena for refusing to renounce her Mormon faith. Five years later, when Matthew suffers serious injuries and Joshua pleads for Celena's help, she returns to her childhood home with a painful tangle of emotions. Can she love and forgive the headstrong, embittered father who cast her out? Celena's arrival catches the eyes of two approving gentlemen, as well as the suspicion of islanders who want control of the vacant lighthouse. Joshua convinces Celena to step forward as the new lighthouse keeper. When acts of vandalism begin to escalate, it's clear that someone on the island wants her gone#151;but who? More complexities arise as Celena makes a shocking discovery that turns her past inside out. Then the web of intrigue on the island turns deadly, with Celena at its very center. Against a backdrop of ocean waves and rich sunsets, this novel of suspense, romance, and reconciliation explores hidden motives and surprising secrets, the power of promises kept, and the hope of light found in unexpected places. Against a backdrop of ocean waves and rich sunsets, this novel of suspense, romance, and reconciliation explores hidden motives and surprising secrets, the power of promises kept, and the hope of light found in unexpected places. 6" X 9", 320 pages ISBN 978-1-59811-552-9

Loving the Movie Star (Hawaii Billionaire Romance Book 6)


Jennifer Youngblood - 2017
    Too bad Blade’s having stress issues brought on by a longtime stalker who’s getting more aggressive. If Blade can’t find a way to loosen up on set and perform to the best of his ability, he’ll lose everything he’s worked so hard to achieve. Dani Fairchild, Samantha’s little sister (from Love Him or Lose Him) is trying hard to turn over a new leaf and transcend into adulthood. Yes, she may have been irresponsible in the past when she jilted billionaire Liam Barclay (from Love on the Rocks) and ran off with a surfer, but that’s all behind her. Dani has a food blog she wants to take to the next level, and she’s holding down a full-time job. Granted, being a receptionist isn’t her dream job by any means, but hey, it’s a start. Too bad she can’t keep her big mouth shut and gets fired when the boss acts like a jerk. An unlikely encounter on the public bus brings Blade and Dani together where sparks fly and attraction sizzles. But Dani isn’t having it. No matter how charismatic Blade is or how good he looks with his chiseled abs and piercing blue eyes she’s vowed to never again get involved with someone who doesn’t live on the island permanently. Long distance relationships are a kick in the pants, and she’s tired of being hurt. Home alone for Christmas while Samantha and her family go to the mainland, Dani settles in for a quiet, predictable holiday. But fate has other plans when Dani and Blade are unwittingly thrown into a cycle of events that lead to a heart-pounding climax. Can Dani and Blade find a strong enough love to sustain them in the face of danger? Or will the stalker win in the end? Like all the books in the Hawaii Billionaire Romance series, Loving the Movie Star is a standalone novel, but you’ll enjoy surprise appearances from many of your favorite characters from previous stories. Here are the other titles in the Hawaii Romance Series: Love Him or Lose Him Love on the Rocks Love on the Rebound Love at the Ocean Breeze Love Changes Everything Loving the Movie Star

Perfect Shot


Sonia O'Brien - 2006
    But now she has proof that her mother has been hiding the truth about her father, Jonathan-a man Reegan thought was long dead.In a dangerous turn of events, Reegan soon learns far more truth than she is ready for, and now she may be forced to pay the consequences for what an innocent eyewitness saw more than fourteen fateful years ago.

Desperate Measures


Kristen McKendry - 2013
    So thinks Mormon mom extraordinaire Annie Fisher . . . that is, until she finds herself embroiled in the baffling disappearance of family friend Angus Puddicombe. Following the delivery of a puzzling message and a few startling discoveries, all signs point to—confusion. What Annie knows for sure is that Angus is in over his head, and there is no time to lose. Unaware of the danger that awaits, Annie, her trusty husband, Newton, and a vanload of kids forge ahead to unravel the mystery. Can this group of amateur sleuths get to the bottom of what’s going on before something goes horribly wrong?If you enjoyed this book, watch for The Song of Copper Creek, coming this July. Annie, Newton, and Angus make a cameo appearance!

Dangerous Connections


Julie Coulter Bellon - 2010
    Tyler Winthrop is ready to join his father, Craig, for a little downtime in Paris. But when Craig is kidnapped, Tyler is yanked back into the brutal realm of international terrorism, and his fate quickly becomes entwined with attractive French counterintelligence agent Isabella Floret. Risk escalates and trust dwindles as the pair uncovers ties between Tyler's father and a plot to poison American troops in the Middle East, a scheme masterminded by the diabolical rogue agent Devigny. As lines separating enemy and ally increasingly blur, Devigny's master stroke sends Tyler and Isabella on a pulse-pounding race through Paris while the security of nations hangs in the balance—and dangerous connections are the only aid to be found.

Flashback


J. Michael Hunter - 2008
    Her old nightmare is back. And now the timid kindergarten teacher is convinced that someone is following her--watching her every move. It could just be coincidence that she and the chillingly memorable man seem to show up at all the same places. Perhaps her paranoia is just a result of her deep fear of change. After all, so much has changed in her life recently. To make matters worse, Laura is now supposed to travel halfway across the country to take possession of a family estate she has inherited. As unnerved as she is with her 'stalker' in St. Louis, the plantation in Virginia seems even more frightening to Laura. And what is a Mormon girl going to do with miles of tobacco crop?But then again, maybe the family estate holds the secret to why Laura's parents would never talk about their past. In hopes of finding clues to this mystery, Laura packs her bags and catches a bus to Bufordville, a tiny town with more than its fair share of rumors, suspicions, and deadly secrets. Then panic sets in as Laura finds her returning nightmare is, in fact, a twenty-year-old reality--a reality that could very well repeat itself."

Don't Say a Word


Jennie Hansen - 2021
    She needs to regain her balance, and her parents’ ranch in Montana provides the perfect escape. But respite is the last thing she finds. While camping near the Bitterroot Forest, a strange sound leads Cassie to make a startling discovery: a young child, abandoned in the wilderness. She acts on instinct, taking him home to the ranch with her. But she has no idea that by doing so, she will be forced to engage in a fight for his life—and her own. With the help of Deputy Parker Grafton, Cassie works to uncover the mystery behind the boy’s origins. The pair is drawn closer together each step of the investigation as they follow a bizarre trail of clues. But when a series of dangerous accidents begins to plague the family ranch, Cassie and Parker realize that an unknown assailant is closing in. They have to run. In a game of cat and mouse spanning the country, Cassie and Parker will stop at nothing to protect what’s become most important to them: the child in their care—and each other.