Buried Secrets

by S.F. Baumgartner

EXPANDED AND REVISED. Originally published as "The Secret".

A destitute young man. Wanted dead by a criminal mastermind. Will he prove to be the downfall of the psychopath?

Dylan Roche is shocked. The twenty-five-year-old management trainee is astonished by the visit of an attorney. After years of blissful ignorance of his heritage, he is leery of the invitation to visit his wealthy maternal grandmother.
Wishing his mother was alive to advise him, Dylan sets off to investigate the family’s history, despite his feeling of foreboding. But with the sinister maniac creeping at each turn, he fears his mother’s faith in him was grossly misplaced.

Will Dylan find the secret hidden by his mother and survive the attack by the lunatic?

156 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2023

About the author

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets—Book 1 of her Mirror Estate series—named a Top Pick in the thriller category at Killer Nashville, 2024. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson's style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.

Reviews

[Rachel Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Buried Secrets” by S. F. Baumgartner is a thrilling story packed with family secrets and shocking twists. The suspense kept me hooked from start to finish. If you’re looking for a “clean” thriller that still delivers plenty of tension and surprises, this is the perfect read.

[Julie Zack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love it, but I had a hard time keeping the story straight.

[Robert Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purely personal taste but this book disappointed me.

I do not like fairly incomplete endings in books like this that are largely setting up the next book in a series.

The overall plot concept was the best part and that was intriguing.

The characters - I found them mostly a bit unrealistic. I realise this is possible as fiction though and persevered.

Overall, I was disappointed because it looked to be a promising read. I felt it failed to deliver.

I still gave it 3 because the author clearly made a big effort here but sorry, it was not for me.

[Whispers of Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure where to start, but I have to say this book captivated me from the very first page. The storyline is incredibly compelling, filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Each chapter is short yet engaging, making it easy to dive right into the next one. I found myself so engrossed in the narrative that I read the entire book in a single sitting. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I highly recommend this book.

[Rhondia Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a twisted tale of deception. But who is deceiving whom? There are evident layers to the story and a clear antagonist. The identity of this person is hidden until toward the end. It’s quite entertaining in its entirety but somewhat meandering in its path. I enjoyed it enough to anticipate the sequel. I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Danielle Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read that I received as an arc copy! I would have loved to read more from these characters it was an awesome. gripping and attention grabbing book that I am very glad I got the opportunity to read.

[Carolyn Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very intriguing story. It kept you on the edge of your seat. It was fast paced, and it had a lot of twists and turns.I can’t wait to see what is going to come next.


Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Padmapriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect prequel that has gained my curiosity. The author has added enough to hook the readers and maintained the thrill by not revealing too much. The chapters are short, crispy, and engaging to finish the book in a single go.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next book in this series to continue the family drama.

[Annalise Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice, quick read. A short novella as a prequel to the Mirror Estates Series. I enjoyed it!