Valley Isle Secrets

by Rasana Atreya

Wayne Texeira’s life couldn’t get any better. He’s out of prison. He’s rebuilding his relationship with his daughter. He has a new ladylove.

Then, out in the Maui woods, he stumbles across a body. The death is ruled suicide. Days later, he crosses paths with another death. That, too, is ruled suicide.

Is there a pattern to the deaths, or is he seeing a conspiracy where none exists? Texeira reluctantly takes his concerns to the cops. But they won’t investigate because – come on – who takes an ex-con seriously?

Convinced there is more to the suicides than mere depression, Texeira starts poking around. What he finds is just too incredible to comprehend.

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2015

About the author

Rasana Atreya's debut novel, Tell A Thousand Lies, was shortlisted for the UK-based "Tibor Jones South Asia Prize." In 2017, the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, taught this novel to the students of "English 479."

Glam Magazine, UK (June 2014) calls "Tell A Thousand Lies" one of their "five favourite tales from India."

She's currently working on the series, "Tales From The Deccan Plateau":
* Tell A Thousand Lies
* Talking Is Wasted Breath
* Daughters Inherit Silence
* The Temple Is Not My Father
* The Water Wives
* Tell A Lie, Beget A Daughter

Rasana is one of India's self-publishing pioneers. She was invited by Amazon to the India launch of the Kindle.

Reviews

[Anima · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Toby Neal's Lei Crime series I have really enjoyed reading the Kindle World. Different authors write spin-off stories that do not have an effect on Neal's books but offer a fun and interesting insight to secondary characters. Valley Isle Secrets is the first book, in this Kindle World, from Atreya and focuses on Wayne, Lei's recently released from incarceration father. He is finally adjusting to life on the outside and happens across dead bodies on different occasions. His instincts have him thinking something isn't right and these murders are connected. Atreya spins a fabulous tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat with curiosity. The idea behind the murders is a current topic involving websites set up to assistant cheating spouses. Very clever and fast paced. I was asked to beta read by the author and promised to leave my honest review.

[Ruchi Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know about Lei Crime series, so before reading the story I went through the Toby Neal's website. Different authors can write spin-off stories using the background, setting, with focus on secondary characters. I must say Rasana Atreya has come up with an intriguing story involving; Lei’s father, Wayne. Valley Isle Secrets is the first book by the author for the series.

Wayne, an ex-con, had recently finished his time in prison and had vowed to reform himself. Things do not look in his favor when dead bodies of young people are found where ever he goes. He is surprised when other clues keep popping up, and he is forced to investigate the case on his own.

The author comes up with a clever setting in line with current times, which makes the story fast paced and a page turner. Recommend read.

Disclaimer: I had received the novella by the author for proof-reading, and this is an honest review.

[EFinn1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid fan of Toby Neal's Lei Crime series and am always interested in how other authors see her characters. Sometimes an author (from the reader's perspective) can miss the mark- not so with Ms. Atreya's companion story about Wayne Texeira. Her story captures all of the points originally brought to the character but also enriches what the readers like about Wayne and also reinforces that the apple (Lei Texeira) didn't fall far from the tree. Wayne accidentally gets involved in a murder, the police see an ex-com good for the crime and his freedom depends on his ability clear his own name. This is a well written novella that contains all of the danger, intrigue, beauty and heart that Lei Crime readers have come to expect.