What do you think?
Rate this book
The Secret Heir
It's "One big fat lie, covered by a snowjob, obscured by a smokescreen." Brazilian Journalist Stefania DiMaggio never asks for trouble, but always seems to be on the receiving end of it. She expected a pleasant uneventful visit with her cousin in Leblon but instead is handed the possessions of a dead mysterious priest disavowed by the Vatican, including an encrypted thumb drive. Enlisting the help of an old flame from a previous adventure, Thomas Houghton, a British Duke, they follow clues which find them cheating death at every turn. What did this priest know, and why is someone trying to kill them? False flags and hunches send them scurrying in different directions. Traveling the globe, they stumble upon more than they bargained for, including dead bodies, terror, thwarted love, blackmail, and very bad people. Held captive by foreign agents with their own agenda, Stefania replays events in her mind and peels off the layers of this smelly onion. Grappling with the knowledge that her solution to the mystery may ruin Thomas' closest and dearest friend, as well as her relationship with Thomas in the process, is she prepared to deep six it? Just when she thinks it's all tied up neatly in a bow, things fly sideways with a vengeance.
282 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2022
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 30, 2022
When Brazilian journalist, Stefania DiMaggio, is handed a thumb drive that was found on the body of a deceased Catholic priest, Stefania and her allies find themselves embroiled in a conspiracy that spans multiple agencies and destinations in C.J. Toca’s The Secret Heir.
The story begins with the heroine Stefania, and her partner, Thomas Houghton, being held by two lowlifes in New Jersey. The story takes off when Stefania receives a call from her cousin regarding a victim found in the remains of an airplane crash, a Catholic Priest, Charles Smith.
With the Vatican denying the existence of this catholic priest, and any evidence washed away, save the thumb drive within the attache that was handcuffed to the victim’s body, Stefania is driven to solve the mystery of this rather peculiar puzzle. From there, the story introduces us to the gentlemanly, dry-witted, Thomas Houghton, the wealthy Duke of Radcliffe and a member of the House of Lords.
With the help of Thomas’ ally, Harry Foster, an Australian investigator, Stefania is set down a path that would lead her into life-threatening situations, a conspiracy with several twists and turns, and most importantly, a rekindled romance with the Duke of Radcliffe.
As someone who isn’t overly fond of mystery-thrillers, The Secret Heir does a wonderful job of holding my attention with all of its moving pieces and characters within this tangled web. It also does a fantastic job of keeping the mystery understandable to the readers. The characters feel alive, whether by recounting past experiences and adventures, stopping to eat and sleep, revealing certain fears, or describing the different types of clothing suitable for the locations the characters visit throughout their journey. Speaking of locations, the author does a great job at setting each location with the right amount of description, allowing readers to visualize the scenery without the narration getting too verbose.
The relationships between Stefania, Thomas, the SVR Director, and Svetlana Greschenko, are also a highlight, as I’ve found myself enjoying the romantic moments and general conversations between Stefania and Thomas. The banter and combative back and forth between Greschenko and Stefania were also interesting and realistic.
There is significant religious background and lore throughout The Secret Heir that doesn't feel out of place, especially since these are important plot details that enrich the story. At times, the book may refer to a past adventure that may leave readers confused as if this was a sequel but this book is a standalone at the time of this review. I wouldn't let that deter me from reading the book. I imagine there's more to come from the author. For fans of mystery-thriller, action, and romance, The Secret Heir is a very worthy and enjoyable read and earns a recommendation from me.
The story begins with the heroine Stefania, and her partner, Thomas Houghton, being held by two lowlifes in New Jersey. The story takes off when Stefania receives a call from her cousin regarding a victim found in the remains of an airplane crash, a Catholic Priest, Charles Smith.
With the Vatican denying the existence of this catholic priest, and any evidence washed away, save the thumb drive within the attache that was handcuffed to the victim’s body, Stefania is driven to solve the mystery of this rather peculiar puzzle. From there, the story introduces us to the gentlemanly, dry-witted, Thomas Houghton, the wealthy Duke of Radcliffe and a member of the House of Lords.
With the help of Thomas’ ally, Harry Foster, an Australian investigator, Stefania is set down a path that would lead her into life-threatening situations, a conspiracy with several twists and turns, and most importantly, a rekindled romance with the Duke of Radcliffe.
As someone who isn’t overly fond of mystery-thrillers, The Secret Heir does a wonderful job of holding my attention with all of its moving pieces and characters within this tangled web. It also does a fantastic job of keeping the mystery understandable to the readers. The characters feel alive, whether by recounting past experiences and adventures, stopping to eat and sleep, revealing certain fears, or describing the different types of clothing suitable for the locations the characters visit throughout their journey. Speaking of locations, the author does a great job at setting each location with the right amount of description, allowing readers to visualize the scenery without the narration getting too verbose.
The relationships between Stefania, Thomas, the SVR Director, and Svetlana Greschenko, are also a highlight, as I’ve found myself enjoying the romantic moments and general conversations between Stefania and Thomas. The banter and combative back and forth between Greschenko and Stefania were also interesting and realistic.
There is significant religious background and lore throughout The Secret Heir that doesn't feel out of place, especially since these are important plot details that enrich the story. At times, the book may refer to a past adventure that may leave readers confused as if this was a sequel but this book is a standalone at the time of this review. I wouldn't let that deter me from reading the book. I imagine there's more to come from the author. For fans of mystery-thriller, action, and romance, The Secret Heir is a very worthy and enjoyable read and earns a recommendation from me.
June 21, 2025
oh madonna
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews