The first thing that drew me to this book was the stunning colourful cover, I could see it was an outback town in Australia, one of my favourite book settings. This book is set in Kalgoorlie in the 1980’S, in an era of change.

Aimee is a social worker taking a position in the Australian frontier mining town of Kalgoorlie. Here she’s privy to many social injustices including the relocation of aborigines and the undermining of health in the local community from the local mining company. As she becomes more involved with the local residents, she realises some of her secrets are intertwined.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had many aspects which are still very relevant today. I lived in a smelter town in the 1980’s myself and I remember the dangers of lead poisoning coming to light then. The characters were very colourful and I loved the line of reading tea leaves, I found that fascinating.
This is a novel of personal growth, regrets and moving forwards.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC to read and review.

Book blurb...

A mother’s secret, a father’s betrayal, a town on the edge…

When social worker Aimee arrives in the mining town of Kalgoorlie, she is ready for a fresh start. Her colleagues Lori and Paddy seem friendly, and she is also drawn to one of her cases: the Steele family, whose future looks particularly bleak. But Aimee has a dark secret and as the past reaches out towards her once more, she realises that somehow her secret is connected to this unfamiliar but harshly beautiful town and its inhabitants.

As she strengthens her ties with the local community — especially with the vibrant Lori, stoical Kerry and wise Agnes — she finds herself questioning earlier decisions. Can she reveal her secret, even if it is not hers alone to share?

A compelling novel of the transcendental love of children and the truth’s unwillingness to stay hidden.



My thoughts…

The Secrets We Keep, by Aussie author Shirley Patton, explores friendship and love and the heartache that both can bring.

As the title suggests, there is a big secret at the heart of this story. The narration is detailed, telling of the lives of each character, including their flaws and strengths, and the author also describes the harshness of the local environment with the colour a place like Kalgoolie (outback WA) deserves.

I found the clairvoyant skills of two of the characters to be interesting plot device, especially in one scene where the skill is particularly useful in helping Kerry during her time of need.

The story explored the issues surrounding gold mining in the Kalgoorlie region and the government bureaucracy of a small town.

This was a good story, set in Kalgoolie in the 1980's it was interesting to read how different yet how the same it was 30 years ago. Unfortunately the one thing that doesn't seem to have changed much is the treatment and policies for the aboriginal people which the author winds into the story using the welfare office to do this.
Aimee was a strong character, who had been through a few traumatic incidents, we are not told what they are until near the end, but they are hinted at and I was able to discern what they were. The rest of the characters were all great, having their own flaws and strengths. I enjoyed Aggie, she had a lot of charm, depth and humour. With the interesting addition of spirituality woven into the story, and some very relevant issues from then and now and plenty of emotional times, this makes for a really enjoyable read that will hopefully start you thinking.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin (Australia), TEEN / MIRA for a copy in return for an honest review.

Aimee McCartney's decision to leave her home in Perth for the mining town of Kalgoorlie wasn't made easily, but she was looking forward to the change. A social worker, Aimee's new job felt right - her work-mates were friendly and welcoming, especially Lori, who seemed constantly full of life. As Aimee learned the ropes in the small town, she felt constant empathy toward the people she met. Her meeting with Paul, Kerry and Amber Steele as their support person taught her strength - the friendship between the family and Aimee grew.

The close knit community included Aggie, a reader of tea leaves. Aggie had lost her husband Frank some years previously, but was loved by all. When a problem with the mines reared its ugly head, the townsfolk banded together. But Aimee found herself dwelling too much in the past and the secrets she held. Could she release the hurt without hurting others?

The Secrets We Keep by Aussie author Shirley Patton is a gentle story of heartache, hope, respect and forgiveness. Set in Western Australia in the harshness of the desert of 1986, it shows the plight of the Aboriginals, the struggles of the miners and their families, and the simple caring of friends. The Secrets We Keep was a thoroughly enjoyable read and different from anything I've read in awhile. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.