The Secrets of Good People by Boo Walker & Peggy Shainberg

This was a classic mystery!

Set in the 1970s, on a tiny island near Paradiso, Florida, this is a story of a murder in a small ocean-side community.

After an intimate welcome party for newlyweds, the new doctor was found murdered on the beach. Everyone is a suspect and everyone is keeping secrets.

Quentin Jones, a detective, has his work cut out for him and he has a history with one suspect. As his investigation unravels the small island community, secrets are spilled and lies are exposed.

This was a good story! I enjoyed reading the mystery and as things unraveled, I loved the suspense! 4/5⭐

I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC for this novel.

This book was so well written! I really enjoyed the writing style and how the story of each character is interwoven into the plot and how it informs the various shades in their characters. I found myself yelling at my screen because of the truly terrible timing some of the characters had with dropping bombshell secrets they’d been hiding 😅 I was on the edge of my seat just waiting to find out what happens next. I was really surprised by the twist. The story is executed very well in my opinion. I could not put it down. I love mystery books and books like these just make the reading experience so enjoyable and worth it. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting, I have had continuing familial health challenges to contend with in the past months.

The backstory of how this book was written/finished is a bonus in this murder mystery set in a small island community where everyone knows everyone else. Taking place in the 1970s in Florida, it's atmospheric and the character development is great - human nature, secrets and deception are at the forefront, but the mystery is not all that interesting, nor is the resolution satisfying. I felt it all was wrapped up very quickly at the end, which was a bit jarring given the rhythm of the rest of the book.

I have read several of Boo Walker’s books and loved all of them. This time he has added mystery to his genre list and also a co-writer. I wasn’t sure if it would stack up to the others I’d read. But it surely did- in spades! It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through and is a new favorite book! Definitely a MUST READ!

A newlywed couple moves to a small island off the coast of Florida, only for the husband to end up dead the next morning. Detective Quentin Jones investigates their neighbors and friends at a welcoming party, uncovering secrets and potential motives for murder among the close-knit group.

This book was a rollercoaster of twisted and complicated emotions, hitting you like a ton of bricks! The past came back to haunt the characters in a big way, with an ending and twist that left my jaw on the floor.

As a newbie to these authors, I couldn't resist diving into this highly talked-about read. The pace started off a bit slow for me, but boy did it pick up steam. The main character was a likable and intelligent individual, making for a winning combination. It felt like I was reading a classic mystery novel, with a cast of characters that were easy to keep track of. Some characters were a bit hard to warm up to, coming off as flat and uninteresting.

If you're a fan of books that keep you guessing, filled with complicated secrets and even more complicated relationships, then this one's for you. The premise was intriguing, and the execution was spot-on. Trust me, you won't be able to put this one down!

Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I liked it! I figured out most of it before the big reveal in the book and there were a couple of places where things dragged. Overall, a good read.

A whodunit with good character development. A new physician in a small beach community is found murdered. The local cop spends most of the book interviewing the suspects, who are all neighbors. I found the cop's tactics to be crude and irritating, although I am sure that I was not as irritated as the potential suspects.
The mystery is wrapped up quickly in the last few chapters in a way that it would not be possible for a reader to solve. I am not a big fan of murder mysteries, especially those that are impossible to figure out.
The book drug in the middle and picked up at the end. Not a bad read, but not my favorite by this author.

I've just finished "Secrets of Good People" and really enjoyed it. Although I don't usually like Agatha Christie-type books, this one held my attention from the first page, and the ending really surprised me. I was skeptical about whether Boo’s writing and Peggy's would flow seamlessly, but I was wrong. However, when I read these lines, I knew they were Boo's: "Jones cracked a grin, thinking he should write fiction. It couldn't be that hard." Thank you for making it look easy; it takes a lot of skill to make it look effortless. Your books are always a great escape and a joy to read!

This was a great book! There were parts that I found a little boring and drawn out but overall I would recommend

Reads like a murder mystery dinner party. A bit different style than I’m used to with this author, but an enjoyable read!

My first book by this author. It is set in the 1970’s in south Florida. It kept me interested from the beginning. It had me guessing. I did find it hard to follow at times. Overall I thought it was a good book. I will check out his other books.

DNF this book. The beginning was so bland.....and didn't make any sense. You have 2 overwhelmingly awkward people that keep to themselves that get married. Then they move out of state and are "whisked" away to a neighbor party? I'm on the shy side and can't be whisked anywhere.

This novel has a touching backstory—Boo Walker completed and refined a manuscript originally started by Peggy Shainberg, fulfilling her family's wish to see her story brought to life. While this isn’t Boo Walker’s typical style, the result is an engaging murder mystery set in the 1970s on a small island off the coast of Florida.

The story starts off strong, introducing Frank and Catherine, a newlywed couple who relocate to a small, tight-knit island community. Frank is set to join his med school friend’s medical practice, and the couple is welcomed with a party thrown in their honor. However, the night takes a dark turn—by morning, Frank is found murdered on the beach, turning the island’s tranquil atmosphere into a hotbed of secrets and suspicion.

A determined detective arrives to investigate, but the island’s residents are reluctant to turn on one another or reveal hidden truths. Meanwhile, Catherine is left in shock, struggling to remember what happened that night. She admits she isn’t much of a drinker, yet after numerous champagne toasts, her memory is fragmented—she recalls walking back with Frank but has no recollection of what happened after. When she wakes, his side of the bed is untouched, and soon after, his body is discovered. What really happened that night? And why?

The novel does a great job of slowly unraveling each character’s backstory, keeping the suspense alive until the very end. The multiple points of view allow readers to get inside different characters’ heads, adding layers to the mystery. However, the transitions between perspectives aren’t always clear, making it easy to lose track of who is narrating. I found myself rereading sections to confirm whose perspective I was following. Additionally, there was a moment where a name was mentioned out of context, possibly an editing error, which added to the occasional confusion.

One of the most notable aspects of this book is its ending—unexpected yet, in my opinion, fitting. While some readers may feel it came out of nowhere, I believe it makes sense when considering the characters and their motivations. The novel reinforces the idea that things are never as they seem and that every small-town community harbors its own hidden truths.

Overall, this is a solid murder mystery with an engaging plot, intriguing characters, and an atmospheric Florida island setting. If you enjoy mysteries that explore human nature, secrets, and deception, this book is worth picking up. While the shifting perspectives and occasional inconsistencies may make it a bit tricky to follow at times, the story’s depth and the emotional tribute to Peggy Shainberg make it a rewarding read.

The author’s tribute to Peggy Shainberg at the end was incredibly moving. It added an extra layer of meaning to the novel.

I received both the audio and eBook for this novel, and I enjoyed both versions. I seemed to get more into the story when I was reading vs when I was listening.
This wasn't a bad read, it's just that the story line as a whole was a bit slower than I am used to. The beginning hooked me, so I was hopeful, but it unfortunately fell flat in the middle.
I feel like if you enjoy slower paced mysteries, then you would like this one.

Thank you, NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing, for the opportunity to read and listen!

I was hooked from the beginning!!
I devoured this book.
It was amazing, addictive, and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

I just started reading Boo Walker books last year and have read all of them. This book did not disappoint either. Loved the time era
of this book and great characters.

This book was quite the read. It is a co-written story by the authors Boo Walker & Peggy Shainberg. The story unravels and takes us to Osprey Isle, close to Paradiso in Florida. The people living in the Isle are a colorful mix and from different backgrounds. The main characters are Frank and Catherine Overbrook who came to the Isle as newly weds, and from there on there are mysterious happenings and a crime that needs to be solved. The story gets a grip of the reader and when you follow a track you will quite quickly find yourself down another path. I did enjoy the way the author Boo Walker developed the story full of mystery. Detective Jones takes up the case that needed to be solved, he had to keep up the pace to find clues, investigate and resolve the crime. The storytelling was really good, entertaining and not predictable. As a conclusion one could say that everyone has their secrets.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to have read this book and can recommend it to those who enjoy mysterious crime stories from the past.
Charlotte N

Walker Shows Impressive Range. I've been reading Walker's books for a few years now, and this is a first for him in my experience with him (though he notes in the Author's Note that he had written a few books of this type prior to when I started reading his books). A laid back mystery of a form I call a "Gulf Coast Mystery", almost like a more serious version of D.P. Lyle's Jake Longley books - and set decades prior to those books. (Ok, so Ray Longley (Jake's dad) and Quentin Jones crossing paths could have been interesting - just sayin', Walker and Lyle. ;) )

Walker, who has spent time living in many different places even in the few years I've been following him, among which was this particular region of Florida described in the book, captures the setting well - perhaps added by Shainberg's original text, which Walker notes (again in the Author's Note) was much of the tale up to Chapter 12.

Being set in the 1970s, this book has some things that will offend "modern sensibilities", including quite a bit of cigarette smoking (virtually unheard of in many places in the 2020s) and even one particular situation that even hints of in the 2010s and beyond in particular tends to be vilified to the nth degree, and indeed gets snide comments even now in the 2020s even when everything plays out perfectly legally. I'm not going to indicate how it plays out in the text just because that would be a spoiler, as the tension of this particular situation plays into the overall narrative.

Speaking of which, Walker does a particularly good job of sticking to the old adage of "if you show a blue shoe on page 2, that blue shoe better play into the end game". (Ok, so I absolutely butchered the quote, but the point being to show *exactly* what you want shown and *nothing* else.) Meaning that this is one of those tales where everyone has secrets... and, well... how everything comes together can get quite a bit thrilling...

Seriously, this was perhaps the more interesting aspect of this book is that even as a women's fiction/ mystery blend - the men's fiction side of it tending to be something Walker has excelled at in my reading of his work these last several years - Walker really does manage to do the thriller and even romance sides particularly well, particularly deep into the text.

Overall truly one of Walker's better books from several different angles, both in showing more fully his range and in his ability to work with what another author had begun and finish it out in a way that seems true to that original author's vision - which could provide Walker a path forward, should he ever run out of his own ideas. :)

Very much recommended.

Another smashing success from Boo Walker! New love, mystery and murder on a Florida island in the 70’s will have you on the edge of your seat! The twists and turns were just perfect. I could not put this one down!

"The Secrets of Good People" has an intriguing premise—an isolated island, a suspicious death, and a tangled web of secrets among its residents. Boo Walker and Peggy Shainberg do a great job of creating a vivid 1970s Florida backdrop, and the setup promises a compelling mystery.

Unfortunately, the story moves at an incredibly slow pace, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. While a slow-burn mystery can be effective, this one drags in places, with long stretches where little happens. Adding to the struggle, none of the characters feel fully developed or particularly likable. They have secrets, but little depth, making it hard to care about their fates or motivations. The twists, while interesting, are predictable, and the resolution lacks the impact needed to make the journey feel worth it.

That said, the writing is immersive, and the setting is well-crafted. If you enjoy atmospheric mysteries and don’t mind a slow pace with distant, unrelatable characters, this might still be worth a read. A solid three stars—decent, but ultimately forgettable.