Full disclosure, I grew up Amish so I am very critical of Amish fiction. Most is so out there and not realistic that I can't read it. This author got some of the Amish life down better than other authors, but poor writing and hanging details lead me to a rating of "needs editorial help." Some things are too unbelievable to happen in real Amish life; a lone women going to see an ex at a local motel at night, an elder staging a hanging, burying a body with little outside oversight, all a bit of a stretch about the realities of Amish life. It kept my interest due to checking for untruths more than anything!

This is an engaging mystery novel set against the unique backdrop of an Amish community in Mississippi. The story follows Detective Nathan Fisher, who returns to his conservative hometown after his father’s death, only to be drawn into investigating the suspicious death of his former love’s brother. The author skillfully weaves themes of faith, family, and hidden truths, offering readers a fresh perspective on small-town mysteries. While some of the novel is pacing slow and certain plot points are repetitive, the emotional depth and well-developed relationships more than make up for that. Overall, it’s a compelling read that delves into the complexities of returning to one’s roots and confronting past secrets.

Well that sucked. I can't even be bothered to do my usual review format. I should not have read this book. I did not realize it was going to be Christian fiction, for one thing. I also was not prepared for it to be this poorly written. So many plot holes. So much whining from main characters. So much describing gay men as effeminate. So much homophobia in general. Yet I think the author is proud of herself for her oh-so-enlightened portrayal of homosexuality. So much repeating the same information and phrases. No actual ending. Blatant fishing for a sequel even though who would possibly want to read more after this. Goodness. What was the point??? This is the first time that I have really been like, wow, I have wasted my time. I am sorry to Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon, my previous read. You look better in hindsight. Now I truly know what a one star book looks like. A curse upon NetGalley's honor for having this at the top of my librarian newsletter. I shake my fist at thee!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

The Secrets We Keep hooked me from the start. I really felt for Nate, caught between his past and the duty he’s trying to escape. Returning to his hometown brings back so many painful memories, and the tension between him and Rachel is electric. The mystery of her brother’s death kept me guessing, and I loved how the investigation unfolded, with Nate and Rachel’s complicated history adding depth to the case. The characters were well-developed, and while the pacing slowed a bit toward the middle, the emotional stakes kept me engaged. A solid four stars—gripping, heartfelt, and full of suspense.

Detective Nathan Fisher reluctantly returns to the Amish community where he grew up after he receives word that the former love of his life, Rachael Hostetler, desperately needs his help. After being banned from the close-knit community after his father’s death, he hoped that his unwelcome visit would be short.
Rachael’s younger brother Albie was found hanging in her family’s barn, and it is being ruled as a suicide. She knows that he would never kill himself, but the police and her own family are convinced it was murder. Even though she and Nate were once lovers and were planning to marry, she is confident that they can overcome their past and work together to uncover the details surrounding Albie’s death.
Convinced that the murder was not a suicide, they desperately work together to find the truth despite the resistance of the Amish community.

Didn't get too far into this story, I was hoping for more, but it didn't capture my interest in the early chapters, unfortuneately. I did learn more about Amish communities, and I appreciate that. Thank you for the ARC.

I’ve been reading Amy’s books for many years. This one veers much darker and edgier than her previous work. It deals with crime and deceit in and around an Amish community in Mississippi. Some of the limitations of Amish culture are probed pretty deeply here. Lillard has always been pragmatic in her Amish fiction but never as much as this. I’ve never been a fan of over romanticized Plain life and as a professional have seen how secrecy can allow evil to flourish. This book is a quick read and *feels like* the start of a series. I don’t know that but the ending is fairly abruptly as if there is more to come. This isn’t for anyone who only wants to see the Amish as saccharine and quaint.

I think I'll be honest here and say that I loved her other novels much more.
There were definitely many many secrets here. Enough to keep me turning the pages. That part was OK.
But the character Nate got on my nerves a little too much. He was too emotional and not sure of himself. But as we read on we soon see why.
Eventually I found myself rooting and praying for him. That's a lot to live through!
Poor Albie is the one whom I felt sorry for.
Did Albie really kill himself or was he murdered? An interesting question. His sister Rachel didn't think so.
I liked her immediately. Reaching out to help family is a plus in my book.
This is told from different pov which at times can be confusing but I soon caught on.
I am giving this book 5 stars because of the excellent guessing and writing.
I was kept on the edge of my seat anxiously turning the pages.
Who do we really feel sorry for in this story?
Nate, Albie or Rachel? Y'all will just have to read this book to find out!
I will say the mysterious cover of the book was what drew me to read it and also the author.
I will recommend this book.
My thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This was a wonderfully done mystery novel, it had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed the use of the Amish community. The characters were everything that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening in this. Amy Lillard wrote this well and was glad I got to read this.

This held a lot of promise to be full of intrigue and suspense but there was way too much inclusion of inner speculation by the main character. What really annoyed me though was the constant back and forth of Nate leaving, not leaving, leaving, not leaving. It was frustrating for me as a reader and made the story repetitive rather than dynamic, boring rather than compelling.

This was my first time reading a book by Amy Lillard and my first experience with Amish fiction, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Secrets We Keep pulled me in with its compelling characters, each carrying their own burdens and hidden truths. Lillard’s storytelling is rich, with well-developed relationships and an emotional depth that kept me engaged from start to finish. The blend of mystery, faith, and personal struggles made for a captivating read. I truly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend.

This book had potential—a murder mystery set in an Amish community with a detective forced to confront his past—but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver. The story dragged in too many places, making it hard to stay engaged. The dual-POV should have added depth, but instead, it felt repetitive. Nate’s internal struggles were over-explained, and Rachel’s determination to prove her brother didn’t take his own life was admirable, but the pacing made it hard to stay invested. While intriguing at first, the romance felt flat, and the mystery lost its momentum with unnecessary filler.
One thing I did appreciate was how Albie’s sexuality was handled. The way his being gay was discussed in the context of the Amish community felt nuanced and added an interesting layer to the story. I just wish the rest of the book had been as compelling. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but I was more relieved than satisfied when the story reached its conclusion. If you like slow-burn mysteries, this might work for you, but for me, it was a struggle to get through.

This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Lillard and it won't be the last. I enjoyed the little bits of Amish language thrown in and the customs that they hold. While I suspected the ending, I wasn't sure until the end. I am hoping that there will be more books with the characters.

The book started off slow and took a while for me to get into? I considered not finishing it. I always find the Amish life interesting especially with the secrets they keep amongst themselves. I picked the book back up and finished it in 2 days!! I loved it and wanted more. I’m hoping for a Part 2 because I need more!!

One of the charms of this book is definitely the Amish words and phrases thrown in throughout that help you feel imersed in the stroy. It's that classic story of a small town boy moving away and leaving his true love behind before returning...with an Amish twist. I felt like this was a good thriller and though I did feel I knew ultimately where the story was going, it was still interesting to read how they got there. I felt at times the story seemed to drag on and repeated things to make it longer, but other than that I felt it was a solid read. I'm curious to see what else comes from this storyline.

So many secrets in this Amish community. This story had me guessing throughout the whole story. It was a bit slow to start, but once the story picked up I was hooked.

Nate grew up Amish and left to try and save his sister. Now he has been banned and is working as a cop, but upon hearing the news of his father passing, he returns to pay his respects. His former love, Rachel, runs into him and informs him of her brother’s supposed suicide and her theories on what might have happened.

The ending of the book definitely left room for future stories within the community, so if that comes to fruition, I will be on the lookout!

An interesting book about the Amish. I must say the plot drags somewhat. The lustful longing among the main characters is overdone. Ending sets up for another book b

This book had like 300 plot points and like 2 of them got resolved. It was fine but not great. I would have liked more resolution. I also felt like the characters fell a little flat and the ending was very predictable.

Nate Fisher is on extended leave from his job as a deputy sheriff in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nate has been cleared of any charges relating to the shooting death of a young offender, which has left him traumatised. He hears from his brother that their father has died in the Amish community in Cedar Creek, Mississippi, which Nate had left ten years earlier. Although Nate has been banned from returning to the community he travels to Cedar Creek to visit his father’s grave.
Nate had been in love with an Amish woman, Rachel, who had refused to go with him when he left, aiming to earn enough money, originally trying to make it as a professional baseball player, in the hope of paying for treatment for his terminally ill sister. When he arrives back in Cedar Creek ten years later Rachel approaches him and asks him to help her prove that her brother’s death was a murder, and not suicide as has been recorded. Rachel is now married with two daughters, although her husband has disappeared.

I used memories from the Harrison Ford movie, Witness, which I’d watched again recently, to picture Amish people and their kind of country; but although Nate was a police detective like the character, John Book, the similarities to this story ended there. It was a good, solid mystery with emphasis on the main characters’ private lives, just as I like it. The Amish people, including Nate’s mother, are rigid in their condemnation of Nate for having left the community, in contrast to which Nate has gained, as an outsider, tolerance and compassion; he still cares for Rachel and agrees to look into her brother’s death.

I do hope Amy Lillard is thinking of writing another book explaining the disappearance of Rachel’s husband. I would love to read it!

Published by Crooked Lane Books

Firstly thank you to the publishers for my early access in exchange for a review.
I’ve reviewed a few of this authors books and this is definitely one of their strongest .
Thought provoking and well written