Complex and fast moving mystery that doesn't let go - past and present, Amish and English, secrets and lies everywhere. Fans of Linda Castillo will devour this, and all mystery fans will get addicted. One crime resolved and more left hanging - waiting for the next one ...

I found The Secrets We Keep to be an engaging and thought-provoking read. Having never explored Amish fiction before, I was curious to give this one a try, and I’m glad I did. The premise was unique, and Amy Lillard did an excellent job weaving together mystery, emotion, and a glimpse into Amish culture.

The story follows Nate Fischer, an ex-Amish man turned police officer, who returns to his hometown after his father’s death. While back in the Amish community, Nate’s ex-girlfriend Rachel faces another tragedy—her brother’s apparent suicide, which seems completely out of character. Together, Nate and Rachel begin to unravel the truth, questioning whether it was truly suicide or something more sinister.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and rated it 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy!

The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard is my first NetGalley read so I was unsure what to expect when I started it.

I wasn’t sure if I received a copy currently in the editing process or if this was a final draft before publication. It was a little hard to get into a rhythm with reading at first due to where this copy is in its editing process and all of the “hads” thrown in, but I was finally able to find my cadence, and this turned out to be a delightful read.

I have always found the Amish community interesting, and the author did a great job establishing the setting for the central part of the story.

Nathan’s character is very relatable, as a cop stepping up to help Rachel in her desperate time of need and as a shunned member of the former community he loved. The author carefully crafted the storyline between Rachel and Nathan in such a way that I literally could not put this read down until I saw how this would end for them. 

I am a little disappointed that several lines in the story didn’t come to completion and left me hanging, like the mystery of what happened to Rachel’s husband. That question will live with me in contemplation for a while, but I am excited to see that the ending leads to the possibility of a future book with these same characters so I may get my answer in a future read. Fingers crossed.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with this ARC.

TheSecretsWeKeep #NetGalley is a fabulous story that dives deep into the Amish world, where secrets and shame are kept quiet.
Nate Fisher left the Amish world a long time ago, leaving family and his true love behind, with only one thought on his mind, saving his sister.
Nate is dealing with deep issues surrounding his position as a deputy sheriff, when he receives the call that his father has died.
Returning home is painful since he's shunned by his family, but he needed to return, to help fight his own fears. He doesn't plan on seeing Rachel, the love he left behind, but when she begs him to help her find out what happened to her brother, he can't resist helping.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.