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

The Secrets We Keep is a fast-paced and easy read that dives into a story bridging the past and present, exploring Amish and English cultures—a perspective that was new to me. While I appreciated the unique cultural elements, I felt some parts were repetitive, with certain aspects of the past being explained too often. The ending didn’t quite land for me, as I had hoped for something different. Still, an intriguing mystery for fans of cross-cultural storytelling

Secrets can cause so much pain when revealed. So much secrets in a small Amish community. The author threw more light on the Amish culture as Nate and Rachel uncovered painful secrets as they sought to find the truth about her brother's death. The plot twist was so unexpected. Nice story.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's a good book! I enjoyed the story line and I got to know and like the characters quite well. I hope there's a sequel or, better yet, a series!

Detective Nate Fisher has just returned to active duty after being cleared of a fatal shooting. Still struggling with the fact he took a life he receives a call from his brother that his father has died. He heads home knowing he will not be welcomed since he left the Amish faith and community twelve years ago. and is still being shunned. When he left he left behind the love of his life, Rachel. Rachel is now married even though her husband disappeared three years ago. She is the mother of two little girls. The attraction is still there under the surface for both of them. An attraction they can’t acknowledge. Rachel comes to Nate to ask for his help in proving that her brother did not commit suicide. And thus the plot begins. I was drawn into this story and anxious to see how it unfolded. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

The Secrets We Keep

Nate Fisher returns to his Mississippi hometown after his father dies. Nate was born Amish and left the fold 12 years ago. Since he has the bann on him no one in his old Amish community will have anything to do with him. Except his old girlfriend Rachael who recently buried her brother after his suicide. Suicide among the Amish is very rare and she don’t believe he actually did it. She believes something more sinister is involved and enlists the help of Nate who happens to be a police officer in his new life. But what he helps her find might be worse than she even imagined. This was an ok read for me, just a bit slow in the middle. I really liked the storyline and how the ending left you waiting for more.

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 ...