Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Call number
F RAY
Publication
Tyndale House Publishers (2021), 400 pages
Description
From award-winning author, Patricia Raybon, comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle confronting the hidden secrets of class, race, family, and love. In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain, a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college, receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father. For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee's heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love. With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver's powerful elite. But, when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim too.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member norastlaurent
This story and its well-developed characters grabbed my heart and emotions from the start, here’s a peek…” The little baby was four hours old. Still unwashed. Barely crying. But Joe Spain’s old ears recognized the sound. A human infant. Somebody’s mistake, left in the Colorado cold to
Oh, my I was hooked, and surprised by this gripping, powerful and emotional opening situation where we meet Annalee’s father. I felt a part of the investigation as this brave young lady, makes her way to the scene of the crime. I like the way readers are introduced to this determined, educated, and confident woman who isn’t afraid to do the right thing, even if it looks impossible. As the story builds, Annalee faces incredibly difficult situations as she tries to dig up clues leading to her father’s murderer.
There is a quote under the chapter number from Sherlock Holmes novels. Chapter one says, “Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others overlook.” Sherlock Holmes, A Case of Identity. I liked reading about this young female sleuth from the 1920s. My heart went out to the orphan boy and the pastor, who were unlikely back for Annalee. I liked how historical events were woven into this murder mystery, which gave the reader a different point of view.
I liked what the author says about the main character, “Amid this hostility, my character Annalee Spain found respite in stories of Sherlock Holmes, the iconic fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All of the Holmes epigraphs featured in All That Is Secret are from stories first published in the Strand…Annalee doesn’t solve crimes like Holmes, famous for creative solutions using deductive reasoning. She affirms his belief, however, that a women’s instincts are valuable crime-fighting skills. So, I enjoyed letting Annalee deploy her instincts to unravel the mystery in this novel. How will she grow as a detective? Her next mystery will be coming soon.”
The author includes twelve discussion questions to help create a lively discussion for your book club. This is the authors’ debt novel. I look forward to seeing where the author takes Annalee and what mysteries she will solve. This page-turner that will grab your heart and never let it go.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
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die.” Oh, my I was hooked, and surprised by this gripping, powerful and emotional opening situation where we meet Annalee’s father. I felt a part of the investigation as this brave young lady, makes her way to the scene of the crime. I like the way readers are introduced to this determined, educated, and confident woman who isn’t afraid to do the right thing, even if it looks impossible. As the story builds, Annalee faces incredibly difficult situations as she tries to dig up clues leading to her father’s murderer.
There is a quote under the chapter number from Sherlock Holmes novels. Chapter one says, “Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others overlook.” Sherlock Holmes, A Case of Identity. I liked reading about this young female sleuth from the 1920s. My heart went out to the orphan boy and the pastor, who were unlikely back for Annalee. I liked how historical events were woven into this murder mystery, which gave the reader a different point of view.
I liked what the author says about the main character, “Amid this hostility, my character Annalee Spain found respite in stories of Sherlock Holmes, the iconic fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All of the Holmes epigraphs featured in All That Is Secret are from stories first published in the Strand…Annalee doesn’t solve crimes like Holmes, famous for creative solutions using deductive reasoning. She affirms his belief, however, that a women’s instincts are valuable crime-fighting skills. So, I enjoyed letting Annalee deploy her instincts to unravel the mystery in this novel. How will she grow as a detective? Her next mystery will be coming soon.”
The author includes twelve discussion questions to help create a lively discussion for your book club. This is the authors’ debt novel. I look forward to seeing where the author takes Annalee and what mysteries she will solve. This page-turner that will grab your heart and never let it go.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
This novel combines a variety of elements in an extremely well-written and well-balanced way. It takes place in 1923, at a time when social classes were separate and discrimination was commonplace. Annalee Spain, a Black theologian at a Bible college in Chicago, goes home to Denver to find her
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father’s killer. She finds much more than she bargains for. Even before her train reaches Denver, her life is threatened. Delving deep into the worst the city has to offer, she befriends a young White boy who has followed her from Chicago. She meets the pastor who has summoned her to Denver, and soon the two are working together to unravel what happened a year ago to her father, although Annalee is the driving force in this adventure. Working as a maid, she soon realizes there is more than one person involved in more than one crime. It’s an exciting mystery, with an engrossing plot that draws readers into the story from the very beginning. The characters are well developed, with a protagonist who is smart, personable, and likable. The chapters begin with a quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes’ stories, from which Annalee draws inspiration. Her growth in the story, as she comes to a better understanding of her faith, of her father, and of herself, is extremely well told. This story is amazing and highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels
It's 1923. Annalee Spain, a young theologian at a Chicago Bible college, receives a telegram urging her to go to Denver and investigate her father's murder. But trying to solve a mystery in a city infested by the KKK is a critical danger for Annalee in All That Is Secret by author Patricia
I've been anticipating this ChristFic novel since I first saw a cover reveal for it last June. I didn't have to read the blurb or anything; I just heard it's a historical mystery featuring a Black young woman as the sleuth, and I was in.
Granted, given that I prefer short novels these days, I can feel a little iffy picking up a book that's around 400 pages, considering the likelihood that I may tire of the read before I'm even halfway through it. But I wound up getting engrossed enough in this novel to finish it in two sittings.
Now, I did find some of Annalee's reflections to be repetitive or drawn-out, sometimes with too many questions strung in a row. The rather angsty romantic thread wasn't my favorite aspect of the story. And I found the high frequency of words emphasized by italics to be pretty distracting. I believe that when writers use effective words and have a strong grip on phrasing, they can trust that readers' instincts will fill in most of the emphasis where they need it, without the writer having to visually force it multiple times per page.
Nevertheless, I appreciated the twists and substance of this story, and I'll be keeping an eye out for the second Annalee Spain Mystery.
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Raybon.I've been anticipating this ChristFic novel since I first saw a cover reveal for it last June. I didn't have to read the blurb or anything; I just heard it's a historical mystery featuring a Black young woman as the sleuth, and I was in.
Granted, given that I prefer short novels these days, I can feel a little iffy picking up a book that's around 400 pages, considering the likelihood that I may tire of the read before I'm even halfway through it. But I wound up getting engrossed enough in this novel to finish it in two sittings.
Now, I did find some of Annalee's reflections to be repetitive or drawn-out, sometimes with too many questions strung in a row. The rather angsty romantic thread wasn't my favorite aspect of the story. And I found the high frequency of words emphasized by italics to be pretty distracting. I believe that when writers use effective words and have a strong grip on phrasing, they can trust that readers' instincts will fill in most of the emphasis where they need it, without the writer having to visually force it multiple times per page.
Nevertheless, I appreciated the twists and substance of this story, and I'll be keeping an eye out for the second Annalee Spain Mystery.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
This is the first book in a new mystery series set in the 1920s featuring Annalee Spain, a young Black professor at a Bible College, who resigns her position to investigate her father's murder. He was thrown from a train traveling from Denver to Chicago to visit her. The day before, he had found a
When they arrive, they are met with danger. A pastor, Jack, tries to help them. What they find is a corrupt town run by the KKK, dirty money, and secrets.
A good look at life in the 1920s, where racial tensions and corrupt money ruled the day.
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dead baby on the ranch where he worked. Annalee travels to Denver to seek answers. She is accompanied by a young white boy who is searching for his father. When they arrive, they are met with danger. A pastor, Jack, tries to help them. What they find is a corrupt town run by the KKK, dirty money, and secrets.
A good look at life in the 1920s, where racial tensions and corrupt money ruled the day.
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LibraryThing member debs4jc
This Christian mystery stand out in that the main character is a person of color and the setting is the 1920’s. Those were aspects of the story that I also really enjoyed as I really fell in love with Annalee and her spunky determination to find out the truth against all odd. I also really like
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female characters that defy the norms of society and Annalee does that in spades. Show Less
Awards
Christy Awards (Finalist — First Novel — 2022)
Language
Original publication date
2021-10-05
Physical description
400 p.; 8.1 inches
Pages
400
ISBN
1496458389 / 9781496458384
UPC
031809027998