Tangled Secrets by S F Baumgartner Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Tangled Secrets: A Suspense Thriller (Mirror Estate Series: Book 3)

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Christian Suspense Thriller

Release date: April 29, 2024

Two women. One targeted by an unknown enemy. One being accused of murder. Will they overcome their obstacles?

The twenty-five-year-old schoolteacher Grace Benson is living a quiet life until she receives a threatening note. Her life turns upside down when the FBI becomes involved.

The middle-aged wedding planner Sheila Mitchell comes home to find her husband dead before she’s knocked out. When she comes to, the murder weapon’s in her hand.

Will Grace survive? And will Sheila’s ex-husband, an FBI agent, clear her name? Who is targeting these women?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This novel is the third in a series (fourth considering the prequel). It can be read on its own as Baumgartner gives a good synopsis of each of the previous books at the beginning of this one. The relationships in this novel are complex and I appreciate a chart illustrating them at the very beginning. Many of the characters have previous or current code names and/or false names. I had to really pay attention to keep them all straight.

Baumgartner writes the narrative by having each chapter focus on one of nine people. Each chapter has the focused character clearly identified at the chapter heading. That is not a favorite style of mine as I feel it makes the flow of the narrative seem fragmented.

There is a great deal of subterfuge in this novel. Sometimes I was as puzzled as the agents were as to who was doing what and the motive behind actions. Everything comes to light at the end and is pretty well wrapped up except for a surprise which means I'll be watching for the sequel. There is a good faith message in the novel.

My rating: 4/5 stars. 

You can read my reviews of the previous books in the series: Buried Secrets, Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret.

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartner is a Christian suspense thriller author. She graduated from the University of Hawaii and the University of Cincinnati. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her cats, staying active, and binge-watching crime TV shows. She lives in Ohio with her family.

More from S.F.

Crafting “Tangled Secrets” was an exhilarating experience, as it brought clarity to several unresolved mysteries within the series. The enigmatic question of a leak or mole introduced in “Living Secrets” – specifically, the mystery surrounding how Lily’s secret was discovered – finds its resolution in this latest installment. Moreover, “Forgotten Secret” cast a shadow of suspicion over characters like Rook and Uncle Bill, whose motives and truths are finally unearthed in “Tangled Secrets.”

Inspiration for this narrative complexity came from diverse sources: a television episode sparked the concept of a daughter relinquished for adoption, while a film suggested the thrilling double life of a secret agent. These ideas were not only incorporated but also transformed to enrich the tapestry of the story, intertwining with elements of chaos and confusion to enhance the intrigue and excitement.

This series, starting from the prequel, has been a journey of dropping subtle hints and planting seeds that would flourish into the full narrative of “Tangled Secrets.” The series is a vast landscape of potential stories, each more compelling than the last. I hope “Tangled Secrets” not only captivates and satisfies but also invites readers deeper into its intricately woven world. Enjoy the latest dive into our unfolding saga.

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I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)