A recently wed couple are settling into their new home together, Brett digs up some of their land to start cultivating it and finds some human bones buried in the ground. What a great opening to the book and it carried on throughout.
The second story running alongside was focused on Jimmy Russo who has been arrested and in prison.
A fab book with twists and turns that I did not expect.
A well deserved five stars.

I really enjoyed this book, it had a great storyline and the pace in the book was spot on, it built up gradually during the first half and was an excellent pace for the second half as it had twists and turns and an ending you didn’t see coming.  I found the main characters of Brett and Emily really likable and there were times that I didn’t want to put it down and I thought it was a really good thriller, one I’d definitely recommend – 4 stars from me!

After Brett and Emily move into their house, Brett starts digging for a garden but comes up with more than he bargained for. Bones are discovered and from there their lives are thrown into hell. You'll get Brett's perspective and also a convicts. The two worlds will collide and make sense when all is through. So after Brett digs up the bones, he decides he wants to write a book about it. In the course of his investigation, he will learn things that should have been left alone.

Overall, this was just another ok read for me. Nothing that really stood out. If I'm honest, Brett and Emily were a little cringe worthy. If I found bones in my yard I wouldn't be kissing my husband!! There were some twists--a major one at the end. But for criminals they were pretty dumb.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out really well and I liked the first set of characters that were introduced a lot. The story was immediately interesting and got me hooked right away so I wanted to read on and figure out what was happening.

Unfortunately, this fizzled out for me before I got half way through. I liked the book enough to finish it, but found myself really struggling to suspend belief and get my head around why the characters were being such numbskulls. The author painted a picture of intelligent people in the beginning of the book, which, made me question why they would do the things they did later on.

There are a few rather funny moments, a couple that made me cringe and some happiness in places, but I just couldn't forgive the dumb mistakes the characters made. I still enjoyed reading this and I think the author has a special kind of wry wit. It wasn't a bad book overall.

Give it a try and see what you think.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This review is written with thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of Buried Secrets.
Brett and Emily Larson are newlyweds who are expecting a child. When digging the garden, Brett finds human bones buried beneath the soil. As he seeks to discover whose bones they are, and how they got there, he is drawn into the criminal world. Will he be able to keep Emily and his unborn baby safe?
In Buried Secrets, there are two plots that run alongside each other: the investigation into the bones discovered on Brett and Emily's land, and the story of James Russo, an ex-convict who finds himself back in prison after being unable to pay a fine. At first, it was difficult for me to see the connection between the two plots; however, gradually, as the plot develops, this becomes much clearer. The structure of alternating chapters allows Brearton to build tension, as each chapter finishes on a cliffhanger, leaving the reader on edge until the strand of the plot continues.
Buried Secrets is full of tension, and this kept me reading as I wanted to find out what the story behind the bones on the Larsons’ land was. At times, I felt that Brearton relied a little too much on blood and gore to create tension, and I struggled to maintain my interest in these sections.
Part of Buried Secrets is set in American prison. I felt that these aspects of the novel assumed a level of knowledge in the reader about the American justice system. As this is something about which I have very limited knowledge, I found these parts of the novel difficult to follow.
There is a twist in Buried Secrets, which makes for a tense and exciting ending.
Overall, I found that although I enjoyed the concept of Buried Secrets and the tension Brearton created, there were parts of the novel that I found difficult to follow, and I finish the novel slightly underwhelmed.

It was so easy to be pulled into the story mainly because of how normal everything begins. After a few seemingly ordinary pages the story suddenly switches gears and becomes something else entirely which makes for a compelling story. The interesting thing for me was the fact that there were two stories running side by side and each one had me intrigued. You have Brett and Emily making the horrifying discovery of the bones on their property. Then you switch to Russo who has found himself in trouble with the police. I couldn't wait to see each story play out and to find out if they were going to converge. I thought that both plot strands developed well even though to start with it goes at a steady pace you can feel the tension building as more details are revealed. I was so curious as to what was happening it was a great way to get a feel for both the characters and the situation this way too.

The characters are intriguing and even though at times I wanted to shout out don't do that or do this instead. I was completely focused on these characters and how their lives were spiralling out of control. If I had to pick a favourite character I'm not really sure I could however Russo maybe edges it slightly. It's mainly because he has flaws which always makes for an engaging character but there is also something about him that made me sit up and pay attention. Although I did love Brett's curious nature along with both his and Emily's desire to start a family.

I really enjoyed the build up to before the action starts as this definitely increased the stress levels for the characters and for me reading it. The twists and turns are brilliantly done and also well placed to give the reader that perfect moment for when things become clear. 

Intriguing, twisty and oh so good!

Five stars from me!

With thanks to Bookouture & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Different to what I expected..................................better !!! Quite a slow start but becomes a gripping story

Having only been married for three months Brett and Emily Larson move into a dream home in the countryside. With hopes of having a family one day Brett sets about doing the garden up, digging soil to plant vegetables when he comes across some bones. After informing the police, Emily then finds out she is pregnant and what should be one of their happiest times ends up being a journey that both will never forget.
Meanwhile Jimmy Russo has been arrested and sent to prison, the ex-con has been on the straight and narrow and really trying to keep his hands clean for the sake of his wife and 14 month old daughter. Desperate to get out prison, Jimmy is dealt a get out of jail card, all he has to do is a simple job in return.
The story starts off slowly, giving the reader the chance to get to know the characters and really get a feel for their situations. I really liked Brett and Emily but Jimmy seemed to stand out a bit more for me. I’m not sure why, maybe because he’s an ex-con trying to be good but I really took to him.
The pace then really picked up into the second half of the book and totally knocked my socks off. Getting to know the characters at the beginning I wasn’t sure how this story was going to go. Obviously it wasn’t going to be straight forward but I really wasn’t expecting it to go the way it went.
T. J. Brearton really knows how to tell one heck of story. I found it really easy to picture the scenes so it was playing like a movie in my mind as I was reading and I actually think this would make a great movie.  With the different threads coming together and secrets finally being revealed I felt really satisfied at the end of the book. Everything came together perfectly and after such an intense ride I was pleased to get my breath back. 
Buried Secrets for me was a fantastic read, it was intense in parts and I really didn’t know what was coming next. It was full of surprises and quite a few hold your breath moments. Definitely one I’ll be recommending.

An excellent well written read. I couldn't put it down from beginning to end! Definitely one of my go-to suspense/thriller authors!

Wow...now this is what I call a crime thriller, the whole time I was reading I felt like I was watching a movie...It’s bloody brilliant.

Grabbing your attention from the start and I literally mean the start and keeping you there until the very last page. With Brett Larson discovering human bones while digging in their garden talk about intriguing. So right from the start I wanted to know who whose bones they are. Set in America we get an insight into their police procedure with the police investigating this. It soon becomes clear that The bones are recent,They are not here by accident and they are a message!

With two story-lines running side by side the author weaves them both together taking you on one action packed ride of your life. It is full of twists and turns and OMG moments,where I found myself on tenterhooks. Talk about a very entertaining and engaging read. With Brett and Emily having to keep one step ahead to protect themselves. I couldn't help but will them along. They are likable characters who clearly love each other.

There is so much that I want to say about this book, but I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone.... hence the title Buried Secrets!

Did I mention that this is the first book I have read by TJ Brearton and it won't be my last, that's for sure.

This is without a doubt one of my best reads this year and certainly ticked all the boxes for me. I cannot recommend it enough giving it 5 massive gold stars.

Oohh this book ended up being different than what I had expected but I mean that in a good way. I had assumed it would focus on either a cop narrating the story or have a killer as the focus but it was actually told in two separate narratives and not from a cop OR a killer. The first is Brett and Emily a young, newlywed couple who have just moved into a new home. When they decide to start a garden they find human bones and their lives take an unexpected turn. The second follows Jimmy Russo, a man who finds himself in jail when his portion begins due to a past transgression he thought he escaped. I kept trying to figure out how these storylines would merge and I definitely didn’t predict exactly how, or when they would.

The first half of Buried Secrets starts out on the slower side as Russo tries to figure out how to get himself out of jail and back with his wife and baby daughter while Emily and Brett deal with the aftermath of the bones being unearthed. While I found both storylines interesting and engaging, I was more drawn to Russo, both his character and his specific story. There was just something endearing about this rough around the edges man that got under my skin and captured my attention.

By the last quarter of this book I was well and truly hooked as the storylines converged in unexpected ways. It became tense and very action packed as crazy things started to happen and they didn’t stop until the very end. It’s so strange how the discovery of human bones set off a series of events that I never saw coming, this one kept me on my toes. If you’re looking for a different type of thriller told from a unusual perspective, you may like this one.

Wow, the secrets are never ending in this action packed thriller.

Newlyweds, Brett and Emily, are ecstatic about their new house. Lots of room for the kids they are hoping to have and lots of land for the garden that Brett wants so bad. Everything is going their way, that is until Brett uncovers human bones while working on his garden. That is just the first secret that that is unveiled in this unputdownable, riveting, hold onto your horses book that should most certainly be started well before bedtime.

And, just when you think there are no more secrets to be had and the book is winding down - SURPRISE - there's more!

An excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Well I wasn't expecting that!

I loved this fast paced thriller. With just the right balance of quirky and criminal I flew through it and was gripped all the way.

Clever use of chapter splits between the characters meaning you see both sides of the plot effortlessly and seemingly you can work out the plot - I had some of it right but there are some brilliant twists and turns along the way.

A fantastic crime read that is not a gorefest!

Two story lines: A man, Russo, being picked up for a bench warrant and sent to Ruckers for driving without a license, and Brett and Emily, newlyweds who find bones in the yard of their new home. All three are reasonably innocent people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This whole story happens to them through no fault of their own! For a majority of the book, the reader is getting to know the main characters, their histories, etc. The story lines take a long time to finally start to come together, too long in my opinion. So for much of the book the reader is enjoying two mild action stories, good action stories, but there is always that wonder about how they will merge. Mr. Brearton makes the reader wait for this and the answers to a lot of things. This made for a solid read as long as you don't mind the wait.

Wow what a fantastic roller coaster ride. I so didn't want this book to end I loved it. It was a thrilling book with so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. This was a seriously good book and if I could give it 6 stars I would. Brilliant!

When i first picked this book up i wasn't sure what to expect. It shocked me at how good this book was especially as this isnthe first I am hearing about this author.
What drew me in to this book was that this could easily happen. Brett and Emily are interesting characters who happen to discover something shocking in their garden. What was it well it was human bones.
What a shock that must have been on thpoor unsuspecting couple. However this will change their lives in a potentially lethal way. Living close by are known criminals and one of them may be the guilty party.
The suspense in this book is very palpable as is shown just by them trying to stay many steps ahead of those who would harm there soon to be family.
This book really did make you feel the suspense and fear that Brett and Emily felt as there lives were turned upside down.
Wonderful book.

A thriller with a twist that actually surprised me

I enjoyed this mystery thriller. It ramped up quickly and once at top speed kept accelerating until the end.

This is also the first book in a long time that had a twist in it that I didn't figure out along the way. Kudos to author Brearton!

Brett and Emily Larson haven't been married long and have moved onto a rural property with their dream farmhouse. Brett is out one day getting an early start on a garden and he uncovers bones - human bones - and a cryptic message.

Intertwined with Brett and Emily's story is the story of James Russo, his wife Fifi and their baby daughter. Russo has a past that he's trying to move on from but circumstances keep intruding.

This was a fun, fast read with believable characters - ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And also some not-so-nice people. It takes place mostly in upstate New York.

I received this book from Bookouture through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

While I feel the story was well-written, it was a lot different than I thought it would be, and ended up being a story about mobsters and money laundering and other crimes, which is simply not my cup of tea. I was expecting some sort of thriller/serial killer/something story, and it was not that at all. I felt like the story was a little strange and far-reaching, too.

A solid intense thriller!

Buried Secrets by T.J. Brearton is an addictive roller coaster thrill ride full of excitement.

Newlyweds Brett and Emily Larson just moved into their dream home way out in the countryside. Their happiness goes full circle when Emily discovers she is pregnant. As they start to embrace the country life, Brett begins to dig a new garden on their beautiful land and suddenly gets the shock of his life - human bones. The police are called in to investigate and unfortunately, they aren't the only ones interested in the bones. Brett starts to investigate on his own and suddenly realizes that the danger may be closer to home than he first thought. Can Brett and Emily protect themselves – and their unborn baby? Will someone's buried secrets start to unravel?

A compelling fast-paced crime thriller that is loaded with twists, turns, action, and suspense - couldn't put this book down!

*I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Brett and Emily are newly weds that have found their dream home out in the country. Emily finds out she is expecting and they get busy making changes in their new home. Brett decides to dig a garden in the back where he finds human bones . Police find that the bones are recent. Along with the bones is a box with a hidden message...
Buried Secrets by T. J. Brearton is a great mystery in my opinion. Great plot , fast paced action and a lot of suspense. I like that the story was fast paced with a lot of action. I highly recommend if you like a great action filled thriller . Thanks to Bookouture for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date is August 18 , 2017
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