What an intense thriller. Buried Secrets is so well written. It great plot has so many twists you will not see coming. Imagine finding bones when preparing to plant a garden! I highly recommend.

Not what I was expecting. It was OK, just not my cup of tea.

I really struggled to get into this book. The characters seemed very disjointed and the fast pace meant i didn't get a good handle on who they were. Several times I thought about throwing in the towel with this read but forced myself to continue.

Brett and Emily Larson are newlyweds that have just moved into what they think will be their perfect home deep in the countryside. The couple are excited to start their new lives and new family when Emily discovers she is expecting. Busy making changes in their new place Brett decided to dig out a garden in the back when he comes across some bones while digging.

Calling in the police not knowing for sure what they’ve found it is determined that the bones are human so an investigation begins. The police determine that the bones are recent and haven’t come to their final resting place by accident. Along with the bones is a box with a hidden message that Brett thinks he’s figured out but what he finds is more than he ever bargained for.

Buried Secrets by T.J. Brearton was a decent crime read but for me this one just had trouble standing out and becoming something memorable. The characters were alright, the story line has enough action with the investigation and events but also seemed to be a tad on the predictable side as far as where the story takes the reader.

The story changes the point of view between the newlyweds and a man that has been incarcerated in the opening chapters which led me to come to my own conclusions with how these would become related later on in the read. Unfortunately my guesses were spot on and with the exception of one little twist at the end I didn’t guess in advance I felt as if there weren’t any surprises for me bringing my enjoyment down a bit. A solid story but I wasn’t quite as wowed as I would like in the end.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a hreat book kept my intrsted drom thr get go highly recommend

Newlyweds Brett and Emily have just moved to the countryside. But when Brett starts digging to prepare their new vegetable garden, he stumbles upon human bones and soon they find themselves in a whole heap of trouble. Meanwhile, Russo is sent to jail because he can't afford to pay an outstanding fine. Someone makes him an offer he can't quite refuse. How far will he go to protect his family?

As a bit of a gardener myself, remind me never to start digging. It's quite a believable scenario in that you never know what you may find. Roman relics, treasure or hey, a skeleton. To have this young family find themselves in a situation that utterly spirals out of their control, was incredibly compelling and you can't help but feel for them. For me though, I think Russo was the more interesting character. He's desperately trying to do the right thing as he now has a wife and child he doesn't want to lose but circumstances are against him and he'll do whatever it takes to keep his family safe.

Buried Secrets is a fast-paced and action-packed thriller. It sort of reminded me of the good old fashioned cops and robbers stories with a dash of mafia thrown in. There are a few good guys and a whole lot of bad guys. The first part of the book is a little slow going as the scene is set and the characters are introduced but the second half will blow you away. There's quite a lot going on to keep track of but it's all insanely engrossing. This is quite an intense ride with plenty of twists, some I saw coming but one in particular was positively brilliant and took me completely by surprise! T.J. Brearton is one to watch!

I liked the beginning of the book and the build-up to the highly intense plot. The second half of the book was action packed and quite the ride! In fact, the action was so intense at one point that I had to slow down so I didn't miss anything! It was a lot to keep track of and at moments I felt like I was watching all this action from afar.

I enjoyed this fast-paced crime thriller. It was laced with plenty of action and suspense! I was hooked from the beginning and liked the well thought out plot. I also enjoyed the characters!

Great book. Excellent storyline and brilliant main characters. I would recommend this book.

Brett and Emily Larson are newlyweds and have just moved into a new home when they find out that Emily is pregnant. They are ecstatic until they find human bones in their garden. When the police investigate, they discover three things: The bones are recent, they are not there accidentally, and they are a message. When the Larsons look at mugshots, they realize that they may be in danger. They have to do everything to protect themselves and their unborn child.

This was a suspenseful book. It was fast-paced and grabbed my interest right from the start. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I am definitely interested in reading others as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out all my book reviews at www.myliterary2cents.blogspot.com

My star rating system:
1 star – Awful! I couldn’t even read it.
2 stars – I only read part of it, couldn’t finish it.
3 stars – I read it all, and it was okay – not one of my favorites.
4 stars – I read it all and loved it!
5 stars – I read it all, loved it, and I would read it again!

Brett and his wife, Emily, are newlyweds who have recently acquired a farm house in rural New York from his wife's family. Soon before finding out that Emily is expecting their first child, Brett finds bones in his yard which he finds out are human bones. After calling the authorities, events escalate very quickly.

Simultaneously, Russo is an ex-con who has totally put crime behind him and is living a clean life with his loving wife and daughter. He is suddenly arrested for an outstanding warrant from several years in the past. While in prison, he meets another inmate who totally ruins any hope of his life being normal ever again.

The story goes very fast into the connection between the two characters and is action-packed until the end. It was an enjoyable read.

A book of two halves for me but the whole is very satisfying indeed. There's a gritty here once you get past the first half. - the first part with the finding of the bones and the ultimate investigation is slower but this kind of mystery has to build up and build up it does. The premise is something that could happen to anyone of us really and is set in such a normal and residential part of the city but far enough removed to think that the grit of the city shouldn't come here.

James Russo is a great character and he stands out for me in both story and atmosphere. I feel I could see him and his quirks. I like the overall messages of the book - a guy gone bad, trying to turn his life around by getting back on track and changing his ways. The end of the book was quite a surprise!

A real page turner couldn't put it down, characters are well developed and the plot moves along nicely

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

Brett and Emily buy a new house, and while Brett is digging a garden, he finds human remains. At the same time, Jimmy is jailed for failure to pay a fine on a traffic violation and takes a deal with another inmate who will pay his bail if he does a favor for her. The two stories end up being connected to an old bank robbery. I didn't really like this book that much. It wasn't terrible, just not really my thing. I was surprised by one of the twists toward the end, though, which is always nice. I only gave it 2 stars.

I absolutely ADORED this book! Addictive and thrilling, this was a roller coaster of a read with many twists all of which I did not see coming. What I loved was how an ordinary situation - well, not ordinary, but believable - finding buried bones on your premises, escalated into a heart-stopping, palpably tense, extremely fast paced and intense story that I could not put down. Amazing! Felt for and could relate to Brett and Emily. Love this author's writing style. Cannot wait for more!

Very exciting and suspenseful. I totally didn't expect the ending. Highly recommend.

Buried Secrets T.J. Brearton

A happy young couple, Brett and Emily, buy their dream small holding in upstate New York.

Digging an area of garden, close to the edge of some woods, Brett uncovers some human bones.

Meanwhile reformed criminal James Russo is arrested for failing to pay his fines for driving whilst uninsured. With no means of paying the fines he is sent to the famous Rikers Island Jail in New York. His cell mate is an ex mixed martial arts fighter Nate Reuter. Nate is in jail for being part of a lame group of bank robbers the press labelled “The fighting Bandits”

The Police Investigators seem to be going through the motions with the investigation into the buried bones but one of the Officers casually shows the mug shots of the Fighting Bandits to Brett, stating it’s an unrelated inquiry.

As a failed journalist/writer Brett sees an opportunity to resurrect his carer and write a book and starts his own investigation. Unfortunately he reaches out to his ex-girlfriend Meg to help him, much to Emily’s frustration; but is Meg really helping, or is she in it for her own gain, journalistic or personal.

In jail Reuter is attacked and Russo steps in to his aid. Because of the fight his jail time looks set to increase until a visit from a female prisoner changes everything. She will post his bail if he does one job for her, and just as an encouragement she sends a psychopath to his wife and daughter.

And so begins a story which kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The two storylines are obviously connected but how and why. Who do the bones belong to, and why are they buried with a cryptic note.

This story doesn’t hide anything, there are no surprises. Its hook is the naive innocence of Brett; the attempts of Russo to stay on the straight and narrow and still protect his wife and daughter; the conniving drive of Meg. To have captured all of these characters so well is a testimony the writing of T.J. Brearton







Pages: 328

Publisher: Bookouture

Available to pre-order on Amazon

Publish date 18th August 2017

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Buried Secrets, a stand alone thriller set in upstate New York.

Newlyweds Brett and Emily Larson are living the dream having bought an old farmhouse and 7 acres for a back to nature lifestyle. Their happiness is complete when Emily discovers she is pregnant. In keeping with new lifestyle Brett is digging a new garden when he uncovers some human bones. Unfortunately the police are not the only ones interested in the bones and the novel also follows Jimmy Russo, an ex con trying to go straight who is coerced into helping the bad guys.

I enjoyed Buried Secrets with its strong, action packed second half and many twists, one or two of which are extremely clever and unexpected. I found the first half a bit slow and tedious as it is mostly about scene setting and establishing the characters. The contrast between the 2 halves is noticeable. In the first half I found the novel easy to put down and walk away from as it really didn't hold my attention but as soon as the action got going I was riveted. I recommend bearing with the slow start as it turns into a great read.

Part of the initial problem is that Brett is a bit of a loser and very uninspiring who you just know is incapable of stepping up to the plate and will probably be the catalyst for trouble. In fact, he manages better than expectation but that's for the second half. The other problem is the split narrative between the Larsons and Jimmy Russo. It is fairly easy to get a fix on the Larsons as they are a couple and interact but It is difficult to see where Russo fits in and just as you get a glimmer the narrative voice changes.

Buried Secrets is a slow burner that turns into an action packed page turner so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

This tense thriller starts out with alternating storylines. The two seemingly have nothing to do with each other, but the author begins to slowly and intently weave them together as the story progresses. This is masterfully crafted so as to ratchet up the tension incrementally throughout the book.

When the two storylines finally converge full force you find that nothing is as it originally seemed. There are plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout the book, right up until the very end. The chapters end in a way that make you feel like you must keep reading to see what happens next, so be prepared to stay up late into the night. There are a few key characters in the book, and each one is developed to the extent they need to be. I like the overall messages of the book - wrong place, wrong time; a bad guy trying to turn his life around by getting his priorities straight and looking out for the best interests of others; helping those who help you.

I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and suspense. I received this as a free ARC from Bookotoure on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

A young couple has moved into a new home. They are in the process of sorting out the garden when they discover some bones and this starts a series of events which ends with a totally unexpected twist that you never saw coming.

I will honestly say that I did not get into this book easily. I actually considered abandoning it. I eventually opted to continue and I was not disappointed. So, if you do find that this is the case with you too, give it a chance :) There are many characters to start off with and there seems to be no relation between them but it comes together nicely in the end.

This was the first book I read from this author and I did enjoy it. I will be reading more of his books in future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.