ANNA'S SECRET - Jude Atkins
Cerridwen Press
ISBN: 978-1-41991-175-0
November 2007
Romantic Suspense

Indian Creek, near Ft. Worth, Texas; Houston, Texas – Present Day

Anna Davis was well-known in her neck of the woods, she also never hesitated to let her opinions be known and, no matter what, stood her ground. There were always whispers that there was a great deal more to Anna than she told anyone. Former cop, Kelly McWinter, now a securities expert, finds her body at the Indian Creek Flea Market where she has a booth. Kelly is in charge of security there, and several people cross his mind as possible suspects in her murder.

One secret Anna kept was the fact that she had a grown daughter, Krystal…the same young woman Kelly saw Anna arguing with the day she died.

Who killed Anna…and why?

Many secondary characters -- Cam Belsher, owner of the Hideaway Bar; Darlene; Bubba Tate; Leroy Elliott; Doug Phillips; Frank Perkins; and Marty Jenkins -- knew Anna and may have information. Augustus Graham, Kelly’s old partner; Deputy Johnson; and Sergeant Adams have the task of untangling the threads. Krystal’s uncle Andrew; his wife, Stella; her roommate, Penny Kwon; and the private investigator, Jack Boscon, whom she hired to find Anna, may or may not be able to help Kelly in his unofficial investigation into Anna’s murder.

ANNA’S SECRET has enough bends and splinters to throw a reader into a quandary trying to figure out who is the guilty party. It was certainly a surprise to me. Jade Atkins has created a taut, sad, well-written story that keeps everyone guessing. She has a style suited to telling suspense stories. If you are in the mood for a whodunit, I recommend ANNA’S SECRET.

Vi Janaway