Buried Secrets by Jane Tesh is the newest in the A Madeline Maclin Mystery series and fast-paced page-turner. Clocking in at around 175 pages, this is a well-crafted and solidly written mystery that packs a great punch. I read it in one sitting! 

Madeline is a PI living in a small town in North Carolina with her husband Jerry, a former con-man. Madeline (or Mac) is helping a local find a missing necklace that the friend swears is tied to alien life. Nothing much phases Madeline, it’s clear, especially when her ex-husband hires Madeline to find his children’s missing nanny, Nadia Conrad. 

An aptly titled story to be sure since every character we read is hiding at least one secret and we quickly realize all is not as calm and innocent as it once appears. Throw in rumors of an alien landing nearby, and readers will be studying each character and encounter carefully. 

Wonderful characters and vivid writing made this an entertaining read. It’s a solid mystery with a few surprising twists. I also appreciated the humor sprinkled throughout, as well as Madeline’s relationship with Jerry. This reads well as a standalone and readers new to the series will be delighted to explore Tesh’s backlist.