THE SECRET KEEPER opens with a torture scene and quickly grabbed my attention. Not that I like torture, but the fact I wanted to know the why and the who and the what had me up late turning the pages.
British Journalist Danny Kellerman was sent to Sierra Leone four years ago. A place where rebels rule, it was simplistic and cruel. There, he fell in love with American Maria, a relief worker who aids and rescues children. But when the fighting was over, Danny returned to England without Maria.
Four years later, Danny is happy playing house with his girlfriend Rachel until he receives the letter. It's from Maria and she begs for his help. Danny is unsure of what to do, so he googles her name on a whim and is stunned at the results. Maria has been killed by a band of bandits. Danny uses his journalistic connections to be sent back to Sierra Leone, promising a story on his return.
But what Danny finds on his return there is not as it was when he left. The area may seem like it has moved forward into the new century with less fighting and more technology, but Danny digs deeper sensing something awry. Those he counted as friends he finds are corrupt and those that led the rebellion four years ago now hold high ranks in politics. Danny is determined to investigate Maria's murder, but can find no help in any quarter.
A thrilling page-turner set against the backdrop of Africa lends details and credence to the plot that has a shocking, yet satisfying ending. Obviously Mr. Harris's own work as a journalist lent credibility to his first work, as the details are very authentic. For a debut novel, it is simply a stunning and haunting work. I finished it a few days ago, and still the story is fresh in my mind. The politics took me a little while to wrap my head around and get straight, but Mr. Harris lead the path in a simple way for me to understand that really added a punch to the storyline. Wonderful characters, a thrilling adventure, and romance blend together perfectly for THE SECRET KEEPER.
British Journalist Danny Kellerman was sent to Sierra Leone four years ago. A place where rebels rule, it was simplistic and cruel. There, he fell in love with American Maria, a relief worker who aids and rescues children. But when the fighting was over, Danny returned to England without Maria.
Four years later, Danny is happy playing house with his girlfriend Rachel until he receives the letter. It's from Maria and she begs for his help. Danny is unsure of what to do, so he googles her name on a whim and is stunned at the results. Maria has been killed by a band of bandits. Danny uses his journalistic connections to be sent back to Sierra Leone, promising a story on his return.
But what Danny finds on his return there is not as it was when he left. The area may seem like it has moved forward into the new century with less fighting and more technology, but Danny digs deeper sensing something awry. Those he counted as friends he finds are corrupt and those that led the rebellion four years ago now hold high ranks in politics. Danny is determined to investigate Maria's murder, but can find no help in any quarter.
A thrilling page-turner set against the backdrop of Africa lends details and credence to the plot that has a shocking, yet satisfying ending. Obviously Mr. Harris's own work as a journalist lent credibility to his first work, as the details are very authentic. For a debut novel, it is simply a stunning and haunting work. I finished it a few days ago, and still the story is fresh in my mind. The politics took me a little while to wrap my head around and get straight, but Mr. Harris lead the path in a simple way for me to understand that really added a punch to the storyline. Wonderful characters, a thrilling adventure, and romance blend together perfectly for THE SECRET KEEPER.
