A review by nebulous07
Secret Lives by Mark de Castrique

5.0

Secret Lives is a delightful, mysterious and entertaining read. Ethel Crestwater is a force to be reckoned with! I was drawn to this unique plot of Ethel running a boarding house for government agents, and the twists and turns keep you hooked till the end. Ms Crestwater is 75 years old, but looks can be deceiving, for she's sharp as a tool, adopts a no nonsence approach and is a firm believer in integrity and fairness to get justice done. Leave it to Mark de Castrique to deliver witty dialogue with cliff-hanger chapters that complement a fast-paced premise. Mark provides an impressive balance between setting the geographic scene before luring readers towards Ethel and her crew. I learned that UFOs are real; United Flying Octogenarians, that is. Given the range of characters, I would have loved to have a sheet of the agents involved. The ending ties itself beautifully, making it memorable and heartfelt. A 5-star read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.