Foxx based the ritzy, idyllic setting and fanciful characters on her trips to the real Kiawah Island, imbuing this delightful tale of romantic suspense with welcome authenticity. Island Secrets invites the reader into an elite inner circle where even the local police drive Rolls Royce patrol vehicles. These elements are amusing, and the story delves into secrets and criminality as this tight-knit community of upper-class people of color thrives within a typically white tourist environment. Foxx invites readers to relish her cast’s elite status while offering sharp dialogue and memorable back-and-forth rapport as the case (and the possible romance) heats up.
A bitter ex-colleague cut from Charles’s lucrative business, a cagy inventor, and a notorious socialite who runs a members-only club for those seeking discretion, among others, make compelling suspects. The socialite leads Denise and Trent to a safety deposit box containing seemingly insignificant contents ... but which a criminal desperately needs. The missing man himself may be the most intriguing persona of all. Despite some proofreading issues, Denise’s expensive lifestyle, flamboyant friends, and musings on Kiawah Island will entertain both travel lovers and mystery enthusiasts.
Takeaway: This thriller set among elite island dwellers finds a wife digging into her missing husband’s past.
Great for fans of: Abby L. Vandiver’s Secrets, Lies, & Crawfish Pies, Carl Weber and Eric Pete’s The Family Business.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
This book in itself was really touching and emotional and touched me in ways I never really imagined a book could. It was thought provoking and had me questioning myself about life so many times, it’s exactly what I needed at a time like this. 5/5 stars!
