Welcome to the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for The Study of Secrets by Cynthia Kuhn. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, spotlights, reviews and more! 

The Study of Secrets (A Lila Maclean Academic Mystery)

by Cynthia Kuhn

I received this book free to review; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no cost to you.

The Study of Secrets (A Lila Maclean Academic Mystery)
Cozy Mystery/Amateur Sleuths
5th in Series
Publisher: Henery Press (May 26, 2020)
Hardcover: 242 pages

There could be nowhere more fitting for English professor Lila Maclean to spend her sabbatical than in a proper Victorian mansion. The whimsical Callahan House seems to have materialized from the pages of the mystery novels she is researching, with its enchanting towers, cozy nooks, and charming library. Unfortunately, it also features a body in the study.

Residents of Larkston have long believed that the Callahan family is cursed—the murder on the estate sets the town buzzing. Wild rumors are fueled by a gossipy blogger who delights in speculation, and further crimes only intensify the whispers and suspicions. A newly discovered manuscript, however, appears to expose startling facts beneath the fictions. When Lila steps in to sort the truth from the lies, it may cost her everything, as someone wants to make dead certain that their secrets stay hidden.

My review of The Study of Secrets

When I start reading a series several books in, it often takes me a while to get into the book since I don’t know the characters. However, thanks to the author’s brilliant storytelling, that wasn’t the case here.

Right away, we discover that Professor Lila Maclean is on sabbatical. Furthermore, she is working on an academic paper on the works of mystery writer Isabella Dare who wrote her last novel decades ago. The author is relatively unknown by most, but Lila hopes to change that. Thanks to a very reliable source, she just may. In fact, Lila is staying with Isabella Dare herself! However, Lila is one of the few who know the real Isabella is in truth a woman named Bibi Callahan. Bibi’s close friends don’t even know! They find out when Lila unearths a secret in the study and accidentally let’s it slip that Isabella Dare wrote four books. Only three are known to exist. This slip awakens old secrets and leads to murder, treachery and lies.

The Study of Secrets is well-written, and the mystery(ies) kept me engrossed the entire book. Cynthia Kuhn writes in the style I most love to read. She doesn’t overuse dialogue, and when she uses it, it flows naturally. The entertaining characters and suspenseful plot make for a real page-turner. I love how Kuhn gives us just enough description of the setting and the characters. While some sections are beautifully detailed, like the Christmas decorating scene, others leave room for our imaginations to take over.

The Study of Secrets will leave you smiling and ready for the next book. I know I am!

Get the other books in the series

About Cynthia Kuhn

Cynthia Kuhn writes the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries: The Semester of Our Discontent, The Art of Vanishing, The Spirit in Question, The Subject of Malice, and The Study of Secrets. Honors for the series include an Agatha Award for best first novel and Lefty Award nominations for best humorous mystery. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

Author Links

Website: cynthiakuhn.net

Twitter: @cynthiakuhn

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cynthiakuhnwriter

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/cynthia-kuhn

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/cynthiakuhn

Blog: chicksonthecase.com

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2MPiEMh

Purchase Links – Amazon – Nook – B&N Paperback 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 25

eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT

May 26

Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

May 27

Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

May 28

Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 29

Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

May 30

I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

May 31

Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

June 1

Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

June 2

Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

June 3

Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

June 4

Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

June 5

fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

June 6

Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

June 7

Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW

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