Review of Shrouded Secrets

Post by **Catherine Sweet** » 19 Jan 2025, 08:41

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Shrouded Secrets" by Debra Salgado-Camacho.]

3 out of 5 stars

Share This Review

Shrouded Secrets by Debra Salgado-Camacho is the first book in the Evelyn Gray mystery series. Evelyn Gray left her journalism career and moved to a small coastal town called Saltwater Bay. When she hears about people going missing and a shadowy figure lurking on the cliffs, she realises that the town has some dark secrets. She starts to investigate with the help of the local sheriff and the woman who runs the historical society. There is a history of unexplained events and there are menacing forces at work. They have a fight on their hands if they are to save the town and its people.

The book is quite short, but it has a complete story that provides a satisfying reading experience. The story is imaginative and well-told. There is tension and suspense, and the outcome is unexpected. The writing style is eloquent and flows well. The sea and weather descriptions are atmospheric and add intensity to the story.

The story would benefit from characters being more developed. I thought Evelyn, Jonas and Beatrice were interesting, but the reader needed to know more about them. For example, there were only minimal descriptions of appearance. I thought these characters were integral to the story, and their part could have been enhanced.

There is a lot of suspense in the story, which means there are many descriptions of Evelyn being scared. These were well written but could have been described more sparingly as they were sometimes repetitive.

One of the secrets uncovered involved the characters Jack and Hannah. It made an interesting storyline, but I didn’t understand how the people of Saltwater Bay would have missed what was happening. The lives of the two people would have given it away. More information is needed to explain how this situation worked.

In the Kinder version chapter 15 is present in chapter 10 in error.

Shrouded Secrets would appeal to readers who enjoy mysteries. It is a well-written book with a compelling story. The editing is flawless. I have taken two marks off for lack of character development, repetition in the descriptions of Evelyn being scared and one storyline that didn’t make sense. I award this book 3 out of 5 stars.

******
Shrouded Secrets
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Post by **Shaniz Tobiaz** » 21 Feb 2025, 10:10

I love how you write your reviews ,they are into details. Great work there.

George Bastem · Post by **George Bastem** » 25 Feb 2025, 09:07

The mystery sounds intriguing, and the atmospheric descriptions seem to add a lot to the suspense. But it’s a shame the characters weren’t developed more; getting to know them better would have made the story even stronger.

Mark Lazarus · Post by **Mark Lazarus** » 27 Mar 2025, 05:17

This sounds like a solid mystery with an engaging premise and a well-developed atmosphere. I like that it builds tension and suspense effectively, and the coastal setting adds to the intrigue. However, the lack of deep character development and some logical gaps in the plot might be a bit frustrating. The repetition of fear-based descriptions could also take away from the impact of those moments. While I enjoy a good mystery, I tend to prefer stories with rich character exploration, so I might not rush to pick this one up. Still, it seems like an enjoyable read for those who love atmospheric mysteries.