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River of Secrets: A Wallace Hartman Mystery (Wallace Hartman Mysteries, 2) Hardcover – August 28, 2018

by Roger Johns (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 26 ratings
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When a controversial politician is murdered in cold blood, Baton Rouge Police Detective Wallace Hartman struggles to find the killer amid conspiracies and corruption in River of Secrets, a gripping new mystery from Roger Johns.

Herbert Marioneaux, a Louisiana politician infamous for changing his mind on hot-button issues, has been murdered and his body posed to send a message. Baton Rouge homicide detective Wallace Hartman has to figure out who’s sending that message. DNA points to Eddie Pitkin, a social justice activist who also happens to be the half-brother of Wallace’s childhood best friend. But even with the combative history between Pitkin and Marioneaux, murder seems out of character for Pitkin, whose usual MO is to confront the wealthy and powerful with their inconvenient past. As Wallace digs deeper, she unearths a possible alibi witness, along with evidence of a deeply troubled relationship that points the finger of suspicion at Marioneaux’s son.

While Eddie’s supporters are convinced of his innocence, his enemies are equally certain of his guilt. Under pressure from all directions, Wallace pursues her investigation into the dark heart of the political establishment as Baton Rouge falls under the shadow of escalating violence. When it appears a police department insider may be sabotaging her efforts by leaking information about the case, and after menacing messages are left for her and her loved ones, Wallace is forced to untangle a trail of old and disturbing secrets unaided by those she most needs to trust.

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Minotaur Books
  4. Publication date
    August 28, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    6.42 x 1.16 x 9.57 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1250110122
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1250110121
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A worthy sequel with plenty of procedural detail and a shattering conclusion." ―Kirkus Reviews

"[A] thrilling police procedural that isn't afraid to look at the harder political questions that confront our modern era...highly recommended." ―Criminal Element

"Exploding with secrets . . . a harrowing crime, fast-paced action, richly drawn characters and a jaw-dropping ending that you won’t see coming." ―Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of Not a Sound

"[A] spot-on portrait of Baton Rouge, River of Secrets is one of those mysteries that’ll be hard for any reader to put down." ―The Baton Rouge Advocate

Praise for Dark River Rising:

“Roger Johns paints a beautiful and dangerous picture of Baton Rouge. . . . Dark River Rising is crime fiction at its finest, a fascinating blend of atmosphere, a compelling mystery and a protagonist you won’t soon forget.” ―Linda Castillo, best-selling author of the Kate Burkholder mysteries

“Johns' first novel is an exciting police procedural rolled into a romantic thriller that hints of more to come.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Dark River Rising has a finely crafted ensemble and a balanced grace that makes this debut novel as hard to resist as blue ribbon gumbo.” ―Craig Johnson

About the Author

ROGER JOHNS is a former corporate lawyer and college professor with law degrees from Louisiana State University and Boston University. He was born and raised in Louisiana, though he and his wife now live in Georgia. Dark River Rising is his first novel.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (August 28, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250110122
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250110121
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.06 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.42 x 1.16 x 9.57 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 26 ratings

About the author

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Roger Johns

Roger Johns

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ROGER JOHNS is a former corporate lawyer and retired college professor, and the author of the Wallace Hartman Mysteries from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books: Dark River Rising (2017) and River of Secrets (2018). He is the 2018 Georgia Author of the Year (Detective ▪ Mystery Category), a 2018 Killer Nashville Readers’ Choice Award nominee, and a finalist for the 2018 Silver Falchion Award for best police procedural. His articles and interviews on writing and the writing life have appeared in Career Author, Criminal Element, Killer Nashville Articles, and the Southern Literary Review. Roger belongs to the Atlanta Writers Club, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Along with four other crime fiction writers, he co-authors the MurderBooks blog at www.murder-books.com. Visit him at www.rogerjohnsbooks.com, where you can see his upcoming book tour appearances.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
26 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

toddwrightnow
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2018
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I really enjoyed it! This procedural sequel hooked me then didn't let me go until I was hauled into the boat. It probably helped that I had read Roger Johns' debut, Dark River Rising, where I became familiar with the charming characters and the author's style. It's fun to know what to expect in certain regards and to be surprised in others. The setting once again felt very authentic, and made me want to take a side trip up to Baton Rouge next time I visit New Orleans.
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M. Blanbake
4.0 out of 5 stars Like the main character Wallace Hartman
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2023
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I liked the book because it was in Louisiana and the main character Wallace Hartman was struggling to do right.
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John Chou
5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me Guessing
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2018
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Entertaining procedural with lots of twists and turns. The personal life of the main character, Wallace Hartman, was further developed, adding further depth to the story. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't figure it all out until the end.
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Jean Trout
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, intriguing mystery!
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2018
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"River of Secrets" kept my interest and curiosity peaked. I love the main character, Detective Wallace...she was the same intense fighter for justice as she was in "Dark River Rising."
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Kathy in NM
4.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced and engrossing mystery with a socially relevant plot (4.5 stars)
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2018
River of Secrets by Roger Johns is a compelling police procedural that features a topical storyline. This second installment in the Wallace Hartman Mysteries series can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the entire series.

Detective Wallace Hartman’s newest case is a perplexing investigation into the murder of state senator Herbert Marioneaux. With Herbert’s long and varied history of reinventing himself, Hartman realizes the list of suspects and uncovering a motive will be daunting. A DNA match quickly points to disgraced lawyer turned activist Eddie Pitkin as the suspected killer, but Wallace’s childhood friend (and Pitkin’s half-brother) Craig Stephens pleads with her to check out a plausible alibi. With racial tensions on the rise, her boss Chief of Detectives Jason Burley and Police Chief Jack Shannon want the investigation closed sooner rather than later, but Wallace refuses to be intimidated as she continues searching for the truth.

As she digs into Marioneaux’s past, Wallace uncovers conflicting information about the pastor turned politician. A one-time segregationist, Herbert has renounced his racist past but the minister at his church raises doubts about the sincerity of the state senator’s transformation. Wallace’s discussion with Marioneaux’s estranged son Glenn also suggests the state senator might have a dark side.

Eddie Pitkin is no choirboy due to his own brush with the law, and his efforts to force slave owners’ descendants to pay reparations is not exactly welcome by everyone. Wallace stumbles across a witness that could provide Eddie will an alibi, but will he show up at the police station to give his statement?

Hartman soon becomes aware someone in the department is leaking information so she bounces ideas off longtime family friend and her mother’s current suitor, lawyer Mason McCone. Unsure of which co-workers she can trust, Wallace instead relies on small town Sheriff Melissa Voorhees to process evidence and track down information. After she is targeted by white supremacists Wallace and her boyfriend Mason Cunningham attemp to maintain a low profile while she quietly continues her investigation under the radar.

With a fantastic lead protagonist and a socially relevant plot, River of Secrets is a fast-paced and engrossing mystery. Wallace is an ace detective whose finally honed instincts are crucial to unraveling the truth about who murdered Marioneaux and why. Roger Johns does an outstanding job obscuring the perpetrator’s identity and motive for the murder cleverly under wraps until the novel’s twist-filled conclusion. A riveting addition to the Wallace Hartman Mysteries series that old and new fans do not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy for review.
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T.M. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Roger Johns is a unique, gifted voice
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2019
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Baldacci move over, you've got competition from Roger Johns. His second thriller with heroine Wallace Hartman the tenacious Bayou detective is a winner!
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Sarah A
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019
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This is a wonderfully spun, perfectly paced tale that navigates difficult issues with a great deal of grace. A great read!
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Richard A Stratton
5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest new mystery series on the market
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2019
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Loved this mystery series! Captivating and beautifully written. Can’t wait for the next one!
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