BOOK REVIEW: Secret Trust by McCaid Paul | Olivia J

"Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river," - Lisa See

If you all are familiar with my reading history, you'll know that I read McCaid's first book, The Forgotten Headline back in October 2018, and wasn't a huge fan. Review here. But if you're lazy, here's the gist: while it was an interesting set up for a series, it had some developmental and 'set-up and payoff' issues. 

However, Secret Trust blew me out of the water!

Let's just get right into it, because there's a lot to discuss!

Disclaimer: I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, McCaid!

Spoilers, duh. 

The Bad

Mustache-Twirling

This was a problem that carried over from The Forgotten Headline. All of the antagonists in this series are mustache-twirling villains. While it makes for a good plot twist, it doesn't make for a deep and nuanced examination of evil and why it arises. 

It's almost humorous at times, how they laugh maniacally, kill without question, and are unflinchingly selfish and cruel. The problem with this is that the villians come off as flat and cartoonish. They can't be truly terrifying because their malice relies on over-exaggerated stereotypes instead of portraying the disjointed nuance and darkness of the human psyche. 

Another problem is that there is very little explanation as to why these people are this way, other than greed, which isn't a strong enough motivator. Despite their cartoonishness, what would have saved the antagonists from becoming stereotypically villainous would have been a way to humanize them, instead of reducing them to seething and violent monsters. This is why the Ms. Claudia plot twist almost worked. 


Story Structure

I'll admit this is a little nitpicky, but I thought there were some story threads that should have been introduced earlier or ones that should have carried through the story arc. 

For example, I would have liked to stay with Clara's narration throughout the entire story, especially with what happened to her after she was shot. This would have added tension and more of a driving force since we would have seen how she got from the graveyard to Ms. Claudia's, instead of just forgetting about her for half the story and then suddenly, there she is. How did she get to the librarian's? Why did Ms. Claudia keep her alive for so long?


The Good

First off, I want to say that literally everything has improved from the previous installment. The development, the action, the pacing, the writing. I love it. I can't possibly go into everything here, but I'll touch on my favorite elements. 

Pacing

I absolutely devoured Secret Trust. It was like a roller coaster. With each twist and turn, you learn something new, but that information only brings with it new questions. With blink-and-you'll-miss-it action, Paul has crafted a twisty mystery, with perfectly balanced action and character moments. 

Sequel Development

In terms of a sequel, this one was a perfect one. It deepened the mystery, deepened the relationships, and deepened the world. A good mystery sequel will also call into question the events of the first book, while also making them make more sense. 

I especially loved the character development in this book. Mick and Billie still remain strong friends with some really cute romantic development. Paul wrote the impact of the previous books with ease, and their determination in solving the mystery was admirable. They were also given much more 

Even better was some of the plot development. While not perfect on all levels, there were still some aspects that stood out. The ways that the conspiracy unfolded and deepened was mind-blowing at times, and each element strung the reader along. The key to a good mystery is that each answer gives two more questions, and Paul has truly mastered this technique. As always, everything comes together in a startling conclusion. Mad respect for the ways that Paul improved every element of his writing and storytelling.

Overall, this mystery sucked me in with compelling main characters and stellar plot development!

I rated this book 4/5 stars!

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Overall, Secret Trust is a stellar sequel and a solid mystery thriller. The first book is short, so I recommend this series just so you can get to this book. 

~The WordShaker