This book was pretty decent. It was a little slow in the beginning with meeting a lot of the characters but it picked up and I finished it in about a day because I wanted to know what happened. Inez and Antonia are amazing characters who developed beautifully. The book was a beautiful book that had a lot of my favorite aspects and it kept me wanting to read more.

Unbeknownst to me when starting this book, it’s actually the eighth in a series. That being said, it can be read as a stand-alone, but I would imagine a lot of background info would’ve helped.

Iris Stannert is quite unconventional, and I enjoyed the burgeoning romance between de Bruijn and her. I didn’t care for the chapters written from Antonia’s perspective. Overall, the mystery felt a bit weak to me and I never fully engaged with any of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book. .

I am so impressed by the amount and depth of research the author has done to make her Silver Rush Mysteries authentic, as well as exciting.

Early books in the 8-book series were set in the silver boomtown of Leadville, Colorado, where protagonist Inez Stannert was co-owner of a saloon. A few books back, she and her 12-year-old ward, Antonia, daughter of a deceased fortune teller, moved to San Francisco, where she now owns a music shop, makes loans to deserving female entrepreneurs, and enjoys a bit of backroom poker.

Antonia has proven to be a challenge to raise, engaging her younger friend in adventures that imagine pirates and coded messages. At the same time, Inez has joined with the owner of a boarding house to buy the adjacent property, and they are shocked to find a skeleton and a bag of gold coins--not to mention a glass eye--when breaking through the wall.

Street-smart, self-sufficient Inez is a wonderful character who refuses to take no for an answer and doesn't fear to tread where women rarely dared to go in the late 1880s. Antonia is also a revelation--bright and headstrong, needing a firm hand when it comes to following her passions, especially when they lead to trouble. Secondary characters include locksmiths, veterans of the Civil War (both sides), detectives, lawyers, would-be suitors., and more. The local color adds to the thrill--including the SF Mint, the luxurious Palace Hotel, and Alcatraz prison, where a crafty criminal who demands chocolate may be able to provide some valuable information in the investigation.

If you like your historical mysteries tightly plotted and well researched, with a thrilling ending, this book is for you.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

Ann Parker's historical fiction series is always a treat, and this latest more than lives up to the reputation she has gained for well-written stories with believable characters and impeccable research.

Another Adventure Awaits…
The eighth in the Silver Rush Mystery series. Inez Stannert has reinvented herself once again, successfully so, and another adventure awaits, awash with twists and turns, a well drawn cast of characters and the usual well researched and delightful setting.

Thankyou NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Ann Parker, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Secret In The Wall in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Such a good story. I was hooked from beginning to end.
The scenery was very descriptive and the characters were well drawn.
It was hard to discern were the author was going. Very intriguing read.
Would definitely read this author again.
Well worth a read.

I was intrigued by this book from the title and description. Having not read any of the previous books, I was worried I wouldn't know what was happening, and I'm not normally a fan of historical reads. I was not disappointed.
I was hooked on this book from the very first couple of pages. The storyline was brilliant, caught my attention and made me want to continue reading until the very end. Very well written and likeable, relate able characters.

My first book by this author and won't be my last! The book cover and excerpt drew me in and from there it was page turning adventure! And it kept me guessing on the outcome til the final pages. Highly recommend! While it is the 8th in the Silver Rush Mysteries, it read well on it's own. I look forward to reading others in the series

I received a copy from NetGallery for an honest review. Very happy to have found another author to follow

This book was sent to me electronically. Y Netgalley for review…I like the time period…the characters are intriguing…the mystery…how to solve it?…. Try this one…quick entertaining read…surprises…

San Francisco in the gilded era is the setting for this cozy mystery with a feisty heroine. Inez Stannert is an enigma in Victorian era San Francisco, she’s a woman without a man and content to remain that way. She has a young ward, Moira, a streetwise orphan who keeps Inez on her toes. When Inez purchases a building, a the remains of a body and a fortune in gold coins are found between the walls. Pirates, the foggy streets of San Francisco, the looming shadow of Alcatraz and two courageous females make this a delightful, entertaining read

Excellent story! Totally engrossing!. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Could not put this down!

I love this mystery story. It has a spunky females lead and I loved rooting for her. I highly recommend this book it was full of twists and turns.