This fifth book in Melinda Leigh’s series about defence attorney Morgan Dane, her partner - PI Lance Kruger - and his boss and their mutual friend Lincoln Sharp, focuses on a tautly written mystery plot involving a murder and a missing teen while also taking an insightful look at the challenges of parenting young children and finding a practicable work-life balance.When Secrets Never Die opens, we meet sixteen-year-old Evan Meade as he’s returning home – later than he should be - from an evening out with a friend.  He’s surprised to see there are no lights on inside the house; his mother, a nurse, is still at work and his stepfather, Paul, a retired sheriff’s deputy, always leaves a light on for her – but the place is in total darkness.  Cautiously – and still feeling guilty for being out late and having ignored Paul’s concerned texts earlier – Evan is making his way through the house when he hears a loud pop he thinks must be a gunshot.  He stands in the doorway of the den, frozen in terror at the sight of Paul lying on the floor, covered in blood, as a large man carrying a gun stands over him and shoots him again, this time between the eyes, execution style.  As Evan watches, horrified, he sees the man is wearing a gold badge clipped to his belt and he’s wearing gloves - is he a cop?  After that final shot, the killer’s eyes fix on Evan – who turns and starts running for his life.Morgan and Lance have had a particularly difficult and exhausting few days.  Morgan’s three daughters  – all aged six and under – have been ill which has meant disturbed nights for both of them (something I’m sure all parents will be able to identify with!) and they’re both running on empty when Lance gets a call in the early hours from Tina, Evan’s mother, who tells him she returned from work to find her husband shot dead and her son missing.  Lance, an ex-cop turned PI, also coaches a hockey team of at-risk youths, which is how he knows both mother and son.  He and Morgan think it’s a bit strange that Tina has called them before dialling 911, but they nonetheless head over to the house, arriving at the scene before the County Sheriff and his team, which gives them a chance to look over the house for evidence before they’re told to butt out.When Sheriff Colgate does arrive, it’s clear he’s not pleased to see Morgan and Lance already there, but accepts their explanations that they’re friends of the family and allows them to remain while he and his team start documenting the crime scene.  The discovery of blood on the handle of the back door and on the cell phone they find on the other side of the back fence indicates that Evan must be injured, although it’s impossible to tell how badly.But it rapidly becomes clear to Morgan and Lance that there are things the sheriff isn’t telling them, and that he is pursuing his own agenda.  They know Evan is innocent of the murder of his stepfather but with him still missing, his past history of being in trouble with the law and evidence pointing to his relationship with Paul having been an acrimonious one, the difficulty is going to lie in proving it.Long buried secrets, police corruption, a crimelord recently released from prison… author Melinda Leigh skilfully interweaves her various plotlines and clues into a tightly-written, fast-paced mystery that credibly combines the suspense elements with a look at the day-to-day difficulties of parenting young children alongside having a demanding and sometimes dangerous job.  Morgan and Lance are engaged now – although Morgan has become a little skittish and has so far refused to set a date – but there’s no big melodrama involved, and they act like sensible, mature adults and talk things through so that by the end of the book, things are back on track.  There’s only a whiff of romance in this one, though, which is provided by Lance’s boss, Sharp, whose reluctant crush on reporter Olivia Cruz (who helped out with the investigation in the previous book, What I’ve Done) hasn’t abated.  I always like a romance between older protagonists (Sharp is fifty-three, Olivia is in her forties) and Olivia is a great addition to the cast; she’s funny, she’s clever, she’s vivacious, and she’s got Sharp’s number – plus, I can never resist characters who lob quotes from The Princess Bride at each other ;). Olivia proves herself to be one tough cookie when she and Sharp find themselves in a perilous situation when they follow up on a new lead - and I hope to see more of her in the next book.This novel works perfectly well as a standalone, although one of the real strengths of the series is the closely knit ‘family’ of characters the author has built up around Morgan, all of whom have important parts to play in her life and the stories.  It’s not necessary to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this (I’m still working my way through them), but doing so will definitely provide a little more insight into the various characters and their relationships.  Secrets Never Die is an intriguing mystery that grabs the attention from the opening chapter and keeps you turning the pages through the twists, turns and life-or-death situations until the very end.Buy it at: AmazonVisit our Amazon Storefront

Secrets Never Die is the fifth installment of the Morgan Dane series and it was a well-rounded crime mystery that kept me wondering what was going to happen next a good part of the time. This series has three established main characters, lawyer, Morgan Dane, and private investigators, Lance Kruger and Lincoln Sharp, who have a rhythm together that really helped in understanding the crime and made solving the mystery go quite smoothly.

While reading this book I could tell that there was a history between these characters but I never felt as if I was missing anything by not having read the previous books. What I enjoyed most about reading this story was that it felt authentic, as if this was breaking news and I was able to follow along with the investigation. There was some savagery in this story but nothing that was so over the top to make it unbelievable.

The start of this story was quite impactful and absolutely made me desire to understand what prompted the opening scenes. There was action and even some gripping moments as well. Although there wasn’t a major focus on romance with all the sexual tension that comes with that, much of this story was also about Morgan and Lance with their exploration of what the new step in their relationship was shaping into.

The mystery was even-paced with some excitement. There was suspense but I wish there had been more, it lacked the “on the edge of your seat” type of suspense that has you flipped the pages as soon as possible. There were interesting twists and turns but nothing that was shocking. It was not a disappointing read by any means, I was just hoping for more of a punch. Overall, Secrets Never Die had likable characters that really drive the story and make this a series that I would love to continue!

This review is based on a complimentary book I received from NetGalley. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.

This was another great installment from Morgan Dane’s Series. I love the way Melinda Leigh develope every one of her stories. All the details of Morgan’s cases and life situations are impressive. 

In Secrets Never Die we continue the life of Lawyer Morgan and PI’s Lance Kruger and Lincoln Sharp. Another unexpected murder takes this team to action. This one been more close to Lance’s heart. While dealing with all the work drama and constant annoyance from the sheriffs department, we get to have more of the daily life of Morgan and Lance. I love this duo. They are an incredible team in and out of work. 

Even though I love this book and it was pretty  fast paced,  I felt that was missing some of the intensity from previous books. That said I still can’t wait to have the next book of this series.

Retired Sheriff's deputy Paul Knox has been shot to death in his home, and all signs point to his troubled 16 year old stepson Evan. Evan's mother Tina calls private investigator Lance Kruger to the house before she calls 911. Lance's fiance Morgan Dane, a defense attorney finds that extremely odd.  Because Paul was a cop, all law enforcement has came out to help find his killer, who they all believe is Evan. As Lance and Morgan investigate further, there is way bigger PROBLEMS.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read another melinda leigh book...they are simply the best
 
and this one keeps you on your toes trying to find out who did it

again we meet loveable characters that we have come to know and love but they are up against it this time with a cop killer about and the only suspect is the stepson, who is missing and police are saying armed and dangerous...

but lance and morgan think otherwise and start to investigate.....

its brilliantly written and what we expect from the author we are taken on a brilliant ride through this story that will have you wanting more...i cant wait for the next one in this series...

4 suspenseful stars!
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog

Secrets Never Die is the fifth book in the Morgan Dane series. It is a well-written story full of guesses and unpredictability. This book was well developed with a lot of suspense, mystery and a little bit of romance. For those looking specifically for a romance novel, I would look elsewhere. Although this story did have some romance, it was not the basis of the book. 

Morgan Dane and Lance Kruger are hired to help a mother whose son is being accused of his father's murder. Morgan and Lance are both dynamic and a powerhouse when working as one. This is where the romance was lacking for me, I felt as though their work relationship took precedence over their romantic relationship. It worked for this book but I personally like more romance in my novels. 

The plot was easy to follow and allowed for a lot of intensity. It wasn’t just a murder case Morgan and Lance were trying to solve. It was suspenseful and unpredictable. The characters pushed their limits and their relationship. There were a lot of secrets that made this book very interesting. It started a little slow but quickly turned into a fast-paced read and before I knew it, I had reached the end. It resolved nicely and closed out the case without any cliffhangers. 

Melinda Leigh gives us a well developed, keep you on your toes kind of story. Her writing is very easy to follow, as it flows perfectly and the plot made for a very captivating read. I will say there were times I wished I would have read the previous books in the series because I felt like I had missed something. Nonetheless, this was a great read! 

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

Melinda Leigh is one of my favourite authors.  I have to say I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have done her other ones.  The book is fast paced and the worth reading just not up to her usual standards in my opinion.

I was so glad to read this next adventure of Morgan Dane and Lance Kruger. They are both such fantastic characters that I would like any storyline the author wrote about them. This one had a great mystery, and I really loved seeing Morgan and Lance working together to figure things out. As usual, the family members of Morgan and Lance gave an extra, great layer to the story.

Tina came home from work one night to a completely dark house.  That was unusual- her husband Paul always left a light on for her when she worked the late shift.  She entered her home anyway, only to find a disaster had occurred. Not only was Paul deceased, but her son, Evan, was nowhere to be found.   Tina had no idea what happened in her home, but she knew she needed help from someone who would find Evan quickly and keep his best interests at heart.  So she called Lance- the Scarlet Falls P.I. who just happened to be Evan’s hockey coach.  The police might treat Evan as a suspect, but she knew Lance and Morgan would look out for him. Now if only they can find him first. 

I’m a huge fan of this series, and this one did not disappoint.  As usual, Lance and Morgan use their wits and their resources to come to smart conclusions.  They have a great cast of support- from  Sharp  to Morgan’s grandfather and Lance’s mother.  I also think Olivia Cruz has been a great addition for the last two books.  I love the back and forth with her and Sharp, as well as the Princess Bride references.  

While there is character and relationship growth as the series progresses, there is not really a continuing mystery storyline through the individual books.   So if this is the first one you can get your hands on, go for it.  You’ll probably end up wanting going back to get the rest of the series though.  The writing for the entire series is fantastic.  The research is fantastic.  Typically,mysteries do not earn a fifth star from me as that usually takes a good bit of emotion for me too.  But i feel like the work Ms. Leigh has done merits rounding up now and again.  i can't wait for the next installment.

I have run out of superlatives with which to describe Melinda Leigh’s Morgan Dane series, now in its fifth outing with SECRETS NEVER DIE. Ms. Leigh does police procedurals to perfection, and SECRETS NEVER DIE is no exception-- and is, perhaps, one of her most engrossing and unpredictable cases to date. On top of the perfectly-paced action and stellar writing, Lance (be still, my heart!) and Morgan (I want to be you when I grow up) and their relationship are icing on the cake… even when the relationship doesn’t feature very prominently (if you’re looking for true romance/RS, or heat, look elsewhere). Sharp and Olivia’s budding romance is an added bonus, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out. SECRETS NEVER DIE is not officially even out yet and I’m already impatiently waiting for the next one in September!

**ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thankyou to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and the author, Melinda Leigh, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Secrets Never Die in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Have you ever picked up a book and found it was not as good as you thought it would be or was so slow that it was boring?
Secrets Never Die by Melinda Leigh is the book to go to after you experience that phenomenon ( and it does happen ) . It is such a good read. I love  this author as you always get what you are promised in the premise of the storyline.
Great story, well written and amazing characters come to life on the pages with this book. I was hooked from the start. 
Well worth a read.

This latest in the Morgan Dane series finds Morgan and Lance living together in the middle of a remodeling project and with Morgan's girls recovering from a bout of flu. When the phone call comes at 1:39 AM telling them that one of Lance's hockey players is missing and his stepfather - a retired sheriff's deputy - murdered, Morgan and Lance immediately go to try to find Evan Meade. 

The Sheriff soon begins to suspect the Evan is not a victim but, rather, is the killer. Evan has had some trouble with the law and was recently seen arguing with his stepfather. But Lance is certain that Evan is a victim and is determined to find him.  

Looking for Evan means looking into his stepfather Paul's death. The more they investigate, the more questions they have. First Paul's former partner is a suspect, but then he disappears under suspicious circumstances, and they are back to the beginning of their investigation again.

Then a secret from Evan's mother's past turns the investigation in a new direction... While Lance's partner Lincoln Sharp and investigative reporter Olivia Cruz pursue the new lead. Morgan and Lance continue the hunt for Evan and deal with three-year-old Sophia's trip to the ER with flu and a raging fever.

I enjoyed the sections from Evan's point of view which gave us lots of information about him and the trouble he was going through as he ran from the man who killed his stepfather, dealt with a gunshot wound in his arm, and wondered who he could trust.

I also enjoyed the excitement and fast pace of this story. It was a great blend of pulse-pounding action and danger and chaotic family moments. Did I mention that Lance and Morgan are also supposed to be planning their wedding?

This is the 5th Morgan Dane book and as with the others an enjoyable read . Whilst this book can be read as a standalone reading the others in the series gives the characters more depth .
A retired sheriff’s deputy is shot to death in his home and his troubled teenage stepson, Evan, becomes the prime suspect .Having witnessed the murder Evan runs , fearing that he will be next and that no one will believe his story . The boy's mother rings Lance begging for his help in finding her son before the police do , fearing for his safety , and protesting his innocence .
The more Morgan and Lance look into the murder the more damming the evidence against Evan becomes  . That is until another Deputy is killed  ………….. his connection to Evan's stepfather throws the case into chaos .
They must find Evan first as they now believe that he is now the sole target of the killer , who will do anything to protect his identity .

Another gripping fast paced suspense read from this Author . I look forward to the next book in the series .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

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Well written, easy to read, edge of your seat action, this book was hard to put down. I love the Morgan Dane series and cant wait for the next one.

Another fantastic read by Melinda Leigh and her Morgan Dane series. I just can’t get enough of the dynamic between Morgan and Lance. They make the whole series great. The characters and setting of this book are great. This was such an easy and fast read, I just couldn’t put it down. The storyline was awesome as they were looking for a missing kid who might have shot his stepdad. There were many twists and turns, too many to count. This is definitely a five star read. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Melinda Leigh does it again. I can not get enough of her writing and this series. The stories are always so fast paced and intriguing. Great character development and a story line you can keep up with. Will read anything she come out with.

I always think every book I read of Melinda Leigh's is my favorite, but I mean it with Secrets Never Die! This is a page turner until the very end.  You know right away that Evan is not the killer and you root for him up to the end trying to figure out who is. If you are a fan of Melinda Leigh, read this book. You will love it!!

I discovered Melinda Leigh during my two weeks break from work for Christmas. I was immediately sucked in. I love a book with mystery, suspense, and just a little romance. Every book I’ve read from her includes all of these. I have trouble putting them down!

Secrets Never Die is the fifth book in the Morgan Dane series. Morgan Dane is an attorney that moved back to Scarlet Falls after the death of her husband in Iraq. If you haven’t read any of the series (or the Scarlet Falls series, which has some crossover), I won’t spoil it for you. Just know that Morgan Dane is a fantastic heroine, surrounded by an interesting mix of characters.

Like all the other books in the series, this book was fast-paced and enjoyable. I will admit there were a few loose ends I would have liked to have seen tied a little tighter, but they were minor things that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. I look forward to the next in the series.

*ARC copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this entire series by Melinda Leigh and I've read all of them and when I got a chance to read this one early, I did not hesitate. I really like her writing style and the pace of the story. Lance and Morgan are a great couple and their love makes this story that much better. I love the suspense although this one was a bit slower than the 4 previous novels in this series. I loved it and highly recommend it

I love this book.  Melinda Leigh is a great story teller.  There is a great balance between Morgan and her family, and the dangerous day to day that is her job.  Morgan is not a typical lawyer.  She goes all out for her clients, often doing a better job than the police.  This next chapter of her life has her defending a boy that is missing and accused.  Her inner struggles to move forward in her life, are heart warming.  As always, the supporting characters make the story ten times better.