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Sam Mason Mysteries #2

Keeping Secrets

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When long-time White Rock resident Mike Donnelly is found dead at his hunting camp, it appears as if the tragic death was by his own hand. But a gut feeling tells Chief of Police Sam Mason otherwise.

Is it any coincidence that Mike’s family farm sits smack in the middle of a parcel of land that greedy Lucas Thorne desperately needs to complete the development of his resort?

Sam and Sergeant Jody Harris’s line of questioning stirs up a hornet’s nest. When Thorne threatens to expose a secret from Sam’s past, Sam realizes the corruption in White Rock runs deeper than he ever suspected. And when a startling discovery surrounding slain officer Tyler Richardson is brought to light, Sam and Jo discover that you never can tell who might be keeping secrets.

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2017

7357 people are currently reading
1314 people want to read

About the author

L.A. Dobbs

23 books260 followers
L.A. Dobbs is the not-so-cozy pen name of USA Today bestselling cozy mystery author Leighann Dobbs. Under the name L.A. Dobbs, she writes engaging mysteries that have twisty plots filled with secrets and lies.

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5 stars
4,906 (45%)
4 stars
3,759 (35%)
3 stars
1,687 (15%)
2 stars
290 (2%)
1 star
72 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
Profile Image for Mara.
1,430 reviews102 followers
June 3, 2017
This is the 2nd book in the Sam Mason series and it picks up where Telling Lies left off. The mystery of who killed White Rock police Officer Tyler Richardson is still unsolved, but we find out a little more about each of the main characters--Chief Sam Mason, Sergeant Jody (Jo) Harris, Deputy Keith Deckard, and Receptionist/police trainee Reese Hordon.
A body is found outside of the Donnelly's cabin, but the road leading to the cabins is gated and only those who have cabins up there have keys to the gate. Sam and Jo investigate, with the help of K-9 Lucy, but because the body was outside and the vultures have already gotten to it, they can't tell if it was murder or a suicide.
As they question one suspect after another trying to solve the Donnelly case, they're also attempting to find out (off the books, of course) the who and why of Tyler's murder. We discover a little more about what Sam and his best friend, P.I. Mick Gervasi, were involved in 20 years ago. We also get a little more information on slimy land developer, Lucas Thorne and pompous mayor, Harley Dupont.
The reveal of the solution to the Donnelly case isn't given until almost the very end and was an OMG moment for me. I enjoyed this book, but having read the first book I could've done without the information given about the main characters, since it was basically an exact repeat of the information given in Book #1. That would helpful if you hadn't read Telling Lies (Book #1). I can't wait for the next book in the series because I really want to know who killed Officer Tyler Richardson and want to see Lucas Thorne and Harley Dupont get what's coming to them.
This book contains mild cursing, but no profanity.
Profile Image for Claudia.
2,982 reviews38 followers
September 6, 2022
Still easy to read but the almost verbatim repetitions from the first book got very annoying very soon. A good editor would have made sizeable cuts, but then there wouldn't have been enough content to make it even a novella.

The mystery was, although simple, good but the main arc about Taylor's death has not made any real advancement which is a shame.

And Brian? sorry, I already forgot his name, the half-time cop, well... he's either a master at self-delusion or plain stupid.

I'm going through the third right now, and when I finish it I'll decide if I'll keep reading this series.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews113 followers
Want to read
June 12, 2018
💝FREE on Amazon today (6/12/2018)!💝
Profile Image for Elisa.
3,219 reviews39 followers
May 18, 2017
Just as good if not better than the first mystery I love the way Sam and Jo work together they are really in sync with each other. Kevin is still a bit of a mystery but he is young and just not sure who to believe but I'm hoping he bet's on Sam and Jo because I think he would make a good full time cop with them. Lucy as always is the star of the story. Mr Thorne is a total douche and I can't wait for Sam to bring him down as for the illustrious mayor I have a feeling Sam's cousin may one day soon get justice for what happened to her all those years ago.

I love that Tyler's case is an ongoing link between the books and each new clue gives a new insight to their fallen cop, I can't wait to find out what happens next.

I'm loving this series for the mysteries, the small picturesque town and the amazing characters.
Profile Image for Bob.
1,984 reviews19 followers
July 8, 2018
Ok, so I am jumping around in he series, but they work as stand alones with the exception of number of "stock" descriptions and situations that if they continue through out the series will tend to be annoying to hie reader. The over all book is fine for a light mystery set in a small New England town.
Thinking back on it the setting and circumstances of the sherriff's job rang a familiar bell, I have run across the same general ones by a different author in a different area of he county.
Profile Image for Beth.
2,844 reviews23 followers
July 10, 2018
Intrigue grows in this series

Book two builds on history we were introduced to in book one. In addition there is a death that needs solving and the relationships between the police officers are changing. Lots of interesting developments here and it makes me glad I found the series after there are several books in as I don’t want to wait to get to book four.

Some of the crumbs of information are a bit too vague and some of the reasoning for withholding information seems thin. Can’t decide if it’s the author teasing or if the future plot isn’t quite firm enough yet. Some info in this book doesn’t seem to line up with info from book one.
Profile Image for Brenda.
1,497 reviews
March 5, 2018
You definitely want to read book 1 first and hopefully follow quickly with the rest of the series as you are left with cliffhangers (which I don't like) and a lot of characters to remember.

Was Mike Donnelly's death a murder or suicide? Vulture activity makes it hard to determine from physical evidence. Police Chief Sam Mason and Sgt. Jody (Jo) Harris have their work cut out for them investigating Mike's final days.

Sam finds himself drawn to Jo which will make their working relationship complicated if they give in to the attraction.
Profile Image for Pamela.
406 reviews9 followers
May 27, 2017
Mysteries deepen

Enjoying this series greatly including the friendship between Sam and Jo. I will be relieved when the time comes for them to discuss their secrets. It's those secrets from the past that are a connecting thread throughout the books as well as solving the death of their fellow officer. The murder mystery in Book 2 was out of the ordinary and kept me guessing. Looking forward to Book 3.
127 reviews
May 25, 2017
Sam Mason

This is going to be a great series with just enough turmoil and mystery to make it a fun read. The characters are human with flaws and decisions that show balancing right versus doing the right thing
Profile Image for Rhonda.
274 reviews39 followers
May 19, 2017
Well I did not see that coming! This book two smacked me right up the side of my head! Already familiar with most of the characters it was so easy to pick up where TELLING LIES left off. This author is very well versed in police procedures and has a good grip on personality types and what motives people to do what they do. Shocking, stunning and suspenseful.
1,689 reviews35 followers
May 15, 2017
Sam and Jo are called to the scene of a murder on a property that abuts a large development that the owner does not want to sell.
We learn a little more about both Sam's and Jo's backgrounds. And Kevin is having serious doubts about his side income job.
Once again Leighann Dobbs draws you into her stories with vibrant descriptions, and characters that make you wish you were in the middle of the story with them.
Profile Image for David Freas.
Author 2 books31 followers
December 18, 2018
This book was a step above the first one in the series.

The solution to the crime here was not ‘out of the blue’ like in the first book but the answer was in front of the main characters too long before they made the connection and reason behind the murder came only partly from the main characters’ work. And how they found it out was a bit of cliché.

The on-going friction between Sam and Mayor Dupont and Thorne continues and takes a step or two in a new direction while the relationship between Sam and Jo has taken a step forward. It’s nice to see a storyline where a relationship like this evolves instead of going from co-workers to bedmates over 1 chapter.

Before reading this book, I read one by a well-known, successful author that slogged through almost 400 pages telling a story that wasn’t half as good as the one told in a hundred fewer pages here.

I’ll definitely read the next book in this series when it comes out.
Profile Image for Lisa Davidson.
1,021 reviews26 followers
July 19, 2023
So bad

Dishonest people, including law enforcement, keeping so many secrets so badly nobody can trust anyone. Stereotypical characters. Complete ignorance of law and police procedure. Loose ends, deliberately. Even the grammar needs polishing. How are there so many great reviews??
144 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2019
Keep Me On My Toes

Can't wait to read the next in this series! Who, what when, where and why questions - just when you think you have answers, BANG! There is another twist or turn. Got to let you go so I can get started on the next one
15 reviews
January 19, 2023
Repetative

The story line was decent but after having read the first book, I found too much repetition about the main characters and Lucy. So much so that I found myself skipping large sections.
Profile Image for (Grace) Kentucky Bohemian.
1,974 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2023
Unusual and Fun
This mystery is chock full of twisty good stuff. How can you tell if the guy shot himself when the vultures beat you to the body? It's a mess, and Chief of Police Sam Mason has a lot to sort out with the help of fellow Officer Jody Harris. The location of the murder is unusual, and the family involved is... different. It seems like the spotlight shines on each member of the deceased's family at some point as secrets are dragged out into the daylight.

The characters in this small town are what really make this read for me. As with most small towns, there's a lot of stuff happening that people hope to keep in the dark. But since everyone knows everybody's business, that never works for long. Deceit, blackmail, kickbacks, and gossip are the norm here for some. But Sam and Jo are strong, smart, straight-arrows who only want justice for those wronged. They're pretty engaging characters as they struggle with their monsters and the bad guys in town. Then there's the dog... she's a keeper.

I don't think this series has quite hit 5-star status yet as the characters are still developing in some ways. But I feel like this one is going to marinate and grow into a complete 5-star treat before it's all said and done.
1,116 reviews22 followers
September 5, 2017
This was the second story in the Sam Mason series. This time Sam and Jo are investigating what appears to be a suicide at first. However, too many things don't add up. True, the man's wife was in the last stages of her cancer and could go any time and she'd told them her husband had been depressed about losing her, but Sam can't help but think there was more to the story than what she's telling them. I can't tell you what Sam discovers without giving everything away but there's a twist that caught me completely off guard. I wasn't expecting it at all.

There is also the strange behavior from part-time deputy, Kevin. We learned in the first book that Kevin was being paid by someone to collect information on Sam. And Jo has a secret reason for her arrival in town a couple of years ago.

This was a very well written story that kept me guessing until the end. The characters are likeable and the additional storylines give you more than one reason to finish the book. A solid four stars for me.
483 reviews
January 22, 2022
This is the second book in this series. I read book #1 and thoroughly en;joyed it. In book #2, Chief of Police, Sam Mason must determine if one of his residents was murdered or committed suicide. He has his trustworthy deputy by his side. There is a distrust of the part time deputy, Kevin. Both Sam and Jo are dealing with the death of their trusted deputy and friend Tyler. There is also , Lucy, the K9 found in book #1. Sam and his friend Mick share a secret from 20+ years ago they hope doesn’t resurface. But the mayor and a developer want to buy people’s lands and develop this small country town into a casino resort. The book deals with Sam and Jo trying to solve the murder or was it suicide. The book is easy reading and the characters and plot will keep your interest to the end. There is a book #3.
Profile Image for Jaiva M.
110 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2024
Another fast paced thriller. A couple things were redundant... It seemed like the author was trying to write it as if they wanted you to be able to understand the story line without reading the previous book. It didn't bother me that much but I didn't think the "catch up" parts were necessary. I am curious to learn more about what exactly happened with Sam in the past. I have a pretty good idea. Still not sure what the deal with Tyler's death is at all. Intrigued to see where Kevin will go on this story. I feel like his character is so boring but will become soo relevant. Like something big will come down to a decision made by him. I also feel like there's soemthing more to Lucy than meets the eye... She is not a regular dog. This is a good fast paced crime mystery series and I'm enjoying it.
Profile Image for JigsawGirl.
4,031 reviews
November 8, 2024
Normally my recommendation would be to read this series in order. Although each murder mystery seems to be resolved in each book, there are ongoing secrets that carry from book to book. With this series, enough of the ongoing information is reiterated in each book to the point that a reader should have no problem if not starting with book one.

Sam and his best friend Mick have a secret. Sam's partner Jo has a secret. Sam and Jo have a secret. The part time officer Kevin has a secret. Mayor DuPont and the developer Throne also have secrets. All these secrets are outside of each murder case and are slowly being revealed with each book.

One of the saving graces about these books are they are pretty fast paced, straight forward, whodunit mysteries. I listened to the audiobook, and I have been both engaged and entertained.
Profile Image for Jill DeBellis .
246 reviews
June 14, 2017
What is the secret?

I am so caught up in this series. I want to know what the mayor is hiding, I want to know who Kevin is working for, and I really want to know what Tyler was up to, but before we can get those answers we have to solve the murder of Mike Donnelly. Why was he killed? Who wanted him dead? Is it because of the land? Who inherits?

All good questions and Sam will find them with the help of Jo, Reese, Lucy, and even Kevin, though I am not sure they should trust him.

We also get a little bit more background on Sam and what he is hiding. He also gets threatened by his past. I wonder what happened. Cannot wait for the next book to get here so I can find out my questions, hopefully,
Profile Image for Scott Kalas.
536 reviews11 followers
May 26, 2020
Good clean mystery

I read number one of the series ‘Telling Lies’ over three years ago and enjoyed it. Why I didn’t jump on number 2 ‘Keeping Secrets’ right away I do not remember, but I’m wishing I did as my memory is foggy on some of the plots from ‘Telling Lies’ But it didn’t spoil the entertainment of ‘Keeping Secrets.’ Which I give a big recommend but also recommend reading ‘Telling Lies’ first. I do plan on downloading number 3 ‘Exposing Truths’ soon as I ‘m done writing this review,

I’m not good at writing reviews but will say this one had me guessing wrong until the end. It was a clean read (no sex, profanity,etc) which is hard to find these days.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
1,133 reviews5 followers
July 1, 2018
This is the 2nd in the series. The main characters, Sam and Jo , are still investigating Deputy Tyler's murder on the sly and looking into the death of one of the towns people. They are not sure if it is murder or suicide and they have a heck of a time trying to figure it. They have a dying spouse and 2 kids due to inherit and another child knew about as well. It is interesting to read how their minds work. Had me guessing right up to the end and then I guessed wrong. Looking forward to reading more adventures.
Profile Image for Katie.
36 reviews3 followers
August 9, 2019
3.6 out of 5 stars

This was a light and easy read. I did skip book one on accident but was able to piece together enough missing parts to figure out what was going on. The mystery in this book was well developed and kept me guessing throughout. The plot and characters were well developed, keeping the pages turning. I will defiantly go looking for book one to see what I missed. Overall this seems like well-developed mystery series and would recommend it to mystery lovers, although I suggest reading book one first.
7,710 reviews47 followers
April 15, 2021
Picking up from book I Sam looking at finding another full time person, they were understaffed and missed Tyler. None of the applicants interested him, would an in person interview help him decide. A call of a moose running pass homes up at the lumber camp area, finding what little was left of Mike. A development of securing land rather owners wanted to or not was happening in this small community. With Mikes land in the middle of what Lucas Thorne needed to finish his resort. Good flowing plot to find the killer.
1 review
October 6, 2021
Well written

This book did not repeat the same possible scenarios over and over. It also did not have some unbelievable circumstances lead to one of the protagonists almost getting killed because they left without a cell phone or it was run down when they forgot to charge it. In fact, nobody almost got killed. They just solved the one murder. It has a nice set of believable characters. It solves the current mystery while leaving an opening for the next one. I enjoyed it.
381 reviews
May 21, 2023
Easy Read, Easy to Put Down

Decent story, likable characters, but the author takes huge liberties with how intelligent a dog can be. MC never notices that Lucy seems to be more intelligent than most humans. Introducing Harry is something the author must have taken from a failed network TV show, not very original. I guess that's the reason I am giving a generous 3 stars, although these mysteries aren't original or with any twists, they are easy reading without any F bombs. I intend to read the next in the series.
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
February 15, 2024
Chief Sam and Sgt Jo are puzzled by the sudden apparent suicide of well-liked local, Mike Donnelly but the pieces aren’t falling in place. Mike didn’t have a lot, unless you count the farm or suspects. Mike’s wife is in her last weeks from cancer; his unknown adult son arrived and his other children are acting odd and lying and Thorne really wants that farm, When Sam questions Thorne, the reply is Mike’s children are anxious to sell and threatens Sam with proof his secrets from his past could be revealed.
Rating: 3.75stars
Profile Image for Jennifer.
3,654 reviews23 followers
November 29, 2024
I like that these books are so short and have a good amount of mystery to them. I like Sam and Lucy.

Unfortunately, I absolutely love other authors that do police procedurals with so much research and realism, that it's hard to fully enjoy this series. It's good if you put your skeptical nature to the side and just pretend that those things would really happen...
I still want to find out what really happened to Tyler, so I will read (listen to) another book in the series and hope that 'mystery' is resolved.

It's the same narrator as the first book with the weird voices. Not a fan.
Profile Image for Stealth.
333 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2025
I like mysteries, especially series.

They get better as the series continues, like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Lucy helps bring the story to life, best smart dog breed ever. Each book mystery gets solved, but the underlying mystery is lurking in the background. I don't like to spoil the story's main mystery, I'll let the reader read all about it. It seems that L.A. Dobbs considers the books can be read out of sequence since she writes each character's background in each book. ENJOY!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews

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