Anyone looking for a new cozy series that has a strong protagonist, multiple levels of enigmas, and a supernatural flair, need look no further than Lauren Elliott’s Steeped in Secrets. The main character, Shayleigh Myers, finds herself back in her hometown of California’s Monterey Peninsula due to her life falling apart. This is thanks to her ex-husband Brad’s scheming and cheating, both in love and in business. Shayleigh is left destitute and discredited from her chosen profession of gemologist and has nowhere to go but back to her hometown and crashing on her sister’s couch. Just as everything seems hopeless, however, she receives unusual news from the estate of Bridget Early.
Bridget had been the owner and local psychic of the shop known as Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, as well as a small house right on the beachfront. She had also recently been found on the shoreline, judged to have drowned with no sign of foul play. When she passed, she surprised everyone by leaving the shop, her home, and all of her possessions to Shayleigh. The only link that Shayleigh can think of is that she also possesses sensitive gifts, but she did not share that information, and is wondering how Bridget might have known. However, Shayleigh does not think she can honor Bridget’s wishes as she has not developed her talent, other than being able to empathically read the aura of those around her. At times even that is just by accident.
Regardless of Bridget’s mysterious motivations, Shayleigh is determined to see if she can build a new life with what was given to her…somehow. What she doesn’t expect is to be bombarded with old and new faces alike first thing in the morning on her first excursion into the shop. One of the new faces is the local town mascot of sorts, a pure white German Shepard named Spirit. The dog seems to have a natural liking for Shayleigh and is determined to stick close, as he once did for Bridget. In addition she also ends up meeting the attractive and charming owner of the bar across the street, Liam Madigan. Despite her determination to avoid any thoughts about romance or attraction of any kind after Brad, she cannot help but feel the pull to Liam with his stunning eyes and Irish accent. With her head reeling with possibilities, revelations, questions, and new faces it seems as if Shayleigh’s first day couldn’t possibly pack in any more surprises.
However, the hits just keep on coming as her introduction to her new shop is cut short with a discovery of a corpse on the roof. After that, everyone around her begins to pressure her to sell the property and get rid of it and the trouble it seems bring. Even her sister, who was supportive at first of Shayleigh trying to make something new for herself here, seems desperate to have her sell. Her realtor really pressures her to sell, even going as far as to have lined up a buyer. Despite all the pressure to take the quick money, Shayleigh decides to keep the shop.
She’s already begun planning to transform it into a tea house that reflects her and her tastes rather than Bridget’s, showing remarkable determination, courage, and self-confidence when standing against her friends and family to do what she needs to for herself. Making it all the more believable is the fact that she still questions herself and her sanity at every step of her new adventure. Fortunately, all those self-doubts vanish when she views the beachside cottage itself – everything about it seems to welcome her home. Finally she truly feels she has made the right choice to make her life here.
But as she does, the mystery surrounding the dead body on the roof follows her. She wants to know how someone could get them up there and ends up getting herself involved with the finding of a vital clue. A clue that has her looking into everyone around her to try and figure out if any of them could be connected. She tries to leave the matter to the police and focus on her remodel of the café. Unfortunately circumstances keep drawing her into the mystery of both the body and of the mysterious life and death of Bridget Early. It seems as if the local police chief isn’t exactly as diligent as he should be, and more than once has let his own personal agenda color his investigations. Learning this, Shayleigh has to question if Bridget’s death was in fact an accident after all, and also if the police will be able to actually solve the mystery of her rooftop visitor.
With questions piling up, Shayleigh must look into not only Bridget’s life but take a hard look at her own past as well. This raises all sorts of uncomfortable questions and brings her time and again to levels of anxiety and self-doubt that will have readers desperate for her to have the closure she needs to move forward. Shayleigh proves herself to be a strong independent woman who deeply cares for her friends and family, and isn’t afraid to face any challenge that comes her way. She might be reluctant to do what she knows must be done at times, but that is merely out of a sense of self preservation and fear for herself and her loved ones.
This book is for anyone who enjoys a strong female protagonist and is looking for a mystery with multiple layers beyond the initial crime itself. Readers are left with questions right along with Shayleigh at the end of Steeped in Secrets, and are also ready to dig into the next installment in the series. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read more adventures of Shayleigh Myers! – Carla Schantz
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Carla Schantz is a Courthouse Clerk Supervisor and has a bachelor’s degree in English as well as a master’s in legal studies. Books have been a passion of hers since she was young, and she is a firm believer in the purse book so that she is never without a book at any time.