Secrets of Sloane House

By: Shelley Gray

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Against the backdrop of the 1893 World’s Fair, a new kind of crime comes to Gilded Age Chicago . . . and a lonely young woman is always at risk.

Back on the farm in Wisconsin, Rosalind’s plan had seemed logical: Move to Chicago. Get hired on at Sloane House, one of the most gilded mansions of Chicago. Discover what transpired while her sister worked as a maid there—and follow the clues to why she disappeared.

Now, as a live-in housemaid to the Sloanes, Rosalind realizes her plan had been woefully simple-minded.

She was ignorant of the hard, hidden life of a servant in a big, prominent house; of the divide between the Sloane family and the people who served them; and most of all, she had never imagined so many people could live in such proximity and keep such dark secrets.

Yet, while Sloane House is daunting, the streets of Chicago are downright dangerous. But when Rosalind accepts the friendship of Reid Armstrong, the handsome young heir to a Chicago silver fortune, she becomes an accidental rival to Veronica Sloane.

As Rosalind continues to disguise her kinship to the missing maid—and struggles to appease her jealous mistress—she probes the dark secrets of Sloane House and comes ever closer to uncovering her sister’s mysterious fate. A fate that everyone in the house seems to know . . . but which no one dares to name.

“Gray writes with honesty, tenderness, and depth. Her characters are admirable, richly layered, and impossible to forget long after the story is done.” —Jillian Hart

• Part of the Chicago World’s Fair Mystery series:
  • Book one: Secrets of Sloane House
  • Book two: Deception on Sable Hill
  • Book three: Whispers in the Reading Room
• Book length: approximately 95,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Engrossing!

A great story of loss, love and redemption. If it were a physical book, it would be a page turner on steroids! It was hard to push the pause button! The narrator is one of the best of the best! Bravo!

Story drags sometimes

This is Different than what I normally read. But the story was good and I liked the turns. But it also has odd pacing. Should have come with a trigger warning for some of the content.

Overall not bad.

Excellent story

This book captivated and kept the plot moving at a thoughtful pace. The fact it went forward the entire time was refreshing and easy to follow while driving and making a few stops. (so many books go back and forth between years and time)
The characters and plot were classically and mindfully developed. Narration represented the characters and kept attention. Highly recommend this book.

Secrets

A story of class, idolatry, and loss. Redemption, naivety, and God’s promises. It’s a good plot, though the end seems rushed. The narrator does a great job. I’ve found a new author.

Excellent first book in series!

I liked the narrator right away. As for Rosalyn, I came to love her, cheer for her and had really hoped she’d make it through all the adversity. I was truly worried about her circumstances while serving in Sloan house. And what a family the Sloan’s were! As much as I romanticize the time and wonder what it would be like to have that much money, I’d never fit in! The Sloan’s were absolutely horrendous! I’m sure that wasn’t every family, but I have a feeling there were enough similar to them.

I spent my life living in Chicago and thinking about what the World’s Fair must have been like is very exciting. We have few remnants because as they said, the buildings weren’t built to last. But we still have the, “Wooded Island” and one singular building, now the Museum of Science & Industry. It was my favorite museum while growing up! Having all the normal crime within the city (nothing has changed in that regard) a ton more people, too few policemen and H.H. Holmes, it was as dangerous as it was exciting!
Overall, a very good book! I’m really looking forward to starting the next book in the three part series!