[ About Every Buried Secret ]
DI Sinead Zaf is tired of working twice as hard to be taken seriously…
Frustrated by the toxic culture of Birmingham’s Serious Crime Unit and watching less capable colleagues rise through the ranks, she turns her attention to cold cases – hoping one forgotten investigation might finally prove her worth.
Partnered with visiting Albanian detective Ardian Kadare, Sinead begins reinvestigating the unsolved murder of an East German doctor linked to Cold War espionage.
Then a distant relative of Sinead’s is found dead in an apparent burglary.
As she and Ardian dig deeper, the two investigations begin to collide, uncovering a dangerous web of corrupt police, buried secrets and powerful figures determined to keep the past hidden.
Sinead and Ardian soon find themselves pulled into a conspiracy far bigger – and far deadlier – than either of them expected. And to discover the truth behind both cases, Sinead must risk her career, her life and exposing the darkest secrets from her own past.
[ My Review ]
Every Buried Secret by A.M. Fadden publishes September 8th with Bloodhound Books. This is his first novel set in the UK and is described as ‘a dark and compelling police procedural packed with conspiracy, corruption and shocking twists, perfect for fans of M. W. Craven and Robert Bryndza.’
DI Sinead Zaf is of mixed heritage and has spent all her life fighting for her place. As a member of the force she receives more than her fair share of grief on a daily basis. She has a chequered history that, unfortunately, has also hindered her progression up the ranks, leaving her exhausted but also determined to be the best cop she can be.
Assigned to the cold case department, she is paired up with Ardian Kadare, an Albanian detective on secondment. Together they begin to delve into an unsolved murder, with connections back to the Cold War. At the same time, Kadare is in the midst of his own personal crisis and Zaf is brought in on a fresh murder investigation with the victim having ties to her family. As the pair zig zag between the various investigations they find themselves being pulled deeper into a quagmire of corruption, violence, scandal and power.
Fadden’s inspiration for this novel was the true-life historical case of an unsolved murder of a Polish doctor in Birmingham in 1986. While Every Buried Secret is fictional, he was fascinated by ‘the potential for the macabre and geopolitical machinations linking beneath the surface of a quiet and unremarkable suburb. The idea that the killer could have been amongst us.’
Fadden writes quite complex and layered novels with multiple plots criss-crossing through the chapters but ultimately coming together into one mighty, and dare I say unexpected, finale. Having an Albanian detective in the mix added a real interesting addition to the cast, giving the reader insights into Kadare’s own work habits and the difficult personal challenges he faces at home. Sinead Zaf is a solid lead protagonist, a feisty detective, with a justifiable chip on her shoulder, who seeks truth and justice. Together Zaf and Kadare make a great team and I would be hopeful of a reunion in future novels.
Fadden leaves a few intriguing loose ends, enticing the reader back for more. With twists and turns in abundance Every Buried Secret is a quality fast-paced police procedural, a very solid start to this new Birmingham-based series, an addictive and satisfying read.
[ Thank you to A.M. Fadden and to Bloodhound Books for a copy of Every Buried Secret in exchange for my honest review ]
[ Bio ]
A.M. Fadden was born and grew up in Birmingham, UK. After gradudanating, he moved around between Ireland, France and Italy, working variously as a bookseller, teacher, editor, and proof-reader.
Writing as Aidan Conway he has published two crime novels set in Italy. He is currently a University Lecturer of English and Creative Writing in Rome, where he lives with his family. He enjoys running, cooking, walking his dog, Luna, and listening to vintage vinyl LPs.
https://www.aidanconway.net/
