Buried Secrets: Where It All Begins by S.F. Baumgartner follows Dylan Roche, who discovers his wealthy, secretive family’s hidden past when his grandmother Carol invites him to the Florida Marino estate. Armed with a key from his mother, Dylan explores locked rooms and uncovers evidence revealing his family’s ties to organized crime. He learns his mother has a twin sister, Marge, raised separately and now entangled in the family's criminal legacy. Dylan faces threats from Marge, who seeks control of the estate and its secrets, while navigating alliances with family lawyer Charles Townsend and Father Phil, a former Navy SEAL turned priest. As Dylan digs deeper, he finds himself caught in violent confrontations, FBI investigations, and the burden of protecting his family’s name and legacy amid a dangerous conspiracy involving biological weapons and international crime.

Buried Secrets: Where It All Begins by S.F. Baumgartner is a well-written, tightly structured story that packs a huge punch. Dylan has an interesting backstory, and the unusual circumstances he finds himself in become even more so as we meet Marge Beaumont and her calculated efforts to regain control of the estate. I love the scenes where there is confrontation because the author is really good at steamrolling us into them. There's a critical shootout that is brilliantly executed, and the depictions of political maneuvering, covert operations, and the dangerous interplay of ambition are wholly absorbing. This is Christian suspense, but it never feels heavy-handed, and as a non-Christian reader, I found it to be subtle and organic. Buried Secrets is the first book in the Mirror Estate Thriller series. Readers who enjoy it as much as I have will be delighted to know that the following five books are already available. Very highly recommended.

Buried Secrets is an edge-of-your-seat thriller by S.F. Baumgartner. Dylan Roche's mother is dead. Little did he know that his mother came from an affluent family with a powerful matriarch, Dylan's grandmother, Carol Marino. As Dylan becomes more and more involved in his previously estranged family's affairs, he unwittingly finds himself embroiled in a deeper criminal conspiracy that soon puts his own life in danger. One by one, Dylan tries to peel away the layers of his family's buried secrets. However, not everyone is willing to let go of their secrets just yet. And some are prepared to do anything to enact their nefarious plans. Dylan is determined to safeguard his family's legacy. But is it really worth it? What will it cost for Dylan to claim his inheritance?

Buried Secrets is a gripping page-turner where you don't know what to expect in the very next chapter. Author S.F. Baumgartner has woven an engrossing tale of family, betrayal, and crime that will delight fans across a wide range of genres. Each scene is meticulously crafted and is brimming with tension and intrigue. Dylan is almost a stand-in for the reader, as he uncovers each mystery, and the reader follows the story alongside him. The dialogue is sharp and to the point. Every character interaction reveals hints of a deeper plot thread, and it adds further depth to the narrative. The plot is well-paced and full of unexpected twists and turns. If you enjoy crime mystery/drama thrillers, this book will be right up your alley. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and you will too!