The Secret That Killed You

An Ike Rossi Thriller

Fiction - Thriller - General
364 Pages
Reviewed on 05/19/2024
Buy on Amazon

Author Biography

Steve Hadden is the author of the highly rated thrillers, The Sunset Conspiracy, Genetic Imperfections, The Swimming Monkeys Trilogy, The Victim of the System, The Dark Side of Angels, and The Secret That Killed You. A pre-med student turned chemical engineer who’s worked at the top of some of the largest companies in the world, Steve believes powerful thrillers lie at the intersection of intriguing stories and intelligent characters in search of dramatic revelations with global human impact.

He attended Penn State, where he studied pre-med and graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. He began a career in the oil and gas business and traveled to intriguing places around the world and met some fascinating characters. An early fan of authors like Michael Crichton and Clive Cussler, he pursued his dream of becoming a thriller author.

His latest thriller, The Secret That Killed You, was sparked by his interest in the emotional challenges faced by RPA (Drone) pilots and children of alcoholics, along with one of the most heinous crimes of the twentieth century.

Steve and his wife, CJ, live in South Carolina.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Secret That Killed You by Steve Hadden is an Ike Rossi Thriller. Amelia Garcia is 35 years old, and most of her adult life has been spent protecting others as an Air Force drone pilot. Using a deepwater remotely operated vehicle to find lost things on the sea floor, the last thing she expected to find was a strongbox, especially not two hundred miles away from the coast. Her family is powerful, but she can’t rely on them to help her, so she calls on Ike Rossi, the only person she believes can help solve the secret of the locked box. Ike is a hardened investigator, a man who has seen too much. With Amelia and a WWII codebreaker, they uncover a secret that could change history, destroying their lives as they know it, and bringing chaos to the country. It’s time for Amelia to face the past and make a choice – dying or destroying everyone and everything around her.

The Secret That Killed You by Steve Hadden will take you on a thrilling rollercoaster of a journey. Packed with action on every page, this is one book that you won’t put down easily, so be prepared to read all night if necessary. This is an expertly written thriller that will enthrall you with its descriptive prose, tight dialogue, and amazing characters. The two main characters are people you can relate to, and you’ll be on their side all the way through. This is a story of deep, hidden secrets with the capacity to destroy everyone and everything around them. You won’t guess the ending; you’ll never see it coming, and it will leave you in shock. This is an excellent novel, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a book in which they can truly lose themselves.

Alma Boucher

In The Secret That Killed You: An Ike Rossi Thriller by Steve Hadden, when Amelia discovered a large metal box with Nazi symbols on the lid, she called her uncle, the only person who could assist her in figuring out what was inside. The contents of the box were a threat to some very powerful people. Then others close to her were murdered. Amelia was in danger so she asked Ike Rossi to help her. To discover the long-kept secret that would strike at the core of the United States, Amelia and Ike, together with Frank, a World War II code breaker, learned that their startling discovery could change the course of history. Ike, Amelia, and Frank were thrown into a deadly game of murder, deceit, and danger.

The Secret That Killed You by Steve Hadden was an enthralling journey through a world of secrets, deception, and danger. It was a suspenseful, action-packed thriller with a compelling, dynamic plot that was masterfully written and moved quickly. It was a page-turner, and I had a hard time putting it down. I was intrigued from the start, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The detailed descriptions of the events heightened the sense of conspiracy and drama. With all the twists and turns, I never knew what would happen next and was guessing until the end. The characters felt like friends and neighbors because of their excellent character development and their backgrounds. The story was well-researched and was much more than I expected.

K.C. Finn

The Secret That Killed You is a work of fiction in the thriller, mystery, and crime genres. Penned by author Steve Hadden, the plot follows investigator Ike Rossi as he unravels a perilous mystery, risking everything to expose a long-buried truth that threatens his client and the very fabric of the United States. When veteran Air Force pilot Amelia Garcia's deep-sea exploration uncovers a deadly secret, she enlists Ike's help to navigate a dangerous path of murder and deception. Together, they confront their demons and unearth a revelation that could rewrite history, plunging the nation into chaos and forcing Amelia to confront her painful past or face catastrophic consequences.

Author Steve Hadden has crafted a pulse-pounding thriller with plenty of content, blending heart-wrenching suspense with intricate plot twists in a narrative filled with complex characters and high-stakes intrigue. Ike Rossi's journey, haunted by personal tragedy yet driven by a relentless pursuit of justice, kept me eagerly turning pages as his characterization built. The confident narrative focus on his psychological journey was well balanced to showcase his skills but also let us in on his vulnerabilities so we root for him when he’s challenged to his limits. I also really liked the attitude and emotional development around Amelia, and the dialogue construction created a sharp and dynamic partnership as they unraveled the mystery together. The stakes are raised with each revelation, with well-paced twists and clever clues that are satisfying but never obvious, leading to a jaw-dropping conclusion that left me reeling. Overall, I would certainly recommend The Secret That Killed You as a gripping thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.