RELEASED AUGUST 1, 2026
AMAZON FIRST READS PICK
From the bestselling author of Dark August comes a tense, moody thriller about a reclusive grandmother forced to confront her darkest fears to protect her family from a ruthless foe.
Seventy-year-old Lenny Bird lives in a cage of her own making. It’s protected by a strong will, stubborn habits, and hidden secrets―like the crime-scene photos in her basement. And the body in her backyard.
Lenny shut down long ago, when her daughter was murdered and her husband committed suicide. But fifteen years later, a court has ordered her estranged grandson Juls to move back in with her when he’s arrested, courtesy of his notorious paternal grandfather. Juls has crossed the wrong people and his criminal world comes crashing through Lenny’s door, along with his twin daughters.
Lenny’s sanctuary overrun, she and Juls clash over long-held grudges. When she delves into his shady world, Lenny realizes he’s more pawn than player. But when her investigation threatens to dredge up her own dark past, Lenny must fight a ruthless crime boss―and choose between protecting her private purgatory … or breaking free to save the family she loves.
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“From the get-go, a tense thriller with buried secrets, well-drawn characters and a riveting story that will keep you turning the pages.” ―Rick Mofina, USA Today, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star bestselling author
“Katie Tallo has done it again. Where Her Secrets Lie is an unputdownable web of secrets and lies with a cast of compelling characters who are brilliantly flawed in all the right ways. In the vein of The Thursday Murder Club, but with a delectable edge.” ―Tamara L. Miller, bestselling author of Into the Fall
“Katie Tallo’s Where Her Secrets Lie introduces Eleanor ‘Lenny’ Bird, a septuagenarian, kickboxing, hard-drinking grandmother whose audacious spirit comes in handy when she faces off against a terrifying local crime boss. Set in the sinister underbelly of Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, the novel is both a fun and twisty thriller and an exploration of family and second chances. Highly recommend!” ―Uzma Jalaluddin, bestselling author of Moonlight Murder and Detective Aunty
“It’s not often that the hero of a psychological crime novel is a stubborn widow in her 70s, but that’s just one of the surprising details in Katie Tallo’s latest novel. Where Her Secrets Lie is a multi-faceted tale of revenge, organized crime, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Ideal for fans of fast-paced, Canadian thrillers.” ―Eliza Reid, USA Today and international bestselling author of Death on the Island
“Gripping, emotionally charged, and impossible to put down, Where Her Secrets Lie is a masterfully crafted suspense novel about love, loyalty, and the devastating cost of secrets. With remarkable insight and emotional depth, Katie Tallo delivers a story that lingers long after the final page.” ―Wayne Ng, author of Johnny Delivers
“A compulsive thriller from start to finish. At its center is feisty, seventy-year-old Lenny Bird, a complex, beer-drinking protagonist, whose flawed character twists and turns alongside the escalating plot. The setting is a skillfully painted backdrop that perfectly complements the story. Highly recommended―Tallo has written a homerun.” ―Brenda Chapman, bestselling author of the Stonechild & Rouleau and Hunter & Tate mysteries
“There is a terrific opening in Where Her Secrets Lie, the new crime thriller from Katie Tallo. It grips you, pulls you in, and won’t let you go. Through the eyes of her seventy-year-old protagonist, the author gives us a glimpse of how darkness can exist deep in our hearts, and in our gardens.” ―Mike Martin, author of the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series
“Katie Tallo is a masterful storyteller with her latest novel that steps into the dark side of a crime family with a suspenseful plot and many flawed characters. As secrets are revealed and vulnerabilities exposed, it kept me turning the page eager for more. It was all kinds of fun!” ―Mary Taggart, author and Mary’s Must-Read Book Club Host
“Katie Tallo shatters the age-old, fragile, elderly woman stereotype, handing us a whip-smart, deeply flawed yet utterly addictive protagonist. Where Her Secrets Lie is a gritty, roller coaster of a book that I couldn’t put down.” ―Maya Valenzuela, Canadian mystery author