Repressed by Elisabeth Naughton

Repressed (Deadly Secrets, #1)

by Elisabeth Naughton

One night changed both their lives forever, but only she holds the key to uncover a killer.

Hidden Falls is exactly as Samantha Parker left it—small, insular, and prone to gossip. Eighteen years have passed since she witnessed her brother’s murder, but she’s still the talk of the town. Until a handsome child psychologist with haunting memories of his own arrives.

Dr. Ethan McClane isn’t exactly a newcomer. If it weren’t for his latest case, he’d never set foot back in Hidden Falls. Thankfully, no one seems to recognize him as the troubled teen from years past. Not even Sam, the delightfully sharp and sexy high school chemistry teacher he can’t stop thinking about.

When Sam and Ethan work together to help one of her students, sparks ignite. But Sam’s hazy memories of a long-ago night concern Ethan, and unlocking the repressed images reveals a dark connection between them. As the horrors of the past finally come to light, their relationship isn’t the only thing in danger. A killer will strike again to keep an ugly secret hidden. This time no one will be safe.

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

3 of 5 stars

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An 18-year-old murder, repressed memories, secrets and lies made Repressed perfect for audio. Amy Landon did an excellent job of bringing both the story and suspenseful tones to life.

Hidden Falls, California. Samantha Parker reluctantly returns to her hometown after her mother’s passing to prepare the home for sale. She ends up working temporarily at the local high school in the science department.

The return home hasn’t been easy. Samantha has been plagued by nightmares. To make matters worse someone wants her to leave. There have been several incidents and local police keep dismissing it or worse believe Samantha is imagining it. Maybe she is losing her mind?

Ethan McClane grew up and left Hidden Falls too. Like Samantha he thought he'd left the past far behind. Ethan finds himself back in Hidden Falls when a judge orders him to handle the Thomas Adler case. Thomas is a young man who seems to be having trouble adjusting to his recent move.He soon finds himself at the center of a murder investigation.

Naughton slowly began to expose the cracks in Samantha as she reveals what happened eighteen years ago. Plagued by nightmares Samantha has very little memory of what happened the night her brother died.

Slowly the author begins to weave the past, Samantha’s nightmares, Ethan and the present day murders into the tale. Well-crafted with several twists that will please even the most seasoned of mystery readers I found myself looking for reasons to grab my earbuds. I did figure out some of the twists, but was surprised by a few. I love when that happens. Naughton made the story feel plausible while keeping the reader on edge.

We are given several perspectives including those of Samantha and Ethan. Naughton also shares those of other key characters as she begins to expose what happened that fateful night.

Ethan and Samantha have an intense attraction to one another, and slowly we see it develop into more. Their passion is heated but we are kept on edge as Samantha begins to remember. Their feelings felt genuine and I loved the suspenseful aspect of discovering if their pasts are connected.

Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 21 July, 2016: Finished reading
  • 21 July, 2016: Reviewed