Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill

Written in Secret, by Crystal Caudill
Series: The Art of Love and Danger, Book 1
Kregel Publications (March 11, 2025)

REVIEW BY KELLY J. GOSHORN

Written in Secret is a compelling blend of historical romance, suspense, hope, and humor woven together with vibrant characters, moral dilemmas and a mystery that keeps the reader turning the pages. While readers of Caudill’s first series, Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age, will recognize the hero and heroine, the book completely stands alone.

As a historical romance writer myself, I found Caudill’s protagonist, Lydia Pelton, both intriguing and endearing. Lydia is a dime novelist who also secretly writes crime novels under the pseudonym E.A. Dupin. However, only Lydia’s editor knows Dupin’s true identity. Abraham Hall is a handsome, straight-laced lawman newly promoted to Detective. He is intelligent, often skeptical, with a strong sense of duty and a clear moral compass who is often completely flummoxed by Lydia’s quirky, independent nature.

When a crazed serial killer begins bringing to life the deaths Lydia has fictionalized—exonerated criminals being murdered in the style of her books—the hunt is on to not only find the killer, but Dupin himself. After Abraham blames Dupin suggesting his fiction has influenced the killer to commit violence, Lydia begins to wrestle with ethical question about an author’s responsibility to their reader and whether or not her books have provoked a killer to murder.

The novel is well-researched and brings life in 1880s Cincinnati (“Queen City”), with its corruption, social stratification, and burgeoning media culture, vividly to the page. The detail around dime novels and the publishing culture, the constraints on women writers of the period, the expectations of propriety—all provide a dynamic historical backdrop for the novel.

For the romance lover, the meet cute will bring a definite smile to your face and probably more than a chuckle or two. And the slow-burn chemistry between Abraham and Lydia is palpable.

“He should have known a woman who’d steal a goat wasn’t to be trusted.”

Crystal Caudill, Written in Secret

Christian themes of justice, mercy, humility, and integrity are sewn seamlessly throughout the story without feeling preachy. Lydia and Abraham’s faith journeys bring authenticity without overwhelming the mystery or romance. And, Lydia’s internal struggle—about hiding her secret writing, about whether her stories have incited something darker, and how her faith intersects with her actions—is especially well done.

Caudill does a good job of parceling out clues, planting red herrings, and keeping the tension rising. There are moments of lighter comic relief (especially via Lydia’s thoughts or the more absurd situations) that balance the darker material of murder, corruption, and danger. While I had narrowed the killer down to two suspects, one of which was correct, the mystery holds until quite late, with satisfying reveals. While not gratuitous, the murders and their implications are darker than what some romance readers might expect in Christian historical romantic suspense.

Written in Secret is a strong start to Caudill’s Art of Love and Danger series. The novel delivers a satisfying mix of suspense and romance, anchored by moral complexity and historical detail. It’s a book that will especially resonate with readers who enjoy Christian historical fiction, mysteries, and stories about the power and consequences of words.

For all these reasons, I happily give Written in Secret five well-deserved fish.

I listened to this book on audio. The narrator, Libby McKnight, gave a strong performance adding to my enjoyment of this novel.