A Study in Secrets
Book 1 of the Redacted Man Mysteries
Coming February 3rd in the UK and US
A retired gentleman with a complicated past. A missing priceless treasure. A young woman in trouble. The first in the brand-new Redacted Man mystery series set in NYC featuring Michael A, a Sherlock Holmes-worthy sleuth with a George Smiley secret-agent past.
Michael is a true gentleman who since retiring from the intelligence services lives a quiet, comfortable life. Practically a recluse and partially handicapped, he spends his days imagining the lives of the anonymous people he watches in the park beneath the windows of his elegant New York City townhouse–number 221–his every need tended to by his housekeeper, Mrs. Baker. He takes great care never to get involved in the lives of those he observes…until one day everything changes.
Each morning for weeks he watches a girl sit in the park at dawn. Always alone. Always watchful. And when the sun rises, she vanishes, as if she were never there. One day her routine changes–and Michael realizes she faces terrible danger. For reasons unclear even to himself he makes an uncharacteristic decision to abandon his solitude and help her.
Soon, Michael finds himself confronting the New York City underworld in an unexpected search for a priceless missing treasure. He’ll have to rely upon all the tricks of his former trade and resurrect long neglected relationships if he’s to keep not just himself, but his new friend, alive.
Praise
“Avid people-watchers will be intrigued by the generous, thoughtful Mr. Michael … who sits at the window of his mansion watching people in the unnamed New York City park opposite …[P]rolific thriller author (Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis) Siger pulls these characters … into one another’s wild orbit…
This series debut introduces several memorable characters in the rich man’s household and succeeds wonderfully in creating an elderly protagonist who will gain loyal fans with readers who like their series leads tough but kind.”
—firstCLUE (Henrietta Thornton)
“The premise feels original, and the story is populated with interesting, intelligent characters who bring real depth to the narrative. Michael emerges as a true hero, and his growth throughout the novel makes him a character I’d love to follow in future installments. This is a thoughtful, well-crafted mystery that combines atmosphere, character, and tension in equal measure. Highly recommended!”
—NetGalley Goodreads Reviewer (Lori E, 5 Stars)
“It’s a fascinating and complex story that builds suspense little by little, yet always retains an air of mystery. The characters are wonderful and the dialog very well written and without a word wasted like that of a Sherlock Holmes story.”
—NetGalley Reviewer (John B, 5 Stars)
“A Study in Secrets is a thriller that moves at a brisk pace without ever once feeling rushed. The writing is top tier, skillfully weaving through multiple plot threads without disturbing the flow of the main story. The smooth transitions between scenes helps to keep you fully immersed in the story I never once wanted to put this book down (finished in less than 24 hours). Another element of the book I appreciated was that the dialogue throughout never felt wasted, every exchange felt intentional serving the purpose of driving the story forward. Despite its fast pace, Siger knew when to slow down the story and allow the gravity and emotion of key moments to develop and bloom. If you’ve seen The Equalizer or read a Lincoln Rhyme novel by Jeffery Deaver, you’ll have a sense of the tone-gripping, intelligent and more importantly deeply satisfying… This is one thriller you can’t afford to miss. I honestly can’t wait for the next instalment in the series.”
—NetGalley Reviewer (Jourdan O, 5 Stars)
“An engrossing thriller with a wonderful cast of characters! … This is a clever story and a really enjoyable read. I loved all the characters, Michael, Angel, Mrs Baker the housekeeper, and Gabriel the cafe owner and son of Michael’s old friend. They were all quirky people but with kind hearts. I believe this is the start of a series and I’m certainly looking forward to reading more about Michael, the redacted man and intelligent mystery solver. Recommended!”
—NetGalley Reviewer (Annette C Librarian, 5 Stars)
“Immersive masterpiece… From the first page to the last word, A Study In Secrets is breathtaking poignant and harrowingly profound. Highly recommended.”
—NetGalley Reviewer (Lori P, 5 Stars)
“I was blown away by how much I enjoyed A Study in Secrets! A wonderful thriller that gripped me right from the start. It was incredibly visual and cinematic, and the characters were super well-written. And the pace was perfect, I felt like I was right there! A solid 5-star.”
—NetGalley Reviewer (5 Stars)
“Siger’s prose is crisp and atmospheric, with a touch of noir and a dash of old-world charm. Michael is a fascinating lead—reserved, razor-sharp, and unexpectedly tender. This is the kind of mystery that doesn’t shout; it hums. Perfect for fans of cerebral sleuths and quiet tension, with just enough emotional depth to leave a mark.”
—NetGalley Reviewer (4 Stars)
“I loved this book. It’s quirky, interesting, and well written. The plot moves along quickly and I wasn’t too sure how it was all going to wrap up. I hope there are more coming in this series. 4 out of 5 stars.”
—NetGalley Reviewer (Alyce, 4 stars)