The Last Secret Kept by Elaine Stock

TITLE INFORMATION

The Last Secret Kept

Elaine Stock

Black Rose Writing, 284 pages

9781685135904, 4.24.2025

Overall Rating = 4.33

Storyline & Concept = 4

Writing & Delivery = 4

Editorial = 5

Using dual timelines of WWII and 1961, The Last Secret Kept transports the reader between the terror and restrictions of wartime Germany and a drama involving Fanny, a determined defense attorney in upstate New York and a family shaped by prejudice, injustice, and personal sacrifice. Refusing to conform to traditional expectations for women, Fanny takes on the case of Kenny, a man with intellectual limitations accused of murder. She finds herself entangled in the personal dramas of Gina, Kenny’s devoted wife, and Gina’s grandmother, a woman with a dark and heavy secret.

This well-researched novel is not only woven with different timelines and settings; it also intertwines layers of sub-plots, history, legal dramas, and emotional depth. With well-developed characters, the author demonstrates a keen understanding of human resilience and illustrates how the walls we build, whether physical or emotional, can shape, confine, and define us. The novel’s themes of love, justice, and the struggle for autonomy make it a thought-provoking and moving read.

Sublime Line: “This compelling novel explores the consequences of long-buried secrets and the courage required to challenge societal norms.”

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