Review: Parade of Secrets
PARADE OF SECRETS
A Lane Hayes Mystery
By Kimberly Fish
Historical Mystery / Female Sleuth
Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing
Publication Date: October 31, 2025
Pages: 341
SYNOPSIS
Layers of history, suspense, and emotion.
March, 1948. Lane Mercer Hayes, and her husband, Zeke, have that post-war life that everyone envies. His winning record as a prosecutor and a scratch golfer, teamed with her finesse in a bookshop puts them on the list of up and coming leaders in Longview, Texas. That is, until Lane is exposed by Senate candidate, Lyndon B. Johnson, for the clandestine role she plays in a Black-owned security agency. Forced to face the cracks in her marriage and the boredom in her life, she can no longer be that “teacup of whiskey” that former Big Inch pipeline associates nicknamed her. Though newspaper headlines tout prosperity and development, Lane can’t get past the emptiness in her soul after the adrenaline rush of working for the Office of Strategic Services during the war.
Longview, Texas, is changing—from LeTourneau Incorporated bringing big manufacturing to the construction of Lake Cherokee and even the massively celebrated Gregg County Diamond Jubilee and the return of the popular Founder’s Day parade. So when an unexpected interview with R.G. LeTourneau appears to give Lane the opportunity to dust off her former OSS skills; she grabs it. To end the vandalism turmoil for LeTourneau, Lane steps out as a private investigator and encounters more than one death befalling families with secrets to hide.
With the clock ticking, Lane grows increasingly unconvinced she has the know-how to discover the truth or make peace with the sheriff who questions her every step. Time and pressure work against her in unraveling the mystery and restoring the good name of those who learned too late that they were innocent. Thankfully, in the course of the investigation, she discovers an unlikely ensemble of residents she can rely on, even when the future looks grim.
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Kimberly Fish’s Parade of Secrets is a historical mystery novel and the first book of the Lane Hayes Mystery series. It takes place in Longview, Texas in 1948 - during post-World War 2 when there was a lot of change happening. Lane Mercer Hayes is our protagonist and seems to be living a good life with her husband, Zeke, while running a bookshop. The dream. (says me)
Lane is a former agent of the Office of Strategic Services and is struggling a bit with the mundane of life - she’s missing the rush that her old work used to give her. That leads us to her taking up a new case to dust off those skills of hers. She agrees to be a PI to solve a vandalism issue for a manufacturer in the area. Throughout the book, she encounters the uncovering of secrets, strain on her life, and having to face the age-old problem of someone doubting her abilities because she is a female.
I enjoyed reading about Lane and her skills. There was great suspense throughout the story with layers of history and depth. I especially enjoyed (not sure if that is that right word, but readers will understand) reading about the challenges that women in post-war times had to face. The expectration that because war is over, that means women should return to the traditional role of a homemaker. Lane is a well-rounded character and interesting to read about.
Mystery readers that also enjoy the historical backdrop will be the ones to most enjoy this book. It definitely has all the ingredients for a great mystery, but the historical aspect will be the cherry on top for readers of historical fiction.
To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLParadeofSecrets on your preferred social media platform.
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