Description:

Addison Lowe knew her mother-in-law despised her, but inheriting Barb’s massive estate after her death feels less like closure and more like a trap. Barb’s hoarded rooms aren’t just filled with clutter—they’re filled with secrets. And it’s Addison’s job to unearth them while Luke grieves the loss of the mother he could never let go of.

But Luke grows stranger with every box they open—restless, secretive, cruel in ways Addison has never seen. And the house itself seems to breathe with Barb’s presence. Ivy claws through the windows. A murder of crows drops trinkets at her feet. Dolls stare from the shadows, labeled with names Addison doesn’t recognize—until she does. One doll bears the name Cassidy Warren, a girl who vanished years ago. And the more Addison uncovers, the more Barb’s legacy seems tied to the streak of “bad luck” that has haunted Rockside Bay for decades.

The deeper Addison digs, the clearer it becomes: some secrets were meant to stay buried. And the husband she thought she knew may be hiding the darkest one of all.

Adele’s Review:

Secret rooms in old houses are stories like catnip to this reviewer. When the invitation to read The Secret Attic hit my mailbox, I accepted and dove right into the book. Empathizing with protagonist Addison Lowe was easy. Who wouldn’t feel protective of a woman with a mother-in-law from hell?

When Addison’s mother-in-law dies, she helps her husband, Luke, clean out his childhood home in preparation for sale. Along the way, Addison discovers more idiosyncrasies about her husband’s mother than she could have imagined. The older woman’s attraction to crows and fascination with old dolls both lure and repel Addison. As the meaning behind the symbols becomes apparent, Addison’s revulsion for her late mother-in-law intensifies. Although she has a strong and loving marriage with Luke, her perception of him wavers. The Secret Attic is well written and paced. Even though this reviewer is not creeped out by old dolls, the novel kept me entertained.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8415543485

Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FRH7RQV8/