Testimonials

Best yet!
This 3rd instalment from Wendy is, in my opinion, the best yet. Based on events we know about makes it even more thrilling. Could not put it down. Keep writing Wendy! (Purchased from Wendy’s website, not Amazon)

Another great espionage story from Wendy Charlton - really enjoyable! 5*****

I really enjoyed reading this third book in the 'Secrets' series. A gripping novel, set against the backdrop of events which have occurred in our lifetime. Fabulous. I can't wait for the next one!

Excellent read, as always. Wendy has, once again got us all gripping the edge of our seats, wondering what is going to happen next.
I find it difficult to put her books down once I start reading. Just brilliantly written with a touch of humour too.

I have just finished reading Keeping Secrets and I have to say what a read! I like to read books and this is by far the best I have read in a long time. I didn't want to put it down once I had started. So gripping. I can't wait for the next one. Thank you Wendy Charlton - another brilliant author to add to my collection

I have just finished reading Keeping Secrets, which was excellent. 5*****
A great storyline with great characters and realistic overview of MI5 and MI6 functionality.
It made me realise how previous agents who worked for MI5 & MI6 might be disclosing subject matters with the onset of dementia and how this might be interpreted.
A great read and I have already ordered the next book.
Thank you Wendy.

Thoroughly enjoyed Keeping Secrets. Loved the characters who we get to know well. Clever writing to be able to combine espionage and dementia. Looking forward to the next instalment

I think Wendy's kept her fiction authoress prowess a Shady secret for many years. This is a great book where I did not guess the ending which was worth waiting for. Well done Wendy

Great first book from this new writer and hopefully one of Many! Thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one already! I loved how easy to read it was, constantly wanting to know will happen next and trying to guess the outcome. A real exciting page turner - highly recommend

A great read. Found it gripping right from the start and found the characters to be believable and fascinating. Loved it

I must admit I was so excited when we were offered the book from Wendy and so thrilled when she asked if she could join us on Zoom, when reviewing it. Then, I thought, 'suppose I don't enjoy it, what will I say, as we always promise to be truthful.' Well, I needn't have worried, as I can honestly say, I enjoyed every page.

I would love to know what gave you the idea and look forward to asking some questions at the end of the session.

An excellent book to read with a very good plot. I loved the various characters, one of my favourties being the wonderful William, the James Bond gadget man 'Q', who could never quite relinquish his skills and was always on hand to advise the other residents on internet privacy and safety. So sad that the dementia would not allow him to ........... My other real favourite was the infamous Rita. I found her so amusing and waited in anticipation each time she appeared on the scene to see which persona she would be adopting. What a life she had led, and she, too, like William, could not relinquish it completely, even in her latter years. It seemed quite fitting that it would be she.........
I liked Dan's character and did wonder whether he would end up with Hilary but, on reflection, I think the book ended perfectly. I liked the style with short chapters and found it easy to follow even, when necessary, it went into the past on occasions, which sometimes becomes problematic but not at all here.

Like many people, I too have been touched by the terrible repercussions of Alzheimer's on a loved one and it was obvious that the author had done her research on this subject. It was handled with great accuracy. I loved the way that Linda Bridges, the Operations Manager at Shady Fields, treated the residents with such sensitivity, maintaining their dignity at all times and taught the rest of the staff how to handle situations that occurred by appeasing their anxieties and going along with their needs and rituals rather than contradicting them. If only more people followed this in real life situations. Hopefully, this book might have changed people's views.

In my opinion, the sign of a good book is when you do not want to put it down and keep thinking 'just one more chapter' and I will turn off the light. So look forward to the sequel but I need to catch up on my sleep first! Many thanks to you Wendy.

Great idea for a book, a care home full of ex spies with dementia and the characters were all very interesting and likeable except ........ of course.
The plot was good, fast paced and I liked the way we gradually found out how. .......... in the past. I was a bit shocked by so many deaths, unbelievably ........ altogether, and surprised by the twist at the end where we found out about ..........
I did wonder whether the residents of a well run care home would have been able to come and go as freely as they did without anyone keeping tabs on them, and also whether Charlie and Rita would have been capable of the well planned trap they laid for ........ at the end. I was also slightly confused at times by the chapters going back and forth in time but having said all that the writing was so good and I really enjoyed this story and congratulate you Wendy on your first novel.

Enjoyed this book. Held my interest all through. Certainly kept the tension going.
Found the descriptions’ good and could visualize the characters as well as the rooms
Liked Rita and William .................

Was trying to work out who the insider might be but did not guess ........ Until nearer the end.
The staff who were dealing with dementia seemed to handle it well and went along with the patient, a tip which I passed on to my Sister in Law who is always correcting and contradicting her mother who has dementia.
I also liked the back stories of the agents, gave one an insight as to the work they do.
For me the sign of a good book is wanting the keep reading to see what happens next.
I hope that Dan gets to keep Shady Fields and look forward to the next book

Wow, this book hooked me from the start. The prologue ........... drew in me at once!!

What a fantastic idea for a story. I had never given a thought to where spies with dementia end their days, and the potential risk that could cause.
How clever to think of it, would be interested in where your inspiration came from Wendy?
I did chuckle at the beginning when the consultants were bought in to carry out a review of Shady Fields. I have been on the receiving end of those reviews so many times. The Management Speak was so accurate “ consultants telling you what you already know and charge eye watering sums to tell you” spot on!!!
I loved all of the characters.............. William, Charlie and especially Rita, loved the way their stories developed, doing this by looking back on their early life/career. This was very clever.
Was Rita a parody of Rita Hayworth, who was a model, actress and married Aly Kan…not sure if she was a spy though? Of course she did play a spy in the film Gilda.The story moved at pace, particularly towards the end ...............My mother in law was in a care home as she had dementia, as did 50% of all the residents. When you visit you can so easily forget that they all had previous lived, adventures, romances, secrets etc.Loved this book very imaginative. Looking forward to the next book, thanks again.
Best regards Sue
(Don’t forget I am playing Rita when it becomes a film )

It’s been a good while since a book has held my attention quite like this. I’m dyslexic so reading is not my forte, but I try to complete at least a few pages nightly, before my attention wains and begin to forget what I’ve just read. Not with this book though!! I can’t put it down. The writing is so descriptive I can see the characters come to life in my mind! I feel like I know personally!! Thrilling story which makes me feel like I’m part of it and I can’t wait for the sequel!! Great reading.

Just finished your book. Loved it! Would make a great one of mini series/drama!

This was a fast paced and unusual plot. I cared about so many of the characters and couldn’t put it down.

Very well thought out plot with some interesting and believable characters

What a great read! Can highly recommended!
From start to finish I was both interested and intrigued by the characters, and found it hard to put down due to wanting to find out just a little bit more at the end of each chapter. Looking forward to the next!

I really enjoyed this book. So much action in the first chapter that my attention was grabbed

I really enjoyed this book and can imagine all the characters. looking forward to book no.2

A new take of the "spy" story I found fascinating!
Couldn't put the book down and really looking forward to the next one.

I have already ordered my Special Edition which was really simple on the site and am waiting to receive it now.

This kept me captivated, building a secret service thriller chapter by chapter. What I found really different was that I could check back facts, people and events as the actual chapters were short and punchy and easy to refer back to. I hoped the ending was what I thought during the read. Part of it was but a great twist involving one person I did not think would have been involved. Looking forward to the next Daniel Grant thriller from Wendy Charlton.

Harlan Coben eat your heart out! A page turner that draws you in and makes this novel really hard to put down. 5*****
The clever, flowing style makes it an easy, enjoyable read. The characters are well defined and believable. And the inside knowledge of M15 and the secret service is fascinating. Are we sure the author hasn’t been/isn’t a spy?
Every element of the story feels credible and is a testament to the writer’s thorough research methods. The insight into dementia is terribly sad but also lends itself to brilliant moments of humour and would be a valuable read for anyone battling with this dreadful disease, including those in the care sector.
I am really hoping this is the first of many novels and can’t wait to see what Myron Bolitar, sorry Daniel Grant, gets up to in his next adventure. Maybe a touch of romance (with Hilary) Wendy?????

Keeping Secrets captured me in the first couple of chapters and kept me guessing to the last chapter. Excellent read and I can't wait for the sequel.

Wendy, Congratulations on being a published Author! We were so thrilled when Andrew told us about your book, and the Launch was brilliant! I am a bookaholic and it was such a great idea to letting us have a glimpse into your world and work with a question time. I can't wait to read your first of hopefully many books 😃 Congratulations again xxx Helen

Read the book, loved it, it’s the first book I have read from start to finish in Years. Great story, look forward to your next one, well done

A great read, left me wanting to know more about the main characters. Cant wait for the next book

Loved it. Loved the whole concept of retired spies suffering from various degrees of dementia and potentially causing embarrassment and or serious trouble for the British Government. What to do with them ? Put them in a rather grand specially planned home. Some wonderful characters a couple of which l found especially endearing, l enjoyed the gradual revealing of their various histories. The villain was remarkably easy to dislike as he challenges the ‘value’ to the Secret Service of providing such facilities especially since there is a much more cost effective way of dealing with the issue! Really looking forward to the next book in the series.

I put aside an hour yesterday to start reading "Keeping Secrets"...no chance had to read it all the way through as it was way way too interesting as each chapter linked in such a way to push you to the next.
Then just when you think you have it, you don't...lol, great ending or is it a new beginning.
Fabulous work young Wendy......very very proud of you.