The Secrets Underneath is a powerful story about how the secrets and lies layered into our family history can affect generations emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. This book grabbed hold of me from the first-page and then built to powerful conclusions: that our family secrets known or buried deep can confine us, and that truth, no matter how shocking, can release us from our pain and lead to freedom, forgiveness, and healing. It’s a beautifully written book filled with hope, empathy and a compassion that is tangible and moving. I couldn’t hold back the tears. Thank you for writing it. This is by far the best book I’ve read this year.
— Sean K. Fay, Filmmaker, Video Producer, CEO of Envision Response, Seattle, Washington
The Secrets Underneath is a story about love, self-doubt, fear, battling inner demons and the damage of keeping secrets, especially the ones that feel shameful or show vulnerability. Barbara does an amazing job layering the past and the present and telling the story of an Irish Catholic family (The Gallaghers) whose secrets plague them and, in some instances, ruin them. The family is fun, exciting, sad, and in denial in many ways — not unlike most families — which makes The Secrets Underneath completely relatable. The story grips you by page 3 and keeps you engaged until the end, and like all good books, it leaves you wanting more. This book is a journey to forgiveness and the power of healing. Lessons for us all.
—Meg O’Connell, CEO & Founder, Global Disability Inclusion www.GlobalDisabilityInclusion.com, St. Augustine Beach, Florida
The Secrets Underneath contains an intriguing, at times surrealistic, plot that weaves throughout seemingly disparate but ultimately interconnected circumstances in time. The plot is very vivid and emotionally jarring, with memorable and graphic descriptions that will haunt readers long after the last page. While many of this novel’s mystery and paranormal elements–most notably, the ability to communicate with restless spirits–may call to mind other works, the author capably creates atmosphere, while evoking a sense of how violence and trauma continue to reverberate throughout the lives of impacted families.
—BookLife Prize Critic’s Report
In The Secrets Underneath, Barbara Mulvey Little has written a complex story of love that spans multiple generations beautifully and seamlessly. The novel has a spiritual feel to it, very well crafted, as it explores one family’s journey to become whole. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
—-Michael Gurian, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Stone Boys and The Miracle, Spokane, Washington
I love the book!!! OMG it is an amazing story! I read it all yesterday…my husband remarked, “That must be a great book; you haven’t put it down!” He was right. I have 30 more pages which I will finish tonight. I had to go to bed finally last night…lol!
— Connie Whitman, CEO, Whitman & Associates and radio talk show host, Middletown, New Jersey
The Secrets Underneath is a novel that presents the intersecting lives of people who are so human in their common avoidance of death, pain, and inner demons. It highlights the danger in keeping secrets, as anyone who has ever kept one knows that the longer it is concealed, the more likely the fallout will be once discovered. Barbara Mulvey Little presents characters in the aftermath of destruction brought about by concealing the truth, while also celebrating synchronicity, faith, and love in its ultimate revelation. As readers, we come to appreciate that the enemy is not death or grief. The enemy is refusing to live one’s life, even amidst the carnage.
— Nancy Miller, Co-author of Griefland: An Intimate Portrait of Love, Loss, and Unlikely Friendship, Olympia, Washington
A great soulful piece— anyone can relate to this novel! The way Barbara is able to weave space and time while developing characters in this book is marvelous! The subtle magic of each page made me unable to put the books down and even brought sweet tears to my eyes. I highly recommend this great read!
–Amanda M., Seattle, Washington
This weekend, I truly escaped with your book, The Secret’s Underneath. I was so vested in Sean and his journey for the truth. Like my own experience in healing and overcoming fear, the ending was delightful. I loved how each character was revealed in perspective for a 360 look into this broken family. And when I say escaped, picture my family clamoring for my attention and me declaring, “Just a minute more; I’m reading,” because I was so absorbed in the story. Then me lifting my head after midnight only to see that everyone was asleep and I had completely lost hours in your book. I haven’t done that in years. Delightful.
—Nicole Martin, CEO at HR Boost; Consultant, Author, Speaker, Futurist, Culture Coach, Chicago, Illinois
I finished your book, The Secrets Underneath, and I just have to tell you how much I really enjoyed it! It brought me to tears more than once and I thought the story was just lovely and poignant and raw and mystical and so many other things. I would love to have copies for my book club to read. Thanks for allowing me the privilege of reading this advance copy. Again, I truly enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down!
— Sabrina Jones Schroeder, J.D., Spokane, Washington
I thoroughly enjoyed the back-and-forth timeline development of characters, their deeper self-reflective awakenings, and the multiple levels of environmental awareness in The Secrets Underneath. As a landscape architect I couldn’t help but be drawn into Barbara’s attention to environmental and psychological detail in the development of the people and place. Much like Margret Attwood’s Surfacing, Barbara’s use of horizontal and vertical placement of her characters (the opening crash scene), reflective retrieval of fresh and not always pleasant memories drew me through to the narrative’s not-quite-expected conclusion. Barbara, thanks for sharing.
–Bob Scarfo, PhD, Spokane, Washington