The Royal Secret by Lucinda Riley -- Review

Title: The Royal Secret
Author: Lucinda Riley
Pages: 528
Publishing: May 21st 2019 by Atria Books

Synopsis:

In this suspenseful and heart-pounding novel from New York Times bestselling author Lucinda Riley, an ambitious young journalist unravels a dangerous mystery that threatens to devastate the British monarchy. 

Keeping secrets is a dangerous game.

When Sir James Harrison, one the greatest actors of his generation, passes away at the age of ninety-five, he leaves behind not just a heartbroken family but also a secret so shocking, it could rock the English establishment to its core.

Joanna Haslam, an up-and-coming reporter, is assigned to cover the legendary actor’s funeral, attended by glitzy celebrities of every background. But Joanna stumbles on something dark beneath the glamour: the mention of a letter James Harrison has left behind—the contents of which many have been desperate to keep concealed for over seventy years. As she peels back the veil of lies that has shrouded the secret, she realizes that she’s close to uncovering something deadly serious—and the royal family may be implicated. Before long, someone is on her tracks, attempting to prevent her from discovering the truth. And they’ll stop at nothing to reach the letter before she does.

Full of salacious scandal, shocking twists, and captivating romance, and written in Lucinda Riley’s signature “vividly drawn and lushly atmospheric” (RT Book Reviews) prose, The Royal Secret is “a full-throttle escapist adventure” (Lancashire Evening Post).

Review: 

This novel started out with a bang. I loved how there was a mixture of romance, mystery, and history. I really liked the first half of the book, but I had a little difficulty following the story as it went on. There were a lot of portions where the characters would imply certain things instead of saying them outright, and that became a little confusing as the book went on. I really enjoyed the novel, but it was a little hard to follow at times. 

The characters were a lot of fun and I really enjoyed getting to know each of their pasts and some of the secrets they held. This novel was entertaining and kept me on my toes, but it was a tiny bit too long and confusing at times. I would still highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy romantic suspense novels. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review. 

Rating 3/5