Secrets Unveiled

Sheshena Pledger
Lulu Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781435719187
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (11/08) 


When I finished Sheshena Pledger’s “Secrets Unveiled” the other night, I had this really strong urge to take a very hot shower, fix myself a cup of calming herbal tea and get under the covers, but not before checking that all the doors were locked and the alarm system was on. Yes, I know that this was fiction, and furthermore I believe that I have not P.O.’d the Harris family or anybody like them, yet I needed to make sure I was as safe as possible. Such is the power of persuasive writing, and Ms. Pledger’s voice sure is convincing.

Without giving away too much of the plot – and trust me, there is a lot of it! – let me briefly summarize the outline of the story. Told in two extremely distinctive voices, by two unforgettable protagonists, the story revolves around layers of secrets surrounding the justly infamous Harris family and a young man, Nick, whose fate seems closely linked to them. Violence abounds, and surprises never cease, down to the very last page. Some of the scariest parts were purely mental – quite a feat in an author this young.

What makes this writing debut so special, in my opinion, is the author’s ability to approach the story from the point of view of two such unique characters and keep the “voices” consistent and distinct throughout the story. Her language is colorful, oftentimes extremely graphic, and always authentic. I caught myself smiling often, when some of the dialogue reminded me of certain young men from my old ‘hood.’ Ms. Pledger decidedly has her finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary culture.

While I am usually not a fan of extremely graphic writing, be it about violence or about sex, for some reason it did not bother me at all in “Secrets Unveiled.” In some strange way it went along perfectly with the tense, bullet-fast pace of writing, as well as the contemporary urban setting. Although I am not planning to make it a habit to read novels as violent as this one, I can hardly wait for the sequel – the suspenseful ending, which left more questions opened than answered, definitely made me thirst for more.

Fast-paced and very modern, Sheshena Pledger’s “Secrets Unveiled” is a must for those of us who are willing to face the truth. It would make for a fantastic movie as well!

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