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The Secret Chord (Conor McBride International Mystery Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Kathryn Guare (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 453 ratings
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A man on the run, haunted by an enemy he's never seen and a past he can't leave behind.

Reeling from a disastrous mission he barely survived, Conor McBride needs two things: a place to hide and a different line of work. He finds both at a farmhouse inn tucked into a scenic corner of rural Vermont. He arrives prepared to practice the deception he’s been trained for - but not for the friendship of the beautiful innkeeper. Kate Fitzpatrick’s straightforward trust in the face of secrets darker than anything she could imagine is a gift that’s hard to refuse. Unwilling to lie and unable to confess, Conor hides behind evasions while a prophetic intuition of danger whispers in his head.

The past isn’t far enough behind him. He can feel it catching up, and when it arrives with the violence of a nightmare he’s seen before, Conor discovers he’s not alone in the crosshairs. The beautiful innkeeper has secrets of her own, and as it turns out, hers are more likely to get them both killed.

What Readers are Saying:

“Kathryn Guare weaves story and characters together like a symphony - intricate, complex and building to a crescendo that will leave the reader a bit breathless.”

“A captivating series with irresistible characters and locations.”

“For those who love a well-crafted story . . . The Secret Chord will strike a tone within you long after the last page.”

“A brilliantly written piece of storytelling…”
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Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 4
    Conor McBride International Mystery
  2. Print length
    348 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    January 21, 2014
  6. File size
    1853 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"For those who love a well-crafted story . . . The Secret Chord will strike a tone within you long after the last page."


"A brilliantly written piece of storytelling..."

"Kathryn Guare weaves story and characters together like a symphony - intricate, complex and building to a crescendo that will leave the reader a bit breathless."

"A captivating series with irresistible characters and locations."

About the Author

Author of the award-winning Conor McBride International Mystery Series, Kathryn Guare's character-driven novels are a mix of page-turning suspense and travel adventure, balanced with a little romance and humor. She has a passion for exploring diverse cultures and cuisine, Classical music, and all things Celtic, and mixes these into her stories along with other enthusiasms that capture her imagination. Formerly, as an executive with a global health advocacy organization, she traveled extensively throughout the world. Currently, as a native Vermonter, she hates to leave home during foliage season.Her first novel, "Deceptive Cadence" was awarded a Gold Medal in the Readers Favorite Awards for Thriller/Suspense, and a Gold Medal for Best Audiobook.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HZNM12A
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kiltumper Close Press (January 21, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 21, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1853 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1957550015
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 453 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
453 global ratings
I could TASTE the mystery!
5 Stars
I could TASTE the mystery!
Kathryn Guare has raced up my list of favorite authors to the very top! I found Deceptive Cadence (book 1 in the series) to be fascinating, seductive and alive at many different levels. The Secret Chord simply took my imagination within the Irish psyche to a new level.Perhaps because I read book 2 immediately after completing book 1, the story line continued unabated and naturally. I felt completely satisfied after completing both books and was left with a strong sense of awe at the skill exhibited by the author. Her characters and scenes and locations and expressed feelings are so REAL! I can even sense the unexpressed feelings of her characters because they appear that real in my mind.Well done, and thank you.
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Top reviews from the United States

Bookzilla
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
Enjoyable. Stand-alone that is easy to follow and difficult to put down. No graphic violence or drag-you-down drama.

Some aspects of the story were obvious with a logical conclusion. The paranormal aspects were subtle and realistic.

Believable characters with distinct personalities. Thought-provoking and entertaining dialogue.

'Sort of like the Hindu idea of dharma, the obligation to fulfill your duty.'

'In the practice of any art there was such a fine balance between the desire to be heard or seen or understood, and the terror of exposure.'

No desire to re-read this story. I am interested in other works by this author.
One person found this helpful
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Joyce Marthaller
4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully creative and suspenseful novel
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2017
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A wonderfully creative and suspenseful novel. The author is a Wordsmith. Would highly recommend this series. Interesting storylines and this may be the one point that could detract from its overall effectiveness. So many interweaving plots it can take real focus to keep them all straight. This said, it is well worth the effort.
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grandma
5.0 out of 5 stars Another gripping read!
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2014
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This second book takes place mostly in Vermont and in Ireland on the Dingle Peninsula. Having recently returned from over a month in Ireland, I was amazed at how well the author once again captured, the language, culture, and landscape of the country. Maybe a native might take issue with me on this, but I felt like I was right back on Dingle looking out at Blasket Island. Also, I spent enough time out in the countryside to have had the experience of a "thin place". These places exist all over the globe, but stumbling on them seems a bit more difficult than in Ireland. Guare's books are a great combination of descriptive beauty, classical music, well developed characters, and thrilling dangerous spy adventure, with just enough romance done in good taste. Full of strong vivid, complicated characters, including women. Very Gaelic/Irish in genre. Can hardly wait for the next book in this series.
3 people found this helpful
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Karen Myers
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific read!
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2014
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After the splendid Deceptive Cadence, the first book in this series, I was prepared for a possible let down with this second book, but am I ever glad I was wrong.

Guare maintains an adept balancing act between reluctant musician spy Conor McBride and Vermont widow Kate Fitzpatrick as McBride settles in to try and relax into his retirement from a mission that ended disastrously for his brother, and almost as much so for himself. "At least it's over" is the dominant mood as the book begins. But nothing stays quiet for very long, and nothing is over.

Guare weaves a very satisfying tale that ties up old villains and new with our ever more fascinating main characters. These books are as addictive in their way as the Patrick O'Brian books, and I can't imagine how Guare can write quickly enough to keep me satisfied. I'll just have to wait for the next one.
9 people found this helpful
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J. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars I'm so glad there are more books in the series to look ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2017
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I've had this book on my kindle for a while and wish I had read it during a vacation when I could have given it my uninterrupted attention because I did not want to put it down. Instead, I started it while there were a number of other things demanding my attention which meant I had to force myself to put it down. The story is well written and the author has clearly written about things and places she knows and r4esearched the things she didn't know so there aren't any of those clunker moments where you're reading along and come across something that is clearly factually incorrect. I'm so glad there are more books in the series to look forward to!
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sideliner
4.0 out of 5 stars Crafted and captivating
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017
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The depths and intricacies woven into the narrative keep the attention and anticipation hooked. If I have a quibble it is the convolutions that were explained rather than shown at about the three-quarter mark. I felt rushed and somewhat confused by the plethora of characters and their changing loyalties. Apart from that it was a satisfying read .
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Emmy
5.0 out of 5 stars A Spy to Love
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2014
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This is the second book by the author involving Conor McBride, a musician enticed by the British government to become someone he doesn't want to be. The first book, the Virtuosic Spy, crept into my heart very slowly. At one point, I set it aside but took it up again to give it another try, it seemed to bog down a little. My reward was that it was a first class, 5 star winner. By the time I began the second book I was good and truly hooked. I especially loved the Irishness of Conor, and his innate goodness which is still apparent after escapades that are not what he wants his life to be. This second book finds him still a spy but trying to become human again. It is also a first class, 5 star winner. Now I am impatient, I want to continue but will have to wait for Ms Guare to do her magic. Please hurry, dear author, your readers love your stories.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019
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I enjoyed the book. I would be a real fan of this author if she would choose the place where obscenities belong and where they do not belong. She is careless in that manner. There were a lot of characters and government entities such as the DEA, CIA, FBI, and MI6, but the numerosity did not trip me. This is the second book of a trilogy that could stand alone. An American heiress is grieving the death of her husband when through the entities listed above she learns that he is a con man, thief and murderer and very much alive. The author's other writing mechanics were good.

Thank you, Ms, Guare, for a good read.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Florian Rochat
5.0 out of 5 stars Encore une fois 5 étoiles
Reviewed in France on March 16, 2015
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Quand j’ai tourné les dernières pages de « Deceptive Cadence », le premier – et brillant – roman de Kathryn Guare, je me suis demandé quels types de vaches (Jersey ? Holstein ?) Conor McBride, le héro, allait traire dans le Vermont dans le nouvel épisode de la série. Je ne le sais toujours pas après avoir lu « The Secret Cord », mais peu importe. En réalité, McBride n’avait que peu de temps pour ça, et plein de choses à faire pour échapper à ses ennemis… tout en tombant amoureux de Kate.

J’avais donné 5 étoiles à « Deceptive Cadence », et me sens obligé de faire de même avec « The Secret Chord ». Kathryn Guare écrit de manière élégante, la trame de son livre est formidable, pleine de retournements et de surprises. Elle a un sens aigu des endroits et des atmosphères, et la psychologie de ses personnages est parfaite. Ses livres ne sont disponibles qu’en anglais, mais cet auteur mérite vraiment d’être découvert par un large public.
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Angelica Reads
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a good read. I haven't read the first book in ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2015
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Such a good read. I haven't read the first book in the series, but that doesn't matter. It's a gripping thriller and it's a captivating romance. The main characters, Irishman and secret agent, Conor and American hotel owner, Kate are complex and well drawn. The reader can feel the chemistry between them. The settings of Vermont and the west of Ireland are almost characters in their own right and are vividly described.

The story is full of surprises and twists and the ending is satisfying and perfectly pitched, leaving this reader keen to read the next book in this series, due out soon I hope.
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K Weston
5.0 out of 5 stars A really good book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2014
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A really enjoyable read, lots of twists and turns in the plot, written in a way that sustains interest right to the end. Kathryn really knows how to tell a good story.
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JM
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2014
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I enjoyed this second book but not as much as the first "Deceptive Cadence" It just didn't have the edge for me that the first book had. It's a good read & again full of excellent atmospheric vivid descriptions of places that make them so real & believable & the characters come to life as it was in Deceptive Cadence but for me it lost the edge as it had a little to much of the romantic aspect that took away the awesome plot of the original adventure.
Still worth reading as the descriptive content is second to none.
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Richard Ellis
5.0 out of 5 stars Another cracking book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2015
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Very impressive, such beautiful style and expression - painting a picture that both warms your heart and makes you weep.
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