The House of Secrets

A well told story, plenty of mystery, plenty of chasing around the world. Plenty of intrigue. Challenging all of us as to what we “see” in our worlds and our rationale for what we believe. Challenging our view of the ways and means of our own government. And a bit of sci-fi.

A fine read, though it left too many unanswered questions about the background of the characters. I always expect anything hinted at in the beginning of a book to be answered by the end--but this didn't happen. I'm wondering if this might be the start of a new series for Meltzer, which would be fine, because then I could know the background stories of the main characters.In this book, a young woman is in an accident with her father and brother, and when she wakes up, she has no emotional memories. She can remember events, but not the emotion tied to the event--meaning, she can recognize someone, but doesn't know if she likes them-hates them-has had their baby--well you get my drift.The Hazel's father has hosted a reality tv which explores the unexpected--like maybe an ancient aliens--meets haunted houses. Things get strange when people start dying.What I found fascinating about this story, was the idea of waking up without your emotional memories. Do you get a fresh start? What were you like before? Who can you trust? Who did you love? If the book were just about that one aspect, it would have been enough for a fascinating suspense novel--but the story gets crowded with too many characters who have sketchy backgrounds, that the story doesn't have time to explore.The story does search into Hazel's father's past, and her brother Skip, but not enough of the other wonderful characters. I would have loved to watch a slow unfolding of Hazel's past--one that appears violent to the extreme.It's not that I didn't enjoy reading this book, it's just that it wasn't quite as satisfying as his usual novels.

So many typos! Melvin is suddenly Marvin? Willa is suddenly Willow? It was annoying enough that I paid for this book on pre-order and then it turned up for free on Kindle Unlimited. But the many typos (extra or missing words in sentences) make it hard to be immersed in the story. Also, the kids' narraions don't sound to me at all like the way teenagers would actually speak or think.

I bought this book because I like Brad Meltzer's TV show and thought I would like his novels. House of Secrets is about Jack Nash who hosts a TV show much like Brad's-a documentary style investigation about conspiracy theories and historical mysteries. Jack recruits his seven year old son, Skip, to co-star on the show after the ratings start to tank.As the years roll on, Skip and his sister, Hazel, lose their father in a deadly car accident. They begin to suspect foul play. A mystery involving Benedict Arnold and his Bible comes into play. Hazel, who was in the car with her father, cannot remember anything due to a mild form of amnesia. Clue by clue she unlocks her old memories as well as her dad's secret past.My Review: Meltzer has a page-turning style that sucked me in right away. I really liked the history about Benedict Arnold. I also liked his tongue and cheek style about the main character's TV show. The irony is not lost.For the most part, the story meshed. There were a few moments that confused me, but then I tend to read at night and then fall asleep. I recommend this book to all history and mystery lovers. I will definitely be buying another Meltzer book. 4/5 Stars

The book was well written and kept me up until almost 4am!I can tell you that the story started with Hazel Nash being told a story by her father, Jack Nash, a very famous TV star who travels the world looking for strange things to talk about on his show! The name of his show is House of secrets! Known through out the world.The story he tells her is about Benedict Arnold and George Washington and the trouble they had together. He explains about Arnold betraying Washington! A man is found dead and when the body is cut open to find out how he died, the doctors find a bible in his chest! The bible turns out to be Benedict Arnold's bible. At the time Hazel is only six years old. But she is interested in the story because it is a strange series of events.Through out her life she thinks that her father's travels are all concerning the story she heard when she was 6! She stays in contact with her brother, Skip Nash and Jack even after her Mother dies.Jack contacts both Hazel and Skip and wants them to go on a trip together for old times. As they are driving across the Desert, Jack has a heart attack and they have an accident that kills him and injures Hazel!That is when Hazel loses her long term memories. Skip is fine he was in the back seat.As she is in the hospital she tries to remember their past lives, but has to relive a lot of stuff that Skip has to help her with.They get into too much trouble trying to find out about Jack and get the FBI involved in the story.That is when they find out that two other people are found dead and one has a Benedict Arnold bible buried in his chest! The same as the story Hazel was told when she was 6!The book must be read to understand The House of Secrets!You will not be able to put it down!

Another excellent book from Brad Meltzer, fans won't be disappointed.

Hazel Nash wakes up in hospital with a traumatic brain injury. She is told she was in a car crash that killed her father, Jack Nash. An FBI agent shows up asking about her father and his connection to a body found with Benedict Arnold's bible sewn inside his chest.I have to give this a solid "meh." It wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't horrible, either. At times the pace lagged and I really didn't care about the characters. On the other hand, the mystery was unique and intriguing and did keep me wanting to turn the page.

It was missing that something special brad injects in his books...just cannot put my finger on what it is. I had to check more than once that he was the actual writer of the book.

Unverständliches gefasel, völlig wirr!

Rather confusing plot - not easy to follow. Unsatisfactory ending.