Unspeakable by Elisabeth Naughton

In this electrifying novel from New York Times bestselling author Elisabeth Naughton, love can be a risk when it’s explored in such dark places…

All his siblings have moved on from their troubling pasts, but Rusty McClane can’t leave his behind. Not even when his freedom is in jeopardy.

Legal investigator Harper Blake can sense a bad boy. She’s drawn to them—like she is to her mysterious and brooding new client. The police believe that Rusty is involved with the case of a missing underage girl. Harper’s job is to find evidence to defend him. But is her sexy suspect a predator… or something else?

If Rusty is guilty of anything, it’s of stirring something primitive in Harper. The closer they get, the harder it is to believe the worst of him.

But in an underworld filled with sex trafficking, kidnapping, and murder, Harper will need to be cautious about whom she trusts. Because Rusty isn’t the only one with secrets.

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Thriller and romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the second book that I've read in this series. And while I wasn't disappointed, it also didn't gel very well either.

Rusty is kind of known as the black sheep in his family. They are worried that he's constantly trying to redeem himself. Even when his freedom is in jeopardy, he refuses to give in to the questioning and even hides things from his own attorney. His behavior is somewhat suspect and with that behavior, his attorney sends out an investigator to try and figure out the mystery behind Rusty.

Harper is a disgraced police officer and despite that, she knows that she wants to be back on the force. However, even her contacts that she still has on the force either can't or won't really help her cause. She has her own reasons for wanting to help Rusty in his case but when she truly digs down into the mystery, her motives change. Her motives also change the more she gets to know Rusty.

The romance is somewhat overdone in this story. I was much more interested in the mystery and chase. I think that's why I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. However, the mystery is good and I liked reading about that. I do wish there was a little more completion on Harper's behalf – I thought it felt unfinished. But I did enjoy it.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This story about human trafficking in San Diego and Rusty is easily my favourite in the series so far. Rusty is probably the most secretive of the McClane siblings but it is a shock when police interrupt a family gathering to bring him in for questioning.

Hired to defend Rusty, his lawyer assigns Harper to find out more about his activities. Quickly, Harper finds herself tangled up with a human trafficking ring – and she knows Rusty is involved in some way.

This story moves quickly and I enjoyed the suspicion surrounding both Rusty and Harper. The two characters are attracted to each other – but neither can trust the other. As the story unravels, it gets bigger and bigger and quickly becomes personal for both Rusty and Harper. The story soon feels a little bit over the top when it feels like everyone in the city is dragged into the investigation. I enjoyed the suspense as Harper and Rusty begin to discover how far the corruption goes but the ending is frustratingly over dramatic and all the pieces are only tied together for readers during a long winded explanation by the baddest of the bad guys.

I liked the connection between Rusty and Harper but any real relationship development is sacrificed for suspense and action. This is marketed as romantic suspense, but it feels more like suspense with a little bit of sex. I’m not sure this is a terribly plausible story, but it is an exciting read.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series, and Rusty’s story is as good as every one of his siblings so far. I was so excited when I got the book, and yet nervous at the same time, as Elisabeth Naughton writes books which take me high and low, and get me hot and cold, and always cause a few (or more) tears. So, although I’m sad I’ve finished it, I can happily report that I managed to read the teary bits when alone!

One of the real strengths of this series is that the love stories are deeply enmeshed in a complex plot, which twists and turns us around. This one is no exception, and in fact, the very last chapter and epilogue delivers an unexpected extra to the story. The other star feature is that the siblings all fall in love with someone incredibly strong themselves – this makes absolute sense when you think of their parents as role models. Hannah is an inspirational mother for sure and Michael a wonderful father.

Will we have to wait till Thomas is a bit older for his book? Probably, but I do hope that there is more to come from this lovely family. In the meantime, I’m sure Naughton is busy hatching some other cunning plot to entrance and excite her loyal readers – I for one can’t wait.

Also Available in the Deadly Secrets Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Repressed post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Gone post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Protected post.

Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA® and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home.

Connect with Elisabeth

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Unspeakable (Deadly Secrets #4) by Elisabeth Naughton to read and review.