Rated of 5
by Brenda A New View on An Old Subject
Having read several accounts on the RUF, all harrowing, I appreciated the new slant given by Paul Harris. The subject is so disturbing, and when told from a person on the "sidelines" rather than personal involvement, the story takes on a whole new scary, sad, and sometimes exhilarating depiction on an event that we can't really understand.
Why would a reporter even venture into any war-torn area, let alone one whose soldiers are baby-faced? How can anyone grasp family and community fears and challenges and still remain "unbiased" especially after losing the one person he loves to the so-called effort? When the truth of his lover's death is finally unraveled, the choices left are not easy or morally straightforward.
I read this book in a few days and its message still haunts me. It would be a shame to miss out on a new view on this most recent, and possibly still ongoing, event.
Rated of 5
by Fred The Secret Keeper
Mr.Harris kept me riveted from start to finish. I learned a lot about that war in Sierra Leone.
Rated of 5
by Peggy An African Love Story
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a love story within a land torn by war and unspeakable cruelty. I was very impressed with the way Mr. Harris drew his characters and how much more I learned about Sierra Leone in reading it. I would certainly recommend this book to young people who need to learn about this world. This is a fictional story but Sierra Leone is real and it is that reality that will stay with you when you turn the last page.
Rated of 5
by Nancy A very good story overall
The basic story within the covers of The Secret Keeper is quite good, dealing with the aftermath and the effects of war in Sierra Leone. The civil war there and its casualties (in all senses of the word) make for interesting reading. The twist in the story was quite unexpected, and made for a bit of an "aha" at the end. However, the characters in this book seemed a bit flat, one-dimensional and were people I really cared nothing about.
The author is a journalist who spent a lot of time in Africa and actually covered the conflict there. He might consider writing a nonfictional account of his experiences -- they would probably come off as being more realistic.
I would probably only recommend it to people who want to know more about the politics and conflict in Sierra Leone. The story he's trying to tell is a good one and should be heard.
Rated of 5
by Velma Kudos
Kudos for this first novel by Paul Harris! From the first page I was drawn into Danny's world and its secrets. I never saw the conclusion coming (a novelty for me). Danny is a British reporter who travels to Sierra Leone to cover the revolutionary war there and falls in love with an aid worker at a children's facility. It's a love story, a mystery, a thriller, and a powerful commentary on our turbulent times and the people who survive those times. It is a good read...a VERY good read and I would recommend it highly to all. I will await the next book by Mr. Harris anxiously and hope that the arrival will be soon.
Rated of 5
by Laura The Secret Keeper
While I had a hard time putting this book down, I can't say that I liked it. The story line, which focuses on a reporter's efforts to investigate the murder of his former lover who is caught up in a civil war in Sierra Leone, is compelling, and its tensions are well developed. The characters, while not particularly likable, are quite human and appropriately motivated. However, the writing is too flabby and casual for this high tension story. Harris is particularly fond of the verb-less description posing as a sentence, and sometimes strings 6 or 7 together in a distracting way. The stylistic devise of switching between two time periods to tell the story is confusing at times. On several occasions, I had to flip back to the beginning of a chapter to determine whether I was in the 2000 or 2004 segment of the story. Tighter writing would have turned this book into a first-rate thriller.
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