Hey there, my friend.
Every so often, a book comes along that feels like it’s written in the exact corner of the world you love: time period, tone, questions, and all. Roseanna M. White’s “Ring of Secrets” did that for me.
I picked it up expecting a historical spy story with Christian elements. What I found was a “faith-forward puzzle and suspense novel” where the central question is less “who did it?” and more “who can be trusted—and what will it cost them?” From the first chapters, I felt as if I’d stepped into a world of whispered conversations, coded notes, and hidden loyalties in 1779 New York, and I didn’t want to leave.
Not a Classic Whodunit—but a Rich Puzzle and Suspense Story
If you come to “Ring of Secrets” looking for a traditional whodunit in the classic detective sense, you may be surprised. The tension here doesn’t center on unmasking a single villain so much as navigating a constantly shifting web of danger:
– Who is truly loyal to the Patriot cause and who is not?
– Who knows more than they’re saying?
– What will each character sacrifice for country, for conscience, and for love?
Winter Reeves, our heroine, is working as a “spy embedded in Loyalist society”, gathering bits of information and passing them on through the Culper Ring. The fun (and danger) comes from watching her maintain a careful “mask” in one of the most closely watched environments in the colonies, always one wrong word away from discovery.
So the mystery here is a “puzzle of identities, motives, and risks”. The suspense doesn’t rely on a body in the library; it’s built out of the constant possibility that Winter’s work for the Patriots will be exposed—and the knowledge that if it is, she could be executed.
Winter Reeves: Outwardly Blank, Inwardly Sharp
One of the reasons this book hit me so strongly is Winter herself. She may be one of the most memorable heroines I’ve met in Christian historical fiction.
On the surface, Winter presents as exactly what society expects:
– A frail, somewhat foolish young woman
– More concerned with fashion and small talk than with politics or depth
But inside, she is anything but shallow. She’s inwardly sharp, constantly balancing survival against conviction. She has learned the hard way that showing her true self is dangerous—socially and physically—and so she wraps herself in a persona that lets her move through Loyalist drawing rooms unnoticed.
Watching her maintain that tension—playing the fool in public while quietly risking her life for information—was one of my favorite parts of the book. She is that rare combination of vulnerable and strong: weary from what she’s endured, yet refusing to give up on the causes and people she feels called to protect.
As someone who loves heroines who are truly active agents within the constraints of their time, Winter felt exactly right to me.
Bennet Lane: A Perfect Counterpart
Then there’s Bennet Lane, the hero.
Officially, Bennet returns to New York from his Yale professorship under the pretense of looking for a wife. In truth, he’s been sent to do exactly what Winter is trying to prevent: find General Washington’s hidden spy among New York’s elite.
On paper, that makes them perfect enemies; in practice, it makes for wonderfully layered tension.
Bennet is:
– Brilliant and observant
– A bit earnest in a way that can be disarming
– Committed to his mission and still sensitive to the people around him
He quickly realizes Winter is not what she pretends to be. Her “too-blank” face, her carefully chosen words, and her flickers of real intelligence draw him in. Their scenes together are full of subtext: each trying to see through the other without revealing too much of themselves.
What I especially appreciated is how their conversations about faith are handled. They are:
– Succinct—no one delivers a sermon.
– Deep—these are real people asking real questions of God.
– Naturally woven—spiritual topics grow out of who they are and what they’re facing, not bolted on.
As someone who cares a lot about how faith shows up in fiction, these scenes rang true and stayed with me.
Pacing That Flows, Not Jerks
I’ve said elsewhere that some of my favorite mysteries don’t “move” so much as “flow,” and “Ring of Secrets” fits that description.
The plot covers:
– Multiple layers of espionage and counter‑espionage
– Family expectations
– Social games in Loyalist circles
– Growing attraction between two people on opposite sides of the same secret war
It could easily have become choppy or overstuffed. Instead, the story unfolds with a steady, confident pace. The stakes rise, but the narrative never feels rushed. There’s room to breathe and think, to enjoy small moments of humor and tenderness, even with danger pressing close.
The historical detail is rich without being heavy. Roseanna White knows when to give a vivid brushstroke—a certain street, a particular piece of clothing, a custom—to immerse you in 1779 New York. She also knows when to step back, let dialogue and subtext carry the scene, and trust the reader’s imagination.
The result, for me, was a story that felt both immersive and readable: I kept turning the pages, and yet I could see the craft in how the scenes were built.
Faith Forward in a World of Spies
The tagline for the book is “Love Has No Place in a World of Spies,” and yet this is a deeply faith-aware world. Characters are not simply using religion as a cover; many of them are genuinely wrestling with what it means to obey God in a context where deception is literally part of their job.
What stood out to me:
– The faith content is unapologetic—God is named, sought, and sometimes questioned directly.
– It is woven into character—Winter’s and Bennet’s beliefs shape their fears, choices, and hopes.
– It never feels like a pause button on the plot—conversations about God deepen the stakes rather than interrupt them.
For me, this fits what I would call faith‑forward historical fiction: stories where the spiritual dimension is not a quiet suggestion off to the side, but a central current running under everything. It’s one more reason I felt at home in this book.
What I’m Taking with Me
Whenever I read a book that feels close to the kind of stories I write, I try to pay attention to what I can learn. From “Ring of Secrets”, I’m carrying forward:
– How well a puzzle‑and‑suspense structure can work in Christian historical fiction, even when it isn’t a classic “whodunit.”
– How carefully drawn personas (like Winter’s outward foolishness) can create deep tension and opportunity for character growth.
– How faith conversations can be short, honest, and powerful without ever turning into mini‑sermons.
– How important it is to let a plot flow at its own pace, trusting the layering of danger and emotion instead of constantly escalating for shock value.
If you love historical fiction where:
– Spies and secrets matter
– Romance grows in the shadow of real danger
– And faith is as central to the story as the codes and ciphers
then I think you’ll find “Ring of Secrets” as rewarding as I did.
All the very best for the week ahead,
Katy