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Flames of Secrecy-A Psychological Thriller

Category: Thriller, Suspense

Author: Wayne M. Miller

Publisher: self-published

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

Number of Pages: 326

Wayne M. Miller's psychological thriller Flames of Secrecy delivers a gripping exploration of the complex nature of the human psyche, threaded through a narrative steeped in intrigue, revenge, and the consequences of unresolved trauma. The novel is cleverly plotted, with well-developed characters whose interactions propel them toward dark and dangerous outcomes. Brantley is a deeply flawed character whose life experiences shape his disturbed worldview. His troubling past, marked by emotional and physical abuse from his mother, informs his present actions and motivations. When Brantley's childhood grievances culminate in an irrational vendetta against women who remind him of his mother or who he perceives as unkind or abusive, he descends into a cycle of violence. Each act of arson he commits is not just a method of revenge but an unsettling reflection of his internal conflict. Brantley’s evolution into a murderer is chillingly predictable, given his psychological makeup, which Miller skillfully reveals through a series of flashbacks and streams of consciousness.

On the other side of the narrative is Mark, whose life as a federal agent investigating arson starkly contrasts Brantley’s criminal pursuits. Mark's character embodies the struggle for redemption and the quest to understand his past. Their connection creates a layer of intrigue and tragedy as the story unfolds. As the number of arson victims increases, Mark is determined to uncover the arsonist. The stakes get higher when he becomes a suspect. He must race against time to stop the next arson before it is too late. The plot of Flames of Secrecy intricately braids Brantley and Mark’s lives while maintaining a tense atmosphere as their destinies inch toward an inevitable collision.

Miller’s writing captures the thrilling and the horrific, mainly through the vivid descriptions of Brantley's arsonist escapades. The detailed settings of Boston, particularly the Back Bay and Boston Garden, further ground the narrative in a familiar yet deceptive landscape where tranquility and violence exist.

Wayne M. Miller is a great storyteller who infuses the writing with details and realism. The pacing is deliberate yet compelling, allowing readers to linger in moments of anxiety and dread as they witness Brantley orchestrate his plans and evade the investigation. The moments spent at the scenes of various fires provide a dual purpose—acting as both the physical sites of crime and as manifestations of Brantley's psychological turmoil. The constant back and forth between the fire investigations led by Mark and Brantley’s nefarious activities creates a thrilling tension that keeps the reader engaged, building up to the explosive climax where the two men’s paths are destined to cross. This novel is rife with moral ambiguity, exploring themes of guilt, shame, familial relationships, and the cyclical nature of violence. It’s a page-turning thriller with finely drawn and genuinely flawed characters and a conflict that ensures the tension never wavers as you read from page to page.

Reviewed By: Matthew Novak