The Secret

THE SECRET

A Highland Novel

In the rugged Highlands of Scotland, Rab MacKenzie has faithfully served as ghillie to Strathmore Lodge for over thirty years. Yet beneath his quiet devotion lies a secret that has burned in his heart since childhood-a secret that began with a few whispered words in Gaelic on a windswept moor.When tragedy strikes the estate repeatedly, leaving Lady Eleanor widowed and alone, the bonds between master and servant are tested as never before. As poachers threaten the land, a young guest meets a horrific end beneath the ice of a mountain loch, and brutal murder rocks the community, Rab finds himself guardian not only of Strathmore’s future, but of its darkest truths.Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, The Secret weaves together murder, intrigue, and tragedy in a tale of unwavering loyalty and forbidden love.Some secrets are worth a lifetime of silence-but others demand to be spoken, whatever the cost.Bonus StoryWhere Tides Run DeepIn the windswept Highlands of eighteenth-century Scotland, retired Captain Angus McPherson sits beside his cottage fire, haunted by betrayal upon the high seas. From his croft overlooking the Cromarty Firth, he recalls his rise from Highland lad to master mariner following a mysterious inheritance that bestowed upon him a fine vessel. For two decades, he built an honest trading empire across the Atlantic – until his trusted first mate orchestrated a mutiny, casting him into shark-infested waters.Rescued by humble Spanish peasants whose kindness far exceeded that of his supposedly Christian crew, Angus returned home seeking justice. Yet corruption protected the guilty, leaving him to grapple with profound loss. Throughout his trials, his Highland faith remained steadfast. Teaching him that integrity before the Almighty proves a far greater treasure than earthly gold.Where Tides Run Deep weaves together adventure, betrayal, and redemption. Demonstrating that while fortunes may disappear, the treasures of honour and faith can never be stolen.

Author Biography

Alan Dunlop brings an authentic Highland voice and deep cultural knowledge to his historical fiction, drawing from a lifetime immersed in Scottish Presbyterian heritage and maritime tradition. His previous bestseller, which told the remarkable story behind the beloved hymn ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’, demonstrated his exceptional ability to weave together faith, history, and compelling narrative.Married to Irene for over fifty years, Alan and his wife have raised six children and delight in their thirty-one grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.