Welcome to the Blog Tour for Through Smoke and Secrets by Rebecca Hemlock, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Through Smoke and Secrets
Series: Dangerous Heirlooms #1
Author: Rebecca Hemlock
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: January 21, 2026
Genre: Mystery Suspense
A century-old secret. A relentless enemy. One Locket that was never meant to be found.
When antiques dealer Annie Whitaker buys an unremarkable locket at a routine estate sale, she expects nothing more than a quiet ride home through the Smoky Mountains. Instead, a shadowy vehicle sends her car skidding off a cliffside road—and she realizes the attack was no accident. Hidden inside the locket is a key, a cryptic letter, and the first thread of a mystery tied to the disappearance of Eleanor Blackwood, a woman who vanished over a hundred years ago.
Someone has killed to keep that secret buried.
And now they’ve set their sights on Annie.
Her shop is ransacked. Her inventory destroyed. Her building intentionally set ablaze. With no phone, no transportation, and nowhere safe to go, Annie is forced to seek refuge in the only place left: the remote mountain ranch of Detective Jack Calloway, a man who once shared her obsession with cold cases—and who may be the only person she can trust.
As Jack digs into the evidence Annie uncovered, the danger spirals. Break-ins, threats, shadows stalking the ranch at night—each clue reveals a darker truth. The locket isn’t just a forgotten keepsake; it’s the final piece in a long-buried murder. And someone with power, reach, and generations of secrets will do whatever it takes to silence the truth forever.
With Annie marked as the next victim, Jack races to unravel a century of lies before time runs out. Every revelation tightens the noose around them both—and with Annie constantly in his line of fire, Jack’s focus fractures between the case and the woman he’s never been able to forget. The closer they come to exposing the killer, the more Jack realizes he may lose her long before the truth sees daylight. And every step forward draws them toward a final, deadly confrontation neither of them may survive.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author| Amazon | BookBub
Excerpt
Annie turned the brittle pages of the Blackwood family Bible slowly, her pulse pounding. Births. Marriages. Deaths. Generations of names recorded in careful handwriting. Then she found the entry that made her breath catch. Eleanor Blackwood. Born October 12, 1900. Mother to Mary and Joy. Disappeared March 15, 1927. “Disappeared,” Annie murmured. Jack leaned over her shoulder. “Not died,” he said quietly.
Annie traced the next entry with her finger. Richard Mitchell. Born 1910. She looked up sharply. “He turned eighteen five days after Eleanor vanished.” Jack nodded grimly. “And if Eleanor had a son…” “Richard would lose the inheritance.” Silence settled between them. Then Annie slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out the locket. “What if this proves what really happened to her?” she whispered.
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About the Author
Rebecca Hemlock is an award-winning Christian Fiction author whose love for mysteries began in childhood when she first fell in love with all things Nancy Drew. That early spark grew into a lifelong passion for crime-solving stories, complex puzzles, and characters who must fight for truth even when the world around them is dark and uncertain.
Her novels are known for realism, emotional depth, and suspense that stays tightly wound until the final pages. Rebecca creates characters who face danger, trauma, and moral crossroads — moments that either test their faith or ignite a brand-new relationship with God. At the heart of every story lies her guiding verse and creative compass, Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Before writing fiction full-time, Rebecca spent four years as a freelance journalist, where she honed her ability to spot the thread of a story, ask the right questions, and build tension from real-world details. That experience sharpened her voice and laid the foundation for the 15 books she has now published, ranging from romantic suspense and mystery to historical-tinged thrillers. She also writes children’s fiction under the pen name R.C. Burch.
Rebecca is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime, and she’s passionate about uplifting stories that blend danger, courage, heart, and hope. With a Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing — plus an Appalachian Studies certificate — she brings layered settings, emotional authenticity, and cultural richness to her work. She continues to pursue further writing education, always seeking to grow as a storyteller.
When she’s not writing, Rebecca enjoys traveling, reading mysteries, exploring historical places, and spending time with her family. Her work is written for readers who love suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat — and faith that keeps you anchored through the storm.
Connect with Rebecca by visiting rebeccahemlock.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write Through Smoke and Secrets?
Rebecca: This story was inspired by my love for family heirlooms and the stories they carry. I’ve always been drawn to the idea that something small and ordinary—a locket, a Bible, a forgotten keepsake—can hold generations of truth. Some of those stories are beautiful, like the way a family came to Christ or moments of faith that shaped everything after. Others carry a darker weight—secrets people tried to bury and hoped would never surface.
That contrast became the heartbeat of this story. What if something so simple held the power to expose everything? And what if someone was willing to do anything to keep it hidden?
At the same time, the story is deeply rooted in my faith—especially the truth that God sees what is hidden. Nothing stays buried forever, and truth always matters.
Q: How long did it take to write this book?
Rebecca: This book came together in layers rather than in one straight line. The initial idea formed fairly quickly, but developing the full story—especially weaving together the historical and present-day timelines—took time and patience.
I’d say the process stretched over several months of writing, revising, and refining. It was one of those stories that unfolded piece by piece, where each discovery led to another, much like the mystery itself.
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
Rebecca: One of the biggest surprises was how much meaning and history can be tied to something as small as a piece of jewelry. Researching Victorian lockets, I realized they weren’t just decorative—they were deeply personal. They held photographs, hair, messages…pieces of someone’s life.
That made the story feel even more real to me. It also surprised me how naturally the historical elements connected with the suspense. The deeper I went, the more it felt like the past wasn’t just influencing the present—it was actively shaping it.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Through Smoke and Secrets?
Rebecca: “God sees everything, Jack. He already knows the truth we’re looking for.”
This line captures both the heart of the investigation and the spiritual foundation of the story. It’s a reminder that even when truth feels buried, lost, or hidden by time and fear, it’s never out of God’s sight—and that changes everything about how we search for it.
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Rebecca: I’ve loved stories for as long as I can remember, but the desire to become an author grew over time. It started with a love of reading and slowly turned into a need to tell stories of my own—especially stories that blend mystery, faith, and emotional depth.
At some point, it stopped being just an idea and became something I couldn’t ignore. Writing became more than a hobby—it became a calling.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?
Rebecca: Something many readers might not realize is how much both my environment and my mind shape the way I write. I have severe ADHD and an anxiety disorder, and for a long time, that made everything feel louder, faster, and harder to organize. But over time, I’ve realized it also allows me to notice details others might miss—to follow threads, to sit in the tension of a mystery, and to feel the emotional weight of a story on a deeper level.
That part of me shows up in my writing, especially in the way my characters process fear, uncertainty, and the unknown.
At the same time, my connection to Appalachia grounds all of that. It’s not just a setting I enjoy—it’s home. The mountains, the quiet, the way the land seems to hold stories…they create a sense of stillness that balances everything else. Where my thoughts can feel chaotic, the land feels steady.
And that’s where my faith deepens. There’s something about being surrounded by that kind of quiet strength and history that draws me closer to God. It’s a reminder that even when my mind feels overwhelming, He is constant. That I’m part of something bigger, something enduring—and that even the noise has a place in the story He’s writing.
Q: What are you currently reading?
Rebecca: I’m actually in between books at the moment. I just finished He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox. I’m about to start Shadow Witness by Angela Carlisle.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Rebecca: My favorite genres are definitely mysteries, romantic suspense, and thrillers. Contemporary or Historical, I don’t care. I love books that keep you turning pages, where every detail matters and every clue leads somewhere deeper.
Even more than that, I love when those stories are layered with faith, history, and emotional stakes—where the mystery isn’t just about what happened, but why it matters.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
Rebecca: Outside of writing, I love anything bookish and creative, especially crafting and creating literary-inspired pieces. There’s something relaxing about working with my hands and bringing story-inspired ideas into something tangible.
It’s a different kind of storytelling, but it connects back to the same love of books and meaning.
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
Rebecca: Fall has always been my favorite season. There’s something about the crisp air, the changing leaves, and the quiet shift in atmosphere that feels both peaceful and a little mysterious.
It’s the perfect backdrop for reflection, for stories, and for that sense that something deeper is just beneath the surface—which, in a way, mirrors the kind of stories I love to write.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a book-themed prize bundle, including a tote, a mug, a kindle dust protector, a bookmark, and a $25 Amazon Gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Great interview.
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