September 4, 2025joynealkidney

Dan Walsh’s Gilded Secrets Series

Gilded Secrets Series

If you enjoy historical novels that include compelling characters wrestling with complex issues, you’ll enjoy Dan Walsh’s two-book Gilded Secrets Series. Scandal at the Belmont was just published August 30. 

The Perfect Stranger

Book Blurb: It is the spring in New York City, 1912, and Lily Whitaker, a wealthy young socialite, is in love. While serving at a ministry to the poor in her church, she meets a handsome young businessman. Charles Bennington moved to New York from San Francisco 10 years ago with just the clothes on his back. But he’s worked hard, taken every advantage the good Lord’s provided and now owns a thriving business. He can hardly believe it when he caught Lily’s attention and, later, receives permission from her father to court her. Two months after that, he agrees to let Charles marry Lily, who’s overjoyed at the news. Charles secures first-class tickets for their honeymoon on the return voyage back to England on the RMS Titanic. Like the ill-fated ship, something happens that threatens to sink their plans and turn both their lives upside down. Is the wedding now off? Will Charles lose everything and be forced to take a train back to San Francisco?

My reaction: The Perfect Stranger is compelling historical novel with themes of secrets, betrayal, compassion, love, integrity, forgiveness set in the days train travel and of the renowned Titanic. I especially enjoyed the character of Nigel Whitaker, the father of the heroine Lily.

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Scandal at the Belmont

Book Blurb: It’s New York, the summer of 1914.
A shocking murder.
A wrongful arrest.
A city built on secrets.
A man who won’t back down.
In the final golden days of the Gilded Age, before the world tilts toward World War I, Charles Bennington is a man with everything to lose. Two years after marrying the woman he loves, Lily Whitaker, he’s finally carved out the life he once only dreamed of—until a single phone call shatters the illusion. Her brother Cedric has just discovered a body…and the police believe he put it there. Charles never imagined he’d be fighting to save his brother-in-law from the electric chair. As a scandal erupts at the Hotel Belmont, Charles finds himself caught in a web of secrets, lies, and political corruption stretching to the highest levels of the Empire City. With the police unwilling to look any further, Charles is determined to clear Cedric’s name. He begins a perilous search, willing to risk everything to expose a truth that powerful men will kill to protect.
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My reaction: “Scandal at the Belmont” was the newspaper headline after the murder at the Hotel Belmont owned by Charles Bennington’s father-in-law. Charles’s brother-in-law is arrested for the murder–of his best friend. Everything points to his guilt, unless someone digs deeper–through corrupt webs of city government and power, and a family who believes in providential intervention. Scandal at the Belmont is a very satisfying historical novel.
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Dan Walsh

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of 30 faith-based novels (all available on Amazon), including The Unfinished Gift (soon to become a movie), Rescuing Finley, When Night Comes, and The Reunion (also becoming a movie soon). Over 1.9 million copies of Dan’s books are in print or downloaded. They’ve received over 67,000 Amazon Reviews (4.7 Star Avg). He’s won both the Carol and Selah Awards multiple times, 4 of his novels have been finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Novel of the Year.

Reviewers often remark about Dan’s rich, character-driven storylines and page-turning suspense (even with his inspirational books). He’s been writing full-time since 2010. He and his wife Cindi have been married 48 years, have 2 grown children and 6 grandchildren. They live in the Daytona Beach area, where Dan grew up. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, read his blog, or preview all his books on Amazon, or by visiting his website. He says they’re all easy to find on Google.

By following Dan Walsh on social media, you’ll learn he also has an adorable King Charles Spaniel named Finley.

I enjoyed this recent interview of Dan on A Writer’s Day Podcast, with fascinating backstory for his newest book. He also talks about his transition from traditional publishing to really enjoying being an indie author.

15 comments

  4. I just read this post. Went directly to Amazon and ordered “The Reunion”. Returned here to comment. Thanks, Joy

    Reply

  6. Both these Walsh novels sound wonderfully intriguing. I’ll be on the lookot for the two movies-and his multtude of other books! Thanks, Joy, for introducing Dan Walsh. 🙂

    Reply

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