BookTrib’s Bites: Hidden Truths, Ancient Secrets and the Search for Answers

(BookTrib) - “Palm Beach Confidential” by Susannah Marren

In the latest entry in her Palm Beach novel series, Susannah Marren returns to the glittering, watchful world of Palm Beach, where appearances matter, and family secrets have a way of surfacing at the worst possible time. Lucinda Barrows has spent decades building a dazzling life of wealth, status and social influence, but her carefully controlled world begins to crack when mysterious letters arrive from Kesgrave, the Florida Panhandle town she thought she had left behind.

Her three daughters are already caught in their own storms: Maribelle is estranged from Raleigh after a devastating betrayal, Caroline is trying to hold the family business together, and Raleigh is facing a brutal divorce while being drawn into a risky new romance. Part family drama, part slow-burn mystery, “Palm Beach Confidential” explores what women hide, what they protect and what it costs to keep a polished life intact.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/palm-beach-confidential. 

“Son of Hades” by Caleb Lewis

Alexandros Nyktos is grieving, furious and very dangerous. After his undercover detective wife is murdered by the Moretti Mafia, Alex — the demigod son of Hades — tears through the criminal empire seeking revenge. But when he reaches mob boss Victor Moretti, someone has beaten him to the kill.

The twist? Moretti was actually Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of wine, and someone has discovered how to murder immortals.

Now Alex is both suspect and reluctant guide for FBI Special Agent Morgan Hale, whose investigation pulls her into a hidden America populated by gods, vampires, demons and other legendary beings living behind modern identities. When another god turns up dead, the uneasy partners must uncover what connects the victims before the killer strikes again.

Blending urban fantasy, police procedural and slow-burn romance, “Son of Hades” brings ancient rivalries and divine grudges into a dark, dangerous modern underworld.

Purchase at https://a.co/d/00T5kpWj.

“In Search of the Optimal Human Diet: A Layperson's Guide to Nutritional Science” by Jonathan Spitz

In a world of competing diet plans, contradictory headlines and nutritional quick fixes, Jonathan Spitz goes back to a more fundamental question: What does the science actually tell us?

“In Search of the Optimal Human Diet” traces more than two centuries of nutritional research, from an eighteenth-century experiment on scurvy through the discovery of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to today’s understanding of metabolism, fiber and the gut microbiome. Along the way, Spitz brings the history to life through the scientists, experiments and occasional wrong turns that shaped what we know about food and health.

The evidence ultimately leads Spitz to advocate a whole-food, plant-based diet, with Dr. Michael Greger’s “Daily Dozen” providing a practical food guide. Extensively documented and supplemented with nine appendices, the book is both an accessible scientific history and a useful reference for readers who want to make evidence-based dietary choices rather than follow trends.

Purchase at https://man-eating-plants.com/.  

“When Waiting Becomes Life” by Jeff Deaton, MD 

“When Waiting Becomes Life” gently illuminates the often-unseen emotional landscape of infertility — a journey many walk in silence. Drawing on heartfelt, real-life stories from women and couples who have faced failed cycles, loss and years of uncertainty, Dr. Jeff Deaton blends compassionate medical insight with deeply human narrative. Each chapter offers not only the raw honesty of lived experience but also practical, encouraging advice that helps readers process grief, confront shame and navigate complex treatment decisions with greater clarity and confidence.

Readers praise the book for its warmth and wisdom, noting how Deaton’s balanced mix of hope, science and empathy makes even the most difficult moments feel shared rather than endured alone. Whether you’re living the struggle or supporting someone who is, this book offers solace, strength and a reminder: waiting isn’t the whole story — growth and resilience can be part of the journey too.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/when-waiting-becomes-life.