Secrets, Crimes and Concubines

Three women. Three generations. One legacy of pain that refuses to be forgotten. Cynthia’s life begins with trauma and is shaped by survival, as she endures abuse, hardship, and a world that offers her little protection. Determined that her daughter will have more, Pearl dares to break free, defying expectations and crossing racial and cultural boundaries when she falls in love with Miles, a Jewish man whose family didn’t accept her at first. But the past has a way of resurfacing. Their daughter, Hope, grows up caught between worlds—never quite fitting in, never fully understood. As she searches for love and validation in all the wrong places, her relationships mirror the pain passed down through generations. Struggling with identity, rejection, and self-worth, Hope finds herself repeating the very patterns she longs to escape. Until one truth changes everything. When Hope discovers the secret that has shaped her life, she is forced to confront not only who she is but who she chooses to become. Will she continue the cycle… or finally break it? A powerful, emotionally charged story of love, identity, and resilience, this multi-generational novel explores the lasting impact of trauma and the courage it takes to heal. About the Author Harriet West grew up in London, UK. Since her teenage years, her friends and family had always expressed how much they loved her storytelling. But it would take years of reflection and self-belief before she found the confidence to sit down and write her novel, Secrets, Crimes & Concubines.