Contact Denise
Snarky Humor…Serpentine Mysteries…Sizzling Suspense…Smoldering Romance
Get Your FREE
Bonus Materials for
Buried Secrets!
By Denise Diana Huddle
Buried Secrets is a work of fiction. But in these bonus materials, you can read about the real-life cases that helped inspire the story in Buried Secrets – inspiration that came from great mysteries and scandals in Texas history.
See actual newspaper articles about the case involving the bloody events that took place in Room 636 of the Gunter hotel on February 8, 1965 when a housekeeper used her passkey to enter the wrong room at the hotel and stumbled into an abattoir. A startled, blood-covered man grabbed a bloody bundle, pushed past the stunned housekeeper, and disappeared down the fire stairs. Two days later, the suspect fatally shot himself in the head when police attempted to enter his room at the Saint Anthony hotel a few blocks from the Gunter.
Read historical articles and handwritten memoranda about the events of March 19, 1840 known as the Council House Fight/Massacre when a group of sixty-five Comanche people (men, women, and children) arrived in San Antonio for a peace council with the Texians governing the newly formed Republic of Texas. Shortly after their arrival, a disagreement arose. Many of the Comanche visitors and several Texians were killed or wounded in the council house where the negotiations were taking place. The event is a painful and regrettable event in Texas history.
See one of the original indictments and learn about the amazing story of Fred Zain who was originally hired as a chemist/serologist by the West Virginia state crime lab in 1977. When he left West Virginia, he moved to San Antonio, where, in 1989, he became the head of physical evidence for the Bexar County medical examiner’s office.
During the appeals process for one of Zain’s cases, the court appointed a special judge and panel of scientists to investigate the work performed by Zain while working in the West Virginia state crime lab. The report found that Zain’s work was of such terrible quality that it should not be considered as evidence in any criminal proceeding. It was later determined that Zain had fabricated his educational credentials.
Fred Zain was indicted in West Virginia and in Bexar County, Texas for lying under oath about his test results. But he died of cancer before he was convicted, so he died a legally innocent man.
New Release!
January 20, 2025
By Denise Diana Huddle
Buried Secrets
Book 3 in the Deadly Secrets Texas Trilogy series
An Enemies-to-Lovers Small Town Romantic Suspense Novel
Finalist – Put Your Heart in a Book award for Romantic Suspense
Samantha Jordan will bring justice to a cold case victim if it’s the last thing she does…and it just may be. Detective Nick Ballard wants to protect her, but his buried secrets could get them both killed.
When an explosion unearths human remains—and almost lands them in the morgue—historical preservationist Samantha Jordan and San Antonio police detective Nick Ballard reluctantly team up to investigate.
Since the case is as cold as the corpse, Samantha uses the cutting-edge science of genetic genealogy to unravel the dark history of a gruesome unsolved murder and identify the body. But Nick is obstructing her at every turn. Then a targeted hit-and-run and a break-in force them to seek refuge in San Antonio’s forgotten historic sites and underground tunnels.
Despite their differences, Samantha is falling for the jaded detective. And Nick cares for her more than he should. But coming clean about his past—and the reason he’s been dragging his feet during the investigation—could end his career and put his deceased partner’s family in jeopardy.
As the final puzzle pieces fall into place, and Samantha discovers the truth, Nick will have to face his own demons and the corruption rampant in the SAPD to save her from a cunning killer.
Don’t miss this fascinating free addition to Buried Secrets!