Denver’s gleaming skyline can make the past feel distant. Yet beneath the glass towers and familiar streets are stories that Colorado did not always preserve, particularly the experiences of Black residents whose lives unfolded during some of the state’s most troubling years.
Colorado author Patricia Raybon brings that hidden history into the light through All That Is Secret, the first novel in her Annalee Spain mystery series.
Set during the winter of 1923, the story follows Professor Annalee Spain, a young Black theologian teaching at a small Bible college in Chicago. A mysterious telegram summons her home to Denver, where she learns that her beloved but estranged father has been murdered. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes and unwilling to accept easy explanations, Annalee begins investigating the powerful people who may prefer that the truth remain buried. (Patricia Raybon)
Her search is dangerous for reasons extending far beyond the murder.
In the early 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan had gained widespread support across Colorado, with members and sympathizers occupying influential positions in state and local government. Denver’s Black residents also faced discriminatory housing practices, segregation and a hostile political climate. By that decade, more than 90 percent of the city’s African American population lived in Five Points and neighboring Whittier.
Raybon places Annalee directly inside those realities without allowing history to swallow the mystery. The novel still delivers clues, danger, complicated allies and the satisfying tug of a determined investigator refusing to stop asking questions.
What makes Annalee especially compelling is the tension between her intellect and her faith. She is trained to examine spiritual questions, but solving her father’s murder demands that she confront grief, family wounds and the unsettling distance between what people profess and how they behave.
That tension gives the book particular relevance for Centennial readers. We live close enough to Denver to recognize many of its places and influences, yet some chapters of its history remain unfamiliar. All That Is Secret invites us to look past the polished version of Colorado’s story and consider whose experiences were omitted, softened or deliberately concealed.
Raybon is well suited to guide that exploration. A Christy Award-winning Colorado author, she previously worked at The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, taught journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder for 15 years and was inducted into the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame in 2021. All That Is Secret won the Christy Award for first novel.
This is not a dusty history lesson wearing a detective hat. It is an absorbing mystery about truth, courage and the cost of refusing to look away.
For Centennial book clubs and readers who enjoy historical fiction with substance, All That Is Secret offers both a page-turning investigation and a richer understanding of the Colorado community we inherited.
Purchase All That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon on Amazon.
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Glad to see the spotlight on Raybon. Will be picking up ‘All That Is Secret’ for myself and my sister!
Taking real history and making it suspenseful isn’t easy, but Raybon seems to have pulled it off. Will check it out.
Thank you for your interest! Raybon's skillful blend of suspense and historical insight really shines in this novel, enjoy the read.
I’ve read this one! It’s definitely a page-turner, but also made me stop and look up more about Denver’s past.
That's wonderful to hear! Raybon's novel is both gripping and a gateway to uncovering more about Denver's overlooked history.
For anyone on the fence, Five Points is still the heart of Denver in so many ways. So many stories there. I hope the book does it justice.
I wish I’d had books like this in high school. Maybe then local history wouldn’t have felt so boring.
The idea of a tough, smart investigator in 1923 Denver hooked me right away. Nice to see more diverse stories set here.
We're glad the premise resonates with you, diverse voices and settings like Annalee's Denver are long overdue in the genre!
Honestly didn’t know Klan influence in Colorado was that massive. History class totally skipped over all that.
You're not alone. Many are surprised by just how far the Klan’s power reached in Colorado during the 1920s, a reminder of why these stories matter.
Anyone know if Raybon is doing any readings in Centennial soon? Would love to hear her talk about her research.
Raybon deserves all the recognition. Not surprised it won awards. Loved seeing a Black woman as the lead detective too.
I’ll admit I avoid most historical fiction because it drags, but ‘absorbing mystery’ has me reconsidering.
Anthony D.I'm the same way about historical fiction. But when there's a strong mystery at the core, it makes all the difference. Maybe this is one to test the waters.
Sounds pretty heavy. Is it a tough read, or more accessible? I might give it a try if it doesn’t read like a textbook.
Great question, the book is fast-paced and engaging, with strong characters and suspense, so it definitely doesn’t read like a textbook.
That paragraph about professors and faith got me. Feels rare these days to see that done well in fiction. Can’t wait to meet Annalee.
Wish more historical fiction covered this kind of ground. Too much Colorado fiction is all about cowboys or skiing!
Absolutely, Colorado literature has so much more to offer, and stories like this broaden our sense of the state's history.
Denver has a glitzy image now but it’s important to remember who was pushed into the shadows. Appreciate the reminder.
Thank you for recognizing that importance, stories like this help us remember the full picture of Denver’s past, not just what shines on the surface.
Glad there's spotlight on Black history in Colorado for once. Tired of hearing the same old stories.
Looks like I’ve found my next read. I love it when mysteries teach you something, not just twisty plots.
Anyone else fascinated by the early 1920s? It was a wild time in Colorado. Makes sense for a mystery, but sad to remember how hard it was for Black families.
It bothers me that so much of Denver’s Black history got buried or ignored. Glad there’s a book like this to help change that.
We hear you, this book is one step toward reclaiming and honoring those important pieces of Denver’s Black history.
Emma J.I know, right? So many stories just disappeared. It’s nice to see someone shine a light on them. Hope more authors start digging up these pieces of our history too.
The tension between faith and logic in Annalee sounds interesting. Glad to see a character with real depth and complexity, not just a flat detective.
That's one of Annalee's most compelling qualities, her nuanced struggle between belief and deduction adds real emotional depth to the mystery.
This makes me wonder what other city stories we lost over time. Feels like the past still shapes us a lot.
Our church reading group is always looking for books to spark discussion. A theologian solving crimes? Sounds perfect.
I wish the article had said more about Annalee's actual investigation and the suspects. That's my favorite part of a mystery!
Thank you for your feedback! The article focused on the novel's historical context, but rest assured, Annalee's investigation brings plenty of twists, suspects, and classic mystery intrigue for fans like you.
I had never heard of the Christy Award before. Congrats to Raybon!
So cool Patricia Raybon used to teach at CU Boulder! Makes me want to support a local author.
I’ve read Raybon’s articles in the paper before, but didn’t know she wrote mysteries. Adding this to my library holds!
I hope Raybon writes more about Denver neighborhoods. There's so much drama right under our noses.
Just put this on hold at the library. My book club is always asking for something local and this is totally it.
I appreciate that the book doesn’t shy away from Colorado’s ugly chapters. Too often it all just gets swept under the rug.
We completely agree, honest portrayals of the past are essential, and Raybon does not shy away from uncomfortable truths in her work.
Not really my genre, but the Denver setting and history make me tempted. I want to check it out just for the local angle.
Looks like a good pick for our book club. Our group loves novels that start conversations and make us dig a little deeper into Colorado’s past.
Patricia Raybon taught at CU Boulder while I was there. She’s a fantastic writer. Respect for blending history and entertainment.
Thank you for sharing your connection, Raybon's background as both a journalist and educator truly enhances her storytelling.
Love a good mystery and I had no idea about Denver’s KKK past. This sounds like a great way to learn and get hooked into the story too.
To be honest, I wish schools taught more about what happened here in the 20s. Maybe we wouldn't be so surprised now.
Glad this book doesn't just sugarcoat history. We need more stories like Annalee's in our libraries.
I grew up in Whittier. Older neighbors always talked about how things used to be but I never got the full story. Eager to read this.
Not usually into mysteries but this mix of real Colorado issues and suspense sounds interesting. Might give it a shot.
Just finished All That Is Secret last month! The faith angle made it a really unique take on the detective genre.
I grew up in Five Points and never realized just how many stories from that era got left out. I’m putting this on my reading list. Glad to see local history explored this way.
Thank you for sharing your perspective, it's powerful to see local history through new eyes, and Raybon's novel brings Five Points' story to the forefront.
Never thought of Denver as a place with that kind of tension in the 1920s. Makes me rethink the city's past.
Five Points still feels like it has so much untold history. More books like this, please!
Raybon is an incredible writer. Her journalism background really shows in the way she sets a scene.
We agree, Raybon’s journalism experience truly enriches her storytelling, grounding the mystery in vivid, authentic detail.
Annalee sounds like a badass protagonist! Love a story with a strong woman lead AND real history.
Absolutely! Annalee’s determination and intelligence set her apart, and the historical backdrop makes her journey even more compelling.
Great to see local history woven into a mystery novel. I'm always looking for book club picks that actually mean something here.
I had no idea the KKK was that active in Denver. Kind of chilling to imagine those times. Adding this to my reading list!