What do you think?
Rate this book
Vera Boyett #1
Deeper Than the Dead
Someone’s found the skeleton in the closet, and it’s not the only one. Wall Street Journal bestselling author Debra Webb presents an emotional new mystery. Crime analyst and newly disgraced deputy police chief Vera Boyett doesn’t visit home often, and she certainly doesn’t venture back into the cave on her family land. But when the remains of her long-missing stepmother are discovered, Vera will have to face a past that threatens all she is. She and her sister Eve had a fairy-tale childhood: good until it was tragic, with a stepmother they never found a bond with. At least they had each other, a baby half-sister, and a mutual devotion that would have them do the unthinkable. It’s a summer in small-town Tennessee, so thick with humidity it could drown you and so rife with secrets it could smother you. And deep beneath the surface, there are more bodies than you’d think�
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
10.3k people are currently reading
15.1k people want to read
About the author
Debra Webb
510books2,180followersDEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 170 novels, including reader favorites the Finley O'Sullivan and Devlin & Falco series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel.
With more than four million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at .
With more than four million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at .
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 924 reviews
August 1, 2024
The first book in a new series by Debra Webb is always a time for great celebration for me because I know I have hours of mind-gripping and spine-tingling entertainment to look forward to. The new Vera Boyett book delivered in spades, with dead bodies, dark caves, sister secrets and a hunky sheriff who used to be Vera’s love interest. When Vera returns home, leaving behind a job that may or may not want her back, she has no idea that she is walking into a hornet’s nest of intrigue in her small hometown. I really enjoyed how the story was laid out so well and with intricate detail, placing me right in the scene with the characters as they discovered and discussed what to do about finding dead bodies on their property. Vera and Eve may not be completely innocent of any wrongdoing, but they are definitely puzzled when multiple bodies turn up in the cave on their daddy’s farm. The suspense mounts quickly as numerous suspects are paraded as possibilities, each one considered and ultimately discarded or set aside for further investigation. I loved being included in the behind-the-scenes discussions between Vera and the other characters, as I could just see the wheels in her head turning as she tried to figure our whodunit and why. Together with Bent, the sheriff of the little community, Vera sets out on a dangerous mission to solve the crimes and clear her family of the crimes of murder. The action was non-stop, the chapters were riveting and flowed from one to the next so that the book was difficult to put down. I couldn’t get enough of the three sisters and their wild antics, the skulking figures threatening the family and the sheriff determined to protect them from harm, no matter what he might have to do to safeguard them. The characters were more than realistic because they became friends and confidantes in the quest to find out what really happened and who was trying to wreck their lives. The intricate plot was masterfully woven around a few truths and many lies, keeping me guessing all the way until the end. Great suspense, characters who were easy to love and relate to, and so many twists that I got whiplash around spending time in their town. I loved every minute I spent with the Boyett family and I am already looking forward to Vera’s next adventure in a new book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.�
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.�
January 25, 2024
Having never read anything by Debra before, I went into this one with a completely open mind and really enjoyed it.
I found the writing style to be unique and engaging. The story was very easy to follow, and although there were language choices that I don’t often come across in modern day novels (mama, daddy, etc), I chalked it up to cultural differences that I’m just not used to. The majority of the story was slow-medium paced, but it definitely picked up in the last 100 pages when the suspense began building.
Although the story was character driven, the plot was full of twists and ever-changing theories. Every time I thought I’d figured it out, things would change and I’d be back at square one. If you like playing detective, I definitely think you’ll like this one.
I’ve knocked a star off for two particular reasons:
- I wasn’t expecting it to become intertwined with romance, and it threw me off a little. Maybe this was because there was nothing to suggest romance in the description, and I don’t often pick up books with the mixture of genres. I also wasn’t a fan of how it was executed at times - particularly the sections like “this really stressful thing is happening, but look how handsome he is�. This is definitely personal choice though.
- The portrayal of dementia, which felt a little bit too stereotypical and icky for me.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and it felt different to a lot of things I’ve picked up recently, which was definitely a positive.
I’m giving it 4 stars ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I found the writing style to be unique and engaging. The story was very easy to follow, and although there were language choices that I don’t often come across in modern day novels (mama, daddy, etc), I chalked it up to cultural differences that I’m just not used to. The majority of the story was slow-medium paced, but it definitely picked up in the last 100 pages when the suspense began building.
Although the story was character driven, the plot was full of twists and ever-changing theories. Every time I thought I’d figured it out, things would change and I’d be back at square one. If you like playing detective, I definitely think you’ll like this one.
I’ve knocked a star off for two particular reasons:
- I wasn’t expecting it to become intertwined with romance, and it threw me off a little. Maybe this was because there was nothing to suggest romance in the description, and I don’t often pick up books with the mixture of genres. I also wasn’t a fan of how it was executed at times - particularly the sections like “this really stressful thing is happening, but look how handsome he is�. This is definitely personal choice though.
- The portrayal of dementia, which felt a little bit too stereotypical and icky for me.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and it felt different to a lot of things I’ve picked up recently, which was definitely a positive.
I’m giving it 4 stars ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
August 6, 2024
Happy Release Day!
This book gets all the stars from me!
Finally, there's something to look forward to... I love this new series and can't wait to see where it goes.
Deeper Than The Dead by Debra Webb is the first book in the Vera Boyett Series, and it captured my attention right from the start. It's a suspenseful read full of twists and unexpected turns that kept me guessing until the last page. This book was unlike any other thriller I've read, which made the reading experience even more enjoyable.
Crime analyst Vera Boyett rarely visits her family's home, and she never ventures into the cave on their land. However, when the remains of her long-missing stepmother are discovered, Vera must confront a past that threatens everything she holds dear. She and her sister Eve may not be entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, but they are puzzled when numerous bodies are discovered in the cave on their farm.
I found the writing style to be unique and engaging. This book kept me guessing the whole time. I enjoyed how the story was laid out so well and with intricate detail, placing me right in the scene with the characters. The action was non-stop, the chapters were riveting and flowed seamlessly from one to the next, making the book difficult to put down. The story is told through a series of flashback chapters and different perspectives, which are easy to follow and work well together.
The characters are all likable, especially the main protagonist Vera I found her character very interesting, she is smart and fearless, I love her direct approach to difficult situations, even though sometimes her decisions become questionable.
Webb's descriptions of places and people are, I believe, peerless. Even the good people in the story have significant flaws. She delves into the grit and grime of what human nature can do. The story is primarily set in Fayetteville, Tennessee, a small town that the author describes brilliantly and with personal affection.
The ending was satisfying, almost all loose ends tied up. However, there is unfinished business regarding the real people involved in the crime and what Vera will do to protect her family. Will revealing the secret destroy her relationship with her sisters and ruin any chance of love with the town Sheriff, Ben?... This is a fantastic, must-read family drama set in the summer with small-town secrets. It is perfect for a summer read, and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book gets all the stars from me!
Finally, there's something to look forward to... I love this new series and can't wait to see where it goes.
Deeper Than The Dead by Debra Webb is the first book in the Vera Boyett Series, and it captured my attention right from the start. It's a suspenseful read full of twists and unexpected turns that kept me guessing until the last page. This book was unlike any other thriller I've read, which made the reading experience even more enjoyable.
Crime analyst Vera Boyett rarely visits her family's home, and she never ventures into the cave on their land. However, when the remains of her long-missing stepmother are discovered, Vera must confront a past that threatens everything she holds dear. She and her sister Eve may not be entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, but they are puzzled when numerous bodies are discovered in the cave on their farm.
I found the writing style to be unique and engaging. This book kept me guessing the whole time. I enjoyed how the story was laid out so well and with intricate detail, placing me right in the scene with the characters. The action was non-stop, the chapters were riveting and flowed seamlessly from one to the next, making the book difficult to put down. The story is told through a series of flashback chapters and different perspectives, which are easy to follow and work well together.
The characters are all likable, especially the main protagonist Vera I found her character very interesting, she is smart and fearless, I love her direct approach to difficult situations, even though sometimes her decisions become questionable.
Webb's descriptions of places and people are, I believe, peerless. Even the good people in the story have significant flaws. She delves into the grit and grime of what human nature can do. The story is primarily set in Fayetteville, Tennessee, a small town that the author describes brilliantly and with personal affection.
The ending was satisfying, almost all loose ends tied up. However, there is unfinished business regarding the real people involved in the crime and what Vera will do to protect her family. Will revealing the secret destroy her relationship with her sisters and ruin any chance of love with the town Sheriff, Ben?... This is a fantastic, must-read family drama set in the summer with small-town secrets. It is perfect for a summer read, and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 17, 2024
A good who done it.
I enjoyed Debra Webb's writing style. Vera Boyette in police work got me frustrated at times as if, she forgot police procedure at times regarding her and her sisters secret.
A murdered stepmother discovered in a cave, a secret cave in the back with 3 bodies found unexpectedly. Since I don't like spoilers, I'll leave that part alone for readers to discover. There is a budding romance in the background, and oh, so many suspects.
I do recommend this book.
I enjoyed Debra Webb's writing style. Vera Boyette in police work got me frustrated at times as if, she forgot police procedure at times regarding her and her sisters secret.
A murdered stepmother discovered in a cave, a secret cave in the back with 3 bodies found unexpectedly. Since I don't like spoilers, I'll leave that part alone for readers to discover. There is a budding romance in the background, and oh, so many suspects.
I do recommend this book.
July 20, 2024
”There are folks who will do anything to keep their secrets�.
This is the sixth book I have read from Debra Webb. As a fan of her Finlay O’Sullivan series, I have discovered I much prefer her later work over her earlier work. It is my opinion that her writing has drastically improved over time as she has become a better and more seasoned author. I’ll leave it at that.
Having just read a story about a couple of families with a lot of secrets in their “family closets�, I was curious what kind crazy stuff I would be finding in Vera Boyett’s closet. I’m not usually a fan of domestic dramas; I find so much of it boring and poorly written. However, I really enjoyed the story of Vera and the skeletons (literally) in her “familycloset �.
As the book summary states, one of the skeletons is Vera’s stepmother, Sheree, that was believed to have run off with another man more than 22yrs ago. What the book summary doesn’t say is that Vera and her sister Eve were the ones that stuffed Sheree’s body in the cave 22yrs ago, when Vera was 17 and Eve was 12. This after Eve found Sheree trying to drown baby Luna (toddler) in the bathtub and in the process of saving Luna from Sheree, Eve pushed Sheree and she hit her head on the ceramic sink and then the tile floor that killed her instantly.
Having just been relieved of her position as Deputy Chief for the Memphis PD because of an incident with her team that resulted in the death of two teammates, Vera heads back home to Fayetteville to try and keep the secret that she and Eve have kept for 22yrs from coming to light. There is a secondary storyline of the new Sheriff, Bent, and Vera and their complicated affair 22yrs ago; Vera is still as attracted to Bent now as she was then. However, Bent is obsessed with finding out how the bodies got in the cave and who put them there and is convinced that Vera and Eve are not being completely honest and are definitely hiding something.
Most of the story revolves around the investigation of discovering Sheree’s body along with three other skeletons discovered in another part of the cave. While Vera and Eve knew about Sheree’s body (this was revealed really early in the story), they have no idea who the other three are or who put them there. It wasn’t until well into the second half before I had the slightest clue as to who the killer of the three other bodies could be. I missed the mark on that one.
This was not the fast-paced action-packed kind of story that I typically read. However, the storyline was interesting and definitely kept me engaged. The character development of the MC’s was pretty good although I would have liked to know a little more about Bent and his time from leaving Fayetteville for the Marines, to when he came back 20yrs later. I’m sure future installments will go more into that. I really liked the ending too! Very satisfying. Webb definitely wove a really good story here about a family with a lot of secrets and a town willing to do anything to hide its own secrets. I look forward to more of Vera Boyett and her hometown and all its secrets. I’m looking at an overall score of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star rating
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Thomas&Mercer #DeeperThantheDead
This is the sixth book I have read from Debra Webb. As a fan of her Finlay O’Sullivan series, I have discovered I much prefer her later work over her earlier work. It is my opinion that her writing has drastically improved over time as she has become a better and more seasoned author. I’ll leave it at that.
Having just read a story about a couple of families with a lot of secrets in their “family closets�, I was curious what kind crazy stuff I would be finding in Vera Boyett’s closet. I’m not usually a fan of domestic dramas; I find so much of it boring and poorly written. However, I really enjoyed the story of Vera and the skeletons (literally) in her “family
As the book summary states, one of the skeletons is Vera’s stepmother, Sheree, that was believed to have run off with another man more than 22yrs ago. What the book summary doesn’t say is that Vera and her sister Eve were the ones that stuffed Sheree’s body in the cave 22yrs ago, when Vera was 17 and Eve was 12. This after Eve found Sheree trying to drown baby Luna (toddler) in the bathtub and in the process of saving Luna from Sheree, Eve pushed Sheree and she hit her head on the ceramic sink and then the tile floor that killed her instantly.
Having just been relieved of her position as Deputy Chief for the Memphis PD because of an incident with her team that resulted in the death of two teammates, Vera heads back home to Fayetteville to try and keep the secret that she and Eve have kept for 22yrs from coming to light. There is a secondary storyline of the new Sheriff, Bent, and Vera and their complicated affair 22yrs ago; Vera is still as attracted to Bent now as she was then. However, Bent is obsessed with finding out how the bodies got in the cave and who put them there and is convinced that Vera and Eve are not being completely honest and are definitely hiding something.
Most of the story revolves around the investigation of discovering Sheree’s body along with three other skeletons discovered in another part of the cave. While Vera and Eve knew about Sheree’s body (this was revealed really early in the story), they have no idea who the other three are or who put them there. It wasn’t until well into the second half before I had the slightest clue as to who the killer of the three other bodies could be. I missed the mark on that one.
This was not the fast-paced action-packed kind of story that I typically read. However, the storyline was interesting and definitely kept me engaged. The character development of the MC’s was pretty good although I would have liked to know a little more about Bent and his time from leaving Fayetteville for the Marines, to when he came back 20yrs later. I’m sure future installments will go more into that. I really liked the ending too! Very satisfying. Webb definitely wove a really good story here about a family with a lot of secrets and a town willing to do anything to hide its own secrets. I look forward to more of Vera Boyett and her hometown and all its secrets. I’m looking at an overall score of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star rating
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Thomas&Mercer #DeeperThantheDead
September 5, 2024
4.5ȴ
Deeper Than The Dead is the first book in the Vera Boyett series by award-winning, best selling American author, Debra Webb. Despite the success of her elite unit, a murder/suicide within her team means the writing is on the wall for Memphis Deputy Police Chief Vera Mae Boyett. Fifteen years with MPD count for nothing when a scapegoat is needed, and Vera is already packing up her personal items when a desperate call comes from her baby half-sister Luna in Fayetteville.
The discovery of her step-mother’s corpse in a cave on the Boyett farm is one of the only things that could induce Vera to return to her hometown, but she and her younger sister Eve need to get their story straight if they’re to avoid incarceration for the murder of the woman who made their lives hell two decades earlier. Twenty-two years ago, Luna’s mother, Sheree Corbin Boyett was a missing person; today, she’s the remains of a dead body.
But there are a few surprises in store for Vera: the old sheriff, a friend of her father’s, has retired and in his place is Gray Benton, aka Bent, with whom Vera has a history; when the cave is fully explored, it turns out that, while Sheree’s was the only body the older Boyett sisters dragged into the cave, it isn’t the only body there; a series of vaguely-threatening anonymous texts, a nasty message painted on their front door, and an attempt to run one of them off the road indicates that the murderer might still be around.
While Vera’s father, Vernon is now in a Memory Facility with advanced dementia, several factors make him a prime suspect for Sheree’s murder and, while her instincts vehemently deny the possibility, she has to consider that he might have been a serial killer.
Needing to know what was found in the cave, Vera approaches Bent for access. But the presence of more victims attracts not only the press, but also the TBI, and then the FBI, who seem to have summarily concluded that Vernon Boyett is the killer.
Bent and Vera decide to work together to drill down to the truth, although Vera isn’t going to reveal the role she and Eve played, but she is distracted by the strength of attraction that still exists between them, even after twenty-three years apart, unaware that he is similarly affected.
This is a very cleverly plotted tale with plenty of distractions, twists, and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The secret that Eve and Vera hold isn’t the only one in town: lies in the name of loyalty feature prominently.
But having her protagonist, clearly a very smart woman, succumb through impatience and a little arrogance, to the temptation to do a very dumb thing that puts her in a life-threatening situation, doesn’t quite ring true, even if it does produce an exciting climax. Nonetheless, more of this cast is eagerly awaited. Addictive crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
Deeper Than The Dead is the first book in the Vera Boyett series by award-winning, best selling American author, Debra Webb. Despite the success of her elite unit, a murder/suicide within her team means the writing is on the wall for Memphis Deputy Police Chief Vera Mae Boyett. Fifteen years with MPD count for nothing when a scapegoat is needed, and Vera is already packing up her personal items when a desperate call comes from her baby half-sister Luna in Fayetteville.
The discovery of her step-mother’s corpse in a cave on the Boyett farm is one of the only things that could induce Vera to return to her hometown, but she and her younger sister Eve need to get their story straight if they’re to avoid incarceration for the murder of the woman who made their lives hell two decades earlier. Twenty-two years ago, Luna’s mother, Sheree Corbin Boyett was a missing person; today, she’s the remains of a dead body.
But there are a few surprises in store for Vera: the old sheriff, a friend of her father’s, has retired and in his place is Gray Benton, aka Bent, with whom Vera has a history; when the cave is fully explored, it turns out that, while Sheree’s was the only body the older Boyett sisters dragged into the cave, it isn’t the only body there; a series of vaguely-threatening anonymous texts, a nasty message painted on their front door, and an attempt to run one of them off the road indicates that the murderer might still be around.
While Vera’s father, Vernon is now in a Memory Facility with advanced dementia, several factors make him a prime suspect for Sheree’s murder and, while her instincts vehemently deny the possibility, she has to consider that he might have been a serial killer.
Needing to know what was found in the cave, Vera approaches Bent for access. But the presence of more victims attracts not only the press, but also the TBI, and then the FBI, who seem to have summarily concluded that Vernon Boyett is the killer.
Bent and Vera decide to work together to drill down to the truth, although Vera isn’t going to reveal the role she and Eve played, but she is distracted by the strength of attraction that still exists between them, even after twenty-three years apart, unaware that he is similarly affected.
This is a very cleverly plotted tale with plenty of distractions, twists, and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The secret that Eve and Vera hold isn’t the only one in town: lies in the name of loyalty feature prominently.
But having her protagonist, clearly a very smart woman, succumb through impatience and a little arrogance, to the temptation to do a very dumb thing that puts her in a life-threatening situation, doesn’t quite ring true, even if it does produce an exciting climax. Nonetheless, more of this cast is eagerly awaited. Addictive crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
July 16, 2024
Cozy Cold Case Cave
Review of the Amazon Prime First Reads Kindle eBook edition (July 1, 2024) released in advance of the Thomas & Mercer paperback/eBook/audiobook (August 1, 2024).
This is a Postcard from Outlier Island 🏝️📨�
There has often been an iffy quality to the Amazon Prime First Reads selections. Many of them are promotions for Amazon's own Thomas & Mercer publishing arm or for Amazon's celebrity imprints such as Mindy Kaling's Mindy's Book Studio. I found one way around that was to at least look for veteran authors with several books under their belt. I chose Debra Webb on that basis but did not investigate thoroughly enough. Their bibliography lists over 170 novels with many in the romance fiction category. So the July First Reads listing for Deeper Than the Dead under "Police Procedural" is a bit of a stretch. Also, 170 novels sounds a lot like a ghostwriting factory, even if many are Harlequin novella length.
A disgraced Memphis Deputy-Chief Vera Boyett returns home to Fayetteville, Alabama when her missing step-mother Sheree's remains are discovered in a cave on the family property. Her younger sister and half-sister still live and work in the town. Sheree went missing 20 years ago. Vera and middle sister Eve have a secret about that event. To add to the complications, Vera's lost love of her youth is now the sheriff in town. But then further remains are discovered in the same cave, both predating and postdating Sheree's disappearance. Who has been using the cave as a body disposal site?
Having no actual local police authority, Vera is reliant on ex-boyfriend Bent's investigation, as various other State and Federal authorities are brought in. The case circles around ad infinitum with very little progress for the longest time. Even the body identification is not cleared up until 2/3rds in. After reading the front 1/3rd of the book, with not much happening, I had to mementoize* in order to find something interesting. Even the reveal of the culprits wasn't that engrossing. But after reading the last 1/5th, I did go back and read the rest going forwards. There was very little actual suspense and you could say it also approached Unsatisfactory Ending Alert� territory. Even the yearning romance angle didn't have a satisfactory end, implying that it will drag on later into the series.
I'm calling this an outlier review as the current average rating for this is 4-stars. But look at the other 2-star reviews and you'll see that 3% of folks had the same sense of tedium that I did.
Deeper Than the Dead is the 1st book of a new Vera Boyett series by this author who has often written trilogies with set main characters. The next entry in the series has not yet been announced as of mid-July 2024 but it will likely have a publication date in late 2024 or early 2025.
Footnote
Trivia and Link
Amazon Prime First Reads are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. Commonly they offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of the Amazon Prime First Reads Kindle eBook edition (July 1, 2024) released in advance of the Thomas & Mercer paperback/eBook/audiobook (August 1, 2024).
This is a Postcard from Outlier Island 🏝️📨�
There has often been an iffy quality to the Amazon Prime First Reads selections. Many of them are promotions for Amazon's own Thomas & Mercer publishing arm or for Amazon's celebrity imprints such as Mindy Kaling's Mindy's Book Studio. I found one way around that was to at least look for veteran authors with several books under their belt. I chose Debra Webb on that basis but did not investigate thoroughly enough. Their bibliography lists over 170 novels with many in the romance fiction category. So the July First Reads listing for Deeper Than the Dead under "Police Procedural" is a bit of a stretch. Also, 170 novels sounds a lot like a ghostwriting factory, even if many are Harlequin novella length.
A disgraced Memphis Deputy-Chief Vera Boyett returns home to Fayetteville, Alabama when her missing step-mother Sheree's remains are discovered in a cave on the family property. Her younger sister and half-sister still live and work in the town. Sheree went missing 20 years ago. Vera and middle sister Eve have a secret about that event. To add to the complications, Vera's lost love of her youth is now the sheriff in town. But then further remains are discovered in the same cave, both predating and postdating Sheree's disappearance. Who has been using the cave as a body disposal site?
Having no actual local police authority, Vera is reliant on ex-boyfriend Bent's investigation, as various other State and Federal authorities are brought in. The case circles around ad infinitum with very little progress for the longest time. Even the body identification is not cleared up until 2/3rds in. After reading the front 1/3rd of the book, with not much happening, I had to mementoize* in order to find something interesting. Even the reveal of the culprits wasn't that engrossing. But after reading the last 1/5th, I did go back and read the rest going forwards. There was very little actual suspense and you could say it also approached Unsatisfactory Ending Alert� territory. Even the yearning romance angle didn't have a satisfactory end, implying that it will drag on later into the series.
I'm calling this an outlier review as the current average rating for this is 4-stars. But look at the other 2-star reviews and you'll see that 3% of folks had the same sense of tedium that I did.
Deeper Than the Dead is the 1st book of a new Vera Boyett series by this author who has often written trilogies with set main characters. The next entry in the series has not yet been announced as of mid-July 2024 but it will likely have a publication date in late 2024 or early 2025.
Footnote
*mementoize
əˈˌōˈī/
verb / neologism
Definitions:
� 1. to tell a story in reverse order, as in the film (2000) by director Christopher Nolan.
“Christopher Nolan didn’t invent reverse chronology story telling, but his film title Memento is the easiest to make into a verb: mementoize."
� 2. to read a book in reverse order to finish it, especially when reading it in forward order is not very interesting or compelling.
“The book was so dull I had to mementoize it in order to get through it."
� 3. a fictitious word invented for use in book reviews by The Lone Librarian�.
Trivia and Link
Amazon Prime First Reads are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. Commonly they offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
March 1, 2024
The first half of this book is deadly boring. I was skipping most of the dialogue as it kept bringing up the same issues. I was about to stop reading it but was intrigued but who put the remains in the cave. It got better in the 2nd half as stuff finally started happening & pieces of what happened started coming out. I still feel like it’s incomplete. I really want to give this a 2.5 star but can’t.. #DeeperThanDead #NetGalley
July 12, 2024
This book cries out for an editor
An interesting story but oh my is there an editor? Words blatantly misused, the plot repeated over and over as if it were a serial, and the lead character reacting to every turn but telling herself to get a hold of herself. If the publisher had bothered to do some basic editing it would have been 25% shorter.
An interesting story but oh my is there an editor? Words blatantly misused, the plot repeated over and over as if it were a serial, and the lead character reacting to every turn but telling herself to get a hold of herself. If the publisher had bothered to do some basic editing it would have been 25% shorter.
December 2, 2024
So slow and just a mess of a thriller. Full RTC.
Full review: Honestly nothing to root for in this one. It's slow and the character development is minimal. I just didn't really care who did what to who 20 years ago but the plot points to explain things just did my head in. I am hard passing on reading the second book in this series.
Full review: Honestly nothing to root for in this one. It's slow and the character development is minimal. I just didn't really care who did what to who 20 years ago but the plot points to explain things just did my head in. I am hard passing on reading the second book in this series.
July 13, 2024
I had high hopes for this book. Started out interesting and I thought the story was unique. Then it became a bit of a chore to get through. Nothing super exciting happens and there were moments that I felt it could be really suspenseful but for some reason it fell flat for me. There was a lot of repetition and over explaining. If I saw “no matter� used one more time…that’s just poor editing. I also thought that the “tension� and description of what Vera was feeling for an old flame came off as juvenile. There was a part of the book (that I went back and found just to be sure I wasn’t going nuts) near the beginning where Vera talks about a true love, Jack. It ends the chapter so I figured that it might be important and the author would get back to that. When Bent asks Vera about her relationship history I thought, ok here we go, we’ll find out about the elusive Jack! Nope. By the time all was revealed at like 90% of the way through I just didn’t care. Near the end it was so obvious that Vera’s decision to leave the house when Bent told her to stay put would end up being an idiotic decision. I actually rolled my eyes. Lots of missed opportunities in a book that had a decent premise.
January 10, 2024
I received an ARC of this novel courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A crime thriller that genuinely kept me guessing. Deeper Than the Dead follows Vera Boyett and her struggle to both hide and solve the mystery of the human remains found in a cave at her childhood home. As the reader we are thrust into the never ending family drama and politics with shocking revelations and profound lies that change everything.
I found Vera’s (Vee) work background slightly unnecessary, for me the fact that she was ‘disgraced� as a police office did not add anything to her character. Especially as she receives high praise from everyone around her. I wonder if I missed something pivotal, or if this history of hers will be brought up in future books
I enjoyed being kept on my toes about who could be involved with the remains and the sense of “guess who� anticipation was built really well. The one part that was “unsolved� made me question the ending which further made me thing that there were too many elements added to the story. Unless the “unsolved� part is set up for a second story/future Vera Boyett novel. Personally it made me feel like the ending was rushed as something was missing.
Well done to Webb, I think there are a lot of people who enjoy mystery/thriller novels who will enjoy this read.
.
A crime thriller that genuinely kept me guessing. Deeper Than the Dead follows Vera Boyett and her struggle to both hide and solve the mystery of the human remains found in a cave at her childhood home. As the reader we are thrust into the never ending family drama and politics with shocking revelations and profound lies that change everything.
I found Vera’s (Vee) work background slightly unnecessary, for me the fact that she was ‘disgraced� as a police office did not add anything to her character. Especially as she receives high praise from everyone around her. I wonder if I missed something pivotal, or if this history of hers will be brought up in future books
I enjoyed being kept on my toes about who could be involved with the remains and the sense of “guess who� anticipation was built really well. The one part that was “unsolved� made me question the ending which further made me thing that there were too many elements added to the story. Unless the “unsolved� part is set up for a second story/future Vera Boyett novel. Personally it made me feel like the ending was rushed as something was missing.
Well done to Webb, I think there are a lot of people who enjoy mystery/thriller novels who will enjoy this read.
.
March 5, 2025
I love the Finey O'Sullivan series by this author so when I saw this book as a Kindle First choice, I grabbed it right away. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as good. I liked the story and the characters, and I was invested in the mystery but there was a lot of repetition. Vera kept thinking the same things over and over again, which is realistic, but not fun to read. Also, the way she kept getting distracted by Bent, thinking about his lips or his eyes or how he was too handsome for his own good was a little silly considering the events that were happening. So overall I thought it was a good story, but without all the repetitive filler it could have been a lot shorter, faster paced and generally more enjoyable. I give it 3.5 stars and I would read the next book in the series.
July 11, 2024
Deeper than...meh. This just didn't hold my attention. The characters weren't very likable and the lies and secrets drive me crazy because they just didn't make a whole lot of sense. I didn't find the girls' actions in the past very believable. We're in the MC's head 95% of the time except for a few random chapters from someone else's POV. For no real reason. I thought about giving up many times but I did want to know whodunnit. The reveal was not worth it. Not my cup of tea
February 27, 2024
I will leave this short since I loathe negative reviews. I picked this up and put it down so many times, never really fully able to invest in the story. It started off confusing to me, like i missed something and I honestly went and checked to see if this is a second book to a series. As it continued, it just seemd discombobulated at times making me lose interest again. This is a seasoned author so my conclusion is that this just isn't my personal preference. Do yourself a favor and read the description and if it piques your interest, give it a try. Three stars.
January 25, 2025
Good read with lots of twists and flashbacks. Good character development. The ending leaves room to morph into the next book.
July 4, 2024
4.0-4.5 stars. This was my Amazon first reads choice. Super glad it happened to be by one of my fav authors. Packed with mystery, suspense and an abundance of past secrets. This story will surely hook you from the start. There are so many players and new details all along the way, I had no clue on how it might end. Happy this is a start to a new series, more to look forward to. With the groundwork layed out here, can't wait for book 2.
July 20, 2024
My other Kindle First selection of the month. It wasn't too frightful but dragged for me as lots of it was quite repetitive stuff about Vee and her thoughts about her family. For me, not everything was left tied up in a neat bow, either. However, there is a 2nd book in the series so perhaps things get picked up again. It isn't for me, though.....I found myself loathe to reopen it a few times as it really didn't keep me properly gripped. I guessed what was happening here and there but as usual had it all wrong ! I did struggle to believe a 12 year old girl could keep secrets as well !! I've been one myself and that weren't happening !! Plus Vera was a seasoned copper and I thought she was exceedingly dense at times.
I really liked this little passage, "A reminder that sometimes things and people need a reason to stay. A little something to hold them in place."
There were odd errors here 'n' there-powers that be needs hyphenation, as did sh*t faced and low crawl, question marks were missed where they were warranted, she wrote crape not crepe, collapsedm is self-explanatory but got through the editing process (!!), we had ping not pang, tittered not teetered (but got it right further in) and there were also apostrophe mistakes.....not good.
So it wasn't horrific but I am not interested enough to bother with book 2.
I really liked this little passage, "A reminder that sometimes things and people need a reason to stay. A little something to hold them in place."
There were odd errors here 'n' there-powers that be needs hyphenation, as did sh*t faced and low crawl, question marks were missed where they were warranted, she wrote crape not crepe, collapsedm is self-explanatory but got through the editing process (!!), we had ping not pang, tittered not teetered (but got it right further in) and there were also apostrophe mistakes.....not good.
So it wasn't horrific but I am not interested enough to bother with book 2.
July 25, 2024
What did I just read?
Quick spoiler-free recap: Too stupid to live 'law-enforcement (dubiously) heroine' with little regard for following the law herself. Very slow and mostly boring, with a relatively unsurprising culprit.
I will not be continuing with this series.
Quick spoiler-free recap: Too stupid to live 'law-enforcement (dubiously) heroine' with little regard for following the law herself. Very slow and mostly boring, with a relatively unsurprising culprit.
I will not be continuing with this series.
March 16, 2025
3.25 stars
Holy murders galore!!! My head is still spinning from this crime mystery. This was my first book by this author, and I found her writing style to be inviting. She had a way with words and character development that kept me engaged.
The plot focused on Vera, a cop, her sister Eve, a mortician, and Vera's ex-boyfriend, who is now the sheriff of the small town where they grew up. Vera returns to her hometown after her involvement in a scandal that forces her to resign from her job and to be a part of the investigation of the discovery of a body in a cave on her childhood property. Her two sisters still live in their childhood home, so Vera comes back to protect them and her ailing dad from the fallout of this discovery. Little does anyone know that she has a vested interest in the dead body.
It was refreshing to read a story that was quite different from the majority of these types of crime thrillers. I also really liked how Vera was portrayed. She had a good balance of bad ass and vulnerability.
I'll be honest, the start was quite slow, and it took everything I had to keep reading, but I'm glad I did. It was quite repetitive in spots, which is a writing technique that I don't care for. However, at about the 70% mark, it was a sprint to the finish. I was glued to the audio. There was much to resolve in the last quarter of the book, but the author succeeded.
The audio performance was good, not great. I think the narrator fit the character well, but I wish her performance had been more animated. It rang a bit one note.
Thank you ##NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Holy murders galore!!! My head is still spinning from this crime mystery. This was my first book by this author, and I found her writing style to be inviting. She had a way with words and character development that kept me engaged.
The plot focused on Vera, a cop, her sister Eve, a mortician, and Vera's ex-boyfriend, who is now the sheriff of the small town where they grew up. Vera returns to her hometown after her involvement in a scandal that forces her to resign from her job and to be a part of the investigation of the discovery of a body in a cave on her childhood property. Her two sisters still live in their childhood home, so Vera comes back to protect them and her ailing dad from the fallout of this discovery. Little does anyone know that she has a vested interest in the dead body.
It was refreshing to read a story that was quite different from the majority of these types of crime thrillers. I also really liked how Vera was portrayed. She had a good balance of bad ass and vulnerability.
I'll be honest, the start was quite slow, and it took everything I had to keep reading, but I'm glad I did. It was quite repetitive in spots, which is a writing technique that I don't care for. However, at about the 70% mark, it was a sprint to the finish. I was glued to the audio. There was much to resolve in the last quarter of the book, but the author succeeded.
The audio performance was good, not great. I think the narrator fit the character well, but I wish her performance had been more animated. It rang a bit one note.
Thank you ##NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ Solid, fast-paced murder mystery. I’ll definitely read some more of her books.
October 24, 2024
So much lead up, so little payoff.
July 28, 2024
Amazon Prime First Reads book. I was shocked to get to the end and read the About the Author page. As much as I had struggled with the logical leaps and weird descriptions, I never would have expected this to be the product of an experienced author.
July 20, 2024
Not good
I liked the premise of this book, a down-and-out deputy police chief goes back home to investigate when human remains are found in the cave on her family’s land. It started out ok, but I should have listened to my instincts and given it up 50 pages in, instead of slogging through the remaining 350 or so pages. It was very repetitive, too indulging of the protagonist’s endless rumination; literally everything triggered traumatic memories. I found most of the characters to be odd and superficial, their actions and dialogue to be strange and not realistic much of the time. The plot meandered and lacked the structure needed for a strong build-up to a recognizable climax and denouement. I don’t often give terrible reviews because I usually bail on a book early on if I don’t like it (I only review books I finish). Unfortunately, I did stick with this one until the end.
I liked the premise of this book, a down-and-out deputy police chief goes back home to investigate when human remains are found in the cave on her family’s land. It started out ok, but I should have listened to my instincts and given it up 50 pages in, instead of slogging through the remaining 350 or so pages. It was very repetitive, too indulging of the protagonist’s endless rumination; literally everything triggered traumatic memories. I found most of the characters to be odd and superficial, their actions and dialogue to be strange and not realistic much of the time. The plot meandered and lacked the structure needed for a strong build-up to a recognizable climax and denouement. I don’t often give terrible reviews because I usually bail on a book early on if I don’t like it (I only review books I finish). Unfortunately, I did stick with this one until the end.
July 15, 2024
An Amazon First Reads monthly book
So glad this book was free. Im giving it 2 stars because it seemed to drag on and on and on and�.well, you get the picture.
Normally, a story sets up the players, you get to know them, and then tell the story. But this one, was just all over the place with who, what, where, when and why.
In all honesty, I read half the book then skipped a few chapters. Read a few more, skipped a few more.
Sorry Ms. Webb, your writing style is not for me. I really wanted to like the book. Just didn’t.
So glad this book was free. Im giving it 2 stars because it seemed to drag on and on and on and�.well, you get the picture.
Normally, a story sets up the players, you get to know them, and then tell the story. But this one, was just all over the place with who, what, where, when and why.
In all honesty, I read half the book then skipped a few chapters. Read a few more, skipped a few more.
Sorry Ms. Webb, your writing style is not for me. I really wanted to like the book. Just didn’t.
July 28, 2024
Amazon First Read for July.
I'm having a hard time believing this is the work of an experienced author; the writing is really bad and repetitive to the point of ridiculous.
The plot is.... something else, and all the "twists" are insanely implausible. It's a police procedural by and for people who have no interest in how anything in a murder investigation actually works.
Add in the least interesting romance I've ever read and a touch of "I see dead people", and this is the confusing result.
I'm having a hard time believing this is the work of an experienced author; the writing is really bad and repetitive to the point of ridiculous.
The plot is.... something else, and all the "twists" are insanely implausible. It's a police procedural by and for people who have no interest in how anything in a murder investigation actually works.
Add in the least interesting romance I've ever read and a touch of "I see dead people", and this is the confusing result.
February 12, 2024
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Vera goes home after learning human remains were found on her families property. She is startled to learn they gave a new sheriff in town. She decides to do some investigating which brings up more questions. This book grabbed my attention from the start.
August 9, 2024
Thank you to the author for an ARC!
Vera is a cop whose mother passed away several years ago. Her father didn’t handle her death well but now has dementia. A body is found in a cave on their property. So many fingers are pointed at several individuals. There were a lot of moments throughout the story where I thought what more could possibly happen? Then I got hit with a twist. Bent, the local sheriff sounds like a hottie! Such a great story!
Vera is a cop whose mother passed away several years ago. Her father didn’t handle her death well but now has dementia. A body is found in a cave on their property. So many fingers are pointed at several individuals. There were a lot of moments throughout the story where I thought what more could possibly happen? Then I got hit with a twist. Bent, the local sheriff sounds like a hottie! Such a great story!
September 5, 2024
Painfully long and detailed for NO reason
I really liked the plot and the murders. I figured out pretty early in the killer though. I found the sisters to be extremely annoying characters. This woman is supposed to be a cop? I wasn’t impressed at all. A lot of thinking and not doing. Just pages and pages of thoughts I started to skim through. I do love murder mysteries, but this one just seemed too thin. Sad to say I will not read book #2.
I really liked the plot and the murders. I figured out pretty early in the killer though. I found the sisters to be extremely annoying characters. This woman is supposed to be a cop? I wasn’t impressed at all. A lot of thinking and not doing. Just pages and pages of thoughts I started to skim through. I do love murder mysteries, but this one just seemed too thin. Sad to say I will not read book #2.
July 21, 2024
According to the N.Y. Times quote on the cover, Debra Webb is the “queen of suspense.� I have never read any other books by Debra Webb, but based on this one, that title should not have been given to her just yet.
I liked the set-up for the story despite a few clichés like a big-city girl going back to her small town and the person most likely to hinder and complicate matters for her being her long-ago love interest. I also liked the plot which had many twists, turns, and hidden secrets coming to light. What slowed the story down in my opinion was the main character endlessly reliving the events related to her stepmother’s disappearance 20 years ago and analyzing everything after the stepmother’s dead body is found on her family’s property. Some of that was necessary, but not over and over again at the expense of suspense and moving the plot and action forward.
I like books that are about a woman detective or P.I., but I’m not sure I’m invested enough in the main character or in the author’s style of writing to keep reading more books in this series. This is a �3.5� from me.
I liked the set-up for the story despite a few clichés like a big-city girl going back to her small town and the person most likely to hinder and complicate matters for her being her long-ago love interest. I also liked the plot which had many twists, turns, and hidden secrets coming to light. What slowed the story down in my opinion was the main character endlessly reliving the events related to her stepmother’s disappearance 20 years ago and analyzing everything after the stepmother’s dead body is found on her family’s property. Some of that was necessary, but not over and over again at the expense of suspense and moving the plot and action forward.
I like books that are about a woman detective or P.I., but I’m not sure I’m invested enough in the main character or in the author’s style of writing to keep reading more books in this series. This is a �3.5� from me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 924 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.