Fabulous plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

Della’s father went to prison 18 years ago for killing her brother and mom, and she’s had a debilitating phobia ever since. Her father is released but Della still believes her killed her brother and mom there is no enough proof for police to arrest him again.

Then there are new murders, with the same as MO as the murders of brother and mom. Is it her dad? A copycat? Or was her dad set up?

Ah so, good. There were times I thought I had it figured out, but the twist led to new information and had me doubting my earlier opinion.

This is the second book in the series, but the author provides enough background that I didn’t feel at a loss for not reading the previous book.

BORROW

Thank you #netgalley for the complimentary copy of #scorchedgrounds in exchange for an honest review.

Ok so strap yourself in and buckle up tight, because you are in for one exciting ride. Once you pick it up, you will not be able to put it down! It’s a fantastic page turner! Thanks for writing such a great book Debbie!

What a stunner this is! Scorched Grounds by Debbie Herbert is a southern gothic thriller of devastating family drama that will have you on the edge of your seat. Della Stallings was eight when her father was sent to prison for setting the fire that killed her mother and brother. Eighteen years later, she has grown into a frightened and traumatized loner. Her fears worsen when her father is released from prison on insufficient evidence, and then more gruesome murders occur that seem to implicate him. But is he really guilty, or has he been framed? Della is a wonderful character who fights her fears and starts looking for answers, both to find out the truth and to survive. I love this author. Her portrayal of small town southern life is vivid, and her language and descriptions are haunting. This is the second book of the Normal, Alabama series, and I can’t wait for the next! Five stars!

In my younger years, I loved reading books by Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney and others who wrote in the Gothic romance genre. I am happy to have found a similar author in Debbie Herbert.

Della Stallings is traumatized at the age of 8 when her mother and younger brother, Jimmy, are brutally stabbed and the killer chases her through the woods. When her father is convicted of the heinous crime, Della goes to live with her Aunt Sylvie. Fast forward 20 years and Della's father, Hunter, is released from death row because of infractions committed by a former policeman.

Della has issues (who wouldn't!) and lives and works in solitude in order to avoid the stares of the people of Norman, Alabama. Under the care of a psychiatrist, Dr. Pennington, she tries to overcome her fear of the color red, also known as chromophobia. She soon finds herself becoming attracted to a policeman, Nathan Wilkes, who happens to be a classmate from high school.

The author does a great job in developing the story and the chapters are written from several of the characters POV. As the story unfolds, Della begins to wonder if her father was guilty of her mother's murder or maybe even worse crimes. Is her father the serial killer loose in Normal, killing women who are patients at the hospital where she works? Or, is there another monster causing these crimes?

At first, Della seems to be a cringing mental case, but toward the end of the book, she redeems herself in spectacular fashion in a fight for her life. All of the loose ends are finally woven together in a very satisfactory manner and I found myself racing to reach the conclusion.

The narrators did a great job and added a lot to my enjoyment of the story. I look forward to many more hours of entertainment by Ms. Herbert and hope that she continues to write books in this series.

Blown away as always! This author never ceases to amaze me. Highly recommend this and all her other books as well.

Della Stallings narrowly avoided becoming a victim of the slaughter that claimed her mother and younger brother - however, she did witness the gruesome crime, and since then her life has been far from “normal,” despite growing up in Normal, Alabama. Her father was convicted and sent to death row. But thanks to a technicality, he’s now a free man, despite Della’s belief that police got the right man. Now, she’s got to face her demons if she’s going to finally get justice for her family and begin to live her life fully. Meanwhile, as if that wasn’t enough excitement for one small town, a savage killer stalks the streets of Normal after a long absence and unleashes a panic amongst its residents.

This is the second book of Herbert’s set in Normal, but it has no connection plot-wise to the first.

Della is a really fascinating character because she seems so secure and stable on the surface, but just slow, she’s still (rightly so!) struggling with the scars of her past. For example, she struggles with a rare phobia that affects almost every aspect of her life. She avoids almost all social interaction with people. It’s really interesting to see her journey throughout the book as she struggles to work through these issues and start to break through.

There’s also two mysteries to solve which are semi-intertwined: who killed Della’s family/was it really her dad, and who is killing young women now by torturing them with their deepest phobias? Della is wrapped up in both investigations and both are really interesting questions, which I was totally invested in trying to solve. I did not figure it out by the big reveal, by the way. There’s a couple of good red herrings that are thrown in there to keep things interesting and thy definitely distracted me in a way that kept me from getting the picture just right.

Overall, this was a really good mystery, with a great atmosphere - it takes place a lot n abandoned hospital hallways! - and some nice twists that will keep you guessing. I am looking forward to more in this series and more from this author!

This book is great to read; it satisfies my mystery-seeking pleasure. I just realized that it was a Part 2 and that made no difference. You can read this without knowing part 1.. Della is such a complex character. The author developed her well balanced in this book and had me on my toes til the end.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for approving my request to review this book.

The first chapter of this book is absolutely wild and will suck you in immediately! Then, we switch gears to 18 years later, and Della's father, who was sent to prison for murdering her mother, is released from prison. Della wants absolutely nothing to do with him, but then questions start to surface. Is he guilty, or was he framed? Who was responsible for her mother's death all those years ago?

This book was really good, and you definitely don't have to read the first in order to enjoy this one. Overall, I would recommend to anyone looking for a fast paced, suspenseful read!

Between the title of the book, the book synopsis and the name of the town, Normal, Alabama, you can easily figure out that this is going to be a thriller of a book. That is the last thing that is easy to figure in this book. I read the first book in the series, Cold Water, but it would not affect the thrill in this book if you had not. Debbie Herbert's descriptions of the town and it's citizens as well as the background she has built gives the reader a very "visual" experience with this story of a woman traumatized by the deaths of her mother and brother who must now decide if her father was really their killer or if a murderer has been free all this time and is now on the hunt again. Both of Debbie Herbert's books are 5 star reads for me.

Scorched Grounds
Normal, Alabama thriller series, book 2
Debbie Herbert, author
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was my first read by this author, and wow, what a read it was! It had a plausible storyline that kept the reader on the edge of their seat from the beginning to the end. It was filled with multiple twists and turns; I'd actually thought I'd figured it out, more than once, only to be inaccurate. Lastly, the character development was genuine with multiple layers to the personalities of the characters. If I could use one word to sum up this storyline, it would be spectacular!!!

I will definitely be reading more by this author. I was afforded an advanced review copy by the publisher and Netgalley. I voluntarily leave my review.

Reviews will be left on Amazon and Goodreads.

Review for 'Scorched Grounds' BY Debbie Herbert
Read and reviewed via NetGalley

This book is the second book in the Normal, Alabama series. I only realised this after I finished reading the book and it made absolutely no difference. This book can be read in the series or as a standalone. I looked at a review of someone who had read both and it states that the characters are completely new in this story so there is no background story to know.

I would class this book as a Gothic crime, possibly even horror. It had me hook, line and sinker from the very first page until the last. I love the fact that I thought "Oh, well that's obvious" just to be completely spun around and then hit with an even further twist after that, well done Debbie Herbert!!

I enjoyed the fact that the book is told from the perspective of different characters: The main character, Detective, Psychologist and The corrector. That alone makes it all the more interesting for me and if I was to read a review with them 4 names I'd be delving straight in.

The whole town of Normal is anything but and sounds a very dreary place, the characters are a mixed blend, some annoyed me, some I thought were great and some a bit of both. The descriptions were detailed and strong, putting me straight in the storyline, the writing itself was excellent.

Nothing was left loose and everything was explained which I'm glad of, nothing worse than a detail being forgotten about! The storyline itself was filled with crime, murder, mystery, suspense, emotions and much more. I would recommend this book to fans of any of those and of a good psychological thriller. I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author. If your looking for a page turner... Look no further!!!

Rated 5/5 on Goodreads and Amazon (I loved it)

Free on kindle unlimited or £2.99 on kindle without unlimited.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews

#ScorchedGrounds #NetGalley

#NetGalley #Scorched Grounds #Thomas & Mercer

Hunter Stallings has spent the last eighteen years in prison for murdering his wife and young son. Della Stallings managed to escape on that horrible night and was raised by her Aunt Sylvie. Hunter is released from prison and returns to Normal, Al and hopes to rebuild a relationship with Della. Della is not so sure that she wants her father around, she still thinks he is guilty of killing her mother and brother. When a couple of young women are found murdered and a few skeletons are unearthed Della becomes more unsure of her father's guilt. Is it possible that her father is responsible for these deaths also or is someone else responsible? Let the rollercoaster of twists and turns begin! This story grabbed me from page one and kept me going back and forth between a couple of the characters trying to figure out the bad guy. Will definitely read more by Debbie Herbert.

Description
From bestselling author Debbie Herbert comes a chilling, fast-paced story about family tragedy and confronting what terrifies us most. In the eighteen years since her father went to prison for killing her mother and brother, Della Stallings has battled a crippling phobia. Her fear only grows when her father’s released. She still believes he killed her family, but the police don’t have enough evidence to arrest him again. When new grisly murders occur—each bearing the telltale signs that seem to implicate her father—Della begins to wonder if the real murderer is still out there. Could her father have been framed? To find the truth, Della must face her greatest fears and doubts—not only to find justice for her family but to ensure her own survival.

My Review
The 2nd installment in the Normal, Alabama series - "Scorched Grounds" is a dark psychological thriller novel that grabs you from the start and does not let go until the very end. Debbie Herbert does a great job in setting up the story-line. From the onset you know trouble is brewing when shouts are heard. and then screams - and then silence.

Della's father is charged with the murder of her mother and brother. Eighteen years later his sentence is overturned and he returns to Normal, Alabama. But things get complicated when multiple women are found dead and her father is once again considered a suspect.

Is Della's father the killer or is there someone more menacing than you can imagine ready to silence anyone who gets in the way?

This ARC was provided in exchange for my honest opinion and I definitely give this a 5 Star!!

Scorched Grounds is the second book by Debbie Herbert in the Normal, Alabama series. For those wondering, yes there is a Normal Alabama. It’s an…. unusual place and one I don’t care to drive through again. The series is set in the same location but with totally different characters so join us as we get to know the people from Normal.

Della Stallings’ father went to prison for murdering her mother and brother. Della was the sole survivor of this tragedy, one that has left her with a debilitating phobia. She has worked her entire life to cope with this phobia, including working only the night shift. But now, her father is being released from prison on a technicality and murders begin happening almost immediately. Della has no idea if it is her father who is killing people or, worse, he is being framed by someone else – someone very close to Della.

From the cover, alone, you can tell that this story is very dark. The characters are not very likable. The places are dreary and, some, in ruins. Despite that, you get the sense that Della is trying desperately to rise above this, not to be pulled down by the horror that is her life. There is, however, someone who is determined not to allow that to happen. From Della’s father, to her very bizarre psychologist, to her gosh-awful aunt and uncle, there are so many suspects, a myriad of twists and turns and chilling acts of terror to ensure you are captivated from start to finish.

Herbert does an amazing job at creating an atmospheric thriller that is a perfect example of southern noir. I loved it and hope you will too!

When Della Stallings was just a girl, both her mother and brother were killed by a masked man. 18 years later, her father’s conviction is overturned and he returns to their hometown of Normal, Alabama. Della has spent these last years suffering from a crippling phobia, one that has her working overnights in the same hospital her mother worked at before her death. That phobia is one that I’ve never heard of before, chromaphobia, the fear of a color. In Della’s case, that color’s red. The color she saw everywhere when she saw her mother and younger brother’s bodies lying on the floor, before she ran for her life.
But, now with the discovery of multiple women’s bodies in and near the lake, plus the current suspicious deaths that have been occurring, her father is once again a suspect. When she discovers a shocking secret, she flees the only comfort she’s known, but even then, she’s not safe from the phobia she’s tried to ignore for the past few years. Back in therapy with the head of the department, Della is determined to get her phobia under control and take control of her life.
Little does she know, she’s now the focus of the serial killer. One bent on correcting the fears of the women he’s focused on, even if it kills them.
I’ll admit, I didn’t figure out the killer. I was completely surprised, which is unusual to me. I usually figure out the killer early on, but this time I didn’t. It was interesting about reading about a phobia that has you afraid of a red light, a straight up panic attack inducing fear. I have the usual, snakes, heights, and a more rare one of fish in water, I can’t go swimming in rivers, lakes, oceans, etc. But I can’t imagine a fear of a particular color. I totally get her fear, it’s the color that haunts her nightmares, the color of the blood that was everywhere the night her brother and mother were brutally murdered at the hands of the unknown killer. The person she escaped from out her second story window. The killer she, and everyone else in town spent 18 years thinking was her own father.
This is the second book in the Normal, Alabama series, but I didn’t know that until I went to write this review. I haven’t read the first book, but I know I’m going to be one clicking that one.
With Ms. Herbert’s flair for storytelling, a cast of interesting characters, and a plot that’s to die for, you can’t go wrong with Scorched Grounds. It’s a definite must read for fans of mysteries/thrillers.
**I was provided with an ARC of this story by Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Scorched Grounds was such an engaging book and I really liked Debbie Herbert's writing style. There's well written suspense to keep you on your toes, it's well paced and the the characters are complex, especially Della.

Della Stallings is a traumatised women. 18 years ago her mother and brother died in their house going up in flames... Her father was held responsible and was sent to prison for murder. 18 years later he's out... and Della is more scared then she ever was...

I like Debbie Herbert her writing style. It's engaging, keeps you interested, on your toes (or in my case at the end of my seat or still up in my bed when I actually should be sleeping). I like the atmosphere she creates. The Southern small town, the people who live there with all their dirty little secrets... Is her father the monster she always thought he was? Or maybe, just maybe he was framed? You will have to read this book to find out. It keeps you guessing until the verry end.

This book is the second book of the Normal Alabams series. I will read the first book also. But you can read them as stand a alones.

The book is described as a gothic, thriller. But the gotic element isn't really there in my opinion. When I think of a gothic novel I think of ghosts/horror. But there is a creepy vibe in this book that i like.

I like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Intense, emotionally thrilling, action packed edge of your seat journey filled with danger, mystery, engaging charters, witty dialog and heart racing twists. Was a roller-coaster of dramatic excitement from beginning to end. Love it!

This novel grabbed me at page one and didn’t let go. The author writes of family tragedy in a small town setting And keeps you captivated with every page. I look forward to more of her work.
Many thanks to Thomas Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.