I can’t stress this enough. Read the other books in the series first. I didn’t, and I regret it because the author does a great job of bringing everything together…I just didn’t know what “everything” was. If you’ve read the others, you’ll love this one. Otherwise, you’ll be as lost as I was. I will still go back and read the first ones, but they won’t mean as much now that I know how it all wraps up. Still would recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this one.

Well, now that I know this was a trilogy, the continued focus on the relationship between Rowan and Julian makes a lot more sense! I wish I had known this when I read book 2. I probably would have had a bit more patience with it! That being said, I still think the writing (or maybe editing) needs a bit of attention. Thoughts are repeated multiple times. Two such points that won't spoil the book are Rowan not wanting to ruin her friendship with Billy and not being able to accept that her father would kill anyone. Ms. Webb did a good job of reminding readers what they might have missed if they hadn't read the first two books but then seems to get clogged down in repetition. A few times I wondered if I had accidentally jumped back pages and was re-reading something from earlier. But Ms. Webb did bring the series to a nice conclusion and I appreciated the subplots that gave the story some changes in intensity levels.

While this was the third book in The Undertaker’s Daughter series and had a fairly intricate case of characters, I was able to follow along despite having not read the previous two books.

What a story! Rowan DuPont is the only member of her family left after her twin sister and both parents had come to tragic ends before this book starts. She and her boyfriend (the chief of the local police department) are now still trying to figure out the convoluted story of her family and other deaths that all seem to link back to Rowan. We usually found out the mysterious link to Rowan and her family after someone was murdered.

Looking back, there were quite a few characters introduced (usually on their way out), but not knowing them from the previous books didn’t really confuse things. It’s obvious which parts of Rowan’s story could have been covered in the previous two books, but everything we needed to know was explained enough for this, the third book, to be understandable.

Luckily I like a far-fetched story. Because Rowan’s background? Whoa. Overall, I’d still give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars, especially for the creativity of the plot. If I happened across either of the first two books, I wouldn’t mind reading them too. The author’s style was definitely engaging and entertaining (which feels like a weird thing to say in a book mostly based on murders, but oh well).

This is the latest in the Undertaker’s Daughter series from Debra Webb and concludes Dr. Dupont’s story. The book has a lot of unexpected twists and turns before reaching the conclusion. The first part of the book recaps the highlights of the previous two books so it stands on its own without requiring you read the other two first but it also tends to drag on a bit. There were a couple of surprises but a happy ending for Rowan and Billy!

THE UNDERTAKER'S DAUGHTER #3

We're back in Winchester, Tennessee with Dr. Rowan Dupont. Living in a funeral home is its own creepy story, but Rowan has faced death more outside of the morgue than inside.

Things are peaceful in town at the moment. No Julian sending her bodies or trying to kill her. But Rowan knows it won't last. The man will not stop until she is dead along with everyone she loves. And now that she and Billy are serious she has a lot more to lose.

She has found enough family secrets for more than one lifetime. But she still doesn't know enough. Everything she thought was true has turned out to be false. What was her mother? And why do all of these bodies have her name tattooed on them?

Just when things seem calm, a body shows up on her mother's grave and we are in the thick of it once again. But oh my the shocking end!

I love this series and Rowan. Very Well Done!

NetGalley/ March 31st, 2020 by MIRA

I was really quite excited when this one arrived on my kindle. The final instalment of the Undertaker's Daughter series where Doctor Rowan Dupont has been staring death in the face. It followed her back to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, ten months ago, cloaking the walls of her family’s Victorian funeral home like a shroud. In investigating the mysterious deaths of her loved ones, Rowan has unearthed enough family secrets to bury everything she’d previously thought true. But each shocking discovery has only led to more bodies and more questions; the rabbit hole is deeper than she ever imagined.

Despite settling in to a comfortable life with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, Rowan knows dangerous serial killer Julian Addington is still out there. She can’t let her guard down now. Not when she’s this close to ending his torment once and for all. But with a storm brewing on the horizon, she’ll get only one shot before the impending darkness takes hold, threatening to wipe away every truth she’s uncovered—and everything she holds dear.

My biggest issue with The Darkness We Hide is the amount of repetition of the story from books one and two. I realise that there will be people that pick this book up who haven't invested in the earlier books and that in order to bring them up to speed there is an element of rehashing the events to date needed. But I have read them - and remembered the story quite well - and found myself resenting the constant recaps of the career of serial killer Julian Addington and the continued assessment of Rowan's mothers mental health. If this had been pared back a bit it may have been a more satisfying read.

When the conclusion to the story does come it feels rushed and insubstantial. It's not a bad ending by any means and quite a surprising one in some respects but the build up was such a long time coming that it lost a lot of its power. Like a TV series with two too many episodes before the grand denouement.

<p>Supplied by Net Galley and Harlequin MIRA in exchange for an honest review.

This is part of a 3 book romantic suspense series. I have really enjoyed this series and loved the characters and their relationships. The twist at the end surprised me so I did not know who did it.

This one was an up-and-down for me. While I really enjoyed the mystery/thriller portion of the book and the crazy events that happened along the way, there was some character development that I felt I lacked with the main character.

I knew going in that I was going to possibly struggle with that as this is the third book in the series, so I tried not to make that affect my thoughts too much.

I gave it a 2 out of 5 stars. There was a lot of repetitive inner dialogue with our heroine that made the book feel a bit slower than it should have, Some parts also felt a little underwritten, and I would have liked to have seen a bit more descriptiveness to some scenes.

Overall, an OK book, but I wouldn't probably pick this one up if I was browsing the shelves.

I really enjoyed The Darkness We Hide and now will be going back to read books 1 and 2 in this series.
I didn't have much difficulty jumping in on the 3rd book, but I think parts would make much more sense if I'd read the first two books.

This was part police procedural and part thriller/mystery. If you like solidly done, creepy / frightening whodunits, this book is calling your name.

The characters are excellent and I felt like I'd enjoy knowing some of them. The mystery was a mystery to me. I was surprised and that's always a plus in a book in this genre.

If you haven't yet picked this book up or haven't started the series yet, do so now. You will be glad you did.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me an ARC at my request. All thoughts in this review are mine and happily given.

I looked forward to the conclusion of Rowan’s story for months and I was not disappointed at all! This is a satisfying ending of Rowan’s quest to find the secrets that her family has hidden from her for years. She is joined in her quest by Sheriff Billy Brannigan, a hero unparalleled by others in his determination to help Rowan and to keep her alive. I really enjoyed discovering the secrets along with Rowan and following the twisted turns of this tale of a strange family history that is still affecting Rowan’s present. I was happy to find out more about Rowan’s background, especially her mother. I was angry at how inept the FBI seemed in protecting her, choosing to treat her as a suspect instead. My favorite character was Rowan, of course, because she was the central character, one who showed ingenuity and spirit in the face of grave danger. My favorite secondary character was Charlotte, a true friend to Rowan, who is ready to sacrifice all for her. I highly recommend this book to all readers of romantic suspense. Although it is the conclusion of a series, this book can easily be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Well folks, it’s been a crazy week around the world and it’s no less crazy here in my home. So thankful to be able to participate in the blog tour for The Darkness We Hide by Debra Webb and take all our minds away from the big bad scary world today!

Oh wait…


What was I thinking? It’s right there in the title…

The Darkness We Hide is all about the dark, twisty, scary places and people hidden in plain sight all around us. So if you’re looking for a heartwarming tale to sit back, relax, and drink a glass of wine with then THIS is NOT the book to pick up right now. But if you’re like me and dark & twisty is your thing, then read on my friends…

My Thoughts on The Darkness We Hide by Debra Webb:
I went into this book knowing it was the last book in The Undertakers Daughter Series. So I expected to be completely lost at times. But that didn’t happen at all! Information was hinted at and thrown in at just the right time so it didn’t feel like an info dump and kept me in the story. So I definitely recommend this even if you haven’t read the other books!

And boy do I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel!


The characters are well-developed and no two are the same! Rowan Dupont, the former undertaker’s daughter, has taken over for her father at the family’s funeral home. There’s a serial killer taunting her and she’s finding out all kinds of secrets the people closest to her have been hiding.

Every time I thought I knew exactly what was going on in this book, it turned out I was wrong! I was wrong about everything people!!! You can’t get higher praise than that for a suspense/thriller, in my opinion!

For months, Doctor Rowan Dupont has been staring death in the face. It followed her back to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, ten months ago, cloaking the walls of her family’s Victorian funeral home like a shroud. In investigating the mysterious deaths of her loved ones, Rowan has unearthed enough family secrets to bury everything she’d previously thought true. But each shocking discovery has only led to more bodies and more questions; the rabbit hole is deeper than she ever imagined.
This was a great book. It picks up a few months after the last one and keeps you going right from there. I enjoyed following Rowan as she uncovers this new mystery. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dr Rowan Dupont grew up in a funeral home and has always been known as the undertaker's daughter. Her twin sister was murdered decades earlier.

After the murder of her father, however, she returned home to Winchester, Tennessee, and has been serving as the town's undertaker. In addition to that, Rowan has found love with police chief Billy Brannigan.

Dr Rowan Dupont choose not to follow in her fathers footsteps, she became a profiler with the Nashville Police Department. In a series of events she has returned to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee. She had to step into her fathers shoes, and been serving as the town's undertaker. Death has trailed Rowan her whole life, but now the serial killer, Julian Addington remains at large.
Rowan’s lifelong friendship with local police chief, Billy Brannigan has developed into something romantic. With only a short time together Billy and her relationship has only just begun with the serial killer resurfaces again. Seeking to kill Rowan, his efforts to decimate the remains Dupont only intensifies.
With a combined efforts she is determined to meet this violent, brutal foe head on.

Debra Webb has once again delighted readers with her brilliant writing.
Her steadfast fans of series will not be disappointed in this installment.
A intense page turner, will have you on the edge of your seat.

I'll start out by saying that when I grabbed this off of Netgalley, I didn't realize that this was book #3 in a trilogy and finally did when I opened up the book.  Luckily, reading books 1 and 2 is not at all necessary to follow the story, though I'm sure it makes for a fuller, richer read having all of the backstories.  Ms. Webb adds enough detail from the previous books via the main character's thoughts and recollections so that readers can pick this one up and still have a great reading experience.

Rowan Dupont is the daughter of the undertaker and the target of several serial killers.  She has unwoven years of familial secrets to know that her mother was that catalyst for their attention but how her mother became that focus is still a mystery.  As is the location of one of the most dangerous, Julian Addington, whose obsession with Rowan is unhealthy and deadly.

A thriller with a touch of romance. The Darkness We Hide is full of plots twists and turns that had me devouring the pages looking for clues and feeling the tension that steadily built.  Rowan is a great character, strong yet vulnerable, relatable in her quest for answers.  The main villain, Julian, is mostly a spook in the shadowy corners, leaving bodies in his wake, yet a central character.

If you are in the mood for a gripping, engaging thriller that will keep you reading page one through the end, The Darkness We Hide is a great choice.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author and this is my honest, voluntary review. Debra Webb has raised the bar quite high for other suspense authors and I'm sure there are a few who are struggling. Her books are always very well written and detailed and her characters are superb examples of humanity (maybe not the villain!). I quite highly recommend this book to everyone! Enjoy! 📚

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Darkness We Hide" by Debra Webb, MIRA, March 31, 2020

Debra Webb, author of "The Darkness We Hide" has written a chilling thriller that is intriguing, intense, horrific, and very edgy. The Genres for this novel, are Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Fiction.  The story takes place in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. There are dark secrets, twists, and turns, betrayals, danger, action, and death. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex and complicated. Some are quirky and evil. There are other books in this series, and I would recommend you read them. This is the first book in the series that I read, and I found it difficult to catch up on certain details.

Doctor Rowan Dupont is literally dealing with death. She is now in charge of the family funeral home. Rowan is living there with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, her boyfriend.  Past dark secrets from Billy's life have emerged that have exposed family tragedies. One thing is for sure, certain recent deaths of people close to Rowan means danger, threats, and warning. Unless there is a way to stop the person intent on destroying Rowan, she will never be free. Someone means serious business and wants Rowan dead. The more Rowan investigates, the more she realizes the reasons.

There is action, and this is a dangerous game of cat and mouse. People who Rowan trusts, may not really be who they seem to be. As Rowan becomes familiar with her family history, she finds more shocking secrets. 

I would highly recommend this frightening, suspenseful, and intense novel for readers who enjoy a chilling thriller.

The Darkness we hide by Debra Webb is bk 3 of the Undertaker's daughter series and you really have to read the entire series in order to totally enjoy this wonderful mystery thiriller! Each book picks up where the previous one finishes, and while each book concludes (somewhat) there is always unfinished business. I loved the twists and turns the author put into this book (and into the entire series) - Rowan is not perfect, her family has hidden many secrets. She is trying to begin a new life with the police chief Billy, but knowing that her deadliest enemy is still out there she tries to stay vigilant. I loved how this book never stops the action and suspense until the very end! There is a novella and 3 books to this series and I highly recommend them all!!!!

Even though I didn't read the first two books in "The Undertaker's Daughter" series, the author gave good enough information to help you get caught up with what's going on.

Rowan Dupont knows a thing or two about death. She's been surrounded by it all her life. Her father was The Undertaker for their family's mortuary business. So being around dead bodies doesn't faze her. While she was a Police Officer, her father got killed by a former associate of her mother's named Julian Addington. She took over her father and became the town's Undertaker now so she's on a mission to find her father's killer and bring him to justice once and for all in the third and what I assume is the final of this trilogy. What's even more unsettling about all this is that this isn't Julian's first murder either.
When people close to Rowan start dropping like flies she knows that Julian is near again, and he will strike again not stopping until he gets to finally reveal a deep dark secret to Rowan. One that will change the course of things.

I really enjoyed this book considering that I didn't read the first two installments in the series. However, after reading this one I'm absolutely hooked, especially because it's a serial killer novel; I'm obsessed with serial killers (not in a bad way:0). The book kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed the author's writing. Let's see if we can get that serial killer bookclub huh? Huge thanks to NetGalley and Mira books for a copy of this book in a exchange for an honest review.

This book is part of a continuing story arc and the preceding books are essential to read before this one.

I decided to binge read the three books following the novella (which you cannot skip!) and I’m so glad I elected to do so. Each book picks up essentially where the last one finished and that continuity added to my enjoyment. And, knowing that this one would end the series ratcheted up the anticipation and suspense. By this point, Rowan has been blown away by the secrets she’s uncovered about her family, particularly her mother, and some friends who were like family. She’s equally mystified by connections to her mother that still don’t make sense and require more investigation. Fortunately, Rowan and Winchester Police Chief Billy Brannigan have finally moved out of the friend zone, deepening a relationship that was always destined to reach this place. And, let’s not forget that pesky serial killer who’s stalking her.

I must admit that I was equally baffled by the curiosities exposed in the last book, finding it difficult to cobble together scenarios that would be plausible. That had me racing through this story, trying to figure things out, who could be trusted and who probably wouldn’t make it to the end. I eventually gave up and just rolled with the story, which was the best thing I could have done because I never would have predicted the outcomes. The revelations are explosive and I misjudged some relationships.

The ending surpassed my expectations, delivering up an exciting, tension-filled conclusion to an interesting series. I also learned a lot about the funereal service, which I never would have imagined I’d not only want to know but would find fascinating. I’m glad I read the books so close to each other as there are lots of dangling threads that needed tying up and could get confusing if I didn’t keep track. This was a satisfying conclusion to a very compelling series.

Doctor Rowan Dupont grew up in a funeral home as an undertaker's daughter. Rowan did not follow in her father's footsteps, however. Instead, she became a profiler with the Nashville Police Department. After the murder of her father, however, she returned home to Winchester, Tennessee, and has been serving as the town's undertaker. In addition to that, Rowan has found love with police chief Billy Brannigan.

Unfortunately for Rowan, despite combined effort, serial killer Julian Addington remains at large. When Julian resurfaces, his efforts to kill Rowan are intensified. Will Rowan and those she loves be able to finally locate Julian before any more brutal murders take place? And, will the secrets Rowan has been uncovering be more than she can handle?

I have read the previous two books in this trilogy, The Secrets We Bury and The Lies We Tell and have been truly captivated. I loved the thread involving the serial killer, especially how he was revealed to Rowan and how he escaped capture and how it all tied together in this last book. Debra Webb is an excellent author and I have enjoyed all of her books that I have had the opportunity to read.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.