"Can't Go Back" by Debra Webb delivers a gripping and intense conclusion to the Devlin & Falco series, where the past and present collide, putting the detectives' professional and personal lives at stake. Birmingham detectives Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco find themselves entangled in a perplexing double homicide case that challenges their investigative skills and unravels a disturbing connection to Falco's dark past.

Webb skillfully crafts a narrative that starts as an apparent open-and-shut case but quickly transforms into a complex web of new leads and unsettling revelations. The mystery deepens as the evidence contradicts the husband's confession, leaving Devlin and Falco to navigate a maze of deception. The plot is well-paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the detectives untangle the threads of the case, exposing hidden truths and confronting the consequences of Falco's past.

The strength of the novel lies in its character development and the dynamic between Devlin and Falco. The emotional toll of the investigation on their partnership, both on and off the job, adds depth to the narrative. Falco's dark past becomes a central element, injecting a personal dimension into the story and raising the stakes for the characters. The exploration of their complex relationship contributes to the overall richness of the plot.

The title, "Can't Go Back," resonates throughout the narrative, emphasizing the irreversible nature of certain events. The novel effectively captures the tension between wanting to undo the past and the harsh reality of facing the present. Webb masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, where every revelation brings new challenges and the detectives must confront the painful truths that emerge.

"Can't Go Back" earns a solid four stars for its compelling plot, well-developed characters, and the seamless integration of personal and professional challenges. Debra Webb delivers a satisfying and emotionally charged conclusion to the Devlin & Falco series, leaving readers breathless as the detectives navigate a world where everyone is lying, and the pursuit of truth comes at a cost.

Can't Go Back
Devlin & Falco, 3
by Debra Webb
Pub Date 14 Dec 2021 | Archive Date 28 Dec 2021
Thomas & Mercer,Thomas &38; Mercer
General Fiction \(Adult\)| Mystery & Thrillers



I'm reviewing Can't Go Back through Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley:


Let me start by saying that my rating of this book is in no way indicative of the author's abilities.


Detectives Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco arrive at the scene of a double homicide and find nothing makes sense. There's a woman and her child dead, and the husband says he killed them, but the evidence says otherwise. Who would confess to unspeakable murders he didn't commit?


An open-and-shut case turns into a web of new leads. Deflin and Falco track them all down, uncovering a disturbing connection between the murders and Falco's past.



There's no doubt Falco's partnership with Devlin will be harmed by the incident from eight years ago. If he could go back, he would-but what happened, happened and a murderer is out there. Devlin and Falco must slog through the pain to get to the truth; and so far the only truth they know is that everyone is lying.

I give Can't Go Back three out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Murder mysteries are one of my FAVORITE genres of books. This mystery is about two detectives investigating the death of a woman and her daughter in a housefire... but the husband lives. This book takes you on a journey of a classic who did it and will have you wondering the whole time who actually did it, and will you find out?

* This is a series and there are two books prior to this one that I did not read, but I was still able to understand the book. It likely would be helpful for the backstory but you can still understand what is happening without reading them.

“There are no facts, only interpretations. —Friedrich Nietzsche”

In this conclusion to the Devlin and Falco series, the story has the duo trying to solve the circumstances regarding an ex-cop who survives a house leaving his wife, Allison and daughter, Leah inside. It doesn't take long for them to determine that they have a double homicide on the hands with a former officer with many ties to the legal system. Coincidentally, they discover the family has been struggling to medical bills for Leah. They slowly uncover the mysterious fire and discover unexpected secrets and connections to solving the case. In the process, Falco finally has to confront his past mistakes as an undercover cop, especially if he wants a future with Devlin.
This was a complimentary digital edition provided by NetGalley and the publishers. All comments are my own unbiased and honest opinions.

This is the explosive 3rd and final installment in the Devlin & Falco crime thriller series. Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco, detectives for the Birmingham, AL police department are called to a tragic double homicide of a mother and child. The husband and father of the deceased offers a full confession. What should be an open and shut case becomes much more complicated and may include a sinister connection to Falco’s mysterious past. Thank you Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now!

I wish I had a chance to read the first two books. I really enjoyed the plot and writing of this one so I can imagine I will love the first two.

I just adore Kerri and Luke. Webb is a master of suspense that keeps you guessing literally to the end. Can’t Go Back is a perfect example. Who killed Leah and mom Allison? Was it dad or was there something more menacing to it… I never would have guessed! Absolutely thrilling read

This one was not for me.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The final book in the Devlin & Falco series was a wild ride. It was a while since I read the other two books, but I easily picked right back up where I left off. In this book, Falco’s secretive past threatens to cause trouble between him and Devlin as well as derail their newest murder case.

A woman, Jana Boothe, and her daughter Leah have died in a house fire and the husband, a former undercover cop confesses. Devlin and Falco are blocked at every turn by questionable witnesses including the two grandmothers. Falco, once an undercover officer himself, questions his former Lieutenant for clues about the husband, Boothe’s nefarious contacts. Unfortunately, he and Lieutenant O’Grady have an ugly past together that Devlin does not want to remember or talk about.

Falco has not come to terms with his past, but he is ready to move on with Devlin and their future. As the case becomes more intertwined with his past, he knows he must come clean with her if they have any chance of a life together.

This story was full of twists and turns, and I enjoyed every crazy moment of it. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I gave it four stars.

Clever and twisty,will definately follow this author. Completely compelling and compulsive read, grasps you in and gives the ride of your life.

4.5 stars.

I’ll start by saying the same thing I said for the other Debra Webb book in this series that I’ve reviewed — though extremely delayed in reading this series (because I didn’t have book 1), I finally am knocking them off my TBR list! As I said with the other book in this series, I really love that her thrillers have great plots that keep you on the edge of your seat, but somehow they don’t read like any other typical thriller (which is a great feat, for sure)! So I will definitely be on the lookout for more Debra Webb books in the future! (And I’ll also make sure that I’ve read the first book in a series before requesting any sequels — whoops!)

This book was so good! I want to see more from this author in the future!! I couldn't put this book down. What a page turner!!!

Good classic detective book. Fast-paced but still well developed. There were some twists thrown in that I did not expect, but I definitely kept coming back for more. I would recommend this book to a friend for sure!

A good police procedural story and a twist of a mystery. A fire and a mother and child die. But things just don't line up for the Delvin and Falco detective team. As the story unfolds Falco's past becomes tied to the case. A good story with plenty of action to keep me turning pages.

As detectives, Kerri and Falco had a lot on their plates, with their past intruding into the present, combined with their stressful jobs, which tend to be fatal at times. Solving this murder mystery was taking a toll upon them and their relationship.

A great addition to the series….Webb keeps you reading compulsively.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved this book and Debra Webb! I always look for her new releases! Excellent!! Very suspenseful and exciting. Will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I absolutely love this author and all her books!! This is a great continuation of this series. The characters in her books come to life and make you feel as though you are going through the same emotions they are. The scary life threatening decisions, the heartbreaking decisions and the guilt associated with living with those decisions. You need to read all off her books and series! You won’t be disappointed

Intense and mesmerizing thriller you won't soon forget ! Webb is a master storyteller ! Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this book ! Opinions are solely my own ! #Netgalley
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