Deeper Than the Dead is crafted perfectly. The twists and plot points are carefully placed making this a smooth read for any style of reader. This is book 1 of the Very Boyett series and I am already ready for book 2! I wouldn't call this just a police procedural story or just a thriller, the author has done a great job of layering the investigative aspect, suspense, romance, all taking the reader on an emotional journey through the eyes of a disgraced police chief whose own family pain and secrets have become her next case to solve. Five stars from this reader!

I found this book a little slow to get into, but by the second half of the book it was so hard to put down! I would definitely read the next book in the series!

Vera Boyett, a skilled crime analyst and recently disgraced deputy police chief, reluctantly confronts her familial history when the remains of her long-lost stepmother are uncovered. Vera is compelled to confront a threatening past that jeopardizes her very identity. She and her sister Eve had a fairy-tale childhood that was good until it turned tragic, with a stepmother they never found a bond with. At least they had each other, a baby half-sister, and a shared devotion that led them to commit unthinkable acts. Against the backdrop of a stifling summer in small-town Tennessee, saturated with suffocating humidity and concealed secrets, lurks a revelation – beneath the surface lie more bodies than one would imagine.
This novel is a must-read for fans of mysteries that offer a captivating blend of suspense and familial drama.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and author Debra Webb for the opportunity to review the advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The book had me constantly guessing, skillfully introducing various suspects and gradually unveiling connections and revelations in each chapter. I particularly enjoyed the intricate family secrets and drama intertwined with the ongoing investigation. Small-town crime novels are my favorite due to the interconnectedness of the characters.

While the first half seemed a bit slow-paced with a focus on background information and introductions, it picked up significantly in the latter half with fast-paced clues and frequent plot twists. Learning that this is the start of a series, I realized the necessity for laying extensive groundwork.

I wished for more development of the character Vera, as delving into her past, particularly her experiences in Memphis, would have helped me relate to her choices and actions. Her sisters, on the other hand, came across as endearing and believable.

While some major questions seemed unanswered in the ending, it appears to be setting up for a sequel, which I found enjoyable and intriguing. The buildup to the end was satisfying and prompted me to revisit the story for missed clues.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and engaging read, especially in the latter half, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series to uncover the unresolved mysteries and follow Vera's next steps. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this book. The publication date is set for 8/6!

I had never heard of this author before but the description of the book sounded so intriguing and it did not disappoint! It was fast paced, funny, dripping with mystery, and had me questioning everyone. While there was really no twist, I still found this book to be incredibly fun and well done for a mystery/crime book. The characters were interesting and unique, but I found myself wishing for something more between Vee and Bent. Overall, I thought this was really well done and I enjoyed this book! I will definitely read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it. I thought from the premise I would like this and it didnt disappoint.

When Vera receives a call from her sister saying remains have been found on their families land, she immediately returns home to her two sisters. I really like Vera, she is determined, fiesty, doesn't suffer fools and I think comes across as being very realistic and believeable. I think the authors writing style is good, engaging and easy to follow and moves from past to present times seamlessly. I felt the pacing in the first half of the story was a little to slow for my liking although it did pick up more in the second half, and the last quarter of the book was a very absorbing read where everything starts to tie up together nicely. The plot line is good and I liked the way the author drip fed information that had me second guessing again and again who the killer was. Did this book wow me or have me desperate to know more - initially no but towards the end yes. I'd definitely want to read the next book in the series and hope to see Bent appear again. If you're into crime, police procedurals then I'd recommend this.

3 stars

Deeper than the Dead, Vera Boyett book 1, by Debra Webb.

Vera's life is in shambles. Trouble with her hard earned career and long dead bodies showing up on her family's farm that she has mostly avoided her entire adult life. This book had me guessing and re-guessing everything multiple times. I enjoyed digging through Vera and her family's skeletons. This was a complete book but enough was left open at the end that has me craving book 2 already. Five stars.

#bookreview #2024 #murder #familysecrets #crimethriller #netgalley

A skeleton found in a cave on her old family property brings Vera Boyett back home to help and protect her two sisters, Eve and Luna. As the body count rises, the carefully built web that Vera and Eve have built to hide the truth of their stepmother’s disappearance starts to unravel. But is anything how she remembers, or is Vera just getting wound up further into the web?
An exciting beginning to a new series, full of twists and turns. Nothing is what you think.

I really enjoyed this, its was full of secrets lies, twists and turns it was a crazy ride. I found the characters to be interesting I’m hoping for more books to really get to know Vera her sisters and the sheriff. It’s good thriller with lots of mystery and suspense. It was gripping intriguing and intense

Review: I was excited to jump into this one due to the premise. A recently disgraced police chief heads home after the remains of her stepmother are found on her family’s property. At home, Vera needs to come to terms with the past, family secrets, and the political ties in her small town.

This book kept me guessing the whole time. I thought the author did a good job introducing different suspects, making connections, and revealing more and more each chapter. I enjoyed all the family secrets and drama and how those were intertwined with the current case being investigated. Small town crime books are always my favorite because of all the close connections.

I did think it was a little slower paced throughout the first half with a lot of background information and introductions. I didn’t realized this will be a series, so it makes sense that there had to be a lot of background to lay the groundwork for the series. It did really pick up the last half with a lot of new fact paced clues and twists in almost every chapter.

I do wish there was a little more development with Vera. I feel like it would have made sense to know more about what happened in Memphis so I could feel more connected to her. I wanted to know more about her to have a better understanding as to why she chose to do a few things. Some of the actions were questionable. I did find her sisters endearing and believable.

I did question the ending because it seems like some major questions weren’t all answered, but again, makes sense because it’s setting up the sequel. I did really enjoy the end and felt it was a good build up to it. I was able to go back and look at some smaller clues I missed while reading.

It was a fun read with a good build up to the end. I really enjoyed the second half of the book, and I would read the next book in the series to see what Vera is up to next and to figure out the mysteries that weren’t all resolved!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this book. Book will be published on 8/6!

3⭐️

This was a good start to the new series!
It started a little slow for me but I guess we needed all the background to set the basics for the series.

I’m still not sure what happened with Vee and the work situation!🤷‍♀️

Looking forward to see what happens in the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the Arc !

Deeper Than Dead by D. Webb, published by Thomas & Mercer, is the first book in the Vera Boyett Series and this new to me author had me right from the start.
I fell in love with story and characters, couldn't put the book down. A suspenseful read full of twists and unexpected turns that had me guessing til the last page. 5 stars.
Blurb:
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 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.

I have read and enjoyed other books by Debra Webb and this one was no different, it drew me in and kept me captivated throughout.

Deeper Than the Dead by Debra Webb A good first novel in a new series with an impressive mystery that included cold cases, conspiracies and some wild twists and turns. There were several intriguing characters introduced including Vera, Eve, and Luna with interesting pasts who hopefully will be highlighted in future books. On a personal note there was more information on mortuary methods and practices than was comfortable to read.
Thank you to Ms Webb, Thomas & Mercer, publishers, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I love Debra Webb books and this was no exception. Vera comes home after being disgraced at her job as a police detective to find out her stepmother’s remains have been found. As the investigation continues more bodies are found. Lots of twists and turns to find out who was the murderer. I think there will be more books in this series and I can’t wait

This book was good in that I could figure out some of the ending but still kept me guessing in many areas. I liked the characters as they seemed true to life and not exaggerated.

The story line follows Vera who returns to her home town after human remains are found on her family’s property. With her own career in law enforcement, Vera brings a certain level of ‘go get em’ to the crime scene. She wants nothing more than to put this behind her and her family, all while hiding her own secrets…
I really appreciated how this book wrapped up in the end!

Webb writes very detailed stories, and while I do love that, it can get very confusing, very easily. I would still recommend this book and read the coming books of the series, I just fear that if I don’t take note on characters like who is related or connect to who, come the next book I won’t be able to recall relationship/family details that matter.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer publishing along with Debra Webb for this eARC! Publishing in August 2024.

#DeeperThanTheDead #NetGalley
Awesome.
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…
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me an advance copy.

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.

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I love Debra Webb books. She keeps you hanging on with every twist and turn. Deeper than Dead is no exception.