Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer For the opportunity to read this book. This was the first time I’ve read a Debra Webb book. I loved the character Vera and her relationship with Brent. This was a page turner with lots of held breath anticipation of what was going to happen. I look forward to reading more of her books.

This is the second book in the series, and while you can enjoy it without reading the first, I wish I had. I found it hard to put down, yet I didn’t want it to end.

In this story, Vera faces her former arch-enemy, The Messenger, a serial killer she arrested who now appears to be killing again in Fayetteville, TN. It's puzzling how he could still commit these crimes from prison—maybe he has a protégé or a copycat.

I enjoyed the twists and turns, as I wasn’t sure who the real villain was until the reveal. The well-developed characters, especially Vera’s sister Eve and her history with Bent, enriched the plot.

The family dynamics and Vera’s relationships with former colleagues and Bent made for a compelling read. The novel is a fast-paced thrill ride with some realistic, albeit gruesome, descriptions.

Overall, it's one of the best books I’ve read, and I can’t wait for the next in the series. It stands well on its own, so don’t miss this gripping, immersive read with a brilliant conclusion!

Overall I enjoyed this book, but now knowing it was #2 in the series, I definitely Wish I would’ve read #1 first.

A complete rush from beginning to the thrilling end in this sequel to Deeper Than the Dead. If you have not read the first book (although you really should as it was amazing) the author provides just enough history. Vera Boyett is now working with Sheriff Gray “Bent” Benton, despite their past history. When it seems as if a case that she had closed in Memphis has come back to haunt her, she will do what is necessary to protect her two sisters as their family has suffered enough. Several people have been kidnapped, but then left mostly unharmed. Now a local reporter has been kidnapped and he is the son of a prominent family. Vera knows that the man she had arrested is still in prison, but is this his protégé or a copycat? One thing she knows for sure is that she is the person that the kidnapper wants. When her family is threatened, she is willing to give him what he wants, but help from an unexpected source may be just what she needs. Suspense as things are never as they seem as Vera fights for the return of the reporter and to end the reign of terror visited upon her family and the town. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Wow! I've been waiting for a book like this -- one that keeps me reading way past my bedtime and one I couldn't put down! I loved this second Vera Boyett book!

There's a new criminal in town called the Time Thief. When one of the town's most prominent son is abducted, Vera gets involved. She's back working with Bent, a good friend and Sheriff, and a former lover of Vera's. I just adore these two together, and Closer Than You Know gives some very nice moments between these two. And Vera -- I especially like how she doesn't always tell all the truth.

Back to the mystery, in the context of investigating the Time Thief, they find there is a new killer with his sights on Vera and her sister Eve. There's a great level of tension for Bent and another law enforcement office with ties to Vera as they search for clues to what is going on.

I thought all was good with this story -- the characters (gotta love Vera), the story, the romantic elements and especially the pacing and conclusion. Loved everything about it!

Vera had resigned from her job as a deputy police chief and has gone home to be near her sisters. When a local reporter goes missing she asked to consult on the case. The case is eerily similar to the Messenger, a serial killer now in prison. There is plenty of suspense in this book with a few twists and turns along with a romance. I had a hard time putting it down. The book is part of a series but could be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Boyett Faces Threats From Two Directions

The three unexplained disappearances around the county in the past four weeks have garnered statewide attention. The perpetrator has been named the Time Thief, as he injects his victim with a powerful sedative and then releases them 48 hours later with no permanent harm. Someone claiming to have information about the abductions asks to meet a local newspaper reporter, Nolan Baker. He tells the reporter to meet him in a local abandoned and dilapidated hospital. Baker brings a friend. When they enter a room where they had seen a light earlier, Baker hears a thud, and something pricks his neck. From this start, the novel precedes.

This novel consists of three threads. The first thread is the Baker abduction investigation. Vera Boyett is a retired Memphis Police Deputy Chief who is now freelancing for various local law enforcement agencies. Sheriff Gray Benton asks Boyett to assist in the investigation. Very quickly, differences in the MO between this abduction and the previous ones become evident. The perpetrator appears to be a serial killer that Boyett was key in his capture. He has an unbreakable alibi. The second thread covers Nolan Baker’s experiences in captivity. This thread provides some insight into the perpetrator’s thoughts. The third thread presents a most dangerous threat to Boyett and her sisters. A tenacious private investigator calls Boyett as she is looking into Norton Gates's disappearance. The problem is that Boyett’s sister, Suri, had killed him and, with the help of the other sister, Eve, buried him in a cave on the family property. As presented in the previous novel, his body was discovered with others, but the identity of his killer was never discovered. Don’t worry; adequate background is provided so you will have all the pertinent information to understand the events in this novel. So, Boyett must juggle two threats to her safety in this novel; one can lead to her death, and the other to the loss of everything she holds dear. There was no way that I could put this novel down.

This novel provides and expands the background of Boyett and her family, including her suppressed romance with her high school sweetheart, now Sheriff Benton. This does increase the difficulty of Boyett’s professional work with him. Her loyalty to her sisters is shown when their secret erupts into the open. This aspect of the novel enhanced my enjoyment of reading it.

This novel contains some aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading. There are no intimate scenes, and the vulgar, rude, and impious language is at a notable level. Some of the violence also appears in some heightened scenes. On the positive side, while this is the second book in the series, it can be read first.

I enjoyed how well the author weaved two competing threads into one novel. I liked how the author turned the impossible into the feasible in the abduction thread. And I liked how the author put all this into an easily readable novel. I was happy with the ending as all the loose ends from the previous novel surrounded Norton Gates's death. I have read this author’s four previous novels. He is one of my Must-Read authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and recommend reading this one. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

The second installment in the Vera Boyett series was just as pulse pounding as the first. It’s had to know who the true villain is. Webb leads readers through a fascinating tale that starts with a kidnapping and ends with some major twists. Readers learn more about Vera and Eve and their past. We even get a glimpse into Vera’s love life. I’m excited for the next installment to find out what happens for the Boyett sisters.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read an early copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.25/5 stars

This is second in series following a former deputy police chief (Vera Boyett) who has moved back to her childhood home following a tragedy under her command in Memphis. She begins freelancing as a crime analyst and is working closely with Gray Benton, her former boyfriend from high school (over two decades ago) who is now the local sheriff. Vera and Sheriff Benton begin working on a series of kidnap/release crimes and their possible connection to a jail-bound serial killer who Vera put away years ago.

I must admit that I did enjoy this second outing more than the initial one, and I do often find that as I know the first book in a series has a lot of territory to cover in setting things up...the tone, the characters, the setting, etc.

I especially enjoy Webb's snarky humor between Vera and Bent as they try to figure out what their relationship will be going forward. There is a good bit of dark/creepiness and tension in this one, and I felt that the plot was well executed.

I'll look forward to seeing Vera in future outings.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing the free early arc of Closer Than You Know for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Again, the first part of this story is a bit slow. However, then you need to make sure your seatbelt is firmly in place cuz you're going to be in for a wicked ride!
Vera is starting to relax after the bodies found in the cave on her property have been identified and the case is closed until Bent calls her; He needs her assist with another local case where a young man has gone missing., which is not the first young man to go missing lately. Things take a turn for the worst when Vera realizes these cases is far worse than she thought. The Messenger, a serial killer who's been in prison for 20 years, appears to have popped up in her hometown.
Vera and Bent have to solve this case before the worst happens to her sister or her.
Make sure not to miss this one!

This is the first book by Debra Webb that I’ve read. Something felt off, like something was missing. I think I really needed to read the first book. When I requested this one, it said there was no need to read Book 1, but based on my experience, it actually is important. Since I hadn’t read it, I couldn’t fully understand some of the events.

The book also felt a bit long because it kept explaining things from the first book. Even with those explanations, I still couldn’t follow everything clearly. I was really excited to read this, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected.

Next time I read a book by Debra Webb, I’ll make sure it’s either a standalone or the first in a series. I recommend starting with Book 1 so you don’t feel lost like I did.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad read, and I’d still like to check out more of Debra Webb’s work.

Debra Webb brings another installment in the Vera Boyett series in CLOSER THAN YOU KNOW. This story can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first one DEEPER THAN THE DEAD for more history on the Boyett family.

Vera has now moved back to Fayetteville to work as a crime analyst assisting the local police department after leaving her previous job due to an unfortunate incident. Although she hated to leave her previous job and friends, she is much happier being closer to family and starting over. The local sheriff Gray "BENT" Benton enlists her help with a missing persons case. The two had a past together, and they both have a connection to each other, but focus on the case at hand. As they start investigating the case, Vera discovers that a previous serial killer "The Messenger" who is in jail and dying is leaving startling messages for her only he did in the past. How could he be doing this? Is he working with someone? Is he finally going to get his revenge? Eve, Vera's sister gets pulled into his twisted game, and only Vera can stop this before it's too late. Will she finally let Bent help her like she wants him to, or will the Messenger win his dangerous game?

Only Debra Webb can weave a story so twisted it keeps the pages turning until the very end. She knows how to keep you guessing and guessing all the while you are hoping for the sheriff and Vera to get together in the end. I can't wait for the third installment of the Boyett sisters. I highly recommend this thriller to anyone who likes a great whodunit. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy of this book.

Having enjoyed book 1 in this series, I was looking forward to Closer Than You Know --and was not disappointed!
Vera Boyett moved back to her hometown of Fayetteville, TN, less than a year ago ago after her career as a crime analyst in Memphis fell apart. Now a consultant, the first book in this series (Deeper Than the Dead) introduced Vera back into her hometown where the high school sweetheart that broke her heart (Gray “Bent” Benton) is the sheriff, and long-buried family secrets came to light. In Closer Than You Know, Vera's professional past comes back to haunt her. A local reporter goes missing and clues hint at a connection to Vera's first case as a detective, when she helped bring down a serial killer. Although the Messenger has been in prison for over a decade, similarities to the current case include information that was never made public; is this a copycat, or did the Messenger have a partner that was never identified? And why is he coming after Vera now, after all these years of dormancy? This is a well paced story that interleaves multiple plot lines without getting confusing. Vera is a smart and capable investigator, and overall I find the characters to be interesting and multidimensional. While this book could probably be read as a standalone, Webb refers back to multiple events from book 1 and it provides more backstory on most of the characters so I'd recommend reading them in order.

Closer Than You Know (Vera Boyett book two) by Debra Webb is a personal stake in finding and stopping the killer who could be still killing or encouraging a copycat, but no one knows. A heart stopping story that Vera must solve but there are several rabbit holes to slow her down. She is back in her hometown near her sisters. Boy, do they have a complicated family and relationships which add to the overall eerie factor in this book. Not a cozy mystery by any means but a police procedure thriller with personal overtones.

This one manages to keep the tension going straight through to the end, and frankly, if there is not another one in this series to continue and follow through on some of the storylines, I'd be so disappointed. Vera is a great character, and the small town secrets and family drama, plus a time sensitive case with ties to Vera's past, make a great plot.

This is the second in an interconnected stand alone series. I hadn't actually read the first one (wish I had but did just fine without...but this one was so good, I will definitely be going back to read book #1!). "Closer Than You Know" is an excellent choice for those who like fast-paced thrillers, books about serial k!llers, and detective/mystery novels. 4+ stars for me. **I received a complimentary ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of Closer Than You Know.

Vera has lost her career as deputy police chief after her last case and she feels lost. She decides to move back closer to her sisters and she gets a call from the local sheriff for help on a current case. She feels useful again and finds out this new case has ties to a previous case of hers.

I wish I would have known that this is the second book in the series because I may have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first book. I just felt like this book was really predictable and I saw everything coming.

Closer Than You Know is about family, revenge, resilence, justice, and keeping secrets. After Vera returns to her hometown in Tenessee she starts to feel more comfortable and using her skills when she is requested to join the police in solving local cases. Everything comes to a boiling point when people start to be kidnapped and released days later with messages and drawings on their body. And the last kidnapped person is Vera's sister. By this time she already suspects that the Messenger, a criminal she put in prison is behind the crimes. The plot evolves fast and Vera, her sister, a reporter and her camera man are in deep danger and will be subject to the criminal's will. Fast-paced, full of mystery and secrets that cannot remain buried, with a long but not forgotten romance around two of the main characters (Vera and Bent), Closer Than You Know is one of those books that you read non-stop and when it ends you just wish the next book in the series were available!
I thank Ms. Webb, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book picks up after the events that shocked Vera's family and their small town with some threads left untied in the previous book. Those threads or dark family secrets will do their best to push their way into the new crime thriller. At first blush, the case in intriguing and unique but hardly befitting calling the cavalry. People loose time hence the moniker for our killer. Vera and Bent look below the surface to the messages left on the bodies and know that just because all the is stolen at the beginning is time, life will soon follow. The case ramps up and the author does a nice job as it does of setting the scene. For example, the first kidnapping is in a deserted hospital that allegedly has a ghost. As the author weaves the tale, you can honestly imagine walking along the dark hallway. Bent is quick to bring Vera in to help which is a challenge in itself as the latest victim is the son of Vera's nemesis meaning it is a no win situation. Vera is relatable in this case as she wants to help but does not want to deal with said nemesis knowing she will only complicate things.
After taking, the story ties together both the case at hand and the secrets that review to die. Vera is not the only one with dark family secrets. I like her and Bent together both as partners and maybe as personal partners It is clear he cares for Vera because he is there for her and welcomes her help and opinion..
Debra Webb does a good job of telling a complex and nuanced tale full of twists and has stretching back to her earliest Colby Agency series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC

Debra Webb’s Closer Than You Know is a taut, emotionally layered thriller that dives deep into the chilling world of serial crime and buried family secrets. As the second installment in the Vera Boyett series, it manages to stand on its own while enriching the overarching narrative with a complex protagonist and a haunting mystery.

The story centers around Vera Boyett, a former deputy police chief now working as a freelance crime analyst. Drawn back to her Tennessee hometown after a professional setback, Vera is pulled into a missing person’s case involving a local journalist. The investigation takes a darker turn when similarities emerge to a serial killer case she solved over a decade ago raising the terrifying question of whether the so-called Messenger is truly gone.

Webb excels at building suspense through tightly woven plotlines and flawed but compelling characters. Vera is not your typical crime heroine—she’s tough, analytical, and emotionally guarded, yet her deep concern for her sister Eve adds a humanizing layer. The dynamic between Vera and Sheriff Gray Benton adds subtle romantic tension without overwhelming the central mystery.

While the pacing is brisk and the stakes are high, some readers may find that the book leans more on atmospheric storytelling and personal history than intricate detective work. Kirkus Reviews aptly pointed out that it delivers "generic thrills" for those who don’t mind a less complex procedural. Still, for many readers, the emotional stakes and psychological tension will more than make up for that.

Overall, Closer Than You Know is a compelling blend of crime, family drama, and suspense. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Debra Webb or a newcomer to the series, this book offers a satisfying, edge-of-your-seat read that digs into how the past never stays buried for long.