Has some suspense and twists. It is helpful to have read the first book in the series. Good narrator.

Let me start with I didn’t read book one of the series and usually I’m OK jumping in and I had no trouble following the book but I had serious moments if that sounds so good. What didn’t I read it!

And oh my word. From the start to the finish I didn’t want to put this one down. I was drawn into the is it a serial killer back to their tricks or a copycat. There was definitely a cat and mouse vibe with the killer and Vera. All set up because of Vera’s ties to the original crimes.

I liked the ties to Vera’s family and even her potential love interest(s). Everything was interconnected, layered and complex.

I was on the edge of my seat for a lot of this book and didn’t guess the ending. I can’t wait for book 3.

Elise Arsenault was a terrific narrator. Her voice fit with what I imagined Vera to sound like. She really drew me even further into the book.

I didn't enjoy book 1 and thought I'd give the second a shot, well for me it still didn't work. I guess this author might just not be for me. The plot was not mysterious, too many characters that we just don't care for.

Vera is no stranger to revenge, when it's directed at her, she goes full on to stop it dead in its tracks. This is the second book in this series , Love Vera , she's a great character and crime solver , definitely look forward to the next one .

I wanted to read this second book in the series because the 1st one was good. The Narrator was good.
While this book was ok it definitely wasn't as good as the 1st. The mystery wasn't really a mystery and the romance part seemed very unnecessary and like it was just thrown in.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc.

This was an enjoyable listen as an audiobook. I did not read the first book so I definitely feel as though I was missing context and a hearty backstory, so that’s entirely on me. I was invested in Vera more than I was invested in the mystery, though it was an interesting twist. This has a slower pace than most of police procedural types but I enjoyed the pacing overall. The narrator did a good job and I found it easy to listen to. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was pretty good. The second half was far better than the first, and there was alot in the beginning that i didnt deem super necessary.

I didnt really think we needed the romance elements either. They werent bad but they didnt benefit the story:

Also, i grew up one town over from Tullahoma and Fayetteville so this one really did hit close to home haha. I was shocked!

📖 Bookish Moments:
The story grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. I didn’t realize this was book two in a series, but now I need to go back and read the first! The beginning really pulled me in with its eerie vibe—the old hospital setting and the ghost girl urban legend added just the right amount of tension.

Vera Boyett is a certified baddie—smart, stubborn, and totally unstoppable. I loved how she navigated small-town dynamics, held her own in tense moments, and stayed fiercely loyal to her sisters. She is actual sister goals! The slow-burn tension between her and Bent was such a pleasant surprise—subtle but added just the right depth. Her having to work with her old boyfriend from 17 years ago?! I would be STRESSED!

This suspense thriller kept me guessing until the very end—and I was hooked the whole time. I definitely didn't catch on to who the real killer! This series needs to be a TV show. I will be continuing the series!

🖤 What you can expect:
• Serial killer thriller
• Baddie FMC
• Small-town suspense
• Sisters who ride or die
• Second-chance romance
• Law enforcement romance

⭐️ Final Score: 4.5
🎧 Audio Score: 5
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

Debra Webb delivers a gripping, high-stakes thriller in Closer Than You Know, a novel that hooks readers from the very first page and refuses to let go. With a chilling serial killer on the loose and a plot that continually shifts underfoot, Webb masterfully builds tension, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

This story is packed with twists, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, another layer is peeled back to reveal an even darker truth. Webb’s pacing is sharp, and her ability to misdirect while still playing fair with the reader is impressive. The suspense is relentless, making for a truly edge-of-your-seat experience.

What stands out most is the way the story doubles back on itself, with twists that feel both shocking and inevitable in hindsight. Fans of psychological thrillers and procedural crime fiction will find this a satisfying and addictive read.

Closer Than You Know is a well-crafted, twist-laden novel that keeps the reader fully engaged and constantly second-guessing. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a smart, suspenseful mystery.

Narrator is good. Too many characters we weren’t invested in. Mystery was not mysterious. Plot didn’t develop and there was no intrigue or tension. Slow paced.

This was my first dip into Debra Webb’s world, and -as usual- I went in blind. Unfortunately, I think this time, that tactic backfired. Something just didn’t click. Maybe if I’d read Book #1, the pieces would’ve come together more smoothly, but as it stood, I felt like I’d been dropped into a party where everyone already knew each other, and I was the awkward plus-one. For context, this is Book #2 in the Vera Boyett series, so jumping in midstream probably didn’t do me any favors.
The plot moved at a crawl, and the characters felt distant, like I was supposed to care about them but hadn’t been given a reason to. The romance subplot? Let’s just say it barely flickered on the radar and didn’t really elevate the story in any meaningful way.
It wasn’t a bad read, per se, just not gripping enough to make me eager to turn the pages. If you’re a die-hard thriller fan craving edge-of-your-seat suspense, this one might leave you a little underwhelmed.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing for gifting me this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a thriller that kept me hooked and wanting more. It felt very fast paced and easy to read. Now I need to read book one but I think you can definitely start with book two like i did.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this arc.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

It was okay. I had a hard time connecting to the story so it was difficult to follow all that was going on. And I wasn’t really interested in the mystery until the very end

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I got the first book in the Vera Boyette series through Prime's Amazon First Reads. Deeper Than the Dead introduces us to Vera Boyette as she goes home to help her sisters when dead bodies are found in a cave on the family farm. The sisters and many in the small town have so many secrets. Vera was a deputy chief in Memphis but with two of her team members in a murder / suicide she resigns. We get her family history and find that her first love is now sheriff. She is offered positions by the TBI and the FBI but chooses to stay a freelance consultant. I find it a bit unrealistic that she is made the offers, or is able to get enough work that way but it fits well for the story.

Now her youngest stepsister Luna, is married and her sister Eve, living with her girlfriend, so Vera is home alone on the family farm. She is working a case with the first love, Benton. She keeps thinking about him, and is still very attracted to him. Vera is just about to turn 40. Neither of them has married. He left town for 20 years in the military.

Someone has been leaving messages, then abducting people, drugging them and then leaving them unharmed 2 days later. But this abductee is from a demanding wealthy family so Bent, and Vera, are pulled in to hunt for him the first day. He is a reporter who lives aside his parents. Now more messages appear that are different and eerily similar to Vera's first big case solved in Memphis - The Messenger.

He is still in prison and there was no indication of an accomplice or partner. But it either has to be a partner or a connected copycat. This was exciting and frightening because Vera, and especially her sister, Eve are a wild canon. The pacing was steady with plenty of action.

Vera seems reasonably skilled at her work and tracking down criminals. But she seems unconventional and takes more chances than necessary. It certainly adds to the suspense. I find it a little hard to believe that Bent and other law enforcement just let her work as a consultant. But she does have a lot of experience and years of success in Memphis.

All the family secrets seem to be out now, so hopefully if there are more stories they can build for the future. Eve and Luna are happily partnered. It remains to be seen if Vera will be.

Narration:
It wasn't the first time I had heard this narrator but I didn't recognize her other than as the characters here, which is actually a good thing. Her voices for both male and females were comfortable and kept me in the story. I listened at my newer 1.75x speed.

I couldn’t finish this. The MCs obsessive thoughts about her cowboy turned me off. I am interested in the case not a smutty romance.

Closer than You know by Author Debra Webb, Book 2 in the Vera Boyer series! Release Date May 5th!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review

This book had me turning the pages so quickly! And not only the pages but I listened to the audiobook!

Moving back to her home town after a change in her career as chief of police was not easy!

And neither were things the things from her previous cases!

As the story unfolds about a missing reporter things become more personal than she ever thought they would!

3.5 rounded up! I purchased the first book in the series to read before starting this one. I’m glad I did, but the author does a nice job giving background information. You could read it as a standalone, but I still recommend reading the first book before this one for a better understanding of the characters and their dynamics. This was a twisty crime thriller! I enjoyed the character development, and the plot is good. Some of the characters do make questionable decisions that I feel didn’t align with the knowledge and training they should have. Regardless, this was a fun psychological crime thriller with some close door spicy scenes. If that’s your jam, check this book out! I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was great. Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded down

This book is a twisty crime thriller with a bit of romance mixed in. It’s actually the second in a series, which I didn’t know when I requested it but the author does a good job giving background so you can still follow the story. Sometimes it felt like there was too much explaining, and I think reading the first book would’ve helped me feel more connected.

Vera, the main character, works with her ex from 20 years ago, and she also has a steamy past with the town’s sheriff. There’s a lot going on in the plot: a killer in jail, a possible copycat, and a big secret that Vera and her sisters are keeping a BIG secret.

The writing is decent but I didn’t feel connected to the story and its characters. Not a super fan of audiobooks but the narration made the reading experience better.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you net galley and Debra for this arc copy! When I seen this was book 2 I rushed to read Deeper Than The Dead to really understand & connect with this one & I’m sooo happy I did!
Debra Webb is hands down an auto buy author for me now I completely was thrown off with the twist and unexpected turns. She’s a great writer & knows how to really reel you in & want you wanting for more. The connections to Deeper Then The Dead were great. I cannot wait for book #3 in the Vera series to be released 12/2025. Once again thank you and I’m huge Debra Webb fan now.