This was my first time reading a book by Debra Webb, and it was a good read overall.

It started a bit slow (sure you get the jump start, but then it was setting the scene and that seemed a bit slow to me). It seemed to also repeat a bit, which was hard to keep me engaged on this novel.

This book kept me guessing, but still left me wondering what is really going on, guess that is a good way to get you hooked on a series, right?

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This ticks all my crime novel boxes. I loved exploring this mystery with the main protagonist, Vera. So many twists and turns, with all the characters beautifully conceived and drawn. Finding out who did what and why was utterly compelling.

This book gets all the stars from me!
Finally, there's something to look forward to... I love this new series and can't wait to see where it goes.

Deeper Than The Dead by Debra Webb is the first book in the Vera Boyett Series, and it captured my attention right from the start. It's a suspenseful read full of twists and unexpected turns that kept me guessing until the last page. This book was unlike any other thriller I've read, which made the reading experience even more enjoyable.

Crime analyst Vera Boyett rarely visits her family's home, and she never ventures into the cave on their land. However, when the remains of her long-missing stepmother are discovered, Vera must confront a past that threatens everything she holds dear. She and her sister Eve may not be entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, but they are puzzled when numerous bodies are discovered in the cave on their farm.

I found the writing style to be unique and engaging. This book kept me guessing the whole time. I enjoyed how the story was laid out so well and with intricate detail, placing me right in the scene with the characters. The action was non-stop, the chapters were riveting and flowed seamlessly from one to the next, making the book difficult to put down. The story is told through a series of flashback chapters and different perspectives, which are easy to follow and work well together.

The characters are all likable, especially the main protagonist Vera I found her character very interesting, she is smart and fearless, I love her direct approach to difficult situations, even though sometimes her decisions become questionable.

Webb's descriptions of places and people are, I believe, peerless. Even the good people in the story have significant flaws. She delves into the grit and grime of what human nature can do. The story is primarily set in Fayetteville, Tennessee, a small town that the author describes brilliantly and with personal affection.

The ending was satisfying, almost all loose ends tied up. However, there is unfinished business regarding the real people involved in the crime and what Vera will do to protect her family. Will revealing the secret destroy her relationship with her sisters and ruin any chance of love with the town Sheriff, Ben?... This is a fantastic, must-read family drama set in the summer with small-town secrets...perfect for a summer read. It will be available on August 6th. I Highly Recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Vera Boyett returns to her childhood home after her career implodes. If that isn’t bad enough a secret shared with her sister rears its ugly head and complicates life even more. Debra Webb’s new book lays the foundation for a series that has me looking forward to the second installment. I enjoyed the complicated characters that make up Vera’s world and I liked the small town setting where secrets don’t stay hidden forever. Recommended to fans of the author and mystery/thrillers.

This was a family drama and romance mixed in with a mystery of how did all these bodies get into the cave on their land. It was a bit long, slow at first with a more old fashioned style, it did get more interesting as it went on and was overall a fast read

This was your typical cop novel. Nothing too exceptional to set it apart from others but it was entertaining and a quick easy read.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

It’s been a while since I read anything by Debra Webb and now I’m wondering why. This is the first book in a crime thriller series, and this book had lots of twists and people with secrets. Vera heads back to her hometown when she’s told her missing stepmother’s body has been found and there are lots of theories about how she ended up where she was found. Vera and her former boyfriend who is now sheriff work together to find out what actually happened. The crimes were committed by unlikely people and the end of the book is certainly not what I expected. This was an excellent book and I’m looking forward to reading the entire series. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved this first book in the new Debra Webb series!! Debra Webb never disappoints.
The story is gripping and engaging and full of twists and an unexpected ending. I wanted to race through it, and take forever to read it at the same time.

This story started out a little on the slow side but after it gained momentum it was off like a freight train. Lots of twisty turns I never saw coming. So many secrets and lies. This is the first book in a brand new series and I’m waiting to see what happens next.

Deputy police chief Vera Boyett returns to her childhood home after an incident within her department left her disgraced and jobless. But home isn't the haven she was looking for as family secrets keep getting unburied. Her only hope to keep her sisters safe is to unravel the twisted threads and solve the mysteries herself....but are things really as innocent as she thinks? Some skeletons just won't stay buried!
This book has a lot of twists and there are some really dark corners that you really don't want to peek around! Debra Webb has a way of keeping you on your toes while twisting a tale of intrigue all around you as you read. In Deeper Thank the Dead you have to wonder how Vera is going to keep all the balls in the air as she juggles family loyalties with justice. If this is Book 1 I can't imagine what she has instore for us in Book 2!

What a great read.
So many twists and at the end almost all the truths are revealed with some lies interspersed to make it a perfect book.
Good characters, easy writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

In the book, Vera, a former police chief, returns home to investigate her stepmother's murder. At the beginning of the book, it seemed slow-paced because of a lot of background information and character introductions. However, later I found out that this book is part of a series, which explains why so much groundwork had to be laid. The story introduces different suspects skillfully, keeping the reader engaged with family secrets and small-town drama. The pace picks up in the second half of the book with new clues and twists. The ending of the book sets up the sequel. Overall, it is an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The first book in a new series by Debra Webb is always a time for great celebration for me because I know I have hours of mind-gripping and spine-tingling entertainment to look forward to. The new Vera Boyett book delivered in spades, with dead bodies, dark caves, sister secrets and a hunky sheriff who used to be Vera’s love interest. When Vera returns home, leaving behind a job that may or may not want her back, she has no idea that she is walking into a hornet’s nest of intrigue in her small hometown. I really enjoyed how the story was laid out so well and with intricate detail, placing me right in the scene with the characters as they discovered and discussed what to do about finding dead bodies on their property. Vera and Eve may not be completely innocent of any wrongdoing, but they are definitely puzzled when multiple bodies turn up in the cave on their daddy’s farm. The suspense mounts quickly as numerous suspects are paraded as possibilities, each one considered and ultimately discarded or set aside for further investigation. I loved being included in the behind-the-scenes discussions between Vera and the other characters, as I could just see the wheels in her head turning as she tried to figure our whodunit and why. Together with Bent, the sheriff of the little community, Vera sets out on a dangerous mission to solve the crimes and clear her family of the crimes of murder. The action was non-stop, the chapters were riveting and flowed from one to the next so that the book was difficult to put down. I couldn’t get enough of the three sisters and their wild antics, the skulking figures threatening the family and the sheriff determined to protect them from harm, no matter what he might have to do to safeguard them. The characters were more than realistic because they became friends and confidantes in the quest to find out what really happened and who was trying to wreck their lives. The intricate plot was masterfully woven around a few truths and many lies, keeping me guessing all the way until the end. Great suspense, characters who were easy to love and relate to, and so many twists that I got whiplash around spending time in their town. I loved every minute I spent with the Boyett family and I am already looking forward to Vera’s next adventure in a new book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

The book was a cleverly written one that dealt with the secrets that a small town hid.

The story revolves around the Boyett family where the remains of a human body is found from the cave in their property. It's found that the body belongs to Vera and Eve's stepmother and their sister Luna's mother Sheree. The question as to who killed Sheree was still being investigated when the bodies of other women are found.

Al though the story was a great one, it went on a slow pace in the beginning. It was in the second half of the book that the story gained momentum. From then on, it was a suspenseful ride.

From the very beginning, the story cast doubts on Vera and Eve who were clearly hiding something. That said, they too were unaware of the murders of the others which happened in the cave. The story became more interesting to read when it moved past Vera and Eve who were hiding something to the details of the murders. From then on, it became a murder mystery and it was interesting to see how Bent and Vera collected evidence to find the one behind the murders.

Overall, this was a good book and I enjoyed it deeply.

Murder, mystery, thriller, by the great Debra Webb. A skeleton in a cave, brings a daughter home. You find out the killer quite soon, but there are lots more twist and turns. Great book. Can’t wait for the next book

Another action-packed ‘who dun it?’ by a favorite author of mine. I couldn’t find a place throughout to stop for a break. The tension bubbled and kept building so I just had to read one more chapter. It was an interesting take on a blended family of sisters. There’s a considerable age difference between the half -sisters, a widowed father with a much younger new wife. The sisters are all trying to protect each other and the omission of crucial facts and not being honest with the truth only makes circumstances worse. There’s some creepy discoveries as the three sisters navigate what really happened during their perfect childhood. The plot uses some alternating timelines. I don’t believe I ever read anything set in Tennessee before and it was memorable. The twists and turns were sharp and unexpectedly dark. I liked the characters and would definitely read more in this series.
An Uncorrected Proof of “Deeper Than the Dead” Vera Boyett #1, by Debra Webb, Published by Thomas & Mercer, expected publication 08/06/20024, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Debra Webb never fails to create a story that will not only keep you guessing but draw you into the lives of the characters completely. When Vera gets a call they find the remains of her long lost step-mother she must return home to help her sister and step-sister deal. On top of trying to tell their father who has been in a home because of his dementia. Vera is a well-known detective with many a solved case under her belt now she needs to make sure this crime is not solved.
Vera has to be involved in the investigation but is unhappy to find she will need to work with the new Sheriff who was once the boy who ran out on her. She has a lot to hide and she can't let him solve this one. She must keep one step ahead and keep her heart from breaking all over again. A must-read as all of Debra Webb's books are. Debra is a master of weaving a story that keeps you interested. Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, Seattle for this eARC.

Small town murder mystery. Vera Boyett is on a mandatory leave from her job as a deputy police chief. She returns to her hometown to visit her sisters and dad but the remains of her missing stepmother are discovered which brings up memories from the past that Vera would like to stay hidden. Great start to a new series. Fantastic characters that I could see following from book to book.

Deeper Than the Dead
by Debra Webb
Pub Date: August 6, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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.
Having never read anything by Debra before, I went into this one with a completely open mind and really enjoyed it.
Although the story was character driven, the plot was full of twists and ever-changing theories. Every time I thought I’d figured it out, things would change and I’d be back at square one. If you like playing detective, I definitely think you’ll like this one.
A few things that I didn't like
* the romance thrown in that wasn't even alluded to in the blurb. I don't usually mix genres when reading.
* the way dementia was depicted seemed stereotypical.
4 stars f0r me