Debra Webb

I am not sure whether this is a police procedural with a private investigator slant or more of a psychological mini thriller. The important aspect is that this book kept me engrossed from beginning to end. There are multiple storylines that parallel and cross and then mesh beautifully. Walking a tight line that sometimes wavers over the edge you have to keep thinking about that old ends vs. means conundrum. Was it all lies? Remember “There was no way to find the truth until you understood show more what you knew was a lie.”

Well done Ms. Webb for tackling a difficult and thorny moral dilemma and offering an ingenuous solution. Thank you Thomas & Mercer & NetGalley for a copy. show less

I have been hoping that Debra Webb was going to add to her Finley O’Sullivan series and All the Little Truths is one heck of an addition. If you haven’t read the previous installments, Webb brings the reader up to speed on the previous tragedies and successes in her heroine’s story so you have a good idea of her mindset, her fall and recovery.

Owing bad people a favor is never a good thing and rarely works out well. The problem for all around her is that Finley O’Sullivan needs to show more know the truth and, short of maiming or killing her, she is not going to stop, not even if you are a friend or relative. She is smart, resilient and very determined. She is going to need all of her resources to understand the lies and treachery that threaten to sink her in the quagmire of what has gone before.

It pains me to say this, but while reading this story I had no problem with the thought of certain people being maimed or killed because they were just so broken and nasty. The problem with having to defend that person is knowing you have to put away your righteous indignation and hope that the truth will bind the devil in his own knots. I had just one little issue with Ms. O’Sullivan’s behavior - you would think that someone who had been through her previous experiences would show a modicum of caution - you would think - but then you might have to accept that Finley O’Sullivan is fed up with being terrorized and is going to take it on, all of it.

Great twist and turns - I can’t wait for the next installment. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a copy. show less

“God, she was so cold. She hugged the sheet more closely, then wrinkled her nose. Why was the sheet covering her face?”


This is an unusually subdued Mills and Boon Intrigue which is also atypical in that this one is much more focused on the mystery than the romance. In fact, the romance is barely one at all until the very end, the gradual feelings very low-key. Though it is firmly steeped in the Mills and Boon sub-genre of intrigue mixed with romance, it has a slightly better and more show more serious story to keep the reader interested throughout, skirting the edges of its Harlequin/Mills and Boon limitations.

This is a Colby Agency entry, and while it gets a bit eye-rollingly pulpy at times with tropes like a CIA “legend”, the mystery is just complex enough and interesting enough to keep the reader turning pages. It helps that there is a terrific opening, with a petite blonde woman with no memory of who she is, waking up in the hallway outside the morgue. Obviously, she’s frightened, and realizes she couldn’t have ended up there by mistake. Realizing someone wanted her dead, but not knowing why or who, she high-tails it out of there. But what then?

“A pang of sadness settled deep in her chest. Maybe that was the worst part of all. Not having anyone who really cared whether she lived or died. No one should be that alone.”

Enter the Colby Agency, run by Victoria Colby-Camp. Former Marine Captain Windy Millwood is assigned the case with Patrick O’Brien. He is still reeling from his wife’s death, and what he found out about her because of it. This is his first field assignment. Debra Webb does a good job making a pretty wild premise seem just realistic enough that the reader just goes with it. Sande Williams — if that’s her real name — seems to be a harbinger of death to anyone Patrick questions, and soon the bodies pile up. This sadly includes one of the agency’s own. The deaths are mostly after-the-fact, off-screen, so there’s no gore, but there is plenty of mystery surrounding what’s going on. It’s also a mystery in regard to Sande’s memory loss. Was it drugs which caused it, or was it trauma?

An elaborate identity theft operation appears to be at the heart of things, and possibly a covert FBI operation. A homicide detective and his partner also want answers. Once Sande Williams remembers who she is, things take another intriguing turn. That change of roles is handled fairly well, as are the low-key romantic feelings brewing in Patrick O’Brien’s heart, surprising him because he’s been emotionally withdrawn since his wife’s death. Another nice point in the narrative is the author’s willingness to go places you don’t usually associate with this genre:

“Sande had no idea if she was a spiritual person or not, but just then praying felt like the right thing to do. She stepped beneath the spray of hot water and she prayed. Prayed for God to help her find the truth and for him to forgive her for whatever wrong things she might have done in the past.”

Once the startling revelation of Sande’s identity is revealed, the narrative picks up speed, and takes on a slightly different tone. There is a small twist, and the action is wrapped up nicely. The romance, like everything in the book, is handled with a modicum of passion; more a promise of what might happen down the road. There is also an addendum concerning the Colby Agency adding a new department, which might tie in with “Sande’s” future, and of course, Patrick’s.

Overall this is a tidy and enjoyable little mystery with just a dash of romance. I suspect it won’t appeal to all Mills and Boon Intrigue fans as this isn’t a “fun” romance, there is no “steam” to speak of, and the romance definitely takes a backseat to the mystery. It’s pretty good stuff, if perhaps a tad low-key at times, but recommended more for those who enjoy the mystery more than the romance. show less

September 9, 2024
Just finished reading this. It was hard to continue reading at first, slow and repetitive. But then the twists starting rolling in and I found myself wanting to know who actually did it!
Would be interested in a story on Eve and Suri

Vera isn’t your typical hero—she's a complicated, deeply layered character who carries emotional and psychological baggage from her childhood and career. The discovery of her stepmother’s remains forces her to confront trauma, guilt, and show more unresolved family issues, and her inner struggles are woven into the fabric of the mystery.

Deeper Than the Dead features a diverse cast of characters, though the primary focus is on the personal struggles and dynamics within Vera Boyett’s family and their small-town setting.

There’s a gripping mystery at the heart of the story, with new bodies, small-town secrets, and a sense of danger that escalates as Vera digs deeper.

Deeper Than the Dead is generally described as moderate to fast, with a deliberate buildup in the early chapters that intensifies as the mystery unfolds.
Beginning – Steady & Atmospheric
Middle to End – Accelerates with Twists & Tension

So if you’re looking for a book that blends mystery, emotion, and slow-burning intensity, Deeper Than the Dead totally fits that mood.

Dark and emotionally layered – with a focus on family secrets, trauma, and confronting the past.

Character-driven but still suspenseful – ideal if you like your thrillers with heart and a complex, flawed protagonist.

Atmospheric – it has that small-town Southern Gothic vibe, where everyone has a secret and the setting feels like a character in itself.

Psychological – exploring not just what happened, but why—and how it shaped the people involved.

Twisty without being over-the-top – the reveals feel earned, not just for shock value. show less