#Review - Closer Than You Know by Debra Webb #Mystery

Series: Vera Boyett # 2
Format: Paperback, 317 pages
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery

From USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb comes the riveting return of crime analyst Vera Boyett, fighting for justice—and her life—amid her Tennessee roots.

Vera Boyett is a master at cracking a case.

After tragedy destroyed her career as deputy police chief, she felt lost. Moving back home near her sisters, she put her skills back to use as a crime analyst, and now her star is finally back on the rise. Vera’s work really begins to heat up after the local sheriff, Gray “Bent” Benton, calls to ask her for assistance with a pressing case.

Pushing aside their complicated past, Vera agrees to help Bent search for a missing reporter. But their investigation uncovers an improbable connection to the Messenger, a serial killer she put behind bars twelve years ago. The killer, who is dying of cancer, wants his final revenge. And the reporter is merely a distraction—Vera is his true target.

When the Messenger pulls her sister Eve into his twisted game, Vera vows to stop him for good. But can she find Eve and the reporter before it’s too late?

Debra Webb's Closer Than You Know is the second installment in the author's gripping Vera Boyett series. This mystery-thriller saga blends intense police procedural elements with emotionally charged family dynamics. It takes place mostly in the State of Tennessee. Closer Than You Know follows crime analyst Vera Boyett, a former deputy police chief whose career was derailed by tragedy. After returning to her small-town Tennessee roots in Deeper Than the Dead, Vera is now carving out a new path as a crime analyst, leveraging her sharp investigative skills. 

The story starts when local sheriff Gray “Bent” Benton, a figure from Vera’s past, enlists her help in investigating the disappearance of a reporter named Nolan Baker. Baker is the son of Vera's high school bully, Elizabeth. Baker thinks he is on the trail of the Time Thief, who has been taking people and returning them a few days later. What begins as a seemingly straightforward missing-persons case spirals into a labyrinthine mystery with ties to the Messenger, a serial killer Vera put behind bars twelve years ago. 

Now dying of cancer, the Messenger is orchestrating a final act of revenge, with Vera as his primary target. After all, Vera stumbled upon uncovering who the Messenger is 12 years ago and stopped him from killing another innocent woman. The investigation uncovers dark secrets, unexpected connections, and a web of deception that keeps readers guessing until the final pages. Vera’s journey is as much about confronting her own demons—professional failures, fractured relationships, and unresolved trauma—as it is about solving the case. 

The novel explores the ripple effects of choices made in desperation, a theme introduced in Deeper Than the Dead with the discovery of bodies in a cave on Vera’s family land. The emotional depth of the narrative is amplified by Vera’s relationships, particularly with her sisters, Eve and Luna, and her complicated history with Bent. The theme of revenge is personified in the Messenger, whose terminal illness fuels a chilling determination to settle old scores. His presence looms large, even from behind bars, making him a formidable antagonist whose psychological warfare tests Vera’s resilience. 

Vera's journey from disgraced deputy chief to crime analyst reflects a woman reclaiming her agency while grappling with self-doubt. Vera’s rekindled connection with Bent, her high school sweetheart turned sheriff, adds a romantic subplot that feels organic rather than forced. Bent is a grounded counterpoint to Vera, his steady demeanor masking his own unresolved feelings. The sisters, Eve and Luna, bring depth to the family dynamic, each wrestling with their roles in the events that shaped their childhood. 

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#Review - Track Her Down by Melinda Leigh #Mystery #Thriller

Series: Bree Taggert # 9
Format: Kindle, 313 pages
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Montlake
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Mystery / Thriller 

For Sheriff Bree Taggert, a gruesome double murder exposes the secrets of the dead in a shocking novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

A teenager returns home from work and finds her parents shot to death in their bed. Responding to the call, Sheriff Bree Taggert realizes the crime wasn’t a burglary gone wrong. The couple was executed. The sole survivor: their traumatized teenage daughter, Claire Mason.

Bree teams up with investigator Matt Flynn to work the case, but together they uncover more questions than answers. When Claire is stalked at the park, it’s clear the killer isn’t finished—and she’s the next target.

As Bree and Matt sift through the past—suspect by suspect—a tangled web of deception emerges, and the truth becomes harder to see. Because the victims’ entire lives were a lie. And the only way to protect the vulnerable girl is to unravel her parents’ secrets.

Melinda Leigh's Track Her Down is the 9th installment in the author's Bree Taggart series. This story actually revolves around 4 key characters: Sheriff Bree Taggart, Investigator Matt Flynn, Deputy Renata Zucco, who is new to the department, and Claire Mason. The story opens with a harrowing scene: teenager Claire Mason returns home from her part-time job to find her adoptive parents brutally executed in their bed, shot to death in what appears to be a targeted killing rather than a random burglary. 

Sheriff Bree Taggert, a former Philadelphia homicide detective now serving in rural upstate New York, responds to the call and is immediately struck by the case’s personal resonance—Claire’s loss mirrors Bree’s own childhood trauma of losing her parents to violence. Partnering with her trusted investigator and romantic partner, Matt Flynn, Bree dives into an increasingly complex case. As the investigation unfolds, Bree and Matt uncover a tangled web of deception surrounding Claire’s parents, whose lives were built on lies. 

The lack of clear suspects and Claire’s isolation—her parents restricted her from sports, parties, and social connections—raises red flags. When Claire is stalked at a park, it becomes evident that the killer is not finished and has set their sights on her. The narrative races against time as Bree and Matt sift through suspects, unearthing secrets that challenge their understanding of the victims and the motive behind the murders. 

The case is further complicated by a bizarre subplot involving exotic, dangerous creatures loose in the woods near Gray’s Lake, adding an unexpected layer of tension. The story culminates in a shocking twist that many readers describe as unpredictable. What's even more surprising is the relationship between Bree and Madeline Jager. Madeline's harsh exterior is finally peeled back to allow the reader to understand that she has never disliked Bree but admired her for her compassion, empathy, and putting the community first. 

Supporting characters, such as Bree’s revamped sheriff’s department with its increasing female presence and Matt’s sister Cady, who runs a dog rescue and is firmly in a relationship with Chief Deputy Todd Harvey, enrich the story’s world. The focus on a new character, Deputy Renata, is potentially set up as a love interest for Bree's brother, Adam, who has come a long way since the beginning of this series. So have Kayla and Luke, who seem to have tried to move on past their mother's murder and accepted Bree, Matt, and Diana. 

The novel tackles themes of trauma, secrecy, and the ripple effects of hidden truths. Bree’s connection to Claire’s loss underscores the long-lasting impact of childhood tragedy, a recurring motif in the series that resonates with readers. As Adam says in the story, "We could all use the reminder to live in the moment. You shouldn't regret things you had no control over. Regrets are for our decisions, not things that happened to us." 

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