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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
The Darkness We Hide by Debra Webb is the third novel in The Undertaker’s Daughter series. The author does provide a summary of what occurred in the earlier books in this series, but I believe it is better to read The Undertaker’s Daughter series in order (it makes more sense that way). The beginning is a little slow, but the pace soon picks up. The Darkness We Hide is a suspenseful novel with twists, turns and surprising revelations. It is a dark tale with gruesome details that will have you cringing (that is a good thing). I was put off, though, by the foul language (I find it offensive). The Darkness We Hide is well written with developed, realistic characters. I could feel the suspense and emotion in this twisty story. The Darkness We Hide provides a thrilling conclusion to the series. All the loose threads (there were so many) are tied up in this action-packed book. You will find your mouth dropping open in disbelief during a certain scene. I was delighted with the satisfying epilogue. I was amazed at the evil, warped characters in this story (this author has a vivid imagination). There are also some truly kind individuals as well. The Darkness We Hide is a dark and twisty suspense with surprising secrets, a perverse predator, a traitorous turncoat, a repugnant agent, and an upset undertaker.
The Darkness We Hide was absolutely AMAZING!
Debra Webb done it again with this nail-biting novel! The story of Rowan DuPont and Julian Addington continues with so many more twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a must-read series; you can read all books as standalones but you will miss out on so much if you do!
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Debra Webb done it again with this nail-biting novel! The story of Rowan DuPont and Julian Addington continues with so many more twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a must-read series; you can read all books as standalones but you will miss out on so much if you do!
More reviews....
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The Darkness We Hide
3.5 Stars
Several months have passed, and Rowan DuPont is eager to deal with the threat posed by serial killer Julian Addington and move on with her life. When the local coroner dies suddenly, a search of his house evokes even more questions pertaining to the buried secrets of Rowan's family and the reasons for the deaths of her mother and twin sister. With the body count increasing, Rowan and police chief Billy Brannigan have their hands full trying to stop Julian and his unknown accomplices from achieving their goal of destroying Rowan.
Series note: As the books in this series follow one story arc, it is necessary to read in order.
While this final installment in the series does provide closure and answers to all remaining questions, the pacing is off, and the explanation is exceedingly far-fetched, to the extent that it borders on the farcical, which is disappointing.
Much of the first third of the novel is spent recapping events from previous books. There is also a great deal of repetition, down to the description of Rowan's work as an undertaker preparing bodies for burial.
The plot eventually picks up and seems to be moving toward an interesting, if somewhat predictable, conclusion, namely that when it suddenly takes a turn into utter ridiculousness with . Forget suspension of disbelief, this is totally unrealistic and completely unbelievable. Nevertheless, the final showdown with Julian is intense and well worth the wait.
The highlight of this final installment is actually Rowan and Billy's romance, which had taken a back seat in the previous books. Here their relationship shines as their feeling for one another come to life, and it is impossible not to care for a couple whose love is both deep and profound.
In sum, this series has its problems, but the basic premise is exceptional. Moreover, the incorporation of a heroine with such a unique occupation is brilliant, and the ending is satisfying overall. One minor caveat pertains to some of the descriptions, which can be quite gruesome and grim - forewarned is forearmed.
3.5 Stars
Several months have passed, and Rowan DuPont is eager to deal with the threat posed by serial killer Julian Addington and move on with her life. When the local coroner dies suddenly, a search of his house evokes even more questions pertaining to the buried secrets of Rowan's family and the reasons for the deaths of her mother and twin sister. With the body count increasing, Rowan and police chief Billy Brannigan have their hands full trying to stop Julian and his unknown accomplices from achieving their goal of destroying Rowan.
Series note: As the books in this series follow one story arc, it is necessary to read in order.
While this final installment in the series does provide closure and answers to all remaining questions, the pacing is off, and the explanation is exceedingly far-fetched, to the extent that it borders on the farcical, which is disappointing.
Much of the first third of the novel is spent recapping events from previous books. There is also a great deal of repetition, down to the description of Rowan's work as an undertaker preparing bodies for burial.
The plot eventually picks up and seems to be moving toward an interesting, if somewhat predictable, conclusion, namely that
Spoiler
Julian and Rowan's mother, Norah, are siblingsSpoiler
a murderous family holding parties for serial killers who "bring their own bodies"The highlight of this final installment is actually Rowan and Billy's romance, which had taken a back seat in the previous books. Here their relationship shines as their feeling for one another come to life, and it is impossible not to care for a couple whose love is both deep and profound.
In sum, this series has its problems, but the basic premise is exceptional. Moreover, the incorporation of a heroine with such a unique occupation is brilliant, and the ending is satisfying overall. One minor caveat pertains to some of the descriptions, which can be quite gruesome and grim - forewarned is forearmed.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Book: The Darkness We Hide
Author: Debra Webb
Book Series: The Undertaker’s Daughter Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Some secrets are worth dying for.
For months, Doctor Rowan Dupont has been staring death in the face. It followed her back to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, ten months ago, cloaking the walls of her family’s Victorian funeral home like a shroud. In investigating the mysterious deaths of her loved ones, Rowan has unearthed enough family secrets to bury everything she’d previously thought true. But each shocking discovery has only led to more bodies and more questions; the rabbit hole is deeper than she ever imagined.
Despite settling in to a comfortable life with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, Rowan knows dangerous serial killer Julian Addington is still out there. She can’t let her guard down now. Not when she’s this close to ending his torment once and for all. But with a storm brewing on the horizon, she’ll get only one shot before the impending darkness takes hold, threatening to wipe away every truth she’s uncovered—and everything she holds dear.
Review: I had to DNF this book. It was very hard to keep everything straight with it being a third book and I’d rather wait to read the first two before I jump in. This isn’t a DNF because the book is bad, it’s a DNF for now because I need to make a book review for this and I don’t want to DNF a book with amazing writing and characters because I can’t understand what’s going on.
Verdict: Read book 1 and 2 before this!
Book: The Darkness We Hide
Author: Debra Webb
Book Series: The Undertaker’s Daughter Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 31, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Some secrets are worth dying for.
For months, Doctor Rowan Dupont has been staring death in the face. It followed her back to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, ten months ago, cloaking the walls of her family’s Victorian funeral home like a shroud. In investigating the mysterious deaths of her loved ones, Rowan has unearthed enough family secrets to bury everything she’d previously thought true. But each shocking discovery has only led to more bodies and more questions; the rabbit hole is deeper than she ever imagined.
Despite settling in to a comfortable life with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, Rowan knows dangerous serial killer Julian Addington is still out there. She can’t let her guard down now. Not when she’s this close to ending his torment once and for all. But with a storm brewing on the horizon, she’ll get only one shot before the impending darkness takes hold, threatening to wipe away every truth she’s uncovered—and everything she holds dear.
Review: I had to DNF this book. It was very hard to keep everything straight with it being a third book and I’d rather wait to read the first two before I jump in. This isn’t a DNF because the book is bad, it’s a DNF for now because I need to make a book review for this and I don’t want to DNF a book with amazing writing and characters because I can’t understand what’s going on.
Verdict: Read book 1 and 2 before this!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
As Rowan delves into her past and finally tries to move forward with her present she knows she can't let her guard down. Rowan is discovering things about her mother that she isn't sure she understands. The mystery of who Julian is and why he is obsessed with Rowan and why he was obsessed with her mother also becomes clear. She knows in order to stop him she has to understand more about him. But this doesn't alleviate her fears, the thought that she is putting her friends and her newly evolved relationship with Billy in jeopardy. Julian will destroy everyone and everything she loves until she stops him.
The truths that are uncovered in this book I didn't see coming but make so much more sense as to why this is all happening. But even if she can stop Julian will this truly be the end? There are more characters that you get to know in this strange little town and more people that could be put in jeopardy.
I truly love this series and I hope this won't be the last time we see Rowan and Billy.
The truths that are uncovered in this book I didn't see coming but make so much more sense as to why this is all happening. But even if she can stop Julian will this truly be the end? There are more characters that you get to know in this strange little town and more people that could be put in jeopardy.
I truly love this series and I hope this won't be the last time we see Rowan and Billy.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is part of a continuing story arc and the preceding books are essential to read before this one.
I decided to binge read the three books following the novella (which you cannot skip!) and I’m so glad I elected to do so. Each book picks up essentially where the last one finished and that continuity added to my enjoyment. And, knowing that this one would end the series ratcheted up the anticipation and suspense. By this point, Rowan has been blown away by the secrets she’s uncovered about her family, particularly her mother, and some friends who were like family. She’s equally mystified by connections to her mother that still don’t make sense and require more investigation. Fortunately, Rowan and Winchester Police Chief Billy Brannigan have finally moved out of the friend zone, deepening a relationship that was always destined to reach this place. And, let’s not forget that pesky serial killer who’s stalking her.
I must admit that I was equally baffled by the curiosities exposed in the last book, finding it difficult to cobble together scenarios that would be plausible. That had me racing through this story, trying to figure things out, who could be trusted and who probably wouldn’t make it to the end. I eventually gave up and just rolled with the story, which was the best thing I could have done because I never would have predicted the outcomes. The revelations are explosive and I misjudged some relationships.
The ending surpassed my expectations, delivering up an exciting, tension-filled conclusion to an interesting series. I also learned a lot about the funereal service, which I never would have imagined I’d not only want to know but would find fascinating. I’m glad I read the books so close to each other as there are lots of dangling threads that needed tying up and could get confusing if I didn’t keep track. This was a satisfying conclusion to a very compelling series.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
I decided to binge read the three books following the novella (which you cannot skip!) and I’m so glad I elected to do so. Each book picks up essentially where the last one finished and that continuity added to my enjoyment. And, knowing that this one would end the series ratcheted up the anticipation and suspense. By this point, Rowan has been blown away by the secrets she’s uncovered about her family, particularly her mother, and some friends who were like family. She’s equally mystified by connections to her mother that still don’t make sense and require more investigation. Fortunately, Rowan and Winchester Police Chief Billy Brannigan have finally moved out of the friend zone, deepening a relationship that was always destined to reach this place. And, let’s not forget that pesky serial killer who’s stalking her.
I must admit that I was equally baffled by the curiosities exposed in the last book, finding it difficult to cobble together scenarios that would be plausible. That had me racing through this story, trying to figure things out, who could be trusted and who probably wouldn’t make it to the end. I eventually gave up and just rolled with the story, which was the best thing I could have done because I never would have predicted the outcomes. The revelations are explosive and I misjudged some relationships.
The ending surpassed my expectations, delivering up an exciting, tension-filled conclusion to an interesting series. I also learned a lot about the funereal service, which I never would have imagined I’d not only want to know but would find fascinating. I’m glad I read the books so close to each other as there are lots of dangling threads that needed tying up and could get confusing if I didn’t keep track. This was a satisfying conclusion to a very compelling series.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
I received a copy of The Darkness We Hide in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Darkness We Hide is the third (and final) novel in Debra Webb's The Undertaker's Daughter series, a thriller and mystery series of epic proportions. As the pull quote says, some secrets really are worth dying for.
Doctor Rowan Dupont has been through a lot the last ten months. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement. She's lost family members and loved ones, has been haunted by the ghosts of what has been done, and it is all far from over.
Julian Addington is still on the loose. As long as that serial killer is free, Rowan will never be able to let her guard down. She'll never stop looking over her shoulders. Or take the time to truly enjoy being with Billy Brannigan.
Luckily, Rowan is made of sterner stuff. She's investigated plenty of mysterious deaths in the past, and is prepared for the worst. She also determined to bring Julian's reign of terror to an end – before he can take anything (or anyone) else from her.
The Darkness We Hide was a thrilling – and exceptionally chilling – thriller. It was exactly what I was hoping for, providing an entertaining outlet full of strong characters and anxiety-inducing plots and schemes.
There's a lot to love about this novel (and series). Personally, I adore the characters and settings. There's this sense that the world Rowan lives in is real – real, vibrant, and so alive. The Southern charm rings true in Webb's writing...but it's also more than that. Her writing brings the whole atmosphere to life.
One thing I'll confess to being sad about: this is the conclusion to the trilogy. It was the right time to end it, so I respect that Webb isn't dragging the series on or anything like that. It's just that I've really come to like Rowan, so I don't really want to see the story end.
That being said, I really respected (and enjoyed) the conclusion. This is something that both the characters and fans deserved. So that made it all worth it. It was dramatic and suspenseful in all the best of ways. And then some.
The Darkness We Hide is a title that lives up to its name. The world, plot, and events that unfold are unflinchingly dark at times but described with precise and careful details. It's a blend that really allows you to dive right into the plot, without becoming overwhelmed.
I've noticed that with mysteries, in particular, people don't always read the series in order. I'm guilty of that. The Darkness We Hide is a novel that can be read as a standalone, but honestly? You'll enjoy it a lot more if you read the entire series in order. Otherwise, you're going to miss references, details, and waste a lot of time trying to piece the background together.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Debra Webb comes up with next. I have a good feeling that I'll end up enjoying anything else as much as The Undertaker's Daughter series. Can't wait to find out!
Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Darkness We Hide is the third (and final) novel in Debra Webb's The Undertaker's Daughter series, a thriller and mystery series of epic proportions. As the pull quote says, some secrets really are worth dying for.
Doctor Rowan Dupont has been through a lot the last ten months. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement. She's lost family members and loved ones, has been haunted by the ghosts of what has been done, and it is all far from over.
Julian Addington is still on the loose. As long as that serial killer is free, Rowan will never be able to let her guard down. She'll never stop looking over her shoulders. Or take the time to truly enjoy being with Billy Brannigan.
Luckily, Rowan is made of sterner stuff. She's investigated plenty of mysterious deaths in the past, and is prepared for the worst. She also determined to bring Julian's reign of terror to an end – before he can take anything (or anyone) else from her.
The Darkness We Hide was a thrilling – and exceptionally chilling – thriller. It was exactly what I was hoping for, providing an entertaining outlet full of strong characters and anxiety-inducing plots and schemes.
There's a lot to love about this novel (and series). Personally, I adore the characters and settings. There's this sense that the world Rowan lives in is real – real, vibrant, and so alive. The Southern charm rings true in Webb's writing...but it's also more than that. Her writing brings the whole atmosphere to life.
One thing I'll confess to being sad about: this is the conclusion to the trilogy. It was the right time to end it, so I respect that Webb isn't dragging the series on or anything like that. It's just that I've really come to like Rowan, so I don't really want to see the story end.
That being said, I really respected (and enjoyed) the conclusion. This is something that both the characters and fans deserved. So that made it all worth it. It was dramatic and suspenseful in all the best of ways. And then some.
The Darkness We Hide is a title that lives up to its name. The world, plot, and events that unfold are unflinchingly dark at times but described with precise and careful details. It's a blend that really allows you to dive right into the plot, without becoming overwhelmed.
I've noticed that with mysteries, in particular, people don't always read the series in order. I'm guilty of that. The Darkness We Hide is a novel that can be read as a standalone, but honestly? You'll enjoy it a lot more if you read the entire series in order. Otherwise, you're going to miss references, details, and waste a lot of time trying to piece the background together.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Debra Webb comes up with next. I have a good feeling that I'll end up enjoying anything else as much as The Undertaker's Daughter series. Can't wait to find out!
Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks