Review: Deeper Than the Dead (Vera Boyett, #1) by Debra Webb

                                                             

Print Length: 392 pages

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (August 1, 2024) 

From Goodreads.com: 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. 

She and her sister Eve had a fairy-tale good until it was tragic, with a stepmother they never found a bond with. At least they had each other, a baby half-sister, and a mutual devotion that would have them do the unthinkable. It’s a summer in small-town Tennessee, so thick with humidity it could drown you and so rife with secrets it could smother you. 

And deep beneath the surface, there are more bodies than you’d think…

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

I have mixed feelings on this one to be honest. I was intrigued by Vera's character, and more than a little confused on why she was the one held accountable for someone else's actions back in Memphis, especially after it was concluded that there was no possible way she could have known how things were going to happen. And while her near constant thoughts about how attractive her ex-boyfriend is during a very tense investigation, were cliche and tiresome at times, I did like how there was no romantic relationship getting in the way of the storyline. 

My main issue with this story is two-fold. To begin with I found it very implausible that Vera was allowed carte blanche to run all over town conducting her own parallel investigation (often without the sheriff by her side). I could say that I get it, she was a valued FBI agent, except there are two problems with that scenario. 

To begin with, she was on leave. Meaning she had no authority to act in any capacity as an FBI agent, she even resigns whilst in the middle of things. And then (the even bigger issue), all of the bodies were found in a cave located on her family's property. Her family (her father especially) were considered suspects. There is absolutely no way the Sheriff should have been telling her any details about the case, much less allowing her to run around investigating on her own. When the FBI sent in other agents, I'm surprised they didn't keep a closer eye on her and her activities. 

Now when it comes to the ending, again I'm of two minds. On one hand, it was interesting to see how things wrapped up. Who was really involved, and how things happened, but I feel like there were areas in this where the author could have gone into more detail (for example did the one parent know their best friend was having an affair with their child). And other areas where the story didn't quite make sense (to be perfectly honest I felt like Eve's originally account of events regarding Sheree made more sense than the supposed truth). On the other hand, there was still one thread that was left completely open, which didn't make sense. Sure you had all of the other murders all tied up with a pretty little bow, why not push for answers for the final victim? I can only assume this may somehow tie into a future book? 

Which makes me wonder what will happen to the friendship (and potential rekindling romance) between Vera and Sheriff Benton if the truth does eventually come out?

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.