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The Red Series
The Deadbeat
A dangerous decision yanks two sisters out of the frying pan and lands them into the fire in this pulse pounding psychological thriller by the bestselling author of Everybody Ain't Your Friend and The Quiet Ones series.
After losing their beloved mother to ovarian cancer, identical twin sisters Jessie and Belle Brown’s world is shattered to pieces. Their mother poured out her soul to help others, but in her time of need, the only ones who pitched in were strangers. Their deadbeat father refused to lift a finger in their direction.
Seething with rage over their father’s absence, coupled with pain and agony over their mother’s passing, the sisters need a place to channel their pain. Their selfish father seems to be the perfect target.
Will their plan to make him pay for his abandonment end in success? Or will it spark the beginning to the end of Jessie and Belle’s ruin?
A pulse-pounding drama full of twists and turns. This series starter is fast-paced, straight to the point, and packs a powerful punch that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Red Series is composed of self-contained stories – they can be read in any order.
After losing their beloved mother to ovarian cancer, identical twin sisters Jessie and Belle Brown’s world is shattered to pieces. Their mother poured out her soul to help others, but in her time of need, the only ones who pitched in were strangers. Their deadbeat father refused to lift a finger in their direction.
Seething with rage over their father’s absence, coupled with pain and agony over their mother’s passing, the sisters need a place to channel their pain. Their selfish father seems to be the perfect target.
Will their plan to make him pay for his abandonment end in success? Or will it spark the beginning to the end of Jessie and Belle’s ruin?
A pulse-pounding drama full of twists and turns. This series starter is fast-paced, straight to the point, and packs a powerful punch that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Red Series is composed of self-contained stories – they can be read in any order.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2024
194 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 31, 2024
Rochelle can go to hell 😭
March 23, 2025
Enjoyed this story very much! When teenage twins Jessie & Belle loose their mother to cancer, these young ladies need an outlet to release their rage & anger! Who better to take the brunt of this pain, than their deadbeat father. Young and fueled with anger, these sisters make one self sabatoging decision after another. Will they be able to deal with the consequences of their decisions? Perfect for domestic/family thriller lovers, with a twist throw in. Satisfying ending & great story. Part of the Red Series, but can be read as a standalone.
April 2, 2025
This one is labeled a psychological thriller. I beg to differ. I'll call it a drama.. a little suspenseful but no thriller. I was disappointed in this book. My youngest picked it out from a list of thrillers because it sounded interesting. They were also disappointed in it. It's like if you take a book and cut out everything but the important bits, you have this book. It's choppy and skips around a lot but it gets straight to the point. If you are in a hurry, this book is for you!
June 25, 2024
What a plot twist
The twins were likable as was Roland. The twins’ impulsivity got them in trouble and left me on the edge of my seat. Part of the twist I saw coming, but the second half caught me off guard. The ending was satisfying.
The twins were likable as was Roland. The twins’ impulsivity got them in trouble and left me on the edge of my seat. Part of the twist I saw coming, but the second half caught me off guard. The ending was satisfying.
July 22, 2024
"A pulse-pounding drama full of twists and turns. This series starter is fast-paced, straight to the point, and packs a powerful punch that will keep you on the edge of your seat."
I see nothing but truth in that statement. The song Bring Em Out. That was about my reactions while reading this book.
On the edge of my seat from the beginning, completely into the plot. I called one plot twist because of the way their Aunt was acting. However, that turned into another plot twist. This story had multiple twists! I love the way everything transpired, along with the loyalty and love the twins (Jesse and Belle) have towards their mom.
I see nothing but truth in that statement. The song Bring Em Out. That was about my reactions while reading this book.
On the edge of my seat from the beginning, completely into the plot. I called one plot twist because of the way their Aunt was acting. However, that turned into another plot twist. This story had multiple twists! I love the way everything transpired, along with the loyalty and love the twins (Jesse and Belle) have towards their mom.
July 12, 2025
I love a good psychological thriller! This is my first time reading Tanisha Stewart’s work and she did not disappoint!!! The Deadbeat had me hooked from the first chapter. Twin sisters, Jessie and Bella have just lost their mother to ovarian cancer and their anger, grief, and bitterness send them on a dangerous downward spiral. This fast-paced novella kept me in suspense and the twists and turns were so unexpected, they blew my mind.
November 23, 2025
3 🌟 Regina C. King is a phenomenal narrator! I cackled more than once while she was reading the dialogue from Rolan and Earl, because her male voice was spot-on imo. Also, Rolan and Earl both some real ninjas! They had no problem holding the girls down even through their wrong / misguided decisions.
This was a quick audiobook listen and it was a decent, enjoyable story. Also, my first book from Tanisha Stewart and I can see myself reading more of her books.
This was a quick audiobook listen and it was a decent, enjoyable story. Also, my first book from Tanisha Stewart and I can see myself reading more of her books.
August 2, 2024
I was literally clenching my cheeks together reading this one lol.
I didn’t expect auntie to even be of that caliber if we are being honest and not to mention the girls 😩😩
I didn’t expect auntie to even be of that caliber if we are being honest and not to mention the girls 😩😩
January 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
I wouldn’t call this a psychological thriller. It was definitely messy but predictable.
I wouldn’t call this a psychological thriller. It was definitely messy but predictable.
January 10, 2026
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller, this isn’t it. But if you want a solid drama, it delivers. It’s a quick read, and overall I’d give it a solid 3 rating.
June 29, 2024
It was a pretty good read!! Now I'm waiting for the next part to come out.
November 7, 2025
This story had a few solid plot twists and plenty of impulsive decisions that kept things interesting. It definitely has the potential to be a full-length novel.
Overall, it was an okay read — entertaining but could’ve gone deeper.
Overall, it was an okay read — entertaining but could’ve gone deeper.
August 7, 2024
Earl and Richelle
2.5 Earl and Richelle was wild and crazy. This book took me on a ride from the start to end.
2.5 Earl and Richelle was wild and crazy. This book took me on a ride from the start to end.
August 28, 2024
The Deadbeat...
This book is so good! The Deadbeat was the person least expected! Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took a turn! On to the next in this series!
This book is so good! The Deadbeat was the person least expected! Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took a turn! On to the next in this series!
September 16, 2024
Was not expecting that twist. I am not okay
October 3, 2025
Secrets can kill
Y’all better start telling y’all family the truth! Who was the real deadbeat, is the question. If you want to know you better read this book to find out.
Y’all better start telling y’all family the truth! Who was the real deadbeat, is the question. If you want to know you better read this book to find out.
January 27, 2026
Eh…. Okay. The book is a good base layer, but ultimately was too short to truly be a thriller. Suspenseful? Yeah! Thrilling? No. Twisty? FOR SURE. I would have appreciated a little more.
June 20, 2024
As the saying goes, when you assume...
Jessie and Belle are twin sisters on a mission to get back at their deadbeat dad. But little did the twins know, if they had known the family secrets, it might have been enough to satisfy their desire for revenge. But they soon realize that they took on more than they could handle and it just might cost them their freedom.
The Deadbeat was a fast-paced, page-turner with lots of unexpected twists and turns. If you're in the mood for a quick psychological thriller, you'll definitely enjoy this story.
Jessie and Belle are twin sisters on a mission to get back at their deadbeat dad. But little did the twins know, if they had known the family secrets, it might have been enough to satisfy their desire for revenge. But they soon realize that they took on more than they could handle and it just might cost them their freedom.
The Deadbeat was a fast-paced, page-turner with lots of unexpected twists and turns. If you're in the mood for a quick psychological thriller, you'll definitely enjoy this story.
September 22, 2024
Talk about short and sweet?! Man oh man.. Their birth mother was terrible. I was glad about the ending though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2025
This is my second thriller novella from this author and I was not disappointed to have it on my reading list. The plot instantly hooked me, opening with the main characters-- teen twins Jesse and Belle -- who are grieving the recent death of their mother and are now on the verge of committing patricide after being ignored by their estranged father for far too long.
The most frustrating thing about this family is that they could have avoided all the unnecessary drama and heartache if they had only communicated properly with each other. For starters, their mother should have been upfront with the girls about their dad (and everything else) because the girls had the right to know the truth. Plus if the sisters had simply knocked on their father's door and had an actual conversation with him instead of approaching him on social media, they could have heard things from his perspective. And of course, they probably shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and immediately plotted to murder the man. Honestly, the fact two teenage girls were so quick to carry out a homicide against their own flesh and blood was probably the most outlandish aspect of the book. Chalk it up to grief and rage, I suppose.
Regardless, the storyline is fast-paced, addictive, and takes a few unexpected turns. I enjoyed these surprising twists the most for they really shook up the plot and added an extra something. I also thought the ending was a satisfying conclusion to each character's arc, and I appreciated how even the most sympathetic characters reaped the consequences of their actions, but became better people for it.
The most frustrating thing about this family is that they could have avoided all the unnecessary drama and heartache if they had only communicated properly with each other. For starters, their mother should have been upfront with the girls about their dad (and everything else) because the girls had the right to know the truth. Plus if the sisters had simply knocked on their father's door and had an actual conversation with him instead of approaching him on social media, they could have heard things from his perspective. And of course, they probably shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and immediately plotted to murder the man. Honestly, the fact two teenage girls were so quick to carry out a homicide against their own flesh and blood was probably the most outlandish aspect of the book. Chalk it up to grief and rage, I suppose.
Regardless, the storyline is fast-paced, addictive, and takes a few unexpected turns. I enjoyed these surprising twists the most for they really shook up the plot and added an extra something. I also thought the ending was a satisfying conclusion to each character's arc, and I appreciated how even the most sympathetic characters reaped the consequences of their actions, but became better people for it.
January 30, 2026
Rating 3.75⭐️ This story was a masterclass in how unhealed grief plus buried family secrets will blow everything straight to hell. Jessie and Belle were operating from raw pain, not logic and that made every decision feel like watching a slow motion car crash you can’t stop. Losing their mother cracked the foundation but the lies 👀 the lies finished the job.
I'm ain't gonna hold you the adults in this story deserve a collective side eye hell they need their asses beat! Years of silence, half truths and selfish choices created a mess that the twins ended up paying for. Don't get me wrong Jessie made the stupid plan but she was acting out of hurt. She needed a round house kick too! That reveal had me sitting there like Now why would y’all do that smdh. Once the truth came out everything clicked in the worst way.
This book was fast, tense and emotionally reckless in the best thriller way. It’s not just about revenge it’s about how generational damage keeps looping until somebody decides to break it. PUHLEASE put the lies to bed. Forgiveness might be possible but not without time, therapy and some serious accountability. Auntie slash Momma got a long road ahead of her because 21 years of bad decisions don’t get wiped clean with one confession. Roland I pray Jessie is your soulmate because hunni that was some serious puppy love!!!!!!!!
Messy, twisted, thought provoking and exactly the kind of psychological chaos that makes you put the book down and stare at the wall for a minute.
I'm ain't gonna hold you the adults in this story deserve a collective side eye hell they need their asses beat! Years of silence, half truths and selfish choices created a mess that the twins ended up paying for. Don't get me wrong Jessie made the stupid plan but she was acting out of hurt. She needed a round house kick too! That reveal had me sitting there like Now why would y’all do that smdh. Once the truth came out everything clicked in the worst way.
This book was fast, tense and emotionally reckless in the best thriller way. It’s not just about revenge it’s about how generational damage keeps looping until somebody decides to break it. PUHLEASE put the lies to bed. Forgiveness might be possible but not without time, therapy and some serious accountability. Auntie slash Momma got a long road ahead of her because 21 years of bad decisions don’t get wiped clean with one confession. Roland I pray Jessie is your soulmate because hunni that was some serious puppy love!!!!!!!!
Messy, twisted, thought provoking and exactly the kind of psychological chaos that makes you put the book down and stare at the wall for a minute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2025
I wished it was longer! Jesse and Belle are so hurt by the death of their mother and the subsequent loneliness they feel in her absence afterwards that they conjure up a plan to ruin their own lives by killing their father. And listen, I was on their said about it until they involved Jesse's lil innocent boyfriend Roland, for NO reason. Jesse called him to retrieve a cell phone they had dropped in the midst of killing their father. Jesse doesn't love that boy or care about him AT ALL. Because why would she INVOLVE him in that and possibly ruin his life behind what they did and how STUPID and HASTY they were when they did it. Why call him and ask him to go get the phone? What? I guess, they thought if he went and got it the cops wouldn't connect them to the murder? Maybe he could sneak better? And he was even STUPIDER for going and doing the mess, cuz now he's an accessory to murder and he wasn't even there or involved. LIFE RUINED! They ruined their lives and everyone around them because they were hurt about their mother. Which, ok..i guess. But if I was Roland them two heifers would have gotten the loudest "F NO!" outta me. I was pissed at all of them
There was a mess and the storyline around her was interesting and MESSY. i loved the twist. But still F HER to.
I'm not going to give the book away because I want you to read it. But i love how Tanisha write a good redeemable character
There was a mess and the storyline around her was interesting and MESSY. i loved the twist. But still F HER to.
I'm not going to give the book away because I want you to read it. But i love how Tanisha write a good redeemable character
January 10, 2026
This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that centers on twin sisters struggling with grief, anger, and unanswered questions after the loss of their mother. The story is emotionally driven and quickly pulls you into a tense situation that escalates faster than expected.
Because this is a novella, the pacing is very quick with little downtime. That worked in terms of keeping my attention, but some parts felt rushed and slightly unrealistic. A few moments required suspension of disbelief, though not enough to take away from my overall enjoyment.
The standout for me was the plot twist. I truly did not see it coming, and it took the story in a completely different direction than I anticipated. That reveal added depth to the story and made the read more memorable.
Overall, The Deadbeat is an engaging, quick psychological thriller with an unexpected twist. It’s not flawless, but it’s entertaining and worth the read if you enjoy short, dramatic thrillers with messy family dynamics.
Because this is a novella, the pacing is very quick with little downtime. That worked in terms of keeping my attention, but some parts felt rushed and slightly unrealistic. A few moments required suspension of disbelief, though not enough to take away from my overall enjoyment.
The standout for me was the plot twist. I truly did not see it coming, and it took the story in a completely different direction than I anticipated. That reveal added depth to the story and made the read more memorable.
Overall, The Deadbeat is an engaging, quick psychological thriller with an unexpected twist. It’s not flawless, but it’s entertaining and worth the read if you enjoy short, dramatic thrillers with messy family dynamics.
June 27, 2025
this book was so good, i love how it got straight to the point. the love that jessie and belle have each other, didn’t go unnoticed..i love how they stuck together for everything. can i just say?? i’m glad that they have their dad in their life now, yes he was absent but he has a reason and it was very valid. now for the mom? disappointed..i hated her, how you gonna do that to your daughters? then done back again asking for stuff, mane i was pissed. i’m glad they got their anger out, it was veryyy valid. that ending was so cute, jessie and her boyfriend stuck with each other through thick and thin. lastly, to answer the author question…i would forgive her but i’ll NEVERRRRR forget. they wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for their ‘mom’ so honestly? i don’t know, it’ll take awhile for the bond to become good as mom and daughter.
June 21, 2024
FAST PACED!
I liked the pace of the story. Jesse and Belle were both the epitome of the adage ‘I am my sister’s keeper.’ Losing a parent is hard, especially to cancer, and I could identify with their reasoning of wanting someone to pay.
From the moment Earl caught that bullet to the chest, The Deadbeat took off. Roland was a good guy, although I didn’t fully agree with him and Jesse’s ‘friendship’. Belle had the right idea, but by the time they went to execute, it was too late. I’m proud of Earl for doing what he had to do once he found out the truth.
Rochelle could kick rocks in my opinion, both before and after the incident. Girl, you had sixteen years to say something. 😒
Great job Tanisha!
I liked the pace of the story. Jesse and Belle were both the epitome of the adage ‘I am my sister’s keeper.’ Losing a parent is hard, especially to cancer, and I could identify with their reasoning of wanting someone to pay.
From the moment Earl caught that bullet to the chest, The Deadbeat took off. Roland was a good guy, although I didn’t fully agree with him and Jesse’s ‘friendship’. Belle had the right idea, but by the time they went to execute, it was too late. I’m proud of Earl for doing what he had to do once he found out the truth.
Rochelle could kick rocks in my opinion, both before and after the incident. Girl, you had sixteen years to say something. 😒
Great job Tanisha!
November 9, 2025
Certainly a page turner
So knocking on the door didn't seem like the sensible option to anyone? Just zero to 1000, huh? This is why kids shouldn't be left to their own devices. They rarely make good decisions.
If auntie does right, they should absolutely forgive her. She wasn't supportive but she certainly didn't force their hands. Its not like they went over to break out his windows or something trivial. We're not about to let them blame it on anyone else. Impulsive behavior without common sense and lack of discernment is a recipe for disaster.
I enjoyed the synopsis of the other books at the end. I think that I've already picked out my next one after I finish this series.
So knocking on the door didn't seem like the sensible option to anyone? Just zero to 1000, huh? This is why kids shouldn't be left to their own devices. They rarely make good decisions.
If auntie does right, they should absolutely forgive her. She wasn't supportive but she certainly didn't force their hands. Its not like they went over to break out his windows or something trivial. We're not about to let them blame it on anyone else. Impulsive behavior without common sense and lack of discernment is a recipe for disaster.
I enjoyed the synopsis of the other books at the end. I think that I've already picked out my next one after I finish this series.
July 14, 2024
Deadbeat?
I wouldn't classify this as a psychological thriller, but it was good. It had several twists that enhanced the storyline making it more profound and attention grabbing. And yes, a few hard lessons thrown in.
The author asks if the reader would forgive Rochelle, one of the characters. My response: Forgiveness is for the past and not for future consideration.
This story was well done, well thought out, fast moving and thought provoking while packing a punch in such a short read.
I wouldn't classify this as a psychological thriller, but it was good. It had several twists that enhanced the storyline making it more profound and attention grabbing. And yes, a few hard lessons thrown in.
The author asks if the reader would forgive Rochelle, one of the characters. My response: Forgiveness is for the past and not for future consideration.
This story was well done, well thought out, fast moving and thought provoking while packing a punch in such a short read.
August 7, 2024
Why Us
I thought there would be more drama happening in this story. It was a great tale though. The sister's were both kind of naive and really didn't know how life works especially after their mom died. But they found out quickly how to turn your life around to worst case scenarios. Auntie knew what waz up the entire time but probably figured no-one could stand her therefore said nothing. Roland was a hood guy. Too bad the ending didn't give more details, hopefully a sequel will come out. We never get all the answers in true life either.
I thought there would be more drama happening in this story. It was a great tale though. The sister's were both kind of naive and really didn't know how life works especially after their mom died. But they found out quickly how to turn your life around to worst case scenarios. Auntie knew what waz up the entire time but probably figured no-one could stand her therefore said nothing. Roland was a hood guy. Too bad the ending didn't give more details, hopefully a sequel will come out. We never get all the answers in true life either.
October 1, 2025
DeadBeat 👏🏾👏🏾
The DeadBeat is a good fast read thriller, I enjoyed this fast pace thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what’s gonna happen who’s knocking at the door 🚪, didn’t expect the aunt Rochelle to be the 👩🏾🦱mother. That was a crazy twist, and I would have not forgiving her. It seem like all she do is take take. She should’ve had got her self clean when there mom was on her deathbed.I will be looking 👀 into Tanisha Stewart other books,I like the artwork on the book covers can’t wait to read 📚
The DeadBeat is a good fast read thriller, I enjoyed this fast pace thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what’s gonna happen who’s knocking at the door 🚪, didn’t expect the aunt Rochelle to be the 👩🏾🦱mother. That was a crazy twist, and I would have not forgiving her. It seem like all she do is take take. She should’ve had got her self clean when there mom was on her deathbed.I will be looking 👀 into Tanisha Stewart other books,I like the artwork on the book covers can’t wait to read 📚
October 1, 2025
DeadBeat 👏🏾👏🏾
The DeadBeat is a good fast read thriller, I enjoyed this fast pace thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what’s gonna happen who’s knocking at the door 🚪, didn’t expect the aunt Rochelle to be the 👩🏾🦱mother. That was a crazy twist, and I would have not forgiving her. It seem like all she do is take take. She should’ve had got her self clean when there mom was on her deathbed.I will be looking 👀 into Tanisha Stewart other books,I like the artwork on the book covers can’t wait to read 📚
The DeadBeat is a good fast read thriller, I enjoyed this fast pace thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what’s gonna happen who’s knocking at the door 🚪, didn’t expect the aunt Rochelle to be the 👩🏾🦱mother. That was a crazy twist, and I would have not forgiving her. It seem like all she do is take take. She should’ve had got her self clean when there mom was on her deathbed.I will be looking 👀 into Tanisha Stewart other books,I like the artwork on the book covers can’t wait to read 📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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