What He Left Behind

by Benjamin Bradley

In this town, everyone has a secret they’d kill to keep.

Oak Hill, North Carolina is a sleepy community where nothing exciting ever happens, a town so tiny it has no room for secrets. So when a stranger is found murdered in a cornfield, Detective Grace Bingham is forced to partner with Jacob Sawyer—a big city detective who broke her heart and fled the town years prior—in order to uncover the explosive truth. 

As Grace ID’s the Jane Doe, her identity points toward their tragic case from fifteen years ago and the powerful Dockery family. Grace and Sawyer race to piece together their case, armed with new evidence for the first time in decades, even if the town has turned against them. After all, everybody has a secret they’d kill to keep.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

368 pages, Hardcover

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

Benjamin Bradley is a member of both Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. His upcoming release WHAT HE LEFT BEHIND hits shelves on April 29, 2025 from CamCat Books. He's the author of the Shepard & Kelly Mystery series and his short fiction has appeared in literary magazines including Reckon Review and Flash Fiction Magazine. He works in public health and homelessness and lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, their cat Fox, and their dog Harper.

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Reviews

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.25/5)
If you're into murder mysteries with a dash of second-chance romance and small-town drama, "What He Left Behind" should be on your radar when it drops on April 29! 🕵️‍♀️🌲

Grace Bingham and Jacob Sawyer were high school sweethearts, but he ghosted her over a decade ago—and now he’s back in their hometown to take care of his dying mother. Somehow he ends up working with Grace to solve a murder?! Yeah, talk about awkward tension! She's gunning to be Chief of Police, he’s juggling old ghosts, and they’re both neck-deep in a case with more twists than a mountain road.

Some emotional side plots caught me off guard—sad, layered, and really well done. While romance isn't usually my jam, it didn’t overpower the mystery. The pacing was ideal, and I kept flipping pages, needing to know what happened next. 🧩💔

This was my first read by Benjamin Bradley, and I’m already looking forward to checking out his next book. I definitely recommend this one if you like your thrillers with a side of romantic tension (but not too much sap 😉).

Thank you to the author and CamCat Books for providing this eARC through BookSirens. All opinions are my own.

[Shanica Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW @Pagesandportkeys ✨

If you’re looking for a small-town mystery to curl up with this summer, What He Left Behind needs to be on your TBR! The characters were so well developed—there wasn’t a single weak link. The vivid details about the town made it feel like I was right there, walking the streets and piecing together the clues.

I had the chance to read this as an ARC and I was hooked from the start. Just when I thought I had it figured out… bam—that twist at the end totally caught me off guard!

This one is perfect for fans of atmospheric mysteries with heart. Don’t miss it!

[Ciclochick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little word-dense, but as I progressed, I realised how important all the words are. Every character has a history and baggage (emotional or otherwise), and the author's talent lies in making each one multi-dimensional and alive, to the point I almost forgot there was a crime to solve…a murder, in fact, which the main character, Detective Grace Bingham, has to solve. Her investigation is complicated by two things: the victim appears to be linked to an unsolved tragedy fifteen years before and the return to her town of her teenage sweetheart, Detective Jacob Sawyer.

It's intense, philosophical, reflective (I sensed there is a lot of the author in this) and, if I'm honest, a little convoluted, but you are totally sucked in by the characters, the sleepy town and what the future might hold for Grace and Sawyer…or what you hope for Grace and Sawyer.

I was slightly narked, however, by the oversight of quite a few grammatical errors, mainly the use of I for me (too many times), which should have been picked up. (Eg.: …'between Sawyer and I.' Like fingernails on a blackboard!)

That said, any author who acknowledges his readers as a priority has a very, very special place in my reading list…as well as being an excellent writer, of course.

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery has a lot going for it. It's character driven and the characters are so well drawn and personable. The atmospheric small town setting felt real to the point I was there with the characters running through the woods and walking down the streets. The mystery itself is very well plotted with just enough twists and tension to keep you turning the pages later into the evening than you had planned. I really enjoyed the flow and how easy this one was to read with its cinematic imagery. If you like small town mysteries with characters that have intertwining histories, family drama and a touch of romance, I highly recommend you seek this one out and add it to your TBR list.

Thank you to the author, CamCat books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copies and including me on this tour.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to spread the word about this mystery because I thought it was so well done. The book is set mostly in the present with a few sprinkling chapters of the then.

The mystery revolves around a murdered woman in a small town that never sees murder.

The main character, Grace, is a detective who has been in the small town in North Carolina her entire life. As she works on solving the murder, she is also faced with her past when her first love, Sawyer, shows up after 15 years.

The descriptions of the town which borders the Nantahala are spectacular. The characters are well developed in both the past and the present. There was just enough action and the mystery itself was a perfect amount of twisty. There is also some family drama as well as romance that added to the depth of the story.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected this to be a striking murder mystery. Instead what I found was way too much reminiscing about a teenage crush and a predictable cop finds the killer scenario. No suspense, no challenging plot, and no rush to keep you reading late into the night.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. It took me a while to get into this book. The action did start quite quickly but was interspersed with memories of things that happened 15 years earlier. These memories are sparked by the reappearance of an important character, by which the reader takes the title to mean what He left behind. However, Grace Bingham is a complicated and very determined character. Sure she's been turned down for the job of police chief in a sleepy town with only 3 police officers after her interview with two powerful men who look down their noses at her, and her old friend who cow-tows to them, when a dead woman with no form of identity is found dead in a field on the edge of town she is determined to find the killer, even if it means ruffling some sensitive feathers. As her investigation moves on and other elements come into play, more and more of the 15 year old memories are revealed in ever more detail. By the time there several apparently unconnected threads, the author quite skilfully draws them all together until in the end good triumphs over evil the 15 year old mystery turns out to be the key to everything. I did start willing Grace to look in another direction before she did, but by that time I'd been rapidly page turning and couldn't stop. This book is well worth reading, full surprises and the author wraps everything up to a satisfactory conclusion.

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 4.5-star read delivers a gripping mystery set in a small North Carolina town where secrets run deep and danger lurks behind every tree in their beloved and adjoining forest. Detective Grace Bingham is at the heart of the story, grappling with a murder that drags her back into a past she’d rather forget. When a stranger’s body is found in a cornfield, Grace must team up with Jack, her high school sweetheart turned big-city detective. Back in town to care for his ailing mother, Jack brings plenty of baggage to an already fraught investigation.

The uneasy partnership between Grace and Jack is tested as a powerful family within the town is determined to protect skeletons. Add in a haunting case from fifteen years ago, residents spreading rumors, an old friend as mayor, and Grace is challenged to her limit. The balance between small-town charm and the simmering tension of buried truths makes this book a standout.

Grace is a wonderfully relatable protagonist—her determination, wit, and vulnerability make her easy to root for. The twists are relentless, and just when I thought I solved it, the story took another turn.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of small-town mysteries where the local diner serves up more gossip than coffee, What He Left Behind is your next obsession. This isn’t a high-octane thriller—it’s a mystery: layered, character-driven, and rooted deep in a town that feels so real you’ll swear you’ve driven through it before.

The story follows Grace, a former local who’s come home with more baggage than just her suitcase. When a new crime stirs up an old case long buried, Grace finds herself tangled in emotions she thought she left behind. There’s a dash of second-chance romance, and let me just say, the “will they/won’t they” tension is paramount.

The best part? The town itself—quirky, stubborn, and full of secrets. You can practically smell the rain on the pavement and hear the creaky floorboards of the sheriff’s office. The characters? Endearing, flawed, and just trying to do right by their community, even when local politics and long-held grudges get in the way.

If you’re in the mood for a story that mixes heartfelt relationships with an intriguing double-layered case, grab a blanket, a cup of something warm, and dive in.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gripping mystery is captivating, fast paced, and kept me entertained turning the pages really fast.

Small town secrets, a Detective finds herself trying to solve a murder, when she realizes it could be connected with a 15 year old murder case.

But how does this get more intense? Oh… her high school sweetheart that broke her heart, is back in town and teams up to solve the case together. What?! Yes… it makes it so much more complicated.

Synopsis:-
Oak Hill, North Carolina is a sleepy community where nothing exciting ever happens, a town so tiny it has no room for secrets. So when a stranger is found murdered in a cornfield, Detective Grace Bingham is forced to partner with Jacob Sawyer―a big city detective who broke her heart and fled the town years prior―in order to uncover the explosive truth. 
As Grace ID’s the Jane Doe, her identity points toward their tragic case from fifteen years ago and the powerful Dockery family. Grace and Sawyer race to piece together their case, armed with new evidence for the first time in decades, even if the town has turned against them. After all, everybody has a secret they’d kill to keep.

Thank you so much to the author Benjamin Bradley for reaching out, and sending me the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Highly recommend!

[Pamela Sewell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Sirens eARC. Nothing much ever happens in the small community of Oak Hill, North Carolina and that suits Detective Grace Bingham just fine. Frustrated over the recent failure of the town board to appoint her chief of police she is determined to prove her competence. When the body of a stranger is discovered in a corn field she sees it as her big chance. With the aid of her high school sweetheart now a big city detective she uncovers surprising connections to the shooting of a classmate 15 years ago. Who was the woman and what lead to her murder? How did she and her teen age son survive in the forest living off the grid and what is their connection to Oak Hill? Grace is a multi faceted character and the atmosphere and interactions of the townspeople rang true. Threads of seemingly unrelated events are woven into the plot. This was an engaging mystery although at the conclusion I was left with questions and felt that the back story of the victim and her connections to the area should have been better drawn.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love small-town mysteries, and Benjamin Bradley has done this one up right. Set in Oak Hill, a tiny town in North Carolina where everyone knows everyone, things get shaken up when a stranger is murdered.

The town, described so clearly and vividly, came to life for me, and I could easily picture it in my mind. While the mystery had many great twists and turns, the characters are what held me captive.

Grace is the detective on the case. She has lived in Oak Hill her entire life. But Jacob Sawyer, her first love, is back in town after fifteen years, and now they are forced to work the case together. I enjoyed the touch of romantic tension as they worked through this puzzling case, as well as some personal issues. The theme of “us against them” or “insiders vs. outsiders” gave the story an eerie or gothic tone, making it suspenseful and riveting.

This is my first time reading Benjamin Bradley, and I look forward to seeing what he writes next.


Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @benjaminbradleywrites for the gifted book.

[Literary Danes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rooted in reflection and full of heart

I had the chance to meet Benjamin Bradley at a local book club, and it’s always rewarding to read something from a North Carolina author—especially one who brings such care and thoughtfulness to the page. What He Left Behind is a quiet, reflective story that leans into life’s biggest themes—grief, memory, and what we carry forward.

What really stayed with me was the way Bradley used flowers—perennials and annuals—as a metaphor for how people view death. It was beautiful, simple, and profound. His descriptions of the forest were just as powerful—earthy, immersive, and full of life. I honestly found myself wishing I could pack up and move right into those woods.

This book feels like an invitation to slow down and think. It’s a great fit for readers who appreciate lyrical writing, nature-forward settings, and stories that sit with you long after you’ve finished. Excited to see what Benjamin writes next—there’s real heart in his storytelling.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace and Jack (high school sweethearts) and Cliff grew up best friends in the small town of Oak Hill, NC. Fifteen years later, Grace is now a detective in the police department, and Cliff is the town's mayor. Jack, who's a detective in Philadelphia, returns to town to help care for his dying mother. Grace is investigating the murder of a woman, who no recognizes in their small town. Grace, with the help of her childhood friends, dig through the towns secrets and their own memories to try and solve the murder before someone else is killed. The inner workings of a small town and loyalties of townsfolk and distrust of outsiders really added to the suspense. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in the journey to find out who the murderer was. I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reneaue · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I walk into a bookstore and see an author promoting their work, I’m almost guaranteed to leave with a copy—especially if it’s a genre I enjoy. That likelihood increases when the author is local and the setting is familiar. So when I discovered What He Left Behind by Benjamin Bradley, set in the North Carolina mountains where my daughter once spent summers kayaking the Nantahala River, I knew I had to read it.

The setting is the small township of Oak Hill, NC, nestled near the eerie, gorge-shadowed Nantahala (a Cherokee word meaning “Land of the Noonday Sun”). The deep forest surrounding the town, adds a haunting atmosphere that lingers throughout the novel.

The story begins slowly, introducing us to Grace Bingham, a small-town police officer whose life is unraveling. She’s just flubbed her interview for Chief of Police, her ex-boyfriend Jacob Sawyer has returned to town after an 15-year absence, and now she’s been called to investigate a murder—the first in her career. It’s a lot for one day, and Bradley captures Grace’s emotional weight with nuance and empathy.

This is not a fast-paced thriller. The mystery unfolds gradually, with the victim’s identity only revealed halfway through the book. Clues are scarce, and the investigation mirrors the slow rhythm of life in Oak Hill. Yet, this deliberate pacing allows for rich character development. Bradley excels at making the reader feel like a resident of Oak Hill, intimately familiar with its people and their secrets.

Grace is a compelling protagonist—flawed, determined, and deeply human. Her journey is as much about solving a crime as it is about healing old wounds, particularly those left by Sawyer’s sudden departure years ago. Their rekindled connection simmers beneath the surface, adding emotional depth to the narrative.

While the book may lack the high-stakes tension typical of the genre, it offers something more grounded: a sense of place, community, and personal redemption. By the end, I found myself rooting for Grace—not just to solve the case, but to believe in herself again.

Verdict: What He Left Behind may take its time, but it rewards patient readers with a heartfelt story of resilience, belonging, and second chances. Once I was drawn in, I couldn’t help but hope Grace would find both justice and peace.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy a small town mystery and this one was especially suspenseful since so many crimes hit tiny Oak Hill back to back over a short span. I loved the relationships between Grace, Cliff and Jacob who had been inseparable through high school until Jacob left town 15 years ago with no explanation. The tension from the current crimes combined with outstanding questions from the past plus small town dynamics, old love and references to the Clueless Detective Agency made this a real page turner and a very entertaining read. I also loved Grace’s s relationship with Nat and respected her tenacity to stay true to herself to solve crimes no matter whose feathers she ruffled! This was another twisty CamCat thriller and I definitely recommend it!

[Kenzie Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright story but poorly written in my opinion. Hallmark crime story. A lot of words that don’t matter in the slightest. Very dramatic writing of menial everyday events.

Nobody talks like that in conversation. Why does nobody prefer to their parents as mom/dad and uses their name instead. I understand Nat a little bit more than the others but still doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

I don’t like how Grace talked about herself and aging and her body. She’s 33 not 63??

Not sure how to explain how I feel about Grace and Sawyer and their relationship but the dynamic feels so weird. Basically no relationship from 18-33 at all cause her high school bf left without saying anything? And all the talk from both her and Sawyer “not deserving” this or “deserving” that. So weird.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) Nat held the strings for me. Small town mystery, for sure everyone has secrets, and the main one turns out to be a big one. The relationships felt like a cut out from life in the real world. Doing the best you can, making mistakes, not 100% sure on the next step and I liked that. I also liked the Tricycle Gang but the one who kept me reading was Nat. You definitely have to pay attention. I was lost to begin with and it wasn't till we meet Nat that things started to make sense as to who was who. Thank you for the advanced copy. I freely volunteer my honest thoughts and opinions. #WhatHeLeftBehind #BenjaminBradley #CamCatBooks #BookSirens

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small town mystery with a little bit of everything!
In a small North Carolina town nothing exciting ever happens, until it does. Detective Grace Bingham is forced to partner with Jacob Sawyer—a big city detective who shares a past with, when a woman is found murdered in a cornfield. Grace ID’s the Jane Doe it points toward their tragic case from fifteen years ago and to the powerful Dockery family. They make it their mission to uncover the dark secrets of someone who is willing to kill to keep it. I enjoyed the story and the emotional parts. Each character had many layers that added to the story.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This suspenseful mystery captured my attention immediately and the author's beautiful way with words kept me glued to the pages. I adore a workplace romance sprinkled in with the twists and turns of a case they're trying to solve. As the big city detective and smalltown police officer have to work together they also need to resolve their feelings for each other and what happened fifteen years ago. Well-written with well-developed characters this story is a delightful surprise and I can't wait to read more from Benjamin Bradley.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in an Oak Hill. The mystery begins with a death of a woman. The book is dark, suspenseful, and intriguing. Something’s felt eerie. Setting is really dark and unique. I loved how the plot unfolded. Suspense was spot on. The characters were really mysterious. It was hard to find person behind the unthinkable happenings but as soon as plot unfolded it drew me in. The book has so many twists and turns along with secrets and buried truth. Narrated in dual timelines.

I received the Advance Review Copy from Booksirens and I’m leaving my review voluntarily.

[Donna Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was nothing compelling about this “mystery”. The detective seems to have no talent for crime solving. She also has no authority. When a suspect is arrested and held in jail, the suspects sister comes in, tells the subordinate to let her brother go, and he DOES! When informed of this, the detective’s response is “ok”. Also, random childhood friends and acquaintances of the detective are brought into the investigation for some reason. Couple that ridiculousness with many convoluted sentences that go nowhere and it’s a loser for me.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benjamin Bradley has been a favorite author of mine for a few years. "What He Left Behind" is definitely a page-turner that sticks in your mind even when you aren't reading it. I enjoyed the characters and the back and forth of time-setting. The plot has a story from the past that intertwines with events of the present which tests the reader's amateur sleuthing prowess page after page. If you like mysteries, then definitely check this one out!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. Great story weaving. Some of it went the way I figured but others parts didn't. And I was blown away by the truth. It was so good. I only wished that Grace would get with Tessa for work. I think that would make a great team. Although, Sawyer and Grace make a great team too. I hope that a good life is in the cards for Cedar. Seems like it will. I really couldn't put this down.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love small town mysteries and this one did not disappoint. Even though the mystery is the focal point I loved how much the story focused on the relationships between Grace and her childhood friends and how the years have changed them. Grace took her job very seriously even when people were trying to persuade her otherwise. I enjoyed how her backstory was woven into the events currently happening. The evidence was explained in a way that was easy to follow but also had enough suspense and twists to keep you guessing. The drama that came from a small town and the hint of romance made it a quick read for me.

Thank you @benjaminbradleywrites @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping whodunit and police procedural set in a deeply atmospheric small town. With a perfect blend of past and present, well-developed characters, and dark, twisty suspense, this story had me hooked from the start.
The small-town secrets, the emotional tension, and the high stakes kept me turning pages and at the edge of my seat the whole time. My first book from this author, and definitely not my last.

[Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, gripping, and impossible to put down! Benjamin Bradley pulls you right into Oak Hill with a mystery that twists tighter with every chapter. The tension between Grace and Sawyer adds just the right emotional punch, and the Dockery Family? Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to meet them in a dark alley. This is the kind of small-town suspense that keeps you reading past bedtime and still thinking about it the next morning.

[Debbie Chatley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good detective story of crime fighting, taking place in small town North Carolina but could be a small town in anywhere America. Bring from a small town I appreciated the small town elements. I also appreciated the unexpected reveal of the murderer and the motive.

What I didn’t appreciate was the swear words. I know it doesn’t bother some readers but to me it detracts from the story.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who reads mostly Sci-Fi and Fantasy, this book was a great change from my usual reading and really encaptivated me. The interweaving stories and timelines kept me wanting to read just one more chapter and had me guessing until the very end. This book may be the one that gets me into reading more mystery! Highly recommend and enjoyed this tremendously.