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Death Writes Itself
A captivating mystery with a thread of darkness, Death Writes Itself offers intriguing plot lines with likable, and equally despicable, characters.
Blessed with her favorite aunt’s pearls of wisdom—and her sizable estate after her death—Phoebe is a librarian and aspiring murder mystery author in the small coastal town of St. Samuel, Georgia.
Joe is a detective who works with his best friend, Terry, on the St. Samuel police force and is dealing with the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Diane.
While Phoebe struggles to create characters and a viable plot, Joe is hunting a real-life serial killer who is attacking single women when they are most vulnerable and leaving a distinct calling card at every crime scene.
Despite her desire to write a novel about a serial killer, Phoebe has an aversion to watching or reading the news, which keeps her blissfully unaware of the murders happening in her own town.
Several quirky townspeople stand out as suspects, both in Phoebe’s mind as potential characters in her book, and in the actual murders Joe is trying to solve. But the whodunit, and how Joe and Phoebe’s lives intertwine, remain to be seen.
** Includes instances of adult content **
Click the Buy Now button to order a copy for the murder mystery lover in your life today!
Blessed with her favorite aunt’s pearls of wisdom—and her sizable estate after her death—Phoebe is a librarian and aspiring murder mystery author in the small coastal town of St. Samuel, Georgia.
Joe is a detective who works with his best friend, Terry, on the St. Samuel police force and is dealing with the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Diane.
While Phoebe struggles to create characters and a viable plot, Joe is hunting a real-life serial killer who is attacking single women when they are most vulnerable and leaving a distinct calling card at every crime scene.
Despite her desire to write a novel about a serial killer, Phoebe has an aversion to watching or reading the news, which keeps her blissfully unaware of the murders happening in her own town.
Several quirky townspeople stand out as suspects, both in Phoebe’s mind as potential characters in her book, and in the actual murders Joe is trying to solve. But the whodunit, and how Joe and Phoebe’s lives intertwine, remain to be seen.
** Includes instances of adult content **
Click the Buy Now button to order a copy for the murder mystery lover in your life today!
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2024
5 people are currently reading
1500 people want to read
About the author
Connie Froman Davis
1 book16 followersConnie Froman Davis lives in her hometown of Summerville, South Carolina. She retired from the United States Air Force after serving almost twenty-five years in a variety of capacities and has since worked at two sheriffs’ offices and taught Homeland Security classes at Colorado State University and Trident Technical College. Connie retired from civilian work in 2016 and now stays busy volunteering, reading, enjoying the beach, and traveling.
Connie holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), a masters degree in human relations from Webster University, a graduate certificate in homeland defense from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and a masters degree in criminal justice from Charleston Southern University.
Follow Connie on FB and Instagram or reach out at conniefromandavis.com
Connie holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), a masters degree in human relations from Webster University, a graduate certificate in homeland defense from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and a masters degree in criminal justice from Charleston Southern University.
Follow Connie on FB and Instagram or reach out at conniefromandavis.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this debut mystery/thriller novel from Summerville, SC author Connie Froman Davis. It was written using a very interesting perspective. Set in a small coastal town in Georgia, aspiring author Phoebe is trying to write her debut novel about a serial killer but is struggling to come up with the right premise for it. She doesn't like watching the news because she views it as a waste of time she could spend writing. What she doesn't realize is that a real serial killer is terrorizing her town. The chapters bounce between Phoebe, Joe the police detective, and Diane the detective's wife. In addition to the serial killer story line, there is also a human trafficking story line--which could be a trigger for some readers. I'm not going to lie...there are some tense moments in this novel that had me on the edge of my seat. All in all, this was a fine debut novel.
February 20, 2025
The Goodreads description of this book starts off describing it as a cozy mystery. Perhaps I don’t properly understand the term, but, taken as a whole, it reads more as a thriller to me. No amateur detectives here.
Death Writes Itself is full of unexpected twists and turns. Just when I thought I had something figured out, the story changed and sometimes shocked. I often choose thrillers or mysteries as a break from more challenging reads, but I found myself so invested in Davis’ characters that I felt along with them any pain or joy they were experiencing. It is fiction - or is it?
Occasionally the story jags when it might be better to jig, taking me out of the action. One example is when the detectives travel to a suspect’s business. A smell sets Joe off on a several page reverie, including a dream. The results of the interview aren’t revealed until 9 chapters later.
The strongest and most difficult to read storyline involves Diane’s disappearance and all that happened while she was gone. While I found her reasons for leaving a little unbelievable, her departure was necessary to allow the development of this heartbreaking storyline. If this applies to you, please take seriously the trigger warning included at the front of the book.
At various times throughout the book, I wondered if this story could have made 2 books. By the end, I understood the author’s decision.
I can see a long future for Phoebe, the budding writer, as well as the detectives Joe and Terry. Let’s hope the author will write on!
Thank you to my good friend and Connie’s cousin for the gift of this book! I promise to buy the next one on my own!
Death Writes Itself is full of unexpected twists and turns. Just when I thought I had something figured out, the story changed and sometimes shocked. I often choose thrillers or mysteries as a break from more challenging reads, but I found myself so invested in Davis’ characters that I felt along with them any pain or joy they were experiencing. It is fiction - or is it?
Occasionally the story jags when it might be better to jig, taking me out of the action. One example is when the detectives travel to a suspect’s business. A smell sets Joe off on a several page reverie, including a dream. The results of the interview aren’t revealed until 9 chapters later.
The strongest and most difficult to read storyline involves Diane’s disappearance and all that happened while she was gone. While I found her reasons for leaving a little unbelievable, her departure was necessary to allow the development of this heartbreaking storyline. If this applies to you, please take seriously the trigger warning included at the front of the book.
At various times throughout the book, I wondered if this story could have made 2 books. By the end, I understood the author’s decision.
I can see a long future for Phoebe, the budding writer, as well as the detectives Joe and Terry. Let’s hope the author will write on!
Thank you to my good friend and Connie’s cousin for the gift of this book! I promise to buy the next one on my own!
February 5, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Death Writes Itself by Connie Froman Davis is a debut novel with a really clever premise that kept me hooked from start to finish. Phoebe is a librarian in St. Samuel, Georgia, trying to write a murder mystery about a serial killer. She inherited her favorite aunt's estate and now she's got the time and space to write, but she's stuck trying to create believable characters and plot. Meanwhile, Detective Joe is dealing with his wife Diane's mysterious disappearance while also hunting an actual serial killer who's targeting single women in their town. The kicker? Phoebe avoids the news completely, so she has no clue that real murders are happening right there in St. Samuel while she's trying to figure out how to write about fictional ones.
I loved the way these two storylines work together. Watching Phoebe unknowingly write about stuff that's basically happening in real life is wild. The small-town characters could be suspects in both Phoebe's book and Joe's actual case. Davis takes the whole evil-in-a-small-town thing and gives it a really fresh twist. The characters feel real, the Georgia coastal setting is great, and the pacing kept me reading.
For a first book, this is really impressive. I can't wait to see what she writes next.
#DeathWritesItself #ConnieFromanDavis #MysteryBooks #BookReview #DebutNovel
Death Writes Itself by Connie Froman Davis is a debut novel with a really clever premise that kept me hooked from start to finish. Phoebe is a librarian in St. Samuel, Georgia, trying to write a murder mystery about a serial killer. She inherited her favorite aunt's estate and now she's got the time and space to write, but she's stuck trying to create believable characters and plot. Meanwhile, Detective Joe is dealing with his wife Diane's mysterious disappearance while also hunting an actual serial killer who's targeting single women in their town. The kicker? Phoebe avoids the news completely, so she has no clue that real murders are happening right there in St. Samuel while she's trying to figure out how to write about fictional ones.
I loved the way these two storylines work together. Watching Phoebe unknowingly write about stuff that's basically happening in real life is wild. The small-town characters could be suspects in both Phoebe's book and Joe's actual case. Davis takes the whole evil-in-a-small-town thing and gives it a really fresh twist. The characters feel real, the Georgia coastal setting is great, and the pacing kept me reading.
For a first book, this is really impressive. I can't wait to see what she writes next.
#DeathWritesItself #ConnieFromanDavis #MysteryBooks #BookReview #DebutNovel
March 4, 2026
Death Writes Itself by Connie Froman Davis is a charming small,town mystery with just the right touch of darkness. I loved the coastal Georgia setting, it feels cozy on the surface, but there’s an unsettling undercurrent running through it.
Phoebe is an endearing lead, especially as a librarian trying to write a murder mystery while completely avoiding the real-life crimes happening around her. The contrast between her fictional plotting and Joe’s very real hunt for a serial killer creates great tension. Joe’s personal struggles, particularly with his missing wife, add emotional weight to the story.
The quirky townspeople make the mystery even more fun, since almost everyone feels like a possible suspect. It’s an engaging, character-driven whodunit that kept me guessing and made me want to see how Phoebe and Joe’s lives would ultimately collide.
Phoebe is an endearing lead, especially as a librarian trying to write a murder mystery while completely avoiding the real-life crimes happening around her. The contrast between her fictional plotting and Joe’s very real hunt for a serial killer creates great tension. Joe’s personal struggles, particularly with his missing wife, add emotional weight to the story.
The quirky townspeople make the mystery even more fun, since almost everyone feels like a possible suspect. It’s an engaging, character-driven whodunit that kept me guessing and made me want to see how Phoebe and Joe’s lives would ultimately collide.
August 6, 2025
I loved this book! I received a signed copy from my daughter and was excited to read it and it did not disappoint. The story was riveting, it was well written, and although it ended with lots of questions, I understand why it was written that way. Personally, I’m hoping for “Death Heals Itself” next! Thanks for an awesome read and a signed book for my collection!
My daughter lives in the same town, which is how I got the book!
I’ll wait patiently for your next novel!
My daughter lives in the same town, which is how I got the book!
I’ll wait patiently for your next novel!
December 31, 2024
Very good crime/mystery novel! Drew me into the story. I felt like I was right there in St Samuel working the case with Joe and writing with Phoebe. Will read it again and again! I highly recommend this book and know several people already reading it. It would make a great movie! I hope there will be a sequel!
January 6, 2025
Interesting twist on a story of evil in a small town that intersects with the purity of an aspiring author - making you question what is real and what is fiction. I was hooked from the first sentence then captivated by the characters and their separate story lines as they intertwined. I’m hoping for a sequel!
May 8, 2025
The clever title lives up to its name. It's a quick but entertaining read set in a small town in South Carolina. The subject of human trafficking is a bit unsettling, no doubt because it's a very real tragedy unfolding before our eyes, whether we're willing to keep them open or not. I look forward to Connie Froman Davis's next title.
December 13, 2025
Not for the faint-hearted
I won this self-published thriller from a Goodreads giveaway. It deals with difficult topics such as rape, murder, and sex-trafficking. It was well-written, although there were many typos. I read a Kindle copy, so I don't know if a printed copy would be any better. I recommend it if you can handle the sensitive topics.
I won this self-published thriller from a Goodreads giveaway. It deals with difficult topics such as rape, murder, and sex-trafficking. It was well-written, although there were many typos. I read a Kindle copy, so I don't know if a printed copy would be any better. I recommend it if you can handle the sensitive topics.
December 31, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed Death Writes Itself. It really was intriguing and I couldn’t put it down. It was very suspenseful and well written! Highly recommend!
January 6, 2025
Amazing book! Hope she writes more.
January 11, 2025
Highly recommend Death Writes Itself! Loved this fast-paced thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
March 27, 2025
A great read. The author definitely keeps you engaged. Several twists and unexpected sub plots keep you guessing. She is on my list to follow for future books—I see a sequel!
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June 24, 2025I accidentally deleted the book and was unable to retrieve it. Thanks any way.
December 20, 2025
What an awesome debut novel! I met the author at a local book vendor selling this past summer and she is such a sweet women! Now, to the book. There are twists and turns, at moments I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. The beginning was a little slow but it definitely picked up the pace! I enjoyed the parallel stories and how the conclusion came to be. Definitely some sad moments but also happier moments. Honestly, will read again to see if I can pick up on any clues I missed the first read through!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews