Dead to Me

by Jessie Keane

THE CARTER FAMILY IS BACK...

Annie Carter is burying her sister Ruthie, from who she has long been estranged. There was bad blood between them - Annie stole away Max Carter on the night before his wedding to Ruthie and that destroyed any closeness between the sisters, which Annie now bitterly regrets. But at least she is giving Ruthie a decent send-off. Except, a mystery surrounds Ruthie's was it suicide - or murder?

Ruthie left England in the sixties, last seen boarding a train at Waterloo Station. Where was she heading? What, over the intervening years until her death, had she been doing?

Because, since the funeral, it seems that someone or something is playing tricks, trying to make Annie Carter lose her mind. Is she being haunted? Or hounded by an enemy from her past?

496 pages, Hardcover

Published June 5, 2026

About the author

Now what about me? I’ve done a lot of writing, but way back before I even dreamed I could be a professional writer I was just the youngest in a big family. My Dad was a surveyor with an edge of brilliance. My Mum was from gipsy roots and used to drive around in a goat-cart (yes, really!) when she was little. Once we were rich (although I didn’t know it then, and it was all thanks to my Dad’s ingenuity) and then suddenly – pretty shockingly, really – we were poor (thanks to greedy people who exploited his kindness). I have to tell you, rich is better. But the great thing about life is, even painful events pass, and if you make bad choices, hopefully you learn from them.

Reviews

[Rob Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read and found it compelling. Ruthie marries Max Carter but has a shock moments before the ceremony. Ruthie goes on to have an affair with one of Max's rivals. Big mistake in so many ways. Slightly disappointed by the end. 7/10.

[Khurshid Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been ages since Jessie Keane has released a book in the Annie Carter series and it was nice to return back to her world.

In this story we go back in back in time and we get to see how Annie and Max met. The beginning of the book is focused upon Annie’s sister Ruthie.

We are introduced to the Delaney family and see how the war between the Carter and Delaney family began.

I can promise you the following:-

Bloodshed
Revenge
Betrayal

Highly recommend for those who enjoy gangland crime books.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Keane books get better and better. 'Dead to Me' tells the back story of Ruthie and Annie Bailey, two sisters living in 1960s London. Close as children, their life choices alter their relationship to one of hatred. They experience many traumatic events, which eventually culminates in the sisters beginning to repair their broken relationship.
Jessie Keane weaves her plots so well, that the reader can be left wondering which way they'll twist and turn. As always, looking forward to reading any future Jessie Keane books.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to hear there was more of the Annie Carter series. I was a little disappointed that it’s mainly telling Ruthie’s side of the story. You need to have read the rest of the series to really understand this book. It was nice to get to know things from Ruthie’s perspective and it did tie up some of the lose ends.

[Sarah Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all the books in this series, they are all brilliant so I was excited to read this one. Started off brilliantly in the usual Carter/Delaney style but I felt it lost its way a little. I enjoyed it, but not the best.

[Deborah Bartram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from this author. Revisitng some long established characters, was great to meet up with them again.