Lost in the Dark

by Debra Webb

The brutal murder of her sister draws a woman back to her hometown and all its dark secrets in a gripping novel of suspense by USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb.

Dr. CJ Patterson returns to her Alabama hometown when her estranged sister, Shelley, is found murdered in the woods. For CJ it means diving headfirst into a painful life she left behind.

CJ reluctantly partners with Detective Kevin Braddock, and the complicated romantic history they share is far from over. They soon zero in on Shelley’s abusive ex-boyfriend and a local crime boss who controls the struggling mill village’s illicit enterprises. But anyone is suspect in a town with so many secrets. Even Shelley died with a few of her own.

As the investigation continues, so do the murders. One by one they’re leading CJ into a past she desperately fled from. CJ knows her hometown all too well. And that her search for the truth, and for a killer, will only get darker.

Revised This edition of Lost in the Dark, originally published as Everywhere She Turns, contains editorial revisions.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Audiobook, Thriller

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2026

About the author

DEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 180 novels, including reader favorites the Finley O'Sullivan and Devlin & Falco series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel.

With more than ten million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading Debra Webb’s books recently and look forward to more of her work. This one is a mixed bag – has an interesting plot, is paced well and has some good characters. The unravelling and resolution of the crime could have been better.

After an exhausting day, Dr Cynthia Jayne Patterson (CJ), a medical resident at John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland gets a call from detective Kevin Braddock in Huntsville, Alabama. CJ’s sister Shelley has been brutally murdered. CJ’s initial suspicion falls on Shelley’s boyfriend Ricky Banks. Tyrone Nash, who calls himself King is a local gang leader. There are also others Shelley was in contact with. While Braddock investigates, CJ insists on being personally involved.

The suspect pool is diverse and about the right size for the story. It was, however, not difficult to guess the primary culprit as the character and connection to Shelley is poorly developed. I liked CJ and Braddock’s characters though CJ’s behaviour is much too impulsive in many instances. The motive needed more build-up, though the tie-up with the story is good.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost in the Dark by Debra Webb
Romantic suspense. Thriller. Previously published as Everywhere She Turns.
When her sister is found dead in the woods near her home, Dr. CJ Patterson returns home to Alabama to help find out who killed her. She works with Detective Kevin Braddock even though their own history is volatile.
CJ soon receives threats from the local crime boss and the police have another dead body. And another. How many more will die before she can figure out who killed her sister and why.

The bodies and methods keep getting uglier. CJ keeps wading in. She feels guilty for not taking her sister’s last phone call and wants closure.
Twists keep piling up as the next body is found.

Dark and grisly.

I received an ecopy of this from NetGalley. I found an original paperback copy in my library.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blame procrastination for this one. I was trolling NetGalley putting off packing for a trip. This will be my first Debra Webb book in a loooong time. It is classed as Romantic-Suspense, which is so my jam. There are so few true Romantic-Suspense books these days and the few truly great authors of the genre can only write so fast. This is a reissue of a 2009 book "Everywhere She Turns".

Antagonistic, belligerent and with a heaping dose of martyr, this is one winner of a heroine. The hero isn't any better. He's willing to use any means or person at his disposal to accomplish his goal. Yeah, a real winning duo. If I sound a bit sarcastic, I am. This is definitely the Debra Webb I remember and didn't particularly care for. The suspense/mystery plot is top notch, no problem there. But when it comes to crafting a believable romance, this book is a total miss. I don't get any warm fuzzies about this couple, and I really like my warm fuzzies where romance is concerned. Needless to say, I won't be picking up a Debra Webb book for my next Romantic-Suspense fix.

Dr. CJ Patterson made it out of the cesspool that was her childhood area of Huntsville, AL. She became a doctor with the help of a wealthy benefactor and her future is bright. CJ left behind a sister who became embroiled with the drugs and prostitution in the area. The call telling CJ of Shelley's murder was a shock and brought back all the guilt she felt for leaving Shelley there.

Detective Kevin Braddock has a lot to feel remorse for. His failed romance with CJ, the death of his niece and now the death of Shelley, who he was using as a confidential informant. Now CJ is back and determined to find her sister's murderer or die trying. Kevin has a lot to handle, his smoldering passion for CJ, keeping her alive and finding the murderer, who has left not a single clue behind. Now his prime suspect has also been murdered and his death, like Shelley's is bizarre with not a single clue left behind.

My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

[Aida ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This girl would try to take down a whole cartel with only her stupid pepper spray

[Aleesha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this story. The premise was an easy lure. Unfortunately....

CJ is an extremely frustrating character to be following.

At once, I can understand the rage and confusion she's feeling at having lost her sister in such a brutal way. But this woman - WHO IS A DOCTOR - makes stupid, reckless decision after stupid, reckless decision.

And she's got this rage inside her that's not JUST for her sister. The way she tries to fight with and pin things on EVERYBODY - flinging insults and accusations around like bullets - it's helping nobody; it certainly doesn't help anybody find her sister's killer.

Her relationship with the detective is also fraught with unnecessary drama. And it gets to a point where CJ starts LOOKING for things to be mad at him about. Insinuating things, making things up just so she can stay mad. So when she finally does come around to being soft toward Kevin, I'd long ago quit caring because she'd been a bitch for 80% of the book already.

The way this book is written - apparently nothing in the case will move forward without CJ's interference, but realistically, she's distracting the police more than anything else - because she's constantly doing stupid shit to put herself in danger. Braddock spends just as much time watching over CJ as he does trying to solve her sister's murder.

And for all the sleuthing CJ does, she willingly ignores the glaring clues staring her in the face. The murdered women have been surgically mutilated. Bits of them missing. And yet we spend 90% ofthis stupid book trying to pin it on some thug pimp drug dealer. 🫤😒 While COMPLETELY ignoring the highly educated, polished, extremely particular guy with a weird tether to both women. Like?????? What do you mean you're not suspicious of the man who buys you frilly sexy underwear, who somehow knows EXACTLY what kind you like?????

Girl, fuck off.

It's immediately obvious who the bad guy is - and that the fingers being pointed at a local thug is probably the most obvious misdirect in thriller history.

There are SO many hints dropped that by the time we get around to figuring out what's really going on, I felt like I'd been bashed over the head with it. Which is sad, because SOME of those hints are subtle and quite genius.

This book is trying to do too much, I think. It's trying to have too many suspects, too many twists, too many dangerous scenarios. It feels overworked and it makes me curious what the first iteration of this story was like.

This book could have been an email, if CJ hadn't been such an idiot. Her and her stupid pepper spray thinking she can take on the whole world. 😒🙄

The ONE character I did enjoy is Cooper, Braddock's partner. If ever there was a smart, savvy, take-no-bullshit woman, it's her. Loved it. But she couldn't carry the book alone.

[Wany Rozaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5⭐
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Thank you @netgalley for the review copy.
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I was really interested in the premise of this book, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me.
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Lost in the Dark follows Dr. CJ Patterson, who returns to her Alabama hometown after her estranged sister, Shelley, is found murdered in the woods. CJ teams up with Detective Kevin Braddock to find out who killed her sister, but the investigation uncovers dark secrets, dangerous suspects, and a past that CJ tried so hard to leave behind.
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The premise definitely caught my attention, but sadly, I did not like the main character, CJ. She was so annoying! Her character was frustrating to read because she made so many reckless decisions, and I kept thinking, "She's a doctor, why would she do that?"
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I'm also not really into thrillers mixed with romance, so I wasn't really invested in the relationship between CJ and the detective. Their history didn't add much for me.
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Around the halfway point, I felt like I stopped caring about the plot. The story lost me, and honestly, I was only pushing myself to finish it. I'm glad I did finish the book, but there were moments where it was boring as hell.
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The pacing felt a little slow, and some parts were quite predictable. However, the book does deliver plenty of twists along the way, and I have to give credit for the graphic descriptions of violence and body mutilation. If you enjoy dark and gruesome thrillers, this might work better for you.
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Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in the Dark by Debra Webb presents a strong and intriguing premise, supported by solid writing and a fast-moving investigative storyline. The novel builds tension effectively and contains several twists and revelations designed to keep readers questioning the truth behind the crimes.

While I did not predict the final reveal entirely, I was able to piece together certain aspects along the way. However, one challenge for me was the large number of characters introduced throughout the story. At times, I found it difficult to keep everyone distinct, which lessened the impact of some of the later revelations—particularly regarding the killer’s identity, as I struggled to maintain a strong sense of that character within the broader cast.

The novel also contains graphic descriptions of violence and body mutilation that may be unsettling for some readers. These scenes contribute to the darker tone of the story, though at times they felt somewhat overwhelming for my personal taste.

Despite these issues, the pacing and cinematic quality of the plot made me feel the story would adapt particularly well as a television series. Overall, while Lost in the Dark did not fully resonate with me as much as I had hoped, it remains a competently written thriller with an engaging premise and enough suspense to appeal to fans of darker crime fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[Caroll-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book completely blind because I received it as an advanced reader copy, and I’m so grateful to NetGalley for that. First of all, I have to say that I absolutely loved Debra Webb’s writing style, and I already know I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books in the future.

As for the story itself, I really enjoyed CJ as a main character. I especially liked that the story wasn’t told solely from her perspective, but also through the viewpoints of other important characters, which added so much depth to the plot.

I did figure out the big twist fairly early on, but honestly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. The book was still incredibly well written and delivered exactly what I want from a crime thriller. Beyond the suspense, it also explored themes like friendship, family, privilege, inequality, and even included a touch of romance. Overall, it was a really well-balanced mix, and I enjoyed it a lot.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for ARC.


I love thrillers and psychological, detective books. But this MFC is annoying the hell out of me. I just couldn't get into the book.
Okay, shit hit the fan at the beginning for her. I get that.
And then, boom, she has to go back home because her sister has been murdered. She just came back home and expected her sis murder to be sorted by the time she came there. Have all the evidence, autopsy been done, etc. She keeps blaming her sis ex, without any evidence (dont get me wrong, he was a d**k). She started her own investigation because she dont trust police because they won't do an investigation (thats what she thinks. She demands all answers from detectives, just because).

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

CJ is overwhelmed with her work overload in the hospital and does not answer her sister's call only to discover a few days later that she has been killed. She goes back to her hometown and goes against the police and everyone else who says she is not supposed to search for the truth or the killer. She'll find unexpected support from street workers who knew her sister and a hate/love bind with the town's detective. Other bodies displayed in aa ritualistic manner will be found and also tied to her sister's murder. Who is the culprit and what are the reasons behind the killings? Will they be able to find the killer and put behind bars? A fast-paced thriller with many layers of deceit and betrayl. Entertaining!
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC,

[Paris (kerbytejas) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little long and drawn out.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost in the Dark opens with a woman running through the woods while being hunted, which is already a rough evening, but then the book keeps escalating until the entire town starts feeling like one giant group project assembled exclusively by people with untreated trauma and access to weapons. Absolutely incredible energy.

CJ Patterson getting called back to her Alabama hometown after her sister Shelley is murdered is the kind of setup that immediately works on me because nothing says psychological damage like a woman who escaped a small town being forced to come back and realize everybody is somehow worse than when she left. And not regular worse either. Specific Southern gothic worse. Everybody either knows something, is hiding something, or is standing in a parking lot speaking in cryptic half sentences like they’re auditioning for season one of True Detective.

CJ herself actually carried this for me because she feels genuinely exhausted in a way that made her believable. She’s not doing Cool Thriller Heroine stuff. She’s barely holding herself together, grieving a sister she had a complicated relationship with, dragging around years of guilt, and making decisions that occasionally made me yell at the book like I was watching a friend text her ex after two margaritas. There’s something painfully real about how much of her anger is actually grief wearing a leather jacket.

Then there’s Detective Kevin Braddock, who is operating at maximum divorced-dad-who-listens-to-Chris-Stapleton levels of yearning. This man and CJ have so much unresolved history that every conversation feels like it could either end in making out or somebody storming dramatically into the rain. Their chemistry honestly saved a lot of the slower stretches for me because even when the investigation started spiraling into Suspect Number Forty-Seven, I was still invested in these two emotionally constipated disaster humans trying not to stare too hard at each other.

And this book REALLY said “what if every single resident of this town was suspicious?” There are so many characters. So many secrets. So many men behaving like they definitely have blood on a pair of boots somewhere. At one point I genuinely felt like Charlie Day in that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia conspiracy meme trying to connect everybody together while holding a coffee I no longer trusted.

The murder scenes are also gnarly. Not thriller-novel gnarly where somebody gets politely stabbed once and collapses aesthetically. No, these are full “the FBI profiler has bags under his eyes” murders. Debra Webb absolutely commits to the darkness here, and honestly I respected it even while recoiling slightly like a Victorian woman seeing an ankle.

I did clock parts of the twist early, mostly because I consume thrillers like a raccoon digging through shiny garbage at 2 AM, but the book still kept me hooked because the motivations stayed chaotic enough that I needed to know how deep the weirdness went. Plus the pacing has that addictive quality where you think “I’ll just read one more chapter” and suddenly it’s midnight and you’re stress-eating crackers in silence while side-eyeing every supporting character.

The middle drags a little, mostly because some emotional beats get repeated hard enough that I started wanting to gently hand CJ a therapist and a glass of water. And the rotating POVs occasionally made me pause like wait, who is this again? Is this a suspect, a corrupt cop, or just another emotionally damaged man lurking near industrial equipment? But honestly the messiness weirdly fits the vibe of the town. Everybody is tangled together in ways that feel sweaty and sad and impossible to fully clean up.

What landed for me most was the sadness underneath all the violence. Shelley’s death feels ugly and unresolved in the way real grief often does. CJ isn’t mourning some perfect memory of her sister. She’s mourning all the unfinished parts too, and that hit harder than I expected in between all the murder and corruption and extremely questionable life choices.

I ended up at 3.5 stars because even when this book got overcrowded or repetitive, I was still fully locked in. It’s dark, twisty, emotionally messy, and filled with the exact kind of small-town dysfunction that makes me immediately sit forward like a nosy neighbor opening blinds.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspicious of Every Soft-Spoken Man Offering “Help” Within a Fifty Mile Radius

And thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC, because apparently my ideal recreational activity is spending several hours emotionally unraveling in a murder town where nobody has ever once communicated normally.

[Krys · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

This one had a genuinely strong premise, which is probably why it is so frustrating that I never felt fully pulled in by the story itself. For something billed as a thriller, it was surprisingly easy to set aside and wander off to do literally anything else, which is never the goal with this genre. I kept waiting for that moment where the tension would really lock in and make me need to know what happened next, but unfortunately, that moment never really came.

Part of the problem was the structure of the story itself. The narrative constantly bounced between different characters and perspectives, clearly trying to establish that everyone in this town was hiding secrets and couldn’t be trusted. But instead of creating suspense, it actually made it far too easy to narrow down who was behind most of the murders. Honestly, I’m still baffled "Detective" CJ didn’t figure it out sooner considering this person literally bought her underwear and she’s sitting there “fingering the lace panties” while thinking about how they’re exactly her style. Ma’am. There is absolutely no logical reason for this person to know that much about your underwear preferences and somehow this wasn’t setting off every alarm bell imaginable?

And speaking of CJ… she may genuinely be one of the most frustrating characters I’ve read in quite a while. At almost every turn she manages to not only interfere with the investigation into her sisters death, she also simultaneously manages to put both herself and everyone around her directly in danger. I understand that she is desperate for answers and that grief is obviously driving a lot of her choices (along with her inability to trust the police to do their job), but there is only so much self-destructive decision making I can tolerate before my sympathy starts to wear thin. Especially when she herself acknowledges more than once that she should probably just go home because nothing she does is going to bring her sister back. And yet she continues making one reckless choice after another as though poor judgment is her number one personality trait.

Sadly, she wasn’t the only character who made this one more difficult to enjoy. Between the wildly over-the-top villain, an endless stream of side characters, and at least one character who was so “too good to be true” that they may as well have been wearing a flashing neon sign, it eventually became a chore trying to keep everyone straight. That said, I will give the book credit for one thing: the reveal surrounding “the Widow” actually did catch me off guard. I hadn’t completely figured that part out, although I was at least looking in the right general direction.

Overall, while this one definitely wasn’t a complete hit for me, it also wasn’t a total disaster. There were elements here that worked, and despite my frustrations I’d still be willing to pick up another book from this author in the future.

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.

[Beau · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Brilliance Audio for a complimentary arc and alc of Lost in the Dark. All opinions expressed are my own.*

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but it somehow went above and below my expectations on all ends.

Webb has a distinct prose, that sets the vibe from the first page. Delivering a scene that feels eerie and sometimes unsettling for the majority of the story, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I was slightly worried, considering this being branded romantic suspense, that it would be too focused on the romantic subplot rather than the mystery or the suspense, but I worried needlessly here - I wanted this to be dark, and wasn’t expecting the darkness I received.

The suspense was definitely delivering from start to finish, and while I didn’t expect the level of graphic violence on the pages, again considering that while this is a thriller, it is also a romantic suspense story - but I don’t think it was crossing the line into too much gore, and I’d honestly prefer extra violence over extra yearning or something that adds nothing to the plot - which happily wasn’t a problem. I really felt hooked the first chapter of the story, however I kind of fell off from there.

While the concept, prose and premise worked really well for me, and I enjoyed it, the main problem for me with this story, aside from occasional parts feeling repetitive or unnecessary, was our “detective” FMC. Aside from some of her reckless and impulsive choices with no forethought or rational thinking, there were several times where the most obvious clues were staring her in the face, that I could have clocked blindfolded, yet she’s out there acting like she’s partly blind and in need of prescription glasses. For someone who’s supposed to be assisting in an investigation, she really lacked deductive thinking and came off as someone who has never even seen a detective show on TV.

I had slightly more fun going through the audiobook than the written copy, the narration not bothering me while switching between characters like it normally does with only one narrator. However, there were times when the FMC’s narration sounded, to me, a little whiney, but I wasn’t too bothered by that as, in truth, it was close enough to how she sounded in my head while reading it myself.

Aside from my frustrations with the FMC, the setting and prose was still well put together, and I know this is a revised edition from a book Webb wrote about two decades ago, so I’d definitely want to check out some of her newer works soon and see if I can find a lead character I can enjoy more from her backlog.
If you want a dark, twisty thriller with a romantic subplot, and don’t mind graphic violence or a FMC that can come off as naive, then I really do think you’d have a lot fun with this one.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in the Dark by Debra Webb is a recommended investigative thriller. Originally published as Everywhere She Turns (2009) this is the revised edition of the story.

When her sister Shelley is found murdered in the woods, CJ Patterson, a medical resident in Baltimore, returns to her struggling hometown, a mill village in Alabama. Detective Kevin Braddock, a former romantic partner of CJ's, is leading the investigation. The two key suspects are Shelley's boyfriend, Ricky Banks and the local crime boss, Tyrone, who has declared himself king.

The quality of the writing is actually quite good through most of the novel. The pace is even at the beginning and can be a bit repetitive, which I attribute to the fact that it is a revised edition. It picks up later along with the suspense and sense of danger increasing and includes several twists along the way. The narrative is told through multiple points-of-view, with the main one being CJ. I did correctly guess the perpetrator early on.

While I enjoyed parts of the novel, especially after the action picks up, CJ is not always an appealing or likeable character. I want to give her a pass due to grief and the ongoing investigation, and, also, I'd have to admit that none of the characters are particularly likeable. Most of them have some hidden agenda.

There are two main drawbacks in the novel for me, the first and main one is CJ's relationship with Braddock and the romance aspect of the novel, which I could personally do without. The lingering attraction could have been present, in the background, without having CJ immediately "jump" him physically soon after seeing her dead sister in the morgue. I almost DNF when this happened very early in the plot. The second drawback is the multiple graphic descriptions of violence and mutilation.

In the final determination I have to go with 3.5 rounded down. As mentioned, the quality of the writing is good. The plot and pacing that let me down, but I was fully invested in reaching the final denouement. I'll be looking forward to Webb's future novels, since this doesn't represent her best.

Lost in the Dark is a good choice for those who enjoy dark investigative thrillers with a romantic attraction between characters. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...

[bookedupnurse · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up:

She knows her hometown all too well. And as she searches for the truth, and a killer, things will only get darker …

CJ Patterson is a Medical Resident working at John Hopkins Hospital. After an awful shift, her car breaking down and witnessing a car accident, she doesn’t think things can get any worse. That is until she receives a call from her hometown in Alabama, by former lover Detective Braddock, informing her that her younger sister Shelley is dead.

Brutally murdered, CJ believes this is due to her sisters high risk lifestyle. But dark secrets lurk within Huntsville. She dives head first into the painful life and memories she left behind and reluctantly pairs up with Braddock to investigate Shelley’s death and discovers her sisters secrets. As the investigation continues, so do the murders and everyone within the town becomes a suspect. CJ is being led into a life she so desperately wanted to leave behind … but she wants answers for her sister more.

The book focuses on CJ as the main narrator with several other chapters from other members of the community. She isn’t the more likeable of characters, has a bit of a god complex and is a martyr, however her reasons for acting as she does is understandable when grieving and looking for the truth about her sisters life and death. She is also dealing with a lot of stereotyping towards Shelley which would feel incredibly insensitive as a loved one. Her relationship with Detective Braddock does add a different layer to this story, however, we could see a mile off this where this was going to end.

While I enjoyed the premise of the book and the initial chapter had me hook, line and sinker, the rest of the story did feel a little slow and predictable at times. I felt the murderer was very obvious from early on and normally this wouldn’t affect the remainder of the book but did leave alot of the surprises being very anticlimactic. This is a short book with plenty of twists and dark surprises along the way! With graphic descriptions of murder scenes, it is slightly more gorey than some other thrillers and at times, unnecessary.

Would recommend this if you have read other Debra Webb books or if you are looking for an easy, quick thriller read.

Thank you to NetGallery, Thomas & Mercer and Debra Webb for the ARC of this book.

[Supriya K · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Some secrets refuse to stay buried, and some murders force you to face the past you tried to escape." 


🌟🌟🌟🌟

Lost in the Dark

by @DebraWebb

Pub Date Jun 09 2026 

Thomas & Mercer

General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers


My Screams:


With a shocking opening 😱, Lost in the Dark pulled me in immediately. In a single devastating moment, Dr. CJ Patterson's world turns upside down when her estranged sister is found murdered, forcing her to return to the hometown she left behind years ago.


I have to admit, CJ frustrated me at times (as many thriller protagonists do! 😅), but her love for her sister never felt anything less than genuine. The guilt she carried over not answering her sister's final call, the haunting "what if" questions, and her determination to find the truth made me root for her throughout the story. ❤️


One of my favorite aspects of this book was the sisterly bond. Even though Shelley is dead before the story begins, Debra Webb does a fantastic job developing her character through the memories, stories, and perspectives of the people who knew and loved her. It made Shelley feel like a real person rather than simply a murder victim.


The small-town setting was dark, chilling, and packed with secrets. 🔍 I suspected almost every character at some point (as usual! 🤣), and while I guessed part of the mystery, the author never made the answer obvious or easy. The investigation kept me engaged, and the final reveal still managed to surprise me.


I also enjoyed the romance woven into the story. ❤️ It never overshadowed the mystery and felt natural within the plot. The history between CJ and Kevin added emotional depth without distracting from the crime investigation.


And can we talk about Jenkins revealing that secret? 😳😂 I was genuinely shocked and laughing at the same time. It was completely unexpected and such a memorable moment!


The atmosphere, suspense, twists, and cast of characters kept me turning pages. 📖 This is a dark, chilling, atmospheric small-town crime thriller with a touch of romance and plenty of secrets. 🌫️🖤


I'll definitely be picking up more books by Debra Webb. ✨


Recommended for readers who enjoy ⚡️small-town mysteries,

⚡️family secrets, 

⚡️atmospheric thrillers, and 

⚡️crime fiction with a dash of romance. 🔥


Thank you to #NetGalley, #Thomas & Mercer, and @DebraWebb for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ❤️📚


#LostintheDark #NetGalley

[TenshiMari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing a digital review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I was lucky enough to read an arc for The Drowning Season and I really enjoyed it. So when I got the chance to read an arc for the author's next book, I jumped on it. I enjoyed this less than The Drowning Season, but it was still a good read. There's a lot of different POVs in this book that are trying to tell you that nobody can be trusted. However, I found it way too easy to figure out who the killer was, and the foreshadowing felt a little bit heavy-handed. I did not expect this book to be as dark and gruesome as it sometimes was, and it genuinely made me feel a little bit ill at times, so keep that in mind if you're someone who can't handle gruesome scenes being described, these crime scenes are quite intense. What I did love however was how layered these characters felt, they felt real and flawed and each of them hiding secrets of their own. This brings me to my main issue with this book: Our protagonist CJ. She is constantly interfering with the investigation and constantly dragging both herself and the people around her in danger. She drove me absolutely mental with how reckless she was behaving and it was hard to believe this is a grown woman rather than an impulsive teenager. That being said, while CJ infuriated me and it made this book hard to enjoy, the mystery made up for it and I still had a good time while reading this, though I wish I had loved it as much as I had loved The Drowning Season. On the topic of the narration, it was pleasant to listen to, though it was difficult to distinguish all the different POVs and characters because I felt there were simply too many.

[Caroline | dogtailsandcrimetales · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★

”Maybe there were a few things CJ could learn from her sister's life. Live for the present... not the future.”

Dr. CJ Patterson is forced to leave Baltimore and return to Huntsville, Alabama, where she grew up in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods. Her sister, who has struggled with addiction for most of her life, has been found dead under highly suspicious circumstances. Returning home forces CJ to confront the past she thought she had left behind as she searches for the truth about what happened to her sister. As CJ digs deeper, she discovers that her sister's death may be connected to a series of murdered women and a local network of prostitution and drugs…

I always enjoy Debra Webb's stories about women returning to their hometowns years after leaving. They come back strong, confident, and successful, yet to the people who never left, they're still seen as the same person they were before. It's a dynamic Webb handles very well, and it was one of the reasons I was excited to pick up this book.

Unfortunately, this one didn't work quite as well for me. I liked the premise, and the mystery itself was solid, but I never fully connected with CJ as a character. There was just something missing that kept me from becoming emotionally invested in her story.

I also guessed the culprits almost immediately after they were introduced. The clues and hints felt so obvious that it became difficult to believe neither CJ nor Detective Braddock grew suspicious sooner.

While this wasn't a standout read for me, don't let my experience stop you from giving it a try. The story has an intriguing premise, and it may be exactly the kind of suspense novel that works for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Debra Webb for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town in Alabama is simmering with evil. The darkness runs deep, and there are a lot of people involved, so hold on tight. The author's descriptive writing almost made the evilness feel real and icky to me, which makes for a thrilling read for me. When I feel as if I am inside the story, even if it is icky and evil, I am more invested in the story itself, as well as the characters. I found myself dreading how the next body was going to show up. Even though the scenes were gory and quite disturbing, it built the story into a pressure cooker that needed to be released. The good guys needed a win and justice needed to be served. I wanted a good fist bump when it was all over.

Dr. C. J. Patterson has grudgingly and sadly had to return home to a place she vowed to never return. When she receives word that her sister, Shelley, has been brutally murdered, she wishes she had answered that last phone call. She goes in with both barrels demanding justice for her sister and puts herself in several dangerous situations. Her grief has blinded her as to how serious the situation is in this small town she once called home.

Detective Kevin Braddock has his hands full trying to keep peace in this small town and solve these grisly crimes. Now he has to deal with an enraged woman who wants justice. His feelings for C. J., and knowing what he knows, make his job even harder.

This was one of those books that gave you chill bumps as the body count starts rising. I had my suspicions, but I was still surprised at the final reveal.

If you like a dark mystery with a twist, you cannot go wrong with this one. The author keeps the pace fast as there is never a dull moment. I found myself blinking at the end wondering where the hours had gone.

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mvm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in the Dark is a dark, twist-filled thriller that follows CJ, a medical resident in Baltimore, who returns to her hometown after learning that her younger sister has been brutally murdered. Determined to uncover the truth, CJ quickly becomes involved in the investigation alongside Detective Braddock, a man with whom she shares a complicated history.

While Braddock works the case through official channels, CJ grows frustrated with the slow pace and begins digging for answers herself. Unfortunately, many of her choices are impulsive and reckless, repeatedly placing her in danger and forcing Braddock to not only hunt a killer, but also keep CJ alive as the body count rises. To understand what happened to her sister, CJ must confront long-buried secrets from her own past.

The story delivers plenty of twists and dark surprises along the way, and readers should be aware that there are graphic descriptions of violence and body mutilation that may be unsettling for some.

For me, the biggest issue was the pacing. Certain sections felt repetitive and difficult to get through, while other parts — especially near the ending — felt rushed. I also found the identity of the murderer fairly obvious early on, which made some later reveals feel anticlimactic.

That said, the novel still manages to be an engaging and fast-paced thriller with strong suspense elements and plenty of darker themes. One standout surprise was the true identity of the Widow character — that reveal genuinely caught me off guard and ended up being one of the book’s strongest moments.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest, personal, and unbiased review.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A late-night shift for Dr. C.J. Patterson brings devastating news that her sister Shelley has been murdered. The guilt of not picking up her last phone call from her sister haunts her, and brings her back home to Huntsville, Alabama to find out what happened. Unfortunately, Detective Kevin Braddock an old flame from the past is in charge of the case. He has been after Tyrone Nash for years without being able to charge him with anything, let alone murder, but he is going to find the truth.
This small town is full of suspects, and each with their own secrets, "The King" Nash runs this small town with his many businesses and violent retribution if someone talks. Since Shelley was his girlfriend, could he really brutally kill her? What information did she have that got her killed, Det. Braddock has his own guilt of Shelleys murder, but will C.J. understand his connection?
Debra Webb always writes a story that grips you from the get-go and keeps you wanting more. Despite all the characters which at times felt a little too much, I understood we were looking for a murderer and when bodies start falling, it's never what it seems. I did figure out halfway through the book who the killer was, but it totally made sense in the end. It also felt like two plots going on that intersected which caused the slower pace than usual for her books. The plot was executed beautifully, and I was invested in the characters (although C.J. did seem a bit naive'). I enjoyed the graphic detail (maybe because i watch a lot of crime TV), but it fit the story when describing the brutality of the characters. I highly recommend this one along with any Debra Webb book. She is a master at her craft. Thanks to Netgally and Thomas & Mercer for the arc of this book

[Thebookhermit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to an ALC of this book, and the narration was excellent. I had no issues with the audio quality, and the narrator did a fantastic job keeping me invested in the story from beginning to end.

This is a suspenseful thriller mystery that kept me guessing through out. I really liked how the author presented multiple suspects, each with their own motives for being guilty. Every time I thought I had things figured out, new information would come to light that had me questioning everything again, With bodies piling up and some of those bodies belonging to potential suspects the tension remained high, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting for the next shoe to drop.
This book does contain some gruesome moments. While the author doesn't go into excessive graphic detail, there is enough violence and disturbing content that it's worth keeping in mind before picking it up. There's also talk of drug use and over doses.
My only real criticism involves a romance scene that felt a bit poorly timed considering her sister had been murdered and a life threatening event that had taken place just moments before. It pulled me out of the story briefly because it didn't feel quite natural given the circumstances.

Other than that, this was a very entertaining fast paced read that for the most part kept me engaged. And that ending was superb. It gave me major Norman Bates vibes and was the perfect way to wrap up a suspenseful twist filled read.

I received an ALC of this book from Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This is my own honest opinions and thoughts on this book.

[Samira Elahrag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Lost in the Dark by Debra Webb. Debra Webb has such a distinct writing style, and it really worked for me.

One thing I did notice was some repetition in CJ’s inner thoughts regarding her sister Shelley’s death. There were several moments where CJ repeated that Shelley was dead and that she had to figure out who killed her. A slight trimming of those repeated thoughts could help tighten the pacing and make those emotional beats feel even stronger.
I also found that CJ frequently praised Edward for everything he had done for her and for always being there whenever he appeared in a scene. After a while, that became a little repetitive for me. As a reader, it slowed the pacing and at times made it feel a bit like being stuck in a loop.

That said, I truly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I figured out fairly quickly that Edward was behind the killings, but I could not piece together why, which kept me hooked. And Jenkins??!! He was definitely on my suspect list. I even wondered if he might be one of the HPD officers connected to Tyrone’s wallet, but I never guessed he was The Widow.

I really enjoyed Braddock and Cooper and the chemistry they shared. CJ and Braddock’s connection only pulled me deeper into the plot and made me even more invested in the story.

Overall, this book kept me completely enthralled, and I’m giving it 4 stars. I’ll definitely continue reading Ms. Webb’s books. Thank you for the opportunity to ARC-read this title—I think I just found another favorite author to binge.

[PJ S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

NOTE: This is a revision of a previously releaded work. I believe from nearly 20 years ago. I did not read the original, so I don't know what's different. I just know this current edition contains "editorial revisions."

I struggled to get into this book. I don't know why. The characters just weren't compelling, I guess. CJ was an incredibly unlikable character for 75% of the book. She's a hothead, illogical, entitled, and generally just bitchy. She has unrealistic expectations and a martyr complex. And none of it seems justified by the background and setup we have in this book.

As for the whodunit mystery:
Most of the build-up was unnecessarily heavy handed. I knew pretty much from the beginning who did and didn't do it, just by assuming the opposite of whatever point the author was trying to shove down my throat. The whole book focuses so heavily on this gangster kingpin--not giving us, the readers, any room to breath or any benefit of the assumption that we're insightful people. So I ruled that out right away.
The father figure character was creepy as hell. And every time CJ interacted with him she made a point to say to him, "You're so kind. You're so good to me. You're such a good person." So obviously he dun it.

The end finally comes on pretty abruptly and the only feeling I had was gratitude that it was finally over.
2.5*/5 rounded up - because this book isn't good, but I've read worse. I'd rate up a tick if the book were at least a speed read, popcorn thriller (a la Freida McFadden). But it was a slog.

[Afsha (caffeineandcrime) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in the Dark - Debra Webb
Pub Date - 6/9/26 | Brilliance Audio 🎧 | Thomas & Mercer
Rating - ☕️☕️☕️/5
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley, Brilliance Audio, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for this gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

When Dr. CJ Patterson returns to her Alabama hometown after her estranged sister is found murdered, she’s forced to confront the painful past she thought she’d left behind. Teaming up with Detective Kevin Braddock, an old flame, CJ investigates a growing list of suspects, including an abusive ex-boyfriend and a local crime boss. As more bodies pile up and long-buried secrets emerge, CJ realizes the truth may be far closer—and darker—than she ever imagined.

I chose to listen to the audiobook of this book, and overall, I enjoyed it! The story follows a doctor who returns to her hometown after her sister has been murdered. The author does a really good job setting the scene and engaging the reader in the story. The narrator also did a phenomenal job of delivering the audiobook through all the different characters.

I felt that the ending was predictable, making it a good read, but nothing shocking or surprising. The story was well written, and a good popcorn thriller.

Read if you like:
🏡 small-town mysteries packed with secrets and suspects
💔 complicated family dynamics and sister relationships
❤️‍🔥 second-chance romance mixed with a murder investigation
🌲 dark, atmospheric thrillers where the past won't stay buried

#mysteryandthrillers #newbooks #lostinthedark #brillianceaudio

[Maria Carbonell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Debra Webb for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well this book was a wild ride! Right out of the gate there’s a woman running through the woods being chased by a mad man so you know that’s not going to end well. It does not.

CJ is finishing her residency in Baltimore when she has to go back home because her sister has been murder. The story takes all kinds of crazy turns from there. Braddock is the MMC and he’s a detective with the local police dept and there is a history between CJ and him and while it takes a while to find out what happened there, it all does come out. CJ makes some poor decisions at times that make me want to smack her but overall she was a likable FMC. Her backstory is kinda sad. Braddock is yum. Loved him.

There’s a boatload of bodies that start to pile up and CJ tries to find out who killed her sister. And let me tell you, each death scene is GRAPHIC! I loved that!

There were a lot of different POVs from side characters which confused me at first but their chapters were short so I was ok with it. I’m just not a fan of multiple POVs but that’s a me thing.

Anyway, the book was really a crazy ride and I really enjoyed it. I gave it 3 ⭐️ because I thought the ending (compared to all the other crazy scenes) was a little anticlimactic. Otherwise, great read!

Looks like I’ll be reading more of Debra Webb’s books in the near future!

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning to her Alabama roots, CJ Patterson is thrust into a nightmare she never wanted to relive, and the author wastes no time pulling readers into that emotional storm. The murder of CJ’s sister sets off a chain of brutal discoveries, tangled loyalties, and long‑buried secrets that make the town feel as dangerous as it is familiar. I’ve always admired this author’s ability to craft gritty, atmospheric thrillers, and while this one wasn’t my personal favourite, I still found myself fully absorbed in CJ’s struggle to navigate grief, fear, and the complicated pull of Detective Braddock. Their shared past adds a simmering tension that enriches the already dark, twist‑heavy plot.

What follows is a relentless descent into a community overflowing with hidden agendas, violent histories, and people willing to do anything to keep the truth buried. The shifting perspectives, the graphic crime scenes, and the steady escalation of danger create a sense of urgency that never really lets up. Even with a large cast and a few moments where I had to work to keep track of everyone, the story’s intensity and emotional stakes kept me turning pages. It’s a gripping, shadow‑soaked thriller with plenty of surprises, and fans of the author’s bold, unflinching style will still find a lot to enjoy, even if, like me, it doesn’t quite top their personal favourites.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

[D.B. Woodling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A female protagonist returns to her hometown in response to her sister’s murder, a place which holds mostly negative memories of a kind that inflicts deep emotional scars. Add to that a past love-hate relationship with the lead detective on the case, the handsome Kevin Braddock, who eventually admits to some history of his own with the dead sister, Shelley. Armed with pepper spray and an obsession to find her sister’s killer, the MC’s frustration builds when the man she felt certain brutally murdered her sis meets a similar fate.

I had heard wonderful things about this author before selecting Lost in the Dark from NetGalley. Admittedly I went in expecting a just-try-to-put-me-down thriller. There are no shortage of suspects, from Shelley’s nasty derelict boyfriend to a ruthless but rather pedestrian crime boss, and Webb most certainly employs a veteran’s skill when dropping those expected breadcrumbs. The pacing may prove somewhat slow for hardcore thriller fans, and though the identity of the killer will surprise some, I suspect those same readers will see him coming.

Nevertheless, this novel will not disappoint both cozy mystery enthusiasts and those craving more sensual romance, less erotica. My heartfelt thanks to Debra Webb, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Stephfafahh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ARC copy of this book was provided by Brilliance Publishing on the NetGalley platform in exchange for an honest review.

I was so locked into this story that I deep cleaned both my medicine cabinet and 3/4 of my pantry while listening to it.

Please be aware of trigger warnings including but not limited to: on-page murder, deaths, and suicide; gore; graphic descriptions of crime scenes and mutilated corpses.

The story was very fast paced, so the tension very quickly gets you hooked.

I felt like there was a large number of players to the story - some readers might find it hard to follow, as not every person holds a piece of the puzzle. We bounce between the POV of many characters in a bid to acknowledge that everyone has something to hide.

Our FMC herself irritated me from time to time. From interfering with the investigation to the point of corrupting evidence and impeding the course of justice, to blindly putting people in harm’s way with little to no repercussion.

The only thing that she wanted to do more than find out who murdered her sister was go home. So I didn’t buy into the romantic suspense portion of the story either - if she wasn’t invested, I wasn’t going to be. But he was a very decent guy and the only one with more than two brain cells to synapse together.