The Dead Girl

Breakdown #1

by Debra Webb

Former L.A. homicide detective Laney Holt walked away from big city crime after a shooting she couldn't put behind her. With L.A. in her rear view mirror, she accepted the position of deputy chief of police in a small picturesque paradise called Shutter Lake. Nestled in a peaceful valley surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Shutter Lake is the perfect small town filled with pleasant, charming folks. The crime rate in Shutter Lake is zero...at least until the dead girl is found. The shocking murder shakes the town to it's very foundation.

Laney's past comes back to haunt her as she delves into the investigation of who murdered beautiful, young Sylvia Cole. But Laney's secrets aren't the only ones revealed as one by one the cracks in this perfect town start to show and the facade of perfection slowly begins to breakdown.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2018

About the author

DEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 170 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 four 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

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been 2 years since Laney Holt left her job as LA Homicide Detective to become Deputy Chief of Police is a really small town that has seen very little crime.

Until today ...

A young woman is found dead in her home.. strangled. Sylvia Cole owned her own cleaning business, was well liked by all who knew her. She was described as hard-working, friendly.. so who would have wanted her dead?

Laney's secrets aren't the only ones revealed as one by one the cracks in this perfect town start to show and the facade of perfection slowly begins to breakdown.

There are no suspects, not a motive, no clues left behind. Because of her background as a more than competent detective, Laney is lead investigator, actually, other than her boss, the only detective. What she finds is a town full of secrets .. and almost everyone lies. Being a relative newcomer, the residents don't trust easily.

This is a who-dun-it that starts with a bang as Laney begins an investigation that brings her nightmares front and center. The small town residents are finely drawn, and there's a few suspects that bear watching.

This is a series that is written by different authors. There are 4 full-length stories plus 4 short stories to introduce each.

WARNING -- This one contains a huge cliff-hanger.

The next short story is HER DEEPEST FEAR by Vicki Hinze, followed by SO MANY SECRETS on 10/11/18

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not even sure what I just read but...

This was a very slow, very boring murder investigation in a perfect little small town. I've read Ms Webb before and enjoyed her books. But this seemed like an incomplete story. We have some investigation (or wheel spinning actually) and then the book just ends on a not so believable confession.

It felt like a cliffhanger. I think it is a cliffhanger but it doesn't really tell you. Just says read the next book in the series by a different author.

With a little more research I found there are four books by different authors in this series. So my question would be does it take four books to tell one story? I have no idea.

[Jo Ann Reinhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

the dead girl (BREAKDOWN Book 1) by Debra Webb
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shutter Lake was supposed to be Laney Holt's refuge. A place to heal from the horrific memories she carried from her days as a Los Angeles Police Detective. A community designed by the rich and powerful to be a utopia for their own. But today has changed all that, today the peace and tranquility of Shutter Lake has been shattered by the brutal murder of a young woman, a young woman loved by the community and the daughter of one of the founders.
As Laney searches for answers and investigates this murder the one thing that she learns is that everyone has secrets....even here in Shutter Lake.

This fast paced, page turning mystery is the first in the new 4 book min-series BREAKDOWN.
And what a start! Debra Webb is known for her thrillers and this one lives up to her reputation with well defined characters and a plot with plenty of twists! Debra has a unique "voice" that sets a heart pounding pace and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you devour the pages!
Enjoy, then grab the other three books as they come out this month!

#DebraWebb #ReganBlack #VickiHinze #PeggyWebb
#fastpacedThriller #Thrillers #Suspense #Mystery

[Wendy Adair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

I don't like novels that carry the plot into multip!e books with no advance notice.
Plot moves slowly as it is.

[Denise H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Breakdown Series is a 4-part suspense series by 4 different authors, each focusing on a different leading woman whose job has the necessary connections to help in finding the truth behind the murder of one of their own. Each woman has a powerful job that gives them an edge with information and secrets hidden in this quaint community. As a cop, school principal/psychologist, an investigative reporter, and a doctor they each have a skill set that can contribute to solving the crime and bringing a killer to justice.

This 4-part series is an awesome read. The stories flow seamlessly from one book to the next to where you cannot even tell they are written by 4 different authors. They fit together that well.

The first book in the series The Dead Girl by Debra Webb gives us a look into the quiet, sleepy, picturesque town of Shutter Lake snuggled into a valley surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is a small town where everyone knows everyone else and gossip runs rampant and there has never been a violent crime until now, with the murder of a young, beautiful entrepreneur named Sylvia Cole. The shocking murder of this young lady has everyone baffled for she was supposedly loved by all. The crime is beyond the experience and forensic capability of Shutter Lake’s small-town police force so it is a good thing that Laney Holt is around. Being a former L.A. homicide detective she has seen her share of death and violence but she thought she had left that life behind after one tragic incident caused her to flee to this quiet town to start over. However, now as the deputy chief of police with her background, she is given the lead in the murder and is thrust back into a world she thought she had escaped. While digging into the victim’s past she is learning that everything is not as it seems in Shutter Lake. There are many secrets to uncover, no evidence or solid leads on the case but the list of suspects is rising as she starts looking at the residents in a new light. There are lots of questions to be answered, no evidence or solid leads and time is running out. The Dead Girl is the start of a fantastic mystery/suspense that will keep you glued to the pages.

The series includes – The Dead Girl by Debra Webb, So Many Secrets by Vicki Hinze, All the Lies by Peggy Webb and What She Knew by Regan Black. You will want to read each book in the series in order.

*I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of these books by the authors with no obligation to read/review. I am voluntarily reading this series and providing my honest reviews for each book. The thoughts are opinions expressed are completely my own.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BREAKDOWN suspense mini-series is great. The first book in the series is written by Debra Webb and is called THE DEAD GIRL. This book takes off fast with the death of a small town girl made good; running her own business. She is well-thought of by everyone in the community and no one can understand why she was murdered.

The picturesque town of Shutter Lake is the perfect small town filled with pleasant, charming townsfolk who appear to be happy with nothing to mar the effect. However, small towns that appear to be a perfect place to live often hide dark secrets. Someone didn’t want the murder victim to expose one of those secrets….

The Chief of Police and Former L.A. homicide detective Laney Holt are working on the case. Both of them have demons which they are trying to come to terms with in their own way. Overcoming them and working to find the murderer is going to take everything they have. Laney Holt becomes the lead on this case due to her vast experience. Too many denials from the community that there is nothing in the victims past or present that would lead to her murder begins to have them wondering who she really was. The more they dig, the more they are convinced that there is a lot more to the murder than they thought. No one can be as perfect as the town said Sylvia Cole was………..

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend reading it as well as the other three in the series. I received an ARC of this book from the author for review purposes. The review is strictly mine. I am currently reading the second one by Vicki Hinze called SO MANY SECRETS..

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a start...

I’m dying to know all the secrets. I was hooked by the very first page. And I gotta say, I’m sorry Sylvia is dead but I don’t like her. Something is very hinky in that town. Shutter Lake puts up a great facade, but the creep factor is out now.

Laney is a favorite and that damn Chief better get his act together. She is a great cop and keeping it all together. Oh and I’m not buying the ending. Onto the next book!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book have read more than once loved the story line, I'm hooked on this author's work I'm a fan of her work.
Her books pull me in. Every single Time...

This book has all the twist turns and just keep me reading late in the night.. I personally Loved this book...
Thank you Debra Webb.
I absolutely Love you writing style.

[Melanie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this until I got to the last page. Then I threw the damn Kindle across the room (not really, but in my mind I did).

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Girl by Debra Webb begins the exciting series, Breakdown. I have not read anything by her before and that will now change. I enjoyed getting to know Laney Holt and the beautiful setting of Shutter Lake. The mystery and suspense of the unlikely crime in the town kept me guessing until the end of “who done it”.
I give The Dead Girl four and a half stars. I am looking forward to continuing the Breakdown series.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my honest opinion.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My overview of the entire series is one of fascination, as I cannot fathom how four different authors can put together one story in four different parts like this. I know authors have enjoyed doing collaborations such as these, but to now I have mostly seen only romance series where each author takes on a different character and his/her relationship. They build a bit on the previous stories. But to do a murder suspense series requires an entirely different kind of outlining and mapping to be successful.

Each book is told from a different point-of-view of one of four female friends, though you get a few peeks into the worlds of others as well. Each of these people have moved to Shutter Lake, hoping to find some peace from a traumatic past. And then the unthinkable happens, setting them and the entire town on edge. Secrets are around every corner. You would think that in a small town, everyone would know everyone else's business and secrets would be difficult to maintain, but not the case here. The more they know, the less they know. It's intriguing to read through and uncover the secrets along with the characters.

And even if you think you know what all of the secrets are or who did what, you don't really know. The innocent victim isn't as innocent as one would like to think. Twists and turns are obstacles down many of the paths and will keep you bumping the pages forward as quickly as you can through all four of these books. I think it would make for a great miniseries.

My review of this particular title:

The series kicks off with a blast in this first installment, told from the point-of-view of Laney Holt, the detective. She is has a much more colorful past than most of the other people in the small town, having worked as a big city detective. That makes her perfect for this huge murder in a small town. No one seems to know anything, but a lot of people are hiding secrets. It's amazing how many secrets such a small place can conceal, but they are absolutely everywhere. And most of them are still uncovered even after this first novel.

I know that there are four books in this series, and that it is going to take reading all four of them to figure out who the real killer is. And right now, I really have no idea who it is. Sometimes I get an early inkling, but I think so far I am way out in left field. There is too much more story to tell, and like I said, too many secrets still buried.

We get an introduction to a lot of the other core characters in this book as well. You have Chief McCabe, who has a serious drinking problem, and some kind of story that he hasn't yet been willing to share. Vinn Bradshaw and his parents have some kind of a tricky past with Sylvia that people in town have had suspicions about, but in theory no one knows the truth. There's the creepy old man, Troy Duval, who lives by himself who has rumors abounding about his potentially shady past. You have all of the other girls who worked for Sylvia, one of whom has been missing for a while, and all of whom are extremely attractive. What does that mean? And so on, and so on.

To fully explain their relationships to Sylvia, the dead girl, would give away some of the secrets that get uncovered along the way, and I don't want to do any spoilers. You'll start to make some mental checklists of your own as you mentally map out the people of the town, though they are not overwhelming. And it definitely seems like the murder is just a small part of a much larger issue. The intrigue kept me glued to the Kindle screen all the way through.

This book does end on a cliffhanger of sorts. But you know that going into it, because you know that this is a four-part series. So you can't count it against them for doing so in this unique series. Finishing this one left me begging for the second book to be started immediately. 4.5 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Books and Spoons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Strong leading female characters, four different points of view to the murder in a small town and to the secrets revealed while solving the case, the Breakdown series is written by four suspense authors and introduces a new kind of serial novel type of series, each book with a new leading lady, published only a week apart from each other.
The Dead Girl delivers a riveting start to the intense suspense. The small town, where everyone knows each other, has a friendly vibe to it until Laney Holt starts the investigation to the murder of one of their own, Sylvia Cole. The more Laney digs into the past and life of Sylvia, the more secrets seem to be hidden, since no one can be as perfect as they say Sylvia was. Something is not right, the clues are right there but Laney has to figure out the direction they are pointing at. And while Laney is digging into the secrets the townfolks are hiding, her own secrets from her past are coming to the light as well.
The story starts with the dead body and from the investigation flows fluently off the pages, escalating the tension and keeping the interest high until the explosive ending that made me want to jump directly into the next book of the series.
Well written sharp suspense tale with vivid images, strong female lead, and mesmerizing plot wrapped around a murder in the small town of Shutter Lake. A potent start to the series.
~ Four Spoons

[Ciru · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say, I hyped myself up so much for this series but it actually disappointed.

This was a longer than needed cozy mystery, without the humour aspect of a cozy mystery.

I don't know why I thought what would happen would be each female lead would basically solve their own mystery/not so mysterious death/something related to Shutter Lake. But by the end of this book, it's shaping up to be an investigation of one murder pulled across 4 books.

I felt there were plot holes with the investigation itself. It is a small town and all, but when they first got to the murder scene, apart from confirming nobody was present in the residence, why did they go through the whole place, then the CSI team from the other county came in and went through it again? Like, you have a smartphone with you, take photos when at the crime scene and you discover new evidence, not just pick and take it to the lab!

I can't even think to guess as to the whole McCabe angle with the drinking. And Laney seems just okay to pick up the slack for him right until the end. When she does the cleaning for him under the guise of "she needed something to do" while she waited I got so mad.

I honestly don't know whether I'll continue with the series. I was most looking forward to Dana's and Ana's stories, but the way book one concluded, I don't even really think reading their books will add anything to their pseudo-mysterious pasts as we've seen with this book.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shutter Lake is the perfect town to live in, or at least it was until one of the residents is found dead...murdered, actually. Sylvia Cole was a rich girl to begin with, but she has now founded her own business empire called Sparkle, a business that offers cleaning services to anyone in town who needs it. At the beginning of this series, Sylvia is found dead. The series focuses on four different people who are integral parts of the town. This book highlights Laney Holt, a deputy sheriff who has fled the crime scene in Los Angeles for the quiet town of Shutter Lake. Now, with Sylvia’s murder, Laney is the officer in charge of the investigation. Throughout this engaging and spellbinding novel, we discover more about Laney’s past and reasons why she is haunted by it. This book was absolutely mesmerizing and is a serial read, so you will really want to get all four Breakdown books available once a week in October. Thrilling series with a fantastic storyline! You won’t want to miss these books!

Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions that I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Laurie Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible way to end a book!!!

This was a great story until the end ! I understand cliff hangers and all of that, but this book ends practically mid-sentence in the middle of an interrogation between the police and a possible suspect. And at that point, the author says something to the effect of "to find out 'who did it', read my next book" . TERRIBLE ending!!!!

[Theresa Goins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hate cliffhangers

I had a tough time getting into this book. I eventually got through it. The way it ended sucked. I am not a fan of abrupt cliffhangers. So now on to the next book in the series.

[Lissanne Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dead Girl is the first in a four book mini-series, one of which will be released weekly, and this series is off to a crackingly good start with this book.

Shutter Lake Deputy Laney Holt is a former LAPD homicide detective who moved there two years previously, after an incident she can’t move past. She’s never needed to use her skills in homicide before, until one day Shutter Lake resident Sylvia Cole is found murdered in her home. Sylvia was twenty-six and well known to everyone in the community, having started her own cleaning company at the age of eighteen. It seems impossible that anyone would want her dead, but as Laney and Chief of Police Griff McCabe start to examine the evidence and dig into Sylvia’s life, they learn that she had secrets. And she was in the business of learning other people’s secrets. Is this what got her killed?

Sylvia was hiding a large sum of cash in her home safe. She was seeing a man for sex on a regular basis, a man who denies all knowledge of it. She was having an affair with someone else. A senior high schooler had a crush on her. She was possibly involved in helping someone out of a very dangerous situation. The author sets the scene well; there are so many possible suspects that it’s hard to know who the guilty party is. It looks like each book is written from the POV of one of the town’s well-known women, so I’m interested to read the next three and find out who the killer is and why Sylvia’s life was ended.

If you like mystery and suspense books, then you should give this series a read. My little romance heart? Well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be unhappy if Laney hooks up with Griff 😉

[Catlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvia Cole is dead, and the small, idyllic town of Shutter Lake is in turmoil. In this episode we are introduced to the cast of characters, focusing on Deputy Chief of Police Laney Holt, and the chief of police, Griff McCabe, as they struggle to solve the first heinous crime to be committed in their peaceful town. Both Laney and Griff have pasts which haunt their present and may affect their ability to do their jobs.

As the investigation progresses, we get a glimpse into the life of the victim, who on the surface seems to be a kind, generous benefactor to those closest to her, but if that is the case then why was she killed? We begin to wonder if Sylvia Cole was the person most believed her to be and if those who really knew her for who she was had reason to wish her dead. There’s a lot brewing beneath the surface of this small lakeside town, and if they’re not careful all their secrets may come boiling up before this story is done.

This is a riveting tale of murder and mystery with more to be revealed in the subsequent books. This first episode will grab your attention and have you balanced on the edge of your seat. The narrative is fast paced, and the storyline will keep you guessing who the possible perpetrator could be, even at the very end. It’s the perfect segue into the next in this challenging who done it. I am anxious to see what secrets will begin to be revealed as we follow the tale of the murder of Sylvia Cole.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Debra Webb for the ARC of The Dead Girl by Debra Webb that I read and reviewed.
The Dead Girl is the first book in the Breakdown series which consist of four books by four suspense authors who are telling the story of the death of Sylvia Cole, a young woman who is the murdered in Shutter Lake that brings the four women in these books together in some way to help find a killer.
In this first book Laney Holt who escaped to Shutter Lake from LA is the detective who given the job to try to solve the case and find the killer. She is not left with many clues and for the most part is told the victim is a saint. With that being said everyone has secrets and it is up to Laney to find the victims.
Needless to say, Webb ended this book with a jaw dropper that blows the readers mind and makes you can't wait to get your hands on book two. This book was a really good read to start off the series and the end was a shocker.
The Dead Girl gets five out of five stars.

[Michael Tiefel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, towards the beginning I did not like it. I guess I mean to say that I needed to "warm up" to this plot. THEN, the plot starts rolling with the different characters and their roles in this mystery. I realized that my reading speed was increasing, almost as if I could not put it down. Not to submit a spoiler, but I immediately went on to the next book in the series! I'm intrigued how the series picks up with another author (unless it's a pen name), but does not miss a moment. It was like I kept reading one book. Debra's style of "first person" characters kept me glued to this series. I love how Debra writes a mix of informative writing and actual conversations. I still do not know which way this tale will go. Bravo, Debra!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dead Girl by Debra Webb is the first book in the Breakdown Series. Shutter Lake is just a little too perfect. Former LAPD detective Laney Holt moves to this idyllic town and takes a job on the local police force in an effort to forget about her past. But after young entrepreneur Sylvia Cole is murdered, Laney begins to feel that the secrets that abound in Shutter Lake eerily remind her of the fictional town of Stepford. A page turner for sure, The Dead Girl by Debra Webb will not disappointed and will make you rush to get the next book in the Breakdown series, So Many Secrets by Vicki Hinze.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laney walked away from LA but the 12 year old boy haunts her nightly. This is a small village people know one another, but there are secrets and.now murder. Sylvia came from a privilege home, an only child, successful in her own business, twenty six, and now murdered. The clues and people interview they don’t seem to get the answers, that are needed.
With this it ends with a confession, was it really him. Good plot that keep you to the end, the detail were superb which the author does so well in her. books. This is part one of four by different authors.

[Ski Croghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

A truly great book and excellent start to a series. Who committed the 1st murder ever in Shutter Lake? What did the "good" girl of town do to get killed? Was it the high school boy who was obsessed with her? Was it the man she was having affair with? Did have something to do with all the cash found in her safe? Will Deputy Holt, who was hot shot homicide detective in L.A., be able to figure it out? Who else in this peaceful town has secrets they are hiding? All the answers are in this excellent book. Don't miss this outstanding book. Highly recommended.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pace of othe story was a bit slow and the story wasn't as compelling as other books written by Debra Webb. Nonetheless, I stuck with it. Alas, there is no real ending to the book; instead, you are offered a "sneak preview" of the next book in the series. It turns out there are 4 books in this series which should be read in order. It's not for me sine it's just a scheme to compel me to buy the remaining 3 books; I would bet that each book closes without a real ending. This book just fell flat and I'm very disappointed.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard about this 4 author mini-series, I was really intrigued. Book 1 captured me from page 1 and I am so excited to get started on book 2. Shutter Lake is definitely a place that is more than meets the eye. I really like Laney and am looking forward to learning more about her. This was a fascinating first installment, and it definitely didn't end the way I expected! Reading book 2 asap!

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Webb brings readers a fascinating story of murder in an idyllic small town. So many secrets. Can Laney figure out who the murderer is before something else happens to shake this town?

Creatively devised plotting and well defined characters are what will keep readers turning pages well into the night. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

I highly recommend this book to fans of the mystery/suspense genre.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is more than just amazing! These books will have you lost from reality into each story, in each character and trying to figure it out before the end. Each book has a different author, which is remarkable how well they collaborated the series and makes for a great one at that! This is a set that you have to read for yourself to understand just how well these are written and will pull you in from start to end!

[Mary Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dead Girl
Debra Webb

This miniseries, Breakdown, begins with Laney, deputy police chief of Sutter Lake, trying to figure out who killed Sylvia Cole. It seems everyone liked her, but then again someone didn’t. As she and Police Chief McCabe work to unravel the mystery, they come upon a wall of secrets.
Now they need to Breakdown the wall of secrets to bring a cold blooded killer to justice.
A great read from start to the ending that will send you to the second book into the miniseries.

[Patricia Grogan Bugher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is the first part in a four part series. This first book was written by Debra Webb and leaves us with a murder in a very small sleepy little town. This first part is so good that I can’t wait to get on to the second one. As the first one ends, the murder has happened, someone has confessed but the confession doesn’t seem to ring true.

[Helen Bakunowich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars

Owing to this book being a cliffhanger I give just three stars. The story was excellent as usually is by this author but I don't like cliffhangers. Owing to the storyline being about four professional women I see the reasoning. This first book being about Laney , the detective is a great read.