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Lowcountry Mysteries #1
Dead South
Newly revised and edited as of 8/13/18
Secrets reside in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, and it’ll take just the right detective to dig them from the marsh.
When the body of the girl he loved in high school is found twenty years after her disappearance, Detective Ryan Devereux has a personal stake in finding the people responsible. With his personal life in shambles following the engagement of his ex-wife, Ryan throws himself headlong into the investigation.
Things take a turn though when newly discovered evidence leads Ryan to believe that his ex’s new fiancé might have had a hand in the young girl’s murder. As secrets about the past are uncovered, Ryan realizes things were never as he saw them. This Lowcountry detective finds himself thrust down a rabbit hole of danger and deceit the likes of which he might never emerge from.
And, when the truth comes out, he might find that the killer is closer to him than he ever imagined.
Dead South is book one in the new Lowcountry Mystery Series from bestselling author David Banner.
Do you enjoy reading books from Dawn Lee McKenna, Mark Stone, and Steven Becker? If so, come take a walk along the South Carolina Lowcountry. With its thick humidity, Spanish moss, and one-of-a-kind local flair, it’s sure to be a visit you won’t forget!
Secrets reside in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, and it’ll take just the right detective to dig them from the marsh.
When the body of the girl he loved in high school is found twenty years after her disappearance, Detective Ryan Devereux has a personal stake in finding the people responsible. With his personal life in shambles following the engagement of his ex-wife, Ryan throws himself headlong into the investigation.
Things take a turn though when newly discovered evidence leads Ryan to believe that his ex’s new fiancé might have had a hand in the young girl’s murder. As secrets about the past are uncovered, Ryan realizes things were never as he saw them. This Lowcountry detective finds himself thrust down a rabbit hole of danger and deceit the likes of which he might never emerge from.
And, when the truth comes out, he might find that the killer is closer to him than he ever imagined.
Dead South is book one in the new Lowcountry Mystery Series from bestselling author David Banner.
Do you enjoy reading books from Dawn Lee McKenna, Mark Stone, and Steven Becker? If so, come take a walk along the South Carolina Lowcountry. With its thick humidity, Spanish moss, and one-of-a-kind local flair, it’s sure to be a visit you won’t forget!
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2018
247 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
David Banner
15 books6 followersThe outspoken owner of a rebellious Hyacinth Macaw, David Banner is an author living in the Coastal Southeast. He has always loved the beach and the open water, is a movie lover and spends way too much time playing catch on the sand with his Airedale terrier.
David also enjoys cooking foods from countries he plans to visit and often times gets so caught up reading about foreign culture he forgets to turn off the stove.
He hopes to keep writing Florida based adventure books while exploring his ever-increasing love of the water.
David also enjoys cooking foods from countries he plans to visit and often times gets so caught up reading about foreign culture he forgets to turn off the stove.
He hopes to keep writing Florida based adventure books while exploring his ever-increasing love of the water.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 23, 2018
Good slow read....
I read a lot of 📚!!!!! This one was ok but it was ruff to keep on with it till the end, which was way too obvious. I dislike posting this review but it is what it is.....😨
I read a lot of 📚!!!!! This one was ok but it was ruff to keep on with it till the end, which was way too obvious. I dislike posting this review but it is what it is.....😨
September 3, 2018
Glad that's over
A so called good cop. Can't fight for shit! Mistakes a plenty. Anger never works, had no business work on that case. Hope second book make him out to be smarter, maybe he won't get knocked out so much.
A so called good cop. Can't fight for shit! Mistakes a plenty. Anger never works, had no business work on that case. Hope second book make him out to be smarter, maybe he won't get knocked out so much.
October 14, 2018
I have really enjoyed the series dealing in the south and with the water. I have read a number of authors. I really was hoping to find a new one here. Unfortunately, there were just too many large holes in this book. I get a book escaping reality that is why I read, but some of the way characters interacted and how laws were overlooked or forgotten all together was just over the top. For a book on detectives and law enforcement, the sloppiness of investigations was just too much. It really could have been a longer book if those holes were filled in. I will not go into any more detail but just know that to this reader, it missed the mark. I am going to read another book by the same author and will determine if I keep reading him or find another.
August 10, 2018
Admittedly I've only lived in Tri-county for 45 years, but even in that short amount of time I've learned there is no Charleston County Police Dept. (since around early 1990s)--- A Sheriffs Dept. yes, I'm sure Al Cannon (Sheriff for life) is going nuts..
Please learn a little bit about watercraft and geography before writing about them. The only way to see a sunset on the Atlantic around Charleston is 20 miles due east of the 2-Charlie channel marker. The boat chase and sinking was unbelievable to anyone with even a Seaman 2nd's knowledge of smallcraft.
Last but by no means least I understood fully by chapter 3 that no-one but NO one could possibly love the Low country of South Carolina as much as a S O B Blue blood.. SOB=South of Broad, except maybe the Chicora, and Waccamaw Tribes of Native Americans..
I will give you another chance or two because I love the Low country (even if I'm not a native)
V/R
William Akin
BMCS,USN, Ret.
Please learn a little bit about watercraft and geography before writing about them. The only way to see a sunset on the Atlantic around Charleston is 20 miles due east of the 2-Charlie channel marker. The boat chase and sinking was unbelievable to anyone with even a Seaman 2nd's knowledge of smallcraft.
Last but by no means least I understood fully by chapter 3 that no-one but NO one could possibly love the Low country of South Carolina as much as a S O B Blue blood.. SOB=South of Broad, except maybe the Chicora, and Waccamaw Tribes of Native Americans..
I will give you another chance or two because I love the Low country (even if I'm not a native)
V/R
William Akin
BMCS,USN, Ret.
August 4, 2018
May Possibly give this series another chance
Being born and bred in SC, I love to read just about anything set in the Lowcountry, particularly mysteries. The whole Southern thing, however, was just just way overplayed. I actually got tired of hearing about it. Anyone not from the South, I’m sure, would have been even more annoyed than I. There is much potential for this (these) author(s), but for goodness sake, get someone to edit your work before publishing. There were many glaring errors which sort of spoil it for me. Also, for a detective, the main character really didn’t use very good judgement. Having said that, if there is another in this series, I may give it one more try.
Being born and bred in SC, I love to read just about anything set in the Lowcountry, particularly mysteries. The whole Southern thing, however, was just just way overplayed. I actually got tired of hearing about it. Anyone not from the South, I’m sure, would have been even more annoyed than I. There is much potential for this (these) author(s), but for goodness sake, get someone to edit your work before publishing. There were many glaring errors which sort of spoil it for me. Also, for a detective, the main character really didn’t use very good judgement. Having said that, if there is another in this series, I may give it one more try.
July 28, 2018
disappointing
This book was full of errors when one word was printed instead of the one obviously intended. One character was call Michelle through most of the book but referred to as Melissa in a couple of chapters. The main character in South Carolina enjoyed watching the sunset into the Atlantic ocean. WHAT!! Although the plot could have been really entertaining it became predictable.
This book was full of errors when one word was printed instead of the one obviously intended. One character was call Michelle through most of the book but referred to as Melissa in a couple of chapters. The main character in South Carolina enjoyed watching the sunset into the Atlantic ocean. WHAT!! Although the plot could have been really entertaining it became predictable.
July 29, 2018
A good story but filled with so many errors
This story deserved a better production. There ate so many typos and wrong usage of grammar that it is distracting to the reader. Wrong usage of words abound. Venerable when the word should be vulnerable is one example. Either nobody proofed this story or the person who did is just plain ignorant of the English language.
This story deserved a better production. There ate so many typos and wrong usage of grammar that it is distracting to the reader. Wrong usage of words abound. Venerable when the word should be vulnerable is one example. Either nobody proofed this story or the person who did is just plain ignorant of the English language.
October 14, 2018
One of the worst books I've ever read
I don't even know where to start. The murderer is clumsily hidden and is obvious at the get go. The author sickens you with references to why South Carolina is apparently the pinnacle of the US in nearly EVERY paragraph. If you read this book, you know I'm not exaggerating.
I don't even know where to start. The murderer is clumsily hidden and is obvious at the get go. The author sickens you with references to why South Carolina is apparently the pinnacle of the US in nearly EVERY paragraph. If you read this book, you know I'm not exaggerating.
August 15, 2018
I have been in Charleston, as well as a couple of the Lowcountry Islands. I appreciate the in depth descriptions of the heat, the humidity and the people. Underscore "in depth." Enough. The characters were all right, the story interesting although predictable. All in all a good read.
August 12, 2018
Paint by numbers
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I couldn't get past the one dimensional writing and the plethora of grammatical and spelling errors.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I couldn't get past the one dimensional writing and the plethora of grammatical and spelling errors.
October 2, 2018
Very disappointing I thought I was reading a Hardy Boys book, very poorly done. Will not read one of his books again.
July 11, 2018
Detective Ryan Devereux has lived in the deep south of South Carolina his whole life. His mother did her best to bring him up right and even though it looked like he was going in the wrong direction during his early years his uncle helped him get his act together and as an adult Ryan became a police detective in the Charleston County Police Department. Now he works in the cold case department of the force trying to solve murders that happened years earlier.
Ryan is called out to Waverly Plantation where skeletal remains were found in the marsh. When Ryan gets there he sees that the skeleton is of his very first girlfriend, Haley King, who went missing 20 years earlier. He recognized her because the skeleton had on the prom dress Ryan bought for her. On the night she disappeared she was supposed to be going to the prom with Ryan but she canceled hours before the dance.
Complicating matter is Ryan’s ex wife, Jillian, who is engaged to marry another man, Thomas Kent. Ryan and Jillian have a ten year old daughter together, Carly, and Ryan does his best to spend as much time with her as possible.
The investigation into Haley’s death soon takes a major twist. It appears that Jillian’s fiance, Thomas, knew Haley and might somehow be involved in her murder. Ryan is very concerned about his ex wife and daughter’s lives since Thomas is living with them. Ryan is almost afraid of what he’ll discover during his investigation and wonders how to keep his daughter safe.
“Dead South” is the first in the Lowcountry Seaside Mystery Series by David Banner. It’s really quite good. Mr. Banner’s writing style is very natural and his description of the lowcountry makes it sound like a magical place. The book reminds me a lot of James’ Burke’s Dave Robicheaux series.
The story is excellent and the novel is a page turner and I did enjoy the twist in the plots. My major concern is that the book needs a good editing job. Sometimes the author tells us that Jillian and Thomas are married and other times we hear that they’re engaged. A name of a play was given and instead of it being in initial caps or italicised the name is in lower case. Ryan was supposed to meet his uncle for breakfast but when they left the sun was going down. Ordinarily, I try not to let these things get to me but there were way too many editorial problems for me to just swallow.
This new series has a chance to go far if Mr.s Banner can get a good editor to help him out. Even with this I’m giving “Dead South” a high rating because of its amazing plotline. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series and seeing what life holds for Ryan and the rest of the characters.
"I received an ARC of this book prior to publication and I voluntarily reviewed it and my opinions are my own."
Ryan is called out to Waverly Plantation where skeletal remains were found in the marsh. When Ryan gets there he sees that the skeleton is of his very first girlfriend, Haley King, who went missing 20 years earlier. He recognized her because the skeleton had on the prom dress Ryan bought for her. On the night she disappeared she was supposed to be going to the prom with Ryan but she canceled hours before the dance.
Complicating matter is Ryan’s ex wife, Jillian, who is engaged to marry another man, Thomas Kent. Ryan and Jillian have a ten year old daughter together, Carly, and Ryan does his best to spend as much time with her as possible.
The investigation into Haley’s death soon takes a major twist. It appears that Jillian’s fiance, Thomas, knew Haley and might somehow be involved in her murder. Ryan is very concerned about his ex wife and daughter’s lives since Thomas is living with them. Ryan is almost afraid of what he’ll discover during his investigation and wonders how to keep his daughter safe.
“Dead South” is the first in the Lowcountry Seaside Mystery Series by David Banner. It’s really quite good. Mr. Banner’s writing style is very natural and his description of the lowcountry makes it sound like a magical place. The book reminds me a lot of James’ Burke’s Dave Robicheaux series.
The story is excellent and the novel is a page turner and I did enjoy the twist in the plots. My major concern is that the book needs a good editing job. Sometimes the author tells us that Jillian and Thomas are married and other times we hear that they’re engaged. A name of a play was given and instead of it being in initial caps or italicised the name is in lower case. Ryan was supposed to meet his uncle for breakfast but when they left the sun was going down. Ordinarily, I try not to let these things get to me but there were way too many editorial problems for me to just swallow.
This new series has a chance to go far if Mr.s Banner can get a good editor to help him out. Even with this I’m giving “Dead South” a high rating because of its amazing plotline. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series and seeing what life holds for Ryan and the rest of the characters.
"I received an ARC of this book prior to publication and I voluntarily reviewed it and my opinions are my own."
September 18, 2018
Dead South: A Lowcountry Seaside Mystery: Lowcountry Mystery Series Book 1 is by David Banner. This is a fast-paced police mystery that is full of action. It is fun to read and fast to read yet keeps you interested all the way through.
Detective Ryan Deveraux has been on the police force for years and has been promoted to detective but is in charge of cold cases. He seems to have an affinity for those. He is divorced and lives on a house boat where he is comfortable. He co-parents his daughter Carly with his ex-wife Jillian. So far, it has gone well; but now Jillian is engaged to Thomas Kent, a TV reporter, who Ryan does not like. However, for Carly, he puts up with him.
Ryan is now faced with a body found on Waverly Plantation. His partner is already there and uncovers the remains. When he sees the remains, he recognizes the dress the body is wearing. He knows it is the dress he bought for his girlfriend, Haley King, for the prom. Although she had broken her date with him and had not gone with him, she wore the dress. Now, after twenty years, they knew what happened to Haley King. Now they had to find out who had killed her.
As Ryan begins to investigate, he begins to get threats against him and his family if he doesn’t stop the investigation. His boat is broken into and his uncle shot. What will happen next? Will he find the killer after twenty years?
Detective Ryan Deveraux has been on the police force for years and has been promoted to detective but is in charge of cold cases. He seems to have an affinity for those. He is divorced and lives on a house boat where he is comfortable. He co-parents his daughter Carly with his ex-wife Jillian. So far, it has gone well; but now Jillian is engaged to Thomas Kent, a TV reporter, who Ryan does not like. However, for Carly, he puts up with him.
Ryan is now faced with a body found on Waverly Plantation. His partner is already there and uncovers the remains. When he sees the remains, he recognizes the dress the body is wearing. He knows it is the dress he bought for his girlfriend, Haley King, for the prom. Although she had broken her date with him and had not gone with him, she wore the dress. Now, after twenty years, they knew what happened to Haley King. Now they had to find out who had killed her.
As Ryan begins to investigate, he begins to get threats against him and his family if he doesn’t stop the investigation. His boat is broken into and his uncle shot. What will happen next? Will he find the killer after twenty years?
October 17, 2018
Thank you David
I have never had the privilege of visiting Charleston but I have always wanted to. I was supposed to be there this weekend but my health won't allow it. My son is getting married Saturday at Folly Beach. It is breaking my heart to know I am going to miss it, so I will very much enjoy your books and visit Charleston that way. Thank you!
I have never had the privilege of visiting Charleston but I have always wanted to. I was supposed to be there this weekend but my health won't allow it. My son is getting married Saturday at Folly Beach. It is breaking my heart to know I am going to miss it, so I will very much enjoy your books and visit Charleston that way. Thank you!
October 29, 2018
Good, but?
Good book, but withheld critical flow of information of the series of events for the reader. This resulted in a lapse of data flow. I.e. that Haley and Ryan fought and were on and off again and that she would date other guys when they were off!
Good book, but withheld critical flow of information of the series of events for the reader. This resulted in a lapse of data flow. I.e. that Haley and Ryan fought and were on and off again and that she would date other guys when they were off!
November 13, 2018
I had the murderer figured out from early on so it didn't come as a surprise to me. The writing was good although slightly over descriptive in places but it helped to give a real sense of the setting. I liked that the book didn't end the way it was expected with his partner too.
December 3, 2018
A chance to quiet a ghost from the past.
She cancelled their Prom date at the last minute. Than she was gone. That is the beginning and the opportunity to quiet the ghost is the need in this story. What transpires is the excitement. Read it and enjoy.
She cancelled their Prom date at the last minute. Than she was gone. That is the beginning and the opportunity to quiet the ghost is the need in this story. What transpires is the excitement. Read it and enjoy.
January 15, 2019
Enjoyed this Book
I liked this book a lot, it takes place in Charleston SC where I live and it was cool to be able to picture the places in the book. The male lead is sexy, smart and tough. I highly recommend this book.
I liked this book a lot, it takes place in Charleston SC where I live and it was cool to be able to picture the places in the book. The male lead is sexy, smart and tough. I highly recommend this book.
July 27, 2018
Can't ✋
I feel like I'm there in the Lowcountry. The description of the people and places are vivid and precise. Remarkable.
I feel like I'm there in the Lowcountry. The description of the people and places are vivid and precise. Remarkable.
August 3, 2018
Good Read
Enjoyed the twists and turns! Unfortunately typos drive me crazy. They detract from an otherwise enjoyable read. Hope to see some of these characters again.
Enjoyed the twists and turns! Unfortunately typos drive me crazy. They detract from an otherwise enjoyable read. Hope to see some of these characters again.
August 12, 2018
Good beach read
Good story and insight into Charleston, South Carolina.
Lots of twists and turns, not a formula . Really want some shrimp and grits.
Good story and insight into Charleston, South Carolina.
Lots of twists and turns, not a formula . Really want some shrimp and grits.
December 16, 2019
Very well written. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
March 6, 2020
Pretty much ok.
June 26, 2025
Looking forward to more low country
Definitely glad I picked this one up and am looking forward to more of the detective's adventures. Well done. Bravo
Definitely glad I picked this one up and am looking forward to more of the detective's adventures. Well done. Bravo
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews