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Normal, Alabama #1
Cold Waters
From USA Today bestselling author Debbie Herbert comes a thrilling story of murder and madness set in the darkest corner of Alabama.
Everyone thinks fourteen-year-old Violet is a murderer. After a summer-night swim with her best friend, Ainsley, Violet is found confused, wandering in the forest—and Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, murder charges won’t stick, so Violet is sent away.
After more than a decade in a psychiatric ward, Violet returns to her broken-down hometown of Normal, Alabama, to claim her dead mother’s inheritance and help her overworked sister care for their unstable, alcoholic father. Violet, still haunted by that night eleven years ago, endures horrific flashbacks and twisted hallucinations while townsfolk spit accusations—and for all she knows, they’re right.
As the summer heats up, details of Ainsley’s fate appear like a beast’s wild eyes, watching in the darkness, and grim revelations about Violet’s family threaten to devour her. Already on the edge of madness, Violet must fight to keep her sanity long enough for the terrible truth to burst from the cold, dark waters.
Everyone thinks fourteen-year-old Violet is a murderer. After a summer-night swim with her best friend, Ainsley, Violet is found confused, wandering in the forest—and Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, murder charges won’t stick, so Violet is sent away.
After more than a decade in a psychiatric ward, Violet returns to her broken-down hometown of Normal, Alabama, to claim her dead mother’s inheritance and help her overworked sister care for their unstable, alcoholic father. Violet, still haunted by that night eleven years ago, endures horrific flashbacks and twisted hallucinations while townsfolk spit accusations—and for all she knows, they’re right.
As the summer heats up, details of Ainsley’s fate appear like a beast’s wild eyes, watching in the darkness, and grim revelations about Violet’s family threaten to devour her. Already on the edge of madness, Violet must fight to keep her sanity long enough for the terrible truth to burst from the cold, dark waters.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
11006 people are currently reading
15656 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Herbert
76 books682 followersDebbie Herbert, a USA Today and Publisher's Weekly bestselling writer, pens Psychological Suspense, romantic suspense and paranormal romance novels. She’s always been fascinated by magic, romance and Gothic stories.
Married and living in Alabama, she roots for the Crimson Tide football team. When not working on her upcoming books, Debbie enjoys recumbent bicycling and jet skiing with her husband.
2017 RITA® Finalist for Paranormal Romance in the national contest sponsored by the Romance Writers of America® Debbie has a degree in English (Berry College, GA) and a master’s in Library Studies (University of Alabama).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 924 reviews
June 27, 2019
2.0 Stars —“Cold Waters” by Debbie Herbert was another Kindle First selection that I finally got around to reading between books by more established (and better)thriller authors. After showing some early promise, I really wish I would have left this one on the shelf. “Cold Waters” tells the story of Violet who returns home after several years of mental health treatment to live with her somewhat senile father and manipulative, spoiled sister, Delaney. The book is primarily written from the perspective of Violet, who turns out to be frustratingly gullible and allows herself to be bullied mercilessly. The plot is fairly decent for a while as we learn the reasons for Violet’s mental health issues is (1)her possible involvement in her best friend’s death as a teenager and (2)her inability to recall the details surrounding this event. But as the book continues, the story implodes with ridiculous twist after ridiculous twist. I don’t think I ever shook my head so much in disbelief as I did in the last 50 pages of this book. Is there any reader out there that would buy that a policeman/ investigator would have access to a charred body in order to help pull off the ol’ switched/ planted corpse trick? — um ... I think not. And the worst part is that this was just a precursor of what was one of the worst ending sequences I’ve read in many years. My advice would be to skip this one because the last few chapters and ending of the book make it one of the worst I’ve read this year.
April 4, 2019
Wow! To say that I like Southern Noir is an understatement and when it done well, it knocks my socks off. Cold Waters, my Amazon First Reads selection for March knocked it out of the park and into the parking lot beyond. This is one amazing chilling, twisty, dark book!
When Violet was 14 years old, tragedy struck in the town of Normal, Alabama and the town blamed Violet for its loss. A young girl vanished without a trace, the last person to see her was Violet, who was found wandering in the forest where the two often explored and went skinny dipping in the murky lake that ran through town. After being declared psychologically unwell, in a fugue state, Violet was sent to the state mental hospital. Now she has returned to Normal, in more ways than one, to claim her meager inheritance left to her by her mother, and to help her sister care for her father. But the town has not forgotten that fateful day and nothing in Normal is quite normal at all.
As Violet attempts to recall the tragic events surrounding the night that her best friend died, it appears that someone is making sure she is unable to do so even it means she loses what little hold she has on her fragile thread of sanity. The characters that surround Violet, generally, are the most vile characters I’ve run across in literature in a long while; but, they are as realistic as I have encountered as well. I felt as if I knew each and every one of them. They are the people who border on sociopathy, and some who are outright psychopaths, who go out of their way to ensure that others fail, whose only goal is make sure that they come out on top. And then there are those who think they are doing the “right” thing when, in fact, everything they do worsens Violet’s situation more. It is a sad thing to think that the state mental hospital might have been safest place for Violet to spend a decade of her life but with friends and family like hers, it is the truth.
I honestly thought that this was going to be a paranormal book when I selected it. The confusion with any book set in the “deep south,” is that it often is difficult to separate the south’s folk tales, folklore and superstition from magical realism. What they believe in is so culturally engrained into the fabric of their existence that it is who they are without question, without their realization. The superstition in Cold Waters felt like home to me. It created a darker and more believable
atmosphere for the book and for me, as a reader, because it is what I know and what I lived for the majority of my life. While this is a book about murder and solving a historic crime, ultimately it is about this poor young woman finally having the opportunity to gain strength and opportunity to stand on her own two feet with the realization that she is not any less normal than the rest of us. Cold Waters is a book I highly recommend for those who enjoy multiple genres from suspense and mystery to women’s literature to noir and southern fiction.
When Violet was 14 years old, tragedy struck in the town of Normal, Alabama and the town blamed Violet for its loss. A young girl vanished without a trace, the last person to see her was Violet, who was found wandering in the forest where the two often explored and went skinny dipping in the murky lake that ran through town. After being declared psychologically unwell, in a fugue state, Violet was sent to the state mental hospital. Now she has returned to Normal, in more ways than one, to claim her meager inheritance left to her by her mother, and to help her sister care for her father. But the town has not forgotten that fateful day and nothing in Normal is quite normal at all.
As Violet attempts to recall the tragic events surrounding the night that her best friend died, it appears that someone is making sure she is unable to do so even it means she loses what little hold she has on her fragile thread of sanity. The characters that surround Violet, generally, are the most vile characters I’ve run across in literature in a long while; but, they are as realistic as I have encountered as well. I felt as if I knew each and every one of them. They are the people who border on sociopathy, and some who are outright psychopaths, who go out of their way to ensure that others fail, whose only goal is make sure that they come out on top. And then there are those who think they are doing the “right” thing when, in fact, everything they do worsens Violet’s situation more. It is a sad thing to think that the state mental hospital might have been safest place for Violet to spend a decade of her life but with friends and family like hers, it is the truth.
I honestly thought that this was going to be a paranormal book when I selected it. The confusion with any book set in the “deep south,” is that it often is difficult to separate the south’s folk tales, folklore and superstition from magical realism. What they believe in is so culturally engrained into the fabric of their existence that it is who they are without question, without their realization. The superstition in Cold Waters felt like home to me. It created a darker and more believable
atmosphere for the book and for me, as a reader, because it is what I know and what I lived for the majority of my life. While this is a book about murder and solving a historic crime, ultimately it is about this poor young woman finally having the opportunity to gain strength and opportunity to stand on her own two feet with the realization that she is not any less normal than the rest of us. Cold Waters is a book I highly recommend for those who enjoy multiple genres from suspense and mystery to women’s literature to noir and southern fiction.
May 26, 2019
Cold Waters by Debbie Herbert is the first book of the new Normal, Alabama series. This one is a thriller that is told from multiple points of view throughout and then also different timelines.
Violet is the central character of this first book of this series with the biggest point of view in the book. Violet has just returned to Normal, Alabama to live with her father and step-sister after being away for over a decade, most of which was spent in a mental health care facility.
Years earlier Violet had been found wandering the woods in a state of shock and her best friend, Ainsley, was found dead. Many think Violet had murdered Ainsley and she herself isn’t even sure of what happened that night but she’s back to confront the past.
One thing I found out very early on with Normal, Alabama was that it really seemed to be lacking anyone actually “normal”. I had some suspicions early on but spent a lot of time guessing as this dark thriller played out. I do think it went a little slow pace wise building things from the past and present but not too bad overall leaving me at 3 1/2 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Violet is the central character of this first book of this series with the biggest point of view in the book. Violet has just returned to Normal, Alabama to live with her father and step-sister after being away for over a decade, most of which was spent in a mental health care facility.
Years earlier Violet had been found wandering the woods in a state of shock and her best friend, Ainsley, was found dead. Many think Violet had murdered Ainsley and she herself isn’t even sure of what happened that night but she’s back to confront the past.
One thing I found out very early on with Normal, Alabama was that it really seemed to be lacking anyone actually “normal”. I had some suspicions early on but spent a lot of time guessing as this dark thriller played out. I do think it went a little slow pace wise building things from the past and present but not too bad overall leaving me at 3 1/2 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 29, 2019
Violet returns to Normal, Alabama after 11 years away. She returns to claim her inheritance from her deceased mother’s estate and help her sister take care of their ailing father. Violet left town after her friend Ainsley went missing. The locals believe Violet killed Ainsley, and now with Violet’s return home, they believe the truth will finally be revealed.
When Violet was 14 years old, she and Ainsley met up for a late night swim. That night, Violet was found confused and wandering the woods. Ainsley was never found. Violet has been in a psychiatric facility ever since. Violet doesn’t remember the events of that night, but the locals believe she got away with murder. Coinciding with Violet’s return home is the draining of the lake where Ainsley went missing. With speculation being that Ainsley’s body may finally be found, Violet is haunted by her past and the occasional flashback of what happened that night.
This book is partly mystery about what happened to Ainsley and partly family drama. There is a lot of drama happening in Violet’s life. She and her sister are not on good terms. Her father health is failing and his behavior is odd. Violet was close to her mother, but her mother’s death has left her feeling alone. Also, Violet is not welcomed back into town with open arms.
This started off as a good story, but I was not feeling it by the end. It starts with a protagonist with no memory of the night that forever changed her life and a small community ready to turn on her. An unreliable narrator and a cast of unlikable characters always peaks my interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold my interest at the end of the book. In the end, everything is wrapped up, but I was let down in how it was handled.
This was my pick for Amazon First Reads in April 2019.
When Violet was 14 years old, she and Ainsley met up for a late night swim. That night, Violet was found confused and wandering the woods. Ainsley was never found. Violet has been in a psychiatric facility ever since. Violet doesn’t remember the events of that night, but the locals believe she got away with murder. Coinciding with Violet’s return home is the draining of the lake where Ainsley went missing. With speculation being that Ainsley’s body may finally be found, Violet is haunted by her past and the occasional flashback of what happened that night.
This book is partly mystery about what happened to Ainsley and partly family drama. There is a lot of drama happening in Violet’s life. She and her sister are not on good terms. Her father health is failing and his behavior is odd. Violet was close to her mother, but her mother’s death has left her feeling alone. Also, Violet is not welcomed back into town with open arms.
This started off as a good story, but I was not feeling it by the end. It starts with a protagonist with no memory of the night that forever changed her life and a small community ready to turn on her. An unreliable narrator and a cast of unlikable characters always peaks my interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold my interest at the end of the book. In the end, everything is wrapped up, but I was let down in how it was handled.
This was my pick for Amazon First Reads in April 2019.
April 5, 2020
From the beginning, I had mixed feelings about this book. Violet’s almost constant superstitions became boring pretty quickly. I think they also showed her vulnerability and child-like attitude, especially as she was confronted with her unusual family dynamics, a common “coming home again” theme.
As the story progressed, Violet’s confidence grew, and we learn more about the tragedy that has defined her life since the age of 14. I was certainly engrossed throughout this psychological thriller!
The final 15% attempted to bring out all the stops with multiple twists and surprising characters. I feel it could have been finished more neatly... until this point each decision felt very realistic with the characters reacting in a reasonable manner. I did enjoy the outcome, just felt it was way overdone.
As the story progressed, Violet’s confidence grew, and we learn more about the tragedy that has defined her life since the age of 14. I was certainly engrossed throughout this psychological thriller!
The final 15% attempted to bring out all the stops with multiple twists and surprising characters. I feel it could have been finished more neatly... until this point each decision felt very realistic with the characters reacting in a reasonable manner. I did enjoy the outcome, just felt it was way overdone.
April 2, 2019
I have terrible luck with Amazon First Reads Books. I didn’t hate COLD WATERS as much as I have previous months’ choices, but I didn’t like it either.
Violet’s friend Ainsley disappears and Violet is suspected of her murder. She spends years in a psychiatric hospital and is now back in Normal, Alabama to help her (awful) sister care for their father who has dementia.
COLD WATERS is filled with unsavory characters from liars to mean girls (women) to sociopaths. Violet, who narrates a good portion of the book, is the most likable.
Debbie Herbert took the plot in some interesting, but mostly predictable directions. Much of COLD WATERS is a downer, lacking tension and suspense. This is supposed to be book one in a Normal, Alabama series, though I can’t imagine why a book two is needed.
Violet’s friend Ainsley disappears and Violet is suspected of her murder. She spends years in a psychiatric hospital and is now back in Normal, Alabama to help her (awful) sister care for their father who has dementia.
COLD WATERS is filled with unsavory characters from liars to mean girls (women) to sociopaths. Violet, who narrates a good portion of the book, is the most likable.
Debbie Herbert took the plot in some interesting, but mostly predictable directions. Much of COLD WATERS is a downer, lacking tension and suspense. This is supposed to be book one in a Normal, Alabama series, though I can’t imagine why a book two is needed.
June 29, 2019
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very predictable
April 7, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This review is of the Kindle edition:
Publication date: May 1, 2019
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Language: English
ASIN: B07HF4SCB7
Not my usual sort of book but the author lives in Alabama and the book is set there in a town named Normal. And the description promised that the town is anything but normal. It all happens right next door in Alabama and is described by some as Southern Gothic. Free from Amazon First Reads. So why not try it? That was a mistake. A very predictable, long and tedious read. The only real suspense is whether the killer will get away with it.
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very predictable
April 7, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This review is of the Kindle edition:
Publication date: May 1, 2019
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Language: English
ASIN: B07HF4SCB7
Not my usual sort of book but the author lives in Alabama and the book is set there in a town named Normal. And the description promised that the town is anything but normal. It all happens right next door in Alabama and is described by some as Southern Gothic. Free from Amazon First Reads. So why not try it? That was a mistake. A very predictable, long and tedious read. The only real suspense is whether the killer will get away with it.
April 30, 2019
I just wasnt that into it. I was all set to give it a 3, until near the end, when it turns out that every character is either: a murderer, covering up a murder, protecting a murderer, concealing evidence, planting evidence, framing innocent people, disposing of bodies, and/or stealing corpses. And these are the protagonists! And then they all live happily ever after. Hard no from me.
April 1, 2019
Cold waters hold secrets
This was my First Read choice for April, I love psychological suspense books so this was a no-brainer. The story goes back and forth between the disappearance of Ainsley and the present day. Violet has no memory of what happened and it has wrecked havoc on her mental health since that night.
By the end of the book many mysteries come to light, it is definitely a psychological nightmare. It's a page turner, well worth the read.
This was my First Read choice for April, I love psychological suspense books so this was a no-brainer. The story goes back and forth between the disappearance of Ainsley and the present day. Violet has no memory of what happened and it has wrecked havoc on her mental health since that night.
By the end of the book many mysteries come to light, it is definitely a psychological nightmare. It's a page turner, well worth the read.
June 2, 2019
What an amazing story! My heart broke for sweet Violet, trying to climb out of her haunted past against the odds of a toxic family filled with lies and hostility.
At age fourteen, she went for a late-night swim with her friend Ainsley, who was never seen again. Violet was found wandering the woods in a state of mental breakdown, while Ainsley’s body was never found. Violet’s small town of Normal, Alabama still considered her a murderer, and she was sent to a psychiatric facility.
Ten years later she returns home to every kind of struggle: trying to remember what happened, doubting herself, trying to deal with sabotaging relatives and a hostile town. What a nightmarish tale! Several times I thought I’d figured it out, but I was wrong. Additional delight comes from author Debbie Herbert’s ability to create lush, vivid atmosphere and characters so real and odious that you want to jump into the story to yell and warn Violet. I totally loved this book, couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended – five stars!
At age fourteen, she went for a late-night swim with her friend Ainsley, who was never seen again. Violet was found wandering the woods in a state of mental breakdown, while Ainsley’s body was never found. Violet’s small town of Normal, Alabama still considered her a murderer, and she was sent to a psychiatric facility.
Ten years later she returns home to every kind of struggle: trying to remember what happened, doubting herself, trying to deal with sabotaging relatives and a hostile town. What a nightmarish tale! Several times I thought I’d figured it out, but I was wrong. Additional delight comes from author Debbie Herbert’s ability to create lush, vivid atmosphere and characters so real and odious that you want to jump into the story to yell and warn Violet. I totally loved this book, couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended – five stars!
April 4, 2019
This Does Alabama NO Favors
Bless this author's heart, she wrote a book I'm sure exacted enormous amounts of effort, time, and determined hopes from her, and the most charitable thing I can say is "So THAT happened".
It's pretty awful.
Every sordid stereotype of inbred Alabama dysfunctional society crawls out from the dark pages of Herbert's tale. I didn't even grow up there and I'm still embarrassed for the poor place.
Bless this author's heart, she wrote a book I'm sure exacted enormous amounts of effort, time, and determined hopes from her, and the most charitable thing I can say is "So THAT happened".
It's pretty awful.
Every sordid stereotype of inbred Alabama dysfunctional society crawls out from the dark pages of Herbert's tale. I didn't even grow up there and I'm still embarrassed for the poor place.
April 19, 2019
I'm a fast reader, but COLD WATERS by Debbie Herbert made me read like greased lightning — I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. Especially with one of the sneaky, conniving, and manipulative characters — the personification of evil. Twists? Yes! Characters you love to hate? Most definitely! Rooting for the underdog? Absolutely! I highly recommend this book!
April 2, 2019
As I slowly learned the truth about a troubled woman, I became totally caught up in her life where questions about the past and present keep mounting. I have read many of the prior books written by Debbie Herbert, and was thrilled to get her latest release. She has a knack for creating original plots plus unique characters, and the first story in the Normal, Alabama series is a great example of her talent. There are numerous uncertainties from the very start of COLD WATERS, and as each unknown fact is eventually divulged, my thoughts became increasingly engrossed in uncovering what actually happened that tragic night.
When the friend of Violet Henderson disappeared one night after the two teenagers went for a forbidden swim, most folks in her hometown of Normal, Alabama thought she had more than likely killed her friend. But a crime could not be proven, and she is committed to a mental hospital because of her abnormal behavior after having no memory of that night. Eleven years later, Violet comes back home since her father is not well, and she also would like to get her share of money from when her mother passed away. What was supposed to be a short stay turns into a visit filled with disturbing recollections and revealing facts.
Colorful details let me experience the circumstances that occur in the story as though I am there, and what the characters are feelings at each moment is also made perfectly clear. Violet has been tangled up in way too many bad incidents in her life, and the events that take place when she comes back home are often extremely stressful and lead to her feeling much self-doubt. I especially felt sympathy for her when everything seemed so hopeless. With all the possibilities for what is happening, my own guesses were constantly changing. Debbie Herbert tells the situations from the point of view of various characters and different time periods, thus letting me realize what really occurred and who was involved. COLD WATERS is grippingly suspenseful with intriguing developments.
When the friend of Violet Henderson disappeared one night after the two teenagers went for a forbidden swim, most folks in her hometown of Normal, Alabama thought she had more than likely killed her friend. But a crime could not be proven, and she is committed to a mental hospital because of her abnormal behavior after having no memory of that night. Eleven years later, Violet comes back home since her father is not well, and she also would like to get her share of money from when her mother passed away. What was supposed to be a short stay turns into a visit filled with disturbing recollections and revealing facts.
Colorful details let me experience the circumstances that occur in the story as though I am there, and what the characters are feelings at each moment is also made perfectly clear. Violet has been tangled up in way too many bad incidents in her life, and the events that take place when she comes back home are often extremely stressful and lead to her feeling much self-doubt. I especially felt sympathy for her when everything seemed so hopeless. With all the possibilities for what is happening, my own guesses were constantly changing. Debbie Herbert tells the situations from the point of view of various characters and different time periods, thus letting me realize what really occurred and who was involved. COLD WATERS is grippingly suspenseful with intriguing developments.
August 26, 2021
I found the plot a little too predictable and...at times it seemed far-fetched. The story opens with the promise of a great mystery and you will immediately be fascinated with Violet and her haunted past. As we learn about the circumstances surrounding the night of Ainsley’s disappearance...I thought certain details would too easily be revealed as public knowledge. Secrets are rare in small towns where everyone has known everyone for generations...especially among teenagers who love to gossip about and to one another. it strange that, after Ainsley’s disappearance, the entire town immediately jumped to the conclusion that Violet had killed her. Considering Violet’s state of mind...her complete lack of a violent history...as well as the area in which she was found...it just seemed odd to me that she’d be so easily branded as a killer. It was the major flaw in the whole story. I didn’t get the feeling from her background that Violet, as a teen, was the type of outcast that the entire town would happily despise...label a killer...and then openly taunt and mock more than ten years later. The plot went in exactly the direction I thought it would The author’s attempted to keep the reader off balance and doubting... but the setup didn’t offer any other plausible possibilities. What the story did though, was give us an interesting look into a shattered mind. The story does have a solid ending with all the plot points resolved... and we are left with a glimpse into what may be Violet’s future. This will probably be what the future books in this beginning series will focus on.
April 23, 2019
I've wavered over how to rate this book for a few days. There was a lot to like about it but some things that I wasn't so keen on, in the end I decided to round up to four stars because it is basically a well written psychological mystery mixed with a bit of Southern gothic, and as a recipe it works well.
The main character truly frustrated me, for her inability to see through the things going on around her, but in hindsight I'm sure the author has a much better grasp on the mindset of someone in her mental state than I do, so it's probably an accurate account of how she would be thinking. On the plus side it did inspire a lot of empathy, I truly felt sorry for her and angry with the people who were wronging her. There were very few "nice" people in this book. Almost everyone had an angle and was manipulating poor Violet for one reason or another.
As a mystery, it wasn't the hardest to figure out although I didn't necessarily see all the twists or complexities of the plot. It became more of a "how can this end well?" rather than a "whodunnit". That doesn't detract from the story, though, and I did enjoy it in a slightly masochistic way. Good writing, well developed if slightly melodramatic characters, and a plot that has you rooting for the underdog all make this a very worthwhile read.
The main character truly frustrated me, for her inability to see through the things going on around her, but in hindsight I'm sure the author has a much better grasp on the mindset of someone in her mental state than I do, so it's probably an accurate account of how she would be thinking. On the plus side it did inspire a lot of empathy, I truly felt sorry for her and angry with the people who were wronging her. There were very few "nice" people in this book. Almost everyone had an angle and was manipulating poor Violet for one reason or another.
As a mystery, it wasn't the hardest to figure out although I didn't necessarily see all the twists or complexities of the plot. It became more of a "how can this end well?" rather than a "whodunnit". That doesn't detract from the story, though, and I did enjoy it in a slightly masochistic way. Good writing, well developed if slightly melodramatic characters, and a plot that has you rooting for the underdog all make this a very worthwhile read.
April 4, 2019
Two girls go into the woods for a midnight swim but only one stumbles out incoherent and unable to remember what happened.
A decade later, a skeleton is discovered and old secrets come to light.
There were many narrators in this story which might have been confusing but actually added to the insight into the characters’ psyche.
The central character earns sympathy off the top though it’s unclear exactly her role in her friend’s disappearance. Is she guilty or was it all an accident?
Getting to the answer was satisfying for us as readers but oddly enough the character does not realize the truth. Interesting way to end!
A decade later, a skeleton is discovered and old secrets come to light.
There were many narrators in this story which might have been confusing but actually added to the insight into the characters’ psyche.
The central character earns sympathy off the top though it’s unclear exactly her role in her friend’s disappearance. Is she guilty or was it all an accident?
Getting to the answer was satisfying for us as readers but oddly enough the character does not realize the truth. Interesting way to end!
April 9, 2019
Unfortunately this just didn’t work for me; I felt that the characters were all flat, confusing and unlikable, the twists weren’t twists at all and the revelations were dull.
October 16, 2019
Wow, where to start. I suppose I'll begin with the utterly ridiculous twists--Hyacinth faked her death, Boone somehow swapped a corpse (?!) to help her, Violet's parentage. I didn't care for the crow subplot because it seemed so extraneous to the plot, despite the author's best efforts to make it seem important. This applies to Violet's weird witchy superstitions as well.
The plot is very predictable and almost formulaic, like the author had a list of "Things to Include in Your Southern Mystery Novel". It's all very cheesy, which matches the author's weird amateurish writing. Here are some choice quotes that either made me laugh or roll my eyes:
1) "The cell phone on my desk rang, vibrating the wooden tabletop like a Mexican jumping bean cranked on steroids." What the fuck? That's the most outlandish comparison--just say the cell phone vibrated the table and move on.
2) "Serve up my own dish of southern-fried justice." BARF. I hope the author didn't think this genuinely sounded cool. Also, hey, all authors: just because your story takes place in the south doesn't mean you have to crank up the 'southern-ness'. Just write the damn story. And STOP giving southern African-Americans these horrible 'blaccents' while your white characters talk normally. It's racist and annoying. You DON'T have to write in an accent--if you tell us where the characters are from, we can hear it in our heads. (I'm looking at you, too, Outlander.)
3) "The necklace glittered against the dark wood like a harmless little doodad." This reads like a highschooler's writing. "He was as tall as a six-foot-tall tree". That's what this line is. It's bad.
4) "Without even trying, Violet exuded sexiness with a natural, exotic beauty that outshone me." BARF AGAIN, THIS TIME EXTRA HARD. So she was beautiful and didn't know it. Did One Direction write this line? I hate this trope.
I SUPER hated the 'mentally ill lesbian' thing that was going on. And then at the end Violet says she's not a lesbian and likes men only? She's bisexual, Debbie. Let LGBTQ people exist and also NOT BE MENTALLY ILL. I'm SO SICK of authors making their unstable characters LGBTQ like it's another symptom of their illness.
Naming the town 'Normal' was a bit too on the nose. The author lacks the subtlety needed to write a good mystery.
It is clear the author knows little to nothing about mental health and healthcare. The way the mentally ill and the institutions that care for them is written in a blatantly ignorant manner.
Finally, even if Delaney dealt the final blow, Violet did indeed commit a crime and shouldn't have gotten away with it. Hyacinth and Boone too. Put 'em all away.
The plot is very predictable and almost formulaic, like the author had a list of "Things to Include in Your Southern Mystery Novel". It's all very cheesy, which matches the author's weird amateurish writing. Here are some choice quotes that either made me laugh or roll my eyes:
1) "The cell phone on my desk rang, vibrating the wooden tabletop like a Mexican jumping bean cranked on steroids." What the fuck? That's the most outlandish comparison--just say the cell phone vibrated the table and move on.
2) "Serve up my own dish of southern-fried justice." BARF. I hope the author didn't think this genuinely sounded cool. Also, hey, all authors: just because your story takes place in the south doesn't mean you have to crank up the 'southern-ness'. Just write the damn story. And STOP giving southern African-Americans these horrible 'blaccents' while your white characters talk normally. It's racist and annoying. You DON'T have to write in an accent--if you tell us where the characters are from, we can hear it in our heads. (I'm looking at you, too, Outlander.)
3) "The necklace glittered against the dark wood like a harmless little doodad." This reads like a highschooler's writing. "He was as tall as a six-foot-tall tree". That's what this line is. It's bad.
4) "Without even trying, Violet exuded sexiness with a natural, exotic beauty that outshone me." BARF AGAIN, THIS TIME EXTRA HARD. So she was beautiful and didn't know it. Did One Direction write this line? I hate this trope.
I SUPER hated the 'mentally ill lesbian' thing that was going on. And then at the end Violet says she's not a lesbian and likes men only? She's bisexual, Debbie. Let LGBTQ people exist and also NOT BE MENTALLY ILL. I'm SO SICK of authors making their unstable characters LGBTQ like it's another symptom of their illness.
Naming the town 'Normal' was a bit too on the nose. The author lacks the subtlety needed to write a good mystery.
It is clear the author knows little to nothing about mental health and healthcare. The way the mentally ill and the institutions that care for them is written in a blatantly ignorant manner.
Finally, even if Delaney dealt the final blow, Violet did indeed commit a crime and shouldn't have gotten away with it. Hyacinth and Boone too. Put 'em all away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2019
Cold Waters was my Kindle First pick for the month of April 2019...
... And I think I did a pretty good job picking this month!
The book begins with the main character, a young woman by the name of Violet Henderson, returning to her hometown of Normal, Alabama after she is finally declared mentally competent and released from the state's care. News of Violet's homecoming quickly spreads like wildfire through the small town of Normal, dredging up a lot of pain for several of the town's citizens, especially the parents of her best friend, Ainsley Dalfred, who vanished on the same night Violet was found wandering around Hatchet Lake in a state of what was eventually diagnosed as dissociative fugue. Since Violet was the last person to see Ainsley alive, many folks (including Ainsley's justice-seeking parents) suspect that Violet played a role in whatever happened to the girl; however, even after years of therapy, Violet can not remember all of the events from that night. In Normal, Violet has always been considered "guilty until proven innocent"and not even Violet herself knows the full truth.
As if the townspeople's hushed whispers and open stares weren't enough to make life difficult for Violet upon her arrival home, she also finds that the temperamental, always difficult, occasionally abusive father she knew in her youth is now a weakened, fragile old man suffering from dementia. To make matters worse, she also finds that her older sister Delaney, is even more manipulative and untrustworthy than she was as a teenager... Violet feels that things are definitely not quite right around the Henderson household, but every time she thinks she is close to finding out what is really going on, she's made to question not only her own sanity--but also her possible role in Ainsley's disappearance all those years ago. When Violet hears rumors that Hatchet Lake is being drained, she is horrified at the thought of what (or who) they may find at the bottom...
One thing is for sure... Normal, Alabama is full of secrets that are just as cold and dark as the depths of the lake itself and these secrets would sure love to stay buried.
... And I think I did a pretty good job picking this month!
The book begins with the main character, a young woman by the name of Violet Henderson, returning to her hometown of Normal, Alabama after she is finally declared mentally competent and released from the state's care. News of Violet's homecoming quickly spreads like wildfire through the small town of Normal, dredging up a lot of pain for several of the town's citizens, especially the parents of her best friend, Ainsley Dalfred, who vanished on the same night Violet was found wandering around Hatchet Lake in a state of what was eventually diagnosed as dissociative fugue. Since Violet was the last person to see Ainsley alive, many folks (including Ainsley's justice-seeking parents) suspect that Violet played a role in whatever happened to the girl; however, even after years of therapy, Violet can not remember all of the events from that night. In Normal, Violet has always been considered "guilty until proven innocent"and not even Violet herself knows the full truth.
As if the townspeople's hushed whispers and open stares weren't enough to make life difficult for Violet upon her arrival home, she also finds that the temperamental, always difficult, occasionally abusive father she knew in her youth is now a weakened, fragile old man suffering from dementia. To make matters worse, she also finds that her older sister Delaney, is even more manipulative and untrustworthy than she was as a teenager... Violet feels that things are definitely not quite right around the Henderson household, but every time she thinks she is close to finding out what is really going on, she's made to question not only her own sanity--but also her possible role in Ainsley's disappearance all those years ago. When Violet hears rumors that Hatchet Lake is being drained, she is horrified at the thought of what (or who) they may find at the bottom...
One thing is for sure... Normal, Alabama is full of secrets that are just as cold and dark as the depths of the lake itself and these secrets would sure love to stay buried.
May 16, 2019
Got this books as my March Amazon First Reads and absolutely loved it! I’m so happy with my choice! I’m not sure how there’s going to be a second book with how it ended but I guess I will wait and see.
July 6, 2019
Alabama mystery
I totally enjoyed this mystery of two sisters and their friend, living in the small town of Normal. The tragedy of disappearance of Ainsley, changes life for so many . The twists and turns were totally unexpected, and I loved the ending.
I totally enjoyed this mystery of two sisters and their friend, living in the small town of Normal. The tragedy of disappearance of Ainsley, changes life for so many . The twists and turns were totally unexpected, and I loved the ending.
April 28, 2019
Probably 3.5 stars. I wouldn't really call it a "thriller"... more like a mystery. It played out pretty much as expected, but was still enjoyable.
June 18, 2019
What a page turner!
This book had oodles of good and bad. Good hearted Violet who is suffering from the guilt of an incident over a decade ago. She comes back from a mental health rehab to her hometown and wants to stand on her own two feet. But when she gets to Normal everyone around her is just evil. The only safe place for her was the institution she lived in all those years.
With everyone conniving around her, she has to prove her innocence. And somehow manages to do it.
The mystery of who committed the crime can be figured out early on in the book. The characters were quite well thought of and the writing was apt. It kept the pace easy to read for this book.
A quick and good read!
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
This book had oodles of good and bad. Good hearted Violet who is suffering from the guilt of an incident over a decade ago. She comes back from a mental health rehab to her hometown and wants to stand on her own two feet. But when she gets to Normal everyone around her is just evil. The only safe place for her was the institution she lived in all those years.
With everyone conniving around her, she has to prove her innocence. And somehow manages to do it.
The mystery of who committed the crime can be figured out early on in the book. The characters were quite well thought of and the writing was apt. It kept the pace easy to read for this book.
A quick and good read!
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
April 9, 2019
It left a bad taste in my mouth. They kept trying to convince us the protagonist was a good person, a little too hard. Maybe she was a good person in bad circumstances, but how could she live with the way this book ended? I agree with many of the reviews - flat characters, too many tropes, badly planned and too many unbelievable twists. There weren't any characters we could like... they were all pretty despicable. SPOILERS:, but I kept expecting Violet to grow some balls and go to the police with the few truths she knew. Ugh - I liked it up until they brought her mother back from the dead and was on her side until then... then it all just got out of control - unbelievable and no strength to any of them
Also an Amazon First Reads - Read the book in a day
Also an Amazon First Reads - Read the book in a day
July 15, 2020
I'm a sucker for flawed characters, and COLD WATERS does not disappoint. It's about a trainwreck-y (but likable) girl who returns to her small town to sort out an inheritance; she gets to deal with all sorts of fun things, like a passive-aggressive family and unfriendly townsfolk. There is a mystery involved, but to delve into it in this review would spoil the fun for you reading it! Just get the book, nd you'll get sucked in!
This was the first book I read by Debbie Herbert, and I was little mad at myself for not reading her books sooner. Before I was finished with this one, I was online ordering the second book in the series, SCORCHED GROUNDS—which is equally fantastic! 100% recommend.
This was the first book I read by Debbie Herbert, and I was little mad at myself for not reading her books sooner. Before I was finished with this one, I was online ordering the second book in the series, SCORCHED GROUNDS—which is equally fantastic! 100% recommend.
August 21, 2019
Dark and healing
This was a very hard book for me to finish. It is just dark enough to feel a weight within me to feel the heaviness of the actions of those involved. Strong plot and deep characters make this a strong, moving, and suspenseful book.
This was a very hard book for me to finish. It is just dark enough to feel a weight within me to feel the heaviness of the actions of those involved. Strong plot and deep characters make this a strong, moving, and suspenseful book.
April 24, 2019
I did my best and lost patience at about 80% in when THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE PLOT TWIST EVER (tm) occurred. I finished it anyway. Good luck and skill to you, on this journey of WTF.
April 30, 2019
Loved Cold Waters! This book blew me away. A surprise ending I didn't see coming. A fast paced mystery thriller that will have you guessing. Great characters in this riveting novel. I loved the evil Delaney. And my heart broke for sweet Violet. A mesmerizing plot, this book has it all.
I give Cold Waters 5 stars for its thrilling read.
I would recommend this book to Mystery/Thriller fans.
I give Cold Waters 5 stars for its thrilling read.
I would recommend this book to Mystery/Thriller fans.
August 15, 2019
Terrible
I kept reading, hoping it would get better . . . A mangled, predictable plot. I won't be reading this series!
I kept reading, hoping it would get better . . . A mangled, predictable plot. I won't be reading this series!
April 3, 2019
Debbie Herbert's writing style makes it easy to get lost in the story. I felt like I was there in the small town of Normal, Alabama, along with the colorful cast of characters. That being said, I found the plot too predictable and, at times, far-fetched.
The story opens with a bang, and I was immediately fascinated by Violet and her haunted past. As we learn about the circumstances surrounding the night of Ainsley's disappearance, I thought certain details would too easily be public knowledge, or at least openly hinted at. Secrets are rare in a small town, particularly among teenagers who love to gossip about one another.
I also found it strange that, after Ainsley's disappearance, the entire town immediately jumped to the conclusion that Violet had killed her. Given Violet's mental state, her absence of a violent history, and the area in which she was found, it seemed odd that she'd so easily be branded a murderer. This, to me, was the major flaw in the story. I didn't get the sense that Violet, as a teen, was the type of outcast an entire town would happily despise, label a killer, and then openly taunt and mock more than a decade later.
The plot went in exactly the direction I expected. Despite the author's attempts at keeping us off balance and doubting, the setup didn't offer any other plausible possibilities. Still, the story gives us an interesting glimpse into a shattered mind.
Cold Waters has a solid ending, with all plot points resolved. We're left with a glimpse into Violet's future, which I assume will be the focus going forward with this series.
The story opens with a bang, and I was immediately fascinated by Violet and her haunted past. As we learn about the circumstances surrounding the night of Ainsley's disappearance, I thought certain details would too easily be public knowledge, or at least openly hinted at. Secrets are rare in a small town, particularly among teenagers who love to gossip about one another.
I also found it strange that, after Ainsley's disappearance, the entire town immediately jumped to the conclusion that Violet had killed her. Given Violet's mental state, her absence of a violent history, and the area in which she was found, it seemed odd that she'd so easily be branded a murderer. This, to me, was the major flaw in the story. I didn't get the sense that Violet, as a teen, was the type of outcast an entire town would happily despise, label a killer, and then openly taunt and mock more than a decade later.
The plot went in exactly the direction I expected. Despite the author's attempts at keeping us off balance and doubting, the setup didn't offer any other plausible possibilities. Still, the story gives us an interesting glimpse into a shattered mind.
Cold Waters has a solid ending, with all plot points resolved. We're left with a glimpse into Violet's future, which I assume will be the focus going forward with this series.
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