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Dead Cold Mystery #19
Death in Dexter
There hadn’t been a crime in Dexter, upstate New York, since 1865. It was a long time coming, but when it came, on the 21st September, 2012, it was ugly. It was murder.
It was the murder of a seventeen year-old girl, beaten, raped and strangled, then stabbed in the heart with a hunting knife. The DNA recovered from the corpse was contaminated and corrupted, but the DNA recovered from her clothes at home was clear. It was her stepfather’s, just like the fingerprints on her arms and her face where she had been beaten. It should heave been an open and shut case, but there was a problem. When seventeen year-old Debbie was being murdered, her step father was drinking beer with the deputy.
So who killed Debbie Smith?
Seven years after the murder, the sheriff of Franklin County wants an answer. And he’s heard that the 43rd in the Bronx has a team who specialize in cracking cold cases. But as the fall sets in in upstate new York, this case may be just too cold to crack.
Or too hot…
It was the murder of a seventeen year-old girl, beaten, raped and strangled, then stabbed in the heart with a hunting knife. The DNA recovered from the corpse was contaminated and corrupted, but the DNA recovered from her clothes at home was clear. It was her stepfather’s, just like the fingerprints on her arms and her face where she had been beaten. It should heave been an open and shut case, but there was a problem. When seventeen year-old Debbie was being murdered, her step father was drinking beer with the deputy.
So who killed Debbie Smith?
Seven years after the murder, the sheriff of Franklin County wants an answer. And he’s heard that the 43rd in the Bronx has a team who specialize in cracking cold cases. But as the fall sets in in upstate new York, this case may be just too cold to crack.
Or too hot…
146 pages, ebook
Published September 16, 2019
About the author
Blake Banner
230 books425 followersUSA TODAY and Amazon #1 bestselling author of the OMEGA and DEAD COLD MYSTERY series. Learn more about Blake Banner at his website: www.blakebanner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 27, 2020
These books are so addictive that every time I read one I have to read another. Five more and I have caught up with the author. Luckily he has another different series which I have not tried yet!
Death in Dexter stands out in this series as one in which Stone and Dehan's relationship changes. I am very interested to find out what happens next! Apart from that the book was exactly what I expect - a good story and an intriguing mystery with lots of action and plenty of humour.
Keep them coming Mr. Banner!
Death in Dexter stands out in this series as one in which Stone and Dehan's relationship changes. I am very interested to find out what happens next! Apart from that the book was exactly what I expect - a good story and an intriguing mystery with lots of action and plenty of humour.
Keep them coming Mr. Banner!
September 22, 2019
After reading every new story in this series I think it is the best. Then I read the next and so it goes on. So here we are again, another really good one.
This time the Sheriff of Franklin County has asked for their help in finding the answers to a seven year old cold case. A seventeen year old girl had been raped and brutally murdered. Who was guilty was not properly answered. What seemed like a straightforward case soon showed signs of coming unstuck.
Did the 3 boys rape and kill Debbie? Or was it Bart? So many questions and not the right answers.
Stone and Dehan certainly have a mystery on their hands. Things aren't helped with the pair as Dehan has something on her mind and is reluctant to talk about it to Stone.
All is revealed eventually re both mysteries. A really satisfying read.
This time the Sheriff of Franklin County has asked for their help in finding the answers to a seven year old cold case. A seventeen year old girl had been raped and brutally murdered. Who was guilty was not properly answered. What seemed like a straightforward case soon showed signs of coming unstuck.
Did the 3 boys rape and kill Debbie? Or was it Bart? So many questions and not the right answers.
Stone and Dehan certainly have a mystery on their hands. Things aren't helped with the pair as Dehan has something on her mind and is reluctant to talk about it to Stone.
All is revealed eventually re both mysteries. A really satisfying read.
July 11, 2021
The team goes to north east NY state. Invited.to solve a 12 year old murder.
Great descriptions of the town and the area. Which one expects.
As usual some surprises at least one that becomes.obvious.
As to characters innvolved, that was a big stretch for me. Young guys who 12 years later haven't changed much at all. Not the sharpest.guys either. And why weren't they investigated more deeply to begin with? Just odd.
And I may have missed it, but who pays for.their.lawyer?
Not the best in this series but I'll read the next one
Great descriptions of the town and the area. Which one expects.
As usual some surprises at least one that becomes.obvious.
As to characters innvolved, that was a big stretch for me. Young guys who 12 years later haven't changed much at all. Not the sharpest.guys either. And why weren't they investigated more deeply to begin with? Just odd.
And I may have missed it, but who pays for.their.lawyer?
Not the best in this series but I'll read the next one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2022
What a disappointing book in this series. The plot was muddied and exaggerated. I felt like I was watching a bad tv show. There is just so much I didn’t like: I HATE how racist, sexist, and NYC-centric this writer is and how living outside of New York City the dialogue written is as if those people are hicks. I found much of the novella irritating and insulting. Plus, there were so many mistakes, from spelling to grammar to incorrect words used. I’ve said it over and over: this author needs a good editor. I would definitely skip this book.
August 4, 2024
4.5 stars
Death in Dexter is the nineteenth book in the Dead Cold Mystery series by Blake Banner.
Great series. Cold Cases. Crime and investigation. Mystery. Suspense. Detectives. Police procedural. Intrigue. Tension. Dramatic developments. Action. Engrossing.
Would make a superb TV series.
Full Review to come.
Death in Dexter is the nineteenth book in the Dead Cold Mystery series by Blake Banner.
Great series. Cold Cases. Crime and investigation. Mystery. Suspense. Detectives. Police procedural. Intrigue. Tension. Dramatic developments. Action. Engrossing.
Would make a superb TV series.
Full Review to come.
December 17, 2021
Death in Dexter
Murder and mystery in the country woods where most everyone is a good ole boy or best friends with one. The ending was consistent with the territory and fitting for the overall scene.
Murder and mystery in the country woods where most everyone is a good ole boy or best friends with one. The ending was consistent with the territory and fitting for the overall scene.
October 15, 2022
Full of mystery and emotions.
Well, I did have the answer well before the end.
But NOTHING kept the ball running like Mr. Banner.
Three cheers to Blake!!
Monica Beltrami. Montevideo, Uruguay.
Well, I did have the answer well before the end.
But NOTHING kept the ball running like Mr. Banner.
Three cheers to Blake!!
Monica Beltrami. Montevideo, Uruguay.
August 25, 2023
From Start to Finish
Always grabs you from the very start. Twists and turns till it all comes together after struggling to get to the bottom of the mystery that everyone before has missed.
Always grabs you from the very start. Twists and turns till it all comes together after struggling to get to the bottom of the mystery that everyone before has missed.
May 30, 2026
And yet another topsy-turny ride through “whodunit” with Blake Banner. Definitely another fun read with an unexpected ending. But some super exciting revelations for Stone and Carmen!! Eek!! Love this series!!
August 3, 2020
I really like the characters in these books! Easy, quick, enjoyable read.
October 7, 2020
Another good one!
Great read. The ending was great and unexpected. The only disappointment was Dehan news. I was left hanging. I don't want give away. Read!!!
Great read. The ending was great and unexpected. The only disappointment was Dehan news. I was left hanging. I don't want give away. Read!!!
November 30, 2020
Another page turner with a twist that will leave you surprised just. Like all the other books in the series so far
June 27, 2021
Wow! So exciting…as always…a very good mystery. But one thing was not answered…hope to have it in the next book! Lol… gotta read it to know what I am talking about. Hahaha.
June 27, 2021
This was good I thought it was the wife dianne...but again you flipped it. Loved it. Oh and what happened with Dehan...was it positive or negative....left us hanging..
April 21, 2022
Enjoyed this book. Love this series.
January 2, 2023
Another great read as always!
Writing this review after reading the next in the series, Kindle version didn’t have an Epilogue and think something key is missing, anyone confirm?
Writing this review after reading the next in the series, Kindle version didn’t have an Epilogue and think something key is missing, anyone confirm?
February 27, 2023
Holy cow….what an ending!!
December 17, 2023
Actually less of the normal problem with this series in this entry, but the ending was also too easy to see coming, so it's still not quite five stars for me.
October 24, 2024
Another solid entry in the series. I wish Dehan was the one solving the case one of these novels.
January 21, 2025
My rating 4-1/2 stars
June 11, 2025
exciting, plenty of tension and of course twist after twist
February 15, 2026
Dead cold is best
This series continues to be the best. The characters are relatable and there are always I miss. Start with the first
This series continues to be the best. The characters are relatable and there are always I miss. Start with the first
June 13, 2026
Great Cold Case
This plot was complicated, and it took quite some time to finally figure out who was the real perpetrator. On to book 20!
This plot was complicated, and it took quite some time to finally figure out who was the real perpetrator. On to book 20!
August 4, 2026
★★★★☆.75
This is officially my favourite book in the Cold Cases series so far 🕵️♂️🙂↕️ I've read 19 books in this series now and while a few have come close to being five-star reads, this one easily takes the top spot for me.
The case itself was incredibly dark and honestly had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end 😳 a sheriff asks Stone and Dehan to reopen a seven-year-old cold case, only to start backing out once it becomes clear that Stone is getting close to the truth. That alone had me questioning everyone in this small town because it quickly became obvious that people were hiding far more than they wanted to admit 🙄
Debbie's story was heartbreaking. She wasn't portrayed as the most likeable character and she definitely made questionable decisions but none of that justified what happened to her. The fact that she was brutally assaulted and murdered was devastating and I really appreciated that the book never tried to excuse what had happened to her because of the way she behaved 💔
I loved following Stone and Dehan as they interviewed each suspect. Every single person had a motive and I kept changing my mind about who I thought was responsible. At first, I was convinced it had to be one of the three boys involved in the assault, then I suspected her stepfather and then the story completely changed direction again.
One part that really unsettled me was Debbie's stepfather. Throughout the book, he constantly spoke about loving her like a daughter, only for us to discover that he'd crossed an unforgivable line with her. That revelation honestly made my skin crawl and completely changed how I viewed his character. Who sleeps with their stepdaughter when you admitted she was like one of your own??? 🥴
The biggest surprise, though, was the real killer. I genuinely thought Bart was responsible for everything, especially considering how suspicious he seemed throughout the investigation. I never expected it to actually be his brother, Dan. Finding out that Debbie had humiliated him after he rejected her advances, leading him to murder her, completely caught me off guard 😅
The story didn't stop there either. Once the three boys involved in Debbie's assault were released on bail, they were all murdered one by one. Stone had predicted something like that would happen but I still wasn't expecting just how brutal those scenes would be!
The ending did feel a little rushed, with everything happening quickly but it was still incredibly intense. Watching Stone race to save Dehan before ultimately confronting Dan had me flying through the final chapter 😭
One of my favourite things about this series is Stone and Dehan's relationship. It's been so rewarding watching them go from investigative partners to falling in love, getting married and now potentially becoming parents. I'm really hoping that's the direction the next books take because I've become so invested in their journey together 🥹🥰
Overall, this was easily my favourite case of the entire series so far. It was dark, gripping, emotional and packed with enough twists to keep me guessing until the very end. The mystery had me completely hooked and even though the ending felt slightly rushed, it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the book. I genuinely can't wait to see what case they tackle next and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll finally get some happy news for Stone and Dehan too 🤭
This is officially my favourite book in the Cold Cases series so far 🕵️♂️🙂↕️ I've read 19 books in this series now and while a few have come close to being five-star reads, this one easily takes the top spot for me.
The case itself was incredibly dark and honestly had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end 😳 a sheriff asks Stone and Dehan to reopen a seven-year-old cold case, only to start backing out once it becomes clear that Stone is getting close to the truth. That alone had me questioning everyone in this small town because it quickly became obvious that people were hiding far more than they wanted to admit 🙄
Debbie's story was heartbreaking. She wasn't portrayed as the most likeable character and she definitely made questionable decisions but none of that justified what happened to her. The fact that she was brutally assaulted and murdered was devastating and I really appreciated that the book never tried to excuse what had happened to her because of the way she behaved 💔
I loved following Stone and Dehan as they interviewed each suspect. Every single person had a motive and I kept changing my mind about who I thought was responsible. At first, I was convinced it had to be one of the three boys involved in the assault, then I suspected her stepfather and then the story completely changed direction again.
One part that really unsettled me was Debbie's stepfather. Throughout the book, he constantly spoke about loving her like a daughter, only for us to discover that he'd crossed an unforgivable line with her. That revelation honestly made my skin crawl and completely changed how I viewed his character. Who sleeps with their stepdaughter when you admitted she was like one of your own??? 🥴
The biggest surprise, though, was the real killer. I genuinely thought Bart was responsible for everything, especially considering how suspicious he seemed throughout the investigation. I never expected it to actually be his brother, Dan. Finding out that Debbie had humiliated him after he rejected her advances, leading him to murder her, completely caught me off guard 😅
The story didn't stop there either. Once the three boys involved in Debbie's assault were released on bail, they were all murdered one by one. Stone had predicted something like that would happen but I still wasn't expecting just how brutal those scenes would be!
The ending did feel a little rushed, with everything happening quickly but it was still incredibly intense. Watching Stone race to save Dehan before ultimately confronting Dan had me flying through the final chapter 😭
One of my favourite things about this series is Stone and Dehan's relationship. It's been so rewarding watching them go from investigative partners to falling in love, getting married and now potentially becoming parents. I'm really hoping that's the direction the next books take because I've become so invested in their journey together 🥹🥰
Overall, this was easily my favourite case of the entire series so far. It was dark, gripping, emotional and packed with enough twists to keep me guessing until the very end. The mystery had me completely hooked and even though the ending felt slightly rushed, it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the book. I genuinely can't wait to see what case they tackle next and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll finally get some happy news for Stone and Dehan too 🤭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2019
Death In Dexter Blake Banner
Cold case NYPD homicide detectives Stone and Dehan are assigned a cold case in a small town called Dexter. A small enough town where families go back for a very long time , hundreds of years. A brutal rape and murder occurred to a beautiful young girl. She was a beautiful, seductive, manipulating evil girl with no moral compass. Her rapist, actually the wrong one was convicted but the murder was never solved. Stone and Dehan will leave no stone unturned. It will almost break the back of this small town. Justice is never simple. A magnificent read, another classic murder mystery. Enjoyed immensely!
Cold case NYPD homicide detectives Stone and Dehan are assigned a cold case in a small town called Dexter. A small enough town where families go back for a very long time , hundreds of years. A brutal rape and murder occurred to a beautiful young girl. She was a beautiful, seductive, manipulating evil girl with no moral compass. Her rapist, actually the wrong one was convicted but the murder was never solved. Stone and Dehan will leave no stone unturned. It will almost break the back of this small town. Justice is never simple. A magnificent read, another classic murder mystery. Enjoyed immensely!
October 8, 2019
ANOTHER 5-STAR EPISODE TO THE ‘DEAD COLD MYSTERY’ SERIES
As if there weren’t enough at the 43rd Precinct, now Stone & Dehan find themselves in upstate New York trying to unravel a 7-year-old rape-murder of a 17-year-old teenaged girl.
What follows is another Blake Banner adventure into the Cold Case files.
As if there weren’t enough at the 43rd Precinct, now Stone & Dehan find themselves in upstate New York trying to unravel a 7-year-old rape-murder of a 17-year-old teenaged girl.
What follows is another Blake Banner adventure into the Cold Case files.
November 8, 2019
Death in Dexter
I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series of books. I have read all of the Dead Cold Books, and I have enjoyed every single one of them. I am looking forward to the next book already and highly recommend this series. Please keep them coming. Blake Banner is a truly talented author and a great storyteller.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series of books. I have read all of the Dead Cold Books, and I have enjoyed every single one of them. I am looking forward to the next book already and highly recommend this series. Please keep them coming. Blake Banner is a truly talented author and a great storyteller.
September 21, 2019
Suspense to the end,. Stone & Dehan show they are just as skilled in sm
Stone &Dehan show they're just as capable working a case in a small town as in the big city. They keep us guessing till the end. Another great plot.
Stone &Dehan show they're just as capable working a case in a small town as in the big city. They keep us guessing till the end. Another great plot.
October 17, 2019
A Great Series
What a fun read! I loved the ending and I'm so looking forward to finding out how the next chapter in Stone and Dehan's lives will play out while solving their next cold case.
What a fun read! I loved the ending and I'm so looking forward to finding out how the next chapter in Stone and Dehan's lives will play out while solving their next cold case.
September 16, 2019
God enough to reread. Warning: death involves sexual assault.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews