What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dead Won't Tell
What lies in the past should not be uncovered.
When Abbie Adams, a historian-turned-journalist, is hired to investigate a cold-case murder from 1969, she jumps at the chance. But soon after she begins researching the case, she realizes that Frank Wexler, the faculty advisor who tanked her thesis and a member of a powerful family in town, is connected to the crime and is definitely not talking.
As Abbie tracks down the remaining living witnesses, she slowly pieces together the events of that fateful night, and yet is not a single step closer to solving the case. Were the police back then told to stand down? To cover up the crime?
When her witnesses suddenly wind up dead, it becomes clear that Abbie has stumbled upon a sensitive truth that threatens to tear the fabric of the Southern town apart. The killer could still be out there, and now he could be hunting her.
When Abbie Adams, a historian-turned-journalist, is hired to investigate a cold-case murder from 1969, she jumps at the chance. But soon after she begins researching the case, she realizes that Frank Wexler, the faculty advisor who tanked her thesis and a member of a powerful family in town, is connected to the crime and is definitely not talking.
As Abbie tracks down the remaining living witnesses, she slowly pieces together the events of that fateful night, and yet is not a single step closer to solving the case. Were the police back then told to stand down? To cover up the crime?
When her witnesses suddenly wind up dead, it becomes clear that Abbie has stumbled upon a sensitive truth that threatens to tear the fabric of the Southern town apart. The killer could still be out there, and now he could be hunting her.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published September 20, 2022
31 people are currently reading
7609 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 28, 2023
Abbie Adams, historian-turned-journalist, is hired to write an article about a cold-case murder which took place in 1969 in Hunt's Landing, a small town in Alabama. As she slowly pieces together the events of that fateful night, she's no closer to solving the case; in fact she seems to be stirring up some long buried secrets.
I'm fairly new to audiobooks and Will Collyer is the first male narrator I've had the pleasure of listening to. Christine Lakin, the female narrator, did an excellent job voicing the different characters as well as the southern accents. I don't think this will ever become my preferred method of reading though. The characters are realistic and the story is an interesting look into a small southern town, current day which in this case is 2015 as well as 40-some years ago. Abbie's college friend Joss Freeman is also in town trying to find a Civil War connection in Hunt's Landing for a television program he plans to pitch to the network executives so we're also privy to some historical information on that aspect. This isn't an edge-of-your-seat mystery but it's well written and comes to a somewhat surprising conclusion.
My thanks to CamCat Books, via Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to this debut novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Duration: 11 h 40 m
Published: September 20, 2022
I'm fairly new to audiobooks and Will Collyer is the first male narrator I've had the pleasure of listening to. Christine Lakin, the female narrator, did an excellent job voicing the different characters as well as the southern accents. I don't think this will ever become my preferred method of reading though. The characters are realistic and the story is an interesting look into a small southern town, current day which in this case is 2015 as well as 40-some years ago. Abbie's college friend Joss Freeman is also in town trying to find a Civil War connection in Hunt's Landing for a television program he plans to pitch to the network executives so we're also privy to some historical information on that aspect. This isn't an edge-of-your-seat mystery but it's well written and comes to a somewhat surprising conclusion.
My thanks to CamCat Books, via Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to this debut novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Duration: 11 h 40 m
Published: September 20, 2022
August 25, 2023
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, S.K. Waters, and CamCat Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Debut thrillers can be highly exciting, especially if they author puts all their effort into the publication. S.K. Waters appears to have done just that in this mystery, which held my attention all the way through to the closing pages. A great piece that mixes mystery with history and a little personal struggle. Waters peppers the piece with exciting plot lines and provides a strong protagonist to lead the way. An exciting read that has me hoping S.K. Waters has more to offer soon.
Abbie Adams has a been through a great deal in the last number of years. A single mom after her husband’s death, Abbie is left to raise two teenagers on her own. When she is offered the chance to dabble into the world of journalism, this historian leaps at the opportunity to dig a little deeper into a local cold case from 1969. As Abbie starts peeling back the murder of a black woman who was breaking barriers at the local college, she discovers that Frank Wexler it at the heart of it. Wexler has long been on Abbie’s ‘dislike’ list, ever since, as her faculty advisor, he helped ruin her academic career by squashing her PhD thesis defence. The Wexlers are tangentially involved in the victim’s life and using their power to stay mum on the subject.
While she has been busy piecing things together, Abbie’s college friend, Joss, arrives in Alabama in search of a new idea to pitch for a history program. Joss is working in the Civil War era, but stumbles upon something that could help Abbie with her own investigative work. Just as Abbie appears to be making some headway, witnesses who remember the event begin being killed, as if someone is trying to silence them and keep the murder from ever seeing the light of day.
With strong Southern themes pulsing through the mystery, Abbie will have to work all the angles to see if Frank Wexler, a young college student in 1969, might be holding onto a secret and how that could turn the tides for all involved. With a new cop in town trying to prove himself and bodies piling up, Abbie Adams will have to use her intuition to stay one step ahead of the killer and push through the muck of historical norms to get to the truth and help solve the case. Waters proves she has what it takes with this gripping debut novel.
To say that this book pulled me in would be an understatement. I have long enjoyed novels that mix mystery with history and S.K. Waters did that with such ease. Her ability to construct a strong foundation helped push the story along, adding just the right amount of history to a story that is rich with so many themes. The characters prove well-founded and provide insight into this small Alabama community and all the secrets it has been harbouring for decades. The subtle banter between Abbie and Joss begs more exploration, as does Joss’ own journey. Plot twists abound in a piece that seeks not only to present a mystery, but also push societal norms of the time as the civil rights movement was at its boiling point. Waters kept me wondering and I wanted more, which I hope will come in the form of a second series novel or a new standalone. Now, to wait (im)patiently until then!
Kudos, Madam Waters, for a great novel and a story that kept me up well into the evening to read!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Debut thrillers can be highly exciting, especially if they author puts all their effort into the publication. S.K. Waters appears to have done just that in this mystery, which held my attention all the way through to the closing pages. A great piece that mixes mystery with history and a little personal struggle. Waters peppers the piece with exciting plot lines and provides a strong protagonist to lead the way. An exciting read that has me hoping S.K. Waters has more to offer soon.
Abbie Adams has a been through a great deal in the last number of years. A single mom after her husband’s death, Abbie is left to raise two teenagers on her own. When she is offered the chance to dabble into the world of journalism, this historian leaps at the opportunity to dig a little deeper into a local cold case from 1969. As Abbie starts peeling back the murder of a black woman who was breaking barriers at the local college, she discovers that Frank Wexler it at the heart of it. Wexler has long been on Abbie’s ‘dislike’ list, ever since, as her faculty advisor, he helped ruin her academic career by squashing her PhD thesis defence. The Wexlers are tangentially involved in the victim’s life and using their power to stay mum on the subject.
While she has been busy piecing things together, Abbie’s college friend, Joss, arrives in Alabama in search of a new idea to pitch for a history program. Joss is working in the Civil War era, but stumbles upon something that could help Abbie with her own investigative work. Just as Abbie appears to be making some headway, witnesses who remember the event begin being killed, as if someone is trying to silence them and keep the murder from ever seeing the light of day.
With strong Southern themes pulsing through the mystery, Abbie will have to work all the angles to see if Frank Wexler, a young college student in 1969, might be holding onto a secret and how that could turn the tides for all involved. With a new cop in town trying to prove himself and bodies piling up, Abbie Adams will have to use her intuition to stay one step ahead of the killer and push through the muck of historical norms to get to the truth and help solve the case. Waters proves she has what it takes with this gripping debut novel.
To say that this book pulled me in would be an understatement. I have long enjoyed novels that mix mystery with history and S.K. Waters did that with such ease. Her ability to construct a strong foundation helped push the story along, adding just the right amount of history to a story that is rich with so many themes. The characters prove well-founded and provide insight into this small Alabama community and all the secrets it has been harbouring for decades. The subtle banter between Abbie and Joss begs more exploration, as does Joss’ own journey. Plot twists abound in a piece that seeks not only to present a mystery, but also push societal norms of the time as the civil rights movement was at its boiling point. Waters kept me wondering and I wanted more, which I hope will come in the form of a second series novel or a new standalone. Now, to wait (im)patiently until then!
Kudos, Madam Waters, for a great novel and a story that kept me up well into the evening to read!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 30, 2022
Abbie Adams is a journalist and is hired to investigate a cold case from 1969 involving a murder. Early in her research she discovers that Frank Wexler, a well connected faculty advisor, is somehow connected to this crime. And Frank will not talk about it. As Abbie digs deeper she starts to piece things together but is amazed that the police could not solve this case. Were they in on it somehow? Then witnesses start turning up dead and Abbie is convinced she has uncovered some deeply hidden secrets from the past.
Cold cases are fascinating to me, so I jumped at the chance to read THE DEAD WON’T TELL. I really enjoyed this one, it has a nice slow burn/build up in the first half. And the second half you literally can’t put down. And it all leads up to a fantastic ending! Great job to S.K. Waters, this is a great book!
Thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours for having me on this tour and S.K. Waters and Camcat books for my ARC.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Cold cases are fascinating to me, so I jumped at the chance to read THE DEAD WON’T TELL. I really enjoyed this one, it has a nice slow burn/build up in the first half. And the second half you literally can’t put down. And it all leads up to a fantastic ending! Great job to S.K. Waters, this is a great book!
Thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours for having me on this tour and S.K. Waters and Camcat books for my ARC.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
September 7, 2022
When a local newspaper offers widowed historian-turned-journalist Abbie Adams a byline in exchange for an article detailing the 1969 murder of a young black woman, she suffers both intimidating self-doubt and giddy exhilaration.
As clues point her in the direction of the town’s prominent family, specifically Frank Wexler—the faculty advisor she blames for sabotaging her career years before, Abbie struggles with her ability to remain objective. Suspecting the killer responsible for the sudden deaths of two witnesses who have provided vital information on the cold case, Abbie can’t help but wonder if she’ll soon find herself in the murderer’s crosshairs.
In The Dead Won’t Tell, Waters gives readers a debut novel brimming with interesting characters, above average pacing, and a twist that even a veteran novelist can appreciate. Although I guessed the killer’s identity early on, taking the journey with Abbie made this mystery thriller a novel I won’t soon forget.
As clues point her in the direction of the town’s prominent family, specifically Frank Wexler—the faculty advisor she blames for sabotaging her career years before, Abbie struggles with her ability to remain objective. Suspecting the killer responsible for the sudden deaths of two witnesses who have provided vital information on the cold case, Abbie can’t help but wonder if she’ll soon find herself in the murderer’s crosshairs.
In The Dead Won’t Tell, Waters gives readers a debut novel brimming with interesting characters, above average pacing, and a twist that even a veteran novelist can appreciate. Although I guessed the killer’s identity early on, taking the journey with Abbie made this mystery thriller a novel I won’t soon forget.
September 26, 2022
On July 25th, 1969 a young black college student, Rosalie DuFreyne was murdered in Hunt's Landing, Alabama. After a cursory investigation, she was forgotten. Now, Abbie Adams, a historian who has found her way into journalism is given Rosalie's murder as her first byline. As soon as Rosalie begins digging into Rosalie's life and murder, she finds a connection to her former academic advisor, Frank Wexler. Not only was Dr. Wexler the reason that Abbie's thesis was shot down, but the Wexler family controls money and power in Hunt's Landing. As Abbie finds and interviews people who knew Rosalie and saw her that night, pieces begin to fall into place, but something is still missing. When Abbie's witnesses begin to get killed off, she knows she is close to providing closure for Rosalie.
The Dead Won't Tell is an exciting mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. I was immediately taken in as the night of Rosalie's murder was described in Hunt's Landing, 1969. The town was celebrating the NASA astronauts' successful return to Earth as Rosalie left a party at the Wexler house only to be found dead next to the Tennessee River with a train ticket in her pocket. Abbie is a wonderfully built character as she dives head first into Rosalie's story. With every bit of evidence Abbie uncovers, she is able to rebuild Rosalie and the accomplishments in her life. Through investigating Rosalie's murder, Abbie is also able to come to terms with some of the damage the Wexler family has caused her as well. The suspense builds gradually throughout the story as Abbie digs deeper. It seems that Rosalie might be gone, but she is far from forgotten. With an explosive and unexpected ending, The Dead Won't Tell delivers an exciting and thorough historical mystery.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Dead Won't Tell is an exciting mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. I was immediately taken in as the night of Rosalie's murder was described in Hunt's Landing, 1969. The town was celebrating the NASA astronauts' successful return to Earth as Rosalie left a party at the Wexler house only to be found dead next to the Tennessee River with a train ticket in her pocket. Abbie is a wonderfully built character as she dives head first into Rosalie's story. With every bit of evidence Abbie uncovers, she is able to rebuild Rosalie and the accomplishments in her life. Through investigating Rosalie's murder, Abbie is also able to come to terms with some of the damage the Wexler family has caused her as well. The suspense builds gradually throughout the story as Abbie digs deeper. It seems that Rosalie might be gone, but she is far from forgotten. With an explosive and unexpected ending, The Dead Won't Tell delivers an exciting and thorough historical mystery.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
September 2, 2022
Read this if you
📰 love investigative journalism
👀 want a good whodunnit
2️⃣ like two alternating storylines
🎩 are a history buff
•What it’s about
The Dead Won’t Tell takes place in 2015 but involves events that occurred in 1969. When a young, Black woman named Rosalie is murdered on a hot July night, nobody is found guilty of her murder. Now, nearly 50 years later, Abbie Adams suddenly finds herself investigating her murder for the paper she works at. With no idea what she’s getting herself into, Abbie begins to dig deep. The only problem? Nobody’s willing to talk.
Joss, Abbie’s famous TV star friend, ends up coming to town to search for a new pitch, otherwise he’ll be fired. As he explores small town life and gets to know the residents better, Joss discovers an idea that just might work. As he and Abbie work separately on their own cases, they’ll also be there to give one another a helping hand.
•My thoughts
This was a fun murder mystery. I enjoyed seeing Abbie play amateur detective, especially with such a short deadline. She does a great job, and has the help of several friends along the way. While I was hoping to see more of Joss’s side of the story (hello, awesome treasure hunting?), I felt like the author did a good job of balancing both stories. I think this would make a really excellent movie or tv series! I was also fairly shocked by who ended up being the murderer at the end, too!
📰 love investigative journalism
👀 want a good whodunnit
2️⃣ like two alternating storylines
🎩 are a history buff
•What it’s about
The Dead Won’t Tell takes place in 2015 but involves events that occurred in 1969. When a young, Black woman named Rosalie is murdered on a hot July night, nobody is found guilty of her murder. Now, nearly 50 years later, Abbie Adams suddenly finds herself investigating her murder for the paper she works at. With no idea what she’s getting herself into, Abbie begins to dig deep. The only problem? Nobody’s willing to talk.
Joss, Abbie’s famous TV star friend, ends up coming to town to search for a new pitch, otherwise he’ll be fired. As he explores small town life and gets to know the residents better, Joss discovers an idea that just might work. As he and Abbie work separately on their own cases, they’ll also be there to give one another a helping hand.
•My thoughts
This was a fun murder mystery. I enjoyed seeing Abbie play amateur detective, especially with such a short deadline. She does a great job, and has the help of several friends along the way. While I was hoping to see more of Joss’s side of the story (hello, awesome treasure hunting?), I felt like the author did a good job of balancing both stories. I think this would make a really excellent movie or tv series! I was also fairly shocked by who ended up being the murderer at the end, too!
August 26, 2023
✨Netgalley ARC review ✨
The Dead Won’t Tell by S.K. Waters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: September 20th, 2023.
I listened to the audio book, but it will also be available in physical book form. Mark your calendars! ~ Preorder available now 💀
I love a good crime book with a mystery and this book gave me just that! 🔍
A journalist named Abbie Adams finds she has bitten off more than she can chew by accepting a cold case from the 60’s. While researching, Abbie realizes a very powerful man in town is involved but he refuses to give any answers. She then finds some of the witnesses she’d been interviewing are coming up dead. Abbie must fight to keep herself alive and to figure out what is going on.
I was engaged from start to finish because it was action packed from the start. The mystery aspect also kept me engaged throughout and I really enjoyed the different character personalities. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy mysteries!
#thedeadwonttell #skwaters #honestreview #bookstagram #amazon #goodreads #netgalleywonders #netgalley #netgalleyreads #reviewer
The Dead Won’t Tell by S.K. Waters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: September 20th, 2023.
I listened to the audio book, but it will also be available in physical book form. Mark your calendars! ~ Preorder available now 💀
I love a good crime book with a mystery and this book gave me just that! 🔍
A journalist named Abbie Adams finds she has bitten off more than she can chew by accepting a cold case from the 60’s. While researching, Abbie realizes a very powerful man in town is involved but he refuses to give any answers. She then finds some of the witnesses she’d been interviewing are coming up dead. Abbie must fight to keep herself alive and to figure out what is going on.
I was engaged from start to finish because it was action packed from the start. The mystery aspect also kept me engaged throughout and I really enjoyed the different character personalities. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy mysteries!
#thedeadwonttell #skwaters #honestreview #bookstagram #amazon #goodreads #netgalleywonders #netgalley #netgalleyreads #reviewer
December 13, 2022
This is a suspenseful story that keeps one guessing until the end!
Read full review in the 2022 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2022 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
September 8, 2022
This is a mystery that is revealed slowly over the course of the read, but is nowhere near slow paced. It’s also a two for one mystery because we have two characters who have been friends since college that are working on two separate mysteries in the small town of Hunts Landing, Alabama.
History plays a huge part in both mysteries and both main characters are historians which I think is the coolest job.
There is the small town element, a cold case of a murdered girl in 1969, the moon landing return, AND an alleged Civil War treasure. There are family secrets and hidden agendas. I had no idea how these mysteries were going to play out and I read long past my bedtime to finish this one.
This book appreciates and highlights the process of solving old mysteries through history..and being a history lover thought this was amazing.
About the Book
Abbie is an historian who is given a chance to get her first byline at The Hunts Landing Times. She is tasked with telling the story of an unsolved murder of a black college student from 1969. She is a single mom and a Hunts Landing native. As she digs into history, she finds a unique angle to the murder. But now people she talks to are being killed and injured. So what kind of secrets is this town hiding?
Joss is Abbie’s friend from college. He has used history to become the tv host of America’s Stories. The problem is that his show may be cancelled unless he can find a hot topic on the Civil War. Joss comes to Hunts Landing and hears there may be a Civil War treasure in an old house. He needs this story to keep his show going.
You’ll have to read this one to see how the past and present intersect.
History plays a huge part in both mysteries and both main characters are historians which I think is the coolest job.
There is the small town element, a cold case of a murdered girl in 1969, the moon landing return, AND an alleged Civil War treasure. There are family secrets and hidden agendas. I had no idea how these mysteries were going to play out and I read long past my bedtime to finish this one.
This book appreciates and highlights the process of solving old mysteries through history..and being a history lover thought this was amazing.
About the Book
Abbie is an historian who is given a chance to get her first byline at The Hunts Landing Times. She is tasked with telling the story of an unsolved murder of a black college student from 1969. She is a single mom and a Hunts Landing native. As she digs into history, she finds a unique angle to the murder. But now people she talks to are being killed and injured. So what kind of secrets is this town hiding?
Joss is Abbie’s friend from college. He has used history to become the tv host of America’s Stories. The problem is that his show may be cancelled unless he can find a hot topic on the Civil War. Joss comes to Hunts Landing and hears there may be a Civil War treasure in an old house. He needs this story to keep his show going.
You’ll have to read this one to see how the past and present intersect.
July 24, 2022
First I want to say that I really enjoyed this book. I’m a total history buff, my kids would say history nerd but that’s ok. I am a nerd! Lol:). It started off a little slow but once Abbie got her assignment and started making inquiries into the past it really started picking up. I do have to say that through most of the book I really thought her professor who turned down her thesis was guilty, but then I started looking at it from a different angle and realized she just wanted him to be guilty so she could nail him with something to make herself feel better. When her friend Joss came to visit to research his own historical story things really started getting interesting, especially when both their assignments started connecting together with the same people and same families. Everything started to make sense and just watching the clues come together was fascinating. When I finally had a guess to who the killer was, not saying bc if you want to find out, you will have to read it. When I found out I was correct all I could think was such a pretentious snob, just had to have the family name. But really, did this person really have the family name? Not really.
There is a very strong character base and I have to say that all the characters in this book were very strong indeed and everyone mattered to the end result.
I received this ARC from BookSirens and volunteered my review. My opinions are my own.
P.S. I read the author is originally from NJ and I’m curious as to where bc I live in NJ by Cape May.
There is a very strong character base and I have to say that all the characters in this book were very strong indeed and everyone mattered to the end result.
I received this ARC from BookSirens and volunteered my review. My opinions are my own.
P.S. I read the author is originally from NJ and I’m curious as to where bc I live in NJ by Cape May.
September 5, 2022
I loved this one! Abbie has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime, a byline in the newspaper. But this story will not come without stirring up a past, some might want left alone. Given the assignment to dive into a cold-case from 1969 Abbie is beyond excited. It has mystery, murder, history and involves her own town. But as she starts to gather facts and works to question those who were present during that time, she realizes that things were very different and the killer may still be alive and residing in town and they may go so far as to murder again to keep this secret buried. This was such a great historical mystery read, and I loved the art work in the begging of each chapter. I really enjoyed Abbie's character and the history that the author wound into the story. Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite and the author for the free novel. I look forward to reading more of these.
September 11, 2022
*Goodreads Win*
I really, really enjoyed this book! I didn’t want it to end. I wish this was a series. I loved the characters. They felt like real people to me. I want to know more about all of them.
I really, really enjoyed this book! I didn’t want it to end. I wish this was a series. I loved the characters. They felt like real people to me. I want to know more about all of them.
September 18, 2022
Abby Adams is a single mvother whose husband died in Iraq she’s raising two kids on her own and supports them by freelancing and working for the hunter daily newspaper she is qualified as a historian but when a coworker gets in an accident with a cement truck and loses she is asked to take over his article about a murder that happened the same day The first rocketship came back from the moon. Add a celebration for the occasion a young African-American name Rosalie DuFrayne was murdered at one of The town‘s most prestigious families events. Although Abby had no thoughts of solving it when she finds a newspaper article that happened two years after the murder she duly makes a note and goes about getting everything ready to write the story. In the end her life will be in danger she will find a new romance helper college roommate stay a TV star end and create a whole new kind of family for herself and her kids. I loved this book it was action packed and loved the authentic feel of the people and the plot. I read this book in one day and highly recommend that it really is so very good. If you love mysteries you’re going to love this one the author did a fabulous job. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
September 24, 2022
A satisfying mystery that I was all in for!
Abbie was going for her PhD as an historian but her thesis was shot down by her advisor. She's now a journalist with the opportunity to get her first byline by investigating the murder of a young black woman who was killed in 1969. A cold case that the police back then seemed to just let go, leaving it unsolved. After she starts investigating, Abbie learns some things that implicate the very same advisor who stopped her from becoming the historian she always wanted to be causing her to question her motives to solve the case. As she digs deeper she finds witnesses but they end up dead shortly after talking to her. She knows she's getting close but it appears that there is someone who doesn't want the truth to come out. Will she be able to solve the whodunnit or will she get killed trying?
While she's on her mission, her TV star, documentarian college friend comes knocking, seeking Abbie's help with a story he's doing to save his career. It soon becomes clear though that the subjects of their investigations overlap making this an intriguing story filled with secrets, secrets that if revealed could tear the town apart.
I really enjoyed this author's debut novel and think she's an author to watch for in the future. This one is finely crafted, with fleshed out characters you can root for. The two story lines are developed in such a way that you never lose focus on either and they come together seamlessly in the end.
If you're a fan of well thought out, tightly plotted mysteries, I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR list.
Thank you to the author, CamCat Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
Abbie was going for her PhD as an historian but her thesis was shot down by her advisor. She's now a journalist with the opportunity to get her first byline by investigating the murder of a young black woman who was killed in 1969. A cold case that the police back then seemed to just let go, leaving it unsolved. After she starts investigating, Abbie learns some things that implicate the very same advisor who stopped her from becoming the historian she always wanted to be causing her to question her motives to solve the case. As she digs deeper she finds witnesses but they end up dead shortly after talking to her. She knows she's getting close but it appears that there is someone who doesn't want the truth to come out. Will she be able to solve the whodunnit or will she get killed trying?
While she's on her mission, her TV star, documentarian college friend comes knocking, seeking Abbie's help with a story he's doing to save his career. It soon becomes clear though that the subjects of their investigations overlap making this an intriguing story filled with secrets, secrets that if revealed could tear the town apart.
I really enjoyed this author's debut novel and think she's an author to watch for in the future. This one is finely crafted, with fleshed out characters you can root for. The two story lines are developed in such a way that you never lose focus on either and they come together seamlessly in the end.
If you're a fan of well thought out, tightly plotted mysteries, I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR list.
Thank you to the author, CamCat Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
September 22, 2022
What a debut by S.K. Waters! S.K. Waters takes the reader to a small, predominantly white town of Hunts Landing, TN. Abbie Adams, historian turned investigative journalist is given the task of writing her very first by-line about the unsvolved murder of a young black woman, Rosalie DuFrayne, the summer of 1969. No one wants to talk about Rosalie’s death, and the more Abbie investigates, terrible things begin to happen. The suspense was well done, the characters were really interesting and well-developed. The second half of the book is definitely more fast-paced than the first. And the twist at the end—I didn’t see coming!
September 8, 2022
This was a very enjoyable read. I am a fan of history but not historical fiction per se but this was more in a cold case type of sense. Coupled with some investigative journalism which I also enjoy, and new murders, this had all the ingredients of a captivating story. I wasn't disappointed.
It wasn't particularly fast-paced but it had me intrigued throughout as the setting is in a small town and coming from such a place myself, even though everyone tends to know everyone, there are also lots of secret. It is clear that this was such a place. I don't know if this is going to be a series or a one-off but I'd definitely read more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It wasn't particularly fast-paced but it had me intrigued throughout as the setting is in a small town and coming from such a place myself, even though everyone tends to know everyone, there are also lots of secret. It is clear that this was such a place. I don't know if this is going to be a series or a one-off but I'd definitely read more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 30, 2022
I did eventually enjoy this book, though it took me a good while to get into it. Lots of characters to start off with and the main characters , Abbie a journalist and historian Joss, were both pursing a mystery in a small town . Not particularly confusing, but neither case grabbed me to start off with. There were also other storylines, such as previous history between Abbie and one of the main characters involved with the original murder which added more complexity and which at first appeared to lack relevance.
The characters were well written, the cases became more engaging as the book progressed, so it was worth preservering with it.
The characters were well written, the cases became more engaging as the book progressed, so it was worth preservering with it.
September 7, 2022
This is one of those slow-burn mysteries that kept me turning pages well past my bedtime. It's a historical mystery and once I got into it, there was no putting it down! I love mysteries like this!
Abbie is a journalist who was just given the opportunity at a byline- if she investigates a cold case from 1969... Being a historian, she's unsure if this is ideal for her but she's determined to get that byline. The murder that rocked their little town didn't get buried nearly deep enough and when Abbie gets on the path to the truth, her witnesses start turning up dead. Will she get her answers or will she be the next victim?
Abbie is a journalist who was just given the opportunity at a byline- if she investigates a cold case from 1969... Being a historian, she's unsure if this is ideal for her but she's determined to get that byline. The murder that rocked their little town didn't get buried nearly deep enough and when Abbie gets on the path to the truth, her witnesses start turning up dead. Will she get her answers or will she be the next victim?
July 16, 2022
The Dead Won’t Tell, by S.K. Waters, was a superb read! This was an extremely well written novel with an excellent setting and well developed characters.
The setting of this novel was perfect for hidden treasures and plenty of secrets and lies. In the town of Hunts Landing there are many dusty old attics, musty cellars, and decrepit old buildings that are somewhat creepy and chilling. This is the perfect setting for uncovering old documents and trying to discover the truth that others in Hunts Landing are desperate to hide.
The Dead Won’t Tell has many multifaceted characters. The main character, Abigail Adams, is a historian and journalist. She is astute, perceptive, and sharp character. Working for the Hunts Landing Times, she is assigned a story on a possible racially motivated murder that took place on the Hunts Landing College campus in 1969. The murder of a young African American woman named Rosalie was basically swept under the rug and eventually became a cold case. Joining Abigail in her search for the truth are many supporting characters that are well developed and sometimes very complicated. With the help of her friends and the local police department Abigail begins to lay bare the truth behind the 1969 murder and in doing so she finds herself in danger.
I must admit I found the ending of the book a bit abrupt. However, the epilogue dated in 1969 and told from Rosalie’s perspective was an awesome writing technique that worked well for S.K. Waters.
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC of this novel and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review.
The setting of this novel was perfect for hidden treasures and plenty of secrets and lies. In the town of Hunts Landing there are many dusty old attics, musty cellars, and decrepit old buildings that are somewhat creepy and chilling. This is the perfect setting for uncovering old documents and trying to discover the truth that others in Hunts Landing are desperate to hide.
The Dead Won’t Tell has many multifaceted characters. The main character, Abigail Adams, is a historian and journalist. She is astute, perceptive, and sharp character. Working for the Hunts Landing Times, she is assigned a story on a possible racially motivated murder that took place on the Hunts Landing College campus in 1969. The murder of a young African American woman named Rosalie was basically swept under the rug and eventually became a cold case. Joining Abigail in her search for the truth are many supporting characters that are well developed and sometimes very complicated. With the help of her friends and the local police department Abigail begins to lay bare the truth behind the 1969 murder and in doing so she finds herself in danger.
I must admit I found the ending of the book a bit abrupt. However, the epilogue dated in 1969 and told from Rosalie’s perspective was an awesome writing technique that worked well for S.K. Waters.
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC of this novel and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review.
July 25, 2022
My full review can be found here: https://thereadingwife.com/the-dead-w...
August 28, 2022
In 1969 a small American town is watching the Apollo moon landing. Hunts Landing is a happy town. However the murder of a young black student at the same time is not investigated as it should have been.
Today Abbie Adams a local journalist looks at the murder again. Joss is a New York TV presenter who also stumbles across this miscarriage of justice. Both of these journalists come to see that working together can actually find out why the murder happened and who was responsible. There is small town corruption and family secrets to deal with, and violence is present throughout the story. This is exciting and very well written and an author to look out for.
Today Abbie Adams a local journalist looks at the murder again. Joss is a New York TV presenter who also stumbles across this miscarriage of justice. Both of these journalists come to see that working together can actually find out why the murder happened and who was responsible. There is small town corruption and family secrets to deal with, and violence is present throughout the story. This is exciting and very well written and an author to look out for.
July 22, 2022
The suspense in this book was profound. S. K. Waters is a fantastic storyteller, and the book kept me up well into the wee hours of the morning. I love crime books where the crime was set in the 60s, and this one certainly delivered. I can't wait for more from this author.
September 21, 2022
The Dead Won't Tell is a thriller by S K Waters. I liked that the beginning gave a snapshot of the night 1969 when the murder happened. The Hunts Landing Times is doing a series on the history of the town. Abbie Adams is the reporter assigned to look into the brutal murder of Rosalie DuFrayne. I could not put the book down. It was fast, exciting and I never knew what was going to happen next. The Dead Won't Tell should be on the must read list of lovers of thrillers. I especially liked the ending of the book when we saw the murder, felt it tied everything together. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 15, 2022
Excellent summer mystery to read. A young woman is asked to write a newspaper story involving a murder that occurred 40 years previously in the southern town that she grew up in. She is met with resistance and soon more murders/assaults begin. As a side story. the author also introduces another character who is looking for an idea for a new history series for television. I found that part somewhat distracting, however at the end of the book, one can see why it was included. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more books that this author might write.
July 16, 2022
This was an interesting mystery with one main character, but another character with almost as much prominence in the book, who was also interesting. I would like to read more about both characters in future books. There are two mystery storylines, that I knew would intersect at some point. I enjoyed the characters and felt that they seemed believable. I would read more books from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 24, 2022
I loved everything about this book. The town it's set in, all the characters, just perfect. I kept finding myself hoping this is a first of many in this universe. No shocking twist for me, I did figure out who the true "bad guy" was but I don't care I loved every bit of this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
July 15, 2022
I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
A page turner that was hard to put down!
Contained courageous, brave, and smart characters.
Written well with a sluggish flow at times.
Scary! Suspenseful! Dramatic!
Read! Enjoy!
A page turner that was hard to put down!
Contained courageous, brave, and smart characters.
Written well with a sluggish flow at times.
Scary! Suspenseful! Dramatic!
Read! Enjoy!
July 7, 2022
Thanks to CamCat publishers and Netgalley for the ARC for this mystery book.
A small southern town, a family with deep roots and much power within the community are the background to this tale of the unraveling of a long cold case.
As historian - turned journalist - begins to seek out the mystery of the long dead woman's death and killer, she stumbles up some very real dangers. Her background as a historian makes Abbie Adams particularly analytical while her training as a journalist makes her quite astute.
I enjoyed this book and read it at the beach. I didn't want to put it down and read through dinner~
enjoy
A small southern town, a family with deep roots and much power within the community are the background to this tale of the unraveling of a long cold case.
As historian - turned journalist - begins to seek out the mystery of the long dead woman's death and killer, she stumbles up some very real dangers. Her background as a historian makes Abbie Adams particularly analytical while her training as a journalist makes her quite astute.
I enjoyed this book and read it at the beach. I didn't want to put it down and read through dinner~
enjoy
August 19, 2022
An amazing suspense with characters that will draw you in. Twists and turns to keep you guessing what could possibly happen next Loved it.
Read
July 1, 2022I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this read, it was nicely written!
There were two questions/concerns I had about plot points, though. I will describe them without spoilers:
1) There was a witness who worked as a church secretary who said she didn't really remember the victim's funeral in 1969 as she was only a little girl at the time. Unfortunately, she then said the same thing about a death in 1988… meaning she was a "little girl" for 19 years…
2) When the murderer explains their crime, they reference hearing a conversation between two parties as part of their motivation for murder. When the author ends with a description of the murder, however, this conversation doesn't happen.
I do like that the author ends with a short story of the murder, though, I thought it was a nice touch.
Over all, it's really well done and an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this read, it was nicely written!
There were two questions/concerns I had about plot points, though. I will describe them without spoilers:
1) There was a witness who worked as a church secretary who said she didn't really remember the victim's funeral in 1969 as she was only a little girl at the time. Unfortunately, she then said the same thing about a death in 1988… meaning she was a "little girl" for 19 years…
2) When the murderer explains their crime, they reference hearing a conversation between two parties as part of their motivation for murder. When the author ends with a description of the murder, however, this conversation doesn't happen.
I do like that the author ends with a short story of the murder, though, I thought it was a nice touch.
Over all, it's really well done and an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews