What do you think?
The Drowned Boys
A series of suspicious drownings all deemed accidents. A retired detective with an outlandish theory to prove. Families in eight states left without justice. PI Riley Sullivan is brought back into the worst case of her career. She and her team have two goals – prove the cases are connected and find the person responsible before they strike again.
It’s not such an easy feat. Drownings are among the hardest homicide cases to prove and local law enforcement agencies don’t want to get involved. A few rogue detectives know that something is amiss and are more than willing to share information with Riley and her team, who are forced to work separate cases states apart.
When all of the evidence starts to identify the most unlikely of suspects, they must race to New Orleans to uncover the truth and protect one of their own. Can they stop a killer before the next drowning?
It’s not such an easy feat. Drownings are among the hardest homicide cases to prove and local law enforcement agencies don’t want to get involved. A few rogue detectives know that something is amiss and are more than willing to share information with Riley and her team, who are forced to work separate cases states apart.
When all of the evidence starts to identify the most unlikely of suspects, they must race to New Orleans to uncover the truth and protect one of their own. Can they stop a killer before the next drowning?
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2022
About the author
Stacy M. Jones
51 books158 followersStacy M. Jones is a criminologist turned crime novelist whose thrillers pulse with a realism that only decades working with law enforcement can bring. That firsthand experience fuels her fiction, stories rooted in authentic criminal psychology, human complexity, and high-stakes emotion.
Since 2018, Stacy has written four series, ranging from gritty FBI thrillers and hard-boiled private eye mysteries to her lighter paranormal cozy series. Her series include the completed cozy paranormal Harper & Hattie Magical Mystery Series, the completed hard-boiled PI Riley Sullivan Mystery Series, the FBI Agent Kate Walsh Thriller Series and the new Connor Fitzgerald Thriller series.
Stacy holds master’s degrees in forensic psychology and journalism and calls Louisville, Kentucky home, though her storytelling always carries a trace of her upstate New York roots.
To join Stacy's Mystery Readers Club & access her Starter Library, which includes three novellas - "Harper's Folly", "The 1922 Club Murder" and "The Curators" - hit subscribe at http://www.stacymjones.com/
Since 2018, Stacy has written four series, ranging from gritty FBI thrillers and hard-boiled private eye mysteries to her lighter paranormal cozy series. Her series include the completed cozy paranormal Harper & Hattie Magical Mystery Series, the completed hard-boiled PI Riley Sullivan Mystery Series, the FBI Agent Kate Walsh Thriller Series and the new Connor Fitzgerald Thriller series.
Stacy holds master’s degrees in forensic psychology and journalism and calls Louisville, Kentucky home, though her storytelling always carries a trace of her upstate New York roots.
To join Stacy's Mystery Readers Club & access her Starter Library, which includes three novellas - "Harper's Folly", "The 1922 Club Murder" and "The Curators" - hit subscribe at http://www.stacymjones.com/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 27, 2022
What a tale! fast-paced, personable characters for the good guys, anyway, a couple of bad guys, and a story that unfolds slowly and with precision. This is number 8 of the PI Riley Sullivan series by Stacy M. Jones. I have missed a few, but #8 is just as fresh and compelling as #1. Set in some of Jones's personal stomping grounds which she brings to us in living color - Troy, NY, and Little Rock, Arkansas with a little New Orleans tossed in for good measure, I consider this a southern noir mystery, one I am happy to recommend to friends and family. Shockingly, some of the good guys are really BAD! In the meantime, I will have to find my missing novels and catch up.
PI Riley Sullivan and her new husband, Little Rock Homicide Police Detective Luke Morgan, with Riley's co-investigator PI Cooper Deagnan and his recent bride Adele, a criminal lawyer, can - and do - cover all the bases very well. This is a mystery with a couple of mysteries slipped in, just enough to keep you on your toes and reading late into these cold winter's nights.
pub date October 14, 2022
Reviewed on November 26, 2022, at Goodreads, BookBub, and AmazonSmile. Not available for reviews on B&N, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
PI Riley Sullivan and her new husband, Little Rock Homicide Police Detective Luke Morgan, with Riley's co-investigator PI Cooper Deagnan and his recent bride Adele, a criminal lawyer, can - and do - cover all the bases very well. This is a mystery with a couple of mysteries slipped in, just enough to keep you on your toes and reading late into these cold winter's nights.
pub date October 14, 2022
Reviewed on November 26, 2022, at Goodreads, BookBub, and AmazonSmile. Not available for reviews on B&N, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
October 16, 2022
I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This story begins with Luke being involved in the Investigation of a drowning. The medical examiner is planning on listing the cause of death as an accident. Luke is not ready to confirm and wants to look into it as a possible murder. It seems that there have been a series of similar drownings that wound up as accidental. After Luke talked with his Captain, he learned that two locations in which the drownings happened, they wanted assistance. This resulted in both Cooper and Riley were each going to one of the places. Riley was going to Troy N.Y. and Cooper was going to New Orleans.
At both places, Riley and Cooper were working with police detectives who had handled the case and were willing to assist their investigations.
Riley and Cooper both began their quest and came up with possibilities. They all 3 agreed that they needed to concentrate on what was common between all of them. Once they made that find, then they could concentrate on why. With information developed, they eventually all wound up going to the same location.
To discover what each one found out, what was found that occurred in each location and who was ultimately responsible for the Drownings, then you need to read this book. It definitely will keep your interest.
This story begins with Luke being involved in the Investigation of a drowning. The medical examiner is planning on listing the cause of death as an accident. Luke is not ready to confirm and wants to look into it as a possible murder. It seems that there have been a series of similar drownings that wound up as accidental. After Luke talked with his Captain, he learned that two locations in which the drownings happened, they wanted assistance. This resulted in both Cooper and Riley were each going to one of the places. Riley was going to Troy N.Y. and Cooper was going to New Orleans.
At both places, Riley and Cooper were working with police detectives who had handled the case and were willing to assist their investigations.
Riley and Cooper both began their quest and came up with possibilities. They all 3 agreed that they needed to concentrate on what was common between all of them. Once they made that find, then they could concentrate on why. With information developed, they eventually all wound up going to the same location.
To discover what each one found out, what was found that occurred in each location and who was ultimately responsible for the Drownings, then you need to read this book. It definitely will keep your interest.
October 16, 2022
Stacy M. Jones never disappoints. She is a storyteller extraordinaire, spinning tales that keep you glued to the edge of your seat from the first page until the last page. Stacy gets everything right from the settings, to the dialogue, to the action. The Drowned Boys wasn’t the first of Stacy’s masterpieces I have devoured and have come back for seconds and thirds. Out of all her series, all of them being great reads, I think the Riley Sullivan Mystery series is my favorite. Perhaps that’s because Riley, like her creator, was born in the same neck of the woods that I was. Riley, like Stacy, was born in Troy, New York, while I was a born and raised in Albany, New York, with only the Hudson River separating us. Needless-to-say, many of the things that Stacy writes about brings back memories, some good, some not so good.
With The Drowned Boys, as with all of Stacy’s yarns, the suspension of disbelief is never an issue. The Drowned Boys spans three states and three major cities. The plot has more twists and turns than a sidewinder’s path in the desert sand. With red herrings galore. This story will keep you guessing who the actual killer or killers are right up to the end.
The final resolution when it comes will blow you away. Now go read the book!
With The Drowned Boys, as with all of Stacy’s yarns, the suspension of disbelief is never an issue. The Drowned Boys spans three states and three major cities. The plot has more twists and turns than a sidewinder’s path in the desert sand. With red herrings galore. This story will keep you guessing who the actual killer or killers are right up to the end.
The final resolution when it comes will blow you away. Now go read the book!
October 29, 2022
Riley revisits one of her own cold cases . . . will she solve it the second time around?
Young men are drowning under suspicious circumstances. The fatalities are across several states, predominantly in the south, until the most recent one happens in New York. And that's the case that pulls Riley back in.
Jones is a master at crafting a narrative that is guaranteed to envelop you. More than once, you'll find yourself convinced you know "whodunnit", only to have that theory blown out of the water. And yet, when Riley lays it all out for you, you'll nod your head in agreement as if you'd known it all along. A top-notch series with relatable, engaging characters; like me, you'll wait with bated breath for the next instalment.
[I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from the author, with no obligation to review. The opinions expressed herein are given freely and are entirely my own.]
Young men are drowning under suspicious circumstances. The fatalities are across several states, predominantly in the south, until the most recent one happens in New York. And that's the case that pulls Riley back in.
Jones is a master at crafting a narrative that is guaranteed to envelop you. More than once, you'll find yourself convinced you know "whodunnit", only to have that theory blown out of the water. And yet, when Riley lays it all out for you, you'll nod your head in agreement as if you'd known it all along. A top-notch series with relatable, engaging characters; like me, you'll wait with bated breath for the next instalment.
[I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from the author, with no obligation to review. The opinions expressed herein are given freely and are entirely my own.]
October 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. with Cooper and Riley i can see Stacy starting to broaden her writing style. She still has the cozy mystery feel, but her stories are starting to evolve into more gritty who done it books. Just like always you are left wondering who was behind the killings and what the heck was fully going on with so many twists and turns that has you second guessing all you theories you are forming about the book! I absolutely love that about this writer and her style! This would make a good stand alone book without you coming in feeling lost but if you wanted to look back and really get to know all there is about the characters i would recommend it as well.
October 16, 2022
This was a very enjoyable read. It's quite a difficult investigation for Riley and Cooper to undertake especially with the difficulty in trying to prove a drowning is a murder. To add to the complexity, each event took place in different areas.
I found this a really fast-paced read with plenty of twists and i wasn't sure where it would lead. I was none the wiser all the way through and I was kept hooked trying to see what Riley, Cooper and Luke would discover next.
I highly recommend this series.
I found this a really fast-paced read with plenty of twists and i wasn't sure where it would lead. I was none the wiser all the way through and I was kept hooked trying to see what Riley, Cooper and Luke would discover next.
I highly recommend this series.
October 18, 2022
Riley, her husband Detective Luck Morgan, and Cooper Deagan are all working on cases of suspicious drownings of young white men. Different places. the one constant they have is Retired Detective Ned Shaw - who is out to make fame and fortune from these drownings. All of them have been resolved as accidental deaths. The more they look into these deaths the more certain they were murders. But proving this is going to be challenging if not next to impossible. Little did they know the dangers that lurks from the actual killer. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
October 16, 2022
I always look forward with anticipation to reading the newest Riley Sullivan Mystery! I know that it will be well written with a storyline that pulls you in and keeps you engrossed from the very beginning. The mystery is well crafted and it’s interesting to see how Luke, as a homicide detective, and Riley and Cooper, as private investigators, work through their investigations, share information and work together.
October 22, 2022
Great Series
“The Drowned Boys” lived up to the high bar set by the earlier books in the Riley Sullivan Mystery series. It offered an interesting cast of characters, both familiar and new, as well as a fascinating plot. The story took lots of twists and turns to reach its conclusion, which made it challenging for both the detectives and the reader to solve before the last chapter. Kudos to Stacy!
“The Drowned Boys” lived up to the high bar set by the earlier books in the Riley Sullivan Mystery series. It offered an interesting cast of characters, both familiar and new, as well as a fascinating plot. The story took lots of twists and turns to reach its conclusion, which made it challenging for both the detectives and the reader to solve before the last chapter. Kudos to Stacy!
October 16, 2022
The Riley Sullivan series is a must! This release will keep you swiping (or turning) pages and unable to stop. There a few key suspects but how they fit together send Riley, Luke, and Cooper different directions to solve these serial killings. It takes intuition, bravery, and a key player getting hurt to find the answers that bring justice. Another excellent read by Stacy M. Jones!!
October 18, 2022
It's a variation of the norm.
In order to examine a series of deaths by drowning, the team split up. Riley heads to New York state and Cooper heads to New Orleans while Luke stays in Little Rock.
Are the deaths connected as claimed by a conspiracy theorist OR just accidents?
As usual, Stacy M Jones has written a good complex story to enjoy.
In order to examine a series of deaths by drowning, the team split up. Riley heads to New York state and Cooper heads to New Orleans while Luke stays in Little Rock.
Are the deaths connected as claimed by a conspiracy theorist OR just accidents?
As usual, Stacy M Jones has written a good complex story to enjoy.
October 19, 2022
To say this story is riveting is an understatement. Riley, Luke, & Cooper have to spread out into different states to determine if the drowning of young men is murder or accidental. I could believe all that Ms. Jones thought up in order to write this complicated story. The ending was really a shock. Excellent work!!!
October 17, 2022
An absolute ripper of a story!
As Riley, Luke and Cooper’s investigations gather momentum, so many variables are exposed and each time I needed to re-evaluate my own deductions. The many twists and turns really gave my amateur sleuthing the most wonderful workout. This was a truly satisfying read.
As Riley, Luke and Cooper’s investigations gather momentum, so many variables are exposed and each time I needed to re-evaluate my own deductions. The many twists and turns really gave my amateur sleuthing the most wonderful workout. This was a truly satisfying read.
October 18, 2022
WOW!
What an awesome story. Extremely well written, very emotional for the characters and the readers. A lot going on during the story from beginning to end. The author does a fantastic job with a difficult subject.
What an awesome story. Extremely well written, very emotional for the characters and the readers. A lot going on during the story from beginning to end. The author does a fantastic job with a difficult subject.
October 31, 2022
Loved the book!
I've enjoyed watching the relationships between Riley, Luke and Cooper grow. The author does a great job of creating mysteries that keep you guessing until the end.
I've enjoyed watching the relationships between Riley, Luke and Cooper grow. The author does a great job of creating mysteries that keep you guessing until the end.
July 19, 2023
Outstanding
A lot of drowning victims being connected. Riley goes to New York and Cooper to New Orleans. There are a lot of possible suspects. Very good story great characters and hard to figure out who is in charge of the killing.
A lot of drowning victims being connected. Riley goes to New York and Cooper to New Orleans. There are a lot of possible suspects. Very good story great characters and hard to figure out who is in charge of the killing.
September 10, 2025
Excellent
This was not my favorite book. But, after having said that it was a good read. Stacy M. Jones is quite the writer. This book had to much deviousness for me. Too much suspense. But I enjoyed it.
This was not my favorite book. But, after having said that it was a good read. Stacy M. Jones is quite the writer. This book had to much deviousness for me. Too much suspense. But I enjoyed it.
October 19, 2022
Another winner from one of my favourite authors
October 27, 2022
Another great Riley Sullivan mystery by Stacy M. Jones. This one had me guessing all the way to the end…..
March 14, 2026
I really enjoy reading books by Stacy M Jones. This book kept me in suspense right until the end. I actually thought the murderer was someone else.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews