Haunted River

Detectives Daniels and Remalla #1

by J.T. Bishop

Don't Deny the Dead
A woman, clad only in a white nightgown, is dead - her body discovered on the banks of Black River. Her unsolved murder, and her ghost, still haunt the small town where she lived and died.

Twenty-five years later, Detective Gordon Daniels inherits his estranged grandfather’s home on the property where the body was found. Anxious to sell it, Daniels invites his partner, Detective Aaron Remalla to help him clean it out and enjoy some time off from their high-pressure job. But their getaway is interrupted when a second woman’s body is found on the river, clad in a white nightgown, and they are unwittingly thrown them into an investigation they would prefer to avoid.

Their scrutiny of the nearby town uncovers colorful suspects, including a cranky elderly woman and her entitled grandson, two fortune-telling sisters, a paranormal-investigating sheriff, a drifter with a dubious past and Daniels’ own grandfather. As strange occurrences, frightening dreams, and spectral encounters stack up, Detectives Daniels and Remalla are forced to confront the town’s ghosts and will uncover a sinister secret so shocking that someone is prepared to kill to keep it hidden.

Can the specters of the past help them find a killer before the killer gets to them first?

Haunted River is the first book in the Detectives Daniels and Remalla series. It follows the events of the Family or Foe saga where the detectives make their first appearance, but Haunted River can be read on its own.

If you love a heart-stopping murder mystery ghost story, an exciting supernatural thriller whodunit, and an engaging and charismatic partnership between two detectives, then enjoy Haunted River.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Fantasy

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2020

About the author

Award-winning author, J.T. Bishop, is a writer of mystery thrillers with a supernatural edge. Growing up, she read books by Stephen King, Mary Higgins Clark, and Dean Koontz, devoured every episode of The X-files, and watched plenty of TV shows with great partnerships that left her wanting more. She loves tangled relationships, unexpected twists and turns, heart-stopping love stories and the complications that come with all the above. Throw in a little supernatural fun and she’s hooked. Her evil plan is to hook you, too.

She’s the author of The Red-Line Trilogy and its sister series, The Fletcher Family Saga, which features touches of urban fantasy, light sci-fi, and paranormal romance. She’s also happily writing mystery thrillers featuring two charismatic detectives who may occasionally encounter a supernatural villain or two, and a crossover series which follows the exploits of a gifted, but troubled, paranormal P.I. and his spunky sister.

All the above keeps her busy, but in her spare time, she loves a good movie, tasty food, an unfortunate sugar addiction, and traveling.

Get caught up with J.T. and her writing adventures at www.jtbishopauthor.com. And while you’re there, get a short story prelude to her first book for free, plus a novella and a few other offerings. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too slow for my taste.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunted River, the first novel in the Detectives Daniels and Remalla series, is a great story. It has mystery, murder, suspense, twists and turns, great characters, and ghosts. What is not to love! I could not put it down. I can’t wait to read the next one in this series.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordon Daniels inherits his grandfathers home in a small town in an isolated area. He asks his detective partner, Aaron Remalla, to help clean out the house. They see what looks like a women in a night gown running. There was a woman discovered 25 years ago found near the river in a night gown dead. The murder was never solved. While at the house they heard a scream. When they went to investigate, they found a dead woman in a night gown, reminiscent of the murder 25 years ago. Someone wants the murders to stay unsolved and will do what it takes to keep it that way.

[Laurie's 5th Fire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storyline

The plot was great. Two detectives go to a cabin one inherited to clean it and sell it. There are ghosts and thrills!
The writing is a bit amateurish. At times it is in need of a good editor and other times it's really good. The dialogue seemed like the author didn't know what to fill in while people talked.

Fun story.

[Gary Hardenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters, believable haunting and a mystery to keep you guessing

This is my first Daniel’s and Remalla book and it won’t be my last. The storyline was very believable even the haunting parts. The characters came alive such that you began to care for or hate the good or bad people. You’re even led to not like various characters who, in the end, were not actually bad people. That’s how well J.T. writes. She leads you down dead ends and you let her. If you like a good, haunting mystery this is the book for you. If you like honest, clean detectives with a bit of humor then this is also the book for you. The only thing I didn’t like as well as some is that there is a lot of dialogue in this book. I mean a lot. I don’t know if that is good or bad, but that’s just something to know. The pace of the book is excellent and the mix of characters keep you guessing. The exciting conclusion is just that…exciting. It was hard to put this book down. It’s also one where you miss the characters once the book is done, therefore, I’m moving on to my next Daniel’s and Remalla book.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The woman in white was just walking along the side of the road. Detective Rem could’ve sworn he saw her, but she was gone. Strange.
Soon Rem learns of the Lady of the Black River. The old story goes that 25 years ago, a woman named Scarlett was found dead in the river not far from the cabin Rem was cleaning out. They say that cabin was cursed and the ghost woman just wanders around looking for someone to solve her murder.

As Rem and Daniels clean out the old cabin, weird things have been happening. Wicked dreams. Sounds at night. And if a ghost wasn’t anything to worry about, now the two cops had a dead body on the premise—one wearing a white gown like the ghost lady. Was it really a coincidence that another woman in white washed up in the exact same spot and the exact same way as the one exactly 25 years ago? I don’t think so.

Rumor had it that the young girl had a thing going on with the town sheriff. Could the sheriff have killed her and be trying to pin it on Rem and Daniels? It was something the detectives had to figure out. Find this killer and it will lead to the killer from 25 years ago. What secrets was this old, creepy town holding? Was it possible to think that Daniels’ grandfather was a murderer? If not, where did that white gown come from?

An interesting mystery with crime and a ghostly presence.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Deny the Dead delivers a suspenseful blend of murder mystery and ghost story, wrapped in eerie atmosphere and small-town secrets. When a woman in a white nightgown is found murdered along Black River—mirroring an unsolved case from 25 years prior—Detectives Daniels and Remalla are reluctantly pulled into a chilling investigation that blurs the line between past and present.

I loved the dynamic between Daniels and Remalla; their banter and camaraderie added levity to an otherwise tense, paranormal-tinged mystery. The cast of quirky townspeople—especially the fortune-telling sisters and the ghost-obsessed sheriff—adds color and suspicion in all the right ways. And the ghostly elements? Subtle but spine-tingling.

The pacing dipped a little in the middle with a few too many red herrings, but it all pays off in a twisty, satisfying reveal that had me flipping pages late into the night.

Perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers with a supernatural edge and a strong detective duo, Haunted River is a great series starter that stands on its own.

[Marsha Hubbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detectives Daniels and Remalla are back! "Haunted River - Don't Deny the Dead" by J.T. Bishop is book 5 in this mystery thriller series. I love dialogue-driven novels. And I love a good spooky story.

This time the two partners have taken a week off to get the home of Daniels' deceased grandfather's house cleaned out and ready to go on the market. Sadly, the two have not been in communication in years, and as Daniels uncovers more about his family and digs through the piles of junk and trash, regrets pile up as well. Throw in a couple of murders, ghosts, lives threatened, one twist and turn after another, and I'm even more hooked than ever. Can they find the killer before the killer finds them? That's half the fun.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story begins with a crime that happens 25 years earlier in Dumont. Daniels has inherited property from his grandfather and he has gone to Dumont to clean it out so that he can put it on the market. He has asked Rem for help and Rem has just arrived after being spooked. Daniels wife has gone on a girl's trip, so he is watching J.P. his son. While cleanup is going on, another crime similar crime to the one 25 years earlier was committed and the sheriff has eyes on Daniels and Rem as suspects. They then start looking into solving it and they believe that the two are related.

Read along and learn how their investigation as it nears completion put them in danger. Discover who the culprit was and what the hidden secret they discovered was the final piece of the puzzle.

[Kelsey Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting and thrilling read. I didn’t realize that there were a bunch of books before this that maybe would’ve cleared some stuff up for me but it was still very enjoyable regardless. The mystery in this was so crazy! I loved the supernatural element with the ghosts and stuff. Daniels and Remalla were such great characters. I loved their friendship and the way their partnership as detectives was obviously a big part of their lives. There’s some super shocking twists in this and you learn some pretty wild stuff about some of the characters. When the story plays out and you find out who’s actually responsible for all the crimes I was absolutely stunned. Totally came out of left field. This was a phenomenal read and I look forward to reading all the books that preceded this and then the rest of this series as well.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘What a fantastic psychological drama. A real page-turner. It had me hooked from page one until the last page and kept me awake until the early hours to finish it. I just had to know who was committing the murders. Who is the lady in the night gown? Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist threw my theory awry. The murder from 25 years ago and now the similar murder now - just what is going on? The author had me fooled, and that doesn’t often happen. Once you get started, it's hard to put down. I received this novel as a gift from the author. This is my honest review. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

Shadows and Secrets
A Detectives Daniels and Remalla Omnibus Collection Books 1-3  Source: The author; Individual stories, my Kindle library.

Haunted River, #1 - Interesting and intriguing story lines. Good characters. A bit of ghosts and nightmares. Humor. The last chapter sets up the next book. 4*

Of Breath and Blood, #2 - Starts about a month after HR ends. Intense. Dark. More self-discoveries that border paranormal. 5*

Of Body and Bone, #3 - Picks up three months after OBAB. More paranormal experiences. Interesting. Sadly, ends short, must continue on to find out what happens after the bombshell. 4*

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

For whatever reason, I had a hard time getting into this story in the beginning. I started it and then put it away, finally deciding to finish it after a few weeks. I think the problem was too much detail on surroundings and tasks to clean up the house. However, when I returned to the story, I became more involved with the main characters, and found it easy reading. By the ending of the story, I wanted to learn more about these two detectives and their cases. With a touch of the supernatural added to the story, overall it was an engrossing mystery. I will definitely consider reading the next story in this series.

[Leta Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not My Typical Read

I generally steer clear of thrillers, but since this one promised at least one ghost, I gave it a shot. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The cast of characters was varied and for the most part well developed. I also enjoyed the small town setting, with all its quirks and secrets. The plot was well paced with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
However, there were a few places where I thought a bit more editing would have improved the experience.

[Birgit · Rating 3 out of 5]

City detectives Daniels and Remalla are clearing out the home of Daniels' deceased and estranged grandfather, who lived basically in the middle of nowhere close to a small town. When the body of a young woman is found on the property, the detectives learn that a similar thing happened 25 years ago. Things are not what they seem in this little town, and everyone seems to know something...
A good plot, as well as likeable characters and good storytelling make this an entertaining story to read, although sometimes it seemed to drag a little.

[BRADLEY S · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good read....with a caveat

The storyline is good and the writing is solid.....but there's a but. The dialogue and interplay between Rem and Daniels is very brokeback mountain. The banter was clearly written by a woman that doesn't understand the dynamics of how men interact. In Bishop's writing Rem and Daniels are emotionally in tune with one another as well as being caring and supportive of each other. It's completely and utterly ridiculous. Other than that the book was great.

[Barbara Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different

I have really enjoyed this series and looking forward to book 6. Daniels and Remalla have an extremely cohesive relationship. They fit together like a glove to a hand. Book 5 seemed to go in a different direction. More to hidden secrets of real life then to the supernatural. Not quite my favorite but still a good way to spend a day immersed in something other than our daily dose of the soap opera of this turbulent world of ours.

[Roger]

Haunted River (Detectives Daniels and Remalla #5), my first read from author J.T. Bishop. December seemed to be my month for new authors and January looks to continue the trend. An enjoyable read, captivating in its detail and development. I was gifted a free copy and I'm voluntarily reviewing it because every good books need reviews. I look forward to more from this author and in this series. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[CHud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chilling story about murder in a small town. Daniel and Rem are detectives from the big city. But when Daniel's grandfather passes away leaving all his possessions in a small rural area to Daniel, he and Rem take on the task of unloaded the possessions to prepare the house to sell. While there they discover hauntings, drugs and murder, both old and new. Will they be able to solve all the mystery, avoid ghosts and elude murder attempts?

[Siesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun!
I hadn’t read the preceeding series but it didn’t detract from enjoying this first in a new series, as the fully formed dynamic between Daniels and Remalla flowed easily throughout the book.
The rest of the cast were well drawn and the small town rural vibes rang true.
The story moved along at a good pace, with reveals, red herrings and those supernatural elements.
I’ll be following this series with interest.

[Black Butterfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

KINDA SLOW BUT NOT A BAD READ. DUMONT IS A VERY SMALL TOWN FILLED WITH WEIRD PEOPLE WITH SECRETS, MIXED IN A WITH THE SUPERNATURAL AND GHOST AND MURDERS. IT'S A VERY CREEPY PLACE, I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYONE WANTS TO LIVE THERE. DANIELS & REM ARE DETECTIVES AND PARTNERS IN THE BIG CITY, BOTH ARE HUMEROUS AND VERY JUVENILLE SOMETIMES. THEY'RE IN DUMONT TO GET DANIELS INHERITED CABIN READY TO GO ON THE MARKET. I DIDN'T CARE FOR THE WRITING STYLE A LITTLE CONFUSING AT TIMES. ;D

[Danny Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunted River Overflowed Its Banks With Ghostly Ladies

The plot was substantive and the characters were interesting. The supporting characters were more well rounded, and more enjoyable. The two lead characters were a touch annoying. I found myself, growing up as I did around rougher folks, wanting to say, “knock it off!” The villainous older sisters were a bit of a stretch. But I’ll read the next in the series. That’s an endorsement; the book was entertaining.

[Jill]

I tried so hard to like this book because it had so many good reviews, but I honestly thought it would never end. So, SO much dialogue that felt like it was just there to add to the word count and was distracting to the story. I ended up skimming and skipping a lot, just to get to the end so I could find out "who dunnit". I should have just filed it as a DNF and moved on to another that is more my "type". 🤷‍♀️

[Jules · Rating 1 out of 5]

problems with character were a major distraction

There are some authors who struggle to write characters of the opposite sex. They either come across as flat and uninteresting, or as completely inauthentic.

Sadly, this was one of those situations. Her men are women in male skin suits. I say this as a woman- btw. And I have no problem calling out male authors who have difficulty writing women. It’s just as distracting.

[teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast read

You will fly through this one. It just grabs you and the next thing you know your half thru the book and hours have passed. This novel is a little different and the characters are real and believable. You enjoy the time spent in the town of Dumont as much as Detectives Daniels and Remalla. Some fun, some strange and some just plain bizarre. And you won't guess who is behind it all.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author with the additional handicap of being the fifth book in the series. I still devoured it. The writing strongly reminds me of Jim Butcher. Bishop has an ability to create engaging characters that you want to spend more time with. I will be looking into the previous books of this series.

[Karina Kassim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just when I thought I knew everything, I was wrong! Remalla and Daniels did it again! I love them both; their banter, witty comebacks and great camaraderie are exactly why I’m hooked on this series. I’d love to say more, but I don’t want to spoil it. Do check out Bishop’s books - you won’t regret it.

[Kirsty Driffield · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg what can I say the mystery in this story had me hooked I couldn't figure out who the bad guy was til the very end I was on the edge of my seat through the whole book I was not disappointed i hope to read more of J.T's books in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[L. A.Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

This novel keeps you on your toes. The main two characters Rem and Daniels are described so well you can picture them. This book has weird, crazy, evil and ghostly events one right after another. You will go from laughing to confused to suspicious to angry to sad to perplexed to happy to scared to relieved. A must read.

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

I sure am glad I don’t have to live in this world. That being said I enjoyed reading about it. I liked the good guys, and had to pay attention to keep up with the drama. The “keep up” part is me being a “casual” reader and easily distracted.
Thanks for suspenseful visit.