An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.From USA Today bestselling author Debbie Herbert comes a thrilling story of murder and madness set in the darkest corner of Alabama.Everyone thinks fourteen-year-old Violet is a murderer. After a summer-night swim with her best friend, Ainsley, Violet is found confused, wandering in the forest—and Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, … Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, murder charges won’t stick, so Violet is sent away.
After more than a decade in a psychiatric ward, Violet returns to her broken-down hometown of Normal, Alabama, to claim her dead mother’s inheritance and help her overworked sister care for their unstable, alcoholic father. Violet, still haunted by that night eleven years ago, endures horrific flashbacks and twisted hallucinations while townsfolk spit accusations—and for all she knows, they’re right.
As the summer heats up, details of Ainsley’s fate appear like a beast’s wild eyes, watching in the darkness, and grim revelations about Violet’s family threaten to devour her. Already on the edge of madness, Violet must fight to keep her sanity long enough for the terrible truth to burst from the cold, dark waters.
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What an amazing story! My heart broke for sweet Violet, trying to climb out of her haunted past against the odds of a toxic family filled with lies and hostility.
At age fourteen, she went for a late-night swim with her friend Ainsley, who was never seen again. Violet was found wandering the woods in a state of mental breakdown, while Ainsley’s body was never found. Violet’s small town of Normal, Alabama still considered her a murderer, and she was sent to a psychiatric facility.
Ten years later she returns home to every kind of struggle: trying to remember what happened, doubting herself, trying to deal with sabotaging relatives and a hostile town. What a nightmarish tale! Several times I thought I’d figured it out, but I was wrong. Additional delight comes from author Debbie Herbert’s ability to create lush, vivid atmosphere and characters so real and odious that you want to jump into the story to yell and warn Violet. I totally loved this book, couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended – five stars!
Compelling story, filled with evocative description, deeply-drawn characters and heart-pounding drama.
I do believe this author has outdone herself this time. This is my favorite book of hers yet. Set in Normal, Alabama, everything is anything but normal. It is a sleepy little town where everyone knows everyone and keeps up with what is going on. After a tragic event involving Violet when she is only a young girl, she is sent away and locked up in a mental facility. Years later she returns home. The town still blames her for the death of her friend long ago. After all, the evidence makes it seem black and white that she did it. I thought Violet was very brave to go home. I wanted her to punch her sister in the face a few times lol. There were so many secrets in this family. The suspense and mystery of it all grabbed me from the start and didn’t let go. It’s all I could do not to cheat by peeking ahead. I loved her friend Libby. She was a big help. There are other characters I loved to hate. One of my other favorite things about the book is I have the hardback copy and the book itself has the same gorgeous scenery on it as the jacket cover!
I’m a fast reader, but COLD WATERS by Debbie Herbert made me read like greased lightning — I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. Especially with one of the sneaky, conniving, and manipulative characters — the personification of evil. Twists? Yes! Characters you love to hate? Most definitely! Rooting for the underdog? Absolutely! I highly recommend this book!
Debbie Herbert delivers a fast-paced mystery, where nothing is quite what it seems. Family secrets and a cold-case murder are at the heart of her compelling novel, where the author masterfully paints the canvas of a sedate Southern town with intriguing characters and a crafty plot. Readers won’t soon forget the chilling thrill of Cold Waters.
Debbie Herbert’s haunting language, gothic tone, and vivid portrayal of small-town southern life add layers to this intriguing mystery/suspense. I was hooked from the first word!
great mystery good story line
A southern gothic mystery dripping with atmosphere. Cold Waters will leave you breathless.
Cold Waters is a fast-paced, riveting read. It has mystery, suspense and a intriguing storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Normal, Alabama is a small town that is filled with secrets and intrigue. Add in the amazing characters and this is a must read. I can’t wait to read the next book.
In this book, Normal Alabama is anything but normal. When Violet returns home after spending years in mental institutions after the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl, all her doubts about that night return to haunt her when she finds old friends and neighbors still blame her for Ainsley’s death. Even her own sister, Delaney, seems bent on making her life miserable, while hiding secrets of her own. A page-turner with intriguing characters, this book was entertaining even though somewhat predictable.
Debbie Herbert creates a mystery in Normal, Alabama told in four perspectives in the book Cold Waters. A fifteen-year-old girl, Ainsley, is missing, and the last person to see her alive is her best friend Violet. Violet has no recollection of Ainsley’s disappearance, and some of the townspeople think she has a “selective memory “ or she is hiding her involvement.
Whatever happened has traumatized young Violet, and she pushes through a sad existence in two mental care facilities before she is deemed fit for release. She returns home to Normal, Alabama, where her father suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and her sister, Delaney, is a manipulative narcissist, who clings to the lies she has created, and makes it a priority to control Violet. After faking sisterly affections doesn’t gain her Violet’s cooperation, Delaney starts hiding and rearranging Violet’s personal items and gaslighting her.
Most of the people in Normal are highly suspicious of Violet. The majority of them avoid her, but some townspeople are confrontational, especially when it is released that the water where Ainsley was last seen alive will be drained.
Violet and Ainsley thought they were alone the night Ainsley disappeared, but did they hear someone else in the woods?
The plot is well-timed and even-paced. I really enjoyed learning about various superstitions as Violet went through her days and experiences. It’s neat that it’s supposed to protect the food you’re preparing if you tie knots in your apron strings or that you will be friends for life with someone if you hold pinky fingers with them when you cross a bridge. I thought her superstitious nature added to Violet’s character and it was believable (because of her obvious anxiety).
I recommend Cold Waters for experienced readers who enjoy mysteries and family drama.
It was a good book, and I plan to read other titles by Debbie Herbert.
My Review
Cold waters
By Debbie Herbert.
What Happens in Normal Alabama is not always Normal.
Violet, has Returned Home after the Disappearance,of her Best friend.
More Than A Decade Later.
Waiting on her Sister for a ride Home..who never shows.
Hours have gone by. Willie Crenshaw pulls up. A ride she needs. Wille was always a good guy.
Back Home Delaney, The Sister always thinking of herself. Working in her garden..its whats most important. And her Secrets.
How she’s going to get what she wants. Been a brat from Day 1..
pouring Grape juice on moms wedding Dress if that not a clue.
She’s got a few more tricks up her sleeve.. self centered Sister.
Violet, is Home wants to help her Sister and Father, all good intentions. However Delaney has other Ideas.
Soon More visitors, come back but how can that be.. its not possible.. and then to find out things that You were never told. Is it to late. Will Violet Be able To over come all of these things.
I truly Enjoyed this Book.
I personally would recommend this book to my suspense Readers.
Debbie Herbert
Thank you….
Just when I thought I had it figured out….twist, turn, didn’t see that coming!
The Alabama River twists and turns through Normal, Alabama the way secrets and lies twist and turn through the Henderson family in Debbie Herbert’s exciting psychological thriller Cold Waters. Part Southern Gothic, part psychological thriller, Cold Waters has something for readers of both, and readers will not be disappointed that Ms. Herbert chose to venture away from paranormal romance in her latest effort
Violet Henderson makes a convincing unreliable narrator. Recently released from a mental hospital, she has no memory of the night her best friend disappeared, a vanishing most of the town believes she caused. Her sister, Delaney, is happy to prey upon her fragile mental state as years of resentment towards Violet and her mother simmer to the surface. As Violet struggles to piece together the events of that night, she finds herself at the mercy of Delaney’s vicious whims.
There aren’t many surprises in Cold Waters. The bad guy is easy to identify, but this does not detract from the enjoyment of the book at all. The ending satisfies the way a class reunion satisfies, where the former ugly duckling meets the now overweight homecoming queen and delivers the perfectly nuanced, “Bless your heart.”
On a note of personal preference, I would have loved to see more of Violet’s gaslighting of Delaney. That was delicious, a carefully choreagraphed invisible catfight. It is just a preference, though, and not a criticism of the overall quality of the novel.
I loved this book. Being a writer from Alabama, I love my state in all its beauty and darkness. Seeing it take a primary position in a well written book is a delight. I also loved how Ms. Herbert wove the Southern Gothic elements of family secrets and tragedy into the framework of a convincing psychological thriller, giving it a punch a straightforward adherence to either genre may have lacked. You don’t have to be Southern to enjoy this book, but it helps! Add it to your reading list and dive in.
I loved it! I think I read the book in 3 days, I just couldn’t put it down. Well written, great story and loved the characters. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Herbert delivers readers a suspense that will keep readers on edge until the very end. Take a trip through Normal, Alabama where things are anything but…
I highly recommend this book to fans of the suspense genre.
Being from Tennessee, I love the southern roots in this book. I will admit though, I didn’t care for reading “roll ride.” That made me want to cringe. But in all reality, this book was like nothing I’ve ever read before. Very original and it kept me wandering until the very last page. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!
Cold Waters is an unforgettable suspense story steeped in decaying old houses, dark family secrets and rumors in a small Southern town.
Small towns hide the darkest secrets and Normal, Alabama is anything but in this southern gothic thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the very last. A twisted, southern gothic family drama that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. A stunning, deftly-written journey through the dark corridors of the human heart.
A brilliant start to a new series!
Everytime I thought I knew where the story was going, Mrs Herbert threw out a metaphorical leg and tripped me up. Fantastic!