From the author of Trust No One Some secrets are worth dying for. For months, Doctor Rowan Dupont has been staring death in the face. It followed her back to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, ten months ago, cloaking the walls of her family’s Victorian funeral home like a shroud. In investigating the mysterious deaths of her loved ones, Rowan has unearthed enough family secrets to bury … secrets to bury everything she’d previously thought true. But each shocking discovery has only led to more bodies and more questions; the rabbit hole is deeper than she ever imagined.
Despite settling in to a comfortable life with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, Rowan knows dangerous serial killer Julian Addington is still out there. She can’t let her guard down now. Not when she’s this close to ending his torment once and for all. But with a storm brewing on the horizon, she’ll get only one shot before the impending darkness takes hold, threatening to wipe away every truth she’s uncovered–and everything she holds dear.
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Dr. Rowan Dupont is the undertaker’s daughter. She was raised understanding death, a natural progression, until her twin died and her mother took her own life. Why wasn’t she enough to keep her mother from leaving? Rowan is living in the family funeral home with her lover, Police Chief Billy Brannigan. Things are good, but she knows that serial killer Julian Addington is still out there even after she wounded him in their last encounter. As she continues investigating the information surrounding her mother’s earlier life as well as her mother’s family, she looks for answers that may help her deal with Julian when he returns…which he surely will. A stunning ending to this fascinating series. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
The Undertaker’s daughter.
I Absolutely love this series I feel you should read each book in the series.. my absolute favorite series..
Serial killer Julian Addington
Will stop at nothing to get what he wants.. and that is the Undertaker’s daughter..
Dr. Rowen DuPont. Now runs the funeral home because she is the Undertaker’s daughter it’s her business because it was her father’s business and his father before him and his father before him.. it’s what this family does.. but with a serial killer on the loose. This serial killer a year ago killed her father.. she then took over the business, things have just progressed from there. So much darkness is being hidden family secrets that will be revealed things that will shock Rowan DuPont. Things that will come to light things you could never imagine. But the life of the serial killer when you realize who the serial killer man really is..
Dr. Rowan Dupont has the sheriff Billy on her side.. he’s the only real family member she has at this point.. and family is a lot when you got so much Darkness luring in your past that you’re not even aware of..
I just can’t say enough about these books in this series this is my favorite series by this author.
I have read so many of her books she is my favorite author and suspense is my favorite Gene of books.. once you start reading the first book The Undertaker’s daughter you will be hooked..
This book was given to me by the author as a gift.. all thoughts are my own in this review and I absolutely love this series I just can’t say enough about this I definitely recommend this to all suspense lovers 1 series you won’t want to miss I think you would love it also. Thank you Deb for such Amazing Stories…
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1bz
I recently read my first book by Debra Webb, and was thrilled to see that there was another book, THE DARKNESS WE HIDE, coming out soon. I went ahead and read the book, aware that it was the concluding book three of THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER series. While I was able to get pulled immediately into the story, and obtained enough previous information to not be lost, I definitely recommend reading the prequel and books one and two first. You won’t be sorry. This review is truly for the whole series, as opposed to just this final book.
Dr. Rowan Davenport has had a life filled with pain and trauma. Her twin sister was murdered at only thirteen, and shortly after that, her mother committed suicide. Rowan became a psychiatrist, working with the police department, eventually writing a successful book. When it turns out that her long time friend and colleague, Julian Addington, is in reality, a serial killer, and she was unable to detect it despite her training and experience, Rowan leaves her job and returns to her small home town. Julian has since murdered her father, resolving that he intends to bring so much pain to Rowan, that she will welcome her own death. Rowan takes up the family funeral business, and occasionally helps Sheriff Billy Brannigan with cases, though in an unofficial capacity.
Billy and Rowan were school friends, never romantically involved, though young Rowan had a crush on him. Currently they’re both unmarried, and while there is a simmering attraction between them now, neither has acted on it. The specter of Julian Addington is always lurking in the background. In the months since he killed Rowan’s father, he has periodically contacted her, taunting her to use her brain to find out the truth. Though the FBI is now involved in the hunt for Julian, he is clever enough to elude them while staying close to Rowan.
As a genuine romance finally develops between Rowan and Billy, one that is over two decades in the making, the body count climbs as Julian is determined to take every happiness away from them. I love this couple’s strength and commitment to each other while facing such a devious enemy. I couldn’t turn the virtual pages quickly enough to find out the answers to all the questions. THE DARKNESS WE HIDE is exciting, surprising, twisted, gruesome, and fascinating. In addition to the superbly written suspense, I loved that Rowan and Billy are around forty-ish, not youngsters, and I adore the respect he had for her talent. Another interesting (if somewhat morbid) facet was learning about the duties of an undertaker. I truly enjoyed this series and wholeheartedly recommend it for fans of romantic suspense.
I’ll start out by saying that when I grabbed this off of Netgalley, I didn’t realize that this was book #3 in a trilogy and finally did when I opened up the book. Luckily, reading books 1 and 2 is not at all necessary to follow the story, though I’m sure it makes for a fuller, richer read having all of the backstories. Ms. Webb adds enough detail from the previous books via the main character’s thoughts and recollections so that readers can pick this one up and still have a great reading experience.
Rowan Dupont is the daughter of the undertaker and the target of several serial killers. She has unwoven years of familial secrets to know that her mother was that catalyst for their attention but how her mother became that focus is still a mystery. As is the location of one of the most dangerous, Julian Addington, whose obsession with Rowan is unhealthy and deadly.
A thriller with a touch of romance. The Darkness We Hide is full of plots twists and turns that had me devouring the pages looking for clues and feeling the tension that steadily built. Rowan is a great character, strong yet vulnerable, relatable in her quest for answers. The main villain, Julian, is mostly a spook in the shadowy corners, leaving bodies in his wake, yet a central character.
If you are in the mood for a gripping, engaging thriller that will keep you reading page one through the end, The Darkness We Hide is a great choice.
Gd book
The darkness we hide is the latest book in the series The undetakers daughter and it is another suspenseful read. I received this ARC from the author Debra Webb but I hadn’t read the other books in the series so I read them first, you should otherwise you miss a lot of background. Boy was I glad I did, it’s a very good written, thrilling series. Rowan Dupont is the undertakers daughter, she takes over the family business after her father was killed. She meets up with her long time friend Billy and a romance develops between them. But there is the serial killerJulian Addington who is haunting Rowan.
Long burried secrets, twist and turns and a creepy serial killer! I highly recommend this book! Definitely 5 stars!
A unique series that has suspense, romance, intrigue and combines the FBI, local police and a need to understand family history.
In this story we see life is starting to go to normal, but with an eye to the unknown as they still haven’t caught the main serial killer, they still don’t know who the mole is, and their are still questions about family history and dynamic. But in this time a romance has emerged and it is great to see some joy for the main characters. This is the end of this storyline and I would recommend reading all the books in order as each story provided hints and information that all comes together in this book.
The twists and turns that this story took were incredible and I did not see some of them coming. Parts of the final showdown were predictable, but not the majority and I enjoyed the secretive nature that unfolded. This would be a great binge read and I loved that I felt part of the journey from the first page of the first book. Throughly entertained and plan on reading more from this author.
Thank you for the chance to share my opinion and read this book!
This is my second book from Debra Webb and didn’t realize that this was the conclusion of a three book series when I started it. That didn’t cause any issues for me as there is plenty in this book to bring the reader up to where they need to be in this suspenseful conclusions.
I love a good suspense story, and this tale of a serial killer who has been after the heroine of the story for many years has plenty of tension and suspense. Many times in books like this you can see what’s coming ahead, but not so much The Darkness We Hide and I liked that it kept me guessing to the very end.
There are many of secrets and lies uncovered in this book as one would expect in the conclusion of a series. While I was able to follow the story easily without reading the previous books in the series, I will admit to wanting to go back and read those to fill in some of the blanks. I also liked that there was some romance to the story between Rowan and Billy.
Overall, I really do like this author’s suspenseful writing and would absolutely pick up other titles from Debra Webb.
An ARC was provided by the publisher. This is my honest review.
If you haven’t read The Secrets We Bury and The Lies We Tell, the first two books in The Undertaker’s Daughter series, you’ll want to go back and read them before you start this. This is an excellent story but it’s very much the conclusion to the trilogy and you’ll miss a great deal of context – and character building – if you try and pick up here.
Rowan DuPont’s family secrets are finally starting to be unearthed, and they’re much more horrifying than she could ever have imagined. The connection between her long-dead mother and serial killer Dr. Julian Addington is revealed, leaving not only Rowan but everyone she cares about in terrible danger… and the body count is once again mounting.
For a Harlequin, this isn’t all that heavy on the romance. Yes, Rowan and police chief Billy Brannigan are settling into something like domestic bliss together, but the knowledge that a serial killer is watching your every move puts a distinct damper on things, as well as the FBI wondering if maybe you’re up to no good. It is, however, very suspenseful, and threads which were opened in previous books are finally tied off here, answering all the questions while providing a satisfying conclusion.
Five stars for an excellent conclusion to a series I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
I would like to Thank Debra for the trip she gave me back to Winchester, Tennessee. She always make the books have a great twist and turn in them and with this one Rowan DuPont and Billy Brannigan really had an adventure that was really worth the read because I could not stop reading. Burt and her where going to have coffee because he had to tell her something. When he didn’t show up Rowan called his phone no answer asked about him and someone said his car is parked out back . So Rowan went to look for him and Rowan found there friend dead in his car Burt Johnston. She knew that Julian was back and this was the beginning again for her and Billy. Rowan was determined to find out what happened to her mother and the secrets in the family. She had questions and as she got the answers she knew why there mother was the way she was. Rowan got a messages from protectors her mother wanted to watch over her and as they gave her the messages and warnings they were killed. Rowan had put her life on hold because of this and she decided to turn her assistant Charlotte Kinsley to take over the DuPont Funeral Home when the time had come she came to decision because at the age of 40 Rowan was not married and had no kids and didn’t plan on any as long as Julian Addington was alive. Billy had wanted to asked Rowan to marry him but knew she wouldn’t because of the Julian case that was still going on. Mr. Utter came and saw her and told her more about her mother and then more left questions unanswered and wouldn’t let her ask. When he left she followed along with the security detail that Billy had put on her for protection. When she found the man she couldn’t ask questions he was dead. So the officer called Billy told him where she was what was going on and waited for him. She asked for a pair of gloves from the officer that was with her and she pulled out a note and it was from Julian. Her and Billy started there own investigation and that was when they where finding more out about her mother that way and through then her journals. They didn’t trust Det. Pryor from the FBI and he thought that Rowan knew more she was telling him. Another body came into the morgue and was not dead was one of the protectors and was telling her more of the true story that she wanted to here and where her mother grew up. After he was done telling what he need to he was gone. Then she went upstairs and told Billy and they went and checked to find out the truth of what he said about her mother. A lady showed up to tell her more stuff and she was finding more stuff out was true. Rowan wanted to go see Julian ex-wife and when they got there she and her driver was dead. This all happened while they where at the funeral for Burt. Then Billy got news about his father being the hospital for a heart attack so Billy and Rowan went to the hospital to be with his parents.
Rowan and Billy was going to end this one way or another. This was one trip to Winchester, Tennessee that I enjoyed reading about to the last page it was an emotional and kept me wondering what was going to happen from one chapter to the next. I love this book because of the twist and turns in the dark that made it creepy and the drama compelling brought out the best of this book. I recommend this book if you like books that have twist, turns, dark, creepy and compelling drama.
Debra Webb is a excellent writer that brings this type of reading to life.
By now, most of you that read my reviews know that I’m a romantic suspense junkie. And you know that I’m always on the hunt for new-to-me authors that might become my next automatic 1-click author. I had never read a book by Debra Webb, but I will most certainly be reading more of her work from now on!
This book is the conclusion to Ms. Webb’s The Undertaker’s Daughter series. These books could be read as standalone titles, but my opinion is that you’re going to miss too much of the backstory if you don’t start from book one. And with the crazy twists and turns this story took, it’s worth your while to start with The Undertaker’s Daughter and go from there.
NICUnurse’s Rating: This story did NOT end like I thought it would. Based on clues from the previous books in the series, I was so confused (in a good way!!) that I honestly had no clue where the clues were going to lead the characters next. So needless to say, this book kept me up entirely too late because I just had to know how the author was going to wrap it all up! And it was definitely a jaw-dropping conclusion! The overall plot and character development were very well written. There were times where I felt that some things had been brought up before so those parts made me feel like I was reading the same things over and over again. Hopefully, that was addressed in later edits. Regardless, if you are looking for a book that is true suspense and one that will keep you on the edge of your seat and up way too late at night (and maybe checking that your doors are securely locked at 3 am!), this is definitely the book for you. And that is true for the entire series. Just go ahead and do yourself a favor and buy the whole darn thing!
I give The Darkness We Hide, as well as the entire series of The Undertaker’s Daughter 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Back in October, I shared my review of the prequel and first two books in Debra Webb’s new Undertaker’s Daughter series. The books were fantastic. The tale is a dark psychological trip into one woman’s quest to find out why horrible tragedy keeps striking her family, and if the mysterious deaths of everyone are related – but more importantly, how and why.
In the third and final installment in this trilogy, Webb ties everything up nicely (if a bit quickly, to my mind) and Rowan finally gets her answers – some of which come at quite an emotional price. The writing and pacing in this final book were once again tight and kept me on the edge of my seat. I read this one in literally one sitting of about 3.5 hours – I couldn’t stop until I, like Rowan, had my answers…
My one issue with the book was the final confrontation with Rowan’s nemesis, Julian Addington. After all of the build-up in the previous books and the previous pages of this one, the final showdown felt a bit hurried. I commented on this “pencils down!” issue in the prequel and first book, where I also felt like things built deliciously slowly and then – BAM! – suddenly ended with a bang – and a whimper. I’m starting to wonder if it’s part of Webb’s writing style though, since it’s happened in the vast majority of the books in the series. Perhaps for her, the build-up IS the story, and the resolution is more like the icing on the cake. That’s fine if so – the build is usually where the magic happens for me too, so I get that, even if my personal taste would be to carry that sense of taut suspense through to the final pages…
Regardless, this was another fabulous read and the series as a whole was a phenomenal one. If you like your mysteries/psychological thrillers DARK and twisty and full of secrets, lies, and misdirection, this is definitely one you should add to your To Be Read list!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
OMG…the suspense in this book is totally on another level, it’s like there’s a serial killer in every corner….literally. I keep expecting bad things happen on the next page, I was scared to turn the page but too curious to know what will happen so I keep turning the page, my heart racing the whole time and thank God there’s sweetness here and there that break all those crazy tensions, This book has a great mystery, great suspense, great characters the kind that make me root and pray for happy ending for them, so yeah this is the great book for suspense lovers out there and totally recommended and seriously…you really need to read this.
I loved this stunning conclusion to Rowan and Billy’s story. After more and more mysterious revelations and baffling clues, the truth is revealed and the horror has ended. Julian Addington’s evil machination are revealed with a suspenseful twist. Couldn’t put this down!!!! Yet another terrific book by Debra Webb!
The Darkness We Hide
Debra Webb
Oh my gosh! What a nail-biting, traumatic, breath holding read. Ro and Billy go through all the emotions from happy to terrifyingly tense events that keep you reading and reading and reading until the very end. The surprises that keep popping up to change the direction you think the story is taking and somehow goes back again will keep you glued until the last word.
Not for the faint of heart.
This is a continuation story revolving around Dr. Rowan Dupont. Book 3 has a long summation of what’s happened in Books 1 and 2, but I highly recommend reading the books in order.
Dupont has been stalked by a serial killer all of her life. He has killed dozens, especially those who are close to Dupont. He wants to kill her, but not until he torments her with the loss of loved ones.
She’s begun a solid relationship with Police Chief Billy Brannigan, but she’s afraid to make a commitment until the killer is either caught or killed.
It’s action packed with page turning suspense. There are lies and secrets that do back decades…back to the murder of her father and the suicide of her mother. Slowly, Rowan has unearthed several family secrets, but what she finds now is earth shattering. Some secrets are meant to be buried forever.
Many thanks to the author / Harlequin-Mira / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense / Psychological Thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The Darkness We Hide by Debra Webb is the third novel in The Undertaker’s Daughter series. The author does provide a summary of what occurred in the earlier books in this series, but I believe it is better to read The Undertaker’s Daughter series in order (it makes more sense that way). The beginning is a little slow, but the pace soon picks up. The Darkness We Hide is a suspenseful novel with twists, turns and surprising revelations. It is a dark tale with gruesome details that will have you cringing (that is a good thing). I was put off, though, by the foul language (I find it offensive). The Darkness We Hide is well written with developed, realistic characters. I could feel the suspense and emotion in this twisty story. The Darkness We Hide provides a thrilling conclusion to the series. All the loose threads (there were so many) are tied up in this action-packed book. You will find your mouth dropping open in disbelief during a certain scene. I was delighted with the satisfying epilogue. I was amazed at the evil, warped characters in this story (this author has a vivid imagination). There are also some truly kind individuals as well. The Darkness We Hide is a dark and twisty suspense with surprising secrets, a perverse predator, a traitorous turncoat, a repugnant agent, and an upset undertaker.
I can’t stress this enough. Read the other books in the series first. I didn’t, and I regret it because the author does a great job of bringing everything together…I just didn’t know what “everything” was. If you’ve read the others, you’ll love this one. Otherwise, you’ll be as lost as I was. I will still go back and read the first ones, but they won’t mean as much now that I know how it all wraps up. Still would recommend Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this one.
One of the best twists and ending to a series! Rowan is a great character, great suspense , pulse pounding , nail biting , who dun it .. Kudos to the Author !!
This is the latest in the Undertaker’s Daughter series from Debra Webb and concludes Dr. Dupont’s story. The book has a lot of unexpected twists and turns before reaching the conclusion. The first part of the book recaps the highlights of the previous two books so it stands on its own without requiring you read the other two first but it also tends to drag on a bit. There were a couple of surprises but a happy ending for Rowan and Billy!