Dr. Rowan DuPont and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department are hunting a serial killer. All the victims have one thing in common–they could be Rowan’s twin, except her twin sister is dead. Rowan grew up in a funeral home, surrounded by death, so her keen insights into homicide cases seldom fall short of the mark. Though growing up as the undertaker’s daughter made her acutely aware of … aware of life and all its frailties, she is only human. Will her one mistake in this shocking case be her last one?
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3.5/5
This is a quick novella to begin the series of the same name.
Dr. Rowan DuPont works with the Nashville Special Crimes Unit as a forensic psychiatrist and is carrying both scars and guilt from childhood losses in her family. She assists on some cases that seem eerily related to her and while the serial killer is fairly obvious, I enjoyed the writing and Rowan’s backstory. Plan to try the next in series.
Just a novella to start off Debra’s next series ….a very quick read (I did it in 1 sitting) I am always amazed at Debra’s writing style that makes me feel right there with the characters and Rowan is no exception!!! Well Done !!!
Rowan and Raven, twin daughters of undertakers. One dies, then the mother commits suicide…..one left behind with her father. The family is used to death and dealing with it but not on this deep level.
Rowan is smart, educated, working with the police on a case that might be the makings of a serial killer. Her father is still an undertaker, close to retirement and still worried about Rowan. It seems Rowan wrote a deeply personal book about her childhood, her hard times accepting the losses of a sister and mother…..and now women are dying….they look like Rowan.
This was a short read but with great characters and atmosphere. Jones, a female cop, Billy, childhood friend, and Julian, a respected older friend. The procedure is solid, the cop talk realistic, the fear elevates as more information comes out.
The ending was a surprise but not out of the realm of possibilities when looking back at the clues. And face it, sometimes, the clues are few and the killer not a suspect at all. The ending took a total 360 and yet made sense but I can’t say anymore ir ruin it. It makes me want the next one in the series as I like the way it is headed…..very much!
Dr. Rowan DuPont is a profiler with the Nashville Police Department. They are hunting a serial killer … someone who chooses victims that could be her twin. Only — Rowan actually had a twin sister who died.
The killer leaves no clues, no DNA, no real motive. The victims are found wearing a white gown, arms crossed, with red rose petals surrounding them.
The closer she gets to the killer, the more danger she faces. And when someone close to her dies at the killer’s hands, it becomes very personal for her. And leads her to a decision that will change her life altogether.
This is a novella, a prequel to a new series beginning with THE SECRETS WE BURY. It’s suspenseful, filled with unforgettable characters. This novella gives the reader the entire backstory on Rowan …and her personal story is breath-taking. I can’t wait to see where Rowan goes from here .. maybe a little romance in her life?
This is a Prequel to a new Debra Webb series.
Dr. Rowan DuPont May not carry a badge but she is employed by the MNPD. They are currently hunting a serial killer that Rowan has profiled. An off hand remark by one of the detectives takes their search in a whole other direction.
Classic Debra Webb. This is short but very much a page turner. I started and couldn’t stop until I finished. There’s a short preview of the next book in the back and I was turning the pages on it. And then over. I want more as soon as possible. Great series to come. I can not wait.
I did receive an ARC for my review.
Debra Webb hooked me from the first page! With the prequel to her The Undertaker’s Daughter series Webb sets the stage for a manhunt for a serial killer who is knocking too close to home for Dr. Rowan DuPont’s comfort. In THE UNDERTAKER’S DAUGHTER the characters are easy to connect with, the drama is high and the set up for the story yet to come is intense. I loved every minute of it!
Rowan is a complex character with a high intensity job and a back story that makes her easy to sympathize with.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an action packed serial killer mystery. This series is a continuation from book to book, so cliffhangerish.
The Undertaker’s Daughter (Book 0.5 novella) by Debra Webb
Pink House Press
115 pages
12/17/18
Fiction, mystery, suspense
Rating: 4/5
8/29/19-9/8/19
Dr Rowan DuPont is a forensic psychiatrist works with the Nashville homocide detectives as they investigate the “soft kills” that seem to be the work of a serial killer. The female victims are rendered incapacitated by an injection and dressed in a simple cotton gown. The victims appear to be specifically placed surrounded by red rose petals.
This novella lays the background for the Undertaker’s Daughter series. Rowan DuPont distances herself from the family business and reminders of a traumatic childhood. As she works to determine the profile of this serial killer, her memories always return to the unexpected drowning of her twin sister Raven. So many questions are still unresolved regarding her mother Norah’s suicide months after the death of her sister. Unable to cope with the tremendous loss, Rowan attempts suicide and is treated by Dr Julian Addington, a renowned psychiatrist.
Dr Addington becomes a trusted friend and mentor when Rowen decides to pursue a career in psychiatry. Her father, Edward DuPont, continues to live and run the family funeral home. After an incident in Nashville, Rowan goes home to reconnect with her father. Her return brings up questions from the past which she needs answers. Unfortunately, with each explanation comes another question which sends her on a dangerous quest for justice.
Favorite Quote:
The circumstances of her birth and her childhood ensured that Rowan was intimately acquainted with death from the very beginning of her life. Her grandfather DuPont had died the day before she and Raven came into the world. Edward insisted on taking a family photo before his father was buried. The twins were ensconced in the deceased DuPont’s lap, with their mother and father on either side. It was the way of things during her formative years. Living had always been far more mysterious and fearful to her than death.
My Review:
This was only my second time reading Ms. Webb’s enthralling arrangements of words and I am livid at myself for not noticing her genius sooner. I could not put this gripping tale down and thankfully it was a short yet highly eventful read that sets the stage for the series to come, one which I will undoubtedly be inhaling every well-chosen word as Ms. Webb’s intriguing hooks are deeply embedded in my gray matter.
I wouldn’t waste my money on it. It’s a novella, there aren’t many pages, It gives you the background on the main character. In my opinion the writer could have put that in the 1st book in the series. Also, you know who the serial killer is or her admirer in the 1st few pages, I figured it out. Not a satisfying read for me. I like Debra Webb, but in my opinion, I wasted my time reading this.
Debra Webb never fails to captivate you with her stories. Her prequels suck you in and leave you with bated breath waiting for the next book.
She has such a unique voice in that she gives you the killer right away but that in no way takes away from the suspense, trepidation or fear. Anxiously awaiting the next book..
The Undertaker’s Daughter sucked me right in. Rowan is assisting to help find a serial killer whose victims look just like her dead twin sister. But why? As she gets deeper into the investigation, she puts herself in more danger. Can she survive? This story is one that you just cannot put down. I absolutely loved it, and I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to more in this series.
For being a prequel, this novella really packed a punch. A lot of times prequels leave much to be desired. They never really give you enough and they don’t always leave you wanting more. Not this one! This one was a fantastic beginning to an upcoming series.
Dr. Rowan DuPont has been helping the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department try to find a serial killer. They’ve got bodies but no evidence. Nothing! Not a speck of DNA, no clues, heck they don’t even know what this killers motive is. The only thing they can really agree on, is that these dead bodies resemble Rowan way too much.
What a page turner! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. It definitely has me ready for Debra Webb’s new series.
Wow! As usual, Debra has done it again! What an introduction to a great new character and a new series! With each page Debra added layers that flesh out and bring to life the newest in her long list of strong woman heroines. And the end will blow you away! Yes, I can not wait to read more!
The Undertaker’s Daughter is the prequel novella to a new series by one of my go to authors, Debra Webb. Webb always creates intriguing characters with a great plot. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, The Secrets We Bury.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novella.
I was so excited to receive an advance copy of ‘The Undertaker’s Daughter’. This is the prequel to the much anticipated ‘The Undertaker’s Daughter’ series by Debra Webb. We are introduced to Rowan, a psychologist who works with the Nashville police department. There is a series of murders that involve women who closely resemble Rowan. These women could pass for her twin, who died as a teenager. As the police investigates these murders, they realize that the murderer is sending Rowan a personal message and she could be the next victim. These murders all have something in common with her past, secrets that she has told very few people. She soon , but not soon enough, learns that the murderer is closer to her than she realizes. As she investigates the murders in the present, she has to search her memories of the horrific past. This is a well written must read. Although it is a short novella and can be read in one sitting, it is a complete story. I did not feel like the story was missing anything. I look forward to reading the next book (and hopefully more) in this series. Thank you Debra Webb for the ARC of The Undertaker’s Daughter.The Undertaker’s Daughter The Secrets We Bury
In this novella which is the prequel to a new series written by Debra Webb. A profiler working with the police has written a book that lists the details of her life. She is a psychiatrist assists the Nashville Police Dept. A serial killer is on the loose and blond-haired women are the targets of his attacks. Each victim is staged with rose petals surrounding the body. Rowan Dupont, the psychiatrist, is stunned to discover that one of the victims resembles her dead twin sister.
Now, the police believe that the killer is after Rowan but how can she protect herself and prevent more women from being murdered….As the police race against time the killer seems to be one step ahead of them and Rowan is now in his sight…
This is a wonderfully suspenseful read that leaves the reader wondering who the killer is until the end. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I highly recommend this book to lovers of suspense! I received an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review.
I willingly read any/everything Debra Webb gives us and I am never disappointed, every story is worth the time to read. This newest series begins with this prequel and is no different there. It’s not a happy story, it is a story of growth and discovery which isn’t always comfortable. It’s a crime mystery with twists and turns and anticipation of what happens next. I’m looking forward to the next book. Debra Webb has done a very fine job of bringing us yet another excellent read.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I love learning about Rowan and the life shes led that makes her the person she is. I love all Debra Webb books and this one is no different, definitely recommended.
The Undertaker’s Daughter: A Prequel Novella
Debra Webb
Rowan DuPont has suffered a lot in her life and now someone is forcing to relive it again.
A totally suspenseful story that has you not putting it down as you follow all the twists and turns as it leads you on a path of clues towards an understanding of who the murderer is.
A surprised ending that I didn’t see coming. Can’t wait to read this series.
wow this book theres so much to say but i dont want to give to much away i will say this book made me cry it broke my heart some. I felt so much for Rowan and my heart broke for her I never seen it coming and i cant wait to read more in this series!!