Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Closer Than You Know by Debra Webb Narrator: Elise Arsenault
Series: Vera Boyett #2
Published by Brilliance Audio on May 6, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 10 hours, 43 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Vera Boyett is a master at cracking a case.
After tragedy destroyed her career as deputy police chief, she felt lost. Moving back home near her sisters, she put her skills back to use as a crime analyst, and now her star is finally back on the rise. Vera’s work really begins to heat up after the local sheriff, Gray “Bent” Benton, calls to ask her for assistance with a pressing case.
Pushing aside their complicated past, Vera agrees to help Bent search for a missing reporter. But their investigation uncovers an improbable connection to the Messenger, a serial killer she put behind bars twelve years ago. The killer, who is dying of cancer, wants his final revenge. And the reporter is merely a distraction—Vera is his true target.
I got the first book in the Vera Boyette series through Prime’s Amazon First Reads. Deeper Than the Dead introduces us to Vera Boyette as she goes home to help her sisters when dead bodies are found in a cave on the family farm. The sisters and many in the small town have so many secrets. Vera was a deputy chief in Memphis but with two of her team members in a murder / suicide she resigns. We get her family history and find that her first love is now sheriff. She is offered positions by the TBI and the FBI but chooses to stay a freelance consultant. I find it a bit unrealistic that she is made the offers, or is able to get enough work that way but it fits well for the story.
Now her youngest stepsister Luna, is married and her sister Eve, living with her girlfriend, so Vera is home alone on the family farm. She is working a case with the first love, Benton. She keeps thinking about him, and is still very attracted to him. Vera is just about to turn 40. Neither of them has married. He left town for 20 years in the military.
Someone has been leaving messages, then abducting people, drugging them and then leaving them unharmed 2 days later. But this abductee is from a demanding wealthy family so Bent, and Vera, are pulled in to hunt for him the first day. He is a reporter who lives aside his parents. Now more messages appear that are different and eerily similar to Vera’s first big case solved in Memphis – The Messenger.
He is still in prison and there was no indication of an accomplice or partner. But it either has to be a partner or a connected copycat. This was exciting and frightening because Vera, and especially her sister, Eve are a wild canon. The pacing was steady with plenty of action.
Vera seems reasonably skilled at her work and tracking down criminals. But she seems unconventional and takes more chances than necessary. It certainly adds to the suspense. I find it a little hard to believe that Bent and other law enforcement just let her work as a consultant. But she does have a lot of experience and years of success in Memphis.
All the family secrets seem to be out now, so hopefully if there are more stories they can build for the future. Eve and Luna are happily partnered. It remains to be seen if Vera will be.
Narration:
It wasn’t the first time I had heard this narrator but I didn’t recognize her other than as the characters here, which is actually a good thing. Her voices for both male and females were comfortable and kept me in the story. I listened at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Debra Webb
DEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including reader favorites the Shades of Death, the Faces of Evil and the Colby Agency series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel.
With more than four million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I’m a fan of the author and somehow missed this series. Great review, Anne💜
Thanks Jonetta. The first book was an Amazon First Reads and now this one is out next week. They are in KU with audio.
Even though she’s freelance, at least she is trained and experienced. It cracks me up how many shows have specialists that sweep in and suddenly solve every case (High Potential for example).
yes at least she has some skills but her thoughts are just whack. I think partly because it’s always her family involved. I have to wonder if we will get any books where the case isn’t personal.
I really like the sound of this one. Sounds like an exciting cat and mouse.
It was weird but exciting.
I would find the job situation a little unbelievable, too. The taking risks would be frustrating. Glad to hear you enjoyed the story despite some issues.
Thanks Rachel. Well it is fiction and sometimes one has to let little things go.
Maybe in smaller, rural counties getting hired as a consultant isn’t as tough.
Series sounds good and glad the familiar narrator was able to keep the series separate from earlier books for you.
I’m sure that might be true of smaller more rural counties but not the FBI or the state TBI? Anyway, it’s fiction.
This sounds interesting despite the issues you mention. I’ll have to pick this one up. I feel like I’ve read this author’s books before.
She has written a lot of books and I have read some of her other series.
Pretty cover on this one! Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks Lisa. I really love the cover too.
This sounds like it would be a good book club book 😉
Maybe because the characters are good intentioned but so flawed.