The last in the Rowan Dupont trilogy. I had a hard time getting through the second book and this one wasn't much better until about the last hundred pages or so. Everything moves so slowly that it never seems to be getting anywhere. There were a couple of unexpected twists where I thought I knew what the result was going to be but other than that the ending was pretty predictable. I won't give details because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. The level of suspense could have been ratched up a little bit.

All in all, this book left a little to be desired and the series overall was a little disappointing. I really only finished the second two books because I don't like leaving a series unfinished. Read these at your own risk. ( )

Dr. Rowan DuPont is a forensic psychiatrist who assists with homicide investigations. In book 1, The Secrets We Bury, Dr Rowan DuPont finds bones in lake where her sister was found dead. Rowan is adjusting to taking over family funeral business after moving back to Winchester, TN from Nashville. She is still reveling in the mysterious deaths of her sister and mother and eventually her father. The biggest betrayal with which she is grappling is the discovery that her friend/confidante Dr Julian Addington is a serial killer. In book 2, the story continues with Rowan determined to track down Dr Addington who remains on the run.

In this last installment of the Undertaker’s Daughter series, it begins with the untimely death of Burton Johnston who worked as the the Franklin County coroner for four decades.

There was a calm before the ultimate storm of more deaths. The town had hoped that Julian Addington had died and they would be safe again. Unfortunately, there were many people who wouldn’t believe he was dead until they saw his body. Rowan would never feel safe until he was dead or behind bars. She is determined to uncover the secrets from the past which overshadow her mother. Her mother wanted to be a writer but never seemed to produce anything worth reading.

A trip to visit her mother Norah’s grave proves to be more eventual than she wanted. A dead man is found lying on her mother’s grave with a message in his mouth for Rowan. Now, Rowan knows Julian is alive and well back to torment her. Who is this man and how is he related to her mother?
Her investigation into her mother’s past and Julian’s murders don’t sit well with Detective Pryor who resents this vigilante.

Rowan and Billy Brannigan have always known each other before she left for Nashville to work as a forensic psychologist. Meanwhile, her childhood friend becomes chief of police of Winchester. Their paths reunite during the chaos of the serial murders and Julian Addington mystery. Eventually, he persuaded her to acknowledge her feelings for him and he moves in with her.

Together Rowan and Billy uncover secrets and lies which have been entangled over the years. The story becomes more complex but eventually all the questions are answered and mysteries resolved. The only question left is what will become of the dynamic duo?

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So after I read 2 books back to back that were kind of duds, this was a welcome change of pace. This is third book in this series. I had previously read book 2 and this picks up where that left off with Rowan, the undertaker’s daughter, enjoying a bit of quiet time after chasing off a prolific serial killer that has been haunting her family for years. Knowing that it is only a matter of time before Julian, her serial killer shadow, makes another appearance, Rowan vows to dig out her families secrets in the hopes that she can find answers to so many secrets her family has long kept hidden. The secrets she finds will upend everything she knows and understands about her family history. I remember all these characters, so it was fun to catch up with them again. The pace of this book is a little different than book 2, but there are also far more resolutions in this book, and the ending very much feels like a resolved storyline for all involved. If this series is set to continue, I am curious to see what happens to Rowan and her beloved sheriff boyfriend, Billy. This is a fun, quick read. Can be read alone or as part of the series. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy. ( )

OMG was this book awesome! We learn a lot about Rowan and the rest of her family that we may have surmised, but there was a lot that I never figured out until they figured it out in the story. I'm so happy that Rowan finally gets the answers that she needed to move on with her life. Billy is a supportive man and is always ready to be there when she needs him. Couldn't stop reading, I just wanted to find out where Julian was and why he kept going after Rowan. Definitely recommend!

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are 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. ( )