Reviewed by Quirky Cat on
The Darkness We Hide is the third (and final) novel in Debra Webb's The Undertaker's Daughter series, a thriller and mystery series of epic proportions. As the pull quote says, some secrets really are worth dying for.
Doctor Rowan Dupont has been through a lot the last ten months. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement. She's lost family members and loved ones, has been haunted by the ghosts of what has been done, and it is all far from over.
Julian Addington is still on the loose. As long as that serial killer is free, Rowan will never be able to let her guard down. She'll never stop looking over her shoulders. Or take the time to truly enjoy being with Billy Brannigan.
Luckily, Rowan is made of sterner stuff. She's investigated plenty of mysterious deaths in the past, and is prepared for the worst. She also determined to bring Julian's reign of terror to an end – before he can take anything (or anyone) else from her.
The Darkness We Hide was a thrilling – and exceptionally chilling – thriller. It was exactly what I was hoping for, providing an entertaining outlet full of strong characters and anxiety-inducing plots and schemes.
There's a lot to love about this novel (and series). Personally, I adore the characters and settings. There's this sense that the world Rowan lives in is real – real, vibrant, and so alive. The Southern charm rings true in Webb's writing...but it's also more than that. Her writing brings the whole atmosphere to life.
One thing I'll confess to being sad about: this is the conclusion to the trilogy. It was the right time to end it, so I respect that Webb isn't dragging the series on or anything like that. It's just that I've really come to like Rowan, so I don't really want to see the story end.
That being said, I really respected (and enjoyed) the conclusion. This is something that both the characters and fans deserved. So that made it all worth it. It was dramatic and suspenseful in all the best of ways. And then some.
The Darkness We Hide is a title that lives up to its name. The world, plot, and events that unfold are unflinchingly dark at times but described with precise and careful details. It's a blend that really allows you to dive right into the plot, without becoming overwhelmed.
I've noticed that with mysteries, in particular, people don't always read the series in order. I'm guilty of that. The Darkness We Hide is a novel that can be read as a standalone, but honestly? You'll enjoy it a lot more if you read the entire series in order. Otherwise, you're going to miss references, details, and waste a lot of time trying to piece the background together.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Debra Webb comes up with next. I have a good feeling that I'll end up enjoying anything else as much as The Undertaker's Daughter series. Can't wait to find out!
Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 31 March, 2020: Finished reading
- 31 March, 2020: Reviewed