Cold Waters

Written by Debbie Herbert

Narrated by Megan Tusing, Eric G. Dove, Sophie Amoss and Shannon McManus

An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.

From USA Today bestselling author Debbie Herbert comes a thrilling story of murder and madness set in the darkest corner of Alabama.

Everyone thinks fourteen-year-old Violet is a murderer. After a summer-night swim with her best friend, Ainsley, Violet is found confused, wandering in the forest—and Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, murder charges won’t stick, so Violet is sent away.

After more than a decade in a psychiatric ward, Violet returns to her broken-down hometown of Normal, Alabama, to claim her dead mother’s inheritance and help her overworked sister care for their unstable, alcoholic father. Violet, still haunted by that night eleven years ago, endures horrific flashbacks and twisted hallucinations while townsfolk spit accusations—and for all she knows, they’re right.

As the summer heats up, details of Ainsley’s fate appear like a beast’s wild eyes, watching in the darkness, and grim revelations about Violet’s family threaten to devour her. Already on the edge of madness, Violet must fight to keep her sanity long enough for the terrible truth to burst from the cold, dark waters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781721367214

Debbie Herbert

Debbie Herbert, a 2017 RITA® Finalist, Romance Writers of America®, writes both suspense and paranormal romance. Married and living in Alabama, she's a huge fan of Bama's Crimson Tide. Her oldest son, like some of her characters, has autism. A past Maggie finalist in Young Adult & Paranormal Romance, she loves hearing from readers!

Reviews for Cold Waters

[K G · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Spoiler free warning. Unfortunately I found nearly every character in this book to be incredibly unpleasant - a few minor characters were tolerable, but the main ones… and the premise of the town shunning a 14yr old girl as an evil ‘murderess’ for the disappearance of a 15yr old she went skinny dipping with… and then having said 14yr old committed to psychiatric care for over a decade?! The whole premise just doesn’t even begin to present as plausible, then add to that the absurdity of the bow grown 14yr olds wishy washy spineless, then tough, then confused personality and ahhhhhhhh!!!! Check out a few other reviewers - violet is one of the most frustrating characters you’ll ever endure if you choose to go down this road.
There are tidbits of ‘southern charm/magic/mysticism’ that don’t fit with the story… including violets relationship with the crows… things that could have been far more interesting but instead fall flat and only impart the uncomfortable ‘southern belle white voodoo mystic’ narrative.
Narration is quite good, but yet not fitting if that makes sense. Violet is mid 20s but sounds middle aged, Delaney’s narrator is aged appropriate sounding but her accent is odd… not quite southern but talks veeeery slowly as though that’s how she interprets a southern Belle … and the cop, Boone, clearly a lifelong deep southerner doesn’t have a trace of an accent. The mother, hyacinth is ok as her character isn’t necessarily from the Deep South so therefore seems less out of place.

Sorry but I’d say run on this one!!

[Mitchell Armstrong-Grundy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So I really did like the book but I have to say I have Never been so frustrated with the main character in my entire life. The main character, while understandably cautious in everything she does, made me actually scream out loud “what are you doing?”

[Tracy Bartels · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The audible voices are great. It is a page turner to see what happened. The story is told by different characters at different times.

[Blind Blend · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Excellent narration - a well chosen cast. The writing is strong, good pacing and flow. The story , while initially intriguing, devolves into lifetime movie material. However the other elements keeps this story afloat and earns it a solid 3 stars.