The Dead Won't Tell


Fiction - Mystery - Murder
368 Pages
Reviewed on 06/30/2022
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Dead Won't Tell by S. K. Waters is a gripping cold-case murder mystery. Abbie Adams is a historian and journalist and has been hired to investigate a murder that happened in 1969. She eagerly accepts and starts her research, only to find that someone she knows is connected. Frank Wexler is a faculty advisor who slated Abbie’s thesis and he is refusing to talk about the murder. Abbie manages to track down the witnesses still alive and learns what happened but is nowhere near solving it. She needs answers to questions and she needs to know if someone put pressure on the police to cover the murder up. Her remaining witnesses are dying though, and not of natural causes. Abbie appears to have opened a can of worms, one that threatens to tear the town open, and she may be firmly in the killer’s sights. If the killer is still alive, Abbie may be his next victim, unless she can uncover the truth first.

The Dead Won’t Tell by S. K. Waters is a truly gripping story with a unique plot, a real page-turner right from the start. It begins in the past and then takes you on a rollercoaster ride that will leave you giddy and on the edge of your seat. The characters are amazing, so well developed, and you really get to know them throughout the story. The plot is packed with action, lots of twists, and plenty of suspense to keep you reading right to the very end. Cold-case mysteries are always exciting and this one is no exception. Ms. Waters has a real knack for telling a story that draws you in, making you feel as though you are there and the ending leads me to believe there may be a sequel. I hope so because Ms. Waters is now being added to my must-read list of authors.

K.C. Finn

The Dead Won’t Tell is a work of fiction in the mystery subgenre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by S. K. Waters. The book follows journalist Abbie Adams after she is invited to look into an unsolved murder from 1969. Whilst initially excited by the prospect, she quickly comes to realize that a personal adversary may be involved and unwilling to co-operate in the investigation. As Abbie starts locating the witnesses and piecing together the truth, the danger of her questioning becomes apparent as the witnesses are targeted and the truth at the center of it all threatens the stability of a whole town.

This was a very deep and dynamic mystery that continued to evolve and grow in threats the more Abbie pulled on the threads of conspiracy. S. K. Waters consistently demonstrates skill as a mystery writer with prose that maintains an air of uncertainty, always keeping the threat level high enough so that the next twist in the tale could strike at any moment. The dramatic impact of using a cold case, the repercussions of which are still being felt in the present, is deeply engaging. The author doesn’t waste any of the potential in the narrative as dominos that started falling in the 60s continue to topple with heartbreaking and devastating effect throughout the story. The Dead Won’t Tell is an exciting mystery thriller that will hook readers quickly with its simple but well-executed plot, carefully considered mystery, and engaging lead character.

Alma Boucher

Rosalie DuFrayne was brutally murdered in 1969 after helping at a party. Her murder was half-heartedly investigated, and the killer was never caught. The editor of The Hunts Landing Times gave Abbie Adams the assignment to investigate and write a story about this girl’s murder. After all these years, she has to find witnesses that are still alive and interrogate them. It was a big leap for her; she was used to doing research and writing history articles. Jethro Turner was the detective on this case so she approached him about his findings during his investigation. It appears that someone did not want the investigation to continue and, after questioning a few witnesses, they turn up either dead or being attacked. Abbie knew she was onto something and with more questions than answers, she continued her investigation in The Dead Won’t Tell by S.K. Waters.

I was intrigued by the murder of a young black girl by blunt force trauma and the suspense made the story very powerful. The plot is complicated; how will Abbie find the truth after all these years and get justice for the girl? The story was unpredictable and full of surprises. I never knew what to expect, and I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out. The story is fast-paced, but never felt rushed and the chapters flow naturally into each other. The characters are well developed and skillfully handled. Each had their character traits, and I could relate to them. The Dead Won’t Tell by S.K. Waters is well-written and had my attention from the beginning. The ending was unexpected and was a big surprise.