Dead in the Water

Denise Swanson

Sep 2017 · Welcome Back to Scumble River Book 1 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this ebook

New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson returns to the beloved town of Scumble River and its quirky townsfolk with Dead in the Water. First in a newly revamped cozy mystery series, Dead in the Water is a gripping mystery that won't let you go until you've turned the last page.

A twister, a kidnapping, and a murder—oh my! Scumble River may never be the same.

Welcome back to Scumble River!

• Perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Ellery Adams
• For readers of cozy mysteries and small-town cozy fiction

For school psychologist Skye Denison, there's certainly no place like home. When a violent tornado shakes up the small river town, she can't see how the community will ever recover—especially since town councilman Zeke Lyons appears to have perished in the twister.

But things get even worse for Skye when her police chief husband, Wally, disappears in the midst of investigating Zeke's death. Did Zeke really die in the storm, or was he the victim of an un-welcome murder? And could Wally be next on the criminal's hit list? As evidence arises pointing to foul play, Skye will have to jump into this seemingly dead-end investigation to save her husband and her town.

Ratings and reviews

I am so glad I found this new series! I love a good romance/mystery and this one has it all. Lots of action and great characters made me not want to put this book down. I can't wait for the next one!

Dead in the Water by Denise Swanson is the first book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series. Skye Denison-Boyd is at home when violent storms strike the area. Wally rushes home to get Skye into the basement (along with Bingo, the cat) when the tornado sirens ring out there warning. After the storm, they discover that their home is destroyed. Three separate tornadoes struck Scumble River leaving devastation in its wake. The mayor has Wally check on their newest councilman, Zeke Lyons who got separated from his family. Wally finds Zeke dead in the bathroom of his home and knows his death cannot be attributed to the storm. Who took advantage of the tornadoes to wipe out mild mannered Zeke Lyons? Wally has a full plate with a murder investigation, rescuing citizens, the burglaries occurring around town, his limited staff, and a pregnant wife. Wally heads out one afternoon and fails to return. Sergeant Roy Quirk, Wally’s right hand, does not have the staff to hunt for Wally. Skye calls Carson Boyd, Wally’s father, who flies in from Texas to help her. What happened to Wally? Will Caron and Skye be able to find him in time? To find out what happens, pick up a copy of Dead in the Water. Dead in the Water is the first book in Welcome Back to Scumble River series, but it is actually a continuation of A Scumble River Mystery series (with some changes). This was my first visit to Scumble River, and I had no problem reading Dead in the Water. Ms. Swanson provided the needed history on the main characters. There are quite a few characters mentioned in the beginning (as Skye checks in on family and friends), but it settles down to a manageable level. My rating for Dead in the Water is 4.5 out of 5 stars (I downgraded a little since I accurately solved the mysteries). Dead in the Water is an engaging and entertaining story. It has lively and quirky characters (except the mayor who I hope gets ousted in the upcoming election). I thought the story was easy to read, had a good pace, and just the right amount of humor. The two mysteries were interesting with one being more complicated than the other. I believe many readers will be surprised by the killer’s identity (depends on your sleuthing prowess). I thought the method of murder was clever. The suspense ramps up towards the end of the book which had me up late turning the pages. The ending is sweet and will leave you smiling. I will definitely be reading the next installment in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series.

About the author

Denise Swanson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River mysteries, the Deveraux’s Dime Store mysteries, and the Chef-to-Go mysteries, as well as the Change of Heart contemporary romances. She has been nominated for RT Magazine’s Career Achievement Award, the Agatha Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award.