When three children stumble on a shallow grave in 1984, an idyllic California community is rocked to its core. The victim is a young woman, her eyes and lips sealed closed, a blind and silent witness to an unspeakable crime. The third victim in two years’ time, it’s clear that a serial killer has come calling.
As a member of the FBI’s fledgling criminal profiling unit, Special Agent Tony Mendez knows serial killers. It quickly becomes apparent that the See-No-Evil killer is no ordinary psychopath. The profile paints a portrait of a man easily trusted, well respected, and intelligent—a man no one would suspect.
Dr. Peter Crane fits the bill. A pillar of the community, he volunteers at a center for disadvantaged women—a center the victims had all attended. Crane is also a beloved husband and father to a ten-year-old son, Tommy, who was one of the three children to discover the grave. Needing insight into Peter Crane’s world, Mendez asks Anne Navarre, Tommy’s fifth-grade teacher, to find out what she can. It’s a request Anne finds both intriguing and unethical—much like Mendez himself.
Then a new victim leads to a different suspect—a man whose son was another of the three children to find the grave but a man whose position in the community is also above reproach, a sheriff’s deputy. As the connections between the two families become increasingly tangled, it seems clear that one of these children holds the key to a serial killer’s double life . . . and a revelation of evil so dark, so deep, no one may survive.
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"This book was sooooo disturbing on so many levels. I couldnt sleep one night after getting to the really suspenseful part. Excellent story. It was cast in the 80s so it was fun to have all the 80s references in it. It also reminds me of how far we have come technologically since then as well. "
— Jeri (5 out of 5 stars)
[A] nail-biting thriller…Once again, bestselling Hoag plots craftily and creates characters readers root for.
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Hoag's first-rate exploration of her characters imbues Deeper Than the Dead with compelling plot twists.
— South Florida Sun-SentinelThere's a truly terrifying serial killer at the heart of Hoag's new page-turner...the chilling premise and exciting twists make Hoag's latest a thriller in every sense of the word.
— BooklistWarning: Reading Deeper Than the Dead at night will most likely interfere with the reader’s inability to sleep without a chilling fear hovering at the corners of their mind.
— Examiner.comReaders will find themselves locked into a true gut-wrenching suspense, surprised until the very end as unexpected turns remind us that books aren’t always predictable.
— Suspense Magazine" First book that I read by this author, really enjoyed it "
— Gayenell, 5/22/2011" The conceit of setting the story in 1985 didn't distract from the twisty plot at all. Hardly great literature, but cracking good page turner. Didn't have it figured out until the last page. "
— Nancy, 5/18/2011" This was my first Tami Hoag book. What a page turner. I enjoy a good murder mystery. A little predictable but ended with a twist that leaves you wondering....Hmmmm!? Now, I'm ready to read something light and funny! "
— Sandi, 5/11/2011" It was okay Not my Fav From her. "
— Shannon, 5/8/2011" This book would definitely be a hard to do put down!!!! If you like reading Tami Hoag, this is one book you should really read!!!!! "
— Denise, 5/7/2011" 4.5 STARS<br/>This was a creep-tastic book! This story sets up multiple serial killer possibilities right from the start and leaves you wondering up until the shocking ending. "
— Teresa, 5/7/2011" It's been a long time since I've read a murder/mystery or one of Hoag's books. It had me guessing right up to the end. It was a strange read because she set it in 1985 and the commentary about the lack of technology is an interesting through-line. "
— Kuch, 5/6/2011" Like so much got secrets to the grave to read "
— Dena, 4/14/2011" Good read, but sort of predictable. Enjoyed it though. "
— Angela, 4/12/2011" I wish that I had read these in the proper order because I read the sequal to this first and it spoiled a lot of the suspense! "
— Dona, 4/9/2011Tami Hoag is known for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense in her fiction, and her novels have appeared regularly on national bestseller lists since the publication of her first book in 1988.
Kirsten Potter has won several awards, including more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. Her work has been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and by AudioFile magazine, among many others. She graduated with highest honors from Boston University and has performed on stage and in film and television, including roles on Medium, Bones, and Judging Amy.