Truly Dead
Written by Anne Frasier
Narrated by Natalie Ross
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
In award-winning author Anne Frasier’s riveting thriller Truly Dead, homicide detective Elise Sandburg returns to Savannah with her partner, profiler David Gould, to track a killer who seems eerily familiar.
When a demolition crew uncovers several bodies inside the walls of a house where serial killer Frank J. Remy once lived, the discovery sends shock waves through the Savannah Police Department. All of the bodies were hidden before Remy’s imprisonment and subsequent death thirty-six years earlier—except for one belonging to a missing child.
Homicide partners Elise Sandburg and David Gould were the Savannah PD’s dream team, solving uncrackable crimes and catching killers. But their last case resulted in their termination from the squad, until the coroner calls them back to consult, unofficially, on a body found in the wall of a house once occupied by Remy, a killer Elise’s own father sent to jail—a killer who died in prison. The MO seems uncomfortably similar to that of a serial killer wreaking havoc in Florida.
Does Elise have a copycat on her hands? Is Remy’s influence reaching from beyond the grave? Or is Elise making connections where there are none? When her father warns her to back off the case, Elise’s shadowy family history threatens to swallow her once again. But whatever force is at work, she won’t rest until the killing stops.
Now at odds with everyone she cares about and forced to acknowledge her worsening emotional state, Elise struggles to protect the people she loves as the body count rises.
Anne Frasier
Anne Frasier is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty novels that range from thrillers to memoirs. She is a RITA winner for her romantic suspense books and a recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award for paranormal romance. Her thrillers have been featured by the Mystery Guild, the Literary Guild, and the Book of the Month Club. Her memoir, The Orchard, received a B+ review in Entertainment Weekly; was an O, The Oprah Magazine "fall pick"; was named an American Library Association "One Book, One Community" read; and was singled out as a Librarians' Best Book of 2011. Her most recent novel, Truly Dead, is the highly anticipated fourth installment in the Elise Sandburg series. Frasier currently divides her time between Saint Paul, Minnesota, and her writing studio in rural Wisconsin.
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Play Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stay Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pretty Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Truly Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Truly Dead
42 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The conclusion of the Elise Sandburg quartet was another action-packed and emotionally intense thriller. Elise and David are called back to Savannah when bodies are found entombed in the walls of a house being demolished. They learn that the house was owned by a serial killer who preyed on children and who died in prison before his execution date arrived.As they look into the case, they find a connection with Elise's father Jackson Sweet, and they also find some questions that lead them to wanting to exhume the body. When the exhumation is crashed by armed invaders who kill the lead homicide detective, wound the mayor, and make off with the casket, Elise and David are pulled back into the Savannah police department and back on the case. The casket is recovered, and it is learned that the body inside is not that of the serial killer. They, and Jackson Sweet, believe that the killer is still alive, still preying on children, and consumed with getting revenge on Sweet. The killer is targeting anyone who is close to him including Elise.The story is engaging. The characters are well-rounded people who are all variously damaged by the things that have happened in their lives. The villain is chilling and elusive. The hunt to find him is thrilling and chilling too. This was a great series that should be read in order. I also recommend reading it back-to-back for the full impact of the story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Truly DeadBy: Anne FrasierNarrated by: Natalie RossThis brings back past cases so read in order for full effect! Great tension, emotions, characters, and plot. Ended tidy like an end to a series.(?) If so, it was a terrific one! This author knows how to get your heart pumping!The narrator did a wonderful job with the voices in this book and the whole series. She made the book come alive!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anne Frasier is the pen name of Theresa Weir, widely known for her excellent memoir, The Orchard. Her fiction stands out, in my opinion, for her deep and compassionate understanding of physic pain. This is the fourth book in a detective series featuring homicide detectives Elise Sandburg and David Gould. It is set in Savannah, and is richly atmospheric.As the story begins, Elise and David are called back to Savannah from Chicago; they had both been fired after their last case. The Savannah medical examiner, John Casper, asked them to come back unofficially and help him with a new case. They agree because John is also a personal friend: “John was the good kind of family. The kind that wasn’t blood.”Bodies of children have been found in a house slated for demolition. The house was once occupied by a murderer, Frank Remy, who was put in prison by Elise’s father Jackson Sweet. Remy reputedly died there 36 years before. Making the case more disturbing, the m.o. is similar to that of a serial killer terrorizing Florida.Returning to Savannah, especially for a case involving dead children, brings up all sorts of ghosts for Elise and David.David lost his own child to murder, and Elise had been captured and tortured in Savannah by a psychopath named Atticus Tremain who was never caught. The case pushes emotional buttons for both of them.Meanwhile, the police decide to exhume Remy’s body to see if the DNA matches any of the DNA on the bodies inside the wall, and then all hell breaks loose. Not only Elise and David but everyone they love is in danger. Discussion: As in previous books, the author closely captures the feelings of people who are dealing with loss and/or agonizing memories. She shows how hurt, loneliness, and shame can translate into a pain that is physical. Evaluation: The colorful setting of Savannah; the appealing but troubled protagonists and the chemistry between them; and the suspense that builds to a fever pitch make a winning combination. I definitely look forward to more volumes in this series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you’re keeping score, you know the last book ended with Det. Elisa Sandburg & partner David Gould leaving the Savannah PD under a cloud. They decided to say goodbye to all the bureaucratic/political crap & open their own agency. But before they can hang out their shingle, Elise gets a call from Savannah ME Dr. John Casper. A body has been found stuffed in the wall of an old house undergoing demolition. The address is well known to Savannah residents. It was once owned by Frank Remy, a prolific serial killer who was eventually caught by Elise’s father Jackson Sweet. He died in prison years ago but this body is eerily similar to some recent homicides in Florida. Casper is unhappy with Elise’s replacement & asks her to come back & have an “unofficial” look-see. Elise & David are a sight for sore eyes for old colleagues who are suffering under Victor Lamont, the man who took her job. They need to determine if Remy had a partner or if this is the work of a copycat. First up is the exhumation of Remy’s grave. And oooh lawdy, no one could have predicted just how many ways THAT would go wrong. This is a fast paced thriller with a plot that zigs then zags as some ugly secrets from the past provide clues for the present investigation. Elise’s relationship with her long estranged father is shaky at the best of times & she believes he knows more than he’s telling, especially as the body count continues to rise. Elise still struggles with PTSD as a result of her run-ins with psycho Atticus Tremain (previous books). She’s been able to keep it under wraps but the combination of being back in Savannah plus changes to her personal life bring it roaring back to life. Weird stuff is happening around her & her sometimes erratic behaviour has colleagues questioning her stability. Meanwhile, David begins to wonder if it’s time for him to move on alone. He’s always loved Elise but with no sign she’s ready for a relationship, just how long is a guy supposed to wait?There’s a huge back story to this series so I really wouldn’t recommend this as a stand alone. The large cast have intricate ties & many references would go over the head of a first time reader. Among the returning characters is Elise’s friend (and Jackson’s lover) Strata Luna who adds her spooky mysticism to the atmospheric old south setting. Some of the scenes are fairly graphic but entirely in keeping with what fans expect from several of the characters. A little suspension of disbelief is required & that’s what prevented me from giving this a higher rating. Elise’s fragile state, personal tragedies & what she endures made it hard for me to believe she could function as a person, let alone a detective. But hey, this is fiction & if you’re a fan of romantic suspense/drama there is plenty here to keep you entertained.