Not One of Us

By: Debbie Herbert

Narrated by: Shannon McManus, Amanda Ronconi, Patrick Lawlor, Michael Crouch

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of Cold Waters comes a brooding thriller about a woman who must decide if safeguarding her family is worth burying a truth that will haunt her forever.

Thirteen years ago, Jori Trahan’s boyfriend vanished without a trace. Now, after moving back home to Alabama to care for her ailing grandmother and autistic brother, she comes face-to-face with the deadly mystery behind his disappearance.

Jori has a rare form of synesthesia, meaning she can “hear” colors; to her, tones of voice are as unique as fingerprints. With the help of this ability and a sympathetic cop, Jori comes dangerously close to uncovering the truth. But those responsible will go to any length - including murder - to keep their dark secrets buried.

Soon, it seems that no one in the sleepy bayou town is safe, and after Jori’s brother is kidnapped, she knows she must drop the investigation or risk losing her family. But when protecting them means letting an evil deed go unpunished, putting family first may be the last thing she’ll ever do.

©2021 Debbie Herbert (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Herbert steadily multiplies acts of violence and betrayal as she knits [a] new crime closer and closer together with [an] old. More tellingly, she gradually deepens both heroines’ horror at discovering just how low the people who disparage outsiders and newcomers as ‘not one of us’ are willing to go to preserve their privilege.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Those with a taste for Southern gothic will be satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly

“The past breaks open with a bang.” —Fresh Fiction, the Fresh Pick for February 22, 2021

Difficult story to believe

This is a tale with perhaps 3 elements that are just too difficult to wrap yourself around. I can’t say that I really connected to any of the characters. Jori was reckless and whiny.

The male voices were badly done

Captivating

Very glad I found this book. Nice southern thriller that kept me intrigued. My only complaint is...what was Dana's full story? She had some pretty negative feelings toward Deacon and that was never touched on again even though it was obviously important. Due to that lack of complete story I could not give it 5 stars.

I loved the multiple narrators

Part murder mystery, part Southern Gothic. 100% awesome read. Great twists and turns in the mystery.

Wonderful!

I enjoyed this book so much... Great characters and a story that are both suspenseful and will bring a tear or two. Awesome! Thanks for a great read!

southern living

being from the south I immediately connected with pieces of the book. the story was fun albeit predictable, but I felt the narrators did a great job. it made me intrigued in the authors other works.

Awesome bayou crime thriller!

Great book! The twists will make your head spin especially, that last one. There's no telling how many secrets the bayou holds but in the case of Jori's family, quite a bit. Jori wants answers about the cousin she'd only heard about but never really knew and her high school boyfriend's family disappearance. However, someone has caught on to her snooping around and they want her to leave the past in the past. Jori's persistent so, warnings and threats won't stand in her way. The truth will be revealed by any means necessary.

Mysterious

This book kept me hooked the whole time. Couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next.

Very enjoyable

This was a great story. I had mostly guessed who the killer was fairly early on, but it was still good to listen and see how it all would shake out.

Will Be Reading This Author Again!

I thoroughly enjoyed getting this introduction to a 'new-to-me' writer. The characters were well developed and real. I appreciated the sensitivity shown to folks with autism. I didn't agree with some of the choices the characters made, but they were realistic and thought provoking. I'm confident I will enjoy other works.

I cannot say enough good things about this!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think I have found a new author to add to some of my favorites. The book went a direction I had not anticipated but I enjoyed it so very much because of this! Looking back, there were a few subtle things I didn’t pick up on as far as who is responsible. It kept me entertained throughout and I am so glad I took a chance on this!