Deeper Than the Dead

By: Tami Hoag

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

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.©2009 Tami Hoag; (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

Praise for Deeper than the Dead

“[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-Sentinel

“There'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.”—Booklist

“Warning: Reading Deeper Than the Dead at night will most likely interfere with the reader’s ability to sleep without a chilling fear hovering at the corners of their mind.”—Examiner.com

“Readers 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

Listened to this one in one sitting! Loved it!

Would you listen to Deeper Than the Dead again? Why?

Yes I would listen to it again and have because each time I listen to it it I find something I either missed or forgot from the first time! It is to me what they call a page turner! Couldn't stop listening until it was done!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes the plot kept me right there wondering how this was going to be solved! These characters are becoming old friends and I enjoy watching more of their personalities come thru with each book!

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite is watching the relationships develop. Anne's part in helping the kids is written with such compassion! This book is definitely a keeper!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book moved me with the way Tami Hoag created her characters so you can watch them grow. I have listened to or read all three books in this series and have been glued to my chair listening/reading them. I hope Tami Hoag will keep them coming!

Any additional comments?

If you enjoyed this book please continue on with Down the Darkest Road and Secrets to the Grave! With each book the characters grow and these books will keep you on the edge of your seat. Kristen Potter is such a great narrator for these books! She is another one of my favorite narraters!

loved it, wish it was unabridged

Tami Hoag is my new favorite author! I listened to her Liska and Kovac books. My favorite of hers was actually Kill the Messenger. This was great and kept me on the edge of my seat.

I wish it was available unabridged. I have a lot of driving and I wanted it to last longer. Also, since it's the beginning of a series, I feel like things may have been cut out that add to the setting, characters, etc.. that will be relevant in other books in the series.

I really liked Kirsten Potter, she has a very nice voice and did a good job. My only SLIGHT complaint was her accent for Vince. He's from Chicago, but sounded more NY or East Coast. She could have done without an accent at all or a Chicago accent. I would listen to books by her again, good job.