A Deeper Darkness

Sam Owens, Book 1

By: J. T. Ellison

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

As a medical examiner, Samantha Owens knows her job is to make a certain sense of death with crisp methodology and precision instruments.

But the day the Tennessee floods took her husband and children, the light vanished from Sam’s life. She has been pulled into a suffocating grief no amount of workaholic ardor can penetrate - until she receives a peculiar call from Washington, D.C.

On the other end of the line is an old boyfriend’s mother, asking Sam to do a second autopsy on her son. Eddie Donovan is officially the victim of a vicious carjacking, but under Sam’s sharp eye the forensics tell a darker story. The ex-Ranger was murdered, though not for his car.

Forced to confront the burning memories and feelings about yet another loved one killed brutally, Sam loses herself in the mystery contained within Donovan’s old notes. It leads her to the untouchable Xander, a soldier off-grid since his return from Afghanistan, and then to a series of brutal crimes stretching from that harsh mountainous war zone to this nation’s capital.

The tale told between the lines makes it clear that nobody’s hands are clean, and that making sense of murder sometimes means putting yourself in the crosshairs of death.

©2012 J.T. Ellison (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

4.5 stars Incredible Book Under $10

While the story is a fantastic thriller it is also so much more. The story is loaded with incredible forensic details that all lend a realistic credibility to the story. The h (Samantha, "Sam") is a three dimensional person with rapier intelligence, guts, heart and soul. Character development in this book is incredibly rich, principals and secondary. I was glued to my Kindle and only stopped once, due to bad eye fatigue.

The story is fast paced and filled with incredible and often unexpected twists and turns. It flows beautifully and smoothly. A flood, friendly fire, PTSD, some OCD, military aspects, army Rangers dying like flies, grief, a diary written in Latin, old lovers, new romantic interests, autopsies, and illegitimate child and a mountain hermit are all tied together in one rip roaring fabulous book. The story is 4.5.

This is the first book I have listened to by J.T. Ellison, but it sure will not be the last. I have already bought the second book in this series. More over Patricia Cornwell because there is a new author in town who has what it takes!

Joyce Bean was outstanding with the delivery of the story.

Suspenseful, great setting.

Loved it! Captivating mystery with a little romance. Didn't want the story to end.

Must read!

This incredible book kept me awake all night through to 3pm next day. I’m going to take a nap 💤 now!

Coincidence may be more than you think

it is a moving story stressing the truth and past relationships still can affect a person's present. Protect those you love and know that everyone has secrets.

Great all around

I enjoy Ellison's writing and story lines. Joyce Bean did a well job. Good read.

Great storytelling

loved the Nashville connection, since I lived through the great hundred year flood in 2010.

great book

good story, well told. I don't see why there is a word minimum. I said enough.

not bad

it wasn't a have to finish now book, but it was good. the reader was good. I think it just lacked something for me. would buy it again on sale, but not full price.

Good but...

It was really hard for me to keep track of this story. I had to start over and backtrack a LOT to keep up.

Not sure....

The story was good in itself. I just feel it went on and on. I might try one more of the writers books to be sure.