The Dead Season by Tessa Wegert

Release: December 8th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Berkley Books
Source: Suzyapproved Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

Senior Investigator Shana Merchant has spent years running from her past. But she never imagined a murder case would drive her to the most dangerous place of all–home.

After leaving the NYPD following her abduction by serial killer Blake Bram, Shana Merchant hoped for a fresh start in the Thousand Islands of Upstate New York. Her former tormentor has other plans. Shana and Bram share more than just a hometown, and he won’t let her forget it. When the decades-old skeleton of Shana’s estranged uncle is uncovered, Bram issues a challenge: Return home to Vermont and solve the cold case, or the blood he spills next will be on her hands.

As Shana interviews members of her family and the community, mining for secrets that could help her solve her uncle’s murder, she begins to realize how little she remembers of her childhood. And when Bram grows impatient and kidnaps again, leaving a trail of clues Shana alone can understand, she knows his new victim will only survive if she wins the psychopath’s twisted game. In order to solve one mystery, Shana must wade into her murky past to unravel another.

About the Author:

Tessa Wegert is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Adweek, and The Economist. She grew up in Quebec near the border of Vermont and now lives with her family in Connecticut. Tessa writes mysteries set in Upstate New York while studying martial arts and dance.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

The Dead Season Review:

I enjoyed reading “The Dead Season” because of how intense the story was for a crime thriller and kept me glued.

Let me start by saying that I have not read the previous book in the Shana Merchant series, but I enjoyed Shana in the lead character. The author portrayed her wonderfully, especially in how she handles the character’s emotions. Shana doubts her actions over the story because of Bram’s impact, and I thought the author wrote her realistically. Moreover, I liked Shana’s working relationship with Tim and how she has a no-nonsense attitude when investigating the case. Shana is probably one of the unique characters I have read in this genre because of her traumatic past and how you root for her, even though she doesn’t make the best choices at times. I also liked the backstory of Shana’s relationship with Carson and how it affects her thought process.

Moreover, the author builds the suspense nicely from the get-go, when we see what the characters find in the woods. I found some scenes atmospheric and chilling, especially when they go to Tern Island to investigate Jasper. Speaking of Jasper, the supporting characters also add so well to the plot. The author introduces the Sinclair family, and we have a lot of suspects. Some memorable moments in the tale were when Shana interviews Flynn Sinclair or the scenes with Jade and Bebe. Frankly, Bebe was one of my favorite characters because of her unpredictable and volatile moods.

As the story progresses, the author amps the suspense and reveals shocking moments, particularly in the second half. The culprit, in the end, is also someone I did not expect, which made the story exciting.

Overall, “The Dead Season” is a compelling standalone that made me pick up the first book.