The Dead of Winter

A Piper Blackwell Mystery, Book 1

By: Jean Rabe

Narrated by: Catherine Wenglowski

In a deceptively peaceful county, a murderer hides in plain sight.

Fifty-eight minutes into her first day on the job, 23-year-old Sheriff Piper Blackwell is faced with a grisly murder, the victim artfully posed amid decorations on his lawn. Drawing on former military training, Piper must prove herself worthy of the sheriff's badge, and that won't be easy.

Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg, Piper's opponent in the recent election, doesn't like her and wants her to fail. She doesn't like him either, but she needs Oren to help catch the killer before another victim is discovered. Too late!

As Piper leads the manhunt, another crisis hits close to home. Her father, the previous sheriff, is fighting for his life, and she is torn between family and duty. Facing personal and professional threats, Piper has to weather a raging storm, keep the sheriff's department from crumbling around her, and reel in a killer during the most brutal winter sleepy Spencer County, Indiana, has ever experienced.

©2016 Jean Rabe (P)2017 Todd Barselow / Auspicious Apparatus Press

Enjoyable Whodunit That Kept Me Guessing

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book, which takes place in a male dominated police station in a hick town, but I did. The redneck vibe balanced out with the protagonist Piper, who was a strong and educated female who could stand on her own two feet. It was hard to imagine a 23-year-old sheriff but the story did a great job working through the dynamics within the department. It made me wonder, wow would I feel if I suddenly had a boss with no work experience now telling me what to do. I think the author got it right and I found Piper intriguing although she didn't seem totally convinced that she even wanted the job as sheriff.

I really enjoyed learning about all the suspects and trying to figure out the killer. I guess Piper decides to stick around as sheriff with this book being the first in the series. I definitely will look out for the next in the series.

I recommend this book if you like strong women, complex characters, serial killers, and a good mystery.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Enjoyable little mystery!

This book had a lot intertwined in the story. Piper, the newly elected sheriff is a decorated soldier that ran for sheriff and won! Did she use her dad's reputation to get elected? Maybe, but the strong work ethics are her own.She represents a strong female in a typical male role and will stop at nothing to get the serial killer. She is only 23 and no experience as a civilian cop. Would that bother me if I worked for her? Probably, but you found yourself rooting for her to get the murderer.

There are a lot of elements of real life with her father having cancer, the bigotry of the citizens and the lack of diversity in her office to name a few. Catherine did a great job of leading me through this mystery. When I get lost in a book and don't pay attention to the narrator, then they are doing it right. I was given this free review copy but the opinions are my own.

Quick pace and creepy atmosphere

This book starts with a murder in the first sentence and the lace doesn’t let up until the exciting conclusion. Fans of small town murder mysteries and/or serial killers will enjoy this novel.

too short, it was. very entertaining story .

i think Piper will become one of my all time favorites. cant wait for more.

Great character!

Any additional comments?
This story took place over the course of only one week. The story jumped between the POV of the new sheriff and the very prolific serial killer. I liked that and the narrator was really good at portraying them both.

Piper, as the new sheriff, was very likable right away. You felt the power struggle between Piper and Oren - old school and new school; old policing and new policing - but there was never a doubt that you would be on team Piper.

The killer, well, he was icky and got his just desserts.

All in all, I loved this first listen and look forward to the rest of the series.