Debra Webb - The Longest Silence

A killer stole her voice.

Now she’s ready to take it back.

Don’t miss the chilling Shades of Death series from USA TODAY bestselling author Debra Webb.

Joanna Guthrie was free. She had been for eighteen years—or so she needed everyone to believe. What really happened during the longest fourteen days of her life, when she and two other women were held captive by the worst kind of killer, wasn’t something she could talk about. Not after what she’d had to do to survive.

But when more women go missing in an eerily similar manner, Jo knows her prolonged silence will only seal their fates. She’s finally ready to talk; she just needs someone to listen. FBI special agent Tony LeDoux can’t deny he finds Jo compelling—he’s just not sure he believes her story. But with the clock ticking, Jo will do anything to convince him, even if it means unearthing long-buried secrets that will land them squarely in the crosshairs of the killer...

Also by Debra Webb

The Blackest Crimson

No Darker Place

A Deeper Grave

The Coldest Fear

The Longest Silence

Available from MIRA Books

For additional books by USA TODAY bestselling author Debra Webb, visit her website at www.debrawebb.com.

The Longest Silence

Debra Webb

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2018

Copyright © Debra Webb 2018

Debra Webb asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Ebook Edition © March 2018 ISBN: 9781474074742

Praise for the novels of Debra Webb

“This psychological thriller is rife with tension that begins on page one and doesn’t let up. It’s a race against the clock that had me whispering to the pair of flawed, desperate protagonists ‘Hurry, hurry.’ A gripping read.”

—#1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown on The Longest Silence

“The twists and turns in this dark, taut drama make it both creepy and compelling, multiplying the enjoyment. It’s hard-edged and emotional, ensnaring the reader in a world perfectly imagined. I bid a grand welcome to a new voice in the thriller world.”

—New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry on The Longest Silence

“A well-crafted, and engrossing thriller. Debra Webb has crafted a fine, twisting thriller to be savored and enjoyed.”

—New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham on Traceless

“A steamy, provocative novel with deep, deadly secrets guaranteed to be worthy of your time.”

—Fresh Fiction on Traceless

“Debra Webb’s best work yet. The gritty, edge-of-your-seat, white-knuckled thriller is peopled with tough, credible characters and a brilliant plot that will keep you guessing until the very end.”

—New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard on Obsession

“Interspersed with fine-tuned suspense...the cliffhanger conclusion will leave readers eagerly anticipating future installments.”

—Publishers Weekly on Obsession

“Webb reaches into our deepest nightmares and pulls out a horrifying scenario. She delivers the ultimate villain.”

—RT Book Reviews on Dying to Play

This book is dedicated to my sister and my two brothers. Growing up on a farm in small town Alabama, we didn’t have video games or tablets or cell phones. We had one television for the family that received three local channels. So we spent a lot of time reading books and creating our own entertainment. My sister, Mary Ann, was the caretaker when my parents were out working the farm. She was like a second mother and is a very talented singer and songwriter. She kept us entertained with her beautiful voice and her happy laughter, and our bellies full with her good cooking. My elder brother, Eddie, was the artist and the storyteller. His stories were always Hitchcockian and kept my younger brother and I scared of our own shadows. Johnny, my younger brother by two years, was my true partner in crime. We explored the farm and beyond, climbed trees and turned towels into superhero capes to see if we could fly off the smokehouse roof. We pretended to be superheroes and cops and robbers. Despite the ups and downs that came later in life, I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family. I love you all, and thank you so very much for inspiring me.

Acknowledgments

Writing a fiction novel is hard work. An author puts her heart and soul into the task. It’s extremely important to love the characters in your story. If you don’t, it will show. In fact, for me, the characters are the most important element of the story. No matter how amazing and exciting the plot, if you just can’t connect to the characters, then what good is it? I love the characters in this story. They are real to me in so many ways. In particular, Joanna Guthrie’s character is close to my heart. A tragic life event caused her to lose touch with her family. Eighteen years passed before they found each other again. This element of the story was deeply personal to me because the same thing happened between my elder brother and me. Seventeen long years passed without me seeing him or hearing his voice. I am immensely thankful to have him back in my life.

Another important aspect of creating a fiction novel is research. Since the work is fiction, I sometimes take liberties. For instance, the Aubri Lane Restaurant doesn’t serve lunch, but for the purposes of this story it does. Milledgeville, Georgia, is a beautiful town. I so enjoyed visiting. The people are welcoming and charming. I felt completely at home and plan to return in the future. There are many folks I need to thank for their help in my research. First I must thank my assistant for the trip, Donna Boyd. She was a wonderful asset for taking photos and notes and just being good company. The wonderful folks at the Antebellum Inn Bed & Breakfast were incredible. The best place to stay in Georgia! I so enjoyed the delicious breakfasts with the other guests. From the local tour guides to the folks on the street, it was a treasured experience. Thanks to Wayne Crenshaw, Mike Couch, Dr. Bob Wilson and Nancy Davis Bray for providing direction and advice on the old asylum. I must thank Jamaal Hicks of Georgia College security. I was quite impressed with the highly trained and caring folks who take care of the students. There are too many other sources to name them all!

As always, please know that any liberties taken or mistakes made are mine and mine alone. Happy reading!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Praise