Synopses & Reviews
Sometimes it’s easier to believe a lie.
Twenty-five-years ago, the disappearance of four-year-old Justin Manning rocked the small town of Dove Point, Ohio. After his body was found in a shallow grave in the woods two months later, the repercussions were felt for years.… Janet Manning has been haunted by the murder since the day she lost sight of her brother in the park. Now, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Justin’s death looming, a detective and a newspaper reporter have started to ask questions, opening old wounds and raising new suspicions. Could the man convicted of the murder—who spent more than two decades in prison—really be innocent? Janet’s childhood friend and high school crush, who was in the park with her that day, has returned to Dove Point, where he is wrestling with his own conflicted memories of the events. And a strange man appears at Janet’s door in the middle of the night, claiming to know the truth. Soon, years of deceit will be swept away, and the truth about what happened to Janet’s brother will be revealed. And the answers that Janet has sought may be found much closer to home than she ever could have imagined.
Review
"Cemetery Girl is a smasher. It twists and turns and never lets go, and...it could happen just this way."—Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean
Review
"Cemetery Girl is more than just an utterly compelling thriller-- and it certainly is that. David Bell's stellar novel is also a haunting meditation on the ties that bind parent to child, husband to wife, brother to brother--and what survives even under the most shattering possible circumstance. An absolutely riveting, absorbing read not to be missed."—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Darkness, My Old Friend
Review
"Trust me: you have never read a missing persons story like this one....A fast, mean head trip of a thriller that reads like a collaboration between Michael Connelly and the gothic fiction of Joyce Carol Oates, Cemetery Girl is one of those novels that you cannot shake after it's over. A winner on every level."
Review
"Cemetery Girl grabbed me by the throat on page one and never let up. An intense, unrelenting powerhouse of a book, and the work of a master."
Review
"A smart, tense, creepy take on the story of a missing daughter, told by her far-from-perfect father. If you think you know this tale--from all- too-familiar newspaper accounts, from lesser movies and books--then this terrific novel will make you think otherwise."—Brock Clarke, national bestselling author of Exley and An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England
Review
“[Bell] writes with a clarity of both vision and purpose; and his characters are eerily familiar because they are just like you and me.”—Thomas F. Monteleone, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Fearful Symmetries
Praise for Cemetery Girl "Cemetery Girl is a smasher. It twists and turns and never lets go, and...it could happen just this way."—Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End "Cemetery Girl is more than just an utterly compelling thriller—and it certainly is that. David Bell's stellar novel is also a haunting meditation on the ties that bind parent to child, husband to wife, brother to brother—and what survives even under the most shattering possible circumstance. An absolutely riveting, absorbing read not to be missed."—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Darkness, My Old Friend "Trust me: you have never read a missing persons story like this one....A fast, mean head trip of a thriller that reads like a collaboration between Michael Connelly and the gothic fiction of Joyce Carol Oates, Cemetery Girl is one of those novels that you cannot shake after it's over. A winner on every level."—Will Lavender, New York Times bestselling author of Dominance "Cemetery Girl grabbed me by the throat on page one and never let up. An intense, unrelenting powerhouse of a book, and the work of a master."—John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of Damage "A smart, tense, creepy take on the story of a missing daughter, told by her far-from-perfect father. If you think you know this tale—from all- too-familiar newspaper accounts, from lesser movies and books--then this terrific novel will make you think otherwise."—Brock Clarke, national bestselling author of Exley and An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England
Review
Praise for David Bells Novels
“An utterly compelling thriller…an absolutely riveting, absorbing read not to be missed.”—Lisa Unger, New York Times Bestselling Author of Heartbroken
“Bell does a masterful job of crafting a crime story…riveting.”—-Suspense Magazine
“An artfully constructed tale…a powerful, provocative novel.”—Publishers Weekly
“A fast, mean head trip of a thriller…a winner on every level.”—Will Lavender, New York Times Bestselling Author of Dominance
“A master.”—John Lescroart, New York Times Bestselling Author
Review
Praise for David Bell and his Novels
“My favorite kind of story because it takes the familiar and darkens it.… A fast, mean head trip of a thriller that reads like a collaboration between Michael Connelly and the gothic fiction of Joyce Carol Oates, Cemetery Girl is one of those novels that you cannot shake after its over. A winner on every level.”—Will Lavender, New York Times bestselling author of Obedience
“More than just an utterly compelling thriller….Bells stellar novel is also a haunting meditation on the ties that bind parent to child, husband to wife, brother to brother—and what survives even under the most shattering possible circumstance. An absolutely riveting, absorbing read not to be missed.”—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Heartbroken
“David Bell [has] established himself as one of the brightest and best crime fiction writers of our time…a definite page-turner….Bell, once again, has written an incredible, unique thriller that will have you hooked!”—Suspense Magazine
“Grabbed me by the throat on page one and never let up. An intense, unrelenting powerhouse of a book, and the work of a master.”—John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of The Hunter
“A smasher. It twists and turns and never lets go, and...it could happen just this way.”—Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean
“A smart, tense, creepy take on the story of a missing daughter.”— Brock Clarke, author of Exley
“Psychologically twisted...Bell stakes his claim as a writer to watch.…Consider me a fan.”—Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Extinction Machine
“A tense and terrifying journey that brims with emotional authenticity. Bell manages not only to build suspense effectively but also tell a story that goes way beyond simple thrills.”—Booklist
“Suspenseful [and] disquieting.”—Publishers Weekly
Review
“David Bell is a natural storyteller and a superb writer.
The Forgotten Girl is a mystery lovers mystery; a quick-paced and intriguing tale of what happens when the past catches up with the present. Mr. Bell understands the hearts and minds of ordinary and not-so-ordinary people, and his keen insights add a powerful dimension to his crisp writing.”—Nelson DeMille, #1
New York Times bestselling author
“The Forgotten Girl is a tightly-woven mystery….I never felt like I had my feet under me. Bell has crafted an unforgettable story full of surprises. Dont miss it.” —J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author
"David Bell writes spellbinding and gripping thrillers that get under your skin and refuse to let go. This is his best so far."—Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of No Safe House
Praise for David Bell and his Novels
“A fast, mean head trip of a thriller…A winner on every level.”—Will Lavender, New York Times bestselling author of Dominance
“More than just an utterly compelling thriller…. An absolutely riveting, absorbing read not to be missed.”—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Heartbroken
“Grabbed me by the throat on page one and never let up. An intense, unrelenting powerhouse of a book, and the work of a master.”—John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of The Hunter
“David Bell [has] established himself as one of the brightest and best crime fiction writers of our time…a definite page-turner….Bell, once again, has written an incredible, unique thriller that will have you hooked!”—Suspense Magazine
Synopsis
When her mother is murdered, a woman is propelled into a twisted world of danger and double lives in this gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Since She Went Away and Cemetery Girl.
Leslie Hampton always cared for her troubled son Ronnie's special needs and assumed that her daughter Elizabeth would take him in when the time came. When Leslie dies unexpectedly, Elizabeth is consumed by grief. Then police discover that Leslie was strangled, and they immediately suspect that one of Ronnie's outbursts took a tragic turn. Elizabeth can't believe that her brother is capable of murder, but who else could have had a motive to kill their quiet, retired mother?
More questions arise when a stranger is named in Leslie's will: a woman also named Elizabeth. As the family's secrets unravel, a man from Leslie's past who claims to have all the answers shows up, but those answers might put Elizabeth and those she loves the most in mortal danger.
Synopsis
Four years after Tom and Abby's 12-year-old daughter vanishes, she is found alive but strangely calm. When the teen refuses to testify against the man connected to her disappearance, Tom decides to investigate the traumatizing case on his own. Nothing can prepare him for what he is about to discover.
Synopsis
"Witty, sophisticated, suspenseful and endless fun...the best first novel I've read this year." -Washington Post The man who calls himself David Loogan is hoping to escape a violent past by living a quiet, anonymous life in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But when he's hired as an editor at a mystery magazine, he is drawn into an affair with the sleek blond wife of the publisher, Tom Kristoll-a man who soon turns up dead.
Elizabeth Waishkey is the most talented detective in the Ann Arbor Police Department, but even she doesn't know if Loogan is a killer or an ally who might help her find the truth. As more deaths start mounting up-some of them echoing stories published in the magazine-it's up to Elizabeth to solve both the murders and the mystery of Loogan himself.
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Synopsis
Elizabeth Hampton is consumed by grief when her mother dies unexpectedly. Leslie Hampton cared for Elizabeths troubled brother Ronnies special needs, assuming Elizabeth would take him in when the time came. But Leslies sudden death propels Elizabeth into a world of danger and double lives that undoes everything she thought she knew....
When police discover that Leslie was strangled, they immediately suspect that one of Ronnies outbursts took a tragic turn. Elizabeth cant believe that her brother is capable of murder, but who else could have had a motive to kill their quiet, retired mother?
More questions arise when a stranger is named in Leslies will: a woman also named Elizabeth. As the familys secrets unravel, a man from Leslies past who claims to have all the answers shows up, but those answers might put Elizabeth and those she loves the most in mortal danger.
Synopsis
The past has arrived uninvited at Jason Danverss door
and its his younger sister, Hayden, a former addict who severed all contact with her family as her life spiraled out of control. Now shes clean and sober but in need of a desperate favorshe asks Jason and his wife to take care of her teenage daughter for forty-eight hours while she handles some business in town.
But Hayden never returns.
And her disappearance brings up more unresolved problems from Jasons past, including the abrupt departure of his best friend on their high school graduation night twenty-seven years earlier. When a body is discovered in the woods, the mysteries of his sisters lifeand possible deathdeepen. And one by one these events will shatter every expectation Jason has ever had about families, about the awful truths that bind them and the secrets that should be taken to the grave.
Synopsis
"Witty, sophisticated, suspenseful and endless fun...the best first novel I've read this year." -Washington Post
"A hypnotically readable novel, with...dialog worthy of Elmore Leonard."--Douglas Preston
The man who calls himself David Loogan is hoping to escape a violent past by living a quiet, anonymous life in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But when he's hired as an editor at a mystery magazine, he is drawn into an affair with the sleek blond wife of the publisher, Tom Kristoll-a man who soon turns up dead.
Elizabeth Waishkey is the most talented detective in the Ann Arbor Police Department, but even she doesn't know if Loogan is a killer or an ally who might help her find the truth. As more deaths start mounting up-some of them echoing stories published in the magazine-it's up to Elizabeth to solve both the murders and the mystery of Loogan himself.
"Fans of Peter Abrahams and Scott Turow will find a lot to like."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
About the Author
David Bell is a bestselling and award-winning author whose work has been translated into six languages. Hes currently an associate professor of English at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He received an MA in creative writing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a PhD in American literature and creative writing from the University of Cincinnati. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize twice. His previous novels are
Cemetery Girl,
The Hiding Place, and
Never Come Back.