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Real Bad Things

Written by: Kelly J. Ford
Narrated by: Donna Postel
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Publisher's Summary

From the author of Cottonmouths, a Los Angeles Review Best Book of 2017, comes an evocative suspense about the cost of keeping secrets and the dangers of coming home.

Beneath the roiling waters of the Arkansas River lie dead men and buried secrets.

When Jane Mooney’s violent stepfather, Warren, disappeared, most folks in Maud Bottoms, Arkansas, assumed he got drunk and drowned. After all, the river had claimed its share over the years.

When Jane confessed to his murder, she should have gone to jail. That’s what she wanted. But without a body, the police didn’t charge her with the crime. So Jane left for Boston—and took her secrets with her.

Twenty-five years later, the river floods and a body surfaces. Talk of Warren’s murder grips the town. Now in her forties, Jane returns to Maud Bottoms to reckon with her past: to do jail time, to face her revenge-bent mother, to make things right.

But though Jane’s homecoming may enlighten some, it could threaten others. Because in this desolate river valley, some secrets are better left undisturbed.

©2022 Kelly J. Ford. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic Reviews

“Narrator Donna Postel gives an anxious, emotive performance of the dual narrative. The varied extent of her Arkansas accent may seem inconsistent, but this exemplifies Jane’s efforts to escape her past. This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intense, intricate suspense built on oppressive mistrust and misguided obligation. Recommended for fans of Lisa Jewell, Katie Sise, and Janelle Brown.”Library Journal

“At the start of this gripping suspense novel from Ford (Cottonmouths), Jane Mooney, who’s been living in Boston, returns home to Maud Bottoms, Ark.…The truth slowly unfolds as the plot builds toward a surprising conclusion foreshadowed by a trail of skillfully disguised clues. Ford delivers the goods.”Publishers Weekly

“With layers of storytelling portraying generational trauma, small towns and the unbearable confines their scrutiny can place on anyone who feels different, and the unbreakable bonds that adversity can forge, Real Bad Things is sometimes a hard read, but always an excellent one. Readers looking for slow burn mystery with unforgettable characters and an unforgettable atmosphere will find here exactly what they need.”Mystery and Suspense Magazine

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