Well of Rage

by Lynn Hesse

Carly Redmund, a Mobile, Alabama, police recruit is about to mess up her first major crime scene. Her training officer, J.C. Grey, orders her to give up the evidence found in the bottom of a well, a high school class ring. She does. Grey tucks the ring in his pocket. What happened to the bag-it-and-tag-it evidence procedure? Carly is left guarding the crime scene tape as a news van pulls in and the crew sets up. She overhears the female reporter tell the cameraman that the bones in the well might be Terence, a missing African American kid from the '70s, and that heads need to roll at PD, the racist SOBs. Why hasn't Carly read about this case? As she remembers the initials TWW inscribed on the inside of the ring, Grey walks back and tells the rookie to keep her mouth shut, and he'll handle everything, including the report. That doesn't make any sense. Rookies handle the grunt work. Grey is hiding more than the ring. If he doesn't put the ring in the property room, Carly will be blamed. She could lose her job. Worse, she could be charged with withholding evidence. Carly is in big trouble. What Carly doesn't know is that a white supremacist group is involved -- and also mayoral candidate Derrick Grey, Officer Grey's brother. While dealing with her own personal demons, Carly must learn to survive in a hostile environment, develop friends fast in a new city, and solve a cold-case murder to bring justice to a grieving mother.

Genres: Fiction

322 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2016

About the author

Lynn Hesse is an award-winning author of the novels Well of Rage, Murder in Mobile, Another Kind of Hero, A Matter of Respect, Murder in Mobile, Book 2, and The Forty Knots Burn. Her last two novels won the 2023 Georgia Independent Authors Association Awards for Best Police Procedural, Best Cover Adult Fiction, Best Suspense/Thriller, and the Spotlight on Georgia Fiction. The Underground Chameleon, An Android Against Authoritarianism, her latest sci-fi novel, went live in 2024. Her new historical fantasy is Part of the Stars, Tale of a Boston Mountains Midwife, 2025.

The DeKalb Voices Review published the literary piece “Unceasing” in 2024. Malice, Matrimony, & Murder, A Collection of 25 Wedding Cozy Mystery & Crime Fiction Stories contains “Sabotage and A Murder Mystery” by Lynn, published November 2023 by Marla Bradeen. “Shrewd Women” was reprinted in Crimeucopia, Boomshalalaking, Modern Crimes in Modern Times, UK in June 2023 and published by Onyx Publications and Discovery Podcast in 2022. Bitter Love” appeared in Crimeucopia, The I’s Have It by Murderous Ink Press, 2021, UK. “Jewel’s Hell” was in the Me Too Short Stories: An Anthology edited by Elizabeth Zelvin, published in 2019 by Level Best Books.
An interview and video featuring Lynn’s role as a police officer, “Blue Steel,” are housed in the Georgia State University Special Collections and Archives. She performs in several dance and theatrical troupes in Atlanta, Georgia. The dandelion is one of her performance personas.
Lynn left law enforcement to write and lives with her husband and his six rescue cats near Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Part of the Stars, Tale of a Boston Mountains Midwife, and Lynn's other books are available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Part-Stars-Lyn...

https://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Hesse/e/B..., or can be ordered from your local bookstore.
Website: https://www.lynnhesse.com
Publisher: blueroombooks.com
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Reviews

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mobile, AL. Officer Carly Redmund (MPD, Warner Co., Duke) had just moved to town. Captain Forester assigned Officer J. C. Grey (FTO, middle brother, Vietnam vet) to train her in the Central Precinct law enforcement techniques/strategies.
Carly met: Lieutenant Hutchinson (f), Sergeant Griffin, MPO Jody Carter, Officer Brown, Officer Milton,

1 day while out on patrol J. C. takes Carly to meet his wife Noreen Grey.
Derrick Grey (older brother), & Jack Deeter prominent town folks go way back.
Mildred Stalch is Derricks secretary.
Austin Grey (younger brother, Downs Syndrome) passed away yrs. ago.
Horatio, & Edwardo Hernandez (undocumented worker) were clearing brush out at the Deeter farm, & just happened to uncover something in an old abandoned well.
Terrence Washington Williams (AA) is the deceased.
It seems the small town has a very dark hidden secret.
Carly went to speak with Mary Williams (AA, mother, Madeline’s BFF) owner of The Painted Lady B & B.
What were Carly, Tim Price (Coroners asst.) & Marci Eplund (Tribune reporter), meeting about?
What were Derrick & Billie Ray Cofer (son) up to?
Diana Weathersby (Crystal Heights) & Jack meeting about?

What did Elma reveal to Carly?

Will the old murder lynching get solved & someone brought to justice?

2017 top 25 list

Warning: This book is for adults only & contains extreme violent or graphic adult content or profanity &/or sexually explicit scenarios. It may be offensive to some readers.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued? There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; MakingConnections; Oak Tree Press; Autographed; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Dana Ridenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery centered around a cold-case murder in Mobile, Alabama. A female rookie police officer finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy involving her Field Training Officer, a deplorable white supremacist group, and a mayoral candidate. The author did a fantastic job setting the stage and developing the characters. I used to live in Mobile, so it was fun to to see that Hesse used so much of the city in her story. The book is well written. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Marlene Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best mysteries I have read. It takes place in Alabama and a long lost class ring leads to an intriguing story of murder. I will save this to read again. Well written page turner.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1974, a black high school football player in a recently desegregated school in Mobile Alabama went missing. It's now March 2000. J.C. Grey is stuck with the task of training (and, read between the lines, making her want to quit or forcing her out) rookie officer Carly Redmund. He's unhappy with the assignment but he is carrying it out in his mean spirited way when bones and a high school ring are found in a well on land that used to belong to the Deeter family. J.C. and Carly arrive as the assistant coroner Tim Price is examining the scene. A "junior" reporter from the local paper, hoping to advance, is also at the scene: Marci Eplund. A local white militia, some well-to-do power brokers, officials in various positions and a smattering of law enforcement officers retired and still active are making sure no one looks too closely at the bones in the well. But, Carly, Tim and Marci are not locals, are smart and care about doing the right thing. This is an outstanding read. Hesse captures a wide variety of perspectives on racial issues and the ongoing clashes between preserving the old ways and dealing with people, both local and outsiders, who are ready to push back. The characters are well drawn and generally multi-dimensional. Just about everyone in Well of Rage is under enormous pressure and so make choices and take actions that range from moral to nuanced to out and out evil. Hesse keeps it interesting the whole time, provides all the information we need, scares us at times and ties each loose end up in a big bow. You care about the heroes and root against the villains, but you understand them all. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway but Hesse will get royalties from me for sure. Fabulous writer.

[T.M. Mike Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intruguing Georgia thriller with colorful and believable characters. Felt like I was reading a story fresh from the news headlines of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The spectral element was a twist that made more sense as the story unfolded.

[Sabra Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for dialogue and five stars for authenticity. I'd like to read more stories about the protagonist, Carly Redmund.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep South

This was an interesting story where you already knew who-done-it but the challenge was figuring out how they were going to get caught. There were only 31 small chapters but between 84-117 characters to track and remember through the book. The racist comments, murder, domestic violence, and rape didn’t necessarily need to be part of the story and actually took away from it in my opinion.

[Marilyn Pearlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

All police recruits should model themselves after Officer Carly Redmund, who partners with a reporter and an assistant coroner to solve a decades old crime in Mobile, AL. Officer Redmund not only battles the city's bloodthirsty politicians, but also the racial hatred of many Mobile citizens. This is a fast-paced read with wonderful, inspiring characters. I highly recommend "Well of Rage" by Lynn Hesse.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author presents a murder mystery that in this book seems to be more of a backstory as much time is spent with the characters, their relationships and actions which do interestingly provide a worthwhile reading experience. 4 star read.

My thanks to goodreads and the book's giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain and read a copy of this book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book read like a true police investigation into a cold case, where nothing seems to go right and no one wants to talk about what really happened. Loved how the character's personal lives were interwoven into the story. Was definitely surprised by the way things ended for some of the characters but, enjoyed how it brought closure and a new beginning for some of the characters.

[Rick Molitor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thriller

This was a good thriller. It dealt with racial hatred in Mobile. It was a good fast paced thriller with lots of action that grabbed you from the start. There was an interesting group of characters who added to the enjoyment.

[Rebecca]

***Goodreads Giveaway***

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read

[Micheal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well of Rage

Man, this was an intense, riveting, suspenseful novel about the deep South. A definite page turner. I really enjoyed this novel

[Lynn Hesse]

CHAPTER FIVE
Starting her second week of street training, Carly, who was bent over her metal clipboard and writing with a pen on a form, still couldn't believe the computers weren't programmed for officers to type reports into the system. They were halfway through their shift, nine o'clock in the evening, and Officer Grey was wired on coffee. "Can't you hurry up, Redmund? He clutched the steering wheel as if Carly would snatch it away. "I haven't got all night."

Knowing the other recruits drove their patrol vehicles in the first week of their field training, Carly kept quiet and finished a mundane report about vandalism. Stupid teenagers had taken a baseball bat to a mailbox. Right now, waiting on a priority-one 911 call to ease the tedium, Carly sympathized with the juveniles' shenanigans. She resented the training officer's treatment.

"It sure is a slow day. Not much going on." Carly shifted her gun belt and wedged herself into the passenger seat.

"Yep, that's real observant. Most of the time you're going to be bored, or scared shitless on this job. It's not a movie." Officer Grey shot Carly a sideways glance.
Carly continued to work on the report.”

Excerpt From: Lynn Hesse. “Well of Rage: Murder in Mobile.” Apple Books.

[Marlene Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well of Rage was a gripping book that kept me reading. This was the author's first endeavor at writing and she did it VERY well. If you like mysteries and good plots, you'll love this book by Lynn Hesse. She weaves her knowledge as a retired police officer into a "can't put it down" story. It has won numerous awards and the book and author deserve them all!

[Lynn Hesse]

I reread my novel to work with the voiceover actor, Rick Barr, in the making of the audiobook. The audio book released in September, and I'm proud of the quality. Keep reading and listening to books, Lynn

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. High paced drama. Good main character that you root for throughout the book. Hopefully this is the beginning of a series!!!