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Descend
You can’t hide from evil. Especially in a small town.
Raised by an abusive father, twenty-two-year-old Tessa understands fear, and the lengths to which predators will go to cripple the minds of their victims. Most of all, she recognizes the liberation she gained when her cousin rode back into their quiet riverside town with a charter of the notorious Leidolf biker club at his back. For the last five years, she’s been under the protection of the rumored assassins, and in their midst, she thrives.
The only thing missing in Tessa’s life is love, and she has her eye on the wholesome insurance salesman next door. Matt has his eye on her, too. And all it takes to bring them together is murder.
When her cousin’s girlfriend is slaughtered and dumped in the river, a pulse of terror beats through Tessa’s town, growing stronger with each mutilated body until not even Tessa herself is safe. In fact, if her childhood sweetheart is right, Tessa is the reason the murders are happening. If the evidence is right, her cousin isn’t a vigilante, he’s a serial killer. If Matt is right, the Leidolf didn’t free Tessa, they only shackled her with new chains––and those chains are going to get her killed.
As the town descends into darkness, Tessa ignites a new love, fights against her old one, and defends not only Gary but the entire Leidolf club––and she has the bruises to prove it. Will she also have to give her life? Or is there something much worse than death in store for Tessa?
Sometimes, death is a mercy.
Raised by an abusive father, twenty-two-year-old Tessa understands fear, and the lengths to which predators will go to cripple the minds of their victims. Most of all, she recognizes the liberation she gained when her cousin rode back into their quiet riverside town with a charter of the notorious Leidolf biker club at his back. For the last five years, she’s been under the protection of the rumored assassins, and in their midst, she thrives.
The only thing missing in Tessa’s life is love, and she has her eye on the wholesome insurance salesman next door. Matt has his eye on her, too. And all it takes to bring them together is murder.
When her cousin’s girlfriend is slaughtered and dumped in the river, a pulse of terror beats through Tessa’s town, growing stronger with each mutilated body until not even Tessa herself is safe. In fact, if her childhood sweetheart is right, Tessa is the reason the murders are happening. If the evidence is right, her cousin isn’t a vigilante, he’s a serial killer. If Matt is right, the Leidolf didn’t free Tessa, they only shackled her with new chains––and those chains are going to get her killed.
As the town descends into darkness, Tessa ignites a new love, fights against her old one, and defends not only Gary but the entire Leidolf club––and she has the bruises to prove it. Will she also have to give her life? Or is there something much worse than death in store for Tessa?
Sometimes, death is a mercy.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2021
141 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Lee Dawna
17 books15 followersLee Dawna is a thriller, suspense, and fantasy author, and host of the Immortal Sunshine podcast. She weaves gripping tales that keep readers on the edge of their seats and delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, exploring mysteries, secrets, and spine-chilling encounters.
Visit LeeDawnaBooks.com to join her mailing list, and connect with Lee on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube for exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her thrilling world.
Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Books are available at all major retailers and directly from the author. Buying directly from the author is the best way to support authors.
Visit LeeDawnaBooks.com to join her mailing list, and connect with Lee on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube for exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her thrilling world.
Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Books are available at all major retailers and directly from the author. Buying directly from the author is the best way to support authors.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 30, 2021
Descend is Book 1 in the Hinton Charter Thriller by Lee Dawna. This thriller is not good, it is outstanding! Hinton Charter of Leiddolf is a motorcycle group. Tessa's cousin, Gary, allows her to use his bar office for her accounting office. When his girlfriend, Samantha, is murdered, the police arrest Gary. This begins a fast paced race to solve the murder. I liked how Lee Dawna unfolded the story. The clues and characters moved me toward an ending that I did not see coming. The ending was so well written. I was able to put the murder pieces together, but, it left me wanting Book 2 to be written now! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
October 11, 2022
Small town girl Tessa keeps the books for the locals and her cousin Gary, owner of a motorcycle bar and attached restaurant. She's friends with the bikers and the sheriff, which puts her in the crosshairs when Gary's girlfriend is found slaughtered, with a piece missing.
I enjoyed the little town vibe, with everyone knowing everyone, which makes for paranoia when one killing turns out to be multiple deaths.
Fun action for the first-in-the-series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the little town vibe, with everyone knowing everyone, which makes for paranoia when one killing turns out to be multiple deaths.
Fun action for the first-in-the-series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 2, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book to review!
Small town murder with a gang calling the shots. What could possibly go wrong?
Characters: So our main character Tessa is your typical strong female character who argues against everything. Everything is centered around Tessa in the book. All of the characters do what they do because of Tessa basically. I like the dark and brooding Warren. He's trying to point out how toxic Matt is by just letting her drink, and Tessa really isn't having it. She's way too stubborn to see logic, and that's her massive downfall. Besides Tessa, Matt, and Warren, everyone else is just there.
Atmosphere: I like the small town feel, and the gang running the town. The gang though doesn't feel threatening just because Tessa isn't threatened by them in any way. They lose that threatening aura pretty early on.
Writing: The writing is fine. The book sets up the next book nicely as well.
Plot: The plot twist at the end is what will make me want to read the next book. The plot is fairly simple to follow. The murders are centered around Tessa for the most part, and we have to find out who killed all of these women.
Intrigue: The intrigue is there, and the it's making me want to pick up the next book because of the plot twist. I want to know the endgame now.
Logic: Tessa gets away with a lot, and the whole world centers around her in the book. Not super logical but okay.
Enjoyment: I enjoyed it enough to want to pick up the next book and see where this goes. 3/5 stars.
Small town murder with a gang calling the shots. What could possibly go wrong?
Characters: So our main character Tessa is your typical strong female character who argues against everything. Everything is centered around Tessa in the book. All of the characters do what they do because of Tessa basically. I like the dark and brooding Warren. He's trying to point out how toxic Matt is by just letting her drink, and Tessa really isn't having it. She's way too stubborn to see logic, and that's her massive downfall. Besides Tessa, Matt, and Warren, everyone else is just there.
Atmosphere: I like the small town feel, and the gang running the town. The gang though doesn't feel threatening just because Tessa isn't threatened by them in any way. They lose that threatening aura pretty early on.
Writing: The writing is fine. The book sets up the next book nicely as well.
Plot: The plot twist at the end is what will make me want to read the next book. The plot is fairly simple to follow. The murders are centered around Tessa for the most part, and we have to find out who killed all of these women.
Intrigue: The intrigue is there, and the it's making me want to pick up the next book because of the plot twist. I want to know the endgame now.
Logic: Tessa gets away with a lot, and the whole world centers around her in the book. Not super logical but okay.
Enjoyment: I enjoyed it enough to want to pick up the next book and see where this goes. 3/5 stars.
November 15, 2021
Very fun book!
Very interesting twist on the serial killer / mystery angle. Most of the time these books are written from the perspective of either a Detective or police department rushing to find him/her before they kill again. This one is written from the perspective of a woman named Tessa who was taken in by her cousin Gary into their local Motorcycle game chapter: The Hinton Charter of Leiddolf.
Gary's girlfriend is found dead and what follows is a very interesting story from a large group of flawed characters. The pacing is perfect and the dialogue is outstanding. The conversations between characters are a very southern twang which was fun to read.
I rated this book five stars but rounded up. It is closer to four stars because It is slightly predictable but overall it was so much fun that I decided that was the purpose of a book in the first place. So five stars! Overall great book. (Slightly dark and disturbing in some places)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Very interesting twist on the serial killer / mystery angle. Most of the time these books are written from the perspective of either a Detective or police department rushing to find him/her before they kill again. This one is written from the perspective of a woman named Tessa who was taken in by her cousin Gary into their local Motorcycle game chapter: The Hinton Charter of Leiddolf.
Gary's girlfriend is found dead and what follows is a very interesting story from a large group of flawed characters. The pacing is perfect and the dialogue is outstanding. The conversations between characters are a very southern twang which was fun to read.
I rated this book five stars but rounded up. It is closer to four stars because It is slightly predictable but overall it was so much fun that I decided that was the purpose of a book in the first place. So five stars! Overall great book. (Slightly dark and disturbing in some places)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2023
Its was a interesting book about a small town .Tess was a member of the bikers club solely for members only. Seems all her friends or family was getting murdered -all woman sliced throats. Her cousin Gary was sent to jail for one of the murders. He told Tess her X husband Warren was to head the club while he was in jail . Tess just hated this so much. She obeyed what the boss told her to do. Her sister Beth stayed with her. They never got along much because of their abusive Dad.Beth liked to make up stories all the time. But Tess helped her anyhow. Well the ending was kinda weird and strange I re-read it the second time trying to full understand what it was saying. What a ending.
November 29, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am giving this book 4* as it kept me entertained, on the edge of my seat, but I was not a fan of the ending, (until I realised that this is the first in a series, I just hope I don't have to wait to long for the second book, I was still not a fan of the ending!!) and there were parts of the book itself that really iritated me.
However, it was a great story. Had me guessing most of the way. Enjoyable.
Recommended. Be warned, this book does end on a cliffhanger of note!
I am giving this book 4* as it kept me entertained, on the edge of my seat, but I was not a fan of the ending, (until I realised that this is the first in a series, I just hope I don't have to wait to long for the second book, I was still not a fan of the ending!!) and there were parts of the book itself that really iritated me.
However, it was a great story. Had me guessing most of the way. Enjoyable.
Recommended. Be warned, this book does end on a cliffhanger of note!
November 11, 2021
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Even though, I find this book dark and disturbing, not my usual read or taste I must give it 4🌟🌟🌟🌟 because,
* It is well written.
* It has a well thought out plot.
* It is steady paced.
* It has lots of twist and turns.
* It is intense, and suspensful.
* It's characters were well described. You felt like you really knew them.
Judge for yourself. Enjoy!
Even though, I find this book dark and disturbing, not my usual read or taste I must give it 4🌟🌟🌟🌟 because,
* It is well written.
* It has a well thought out plot.
* It is steady paced.
* It has lots of twist and turns.
* It is intense, and suspensful.
* It's characters were well described. You felt like you really knew them.
Judge for yourself. Enjoy!
January 6, 2022
An outstanding thriller. The plot is well thought out, dark and intense, and travels at a good pace. Plenty of twists and turns with a surprising ending, definitely gripping. Great characters, however Tessa is supposedly a strong, no nonsense type of girl grates on my nerves with her frequent crying throughout the book, so it loses a star.
Can't wait to find out what happens in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Can't wait to find out what happens in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 4, 2022
This is a well written book in the first person. I found the plot slow and repetitive at the start, but it picked up throughout the book. This is a slow burner that grows on you. Definitely worth reading.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2023
Incredible
Truly awesome suspense thriller. Great characters and a,well-written storyline. The ending seems predictable but then completely shatters expectations to give a complete shocker.
Truly awesome suspense thriller. Great characters and a,well-written storyline. The ending seems predictable but then completely shatters expectations to give a complete shocker.
February 4, 2026
I had trouble getting through this book as the woman just letting everyone tell her what to do made my jaw ache from clenching it so hard. There is a nice twist at the end though. It was not enough to make me want to read the other books in the series unfortunately.
January 15, 2026
Shockingly good
What the heck? Not at all what I thought is happening. I'm in actual shock 🤯. I got some of it right but , omg best twist ever !
What the heck? Not at all what I thought is happening. I'm in actual shock 🤯. I got some of it right but , omg best twist ever !
Read
January 21, 2026Not a Stand alone book
The characters were not likeable but as a group it seemed to work. Very upset that there was no conclusion to this story, thus the two stars.
The characters were not likeable but as a group it seemed to work. Very upset that there was no conclusion to this story, thus the two stars.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews