Can the books in The Undertaker's Daughter series be read as standalones?

No, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The series follows an ongoing story arc involving Rowan's family history and her conflict with a specific serial killer. Reading them out of order or as standalones will result in massive spoilers and confusion, especially since The Lies We Tell ends on a cliffhanger.

What is the correct order to read The Undertaker's Daughter series?

The recommended reading order is: 1. The Undertaker's Daughter (Prequel Novella), 2. The Secrets We Bury , 3. The Lies We Tell , and 4. The Darkness We Hide .

Who is the main antagonist of the series?

The main antagonist of the series is Julian Addington , a brilliant and obsessive serial killer who stalks Rowan Dupont and shares a mysterious connection to her family's tragic past.

Are there any crossover characters from Debra Webb's other series?

No. While Debra Webb is famous for her extensive Colby Agency and Faces of Evil series, the Rowan Dupont books are completely self-contained and do not feature crossovers with her other universes.

Where is the series set?

The series is set in Winchester, Tennessee , a small town featuring a deep lake and the historic, Victorian-style Dupont Funeral Home, which serves as the atmospheric heart of the books.

The Undertaker’s Daughter Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path for The Undertaker's Daughter

If you want the absolute best experience when diving into Debra Webb's bone-chilling psychological suspense series, there is only one way to go: read them in order of release, starting with the prequel novella. Because the entire series centers on an ongoing, deeply personal mystery involving a single protagonist—Dr. Rowan Dupont—and her psychological battle against an obsessive serial killer, skipping around will spoil major plot points and leave you confused about the intricate web of family secrets.

The optimal reading path is:

The Undertaker's Daughter (Prequel Novella, 2018) — Introduces Rowan's background as a forensic psychiatrist and MNPD profiler, establishing the tragic history of her twin sister and setting up the threat of the serial killer.
The Secrets We Bury (Book 1, 2019) — Follows Rowan's return to her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, after her father's brutal murder as she takes over the family funeral home.
The Lies We Tell (Book 2, 2019) — Deepens the investigation into Rowan's mother's past and mysterious suicide while a new double homicide strikes close to home.
The Darkness We Hide (Book 3, 2020) — The dramatic conclusion of the trilogy where Rowan must confront the killer, Julian Addington, and lay her family's ghosts to rest.

The Undertaker’s Daughter Books in Publication Order

Debra Webb published this series in quick succession between late 2018 and early 2020 through Harlequin's MIRA imprint. The release order aligns perfectly with the chronological flow of the narrative, making it exceptionally easy for readers to follow. Here is the list of books in order of their release dates:

The Undertaker's Daughter (Prequel Novella) — Published December 27, 2018
The Secrets We Bury (Book 1) — Published April 30, 2019
The Lies We Tell (Book 2) — Published September 17, 2019
The Darkness We Hide (Book 3) — Published March 31, 2020

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order: Is the Prequel Mandatory?

A common question among thriller fans is whether they should start with the full-length novel, The Secrets We Bury, or track down the prequel novella first. While some series feature prequels written long after the main books that can easily be skipped, The Undertaker's Daughter prequel was intentionally released first to lay the narrative foundation.

The prequel novella explains why Dr. Rowan Dupont left her high-profile job as a forensic psychiatrist and police profiler in Nashville to return to her quiet hometown of Winchester. It details the horrifying case of a serial killer targeting women who look exactly like her late twin sister, which is the catalyst for everything that follows. Without reading the novella, the emotional stakes in The Secrets We Bury might feel abrupt or confusing. Therefore, we highly recommend treating the prequel as Book 0.5 and reading it first.

Inside the Books: A Guided Tour of Rowan Dupont's Story

The Undertaker's Daughter (Prequel Novella, 2018)

In this quick-paced introduction, we meet Dr. Rowan Dupont working as a forensic psychiatrist and profiler for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's Special Crimes Unit. Rowan is a woman defined by tragedy, having lost her twin sister to drowning and her mother to suicide during her youth. The plot kicks into high gear when a serial killer begins targeting women with a striking physical resemblance to Rowan's late twin. The investigation forces Rowan to confront her deepest traumas, ultimately setting the stage for her departure from police profiling and her return to her family's historic, creaky Victorian funeral home in Winchester, Tennessee.

The Secrets We Bury (Book 1, 2019)

Picking up after the events of the prequel, Rowan returns to Winchester following the shocking murder of her father. She decides to take over the family business, Dupont Funeral Home, despite the dark memories associated with it. However, any hopes of finding peace are instantly shattered. An obsessive killer is stalking her, and local deaths raise unsettling questions. Rowan begins to suspect that her twin sister's childhood drowning and her mother's suicide were not the tragic accidents they seemed. Working alongside her childhood friend and local Police Chief, Billy Brannigan, Rowan must use her profiling expertise to decipher messages left specifically for her.

The Lies We Tell (Book 2, 2019)

The suspense escalates as Rowan tries to settle into her double life as an undertaker and target. When a double homicide occurs right in Winchester, the clues lead directly back to the Dupont Funeral Home and the history of Rowan's mother. The killer, Julian Addington, remains a constant, menacing shadow in the background, manipulating events to torture Rowan psychologically. This second installment ends on a significant cliffhanger, resolving the immediate local murder mystery but leaving the grander, overarching conspiracy wide open.

The Darkness We Hide (Book 3, 2020)

The trilogy reaches its climax in this dark and atmospheric finale. Determined to end the threat once and for all, Rowan digs into the deepest, most well-guarded secrets of her family's past, particularly her mother's connection to Julian Addington. As more bodies are uncovered and the danger reaches a fever pitch, Rowan realizes that she is dealing with forces that run much deeper than a simple local stalking case. She must put everything on the line to survive her final confrontation with Julian and finally secure a future for herself and Billy.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you open the first book, here are a few key details to keep in mind to help you appreciate the series:

The Setting is a Character: The Dupont Funeral Home is a historic Victorian building in Winchester, Tennessee, located near a deep, mysterious lake. The Gothic atmosphere of the funeral home, combined with the morbid details of the undertaker profession, serves as a dark backdrop that enhances the psychological dread.
Forensic Focus: Because Rowan is a trained forensic psychiatrist and profiler, the investigations are highly psychological. The narrative focuses heavily on the killer's mindset, profiling techniques, and the emotional toll of trauma.
A Central Romantic Thread: While the series is a dark psychological thriller, there is a prominent romantic subplot involving Rowan and Police Chief Billy Brannigan. Their shared childhood history and evolving partnership provide a necessary emotional anchor amidst the darkness.
Trigger Warnings: The series deals heavily with themes of suicide, family trauma, the loss of children, stalking, and graphic serial killer crime scenes. Readers sensitive to these themes should approach the books with care.