Broken Bayou

In this debut thriller, a troubled child psychologist returns to a small Louisiana town to protect her secrets but winds up having to protect her life.

Dr. Willa Watters is a prominent child psychologist at the height of her career. But when a viral video of a disastrous television interview puts her reputation on the line, Willa retreats to Broken Bayou, the town where she spent most of her childhood summers. There she visits her aunts' old house and discovers some of her unstable mother's belongings still languishing in the attic--dusty mementos harboring secrets of her harrowing past.

Willa's hopes for a respite are quickly crushed, not only by what she finds in that attic but also by what's been found in the bayou.

With waters dropping due to drought, mysterious barrels containing human remains have surfaced, alongside something else from Willa's past, something she never thought she'd see again. Divers, police, and media flood the area, including a news reporter gunning for Willa and Travis Arceneaux--a local deputy and old flame.

Willa's fate seems eerily tied to the murders. And with no one to trust, she must use her wits to stay above water and make it out alive.

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283 pages

Average rating: 7.83

29 RATINGS

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4 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Tamrat
Nov 12, 2024
7/10 stars
A psychological thriller of a troubled child psychologist with an alcoholic, bi-polor mother, and FASD sister. She goes back to a small Louisiana town to get things left at her aunt's house to protect a family secret and gets pulled into a serial killing mystery. A story of trauma, murder and surprise ending
Lashley
Oct 15, 2024
9/10 stars
Keeps you wondering and just when you think you know!
MaryKay
Aug 16, 2024
Hosted by Jamie
Svogelny
Aug 05, 2024
10/10 stars
In this gripping debut thriller, a troubled child psychologist returns to her quaint Louisiana hometown to safeguard her secrets, only to find herself fighting for her life. Dr. Willa Watters is a renowned child psychologist at the pinnacle of her career. But when a viral video of a disastrous TV interview threatens her reputation, Willa retreats to Broken Bayou, where she spent her childhood summers. While visiting her aunts' old house, she stumbles upon her unstable mother’s belongings tucked away in the attic—dusty relics that hold chilling secrets from her past. Willa's hopes for a peaceful getaway are swiftly dashed, not just by the haunting memories in the attic, but also by unsettling discoveries in the bayou. As drought lowers the water levels, mysterious barrels with human remains emerge, bringing forth a haunting piece of Willa’s history that she never expected to see again. The area becomes a hive of activity as divers, police, and eager media swarm in, including a news reporter with a vendetta against Willa and Travis Arceneaux—a local deputy and her former love. With her fate ominously intertwined with the murders, Willa finds herself in a web of deception. With no one to turn to, she must rely on her instincts to navigate the treacherous waters and survive.

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