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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, You Will Know Me By My Deeds by Mike Cobb is a heart-pounding sequel that intertwines a couple’s fight against a shadowy enemy with the haunting mysteries of the Atlanta Child Murders, blending history and suspense into an unputdownable thriller.
You Will Know Me By My Deeds
In You Will Know Me By My Deeds, author Mike Cobb delivers a gripping sequel to his earlier suspense thriller, The Devil You Knew. This heart-pounding journey of intrigue and revelation plunges readers into a world where the past refuses to stay buried, and the quest for truth becomes a matter of life and death. Set against the chilling backdrop of Atlanta between 1979 and 1982, Cobb masterfully blends historical events with fictional suspense, crafting a narrative that keeps readers on edge until the final page.
The story picks up in 1981, where Cynthia Tarwater, a survivor of a harrowing 1963 kidnapping, begins to sense a shadow creeping back into her life. Despite the exoneration of the wrongly accused suspect—thanks to the efforts of her newspaper reporter husband, Billy Tarwater, and his police officer friend—and the death of the true culprit, Cynthia cannot shake the feeling that she is being watched. What begins as a whisper of paranoia soon escalates into a series of menacing incidents that threaten to unravel the fragile peace she and Billy have built.
Billy, determined to protect his wife and uncover the source of this renewed danger, finds himself thrust into a race against an unknown enemy. As he digs deeper, he uncovers threads that tie the present threats to the traumatic events of seventeen years prior—and, shockingly, to the infamous Atlanta Child Murders, a series of killings that gripped the city in fear during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Cobb’s skillful integration of this real-world tragedy into his fictional narrative adds a layer of authenticity and tension, inviting readers to question the official accounts of the crimes and consider the possibility of alternative, sinister forces at play.
The Atlanta Child Murders, which claimed the lives of at least 28 children, adolescents, and young adults, cast a long shadow over the city during this period. Cobb uses this historical anchor to amplify the story’s stakes, weaving together facts, theories, and creative speculation. The result is a suspenseful tapestry that challenges the notion of justice served, suggesting that the truth may be far more complex—and far darker—than the history books record.
At its core, You Will Know Me By My Deeds is a story of resilience and reckoning. Billy Tarwater must confront not only the external threats closing in on his family but also the lingering demons of his own past. The novel’s pacing is relentless, driving readers through a maze of twists and turns as Billy navigates dangerous waters to protect those he loves. Cobb’s prose crackles with urgency, pulling readers into the Tarwaters’ desperate struggle and keeping them guessing about the identity and motives of their unseen adversary.
What sets this novel apart is its ability to straddle genres with finesse. For fans of historical fiction, the vivid depiction of Atlanta in the early 1980s—complete with its social anxieties and unresolved wounds—offers a compelling backdrop. For devotees of fictionalized true crime, Cobb’s bold reimagining of the Atlanta Child Murders provides a fresh lens through which to explore a case that still sparks debate and controversy. And for thriller enthusiasts, the unrelenting suspense and unexpected revelations ensure a rollercoaster of emotions.
You Will Know Me By My Deeds culminates in a surprising connection that ties together the Tarwaters’ personal nightmare, the events of 1963, and the broader mystery of the Atlanta murders. It’s a conclusion that satisfies while leaving room for reflection—a hallmark of Cobb’s storytelling prowess. This is essential reading for anyone who craves a narrative steeped in suspense, grounded in history, and unafraid to probe the shadows where truth and justice collide.
As Billy Tarwater battles to uncover the truth before it’s too late, readers are left with a haunting question: can the past ever truly be laid to rest, or does it linger, waiting to claim its due? In Mike Cobb’s hands, the answer is as thrilling as it is unsettling.
Mike Cobb
I love history and research almost as much as I love writing. Having spent much of my career as a scientist, I get the research part honestly. And […] my focus on crime came about as the result of the cold-case execution-style murder of a friend when I was 17. I’m working on that story.
-Mike Cobb
Mike Cobb, an Atlanta native and history enthusiast, crafts compelling narratives spanning fiction and nonfiction. His work, ranging from short stories to in-depth articles, delves into historical fiction, Southern literary traditions, crime, and true crime. A former scientist, Cobb brings a researcher’s rigor to his writing. He divides his time between Atlanta and Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Find more from Mike Cobb now:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/41OgW1t
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4ioIiCp
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