The Scent of Death - Michael D Smith - Wattpad

The Scent of Death

Reads 11,300
Votes 1,963
Parts 42
Time 6h 22m

Reads 11,300
Votes 1,963
Parts 42
Time 6h 22m

Mature

adultfic adultromance england grownupreads literary literaryfiction litfic litreads missing murder murdermystery noir phobia serialkiller strongfemalelead suspense wattys2021 wattys2022 whodunit

When all hope is lost. When there's no-one else left to call...
Dudley the Labrador is a cadaver dog specifically trained to sniff out human remains. His handler, Jennifer, suffers from an unusual phobia which has left her socially isolated.
When together they uncover the corpse of a missing child, Jennifer begins to feel a deep, personal connection to the case. Dissatisfied by the direction of the official police investigation, she resolves to unravel the mystery herself. In doing so, she must first unravel herself...

Readers' comments (final chapter): 'great book', 'superb' 'wonderful, incredible, fantastic!' 'wow, just wow', 'wonderfully satisfying', 'I love this book'

Status: completed
Genre: mystery/suspense
Target readership: adults
Narrative style: psychological depth, frequent twists, semi-literary
Length: 75,000 words (approximately 300 standard novel pages)

Author: Michael D Smith, Wattys award winner (The Painted Altar, 2020, literary fiction)

Extract:

It was then that the barking came, somewhere a hundred or so metres off to my right. Not his usual playful response, but instead a focused, constant noise - a quick-fire volley of woofs like rounds from a machine gun. His 'found something' bark.

My heart quickened along with my step, the flashlight boring through the darkness. The moist barks of the trees deflected against my outstretched hand; pernicious branches whipped at my thighs, my chest, my face.

"Stay there boy! You just stay right there."

The barking was incessant, grew louder with each step. At last the thick maze of tree trunks relented and there he was, framed in the soft-edged beam of the torchlight in the centre of a small clearing. His tail swooshing manically, snout directed at the ground.

Stooping myself down beside him, I slanted the flashlight to the earth, squinted in close examination. Nothing - just dirt, twigs and damp leaves.

A shallow grave.

The lifeless body of Meghan Shaw had been tossed into a shallow grave.All Rights Reserved

adultfic adultromance england grownupreads literary literaryfiction litfic litreads missing murder murdermystery noir phobia serialkiller strongfemalelead suspense wattys2021 wattys2022 whodunit

Table of contents

42 parts

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𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?ˢᵠᵘᶦᵈᵍᵃᵐᵉ² by Aura_Night

𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐔𝐊 /əˈ𝐥əʊ𝐧/ 𝐔𝐒 /əˈ𝐥𝐨ʊ𝐧/ 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞: That's all she was,Oh Seo Hwa,after loosing the only family she had,loneliness was the only feeling she felt. After roaming in Seoul,with a bag filled with stuff she had never drank before in her life,she discovered how low you can go if you're rich. Once she decided to join the game,it was too late to realise that both Fight and Flight,may mean the same thing,which was death.

The Warlock by DukeyRhino

A cosmic horror romantic comedy Hi there, human. I'm an eldritch atrocity beyond mortal understanding. My real name would set your tongue on fire and boil your brain, so you can just call me Irene. I'm here to help. Heaven has been abandoned. The Kingdom has fallen into disrepair. Your prayers are going unanswered. I know it's a lot to take in. My sisters and I are gonna fix it. That's all we want, all we've ever wanted. And hey, someone has to. Otherwise, you're on your own. We know what it's like to be lonely. We are going to make sure humanity is never lonely again. But we can't do it alone. That's what the Warlock is for. Caspar Cartwright is a hapless hedge mage I've saved from the scaffold and the noose. I've plucked him from his grave and sent him back with my power at his fingertips and a mission branded into his heart. Face the servants of the dead god, find the key, open the gate to the Kingdom. And let me in.

Depths Unseen by nkiswriting

What does it mean to truly feel? To hold the weight of everything in a single, fragile heart? This isn't a guide, nor is it a solution. It's an invitation - a quiet exploration of what it means to be human. Through the voice of a narrator, the story unfolds, weaving through the unspoken and the unseen. This book isn't a solution. It's a mirror. And maybe, just maybe, you'll see yourself in it. I don't know where this story will take us, but I'm glad you're here. 12.01.25

Crimson Nights by aphelierocks

Death is an Angel and his name is Vilen Tereshkov. August Hellington is a rebellious son, a sinner of the flesh and a steadily rising pop star. He burns bright, hot, and deadly. Behind the charming exterior, hides a obsessive artist and his fascination for violence. Vilen Tereshkov is a weapon, a dog ready raised to attack and his hands are covered with blood that will never wash away. Death is his field of work and he's a model employee. One glance and a bloody fight, it's all it takes for this artist to become obsessed with the Angel of Doom. [this ain't a story about shines and rainbows even if it's about two boys's smooching. This book is laced with violence (it's on the cover) and it's called crimson for a reason. They are coo-coo, both of them. That's why they are perfect for one another]

The Chimera by tetradymite

A (mostly) cozy fantasy in which the rule of three is misused, the slow burn is glacial, and the cast of characters is twice as large as it needs to be. Also, there are monsters now. -------------------- In a city unknowingly on the edge of chaos, seven individuals receive gifts from an elusive beast known as the chimera. As they struggle to understand these gifts, they must also contend with the unpredictable visits of Jasper, a young man who keeps dropping unexpectedly into their world. These seven may not be the ones destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy, but they are going to have to deal with the aftermath. -------------------- Now featuring 55% more plot than originally intended. Part One: Butterfly Ship ✔️ Part Two: Sunset Citadel ✔️ Part Three: Tiger's Eye ✔️ Part Four: Dance Pavilion ✔️ Part Five: The Jester-King (Ongoing)

Death After Death (#2) by SebJenkins

Sequel to Life After Death *BEST #38 IN HORROR!* Max finally found something worth living for, but she was taken from him. Now he will fight across a bleak and miserable landscape of death to get his revenge. With the help of a new group of survivors, will he finally be able to find peace after so much pain? Ex-military Dawson, twins Karl and JJ, and cowardly Rodney are an unlikely but tight band of survivors. They have been searching for somewhere secure ever since the outbreak... perhaps a stranger could hold the key.

Hopeless || Michael Clifford ✓ by malumwritings

Sneaking glances in the hallway shouldn't have been difficult but every time she saw him, she felt as if her world was crumbling at her feet.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 by Kikii-Xoxo

"No, No. I'm not gonna die like you," I retorted with bitterness, I ran my hands through my hair as my frustration grew. "That you have it doesn't mean I will Dad, come off it!!" "It's what the doctor said, you should get tested Ha-rry," ******** When Harry Osborn's father lies dying, he reveals a shocking truth: the family's vast empire, OSCORP, is not only a legacy but a curse. As Harry inherits the company, he must navigate the treacherous world of corporate politics and confront the dark secrets of his family's past. But when he falls for his beautiful and intelligent secretary, Sophia, he's torn between his desire for her and his duty to protect her from the truth. Harry knows that his fate is sealed - he's inherited a deadly disease that will soon take his life. But he's too scared to tell his Secretary ,Sophia fearing that she'll leave him or worse, try to fix him. So he keeps his secret hidden, even as they grow closer and their feelings deepen. As Harry struggles to come to terms with his mortality, he must also confront the secrets and lies surrounding OSCORP. Will he be able to keep his secret from Sophia, or will the truth tear them apart? And can their love overcome the darkness of the Osborn legacy, or will it ultimately consume them both?

The Widow Melody Scott by eacomiskey

A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head. *** Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family. The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner! Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.

Puppy Love (thiam) by ellaraeken

Hayden had broken up with Liam 2 months ago, and since Hayden was his first love it's hard to get over it. Two months have passed and he's still whining about Hayden and refusing to move on. But Mason and Corey being the best friends they are get him to make a Tinder profile. While Liam is creating the profile he sneaks up to his best friend in the whole world, his Bernese Mountain Dog named Brownie and takes a cute picture with her to put as his profile picture. After a few moments, Liam comes across this dude on Tinder that's around his age and has a picture of himself and a Golden Retriever as his profile picture Mason and Corey tell him to swipe right on him because the guy is hot, and believe me he was, Liam thought it too but didn't want to admit it. He ended up swiping because ''his dog Brownie needed a friend'' and then ended up matching with the mysterious and "hot" guy... - - - Thank you to @ChayaConnelly for helping me with this amazing cover, go check out her work she is truly amazing!❤️

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Slide 1 of 10

𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?ˢᵠᵘᶦᵈᵍᵃᵐᵉ² cover

The Warlock cover

Depths Unseen cover

Crimson Nights cover

The Chimera cover

Death After Death (#2) cover

Hopeless || Michael Clifford ✓ cover

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁��𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 cover

The Widow Melody Scott cover

Puppy Love (thiam) cover

𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?ˢᵠᵘᶦᵈᵍᵃᵐᵉ²

𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐔𝐊 /əˈ𝐥əʊ𝐧/ 𝐔𝐒 /əˈ𝐥𝐨ʊ𝐧/ 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞: That's all she was,Oh Seo Hwa,after loosing the only family she had,loneliness was the only feeling she felt. After roaming in Seoul,with a bag filled with stuff she had never drank before in her life,she discovered how low you can go if you're rich. Once she decided to join the game,it was too late to realise that both Fight and Flight,may mean the same thing,which was death.