Paul Hawkins — Trouble In The Water

In a final twist, it is revealed that actually pushed Nel into the water, though he claims he did it to expose his father’s original crime.

Local writer and single mother Nel Abbott is found dead in the Drowning Pool, just months after a teenage girl named Katie also drowned there. Paul Hawkins Trouble In The Water

While the police lean toward suicide, Jules and Lena suspect foul play. Nel had been researching the Drowning Pool's history of "troublesome women" for a book, potentially exposing secrets that someone in town wanted to keep buried. Key Characters & Secrets In a final twist, it is revealed that

Sean’s father and an ex-cop. He represents the town’s "good man" facade while hiding a dark past. The Conclusion (Spoilers) Nel had been researching the Drowning Pool's history

eventually confesses to murdering his wife years ago and killing Nel Abbott to prevent her from discovering the truth during her research.