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The Nashville, Tennessee, area is about to become the backdrop for a gripping new crime drama that balances gritty police work with profound personal redemption.
Production is gearing up for Water Grave, the first season of The Abbey Rhodes Mysteries. This multi-episode limited series is based on the acclaimed six-novel book series by Mitchell S. Karnes and published by WordCrafts Press. Dubbed by its creators as "Law & Order: SVU meets Monk," the project targets the highly sought-after, faith-adjacent market with a story that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.
Behind the camera, the project brings a distinct slice of Lone Star pride to the director's chair. Mike Parker, the series' producer and director is a proud 1973 graduate of Sherman High School—go Bearcats!—and still maintains deep family roots in the North Texas region.
Ripped from the Headlines, Filmed in Music City
Water Grave follows Detective Abbey Rhodes, played by compelling newcomer Kristen Ownby. Abbey’s journey is one of fierce resilience. After surviving a teenage trauma inflicted by a trusted authority figure and facing rejection from her legalistic father, she survived on the streets before finding purpose in the U.S. Army. Now a detective with the Metro Nashville Police Department, her past trauma threatens to resurface with every case she investigates.
Abbey is paired with veteran Detective Sam Tidwell, played by country music hitmaker Phil Vassar. Tidwell is a brooding, depressed officer waiting for his retirement after the unsolved murders of his wife and daughter. The spark returns to his work when he is paired with the spunky young Rhodes, who challenges him at every turn—and bears a striking resemblance to his late daughter. Together, the duo must conquer the ghosts of their pasts before their pasts consume them.
A Smart Blueprint for Streaming Success
By filming entirely on location in the red-hot Nashville, Tennessee region, the production team plans to deliver premium, cinematic storytelling while keeping a tight, disciplined rein on the budget. If Season 1 captures audiences as expected, the creators plan to adapt all six books in the literary franchise.
“We believe Water Grave offers a number of compelling, challenging roles for actors, with the very real possibility of extending the franchise into multiple seasons,” Parker said. “With a script that allows the characters to develop and grow while experiencing real life challenges of loss, love, recovery, revenge, and redemption, actors will have the opportunity to deliver career-best performances.
“Water Grave is currently funding a portion of its budget through a Kickstarter campaign where we’re seeking to raise around 5% of our total $300,000 budget,” Parker explains. “While that doesn't sound like much it's an incredibly important facet of the overall funding process, because this campaign kicks off our overall fundraising drive and provides something of a proof of concept for investors.”
If you’d like to find out more about Water Grave: Season 1 of The Abbey Rhodes Mysteries, and maybe even want to kick in a few bucks, please visit:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/watergrave/water-grave-season-1-of-the-abbey-rhodes-mysteries/
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