They were told it was impossible to unearth 200 victims—but they dug anyway | Preorder “Women Who Talk to the Dead”

The cases were considered hopeless—too cold, the evidence too scarce, the victims too forgotten. But women in law enforcement know how to work in silence. They don’t listen to the word impossible—instead, they choose to listen to the nameless dead buried in Detroit’s pauper graves.

On May 15, 2025—Peace Officers Memorial Day—I’m proud to release my latest book, Women Who Talk to the Dead, a piercing, true crime account of the most ambitious exhumation project in the history of both the FBI and the Detroit Police Department. Their mission: recover the missing DNA of 200 unidentified murder victims.
Pre-order on Amazon here.

If you’re drawn to true crime, women-led investigations, and stories that stay with you long after the last page, this one’s for you.

Why release the book on Peace Officers Memorial Day?
Because the day honors federal, state, and local officers who gave their last full measure in the line of duty. It’s a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of justice. And there is no more fitting time to honor the women in law enforcement who, despite every obstacle and every naysayer, refused to give up on the nameless victims buried in Detroit. These women demanded answers to the most sacred questions: Who are you? And who did this to you?

This book tells the true story of Detroit Police Detective Shannon Jones and FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen—two women I’d follow anywhere—who led a team of forensic anthropologists, scientists, and investigators into the muddy, bone-littered cemeteries of Detroit. Operation UNITED wasn’t just a cold case. It was a movement. A resurrection. An act of defiant hope. And its power came from these women leaders.

As Delvin Barrett, Justice Department reporter for The New York Times, put it:

"Women detectives and agents may not fit the mold of what some people imagine police work is, but they play a unique role in investigating and solving crimes. Schweit’s book is a piercing look inside that work, and the long-term costs of unsolved crimes—both for the victims’ families and the detectives who refuse to give up. Women Who Talk to the Dead is a haunting account of what it takes to give victims’ families something more important than closure—to give them answers."

This isn’t a story that ties up neatly. It lingers. It’s a powerful read—or listen—for anyone who’s ever wondered what justice really looks like when the cameras are gone, the headlines have faded, and all that’s left are the bones.

Want a behind-the-scenes look at the real-life burial digs and hear what I couldn’t include in the book? Subscribe to my email list for exclusive access to private photos, unreleased stories, and insights that only come from someone who spent days with the teams planning and then digging up bodies. No spoilers—just the real, raw truth of what it takes to speak for the dead.

Preorder your copy of Women Who Talk to the Dead and register for exclusive access.