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Carson Ryder #6
Little Girls Lost
The fourth in the bestselling series of psychological thrillers featuring Carson Ryder, the detective with a unique perspective on serial killers.
Children are disappearing in Mobile, Alabama, the latest snatched from her own bedroom. There are no clues – and, as yet, no bodies.
Homicide Detective Carson Ryder is called in to investigate the abduction of little LaShelle Shearing only to find the case getting tangled up in murky departmental and civic politics. And with his partner Harry Nautilus fighting for his life after being viciously attacked, Carson is feeling increasingly isolated.
Public rage is now reaching dangerous levels, and Ryder’s bosses turn for help to ex-Detective Conner Sandhill whose uncanny ability to spot connections and details missed by others is legendary – but who left the department under a cloud.
Ryder and Sandhill form an uneasy alliance in the hunt for the missing children, a hunt which becomes all the more urgent for tragic personal reasons. But at the root of these disappearances is something truly evil… and its source is closer to home than either could have imagined.
Children are disappearing in Mobile, Alabama, the latest snatched from her own bedroom. There are no clues – and, as yet, no bodies.
Homicide Detective Carson Ryder is called in to investigate the abduction of little LaShelle Shearing only to find the case getting tangled up in murky departmental and civic politics. And with his partner Harry Nautilus fighting for his life after being viciously attacked, Carson is feeling increasingly isolated.
Public rage is now reaching dangerous levels, and Ryder’s bosses turn for help to ex-Detective Conner Sandhill whose uncanny ability to spot connections and details missed by others is legendary – but who left the department under a cloud.
Ryder and Sandhill form an uneasy alliance in the hunt for the missing children, a hunt which becomes all the more urgent for tragic personal reasons. But at the root of these disappearances is something truly evil… and its source is closer to home than either could have imagined.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2008
40 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Jack Kerley
22 books238 followersAKA J.A. Kerley
John Albert Kerley is an American author. He spent 20 years in a successful advertising career before writing his first book, The Hundredth Man.
He currently lives in Newport, Kentucky, and is married with two children. He enjoys the outdoors, particularly fishing.
He is the author of the acclaimed Alabama-set series of Carson Ryder novels
John Albert Kerley is an American author. He spent 20 years in a successful advertising career before writing his first book, The Hundredth Man.
He currently lives in Newport, Kentucky, and is married with two children. He enjoys the outdoors, particularly fishing.
He is the author of the acclaimed Alabama-set series of Carson Ryder novels
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 13, 2015
Picked this up from a charity shop - without any knowledge of author and was not aware that it was part of series. Not that that mattered. The book stands alone, and the characters are relevant to the story.
There is no specific main character - no one person outdoing the others. Each one works with the others and interlink with the events.
The story focuses on the abduction of pre-puberty black girls, but has a thread of another story relation to police corruption running through it.
I enjoyed the plot, the development of the characters and the unfolding relationship of the Gumbo King with Jacey. It was easy to read - but a page turner. I wanted to know where the story was heading and where it would end. I can see how the characters would be included in the next book of the series.
There was suspense, and a wonderful humour - particularly shown in Jacey's monologue/thinking.
All in all a satisfying read.
There is no specific main character - no one person outdoing the others. Each one works with the others and interlink with the events.
The story focuses on the abduction of pre-puberty black girls, but has a thread of another story relation to police corruption running through it.
I enjoyed the plot, the development of the characters and the unfolding relationship of the Gumbo King with Jacey. It was easy to read - but a page turner. I wanted to know where the story was heading and where it would end. I can see how the characters would be included in the next book of the series.
There was suspense, and a wonderful humour - particularly shown in Jacey's monologue/thinking.
All in all a satisfying read.
August 30, 2016
Mobile, Alabama. Young pre-teen girls are being snatched off the streets. Carson Ryder's partner Harry Nautilus is out of action following a mugging so he's out on his own following a trail that seems to go stone cold with every fresh kidnapping.
When the body of one of the missing girls is found in a burnt out house, the apparent victim of an arson attack, Conner Sandhill, an ex cop who left the force in mysterious circumstances is brought in to help with the floundering investigation.
What unfurls is a sometimes uncomfortable delve into the underbelly of the sex trade bravely taken on by Mr Jack Kerley and he has my utmost respect in his handling ofa difficult subject. Uncomfortable reading which however kept me hooked for two days. Good job sir!”
When the body of one of the missing girls is found in a burnt out house, the apparent victim of an arson attack, Conner Sandhill, an ex cop who left the force in mysterious circumstances is brought in to help with the floundering investigation.
What unfurls is a sometimes uncomfortable delve into the underbelly of the sex trade bravely taken on by Mr Jack Kerley and he has my utmost respect in his handling ofa difficult subject. Uncomfortable reading which however kept me hooked for two days. Good job sir!”
May 29, 2018
Books like this make me sad. And not because they're so badly written that it's upsetting they even got published, but because they're so wonderful it's a shame they're not well-known.
Little Girls Lost by J.A. Kerley is a tale of macabre, dirty politics, deceit, unlikely partnerships, and innocence. It has all the points to make it worthy of credit that it undoubtedly deserves but the fact that it is underappreciated breaks my heart.
I switch between famous and not-so-famous books when reading to keep a balance of things. This way I can truly understand what elements helped escalate one book while left the other uncherished. But with this one, I am astounded because I found none such thing that might make up my mind about its poor position in the literary circle.
There were phrases and dialogues that went over my head at first glance, for they were written in a dialect of Alabama, perhaps, I don't know. But the point is that they were not impossible to understand and anyone with a little brain and a sense of reading will get it. And hey, no harm in learning some new phrases, right? They were pretty badass, too, what with heated and witty conversations between detectives and/or corrupt cops.
I specially liked the chemistry between the two main men of the book: Carson Ryder and Conner Sandhill aka the Gumbo King. They were off-standish with each other at first, naturally, but the way their relationship grew, was fun and satisfying to read.
I wish people would pick up more books like this one. Recommended to anyone who has a thing for mystery with a tinge of triggering and gross ideas which unfortunately portray the reality of our world.
Not recommended to people who are just starting with the genre, this one goes a little over the top which reminds me... anyone who is easily affected by *spoiler* paedophilia or child abuse, stay away from this book, please. It's a great read but gets very dark indeed.
Little Girls Lost by J.A. Kerley is a tale of macabre, dirty politics, deceit, unlikely partnerships, and innocence. It has all the points to make it worthy of credit that it undoubtedly deserves but the fact that it is underappreciated breaks my heart.
I switch between famous and not-so-famous books when reading to keep a balance of things. This way I can truly understand what elements helped escalate one book while left the other uncherished. But with this one, I am astounded because I found none such thing that might make up my mind about its poor position in the literary circle.
There were phrases and dialogues that went over my head at first glance, for they were written in a dialect of Alabama, perhaps, I don't know. But the point is that they were not impossible to understand and anyone with a little brain and a sense of reading will get it. And hey, no harm in learning some new phrases, right? They were pretty badass, too, what with heated and witty conversations between detectives and/or corrupt cops.
I specially liked the chemistry between the two main men of the book: Carson Ryder and Conner Sandhill aka the Gumbo King. They were off-standish with each other at first, naturally, but the way their relationship grew, was fun and satisfying to read.
I wish people would pick up more books like this one. Recommended to anyone who has a thing for mystery with a tinge of triggering and gross ideas which unfortunately portray the reality of our world.
Not recommended to people who are just starting with the genre, this one goes a little over the top which reminds me... anyone who is easily affected by *spoiler* paedophilia or child abuse, stay away from this book, please. It's a great read but gets very dark indeed.
January 4, 2021
I enjoyed this book more than the last one despite the harsh topic of child trafficking. It was more fast paced and easy to follow.
I also liked the new character and his whole story.
I look forward to reading the next one .
I also liked the new character and his whole story.
I look forward to reading the next one .
November 9, 2021
Another great read, fast paced story. Not the best storyline, to actually read, to be honest though . I also liked the character with a big part of the story, wonder if we’ll see him again??
January 17, 2013
This is part of a series usually featuring detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus. However, with Harry holed up in hospital after a vicious attack, Ryder needs a new partner in crime. Enter...The Gumbo King, a brilliant character who I hope we'll see more of. Decent read for any fans of the genre.
Please see my full review at http://bibliobeth.wordpress.com
Please see my full review at http://bibliobeth.wordpress.com
May 22, 2010
This is my first Kerley mystery, but it won't be my last! Reading a book set in my home town was so much fun and I think I have a new hero; the Gumbo King!
January 16, 2025
As usual, this book kept me at the edge of my seat. This is the 6th book in the series and the usual characters are there, but he adds some interesting new ones that churn up the tightly woven plot. While some familiar ones take a back seat they are still critical to his story. It’s an intricate plot, more so than his earlier books and he doesn’t let up on the tension. Little girls are going missing. The stakes couldn’t be higher. A lively young orphan girl is at the center of the action which takes place in a tightly-knit neighborhood embroiled in protests directed at the mayor and the police department. Emotions are at a fever pitch and Carson is right in the middle of it, without his badge or his partner. And they are all unaware of the evil bearing down on them all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2020
I'm reading the Carson Ryder series in order and haven't been disappointed by any of them. "Little Girls Lost is no exception. Kerley does it again, an action packed, page turning thriller that's not for the squeamish. It wasn't the best nor the worst of the series. I missed Harry and perhaps the Gumbo King was a suitable one time replacement. Except he also seems to eclipse Ryder, who I felt was delegated to a secondary role, except toward the end. Not a masterpiece, but very good and worth your consideration.
May 6, 2021
Giving up at 76 pages. I have loved half the books in this series and now been unable to finish half, they're really inconsistent.
I don't like the dialogue in this book, it is so stilted and wooden.
I don't like that I am 76 pages in and nothing has really happened plotwise.
I don't like that I've already been told who the killers are and why.
I don't like that everyone above Ryder is an untrustworthy, unlikeable and bad cop.
I just don't want to read any more so I'm not going to bother.
I don't like the dialogue in this book, it is so stilted and wooden.
I don't like that I am 76 pages in and nothing has really happened plotwise.
I don't like that I've already been told who the killers are and why.
I don't like that everyone above Ryder is an untrustworthy, unlikeable and bad cop.
I just don't want to read any more so I'm not going to bother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2017
A decent thriller with a good pace. The main character, Carson Rider, is helped out by an ex cop. when a series of young girls go missing. The plot develops nicely, although a couple of insights seem a little too convenient.
The Mobile police department is in turmoil with some interesting internal politics the backdrop to the case. Rider has to find his way around his colleagues as he peruses the kidnappers. And while the characters are all a little one dimensional, it's a good read.
The Mobile police department is in turmoil with some interesting internal politics the backdrop to the case. Rider has to find his way around his colleagues as he peruses the kidnappers. And while the characters are all a little one dimensional, it's a good read.
June 1, 2020
In the beginning I was dreading what this book was going to entail, if it was going to give me nightmare's about stolen little girls going to be sold as sex slaves. Thankfully that part was not too detailed or gory and I became a big fan of 'The Gumbo King'. I thought he was such a great character and I found I couldn't stop reading and HAD to find out how the story would end. I like to think I'm quite good at anticipating plot twists but this one got me! Great book!
April 6, 2021
After reading a lovely book with no nasties, these was the complete opposite, child trafficking. There were no nitty gritty details thank good es, ones imagination was enough and sickening. An OK read all said.
December 31, 2021
I want to give this book 4.5. This is a really well written book. When I read the subject matter, I was unsure if I wanted to continue reading this book, but I am glad I did. Great twists and turns!
November 10, 2017
First time reader of JA Kelley and loving the main dude, Ryder.
It's a completely dreadful subject. The author acknowledges this and understands us, the reader.
It's a completely dreadful subject. The author acknowledges this and understands us, the reader.
April 10, 2018
Another excellent work
March 30, 2019
A perfect combination of action and thriler with a lot of horrors.
November 10, 2019
I loved The Hundredth Man--I read it twice. This one is a weak, pale comparison. The Hundredth Man was his first book, so it was years in the making---this one seems a mass-produced, potboiler.
March 10, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Definitely want to read more of his books.
Definitely want to read more of his books.
August 29, 2022
I will have to go back and start at the beginning of the series based on reading this, a great read.
July 19, 2024
Good read.Liked the characters and twisted suspense.
December 30, 2024
It's a great read. I give it 3.5 stars. I really liked all the twists and turns.
January 18, 2025
I loved this book, I was gripped from the start to the end. I've not read any of the authors other books in this series, and this is number six so I will be reading them from the start!
August 12, 2025
I am still working my way through the Jack Kerley books; this is the sixth Carson Ryder book. I love this character and should have finished this series a long time ago. While this is a rather old series, I find myself loving it.
Little Girls Lost is a dark, intense, and emotionally charged crime thriller that digs deep into the horror of child abduction and the deeply flawed systems meant to protect the most vulnerable. From the very first page, Kerley sets a heavy tone as Detective Carson Ryder is thrown into a harrowing case involving missing children — and no clear leads.
I was completely gripped by the chilling premise. The disappearance of LaShelle Shearing from her bedroom sets off a chain of events that grows more disturbing with every chapter. Kerley doesn’t shy away from the raw emotions surrounding such a sensitive topic — the desperation of families, the public outrage, and the growing fear that something much darker is at play.
Carson Ryder continues to be a compelling protagonist. He’s clever, persistent, and deeply human. With his partner Harry Nautilus struggling to recover after a brutal attack, Carson’s growing isolation adds a layer of vulnerability to his character that makes him feel more real. The reintroduction of ex-Detective Conner Sandhill adds an interesting dynamic — their reluctant partnership is full of tension, but also a fascinating contrast in investigative styles. Sandhill, with his almost intuitive ability to see connections, is a standout character in his own right, even as his past casts a long shadow.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, with twists that are both unexpected and horrifying. The sense of urgency ramps up chapter by chapter, and as more is revealed, it becomes clear that the evil behind the disappearances isn’t just monstrous — it’s disturbingly close to home. Kerley builds suspense while exposing uncomfortable truths about bureaucracy, corruption, and how justice can sometimes feel heartbreakingly out of reach.
That said, this isn’t an easy read. It deals with extremely dark subject matter, and I would urge sensitive readers to be aware. But I also think that’s part of its power. It doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of such crimes or the toll it takes on everyone involved.
Little Girls Lost is gritty, thought-provoking, and hard to put down. If you like your thrillers dark and emotionally intense, with morally complex characters and a plot that packs a punch, this one is well worth picking up. Just be prepared for a tough but rewarding ride.
https://featzreviews.com/little-girls...
Little Girls Lost is a dark, intense, and emotionally charged crime thriller that digs deep into the horror of child abduction and the deeply flawed systems meant to protect the most vulnerable. From the very first page, Kerley sets a heavy tone as Detective Carson Ryder is thrown into a harrowing case involving missing children — and no clear leads.
I was completely gripped by the chilling premise. The disappearance of LaShelle Shearing from her bedroom sets off a chain of events that grows more disturbing with every chapter. Kerley doesn’t shy away from the raw emotions surrounding such a sensitive topic — the desperation of families, the public outrage, and the growing fear that something much darker is at play.
Carson Ryder continues to be a compelling protagonist. He’s clever, persistent, and deeply human. With his partner Harry Nautilus struggling to recover after a brutal attack, Carson’s growing isolation adds a layer of vulnerability to his character that makes him feel more real. The reintroduction of ex-Detective Conner Sandhill adds an interesting dynamic — their reluctant partnership is full of tension, but also a fascinating contrast in investigative styles. Sandhill, with his almost intuitive ability to see connections, is a standout character in his own right, even as his past casts a long shadow.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, with twists that are both unexpected and horrifying. The sense of urgency ramps up chapter by chapter, and as more is revealed, it becomes clear that the evil behind the disappearances isn’t just monstrous — it’s disturbingly close to home. Kerley builds suspense while exposing uncomfortable truths about bureaucracy, corruption, and how justice can sometimes feel heartbreakingly out of reach.
That said, this isn’t an easy read. It deals with extremely dark subject matter, and I would urge sensitive readers to be aware. But I also think that’s part of its power. It doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of such crimes or the toll it takes on everyone involved.
Little Girls Lost is gritty, thought-provoking, and hard to put down. If you like your thrillers dark and emotionally intense, with morally complex characters and a plot that packs a punch, this one is well worth picking up. Just be prepared for a tough but rewarding ride.
https://featzreviews.com/little-girls...
June 19, 2012
I confess that I have never read any work by J A Kerley but the jacket info was enough to convince me it was worth a try. It comes under the Thriller/Suspense category and is justified to be there I can assure you. I picked the book up with absolutely no expectations and was really pleased that I made the choice to read this.
This is apparently the 4th book in the Carson Ryder Series however I can only judge based on this book which can quite easily be read as a stand alone novel. Carson Ryder is a Homicide Detective in Alabama and he is called in to help with a case where young girls are disappearing. The only problem is that so far there are multiple girls going missing, but no bodies, no clues and nothing to even indicate what on earth is going on. Unfortunately for Ryder his partner Harry Nautilus is in hospital after being mysteriously attacked and left for dead.
Connor Sandhill is an ex cop who now runs a restaurant and is know as the `Gumbo King'. Connor left the police force under circumstances that seemed highly suspicious although he has never confirmed or denied any of the rumours. With no leads and being on his own Ryder decides to enlist the help of Connor as he has a reputation at solving very difficult cases.
At the same time Connor finds himself in the unfortunate position of being a babysitter for his ex-girlfriends sister. Little Jacy is only 9 and when Connor finally agrees to watch her he finds juggling that with working on the case. The nightmares he has regarding the missing children become an awful reality when he realises Jacy is missing. Both he and Ryder now have to face the fact that there is a good chance that these little girls will never be seen again. The question is can they wade through the murky waters of bent cops, angry citizens and the mayor to find the person responsible.
I must say that the first 3 or 4 chapters were a little on the slow side but by chapter 5 I realised that I needn't have worried as the story flowed and I didn't want to put the book down. The story itself was good but the characters weren't as good as they could have been in my opinion. I absolutely adored Connor Sandhill as a cop that played the rules his own way to get the desired results. Carson Ryder was another story. He lacked something (which I can't put my finger on). It seemed like he never really came into his own and that was a little disappointing but didn't lessen the enjoyment for me. Overall I thought it was a great read and I would definitely recommend and certainly would read other books in the follow up series.
This is apparently the 4th book in the Carson Ryder Series however I can only judge based on this book which can quite easily be read as a stand alone novel. Carson Ryder is a Homicide Detective in Alabama and he is called in to help with a case where young girls are disappearing. The only problem is that so far there are multiple girls going missing, but no bodies, no clues and nothing to even indicate what on earth is going on. Unfortunately for Ryder his partner Harry Nautilus is in hospital after being mysteriously attacked and left for dead.
Connor Sandhill is an ex cop who now runs a restaurant and is know as the `Gumbo King'. Connor left the police force under circumstances that seemed highly suspicious although he has never confirmed or denied any of the rumours. With no leads and being on his own Ryder decides to enlist the help of Connor as he has a reputation at solving very difficult cases.
At the same time Connor finds himself in the unfortunate position of being a babysitter for his ex-girlfriends sister. Little Jacy is only 9 and when Connor finally agrees to watch her he finds juggling that with working on the case. The nightmares he has regarding the missing children become an awful reality when he realises Jacy is missing. Both he and Ryder now have to face the fact that there is a good chance that these little girls will never be seen again. The question is can they wade through the murky waters of bent cops, angry citizens and the mayor to find the person responsible.
I must say that the first 3 or 4 chapters were a little on the slow side but by chapter 5 I realised that I needn't have worried as the story flowed and I didn't want to put the book down. The story itself was good but the characters weren't as good as they could have been in my opinion. I absolutely adored Connor Sandhill as a cop that played the rules his own way to get the desired results. Carson Ryder was another story. He lacked something (which I can't put my finger on). It seemed like he never really came into his own and that was a little disappointing but didn't lessen the enjoyment for me. Overall I thought it was a great read and I would definitely recommend and certainly would read other books in the follow up series.
February 1, 2016
Review: Little Girls Lost by J.A. Kerley.
I don 19t know why this book went through so much controversy? There are many books that are more sensitive then this one. The material is unpleasant but it has no graphic sex scenes or dialogue, no racism, and the context (fiction) has been addressed by many authors. The story was well written, the characters were well developed, and the story flowed with reality. I thought it was a great story and I 19m an open-minded person and could find no fault with it.
The story is about little black girls disappearing in Mobile, Alabama. The police are frustrated and the public are attacking. There are no obvious leads and no trace of the girls. Detective Carson Ryder is investigating the latest missing girl but the case is being muddied by governmental politics and power struggles during the time of election. Ryder finds himself feeling more discouraged and isolated because his partner was recovering from the last case they worked on and he needed him to help bounce around information and opinions. The community and the Mayor are now pressing for new leads and wants the department to bring in someone who could help.
The department has no choice then to seek the help of Conner Sandhill; a person the department said was always a great detective and solved many cases when he was with the department. Conner was an unpredictable ex-cop with a bad a reputation. The officer at the top of the helm hated the idea and will do anything he can to undermined Conner who now owns a restaurant and is known as, 1CThe Gumbo King 1C.
There was some hesitancy on Ryder 19s end but he and Conner understood each other and both new the department had a few corrupt officers. They just needed time to figure out who was trying to block their investigation. As the story goes on the author creates situations leading the investigation down different paths, introducing more characters, changing the setting, but always keeping to the plot on the missing girls with no confusion of what was going on. Ryder and Conner did conclude one master key, that these young girls could still be alive accept the little girl that turned up in an abandon building that burned to the ground 26.
There are some shady characters weaved throughout the story. It 19s a story filled with odd heroes and a few twisted sympathetic villains, and rich pedophiles.
I don 19t know why this book went through so much controversy? There are many books that are more sensitive then this one. The material is unpleasant but it has no graphic sex scenes or dialogue, no racism, and the context (fiction) has been addressed by many authors. The story was well written, the characters were well developed, and the story flowed with reality. I thought it was a great story and I 19m an open-minded person and could find no fault with it.
The story is about little black girls disappearing in Mobile, Alabama. The police are frustrated and the public are attacking. There are no obvious leads and no trace of the girls. Detective Carson Ryder is investigating the latest missing girl but the case is being muddied by governmental politics and power struggles during the time of election. Ryder finds himself feeling more discouraged and isolated because his partner was recovering from the last case they worked on and he needed him to help bounce around information and opinions. The community and the Mayor are now pressing for new leads and wants the department to bring in someone who could help.
The department has no choice then to seek the help of Conner Sandhill; a person the department said was always a great detective and solved many cases when he was with the department. Conner was an unpredictable ex-cop with a bad a reputation. The officer at the top of the helm hated the idea and will do anything he can to undermined Conner who now owns a restaurant and is known as, 1CThe Gumbo King 1C.
There was some hesitancy on Ryder 19s end but he and Conner understood each other and both new the department had a few corrupt officers. They just needed time to figure out who was trying to block their investigation. As the story goes on the author creates situations leading the investigation down different paths, introducing more characters, changing the setting, but always keeping to the plot on the missing girls with no confusion of what was going on. Ryder and Conner did conclude one master key, that these young girls could still be alive accept the little girl that turned up in an abandon building that burned to the ground 26.
There are some shady characters weaved throughout the story. It 19s a story filled with odd heroes and a few twisted sympathetic villains, and rich pedophiles.
October 30, 2011
This is my second foray into the world of Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus and a
murky macabre world it is. In Little Girls Lost they are on the trail of an abductor of little black girls. It’s set in Carson and Harry’s familiar world of Mobile, Alabama as the
unsolved abductions begin to stir up political and public unrest and the police are baffled. One victim is taken from her own bedroom and it’s almost as if they’d being taken to order. Commodities to be sold to the highest bidder selected from a website of images.
However Harry is out of action as he’s confined to hospital and so Carson has to join forces with a dubious ex-cop, Connor Sandhill. Once legendary for his crime solving,
he left the police force under a cloud and reinvented himself as the Gumbo King. When one of the missing girls is found in a burning building it’s Sandhill who detects that she
was killed elsewhere and the arson was an attempt to destroy forensic evidence. Then
another little girl vanishes, Jacy, who is the child of a family friend but when Sandhill finds out that she may be more than the child of a friend it becomes personal.
Set against shady local politics, backhanders and a newly elected female mayor trying to do the right thing, it’s a deftly plotted, fast paced read. Dubious characters and shady preachers crawl out of the woodwork and Sandhill himself is seen as one of them and Ryder is warned not to involve him in the investigation. But Ryder persists and he and Sandhill are soon embroiled in double crossing cops and devious school photographers.
However this is the second Ryder and Nautilus book in which the latter is out of the action and I wondered why.
Sandhill is a flamboyant character who is determined to find Jacy alive. A real page turner and, as the old cliché goes, I couldn’t put it down. It was an all too convincing plot with a disturbing and frightening central element. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda on the abductions and that was well portrayed.
I really liked Sandhill and his gaudy outfits and hats and hope to meet him in another Ryder and Nautilus thriller.
murky macabre world it is. In Little Girls Lost they are on the trail of an abductor of little black girls. It’s set in Carson and Harry’s familiar world of Mobile, Alabama as the
unsolved abductions begin to stir up political and public unrest and the police are baffled. One victim is taken from her own bedroom and it’s almost as if they’d being taken to order. Commodities to be sold to the highest bidder selected from a website of images.
However Harry is out of action as he’s confined to hospital and so Carson has to join forces with a dubious ex-cop, Connor Sandhill. Once legendary for his crime solving,
he left the police force under a cloud and reinvented himself as the Gumbo King. When one of the missing girls is found in a burning building it’s Sandhill who detects that she
was killed elsewhere and the arson was an attempt to destroy forensic evidence. Then
another little girl vanishes, Jacy, who is the child of a family friend but when Sandhill finds out that she may be more than the child of a friend it becomes personal.
Set against shady local politics, backhanders and a newly elected female mayor trying to do the right thing, it’s a deftly plotted, fast paced read. Dubious characters and shady preachers crawl out of the woodwork and Sandhill himself is seen as one of them and Ryder is warned not to involve him in the investigation. But Ryder persists and he and Sandhill are soon embroiled in double crossing cops and devious school photographers.
However this is the second Ryder and Nautilus book in which the latter is out of the action and I wondered why.
Sandhill is a flamboyant character who is determined to find Jacy alive. A real page turner and, as the old cliché goes, I couldn’t put it down. It was an all too convincing plot with a disturbing and frightening central element. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda on the abductions and that was well portrayed.
I really liked Sandhill and his gaudy outfits and hats and hope to meet him in another Ryder and Nautilus thriller.
July 16, 2017
There is no doubt given the title that Kerley will lead readers in to dark territory in the sixth Carson Ryder novel. Kerley virgins can start with this book, since it can easily be read standalone, however there are be a few nods that make reading the series in sequence worthwhile. That noted, this is the strongest of the series so far. There is a remarkably different feel to Little Girls Lost compared to the previous ones, Kerley maturing in his style, building on what works, leaving behind some of the baggage. The initial hook of this series was that Ryder, a police detective had a psychopath sibling (originally in jail) and he would bounce ideas off of him to solve crimes. The relationship was a necessary plot device, usually clunky and the narrative somewhat distracting. The wins in the series came from the banter within the department and between Carson and his partner Nautilus.
Here though it receives a decent shake up. Initially this seems to be a Carson solo adventure, however quickly a new character takes centre stage. A quirky and fascinating ex-detective Conner Sandhill. The style of narrative used for Sandhill is very similar to those mysterious Koontz characters. Sandhill talks in almost-riddles, has unusually keen senses and offers curve-balls to the story, which are entertaining and engaging. His character is a joy to read, relegating a rather plain Ryder to wallpaper.
Typical of Kerley, there are a set of contrivances and coincidences that are somewhat unlikely, however the sheer fun presented makes up for them, in a Patterson like fashion. Definitely worth reading.
Here though it receives a decent shake up. Initially this seems to be a Carson solo adventure, however quickly a new character takes centre stage. A quirky and fascinating ex-detective Conner Sandhill. The style of narrative used for Sandhill is very similar to those mysterious Koontz characters. Sandhill talks in almost-riddles, has unusually keen senses and offers curve-balls to the story, which are entertaining and engaging. His character is a joy to read, relegating a rather plain Ryder to wallpaper.
Typical of Kerley, there are a set of contrivances and coincidences that are somewhat unlikely, however the sheer fun presented makes up for them, in a Patterson like fashion. Definitely worth reading.
May 5, 2013
There are a bunch of books sitting around at work for anyone to help themselves too and I picked this up last week. I've never heard of the writer or series (in fact, I didn't even realise it was a series until part way through). It doesn't really matter.
I'm a fan of police thriller/procedural type books but this really just screams generic and cliché the whole way through. I couldn't actually figure out who the main character was supposed to be as Ryder is frequently knocked to the sidelines by other more interesting characters. The plot is simple, the twists pointless and there was a distinct lack of interest in any of the characters.
Cranky boss who hates him, playing against the rules, weird baddies with random sexual deviances. It's all been done before and better. It's not terrible and you can read the entire thing in an afternoon but there are better cop based series out there. The early Alex Cross books for a start. Won't be reading any more of these (and possibly more telling - I'll be taking it back into work rather than finding a space for it on my shelves).
I'm a fan of police thriller/procedural type books but this really just screams generic and cliché the whole way through. I couldn't actually figure out who the main character was supposed to be as Ryder is frequently knocked to the sidelines by other more interesting characters. The plot is simple, the twists pointless and there was a distinct lack of interest in any of the characters.
Cranky boss who hates him, playing against the rules, weird baddies with random sexual deviances. It's all been done before and better. It's not terrible and you can read the entire thing in an afternoon but there are better cop based series out there. The early Alex Cross books for a start. Won't be reading any more of these (and possibly more telling - I'll be taking it back into work rather than finding a space for it on my shelves).
May 29, 2012
The sixth Carson Ryder book and Kerley decides to mess with the established formula to freshen things up. Carson's partner, Harry Nautilus, sits on the sidelines for most of this book after a mugging. When the police are getting nowhere in the cases of abducted young, black girls, the mayor insists that a disgraced ex-cop is brought onto the case as a fresh pair of eyes. With internal police politics and old enmities dogging their every step, Ryder and Sandhill battle to save the girls before they disappear for good.
One of the devices in this book, kidnapping to order and moving the victims on, reminded me of a similar premise in a much superior book, The Straw Men. This unfavourable comparison and the replacement of Nautilus probably meant that I didn't enjoy this book as much as others in the series. Also I much prefer the stories when the partners are hunting a serial killer rather than the two bit criminals in this book.
One of the devices in this book, kidnapping to order and moving the victims on, reminded me of a similar premise in a much superior book, The Straw Men. This unfavourable comparison and the replacement of Nautilus probably meant that I didn't enjoy this book as much as others in the series. Also I much prefer the stories when the partners are hunting a serial killer rather than the two bit criminals in this book.
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