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Detective Karen Hart #8
Before the Dawn
Only one person can help crack this case―but he’s also the prime suspect. DC Sophie Jones was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Viciously bludgeoned one night in a dark alley, she is left fighting for her life in hospital, leaving no clues as to why she was there or what might have motivated the attack.
For Detective Karen Hart, fiercely protective of her young protégée, this is already deeply an attack on Sophie is an attack on the whole team. When a car workshop near the crime scene is linked to local mobster Quentin Chapman, the man Hart has spent years trying to bring down, it’s hard not to jump to the most obvious conclusion.
But Chapman not only denies any knowledge of the incident―he asks for Karen’s help. Someone is killing his associates, and he fears he might be next. With little else to go on, Hart has no choice but to rely on her sworn enemy and his underworld connections for valuable information. Can she trust Chapman to tell her the truth―or will this shady collaboration be the last case of her career?
For Detective Karen Hart, fiercely protective of her young protégée, this is already deeply an attack on Sophie is an attack on the whole team. When a car workshop near the crime scene is linked to local mobster Quentin Chapman, the man Hart has spent years trying to bring down, it’s hard not to jump to the most obvious conclusion.
But Chapman not only denies any knowledge of the incident―he asks for Karen’s help. Someone is killing his associates, and he fears he might be next. With little else to go on, Hart has no choice but to rely on her sworn enemy and his underworld connections for valuable information. Can she trust Chapman to tell her the truth―or will this shady collaboration be the last case of her career?
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2024
1389 people are currently reading
3353 people want to read
About the author
D.S. Butler
35 books895 followersAuthor of the Karen Hart series. Ex-biochemist turned crime-writer. Huge Queen fan. Loves to read crime fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
April 30, 2024
#8 in the Detective Karen Hart series is my very favorite, so far! It made me so sad that DC Sophie Jones was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she was viciously bludgeoned one night in a dark alley. She was left fighting for her life in hospital, leaving no clues as to why she was there or what might have motivated the attack. I absolutely love her!!
As anyone who follows my reviews knows, it drives me batty when the men rub their chins! I've never seen a man do that when he's thinking but it happened more than a few times in this book. We also had foreheads and backs of necks being rubbed, as well as characters running their hands through their hair. None of it happened nearly as often as the book I complained about, but it still made me laugh!!
Anyway, I can't wait to read #9!! This is a fab series!
Many thanks to both #Thomas&Mercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Before the Dawn. #Whodunit
As anyone who follows my reviews knows, it drives me batty when the men rub their chins! I've never seen a man do that when he's thinking but it happened more than a few times in this book. We also had foreheads and backs of necks being rubbed, as well as characters running their hands through their hair. None of it happened nearly as often as the book I complained about, but it still made me laugh!!
Anyway, I can't wait to read #9!! This is a fab series!
Many thanks to both #Thomas&Mercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Before the Dawn. #Whodunit
September 16, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
Having read and liked quite a few books by this author, I was disappointed in this read.
DC Sophie Jones is hospitalized after a brutal attack. Detective Karen Hart and the team are horrified and determined to find the attacker.
Unfortunately I found the story bland and like so many others in this genre ... it felt so familiar.
Having read and liked quite a few books by this author, I was disappointed in this read.
DC Sophie Jones is hospitalized after a brutal attack. Detective Karen Hart and the team are horrified and determined to find the attacker.
Unfortunately I found the story bland and like so many others in this genre ... it felt so familiar.
September 23, 2024
Loved loved loved
Review soon
Review soon
April 3, 2024
I think I like this series so much because it’s set in Lincolnshire and I know the places talked about so well
September 19, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
When one of their own is attacked and hospitalised, detective Karen Hart and her team investigate. Who would want to hurt Sophie and what was she doing in th location she was found? Investigations lead to a garage and known criminals.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns. I did have my suspicions as to who did it and was proven correct. This didn’t put my off though, as I enjoyed reading how Karen and the team also came to those conclusions.
A great series and well worth a read. Great as a stand-alone book too.
When one of their own is attacked and hospitalised, detective Karen Hart and her team investigate. Who would want to hurt Sophie and what was she doing in th location she was found? Investigations lead to a garage and known criminals.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns. I did have my suspicions as to who did it and was proven correct. This didn’t put my off though, as I enjoyed reading how Karen and the team also came to those conclusions.
A great series and well worth a read. Great as a stand-alone book too.
August 7, 2025
Mmmm, Rebus had Big Ger, Karen hart has Quentin Chapman. More provincial but the similarities are some what worrying…. Good book though, enjoyed.
August 20, 2024
This is the eighth book in D.S. Butler's Detective Karen Hart series. I have read each of the prior books in this series and this is one of my favorites. This case is personal to DS Karen Hart and the rest of the team since one of their colleagues has been attacked. I really like how everyone works together to find out what happened to DC Sophie Jones.
It looks like the crime could be tied to local mobster Quentin Chapman, who played a large role in the prior book, but Chapman strongly denies it. (This book still works fine as a standalone.) Other crimes may be tied to the attack and other suspects come up, making this a complex investigation. Karen isn't sure who she can trust, but she is determined to find the person behind the vicious attack on Sophie. Part of the book is dedicated to Karen's personal life, and it helps the reader get to know Karen without detracting from the case. I recommend this book, which I would rate 4.5 stars, and this entire series.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
It looks like the crime could be tied to local mobster Quentin Chapman, who played a large role in the prior book, but Chapman strongly denies it. (This book still works fine as a standalone.) Other crimes may be tied to the attack and other suspects come up, making this a complex investigation. Karen isn't sure who she can trust, but she is determined to find the person behind the vicious attack on Sophie. Part of the book is dedicated to Karen's personal life, and it helps the reader get to know Karen without detracting from the case. I recommend this book, which I would rate 4.5 stars, and this entire series.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
November 19, 2023
This time DI Karen Hart and her team have a personal interest when one of their own is attacked. Without any indication of what DC Jones was investigating, the team must consider many angles, from drugs to sex trafficking. Throw in a small gangland war and a surprise birthday party for Karen's beau and you have a diverting thriller.
March 11, 2024
Before the Dawn by D.S. Butler is the 8th in the Detective Karen Hart series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DS Karen Hart lost her husband Josh and her daughter Tilly in a car accident. She later discovered it wasn't an accident, but it was covered up by some corrupt police officials. She currently works with DI Scott Morgan, DC Sophie Jones, and DC Rick Cooper. Their boss is DCI Churchill. She has recently started dating Mike.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
DC Sophie Jones has made a bad decision by trying to please her boss, DS Karen Hart. She decides to follow a lead on her own, without letting anyone on her team know what she's doing. She is viciously attacked and left for dead.
Now she's in a coma, and Karen is devastated. They are trying to figure out who assaulted Sophie, and why. But they have very little to go on without Sophie's input. The team concentrate on the car repair shop near where Sophie's body was found, and they link it to Quentin Chapman, the local mobster that Karen has been trying to take down. But Chapman denies having any knowledge of the attack, and he actually requests Karen's help to find out who is targeting his employees. He fears for his own life.
Karen's emotions and thoughts are all over the place. She can't believe she is even thinking of helping Chapman. She is feeling hurt that Sophie had not come to her for help, and dismayed to think that Sophie was doing this just to earn Karen's praise. She is also starting to wonder about her own judgement.
My Opinions:
Another fast and entertaining read by this talented author.
It was interesting to see how the team reacted when one of their own was attacked. They truly are a family and their interactions work well. I also liked that Karens' thoughts were all over the place, and that she doubted her own perceptions. It felt very real.
The plot was quite good, and although I had an idea of the actual perpetrator fairly early, the journey was interesting.
Anyway, this was a great addition to the series, and I'm already looking forward to the next!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
January 24, 2024
Before the Dawn is the eighth book in the Detective Karen Hart series. I started this series with book 6 and have enjoyed each one.
DC Sophie Jones arrives to meet someone with information on a case she is looking into. But someone sneaks up behind her and hits her in the back of the head. She falls to the ground and is left for dead. Karen hears the news, and it becomes all hands-on deck to find the person responsible.
There are a lot of suspects that could be responsible for what happened to Sophie. Even Karen's co-worker Haringer becomes a person of interest. It will take all of Karen's team to work to solve the case.
Detective Karen Hart is looking at local mobster Quentin Chapman, who she has spent years trying to bring down, but he tells her that he thinks someone is trying to kill him. Doubtful that he is telling her the truth, she is placed in danger while in his presence. Can the two cases be linked together?
Exciting and riveting, this is a real page turner. The action heats up right away and escalates throughout. This is a wonderful continuation in the series. The characters are well written and fully developed. Looking forward to many more in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
DC Sophie Jones arrives to meet someone with information on a case she is looking into. But someone sneaks up behind her and hits her in the back of the head. She falls to the ground and is left for dead. Karen hears the news, and it becomes all hands-on deck to find the person responsible.
There are a lot of suspects that could be responsible for what happened to Sophie. Even Karen's co-worker Haringer becomes a person of interest. It will take all of Karen's team to work to solve the case.
Detective Karen Hart is looking at local mobster Quentin Chapman, who she has spent years trying to bring down, but he tells her that he thinks someone is trying to kill him. Doubtful that he is telling her the truth, she is placed in danger while in his presence. Can the two cases be linked together?
Exciting and riveting, this is a real page turner. The action heats up right away and escalates throughout. This is a wonderful continuation in the series. The characters are well written and fully developed. Looking forward to many more in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
January 27, 2024
I really love this series and this instalment really tugs at the heart strings. This team are used to finding the worst criminals and in this book they have an added incentive-the victim is one of their own. You could feel the desperation in the team to find the killer and felt their emotions, but they never give up. As the team investigates the case takes turn and after turn and really keeps the reader engaged. I didn’t spot the “culprit” at first, but as the story evolves I had my hunch and I stuck to it. The author did a great job keeping the reader guessing but I did guess right. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
April 30, 2024
I love reading a series and this is number 8 in the Detective Karen Hart collection. It was another cracking read and the attack on one of their own throws up so many questions for the team to wade through.
I like that it is set in Lincolnshire as I can relate to the places mentioned and makes it even more enjoyable.
It is an engaging read with plenty happening to keep you guessing. The characters are well written and likeable.
If you enjoy a book with a good storyline then this is a must read.
Happy Reading
I like that it is set in Lincolnshire as I can relate to the places mentioned and makes it even more enjoyable.
It is an engaging read with plenty happening to keep you guessing. The characters are well written and likeable.
If you enjoy a book with a good storyline then this is a must read.
Happy Reading
February 4, 2024
Another good read.
Really enjoyed reading book 8. The story was once again well written and had me hooked right from the start.
Plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommend the whole series of books 📚
Already ordered book number 9. Due out in September.
Really enjoyed reading book 8. The story was once again well written and had me hooked right from the start.
Plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommend the whole series of books 📚
Already ordered book number 9. Due out in September.
August 6, 2025
This was probably my favourite so far of these books, felt it was the most fast paced of them all, lots of twists and turns I didn't expect! So gald the outcome was what I wanted or I'd have been fuming and given 1* 🤣
February 7, 2024
Another solid addition to the DS Hart series, but an almost tragic storyline.
Easy to read detective book with a good storyline
Easy to read detective book with a good storyline
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2024
It was canny enough.
October 24, 2023
To begin, I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer for sending me an ARC of this book, and to NetGalley for facilitating. And a huge thank you to D. S. Butler!
No spoilers as usual in this review.
This book is part of the Karen Hart series - so if you haven’t read the other books, I would do that first (you won’t regret it). It works as a standalone but to really FEEL the book in all its glory, you should read the other books.
This was such a traumatic read for me. Over the course of the series I’ve gotten to know the characters very well and they feel almost real. So Sophie being attacked was a bitter pill to start with and the whole book has a lingering feeling of anxiety while we (as the reader), and they (the other characters) are awaiting further updates on her condition.
Outside of that anxiety is a solid detective story that we’ve come to expect from D. S. Butler. It was exciting, fast paced, complex in its layers. I was so happy with this book.
The character development, when taken from the beginning of the series, has been really satisfying. And the growth seen in this book has really been key to that, for me. Seeing Karen meet Mikes parents for example - reflecting on who Karen was and where she was in the first of the series, it was such a big step.
The arc of Chapman was done beautifully. Rather than pure hatred for the man, I actually found myself warming to him, which meant I could understand entirely how conflicted Karen Hart must have been feeling also.
And the key question for me when finishing any detective novel is: did I guess who the culprit was? Because of how many in this genre I have read, the answer is usually yes. But I’m happy to report that with the exception of a 2 minute moment somewhere in the book (which I discounted as there were others far more likely in my mind), no, I did not know in advance of the big reveal. It did come as a surprise to me but actually all fit into place perfectly.
All in all, this was another excellent book by D. S. Butler and I will definitely recommend the series to other readers.
No spoilers as usual in this review.
This book is part of the Karen Hart series - so if you haven’t read the other books, I would do that first (you won’t regret it). It works as a standalone but to really FEEL the book in all its glory, you should read the other books.
This was such a traumatic read for me. Over the course of the series I’ve gotten to know the characters very well and they feel almost real. So Sophie being attacked was a bitter pill to start with and the whole book has a lingering feeling of anxiety while we (as the reader), and they (the other characters) are awaiting further updates on her condition.
Outside of that anxiety is a solid detective story that we’ve come to expect from D. S. Butler. It was exciting, fast paced, complex in its layers. I was so happy with this book.
The character development, when taken from the beginning of the series, has been really satisfying. And the growth seen in this book has really been key to that, for me. Seeing Karen meet Mikes parents for example - reflecting on who Karen was and where she was in the first of the series, it was such a big step.
The arc of Chapman was done beautifully. Rather than pure hatred for the man, I actually found myself warming to him, which meant I could understand entirely how conflicted Karen Hart must have been feeling also.
And the key question for me when finishing any detective novel is: did I guess who the culprit was? Because of how many in this genre I have read, the answer is usually yes. But I’m happy to report that with the exception of a 2 minute moment somewhere in the book (which I discounted as there were others far more likely in my mind), no, I did not know in advance of the big reveal. It did come as a surprise to me but actually all fit into place perfectly.
All in all, this was another excellent book by D. S. Butler and I will definitely recommend the series to other readers.
October 13, 2023
Karen Hart is becoming must read for me!
Karen is back with another mystery that hits close to home. Karen's colleague is brutally attacked in a deserted area which causes more questions than answers.
What was Sophie doing in that location alone, and who had something against her? Karen feels an obligation to solve this crime as it was a colleague and she knows that Sophie looked up to her.
I was torn on this one. It was great to come back and see Karen in more of a supervisory role and the whole side story with her and the local gangster is interesting. Sophie's motives and actions are very questionable, and it leaves the reader wondering if she is really fit for police work.
There are several things thrown at you, and it is a little frustrating for Karen to keep reminding herself that things are not always what they seem, but then not using that at times when it was critical. It is very obvious early on who the attacker is, but we are given so many red herrings that if you are not careful, you might blink and miss it. What starts out as an attack on police officer, bleeds over into something far wider reaching and more sinister.
On a personal note, it is good to see Karen moving forward after all the tragedy in her life. I feel the supporting characters were not given enough to do, and it does leave you wondering where things stand for at least one person....their actions are never fully explained and they may be in another story.
All in all, the action and "clue gathering" is interesting and holds your attention. I would recommend this book and look forward to the next one in the series, which may answer some of the questions.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review by Net Galley and the publisher.
Karen is back with another mystery that hits close to home. Karen's colleague is brutally attacked in a deserted area which causes more questions than answers.
What was Sophie doing in that location alone, and who had something against her? Karen feels an obligation to solve this crime as it was a colleague and she knows that Sophie looked up to her.
I was torn on this one. It was great to come back and see Karen in more of a supervisory role and the whole side story with her and the local gangster is interesting. Sophie's motives and actions are very questionable, and it leaves the reader wondering if she is really fit for police work.
There are several things thrown at you, and it is a little frustrating for Karen to keep reminding herself that things are not always what they seem, but then not using that at times when it was critical. It is very obvious early on who the attacker is, but we are given so many red herrings that if you are not careful, you might blink and miss it. What starts out as an attack on police officer, bleeds over into something far wider reaching and more sinister.
On a personal note, it is good to see Karen moving forward after all the tragedy in her life. I feel the supporting characters were not given enough to do, and it does leave you wondering where things stand for at least one person....their actions are never fully explained and they may be in another story.
All in all, the action and "clue gathering" is interesting and holds your attention. I would recommend this book and look forward to the next one in the series, which may answer some of the questions.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review by Net Galley and the publisher.
February 28, 2024
Books 5 and 6 were a bit slower, but I’m really happy to not have given up on it as books 7 and now 8 are right at the top of my favourites of the series.
I gasped at the beginning, Sophie is one of my favourite characters and it blew me away that this book opened so high!
It’s packed full with plot twists and turns, a real rollercoaster that kept me on my toes throughout.
Now more than ever before (and I’ve been following the series for a few years now) I can’t wait for the next chapter of the series
I gasped at the beginning, Sophie is one of my favourite characters and it blew me away that this book opened so high!
It’s packed full with plot twists and turns, a real rollercoaster that kept me on my toes throughout.
Now more than ever before (and I’ve been following the series for a few years now) I can’t wait for the next chapter of the series
March 18, 2025
When one of their own is attacked, the team close ranks. Working constantly from the get go, looking for anything and everything that could lead them to the person responsible.
This was the best of the series so far. It had all the feels. Between Chapman , to Churchill , to Karen meeting Mike's mother it was perfect.
It was all hands on deck for this one and I loved that the narrative was more balanced for each character. The last few seem to waver between them which leaves me missing them. I mean Sophie didn't exactly appear throughout but her quirks were discussed so it was something. I loved getting to see more of the team interacting with each other and spending time together outside of work as well.
In addition to getting to see more of the team working together, the investigation itself was tautly woven and had me deeply invested. I was right there with the feelings as the team found leads that seemed hopeful and the crushing disappointment of them being dead ends. I wanted to know who hurt Sophie and what exactly it was she was investigating and as it unravelled it was very satisfying to find those answers.
I still think the depth of the relationship between Karen and Chapman was overstated. The obsession was weird. For both of them. This remark in particular had me confused; So I didn't get it. At all. Unless I missed a massive chunk of the book. But I like Chapman from what I've seen and was ace. Oh, I also didn't get why the goons were following Mike in this one? There seemed to be no real explanation for that. I thought they were going to be there when she showed up to chat but they were just gone and it was never mentioned again...
I had no idea who was responsible for hurting Sophie. It was a pretty good twist and one I hadn't seen coming. But it made sense and tied up all the loose ends. I didn't like how Harinder came under suspicion though. Like yeah, I get it, it's always the spouse but like he's one of them? I get that the questions had to be asked but the continued interrogation - that was rough. He had an alibi. Let it go. And why the hell didn't he
This was a well paced, cleverly plotted procedural with lots of team feels. It's higher than 4 stars, but doesn't quite reach 4.5 stars. So 4.30 stars, rounded to 4 stars.
This was the best of the series so far. It had all the feels. Between Chapman , to Churchill , to Karen meeting Mike's mother it was perfect.
It was all hands on deck for this one and I loved that the narrative was more balanced for each character. The last few seem to waver between them which leaves me missing them. I mean Sophie didn't exactly appear throughout but her quirks were discussed so it was something. I loved getting to see more of the team interacting with each other and spending time together outside of work as well.
In addition to getting to see more of the team working together, the investigation itself was tautly woven and had me deeply invested. I was right there with the feelings as the team found leads that seemed hopeful and the crushing disappointment of them being dead ends. I wanted to know who hurt Sophie and what exactly it was she was investigating and as it unravelled it was very satisfying to find those answers.
I still think the depth of the relationship between Karen and Chapman was overstated. The obsession was weird. For both of them. This remark in particular had me confused; So I didn't get it. At all. Unless I missed a massive chunk of the book. But I like Chapman from what I've seen and was ace. Oh, I also didn't get why the goons were following Mike in this one? There seemed to be no real explanation for that. I thought they were going to be there when she showed up to chat but they were just gone and it was never mentioned again...
I had no idea who was responsible for hurting Sophie. It was a pretty good twist and one I hadn't seen coming. But it made sense and tied up all the loose ends. I didn't like how Harinder came under suspicion though. Like yeah, I get it, it's always the spouse but like he's one of them? I get that the questions had to be asked but the continued interrogation - that was rough. He had an alibi. Let it go. And why the hell didn't he
This was a well paced, cleverly plotted procedural with lots of team feels. It's higher than 4 stars, but doesn't quite reach 4.5 stars. So 4.30 stars, rounded to 4 stars.
December 3, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Before the Dawn, the eighth novel to feature DS Karen Hart of Lincolnshire Police.
DC Sophie Jones is attacked and left for dead outside a row of workshops. Karen is determined to work the case and starts interviewing the workshop employees. She is surprised that one has links to the man she is constantly investigating, local gangster Quentin Chapman. He denies any involvement and turns the tables by asking for her help as someone is killing his associates.
I thoroughly enjoyed Before the Dawn, which starts with a shocking event and continues from there with plenty of twists and tension. It is told entirely from Karen’s point of view, so the reader can share her heartache at Sophie’s injuries and live a very personal investigation with her. It also means that the reader can investigate alongside her through the twists, false starts and high emotions. I must admit that I guessed the perpetrator, if not the motive (I had a far more lurid scenario in mind), ahead of time. Not that it mattered as the final chapters are full of enough high drama and excitement to keep any reader glued to the pages.
This is an emotional read due to Sophie’s life hanging the balance, but also due to storyline that makes Karen reflect on her past. There are frayed tempers, doubts, worry and tension as the case doesn’t move forward fast enough for Sophie’s colleagues. Having said that, case might move slowly, but the novel doesn’t. Each small piece of information seems to bring a new suspect, while Karen is mentally tangoing with Quentin Chapman, trying to work out his involvement and then his angle. She thinks he is being truthful, but past experience suggests manipulation. It’s moreish.
I like Karen Hart. She has had more than her fair share of tragedy and this case adds to it, but there’s an optimism in her character that the reader warms to. She draws comfort from friends, even if she’s mistrustful of those outside her inner circle thanks to lessons learned in her past. She’s a real person, not always sure of herself, but supportive and warm.
Before the Dawn is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
DC Sophie Jones is attacked and left for dead outside a row of workshops. Karen is determined to work the case and starts interviewing the workshop employees. She is surprised that one has links to the man she is constantly investigating, local gangster Quentin Chapman. He denies any involvement and turns the tables by asking for her help as someone is killing his associates.
I thoroughly enjoyed Before the Dawn, which starts with a shocking event and continues from there with plenty of twists and tension. It is told entirely from Karen’s point of view, so the reader can share her heartache at Sophie’s injuries and live a very personal investigation with her. It also means that the reader can investigate alongside her through the twists, false starts and high emotions. I must admit that I guessed the perpetrator, if not the motive (I had a far more lurid scenario in mind), ahead of time. Not that it mattered as the final chapters are full of enough high drama and excitement to keep any reader glued to the pages.
This is an emotional read due to Sophie’s life hanging the balance, but also due to storyline that makes Karen reflect on her past. There are frayed tempers, doubts, worry and tension as the case doesn’t move forward fast enough for Sophie’s colleagues. Having said that, case might move slowly, but the novel doesn’t. Each small piece of information seems to bring a new suspect, while Karen is mentally tangoing with Quentin Chapman, trying to work out his involvement and then his angle. She thinks he is being truthful, but past experience suggests manipulation. It’s moreish.
I like Karen Hart. She has had more than her fair share of tragedy and this case adds to it, but there’s an optimism in her character that the reader warms to. She draws comfort from friends, even if she’s mistrustful of those outside her inner circle thanks to lessons learned in her past. She’s a real person, not always sure of herself, but supportive and warm.
Before the Dawn is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
December 31, 2023
Before the Dawn is book 8 in the DS Karen Hart series, having read them I believe that these shouldn't be read as standalones to enjoy them at their best you really need to know the teams past history. I have enjoyed getting to know Karen and the team, learning about their lives, the highs and lows not to mention their habits and foibles.
When a young, eager officer, DC Sophie Jones is attacked and left for dead outside a row of business units. Karen and the team go all out to catch the perpetrator then what follows is a story full of twists, turns and a few red herrings. The team feel frustrated as the case isn't moving as quickly as they'd like but because the victim (she'd hate to be called that) isn't out of the woods their need to find the attacker takes over.
I'll admit to initially believing it was the man we were meant to suspect but something about that just seemed too easy so I changed my mind. I also have to admit that what begun as suspicion and a healthy dose of dislike became a grudging respect especially after an incident later in the book. I'm always happy when I don't know who does the actual crime.
Thanks to the author D. S. Butler, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are mine and mine
When a young, eager officer, DC Sophie Jones is attacked and left for dead outside a row of business units. Karen and the team go all out to catch the perpetrator then what follows is a story full of twists, turns and a few red herrings. The team feel frustrated as the case isn't moving as quickly as they'd like but because the victim (she'd hate to be called that) isn't out of the woods their need to find the attacker takes over.
I'll admit to initially believing it was the man we were meant to suspect but something about that just seemed too easy so I changed my mind. I also have to admit that what begun as suspicion and a healthy dose of dislike became a grudging respect especially after an incident later in the book. I'm always happy when I don't know who does the actual crime.
Thanks to the author D. S. Butler, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are mine and mine
January 23, 2024
DC Sophie Jones was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Viciously bludgeoned one night in a dark alley, she is left fighting for her life in hospital, leaving no clues as to why she was there or what might have motivated the attack. For Detective Karen Hart, fiercely protective of her young protégée, this is already deeply personal: an attack on Sophie is an attack on the whole team. When a car workshop near the crime scene is linked to local mobster Quentin Chapman, the man Hart has spent years trying to bring down, it’s hard not to jump to the most obvious conclusion. But Chapman not only denies any knowledge of the incident—he asks for Karen’s help. Someone is killing his associates, and he fears he might be next.
The eighth outing for Karen & another page turner. I loved how the team worked together to solve what happened to Sophie & I was kept guessing until all was revealed – it’s always a plus when I don’t work out who the villain was. I also loved that more of Karen’s personal life was revealed. Whilst this book could easily be read on its own I love reading a series from the beginning so that I can follow relationships & learn how they grow & develop
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The eighth outing for Karen & another page turner. I loved how the team worked together to solve what happened to Sophie & I was kept guessing until all was revealed – it’s always a plus when I don’t work out who the villain was. I also loved that more of Karen’s personal life was revealed. Whilst this book could easily be read on its own I love reading a series from the beginning so that I can follow relationships & learn how they grow & develop
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
January 9, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last - I am going to start at the beginning of the
DS Karen Hart series and read the other books as I’ve enjoyed this one so much.
DC Sophie Jones was going to meet someone that she felt was going to give her some information that was invaluable to sometime was working on - the main issue about this was that Sophie hadn’t shared this meeting with anyone and nobody knew where she was going. Sophie was attacked from behind and left for dead. DS Karen Hart and the rest of the team were baffled as to who Sophie had been meeting and why!
An investigation was launched into Sophie’s attack and the team worked tirelessly to try and gain some insight into what Sophie had been doing there at that time of night alone.
DS Hart is convinced that Quentin Chapman is involved in Sophie’s attack - he is Karen’s nemesis and she would love to bring him and his empire down.
This book is really good and kept me guessing until the very end. I would definitely recommend it to others.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last - I am going to start at the beginning of the
DS Karen Hart series and read the other books as I’ve enjoyed this one so much.
DC Sophie Jones was going to meet someone that she felt was going to give her some information that was invaluable to sometime was working on - the main issue about this was that Sophie hadn’t shared this meeting with anyone and nobody knew where she was going. Sophie was attacked from behind and left for dead. DS Karen Hart and the rest of the team were baffled as to who Sophie had been meeting and why!
An investigation was launched into Sophie’s attack and the team worked tirelessly to try and gain some insight into what Sophie had been doing there at that time of night alone.
DS Hart is convinced that Quentin Chapman is involved in Sophie’s attack - he is Karen’s nemesis and she would love to bring him and his empire down.
This book is really good and kept me guessing until the very end. I would definitely recommend it to others.
September 20, 2023
I really enjoy the ‘Detective Karen Hart’ series by author DS Butler so I was really looking forward to this one. Yet again the author has given us another fast paced crime thriller that is difficult to put down. Intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and clever twists make this an excellent addition to the series. Can be read as a standalone but why miss out on all the previous books.
DC Sophie Jones is brutally attacked in a dark alley and is now fighting for her life in an hospital bed. This case is personal to Detective Karen Hart who not only fond of Sophie but acted as her mentor, taking her under her wing. As Karen Hart starts investigating she senses the involvement of mobster Quentin Chapman who quickly becomes the prime suspect. The case takes an unusual twist when Chapman not only denies any involvement but requests her help.
This is a very good crime thriller and makes an excellent read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
DC Sophie Jones is brutally attacked in a dark alley and is now fighting for her life in an hospital bed. This case is personal to Detective Karen Hart who not only fond of Sophie but acted as her mentor, taking her under her wing. As Karen Hart starts investigating she senses the involvement of mobster Quentin Chapman who quickly becomes the prime suspect. The case takes an unusual twist when Chapman not only denies any involvement but requests her help.
This is a very good crime thriller and makes an excellent read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2023
It is remarkable how the author is able to maintain this series fresh after eight volumes. In this case, Sophie is sidelined from the investigation for the simple reason that she is the victim. Karen and her team shortly zero in on Quentin Chapman, a known criminal that no one has been able to take down. But is he really involved? I really thought that I knew whodunit from the beginning and, oh, how predictable… until I realized that I was dead wrong. The author cleverly manipulated this reader’s expectations and lead me to the wrong conclusion. The final reveal was unexpected but made sense. My favorite part, however, is the chemistry amongst the members of the team, and how they all react in different ways to Sophie being hurt. I also love the evolution of Karen’s relationship with Mike. As with the previous volumes, I really enjoyed this new book in this exceptional series.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Thomas & Mercer.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Thomas & Mercer.
March 2, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read in the series and by the author. It is Book 8 in the DS Karen Hart series, however despite not reading any of the preceding books, it was easy to pick up as a standalone.
One of DS Hart’s colleagues is brutally attacked, the team frantically try to uncover the perpetrator, whilst also dealing with the shock and upset. As they start building a case, Quentin, Karen’s nemesis ends up getting embroiled.
The book is fast paced, with various red herrings and twists. I did work out the culprit, their motives however were more difficult to place, everything made sense though at the end.
I liked how amongst the crime side, the book delved into Karen’s personal life and her relationships with both her partner and the team.
This police procedural keeps the reader engaged, overall, it is a really good read. I’m looking forward to reading some of the early books in the series.
4 Stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
One of DS Hart’s colleagues is brutally attacked, the team frantically try to uncover the perpetrator, whilst also dealing with the shock and upset. As they start building a case, Quentin, Karen’s nemesis ends up getting embroiled.
The book is fast paced, with various red herrings and twists. I did work out the culprit, their motives however were more difficult to place, everything made sense though at the end.
I liked how amongst the crime side, the book delved into Karen’s personal life and her relationships with both her partner and the team.
This police procedural keeps the reader engaged, overall, it is a really good read. I’m looking forward to reading some of the early books in the series.
4 Stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2023
This is the 8th book in the series. I had not read the previous books but didn't feel lost.
I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for anyone who likes British police procedurals.
A young, inexperienced member of Detective Karen Hart's team had messed up a little previously, and was determined to prove her worth to her coworkers. She has an agreement to meet with a possible informant in a part of town that is deserted after the shops close up. Alone, and after dark. She is feeling more and more nervous when she hears a sound, and is attacked and left to die. She had told no one what she was doing so it was hours before she was found and taken to the hospital. Since Sophie was in a coma, her police group had to try to figure out what she was doing and what lead she was following.
I received an e-arc from publisher Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for anyone who likes British police procedurals.
A young, inexperienced member of Detective Karen Hart's team had messed up a little previously, and was determined to prove her worth to her coworkers. She has an agreement to meet with a possible informant in a part of town that is deserted after the shops close up. Alone, and after dark. She is feeling more and more nervous when she hears a sound, and is attacked and left to die. She had told no one what she was doing so it was hours before she was found and taken to the hospital. Since Sophie was in a coma, her police group had to try to figure out what she was doing and what lead she was following.
I received an e-arc from publisher Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
February 8, 2024
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I had not previously read any of the earlier books in the Karen Hart series, which I think put me at a disadvantage. I knew nothing of the relationships between the characters or any of their back stories. Despite this, I enjoyed this police procedural. The team seemed to be like a family in many ways, supporting each other through all kinds of difficult situations and working together to solve a complicated assault case. I thought the characters were well-developed throughout the story even though for many of them I had missed out on the early portrayals of their lives and careers. I also liked the fact that not everything was neatly tied up, that the author showed many of the internal conflicts that the police detectives faced. I definitely plan to go back to the beginning of the series to learn more about Karen Hart and her team.
I had not previously read any of the earlier books in the Karen Hart series, which I think put me at a disadvantage. I knew nothing of the relationships between the characters or any of their back stories. Despite this, I enjoyed this police procedural. The team seemed to be like a family in many ways, supporting each other through all kinds of difficult situations and working together to solve a complicated assault case. I thought the characters were well-developed throughout the story even though for many of them I had missed out on the early portrayals of their lives and careers. I also liked the fact that not everything was neatly tied up, that the author showed many of the internal conflicts that the police detectives faced. I definitely plan to go back to the beginning of the series to learn more about Karen Hart and her team.
March 14, 2024
I have enjoyed all the books I have read in this series, but unfortunately, I didn't connect with this one. Butler is an excellent writer and storyteller, but this plot didn't hold my interest. Some of the themes felt replayed in this book. We are revisiting some of the same criminals. Sofie, one of the team, always seems to be making immature decisions. She allows her ego and need for recognition to inspire her to meet an unknown informant on a dark street in a bad section of town without telling anyone. Obviously, it didn't go well for her. She should be fired for this one. The dynamics I love about Karen and the team seem to fall apart in this one. I also questioned Karen's loyalties to coworkers. I don't know how this team is going to realistically pick up and move on without some changes. Maybe a new boss and some new members on the team would add some newness. I will definitely buy the next in the series.
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