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Dr Sian Love Mystery #2
Wish You Were Here
DNA expert Dr Sian Love has settled into running her own investigative agency and living with her partner, Kris. She's also started seeing a therapist to work through her traumatic past - a big step for Sian. Her life threatens to descend into chaos again when a teenage girl shows up at her office claiming to be Courtney Johnson - a child who went missing from a Brighton beach over 15 years ago - but refusing to let Sian test her DNA. Wary but intrigued, Sian reluctantly revives the undercover skills she learned during her days as a police officer and begins investigating. But revisiting the past has consequences...
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Published August 1, 2023
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About the author
Nicola Monaghan
32 books59 followersNicola Monaghan won a Betty Trask Award, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award and the Waverton Good Read for her first novel, The Killing Jar. Her latest book is The Troll: The Boy with the Sliver of Ice in his Heart and is the first in a trilogy. She also wrote The Night Lingers and other stories, Starfishing and The Okinawa Dragon and has been published widely in newspapers, magazines and anthologies. She writes for screen too and is working on her first feature. She teaches Creative Writing at De Montfort University, as well as online at Udemy.com
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 14, 2023
4+
Dr Sian Love #2 which can easily be read as a standalone but #1 “Dead Flowers” is excellent.
DNA doesn’t lie, but people do. Sian runs a DNA agency “to find out who you really are“. Most of her work is straight forward until Ana Renaux walks into her office. Fifteen years ago, three-year-old Courtney Johnson disappears from Brighton beach and has never been found, Ana says she is Courtney. So, why does she refuse to allow Sian to test her DNA? Sian is intrigued but also wary and determined to be cautious, so she decides to utilise her undercover skills in order to get to the truth.
It’s so good to be back in “Nottinum” (Nottingham) the town of my birth with Sian in this very thoughtful, thought provoking slow burner of a mystery. The case is weird from the start, it becomes more complicated by the week and is a gripping read. You’re full of puzzled questions from the get go, not least why won’t Ana give up her DNA?? That’s only the tip of the iceberg as the mystery deepens, revealing secrets and lies that go back years. So much seems to be a coincidence and I like how the author returns to this theme throughout. Coincidence or random? One thing is for sure, it’s frustrating as just as soon as Sian uncovers another piece of evidence it seems to be the wrong shape to fit the jigsaw puzzle she’s building. The investigation starts as one thing but takes several tangential directions, involving historic cases and refers to genuine cases of missing children to give it a feel of authenticity. The author cleverly links together what appears to be disparate lines of enquiry to make a cohesive whole. It doesn’t end perfectly, it’s not neatly tied up in a bow, cos life ain’t like that!
This is definitely a multilayered story as it also takes a deep look into Sian’s own issues which is a fascinating angle, allowing us to understand her better. Her relationship with her police officer partner Kris is further developed too and I like the direction that this heads in. Both Sian and Kris are excellent characters, fitting together a bit like Yin and Yang! Let’s not forget the dog either, Elvis is a former cadaver dog and is simply brilliant. Love him!
This is not as sock you between the eyes as the first book, but it’s still darn good, more measured maybe and more real?
Finally, I really like the flashback chapter headings, which are very clever and appropriate.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Oldcastle Books for very much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Dr Sian Love #2 which can easily be read as a standalone but #1 “Dead Flowers” is excellent.
DNA doesn’t lie, but people do. Sian runs a DNA agency “to find out who you really are“. Most of her work is straight forward until Ana Renaux walks into her office. Fifteen years ago, three-year-old Courtney Johnson disappears from Brighton beach and has never been found, Ana says she is Courtney. So, why does she refuse to allow Sian to test her DNA? Sian is intrigued but also wary and determined to be cautious, so she decides to utilise her undercover skills in order to get to the truth.
It’s so good to be back in “Nottinum” (Nottingham) the town of my birth with Sian in this very thoughtful, thought provoking slow burner of a mystery. The case is weird from the start, it becomes more complicated by the week and is a gripping read. You’re full of puzzled questions from the get go, not least why won’t Ana give up her DNA?? That’s only the tip of the iceberg as the mystery deepens, revealing secrets and lies that go back years. So much seems to be a coincidence and I like how the author returns to this theme throughout. Coincidence or random? One thing is for sure, it’s frustrating as just as soon as Sian uncovers another piece of evidence it seems to be the wrong shape to fit the jigsaw puzzle she’s building. The investigation starts as one thing but takes several tangential directions, involving historic cases and refers to genuine cases of missing children to give it a feel of authenticity. The author cleverly links together what appears to be disparate lines of enquiry to make a cohesive whole. It doesn’t end perfectly, it’s not neatly tied up in a bow, cos life ain’t like that!
This is definitely a multilayered story as it also takes a deep look into Sian’s own issues which is a fascinating angle, allowing us to understand her better. Her relationship with her police officer partner Kris is further developed too and I like the direction that this heads in. Both Sian and Kris are excellent characters, fitting together a bit like Yin and Yang! Let’s not forget the dog either, Elvis is a former cadaver dog and is simply brilliant. Love him!
This is not as sock you between the eyes as the first book, but it’s still darn good, more measured maybe and more real?
Finally, I really like the flashback chapter headings, which are very clever and appropriate.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Oldcastle Books for very much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 21, 2024
Boring writing style, very slow story in which barely anything happens. Not a “thriller”, introduce new random characters towards the end of the book, making the ending anticlimactic, confusing and dull
February 9, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, hadn’t read the first book but that didn’t matter. Interesting story which kept you wondering in which direction it was heading. Kept my attention as just wanted to keep reading it, puzzling & intriguing, great read.
October 19, 2025
A good read which kept you guessing as to the outcome. Would like to read more from this author.
January 3, 2026
What an amazing plot with some very thrilling twists and turns! Just wish the last 30 ish pages weren’t so rushed and didn’t end the way it did
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2023
Nicola Monaghan, is Nottingham based and someone I know but do not be put off by any potential bias I may have, she stands very tall without my recommendation. Her debut novel The Killing Jar won the Betty Task award and is an amazing and disturbing read. She has since published novels, novellas, short stories and screen plays. Wish You Were Here is her second in the Dr Love Mystery Series. The first being the well-received Dead Flowers published in 2019.
Based in Nottingham, where Nicola also lives, Wish You Were Here is a crime mystery, with a strong female lead, Dr Sian Love, a DNA expert, and ex copper. The story centres on a child who went missing over 15 years ago and a young woman who thinks she may be the adult girl. The plot adeptly takes you through a labyrinth of clues filled with contemporary and local references, and the interweave of factual and fictional, adds authenticity, pulling you into the centre of the story. Dr Love has complexity and intelligence and as she develops, the mystery unravels. This is a multi-layered story including celebrity scandals, a German Shepherd dog called Elvis, undercover policing, the hippie and rave scene, Nottingham, London and Bexhill on Sea, with some class politics thrown in. There is tension and shock, and you will be pleased to hear that I swore loudly, on at least a couple of occasions. This is the second book in a series and the story, and characters easily stand alone. I am not a great reader of mysteries /crime fiction, yet this book reminded me why I used to pick up the odd Ruth Rendall. The story is fully engaging and has a pace and tension which is escapism at its best. The end leaves you with both resolution and curiosity for more.
Which takes me to the Nottingham link. My only criticism of this book is the proposition that Dr Love could go undercover in Nottingham when we all know that we all know each other. Someone would definitely have come up her and said ‘ay up, what are you doing here?’ When Nicola Monaghan was writing this book, she was living down the road from me which is why Dr Sian Love gets the same bus into town as I do. The first novel in this series was based in the Loggerheads, a pub that used to stand off Cliff Road in the centre of town. Wish You Were Here references the Broadway, The Old Angel, The Sumac centre amongst many other familiarities, all of which add to an additional level of pleasure for Nottingham readers and are well enough described to become real for those from out of town. Just as Nottingham and the Peacock pub hosted Resnick on our TV screens in the 1990’s, I have hope for Dr Sian Love be visioned off the page. If you are Nottingham based – it is time you got to know this excellent local writer and if you are out of town and like a good mystery with a great female lead, then this also for you.
Based in Nottingham, where Nicola also lives, Wish You Were Here is a crime mystery, with a strong female lead, Dr Sian Love, a DNA expert, and ex copper. The story centres on a child who went missing over 15 years ago and a young woman who thinks she may be the adult girl. The plot adeptly takes you through a labyrinth of clues filled with contemporary and local references, and the interweave of factual and fictional, adds authenticity, pulling you into the centre of the story. Dr Love has complexity and intelligence and as she develops, the mystery unravels. This is a multi-layered story including celebrity scandals, a German Shepherd dog called Elvis, undercover policing, the hippie and rave scene, Nottingham, London and Bexhill on Sea, with some class politics thrown in. There is tension and shock, and you will be pleased to hear that I swore loudly, on at least a couple of occasions. This is the second book in a series and the story, and characters easily stand alone. I am not a great reader of mysteries /crime fiction, yet this book reminded me why I used to pick up the odd Ruth Rendall. The story is fully engaging and has a pace and tension which is escapism at its best. The end leaves you with both resolution and curiosity for more.
Which takes me to the Nottingham link. My only criticism of this book is the proposition that Dr Love could go undercover in Nottingham when we all know that we all know each other. Someone would definitely have come up her and said ‘ay up, what are you doing here?’ When Nicola Monaghan was writing this book, she was living down the road from me which is why Dr Sian Love gets the same bus into town as I do. The first novel in this series was based in the Loggerheads, a pub that used to stand off Cliff Road in the centre of town. Wish You Were Here references the Broadway, The Old Angel, The Sumac centre amongst many other familiarities, all of which add to an additional level of pleasure for Nottingham readers and are well enough described to become real for those from out of town. Just as Nottingham and the Peacock pub hosted Resnick on our TV screens in the 1990’s, I have hope for Dr Sian Love be visioned off the page. If you are Nottingham based – it is time you got to know this excellent local writer and if you are out of town and like a good mystery with a great female lead, then this also for you.
July 3, 2023
DNA doesn't lie. But what if the truth is dangerous?
DNA expert Dr Sian Love runs her own investigative agency in Nottingham, where she lives with her partner, Kris, and their dog Elvis, a retired cadaver dog.
Not long after the novel opens Sian decides to see a therapist to work through her traumatic history, and this is clearly a big step for her. She is just coming to terms with her decision to attend therapy when a teenage girl, Ana, arrives at her office claiming to be Courtney Johnson - a child who went missing from a Brighton beach over fifteen years ago. Ana refuses to let Sian test her DNA, which instantly makes Sian’s job more difficult, nevertheless, wary but intrigued, Sian takes on her case and reluctantly revives the undercover skills she learned during her police force days as she begins her investigations.
However, revisiting the past has consequences...
Wish You Were Here is an intriguing, multi-layered crime thriller, and is the second book in Nicola Monaghan’s series about the DNA expert with a trauma in her past. I hadn’t read the first book in the series (Dead Flowers), but WYWH does work well as a stand-alone.
(Had I read the earlier title I think it would have further enhanced my appreciation of both the novel and the characters, and it has certainly inspired me to go back and read Dead Flowers now!)
Nicola Monaghan writes really well, and her novel piqued my interest. It’s not a hold-your-breath, in-your face, edge of your seat kind of crime thriller. It is more thoughtful, nuanced and fairly character-driven. It also makes references to real life crimes and disappearances, which lend it an air of authenticity and relevance.
The characters of Sian and Kris are particularly well done. They have lots of depth, and they are not perfect, which makes them seem really human and relatable. Their relationship is also nicely created, and is believable.
The plot unfolds gradually like layers of an onion being peeled away and, with each new layer, there are new clues, new ‘suspects’ and new motives, until we reach the revelation at the end.
Speaking of endings, this isn’t the type of crime novel that has every single thread tied up, and a few elements have clearly been left to be picked up and developed within subsequent titles in the series.
An enjoyable read.
DNA expert Dr Sian Love runs her own investigative agency in Nottingham, where she lives with her partner, Kris, and their dog Elvis, a retired cadaver dog.
Not long after the novel opens Sian decides to see a therapist to work through her traumatic history, and this is clearly a big step for her. She is just coming to terms with her decision to attend therapy when a teenage girl, Ana, arrives at her office claiming to be Courtney Johnson - a child who went missing from a Brighton beach over fifteen years ago. Ana refuses to let Sian test her DNA, which instantly makes Sian’s job more difficult, nevertheless, wary but intrigued, Sian takes on her case and reluctantly revives the undercover skills she learned during her police force days as she begins her investigations.
However, revisiting the past has consequences...
Wish You Were Here is an intriguing, multi-layered crime thriller, and is the second book in Nicola Monaghan’s series about the DNA expert with a trauma in her past. I hadn’t read the first book in the series (Dead Flowers), but WYWH does work well as a stand-alone.
(Had I read the earlier title I think it would have further enhanced my appreciation of both the novel and the characters, and it has certainly inspired me to go back and read Dead Flowers now!)
Nicola Monaghan writes really well, and her novel piqued my interest. It’s not a hold-your-breath, in-your face, edge of your seat kind of crime thriller. It is more thoughtful, nuanced and fairly character-driven. It also makes references to real life crimes and disappearances, which lend it an air of authenticity and relevance.
The characters of Sian and Kris are particularly well done. They have lots of depth, and they are not perfect, which makes them seem really human and relatable. Their relationship is also nicely created, and is believable.
The plot unfolds gradually like layers of an onion being peeled away and, with each new layer, there are new clues, new ‘suspects’ and new motives, until we reach the revelation at the end.
Speaking of endings, this isn’t the type of crime novel that has every single thread tied up, and a few elements have clearly been left to be picked up and developed within subsequent titles in the series.
An enjoyable read.
July 6, 2023
Briefly - Enjoyable though maybe not quite as good as the previous book.
In full
In 2019 I read the first Sian Love book and I did enjoy it so I was pleased to be able to read this second book. Sian now has her own DNA investigation business up and running. The work is fairly "ordinary" generally however the stresses she had while a police officer are gone. She is still with Kris (a police officer). The general day to day routine is interrupted when a teenage girl comes into her office saying she thinks she is actually a girl who went missing over 15 years ago. Sian isn't convinced but agrees to look into her background and try and find any evidence.
While Sian has got away from the stresses of the police she does have some mental health issues which relate to that and her early life. Book one (Dead Flowers) gave some insight into that. She is seeking treatment but possibly not as enthusiastically as Kris would like. The book follows her investigation into the missing girl/her client.
I do like Sian Love as a character as I did in the previous book. It's fair to say that other characters with the exception of Kris are pretty minor and feel that way for me. The book feels atmospheric at times and the bits of Sian's personal history that come out worked very well for me.
Overall the book felt a bit fuzzy to me I think. I really enjoyed Dead Flowers and found it built up well during the course of the book. This one feels less powerful to me. The pace is there but I can't say I felt the same tension really. I can't say that the ending really left me "satisfied". It is by no means a bad read - I enjoyed it - but not as much as the previous one. I can genuinely say I would like to read another book by the author though. 3.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
In 2019 I read the first Sian Love book and I did enjoy it so I was pleased to be able to read this second book. Sian now has her own DNA investigation business up and running. The work is fairly "ordinary" generally however the stresses she had while a police officer are gone. She is still with Kris (a police officer). The general day to day routine is interrupted when a teenage girl comes into her office saying she thinks she is actually a girl who went missing over 15 years ago. Sian isn't convinced but agrees to look into her background and try and find any evidence.
While Sian has got away from the stresses of the police she does have some mental health issues which relate to that and her early life. Book one (Dead Flowers) gave some insight into that. She is seeking treatment but possibly not as enthusiastically as Kris would like. The book follows her investigation into the missing girl/her client.
I do like Sian Love as a character as I did in the previous book. It's fair to say that other characters with the exception of Kris are pretty minor and feel that way for me. The book feels atmospheric at times and the bits of Sian's personal history that come out worked very well for me.
Overall the book felt a bit fuzzy to me I think. I really enjoyed Dead Flowers and found it built up well during the course of the book. This one feels less powerful to me. The pace is there but I can't say I felt the same tension really. I can't say that the ending really left me "satisfied". It is by no means a bad read - I enjoyed it - but not as much as the previous one. I can genuinely say I would like to read another book by the author though. 3.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
July 6, 2023
This is the second book in a series about Dr Sian Love, an ex police officer and DNA expert who has set up her own investigation agency.
I haven’t read the first book, “Dead Flowers”, and don’t feel you need to.
The book explores the main characters, Sian and her boyfriend Kris, who is a police officer but wants to join Sian to work at the agency full time. It focuses on two investigations that Sian is undertaking that happen to be intertwined.
Unfortunately, I found the book a little boring, it didn’t have me gripped to the pages. Some aspects were a bit too unbelievable, the one client, Ana, sabotages her own case by blowing Sian’s undercover alias, in which case, I’m sure that Sian would’ve just ended the investigation and collected her fee, but I guess that wouldn’t make good reading.
This book will be published on 27.07.23.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Oldcastle Books for the ARC.
I haven’t read the first book, “Dead Flowers”, and don’t feel you need to.
The book explores the main characters, Sian and her boyfriend Kris, who is a police officer but wants to join Sian to work at the agency full time. It focuses on two investigations that Sian is undertaking that happen to be intertwined.
Unfortunately, I found the book a little boring, it didn’t have me gripped to the pages. Some aspects were a bit too unbelievable, the one client, Ana, sabotages her own case by blowing Sian’s undercover alias, in which case, I’m sure that Sian would’ve just ended the investigation and collected her fee, but I guess that wouldn’t make good reading.
This book will be published on 27.07.23.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Oldcastle Books for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2023
Monaghan has a really enjoyable writing style that evokes the surroundings and events so well; I breezed through the pages! Trust issues, lies and secrets come to the fore in this thrilling, well-paced read.
Sian’s a character I warmed to as we follow her investigations and personal struggles combating her past trauma. She’s a complex character and as the layers unravel we gain a better understanding and deeper connection to who she is. Kris is a great support and I liked seeing them come together as a team as Sian brings down her walls.
When a new client turns up wanting Sian to look into a cold case she can’t imagine the danger that she would become embroiled in. When DNA can’t be used to get the answers sought she must go undercover digging up information that some powerful people would rather be left in the past.
Sian’s pushed to her limits, nothing adds up, and the case takes a sinister turn. The suspense kept me absorbed in the brilliant storyline and I had no idea what the outcome would be!
If you are looking for an intriguing crime thriller then look no further. It’s a terrifically tense, multifaceted mystery that keeps you guessing.
Perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories and British crime dramas The Bay and Unforgotten.
With thanks to @VERVE_Books and @nicolanovelist for my gifted copy and place on the Tour.
Sian’s a character I warmed to as we follow her investigations and personal struggles combating her past trauma. She’s a complex character and as the layers unravel we gain a better understanding and deeper connection to who she is. Kris is a great support and I liked seeing them come together as a team as Sian brings down her walls.
When a new client turns up wanting Sian to look into a cold case she can’t imagine the danger that she would become embroiled in. When DNA can’t be used to get the answers sought she must go undercover digging up information that some powerful people would rather be left in the past.
Sian’s pushed to her limits, nothing adds up, and the case takes a sinister turn. The suspense kept me absorbed in the brilliant storyline and I had no idea what the outcome would be!
If you are looking for an intriguing crime thriller then look no further. It’s a terrifically tense, multifaceted mystery that keeps you guessing.
Perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories and British crime dramas The Bay and Unforgotten.
With thanks to @VERVE_Books and @nicolanovelist for my gifted copy and place on the Tour.
October 10, 2023
I hadn't read the first book in the Sian Love series but this worked tremendously as a standalone for me.
I loved the book' s concept and Sian's character being a DNA expert. This is a subject intrigues me and the storyline didn't disappoint.
My interest was piqued dronthr first few pages and I found the plot to be believable. The references to real life events and crime kept the storine current and relevant throughout.
Such an enjoyable read, which I would have read quicker if life events didn't keep getting in the way of my reading time!
I loved the book' s concept and Sian's character being a DNA expert. This is a subject intrigues me and the storyline didn't disappoint.
My interest was piqued dronthr first few pages and I found the plot to be believable. The references to real life events and crime kept the storine current and relevant throughout.
Such an enjoyable read, which I would have read quicker if life events didn't keep getting in the way of my reading time!
September 3, 2025
I picked this up in February, got 3 chapters in, fell sick, and forgot about reading. Finally picked it back up this month and blitzed it in 2 days 😂 it was that good!
I love crime fiction.
A lot of twists and turns and how it was all connected was quite surprising. I really came to love, (no pun) Sian.
Also, I liked how current it felt. There are mentions of Brexit, Megxit, the McCann’s - so it felt realistic enough that I was drawn in quite quickly to the ‘real’ feel of the characters and story.
A good ending that answered all the questions I had!
I love crime fiction.
A lot of twists and turns and how it was all connected was quite surprising. I really came to love, (no pun) Sian.
Also, I liked how current it felt. There are mentions of Brexit, Megxit, the McCann’s - so it felt realistic enough that I was drawn in quite quickly to the ‘real’ feel of the characters and story.
A good ending that answered all the questions I had!
July 30, 2023
Flipping Amazing! Sian Love is now one of my favourite characters, I haven’t read the first book, but this can be read as a stand-alone.
I really enjoyed following Love on her cases and seeing how they unravelled and were linked together.
She is one determined lady 😂, the author really makes you feel the characters emotions, the armlock scene was so unsettling.
I’m excited to see more of Sian and Kris’ working relationship and the future cases they have!
I really enjoyed following Love on her cases and seeing how they unravelled and were linked together.
She is one determined lady 😂, the author really makes you feel the characters emotions, the armlock scene was so unsettling.
I’m excited to see more of Sian and Kris’ working relationship and the future cases they have!
May 9, 2024
Not a thriller. Slow story. Ending included people/situation not before mentioned in the story. I kept reading the book in hopes that it would get better. Although it did get a bit more interesting, it was still a disappointing read.
September 30, 2025
liked the start. middle abit slow. think the end seemed like it didn't really tie up all the loose ends. I think if the ending was explained abit more throughout the middle of the book it might of been a better read.
July 18, 2023
3.5 review to follow
July 30, 2023
⭐️ 5/5
It’s 2022 in Nottingham and 50 year old Sian gets an interesting case. How far will she go to find out the truth?
I loved reading this, I was intrigued and I believed the plot. The writing flowed really well. At 285 pages, it was a perfect length! Time moved at a good pace and I read it in 2 days! The ‘then’ chapters worked really well.
It was very topical, set in present day, briefly mentioning the war in Ukraine, nurses pay dispute, pandemic. The themes were also very topical, which I won’t share incase I spoil it for you!
I thought the mental health aspect was written really well!
I can’t wait to read the first book in this series, I have already bought it!
It’s 2022 in Nottingham and 50 year old Sian gets an interesting case. How far will she go to find out the truth?
I loved reading this, I was intrigued and I believed the plot. The writing flowed really well. At 285 pages, it was a perfect length! Time moved at a good pace and I read it in 2 days! The ‘then’ chapters worked really well.
It was very topical, set in present day, briefly mentioning the war in Ukraine, nurses pay dispute, pandemic. The themes were also very topical, which I won’t share incase I spoil it for you!
I thought the mental health aspect was written really well!
I can’t wait to read the first book in this series, I have already bought it!
Read
July 27, 2023A twisty thriller based on past secrets
January 1, 2024
It was an easy read but I still have questions?…
January 9, 2024
I liked this book somewhat but thought it could be confusing at times… not sure I liked how it ended
April 9, 2024
A really interesting book! The characters are built so well and Sian is extremely relatable!
July 8, 2024
DNF, soooo bad can’t get one chapter in.
July 10, 2024
Loved it! Absolutely brilliant! Hope there will be another soon
Read
August 26, 2024DNF
February 12, 2025
Good read, good twist
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews