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Detective Gina Harte #14
Her Hidden Shadow
Her perfect night out just became her worst nightmare…
Lauren returns home from celebrating her engagement with friends and stumbles as she gets out of the taxi. So what if her best friend Sienna didn’t show up? Lauren had a good night anyway. As she walks towards the small house she shares with her fiancé, Robbie , she’s surprised to see every window in total darkness. And when she calls his name, the house remains silent. Where is Robbie?
Kicking off her red heels, Lauren heads towards her bedroom, feeling more nervous with every step. And when she opens the door, she immediately knows something is very wrong. The sickly metallic smell sobers her up instantly. And there is someone in her bed…
Moving closer, her heart races in her chest. Instead of her fiancé, in the bed lies the lifeless body of a young woman, and although long dark hair covers her face, Lauren can already see who it is… her best friend, Sienna.
As Lauren’s scream breaks the silence, someone stands outside the bedroom, tracking her every move. Did Lauren’s perfect little home just become the most dangerous place she could be?
Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, Her Hidden Shadow will have you hooked from the very first page.
What readers are saying about Her Hidden Shadow :
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ OMG, what an amazing book this was… Gripping from the very beginning … Be warned, when you start this book, you won’t be able to put it away until you have finished it . I give it 10 stars .’ B for Bookreview
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘So, so good… Compelling .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wonderful … Each time I say it, but this is my favourite in the series so far.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another brilliant book … Full of twists and turns .’ Goodreads reviewer
‘ Cracking, action-packed story … I really do recommend it.’ Goodreads reviewer
What readers are saying about Carla
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ OMG!!!!! … Left me shocked and speechless from the very beginning all the way up to the very end … Fantastic … Totally blew my mind .’ Blue Moon Blogger
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Heart-racing … A MUST READ!!!! … Excellent… I was completely immersed… I devoured this book in one sitting and only came up for breath after I had turned the last page… Blew me away … Heart-stopping … Loved, loved it!!!! ’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow!!!!! Loved!!!!! Shocked!!!!! Twisted!!!!! … You are in for a real treat… I couldn’t believe what I was reading… I was left speechless .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow, Carla hits another one out of the park! Crazy thrill ride that just didn’t let up . Twists and turns galore.’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I am completely hooked on this series. I read this in a single sitting, unable to put it down .’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Absolutely amazing! … Incredibly clever and gripping. I was hooked from the first page.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow! … Amazing! Totally loved every single part … I read it in one day .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fabulous book … Brilliantly addictive. I loved every page. ’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Addictive … Kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning until the end … I just love this… Brilliant .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow! What a great read!! … So many twists and turns… This book touched every possible emotion. Can’t recommend enough!’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Absolutely perfect … Fantastic … Kept me totally hooked all the way.’ Fiction Café
Lauren returns home from celebrating her engagement with friends and stumbles as she gets out of the taxi. So what if her best friend Sienna didn’t show up? Lauren had a good night anyway. As she walks towards the small house she shares with her fiancé, Robbie , she’s surprised to see every window in total darkness. And when she calls his name, the house remains silent. Where is Robbie?
Kicking off her red heels, Lauren heads towards her bedroom, feeling more nervous with every step. And when she opens the door, she immediately knows something is very wrong. The sickly metallic smell sobers her up instantly. And there is someone in her bed…
Moving closer, her heart races in her chest. Instead of her fiancé, in the bed lies the lifeless body of a young woman, and although long dark hair covers her face, Lauren can already see who it is… her best friend, Sienna.
As Lauren’s scream breaks the silence, someone stands outside the bedroom, tracking her every move. Did Lauren’s perfect little home just become the most dangerous place she could be?
Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, Her Hidden Shadow will have you hooked from the very first page.
What readers are saying about Her Hidden Shadow :
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ OMG, what an amazing book this was… Gripping from the very beginning … Be warned, when you start this book, you won’t be able to put it away until you have finished it . I give it 10 stars .’ B for Bookreview
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘So, so good… Compelling .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wonderful … Each time I say it, but this is my favourite in the series so far.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another brilliant book … Full of twists and turns .’ Goodreads reviewer
‘ Cracking, action-packed story … I really do recommend it.’ Goodreads reviewer
What readers are saying about Carla
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ OMG!!!!! … Left me shocked and speechless from the very beginning all the way up to the very end … Fantastic … Totally blew my mind .’ Blue Moon Blogger
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Heart-racing … A MUST READ!!!! … Excellent… I was completely immersed… I devoured this book in one sitting and only came up for breath after I had turned the last page… Blew me away … Heart-stopping … Loved, loved it!!!! ’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow!!!!! Loved!!!!! Shocked!!!!! Twisted!!!!! … You are in for a real treat… I couldn’t believe what I was reading… I was left speechless .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow, Carla hits another one out of the park! Crazy thrill ride that just didn’t let up . Twists and turns galore.’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I am completely hooked on this series. I read this in a single sitting, unable to put it down .’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Absolutely amazing! … Incredibly clever and gripping. I was hooked from the first page.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow! … Amazing! Totally loved every single part … I read it in one day .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fabulous book … Brilliantly addictive. I loved every page. ’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Addictive … Kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning until the end … I just love this… Brilliant .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow! What a great read!! … So many twists and turns… This book touched every possible emotion. Can’t recommend enough!’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Absolutely perfect … Fantastic … Kept me totally hooked all the way.’ Fiction Café
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2023
403 people are currently reading
1360 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kovach
33 books1,060 followersCarla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
November 15, 2025
Lauren komt thuis van haar verlovingsfeestje. Het was een fantastische avond, ondanks dat haar beste vriendin Sienna niet kwam opdagen. Maar als ze thuiskomt zijn alle lichten uit en is het doodstil. Waar is haar verloofde Robbie?
Met elke stap die Lauren richting hun slaapkamer zet, wordt ze nerveuzer. En als ze de deur opent, weet ze meteen dat er iets heel erg mis is. De misselijkmakende metaalachtige geur maakt haar meteen nuchter.
'Wat niemand weet' is het veertiende deel van de serie met Gina Harte en nog steeds hou ik er enorm van! Ook deze keer begint het verhaal al meteen spannend en hierdoor wilde ik dan ook snel verder lezen.
Deze keer gaat het om Lauren, een vrouw die thuiskomt na haar verlovingsfeestje. Ze heeft het naar haar zin gehad, maar thuis staat haar iets verschrikkelijks te wachten. Er wordt namelijk iemand dood in de slaapkamer gevonden.
Wie de dode persoon is, ga ik natuurlijk niet vertellen, maar vanaf dat moment staat de wereld van Lauren op haar kop. Waarom is deze persoon vermoord? En is Lauren zelf nog wel veilig? Het blijkt dat er bepaalde geheimen boven water komen en het is de vraag wat dit nog voor verdere gevolgen zal hebben...
Gina Harte wordt, samen met haar team, op deze zaak gezet en alleen het blijkt nu nóg heftiger te zijn dan normaal. Ook hier vertel ik niet teveel over, maar haar eigen team speelt nu ook een belangrijke rol. Natuurlijk lees je ook weer over haar privéleven en haar relatie met Briggs. Het is dus verstandig om deze serie op volgorde te lezen.
Naarmate ze verder in de zaak duiken, valt er weer een slachtoffer en alles wordt nog vreemder en ingewikkelder. Kan Gina de dader op tijd vinden, of vallen er nog meer slachtoffers?
Ook dit veertiende deel was weer enorm genieten. Ik vind de schrijfstijl van Carla zo ontzettend fijn en elk deel blijft interessant! Niet alleen de verschillende moordzaken, maar ook de terugkerende personages zijn allemaal even boeiend.
Ik kijk dan ook alvast enorm uit naar het vijftiende deel en wil @boekerij heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Met elke stap die Lauren richting hun slaapkamer zet, wordt ze nerveuzer. En als ze de deur opent, weet ze meteen dat er iets heel erg mis is. De misselijkmakende metaalachtige geur maakt haar meteen nuchter.
'Wat niemand weet' is het veertiende deel van de serie met Gina Harte en nog steeds hou ik er enorm van! Ook deze keer begint het verhaal al meteen spannend en hierdoor wilde ik dan ook snel verder lezen.
Deze keer gaat het om Lauren, een vrouw die thuiskomt na haar verlovingsfeestje. Ze heeft het naar haar zin gehad, maar thuis staat haar iets verschrikkelijks te wachten. Er wordt namelijk iemand dood in de slaapkamer gevonden.
Wie de dode persoon is, ga ik natuurlijk niet vertellen, maar vanaf dat moment staat de wereld van Lauren op haar kop. Waarom is deze persoon vermoord? En is Lauren zelf nog wel veilig? Het blijkt dat er bepaalde geheimen boven water komen en het is de vraag wat dit nog voor verdere gevolgen zal hebben...
Gina Harte wordt, samen met haar team, op deze zaak gezet en alleen het blijkt nu nóg heftiger te zijn dan normaal. Ook hier vertel ik niet teveel over, maar haar eigen team speelt nu ook een belangrijke rol. Natuurlijk lees je ook weer over haar privéleven en haar relatie met Briggs. Het is dus verstandig om deze serie op volgorde te lezen.
Naarmate ze verder in de zaak duiken, valt er weer een slachtoffer en alles wordt nog vreemder en ingewikkelder. Kan Gina de dader op tijd vinden, of vallen er nog meer slachtoffers?
Ook dit veertiende deel was weer enorm genieten. Ik vind de schrijfstijl van Carla zo ontzettend fijn en elk deel blijft interessant! Niet alleen de verschillende moordzaken, maar ook de terugkerende personages zijn allemaal even boeiend.
Ik kijk dan ook alvast enorm uit naar het vijftiende deel en wil @boekerij heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
September 11, 2023
Her Hidden Shadow is the fourteenth book in the Detective Gina Harte series. This series just keeps getting better and better. The stories are twisted and Gina is able to come thru at the very end with her team who have her back.
This one starts out with bachelorette party for Lauren. She returns home to find that her best friend is dead in her bed and Robbie, her fiancé is missing. Lauren calls the police and Gina's team responds.
Jacob is Gina's partner and has been acting odd for quite a while. After the autopsy, Jacob goes home sick. He eventually admits that he had a one-night stand with the deceased. He becomes Sullivan's suspect for all the murders and attempted murders which follow. Sullivan is Gina's former boss and zeroes in on making Gina's life miserable while trying to work the case. Gina will have her hands full as every lead is questioned by Sullivan in an attempt to get rid of Gina.
This was an amazing thrill ride. The clues kept pointing in one direction and then another until the real culprits are revealed. This is a fantastic series. Each book grabs your attention and never lets you go until the very end. I highly recommend this book as well as the whole series. You won't be disappointed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
This one starts out with bachelorette party for Lauren. She returns home to find that her best friend is dead in her bed and Robbie, her fiancé is missing. Lauren calls the police and Gina's team responds.
Jacob is Gina's partner and has been acting odd for quite a while. After the autopsy, Jacob goes home sick. He eventually admits that he had a one-night stand with the deceased. He becomes Sullivan's suspect for all the murders and attempted murders which follow. Sullivan is Gina's former boss and zeroes in on making Gina's life miserable while trying to work the case. Gina will have her hands full as every lead is questioned by Sullivan in an attempt to get rid of Gina.
This was an amazing thrill ride. The clues kept pointing in one direction and then another until the real culprits are revealed. This is a fantastic series. Each book grabs your attention and never lets you go until the very end. I highly recommend this book as well as the whole series. You won't be disappointed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
September 3, 2023
This is the 14th book in this series and it never gets dull, as each book arrives you know that is more than likely going to be better than the last.
I loved being back with Gina and the team in this case where we have another great story. Lauren stumbles home from a night out ready to join her boyfriend Robbie in bed but when she gets in it is not Robbie she is about to cuddle up to but one of her friends Sienna and she is very, very dead. This sets up the story where once again we have all sorts of lies and secrets to uncover to find out what is really going on. Soon we will have another body and the story gets even better.
While the case is going on Gina will also have her own struggles coming face to face with Sullivan an old rival from the past that is out to make her life as difficult as possible and Gina is out to prove herself and her team are up the job. She is also out to prove the innocence of one of her closet colleagues and again Gina's determination is what will shine through.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
I loved being back with Gina and the team in this case where we have another great story. Lauren stumbles home from a night out ready to join her boyfriend Robbie in bed but when she gets in it is not Robbie she is about to cuddle up to but one of her friends Sienna and she is very, very dead. This sets up the story where once again we have all sorts of lies and secrets to uncover to find out what is really going on. Soon we will have another body and the story gets even better.
While the case is going on Gina will also have her own struggles coming face to face with Sullivan an old rival from the past that is out to make her life as difficult as possible and Gina is out to prove herself and her team are up the job. She is also out to prove the innocence of one of her closet colleagues and again Gina's determination is what will shine through.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
September 2, 2023
Her Hidden Shadow by Carla Kovach is an exciting and suspenseful read. The story follows a young woman named Abbie who has been living in the shadow of her missing twin sister for years. When Abbie discovers that her sister’s disappearance might not be a coincidence, she embarks on a mission to uncover the truth.
The story is full of suspense and mystery. Carla Kovach does a great job creating tension and intrigue as Abbie uncovers secrets and lies. Abbie is a strong and determined character and the reader is drawn into her story as she struggles to find answers.
The book is well-written and well-paced. Carla Kovach does a great job of setting the scene and building suspense. The mystery unfolds in unexpected ways and the reader is kept guessing until the very end.
Overall, Her Hidden Shadow is a great read. The mystery is well-crafted and the characters are engaging. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and suspenseful read.
The story is full of suspense and mystery. Carla Kovach does a great job creating tension and intrigue as Abbie uncovers secrets and lies. Abbie is a strong and determined character and the reader is drawn into her story as she struggles to find answers.
The book is well-written and well-paced. Carla Kovach does a great job of setting the scene and building suspense. The mystery unfolds in unexpected ways and the reader is kept guessing until the very end.
Overall, Her Hidden Shadow is a great read. The mystery is well-crafted and the characters are engaging. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and suspenseful read.
September 18, 2023
DI Gina Harte is back with a bang and a case that hits close to home both personally and professionally. When she is called to the home of Lauren Cross. Who has just returned from a night out celebrating her engagement to find her best friend Sienna in her bed strangled and stabbed and her fiancee Robbie Shields missing.
And Lauren just like Gina and her team believe Robbie Shields is the killer.
But as Gina and an out of sorts Jacob start to dig. They learn there are plenty of others with motive, and when they interview a friend who was supposed to be on the night out with Lauren they make a shocking discovery.
Which leaves Gina to believe there is somebody out there strangling woman and it's not Robbie Shields.
But who?
And when the case is taken over by an old foe and a member of the team accused Gina realises she's going to have to go it alone if she's to find the real killer and save her colleague and close knit team.
And even though I had an idea early on who was involved. I still couldn't read this story fast enough. As I had to find out if I was right and I loved how it all came together. Not to mention how far out on a limb Gina went to save not only her colleague and team, but the victims too. And honestly, I think this is one of the best Gina Harte stories I've ever read and I'd happily recommend it to others.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Her Hidden Shadow. 😊
And Lauren just like Gina and her team believe Robbie Shields is the killer.
But as Gina and an out of sorts Jacob start to dig. They learn there are plenty of others with motive, and when they interview a friend who was supposed to be on the night out with Lauren they make a shocking discovery.
Which leaves Gina to believe there is somebody out there strangling woman and it's not Robbie Shields.
But who?
And when the case is taken over by an old foe and a member of the team accused Gina realises she's going to have to go it alone if she's to find the real killer and save her colleague and close knit team.
And even though I had an idea early on who was involved. I still couldn't read this story fast enough. As I had to find out if I was right and I loved how it all came together. Not to mention how far out on a limb Gina went to save not only her colleague and team, but the victims too. And honestly, I think this is one of the best Gina Harte stories I've ever read and I'd happily recommend it to others.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Her Hidden Shadow. 😊
September 22, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping book wow such a powerful storyline that keeps you gripped right to the end so many red herrings with stalking and murder abound but its harte and her team under stress when one of their own is accused of murder and as someone else comes in to take over the investigation things start to get tougher for gina... brilliant edition to a wonderful series
August 18, 2023
This is book #14 in the DI Gina Harte series. Whilst it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone book. Gina and her team are investigating the murder of a young woman, Sienna, who is found dead in her friend Lauren's house when Lauren returns home from a night out. They have very few clues to go on, but Gina finds the case comes a little closer to home than she would like.
I really like Gina's character, and have done throughout the whole series. I've enjoyed the series so far and this has to be my favourite book of the series. Whilst other books have also included Gina's home life in the story, this book is all to do with the investigation and we're back to seeing Gina do what she is best at! The storyline is gripping with lots of suspense and tension, and I was kept wondering throughout how everything would link together.
This was a fabulous read and I loved all the dead ends and red herrings which tied me up in knots trying to work it all out. I love the relationship between Gina and her team and the ending was just perfect. A great crime read which I would recommend!
I really like Gina's character, and have done throughout the whole series. I've enjoyed the series so far and this has to be my favourite book of the series. Whilst other books have also included Gina's home life in the story, this book is all to do with the investigation and we're back to seeing Gina do what she is best at! The storyline is gripping with lots of suspense and tension, and I was kept wondering throughout how everything would link together.
This was a fabulous read and I loved all the dead ends and red herrings which tied me up in knots trying to work it all out. I love the relationship between Gina and her team and the ending was just perfect. A great crime read which I would recommend!
November 17, 2023
Whilst this book is rated very highly on goodreads, it didn't quite do it for me. Not sure if it was the very heavy police procedure, the significant amount of characters to follow and parts where it felt like it dragged, it didn't quite do it for me. It was just OK.
I think the blurb on the back of the book made me more interested in it than what actually played out.
I think the blurb on the back of the book made me more interested in it than what actually played out.
August 12, 2023
Gina & gang are back in book 14. This investigation will it close to the precinct when one of their own will be accused. Two attacks on women & two murders will lead Gina on a chase. Time is against her & with a past superior making things difficult, Gina has a lot on her shoulders. Gina is nothing but persistent though. Great investigation & a little twist that I didn’t see coming. Another great installment.
September 20, 2023
Her Hidden Shadow is book 14 in the Detective Gina Harte series and this series just gets better and better! If you've never read a Carla Kovach book I highly recommend you start with this one. You can read Her Hidden Shadow as a standalone book even though it's a series as you're given the background information that you need. Her Hidden Shadow kept me on edge throughout and checking my locks periodically.
Lauren is out celebrating her engagement to Robbie with her girlfriends. They're having a fantastic night and the drinks are flowing. Robbie, Lauren's fiance', is at home as he wanted her to have fun with her friends. Robbie had already arranged for a taxi to drive them to the party and to drive Lauren and 2 of her friends home. Lauren was sad that her best friend, Sienna, hadn't been able to make it. However, she was excited that they were getting together tomorrow for a spa day.
When Lauren arrives home she's very drunk.. She's so drunk that the taxi driver had to wake her and help her out of the car. She ended up pushing him and yelling at him to get off of her, but she wasn't aware of how bad off she was. She took off her heels and stumbled towards the door. As she finally got the key in the lock, the taxi pulls away. Lauren goes in and everything is dark. No lights are on and when she calls out for Robbie there's no response. She heads upstairs to their bedroom and sees he's already in bed under the covers. She drops her dress and is so tired that she crawls into bed. As she goes to snuggle with Robbie, her hand touches something wet. She quickly pulls away, turns on the lamp, and sees that the person beside her is not Robbie! Sienna is lying in her bed with blood flowing out of her onto the sheets. Sienna is dead and she's in Lauren and Robbie's bed!
Lauren screams and calls for Robbie again, but he's not there! Where is Robbie and why is Sienna in their bed? Who is that standing and watching Lauren? Who killed Sienna and why? Lauren calls 911 and waits for the police and paramedics to arrive. A night that was supposed to be a celebration has suddenly turned into a nightmare! Is Lauren in danger? As DI Harte and her team arrive they can't figure out where Robbie could be. His car is in the driveway and that's the only car they own. The police come to the conclusion that Robbie and Sienna were having an affair and something went wrong. Robbie is now the prime suspect in Sienna's murder. Did Robbie kill Sienna? Did he really love Lauren? Where is Robbie?
As the detectives investigate this case there is someone going around strangling women with a scarf. The attacker is using things from his past crimes. Who could be doing this? Will DI Harte and her team catch him before he kills again? Some of his victims have been lucky and lived to tell, but no one can identify the attacker as he wears a ski mask. The victims are terrified that their attacker will come back. They're terrified and find it hard to leave their house. When one of DI Harte's team is implicated in the investigation he is arrested for Sienna's murder. Did he really do it? DI Harte thinks not, but the woman in charge, has no interest in what Gina thinks. She trained Gina years ago and has held a grudge against her ever since. Will Gina be able to work the investigation with Sullivan watching and questioning her every move?
The suspense builds and builds until you just can't put Her Hidden Shadow down! There are several twists along the way and you'll have a great time trying to figure out the killer! I rate Her Hidden Shadow 5 stars with my highest recommendation. The book is available now so don't wait! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Her Hidden Shadow in exchange for a fair review. #HerHiddenShadow
Lauren is out celebrating her engagement to Robbie with her girlfriends. They're having a fantastic night and the drinks are flowing. Robbie, Lauren's fiance', is at home as he wanted her to have fun with her friends. Robbie had already arranged for a taxi to drive them to the party and to drive Lauren and 2 of her friends home. Lauren was sad that her best friend, Sienna, hadn't been able to make it. However, she was excited that they were getting together tomorrow for a spa day.
When Lauren arrives home she's very drunk.. She's so drunk that the taxi driver had to wake her and help her out of the car. She ended up pushing him and yelling at him to get off of her, but she wasn't aware of how bad off she was. She took off her heels and stumbled towards the door. As she finally got the key in the lock, the taxi pulls away. Lauren goes in and everything is dark. No lights are on and when she calls out for Robbie there's no response. She heads upstairs to their bedroom and sees he's already in bed under the covers. She drops her dress and is so tired that she crawls into bed. As she goes to snuggle with Robbie, her hand touches something wet. She quickly pulls away, turns on the lamp, and sees that the person beside her is not Robbie! Sienna is lying in her bed with blood flowing out of her onto the sheets. Sienna is dead and she's in Lauren and Robbie's bed!
Lauren screams and calls for Robbie again, but he's not there! Where is Robbie and why is Sienna in their bed? Who is that standing and watching Lauren? Who killed Sienna and why? Lauren calls 911 and waits for the police and paramedics to arrive. A night that was supposed to be a celebration has suddenly turned into a nightmare! Is Lauren in danger? As DI Harte and her team arrive they can't figure out where Robbie could be. His car is in the driveway and that's the only car they own. The police come to the conclusion that Robbie and Sienna were having an affair and something went wrong. Robbie is now the prime suspect in Sienna's murder. Did Robbie kill Sienna? Did he really love Lauren? Where is Robbie?
As the detectives investigate this case there is someone going around strangling women with a scarf. The attacker is using things from his past crimes. Who could be doing this? Will DI Harte and her team catch him before he kills again? Some of his victims have been lucky and lived to tell, but no one can identify the attacker as he wears a ski mask. The victims are terrified that their attacker will come back. They're terrified and find it hard to leave their house. When one of DI Harte's team is implicated in the investigation he is arrested for Sienna's murder. Did he really do it? DI Harte thinks not, but the woman in charge, has no interest in what Gina thinks. She trained Gina years ago and has held a grudge against her ever since. Will Gina be able to work the investigation with Sullivan watching and questioning her every move?
The suspense builds and builds until you just can't put Her Hidden Shadow down! There are several twists along the way and you'll have a great time trying to figure out the killer! I rate Her Hidden Shadow 5 stars with my highest recommendation. The book is available now so don't wait! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Her Hidden Shadow in exchange for a fair review. #HerHiddenShadow
September 27, 2023
4.5 stars
Her Hidden Shadow by Carla Kovach is the 14th in the Detective Gina Harte series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, 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 – Contains spoilers from previous books)
DI Gina Harte works homicides. Her team consists of: DS Jacob Driscoll, DC Harry O’Connor and DC Paula Wyre, with a lot of assistance from PC Smith and PC Kapoor. Gina is a stubborn lady, and a determined detective. She has had a rough life, which has led to an uneasy relationship with her daughter Hannah and grand-daughter Gracie. It has also led to a lack of real friends. She is in an on-again/off-again relationship with her boss, DCI Chris Briggs, but they keep it quiet. It is also not common knowledge that Gina's husband was abusive, and only Briggs knows that she did not save him when he fell to his death many years ago.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Lauren has a girls night out to celebrate her engagement to Robbie, but when she gets home, she finds her fiancé missing. Instead, her best friend Sienna (who didn't show up for the party) is in her bed...dead.
Lauren is having a hard time reconciling the fact that Sienna and Robbie may have had a closer relationship than she thought. How could she be so wrong about her best friend and her fiancé? And where is Robbie? Lauren stays with her mom Nancy while the police investigate, but Nancy has a secret of her own.
Meanwhile, Tiffany is still reliving the nightmare of a man trying to strangle her with her own scarf, and she often sleepwalks.
These people will be tied together, and a very close colleague of Gina's will also be involved. Meanwhile, Gina's old boss will insinuate herself back in Gina's life.
My Opinions:
I enjoyed the book, but there were a LOT of unlikable characters in this one. I did not like any of the victims or their families. Apparently I was not wrong in this, and had picked out the main perpetrator early on. However, there was another twist that I had not seen coming!
There was so much going on, this was a great read! The plot was intriguing, and the writing, as always, was smooth. Gina's team is wonderful, and in this one they all got behind one of their own. They truly are a family...and family seemed to be one of the topics of this novel (for good, or bad).
This is definitely a series worth reading (and you must read them in order!) I'm looking forward to Book 15!
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/
Her Hidden Shadow by Carla Kovach is the 14th in the Detective Gina Harte series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, 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 – Contains spoilers from previous books)
DI Gina Harte works homicides. Her team consists of: DS Jacob Driscoll, DC Harry O’Connor and DC Paula Wyre, with a lot of assistance from PC Smith and PC Kapoor. Gina is a stubborn lady, and a determined detective. She has had a rough life, which has led to an uneasy relationship with her daughter Hannah and grand-daughter Gracie. It has also led to a lack of real friends. She is in an on-again/off-again relationship with her boss, DCI Chris Briggs, but they keep it quiet. It is also not common knowledge that Gina's husband was abusive, and only Briggs knows that she did not save him when he fell to his death many years ago.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Lauren has a girls night out to celebrate her engagement to Robbie, but when she gets home, she finds her fiancé missing. Instead, her best friend Sienna (who didn't show up for the party) is in her bed...dead.
Lauren is having a hard time reconciling the fact that Sienna and Robbie may have had a closer relationship than she thought. How could she be so wrong about her best friend and her fiancé? And where is Robbie? Lauren stays with her mom Nancy while the police investigate, but Nancy has a secret of her own.
Meanwhile, Tiffany is still reliving the nightmare of a man trying to strangle her with her own scarf, and she often sleepwalks.
These people will be tied together, and a very close colleague of Gina's will also be involved. Meanwhile, Gina's old boss will insinuate herself back in Gina's life.
My Opinions:
I enjoyed the book, but there were a LOT of unlikable characters in this one. I did not like any of the victims or their families. Apparently I was not wrong in this, and had picked out the main perpetrator early on. However, there was another twist that I had not seen coming!
There was so much going on, this was a great read! The plot was intriguing, and the writing, as always, was smooth. Gina's team is wonderful, and in this one they all got behind one of their own. They truly are a family...and family seemed to be one of the topics of this novel (for good, or bad).
This is definitely a series worth reading (and you must read them in order!) I'm looking forward to Book 15!
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/
September 14, 2023
Her Hidden Shadow is the fourteenth Detective Gina Harte book. I've only recently discovered this series, so I've only read one of the prior books. I know there are some details about the background of the characters that I'm missing, but I still enjoyed the book. Gina is smart, brave, and loyal to her team. In this book, she gets called to the scene of a crime in which a woman returns home from a celebration with friends, only to find her best friend in her bed, murdered. Her fiance who should be home waiting for her is nowhere to be seen.
The case takes an unexpected turn that pushes Gina from her role as lead investigator, forcing her to temporarily report to someone she had problems with in the past. (Even without this obstacle, Gina's life is complicated since her usual boss is also secretly her on-and-off again boyfriend!) I don't enjoy the conflicts between Gina and her temporary boss, who seems like a horrible person, but overall I enjoyed the book. The book is an interesting procedural that will keep you guessing as to who the killer really is. I enjoyed how things are wrapped up at the end and I would like to read more books in this series.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Bookouture, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
The case takes an unexpected turn that pushes Gina from her role as lead investigator, forcing her to temporarily report to someone she had problems with in the past. (Even without this obstacle, Gina's life is complicated since her usual boss is also secretly her on-and-off again boyfriend!) I don't enjoy the conflicts between Gina and her temporary boss, who seems like a horrible person, but overall I enjoyed the book. The book is an interesting procedural that will keep you guessing as to who the killer really is. I enjoyed how things are wrapped up at the end and I would like to read more books in this series.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Bookouture, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
August 16, 2023
My Review:
Loved, loved and more loved. Best one in the series yet. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I’m already going through withdrawals. The best part of this series is the characters. They all fit together so perfectly. Every single one of them. I totally feel like I know them and that they are my best friends in real life. Let’s talk story. OMG!!!!! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I finished in just a few sittings. I swiped right so fast I thought my finger was going to fall off. I had to know what happened next. If I didn’t, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get anything done until I did. Up next that explosive ending. It left me shocked and speechless. It had so many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I was so sad to see this one end. Carla Kovach is one of my favorite authors along with this series. I would highly recommend to everyone to read these books. They are so great and awesome. I know you will love this series as much as I do.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Loved, loved and more loved. Best one in the series yet. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I’m already going through withdrawals. The best part of this series is the characters. They all fit together so perfectly. Every single one of them. I totally feel like I know them and that they are my best friends in real life. Let’s talk story. OMG!!!!! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I finished in just a few sittings. I swiped right so fast I thought my finger was going to fall off. I had to know what happened next. If I didn’t, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get anything done until I did. Up next that explosive ending. It left me shocked and speechless. It had so many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I was so sad to see this one end. Carla Kovach is one of my favorite authors along with this series. I would highly recommend to everyone to read these books. They are so great and awesome. I know you will love this series as much as I do.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
September 3, 2023
Her Hidden Shadow by Carla Kovach I give this book 4.5 stars Her perfect night out just became her worst nightmare… Lauren returns home from celebrating her engagement.When she opens the bedroom door, she immediately knows something is wrong,instead of her fiancé, in the bed lies the lifeless body of a young woman. As Lauren’s scream beaks the silence, someone stands outside the bedroom, tracking her every move. This can easily be read as a standalone but is part of one of my favourite detective series (Gina Harte) For me the more books I read the better it gets! The characterisation is developed and dimensional ,Gina is someone I’ve come to care about,the plot lines are always layered and gripping,the police procedural is realistic,perfect pacing from the first to last chapter and relevant issues are woven into the storylines. If you’re looking for a strong protagonist and an engrossing crime thriller this author is the one for you. With thanks to Carla Kovach,netgalley and Bookouture for my chance to read and review this book.
January 10, 2026
Zo blij dat ik vandaag de tijd en ruimte had om vlotjes door te lezen 📖☕
Eenmaal je in een verhaal met Gina Harte verzeild geraakt, wil je immers gewoon te weten komen wie de dader is. En wederom zet ze ons op het verkeerde been om naar het einde toe te komen met een ongeziene plottwist 👌🏼
Wat ik deze keer beetje miste (en hierdoor dus ook een * minder) is de ontwikkeling van en het persoonlijke leven rond Gina Harte zelf. In dit deel bleef ik daarover wat op m'n honger zitten.
Maar ik besluit wel met een keigoede thriller zoals ik ze graag lees en kijk al uit naar een volgend deel in deze reeks ☺️
Eenmaal je in een verhaal met Gina Harte verzeild geraakt, wil je immers gewoon te weten komen wie de dader is. En wederom zet ze ons op het verkeerde been om naar het einde toe te komen met een ongeziene plottwist 👌🏼
Wat ik deze keer beetje miste (en hierdoor dus ook een * minder) is de ontwikkeling van en het persoonlijke leven rond Gina Harte zelf. In dit deel bleef ik daarover wat op m'n honger zitten.
Maar ik besluit wel met een keigoede thriller zoals ik ze graag lees en kijk al uit naar een volgend deel in deze reeks ☺️
September 19, 2023
Another brilliant book in this great crime series.
This book gets off to a flying start with an attack on a woman alone at night in her home.
We then see Lauren return from a night out to find a dead body in her bed - so this is not one to read home alone.
Another body is soon found and Gina and the team have their hands full trying to find the killer.
With events taking a turn for the worse, outside forces are called in to take over the investigation and it’s not someone Gina gets on with.
There’s lots going on in this book and it’s a gripping fast paced crime thriller.
I highly recommend this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This book gets off to a flying start with an attack on a woman alone at night in her home.
We then see Lauren return from a night out to find a dead body in her bed - so this is not one to read home alone.
Another body is soon found and Gina and the team have their hands full trying to find the killer.
With events taking a turn for the worse, outside forces are called in to take over the investigation and it’s not someone Gina gets on with.
There’s lots going on in this book and it’s a gripping fast paced crime thriller.
I highly recommend this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 13, 2024
I love Carla Kovach and the Gina Hunt series and ofcourse this is no different!
When a woman comes home after a night out and finds a dead body in her bed she cannot believe her eyes. Gina and her team are on the case to find out what happened!
Review to follow tonight
When a woman comes home after a night out and finds a dead body in her bed she cannot believe her eyes. Gina and her team are on the case to find out what happened!
Review to follow tonight
November 17, 2025
De eerste maal bij haar boeken dat ik vermoedde wie de dader was en nog juist was ook.
August 16, 2023
Oh Gina, you do it every single time, I promise myself just 'one more chapter' and three hours later I've turned the final page! Gina Harte just has this grip on me that doesn't let up, even when the clock is flashing 4am!
Now I have loved and devoured every single one of the previous 13 books in the series but hands down book #14 has got to be my favourite (at the minute 😉)
This installment gets more personal, yes I know that all previous books have had personal backstories and personal loves delved into BUT this story involves Jacob! You cant get more personal than that!
Lauren is on a night out with her work colleagues when on returning home she finds her best friend Sienna murdered... in her bed.. and her fiancee missing.
Gina and Jacob are tasked with investigating the scene but Jacob is acting strange and the following day calls in sick, then admits he has a personal connection to the case.
An old colleague and adversary of Gina's is brought in to take over the case, can Gina investigate to her full ability with her old boss hanging over her shoulder trying to trip her up with every chance she gets?
There are alot of similarities to a previous case that slowly comes to fruition but Gina is struggling to connect the dots, things dont quite seem to be adding up but Gina is certain about one thing... Jacob is innocent and she will do everything in her power to prove that, no matter what the circumstances.
HUGE thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Now I have loved and devoured every single one of the previous 13 books in the series but hands down book #14 has got to be my favourite (at the minute 😉)
This installment gets more personal, yes I know that all previous books have had personal backstories and personal loves delved into BUT this story involves Jacob! You cant get more personal than that!
Lauren is on a night out with her work colleagues when on returning home she finds her best friend Sienna murdered... in her bed.. and her fiancee missing.
Gina and Jacob are tasked with investigating the scene but Jacob is acting strange and the following day calls in sick, then admits he has a personal connection to the case.
An old colleague and adversary of Gina's is brought in to take over the case, can Gina investigate to her full ability with her old boss hanging over her shoulder trying to trip her up with every chance she gets?
There are alot of similarities to a previous case that slowly comes to fruition but Gina is struggling to connect the dots, things dont quite seem to be adding up but Gina is certain about one thing... Jacob is innocent and she will do everything in her power to prove that, no matter what the circumstances.
HUGE thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
August 27, 2023
Really enjoyed it as I do all her books it’s great to catch up with Gina and her team but is quite worrying as one of her team is in a lot of trouble. Lauren goes out with her friends for a night out and is disappointed that her best friend never turned up but when she arrives home a little drunk her worst nightmare begins I loved the characters and all the twists and turns. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC
August 29, 2023
What can I say? The same as everyone else - Carla Kovach and the Gina Harte series ROCKS!! The stories never get old and each one is better than the last. This is a must-read series. Can't wait for the next one.
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
September 20, 2023
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy!!! This book has just taken this series to another level!!
It’s no secret that I love this team of characters and as soon as I start reading it, I’m instantly back in the fold with them.
I often see on covers taglines such as “a twist you won��t see coming”, and this book absolutely nails that saying! As I was reading I actually said outloud “Oh My Days!”, and re read what I’d read just to make sure I hadn’t misread it!
The whole story had me gripped and invested so early on that I just could not put this down.
I just love, Love, LOVE this series and this easily gets 5 sparkly stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It’s no secret that I love this team of characters and as soon as I start reading it, I’m instantly back in the fold with them.
I often see on covers taglines such as “a twist you won��t see coming”, and this book absolutely nails that saying! As I was reading I actually said outloud “Oh My Days!”, and re read what I’d read just to make sure I hadn’t misread it!
The whole story had me gripped and invested so early on that I just could not put this down.
I just love, Love, LOVE this series and this easily gets 5 sparkly stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 28, 2023
I am a bit of a fan of the Gina Harte series, all the stories are brilliant crime thrillers.
This book is no exception. It opens on a girls night out and a drunken woman crawling into bed with her fiancé only to find when she wakes that she is in fact in bed with her very dead best friend.
The relationship and bond that Gina has with her colleagues is really strong and it’s so lovely and well written. When one of Gina’s detectives comes under suspicion, Gina is determined to try and prove his innocence.
As with all the series this reads well as a stand alone. However I would recommend you read the previous stories first - they’re rather excellent.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
This book is no exception. It opens on a girls night out and a drunken woman crawling into bed with her fiancé only to find when she wakes that she is in fact in bed with her very dead best friend.
The relationship and bond that Gina has with her colleagues is really strong and it’s so lovely and well written. When one of Gina’s detectives comes under suspicion, Gina is determined to try and prove his innocence.
As with all the series this reads well as a stand alone. However I would recommend you read the previous stories first - they’re rather excellent.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
September 17, 2023
This is the first book I’ve read in the Gina Harte series and I enjoyed it, although the killer was obvious from very early on and so that did take away the anticipated suspense and tension.
I really liked Gina, Jacob and Briggs as characters and I found the writing style easy to follow with a good pace.
Had it not been so clear from early on who the killer was, this would have been a fantastic book.
2.5/3 ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley, Carla Kovach and Bookouture for an ARC in return for my honest review.
I really liked Gina, Jacob and Briggs as characters and I found the writing style easy to follow with a good pace.
Had it not been so clear from early on who the killer was, this would have been a fantastic book.
2.5/3 ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley, Carla Kovach and Bookouture for an ARC in return for my honest review.
September 28, 2023
So I've been a fan of this series since book five and into book fourteen the series is still going strong, still holding the attention and suspense and to me that takes some talent.
Another riveting read that took you of a twisty journey with a satisfying conclusion.
Gina is a tenacious character who knows her own mind and she's prepared to go the distance to help one of her own.
Another riveting read that took you of a twisty journey with a satisfying conclusion.
Gina is a tenacious character who knows her own mind and she's prepared to go the distance to help one of her own.
September 17, 2023
Her perfect night out just became her worst nightmare…
Lauren is on a night out with her friends to celebrate her engagement. She returns home, kicks off her shoes and climbs into bed sidling up to her sleeping fiance. She finds his leg is stone cold and there's a sticky patch by her head. When she turns on the lamp she is shocked to discover not Robbie in bed beside her but her best friend Sienna...and she's dead! Lauren screams and calls 999 in hysterics.
DI Gina Harte is called to the scene in the early hours and is shocked by the appearance of her DS, Jacob Driscoll. He looks like he'd eaten a bad kebab and upon stepping into the crime scene, he had to be excused before being sick. Something was amiss with her DS but she'd speak to him later. For now her focus was on the murder of Sienna and the hysterical Lauren in the back of the ambulance. She'd been out celebrating her engagement with friends. So why wasn't Sienna amongst them if she was her best friend. And if she thought she was climbing into bed with her fiance, where was the said fiance now?
It isn't long before the team discover that Sienna had been stalked by a visiting colleague. They had lived together for a short time but she left when he became too controlling. Their focus were on him and that of Lauren's missing fiance Robbie.
And then in questioning one of Lauren's friends who was also supposed to be with them that night but called off sick, it seemed that there is a link between Sienna's murder and an historical attack on friend Tiffany four years before.
Then just as the team are gathering information to question their lead suspect, new information comes to light that throws everything they thought they knew out the window. And two new members join them from Hereford to oversee the investigation. A Detective Superintendent Sullivan, who had been a thorn in Gina's side when she was a trainee DC, and a DI Collier. Gina was no longer running this investigation and Sullivan was out to bring her down with relish. But can Gina solve the murders before it's too late?
This 14th outing with Gina Harte and her team is just as thrilling as all the previous ones. Though it is a series, it can easily be read as a standalone as you don't really miss anything otherwise, except for maybe character development and their backstories. I admit to forgetting what happened to Jennifer with the hit and run from a previous book and I still can't recall it. But she is a minor character that we don't really see and is only mentioned from time to time.
I did easily work out half of the twist but I must say I was surprised by the other half of it. Hats off to you Ms Kovach for pulling that one off.
The tension is ramped up a notch in this installment but it comes at a cost...and one I hate to see in series and is often why I don't read many series. The in-house politics and discord amongst the ranks is something I loathe. That's why I love this series so much because Gina's team all work well together without that angst. But bringing in two outsiders who want nothing but to set a cat amongst the pigeons and watch the fallout just makes my skin crawl. The inclusion of Sullivan and Collier didn't have to be so horrible but it was, and I felt it ruined what would otherwise have been a 5 star read. The rest of the story itself was second to none and I loved it.
Overall, a compelling read that is edge of your seat and page turning and another outstanding addition to the series. I can't wait to see what's next for Gina and her team.
I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerHiddenShadow in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Lauren is on a night out with her friends to celebrate her engagement. She returns home, kicks off her shoes and climbs into bed sidling up to her sleeping fiance. She finds his leg is stone cold and there's a sticky patch by her head. When she turns on the lamp she is shocked to discover not Robbie in bed beside her but her best friend Sienna...and she's dead! Lauren screams and calls 999 in hysterics.
DI Gina Harte is called to the scene in the early hours and is shocked by the appearance of her DS, Jacob Driscoll. He looks like he'd eaten a bad kebab and upon stepping into the crime scene, he had to be excused before being sick. Something was amiss with her DS but she'd speak to him later. For now her focus was on the murder of Sienna and the hysterical Lauren in the back of the ambulance. She'd been out celebrating her engagement with friends. So why wasn't Sienna amongst them if she was her best friend. And if she thought she was climbing into bed with her fiance, where was the said fiance now?
It isn't long before the team discover that Sienna had been stalked by a visiting colleague. They had lived together for a short time but she left when he became too controlling. Their focus were on him and that of Lauren's missing fiance Robbie.
And then in questioning one of Lauren's friends who was also supposed to be with them that night but called off sick, it seemed that there is a link between Sienna's murder and an historical attack on friend Tiffany four years before.
Then just as the team are gathering information to question their lead suspect, new information comes to light that throws everything they thought they knew out the window. And two new members join them from Hereford to oversee the investigation. A Detective Superintendent Sullivan, who had been a thorn in Gina's side when she was a trainee DC, and a DI Collier. Gina was no longer running this investigation and Sullivan was out to bring her down with relish. But can Gina solve the murders before it's too late?
This 14th outing with Gina Harte and her team is just as thrilling as all the previous ones. Though it is a series, it can easily be read as a standalone as you don't really miss anything otherwise, except for maybe character development and their backstories. I admit to forgetting what happened to Jennifer with the hit and run from a previous book and I still can't recall it. But she is a minor character that we don't really see and is only mentioned from time to time.
I did easily work out half of the twist but I must say I was surprised by the other half of it. Hats off to you Ms Kovach for pulling that one off.
The tension is ramped up a notch in this installment but it comes at a cost...and one I hate to see in series and is often why I don't read many series. The in-house politics and discord amongst the ranks is something I loathe. That's why I love this series so much because Gina's team all work well together without that angst. But bringing in two outsiders who want nothing but to set a cat amongst the pigeons and watch the fallout just makes my skin crawl. The inclusion of Sullivan and Collier didn't have to be so horrible but it was, and I felt it ruined what would otherwise have been a 5 star read. The rest of the story itself was second to none and I loved it.
Overall, a compelling read that is edge of your seat and page turning and another outstanding addition to the series. I can't wait to see what's next for Gina and her team.
I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerHiddenShadow in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 9, 2025
Bryan las 'Wat niemand weet', geschreven door Carla Kovach. Zijn recensie lees je hieronder. ⬇️
De verhalen van Carla zijn geen onbekenden in huize Koukleum. Stuk voor stuk zijn ze spannend en ik kan dan ook voluit zeggen dat Carla Kovach één van mijn favoriete auteurs is. Toen ik deze nieuwe titel aangekondigd zag staan, was ik dan ook enorm nieuwsgierig.
Als Lauren thuis komt van haar verlovingsfeestje heeft ze er geen benul van, van wat haar te wachten staat. Het was een geweldige avond, maar toch vond ze het gek dat haar beste vriendin Sienna niet is komen opdagen.
Thuis is het stil en het huis lijkt verlaten. Maar hoe dichter Lauren bij de deur van de slaapkamer komt, hoe onheilspellender haar gevoel wordt. Als ze de deur opent ziet ze het meteen: Het levenloze lichaam van een vrouw. Ze herkent haar beste vriendin Sienna meteen...
Buiten volgt iemand al haar handelingen. Is Lauren nog wel veilig in haar vertrouwde huisje?
Het verhaal begint meteen met een spannende proloog waarin iemand, acht jaar eerder, met een sjaaltje wordt vermoord. Zoals we gewend zijn van Kovach, is de proloog schokkend en pakkend. Dit zorgt er dan ook voor dat ik verder wil lezen. Want waarom krijgt deze persoon de mond gesnoerd met een sjaaltje? Ik sla snel de bladzijde om, om verder te lezen...
Carla Kovach flikt het wederom. Ondanks dat dit het veertiende deel is rondom Inspecteur Gina Harte, is dit een serie die blijft boeien én groeien. Bij elk deel denk ik weer dat Kovach zichzelf niet kan overtreffen, maar elke keer lukt het haar weer om er een schepje bovenop te gooien.
De personages zijn weer erg goed uitgewerkt en ook is er, in dit deel, veel tumult binnen het team van Harte. Want is iedereen wel te vertrouwen? Dit vond ik extra spannend en een goede toevoeging aan het verhaal.
Persoonlijk ben ik van mening dat het altijd fijn is als je boeken in een serie los kunt lezen. Echter in dit geval adviseer ik lezers om deze serie in de juiste volgorde te lezen. Als je dit niet zou doen ben ik bang dat je de rode draad in de serie mist en dit zou uiteraard zonde zijn. Want als thrillerfan moet je deze serie gewoon gelezen hebben.
Dit boek ontvingen wij van Boekerij. Dit beïnvloedt onze mening niet.
De verhalen van Carla zijn geen onbekenden in huize Koukleum. Stuk voor stuk zijn ze spannend en ik kan dan ook voluit zeggen dat Carla Kovach één van mijn favoriete auteurs is. Toen ik deze nieuwe titel aangekondigd zag staan, was ik dan ook enorm nieuwsgierig.
Als Lauren thuis komt van haar verlovingsfeestje heeft ze er geen benul van, van wat haar te wachten staat. Het was een geweldige avond, maar toch vond ze het gek dat haar beste vriendin Sienna niet is komen opdagen.
Thuis is het stil en het huis lijkt verlaten. Maar hoe dichter Lauren bij de deur van de slaapkamer komt, hoe onheilspellender haar gevoel wordt. Als ze de deur opent ziet ze het meteen: Het levenloze lichaam van een vrouw. Ze herkent haar beste vriendin Sienna meteen...
Buiten volgt iemand al haar handelingen. Is Lauren nog wel veilig in haar vertrouwde huisje?
Het verhaal begint meteen met een spannende proloog waarin iemand, acht jaar eerder, met een sjaaltje wordt vermoord. Zoals we gewend zijn van Kovach, is de proloog schokkend en pakkend. Dit zorgt er dan ook voor dat ik verder wil lezen. Want waarom krijgt deze persoon de mond gesnoerd met een sjaaltje? Ik sla snel de bladzijde om, om verder te lezen...
Carla Kovach flikt het wederom. Ondanks dat dit het veertiende deel is rondom Inspecteur Gina Harte, is dit een serie die blijft boeien én groeien. Bij elk deel denk ik weer dat Kovach zichzelf niet kan overtreffen, maar elke keer lukt het haar weer om er een schepje bovenop te gooien.
De personages zijn weer erg goed uitgewerkt en ook is er, in dit deel, veel tumult binnen het team van Harte. Want is iedereen wel te vertrouwen? Dit vond ik extra spannend en een goede toevoeging aan het verhaal.
Persoonlijk ben ik van mening dat het altijd fijn is als je boeken in een serie los kunt lezen. Echter in dit geval adviseer ik lezers om deze serie in de juiste volgorde te lezen. Als je dit niet zou doen ben ik bang dat je de rode draad in de serie mist en dit zou uiteraard zonde zijn. Want als thrillerfan moet je deze serie gewoon gelezen hebben.
Dit boek ontvingen wij van Boekerij. Dit beïnvloedt onze mening niet.
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September 1, 2023Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.
I'm late in finding this author and reading her DI Gina Harte books and have only read the more recent ones in this series. I will at some point start from the beginning and read them in order to get up to date.
Wow, this is one very, VERY good police procedural. The author certainly knows how to connect with her readers and set a scene that gives Her Hidden Shadow the best start that grabbed my attention and drew me in straightaway. Here DI Harte and her team investigate a murder. I really like DI Harte, she is determined, feisty and follows her instincts. I found this to be a well written book that flows easily, with a great writing style which makes the book easy to follow and a pleasure to read. I like that the story is told through different characters and their perspectives, and think the author creates so much tension, suspense and intrigue here that makes this one hell of a page turning read where I just needed to know more. There are so many different threads to hold my interest and at times I didn't know where they were going or how they'd fit together which made this such a moreish read that I would pick up whenever I could to carry on reading. Most of the characters are likeable although there were a few I absolutely loathed. I think the plot line is intricate and so well thought out, it grabbed my attention early on and held it all the way through, although I did guess who the killer was. The ending is very fitting, it gives good closure and I'll be looking forward to the next book.
Overall this is a great read, the best one out of the 5 I've read so far and one I loved. It really hit the mark with me and I can't fault it. It can be read as a standalone although if you're new to this author I think you're best to start at the beginning in order to get to know the characters from the start. If you like police procedurals you'll enjoy this, and I'd recommend it.
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm late in finding this author and reading her DI Gina Harte books and have only read the more recent ones in this series. I will at some point start from the beginning and read them in order to get up to date.
Wow, this is one very, VERY good police procedural. The author certainly knows how to connect with her readers and set a scene that gives Her Hidden Shadow the best start that grabbed my attention and drew me in straightaway. Here DI Harte and her team investigate a murder. I really like DI Harte, she is determined, feisty and follows her instincts. I found this to be a well written book that flows easily, with a great writing style which makes the book easy to follow and a pleasure to read. I like that the story is told through different characters and their perspectives, and think the author creates so much tension, suspense and intrigue here that makes this one hell of a page turning read where I just needed to know more. There are so many different threads to hold my interest and at times I didn't know where they were going or how they'd fit together which made this such a moreish read that I would pick up whenever I could to carry on reading. Most of the characters are likeable although there were a few I absolutely loathed. I think the plot line is intricate and so well thought out, it grabbed my attention early on and held it all the way through, although I did guess who the killer was. The ending is very fitting, it gives good closure and I'll be looking forward to the next book.
Overall this is a great read, the best one out of the 5 I've read so far and one I loved. It really hit the mark with me and I can't fault it. It can be read as a standalone although if you're new to this author I think you're best to start at the beginning in order to get to know the characters from the start. If you like police procedurals you'll enjoy this, and I'd recommend it.
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 17, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Her Hidden Shadow, the fourteenth novel to feature DI Gina Harte, set in the fictional Staffordshire town of Cleevesford.
Lauren Cross returns from a night out and crawls into bed, only the cold body lying there is not, as she expects, her fiancé, Robbie, it is her best friend, Sienna. She hears someone at the bedroom door and starts screaming.
I thoroughly enjoyed Her Hidden Shadow, something I haven’t said about the past few novels in the series. I was in two minds about dragging myself through another sad tale of woe from the vaults of Gina’s mind, but, thankfully, this novel is all about the case and any woe to be had she vanquishes with her smart mind and sense of right. To be honest it is heartwarming to see her stand up for herself and what she believes in and I hope that this is the beginning of a new, improved Gina.
The plot is excellent. There are several twists and turns and while some of it is guessable it’s the crowning details that take the reader by surprise. I was glued to the pages, desperate to know what was coming next. I had an inkling of the murderer’s identity, but no idea of motive and I will confess to getting caught up in the author’s misdirection at times. The big issue in the novel is Sienna’s secrets and, boy, does she have some crackers. My jaw kept dropping as they are revealed, so they’re probably not entirely plausible, but they certainly make for good reading.
Gina is in a good place in her life. The romance with her boss, DCI Briggs is back on and makes her happy, but obviously that can’t last. For reasons I’m not going to specify her old nemesis Superintendent Sullivan arrives to take over the case. She’s a nasty woman who has it in for Gina, but not for too long when she’s proved wrong on all fronts. I enjoyed their final confrontation so much I’m going to re-read it before moving on.
Her Hidden Shadow is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Lauren Cross returns from a night out and crawls into bed, only the cold body lying there is not, as she expects, her fiancé, Robbie, it is her best friend, Sienna. She hears someone at the bedroom door and starts screaming.
I thoroughly enjoyed Her Hidden Shadow, something I haven’t said about the past few novels in the series. I was in two minds about dragging myself through another sad tale of woe from the vaults of Gina’s mind, but, thankfully, this novel is all about the case and any woe to be had she vanquishes with her smart mind and sense of right. To be honest it is heartwarming to see her stand up for herself and what she believes in and I hope that this is the beginning of a new, improved Gina.
The plot is excellent. There are several twists and turns and while some of it is guessable it’s the crowning details that take the reader by surprise. I was glued to the pages, desperate to know what was coming next. I had an inkling of the murderer’s identity, but no idea of motive and I will confess to getting caught up in the author’s misdirection at times. The big issue in the novel is Sienna’s secrets and, boy, does she have some crackers. My jaw kept dropping as they are revealed, so they’re probably not entirely plausible, but they certainly make for good reading.
Gina is in a good place in her life. The romance with her boss, DCI Briggs is back on and makes her happy, but obviously that can’t last. For reasons I’m not going to specify her old nemesis Superintendent Sullivan arrives to take over the case. She’s a nasty woman who has it in for Gina, but not for too long when she’s proved wrong on all fronts. I enjoyed their final confrontation so much I’m going to re-read it before moving on.
Her Hidden Shadow is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
September 23, 2023
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Her Hidden Shadow’ by Carla Kovach.
This is Book 14 in Kovach’s popular series of police procedurals featuring D.I. Gina Harte. It is set in the fictional Midlands town of Cleevesford.
While the main focus is on the current case, some background is provided for readers new to the series or as reminders for returning ones. As such, the books work fine as standalones.
Coming home after a girls night out with a group of work friends, Lauren Cross is surprised to find her house in darkness as she had expected her fiancé, Robbie, to still be up. Rather tipsy she climbs into bed beside the apparently sleeping Robbie. Yet when she reaches out he seems cold. Switching on the light she sees with horror that she is sharing the bed with a lifeless body. It’s not Robbie lying there but her best friend Sienna! Cue screams. Elsewhere in the house an intruder listens…..
D.I. Gina Harte and her team are quickly on the scene. There are plenty of questions, including the whereabouts of Robbie. Gina identifies a link between this attack and one that took place four years ago in another Midlands town. That victim, Tiffany, is one of Lauren’s colleagues. Coincidence?
When suspicion lands on someone close to Gina, Detective Superintendent Sullivan is brought in from Hereford to oversee the case. Sullivan had been Gina’s D.I. when she was a trainee and had made her life miserable. Sullivan continues to delight in taking every opportunity to put Gina down as they race against time to identify the killer.
Having read most of the books in this series I am always confident in Carla Kovach’s ability to craft the kind of police procedural that grabs my attention from the opening and keeps me completely engaged until the final scene. ‘Her Hidden Shadow’ continued this trend with plenty of twists along the way. I found it an excellent addition to the series.
This is Book 14 in Kovach’s popular series of police procedurals featuring D.I. Gina Harte. It is set in the fictional Midlands town of Cleevesford.
While the main focus is on the current case, some background is provided for readers new to the series or as reminders for returning ones. As such, the books work fine as standalones.
Coming home after a girls night out with a group of work friends, Lauren Cross is surprised to find her house in darkness as she had expected her fiancé, Robbie, to still be up. Rather tipsy she climbs into bed beside the apparently sleeping Robbie. Yet when she reaches out he seems cold. Switching on the light she sees with horror that she is sharing the bed with a lifeless body. It’s not Robbie lying there but her best friend Sienna! Cue screams. Elsewhere in the house an intruder listens…..
D.I. Gina Harte and her team are quickly on the scene. There are plenty of questions, including the whereabouts of Robbie. Gina identifies a link between this attack and one that took place four years ago in another Midlands town. That victim, Tiffany, is one of Lauren’s colleagues. Coincidence?
When suspicion lands on someone close to Gina, Detective Superintendent Sullivan is brought in from Hereford to oversee the case. Sullivan had been Gina’s D.I. when she was a trainee and had made her life miserable. Sullivan continues to delight in taking every opportunity to put Gina down as they race against time to identify the killer.
Having read most of the books in this series I am always confident in Carla Kovach’s ability to craft the kind of police procedural that grabs my attention from the opening and keeps me completely engaged until the final scene. ‘Her Hidden Shadow’ continued this trend with plenty of twists along the way. I found it an excellent addition to the series.
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