Two Little Blonde Girls

Naomi Blake #1

by Jane A. Adams

Please note this book was previously published as Mourning the Little Dead. It is a revised edition and errors have been corrected.


Meet Naomi Blake, an ex-policewoman who lost her sight in a tragic accident which maybe she shouldn’t have survived. But she never lost her thirst for justice. Discover a compelling series of British mysteries from a bestselling author.

They were two little blonde girls, but one of them never came home.

It’s been a long time since ex-copper Naomi Blake has heard Helen’s name. Naomi was twelve years old when her best friend went missing on the way to school in their small seaside town in Lincolnshire.

Now, finally, after twenty-three years, there’s a confession in a sealed envelope. And it’s shockingly close to home.

The note says Helen’s body is buried in the foundations of a house on Lansdowne Road.

Naomi may not be a detective anymore but she never lost her investigative instincts.

And with her guide dog, Napoleon, by her side, she wants answers to dark, long-buried questions.

Because perhaps other little girls were taken by the same evil man.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Ebooks

295 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

Some of her early books were published under the name of Jane Adams. This should not be confused with this Jane Adams who is a different author.

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naomi is a former cop, blinded in an accident, who has a guide dog named Napoleon. When she was 13, her best friend Helen disappeared. Now, years later, someone has produced a letter indicating that Helen was murdered by someone Naomi trusted. When another child is abducted, Naomi’s boyfriend Alec is on the case. Could the cases be related? And why is a woman related to this case so interested in Naomi? This suspenseful police procedural seems like it would make a good television series.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first in the Naomi Blake series, where a blind ex-police offer still seeks justice for others.

The past and present are mixed in this British crime drama. A body is found...

This was well-written with suitable characters and some twists and turns.

Engaging.

[Kelly]

Just couldn't get into the writing. Too much head-hopping, and the prose doesn't flow.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane A. Adams writes with an interesting style, unlike most other books I've read. In a way, it's a nice reprieve; in another way, it can be confusing. In any case, a solid story.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was quite good and heralded the start of a series. However, the editing/proofreading was a sloppy, awful mess and I've no intention of reading any more of them !!
I can't fathom how it was released onto the Kindle in the state it's in and nobody spotted the mistakes peppered throughout the whole thing. Pretty dire of the publisher. They should be ashamed of themselves. I saw a few reviewers mentioned mistakes and I should have been tipped off and given it a swerve.
To kick off all the spellings are American ones which always annoys the hell out of me unless it's an American book and based there which it isn't. Then we had knowng in place of knowing and hoards instead of boards. Then he and not be (more than once), bolony not boloney, hack not back and discernible isn't spelt discernable.
Philby is mentioned a lot which I assumed was a fictional town till Ingham was also spoken of and it turns out a place called FILBY is in the very same area. Now that's beyond careless. There are apostrophes missing or misused and dropped speechmarks and fullstops as well for a bit of variation.
Patrick supposedly asks something at one point which I believe was meant to be Harry putting the question and a line in a letter made little sense to me. It was cryptic and you expected a later explanation but one wasn't forthcoming. She did this a lot-mentioned things or people she'd not mentioned already but appearing to assume she had. It made it needlessly confusing. A truly crashing mistake for me was telling us Helen disappeared March 17th 1979 then later on changing it to February 1979 in a press conference. That's pretty unforgiveable for me. By this time I was losing the will to carry on but had to finish it as I was too far into the story by this juncture.
The descriptions of the way Naomi manages with her life now and how things changed for her are interesting and well done, I have to say. They made you think. There were also some very funny lines in it and I adored the character of Patrick. Plus Napoleon the dog features which is a big plus.
A great pity more care wasn't taken with the electronic version.

[Sean Harding · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book int eh Naomi Blake series about former police officer who is now blind is fairly uninspiring affair. It has some of the signature Adams moments throughout, and there is a nod to another book she wrote earlier to I guess indicate her books are all in the same universe setting, but the plot itself failed to grab you and it was difficult in maintaining interest.
At no point did I feel involved with the main character, it all felt very remote and distant as if you were not a part of the story and a distant observer, trying to see a room through a window covered with a curtain.
Below average and not a great start to the series.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of those reads that was decent enough while reading but not really overly compelling. The plot was OK and the characters were, for the most part pretty interesting, but the writing style was a bit stilted and was not helped by numerous editing errors in the Kindle edition.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen and her friend Naomi were close as kids. But one day Helen disappeared and never was found. Years later Naomi was in an accident and was blind. But she still wanted to continue to be involved as a cop. She planned on doing all she could to find her friend Helen. Years later a company was demolishing a old apartment building and some workers found some bones. Maybe they are Helens? Someone turns in a statement confessing to doing it. Was it really Joe, also a cop who was a good friend of Naomi's? He was already deceased for years. Was the paper written by him . Naomi does all she can to find her friend Helens real murderer.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naomi Blake mystery thriller book one.
They were two little blonde girls, but one of them never came home.
Lincolnshire, ex copper Naomi best friend Helen Jones went missing twenty three years ago a note is recieved from a empty house clearance by a family with a confession that she is buried in a property in Lansdowne Road on the Bellingham estate could this have been her killer?
Naomi will not rest till all this is solved.
I found this read so gripping with the characters all blending into the book to make it a fantastic read.
Took the story as a mind-blowing one that was gruesome and thrilling all the way through.
Loved it.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Naomi Blake's best friend disappeared when they were both at school but she has never been found. Naomi used to be a policewoman until she lost her sight in a dreadful accident but she still has the drive to solve mysteries. Now a confession has been found, could she get the justice she desperately needs? I really enjoyed this book and would give it 4.5 stars if I could, It had lost half a star as I found I got a bit confused with all the characters, and I was still left puzzled at the end, although it probably says more about me than the book.

[John Barberio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever police procedural with difference

We meet Naomi Blake who used to be a detective but blinded following a car accident. She was friends with a girl who went missing 30 years ago. No body had ever been found. Then a confession appears leading to finding the body buried under a house. But we do not learn who confessed until part way through. Another little girl has just been murdered. Is there a link? Then lots of things happen before the startling reveal. Enjoyed this and had to keep reading.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es ließ sich flüssig und schnell lesen, war an sich auch recht spannend. Besonders, weil die Protagonistin blind ist und somit mal einen ganz anderen Eindruck vermittelt.

Leider bleiben am Ende zu viele Fragen. Außerdem kommt man bei den unzähligen Jacksons, Jones' und Williams' durchaus mal durcheinander. Zudem muss man beim Schreibstil über den einen oder anderen Fehler hinwegsehen können.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book in German so I cannot say much about the original writing style; but the story itself was enjoyeable. I liked how, on very few pages, a very large and intense story is told. There are a lot of characters that I sometimes lost track of, though. Still a good book, one I have read before and certainly will read again.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve year old Helen Jones disappeared twenty-three years ago. Now a confession has been found and handed to the police. Childhood friend of Helen and now due to blindness an ex-detective, Naomi Blake is eager to find out any information from her boyfriend Detective Alec Friedman. But the police are also investigating the death of Sarah Clarke aged six.
An enjoyable read

[Timlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story should have a 4 star rating. I can't give it because of the editing of the ebooks I purchased. I was so distracted by all the silly misspellings I couldn't enjoy the story, I spent half my time hitting the edit button. It was time after time "be" for "he" and similar errors. I'm shocked that ebooks can't be quickly fixed for such easy errors. I doubt I was the first to point them out. Since I bought the three book set I'll have to rate them all a two, although I've enjoyed the stories, they are all just poorly edited.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Jane Adam’s books, and this new series is just perfect. Having an ex-detective, who was blinded in an accident, involved in trying to help solve crimes is an unusual change from the normal crime drama novels, and I felt that Napoleon, the dog, was a great addition to the team. Naomi is an interesting and complex person who is doing her best to adjust to life without her sight after having been a successful detective. She has come to terms with having to adjust to her new life and is determined to carry on doing what she does best – solve crimes. Her partner, Alec Friedman, helps her to stay in touch with the police side of investigations and they work well both as a pair and as a couple. I found the plot interesting and very well written with lots going on and plenty of excitement at the end. I have since purchased all the novels in this series so far and am looking forward to reading them all to find out how Naomi progresses.

[Naomi Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t really get into it.. which is why it took me so long to finish it. Wasn’t until the very end.. I was actually kinda hooked? (41st chapter to be exact.) skipped around to much for my liking and was to hard to follow the story detail.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've never read a book where the main character is blind - and I think it was executed very well. I liked how Jane portrayed Naomi's take on life with Napoleon by her side.

I also enjoyed the characters a lot!

[Sarah A · Rating 3 out of 5]

unsatisfying

I liked the Alec and Naomi characters but I was disappointed by the ending. I also feel like there was the suggestion of ghosts, but again not really explained, the thought was left hanging.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

good twist

Well Jane, loved the characters and look forward to book two. You have made it impossible not to go and read the next book to really close this story although my imagination could take me a few places. A great page turner.

[Sheridan Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The story line was well thought out, the book itself was well written and it kept me guessing right up until the very end.

[Marny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, ending wasn’t obvious. Likeable, real characters. I look forward to the next one

[Bev Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I really enjoyed this, it's an excellent storyline. I will definitely read more in the series when they become available.

[Debbie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

odd book. nothing I saw coming.

But it totally kept your interest the entire time. Did not remotely expect that ending, so i will be looking more for this author to read.

[Smc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interestingly different, with believable characters.

[sally moreton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK sort of book. I found the ending a little confusing. Still not sure who did it or why?

[Carol Holder · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story

A good story but a bit slow. A nice touch with one of the main character being blind stretcher good friend was murder.

[T A FERRIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naomi the blind detective!

A interesting story about a blind ex detective who helps solve the murder of a child and the very disturbed people we have in our society very worrying.!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have gone for 5 stars but it has one of those endings that put me off.

[Vicky Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that I really enjoyed. It felt original and the story kept me interested all the way through.