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Jessie Flynn #3
Two Little Girls
Two little girls walked to their deaths and nobody noticed…
A gripping new thriller featuring the brilliantly complex psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn, who struggles with a dark past.
Two bodies on the beach. One killer out for revenge.
Two years ago, a young girl was murdered while playing on the beach and left in a heart of shells, a doll by her side. Now another girl is found on the same stretch of sand, another heart, another doll, and psychologist Jessie Flynn is called in to assist the investigation.
But she’s being led into a web of lies and deceit by a new patient, Laura – a deeply disturbed woman who wants Jessie as her friend. When links emerge between Laura and the two dead girls, Jessie’s worst nightmare becomes reality. For in the dark world of a twisted killer, she begins to realize just how treacherous friends can be…
A gripping new thriller featuring the brilliantly complex psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn, who struggles with a dark past.
Two bodies on the beach. One killer out for revenge.
Two years ago, a young girl was murdered while playing on the beach and left in a heart of shells, a doll by her side. Now another girl is found on the same stretch of sand, another heart, another doll, and psychologist Jessie Flynn is called in to assist the investigation.
But she’s being led into a web of lies and deceit by a new patient, Laura – a deeply disturbed woman who wants Jessie as her friend. When links emerge between Laura and the two dead girls, Jessie’s worst nightmare becomes reality. For in the dark world of a twisted killer, she begins to realize just how treacherous friends can be…
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2018
81 people are currently reading
1011 people want to read
About the author
Kate Medina
10 books87 followersWhile studying for a degree in Psychology, Kate Medina joined the Territorial Army where she spent five years, first as an officer trainee and then as a Troop Commander in the Royal Engineers.
She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and now writes full time. Her debut novel, White Crocodile (published under the name K.T. Medina), a thriller set in the minefields of Cambodia, received widespread critical acclaim.
She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and now writes full time. Her debut novel, White Crocodile (published under the name K.T. Medina), a thriller set in the minefields of Cambodia, received widespread critical acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
March 16, 2018
DI Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons has his work cut out in this gripping psychological thriller. Working alongside psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn, he finds himself with an identical murder to the one that has haunted him for the last two years - the death of a young girl on the beach - beside her is a doll, and her body is surrounded by shells in the shape of a heart.
DI Simmons was convinced that the mother of the first girl was responsible for her daughter's murder, however she was released due to insuffient evidence. Is she responsible for this second murder or is this a copycat killer? Relevant to the case is the fact that this second murder is on the second anniversary of the first.
DI Simmons feels he failed the first little girl by not bringing her killer to justice, so he's determined to put matters right, and enlists the help of Dr Jessie Flynn, hoping her skills as a psychologist will highlight something he may have missed. For a psychologist, Jessie has some pretty serious problems of her own, which aren't helped when one of her patients pulls her headlong into a living nightmare!
This was a truly gripping read, with not too many suspects under the spotlight, however, it's still not as cut and dried as it may appear to be, so be prepared to get the old thinking cap on! Well written, with some really interesting characters, the author has certainly given them some depth, particularly Jessie. The storyline itself had me mesmerised, and undoubtably this was a real winner.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for my ARC. I have given an honest review in exchange*
DI Simmons was convinced that the mother of the first girl was responsible for her daughter's murder, however she was released due to insuffient evidence. Is she responsible for this second murder or is this a copycat killer? Relevant to the case is the fact that this second murder is on the second anniversary of the first.
DI Simmons feels he failed the first little girl by not bringing her killer to justice, so he's determined to put matters right, and enlists the help of Dr Jessie Flynn, hoping her skills as a psychologist will highlight something he may have missed. For a psychologist, Jessie has some pretty serious problems of her own, which aren't helped when one of her patients pulls her headlong into a living nightmare!
This was a truly gripping read, with not too many suspects under the spotlight, however, it's still not as cut and dried as it may appear to be, so be prepared to get the old thinking cap on! Well written, with some really interesting characters, the author has certainly given them some depth, particularly Jessie. The storyline itself had me mesmerised, and undoubtably this was a real winner.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for my ARC. I have given an honest review in exchange*
March 7, 2018
We return to Kate Medina's brilliant series featuring psychologist Jessie Flynn, who after events in the last book is struggling to handle the injuries to her hand that led to her being invalided out of the military but she is in a happy relationship with Ben Callan. She is operating a private practice and is taken on by Surrey and Sussex Police as a special consultant in this story. Jessie has a client, Laura, struggling to come to terms with the death of her young daughter in a car crash, a tragedy that Jessie connects with, given the suicide of her brother, Jamie. However, Jessie learns that Laura is not all that she seems when the body of a young girl, Jodie Triggs, is found on the beach with a doll. Jodie's murder mirrors that of Zoe Reynolds, another young girl, whose mother, Carolynn, was acquitted of her murder due to insufficient evidence. Laura is Carolynn, and is drawn to Jessie and wants to be her friend, her very close friend, for Carolynn has no friends and she is a desperate woman.
DI Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons is completely convinced Carolynn murdered Zoe, and wants to contact her and her husband, Roger, who have disappeared. Despite Callan urging her to inform Marilyn as to Carolynn's whereabouts, Jessie stubbornly refuses, citing client confidentiality and her inner conviction that Carolynn is innocent. Since leaving the army, Jessie has deteriorated, her OCD issues have increased alarmingly, she has become self righteous and downright mean to those she loves. Her self destructive behaviour has become akin to a parasitic organism hellbent on wrecking all that is good in her life, she is aware of this but is helpless to do anything about it. This blinds Jessie, for Carolynn is a woman with many secrets. Jessie is able to help a broken Marilyn make critical progress in his hunt for the killer of the two little girls, but unable to prevent danger swirling close to home and the devastating consequences that ensue.
Kate Medina really puts her complex and flawed creation, Jessie, through the wringer in her impressively well plotted series. I dare not think what will happen to her in the next book, although the ending makes it clear that Jessie's lack of honesty with Callan does not auger well for her. The harrowing subject matter of child killings makes this particularly bleak reading fare, but the writing and short chapters raise tension and suspense keeping the reader glued to the story. This is an intelligent, compelling and gripping read, something you know is guaranteed when it comes to Kate Medina novels. If you haven't encountered Dr Jessie Flynn yet, I strongly recommend that you do so. This is high quality crime fiction that should not be missed. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
DI Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons is completely convinced Carolynn murdered Zoe, and wants to contact her and her husband, Roger, who have disappeared. Despite Callan urging her to inform Marilyn as to Carolynn's whereabouts, Jessie stubbornly refuses, citing client confidentiality and her inner conviction that Carolynn is innocent. Since leaving the army, Jessie has deteriorated, her OCD issues have increased alarmingly, she has become self righteous and downright mean to those she loves. Her self destructive behaviour has become akin to a parasitic organism hellbent on wrecking all that is good in her life, she is aware of this but is helpless to do anything about it. This blinds Jessie, for Carolynn is a woman with many secrets. Jessie is able to help a broken Marilyn make critical progress in his hunt for the killer of the two little girls, but unable to prevent danger swirling close to home and the devastating consequences that ensue.
Kate Medina really puts her complex and flawed creation, Jessie, through the wringer in her impressively well plotted series. I dare not think what will happen to her in the next book, although the ending makes it clear that Jessie's lack of honesty with Callan does not auger well for her. The harrowing subject matter of child killings makes this particularly bleak reading fare, but the writing and short chapters raise tension and suspense keeping the reader glued to the story. This is an intelligent, compelling and gripping read, something you know is guaranteed when it comes to Kate Medina novels. If you haven't encountered Dr Jessie Flynn yet, I strongly recommend that you do so. This is high quality crime fiction that should not be missed. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
August 16, 2019
On the two year anniversary of a young girl found murdered on the Sussex beach of West Wittering, another child is found on the same stretch of sand.
In both instances the victim had been discovered with a doll by their side, questions arises amongst the investigating team if the killer returned as it seems too much of a coincidence.
Di Simmons who’d let the previous inquiry is determined to succeed this time and enlists the help of psychologists Jessie Flynn.
It wasn’t until I’d started reading this book that I realised I’d read Fire Damage which is the first in the series. I wish I’d quickly checked as I missed some of the character development of Jessie.
Though the story was still just as gripping even if I’d skipped a book.
The change of location was great, especially as I’ve visited the West Sussex location.
This is such a great series and I’m planning on correcting my error of missing the second novel so that I’m up to speed by the time the fourth entry is published!
In both instances the victim had been discovered with a doll by their side, questions arises amongst the investigating team if the killer returned as it seems too much of a coincidence.
Di Simmons who’d let the previous inquiry is determined to succeed this time and enlists the help of psychologists Jessie Flynn.
It wasn’t until I’d started reading this book that I realised I’d read Fire Damage which is the first in the series. I wish I’d quickly checked as I missed some of the character development of Jessie.
Though the story was still just as gripping even if I’d skipped a book.
The change of location was great, especially as I’ve visited the West Sussex location.
This is such a great series and I’m planning on correcting my error of missing the second novel so that I’m up to speed by the time the fourth entry is published!
March 13, 2020
Excellent book . Really enjoyed it . Great story well told . Definitely reading her other books
July 7, 2018
This started off really good but I got a little lost along the way however I persevered. Wasn't too keen on the way it ended though a bit abrupt.
September 13, 2022
⭐️⭐️ IT JUST MANAGED TO REACH THE THRESHOLD OF "OK", BUT I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT -- This book may have been occasionally enjoyable, but my enjoyment was overshadowed by the issues that were also present. The book could have missed the mark in any number of ways (i.e. plot holes, writing issues, characters whom I didn't care about, the author relied on too many tropes, stereotypes, etc.), or maybe I was just bored far too often. I would be unlikely to recommend this book to anyone.
----------
My ranking criteria (✅= Yes, ❌= No, ➖= Kind of/a little bit):
*Bonus points if I can't put the book down, it makes me feel strong emotion, or genuinely surprises me in some way.
*Penalty points for editing errors (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.), for children who act too mature or too young for their age (this is a bugbear of mine), or if there is something in the book that just really pisses me off for any reason.
1. I was sucked into the story from the beginning ➖
2. The story had a proper beginning, middle, and end ✅
3. The writing evoked a feeling of suspense ➖
4. I was engaged the whole way through/didn't get bored ➖
5. The characters were interesting ➖
6. There was some form of character development ❌
7. The book wasn't predictable in terms of relying on tired tropes, clichés, themes, stereotypes, etc. ➖
8. I cared about the outcome of the story ➖
9. I didn't work out the ending/the ending surprised me ❌
10. The ending was satisfying ❌
🌟 Bonus points: None.
☠️ Penalty points: None.
🏅 OVERALL RANKING: 4/10 (2/5 stars)
----------
Thoughts, Conclusion, and Recommendation:
Good lord where to start with this mess. Two Little Girls was so incredibly disappointing. Kate Medina has some writing ability, so I have no idea what happened here. Maybe I'll just begin by listing all the things that annoyed the absolute crap out of me whilst reading Two Little Girls:
1. At the start of the book, we get "Laura" having a psychology session with Jessie, followed by "Carolynn" (oh ugh that spelling!! 😖) who are thinking and talking about things like they are the same person. It's obviously meant to HINT that these two people are possibly the same person, but it's so clumsily done that I got confused and had to go back and reread parts to make sure I hadn't misinterpreted something. I see what Kate Medina was trying to do there, but it was just so badly done.
2. This sentence: "Carolynn watched her go, transfixed by the shape of her body in the pale pink swimsuit; still pudgy, no waist, puppy fat padding her arms and legs - just how she remembered Zoe's limbs, a perfect dimple behind each elbow". Except that this child is 9 or 10 (I can't remember exactly which), and the vast majority of children don't have puppy fat by that age! I know it's a small thing to be annoyed by, but do some goddamned research for god's sake! Most children lose their "puppy fat" as toddlers when they start walking, not after the age of 9 or 10 🙄.
3. "Rising from the sofa, Trigg scrabbled for the packet of Superkings on the table and lit a cigarette, sinking back beside Workman, hunching her shoulders and folding an arm across her chest - defensive body language, Marilyn recognized, inwardly allowing himself a brief, cynical smile at the knowledge and terminology he had absorbed from Jessie Flynn". What the actual frick?! There is no way that an experienced detective (with years of work under his belt) would not know about body language, defensive or otherwise, without being exposed to a psychologist. Talk about assigning too much weight to Jessie's influence 🤮.
4. This entire conversation:
"'There is such a thing as patient confidentiality, Callan.'
'When can patient confidentiality be breached?'
'Never.'
'That's not true. There are conditions under which patient confidentiality no longer applies. Confidentiality is an important duty, but it's not absolute.'
'For me it is absolute.'"
Again, what the actual frick?!?! 😩 No Jessie, for you it is not bloody absolute!!! You do not get to choose that! Psychologists have a duty of care to report a patient if they think that the patient is at risk of harming themselves or someone else! If they don't, and something bad happens, and it comes out that the patient told their psychologist, the psychologist could lose their licence!! FFS YOU STUPID WOMAN JESSIE! YOU DON'T MAKE THE RULES!! Also, the author 100% should know this and not make her character talk such crap.
5. "When most people lied, they broke eye contact, if only fleetingly, but for Carolynn, a woman who had never met Jessie's gaze directly before, the opposite was true. She had forced herself to hold Jessie's gaze unwaveringly, in the mistaken belief that eye contact signalled truth". Oh lord, this bloody book. It is NOT true that people break eye contact when lying; they are actually more likely to maintain too much eye contact to see if you are going to swallow their lie. It amazes me that Kate Medina could somehow get lying eye contact so wrong, and then also accidentally get it right, all in one little chunk. I think I'm going insane.
6. "...the feeling that she was floating, anchorless in the world at the moment, the knowledge that her OCD was worsening and that, despite the window into other people's minds that her profession afforded her, she didn't know how to help herself." Um, yes she bloody does 🙄🙄🙄 GO AND SEE A PROFESSIONAL FOR THERAPY AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. FFS!!! Every practicing mental health professional has regular supervision (or check ins with other professionals) to ensure that they stay mentally and emotionally healthy as well. BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO THEIR JOB IF THEY AREN'T! Sorry for all the caps, this book is pissing me off so much!
7. The author (or editor?) consistently wrote "The Reynolds" instead of either "The Reynolds's" or "The Reynolds'". My preference is the second one, but I would have accepted either. Sigh.
8. When Carolynn breaks into Jessie's house, she thinks: "The man again, calling for Jessie. Callan?" And then we are not told that it's actually NOT Callan but Ahmose. It's kind of implied because Jessie can't find Ahmose at his house, but it's never made clear. Again, this is incredibly clumsy writing, and could have so so easily been fixed. I thought for a while that both Callan and Ahmose were in the house with Carolynn, but no. It was just really lazy writing.
9. Jessie stating the following: "But she was still box-of-frogs crazy, and I didn't see it." A psychologist/mental health professional would never say that about a patient/client. It can be so harmful to label people like that, and a real professional would never cross that line. I mean, Carolynn obviously had some trauma and mental health stuff going on, but the lack of compassion and understanding from Jessie (a so-called professional) is disgusting.
10. Jessie deciding to not tell Callan that she was pregnant but lost the baby. She thinks to herself: "She would never forgive herself if she screwed up this relationship. What upside was there in sharing with him that she had been pregnant? None. There was none." I beg to differ Jessie. If you tell him, you aren't lying by omission, and he can also support you through the grief and loss. But just in terms of the story, if Jessie isn't telling anyone, what's the point of making it happen?! Jessie had no character development around it, and it affected her life negligibly. There was no point to it even happening!!! Aaaarrggghhh 😡😡😡
There were some other things too, but I think 10 points in my rant against Two Little Girls is enough. I will not be reading any more books in this series, nor any more books by Kate Medina full stop. I don't recommend it, and I'm disappointed with this series, because it had potential to begin with. Oh well, onwards and upwards. 2 stars.
----------
Series ratings:
1. Fire Damage - 2.5 stars
2. Scared to Death - 3.5 stars
3. Two Little Girls - 2 stars
----------
My ranking criteria (✅= Yes, ❌= No, ➖= Kind of/a little bit):
*Bonus points if I can't put the book down, it makes me feel strong emotion, or genuinely surprises me in some way.
*Penalty points for editing errors (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.), for children who act too mature or too young for their age (this is a bugbear of mine), or if there is something in the book that just really pisses me off for any reason.
1. I was sucked into the story from the beginning ➖
2. The story had a proper beginning, middle, and end ✅
3. The writing evoked a feeling of suspense ➖
4. I was engaged the whole way through/didn't get bored ➖
5. The characters were interesting ➖
6. There was some form of character development ❌
7. The book wasn't predictable in terms of relying on tired tropes, clichés, themes, stereotypes, etc. ➖
8. I cared about the outcome of the story ➖
9. I didn't work out the ending/the ending surprised me ❌
10. The ending was satisfying ❌
🌟 Bonus points: None.
☠️ Penalty points: None.
🏅 OVERALL RANKING: 4/10 (2/5 stars)
----------
Thoughts, Conclusion, and Recommendation:
Good lord where to start with this mess. Two Little Girls was so incredibly disappointing. Kate Medina has some writing ability, so I have no idea what happened here. Maybe I'll just begin by listing all the things that annoyed the absolute crap out of me whilst reading Two Little Girls:
1. At the start of the book, we get "Laura" having a psychology session with Jessie, followed by "Carolynn" (oh ugh that spelling!! 😖) who are thinking and talking about things like they are the same person. It's obviously meant to HINT that these two people are possibly the same person, but it's so clumsily done that I got confused and had to go back and reread parts to make sure I hadn't misinterpreted something. I see what Kate Medina was trying to do there, but it was just so badly done.
2. This sentence: "Carolynn watched her go, transfixed by the shape of her body in the pale pink swimsuit; still pudgy, no waist, puppy fat padding her arms and legs - just how she remembered Zoe's limbs, a perfect dimple behind each elbow". Except that this child is 9 or 10 (I can't remember exactly which), and the vast majority of children don't have puppy fat by that age! I know it's a small thing to be annoyed by, but do some goddamned research for god's sake! Most children lose their "puppy fat" as toddlers when they start walking, not after the age of 9 or 10 🙄.
3. "Rising from the sofa, Trigg scrabbled for the packet of Superkings on the table and lit a cigarette, sinking back beside Workman, hunching her shoulders and folding an arm across her chest - defensive body language, Marilyn recognized, inwardly allowing himself a brief, cynical smile at the knowledge and terminology he had absorbed from Jessie Flynn". What the actual frick?! There is no way that an experienced detective (with years of work under his belt) would not know about body language, defensive or otherwise, without being exposed to a psychologist. Talk about assigning too much weight to Jessie's influence 🤮.
4. This entire conversation:
"'There is such a thing as patient confidentiality, Callan.'
'When can patient confidentiality be breached?'
'Never.'
'That's not true. There are conditions under which patient confidentiality no longer applies. Confidentiality is an important duty, but it's not absolute.'
'For me it is absolute.'"
Again, what the actual frick?!?! 😩 No Jessie, for you it is not bloody absolute!!! You do not get to choose that! Psychologists have a duty of care to report a patient if they think that the patient is at risk of harming themselves or someone else! If they don't, and something bad happens, and it comes out that the patient told their psychologist, the psychologist could lose their licence!! FFS YOU STUPID WOMAN JESSIE! YOU DON'T MAKE THE RULES!! Also, the author 100% should know this and not make her character talk such crap.
5. "When most people lied, they broke eye contact, if only fleetingly, but for Carolynn, a woman who had never met Jessie's gaze directly before, the opposite was true. She had forced herself to hold Jessie's gaze unwaveringly, in the mistaken belief that eye contact signalled truth". Oh lord, this bloody book. It is NOT true that people break eye contact when lying; they are actually more likely to maintain too much eye contact to see if you are going to swallow their lie. It amazes me that Kate Medina could somehow get lying eye contact so wrong, and then also accidentally get it right, all in one little chunk. I think I'm going insane.
6. "...the feeling that she was floating, anchorless in the world at the moment, the knowledge that her OCD was worsening and that, despite the window into other people's minds that her profession afforded her, she didn't know how to help herself." Um, yes she bloody does 🙄🙄🙄 GO AND SEE A PROFESSIONAL FOR THERAPY AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. FFS!!! Every practicing mental health professional has regular supervision (or check ins with other professionals) to ensure that they stay mentally and emotionally healthy as well. BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO THEIR JOB IF THEY AREN'T! Sorry for all the caps, this book is pissing me off so much!
7. The author (or editor?) consistently wrote "The Reynolds" instead of either "The Reynolds's" or "The Reynolds'". My preference is the second one, but I would have accepted either. Sigh.
8. When Carolynn breaks into Jessie's house, she thinks: "The man again, calling for Jessie. Callan?" And then we are not told that it's actually NOT Callan but Ahmose. It's kind of implied because Jessie can't find Ahmose at his house, but it's never made clear. Again, this is incredibly clumsy writing, and could have so so easily been fixed. I thought for a while that both Callan and Ahmose were in the house with Carolynn, but no. It was just really lazy writing.
9. Jessie stating the following: "But she was still box-of-frogs crazy, and I didn't see it." A psychologist/mental health professional would never say that about a patient/client. It can be so harmful to label people like that, and a real professional would never cross that line. I mean, Carolynn obviously had some trauma and mental health stuff going on, but the lack of compassion and understanding from Jessie (a so-called professional) is disgusting.
10. Jessie deciding to not tell Callan that she was pregnant but lost the baby. She thinks to herself: "She would never forgive herself if she screwed up this relationship. What upside was there in sharing with him that she had been pregnant? None. There was none." I beg to differ Jessie. If you tell him, you aren't lying by omission, and he can also support you through the grief and loss. But just in terms of the story, if Jessie isn't telling anyone, what's the point of making it happen?! Jessie had no character development around it, and it affected her life negligibly. There was no point to it even happening!!! Aaaarrggghhh 😡😡😡
There were some other things too, but I think 10 points in my rant against Two Little Girls is enough. I will not be reading any more books in this series, nor any more books by Kate Medina full stop. I don't recommend it, and I'm disappointed with this series, because it had potential to begin with. Oh well, onwards and upwards. 2 stars.
----------
Series ratings:
1. Fire Damage - 2.5 stars
2. Scared to Death - 3.5 stars
3. Two Little Girls - 2 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2018
When a young girl is found dead on the beach, encircled in shells and clutching an ugly doll it bears a lot of similarities to a previous, unsolved case. But are the two connected and can Jessie Flynn advise objectively on such a heart-breaking case?
I must admit that I had never read any of the other books in the Jessie Flynn series but this was certainly a good introduction and has inspired me to read more! Jessie seems to be a very interesting and complex character who I’m sure makes a good foundation for the rest of the series. This book holds some great characters in general; from the moody DI Marilyn to the deeply disturbed Laura. I wasn’t sure if any of them except Jessie’s boyfriend Callan had been introduced previously but I enjoyed finding out more about their backstories and personalities.
The story itself is nicely paced with enough red herrings and plot twists to keep you engaged throughout and a final conclusion that only really gets revealed right towards the end – it really does keep you guessing right until the last moment.
I felt that the blurb gave away a little too much about Laura than I would have liked – it made me really suspicious of her from the first time we meet her. If nothing in the blurb had mentioned about the link between her and the girls then I think one of the very early twists would have hit a harder than it actually did.
Overall Two Little Girls is a great installment in the Jessie Flynn series and one that you do not really need to have previous knowledge of the series to enjoy. It’s a well-paced thriller with some great characters that keeps you guessing. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews, take a look at www.kindig.co.uk
I must admit that I had never read any of the other books in the Jessie Flynn series but this was certainly a good introduction and has inspired me to read more! Jessie seems to be a very interesting and complex character who I’m sure makes a good foundation for the rest of the series. This book holds some great characters in general; from the moody DI Marilyn to the deeply disturbed Laura. I wasn’t sure if any of them except Jessie’s boyfriend Callan had been introduced previously but I enjoyed finding out more about their backstories and personalities.
The story itself is nicely paced with enough red herrings and plot twists to keep you engaged throughout and a final conclusion that only really gets revealed right towards the end – it really does keep you guessing right until the last moment.
I felt that the blurb gave away a little too much about Laura than I would have liked – it made me really suspicious of her from the first time we meet her. If nothing in the blurb had mentioned about the link between her and the girls then I think one of the very early twists would have hit a harder than it actually did.
Overall Two Little Girls is a great installment in the Jessie Flynn series and one that you do not really need to have previous knowledge of the series to enjoy. It’s a well-paced thriller with some great characters that keeps you guessing. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews, take a look at www.kindig.co.uk
February 28, 2018
I downloaded the book and 4 hours later I finished reading it!
I'll admit before I got the email from Netgalley I hadn't heard of this story or the author behind it but the blurb was more than enough to capture my attention.
I didn't expect to be instantly hooked. What starts with one little girl's murder, spirals into another murder but are they related, the same killer or purely a coincidence?
This is a genre that I really enjoy. Crime mixed with mystery and a pinch of thriller. What Kate has created is a plot that's very realistic and she has you questioning the characters motives and their morals. Could I be objective in a case that involves children?
About half way through I thought I had it all figured out, the person behind the crimes discovered but in actual fact I'd been fooled! The way the novel is written takes you between past and present and you have to pay attention to know which characters secrets are being divulged at any given moment.
It's almost like a game of Chinese whispers across the pages.
Short chapters made for an easy read, it was fast paced throughout, I was simply unable to put the book down.
Two Little Girls is what I'd describe as one hell of a page turner, I've not read the previous two novels in this series (something that I have just discovered) but I certainly will be now.
And if you are fan of the crime genre then this book is definitely for you!
I'll admit before I got the email from Netgalley I hadn't heard of this story or the author behind it but the blurb was more than enough to capture my attention.
I didn't expect to be instantly hooked. What starts with one little girl's murder, spirals into another murder but are they related, the same killer or purely a coincidence?
This is a genre that I really enjoy. Crime mixed with mystery and a pinch of thriller. What Kate has created is a plot that's very realistic and she has you questioning the characters motives and their morals. Could I be objective in a case that involves children?
About half way through I thought I had it all figured out, the person behind the crimes discovered but in actual fact I'd been fooled! The way the novel is written takes you between past and present and you have to pay attention to know which characters secrets are being divulged at any given moment.
It's almost like a game of Chinese whispers across the pages.
Short chapters made for an easy read, it was fast paced throughout, I was simply unable to put the book down.
Two Little Girls is what I'd describe as one hell of a page turner, I've not read the previous two novels in this series (something that I have just discovered) but I certainly will be now.
And if you are fan of the crime genre then this book is definitely for you!
March 21, 2021
The third in the Jessie Flynn series and all I can say is I hope there’s more…
We’re back following our protagonist psychologist Jessie Flynn and watch her get caught up in yet another murder which reintroduces old characters that genuinely feel like old friends coming back. The plot is written incredibly, it captures you from the beginning and in typical Medina style the chapters get shorter and shorter towards the end, along with the building tension.
Although technically the third in the series, it doesn’t have to be read as part of the series and could be a standalone (you just wouldn’t know the backstory in quite the same detail). I only wish I had read this closer to the other two instead of leaving it on my TBR pile for a few months!
This is the last published book in the Jessie Flynn series and I’m just praying more come out soon!
We’re back following our protagonist psychologist Jessie Flynn and watch her get caught up in yet another murder which reintroduces old characters that genuinely feel like old friends coming back. The plot is written incredibly, it captures you from the beginning and in typical Medina style the chapters get shorter and shorter towards the end, along with the building tension.
Although technically the third in the series, it doesn’t have to be read as part of the series and could be a standalone (you just wouldn’t know the backstory in quite the same detail). I only wish I had read this closer to the other two instead of leaving it on my TBR pile for a few months!
This is the last published book in the Jessie Flynn series and I’m just praying more come out soon!
March 5, 2018
I’ve not read of the other books in this series but I’ll most certainly be ordering all of Kate Medina’s other titles.
Dr Jessie Flynn is a fantastic character, and seeing her get caught up in a complex and perplexing case caught my interest from the very beginning and kept me reading until the very end.
The pairing of Flynn and DI Simmons was great, I enjoyed their conversations and seeing how they worked together. Combined with Flynn’s new patient, this is story has lots of different threads that all wove together brilliantly.
I’d recommend this to fans of Chelsea Cain, Tania Carver and Alex Marwood.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this.
Dr Jessie Flynn is a fantastic character, and seeing her get caught up in a complex and perplexing case caught my interest from the very beginning and kept me reading until the very end.
The pairing of Flynn and DI Simmons was great, I enjoyed their conversations and seeing how they worked together. Combined with Flynn’s new patient, this is story has lots of different threads that all wove together brilliantly.
I’d recommend this to fans of Chelsea Cain, Tania Carver and Alex Marwood.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this.
December 11, 2018
I loved reading this book, and while, for me, it was not a one sit read, I really enjoyed picking it up, reading and being left to think about the story and it's characters.
When two years to the day after Carolynn and Roger's daughter Zoe is murdered, another little girl, Jodie is found murdered in the same circumstances, DI Simmons is on a mission to succeed where he failed when he investigated the murder of Zoe.
This is a dark and disturbing tale, with a strong female cast of characters. It is very cleverly written and a story that the reader doesn't really know what is going to happen next.
There are secrets, lies and some distressing themes.
I really thought that I knew who the killer was, but no... I was so so wrong.
I love Jessie Flynn, she is a girl with a lot of issues and her life has known sadness which gives her a human softness.
A very good read that gets the reader hooked.
When two years to the day after Carolynn and Roger's daughter Zoe is murdered, another little girl, Jodie is found murdered in the same circumstances, DI Simmons is on a mission to succeed where he failed when he investigated the murder of Zoe.
This is a dark and disturbing tale, with a strong female cast of characters. It is very cleverly written and a story that the reader doesn't really know what is going to happen next.
There are secrets, lies and some distressing themes.
I really thought that I knew who the killer was, but no... I was so so wrong.
I love Jessie Flynn, she is a girl with a lot of issues and her life has known sadness which gives her a human softness.
A very good read that gets the reader hooked.
January 20, 2019
What a page turner. Had me guessing until the end. Tragedy through and through in this book
March 5, 2021
Brilliant book. Lots of twists and turns , kept you guessing until the end. Looking forward to reading others by this author.
June 7, 2021
A little girl was found dead with a doll by the beach by her mother. The mother was acquitted due to lqck of evidence. Two years later, another dead girl found by the same beach, with a doll beside her. The mother was haunted by the same tragedy all over again. Now the law enforcement may have to look again at her case. It's quite simple, with not much characters to lead you astray and kind of expected ending.
September 30, 2019
Two Little Girls by Kate Medina
Title - Two Little Girls
Author - Kate Medina
Published - Nov '18
Publisher - Harper Collins
Genre - #Thriller #Crime #Psychological
Pages - 400
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £7.99 Kindle - £8.99
ISBN - 0008214034
This is a Jessie Flynn crime thriller novel. Jessie Flynn is a psychologist who has a dark past which she struggles to deal with. Two years ago a young girls body was found on the beach with a doll left beside her, her killer was never caught. Now another girl has been found dead, she was also left with a doll beside her. DI Bobby Simmons realised he's got a second chance to catch his killer. Dr Jessie Flynn is called in to help with the investigation. But Flynn has a new patient Laura who is dragging her into a dangerous web of lies and deception.
This is the book I've read by Kate Medina. I must say I rather enjoyed it. Yet again I find myself reading a mid-series book, this is starting to become a bad habit of mine.
Were introduced to psychologist Jessie Flynn, we learn about her past which we see her struggle to come to terms with. We see the strength she has and the passion she has for her job. I found Jessie to be a likeable character who you find yourself feeling sympathy for. You also want her to be able to face her past and come to terms with what happened.
I enjoyed the writing style of this book, the book flowed well. The storyline was interesting. I didn't find it as captivating as other books in the same genre. But I did still enjoy it. I'm not sure I would read it again but I am glad I read it the once.
For these reasons, I have chosen to give this book three out of five stars.
Thank You to Netgally for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating - Three out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - No
Would I Recommend? - Yes
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon (UK) under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at http://www.readingbeyondobsession.co.uk/
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com
Links to this review can be found at:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lucyluisbookreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Title - Two Little Girls
Author - Kate Medina
Published - Nov '18
Publisher - Harper Collins
Genre - #Thriller #Crime #Psychological
Pages - 400
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £7.99 Kindle - £8.99
ISBN - 0008214034
This is a Jessie Flynn crime thriller novel. Jessie Flynn is a psychologist who has a dark past which she struggles to deal with. Two years ago a young girls body was found on the beach with a doll left beside her, her killer was never caught. Now another girl has been found dead, she was also left with a doll beside her. DI Bobby Simmons realised he's got a second chance to catch his killer. Dr Jessie Flynn is called in to help with the investigation. But Flynn has a new patient Laura who is dragging her into a dangerous web of lies and deception.
This is the book I've read by Kate Medina. I must say I rather enjoyed it. Yet again I find myself reading a mid-series book, this is starting to become a bad habit of mine.
Were introduced to psychologist Jessie Flynn, we learn about her past which we see her struggle to come to terms with. We see the strength she has and the passion she has for her job. I found Jessie to be a likeable character who you find yourself feeling sympathy for. You also want her to be able to face her past and come to terms with what happened.
I enjoyed the writing style of this book, the book flowed well. The storyline was interesting. I didn't find it as captivating as other books in the same genre. But I did still enjoy it. I'm not sure I would read it again but I am glad I read it the once.
For these reasons, I have chosen to give this book three out of five stars.
Thank You to Netgally for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating - Three out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - No
Would I Recommend? - Yes
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon (UK) under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at http://www.readingbeyondobsession.co.uk/
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com
Links to this review can be found at:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lucyluisbookreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
April 1, 2019
One fateful day, a young girl is found strangled on a beach, lying next to a doll. This is reminiscent of a similar crime committed a couple of years previously when the victim was a young girl called Zoe and DI Simmonds is convinced there is a connection between the two cases. He is already racked with guilt from having failed to solve the first murder and is determined that the perpetrator is not going to escape again. Enter Jesse Flynn, a psychologist with plenty of demons of her own. When it transpires that a woman calling herself Laura is a patient of Jesse’s and that Laura is the mother of Zoe and one of the main suspects in the previous investigation, DI Simmonds and Jesse team up in a concerted effort to get to the bottom of these two tragic deaths.
Although I found the start a little slow, the pace did pick up as the plot progressed. I also thought it was a good premise for a psychological thriller and the storyline gave plenty of opportunities for quite clever twists.
However, I did not feel that the book really delivered on many of my expectations. The characters were often so extreme that I could not relate to them at all – I think a slightly more toned down cast list, whilst maintaining some of their wonderfully eccentric attributes, would have made the whole novel seem a little more realistic. In particular I struggled to get my head round Jesse Flynn, but she may have come across as a more cohesive character if I had read the previous two books in which she features. I also found most of the characters extremely unlikeable which didn’t help. Despite the fact that the pace did certainly gain some momentum, I still found that the book dragged at times, possibly because I didn’t really care too much about what happened to the majority of the main characters. Finally, I found the ending a little contrived and ultimately, not terribly feasible.
I had not come across Kate Medina before and, unfortunately, will probably not be seeking out any of her other books. Having said that, she generally gets very good reviews so I may be out on a limb here and would therefore hesitate to discourage others from reading her novels.
Although I found the start a little slow, the pace did pick up as the plot progressed. I also thought it was a good premise for a psychological thriller and the storyline gave plenty of opportunities for quite clever twists.
However, I did not feel that the book really delivered on many of my expectations. The characters were often so extreme that I could not relate to them at all – I think a slightly more toned down cast list, whilst maintaining some of their wonderfully eccentric attributes, would have made the whole novel seem a little more realistic. In particular I struggled to get my head round Jesse Flynn, but she may have come across as a more cohesive character if I had read the previous two books in which she features. I also found most of the characters extremely unlikeable which didn’t help. Despite the fact that the pace did certainly gain some momentum, I still found that the book dragged at times, possibly because I didn’t really care too much about what happened to the majority of the main characters. Finally, I found the ending a little contrived and ultimately, not terribly feasible.
I had not come across Kate Medina before and, unfortunately, will probably not be seeking out any of her other books. Having said that, she generally gets very good reviews so I may be out on a limb here and would therefore hesitate to discourage others from reading her novels.
May 1, 2019
This was a new author to me so I hadn’t read the first two books in the series but that was not a problem as it was fine as a standalone. The book features Jessie Flynn, who is a psychologist but also works as a consultant with the police. We learn that since Jessie left the army due to an injury her OCD has worsened as she is still struggling with the death of her brother. A body of a young girl is found on the beach with a doll left beside her. DI Simmons consults Jessie as he was involved in a case a few years earlier that was exactly the same as this and he is convinced that the same person has killed both the girls. He has been haunted by the fact that he never solved the case. Jessie runs a private clinic and has been treating a woman called Laura who says her daughter died in a car crash but when Jessie sees the news on TV she realises that Laura has been lying and that her real name is Carolyn and her daughter was the body thta was found on the beach a few yea4s earlier. Carolyn was the main suspect in her daughter’s murder but she was acquitted and DI Simmons always believed that she was guilty. Jessie teams up with him to try and solve the case. This is a very dark and disturbing story that will have you gripped from the start. The tension builds as the story unfolds. I was really kept guessing right until the end. A very good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
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Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
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April 16, 2019
Painful! Childishly written.
July 12, 2020
This was a DNF...
September 22, 2022
Good plot and I couldn’t put it down, the twist was good but I could see it coming!
Would recommend!
Would recommend!
March 23, 2018
This is the third book in the best selling series featuring the psychologist Jessie Flynn. I love the Jessie Flynn series and so I was hugely excited when I found out that the third book was on its way. I absolutely loved reading it but more about that in a bit.
Dr. Jessie Flynn is different in this book. By that I mean that she has changed following the incidents that took place in the second book. She has significant physical and mental health scars following the incident, which led to her being discharged by the army. Her body lets her down. Jessie does have some happiness in her life though because she is in a settled relationship with Callan and he has moreorless moved in with her. Jessie works as a consultant to the police but she is also kept busy by her private practice, where she meets an intriguing character calling herself ‘Laura’, who feels tremendous guilt over the death of her child. ‘Laura’ feels that she failed her child because she couldn’t keep her alive. ‘Laura’ is a bit of a funny old fish in that she is trying to befriend her therapist, Jessie as well as see her for therapy sessions, which is a big no no. Jessie is conscious that she needs to keep the relationship strictly professional and above board to avoid any allegations, which would see Jessie being reported to the Disclosure and Barring Service. ‘Laura’ isn’t easily dissuaded. It soon becomes clear that ‘Laura’ is not telling the full truth and she is somebody else entirely, who was suspected of killing her child. The child died in suspicious circumstances almost two years prior to the setting of the book and in the present day, another child’s body is found in suspicious and similar circumstances to the first body. Alarm bells start to ring for Jessie when links between ‘Laura’ and the two dead children emerge. Who murdered the two children and why? Can Jessie help the police to solve the case before any more deaths? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves as I am not going to tell you.
‘Two Little Girls’ is the sort of book I love to read. It’s partly a police procedural but at the same time the majority of the book is to do with psychology and the human mind. I just love everything and anything to do with psychology and criminal psychology. I had aspirations to be the next ‘Cracker’ solving crimes at the drop of a hat and really getting into the heads of criminals. I eagerly opened the front cover and to say I became addicted to reading the book is a distinct understatement. I was gripped by the story and I just had to keep reading to see if my theory was correct and if the story panned out as I thought it would. I have to say that I was wrong in certain areas but right in others. Reading ‘Two Little Girls’ is like being on one of the bumpiest and most unpredictable rollercoaster rides. Honestly there were lots of twists, turns and moments where you didn’t want to look because you were concerned about what was going to happen next. There were also several red herrings. Kate’s writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn in from the first word on the first page. The characters are so well described that they seemed real to me and the writing was so convincing that I began to live the story. I felt like I was Jessie’s assistant as it were and I found myself talking to Jessie as if she was stood next to me. That certainly got me some funny looks whilst I was on the bus!
In short I absolutely loved the third instalment of the Dr. Jessie Flynn series and I can’t wait to read more from the supremely talented but also twisted Kate Medina. I would wholeheartedly recommend her and her books to anybody but particularly to those fans of psychological thrillers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.
Dr. Jessie Flynn is different in this book. By that I mean that she has changed following the incidents that took place in the second book. She has significant physical and mental health scars following the incident, which led to her being discharged by the army. Her body lets her down. Jessie does have some happiness in her life though because she is in a settled relationship with Callan and he has moreorless moved in with her. Jessie works as a consultant to the police but she is also kept busy by her private practice, where she meets an intriguing character calling herself ‘Laura’, who feels tremendous guilt over the death of her child. ‘Laura’ feels that she failed her child because she couldn’t keep her alive. ‘Laura’ is a bit of a funny old fish in that she is trying to befriend her therapist, Jessie as well as see her for therapy sessions, which is a big no no. Jessie is conscious that she needs to keep the relationship strictly professional and above board to avoid any allegations, which would see Jessie being reported to the Disclosure and Barring Service. ‘Laura’ isn’t easily dissuaded. It soon becomes clear that ‘Laura’ is not telling the full truth and she is somebody else entirely, who was suspected of killing her child. The child died in suspicious circumstances almost two years prior to the setting of the book and in the present day, another child’s body is found in suspicious and similar circumstances to the first body. Alarm bells start to ring for Jessie when links between ‘Laura’ and the two dead children emerge. Who murdered the two children and why? Can Jessie help the police to solve the case before any more deaths? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves as I am not going to tell you.
‘Two Little Girls’ is the sort of book I love to read. It’s partly a police procedural but at the same time the majority of the book is to do with psychology and the human mind. I just love everything and anything to do with psychology and criminal psychology. I had aspirations to be the next ‘Cracker’ solving crimes at the drop of a hat and really getting into the heads of criminals. I eagerly opened the front cover and to say I became addicted to reading the book is a distinct understatement. I was gripped by the story and I just had to keep reading to see if my theory was correct and if the story panned out as I thought it would. I have to say that I was wrong in certain areas but right in others. Reading ‘Two Little Girls’ is like being on one of the bumpiest and most unpredictable rollercoaster rides. Honestly there were lots of twists, turns and moments where you didn’t want to look because you were concerned about what was going to happen next. There were also several red herrings. Kate’s writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn in from the first word on the first page. The characters are so well described that they seemed real to me and the writing was so convincing that I began to live the story. I felt like I was Jessie’s assistant as it were and I found myself talking to Jessie as if she was stood next to me. That certainly got me some funny looks whilst I was on the bus!
In short I absolutely loved the third instalment of the Dr. Jessie Flynn series and I can’t wait to read more from the supremely talented but also twisted Kate Medina. I would wholeheartedly recommend her and her books to anybody but particularly to those fans of psychological thrillers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.
June 8, 2018
Two Little Girls is the third instalment in Kate Medina's Jessie Flynn series, but works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel if you haven't read the previous 2 (I hadn't).
A little girl is found strangled on a popular tourist beach, with a dolly at her side & a love heart made of seashells surrounding her body. DI 'Marilyn' Simmons (real name Bobby, nicknamed after Manson, not Monroe), apart from being sickened by the crime, is more horrified than most as 2 years ago he worked on an identical murder, that of 8 year old Zoe Reynolds, he is convinced, carried out by the hand of her Mother, Carolynn. However Carolynn was acquitted due to lack of evidence and after the case, got the hell out of Dodge with her husband Roger.
When the little girl is identified as local girl Jodie Trigg, Marilyn swallows down his guilt at failing Zoe, and resolves to solve this case once and for all and find justice for both little girls. This includes tracking down Carolynn and Roger, and tying up those loose ends he keeps finding in the back of his mind.
Jessie Flynn is an ex-army psychiatrist, recently invalided out of the military after a violent incident that left her with a damaged hand. It also left her with a rather fantastic man, Ben Callan. Jessie suffers with OCD which is heightened after her recent change in circumstances, but she is keeping it largely under control apart from a few blips.
Jessie has recently been treating a troubled client, Laura. Laura has told Jessie that she lost her daughter 2 years ago in a car accident after she let go of her hand on a busy road, and is understandably having problems in coming to terms with it. She also exhibits some strange behaviours, such as wanting to be friends with Jessie outside of her sessions, which of course, is a big no-no.
When the news breaks of Jodie's murder, Jessie sees 'Laura' on the news identified as Caroynn Reynolds, wanted to help police with their enquiries into Jodie Trigg's death. Jessie is stunned, and conflicted. Should she tell the police what she knows and betray Carolynn's trust or should she keep quiet?
After a discussion with Callan, where he begs her to see sense and contact the police, frustrated, and fearful for Jessie's safety, Callan goes ahead and does it for her. Shortly aftewards, DI Marilyn appears on Jessie's doorstep demanding that the pair team up to find Carolynn and Roger. As a consultant to the police on major crimes, Jessie reluctantly agrees, although she is far from convinced that Marilyn has the right person in the frame for the crime.
Two Little Girls is a complex read; Jessie's character is clearly struggling with things that have happened to her, and is struggling to find a sense of normality inside this new life, and alongside her OCD. The characters are believable, their relationships flawed and difficult. There are themes of violence, neglect, mental health and deception, all of which lead to an intriguing mystery with a strong ending.
*I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.Review to follow
(3.5 rounded up to 4)
A little girl is found strangled on a popular tourist beach, with a dolly at her side & a love heart made of seashells surrounding her body. DI 'Marilyn' Simmons (real name Bobby, nicknamed after Manson, not Monroe), apart from being sickened by the crime, is more horrified than most as 2 years ago he worked on an identical murder, that of 8 year old Zoe Reynolds, he is convinced, carried out by the hand of her Mother, Carolynn. However Carolynn was acquitted due to lack of evidence and after the case, got the hell out of Dodge with her husband Roger.
When the little girl is identified as local girl Jodie Trigg, Marilyn swallows down his guilt at failing Zoe, and resolves to solve this case once and for all and find justice for both little girls. This includes tracking down Carolynn and Roger, and tying up those loose ends he keeps finding in the back of his mind.
Jessie Flynn is an ex-army psychiatrist, recently invalided out of the military after a violent incident that left her with a damaged hand. It also left her with a rather fantastic man, Ben Callan. Jessie suffers with OCD which is heightened after her recent change in circumstances, but she is keeping it largely under control apart from a few blips.
Jessie has recently been treating a troubled client, Laura. Laura has told Jessie that she lost her daughter 2 years ago in a car accident after she let go of her hand on a busy road, and is understandably having problems in coming to terms with it. She also exhibits some strange behaviours, such as wanting to be friends with Jessie outside of her sessions, which of course, is a big no-no.
When the news breaks of Jodie's murder, Jessie sees 'Laura' on the news identified as Caroynn Reynolds, wanted to help police with their enquiries into Jodie Trigg's death. Jessie is stunned, and conflicted. Should she tell the police what she knows and betray Carolynn's trust or should she keep quiet?
After a discussion with Callan, where he begs her to see sense and contact the police, frustrated, and fearful for Jessie's safety, Callan goes ahead and does it for her. Shortly aftewards, DI Marilyn appears on Jessie's doorstep demanding that the pair team up to find Carolynn and Roger. As a consultant to the police on major crimes, Jessie reluctantly agrees, although she is far from convinced that Marilyn has the right person in the frame for the crime.
Two Little Girls is a complex read; Jessie's character is clearly struggling with things that have happened to her, and is struggling to find a sense of normality inside this new life, and alongside her OCD. The characters are believable, their relationships flawed and difficult. There are themes of violence, neglect, mental health and deception, all of which lead to an intriguing mystery with a strong ending.
*I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.Review to follow
(3.5 rounded up to 4)
March 23, 2018
To be honest I kind of borrowed this book from NetGalley by accident. Some years ago, I read Kate Medina’s brilliant debut, White Crocodile, a thriller set in the legacy mine fields of Cambodia and loved it (she was writing under K.T. Medina then). I’ve read nothing from the author since and was unaware that she had turned to psychological thrillers (which perhaps explains why she now writes as Kate rather than K.T.). Personally, psychological thrillers have always left me a little cold and so despite the cover and title – which perhaps I should have taken as a hint that this was a psychological thriller – I borrowed Two Little Girls expecting something more akin to White Crocodile.
That said, once I started reading I decided to plough on. It wasn’t just that I hate to leave a book unfinished, it’s also that Two Little Girls, while not strictly my cup of tea, is well written and compelling. Apparently, this is the latest in a series of novels to feature psychologist Jessie Flynn and DI Bobby “Marilyn” Simmonds of Surrey and Sussex Major Crimes.
In Two Little Girls, Jessie has just been invalided out of the army where she was a psychologist (I presume in previous books she was still in the army) and is now in private practice. When a young girl, Jodie Triggs, is found strangled on the beach, it transpires that the murder is similar to that of Zoe Reynolds, an unsolved homicide that haunts DI Simmonds. One of Jessie’s patients, Laura, turns out to be Zoe’s mother and the chief suspect in her death (her real name is Carolynn Reynolds). Jessie and DI Simmonds now work together to solve the latest murder and in turn the former.
The novel is structured in alternating chapters told from the perspective of the various characters. Some of these are straightforward, such as those chapters that are from Jessie’s perspective or that of DI Simmonds. Others, especially those from the perspective of Carolynn are less so; we quickly realise that she is an unreliable narrator.
At heart, as with most psychological thrillers, Two Little Girls sits firmly within what’s been called “domestic noir”. The Reynolds – Carolynn, her husband Roger, their murdered daughter Zoe – was a dysfunctional unit, especially so after Zoe died; we, the readers, turn the pages wondering if either husband or wife killed their daughter, whether they have gone on to kill Jodie, and if so, why?
The characters in Two Little Girls are well-crafted and believable, and the author plots her tale deftly. Despite liking my crime novels a little harder-edged and noirish – as indeed White Crocodile was - I read this quite quickly and enjoyed it. So, if psychological thrillers are your thing, and they’re incredibly popular, then you’ll love this.
That said, once I started reading I decided to plough on. It wasn’t just that I hate to leave a book unfinished, it’s also that Two Little Girls, while not strictly my cup of tea, is well written and compelling. Apparently, this is the latest in a series of novels to feature psychologist Jessie Flynn and DI Bobby “Marilyn” Simmonds of Surrey and Sussex Major Crimes.
In Two Little Girls, Jessie has just been invalided out of the army where she was a psychologist (I presume in previous books she was still in the army) and is now in private practice. When a young girl, Jodie Triggs, is found strangled on the beach, it transpires that the murder is similar to that of Zoe Reynolds, an unsolved homicide that haunts DI Simmonds. One of Jessie’s patients, Laura, turns out to be Zoe’s mother and the chief suspect in her death (her real name is Carolynn Reynolds). Jessie and DI Simmonds now work together to solve the latest murder and in turn the former.
The novel is structured in alternating chapters told from the perspective of the various characters. Some of these are straightforward, such as those chapters that are from Jessie’s perspective or that of DI Simmonds. Others, especially those from the perspective of Carolynn are less so; we quickly realise that she is an unreliable narrator.
At heart, as with most psychological thrillers, Two Little Girls sits firmly within what’s been called “domestic noir”. The Reynolds – Carolynn, her husband Roger, their murdered daughter Zoe – was a dysfunctional unit, especially so after Zoe died; we, the readers, turn the pages wondering if either husband or wife killed their daughter, whether they have gone on to kill Jodie, and if so, why?
The characters in Two Little Girls are well-crafted and believable, and the author plots her tale deftly. Despite liking my crime novels a little harder-edged and noirish – as indeed White Crocodile was - I read this quite quickly and enjoyed it. So, if psychological thrillers are your thing, and they’re incredibly popular, then you’ll love this.
August 24, 2020
Two Little Girls is the third novel in the Dr Jessie Flynn series by Kate Medina. Following on from events in the last book, Jessie has left the army. She is currently seeing a new client who is struggling to move on from the death of her child two years ago. Meanwhile, Jessie’s boyfriend, Ben Callan, becomes involved in a new investigation when the body of a child has been found. The case bears haunting similarities to a similar crime two years ago when a young girl was found on a beach, with a doll beside her. Very soon Jessie finds herself embroiled in the investigation and she has no idea just how much it will affect her and her new client.
I’ve found Jessie to be a really fascinating character over the course of this series. In this book, you can see she is struggling to adapt to her new way of life, after leaving the army. I was pleased that she had got together with Ben as they seemed to be matched really well with each other. But Jessie’s own struggles with OCD are worsening in this book, and this begins to put a strain her relationship.
Jessie is a psychologist, and you can see how dedicated she is to helping her clients. She grows particularly close to Laura, her new client, in this book. You can also see just how reliant Laura has become on Jessie and how desperate she is to have Jessie as her friend. This did make me wonder if Jessie was wading in slightly too deep.
As Jessie finds herself caught up in the investigation into the murder of the young girl, she is forced to confront uncomfortable truths. The officer, who has called her in, DI Simmons, is convinced that he knows who the killer is. He believes it’s the woman who they had to let go two years ago after they didn’t have enough evidence to charge her. DI Simmons accusations don’t convince Jessie. You can see that there is tension between them as they both fight to get to the truth.
Kate Medina successfully kept me re-examining everything I thought I knew about the people involved in the crimes. I kept having suspicions about different people, and I loved that I was never quite able to work out who the real culprit was.
Two Little Girls is a well-constructed page-turner. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as the novel drew towards its conclusion. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
I’ve found Jessie to be a really fascinating character over the course of this series. In this book, you can see she is struggling to adapt to her new way of life, after leaving the army. I was pleased that she had got together with Ben as they seemed to be matched really well with each other. But Jessie’s own struggles with OCD are worsening in this book, and this begins to put a strain her relationship.
Jessie is a psychologist, and you can see how dedicated she is to helping her clients. She grows particularly close to Laura, her new client, in this book. You can also see just how reliant Laura has become on Jessie and how desperate she is to have Jessie as her friend. This did make me wonder if Jessie was wading in slightly too deep.
As Jessie finds herself caught up in the investigation into the murder of the young girl, she is forced to confront uncomfortable truths. The officer, who has called her in, DI Simmons, is convinced that he knows who the killer is. He believes it’s the woman who they had to let go two years ago after they didn’t have enough evidence to charge her. DI Simmons accusations don’t convince Jessie. You can see that there is tension between them as they both fight to get to the truth.
Kate Medina successfully kept me re-examining everything I thought I knew about the people involved in the crimes. I kept having suspicions about different people, and I loved that I was never quite able to work out who the real culprit was.
Two Little Girls is a well-constructed page-turner. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as the novel drew towards its conclusion. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
March 27, 2018
In Two Little Girls, psychologist, Jessie Flynn, once again has an emotional and difficult time. Her flawed personality really seems to hit home in this story and I was just as fascinated by the way the author weaves Jessie's personal demons into the proceedings, as I was by the actual crime story itself.
Working alongside DI Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons, Jessie gets drawn into a particularly sad and rather complex murder investigation into the death of a young girl who has been found on a south coast beach. That there seems to be just one suspect lends an air of sharpness to the investigation, as you know, from reading the previous crime novels in this series that everything is not going to be quite so neatly tied together. Simmons finds that he is faced with an almost identical murder to that of a young girl some two years before when he failed to catch the killer. This time around he is he not going to let them get away with it a second time.
The dynamic between Jessie and DI Simmons is as complex as ever, they’re an enigmatic pairing, each as badly damaged as the other and yet, they work well as a team and I enjoy the times they join forces in the story. The brief glimpses into Jessie’s relationship with her boyfriend, Callan, are all too brief, I feel that there is so much to be explored in their relationship and I hope to see this evolve more over time.
The author writes with a fine eye for both crime, and character detail. I so enjoy trying to piece together all the jigsaw pieces of the puzzle, and several times I thought I had the way of things only to have my pondering shattered when something new was added to the mix. The mystery at the heart of the novel, as always, has a sharp combination of character and procedural, which works really well. And the dark side to the story, with the beguiling flashbacks into the past life of one of the characters, helps to give it that all important edginess.
Two Little Girls is now the third book in the Jessie Flynn series but can be read as a standalone novel. I think it is my favourite book of the series, to date.
Working alongside DI Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons, Jessie gets drawn into a particularly sad and rather complex murder investigation into the death of a young girl who has been found on a south coast beach. That there seems to be just one suspect lends an air of sharpness to the investigation, as you know, from reading the previous crime novels in this series that everything is not going to be quite so neatly tied together. Simmons finds that he is faced with an almost identical murder to that of a young girl some two years before when he failed to catch the killer. This time around he is he not going to let them get away with it a second time.
The dynamic between Jessie and DI Simmons is as complex as ever, they’re an enigmatic pairing, each as badly damaged as the other and yet, they work well as a team and I enjoy the times they join forces in the story. The brief glimpses into Jessie’s relationship with her boyfriend, Callan, are all too brief, I feel that there is so much to be explored in their relationship and I hope to see this evolve more over time.
The author writes with a fine eye for both crime, and character detail. I so enjoy trying to piece together all the jigsaw pieces of the puzzle, and several times I thought I had the way of things only to have my pondering shattered when something new was added to the mix. The mystery at the heart of the novel, as always, has a sharp combination of character and procedural, which works really well. And the dark side to the story, with the beguiling flashbacks into the past life of one of the characters, helps to give it that all important edginess.
Two Little Girls is now the third book in the Jessie Flynn series but can be read as a standalone novel. I think it is my favourite book of the series, to date.
July 27, 2022
The front cover is intriguing - I looked at it and asked myself a variety of questions including ‘Why is there a pair of little girls shoes in the sand?’, ‘What happened to her?’, ‘Was she alone?’ And ‘Did she know the person who killed her?’. I’m a big fan of books involving drama, crime, police involvement and psychology! A part of the story I found to be creative by the author, creepy and interesting was the fact that the two little girls were found with a doll beside them which looked exactly like them… same hair colour and eye colour. I had so many questions in my head throughout reading this story, and that’s when you know it’s a great read!
The characters include a Police man, two Mothers, a Clinical Psychologist, a Prostitute and more interesting characters with unique personalities! I’m sure many Mums can empathise especially with the second Mum who’s child was found dead, as she was working late and didn’t realise her daughter was missing until she got home - She received the worst news a Mother could. There are many different issues in this story about social isolation, abandonment, OCD, betrayal, psychological damage, bullying and being judged - Unfortunately I’m sure a lot of readers can relate to at least of one of these aspects from some point in their life. I did give this story a 4/5 stars, as I felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere and was repeating itself that there are two dead girls found on the same beach on the same date years apart, the first girl’s Mother was accused of her daughters death, the psychologist had regular meetings with the first girl’s Mother. To me the investigation of the deaths wasn’t going anywhere until after the first 100 pages. Then I couldn’t put the book down as I was eager to find out what happened next, if the first girl’s mother was innocent or if the real killer was revealed…
The characters include a Police man, two Mothers, a Clinical Psychologist, a Prostitute and more interesting characters with unique personalities! I’m sure many Mums can empathise especially with the second Mum who’s child was found dead, as she was working late and didn’t realise her daughter was missing until she got home - She received the worst news a Mother could. There are many different issues in this story about social isolation, abandonment, OCD, betrayal, psychological damage, bullying and being judged - Unfortunately I’m sure a lot of readers can relate to at least of one of these aspects from some point in their life. I did give this story a 4/5 stars, as I felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere and was repeating itself that there are two dead girls found on the same beach on the same date years apart, the first girl’s Mother was accused of her daughters death, the psychologist had regular meetings with the first girl’s Mother. To me the investigation of the deaths wasn’t going anywhere until after the first 100 pages. Then I couldn’t put the book down as I was eager to find out what happened next, if the first girl’s mother was innocent or if the real killer was revealed…
December 14, 2018
Two bodies on the beach, one killer out for revenge. Enter psychologist, Dr Jessie Flynn, who works alongside the police to find this twisted killer. Flynn struggles with her dark past and soon finds herself targeted by the increasingly unhinged killer.
This is a series of books featuring the character of Jessie Flynn, however it is the first one I have read and I did not suffer for this. Medina explains everything that has happened in the previous books so we have a good understanding of the characters and then the actual crime is of course standalone so no enjoyment is impinged. Back to the actual plot and I did enjoy the book for the most part, I thought the investigation was intriguing, featuring a twisted killer, with events turning increasingly dark. It did not take long for my interest in the plot to be piqued and I enjoyed following Jessie as she unravels the truth. However, in the latter half of the book I thought it turned confusing and if I am honest, dull. Suddenly, events were not explained properly, and situations would happen with little detail given, I thought it confusing and meant I lost interest.
Character wise though, this books is very strong. Jessie is a great character and I enjoyed the balance of seeing her at work and struggling with events in her personal life. DI Bobby Simmons is a good character as well, not as fleshed out but that is okay as he is there for the professional, investigative side. Together, we can see they work well together and they made a good team to follow.
‘Two Little Girls’ starts off strong with an exciting plot, however it descends into a boring, muddled mess and I just wanted it finished. The characters are the saving point for me.
This is a series of books featuring the character of Jessie Flynn, however it is the first one I have read and I did not suffer for this. Medina explains everything that has happened in the previous books so we have a good understanding of the characters and then the actual crime is of course standalone so no enjoyment is impinged. Back to the actual plot and I did enjoy the book for the most part, I thought the investigation was intriguing, featuring a twisted killer, with events turning increasingly dark. It did not take long for my interest in the plot to be piqued and I enjoyed following Jessie as she unravels the truth. However, in the latter half of the book I thought it turned confusing and if I am honest, dull. Suddenly, events were not explained properly, and situations would happen with little detail given, I thought it confusing and meant I lost interest.
Character wise though, this books is very strong. Jessie is a great character and I enjoyed the balance of seeing her at work and struggling with events in her personal life. DI Bobby Simmons is a good character as well, not as fleshed out but that is okay as he is there for the professional, investigative side. Together, we can see they work well together and they made a good team to follow.
‘Two Little Girls’ starts off strong with an exciting plot, however it descends into a boring, muddled mess and I just wanted it finished. The characters are the saving point for me.
January 14, 2022
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 401
Publisher - Harper Collins
Source - Bought
Blurb from Goodreads
Two little girls walked to their deaths and nobody noticed…
A gripping new thriller featuring the brilliantly complex psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn, who struggles with a dark past.
Two bodies on the beach. One killer out for revenge.
Two years ago, a young girl was murdered while playing on the beach and left in a heart of shells, a doll by her side. Now another girl is found on the same stretch of sand, another heart, another doll, and psychologist Jessie Flynn is called in to assist the investigation.
But she’s being led into a web of lies and deceit by a new patient, Laura – a deeply disturbed woman who wants Jessie as her friend. When links emerge between Laura and the two dead girls, Jessie’s worst nightmare becomes reality. For in the dark world of a twisted killer, she begins to realize just how treacherous friends can be…
My Review
So this is part of a series, I read book one but it was ages ago and not read the second. Jessie Flynn, psychologist, has some major issues since she was injured and now see's her own clients and helps out with police investigations when called. A little girl's body has been found on the beach, murdered echoing a similar death two years ago. Coincidence or has the killer returned.
The book splits between two characters really, Jessie, her private life, her interactions with a specific client and said client, "Laura" who isn't who she says she is. Part psychology, part police procedure, a look into relationships, human behaviour, Obsessive compulsive disorder which I thought considering we have a professional living with it was an interesting take.
Two little girls are killed, one two years ago and one has just been found, same beach, same type of killing. The officer who dealt with the first murder is sure he knows who the killer is but they got off, he won't let this one slide so is a bit of a man on a mission, guilt, horror at another child death, desperate to get answers and justice for these children.
An interesting read, I will need to get book two, I liked it but didn't love it, 3/5 for me this time.
Pages - 401
Publisher - Harper Collins
Source - Bought
Blurb from Goodreads
Two little girls walked to their deaths and nobody noticed…
A gripping new thriller featuring the brilliantly complex psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn, who struggles with a dark past.
Two bodies on the beach. One killer out for revenge.
Two years ago, a young girl was murdered while playing on the beach and left in a heart of shells, a doll by her side. Now another girl is found on the same stretch of sand, another heart, another doll, and psychologist Jessie Flynn is called in to assist the investigation.
But she’s being led into a web of lies and deceit by a new patient, Laura – a deeply disturbed woman who wants Jessie as her friend. When links emerge between Laura and the two dead girls, Jessie’s worst nightmare becomes reality. For in the dark world of a twisted killer, she begins to realize just how treacherous friends can be…
My Review
So this is part of a series, I read book one but it was ages ago and not read the second. Jessie Flynn, psychologist, has some major issues since she was injured and now see's her own clients and helps out with police investigations when called. A little girl's body has been found on the beach, murdered echoing a similar death two years ago. Coincidence or has the killer returned.
The book splits between two characters really, Jessie, her private life, her interactions with a specific client and said client, "Laura" who isn't who she says she is. Part psychology, part police procedure, a look into relationships, human behaviour, Obsessive compulsive disorder which I thought considering we have a professional living with it was an interesting take.
Two little girls are killed, one two years ago and one has just been found, same beach, same type of killing. The officer who dealt with the first murder is sure he knows who the killer is but they got off, he won't let this one slide so is a bit of a man on a mission, guilt, horror at another child death, desperate to get answers and justice for these children.
An interesting read, I will need to get book two, I liked it but didn't love it, 3/5 for me this time.
June 26, 2019
I received an e-ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first book i've read of Kate Medina's and wasn't aware that this was part of a series; I don't think I missed too much from not reading the other books but there was mention to incidents from previous books that I wasn't aware of. Overall I don't think it matters if you read this one without reading the others.
Overall this book is written well; I was really gripped by the plot during the first half/two thirds and was constantly making predictions about what was happening. There are really two/three main characters and it was clear that the plot twist was linked to two of them so it wasn't a massive surprise what had happened, but I do think Medina did a good job of building up the tension and thriller aspects during the first half. I also enjoyed the alternating chapters including the flashbacks as they really added another layer to this book.
I did have some gripes throughout this book; one of my main issues was how sexual everything seemed to be. There seemed to be a few pages where there were just sexual comments and innuendos on every page and it just felt unnecessary. There was also a few jarring change in perspectives in the same paragraph and it gave me a little bit of whiplash as I couldn't figure out who we were meant to be following.
I dropped two stars from my rating for this book towards the end of the book.
One star was dropped for the ending which I just found to be very disappointing as a whole. The book was gripping throughout and I was constantly second guessing my predictions and I felt the book really built itself up to this big ending, and the ending we got was quite disappointing in the end. This is a problem i've found of a few thrillers were they spend so much time building the book up that the ending just falls flat and unfortunately this was the case for me with this book. It was just very unsatisfying.
The other reason I knocked a star off was the portrayal of social services in this book. I am honestly sick and tired of reading books that just seem to want to slag of social workers and don't seem to show any insight into how the process works. I appreciate that this is a work of fiction but it's just so tiring to read about how awful and monstrous social workers are all the time.
I wouldn't be interested in reading this book again but I probably would pick up another book by the author and give it a go.
This is the first book i've read of Kate Medina's and wasn't aware that this was part of a series; I don't think I missed too much from not reading the other books but there was mention to incidents from previous books that I wasn't aware of. Overall I don't think it matters if you read this one without reading the others.
Overall this book is written well; I was really gripped by the plot during the first half/two thirds and was constantly making predictions about what was happening. There are really two/three main characters and it was clear that the plot twist was linked to two of them so it wasn't a massive surprise what had happened, but I do think Medina did a good job of building up the tension and thriller aspects during the first half. I also enjoyed the alternating chapters including the flashbacks as they really added another layer to this book.
I did have some gripes throughout this book; one of my main issues was how sexual everything seemed to be. There seemed to be a few pages where there were just sexual comments and innuendos on every page and it just felt unnecessary. There was also a few jarring change in perspectives in the same paragraph and it gave me a little bit of whiplash as I couldn't figure out who we were meant to be following.
I dropped two stars from my rating for this book towards the end of the book.
One star was dropped for the ending which I just found to be very disappointing as a whole. The book was gripping throughout and I was constantly second guessing my predictions and I felt the book really built itself up to this big ending, and the ending we got was quite disappointing in the end. This is a problem i've found of a few thrillers were they spend so much time building the book up that the ending just falls flat and unfortunately this was the case for me with this book. It was just very unsatisfying.
The other reason I knocked a star off was the portrayal of social services in this book. I am honestly sick and tired of reading books that just seem to want to slag of social workers and don't seem to show any insight into how the process works. I appreciate that this is a work of fiction but it's just so tiring to read about how awful and monstrous social workers are all the time.
I wouldn't be interested in reading this book again but I probably would pick up another book by the author and give it a go.
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