Lost Innocence

D.I. Sally Parker #5

by M.A. Comley

A chance encounter...

Leads to devastating consequences.

The statistics for missing children are staggering and emotionally hard to deal with even for the hardest of detectives.

DI Sally Parker and her cold case team need to have their wits about them when two very different cases land on her desk.

Can she solve the mystery of where the bodies are buried?

Past experience tells her that cold cases have a tendency to unearth surprising secrets.

The emotions of the families involved are raw during the course of the investigations but nothing can prepare them for the surprising outcome each case delivers.

Can Sally solve the cases before a distraught family member of one of the victims is laid to rest?

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2018

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. Over one million copies sold world wide. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career.

When I'm not writing crime novels I'm either reading them or going on long walks with my rescue Labrador, Dex.

I hope you enjoy reading my books, especially the Justice series, Cruel Justice, Impeding Justice, Final Justice, Foul Justice, Guaranteed Justice, Ultimate Justice, Virtual Justice, Hostile Justice, Tortured Justice, Rough Justice, Dubious Justice, Calculated Justice, Twisted Justice, Prime Justice. There are several novellas and short stories in the series too.

My other successful series are: The DI Sally Parker thriller series, which includes WRONG PLACE, NO HIDING PLACE and COLD CASE

The Hero series, TORN APART, END RESULT, IN PLAIN SIGHT and DOUBLE JEOPARDY(published by Bloodhound Books)

I have three books in the Intention series, Sole Intention, Grave Intention and Devious Intention.

I've also written a couple of standalone novels - EVIL IN DISGUISE and FOREVER WATCHING YOU.

As well as co-authoring The Caller with Tara Lyons.

And Clever Deception, Tragic Deception and Sinful Deception co-authored by fellow NY Times bestselling author Linda S Prather.

If you'd like to keep up to date with new releases you can find me on Facebook by following this link http://smarturl.it/sps7jh or sign up for my newsletter http://www.hyperurl.co/su1xnt

If you fancy a lighter read, why not try one of my romances: A Time to Heal, and A Time for Change--Based on a TRUE story. I also have a selection of short stories and novelettes available which I know you'll enjoy.

You can find out more about me at the following blogs.

http://melcomley.blogspot.com

http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story of some family despair and horrible happenings, told with extraordinary care, and the cold cases are investigated by DI Sally Parker, whose team works diligently to wrap things up for the families involved. Bones found beneath a shed being torn down start a look into the neighborhood thirty years ago! The bones are those of a child between the age of 11 to 13 years, as Sally meets folks and talks about what was happening in those years a story starts to emerge. While waiting for reports and evidence from this case, Sally looks through those piled on her desk and picks another to look into. A young woman who disappeared, never to be heard from again. Her mother is now fighting for her life, and would love to bury her daughter before she leaves this world.
Some very tough cases, with a serial killer who is in prison involved in one, and a surprising moment when a family is devastated all over again when facts are disclosed!
An intriguing story with raw emotions and unbelievable evil disclosed by a killer as he tries to convince Sally that he will tell where bodies are buried if she brings him photos of the girls when found...A story told in a way that will keep you involved and turning pages until the very end by an author with a magical style that endears you to the characters and puts you in every scene, being disgusted by a prisoner's tale or becoming emotional by a mother's love...

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 3 out of 5]

???

I have to say that I struggled a bit with this one. Not sure why exactly, I still love the characters and the storyline was interesting and well thought out. But it just seemed like it was going through the motions. Felt like there was too many extraneous words at time, as if filling up the word count, in a short book anyway.
Probably just me being over critical, and I will definitely be reading more from this author from her other work. May even read more from this series if there are any, hopefully just a blip.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Review will be posted 9/15/18

Merged review:

DI Sally Parker and her team are investigating cold, cold cases. So far, they've got ax extremely high rate of success. She's hoping this won't be the case that she can't solve.

A young boy disappeared 30-some years ago, never to be seen or heard from again. When bones are found buried on property that used to be the family's neighbor, Sally puts all her energies into solving the case.

Simultaneously, Sally gets call from the mother of a murder victim. Her daughter was killed by a serial killer, he has always refused to say where the body was buried. The mother wants to bury her daughter's remains before she herself dies of a terminal illness.

I can't imagine much worse than parents losing a child and never knowing what happened to them. I can't imagine being the person who has to break open the scab of hurt and pain to re-investigate a crime that took place so many years ago.

M A Comley is an exceptional author. She brings the emotional turmoil of her characters front and center. As with her other books, there are surprising twists and turns along the way.

Although this is 5th in the series, it is read easily as a stand-alone. I do recommend, as always, to start at the beginning. These stories and their credible characters are not to be missed.

Many thanks to the author / Special ARC Group for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Linda Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous DI Sally Parker read. She's intelligent, professional, loving and has a great team to support her.

Since taking over cold cases Sally's team has been involved in several emotional situations, but this time the cases really bring it home. The discovery of bones buried beneath a backyard shed leads Sally and her team to the a thirty-three year old missing child's case. Is it really Jack after all this time? Or did the previous owner, by all accounts a sweet old lady, have dire secrets that needed to be uncovered?

Waiting for pathology leaves Sally with time on her hands, and she discovers another case of a missing young woman. Her compassion kicks in when she talks with the mother who is dying from cancer. Determined to find her daughter before the mother passes away, Sally visits the man suspected of killing at least six young women in prison. No one has been able to break him down and get the information needed to recover the bodies. Can Sally succeed in her quest, or is Kathryn's mother destined to die without knowing what happened to her daughter?

Highly recommended to crime thriller lovers!

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally and her team are back in the fifth book in this great series. They are now dealing with cold cases and when some human bones are found under a shed, it soon becomes apparent this is a cold case. Working alongside this case, Sally looks into another cold case where a serial killer has never revealed where his victims are buried. Sally wants to find the bodies before one of the parents passes away from terminal cancer.
This story makes you stop and think how a family will feel after many years of not knowing whether their son/daughter, brother/sister is alive or dead. The author writes about the different emotions of people well. Sally and her team work well at solving the cases and come across as a great team who get on well. It’s lovely to see Sally’s character and the characters of her team, coming across well in the books. A very emotional and well written story. I highly recommend this book and the other books in the series.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold cases are something that has always fascinated me so I am really loving this series with Sally and her team working their hardest to solve them.

The opening of the book really impacts the reader and I knew I had to carry on to see if justice gets served. Solving a murder case at the best of times can be hard work for the police but even harder when it’s over thirty years later with the risk of potential witnesses being dead.

As ever I also love the balance of the protagonists personal life. The authors main characters always seem to find a special place within my heart and it’s like catching up with good friends. It’s great to see a detective happy for a change and I have to admit to getting a tad emotional at one particular part and had to fight away the tears.

Any case to do with a missing child is going to make for an emotional read, especially the parts to do with their family. The author deals with it skilfully making it feel very realistic. It certainly makes the story go up a notch in terms of pace as they get closer to discovering the truth.

Lost Innocence is a hard hitting and emotional read that had me totally hooked. The authors books really are addictive and I literally can not get enough of them. Another unputdownable read that I read in one sitting.

My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Mark Tilbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Parker and her team have the difficult task of trying to solve two emotionally draining cold cases at once, both involving missing children/teenagers.

Throughout these investigations I liked the dynamics between the members of Sally's team and how each person knew their role within it. I certainly didn't envy the job of being the one to tell families what had happened to their child. These scenes were quire raw as secrets and the truth were exposed.

There was a moment when I worked out the identity of a character from earlier in the story and how different things would have been if they had acted differently. This shows just how people can hang on to terrible secrets for so long, and the consequences of doing so.

Along with the first book in the Kali Bright series, The Missing Children, this is the author's most harrowing read. The characters in both go through the wringer, as do you when you read them! Another brilliant read from THE most productive UK crime fiction author.

[Susan Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the DI Sally Parker series. The teams' task is solving cold cases. Lost Innocence focuses on two of these cold cases. The discovery of bones under the foundations of a shed and the disappearance of several young girls. Sally has the unsavoury task of interviewing a prisoner to find out the whereabouts of the bodies of the young girls he murdered several years ago. Sally and her team also have to deal with the identification of the bones of a young person that have been unearthed and capture the person responsible. I was intrigued with this book from the start. A great plot, a great team with a smattering of humour amongst the sadness of the investigation kept me hooked . The compassion , tragic events and how it is dealt with makes this a gripping ,emotional read.

[Sue Kitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Lost Innocence DI Sally Parker is investigating two cold cases simultaneously, one a case of ten missing girls and the other a twelve year old boy who disappeared 33 year previously.

A wonderful but sad story filled with emotion and in one case, guilty secrets and in another, a dying mother wanting to bury her daughter before she herself dies from cancer.

Lost Innocence is another sensitively told story, which is all too frequent in this day and age, from this very exciting author and I highly recommend it.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating insight into how a police team solves cold cases.

This was the first book I have read in the D. I. Sally Parker series, and I am delighted to say that it can be read as a standalone, asI had no prior knowledge, but didn't feel I was at a disadvantage, although I'm sure a few of the references to the past would have meant more had I started at the beginning.

Having read this talented authors Justice series, but not her other books I was eager to try another series when the opportunity arose. And I am delighted that I have read this one as I know I will now be hooked on Sally and her team's story.

It was great getting to know a new detective, and I loved seeing how her team works. The two cases they were working on were both interesting in different ways. One involved a recent discovery of a skeleton that had been buried 30 years before, while the other was about getting closure for the familiers of a serial killer.

This is full of just good old fashioned detective work, and it was a pleasure to read. I devoured the whole book in just a couple of short hours, and didn't even notice the time passing, as I was enjoying it so much.

Having finally read a book from one of M. A. Comley's other series, I am now completely convinced that I will love just about anything she writes.

For me an excellent introduction to D. I. Sally Parker and her life, team and area of the policing they are working in. If you have already been reading the series then I'm sure you will love it even more than I did.

Thank you to M.A. Comley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost innoncence by Mel Comley.
Dci Sally Parker and her team are back.
When skeleton remains are found buried under a shed at the back of a garden Sally is called in. She wonders why as its not a cold case. But then they find out the seleton was buried over 20 years ago. So it becomes Sally's case. But they have to wait while they do the skull reconstruction to find out who it is.

Meanwhile Sally decides to look at one of the many files of cases they have to do while she is waiting. They decide on a case were an inmate called Abbott raped and killed 6 women. But some of the bodies were never found. She phones the mother to let her know they are looking into it. Then she finds out the mother is dying and she doesn't have long to live. So it's a race to find out where he buried them.

I just could't put it down. Absolutely fantastic. Loved tha characters apart from Abbott. I loved how Sally and her team multi tasked doung 2 cases at once. Brilliant. I do hope this is not the last we hear of Sally Parker. I love all of Mel's books. This was cleverly written. It was as though i was there with the team. 5*. A must read.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids can be cruel and the opening chapter shows just how cruel. But how does that affect our Sally?

On her desk are two heartbreaking tales of missing children, both very different but similar at the same time. The not knowing where the missing child is and someone holds that key as to where they are.

One of the story threads reminded me of Ian Brady’s silence on the whereabouts of Keith Bennett. Abbott made my skin crawl. He holds all the cards and won’t share his hand until he chooses to. He plays with Sally who’s desperate to bring peace to a family. Does Sally succumb to his demands?

Sally’s relationship with her team really makes the story. Even though her focus is on one case, she makes sure she doesn’t lose sight of what else is going on in the team. I love Sally’s tenacity. She instils the need to get justice for the families into those around her, so looking at all avenues of investigation until the culprit(s) are found!

Another fast paced cold case from the keyboard of M.A. Comley. A brilliant addition to the Sally Parker series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost Innocence is the recent book (no.5,) in the series of DI Sally Parker and her team who deal with cold cases.

In this story they are working on two very different cases which are both harrowing and very sad. One is where some bones are discovered from thirty years ago and the other from a desperate Mother who wishes to find her Daughters remains before it’s too late. Can Sally and her team grant her wish?

Once again M A Comley has written a book which I devoured in a few hours because all her books are impossible to put down. This book is once again a gripping, well plotted read and I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a well written thriller. This story will stay with me for a very long time. Another winner MEL!

[Maria Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Sally Parker leads her team in investigating cold cases. They are dedicated and thorough in solving these cases to give closure to the families. Both cases were harrowing. One was the discovery of some bones, buried in a garden, of an adolescent from approximately thirty years previously, and the other of a dying mother desperate to find out from an imprisoned serial killer where her daughter’s body was hidden.

This book has everything: suspense, tension, intrigue and sadness, I love the interaction between Sally and the team and enjoy the mix of work and family life.

Highly recommended.

[Lin Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally and her team are contacted to investigate a Cold Case. When they arrive at the house, they find that the new owners have found human bones. House to house enquiries commence, to find out who previously lived in the house.

Sally also starts a second cold case. This involves a visit to interview a convicted prisoner. He’s in for murder and he really made my skin crawl! What about other women who went missing? Where are they?

Lots going on in this story and couldn’t put it down. The DI is determined to solve both cases.

What a lovely, different type of ending!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the murders took place years ago the cold case team led by D.I. Sally Parker is determined to find the resting place of several young women who were victims of a vile serial killer who shows no remorse and refuses to tell Sally where they can find the bodies. They are also tasked with finding the identity of the skeletal remains that have been uncovered in a local garden. The author deals with the subject matter sensitively with little description of the actual violence. Another great read in this brilliant series

[Felicity Gray1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book this proved to be. This writer never let's me down, I always know that I'll have a thriller of major proportions. Lovely to be back with DI Sally Parker and her sidekick DS Jack Blackman & the rest of her busy team.
This book is about lost children and older teenagers that can be sucked in and lead astray and how the younger ones can be bullied by their peers with nobody to stand up for them. Make sure you have tissues by your side as close families gets torn apart in all directions.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally jumps head first into a cold case with her team and it’s a hard case, emotionally and mentally.
Some of her team are looking at another cold case, no lazing for this bunch.
Then Sally & Simon are looking at getting married! Definitely emotional but this is in a good way.
The characters are human, Sally definitely is, she feels and because of this she’s a character I can get into and follow hoping things go well. Her team and her have a good relationship. They have fun, can argue but get over it.
Fully rounded and very likeable. Even in a case that will play on your heart strings.

[Debra Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 in the DI Sally Parker series. Sally’s team is in charge of cold cases. Sometimes years old. In this book Sally and her team investigate two cases - one where a young boy’s skeleton has been unearthed from over 30yeqrs ago and another where a prisoner refuses to give details of where he has buried bodies. As usual, beautifully written and all wrapped up well. If you are a fan of Mel Comley’s books you won’t be disappointed

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy was a policewoman and her boyfriend was a pathologist .
It started off at Jeff Rylands he was missing and a load of bones was laid to rest in the shed .
Also they were doing a cold case and Mrs Hathaway was wanted to find her daughter before she died of cancer.
Christopher Abbott was found murdered her .
I received an ARC copy

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Parker and the team are back in the fifth book of the series solving a cold case involving missing children. This is my favourite of the series so far, great story with fantastic characters. Looking forward to the next one.

[Livia Sbarbaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that will make you wish you could go back and stop time..for just an instant..

DI Sally Parker and her team are working on cold cases, when she received a call to say some bones have been discovered by an old shed..The bones are from thirty or so years ago and as the team backtrack and question the neighbourhood, they find that a young boy had gone missing around the same time.At the same time a killer had been arrested for the murder of young women..his most shocking murder being that of a young child.When Sally goes to visit him in prison looking for answers and closure...he is arrogant, unreachable...and Sally knows in her soul...that this monster is guilty of more than he has been accused of.Thirty years is a long time...but for some of the families it has been a living hell.When Sally goes to interview the parents of one child who had gone missing, she finds it especially hard to keep her emotions in check...This is family who have moved to another place, a mother who never stopped hoping...but deep inside a mothers instinct tells her her sorrow is real..As the team get closer to the truth...buried secrets that have been hidden are unopened and what is about to be unearthed is heartbreaking..Soul destroying making you wish you could turn back the hands of time..Mel Comley has a way of writing that makes you feel that moment in time and wish with all your heart you could go back and change it..

[Kitty Catalyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Sally Parker is back!
She and her crack team are called in once again to investigate what is their forte, a cold case.
During a backyard renovation, bones are found underneath a 33 year old shed. Small bones. A child's bones.
While others are processing evidence that have a long wait time to return information, Sally opens another file on a different case. An already imprisoned serial killer has spent his time behind bars refusing to admit the location of many of his victims. Sally feels she should at least try to glean some information for the victims families, so they can have closure.
Sally is a character who is relentless and will not let the victims of their families down, even if it means sitting face to face with a monster. The integrity of this woman is rock solid and inspirational.
If only we all could have a heart like hers. Plus every woman needs a man like Simon! Where do we find our own?!

[Kayli · Rating 5 out of 5]

5*****
I love this series, I absolutely loved every minute of this book.
In my opinion this book could be enjoyed as a stand alone without reading the books before it in the series but I would 100% recommend the whole series as it's not to be missed.

The odds and time are stacked against Sally and her cold case team when a human skeleton is unearthed under a shed.
Can Sally pick the right place to start even with just a pile of unidentifiable remains?

The characters are fab in the Sally Parker series, making it one of my favourites. I also love the way the author includes Sally's personal/ family life to make me feel like I really know and able to relate to her. It makes M.A Comleys characters much more dimensional than just characters In a book, this is something she always manages to get perfect.

[jan nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just loving this series with DI Sally Parker . She has had to move from present crimes to cold cases. Her team all gel together well and contribute in their own special way. I have read 5 books back to back and can’t wait to start the 6th (already downloaded) Lost Innocence really pulled at the heart strings as 2 cold cases were investigated side by side, each of them involving young people that had been missing for up to 30 years and families unable to have closure one way or another. Sally and her team are a joy to read about.

[elizabeth mcguire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I worked out this one within the first chapters.

Either I am in her head or she needs a more convuluted way to hide the killer and storyline.

I am on the next one and am sure I have done the same. She may surprise me but I doubt it.

The stories are good, especially the cold case ones but, for me, there is no mystery. Maybe I have just read too many whodunit books.

[Emm Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for fans of crime

Once again another fantastic read. Love sally Parker and her team, and if you enjoy reading about cold cases this book won’t disappoint. Raced through it in a few hours and enjoyed every second. Can’t wait for the next instalment!

[Dorothy Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well thought out

I love this Author and all her books I've read so far. Well written with believable characters and intriguing plots. Many twists and turns until the end. Would recommend this for anyone who loves a great thriller.

[Judith Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone is so damned polite in this book!

This is the second book I've read in the series. Even though the author tries to make this book heavy duty, I found it to be pretty lightweight. Not sure I'll read another one. Not very realistic in my opinion

[Mrs S Waite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

This was yet again another gripping case. I have to say it didn’t click with me that the whole story was about the same boy that was beaten at the beginning. I liked how two cases were running along side each other.