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DC Charlotte Stafford #5
Daddy's Girls
'This series just gets better and better' Breakaway Reviewers.
He wasn't always a killer. At first, he just wanted to talk.D.C. Charlie Stafford has an odd case on her hands. And it may be her toughest one yet.
A burglar who isn't interested in valuables, the subject of Operation Greystream is a strange but smooth operator. In the dead of the night, gloved and masked, he visits the elderly. He doesn't hurt them and, if they beg, he won't take anything of real value. All he wants is conversation... and they're powerless to refuse him.
But then 87-year-old Florence Briarly is found by her friend, cold to the touch and neatly, too neatly, tucked into bed. And Charlie realises this case has taken a sinister, urgent turn. Now this stealthy burglar has had a taste of murder, it's only a matter of time until he craves it again...
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2019
39 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Flint
13 books93 followersWith a Metropolitan Police career spanning 35 years Sarah has spent her adulthood surrounded by victims, criminals and police officers. She continues to work and lives in London with her partner and has three older daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 18, 2019
Daddy's Girls is the 5th book in the series featuring DI Charlie Stafford by Sarah Flint. I have read all of these books and have enjoyed them all. Charlie is DI on the tough streets of London. I would recommend reading these books in order so that you can really understand the characters and their lives.
Operation Greystream is working to find a burglar who breaks into the homes of the elderly in the night for a chat and to take a souvenir. Only this time he has escalated and killed Florence Bierly. Charlie and her team are called to help with the investigation. At the same time Thomas is desperately grieving the loss of his wife Catherine when she sees a woman that looks just like her and he believes she has come back. He follows her and breaks into her home to be close to her. Are the cases connected? Charlie needs to figure this out before more people are hurt. She is also going through a lot personally and is struggling to keep all her balls in the air.
Thanks to Aria and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Operation Greystream is working to find a burglar who breaks into the homes of the elderly in the night for a chat and to take a souvenir. Only this time he has escalated and killed Florence Bierly. Charlie and her team are called to help with the investigation. At the same time Thomas is desperately grieving the loss of his wife Catherine when she sees a woman that looks just like her and he believes she has come back. He follows her and breaks into her home to be close to her. Are the cases connected? Charlie needs to figure this out before more people are hurt. She is also going through a lot personally and is struggling to keep all her balls in the air.
Thanks to Aria and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
September 21, 2019
Daddy's Girls is the fifth instalment in the DC Charlie Stafford series and once again Ms Flint uses the expertise she learned during her 35 years in the Metropolitan police force to bring a gritty and authentic feeling to the story. Having read every book in this series I can honestly say they get better each time. The dual plot lines are both so compelling and the investigating team have personalities that work so well together. If you enjoy realistic police procedural's that conclude in frustratingly good fashion then this is well worth your time. I am already pining for the next instalment. Many thanks to Aria for an ARC.
September 15, 2019
DADDY'S GIRLS is the fifth book in the DC Charlotte Stafford series by Sarah Flint, but it was a first for me. A police procedural but also a crime thriller, it is complex and it is gritty with a slow burning tension.
TRIGGER WARNING:
Elder abuse, rape, sexual assault and drug use should be advised before you consider reading.
It has been a year since Thomas Houghton had buried his wife Catherine and he blames his daughter, Emma, for the disease that claimed her life. Diagnosed with MS shortly after Emma's birth, Thomas believes she was the cause which ultimately contributed to his wife's death. Now he is drugged, delusional and broke, frequenting crack houses for his latest fix while Emma works menial jobs to pay for the tiny bedsit they now live in.
Approaching the anniversary of his wife's death, Thomas rushes in elated and brimming with news. He has seen Catherine! She has returned to him! Emma brushes off his words as delusional ramblings. Her mother has been dead a year. But Thomas is adamant, believing he has seen his dead wife and no one and nothing will come between them again. Of this he must ensure.
Thomas has waited and watched Catherine for a while now. He knows her routine. He knows she misses him as much as he has missed her. Tonight's the night; as she turns off her lights he knows he must make himself known to her again. Crawling in through her bathroom window, he stealthily approaches her bedroom and as he enters she senses his presence and awakes. He smiles. She has been waiting for him. The fact that the woman is wide-eyed with fear and pleading with him not to hurt her doesn't seem to register with him. Even as he calls her Catherine and identifies himself as Thomas, the woman does not know him - but it doesn't deter him. Nothing will come between them now; till death do us part.
Faced with an odd case and a tough one at that, Charlie is on the hunt for a burglar who, gloved and masked, breaks into homes of the elderly in the dead of night. Codename "Operation Greystream", he isn't interested in valuables nor does he hurt them - he just wants to chat. And then when he leaves, takes a memento of no real value.
But then things turn nasty when 87 year old Florence Briarly is found by her friend and neighbour, cold to touch and neatly tucked into bed. Has this burglar escalated to murder? If so, he will now have a taste for it and it won't be long until he craves it again.
Charlie and her team, under the leadership of DI Geoffrey Hunter, chase avenues of enquiry, follow up leads and investigate why this troubling case has suddenly turned sinister. Reports are coming in hard and fast from care homes where there had been troubling incidents of someone seen lurking and peeping in the windows of the elderly residents. Charlie is troubled with why this villain is so fascinated with the elderly. What is it attracts him?
Then a report comes in about a rape within the villian's comfort zone with a similar MO. The phone line is cut, enters in the dead of night and then as he is leaving, steals something that has only sentimental value to the victim. But this time it's rape. Is it the same man? Has, what started out as simple break-ins for a chat, progressed into rape and murder?
The two cases are being investigated separately but with the possibility that they are connected. As the reader, they seem to be separate...but are they really? From the outset, we know who the rapist is but we are completely in the dark as to the identity of the murderer.
Throughout the story we are witness to a lot of petty crime that connects to one of the cases, but is it also related to the other? There is a lot of drug use which is rampant but of little interest to me. For me, it certainly doesn't make the story any more gripping.
There are several third party perspectives telling the story and at some points I was a little confused as to the POV, particularly towards the end when the stand-off unfolded throughout various perspectives. I normally don't get confused with multiple POVs but in this case, I found it a little confusing.
DADDY'S GIRLS is really a slow burn that I didn't feel pick up much at all. I found it long and drawn out and I had to force myself to continue, knowing that a lot of work is put into writing and creating these stories. It kind of makes me feel bad when I don't enjoy a book as much as I had hoped. But that is not to say that others won't. In fact, there have been a lot of positive reviews about it already so I must be in the minority.
I think, for me, this is a series that really needs to be read from the beginning to gain a better appreciation of it as a whole. Charlie plays such a minor role it didn't feel as if it was part of her story. The main focus was on the two investigations and the residents of the crack house. I didn't feel I got to know Charlie at all, or her team for that matter. There was less police procedural in this and more of a crime thriller, and yet I don't feel it can be read as a stand-alone as some others do. It felt like something was missing and I couldn't connect to Charlie or the stories that unfolded.
I think the book would have been far better with just the case of Thomas Houghton as that in itself was major story that would have played out better on its own with maybe a smaller separate investigation as an aside. Having two major cases just made it too confusing with too much going on.
I was also puzzled by the title as it didn't appear to have any bearing whatsoever on the story, or stories, at all. DADDY'S GIRLS speaks of something far sinister than what unfolded in these pages, as despicable as they were also.
However, the ending gave us a final twist with a secret that leaves readers wanting to find out more and sets the scene for the next installment nicely.
In summary, I think I would have appreciated DADDY'S GIRLS a lot more had I read the rest of the series first. I don't think it works as well as a stand-alone, not with the knowledge that it IS part of a series at least. However, the story is gritty and action-packed throughout and I think fans of the DC Charlie Stafford series won't be disappointed.
I would like to thank #SarahFlint, #NetGalley and #Aria for an ARC of #DaddysGirls in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
TRIGGER WARNING:
Elder abuse, rape, sexual assault and drug use should be advised before you consider reading.
It has been a year since Thomas Houghton had buried his wife Catherine and he blames his daughter, Emma, for the disease that claimed her life. Diagnosed with MS shortly after Emma's birth, Thomas believes she was the cause which ultimately contributed to his wife's death. Now he is drugged, delusional and broke, frequenting crack houses for his latest fix while Emma works menial jobs to pay for the tiny bedsit they now live in.
Approaching the anniversary of his wife's death, Thomas rushes in elated and brimming with news. He has seen Catherine! She has returned to him! Emma brushes off his words as delusional ramblings. Her mother has been dead a year. But Thomas is adamant, believing he has seen his dead wife and no one and nothing will come between them again. Of this he must ensure.
Thomas has waited and watched Catherine for a while now. He knows her routine. He knows she misses him as much as he has missed her. Tonight's the night; as she turns off her lights he knows he must make himself known to her again. Crawling in through her bathroom window, he stealthily approaches her bedroom and as he enters she senses his presence and awakes. He smiles. She has been waiting for him. The fact that the woman is wide-eyed with fear and pleading with him not to hurt her doesn't seem to register with him. Even as he calls her Catherine and identifies himself as Thomas, the woman does not know him - but it doesn't deter him. Nothing will come between them now; till death do us part.
Faced with an odd case and a tough one at that, Charlie is on the hunt for a burglar who, gloved and masked, breaks into homes of the elderly in the dead of night. Codename "Operation Greystream", he isn't interested in valuables nor does he hurt them - he just wants to chat. And then when he leaves, takes a memento of no real value.
But then things turn nasty when 87 year old Florence Briarly is found by her friend and neighbour, cold to touch and neatly tucked into bed. Has this burglar escalated to murder? If so, he will now have a taste for it and it won't be long until he craves it again.
Charlie and her team, under the leadership of DI Geoffrey Hunter, chase avenues of enquiry, follow up leads and investigate why this troubling case has suddenly turned sinister. Reports are coming in hard and fast from care homes where there had been troubling incidents of someone seen lurking and peeping in the windows of the elderly residents. Charlie is troubled with why this villain is so fascinated with the elderly. What is it attracts him?
Then a report comes in about a rape within the villian's comfort zone with a similar MO. The phone line is cut, enters in the dead of night and then as he is leaving, steals something that has only sentimental value to the victim. But this time it's rape. Is it the same man? Has, what started out as simple break-ins for a chat, progressed into rape and murder?
The two cases are being investigated separately but with the possibility that they are connected. As the reader, they seem to be separate...but are they really? From the outset, we know who the rapist is but we are completely in the dark as to the identity of the murderer.
Throughout the story we are witness to a lot of petty crime that connects to one of the cases, but is it also related to the other? There is a lot of drug use which is rampant but of little interest to me. For me, it certainly doesn't make the story any more gripping.
There are several third party perspectives telling the story and at some points I was a little confused as to the POV, particularly towards the end when the stand-off unfolded throughout various perspectives. I normally don't get confused with multiple POVs but in this case, I found it a little confusing.
DADDY'S GIRLS is really a slow burn that I didn't feel pick up much at all. I found it long and drawn out and I had to force myself to continue, knowing that a lot of work is put into writing and creating these stories. It kind of makes me feel bad when I don't enjoy a book as much as I had hoped. But that is not to say that others won't. In fact, there have been a lot of positive reviews about it already so I must be in the minority.
I think, for me, this is a series that really needs to be read from the beginning to gain a better appreciation of it as a whole. Charlie plays such a minor role it didn't feel as if it was part of her story. The main focus was on the two investigations and the residents of the crack house. I didn't feel I got to know Charlie at all, or her team for that matter. There was less police procedural in this and more of a crime thriller, and yet I don't feel it can be read as a stand-alone as some others do. It felt like something was missing and I couldn't connect to Charlie or the stories that unfolded.
I think the book would have been far better with just the case of Thomas Houghton as that in itself was major story that would have played out better on its own with maybe a smaller separate investigation as an aside. Having two major cases just made it too confusing with too much going on.
I was also puzzled by the title as it didn't appear to have any bearing whatsoever on the story, or stories, at all. DADDY'S GIRLS speaks of something far sinister than what unfolded in these pages, as despicable as they were also.
However, the ending gave us a final twist with a secret that leaves readers wanting to find out more and sets the scene for the next installment nicely.
In summary, I think I would have appreciated DADDY'S GIRLS a lot more had I read the rest of the series first. I don't think it works as well as a stand-alone, not with the knowledge that it IS part of a series at least. However, the story is gritty and action-packed throughout and I think fans of the DC Charlie Stafford series won't be disappointed.
I would like to thank #SarahFlint, #NetGalley and #Aria for an ARC of #DaddysGirls in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 15, 2019
Having read all of the Charlotte Stafford series, I couldn't wait to get my teeth stuck into Daddy's Girls.
It wasn't my best Sarah Flint book but it is definitely worth a read. The next one looks like it's going to be great and I can not wait for it.
3.5*
It wasn't my best Sarah Flint book but it is definitely worth a read. The next one looks like it's going to be great and I can not wait for it.
3.5*
September 8, 2019
Though this is actually the fifth in the series, I didn’t know that when I started reading and had no idea until I looked at Amazon to get the link for the review. It stands perfectly well alone.
Trigger warnings for elder abuse (including murder), rape, sexual assault and drug use should be advised before you consider whether to read this book.
There are actually several cases running in parallel in this police procedural set among Greater London’s southern boroughs. The author is a police officer and has an intimate knowledge of how cases are actually solved and how the law really works, both to the benefit of the police and in some cases, protecting criminals from detection. Because of this, there was never anything in the story which felt incorrect or unrealistic, right down to the frustration of the police when things didn’t go there way. There were no unlikely coincidences or miracle leaps of intuition; the crimes were solved by solid police work, evidence gathering, fingerprints, DNA, CCTV, interviewing witnesses and following up leads.
The problem I had was that the focus wasn’t always on the ‘big criminal’ - an individual who was stalking elderly victims, breaking into their homes and traumatising them before graduating to murder - but got diverted much of the time to a completely different person whose crime was similar in some respects and therefore ended up a focus of the investigation. Both cases being solved was satisfying, but I would have liked a lot more time in the ‘big criminal’s’ point of view, because the reveal of his identity really did come as something of a deus ex machina at the end of the book. There was too much focus on other characters at the expense of that part of the plot, and while yes, you don’t want to give the identity of the mastermind up too early, you do actually need to plant the clues there from early on so the reader can realize they were there.
It’s a hard book to rate, because I liked Charlie, the police officer from whose point of view we follow the investigations, and the accuracy and realism of the police procedures were excellent, but as a mystery, the pieces really weren’t all in place. I don’t think I can give it any more than three stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
Trigger warnings for elder abuse (including murder), rape, sexual assault and drug use should be advised before you consider whether to read this book.
There are actually several cases running in parallel in this police procedural set among Greater London’s southern boroughs. The author is a police officer and has an intimate knowledge of how cases are actually solved and how the law really works, both to the benefit of the police and in some cases, protecting criminals from detection. Because of this, there was never anything in the story which felt incorrect or unrealistic, right down to the frustration of the police when things didn’t go there way. There were no unlikely coincidences or miracle leaps of intuition; the crimes were solved by solid police work, evidence gathering, fingerprints, DNA, CCTV, interviewing witnesses and following up leads.
The problem I had was that the focus wasn’t always on the ‘big criminal’ - an individual who was stalking elderly victims, breaking into their homes and traumatising them before graduating to murder - but got diverted much of the time to a completely different person whose crime was similar in some respects and therefore ended up a focus of the investigation. Both cases being solved was satisfying, but I would have liked a lot more time in the ‘big criminal’s’ point of view, because the reveal of his identity really did come as something of a deus ex machina at the end of the book. There was too much focus on other characters at the expense of that part of the plot, and while yes, you don’t want to give the identity of the mastermind up too early, you do actually need to plant the clues there from early on so the reader can realize they were there.
It’s a hard book to rate, because I liked Charlie, the police officer from whose point of view we follow the investigations, and the accuracy and realism of the police procedures were excellent, but as a mystery, the pieces really weren’t all in place. I don’t think I can give it any more than three stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
August 26, 2023
It’s a no from me.
Early on, we meet a man whose wife has MS. This respectable business man procures some weed for his wife as he’s read it can alleviate symptoms. The wife refuses, so the man smokes the weed himself.
But … this is your brain on drugs!
Not only does the man soon become ‘addicted’ to the weed, he also craves harder drugs. And before long he’s a drug addict worthy of a BBC soap opera about the evils of gateway drugs.
Still, I pressed on as the murder mystery was interesting.
Soon the man and his daughter are living in stereotypical squalor. She’s 18, naive, innocent, and for some unexplained reason, in neither school nor work.
When a dramedy of errors results in the man selling his much-loved daughter into prostitution for a fake passport, I noped out (at 53%). I can live with not knowing who the murderer is.
The cops in this are flawed but sympathetic, fully fleshed characters. Everyone else is a crude stereotype of victim or villain.
Content warnings for drug use, violence, and on-page rape from the perspective of the rapist – later rehashed from the victim’s perspective.
Early on, we meet a man whose wife has MS. This respectable business man procures some weed for his wife as he’s read it can alleviate symptoms. The wife refuses, so the man smokes the weed himself.
But … this is your brain on drugs!
Not only does the man soon become ‘addicted’ to the weed, he also craves harder drugs. And before long he’s a drug addict worthy of a BBC soap opera about the evils of gateway drugs.
Still, I pressed on as the murder mystery was interesting.
Soon the man and his daughter are living in stereotypical squalor. She’s 18, naive, innocent, and for some unexplained reason, in neither school nor work.
When a dramedy of errors results in the man selling his much-loved daughter into prostitution for a fake passport, I noped out (at 53%). I can live with not knowing who the murderer is.
The cops in this are flawed but sympathetic, fully fleshed characters. Everyone else is a crude stereotype of victim or villain.
Content warnings for drug use, violence, and on-page rape from the perspective of the rapist – later rehashed from the victim’s perspective.
July 29, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria for an advance copy of Daddy’s Girls, the fifth novel to feature DC Charlie Stafford of the Met.
Operation Greystream, the hunt for a burglar who breaks into homes of the elderly at night to chat and take a souvenir, is in full swing when he ups the ante by murdering Florence Brierly.
I didn’t particularly enjoy Daddy’s Girls until the last quarter which is tense, action packed and fast moving. The novel has two plot lines, the hunt for the burglar and another one not mentioned the blurb so I won’t describe it. The police view the two as linked and act accordingly but the reader has reason to believe they might not be. The reason for this is the multiple points of view. I found it distracting and never really settled in to the read. There isn’t enough police investigation and too much of the bad guys who really don’t interest me and their motivations. I have been reading this series from the start and found this to be a disappointing read until the final gung ho chapters.
Charlie Stafford is subdued in this novel for bolt from the blue personal reasons so the novel lacks the pep of the previous ones. The circumstances for this state of mind are mysterious and don’t make much sense to me but I’m sure it will be continued in the next novel.
Daddy’s Girls is a solid read with a psychological bent so I’m sure it will appeal to many readers, just not me.
Operation Greystream, the hunt for a burglar who breaks into homes of the elderly at night to chat and take a souvenir, is in full swing when he ups the ante by murdering Florence Brierly.
I didn’t particularly enjoy Daddy’s Girls until the last quarter which is tense, action packed and fast moving. The novel has two plot lines, the hunt for the burglar and another one not mentioned the blurb so I won’t describe it. The police view the two as linked and act accordingly but the reader has reason to believe they might not be. The reason for this is the multiple points of view. I found it distracting and never really settled in to the read. There isn’t enough police investigation and too much of the bad guys who really don’t interest me and their motivations. I have been reading this series from the start and found this to be a disappointing read until the final gung ho chapters.
Charlie Stafford is subdued in this novel for bolt from the blue personal reasons so the novel lacks the pep of the previous ones. The circumstances for this state of mind are mysterious and don’t make much sense to me but I’m sure it will be continued in the next novel.
Daddy’s Girls is a solid read with a psychological bent so I’m sure it will appeal to many readers, just not me.
September 19, 2019
*I've got this book from publishers and NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*
It is my second book by Sarah Flint and I'm not disappointed. Like I said in my previous review of her book, she has something in her writing style, that can send chills down your spine.
It's a solid mystery book, with great characters and a very compelling story line, that keeps you reading past your bed time.
Now I can't wait for a next book, because the ending left off on a huge cliffhanger.
Definitely recommend to all mystery book genre lovers.
It is my second book by Sarah Flint and I'm not disappointed. Like I said in my previous review of her book, she has something in her writing style, that can send chills down your spine.
It's a solid mystery book, with great characters and a very compelling story line, that keeps you reading past your bed time.
Now I can't wait for a next book, because the ending left off on a huge cliffhanger.
Definitely recommend to all mystery book genre lovers.
September 5, 2019
Daddy’s Girls by Sarah Flint
DC Charlotte Stafford #5
At the graveside of his wife a man walks away leaving his 18 year old daughter and three generations of family to bury the coffin. A year later the story is picked up and at this point Charlotte and her team become involved in the murder case of an older female pensioner. The fact that this murder case might tie into to an ongoing case that sees the thief invading homes of the elderly to “talk” then steal from them is a bit different. With the murder there has been an escalation and the need to find the perpetrator has increased. At the same time Charlotte and her team are working this case there are side issues that deal with a rapist, drug dealer, dysfunctional family situation and more. The violence level is lower in this book than previous books in the series but though there was less gore there was still trauma to the victims.
All in all this was more police procedural than a glimpse into the lives of Charlotte and her team. We do see the team, a night out on the town, camaraderie, problem solving sleuthing and such. I was surprised by a twist I hadn’t seen coming so that was good...even though I thought I knew who was doing what I was proven wrong and for a person that often reads the end of the book first...that is saying something. Add in the final twist...a secret that comes to light...and a hook for the next book and well...I am eager to read what comes next in book 6.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
DC Charlotte Stafford #5
At the graveside of his wife a man walks away leaving his 18 year old daughter and three generations of family to bury the coffin. A year later the story is picked up and at this point Charlotte and her team become involved in the murder case of an older female pensioner. The fact that this murder case might tie into to an ongoing case that sees the thief invading homes of the elderly to “talk” then steal from them is a bit different. With the murder there has been an escalation and the need to find the perpetrator has increased. At the same time Charlotte and her team are working this case there are side issues that deal with a rapist, drug dealer, dysfunctional family situation and more. The violence level is lower in this book than previous books in the series but though there was less gore there was still trauma to the victims.
All in all this was more police procedural than a glimpse into the lives of Charlotte and her team. We do see the team, a night out on the town, camaraderie, problem solving sleuthing and such. I was surprised by a twist I hadn’t seen coming so that was good...even though I thought I knew who was doing what I was proven wrong and for a person that often reads the end of the book first...that is saying something. Add in the final twist...a secret that comes to light...and a hook for the next book and well...I am eager to read what comes next in book 6.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
May 15, 2019
This series just gets better and better.
DC Charlie Stafford is part of a team led by DI Geoffrey Hunter. Their team is called in when an elderly woman is found dead by her neighbour. This death is immediately linked to a string of burglaries that have only taken place at old people’s private houses. The MO is always the same, the perpetrator cuts the phone line, enters and only steals objects that have sentimental meaning to the victim.
The team realise that they must find the perpetrator fast now that a murder has taken place.
Maryanne Hepworth is attacked and raped in her home. Her phone line is cut. At first, it's suspected that it's the same perpetrator, but why has he changed his pattern? Why suddenly a much younger person?
Charlie, Hunter, Paul, Bet, Naz and Sabira make a brilliant cohesive team working within the Metropolitan Police from their headquarters at Lambeth. These cases are going to test their dedication and individual talents they each bring to the squad to the limits.
Sarah Flint writes with authority on police procedures. The team of which Charlie is our main protagonist, feel real. Especially Charlie. She’s a compassionate policewoman, who has a complicated family life and in this novel, if like me, you’ve followed her from the beginning, had me feeling her pain when PTSD once again becomes an issue for Ben.
The ending? Sarah Flint, how could you do this to me? I’m going to be on pins and needles until the next book!
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
DC Charlie Stafford is part of a team led by DI Geoffrey Hunter. Their team is called in when an elderly woman is found dead by her neighbour. This death is immediately linked to a string of burglaries that have only taken place at old people’s private houses. The MO is always the same, the perpetrator cuts the phone line, enters and only steals objects that have sentimental meaning to the victim.
The team realise that they must find the perpetrator fast now that a murder has taken place.
Maryanne Hepworth is attacked and raped in her home. Her phone line is cut. At first, it's suspected that it's the same perpetrator, but why has he changed his pattern? Why suddenly a much younger person?
Charlie, Hunter, Paul, Bet, Naz and Sabira make a brilliant cohesive team working within the Metropolitan Police from their headquarters at Lambeth. These cases are going to test their dedication and individual talents they each bring to the squad to the limits.
Sarah Flint writes with authority on police procedures. The team of which Charlie is our main protagonist, feel real. Especially Charlie. She’s a compassionate policewoman, who has a complicated family life and in this novel, if like me, you’ve followed her from the beginning, had me feeling her pain when PTSD once again becomes an issue for Ben.
The ending? Sarah Flint, how could you do this to me? I’m going to be on pins and needles until the next book!
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
August 14, 2019
There are two cases running alongside each other in this book. There is the burglary/murder and then there is a break in/ rape. The police think these may be linked but as a reader, we are led to believe they are two separate cases. This makes it more tense and interesting as you get to see how and when the police will work out that there should be two suspects.
This is the 5th book in the Charlie Stafford series and I would recommend reading them all as they add some background on the characters and they are really good reads. However, this one can be read as a standalone and you don’t miss out. I love getting to know Charlie and seeing a glimpse into her personal life, even if this book broke my heart a little bit.
Daddy’s Girls is a bit of a slow starter but the explosive ending definitely made up for it. The story is told from multiple POVs including the bad guys which did get a bit confusing but it gave an added perspective on the crimes.
Overall it was a great read and I would definitely recommend checking out this series.
This is the 5th book in the Charlie Stafford series and I would recommend reading them all as they add some background on the characters and they are really good reads. However, this one can be read as a standalone and you don’t miss out. I love getting to know Charlie and seeing a glimpse into her personal life, even if this book broke my heart a little bit.
Daddy’s Girls is a bit of a slow starter but the explosive ending definitely made up for it. The story is told from multiple POVs including the bad guys which did get a bit confusing but it gave an added perspective on the crimes.
Overall it was a great read and I would definitely recommend checking out this series.
September 17, 2019
Daddy’s Girls is the 5th book in the DC Charlie Stafford series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Elderly Florence has an intruder in her house, he wants to talk……but the following day her friend George, finds her body.
Charlie is part of Operation Greystream, as they try to catch a burglar who breaks into elderly people’s homes, he chats and takes a small souvenir ….but now it seems he has escalated to murder.
Running parallel is the story of Thomas, who is dealing with the death of his wife Catherine in the worst way possible….he is a drug addict and his poor daughter, Emma is struggling to keep it all together and deal with her own grief. But then Thomas tells her Catherine has come back, he’s seen her, he’s watching her…
Are these two cases linked?
This is a solid police procedural with plenty of character background so they have a real personality and sometimes messy lives of their own. The thought of someone targeting the most vulnerable older people is a scary thought and this tale really does have a sense of menace and you wonder who will be next…..
I found this to be very well plotted with a few surprises too …totally gripping from start to finish. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Victoria Joss at Head of Zeus and Aria Fiction for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Elderly Florence has an intruder in her house, he wants to talk……but the following day her friend George, finds her body.
Charlie is part of Operation Greystream, as they try to catch a burglar who breaks into elderly people’s homes, he chats and takes a small souvenir ….but now it seems he has escalated to murder.
Running parallel is the story of Thomas, who is dealing with the death of his wife Catherine in the worst way possible….he is a drug addict and his poor daughter, Emma is struggling to keep it all together and deal with her own grief. But then Thomas tells her Catherine has come back, he’s seen her, he’s watching her…
Are these two cases linked?
This is a solid police procedural with plenty of character background so they have a real personality and sometimes messy lives of their own. The thought of someone targeting the most vulnerable older people is a scary thought and this tale really does have a sense of menace and you wonder who will be next…..
I found this to be very well plotted with a few surprises too …totally gripping from start to finish. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Victoria Joss at Head of Zeus and Aria Fiction for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
October 12, 2019
Sarah's last book had really improved with punctuation, etc. but I think she's taken a small step backwards with this one, especially with those pesky commas !! I always "test" them by reading a sentence aloud and seeing if it makes more sense or not with or without a pause for the comma in it. "He was a love though" or "...and speak to people really" are both prime examples. She seems to have missed a great deal but has them included where they're not required as with "Even her rather dumpy, old boss" or "Got a message from my mate, Ben ?" He wasn't speaking TO Ben but ABOUT him and that comma meant all the difference.
I loved the story again, though. This is a terrific series. We didn't spend a great deal of time with Charlie's colleagues in this one but it didn't lack for any of the usual ingredients we know and love with dual investigations along with keeping up with Charlie's personal life. That seems like it's going to become featured more in the next instalment, I'd say. Should be good......a particular portion in her private life left me pretty sniffy, too. Then I actually felt pretty sad for one killer featured.
I Googled the green parakeets-how fascinating there are so many, now ! Though I imagine they're noisy sods ! I was happy to hear about the new addition in Meg's house, though not the reason behind it.
I did notice that in the Amazon synopsis it states that Florence is 87 but in the book she's 82. I thought Emma was a really young child as well till we had her age shared with us !! I have never heard this expression before, "Danielle O'Brien, who gives evidence of first complaint" and I spotted some missed fullstops and speechmarks as well. I couldn't find on Google what RVP stands for aside from a football player and I KNOW she wasn't referring to him ! I was left wondering ALL the way through why it was called Daddy's Girls.....that bothered me all along, I must say.
Want was used and not wont, visitor's and not visitors', distain not disdain then back-doubles as opposed to doubles-back and affect not effect. They really ought to get spotted during editing.
I DID mark a highlight with a bravo for this sentence, however, "...on each borough's crime statistics and the wants and demands of the areas' inhabitants" as all the apostrophes were right. I'm more than happy to proofread your next, Sarah, cos' I'll definitely be reading it, of course !
I loved the story again, though. This is a terrific series. We didn't spend a great deal of time with Charlie's colleagues in this one but it didn't lack for any of the usual ingredients we know and love with dual investigations along with keeping up with Charlie's personal life. That seems like it's going to become featured more in the next instalment, I'd say. Should be good......a particular portion in her private life left me pretty sniffy, too. Then I actually felt pretty sad for one killer featured.
I Googled the green parakeets-how fascinating there are so many, now ! Though I imagine they're noisy sods ! I was happy to hear about the new addition in Meg's house, though not the reason behind it.
I did notice that in the Amazon synopsis it states that Florence is 87 but in the book she's 82. I thought Emma was a really young child as well till we had her age shared with us !! I have never heard this expression before, "Danielle O'Brien, who gives evidence of first complaint" and I spotted some missed fullstops and speechmarks as well. I couldn't find on Google what RVP stands for aside from a football player and I KNOW she wasn't referring to him ! I was left wondering ALL the way through why it was called Daddy's Girls.....that bothered me all along, I must say.
Want was used and not wont, visitor's and not visitors', distain not disdain then back-doubles as opposed to doubles-back and affect not effect. They really ought to get spotted during editing.
I DID mark a highlight with a bravo for this sentence, however, "...on each borough's crime statistics and the wants and demands of the areas' inhabitants" as all the apostrophes were right. I'm more than happy to proofread your next, Sarah, cos' I'll definitely be reading it, of course !
July 1, 2019
Thomas Houghton knows he is failing; at being a father, at putting a roof over his daughter's head, at life itself, but then something earth shattering happens and he knows everything is about to get so much better even if he has to break the law to get what he wants.
Charlie Stafford is a detective constable assigned to a help solve a spate of burglaries where the victims are all elderly. When their thief suddenly ups the ante she and her team realise just how little they have to go on. As the two cases seem to move closer together the officers involved are pulled in various directions, their only hope being that they can straighten everything out in time for a successful resolution in all instances.
The tension in this story was gradually increased, then there was a little downtime before it was heightened once again. Told from various viewpoints all aspects of each part of the puzzle was explored and eventually explained. I was convinced I had the burglar totally worked out, I was completely wrong.
I enjoyed the story very much; there was an originality about it that kept my interest and made me want to keep reading. Ms Flint was able to show how circumstance and conditions can decide a future just as much for the bad as the good and she didn't shy away from showing compassion towards the perpetrators as well as the victims in her storyline.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this author's work or wants a good whodunnit with no spoilers to previous books in the series.
Charlie Stafford is a detective constable assigned to a help solve a spate of burglaries where the victims are all elderly. When their thief suddenly ups the ante she and her team realise just how little they have to go on. As the two cases seem to move closer together the officers involved are pulled in various directions, their only hope being that they can straighten everything out in time for a successful resolution in all instances.
The tension in this story was gradually increased, then there was a little downtime before it was heightened once again. Told from various viewpoints all aspects of each part of the puzzle was explored and eventually explained. I was convinced I had the burglar totally worked out, I was completely wrong.
I enjoyed the story very much; there was an originality about it that kept my interest and made me want to keep reading. Ms Flint was able to show how circumstance and conditions can decide a future just as much for the bad as the good and she didn't shy away from showing compassion towards the perpetrators as well as the victims in her storyline.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this author's work or wants a good whodunnit with no spoilers to previous books in the series.
September 10, 2019
In this latest psychological thriller, D.C. Charlie Stafford has an odd case on her hands. And it may be her toughest one yet.
Thomas Houghton's wife dies and he blames his daughter, Emma, for her very existence, which he believes, contributed to his wife's death. Drugged, delusional, and broke, Tom believes he has seen his dead wife and she has returned to him. The fact that the woman doesn't seem to know him, doesn't deter him from visiting her.
A burglar who isn't interested in valuables, the subject of Operation Greystream, he visits his victims in the dead of the night, gloved and masked. He targets the elderly, he doesn't hurt them and, if they beg, he won't take anything of real value.
But then 87-year-old Florence Briarly is found by her friend, cold to the touch and neatly tucked into bed. And Charlie realizes this case has taken a sinister, urgent turn. Now this stealthy burglar has had a taste of murder, it's only a matter of time until he craves it again...
This series gets better and better and with more than one main plot; you just want to keep reading until the book is done. Flint's books may be read as a stand-alones; however, you will want to read them all. Flint is able to get into the perpetrator's and the victim's head which creates the tension within the story. In true psychological fiction fashion, there is an unexpected ending (no spoilers here) and I love it when I don't guess the identity of the killer. Full of surprises, I can't wait to see what Flint writes next!
Reviewed at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogsp...
Thomas Houghton's wife dies and he blames his daughter, Emma, for her very existence, which he believes, contributed to his wife's death. Drugged, delusional, and broke, Tom believes he has seen his dead wife and she has returned to him. The fact that the woman doesn't seem to know him, doesn't deter him from visiting her.
A burglar who isn't interested in valuables, the subject of Operation Greystream, he visits his victims in the dead of the night, gloved and masked. He targets the elderly, he doesn't hurt them and, if they beg, he won't take anything of real value.
But then 87-year-old Florence Briarly is found by her friend, cold to the touch and neatly tucked into bed. And Charlie realizes this case has taken a sinister, urgent turn. Now this stealthy burglar has had a taste of murder, it's only a matter of time until he craves it again...
This series gets better and better and with more than one main plot; you just want to keep reading until the book is done. Flint's books may be read as a stand-alones; however, you will want to read them all. Flint is able to get into the perpetrator's and the victim's head which creates the tension within the story. In true psychological fiction fashion, there is an unexpected ending (no spoilers here) and I love it when I don't guess the identity of the killer. Full of surprises, I can't wait to see what Flint writes next!
Reviewed at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogsp...
July 13, 2019
I seemed to have missed out three books in this series somehow, which I’m proper gutted about, but the great thing is is that they can be read as a stand-alone. Though there are some background characteristics that can be a little confusing without the previous books.
Now, I’ve read book one in this series and I gave it 4 stars as is it was fantastic and I remember struggling to put it down. But with this one? I don’t know, something was missing. Also, there was two separate stories running throughout this book and they didn’t clang together and that really put me off. A crime-thriller story, needs one BIG storyline with a ‘whodunnit’ vibe. But this didn’t. It just seemed to be a story that led to the suspects and that was it and it was really disappointing! I can’t really say what I want to say without giving the game away but the ‘big reveal’ wasn’t great. I like their to be characters that
You can point at and say maybe or they did it. You don’t get that with this. Also, this author loves the word ‘discomforture’ or whatever it is instead of just discomfort.
On the other hand, the storyline(S) were great, well described and it easily flowed into each scene. The characters were well thought out and portrayed, descriptive and edgy.
Great read. Well written. Just a bit of a let down ending which knocked the star down for me
Now, I’ve read book one in this series and I gave it 4 stars as is it was fantastic and I remember struggling to put it down. But with this one? I don’t know, something was missing. Also, there was two separate stories running throughout this book and they didn’t clang together and that really put me off. A crime-thriller story, needs one BIG storyline with a ‘whodunnit’ vibe. But this didn’t. It just seemed to be a story that led to the suspects and that was it and it was really disappointing! I can’t really say what I want to say without giving the game away but the ‘big reveal’ wasn’t great. I like their to be characters that
You can point at and say maybe or they did it. You don’t get that with this. Also, this author loves the word ‘discomforture’ or whatever it is instead of just discomfort.
On the other hand, the storyline(S) were great, well described and it easily flowed into each scene. The characters were well thought out and portrayed, descriptive and edgy.
Great read. Well written. Just a bit of a let down ending which knocked the star down for me
September 11, 2019
Another exciting range of investigations for DC Charlie Stafford and her colleagues. This book illustrates the problems faced by detectives, the procedures that must be followed and how the law can sometimes work against them, It is its authenticity that makes this such a readable crime thriller. There are also moral questions explored in this story. Can something be illegal, yet in most people’s eyes morally right?
There are multiple crimes for the team to solve in this book, which shows the complexity of modern police work, and the many competing demands they have to satisfy, with often limited resources. Mistakes are made, which have consequences, and the team have to live with this
Whilst, the overt violence is less than in previous stories, the trauma that the victims suffer is palpable and well described. This is also a family drama. How do family members react, when someone they know and love becomes a criminal or a victim? Can this, sometimes, misguided loyalty, impede the police investigation? Suspense builds with each crime, and it is only the relentless, painstaking detection and forensic evidence that will solve the crimes.
This reads as a standalone, but if you enjoy authentic police procedurals, with believable family drama and complex characters, read the series.
I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
There are multiple crimes for the team to solve in this book, which shows the complexity of modern police work, and the many competing demands they have to satisfy, with often limited resources. Mistakes are made, which have consequences, and the team have to live with this
Whilst, the overt violence is less than in previous stories, the trauma that the victims suffer is palpable and well described. This is also a family drama. How do family members react, when someone they know and love becomes a criminal or a victim? Can this, sometimes, misguided loyalty, impede the police investigation? Suspense builds with each crime, and it is only the relentless, painstaking detection and forensic evidence that will solve the crimes.
This reads as a standalone, but if you enjoy authentic police procedurals, with believable family drama and complex characters, read the series.
I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 18, 2019
Sarah Flint pens a really realistic crime thriller and I was gripped by her latest addition to this great series!
Charlie Stafford finds herself in the unenviable position of investigating a series of crimes where the perpetrator breaks into the home of elderly women and sits chatting to them about the past, before leaving with some of their treasured souvenirs. Suddenly it all ramps up a notch when the home invasion turns to murder and it becomes a case of finding out who he is before he gets the opportunity to strike again . . .
I have no experience of crime investigation apart from what I read or see on tv but I suspect that this series of books is more representative of what really goes on in the squad room. There are no magic moments, no flashing bulb suddenly shining - just lots of hard graft and sometimes a little bit of luck. Things don't always go to plan but the team never give in. This is a really well-written novel, with interwoven events clouding the issue and giving the reader even more to ponder. I much prefer not knowing who the guilty party is; for me, it all adds to the atmosphere and the credibility. A very substantial thriller which reveals the doggedness of basic police work in an absolutely gripping way where the tension is palpable, and it is fully worthy of a full house of stars. I'm already looking forward to the next one!
Charlie Stafford finds herself in the unenviable position of investigating a series of crimes where the perpetrator breaks into the home of elderly women and sits chatting to them about the past, before leaving with some of their treasured souvenirs. Suddenly it all ramps up a notch when the home invasion turns to murder and it becomes a case of finding out who he is before he gets the opportunity to strike again . . .
I have no experience of crime investigation apart from what I read or see on tv but I suspect that this series of books is more representative of what really goes on in the squad room. There are no magic moments, no flashing bulb suddenly shining - just lots of hard graft and sometimes a little bit of luck. Things don't always go to plan but the team never give in. This is a really well-written novel, with interwoven events clouding the issue and giving the reader even more to ponder. I much prefer not knowing who the guilty party is; for me, it all adds to the atmosphere and the credibility. A very substantial thriller which reveals the doggedness of basic police work in an absolutely gripping way where the tension is palpable, and it is fully worthy of a full house of stars. I'm already looking forward to the next one!
September 25, 2019
This is my first book by Sarah Flint, so jumping in at book 6 can often be a bit difficult but this does read well as a standalone, there isn't loads of reference to previous books so I was comfortable picking up from here.
A series of burglaries of the older generation, a burglar in breaking and entering, but not stealing much and only seems to be turning up for a talk with these older victims, until one fateful night the burglar goes to far and becomes a killer.... something he now has a taste for.
There is another story line running along side which is as equally prominent and vital to the book, one I will not go into for fear of spoilers.
My take on this book is firstly is that it was darker than I was expecting, one scene in particular was disturbing and written with frightening aplomb, it really made me sit back for a moment, its expertly done.
The book is written well, Sarah Flint is clearly a very accomplished writer whose career experiences shine through.
DC Charlotte Stafford, is suffering her own home life dramas throughout and she comes across a little morose as she battles her own demons.
This book isn't one to make you laugh, approaching some taboo and upsetting subjects, it's a very good murder mystery that packs a punch and has plenty of twists right up until the killers reveal.
Gently paced, it never really steams along, but that for me, suits the tale and subject matter in hand.
A recommended read
4🔥🔥🔥🔥
A series of burglaries of the older generation, a burglar in breaking and entering, but not stealing much and only seems to be turning up for a talk with these older victims, until one fateful night the burglar goes to far and becomes a killer.... something he now has a taste for.
There is another story line running along side which is as equally prominent and vital to the book, one I will not go into for fear of spoilers.
My take on this book is firstly is that it was darker than I was expecting, one scene in particular was disturbing and written with frightening aplomb, it really made me sit back for a moment, its expertly done.
The book is written well, Sarah Flint is clearly a very accomplished writer whose career experiences shine through.
DC Charlotte Stafford, is suffering her own home life dramas throughout and she comes across a little morose as she battles her own demons.
This book isn't one to make you laugh, approaching some taboo and upsetting subjects, it's a very good murder mystery that packs a punch and has plenty of twists right up until the killers reveal.
Gently paced, it never really steams along, but that for me, suits the tale and subject matter in hand.
A recommended read
4🔥🔥🔥🔥
August 17, 2023
Sérii od Sarah Flint s vyšetřovatelkou Charlie miluju už od prvního dílů Maminčin mazánek (kterou nemám jako jedinou doma v knihovně). 😄
Nejvíc se mi líbí to, že sama autorka působila v Anglii u policie a tak se její detektivní příběhy nestávají slátaninou.
Tento díl byl dle mého trošku jiný, než předchozí. Nepřišel mi tak pobuřující a nechutný, ale to záleží kde má kdo hranice.
Kromě vyšetřování nočních vloupaček, které vygradují až ve vraždu a v jednom případě znásilnění, zde sledujeme i postupující vztah Charlie a jejího přítele a rodiny.
Samozřejmě jsem byla dle svých domněnek o pachateli úplně mimo, ale tím se mi knihy líbí ještě víc. Jinak dle názvu jsem si myslela, že kniha bude na úplně jiné téma, ale to se nechte překvapit.
Na těchto knihách je skvělé, že můžete šáhnout po jakémkoliv dílu a až na ne úplně dobře propojený příběh na pozadí to nebude ničemu vadit, ale jestli jste úchylní jako já, tak rozhodně doporučuji postupovat od prvního dílu, protože já hltám i osobní život Charlie. 😅
A pozor…. na konci knihy na Vás vyskočí bomba, která vás nekompromisně donutí vyhlížet pokračování.
4/5⭐️
Nejvíc se mi líbí to, že sama autorka působila v Anglii u policie a tak se její detektivní příběhy nestávají slátaninou.
Tento díl byl dle mého trošku jiný, než předchozí. Nepřišel mi tak pobuřující a nechutný, ale to záleží kde má kdo hranice.
Kromě vyšetřování nočních vloupaček, které vygradují až ve vraždu a v jednom případě znásilnění, zde sledujeme i postupující vztah Charlie a jejího přítele a rodiny.
Samozřejmě jsem byla dle svých domněnek o pachateli úplně mimo, ale tím se mi knihy líbí ještě víc. Jinak dle názvu jsem si myslela, že kniha bude na úplně jiné téma, ale to se nechte překvapit.
Na těchto knihách je skvělé, že můžete šáhnout po jakémkoliv dílu a až na ne úplně dobře propojený příběh na pozadí to nebude ničemu vadit, ale jestli jste úchylní jako já, tak rozhodně doporučuji postupovat od prvního dílu, protože já hltám i osobní život Charlie. 😅
A pozor…. na konci knihy na Vás vyskočí bomba, která vás nekompromisně donutí vyhlížet pokračování.
4/5⭐️
August 31, 2019
This is a solid police procedural following a team of detectives in London trying to solve the strange case of a burglar who just seems to want to talk to old people, until he escalates and kills his next victim. On top of this they have the case of a woman raped in her home, and wonder if the two cases might be linked. I found the investigation to be interesting and Sarah Flint certainly seems to know her stuff where police procedures are concerned. She deals with the difficult subjects of mental health, drug addiction and grief sensitively and realistically.
Daddy's Girls is the fifth DC Charlotte Stafford book, but is the first in the series that I have read. I felt it read perfectly well as a standalone, though I will read the others in the series. I liked the character of Charlie, though didn't feel I got to know enough about the rest of her team, but this may have been due to the fact that I hadn't read previous books.
This book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am now waiting impatiently for the next in the series to see what happens!
Daddy's Girls is the fifth DC Charlotte Stafford book, but is the first in the series that I have read. I felt it read perfectly well as a standalone, though I will read the others in the series. I liked the character of Charlie, though didn't feel I got to know enough about the rest of her team, but this may have been due to the fact that I hadn't read previous books.
This book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am now waiting impatiently for the next in the series to see what happens!
September 3, 2019
Daddy’s Girls
by Sarah Flint
Aria
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 05 Sep 2019
I am reviewing a copy of Daddy’s Girls through Aria and Netgalley:
Before he was a killer, all he wanted to do was talk.
D.C Charlie Stafford has a strange case on her hands, this case must be her toughest one yet.
This case has to deal with a burglar who has no interest in valuables, the subject of Operation Greystream is a strange but smooth operator. In the dead of the night, gloved and masked, he visits the elderly. He doesn’t hurt them and, if they beg, he won’t take anything of real value. All he wants is conversation… and they have no way to refuse him.
After 87 year old Florence Briarly is discovered by her friend cold to the touch and to nearly tucked in to her bed. Charlie comes to the realization that this case has taken a sinister, urgent turn…Now that this burglar had had a taste for murder. It’s only a matter of time until he craves it again…
I give Daddy’s Girls Four out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
by Sarah Flint
Aria
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 05 Sep 2019
I am reviewing a copy of Daddy’s Girls through Aria and Netgalley:
Before he was a killer, all he wanted to do was talk.
D.C Charlie Stafford has a strange case on her hands, this case must be her toughest one yet.
This case has to deal with a burglar who has no interest in valuables, the subject of Operation Greystream is a strange but smooth operator. In the dead of the night, gloved and masked, he visits the elderly. He doesn’t hurt them and, if they beg, he won’t take anything of real value. All he wants is conversation… and they have no way to refuse him.
After 87 year old Florence Briarly is discovered by her friend cold to the touch and to nearly tucked in to her bed. Charlie comes to the realization that this case has taken a sinister, urgent turn…Now that this burglar had had a taste for murder. It’s only a matter of time until he craves it again…
I give Daddy’s Girls Four out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Read
August 27, 2019Fifth book in the series but first of mine, this was a slow burn thriller and a police procedural. D. C. Charlie had to investigate a different case entitled Operation Greystream where the perp visited the elderly apparently just to talk to them till one such day where murder occurred in its stead.
My first book by Sarah Flint was a slow moving thriller which gained its momentum in the latter half. There were 2 plot lines which moved in tandem, parallel to each other, supposedly unconnected till it all made sense.
The book had its thoughtful moments with multiple POV even of the perps. The tension in the plot raised considerably only in the latter half. The team of cops were entertaining, characters different and etched well.
A prose which slightly missed its sparkle and a faster moving plot was needed to capture my interest thoroughly.
A good read, I would say. Though I think I would have to read the earlier books to get an in depth feel for the characters.
My first book by Sarah Flint was a slow moving thriller which gained its momentum in the latter half. There were 2 plot lines which moved in tandem, parallel to each other, supposedly unconnected till it all made sense.
The book had its thoughtful moments with multiple POV even of the perps. The tension in the plot raised considerably only in the latter half. The team of cops were entertaining, characters different and etched well.
A prose which slightly missed its sparkle and a faster moving plot was needed to capture my interest thoroughly.
A good read, I would say. Though I think I would have to read the earlier books to get an in depth feel for the characters.
January 16, 2026
I have to give it three stars. The thing is I came upon this book not knowing what I was getting myself into and found out it was fifth instalment very late. So the three stars are biased and based on the fact that I didn’t connect with either Charlie or anyone from the police department. I definitely did not understand the book title, that felt weird especially due to the main plot revolving around a dude robbing old people. The plot twist to who did that was really a surprise to me. I must warn there is a very explicit rape scene from the POV of the rapist and it made me sick to my stomach. I was very much disturbed anytime this person was the narrator. I think we were supposed to feel sorry for him somehow but gosh how disgusting he was, that was beyond my comprehension. It was quite slow actually but I liked the style of the chapters how they were split into subsections. I don’t think I will ever read other books from this series, it just didn’t feel like my style.
January 5, 2024
I don't know if the issue is that this was not supposed to be read as stand alone, since it's part of the series, but I did not enjoy this.
The thriller part was great, I enjoyed the suspense, the search for the perpetrator, the police work and finding. However, the character story lines were out of this world. The father-daughter relationship I did not grasp. He does nothing for her, she hates him, yet somehow tries to save him and then willingly engages with drug dealer to find a place to sleep? First of all why? Second of all, what kind of father would let something like that happen to his daughter?
That is a huge red flag and no from me.
I do not understand at this point the title of the book at all.
In conclusion, very forgettable read for me.
The thriller part was great, I enjoyed the suspense, the search for the perpetrator, the police work and finding. However, the character story lines were out of this world. The father-daughter relationship I did not grasp. He does nothing for her, she hates him, yet somehow tries to save him and then willingly engages with drug dealer to find a place to sleep? First of all why? Second of all, what kind of father would let something like that happen to his daughter?
That is a huge red flag and no from me.
I do not understand at this point the title of the book at all.
In conclusion, very forgettable read for me.
July 28, 2019
This is the 5th in the series and I had not read any of the prior books. It was a solid police procedural and you could follow this story even without having read the previous ones. There are two mysteries a rape and a series of burglaries of elderly people. The main character is solid if a but dense about some things. I had no connection to any of the rest of the team. So overall enjoyable but not enough to make me run out and get the rest of the series.
I was given a copy from netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I was given a copy from netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 3, 2019
This one really got into my head. I am very much a creature of habit and routine and reading this makes me think I need to switch things up a bit even though I’m not quite in the age bracket for the victims of Operation Greystream. The idea of someone breaking into your house just to talk to you gives me chills. I’m sure I’ve said this with previous books in this series but there is an authenticity to them that obviously stems from the author’s lengthy police career and I never have doubts about procedures. Charlie is a great central character and the glimpses into her personal life really brings her to life. The ending certainly suggests that there will me more books to come and I welcome that idea.
June 25, 2020
I clicked, then I read. That’s it.
Have never put so much expectations to this book. Havent followed Flint’s works so far too.
Pretty good in the beginning until half of the journey, but somehow too much conflict ornaments on it. I mean, the main focus is Emma’s daddy with all hidden things on his life. All that kind of personality disorder that I excited to dig more.
Not sure if I should’ve followed Charlie’s journey on previous books, as her character well described enough in this series.
The rest is great, btw.
Have never put so much expectations to this book. Havent followed Flint’s works so far too.
Pretty good in the beginning until half of the journey, but somehow too much conflict ornaments on it. I mean, the main focus is Emma’s daddy with all hidden things on his life. All that kind of personality disorder that I excited to dig more.
Not sure if I should’ve followed Charlie’s journey on previous books, as her character well described enough in this series.
The rest is great, btw.
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August 3, 2019Zero stars.
It's a no from me when . Plus, the writing was pedestrian, full of tired phrases and a lot of telling, such as, what someone was feeling rather than actually showing it. As a mystery, it wasn't bad. Actually, there were two cases running side by side, that the reader knew weren't connected, but the police didn't, so it was rather interesting to see the legwork that goes on in these cases. The identity of the murderer too was a surprise. With good editing and , this could have been a decent 3.5 stars.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
It's a no from me when . Plus, the writing was pedestrian, full of tired phrases and a lot of telling, such as, what someone was feeling rather than actually showing it. As a mystery, it wasn't bad. Actually, there were two cases running side by side, that the reader knew weren't connected, but the police didn't, so it was rather interesting to see the legwork that goes on in these cases. The identity of the murderer too was a surprise. With good editing and , this could have been a decent 3.5 stars.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
September 23, 2019
Addictive!
Just to say what a superb read this was. Found it very difficult to put it down. Great story with just the right mix of personal detail for the characters with thrills and action throughout. I love how you blend the books with links to past events and people whilst enabling the books to stand alone. I'm pleased I've read them all in order though and always look forward to your next book. Thank you so much xx
Just to say what a superb read this was. Found it very difficult to put it down. Great story with just the right mix of personal detail for the characters with thrills and action throughout. I love how you blend the books with links to past events and people whilst enabling the books to stand alone. I'm pleased I've read them all in order though and always look forward to your next book. Thank you so much xx
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