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Chloe - Lost Girl
A missing student. A gunned-down detective. A woman in fear for her life. All three are connected somehow.
Detective Inspector Carl Sant and his fellow officers get on the case. But what links the disappearance of a university student, the death of an off-duty police sergeant, and a professor reluctant to help them solve the case?
Their only clue is a sequence of numbers, etched by the police sergeant Dryden on a misty window moments before he breathed his last. Soon it becomes clear that Dryden's clue has brought the past and present into a head-on collision with the very heart of Sant’s profession.
Racing against time, D.I. Sant must find out what's behind the mysterious events - before the bodies start piling up.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2019
994 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
Dan Laughey
13 books5 followersDan Laughey was born in Otley and bred in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, a hop and a skip away from the Leeds setting of his Chloe thrillers featuring no-holds-barred Detective Inspector Carl Sant. He now lives in nearby Guiseley and shares his time between England and Thailand, home of his in-laws. He lectures at Leeds Beckett University where he teaches a course called ‘Youth, Crime and Culture’. He holds a PhD in Sociology from Salford University and an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Leeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
October 18, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Chloe – Lost Girl is the first book in a new thriller/detective series by author Dan Laughey. The book is set in Leeds, UK and features Detective Inspector Carl Sant and his team. The book opens with a Detective Liam Dryden meeting a female informant in a rural location. After the woman had told her story Dryden left, catching a bus out of the area.
Not long into the bus journey Dryden and the other passengers on board were gunned down. The last thing that Dryden managed to do before his death was to write a series of numbers on the window that will hopefully help the police.
As well as the murders on the bus, the team was already working on the case of missing local girl, twenty-year-old student Chloe Lee. Chloe had been missing for seven weeks and leads were thin on the ground. Is it possible that the murder and Chloe missing be linked? And just who was Dryden meeting and why?
The synopsis of the book caught my eye and I knew I had to read it. It was fascinating to read and I loved how the book interweaved the two main plots. The pace was just right, feeding me enough information at the right times to keep me on my toes and adding a few red-herrings in for fun too. I also loved the chapters featuring the mystery woman.
The characters really hooked me in and DI Carl Sant was so realistic, he was tough but fair and the way his mind worked to solve cases was spot on.
By the end of the book, I was left wanting more, not in a bad way, just that I needed to carry on the story so much so that I have already downloaded book two as I need to see how it all ends.
If you enjoy a good, riveting police thriller then this is one to read. It kept me on the edge of the seat and wanting to know how everything linked together.
Chloe – Lost Girl is the first book in a new thriller/detective series by author Dan Laughey. The book is set in Leeds, UK and features Detective Inspector Carl Sant and his team. The book opens with a Detective Liam Dryden meeting a female informant in a rural location. After the woman had told her story Dryden left, catching a bus out of the area.
Not long into the bus journey Dryden and the other passengers on board were gunned down. The last thing that Dryden managed to do before his death was to write a series of numbers on the window that will hopefully help the police.
As well as the murders on the bus, the team was already working on the case of missing local girl, twenty-year-old student Chloe Lee. Chloe had been missing for seven weeks and leads were thin on the ground. Is it possible that the murder and Chloe missing be linked? And just who was Dryden meeting and why?
The synopsis of the book caught my eye and I knew I had to read it. It was fascinating to read and I loved how the book interweaved the two main plots. The pace was just right, feeding me enough information at the right times to keep me on my toes and adding a few red-herrings in for fun too. I also loved the chapters featuring the mystery woman.
The characters really hooked me in and DI Carl Sant was so realistic, he was tough but fair and the way his mind worked to solve cases was spot on.
By the end of the book, I was left wanting more, not in a bad way, just that I needed to carry on the story so much so that I have already downloaded book two as I need to see how it all ends.
If you enjoy a good, riveting police thriller then this is one to read. It kept me on the edge of the seat and wanting to know how everything linked together.
April 26, 2019
In the British mystery tradition, CHLOE – LOST GIRL by Dan Laughey is not a rock ‘em – sock ‘em rapid-fire read! It is a tad dark, has some grit and characters that are far from perfect. Yet also in the British mystery tradition, it is riveting and filled with seemingly unrelated crimes that are like knots in a rope, knots DI Carl Sant is determined to unravel.
If you like your mysteries far reaching, love to play your own version of connect the dots before the police and want your characters to feel genuine and imperfectly real, this looks like a good start to a down and dirty mystery series!
Series: Carl Sant Murder Mysteries - Book 1
Publisher: Creativia; 1 edition (March 5, 2019)
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: Murder Mystery
Print Length: 286 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
If you like your mysteries far reaching, love to play your own version of connect the dots before the police and want your characters to feel genuine and imperfectly real, this looks like a good start to a down and dirty mystery series!
Series: Carl Sant Murder Mysteries - Book 1
Publisher: Creativia; 1 edition (March 5, 2019)
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: Murder Mystery
Print Length: 286 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 19, 2019
The book got off to a good start with a mysterious crime when a police officer is killed along with everyone else on a bus. I kept reading, wanting to know the motive for the crime. However, the story strayed into a wasteland of political meanderings. The most disappointing thing is that nothing is resolved. The book simply ends with an advertisement for the next book in the series. I won't be fooled again by this author.
February 27, 2020
Now I'm aware this is part of a series and I saw a LOT of reviewers complaining how it ends suddenly and I expected it to taper off leaving an opening for the next instalment, but nope......it DOES end with no resolution and partway through the current mystery as opposed to tying up the ends of this particular case and THEN carrying on with the same characters in the next story !! So if you want any sort of an ending, don't bother !! However, I did enjoy the story and for the most part the writing is very good so I'll be getting hold of the next one at some point.
I say for the most part because it seems when he makes a spelling mistake it's a proper doozy !! I gasped at a few of them, I must say......so he needs to sort that out for sure.
I like that some of it harked back to the 80s and things occurring then which I remember well. I enjoyed his characters and a lot of the humour, too. Perhaps he'd be better off combining both books into one larger volume so as not to garner any further negative reviews, though.
Carl's mum invited him over for braising steak at one point but later he mentioned something being no substitute for his mum's hotpot. Then he mentioned heckle marks which I'd not heard of so I looked it up only to learn he meant hackle marks....I still learned something but spelling it right would've been helpful !! Then we had raised and not razed (the total opposite of what he meant to say), fore when he meant foray, baited not bated and this one took my breath away.......rest bite instead of respite.....I had to laugh as I have never seen anybody interpret it like this.....it's like something Del-Boy would say !! He also wrote past and not passed, dosing not dozing and full-proof not fool-proof. Another horrendous mistake (though it did make me snigger again) was someone sitting on a buffet as opposed to a tuffet !! Then he also committed the cardinal sin for me of misspelling one of his own character's names, substituting Andrews for Andrew at one point.
So sadly these mistakes cost him my high score but it's rare they also amuse me so much, either.
I say for the most part because it seems when he makes a spelling mistake it's a proper doozy !! I gasped at a few of them, I must say......so he needs to sort that out for sure.
I like that some of it harked back to the 80s and things occurring then which I remember well. I enjoyed his characters and a lot of the humour, too. Perhaps he'd be better off combining both books into one larger volume so as not to garner any further negative reviews, though.
Carl's mum invited him over for braising steak at one point but later he mentioned something being no substitute for his mum's hotpot. Then he mentioned heckle marks which I'd not heard of so I looked it up only to learn he meant hackle marks....I still learned something but spelling it right would've been helpful !! Then we had raised and not razed (the total opposite of what he meant to say), fore when he meant foray, baited not bated and this one took my breath away.......rest bite instead of respite.....I had to laugh as I have never seen anybody interpret it like this.....it's like something Del-Boy would say !! He also wrote past and not passed, dosing not dozing and full-proof not fool-proof. Another horrendous mistake (though it did make me snigger again) was someone sitting on a buffet as opposed to a tuffet !! Then he also committed the cardinal sin for me of misspelling one of his own character's names, substituting Andrews for Andrew at one point.
So sadly these mistakes cost him my high score but it's rare they also amuse me so much, either.
July 7, 2019
Chloe: Lost Girl is a dark, gritty mystery. What I really Loved about this book was the seemingly disconnected crimes that built like puzzle pieces. As a reader, I love when a mystery isn't easily solved by the characters or me. This is definitely the case here. The twists and turns are seemingly endless and that is what makes this a great mystery.
Admittedly, it is a but slow moving. The book starts off with a bang and then slows to a bit of a crawl for a while.
What worked with the slow pace, was the ability to really get to know the characters. Imperfect and real, it made the story really interesting. I've always loved well-rounded characters and Dan Laughey really delivers this.
I was dying to read book 2 as soon as I finished book 1, and I think mystery lovers will feel the same. I recommend checking this one out!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
Admittedly, it is a but slow moving. The book starts off with a bang and then slows to a bit of a crawl for a while.
What worked with the slow pace, was the ability to really get to know the characters. Imperfect and real, it made the story really interesting. I've always loved well-rounded characters and Dan Laughey really delivers this.
I was dying to read book 2 as soon as I finished book 1, and I think mystery lovers will feel the same. I recommend checking this one out!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
June 18, 2019
This is a review that I have written previously in my blog, simplemomjourney.com , and re-published it here in Goodreads.
Chloe – Lost Girl is about a 20-year-old Chloe Lee who has been missing from Leeds, West Yorkshire since September 9th. The novel immediately starts with the story of Detective Sergeant Liam Dryden who was gunned down in a bus soon after secretly interviewing a person regarding a murder case during his off duty, before the bus that he was riding was involved in an accident. He managed to etch a sequence of numbers on the misty window, with plastic film to help seal the moist, moments before he died.
The novel then quickly change the scene to that of Detective Inspector Carl Sant and Detective Constable Brad Capstick, who were interrogating Jake Downing – boyfriend of Chloe Lee before she was missing. The interrogation came to a halt when Assistant Chief Constable Bill Gilligan asked the two detectives to come into the office and told them about the death of Detective Sergeant Liam Dryden. They then went to the crash scene to join the investigation, and that’s where DI Sant found the sequence of numbers etched by DS Dryden. And so the the mysterious relations of the cases begins.
This is one of the best Psychological Thrillers that I have read so far – with DI Carl Sant and his fellow inspectors tried to link the cases involved, and the appearance of a professor reluctant to help them solve the case. The fact that the settings was in the United Kingdom brings back memories and familiarity – I can imagine the scenes easily!
A page-turner thriller with focused on the police profession, duties and friendship.
Chloe – Lost Girl is about a 20-year-old Chloe Lee who has been missing from Leeds, West Yorkshire since September 9th. The novel immediately starts with the story of Detective Sergeant Liam Dryden who was gunned down in a bus soon after secretly interviewing a person regarding a murder case during his off duty, before the bus that he was riding was involved in an accident. He managed to etch a sequence of numbers on the misty window, with plastic film to help seal the moist, moments before he died.
The novel then quickly change the scene to that of Detective Inspector Carl Sant and Detective Constable Brad Capstick, who were interrogating Jake Downing – boyfriend of Chloe Lee before she was missing. The interrogation came to a halt when Assistant Chief Constable Bill Gilligan asked the two detectives to come into the office and told them about the death of Detective Sergeant Liam Dryden. They then went to the crash scene to join the investigation, and that’s where DI Sant found the sequence of numbers etched by DS Dryden. And so the the mysterious relations of the cases begins.
This is one of the best Psychological Thrillers that I have read so far – with DI Carl Sant and his fellow inspectors tried to link the cases involved, and the appearance of a professor reluctant to help them solve the case. The fact that the settings was in the United Kingdom brings back memories and familiarity – I can imagine the scenes easily!
A page-turner thriller with focused on the police profession, duties and friendship.
August 23, 2019
Dan Laughey in Chloe - Lost Girl (Carl Sant Murder Mysteries Book 1) has written a superb suspense filled mystery that will have you spellbound and always wanting to read just one more chapter into the wee hours of the morning. The author has that distinctive ability to paint a picture with words that has you feeling you are present in each scene. His characters are so life like, and the bad guys so evil. I will not spoil it by giving away any of the plot, but each clue uncovered is yet another piece to a complicated puzzle that must be fit into its proper place. I also do not want to take away the joy the reader will have as you follow the protagonist Carl Sant, in his quest to solve the mystery of the lost girl and the murder of a colleague and others, and to bring justice to those that most certainly deserve it. It is like watching Masterpiece Theatre and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Laughey’s Chloe – Lost Girl and I highly recommend it to you. I give it 5 Stars
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April 18, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/18/2019)! 🎁
July 7, 2019
I will start out by saying that I loved this book. The mystery was wonderful and wove its way around in a way that I was not expecting, setting it up perfectly for the rest of the series.
The lead character, Carl Sant, is a great character. He has his flaws, but he is also a great guy. He is a little bit on the dense side when it comes to the people around him. He is smart, though, and sees things in a way that others don't always understand, but they indulge him anyway. He is in no uncertain terms NOT tech savvy, which I find interesting as the character has this in common with the author. I love little nuggets of information like this.
Now, for my dislikes, I hate cliffhanger endings. I understand that this is my issue and I will say that it doesn't detract from the greatness of the book at all, but I prefer the instant gratification that comes with a solved mystery wrapped up in a nice little bow. This book does not do that. Secondly, there are a few instances of continuity issues. In one instance, the main character wishes he had brought a torch with him to look around a possible crime scene, and not two paragraphs later, at the same crime scene, he has a torch. Again, nothing earth-shattering, it is just a foible that annoyed me a bit.
All in all, it was a fantastic read and I did it in two sittings. I left my reading area long enough to sleep and provide taxi service to my son. I am certainly looking forward to more from this author and especially in this series.
The lead character, Carl Sant, is a great character. He has his flaws, but he is also a great guy. He is a little bit on the dense side when it comes to the people around him. He is smart, though, and sees things in a way that others don't always understand, but they indulge him anyway. He is in no uncertain terms NOT tech savvy, which I find interesting as the character has this in common with the author. I love little nuggets of information like this.
Now, for my dislikes, I hate cliffhanger endings. I understand that this is my issue and I will say that it doesn't detract from the greatness of the book at all, but I prefer the instant gratification that comes with a solved mystery wrapped up in a nice little bow. This book does not do that. Secondly, there are a few instances of continuity issues. In one instance, the main character wishes he had brought a torch with him to look around a possible crime scene, and not two paragraphs later, at the same crime scene, he has a torch. Again, nothing earth-shattering, it is just a foible that annoyed me a bit.
All in all, it was a fantastic read and I did it in two sittings. I left my reading area long enough to sleep and provide taxi service to my son. I am certainly looking forward to more from this author and especially in this series.
July 7, 2019
When I started Chloe: Lost Girl, I didn’t realise that it was set in my magnificent city of Leeds. As I read the first page, I squealed; before we met, Mr K used to live on Belle Vue Road, the first Leeds reference… I loved the local backdrop, it enhanced my imagination of the story as I really could picture the locations that were mentioned.
What I read was quite a complex police procedural. The brutal shooting of a police officer on a bus really set the scene to the investigation that followed. And the lead investigator, DI Sant is quite a character, no shrinking violet in the West Yorkshire Police Force. I was with Sant, unable to see how the missing Chloe would like to his gunned down colleague.
The sporadic sections featuring the unnamed female intrigued me. Who was she? But as the story developed, her situation changed and more was revealed. I was on tenterhooks as to what would happen to this woman.
The author’s writing is enticing. I sped through the book eager to find out whether Sant found the missing Chloe or solved the case of the murdered police officer. It definitely kept me guessing as to the whys and the wherefores. This is definitely not a standalone. Having finished Lost Girl, I’ve been left slight bereft on the edge of a cliff so immediately dove straight into the follow up Chloe: Never Forget. If you do pick this book up, you need to make sure that you have the second waiting in the wings as you won’t want to be left wanting!
What I read was quite a complex police procedural. The brutal shooting of a police officer on a bus really set the scene to the investigation that followed. And the lead investigator, DI Sant is quite a character, no shrinking violet in the West Yorkshire Police Force. I was with Sant, unable to see how the missing Chloe would like to his gunned down colleague.
The sporadic sections featuring the unnamed female intrigued me. Who was she? But as the story developed, her situation changed and more was revealed. I was on tenterhooks as to what would happen to this woman.
The author’s writing is enticing. I sped through the book eager to find out whether Sant found the missing Chloe or solved the case of the murdered police officer. It definitely kept me guessing as to the whys and the wherefores. This is definitely not a standalone. Having finished Lost Girl, I’ve been left slight bereft on the edge of a cliff so immediately dove straight into the follow up Chloe: Never Forget. If you do pick this book up, you need to make sure that you have the second waiting in the wings as you won’t want to be left wanting!
October 15, 2019
Really enjoyed the twists and turns in this novel. It starts very dramatically with killings on a bus, and a mysterious message left behind on the window. Then the missing Chloe ultimately drives the story all the way through.
I liked that there were plenty of threads, both past and present, and that solutions were tricky to discern. Sant is a good main character, and his team of detectives all have their own personalities and add to the novel. There is also potential police corruption hovering in the background - plenty of clues and possibilities to keep the reader interested.
My only quibble was that the book ends on a cliff-hanger, i.e. you have to read Book 2 to find out what happens (perhaps even book 3?). I'm not a fan of this as I read a lot of crime fiction and it can be hard to remember what happened in the first book! But that might just be me.
I liked that there were plenty of threads, both past and present, and that solutions were tricky to discern. Sant is a good main character, and his team of detectives all have their own personalities and add to the novel. There is also potential police corruption hovering in the background - plenty of clues and possibilities to keep the reader interested.
My only quibble was that the book ends on a cliff-hanger, i.e. you have to read Book 2 to find out what happens (perhaps even book 3?). I'm not a fan of this as I read a lot of crime fiction and it can be hard to remember what happened in the first book! But that might just be me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2019
Intriguing storyline but didn't quite work me for.
The plot was quite complicated switching between different cases and incidents that initially seemed unrelated. Add in a few continuity errors, such as an officer bemoaning the lack of a torch and the next page using his torch, and it became unnecessarily confused.
The relationships between the officers of different ranks seemed a little off.
The book doesn't have an ending. It simply stops and gives the reader the blurb for the next book.
I didn't relate to any of the main characters.
The plot was quite complicated switching between different cases and incidents that initially seemed unrelated. Add in a few continuity errors, such as an officer bemoaning the lack of a torch and the next page using his torch, and it became unnecessarily confused.
The relationships between the officers of different ranks seemed a little off.
The book doesn't have an ending. It simply stops and gives the reader the blurb for the next book.
I didn't relate to any of the main characters.
February 13, 2020
If like me you want to read a book which actually comes to a conclusion don't read this. Crime novels which leave you with a requirement to read the author's next book are just wrong. When did Agatha Christie ever leave you in the middle of a new murder at the end of a book and she is known as one of the best crime writers.Any book should have a conclusion and not just be an advertisement for the author's next book. Money is obviously involved in this. I won't be reading the next book or any others by this author.
April 19, 2020
Well, I was really enjoying this book; liked the writing, the characters and the pace, right up to the CLIFF-HANGER ending. What a crock of %@**. Just let me know in advance that this was NOT a complete story. I realized about 90% thru the book that it needed to be wrapping it up. Was even looking for a GRAND finish. Was I ever surprised and unhappy with the way this book ended. I have NO desire to read the second book just to find out the finish to book number one.
February 12, 2020
Started in the middle of this story, not inspired to read the rest.
I read this book as a free Amazon download. Should have stopped at the library instead. This book starts in the middle of a mystery with s bunch of forgettable characters and gratuitous torture of woman by senseless thugs.
I read this book as a free Amazon download. Should have stopped at the library instead. This book starts in the middle of a mystery with s bunch of forgettable characters and gratuitous torture of woman by senseless thugs.
November 22, 2022
Too tangled
The story was too slow to develop and too many tangles for my taste. I also did not like the long chapters. I prefer shorter chapters. And then to top it off the book leaves you hanging, trying to force you to buy the next book in the series. That was another thing I did not like.
The story was too slow to develop and too many tangles for my taste. I also did not like the long chapters. I prefer shorter chapters. And then to top it off the book leaves you hanging, trying to force you to buy the next book in the series. That was another thing I did not like.
July 7, 2019
This is the first book in the Carl Sant Mysteries series and I really enjoyed it.
The book starts with an Dryden, an off duty Policeman meeting an unknown informant for some information….but when he leave the meeting, he gets on a bus and is killed….along with everyone else on the bus.
The Police force whip into action to try to discover what happened to they friend and colleague. Who was he meeting and why? He leaves a mysterious message on the misty window and DI Carl Sant and colleagues try to figure out what it could possibly mean.
What follows is a twisty, turny tale that takes us back to another police shooting in the 1980s…..not to forward the case they’re currently working on – that of a missing girl, Chloe. But the more Sant looks in to things, the more he starts to believe all the cases are linked. But how can that be possible? And is there more to this than meets the eye?
The story has you sucked in as you follow along to the different cases that seem to be interlinked – but you have no idea how! I really like Sant, he doesn’t have the easiest time out of work with an ex-wife and 2 boys that he sees once a week but does a complete and thorough job at work. And then he meets Mia and I have my fingers crossed that she is who she says she is….I want him to be happy! Although I have a feeling he’s digging into something that will put him in danger……(we’ll find out hopefully in book 2!).
I did find the story quite hard to follow on occasions as there is so much going on. There are quite a few different characters, especially Police staff and numerous different strings to the story so I had to really concentrate at the times to remember who was who but it didn’t put me off. There is quite a bit about 80’s politics in here too which went over my head a little bit (born in the 80s!) and seemed quite complicated to me but then I’m not a big follower of politics which is probably why!
Overall I really enjoyed this though – I love a crime mystery and the fact that we’re left fully in suspense means you HAVE to read book 2….and I’m looking forward to it!
The book starts with an Dryden, an off duty Policeman meeting an unknown informant for some information….but when he leave the meeting, he gets on a bus and is killed….along with everyone else on the bus.
The Police force whip into action to try to discover what happened to they friend and colleague. Who was he meeting and why? He leaves a mysterious message on the misty window and DI Carl Sant and colleagues try to figure out what it could possibly mean.
What follows is a twisty, turny tale that takes us back to another police shooting in the 1980s…..not to forward the case they’re currently working on – that of a missing girl, Chloe. But the more Sant looks in to things, the more he starts to believe all the cases are linked. But how can that be possible? And is there more to this than meets the eye?
The story has you sucked in as you follow along to the different cases that seem to be interlinked – but you have no idea how! I really like Sant, he doesn’t have the easiest time out of work with an ex-wife and 2 boys that he sees once a week but does a complete and thorough job at work. And then he meets Mia and I have my fingers crossed that she is who she says she is….I want him to be happy! Although I have a feeling he’s digging into something that will put him in danger……(we’ll find out hopefully in book 2!).
I did find the story quite hard to follow on occasions as there is so much going on. There are quite a few different characters, especially Police staff and numerous different strings to the story so I had to really concentrate at the times to remember who was who but it didn’t put me off. There is quite a bit about 80’s politics in here too which went over my head a little bit (born in the 80s!) and seemed quite complicated to me but then I’m not a big follower of politics which is probably why!
Overall I really enjoyed this though – I love a crime mystery and the fact that we’re left fully in suspense means you HAVE to read book 2….and I’m looking forward to it!
July 2, 2019
Chloe Lost Girl is the first book written by Dan Laughey featuring Detective Carl Sant a guy who’s dedicated to his work and not afraid to bend the rules to find out the truth. In this first book Carl and his team are looking for missing girl Chloe Lee whose being missing for over five weeks. The team don’t have much to go on so when colleague DC Liam Dryden is gunned down in a massacre about the number 33 bus their focus is elsewhere. The dead detective has left them a clue 3 1 8 is marked in the window of the bus above his body, what does this mean and is it anyway linked to the missing Chloe Lee.
I was hooked from this from the start, possibly because I’ve been on the number 33 bus from Otley quite regularly, so reading about the mass shooting did send shivers down my spine. It’s not just the bus though, this is a great story with so many twists and turns in the plot its bound to appeal to anyone who loves this genre. I loved that there were so many possible suspects and explanations and just when I thought I had it all worked out Dan Laughey goes and throws someone else into the mix for us to suspect.
It’s not the fastest moving story but I enjoyed the slower pace as I got to know the characters more and really get a feel for the story, I guess it helps I know the area very well too so can easily picture the action unfolding.
Great story and I highly recommend you have book two ready to read as soon as you’ve finished this as I was desperate to work out how all the various threads tied together and I’m sure you will be too.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel’s random Resources for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.
I was hooked from this from the start, possibly because I’ve been on the number 33 bus from Otley quite regularly, so reading about the mass shooting did send shivers down my spine. It’s not just the bus though, this is a great story with so many twists and turns in the plot its bound to appeal to anyone who loves this genre. I loved that there were so many possible suspects and explanations and just when I thought I had it all worked out Dan Laughey goes and throws someone else into the mix for us to suspect.
It’s not the fastest moving story but I enjoyed the slower pace as I got to know the characters more and really get a feel for the story, I guess it helps I know the area very well too so can easily picture the action unfolding.
Great story and I highly recommend you have book two ready to read as soon as you’ve finished this as I was desperate to work out how all the various threads tied together and I’m sure you will be too.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel’s random Resources for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.
November 14, 2019
The story unfolds slowly like a budding rose. Before you realize what’s happening your finger is bleeding from a thorn you didn’t see while you tried to pluck the bud from the plant. It leaves a trail of blood behind as you go find a rose bowl for the bud. Unraveling. Slowly. The horror gripping your attention. Your fascination holding your eyes open wide.
This was no exercise in decoration, but the undoing of destruction. -Chloe: Lost Girl
This book was a journey into England. I stumbled across the their dialect struggling to understand a different English language, but like a Southern Texans drawl, it wasn’t unpleasant.
I enjoyed the breathtaking moments where the story became more twisted, dark, and mysterious.
Unexpected turns like when the Inspector leading the investigation into the death of one of their own is following the trail of bread crumbs the accident gave them only to find out that his Assistant Chief Constable who he hadn’t informed knew more about the connection between the missing person and murder of a fellow Inspector.
Eyes wide, waiting for that ultimate moment I read on. And than it happened. With a yank on the chain at the edge of the precipice, the story ended. I tried to breathe. I wanted more. Begged for more.
Bewildered, I turned the page to find the rest of the story hidden in the sequel.
Written in third person, it was a joy to read, like a birds eye viegw on the world. -jgf
This was no exercise in decoration, but the undoing of destruction. -Chloe: Lost Girl
This book was a journey into England. I stumbled across the their dialect struggling to understand a different English language, but like a Southern Texans drawl, it wasn’t unpleasant.
I enjoyed the breathtaking moments where the story became more twisted, dark, and mysterious.
Unexpected turns like when the Inspector leading the investigation into the death of one of their own is following the trail of bread crumbs the accident gave them only to find out that his Assistant Chief Constable who he hadn’t informed knew more about the connection between the missing person and murder of a fellow Inspector.
Eyes wide, waiting for that ultimate moment I read on. And than it happened. With a yank on the chain at the edge of the precipice, the story ended. I tried to breathe. I wanted more. Begged for more.
Bewildered, I turned the page to find the rest of the story hidden in the sequel.
Written in third person, it was a joy to read, like a birds eye viegw on the world. -jgf
July 14, 2019
I loved this book!
The story, The characters, The writing, The mystery that is wrapped within the pages; all helped to make this a very exciting, thrilling read.
I have a read a lot of books over the past 18 months through blog tours, etc and it is always nice to find a story that gets an INSTANT 5 stars! This book blew me away with how fantastic it was. Dan Laughey is not an author I was familiar with before now, but he has now been added to my Fave Authors on Goodreads! Fantastic writing! I cannot fault it at all. It flowed brilliantly and his style helped to create a story that was believable and intriguing. The dialogue and character development was so strong and I found myself reacting to what I was reading with a host of emotions; Anger, excitement, horror, hope…The book was a real rollercoaster that had me riveted from start to finish.
The characters were far from perfect, but each was a breath of fresh air; real and believable. Can I say that I love Detective Carl Sant? He was honest, hardworking and thorough with his crime-fighting skills. There are twists and turns a plenty in this book and I was left wanting more! I will not lie….when I got to the cliff-hanger at the end, I groaned…quite loudly! This story left me wanting…so much so that I started book 2 within moments of finishing book 1! Check out my review on the 11th July to see what I think!
The story, The characters, The writing, The mystery that is wrapped within the pages; all helped to make this a very exciting, thrilling read.
I have a read a lot of books over the past 18 months through blog tours, etc and it is always nice to find a story that gets an INSTANT 5 stars! This book blew me away with how fantastic it was. Dan Laughey is not an author I was familiar with before now, but he has now been added to my Fave Authors on Goodreads! Fantastic writing! I cannot fault it at all. It flowed brilliantly and his style helped to create a story that was believable and intriguing. The dialogue and character development was so strong and I found myself reacting to what I was reading with a host of emotions; Anger, excitement, horror, hope…The book was a real rollercoaster that had me riveted from start to finish.
The characters were far from perfect, but each was a breath of fresh air; real and believable. Can I say that I love Detective Carl Sant? He was honest, hardworking and thorough with his crime-fighting skills. There are twists and turns a plenty in this book and I was left wanting more! I will not lie….when I got to the cliff-hanger at the end, I groaned…quite loudly! This story left me wanting…so much so that I started book 2 within moments of finishing book 1! Check out my review on the 11th July to see what I think!
December 19, 2021
I got this as a free Kindle ebook a long time ago and just got around to reading it. The only positive thing is that it is a relatively short book. Everything else left something to be desired. I didn't care a wink about any of the characters, and half the time I didn't even know who the characters were. The mystery of Dryden's murder was somewhat intriguing, but didn't go anywhere. The disappearance of Chloe didn't even really have a description, it was just so-and-so is on the lost Chloe case. The plot/storyline didn't have anything going on, and didn't really move anywhere through the entire book. Nothing was solved at the end, and barely any progress was made. It looks like it's part of a "next chapter" kind of series, where this same plot goes into the next book instead of each book in the series being a separate case. I kind of feel like it was kind of a waste of time.
All in all, I'm glad I didn't pay for this and that I only read it while walking on the treadmill at the gym or waiting at the bank. I definitely will not be getting the next book in the series, as I don't care at all about what happens. I cannot recommend this at all to anyone. Pass it up if you think you might want to read it.
All in all, I'm glad I didn't pay for this and that I only read it while walking on the treadmill at the gym or waiting at the bank. I definitely will not be getting the next book in the series, as I don't care at all about what happens. I cannot recommend this at all to anyone. Pass it up if you think you might want to read it.
December 21, 2019
Chloe Lost Girl: (Carl Sant Murder Mysteries series)
`Chloe Lost girl´ is book one of two. A gritty detective story set in Leeds, Yorkshire. The descriptions of the many places mentioned within the book were reminiscent for me; I was taken on a trip down memory lane through Dan Laughley´s great descriptions of my former home town.
The story´s main character , Detective Carl Sant and his workmates were all interesting, believable and likeable characters and I felt that the storyline was well delivered. The little clues and snippets of information that Sant slowly gathers together to try and solve the case made for an interesting read. There were several times when I assumed (wrongly) what was about to happen, only to be thrown a curveball as the story veered off in another unexpected tangent.
This was an enjoyable book. I must buy the second part to find out what will happen next!
`Chloe Lost girl´ is book one of two. A gritty detective story set in Leeds, Yorkshire. The descriptions of the many places mentioned within the book were reminiscent for me; I was taken on a trip down memory lane through Dan Laughley´s great descriptions of my former home town.
The story´s main character , Detective Carl Sant and his workmates were all interesting, believable and likeable characters and I felt that the storyline was well delivered. The little clues and snippets of information that Sant slowly gathers together to try and solve the case made for an interesting read. There were several times when I assumed (wrongly) what was about to happen, only to be thrown a curveball as the story veered off in another unexpected tangent.
This was an enjoyable book. I must buy the second part to find out what will happen next!
February 9, 2020
The start of this book is packed to the rafters with action. A lot of things happening and at first sight they seem totally independent.
Little by little the police suspects there is a connection, but which one? It certainly is deeply hidden because they don’t really seem to make head or tails of this link.
What does the mysterious clue mean? Who is that woman and more importantly, where is Chloe?
This will all be revealed, but not in this part. The mystery will remain hidden a bit longer.
It really contains a captivating case or cases, but sometimes there were some details that desctracted me and the story got lost a bit. Fortunately it picked up later again at full speed. If you are into books with complicated cases and you are patient, this is a must read for you. 4 stars.
Thank you, Dan Laughey and Henry Roi.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Little by little the police suspects there is a connection, but which one? It certainly is deeply hidden because they don’t really seem to make head or tails of this link.
What does the mysterious clue mean? Who is that woman and more importantly, where is Chloe?
This will all be revealed, but not in this part. The mystery will remain hidden a bit longer.
It really contains a captivating case or cases, but sometimes there were some details that desctracted me and the story got lost a bit. Fortunately it picked up later again at full speed. If you are into books with complicated cases and you are patient, this is a must read for you. 4 stars.
Thank you, Dan Laughey and Henry Roi.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
July 14, 2019
My first book by this author and also the first book in the Detective Carl Sant series. Carl Sant is a gritty and likeable detective based in Leeds. The story begins with the brutal murder of an off-duty detective, which occurs on a crashed bus where the other passengers are also murdered. There is also the mystery of the significance of three numbers written on the bus window where the murdered detective was sitting. Sant’s team are also looking into the disappearance of a local girl, Chloe Lee, who has been missing for over five weeks. Are the two cases connected, and if so…how?
I was hooked on the story right from the start because of the horror which happened on the bus. It was difficult to work out what was happening, why the other passengers had been killed and who was the actual intended target! All of these questions (plus more as the story moved on) added to the mystery and suspense of the storyline. Carl Sant was a great character and fitted well into the story. He’s the kind of detective I like – firm but kind, determined, gritty and certainly not afraid to do something that might go against ‘the rules’. His team work well with him and I particularly liked his relationship with Capstick and Holdsworth.
The story was well written, well thought out and was full of red herrings and dead ends. There were a lot of characters who were also suspects so it was interesting to try and work my way through them all to see if I could work out ‘whodunit’! The story wasn’t as fast paced as some other books in this genre, but this does work to its advantage as it gives you the chance to really analyse and get to know the characters as the story moves on. The ending is left open for the story to continue in the second book of the series, so I would recommend having the next book ready to read to tie up all the loose ends and complete the story! This was a really gripping start to a new series, and I will definitely be looking out for more by this author!
I was hooked on the story right from the start because of the horror which happened on the bus. It was difficult to work out what was happening, why the other passengers had been killed and who was the actual intended target! All of these questions (plus more as the story moved on) added to the mystery and suspense of the storyline. Carl Sant was a great character and fitted well into the story. He’s the kind of detective I like – firm but kind, determined, gritty and certainly not afraid to do something that might go against ‘the rules’. His team work well with him and I particularly liked his relationship with Capstick and Holdsworth.
The story was well written, well thought out and was full of red herrings and dead ends. There were a lot of characters who were also suspects so it was interesting to try and work my way through them all to see if I could work out ‘whodunit’! The story wasn’t as fast paced as some other books in this genre, but this does work to its advantage as it gives you the chance to really analyse and get to know the characters as the story moves on. The ending is left open for the story to continue in the second book of the series, so I would recommend having the next book ready to read to tie up all the loose ends and complete the story! This was a really gripping start to a new series, and I will definitely be looking out for more by this author!
July 24, 2019
Carl Sant is a detective in London, England, currently investigating the murder of a colleague who was gunned down in public aboard a bus. Several other passengers were also gunned down, apparently to silence witnesses to the brutal murder. Sant believes there is a connection to the policeman's murder and the disappearance of Chloe, the titular mystery girl. As true-to-live as it gets, the author takes you on a great ride to discover the mysteries that abound in this tightly written thriller. This is the first volume of a series that will, I hope, eventually allow us all to solve the mystery and bring those responsible to justice. Well done, Mr. Laughey! I was gifted a copy of this book by the author.
April 17, 2025
This is the first book in the Carl Sant Murder Mystery series by Dan Laughey. Carl Sant is a Detective Inspector in Leeds, UK and with his team are tasked with unraveling the cases of missing university student Chloe Lee, and the death of an off-duty police sergeant and a fearful woman. The only clue that Sant has is a sequence of numbers etched on a misty window left by the murdered detective moments before his death. Sant must find out if all three of these cases are linked in some way. As Sant's investigation unfolds he discovers that the past and the present are encountering unforeseen outcomes, setting off a race against time to discover the truth and save lives. This story blends suspense, mystery and intriguing characters. I really enjoyed this fantastic crime mystery novel.
December 28, 2022
A police officer meets a woman in the woods and takes notes as she refuses to talk if he uses his phone to record the interview. Afterward he boards a bus and two people start towards him after he is seated. Someone else begins shooting, first the police officer and then the passengers. Somehow the killer or killers somehow manage to disembark. The police officer had just time enough to start an unfinished message before succumbing to the gunshots. DI Carl Sant manages to decipher what the officer was trying to relay, but he is not in time to stop another brutal murder or find the missing young woman. The search will continue in this well written series.
July 8, 2023
This book is a bait and switch. It’s presented as a complete novel, but it’s really about one-third of a story. Meanwhile, we are subjected to tedious lessons on the minutiae of English political history in the modern era. If that crap figures into the ultimate plot, it’s going to be the most boring crime story ever. The reader is also subjected to gratuitous scenes of torture and violence that do not advance the plot. We don’t know who is being tortured, what she is hiding, or who is doing the violence. I may read the next book, but I’ll be quick to walk away from it if the gory cruelty reappears.
June 21, 2019
Take one missing student, Chloe Lee. Add in an off-duty detective gunned down on a bus and the mystery of the numbers he writes on the window. Throw in the vanished neighbour (also Chloe's guardian). Now, join the dots.
Or rather, follow DI Carl Sant as he attempts to make connections and unravel a mystery that goes back to the 80s.
Well that was a good read - but darn it, the answer lies in book 2: Chloe - Never Forget. I'll be back with a full review later, I have some more reading to do ;)
Or rather, follow DI Carl Sant as he attempts to make connections and unravel a mystery that goes back to the 80s.
Well that was a good read - but darn it, the answer lies in book 2: Chloe - Never Forget. I'll be back with a full review later, I have some more reading to do ;)
March 27, 2020
More to come
Normally I wouldn't grant a five star where I'm left hanging in suspense at tge end od one book. However, in this case I believe a five staris warranted. Although the end of the first books leaves you unfulfilled and dying for more, you don't really mind the wait. This book is a standalone suspense /mystery. Great characters and a good blend of personalities with developing suspense for the continued story. I look forward to the continued tell. No sex, graphic violence or foul language to contend with, just a well written drama
Normally I wouldn't grant a five star where I'm left hanging in suspense at tge end od one book. However, in this case I believe a five staris warranted. Although the end of the first books leaves you unfulfilled and dying for more, you don't really mind the wait. This book is a standalone suspense /mystery. Great characters and a good blend of personalities with developing suspense for the continued story. I look forward to the continued tell. No sex, graphic violence or foul language to contend with, just a well written drama
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