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Detective Rachel Hart #1
Little Girl Missing
How can a little girl vanish into thin air?
Five-year-old Cassie Bailey’s mother tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. This morning she’s missing, her unicorn bedcovers are empty, and her parents are frantic.
DCI Rachel Hart knows that the first few hours after a child goes missing are the most crucial, and that the Baileys are living every parent’s worst nightmare. Rachel knows, because as a child her family lived through it too, when her sister was taken.
The days are ticking by with no sign of Cassie, and the cracks in the Baileys’ marriage are beginning to show. But are the holes in their stories because they’re out of their minds with panic – or because they’re lying?
Rachel’s convinced that Cassie knew the person who took her, but can she find the little girl before she’s lost forever?
A gripping and unputdownable thriller for fans of Close to Home, The Couple Next Door and Behind Closed Doors.
Five-year-old Cassie Bailey’s mother tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. This morning she’s missing, her unicorn bedcovers are empty, and her parents are frantic.
DCI Rachel Hart knows that the first few hours after a child goes missing are the most crucial, and that the Baileys are living every parent’s worst nightmare. Rachel knows, because as a child her family lived through it too, when her sister was taken.
The days are ticking by with no sign of Cassie, and the cracks in the Baileys’ marriage are beginning to show. But are the holes in their stories because they’re out of their minds with panic – or because they’re lying?
Rachel’s convinced that Cassie knew the person who took her, but can she find the little girl before she’s lost forever?
A gripping and unputdownable thriller for fans of Close to Home, The Couple Next Door and Behind Closed Doors.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2019
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4081 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
June 8, 2019
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4
DCI Rachel Hart #1
Naomi's husband had cheated on her five weeks ago, so she threw him out. She refuses to let him or his mother see their daughter Cassie. One morning, on awakening, she discovers that Cassie is notion her bed. At first she does not panic as her daughter has taken to going downstairs to cuddle into the family cat since her parents separation. But Cassie is nowhere to be found. Her best friend Kate tries to console her as DCIRachel Hart and her team begin their investigation.
There are plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing to who had taken Cassie. I was not keen on Naomi's character. She came across more as someone with mental health issues than a mother distressed for the health and safe return of her daughter. The pace is set fast from the beginning. I did guess correctly half way through who had taken Cassie, but not their reason for doing it. I will look out for more books in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author J.G Roberts for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DCI Rachel Hart #1
Naomi's husband had cheated on her five weeks ago, so she threw him out. She refuses to let him or his mother see their daughter Cassie. One morning, on awakening, she discovers that Cassie is notion her bed. At first she does not panic as her daughter has taken to going downstairs to cuddle into the family cat since her parents separation. But Cassie is nowhere to be found. Her best friend Kate tries to console her as DCIRachel Hart and her team begin their investigation.
There are plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing to who had taken Cassie. I was not keen on Naomi's character. She came across more as someone with mental health issues than a mother distressed for the health and safe return of her daughter. The pace is set fast from the beginning. I did guess correctly half way through who had taken Cassie, but not their reason for doing it. I will look out for more books in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author J.G Roberts for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2019
Little Girl Missing by JG Roberts is the first book in what I hope will be a great new detective series featuring DCI Rachel Hart. It is a very quick read that had me hooked from the start right til the very end. Lately I have been picking the culprits in these types of books but this one had me stumped - which is always a good thing. I look forward to reading more books in this series and learning about DCI Rachel Hart's past. We get a few clues in this book but there is obviously a story to tell there.
5 year old Cassie is tucked into bed by her mother one evening and the next morning she is nowhere to be scene. Her mother Naomi is separated from her husband Charlie and has been struggling with sleep since she kicked him out and had taken a herbal sleeping tablet so heard nothing. Everybody is a suspect with Rachel and her team called in to find the little girl. There are twists that you will not see coming and it is a fast paced read you won't want to put down.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
5 year old Cassie is tucked into bed by her mother one evening and the next morning she is nowhere to be scene. Her mother Naomi is separated from her husband Charlie and has been struggling with sleep since she kicked him out and had taken a herbal sleeping tablet so heard nothing. Everybody is a suspect with Rachel and her team called in to find the little girl. There are twists that you will not see coming and it is a fast paced read you won't want to put down.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
August 14, 2025
How can a little girl vanish into thin air? Five-year-old Cassie Bailey’s mother tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. This morning she’s missing, her unicorn bedcovers are empty, and her parents are frantic.
Naomi Bailey reluctantly took a sleeping pill after having dealt with weeks of stress with no sleep. The next morning, five-years-old Cassie turns up missing. Naomi is wracked with guilt. She has recently split with her husband, Charlie, despite the fact that they had had a very strong marriage. This was due to a sensitive and heartbreaking incident that Naomi just cannot get past. Charlie is as devastated by Cassie's disappearance as Naomi is and insists on coming home while the police search for her.
You have to feel for them, for their heartache and fear, no matter if you are a parent or not. You'll spend the remainder of the story hoping for Cassie to be found safe, and for their marriage to heal itself.
We meet Rachel Hart who is the DCI on the case. This case is close to her heart, because when she was a child both she and her sister had been abducted. Quite naturally, Rachel puts her whole heart and soul into this case. Rachel considers several people as the suspects. It doesn't take her very long to see that things with Naomi and Charlie are not quite right and actually are quite tentative.
This is a fast-paced book that will keep you on your toes! I was really surprised at some of the twists and turns that the story took. Although discovering who had taken Charlie soon became easy to see, the motivation behind it wasn't and never was, at all clear. Although that was at times annoying, it did help to make the book that much more engaging.
This is the first book I have read by J.G. Roberts and also the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series. I liked the character of Rachel Hart. She is a no-nonsense detective who leaves no stone unturned. Her past experience is touched on in this story, and we got to meet her sister. I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
Naomi Bailey reluctantly took a sleeping pill after having dealt with weeks of stress with no sleep. The next morning, five-years-old Cassie turns up missing. Naomi is wracked with guilt. She has recently split with her husband, Charlie, despite the fact that they had had a very strong marriage. This was due to a sensitive and heartbreaking incident that Naomi just cannot get past. Charlie is as devastated by Cassie's disappearance as Naomi is and insists on coming home while the police search for her.
You have to feel for them, for their heartache and fear, no matter if you are a parent or not. You'll spend the remainder of the story hoping for Cassie to be found safe, and for their marriage to heal itself.
We meet Rachel Hart who is the DCI on the case. This case is close to her heart, because when she was a child both she and her sister had been abducted. Quite naturally, Rachel puts her whole heart and soul into this case. Rachel considers several people as the suspects. It doesn't take her very long to see that things with Naomi and Charlie are not quite right and actually are quite tentative.
This is a fast-paced book that will keep you on your toes! I was really surprised at some of the twists and turns that the story took. Although discovering who had taken Charlie soon became easy to see, the motivation behind it wasn't and never was, at all clear. Although that was at times annoying, it did help to make the book that much more engaging.
This is the first book I have read by J.G. Roberts and also the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series. I liked the character of Rachel Hart. She is a no-nonsense detective who leaves no stone unturned. Her past experience is touched on in this story, and we got to meet her sister. I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
May 31, 2020
Naomi and Charlie have separated ...actually Naomi threw her husband out when she learned he had a one-night stand with the one woman she could never forgive him for.
Things are bad enough, but their young daughter goes missing sometime during the night. Naomi had given in and taken a sleeping pill to help her sleep and when she finally woke up Cassie was gone. There are signs that Cassie left on her own ... but did she really?
As the days pass with no sighting of Cassie, Detective Rachel Hart starts taking a closer look at the family and friends. Perhaps the mother accidentally hurt her daughter and she's covering. Maybe the dad has taken her and hidden her away. Naomi's best friend could have a motive, as well as the husband's girlfriend. Or was this a total random kidnapping?
Detective Hart senses something wrong within the family. She's discovered holes in their stories.... but are they lying about where their daughter is?
This is a solidly written plot full of twists and turns and pointing fingers that make this a fast paced page turner. The characters are skillfully drawn and the ending was an unexpected surprise.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Things are bad enough, but their young daughter goes missing sometime during the night. Naomi had given in and taken a sleeping pill to help her sleep and when she finally woke up Cassie was gone. There are signs that Cassie left on her own ... but did she really?
As the days pass with no sighting of Cassie, Detective Rachel Hart starts taking a closer look at the family and friends. Perhaps the mother accidentally hurt her daughter and she's covering. Maybe the dad has taken her and hidden her away. Naomi's best friend could have a motive, as well as the husband's girlfriend. Or was this a total random kidnapping?
Detective Hart senses something wrong within the family. She's discovered holes in their stories.... but are they lying about where their daughter is?
This is a solidly written plot full of twists and turns and pointing fingers that make this a fast paced page turner. The characters are skillfully drawn and the ending was an unexpected surprise.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 10, 2019
A great start to a gripping new series!
Little Girl Missing is the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series and is off to a very good start! This book is edgy, compelling and full of twists! It hooks you in from the first page.
When DCI Rachel Hart is called to investigate the disappearance of five-year-old Cassie Bailey, little does she know she's opening up to some memories of a cruel past when her sister disappeared. As the days go by without any leads, Rachel knows that the time is ticking for little Cassie if she's to be found alive. Rachel also sees the unravelling of the Bailey's marriage as they deal with the disappearance of their only child. Everyone's a suspect and Rachel must find out who's hiding the truth and save Cassie before its too late.
The plot of this book is good. I realized who the culprit was 1/4th into the book, but that comes with reading too many crime thrillers. However, with so many twists I could not be 100% sure about my prediction but was glad to see I was right at the end. The characters in here are solid! The ending chapter on Rachel has left me wanting to read the sequel - I want to get to know her better. She's smart, intelligent and comes with a challenging past - qualities I like in every one of my heroines. I also like how the distraught parents and grandmother is portrayed. Their characters seem realistic. In all, this was a very good book. My only grouch is that I did not as much about Rachel as I'd have liked.
Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture and J.G. Roberts for an arc!
Little Girl Missing is the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series and is off to a very good start! This book is edgy, compelling and full of twists! It hooks you in from the first page.
When DCI Rachel Hart is called to investigate the disappearance of five-year-old Cassie Bailey, little does she know she's opening up to some memories of a cruel past when her sister disappeared. As the days go by without any leads, Rachel knows that the time is ticking for little Cassie if she's to be found alive. Rachel also sees the unravelling of the Bailey's marriage as they deal with the disappearance of their only child. Everyone's a suspect and Rachel must find out who's hiding the truth and save Cassie before its too late.
The plot of this book is good. I realized who the culprit was 1/4th into the book, but that comes with reading too many crime thrillers. However, with so many twists I could not be 100% sure about my prediction but was glad to see I was right at the end. The characters in here are solid! The ending chapter on Rachel has left me wanting to read the sequel - I want to get to know her better. She's smart, intelligent and comes with a challenging past - qualities I like in every one of my heroines. I also like how the distraught parents and grandmother is portrayed. Their characters seem realistic. In all, this was a very good book. My only grouch is that I did not as much about Rachel as I'd have liked.
Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture and J.G. Roberts for an arc!
May 15, 2019
3 and 1 / 2 stars
Naomi “Noms” Bailey is so blinded by anger, she won't even listen to her husband Charlie's explanation of what really happened in the bar that night. Drama Queen. She throws Charlie out of the house and now five weeks later their five-year-old daughter Cassie is missing. Noms has a melt down, Charlie is trying very hard and Charlie's mum is a gem through it all.
DCI Rachel Hart and her team are on the case. With the parents acting suspiciously, the police follow several false leads.
Although I knew early on who kidnapped Cassie, it was still a well written story, if a little thin on the plotting. Rachel is a worrier and a little hard to take at times. She seems to be all over the place and is suspicious of everyone involved in the case – except the person she should suspect. Perhaps a little too quick to jump to conclusions. Bottom line is that this book illustrates well the sheer and awful hell that parents and loved ones go through when a child goes missing.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review.
Naomi “Noms” Bailey is so blinded by anger, she won't even listen to her husband Charlie's explanation of what really happened in the bar that night. Drama Queen. She throws Charlie out of the house and now five weeks later their five-year-old daughter Cassie is missing. Noms has a melt down, Charlie is trying very hard and Charlie's mum is a gem through it all.
DCI Rachel Hart and her team are on the case. With the parents acting suspiciously, the police follow several false leads.
Although I knew early on who kidnapped Cassie, it was still a well written story, if a little thin on the plotting. Rachel is a worrier and a little hard to take at times. She seems to be all over the place and is suspicious of everyone involved in the case – except the person she should suspect. Perhaps a little too quick to jump to conclusions. Bottom line is that this book illustrates well the sheer and awful hell that parents and loved ones go through when a child goes missing.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review.
June 14, 2019
What an intriguing story this turned out to be! How could five year old Cassie Bailey disappear from her home during the night? Her parents, already distraught at the breakdown in their own relationship, are frantic for her safe return. However, DCI Rachel Hart who is leading the police investigation knows from personal experience just what a nightmare this situation is. Can she help bring Cassie home safely effectively when her own experience was so traumatic?
This is a real page turner as the scenario really is every parent's worst nightmare. As family and friends rally round, is everyone telling the truth? Just who should you trust when it is your beloved daughter who has been taken? As suspicion grows that the person who snatched Cassie actually knew the child, can she be safely found and returned before it is too late?
It is a fast paced, action packed story which explores relationships, behaviours and expectations. It is a dramatic enactment of a living nightmare that everyone hopes no parent ever has to go through. I found it an intriguing story, a real page turner that kept me revising my guesses about the perpetrators as the story progressed. The clues are all there and are obvious once you realise who was the person behind the kidnapping but there are also plenty of red herrings to make you reconsider your suspicions and doubt your conclusions. I have hesitation in highly recommending this book to anyone who enjoys powerful, intriguing drama mysteries and crime investigations.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
This is a real page turner as the scenario really is every parent's worst nightmare. As family and friends rally round, is everyone telling the truth? Just who should you trust when it is your beloved daughter who has been taken? As suspicion grows that the person who snatched Cassie actually knew the child, can she be safely found and returned before it is too late?
It is a fast paced, action packed story which explores relationships, behaviours and expectations. It is a dramatic enactment of a living nightmare that everyone hopes no parent ever has to go through. I found it an intriguing story, a real page turner that kept me revising my guesses about the perpetrators as the story progressed. The clues are all there and are obvious once you realise who was the person behind the kidnapping but there are also plenty of red herrings to make you reconsider your suspicions and doubt your conclusions. I have hesitation in highly recommending this book to anyone who enjoys powerful, intriguing drama mysteries and crime investigations.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
June 11, 2019
Little Girl Missing is the first book in the Detective Rachel Hart series. The author though is not revealing much about Rachel’s past and only gives little glimpses of something that has happened to her when she is younger. Having now finished this book, I am rather keen to read the next to find out more.
A lot of the story focuses on Cassie’s parents rather than the actual police work. To start with I did think it felt more like a psychological thriller until Rachel and her team started to feature more in it but it was a good setting to get to know both characters better and for their emotions and feelings to get into the readers head.
The pace starts picking up the more hours that Cassie is a way from home. The author leaves lots of red herrings sending your thoughts and opinions down one route, only to have them quickly turned round when another revelation is revealed.
Little Girl Missing was a story that hooked me from the first page to the last. I like how the author doesn’t reveal to much when it comes to the protagonist, ensuring that you will want to read more in the series. I also liked the twists and turns, making this an enthralling read. Look forward to reading more in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
A lot of the story focuses on Cassie’s parents rather than the actual police work. To start with I did think it felt more like a psychological thriller until Rachel and her team started to feature more in it but it was a good setting to get to know both characters better and for their emotions and feelings to get into the readers head.
The pace starts picking up the more hours that Cassie is a way from home. The author leaves lots of red herrings sending your thoughts and opinions down one route, only to have them quickly turned round when another revelation is revealed.
Little Girl Missing was a story that hooked me from the first page to the last. I like how the author doesn’t reveal to much when it comes to the protagonist, ensuring that you will want to read more in the series. I also liked the twists and turns, making this an enthralling read. Look forward to reading more in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
June 11, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Little Girl Missing, the first novel to feature Reading based DCI Rachel Hart.
When five year old Cassie Bailey disappears from her home overnight DCI Rachel Hart are called to investigate.
I found Little Girl Missing to be a bit of a mixed bag, slow to start and then racing to a finish. I was attracted to the premise of a missing child and the novel starts well with the missing Cassie and her mother, Naomi, at a loss but it quickly loses impetus with a detour into the anatomy of the parents’ separation. Having now read the whole book I can see why this is important but I feel that it would have been better to introduce it gradually and concentrate on the vital first hours of the investigation. Much of the novel is concerned either with Rachel Hart discussing suspects and motives and going round in circles or Cassie’s parents, Charlie and Naomi, fighting. There is a lot of pointless speculation and jumping to conclusions in the novel so it didn’t really hold my attention. Oh, and I guessed the perpetrator, if not the motive, early on.
Underneath all the extraneities there is a clever plot with plenty of twists and turns. It perhaps stretches credulity at times but it’s well done and paced with reveals throughout. I also think the characterisation is strong, especially Charlie and Naomi. I was rather disappointed that the hints about Rachel’s unease with the case didn’t amount to much until the final chapter when all is explained.
When five year old Cassie Bailey disappears from her home overnight DCI Rachel Hart are called to investigate.
I found Little Girl Missing to be a bit of a mixed bag, slow to start and then racing to a finish. I was attracted to the premise of a missing child and the novel starts well with the missing Cassie and her mother, Naomi, at a loss but it quickly loses impetus with a detour into the anatomy of the parents’ separation. Having now read the whole book I can see why this is important but I feel that it would have been better to introduce it gradually and concentrate on the vital first hours of the investigation. Much of the novel is concerned either with Rachel Hart discussing suspects and motives and going round in circles or Cassie’s parents, Charlie and Naomi, fighting. There is a lot of pointless speculation and jumping to conclusions in the novel so it didn’t really hold my attention. Oh, and I guessed the perpetrator, if not the motive, early on.
Underneath all the extraneities there is a clever plot with plenty of twists and turns. It perhaps stretches credulity at times but it’s well done and paced with reveals throughout. I also think the characterisation is strong, especially Charlie and Naomi. I was rather disappointed that the hints about Rachel’s unease with the case didn’t amount to much until the final chapter when all is explained.
June 10, 2019
Missing child is the only trope which grips me by the throat and keeps me chained to the book. This story was no different, it allowed me to play detective, but the twists kept me so confused in a good way that I soon lost my badge trying to keep track of all the paths shown.
The story started with a mum Rachel and daughter Cassie carving the pumpkin and going to bed. The next morning, only was the pumpkin was there mocking Rachel and NO CASSIE. Where could a five year old child have gone from the only home she knew? Cops were called, the estranged husband was suspected, the mother-in-law was arrested. Detective Rachel Hart took the reigns of this case and started her investigation.
My first book by author J. G. Roberts, a fun ride it was. I really tried to be one-up on the cops, but I soon failed. There were too many things popping up. Each chapter had its own suspect with their own evidence. Red herrings strategically placed were a delight.
It was obvious from the writing that this was Detective Rachel Hart's first case with a missing child. Her personal life events were hinted at, there was a dark past which would probably be revealed in the next book. The parents had their own reasons for breakup which were revealed slowly along with the investigation.
There were a few niggles which traveled the periphery of my brain. The writing was a bit clunky at parts, the plot needed more layers. But being the author's first book in this genre, I think all this would be dealt with in the second book.
Overall, a fast read.
The story started with a mum Rachel and daughter Cassie carving the pumpkin and going to bed. The next morning, only was the pumpkin was there mocking Rachel and NO CASSIE. Where could a five year old child have gone from the only home she knew? Cops were called, the estranged husband was suspected, the mother-in-law was arrested. Detective Rachel Hart took the reigns of this case and started her investigation.
My first book by author J. G. Roberts, a fun ride it was. I really tried to be one-up on the cops, but I soon failed. There were too many things popping up. Each chapter had its own suspect with their own evidence. Red herrings strategically placed were a delight.
It was obvious from the writing that this was Detective Rachel Hart's first case with a missing child. Her personal life events were hinted at, there was a dark past which would probably be revealed in the next book. The parents had their own reasons for breakup which were revealed slowly along with the investigation.
There were a few niggles which traveled the periphery of my brain. The writing was a bit clunky at parts, the plot needed more layers. But being the author's first book in this genre, I think all this would be dealt with in the second book.
Overall, a fast read.
June 14, 2019
A wonderfully written, fast paced, thrilling tale. Very highly recommended to everyone. A story that sucked me in from the first page and kept me glued until the last. Absolutely brilliant!
December 23, 2023
3.5 Stars
Little Girl Missing was an enjoyable read following a detective as she searches for a missing five-year-old girl.
Naomi Bailey tucked her five-year-old daughter Cassie into bed thinking it was just another night but come morning everything changed when Naomi discovers Cassie missing. DCI Rachel Hart knows that she only has a few hours to find Cassie before the odds of finding her alive begin to go down. And Rachel understands the nightmare the family is going through as her family lived through it when her sister was taken. As time ticks by with no sign of Cassie, Rachel begins to believe she was taken by someone she knew. But can she find her before she's lost forever?
Cassie's disappearance made for an interesting mystery and I was curious to find out who took her. The parents are separated so there's immediately some suspicion there due to the fact her father doesn't currently have any custody of her. I spent a large portion of the book convinced about who took her only for the author to go in another direction. After learning who took Cassie, looking back the signs were there and I liked how the author kept you guessing. I do think the reasoning behind the kidnapping was a little weak but overall it was an interesting plot.
I liked Rachel's character although I felt we didn't get to learn a lot about her which was odd since she's the main character of the series. She's competent in her job and I liked getting to follow her as she explored different avenues in her search for Cassie but there was little to nothing about her personally aside from a few small bits throughout the book and the ending. I think I'm just used to reading books that give more of a focus on the main character so that's something I hope changes in the next book.
Overall Little Girl Missing was a great read and I will definitely be continuing the series in the future.
Little Girl Missing was an enjoyable read following a detective as she searches for a missing five-year-old girl.
Naomi Bailey tucked her five-year-old daughter Cassie into bed thinking it was just another night but come morning everything changed when Naomi discovers Cassie missing. DCI Rachel Hart knows that she only has a few hours to find Cassie before the odds of finding her alive begin to go down. And Rachel understands the nightmare the family is going through as her family lived through it when her sister was taken. As time ticks by with no sign of Cassie, Rachel begins to believe she was taken by someone she knew. But can she find her before she's lost forever?
Cassie's disappearance made for an interesting mystery and I was curious to find out who took her. The parents are separated so there's immediately some suspicion there due to the fact her father doesn't currently have any custody of her. I spent a large portion of the book convinced about who took her only for the author to go in another direction. After learning who took Cassie, looking back the signs were there and I liked how the author kept you guessing. I do think the reasoning behind the kidnapping was a little weak but overall it was an interesting plot.
I liked Rachel's character although I felt we didn't get to learn a lot about her which was odd since she's the main character of the series. She's competent in her job and I liked getting to follow her as she explored different avenues in her search for Cassie but there was little to nothing about her personally aside from a few small bits throughout the book and the ending. I think I'm just used to reading books that give more of a focus on the main character so that's something I hope changes in the next book.
Overall Little Girl Missing was a great read and I will definitely be continuing the series in the future.
June 17, 2019
Naomi Bailey is trying things on as a single mom to her 5-year-old daughter, Cassie, since she kicked out her husband, Charlie, several weeks ago after he spent the night with their old high school nemesis, Jessica Toland. Since she's not been sleeping well, Naomi's best friend, Kate, urges her to take a couple of herbal sleeping pills. They conk her out. When Naomi wakes late and goes to get her daughter up for school, Cassie is nowhere to be found.
Every parent's worst nightmare necessitates a call to the police and DCI Rachel Hart gets the nod to lead the investigation. Usually the first suspect in a case of this nature is a family member and since Charlie and Naomi can't seem to be civil, they look at him as the snatcher. Along with many other red herrings throughout the narrative that shifts in different points of view between the main characters, there are quite a few other questionable persons of interest. NO SPOILERS.
This was a fast read though there's nothing new here. A savvy reader will know immediately who snatched Cassie though the "why" is quite thin and much of the plot is far-fetched. I didn't really care for any of the characters in this book except for perhaps Charlie's mom, Hazel. As far as this being the first in a new series featuring the damaged (of course) Rachel Hart -- I don't know. I may or may not read another to see if she's just another hot mess or if she can actually lead a police investigation that reads more like a police procedural instead of a domestic drama.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
Every parent's worst nightmare necessitates a call to the police and DCI Rachel Hart gets the nod to lead the investigation. Usually the first suspect in a case of this nature is a family member and since Charlie and Naomi can't seem to be civil, they look at him as the snatcher. Along with many other red herrings throughout the narrative that shifts in different points of view between the main characters, there are quite a few other questionable persons of interest. NO SPOILERS.
This was a fast read though there's nothing new here. A savvy reader will know immediately who snatched Cassie though the "why" is quite thin and much of the plot is far-fetched. I didn't really care for any of the characters in this book except for perhaps Charlie's mom, Hazel. As far as this being the first in a new series featuring the damaged (of course) Rachel Hart -- I don't know. I may or may not read another to see if she's just another hot mess or if she can actually lead a police investigation that reads more like a police procedural instead of a domestic drama.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
June 14, 2019
Naomi Bailey reluctantly took a natural sleep remedy for sleep after dealing with weeks of stress and sleeplessness. The very next morning, her five-years-old Cassie turns up missing. She is wracked with guilt. She recently split from her husband Charlie, despite the fact that they had a very strong marriage. This was due to a sensitive and heartbreaking incident that Naomi just cannot get past. Charlie is as devastated by Cassie's disappearance at Naomi and insists on coming home while the police search for her. I felt so much for them, for their plight. I not only hoped for Cassie to be found safe, but also for their marriage to find ground again.
Rachel Hart is the DCI on the case. This case is close to her heart, because when she was a child both she and her sister were abducted. So, quite naturally, Rachel puts her all into this case. Rachel wisely considers several people as suspects with regards to Cassie. It doesn't take Rachel long to see that things with Naomi and Charlie are quite tentative.
What a fast-paced book that kept me on my toes! I could not put this book down. I was surprised at some of the twists this book took. Furthermore, although discovering who took Charlie became easy to see, the motivation behind it wasn't. That made the book that much more engaging.
Little Girl Missing is the first book I have read by J.G. Roberts and is the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series. Rachel Hart is a no-nonsense detective who leaves no stone unturned. Her past experience is touched on in this book, and we meet her sister. I look forward to continuing with this series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Rachel Hart is the DCI on the case. This case is close to her heart, because when she was a child both she and her sister were abducted. So, quite naturally, Rachel puts her all into this case. Rachel wisely considers several people as suspects with regards to Cassie. It doesn't take Rachel long to see that things with Naomi and Charlie are quite tentative.
What a fast-paced book that kept me on my toes! I could not put this book down. I was surprised at some of the twists this book took. Furthermore, although discovering who took Charlie became easy to see, the motivation behind it wasn't. That made the book that much more engaging.
Little Girl Missing is the first book I have read by J.G. Roberts and is the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series. Rachel Hart is a no-nonsense detective who leaves no stone unturned. Her past experience is touched on in this book, and we meet her sister. I look forward to continuing with this series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 12, 2019
This was an ok read for me and kept my interest but I did guess quite early on what was happening although not quite why. The story had plenty of red herrings and some twists and I found the writing to be good if sometimes slightly over complicated, the characters were well described if not always likeable but I particularly liked DCI Rachel Hart and as I see this is book 1 of a series I am glad we shall see more of her in future books and I do feel the series will get better as we learn more of Rachel’s past which seemed very interesting. So all in all I think the book is a good 3 star read for me and I will read more from this author in the future.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 13, 2019
What a great start to what I hope will be a new series.
Cassie has gone missing and her mum can’t understand why she would open the front door at night.
Naomi has recently separated from her husband so he’s been staying with his mum.
At first the Police think Cassie is there but a search of the house reveals nothing.
Naomi’s friend Kate is on hand to offer her support and her mother in law helps out when Naomi starts to lose hope.
It’s hard to say much more as there some things revealed later in the book that have an impact on the ending, and I don’t want to spoil it for you.
This is a fast paced thriller that had me hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Cassie has gone missing and her mum can’t understand why she would open the front door at night.
Naomi has recently separated from her husband so he’s been staying with his mum.
At first the Police think Cassie is there but a search of the house reveals nothing.
Naomi’s friend Kate is on hand to offer her support and her mother in law helps out when Naomi starts to lose hope.
It’s hard to say much more as there some things revealed later in the book that have an impact on the ending, and I don’t want to spoil it for you.
This is a fast paced thriller that had me hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
November 1, 2019
Cheap , but you get what you pay for...
Appallingly written. I can't even read to the end. It's disjointed with no flow and the story is badly put together. Sad I've wasted time and money on this, life is too short.
Appallingly written. I can't even read to the end. It's disjointed with no flow and the story is badly put together. Sad I've wasted time and money on this, life is too short.
June 15, 2019
First book in the DCI Rachel Hart series and it starts out with a missing child. When Naomi wakes up after taking some herbal sleeping pills, as she hadn’t been sleeping well, she finds Cassie not in her bed. She knows that Cassie hasn’t been sleeping well since Naomi kicked her father out, they both haven’t, sometimes she finds her downstairs on the couch with her cat but she is not there. Panic sets in.
The police are called in and DCI Hart and her team try to figure out what happened. There are a lot of discrepancy with the parents and even the grandmother. There are some other things that could have happened, one involving the reason that Charlie was kicked out of the house to begin with but I don’t want to mention that.
With everything that Rachel and her team are finding out there are a lot of speculation into what exactly has happened and it’s a race against time to find the child that is missing. There was a few twist and turns and though I figured some of it out it still kind of surprised me in the end.
The characters are not very likable to be honest. I mean I felt sorry for them as their child is missing but Naomi drove me crazy. I probably liked Charlie a little bit better but then he made some dumb moves at times. It’s hard to put myself in their shoes to know if I would act like them or not as I don’t have kids, so someone with kids might understand them better. I did enjoy DCI Hart and she has some of her own demons to face. Something that happened to her when she was a child and one reason she wanted to take on this case instead of giving it over to someone else.
Overall, I thought it was a decent enough start to a new series and I would probably try the second one to see how it goes. If you like British crime novels you might enjoy this one.
The police are called in and DCI Hart and her team try to figure out what happened. There are a lot of discrepancy with the parents and even the grandmother. There are some other things that could have happened, one involving the reason that Charlie was kicked out of the house to begin with but I don’t want to mention that.
With everything that Rachel and her team are finding out there are a lot of speculation into what exactly has happened and it’s a race against time to find the child that is missing. There was a few twist and turns and though I figured some of it out it still kind of surprised me in the end.
The characters are not very likable to be honest. I mean I felt sorry for them as their child is missing but Naomi drove me crazy. I probably liked Charlie a little bit better but then he made some dumb moves at times. It’s hard to put myself in their shoes to know if I would act like them or not as I don’t have kids, so someone with kids might understand them better. I did enjoy DCI Hart and she has some of her own demons to face. Something that happened to her when she was a child and one reason she wanted to take on this case instead of giving it over to someone else.
Overall, I thought it was a decent enough start to a new series and I would probably try the second one to see how it goes. If you like British crime novels you might enjoy this one.
October 21, 2023
Little Girl Missing is the first book in Detective Rachel Hart series by J.G. Roberts and follows the detective's investigation into a missing child case whose parents have recently separated and not on amicable terms.
Naomi and Charlie have a picture perfect family with their 5 year old daughter Chloe but Naomi desperately wants another child and that starts causing issues in their marriage. Charlie apparently gets drunk one night and sleeps with Naomi's childhood enemy Jessica putting a nail into the coffin causing them to separate. However, Chloe goes missing one night and that's when suspicion falls on Charlie and the girl he slept with. DCI Rachel Hart is called in along with her team to investigate the case and find the missing child.
This had a fairly predictable plot, atleast for me, because the one who turns out to be the antagonist is the only one I had my eye on right since the start. Their behaviour was not at all normal and the author provided several cues all along to indicate who the culprit might me. That definitely dampened my enjoyment of the book a lot.
That is not to say the book did not manage to take me by surprise a few times. I had my fair share of shocking moments especially after the antagonist was revealed and I enjoyed the mystery in all its entirety.
However, not much focus is given to the MC Rachel Hart in this one, nor to the investigation, it seemed like things were just happening around her and Rachel solving the case wasn't at the forefront of this book. This was salvaged in the very last chapter when readers finally had a glimpse into the DCI's life and a bit is revealed about her past, possibly as a crumb to lead curious cats to the second book in the series.
3 stars.
Naomi and Charlie have a picture perfect family with their 5 year old daughter Chloe but Naomi desperately wants another child and that starts causing issues in their marriage. Charlie apparently gets drunk one night and sleeps with Naomi's childhood enemy Jessica putting a nail into the coffin causing them to separate. However, Chloe goes missing one night and that's when suspicion falls on Charlie and the girl he slept with. DCI Rachel Hart is called in along with her team to investigate the case and find the missing child.
This had a fairly predictable plot, atleast for me, because the one who turns out to be the antagonist is the only one I had my eye on right since the start. Their behaviour was not at all normal and the author provided several cues all along to indicate who the culprit might me. That definitely dampened my enjoyment of the book a lot.
That is not to say the book did not manage to take me by surprise a few times. I had my fair share of shocking moments especially after the antagonist was revealed and I enjoyed the mystery in all its entirety.
However, not much focus is given to the MC Rachel Hart in this one, nor to the investigation, it seemed like things were just happening around her and Rachel solving the case wasn't at the forefront of this book. This was salvaged in the very last chapter when readers finally had a glimpse into the DCI's life and a bit is revealed about her past, possibly as a crumb to lead curious cats to the second book in the series.
3 stars.
June 24, 2019
Once I started this book I could not put it down. Little Girl Missing was such an amazing, suspenseful and emotional read. I laughed, cringed, cried, gasped, and screamed. More than once while i was reading this book my son looked at me and said wow that must be a really good book. I read the whole book in one setting !! Every page leaves you wanting more and more so before you know it it is 3 am and you just spent all day and half the night reading this story non stop. This is a book you cannot put down so do not start if you have other things to do or before you go to bed . (Unless you want to stay up all night ) It is Very well written and A page turner from beginning all the way to end. This book has plenty of twist and turns and keep me engaged and guessing until the end. So i must say why the kidnapper did it really surprised me . And trust me that does not happen very often. All of the characters are well developed and so easy to connect with. Each scene was described so well that it was as if I was picked up and transported to right there . This story will stay with me for a very long time. This is my first time reading anything by this author and it will not be the last. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves gripping psychological thrillers
July 5, 2023
i got this book during stuff your kindle day. it was a quick read with short chapters. lowkey predictable but still a good read.
May 18, 2019
When five year old Cassie Bailey goes missing from her family home during the night her parents immediately become the prime suspects. Cassie’s parents, Naomi and Charlie had recently separated just five weeks earlier and Charlie was living back home with his mother.
DCI Rachel Hart leads the investigation knowing her personal past involving child abduction could emotionally and potentially cloud her judgment in this case.
The story evolves into more than expected with some interesting twists in this crime thriller. Little Girl Missing was a well written story and very engaging. It was an easy and enjoyable read and one of those stories you can’t put down.
I look forward to read other books in the DCI Rachel Hart Series as I’m sure we’ll learn more about Rachel’s mysterious past as the remaining two books are released.
Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for my ARC in return for an honest review.
DCI Rachel Hart leads the investigation knowing her personal past involving child abduction could emotionally and potentially cloud her judgment in this case.
The story evolves into more than expected with some interesting twists in this crime thriller. Little Girl Missing was a well written story and very engaging. It was an easy and enjoyable read and one of those stories you can’t put down.
I look forward to read other books in the DCI Rachel Hart Series as I’m sure we’ll learn more about Rachel’s mysterious past as the remaining two books are released.
Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for my ARC in return for an honest review.
August 31, 2023
I don't think I have ever rated a book this low, but this one was truly awful for me to get through. Maybe you could call it a language barrier issue because this book was British and I am an American reader. However, this book was all over the place for me, taking on multiple personas as the narrator and included many things that I deemed unnecessary. For example, the estranged married couple seem to care more about an affair (that never even happened) than finding their missing daughter. I'd also like to add that I'm STILL not entirely sure what happened regarding the abduction? Sorry, this was a major flop for me. :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars rounded up. Some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, but the mother’s anger surrounding the disappearance of her daughter and the marital issues were a bit farfetched for me. I was intrigued by the description of the book, but I was not prepared for the tedium of the first 50% of the book. Overall, I’m just not impressed.
2.5 stars rounded up. Some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, but the mother’s anger surrounding the disappearance of her daughter and the marital issues were a bit farfetched for me. I was intrigued by the description of the book, but I was not prepared for the tedium of the first 50% of the book. Overall, I’m just not impressed.
March 24, 2020
Very childish.Hard to believe plot
I gave up In the end.,and read the last chapter.
Very disappointing people don’t behave like that again very childish
I gave up In the end.,and read the last chapter.
Very disappointing people don’t behave like that again very childish
November 24, 2023
J.G. Roberts' "Little Girl Missing" is a thrilling rollercoaster that captivates the reader from start to finish. As I delved into this suspenseful tale, my heart raced with anticipation, propelled by the author's skillful narrative that expertly built tension. The seamless pacing left me eagerly flipping pages, eager to uncover the story's ultimate resolution.
Roberts demonstrates a mastery of character development, crafting a cast with relatable imperfections, drawing me into their lives. Even the antagonist, skillfully portrayed, evoked an immediate dislike, showcasing the author's prowess in characterization. The gradual revelation of puzzle pieces throughout the narrative added depth and intrigue to the story's unfolding.
However, amidst the gripping storyline, a noteworthy downside emerges in the portrayal of the police protagonist. Despite her central role, the character's ineffectiveness and the lack of smooth integration into the narrative felt somewhat incongruous. Despite being the focus of a series, she appeared more as a secondary figure rather than the primary lead, detracting slightly from the overall cohesion of the tale.
Overall, "Little Girl Missing" is a compelling read, featuring excellent writing and a captivating plot. Roberts successfully weaves an enthralling story, although the characterization of the central police figure might leave some readers wanting more depth. Despite this, the book remains a gripping thriller that keeps readers engaged until the final page.
Roberts demonstrates a mastery of character development, crafting a cast with relatable imperfections, drawing me into their lives. Even the antagonist, skillfully portrayed, evoked an immediate dislike, showcasing the author's prowess in characterization. The gradual revelation of puzzle pieces throughout the narrative added depth and intrigue to the story's unfolding.
However, amidst the gripping storyline, a noteworthy downside emerges in the portrayal of the police protagonist. Despite her central role, the character's ineffectiveness and the lack of smooth integration into the narrative felt somewhat incongruous. Despite being the focus of a series, she appeared more as a secondary figure rather than the primary lead, detracting slightly from the overall cohesion of the tale.
Overall, "Little Girl Missing" is a compelling read, featuring excellent writing and a captivating plot. Roberts successfully weaves an enthralling story, although the characterization of the central police figure might leave some readers wanting more depth. Despite this, the book remains a gripping thriller that keeps readers engaged until the final page.
June 10, 2019
#little Girl Missing (DCI Rachael Hart book one) # Netgalley#
A nicely paced book with a brilliant storyline, it didn’t take me long to be hooked on this book. I was hooked after the prologue. When Naomi realised her daughter had gone missing, Being alone with Cassie. Police where called and it was best if Naomi allowed her husband Charlie could come to the house. I am not saying why or what brought on a separation. Naomi’s best friend from school was also there to support her Kate. There where more twist and turns in the book than a rollercoaster as dips. It goes off in many directions that at one point you think you know what’s happened only to be wrong, you then take a different route with everyone of the characters having played there’s own part as support, except one, that appears to be too obvious. DCI Rachael Hart was asked if she was up to taking this case on due to something that happened in the past, she said she was, it’s all part of the job, so now you also want to try to find out exactly what had happened. All in all a fascinating book that keeps your interest from beginning to end. A really good read. I will be on the lookout for DCI Rachael Hart book 2 I do really recommend you read this book you will not regret reading this book. I do believe you will really enjoy it
A nicely paced book with a brilliant storyline, it didn’t take me long to be hooked on this book. I was hooked after the prologue. When Naomi realised her daughter had gone missing, Being alone with Cassie. Police where called and it was best if Naomi allowed her husband Charlie could come to the house. I am not saying why or what brought on a separation. Naomi’s best friend from school was also there to support her Kate. There where more twist and turns in the book than a rollercoaster as dips. It goes off in many directions that at one point you think you know what’s happened only to be wrong, you then take a different route with everyone of the characters having played there’s own part as support, except one, that appears to be too obvious. DCI Rachael Hart was asked if she was up to taking this case on due to something that happened in the past, she said she was, it’s all part of the job, so now you also want to try to find out exactly what had happened. All in all a fascinating book that keeps your interest from beginning to end. A really good read. I will be on the lookout for DCI Rachael Hart book 2 I do really recommend you read this book you will not regret reading this book. I do believe you will really enjoy it
July 31, 2019
Naomi has not been sleeping well since she threw her husband our after he had spent the night with her old High School nemesis. She refuses to listen to him or let him or his mother see their daughter Cassie. In desperation she agrees to try the herbal tablet her friend Kate suggests. She is amazed to discoverhow long she has slept. She rushes to get Cassie for school but there is no sign of her.
DCI Hart knows how important the first 48 hours are in the case of child abductions having been victim of one along with her sister many years ago. It seems that Cassie must have known who took her. Her father & grandmotehr certainly have reason to but every enquirycomesup blank.
This was a fast paced read. It was a good introduction to Rachel Hart, who I hope to meet again. I did guess who was behind Cassie's disappearance but not the reasons. Thanks to Netgalley & the author for letting me read & review this book.
DCI Hart knows how important the first 48 hours are in the case of child abductions having been victim of one along with her sister many years ago. It seems that Cassie must have known who took her. Her father & grandmotehr certainly have reason to but every enquirycomesup blank.
This was a fast paced read. It was a good introduction to Rachel Hart, who I hope to meet again. I did guess who was behind Cassie's disappearance but not the reasons. Thanks to Netgalley & the author for letting me read & review this book.
June 3, 2019
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
i have to admit that as i started to read this book i did think oh um a predictable storyline...dad cheats on mom, mom kicks him out and daughter is then kidnapped...just another one of those...
but i was surprised...it wasnt predictable at all...there were elements to it that kept me reading...so many red herrings about who could have taken the child and then the cat...oh the poor poor cat...
so i have to say i thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a cosy mystery that starts with dad cheats on mom, mom kicks him out and daughter goes missing cos this is a story you wont be expecting...
keep an eye out for this author they rock
i have to admit that as i started to read this book i did think oh um a predictable storyline...dad cheats on mom, mom kicks him out and daughter is then kidnapped...just another one of those...
but i was surprised...it wasnt predictable at all...there were elements to it that kept me reading...so many red herrings about who could have taken the child and then the cat...oh the poor poor cat...
so i have to say i thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a cosy mystery that starts with dad cheats on mom, mom kicks him out and daughter goes missing cos this is a story you wont be expecting...
keep an eye out for this author they rock
May 31, 2019
Naomi and Charlie are having marriage troubles and she has kicked him out. Struggling to cope with their daughter and being a single mum to Cassie, one night Naomi takes a sleeping tablet. In the morning she finds Cassie gone. Enter the detective Rachel, with her own back story and struggles can she solve the case to get Cassie home.
I’m a huge police procedure fan but this lacked something for me. I wasn’t keen on the phone call dialogue as it felt forced but all in all a good book. 3.5 stars from me! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
I’m a huge police procedure fan but this lacked something for me. I wasn’t keen on the phone call dialogue as it felt forced but all in all a good book. 3.5 stars from me! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
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