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DI Robyn Carter #1
La bambina perduta
Una famiglia perfetta nasconde torbidi segreti. Un assassino vuole che la verità venga a galla.
Abigail vive una vita perfetta con un marito attraente e ricco che stravede per lei e l'adorabile figlia di pochi mesi, Izzy. Ma qualcuno sa che lei nasconde un segreto inquietante e inizia a mandarle messaggi minacciosi da un numero anonimo. Cos'ha da nascondere Abigail?
In un'altra cittadina, un insegnante scompare in circostanze misteriose e un milionario viene trovato morto nei pressi del lago vicino a cui viveva.
Per l'ispettrice Robyn Carter non c'è un nesso ovvio tra le vicende dei due uomini finché Izzy non verrà rapita in un parcheggio. Il suo istinto le dice che il rapimento di Izzy è in qualche modo legato ai due casi su cui sta indagando, ma l'ultima volta che ha agito d'istinto le conseguenze sono state tragiche. Quindi, per risolvere il caso e riconquistarsi un posto nelle forze dell'ordine, Robyn dovrà per prima cosa imparare di nuovo a credere in se stessa, perché ora si trova alle prese con un assassino spietato e se non lo fermerà in tempo… una bambina morirà.
Abigail vive una vita perfetta con un marito attraente e ricco che stravede per lei e l'adorabile figlia di pochi mesi, Izzy. Ma qualcuno sa che lei nasconde un segreto inquietante e inizia a mandarle messaggi minacciosi da un numero anonimo. Cos'ha da nascondere Abigail?
In un'altra cittadina, un insegnante scompare in circostanze misteriose e un milionario viene trovato morto nei pressi del lago vicino a cui viveva.
Per l'ispettrice Robyn Carter non c'è un nesso ovvio tra le vicende dei due uomini finché Izzy non verrà rapita in un parcheggio. Il suo istinto le dice che il rapimento di Izzy è in qualche modo legato ai due casi su cui sta indagando, ma l'ultima volta che ha agito d'istinto le conseguenze sono state tragiche. Quindi, per risolvere il caso e riconquistarsi un posto nelle forze dell'ordine, Robyn dovrà per prima cosa imparare di nuovo a credere in se stessa, perché ora si trova alle prese con un assassino spietato e se non lo fermerà in tempo… una bambina morirà.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2017
3005 people are currently reading
4083 people want to read
About the author
Carol Wyer
37 books1,235 followersUSA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer's crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 630 reviews
February 15, 2017
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This is the first novel I have read from Caroly Wyer and I thought it was a pretty good read. With so many characters and so much going on in this novel, I will try my best with this review.
As the book begins 9-year-old Alice is upset because she doesn't want her mummy to go out that evening. Her mother tells her to be a big girl. But Alice has her reasons for being nervous.
"It was going to happen again - even though he wasn't in the house. She just knew"
She asks her mother again if she has to go out. Her mother tells her this is their chance for happiness. Her mother is to be married to Paul. Alice feels that it's too soon as her daddy has only been gone less than a year. Her mother thinks that Alice should be happy....soon she will have a new step-father and a new brother and sister, Natasha and Lucas.
Natasha seems okay and Alice thought that Lucas was okay too. But that was before the other night. Alice tries not to worry because Lucas is out, staying at a friend's house overnight.
But something happens that night that will change the course of all their lives.
**I have to say that I had a really hard time with the prologue. It felt like there was a lot of graphic detail and I thought I might have to stop reading but I kept on. It did settle down after that but the first part was definitely upsetting and hard to read.
Present day we meet Detective Robyn Carter. After a devastating loss, she has been working as a PI with her cousin while she recovers. However, she's feeling stronger and will be going back to work with the police soon. But when a PI case looks like it's connected to a double homicide, she ends up going back to work sooner than she thought.
Abigail Thorne is married to Jackson and they have a beautiful daughter, Izzy. Her husband Jackson works as a private pilot. It's been an adjustment for everyone since Izzy was born. Between Jackson's odd hours and Abigail's focus on Izzy, they have had no real-time for each other and they are both stressed out. But Abigail has another reason to be stressed. She's been keeping secrets from her husband and now it seems that someone else wants these secrets to come to light. However, after receiving another anonymous text it seems like she's not the only one keeping secrets.
Someone wants to destroy her marriage. But who? and why?
And what does a murdered millionaire and missing teacher have to do with Abigail? Do they have something to do with the messages she's been receiving?
The first part of the book took awhile to get a grasp on. There are a lot of characters and there's a lot going on. The story is told in a then and now format and was a bit confusing but eventually I caught on.
In "then" Alice's story continues....we learn more about her childhood. In "now" Abigail's life continues to spiral out of control. Someone is out to make her life unbearable. They tell her that the worse is yet to come. Are her and Izzy in danger? After more threatening messages and a particularly horrible incident she speaks with Detective Robyn Carter.
So how are all of these incidents and people connected? And who and where is Alice now?
I would think I knew what was happening but then something would send me off in another direction. I had to know what was going on. How were these characters all connected?
This was a fast paced and gripping read. Intense and with twists and turns right up until the very end. I honestly didn't guess the ending, though I may have had a few things right. However, even if I had guessed who did what, I think I would still have been just as interested.
Detective Robyn Carter is a really interesting character and I would love to read more about her. She's a great detective. Having suffered through such a devastating loss, she was determined to prove to herself that she hadn't lost everything. I think that this has the opportunity to be a very good series. I know that I'm looking forward to book two.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Carol Wyer for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first novel I have read from Caroly Wyer and I thought it was a pretty good read. With so many characters and so much going on in this novel, I will try my best with this review.
As the book begins 9-year-old Alice is upset because she doesn't want her mummy to go out that evening. Her mother tells her to be a big girl. But Alice has her reasons for being nervous.
"It was going to happen again - even though he wasn't in the house. She just knew"
She asks her mother again if she has to go out. Her mother tells her this is their chance for happiness. Her mother is to be married to Paul. Alice feels that it's too soon as her daddy has only been gone less than a year. Her mother thinks that Alice should be happy....soon she will have a new step-father and a new brother and sister, Natasha and Lucas.
Natasha seems okay and Alice thought that Lucas was okay too. But that was before the other night. Alice tries not to worry because Lucas is out, staying at a friend's house overnight.
But something happens that night that will change the course of all their lives.
**I have to say that I had a really hard time with the prologue. It felt like there was a lot of graphic detail and I thought I might have to stop reading but I kept on. It did settle down after that but the first part was definitely upsetting and hard to read.
Present day we meet Detective Robyn Carter. After a devastating loss, she has been working as a PI with her cousin while she recovers. However, she's feeling stronger and will be going back to work with the police soon. But when a PI case looks like it's connected to a double homicide, she ends up going back to work sooner than she thought.
Abigail Thorne is married to Jackson and they have a beautiful daughter, Izzy. Her husband Jackson works as a private pilot. It's been an adjustment for everyone since Izzy was born. Between Jackson's odd hours and Abigail's focus on Izzy, they have had no real-time for each other and they are both stressed out. But Abigail has another reason to be stressed. She's been keeping secrets from her husband and now it seems that someone else wants these secrets to come to light. However, after receiving another anonymous text it seems like she's not the only one keeping secrets.
Someone wants to destroy her marriage. But who? and why?
And what does a murdered millionaire and missing teacher have to do with Abigail? Do they have something to do with the messages she's been receiving?
The first part of the book took awhile to get a grasp on. There are a lot of characters and there's a lot going on. The story is told in a then and now format and was a bit confusing but eventually I caught on.
In "then" Alice's story continues....we learn more about her childhood. In "now" Abigail's life continues to spiral out of control. Someone is out to make her life unbearable. They tell her that the worse is yet to come. Are her and Izzy in danger? After more threatening messages and a particularly horrible incident she speaks with Detective Robyn Carter.
So how are all of these incidents and people connected? And who and where is Alice now?
I would think I knew what was happening but then something would send me off in another direction. I had to know what was going on. How were these characters all connected?
This was a fast paced and gripping read. Intense and with twists and turns right up until the very end. I honestly didn't guess the ending, though I may have had a few things right. However, even if I had guessed who did what, I think I would still have been just as interested.
Detective Robyn Carter is a really interesting character and I would love to read more about her. She's a great detective. Having suffered through such a devastating loss, she was determined to prove to herself that she hadn't lost everything. I think that this has the opportunity to be a very good series. I know that I'm looking forward to book two.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Carol Wyer for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
December 31, 2016
LITTLE GIRL LOST (DI Robyn Carter #1), is the start of an excellent new psychological thriller series by author Carol Wyer. This is the first novel I have read by this author, and now she is on my radar. I loved it, and I should have known, it is from my favorite publisher, Bookouture.
“A perfect family hiding disturbing secrets. A killer who wants the truth to be told.”
A teacher (Lucas Matthews) goes missing and a millionaire (Paul Matthews) is murdered while out jogging at a local reservoir. But what is the link between these two men?
This story is told from three points of view: the first one is through Alice who had suffered sexual child abuse as a young child and wants revenge.
The story then moves on to D I Robyn Carter who will be returning to the Staffordshire Police soon, after a leave of absence. She is recovering after the loss of her fiancée, who was killed during an undercover drug bust…and she also lost her baby. In the interim Robyn is working temporary with her cousin/associate, Ross, chasing around after fraudulent insurance claim cases. Robyn gets involved in Ross's case where a woman is looking for her missing husband.
The story then switches between these two characters with Robyn's story in the third person and Alice's story in the first and as the story continues Alice's voice is written in italics to separate it from the present day.
The third voice is that of Abigail, perfect mother of baby Izzy. Abigail is hiding secrets from her husband Jackson. She is being tortured by threatening texts, notes and calls and she worries for the safety of her child.
“What was Abigail’s connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number?”
The story is told through flashbacks to the past through Alice and then the present day as Robyn searches for Lucas, the missing husband, and the tension builds.
“But as Robyn starts to inch closer to finding the killer, Izzy is abducted.”
Robyn is running out of time…and must save this little girl from this serial killer!
This excellent fast-paced psychological thriller had me glued to my Kindle, and I resented any interruptions. This talented author is one to keep on the radar as she shows a bright future.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the ARC. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
Note: This novel completes my 2016 Goodreads Challenge of reading 115 novels. What a satisfying ending! Happy New Year to everyone!
“A perfect family hiding disturbing secrets. A killer who wants the truth to be told.”
A teacher (Lucas Matthews) goes missing and a millionaire (Paul Matthews) is murdered while out jogging at a local reservoir. But what is the link between these two men?
This story is told from three points of view: the first one is through Alice who had suffered sexual child abuse as a young child and wants revenge.
The story then moves on to D I Robyn Carter who will be returning to the Staffordshire Police soon, after a leave of absence. She is recovering after the loss of her fiancée, who was killed during an undercover drug bust…and she also lost her baby. In the interim Robyn is working temporary with her cousin/associate, Ross, chasing around after fraudulent insurance claim cases. Robyn gets involved in Ross's case where a woman is looking for her missing husband.
The story then switches between these two characters with Robyn's story in the third person and Alice's story in the first and as the story continues Alice's voice is written in italics to separate it from the present day.
The third voice is that of Abigail, perfect mother of baby Izzy. Abigail is hiding secrets from her husband Jackson. She is being tortured by threatening texts, notes and calls and she worries for the safety of her child.
“What was Abigail’s connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number?”
The story is told through flashbacks to the past through Alice and then the present day as Robyn searches for Lucas, the missing husband, and the tension builds.
“But as Robyn starts to inch closer to finding the killer, Izzy is abducted.”
Robyn is running out of time…and must save this little girl from this serial killer!
This excellent fast-paced psychological thriller had me glued to my Kindle, and I resented any interruptions. This talented author is one to keep on the radar as she shows a bright future.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the ARC. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
Note: This novel completes my 2016 Goodreads Challenge of reading 115 novels. What a satisfying ending! Happy New Year to everyone!
April 19, 2018
When it becomes drudgery to pick up the book I’m reading, it’s time to quit. It’s taken me five days to get just over halfway through. I do believe there’s a good story inside the covers of this book, but it’s so bogged down in insignificant details!
Take page 139, for example, when a main character was ill, and a friend of a friend visited. “She stooped to bend into her car and pulled out a large bouquet of flowers exploding with colour; sunflowers with their vibrant golden petals and radiant, sunshine-shaped flowers, cerise germini, dark pink Oriental lilies, and alstroemeria in a stunning hot pink with green alchemilla mollis, salal and pittosporum, they were wrapped and trimmed with a cerise voile ribbon and presented in gift packaging.”
The book also has a whole chapter devoted to a dream, and I detest dream sequences in books. Dreams mean nothing. They don’t advance the story or build character; they’re just filler.
So, I’m done. Or, I’m so done.
Take page 139, for example, when a main character was ill, and a friend of a friend visited. “She stooped to bend into her car and pulled out a large bouquet of flowers exploding with colour; sunflowers with their vibrant golden petals and radiant, sunshine-shaped flowers, cerise germini, dark pink Oriental lilies, and alstroemeria in a stunning hot pink with green alchemilla mollis, salal and pittosporum, they were wrapped and trimmed with a cerise voile ribbon and presented in gift packaging.”
The book also has a whole chapter devoted to a dream, and I detest dream sequences in books. Dreams mean nothing. They don’t advance the story or build character; they’re just filler.
So, I’m done. Or, I’m so done.
March 15, 2017
This was such a good book, I hardly know where to start. This was like a merry - go - round .. up and down, around and around.
Detective Robyn Carter has just returned to work following a bereavement leave of absence. A teacher goes missing and a man is murdered while on a run. There is no connection between these two deaths, but that soon changes.
Abigail is happily married, with a new baby. But Abigail has secrets .. and those secrets are haunting her. Someone knows who she is .. and what she's done. She gets messages on her computer that disappear leaving no trace of where they came from. She receives pictures of her husband with her best friend ... but are these actual pictures or photo-shopped images? Someone tries to poison her.
So who is Abigail and why is someone threatening to destroy her marriage, her life? And what is her connection with the two dead victims? Is she next .. or does someone have something even worse planned?
This is the start of a brand new series and what a start! Detective Carter is recovering from personal losses .. first her fiancee was killed during an undercover drug bust and then she lost her baby. She returns to work thinking staying busy will help. Her team is young, mostly inexperienced, but they have the drive to succeed.
There are several suspects and they all seem to be hiding something ... from each other, from the police, from themselves. The first chapter is a killer .. sets up the entire story. Alternating chapters give the readers an opportunity to read the killer's thoughts and memories of things that bring them all to this point.
It is up to Detective Carter to weed out the lies and get to the truth before someone else is killed.
Excellent psychological thriller. Kept me turning the pages and I was so tempted to read the last few pages :-) No bunny-boiling here ... but watch for the rabbit!
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for providing an advanced digital copy. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Detective Robyn Carter has just returned to work following a bereavement leave of absence. A teacher goes missing and a man is murdered while on a run. There is no connection between these two deaths, but that soon changes.
Abigail is happily married, with a new baby. But Abigail has secrets .. and those secrets are haunting her. Someone knows who she is .. and what she's done. She gets messages on her computer that disappear leaving no trace of where they came from. She receives pictures of her husband with her best friend ... but are these actual pictures or photo-shopped images? Someone tries to poison her.
So who is Abigail and why is someone threatening to destroy her marriage, her life? And what is her connection with the two dead victims? Is she next .. or does someone have something even worse planned?
This is the start of a brand new series and what a start! Detective Carter is recovering from personal losses .. first her fiancee was killed during an undercover drug bust and then she lost her baby. She returns to work thinking staying busy will help. Her team is young, mostly inexperienced, but they have the drive to succeed.
There are several suspects and they all seem to be hiding something ... from each other, from the police, from themselves. The first chapter is a killer .. sets up the entire story. Alternating chapters give the readers an opportunity to read the killer's thoughts and memories of things that bring them all to this point.
It is up to Detective Carter to weed out the lies and get to the truth before someone else is killed.
Excellent psychological thriller. Kept me turning the pages and I was so tempted to read the last few pages :-) No bunny-boiling here ... but watch for the rabbit!
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for providing an advanced digital copy. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 20, 2017
Ugh.... what a disappointment. I did NOT enjoy this book.
Wow... super predictable and ridiculously slow. I honestly should have abandoned this one but it's been sitting on my kindle for so long that I felt I needed to finish. This book was 409 pages and you could have cut it in half and made this a book.
I did not connect with any of the characters and the title states "a gripping thriller that will have you hooked". Yeah hooked with boredom.
I think I'm going to stop reading new series and stick to the ones I know I love.
I had this one pinpointed at 30 percent in and there was no hook line or twists/turns to this thriller.
I don't recommend this series my friends. I will not be reading anything by this author again 😢.
Wow... super predictable and ridiculously slow. I honestly should have abandoned this one but it's been sitting on my kindle for so long that I felt I needed to finish. This book was 409 pages and you could have cut it in half and made this a book.
I did not connect with any of the characters and the title states "a gripping thriller that will have you hooked". Yeah hooked with boredom.
I think I'm going to stop reading new series and stick to the ones I know I love.
I had this one pinpointed at 30 percent in and there was no hook line or twists/turns to this thriller.
I don't recommend this series my friends. I will not be reading anything by this author again 😢.
February 6, 2017
Thanks to Bookouture, Carol Wyer and Netgalley, for a ARC digital copy; it was my pleasure to write an honest review on the nail biting, gripping and tense thriller.
Bookouture you have found a great author here, I loved this book.
Another great female Detective Inspector character that I will have to follow.
Detective Robyn Carter, returning to the police force after a series of personal tragedies, dives into several investigations; a husband has gone missing and a man turns up murdered. Once she begins her investigations, she sees a link between these men. As she digs deeper and deeper, her investigation leads her to housewife Abigail and her family. How is she connected to these victims and why is she receiving threatening messages; there are secrets and someone wants those secrets told. When Abigail’s daughter is abducted, the race is on to find the perpetrator in time…
The author does such a great job with keeping the pace, tension and story so well, with as mentioned before a collection of great characters, good and bad. I had no glue to the guilty character/characters and kept changing my mind.
The story picks up to a rollercoaster pace for the last 30% -40 % of the book, and the race is on for Detective Inspector Carter and her team.
A fantastic book that I can recommend to everyone. A clear five stars.
This author will be one I look for her next book alongside great police thrillers from Angela Marsons, Sharon Bolton, Casey Hill, Mel Sherratt and Robert Bryndza ... to name a few.
Bookouture you have found a great author here, I loved this book.
Another great female Detective Inspector character that I will have to follow.
Detective Robyn Carter, returning to the police force after a series of personal tragedies, dives into several investigations; a husband has gone missing and a man turns up murdered. Once she begins her investigations, she sees a link between these men. As she digs deeper and deeper, her investigation leads her to housewife Abigail and her family. How is she connected to these victims and why is she receiving threatening messages; there are secrets and someone wants those secrets told. When Abigail’s daughter is abducted, the race is on to find the perpetrator in time…
The author does such a great job with keeping the pace, tension and story so well, with as mentioned before a collection of great characters, good and bad. I had no glue to the guilty character/characters and kept changing my mind.
The story picks up to a rollercoaster pace for the last 30% -40 % of the book, and the race is on for Detective Inspector Carter and her team.
A fantastic book that I can recommend to everyone. A clear five stars.
This author will be one I look for her next book alongside great police thrillers from Angela Marsons, Sharon Bolton, Casey Hill, Mel Sherratt and Robert Bryndza ... to name a few.
February 6, 2017
Detective Robyn Carter is returning to work after bereavement leave following the death of her husband and unborn child. While on leave she has been helping out a friend who is a private investigator and her last case involved looking for a man reported missing by his wife. When his disappearance starts to look suspicious and a sudden death appears linked it becomes her first case back in her police job.
Abigail Thorne is a seemingly happily married mother of a gorgeous baby girl but she has secrets she has not dared share even with her husband. But someone does know and is sending her threatening texts and emails and trying to destroy her marriage.
Interwoven between these two threads, there are chapters from the viewpoint of a character called Alice, perhaps the 'little girl lost' of the title. She tells both the story of what happened to her as a child and what she is doing to avenge that. She has changed her name and appearance so no one recognises her, least of all the reader.
This is a fast paced mystery that will keep you guessing up to the end!
With many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for a digital copy to read and review
Abigail Thorne is a seemingly happily married mother of a gorgeous baby girl but she has secrets she has not dared share even with her husband. But someone does know and is sending her threatening texts and emails and trying to destroy her marriage.
Interwoven between these two threads, there are chapters from the viewpoint of a character called Alice, perhaps the 'little girl lost' of the title. She tells both the story of what happened to her as a child and what she is doing to avenge that. She has changed her name and appearance so no one recognises her, least of all the reader.
This is a fast paced mystery that will keep you guessing up to the end!
With many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for a digital copy to read and review
April 3, 2017
The promotional material promised 'a gripping thriller that will have you hooked.' I didn't find Little Girl Lost thrilling, and I definitely wasn't hooked. In fact it has, for me, taken an inordinately long time (5 days) to read because I just could not feel any involvement with either the characters or the plot. It was quite a flat read. If anything, I felt it was all slightly 'overdone' and the writing was quite laboured and superficial in places.
I didn't have any real trouble with the time-line; the story is told in chunks of 'then' and 'now', and was reasonably easy to follow. But I didn't get any sense of suspense or excitement as I read and that is what I was looking for.
I am not going to try and précis the plot - it is quite impossible to do without giving things away, but I will say that I had figured out who Alice had reinvented herself as by midway through the book. That on its own wasn't enough to cause me not to enjoy the book, it was just one of many things.
And there was one piece of utter stupidity almost at the end of the book, which for me was the final straw -
2.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Little Girl Lost by Carol Wyer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I didn't have any real trouble with the time-line; the story is told in chunks of 'then' and 'now', and was reasonably easy to follow. But I didn't get any sense of suspense or excitement as I read and that is what I was looking for.
I am not going to try and précis the plot - it is quite impossible to do without giving things away, but I will say that I had figured out who Alice had reinvented herself as by midway through the book. That on its own wasn't enough to cause me not to enjoy the book, it was just one of many things.
And there was one piece of utter stupidity almost at the end of the book, which for me was the final straw -
2.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Little Girl Lost by Carol Wyer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
November 21, 2017
I discovered a new author when I read book 3, I hadn't realised there were prior ones, so the last couple of days I went back on them
So this is book 1
I absolutely loved it.
Lots going on in this book, not confusing, but so much is going on in my mind that I don't know where to start, its all good.
Alice is the little girl in this story, shes worried because her mother is getting ready to go out, she feels something is not right, she asks again, are you going out.
Her dad has only been gone for a year, but her mom wants happiness for them all and it is going to marry Paul.
Alice has suffered at the hand of a sexual abuser, and through Alice POV we learn of revenge.
D I Robyn Carter is recovering from things that have happened in her life, her loss.
She has just returned to work again after a leave of absence.
There is Abigail, we don't know how she fits in until later.
Two dead men, not connected.
I was not confused, I read it fine, a very busy book but easy to follow and so addictive.
I felt I was on a rollercoaster, I didn't know who to believe, what to believe but all I knew was, I was lost inside these pages and couldn't come out for air any time soon until I got to the end,
and boy, what an end,.
My thanks to Bookoutour for my copy via Net Galley, one of my fav publishers
February 7, 2017
Detective Robyn Carter series. Book 1.
I struggled to get through the prologue as it is quite graphic. Plus I don't like reading explicit details.
Ignoring what I have written above this is quite a good book. We are introduced to Detective Robyn Carter who is returning to work after the death of her husband. Her first case is to find a missing person. Then, well I'm afraid you will have to read the book to find out as I would give away too many spoilers.
There is a lot of red herrings along the way. I did kind of guess the ending but that did not stop me enjoying this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Carol Wyer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled to get through the prologue as it is quite graphic. Plus I don't like reading explicit details.
Ignoring what I have written above this is quite a good book. We are introduced to Detective Robyn Carter who is returning to work after the death of her husband. Her first case is to find a missing person. Then, well I'm afraid you will have to read the book to find out as I would give away too many spoilers.
There is a lot of red herrings along the way. I did kind of guess the ending but that did not stop me enjoying this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Carol Wyer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2016
This one starts off in a confusing manner. Each chapter throws a different character at you and I, for one, was getting lost. But once I got all the players straightened out, I found the story engrossing. The subject matter is very dark though, revolving around pedophilia which could put some readers off.
Robyn is the DI investigating the case of a missing husband. She has recently returned to the force after the death of her fiancé and the loss of her unborn child. She is an interesting character and I felt an immediate empathy with her.
Another of the characters is Alice, who is the perpetrator of all the evil doings. You know her history and what she is doing. What you don't know is who she is now and why she is focusing on tormenting Abigail, another of the main characters. Abigail’s story rang false to me. She won't tell her husband what's happening supposedly because of her “secrets”.
As the book progresses, the author alternates chapters between Robyn and Alice to give both sides. After awhile it got obnoxious. I think I would have preferred an epilogue or another means of explaining Alice’s motives. The ending comes together way too conveniently.
The book is a fast paced mystery, unbelievable in parts but a fun read. I sussed out the killer fairly early in the book, much sooner than the author tells the reader, but that just made me read faster to see if I was right.
My Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
February 27, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author and although it is a difficult and sensitive topic to write about and I felt the author did an excellent job. A teacher disappears, a millionaire is murdered and this sets the pace for a very interesting journey. Detective Robyn Carter is returning to the police force after a break away for personal reasons. She starts looking into this case just before she returns while she is working for her brother-in-law's private investigation agency. This book is full of characters with secrets and we all know how secrets can change lives and cause immense damage to many relationships. This is an engrossing tale, a psychological thriller that will draw you in and keep you turning the pages wanting to know what is really going on. Each time I thought I was on track the story would take another turn completely throwing me off again. Thrilling and gripping this was a five star read for me.
January 9, 2017
Finally, my first 5 star review for 2017 is here! It took 6 books for it to happen, but it did! Detective Inspector Robyn Carter is returning to the police force after the death of her husband, and her first case lands her with a missing person's claim. Lucas Matthews has gone missing, and his wife is worried. As she starts her investigation, another man turns up dead, and the people nearest to Lucas start dying, too. Robyn Begins to think they are connected, but can't immediately figure out how, though a woman named Abigail seems to be connected to everyone somehow. The story alternates perspectives between Robyn's POV and Abigail's, who starts receiving threatening phone calls and notes from someone who is clearly watching her. How the puzzle pieces fit together is up to Robyn to find out.
Let me just say that I loved this book! It did take me a little bit to get used to all of the characters. Aside from Robyn and Abigail's POVs, we also have part of the story told from a third perspective - "then" which is told through child Alice's eyes. Alice is a troubled child who has been through some significant trauma and acts out in rage. We aren't sure who Alice is and how she relates to the story yet. In addition to those 3 POVs, each of them has family and friends/coworkers who are part of the story, which leads to a huge number of characters in the beginning of the book. If you're like me, and you're struggling to keep them all straight, don't worry! Keep reading and it will eventually all make sense and come together.
There were a lot of things I loved about this book! It was such a wild ride, in the best possible way. It was really fact paced, and the twists and turns kept coming! Just when I thought I'd figured it all out, something else would happen and I'd change my mind, and that happened over and over! I loved that it kept me guessing, and the the last 20% of the book had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how it would all be resolved!
I also really loved that I felt like the book was written with a lot of intricacies in the plot. You could tell that the author really took her time in thinking everything through. A lot of books rely on one big twist or shock, and I felt like Little Girl Lost had several, but they all tied together perfectly. All of the loose ends were tied up, and everything clicked into place.
All in all, an excellent book that I'd highly recommend for fans of the thriller/suspense/mystery genres! A huge thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Carol Wyer for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Little Girl Lost comes out January 19, 2017 so mark your calendars for this one! You won't want to miss it!
Let me just say that I loved this book! It did take me a little bit to get used to all of the characters. Aside from Robyn and Abigail's POVs, we also have part of the story told from a third perspective - "then" which is told through child Alice's eyes. Alice is a troubled child who has been through some significant trauma and acts out in rage. We aren't sure who Alice is and how she relates to the story yet. In addition to those 3 POVs, each of them has family and friends/coworkers who are part of the story, which leads to a huge number of characters in the beginning of the book. If you're like me, and you're struggling to keep them all straight, don't worry! Keep reading and it will eventually all make sense and come together.
There were a lot of things I loved about this book! It was such a wild ride, in the best possible way. It was really fact paced, and the twists and turns kept coming! Just when I thought I'd figured it all out, something else would happen and I'd change my mind, and that happened over and over! I loved that it kept me guessing, and the the last 20% of the book had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how it would all be resolved!
I also really loved that I felt like the book was written with a lot of intricacies in the plot. You could tell that the author really took her time in thinking everything through. A lot of books rely on one big twist or shock, and I felt like Little Girl Lost had several, but they all tied together perfectly. All of the loose ends were tied up, and everything clicked into place.
All in all, an excellent book that I'd highly recommend for fans of the thriller/suspense/mystery genres! A huge thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Carol Wyer for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Little Girl Lost comes out January 19, 2017 so mark your calendars for this one! You won't want to miss it!
December 11, 2016
This is one of those crime books that has some good moments but has no lasting impact. In fact, though I read the whole thing on a plane ride home from LA just two days ago, when I opened my laptop to write the review today, I had to remind myself of the specifics of the story. It's entirely forgettable.
Arc via Netgalley.
Arc via Netgalley.
February 7, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
I’ve read Wyer’s romantic comedies in the past and really enjoyed them so when I heard she was delving into the world of thrillers I was totally interested. Would the same author who wrote such heartwarming and fun books deliver a chilling and compelling thriller? Yes, yes she would. I was blown away by Little Girl Lost and am now in complete awe of the talented Carol Wyer.
Robyn Carter used to be a detective and now works as a PI with her cousin, Ross. She’s suffered some devastating losses so she takes a break from being a police officer to heal. Right as she’s preparing to head back to work, she starts investigating the disappearance of a teacher, Lucas Matthews. When she really starts to dig into the case, things begin to get seriously complicated and twisted. Bodies are cropping up everywhere and seemingly unrelated people are connected, but how?
I’m not going to lie, during the beginning quarter of this book I was slightly confused. It wasn’t the writing style or that weird plotting was going on, it was that there were so many viewpoints to keep track of. There was Abigail, a new mother to baby Izzy, Detective Carter as she tried to unravel an intricate web of details, and then there are chapters labeled Then from a girl with a tragically sad life. I was making myself crazy trying to figure out how all of this would tie together and then eventually things clicked into place and I was floored. I’m still amazed by how meticulously this was plotted, there were so many details to keep track of and Wyer tied it all together beautifully.
Most of the time it seems like there is one massive twist in a mystery novel but here there were several turns that were all shockers. Between the gripping plot line and the seamless writing, you’re introduced to Carter who was such a great character, I’m thrilled that this is the start of a new series based on her. She’s had a difficult past and has walked away damaged, but she’s a good cop and she has a killer instinct and doesn’t always follow the rules. She’s not afraid to take a risk and I admire her strength and perseverance. What a talented thriller writer Wyer is, if this is what she has to offer first, I can’t wait to see what she has in store next!
I’ve read Wyer’s romantic comedies in the past and really enjoyed them so when I heard she was delving into the world of thrillers I was totally interested. Would the same author who wrote such heartwarming and fun books deliver a chilling and compelling thriller? Yes, yes she would. I was blown away by Little Girl Lost and am now in complete awe of the talented Carol Wyer.
Robyn Carter used to be a detective and now works as a PI with her cousin, Ross. She’s suffered some devastating losses so she takes a break from being a police officer to heal. Right as she’s preparing to head back to work, she starts investigating the disappearance of a teacher, Lucas Matthews. When she really starts to dig into the case, things begin to get seriously complicated and twisted. Bodies are cropping up everywhere and seemingly unrelated people are connected, but how?
I’m not going to lie, during the beginning quarter of this book I was slightly confused. It wasn’t the writing style or that weird plotting was going on, it was that there were so many viewpoints to keep track of. There was Abigail, a new mother to baby Izzy, Detective Carter as she tried to unravel an intricate web of details, and then there are chapters labeled Then from a girl with a tragically sad life. I was making myself crazy trying to figure out how all of this would tie together and then eventually things clicked into place and I was floored. I’m still amazed by how meticulously this was plotted, there were so many details to keep track of and Wyer tied it all together beautifully.
Most of the time it seems like there is one massive twist in a mystery novel but here there were several turns that were all shockers. Between the gripping plot line and the seamless writing, you’re introduced to Carter who was such a great character, I’m thrilled that this is the start of a new series based on her. She’s had a difficult past and has walked away damaged, but she’s a good cop and she has a killer instinct and doesn’t always follow the rules. She’s not afraid to take a risk and I admire her strength and perseverance. What a talented thriller writer Wyer is, if this is what she has to offer first, I can’t wait to see what she has in store next!
December 7, 2016
Wow! What a book! I started reading it and couldn't stop - kept turning the pages and finished it in one sitting! I have read and enjoyed Carol Wyer's other books, so I was waiting eagerly to read this - her foray into crime fiction. And I am absolutely blown away. The story is fast paced and grabs you from the first page, not letting you go until the last and even after you have finished, the characters, their angst and their motivation for doing what they did stays with you. Amazing and unputdownable. I cannot wait for the next Robyn Carter book!
May 4, 2019
RATING: 3 STARS
2017; Bookouture
(Review Not On Blog)
Little Girl Lost, is the first book in the DI Robyn Carter series. As the novel opens up, Robyn is just returning back to the police force. I really liked Robyn and all the other characters in this book. The reason I only gave it a three was that the alternating chapters was not my favourite for this storyline, and it could be confusing at times. I am going to stick with it for book two.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
2017; Bookouture
(Review Not On Blog)
Little Girl Lost, is the first book in the DI Robyn Carter series. As the novel opens up, Robyn is just returning back to the police force. I really liked Robyn and all the other characters in this book. The reason I only gave it a three was that the alternating chapters was not my favourite for this storyline, and it could be confusing at times. I am going to stick with it for book two.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
January 7, 2017
WARNING,this book contains subject matter that some readers might find upsetting.
To be honest this was a bit of a meh book for me,I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would when I read the synopsis.The book is well written and there was parts that I did like,I just wasn't hooked in by the story and actually stopped reading this for a few days,read another book and then returned to finish this one.
DI Robyn Carter has just returned back to work with the Staffordshire Police force after spending some time working as a PI for her cousin Ross.She is still struggling with her grief after the death of her fiance and the loss of their unborn baby and also has lack of confidence in her abilities as a police officer.Her new case seems like it's going to be a simple case of a missing music teacher but soon Robyn and her team are involved in a complicated case involving abuse,lies,families,murder and kidnapping.
The story is told in the alternating time frames and character format that is so popular with authors these days and narrated by three female characters.The chapters set in the present day are narrated by Robyn and Abilgail Thorne,a character that Robyn encounters during the course of her investigation.The third narrator is a character called Alice,her chapters start in the past and work forward through time to the present as the story unfolds and heads towards the final inevitable confrontation.
My issues with the story where I felt the author tried too hard to keep Alice's present day identity a secret.I felt that I was told who she was and not given the opportunity to work it out for myself.It also didn't make sense that Abilgail refused to tell her husband Jackson about her past.
Although I was a bit disappointed with this book,I liked Robyn Carter,I liked the interactions and banter between her and Ross.She is a interesting,complex character and I would be willing to read more of her cases.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
To be honest this was a bit of a meh book for me,I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would when I read the synopsis.The book is well written and there was parts that I did like,I just wasn't hooked in by the story and actually stopped reading this for a few days,read another book and then returned to finish this one.
DI Robyn Carter has just returned back to work with the Staffordshire Police force after spending some time working as a PI for her cousin Ross.She is still struggling with her grief after the death of her fiance and the loss of their unborn baby and also has lack of confidence in her abilities as a police officer.Her new case seems like it's going to be a simple case of a missing music teacher but soon Robyn and her team are involved in a complicated case involving abuse,lies,families,murder and kidnapping.
The story is told in the alternating time frames and character format that is so popular with authors these days and narrated by three female characters.The chapters set in the present day are narrated by Robyn and Abilgail Thorne,a character that Robyn encounters during the course of her investigation.The third narrator is a character called Alice,her chapters start in the past and work forward through time to the present as the story unfolds and heads towards the final inevitable confrontation.
My issues with the story where I felt the author tried too hard to keep Alice's present day identity a secret.I felt that I was told who she was and not given the opportunity to work it out for myself.It also didn't make sense that Abilgail refused to tell her husband Jackson about her past.
Although I was a bit disappointed with this book,I liked Robyn Carter,I liked the interactions and banter between her and Ross.She is a interesting,complex character and I would be willing to read more of her cases.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
January 30, 2018
I was utterly sickened at an unexpected, very explicit section in the prologue of this book, and I was seriously tempted to stop reading,why on earth the author thought this was justified is beyond me!
However, not one to give up on a book easily I took a short break from it and continued. I still can’t decide if that was a good move or not. I would give too much away of the plot if I raised all issues I have with it, suffice to say, the subject of sexual child abuse is not a topic to be taken lightly and I find nothing in my heart that can excuse it. I think it is a great pity, as a subject such as this can be handled in a far more sensitive way. The plotting of this book however is undoubtedly fast paced and by and large the writing is good, hence the 3 stars, my heart wanted to give it 1* .
However, not one to give up on a book easily I took a short break from it and continued. I still can’t decide if that was a good move or not. I would give too much away of the plot if I raised all issues I have with it, suffice to say, the subject of sexual child abuse is not a topic to be taken lightly and I find nothing in my heart that can excuse it. I think it is a great pity, as a subject such as this can be handled in a far more sensitive way. The plotting of this book however is undoubtedly fast paced and by and large the writing is good, hence the 3 stars, my heart wanted to give it 1* .
February 7, 2017
Well well well, so this is Carol Wyers first attempt at writing a thriller. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't read it in her notes at the end of the novel. It read like a book that was written by someone who was an old hand at the genre. If this is what she accomplishes with her opening gambit then she is certainly one to keep an eye on.
I'm trying to think of a quick synopsis of the story but it's hard to do without revealing spoilers.
The story is told from different perspectives, both from the present and past, some in first person and some in third. It's a clever device to fill in blanks and reveal more throughout as the present reveals more, so we can be told more from the past.
It is based around a crime of child rape in the past, a broken family and broken victims and perpetrators, a story of revenge, secrets, guilt and whodunnits. The past comes to the present day and this is where our main character Detective Robyn Carter comes in. Herself a bit of a broken character after recently losing her husband to an undercover shooting and also the loss of her unborn child, she has taken a break from the police force to recover and has been working as a private detective with her cousin until her return to the force which is imminent.
An ex millionaire film star, now a recluse,dies in what initially looks like an accident while out jogging and a male music teacher suddenly goes missing, Robyn now back at work begins to become suspicious about both and is convinced the death was a murder. As she investigates further she slowly begins to paint a picture of what may have happened and how they are connected. As she delves deeper we slowly realise that there is a serial killer at large, most likely looking for revenge on those who the killer feels wronged by in the past.
Now that's a pretty crappy synopsis of the story, if I say so myself. There are another couple of huge central characters to the story who I haven't even mentioned. The story is a complicated one with lots from intertwining lives that both share the present but also a past that we the reader are not fully aware of.
My crappy synopsis is a feeble attempt to give a feel of what the book is loosely about but I am determined not to reveal any spoilers which, if I did give a more detailed synopsis of the story and the characters would contain some. If you want to get a better idea of the story then read the sleeve notes. Personally I didn't before I read the book and, after reading them once I'd finished, I'm glad I didn't.
What I will do is give you my opinion of the book. I really loved it. I did worry that it was trying to over complicate things with the different threads to the story and may end up tripping over itself but the author had clearly thought the whole thing through in detail as everything is explained.
I do enjoy a book that is told from different characters perspectives when it is done well and it is done very well here. The chapters are very cleverly structured, the past being brought back into the story at just the right time etc.
Robyn are central character, who you would think will feature in more novels in the future is an engagingly written character who you have empathy with. Ok a slightly cliched broken past(par for the course with the genre it seems) but she's a clever woman with a natural instinct for detective work and a string central character overall to base the book around.
I did feel about two thirds of the way through that I had it all figured out(not quite as it turned out) but at that stage that wasn't even the point of the book so I wasn't even feeling disappointed that I may have it twigged. I was heavily invested in the characters at that stage and was more interested in seeing how it all played out for them and how it resolved, rather than reading only to find out the "whodunnit" part, or "the reveal" as with some other novels. Surely a huge compliment to the author that I felt that way.
So it's a review with a lot of words but doesn't really tell you too much at all about what the book is about. Unusual(and maybe a bit pointless) but I liked the book so much I just don't want to be giving anything away. Grab a copy, get stuck in and enjoy the ride. That would be my advice.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for an ARC in exchange for and honest review.
I'm trying to think of a quick synopsis of the story but it's hard to do without revealing spoilers.
The story is told from different perspectives, both from the present and past, some in first person and some in third. It's a clever device to fill in blanks and reveal more throughout as the present reveals more, so we can be told more from the past.
It is based around a crime of child rape in the past, a broken family and broken victims and perpetrators, a story of revenge, secrets, guilt and whodunnits. The past comes to the present day and this is where our main character Detective Robyn Carter comes in. Herself a bit of a broken character after recently losing her husband to an undercover shooting and also the loss of her unborn child, she has taken a break from the police force to recover and has been working as a private detective with her cousin until her return to the force which is imminent.
An ex millionaire film star, now a recluse,dies in what initially looks like an accident while out jogging and a male music teacher suddenly goes missing, Robyn now back at work begins to become suspicious about both and is convinced the death was a murder. As she investigates further she slowly begins to paint a picture of what may have happened and how they are connected. As she delves deeper we slowly realise that there is a serial killer at large, most likely looking for revenge on those who the killer feels wronged by in the past.
Now that's a pretty crappy synopsis of the story, if I say so myself. There are another couple of huge central characters to the story who I haven't even mentioned. The story is a complicated one with lots from intertwining lives that both share the present but also a past that we the reader are not fully aware of.
My crappy synopsis is a feeble attempt to give a feel of what the book is loosely about but I am determined not to reveal any spoilers which, if I did give a more detailed synopsis of the story and the characters would contain some. If you want to get a better idea of the story then read the sleeve notes. Personally I didn't before I read the book and, after reading them once I'd finished, I'm glad I didn't.
What I will do is give you my opinion of the book. I really loved it. I did worry that it was trying to over complicate things with the different threads to the story and may end up tripping over itself but the author had clearly thought the whole thing through in detail as everything is explained.
I do enjoy a book that is told from different characters perspectives when it is done well and it is done very well here. The chapters are very cleverly structured, the past being brought back into the story at just the right time etc.
Robyn are central character, who you would think will feature in more novels in the future is an engagingly written character who you have empathy with. Ok a slightly cliched broken past(par for the course with the genre it seems) but she's a clever woman with a natural instinct for detective work and a string central character overall to base the book around.
I did feel about two thirds of the way through that I had it all figured out(not quite as it turned out) but at that stage that wasn't even the point of the book so I wasn't even feeling disappointed that I may have it twigged. I was heavily invested in the characters at that stage and was more interested in seeing how it all played out for them and how it resolved, rather than reading only to find out the "whodunnit" part, or "the reveal" as with some other novels. Surely a huge compliment to the author that I felt that way.
So it's a review with a lot of words but doesn't really tell you too much at all about what the book is about. Unusual(and maybe a bit pointless) but I liked the book so much I just don't want to be giving anything away. Grab a copy, get stuck in and enjoy the ride. That would be my advice.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for an ARC in exchange for and honest review.
June 13, 2019
Detective Robyn Carter is returning to work after a leave following the death of her husband and unborn child. During her break she was working as a PI for her cousin looking for a teacher named Lucas who was reported missing by his wife. Meanwhile Abigail Thorne is happily married mother to a baby girl but she has secrets which might threaten her marriage .
Little Girl Lost by Carol Wyer is a start of a new psychological thriller series.Alternating between Alice’s flashback from the past and present along with Robyn's story , the book does do justice to all the characters. A little slow in the middle the book does pick up pace later and keeps you guessing till the end .
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Little Girl Lost by Carol Wyer is a start of a new psychological thriller series.Alternating between Alice’s flashback from the past and present along with Robyn's story , the book does do justice to all the characters. A little slow in the middle the book does pick up pace later and keeps you guessing till the end .
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
February 3, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
arol Wyer is better known for her light hearted novels but she has taken a bold step and moved to the “dark side”, and I for one was surprised at just how well she’s adapted to writing a Crime thriller. Little Girl Lost has all the hallmarks I look for in a crime thriller and then some. The first chapter made for a dark and disturbing read and this set the tone for the rest of this book. After reading Little Girl Lost I’m convinced Carol Wyer needs to concentrate on writing crime thrillers, she certainly has the ability and the imagination.
To begin with I was slightly confused (it doesn’t take much believe me!) by the various POV Little Girl Lost is told by. Firstly there’s Detective Robyn Carter who is investigating the disappearance of a man who vanishes under suspicious circumstances, the second POV is from Abigail a young mother whose perfect life appears to be under threat, and finally there’s Alice, someone who suffered unbelievable trauma as a child. Once I got used to the constant switching of characters I found it actually made this an even more intriguing read, as I was constantly second guessing how the three POV would join together. Carol Wyer certainly gets extra brownie points for being so devious in her ploy to lead the reader in the wrong direction at every turn.
The author has created an intriguing bunch of characters Detective Robyn Carter like most Detective’s in this genre has issues, grieving for the love of her life she buries herself in her work, but she also has personality that shines through. I’m intrigued to see how her character will develop in future books in the series. I also couldn’t help feeling empathy for one of the characters despite them carrying out the most hideous crimes, their character was so well developed you couldn’t help feeling for them considering all the trauma they suffered.
This was certainly a gripping read, Carol Wyer presents the reader with a large jigsaw puzzle, or that’s what it felt like, I found myself constantly wondering how the pieces would fit together, but the author very skilfully puts them all together in the most spectacular way. Steeped in mystery and suspense I found Little Girl Lost an original and entertaining read, and I will certainly read the next book in the series without hesitation.
arol Wyer is better known for her light hearted novels but she has taken a bold step and moved to the “dark side”, and I for one was surprised at just how well she’s adapted to writing a Crime thriller. Little Girl Lost has all the hallmarks I look for in a crime thriller and then some. The first chapter made for a dark and disturbing read and this set the tone for the rest of this book. After reading Little Girl Lost I’m convinced Carol Wyer needs to concentrate on writing crime thrillers, she certainly has the ability and the imagination.
To begin with I was slightly confused (it doesn’t take much believe me!) by the various POV Little Girl Lost is told by. Firstly there’s Detective Robyn Carter who is investigating the disappearance of a man who vanishes under suspicious circumstances, the second POV is from Abigail a young mother whose perfect life appears to be under threat, and finally there’s Alice, someone who suffered unbelievable trauma as a child. Once I got used to the constant switching of characters I found it actually made this an even more intriguing read, as I was constantly second guessing how the three POV would join together. Carol Wyer certainly gets extra brownie points for being so devious in her ploy to lead the reader in the wrong direction at every turn.
The author has created an intriguing bunch of characters Detective Robyn Carter like most Detective’s in this genre has issues, grieving for the love of her life she buries herself in her work, but she also has personality that shines through. I’m intrigued to see how her character will develop in future books in the series. I also couldn’t help feeling empathy for one of the characters despite them carrying out the most hideous crimes, their character was so well developed you couldn’t help feeling for them considering all the trauma they suffered.
This was certainly a gripping read, Carol Wyer presents the reader with a large jigsaw puzzle, or that’s what it felt like, I found myself constantly wondering how the pieces would fit together, but the author very skilfully puts them all together in the most spectacular way. Steeped in mystery and suspense I found Little Girl Lost an original and entertaining read, and I will certainly read the next book in the series without hesitation.
July 31, 2024
*Gripping*
We meet DI Robyn Carter, this is book one of a five part series. I was hooked from the first page.
Abigail is living her best life. She has a beautiful baby girl called Izzy who she dotes on. She also has a handsome and loyal husband. Her world is about to implode as she has a terrible secret. A past that she wants to keep close to her chest. She has never told her husband because she wants to move forward and forget the worst time of her life.
Things start happening at home and she tries to keep it to herself. The culprit is making her look insane with her accusations and text messages that keep disappearing.
Robyn Carter has been getting ready to go back to work after a personal double heartbreak. The first case she has is a death, is it an accident or a murder?. Then more deaths occur and Robyn has to use all her wits and gut instincts to solve the case.
Then Izzy is abducted after Abigail is distracted…….
Robyn senses a connection with the deaths/murders to the abduction but Abigail is telling half truths.
Robyn is getting close to solving the case as the pieces of the puzzle start to slot together.
This is a very promising series and I have warmed to Robyn. My only frustration was that Abigail could have been truthful earlier but that also showed the level of her fear …..
We meet DI Robyn Carter, this is book one of a five part series. I was hooked from the first page.
Abigail is living her best life. She has a beautiful baby girl called Izzy who she dotes on. She also has a handsome and loyal husband. Her world is about to implode as she has a terrible secret. A past that she wants to keep close to her chest. She has never told her husband because she wants to move forward and forget the worst time of her life.
Things start happening at home and she tries to keep it to herself. The culprit is making her look insane with her accusations and text messages that keep disappearing.
Robyn Carter has been getting ready to go back to work after a personal double heartbreak. The first case she has is a death, is it an accident or a murder?. Then more deaths occur and Robyn has to use all her wits and gut instincts to solve the case.
Then Izzy is abducted after Abigail is distracted…….
Robyn senses a connection with the deaths/murders to the abduction but Abigail is telling half truths.
Robyn is getting close to solving the case as the pieces of the puzzle start to slot together.
This is a very promising series and I have warmed to Robyn. My only frustration was that Abigail could have been truthful earlier but that also showed the level of her fear …..
January 28, 2019
A tangle of timelines and POVs.
Too much abuse, including sexual and abuse of children, for me. I’m a fan of serious crime fiction and am accustomed to hits of horrific as needed to establish a crime and continued danger. But then we need to be on with solving, saving, and bringing to justice.
With this one I think we spend more time in the the land of victims and perpetrators than investigating. More emotional energy, development, and time are spent there. I didn’t feel the characters or work of the investigation side was strong enough to carry this.
I typically don’t read horror. This isn’t in the horror genre, but the read felt somewhat icky and too often horrifying to me. Just not my thing. There was enough going for it that I with it and hoped, but it didn’t work out for me.
Too much abuse, including sexual and abuse of children, for me. I’m a fan of serious crime fiction and am accustomed to hits of horrific as needed to establish a crime and continued danger. But then we need to be on with solving, saving, and bringing to justice.
With this one I think we spend more time in the the land of victims and perpetrators than investigating. More emotional energy, development, and time are spent there. I didn’t feel the characters or work of the investigation side was strong enough to carry this.
I typically don’t read horror. This isn’t in the horror genre, but the read felt somewhat icky and too often horrifying to me. Just not my thing. There was enough going for it that I with it and hoped, but it didn’t work out for me.
January 15, 2017
This is my first time reading a book by Carol Wyer and if I didn’t know, nothing would have let me on that this is her first time writing a crime book, the plot was tight and the suspense was fantastic.
This is a book about revenge, loud and clear. We also know who wants revenge and why, the only thing we don’t know is where this person is hiding in the present day, but the chase is on!
The harrowing opener that lays the base for the book are the events happening one evening to 8 year old Alice who has been living in fear for her stepbrother Lucas ever since she and her mum came to live with media star Paul Matthews and his 2 children. It’s quite horrific what happens but even more so that nobody listens and believes her afterwards. That was 20 years ago.
In the present day Detective Robyn Carter is contacted by a woman who wants to report her husband Lucas missing. While Robyn tries to locate him and starts to pick his life apart, there are also alternating chapters told by Alice where she tells how she fared in the past right up to the events happening in the present.
Coming into the mix there’s another rather unexpected plotline about a woman called Abbigail Thorne, mother of a little girl nicknamed Izzy. She’s getting strange phone calls and threats. Someone, for some unknown reason, is targeting her. Who it is and what the connection is in all of this is only one of the many secrets Robyn Robyn has to solve while she contacts her because one of her friends might have a connection to Lucas. Abigail has 3 friends in this story, Zoe, Claire and Rachel and although it’s ‘only’ this small circle of 3 friends there’s plenty of suspicion to go round who might be behind all of this.
Robyn Carter is a great detective, she’s guilt-ridden and recovering from a personal tragedy. Although I like her and her team, I don’t feel I know and love her completely yet and I think it will take another book to really let me feel more of a connection with her, but this book didn’t need much of a sidestory really, it would only be interfering with what I really wanted to hear about ;-).
The search for Alice and the constant doubtfulness I had about Abigail’s friends, the scrutiny of everyone’s reliability was very compelling and kept me more than occupied. I kind of had a hunch about the truths in this story after a while but the drive to know for sure and to keep turning these pages was overpowering. Really well-written. I want more !
This is a book about revenge, loud and clear. We also know who wants revenge and why, the only thing we don’t know is where this person is hiding in the present day, but the chase is on!
The harrowing opener that lays the base for the book are the events happening one evening to 8 year old Alice who has been living in fear for her stepbrother Lucas ever since she and her mum came to live with media star Paul Matthews and his 2 children. It’s quite horrific what happens but even more so that nobody listens and believes her afterwards. That was 20 years ago.
In the present day Detective Robyn Carter is contacted by a woman who wants to report her husband Lucas missing. While Robyn tries to locate him and starts to pick his life apart, there are also alternating chapters told by Alice where she tells how she fared in the past right up to the events happening in the present.
Coming into the mix there’s another rather unexpected plotline about a woman called Abbigail Thorne, mother of a little girl nicknamed Izzy. She’s getting strange phone calls and threats. Someone, for some unknown reason, is targeting her. Who it is and what the connection is in all of this is only one of the many secrets Robyn Robyn has to solve while she contacts her because one of her friends might have a connection to Lucas. Abigail has 3 friends in this story, Zoe, Claire and Rachel and although it’s ‘only’ this small circle of 3 friends there’s plenty of suspicion to go round who might be behind all of this.
Robyn Carter is a great detective, she’s guilt-ridden and recovering from a personal tragedy. Although I like her and her team, I don’t feel I know and love her completely yet and I think it will take another book to really let me feel more of a connection with her, but this book didn’t need much of a sidestory really, it would only be interfering with what I really wanted to hear about ;-).
The search for Alice and the constant doubtfulness I had about Abigail’s friends, the scrutiny of everyone’s reliability was very compelling and kept me more than occupied. I kind of had a hunch about the truths in this story after a while but the drive to know for sure and to keep turning these pages was overpowering. Really well-written. I want more !
December 15, 2016
Well, well, well.....there is certainly more to Carol Wyer than the last release she has which was a romantic comedy. I LOVE this cover which is always a plus and the synopsis was pretty intriguing too. I started the book and found that the story was quite meaty and it didn't take long to get involved in the plot and various threads trailing. However the beginning of the book also reveals a dark scenario which took place clearly a few years ago and it adds to the disturbing feel of this book.
Robyn Carter is the main character in this (hopefully) series of books and she is due to go back to policing having taken a stint away from work due to a bereavement. She has spent her time away working for her Cousin Ross Private Detective agency. I really liked her Cousin and the relationship between them works well. I wondered how that would work when she eventually makes it back to the police force but it was done in a away where Ross still featured in the story which I liked. As for Robyn, I liked her but felt that this first book just skims the surface and I am hoping we get to see a bit more in book 2.
When a teacher goes missing it lands on Robyn as her first job back in the force. In addition a man is found murdered and Robyn begins to wonder what the link between the two is. This leads to another main character Abigail. On the surface she has it all, a wonderful husband Jackson and a daughter Izzy. However, when the story progresses it becomes clear its not as cut and dried as it first seemed. There were some moments in the book where I questioned whether I was reading the story correctly as it seemed impossible to imagine the reason for the things that were happening.
I certainly enjoyed this and although a massive departure for Carol Wyer, a smart one! This was an engaging read and has a certain edge to it which I liked. For a first book in this genre it was excellent and if the books get any better I can see them being the type of books you just HAVE to read in one go. Can't wait to see what is next for Robyn Carter!
Robyn Carter is the main character in this (hopefully) series of books and she is due to go back to policing having taken a stint away from work due to a bereavement. She has spent her time away working for her Cousin Ross Private Detective agency. I really liked her Cousin and the relationship between them works well. I wondered how that would work when she eventually makes it back to the police force but it was done in a away where Ross still featured in the story which I liked. As for Robyn, I liked her but felt that this first book just skims the surface and I am hoping we get to see a bit more in book 2.
When a teacher goes missing it lands on Robyn as her first job back in the force. In addition a man is found murdered and Robyn begins to wonder what the link between the two is. This leads to another main character Abigail. On the surface she has it all, a wonderful husband Jackson and a daughter Izzy. However, when the story progresses it becomes clear its not as cut and dried as it first seemed. There were some moments in the book where I questioned whether I was reading the story correctly as it seemed impossible to imagine the reason for the things that were happening.
I certainly enjoyed this and although a massive departure for Carol Wyer, a smart one! This was an engaging read and has a certain edge to it which I liked. For a first book in this genre it was excellent and if the books get any better I can see them being the type of books you just HAVE to read in one go. Can't wait to see what is next for Robyn Carter!
August 12, 2017
It's no secret that I am a huge Bookouture fan, even joking in the past about changing my blog name (when I still ran it) to Bookouture Addict Shaun as I have loved 99% of their books and their crime authors are some of the best out there. Unlike most others I wasn't surprised that an author that had previously written humorous, women's fiction stories could turn her hand to some of the darkest crime fiction that I've read. Robert Bryndza anyone? Most authors aren't just one-trick ponies and can actually write in other genres. As you might know, I am also a fan of the women's fiction genre and so I would love to read one of Carol's books from said genre. Anyway, onto Little Girl Lost...
In it we meet Detective Robyn Carter who I just love. Yes she has the obligatory baggage that all fictional detectives must lug around with them, but there's enough originality in her story to set her apart from others in the genre and I very much enjoyed reading and learning more about her. We learn at the start that she's taken a break from work and has been helping her cousin Ross at his private detective agency. I really liked Ross and was glad of the role that he was able to play in the story because of his work at the agency. Having read the second book in this series already, I am glad to say he returns and plays an even bigger role in that story. In terms of Robyn's team that she works with they are all efficient and have their roles to play in the story. The camaraderie and scenes within the squad room are written believably and it reads like a (mostly) authentic police investigation would be carried out with the obvious artistic licenses being used for the sake of moving the story along.
The opening of this story isn't one that I will forget in a hurry and is extremely dark and emotional but really sets the scene for what's to come as the story unfolds. Carol Wyer doesn't hold back in her descriptions. What I particularly enjoyed about this story was how much of a mystery it was. It might sound like a stupid thing to say but it was one of those stories that really gets your brain working. You aren't simply plodding along reading the words on the screen but actually trying to solve the investigation before Robyn herself works it all out. Or, at least, that's what I was doing reading this book and it was immensely enjoyable. While Robyn tries to solve multiple murders, we the reader follow a woman named Abigail and the killer themselves and it's a twist-filled read as we follow these characters. I am loathe to reveal anything about the story really because of that strong mystery element, go into it blind and you'll enjoy it so much more. Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the title because what I thought it referred to is only a small section of the book but now having finished the book I'm seeing that title in a whole new light but I'm not sure if that's accidental or on purpose. After all when a publisher puts Girl in the title it's bound to sell more copies based on that alone.
I studied psychology at university so have long been fascinated by books which have a focus on that field. Little Girl Lost certainly does that in terms of the killer in the novel. It was such a heart rending and thought provoking book because of how real this character felt, and how, despite them killing multiple people, there was a part of me that understood the characters and got why they were doing what they were doing and you could almost empathise with them because of what they had been through in the past and actually, feel quite sorry for them because of how different their life might of been had certain people not come into it or did what they did. The story certainly leaves a lasting impression on the reader and this isn't simply a book you will finish and move on from, the characters will linger around for a while and I love books that can do that rather than them just being another throwaway read. Whilst certain twists and reveals were nicely done, I did work out who the killer was early on in the novel and was a little disappointed that I was right but I just don't think some of the red herrings were strong enough to make me believe it could have been anyone else. That said it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story one bit.
Carol Wyer joins the list of Bookouture crime authors who, in my opinion at least, are writing some of the best books in the genre at the minute and if a crime book is released by an author published by Bookouture, you can't go wrong with giving it a read. I've already read book two in this series (in one day) and moved straight on to the third. Hopefully that is a sign of how good they are.
In it we meet Detective Robyn Carter who I just love. Yes she has the obligatory baggage that all fictional detectives must lug around with them, but there's enough originality in her story to set her apart from others in the genre and I very much enjoyed reading and learning more about her. We learn at the start that she's taken a break from work and has been helping her cousin Ross at his private detective agency. I really liked Ross and was glad of the role that he was able to play in the story because of his work at the agency. Having read the second book in this series already, I am glad to say he returns and plays an even bigger role in that story. In terms of Robyn's team that she works with they are all efficient and have their roles to play in the story. The camaraderie and scenes within the squad room are written believably and it reads like a (mostly) authentic police investigation would be carried out with the obvious artistic licenses being used for the sake of moving the story along.
The opening of this story isn't one that I will forget in a hurry and is extremely dark and emotional but really sets the scene for what's to come as the story unfolds. Carol Wyer doesn't hold back in her descriptions. What I particularly enjoyed about this story was how much of a mystery it was. It might sound like a stupid thing to say but it was one of those stories that really gets your brain working. You aren't simply plodding along reading the words on the screen but actually trying to solve the investigation before Robyn herself works it all out. Or, at least, that's what I was doing reading this book and it was immensely enjoyable. While Robyn tries to solve multiple murders, we the reader follow a woman named Abigail and the killer themselves and it's a twist-filled read as we follow these characters. I am loathe to reveal anything about the story really because of that strong mystery element, go into it blind and you'll enjoy it so much more. Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the title because what I thought it referred to is only a small section of the book but now having finished the book I'm seeing that title in a whole new light but I'm not sure if that's accidental or on purpose. After all when a publisher puts Girl in the title it's bound to sell more copies based on that alone.
I studied psychology at university so have long been fascinated by books which have a focus on that field. Little Girl Lost certainly does that in terms of the killer in the novel. It was such a heart rending and thought provoking book because of how real this character felt, and how, despite them killing multiple people, there was a part of me that understood the characters and got why they were doing what they were doing and you could almost empathise with them because of what they had been through in the past and actually, feel quite sorry for them because of how different their life might of been had certain people not come into it or did what they did. The story certainly leaves a lasting impression on the reader and this isn't simply a book you will finish and move on from, the characters will linger around for a while and I love books that can do that rather than them just being another throwaway read. Whilst certain twists and reveals were nicely done, I did work out who the killer was early on in the novel and was a little disappointed that I was right but I just don't think some of the red herrings were strong enough to make me believe it could have been anyone else. That said it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story one bit.
Carol Wyer joins the list of Bookouture crime authors who, in my opinion at least, are writing some of the best books in the genre at the minute and if a crime book is released by an author published by Bookouture, you can't go wrong with giving it a read. I've already read book two in this series (in one day) and moved straight on to the third. Hopefully that is a sign of how good they are.
February 6, 2017
For all my reviews, check out Clues and Reviews
https://cluesandreviews.wordpress.com/
Detective Robyn Carter, returning to the police force after a series of personal tragedies, dives into several investigations; a husband has gone missing and a man turns up murdered. Once she begins her investigations, she sees a link between these men. As she digs deeper and deeper, her investigation leads her to housewife Abigail and her family. How is she connected to these victims and why is she receiving threatening messages; there are secrets and someone wants those secrets told. When Abigail’s daughter is abducted, the race is on to find the perpetrator in time…
Well, Bookoutue has done it again! Little Girl Lost, the upcoming detective thriller by Carol Wyer, is absolutely nail biting. This serial killer thriller is riveting, fast-paced and tense. From the first page, I was hooked; I could not put this book down.
Be warned, there are moments where this novel is downright confusing. The novel is told through multiple point of views; we hear from Detective Robyn Carter as she works through the investigation, the housewife, Abigail, as she works through her threatening caller and questions her family and then a view from a girl who was sexually abused as a girl and is now seeking revenge. I struggled the first half of the book reading all the narratives and struggling to see how they all fit together. Halfway through the book, once everything clicked, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Wyer blends these narratives effortlessly and with a slew of red herrings and some delicious twists, the plot unfolds.
I will not say anything more, keeping this review short and sweet, as to not spoil any of this delicious plot but, let me tell you, this novel would appeal to any crime fiction fan; I would start to read it on a day where you have no other commitments; you won’t want to put this one down! I gave it a 5/5 stars! This one is on sale January 19, 2017.
Thanks to Bookouture, Carol Wyer and Netgalley, I voluntarily received a digital copy; it was my pleasure to write an honest review.
https://cluesandreviews.wordpress.com/
Detective Robyn Carter, returning to the police force after a series of personal tragedies, dives into several investigations; a husband has gone missing and a man turns up murdered. Once she begins her investigations, she sees a link between these men. As she digs deeper and deeper, her investigation leads her to housewife Abigail and her family. How is she connected to these victims and why is she receiving threatening messages; there are secrets and someone wants those secrets told. When Abigail’s daughter is abducted, the race is on to find the perpetrator in time…
Well, Bookoutue has done it again! Little Girl Lost, the upcoming detective thriller by Carol Wyer, is absolutely nail biting. This serial killer thriller is riveting, fast-paced and tense. From the first page, I was hooked; I could not put this book down.
Be warned, there are moments where this novel is downright confusing. The novel is told through multiple point of views; we hear from Detective Robyn Carter as she works through the investigation, the housewife, Abigail, as she works through her threatening caller and questions her family and then a view from a girl who was sexually abused as a girl and is now seeking revenge. I struggled the first half of the book reading all the narratives and struggling to see how they all fit together. Halfway through the book, once everything clicked, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Wyer blends these narratives effortlessly and with a slew of red herrings and some delicious twists, the plot unfolds.
I will not say anything more, keeping this review short and sweet, as to not spoil any of this delicious plot but, let me tell you, this novel would appeal to any crime fiction fan; I would start to read it on a day where you have no other commitments; you won’t want to put this one down! I gave it a 5/5 stars! This one is on sale January 19, 2017.
Thanks to Bookouture, Carol Wyer and Netgalley, I voluntarily received a digital copy; it was my pleasure to write an honest review.
February 7, 2017
I was chosen to read this book in exchange for an honest review of the book, courtesy of Netgalley.
I gave it 2.5 stars.
A perfect family hiding disturbing secrets. A killer who wants the truth to be told.
A teacher goes missing under suspicious circumstances.
A millionaire is murdered at a local reservoir.
For Detective Robyn Carter, there’s no obvious link between the men. But as she starts to delve into the cases, her investigations lead her to Abigail, perfect wife and mother to beautiful little Izzy. What was Abigail’s connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number?
But as Robyn starts to inch closer to finding the killer, Izzy is abducted.
Unless Robyn gets to the twisted individual in time, a little girl will die …
Within the first minute of this book, it popped and I thought to myself 'if this beginning is anything to go by, this is going to be a fantastic read'.
Unfortunately for me it was not. The first 70% of the book bored me. I dragged my way through it, only persevering as I promised a review of the book. I found the characters to be simple, the storyline confusing and sometimes off track and I thought there was little substance to the writing.
The ending was predictable, the book poorly edited with a lot of grammatical errors throughout it and while the overall concept of the storyline was good, I felt there could have been a lot more depth and excitement throughout the book than what I got.
I gave it 2.5 stars.
A perfect family hiding disturbing secrets. A killer who wants the truth to be told.
A teacher goes missing under suspicious circumstances.
A millionaire is murdered at a local reservoir.
For Detective Robyn Carter, there’s no obvious link between the men. But as she starts to delve into the cases, her investigations lead her to Abigail, perfect wife and mother to beautiful little Izzy. What was Abigail’s connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number?
But as Robyn starts to inch closer to finding the killer, Izzy is abducted.
Unless Robyn gets to the twisted individual in time, a little girl will die …
Within the first minute of this book, it popped and I thought to myself 'if this beginning is anything to go by, this is going to be a fantastic read'.
Unfortunately for me it was not. The first 70% of the book bored me. I dragged my way through it, only persevering as I promised a review of the book. I found the characters to be simple, the storyline confusing and sometimes off track and I thought there was little substance to the writing.
The ending was predictable, the book poorly edited with a lot of grammatical errors throughout it and while the overall concept of the storyline was good, I felt there could have been a lot more depth and excitement throughout the book than what I got.
December 24, 2025
Setting: Staffordshire & Hampshire, England; modern day.
This is the first in a UK-based crime series featuring Detective Inspector Robyn Carter. Interestingly, when Robyn first appears in the story, she is working as a private investigator with her cousin, having taken a break from policing after the death of her partner and also suffering a miscarriage.
But she is soon back working with Staffordshire Police when the body of a former actor is found in suspicious circumstances - and then the body count starts to mount. Meanwhile, Abigail, married to executive jet pilot Jackson and with a young daughter Isobel, is receiving threatening messages from an unknown person - a person who knows Abigail's past which she has taken great pains to hide from her husband and friends....
This was an excellent start to a series so I am looking forward to reading more about Robyn and her team. I did think certain elements were a bit far-fetched or incredulous - Robyn's team trekking off to Hampshire to pursue investigations at the drop of a hat and Robyn's private investigator cousin being involved in police enquiries! - but overall it was a good read with great twists and turns and an unpredictable outcome - 9/10.
This is the first in a UK-based crime series featuring Detective Inspector Robyn Carter. Interestingly, when Robyn first appears in the story, she is working as a private investigator with her cousin, having taken a break from policing after the death of her partner and also suffering a miscarriage.
But she is soon back working with Staffordshire Police when the body of a former actor is found in suspicious circumstances - and then the body count starts to mount. Meanwhile, Abigail, married to executive jet pilot Jackson and with a young daughter Isobel, is receiving threatening messages from an unknown person - a person who knows Abigail's past which she has taken great pains to hide from her husband and friends....
This was an excellent start to a series so I am looking forward to reading more about Robyn and her team. I did think certain elements were a bit far-fetched or incredulous - Robyn's team trekking off to Hampshire to pursue investigations at the drop of a hat and Robyn's private investigator cousin being involved in police enquiries! - but overall it was a good read with great twists and turns and an unpredictable outcome - 9/10.
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