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D.I. Lottie Parker #9
Silent Voices
She lay so still, blue eyes shining, blonde hair fanned out, her mouth stuck forever open in a soundless scream…
When Rachel Mullen is found dead by her only sister Beth, her body twisted in an arc of pain, Detective Lottie Parker knows that she has been murdered the minute she enters the bedroom. Lottie’s heart aches for Beth, all alone in the world, whose last memory of her sister will forever be the brutal way she was taken. And when Lottie finds a shard of glass placed in the young girl’s throat, she fears that Rachel may be just the first victim.
The night before, Rachel had attended a party at a luxurious new restaurant in Ragmullin, and Lottie wastes no time in tracking down the other guests. But there are several things troubling her: Rachel’s handbag and keys are nowhere to be found, and no one at the party seems to have seen her leave.
Just as Lottie thinks she’s onto something, her worst fears are confirmed: another woman is found murdered… with glass in her throat. The brilliant, young doctor wasn’t a guest at the party and Lottie is forced to question everything.
Desperate to find proof of what really happened that night, Lottie gets close to the hostess of the party, whose two daughters were friends with Rachel. But Lottie’s hunt for the truth must be getting under the killer’s skin, because then her beloved fiancé, Boyd, goes missing.
Can Lottie get in the mind of this twisted killer before it’s too late? Or will the man she loves be silenced forever?
When Rachel Mullen is found dead by her only sister Beth, her body twisted in an arc of pain, Detective Lottie Parker knows that she has been murdered the minute she enters the bedroom. Lottie’s heart aches for Beth, all alone in the world, whose last memory of her sister will forever be the brutal way she was taken. And when Lottie finds a shard of glass placed in the young girl’s throat, she fears that Rachel may be just the first victim.
The night before, Rachel had attended a party at a luxurious new restaurant in Ragmullin, and Lottie wastes no time in tracking down the other guests. But there are several things troubling her: Rachel’s handbag and keys are nowhere to be found, and no one at the party seems to have seen her leave.
Just as Lottie thinks she’s onto something, her worst fears are confirmed: another woman is found murdered… with glass in her throat. The brilliant, young doctor wasn’t a guest at the party and Lottie is forced to question everything.
Desperate to find proof of what really happened that night, Lottie gets close to the hostess of the party, whose two daughters were friends with Rachel. But Lottie’s hunt for the truth must be getting under the killer’s skin, because then her beloved fiancé, Boyd, goes missing.
Can Lottie get in the mind of this twisted killer before it’s too late? Or will the man she loves be silenced forever?
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2021
2179 people are currently reading
1389 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Gibney
31 books1,347 followersMy name is Patricia Gibney and I’m from Mullingar, County Westmeath. Right in the heart of Ireland. Surrounded by lakes, Mullingar is damp and wet most of the year but when the sun shines it is a little piece of heaven on earth. I’ve lived here all my life. I’m widowed, seven years in May, but was married to Aidan since 1982. I’ve three children who keep me sane, or maybe keep the madness at bay, just a little bit! I say that because I am an artist and a writer. I started writing, for therapy, when Aidan died.
I secured an agent in January 2016 and she is fighting my corner in an effort to get my debut novel published.
Three years ago, I decided to get serious about it. I joined The Irish Writers Centre. Started doing courses. I love reading crime thrillers so it was obvious to me to start writing in the crime genre. And let me tell you, it is not easy. A crime novel needs to be tightly plotted and plotting is the bane of my life. I prefer to write straight off the top of my head. Oh, Oh. Feels good when writing but then comes the editing. I lost 20,000 words in the process. But at least I am proud to say I got it done.
I am now writing the second novel in the series, featuring Lottie Parker and a host of credible characters. They are all part of my extended family, you know the kind – people you love one minute and want to kill the next!
So join me on this journey and lets see where it leads us.
I secured an agent in January 2016 and she is fighting my corner in an effort to get my debut novel published.
Three years ago, I decided to get serious about it. I joined The Irish Writers Centre. Started doing courses. I love reading crime thrillers so it was obvious to me to start writing in the crime genre. And let me tell you, it is not easy. A crime novel needs to be tightly plotted and plotting is the bane of my life. I prefer to write straight off the top of my head. Oh, Oh. Feels good when writing but then comes the editing. I lost 20,000 words in the process. But at least I am proud to say I got it done.
I am now writing the second novel in the series, featuring Lottie Parker and a host of credible characters. They are all part of my extended family, you know the kind – people you love one minute and want to kill the next!
So join me on this journey and lets see where it leads us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
December 25, 2020
A new book in the Lottie Parker series is as much about catching up with Lottie, Boyd and the gang as it is about the crime solving. This is probably not a good standalone, but a series better read in order.
Young women are being poisoned and Lottie is clueless as to why. And there are multiple connections, so it’s not clear cut which ones count. We are introduced to quite a few characters that could be the culprits.
Lottie is an intelligent investigator who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. “Selective amnesia is common among murder suspects...do you know that?”
The story moves along at a brisk clip. In addition to the murders, Lottie is just days away from her wedding and there are hiccups with that planning as well. I really enjoy this series and this book is a worthy addition. I highly recommend it for those that enjoy police procedurals with strong characters.
I know it’s the current thing to use “they” even for a singular individual, but I still found it mildly disconcerting.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
Young women are being poisoned and Lottie is clueless as to why. And there are multiple connections, so it’s not clear cut which ones count. We are introduced to quite a few characters that could be the culprits.
Lottie is an intelligent investigator who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. “Selective amnesia is common among murder suspects...do you know that?”
The story moves along at a brisk clip. In addition to the murders, Lottie is just days away from her wedding and there are hiccups with that planning as well. I really enjoy this series and this book is a worthy addition. I highly recommend it for those that enjoy police procedurals with strong characters.
I know it’s the current thing to use “they” even for a singular individual, but I still found it mildly disconcerting.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
January 9, 2021
A new DI Lottie Parker novel is always a treat and this is one of the best yet. Lottie has less than a week to go before her wedding to Boyd when she's thrust into a complex new case. A young woman returning home to Ragmullin from a night out in Dublin found her twin sister dead in her own bed after attending a business meeting followed by a cocktail party at a new restaurant. When the body of a second woman, a psychologist, is found, both of them killed in the same way, but seemingly unconnected to each other, Lottie realises she's going to have her work cut out to find both the motive and the killer.
It's good to be back with Lottie and her team. Lottie is her usual irascible self, refusing to be pressured and making up her own rules, but she seems stronger in this episode with her relationship solid and her family all doing well. As always she is a smart detective whose brain is always on overdrive, trying to find connections that will link the victims and the suspects. There is a large cast of characters and it takes a long time before any links between them become apparent. Nevertheless, the plot moves at a fast pace and there is never a dull moment. As the date of Lottie's and Boyd's wedding draws closer, it's a race to see if they will both make it in time.
With thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to read
It's good to be back with Lottie and her team. Lottie is her usual irascible self, refusing to be pressured and making up her own rules, but she seems stronger in this episode with her relationship solid and her family all doing well. As always she is a smart detective whose brain is always on overdrive, trying to find connections that will link the victims and the suspects. There is a large cast of characters and it takes a long time before any links between them become apparent. Nevertheless, the plot moves at a fast pace and there is never a dull moment. As the date of Lottie's and Boyd's wedding draws closer, it's a race to see if they will both make it in time.
With thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to read
January 2, 2021
Well that was a twisty rat’s nest and then some! The book opens with drama at Lottie and Boyd’s wedding and then we backtrack. A young woman, Rachel Mullen, attends a launch party for a posh new restaurant one night. The next day she is found dead in her home, apparently of strychnine poisoning (a particularly nasty way to go). Lottie’s team launches an investigation but before they get their teeth into it another body is found, ostensibly killed in the same way. This time it’s a psychologist, Ellen.
The investigation keeps turning up the same people - Annie Fleming (owner of the new restaurant), Matthew Fleming (her soon to be ex-husband and businessman), Jessica and Tara Fleming (their two daughters. And a 14 year old girl from a poor and struggling family, Mandy Daly, seems to crop up everywhere too. The psychologist, Ellen, has counselled just about everyone and there are various boyfriends and former boyfriends in the mix as well. DI Lottie Parker and DS Boyd, due to get married in a few days time, are run ragged investigating more and more deaths and getting nowhere. Except - the Fleming family is very, very fishy. There are some dark secrets here and Lottie will have them out in the open if it’s the last thing she does. And it could very well be!
It was looking like a 5 star book for sure until the end. I was wondering how this mess could be brought together into a coherent whole and I did find it a little lacking. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the book, it was great fun to read and I do enjoy a nice complex plot but I thought the final denouement was a little bit of a stretch. Just a tiny bit. Nevertheless a very solid 4 stars from me and I still think it’s one of the best in the series. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Patricia Gibney for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
The investigation keeps turning up the same people - Annie Fleming (owner of the new restaurant), Matthew Fleming (her soon to be ex-husband and businessman), Jessica and Tara Fleming (their two daughters. And a 14 year old girl from a poor and struggling family, Mandy Daly, seems to crop up everywhere too. The psychologist, Ellen, has counselled just about everyone and there are various boyfriends and former boyfriends in the mix as well. DI Lottie Parker and DS Boyd, due to get married in a few days time, are run ragged investigating more and more deaths and getting nowhere. Except - the Fleming family is very, very fishy. There are some dark secrets here and Lottie will have them out in the open if it’s the last thing she does. And it could very well be!
It was looking like a 5 star book for sure until the end. I was wondering how this mess could be brought together into a coherent whole and I did find it a little lacking. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the book, it was great fun to read and I do enjoy a nice complex plot but I thought the final denouement was a little bit of a stretch. Just a tiny bit. Nevertheless a very solid 4 stars from me and I still think it’s one of the best in the series. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Patricia Gibney for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
March 3, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
My favourite Irish writer is back with the 9th installment in her DI Lottie Parker series. As Lottie and Boyd head into their wedding day, their latest case just might halt their future together.
As always, this was a page-turner and Patricia Gibney never makes us wait too long before diving right into the action. Of course, the first number of chapters introduces a whole cast of characters but don't worry they all overlap eventually. This book can be read as a standalone but it just might make you want to read the whole series.
Goodreads review published 02/03/21
Publication Date 05/02/21
My favourite Irish writer is back with the 9th installment in her DI Lottie Parker series. As Lottie and Boyd head into their wedding day, their latest case just might halt their future together.
As always, this was a page-turner and Patricia Gibney never makes us wait too long before diving right into the action. Of course, the first number of chapters introduces a whole cast of characters but don't worry they all overlap eventually. This book can be read as a standalone but it just might make you want to read the whole series.
Goodreads review published 02/03/21
Publication Date 05/02/21
January 29, 2021
A suspenseful thriller with a well-constructed and well-thought-out plot.
By far the strongest part of this book is the very interesting and complicated plot. The author has created many suspects and they are all equally likely to be the perpetrators. Everyone is acting suspiciously and has something to hide. Every now and then we learn about new connections between characters and new secrets. I loved it! Until the end, I had no idea who the murderer really is. Patricia Gibney can write convincing suspects and an intricate storyline that keeps you on the edge of your sit from start to finish.
What I did not expect was Lottie, a non-obvious main character with a difficult character. She is a strong and intelligent woman, certainly not a boring or conventional heroine. I hadn't read the previous books in this series, and perhaps that's why I found it difficult at times to understand her and her relationship with Boyd. For most of the book, Lottie appears to be irritated. I'm not sure exactly what the dynamics of her relationship with Boyd are. I haven't read the previous books, so I don't know how their relationship developed, but for a couple who are about to get married, they don't talk much to each other, either at work or outside. I didn't feel much chemistry between them. It's a pity because both Lottie and Boyd are fascinating and complex characters. While they're solving this case together, I'd like to see them really do it together as a couple.
Fortunately, it wasn't something that bothered me a lot, or distracted me from the brilliant plot, unexpected twists, and the complicated personalities of all the characters and suspects. If anything, it encourages me to read the earlier books in this series, especially as there seems to be a lot going on in Lottie and Boyd's lives. I don't think this is my last book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
By far the strongest part of this book is the very interesting and complicated plot. The author has created many suspects and they are all equally likely to be the perpetrators. Everyone is acting suspiciously and has something to hide. Every now and then we learn about new connections between characters and new secrets. I loved it! Until the end, I had no idea who the murderer really is. Patricia Gibney can write convincing suspects and an intricate storyline that keeps you on the edge of your sit from start to finish.
What I did not expect was Lottie, a non-obvious main character with a difficult character. She is a strong and intelligent woman, certainly not a boring or conventional heroine. I hadn't read the previous books in this series, and perhaps that's why I found it difficult at times to understand her and her relationship with Boyd. For most of the book, Lottie appears to be irritated. I'm not sure exactly what the dynamics of her relationship with Boyd are. I haven't read the previous books, so I don't know how their relationship developed, but for a couple who are about to get married, they don't talk much to each other, either at work or outside. I didn't feel much chemistry between them. It's a pity because both Lottie and Boyd are fascinating and complex characters. While they're solving this case together, I'd like to see them really do it together as a couple.
Fortunately, it wasn't something that bothered me a lot, or distracted me from the brilliant plot, unexpected twists, and the complicated personalities of all the characters and suspects. If anything, it encourages me to read the earlier books in this series, especially as there seems to be a lot going on in Lottie and Boyd's lives. I don't think this is my last book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2020
Silent voices by Patricia Gibney is the ninth book in the Lottie Parker series and it’s another thrilling episode in the series.
It’s days away from Lottie and Boyd tying the knot. When Lottie is called to investigate the murder of Rachel Mullen who was found murdered by her twin sister Beth. Rachel was just starting her own cosmetics business. She was found murdered with her face in so much pain. She has been poisoned. And then a few days later another body has been found with the same description. Why have these people been murdered and what links them both together?
As usual Lottie’s investigations don’t always go to plan and her wedding plans too and her boss breathing down her neck. She has her hands full and trying to figure it out before her wedding day. But that doesn’t deter her to get things done. This another exciting episode in the series and I think is her best one yet. This is fast paced story and a lot going on, which kept me reading into the night but I loved it, especially the explosive ending, Five stars from me.
It’s days away from Lottie and Boyd tying the knot. When Lottie is called to investigate the murder of Rachel Mullen who was found murdered by her twin sister Beth. Rachel was just starting her own cosmetics business. She was found murdered with her face in so much pain. She has been poisoned. And then a few days later another body has been found with the same description. Why have these people been murdered and what links them both together?
As usual Lottie’s investigations don’t always go to plan and her wedding plans too and her boss breathing down her neck. She has her hands full and trying to figure it out before her wedding day. But that doesn’t deter her to get things done. This another exciting episode in the series and I think is her best one yet. This is fast paced story and a lot going on, which kept me reading into the night but I loved it, especially the explosive ending, Five stars from me.
January 22, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
It seemed like yesterday when we first met DI Lottie Parker and we're already at book 9. Nine! A series running this long is in danger of becoming quite repetitive, but one thing to point in this one is that the MC has evolved quite a lot since her first appearance, and that's something to be thankful for. Halfway through the series I got pretty disenchanted with the course Lottie's character was taking. She was obnoxious, controlling of her kids, alienating everyone around her both in her personal and professional life, but with time she has managed to soften her edges and, although she can still be quite abrasive (especially with some of her colleagues), she's much more likable now. As Roxette sang, it must have been love! Wedding bells are ringing for Lottie and Boyd but the poisoning of a young girl just days before they tie the knot threatens to derail their wedding plans.
As usual in this series what follows is a tremendously entertaining police procedural with dozens of characters, red herrings and investigation lines that keep the plot moving at quite a brisk pace. While reading these books I always keep saying to myself "it's impossible for her to tie everything together, there are way too many things", but when THE END comes every loose tie finds itself wrapped with a nice bow. In this case, although everything had an explanation, I found the resolution a bit of a stretch, hence this one not being 5 stars.
Maybe it's me, who after nine installments feel these characters as part of the family, maybe it's the books themselves, but I think this series just keep getting better and better, being a MUST for all those police procedural fans out there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
It seemed like yesterday when we first met DI Lottie Parker and we're already at book 9. Nine! A series running this long is in danger of becoming quite repetitive, but one thing to point in this one is that the MC has evolved quite a lot since her first appearance, and that's something to be thankful for. Halfway through the series I got pretty disenchanted with the course Lottie's character was taking. She was obnoxious, controlling of her kids, alienating everyone around her both in her personal and professional life, but with time she has managed to soften her edges and, although she can still be quite abrasive (especially with some of her colleagues), she's much more likable now. As Roxette sang, it must have been love! Wedding bells are ringing for Lottie and Boyd but the poisoning of a young girl just days before they tie the knot threatens to derail their wedding plans.
As usual in this series what follows is a tremendously entertaining police procedural with dozens of characters, red herrings and investigation lines that keep the plot moving at quite a brisk pace. While reading these books I always keep saying to myself "it's impossible for her to tie everything together, there are way too many things", but when THE END comes every loose tie finds itself wrapped with a nice bow. In this case, although everything had an explanation, I found the resolution a bit of a stretch, hence this one not being 5 stars.
Maybe it's me, who after nine installments feel these characters as part of the family, maybe it's the books themselves, but I think this series just keep getting better and better, being a MUST for all those police procedural fans out there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2022
COmo siempre, y es increíble, no decae. Patricia Gibney sigue contando historias y sigue atrapando. Siempre en paralelo, cuenta el caso de investigación y la vida personal de Lottie Parker. El libro se lee sin querer, vas pasando hojas y te va atrapando.
El libro narra la investigación por envenenamiento de varias mujeres que parecen estar relacionadas de algún modo. Y ahí es donde Lottie Parker y su equipo empieza a investigar.
En paralelo, se narra la preparación de la boda de Boyd y Lottie.
Sinceramente, estoy deseando que llegue la décima parte. El libro concluye, queda cerrado y bien cerrado, no como otras partes en los que la parte personal quedaba abierta.
Recomendable.
El libro narra la investigación por envenenamiento de varias mujeres que parecen estar relacionadas de algún modo. Y ahí es donde Lottie Parker y su equipo empieza a investigar.
En paralelo, se narra la preparación de la boda de Boyd y Lottie.
Sinceramente, estoy deseando que llegue la décima parte. El libro concluye, queda cerrado y bien cerrado, no como otras partes en los que la parte personal quedaba abierta.
Recomendable.
January 9, 2021
Detective Lottie Parker and her Detective Sergeant, Boyd, are days away from getting married. Things are not going to run smoothly for Lottie though. For one thing there are a series of three murders just days apart. And not just murders but horrible ones done with poison and it turns out the victims all knew each other.
Then the hotel where the wedding is taking place gets flooded and Lottie is forced to use the home of one of the murder suspects. The woman owns a new restaurant in town and has two grown daughters who are connected to the victims. The ex-husband is also weirdly attached to the victims. I found it odd that a man described as visually shocking by his thinness could attract so many young women. But the family seems to have a strange fascination for Lottie. She even goes to their house for dinner. This odd attraction was bothersome to me. It's just so out of character for Lottie but maybe it's the upcoming nuptials.
Boyd runs into a poor 15 year old girl, Maddy, who is also connected to the murder victims. He develops a very protective feeling for her. It turns out Maddy's involvement is the center of the investigation.
This 9th entry keeps you turning the pages and is a wonderful series. You can read it as a stand alone but as in all series, you would miss a lot of the nuances. It's a series that's worth the time although it's grim. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
Then the hotel where the wedding is taking place gets flooded and Lottie is forced to use the home of one of the murder suspects. The woman owns a new restaurant in town and has two grown daughters who are connected to the victims. The ex-husband is also weirdly attached to the victims. I found it odd that a man described as visually shocking by his thinness could attract so many young women. But the family seems to have a strange fascination for Lottie. She even goes to their house for dinner. This odd attraction was bothersome to me. It's just so out of character for Lottie but maybe it's the upcoming nuptials.
Boyd runs into a poor 15 year old girl, Maddy, who is also connected to the murder victims. He develops a very protective feeling for her. It turns out Maddy's involvement is the center of the investigation.
This 9th entry keeps you turning the pages and is a wonderful series. You can read it as a stand alone but as in all series, you would miss a lot of the nuances. It's a series that's worth the time although it's grim. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
December 21, 2020
Finally, Detective Lottie Parker seems to be getting her life back together - in a few days, she'll marry police colleague Mark Boyd. Her kids like him. He likes them. He's recovered well from a recent bout with leukemia. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, if you've been reading this series, you already know something will. And it does - starting with the grotesque murder of a young woman whose body is found by her twin sister. That's followed in short order by another murder with the same M.O., making Parker's boss unhappy at the investigative team's lack of progress (and because someone in the department snitched about the corners she's been known to cut, Parker is already on her boss's bad side). Meanwhile, Boyd befriends a teenage girl whose life is, shall we say, less than pleasant - so he goes out of his way to help.
Clues lead to a restaurant-opening bash the night before the first victim was found, but at first there seems to be no connection between the party and the second murder. Then a third body turns up - you guessed it, same M.O. - leading to more digging that not only unearths links that go back to years-earlier events, but threatens not only Parker and Boyd's nuptials, but their very lives as they finally begin to connect the dots.
Overall, this is a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages right to the end. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
Well, if you've been reading this series, you already know something will. And it does - starting with the grotesque murder of a young woman whose body is found by her twin sister. That's followed in short order by another murder with the same M.O., making Parker's boss unhappy at the investigative team's lack of progress (and because someone in the department snitched about the corners she's been known to cut, Parker is already on her boss's bad side). Meanwhile, Boyd befriends a teenage girl whose life is, shall we say, less than pleasant - so he goes out of his way to help.
Clues lead to a restaurant-opening bash the night before the first victim was found, but at first there seems to be no connection between the party and the second murder. Then a third body turns up - you guessed it, same M.O. - leading to more digging that not only unearths links that go back to years-earlier events, but threatens not only Parker and Boyd's nuptials, but their very lives as they finally begin to connect the dots.
Overall, this is a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages right to the end. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
December 7, 2020
Here we are at book 9 and I still look forward to these books.
Detective Lottie Parker is finally moving on in her personal life, but before everything comes together there's a new murder to solve. And then another. Young women are being killed in an excruciating manner. Are they connected? And what connects them? I enjoy Lottie and I'm glad that Boyd is back by her side. Lottie is starting to grow more for which I'm pleased about. I liked the mystery even though it wasn't the best out of the series. I look forward to more investigations.
Detective Lottie Parker is finally moving on in her personal life, but before everything comes together there's a new murder to solve. And then another. Young women are being killed in an excruciating manner. Are they connected? And what connects them? I enjoy Lottie and I'm glad that Boyd is back by her side. Lottie is starting to grow more for which I'm pleased about. I liked the mystery even though it wasn't the best out of the series. I look forward to more investigations.
February 4, 2021
Detective Lottie Parker has another case on her hands. She does feel quite bad for the victim, Rachel Mullen, and wants the killer found as soon as possible. What is more is that Lottie is days away from marrying Boyd, a fellow officer. Their relationship has definitely had its ups and downs, not the least of which is the fact that Boyd has had to deal with a very serious illness. Will Lottie and her team be able to solve this most recent murder and actually marry on the day they planned?
The circumstances surrounding Rachel's death is she was found the morning after a party by her twin sister. There is a very particular piece of evidence found on Rachel's body, and Lottie's experience tells her that this evidence is the key to the killer's identity. Then there is another victim, again with the same evidence. Lottie has no doubt the cases are connected and does whatever she can to get to the bottom of things.
While much needed attention is given to the case, Boyd finds himself distracted with a young girl named Maddy. Maddy lives in deplorable conditions with her sister, niece and nephew. What is it about Maddy that draws Boyd's attention so much? As things begin to happen, and now involving Maddy, both Lottie and Boyd begin to seriously worry about her safety.
This fast-paced story was tragic on several levels. While breathing a sigh of relief for Boyd's recovery, I was filled with angst wondering if he and Lottie would have their wedding day. Then I really felt for Maddy. Her situation was dire, but this girl had a heart of gold. I especially loved relationship with her nephew, Trey. Then there is Lottie's relationship with Boyd and her three children. She is a remarkable character and I have enjoyed every single book in this series. I don't know what else is in store for Lottie, and I can't wait for the next book so that I can find out.
Many thanks for Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The circumstances surrounding Rachel's death is she was found the morning after a party by her twin sister. There is a very particular piece of evidence found on Rachel's body, and Lottie's experience tells her that this evidence is the key to the killer's identity. Then there is another victim, again with the same evidence. Lottie has no doubt the cases are connected and does whatever she can to get to the bottom of things.
While much needed attention is given to the case, Boyd finds himself distracted with a young girl named Maddy. Maddy lives in deplorable conditions with her sister, niece and nephew. What is it about Maddy that draws Boyd's attention so much? As things begin to happen, and now involving Maddy, both Lottie and Boyd begin to seriously worry about her safety.
This fast-paced story was tragic on several levels. While breathing a sigh of relief for Boyd's recovery, I was filled with angst wondering if he and Lottie would have their wedding day. Then I really felt for Maddy. Her situation was dire, but this girl had a heart of gold. I especially loved relationship with her nephew, Trey. Then there is Lottie's relationship with Boyd and her three children. She is a remarkable character and I have enjoyed every single book in this series. I don't know what else is in store for Lottie, and I can't wait for the next book so that I can find out.
Many thanks for Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
January 31, 2021
The story starts with what should be one of Lottie's happiest days of her life and then we are taken back a week and to events that lead up to present day.
Yet again the author ensured she had my full attention right from the go until the very last word. What a case! The death of a young woman of which for Lottie and her team, trying to work out why someone would want to kill her is no easy feat. Nothing is straight forward with this case and I mean nothing!
A stand out character for me was young Maddy. I don't want to say to much but like Boyd, there was something abut her, a vulnerability that had her in the back of my mind and wanting to help her. Her home life really pulled on my emotions and she was someone I was silently routing for even though I had no clue as to what role if any, she played in what was going on.
Silent Voices was an edge of your seat read that had me gripping on for dear life. I love Lottie and Boyd and they make a great team in and out of work. I would love to see a bit more of Maddy popping up in future books as she made such an impression on me. A story steeped full of secrets and lies that makes for an unputdownable read. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
Yet again the author ensured she had my full attention right from the go until the very last word. What a case! The death of a young woman of which for Lottie and her team, trying to work out why someone would want to kill her is no easy feat. Nothing is straight forward with this case and I mean nothing!
A stand out character for me was young Maddy. I don't want to say to much but like Boyd, there was something abut her, a vulnerability that had her in the back of my mind and wanting to help her. Her home life really pulled on my emotions and she was someone I was silently routing for even though I had no clue as to what role if any, she played in what was going on.
Silent Voices was an edge of your seat read that had me gripping on for dear life. I love Lottie and Boyd and they make a great team in and out of work. I would love to see a bit more of Maddy popping up in future books as she made such an impression on me. A story steeped full of secrets and lies that makes for an unputdownable read. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
December 31, 2020
The newest addition to the Lottie Parker series and it’s up there with the best in the series.
Young women are being poisoned in the town of Ragmullin and Lottie is on the case. There are various leads but none of them seem to be connected. Can Lottie figure out a motive that will ultimately lead her to the killer and stop the murders?
We also find here more or less on the eve of her wedding. Her plans are somewhat scuppered and she finds it hard to concentrate on it as the murders mount as well as the suspects and she tries to unravel the intricate web of clues.
As said,this is a great addition to the series. There’s a huge cast of characters and suspects but they are all very well written and not at all hard to keep track of. The book really zips along despite being around 500 pages long. It didn’t feel like any filler at all as this complicated story is told and fleshed out. There’s some lovely descriptive passages that seem to have found their way into Gibneys writing and they really help to add a sense of atmosphere.
This could possibly work as a stand alone but is probably better read as part of a series. Lottie Parker is a fantastic character, smart and not afraid to speak her mind or break the rules, she really does carry all the books on her shoulders.
This series is evolving nicely and if anything getting stronger. This is one of my favourites in the series and I’d highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.
Young women are being poisoned in the town of Ragmullin and Lottie is on the case. There are various leads but none of them seem to be connected. Can Lottie figure out a motive that will ultimately lead her to the killer and stop the murders?
We also find here more or less on the eve of her wedding. Her plans are somewhat scuppered and she finds it hard to concentrate on it as the murders mount as well as the suspects and she tries to unravel the intricate web of clues.
As said,this is a great addition to the series. There’s a huge cast of characters and suspects but they are all very well written and not at all hard to keep track of. The book really zips along despite being around 500 pages long. It didn’t feel like any filler at all as this complicated story is told and fleshed out. There’s some lovely descriptive passages that seem to have found their way into Gibneys writing and they really help to add a sense of atmosphere.
This could possibly work as a stand alone but is probably better read as part of a series. Lottie Parker is a fantastic character, smart and not afraid to speak her mind or break the rules, she really does carry all the books on her shoulders.
This series is evolving nicely and if anything getting stronger. This is one of my favourites in the series and I’d highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.
February 5, 2021
A new book in this fascinating series is like waking up on your birthday and looking forward to opening your gifts!
It’s book number 9 and I would not mind reading a hundred more of them with this great DI and her team.
She does not always follow the rules and she knows she should hold back, but she so wants to find the culprits that she does not want to spend too much time waiting. Every second counts and she is determined to use them all for the good cause.
The story starts on a happy note. An event fans have been looking forward to, but everything is soon turned upside down. Lottie has other fish to fry first.
That was one hell of an opening, but that’s not all. The author takes us a few years back and the past is the base for the present and the future. That’s not a problem of course in normal situations, but as you can imagine, this is not one of those.
Is the killer a man or a woman? That was the easiest part for me to determine. If you asked me for a name, well that’s where I missed the boat. 😊
A very complicated story, but crystal clear when everything was unravelled. 5 stars.
Thank you, Patricia Gibney and Bookouture
It’s book number 9 and I would not mind reading a hundred more of them with this great DI and her team.
She does not always follow the rules and she knows she should hold back, but she so wants to find the culprits that she does not want to spend too much time waiting. Every second counts and she is determined to use them all for the good cause.
The story starts on a happy note. An event fans have been looking forward to, but everything is soon turned upside down. Lottie has other fish to fry first.
That was one hell of an opening, but that’s not all. The author takes us a few years back and the past is the base for the present and the future. That’s not a problem of course in normal situations, but as you can imagine, this is not one of those.
Is the killer a man or a woman? That was the easiest part for me to determine. If you asked me for a name, well that’s where I missed the boat. 😊
A very complicated story, but crystal clear when everything was unravelled. 5 stars.
Thank you, Patricia Gibney and Bookouture
December 22, 2020
Silent Voices by Patricia Gibney is another suspenseful thriller with Detective Lottie Parker. Silent Voices started with two mysteries! The opening chapter of the book is set nine years earlier when a young boy is pushed into an abandoned quarry as he is walking home alone at night. Then we fast forward to the current day.
This is the anticipated ninth in the series and it is Lottie's wedding day with Detective Mark Boyd. But oh dear, it is time for the ceremony and the groom is missing. Wait, let's go back to the previous Sunday.
Three women are murdered by poisoning in Ragmullin within days of each other. The women are alone when they die, and no one has been seen entering their homes. What could be the link between these women that would be the clue to the reason for their deaths?
There are a lot of characters in this story. Lottie is going in circles trying to find any information which will give her a reason for the murders and lead her to a suspect. The story of Maddy is also a sad one and I didn't understand how she could be linked to the murdered women until the ending. Even if you think you know who the killer is, the story will keep the reader guessing and rereading some scenes to find the clues!
Publication Date: February 5, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is the anticipated ninth in the series and it is Lottie's wedding day with Detective Mark Boyd. But oh dear, it is time for the ceremony and the groom is missing. Wait, let's go back to the previous Sunday.
Three women are murdered by poisoning in Ragmullin within days of each other. The women are alone when they die, and no one has been seen entering their homes. What could be the link between these women that would be the clue to the reason for their deaths?
There are a lot of characters in this story. Lottie is going in circles trying to find any information which will give her a reason for the murders and lead her to a suspect. The story of Maddy is also a sad one and I didn't understand how she could be linked to the murdered women until the ending. Even if you think you know who the killer is, the story will keep the reader guessing and rereading some scenes to find the clues!
Publication Date: February 5, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 13, 2021
I just LOVE this series. I’m fiercely attached to the characters, to the dramatic plots and the small town setting.
I raced through the book, heart pounding with tension, and loved every startling twist and turn. New and old characters combine together to weave a gripping, thrilling action packed story.
I loved that I had to suspend reality, and not worry about practicalities. Instead I immersed myself into Lottie’s chaotic world and found it a perfect escape from lockdown!
I raced through the book, heart pounding with tension, and loved every startling twist and turn. New and old characters combine together to weave a gripping, thrilling action packed story.
I loved that I had to suspend reality, and not worry about practicalities. Instead I immersed myself into Lottie’s chaotic world and found it a perfect escape from lockdown!
April 6, 2021
She knows it's a crime scene the minute she walks into the bedroom. A young woman is lying there wtih a shard of glass in her throat. Detective Lottie Parker soon realizes she has a serial killer on her hands when another woman is found murdered ... with a shard of glass in her throat.
Lottie knew the first victim had been at a party the night before and that's where she started her investigation. However, the second victim was a doctor and wasn't a guest at that party. And there is yet a third victim who has been poisoned, but again left with a shard of glass. What connects these three cases? And will she find the killer before there's another murder?
Keeping to her investigation, she knows the closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she faces. And someone has had eyes on her. But instead of going after Lottie, the killer decides to abduct her fiancee, Boyd.
This is well written with a fast-paced complex plot. There are a few surprises, twists and turns that guarantee to keep the reader riveted to the pages. The characters are solidly drawn and relate well with each other. Although 9th in this series, it works well as a stand alone. However, I do recommend this series in order. The conclusion was well conducted and quite unexpected.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Lottie knew the first victim had been at a party the night before and that's where she started her investigation. However, the second victim was a doctor and wasn't a guest at that party. And there is yet a third victim who has been poisoned, but again left with a shard of glass. What connects these three cases? And will she find the killer before there's another murder?
Keeping to her investigation, she knows the closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she faces. And someone has had eyes on her. But instead of going after Lottie, the killer decides to abduct her fiancee, Boyd.
This is well written with a fast-paced complex plot. There are a few surprises, twists and turns that guarantee to keep the reader riveted to the pages. The characters are solidly drawn and relate well with each other. Although 9th in this series, it works well as a stand alone. However, I do recommend this series in order. The conclusion was well conducted and quite unexpected.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 5, 2022
Entretenida y de fácil lectura,
Desde que Principal Noir editó la primera de esta serie, he sido fan de la misma. No es una serie que haya recibido mucha publicidad, aunque es bastante mejor que otras que sí la tienen. Además, aunque como todas tiene títulos mejores y peores, en general ha ido evolucionando a mejor, cosa que tampoco ocurre con otras más conocidas y aclamadas.
¿Qué me ha gustado del libro?
En esta entrega, Patricia Gibney, nos presenta una trama muy bien armada.
Me ha gustado la estructura que ha empleado. Tras presentar un suceso ocurrido nueve años atrás, el resto de la acción transcurrirá en el presente a lo largo de una semana. Comienza de manera impactante un sábado 25 de noviembre, a partir de ahí, retrocede al domingo 19 de ese mes, para ir avanzando día a día, hasta llegar nuevamente al sábado 25. No es una estructura novedosa, en thriller pocas veces lo es, pero el principio es potente y la autora se maneja bien.
Como es habitual en los libros de esta serie, se entremezclan varias tramas que acabarán confluyendo. Una trama principal y dos subtramas a cuál más interesante. A medida que avanza la novela nos dejará pistas para conectarlas. El ritmo es ágil, Gibney sabe manejar la intriga y hacernos sospechar de unos y de otros alternativamente.
La trama transcurre en Ragmullin, un pueblo ficticio de Irlanda, en el que ambienta todas sus novelas. Sin ser la ambientación lo principal, sí que consigue transmitir sensaciones y situarnos en contexto. La omnipresente lluvia, el río, el lago, las canteras. También las diferencias sociales y el cómo es la vida en un pueblo ni grande ni pequeño de la Irlanda rural.
La inspectora Lottie Parker, la protagonista, está más centrada que nunca. Junto con ella Boyd y Kirby igualmente bien. En esta entrega, la familia de Parker tiene poco protagonismo. La serie ha evolucionado a mejor también en ese aspecto.
El final es trepidante y con mucha acción. Como siempre deja todo cerrado.
¿Qué me ha gustado menos?
Los dos peros que le pongo, son los mismos que podría haberle puesto a otras entregas de la serie.
El primero es el móvil de los asesinatos. No es que no sea plausible, pero en mi opinión, también es lo más flojo.
El segundo, que aunque deja pistas para que el lector encaje piezas, se guarda demasiados detalles para el momento final.
En conclusión. Un thriller entretenido, bien armado y de ritmo ágil. Ya estoy deseando leer la décima entrega. Recomendable.
Desde que Principal Noir editó la primera de esta serie, he sido fan de la misma. No es una serie que haya recibido mucha publicidad, aunque es bastante mejor que otras que sí la tienen. Además, aunque como todas tiene títulos mejores y peores, en general ha ido evolucionando a mejor, cosa que tampoco ocurre con otras más conocidas y aclamadas.
¿Qué me ha gustado del libro?
En esta entrega, Patricia Gibney, nos presenta una trama muy bien armada.
Me ha gustado la estructura que ha empleado. Tras presentar un suceso ocurrido nueve años atrás, el resto de la acción transcurrirá en el presente a lo largo de una semana. Comienza de manera impactante un sábado 25 de noviembre, a partir de ahí, retrocede al domingo 19 de ese mes, para ir avanzando día a día, hasta llegar nuevamente al sábado 25. No es una estructura novedosa, en thriller pocas veces lo es, pero el principio es potente y la autora se maneja bien.
Como es habitual en los libros de esta serie, se entremezclan varias tramas que acabarán confluyendo. Una trama principal y dos subtramas a cuál más interesante. A medida que avanza la novela nos dejará pistas para conectarlas. El ritmo es ágil, Gibney sabe manejar la intriga y hacernos sospechar de unos y de otros alternativamente.
La trama transcurre en Ragmullin, un pueblo ficticio de Irlanda, en el que ambienta todas sus novelas. Sin ser la ambientación lo principal, sí que consigue transmitir sensaciones y situarnos en contexto. La omnipresente lluvia, el río, el lago, las canteras. También las diferencias sociales y el cómo es la vida en un pueblo ni grande ni pequeño de la Irlanda rural.
La inspectora Lottie Parker, la protagonista, está más centrada que nunca. Junto con ella Boyd y Kirby igualmente bien. En esta entrega, la familia de Parker tiene poco protagonismo. La serie ha evolucionado a mejor también en ese aspecto.
El final es trepidante y con mucha acción. Como siempre deja todo cerrado.
¿Qué me ha gustado menos?
Los dos peros que le pongo, son los mismos que podría haberle puesto a otras entregas de la serie.
El primero es el móvil de los asesinatos. No es que no sea plausible, pero en mi opinión, también es lo más flojo.
El segundo, que aunque deja pistas para que el lector encaje piezas, se guarda demasiados detalles para el momento final.
En conclusión. Un thriller entretenido, bien armado y de ritmo ágil. Ya estoy deseando leer la décima entrega. Recomendable.
February 10, 2021
Silent Voices is the 9th book featuring Patricia Gibney's detective Lottie Parker.
After Rachel Mullen attends a business meeting followed by a cocktail party, Beth discovers her twin sister dead in her bed, a piece of glass embedded in her throat. When another body is found, a female psychologist, killed in the same way but seemingly unconnected, Lottie realises she has her work cut out if she's to find the killer.
I must confess that I have tended to dip in and out of this cracking series for reasons unknown. To date, I have only read books two, seven, eight and nine. With its pacy narrative, Silent Voices has a terrific plot and I enjoyed being reacquainted with the main characters. Lottie, a Garda Síochána detective inspector, lives and works in the fictional town of Ragmullin in the Irish Midlands. The characters of both Lottie and her fiancé DS Mark Boyd have been fabulously crafted by Patricia Gibney. Lottie has a lot on her plate in her personal life which gives an extra dimension to proceedings as she tries to locate her missing fiancé before their wedding day arrives. The novel has a varying timeline, starting with a death from nine years prior, then moving to the present day before going back to the previous week. Told from various viewpoints, the story includes some chapters from a nameless person. Silent Voices is a terrific read with plenty of suspects and a well-concealed perpetrator and motive.
Tense, exciting and intricately crafted, there are some shocking twists in this dark police procedural and Patricia Gibney managed to keep me guessing right up to the riveting conclusion. This is a remarkably good story I can confidently recommend, that will have you reading late into the night.
I really need to catch up on the instalments I've missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
After Rachel Mullen attends a business meeting followed by a cocktail party, Beth discovers her twin sister dead in her bed, a piece of glass embedded in her throat. When another body is found, a female psychologist, killed in the same way but seemingly unconnected, Lottie realises she has her work cut out if she's to find the killer.
I must confess that I have tended to dip in and out of this cracking series for reasons unknown. To date, I have only read books two, seven, eight and nine. With its pacy narrative, Silent Voices has a terrific plot and I enjoyed being reacquainted with the main characters. Lottie, a Garda Síochána detective inspector, lives and works in the fictional town of Ragmullin in the Irish Midlands. The characters of both Lottie and her fiancé DS Mark Boyd have been fabulously crafted by Patricia Gibney. Lottie has a lot on her plate in her personal life which gives an extra dimension to proceedings as she tries to locate her missing fiancé before their wedding day arrives. The novel has a varying timeline, starting with a death from nine years prior, then moving to the present day before going back to the previous week. Told from various viewpoints, the story includes some chapters from a nameless person. Silent Voices is a terrific read with plenty of suspects and a well-concealed perpetrator and motive.
Tense, exciting and intricately crafted, there are some shocking twists in this dark police procedural and Patricia Gibney managed to keep me guessing right up to the riveting conclusion. This is a remarkably good story I can confidently recommend, that will have you reading late into the night.
I really need to catch up on the instalments I've missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 9, 2021
This is the 9th installment in the DI Lottie Parker crime thriller series. I've been with Lottie through a lot of tragedy and upheaval in her personal and professional life. It seems that she's finally going to have a chance for happiness with her partner, DS Mark Boyd -- until the bodies start turning up in Rugmullin.
A series of gruesome murders of young women in town lead Lottie and her team into a complicated case and a lengthy, intense investigation that takes precedence over the upcoming nuptials. Although the detectives know the cases must somehow be linked, they are having trouble figuring out the motive or identifying a suspect. Boyd has been a bit distracted by the plight of a 15-year-old who seems to have a connection with one of the murder victims. Unfortunately, the police are having a really tough time getting important interviews and information from all of those they are trying to question. NO SPOILERS.
If you're considering this, be sure to read the previous books in the series as you will appreciate the characters more than if you start with number nine. Although I like Lottie, I have a hard time with her character, her priorities, and her approach to her job and home life. It's a good series and I'm glad I've been along for the journey. I wasn't surprised when the identity of the killer was revealed and definitely there were a lot of potential nasty perpetrators and a plethora of unlikable characters. Fans of the series won't want to miss this latest fast-paced thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
A series of gruesome murders of young women in town lead Lottie and her team into a complicated case and a lengthy, intense investigation that takes precedence over the upcoming nuptials. Although the detectives know the cases must somehow be linked, they are having trouble figuring out the motive or identifying a suspect. Boyd has been a bit distracted by the plight of a 15-year-old who seems to have a connection with one of the murder victims. Unfortunately, the police are having a really tough time getting important interviews and information from all of those they are trying to question. NO SPOILERS.
If you're considering this, be sure to read the previous books in the series as you will appreciate the characters more than if you start with number nine. Although I like Lottie, I have a hard time with her character, her priorities, and her approach to her job and home life. It's a good series and I'm glad I've been along for the journey. I wasn't surprised when the identity of the killer was revealed and definitely there were a lot of potential nasty perpetrators and a plethora of unlikable characters. Fans of the series won't want to miss this latest fast-paced thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
February 9, 2021
“They didn’t deserve to die”
Wow! What more can I say about the adrenaline rush and angst reading this story has caused! I feel like I have been chewed up and spat out! (in a good way, of course)
Over time, as I have been blog hopping and visiting the various site listings, I have come across several of the earlier books in this series, and I truly only wish that I had knuckled down and read them in their entirety, rather than leaving it until book #9 to make Lottie Parker’s acquaintance, as she is definitely my kind of woman, although I’m definitely not such an untidy and messy worker as she is! Having said that, Silent Voices is a totally self-contained story and from my personal perspective, worked great as a stand-alone, with any relevant backstory information working its way to the surface at the right time and in the right place.
The opening page drew me right into, whilst the intense, highly toxic and horrifying storyline held me in thrall until I almost forgot to breathe, and the ending was both explosive yet rather satisfying, at one and the same time. Oh! and that fourth criteria essential for a storyline like this – you can’t be dead – which Lottie only just about manages by the skin of her teeth!
Patricia Gibney definitely knows how to build a multi-layered, nail-biting, complex plot, which left me with just about everyone on my suspect list, and had me first crossing them off, then adding them back in, throughout the story, as the many twists and turns kept unravelling and changing the dynamics at a great rate of knots! The gripping storyline was well constructed, rich in atmosphere, detail and tension, with enough suspense to cause serious health issues for any reader, along with all those well-place red herrings which tripped me up time and again!
There was some skilfully written, intensely troubling and powerful narrative and dialogue, which was seamlessly woven together with authority and total confidence into a disturbing montage of human behaviour, which when unpicked, uncovered, touched on, and highlighted, so many of the social mores and issues of our times. Sorting out fact from fiction, the innocent from the guilty and the troubled from the aggressor, was a minefield of lies and deceit, which was emotionally draining and physically dangerous, often making it almost impossible for Lottie and her team to see the wood for the trees, through the many individual agendas and the maze of menacing thoughts and actions perpetrated by this cast of disparate characters.
The characters definitely make this story, in equal part with that highly textured plot. Leaving Lottie and her team of detectives aside for a moment, the remainder of this rather sprawling, multi-faceted cast were almost exclusively either physical or emotional wrecks, and often both! They led complex lives, mostly below the radar, lying came as second nature to them, and hidden agendas were accepted as the norm. Even those deserving of some support and help, really did nothing to endear me to them, or sad to say, made me want to invest in them. In fact they were so well defined and drawn in fully immersive and descriptive technicolour, that most of them made me cringe and feel the urge to jump into a cleansing shower as soon as they had left the room!
Lottie herself is a very down to earth, middle-aged widow. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly, is definitely not averse to more than the occasional burst of bad language and is unreservedly outspoken in her thoughts about both her suspects, her team (including the man she is about to marry), and her superiors. She is a fierce defender of her children, although never so much that they don’t get a tongue lashing if she thinks they deserve it. I simply couldn’t make my mind up whether she cared two hoots about her team or not, and it looks as though, with the exception of her fiance Boyd, she is about to discover that she perhaps doesn’t know any of them as well as she thought she did! Between them, they have almost as many hang-ups and emotional complexities, as their counterparts operating on the other side of the thin blue line, however Lottie is usually so busy running around chasing her own tail, rather than working through things methodically, that she really hasn’t noticed their shortcomings and may not until it is too late. But by sheer tenacity, grit, determination and downright bloody-mindedness, she gets things done!
In the town of Ragmullin, “Revenge is definitely a dish best served cold”
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
Wow! What more can I say about the adrenaline rush and angst reading this story has caused! I feel like I have been chewed up and spat out! (in a good way, of course)
Over time, as I have been blog hopping and visiting the various site listings, I have come across several of the earlier books in this series, and I truly only wish that I had knuckled down and read them in their entirety, rather than leaving it until book #9 to make Lottie Parker’s acquaintance, as she is definitely my kind of woman, although I’m definitely not such an untidy and messy worker as she is! Having said that, Silent Voices is a totally self-contained story and from my personal perspective, worked great as a stand-alone, with any relevant backstory information working its way to the surface at the right time and in the right place.
The opening page drew me right into, whilst the intense, highly toxic and horrifying storyline held me in thrall until I almost forgot to breathe, and the ending was both explosive yet rather satisfying, at one and the same time. Oh! and that fourth criteria essential for a storyline like this – you can’t be dead – which Lottie only just about manages by the skin of her teeth!
Patricia Gibney definitely knows how to build a multi-layered, nail-biting, complex plot, which left me with just about everyone on my suspect list, and had me first crossing them off, then adding them back in, throughout the story, as the many twists and turns kept unravelling and changing the dynamics at a great rate of knots! The gripping storyline was well constructed, rich in atmosphere, detail and tension, with enough suspense to cause serious health issues for any reader, along with all those well-place red herrings which tripped me up time and again!
There was some skilfully written, intensely troubling and powerful narrative and dialogue, which was seamlessly woven together with authority and total confidence into a disturbing montage of human behaviour, which when unpicked, uncovered, touched on, and highlighted, so many of the social mores and issues of our times. Sorting out fact from fiction, the innocent from the guilty and the troubled from the aggressor, was a minefield of lies and deceit, which was emotionally draining and physically dangerous, often making it almost impossible for Lottie and her team to see the wood for the trees, through the many individual agendas and the maze of menacing thoughts and actions perpetrated by this cast of disparate characters.
The characters definitely make this story, in equal part with that highly textured plot. Leaving Lottie and her team of detectives aside for a moment, the remainder of this rather sprawling, multi-faceted cast were almost exclusively either physical or emotional wrecks, and often both! They led complex lives, mostly below the radar, lying came as second nature to them, and hidden agendas were accepted as the norm. Even those deserving of some support and help, really did nothing to endear me to them, or sad to say, made me want to invest in them. In fact they were so well defined and drawn in fully immersive and descriptive technicolour, that most of them made me cringe and feel the urge to jump into a cleansing shower as soon as they had left the room!
Lottie herself is a very down to earth, middle-aged widow. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly, is definitely not averse to more than the occasional burst of bad language and is unreservedly outspoken in her thoughts about both her suspects, her team (including the man she is about to marry), and her superiors. She is a fierce defender of her children, although never so much that they don’t get a tongue lashing if she thinks they deserve it. I simply couldn’t make my mind up whether she cared two hoots about her team or not, and it looks as though, with the exception of her fiance Boyd, she is about to discover that she perhaps doesn’t know any of them as well as she thought she did! Between them, they have almost as many hang-ups and emotional complexities, as their counterparts operating on the other side of the thin blue line, however Lottie is usually so busy running around chasing her own tail, rather than working through things methodically, that she really hasn’t noticed their shortcomings and may not until it is too late. But by sheer tenacity, grit, determination and downright bloody-mindedness, she gets things done!
In the town of Ragmullin, “Revenge is definitely a dish best served cold”
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February 7, 2021
This is a crime thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat turning the pages. It is the ninth book in the DI Lottie Parker series, but I believe it will also work well as a standalone.
The story starts with a variety of memories, snapshots of past and present events which impinge on the whole story. I admit I got a little confused to start with but it is definitely worth persevering as it soon starts making sense. It relates events occurring in the week leading up to the wedding day for Detective Lottie Parker . . . a week packed with murders, mystery, death, danger and wedding preparations – thank goodness Lottie has Boyd working with her in all aspects of her life but that won’t keep both of them safe!
It has great characters many of whom are members of dysfunctional families. The story has so many surprising revelations as everything progresses and the finale is an explosive conclusion to a great read. No one escapes unscathed from a dramatic crime thriller like this!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
The story starts with a variety of memories, snapshots of past and present events which impinge on the whole story. I admit I got a little confused to start with but it is definitely worth persevering as it soon starts making sense. It relates events occurring in the week leading up to the wedding day for Detective Lottie Parker . . . a week packed with murders, mystery, death, danger and wedding preparations – thank goodness Lottie has Boyd working with her in all aspects of her life but that won’t keep both of them safe!
It has great characters many of whom are members of dysfunctional families. The story has so many surprising revelations as everything progresses and the finale is an explosive conclusion to a great read. No one escapes unscathed from a dramatic crime thriller like this!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
December 26, 2020
Lottie never fails me! She is such a good and trusted friend. Although, she can be quite annoying at times, you need a lot of patience if you want to be close to her, and at other times you just want to run and leave that complete mess. When it's time for her wedding, things are not exactly calming down. There is a fresh case on the table. Women around town are found dead. Murdered. The team does not seem to get anywhere with the case.
A solid Lottie book in this excellent series! If you like small towns and big crimes, you should read this series! Even though Lottie can be one of the most frustrating people on the planet, you can't help but love her. Her determination is admirable. She's like an angry terrier when she is on a case. Nothing will stop her from solving the case. Not even her own wedding.
Mesmerizing! Utterly thrilling! Unputdownable! One of the best series I have ever read. It seems like nothing can stop Patricia Gibney. Her writing is excellent. The story flows like a river with no dams, but many waterfalls, and several dangerous currents. Highly recommended!
A solid Lottie book in this excellent series! If you like small towns and big crimes, you should read this series! Even though Lottie can be one of the most frustrating people on the planet, you can't help but love her. Her determination is admirable. She's like an angry terrier when she is on a case. Nothing will stop her from solving the case. Not even her own wedding.
Mesmerizing! Utterly thrilling! Unputdownable! One of the best series I have ever read. It seems like nothing can stop Patricia Gibney. Her writing is excellent. The story flows like a river with no dams, but many waterfalls, and several dangerous currents. Highly recommended!
February 2, 2021
‘The hall was empty and dark. She felt for the switch on the wall, but another noise caused her to pause. Was it from upstairs? That’s when she heard the whoosh of sound. The flutter of material. Right before she felt the push between her shoulder blades.'
Silent Voices by Irish bestselling author Patricia Gibney is published February 5th with Bookouture. This is the ninth book in the hugely successful DI Lottie Parker series and, to my shame, it is my first. It is described as ‘an unputdownable crime thriller with an ending that will blow your mind. If you like Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine you’ll be totally hooked by Silent Voices'
With a week before her wedding to police colleague Mark Boyd, DI Lottie Parker needs no more distractions in her life. Her daughter Chloe is organising the nuptials with gusto and her other daughter Katie is en-route back from London with Lottie’s grandson. Her sixteen year old son, Sean, is happy to see his mum marry Boyd, finally welcoming him into their family. A new beginning is just what the Parker family needs.
An urgent call for Lottie to attend a crime scene at the house of Rachel Mullen following the discovery of her body by her twin sister, Beth, diverts her attention somewhat. When she enters the bedroom room she immediately detects that this is evil she is witnessing. Rachel Mullen’s anguished death mask shakes Lottie and her team to the core. This is murder. This is no accident. Following all avenues, each leading to a dead-end, Lottie’s frustrations grow. With the wedding in the back of her mind, Lottie is anxious to expedite this investigation but she has to tread carefully. Following previous unorthodox handling of cases, Lottie is on shaky ground with her superiors. Everything has to follow the book. But within a few days, when a second body is discovered of a well known local therapist in similar circumstances, Lottie’s back is against the wall. Playing by the book will not provide the answers Lottie needs, answers she needs fast.
Ragmullin is a town that has had its fair share of trouble over the years but now with a potential serial killer on the loose, the police are very much aware that speed is of the essence. Rachel had been an entrepreneur with a vision for her future. Looking for an investor, she was last seen at a launch party for a new restaurant in town belonging to the soon-to-be ex-wife of local successful business man, Matthew Fleming. Annie Fleming and her husband have had marital difficulties for years. Now Annie plans to move out from under his shadow and step into the limelight herself hoping to achieve the notoriety she so wishes for. Her two daughters, Tara and Jessica, have strained relationships with their parents resulting in a dynamic in the family that makes for a very dysfunctional environment.
Maddie Daly is a young teenager caught up in her tragic life. No matter what she does, no matter how hard she tries, she just cannot escape the poverty trap that she is in. Maddie does not want this life for herself but is stuck in a rundown home with her sister Stella, Stella’s two small kids and Stella’s drug dealing and very sleazy boyfriend. Maddie unwittingly becomes embroiled in these horrific murders and soon fears for her own safety. A spunky individual, I would have loved a bit more to Maddie’s story when the cards finally did fall. I was really drawn to her as a person and had developed a lot of empathy for her situation.
With a collection of very suspicious characters, Patricia Gibney, creates a story that keeps the reader guessing by planting red-herrings in the mind, redirecting on every page. The past is never prepared to stay there and, as circumstances change, people get scared. Someone in Ragmullin does not want the skeletons in their cupboard to be revealed and will resort to the most extreme and malevolent measures to achieve their ultimate goal.
As the body count rises, Lottie is fighting an uphill battle all the way. When her own safety and that of Boyd comes into question, it gets personal for Lottie. Lottie is a tenacious individual not willing to step back from danger. Her character is very well depicted as she becomes deeply entangled in these murders. Her frustrations are palpable as she attempts to follow the evidence trail, however tenuous the lead. The politics of policing are also given a platform as Lottie’s boss is constantly breathing down her neck looking for answers, pushing Lottie to work harder, at times to the detriment of her own safety. Lottie is very likable as a main protagonist. Her appeal I think is her straight-forward characterisation as a struggling parent and mother, a concerned lover, a hard-worker and a friend. She expects respect and in return is loyal to those around her.
Silent Voices is a fast-paced page turner with some seriously nasty and frighteningly believable characters. Greed, despair, power, anguish, fear and murder all combine to provide the reader with a compelling and explosive read. A thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing police procedural, one that I’m sure will both satisfy and delight all fans of this bestselling and very popular series.
Silent Voices by Irish bestselling author Patricia Gibney is published February 5th with Bookouture. This is the ninth book in the hugely successful DI Lottie Parker series and, to my shame, it is my first. It is described as ‘an unputdownable crime thriller with an ending that will blow your mind. If you like Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine you’ll be totally hooked by Silent Voices'
With a week before her wedding to police colleague Mark Boyd, DI Lottie Parker needs no more distractions in her life. Her daughter Chloe is organising the nuptials with gusto and her other daughter Katie is en-route back from London with Lottie’s grandson. Her sixteen year old son, Sean, is happy to see his mum marry Boyd, finally welcoming him into their family. A new beginning is just what the Parker family needs.
An urgent call for Lottie to attend a crime scene at the house of Rachel Mullen following the discovery of her body by her twin sister, Beth, diverts her attention somewhat. When she enters the bedroom room she immediately detects that this is evil she is witnessing. Rachel Mullen’s anguished death mask shakes Lottie and her team to the core. This is murder. This is no accident. Following all avenues, each leading to a dead-end, Lottie’s frustrations grow. With the wedding in the back of her mind, Lottie is anxious to expedite this investigation but she has to tread carefully. Following previous unorthodox handling of cases, Lottie is on shaky ground with her superiors. Everything has to follow the book. But within a few days, when a second body is discovered of a well known local therapist in similar circumstances, Lottie’s back is against the wall. Playing by the book will not provide the answers Lottie needs, answers she needs fast.
Ragmullin is a town that has had its fair share of trouble over the years but now with a potential serial killer on the loose, the police are very much aware that speed is of the essence. Rachel had been an entrepreneur with a vision for her future. Looking for an investor, she was last seen at a launch party for a new restaurant in town belonging to the soon-to-be ex-wife of local successful business man, Matthew Fleming. Annie Fleming and her husband have had marital difficulties for years. Now Annie plans to move out from under his shadow and step into the limelight herself hoping to achieve the notoriety she so wishes for. Her two daughters, Tara and Jessica, have strained relationships with their parents resulting in a dynamic in the family that makes for a very dysfunctional environment.
Maddie Daly is a young teenager caught up in her tragic life. No matter what she does, no matter how hard she tries, she just cannot escape the poverty trap that she is in. Maddie does not want this life for herself but is stuck in a rundown home with her sister Stella, Stella’s two small kids and Stella’s drug dealing and very sleazy boyfriend. Maddie unwittingly becomes embroiled in these horrific murders and soon fears for her own safety. A spunky individual, I would have loved a bit more to Maddie’s story when the cards finally did fall. I was really drawn to her as a person and had developed a lot of empathy for her situation.
With a collection of very suspicious characters, Patricia Gibney, creates a story that keeps the reader guessing by planting red-herrings in the mind, redirecting on every page. The past is never prepared to stay there and, as circumstances change, people get scared. Someone in Ragmullin does not want the skeletons in their cupboard to be revealed and will resort to the most extreme and malevolent measures to achieve their ultimate goal.
As the body count rises, Lottie is fighting an uphill battle all the way. When her own safety and that of Boyd comes into question, it gets personal for Lottie. Lottie is a tenacious individual not willing to step back from danger. Her character is very well depicted as she becomes deeply entangled in these murders. Her frustrations are palpable as she attempts to follow the evidence trail, however tenuous the lead. The politics of policing are also given a platform as Lottie’s boss is constantly breathing down her neck looking for answers, pushing Lottie to work harder, at times to the detriment of her own safety. Lottie is very likable as a main protagonist. Her appeal I think is her straight-forward characterisation as a struggling parent and mother, a concerned lover, a hard-worker and a friend. She expects respect and in return is loyal to those around her.
Silent Voices is a fast-paced page turner with some seriously nasty and frighteningly believable characters. Greed, despair, power, anguish, fear and murder all combine to provide the reader with a compelling and explosive read. A thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing police procedural, one that I’m sure will both satisfy and delight all fans of this bestselling and very popular series.
April 25, 2021
This didn't grab me as much as some of the others in the series, I felt that while the case was concluded no further developments happened for the other characters
February 5, 2021
Silent Voices is the ninth instalment in the Detective Inspector Lottie Parker series, set in the small town of Ragmullin. Lottie and colleagues at Ragmullin An Garda Síochána are called out to investigate a crime scene at Rachel Mullen’s home after her body was discovered by her twin sister, Beth. But when Lottie enters the bedroom she realises very quickly that it looks like murder. Rachel’s agonised death mask rocks the police team to their core as it looks like she was poisoned and had a terribly painful, drawn out death much akin to torture. They begin investigating but they quickly run out of leads and the case sadly turns cold. Soon they realise that there is a brutal serial killer on the loose in Ragmullin when the corpse of a second woman is discovered in similar circumstances. Both women were found with a shard of glass in their throat irrevocably linking the two killings; a unique signature - it's clear the killer wants them to know that he is responsible for both the slayings. Then to make matters worse Lottie’s fiance, Boyd, vanishes. Lottie knows it has something to do with the case and that someone is messing with her purposefully. Can she locate and bring Boyd to safety before he too gets killed?
This is a riveting and compulsive cross between a tense police procedural and emotional thriller with more than enough to sink your teeth into, and from the opening pages you are landed right slap bang in the middle of the action and intense drama, which allows you to become fully immersed and invested in the story easily and rapidly. Lottie is a formidable protagonist and is both resourceful and tough with an unbounded thirst for truth and justice. She has a lot going on in her personal life which adds an extra dimension and element of interest to the story as she tries to locate missing Boyd before their wedding day arrives. We find out a little more of her backstory and hope she can find a little happiness despite having faced unspeakable trauma in the past. Gibney’s characterisation is effortless and superb and the realistic suspense with a plethora of twists, turns and misdirection thrown in for good measure, has you glued to the pages and reading long into the night. The plotting is intelligent and precise, the dialogue true to life and the surprises plentiful, and I found myself racing through the pages. This is right up there with the past books in the series and is a compelling and enthralling read penned by a must-read crime writer. It's a propulsive, fast-paced affair with scintillating suspense and one I highly recommend.
This is a riveting and compulsive cross between a tense police procedural and emotional thriller with more than enough to sink your teeth into, and from the opening pages you are landed right slap bang in the middle of the action and intense drama, which allows you to become fully immersed and invested in the story easily and rapidly. Lottie is a formidable protagonist and is both resourceful and tough with an unbounded thirst for truth and justice. She has a lot going on in her personal life which adds an extra dimension and element of interest to the story as she tries to locate missing Boyd before their wedding day arrives. We find out a little more of her backstory and hope she can find a little happiness despite having faced unspeakable trauma in the past. Gibney’s characterisation is effortless and superb and the realistic suspense with a plethora of twists, turns and misdirection thrown in for good measure, has you glued to the pages and reading long into the night. The plotting is intelligent and precise, the dialogue true to life and the surprises plentiful, and I found myself racing through the pages. This is right up there with the past books in the series and is a compelling and enthralling read penned by a must-read crime writer. It's a propulsive, fast-paced affair with scintillating suspense and one I highly recommend.
Read
February 25, 2021A twisty police procedural
I probably shouldn't have started with book 9 in a series as I'm sure I would've enjoyed it much more. That being said, this was a good read. It was well written, twisty and fast paced. A strong female lead, a great cast of supporting characters and a killer that wasn't easy to determine kept me turning pages. Now I have to start at the beginning of this wonderful series!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
I probably shouldn't have started with book 9 in a series as I'm sure I would've enjoyed it much more. That being said, this was a good read. It was well written, twisty and fast paced. A strong female lead, a great cast of supporting characters and a killer that wasn't easy to determine kept me turning pages. Now I have to start at the beginning of this wonderful series!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
January 30, 2021
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Patricia Gibney's latest crime thriller SILENT VOICES.
It only seems like yesterday that I first met DI Lottie Parker, DS Mark Boyd and her team. And here we are at book 9! I may have missed a few in between the first books and where I next picked up with Lottie and Boyd, but it feels as though I have been with them every step of the way. And when a new book comes along it is always a treat to catch up with them all once again.
That being said, SILENT VOICES suffices quite well as a standalone (as does each book in this series) but as with all series it is always best to start from the beginning to get to know the characters and their backstories. Sure, I've missed a few pertinent happenings but I'm well caught up in the books that have followed since.
This 9th installment of the DI Lottie Parker series may be called SILENT VOICES, but I think "Silent Screams" might have been a better choice, given how the victims in the book died...which soon becomes clear.
For the past several books, we have been skirting around Lottie and Boyd's engagement and wonder are they ever going to get married? After all, the two certainly danced around the topic often enough. But finally, that day has arrived. After an opening which saw the death of a young boy being pushed to his death in a quarry, we then move on to the prologue which sees Lottie out of her standard jeans and shirt and wearing a chiffon dress in front of a mirror, pondering the day ahead. This is her wedding day! After a tumultuous week, she and Boyd were finally getting married! But when she walks outside and sees her daughters, her mother and Boyd's sister Grace standing together along with Kirby, acting as Boyd's best man, her stomach drops. Something has happened. Racing into the cottage where Boyd and Kirby were dressing for the ceremony, she finds a note addressed to "Mark Boyd" with a cryptic message inside...as the world suddenly goes black and Lottie falls to the floor.
Rewind a week earlier and Rachel Mullen attends a drinks networking gig at the newly opened Annie's Restaurant, owned and operated by Annie Fleming. The next day Rachel's twin sister Beth returns home from Dublin to find her dead, her back arched, her fingers clawing at her neck and her mouth opened in a silent scream. The cause of death returns as strychnine poisoning, a particularly nasty (and very painful) way to die. But who would want to kill Rachel? And in such a painful way? Who hated her that much? Lottie and her team pose the question to her devastated twin Beth who can think of no one. As the team dig into Rachel's background they discover that she was just starting her own cosmetics business which was to be sustainably sourced from organic products such as rock and stone...things found in a quarry. And then they learn that her meeting just prior to the drinks party she attended the night before at Annie's restaurant was with Matthew Fleming, Annie's estranged husband...and owner of a local quarry. Are the Flemings somehow linked to Rachel's death?
Then a couple of days later 15 year old Maddy Daly returns the bike she had borrowed from her friend Ellen Gormley, but upon getting no answer to her knock, goes inside. There she finds Ellen in a broken heap at the bottom of her stairs, her face in apparent agony and her mouth open in a silent scream. Toxicology comes back also as strychnine poisoning. But the time of death was at least 24 hours prior to Rachel's. Lottie must work out how the deaths of these two women are related...and where does young Maddy fit in, whom Boyd seems to have a soft spot for?
When a third woman is found in similar circumstances, Lottie realises she has her hands full...what with the investigation and Supt Farrell breathing down her neck. How is she to get this case solved and put to bed before her wedding in two days' time?
And then Lottie's sixteen year old daughter has an apparent new boyfriend whom she is yet to meet, and who she knows nothing about. But Chloe has been through a lot in the past five years since her father's death from cancer, as has the whole family, Lottie has given her daughter the freedom to work at a local pub and become her own person. It's her son Sean that is the worry for her. Her eldest Katie now lives in New York with her two year old son Louie, whom Lottie misses terribly. But they will be back for the wedding which she can hardly wait for - on both counts.
Then when there the massive storm that has been brewing all week hits on the Thursday and flooding half the town, Chloe rings Lottie in a panic because the hotel where the wedding reception is to be held has been flooded and they have no back-up plan! But then a though occurs to Lottie...however unethical it might be. She just wants to marry Mark Boyd.
There is so much going on in this book, but in a good way so you don't get confused. Murders, Maddy, weddings...with a bit of drug dealing and the odd quarry explosion not to mention the batch of shifty characters...there is everything in SILENT VOICES you need for another twisty suspenseful thriller. I love how the Lottie Parker series is not JUST a police procedural...but a crime thriller as well. You get to see the story from various perspectives without giving anything away. For me, this is the best kind of police procedural, as it keeps the pace going at the rate of knots.
I have loved to see Lottie grow into the woman she is now. I have to admit to not really liking her all that much when I first met her. She was stubborn (she still is) and a bit arrogant in wanting to get to the truth whatever the cost, whilst going home to down a couple of bottles of red or white or whatever was on offer. These days she has mellowed somewhat and I think Boyd has been good for her. I must admit to missing Boyd working alongside her in the previous couple of books, what with his receiving treatment for leukaemia. In the last book he was still there but not back at work yet, so it wasn't quite the same. The book before I don't recall him being around much at all and I must admit to missing him at Lottie's side. Together they make the perfect partnership...which begs the question, where will that leave them when they marry? Will their partnership be split after their marriage?
SILENT VOICES is a brilliant addition to the series and very probably the best yet...but that may be down to the return of Boyd to their partnership. I have no hesitation in recommending this book or the entire series for that matter. Should you choose to read this as a standalone, it can be done, but I do recommend starting from the beginning to appreciate the characters and their personal growths more.
Overall, a fast paced thriller that kept me turning the pages right up to the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it and welcome the return of Lottie and Boyd!
I would like to thank #PatriciaGibney, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #SilentVoices in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
It only seems like yesterday that I first met DI Lottie Parker, DS Mark Boyd and her team. And here we are at book 9! I may have missed a few in between the first books and where I next picked up with Lottie and Boyd, but it feels as though I have been with them every step of the way. And when a new book comes along it is always a treat to catch up with them all once again.
That being said, SILENT VOICES suffices quite well as a standalone (as does each book in this series) but as with all series it is always best to start from the beginning to get to know the characters and their backstories. Sure, I've missed a few pertinent happenings but I'm well caught up in the books that have followed since.
This 9th installment of the DI Lottie Parker series may be called SILENT VOICES, but I think "Silent Screams" might have been a better choice, given how the victims in the book died...which soon becomes clear.
For the past several books, we have been skirting around Lottie and Boyd's engagement and wonder are they ever going to get married? After all, the two certainly danced around the topic often enough. But finally, that day has arrived. After an opening which saw the death of a young boy being pushed to his death in a quarry, we then move on to the prologue which sees Lottie out of her standard jeans and shirt and wearing a chiffon dress in front of a mirror, pondering the day ahead. This is her wedding day! After a tumultuous week, she and Boyd were finally getting married! But when she walks outside and sees her daughters, her mother and Boyd's sister Grace standing together along with Kirby, acting as Boyd's best man, her stomach drops. Something has happened. Racing into the cottage where Boyd and Kirby were dressing for the ceremony, she finds a note addressed to "Mark Boyd" with a cryptic message inside...as the world suddenly goes black and Lottie falls to the floor.
Rewind a week earlier and Rachel Mullen attends a drinks networking gig at the newly opened Annie's Restaurant, owned and operated by Annie Fleming. The next day Rachel's twin sister Beth returns home from Dublin to find her dead, her back arched, her fingers clawing at her neck and her mouth opened in a silent scream. The cause of death returns as strychnine poisoning, a particularly nasty (and very painful) way to die. But who would want to kill Rachel? And in such a painful way? Who hated her that much? Lottie and her team pose the question to her devastated twin Beth who can think of no one. As the team dig into Rachel's background they discover that she was just starting her own cosmetics business which was to be sustainably sourced from organic products such as rock and stone...things found in a quarry. And then they learn that her meeting just prior to the drinks party she attended the night before at Annie's restaurant was with Matthew Fleming, Annie's estranged husband...and owner of a local quarry. Are the Flemings somehow linked to Rachel's death?
Then a couple of days later 15 year old Maddy Daly returns the bike she had borrowed from her friend Ellen Gormley, but upon getting no answer to her knock, goes inside. There she finds Ellen in a broken heap at the bottom of her stairs, her face in apparent agony and her mouth open in a silent scream. Toxicology comes back also as strychnine poisoning. But the time of death was at least 24 hours prior to Rachel's. Lottie must work out how the deaths of these two women are related...and where does young Maddy fit in, whom Boyd seems to have a soft spot for?
When a third woman is found in similar circumstances, Lottie realises she has her hands full...what with the investigation and Supt Farrell breathing down her neck. How is she to get this case solved and put to bed before her wedding in two days' time?
And then Lottie's sixteen year old daughter has an apparent new boyfriend whom she is yet to meet, and who she knows nothing about. But Chloe has been through a lot in the past five years since her father's death from cancer, as has the whole family, Lottie has given her daughter the freedom to work at a local pub and become her own person. It's her son Sean that is the worry for her. Her eldest Katie now lives in New York with her two year old son Louie, whom Lottie misses terribly. But they will be back for the wedding which she can hardly wait for - on both counts.
Then when there the massive storm that has been brewing all week hits on the Thursday and flooding half the town, Chloe rings Lottie in a panic because the hotel where the wedding reception is to be held has been flooded and they have no back-up plan! But then a though occurs to Lottie...however unethical it might be. She just wants to marry Mark Boyd.
There is so much going on in this book, but in a good way so you don't get confused. Murders, Maddy, weddings...with a bit of drug dealing and the odd quarry explosion not to mention the batch of shifty characters...there is everything in SILENT VOICES you need for another twisty suspenseful thriller. I love how the Lottie Parker series is not JUST a police procedural...but a crime thriller as well. You get to see the story from various perspectives without giving anything away. For me, this is the best kind of police procedural, as it keeps the pace going at the rate of knots.
I have loved to see Lottie grow into the woman she is now. I have to admit to not really liking her all that much when I first met her. She was stubborn (she still is) and a bit arrogant in wanting to get to the truth whatever the cost, whilst going home to down a couple of bottles of red or white or whatever was on offer. These days she has mellowed somewhat and I think Boyd has been good for her. I must admit to missing Boyd working alongside her in the previous couple of books, what with his receiving treatment for leukaemia. In the last book he was still there but not back at work yet, so it wasn't quite the same. The book before I don't recall him being around much at all and I must admit to missing him at Lottie's side. Together they make the perfect partnership...which begs the question, where will that leave them when they marry? Will their partnership be split after their marriage?
SILENT VOICES is a brilliant addition to the series and very probably the best yet...but that may be down to the return of Boyd to their partnership. I have no hesitation in recommending this book or the entire series for that matter. Should you choose to read this as a standalone, it can be done, but I do recommend starting from the beginning to appreciate the characters and their personal growths more.
Overall, a fast paced thriller that kept me turning the pages right up to the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it and welcome the return of Lottie and Boyd!
I would like to thank #PatriciaGibney, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #SilentVoices in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
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