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Detective Jessie Blake #2
Her Missing Child
She lays her baby in his cot - the sound of his quiet breath filling the nursery as she leaves the room. Soon Claire will be fast asleep herself. She won't hear the back door opening or the footsteps on the stairs. When Claire Lucas is woken by her husband asking where their baby son is, she is dazed and confused. When she follows Darren into their child's bedroom, she hears nothing but silence. No baby cries, no cute gurgles. The only thing left in Finlay's cot is his beloved teddy bear. Finlay has gone. Detective Jessie Blake rushes to the family's modern home in the rugged Scottish Highlands. She notices that Darren avoids eye contact, and Claire seems disconnected - unable to account for the last few hours of her afternoon. Jessie knows there's no normal response to losing a child, but something doesn't feel right. Friends rally round the young family, as a search of the narrow lanes and green hills of Moncrieffe begins in earnest. And as helpers battle the wild Scottish weather, Jessie is sure that someone in the search party must know more than they're letting on. Someone must have seen something. As a ghost from her own past comes back to haunt her, Jessie must put aside her own personal tragedy to save baby Finlay. Can she get the people of the small town to talk before it's too late? If you love Cara Hunter, LJ Ross and Robert Bryndza, you'll love this addictive new crime thriller from Kerry Watts. Her Missing Child will have you hooked from the start!
Audio CD
First published September 24, 2019
575 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Watts
21 books84 followers.Kerry Watts was born and grew up in a small town in the East of Scotland where she still lives today. She is always writing and carries a little notebook and pen with her wherever she goes because at her age ideas need to be captured before they disappear.
Kerry specialises in crime fiction because she enjoys pushing the boundaries of what it is to be human. The nature versus nurture debate fascinates her. She loves to put her characters in impossible situations just to see what happens. Her experience as a psychiatric nurse heavily influences her writing. She also wants to create characters that people can relate to who might be facing the same struggles as anyone else.
Authors who inspire her are anyone capable of creating a character who lives inside her head long after she has closed the book. Her favourite fictional character's are Dexter Morgan, created by Jeff Lindsay as well as Hannibal Lechter created by Thomas Harris. She doesn't have a favourite genre as a reader. Kerry will read anything. Written by anyone. If the blurb has a good feel about it she's hooked.
When she's not writing she loves to spend time following her other passions - dogs, particularly rescue mutts and horse racing. The sight of a thoroughbred race horse at full stretch has been known to move her to tears, not just lump in the throat stuff but full on blubbing. And for that she is unashamed. One day she's going to buy a racehorse filly and call her Into Darkness.
She also had a small role in a film called The Rocket Post but decided acting wasn't for her. She would rather create a character than play one.
Kerry specialises in crime fiction because she enjoys pushing the boundaries of what it is to be human. The nature versus nurture debate fascinates her. She loves to put her characters in impossible situations just to see what happens. Her experience as a psychiatric nurse heavily influences her writing. She also wants to create characters that people can relate to who might be facing the same struggles as anyone else.
Authors who inspire her are anyone capable of creating a character who lives inside her head long after she has closed the book. Her favourite fictional character's are Dexter Morgan, created by Jeff Lindsay as well as Hannibal Lechter created by Thomas Harris. She doesn't have a favourite genre as a reader. Kerry will read anything. Written by anyone. If the blurb has a good feel about it she's hooked.
When she's not writing she loves to spend time following her other passions - dogs, particularly rescue mutts and horse racing. The sight of a thoroughbred race horse at full stretch has been known to move her to tears, not just lump in the throat stuff but full on blubbing. And for that she is unashamed. One day she's going to buy a racehorse filly and call her Into Darkness.
She also had a small role in a film called The Rocket Post but decided acting wasn't for her. She would rather create a character than play one.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 4, 2019
Now here is a book to get your teeth into!
First of all its worth saying you 100% can read this as a stand alone and the bits alluding to the previous book actually enhance this story and don’t distract from it
Darren and Claire have a 6 month old son Finlay, when Darren returns home from work and goes to check
on him ( Claire is having a snooze ) he’s gone, vanished and no trace can be found.........
Enter the wonderful Detective Jessie Blake to try and solve things with her colleague Dylan
And what a puzzle it is to solve
The many characters in the book, all fabulously portrayed, could all be guilty, and as the story progresses I was making judgements, deciding who it was and wasn’t and basically getting it wrong but loving every turn and twist doing so!
I am not a massive lover of Police Procedurals but in this book its vibrant and engaging and interesting and brings you the reader into every aspect of it
There’s lies and affairs, obsession and tested family loyalties along with a separate horrific murder that happens and could be related, or might not be!, that all makes a really stomping and exciting ‘Whodunit’
Really really top class storytelling that has left me wanting the next book in the series
A great mystery, told expertly that is one of those books that I sometimes say makes you ‘happy reading is your thing’
10/10
5 Stars
September 29, 2019
On a cold winter day, Claire Lucas is woken by her frantic husband asking where their baby son is. When she follows him into the baby's room, they find his cot empty. Their son is nowhere to be found. Detective Jessie Blake and her team are called in to investigate the disappearance of a six-month-old baby boy. When she gets there, she can't shake the feeling that something is seriously off with the family. As she dives deeper into the investigation, she uncovers a web of dark secrets. This is a complex, fast-paced thriller centered on a terrible family tragedy. It's an emotional story that deals with some very heavy topics. The writing style flows smoothly and the characters were well developed and felt realistic. Detective Jessie Blake and PC Isla Wilde were my favourite characters, they were both strong, intelligent women, and I rooted for them throughout the entire book. The mystery kept me in suspense, and there were some really great twists along the way. The conclusion was satisfying but slightly predictable. The chapters are very short, making this a quick, easy read. I look forward to the third book and can't wait to see what the author has in store for Detective Blake and her team. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2019
Wow! I legitimately feel like I have had the stuffing knocked out of me as this book really packs a punch, and Ms Watts takes you on a windy, twisty journey through secrets and lies, deception and deceit to uncover the devastating truth. This is the second book in the Detective Jessie Blake series but there's no need to have read the previous novel to enjoy this one. I have read each of the author's books and I would say that this is her best so far and an ideal introduction for those new to her work as well as those who already love her well-planned and emotional stories. I found myself actually imagining the story was real and it was my baby who had been cruelly taken; Watts knows exactly how to tug on your heartstrings. I simply couldn't tear myself away and read it in a single afternoon. I was completely engrossed.
The fact that there are a plethora of suspects and people with dark secrets to hide meant I couldn't guess exactly who was involved so my interest never waned and I kept turning the pages more rapidly to get to the truth of the matter. I also loved the setting of the Scottish Highlands, a place very much close to my heart, and the scenery was described beautifully. Stark but stunning; isolated but vast. It's quite a sad read and explores the complications women can get after giving birth/post-natally. Protagonist Jessie is a competent, intrepid investigator but of course, she has the stereotypical issues a lot of investigators have. The conclusion is a satisfying one, and I look forward to the next instalment. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
The fact that there are a plethora of suspects and people with dark secrets to hide meant I couldn't guess exactly who was involved so my interest never waned and I kept turning the pages more rapidly to get to the truth of the matter. I also loved the setting of the Scottish Highlands, a place very much close to my heart, and the scenery was described beautifully. Stark but stunning; isolated but vast. It's quite a sad read and explores the complications women can get after giving birth/post-natally. Protagonist Jessie is a competent, intrepid investigator but of course, she has the stereotypical issues a lot of investigators have. The conclusion is a satisfying one, and I look forward to the next instalment. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
September 20, 2019
Detective Jessie Blake #2
Jessie and her team have een sent to investigate the disappearance of baby Findlay. He had been taken from his cot while his mother lay sleeping. Claire suffers from post natal depression and it puts a strain on her marriage to Darren. Has Claire actually hurt her baby by or has someone else abducted him?
This story covers a horrible subject matter. As Jessie investigates, she discovers a web of secrets and lies. Theres a great mix of characters who are well rounded and believable. Theres plenty of drama and lies in this emotional roller coaster read. The further you read, the more the mystery deepens. You don't know what's going to happen next. I ne er saw the ending coming.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Kerry Watts for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jessie and her team have een sent to investigate the disappearance of baby Findlay. He had been taken from his cot while his mother lay sleeping. Claire suffers from post natal depression and it puts a strain on her marriage to Darren. Has Claire actually hurt her baby by or has someone else abducted him?
This story covers a horrible subject matter. As Jessie investigates, she discovers a web of secrets and lies. Theres a great mix of characters who are well rounded and believable. Theres plenty of drama and lies in this emotional roller coaster read. The further you read, the more the mystery deepens. You don't know what's going to happen next. I ne er saw the ending coming.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Kerry Watts for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2019
WOW! When I read
"Heartlands"
, the first novel in the Jessie Blake series by Kerry Watts, I knew that the next book would be even better but WOW! I gave the first one 5 stars...so how can I top that? Because HER MISSING CHILD (previously titled SAFE HOME) is even better than the first!
Darren and Claire Lucas are newly married with a 6 month old son Finlay. However Claire is suffering from post natal depression and finds even the simplest tasks an effort, spending most of her time either crying or sleeping. When Darren returns home from work and sees Claire sleeping on the couch, he decides to go say hello to his little man whose smile brightens up his day. But when he reaches into Finlay's cot, he discovers his son is gone. Vanished. Without a trace.
Panicking, he calls out to Claire, rousing her from her sleep and asking her where's Finlay. But Claire hasn't seen him since she put him down for his nap some hours ago. Distraught, Claire runs to her neighbours who have been a godsend helping Claire out since Finlay's birth, wondering if they have him. But they haven't seen him either. So where could Finlay be?
In the depths of winter, the Scottish weather is bitterly cold with pelting rain and thick snow. So worryingly, if Finlay is somehow out in this weather, he would most certainly not survive the cold.
Detective Inspector Jessie Blake and her partner DS Dylan Logan are called to the scene, acutely aware that unless little Finlay is found this case could end up a traumatic investigation for all involved. But no one could anticipate just how complicated this case would become.
Jessie, more than anyone, knows the pain of losing a child and Finlay's disappearance re-opens old wounds she had long since buried. Added to that, her ex-husband Dan has been messaging her, intent on a reconciliation claiming he has changed. But just a couple of minutes in his presence brings all her old fears back to the surface, undoing years of therapy. When her cat Smokey disappears, I started to envision all sorts of horrible ends for Jessie's closest companion at the hands of her abusive ex. But rest assured, Smokey is fine. *whew*
But is Finlay fine? Can Jessie and Dylan find the baby before it's too late? Just what is Claire's mother hiding? Can the detectives get the priest Father Murray to reveal her secret? And where was Darren really when Finlay went missing? And Claire's sister Theresa, who was seen traipsing through the snow nearby...does she have something to do with Finlay's disappearance?
There is so much happening in HER MISSING CHILD but with its short snappy chapters and clear outline, it was very easy to follow. Unlike a few other books where I have on occasion confused the odd character, there was none of that here. Everyone had a part to play, some small and some major, but each on their own were important to the story and the direction of the investigation. But which one of them is guilty?
I love the untangling of all the secrets and lies that are always feature highly in psychological thrillers and procedurals, and this one is no different. From the reader's perspective we see some secrets but not all, and we watch with baited breath as each of them come to light and unravel before our eyes. And at the risk of sounding slightly unhinged, I'm a real sucker for missing child thrillers and investigations.
HER MISSING CHILD deals with two mental health conditions - post natal depression and bipolar disorder - and Kerry Watts deals with both topics with thought and sensitivity. Although this isn't the first "mother-with-post-natal-depression" story I've read, I think it's the first with bipolar and it added a different dimension to the story. We are left to ponder if that plays a part in the investigation, whilst sympathising at the same time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series but this one is so much more. I have loved Jessie and Dylan from the starts but here they really come into their own. I have enjoyed watching their characters develop as we get further glimpses into their backstories. Where "Heartlands" finished off with Dan watching her flat in the shadows of the night, HER MISSING CHILD ends with even more promise of what's to come. And I can't wait for the third installment in this series to see where it takes us. The tension surrounding Jessie's ex, Dan, is palpable and you just know that's not going to end well as we await the explosion that is sure to come.
Despite being the second in the series, HER MISSING CHILD can be read as a standalone, with snippets into Jessie's past enough to keep you in the loop.
HER MISSING CHILD is everything you could want in a police procedural and more. It has heart and sensitivity, and both Jessie and Dylan are thoroughly likable. I cannot wait to see what Kerry Watts has in store for us next!
Highly recommended.
I would like to thank #KerryWatts, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerMissingChild in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Darren and Claire Lucas are newly married with a 6 month old son Finlay. However Claire is suffering from post natal depression and finds even the simplest tasks an effort, spending most of her time either crying or sleeping. When Darren returns home from work and sees Claire sleeping on the couch, he decides to go say hello to his little man whose smile brightens up his day. But when he reaches into Finlay's cot, he discovers his son is gone. Vanished. Without a trace.
Panicking, he calls out to Claire, rousing her from her sleep and asking her where's Finlay. But Claire hasn't seen him since she put him down for his nap some hours ago. Distraught, Claire runs to her neighbours who have been a godsend helping Claire out since Finlay's birth, wondering if they have him. But they haven't seen him either. So where could Finlay be?
In the depths of winter, the Scottish weather is bitterly cold with pelting rain and thick snow. So worryingly, if Finlay is somehow out in this weather, he would most certainly not survive the cold.
Detective Inspector Jessie Blake and her partner DS Dylan Logan are called to the scene, acutely aware that unless little Finlay is found this case could end up a traumatic investigation for all involved. But no one could anticipate just how complicated this case would become.
Jessie, more than anyone, knows the pain of losing a child and Finlay's disappearance re-opens old wounds she had long since buried. Added to that, her ex-husband Dan has been messaging her, intent on a reconciliation claiming he has changed. But just a couple of minutes in his presence brings all her old fears back to the surface, undoing years of therapy. When her cat Smokey disappears, I started to envision all sorts of horrible ends for Jessie's closest companion at the hands of her abusive ex. But rest assured, Smokey is fine. *whew*
But is Finlay fine? Can Jessie and Dylan find the baby before it's too late? Just what is Claire's mother hiding? Can the detectives get the priest Father Murray to reveal her secret? And where was Darren really when Finlay went missing? And Claire's sister Theresa, who was seen traipsing through the snow nearby...does she have something to do with Finlay's disappearance?
There is so much happening in HER MISSING CHILD but with its short snappy chapters and clear outline, it was very easy to follow. Unlike a few other books where I have on occasion confused the odd character, there was none of that here. Everyone had a part to play, some small and some major, but each on their own were important to the story and the direction of the investigation. But which one of them is guilty?
I love the untangling of all the secrets and lies that are always feature highly in psychological thrillers and procedurals, and this one is no different. From the reader's perspective we see some secrets but not all, and we watch with baited breath as each of them come to light and unravel before our eyes. And at the risk of sounding slightly unhinged, I'm a real sucker for missing child thrillers and investigations.
HER MISSING CHILD deals with two mental health conditions - post natal depression and bipolar disorder - and Kerry Watts deals with both topics with thought and sensitivity. Although this isn't the first "mother-with-post-natal-depression" story I've read, I think it's the first with bipolar and it added a different dimension to the story. We are left to ponder if that plays a part in the investigation, whilst sympathising at the same time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series but this one is so much more. I have loved Jessie and Dylan from the starts but here they really come into their own. I have enjoyed watching their characters develop as we get further glimpses into their backstories. Where "Heartlands" finished off with Dan watching her flat in the shadows of the night, HER MISSING CHILD ends with even more promise of what's to come. And I can't wait for the third installment in this series to see where it takes us. The tension surrounding Jessie's ex, Dan, is palpable and you just know that's not going to end well as we await the explosion that is sure to come.
Despite being the second in the series, HER MISSING CHILD can be read as a standalone, with snippets into Jessie's past enough to keep you in the loop.
HER MISSING CHILD is everything you could want in a police procedural and more. It has heart and sensitivity, and both Jessie and Dylan are thoroughly likable. I cannot wait to see what Kerry Watts has in store for us next!
Highly recommended.
I would like to thank #KerryWatts, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerMissingChild in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 4, 2019
Thank you NetGalley for the Kindle Arc of "Her Missing Child"!!! I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read this. This ticked off all of the things that I love in a good mystery. It was fast paced & attention grabbing. There were some loveable & some not so loveable characters, & my all time favorite PLOT TWISTS. This novel included a lot of things that that people go through like postpartum depression & mental illness. There were other dynamics to the story which I wont divulge because I don't want to ruin the shock value, or the mystery element. I look forward to reading more from this author soon. Great job Mrs. Watts!!!
September 26, 2019
Wow! The action in this book just did not stop!
There are a few characters in this book, but they all play a pivotal role with a few red herrings in there too!
I just didn't want to finish it as it was so good and so well played out.
I can see this as crime drama mini series, especially with the glorious snowy setting of Scotland, which Kerry describes so well.
I was rooting for Jessie all the way through, you can't help but like her, Isla and Dylan,
So looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley, Kerry Watts and Bookouture for such a good old down to earth crime drama. Brilliant!!!!!!
There are a few characters in this book, but they all play a pivotal role with a few red herrings in there too!
I just didn't want to finish it as it was so good and so well played out.
I can see this as crime drama mini series, especially with the glorious snowy setting of Scotland, which Kerry describes so well.
I was rooting for Jessie all the way through, you can't help but like her, Isla and Dylan,
So looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley, Kerry Watts and Bookouture for such a good old down to earth crime drama. Brilliant!!!!!!
September 15, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy...
Wow! Lots of secret in small town..it’s amazing book to read..
Looking forward to read more book series from this author soon...
Wow! Lots of secret in small town..it’s amazing book to read..
Looking forward to read more book series from this author soon...
November 2, 2019
Although this is the second book to feature Detective Jessie Blake, it can easily be read a stand alone. After reading this book I intend to go back and read the first, Heartlands.
Kerry has created an engaging, and at times, very emotional crime thriller. I felt very sorry for Claire and everything she suffers when she and her husband discover their baby, Finlay, has been snatched from their home.
I liked how parts of Jessie's personal life were mixed up with the main story, and how past events were obviously affecting her thoughts and feelings about the the investigation into Finlay's disappearance.
I hope there's more to come from Jessie. She's a really interesting character. I also hope that more people discover Kerry's writing as she's produced an excellent piece of crime fiction with this story.
Kerry has created an engaging, and at times, very emotional crime thriller. I felt very sorry for Claire and everything she suffers when she and her husband discover their baby, Finlay, has been snatched from their home.
I liked how parts of Jessie's personal life were mixed up with the main story, and how past events were obviously affecting her thoughts and feelings about the the investigation into Finlay's disappearance.
I hope there's more to come from Jessie. She's a really interesting character. I also hope that more people discover Kerry's writing as she's produced an excellent piece of crime fiction with this story.
October 31, 2022
4.5 stars
Loving this new series by Kerry Watts. Was great to catch up with Detective Jessie Blake again in this 2nd instalment.
Domestic drama.
A zillion characters, haha ok, perhaps just a dozen.
A missing infant.
Post natal depression (handled delicately)
suspects aplenty.
Truck load of red herrings (no, not the fishy kind, lol)
A loony ex one could do without.
Fast paced, unpredictable, solid police procedural.
Excellent audiobook, read by Gillian Hay
Loving this new series by Kerry Watts. Was great to catch up with Detective Jessie Blake again in this 2nd instalment.
Domestic drama.
A zillion characters, haha ok, perhaps just a dozen.
A missing infant.
Post natal depression (handled delicately)
suspects aplenty.
Truck load of red herrings (no, not the fishy kind, lol)
A loony ex one could do without.
Fast paced, unpredictable, solid police procedural.
Excellent audiobook, read by Gillian Hay
September 11, 2019
This was a police procedural with a heart, pure and simple. That was the only thought that came to me after reading this book.
The premise was simple, a 6 month old child disappeared from his cot while mom was sleeping. Police were called in, investigation started, and numerous characters and their interlinks were exposed.
My first book by author Kerry Watts, though second in the series, Detective Jessie Blake was capable of standing on her own without knowing the details of book 1. The author's writing made it easy to understand the characters. Frankly speaking, I didn't even remember this was book 2. I didn't need to. The book was complete.
Where this book differed from other police procedurals was that this dealt more with the psyche of the characters and thorough investigation by the cops. Every single open subplot was tied up with a pretty bow. Every action taken by the cops was shown to me.
The story went through its own turmoils where highs and dips in the plot were written well with shocking gasps. Jessie's personal life too made its appearance with hints of loss of life and love. Camaderie and professionalism were well embedded in the team. But it was Jessie who stole the show, strong and vulnerable.
Then came my niggles, the book was interesting, no doubt, but slow. At least I felt so, as my real life kept intruding. Some characters were actually not needed, so I felt.
But those were minor points. It was Jessie who pulled me into the book as she did signify a safe home to rest my wandering mind. A fun read, overall.
The premise was simple, a 6 month old child disappeared from his cot while mom was sleeping. Police were called in, investigation started, and numerous characters and their interlinks were exposed.
My first book by author Kerry Watts, though second in the series, Detective Jessie Blake was capable of standing on her own without knowing the details of book 1. The author's writing made it easy to understand the characters. Frankly speaking, I didn't even remember this was book 2. I didn't need to. The book was complete.
Where this book differed from other police procedurals was that this dealt more with the psyche of the characters and thorough investigation by the cops. Every single open subplot was tied up with a pretty bow. Every action taken by the cops was shown to me.
The story went through its own turmoils where highs and dips in the plot were written well with shocking gasps. Jessie's personal life too made its appearance with hints of loss of life and love. Camaderie and professionalism were well embedded in the team. But it was Jessie who stole the show, strong and vulnerable.
Then came my niggles, the book was interesting, no doubt, but slow. At least I felt so, as my real life kept intruding. Some characters were actually not needed, so I felt.
But those were minor points. It was Jessie who pulled me into the book as she did signify a safe home to rest my wandering mind. A fun read, overall.
September 25, 2019
DI Jessica Blake and her colleague, DC Dylan Logan, investigate the case of a missing 6-month-old baby boy, Finlay Lucas. The detectives of Police Scotland are stymied by a mother who suffers from post-natal depression and can't remember anything and her husband, the baby's father, who has some secrets which make answering questions a tad bit difficult. Who took the baby from his cot and where is he? NO SPOILERS.
This wasn't the typical police procedural involving a kidnapped child. There are a lot of different characters and, at first, they are hard to keep track of as they are introduced into the narrative. Along with the usual police activities, there is an incredible amount of domestic drama between the spouses, relatives, friends and neighbors. Blake and Logan are assisted by PC Isla Wilde, who initially was acting as the family liaison officer to Darren and Claire Lucas, but who wants to be a detective and acquits herself well. The story is propelled by quite a bit of action as everyone seems to be a possible suspect. I admit to being a bit surprised by who did what to whom as the red herrings were appropriately misleading. I enjoyed this second in the series more than the first and especially liked learning more about the personal history of Jessica Blake and definitely am intrigued to see what happens for her next. The case is eventually brought to a satisfying conclusion and I'll be looking for the third installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This wasn't the typical police procedural involving a kidnapped child. There are a lot of different characters and, at first, they are hard to keep track of as they are introduced into the narrative. Along with the usual police activities, there is an incredible amount of domestic drama between the spouses, relatives, friends and neighbors. Blake and Logan are assisted by PC Isla Wilde, who initially was acting as the family liaison officer to Darren and Claire Lucas, but who wants to be a detective and acquits herself well. The story is propelled by quite a bit of action as everyone seems to be a possible suspect. I admit to being a bit surprised by who did what to whom as the red herrings were appropriately misleading. I enjoyed this second in the series more than the first and especially liked learning more about the personal history of Jessica Blake and definitely am intrigued to see what happens for her next. The case is eventually brought to a satisfying conclusion and I'll be looking for the third installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
October 2, 2019
From the title, it's clear that this book will deal with some difficult subjects; a missing child being one of the most difficult things a parent will ever have to deal with. There are some cleverly-drawn suspects including the mother, who is suffering from post-natal depression, her sister who is bipolar, the neighbour who is still grieving the loss of her own child, amongst others.
The mental health issues are portrayed sympathetically although it seems just about every character is suffering from some kind of problem. Just to balance this out, there are threats to the baby's grandfather from the family of a girl he killed in a drunken accident. All this ramps up the psychological tension and certainly kept me turning the pages.
If you then add in the reappearance of the investigating officer's ex-husband then this is a complex, multi-layered psychological thriller.
I enjoyed the plot and the character development. The ending does manage to come as a surprise and the reader is left thinking any one of the suspects could have done it right to the very end.
The mental health issues are portrayed sympathetically although it seems just about every character is suffering from some kind of problem. Just to balance this out, there are threats to the baby's grandfather from the family of a girl he killed in a drunken accident. All this ramps up the psychological tension and certainly kept me turning the pages.
If you then add in the reappearance of the investigating officer's ex-husband then this is a complex, multi-layered psychological thriller.
I enjoyed the plot and the character development. The ending does manage to come as a surprise and the reader is left thinking any one of the suspects could have done it right to the very end.
September 28, 2019
This is the second book to feature Detective Jessie Blake, but I found it easy to read as a stand-alone.
Baby Finlay has disappeared. Who could have taken him ?
Jessie and her partner Dylan are tasked with leading the investigation, in what could be a heartbreaking case.
With many characters, this has an intensity that fits with the fraught plot. It covers the many emotions of those affected by a missing child and mental health issues in such a compassionate way too.
While spending all her time on this case, Jessie is also having to deal with an abusive ex, adding to the tension.
A clever plot, full of emotions and tension, in a solid police procedural. A thoughtful and gripping read.
Thank you to Bookouture for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Baby Finlay has disappeared. Who could have taken him ?
Jessie and her partner Dylan are tasked with leading the investigation, in what could be a heartbreaking case.
With many characters, this has an intensity that fits with the fraught plot. It covers the many emotions of those affected by a missing child and mental health issues in such a compassionate way too.
While spending all her time on this case, Jessie is also having to deal with an abusive ex, adding to the tension.
A clever plot, full of emotions and tension, in a solid police procedural. A thoughtful and gripping read.
Thank you to Bookouture for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
October 8, 2019
Packed with secrets, lies & plenty of action. Once I got into the story I couldn't put it down. The ending was a little flat for me, but altogether a great read.
January 23, 2020
Combine a good sprinkling of mystery, secrets, scandal, drama and lies and you end up with Her Missing Child by Kerry Watts.
Not having read the first book in this series - Heartlands - I had no real expectations beyond the description outline. I am pleased to say that I found it completely intriguing and compelling!
Darren and Claire Lucas are newly-weds with a six-month-old son Finlay. However, Claire is suffering from post natal depression and finds even the simplest tasks an effort. Returning home from work one day, Darren goes to see his son in his cot, but he discovers that Finlay has vanished. Detective Inspector Jessie Blake and her colleague DS Dylan Logan, are called to the scene, acutely aware that unless little Finlay is found, this case could end up being a traumatic investigation for all involved.
There was a fairly large number of characters to get to grips with but they all had a place and a role to play and were important to the story. There was so much happening but with its short, snappy chapters and clear outline, it was a very easy story to follow. Cleverly crafted, the mystery deepened with every chapter and I didn’t know who to trust or what was going to happen next. I loved the untangling of all the secrets and lies in this delightful police procedural.
Her Missing Child covered the difficult subject of mental health, adding dimension to the story and Kerry Watts handled this topic with thought and sensitivity. The book can be read as a standalone and the snippets into Jessie's past were just enough to keep me in the loop. Both Jessie and Dylan were both thoroughly likeable characters and I cannot wait to see what Kerry Watts has in store, next. The ending took me completely by surprise and I had not expected the story to conclude that way.
I have no hesitation in recommending Her Missing Child to fans of the genre.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Not having read the first book in this series - Heartlands - I had no real expectations beyond the description outline. I am pleased to say that I found it completely intriguing and compelling!
Darren and Claire Lucas are newly-weds with a six-month-old son Finlay. However, Claire is suffering from post natal depression and finds even the simplest tasks an effort. Returning home from work one day, Darren goes to see his son in his cot, but he discovers that Finlay has vanished. Detective Inspector Jessie Blake and her colleague DS Dylan Logan, are called to the scene, acutely aware that unless little Finlay is found, this case could end up being a traumatic investigation for all involved.
There was a fairly large number of characters to get to grips with but they all had a place and a role to play and were important to the story. There was so much happening but with its short, snappy chapters and clear outline, it was a very easy story to follow. Cleverly crafted, the mystery deepened with every chapter and I didn’t know who to trust or what was going to happen next. I loved the untangling of all the secrets and lies in this delightful police procedural.
Her Missing Child covered the difficult subject of mental health, adding dimension to the story and Kerry Watts handled this topic with thought and sensitivity. The book can be read as a standalone and the snippets into Jessie's past were just enough to keep me in the loop. Both Jessie and Dylan were both thoroughly likeable characters and I cannot wait to see what Kerry Watts has in store, next. The ending took me completely by surprise and I had not expected the story to conclude that way.
I have no hesitation in recommending Her Missing Child to fans of the genre.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
September 19, 2019
Safe Home by Kerry Watts
Series: Detective Jessie Blake #2
Publisher: Bookouture
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for the ebook ARC of Safe Home by Kerry Watts in exchange for an honest review.
Claire laid her baby boy in his cot and shortly fell asleep after. She doesn’t hear the door opening or the footsteps on the stairs.
Claire Lucas is woken when her husband, Darren asks where their baby boy is. She is dazed and confused. When she follows there and into Finley’s room, he is missing. The only thing left in his cot, is his teddy bear. Detective Jessie Blake rushes to the family’s modern home in the rugged Scottish highlands. She notices instantly that Darren avoids eye contact and Claire seems disconnected. Jessie knows their is no normal for losing a child, but something doesn’t feel right.
As a ghost of Jessie’s past comes back to haunt her, she must put aside her own personal tragedy to save baby Finley.
I give this book a rating of 4 stars. I recommend reading this book. I did not read the first book in the series. This was a very good book which was able to be read as a stand alone book. There was many twists and turns that I did not see coming.
#SafeHome #NetGalley
Series: Detective Jessie Blake #2
Publisher: Bookouture
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for the ebook ARC of Safe Home by Kerry Watts in exchange for an honest review.
Claire laid her baby boy in his cot and shortly fell asleep after. She doesn’t hear the door opening or the footsteps on the stairs.
Claire Lucas is woken when her husband, Darren asks where their baby boy is. She is dazed and confused. When she follows there and into Finley’s room, he is missing. The only thing left in his cot, is his teddy bear. Detective Jessie Blake rushes to the family’s modern home in the rugged Scottish highlands. She notices instantly that Darren avoids eye contact and Claire seems disconnected. Jessie knows their is no normal for losing a child, but something doesn’t feel right.
As a ghost of Jessie’s past comes back to haunt her, she must put aside her own personal tragedy to save baby Finley.
I give this book a rating of 4 stars. I recommend reading this book. I did not read the first book in the series. This was a very good book which was able to be read as a stand alone book. There was many twists and turns that I did not see coming.
#SafeHome #NetGalley
September 27, 2019
This is a kind of story where you could easily have pulled the sofa I was sitting in from under me and I would not have noticed in the slighest.
I am often engrossed in a book, but when it’s about a child, it touches me in a different way. I suppose it’s because I am a mum too and you can better relate to the feelings of the parents? I see the the teddy bear on the cover and already my heart starts to break.
Not only does DI Blake have to uncover a murderer but she also has her own problems she has to battle against.
She has a whole basket filled with suspects to choose from, but who is the right one? One moment the clues point her in one direction, the next in a different one.
The police seems at a loss, but then there is the breakthrough … Can relationships be mended again or is there no way back?
Thank you, Kerry Watts and Bookouture (via Netgalley)
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
I am often engrossed in a book, but when it’s about a child, it touches me in a different way. I suppose it’s because I am a mum too and you can better relate to the feelings of the parents? I see the the teddy bear on the cover and already my heart starts to break.
Not only does DI Blake have to uncover a murderer but she also has her own problems she has to battle against.
She has a whole basket filled with suspects to choose from, but who is the right one? One moment the clues point her in one direction, the next in a different one.
The police seems at a loss, but then there is the breakthrough … Can relationships be mended again or is there no way back?
Thank you, Kerry Watts and Bookouture (via Netgalley)
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
October 4, 2019
Claire is struggling after the birth of her baby son. All she wants to do is sleep. When Darren comes home from work, as usual he finds Claire snoozing on the couch. He goes to cuddle his son & finds his cot empty- any parent's worst nightmare. DI Jessie Blake is called to investigate & before long it is clear all is not as it seems.
This is the second in the series. I wasn't wild about the first one, but I thought the series had promise. I'm glad I stuck with it because I found this one much more satisfying. I did still find that there was rather an overload of characters to keep track of. This was a good read & I'm already looking forward to Book 3! Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book.
This is the second in the series. I wasn't wild about the first one, but I thought the series had promise. I'm glad I stuck with it because I found this one much more satisfying. I did still find that there was rather an overload of characters to keep track of. This was a good read & I'm already looking forward to Book 3! Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book.
November 24, 2019
Wow, another author I’m going to be on the lookout for!
At the beginning I got very confused with the vast number of characters and their individual storylines. I also don’t personally feel what happened to baby Finlay after the fact was entirely necessary, it felt a little unsavoury in an already upsetting situation. There are so many ‘twists’ in this book to keep you on your toes; one or two too many? I’m not sure.
The post natal depression angle was portrayed very well.
When I got this book I didn’t realise it was part of a series and I’m excited to go and get book 1 as I really like Jessie & Dylan’s characters and their relationship. I also want to know more about Jessie’s ex husband and how she lost her son, which isn’t covered in this second book.
At the beginning I got very confused with the vast number of characters and their individual storylines. I also don’t personally feel what happened to baby Finlay after the fact was entirely necessary, it felt a little unsavoury in an already upsetting situation. There are so many ‘twists’ in this book to keep you on your toes; one or two too many? I’m not sure.
The post natal depression angle was portrayed very well.
When I got this book I didn’t realise it was part of a series and I’m excited to go and get book 1 as I really like Jessie & Dylan’s characters and their relationship. I also want to know more about Jessie’s ex husband and how she lost her son, which isn’t covered in this second book.
September 25, 2019
This is a heart wrenching crime thriller.
It centres around a six month old baby who has been taken from his cot.
Jessie and the team are keen to find out what’s happened to him and soon realise that not everyone is being truthful with them.
Baby Finlay’s parents are devastated and it really pulled on my heartstrings.
There’s quite a lot of characters under suspicion and I liked the way the story unfolded, revealing more and more about their lives.
This is a gripping read that ends on a cliffhanger, so I can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
It centres around a six month old baby who has been taken from his cot.
Jessie and the team are keen to find out what’s happened to him and soon realise that not everyone is being truthful with them.
Baby Finlay’s parents are devastated and it really pulled on my heartstrings.
There’s quite a lot of characters under suspicion and I liked the way the story unfolded, revealing more and more about their lives.
This is a gripping read that ends on a cliffhanger, so I can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 25, 2019
Detective Jessie Blake is back with Dylan her Dc, called to the case of a missing baby. Finlay’s mum is suffering from PND, his daddy is having an affair and they are just crumbling. Enter a close extended family Who are silent and protecting someone.
Eek this was so engrossing. I devoured it over a day. The backstory with Jessie is so intriguing. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Eek this was so engrossing. I devoured it over a day. The backstory with Jessie is so intriguing. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
October 10, 2019
Although this is book 2 in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I was wowed by the author's style, every chapter left me hanging, wanting more. Just when you think you have it all worked out another twist has you going in a completely different direction. This was story-telling at its best. It had me gasping out loud and left a lump in my throat. The best book I have read so far this year!
October 14, 2019
Another great read from Kerry Watts. Her Missing Child is a brilliant thrilling, nerve wracking read and is, 2nd in the Detective Jessie Blake series. A missing child is every parents worst nightmare and this plot was gripping. but sensitively written. I raced through this book as I just had to know the outcome and what had happened to missing child, Finlay.. Written so well that many emotions were involved. Look forward to reading more from this author.
November 20, 2019
What I love about this author’s work is the surety with which she moulds her characters, knowing perfectly each strength & weakness, pulling on these strings to manipulate the storyline & executing it perfectly. This is a tragic case, littered with raw emotion & tense psychological scenes, keeping the reader hanging until the last moment. I suspected everyone yet failed to nail the right perpetrator, a sign that Watts delivered another perfect crime thriller.
January 16, 2020
Another fabulous and twisty read from one of my favourite authors. I absolutely loved this heartbreaking, emotional book and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
April 9, 2021
This was a solid police procedural, and deals with a baby missing from his cot. This is the second book in this series and some of the same issues I had with the first book were present in this one-lots of characters. However, with this book, it wasn't as big of an issue as it was in the first. They weren't superfluous to the story, but I felt so many possible perps was more to add confusion and hide the real one rather than my usual reads that can achieve this objective with a lot less. Still, I read this all the way through, and while I did correctly guess before the reveal, I did enjoy it.
October 3, 2019
Solid police procedural, but not a thriller, some suspense. Lots of angst & family drama.
This Scottish police procedural has a solid storyline with numerous family drama subplots, including that of DI Jessica Blake’s personal life. The case: Claire and Darren Lucas’ six-month-old son has been taken from his crib. DI Jessica Blake and her team have suspects-aplenty, not to mention good red herrings. Example: the missing infant’s parents are troubled, as are the members of their extended families and friends—all of whom are suspicious to the police or have shady backgrounds. There’s also a ham-fisted attempt to draw attention to a specific character. There are about forty characters in this book—often tossed in as word salad—so it helps to read this on a Kindle with X-Ray. More so, because the author loves “D” names—Dianne, Dylan, Darren, Dan, etc. Also: Colin, Carol, Claire, Capello.
Because this police procedural is laden with family drama, it needs to be balanced with more police work, procedures, and actions. There’s minimal forensics, a few ME-related scenes, but almost no interface with police technology.
I usually don’t have problems reading books out of order in a police procedural series. Authors slide in background information, so characters and situations can be intuited. This is the second book—not the sixth or eleventh—in a series, so it shouldn’t be difficult to slip in information from the first book. I’m a crime fiction fan, but I had questions whilst linking characters and events. Example: DI Blake’s ex-husband and child.
At the denouement, the murder threads are neatly tied off, but Jessie’s personal drama w her ex-husband is TBC, possibly through the series.
I am interested in reading more by this author.
August 23, 2019
4.5 stars for me !
This book will grab your from page one to the last page. It will have you thinking and guessing: who is innocent , who is covering up , who is guilty.
All the characters have a story of their own.
This is the second book in the series of Detective Jessica Blake who has a past of her own.
The ending left me wanting more in this series. I have gone to purchase the first book, Heartlands as I want to know more about Jessie and what her story is .
Give this series and this book for sure a read !!
I know its a good read when hours later I am still thinking about the book.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for allowing me to help solve the case; not well mind you !!
This book will grab your from page one to the last page. It will have you thinking and guessing: who is innocent , who is covering up , who is guilty.
All the characters have a story of their own.
This is the second book in the series of Detective Jessica Blake who has a past of her own.
The ending left me wanting more in this series. I have gone to purchase the first book, Heartlands as I want to know more about Jessie and what her story is .
Give this series and this book for sure a read !!
I know its a good read when hours later I am still thinking about the book.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for allowing me to help solve the case; not well mind you !!
June 30, 2021
I didn't enjoy this very much. I'm not sure I realized that it was second in a series. Possibly I didn't have enough background information. I didn't connect with the main characters, and the main crime story was just very depressing.
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