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Detective Dove Milson #2
The Ice Daughters
AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS THE BODY COUNT RISES
Firefighters race to put out a blaze at a remote farm-house, only to discover two young girls alone in the house.
Their mother is gone — and in her place is the dead body of a man, frozen into a foetal position. Two chess pieces made of ice are arranged on her doorstep. Then it happens again. A missing woman. A frozen body. Chess pieces made of ice.
DC Dove Milson and her team are on the case, but time is running out to stop the killer. Then ice sculptures are left outside her front door.
Is this check or checkmate?
Firefighters race to put out a blaze at a remote farm-house, only to discover two young girls alone in the house.
Their mother is gone — and in her place is the dead body of a man, frozen into a foetal position. Two chess pieces made of ice are arranged on her doorstep. Then it happens again. A missing woman. A frozen body. Chess pieces made of ice.
DC Dove Milson and her team are on the case, but time is running out to stop the killer. Then ice sculptures are left outside her front door.
Is this check or checkmate?
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2020
552 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
About the author
D.E. White
24 books97 followersPseudonym for author Daisy White
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 16, 2020
"Three little girls went out to play, but only two came home that day..."
A fire at a remote home, two young girls alone in the home, their mother is missing and the body of a frozen man if found leaves DC Dove Milson and her team searching for answers. It is cold, the snow is falling, and the body count is on the rise.
Where is the missing woman? How was the frozen man killed? Who could be behind all of this?
This is book two in the series but worked well as a stand-alone book for me. Another strong and interesting female protagonist (Dove) leads her team as they put clues together, search for the missing woman and determine who has something to hide, how is lying, and who is not telling the whole truth. As things get dire, and the snow keeps falling, will they make it out of this investigation alive?
This was an interesting police procedural that did get slow in parts for me. Having said that I did enjoy it and believe that those who enjoy a good police procedural will enjoy this one. Most reviewers are enjoying this slightly more than I did. Read their reviews as well.
One strong part for me was the italicized sections, these had me on my toes wondering whose POV that was. I also enjoyed the camaraderie of the team. There are a few twists and turns along the way and things pick up speed and get interesting toward the end of the book.
As I mentioned, I have not read the first book in the series but moving forward I would be interested in reading the next book. This series shows promise, and I will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
I received a copy of this book from Joffe Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A fire at a remote home, two young girls alone in the home, their mother is missing and the body of a frozen man if found leaves DC Dove Milson and her team searching for answers. It is cold, the snow is falling, and the body count is on the rise.
Where is the missing woman? How was the frozen man killed? Who could be behind all of this?
This is book two in the series but worked well as a stand-alone book for me. Another strong and interesting female protagonist (Dove) leads her team as they put clues together, search for the missing woman and determine who has something to hide, how is lying, and who is not telling the whole truth. As things get dire, and the snow keeps falling, will they make it out of this investigation alive?
This was an interesting police procedural that did get slow in parts for me. Having said that I did enjoy it and believe that those who enjoy a good police procedural will enjoy this one. Most reviewers are enjoying this slightly more than I did. Read their reviews as well.
One strong part for me was the italicized sections, these had me on my toes wondering whose POV that was. I also enjoyed the camaraderie of the team. There are a few twists and turns along the way and things pick up speed and get interesting toward the end of the book.
As I mentioned, I have not read the first book in the series but moving forward I would be interested in reading the next book. This series shows promise, and I will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
I received a copy of this book from Joffe Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 2, 2021
The follow- up to GLASS DOLLS is the even more intriguing. ICE DAUGHTERS. Which could be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the books in order. If for no other reason than Glass Dolls is a fantastic book in its own right.
You are gripped on the first page, and pulled at a fast pace, sneaking time to read whenever you can to find out what is going on. Don’t worry about Christmas, birthdays, pandemic news, just read another chapter whenever you can.
Dove Milson’s thought processes are very interesting possibly, shaped by her unconventional upbringing. I loved the italicized sections, as they had me wondering whose POV that was. The team work well together, with great camaraderie. A wonderfully intricate plot, that introduces varied suspects, as it gains momentum. A refreshingly original story with a very clever plot that that takes you back to WW2 and experiments done at Dachau in the name of science. along the way. The suspense builds throughout, twisting and turning leading up to a surprising, explosive conclusion.
Overall an entertaining, absorbing, cleverly plotted and engrossing story. Which makes an easy and thoroughly enjoyable read, leaving you wanting much more. Please say there will be a 3rd book.
You are gripped on the first page, and pulled at a fast pace, sneaking time to read whenever you can to find out what is going on. Don’t worry about Christmas, birthdays, pandemic news, just read another chapter whenever you can.
Dove Milson’s thought processes are very interesting possibly, shaped by her unconventional upbringing. I loved the italicized sections, as they had me wondering whose POV that was. The team work well together, with great camaraderie. A wonderfully intricate plot, that introduces varied suspects, as it gains momentum. A refreshingly original story with a very clever plot that that takes you back to WW2 and experiments done at Dachau in the name of science. along the way. The suspense builds throughout, twisting and turning leading up to a surprising, explosive conclusion.
Overall an entertaining, absorbing, cleverly plotted and engrossing story. Which makes an easy and thoroughly enjoyable read, leaving you wanting much more. Please say there will be a 3rd book.
December 15, 2020
A house ablaze, a dead man frozen in the snow and a missing mother triggers a police investigation. This is the second in the DC Milson detective series, as a systematic police procedure unfolds. Whilst the crime has links to the past, the snow continues to fall and the humanity of the police team makes for a real strength of narrative. A welcome addition to the crime genre with its strong detective team and a worthy four-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes.
December 15, 2020
DC Dove Milson #2
Firefighters race to put out a blaze at a remote farmhouse only to discover two young girls alone in the house. There's no sign of their mother but in her place in the body of a man, frozen into the foetal position. Two chess pieces made of ice are arranged on the doorstep. Then it happens again. A woman missing, a frozen body and chess pieces made from ice. DC Dove Milson and her team are investigating.
What a bizarre case this island this time it gets a little more personal for Dove. There is a few references to the previous book in this series but I do think it could still be read as a standalone. The story pulled me in from page one. It's full of twists and the suspense builds throughout. There's plenty of suspects to choose from. This Is a well written and gripping read. I loved it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #DEWhite for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Firefighters race to put out a blaze at a remote farmhouse only to discover two young girls alone in the house. There's no sign of their mother but in her place in the body of a man, frozen into the foetal position. Two chess pieces made of ice are arranged on the doorstep. Then it happens again. A woman missing, a frozen body and chess pieces made from ice. DC Dove Milson and her team are investigating.
What a bizarre case this island this time it gets a little more personal for Dove. There is a few references to the previous book in this series but I do think it could still be read as a standalone. The story pulled me in from page one. It's full of twists and the suspense builds throughout. There's plenty of suspects to choose from. This Is a well written and gripping read. I loved it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #DEWhite for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2025
Although this book could be read as a standalone I really recommend reading them in order as this book does contain spoilers from the first.
The second book does begin to peel back the layers in terms of more character development and once again was a very easy read with twists
The second book does begin to peel back the layers in terms of more character development and once again was a very easy read with twists
December 22, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers Jeffe Books.
The Ice Daughters is the second book in the Detective Dove Milson series and is just as fantastic as book one.
The story starts out at a farm house out in the country. The barn is ablaze and two young girls are alone at the house. Their mother seems to have been abducted and the detectives find a chess piece made of ice along with a scattering of ice cubes on the step along with the frozen body of a man.
From this point, a fast paced, psychological crime story unravels and leaves you desperate to learn who the killer and abductor is. How do the pieces slot together? Who's guilty, who's involved, who's next?
This series is starting out superbly and I cannot wait to read the next installment. I also love the fact this book series is set so close to where I live!
The Ice Daughters is the second book in the Detective Dove Milson series and is just as fantastic as book one.
The story starts out at a farm house out in the country. The barn is ablaze and two young girls are alone at the house. Their mother seems to have been abducted and the detectives find a chess piece made of ice along with a scattering of ice cubes on the step along with the frozen body of a man.
From this point, a fast paced, psychological crime story unravels and leaves you desperate to learn who the killer and abductor is. How do the pieces slot together? Who's guilty, who's involved, who's next?
This series is starting out superbly and I cannot wait to read the next installment. I also love the fact this book series is set so close to where I live!
December 15, 2020
The Ice Daughters is the second instalment in the Detective Constable Dove Milson series, set in Southern England. It's winter and many police employees are suffering from flu, vastly reducing the workforce, when DC Milson and partner DS Steve Parker, of the Major Crimes Team, are called out to a crime scene at a small, remote farmhouse in Eversham, overshadowed by trees with a wooden gate leading out to the slightly dilapidated farm buildings. Opposite the gate lay the body of a man on the concrete yard. The man was curled in a foetal position and his naked body was frosted with ice crystals, his hair spiked white in the harsh floodlights. There's one thing for sure, time of death would not be able to be determined through his body temperature. In the near distance, the blackened side of an outbuilding showed where a fire had been with the charred remains sending out a rank, sour smell of smoke across the icy air. The fire had been reported to the fire service at 3.20 by resident Tessa Jackson, who was seemingly concerned about her livestock, and is now missing. Her two daughters, Cerys and her older sister, Allison, were found safe in the farmhouse and taken to stay with their aunt Callie Jackson.
Then while investigating the property, just outside the door, on the first step, they discover a peculiar arrangement. Carved from ice, no more than six inches high, a king and queen like those from a chess set stood proudly, surrounded by a pile of scattered ice cubes. What exactly does this strange concoction of crimes mean and can the team unravel what is going on before more people get hurt? It doesn't take long before another woman vanishes, a frozen body is found and the creepy replica chess pieces take centre stage once again. This is a riveting, captivating, and exciting police procedural with one of the most mysterious and compulsive plots I've read recently, and I am always a fan of a strong female protagonist so to see the great and efficient dynamic between Dove and the wider police team is a real treat. White makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue and a killer hellbent on gaining revenge. An entertaining and absorbing, clever and engrossing story, which is an easy and thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
Then while investigating the property, just outside the door, on the first step, they discover a peculiar arrangement. Carved from ice, no more than six inches high, a king and queen like those from a chess set stood proudly, surrounded by a pile of scattered ice cubes. What exactly does this strange concoction of crimes mean and can the team unravel what is going on before more people get hurt? It doesn't take long before another woman vanishes, a frozen body is found and the creepy replica chess pieces take centre stage once again. This is a riveting, captivating, and exciting police procedural with one of the most mysterious and compulsive plots I've read recently, and I am always a fan of a strong female protagonist so to see the great and efficient dynamic between Dove and the wider police team is a real treat. White makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue and a killer hellbent on gaining revenge. An entertaining and absorbing, clever and engrossing story, which is an easy and thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
December 17, 2020
A fire is set to draw the woman out .... a naked dead man is in her yard ... two chess pieces of ice are on the doorstep ... the woman disappears, leaving her two young children alone in the house.
And then another crime scene ... eerily just like the last one.
Where are these women? Who are the dead men in their yards? Why the ice chess pieces? Were the men killed before ..or after .. they were frozen?
DC Dove Milson and her team are investigating, but because a flu epidemic has wiped out half the police force, everything is moving at a snail's pace.
And then there are ice chess pieces left on her own doorstep. Has she come to close to solving the puzzles? Is this a warning .. or a threat?
This follow- up to GLASS DOLLS is intriguing. ICE DAUGHTERS is easily read as a stand alone, although I recommend reading the books in order.
The intricate plot moves at a fast pace, gathering varied suspects. I enjoyed the thought processes that run through Milson's mind, as well as how well her team works together. There are a few twists and turns that lead to a surprising, explosive conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 3, 2020
Book Two, D S Dove Milson,
Three little girls went out to play, but only two came home that day...
A naked body is found, frosted with ice crystals, hair spiked white, in the harsh floodlights.
D C Dove Milson and partner D S Steve Parker were on the scene in Eversham, it looks like he has just came out of a freezer, lay at the garden gate beside the barns that were reported on fire by Tessa Jackson who has now gone missing leaving her two daughters home alone after calling her sister Callie Jackson to come a take care of the girls maybe she can shed some light on the identity of the body.
More is about to unfold as you read on. Tessa has fled from Manchester from her ex husband Kevin Hibbs could he be involved she has to be found, pieces now need to be put together.
this book sends lots of shivers down my spine, This is going to be tough case to solve, and I was kept guessing all the way through, Gripping so gripping you wont put it down.
and it will leave you with an ending looking forward to a hell of a party, bring on book three now I love this series, Glass Dolls and The Ice Daughters so whats next?
Three little girls went out to play, but only two came home that day...
A naked body is found, frosted with ice crystals, hair spiked white, in the harsh floodlights.
D C Dove Milson and partner D S Steve Parker were on the scene in Eversham, it looks like he has just came out of a freezer, lay at the garden gate beside the barns that were reported on fire by Tessa Jackson who has now gone missing leaving her two daughters home alone after calling her sister Callie Jackson to come a take care of the girls maybe she can shed some light on the identity of the body.
More is about to unfold as you read on. Tessa has fled from Manchester from her ex husband Kevin Hibbs could he be involved she has to be found, pieces now need to be put together.
this book sends lots of shivers down my spine, This is going to be tough case to solve, and I was kept guessing all the way through, Gripping so gripping you wont put it down.
and it will leave you with an ending looking forward to a hell of a party, bring on book three now I love this series, Glass Dolls and The Ice Daughters so whats next?
December 19, 2020
DC Dove and her team are investigating a strange case: a fire in a barn, a frozen naked man, and a missing mother from the property. And this is just the beginning, more frozen bodies will show.
The experiments from WW II are, eventually, explaining all the dead bodies.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this free copy.
The experiments from WW II are, eventually, explaining all the dead bodies.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this free copy.
Want to read
December 6, 2020DC Dove Milson has her hands full when she arrives at the scene of a fire. A small fire has been extinguished in an outbuilding on a farm, a man has been found frozen, and the woman who lives there is missing. Have three crimes been committed and if so why? As the body count rises and the temperature continues to plummet, DC Milson and her team have more potential suspects than ice cubes in a freezer.
A very complex mystery that may be tied to something that happened long ago. Besides dealing with the snow and ice, it seems that most of the investigating team are sick with the flu. It makes for an interesting mix of characters alongside DC Dove and I was pretty impressed that none of the investigations was lost as the team changed often. ( As an aside, it made me think of how difficult it must be to be a police officer, detective, or health care worker with Covid-19 running rampant. Nothing to do with the story, but it made me appreciate how hard these jobs must be with coworkers getting sick, and teams changing all the time.)
I especially like books that have a lot of potential suspects, and I kept changing my mind about whodunnit and why. In the end, I got some parts right but was totally wrong about others. DC Milson has a pretty rich backstory, and her relationships with her family and fiancée are also explored. I am looking forward to her next case.
This is the second book in the Detective Dove Milson series, but you would not be lost if you read it as a standalone.
A very complex mystery that may be tied to something that happened long ago. Besides dealing with the snow and ice, it seems that most of the investigating team are sick with the flu. It makes for an interesting mix of characters alongside DC Dove and I was pretty impressed that none of the investigations was lost as the team changed often. ( As an aside, it made me think of how difficult it must be to be a police officer, detective, or health care worker with Covid-19 running rampant. Nothing to do with the story, but it made me appreciate how hard these jobs must be with coworkers getting sick, and teams changing all the time.)
I especially like books that have a lot of potential suspects, and I kept changing my mind about whodunnit and why. In the end, I got some parts right but was totally wrong about others. DC Milson has a pretty rich backstory, and her relationships with her family and fiancée are also explored. I am looking forward to her next case.
This is the second book in the Detective Dove Milson series, but you would not be lost if you read it as a standalone.
January 29, 2021
An intriguing story and a brilliant read!
Daisy White has delighted me with this clever and gripping crime thriller and I was not in the least disappointed with this superb, briskly-paced tale.
A remote farm-house in Eversham, Southern England is set on fire with two young girls inside. Firefighters extinguish the flames and DC Dove Milson with DS Steve Parker, of the Major Crimes Team are called to the crime scene to investigate. They find the body of a man in the yard curled in a foetal position, his naked body frosted with ice crystals. The girls' mum is nowhere to be found, but there are two chess pieces carved from ice on the doorstep. It's not long before the same thing happens - another frozen body is found, a woman disappears and the ice chess pieces are left on display.
I warmed to protagonist Dove in the first novel of this compelling series, Glass Dolls and also from very early on in this novel, The Ice Daughters, and I was rooting for her throughout the story. The deft and masterful writing skills of D.E. White anchored the storyline solidly in reality and the plot itself was very believable. The Ice Daughters was so full of drama and suspense that it had my heart racing. Daisy White gave the reader a mixture of excellent characters, and as the snow continued to fall the humanity of the police team contributed to the definite strength of narrative.
The book was a commanding read and the author’s talent made this a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated for the entertainment it was. The ending, complete with inevitable thrills, was something of a surprise to me as I did not anticipate the explosive conclusion. This is a little gem and a book that I'm so pleased to have read!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Joffe via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Daisy White has delighted me with this clever and gripping crime thriller and I was not in the least disappointed with this superb, briskly-paced tale.
A remote farm-house in Eversham, Southern England is set on fire with two young girls inside. Firefighters extinguish the flames and DC Dove Milson with DS Steve Parker, of the Major Crimes Team are called to the crime scene to investigate. They find the body of a man in the yard curled in a foetal position, his naked body frosted with ice crystals. The girls' mum is nowhere to be found, but there are two chess pieces carved from ice on the doorstep. It's not long before the same thing happens - another frozen body is found, a woman disappears and the ice chess pieces are left on display.
I warmed to protagonist Dove in the first novel of this compelling series, Glass Dolls and also from very early on in this novel, The Ice Daughters, and I was rooting for her throughout the story. The deft and masterful writing skills of D.E. White anchored the storyline solidly in reality and the plot itself was very believable. The Ice Daughters was so full of drama and suspense that it had my heart racing. Daisy White gave the reader a mixture of excellent characters, and as the snow continued to fall the humanity of the police team contributed to the definite strength of narrative.
The book was a commanding read and the author’s talent made this a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated for the entertainment it was. The ending, complete with inevitable thrills, was something of a surprise to me as I did not anticipate the explosive conclusion. This is a little gem and a book that I'm so pleased to have read!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Joffe via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 3, 2021
This is the second book in the Detective Dove Milson series and although this can be read as a standalone I want to read the first book in the series to better understand what happened to Dove and her sisters in the first book which leads them to their current situation in this book.
Overall this was a fast paced, interesting police procedural/medical thriller in which Detective Dove and the team of Major Crimes Unit have to solve a unique and complex case which involves frozen to ice dead bodies of young, healthy men, kidnappings of two single mothers and dubious human clinical trials.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book. The book was published on 17th December 2020.
Overall this was a fast paced, interesting police procedural/medical thriller in which Detective Dove and the team of Major Crimes Unit have to solve a unique and complex case which involves frozen to ice dead bodies of young, healthy men, kidnappings of two single mothers and dubious human clinical trials.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book. The book was published on 17th December 2020.
December 11, 2020
"The man was curled in a foetal position, as though he had died trying frantically to warm himself. His naked body was frosted with ice crystals, his hair spiked white in the harsh floodlights."
The follow up to Glass Dolls, which I loved.
I was so excited to read this one and I am so glad it lived up to my expectations.
Once again, I was gripped from the first page, and desperately reading on to find out what was going on. A brilliantly written book and I hope there will be more in the series.
Thank you Joffe books for the chance to read this.
The follow up to Glass Dolls, which I loved.
I was so excited to read this one and I am so glad it lived up to my expectations.
Once again, I was gripped from the first page, and desperately reading on to find out what was going on. A brilliantly written book and I hope there will be more in the series.
Thank you Joffe books for the chance to read this.
April 4, 2021
The Ice Daughters is the second book in the Dove Milson series. i found the case itself to be slightly bizzare & struggled to keep up with the events. The flow wasn't as smooth as I'd hoped. However, I liked to see Dove & her team work the case. Diligent as always, Dove seems to be an objective officer with less flair for dramatics in her life.
The plot was unique but in my opinion could have been made more compelling. This book was good but it felt like something was missing. The historical element / flashback chapters were confusing at the start but as the book progressed it started to make more sense. At the end, I was still unsure of the reason behind the latest crimes. I struggled with understanding the part of them being acted on in the present while being inspired by events happening way too far back in the past & the 'why'. The reason did not feel logical to me. But I'm no expert in criminal psychology so I'll think of this as a new thing learnt. The ending was great & i felt some of the thrill in the last few chapters. I'd definitely look out for the next book in the series to see what Dove gets on with next.
Thank you, NetGalley, Joffe Books & D.E.White for an arc!
The plot was unique but in my opinion could have been made more compelling. This book was good but it felt like something was missing. The historical element / flashback chapters were confusing at the start but as the book progressed it started to make more sense. At the end, I was still unsure of the reason behind the latest crimes. I struggled with understanding the part of them being acted on in the present while being inspired by events happening way too far back in the past & the 'why'. The reason did not feel logical to me. But I'm no expert in criminal psychology so I'll think of this as a new thing learnt. The ending was great & i felt some of the thrill in the last few chapters. I'd definitely look out for the next book in the series to see what Dove gets on with next.
Thank you, NetGalley, Joffe Books & D.E.White for an arc!
December 6, 2020
As is often the way with me,I hadn't realised this was part of a series. Or that I'd read the first book.
Having established that , I have very similar feelings on this book,as I did the first.
An enjoyable page turner.
This one digs back into the past to help the plot,and that bit really interested me.
Dove is a woman who will risk everything for the truth,and it makes for some nail biting moments.
Enjoyable .
Hoping Quinn gets a bigger role in book 3.
Having established that , I have very similar feelings on this book,as I did the first.
An enjoyable page turner.
This one digs back into the past to help the plot,and that bit really interested me.
Dove is a woman who will risk everything for the truth,and it makes for some nail biting moments.
Enjoyable .
Hoping Quinn gets a bigger role in book 3.
December 21, 2020
When DC Dove Milson is called to a developing crime scene, she finds a burning barn, a missing woman… and the corpse of a man who has been frozen to death. With a bizarre tableau of frozen chess pieces set up on the doorstep, it’s obvious from the beginning that this is anything but an ordinary case, and so it soon proves, with links to dodgy medical research programs recruiting among the fitness community, a second frozen body, and more women disappearing in strange circumstances.
Though this is apparently the second in the series, and Dove does have an interesting family and friends community who’ve obviously been introduced in the previous book, I didn’t have any problem following along when they reappeared as the backstory was nicely sketched in.
The story here does go for a long time with a lot of apparently completely unrelated things happening, and I found Dove’s lack of frustration with that a bit surprising, to be honest. She’s very by the book, however, and just kept on plugging stolidly along until she found a thread to pull on, until finally everything unravelled.
I didn’t quite comprehend the motivations of all the characters in the final conclusion, which is the only thing keeping me from giving this five stars. At least one character, it made no sense they didn’t fully co-operate with the police earlier, considering their family history.
Readers should be aware that the Holocaust is heavily referenced in this book, including details of experiments (many lethal) conducted on prisoners at the Dachau concentration camp. Some of the villains express admiration for Nazi ideology and attempt to replicate some of their scientific methodology. I’m warning for it as it’s a potential trigger above and beyond what might reasonably expect to be found in a crime thriller of this type.
This is an intriguing story with a lot of different threads which do, in the end, all get tied off pretty well. I found it all pretty intriguing, and I liked Dove as a heroine, with her steady, quiet methodology. She’s the opposite of a maverick, and the case is in the end solved through hard work following up clues, rather than any wild intuitive leaps. There were a few odd side-tracks - the sub-plot with her friend Rose didn’t make much sense to me and could have been completely cut - but I enjoyed the read. Four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Though this is apparently the second in the series, and Dove does have an interesting family and friends community who’ve obviously been introduced in the previous book, I didn’t have any problem following along when they reappeared as the backstory was nicely sketched in.
The story here does go for a long time with a lot of apparently completely unrelated things happening, and I found Dove’s lack of frustration with that a bit surprising, to be honest. She’s very by the book, however, and just kept on plugging stolidly along until she found a thread to pull on, until finally everything unravelled.
I didn’t quite comprehend the motivations of all the characters in the final conclusion, which is the only thing keeping me from giving this five stars. At least one character, it made no sense they didn’t fully co-operate with the police earlier, considering their family history.
Readers should be aware that the Holocaust is heavily referenced in this book, including details of experiments (many lethal) conducted on prisoners at the Dachau concentration camp. Some of the villains express admiration for Nazi ideology and attempt to replicate some of their scientific methodology. I’m warning for it as it’s a potential trigger above and beyond what might reasonably expect to be found in a crime thriller of this type.
This is an intriguing story with a lot of different threads which do, in the end, all get tied off pretty well. I found it all pretty intriguing, and I liked Dove as a heroine, with her steady, quiet methodology. She’s the opposite of a maverick, and the case is in the end solved through hard work following up clues, rather than any wild intuitive leaps. There were a few odd side-tracks - the sub-plot with her friend Rose didn’t make much sense to me and could have been completely cut - but I enjoyed the read. Four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
December 19, 2020
A woman goes missing, leaving her two daughters behind. A frozen body is found near her house. Are the two crimes linked?
The Ice Daughters is a great follow up to Glass Dolls, I can see this developing into a really strong series. I will say that you should start with the first in the series, as it gives away a bit of the plot of the previous book in this one.
I feel the author was a bit more confident in this outing and built on the great characters that I enjoyed in the first book. I really like Dove and Steve. I feel we get to know them a little better in this book than the last which is always a bonus.
This was a well-paced book, with plenty of action and a puzzling mystery that kept me guessing until the end.
I really enjoyed the mystery narrator whose POV was scattered throughout the book, adding to the mystery.
My only criticism is there's a lot going on. First you've got a fire and a missing woman, then a frozen body and ice chess pieces...it was a lot to keep straight in my head.
The Ice Daughters is a solid police procedural that really kept me entertained throughout.
The Ice Daughters is a great follow up to Glass Dolls, I can see this developing into a really strong series. I will say that you should start with the first in the series, as it gives away a bit of the plot of the previous book in this one.
I feel the author was a bit more confident in this outing and built on the great characters that I enjoyed in the first book. I really like Dove and Steve. I feel we get to know them a little better in this book than the last which is always a bonus.
This was a well-paced book, with plenty of action and a puzzling mystery that kept me guessing until the end.
I really enjoyed the mystery narrator whose POV was scattered throughout the book, adding to the mystery.
My only criticism is there's a lot going on. First you've got a fire and a missing woman, then a frozen body and ice chess pieces...it was a lot to keep straight in my head.
The Ice Daughters is a solid police procedural that really kept me entertained throughout.
November 28, 2022
The Ice Daughters by D.E. White is the second in the DC Dove Milson crime series.
First, the publisher Joffe Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning - May Contain Spoilers from Previous Books)
DC Dove Milson has transferred to the Major Crimes Team, after an attack and subsequent breakdown while working as a handler of police informants. Her partner is DS Steve Parker, their boss is DI Jon Blackman, all under the rule of DCI Kevin Franklin. Her friend, Jess Meadows is a Crime Scene Manager, and one of the few who knows her background. Dove's fiance is a paramedic named Quinn. She has two sisters, Ren (whose husband is now in jail) and Gaia (who owns a strip club). They grew up on a commune. Dove has a photographic memory.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Winter is brutal this year, and the nude body of a frozen man is found on a remote property. The woman living there (Tessa) is missing, and her two young daughters are left behind. Two ice chess pieces are found on her doorstep. Part of the barn was set on fire.
Identifying the man only results in more questions. There doesn't seem to be a link between Tessa and this man.
When another frozen body is found, more questions arise.
My Opinions:
Again, I am enjoying the second book in the series. Again, I found it a little long, and a little slow, even though it was entertaining. There is a lot going on, and I'm not sure the side-plot of Dove's old job popping up again helped. She's moved on, so hopefully that angle could too.
I still like Dove, and her relationship with Quinn seems real. I also like her co-workers. I'm getting to know them now, and that helps. It took me a while to figure out whose story was being told in between the investigation, but it was interesting.
The overall plot was good, if a little dark, and I understand that the author came across Nazi research that it was based upon. Could be why it was a little dark!
Well, thanks to the publisher, I already have book 3, so I will be reading it shortly (well, in a month or so)...
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and a the reason I chose to read this book) , please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 28, 2024
Another brilliant read by D. E White!
A frozen dead man; a missing woman and two chess pieces carved from ice displayed with some scattered ice cubes. What better ingredients do you want!
I found this a fast-paced, quick read that kept me entertained from the 1st page. A very clever story that that takes you back to WW2 and experiments done in the name of science.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A frozen dead man; a missing woman and two chess pieces carved from ice displayed with some scattered ice cubes. What better ingredients do you want!
I found this a fast-paced, quick read that kept me entertained from the 1st page. A very clever story that that takes you back to WW2 and experiments done in the name of science.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 11, 2021
The ice daughters is the second book in the D.S Milson series, the first one was Glass Dolls. I absolutely loved Glass Dolls and it was my introduction to D.E Whites style of crime novels. So as soon as I saw there was a second in the series I downloaded and started reading immediately and I was not let down!
Dove Milson is 6 months on from the glass doll case and living with the repercussions of the fall out, if you haven't read it I highly recommend you start at with it. So when Dove finds herself on a case which seems to be quite bizarre and complex she has a niggling feeling everything is linked but what she doesn't know is what the missing link is. A missing mother, a fire and a frozen dead body on the doorstep.
What I love about the way White writes is the fact we get to be part of Doves personal life aswell as the investigation. We again get to see her sisters and fiancée who we met in the first novel I love their family dynamics I almost want to be a member of it.
I love that we get a bit more of an insight into her relationship. But also how her partner, who is a paramedic, manages to deal with stress on the job aswell. It was great actually.
We get two different narratives, one in first person who is discussing the experiments and which throughout the story guides us to a great conclusion. Along with following Dove in the present time, in third person. The detail is used so well to make it really easy to feel like you are there, however its not to much detail that you feel overwhelmed. I was immersed into the dialogue and loved it.
In summary I absolutely loved this book and I am happy to give it 5 stars. I didn't have a clue for quite a while who was involved and why. But I eventually worked it out but it didn't even matter I was super happy with the way it all came to a conclusion. I also learnt alot whilst reading and I love a book where I learn. Its a great crime book written so well. If you like katerina diamond then you will love D.E White. 5 stars 🌟
Dove Milson is 6 months on from the glass doll case and living with the repercussions of the fall out, if you haven't read it I highly recommend you start at with it. So when Dove finds herself on a case which seems to be quite bizarre and complex she has a niggling feeling everything is linked but what she doesn't know is what the missing link is. A missing mother, a fire and a frozen dead body on the doorstep.
What I love about the way White writes is the fact we get to be part of Doves personal life aswell as the investigation. We again get to see her sisters and fiancée who we met in the first novel I love their family dynamics I almost want to be a member of it.
I love that we get a bit more of an insight into her relationship. But also how her partner, who is a paramedic, manages to deal with stress on the job aswell. It was great actually.
We get two different narratives, one in first person who is discussing the experiments and which throughout the story guides us to a great conclusion. Along with following Dove in the present time, in third person. The detail is used so well to make it really easy to feel like you are there, however its not to much detail that you feel overwhelmed. I was immersed into the dialogue and loved it.
In summary I absolutely loved this book and I am happy to give it 5 stars. I didn't have a clue for quite a while who was involved and why. But I eventually worked it out but it didn't even matter I was super happy with the way it all came to a conclusion. I also learnt alot whilst reading and I love a book where I learn. Its a great crime book written so well. If you like katerina diamond then you will love D.E White. 5 stars 🌟
January 18, 2021
A chilling crime thriller!
After reading the first in the series, Glass Dolls, I have been looking forward to reading Ice Daughters for a while and I was not disappointed. D.E White has written yet another absorbing and thrilling novel that was hard to put down.
It was good to catch up with DI Dove Milson and her fiancé Quinn and it was like meeting old friends. This case was particularly complicated and kept me guessing until the end. I particularly like the way the author describes the wintery scenery which added to this chilling atmosphere (no pun intended) and how WWII was connected to this case.
I highly recommend Ice Daughters and congratulate D.E White for writing such a great book.
After reading the first in the series, Glass Dolls, I have been looking forward to reading Ice Daughters for a while and I was not disappointed. D.E White has written yet another absorbing and thrilling novel that was hard to put down.
It was good to catch up with DI Dove Milson and her fiancé Quinn and it was like meeting old friends. This case was particularly complicated and kept me guessing until the end. I particularly like the way the author describes the wintery scenery which added to this chilling atmosphere (no pun intended) and how WWII was connected to this case.
I highly recommend Ice Daughters and congratulate D.E White for writing such a great book.
October 28, 2023
"The fire, the body and the missing woman made a complex and challenging start point." I really enjoyed the plot of this one but I'm starting to get irked by DC Milson's reckless behaviour which lends a lack of credibility to her character. I was also incredibly frustrated by what appears to be a complete absence of proof reading in my Kindle version 😠 The odd typo I can forgive but this was full of inconsistencies - for example, a cup of tea on one page becomes coffee on the next! I lost count of the number of content errors I reported 😂 Rating dropped to 4 stars because of this.
December 14, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Ice Daughters, the second novel to feature DC Dove Milson, set in the South of England.
Dove and the team are called out to a remote farmhouse when a frozen body and a weird ice sculpture are found at the scene of a fire. Worse, Tessa Jackson who called in the fire is missing, leaving her two young children alone. Then, the same scenario is repeated. It becomes a race against time to solve the murders and rescue the women.
The Ice Daughters is the first novel in the series that I have read and it has an interesting concept. It is, however, a relatively long novel and gets bogged down in detail at times, losing sharpness and immediacy, and this is a shame as it has links to some serious historical events that deserve not to be forgotten.
The narrative is split between Dove and the investigation and an unnamed narrator who describes her imprisonment and treatment. The relevance of this latter narrative only becomes apparent at the end of the novel and thus became skim material for me during the read. Again this is a shame as it deserves attention but the presentation precludes this.
I found the plot interesting and the writing style animated enough to keep me turning the pages as I wanted to know who did what. I’m not sure what I think about the resolution. I admire the subject matter but it all seems a bit far fetched, although I’m ready to be corrected.
I like Dove Milson, who appears to have quite a backstory but is grounded, practical and smart.
The Ice Daughters is an interesting read. 3.5*
Dove and the team are called out to a remote farmhouse when a frozen body and a weird ice sculpture are found at the scene of a fire. Worse, Tessa Jackson who called in the fire is missing, leaving her two young children alone. Then, the same scenario is repeated. It becomes a race against time to solve the murders and rescue the women.
The Ice Daughters is the first novel in the series that I have read and it has an interesting concept. It is, however, a relatively long novel and gets bogged down in detail at times, losing sharpness and immediacy, and this is a shame as it has links to some serious historical events that deserve not to be forgotten.
The narrative is split between Dove and the investigation and an unnamed narrator who describes her imprisonment and treatment. The relevance of this latter narrative only becomes apparent at the end of the novel and thus became skim material for me during the read. Again this is a shame as it deserves attention but the presentation precludes this.
I found the plot interesting and the writing style animated enough to keep me turning the pages as I wanted to know who did what. I’m not sure what I think about the resolution. I admire the subject matter but it all seems a bit far fetched, although I’m ready to be corrected.
I like Dove Milson, who appears to have quite a backstory but is grounded, practical and smart.
The Ice Daughters is an interesting read. 3.5*
April 6, 2025
As others have said it would be good to read the first book in the series but not vital as it can be read as a standalone book. The characters are getting more rounded as progressing and you can see it is being prepared for a further book at least.
I didn't really get the flu thread assume it was just there to highlight that they were really busy.
What really intrigued me was the italics section it kept me guessing whose point of view that was, and when revealed made sense.
All in all a good read.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review which I have done so.
Updated for audio version
This time I started off by listening to the first book in the series and then binge listened to the series. It was so much better this way and I got a better grasp of the characters and where they were going. What I am loving about the series, which I don't think I picked up when reading was the sub characters. This one was so moving and really poignant.
I didn't really get the flu thread assume it was just there to highlight that they were really busy.
What really intrigued me was the italics section it kept me guessing whose point of view that was, and when revealed made sense.
All in all a good read.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review which I have done so.
Updated for audio version
This time I started off by listening to the first book in the series and then binge listened to the series. It was so much better this way and I got a better grasp of the characters and where they were going. What I am loving about the series, which I don't think I picked up when reading was the sub characters. This one was so moving and really poignant.
December 9, 2020
An absolutely chilling book that had me gripped from the moment a frozen body turned up! DC Dove Milson is back. Called to a fire, the police discover a frozen body in a foetal position. A woman is missing and her two young children are alone. Strange ice sculptures of chess pieces have been left behind. The number two is written on the chest of the victim. This is a fabulous dark crime thriller that had me hooked from the first page. The characters are authentic and you instantly feel immersed in the police procedure of their world. White recaptures the magic of Glass Dolls and the tension builds towards a fiendishly good twist. A perfect read for a cold winter night. Just don’t expect to be able to put it down!
(Review of ARC copy.)
(Review of ARC copy.)
December 12, 2020
Although the second book in the series, this can be easily read as a stand-alone without feeling you have missed something. A very complex mystery with multiple suspects to keep you guessing until the very end. The writing is superb and I especially loved the setting and the theme of this book and would like to thank Joffe Books and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this compelling book.
December 17, 2020
This is book 2 in the Detective Dove Milson series but the books do work well as stand alone.
Dove is called to a crime scene: A missing mother, the frozen body of a man, a fire and chess pieces made from ice. A bizarre scene if ever there was one. The team begin their search for clues but there are very few and even less suspects the only possibles have solid alibis. Every single little clue must be investigated in order for find pieces to form a picture of what is going on. Then another crime scene with another fire, frozen man, missing mother and chess pieces. Will the team be able to find enough clues to show the way forward?
I like Dove she is an unusual character damaged in an earlier case and her fiance, Quin is also struggling to deal with the people he couldn't save. The pair are very caring and dedicated to their jobs.
The team is made up of a variety of different but well defined characters that offset each other perfectly to make an effective team.
I really enjoyed this book it is packed full of intrigue and we really get into the nitty gritty world of detective work.
A gripping read. Thank you to Joffe Books, Netgalley and the author for the advance digital copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.
Dove is called to a crime scene: A missing mother, the frozen body of a man, a fire and chess pieces made from ice. A bizarre scene if ever there was one. The team begin their search for clues but there are very few and even less suspects the only possibles have solid alibis. Every single little clue must be investigated in order for find pieces to form a picture of what is going on. Then another crime scene with another fire, frozen man, missing mother and chess pieces. Will the team be able to find enough clues to show the way forward?
I like Dove she is an unusual character damaged in an earlier case and her fiance, Quin is also struggling to deal with the people he couldn't save. The pair are very caring and dedicated to their jobs.
The team is made up of a variety of different but well defined characters that offset each other perfectly to make an effective team.
I really enjoyed this book it is packed full of intrigue and we really get into the nitty gritty world of detective work.
A gripping read. Thank you to Joffe Books, Netgalley and the author for the advance digital copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.
December 17, 2020
Excellent
The Ice Daughters is definitely a creepy thriller of a magnitude 10 on the horror scale. Where brilliant medical students turn into murderers trying to find a cure.
The Ice Daughters is definitely a creepy thriller of a magnitude 10 on the horror scale. Where brilliant medical students turn into murderers trying to find a cure.
December 22, 2020
Realistic British police procedural.
This is well written and the characters are complex and interesting. Frozen bodies and abducted mothers make for a complicated case. The police are frustrated at the lack of clues and progress in the case. This is so realistic that I became frustrated myself and wanted the story to proceed and wrap up. Worth reading with a tense and frightening ending.
This is well written and the characters are complex and interesting. Frozen bodies and abducted mothers make for a complicated case. The police are frustrated at the lack of clues and progress in the case. This is so realistic that I became frustrated myself and wanted the story to proceed and wrap up. Worth reading with a tense and frightening ending.
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