What do you think?
Rate this book
Detectives Lockhart and Green #3
Lost Souls
Standing at the school gates, he waits until the last child leaves the safety of the playground. And then he follows at a distance, keeping to the shadows. Only he knows what’s going to happen next.
In a quiet church, on a busy London street, 12-year-old Donovan Blair is found dead. His hands are clasped together as if in prayer. Just hours ago, he was happily playing with his friends at school, but now his body is lifeless, and his killer is long gone.
Detective Dan Lockhart is working alone on his wife’s missing person’s case when he receives a call telling him to get to the crime scene at St Mary’s Church immediately.
Bringing in psychologist Dr Lexi Green to help profile the murderer, Dan is convinced that the killer has provided a clue by leaving the body in a prayer position, and Lexi agrees. As they try to get into the mind of the person responsible, another victim is found. A 13-year-old girl, left in a different church, posed in exactly the same way.
Fearing the murderer may already have another child in his sights, Dan and Lexi work together to establish links between the two deaths, and soon discover that not only were both children in care – they had attended the same school. And when it emerges that Lexi’s new boyfriend works there, things become difficult between her and Dan. How much can he tell Lexi about the case? And could she be at risk?
As Dan makes a breakthrough in the investigation, he receives devastating news about his wife, Jess. But with children’s lives at stake and Lexi in danger, Dan must put his personal emotions aside and chase the killer. Can he and Lexi work out who is behind the murders before another vulnerable child is taken?
This nail-biting crime book is perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Robert Dugoni. Once you pick up Lost Souls, you won’t be able to put it down!
In a quiet church, on a busy London street, 12-year-old Donovan Blair is found dead. His hands are clasped together as if in prayer. Just hours ago, he was happily playing with his friends at school, but now his body is lifeless, and his killer is long gone.
Detective Dan Lockhart is working alone on his wife’s missing person’s case when he receives a call telling him to get to the crime scene at St Mary’s Church immediately.
Bringing in psychologist Dr Lexi Green to help profile the murderer, Dan is convinced that the killer has provided a clue by leaving the body in a prayer position, and Lexi agrees. As they try to get into the mind of the person responsible, another victim is found. A 13-year-old girl, left in a different church, posed in exactly the same way.
Fearing the murderer may already have another child in his sights, Dan and Lexi work together to establish links between the two deaths, and soon discover that not only were both children in care – they had attended the same school. And when it emerges that Lexi’s new boyfriend works there, things become difficult between her and Dan. How much can he tell Lexi about the case? And could she be at risk?
As Dan makes a breakthrough in the investigation, he receives devastating news about his wife, Jess. But with children’s lives at stake and Lexi in danger, Dan must put his personal emotions aside and chase the killer. Can he and Lexi work out who is behind the murders before another vulnerable child is taken?
This nail-biting crime book is perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Robert Dugoni. Once you pick up Lost Souls, you won’t be able to put it down!
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2021
383 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Chris Merritt
12 books181 followersHello! I'm a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.
All my novels are set in London, where I live. My first trilogy starred Zac Boateng and Kat Jones, two detectives motivated by family, who tackle organised crime and police corruption. LAST WITNESS, the second Boateng and Jones book, reached #13 in the UK Kindle chart in 2019.
My second series features detective Dan Lockhart - an ex-soldier with a missing wife - and psychologist Dr Lexi Green, an American living in London. These novels are darker, more psychological serial-killer cases, with romantic relationships as a central theme.
I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.
Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while 'thinking' about writing novels. When I'm not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.
All my novels are set in London, where I live. My first trilogy starred Zac Boateng and Kat Jones, two detectives motivated by family, who tackle organised crime and police corruption. LAST WITNESS, the second Boateng and Jones book, reached #13 in the UK Kindle chart in 2019.
My second series features detective Dan Lockhart - an ex-soldier with a missing wife - and psychologist Dr Lexi Green, an American living in London. These novels are darker, more psychological serial-killer cases, with romantic relationships as a central theme.
I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.
Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while 'thinking' about writing novels. When I'm not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 21, 2021
EXCERPT: Death was a fresh start for them; that's how he saw it. Others might not agree, but they were wrong. He could understand why some would think of dying as the end though. In one sense, that was true. It was an ending. But it was also a beginning. A chance to go on to a better place. Somewhere you no longer had to suffer the torments that your earthly body had endured.
Somewhere everything would be okay for evermore.
ABOUT 'LOST SOULS': Standing at the school gates, he waits until the last child leaves the safety of the playground. And then he follows at a distance, keeping to the shadows. Only he knows what’s going to happen next.
In a quiet church, on a busy London street, 12-year-old Donovan Blair is found dead. His hands are clasped together as if in prayer. Just hours ago, he was happily playing with his friends at school, but now his body is lifeless, and his killer is long gone.
Detective Dan Lockhart is working alone on his wife’s missing person’s case when he receives a call telling him to get to the crime scene at St Mary’s Church immediately.
Bringing in psychologist Dr Lexi Green to help profile the murderer, Dan is convinced that the killer has provided a clue by leaving the body in a prayer position, and Lexi agrees. As they try to get into the mind of the person responsible, another victim is found. A 13-year-old girl, left in a different church, posed in exactly the same way.
Fearing the murderer may already have another child in his sights, Dan and Lexi work together to establish links between the two deaths, and soon discover that not only were both children in care – they had attended the same school. And when it emerges that Lexi’s new boyfriend works there, things become difficult between her and Dan. How much can he tell Lexi about the case? And could she be at risk?
As Dan makes a breakthrough in the investigation, he receives devastating news about his wife, Jess. But with children’s lives at stake and Lexi in danger, Dan must put his personal emotions aside and chase the killer. Can he and Lexi work out who is behind the murders before another vulnerable child is taken?
MY THOUGHTS: I have been a little disappointed in Chris Merritt's Lockhart and Green series. I love this author's Zac Boateng series, and I was looking forward to more of the same. WRONG. The Lockhart and Green series is very different. Where I found the Zac Boateng series to be fast paced, suspenseful and thrilling, Lost Souls seems to be drawn out and, to be quite honest, I found passages where the author seemed to be pontificating/procrastinating, and repeating himself. Don't get me wrong - this is not a bad read, but it needs to be tightened up, to be not quite so bogged down in repetitive psychological analysis.
I liked the characters: Dan, Detective Lockhart whose wife has disappeared without trace; Maxine Smith, a strong character inclined to follow her instincts; Lexi Green, psychologist, who also has trauma in her past. Even the lesser characters, the supporting cast, are an interesting if not always likeable bunch.
The basic plot is sound, and there are a few interesting twists and misdirections, but I didn't find the read particularly suspenseful or thrilling. I did have fun trying to guess the killer - I didn't. There are plenty of suspects to choose from. I thought the chapters written from the POV of the murderer were a little repetitive and didn't, after the initial insight, add much of value to the book.
And I do have just one small quibble with the blurb where it states 'with children's lives at stake (true enough) and Lexi in danger'......wait - did I miss something?
Lost Souls is a good read, just not a great one.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#LostSouls #NetGalley @cjmerritt81 @DrCJMerritt @bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction
THE AUTHOR: Hello! I'm a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.
All my novels are set in London, where I live.
I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.
Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while 'thinking' about writing novels. When I'm not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Lost Souls by Chris Merritt for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Somewhere everything would be okay for evermore.
ABOUT 'LOST SOULS': Standing at the school gates, he waits until the last child leaves the safety of the playground. And then he follows at a distance, keeping to the shadows. Only he knows what’s going to happen next.
In a quiet church, on a busy London street, 12-year-old Donovan Blair is found dead. His hands are clasped together as if in prayer. Just hours ago, he was happily playing with his friends at school, but now his body is lifeless, and his killer is long gone.
Detective Dan Lockhart is working alone on his wife’s missing person’s case when he receives a call telling him to get to the crime scene at St Mary’s Church immediately.
Bringing in psychologist Dr Lexi Green to help profile the murderer, Dan is convinced that the killer has provided a clue by leaving the body in a prayer position, and Lexi agrees. As they try to get into the mind of the person responsible, another victim is found. A 13-year-old girl, left in a different church, posed in exactly the same way.
Fearing the murderer may already have another child in his sights, Dan and Lexi work together to establish links between the two deaths, and soon discover that not only were both children in care – they had attended the same school. And when it emerges that Lexi’s new boyfriend works there, things become difficult between her and Dan. How much can he tell Lexi about the case? And could she be at risk?
As Dan makes a breakthrough in the investigation, he receives devastating news about his wife, Jess. But with children’s lives at stake and Lexi in danger, Dan must put his personal emotions aside and chase the killer. Can he and Lexi work out who is behind the murders before another vulnerable child is taken?
MY THOUGHTS: I have been a little disappointed in Chris Merritt's Lockhart and Green series. I love this author's Zac Boateng series, and I was looking forward to more of the same. WRONG. The Lockhart and Green series is very different. Where I found the Zac Boateng series to be fast paced, suspenseful and thrilling, Lost Souls seems to be drawn out and, to be quite honest, I found passages where the author seemed to be pontificating/procrastinating, and repeating himself. Don't get me wrong - this is not a bad read, but it needs to be tightened up, to be not quite so bogged down in repetitive psychological analysis.
I liked the characters: Dan, Detective Lockhart whose wife has disappeared without trace; Maxine Smith, a strong character inclined to follow her instincts; Lexi Green, psychologist, who also has trauma in her past. Even the lesser characters, the supporting cast, are an interesting if not always likeable bunch.
The basic plot is sound, and there are a few interesting twists and misdirections, but I didn't find the read particularly suspenseful or thrilling. I did have fun trying to guess the killer - I didn't. There are plenty of suspects to choose from. I thought the chapters written from the POV of the murderer were a little repetitive and didn't, after the initial insight, add much of value to the book.
And I do have just one small quibble with the blurb where it states 'with children's lives at stake (true enough) and Lexi in danger'......wait - did I miss something?
Lost Souls is a good read, just not a great one.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#LostSouls #NetGalley @cjmerritt81 @DrCJMerritt @bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction
THE AUTHOR: Hello! I'm a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.
All my novels are set in London, where I live.
I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.
Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while 'thinking' about writing novels. When I'm not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Lost Souls by Chris Merritt for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 4, 2021
LOST SOULS is a gripping page turner with a fantastic cast of characters. Detective Dan Lockhart and his team of investigators are hot on the trail of a child serial killer who stages his scenes in a disturbing way. In order to get a grip on exactly the kind of perpetrator they're dealing with, Lockhart brings in psychologist, Dr. Lexi Green for a profile. Can they catch the elusive killer before more children die? Merritt weaves a complex and heartbreaking tale, taking a deep dive into the psyche of a killer while police race against the clock to save the next victim. There are plenty of twists, turns, and suspects in this gripping novel. The pages crackle with tension and the chemistry among the characters is palpable. Get ready to stay up late!
January 23, 2021
This story is set 8 months after the previous book and the world is in the grip of the Covid pandemic.
After a supposed sighting of his wife (who disappeared 11 years ago when he was on a tour in Afghanistan), Dan keeps searching for her. He suspects that her brother may have something to do with the matter. Her family wants to declare her deceased and that would mean that he’d lose his house because the family covets their part of the inheritance. He feels attracted to dr. Lexi Green but remains faithful and loyal to his wife.
Lexi thinks she’s over the feelings she has for him and is dating a teacher. She and Sarah have a new housemate, DC Khan who moved away from his family’s attempts for an arranged marriage.
At the start of this book, we meet a man with some peculiar, twisted ideas. “They have to understand that you couldn’t go after the predators; there were simply too many of them. Instead, the way to make a difference was to remove their prey, to send those little ones somewhere they’d be safe and happy. It was up to him to continue that important task. He even had a special name for it. Making angels”.
DC Dan Lockhart is called to a crime scene inside a church. A young boy is strangled and posed kneeling with his hands tied together with a white ribbon. The 12-year-old was in foster care but ran away a month earlier. A biblical text is highlighted on the altar. Dan calls on Lexi to help him with this mysterious case. She feels that the killer will kill again.
Lucy Berry, the civil analyst comes into the footlight in this story. She’s someone who’s easy to like.
While they search for the murderer, we meet several young men who could be the perpetrator. We also follow the unnamed killer who’s closing in on his next victim; Charley, a 13-year-old girl who's far too trusting.
Finally, the first book that mentions Covid and its consequences as lockdowns and changed behavioural patterns. It may date the book but I prefer a serious level of reality in my police procedurals. Another thing that sounds very realistic is that Dan has to choose which resources he can use in what circumstances. It’s not like CSI or other TV shows where they throw the big guns at every possible crime scene.
The story of the investigation is interrupted by the story of the murderer. I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for what he went through but his reasoning and justification for his crimes are absolutely out of order. Unfortunately, some of what he says is true. For every perverted child molester you take out of circulation there are 2 that take his place. But that doesn’t justify his actions, those are just twisted. By making the children into angels, he protects them from worse experiences. Well, there’s not much that’s worse than death?
The author created a long list of possible suspects that are sprinkled throughout the narrative. Even Lexi‘s boyfriend fits several criteria. All those men behave suspiciously in one way or another and it increases the suspense to almost unbearable levels. For some of them, I was really happy that they weren’t guilty in the end.
This author is very crafty in creating his lively and credible characters, not just the protagonists and recuring team members, but even the minor characters who’re destined to die. I really rooted for them. I know they’re only fictional but I so wanted Charley to escape the creepy bastard. Most people in this story are likeable characters. That’s a relief after a couple of reads with less agreeable main characters.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
After a supposed sighting of his wife (who disappeared 11 years ago when he was on a tour in Afghanistan), Dan keeps searching for her. He suspects that her brother may have something to do with the matter. Her family wants to declare her deceased and that would mean that he’d lose his house because the family covets their part of the inheritance. He feels attracted to dr. Lexi Green but remains faithful and loyal to his wife.
Lexi thinks she’s over the feelings she has for him and is dating a teacher. She and Sarah have a new housemate, DC Khan who moved away from his family’s attempts for an arranged marriage.
At the start of this book, we meet a man with some peculiar, twisted ideas. “They have to understand that you couldn’t go after the predators; there were simply too many of them. Instead, the way to make a difference was to remove their prey, to send those little ones somewhere they’d be safe and happy. It was up to him to continue that important task. He even had a special name for it. Making angels”.
DC Dan Lockhart is called to a crime scene inside a church. A young boy is strangled and posed kneeling with his hands tied together with a white ribbon. The 12-year-old was in foster care but ran away a month earlier. A biblical text is highlighted on the altar. Dan calls on Lexi to help him with this mysterious case. She feels that the killer will kill again.
Lucy Berry, the civil analyst comes into the footlight in this story. She’s someone who’s easy to like.
While they search for the murderer, we meet several young men who could be the perpetrator. We also follow the unnamed killer who’s closing in on his next victim; Charley, a 13-year-old girl who's far too trusting.
Finally, the first book that mentions Covid and its consequences as lockdowns and changed behavioural patterns. It may date the book but I prefer a serious level of reality in my police procedurals. Another thing that sounds very realistic is that Dan has to choose which resources he can use in what circumstances. It’s not like CSI or other TV shows where they throw the big guns at every possible crime scene.
The story of the investigation is interrupted by the story of the murderer. I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for what he went through but his reasoning and justification for his crimes are absolutely out of order. Unfortunately, some of what he says is true. For every perverted child molester you take out of circulation there are 2 that take his place. But that doesn’t justify his actions, those are just twisted. By making the children into angels, he protects them from worse experiences. Well, there’s not much that’s worse than death?
The author created a long list of possible suspects that are sprinkled throughout the narrative. Even Lexi‘s boyfriend fits several criteria. All those men behave suspiciously in one way or another and it increases the suspense to almost unbearable levels. For some of them, I was really happy that they weren’t guilty in the end.
This author is very crafty in creating his lively and credible characters, not just the protagonists and recuring team members, but even the minor characters who’re destined to die. I really rooted for them. I know they’re only fictional but I so wanted Charley to escape the creepy bastard. Most people in this story are likeable characters. That’s a relief after a couple of reads with less agreeable main characters.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
January 23, 2021
Lost Souls is another gripping thriller from Chris Miller and the third In the Dan Lockhart and Lexi Green series. The series just gets better and better.
After a proposed sighting of Dan Lockhart’s wife Jess in nearby Whitstable. Lockhart has been trawling Kent to find her for several months While on a stakeout he recognises his brother in laws car. The brother that says he hasn’t seen her and wants to pronounce her dead.
He suddenly gets a call of about a murder of 12-year-old Donovan Blair found dead in a London church with his hands tied together by a white ribbon kneeling as if he was praying and a verse in the bible highlighted. Donovan a troubled kid. Who is in foster care, is an abused child and parents that are drugs addicts? Instinct tells Lockhart and with Green’s guidance know that this is not going to be a solitary incident and a few days later another child’s body turns up.
This is another brilliant episode in the series. I found it to be fast-paced chilling thriller and this episode was so realistic to today’s society as the author did mention not only the COVID-19 pandemic. But the pro’s and cons of police work. But also, how frequent children go missing when they have problems in their lives and how many children get lost in the system. Five stars from me.
After a proposed sighting of Dan Lockhart’s wife Jess in nearby Whitstable. Lockhart has been trawling Kent to find her for several months While on a stakeout he recognises his brother in laws car. The brother that says he hasn’t seen her and wants to pronounce her dead.
He suddenly gets a call of about a murder of 12-year-old Donovan Blair found dead in a London church with his hands tied together by a white ribbon kneeling as if he was praying and a verse in the bible highlighted. Donovan a troubled kid. Who is in foster care, is an abused child and parents that are drugs addicts? Instinct tells Lockhart and with Green’s guidance know that this is not going to be a solitary incident and a few days later another child’s body turns up.
This is another brilliant episode in the series. I found it to be fast-paced chilling thriller and this episode was so realistic to today’s society as the author did mention not only the COVID-19 pandemic. But the pro’s and cons of police work. But also, how frequent children go missing when they have problems in their lives and how many children get lost in the system. Five stars from me.
February 9, 2021
Lost Souls is the third instalment in the Detective Dan Lockhart and Dr Lexi Green series, set in London. It's January 5th and Lockhart is on a stake out outside his brother in law Nick's haulage company on the Darent Industrial Park; something he has been doing for 9 months in his spare time. 11 years ago Dan's wife, Jess, vanished from their home while he was on a tour of duty in Afghanistan and following a sighting matching her description in Whitstable, Kent, Dan had eventually found a trawlerman who recognised her photograph saying he saw her in the harbour 2 years earlier with someone who matched Nick's description. His phone rings and it's DSI Burrows who needs a Senior Investigating Officer at a murder scene in Mortlake. Called to St Mary the Virgin church in south west London where a boy is knelt in front of the altar and beneath a large gold cross. His hands are clasped under his chin as though praying when he was found by verger at the church Eric Cooper. He also has a dark ligature mark around his neck. His name was Donovan Blaire, an innocent 12 year old boy. Dan then discovers that the bible on the altar has a section that has been highlighted. It reads: "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
Donovan had recently stayed with fosterers Roger and Trish Hughes who had brought him along with them to Sunday services but apparently he ran away and had not been the first to do so while under the care of the Hughes'. A week later a girl is targeted with the same posing of the body at a church only a few miles from their MIT base at Jubilee House. This time the victim is Charlotte Mullins and another bible verse referring to children is highlighted next to her body. Now Lockhart, Lexi and team know they have what appears to be a ruthless serial killer on their patch, although the killer sees his actions as "making angels." Can they stop him before he takes the life of another innocent child? This is a compulsive, riveting and action-packed procedural overflowing with tension, mystery, intrigue, twists and reveals. It's pacey and well written and before you know it you're fully immersed in the story alongside the characters. The cast is comprised of fully rounded characters and we get a little more of both Dan and Lexi’s backstories. The plot is complex with Merritt making superb use of smoke and mirrors to pull the wool over your eyes and the large suspect pool is used to great effect to bamboozle us readers, as many people have motive. An enthralling, exhilarating and thoroughly gripping page-turner. Highly recommended.
Donovan had recently stayed with fosterers Roger and Trish Hughes who had brought him along with them to Sunday services but apparently he ran away and had not been the first to do so while under the care of the Hughes'. A week later a girl is targeted with the same posing of the body at a church only a few miles from their MIT base at Jubilee House. This time the victim is Charlotte Mullins and another bible verse referring to children is highlighted next to her body. Now Lockhart, Lexi and team know they have what appears to be a ruthless serial killer on their patch, although the killer sees his actions as "making angels." Can they stop him before he takes the life of another innocent child? This is a compulsive, riveting and action-packed procedural overflowing with tension, mystery, intrigue, twists and reveals. It's pacey and well written and before you know it you're fully immersed in the story alongside the characters. The cast is comprised of fully rounded characters and we get a little more of both Dan and Lexi’s backstories. The plot is complex with Merritt making superb use of smoke and mirrors to pull the wool over your eyes and the large suspect pool is used to great effect to bamboozle us readers, as many people have motive. An enthralling, exhilarating and thoroughly gripping page-turner. Highly recommended.
February 15, 2021
This was a great read. I had read the first in the series, Knock Knock and really enjoyed it, but somehow missed the next installment "Who's Next" so I was a little trepidatious going into this one, wondering if it would limit my enjoyment and understanding of the story so far. It definitely didn't. Merritt does a fantastic job of reminding readers of the back story of the detectives and the side plot of the disappearance of Dan's wife, Jess. I am a sucker for missing persons' stories (fact or fiction) and this was a great addiction to the series.
The characters Lockhart and Green are like old friends, and still complemented each other perfectly. I now wish I'd read them in order to see their full character development!
The last quarter of the book was incredibly gripping and I raced to the end with barely a breath!
Excellent installment!
The characters Lockhart and Green are like old friends, and still complemented each other perfectly. I now wish I'd read them in order to see their full character development!
The last quarter of the book was incredibly gripping and I raced to the end with barely a breath!
Excellent installment!
September 15, 2021
In a small, quiet church, a young boy is found dead .. his hands posed as if he was praying. Around his neck, a single dark line. He'd been strangled...
Detective Dan Lockhart is working alone on his wife’s missing person’s case when he receives the call, and he rushes to the crime scene at St Mary’s Church immediately.
Lockhart brings in Psychologist Lexi Green to help with a profile. And then another body is found .. a young girl left in a different church, posed exactly like the boy.
When investigating, Lockhart discovers that both children attended the same school, they were both in foster care. And then Lockhart discovers that Lexi has a link to the school. That makes it difficult for Lexi to participate in the case. Are these killings trying to get her attention? Is she in danger?
As Dan makes a breakthrough in the investigation, he receives devastating news about his wife, Jess. But with children’s lives at stake and Lexi in danger, Dan must put his personal emotions aside and chase the killer.
Full of action, the mystery of Lockhart's wife is revealed. The killer is finally unmasked amid twists and turns that lead to a surprising conclusion. Suspense starts at the very beginning and doesn't let go. This is a fantastic series and I highly recommend reading the books in order.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 14, 2021
This is book #3 of the Lockhart and Green series. Whilst part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone book. I really like these two main characters, DI Dan Lockhart and Dr Lexi Green, and thought they worked well together throughout the book. Dan is a tenacious detective who doesn’t always play by the rules, and would rather suffer the consequences of this once the job is done. I loved the side story of him looking into his wife’s disappearance from many years before, with this fitting nicely alongside the main storyline. Lexi is also dealing with her own past demons and is trying to keep her feelings for Dan purely professional. I can’t wait for another book in the series to see where both their storylines go!
I was hooked into this story from the very beginning, with the body of 12-year-old Donovan Blair being found posed at the altar of a church. When another body is discovered in similar circumstances, it becomes obvious that they have a serial killer on the loose who is targeting vulnerable children within the care system. We hear from the killer in chapters interspersed amongst the main storyline, but given no clue as to who they may be. I have to admit I think I suspected everyone at some point throughout the book, and loved being kept in the dark until well into the story. We certainly aren’t short of suspects to choose from, having so many different agencies and organisations working with these children. The care system storyline I did find particularly heart-breaking, seeing children who already had so much neglect in their lives to fall prey to someone who they trusted.
The storyline flew along at a great pace, bringing all aspects of the police investigation into it. I loved the civilian analyst, Lucy Berry’s role on Dan’s team, and am wondering where I can find me a job like that! Her role interpreting and analysing information and turning into useful leads for the team to work on was so interesting, and I loved where Lucy’s storyline went. The other members of Dan’s team all gelled together so well, and I particularly liked the relationships they had with each other.
Shamefully this is the first book I’ve read from this series, although I have read books from this author’s previous series which I’ve really enjoyed. For me to be able to come in at book #3 and read it without any confusion of characters and plotlines is great. I knew there was an ongoing storyline of Dan’s missing wife, but this didn’t overpower the murder story at all. It does however make me want to go and read the previous two books, which I will most definitely be doing to catch up on what I’ve missed! It is also one of the first books I’ve read which includes a Covid-19 storyline, which I suppose is something we will need to get used to! I absolutely loved this book and it has kept me on the edge of my seat for the last few days. This was a brilliant serial killer thriller, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to carry on Dan and Lexi’s story. Fantastic!! Highly recommended!!
I was hooked into this story from the very beginning, with the body of 12-year-old Donovan Blair being found posed at the altar of a church. When another body is discovered in similar circumstances, it becomes obvious that they have a serial killer on the loose who is targeting vulnerable children within the care system. We hear from the killer in chapters interspersed amongst the main storyline, but given no clue as to who they may be. I have to admit I think I suspected everyone at some point throughout the book, and loved being kept in the dark until well into the story. We certainly aren’t short of suspects to choose from, having so many different agencies and organisations working with these children. The care system storyline I did find particularly heart-breaking, seeing children who already had so much neglect in their lives to fall prey to someone who they trusted.
The storyline flew along at a great pace, bringing all aspects of the police investigation into it. I loved the civilian analyst, Lucy Berry’s role on Dan’s team, and am wondering where I can find me a job like that! Her role interpreting and analysing information and turning into useful leads for the team to work on was so interesting, and I loved where Lucy’s storyline went. The other members of Dan’s team all gelled together so well, and I particularly liked the relationships they had with each other.
Shamefully this is the first book I’ve read from this series, although I have read books from this author’s previous series which I’ve really enjoyed. For me to be able to come in at book #3 and read it without any confusion of characters and plotlines is great. I knew there was an ongoing storyline of Dan’s missing wife, but this didn’t overpower the murder story at all. It does however make me want to go and read the previous two books, which I will most definitely be doing to catch up on what I’ve missed! It is also one of the first books I’ve read which includes a Covid-19 storyline, which I suppose is something we will need to get used to! I absolutely loved this book and it has kept me on the edge of my seat for the last few days. This was a brilliant serial killer thriller, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to carry on Dan and Lexi’s story. Fantastic!! Highly recommended!!
May 31, 2021
I love a good cliffhanger & Chris Meritt sure knows his way around one. Lockhart with his quest to find his missing wife progresses with every book in the series but this was the most progression so far! What it means for the Lockhart Green crime fighting duo remains to be seen bit the tension is palpable & has me coming back for more. As for the plot, it was really good but with way too many characters/suspects it was difficult for me to keep track of the story. For someone with less on their mind this might not be the case! I loved seeing Berry's work shine through & as a data analyst myself I whooped for joy when the part of predictive analytics for crime solving came up. I loved this installment of this series & can't wait for the next. Especially as Lockhart seems to be close to the truth seemingly within his grasp!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Chris Meritt for an arc!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Chris Meritt for an arc!
March 15, 2021
Lost Souls by Chris Merritt is the third in the Detectives Lockhart & Green series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, 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)
DI Dan Lockhart is a detective in the Major Investigation Team (the Murder Squad). He doesn't always play by the rules. He is still trying to come to terms with his wife's disappearance 11 years ago. Psychologist Dr. Lexi Green, had tried to help him with this and his flashbacks, but now she helps him when a difficult case needs solving. She is still trying to get over the loss of her brother. Although Lexi has feelings for Dan, she has set them aside, because Dan is obsessed with his missing wife Jess.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
A young boy is found dead, posed beneath the altar at St. Mary's Church, hands clasped in prayer, and tied with a white ribbon, a bible verse nearby. Young Donovan had a rough life, and now it is over.
As Dan consults with Lexi, she is sure that this killer is not done. Unfortunately, she is right, as a young girl's body is found in a different church, but with identical characteristics. They will have to link the two and hope there is not a third body before they figure out is is killing these vulnerable children.
Dan is reporting directly to DSI Paula Burrows, since the DCI post that Porter left when he was promoted to Media Relations has not yet been filled. She is a stickler for going by the book. Dan will have to tread carefully. He is also still searching for Jess, but he has to put that on the back burner until this killer is found.
Meanwhile, Lexi is dating Tim, and although it is going well, something is holding her back. When she finds out that Tim worked at the same school attended by both victims, things get a little tense between Dan and Lexi.
My Opinions:
This book picked up speed for me, where I had though the first two books seemed long, this one moved much faster. I really enjoyed it. It may be that I am starting to like the characters a little more, and now have an interest as to where they are headed.
The pace was good, and the suspects were many. The identity of the actual perpetrator came as a surprise to me, which was good (although to be honest I was hoping it was someone else).
The plot was quite good, if a little dark, as it dealt with vulnerable, missing children. It is a little scary that a lot of this was based on actual cases, and that the number of actual missing children is so high.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including my reason for choosing to read this as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
February 10, 2021
Lost Souls is the 3rd book featuring Chris Merritt's detectives Lockhart and Green.
The story begins with the killing of a schoolboy found in a church on a busy London street. At St Mary the Virgin church in south-west London, Donovan Blair, 12, wearing clean-looking clothes, is knelt in front of the altar beneath a gold cross on the wall, with his hands clasped under his chin as though he is praying. Called to the scene, DI Dan Lockhart notices the ligature markings on the victim's neck, underneath white ribbon. Dan alerts a member of his team, DC Mohammed Khan who is house-sharing with psychologist Dr Lexi Green. Dan, realising he needs to get inside the perpetrator’s mind, contacts Lexi. A week later a girl is targeted with the same positioning of the body at a church a few miles away.
With its steady pace, Lost Souls had a terrific plot and I had plenty of time to become re-invested in the main characters. An ex-soldier, Dan Lockhart is working as part of the Major Investigation Team (MIT) in London, as well as continuing with the search for his wife Jess who disappeared seven years ago. The characters of both Lexi and Dan are fabulously crafted by Chris Merritt and the two have a great working relationship. I also enjoyed the contributions from civilian analyst Lucy Berry, examinating data compiled by a graduate student’s algorithm, who was easy to like.
This is a tense, exciting and superbly crafted police procedural, and I appreciated the MO of the serial killer as it made for compelling reading. The use of a psychologist to create a probable profile of the killer was captivating and there are some shocking twists in this dark tale. Chris Merritt managed to keep me guessing right up to the riveting conclusion. A remarkably good story I can confidently recommend that will have you reading late into the night. Lockhart and Green make a brilliant duo and I can't wait to read more of them.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The story begins with the killing of a schoolboy found in a church on a busy London street. At St Mary the Virgin church in south-west London, Donovan Blair, 12, wearing clean-looking clothes, is knelt in front of the altar beneath a gold cross on the wall, with his hands clasped under his chin as though he is praying. Called to the scene, DI Dan Lockhart notices the ligature markings on the victim's neck, underneath white ribbon. Dan alerts a member of his team, DC Mohammed Khan who is house-sharing with psychologist Dr Lexi Green. Dan, realising he needs to get inside the perpetrator’s mind, contacts Lexi. A week later a girl is targeted with the same positioning of the body at a church a few miles away.
With its steady pace, Lost Souls had a terrific plot and I had plenty of time to become re-invested in the main characters. An ex-soldier, Dan Lockhart is working as part of the Major Investigation Team (MIT) in London, as well as continuing with the search for his wife Jess who disappeared seven years ago. The characters of both Lexi and Dan are fabulously crafted by Chris Merritt and the two have a great working relationship. I also enjoyed the contributions from civilian analyst Lucy Berry, examinating data compiled by a graduate student’s algorithm, who was easy to like.
This is a tense, exciting and superbly crafted police procedural, and I appreciated the MO of the serial killer as it made for compelling reading. The use of a psychologist to create a probable profile of the killer was captivating and there are some shocking twists in this dark tale. Chris Merritt managed to keep me guessing right up to the riveting conclusion. A remarkably good story I can confidently recommend that will have you reading late into the night. Lockhart and Green make a brilliant duo and I can't wait to read more of them.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 9, 2021
About four months ago I read the previous part in the Lockhart and Green series. That’s not a lot, but it feels like a lifetime when you are counting the days. 😊
Now that I finally had a new book in my hands, it was a case of ‘don’t call me, I’ll call you’ as soon as I finish the story of course. 😉 So goodbye world, hello Detective Lockhart.
The thing with a good book is that you know when you start, but you don’t know when you will be able to stop. You just don’t want to. The short chapters seduce you time and time again to read one more and when you finally decide to call it a day, there is that teaser at the and of the chapter and off you go again.
Dan and his team have a lot to deal with and not much to go on. The author gives us a whole bucketload of possible culprits to chose from and honestly I did not have a clue who to pick. The profile Dr Green made fitted them all.
Suddenly an important clue is found and you think YES, now it’s all going to be crystal clear until you realize that the author was one step ahead again and I still did not come one tiny bit closer. It made me smile, because it’s when the penny drops and I never noticed it. Clever idea 😊
Who is finally cracking the case wide open and is responsible for a race against the clock? And more important, who will be the winner? To get the answers, you will have to read this incredible book.
Dan is not ready to slow down though. He has some personal matters he has to take care of. He had to postpone them because his job happened, but now it’s time to go and get some answers.
I was very pleased to see a little bit of Belgium in the story. Lovely.
Another amazingly good book. 5 stars.
Thank you, Chris Merritt and Bookouture
Now that I finally had a new book in my hands, it was a case of ‘don’t call me, I’ll call you’ as soon as I finish the story of course. 😉 So goodbye world, hello Detective Lockhart.
The thing with a good book is that you know when you start, but you don’t know when you will be able to stop. You just don’t want to. The short chapters seduce you time and time again to read one more and when you finally decide to call it a day, there is that teaser at the and of the chapter and off you go again.
Dan and his team have a lot to deal with and not much to go on. The author gives us a whole bucketload of possible culprits to chose from and honestly I did not have a clue who to pick. The profile Dr Green made fitted them all.
Suddenly an important clue is found and you think YES, now it’s all going to be crystal clear until you realize that the author was one step ahead again and I still did not come one tiny bit closer. It made me smile, because it’s when the penny drops and I never noticed it. Clever idea 😊
Who is finally cracking the case wide open and is responsible for a race against the clock? And more important, who will be the winner? To get the answers, you will have to read this incredible book.
Dan is not ready to slow down though. He has some personal matters he has to take care of. He had to postpone them because his job happened, but now it’s time to go and get some answers.
I was very pleased to see a little bit of Belgium in the story. Lovely.
Another amazingly good book. 5 stars.
Thank you, Chris Merritt and Bookouture
January 28, 2021
Another thrilling instalment in the series starring Dan and Lexi.
Dan is tasked with catching a murderer - whilst trying to figure out what happened to his missing wife and keeping his officious boss off his back. It seems very stressful trying to keep all those balls in the air but he manages it, somehow. He has a strong and dedicated team around him, which helps.
Lexi has a few things to contend with herself. She has a heavy workload counselling clients through trauma and has no intention of getting involved with one of Dan's cases, since the last one left her with plenty of trauma of her own, but there is something about him that she trusts....
A lot going on in this book and the author once more brings all the threads of the story together beautifully.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series (although to be honest, I will read anything this author writes since I enjoyed his Zac Boateng series as well).
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Dan is tasked with catching a murderer - whilst trying to figure out what happened to his missing wife and keeping his officious boss off his back. It seems very stressful trying to keep all those balls in the air but he manages it, somehow. He has a strong and dedicated team around him, which helps.
Lexi has a few things to contend with herself. She has a heavy workload counselling clients through trauma and has no intention of getting involved with one of Dan's cases, since the last one left her with plenty of trauma of her own, but there is something about him that she trusts....
A lot going on in this book and the author once more brings all the threads of the story together beautifully.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series (although to be honest, I will read anything this author writes since I enjoyed his Zac Boateng series as well).
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
March 25, 2024
I "like" that the author took the time to point out exactly how rare serial killers are in the first book - and then proceeded straight onto introducing the super-rare female avenger type of psychopath (also a serial killer!) in the second book. Then (of course!) a third serial showed up in this third book. 😆
I both liked and (slightly) disliked this book. The dislike is probably a side-effect from bingeing it back to back with the first two. The rather slow (or absent) character development, stretching over the tree books, became a lot more obvious this way than if I'd listened to, say ... one book per year.
Lexi's new boyfriend, Tim, annoyed me.
I was happy and celebrating when he finally showed his true colours! However, he was dropped out of the book without any type of consequences (apart from getting dumped) that suited his level of A-holeness.
I will actually sulk about his undramatic departure from the book for a while. It was a huge letdown! I wanted him to get properly kicked to the curb - hard enough to bounce at least once!
I could even forgive his return in the 4th book - IF we get to see the A-hole get a wakeup call about his nasty habits while also being a teacher.
(Probably wishful thinking, but it would give me a lot of satisfaction.)
Dan ... Oh, Dan ... *sigh*
Well, we finally got somewhere in the case of Jess, but at the same time ... Not?
The more I think about it, the more I'm on board with the thought of him simply moving on by now.
I completely understand why he can't - for the sake of the story - but I can't exactly put my finger on why I can't force myself to care about what happened to Jess.
Of course she deserves justice, but Dan clinging on to her, or rather the (for me as the reader) super-vague memory of her, feels like a truly unhealthy way of coping.
He really should have stayed in therapy.
The fact that he quit going all together instead of going to someone else than Lexi rubs me the wrong way.
I liked Lucy. She was a nice, new addition as a POV character. So much more complex and open to new things than Max.
While I did find her a bit too meek for my taste, I did like how she (unlike others in this series) started to grow. Her final "reward" towards the end was a nice touch too.
Ehem. Now I'm going to spend a couple oflines paragraphs picking a certain line apart.
"Freeze his balls off" does not translate to "freeze her ovaries off" when flipping the gender on the expression! 😆🚫‼️
"Brr, I'm going to freeze my kidneys off!" - said no one, ever!
Because if you're going to "freeze off" your internal organs you're going to have to freeze off everything below your belly-button. 😆
This is why the expression "freeze my tits off" exists.
Because it has to be body-parts that are somewhat removed from the torso (and possibly a bit dangly) for there to even be a slight possibility of the things freezing off, at all.
Long story short: I really don't understand how this line didn't get caught by at least one editor - or two.
(Unless they were all male!) 🤣🤣🤣
Anyway: I'm a bit upset I can't just continue onto book 4, but fingers crossed for more in the future! 😇
I both liked and (slightly) disliked this book. The dislike is probably a side-effect from bingeing it back to back with the first two. The rather slow (or absent) character development, stretching over the tree books, became a lot more obvious this way than if I'd listened to, say ... one book per year.
Lexi's new boyfriend, Tim, annoyed me.
I was happy and celebrating when he finally showed his true colours! However, he was dropped out of the book without any type of consequences (apart from getting dumped) that suited his level of A-holeness.
I will actually sulk about his undramatic departure from the book for a while. It was a huge letdown! I wanted him to get properly kicked to the curb - hard enough to bounce at least once!
I could even forgive his return in the 4th book - IF we get to see the A-hole get a wakeup call about his nasty habits while also being a teacher.
(Probably wishful thinking, but it would give me a lot of satisfaction.)
Dan ... Oh, Dan ... *sigh*
Well, we finally got somewhere in the case of Jess, but at the same time ... Not?
The more I think about it, the more I'm on board with the thought of him simply moving on by now.
I completely understand why he can't - for the sake of the story - but I can't exactly put my finger on why I can't force myself to care about what happened to Jess.
Of course she deserves justice, but Dan clinging on to her, or rather the (for me as the reader) super-vague memory of her, feels like a truly unhealthy way of coping.
He really should have stayed in therapy.
The fact that he quit going all together instead of going to someone else than Lexi rubs me the wrong way.
I liked Lucy. She was a nice, new addition as a POV character. So much more complex and open to new things than Max.
While I did find her a bit too meek for my taste, I did like how she (unlike others in this series) started to grow. Her final "reward" towards the end was a nice touch too.
Ehem. Now I'm going to spend a couple of
"Freeze his balls off" does not translate to "freeze her ovaries off" when flipping the gender on the expression! 😆🚫‼️
"Brr, I'm going to freeze my kidneys off!" - said no one, ever!
Because if you're going to "freeze off" your internal organs you're going to have to freeze off everything below your belly-button. 😆
This is why the expression "freeze my tits off" exists.
Because it has to be body-parts that are somewhat removed from the torso (and possibly a bit dangly) for there to even be a slight possibility of the things freezing off, at all.
Long story short: I really don't understand how this line didn't get caught by at least one editor - or two.
(Unless they were all male!) 🤣🤣🤣
Anyway: I'm a bit upset I can't just continue onto book 4, but fingers crossed for more in the future! 😇
February 13, 2021
Back with book 3 in the series of Lockhart and Green and things are getting real now! Yes, we have the horrific murders of the lost souls occurring but the real story is Lockhart’s missing wife, and boy is there a clanger in the works there!!
We see the investigation unfolding not just through Lockhart’s frustrations or Green’s profiling but also through Lucy’s and the sadistic murderer. I really did enjoy Lucy being more at the forefront, the investigation had become more personal for her with the children that were targetted that, shockingly she oversteps the mark. However, I liked this side of her because she was acting as any mother would have done. Protection of your children is key, above all else. I do worry however that her actions may just come and haunt her later on in the series.
Lockhart struggles more in this book, we feel the intensity of the case ramped up here because his personal life is trickling through. He has a boss breathing down his neck, which never helps but the lack of belief they hold is shocking. Lockhart yes does operate sometimes by his own rules but he gets the results we need. Although, that ending, well it might have just pushed him too far.
Each story by Chris gets darker and darker, and here he tackles a solemn subject. One that would worry parents, carers and people generally. The killer’s mindset is off-kilter, believing that they are working for the greater good when that clearly is not the case. It feels that in this chapter everyone is battling some kind of demon, where it be religious, history or just present-day relationship. Each character takes a battering in some way and has decisions to make that could and will alter their future. Always makes for an interesting read for us the reader. The conflict that these characters here and the decisions they make in effect make us the jury on their decisions. We hold the power in our minds to decide if what they are doing is right or wrong, and if it is wrong is it for the right decisions. As you can see this book offers a lot more than just a murder investigation, we have thinking to do!
One thing I loved is the number of red herrings that are thrown in here. I had someone in mind for the murders, I would have in fact happily pinned my money on them, but nope I was proven wrong and I fell at the last hurdle. The scary thing to take away from this story, is sometimes they hide in plain sight!
This story begins and ends with Dan Lockhart, I do worry for the people who are about to enter his crosshairs because he is not someone you want to be on the wrong side of for sure. It is another strong instalment in the series and I can’t wait to see where we go next. Hopefully Lockhart and Green might get a nice sunny holiday at some point!
We see the investigation unfolding not just through Lockhart’s frustrations or Green’s profiling but also through Lucy’s and the sadistic murderer. I really did enjoy Lucy being more at the forefront, the investigation had become more personal for her with the children that were targetted that, shockingly she oversteps the mark. However, I liked this side of her because she was acting as any mother would have done. Protection of your children is key, above all else. I do worry however that her actions may just come and haunt her later on in the series.
Lockhart struggles more in this book, we feel the intensity of the case ramped up here because his personal life is trickling through. He has a boss breathing down his neck, which never helps but the lack of belief they hold is shocking. Lockhart yes does operate sometimes by his own rules but he gets the results we need. Although, that ending, well it might have just pushed him too far.
Each story by Chris gets darker and darker, and here he tackles a solemn subject. One that would worry parents, carers and people generally. The killer’s mindset is off-kilter, believing that they are working for the greater good when that clearly is not the case. It feels that in this chapter everyone is battling some kind of demon, where it be religious, history or just present-day relationship. Each character takes a battering in some way and has decisions to make that could and will alter their future. Always makes for an interesting read for us the reader. The conflict that these characters here and the decisions they make in effect make us the jury on their decisions. We hold the power in our minds to decide if what they are doing is right or wrong, and if it is wrong is it for the right decisions. As you can see this book offers a lot more than just a murder investigation, we have thinking to do!
One thing I loved is the number of red herrings that are thrown in here. I had someone in mind for the murders, I would have in fact happily pinned my money on them, but nope I was proven wrong and I fell at the last hurdle. The scary thing to take away from this story, is sometimes they hide in plain sight!
This story begins and ends with Dan Lockhart, I do worry for the people who are about to enter his crosshairs because he is not someone you want to be on the wrong side of for sure. It is another strong instalment in the series and I can’t wait to see where we go next. Hopefully Lockhart and Green might get a nice sunny holiday at some point!
February 3, 2021
I received a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily...
Lost Souls is the third book in the Lockhart & Green series. It can be read as a standalone but, after reading this, I am definitely checking out the first two books. It focuses on the murders of children who have all been let down by society in some way. The bodies are staged in churches, all in the prayer position of kneeling with clasped hands. Detective Hart asks for psychologist, Lexi Green's help and they set about trying to find what links the children together. Dan is horrified to find out that all the children passed through the same school where Lexi's boyfriend works. That makes things difficult because it means he can't share much about the case with Lexi due to conflict of interest concerns. On the side, he's also looking for his missing wife and makes a breakthrough in her case.
This book was everything a thriller should be. It moved at a really good pace with little bits of information thrown in which had me suspecting everyone except the police at one point. The surprise reveal was actually a surprise for me which said a lot about how well the author hid the truth throughout the book.
The police team was made up of good solid individuals whom I liked. Lexi Green also fit in quite well with them and was just as likable. I especially liked the civilian IT worker, Lucy. Read the book and you'll understand exactly why I liked her so much.
This was an excellent read and I am encouraged to try more books by Mr Merritt.
Due to very disturbing content, this book should be read by adults and older teens.
Lost Souls is the third book in the Lockhart & Green series. It can be read as a standalone but, after reading this, I am definitely checking out the first two books. It focuses on the murders of children who have all been let down by society in some way. The bodies are staged in churches, all in the prayer position of kneeling with clasped hands. Detective Hart asks for psychologist, Lexi Green's help and they set about trying to find what links the children together. Dan is horrified to find out that all the children passed through the same school where Lexi's boyfriend works. That makes things difficult because it means he can't share much about the case with Lexi due to conflict of interest concerns. On the side, he's also looking for his missing wife and makes a breakthrough in her case.
This book was everything a thriller should be. It moved at a really good pace with little bits of information thrown in which had me suspecting everyone except the police at one point. The surprise reveal was actually a surprise for me which said a lot about how well the author hid the truth throughout the book.
The police team was made up of good solid individuals whom I liked. Lexi Green also fit in quite well with them and was just as likable. I especially liked the civilian IT worker, Lucy. Read the book and you'll understand exactly why I liked her so much.
This was an excellent read and I am encouraged to try more books by Mr Merritt.
Due to very disturbing content, this book should be read by adults and older teens.
February 7, 2021
This is the 3rd book in the Lockhart and Green series but the first book I have read by Chris Merritt. I read the book easily as a stand-alone without knowing all the back story and I will certainly be reading more by this author.
This is the first book I have read that mentions covid 19 which is interesting.
When a child is found dead at an altar in a church Dan Lockhart and his team are sent to try and solve the crime. The plot thickens when another child is found in the same way and they have more to deal with than they thought. How many more children will be murdered before the killer is caught?
There are lots of characters in the book who are all believable and work well together. The story twists and turns and goes off at different angles to keep you guessing and wondering what will happen next.
There is also the subplot as Detective Dan Lockharts wife has been missing for 2 years and he spends all of his spare time trying to find out what has happened to her.
The chapters are short which keeps the book moving at a fast past
Really enjoyable I can’t believe I have never read any of this series before. I will certainly be reading the rest now.
February 7, 2021
Lost Souls - 5 stars
This was a good read that kept me intriqued. When I wasn't reading this book, I found myself thinking about it, which tells me the author did an incredible job of making the characters realistic and the plot, engaging.
The author inserts a lot of possibilities for the identity of the killer (red herrings) throughout the book, and I found myself curious who it would end up being. No spoilers here, though, so if you want to know who turned out to be the murderer, you'll need to read the book.
I enjoyed the chapters from the killer's POV, and could feel his conflict, but also his bit of compulsion. Despite the media giving him the moniker of "Church Kid Killer," this killer doesn't take out the children because he's some deranged lunatic set on violence. To him, he was a maker of angels. I found his thinking to be chilling, interesting, and unique.
This was my first book by this author, but I'd definitely read his work again. I received an advanced reading copy. Thank you to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for making this possible.
This was a good read that kept me intriqued. When I wasn't reading this book, I found myself thinking about it, which tells me the author did an incredible job of making the characters realistic and the plot, engaging.
The author inserts a lot of possibilities for the identity of the killer (red herrings) throughout the book, and I found myself curious who it would end up being. No spoilers here, though, so if you want to know who turned out to be the murderer, you'll need to read the book.
I enjoyed the chapters from the killer's POV, and could feel his conflict, but also his bit of compulsion. Despite the media giving him the moniker of "Church Kid Killer," this killer doesn't take out the children because he's some deranged lunatic set on violence. To him, he was a maker of angels. I found his thinking to be chilling, interesting, and unique.
This was my first book by this author, but I'd definitely read his work again. I received an advanced reading copy. Thank you to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for making this possible.
Read
June 13, 2024What the HELL was this ending
June 2, 2021
Yes another fantastic book. Look forward to the next one
January 26, 2021
Lost Souls is definitely one of those books that once started you just have to keep reading no matter how late it is.
DI Lockhart is still searching for his missing wife Jess even though 11 years have gone by since she went missing but that must be put on hold for the moment when the body of a young boy is found inside a church, kneeling in front of the alter as if in prayer.
This is a case that Lockhart wants solving as soon as possible so as in the past he once again seeks the help of clinical psychologist Dr. Lexi Green, renowned for getting into the minds of serial killers and whose insights into behavior, motives and backgrounds is second to none.
In a race against time before more lives are lost, the suspect list grows and the case becomes more complex and almost impossible to solve.
I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to this totally absorbing and brilliant thriller of a read.
Roll on the next. Loved it !!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC for my honest review.
DI Lockhart is still searching for his missing wife Jess even though 11 years have gone by since she went missing but that must be put on hold for the moment when the body of a young boy is found inside a church, kneeling in front of the alter as if in prayer.
This is a case that Lockhart wants solving as soon as possible so as in the past he once again seeks the help of clinical psychologist Dr. Lexi Green, renowned for getting into the minds of serial killers and whose insights into behavior, motives and backgrounds is second to none.
In a race against time before more lives are lost, the suspect list grows and the case becomes more complex and almost impossible to solve.
I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to this totally absorbing and brilliant thriller of a read.
Roll on the next. Loved it !!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC for my honest review.
January 28, 2021
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel
a creepy one this...with the perp leaving the dead body in a kneeling position with the hands set in prayer position in a church and the fact that the victim was a child makes the murder scene more horrific...
it was nice to catch up with the gang to see where they are, brilliant team that work well together with lexi but with her boyfriend making the list of suspect lexi is kept out of talks as much as possible but as more victims are found in this strange way, dan manages to keep lexi's involvement a secret...
brilliantly written book that kept me hooked right till then end, cant wait till the next in this brilliant series comes out
a creepy one this...with the perp leaving the dead body in a kneeling position with the hands set in prayer position in a church and the fact that the victim was a child makes the murder scene more horrific...
it was nice to catch up with the gang to see where they are, brilliant team that work well together with lexi but with her boyfriend making the list of suspect lexi is kept out of talks as much as possible but as more victims are found in this strange way, dan manages to keep lexi's involvement a secret...
brilliantly written book that kept me hooked right till then end, cant wait till the next in this brilliant series comes out
January 17, 2021
Donovan Blair was twelve when he was found in a local church, his body posed to look as if he was quietly praying. A boy with a troubled history but a talent for football he was known to a few of the local groups designed to help youngsters in the care system in Wandsworth.
Shocked by what he sees Detective Dan Lockhart calls on his friend and sometime therapist Dr Lexi Green for assistance. Trying to draw up a profile and break alibies while their private lives and official protocols cause them to keep secrets they try to find anything, however small, which will prove decisive but then another child is found.
Once again Chris Merritt has written a thriller you need to finish almost as soon as you begin. Having the killer’s thoughts included throughout doesn't always work as it can lessen the impact of their crimes but not here! Knowing why is chilling and although their reasoning is flawed it is also perfectly logical when read about from their perspective.
Dan's hunt for his missing wife also takes centre stage on occasion, his pain and desperation still raw and the steps he takes understandable in the circumstances.
Lexi is stronger this time, still needing to help but far more on her own terms which made her more rounded and enjoyable to read about.
All the regular members of the team are present and once again the author realistically includes problems for both Dan and Lexi which signpost trouble in the future and hopefully means there will be a few more adventures for the pair to come. He also shows how one major investigation can result in success in other areas which made this so much more than just the highlighted cases which I loved.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is highly recommended as are other two books in this series so far.
Shocked by what he sees Detective Dan Lockhart calls on his friend and sometime therapist Dr Lexi Green for assistance. Trying to draw up a profile and break alibies while their private lives and official protocols cause them to keep secrets they try to find anything, however small, which will prove decisive but then another child is found.
Once again Chris Merritt has written a thriller you need to finish almost as soon as you begin. Having the killer’s thoughts included throughout doesn't always work as it can lessen the impact of their crimes but not here! Knowing why is chilling and although their reasoning is flawed it is also perfectly logical when read about from their perspective.
Dan's hunt for his missing wife also takes centre stage on occasion, his pain and desperation still raw and the steps he takes understandable in the circumstances.
Lexi is stronger this time, still needing to help but far more on her own terms which made her more rounded and enjoyable to read about.
All the regular members of the team are present and once again the author realistically includes problems for both Dan and Lexi which signpost trouble in the future and hopefully means there will be a few more adventures for the pair to come. He also shows how one major investigation can result in success in other areas which made this so much more than just the highlighted cases which I loved.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is highly recommended as are other two books in this series so far.
January 22, 2021
What a fab police procedural with a disturbed and intriguing killer! ‘Lost Souls’ is also such an apt title. As I saw it, there were many lost souls in this book, all of them equally relevant to the plot.
From start to end, there was a liveliness about the police team. I felt like I was in the hub of an incident room when they were all together, working through the clues. I enjoyed the complexity of Dan Lockhart’s character too. His military past and the way he dealt with everything in his present made him such a well rounded character, and his personal story was so compelling. The subplot of Dan’s missing wife also gave me a huge reason to fly through this book.
Tension gripped me throughout as the killer lured his victims. I literally had shivers down my spine.
My guesses at who the killer was were all over the place. Then when that ending came, it was phenomenal and exciting! ‘Lost Souls’ is an action filled, fear fest of a crime read. It’s gritty, tense and will have you biting your nails as the answers spill out!
From start to end, there was a liveliness about the police team. I felt like I was in the hub of an incident room when they were all together, working through the clues. I enjoyed the complexity of Dan Lockhart’s character too. His military past and the way he dealt with everything in his present made him such a well rounded character, and his personal story was so compelling. The subplot of Dan’s missing wife also gave me a huge reason to fly through this book.
Tension gripped me throughout as the killer lured his victims. I literally had shivers down my spine.
My guesses at who the killer was were all over the place. Then when that ending came, it was phenomenal and exciting! ‘Lost Souls’ is an action filled, fear fest of a crime read. It’s gritty, tense and will have you biting your nails as the answers spill out!
January 25, 2021
This series gets better and better. The writing, the principal characters and the plot are all excellent; DI Dan Lockhart is a complex character who is looking for his missing wife while facing a heavy workload. Dan's working relationship with Dr Lexi Green is interesting; she treated him for PTSD following his time in the army and now helps him with complex cases. Here a series of children are found dead in prayerful poses in empty churches and the mystery is to find what links them and why they are being taken. Brilliant!
January 24, 2021
Lockhart and Green reunite in this fast paced thriller. Donovan Blair is found dead in a church positioned by the killer in a prayer pose. Lockhart, still tormented by the disappearance of his wife has to find the killer before he/she strikes again and calls in Green to assist with profiling. Donovan was known to social care services and other agencies helping children rebuild their lives. Lots of suspects soon start to appear.
I really enjoyed this book. Received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this book. Received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review
February 13, 2021
After the dead body of a young boy is discovered,posed in front of the alter in a church, Detective Dan Lockhart and his team find themselves investigating a complex maze of dead ends,red herrings and multiple suspects in this, the third instalment in this addictive, police procedural series.
As the team race against time to uncover the identity of a very clever,twisty killer, Dan not only has to deal with being acting SIO but also with his every move being scrutinised by DSI Burrows. She has made is abundantly clear that she doesn't approve of Dan's rule breaking during previous cases and it is common knowledge around the station that she is just biding her time and waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself so she can get rid of him. As the twists and turns of the investigation lead Dan and the team into the world of the underprivileged,missing, misplaced and exploited, Dan is shocked when it emerges that one of their suspects is dating his close friend Dr Lexi Green.
Dan Lockhart is one of my favourite fictional detectives, I love him and his loyal, dedicated team who work really well together and each have their own unique personality and character traits. I love how every member of the team was given the opportunity to contribute in some way to the investigation. In this book, even analyst Lucy Berry gets her chance to shine when her investigation into a report into missing people uncovers some shocking secrets and causes her to behave completely out of character.
Whenever he has had the opportunity, Dan has been continuing his investigation into the disappearance of his beloved wife, Jess. He has always suspected that his brother in law Nick knows more about her disappearance than he is letting on. By the end of this book it appears that Dan's patience and perseverance is finally starting to pay off when he learns some shocking information.
Meanwhile, Dr Lexi Green is dealing with her own personal demons as well as her conflicting feelings for Dan. She has been dating Tim for the past eight months and the relationship appeared to be going well. But him being a possible suspect not only jeopardizes Lexi's involvement in the investigation but also her friendship with Dan. The reader can't help noticing during Lexi's interactions with Tim that he has some issues but is he a killer like Dan suspects and is Lexi's life in danger?
Interspersed throughout the book was chapters that were voiced from the perspective of the killer and gave the reader insights into their thoughts, backstory and the reasons why that person targeted their victims. I couldn't help feeling a tiny bit of sympathy for this person as their story unfolded. Although that person's actions were most definitely wrong and two wrongs don't make a right, in a twisted way,the motive behind their actions kind of made sense.
This is a gripping,addictive,twist packed thriller that had me hooked in from the first page and glued to my kindle. The story was intricately plotted,there was numerous suspects and had a breath taking, intense conclusion. The author has created a fantastic cast of recurring characters, individuals that the reader takes to their heart and enjoys investing their time with. Despite this being the third book in the series and the continuing storyline of Jess's disappearance, this book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I love this series and can't wait to find out what the author had planned for Dan, Lexi and the team in book 4.
As the team race against time to uncover the identity of a very clever,twisty killer, Dan not only has to deal with being acting SIO but also with his every move being scrutinised by DSI Burrows. She has made is abundantly clear that she doesn't approve of Dan's rule breaking during previous cases and it is common knowledge around the station that she is just biding her time and waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself so she can get rid of him. As the twists and turns of the investigation lead Dan and the team into the world of the underprivileged,missing, misplaced and exploited, Dan is shocked when it emerges that one of their suspects is dating his close friend Dr Lexi Green.
Dan Lockhart is one of my favourite fictional detectives, I love him and his loyal, dedicated team who work really well together and each have their own unique personality and character traits. I love how every member of the team was given the opportunity to contribute in some way to the investigation. In this book, even analyst Lucy Berry gets her chance to shine when her investigation into a report into missing people uncovers some shocking secrets and causes her to behave completely out of character.
Whenever he has had the opportunity, Dan has been continuing his investigation into the disappearance of his beloved wife, Jess. He has always suspected that his brother in law Nick knows more about her disappearance than he is letting on. By the end of this book it appears that Dan's patience and perseverance is finally starting to pay off when he learns some shocking information.
Meanwhile, Dr Lexi Green is dealing with her own personal demons as well as her conflicting feelings for Dan. She has been dating Tim for the past eight months and the relationship appeared to be going well. But him being a possible suspect not only jeopardizes Lexi's involvement in the investigation but also her friendship with Dan. The reader can't help noticing during Lexi's interactions with Tim that he has some issues but is he a killer like Dan suspects and is Lexi's life in danger?
Interspersed throughout the book was chapters that were voiced from the perspective of the killer and gave the reader insights into their thoughts, backstory and the reasons why that person targeted their victims. I couldn't help feeling a tiny bit of sympathy for this person as their story unfolded. Although that person's actions were most definitely wrong and two wrongs don't make a right, in a twisted way,the motive behind their actions kind of made sense.
This is a gripping,addictive,twist packed thriller that had me hooked in from the first page and glued to my kindle. The story was intricately plotted,there was numerous suspects and had a breath taking, intense conclusion. The author has created a fantastic cast of recurring characters, individuals that the reader takes to their heart and enjoys investing their time with. Despite this being the third book in the series and the continuing storyline of Jess's disappearance, this book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I love this series and can't wait to find out what the author had planned for Dan, Lexi and the team in book 4.
June 17, 2021
If you’re a fan of London-set police procedurals, it might be worth investigating Lost Souls, the third book in Chris Merritt‘s Lockhart and Green series. Dan Lockhart is the detective and SIO, and American Lexi Green the psychologist who helps his team by providing a profile of the offender.
In this book, they’re looking for someone who is targeting and abducting vulnerable children – those in care, mainly, or isolated, or bullied. He poses them in churches, kneeling in front of the altar, hands held up.as though they’re praying. This, however, is not where they’re killed – the offender clearly has access to somewhere else to murder, clean up, and pose his chosen victim.
As well as this case, Dan is continuing to investigate the disappearance two years previously of his wife Jess – something he’s convinced her brother Nick knows more about than he’s admitting to. So as well as his official investigation, he’s taking it upon himself to spy on Nick, leaving him burning the candle at both ends. Despite his search for Jess, there’s clearly an attraction between him and Lexi. She’s seeing a teacher called Tim, but it’s apparent Dan would be a better match for her. However, with her father ill in the States with Covid she has plenty on her mind, too.
There are a number of suspects in this book, and they’re all given such equal weight it’s really impossible to guess who’s responsible – I was continually changing my mind as to who the killer was! There’s a real race on for Lexi – and the team – to identify the perpetrator before he identifies his next victim. You may find it nail-biting stuff…
One for fans of police procedurals that know how to keep you guessing, this looks like it could become an enjoyable series. I may have felt that I’d have had greater advantage had I read the previous two novels in the series (Knock Knock and Who’s Next, respectively) as I’d have gotten to know the characters better, but I’ll get round to that. And I look forward to getting to know Dan Lockhart (and his quest for his missing wife), and Lexi Green – and the others – better in future. This is a good, solid police procedural – although not for the faint-hearted!
Recommended.
In this book, they’re looking for someone who is targeting and abducting vulnerable children – those in care, mainly, or isolated, or bullied. He poses them in churches, kneeling in front of the altar, hands held up.as though they’re praying. This, however, is not where they’re killed – the offender clearly has access to somewhere else to murder, clean up, and pose his chosen victim.
As well as this case, Dan is continuing to investigate the disappearance two years previously of his wife Jess – something he’s convinced her brother Nick knows more about than he’s admitting to. So as well as his official investigation, he’s taking it upon himself to spy on Nick, leaving him burning the candle at both ends. Despite his search for Jess, there’s clearly an attraction between him and Lexi. She’s seeing a teacher called Tim, but it’s apparent Dan would be a better match for her. However, with her father ill in the States with Covid she has plenty on her mind, too.
There are a number of suspects in this book, and they’re all given such equal weight it’s really impossible to guess who’s responsible – I was continually changing my mind as to who the killer was! There’s a real race on for Lexi – and the team – to identify the perpetrator before he identifies his next victim. You may find it nail-biting stuff…
One for fans of police procedurals that know how to keep you guessing, this looks like it could become an enjoyable series. I may have felt that I’d have had greater advantage had I read the previous two novels in the series (Knock Knock and Who’s Next, respectively) as I’d have gotten to know the characters better, but I’ll get round to that. And I look forward to getting to know Dan Lockhart (and his quest for his missing wife), and Lexi Green – and the others – better in future. This is a good, solid police procedural – although not for the faint-hearted!
Recommended.
February 7, 2021
Another brilliant book in the Dan Lockhart series.
Dan is called when a child’s body is found posed as if in prayer in a church. The team are shocked that someone would do this to a child so they’re all determined to find the killer.
Dan calls on psychologist Lexi Green to help out with the profile of the killer as she’s helped on two previous cases.
Soon another child has been taken and killed, and yet again positioned in prayer in a church.
Sections of the Bible are highlighted at each scene so they know it’s someone with good religious knowledge.
Dan and the team investigate local youth groups and schools and seem to be hitting a brick wall until one of the victim’s phones is found and it all pieces together.
There’s a race against time to stop him taking another life and it was a real nail biter of an ending.
I love this series as we also follow Dan’s search for his wife who disappeared two years ago. The ending of this book will have ramifications on future books so I look forward to what comes next.
This is a brilliant book and I highly recommend it to crime fiction fans.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Dan is called when a child’s body is found posed as if in prayer in a church. The team are shocked that someone would do this to a child so they’re all determined to find the killer.
Dan calls on psychologist Lexi Green to help out with the profile of the killer as she’s helped on two previous cases.
Soon another child has been taken and killed, and yet again positioned in prayer in a church.
Sections of the Bible are highlighted at each scene so they know it’s someone with good religious knowledge.
Dan and the team investigate local youth groups and schools and seem to be hitting a brick wall until one of the victim’s phones is found and it all pieces together.
There’s a race against time to stop him taking another life and it was a real nail biter of an ending.
I love this series as we also follow Dan’s search for his wife who disappeared two years ago. The ending of this book will have ramifications on future books so I look forward to what comes next.
This is a brilliant book and I highly recommend it to crime fiction fans.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 9, 2021
After the cliff hanger of Who’s Next, I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next in the crime saga that is the series of Lockhart and Green.
But first there is a small matter of murder. But not just any old big standard murder (if there is such a thing). No, this is the worst of the sort, the murder of children, teenagers. Those who have their full life ahead of them, those who have been abandoned by their family and in the care system. Why would someone do such a thing? I had to find out.
The sporadic insight to our killer’s mind was chilling. They genuinely believed what they were doing was right. This deranged individual really needs to help…. stat!! I spent the whole book praying Lockhart and the team would crack the case and get justice for these Lost Souls.
This is a hell of a read. With Lockhart battling with his personal investigation by night and the murder case by day lead to some compelling narrative. Another cracking crime thriller from the keyboard of Merritt 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
But first there is a small matter of murder. But not just any old big standard murder (if there is such a thing). No, this is the worst of the sort, the murder of children, teenagers. Those who have their full life ahead of them, those who have been abandoned by their family and in the care system. Why would someone do such a thing? I had to find out.
The sporadic insight to our killer’s mind was chilling. They genuinely believed what they were doing was right. This deranged individual really needs to help…. stat!! I spent the whole book praying Lockhart and the team would crack the case and get justice for these Lost Souls.
This is a hell of a read. With Lockhart battling with his personal investigation by night and the murder case by day lead to some compelling narrative. Another cracking crime thriller from the keyboard of Merritt 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews