Corn Dolls

Annie O'Malley #1

by K.T. Galloway

Some Games Can Kill You.

A young girl is missing. Snatched from her home during a game of hide and seek. Left behind in her place is a doll crudely twisted from stalks of corn.

Psychotherapist Annie O’Malley thought she’d left the police force forever. The trouble is she thinks she knows the identity of the killer, and she’s the only one who can hunt him down before it’s too late.

O’Malley is drawn back to a world she thought she’d escaped, to a case where every turn reminds her of her childhood and her missing sister. When she’s partnered with DI Joe Swift, a man with more ghosts than people in his past, O’Malley has to make the hardest decision of her life.

Save a stranger. Or save herself.

The first in the Annie O'Malley Thriller series is perfect for fans of Alex Smith, JD Kirk, and J.E. Mayhew.

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Amazon

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2021

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author is the sister of Alex Smith whose books I love. This one I found not as enjoyable as his. Both set in Norfolk but, this story didn't seem to have such a fast pace as his. I know I shouldn't compare but, it just didn't excite me as much. I will try the next one in the series.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an excellent debut novel from Galloway. I was very impressed with this book. This is an excellent British Crime Procedural novel. And I have read many over the last few years. I love the DCI Kett novels from Alex Smith and the DCI Will Blake novels from J.E. Mayhew. But this story gives up something very different. Alex smith had recommended Mayhew and I ripped through that series, so when he recommended this novel by his sister I had to give it a try. It did not disappoint. In fact for a debut novel I am very impressed. I enjoyed this one so much I pre ordered book 2 as soon as I finished this volume.

Annie O’Malley is a psychotherapist and former police officer. And not only does she have baggage from her stunted police career, but even more from experiences when she was young. Now she is being drawn back, back into a world she had left behind, back to a world she was glad was behind her. Back to her own childhood and her sister who is still missing. And back into a high stakes games. But if she loses this game someone else will pay with their life.

For a young girl has gone missing and the only clue is a crudely twisted doll from a corn stalk. O’Malley does not want to go back to this world, but she fears she might know the identity of the kidnapper, and DI Joe Swift the lead on the case thinks she is the one to help them bring home the missing girl. Then as they are investigating, others start going missing. Can O’Malley overcome her past to save the kids in the present. Can She and Swift work together even though his own past is filled with ghosts.

This book has a bit of it all. Several abducted children. A strange church-cult. A haunted therapist and a Di on the edge. But sometimes things come together. But to find out if they do in this book you will need to pick it up and give it a read.

The writing is great in this story. The pace excellent. The characters are great, readers who do not like Swift and O’Malley might want to check their heartbeat. Interesting twists in the plot. And great use or past angst and hurt to trigger a move forward and maybe some are healing. Overall a very good read.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, this was a great gripping story. Ending was fab x

[Kirsty Hewes (hewes_books_are_these) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book of a series and I had a lot of high hopes from reading the blurb, which is the reason why I downloaded this book in the first place and I was slightly disappointed with reading the book in the end.

It’s is a very short quick read and I struggled with the lack of character backgrounds (maybe because it’s part of the series they may build this up later?)

Aspects I struggled with:
* The plot: usually with stories about abduction there is a lot of suspects, backgrounds, directions and lines of inquiry. I kind of felt that this was on one track right from the get go and it was quite easy to predict… I didn’t feel there was the right amount of sleuthing.
* Major character stories were glossed over: Annie O’Malleys sister being abducted by their father for one thing which I kind of felt they glossed over and avoided it, I get the author wanted to set the tone but it would have been great to get a bit more background to set the scene and build Annie up as a character. I feel like if her life experiences were a bit more explored she wouldn’t of been so robotic to me…
* Annie O’Malley is a psychotherapist bought in to help the police solve the abductions of missing girls- but I feel like there was decidedly a lack of psychology in her assessments and it’s like she just resorted to “cop” mode and didn’t actually apply her expertise to anything… also she’s an interfering b**** she goes in to help the police out then ends up taking over and making all the decisions and leading everything… WHAT.

But what I did like:
* The First chapter- really good opening and build up, kind of felt the rest of it fell flat after a really solid opening.

If you want a quick easy straightforward read this will be the book for you.

Bit on the fence at the moment if I want to download other books in this series…

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

After sorting out novels like Paula Hawkins’ A Slow Fire Burning with multiple points of view and seeming unrelated plot lines, it was a pleasure to read Corn Dolls with its straight-forward narrative and concentration on a single main character, Annie O’Malley, a former police officer turned psychotherapist, who finds herself assisting the heart-throbbingly handsome DI Swift in a case involving young girls who go missing, with a corn doll left at the site of the disappearance. That set me on a quest for information regarding the production of maize in Norfolk, the setting of this story. I had the good fortune a few years ago to spend a week staying in Maudsley and driving a hire car each day to Norwich, and the description of the country roads brought back vivid memories. ‘They sped off down a lane so narrow that Annie was praying to a god she didn’t believe in that they wouldn’t meet another car travelling in the opposite direction.’ The cliché about praying to gods one doesn’t believe in fits our story, because a cult called the ‘Angels of the Water’ also figures in the novel—their followers are women though their clergy are men. K. T. Galloway has a weakness for nibbling thoughtlessly on clichés, as ‘Swift was pacing the front of the incident room like a lion trapped in a cage. He’d gone over findings from the previous night with the team, all of whom had been chomping at the bit to get forensics on the barn.’ But though undistinguished, the prose is easy and undemanding, the story easy to follow and Annie is a thoroughly likeable character whose self-doubts make her quite relatable. She has a missing sister in her own backstory, and it is obvious we are being set up for a series. The second novel takes place at a girls’ school and I may read it some time.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed this one but the author really needs to stop overusing the word ‘barked’ for when someone is giving an order

[Cherry Mischievous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corn Doll

My Thoughts:

For four and a half hours listening time, this book is short and sweet!

I know that Annie is the star of the show because the series is titled "Annie O'Malley series" after all. However, the plot that only she knows whodunit is not very flattering to the rest of the crime fighting team who are supposed to be the actual police in the story. Especially to DI Joe Swift who is supposed to be the detective here... There is also a kind of slow burn romance between the two and I would like to see how that pans out.

This is my first Paul Draper audiobook listen and I like the way he reads.

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (4 hrs and 34 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

[Harriet Shearsmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feel a bit mixed about this one - I discovered it reading DCI Kett novels, this author is the sister/ in law of Alex Smith I think? - I felt really excited as I love psychology and whenever I’ve read novels with psychologists or profilers as part of a team, it’s been great… but this fell a bit flat.
The characters weren’t in depth, Annie was a bit dim at times which really irked me and the random sexual tension between Swift and O’Malley wasn’t needed. I DID feel a bit meh about the first Kett novel though, and they are my faves, so maybe I’m just someone who just needs a faster paced character development.
Would I read the next one? Yes, I will! Am I dead keen to jump onto it like I am with some series? Not really.

[Christine South · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. Usually in stories like this the plot takes several different directions constantly keeping the reader guessing who, what, where, when & why but this story immediately went along the path that it stayed on throughout & I had guessed the perpetrator as soon as they were introduced into the story. I will try the next couple of books in the series because I think if the author delves into Annie’s past more then the books will improve

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

A good read, the first in a series about Annie a psychotherapist and Swift a DI in the police.
A little girl vanishes from her home whilst playing hide and seek with her mum.
The story has twists and turns, the end result being unexpected.
The two main characters are interesting, hints of their personal back story woven into the plot.
I look forward to getting to know them through the series

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: audiobook
Narrator: Paul Draper

I loved Annie O’Malley and DI Joe Swift they’re a very likeable pair.
A very enjoyable story, some mis direction and red herrings which keeps you guessing what exactly is going on.
This is a series I intend to continue with.

Narrator has a very pleasant voice that pulls you into the story.

[Emma-Louise Hall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I downloaded this title because I am a fan of Alex Smith, and he had recommended his sisters novel. I had high hopes, which were unfortunately slashed.

To start with, there is very little character development or backstory. You get a hint of it with Annie and Swift, with the potential for the characters to be really fleshed out, but that doesn't happen. Instead, you get stuck with a detective who's rude and arrogant, and a psychotherapist who somehow manages to take over a whole police investigation despite being a civilian.

I was also incredibly disappointed at the author contributing to the stigma that only rubbish parents need an advocate or support worker;
'“Why are you so quick to defend Maggie? Don’t advocates only get assigned to people that need parenting help?” Annie shrugged. She knew Swift was right, but Maggie looked like a mother in distress '
This isnt the case at all, and writing like this only encourages this type of thinking. Advocates and support workers are assigned to families for various reasons, not just because they need help parenting 😬

Honestly, this book waa a huge disappointment and I wouldnt really recommend it to anyone. In fact I DON'T recommend it at all. Read Alex Smith's DCI Kett series instead. He does it soooo much better.

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie O’Malley is a psychotherapist who sees parolees as a condition of their probation. They are most often drug offenders. Although she enjoys her job, she’s suffering a bit of burnout. When she’s asked by the police to join an investigation of a missing four-year-old, Annie jumps at the chance to be part of the investigation. The child’s father was once a patient of hers who dropped out of sight before he’d completed his probation.

The book begins with a young mother whose game of hide and seek with her child turns to horror when she realizes her daughter is missing, not hiding. The rest of the story in told from Annie’s point of view. Annie is a likable protagonist, but not as well drawn as I hope she will be in future books. Swift’s personality is less detailed and his acceptance of Annie taking over the case is a little hard to believe since we don’t know him well.

You have no doubt this book is going be the first of a series. Questions about Swift’s missing wife and Annie’s little sister who was abducted at age three by her dad are mentioned right away. All in all, this is a good start to a series that I’m looking forward to reading.

[Yabbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a terrible book. Firstly it was extremely predictable. Secondly, a psychotherapist was brought in to help with case and suddenly she is taking over and telling everyone what to do. Then, it suppose to be a psychological thriller, nothing was thrilling about it and psychology did not come in sorting the matter. The way it was concluded and how the psychotherapist solved it was utter rubbish it felt the writer didn't know how they should figure it out so he made her give an unreliable explanation. And according to British sources corn has not been grown in England for over 200 years.
Never again for this writer.

[Mrs B Proud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant!

This was my first time reading any of K.T. Galloway but is now On my list of favourite authors. I can usually make my mind up if the story is going to grab me within the first couple of chapters, but I was hooked immediately. Annie O'Malley a psychotherapist working with ex cons is approached to help with a child abduction case. The story had a fast pace, likeable characters which kept my interest throughout. Not the conclusion I was expecting, didn't see that coming at all. Easy five stars and very much looking forward to the next book. Thank you BP Sheffield.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average thriller. Although the book was a little short, it was fast paced and easy to read, with the action starting early on and not stopping. The plot was quite good, with quite a few red herrings and twists, but I just felt like there was something missing and I didn’t find the ending too satisfying. The characters were good, although a little cringey at times, and I imagine that Annie and Swift’s relationship will be further explored in the rest of the series, along with another few loose threads.
Overall, a good thriller if you’re looking for something fast and easy, but unfortunately lacking substance

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this book. But I didn't. If it was K. T. Galloway's first book, then maybe that explains why the characters are so thin. She's also set up two overfamiliar sub-stories, a missing sister for psychotherapist O'Malley and a posh DI Swift with relationship problems.

O'Malley seems to make all the important decisions and orders Swift around. Surely no psychotherapist would do that.

This book has been described as "unforgettable". No, to be that it needs a whole lot of sharpening up to make it gritty instead of being little more than a cosy mystery.

Maybe the series improves, but I doubt if I'll be finding out.

[Sash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me hooked from the beginning. This book was completely different to all crime books I have read over the years. The way it was written was brilliant and the story line was perfect. I love how everything had a proper explanation unlike some crime books I have read. Toddlers being taken by a social work advocate is something I have never read in a book before and I am so glad I spotted this book recommended to me on kindle (added bonus of the WHOLE series being on KU). Onto the next book in the series, hoping it is as good as this one!

[louise barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corn dolls

I found this book via a recommendation from a much loved author that I'm religious on keeping up with, ( Alex smith, dci Kett series) was lovely to see that he recommended his sister's series at the end of his last two books, so I thought I'd give it ago, so pleased I did, this book has been absolutely brilliant from start to finish, KT Galloway has just gone up there with my fave authors!! About to get stuck into the series one book, really looking forward to following the story line _!

[Sandra Leivesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid start to a new series by an author I haven't previously read. The main character, Annie O'Malley is a psychotherapist and former police officer who is asked to help DI Swift solve the case of young girls who have been abducted, and a corn dolly is left in their place.

This is a short book, but packs so much in. It is fast paced with an interesting plot involving a cult, and I liked the characters. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

I enjoyed the narration by Paul Draper.

[Amber Sylvester · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad

This is mostly a well written and well thought out book. However!…….. I found the part where Annie started ordering the police around totally ridiculous. If the author wanted her to play that role, she should have been cast as a senior police officer. There’s no way a DI or his underlings would just do what a psychologist told them to do. It jumped out at me as a very jarring note- in what was otherwise a good book.

[Joyce Rigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of the series and I am so happy that it is not the last. I found the plot totally unbelievable, yet totally believable, probably because I so wished the police worked this way. A psychologist, totally unrelated to the police, is allowed, nay encouraged, to take over the running of the case. Telling the officers, including the senior DI, what to do and where to go. I loved it.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I had an idea who the kidnapper might be fairly early on, but when the investigation went in a different direction, I forgot all about them. It made for a better and more exciting ending when it turned out they *were* the kidnapper. I’ll definitely be reading more of the series!

[sally gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great find. I had never read anything by this author before but I will certainly be reading more. The story was good - so much that I found it hard to put down. I loved the two main characters and how their relationship progressed. If you haven’t read anything by K.T. Galloway, go for it, you won’t be disappointed

[Anne Petter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I really enjoyed this book. O'Malley and Swift worked really well together but I hope it doesn't get too mushy between them. The story about missing girls was interesting and was really on the go the whole time. Some people really are evil on the pretext of being better than others. An absolute must read if you like crime solvers.

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Yes, this is a well plotted out very thoughtful fast paced drama. Also has crude swearing and blasphemy unfortunately. Good character depth, an intriguing cooperation with the police team. In all a satisfying read.

[Jillian Higham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fast read. Likable characters and good chemistry between DI Joe Swift and psychotherapist Annie O'Malley. Seconding her to work with the police team and actually letting her go to stakeouts and dangerous suspect interviews was probably a bit over the top , but hey, this is fiction!

[Paul Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

1st chapter was great, then it just plodded along. OK story, too much having cups of tea interviewing people, not enough action. I guess i expected something more akin to the 1st chapter and the book going somewhere else.

[Barbara Birchall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would make a great TV programme.

Edge of the seat suspense, throughout this book. A great combination of characters and the story moves at a great pace. I think I will have to read the next O'Malley & Swift book.

[Linda Joan Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff

Very enjoyable. Intriguing plot. Well drawn characters. Fabulous twist at the end. Mayb a bit far fetched having Annie ordering people about. But doesn't spoil a fun read..