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Detective Gina Harte #5
Haar duistere hart
Susan Wheeler is een toegewijde moeder. Iedere dag brengt ze haar kinderen naar school, en iedere middag haalt ze hen weer op. Tot vandaag. Vandaag geeft Susan haar drie kinderen een kus voordat ze vertrekt, om nooit meer terug te keren.
Als Susans moeder Mary van haar verdwijning hoort, is ze extreem ongerust. Haar dochter logeerde al een tijdje bij haar omdat ze het zwaar had, maar Susan houdt van haar kinderen en zou ze toch nooit zomaar achterlaten? Susans zus Clare denkt er anders over. Het is nét iets voor haar zus om zomaar te verdwijnen. Susan zoekt altijd aandacht, liegt al jaren tegen haar familie en glipt ’s nachts regelmatig het huis uit. Maar als de uren overgaan in dagen wordt zelfs Clare bang.
Als Mary wanhopig op zoek is naar antwoorden, vindt ze Susans dagboek en ontvouwt zich een duister geheim uit haar dochters jeugd. Het laatste bericht in het dagboek leidt de politie naar het lokale park, waar ze een man dood aantreffen. Iedereen blijft achter met de verlammende vraag of Susan is verdwenen omdat ze het slachtoffer is… of de dader.
Als Susans moeder Mary van haar verdwijning hoort, is ze extreem ongerust. Haar dochter logeerde al een tijdje bij haar omdat ze het zwaar had, maar Susan houdt van haar kinderen en zou ze toch nooit zomaar achterlaten? Susans zus Clare denkt er anders over. Het is nét iets voor haar zus om zomaar te verdwijnen. Susan zoekt altijd aandacht, liegt al jaren tegen haar familie en glipt ’s nachts regelmatig het huis uit. Maar als de uren overgaan in dagen wordt zelfs Clare bang.
Als Mary wanhopig op zoek is naar antwoorden, vindt ze Susans dagboek en ontvouwt zich een duister geheim uit haar dochters jeugd. Het laatste bericht in het dagboek leidt de politie naar het lokale park, waar ze een man dood aantreffen. Iedereen blijft achter met de verlammende vraag of Susan is verdwenen omdat ze het slachtoffer is… of de dader.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2019
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2451 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kovach
33 books1,036 followersCarla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
December 4, 2019
EXCERPT: Something big was about to happen and it would blow her life apart. They had an agenda, one that Susan was a part of. Her own words came back to haunt her.
'A secret becomes a secret, not by making a vow that it will remain a secret; it's more of a subtle process. It's unwritten, unspoken - a memory buried in the deepest recesses of one's mind.'
They'd promised to keep her secret. So much for promises. Her life would be ruined when everything came out.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Susan Wheeler is a devoted mother. She would do anything for her three children. She drops them off and picks them up every single day. Until one day when Susan kisses them goodbye and then never comes to pick them up.
Susan’s mother Mary is worried. Susan is recently divorced and has been finding things hard recently, but she loves her kids – she’d never leave them.
Susan’s sister Clare is furious. It’s just like her to go missing. It’s not the first time, either. Susan has always been a troublemaker. Always seeking attention. She knows Susan has been lying to the family for years. And she knows that Susan has been sneaking out of her family home for weeks…
As the hours turn into days, even Clare becomes fearful for Susan. And, when Mary discovers Susan’s diary, she begins to uncover a dark secret from her childhood. Something no one in the family knew. When the final diary entry leads the police to a man who is discovered dead in a local park, they’re left wondering whether Susan has vanished because she is a victim. Or because she is a suspect.
MY THOUGHTS: I really liked the first book in this series, The Next Girl. Although I didn't immediately take to the main character, DI Gina Harte, I grew to like her as the book progressed. There were some interesting personalities amongst the supporting characters, and I looked forward to seeing them grow. And therein, I think, lies the problem. They have not developed at all. And while Gina may have changed her character a little, she doesn't seem to have grown as a person either. To be quite honest, I don't understand how she ever made it into the Police Force!
The second book in this series, Her Final Hour, was a real let down for me. While it had similar faults to the first, in that some of the investigative techniques left a lot to be desired, where The Next Girl had developed into a good crime thriller, this didn't happen in Her Final Hour, and it hasn't happened in Her Dark Heart either.
I am going to quote a passage from my review of Her Final Hour because it is equally true of Her Dark Heart....'This book is clumsily written, as though it was dashed off in a hurry. The dialogue is mostly stilted. As I said earlier, there is zero character development. It was repetitive, and the characters constant dwelling on and rehashing of their traumatic pasts became extremely wearing.'
The greatest pity is that the actual plot is good. It could have been a really good read. The execution has let it down.
I said in my review of Her Final Hour, that I probably would not read any more of this series. But I did. Now, I will definitely not be reading any further books in this series. But, on a positive note, all the covers are exquisite.
I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach and read it. I sincerely wish that I had enjoyed this more than I did.
#HerDarkHeart #NetGalley
😕😕.5
THE AUTHOR: Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach 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 and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'A secret becomes a secret, not by making a vow that it will remain a secret; it's more of a subtle process. It's unwritten, unspoken - a memory buried in the deepest recesses of one's mind.'
They'd promised to keep her secret. So much for promises. Her life would be ruined when everything came out.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Susan Wheeler is a devoted mother. She would do anything for her three children. She drops them off and picks them up every single day. Until one day when Susan kisses them goodbye and then never comes to pick them up.
Susan’s mother Mary is worried. Susan is recently divorced and has been finding things hard recently, but she loves her kids – she’d never leave them.
Susan’s sister Clare is furious. It’s just like her to go missing. It’s not the first time, either. Susan has always been a troublemaker. Always seeking attention. She knows Susan has been lying to the family for years. And she knows that Susan has been sneaking out of her family home for weeks…
As the hours turn into days, even Clare becomes fearful for Susan. And, when Mary discovers Susan’s diary, she begins to uncover a dark secret from her childhood. Something no one in the family knew. When the final diary entry leads the police to a man who is discovered dead in a local park, they’re left wondering whether Susan has vanished because she is a victim. Or because she is a suspect.
MY THOUGHTS: I really liked the first book in this series, The Next Girl. Although I didn't immediately take to the main character, DI Gina Harte, I grew to like her as the book progressed. There were some interesting personalities amongst the supporting characters, and I looked forward to seeing them grow. And therein, I think, lies the problem. They have not developed at all. And while Gina may have changed her character a little, she doesn't seem to have grown as a person either. To be quite honest, I don't understand how she ever made it into the Police Force!
The second book in this series, Her Final Hour, was a real let down for me. While it had similar faults to the first, in that some of the investigative techniques left a lot to be desired, where The Next Girl had developed into a good crime thriller, this didn't happen in Her Final Hour, and it hasn't happened in Her Dark Heart either.
I am going to quote a passage from my review of Her Final Hour because it is equally true of Her Dark Heart....'This book is clumsily written, as though it was dashed off in a hurry. The dialogue is mostly stilted. As I said earlier, there is zero character development. It was repetitive, and the characters constant dwelling on and rehashing of their traumatic pasts became extremely wearing.'
The greatest pity is that the actual plot is good. It could have been a really good read. The execution has let it down.
I said in my review of Her Final Hour, that I probably would not read any more of this series. But I did. Now, I will definitely not be reading any further books in this series. But, on a positive note, all the covers are exquisite.
I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach and read it. I sincerely wish that I had enjoyed this more than I did.
#HerDarkHeart #NetGalley
😕😕.5
THE AUTHOR: Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach 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 and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 19, 2019
Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach is book 5 in the Detective Gina Harte series - a series that I am absolutely loving. And can we talk about that cover - gorgeous! I love the colours - so dark and intriguing. Gina is still battling her demons, she has had a rough life but that makes her a fantastic detective. She. cares about her cases, her victims and her colleagues. Anybody would be lucky to have Gina working on their case. There is not a lot of a personal .thread in this book, it focuses more on the case than Gina herself.
Susan Wheeler is reported missing by her mother when she fails to pick up her young son Rory from nursery. This is not the first time that she has gone missing and her sister Clare thinks she is just attention seeking. Her husband Ryan is the initial suspect. The couple are in the process of getting a divorce and it is not friendly. Clare's mother is scared for her daughters safety. Then more people go missing that have connections to Susan - who is targeting these people and why? And could the box from Susan's past hold the clues to finding her alive?
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Susan Wheeler is reported missing by her mother when she fails to pick up her young son Rory from nursery. This is not the first time that she has gone missing and her sister Clare thinks she is just attention seeking. Her husband Ryan is the initial suspect. The couple are in the process of getting a divorce and it is not friendly. Clare's mother is scared for her daughters safety. Then more people go missing that have connections to Susan - who is targeting these people and why? And could the box from Susan's past hold the clues to finding her alive?
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
October 20, 2019
dnf at 50%
This is the 5th book in the 'Gina Harte' series, but I heard from multiple people that this could be read as a standalone. And while I was by no means confused, I just felt disconnected from the characters. I didn't care about Gina or Susan or Mary or anyone.
I was promised a dark domestic thriller, but I just got a lot of random and unnecessary emotional musing from Gina about her mother (for some reason this lady reminded her of her dead mother and she would mention it CONSTANTLY. I just wanted to finish this book to see if maybe she had a twin sister or something? If you've read this let me know)
I was bored, and frankly, not thrilled.
I like books that explore police investigations and detective storylines, but even that wasn't enough to force myself to finish this book.. I don't even really care to find out what ended up happening and who the kidnapper/killer was.
I'm sad, I really wanted to love this.
This is the 5th book in the 'Gina Harte' series, but I heard from multiple people that this could be read as a standalone. And while I was by no means confused, I just felt disconnected from the characters. I didn't care about Gina or Susan or Mary or anyone.
I was promised a dark domestic thriller, but I just got a lot of random and unnecessary emotional musing from Gina about her mother (for some reason this lady reminded her of her dead mother and she would mention it CONSTANTLY. I just wanted to finish this book to see if maybe she had a twin sister or something? If you've read this let me know)
I was bored, and frankly, not thrilled.
I like books that explore police investigations and detective storylines, but even that wasn't enough to force myself to finish this book.. I don't even really care to find out what ended up happening and who the kidnapper/killer was.
I'm sad, I really wanted to love this.
November 20, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
This is the fifth book in the Detective Gina Harte series and the third book I have read from the series. Whilst it would be better to read the books in order, I believe they can all be read as standalone too.
This time Detective Gina Harte is investigating the disappearance of Susan Wheeler, mother of three children and recently separated from her husband. Susan is a bookkeeper so travels to people’s places of business or their homes. Her mother wasn’t happy about her line of work, believing that she was putting herself in danger.
Her sister Clare believes that Susan has just taken off like she used to do throughout her teenage years, but Gina and her mother are not so sure believing she wouldn’t have left her three children like that.
Has Susan been kidnapped? Is the culprit one of her clients or could it be someone from her past?
I’ve adored the character of Gina Harte since I read book three in the series, ‘Her Pretty Bones‘ back in January. I love the way she works and dark cases she covers. I also loved in the previous books how the plot focused on the crime and not on Gina’s private life. However, this book had a lot of Gina’s private life in it, especially her past as Susan’s mother reminded Gina of her mother who died a little while ago. I have to say I prefer to keep the plot on the crime as I found these sections a little distracting.
That being said, I was fully invested in the story and held captive to the pages as the plot slowing unravelled itself and Susan’s past life came out via her diary and a box of her things.
I enjoyed getting to read sections from the person keeping Susan and also Gina’s conflict as a man named in Susan’s diary turns up dead, could Susan be to blame for his death?
The conclusion was satisfying and shocking too. This is an edge of your seat thriller that was a little slower than the previous books in the series but just as exciting.
This is the fifth book in the Detective Gina Harte series and the third book I have read from the series. Whilst it would be better to read the books in order, I believe they can all be read as standalone too.
This time Detective Gina Harte is investigating the disappearance of Susan Wheeler, mother of three children and recently separated from her husband. Susan is a bookkeeper so travels to people’s places of business or their homes. Her mother wasn’t happy about her line of work, believing that she was putting herself in danger.
Her sister Clare believes that Susan has just taken off like she used to do throughout her teenage years, but Gina and her mother are not so sure believing she wouldn’t have left her three children like that.
Has Susan been kidnapped? Is the culprit one of her clients or could it be someone from her past?
I’ve adored the character of Gina Harte since I read book three in the series, ‘Her Pretty Bones‘ back in January. I love the way she works and dark cases she covers. I also loved in the previous books how the plot focused on the crime and not on Gina’s private life. However, this book had a lot of Gina’s private life in it, especially her past as Susan’s mother reminded Gina of her mother who died a little while ago. I have to say I prefer to keep the plot on the crime as I found these sections a little distracting.
That being said, I was fully invested in the story and held captive to the pages as the plot slowing unravelled itself and Susan’s past life came out via her diary and a box of her things.
I enjoyed getting to read sections from the person keeping Susan and also Gina’s conflict as a man named in Susan’s diary turns up dead, could Susan be to blame for his death?
The conclusion was satisfying and shocking too. This is an edge of your seat thriller that was a little slower than the previous books in the series but just as exciting.
November 19, 2019
Susan Wheeler disappears, leaving her children behind. She is recently divorced and he has no idea what happened to her .. so he says.
Susan's mom finds her diary and finds clues to a dark secret from her childhood. Investigating the names in her diary, Detective Gina Harte and her team find a man's body ... a childhood friend of Susan's... one she saw the same day she disappeared.
Is Susan a victim ... or a suspect?
And then one of Susan's daughters disappear.....
Well-written, this is a real page turner. The mystery is baffling, with multiple twists and turns. Suspense starts on the first page and holds a nice pace until the very unexpected ending. Although 5th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. As always, I recommend starting at the beginning.
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.
Susan's mom finds her diary and finds clues to a dark secret from her childhood. Investigating the names in her diary, Detective Gina Harte and her team find a man's body ... a childhood friend of Susan's... one she saw the same day she disappeared.
Is Susan a victim ... or a suspect?
And then one of Susan's daughters disappear.....
Well-written, this is a real page turner. The mystery is baffling, with multiple twists and turns. Suspense starts on the first page and holds a nice pace until the very unexpected ending. Although 5th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. As always, I recommend starting at the beginning.
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.
November 19, 2019
She took something from him, and he's come to get it back.
DI Gina Harte gets the call one evening -- a report of a missing woman. Mary Hudson tells Harte and PC Kapoor that her daughter, Susan, had failed to pick up her 2-year-old son from the nursery and did not pick up her two daughters from her soon-to-be ex husband as arranged. Mary is adamant that Susan adored her children and would not have left them voluntarily. Mary knows something has happened but her other daughter, Clare, thinks it's just Susan running off to get attention -- after all, she's done it before. DI Harte asks the questions and opens the investigation but she senses that the family is keeping secrets. The Cleevesford Police are taking the disappearance seriously, especially when the body of a male is found and declared a homicide. It seems that Dale Blair had a tenuous connection to Susan and the two were heard arguing on the day Susan vanished. As the police actively begin an in depth examination of Susan's life, new information comes to light that indicates that Susan had been involved in something very dark during her teen years and that her secrets are about to be revealed. Things heat up dramatically as the detectives get closer to figuring out what's going on but who is telling the truth? NO SPOILERS.
This was a complicated case and requires a lot of details to explain all of the pieces and people involved in this suspenseful crime thriller. DI Gina Harte is struggling with her own personal demons and still reeling from the death of her mother as well as trying to get her guilt under control and forgive herself for her own past. So, Gina knows how a person's unresolved past can haunt them and the lengths that someone will go through to keep their secrets hidden. I can only hope that she gets a solid breakthrough and will be on the path to complete healing so she can navigate a relationship and allow herself friendship or even love. I feel for her, I do, but let's agree she's tortured herself long enough and needs to "let it go." Now, as far as the other characters in this series -- I enjoy learning more about the members of Gina's team at the police department but we don't get much information about their lives outside their work. DCI Briggs is a complicated man, and Gina's boss, but I don't know if that relationship will ever work out! As far as the Hudson family -- what a train wreck there! I'd say they all need some serious therapy to deal with all their issues in the aftermath of their ordeals in this book. But, onward, I'm looking forward to book #6 to see what happens with Gina Harte in the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I've read all the previous books in the series and suggest that any reader do the same before tackling this one.
DI Gina Harte gets the call one evening -- a report of a missing woman. Mary Hudson tells Harte and PC Kapoor that her daughter, Susan, had failed to pick up her 2-year-old son from the nursery and did not pick up her two daughters from her soon-to-be ex husband as arranged. Mary is adamant that Susan adored her children and would not have left them voluntarily. Mary knows something has happened but her other daughter, Clare, thinks it's just Susan running off to get attention -- after all, she's done it before. DI Harte asks the questions and opens the investigation but she senses that the family is keeping secrets. The Cleevesford Police are taking the disappearance seriously, especially when the body of a male is found and declared a homicide. It seems that Dale Blair had a tenuous connection to Susan and the two were heard arguing on the day Susan vanished. As the police actively begin an in depth examination of Susan's life, new information comes to light that indicates that Susan had been involved in something very dark during her teen years and that her secrets are about to be revealed. Things heat up dramatically as the detectives get closer to figuring out what's going on but who is telling the truth? NO SPOILERS.
This was a complicated case and requires a lot of details to explain all of the pieces and people involved in this suspenseful crime thriller. DI Gina Harte is struggling with her own personal demons and still reeling from the death of her mother as well as trying to get her guilt under control and forgive herself for her own past. So, Gina knows how a person's unresolved past can haunt them and the lengths that someone will go through to keep their secrets hidden. I can only hope that she gets a solid breakthrough and will be on the path to complete healing so she can navigate a relationship and allow herself friendship or even love. I feel for her, I do, but let's agree she's tortured herself long enough and needs to "let it go." Now, as far as the other characters in this series -- I enjoy learning more about the members of Gina's team at the police department but we don't get much information about their lives outside their work. DCI Briggs is a complicated man, and Gina's boss, but I don't know if that relationship will ever work out! As far as the Hudson family -- what a train wreck there! I'd say they all need some serious therapy to deal with all their issues in the aftermath of their ordeals in this book. But, onward, I'm looking forward to book #6 to see what happens with Gina Harte in the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I've read all the previous books in the series and suggest that any reader do the same before tackling this one.
November 19, 2019
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
When Susan, divorced mother of three, disappears, there are mixed reactions. On the one hand, her mother Mary is very concerned. Conversely, her sister Clare is perturbed and is certain that Susan's disappearance is a repeat of her past actions.
Detective Gina Harte is on the scene, hoping to discover what happened to Susan. She makes more than one visit to the family, including Susan's ex-husband, and Mary's home. Currently, Susan's ex is caring for their two daughters, and Mary has the couple's young son. Meanwhile, Clare and her son are living at home with Mary and her husband. Tensions are definitely on the rise, especially as Clare's feelings towards Susan are made clear.
Mary has secreted some things from the police, things she found while searching her daughter's home. She unearthed Susan's diary and reluctantly shares information with Gina. Susan had been hiding secrets from her past, and the investigation leads to the body of a man somehow connected to Susan. Gina cannot help but wonder, is Susan a victim or guilty of the man's murder? Is her disappearance much more than meets the eye?
Meanwhile, the story shifts back and forth between the search for Susan, while at the same time sharing the perspective of the guilty party, with more than one victim ending up in danger. Despite these entries, I was completely surprised as to what was eventually revealed.
What a riveting story! The dual timelines were intriguing, especially when the mystery element became rather thrilling. Meanwhile, the family drama was compelling. And the conclusion, shocking beyond belief! This is the fifth book in the Detective Gina Harte series. Having had the opportunity to read the previous two titles, I have come to admire Gina and her work ethic. I look forward to continuing with this series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
When Susan, divorced mother of three, disappears, there are mixed reactions. On the one hand, her mother Mary is very concerned. Conversely, her sister Clare is perturbed and is certain that Susan's disappearance is a repeat of her past actions.
Detective Gina Harte is on the scene, hoping to discover what happened to Susan. She makes more than one visit to the family, including Susan's ex-husband, and Mary's home. Currently, Susan's ex is caring for their two daughters, and Mary has the couple's young son. Meanwhile, Clare and her son are living at home with Mary and her husband. Tensions are definitely on the rise, especially as Clare's feelings towards Susan are made clear.
Mary has secreted some things from the police, things she found while searching her daughter's home. She unearthed Susan's diary and reluctantly shares information with Gina. Susan had been hiding secrets from her past, and the investigation leads to the body of a man somehow connected to Susan. Gina cannot help but wonder, is Susan a victim or guilty of the man's murder? Is her disappearance much more than meets the eye?
Meanwhile, the story shifts back and forth between the search for Susan, while at the same time sharing the perspective of the guilty party, with more than one victim ending up in danger. Despite these entries, I was completely surprised as to what was eventually revealed.
What a riveting story! The dual timelines were intriguing, especially when the mystery element became rather thrilling. Meanwhile, the family drama was compelling. And the conclusion, shocking beyond belief! This is the fifth book in the Detective Gina Harte series. Having had the opportunity to read the previous two titles, I have come to admire Gina and her work ethic. I look forward to continuing with this series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 20, 2019
Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach is the 5th in the Detective Gina Harte 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 Gina Harte works homicides. Her team consists of: DS Jacob Driscoll, DC Harry O’Connor and DC Paula Wyre, with a lot of assistance from PC Smith, and now PC Kapoor. Gina is a stubborn lady, and a determined detective. She has had a rough life, which led to an uneasy relationship with her daughter and grand-daughter. It has also led to a lack of real friends, and an on-again/off-again relationship with her boss, DCI Chris Briggs. It is not common knowledge that her husband was abusive, and no one knows that she helped him fall to his death many years ago.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Gina is searching for a missing woman, and it isn't easy. People are hiding information from her and the team.
Susan Wheeler failed to pick up her young son Rory from school on Tuesday, and didn't pick up her older daughters from their fathers that evening. Susan's mother Mary finally called the police on Wednesday, although neither her husband nor her daughter Clare thought she should. Susan's soon-to-be ex-husband Ryan, thinks she just ran away again. Susan has been going through a rough divorce, and Ryan places all the blame on her. Clare also blames her sister for everything that went wrong with her own life. But Susan's mother is sure there is something wrong.
When the body of a man that Susan had an appointment to see on Tuesday turns up dead, the urgency to find Susan escalates.
Meanwhile, Gina's thoughts are travelling back to her own disaster of a marriage, and back to her mother, who she regrets not spending more time with. She needs to move on, but she isn't sure how.
My Opinions:
I am really enjoying this series. I love Gina, although her personal struggles sometimes seem a little overwhelming. It looks like things may turn around now. Kovach has created a very deep and likeable character in Gina, which makes the reader really root for her. She really cares about her cases, often to her own detriment.
On the matter of the other characters in this one, I didn't really like any of the victim's family. I thought Clare and her son were just obnoxious, Ryan was ignorant, and the mother overly guilt-ridden. They all just angered me and took a bit away from the story.
I like how the story was told from multiple points of view, including that of the perpetrator.
The plot was dark, but the twists were good...I definitely did not see the identity of the perpetrators. There was no foreshadowing. Good move!
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next....
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
October 24, 2019
HER DARK HEART is the fifth crime thriller novel in the Detective Gina Harte Series, by author Carla Kovach. Having enjoyed the first novels in the series, I move on to book 5. The story is set in Worcestershire England.
The 5 books in the series include:
The Next Girl (Book 1)
Her Final Hour (Book 2)
Her Pretty Bones (Book 3)
The Liar’s House (Book4)
Her Dark Heart (Book 5)
Even though this novel worked well as a stand-alone, I would recommend other readers to read the previous books as they will be given background information on the characters in this book. A solid police procedural with engaging characters.
Rory is waiting at the door of the pre-school – a painted picture of his mother Susan in his small hand. But Susan isn’t going to see the picture, because she has vanished.
Susan Wheeler, recently divorced, is a devoted mother of three children. She drops them off and picks them up every single day. Until one day when Susan kisses them goodbye and then never comes to pick them up.
Susan’s mother Mary is worried. Mary doesn’t feel her daughter has runaway, like she did in her teenage years because she loves her children dearly. She would never leave them.
Susan’s older sister Clare is mad at Susan and feels she has always been the troublemaker, always seeking attention. Clare also knows that Susan has been hiding secrets from the family and sneaking out of her family home for weeks.
But then Mary finds Susan’s diary, and uncovers a dark secret from her childhood. Something no one in the family knew.
Detective Gina Harte follows the last entry in the diary, and it leads the police to a man who is discovered dead in a local park. But where is Susan? Is she a victim or a suspect?
This is a fast-paced enjoyable yet thrilling story that had me gripped to the last page.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture, via Netgalley for my digital copy.
The 5 books in the series include:
The Next Girl (Book 1)
Her Final Hour (Book 2)
Her Pretty Bones (Book 3)
The Liar’s House (Book4)
Her Dark Heart (Book 5)
Even though this novel worked well as a stand-alone, I would recommend other readers to read the previous books as they will be given background information on the characters in this book. A solid police procedural with engaging characters.
Rory is waiting at the door of the pre-school – a painted picture of his mother Susan in his small hand. But Susan isn’t going to see the picture, because she has vanished.
Susan Wheeler, recently divorced, is a devoted mother of three children. She drops them off and picks them up every single day. Until one day when Susan kisses them goodbye and then never comes to pick them up.
Susan’s mother Mary is worried. Mary doesn’t feel her daughter has runaway, like she did in her teenage years because she loves her children dearly. She would never leave them.
Susan’s older sister Clare is mad at Susan and feels she has always been the troublemaker, always seeking attention. Clare also knows that Susan has been hiding secrets from the family and sneaking out of her family home for weeks.
But then Mary finds Susan’s diary, and uncovers a dark secret from her childhood. Something no one in the family knew.
Detective Gina Harte follows the last entry in the diary, and it leads the police to a man who is discovered dead in a local park. But where is Susan? Is she a victim or a suspect?
This is a fast-paced enjoyable yet thrilling story that had me gripped to the last page.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture, via Netgalley for my digital copy.
April 5, 2020
Susan Wheeler, a mother of three disappears, leaving her youngest abandoned at nursery school. And so it begins. But Susan Wheeler has a history of disappearing, hasn’t she? Her soon to be ex husband, Ryan, thinks she’s just acting out because he caught her out having an affair but her mother who is left holding the baby, well 2 year old, is not so sure and calls the police. When DI Gina Harte arrives at the house she picks up straight away that this family is hiding something. The mother, Mary, seems cagey. Older sister, Clare, is clearly antagonistic and, over time, seems to be taking Ryan’s side. The fact that Susan and Ryan are going through an unpleasant divorce could also be muddying the waters.
But soon things take a more sinister turn. An old friend of Susan’s, Dale, turns up dead. Susan may have been the last person to see him alive. Is she a victim like him or a suspect? Police find a photo at Dale’s house showing Susan, Dale and an as yet unidentifiable girl when they were teens. The race is on identify and locate the other girl, now obviously a woman. But still, everyone seems to be hiding something. When Susan’s elder daughter, Phoebe, disappears all hell breaks loose and all stops are pulled out to try and unpick this thorny puzzle before another body turns up.
I have been following this series since the start and it has been reliably and consistently good. We get a bit more of Gina’s background too which helps us understand her character. Kovach touches on some troubling issues in this series and she does it with compassion and sensitivity without sensationalising some of the more horrific aspects of human nature. I’m now keen to start book 6.
But soon things take a more sinister turn. An old friend of Susan’s, Dale, turns up dead. Susan may have been the last person to see him alive. Is she a victim like him or a suspect? Police find a photo at Dale’s house showing Susan, Dale and an as yet unidentifiable girl when they were teens. The race is on identify and locate the other girl, now obviously a woman. But still, everyone seems to be hiding something. When Susan’s elder daughter, Phoebe, disappears all hell breaks loose and all stops are pulled out to try and unpick this thorny puzzle before another body turns up.
I have been following this series since the start and it has been reliably and consistently good. We get a bit more of Gina’s background too which helps us understand her character. Kovach touches on some troubling issues in this series and she does it with compassion and sensitivity without sensationalising some of the more horrific aspects of human nature. I’m now keen to start book 6.
November 22, 2019
A brilliant cracker of a story which made me a fugitive, hiding from everyone until I finished the book.
A police procedural where the cops were called when a mother of three went missing. DI Gina Harte was back at the helm with her team.
My second book by author Carla Kovach, I had to admit the writing was stronger and bolder often taking the darker paths of life, especially in the end. I loved that the author could tell me facts without going into graphic details. Balance was maintained in the entire book. I could get the vibe of a real mystery amongst characters which felt real. Family secrets were indicated to, which made the story far more intriguing
A special mention about DI Gina Harte. She is becoming my favorite now with this book. She was stronger here, yet more vulnerable in some ways, with a personal story that took her into the thoughts of her past. She had to let go of her grief for her own mother to search for the mother who has been lost to her children for days. She was relentless, and I loved how she was so ably supported by her team.
Clues were written in at the perfect time which made me a tag-along detective. I could guess the villain a few minutes before the cops. Ah well, I would do better next time. Overall, a perfect midnight read
A police procedural where the cops were called when a mother of three went missing. DI Gina Harte was back at the helm with her team.
My second book by author Carla Kovach, I had to admit the writing was stronger and bolder often taking the darker paths of life, especially in the end. I loved that the author could tell me facts without going into graphic details. Balance was maintained in the entire book. I could get the vibe of a real mystery amongst characters which felt real. Family secrets were indicated to, which made the story far more intriguing
A special mention about DI Gina Harte. She is becoming my favorite now with this book. She was stronger here, yet more vulnerable in some ways, with a personal story that took her into the thoughts of her past. She had to let go of her grief for her own mother to search for the mother who has been lost to her children for days. She was relentless, and I loved how she was so ably supported by her team.
Clues were written in at the perfect time which made me a tag-along detective. I could guess the villain a few minutes before the cops. Ah well, I would do better next time. Overall, a perfect midnight read
November 27, 2019
Her Dark Heart is Carla Kovach’s 5th instalment of the Detective Inspector Gina Harte series. Carla hails from the West Midlands of Birmingham, UK – and this series is based in that part of the world. As a native of Birmingham myself (Born in Rubery, now living in Australia) I can verify this author really nails the sense of place. I can almost smell the rain, get my feet wet in the puddles, feel the cold and hear the distinctive Brummy accents of Gina and her colleagues.
This story involves the disappearance of Susan Wheeler, a recently divorced mother of three. Kovach skilfully develops a narrative that introduces us to Susan’s family, ex-husband and old school friends, this becomes increasingly complex and interesting as the plot develops. The reader is left guessing who the culprit is, I jumped from suspect to suspect as I read this book – the end result did make sense, it was surprising but not unbelievable. All very credible. This is not always the case with this genre.
There are constant themes touched on throughout this series, one is Domestic Violence. Some of the crimes are also described in quite graphic detail. The subject matter can be quite harrowing at times.
I have read every book of this series and because of that, I am very familiar with Gina and her team - I feel I know them, I like them, I care what happens to them. I love the way her team interact, as they seem to ‘eat’ their way through each case, (you’ll quickly learn O’Connor’s wife is a prolific baker of cakes and biscuits) and the interplay between Gina’s team is typical of any work-team you would come across.
I am a big fan of this series and am really looking forward to the next instalment.
4 stars.
This story involves the disappearance of Susan Wheeler, a recently divorced mother of three. Kovach skilfully develops a narrative that introduces us to Susan’s family, ex-husband and old school friends, this becomes increasingly complex and interesting as the plot develops. The reader is left guessing who the culprit is, I jumped from suspect to suspect as I read this book – the end result did make sense, it was surprising but not unbelievable. All very credible. This is not always the case with this genre.
There are constant themes touched on throughout this series, one is Domestic Violence. Some of the crimes are also described in quite graphic detail. The subject matter can be quite harrowing at times.
I have read every book of this series and because of that, I am very familiar with Gina and her team - I feel I know them, I like them, I care what happens to them. I love the way her team interact, as they seem to ‘eat’ their way through each case, (you’ll quickly learn O’Connor’s wife is a prolific baker of cakes and biscuits) and the interplay between Gina’s team is typical of any work-team you would come across.
I am a big fan of this series and am really looking forward to the next instalment.
4 stars.
November 22, 2019
Her Dark Heart is the fifth book in the excellent DI Gina Harte series, set in the fictional town of Cleevesford, Warwickshire. While I always do like to read series in order, this one could easily stand alone as each mystery is separate and you get all the backstory you need. These are well written if not particularly original police procedurals which cover some fairly dark topics but they are not overly gruesome or gratuitous.
When separated mother of three Susan Wheeler doesn’t collect her young son from preschool, her mother Mary is sure something has happened to her, but her other daughter Clare thinks it’s just the same attention-seeking behaviour she showed as a teenager, for which she has always resented her. Still grieving the loss of her own mother, and hiding a terrible secret, DI Gina Harte takes the missing persons case, but when a friend of Susan’s is found dead, the team must find her before the killer strikes again.
Firstly, may I congratulate the author on consistently having the most beautiful covers in crime fiction - every one in this series has been both stunning and appropriate. Secondly, for writing another gripping thriller that successfully kept me wondering what was going on. I can’t say much more about the plot without spoiling it, but Kovacs manages to keep producing great reads when some Detective series start to run out of ideas by this stage.
I do have mixed feelings about the heroine, though, and I will admit to being a difficult reader who doesn’t like her MCs too perfect, or too damaged, and also gets bored with too much angst. Gina has spent five books torturing herself about killing her abusive husband in self-defence, years earlier, (this is not a spoiler) and dithering about her feelings for her kindly boss, DCI Chris Briggs. Each time, by the end of the book, it seems like she’s sorted herself and her complicated relationship with her daughter out, but by the next one she’s back where she was, drinking too much and feeling that annoying mix of self-pity and self-loathing. I just want her to see a counsellor and meet someone more appropriate so she can focus on what she’s good at - solving crimes.
I’ve said this before but it bears repeating, I would like to know more about the other members of Gina’s team rather than all the personal stuff being about her. The same characters keep recurring but they are not developed at all.
These are the elements which stop this being a 5 star read for me. I will however happily continue the series if it is to continue.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies to the author for it being a couple of days late.
Her Dark Heart is available now.
When separated mother of three Susan Wheeler doesn’t collect her young son from preschool, her mother Mary is sure something has happened to her, but her other daughter Clare thinks it’s just the same attention-seeking behaviour she showed as a teenager, for which she has always resented her. Still grieving the loss of her own mother, and hiding a terrible secret, DI Gina Harte takes the missing persons case, but when a friend of Susan’s is found dead, the team must find her before the killer strikes again.
Firstly, may I congratulate the author on consistently having the most beautiful covers in crime fiction - every one in this series has been both stunning and appropriate. Secondly, for writing another gripping thriller that successfully kept me wondering what was going on. I can’t say much more about the plot without spoiling it, but Kovacs manages to keep producing great reads when some Detective series start to run out of ideas by this stage.
I do have mixed feelings about the heroine, though, and I will admit to being a difficult reader who doesn’t like her MCs too perfect, or too damaged, and also gets bored with too much angst. Gina has spent five books torturing herself about killing her abusive husband in self-defence, years earlier, (this is not a spoiler) and dithering about her feelings for her kindly boss, DCI Chris Briggs. Each time, by the end of the book, it seems like she’s sorted herself and her complicated relationship with her daughter out, but by the next one she’s back where she was, drinking too much and feeling that annoying mix of self-pity and self-loathing. I just want her to see a counsellor and meet someone more appropriate so she can focus on what she’s good at - solving crimes.
I’ve said this before but it bears repeating, I would like to know more about the other members of Gina’s team rather than all the personal stuff being about her. The same characters keep recurring but they are not developed at all.
These are the elements which stop this being a 5 star read for me. I will however happily continue the series if it is to continue.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies to the author for it being a couple of days late.
Her Dark Heart is available now.
February 19, 2020
Her Dark Heart is a superb addition to the Gina Harte series. I found this book to be the best in the series until now! I've always loved strong female characters and Gina is a smart, strong cop. This book has her thrown in a vicious and dark case that hits too close to home in more ways than one. It's gripping and keeps you turning those pages till that shocking ending.
Susan Wheeler is a devoted mother to three. So when she doesn't turn up to pick little Rory from daycare, her mother Mary is worried. mary knows Susan has been finding things hard recently but knows Susan loves her kids – she’d never leave them. Mary soon discovers Susan's diary from her childhood and cannot make sense of the dark writings and drawings her little wrote down so many years ago, just after she returned after running away from home. Susan's always been the more challenging of her two daughters leading Mary to devote more attention to Susan, leaving Clare to feel bitter resentment. Continuing the resentment well into their adulthood, Clare writes off Susan's latest disappearance as a stunt. Temporarily taking in the kids, Susan's violent ex-husband keeps leaving the kids to go on mysterious meetings leaving their eldest daughter to take care of her siblings. Soon the body of a recent client of Susan is discovered in a local park leaving the police wondering whether Susan has vanished because she is a victim. Or because she is a suspect…
I found both the plot and characters to be great in this book. We get a glimpse of Gina's relationship with her mother in this one. With a great storyline, this book is a page-turner for sure. The ending was unexpected & great too. I absolutely loved the dialogues in this one!
Thank You NetGalley, Bookouture & Carla Kovach for an arc!
Susan Wheeler is a devoted mother to three. So when she doesn't turn up to pick little Rory from daycare, her mother Mary is worried. mary knows Susan has been finding things hard recently but knows Susan loves her kids – she’d never leave them. Mary soon discovers Susan's diary from her childhood and cannot make sense of the dark writings and drawings her little wrote down so many years ago, just after she returned after running away from home. Susan's always been the more challenging of her two daughters leading Mary to devote more attention to Susan, leaving Clare to feel bitter resentment. Continuing the resentment well into their adulthood, Clare writes off Susan's latest disappearance as a stunt. Temporarily taking in the kids, Susan's violent ex-husband keeps leaving the kids to go on mysterious meetings leaving their eldest daughter to take care of her siblings. Soon the body of a recent client of Susan is discovered in a local park leaving the police wondering whether Susan has vanished because she is a victim. Or because she is a suspect…
I found both the plot and characters to be great in this book. We get a glimpse of Gina's relationship with her mother in this one. With a great storyline, this book is a page-turner for sure. The ending was unexpected & great too. I absolutely loved the dialogues in this one!
Thank You NetGalley, Bookouture & Carla Kovach for an arc!
November 20, 2019
All I can say is BRILLIANT!!!!
I'm so glad I discovered this author so a HUGE thank you to #bookouture and #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I found the story very believable and well written. I so see a movie! It is one of those where you keep thinking you know what is coming but you are oh so wrong! There's twists and turns and then some more! Who can you really trust?
Susan Wheeler has vanished. She does not pick up her son from the Bluebells Day Care Nursery and this is very unlike her. Nobody can get hold of her and the next day her mother reports her as missing. She is busy getting a divorce and is struggling to keep it together but her 3 children are her everything. Surely she would not abandon them like this? Surely the fact that she went missing as a child has nothing to do with what is happening now.........
"It's nice getting the old gang back together, all of us coming together where it all began."
DI Helena Wheeler is in charge of trying to figure out what happened to her but meeting Susan's mom brings back a lot of bad memories.
I am definitely going to read more books from this author. This is book 5 in the series but I dont feel like I missed anything by not having read the first 4.
I'm so glad I discovered this author so a HUGE thank you to #bookouture and #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I found the story very believable and well written. I so see a movie! It is one of those where you keep thinking you know what is coming but you are oh so wrong! There's twists and turns and then some more! Who can you really trust?
Susan Wheeler has vanished. She does not pick up her son from the Bluebells Day Care Nursery and this is very unlike her. Nobody can get hold of her and the next day her mother reports her as missing. She is busy getting a divorce and is struggling to keep it together but her 3 children are her everything. Surely she would not abandon them like this? Surely the fact that she went missing as a child has nothing to do with what is happening now.........
"It's nice getting the old gang back together, all of us coming together where it all began."
DI Helena Wheeler is in charge of trying to figure out what happened to her but meeting Susan's mom brings back a lot of bad memories.
I am definitely going to read more books from this author. This is book 5 in the series but I dont feel like I missed anything by not having read the first 4.
November 25, 2022
Alweer een erg spannend en goeg ggeschreven deel in deze reeks. Heel originele verhaallijn en leest vlot.
November 21, 2019
"Her Dark heart" is the fifth book in the 'DI Gina Harte' series though it is the second one I’ve read. This was a great read for me as a standalone psychological thriller, but no doubt it would have been better to have read the books in chronological order, from the beginning.
In this instalment, when divorced mother of three, Susan Wheeler disappears, reactions are mixed. Susan’s mother Mary is worried. Susan had recently been finding things hard, but she loves her kids and would never leave them. Susan’s sister, Clare, is furious as this is not the first time she has gone missing. She believes Susan is an attention-seeking troublemaker who has been lying to the family. She knows that Susan has been sneaking out of her family home for weeks. Eventually, even Clare becomes fearful for Susan. When Mary unearths Susan’s diary, she begins to uncover a dark secret from Susan's childhood. When the final diary entry leads the police to a man who is discovered dead in a local park, they’re left wondering whether Susan has vanished because she is a victim or a suspect…
The author has written a really clever and fascinating story that drew me in right from the very first page. Detective Gina Harte takes up the case, assisted by her team, hoping to discover what happened to Susan. Feisty and down-to-earth, Gina is a brilliant Detective Inspector. The supporting characters were an interesting assortment; some I liked, others I wasn't so keen on, but they all had a valuable contribution to make to the story-line.
The fabulous plotting and great pacing by Carla Kovach also aided my enjoyment of the story. I suspected several of the characters, yet as is often the case, I failed to identify the actual perpetrator. Told from differing points of view, the story twisted and turned throughout the chapters, optimising the tension levels as the story propelled its way towards the revealing denouement.
If you love a good detective series and psychological thriller with plenty of shocks and twists then "Her Dark Heart" is for you. I highly recommend this novel without any doubt.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
In this instalment, when divorced mother of three, Susan Wheeler disappears, reactions are mixed. Susan’s mother Mary is worried. Susan had recently been finding things hard, but she loves her kids and would never leave them. Susan’s sister, Clare, is furious as this is not the first time she has gone missing. She believes Susan is an attention-seeking troublemaker who has been lying to the family. She knows that Susan has been sneaking out of her family home for weeks. Eventually, even Clare becomes fearful for Susan. When Mary unearths Susan’s diary, she begins to uncover a dark secret from Susan's childhood. When the final diary entry leads the police to a man who is discovered dead in a local park, they’re left wondering whether Susan has vanished because she is a victim or a suspect…
The author has written a really clever and fascinating story that drew me in right from the very first page. Detective Gina Harte takes up the case, assisted by her team, hoping to discover what happened to Susan. Feisty and down-to-earth, Gina is a brilliant Detective Inspector. The supporting characters were an interesting assortment; some I liked, others I wasn't so keen on, but they all had a valuable contribution to make to the story-line.
The fabulous plotting and great pacing by Carla Kovach also aided my enjoyment of the story. I suspected several of the characters, yet as is often the case, I failed to identify the actual perpetrator. Told from differing points of view, the story twisted and turned throughout the chapters, optimising the tension levels as the story propelled its way towards the revealing denouement.
If you love a good detective series and psychological thriller with plenty of shocks and twists then "Her Dark Heart" is for you. I highly recommend this novel without any doubt.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 20, 2019
Wow, yet another cracking read in one of my favourite police procedural series. Love, love, love Gina Harte and her fabulous team. Book five in the series and they feel like family now.
Once madly in love, Susan and Ryan’s marriage is now in tatters since they had the children. Their son Rory is left at nursery when Susan neglects to show up. The nursery rings her mother and she in turn rings the police sensing something is seriously wrong.
In comes Gina and her team to unravel what’s happened to Susan when dark secrets appear That have shaped her past and a future.
This book had everything, intrigue, page-turning plot which I read within a couple of days and yes, I’m an extremely busy person. One of Bookouture’s better authors IMHO.
Can’t wait to read more about Gina’s personal life in future books.
A gripping read, one not to be missed.
Once madly in love, Susan and Ryan’s marriage is now in tatters since they had the children. Their son Rory is left at nursery when Susan neglects to show up. The nursery rings her mother and she in turn rings the police sensing something is seriously wrong.
In comes Gina and her team to unravel what’s happened to Susan when dark secrets appear That have shaped her past and a future.
This book had everything, intrigue, page-turning plot which I read within a couple of days and yes, I’m an extremely busy person. One of Bookouture’s better authors IMHO.
Can’t wait to read more about Gina’s personal life in future books.
A gripping read, one not to be missed.
October 1, 2022
Als Mary erachter komt dat haar dochter Susan haar jongste kind niet van de crèche heeft opgehaald en ook de rest van de avond niets van zich laat horen, wordt ze ongerust. Susan houdt zielsveel van haar drie kinderen en zou ze nooit de rug toekeren. Nog diezelfde avond belt Mary de politie.
Inspecteur Gina Harte denkt aanvankelijk aan een standaard vermissingszaak, maar als er aan de rand van het stadje Cleevesford een vermoorde man wordt gevonden, blijkt niets minder waar. Het slachtoffer heeft een connectie met Susan en de verlammende vraag rijst of zij het volgende slachtoffer zal zijn…
Terwijl zowel Mary als Gina op hun eigen manier op zoek zijn naar antwoorden, ontvouwt zich een duister geheim uit Susans jeugd.
'Haar duistere hart' is het vijfde deel met Gina Harte in de hoofdrol en het verhaal begint met een interessante inleiding. Je maakt kennis met Susan en haar partner. Kort daarna komt ze niet opdagen bij de creche waar haar jongste dochter op haar zit te wachten. Dit is niets voor Susan, dus als lezer voel je meteen dat er iets niet klopt...
De spanning wordt langzaam opgebouwd en na een tijdje wordt er een dode man gevonden. Dit stuk vond ik best interessant en ik vroeg mij af wat deze man precies met Susan te maken had. Helaas duurt het dan weer een tijd voordat het wat spannender wordt. Ondertussen vraag je je wel af waar Susan is. Is ze nog in leven of moet je het ergste vrezen?
Je komt ook wat meer te weten over het verleden van Gina en de relatie met haar moeder, dus dat was ook wel weer interessant. Langzaamaan worden dingen steeds duidelijker...
Toch vond ik dit deel iets minder spannend dan de voorgaande delen, maar vanwege de fijne schrijfstijl van Carla had ik het boek toch heel snel gelezen. Op naar het zesde deel! 😉
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
Inspecteur Gina Harte denkt aanvankelijk aan een standaard vermissingszaak, maar als er aan de rand van het stadje Cleevesford een vermoorde man wordt gevonden, blijkt niets minder waar. Het slachtoffer heeft een connectie met Susan en de verlammende vraag rijst of zij het volgende slachtoffer zal zijn…
Terwijl zowel Mary als Gina op hun eigen manier op zoek zijn naar antwoorden, ontvouwt zich een duister geheim uit Susans jeugd.
'Haar duistere hart' is het vijfde deel met Gina Harte in de hoofdrol en het verhaal begint met een interessante inleiding. Je maakt kennis met Susan en haar partner. Kort daarna komt ze niet opdagen bij de creche waar haar jongste dochter op haar zit te wachten. Dit is niets voor Susan, dus als lezer voel je meteen dat er iets niet klopt...
De spanning wordt langzaam opgebouwd en na een tijdje wordt er een dode man gevonden. Dit stuk vond ik best interessant en ik vroeg mij af wat deze man precies met Susan te maken had. Helaas duurt het dan weer een tijd voordat het wat spannender wordt. Ondertussen vraag je je wel af waar Susan is. Is ze nog in leven of moet je het ergste vrezen?
Je komt ook wat meer te weten over het verleden van Gina en de relatie met haar moeder, dus dat was ook wel weer interessant. Langzaamaan worden dingen steeds duidelijker...
Toch vond ik dit deel iets minder spannend dan de voorgaande delen, maar vanwege de fijne schrijfstijl van Carla had ik het boek toch heel snel gelezen. Op naar het zesde deel! 😉
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
November 4, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Her Dark Heart, the fifth novel to feature Midlands based DI Gina Harte.
When Susan Wheeler fails to pick up her son Rory from nursery her mum, Mary, gets worried and files a missing person report. Gina and the team are assigned the case but don’t get very far because Mary is keeping secrets and so, it seems, was Susan. Then a body is found.
I enjoyed Her Dark Heart which is a twisty procedural with a childhood secret at its heart. It is mostly told from Gina’s point of view but chapters from the unnamed perpetrator point the reader in a different direction to the police. Susan, it turns out, had a history of running away as a teenager and her sister, Clare, thinks it’s just a stunt but Mary insists she would never leave her children and what role does Ryan, her separated, allegedly abusive, husband play? The novel is quite compelling in these dilemmas. The novel really catches fire, however, in the last chapters when secrets are revealed and the police make their breakthrough. It’s quite dramatic and spellbinding.
It is a novel about characterisation as much as crime with strong women to the forefront. Mary has do some critical self analysis of her parenting skills as she deals with her daughters. Clare is a broken woman and elicits some sympathy and Gina drags the reader through another dreary, self-pity fest (her past is an ongoing thread in the series). I, for one, am past ready for her to move on and concentrate on her strength, investigation.
Her Dark Heart is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When Susan Wheeler fails to pick up her son Rory from nursery her mum, Mary, gets worried and files a missing person report. Gina and the team are assigned the case but don’t get very far because Mary is keeping secrets and so, it seems, was Susan. Then a body is found.
I enjoyed Her Dark Heart which is a twisty procedural with a childhood secret at its heart. It is mostly told from Gina’s point of view but chapters from the unnamed perpetrator point the reader in a different direction to the police. Susan, it turns out, had a history of running away as a teenager and her sister, Clare, thinks it’s just a stunt but Mary insists she would never leave her children and what role does Ryan, her separated, allegedly abusive, husband play? The novel is quite compelling in these dilemmas. The novel really catches fire, however, in the last chapters when secrets are revealed and the police make their breakthrough. It’s quite dramatic and spellbinding.
It is a novel about characterisation as much as crime with strong women to the forefront. Mary has do some critical self analysis of her parenting skills as she deals with her daughters. Clare is a broken woman and elicits some sympathy and Gina drags the reader through another dreary, self-pity fest (her past is an ongoing thread in the series). I, for one, am past ready for her to move on and concentrate on her strength, investigation.
Her Dark Heart is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 2, 2020
Although I am still yet to read the first two, I have now enjoyed the last three books in this series by Carla Kovach and DI Gina Harte is fast becoming one of my favourite detectives. I absolutely loved the previous book
"The Liar's House"
and I wondered how Kovach could better that one but HER DARK HEART was just as brilliant! And while it is the fifth in the series and it's generally preferable to read them in order, I do believe they can still be read as a standalone. Each mystery is enigmatic, each story is unique...but each book is engaging throughout you will not want to put them down.
The story opens with a prologue that sees Susan Wheeler returning from a reunion amongst old friends at the pub to which her husband Ryan had followed her, convinced she was having an affair. After thumping the male friend of the group, Ryan and Susan returned home where he then started in on her. It was obvious from the beginning that Ryan was a controlling and abusive husband and Susan did her best to shelter her children from the violence.
Five months later, Susan is in the process of divorcing Ryan, living in their marital home with their three children while Ryan has moved to a small two bedroom flat. Since kicking her husband out, Susan has let her hair down, started going out with friends and enjoying the freedom to be herself and relax as she was never allowed to married to Ryan. Her mother Mary babysits for her on these occasions which, in her sister Clare's eyes, are becoming more frequent. It seems Susan is returning to her rebellious teenage years.
So when Susan fails to pick up her two year old son Rory from nursery one afternoon, there are mixed reactions. Her mother Mary is concerned while her sister Clare is not. Then they discover that she hadn't collected her daughters, Phoebe and Jasmine, from her Ryan's place either. Mary is adamant that Susan would never leave her children - she loves them and would not have left them voluntarily. Clare is of the opinion that this is another one of Susan's disappearing acts where she will swan back in after a few days as if nothing has happened. After all, she's done it before.
But Mary is worried and insists on calling the police although Clare maintains that her sister is just attention seeking while her husband Howard placates her with endless cups of tea. The soon-to-be ex-husband Ryan thinks Susan has just run off again and isn't particularly concerned...in fact he lays the blame solely at Susan's feet. Clare, it seems, shares his opinion and also blames her sister for everything that's gone wrong in her own life. But Mary is convinced there is something wrong...
Enter DI Gina Harte. For the initial contact with the Hudson family, Gina takes along PC Kapoor who has incredible instincts as well as a certain empathy. But Gina isn't prepared for the shock that is about to befall her when Mary Hudson opens the door. For Mary is the spitting image of her own mother who died many years ago, sharing even the same mannerisms which throws Gina momentarily when questioning her. I found this an interesting side aspect and wondered if it would be explored further, throwing up the revelation of her mother having had a long lost missing twin or something...but it seemed that Mary was just a doppelganger that spooked Gina each time she came into contact with her.
Mary has enough to deal with at the moment what with Clare having moved back home with her two year old son who, with a vast array of behavioural problems, is beyond difficult. But Susan's little Rory is like a breath of fresh air and is a sweet content little boy. Another bone of contention with Clare - it seems Susan can never do any wrong, and even has the perfect child. This sees a jealous and exasperated Clare continually dumping her often screaming son in her mother's arms and leaving the house to destinations unknown. She may have been the older sibling but Clare often behaved like a spoilt teenager, in my opinion.
From the beginning Gina believes that Mary and her family are keeping secrets and she endeavours to find out what they are and get to the bottom of them. Requesting permission to search Susan's house, Gina and her team are only allowed a cursory look before Mary ushers them out and then sets about cleaning the house from top to bottom. But Mary comes across a notebook that appears to be Susan's diary of sorts and in it, two appointments for the day she disappeared and a post code. Handing them over to the police, Gina then calls on the appointments - both of whom weren't home - and discovers the post code was for a general area nearby...but apparently none of Susan's clients were from that postal code area. And where was her car? Wouldn't it have been parked outside her last appointment?
Then a body is found by a man and his two boys out walking their dog and immediately she fears it to be Susan. However, it turns out the body is male. One Dale Blair - who turned out to be Susan's last appointment. Upon searching his house, Gina's team find a photo of a teenage Dale with an obvious teenage Susan and another teenage girl. It seems Susan and Dale knew each other before the day she disappeared. And then they discover he was the man Ryan had punched in the face for having an affair with his wife some 5 months before. But that was not possible for Dale was openly gay. The mystery deepens as Gina wonders what the hell it means and where it all leads.
Was Susan kidnapped? Or is she guilty of murder?
Gina doesn't know what to believe anymore as she battles with her own guilt and grief over losing her mother and her deepest darkest secret she has carried for more than 20 years.
And then Susan's daughter Phoebe disappears...
A complicated case and a complex thriller, HER DARK HEART is a well-written page turner that will have you reading long into the night - just one more chapter! I love how it's not just a police procedural but a crime thriller as well as we are privy to all aspects of the story - from the police to the victim's family to the villain - with clues given at just the right time.
As for the characters themselves - I found Clare and her son irritating and obnoxious, Ryan was ignorant and arrogant, Howard was indifferent while Mary was so completely guilt ridden and yet she continued to make the same mistakes again and again.
As the story shifts between perspectives in the search for Susan and Phoebe while at the same time given a glimpse from the villain's viewpoint, HER DARK HEART unfolds at an even pace that soon accelerates gaining momentum as it nears its climax. And even as it did so, I was completely surprised at the revelation, only guessing just moments before.
While HER DARK HEART is the fifth in this series, it is my third having only read the last three. Despite this I am thoroughly enjoying all that I have read so far and Gina Harte is fast becoming a favourite. I know that I will not be disappointed with these books. I do, however, have a slight misgiving I feel I ought to mention.
While I don't like my protagonists to be too perfect, too damaged, too bossy and bitchy or too flaky and irritating, I do feel that Gina does often frustrate me. She has spent the past five books torturing herself about killing her abusive husband in self defense some 20 years ago and ambivalence about her feelings for her boss DCI Chris Briggs, and their non-starter affair. Not to mention the complicated relationship she has with her daughter Hannah. Without fail by the end of each book, she seems to have sorted herself out with promises and placations but by the next one she is back to where she was previously. This oscillating is like watching a ceiling fan as she continues her annoying cycle of self pity and self loathing. I just want to see her sort herself out once and for all and move on. We know what happened, none of us can change the past, so there is nothing to gain by harping on it. I just wish she would move past it and either get together with Briggs or move on. I did like the part near the end where she made a confession to her mother's grave, unburdening herself at last. Maybe now she CAN move on.
I'd also like to know a little more about her team, as all we seem to know about them are their names. And even those are seemingly insignificant at times because none of them has as much depth as Gina herself does in the books. These characters are recurring but without any real development.
Despite those two misgivings, they are but small elements that do not deter my enjoyment of this book or the series. I will happily continue to follow Gina and her team as it really is one of my favourite series.
The plot was dark, the twists were skillful making HER DARK HEART a clever complex and brilliant thriller that kept me intrigued throughout. I have no hesitation in recommending it!
I look forward to seeing what happens next...
I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerDarkHeart in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The story opens with a prologue that sees Susan Wheeler returning from a reunion amongst old friends at the pub to which her husband Ryan had followed her, convinced she was having an affair. After thumping the male friend of the group, Ryan and Susan returned home where he then started in on her. It was obvious from the beginning that Ryan was a controlling and abusive husband and Susan did her best to shelter her children from the violence.
Five months later, Susan is in the process of divorcing Ryan, living in their marital home with their three children while Ryan has moved to a small two bedroom flat. Since kicking her husband out, Susan has let her hair down, started going out with friends and enjoying the freedom to be herself and relax as she was never allowed to married to Ryan. Her mother Mary babysits for her on these occasions which, in her sister Clare's eyes, are becoming more frequent. It seems Susan is returning to her rebellious teenage years.
So when Susan fails to pick up her two year old son Rory from nursery one afternoon, there are mixed reactions. Her mother Mary is concerned while her sister Clare is not. Then they discover that she hadn't collected her daughters, Phoebe and Jasmine, from her Ryan's place either. Mary is adamant that Susan would never leave her children - she loves them and would not have left them voluntarily. Clare is of the opinion that this is another one of Susan's disappearing acts where she will swan back in after a few days as if nothing has happened. After all, she's done it before.
But Mary is worried and insists on calling the police although Clare maintains that her sister is just attention seeking while her husband Howard placates her with endless cups of tea. The soon-to-be ex-husband Ryan thinks Susan has just run off again and isn't particularly concerned...in fact he lays the blame solely at Susan's feet. Clare, it seems, shares his opinion and also blames her sister for everything that's gone wrong in her own life. But Mary is convinced there is something wrong...
Enter DI Gina Harte. For the initial contact with the Hudson family, Gina takes along PC Kapoor who has incredible instincts as well as a certain empathy. But Gina isn't prepared for the shock that is about to befall her when Mary Hudson opens the door. For Mary is the spitting image of her own mother who died many years ago, sharing even the same mannerisms which throws Gina momentarily when questioning her. I found this an interesting side aspect and wondered if it would be explored further, throwing up the revelation of her mother having had a long lost missing twin or something...but it seemed that Mary was just a doppelganger that spooked Gina each time she came into contact with her.
Mary has enough to deal with at the moment what with Clare having moved back home with her two year old son who, with a vast array of behavioural problems, is beyond difficult. But Susan's little Rory is like a breath of fresh air and is a sweet content little boy. Another bone of contention with Clare - it seems Susan can never do any wrong, and even has the perfect child. This sees a jealous and exasperated Clare continually dumping her often screaming son in her mother's arms and leaving the house to destinations unknown. She may have been the older sibling but Clare often behaved like a spoilt teenager, in my opinion.
From the beginning Gina believes that Mary and her family are keeping secrets and she endeavours to find out what they are and get to the bottom of them. Requesting permission to search Susan's house, Gina and her team are only allowed a cursory look before Mary ushers them out and then sets about cleaning the house from top to bottom. But Mary comes across a notebook that appears to be Susan's diary of sorts and in it, two appointments for the day she disappeared and a post code. Handing them over to the police, Gina then calls on the appointments - both of whom weren't home - and discovers the post code was for a general area nearby...but apparently none of Susan's clients were from that postal code area. And where was her car? Wouldn't it have been parked outside her last appointment?
Then a body is found by a man and his two boys out walking their dog and immediately she fears it to be Susan. However, it turns out the body is male. One Dale Blair - who turned out to be Susan's last appointment. Upon searching his house, Gina's team find a photo of a teenage Dale with an obvious teenage Susan and another teenage girl. It seems Susan and Dale knew each other before the day she disappeared. And then they discover he was the man Ryan had punched in the face for having an affair with his wife some 5 months before. But that was not possible for Dale was openly gay. The mystery deepens as Gina wonders what the hell it means and where it all leads.
Was Susan kidnapped? Or is she guilty of murder?
Gina doesn't know what to believe anymore as she battles with her own guilt and grief over losing her mother and her deepest darkest secret she has carried for more than 20 years.
And then Susan's daughter Phoebe disappears...
A complicated case and a complex thriller, HER DARK HEART is a well-written page turner that will have you reading long into the night - just one more chapter! I love how it's not just a police procedural but a crime thriller as well as we are privy to all aspects of the story - from the police to the victim's family to the villain - with clues given at just the right time.
As for the characters themselves - I found Clare and her son irritating and obnoxious, Ryan was ignorant and arrogant, Howard was indifferent while Mary was so completely guilt ridden and yet she continued to make the same mistakes again and again.
As the story shifts between perspectives in the search for Susan and Phoebe while at the same time given a glimpse from the villain's viewpoint, HER DARK HEART unfolds at an even pace that soon accelerates gaining momentum as it nears its climax. And even as it did so, I was completely surprised at the revelation, only guessing just moments before.
While HER DARK HEART is the fifth in this series, it is my third having only read the last three. Despite this I am thoroughly enjoying all that I have read so far and Gina Harte is fast becoming a favourite. I know that I will not be disappointed with these books. I do, however, have a slight misgiving I feel I ought to mention.
While I don't like my protagonists to be too perfect, too damaged, too bossy and bitchy or too flaky and irritating, I do feel that Gina does often frustrate me. She has spent the past five books torturing herself about killing her abusive husband in self defense some 20 years ago and ambivalence about her feelings for her boss DCI Chris Briggs, and their non-starter affair. Not to mention the complicated relationship she has with her daughter Hannah. Without fail by the end of each book, she seems to have sorted herself out with promises and placations but by the next one she is back to where she was previously. This oscillating is like watching a ceiling fan as she continues her annoying cycle of self pity and self loathing. I just want to see her sort herself out once and for all and move on. We know what happened, none of us can change the past, so there is nothing to gain by harping on it. I just wish she would move past it and either get together with Briggs or move on. I did like the part near the end where she made a confession to her mother's grave, unburdening herself at last. Maybe now she CAN move on.
I'd also like to know a little more about her team, as all we seem to know about them are their names. And even those are seemingly insignificant at times because none of them has as much depth as Gina herself does in the books. These characters are recurring but without any real development.
Despite those two misgivings, they are but small elements that do not deter my enjoyment of this book or the series. I will happily continue to follow Gina and her team as it really is one of my favourite series.
The plot was dark, the twists were skillful making HER DARK HEART a clever complex and brilliant thriller that kept me intrigued throughout. I have no hesitation in recommending it!
I look forward to seeing what happens next...
I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerDarkHeart in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 24, 2023
When a dedicated mother of three Susan Wheeler fails to collect her children on time, her mother, Mary, phones the police.
As Susan is currently going through a messy divorce, of course Mary is worried. But why doesn't Susan's sister, Clare, share that sentiment? In her eyes, Susan's only seeking attention once more, like she did as a kid.
At first, soon to be ex-husband, Ryan, is the prime suspect. With good reason- he's known to act abusively towards Susan, even controlling her every move. But Ryan hasn't heard from her- or is he lying?
What so more, DI Gina Harte suspects that Mary and Clare aren't also being quite truthful with the police. So, what are they hiding? And what's hidden in the box that Susan kept from her childhood?
As the days pass with no contact, a body is discovered near where Susan was last seen. So, is Susan in more danger than first thought, or has she just been promoted to prime suspect herself?
It's a puzzler of a case, equalling sleepless nights. The person responsible is right under their noses and they're not who they expected.... Which leads to a massive twist of events!
Her Dark Heart is the fifth book in the DI Gina Hart series, one that has taken seven months to get around to! I love how these books are page turners, encapsulating you right into action with the various cases.
The characters are like old friends by now. I really feel for Gina- she's had an especially hard trot, continuing to repress traumatic experience. In this installment, Gina suffers from flashbacks that bring her right to boiling point. There's only so much that she can take! Oh Gina, you really do need to acknowledge your feelings, you poor love.
Another great read from Carla Kovach. Hopefully it won't take so long to get around to book six!!
4.75 🌟
As Susan is currently going through a messy divorce, of course Mary is worried. But why doesn't Susan's sister, Clare, share that sentiment? In her eyes, Susan's only seeking attention once more, like she did as a kid.
At first, soon to be ex-husband, Ryan, is the prime suspect. With good reason- he's known to act abusively towards Susan, even controlling her every move. But Ryan hasn't heard from her- or is he lying?
What so more, DI Gina Harte suspects that Mary and Clare aren't also being quite truthful with the police. So, what are they hiding? And what's hidden in the box that Susan kept from her childhood?
As the days pass with no contact, a body is discovered near where Susan was last seen. So, is Susan in more danger than first thought, or has she just been promoted to prime suspect herself?
It's a puzzler of a case, equalling sleepless nights. The person responsible is right under their noses and they're not who they expected.... Which leads to a massive twist of events!
Her Dark Heart is the fifth book in the DI Gina Hart series, one that has taken seven months to get around to! I love how these books are page turners, encapsulating you right into action with the various cases.
The characters are like old friends by now. I really feel for Gina- she's had an especially hard trot, continuing to repress traumatic experience. In this installment, Gina suffers from flashbacks that bring her right to boiling point. There's only so much that she can take! Oh Gina, you really do need to acknowledge your feelings, you poor love.
Another great read from Carla Kovach. Hopefully it won't take so long to get around to book six!!
4.75 🌟
July 9, 2021
*3.5 stars ✨
October 3, 2022
Een boek dat zeer langdradig was . Er kwam geen schot in . Ik was teleurgesteld, ik miste de spanning die ik anders in haar boeken vind.
Gina laat wel in haar hart kijken maar ik mis iets.
Alleen op het laatst kan Gina me tot diep in mijn hart beroeren.
Jammer , maar dus slechts 3,5 *
Gina laat wel in haar hart kijken maar ik mis iets.
Alleen op het laatst kan Gina me tot diep in mijn hart beroeren.
Jammer , maar dus slechts 3,5 *
December 20, 2024
2⭐️ -Gewoon echt niet goed, totaal geen spannend einde en er wordt veel te licht omgegaan met onnodig zware thema’s. De personages missen ook echt de diepgang die je na 5 boeken wel mag verwachten. Ik denk dat ik eens op zoek moet naar een nieuwe thrillerserie, cause this ain’t it…
April 18, 2024
Nog nooit zoveel boeken in 1 reeks achter elkaar gelezen zonder pauze, laat de rest maar komen!
November 27, 2019
Her Dark Heart is the fifth book in the Detective Inspector Gina Harte series but don't panic if like me you haven't read the previous four titles because this book can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone.
When mum of three Susan Wheeler disappears,Gina and her team finds themselves caught up in a complex case that has more twists,turns and dead ends that a Pac Man maze.
Susan was going through a acrimonious divorce from her allegedly abusive husband but despite her troubles and her past history,her devoted mum Mary insists that Susan would never abandon her beloved children. Susan's older sister Clare is certain that Susan,who as far is she is concerned has always been a attention seeker has just run away and will eventually return home to lap up all the fuss and attention that she will receive.
But then a body is discovered and Gina and her team learn that Susan was the last person to speak to the deceased. Now they are left wondering is Susan was a victim or a suspect.
Then another member of Susan's family disappears and Gina and her team find themselves in a desperate race against time to uncover the shocking truth before someone else dies.
The short snappy chapters of this mesmerising thriller alternate between Gina and Mary who were both wonderful,feisty,likeable characters who each had their own diverse personalities. Gina was carrying a lot of baggage around with her due to her guilt over her abusive husbands death,her forced estrangement from her family and her conflicting feelings for DCI Briggs. I loved the banter and camaraderie between Gina and her team and how they all worked together,even Briggs was a really likeable character who obviously still had strong feelings for Gina. Fortunately there was none of the interdepartmental backstabbing and top ranking officers undermining Gina investigation at every junction of the case. As I said,Mary was a feisty,take no crap from no one character who was determined to discover the truth behind Susan's disappearance. She was also brave enough do what a lot of people refuse to do and admit the mistakes she had made in the past but that didn't stop her repeating the same mistakes in the present day. I didn't think that Clare was a very likeable character,she was very jealous of Susan and was obviously harbouring secrets but did she know more about Susan's disappearance than she was admitting. Interspersed throughout the book was chapters that were voiced by a very twisted but also very clever and calculating character. These chapters were very sinister and creepy and often gave me goosebumps and sent shivers down my spine. But who was this person and how did they fit into the story.
Her Dark Heart is a exceedingly well written,tightly plotted thriller that had me hooked in from very first page and frantically turning the pages. It is a very chilling story that has some very intense moments and a truly unexpected reveal that almost caused me to drop my kindle in shock. I most definitely didn't see that twist coming. If you love a thrilling mystery/thriller police procedural that has a feisty,flawed heroine and keeps you guessing then I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy of this brilliant book. I haven't read the previous four titles in this series and now have the pleasure of rectifying that as soon as possible. Very very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review and to Noelle Holden for an opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
When mum of three Susan Wheeler disappears,Gina and her team finds themselves caught up in a complex case that has more twists,turns and dead ends that a Pac Man maze.
Susan was going through a acrimonious divorce from her allegedly abusive husband but despite her troubles and her past history,her devoted mum Mary insists that Susan would never abandon her beloved children. Susan's older sister Clare is certain that Susan,who as far is she is concerned has always been a attention seeker has just run away and will eventually return home to lap up all the fuss and attention that she will receive.
But then a body is discovered and Gina and her team learn that Susan was the last person to speak to the deceased. Now they are left wondering is Susan was a victim or a suspect.
Then another member of Susan's family disappears and Gina and her team find themselves in a desperate race against time to uncover the shocking truth before someone else dies.
The short snappy chapters of this mesmerising thriller alternate between Gina and Mary who were both wonderful,feisty,likeable characters who each had their own diverse personalities. Gina was carrying a lot of baggage around with her due to her guilt over her abusive husbands death,her forced estrangement from her family and her conflicting feelings for DCI Briggs. I loved the banter and camaraderie between Gina and her team and how they all worked together,even Briggs was a really likeable character who obviously still had strong feelings for Gina. Fortunately there was none of the interdepartmental backstabbing and top ranking officers undermining Gina investigation at every junction of the case. As I said,Mary was a feisty,take no crap from no one character who was determined to discover the truth behind Susan's disappearance. She was also brave enough do what a lot of people refuse to do and admit the mistakes she had made in the past but that didn't stop her repeating the same mistakes in the present day. I didn't think that Clare was a very likeable character,she was very jealous of Susan and was obviously harbouring secrets but did she know more about Susan's disappearance than she was admitting. Interspersed throughout the book was chapters that were voiced by a very twisted but also very clever and calculating character. These chapters were very sinister and creepy and often gave me goosebumps and sent shivers down my spine. But who was this person and how did they fit into the story.
Her Dark Heart is a exceedingly well written,tightly plotted thriller that had me hooked in from very first page and frantically turning the pages. It is a very chilling story that has some very intense moments and a truly unexpected reveal that almost caused me to drop my kindle in shock. I most definitely didn't see that twist coming. If you love a thrilling mystery/thriller police procedural that has a feisty,flawed heroine and keeps you guessing then I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy of this brilliant book. I haven't read the previous four titles in this series and now have the pleasure of rectifying that as soon as possible. Very very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review and to Noelle Holden for an opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
September 24, 2022
“Carla Kovach - Haar duister hart”
🍸🍸🍸🍸
Opnieuw een boek dat zo vlot leest! 🤓
Op 2 dagen met plezier uitgelezen! ⏱
Ik vond het opnieuw een goed verhaal, maar de persoonlijke issues van Gina kwamen meer aan bod, soms iets te vaak of te uitgebreid. 😬
Daarom 4⭐️ ipv 5.
Maar al bij al een mooi boek! 👌🏻
🍸🍸🍸🍸
Opnieuw een boek dat zo vlot leest! 🤓
Op 2 dagen met plezier uitgelezen! ⏱
Ik vond het opnieuw een goed verhaal, maar de persoonlijke issues van Gina kwamen meer aan bod, soms iets te vaak of te uitgebreid. 😬
Daarom 4⭐️ ipv 5.
Maar al bij al een mooi boek! 👌🏻
November 2, 2019
Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach is book 5 in the Detective Gina Harte and what a series this is turning out to be.
After the breakdown of her marriage, Susan a devoted mother has gone missing, when she has failed to pick her son Rory from nursery. The only one that cares that she has gone missing is her mother Mary. Her sister Clare is annoyed that her sister is getting all the attention again. She has been since there were kids when Susan used to run away and then turns up days later. Susan was a wild child as a teenager and gone on benders and even now her husband Ryan thinks that what has happened again to Susan.
When Gina goes to interview Susan’s mother Mary, she recognises similarities to her own mother and the feelings of her past and the guilt resurface for Gina and the knowledge of the death of her husband Terry. She struggles with it. But she must brush it aside and concentrate on finding Susan. But when a body turns up of the person that last saw Susan, they know they have a killer on their hands.
This is another brilliant episode in this series which can be read as a standalone. Another gripping in the life of Gina Harte, this one a more personal tale which I enjoyed very much. Towards the end of the book Gina developed a deeper friendship with Briggs I would like to see how it develops in the next episode. Fingers crossed.
After the breakdown of her marriage, Susan a devoted mother has gone missing, when she has failed to pick her son Rory from nursery. The only one that cares that she has gone missing is her mother Mary. Her sister Clare is annoyed that her sister is getting all the attention again. She has been since there were kids when Susan used to run away and then turns up days later. Susan was a wild child as a teenager and gone on benders and even now her husband Ryan thinks that what has happened again to Susan.
When Gina goes to interview Susan’s mother Mary, she recognises similarities to her own mother and the feelings of her past and the guilt resurface for Gina and the knowledge of the death of her husband Terry. She struggles with it. But she must brush it aside and concentrate on finding Susan. But when a body turns up of the person that last saw Susan, they know they have a killer on their hands.
This is another brilliant episode in this series which can be read as a standalone. Another gripping in the life of Gina Harte, this one a more personal tale which I enjoyed very much. Towards the end of the book Gina developed a deeper friendship with Briggs I would like to see how it develops in the next episode. Fingers crossed.
November 17, 2019
I love this series and it just keeps getting better and better.
Susan doesn’t pick her son up from nursery and her mum starts to worry that something has happened to her. Her husband and sister thinks she’s just done a disappearing act to take a break, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
Gina and the team are called to investigate and when a man’s body is discovered badly beaten they look for a link with Susan.
I loved the way this story came together and how the secrets and lies just kept coming!
Susan’s mum thought her family were close but through her worry for her daughter, her eyes are gradually opened towards her son in law.
Gina is dealing with her own problems but is desperate to find Susan and find the person behind it.
This is a gripping crime thriller that had me hooked throughout.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Susan doesn’t pick her son up from nursery and her mum starts to worry that something has happened to her. Her husband and sister thinks she’s just done a disappearing act to take a break, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
Gina and the team are called to investigate and when a man’s body is discovered badly beaten they look for a link with Susan.
I loved the way this story came together and how the secrets and lies just kept coming!
Susan’s mum thought her family were close but through her worry for her daughter, her eyes are gradually opened towards her son in law.
Gina is dealing with her own problems but is desperate to find Susan and find the person behind it.
This is a gripping crime thriller that had me hooked throughout.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
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