This review is written with thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of Little Girl Lost.
DI Robyn Carter is on sabbatical from the police force, working as a private detective, when she is asked to investigate the disappearance of Lucas Matthews. Her involvement with the case continues when she returns to the police, and Lucas' body is discovered, shortly after the death of his father, Paul. There is no reason for Robyn to suspect that the two deaths are connected, until she is led to Zoe and her group of friends Abigail, Claire and Rachel. She learns that Abigail is receiving suspicious calls and messages. Can Robyn discover who is behind the murders, before the killer strikes again?
There are several characters in Little Girl Lost, and it would be easy for Wyer to allow some of them to take a back seat in the novel, particularly in the beginning when the two different strands of the plot appear unconnected. However, this does not happen, and I enjoyed the way in which Wyer writes fluidly, weaving small details about the characters into the text, without the feeling that she is overloading the reader. Wyer's descriptions of characters and locations are beautiful, and I became completely immersed in Robyn's investigation as a result.
Although at first, the two murders appear unconnected, it soon becomes clear that this is not the case. About half way through the novel, I thought I had the case sewn up, and was writing this review in my head, blasting Wyer for such a predictable outcome. However, I could not have been more wrong. There are so many twists and turns in the novel, and I could not wait to discover where the investigation was going. This was heightened by the alternating narratives of Abigail, Alice and Robyn, which allowed Wyer to keep the reader one step ahead of the detectives, and increased the tension. I have not seen this technique used very frequently and I enjoyed the way it was implemented as it sets this series apart from similar crime novels.
In Little Girl Lost, the reader receives their first introduction to DI Robyn Carter. I liked Robyn's character, and appreciated the insight into her background, which gives her a more human element than many literary detectives. I am looking forward to seeing how her character develops in future parts of the series.

I was really looking forward to reading this book as it had great promise. I was disappointed. Started off way too slow and the second half was a bit more of an enjoyable read. It was well written but I just could not get hooked on the plot. The book is told from the points of view of Robyn and Abigail and a third perspective of back "then". I usually love these books in the suspense and thriller genre but not this one. Some readers may be disturbed by the subject matter, which is very dark. This book did not live up to the blurb for me. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

I read this story in one day and really enjoyed it. The only thing I would say is that it did take me a bit of time to get into the flow of the story. Due to the changing points of view throughout I had to keep reminding myself who it was and how they related to everything else.

I have to admit I did spot a clue quite early on as to who the culprit would be, but there was a lot I didn't figure out until much later. A sign of a good story is one where you think you know what's going on, it turns out you are right in some ways, but the story still has the ability to shock you with some of the revelations. This story was one of those for me.

Detective Robyn Carter is an intriguing character. I would love to read more about her back story as she still retains a lot of anger, and grief, from what haooened to her in the past. We do find out what happened to her right at the beginning, but I would love an in depth look at that as it is affecting her hugely throughout the story.

The writing is good, the story held my attention throughout, and I look forward to reading more about Robyn and her colleagues.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.

Well well well, so this is Carol Wyers first attempt at writing a thriller. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't read it in her notes at the end of the novel. It read like a book that was written by someone who was an old hand at the genre. If this is what she accomplishes with her opening gambit then she is certainly one to keep an eye on.

I'm trying to think of a quick synopsis of the story but it's hard to do without revealing spoilers.
The story is told from different perspectives, both from the present and past, some in first person and some in third. It's a clever device to fill in blanks and reveal more throughout as the present reveals more, so we can be told more from the past.
It is based around a crime of child rape in the past, a broken family and broken victims and perpetrators, a story of revenge, secrets, guilt and whodunnits. The past comes to the present day and this is where our main character Detective Robyn Carter comes in. Herself a bit of a broken character after recently losing her husband to an undercover shooting and also the loss of her unborn child, she has taken a break from the police force to recover and has been working as a private detective with her cousin until her return to the force which is imminent.

An ex millionaire film star, now a recluse,dies in what initially looks like an accident while out jogging and a male music teacher suddenly goes missing, Robyn now back at work begins to become suspicious about both and is convinced the death was a murder. As she investigates further she slowly begins to paint a picture of what may have happened and how they are connected. As she delves deeper we slowly realise that there is a serial killer at large, most likely looking for revenge on those who the killer feels wronged by in the past.

Now that's a pretty crappy synopsis of the story, if I say so myself. There are another couple of huge central characters to the story who I haven't even mentioned. The story is a complicated one with lots from intertwining lives that both share the present but also a past that we the reader are not fully aware of.
My crappy synopsis is a feeble attempt to give a feel of what the book is loosely about but I am determined not to reveal any spoilers which, if I did give a more detailed synopsis of the story and the characters would contain some. If you want to get a better idea of the story then read the sleeve notes. Personally I didn't before I read the book and, after reading them once I'd finished, I'm glad I didn't.

What I will do is give you my opinion of the book. I really loved it. I did worry that it was trying to over complicate things with the different threads to the story and may end up tripping over itself but the author had clearly thought the whole thing through in detail as everything is explained.
I do enjoy a book that is told from different characters perspectives when it is done well and it is done very well here. The chapters are very cleverly structured, the past being brought back into the story at just the right time etc.
Robyn are central character, who you would think will feature in more novels in the future is an engagingly written character who you have empathy with. Ok a slightly cliched broken past(par for the course with the genre it seems) but she's a clever woman with a natural instinct for detective work and a string central character overall to base the book around.

I did feel about two thirds of the way through that I had it all figured out(not quite as it turned out) but at that stage that wasn't even the point of the book so I wasn't even feeling disappointed that I may have it twigged. I was heavily invested in the characters at that stage and was more interested in seeing how it all played out for them and how it resolved, rather than reading only to find out the "whodunnit" part, or "the reveal" as with some other novels. Surely a huge compliment to the author that I felt that way.

So it's a review with a lot of words but doesn't really tell you too much at all about what the book is about. Unusual(and maybe a bit pointless) but I liked the book so much I just don't want to be giving anything away. Grab a copy, get stuck in and enjoy the ride. That would be my advice.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for an ARC in exchange for and honest review.

A good first outing for what I imagine will be a series featuring Det. Carter. I liked the main character and could see myself wanting to read further books involving this character. I thought it was a good story line that kept me interested from the first chapter.

This book wasn't bad, it wasn't great but I think it was the number of characters introduced and the 3 points of view! I found it hard to get into, although the writing is superb, the style could do with a little more fine tuning! I really wanted to love this book but I'm afraid I just liked it! I might however give it another go in the future which can only mean that it wasn't all that bad!

Finally, my first 5 star review for 2017 is here! It took 6 books for it to happen, but it did! Detective Inspector Robyn Carter is returning to the police force after the death of her husband, and her first case lands her with a missing person's claim. Lucas Matthews has gone missing, and his wife is worried. As she starts her investigation, another man turns up dead, and the people nearest to Lucas start dying, too. Robyn Begins to think they are connected, but can't immediately figure out how, though a woman named Abigail seems to be connected to everyone somehow. The story alternates perspectives between Robyn's POV and Abigail's, who starts receiving threatening phone calls and notes from someone who is clearly watching her. How the puzzle pieces fit together is up to Robyn to find out.

Read more…

Let me just say that I loved this book! It did take me a little bit to get used to all of the characters. Aside from Robyn and Abigail's POVs, we also have part of the story told from a third perspective - "then" which is told through child Alice's eyes. Alice is a troubled child who has been through some significant trauma and acts out in rage. We aren't sure who Alice is and how she relates to the story yet. In addition to those 3 POVs, each of them has family and friends/coworkers who are part of the story, which leads to a huge number of characters in the beginning of the book. If you're like me, and you're struggling to keep them all straight, don't worry! Keep reading and it will eventually all make sense and come together.

There were a lot of things I loved about this book! It was such a wild ride, in the best possible way. It was really fact paced, and the twists and turns kept coming! Just when I thought I'd figured it all out, something else would happen and I'd change my mind, and that happened over and over! I loved that it kept me guessing, and the the last 20% of the book had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how it would all be resolved!

I also really loved that I felt like the book was written with a lot of intricacies in the plot. You could tell that the author really took her time in thinking everything through. A lot of books rely on one big twist or shock, and I felt like Little Girl Lost had several, but they all tied together perfectly. All of the loose ends were tied up, and everything clicked into place.

All in all, an excellent book that I'd highly recommend for fans of the thriller/suspense/mystery genres! A huge thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Carol Wyer for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Little Girl Lost comes out January 19, 2017 so mark your calendars for this one! You won't want to miss it!

This book starts off covering a tough subject but it’s handled very well and it sets the scene for the rest of the book, even if it is pretty harrowing, it needs to be there to enable the rest of the story to develop, so please don’t let it put you off, it’s worth hanging on in there.  This is a fantastically gritty book that kept me gripped to the end, it’s action packed and a real thriller that sets off at a fast pace that continues at the same to the very end.  I liked the main characters and how the story develops and unfold as the book goes on.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series and it’s quite a step away from the normal books you’d expect from Carol if you are fans of her other works but she has slotted in to this genre with ease.  Highly recommended, 5 stars from me.

For all my reviews, check out Clues and Reviews
https://cluesandreviews.wordpress.com/

Detective Robyn Carter, returning to the police force after a series of personal tragedies, dives into several investigations; a husband has gone missing and a man turns up murdered. Once she begins her investigations, she sees a link between these men. As she digs deeper and deeper, her investigation leads her to housewife Abigail and her family. How is she connected to these victims and why is she receiving threatening messages; there are secrets and someone wants those secrets told. When Abigail’s daughter is abducted, the race is on to find the perpetrator in time…

Well, Bookoutue has done it again! Little Girl Lost, the upcoming detective thriller by Carol Wyer, is absolutely nail biting. This serial killer thriller is riveting, fast-paced and tense. From the first page, I was hooked; I could not put this book down.

Be warned, there are moments where this novel is downright confusing. The novel is told through multiple point of views; we hear from Detective Robyn Carter as she works through the investigation, the housewife, Abigail, as she works through her threatening caller and questions her family and then a view from a girl who was sexually abused as a girl and is now seeking revenge. I struggled the first half of the book reading all the narratives and struggling to see how they all fit together. Halfway through the book, once everything clicked, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Wyer blends these narratives effortlessly and with a slew of red herrings and some delicious twists, the plot unfolds.

I will not say anything more, keeping this review short and sweet, as to not spoil any of this delicious plot but, let me tell you, this novel would appeal to any crime fiction fan; I would start to read it on a day where you have no other commitments; you won’t want to put this one down! I gave it a 5/5 stars! This one is on sale January 19, 2017.

Thanks to Bookouture, Carol Wyer and Netgalley, I voluntarily received a digital copy; it was my pleasure to write an honest review.

This is the first book in a new police procedural series. It’s a psychological thriller, well written and fast paced. The little girl is lost, maybe not so much in the physical sense, as in the destruction of innocence and the loss of her childhood. At times, the torturous behaviour of a disturbed mind made for uncomfortable reading for me, but it is a story that is well told and I look forward to seeing the character development of DI Carter and to reading the next book in the series.

Still suffering from grief following the death of her lover, Detective Inspector Robyn Carter has been spending the past year working as a Private Detective at her cousin’s firm. The cases are small, meaningless, insurance fraud cases but they are what she needs to get her head back together.

Just as she is about to return to work she is asked to visit a woman who has contacted the firm to help her locate her missing husband. She is certain that he has just gone to Thailand so doesn’t want to contact the police, but she hasn’t heard from him in a while and somethings she finds in their home leads her to believe that all is not as should be. As Robyn begins to make enquiries at his school, she realises that there is more at play here.

Abigail is a young mother with a beautiful daughter and a seemingly perfect life. Her husband runs his own private jet company and she wants for nothing. But something is disturbing her sleep. Someone is determined to upset her idyllic lifestyle via a series of letters and emails hinting that her life may not be as perfect as she first thought.

As her tormentors threats and barbs escalate, Abigail feels like the walls are closing in around her. When her name comes up as part of Robyn’s investigations she knows it is only a matter of time before her secrets must be told.

And then her daughter is taken.

…

Oh. My. Word. I absolutely loved this book. What a great start to the series this is and I can already see that Robyn Carter is a character who has a lot of life in her and a good many stories to tell.

Now I have to be honest. The opening chapter of this book made me wonder just what it was I was letting myself in for. It is not an easy subject to consider but it is necessary as it informs the rest of the story. It wasn’t gratuitous in any way but with a theme of child abuse I wondered just what the tone of the rest of the book would be. I needn’t have worried. Yes this is a difficult subject to read about, especially as it is told from the point of view of the child who is abused but it is short and although important, does not overtake the story.

Now Robyn Carter is a complex character but I really did grow to like her. She has suffered immeasurable loss and it is impacting up on her in all the usual ways but it doesn’t dull the sharpness of her mind. She has a great relationship with her cousin and also her partner’s former wife and daughter and it is nice to see those personal relationships throughout as it humanises her and makes her more than her job.

The story is told from three perspectives. Firstly we follow Robyn through her investigation. Then we watch Abigail as she struggles with the threats that she has been receiving. Abigail was a harder character to judge and I found myself torn between feeling sympathy for her position but also being suspicious of her. She is being persecuted, no doubt about that, and it is easy to understand the paranoia she succumbs to, especially given her lack of sleep. But she is a woman with a secret, one that remains well hidden throughout. Just who is she and how does she fit in with Robyn’s investigations?

The story has a third perspective, the only one told in the first person, that of Alice the young girl who was abused at the start of the novel. While Robyn’s and Abigail’s stories are set in the present day, when we hear from Alice we are hearing about events which bring us to the position we are in today. Her story is harrowing, and she suffers every possible disadvantage throughout her formative years. It unfurls slowly and as it does, you are given cause to think about how different things could have been for her had the adults in her life once shown her any true care.

The pacing throughout is just right, the chapters short and the flow between past and present worked extremely well. While there is a danger that it could push you out of the novel, become jarring, it was the exact opposite here, driving me onward. It was one of those, just one more chapter before bed kind of reads. Not that it took me that long or indeed any bedtimes as it sucked me right in and I raced through it in a day, needing to know just what was happening. With the exception of Robyn, it is hard to trust anyone in this book. There are some real oddball supporting characters in this book and Carol Wyer sends the reader racing off down the wrong track on more than one occasion.

And the ending was top notch. A belter. It left a real feeling of hope for, well nearly, all of the characters, but especially for Robyn.

This is definitely a series I will be on the look out for going forward and Carol E Wyer has just bagged herself another big fan, jumping right onto my list of must buy authors.

A thrilling and chilling 5 stars.

A perfect family hiding disturbing secrets. A killer who wants the truth to be told.

This is the first book in the DI Robyn Carter series from Carol Wyer.

Just when I'm ready to give up on thrillers for a bit along comes Carol Wyer with this edge of your seat non-stop suspense and terror!

Told from three different points of view, DI Robyn Carter, who has just returned to her job after losing the man she loved as well as their baby, Alice, the little girl who suffered tremendous trauma in the house of the man her mother was engaged to, and Abigail, who is being tormented and taunted about her own past.

Three different women and the different ways in which they handle the trauma they have suffered. Death, rape, murder, and so many secrets.

The characters are all complex and you feel so much empathy for them. Robyn is filling her life with work and working out to avoid the feelings of loss and guilt she carries. Trying to find out who this missing man is and how he is connected to another murder. Robyn is a great character but then they really all were.

Alice, poor little girl whose own mother blamed her for ruining her life, is looking for revenge. It's what she is living for. Getting even with the people who she blames for ruining her life and her mothers.

Abigail has a new baby, an adoring husband and a few friends but she is happy. Until it becomes clear that someone doesn't want her to have any of that. Someone wants her life.

This was a really good serial killer novel. One of those edge of your seat, bite your fingernails and lock the doors novels. And I loved every horrifying moment of it! Only one question....when is the next one?

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this one!

WARNING,this book contains subject matter that some readers might find upsetting.

To be honest this was a bit of a meh book for me,I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would when I read the synopsis.The book is well written and there was parts that I did like,I just wasn't hooked in by the story and actually stopped reading this for a few days,read another book and then returned to finish this one.

DI Robyn Carter has just returned back to work with the Staffordshire Police force after spending some time working as a PI for her cousin Ross.She is still struggling with her grief after the death of her fiance and the loss of their unborn baby and also has lack of confidence in her abilities as a police officer.Her new case seems like it's going to be a simple case of a missing music teacher but soon Robyn and her team are involved in a complicated case involving abuse,lies,families,murder and kidnapping.

The story is told in the alternating time frames and character format that is so popular with authors these days and narrated by three female characters.The chapters set in the present day are narrated by Robyn and Abilgail Thorne,a character that Robyn encounters during the course of her investigation.The third narrator is a character called Alice,her chapters start in the past and work forward through time to the present as the story unfolds and heads towards the final inevitable confrontation.

My issues with the story where I felt the author tried too hard to keep Alice's present day identity a secret.I felt that I was told who she was and not given the opportunity to work it out for myself.It also didn't make sense that Abilgail refused to tell her husband Jackson about her past.

Although I was a bit disappointed with this book,I liked Robyn Carter,I liked the interactions and banter between her and Ross.She is a interesting,complex character and I would be willing to read more of her cases.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookauture for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest opinion.
Abigail thinks she is going mad, she is receiving threatening letters, e-mails and text messages. Over the baby monitor she hears a haunting voice saying… bye bye mummy. The problem is no one believes her, the ‘evidence’ seems to vanish before she has the chance to show anyone (even the pictures showing her husband cheating). It’s like someone is out to destroy her happy life.
Robyn Carter is re-summing her duties in the police force following a year’s carer break. She is investigating the disappearance of a popular teacher, during the investigation a murdered actor is discovered. Soon other bodies are uncovered, it does not take long to realise that all are linked. The puzzle pieces start to fall, Robyn just needs to fit them together.
Alice is struggling since the death of her father, her mum falls in love again and the two of them move in to Pauls house, however when Paul’s son Lucas makes a move on Alice (who is only a little girl) Alice stabs him in the eye. No one believes her when she tells them what happened and Alice and her mother are kicked out.
I was gripped from the very first, to last page of this book. Just when I though I had figured out who was out to ger Abigail, another spanner was thrown in. It made such a nice change to reach the end of a thriller and say ‘wow I had no idea’.
Carol Wyer is a genius, she did a good job of making me think one way then throwing me completely of kilter. Even when I was not reading I was thinking about the story and where it was going.
Its brilliant that the chapters are dedicate to Robyn, Abigail and the killer.

Little Girl Lost Carol E. Wyer

I read this book over a few days and enjoyed the story.

Detective Inspector Robyn Carter, of the Staffordshire Police, has been on a sabbatical for a year following the death of her Husband, and the loss of her unborn child. In flashbacks throughout the book she recalls the story of the two losses.

Roby has been working, with an ex-colleague, as a private detective and her last job in this roll is continued as she returns to work in Staffordshire’s Major Investigation team.

The investigation starts with a missing man, who is quickly linked to the death of a man whilst he was out jogging.

Lucas, the missing man is also a known paedophile.

One of Lucas’ first victims was a young girl, who has since gone on to be happily married to a successful pilot who owns his own company.

Now she is getting strange messages telling her that her husband is having an affair; and cryptically saying that the sender knows her secret.

The story meanders through a great plot but occasionally gets lost. I like complex plots but there are too many people having flashbacks. Yes, they are all related but at times annoying. It is like somebody has knitted two stories into one.

The story itself is superbly written but when the characters are speaking I found the vernacular off putting. It is written so that the character’s sound like they have just stepped out of Downton Abbey. It is too precise, too posh. It just doesn’t read like modern conversation.

It’s a shame because the story is good.

Little Girl Lost was a whirlwind from start to finish. The author did an incredible job at keeping the reader guessing. Throughout the book I changed my mind at least 5 times as to how it would end and who was behind the murders.

Without giving away any spoilers, the story follows DI Robyn Carter in her pursuit of a missing person's case. Music professor, Lucas Matthews, has gone missing. Meanwhile, a local millionaire is killed in what appears to be a running accident. On the surface, these men don't seem connected, but as the Detective delves deeper into their lives, and all clues bring her to Abigail, a wife and mother to baby Izzy. Why is she receiving threatening text messages, calls, and emails from an anonymous person?

As soon as Robyn thinks she has some of it figured out, there's a new piece of the puzzle that appears. The story is told through flashbacks, as well as different perspectives from the main characters. Are they all connected? Why is Luke missing? Who is harassing Abigail? Who abducted the child?

So many questions and twists throughout, and it'll keep you guessing until the very end. To anyone that loves mysteries, serial killers, or crime thrillers, then you don't want to miss out on this book!

I was sent a copy of Little Girl Lost from Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

Wyer's newest book, Little Girl Lost, is written in a much different style and genre than her earlier works. Unlike some of the lighter more humorous books she's released, such as Life Swap, with this 2017 thriller readers will be seeing a darker and more suspenseful side of the author. In what is being promoted as the first in a new series, Little Girl Lost introduces readers to DI Robyn Carter a woman in uniform who has seen more than her own fair share of loss and devastation. It's what makes her strong, and also what drives her to be at the top of her game.

Following a deeply personal loss, Carter found herself taking a break from her role as Detective Inspector and helping her cousin solve some low key cases at his small detective agency. Now hitting the pavement as a substitute PI she has no idea her new case will be just the one she needs to launch her back into the heart of the action she's been taking a break from. Missing persons, threatening phone calls, stalkers, dead bodies... Is there anything that won't be thrown at DI Carter as she tries to follow the clues to who is behind this tangled web of deception and mayhem?

This was a good breakout thriller from Wyer. I thought the writing was a little choppy at times, and there were a few aspects of the story that seemed slightly predictable. Though overall I'd say the story construction was quite good and kept me guessing for most of the book. Even when it seemed the clues were leading in one direction I realized it was all a ruse; I liked that. I took pleasure in the mystery not being too easy to solve, I also liked the heightened suspense, and I enjoyed the characters- even if there were times when I wanted to smack them upside the head for being so daft. I'd say this is deserving of a solid 4 stars, and I'd certainly consider checking out DI Robyn's next installment if she comes back with another case to crack.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with this review copy and opportunity.

this book was so good!!! i would never believe this is her first thriller/crime fiction. there was so much depth and i love the main character DI Carter!!! five stars!!!!!!

This book was wonderfully warped with lots of twistedness. I find that what drew me to the book was the award family dynamics and the fact that I didn't really pick up on everything till the last half of the book. Truly superb

Her breath rose and fell in fearful gasps but it was too late. She could already see what she dreaded most. The back seat was empty.

Bye, bye, Mummy.

When a devoted teacher goes missing under suspicious circumstances and an actor is murdered at a local reservoir there’s no obvious link between the cases. But as DI Robyn Carter starts to delve deeper, her investigations lead her to Abigail, perfect wife and mother to beautiful little Izzy. What was Abigail’s connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number?

Robyn’s instincts tell her there’s a connection between these deaths, that it’s personal, but the last time she acted on impulse her fiancé was killed. To break this case and earn her place back on the force, she must learn to trust herself again – and fast.

As she inches closer to the truth, Izzy is abducted. Unless she can get to the killer in time, a little girl will die

Could not put this down - cannot wait for the next one.