I have read a story very similar to this one before, unfortunately I can't remember the title. I enjoyed the story the first time and this one was interesting but a bit of an anti-climax,

An enjoyable book and interesting to include a forensic analyst more centre stage than usual. However I did find it confusing at times particularly with the shifting timelines
Thank you to netgalley and Random house for an advance copy of this book

I found this one quite difficult to get along with. The plot was quite confusing and there were times when I think a bit more of an edit might have been useful, as there were a few scenes where the characters’ actions didn’t always make sense. The police characters are well rounded and feel quite three-dimensional, which was a real positive as that is not always the case in crime thrillers, and I do feel that the overall themes of the novel were dealt with well. I think more could have been done to explain the quite complicated ending, which required the reader to accept some quite out there ideas that weren’t explained in much detail.

Several years ago a mother was convicted of murder. Now a baby has been found dead and the police pathologist points the finger at the young traumatised mother. Several years ago two a used girls who were in a care home formed a bond that will connect them for the rest of their lives

*Warning* this story covers child abuse, infant death and graphic descriptions so the contents might upset some readers. It's gritty and harsh but it's also sensitivity told. The story switches frequently to thirty five years ago where two teenagers met in a care home. I did guess where this story was going but that did not stop me enjoying this book. A story that tells how justice can be hard to come by. I was hooked from the first couple of chapters.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Merilyn Davies for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, I simply couldn't put it down, I just had to find out what was going on. Brilliantly written and fast paced, I loved how the story unfolded and kept you guessing right until the end. I loved our main character's Nell and Carla and I do hope that we et to see them together in another novel.

When a baby dies and DS Nell Jackson is assigned to the case and finds pathologist Eve Graham is working on it - she thinks it will be a straight forward death but when Eve's husband alerts them to letters Eve has been receiving about one of her previous cases ... and links to this one .... Nell starts to ask questions and working with analyst Carla Brown, the start digging further.
The story also jumps to 35 years ago and a case of child abuse and murder but what links that crime to the present day?
A great story with several twists that keep you guessing most of the way through. As the story unfolds you start to work out who is who and how they are linked but that does not detract from enjoying the book.

I really enjoyed this book! It really kept me guessing right the way through. Even when I figured things out I second guessed it all. I felt confused at times, but that's all part of the storyline, and I felt it really did all come together right at the end.
A great read, well written.

A hard hitting story of child abuse, domestic violence and the loss of an unborn child. At times I HAD TO walk away from this book. You have been warned. A slow burner to start with, the storyline spans thirty years and deals with sensitive matters. It is heartbraking and shocking but I am glad I finished it. A new author for me and I will definitely be looking out for more of her work. Four stars and recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Random House UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Thrillers that don't give away the plot a few chapters in are the best. While I found this plot to be really intriguing, I already know who the perp was, sadly that took some of the thrills away. When I lost you is a debut by former Crime Analyst Merilyn Davies and her expertise and depth of knowledge shows throughout the book. The book has a good number of twists, but they're all concentrated towards the beginning and end. What's in the middle however makes up for an interesting read.

When a young couple are the lead suspects for the murder of their only child, Crime Analyst Carla Brown and DS Nell Jackson are assigned to investigate. The evidence seems conclusive, but something just doesn’t feel right. The case is quickly cast into doubt when the lead forensic pathologist starts receiving threatening letters – containing details only the police should know.
Who’s sending them? What do they want? And how did they get hold of the information?
As Carla and Nell dig deeper, it soon becomes clear that this case isn’t the first of its kind. They must stop at nothing to find the truth – even if it hits close to home.

Both the characters and plot in this book are compelling. The story is told in two timelines and focusses on child abuse and domestic violence. Most chapters from the "Then" part are extremely tragic and heart-breaking and also an eye-opener for the reality around us. DS Nell and Carla make a very good team and I hope to see more of them. Although a few might see the ending coming, this was compelling and gritty - just how I like my thrillers to be. This book has great potential for a series. Most books I've read are mostly POV's from either the cops - or the victims and rarely even the perp, but I've not read any that focussed on a crime analyst as well so I'm fascinated with what Merilyn Davies has to offer.

Thank You, NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Merilyn Davies for an arc!

This was an excellent read. Not something I would usually pick up but It had me hooked from the outset and throughout. Will be keeping an eye out for more in the future.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

two girls in care, they cling to each other as they have no one else

one is murdered because she carries the child of the man who is taking advantage of them both

years later questions arise about the finding of the pathologist, can she really be wrong about the cot deaths or is there something else going on

i found this book a little confusing at times but the actual story was mesmerising, and once i had figured out what was happening i couldnt wait to find out what was going to happen...

The storyline is about child abuse, domestic violence and loss of an unborn child. which some readers might find upsetting. I very nearly gave up on reading it as I got a little bit confused/lost with the characters and the way the past is interspersed with the present, a story spanning over 30 years about two girls and what becomes of them. The book is a slow burn but I persevered until the end even though this is not my usual type of read.. D S Nell Jackson and her colleague Paul attend an unexpected death which initially is believed to be sudden infant death but they soon come to realise it is anything but, it turns out to be murder. The book deals with the forensic pathologist/analyst angle as well as the relationship between D S Jackson and her colleague. Not sure if enjoyable is the best description of the book as I found it unsettling but that is because i’m not a fan of books dealing with such sensitive matters. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

This is a very intriguing book. The plot was a little difficult to follow at the start with the different characters and time lines but it became easier to follow as the story developed. Very sad in parts as it involves child abuse and baby deaths. An enjoyable read all the same.

A lovely and tragic tale. Beautifully written and stands out from the rest in this popular genre. A very unique and present day take x

Really enjoyable. A proper thriller and whodunnit. Definitely recommend to people who like crime novels.
4/5 on goodreads.

I always love when a new series comes my way...
Author Merilyn Davies has created a good one featuring DS Nell Jackson and Crime Analyst Carla Brown. My first time reading a series where a crime analyst is one of the main characters. Something different..
The background to the story is that a baby has died in suspicious circumstances and it is a race to find out who killed her before another death.
Everything points to the mother in this case, even the pathologist thinks so. But all is not as it seems with pathologist Eve Graham.
We get sucked into her world, her grievances, her life and it's intriguing to say the least.
What I couldn't figure out and it took me a while was the dual story-line.
What had that to do with the current day situation? I was completely baffled but I could not leave the book down.
It is initially a slow burn trying to find out what is going on.
The author drip feeds you with just the right amount of suspense.
I quite enjoyed her two main characters Nell & Carla and I look forward to finding out more about them.
It is a harrowing story-line ultimately about domestic violence, child abuse and that does make for a tough read.
While heart-breaking, the author handles the subjects with care.
Well worth taking the time for this one...

Thank you kindly to author Merilyn Davies and her publishers Arrow Publishing for my copy of this book. Much appreciated..

A tragic but gripping story that was a great read. Hard to put down with very vibrant characters that keep the story going, would definitely recommend this book

When DS Nell Jackson and DC Paul Mackintosh are called out to an infant death it seems like an open and closed case, the Pathologist declares it as an unnatural death so the evidence points to the parents!! But gut instinct told me that there is more to this case.

The pathologist Eve receives a letter saying not to send another innocent mother to prison for killing her child. DS Nell and crime analyst Carla Brown look at her other court cases where the mothers were convicted of murdering their children to see who is sending the letters. Can they trust Eve’s judgement?

This is a great crime thriller, loved the 2 strong female characters Nell and Carla. Having the analyst investigate the crime gave this book a refreshing angle that you don’t normally see in a murder story.

I read this in 1 sitting, the back story of Mary and Aoife meeting in a children’s home and being groomed by Alf the cafe owner is heartbreaking and has disastrous consequences for them both.

A book that will keep you gripped with characters that I hope we will read more about.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Wow this book really kept me on my toes. So much happening and wanting to understand it all. I enjoyed the flicking from past to present. And the way the story unfolded. It was written well. I got a bit confused at one point with the whole eve Mary and aoife plot but finally caught myself up

This is a brilliant book and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. There are so many police crime books available that coming up with something unique must be pretty difficult. This book is a very good attempt at something new. The characters are all of interest and you do get to learn about them. Clever ending as you are puzzled about how Aloife can be around. I guess with a bit of deep thinking there is only one possibility. The final section of the Epilogue takes you back to the very first chapter and you think ' of course that makes sense now;
Very, very good book and not to be missed