Lost Souls is a police procedural where the team is led by acting DI Gaby Darin.

The premise is interesting. 10 year old, Elodie Fry (Ellie) has gone missing. As the story progresses, we discover that some elderly people are also missing and there's a mysterious 3rd prosthetic hip in the incinerator at the undertakers.

I thought the plot was well thought out and the reveal came together well. However, I felt the story was told from the perspective of too many characters, which disrupted the flow a bit. That said, I will look out for the other books in the series.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I love the Detective Gaby Darin series so was excited to read this new book and I wasn't disappointed .Set in Wales ,Gaby and her Team have a missing child to find when ten year old Ellie runs away seemingly for no reason ,at the same time elderly ladies are disappearing ! Wow what a plot ! I really like the friendship between Gaby and Owen ,this book is gripping ,compelling fast paced and one of those books that is so very hard to put down .I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in the series .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

3.5 Stars
Ten-year-old Elodie Fry vanishes overnight, along with a rucksack filled with her meagre belongings. Acting DI Gaby Darin and her team are fighting the clock to reunite Elodie with her distraught mother
Later that day, a local undertaker uncovers a nasty surprise: the remains of an unidentified second adult among a late pensioner’s ashes. Torn between the two investigations, Gaby decides the gruesome discovery at the crematorium must wait – the team are desperate to find Ellie before they lose her trail. But as she follows the evidence, Gaby realises the two cases have a sinister connection and there’s a killer on the loose.
This is the fourth book in the series & my least favourite of the series. It was well written & flowed well but I must admit the search for Ellie didn’t hold my interest & would have preferred more emphasis to have been on the find at the crem. I did like the descriptions of the Welsh locations & I really like Gaby & I do look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

’ve followed the Gaby Darin series from the very start as I adore this authors books and when she started writing a crime series, I knew it was going to be just my cup of tea!! She’s very good at tackling some very emotive issues in her police procedural novels and that makes them stand out as realistic and plausible because that’s what real life is like! Bad things often happen to good people and her latest book Dark Souls shows this perfectly.

When Elodie Fry goes missing, it’s a race against time to save the 10 year old-especially as she appears to have packed some belongings in her backpack before disappearing. But where is she and why did she go? The terror I felt at the prospect of harm falling upon this young girl who was out on her own in an unsafe environment was overwhelming at times and I hoped that she return unharmed. But then another crime came along. Surely it couldn’t be related? But when a local crematorium discover THREE hip replacement joints in the ashes of a recent cremation things become very disturbing and the team must work out if it’s related to missing persons in the local community. And let me tell you that there is NO WAY you will join all the dogs on this one as it’s very, very clever and I would never have guessed some of the twists in a million years!

Jenny O’Brien has kept up the momentum with this series delivering likeable characters who have to deal with some very disturbing storylines. Gaby does have a personal life but it doesn’t overtake her dedication to the police work she needs in her life. I love the Welsh setting which always springs to life beautifully off the page but without sugar coating the seedy side of some of the places Gaby has to attend. I know some of the settings well and I know Jenny O’Brien does too and this certainly means they come across as convincing environments for the crimes committed.

Be prepared for some shocking and very disturbing twists!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. This book was absolutely brilliant. The most twisted story I’ve ever read. Gaby and Owen worked so well together. The other characters where brilliant too. This storyline was brilliant, I really felt for Ellie she must have been so scared. The twists in this book had my head spinning. And reading well into the early hours. Can’t wait to read more from this Author if this book is anything to go by. I’m sure the others will be just as good.

A runaway 10 year old girl. A missing older woman. A homeless teenager. Artificial hips from a crematorium. Jenny O’Brien weaves all four together in Lost Souls, the fourth in the excellent Gaby Darin police procedural mysteries.

When Elly Fry is reported missing by her distraught mother, acting DI Gaby Darin and her team know they must work around the clock to find the missing 10 year old. She’s been seen with an older boy who is linked to an earlier case. Then a worker from the crematorium reports an odd and disturbing discovery. Three older women are worried when their friend disappears before their scheduled card game. As Gaby’s case load increases, she worries that she has no time to spend on her growing relationship with pathologist Rusty Mulholland. And she knows that she has to make a decision about her career that will affect her entire team. Time is running out.

This series just keeps getting better! Character driven and well-plotted with many clues hidden in small details, Lost Souls can be read as a standalone thriller. Readers of the previous Gaby Darin books will enjoy descriptions of Gaby trying to befriend Rusty’s young son, of Jax’ career development, of Owen’s life as the father of a newborn, and Marie’s growing independence. This is a must read series. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital and Jenny O’Brien for this ARC.

As much as Elodie 'Ellie' Fry had been looking forward to the summer holidays she was now, a couple of weeks in, bored stiff. She'd finished her last book, there was nothing to do and her mum was too busy to pay her any attention.

No-one, not ever her devastated mother, Anita, can work out why Ellie would run away, she was only ten, how did she even know about things like that? For acting Detective Inspector Gaby Darin having another missing child case so soon after her previous investigation shattered her team is testing to say the least. She knows her colleagues will do everything in their power to find Elodie but when Gaby has to spare two of them to handle a very strange discovery at the local crematorium everything becomes much harder to deal with. Time is of the essence for Ellie and everyone knows it.

This is the fourth in the very successful Gaby Darin series and it is like visiting with old friends. The storyline is original and with two cases to concentrate on the action doesn't let up for a moment. Add to this the beautiful Welsh locations, familiar from many happy childhood holidays, as well as the team dynamic and this is a pleasure from start to finish.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great read and highly recommended.

I just love this series and all the characters.
It will keep readers hooked page after page.
Detective Gaby Darin book four.
after going out into the garden shed Elodie Fry (Ellie) only ten years old alerting her to danger and a galloping heart life flashes before her and her worse nightmare. Picking up her rucksack with a few essentials she flees her home, what was her motive and what did she discover?
Rhos on Sea North Wales at St Asaph police station Gaby gets the call in from Jax Williams about the runaway girl and are both sent off to question the mother Alice Fry.
Ellie has totally vanished this is one big mystery for the team.
Over the course of reading this book as well as a missing child, there also a spooky find at the crematorium and missing OAP women so the crew need to know what on earth is going on and is this a connection.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat right till the end that you don't expect, such a wholesome pleasure to read from this Author, that knows how to push her readers buttons. superb.

Lost Souls is Book 4 in the Detective Gaby Darin series and could easily be read as a standalone.

Gaby has recovered from her last ordeal and things are going well, if very slowly, between her and Rusty. Her team of detectives are all pulling together, and the chiefs are ready to appoint someone to the role of Detective Inspector, a role Gaby has been covering. Gaby hasn't yet applied for the job, and is encouraged to do so - with a looming deadline for getting her application in. She's not sure if she wants the job, until she sees the other candidate.

Elodie Fry, known as 'Ellie', a ten-year-old runs away from home, sparking a police hunt. And as if that isn't enough to deal with, something unusual has occurred at the crematorium which warrants further investigation. It's a race against the clock for Gaby to find the missing child, solve the mystery at the crematorium, and get her written job application in on time.

I am a big fan of the Gaby Darin series. As with the other books, I was hooked immediately, and completely puzzled as to the reason for Ellie running away from home.

I thought the mystery at the crematorium was easier to solve, but hadn't picked up on the motive or the wider implications. O'Brien does a good job drip feeding clues while still keeping the reader guessing.

Another well-written story with interesting characters and a compelling plotline. I can't wait for the next instalment!

A thrillingly devious tale from a writer at the top of her game! This is one of my favourite detective series with the police characters feeling like old friends. The other characters strike so real too; the officious crematorium manager is a case in point. He is such a minor character, probably only on a couple of pages, yet you instantly picture him. I loved the plot with its ingenious way of disposing of bodies and the remarkable way the story all comes together in the end. I'm enjoying the way Gaby's relationship is developing slowly and Conor's distrust is an interesting twist. I eagerly await the next book.

Another superb book from the pen of Jenny O'Brian who writes great stories with great characters that have you gripped from start to finish 5*

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Lost Souls, the fourth novel to feature Acting DI Gaby Darin of the North Wales MIT.

Ten year old Elodie “Ellie” Fry disappears from home. Her mother is sure she run away as her rucksack and some personal items are missing, but Gaby can’t be so sure. At the same time Martin Penrose comes in to report that he found three artificial hips after the cremation of a pensioner.

I have found this series in the past to be an absorbing read, but I didn’t find Lost Souls as interesting or absorbing. I liked the artificial hip plot line as it is puzzling, interesting and and unusual and the links to old unsolved cases is very well done. I didn’t think much of the Ellie Fry disappearance plot line. She saw something and ran away. It’s not much of a hook to hang a novel on, especially as she’s not talking and it’s fairly easy to guess what she saw. I’m not going in to the details of what happened to her or what she did during her time away, but I skim read much of it as I simply didn’t find it interesting. And as it takes up half the novel - the narrative is split between Gaby’s investigation and Ellie’s experiences - I rate the novel 3*.

Lost Souls is a solid read.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

DI Gabi is investigating two cases one where a 10 year old Elodie Fry who disappeared without a trace and doesn’t know why and knows twenty-four hours are critical and investigating a case about older people near the cemetery that’s seems to be something mysterious going on.

This was twists and turns that the author had you guessing what happening what I like is you right there with Gabi and her team as they try to figure out the motives.

Book 4 in the Gaby Darin series sees her investigating the disappearance of a 10 year old girl, linked to the disappearance of some elderly people. There are several threads to the story, expertly linked by skillful writing. I liked the characterisation and the plot was interesting, if a little bit unbelievable regarding the motive for the murders. Overall, I enjoyed the read and would recommend the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat! Great writing! Great plot! Now I've gotta go back and find book 1-3!

Gaby Darin is back in this 4th installment of this detective series. This book starts off on what Gaby assumed would be a regular Monday, however; little did she know she would be in the middle of not one but two cases. First, you have Elodie Fry, a 10-year-old-girl who disappears. No one knows the reason for her disappearance and Gaby is racing against time to find her before it is too late. Not only is she dealing with Elodie Fry, but now there have been some mysterious things happening over at the local crematorium involving older people. Will she be able to solve both cases without serious repercussions?

The author does a great job of not revealing to much at a time so that you continue to guess what might be taking place. Darin is the perfect character to play the protagonist in this series, she is courageous, confident, and persistent. All of which aid her in her position as a DI in a police force.

I really love this series and cannot wait for the next installment of the story.

My first book of this series and I was able to keep up. It was also my first book by this author. I did really enjoy the fast pace and I can’t wait to read more by this author

I love reading this series, it gets better with every book. It is a great story which had me gripped from the start. I look forward to reading more by Jenny

Absolutely brilliant. I love this series. There are several threads in the story, a missing 10 year old girl, a boy living rough and strange goings on at the crematorium. Gaby and her team are racing against time trying to find the girl but where does everything else fit in? A great story line and characters that are easy to relate to, highly recommended.

Great book!! Kept me interested throughout the whole book! This book had intrigue, suspense, action, drama, heartache and heartbreak! It was a real who done it!! I love trying to figure out who! This one had me stumped till almost the end! I highly recommend reading this one! Its well worth the read! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!