Although it's hard for me to imagine anyone who's life is so, well, discombobulated, I always look forward to reading more about Detective Lottie Parker from Ragmullin, Ireland. This is the 13th book in the series, and if nothing else, the edge-of-my-seat ending made this one a favorite so far. To be sure, the topic - the murder of children - isn't exactly fun, but coupled with Lottie's love and coworker Mark Boyd's exhaustive search for the son his ex-wife stole from him, the whole thing is a barn-burner.

It begins with the discovery of a young girl's body on the grounds of the local cathedral; Lottie is crossing her fingers that it isn't little Willow Devine, whose mother reported her missing earlier in the midst of a terrible snowstorm. Turns out it's Willow's friend, Naomi Kiernan; but while that brings some relief, it still means a child has been murdered - and the question of whether Willow has met the same fate.

After questioning numerous potential suspects, including a priest who isn't terribly forthcoming (and several parents with similar attitudes), the worst happens; Willow's body is found. In the midst of all this, Lottie must deal with her mother's ever-worsening dementia and Boyd's abandonment of the case as he runs off to follow a trail he hopes will lead to his son.

There's plenty of action throughout as the investigation and Boyd's search continue, as well as plenty of murder suspects, and it was a struggle putting it down as activities of daily life - like cooking dinner - intervened. By the time I reached the three-quarter mark, though, you couldn't have pried it out of my hands. Fortunately, it's easy to read, so my long-suffering hubby didn't have to go hungry for long. Now, I'm ready for the next one - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

I have followed this series of books from the start & now feel as if Lottie Parker & her family are close friends. As always Lottie's personal life is far from easy. Her mother is suffering from dementia & Lottie wonders how long they can keep her in her own home. Her lover & close work partner is desperately searching for his son Sergio who has been taken by his scheming ex wife. The town is struggling with the worst snow in years.

When a frantic mother reports her daughter missing the search is urgent. A body is found in the cathedral grounds posed angel like - horrific enough but it isn't the girl they were looking for! Both girls belonged to the cathedral choir. The priests seem helpful but do they have something to hide? Then there is the young lad that found the body- a troubled boy! As always Lottie has her hands full.

This was a great read with not too much angst for Lottie (I'd begun to be a bit jaded with all the things that happened to her & her family! A great five star read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

THE ALTAR GIRLS - Patricia Gibney: MY REVIEW 🗞

Number 13 is considered unlucky for some,but definitely not for Patricia Gibney,who delivered another *mic drop* of a book. Is it any wonder everyone who reads the Lottie Parker series keeps coming back for more!? Nope.

Lottie and Co. are called to the scene of a child's body found in the Cathedral grounds. Armed with a picture of a young blonde child she prepared herself for confirmation this is missing Willow Devine. But,It's not Willow. It's another 8 year old..Naomi. Lying peacefully in the snow,hair splayed like a halo,wearing a white shroud,hands clutching a rosary. What has happened to her,and where is Willow?
When they find Willow in a similar fashion the next day,Lottie continues her tenacious hunt for the culprit.

The Detectives learn both girls were Altar servers at the church but they're not getting much from the parents. One claiming the 2 girls didn't know each other,the other having no photos of her daughter in her house. What are the hiding? The local priests have airtight alibis, but as usual everyone's a suspect where Lotties concerned.
Like the books gone before,we get an insight into Lotties personal life,her mum has dementia and needs alot of care,even if she doesn't think so. Boyds home life is turbulent too,as his son Sergei can't be found. Things are never easy for this team,who are always balancing an all encompassing career and messy family dynamics. There's plenty to keep you gripped in this latest installment of the series. No pressure Patricia,but keep them coming! Loved it..

Time flies by and I almost can’t believe that it’s already been seven years since I met Lottie Parker for the first time. After thirteen installments she’s still going strong, and if you’re in the mood for a good police procedural you should look no further.

The body of a little girl is found in the grounds of the cathedral with a white robe and her fingers interlaced as if praying. DI Lottie Parker thinks it could be Willow Devine, an 8 year old who disappeared during a blizzard, but when she steps into the scene she realizes it’s another girl. When a day later Willow’s body is found, Lottie will discover they were both altar servers at the cathedral. Will she stop the killer before another life is stolen?

Gibney delivers another complex story with plenty of twists that keep the story going and the reader really invested on it. The own nature of the crimes and some of the possible implications make this a harsher investigation for Lottie. This also contributes to keep the tension at a high during the whole novel until the shocking resolution.

Lottie’s sadness and dread when facing that kind of violence against children become truly palpable. You can certainly feel them. Boyd is going through his own kind of hell with the disappearance of his son, Sergio, and his despair not knowing what happened to him was also really well portrayed.

Once again Lottie will find herself trying to balance her personal and professional lives, the investigation into the girl’s deaths with caring for her forgetful mother. Her strong personality still clashes some times with her family and colleague, but she’s much more mellowed out than she was. She’s gone through so much you just wish for her to have some quiet and happy time along Boyd and her kids.

The Altar Girls was, at its core, a story about motherhood, the different ways to face it and the consequences of it.

With each new installment, Lottie Parker is earning herself her place at the top with the biggest names in the crime genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Altar Girls' by Patricia Gibney.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Patricia Gibney, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 9th November 2023.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. It is also the thirteenth book in the 'Detective Lottie Parker' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read book 10 in this series 'Little Bones', book 11 'Guilty Girl' and book 12 'Three Widows' and would highly recommend them all.

This novel consists of 99 chapters and an epilogue and the book is set over 5 weekdays. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

WARNING ⚠ ADDICTION ALERT ⚠

Wow!! What an absolutely riveting, non stop action packed crime thriller!!!

I was absolutely hooked from the first page to the last!!! This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that absorbs the reader into the storyline. The cover, title and synopsis suit the plot perfectly.

What I love about Patricia is that I don't even have to read the synopsis of any of her books to know that whatever that says the book is guaranteed to be a unique, gripping and addictive read and as always this book was no exception!!! This was yet another explosive addition to this fantastic series where Patricia completely emerges the reader into the storyline. The storyline is filled with suspense, crime, friendship, romance, murder, betrayal , heartache, secrets, family, lies and is absolutely rammed with tension which left me on the edge of my seat biting my nails with my heart pounding throughout. It is extremely fast paced and rammed with action and loads of red herrings. I loved the fact that you get to see what was going on from so many perspectives. The main ones are Lottie and Mark but you also get to see what happens through the eyes of several other characters including the journalist Sinead Healy, unknown characters and Father Keith Maguire among others!! Patricia manages to weave the chapters by different protagonists together perfectly and does not give a drip of information unless she wants you to know it!!! Patricia has absolutely everything covered and I absolutely love books like this as you really do get to see so much that it means you get further and further emerged into the storyline leaving you shocked and bewildered when you look up to discover your reality!! Patricia manages to drip feed the reader with titbits of information to allow you to try to solve it yourself without giving too much away. It is like you are Lottie trying to discover what is going on with your team surrounding you! However, I had no idea who was involved and was shocked when it was revealed so a HUGE well done to Patricia on shocking me. There were such a huge pool of suspects in this book and so many has the motivation , amongst other things that I had no idea who to believe until the bitter end!! I have read so many crime books it is getting harder and harder for me to be surprised but you achieved it so congratulations!! Patricia also did an amazing job of weaving the subject of dementia into the storyline as we see how Lottie's mother is struggling in the same terrible way that so many dementia sufferers do and how it affects the family. My Grandparents had dementia and it is a truly terrible thing to watch a loved one suffer with it. My heart truly went out to Lottie while she was trying to look after her while trying to solve a crime. There was also the lovely Mark who is searching for his son who was taken away by his ex wife months ago. With so much going on in work as well as in personal lives will this amazing team be able to catch the killer this time? You'll have to grab your copy of this amazing read to find out for yourself but I promise you won't regret it!!! An epic, emotional, addictive and explosive addition to this absolutely gripping must read series!!! I cannot wait to see what Lottie, Mark and the rest of the team get up to next!!!

Although this is the thirteenth book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

DO NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE FIRST PAGE WITHOUT CLEARING YOUR SCHEDULES AS THIS WILL KEEP YOU HOOKED!!!

I absolutely love Lottie, Mark and the majority of the team and they have become like old friends to me who I Iook forward to meeting again in every book and miss them between books. It was quite sad coming to the end of this book and knowing I am going to have to say Goodbye to them for a while. It is vital for me that I 'click' with the main protagonists and I love Lottie's kick butt attitude and that she doesn't take any CRUD. You see Lottie's more sensitive side in this book with the victims being children but you can also see the disgust when certain events are revealed. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better from the previous books. Mark is a sweet guy and my heart absolutely went out to him when it came to his son and his ex wife after what she has done to him taking his son away from him. Mark has been trying to hunt them down for months but will he have any luck in this book? You'll have to grab your copy to find out.

I absolutely love the fiery team dynamics and enjoyed that there was tension and fights in the team as it portrays the truth that a team won't always get along. All of these amazing, strong, unique and memorable characters come to life and jump out of the pages thanks to Patricia's fantabulous evocative writing skills and they have all become friends that I miss every time I turn the last page and always look forward to meeting them again and again. Keep up the amazing work Patricia!!

Congratulations Patricia on yet another fantastic book and this is exactly why you are on my favourite crime author list!!! I am looking forward to reading your previous and future successes and here's to your next 🥂!!

Overall a page turning and addictive explosive crime thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat throughout!!

504 pages

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £11.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

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The Alter Girls Patricia Gibney
Book 13 in this fantastic series is out now!
I dont even need to read the blurb when it comes to this author, I just know I will want to read it, and this series never disappoints.

This book just might be my favourite so far, along side the murder storyline, Boys is searching for his missing ex wife and son.

This series just gets better and better.

A beautifully written, fast-paced, emotional story that is the 13th in a series. It kept me on the edge of my seat while reading about the heartbreaking case of disappearances and then the actual murders of two local children just before Christmas. On top of that, there are personal problems among team members that add another layer to the story. Patricia Gibney did a great job and I need to catch up with the previous installments, hoping that soon there will be the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC of this title.

This novel grabbed me at the first page and let me go when I reached the end. It moved, made me feel for all the victims root for Lottie, her family, and hope that Sergio could be back to a loving home.
Sometimes I felt the cold, the chilly atmosphere and how the characters were damaged and hurt.
It’s a tense and fast paced story, a story that moved me and I felt a lot of rage as there’s a lot of victims but some are more hurt by the adults’ choices
The excellent storytelling and the short chapter made me turn pages and it was a bad case of just-another-chapter as there was a new surprising twist any time I wanted to stop reading
Patricia Gibney delivers another story that keeps hooked. Moving, heartbreaking and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping book

Where to start with this one…

When the body of a young girl is found the hunt for the killer is on … but news of another missing girl send Lottie and her team into overdrive

There are red herring galore in this beast of a book and I couldn’t wait to find out who the perp was … I didn’t guess it

Can’t wait for the next book in this brilliant series

A body found on hallowed ground, a charismatic priest, and a missing child ... Lottie Parker has her hands full in her latest case.

Lottie's one of a handful of wonderfully written female lead detectives to emerge over the last several years, and if you're a fellow crime thriller/ police procedural reader, you'll no doubt already be familiar with her. As ever, her personality and interaction with her team and family resonate strongly, and her tenacity when it comes to solving the case to be applauded.

The Altar Girls kept me guessing and held my interest throughout. I'm already keen to read book 14!

*Thanks to Bookouture for providing an eARC via Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

I have read and enjoyed several by this author so knew I was in for a treat. This book certainly didn’t disappoint. The backdrop is a snowy town and you can really feel the freezing atmospheric atmosphere. Two small girls venture to school, not knowing it’s been closed and then disappear, to turn up later shrouded in mystery (pun intended) and their lives ended tragically young.
There are plenty of avenues of enquiry and possible suspects and lots of twists and turns and red herrings along the way.
The lead detective is as likeable as ever and the level of detail about the problems she faces in her personal life only make her more endearing.
A fantastic mystery, kept me guessing to the end and very immersive writing. Loved it.

I’m not sure if it just the author’s writing style or her Irish background, but her books read a little more serious than the other police procedural series I read. And I like it. I never dip into a moment where I might confuse the background with a different series. Her series stands out.

In this latest installment, as Lottie starts to investigate a missing girl, she instead finds a different girl murdered. This leads to a potential tie into the church at Christmas time to boot.

This one crept a little close to home for me as Lottie continues to deal with her mother’s dementia. I can relate to the struggle. And as usual in the series, Lottie’s life and work both play a part as in addition to her mother, Lottie is dealing with Boyd and his missing daughter.

The plot moves along at a steady pace and there are multiple suspects in the case. Not all of them a likable sort. As Lottie and her team work tirelessly to solve it, I appreciated the complexity of the case. And the pressure to make sure no other children are harmed.

While this is book 13 in the series, it can easliy be a stand alone, but I recommend that all the books in the series are worth a read.

This is the thirteenth book in the Detective Lottie Parker series, and in my opinion this series just keeps on getting better and better. The Altar Girls is an excellent crime thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page. Lottie and her team are searching frantically for the killer of two young children and are determined to leave no stone unturned to find the culprit. Whilst all this is going on Detective Boyd, Lottie’s partner is searching for his ex wife who has absconded with his young son Sergio. So his heart isn’t fully on the job as he just wants to find his son. Luckily Lottie has the rest of her team on full alert and ready to help solve the case. I think this is one of the toughest reads for me in this series due to the subject matter but it really gripped me and kept me turning the pages of my kindle frantically to get to the identify of the killer. I honestly had no clue who was responsible and when the reveal came I was truly gobsmacked. It was wonderful to be back with Lottie and the team as well as Lottie’s family and I can’t wait for book 14. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✯: 4/5

Evil is afoot on Ragmullin.

One by one, the lifeless bodies of choir children are discovered, their innocence shattered by a cruel and twisted killer. And Detective Lottie Parker must summon all her strength and expertise to track down the elusive murderer --- amid an avalanche of personal problems.

The complex and multi-layered plot explores the fragility of the human psyche, revealing the terrifying lengths to which one can go when consumed by evil.

The cast of dynamic characters is led by Lottie Parker, the protagonist who undergoes a significant journey of personal growth during this installment of the series.

The suspenseful and gripping plot kept me guessing until the very end, as I struggled to unravel the intricate web of clues and identify the cunning culprit. This captivating crime mystery is the perfect read for any occasion, but it is especially well-suited for the spooky season.

Another great installment in the Detective Lottie Parker series! We continue with the same crew and two gruesome murders to be solved. Running parallel is another unauthorized investigation by one of her own. Will the team survive and prevent more murders? All will be revealed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Book 13 in the brilliant Detective Lottie Parker series.
A suspenseful multiple murder case with young victims and the times race against the odds to prevent another.
This series should really be read in order, this book in particular has a clear continuation of a story from one of the main characters.
Excellent story as always, well laid out, with no apparent clear suspect early on. The intrigue and suspense keeps building in this book. Really keeps you guessing until the end.

I really enjoyed this book. Thank fully there were no major family dramas in this one as they were beginning to detract from the murder stories themselves.

Not just one missing girl, but two. Tragically, both are found dead within a span of two days. What monster took the lives of these precious little girls? That is what Detective Lottie Parker is desperate to uncover. Lottie is beside herself right from the start in her latest investigation. When she visits the home of one of the girls that was missing, eight-year-old Naomi, things just did not seem right in that home. In fact, Naomi apparently headed to choir practice alone in inclement weather, and was gone for several hours without her mother reporting her missing. This definitely raises red flags with Lottie.

There is a lot going on in this very intense book. Quite naturally, it is heartbreaking that the murder of two little girls is what makes the story, but then there are many questions asked about the safety of children who were in the company of those who should have their very best interests at heart. Definitely something to make any mother think.

One intriguing aspect of this book is that most of the people in the path of these delicate children are rather unlikeable in on way or another. Meanwhile, there is other drama in this book involving Lottie’s home life and relationship and also that of the goings on with members of her team.

When I was preparing the review, I realized that the book was 507 pages. That is rather surprising to me, because this was a book that I could not put down and could not tap my Kindle quick enough as I was so thoroughly engrossed in this story. Patricia Gibney is quite talented at her craft and she makes it easy to connect with Lottie and her team. Also, it was heartbreaking to see Lottie’s partner Boyd (in work and personally) in his desperate attempt to locate his son Sergio, taken by his ex-wife.

This well-rounded story was an stellar read, made truly exceptional due to the excellent writing style as well as a compelling story.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

4.5⭐

It's nearly Christmas in Ragmullen, and the weather is terrible. Snow has fallen. The schools are closed and all after-school activities have been cancelled.

But sadly, for one mother, she doesn't receive the message and leaves her daughter Willow at the school gates. Never to be seen again.

And so Detective Lottie Parker and her team start a search to find her. Only hours later, a body is found, but it isn't Willow. It's another little girl with black hair left behind the cathedral frozen like an angel, and Lottie is devastated, angry, and determined to find her killer.

But she's a man down as her colleague and partner Boyd has taken time away from the team. To look for Sergio, his missing son. Who has been kidnapped by his ex-wife, and it's a search that is becoming increasingly desperate and futile.

And as Lottie's investigation gets underway and her and the fractured team start to dig, they learn all about eight-year-old Naomi. And their attention soon turns to the priest. Who is new to the parish.

But is it really that simple? Or something much more sinister?

Then Willow is found, and the investigation ramps up and more unsavoury characters come to light. Which leaves the team following leads that seem to go nowhere.

And then Lottie's worst nightmare happens. Another child disappears, and the race is on to find them before it's too late.

And with brief chapters. That helps create a fast-paced narrative. The perfect blend of complex investigation twists and turns and personal issues. As Lottie continues to deal with her mothers dementia and missing Boyd and Sergio.

This was a really enjoyable and at times emotional read. And it certainly kept me guessing and I look forward to reading more from DI Lottie Parker in 2024. 

I'd happily recommend The Altar Girls and the DI Lottie Parker series to all.

Another great crime thriller in the Detective Lottie Parker series.
Lottie is called after a young girl’s body is found in the grounds of a cathedral. She’s found lying in the snow and with a missing girl reported that morning, Lottie is sure it’s her. However, it’s another young girl who was friends with Willow who had been reported missing.
Lottie speaks to both families and it’s clear all is not as it seems and she is concerned about the welfare of the children.
There’s a priest who is suspected of the murder and a few other characters who seem to be hiding things.
Boyd desparately wants to find his son and when he receives news on his possible whereabouts he drops everything to try and find him.
Lottie is trying to juggle her family as well as the murder cases and it’s clear she misses Boyd.
This is a great crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.