In her latest addictive thriller, Patricia Gibney weaves a disturbing tale of innocence lost and unthinkable evil lurking beneath a small town's placid facade. When two young girls vanish from their local cathedral, Detective Lottie Parker leads an urgent hunt to find a connection and bring the perpetrator to justice.

Gibney excels at dangling tantalizing suspects amid atmospheric dread. The enigmatic priest, traumatized old woman, and other eccentric townspeople offer cryptic clues, keeping readers sorting through the myriad possibilities.

Definitely recommended for all mystery lovers. My thanks to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy of the book for my unbiased review.

Another brilliant book with Lottie Parker it starts with the murders of two girls who are named the Altar Girls as they are both connected to the church. It’s a very complex case and there are so many suspects could it be one of the priests or somebody else who are close to the girls. Lottie is missing Boyd but he has another job to do in finding his missing son.

Really enjoyed it as I do with all her books can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC

Well, here we are on book thirteen (thirteen, how did that happen!). Safe to say I have been a massive fan of the series since the beginning, so I was keen to read this new instalment, and it did not disappoint!

This time, Lottie and the team have the distressing task of solving the murders of two local children. I thought the plot was brilliantly written – especially given the emotive nature of the tale. We are presented with suspense, twists and turns and a myriad of plausible suspects. This author also has the amazing talent of being able to intertwine interesting sub plots, characters and their – often complex relationships, whilst keeping things neat and relevant. Told from multiple POVs and in short chapters, the book flows at a fast pace. All in all, this is a superb example of a gripping police procedural, which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Patricia Gibney strikes again. The 13th instalment in the Lottie Parker series doesn't disappoint. I've been a huge fan of this series since the start and I honestly think each one is better than the last. With nice short chapters, this was super easy to fly through. I loved spending time with these characters again but definitely needed more Kirby and I wanted to thump McKeown 😂 I thought the plot was brilliant and the right amount of suspense. With a host of suspects it really kept me guessing and being mindful of spoilers, I'm glad it didn't go the obvious way. Gibney has a talent for weaving in extra sub plots and new characters without it getting confusing. Each book in the series just keeps getting better and I can't wait for the next one! 4⭐️

It has been snowing all day. School was closed, but not all got the message. Now it is night and a call comes in to headquarters that eight year old Willow Devine is missing. Detective Lottie Parker and her team are searching everywhere when it is reported that a body has been found behind the cathedral. But it is not Willow. It is another girl. Why was this girl killed and where is Willow?
Lottie has her hands full being short staffed with no clues left as to the killer. As the book progresses, there is more than one story going on that is affecting Lottie’s team and unfortunately a lot of twists and disturbed characters; any one of which could be the killer. This was a new author to me and a very good book that held my interest till the last page. I will definitely read more from this author. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for an arc. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's hard to believe but here I am reviewing the thirteenth ( 13th!!) book in the DI Lottie Parker series. I felt that I was more satisfied with all storylines this time around (even Boyd's) and felt it was one of the strongest in the series. Lottie and her team have the heartbreaking task of solving the disappearances and then the actual murders of two local children as Ragmullin gets ready to celebrate Christmas. Add to that ongoing tensions between several team members, her mother's dementia, and Boyd's missing son, Sergio and there is a lot going on in the life of DI Lottie Parker. Yet, I just keep tuning in book after book.

The case as I have described above is pretty emotional and I think Patricia Gibney does a grand job of giving us some great suspects. When the truth was finally revealed, I felt a great weight of sadness. It left me unable to read any other book for another 48 hours. That's how emotionally spent I felt. Future readers, be warned, it's not an easy one for certain.

I cannot wait to see where Gibney takes her feisty detective and her readers next.


Expected Publication Date 09/11/23
Goodreads Review Published 24/09/23









#TheAltarGirls #NetGalley.

The thirteenth book in the series kept me reading because the storyline is well crafted and the characters always stay interesting and believable. Reading a Lottie Parker novel you feel like you are meeting old friends and you get a taste of Ireland at the same time. The story involves many children and the changing viewpoints make it varied and fast. The additional storyline about Boyd and his son adds to the suspense. Another great instalment in this series. Always hoping for more.

The Altar Girls is the 13th in the Lottie Parker series and Lottie’s life hasn’t gotten any easier. Her mom is suffering from dementia, Boyd is distracted as his ex-wife has taken their son and gone into hiding, plus she has the case of one missing young girl and the murder of another. The girls are connected as both were altar girls at the Catholic cathedral.
Gibney tells the story from multiple POVs, all in short chapters. It keeps the book moving at a fast clip. She provides multiple suspects, all of which seem plausible. I would no sooner focus on one then my mind would switch to another. The fact that every one seemed somewhat bonkers didn’t help narrow the field.
This book is a reminder of how a well written police procedural should be written. And boy, did I need this, after several lackluster stories by other writers. It’s got the perfect blend between the investigations and the personal lives of the team.
While part of a series, I feel the book can be read as a stand-alone.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.

This is book 13 of the D.I. Lottie Parker series and I have read and loved all the previous books but this one was by far my favourite so far. Being back with Lottie and other members of her team is always a joy and I think what makes the reads so special is the mixture of a police procedural and then also keeping up with what is happening in all of the characters lives. This was a particularly harrowing case for Lottie as she is deals with the deaths of two children and her very complicated family life also and with her ongoing partner Boyd is also having to deal with trying to find his missing son Sergio it was all happening. This was a read that had everything so many twists and turns I was never sure of who was guilty and so many I thought I had it only to be floored by yet another twist !
So a fabulous 5 star read I can’t wait for the next and many thanks to the super talented Patricia Gibney it was a blast .My thanks also to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love this Lottie Parker series and this book was just as good as the rest of the series. Fast paced and tense storyline with many twists and turns. Just as I thought I knew who the murderer was something happened to prove me wrong on more than one occasion. Fantastic writing by Patricia Gibney, bring on the next book!

Over the years I have come to expect fast paced, tense reads from Patricia Gibney and this book more than lived up to my expectations. The death of a little girl and the disappearance of another along with Boyd's search for his son who has been taken by his mother had me reading this book in one sitting. Great work from this author, can't wait for the next one

I love this series and this story did not disappoint. The lives of the police characters are as important as the mystery to me now, as I feel as if I know them. This is a heartbreaking tale of two girls who have been murdered, so not for the faint hearted. Suspicious characters are everywhere, so this keeps you guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC to read in return for my honest review. Before proceeding I will warn if crimes against children are difficult or not for you, please do not read.

It's days before Christmas, in the midst of a howling snow storm, a boy off to choir practice finds the body of a young girl. She's been laid out, with great care, on a grave in the church yard. Lottie Parker and her team of detectives are called out. A young girl has been missing since the morning and all expect this to be her. Sadly it's not. Her body is recovered the next day in another church yard. Does the priest and choirmaster know more than he's telling? How is the boy who discovered the first body linked to the girls? And why didn't the mother of the first girl found not report her missing? Lots of suspicions, little to go on.

This is the 13th installment of the Detective Lottie Parker series. Even with the subject matter I really enjoyed the book. An excellent police procedural.

I absolutely LOVE Lottie Parker! Excellent police murder enquiry book full of twists and turns with who you thought “did it” actually didn’t. Had me guessing and doubting until the end. Definitely recommend this book from Patricia Gibney!

I love the Lottie and Boyd stories and yet again I wasn’t disappointed but how long until I can read the next one as I’m really impatient? This time Lottie is faced with the murders of two little girls and whilst struggling to contain her anger and disgust over what happens she still trying to look after her sick mother, her family and Boyds anger over his missing son. As she tries to discover the truth everyone seems suspicious and a seemingly unrelated car crash is also thrown into the mix as this races to an edge of your seat conclusion that won’t disappoint. Roll on book 14!!!

This is another fantastic Lottie Parker book. Patricia Gibney is a prolific writer who takes the reader on a fast, twisty roller coaster ride in this book. It’s a heartbreaking story with a lot of twists and turns. There are a lot of disturbed characters. I was glued to the pages. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Another hard to put down read from Patricia Gibney. It was fast paced, full of twists and turns and just when I thought I knew who the killer was, we were thrown another clue to lead the reader in a different direction.
Really enjoyed.

Have loved this series. This book like the others will keep you on your toe's, red herrings galore, plenty of interesting characters and a fabulous storyline.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Another good book in the series. Only snippets of Lottie's family life in this one and I would have liked more because they are great characters with believable relationships. There were lots of layers to this book, with plenty of twists to lead you down completely the wrong path and I found myself changing opinions on some of the characters more than once to keep me guessing!
I've read all of this series and am never disappointed.
I read an ARC of this book.

Detective Lottie Parker is investigating the case of a missing 8 year old girl when a body is found in the grounds of the cathedral. When she arrives, she is horrified to find that the body is of another child, who was not reported missing.
A day later, the second body is found across town in the grounds of another church.
Juggling her career, family, her mother with dementia, and her partner, Boyd disappearing suddenly to look for his own missing son, a lot is put onto Lottie's shoulders.
One clue leads to another, and the twists and turns keep Lottie and her team chasing after suspect after suspect, uncovering much more than they were originally looking for.

Oh yes!!! What an absolute roller coaster of an investigation! The multiple clues following in quick succession, one after the other, some with tenuous links to the murders, it takes solid police work to find out who exactly is responsible for the murders of two innocent young children.
There are so many red herrings, and the fact that a woman who has dementia has the clue to the killer, but when she tries to report it, the memory flits from her mind like a butterfly.
This novel runs a mile a minute, there is always action, and the plot and sub plots run beautifully together, keeping the reader in high suspense.
I could hardly bear to put this book down, Patricia Gibney definitely knows how to keep her readers rapt.

Lottie has become one of my most favourite Detectives, and I absolutely recommend this series if you are looking for well planned and well thought out police thrillers that have twists and turns that will leave you breathless.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.