3.5 Stars Rounded Up

This story took a little while to get into and the pace was slower, but there were a lot of redeeming qualities once I got past that!

The characters, specifically DI Tessa and Maggie (with her dog Pavlov) were extremely likeable and a unique team and I enjoyed their dynamic.

The ending was fast and exciting, and the narration from Melanie MacHugh helped set the scenes of Ireland well.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

"Little Witness" by S.A. Dunphy is a captivating debut that introduces readers to DI Tessa Burns, a determined detective with a knack for uncovering the truth. Set against a backdrop of a chilling crime, the story revolves around the mysterious death of a young boy and the few witnesses left to piece together what happened.

Dunphy's writing is sharp and engaging, pulling readers into the intricacies of the investigation while skillfully balancing the emotional weight of the case. DI Tessa Burns is a well-crafted character—strong yet vulnerable—whose personal struggles add depth to her professional challenges. The dynamics within her team and the community add layers to the narrative, enriching the story.

The pacing is expertly managed, with a steady buildup of tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Dunphy’s attention to detail and atmospheric descriptions create a sense of urgency that enhances the suspense. The twists and turns are well-executed, ensuring that the conclusion is both surprising and satisfying.

Overall, "Little Witness" is a compelling start to the DI Tessa Burns series. S.A. Dunphy has crafted a thrilling mystery that combines emotional depth with an engaging plot, making it a must-read for fans of crime fiction. This book sets a strong foundation for the series, leaving readers eager for more from DI Tessa Burns.

Thank you Bookouture Audio for allowing me to read and review Little Witness (DI Tessa Burns Book 1), Totally jaw-dropping Irish crime fiction by S.A. Dunphy on NetGalley.

Published: 02/12/24

Narrator: Melanie MacHugh

Stars: 2.5

So much potential in this specific book and for the proposed series to come. The author trashed his own work with profanity. At one point while contemplating a DNF, going out in a real life public setting with Dunphy and the embarrassment this would accompany wouldn't leave my mind. This was a NetGalley ARC that I agreed to read and I wanted to see how the story played out, thus I finished.

When I was able to relax and visualize what I was hearing/reading I liked the story. I liked the narrator. She had an accent to me, and it was enough to help me stay in the zone. I've watched enough Masterpiece Theatre that I'm familiar with some of the different English words and had no need for pausing to look them up.

Unfortunately I expected the story to be written with language appropriately fitting for its origins.

While I liked the characters and would have enjoyed a series, if the profanity isn't checked, I won't pick up another.

This was an enjoyable book and a great start to a new series. I liked the characters and look forward to reading the next one.

Little Witness is an Irish police procedural. This was my first Irish thriller and it did not disappoint! The plot was very interesting and very unique characters who I loved! I loved how inclusive this book was with Maggie, who has cerebral palsy and doesn’t let that stand in her way of being a police liaison officer.
The narration was done by Melanie MacHugh who did a great job with an amazing Irish accent!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio-arc of Little Witness (DI Tessa Burns Book 1)!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced listen. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Melanie MacHugh. Her voice and the accents she used transported me back to Ireland, which I lived in for a few years when I was younger.

The main story involves Tessa Burns, who is a Detective Inspector (DI) in Ireland, having just received a promotion after rescuing a kidnapped child, she given the opportunity to put together a special team devoted to working on crimes involving children. Her small team includes: Maggie, a woman who has cerebral palsy and is mostly confined to a wheelchair and her dog Pavlov, who becomes an integral part of the team and a great comfort to Ash. Then there's Danny, a police officer with a short temper. What binds Tessa, Maggie, and Danny as a unique team is that they spent their youth in foster care and “care homes”, which left them with psychological issues.

The story also involves a little girl named Aisling (“Ash”) whose parents are missing. She witnessed part of what happened at their home when her parents were taken in the middle of the night. Her parents are expert distillers, her father in particular being able to create liquor that could rival top brands. What happened to them and why? Will the team be able to find them before it is too late?

This was a great read! If you like crime thillers this is a good one. It was a dark, investigative crime thriller tha kept me invested until the end. Thanks, NetGalley for allowing me the chance to listen to an advanced copy of this book!

Really enjoyed this book. This is one of my favourite authors. I can’t wait for the next instalment. Five stars recommendation

Many thanks to Netgalley and S.A. Dunphy for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I had the opportunity to listen to an audiobook ARC of Little Witness by S.A. Dunphy, and wow! I LOVED this book!

Little Witness is set in Ireland. Little Aisling watched her parents get kidnapped, barely escaping from the kidnappers herself. She hid in an isolated cabin until she was eventually found by authorities and put under protective services. Detective Tessa Burns, a former child witness, has created a new unit focused on helping children victims and witnesses of crimes, and she sets out with her team to help.

I absolutely recommend the audiobook. The narrator did an incredible job, and it made my experience even better. Also, Tessa Burns and her team are three of my favorite characters of all time. S.A. Dunphy did an awesome job of creating three-dimensional characters whom you can’t help but be invested in. The story was full of tension, twists, and mystery, and I truly couldn’t stop listening.

ARC received from Bookouture Audio via Netgalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

"Little Witness: Book 1" by SA Dunphy is an absolute treat to listen to! It's like having a gripping crime drama playing right in your ears. The narrator really brings the characters to life, making you feel like you're right there in the thick of the action.

What makes this audio book stand out is how easy it is to get lost in the story. The pacing is just right, keeping you hooked from start to finish. Plus, the dialogue flows naturally, making the characters feel like old friends.

Dunphy's storytelling shines through in the audio format, painting vivid scenes that play out in your mind as you listen. Whether you're on your daily commute or doing chores around the house, "Little Witness: Book 1" is the perfect companion. If you're a fan of crime fiction, do yourself a favor and give this audio book a listen. You won't be disappointed!

Little Witness opens with DS Tessa Burns saving a young girl who has been kidnapped. It also results in her killing some members of a terrorist gang. She is called in to see the Police Commissioner, who congratulates her and asks her what she wants to do with her career. She becomes DI Tessa Burns and she assembles her own team, a team that will specialize in cases involving children and vulnerable adults. She brings people that she knew from her time in foster care, those with specialized skill sets and they are quickly put to the test.

This is the first book in the DI Tessa Burns series and what a great start it was. Tessa is a great character. Her parents were killed when she was young and she lived in care homes. She became friends with some of the kids who were weaker and picked on showing her compassion and sense of fairness. She brought that into her role while working with the Garda, as well as her number one thing, to be kind. Her team also consists of Maggie as a family liaison officer and her service dog Pavlov and well as DS Danny Murphy, a rather large man, but kind and gentle with one flaw, he has a hair trigger temper. The case they are called in on has to do with a couple who make illegal alcohol. They are taken and their daughter Aisling is found hiding. She is frightened and there is suspicion that she is in danger. I loved how the team rallied around to keep her safe. This case was convoluted and difficult to figure out, especially when there were more victims. The description of the murderers gave no indication of who they could be and their faces were described as made from putty. This book was gripping, twisty and chilling. There were times it moved slower, building up, then it zoomed forward. I enjoyed this book, the team that Tessa put together, the procedures and clues they used to solve the crime and the development of the story. I enjoyed my read/listen of this book, narrated by Melanie MacHugh. She does a great job bringing the characters to life and building the story. I will definitely be looking for more books in this series.

Good read, decently quick read as well. I think I'll recommend it to some of my friends who like this vibe

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this great novel. I absolutely loved this, especially the setting. DI Tessa Burns was an interesting character that I grew to really adore. This story kept me intrigued to the end and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series goes.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I love the task force that Detective Tessa Burns gets up and running. In theory, I think we need more like it. It was intriguing how she selected her team and the chemistry will be solid within the team. The twists and turns, and some backtracking, to find Aisling's parents keep you in suspense and hoping for the best. Detective Tessa Burns is a strong and badass woman and cop! I look forward to more in this series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

"Little Witness" is a great start to a new series. We first learn about the background of DI Tessa Burns and the unsolved murders of her parents when she was a child. Growing up in the foster system, she has a heart for those innocents who are affected by crimes they had no say or involvement in. So when she's given the chance to put together her own task force, she includes one of her closest friends from the foster care system and another adult foster child. Their mission? To advocate for children who are affected by crime and who need someone who can help them through scary situations.

I love the team Tessa pulled together and the mystery they needed to solve was fast-paced and engaging.

My only complaint is a minor one. The child that features in this particular story is 7 years old. Yet, I often felt that her dialogue was more mature than that, both in the language used and the narration employed.

Beyond that, though, I found this to be an excellent story and look forward to future installments in the series.

A fantastic crime novel set in Ireland and the first in a new series.
Tessa, Maggie and Danny make an unusual but dynamic and memorable team. I was really invested in this found family and their experiences while working on the case.
Pavlov the dog was an inspired addition to the team and adorable.
The story opens with a very tense and emotional scene from Tessa's childhood. I dreaded reading what was clearly going to happen to Tessa's parents.
Fast forward to the present time and Aisling is living out a similar experience with her parent's kidnapping but is luckily under the protection of Tessa's team and Pavlov.
This is a very twisty and suspenseful read. I was on tenterhooks a lot of time but especially in the scene where the kidnappers take Maggie by surprise and a resourceful Aisling has to save herself. I have never cheered on a fictional child or a dog so much as I did here.
This was an exciting, page-turner of a book. The audio version was performed wonderfully and elevated my experience of the drama and nail-biting scenes.

Great read! Amazing, dark, investigative crime thriller. This one kept me invested until the end. Thanks, NetGalley for allowing me the chance to listen to an advanced copy of this book.#LittleWitness #NetGalley.

DI Tessa Burns and her small eclectic team set up to help investigate crimes where children are involved have the makings of an interesting series. Having lost her parents as a young child through murder and brought up in a care home, Tessa is well placed to work with children in similar circumstances. In this case a young girl, Ash, escaped when her parents were abducted. This opens up the world of illegal alcohol distillng, sales and quite possibly more.
A lot happened in this book and the backstory for all the leading characters was set up perhaps a little too much. Might have been wiser to drip feed the backgrounds over a number of books. As it stands it appears that we have the next story ready to go and Tessa has found the link that may help her solve her parents murders. This is were it lost me to be honest. When I realised this tread of finding the faceless killers, based on some mythological Irish ghoul, that I confess I’ve never heard of, would weave through this series I decided I would’nt be reading any more.
I was sorry I opted for the audiobook in this case. I found the narration disappointing. To be fair to the narrator she had a significant number of characters to voice and try to differentiate between and she did a decent job of that. However the accent came across as a bit “Orish” for me and pronunciations such as for TUSLA almost unrecognisable.
Having said all that it is worth a read but I couldn’t quite justify that 4th star.

3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and the publishers for this DRC

A dark and thrilling story set in the criminal underworld which finds you holding your breath.
Characters are created with fantastic detail and the twisted tale will leave you reading into the small hours.
Shocking, terrifying and chilling.

Good level of detail.
Interesting story.
A separate story line, Related to the detective herself. Something, which has come almost a classic for every story.
Tessa builds a nice team of different characters, each to use their skills in different aspects of the investigation.
So, let's get started on a detective story.