A great start to this new series! The main protagonist, Tessa Burns, is a courageous, driven, and complicated woman fighting to overcome the affects of seeing her parents murdered as a child.

A fast-paced read that grabs you on the first page and is powered by non-stop action and a taut, emotional narrative His well-developed characters and wonderful writing style, full of twists and turns, will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page, trying to anticipate where this story would go. This is a definite page-turner that I couldn’t put down until the very last page. It is realistic with engaging characters that you're sure to love! I am anxious to see how the rest of this series unfolds!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Seven-year-old Aisling Connolly was there when her parents were taken; but she ran and ran. She is found by the police and meets Detective Tessa Burns. A former child-witness herself, Tessa understands what Aisling has been through, and that Aisling must remember everything she can about that terrible, dark night if she’s to save her parents. Something Tessa was unable to do for her own parents all those years ago.
As the little girl slowly starts to open up, Tessa uncovers much more than she’d bargained for – another murder, clearly a horrific warning to Aisling not to speak. But time is running out, and any hope of finding Aisling’s parents alive is rapidly fading. And Tessa must do everything in her power to ensure the little girl isn’t next…

This was a totally gripping, fast paced rollercoaster ride of a thriller. I really enjoyed the idea of the police working with children as witnesses and seeing how this played out.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in this book were amazing and they are part of such a wonderful team. I really loved how Tessa created her own band of misfits within the police force to create a team who investigates crimes involving children. The events of this book were gripping and the story was great. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to Bookouture Audio, NetGalley, author S.A. Dunphy and narrator Melanie MacHugh for an excellent experience with this advance copy of Little Witness. This is book 1 in the DI Tessa Burns series set in Ireland series and I was blown away. It was fantastic. Tessa and her team are called to a crime scene where a 7 year old appears to be the only survivor in a horrific situation. Her parents are members sing and quite possibly dead but everything in Tessa tells her that she has to keep looking. She was the only survivor to a similar crime as a child and never found out who killed her parents and she is determined to not let that happen again. Soon she finds there are people that want to make sure the little girl never survives and worse they know what happened to Tessa’s parents but will she find out? This looks to be a very exciting and emotional series and I love the setting. The characters are fresh and I adore that there is a service dog in this series. Having had two myself I love it when I find great books that utilize great characters with disabilities and their use of service animals. It’s very refreshing these days. Kudos to this wonderful author for a job well done!!🥰

This is my first book by this author. I read (listened to) the Audio version of the book.

At first I struggled a little with the Irish accent as I am not used to it. But once I got into it a little further I became used to it It was much easier after that.

Quite a bit of time is spent at the start is spent explaining how the special group assigned to helping children came about. The members of the group are all introduced at this time also. It became clear as the story went on how important this set up was.

Their first case involves a girl found after her parents disappeared. I really liked the parts of the book that centered around her. I wasn't as interested in the moonshine production aspect of the story. I did want to know what happened to her parents and why.

I love the quirky characters. The selected members of the of the group may seem an odd choice at first , but they all have their important place in the group. There is even a dog among them.

Although it took me a while to get into this one, I'm glad I did. It ended up being a good one.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the arc.

S.A. Dunphy, Pseudonym (Shane Dunphy) is back with a riveting new cop procedural Irish crime series starring DI Tessa Burns #1, LITTLE WITNESS. When parents go missing/abducted, only a frightened child can help Tessa and her team solve this case before it is too late!

Set in Dublin (County Monaghan), DI Tessa handpicks her new team, heading up a specialized police unit helping children after her bravery and work previously.

A little seven-year-old girl, Aisling (Ash) Connolly, is found hidden away in an isolated cabin in a shipping container on the edge of her farm after her mum told her to run and not look back. She is traumatized and frightened. It has been two days since the men came and took her parents away. She has not seen them since.

Detective Tessa Burns is the perfect one to help Aisling since she was also a former child witness. She understands and sympathizes with her, but at the same time, she knows the little girl must remember and recall everything about that horrible night to save her parents. Will she open up and speak before it is too late?

Tessa could not do this for her parents many years ago. Tessa is also ex-army and choose a diverse team. Maggie, a family liaison officer in a wheelchair suffering from Cerebral Palsy, and her dog, Pavlov. Also, Danny (the Hulk protector) is a troubled cop with a short fuse.

All of them spent their youth in foster care and care homes, leaving them relatable and helpful with their own traumas and psychological demons.

The girl's parents, Joe and Daisy Connolly, have been tmeaken—trading in the illegal distribution of Poitin. Other families involved have also been taken and wind up dead. Daisy is the daughter of Jim Reville, an enforcer for the Shiggins Mafia out of Tallaght.

Poitín, anglicized as poteen or potcheen, is a traditional Irish distilled beverage. Former common names for Poitín were "Irish moonshine" and "mountain dew".

The team is patient and caring, taking special care and building trust to get her to open up, as she is vital to finding her parents and helping others. There are other murders and crimes, so they must protect Ash with a race against the clock in this gripping psychological Irish crime thriller.

Will Tess, Maggie, Danny, and Pavlov find the Faceless Men and the Unattested—bring them in and the people who controlled them to justice in time?

LITTLE WITNESS is well-written and gripping, with a great cast of diverse characters starring in this new series! Tessa is a highly relatable main character with her traumatic history. She also had hidden after her parents were murdered, and they were never caught, winding up in the foster system.

AUDIOBOOK: I read the book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Melanie MacHugh, bringing the story and the characters to life with her lovely Irish accent and perfect voice for all characters.

AUTHOR: The author's bio is highly impressive, and he is a pro (insider) with a background in child protective services, making the novel almost like a true crime written with expertise and sensitivity. I also enjoyed the author's notes, his journey, and his inspiration behind the novel and its dedication. There are notes on the illegal distilling trade in Ireland and further reading.

LITTLE WITNESS is well-plotted, atmospheric, intense, emotional, full of action and suspense— a fantastic Irish crime psychological suspense thriller, cop procedural, and an excellent start to a new series. I also enjoyed Ash's character, the team, and the dog. Sometimes, it takes a child's view to make your day!

BOOK #2: Stay tuned for Only the Children out Feb 12, 2024 (DI Tessa Burns #2), with a lead-in to three kids on board a vessel. (Extract Included). Also, in e-book and audiobook with the same narrator. It is coming up next for me! My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more.

Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for gifted ALC and ARC review copies and the intro to this newfound talented author.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 12, 2024
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DI Tessa Burns and her task force are on a mission to unravel the mystery of the disappearance of Daisy and Joe Connolly, a married couple.

Before they were taken, their seven-year-old daughter Aisling was given instructions by her mother to run and hide. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that there is more to this case than meets the eye.

While the book did not keep my attention throughout, I found myself drawn to Tessa and her team, as well as little Aisling (Ash).

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with a complimentary audio copy of this book.

Little Witness by S. A. Dunphy is quite a ride! It begins with a haunting crime scene and peaks your interest right away!

Detective Tessa Burns was raised in foster care due to her parents being murdered. She witnessed the murder. She knows how it feels to be a frightened and alone with no one she can trust. So, as an adult she dedicates her life to helping child victims.

When a 7 year old girl is found hiding and her parents missing, Tessa is determined to protect the girl and find her parents.

Tessa has a special team of police to help her. Her team is made up of two other foster care children from her past, Danny and Maggie. As adults they have their own strengths and weaknesses and Tessa knows how to put them to use.

I love that Maggie, who is a child advocate, uses a wheelchair and is a fierce, self defense teacher. She teaches other wheelchair users how to defend themselves. She also has a her own police dog dog that never leaves her side.

Danny is a giant of a man who constantly worries that his overwhelming size scares people. He has a quick temper but loves classical music.

The team goes through many intense and dangerous situations while trying to find the parents and protect the girl. All the while there is quite a humorous banter between the team. They made me laugh and kept me on my toes!

It is a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat right up until the end. And who can’t like a tough detective like Tessa, who wears Tenacious D shirts and listens to 80’s rock and roll!

TW: offensive language, violence and murder.

Many thanks to S. A. Dunphy and Bookouture Audio for the ARC via NetGalley!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for approving my request for this audiobook!
I've been in the mood for a thriller/mystery for awhile now and have had my eyes on this one. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

Let me start by saying the narrator was fantastic! I loved that she was Irish, and as an American reader, it allowed me to feel more fully immersed in the story with her voice and cadence in speech. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. From the beginning, there was a lot of jumping around and I was confused by what was happening or if we were even in the same timeline. By the first quarter of the book I began to feel a bit more connected and to enjoy it more, but we were still jumping from POV to POV which felt odd considering I thought originally the story was going to be focused on two characters, the witness, Ainsley, a little girl, and Tessa, the main detective.

I think I gravitate more towards emotionally driven books, and this one seemed more focused on the process of the detectives finding the criminals rather than the effects of trauma on the young witness. It is well written and I'm sure others will enjoy this, but it just wasn't for me.. I really enjoy psychological thrillers, but I think this mystery/detective-type books isn't something I enjoy. I am sure if you like this genre, it will be a great read. It was very atmospheric and it's the first in a series, which is really fun for these types of stories, so if you enjoy them, please jump in and read for yourself.

Ah I enjoyed this Irish police procedural so much! Not just an action packed thriller with the two main female "don't mess with me" protagonists, the storyline was sound and the character building on point. This audiobook had me on the edge of my seat and I listened to it in one day!

This is the first book in the DI Tessa Burns Series and I am very keen to read/listen to Only the Children. The narrator, Melanie MacHugh was fabulous and really brought the characters to life!

Thanks again to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an ALC of Little Witness. Expected publication date is 12/2/24

Little Witness by S.A. Dunphy introduces DI Tessa Burns and her investigative unit. Once I became accustomed to the narrator’s Irish accent, I became engrossed in the storyline and thoroughly enjoyed the book. The author does an excellent job of developing the main characters and keeping the action moving at a good pace. Generally, I prefer not to begin a series because I feel obligated to continue with the books even if the characters are unbelievable. In this case, I am eager to continue following the work of the Burns detective unit.

Detective Tessa Burns has to gain the trust of seven-year-old Aisling after her parents turned up missing. Why the child was able to run away and stay hidden for a couple of days is a mystery to Tessa and her fellow officers. As she slowly brings Aisling out of her shell, Tessa hopes that the child will be able to provide any evidence as to what happened to Aisling's parents.

Aisling did not speak at first. However, the more Tessa is able to get Aisling to open up, the more Tessa discovers. In fact, there was a murder most recently, and Tessa fully understands the child's fear. Keeping Aisling safe is just as important to Tessa as to discovering the killer and what has happened to her parents.

This first book in the DI Tessa Burns series was an excellent read. In fact, having this book as an audiobook was quite enjoyable. The series is set in Ireland and the accents and voices really made this story come to life.

This story was definitely intriguing, especially as the reason for Aisling's parents disappearance was discovered. Also, I loved the characters in this book. Not only were Tessa and Aisling strong protagonists, I also loved wheelchair-bound Maggie, a family liaison officer and her dog Pavlov.

I loved this book, as well as the second book in the series, Only the Children, which is released alongside this book, The Little Witness. These enjoyable reads leave me eager for the next book in the series.

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

Little Witness by SA Dunphy – the first in the DI Tessa Burns series. I enjoyed this audio book and as its set in Ireland the narrator has a lovely Irish accent.

Detective Inspector Tessa Burns has recently received a promotion and she now heads up a special team which is devoted to crime involving children. She recruits two people to join her team: Danny, a police officer with a heart of gold but a short temper; and Maggie, her friend who is in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy (and her furry companion Pavlov). All three of them grew up in foster care and Tessa thinks this will give them better insight for the special team.

The first case is where a young girl, Ash, has been found hiding in her parents’ illicit whiskey distillery while her parents were kidnapped. Ash is the only witness and the team try to jog her memory to get any clues as to who kidnapped her parents.

At the end of the story one of the characters tells DI Burns something about her past and you know that book 2 will be following up that intrigue.

Little Witness

This was my first read from S A Dunphy. I was Lucky enough to be approved for the audio version from Netgalley.

This one had me hooked from the first line, and the experience was just enhanced by the beautiful Irish lilt of Melanie MacHugh.

Tessa after bravely putting herself in danger and rescuing a child, she is offered a promotion and a chance to head up her own team. Tessa wastes no time compiling a small but efficient team which will specialize in helping children. Tessa’s team consists of Maggie, her oldest friend and child psychologist, and Danny, a young man with a big body and even bigger heart, and Maggie's trusty dog Pavlov.

Thrown into their first case when a couple is missing leaving their small daughter in a storage container on their property, Tessa, Maggie, Danny and Pavlov have to not only keep the little girl safe but have to find her mum and dad before time runs out.

I really enjoyed this book, there was fantastic character progression and the story kept me gripped throughout
I loved the strength shown by all characters and with them all having unresolved traumas they felt like real people.

Looking forward to the next installment of this one
Thank-you to Netgalley, Bookouture and of course the Author for allowing me early access to this one, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Another intriguing story.
In this one we have DI Tessa Burns trying to solve a crime, while keeping the victims (hopefully) alive.
Aisling (Ash) was found unharmed by the police, but her Mom and Dad have vanished...and she knows that they were taken. Being as Tessa was involved in a horrible murder scene as a child, she totally feels for this child. AND, being as she has just been promoted...she is going to do her best to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Through pieces of info obtained from Ash, as well as terrific investigative skills, they begin to form a story and start to try to figure out what exactly is going on...
But will Ash’s parents still be alive??

Gripping page turner, set in UK (Ireland), with twists and turns...and some gory stuff too...but quite enjoyable overall.
And what a smart little girl Ash is!! 😮

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due out on 2/12/24.

#TheLittleWitness by #SADunphy and narrated beautifully (with a british accent) by #MelanieMacHugh.

Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club @ Book Reviews With Elaine.

Thanks so much for reading!📚⭐️📖

Aisling Connolly has been found several days after the abduction of her parents. The seven year old is terrified that the men will be back for her. Detective Tessa Burns takes her under her wing. After all she was a child witness herself so understands what Aisling is going through.
The police must tease information from the child to help find her parents without traumatising the child.
The fact that an Irish narrator was used for this audiobook brought the story to life. A great read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy .

DI Tessa Burns sets up a new Unit and when Aisling Connolly is found she must do all she can to protect the little girl while trying to find and rescue her missing parents. Gangsters, kidnap, murder, illegal distilling, faceless men and lots of action.

Really enjoyed this well written and well narrated novel ( I listened to the audiobook). Good, strong characters and twisting plot line. Well paced novel with a heart.

Gripping Irish novel, enjoy.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator’s accent! I could understand her very well and she made slightly different voices for the characters. I loved Tessa’s team, especially Maggie and Pavlov- I thought they were all well balanced for each other. I loved the way the book had different POVs so you got a full story through it all. Very good start to a new series, I will definitely be reading more. Highly recommend for crime fiction lovers!

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the audiobook of Little Witness.

Somethings I loved:
Capturing storyline - Aisling Connolly is found by the police, alone, cold - where are her parents?
Shorter chapters. Helped with listening as I could listen to a little at a time and not need 45 minutes to finish one chapter like some novels.
Characters with disabilities.
Good pace and action!

Things I didn't like:
The narrator kept the same voice for the entire novel, which works for some. But it was difficult to distinguish different characters and there was definitely different POVs which made it a little difficult to follow.
A lot of back story to get through.

Overall this was a good detective thriller. I didnt "love" it but it was good.

I enjoyed this book. I think I would have liked it even more in print form. I struggled to follow along a bit with the audio version just because there were so many characters and the narrator didn't change her voice that much to make it clear there were different people talking. You had to really remember names and characters in a way that reading it might have been easier for me.

The story though was interesting and different. I felt the book moved along but didn't feel predictable or give the ending away too early. Up until the end of Part 4, beginning of Part 5, I had no idea who had taken Ash's parents.

I will be reading the next in the series as I found Tessa, Danny, & Maggie really likeable. I want to see how things unfold for them as a team. I just will read it next time as I think I absorb more of it that way.