Quick enjoyable read, thoroughly enjoyed this series and this one did not disappoint. Characters were likeable and the twists and turns kept on coming. Can't wait for the next one in the series. Didn't guess the culprit which was good as kept me guessing until the end
Thank you

Quick read! Lived the twists and thrills throughout it. This book had me hooked from the beginning. I love when there are detectives within the story. Fully feels like I’m part of the case!

The story of a detective sergeant (DS) Karen Hart , another sequel of the series when she solve some crime cases , it's mystery thriller and about the proses of her and her team to solve crimes. If readers have read the previous book they know sofie, Karen friend and teammate were suited and escaped the near death situation where it has some impact on her as well , in this book there is another mystery, Tommy Burton an 11 y boy wich has the rabbit of only gluing himself to his electronic device. Suddenly dissappear when his mother and him tend to spend so.e quality time with each other and only left a blue teddy bear in his seat . The case was so much a crime case 15 y ago when a serial killer name Donaldson did , he kidnapped kids and leave a blue teddy bear in the crime scene as his signature, and DI Morgan saw the case by himself and was worried that what if the same happen cause all the missing children in that case was dead.

The book is not so different than those police crime movies . Some kids missing , the parents panicking and then the journey begins. Though when I proses the book I have to say there is some thing cool about it , Morgan behavior in cases , how Karen was more instinct pendence than fact books, as in she really is sharp when solving crime and more intuitive, though she understand how to combine instinct with observatio, and even though i enjoy how she put each puzzle in the right place and dismantle the crime ,I think there is something missing cause the book is part of a series, it seems like every book only repeat the same steps but different crime .

I prefer more drama in mystery, like I expect more explanation, and more hard work , I like the mystery to take as much time needed ,and with lots of loopholes , but this one seems like easy one , yes there is some serious investigation and Karen, Morgan did have some all focused and ticking time together but I like the kind of books wich even when I tell the story there is still some secret hidden that people would enjoy , like the kind when even if I give a lots of hints the main plot would still be hidden but in this one there isn't like the maze of secrets, not many revelation and only one crime when we focus to solve so I consider the book light mystery. The book is third pov and describes the characters action. Sometimes the dialogs seems too much movie like and it as if you watch a film in a book , many activities seem like adoption and the atmosphere sometimes give a " want to be serious but there is not much i can say" vibe .

I give the plot 3 cause its the least point for mystery and the solving crime part also 3 . The book has some good point like all England vibe and some light banter wich is dry as desert cause the people who made jokes are all police officers with dry humor and strict atmosphere. I also appreciate the mention of not believing people front and many has the depth under them , it specially hilighted In the book that i really liked , like DCI tranmere inside was different from what he shows , it like the book tried to show human complexity and it's really visualized good specially when it arrive at Tommy Burton himself . I can say I liked the book and enjoyed it and it's good thriller. And for the fact of better understanding of Karen and how she reach her position and what she did and came through I think it's good if readers start from the first book

I was chosen as an ARC reader for this book.
This is the ninth book in the Detective Karen Hart series, but it's the first book I've read by this author. The story centers on an 11-year-old boy named Tommy, who disappears right under his mother's nose. Karen and her team are tasked with finding him, and as she investigates, numerous secrets about Tommy and their neighbors are revealed.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I appreciated how the author kept the focus on the story, and the cast of characters was quite likable. I also found it refreshing that there was little to no foul language, especially compared to the true crime novels I typically read. I'm giving it 4 stars because, at times, the pacing felt a bit slow, and it was challenging to get into the story at the beginning, I also feel like ending could've been better.

**Spoiler Alert!**

In my opinion, the novel would have been more thrilling if the ending had been connected to the serial killer referenced in the story. I was hoping for a more twisted conclusion.

Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading this! Thank you for the ARC, oh and I loved the cast so most probably i am gonna be reading other books in this series too!

This book was absolutely fantastic. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family. Kept me on the edge from start to finish its definitely a must have you will not be disappointed

Book nine in the Detective Karen Hart series
A great storyline
Many suspects to keep you guessing
With plenty of twists
Thanks NetGalley

Thanks net galley for this book, I has not read any of this series with D,S,Karen Hart and D.S.Morgan before but it does not really matter and can be read as a stand alone.
The team had investigated a murderer many years ago who had kidnapped young. Boys and left a teddy bear where the.boy had been but he was in prison, the team wondered who knew about the teddy bear. Tommy had been at Tatterhillcastle withhis mother for a day out, but Tommy was miserable he did not want to be there ,all he wanted to do was go home a d spend time on his computer.

The team were then called in to fund Tommy and who knew about the teddy bear.
Will definitely look out for more books by this author

I feel like I really didn’t see this coming as far as who the killer is. Usually something gives it away sooner but this was very well written so it was like a surprise. I’m excited to read others in this series!

I love the DS. Karen Hart series.
This case is a sensitive one for a member of the team, but why?? When 11 year old Tommy goes missing at a county fair, everyone is under suspicion from his family., and his school buddies, but many of them are keeping their own secrets. Karen and Morgan don't have many leads........ but then a former DCI son's name is thrown into the mix. Can they crack the case???? Great read, kept my attention long into the night

Eleven-year-old Tommy Burton has disappeared without a trace, yet the crime scene is eerily familiar and the list of subjects is growing...

I think Leave No Trace is my favorite in the series! Karen and her team are always intriguing to read about, and the author never writes about them in a manner that causes the reader to forget that these are humans we are reading about. I didn't want to put the book down! I was absolutely positive I knew who the bad guy was ... and I was wrong!!

I enjoyed the two cats, too. The descriptions of their personalities were spot-on!

BIG thanks to both #ThomasAndMercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #LeaveNoTrace. This book is #9 in the #DetectiveKarenHart series, with an expected publication date of August 27, 2024.

#DSButler #KarenHartAndHerTeam #MurderMystery

Leave No Trace is the first book which I’ve read from author D.S Butler, but I think the 9th book in the DS Karen Hart series. This is the exact kind of crime thriller I love, and I’m now excited to read everything this author has released!!

Fifteen years ago three boys were abducted, and murdered. Graham Donaldson is the perpetrator, currently serving time for this, despite pleading his innocence.

Eleven year old Tommy Burton is visiting Tattershall Castle to see the Bird of Prey show, but while his mother Amber, takes a phone call from work, Tommy is abducted. In his place, is a small blue teddy bear…the calling card of Graham Donaldson. Could this be a copycat, or did Donaldson have a partner?!!

This is extremely well written, and the police procedure is on point, with detectives Hart and Morgan, along with their team, working around the clock to find Tommy before it’s too late.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it, with my wannabe detective head on.

Thanks to the author, the publishers Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.

This book was impossible to put down. I need to read the rest of the series as well to follow the whole story. This one was a very interesting story to follow until the end. Cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

This was a bit slow for the first third of the book and then a bit rushed at the end. Honestly, the last chapter was unnecessary as it added nothing to the story. Overall, all I liked this book but did not love it. This is a solid detective mystery and had good main character development.

Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas & and Mercer, for the ARC ebook.

I have never read a book in this series, but I did not find it hard to keep up with the characters. A teddy bear is left behind when a young boy winds up missing, reminiscent of a case that happened years ago. Did the boy go willingly or was he kidnapped? Do the police have the wrong man in jail or is this a copy cat case?

A great book that had me reading way past my bedtime. I had no idea who it was which kept the pages turning. Love this series and I won't hesitate to recommend it to all crime genre fans.

Three boys were taken and murdered fifteen years ago. The killer is in jail. So why is history repeating itself?

A family outing to Tattershall Castle comes to a chilling end when eleven-year-old Tommy Burton disappears without a trace in broad daylight. All that remains in his place is a small blue teddy bear. DS Karen Hart and her team are called in to investigate the unusual circumstances—but for DI Morgan the crime scene is eerily familiar.

It’s been fifteen years since Morgan worked on a traumatic case that saw Graham Donaldson put behind bars for abducting and murdering three young boys. His calling card: a blue teddy bear left at the scene of each crime, a detail never revealed to the press or public. Could Donaldson, recently transferred to a local prison, have something to do with the missing boy? Has he somehow inspired a copycat? Or, worse, is the original killer still out there—and embarking on a second campaign of terror?

With Tommy still missing, and a growing list of suspects, Karen’s team must piece the puzzle together before the unthinkable happens. But as a dizzying chase for the truth unfolds, could it be that the evil they seek is hiding in plain sight?

Three boys were taken and murdered fifteen years ago & the killer is in jail. So why is history repeating itself? A family outing to Tattershall Castle comes to a chilling end when eleven-year-old Tommy Burton disappears without a trace in broad daylight. All that remains in his place is a small blue teddy bear. DS Karen Hart and her team are called in to investigate the unusual circumstances but for DI Morgan the crime scene is eerily familiar. It’s been fifteen years since Morgan worked on a traumatic case that saw Graham Donaldson put behind bars for abducting and murdering three young boys. His calling a blue teddy bear left at the scene of each crime, a detail never revealed to the press or public.
The ninth outing for Karen & the team & another riveting read, the characters have depth & there’s some humour in the banter which lightens the book. I love how the main characters have developed over the series but it’s also possible to read this on its own. I did feel this book started slowly & the pace increased until there was no way I was going to put it down until all was revealed
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

While this is number 9 in a series, a series with a great subplot, it works perfectly well as a standalone, though personally I like that I know the main characters and enjoy the ‘catch up’ with them.
This is a great read. It starts when an eleven-year-old boy goes missing and the resulting race against time to find him, but boy does the investigation uncover way more. Loyalties are tested, we are led down blind alleys and there are many many twists before the villain is uncovered.
Another great addition to this excellent series.

4.5 stars - This is the ninth book in the Detective Karen Hart series and in this book, a boy goes missing during an outing with his mother. It looks like it could be the work of a copycat criminal from an investigation years before. Now, it's up to Karen and her team to find out who really took this boy before it's too late.

I love this series and have read all of the prior books. I really like the main character, Karen, for her integrity and dedication to her career. Karen and the way she and her team work together is the highlight of this series. They have realistic banter and even when they disagree, they back each other up. It was nice seeing DC Sophie Jones able to contribute to the investigation. I was on the edge of my seat as the team was searching for 11-year-old Tommy Burton, but finding dead ends. I kept changing my mind about who was really responsible but in the end, I guessed wrong! I like the way things wrapped up in this fast-paced, suspenseful read and really hope there are more coming in this well-written procedural thriller series.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC copy.

We are FIRM D.S. Butler and Detective Karen Hart fans in this house, and LOVED the fact that I had just finished number 8 and could jump into number 9.

Easily one of the best Police procedural series on the market at the moment, with as much of this seeming to be the truth in terms of the line of work. It could easily lead to an ITV Sunday evening drama series.

Butler LOVES a red herring - and Im not even mad at this point because I crave them in this series. Think you know? Think again.

I have always felt that the Karen Hart series can be read as a stand alone. I think you might miss some character developments, but not enough to make the series unreadable.

I look forward to the next instalment of the Karen Hart saga!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the advance copy of this compelling police procedural by D S. Butler. I am pleased to be introduced to the tense, exciting Detective Karen Hart series. Despite being the ninth book, it worked flawlessly as a riveting standalone, with only a few short references to previous events that did not interfere with the story's flow. I am eager to read some of the earlier books and future additions to the series.

Eleven-year-old Tommy Butler reluctantly goes on a day excursion with his mother to Tattershall Castle. He would prefer to be at home playing video games in his room. Tommy disappears while his mother is momentarily distracted.
Where Tommy was standing, a blue teddy bear was left in his place. DS Karen Hart teams up with DI Morgan to search for the missing boy.

Morgan realizes how sinister the possible abduction is and the great danger to Tommy. Fifteen years earlier, he had worked on a case where three young boys were taken on separate occasions. Blue teddy bears were left where they were last seen. All three boys were found murdered. DI Morgan worked on these cases, and Graham Donaldson was found guilty and incarcerated. The teddy bear clue was never released to the press or public. Does Donaldson have an associate outside the prison now committing similar crimes? Is there a copycat, or did Morgan arrest the wrong man who has been in jail these many years? Did Tommy run away?

Karen Hart and Megan are dedicated detectives but seldom agree on their methods. DI Morgan adheres rigidly to police rules, whereas DS Karen follows hunches and intuition. They have come up with several possible suspects. Their investigations complement each other. The present abductor would need to be aware of the unpublicized teddy bears left by the perpetrator fifteen years earlier. To copy this clue in the present, the suspect would have known details about the last child murders. Did any or all of the present suspects gain this secret information? By what means? What was the motive? Had Tommy done something to place his life in jeopardy? The detectives frantically try to solve the crime before Tommy's life in captivity ends with his death.

The plot was suspenseful, intense, and well-written. The characters were intriguing, and their dialogue was believable. Recommended. The book will be published August 27th.