This book is a bit too long and slow moving at the beginning, but towards the end as the events start precipitating I couldn’t stop listening.
The backstory is very good, although a harrowing one of child sexual abuse by the Catholic Church.
I look forward to reading more books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for letting me review this audiobook.

DI Lottie Parker is the lead investigator on a case unlike anything they have ever seen. Two suspicious deaths are linked together by a unique tattoo on their leg. But as the case unravels these victims are tied to past murders from decades ago. They are also all linked to a former children’s home that has rumors circling that horrible things happened there.

I had high hopes for this book because the plot sounded so interesting. And I think it still is, however it still had some flaws.

The first being it is entirely too long. Over 500 pages for a mystery/thriller is way too much in my opinion. Especially because it was also very slow. It was difficult for me to want to pick it up at times.

I also felt there were too many characters and they wouldn’t be talked about often enough so you might forget who they are when they come back around. I did enjoy the main character towards the end, but there were times I wasn’t a fan and it felt hard to connect with any of the characters.

Everything did wrap up nicely at the end. But I did figure out a good chunk of it except a couple of things. The narrator did a good job with audio version of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio copy of this book!

This is the first book in the series, and I did not know there are already many more that are published. I am not sure if I will be listening to them when they are available to me, only because I found it to be too dark for me. I would also add that I felt like that it drug on a little longer than necessary.

I think there was good character development, and I say that because when characters get on my nerves, that to me says that the writer is doing an excellent job describing them through dialogue, action, and overall essence of them throughout the book.

All of those things aside, I think the book is well written, there is great character development, and the storyline kept me engaged- for 80% of the book. This book needed to come with trigger warnings without a doubt, I would probably not have requested this book if I knew about all the triggers throughout this book- if it hadn't been so heavy and dark I may have been able to handle it. But this book was just too much for me.

This was an excellent book. I was hooked very early on and the author set just the right amount of suspense but not too much that it seemed dragged out. There many facets in this book too that intertwined perfectly at the culmination. Definitely recommend this book and the following in the series! Thank you NetGalley for the audio arc!

Lovely Irish accent on the narration makes listening a pleasure.
The story itself is both heartbreaking and tense. It looks at an orphanage run by Catholic priests and nuns and documents the horrendous abuse that took place. This then ties into a series of violent murders in the present day. Good author and good book

This book was very lengthy! Lottie was a little hard to follow, so much was going on at once I found myself having to go back and re listen to some parts to keep the story lines together.

The plot however was very well written! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a very long book with lots of story lines!

Thank you for letting me read and review

TW for sexual abuse, church abuse, and the type of things that are in the history of church sponsored boarding schools.

This book told an important story that related to real world events in a captivating and well-written fictionalization. Anything that is pointed to in this book could be real, which makes it both a hard read and a good read. I didn't particularly "get" all of the characters, but they were so well-written that even when I didn't understand why they did something as a person, I did in the context of the story.

This book is good for folks who like psychological thrillers, true crime, and a more hard-boiled mystery. It gave me Patricia Cornwall and Kathy Reichs vibes.

Holyyy shit ! I loved this !! You have to love a mystery that you can feel so involved in and feel like you get to work everything out with the detective as wellll as it still not being simple enough that I just guessed and got it right , I got it half right btw haha. But omg was it fun. I loved the characters , even the baddies were just so interesting. The past and present timeline mystery was amazing, the “school” was so fascinating. The writing was really well done and the audio book read it really well! Just the plot and the plot twists was really well done , I can’t wait to read book two from Lottie Parker !

I enjoyed the narration. I am not a fan of Lottie Parker. She was a very irritating character. I thought the way she treated Boyd was ridiculous, she was at times very harsh and abrasive. The plot was interesting but Lottie was not my cup of tea. She is dealing with three teenage kids which is rough but she was very dramatic at times. The plot and the twist were okay but could have definitely been better.

I’ve just finished this audiobook,

Detective Lottie, is investigating the murder of Susan Parker, when another suspicious death happens. What links these 2 victims?
Lottie is also dealing with her own demons and struggles, but tries to put her work 1st. When a 3rd body turns up she feels under pressure to solve the crimes.

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know troubled Lottie. I am looking forward to reading more from this author

I didn't realize I'd read this book 4 years ago, but that was long enough to have forgotten the story and to read it with a blank slate. This was so, so sad. A thriller, yes, but with a really sad backstory. The surprises and connections felt not out of the realm of possibility in real life, which was good. I liked the detective and would read more of her series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I rarely read or listen to Police based Thrillers anymore, I’m pleased I listened to this one.

Lottie Parker is a great main character with plenty of depth, widowed, mother, murder detective. She’s investigating murders which seem to have links back to a former church run orphanage.

There’s pain on the pages. This is deep, dark and bleak, top quality crime writing with a social and historical awareness. The narration by Michele Moran is great, with a wide variety of distinct and convincing character voices.

Highly recommended and I’ll very happily continue with the next in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio

Lottie the main character was really likeable and although it was a heavy subject matter it wasn't over the top desctriptive so no therapy needed! I do enjoy a timeline that switches back and forth although I wish some of the chapters hasn't been so short as it took a lot more effort for me to listen.
I'll definitely be reading more of the series though as I'm keen to know what happens to Lottie and her family in the future.

oh, and I absolutely loved the narrator on the audiobook.

Many thanks to Patricia Gibney, Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the first in the D.I Lottie Parker series. It’s an interesting storyline that will hold your attention - mostly. I felt it was far too drawn out and needs do be way shorter as it felt like it dragged at times. The storyline and characters are well developed for the most part but I’m hoping as the series progresses that Lottie will come into her own as at the moment she isn’t an endearing character and a little all over the place for a main character. The narrator was engaging and did a good job. It has the potential to be a great series as it progresses. I will look forward to the next instalment.

3.5/5 🌟🌟🌟/🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #TheMissingOnes

I recently finished an audiobook that I absolutely loved. The detective, DCI Lottie, investigates a series of murders that have been unsolved for years. The story is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters and story to life. Their voice was expressive and helped me feel like I was right there in the middle of the action.

I'm definitely going to read more books by this author. This was a thrilling and suspenseful read that I highly recommend.

This high quality audio thriller will keep you entertained long after bedtime. The characters are crafted full of dialogue and emotion. Two seemingly seperate atory interwoven to grip you. Another binge listen. This is part 1 and I already love the characters and want to see how things develop with the romance element. The natural flaws were so well narrated. I really enjoyed thus thriller and look forward to the next in the series. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for this highly recommended 5 star listen

The Missing Ones

✨Audiobook Review✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)

Our story follows Detective Lottie Parker and her team as they are called in to solve a murder in a local church. Soon after, another murder takes place at a young man’s home. Lottie soon uncovers that the crimes are connected through the victims' past and current relationships. The investigation leads her team to a former children’s home, which hides many dark secrets. As Lottie uncovers the truth behind the murders, two teenage boys go missing, and time begins to tick even faster before a repeat of the past occurs. Readers will be taken on an interwoven mystery between past and present, where the darkest secrets can always resurface.

Highlights:
⭐️ Interwoven chapters from past and present
⭐️ The plot twists—I never saw them coming!
⭐️ The narrator was engaging and emotional in their reading.

This book, to me, seems like a cozy but thrilling mystery series. I don’t think there were any major pitfalls with the novel. It’s definitely a series I would pick up here and there for a day at the beach or a snowy day for a quick read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

Had a hard time getting into this, even though it’s typically the kind of mystery/thriller I like. I think I’ll give myself some time and try another book in the series to see if it was timing (read something similar recently).

I was delighted to receive an audio ARC of The Missing Ones because I've had lots of great feedback over the years as to how wonderful the Lottie Parker series is.

However it really shows that this is Gibney's debut novel. In my experience good authors improve as they continue their journey so I shall read more of this series despite being irritated by this first novel.

And I'm afraid I was very irritated. I did not like Lottie Parker at all. In fact her lack of empathy and intelligence drove me to distraction. I'm hopeless at whodunnit (even though I really enjoy them) but even I could put two and two together once the main characters were in play.

I confess I was talking back to the recording by a third of the way through and had it 1.5x the speed by the end. Lottie had to be the rudest, most ineffectual detective I've read yet. She flails about accusing everyone who comes within range of committing murder.

There were several parts relating to Lottie's bad attitude that truly angered me but it was nothing to do with the case. And yes I understand she was under pressure and that makes people make mistakes but I finished the book wondering how truly awful the other detectives must be if she were their inspector. I found the answer out later. Yes, all truly hopeless.

Thankfully someone spoon-fed her the answers and the case came to a halt; I breathed a sigh of relief that it was all over and said a little prayer that #2 would be better.

The narration by Michele Moran was excellent though. She had a nice voice to listen to and didn't over-dramatize. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to her and I'd look out for other narrations she's done.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bookoutre Audio for the audio advance review copy.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for an advance copy of this audio.

The premise of this book was so intriguing to me. The first paragraphs were chilling and draws you in right away. Unfortunately, things are revealed extremely slowly and the book is too long. By about 20% I was bored and had no urgency to continue to listen. There was no real sense of urgency in the characters, which made it difficult to stay invested.

Unfortunately, this is a pass for me.