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Little Girls Sleeping

(Detective Katie Scott #1)

Jennifer Chase (Goodreads Author)

4.12 · Rating details · 2,966 ratings · 239 reviews

He looked down at the little girl, sleeping peacefully, her arms wrapped around a teddy bear. He knew he was the only one who could save her. He could let her sleep forever.

An eight-year-old girl, Chelsea Compton, is missing in Pine Valley, California and for Detective Katie Scott it’s a cruel reminder of the friend who disappeared from summer camp twenty years ago. U ...more

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Published May 31st 2019 by Bookouture

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· 2,966 ratings · 239 reviews

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Jun 03, 2019 Luvtoread rated it really liked it

Shelves: suspense, detective-mystery, psychological

Crawling on hands and knees in the man-made tunnel she comes across what appears to be a small grave with a rectangular box and when she pries the box open she gasps.
Laying inside the box is a well preserved body of a little girl holding a teddy bear on her chest with a slight smile on her face and she appears to be sleeping!

Katie Scott is not your average twenty-something young woman.
Katie has just returned home from Afghanistan as a hero and was also a policewoman before she went overseas. ...more

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Aug 09, 2019 Li'l Owl rated it it was amazing

Tick Tick.... The clock is ticking....
The killer has a deadly agenda and will do anything to keep from being caught...including eliminating anyone who gets in the way.

Beautiful black German Shepherd like Katie's dog, Cisco!
description

He stared intently at the soil, then retrieved the pick, gripping it tight, and swung it hard against the dry, heavily compacted earth. It dented the surface, spewing chips of dirt in every direction. A few small rocks buried in the soil since the beginning of time hampered h ...more

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Jun 01, 2019 ABookwormWithWine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, blog-tours, crime-and-detective-fiction, ebooks, netgalley, female-authors, from-the-publisher, kindle-books, murder-mystery-thriller, creepy-undertones

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5 rounded up.

Calling all detective fiction lovers! If you love a strong female lead who just happens to be ex-military turned detective, then Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase is going to be a book you will have to read.

What it's about: Katie Scott has just come back from Afghanistan and is ready to decompress and figure out what her next steps will be. Before the army, she spent two years as a Sacramento PD patrol cop, so when her uncle who is the sheriff of Pine Valley her ch ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5 rounded up.

Calling all detective fiction lovers! If you love a strong female lead who just happens to be ex-military turned detective, then Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase is going to be a book you will have to read.

What it's about: Katie Scott has just come back from Afghanistan and is ready to decompress and figure out what her next steps will be. Before the army, she spent two years as a Sacramento PD patrol cop, so when her uncle who is the sheriff of Pine Valley her childhood home, asks her to help out at his office doing clerical work, she doesn't refuse. She soon finds herself sworn in as a detective after finding a killer's graveyard containing 2 little girls buried in caskets holding teddy bears. She manages to tie these girls to other missing-person's cases and realizes someone has been kidnapping the little girls of Pine Valley for some time. Then another little girl is snatched, and Katie is determined to find the killer, if she can get to him before he kills her . . .

I feel like I was led a bit astray with this book being described as 'compulsive and gripping crime fiction.' While the storyline is certainly interesting and it is definitely crime fiction, I'm not sure I would describe this as gripping, or as having a 'gasping with shock' conclusion. I wasn't really surprised by too much that happened, but I do think Chase did an excellent job throwing suspicion on multiple characters. While some people will be blow away, I just wasn't there, and I thought the ending dragged a bit. Although… the ending did have one quite shocking part that I was not expecting in the slightest.

There is definitely plenty to love about Little Girls Sleeping though! It is a very fast read and it didn't even take me 4 hours to read it. Katie is also a very strong female lead, and I loved her sarcasm and dedication. She has some PTSD from being in the army, and I think the author did an excellent job of making that real and palpable in this book. Katie is a character that you just want to love, along with her dog Cisco. I'm not personally a huge fan of German Shepherd's but they are very smart, and I loved the bond between human and dog in this novel.

Final Thought: Little Girls Sleeping is detective fiction to the max, not to mention the chilling plot with these little girls buried with teddy bears. I just wish it would have been a bit more suspenseful then it turned out, but this is a solid book that many people will enjoy. I would consider this a bit of a slow burn as well, and not necessarily super fast-paced even though it was a quick read for sure and there was lots going on especially as we get further in. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author and of course, more about Detective Katie Scott! I can't wait to see how her story continues.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

NOTE: My full blog tour post can be accessed at https://abookwormwithwine.wordpress.c... ...more

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Jun 01, 2019 Whispering Stories rated it it was amazing

Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in a new series by author and criminologist Jennifer Chase. The plot revolves around Katie Scott who has just arrived home in Pine Valley, California after leaving the Army after a tour of Afghanistan. She is suffering from anxiety and PTSD but is working through her problems with the help of her trusted service dog Cisco who has returned with her and her Uncle who is the local sheriff.

Her uncle offers he Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in a new series by author and criminologist Jennifer Chase. The plot revolves around Katie Scott who has just arrived home in Pine Valley, California after leaving the Army after a tour of Afghanistan. She is suffering from anxiety and PTSD but is working through her problems with the help of her trusted service dog Cisco who has returned with her and her Uncle who is the local sheriff.

Her uncle offers her a job inputting data onto the police computer system whilst Katie decides what she wants to do next with her life. Whilst going through the files she comes across an old cold case of a young girl that went missing four years ago, eight-year-old Chelsea Compton.

Katie has an interest in the case as her best friend when she was at school was taken and murdered and so she knows what the girls family must be going through with no-one being brought to justice. She decides to take on the case herself, covertly, but people start to suspect her of meddling when she starts asking questions.

Can Katie find the answers Chelsea Compton’s family are so desperately in need of and could she be just one of the victims of a serial killer that is choosing young girls as their victims?

My first thoughts about the book were how refreshing it was to have a character who doesn’t always believe in herself and suffers from anxiety. Katie is a brave young woman who has been through a lot whilst serving in the Army. It was her and her service dog Cisco’s job to make sure the paths/roads were clear of bombs and she saw too many of her fellow comrades killed in action.

Throughout the book, we see passages from Katie as she recalls the time spent with her friend who was murdered as a child and her last day with her. There are also chapters from the mind of the killer.

The book moves at a fast pace and there was plenty of action. I can’t really say that I had any clue as to who the culprit was and never really suspected anyone until just before the killer was revealed. As the series title tells you, Katie eventually becomes a detective due to her help with the case and it was lovely to watch her get the recognition she deserved. It wasn’t quite so nice to see her being bullied by officers who had been stationed at Pine Valley longer than her though for doing her job and being more efficient than them.

There is plenty of criminological and forensic language but what else would you expect from an expert criminologist turned author. I also like the twists and turns that were created to keep you on the edge of your seat along with a couple of red herrings thrown in for good measure too.

I am now intrigued to see what author Jennifer chase has for us in book two as I enjoyed spending my time with Katie and can’t wait to see her detective skills again. ...more

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May 28, 2019 Mandy White (mandylovestoread) rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley, z-read-in-2019

Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase... wow! What a fantastic start to what I hope will be a great new series. Katie Scott is a great character and I can see a lot of development of her character to come. And with her partner Cisco, the dog what is not to like! This story didn't not let up and you have to remember to breathe whilst reading it - the pace is quick and so much is going on all the time. I am a fan and will be back for book 2 for sure.

Katie Scott has returned home to Pine Valley, ...more

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Oct 21, 2019 Linda Strong rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-2019, read-in-2019

Looking for a strong female lead in a crime fiction? Meet Katie Scott.. a woman who was a police patrol officer for 2 years before joining the military as a K-9 handler of bomb-sniffing dogs. She suffers from PTSD and along with her dog, Cisco, is trying to figure out what to do next with her life.

Her uncle, a Sheriff in her small hometown has offered Katie a desk job within the force and she happily accepts. All goes well until she stumbles onto a cold case. Four years ago, an eight-year-old gi
Looking for a strong female lead in a crime fiction? Meet Katie Scott.. a woman who was a police patrol officer for 2 years before joining the military as a K-9 handler of bomb-sniffing dogs. She suffers from PTSD and along with her dog, Cisco, is trying to figure out what to do next with her life.

Her uncle, a Sheriff in her small hometown has offered Katie a desk job within the force and she happily accepts. All goes well until she stumbles onto a cold case. Four years ago, an eight-year-old girl disappeared and has never been seen since. The little girl reminds Katie of her own childhood friend who disappeared from summer camp more than twenty years ago.

On her own, Katie begins to investigate and with a lot of thought and using her incredible mind, finds the body of the missing child.

That is the good news. The bad news is that there is a second body found. The girls are both in handmade coffins, dressed in a very pretty dress, and holding a sweet teddy bear.

Katie is fighting against the lead detective who first investigated the disappearance, a man who absolutely hates the fact that the rookie .. who isn't even a detective... has shown him to be inept at his job. She has also found a link to a few more disappearances.

She knows there's a serial killer out there, who has been killing for years with no one any wiser. And the closer she gets to the truth .. the more danger she faces.

Someone has eyes on Katie and will stop her investigation any way they can.

This is a well-written crime mystery fiction with plenty of twists and turns and characters that kept me riveted to the story line. Katie is a terrific character ... she's strong, independent, and doesn't scare easily. The secondary characters are also finely drawn and credible.

This is the beginning of a series and the reader learns a lot about Katie's backstory ... her time in the military and how if affects her today. There are also chapters where the killer's thoughts are out there without hint of who he is. Cisco is one of my favorites ... a well trained German Shepard wtih a personality.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own. I look forward to reading the next offering in this series.
...more

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May 29, 2019 Lou rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the first book in the Detective Katie Scott series by international award-winning crime writer and criminologist Jennifer Chase, and boy does it start with an almighty bang. Ms Chase holds a bachelor's degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice which all lend authenticity and realism to the story; you can just tell that she knows the ins and outs of criminal investigation. Protagonist Katie is an intriguing character who I hope we will learn more a ...more

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Apr 27, 2020 Alan Cotterell rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2020

First book in a a 3 book series (so far). Good strong female lead plus Cisco her German shepherd! Not a bad book, reasonable plot, but for me the pace was a little too slow. Just never quite got going. Also the ending built up nicely then went flat.
Overall not a bad book but not quite up to my expectations. I have the second book already so will read at some point, hopefully picks up.

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Dec 19, 2019 Pat (not getting friend updates currently) rated it liked it

3.5 stars.

I'd read a couple of Jennifer Chase's earlier books from a different series and was quite unimpressed. So, for me, to get another one is unusual. But her books do garner some really good reviews so, in a moment of devil-may-care, I dived in. Yeah I know, and I've been having a break (mostly) from missing children books because there are only so many ways you can convey angst and despair and it gets really old after a while. And a bit samey.

Long story short I read this and found nothin ...more

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Feb 02, 2020 Xavier Hugonet rated it really liked it

Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in the Detective Katie Scott series, by author Jennifer Chase. It is a solid police procedural.

Katie is coming home after two tours in Afghanistan, in a K9 explosives unit. She enrolled to find herself, and now wonders what she’ll do as a civilian. Her former position at Police Patrol of Sacramento is still open however, she decides to extend her leave to spend time in her hometown of Pine Valley, of which her father is the Sheriff. Her goal is to start s Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in the Detective Katie Scott series, by author Jennifer Chase. It is a solid police procedural.

Katie is coming home after two tours in Afghanistan, in a K9 explosives unit. She enrolled to find herself, and now wonders what she’ll do as a civilian. Her former position at Police Patrol of Sacramento is still open however, she decides to extend her leave to spend time in her hometown of Pine Valley, of which her father is the Sheriff. Her goal is to start slow, managing a routine easy clerical job at the sheriff’s office, until she decides what to do next with her life.

While filing cold cases, she stumbles upon an unresolved case of child abduction from four years before. Unhappy with how the investigation has been led, she decides, on her own volition, to work that case from home.

It’s not long before Katie, with the help of her discharged K9 dog Cisco, discovers the kid’s body, plus another one, entombed in an place originally non canvassed by the original investigators.

Having cracked open a serial killings case, Jennifer Chase is then promoted to detective and assigned to what’s now a serial killer task force. This, to the dismay of most of the other detectives, as she has no experience in homicide, and especially of Detective Templeton, primary on the original botched investigation, who she has just humiliated.

She’s going to have to earn the confidence of her partner, and then of all her colleagues, by showing skill, professionalism, and remaining unwavering.

This book shows us a perfect police procedural : Canvassing, knocking on doors, interviewing witnesses again, plugging holes in the initial investigation...

This work will send Det. Scott and Det Templeton on two very different lines of enquiries. This might or might no be an ego contest but, at the end of the line, the life of a newly abducted child, and more, will be in danger.

The style this book is written in is very agreeable. We don’t learn much about the characters. Katie Scott has PTSD and keeps most everything close to chest (A few pages of her « Diary » don’t help us much - and could have be done without). As for relationships and loyalties, however, those form and evolve all along the story.

For the final arc in the story, the author cranks the thrill intensity lever to 11 (this is not Hill St Blues !) which allowed me to disregard a big combo of Deus ex Machina / Lupus ex Machina leading the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Book 2 : Her Last Whisper, is already available. ...more

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May 31, 2019 Robyn rated it it was amazing

Katie Scott is back in her hometown of Pine Valley, California after serving in Afghanistan. Unsure if she wants to go back to being a police officer in Sacramento, Katie takes an admin job at her Uncle’s Sheriff’s department. Here she stumbles on a cold case of a young girl who has been missing for the past four years and reminds of her of a time when she lost a friend during her time in camp when she was a young girl. Doing her own search, she stumbles upon a makeshift grave that link back to Katie Scott is back in her hometown of Pine Valley, California after serving in Afghanistan. Unsure if she wants to go back to being a police officer in Sacramento, Katie takes an admin job at her Uncle’s Sheriff’s department. Here she stumbles on a cold case of a young girl who has been missing for the past four years and reminds of her of a time when she lost a friend during her time in camp when she was a young girl. Doing her own search, she stumbles upon a makeshift grave that link back to other missing girls. But, now a killer has his sights set on Katie and will stop at nothing to get her out of the way. Will Katie solve the case before she becomes a killer’s latest victim?

Wow! What a great start to the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase. The story is engaging and held my attention all the way through. I just could not stop reading this one at all. I stayed up well past my bedtime just so I could find out what happens and who the killer might be. Chase does an excellent job at keeping you guessing right up until the final reveal. While the story is primarily told through Katie’s perspective, we also get glimpses inside the killer’s mind and why he is killing little girls. The story behind the killings slowly unfolds and I was left quite shocked.

Katie is such a standout character. She is pulled in and made detective by her uncle even though the other detectives in the sheriff’s office were not very pleased about it and often gave her a hard time or made her the butt of all the jokes. But, Katie held her ground and stood up to those who tried to bully her into leaving. Katie is definitely not a pushover and can hold her own in any situation. She did not scare easily, but she does have a caring and vulnerable side. She also suffers from panic attacks and PTSD due to her tours in Afghanistan. I am really looking forward to learning more about Katie and it seems as if she may have one or two love interests in upcoming books in the series. Ugh! Which ever guy Katie doesn’t want I will take! HA!

Little Girls Sleeping is an unputdownable heart-stopping crime thriller that keep you reading on well past your bedtime. I am definitely looking forward to following this series and I highly recommend it if you are a fan of crime thrillers. A five star read for me. ...more

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Jun 04, 2019 Samantha Gonsalves rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Why didn't my ignorant self discover Jennifer Chase before!! While good detective thrillers are easy to come by, they hardly leave a lasting impression; great detective thrillers such as this one certainly are rare and leave a long-lasting impression. Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in the Katie Scott series. I found this book to be completely a twisty and engrossing read! Certainly a page-turner!
Detective Katie Scott, a vet back from Afghanistan is uncertain where life's heading as she ...more

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May 10, 2019 Shalini rated it really liked it

A good police procedural by Jennifer Chase. The book had me stuck to it literally all through the day in between my chores. The story was pretty much formulaic.

Little girls kidnapped and were never to be found. Till Katie was appointed. Katie as a war veteran and a cop was shown in a brilliant light. The entire book was from her POV. She was good in her work, she followed the clues diligently. She had great cop instincts, and she never gave up. All that made me admire her throughout the book. S ...more

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Apr 25, 2019 Lely Reads rated it it was ok

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC and the opportunity to provide a review for Little Girls Sleeping.
This read was a struggle for me. Jennifer Chase has very solid ideas for what could be an exciting novel. I was hooked reading the synopsis. However, the execution is seriously lacking. The entire novel felt superficial and disjointed. Character development was non-existent and what we were told about the characters was only surface details. Relationships between the characters w ...more

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May 18, 2019 Louise Wilson rated it liked it

Detective Katie Scott #1

Katie Scott is flying back home after serving two years in the army in Afghanistan, working with the K-9 unit. She takes a temporary job in a sheriffs office doing clerical work. She finds herself investigating the disappearance of eight year old Chelsea Compton, a old case. It reminded Katie of the disappearance and murder of her best friend Jenny, a childhood friend. It took me a few chapters before I got caught up in this story. Katie has a gritty backstory of which I ...more

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Jun 04, 2019 Samantha Gonsalves rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Why didn't my ignorant self discover Jennifer Chase before!! While good detective thrillers are easy to come by, they hardly leave a lasting impression; great detective thrillers such as this one certainly are rare and leave a long-lasting impression. Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in the Katie Scott series. I found this book to be a twisty and engrossing read! Certainly a page-turner!
Detective Katie Scott, back from deployment Afghanistan is uncertain where life's heading as she goes b ...more

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May 29, 2019 Julie Lacey rated it really liked it

This is a great start to a new series.
Katie has just returned from duty in Afghanistan. She has her loyal dog Cisco for company, and her Uncle has fixed up her home, ready for her return.
Katie’s Uncle, the local Sheriff, sorts her out an admin job and whilst going through some papers, she comes across a file for a cold case regarding the disappearance of a young girl who vanished on her way home four years earlier.
Intrigued by the case, Katie decides to look into this further and after search ...more

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May 31, 2019 Els rated it it was amazing

My first book by this author and I loved it for different reasons. Allow me to explain.

First of all I was very pleased that the writer created a story that gave me a creepy feeling throughout the whole book. That's the way I like to feel when reading a thriller. So ten out of 10 here.

I really liked Katie. I admired her strenght and was touched by the relationship between her and her dog. I felt the love, trust and faithfullness they shared. I am an avid dog lover and that why the author gets a p ...more

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Jul 20, 2019 Alayne Emmett rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Oh wow this was a fabulous book to read, it gripped me from the start and with all its twists and turns I just couldn’t figure out who was murdering the little girls.
It was a complete surprise to find out who it was with such a wonderful twist at the end.
When I finished it I felt like I had lost a friend, so, I will be happy to read more of Jennifer’s books in the future.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book for free in return for an honest rev ...more

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May 30, 2019 Elaine Tomasso rated it really liked it

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Little Girls Sleeping, the first novel to feature Detective Katie Scott of the Pine Valley, California Sheriff’s Department.

Katie has just returned home from a military tour of duty in Afghanistan and while deciding whether or not to return to Sacramento PD she takes an administration job with the Pine Valley Sheriff’s department. While there attention is caught by eight year old Cheryl Compton who disappeared four years earli ...more

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Apr 25, 2019 Donna Hines rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, arc

A unique, chilling,& unbelievable crime with several twists that lead to other past crimes being solved.
Wow!
Imagine if you will a young girl 8yo goes missing (Chelsea).
Now imagine that case being solved by a woman who puts her life literally on the line and vows to get justice especially after losing her friend to similar misfortunes 20 yrs earlier.
The hairs on my head stood up with this one as it's such a thrill to learn that in addition to the crime scene being unearthed the scene hold so much ...more

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May 31, 2019 Denise rated it really liked it

"Capture. Protect. Sleep..."

Katie Scott returns home to Pine Valley, California, after serving as part of a K9 team with the US Army in Afghanistan. She was a former police officer with the Sacramento PD, but wasn't sure she wanted to return there. Fortunately, her uncle Wayne Scott, is the Sheriff and he is more than willing to have Katie do some admin duty at the station until she sorts herself out and makes some decisions. Almost immediately, Katie is drawn into a cold case involving a missin ...more

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May 19, 2019 Toni rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs

Great beginning to a new series. Compelling and just wonderful. What a roller-coaster ride!

The characters were really compelling in this. I hated Templeton. What a jerk. I was happy to see the conclusion of that storyline thread manifested at the end. The fact that Katie had been assigned the title of Detective seemed to tick off most of the police force in Pine Valley. Not to mention that the Sheriff was her uncle.

Lots of attacks happened to Katie throughout the book and in the beginning I wond ...more

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May 16, 2019 Bojoura rated it it was ok

Based on the synopsis, it was very promising, exactly the story i would like. Unfortunately i didnt enjoy it. The writing was messy and disjointed. I struggled with the characters, I thought they lacked personality and were one dimensonial. Katie, the main character, could have been so much more given her background. While the ideas behind this book were good and had a lot of promise, the execution didnt work for me. Scenes were not linked together well and Katie didnt seem to have any real reve ...more

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Jun 09, 2019 Pat Simpson rated it really liked it

A new author to me and a new series of books featuring Detective Katie Scott. We learn that Katie has just returned from tours in Afghanistan and she is suffering from PTSD and anxiety but having being reunited with her army dog Cisco helps. She has returned home to Pine Valley, California where her uncle is the local sheriff. He offers her an office bases job inputting police data onto the computer. Whilst doing this she stumbles across a cold case from four years ago where a young girl went mi ...more

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May 29, 2019 Philomena Callan Cheekypee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: loved-it

This is a new to me author and I’ll certainly be looking to read more from her as this was a great read.

Katie Scott has just returned from serving in Afghanistan. She decides to work in admin at her uncles a sheriffs office.

Katie is drawn to a cold case of a missing girl Chelsea. She doesn’t realise the can of worms she’s about to open.

I thought this was a great read that had me on the edge of my seat. I’m glad to say I dint guess who the killer was so that’s a big positive.

I’ll certainly be r ...more

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May 29, 2019 marjorie hall-venmore rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

# Little Girls Speaking #
Wow what a absolutely amazing fantastic read. I was hooked almost as soon as I started this book. I am still trying to pick my chin off the floor. I loved it from page one and couldn’t read the pages quick enough. I did not see the end coming. I can’t wait for this authors new book. You will regret it if you do not read. Awesome

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May 29, 2019 peggy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: crime-thriller, netgalley, psychological-thrillers, action

What a page turner, I read this book in one sitting. There was no way I was putting it down. In places this read had me sat on the edge of my seat and holding my breath. Tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker I HAD TO KNOW!!!!!
As for the explosive climax WOW definitely not who or what I was expecting.
A new author for me and a new series. I can't wait to read more about Katie and her canine partner Cisco. I am a very happy reader. An easy five stars and so Highly Recommended.
I would like ...more

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May 19, 2019 L.S. rated it it was amazing

I love it when I get a heads up on a new series, and with this being the first book in the Detective Katie Scott series I'm convinced it's going to be a winner.

Katie Scott has just returned from serving in Afghanistan, and is met at the airport by her uncle who just happens to be the local Sheriff. Having lost her parents years before, he is the closest family she has left, and theirs is a beautiful relationship - his surprise for her is the best ever: Cisco her service dog, who Uncle has brough I love it when I get a heads up on a new series, and with this being the first book in the Detective Katie Scott series I'm convinced it's going to be a winner.

Katie Scott has just returned from serving in Afghanistan, and is met at the airport by her uncle who just happens to be the local Sheriff. Having lost her parents years before, he is the closest family she has left, and theirs is a beautiful relationship - his surprise for her is the best ever: Cisco her service dog, who Uncle has brought back from Afghanistan, and who is waiting ready to save her life again. (and he does - but I'll say no more)

Unsure about her future, and clearly with some trauma to deal with, Katie - an ex-cop with Sacramento PD herself - now takes on an admin role at her uncle's police station to give herself time to consider her options.

When filing away cold cases, she sees the file for Chelsea Compton and is mentally drawn into the investigation. Chelsea went missing four years ago, and the trail has gone cold. For Katie, it brings back memories of her own friend who was killed twenty years ago during a camping holiday. She has always wondered if she could have done something, even then as a young girl.

So, with the bit between her teeth, she turns her spare room into an investigation zone and quietly draws up a list of people she wants to talk to. Unfortunately, the first person on that list also tells a certain detective, Templeton, the investigating officer at the time, who is not best pleased by her meddling. Keen to cast aspersions on her ability and her relationship with the Sheriff, Templeton goes out of his way to belittle her and sideline her enquiries.

But Katie has more gumption than that, and doesn't take kindly to sitting on the sidelines. When she manages to convince her uncle to let her pursue her investigation, no one expected her to find the body of Chelsea and another young girl during a hike with Cisco (who really should get the credit for luring her into the area where the bodies were found ;) )

Now, the hunt is on to find the killer - The Toymaker - especially when another young girl goes missing.

The story is told from Katie's viewpoint primarily, but is interspersed with chapters dedicated to the killer, where he outlines his motive, his methods and his intention - but never his identity ...until Katie gets too close to the truth.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Katie's character is well-rounded, her past still haunts her and that is evident in her behaviour. Luckily she has the support of her uncle and aunt, as well as Chad, an old friend from her childhood. The interplay between these characters is charming, as they clearly care a lot for her. That doesn't mean to say she has an easy ride, as Templeton is determined to undermine her, and not in the cleverest of ways either!

The descriptions of the area and the crime scenes are strong and pulled me further into the story, and the last few chapters are tense and dramatic.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review. If you're interested in starting a new series based around cold cases with determined and complex characters, then this is for you. ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Nicky Mottram rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible, crime, audio-books

Audio version of this book 📚- Good start to a series though a little far fetched in parts , looking forward to the next one in the series

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About Jennifer Chase

Jennifer Chase

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning author and consulting criminologist. She has authored eight crime fiction novels, including the multiple award-winning Emily Stone thriller series along with a screenwriting workbook.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor degree in police forensics ...more