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Detective Gaby Darin #4
Lost Souls
A MISSING GIRL. A RACE AGAINST TIME.
Ten-year-old Elodie Fry vanishes overnight, along with a rucksack filled with her meagre belongings. Acting DI Gaby Darin and her team are fighting the clock to reunite Elodie with her distraught mother – but was Elodie kidnapped or did she run?
Later that day, a local undertaker uncovers a nasty surprise: the remains of an unidentified second adult among a late pensioner’s ashes. Torn between the two investigations, Gaby decides the gruesome discovery at the crematorium must wait – the team are desperate to find Elodie before they lose her trail.
But as she follows the evidence, Gaby realises the two cases have a sinister connection… and there’s a killer on the loose.
Can Gaby find the missing girl alive… or is she already too late?
Full of twists and turns, this gripping thriller will keep you hooked to the end. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, LJ Ross and D.S. Butler.
Ten-year-old Elodie Fry vanishes overnight, along with a rucksack filled with her meagre belongings. Acting DI Gaby Darin and her team are fighting the clock to reunite Elodie with her distraught mother – but was Elodie kidnapped or did she run?
Later that day, a local undertaker uncovers a nasty surprise: the remains of an unidentified second adult among a late pensioner’s ashes. Torn between the two investigations, Gaby decides the gruesome discovery at the crematorium must wait – the team are desperate to find Elodie before they lose her trail.
But as she follows the evidence, Gaby realises the two cases have a sinister connection… and there’s a killer on the loose.
Can Gaby find the missing girl alive… or is she already too late?
Full of twists and turns, this gripping thriller will keep you hooked to the end. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, LJ Ross and D.S. Butler.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2021
About the author
Jenny O'Brien
30 books206 followersHi and thanks for stopping by.
I took up writing about twenty years ago when I first came up with a plot for a book, and I haven't stopped since. When I’m not writing, I’m ferrying around 3 teenagers or working as a nurse. I’m also an all-year-round sea swimmer.
I write what I love to read, which is romance and thrillers.
My next release, out February, 2026, is The Resistance Knitting Club, a World War 2 historical novel set in Guernsey, the UK and France. I am currently working on my third WW2 novel.
If you like my writing please get in touch - my social media links are below (I’m rarely on Goodreads so it’s best not to drop me a message here). I also have a newsletter, which you can sign up to via my website.
Jenny O
Facebook: Jenny O'Brien Guernsey Writer
Twitter: scribblerjb
Instagram: scribblerjb
I took up writing about twenty years ago when I first came up with a plot for a book, and I haven't stopped since. When I’m not writing, I’m ferrying around 3 teenagers or working as a nurse. I’m also an all-year-round sea swimmer.
I write what I love to read, which is romance and thrillers.
My next release, out February, 2026, is The Resistance Knitting Club, a World War 2 historical novel set in Guernsey, the UK and France. I am currently working on my third WW2 novel.
If you like my writing please get in touch - my social media links are below (I’m rarely on Goodreads so it’s best not to drop me a message here). I also have a newsletter, which you can sign up to via my website.
Jenny O
Facebook: Jenny O'Brien Guernsey Writer
Twitter: scribblerjb
Instagram: scribblerjb
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 20, 2021
Lost Souls is the fourth instalment in the Detective Gabriella ”Gaby” Darin series, set in North Wales. It's July in Colwyn Bay and Elodie ”Ellie” Fry has recently broken up for the school summer holidays and is only a fortnight in when she decides to head down the garden to the head to look for a ball to play with despite being told by her mother not to venture in there. After unexpectedly experiencing something inside that terrifies her so much she leaves home in the middle of the night with a rucksack believing she can never return, Ellie sets off with Ted the teddy bear, a book, a few quid and as many lightweight food items as she can carry, a steak knife for safety, a wind-up torch and a few other items. On her way out of the door, she draws a heart on a Post-it note and sticks it to the kettle; her last sentiments. Fast forward to Monday 3 August and in Rhos-on-Sea, Acting DI Gaby Darin is in charge of the North Wales Major Incident Team at St Asaph Police Station since her DC, Owen Bates had recently taken paternity leave. She's about to sit down for breakfast when she receives a call from DC Jax Williams informing her about Elodie’s disappearance. It's all hands on deck; they immediately head to the Sea View estate, the largest housing development in Colwyn Bay to interview her mother and a quickly assembled search party is out scouring the neighbourhood, but in number 312, the forty-something Anita Fry looks dumbfounded. Time is of the essence if Ellie is to be located safely and so ensues a race against time for the 10-year-old. Why would such a young child seemingly willingly run away from a place she presumably felt safe?
PC Diane Carbone had been given the Herculean task of watching CCTV camera footage from in and around Colwyn Bay and Llandudno and she had caught a fleeting glimpse of Ellie walking along Greenfield Road at 3:01 AM. A short time later, a problem arises at Welsh Hills Memorial Gardens, the local crematorium. Groundsman Martin Penrose had found something unexplainable and extremely disturbing that warranted investigation when he was cleaning out the furnace on a Saturday evening after a burning; he had found three metal hip replacements and unless someone has been going around North Wales on three legs, there is an issue. This also coincides with a smattering of elderly people going missing. The third case brought to the police’s attention on that same first Monday in August is the vanishing of 80-year-old Barbara Matthews who had received an impromptu visitor in a grey pinstripe suit at her home, Wisteria Cottage, in Deganwy Quay before she vanished. Can the police find those who are missing and work through several connections that link the cases together? This is a compulsive and absorbing multithreaded mystery set against a quaint rural backdrop and peopled with an idiosyncratic cast. With a sadistic killer on the loose, the story becomes very cleverly woven and with few clues the team must dig deep in more ways than one. Protagonist Gaby is a hardworking, tenacious detective, and there is just the right amount of twists, turns and red herrings throughout to truly pull the wool over your eyes. It’s a tale of two lost souls on a road trip across North Wales, with Gaby Darin and her team hot on their heels.
PC Diane Carbone had been given the Herculean task of watching CCTV camera footage from in and around Colwyn Bay and Llandudno and she had caught a fleeting glimpse of Ellie walking along Greenfield Road at 3:01 AM. A short time later, a problem arises at Welsh Hills Memorial Gardens, the local crematorium. Groundsman Martin Penrose had found something unexplainable and extremely disturbing that warranted investigation when he was cleaning out the furnace on a Saturday evening after a burning; he had found three metal hip replacements and unless someone has been going around North Wales on three legs, there is an issue. This also coincides with a smattering of elderly people going missing. The third case brought to the police’s attention on that same first Monday in August is the vanishing of 80-year-old Barbara Matthews who had received an impromptu visitor in a grey pinstripe suit at her home, Wisteria Cottage, in Deganwy Quay before she vanished. Can the police find those who are missing and work through several connections that link the cases together? This is a compulsive and absorbing multithreaded mystery set against a quaint rural backdrop and peopled with an idiosyncratic cast. With a sadistic killer on the loose, the story becomes very cleverly woven and with few clues the team must dig deep in more ways than one. Protagonist Gaby is a hardworking, tenacious detective, and there is just the right amount of twists, turns and red herrings throughout to truly pull the wool over your eyes. It’s a tale of two lost souls on a road trip across North Wales, with Gaby Darin and her team hot on their heels.
April 15, 2021
Gaby Darin is back in this 4th installment of this detective series. This book starts off on what Gaby assumed would be a regular Monday, however; little did she know she would be in the middle of not one but two cases. First, you have Elodie Fry, a 10-year-old-girl who disappears. No one knows the reason for her disappearance and Gaby is racing against time to find her before it is too late. Not only is she dealing with Elodie Fry, but now there have been some mysterious things happening over at the local crematorium involving older people. Will she be able to solve both cases without serious repercussions?
The author does a great job of not revealing to much at a time so that you continue to guess what might be taking place. Darin is the perfect character to play the protagonist in this series, she is courageous, confident, and persistent. All of which aid her in her position as a DI in a police force.
I really love this series and cannot wait for the next installment of the story.
Special thanks to netgalley for my Arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
The author does a great job of not revealing to much at a time so that you continue to guess what might be taking place. Darin is the perfect character to play the protagonist in this series, she is courageous, confident, and persistent. All of which aid her in her position as a DI in a police force.
I really love this series and cannot wait for the next installment of the story.
Special thanks to netgalley for my Arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 25, 2021
Awesome! The plot of this fourth in the series thriller is twisted! As the title suggests, we meet a few young lost souls along the way. DI Gaby Darin goes from strength to strength. I enjoyed the plots weaving together and the subplot interest of Gaby's new love interest. I also enjoyed the chapter titles telling me what date and time things happened - blimey, crime is fast-paced, and the police force doesn't get a minute to breathe.
June 13, 2021
Lost Souls is the fourth instalment in Jenny O'Brien's Detective Gaby Darin series set in North Wales.
July in Colwyn Bay heralds the start of the school holidays for Elodie Fry. Bored, she goes to play in the garden then decides to take a peek in the shed, looking for a ball to play with despite being told by her mother not to venture in there. Something there terrifies her so much that she leaves home with a rucksack believing she can never return.
In early August, sitting down to breakfast in Rhos-on-Sea, Acting DI Gaby Darin is in charge of the North Wales Major Incident Team at St Asaph Police Station since her DC, Owen Bates had recently taken paternity leave. She takes a call from DC Jax Williams about Elodie’s disappearance. The team immediately head to the Sea View estate at Colwyn Bay and scramble together a search party and so begins a race against time for the missing 10-year-old.
With its fast pacing, there is always plenty going on and there is certainly never a dull moment! Jenny O'Brien knows how to write a story that is compelling and entertaining with characters that are not easy to love but fit with the story very well. I really enjoy Gaby's personality traits - particularly her brashness and astuteness. The author's clever writing, revealing little tidbits and morsels here and there, continued to wow me, resulting in my refusal to put this book down until the end! I'm already excited and eager for book five. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July in Colwyn Bay heralds the start of the school holidays for Elodie Fry. Bored, she goes to play in the garden then decides to take a peek in the shed, looking for a ball to play with despite being told by her mother not to venture in there. Something there terrifies her so much that she leaves home with a rucksack believing she can never return.
In early August, sitting down to breakfast in Rhos-on-Sea, Acting DI Gaby Darin is in charge of the North Wales Major Incident Team at St Asaph Police Station since her DC, Owen Bates had recently taken paternity leave. She takes a call from DC Jax Williams about Elodie’s disappearance. The team immediately head to the Sea View estate at Colwyn Bay and scramble together a search party and so begins a race against time for the missing 10-year-old.
With its fast pacing, there is always plenty going on and there is certainly never a dull moment! Jenny O'Brien knows how to write a story that is compelling and entertaining with characters that are not easy to love but fit with the story very well. I really enjoy Gaby's personality traits - particularly her brashness and astuteness. The author's clever writing, revealing little tidbits and morsels here and there, continued to wow me, resulting in my refusal to put this book down until the end! I'm already excited and eager for book five. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 21, 2021
4*
#4in the Gaby Darin series. The location of the books is north Wales. In dead souls we are in Colwyn Bay.
Elodie (Ellie) is a bored 10 year old girl, who is small for her age who decides to poke around the garden shed, which her mother had warmed her was out of bounds. What she finds there is enough to make her pack up her essentials and go on the run. We the reader are not privy to her discovery.
Gaby is called in when she is reported missing, only she isn’t the only kid to have gone missing recently.
There’s are also old people being reported missing too,and one of the cremator staff reported to the police having found an extra implant when cleaning out the remains after a cremation, only neither the Crem staff or the under taker have any idea how that could have happened.
I really engaged with Ronan, he has a good heart, really caring and compassionate. He is trying to look after Ellie and keep her safe. His character is really well written.
This is a book of 2 parts for me, the first 70% really grabbed me and kept my attention, and I loved the youngsters and their interaction.
The last section with the exception of the epilogue I felt lacked some tension and pace for me, Jenny’s books usually have a full on finish.
I found the antagonists motivation for killing a little unconvincing, further behavioural supporting actions documented would have cemented the personality traits and mindset. I was unclear at the end about the reasons for Ronan leaving home.
The epilogue rounded up things nicely.
Overall this is an really enjoyable read, I had high expectations for this book. The first half was 5* I felt it didn’t end as strongly as I anticipated therefore it’s a 4* overall. A very enjoyable read with beautifully created main characters.
#4in the Gaby Darin series. The location of the books is north Wales. In dead souls we are in Colwyn Bay.
Elodie (Ellie) is a bored 10 year old girl, who is small for her age who decides to poke around the garden shed, which her mother had warmed her was out of bounds. What she finds there is enough to make her pack up her essentials and go on the run. We the reader are not privy to her discovery.
Gaby is called in when she is reported missing, only she isn’t the only kid to have gone missing recently.
There’s are also old people being reported missing too,and one of the cremator staff reported to the police having found an extra implant when cleaning out the remains after a cremation, only neither the Crem staff or the under taker have any idea how that could have happened.
I really engaged with Ronan, he has a good heart, really caring and compassionate. He is trying to look after Ellie and keep her safe. His character is really well written.
This is a book of 2 parts for me, the first 70% really grabbed me and kept my attention, and I loved the youngsters and their interaction.
The last section with the exception of the epilogue I felt lacked some tension and pace for me, Jenny’s books usually have a full on finish.
I found the antagonists motivation for killing a little unconvincing, further behavioural supporting actions documented would have cemented the personality traits and mindset. I was unclear at the end about the reasons for Ronan leaving home.
The epilogue rounded up things nicely.
Overall this is an really enjoyable read, I had high expectations for this book. The first half was 5* I felt it didn’t end as strongly as I anticipated therefore it’s a 4* overall. A very enjoyable read with beautifully created main characters.
May 21, 2021
A thrilling crime series and I have so enjoyed this fourth novel!
Now that Gaby is acting DI, her days are no easier; her latest case is that of a 10 year old girl who has gone missing from her home. The big question is, did she run away or is there something more sinister behind her disappearance? And, as if one case wasn’t enough to keep the team fully occupied, there is the matter of a local cremation which produces proof that there was more than one body among the ashes. Another enigma to add to the list. The only way to solve both cases is to follow the evidence – but what if they are connected?
I’m rather fond of Gaby Darin; she manages to juggle life and career whilst dealing with the ordinary problems which face us all. These are complicated cases and I found myself fully engrossed quite quickly, reading long after I should have tucked myself under the duvet. This is a really enigmatic read – I suspected everyone (or so I thought) but still didn’t get it right. With twists and turns galore, Gaby manages to cope with office politics whilst keeping an eye on those under her care and never lacking in the attention she gives to her current workload. As always, the author has created an entirely plausible and rather puzzling scenario for the reader to really get their teeth into; this is proving to be a cracking series to follow and I find myself already looking forward to the next one. Riveting and exciting from beginning to end, this is one I’m delighted to recommend and give five full sparkling stars.
Now that Gaby is acting DI, her days are no easier; her latest case is that of a 10 year old girl who has gone missing from her home. The big question is, did she run away or is there something more sinister behind her disappearance? And, as if one case wasn’t enough to keep the team fully occupied, there is the matter of a local cremation which produces proof that there was more than one body among the ashes. Another enigma to add to the list. The only way to solve both cases is to follow the evidence – but what if they are connected?
I’m rather fond of Gaby Darin; she manages to juggle life and career whilst dealing with the ordinary problems which face us all. These are complicated cases and I found myself fully engrossed quite quickly, reading long after I should have tucked myself under the duvet. This is a really enigmatic read – I suspected everyone (or so I thought) but still didn’t get it right. With twists and turns galore, Gaby manages to cope with office politics whilst keeping an eye on those under her care and never lacking in the attention she gives to her current workload. As always, the author has created an entirely plausible and rather puzzling scenario for the reader to really get their teeth into; this is proving to be a cracking series to follow and I find myself already looking forward to the next one. Riveting and exciting from beginning to end, this is one I’m delighted to recommend and give five full sparkling stars.
May 25, 2021
This enthralling thriller is voiced from the perspectives of numerous characters including acting DI Gaby Darin, the various individuals who made up her loyal team and a homeless and very likeable young man named Ronin. There is always added intensity and pressure when a investigation involves a missing child and the case was made more complex by the fact that the team had no idea if ten year old Elodie Fry had simply ran away or been abducted. The reader knew where Elodie was and I thought the author's portrayals of the conflicting emotions that she was experiencing were very realistic. Elodie put on such a brave front when inside she was just a terrified little girl.
Gaby was also a mixed bag of conflicting emotions, as well as leading the complex and frustrating investigation into Elodie's disappearance, she was also distracted by her feelings for resident pathologist Rusty Mulholland (I love that name) Throw into the mix a gruesome discovery at the crematorium and her uncertainty about wether she actually wanted to be DI, it was no wonder that she was struggling to think straight at times. And then, just when she thought that things couldn't get any worse, just like the proverbial bad penny, a figure from her past suddenly appeared back in her life. I really liked Gaby and her team, they were a very likeable bunch of individuals who worked really well together and I loved how each member of the team were given the opportunity to contribute their own input into the investigations. The question was, where was Elodie? Was she is any danger? And if she was, would team be able to figure out her location before time ran out on her young life?
Lost Souls is a addictive, thrilling police procedural with a intricate plot that keeps the reader guessing and glued to your kindle. The author cleverly draws all the various threads of her story together, pulling the reader and her characters into position for her final, unexpected revelation. She has created a fantastic cast of recurring characters, individuals that the reader takes to their heart and enjoys spending their time with. Although this is the forth book in the series and events from the past are referenced, the book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. A very enjoyable, entertaining read and very highly recommended
Gaby was also a mixed bag of conflicting emotions, as well as leading the complex and frustrating investigation into Elodie's disappearance, she was also distracted by her feelings for resident pathologist Rusty Mulholland (I love that name) Throw into the mix a gruesome discovery at the crematorium and her uncertainty about wether she actually wanted to be DI, it was no wonder that she was struggling to think straight at times. And then, just when she thought that things couldn't get any worse, just like the proverbial bad penny, a figure from her past suddenly appeared back in her life. I really liked Gaby and her team, they were a very likeable bunch of individuals who worked really well together and I loved how each member of the team were given the opportunity to contribute their own input into the investigations. The question was, where was Elodie? Was she is any danger? And if she was, would team be able to figure out her location before time ran out on her young life?
Lost Souls is a addictive, thrilling police procedural with a intricate plot that keeps the reader guessing and glued to your kindle. The author cleverly draws all the various threads of her story together, pulling the reader and her characters into position for her final, unexpected revelation. She has created a fantastic cast of recurring characters, individuals that the reader takes to their heart and enjoys spending their time with. Although this is the forth book in the series and events from the past are referenced, the book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. A very enjoyable, entertaining read and very highly recommended
April 21, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Lost Souls, the fourth novel to feature Acting DI Gaby Darin of the North Wales MIT.
Ten year old Elodie “Ellie” Fry disappears from home. Her mother is sure she run away as her rucksack and some personal items are missing, but Gaby can’t be so sure. At the same time Martin Penrose comes in to report that he found three artificial hips after the cremation of a pensioner.
I have found this series in the past to be an absorbing read, but I didn’t find Lost Souls as interesting or absorbing. I liked the artificial hip plot line as it is puzzling, interesting and and unusual and the links to old unsolved cases is very well done. I didn’t think much of the Ellie Fry disappearance plot line. She saw something and ran away. It’s not much of a hook to hang a novel on, especially as she’s not talking and it’s fairly easy to guess what she saw. I’m not going in to the details of what happened to her or what she did during her time away, but I skim read much of it as I simply didn’t find it interesting. And as it takes up half the novel - the narrative is split between Gaby’s investigation and Ellie’s experiences - I rate the novel 3*.
Lost Souls is a solid read.
Ten year old Elodie “Ellie” Fry disappears from home. Her mother is sure she run away as her rucksack and some personal items are missing, but Gaby can’t be so sure. At the same time Martin Penrose comes in to report that he found three artificial hips after the cremation of a pensioner.
I have found this series in the past to be an absorbing read, but I didn’t find Lost Souls as interesting or absorbing. I liked the artificial hip plot line as it is puzzling, interesting and and unusual and the links to old unsolved cases is very well done. I didn’t think much of the Ellie Fry disappearance plot line. She saw something and ran away. It’s not much of a hook to hang a novel on, especially as she’s not talking and it’s fairly easy to guess what she saw. I’m not going in to the details of what happened to her or what she did during her time away, but I skim read much of it as I simply didn’t find it interesting. And as it takes up half the novel - the narrative is split between Gaby’s investigation and Ellie’s experiences - I rate the novel 3*.
Lost Souls is a solid read.
May 21, 2021
I couldn’t wait to read Lost Souls by Jenny O’Brien because I really enjoy this author’s writing and I suspected it would be entertaining. I was correct. Lost Souls was awesome!
This is the fourth book in the series. I’m really enjoying the series and the character Gaby. I think she is an excellent main character and I love her growth as a character.
This book hooked me from the beginning. I couldn’t wait to keep reading Lost Souls. I recommend giving it a shot!
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources For allowing me to join this blog tour. I recieved a free copy of this book to review honestly. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
This is the fourth book in the series. I’m really enjoying the series and the character Gaby. I think she is an excellent main character and I love her growth as a character.
This book hooked me from the beginning. I couldn’t wait to keep reading Lost Souls. I recommend giving it a shot!
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources For allowing me to join this blog tour. I recieved a free copy of this book to review honestly. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
May 18, 2021
4.5 stars
There is a lot going on in this book. A runaway girl and the mystery surrounding a cremated man with three mechanical joints among the ashes when there only should have been two. Strangely enough, these two cases are connected.
We get to see Elodie run away but not what she saw in that shack to cause her to skedaddle. Lots of twists and turns in this detective fiction thriller. I definitely enjoyed this author so much that I purchased the previous three books in this series on my kindle.
This has all the mystery and thrills of a British detective series plus you see everything through the eyes of Gabriella Darin. Her heart for the job just makes you want to read all the things.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.
There is a lot going on in this book. A runaway girl and the mystery surrounding a cremated man with three mechanical joints among the ashes when there only should have been two. Strangely enough, these two cases are connected.
We get to see Elodie run away but not what she saw in that shack to cause her to skedaddle. Lots of twists and turns in this detective fiction thriller. I definitely enjoyed this author so much that I purchased the previous three books in this series on my kindle.
This has all the mystery and thrills of a British detective series plus you see everything through the eyes of Gabriella Darin. Her heart for the job just makes you want to read all the things.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.
June 4, 2021
Oh my word, Jenny O’Brien does know how to write a thrilling book! This is another great addition to the series with brilliantly observed characters, a tense mystery and a fantastic sense of place. Loved it!
July 11, 2021
This is the fourth instalment in the Gaby Darin series. She is now acting DI. This time a young 10 year old girl runs away from home, three hip prostheses are found in the same coffin after cremation and old women are disappearing. A lot of work for acting DI and her team. Her usual sidekicks are back to help her.
The book is enjoyable. Not only do we have a couple of puzzles to solve but the author takes care to develop her core characters, Gaby and Rusty, her love interest, Owen her right hand man, Mal and Marie. This in my view makes half the book, especially if the reader cares for the characters.
The plot is twisted, the pace good, Ellie Fry story maybe a little surreal. I would have liked more depth in Ellie’s story.
In summary’s good, enjoyable read. Recommended.
The book is enjoyable. Not only do we have a couple of puzzles to solve but the author takes care to develop her core characters, Gaby and Rusty, her love interest, Owen her right hand man, Mal and Marie. This in my view makes half the book, especially if the reader cares for the characters.
The plot is twisted, the pace good, Ellie Fry story maybe a little surreal. I would have liked more depth in Ellie’s story.
In summary’s good, enjoyable read. Recommended.
March 19, 2021
I just love this series and all the characters.
It will keep readers hooked page after page.
Detective Gaby Darin book four.
after going out into the garden shed Elodie Fry (Ellie) only ten years old alerting her to danger and a galloping heart life flashes before her and her worse nightmare. Picking up her rucksack with a few essentials she flees her home, what was her motive and what did she discover?
Rhos on Sea North Wales at St Asaph police station Gaby gets the call in from Jax Williams about the runaway girl and are both sent off to question the mother Alice Fry.
Ellie has totally vanished this is one big mystery for the team.
Over the course of reading this book as well as a missing child, there also a spooky find at the crematorium and missing OAP women so the crew need to know what on earth is going on and is this a connection.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat right till the end that you don't expect, such a wholesome pleasure to read from this Author, that knows how to push her readers buttons. superb.
It will keep readers hooked page after page.
Detective Gaby Darin book four.
after going out into the garden shed Elodie Fry (Ellie) only ten years old alerting her to danger and a galloping heart life flashes before her and her worse nightmare. Picking up her rucksack with a few essentials she flees her home, what was her motive and what did she discover?
Rhos on Sea North Wales at St Asaph police station Gaby gets the call in from Jax Williams about the runaway girl and are both sent off to question the mother Alice Fry.
Ellie has totally vanished this is one big mystery for the team.
Over the course of reading this book as well as a missing child, there also a spooky find at the crematorium and missing OAP women so the crew need to know what on earth is going on and is this a connection.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat right till the end that you don't expect, such a wholesome pleasure to read from this Author, that knows how to push her readers buttons. superb.
December 3, 2021
This is another winner! I have enjoyed every book in this series and cannot recommend them enough.
The story is well executed and I had no idea how the elements would connect.
What is Ellie afraid of and why has Ronan left home, sleeping on the beach?
I was hooked reading this, there's a lot going on and as the story progressed I became suspicious of a few but I was way off the mark!
Ellie was so brave and I liked how Ronan, despite his own demons, took her under his wing knowing the trouble he could be in.
I hope that this author continues with this series as it's one of my favourites.
I definitely recommend this book.
The story is well executed and I had no idea how the elements would connect.
What is Ellie afraid of and why has Ronan left home, sleeping on the beach?
I was hooked reading this, there's a lot going on and as the story progressed I became suspicious of a few but I was way off the mark!
Ellie was so brave and I liked how Ronan, despite his own demons, took her under his wing knowing the trouble he could be in.
I hope that this author continues with this series as it's one of my favourites.
I definitely recommend this book.
May 25, 2021
As detectives scramble to find missing ten-year-old Elodie Fry, a crematorium worker presents evidence of a second body found with another man's ashes. Acting DI Gaby Darin doesn't have the time to spare to look into it, nor into the sudden disappearance of a local pensioner, but has to spread her team even thinner to do so. On top of this, Gaby is trying to juggle a fledgling relationship and possibly apply to make her DI status permanent. With so many balls in the air, it seems inevitable that one's going to drop - and someone's going to get hurt.
A fast paced, tightly written mystery, this was my very first introduction to Gaby Darin and her bullpen of detectives, each with their own problems. Fourth in the series, this definitely made reference to (and possibly spoiled) previous books and key past events, so I perhaps wouldn't start here. It was a little difficult to work out what was backstory and what occurred in earlier books. Nonetheless, the multiple points of view helped provide insights into various characters, even if it was a little hard to keep them all straight at times. It's no coincidence that the titular Lost Souls are plural, as Elodie isn't the only one who needs help.
We spend the most time with Gaby, whose grim determination to get the job done is starting to falter against a backdrop of personal developments and an overwhelming caseload. I really liked Gaby and would like to see more of her, both what happened previously and where she goes from here. Rusty is really sweet (he seems like a great guy) and the tension in their relationship stems from his son, who is rather resentful of the new person in his father's life.
The twists and turns as the disparate pieces of the story draw together kept me guessing almost all the way through and it all fell into place with a satisfying click, even if the motive wasn't clear. As for the more personal side of the story? There's definitely going to be a change to the status quo and I'm curious as to how this shakes things up.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
A fast paced, tightly written mystery, this was my very first introduction to Gaby Darin and her bullpen of detectives, each with their own problems. Fourth in the series, this definitely made reference to (and possibly spoiled) previous books and key past events, so I perhaps wouldn't start here. It was a little difficult to work out what was backstory and what occurred in earlier books. Nonetheless, the multiple points of view helped provide insights into various characters, even if it was a little hard to keep them all straight at times. It's no coincidence that the titular Lost Souls are plural, as Elodie isn't the only one who needs help.
We spend the most time with Gaby, whose grim determination to get the job done is starting to falter against a backdrop of personal developments and an overwhelming caseload. I really liked Gaby and would like to see more of her, both what happened previously and where she goes from here. Rusty is really sweet (he seems like a great guy) and the tension in their relationship stems from his son, who is rather resentful of the new person in his father's life.
The twists and turns as the disparate pieces of the story draw together kept me guessing almost all the way through and it all fell into place with a satisfying click, even if the motive wasn't clear. As for the more personal side of the story? There's definitely going to be a change to the status quo and I'm curious as to how this shakes things up.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
May 20, 2021
I will start by saying I absolutely love this series. Jenny O'Brien does it again by pulling me into the hectic lives of Gabriella "Gaby" Darin, Rusty Mullholland and the team of likeable detectives in Northern Wales. The Welsh setting is beautiful and I sent my Welsh friend Jo a list of the unpronounceable names (for me) so she could translate.
Some place names are Rhos-on-Sea, Llandudno, Ystad golygfa'r mor and Aberystwyth.
We begin with Gaby Darin is the position of acting Detective Inspector, her leading the team of detectives in the search for a missing ten year old girl, Elodie "Ellie" Fry. The little girl has a happy home life with her single mother but something she discovers terrifies her and she runs away. You will discover later on in the book what the horrific finding was and why she ran.
To complicate matters there is a case about a missing elderly woman who failed to show up at her bridge club meeting. Her fridge is stocked with food, a tea cup is left on the counter and it appears she simply vanished into thin air. After the crime scene folks arrived to investigate they find traces of blood which were hastily cleaned up. This opens up much older cases of missing elderly residents in the area.
But wait - there's more! A man who cleans the crematorium arrives at the police station to report three hip replacement prothesthics were found after the last cremation. Apparently someone is disposing of "body parts" in a way no one would ever discover, until an employee is spot on about his job and reports this discovery.
The hunt for the missing girl takes priority yet Gaby's team of detectives, torn in three diferent directions, work tirelessly to solve all three cases. I will say I was surprised by the way everything came together. Another excellent mystery tying up all the loose ends. I can't wait for the next book to see where Gaby's career is headed. Her temporary appointment to D.I. could become a permanent position but we won't know until the next book. There is some drama about that appointment and the competition.
Publication date May 21, 2021 by HQ Digital. Genre: General Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.
Sharing with Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday.
Some place names are Rhos-on-Sea, Llandudno, Ystad golygfa'r mor and Aberystwyth.
We begin with Gaby Darin is the position of acting Detective Inspector, her leading the team of detectives in the search for a missing ten year old girl, Elodie "Ellie" Fry. The little girl has a happy home life with her single mother but something she discovers terrifies her and she runs away. You will discover later on in the book what the horrific finding was and why she ran.
To complicate matters there is a case about a missing elderly woman who failed to show up at her bridge club meeting. Her fridge is stocked with food, a tea cup is left on the counter and it appears she simply vanished into thin air. After the crime scene folks arrived to investigate they find traces of blood which were hastily cleaned up. This opens up much older cases of missing elderly residents in the area.
But wait - there's more! A man who cleans the crematorium arrives at the police station to report three hip replacement prothesthics were found after the last cremation. Apparently someone is disposing of "body parts" in a way no one would ever discover, until an employee is spot on about his job and reports this discovery.
The hunt for the missing girl takes priority yet Gaby's team of detectives, torn in three diferent directions, work tirelessly to solve all three cases. I will say I was surprised by the way everything came together. Another excellent mystery tying up all the loose ends. I can't wait for the next book to see where Gaby's career is headed. Her temporary appointment to D.I. could become a permanent position but we won't know until the next book. There is some drama about that appointment and the competition.
Publication date May 21, 2021 by HQ Digital. Genre: General Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.
Sharing with Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday.
May 19, 2021
Detective Gaby Darin goes in to work one day and discovers that a local girl, Elodie Fry who is ten years old goes missing without a trace. All she has is a rucksack filled with a few of her belongings and there is no note or clue as to where she is. Her mother is distraught - she lives alone with Ellie and cannot possibly imagine why her daughter has disappeared.
While investigating this disappearance Gaby has also been alerted to another strange occurrence at the crematorium. Inside the furnace there are some extra remains that shouldn’t be there while at the same time some local pensioners are being reported as missing. Gaby is torn between trying to solve both mysteries and as time goes on it becomes apparent that the two are linked.
Set in north Wales and with many references to the area, this is the best crime book I have read this year so far. The characters are believable and I loved Gaby as well as homeless teen Ronan who takes Ellie under his wing. He is caring and sweet and I felt as the book went on that I wanted to find out exactly why he was homeless, and longed for him to return home.
I couldn’t work out the reason why Ellie left home and the author does a great job of keeping you guessing. How the disappearance is linked to the cremation remains is a total surprise for much of the book and the suspense is built really slowly and effectively.
The story is well written and engrossing and I felt really satisfied with its conclusion. This is the 4th book in the series and can easily be read as a standalone however it’s left me wanting to read more of them! A brilliant crime story to get completely lost in.
While investigating this disappearance Gaby has also been alerted to another strange occurrence at the crematorium. Inside the furnace there are some extra remains that shouldn’t be there while at the same time some local pensioners are being reported as missing. Gaby is torn between trying to solve both mysteries and as time goes on it becomes apparent that the two are linked.
Set in north Wales and with many references to the area, this is the best crime book I have read this year so far. The characters are believable and I loved Gaby as well as homeless teen Ronan who takes Ellie under his wing. He is caring and sweet and I felt as the book went on that I wanted to find out exactly why he was homeless, and longed for him to return home.
I couldn’t work out the reason why Ellie left home and the author does a great job of keeping you guessing. How the disappearance is linked to the cremation remains is a total surprise for much of the book and the suspense is built really slowly and effectively.
The story is well written and engrossing and I felt really satisfied with its conclusion. This is the 4th book in the series and can easily be read as a standalone however it’s left me wanting to read more of them! A brilliant crime story to get completely lost in.
May 24, 2021
Lost Souls is the fourth installment of Jenny O'Briens' Detective Gaby Darin series. And, I hold my hands up and say I haven't read the first three. But, I will be making time to read these. If Lost Souls is anything to go by then the rest should be just as good.
In this story Gaby is now acting Detective Inspector. There were hints to the previous cases and stories, but I'm clueless as to what happened. Which proves this book is easily read as a standalone and doesn't spoil the plotlines to the other stories. Which is good for us that want to go on to read all of them ☺️
Elodie Fry is a ten year old girl. She discovers something and this unnerves her so much she packs her bag and leaves home. What has she seen? What is so bad she would choose to leave everything and live rough?
Gaby and her team must find out the answers to these questions. But, things aren't that easy. Especially when you throw in missing old people, and extra limbs turning up in cremators. There are so many mysteries and twists in this story it's just fabulous.
I got to say I absolutely loved the setting of this book. I may be biased though. It's set in the best part of the world. The North of Wales. Land Of My Fathers. (Yes I'm Welsh 🏴 and super proud) I loved reading about places that I've been to. And, Jenny O'Brien threw in some Welsh words just to set my heart fluttering. Even the mere mention of the Llandudno goats got me smiling. Especially as they've been taking over Llandudno during lockdown. Claiming back their land ☺️
Lost Souls had plenty to keep the reader hooked. The characters we meet in the story are well written, I absolutely fell for Ronan. I loved how he took Elodie under his wing despite going through tough times himself.
A gripping read, full of mystery. What exactly did Elodie see? Such a fantastic read set in exquisite beautiful scenery.
In this story Gaby is now acting Detective Inspector. There were hints to the previous cases and stories, but I'm clueless as to what happened. Which proves this book is easily read as a standalone and doesn't spoil the plotlines to the other stories. Which is good for us that want to go on to read all of them ☺️
Elodie Fry is a ten year old girl. She discovers something and this unnerves her so much she packs her bag and leaves home. What has she seen? What is so bad she would choose to leave everything and live rough?
Gaby and her team must find out the answers to these questions. But, things aren't that easy. Especially when you throw in missing old people, and extra limbs turning up in cremators. There are so many mysteries and twists in this story it's just fabulous.
I got to say I absolutely loved the setting of this book. I may be biased though. It's set in the best part of the world. The North of Wales. Land Of My Fathers. (Yes I'm Welsh 🏴 and super proud) I loved reading about places that I've been to. And, Jenny O'Brien threw in some Welsh words just to set my heart fluttering. Even the mere mention of the Llandudno goats got me smiling. Especially as they've been taking over Llandudno during lockdown. Claiming back their land ☺️
Lost Souls had plenty to keep the reader hooked. The characters we meet in the story are well written, I absolutely fell for Ronan. I loved how he took Elodie under his wing despite going through tough times himself.
A gripping read, full of mystery. What exactly did Elodie see? Such a fantastic read set in exquisite beautiful scenery.
May 21, 2021
‘Lost Souls’ is the fourth book in the series featuring Detective Gaby Darin. I haven’t caught up with all of the three previous books but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Lost Souls’ and it certainly sounded like an intriguing story. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for a reunion with Detective Gaby Darin. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Lost Souls’ but more about that in a bit.
I got into this story from the very first word on the very first page. The book seemed to develop a hold over me and it was a hold that I was not willing to break. I found that I just couldn’t put this book down for any length of time. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. I found ‘Lost Souls’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Lost Souls’ is superbly written. The author knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a compelling story. For me, the story hits the ground running and maintains a fairly fast pace throughout. I love the way in which Jenny makes the reader feel that they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of all the action. Reading ‘Lost Souls’ felt like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Lost Souls’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jenny’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I got into this story from the very first word on the very first page. The book seemed to develop a hold over me and it was a hold that I was not willing to break. I found that I just couldn’t put this book down for any length of time. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. I found ‘Lost Souls’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Lost Souls’ is superbly written. The author knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a compelling story. For me, the story hits the ground running and maintains a fairly fast pace throughout. I love the way in which Jenny makes the reader feel that they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of all the action. Reading ‘Lost Souls’ felt like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Lost Souls’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jenny’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
May 21, 2021
After a quieter spell, new cases all seem to come at once for acting DI Gaby Darin based at St Asaph police station in North Wales. First ten year old Elodie Fry runs away from home. What could have been so awful in the garden shed to leave her thinking she had no other option? Whilst Gaby and most of the team, being DC’s Jax Williams, Malachy Devine and Marie Morgan, start searching for the missing girl, senior DC Owen Bates deals with a worker who comes in from the crematorium in Colwyn Bay with three hip replacement joints left in the debris from a single cremation. How could that possibly happen? And finally an elderly lady fails to show for a bridge party with friends. Completely out of character, her friends fear the worst and call the police. Could she be another name to add to the list of elderly people who have simply vanished in the area lately? And as if things weren't bad enough, unless Gaby applies for the permanent DI post, there is the very real threat of the noxious DS Bill Davis from Swansea getting the job and making all their lives a misery. The missing child case clearly has to take priority on the detectives’ resources, even when the other two investigations start to point toward murder, but as they work the cases, the team are unknowingly all heading for the same connection.
This is a great police procedural, with a team of well defined and very likeable detectives who work brilliantly together. The cases are solved by hard graft and eagle-eyed spotting of clues from evidence, giving the reader every chance to follow the clever plot to an exciting end and satisfying conclusion. I do hope there are more stories to come in this series, especially as the reader was left on a little bit of cliff-hanger. Highly recommended. 5*
This is a great police procedural, with a team of well defined and very likeable detectives who work brilliantly together. The cases are solved by hard graft and eagle-eyed spotting of clues from evidence, giving the reader every chance to follow the clever plot to an exciting end and satisfying conclusion. I do hope there are more stories to come in this series, especially as the reader was left on a little bit of cliff-hanger. Highly recommended. 5*
May 16, 2021
3.5 Stars
Ten-year-old Elodie Fry vanishes overnight, along with a rucksack filled with her meagre belongings. Acting DI Gaby Darin and her team are fighting the clock to reunite Elodie with her distraught mother
Later that day, a local undertaker uncovers a nasty surprise: the remains of an unidentified second adult among a late pensioner’s ashes. Torn between the two investigations, Gaby decides the gruesome discovery at the crematorium must wait – the team are desperate to find Ellie before they lose her trail. But as she follows the evidence, Gaby realises the two cases have a sinister connection and there’s a killer on the loose.
This is the fourth book in the series & my least favourite of the series. It was well written & flowed well but I must admit the search for Ellie didn’t hold my interest & would have preferred more emphasis to have been on the find at the crem. I did like the descriptions of the Welsh locations & I really like Gaby & I do look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Ten-year-old Elodie Fry vanishes overnight, along with a rucksack filled with her meagre belongings. Acting DI Gaby Darin and her team are fighting the clock to reunite Elodie with her distraught mother
Later that day, a local undertaker uncovers a nasty surprise: the remains of an unidentified second adult among a late pensioner’s ashes. Torn between the two investigations, Gaby decides the gruesome discovery at the crematorium must wait – the team are desperate to find Ellie before they lose her trail. But as she follows the evidence, Gaby realises the two cases have a sinister connection and there’s a killer on the loose.
This is the fourth book in the series & my least favourite of the series. It was well written & flowed well but I must admit the search for Ellie didn’t hold my interest & would have preferred more emphasis to have been on the find at the crem. I did like the descriptions of the Welsh locations & I really like Gaby & I do look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
May 7, 2021
As much as Elodie 'Ellie' Fry had been looking forward to the summer holidays she was now, a couple of weeks in, bored stiff. She'd finished her last book, there was nothing to do and her mum was too busy to pay her any attention.
No-one, not ever her devastated mother, Anita, can work out why Ellie would run away, she was only ten, how did she even know about things like that? For acting Detective Inspector Gaby Darin having another missing child case so soon after her previous investigation shattered her team is testing to say the least. She knows her colleagues will do everything in their power to find Elodie but when Gaby has to spare two of them to handle a very strange discovery at the local crematorium everything becomes much harder to deal with. Time is of the essence for Ellie and everyone knows it.
This is the fourth in the very successful Gaby Darin series and it is like visiting with old friends. The storyline is original and with two cases to concentrate on the action doesn't let up for a moment. Add to this the beautiful Welsh locations, familiar from many happy childhood holidays, as well as the team dynamic and this is a pleasure from start to finish.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great read and highly recommended.
No-one, not ever her devastated mother, Anita, can work out why Ellie would run away, she was only ten, how did she even know about things like that? For acting Detective Inspector Gaby Darin having another missing child case so soon after her previous investigation shattered her team is testing to say the least. She knows her colleagues will do everything in their power to find Elodie but when Gaby has to spare two of them to handle a very strange discovery at the local crematorium everything becomes much harder to deal with. Time is of the essence for Ellie and everyone knows it.
This is the fourth in the very successful Gaby Darin series and it is like visiting with old friends. The storyline is original and with two cases to concentrate on the action doesn't let up for a moment. Add to this the beautiful Welsh locations, familiar from many happy childhood holidays, as well as the team dynamic and this is a pleasure from start to finish.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great read and highly recommended.
April 4, 2021
i so love this series and the author has done it again another brilliant and twisty story . Elodie is a very quiet child has only one friend her mum works hard to provide for them both .but one day Elodie goes into a shed that she is not allowed to something scares her that much she runs away from home and she meets Ronan who decides to protect and look after her has he knows how it feels to be scared he has left home to .Detective Gaby Darin and Owen Bates are on the case but something else is happening to elderly people are going missing and someone has used a cremation incinerator as metal hips have been found what is going on ? Owen wants answers and how is Gabby s and rusty s relationship going i so cant wait for the next book so good
April 11, 2021
WOW, just WOW........yet another brilliant, powerful amazingly written book by this author.
I was drawn in and hooked from the beginning to the last page, full of twists, turns and surprises.
This is the 4th in the series and I can highly recommend this book and the previous 3 in the series.
Jenny O,Brien just keeps surprising us with her creative writing and excels, with each one.
I was drawn in and hooked from the beginning to the last page, full of twists, turns and surprises.
This is the 4th in the series and I can highly recommend this book and the previous 3 in the series.
Jenny O,Brien just keeps surprising us with her creative writing and excels, with each one.
May 23, 2021
Another emotional and exciting medley of police procedural and psychological suspense featuring Detective Gaby Darin. Set in Wales, this is an atmospheric mystery beginning with a young girl running away, a strange discovery in crematorium ashes and an unsolved missing person's case.
As events in Gaby's life continue from previous stories, it's best to read all the books in the series in order. The crimes are menacing and well-described. The investigative team dynamic is authentic, and Gaby Darin is a likeable protagonist.
Well-plotted with believable characters, there are plenty of twists and an addictive balance of action, emotion and investigation in this story. It keeps the reader engaged and guessing who committed the various crimes.
I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
As events in Gaby's life continue from previous stories, it's best to read all the books in the series in order. The crimes are menacing and well-described. The investigative team dynamic is authentic, and Gaby Darin is a likeable protagonist.
Well-plotted with believable characters, there are plenty of twists and an addictive balance of action, emotion and investigation in this story. It keeps the reader engaged and guessing who committed the various crimes.
I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 8, 2021
Lost Souls by Jenny O’Brien is book 4 in the DI Gaby Darin series and is released on 21 May. What a great read. I have read the other 3 books in the series and enjoyed them all. The characters are developing the personalities and you are finding out their strengths and weaknesses. The cases Gaby and the team investigate are unusual and love the side or secondary stories as well. Elodie, or Ellie Fry is aged 10 and she disappears from her home. She is seen with Ronan, a young man who is living on the streets, and Gaby knows him from a previous case. Meanwhile the Welsh Hills Memorial Gardens has an unusual issue that DC Owen Bates is investigating and he gets a crash course in prosthetics from Rusty, the senior pathologist. Look forward to reading more about this terrific group of characters.
May 17, 2021
I love the Detective Gaby Darin series so was excited to read this new book and I wasn't disappointed .Set in Wales ,Gaby and her Team have a missing child to find when ten year old Ellie runs away seemingly for no reason ,at the same time elderly ladies are disappearing ! Wow what a plot ! I really like the friendship between Gaby and Owen ,this book is gripping ,compelling fast paced and one of those books that is so very hard to put down .I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in the series .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .
June 4, 2021
A detective story, part of a series set in North Wales, an area I know well. Fine as a stand alone read, though there are hints of previous cases in the book, I did not feel that there was enough information to add to this story and that could have been left out .
Told from different perspectives , there are a couple of different cases, seemingly unrelated, though I had the suspicion early on that there was a connection. Ellie is a 10 year old who runs away, the reasons become apparent later. She luckily, runs into another (older) runaway who takes her under his wing. There is lots going on in the lives of the detectives, some of which could have done with a little more explanation for me.
On the whole I enjoyed the book, liked the writing style though I would have liked a bit more description of the places ( I know Llandudno and the Orme, but others would have no idea about the area) and the ending was finished off quite quickly But certainly not a bad read, I will look out for more from this author
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Told from different perspectives , there are a couple of different cases, seemingly unrelated, though I had the suspicion early on that there was a connection. Ellie is a 10 year old who runs away, the reasons become apparent later. She luckily, runs into another (older) runaway who takes her under his wing. There is lots going on in the lives of the detectives, some of which could have done with a little more explanation for me.
On the whole I enjoyed the book, liked the writing style though I would have liked a bit more description of the places ( I know Llandudno and the Orme, but others would have no idea about the area) and the ending was finished off quite quickly But certainly not a bad read, I will look out for more from this author
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 25, 2021
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
April 30, 2021
Lost Souls is Book 4 in the Detective Gaby Darin series, and could easily be read as a standalone.
Gaby has recovered from her last ordeal and things are going well, if very slowly, between her and Rusty. Her team of detectives are all pulling together, and the chiefs are ready to appoint someone to the role of Detective Inspector, a role Gaby has been covering. Gaby hasn't yet applied for the job, and is encouraged to do so - with a looming deadline for getting her application in. She's not sure if she wants the job, until she sees the other candidate.
Elodie Fry, known as 'Ellie', a ten-year-old runs away from home, sparking a police hunt. And as if that isn't enough to deal with, something unusual has occurred at the crematorium which warrants further investigation. It's a race against the clock for Gaby to find the missing child, solve the mystery at the crematorium, and get her written job application in on time.
I am a big fan of the Gaby Darin series. As with the other books, I was hooked immediately, and completely puzzled as to the reason for Ellie running away from home.
I thought the mystery at the crematorium was easier to solve, but hadn't picked up on the motive or the wider implications. O'Brien does a good job drip feeding clues while still keeping the reader guessing.
Another well-written story with interesting characters and a compelling plotline. I can't wait for the next instalment!
Gaby has recovered from her last ordeal and things are going well, if very slowly, between her and Rusty. Her team of detectives are all pulling together, and the chiefs are ready to appoint someone to the role of Detective Inspector, a role Gaby has been covering. Gaby hasn't yet applied for the job, and is encouraged to do so - with a looming deadline for getting her application in. She's not sure if she wants the job, until she sees the other candidate.
Elodie Fry, known as 'Ellie', a ten-year-old runs away from home, sparking a police hunt. And as if that isn't enough to deal with, something unusual has occurred at the crematorium which warrants further investigation. It's a race against the clock for Gaby to find the missing child, solve the mystery at the crematorium, and get her written job application in on time.
I am a big fan of the Gaby Darin series. As with the other books, I was hooked immediately, and completely puzzled as to the reason for Ellie running away from home.
I thought the mystery at the crematorium was easier to solve, but hadn't picked up on the motive or the wider implications. O'Brien does a good job drip feeding clues while still keeping the reader guessing.
Another well-written story with interesting characters and a compelling plotline. I can't wait for the next instalment!
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