I must admit that this book gave me a serious case of cover love, and had I not already been a huge fan of this series, the cover, with its beautiful auburn locks and pretty butterflies, would have swayed me anyway. But do not be fooled into thinking that this book has anything pretty about it. The methods by which the girls die are horrific, and it is clear they have lost their lives in horrendous circumstances, but in a twisted way, this made me want to read on, to find out what happened and see the killer brought to justice.
DI Harte is also keen to see the perpetrator behind bars, and it is her job to make that happen. She has a fractious relationship with her daughter, and there are glimpses into her memories of her when she was a teenager, as she tries to put herself in the shoes of the families of the victims. Seeing her vulnerable side made me root for her and her team as they searched for answers. Luckily, her team are just as dedicated, sacrificing nights out and time with their partners for the cause. I loved learning more about them, and salivating at Mrs O's culinary creations!
Her Pretty Bones has three plots running alongside each other, and these are intricately woven together as the novel progresses. I am in awe of the meticulous plotting. and the questions this raised. The tension was palpable, and I was hanging on the author's every word!

I’ve read all 3 books in the series to this point and although they’ve gotten better as they’ve grown in number, they’re still just lacking for me. I enjoyed parts of the story, but despit being the 3rd of the series, I still feel underwhelmed by the characters and the storyline just felt lacking in so many ways. I keep reading these hoping they’ll have a breakthrough, but I think this might be the last attempt for me to try to hang on to hope when it’s clear I should just stop before I’m sucked into another disappointing drawn out series of mediocre novels.

Her Pretty Bones is the third book in the DI Gina Harte series, set in the Midlands, but each one is a separate mystery with enough backstory to read as stand-alone, and neither do they spoil the earlier books so they could be read out of order. They cover some fairly dark topics, in this case the abduction of homeless drug addicts, but without excessive violence or sadism.

A teenage girl falls from the back of a Transit van on a country road, and is taken to hospital, where she dies of extreme emaciation, with no clues as to her identity. Days later, the decomposed body of another girl is found in a shallow grave. Both had vivid red hair, evidence of drugs in their systems, and neither had been reported missing. DI Harte, battling her own demons, is convinced the cases are linked. When another teenager is reported missing by her frantic mother, Gina is desperate to find her, before it's too late.

I have enjoyed all three of this series, although the second remains my favourite. They are well written and plotted, and while I did work out fairly early what was going on, I didn't guess the identity of the antagonists or how it all connected. Gina is a good detective hamstrung by poor coping skills, difficult personal relationships, and an appalling diet. I would have liked for her team members to be better fleshed out, as some characters are just names on a page, and hope that Gina manages to get over her guilt over past secrets before it gets too repetitive. Nonetheless I am happy to recommend this series to fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza & Val McDermid.

A special mention goes to the cover art, which is gorgeous, but also relevant, and really stands out in a genre where so many look the same, bravo.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Her Pretty Bones is published on January 17th 2019.

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of the third in the DI Gina Harte series.

Last month in anticipation of reading this book I read the earlier ones in the series and found them both page-turners. I also came to care for the main character and her personal journey. While I personally like reading series from the beginning when possible, for readers new to the series the author does give enough background for the characters (without massive spoilers).

The case here is quite disturbing as it opens with an emaciated teenage girl falling onto the road from the back of a van. Who is she? Her words to the motorist who comes to assist before passing out are “Help her”.

As with good police procedurals the process of gathering evidence is not quick or flashy and unfolds in what feels like a realistic pace.

Interspersed between this case work are chapters featuring a young woman who is being held captive and drugged. Is this what happened in the past to the mystery girl or to someone else in the present? Other chapters feature an anxious mother seeking to find her runaway teenage daughter.

“They all say they don’t mind the hours and the call-outs, but eventually they get fed up.” DS Jacob Driscoll.

One of the common themes in many police procedurals is the toll the job places on the personal lives of the detectives. Gina Harte experiences this in a strained relationship with her adult daughter. Hannah wants Gina to be a ‘Mum’ and grandmother and resents her commitment to her work. I find Hannah an unsympathetic character; especially so when she torments Gina about Terry, her father who died when Hannah was still in nappies.

Without spoilers the case here also incorporates contemporary social issues. Overall, as with the others in the series, I found this a solid police procedural that engaged my interest throughout. There are some scenes that are dark and quite graphic but it is dealing with disturbing subjects and is rightfully not cozy reading.

I look forward to further novels in this series.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Gina Hart Book 3, look forward to book 4. This was a great 5 star read

Her pretty bones# Netgalley
Wow this definitely is a book worth reading. It’s the first book I have read by Carla Kovsch, and it’s book 3 it’s a excellent storyline extremely well written. So much so I am going to go back and read book 1, & 2. I certainly will be looking for new books written by this author. A brilliant read, and I would definitely recommend this book. You really must read it to understand how good it is, no words from me can truthfully explain how awesome it is. If I could give it more than a 5 star I would.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Her Pretty Bones’, third in the Detective Inspector Gina Harte series written by Carla Kovach, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A young woman falls from the back of a white van whilst it’s being driven along a country lane and her last words are ‘Help her!’. She’s so emaciated the doctors are unable to save her life and she never recovers consciousness. Days later another young woman is found buried in a shallow grave in the grounds of a cottage being renovated. DI Gina Harte and her team need to discover the identities of the two women and where they’ve been kept before a third woman dies and the newspapers start claiming there’s a serial killer in Cleevesford.

I’ve enjoyed reading ‘Her Pretty Bones’ which had me gripped from page one, and although I didn’t think the plot was as tense as the previous two novels in the series it was still a fast-paced and well-written thriller with twists and turns and dubious suspects. I like the character of Gina Harte who lives with the demons in her private life and is still getting over her near-death in ‘Her Final Hour’. Carla Kovach is a talented author and I look forward to reading her next novel.

A young girl falls from a moving van in the middle of the road. She is badly wounded and emaciated. She is rushed to the hospital, but never recovers, her identity unknown.
The only thing she says with her last breath is “help her”!
Who is this girl? Is she a runaway? Was she kidnapped? Is there another girl in the same dire situation hoping to be rescued?
When some days later another body is found buried in a shallow grave, detective Harte is sure what they are dealing with is more than a case of isolated kidnapping.

Her Pretty Bones, the third in Gina Harte series which can be read as a stand-alone, is a well written, darkly engaging crime/thriller, with well-developed characters.

Thanks to Carla Kovach, Bookouture and the NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

Her Pretty Bones is book three in the Detective Gina Harte series, a series I am absolutely loving after reading all the books. It’s a series best read in order as this story does contain references to the books before it.

The prologue is intriguing and drags the reader straight in… Yet again Gina finds herself stuck in a case that is targeting young women and a personal family feud begins to arise again between her and her daughter as the case comes first.

Did Gina go back to work too fast? Has she really recovered from her last case already? She seems to be struggling in this story… I found like usual she got herself too involved and emotionally attached to the case and victims putting herself at harm… Again. But she is a bloody good detective. I like her character. Strong, determined and focused. She has a great team alongside her who support her.

Her Pretty Bones is a real mystery/investigation into what has happened with these young ladies. You can tell Carla has put a lot of time and research into this story. The story does highlight several issues, homelessness, carer’s work and Huntingtons disease which I learnt a lot about from this book, so thank you.

I awarded a well deserved four stars and I’m hoping there may be a fourth book to come along shortly. I would love to see what Gina and her team have to face next. Highly recommend. Enjoyed reading this one. Fab.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

This is the third in the series and another solid outing for DI Gina Harte and her team. Young girls are disappearing and several bodies have been found with severe malnutrition and signs of drug abuse. Is there a serial killer on the loose?

This was an interesting plot line with an unusual reason for the abuse and deaths of the young girls. I like the character of Gina and that she is a police officer with a past and battling her own demons. Having said that I would like to see some development in both her battles with her daughter and dealing with her dead ex-husband. Although Gina has had counselling she is stalled in both of these relationships.

The book starts with a prologue that has you hooked straight away and I can assure you that this only is the start of a very winding road to the revelation of the plot.  But you will be rewarded at the end because it's pretty heavy. 

Needless to say that you are on the edge of your seat the whole time trying to figure out who is responsible for all that cruelness. At the same time you heart goes out to the girls and it's very hard to understand how people can treat other people this way. 

I certainly do not approve of the actions of the culprits. They often say the criminals have a sob story about their bad youth and try to use this as an excuse for their behaviour.  But on the other hand, I do believe the seed in planted in their youth and their actions often are a reaction to what they have been through. Adults, without a doubt, have a big influence on childrens' minds with often devastating results ...

I really like the structure of the story and the way we get to know DI Harte and her team better and better. 

The writing style is very good and the mixture of emotions and suspense is perfect. 

Do I still have to mention that I loved the book? I think it was already quite clear I did. 4 stars.

Thank you, Carla Kovach, Bookouture and Netgalley.

Two teenaged girls are dead, both showing indications of long term abuse and drug addiction. Forensics indicate that the two are connected. Detective Gina Harte and her team investigate a complicated case in this third book of the popular series. It seems that there may be yet another girl that needs help -- can they find her in time?

Although this book held my interest, the shifting points of view were a bit jarring and some of the narrative just wasn't all that compelling as the reader waits for the plot to become cohesive and to see how it all ties together. This is basic police procedural mystery with a very complicated reveal that was a bit disappointing. I just can't seem to relate to the main character, Gina Harte, and am tired of her personal issues not being resolved and her thinking the same things over and over. The other members of the team are not well-developed and none stand out as memorable. The most interesting aspect of the book to me was actually the fact that one of the characters suffered from Huntington's Disease.

I'm sure I will continue with the series as I seem to be addicted to crime thrillers featuring women detectives. This was my first read of 2019!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

DI Gina Harte is back again! First off this series is a fantastic example of a police procedural done right and it differs from the rest in many ways! Gina Harte is a really liekable character! You do not need to read the rest to jump in this one but you should.

She’s back on the case when a woman who is dying says “help her.” Another body turns up and they have enough similarities for the reader to assume there is a serial killer on the loose.

Gina Harte must solve the case. These books get better with each addition as Carla Kovach’s writing grows with each novel! I absolutely love each in the series and can’t wait to see what comes next! Highly recommend for people who enjoy police procedurals!

#HerPrettyBones #NetGalley This is turning into a good solid police procedural. The third in the series, and whilst perfectly capable of being read as a standalone, it does add to the enjoyment if you know more of the background of Gina, Brooks and her daughter Hannah. Great plot with lots of twists and turns and an unexpected outcome which I find great to not have guessed it! Gina is a great character but not without her past and I do wonder how the series will go forward with Gina keeping her secret about her husband Terry. We shall see!! Looking forward to the next in this series.

A young woman falls out of the back of a van on a quiet road. She is in desperate need of medical attention and right before she loses consciousness, she says "Help Her." Days later another young woman's body is found in a shallow grave. The two young women have a few things in common: their red hair color, their age, and their very thin frail bodies.

Detective Gina Harte is called in to investigate. She must put all her energy into solving these two cases. She needs to determine the connection between the two girls, is there a serial killer involved, and to also determine the identity of the young women.

This book had a few twists and turns to keep readers guessing. The reader is also given various POV’s which helps move the book along and gives us insight into what is occurring for some of the characters. For most of the book, I was trying to determine the connection between the opening scene and the rest of the book. Readers will also be guessing about what is going on in this book and why. There were times in the book where my attention wandered, and I wanted things to move along just a little bit faster.

This book is the third in the series but worked well as a stand-alone novel for me. I am sure that readers of the previous books might enjoy this one a bit more than I did as they had some background information on Detective Harte. I did not realize when I requested the book that this was the third in the series. But again, I did feel it worked well as a stand-alone but would encourage other readers to read the previous books as they will be given background information on the characters in this book. This was a solid police procedural with interesting characters.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the 3rd book in the Gina Harte series. I love how the characters are being developed in these books. It's so interesting getting to to know Gina and her team.

I was hooked from the prologue and the story kept you guessing right until the end. Highly recommended.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest and fair review.
An emaciated and drug addicted girl falls out of the back of a van one day....her last words are 'help her' this leads Gina Harte into investigating missing runaways in the hope of saving one. My third Carla Kovach book and it did not disappoint. It kept me turning the pages just trying to get to the part where I thought I had it all worked out and I still had no clue until the end. Carla knows how to throw in a plot twist you don't expect. #netgalley #carlakovach #herprettybones #bookouture #goodreads #litsy #tea_sipping_bookworm

I love this series about DI Gina Harte, she is a fabulous creation with a fascinating back story. This book is edge of the seat thrilling, a real page running roller coaster of a book. Don't start it late evening or you will be up all night finishing it. More please.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this addictive book

a young girl falls out of the back of a van and she is heard to say help her...is there another missing girl somewhere, the hunt is on

several red herrings and another body turns up dead this time, is there a serial killer abducting young girls or something more sinister

domestic abuse and drug issues abound in this novel but its worth reading to find out whodunnit

What an outstanding read. So well written, amazing characters and a plot that kept me guessing right to the end of the book.

This is a must read for fans of detective thrillers