A fantastic story that keeps you gripped until the very end.
There are quite a few characters in this book that takes a little time to figure out who is who and where they all fit into the storyline. However, once I did I was hooked. The story jumps between past and present but this is needed to see how past events connect to present time.
Because several characters are woven into this intriguing plot it provided a minefield of possible suspects. You think you have it figured out and then get thrown a curveball.
This was a great read full of lies, secrets, and betrayals.
I can't wait for the next in series and will definitely recommend to fans of crime thrillers.

This was enthralling from the first page. A complex mystery spanning decades, with plenty of twists and turns. And a setting in one of my favourite parts of the country. Definitely one to follow.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance ARC copy of this book.

Heartlands was a very good read! An old murder that has ties to a current investigation will keep a reader hooked. When Shannon disappears from a small town the village is shocked. Even more shocking is the police digging around and finding a convicted killer is in their midst.

Do these crimes have any ties to each other? Is it a copycat killing or something else entirely? How much can one family or town believe in coincidences?

Kept me on the edge of my seat! I didn’t want to put the book down and I look forward to reading more by Kerry Watts.

This is the first book I read by this author and it was awesome!!! This book is the first in a new series starring Detective Jessie Blake. I can’t wait for a second book.

This book is about a detective with a past who wants to desperately help these parents find their missing teenage daughter whether it’s good or bad. She wants the person who did this brought to justice so the parents can have some sort of peace in their lives.

I want to start by saying that I absolutely loved this book and thought it was great. What I really loved about this book was that everyone involved was carrying dark secrets and some of them were really shocking to find out. I also liked the fact that the author went back and forth to tie an old case with the new case that had similarities between them. The whole book kept me guessing at what would happen next. I never would have guessed who the killer was and why it happened.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Heartbreaking, disturbing and gripping. you will not put this down until the end. A detective with a past, murders spanning many years,, and a great supporting team. Brilliant!

What an ending. And so many questions. Would I be a better person, not judging someone about the things done in the past? It's so sad everything went down. Not only the family of the victim is blown apart but a life could have been saved. And what do you do if everything you thought you knew is not the whole truth? There where so many secrets between husbands and wives that it had to blow up eventually. I hope to read more about Jessie Blake's past in the next book.

In this first book in a new series by Kerry Watts, Detective Jessie Blake takes on her first big case. She is called in when a teen named Shannon Ross never arrived home after school. Jessie has a vigorous task ahead of her, and all the while, she is hiding something dreadful from her past. Never could Jesse have imagined that this very case could possibly expose her secrets.

As it turns out, secrets is what this is all about. What Jessie begins to expose in the small town starts off as small anomalies and eventually explodes. As things progress, layer upon layer of details and connections are revealed. Jessie does her best to put all of the pieces together, all the while hoping that another teen does not lose their life.

This story is delivered in two timelines, thus offering varying points of view. Heartlands was intriguing from the very start. There were a lot of twists and turns and the conclusion was utterly shocking. I look forward to continuing this series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Heartlands by Kerry Watts is the first in the Detective Jessie Blake series and I was disappointed. The potential is huge; the reality is, there are way too many characters to keep up with, the dialogue is disjointed, jumping all over the place and the characters are wooden and featureless.

Oocha boy, what a brilliant start to a new series, I’ve not long since finished reading the book and I’ve already told two people they need to go buy it.
First thing I have to say is omg, what a prologue to start the book off with, I’m not telling you anything about it apart from it tells a story from 1996 and it’s a jaw dropper and gripping. Totally gripping.
We’re then onto present day and I will admit i was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of characters we’re introduced to right off. It had me a bit confused to start with but once I got the hang of who was who and who was with who it made the story even more intriguing.
You’ll know from the description that in the past there was a murder and also in the present another has been committed but I really don’t want to go into it too much, this is a jam packed story and I don’t want to spoil it in the slightest, it’s such a good read.
The chapters are quite short and flit from past to present. You get to the end of a chapter and you’re desperate to find out what happens next and it goes back in time. You read that chapter or two and are desperate to find out what happens next and it goes forward in time, honestly Kerry Watts is such a tease but I loved it, it’s written in such a good way that you have to keep reading and if you don’t you won’t stop thinking about it.
The characters are all very intriguing, from Detective Jessie Blake to Shannon’s parents and beyond, each of them have secrets and aren’t all you think they are. We slowly find out more about each character as the story progresses and I loved trying to figure out the link between the present time and what happened in 1996.
This book had me all over the place, it has red hearings thrown in, it was emotional at times and it’s just down right gripping and it’s left me wanting more so I hope we don’t have long to wait for the next book. I’m cracking the whip!
So if you like fast paced stories that keep you on your toes, stories that are real sleep stealers and stay in your head then Heartlands won’t have you disappointed in the slightest. I definitely recommend.

Initially I wasn't sure about this one, I found it a little disjointed to begin with but I am so glad I persevered.
Good characterisation and a story that did eventually grip me, there is a lot to take in at the start and it may put readers off but it is worth staying with.
Jessie Blake is an intriguing character and I look forward to future books.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and is the beginning of a new series featuring Detective Jessie Blake. It's a very promising start.

There is a shocking opener in the prologue set in the past before we jump forward to the present day in Inverlochty. From then on, the story flips between now, and the older timeline, which begins in 1996 and moves steadily forwards until it crosses the newer story. That was such an OMG moment for me, I actually exclaimed out loud! A genuine shock that I absolutely didn't see coming.

There are lots of characters and I really had to pay attention early on to get to know everyone, and where they fitted in.

Obviously, Jessie is the standout character here. Recently promoted, this is her first case as senior office. A man with mental health difficulties harms himself, but the blood of a teenage girl is also found in his house. And she hasn't been seen since entering his house. When the police speak to him, he says the 'voices made him do it'. But what have they made him do?

Jessie is dogged and determined. And resolute about doing the right thing. But she has her own demons in a dark back story, which is starting to be teased out and looks to have legs to run and run. Her sidekick Dylan is a great guy - solid and dependable and just perfect for Jessie to bounce her ideas off.

There is a large cast of supporting characters, some more likeable than others. Standouts for me were Jason, the missing girl's father, and her young uncle, Ben. The anxiety and anguish that everyone, but especially these two, suffers exquisitely described.

The pacing is fabulous. We learn little bits of the story as we go, building up to the shocking ending. And a wee hint that there might be more to come about Jessie's personal story. A brilliant beginning to a new series, with a great protagonist. I'm already looking forward to the next book!

This book is the first in a series and unfortunately I was very disappointed by this book.
There are too many characters to keep track of and the writing style is very disjointed and doesn’t flow well.

Thoroughly enjoyed! Gripped from start to end, look forward to reading more from Kerry. This book kept me interested throughout with its twists and turns

I was a bit bored with this book. Not that it wasn't good but I just found that the pace wasn't right for .me

This book was a very good read . Reading about a family struggling when there daughter goes missing and what’s happened to her . Can’t wait for this authors next book

Heartlands is a good thriller that is a page turner. There may be a few too many characters, but still written well and a good plot.

the first thing that grabbed me was the cover. Way too many characters which made it confusing to follow. The book picked up halfway through . You will need to concentrate as it chops and changes all the time. I struggled with this book.

My thanks to publisher Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this, the first in the Jessie Blake series. I've not read this author before so wasn't sure what to expect, but the description of the book intrigued me as to what was going on.
There are events in two time periods featuring in this book: the rape and murder of a teenager back in the late 1990's and a missing girl in the present day. Two youths were arrested and charged with the historic case and how this relates to the missing person case I was interested to know - if at all.
Detective Jessie Blake is the officer in charge of the present day case when it is called in to the police. She lives some distance away from the rural community where 15 year old Shannon is reported missing from. We know very little about Jessie which helps to not distract from the main story of what has happened to Shannon. There are a few possibilities presented along the way, none of which seems particularly probable - until a huge bombshell from the past of one of the characters. I won't drop any spoilers, but mud sticks and the discovery of long hidden secrets causes shockwaves in the community and forces more than one person to question all they thought they knew. The truth however will shock the reader and I found myself mulling over the facts and implications of events long after I had finished the final pages.
As regards Jessie, there is clearly lots more to come about her background and the series looks like it could get really interesting on the more personal side of the detective team as well as with the future cases they work on.
A very promising start to a new series, I will certainly be looking out for further work by this author.

Great read. This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting for more. Perfect book to read over the winter months. With a great storyline that’s well written and easy to read.

I will admit, this book took me a lot longer to read than it should have done. I struggled with it and it didn't catch my attention. But, I persevered and I am pleased that I did.
The story unfolded once I had worked out the characters, of which there were many. I had guessed who was the murderer but I was still intrigued how it would all work out.
I will be looking out for the next in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kerry Watts and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.