What a great start to a new series! DCI Rachel Hart is assigned to the case of a missing 5 year old. But there is something in her last that makes this more emotional and distressing than normal, we learn as the story goes on that she and her twin sister were abused and kidnapped.
Naomi Bailey has kicked her husband out of the family home and is trying to live as normal a life as possible with their daughter, however she goes missing overnight.
What follows is two parents desperate search for their child, no one knows where Cassie is or who has taken her and everyone suspects each other. There is so much going on, I wasn’t sure who it would turn out to be, each chapter brought a new suspect to the frame, or made me doubt one of the others I had already discounted!
Really enjoyed this and can’t wait to see what the next instalment brings.

I struggled through. I normally like this type of book, but this time this one just wasn’t for me. The writing felt a little heavy and the characters just didn’t gel for me.
However, there will be a perfect audience out there for this story.

Naomi has not been sleeping well since she threw her husband our after he had spent the night with her old High School nemesis. She refuses to listen to him or let him or his mother see their daughter Cassie. In desperation she agrees to try the herbal tablet her friend Kate suggests. She is amazed to discoverhow long she has slept. She rushes to get Cassie for school but there is no sign of her.

DCI Hart knows how important the first 48 hours are in the case of child abductions having been victim of one along with her sister many years ago. It seems that Cassie must have known who took her. Her father & grandmotehr certainly have reason to but every enquirycomesup blank.

This was a fast paced read. It was a good introduction to Rachel Hart, who I hope to meet again. I did guess who was behind Cassie's disappearance but not the reasons. Thanks to Netgalley & the author for letting me read & review this book.

In the world today, the parents are usually one of the suspects in a missing child. Scary. After Naomi kicks Robert out for infidelity, Cassie, their 5 year old daughter goes missing. Rachel Hart is assigned to the case. It wasn't very hard to figure out who the kidnapper was but I still enjoyed reading this story.

There are some good and negative aspects about this books, and I'm going to mention the most obvious because what I don't particularly care for might be what someone else loves! To get the negative (for lack of a better word) out of the way, I didn't really like the narration. I was in too many people's heads, and it made it hard to really connect with any of the characters. There wasn't enough time with one person before we were moved onto the next. This series is centered on D.C.I. Rachel Hart, and she didn't get as much time as the other characters. That isn't to say I didn't like her character, because I do. She is complex, and I want to know more about her. But that is the problem. I should already know what I need to know about her by the end of this book, and I was left feeling like something was missing.

Because the narration takes place with every character of importance in the story, there is really no suspense until the very end (we're talking the last 15-20 minutes of reading). That was a bit of a disappointment. I really enjoy being inside the head of a psychopath while reading a good suspense, because it isn't revealed who they actually are until it is revealed that they are the Big Bad. Even in an audiobook, the narrators change their voices up so as to not give away which character is doing some shady sh*t. So that really took away from the experience you get while reading this genre.

I'm seriously shocked that this book was compared to Behind Closed Doors because that book is a VERY dark read, and while Little Girl Missing is a good story, and Roberts has some great potential expanding in this genre, the writing and the story are not on the same level. This story is not going to stick around in my head the way Behind Closed Doors has. I think this would be better classed as a procedural as opposed to a thriller/suspense. Going into this book with the expectations that it was comparable to Behind Closed Doors (I have been looking for books like this for ages, and even libraries have fallen short helping with this) is probably part of the reason for the slight disappointment.

All that said, what I loved about this book was the bait and switch a little less than half way through the book. I am one of those readers (and watchers) that always figure things out before you're supposed to, to the point that it's almost annoying. I was 100% certain I knew what happened to Cassie by 20% into the book. And then at 42% that was confirmed. But then, I was scratching my head because why in the world would this be resolved so early on? Because it wasn't. It was a trap, set to give us a false sense of know-it-all, and I fell for it. Well played, Roberts. Well played.

All in all, it was a decent book, and I would more than likely pick up the next book in the series because I do want to know more about Hart's past with her sister and how she ended up where she is today. I also think that because this was Roberts' first time writing in this genre that the next book will be better, and I'm looking forward to watching that growth. There is something about reading a book by an author, and seeing that happen that is so satisfying, you know?

This is a book that had me hooked from the beginning to the end. It was impossible to predict the ending which I liked.
I am hoping for more books in this series.
This book has twists that you will not see coming and you will be unable to put it down.

A great start to a gripping new series!
Little Girl Missing is the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series and is off to a very good start! This book is edgy, compelling and full of twists! It hooks you in from the first page.

When DCI Rachel Hart is called to investigate the disappearance of five-year-old Cassie Bailey, little does she know she's opening up to some memories of a cruel past when her sister disappeared. As the days go by without any leads, Rachel knows that the time is ticking for little Cassie if she's to be found alive. Rachel also sees the unravelling of the Bailey's marriage as they deal with the disappearance of their only child. Everyone's a suspect and Rachel must find out who's hiding the truth and save Cassie before its too late.

The plot of this book is good. I realized who the culprit was 1/4th into the book, but that comes with reading too many crime thrillers. However, with so many twists I could not be 100% sure about my prediction but was glad to see I was right at the end. The characters in here are solid! The ending chapter on Rachel has left me wanting to read the sequel - I want to get to know her better. She's smart, intelligent and comes with a challenging past - qualities I like in every one of my heroines. I also like how the distraught parents and grandmother is portrayed. Their characters seem realistic. In all, this was a very good book. My only grouch is that I did not as much about Rachel as I'd have liked.

Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture and J.G. Roberts for an arc!

This is the first book in the series featuring DCI Rachel Hart. She is given the case to investigate of a missing five year old girl called Cassie. Her mother put her to bed but next morning her bed is empty. Naomi and Charlie, Cassie’s parents, are estranged since Naomi threw him out after discovering he was having an affair with someone she knew and disliked. She turns to her friend Kate for help and comfort. We learn that this case is a difficult one for Rachel to investigate as she has had a similar experience of her own. She thinks that Cassie knew the person who abducted her so all the family are suspects. It is up to Rachel to solve this case as quickly as she can and hopes that Cassie has been abducted and not murdered. This is a very addictive storyline, wit( a fast paced plot that kept me guessing. I look forward to book number two in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

An absolutely fantastic suspense. I loved the plot and enjoyed the author’s writing. I look forward to reading more books in this series. I highly recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

This is the first book by this author of this genre and I have to say it was a good read. However, as an avid crime reader it was obvious to me who was behind it all right from the outset, I just couldn’t be sure why! “Noms” irritated me a bit, I know it must be a terrible ordeal when a child goes missing but I felt she did play on it a bit, however, I did like Charlie, and his mum, they were more down to earth.

I did think the police characters could have been expanded upon in that we didn’t seem to know much about them, only a snippet or two, even Rachel we didn’t get to know very well but I expect as there are more books in the pipeline her character will grow.

My thanks to Julia, bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC. I have already sent a review on 28/5/19

Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this.
Absolutely brilliant! I was hooked from the first page right to the end.
A little girl is missing. The race is on to find her. Twists and turns throughout. I would highly recommend it.

This first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series is a high anxiety ride on a roller coaster in the dark with no knowledge of the track ahead. Hart is a good detective with a tragic past, which only comes in pieces throughout the story, as she searches for a missing child, Cassie. The story starts slowly with just a bit of confusion as it moves from present to past to present. Cassie's mom puts her to bed and finds her bed empty the next morning, with no sign of her anywhere in the house. With the front door unlocked and changes made to the jack-o-lantern left outside, it seems that Cassie either has wandered away or been taken. When Hart and her team get called to the scene, they have to search for clues while untwisting the complications of Cassie's life -- her parents are separated (due to her father's infidelity) and her mom is mentally & physically exhausted. The suspect list grows quickly, and Hart works methodically to eliminate each person. However, the plot leads her and the reader on a crazy chase full of misdirection and surprises. It is a great read. I would have liked more focus on Rachel, but I hope that the next book will feed that need.

I love books that keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing. This book did just that. It was a very good read. I didn't know what to expect with it but definitely not how it ended. It was so much better. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves thrillers.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it!!! So many twists and turns. I wasn't sure who could have taken Cassie and I kept changing my mind on who was the guilty party. Naomi, Charlie and the grandma were all likely suspects. Naomi was very difficult to like. I couldn't believe she wouldn't allow Charlie or Hazel to see Cassie. Charlie's indiscretion had nothing to do with his daughter. Naomi was just so unpredictable, at times she loved Charlie and the next moment she would be chucking hot chocolate everywhere or trying to choke him. DCI Rachel hart definitely has an interesting backstory. Can't wait to learn more about her and her sister. There's so much more to her story line. Jessica was one crazy piece of work. Loved Pumpkin!!! He almost had me in tears. At times I thought the cat was going to be like Lassie and lead everyone to Cassie.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. The book was hard to put down because I needed to know what happened to Cassie. I never guessed who was involved and all the planning that went into it was insane. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is such a gripping book! I absolutely devoured this book, I just couldn’t stop reading it.

Straight away I was drawn into the story. There’s so much tension, it’s real edge of the seat stuff. I really wanted to find out what had happened to Cassie.

There are so many twists and turns to the plot, it will really keep you guessing. The characters are so real, with great depth to them.

Absolutely compulsive reading, just cancel everything and prepare to be engrossed in it. Highly recommended.

Little Girl Missing by JG Roberts is the first book in a great new detective series featuring DCI Rachel Hart.
This book was a great read for her first book with lots of twists and turns throughout that will have you gripped.
Looking forward reading more books in the future by Julia. Loved it

Big Thank you to Julia Roberts, Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review

Naomi puts her five-year-old daughter Cassie to bed one evening, and shortly after heads to bed herself. The next morning she wakes up groggy from the sleeping pill she took the night before. She goes to wake Cassie for school, and Cassie isn't in her bed. Naomi figures Cassie has woken up to go sleep with Pumpkin the family cat. She's been doing that a lot since Naomi has kicked Cassie's father out of the house 5 weeks ago. To her utter horror, Naomi isn't with Pumpkin or anywhere in the house. She is soon living every mother's worse nightmare, her daughter has gone missing.
This is a page turner from the very beginning, As Naomi searches the house for Cassie, I was able to feel her anxiety when she couldn't find her daughter. Her best friend Kate and her husband Charlie come to the house to wait for news from the lead detective Rachel Hart. Rachel wonders if she is the right one for this case, her own past seems to be caught up with this missing child. Soon, Rachel and her team have a list of suspects that could have taken Cassie. The question is, can they figure out who it is before time runs out for Cassie?
As I was reading, I crossed off everyone that could have been the kidnapper, halfway through it's revealed who it really is, and I wasn't too far off on my thinking of who did it and why. However, there is a twist at the end, and what is revealed I didn't even see coming.
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I would like to think Net Galley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I would also like to think Bookoutre and Kim Nash for having me on this book tour.

How many more missing child novels can I read - apparently hundreds more! This is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Rachel Hart, frantically searching for a missing five year old Cassie. Great balance between a psychological thriller and a police procedural, I jumped in and lost two hours of my supposed-to-be-busy day saying, one more page, one more chapter! Never guessed the ending and was really distracted and shocked. Can’t wait for the next one; interested in knowing more about this Ms Hart..

This was my first J.G. Roberts book and I have to say that this was a predictable read and that took away the entire pleasure of reading. But I quite liked the character development in this book though I have to say that some of the characters were not likable at all. The character I quite liked was DCI Rachel Hart. Overall a predictable book but I believe that these will get better as we find out more about the characters and I look forward to the next book in this series. And a big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I was pleased with this book by an author I have not read before. Always a joy to find the starting book of a brand new series , I believe it will be a great one. A very heart wrenching police procedural that is about a child abduction, and the anguish of everyone involved. The storyline flowed nicely, and it provided plenty of twist and turns.
The ending was not was what I was expecting and was pleasantly shocked at the whodunit. I am so glad I found this book to read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#littlegirlmissing