This is a new police series for me as a reader but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story gripped me straight away and developed into much more than just a murder case.

Many thanks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be very well written. DS Hart is a police detective in England. She is called out to the scene of a murder. Ultimately, the murder ties into her own personal tragedy. I think this is more of an adult read. This is very English, and I found myself occasionally needed to figure out words and phrases through context clues. All that being said, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, complex plot lines, and a satisfying story.

I haven't read any others in the series, so that may have affected my opinion. I liked the story and the characters but it seemed like a very long book - of course everything worked out in the end. I would read another by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

This is the first book I have read from this Author. I really enjoyed it and will go back and read the rest of the series now. The story begins with a murder of a man. DS Hart and her team are called in to investigate and solve this crime, they some immigrants who are living in a pub garage but what they're doing there? There's also a bit of police corruption thrown in too! An action packed book bursting with lots of different roads, how do they all come together in the end? Read the book to find out more!
Blurb .... You can cover up the truth but it won’t stay buried forever.
A man is found bludgeoned to death in woodland by the village of Canwick, and the close-knit community is sent into shock. Detective Karen Hart, still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter nearby, is brought in to investigate the horrific murder.
It soon becomes clear that dark secrets lie behind Canwick’s unspoiled appearance. When Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers, she faces a race to find proof before the culprits slip from her grasp. But when key witnesses start disappearing, it’s obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy to keep prying eyes away from the truth.
But in a village where everyone knows everyone, who knows more than they are letting on—and who can Hart really trust? She’s in deep and she’s never been more alone. She must confront the tragedy of her own past if she wants to catch the killers before it’s too late. Because one thing’s for certain—there’s no turning back…

A very good story with believable and likable characters. There are many suspects and so many twists that I could not put it down.

In a small village, where everyone knows everyone, a man is found brutally beaten to death. The book starts with him running for his life and he manages hide a book before he is beaten.
DS Karen Hart is sent to investigate. She has troubles of her own, having recently lost her husband and child in a vehicle accident. The only clue on the body of the man is a coaster beer mat from.a local pub. On it is written a date and time.
When the detectives go to the Red Lion pub, the owners are not helpful at all and seem to be hiding a secret. Soon one of their secrets are discovered when 3 men are found in a garage where they are obviously kept in disgusting surroundings.
The detectives decide to investigate more, but while awaiting authorization to search, the building is on fire.
I would have liked this book a lot more if it flowed a bit quicker.
I do thank the publisher, author and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.

Can I just say how much I love reading this author's work. I love reading about D.S. Hart and what she uncovers. She is a smart D.S. that does not back down from anything. She makes an amazing detective. When she starts looking into the Red Lion Pub D.S. Hart ends up uncovering more than just a murder. It seems that there is some human trafficking among some corruption within the police department. D.S. Hart while working and uncovering what is really going on within the Red Lion Pub will have to come to terms with her husband and daughter's death. She will finally get the answers that she needed when it first happened and she learns that her gut instinct was correct on it. Now as I started reading I did not know that this was book three, so I would recommend that you read the first two books in this series just so you get a bit of a back story. Though you can read this book as a stand-alone.

I am excited to see what else D.S. Hart will have to solve in her next book. The plot was very steady and the characters were well developed. If you like police mysteries then pick this up!

This is my first DS Hart book, and I’m not sure I’ll pick up the next one. To me, the pace seemed a little off, and all the characters too fraught. And it’s also just a little heavy on the explaining.

I am usually a fan of DS Butler and there really was nothing wrong with this book either in the plot the characters or the style of writing. However my reviews are always about liking and not liking and it was the subject matter that didn’t suit me. So purely on personal taste I’m only giving it three stars so don’t llet that put you off reading it and I will definitely try more from this author.

This is a very suspenseful police procedural that takes place in a small English village.. It can stand by itself, but I highly recommend you read the previous book in this series. The characters are diverse and very realistic. The style of writing produces good mental images and is easy to read with few Brit phases. Karen remains on the edge of an emotional breakdown through most of the book, but holds it together for a satisfying conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and met some interesting characters.

Book 3 in the Karen Hart mystery series and a man is found in the woods bludgeoned to death. She is also dealing with her own tragedy and doesn’t know who to trust. Secrets and lies.

Detective Karen Hart is barely coping with the death of her husband and child. They were killed in an automobile accident. There were no witnesses or evidence found at the scene.
Right now her focus is on the murdered man found in a small forest of trees. He is almost unrecognizable. He has been bludgeoned to death. His clothes are dirty and he has dirt encrusted in his nails. He has a very unkempt look about him. He could possibly be a homeless person.
While investigating this case she is led to the owners of a bar. These were the people she had been investigating when the tragic loss of her family happened. That case had been closed because there was lack of evidence.
Now the coaster found on the back pocket of their murder victim points them back to that case again. A case of white slavery.
An intriguing look into the cases involving murder, slavery, arson and corruption.
Excellent read!

I enjoyed this book very much however I had no idea it was part of a series. I might have liked it more had I read the other books in the series but I am just guessing. It reads fine as a stand alone book. DS Karen Hart is a strong female character who has lost her husband and daughter. This is a very original story and very involved. I would definitely read the other books in this series and those still yet to come.

Detective Karen Hart is a police officer in a small hamlet in Great Britain. She is drawn into a murder case when a body is found in a local park. Karen is a widow and is still haunted by the traffic accident that took her husband and daughter. There are people in the department that make her job easier and some that make it harder. Dealing with personal grief, departmental politics and interference from the outside she still manages to do a good job of solving the crime.

The location is fun (UK), the characters are interesting and the mystery stays a mystery until the end. I recommend this to mystery fans and police story fans everywhere.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I feel very meh about this book. I liked the main characters and the setting was good, but there were too many obvious parts. The reader is supposed to think that the case of the bludgeoned man from the first chapter and the deaths of DC Hart's husband and daughter 5 years previously are not connected, but from the moment Hart gets involved in the case, it's clear that they are related.

The antagonists are crystal clear, like, there is never a doubt that this one or that one are no good. And yet, the protagonists are somehow surprised? I dunno, but I'm not buying it. I prefer some twists in the plot instead of having it all served up so neatly.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first D.S. Butler book, but not the first book in the series. It wasn’t necessary to read the previous books. The author includes all the information you need in the story. Still mourning the loss of her family, DI Karen Hart lands a case that has ties to a previous case she's investigated. There are numerous twists and turns as the story unfolds. It kept me guessing and I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this great detective mystery. Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing. Couldn't put it down!

Murder abounds in this story. From the beginning of the book, you hold on to your seat and the book takes off. The past coming back to haunting the department and our favourite inspector is at the forefront of it. There is no shortage of mystery, suspense and valid issues that occur today, all over the world. Once one mystery is solved, another crops up.
This was a well rounded read. 4.7*/5*

This is the first book I have read from this Author. I really enjoyed it and will go back and read the rest of the series now. The story begins with a murder of a man. DS Hart and her team are called in to investigate and solve this crime, they some immigrants who are living in a pub garage but what they're doing there? There's also a bit of police corruption thrown in too! An action packed book bursting with lots of different roads, how do they all come together in the end? Read the book to find out more!

A fascinating look at the life of a policewoman. After the loss of her family nothing much matters except work. A murder, a human trafficking ring and a fire all combine to bring back memories of a very bad time. A very well-written novel with superb characters and real life action.