The Little Grave by Carolyn Arnold is the 1st book in her new Detective Amanda Steele series. I have been a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her series. After completing The Little Grave, I am thrilled to say this series could be the best one yet. I loved this book and its wonderful heroine, Amanda Steele.

Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department. Amanda tragically lost her daughter and husband to a horrific car accident over 5 years ago, and to this day, she cannot get past the nightmares and deep grief that still haunts her. Amanda is very good at her job, and hides the fact that she needs to get illegal Xanax pills to help get her through each day; she also is distanced from her family, unable to see them.

Amanda is called to the scene of a possible suicide, only to discover the dead man is the drunk driver who killed her family. Though she is told not to be on this case, which is personal, Amanda discovers some clues that make it look more like murder. Amanda pleads with her boss to be part of this investigation, even accepting a rookie detective, who becomes her partner. Her boss does require her to have an alibi for the time period of the victim’s death, which means Amanda needs to find the one night stand she had the night before, something she has being doing for a while to block out her grief.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, pulse pounding mystery that had so many twists and turns, keeping me glued to my kindle. Amanda begins to discover different clues, especially of a cold case that the victim may have been part of. She finds a hidden clue as part of a bracelet worn by the victim, bringing in different departments to investigate a pedophile ring, which has been going on for years. To say too much more would be spoilers, and this was a great story that needs to be read from start to finish.

The Little Grave was an excellent crime thriller that was suspenseful, intense, and kept us guessing to the end. The cold case brings out the people involved in the ring, but who killed the victim. I really liked Amanda, as she made a great heroine, and also liked her new partner. The Little Grave was so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in future books of The Amanda Steele series. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this book

This book was a bit slow to start but if you hang in there you will be pleasantly surprised.This is not a fast paced thriller this is a slow mystery with many layers. I did enjoy this book after I got to almost the middle of the book when the book started taking stride. I ended up loving it ! If you hang in there like I did you will also love this book and it has a shocking surprise ending!! Definitely look forward to the next in the series.

I give this a 3.5.

Detective Amanda Steele lost everything almost six years ago – her husband and daughter were killed by a drunk driver, and she shut out her parents and siblings, unable to be near them after her life fell apart. Now she spends her nights drinking too much and having anonymous one night stands, although somehow she still keeps it together enough to stay at her job as a homicide detective. One night, following yet another motel hook-up, she gets a called to a crime scene, and she finds the body of the man who killed her family. And when she uncovers a link between a silver bracelet he has on him and a past cold case involving a brutally murdered dancer, she finds herself mixed up in something very dangerous and unexpected.

The overall story was fine. The premise was interesting. I even empathized with her character still trying to get over the initial shock of losing her young daughter years later. And I was glad that there wasn’t much explicit violence, although there was enough explicit other stuff that I wish I’d had a warning before I started reading. (Seriously, big child abuse trigger warning.) I also liked the relationship between Detective Steele and her new partner Trent Stenson. He seems very non-stereotypical of many male detectives in this genre of book, which is definitely a good thing. I’d like to see that continue in the future books.

But I’m not sure why we spend most of the story with Detective Steele trying to track down an alibi for where she was during the murder, just because she didn’t want to tell her boss that she had a one night stand. Type in the license plate, get the name, hand it over. Be done with it. It was just too much. If it takes her that long to track down her alibi, it’s going to take her decades – and so many more books – to solve the bigger underlying crime that we’re left with at the end of this book.

And you really have to suspend your disbelief for Detective Steele ever actually being assigned to this case in the first place, especially since she’s the one with the most motive and a prime suspect, although outside of being asked for an alibi over and over – and even as she fails to provide one – everyone else pretends that this wouldn’t be an issue if the case ever actually went anywhere – reasonable doubt, anyone?

It’s a nice start to the series. With where it ended, I don’t know if my stomach can take where it might be going, but I’ll keep an eye out for what’s next for Detective Steele.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for my honest review. It did not influence my opinion.

Five and one-half years ago, Amanda Steele and her family were in a horrendous auto accident that left her husband and young daughter dead. But her survival left her empty and any interest in her job as local detective gone. When she is notified of the discovery of the body of the driver in a motel a few days following his release from prison, she feels nothing. His death won’t bring back her family.

Amanda is a severely damaged protagonist and the book swings into heavy emotion, pounding out the depth of her loss. Five and one-half years may as well be yesterday—the pain is still raw.

In the meantime, she has learned to satisfy certain basic needs, one of which she’ll now need as her alibi in his obvious murder. The conflict of interest would eliminate her from any investigation, but she is given a satellite cold case and soon the plot spins into a far more complex plot than the murder of the drunk driver who wiped out her family.

It’s Book 1 and what we know about Amanda is that she is hurting. There is a lot of development yet to happen in what is a promising protagonist with a rookie partner she doesn’t want. He’ll also need fleshing out—Trent’s character appealing from the beginning. The thought processes behind the investigation, interviews, and extended research lightens somewhat the dark plot.

The storyline is well-plotted and paced, but the rehashing of Amanda’s pain demanding constant attention slows the development, derails the gleaning of new leads, and the narrative repeatedly mires in melancholy.

A good, solid start to a new series that will benefit by additional character building as well as a complete picture of the setting. The author’s writing style is frank, unapologetic, and serious. Established Arnold fans will enjoy this new series.

Detective Amanda Steele is still reeling from the death of her husband and daughter nearly 6 years previously, when the person who killed them by drunk driving is released from prison and subsequently found dead a few days later in a gritty motel. Steele investigates his death, in order to hopefully, avenge the deaths of her beloved family. This is the first time I've read Carolyn Arnold story, and I hope it won't be the last! I'm not usually into crime fiction but really enjoyed getting to know Amanda, and working with her to solve the mystery (I felt as though I was one of her team). Will keep an eye out for more Detective Steele novels.

Having lost her husband and child to a drunk driver, Detective Amanda Steele is only surviving by numbing her grief with anonymous sex and illegally obtained prescription drugs.

When the man responsible for the death of her family is found dead in a motel room, Amanda fights to be allowed to work the case. (Given her obvious personal interest in it, plus the fact that she herself has a motive for murdering Chad Palmer, it’s hard to imagine this would ever have been permitted, but you have to suspend your disbelief on that one. To be fair, it’s made clear how irregular it is.)

As Amanda digs deeper, it soon becomes clear that Palmer’s death may be connected to other unsolved crimes and some dark secrets.

Amanda’s a bit of a maverick and not particularly nice to those around her, especially Trent, the rookie new partner she resents being made to have. You can’t really blame her, though. Poor Amanda really can’t catch a break - her life is full of more misfortune than anyone should have to deal with. I love a police procedural, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer my detectives with fewer demons.

It took me a little while to get into but the story did eventually grab hold. I certainly didn’t guess who killed Palmer, and I doubt many other readers would, either.

While the writing is generally fine, as a minor niggle there are a few instances of the wrong word being used - spurn for spur, fraternal for (presumably) paternal, annunciated for enunciated. As I had an advance copy, hopefully these will be picked up and corrected.

A new series for the new year and it was a really good read.
Detective Amanda Steele is about to head somewhere she shouldn’t when her colleague calls her and tells her some news. The man responsible for the death of her daughter and husband has just been found dead.
Amanda heads over there but is warned to not get involved in the case.
She is desparate to be part of the investigation so manages to make a deal with her boss.
At first it appears like a drunken accident but following the post mortem, it’s clear he was murdered.
There’s a bit if a lull in the middle of the book but it picks up again towards the end.
I had no idea who the killer was but even I didn’t expect that ending.
This is a good start to a new series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Had heard really good things about this one so was really looking forward to getting stuck in. It wasn’t as fast paced as I’d have liked and I found it drawn out a little bit to much that I was wondering when would it get going. I understand the main characters grief is a huge part of the storyline but I found it was so repetitive and bogged down the storyline. When it did get going it didn’t disappoint and loved how it came together. Loved the strong female character and how she was portrayed. Be interested to read the next in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC thats due to be published on the 11th of Jan.

I already can't wait for the next one! This one pulls you in from the very beginning. The characters are interesting. Amanda is dealing with a traumatic past that is in her face again as she investigates the murder of the man who altered her life forever. Her new partner Trent is more than meets the eye and I really liked him by the end. I also want much more of Logan. Things are left open there for a possible future case for Amanda that will be a great read. I also can't wait to see what comes next with certain members of the department!
The mystery is full of action and twists. I absolutely did not see that ending coming. The writing style was right up my alley and I found I was immersed in the story and read it straight through.

Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

Wow. This is my first book by Carolyn Arnold, but it will certainly not be my last! This book introduces us to Amanda Steele, a detective with a tragic history who, while working through her own demons, solves two truly horrendous cases. The ending of the book leaves enough of the story open to make you anticipate the second book in the series.

I never expected who the murderer was. The book had me guessing until the very last chapter. Amazing writing and it was a fast-paced read, which is my favorite type!

This is a very promising start to a new series. I really liked the character of Amanda, and the writing style, as she struggles to come to terms with the death of her husband and young daughter. Amanda becomes involved in the investigation of the drunk driver who killed her family. There was enough tension and twists to keep me interested and I never guessed the killer. A very good new series for lovers of crime thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

It’s been five years since Detective Amanda Steele’s life was derailed in the path of an oncoming drunk driver. The small community of Dumfries, Virginia, may have moved on from the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter, but Amanda cannot. When the driver who killed her family is found murdered in a motel room, she can’t keep away from the case.

Fighting her sergeant to be allowed to work an investigation with such a personal connection to her, Amanda is in a race to prove that she can uncover the truth. But the more she digs into the past of the man who destroyed her future, the more shocking discoveries she makes. And when Amanda finds the link between a silver bracelet in his possession and the brutal unsolved murder of a young exotic dancer, she realizes she’s caught up in something darker than she ever imagined and suspects that more girls could be in danger.

This was a really quick read because it was so interesting!

I love a strong female detective character, but initially for me, I found Detective Amanda Steele a little bit annoying because of her attitude at the beginning towards her rookie partner Detective Trent. As much as I understood her need to fly solo and take the lead in this case, I really felt she could have been slightly more accommodating and welcoming.

Apart from that the plot as well as the narration was great. There were some surprising twists and the ending was so unexpected. It just lifted the entire book to another level.. Just wish that there was a slightly more detailed ending to the unsolved murder of a young exotic dancer

Overall, a good start to a new series. Looking forward to more books in this series.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Detective Amand Stelle hears about the death of the man who killed her husband and daughter in a car accident while he was drunk driving. She goes to where the body is and even though she shouldn't, she looks around. It appears to be a suicide by alcohol -- but later it is determined he was murdered. Now Amanda's in trouble and needs an alibi, which she has, sort of, she doesn't have the name of the man she was with. Her boss team's her up with a rookie detective but later on, she is kicked off the case. She starts to work it from a different angle and this leads to connections with a couple of cold cases. The more she investigates she finds she is way over her head and in grave danger. Can she get the justice she is seeking, not just for herself but for the other people involved? A great story about what can happen in a detective's life, even in a small town. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

INTENSEFUL, emotional & suspenseful police procedural thriller. The character of the main detective (Amanda) has endured personal devastating tragedy which affects her view of life & influences her detective skills. Great characterization & storyline which keeps you on pins & needles until the terrific conclusion. First time reading this author but will definitely look for #2 in this series. RECOMMEND highly. Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC in return for my honest review.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Detective Amanda Steele's life was torn apart 5 1/2 years ago, and ever since then she has been in a tailspin. When she requests to investigate the murder of the man who broke her world in two, she is thrust into 2 cold cases that could or could not be related. I had a little bit of a time getting into this book, I would only be able to read a chapter at a time for about the first 10%. Once I got past Amanda's destructive behavior, I was able to enjoy the story and see how it unfolded. Characters are great and always looking out for Amanda: her best friend Becky, her sergeant who is like a 2nd father to her and her new partner, Trent the Rookie. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good detective story. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold. Releases Jan 11, 2021.

This is a book that has surprised me. I sat with the intentions of reading just a couple of chapters and ended up devouring the entire book in just one sitting.

I have been completely pulled into this one and found myself completely unable to put this down. I definitely will be watching out for the next book.

I adore the cover of this book, it definitely attracts the eye of the reader and makes you curious.

This is well written and unique. I have really enjoyed reading this and found myself trying to work out where the author was going to take this one.

This is my first read by this author but I am already keen to add more to my TBR.

I definitely recommend this book.

This is my go-to genre - crime thrillers with strong, lead female detectives. I was looking forward to this one after I read the premise. First I’ve read by this author and I found it to be just okay. I found some of it moved quite slowly, and not quite sure where the author is going to go with this series in the future - there were no cliff hangers at the end that left me anticipating more. I didn’t guess who committed the crime so that was a definite positive. I’m not writing this series off yet and will give the next book in this series a chance.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

This book was great and it was full of suspense. Once I started it was very hard to not finish the book. I absolutely loved the ending. It was not what I was expecting at all!” I eagerly await Book 2 in Detective Amanda Steele's new series!

Detective Amanda Steele has been on a downward spiral ever since her husband and daughter were killed by a drunk driver 5 years ago. Now that the driver is released from jail and is found dead, Amanda must get her act together and work with her new partner to solve the murder. This is a fast paced, unputdownable story with lots of suspects and tons of twist and turns. Great character development throughout and a story line that is both exciting and heartbreaking. Never saw that ending! I loved it! This is a great start to what will hopefully be a slew of Detective Amanda Steele stories!

A review of “The Little Grave: A completely heart-stopping crime thriller” by Carolyn Arnold

When the past comes crashing into the present, will Detective Steele survive

Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review.

The Little Grave is set for a January 11, 2021 release

Detective Amanda Steele, on the outside, is the perfect picture of a Dumfries Virginia police detective. The daughter of a retired police chief, she has worked her way up the ranks and is a respected member of society; but inside she is falling apart. As the fifth anniversary of the death of her husband and daughter at the hands of a drunk driver approaches, Amanda’s life has descended into a cycle of overwork, one-night stands, and overall bad choices as she tries to ease the pain and fill the void left behind. When she is partnered up with a rookie detective for a new murder case, personal demons and professional credibility collide as the victim turns out to be the very man who took her world from her not too long ago. Trying to chase down her own alibi and against her superior’s wishes, Amanda works the case from the sidelines at first, but the more details she uncovers, the connections are made to a cold case in another county as well as possibly a larger operation involving the lives or more than her and the victim. As the pieces fall together and the murderer is revealed, the revelation could cause Amanda to lose more than she ever thought possible.

The Little Grave is the first in the Detective Amanda Steele series of novels by author Carolyn Arnold, which is set for an early January release. Having previously read titles in both the Brandon Fisher FBI series and the Detective Madison Knight series, and as I am familiar with how well Arnold excels in this genre, I was excited to be at ground zero for this new adventure. Arnold does not disappoint, as from the opening sequence Steele is portrayed as a woman on the brink of self-destruction. As the story unfolds and Amanda’s personal demons are laid bare for the reader, Arnold captures the pain that only a mother can feel when they have lost a child. That angle alone would have made for an excellent story, but Arnold is not one to stop at mediocre as she weaves in seemingly unrelated side plots that ultimately works into the overall story and the true crime that has been committed. The ending chapters and ultimate climax sees Steele evolving into a stronger person than we saw in the opening of the story; and with more than one plot twist revealed, I am really looking forward to the direction the story takes in the upcoming books.
With “The Little Grave” Arnold has provided a strong opening to what I hope to be a long-running series. I am curious to see what adversities and challenges away Detective Steele in the future.