I received a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily...

Lost Souls is the third book in the Lockhart & Green series. It can be read as a standalone but, after reading this, I am definitely checking out the first two books. It focuses on the murders of children who have all been let down by society in some way. The bodies are staged in churches, all in the prayer position of kneeling with clasped hands. Detective Hart asks for psychologist, Lexi Green's help and they set about trying to find what links the children together. Dan is horrified to find out that all the children passed through the same school where Lexi's boyfriend works. That makes things difficult because it means he can't share much about the case with Lexi due to conflict of interest concerns. On the side, he's also looking for his missing wife and makes a breakthrough in her case.

This book was everything a thriller should be. It moved at a really good pace with little bits of information thrown in which had me suspecting everyone except the police at one point. The surprise reveal was actually a surprise for me which said a lot about how well the author hid the truth throughout the book.

The police team was made up of good solid individuals whom I liked. Lexi Green also fit in quite well with them and was just as likable. I especially liked the civilian IT worker, Lucy. Read the book and you'll understand exactly why I liked her so much.

This was an excellent read and I am encouraged to try more books by Mr Merritt.

Due to very disturbing content, this book should be read by adults and older teens.

This is the third book to feature Dan Lockhart in this ever improving series. Dan is called to a church where a child has been murdered. There is a whole list of suspects which adds to the suspense and increased tension of the plot. I loved the long list of characters and the complex nature of Dan, as he continues the search for his missing wife while trying to do his job. A very skilfully written book with an interesting plot and an ending which leaves me impatiently wanting to read the next in the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Solid mystery with a well-developed cast of characters. Several sub-plots going on, and all tied in together well. The characters are believable and have their own stories which blend well with the mystery at hand. A good number of red herrings thrown in to keep you guessing who the killer is. For those that like well matched crime solving partners and enough suspects to keep you guessing, it's definitely a good read.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

a creepy one this...with the perp leaving the dead body in a kneeling position with the hands set in prayer position in a church and the fact that the victim was a child makes the murder scene more horrific...

it was nice to catch up with the gang to see where they are, brilliant team that work well together with lexi but with her boyfriend making the list of suspect lexi is kept out of talks as much as possible but as more victims are found in this strange way, dan manages to keep lexi's involvement a secret...

brilliantly written book that kept me hooked right till then end, cant wait till the next in this brilliant series comes out

Death was a fresh start for them, that was how he saw it.’
This is the immediate, introductory level of thrill that Lost Souls posses, we are quickly slapped in the face with how chilling our unknown assailant is and that is only the starter of this deliciously dark literary meal.
Lost Souls is the third instalment of the Lockhart and Green series, but I feel that you could quite happily read it dependent of the first two – but if you’re an all or nothing reader like me, you’ll binge read Knock Knock and Who's There? Like the greedy crime thriller reader that we all know you are! So, we are reintroduced to detective Dan Lockhart and Dr Lexi Green, a duo who both contribute the smarts and gall to their current case. Lockhart is rigid, a mystery wrapped in a conundrum but as his personal life is spotlighted throughout Lost Souls you begin to understand him further and why he appears stand-offish. Lexi Green on the other hand, I feel, balances out Lockhart's bravado with her intellectual take on things, while also appearing to soften our detective, becoming his confident while he works through his search for his missing wife. During the storyline, our antagonists begin to subtly clash over the approach to the case that involves children, on that resurfaces a personal trauma for Lexi while also appearing to close to home. I enjoyed the alternative narratives from both our main characters, I loved delving further into their undercurrent of layers as the plotline begun to sinisterly unravel. I also enjoyed how Chris injected various chapters written from the unknown assailant’s point of view, how by doing so we are able to get a further grasp of the psychology and reasoning behind his actions. This, for me, created a further intensity, where we are reading the sequence of events and justifications for the murderer, while also being able to create ties with evidence found by Lockhart and Green. Multiple narratives are a delicious way to feast upon the events of a book and Chris has balanced, connected and executed them with precision, while leaving us gasping for more after every single chapter. The narratives alternate seamlessly, it really worked.
Lost Souls has an incorporated ribbon of non-fiction laced around the core storyline, Chris Merritt cleverly sews in real life themes and cases into is books, ones that he nods to in the acknowledgements. This is the same for this slice of crime thriller, he has cleverly built upon a foundation of haunting authentic cases and plaited the threads into a shocking fictional read that kept me gripped from start to finish. The writing is great, the plot is gripping and nail biting, a complete roller coaster ride, one that will make you double check what lurks within the shadows.
Do yourself a favour and go grab yourself a copy of Lost Souls, grab a hot drink and some baked goods, hide away and consume! I highly recommend that you do!

Another thrilling instalment in the series starring Dan and Lexi.

Dan is tasked with catching a murderer - whilst trying to figure out what happened to his missing wife and keeping his officious boss off his back. It seems very stressful trying to keep all those balls in the air but he manages it, somehow. He has a strong and dedicated team around him, which helps.

Lexi has a few things to contend with herself. She has a heavy workload counselling clients through trauma and has no intention of getting involved with one of Dan's cases, since the last one left her with plenty of trauma of her own, but there is something about him that she trusts....

A lot going on in this book and the author once more brings all the threads of the story together beautifully.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series (although to be honest, I will read anything this author writes since I enjoyed his Zac Boateng series as well).

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

This is book #3 of the Lockhart and Green series. Whilst part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone book. I really like these two main characters, DI Dan Lockhart and Dr Lexi Green, and thought they worked well together throughout the book. Dan is a tenacious detective who doesn’t always play by the rules, and would rather suffer the consequences of this once the job is done. I loved the side story of him looking into his wife’s disappearance from many years before, with this fitting nicely alongside the main storyline. Lexi is also dealing with her own past demons and is trying to keep her feelings for Dan purely professional. I can’t wait for another book in the series to see where both their storylines go!

I was hooked into this story from the very beginning, with the body of 12-year-old Donovan Blair being found posed at the altar of a church. When another body is discovered in similar circumstances, it becomes obvious that they have a serial killer on the loose who is targeting vulnerable children within the care system. We hear from the killer in chapters interspersed amongst the main storyline, but given no clue as to who they may be. I have to admit I think I suspected everyone at some point throughout the book, and loved being kept in the dark until well into the story. We certainly aren’t short of suspects to choose from, having so many different agencies and organisations working with these children. The care system storyline I did find particularly heart-breaking, seeing children who already had so much neglect in their lives to fall prey to someone who they trusted.

The storyline flew along at a great pace, bringing all aspects of the police investigation into it. I loved the civilian analyst, Lucy Berry’s role on Dan’s team, and am wondering where I can find me a job like that! Her role interpreting and analysing information and turning into useful leads for the team to work on was so interesting, and I loved where Lucy’s storyline went. The other members of Dan’s team all gelled together so well, and I particularly liked the relationships they had with each other.

Shamefully this is the first book I’ve read from this series, although I have read books from this author’s previous series which I’ve really enjoyed. For me to be able to come in at book #3 and read it without any confusion of characters and plotlines is great. I knew there was an ongoing storyline of Dan’s missing wife, but this didn’t overpower the murder story at all. It does however make me want to go and read the previous two books, which I will most definitely be doing to catch up on what I’ve missed! It is also one of the first books I’ve read which includes a Covid-19 storyline, which I suppose is something we will need to get used to! I absolutely loved this book and it has kept me on the edge of my seat for the last few days. This was a brilliant serial killer thriller, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to carry on Dan and Lexi’s story. Fantastic!! Highly recommended!!

Lost Souls is definitely one of those books that once started you just have to keep reading no matter how late it is.

DI Lockhart is still searching for his missing wife Jess even though 11 years have gone by since she went missing but that must be put on hold for the moment when the body of a young boy is found inside a church, kneeling in front of the alter as if in prayer.

This is a case that Lockhart wants solving as soon as possible so as in the past he once again seeks the help of clinical psychologist Dr. Lexi Green, renowned for getting into the minds of serial killers and whose insights into behavior, motives and backgrounds is second to none.

In a race against time before more lives are lost, the suspect list grows and the case becomes more complex and almost impossible to solve.

I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to this totally absorbing and brilliant thriller of a read.
Roll on the next. Loved it !!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC for my honest review.

I finally had the chance to read the first two books of this series last September, and I've been looking forward to meet up with Detective Dan Lockhart and psychologist Lexi Green ever since. I have to say that this third book was well worth the wait! Once again we have a serial killer investigation and a typical detective thriller being mixed with the psychological as well as the personal lives of Dan and Lexi... And it's a thriller cocktail that works remarkably well. Lost Souls is one of those books that will have you in its grip and won't let go until you reach that final page: make sure to clear your schedule beforehand, because it will be very hard to stop reading once you've read the first couple of chapters.

I always love a good serial killer thriller, and we have another twisted mind on our hands in this sequel. Lost Souls uses a multiple POV structure, switching between Dan, Lexi and the killer so we get to experience the things happening from different angles. I would recommend reading these books in order, because you will probably not understand the dynamics between the different members of the team (including Lexi). Especially since there is quite some personal development as well in Lost Souls... And all three books are excellent reads in the first place.

As for the characters... I really like this cast of characters, and although I could have done without the whole jealous boyfriend angle, as a whole it was great to meet up with them again. Each member of the team brings their own little something to the investigation and story, and together they help turning Lost Souls into a success. I'm especially left wanting for more concerning Dan's personal story... What a way to end the story with that development! I'm already craving for the next book, that's for sure.

The plot was another solid one, and the plot development and plot twists were spot on. I was so sure of myself that I had it all figured out early on, only to be proven completely wrong towards the ending. And I always love it when a story is managing to mislead me this way! You will have a nice pool of different suspects and hints to consider in the first place, so there is plenty to keep you busy and on your toes along the way.

In short, Lost Souls is another successful book of the Detectives Lockhart and Green series and without doubt recommended if you enjoy the genre and like your detective thrillers with a little something extra.

This series gets better and better. The writing, the principal characters and the plot are all excellent; DI Dan Lockhart is a complex character who is looking for his missing wife while facing a heavy workload. Dan's working relationship with Dr Lexi Green is interesting; she treated him for PTSD following his time in the army and now helps him with complex cases. Here a series of children are found dead in prayerful poses in empty churches and the mystery is to find what links them and why they are being taken. Brilliant!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Lost Souls, the third novel to feature DI Dan Lockhart of The Met and psychologist Dr Lexi Green.

When the body of 12 year old Donovan Blair is found posed in a quiet church Dan knows that he needs Lexi’s help in figuring out the killer’s identity and motive. It is Lexi who quickly realises that Donovan will not be the only victim and this soon confirmed when Charley’s body is found in similar circumstances. If this wasn’t enough Dan is still searching for his missing wife, Jess, and has made a breakthrough but doesn’t have the time to investigate.

I enjoyed Lost Souls which is an interesting read, full of twists and turns. Sadly it deals with at risk children and the support they need but don’t always get. This is not unfamiliar to most people in the UK, but the author manages to make it more meaningful and impactful with his characters, individual stories and statistics.

The novel is told from various points of view, mostly Dan and Lexi, but there are glimpses of the victims and a gradual unfolding of the unnamed killer’s backstory, which is heartbreaking in itself. I didn’t guess the killer’s identity, mostly because I was spoilt for choice - there are at least five candidates who fit the profile and I couldn’t make up my mind. Still, it was absorbing to watch the team jump from one to another as new information came to light. I think the novel is well put together with the team following all avenues until a chance remark from Lexi puts them on the right trail.

There is a subplot of the civilian analyst Lucy Berry looking into information compiled by a graduate student’s algorithm. I still don’t understand the science but it seems to work and finally uncovers a long standing criminal enterprise.

Dan is still searching for Jess who disappeared 7 years ago. Her family wants her declared dead and he refuses to give up. There are some indications from the cliffhanger at the end that he might be getting to the heart of it and I’ll be glad if this plot line reaches a conclusion. I’m not a big fan of ongoing plots as it makes the novels harder to read as stand-alones and taxes my memory for what’s gone before. Just get it done and let him move on to the future rather than living in the past. Perhaps then he can start the relationship with Lexi that the two of them constantly skirt around.

As an aside it was interesting to see that the author assumed life would be back to more or less normal In January 2021. You know what they say about assumptions. At least he didn’t ignore it completely.

Lost Souls is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Another awesome book in this series.
Someone is targeting young teens with a troubled life. The killer is luring them in, killing them, and then posing their bodies in a church hoping that the kids find redemption as angels. Det. Lockhart, along with his team, is desperate to stop the killer. He looks to his psychologist friend, Lexi, to help profile the killer. Her suggestions lead to multiple suspects, one of which is her current boyfriend. Meanwhile, Lockhart is also following up on leads to his missing wife, Jess. Can he find answers to Jess's disappearance and stop the killer before someone else is hurt? How will Lexi react to the news that her boyfriend is a suspect?
As always, Chris Merritt writes a story with a captivating plot, characters that are easy to relate to, and a story with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. Looking forward to the next book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lost Souls by Chris Merritt is the third in the Detectives Lockhart & Green series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


 Series Background:  (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)

DI Dan Lockhart is a detective in the Major Investigation Team (the Murder Squad).  He doesn't always play by the rules.  He is still trying to come to terms with his wife's disappearance 11 years ago.   Psychologist Dr. Lexi Green,  had tried to help him with this and his flashbacks, but now she helps him when a difficult case needs solving.   She is still trying to get over the loss of her brother.  Although Lexi has feelings for Dan, she has set them aside, because Dan is obsessed with his missing wife Jess.



My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

A young boy is found dead, posed beneath the altar at St. Mary's Church, hands clasped in prayer, and tied with a white ribbon, a bible verse nearby.   Young Donovan had a rough life, and now it is over.

As Dan consults with Lexi, she is sure that this killer is not done.  Unfortunately, she is right, as a young girl's body is found in a different church, but with identical characteristics.  They will have to link the two and hope there is not a third body before they figure out is is killing these vulnerable children.

Dan is reporting directly to DSI Paula Burrows, since the DCI post that Porter left when he was promoted to Media Relations has not yet been filled.  She is a stickler for going by the book.  Dan will have to tread carefully.  He is also still searching for Jess, but he has to put that on the back burner until this killer is found.

Meanwhile, Lexi is dating Tim, and although it is going well, something is holding her back.  When she finds out that Tim worked at the same school attended by both victims, things get a little tense between Dan and Lexi.


My Opinions:  

This book picked up speed for me, where I had though the first two books seemed long, this one moved much faster.  I really enjoyed it.  It may be that I am starting to like the characters a little more, and now have an interest as to where they are headed.

The pace was good, and the suspects were many.  The identity of the actual perpetrator came as a surprise to me, which was good (although to be honest I was hoping it was someone else).

The plot was quite good, if a little dark, as it dealt with vulnerable, missing children.   It is a little scary that a lot of this was based on actual cases, and that the number of actual missing children is so high.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!

Lockhart and Green reunite in this fast paced thriller. Donovan Blair is found dead in a church positioned by the killer in a prayer pose. Lockhart, still tormented by the disappearance of his wife has to find the killer before he/she strikes again and calls in Green to assist with profiling. Donovan was known to social care services and other agencies helping children rebuild their lives. Lots of suspects soon start to appear.
I really enjoyed this book. Received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review

Lost Souls is another gripping thriller from Chris Miller and the third In the Dan Lockhart and Lexi Green series. The series just gets better and better.
After a proposed sighting of Dan Lockhart’s wife Jess in nearby Whitstable. Lockhart has been trawling Kent to find her for several months While on a stakeout he recognises his brother in laws car. The brother that says he hasn’t seen her and wants to pronounce her dead.
He suddenly gets a call of about a murder of 12-year-old Donovan Blair found dead in a London church with his hands tied together by a white ribbon kneeling as if he was praying and a verse in the bible highlighted. Donovan a troubled kid. Who is in foster care, is an abused child and parents that are drugs addicts? Instinct tells Lockhart and with Green’s guidance know that this is not going to be a solitary incident and a few days later another child’s body turns up.
This is another brilliant episode in the series. I found it to be fast-paced chilling thriller and this episode was so realistic to today’s society as the author did mention not only the COVID-19 pandemic. But the pro’s and cons of police work. But also, how frequent children go missing when they have problems in their lives and how many children get lost in the system. Five stars from me.

What a fab police procedural with a disturbed and intriguing killer! ‘Lost Souls’ is also such an apt title. As I saw it, there were many lost souls in this book, all of them equally relevant to the plot.

From start to end, there was a liveliness about the police team. I felt like I was in the hub of an incident room when they were all together, working through the clues. I enjoyed the complexity of Dan Lockhart’s character too. His military past and the way he dealt with everything in his present made him such a well rounded character, and his personal story was so compelling. The subplot of Dan’s missing wife also gave me a huge reason to fly through this book.

Tension gripped me throughout as the killer lured his victims. I literally had shivers down my spine.

My guesses at who the killer was were all over the place. Then when that ending came, it was phenomenal and exciting! ‘Lost Souls’ is an action filled, fear fest of a crime read. It’s gritty, tense and will have you biting your nails as the answers spill out!

Another good book by this author. The positives are the plot, backstory of the characters, inclusion of the pandemic in stride without standing out. The negatives are too many characters without distinguishing their names properly, repetition of domestic status of the civilian in every chapter, too much of ruminating to the extent of boring. Though I would like to give 3 stars, I am making it 4 because of the issues concerning homeless children and their plight. It’s heartbreaking that nobody cares about them or their welfare.

Thank you #Netgalley and #Bookouture for allowing me to read an arc of Lost Souls by Chris Merritt. I had not read the first two books in the series, and I think that was a mistake. I do this all the time, and usually have no problem, but in this book I could not keep the characters (and the suspects) straight. I’m not sure if it’s because they were new to me, or there were too many, or the usage of first name only, last name only, sometimes on the same page was confusing. The result was sometimes I had no idea who anyone was and what their ‘story’ was.
However, the story was good, and I liked the chapters from the killer’s POV. And, even though I was confused about the characters, the ending of the book was amazingly good. I think if you have read the first two books you will like this one. I might have to find the first two books myself now.
This is the first book I have read that mentioned Covid and I thought it was done seamlessly, so kudos for that.

This was an excellent novel from beginning to end. Police detective Dan’s quest to find out what happened to his missing wife leads us to the tragic murder of a young teenager. This complex murder mystery becomes heartbreaking at times when we learn what happened to these tragic young people and reaches a major turning point for Dan to solve just as he learns what actually happened to his wife.

Another gripping instalment in this well established series with a twisted plot, fast pace and enough red herrings to keep you guessing.I can't wait for the next book!