A very strong 4 stars for this one.

Ah teenagers and their secrets! We’ve all been there but I don’t recall ever thinking my parents would “kill me” over some of the mischief I got into.

A fun night of drinking and carousing turns deadly for a group of 16-17 year olds during (I’m assuming) their summer break from school. Five friends camp in a little area of woodland, surrounded by housing, overnight. In the morning one of them is found dead. DI Gina Harte and her team swing into action. The stories given by the four remaining friends all sound suspiciously similar. Gina is sure they are hiding something. Also of interest are the man who runs a garage/take away shop nearby, a trucker who parked up overnight at the garage and a local man who has previous form for voyeurism.

Everyone is put under a microscope but nothing is sticking. The next day another of the teens in found dead after a fall down some mossy steps near a creek in the woods. A half shoe print on his back indicates he may have had help with his descent! Despite Gina’s best efforts the kids are sticking to their story - they had a bit to drink and, ok, they shared a joint. That’s it! But Gina knows there is much more to the story yet.

At the same time she, and her secret love interest DCI Chris Briggs, are getting threatening messages about the death of Gina’s long dead abusive husband, Terry. Someone claims to know what really happened on the night he died. Gina is petrified the truth will come out and her life and the job she loves will be over. Briggs is the only person whom Gina has confided in.

The plot suddenly gets much, much murkier and all bets are off regarding what really happened. This story was excellently plotted with little bits of clues being slowly dribbled out but even then I was unable to crack it! The story also addresses bullying and how even seemingly harmless fun can have terrible consequences. That and petty jealousies can blow things out of proportion. When you’re 16 everything is high drama and the parents struggled to realise that, instead seeing things through more adult eyes. You never know how people are going to react. The kids had a pact of silence which only worked against them in the wash up. The ending was quite shocking and unexpected.

I’m glad to see DI Gina Harte is back. I’ve been reading the author’s new series but I do prefer this one as it is a bit darker and more realistic. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am providing this review voluntarily.

I love this whole series and this book is no exception! Exciting and with backstories for each character it kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely recommend!

A great addition to this series.
Teens meet in the moods to drink, party and do those stupid things teens do. The next morning one of the girls wakes up to pee, stumbles upon Leah - dead.
Caro and Anthony had been invited - but stayed home. Did they narrowly miss being killed?
Someone is stalking Caro - sending threatening messages. But Caro is starting to remember the last party. Did someone slip something in her drink?
Assigned to the case, Gina struggles to get the truth from the remaining teenagers. They are lying- who are they protecting?
Sandy is wheelchair bound, suffering abuse and neglect from her husband. He threatens her to uphold his alibi. Where did he really go that night?
Will the case be solved before another teenager is murdered?
Will Gina finally discover the person sending texts, claiming to have proof Gina killed her husband?
Fast paced. Excellent plot. Loved the characters. Did not guess the killer.
Highly recommend!

Fantastic instalment of the Gina Harte series I love this series and also how her character develops more with each story. This one focuses on a group of teenagers- one is found murdered after a night out camping together. Some start to receive threatening messages and as the story unfolds all is not as it seems. Great suspense thriller

One Left Behind by Carla Kovach
I give this book 4.25 stars

In a patch of dark forest 5 teenage school friends prepare to spend a night away from home. But as the sun rises the following morning, only 4 are left alive.
Devastated, Leah’s friends all swear they didn’t see or hear anything. Her best friend sobs but is it grief, or is she hiding something? What happened to Naomi in the hour that no one can account for? And what troubled past lies behind the boy who organised the trip, and who is prepared to lie to keep it buried?
As the cracks in their stories grow, it’s clear one of them is lying, and one of them is next…

Can be read as a standalone or DI Gina Harte book 9.
This is another brilliant addition to such a fantastic series,the story is tense and gripping from the first to the last page. Although l tried to guess who was responsible, l didn’t see it coming! I enjoy Police
procedural books and this is so well written.
With thanks to Netgalley,Carla Kovach and Bookouture for my chance to read and review this book.

One left behind by Carla Kovach is number 9 in the DI Gina Harte series and Wow, this one like her others, does not disappoint. This is a follow up to the last book but can also be read as a standalone.
It’s August and the school holidays and 5 teenagers decide to go camping and have a laugh. There is booze and drinks and drugs and all they want to do is have a good time. But when they wake up the next day, they find that one of the parties is dead. Each other swears they didn’t hear anything, and the deceased was happy before they all fell asleep.
DI Gina Harte is called in to investigate with her colleague DS Jacob with boss Briggs showing the background. As each teenager is questioned Gina knows that they all are hiding something but what?
This is another intriguing, tense thriller with her famous multi layered story that comes together in the end. It has current storyline and I like how the relationship between Gina and Briggs is getting on, and they have concluded the story of her husband to rest. 5 stars from me.

This is a creepy Atmospheric mystery. I was engaged almost from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down for two days.

I LOVE the Gina Harte series! I've read every book so far and enjoy the evolution of the characters.
I felt this book was a bit different than the previous ones and the plot may not have been as strong as the others but One Left Behind is still a very enjoyable read and didn't disappoint. I enjoy Carla's writing style very much and can't wait to read her next Gina Harte as well as her 2 standalone books that should be published next year.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't what I expected. It was a little dry for my taste, and I couldn't keep interested. The drama and storyline of the teenagers seemed a little over the top. I wish I could have liked it more but once I was 25% done, the book seemed to loose the spark it once had. The ending had some twists, and the storyline wrapped up nicely for the most part. But unlike most of the reviewers I will have to rate it 2 stars for the lack of spark.

Really enjoyed this domestic thriller by Carla Kovach. Brilliant characters (flaws and all) that I found intriguing although sometimes maddening. Great storyline and delivery.
Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

My Review:
Wow, wow, wow Carla Kovach really outdid herself with this book. It was such a fabulous read that left you wanting more. This book is part of series but can definitely be read as a stand alone. I’ve only read a few books from this series and had no trouble following what was going on in any of those books.

Ok, now let’s talk about this book. Where do I even begin. First, I absolutely loved it so let’s get that out of way. Next on to the characters. The characters were by far my favorite part of the book. I loved how all the detectives worked well with each other and how they interacted with each other. They knew how to work as a team and get the job done. Also, I loved the plot of the story. Five teenagers walk into the woods and only four come back out. Who isn’t intrigued by this. It makes you want to know more and question what really happened in those woods. On to that shocker of an ending. I almost had a heart attack and fell over when I found out who done it and why. The Why is so important to me and I was shocked to the core. It all made sense in the end and I loved it. This book was definitely a roller coaster that I never wanted to get off from. From the beginning to the end it kept me so engrossed and entertained. The hours flew by when I was reading this one.

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❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Five teenage friends spend the night camping and partying in the woods, one of them does not return.
The ninth in the DI Gina Harte series, although this is the first that I have read and it is fine to read as a standalone novel.
Carla Kovach certainly tells a good story. I loved her style. An easy to follow plot, police briefings are cleverly used to move the story along and also as a recap for the reader. Characters are well developed and you really get sense of place with the detailed description of location and smells.
Although the book is written in the third person, one character is written in the first person. It gives this character a real strength of voice, all the more impactful, as she is a character who is isolated and trapped in her own body, a fascinating choice by this author.
Plenty of characters to suspect, just as I thought I’d got it all figured out, a little red herring winked at me and I was back to square one. It really is a cracking read.
A lot could be said in my opinion, for books such as this to be included in the school curriculum. It is so modern and relevant. Topics such as domestic violence, loyalty, drugs, guilt, friendship and the perils of social media are all right there, aching to be discussed.
For a teenager looking to get into crime fiction, this is the perfect place to start. As an adult who can barely remember his teens, this was a gripping novel, although I’m not going to be taking any night time walks through the woods for quite a while.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookoutre for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have liked every book this author has written and this was no exception. Fast paced story telling, great characters and had me hooked to the end. Would recommend.

What an absolute cracker book 9 of this series is!!
This book is just fabulous!
This time, the story revolves around a group of teenagers and due to Carla’s fabulous writing skills, I actually felt like I was right in the middle of that gang and feeling the pressure to “fit in” as so many teens do.
The thing I love the most about this series, and picking up the latest instalment is the fact that I feel like “I’m coming home” because the characters are so strong and so familiar that it’s great to be back amongst them.
I’m not going to waffle on but what I will say is that, if you haven’t started this series yet, then please do, it just keeps going from strength to strength and I for one, just can’t get enough of it.

DI Gina Harte is back in this 9th book in the series. Yes 9 books and still going strong ! Gina is on the hunt for who murdered a teenager after a night of partying in the woods. Was it her friends or a stranger? who? also while looking for the killer she is dealing with who knows about her past and sending her texts ? Is it Hannah or is it someone from her past? SO many mysteries going on . This book has you captivated from the beginning . I absolutely love this series. Love Gina !! Highly recommend this series especially this book to anyone who wants a book they can sit down and fly thru reading. It's that good! Read today you won't be disappointed.

Detective Gina Harte has a new case, and it is an odd one. A teenager is found murdered in the woods the morning after she and her friends were camping out in the woods. As Gina and her team begin to interview the other teens, there are no clear answers because the kids are all harboring secrets. What do they really get up to in night time outdoor parties? When a second teen is killed, the investigations heats up. When a convicted voyeur is discovered living in a house that borders the woods, Gina presses hard believing she has found her perp. While this guy might be a real criminal, is he a murderer? Soon the friends start disappearing, and from the chapters written in their voices, we know that something sinister is a foot. Will Gina and the team find them before it's too late? Meanwhile, someone is sending secret texts to Gina and her boss/lover that threatens to reveal secrets from her past that could ruin the life she has built. It is a great ride with a surprise ending.

It’s become a given that any Gina Harte novel I will adore and will be awarded a full five star rating.

A continued series will always need each additional book to be a step up from the previous and as always this one, hit all the markers that make a great police procedural.

As an opening I don’t think I’ve read one better than this. It certainly set the pace for the rest of the novel.

There was so much going on in the first few chapters I couldn’t wait to find out what was going on with the various lines of enquiries that emerged. There were many suspects that could be the culprit and as you read you know you’re going to be surprised who it will be.

A great premise that was both shocking and savage, with a storyline that made me really look at how we as parents don’t really know what our children could be up to. We’ve all been there as teenagers ourselves and likely broke rules installed by parents but you like to think we as a parent ourselves have taught our children the dangers that these characters face in the story.

Overall it had me gripped from when I started and didn’t want to put it down. Trying to find quiet time so I could absorb the story was difficult during a busy few days but I can say it was another fabulous novel for Carla Kovach to top with book 10!

I was looking forward to this book, but did not enjoy it. Teens go camping/partying and one ends up dead. The “who dunnit” was entertaining for the first 20–30% of the book, but then quickly lost steam.

DI Gina Harte returns in One Left Behind which is the ninth book in the police procedural series by Carla Kovach and it is an entertaining read.

A group of school friends go camping one night but not all of them are alive the following morning but who is telling the truth and what secrets are being hidden

The story moves along at a decent pace although the main storyline does feel a little bit distracted from by the series arc of Harte’s background story which is referenced on a too regular basis

Overall this was an enjoyable read and book 10 is awaited

Another chilling tale cinched by Gina as this one unravels pretty quickly. I would love to hear this on audiobook! I’ve tried to grab every one in this series because it consumes me. Love the cover and the blurb.

What did I like? These chillers always keep you guessing and you don’t have to read them in order but it’s fun to do so! The tales are always dark and alarming but this one really gave me the chills. I didn’t guess whodunnit but I loved the ending!

Would I recommend or buy? I’d love to sit down one day when the series is finished and do a read through. The author does an amazing job at keeping you hooked through out the book! As always five star fun! Mystery lovers will LOVE this series!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!