Patricia Gibney has hit another home run with the 10th book in the Lottie Parker series.

Lottie, Boyd and her team are up against one of their toughest cases as two women are found murdered, one child is safe, one is missing.

I love the tension in the team, when Lottie gets exasperated yet knowing they are all working as hard as they can to solve the case.

Boyd. I love Boyd. He is such a good soul and a kind man and tries to do right by everyone.

I could not put this book down, I might have half guessed the ending but it was great to follow the clues along with the team until the final answer is known.

I will be first in line for Book 11. Can't wait.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for another exciting yet complicated adventure for Lottie Parker.

Detective Lottie Parker finds herself investigating a particularly harrowing case when Isabel Gallagher is found brutally murdered on the floor of her baby’s nursery, her hand clutching a razor blade. When another young mother goes missing, Lottie fears that the cases are connected and that more lives may be put in danger. With little evidence to go on, the Ragmullin detectives have a race against time to find out just what links the women and find the person responsible.

Patricia Gibney’s Lottie Parker series is one that I have enjoyed since the first book and Little Bones, the tenth instalment, is no exception. It is always nice to reacquaint myself with Lottie and the rest of her team and the author has excelled herself with this exciting and fast-paced plot.

As always, the plot grabs you straight away, with a mysterious incident that occurred some time in the past. I love a prologue that makes you think and this definitely worked for me as I spent the rest of the book trying to work out how this event linked to what was happening in the present day. This was followed by a particularly horrible murder that really pulled on the heart strings, setting the scene for what is a very gripping story, at times tense and emotional.


Lottie is a great character who also feels real to me. Her family take more of a back seat in this book than in some of the others, although it is always nice to spend some time with Lottie’s mum, Rose, a character who always has some of the best lines! Lottie is clearly still feeling the impact of previous events and, judging by a revelation in Little Bones, there is still more to come in the future.

If you’ve never read any of these books then this could be read as a standalone although I would advise starting from the beginning as it is such a good series.

A woman is found murdered in her home, her child screaming in its cot. She is found with a razor blade in her hand. Another woman and her son disappear separately. This woman’s car is found by a lake, empty, but an envelope with an address and razor blade are found in the car. The address in the envelope yields an old crime scene where a lot of blood is found, including in a small cot and more razor blades are found at the address. A small body is found buried by a tree at the top of a hill. How are all these events connected?

Set in the Irish town of Ragmullin DI Lottie Parker and her team are run off their feet trying to solve all these cases and find the missing child alive. It is clear that a lot of the people involved are somehow connected and/or know something but nobody is talking. This is a very convoluted case indeed and I had no chance of unravelling it. There are so many secrets and so many red herrings and so many suspects it almost made my head spin, in a good way. The tension got very thick the further we got into the story and it was not a given who would live and who would die!

I have read all the books in this series and along the way have come to know the characters very well. This can be read as a stand alone but you do miss a fair bit of the background. Lottie and DS Boyd’s romance is on the back burner again as he gets a letter that could blow up his life but that will be for the next book. Lottie herself is still struggling to juggle motherhood with her career but the three children are growing up and seem to be able to manage quite well. I should think the whole team will need a holiday after the conclusion of this awful case that has wrung them all out. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

DI Lottie Parker is back in this tenth episode of this enjoyable series set in Ragmullin in Ireland. This time she has a number of cases to investigate. There is the murder of a young mother in front of her baby daughter followed by the disappearance of another young mother and her young son Evan. Not obviously linked to these cases, there is also the unearthing of little bones belonging to a child killed and buried some time ago on a lonely hillside. With the urgency to find Evan while he is hopefully still alive, Lottie and her team have their work cut out trying to find any clues to why he and his mother were abducted.

Lottie’s a great fictional detective, hard-working and driven, while running a good team and trying to keep her home life and her relationship with DS Boyd on track. Her family have now moved into the old house that Lottie and her half-brother inherited but it’s in an awful, rundown state and doesn’t feel like home. The plot is complex and fast paced and it’s a while before all the threads come into alignment and the connections slot into place, perhaps just a bit too conveniently, but nevertheless in a gripping climax. It was good to catch up with Lottie and her team again and to have a little tease of a cliffhanger to lead into the next instalment.

Book 10 in the Lottie Parker series and it’s another solid addition.

The story of murdered women, children’s bones(historical murder?)being found and a huge list of suspects as Lottie and her team try to figure out what’s going on.

The series overall is hugely enjoyable and Lottie as a central character does carry most of the stories.

Here she is a little less unsure of herself and it makes for a solid rather than spectacular addition to the series. It does feel a little formulaic in its structure and a little familiar in the path it goes down. Not the story itself, which is hugely complicated and a little contrived feeling, but more how the book gets from A-Z to solve the crimes. I won’t go into detail but it has a very familiar feel to its structure.

I’ve had a great time reading this series and I’ve really enjoyed them all and while I enjoyed this one to a point, I do feel it’s one of the weaker ones in the series.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalle

A brilliantly written mystery with suspense that builds and a story that is rooted in the past but comes crashing into the present.
The characters in the story were built up slowly and expertly and some of them had deep hidden secrets from their pasts which were kept from us right until the end. The detective in the forefront, Lottie, was very likeable and we got to know her through details of her own personal life so felt empathy for her through her own vulnerabilities. I really felt the pressures she was under, not least because the life of a missing four year old boy was at stake and, as a mother myself, my heart skipped a beat at times, willing him to be found and ok in the end. The storyline felt deliciously complex and dark but at the same time I found it easy enough to follow, making this a very enjoyable and engaging read. I did not guess the ending and thought all the loose ends were tied up very well, which was satisfying as the reader. I’d definitely recommend this and seek out other tiles by this author.

Little bones is Book 10 in the series that follows Detective Lottie Parker and her team. This is the first book that I read in this series and by the author. I liked the fact that I was able to read the book as a stand-alone though a little bit of the backstory is lost. This did not reduce the impact of this mystery thriller.

Lottie is dealing with two different crimes: the murder of a young woman while her four month old child is in the room; a missing woman and her four year old child. These seem to be different events, but Lottie suspects a connection due to razor blades that keep popping up which she seeks to find.

The story is well-written, fast paced with a strong focus on the plot and development. The characters are intriguing and I enjoyed the group dynamics of the team of investigators. As the plot unravels, the characters are pulled in different directions making us wonder about what is going on. This is the best part of the writing. It keeps the reader involved and guessing until the very end and then delivers a final punch.

I am also looking forward to reading the previous books and to getting to know Lottie Parker more. Her story is interesting as it gives us an insight into who she is and how she ended up where she is today! I enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it for those who are interested in police procedurals, detective stories, mysteries and thrillers that lead to a satisfying (though sad at times) end.

Book 10 in the series with Detective Lottie Parker is another very exciting read. I always enjoy reading these books and this one has to be one of the best series in the genre. Excellent developing characterisation and good dynamics within the team as they all have personal issues going on. There are lots of layers in this story which kept me reading into the small hours. The pace is brisk, plenty of secrets and twists and a cliffhanger ending with Boyd. I highly recommend this series and I thank Net Galley for my ARC.

Recovered from the injuries following the explosive conclusion to their last case detectives Parker and Boyd are called to the discovery of a woman’s body in her home. Isobel Gallagher’s mother discovered her daughter’s body in her bedroom, her baby daughter Holly was in the cot nearby covered in blood but unharmed. Initial suspicion falls on Jack Gallagher, Isabel’s husband. Lottie Parker is sure that he is hiding something and his behaviour is strange for a grieving husband. Then another woman and detectives soon discover that her 4 year old son is also missing.

A tale of control, coercion, drugs and abuse. Another great read in the Lottie Parker series by Patricia Gibney.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Patricia Gibney for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Detective Lottie Parker is investigating the violent murder of Isabel Gallagher, a young mother killed in front of her baby daughter. Isabel is clutching an old razor blade in her hand. Later that day Lottie finds out that another young mother Joyce and her son Evan have gone missing. When a razor blade is found at Joyce’s house Lottie knows that the 2 cases are linked.
Desperate to find the culprit before Joyce or Evan are harmed, Lottie and her team are working flat out to find a link between the 2 women.
I really enjoyed this, there were so many strands and so many twists and turns that I had no idea who the killer was or why. When the strands all came together it was a totally unexpected conclusion.
Lottie is very relatable and the relationships she has with the other characters all work really well

4.25⭐

Little Bones is the first police procedural I've read that is set in Ireland and also the first by author Patricia Gibney and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed my trip across the Irish Sea. As this was an engaging mystery that was extremely well detailed and had me thoroughly absorbed throughout. Furthermore, the plot kept me guessing and as a new reader the characters personal and professional relationships were easy to follow. Plus, main protagonist Lottie Parker intrigued me enough to want to read the books I've so far missed out on.

Would happily recommend.

Get ready for Patricia Gibney at her best. I need to mention that I am a fan of this series and that I love Patricia Gibney’s writing. This Lottie Parker mystery is true to form with poor Lottie up to her ears in cases that all appear to be linked and not a clue of how to solve them.
This was the tenth book in the series and the third one I have read. I have all the books in the series and I just haven’t been able to get to all of them. Lottie Parker and her team will keep you glued to the edge of your seat as you flick the pages eagerly joining Lottie as she fit the puzzle pieces together of this new crime.
I first got my hands on one of the books in the series at the end of 2020 when I fell in love with Patricia Gibney’s writing. I was super excited when I received all the books in the series from my husband. Unfortunately, I have still not read all of them, but they are still on my TBR. I will get to all of them. Patricia Gibney has created a refreshing, troubled character in Lottie Parker and time spent with her is guaranteed to be entertaining reading.
When a young mother, Isabel, is found murdered in front of her baby daughter, DI Lottie Parker are faced with a difficult investigation and very few leads. Isabel’s husband remains in their focus, but no matter how much they believe Jack is responsible, they cannot find any evidence to link him to the murder. When Joyce and her four-year-old son disappear, the team is racing against the clock. Can they find Joyce and Evan in time, or is it already too late?
DI Lottie Parker has found a soft spot in my heart. This poor woman always has so much going on at the same time. Little Bone was a brilliant story filled with everything we have come to expect from this series. I enjoyed the blind chase and all the detail that makes up this complicated story. I found myself wrapped in the chase and trying to fit the piece together right from the start. I love how this series always has so much going on. It’s a busy read that will keep you up at night.
I enjoy how DI Lottie Parker is a well-rounded character. She makes mistakes, has family issues, and always managed to do something to annoy her significant other Boyd. She is far from perfect and that adds to her appeal. She is a headstrong, determined woman that you can relate to.
I love the time I spend with this book and look forward to sinking my teeth into more of the books in this series. While Little Bines is the tenth book in the series, you can easily read this as a stand-alone novel without feeling as if you have missed out on anything.
Crime and thriller fans, if you have not reached for one of the books in the DI Lottie Parker series, you are missing out. Go ahead, add this one to your TBR list. This book will keep you on your toes with everything that happens, and you are sure to lose a few hours of sleep, but I can promise you will have an entertaining read.

Wow ! Wow ! Wow ! Just Brilliant !!! This book is a REAL kick in the belly !! A disturbing and heartbreaking story that you won't soon forget ! Loved it and highly recommend ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book ! Opinions are solely my own ! #Netgalley #Bookouture #LittleBones

Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read #LittleBones by #PatriciaGibney.
Detective Lottie Parker is called to the murder of a young woman found in a pool of blood.
Stabbed while her baby laid next to her in her cot. Who would do such a thing. Then another young woman turns up dead but her 4 year old son is still missing. Is it all connected ? Can the team piece it all together before it’s too late.
A real page turner.

What a phenomenal read. Starts off strong and stays that way throughout the book. Parts were dark and scary and overall a fantastic read.

It’s such a good feeling when you pick up the latest book in a series and immediately feel you are back with old friends and that’s exactly how I felt when reading this book featuring DI Lottie Parker which is book 10 in the series.
I have read and loved every previous book and never once have I felt disappointed, each book has lived up to the previous one and in fact I would say it’s a series that gets better and better.
In this instalment we meet up with the old team headed by Lottie and of course all the usual up and downs that are going on between them, I felt we saw at times a softer side to Lottie and I really loved that she is such a strong character it was a change to see another side to her.
The case is a difficult one and also deals with some disturbing aspects but Patricia Gibney deals with this in such a sensitive way just as you would expect from this excellent author who never fails to write such brilliant police procedures that keep you guessing to the end and hell yes what an end this book had !!
So highly recommended for all fans of good mysteries, great characters and more.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Little Bones, the tenth novel to feature DI Lottie Parker of the Ragmullin Gardai.

Isabel Gallagher has been murdered, stabbed and her throat cut, in her own kitchen and her baby was not touched. The same day another woman goes missing and her son is abducted from his nursery. Then a child’s bone are discovered buried on a local hill. What links these events?

I thoroughly enjoyed Little Bones, which is an engrossing read with multiple threads. The novel is told from multiple points of view with Lottie’s being the main one and this is initially confusing and complex as the reader tries to work out where these characters fit in and what their role is. There are also multiple stories to keep track of, so the reader needs their wits about them to keep up. This web of interconnecting people and events are further complicated by the author’s masterful use of misdirection. I personally felt that I was fumbling in the dark for motive and identity and it didn’t become clear until the concluding chapters. Despite this fumbling I found the novel compulsive because it constantly shifts its baseline, posing more questions, and I wanted to know the answers. It’s a good skill the author has at this.

Lottie is Lottie. Her heart is in the right place, but events always seem to overwhelm her, whether it’s the lack of progress in her case or guilt at her inability to run a tight ship at home. She’s human and likeable for it.

Little Bones is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I like the crime stories committed in these books but how much trauma can one detective go through without it becoming a bit unrealistic.

#LittleBones #NetGalley Love love love this series!! It just keeps getting better and better. Brilliantly written with a great, if sometimes harrowing, storyline. Plenty of action and lots of twists and turns which keep you guessing. Perfectly capable of being read as a standalone but you would get more enjoyment knowing the history between the main characters (Lottie and Boyd) and the member of Lottie's team. A little teaser of a cliffhanger at the end leaves you waiting expectantly for the next in the series. A brilliant 5 stars!

I really enjoy reading Detective Lottie Parker´s stories, they are full of energy, action, mysteries but she really shows her feelings and is a sensible and hardworking human being. She tries not to lose touch with her basic instincts and is always pushing herself into being a better person but life is not easy and her private life sometimes gets tangled with her professional life and things might get messy. Little Bones is not an easy read as it involves crimes with children - who should always be loved and protected - but there's a really wicked mind who will do anything just to keep control, believing that will guarantee power, detachment from others, show how shiny a personality can be. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!