When a woman is abducted from a quiet suburban street and bundled into the back of a white van, the only witness to the crime is a child with a reputation for telling tall tales. The police doubt the girl’s story, except for Detective Karen Hart, who is determined to follow her instincts perhaps because the shy little girl reminds her of the daughter she’s still grieving. When a playing card is found at the scene, Karen finds her first clue. And when a second card is found at the home of a missing woman, Tamara, Karen finds her victim. But before the team can catch their breath, another woman linked to Tamara is snatched. And then a body turns up in a farmer’s field.
This is the sixth outing for Karen & it could be easily read on its own but as I love series & how characters develop & grow, I would recommend reading the earlier books. Another well written fast paced book that drew me in from the start & held me gripped until the early hours when I turned the last page. There were twists & turns I didn’t see coming, there were secrets & I found it very hard to put down
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

3.5 stars

What She Said by D.S. Butler is the 6th in the Detective Karen Hunt series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, 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)
DS Karen Hart lost her husband Josh and her daughter Tilly in a car accident. She later discovered it wasn't an accident, but it was covered up by some corrupt police officials.  She works with DI Scott Morgan,  DC Sophie Jones, and DC Rick Cooper.  She has a new boss, DCI Churchill, and she isn't sure about him yet.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
A 4-year old is sure that she saw a woman kidnapped off her street by a man in a white van.  Everyone seems to doubt her, except Karen.  When she finds a playing card at the scene, no one is sure that it is even a clue.  That is, until, an identical card is found at the home of a missing woman.

Then, a second woman is kidnapped.

Meanwhile, a noted author from the US who often helps the FBI with their cases, steps in to help.  Sophie, who is a big fan of the man, is ecstatic.  Karen, not so much.

But the main thing is to find these women, and Karen will do whatever it takes to make that happen.  If only people weren't keeping so many secrets!


My Opinions:   
This was probably the best in the series.  It could be that it was more case-centered, instead of police-corruption centered.

The plot was good, even if it was a little predictable.  As usual, all the evidence pointed in one direction, so of course we knew that wasn't it.  As well, the actual perpetrator was easy to guess quite early.  As interesting as the plot was, for some reason I found it long.  I didn't particularly like any of the characters other than the police officials.  I still love Karen, Morgan and Rick.  I still find Sophie really annoying.

As always, everything was laid out nicely in the end.  Overall, it was good, but maybe a little too predictable.

A woman is abducted from a quiet suburban street and the only witness is four-year-old, Molly, with a vivid imagination. While her parents don't believe her tales, DS Karen Hart does. As the missing woman is identified as Tamara Lomax, another woman related to Tamara is also abducted.
Will Hart and her team solve the case in time?

This was an engaging read, the pacing was great and the characters were interesting. It's the sixth book in the series. While I haven't read the previous books, I had no problem getting 'into' the plot. I must say this is a #mustread.

This was a fun British procedural. It's the sixth in a series and I have not read any of the others, but that wasn't an issue at all. It references some things that the main characters have gone through without spoilers and without leaving the reader feeling lost. The MC is a competent police officer who is likeable and dealing with grief. Other officers play supporting roles. The crime is a bit perplexing in a good way. There is very little violence, no sex, cussing, torture, etc. The "whodunnit" was a little Scooby Doo but that's to be expected in this kind of book, as nobody would read a mystery where everything was logical and predictable. :) Altogether a good, fast paced read. I'd happily read more by this author.

I read a digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing Company and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘What She Said’, book six in the Detective Karen Hart series written by D S Butler, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Four-year-old Molly is having breakfast when she looks out of the window and sees a man grab hold of a woman and throw her in the back of his white van. DS Karen Hart is sent to talk to Molly and whereas her parents think it’s Molly’s vivid imagination Karen believes her. As the missing woman is identified as Tamara Lomax, another woman known to Tamara is also abducted.

‘What She Said’ is the latest novel featuring DS Karen Hart and is a worthy addition to the series. The plot is complex and the intrigue, suspense, drama and twists and turns add to what is without question an entertaining and action-packed thriller. I’ve been so involved with the story that I haven’t been able to stop reading and finished it in twenty-four hours. This has been a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting thriller with a surprising conclusion that I wasn’t expecting. I can recommend it and very much hope there’ll be another in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review. When a young girl says she witnessed a woman being abducted outside her house everyone knows she has a vivid imagination and her mother almost doesn’t report it. DS Hart interviews and senses she is telling the truth and the hunt for the woman begins. Hart learns the husband was having a affair and he quickly becomes the prime suspect. Then another woman is abducted in similar circumstances. Will Hart and her team solve the case in time?

DS Karen Hart and her team are called in when a child appears to have witnessed a woman being abducted off the street. An already difficult case is made more complicated by internal politics and lying witnesses. 

I really enjoy this series and especially like the main characters of Karen and her colleague DC Rick Cooper, although we didn't get to see a lot of him in this book. I have mixed feelings about DC Sophie Jones. She is becoming a good detective and supports DS Hart well, but her overeager attitude and immaturity can be annoying. 

Overall, I like how this team works together to solve the case. This book focuses on the investigation while some of the prior books go into more depth about Karen's personal life. The case in this book is completely separate from the cases discussed in prior books so it works as a standalone. If you like it, you will want to go back and see the difficult situations Karen has gotten through both on and off the job. 

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Thomas & Mercer. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

4.25⭐

This is my first introduction to D.S. Butler's Detective Karen Hart Series, and I really enjoyed it. Not only because it's set in Lincolnshire which is where half my family are from, but because the story really drew me in.

As D.S. Hart is called to a family home after five-year-old Molly tells her mum that she's seen a young woman abducted and tossed into the back of a van. But is she really telling the truth or just making up another tall tale?

And with lots of procedural detail, great pacing and an interesting mix of characters this was a very engaging read. That had plenty of twists and turns and it genuinely had me guessing throughout. Which is why I would happily recommend it, and I'll certainly be reading the five books I've missed out on.

This is #6 in the DS Karen Hart series but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Little Molly is looking out of the window when she sees a woman being bundled into a van parked outside, but Molly has a vivid imagination and her mum isn’t sure whether she’s telling the truth or concocting a story. Her mum takes a chance and contacts the police, but they’re doubtful. DS Karen Hart is the only officer to believe Molly, because she reminds Karen of the daughter she is still grieving for, a little girl who also had an imagination but knew the difference between fact and fiction.

Tamara is reported missing and a piece of evidence found at her home is the same as the only piece of evidence at the scene of the kidnapping. Then a second woman goes missing, and a body is found in a field – which of the two women is it?

Just before the first kidnapping, DS Sophie Jones persuaded Karen to go with her to a talk given by a crime author/profiler from the USA – Dr Michaels – and he and his entourage become involved in the case.

A brilliant story that had me gripped, as did the previous books in the series, and I can’t wait for the next DS Karen Hart book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to #NetGalley for my advance copy of #WhatSheSaid by DSButler
When a small girl looking out of the window is the only one to see a lady being kidnapped no one know wether to believe her until Tamara is reported missing. The team have nothing to work on and are searching for her when a body is found, but to not her.
Twists and turns on every page and the whole thing complicated by a visitor who is determined he is right.
This is the sixth book in the DS Hart series but the first one I have read. This did not affect my enjoyment of the book. Although previous happenings in the previous books were mentioned, this book worked well as a standalone.
A Great Read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When a woman is abducted from a quiet suburban street and bundled into the back of a white van, the only witness to the crime is a child with a reputation for telling tall tales.
The police doubt the girl’s story, except for Detective Karen Hart, who is determined to follow her instincts—perhaps because the shy little girl reminds her of the daughter she’s still grieving.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an excellent page turner that I couldn’t put down.

I didn't realise this was part of a series so I'll definitely be looking to explore the rest! As for this one, it really does well as a stand alone for those like myself who haven't read the rest of the books 1st. I loved the premise and thought it was really unique and it kept me engaged throughout. It was very procedural and fucused mainly on the technical aspect of the investigation and didn't do too much to delve into the characters personal lives but that might have bn built up in the previous books already. It would have bn nice to get more of a feeling for who the characters were and not just to have bn so focused on solving the crime, ignoring the characters that were solving it

Another enthralling book by D.S. Butler that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and would recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller which keeps you guessing to the last page. It features D.S. Karen Hart and her team solving the crime of an abducted woman.

Great addition to the Karen Hart series about a woman who is abducted. Really liked the character that was introduced, an American profiler would be great to be in more series. A great read with a fabulous plot and reveal!

What She Said is the sixth in the Detective Karen Hart series, though it was easily read as a standalone. This was a police procedural without any of the “extras.” You get very little into Karen’s personal life or interpersonal relationships outside of work. There are some moments the plot follows some of the other detectives, and we get a smidge more non-police work there. This is really up to the reader if it’s the type of procedural for you - although I overall enjoyed the pacing, story and writing I found myself missing some of that personality subtext, or side plot to enhance the depth of the story. However I liked it enough I would go back at start the series from the beginning.

Another really good book in this great series. This is well written and if you like murder mystery who dunnit books then this one is definitely for you.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of What She Said, the sixth novel to feature DS Karen Hart of Lincolnshire Police.

A woman is abducted from a residential street in Lincoln perhaps, with the doubt stemming from the credibility of the only witness, a four year old with an active imagination. Karen is inclined to believe the child and the discovery of a playing card at the scene convinces her. A second identical card found at the home of missing woman Tamara Lomax confirms the abduction theory and the victim’s identity. Then a body is found.

I thoroughly enjoyed What She Said, which is a straightforward police procedural with plenty of twists and turns. By straightforward I mean that the investigation progresses logically and there is little in the way of subplot or personal drama. The emphasis is almost wholly on the investigation, just as I like my reading.

The novel held my interest throughout with unexpected developments and, to my mind, several suspects, although Karen has the victim’s husband, Aiden, firmly in her sights, because, if he’s not lying, he’s definitely withholding information. It develops well with each little bit of information adding to the picture and making the theorising more specific, although the theorising is redundant when routine police work uncovers the answer. Some of the answer is a surprise, but much of it is easy to surmise before the final showdown. Not that guessing the broad brushstrokes in advance spoiled my enjoyment of the novel as there were still the unexpected events.

The novel is very much the Karen Hart show. She drives the investigation and is involved in much of the action. A profiler is brought in to assist and the tension ratchets up as they don’t initially agree on much, if anything. Cross Karen at your peril.

What She Said is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is a great series, and it keeps getting better and better. A woman is abducted in front of a girl who tells tall tales and Detective Karen Hart needs to find out if it’s true. If so, who’s the victim. This time, Sophie’s hero Doctor Michaels is there to help. But could he be involved in it, somehow? There was a playing card at the crime scene, and he just wrote a book about a similar case. Or could it be the husband, who’s acting strangely? The plot was suspenseful and I really had no idea whodunit. The team of detectives have great chemistry, even with DCI Churchill, who is new to his position as their boss. It’s a fast-paced read and impossible to put down.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Amazon Publishing UK!

Dr Michaels is a serial killer expert from Virginia in the USA. He has just given a lecture that DS Karen Hart and DC Sophie Jones attended.

A little girl named Molly McCarty is looking out her window on a rainy morning and sees a woman pulled into the back of a white van. Molly is almost 5 and is known to exaggerate the truth. Can they believe her?

The missing woman is identified and the search is on for her. Soon another woman is kidnapped and there may be a parallel to one of Dr. Michaels old cases, so he consults. Will they find the victims in time?

This is my first book by this author. There was a good mystery. Although I am just stepping into the series,it was pretty good.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Although this is book 6 in the series and I haven’t read any of the others I liked the sound of it so thought I would try it. The only witness to an abduction is a 4 year old child but the police have to work out if she is telling the truth or not. Quite unpredictable and a good solid storyline that kept me engrossed. A great read and I will definitely look to read the rest of the series from the beginning.