Member Reviews

"Find Her Alive" by D S Butler is the seventh book in the "Karen Hart Series". However this one can be read as a stand alone.
Karen is trying to built her life back together after a tragic incident in her past. Erica who also attends Karen's counselling group, asks Karen to search for her friend Phoebe who appears to have gone missing.
The plot which is centered around the search for Phoebe is cleverly written, it is twisty and full of unexpected surprises. It draws the reader in.
The characters are realistic especially Karen herself. It was great to have a sub plot about one of her colleagues but I left Karen was a bit lost in this on her own, I think that reflected her home life. I missed not hearing about her other colleagues. at the station. I hope they are back in the next book. I enjoyed this book and I recommend it and the Karen Hart series as a whole.

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Another great addition to the Karen hart series. Poignant and heart wrenching in places with a fast paced exciting storyline.

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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This book follows DC Karen Hart, a Police Officer and this is one is seventh in the series, and I was not confused at all. I was able to understand Karen's backstory and I'm sure each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone.
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I loved the storyline, it was okay and it surprised me, both mysteries. However, I wanted more, I felt like it was too slow and dragging and I wanted more personal scenes of Karen.
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I'd love to read the previous books in the series because Karen is a lovely character and I want to know more about her.

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I have enjoyed the Karen Hart series but this one seemed to be slow. It took me awhile to get into the story. Karen Hart just seemed a bit “off” her usually self.
Is this a good series to read? Yes, it is. Start from the first book in the series so you know the backstory to the characters. Especially Karen Hart.
Overall, it was a ok book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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I enjoyed the book. Well written mystery, logically constructed plot kept me interested until the very end. Not outstanding though, comparing with other similar genre books.

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Detective Karen Hart and her colleagues are back in a seventh novel. As always I enjoy the working relationships between the characters and it nice that things are looking up for her on the personal front for Detective Hart. The mystery in this one is good, too. When a young woman disappears there are various avenues/explanations to be explored. I very much enjoy this series.

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Seventh in this series featuring Detective Karen Hart and her team. Good complex story lines with plenty of twists. A good read.

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Find Her Alive was a pretty good read. I love a missing persons story and this one did not want for interesting suspects; a serial rapist running around spiking girls' drinks in bars and then assaulting them, a shady business investor whose name is synonymous with gangs, the mob, and trouble, a creep stalking the victim's apartment, and a business partner who doesn't seem too concerned that the victim is missing, so long as she shows back up in time to close their huge deal the following week. We follow Detective Karen Hart as she attempts to get to the bottom of things before it's too late.

This novel is number 7 in the author's Detective Hart series and I really wish I had read the others first. This is a stand-alone read, but I wasn't very invested in the characters and I feel like I would have been if I'd read the series in order.

The pace was a little slow for me at times and while I typically don't mind this, that's usually because my love for the characters pulls me through the slow spots. In the absence of that because I started mid-series like a dummy, there was a chapter or two I had to force myself through.

Overall, the book was entertaining and enjoyable. If you like a good detective series with a female lead who is a little dark and twisty, give this one a whirl, though I do recommend starting at the beginning of the series.

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Find Her Alive by D.S. Butler is the 7th in the Detective Karen Hart 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 currently works with DI Scott Morgan,  DC Sophie Jones, and DC Rick Cooper.  Their boss is DCI Churchill.  She has recently started dating Mike.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When Erica, someone from Karen's counselling group, asks for her help to track down a missing friend, Karen decides to get quietly get involved.  Phoebe Woodrow has not been seen since Friday, when she dropped her cat off at Erica's, while she went out to celebrate a business deal.  She and her colleague are in the midst of selling a medical scanner that they have created, and things are looking good.

Meanwhile, Karen is part of a team investigating women who are having their drinks spiked at local bars, and she fears that Phoebe may have had that happen to her.  On the other hand, Phoebe's company has just taken on an investor named Quentin Chapman, who may be a little shady.  Then again, Phoebe has been known to just take off with little thought to others, although that is starting to look less likely.

Then there is Karen's relationship with Mike.  She is still nervous that her job will bring danger to those she loves, as it has done in the past.  Karen worries that now that she and Mike have gotten so close, he may become a target.  Her current case is not helping her anxiety.


My Opinions:
This is probably one of the better books in the series, although they are all quite good.

One of the topics covered in this story is the fact that women, although the victim of male harassment, are often blamed.  They drank too much, they dressed too provocatively, they were at a place alone....  The author made sure that the reader understood that it is NEVER the victim's fault.  It was done very well.

The plot was well developed, and although I had an idea of the perpetrator, I was not expecting the ending.  I like the characters.  Karen, Morgan, Rick, Sophie....they are like a family unit, always there for each other.  I wasn't sure about Sophie originally, but I really liked her in this one.

Anyway, another fast, entertaining read.  I'm definitely sticking with this one!

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I enjoyed this book. All of the characters were believable and easily related to but their stories felt unfinished. I was able to guess the ending but there were enough little curves thrown in to make it a little challenging. I would read other books by this author.

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this was an easy read, i prefer something i can get my teeth into. it wasn't too complicated or gory but that's just it- too middle of the road for me, sorry

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This is the 7th book in a series but can be read as a standalone. With that being said, now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! This was my first by this author and it had me from the start! A great page turner mystery and wonderfully written!

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I very rarely find a series that keeps me enthralled and desperately awaiting the next book release, but D S Butler has me gripped from the first page to the last with the Karen Hart books!
Wonderfully written, I almost can believe I’ve been to the club, sat in her office and seen her in the cafe with the pain au chocolat !

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Book 7 in the Detective Karen Hart series.

When someone from her counselling group contacts Karen to say she's worried her friend is missing Karen wants to investigate but her bosses aren't so keen.

Investigating in her own time she finds a link to a current case where women's drinks are spiked and they're sexually assaulted. With this evidence her bosses have no choice but to make it an official investigation.

As with the previous books this is a cracking page turner that keeps you hooked until the very end.

This is a great series that I recommend to every crime genre fan.

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I absolutely loved this book and it was a quick read for me from the beginning to the end. I had trouble putting it down. This is my first book by D.S. Butler and I will definitely be adding her to my list of must read authors! I especially enjoyed how the author tied in all the characters and what happened after the fact at the end of the book. It was nice closure. I don't see that very often.

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Another great addition to this excellent series.
Karen is doing better, coming to terms with her grief and starting to feel happy in her new life with Mike.
When a friend from her counselling group asks her to help as she’s worried about her missing friend Karen doesn’t hesitate, but soon finds that she’s opened a huge can of worms. Coupled with that Karen and her team are investigating a spate of drink spiking in the city's bars.
A brilliant fast paced read.

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I liked this book…one time frame…characters who come alive on the pages…mystery and intrigue…secrets…this talented and gifted author has written a cannot put down novel. The main character solves crimes…she has a group of helpers, other officers of the law, who help her…some willingly, others not so much…. Together, they solve crimes…her love interest makes her life somewhat well rounded as she strives to get over her past, losing loved ones. This author is innovative, smart, and intuitive…enjoy. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review.

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Detective Karen Hart is finally getting her life back on track, enjoying her new relationship and dealing with the grief in her past. Then someone from her counselling group asks for help locating a missing friend, Phoebe Woodrow, who went out partying and never came home. Karen wonders if Phoebe’s disappearance might be related to a recent spate of women having their drinks spiked. As she digs deeper, she finds out that Phoebe’s work in medical research involved a shifty alliance with Quentin Chapman, a menacing local gangster but it was also about to make her a fortune.
The seventh book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I really like Karen & look forward to each new book & I've enjoyed her journey as well as the cases she solves. She’s now has a much better home / work balance & seems happier. After reading this book it makes you wonder whether you should go out for a drink! There are twists & turns before the case is brought to a conclusion & I found myself glued to my kindle as I tried & failed to work things out. A very good addition to the series & I look forward to more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

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This book is the 7th in the series and my 1st one. A well written police procedural with its heart in the right place.
When young women are being targetted in bars and a friend's friend goes missing, Karen must put her personal fears aside and crack this case.
A fast paced thriller and definitely adding this to the series to be read.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC

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Find Her Alive is the seventh book in the Karen Hart Series, but it is the second book that I have read. This book is a stand-alone read. While I prefer to start at the beginning of a series this isn't necessary as there is a lot of history shared when needed. But it is so good why not read them all, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Erica is a friend from a counselling group Karen is involved with and asks for help in locating a missing friend, Phoebe Woodrow. Karen agrees to help but has to ask permission from her boss because it was not assigned to her. As she quietly checks on Phoebe, she also discovers at a local hot spot there is reported drink spiking after an anonymous email reports witnessing a woman possibly drugged at the same place Phoebe was reported to have been in. Is it possible that Phoebe and the drugged woman are one and the same, only time will tell.

I really enjoy the Karen Hart series. Karen and her team are very entertaining. There was some family drama included in the story that added to the richness of the characters. The story starts off right away and then follows many twists and turns throughout. The reveal at the end is a shocking surprise as the drama roars to the final act. Highly recommend this book and the series.

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