An excellent debut, a tense thriller. It's a twisty and dark story that kept me on the edge.
I loved the storytelling and the style of writing, the plot is tightly knitted and flows.
Can't wait to read another book by this author
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Really enjoyed this book, similar situations and both families searching for answers. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

This book has some of my favorite tropes- missing girls, possible serial killer and a podcast that investigate cold cases. Not to mention that this is the beginning of the series.

The story starts with Cal who wants to know what happened to his sister who disappeared years ago while investigating on another cold case of a missing girl named Layla who mysteriously disappeared in 1986.

The pacing was good, it was fast paced, there were some twists and I like the shift between the past and present so that the reader would have a glimpse of what really happened to Layla. Overall this was a page turner and cannot wait to read the next one in series! Worth five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

A chilling dark Scottish crime thriller
Cal Lovett is obsessed with finding justice for families of missing people on his true crime podcast.
It’s a personal mission as his sister, Margot, disappeared when he was a child, the only man who seems to know something about it is behind bars.
Was emotionally attached from the first chapter, it’s ultimately a story of grief and seeking some closure.
Brilliant descriptive writing, creating a tense, creepy environment with unpredictable edge of the seat moments that kept you guessing.
Loved how it was told from three different plot lines and how they all related in the end.
Look forward to reading more in the series
Thanks @heather.critchlow @canelo_co & @netgalley for the eARC

I do love a podcast; on long car journeys, I have always preferred the spoken word over music. But one of my favourite podcasts of all time was Serial (Series 1). Yes, I loved the sensation of uncovering a mystery over the course of a few weeks. A bit like a modern-day version of Conan Doyle's Holmes serialisations. And so when I found out that UNSOLVED, the debut novel by Heather Critchlow, is centred around a true-crime podcaster with his own secrets, I knew I had to read it!

Although it took a little while to get going, once we dived into the mystery of what really happened to Layla in those woods all those years ago, I was hooked. The novel is paced exceptionally well, and the characters feel relatable and fully formed#selfpublishingcoach descriptions of the Scottish countryside and the eerie environment in conjures up. I am gutted that I won't be able to see Heather live at Bristol CrimeFest (curse you, train strike!) this week, but whoever is going, be sure to grab yourselves a copy of UNSOLVED! What a fabulous debut – I can't wait until the next in series

Thank you to the author and publisher for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m obsessed with True Crime Podcasts so when I saw this beauty on Netgalley I requested it immediately.

The prologue starts off with Layla in 1986, this part is absolutely gripping and will leave you thinking “What the hell?”.

The present day is about Cal he’s a True Crime Podcaster.
At the moment he’s having trouble at home because he’s getting too wrapped up and involved in a true crime series he’s doing, he can’t seem to separate things.
A while ago he was contacted by a Scottish mother desperately searching for answers about her missing daughter ( Layla).
A missing teenager is something that’s close to Cal’s heart because his sister Margot went missing when she was a teenager too.

What comes next is Cal’s journey to Aberdeenshire to find out what happened to Layla.

What a triumph that this book is, it’s full on twists, turns and mystery.
I was so excited by what I was reading.
The short chapters make it so easy to read , you don’t even realise how far you’ve gotten.
I was mesmerised by Layla’s and Cal’s chapters they hook you in and have you solving the case alongside Cal.


The story sets up book 2 nicely and I can’t wait for that after reading the extract for book 2 at the end of this one.

I loved this. Heather Critchlow is an author to watch out for. This is a beautifully written, perfectly plotted crime novel with plenty of twists and two really compelling central characters in Cal and Layla. Apparently this is the first in a series, which is very good news indeed!
Heather Critchlow is a welcome addition to the world of crime fiction. I can't wait to read Cal's next adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I didn’t enjoy the writing style, and I just found myself bored while reading. I don’t think this is a bad book at all, it just wasn’t the book for me.

This was a really great book. It started out brilliantly and from then on, I couldn't put it down. It's Unsolved by Heather Critchlow and I received it from Canelo via Netgalley. It will be out on the 11th of May.

We follow Cal Lovett who has a true crime podcast on which he investigates cases of missing people. He does that because of his sister who went missing when he was young.
He is asked to help a family whose daughter went missing. While fighting his own demons from his past, he is desperate to help them.

The story started out great - gripping and intense from the start. It ended on a high as well - the story, sometimes at places a bit slow and predictable, was an interesting ride.
The characters were developed enough to know them and understand their motives. I liked the father and daughter bonding moments.

All in all, a great suspenseful and thrilling novel. I will definitely want to read more by this author.

4/5⭐

A debut novel and the first in a new series, Unsolved by Heather Critchlow is a crime mystery thriller. Cal Lovett is a true crime podcaster whose ratings are dropping as he interviews a serial killer for his next show. Cal is fixated on seeking justice for families of missing people and using his podcast to assist. Despite troubles at home, he drops everything and goes to Aberdeenshire when a Scottish mother pleads to him to help. It’s a cold case as her daughter went missing years ago and has never been found. The narrative switches back in forth in time between past events and Cal’s investigation, as his life unravels and his own past family disappearance haunts him. A solid crime mystery with an obvious link to the next installment, that makes for an enjoyable three stars read rating. With thanks to Canelo and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

Thank you Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are very honest.

<b> Writing: 4/5 | Plot :3/5 | Ending: 3/5 </b>

<b> SYNOPSIS </b>

True crime podcast Cal Lovett is sent to find out what happened to Layla in 1986, triggering unfriendly memories of his own sister's disappearance.

<b> MY OPINION </b>

Canelo is my Honda Civic Reliable publisher. They reliably publish well-written books; I think I've only DNF'd one from them. This book was no different – the writing quality was on brand for them, BUT unfortunately this one fell a little short. It kinda find like a debut, which it isn't. The ingredients were there, but the measurements were wrong.

This is one of the rare cases where I struggle to find the words to why this didn't quite work for me. Not that I'm the most articulate person on this site, but I definitely bring the receipts, so I apologize if this one is a bit vague. But for one, I felt like it lacked the emotional punch I expect from this type of prose. It was clear the author was trying to make us feel Cal's pain for his missing sister Margot, but I don't think she painted us a clear enough image of <i> who </i> Margot was and their relationship to feel his pain. However, there are some emotional scenes between Cal and his daughter – I wish the author had carried that kind of storytelling over the rest of the book.

While Layla's flashbacks were interesting, I didn't feel any suspense as we move between her past and Cal trying to solve the case in the present. It seemed rather easy/convenient how everything came together. Also, if Cal's whole ass career is true crime podcasting, how can this one little case which bore no resemblance (at least not explicitly) to his sister's, be so triggering?

Although I'm not emotionally invested or super curious about what happened to Margot, I do like the writing enough to continue with this series. Sometimes the first book in a series can be its weakest, so I'm curious to see if the author finds her stride in book #2. The excerpt was quite intriguing. Regardless of this wishy washy plot, it's clear that Canelo has a knack for finding talented authors.

<b> PROS AND CONS </b>

Pros: well-written, scenes with his daughter put me in my feels

Cons: uneven pacing, failed to get emotionally attached to Cal's struggles with his sisters disappearance

Unsolved is a debut crime thriller novel from @heather.critchlow about a true crime podcaster and his obsession for finding justice for the families of missing people.

This story is told from three different plot lines. At first, it does not seem like they are related, but Critchlow does a masterful job of relating it all together in the end. If you love true crime podcasts and missing people stories, then I recommend checking out this book!

Thank you @canelo_co and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

"Thriller" is a genre that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, and this definitely delivers. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, making it difficult to put the book down. The characters are well-developed and the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who is hiding something. The pacing is spot-on, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. The writing style is gripping and evocative, making it easy to visualise the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters. The author's attention to detail and ability to create a believable world adds to the overall experience of the book. Overall, this is an excellent example of the thriller genre. It's a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end and is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspenseful read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is an excellent debut novel by Heather Critchlow and an equally good debut of a series. Critchlow has done a bang-up job of making me a fan of her and her new series.

Cal Lovett is a true crime podcaster harboring a secret from his followers: his sister has been missing for thirty years and her case has gone cold. When a notorious serial killer asks to speak to him about his crimes and possible other unsolved murders, he jumps at the chance, but he doesn't know if he can believe what he is being told; and it hits close to home. On top of this, he is asked to investigate a decades-old disappearance of a woman in Scotland for his podcast. Both missing women become intertwined as he works to solve what happened to them.

Talk about a rollercoaster ride! This book so grabbed me from the first page with its pacing, plot, and characters that I put aside the other book I was also reading and concentrated on this one--a rare event for me. It is atmospheric and twisty and beautifully written. The storylines are compelling and I was rooting for Cal to solve these cases and hold his personal life together. What a terrific introduction to both the author and the character. 4.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Canelo Crime for an advance copy for review. The publication date is May 11, 2023.

A podcaster investigates the crimes of a serial killer who might’ve killed his sister. I think it took too long to get to the investigating part for my tastes.

Written mainly from the point of view of Cal, a crime podcaster who is interested in historical cases, this is an unusual take on solving crime. As the story progresses, we come to understand why Cal is interested in these crimes as well as the problems this causes in his personal life.
All in all an intruing and interesting read and I look forward to reading more of the series. Perhaps in places I could have done with a littlemore information (in Cal's personal life for example) but on the wholeI enjoyed the book a lot.
Thanks to Canelo and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A dark gritty twisty turny tale. This one combines past and present while we learn what happened to the missing girl. I was not crazy about the simultaneous missing sister story line especially since that one ends with no real resolution. I also didn’t connect a lot with the characters, but overall it was a worth my while read. The main story line was a good one and it moved along a decent pace.

Unsolved by Heather Critchlow follows true crime podcaster Cal Lovett as he makes it his life’s work to find justice for the families of missing people. His most recent case takes him to the Aberdeenshire countryside where, in 1986, a horse returned covered in blood and missing its rider, Layla Mackie. Someone in the village knows something and her parents want answers. Cal has his own demons that spur him throughout his investigation as his own sister went missing when he was a young boy with no answers… until now, maybe…

I really liked Cal as the main protagonist, I liked his empathetic approach to the investigation and his relationships with other characters such as Chrissie and Shona. I loved the setting of Scotland, apparently this is a location that I like in my Thrillers, it is so atmospheric!

I really liked how the present investigation and Layla’s story unraveled alongside each other, this really added to the intrigue and although you knew certain things in the past that were yet to play out in Cal’s present I still found that I was surprised by certain events. I didn’t feel that this book was ‘overly twisty’ but I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey and outcome.

Although I felt that there was some repetitiveness with Cal’s inner dialogue about his sister, I still hope that future books delve further into his past. I also hope to see some characters from this book returning. I can’t wait for Cal Lovett Files #2!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher (Canelo) and the author for a much appreciated arc copy.

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram closer to publication date.

This book brings the genre of mysteries based on missing persons cases into the 21st century. The podcast lends credibility and currency to this story, which is as heartbreaking as it is engaging.

I just reviewed UNSOLVED by Heather Critchlow. #UNSOLVED #NetGalley

Never heard of this author before and I believe this is the first of a series.

Really creepy and scary story about people who go missing but no clue is ever found to what happened.