You know that feeling when you're in a reading slump so deep you're considering taking up knitting instead? That was me before diving into this series. Romance after romance had left me feeling like I was chewing literary cardboard, until Book #5 reminded me why I fell in love with mysteries in the first place. Naturally, I had to go back to the beginning—and honestly? I wasn't prepared for the emotional gut punch waiting for me.

This isn't your cozy mystery where the biggest drama is who stole the church bake sale funds. We're thrust into the aftermath of Sister Sophia Brennan's murder, a crime that unravels the dark secrets of an unwed mothers' home. The story follows Hollie and her sidekick Jeannine as they dig into a conspiracy involving five young women whose babies were illegally adopted out—their lives forever altered by a system that claimed to do "God's work."

The mystery centers on identifying the fifth girl, known only as "Twiggy," but when she's kidnapped, the investigation becomes a race against time. What I wasn't expecting? That absolutely brutal cliffhanger that had me screaming "NOOOOO" at my Kindle at 2 AM. Thank God I had Book #3 ready to go because there was no way I was sleeping without answers.

Here's where this review gets personal, and why The Phantom Paragrapher always keeps it real with you: this book hit me like a freight train. While reading about these institutional horrors, news broke about 800 infant bodies discovered at a demolished unwed mothers' home in Ireland. The timing was eerie and heartbreaking.

But it was more than just current events that made this story resonate. My own mother was 21 in the early 1980s when a hospital declared her "unfit" and took her baby for adoption. I learned this devastating family secret when I was seven, and I've watched the invisible wound it left on her ever since—a piece of her soul that never quite healed.

This book doesn't just entertain; it forces you to confront uncomfortable truths about how society has historically treated vulnerable women. The author masterfully weaves a compelling mystery while highlighting real injustices that echo through generations.

Is it perfect? No. Could the pacing be tighter in spots? Sure. But does it deliver emotional impact while keeping you frantically turning pages? Absolutely.

Fair warning: If you're looking for light beach reading, this isn't it. If you want a mystery that'll make you think, feel, and maybe ugly-cry a little, then clear your schedule because you won't be putting this down.

Did not get to read - have way too many books on the shelf. Need to clear some out. Hope to get to this one in the future though.

I read book 1 and this is book 2 and totally hooked me. I look forward to book 3!
good to find a new author

Book 2 in the Detective Hollie Turner series and this is just as good as the first! The twists keep coming and the pace is dizzying! Straight to number 3 for me.

The second book in the Detective Hollie Turner series and it continues to be a great series and one I am enjoying and really get stuck into.

This is a book that is thrilling, intense and exciting with all the suspense and great characters you would expect to keep you enthralled and kept you reading and on the edge of your seat. Love this book and the series so far and love Hollie Turner. A well thought out character that works well in this book and series.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. This continuing story, second in the series, is phenomenal. It is a thrilling ride from one page to the next with amazing characters and individual stories. I can’t wait to read the next installment. Love this author!

I didn’t know when I read this that it was book 2 of a trilogy. I was able to figure out what I missed in book one. This book had breathtaking twists and turns. I will be reading more by this author! Thanks for the ARC!

WOW 😮 what a fantastic gripping addition to the DI Hollie Turner series !! It started where book 1 ended , I read book 1 awhile ago so it took me awhile to remember the storyline, had me gripped from start to finish so much so I’m starting book 3 now !! Will definitely read more books by this author

Book two carries on from book one. Another excellent instalment of this series still plenty of twists and it's good to see the characters grow. Well plotted now on to book three. Thanks to Storm publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

Another solid and well written story involving DI Hollie Turner. Not only do we get to know her more as a character, but we have another gripping storyline to go with it.

Part 2 of the trilogy and just as exciting as the first and ending again on a cliff hanger. Set in Hull, Hollie the DI on the murder case of a nun found swinging from the Humber bridge, has recently returned to the city having studied there in her youth. The murdered nun had been involved with a mother and baby home in the 70s and was a nasty piece of work, according to those who had been in contact with her. So there are quite a lot of people who would not be sad about her death. Hollie has her own relationship problems and is coming to terms with a new workplace and a new team. The book is told in two timelines, the 70s and present day . The story of Gillie in the 70s adds more depth to what is happening in the present day. The team are getting closer to the murderer so he is making life difficult for them, especially Hollie.
A great and quick read with plenty of action. I have ordered part 3 so annot wait to see how this pans out .A shame that my ARC expired before I had read the other books. I'm also not sure about the trilogy, the books need to be read in order ... would one longer book not have been better ?
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Paul J. Teague

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Cryptic Messages A Confession, and A Web Of Dark Lies.
Her Last cry by Paul J Teague is the 2nd book in the Detective Hollie Turner series. This book starts where the first book The fallen Girls ended. Detective Hollie Turner has got to know her team and they are working hard together to find the killer of Sister Brennan. This book is just as fasted paced as the first book. The characters are remarkably interesting, and the book carries on with a confession, a web of dark lies, cryptic messages from a mysterious contact, and a killer within reach who is Tracking Detective Hollies every move.
Another very enjoyable story. Without giving anything away the story splits between two timeliness. One is the present and the other is the past and the story carry's on and unfolds more secrets and suspense. It is extremely hard to put down and I cannot wait to read the third book in this series as once again this book ends with a cliff hanger, but it works well as you eagerly want to pick up the next book. The book is a gripping mystery and an addictive crime thriller which I highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A great continuation of the police investigation lead by Detective Hollie Turner, which starts right where the first book ends (these need to be read in order, one after another), and ends with another cliffhanger.

This is book 2 in the detective Hollie Turner series which I received from Storm Publishing via Netgalley. It came out on the 29th of January and, just like book one, this was a blast to read.

The story continues where book one ended. Detective Hollie Turner is still trying to find the killer of sister Sophia Brennan when someone turns up at the police station to confess to this murder. Not convinced that this is actually the end of it all, Hollie continues with investigation and finds out that this confession was fake. She knows it has something to do with the mother and baby home, but how? Will she be able to solve this case as her family is being watched as well?

The story just picks up where book one ended and I've read a few books in between so I had a bit of a difficulty to get into the story immediately. I had to familiarize myself with the ending of book one again and also with the characters. Once I had done that the story just took off and I couldn't put it down. The characters are well worked out with some nice background touches here and there. The story is the continuation of book 1 so it's still quite interesting and I couldn't wait to see how it would unfold itself. Some parts of the book seemed a bit too long, a bit too stretched out, but in the end it all worked out as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

4,5/5 ⭐

A continuation of book one ( so you must read them in order) another great instalment in this series. Thoroughly enjoyable and well worth reading. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

I thought the first book in the series was good but this was even better.

I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. I love the different timelines and the stories of the girls past.

On to the third book I go. 4.5stars

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. The second in a new Detective series. You must read the first, The Fallen Girls to understand this book. It is equally gripping and finishes with a cliffhanger. So I am straight onto the third book.

The story continues.They are still trying to find the killer. Several other bits of information have come to light. The police theselves are under threat and injury. Someone seems to know the truth but will her tell the police. The next book awaits.

I really enjoyed this series. I did feel that the story was dragged out longer than necessary in some parts, but this didn't negatively affect my enjoyment over the book too much. I like the authors writing style and found the plot to be gripping and we'll thought out.

I rated this book 3 out of 5 stars