I'm still shocked that I didn't read any Irish authors during 2023, so when I saw Little Witness mentioned I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get my first Irish read in early this year. I do love a good dose of Irish crime, and there was just something about the blurb that had me fully intrigued. I'm glad I gave in to the temptation now, because I ended up having an excellent time with this first book of a new series!

One of the things I love in Irish crime is the setting, and it definitely shines through in Little Witness. The fact that there are many Irish words incorporated only made the setting feel more authentic, and the words are easy enough to understand from the context (sometimes they are explained afterwards as well). There are some references to both Irish history and culture as well, which are always a bonus... I love being transported to different countries while I read.

This wasn't the main reason I ended up enjoying Little Witness so much though. The fact that this first DI Tessa Burns book works so well has a lot to do with the main characters themselves. I loved a good kickass main character, so it was extremely easy to warm up to our new lead Tessa Burns. The true magic lies with her new team as a whole though. I loved the disability rep with Maggie, and her dog Pavlov is without a doubt one of the stars of the show. Danny is more flawed, but I still liked what he added to the team and how he showed some growth over time. This definitely isn't your typical detective team nor your typical investigation, and I liked how it gave this story an unique touch.

Little Witness is at first glance a missing person investigation, but the plot ends up offering so much more. I don't want to give away too much to avoid spoilers, but the plot will offer plenty of twists and turns as well as moments of danger and a lot of action. The result is a very dynamic thriller that will keep you on your toes, and there were definitely a couple of things I didn't see coming. I did wonder if it would be credible for them not putting Aisling under better protection after what happened in the hospital... But this was only a minor blip.

As a whole, Little Witness turned out to be a fast-paced, engaging and suspenseful Irish detective thriller and I will be looking forward to read more of this author in the future. Recommended if you enjoy the genre!

The first of a new series, but similar to my wish list, so thought I'd give it a try. The characters were well written, with the team dynamics making them different to a usual investigating team. At times they made me smile, others brought a few tears to my eyes. The plot moved along quite fast, with various murders and attacks so it was hard to pin down a suspect I thought responsible. A thrilling start to a new series. Will be adding book 2 to my wish list

This was an interesting read - quite hard to switch to the Ireland police force after almost only reading British police books.

The characters were really likeable : Tessa a real badass and a cool boss, Danny a hot headed but great guy, Maggie and Pavlov simply the best ( and really cool that she is in a wheelchair ! )

The story itself was fast paced and sometimes a little bit tooooooo detailed but overall a fun read!

The 3 stars are only because I don't think I might stick with the series, it didn't catch me as much as other series.

Thank you Netgalley!

DI Tessa Burns and her unlikely team are in a race against the clock to find the missing parents of a young girl discovered hiding in a building on the edge of their property. Set in Ireland, this police procedural jumps right into the action and holds your interest to the very end. The author does a wonderful job of including strong but flawed characters. This was my first book by S. A. Dunphy, and it definitely will not be the last. This novel gives you action, a bit of suspense, diverse characters and a satisfying ending. As this book is the first in the Tessa Burns series there was a bit of an unresolved plotline and I am very much looking forward to what is to come next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.

After reading the authors previous work the Boyle and Keneally series, I couldn’t wait to read the first book in a new series by the author involving newly promoted DI Tessa Burns after saving the life of 5-year-old Beltina Watson.
Set in Dublin. Tessa has been giving the powers to pick her own team at the Garda Siochana, opening a specialised unit helping children. Tessa is ex- army, so she picks her old friend from residential unit day Maggie who is in a wheelchair because she suffers from Cerebral palsy and her dog Pavlov, and Danny Murphy who has been arrested and on his way to prison when Tessa who thinks he can add something to his team.
The teams first case is of 7-year-old Aisling found in a shipping container on a farm in a village in County Monaghan. Her parents, Joe and Daisy Connolly have gone missing /abducted. The pair trade in the illegal distribution of Poitin. Other families who are in the trade have been similar taken and ended up dead.
I have a good feeling about this series, and I found this to be an excellent start to a new series. This is a well written story, and I liked the eclectic mix of the characters in the team. Each have their strengths and weaknesses but blend well to make a great team. This is a unputdownable read that kept me wanting more. I basically read it in the small hours of the morning. I can’t wait to read more of this series to see how it continues. 5 stars from me.

The first time I have read this Author. I enjoyed the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to

A gripping Irish police procedural by an author who was new to me but whose work I look forward to reading more of, especially in light of the tantalising cliffhanger this book ends on.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

This is the first book in the DI Tessa Burns series and it won’t be my last. Loved it on audio and the narration was very engaging with the references to different places in Ireland. Interesting storyline that did keep my attention but I’d have liked a few more built up twists and turns but that’s what the next book in the series is for, they can only get better and better. The characters are quirky and so lovable and they just gel well. Really loved Tessa and her no nonsense attitude and I know her backstory is only going to get more interesting as the series goes on. Really enjoyed this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #LittleWitness

Once I picked this one up I couldn't put it down it's a fast paced read with characters you grow to love along the way Detective..Tessa Burns is determined to find out who killed her parents and to look out for children who need protection,and with her own handpicked team that's what they set out to do.A emotional read at times but gripping and very well written.
A really strong start to a new series of straight on to book 2 now.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Another author I will be looking out for new releases. Tessa Burns is a very good detective, she has baggage from her past that is the driving force behind her helping others. When a married couple go missing and they find their child terrified and hiding it is her mission to help find them alive.
She recruits Danny who she feels will fit the job due to his past and an old friend to help her with the case and any others that come up.
This is a fast paced book throughout and started to read book 2 straight after I finished this one.

Detective Tessa Burns has two missions in life.. find out who murdered her parents and be an advocate and protector of children. After taking down some bad guys and rescuing a child by herself she gets a promotion as well as her own unit that works for children and the vulnerable. Two groups that Tessa can very much relate after being shuffled around to different orphanages until she was eighteen.
Tessa's first case is a child Aisling Connolly who witnessed her parents kidnapping, that has elements that relate to Tessa's parents murders. Can Tessa's small group of three plus a dog find out what happened and protect Aisling? You will really want to read this book to find out.
This is my first time enjoying this authors work (thank you #NetGallery for this wonderful opportunity) but it definitely won't be my last! I was right from the beginning invested in the characters and story ( I found myself binge reading when work didn't interfere), I wanted more about Tessa, more about her team of three Danny, Maggie, and the wonderful pup Pavlov who all have deep stories to tell, more about their childhood traumas that made them who they are. I'm so excited to read book two and I hope this becomes a long term series. I definitely have #S.A. Dunphy on my Amazon and Goodreads follow list.
#Netgalley #Little Witness #Tessa Burns

Tessa gets to create her own little special unit. A unit designed to help out children of crimes.
When a family goes missing, her crew is called out. They find the daughter and try to get information from her about what happened.
I really liked the working relationship between the three members. A very well written story. It had a good amount of action and suspense.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this.

This is an excellent start to a new series, set in Ireland, featuring newly promoted DI Tessa Burns. I really enjoyed the read and I loved the character of Pavlov, the little dog! The characterisation is good, it's full of suspense and a bit of human emotion thrown in. The plotting is interesting and the pacing was steady throughout. Overall, a very enjoyable read which I would recommend and I will definitely be reading book 2 in the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I love it when a detective and her team are not the usual kind of team you would expect in the police force. Detective Tessa is one who does not shy away from danger. When she goes for it, she goes for it. It sometimes feels a bit like a case of diving in and thinking later but she certainly achieves the goals she has set for herself.

After that one case where she went for it like a true hero she recognizes where her forte lies. And she is going to make certain she is the right woman for the job. She asked for one thing, which she received, and she chooses the team she wants to work with. I can assure you this team is one-of-a-kind, but it is not possible to not love them.

The first case together it's not an easy one and they find themselves more than once, eye to eye with one or more villains.

Tessa is the boss, but she wants to be a boss who wants to work alongside her team. She wants them to see her as a companion although she still holds the reins. She knows how she wants to lead her team and when needed she shows a very compassionate side.

So yes, this is a very promising start do a new series and I am happy I can start reading part two straight away.

This book is very suspenseful but also emotional and very compassionate and human. The author has created some great characters and reminds us that criminals use every means to try to get what they want most, which is power and money of course.

Five stars for this remarkable story.

Thank you

This is the first book in this new series about DI Tessa Burns, set in Ireland. A family in the middle of the night, but leaves their child behind. The little girl Aisling is terrified, but after being found by the police, Tessa and her friend Maggie she finally starts to open up.

This is a gripping intense criminal drama full of twists and turns. It will keep you engaged and the writer really knows what he’s talking about. The characters are likable and I liked that they were all very different. Can’t wait to read the next book.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Little Witness, the first novel to feature DI Tessa Burns of An Garda Síochána.

Tess has recently set up a new child centric unit and quickly gets her first case. Five year old Aisling Connolly has been found hiding on her parents’ property and they are missing, presumed abducted from the evidence found. It is up to Aisling to give them as much help as she can, but as Tessa investigates she finds a darker story.

I thoroughly enjoyed Little Witness, which is a straightforward police procedural with plenty of twists and some unusual details. I say straightforward and what I mean by that is what you see is what you get with no hidden meanings or multilayers. She is focused on reuniting Aisling with her parents, Joe and Daisy.

The novel starts with the establishment of the team and how it came about, in tandem with the discovery of the crime scene in County Monaghan. This set up takes a while, but it is full of incident so it doesn’t seem slow. After that the hits keep coming with plenty of action, more murders and an unusual organised crime angle. There is enough going on to keep the reader turning the pages and get immersed in the story, however unlikely some of the events are.

The stars of the show are Aisling and the dog, Pavlov. Both are preternatural in their thinking and actions and save the day more than once. Tessa and her team, Danny and Maggie, have different issues but manage to weld themselves into an effective force. Maggie has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, so she tends to take a more back room approach. Don’t be fooled, however, she can take care of herself better than most of us would manage. Danny thought he was going to jail when Tessa picked him for the team. He has anger management issues when children are put in danger and is still working on it. Tessa was hiding in her house as a 10 year old when her parents were shot dead and she subsequently went into care. She’s a loner with a desire to catch her parents’ killer and that, I think, is about to become a thread in the series.

Little Witness is an entertaining read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of Little Witness by S A Dunphy.

DI Tessa Burns is allowed to pick her own personnel for a new team dealing with young victims of crime and trying to get to the truth.
She picks Danny, Maggie and Pavlov and their first case with seven-year-old Aisling Connolly cements them together.
A great start to a new series, already ordered the next book.
Addictive reading, love the characters.

This was my first book of 2024 and proved to be a good choice. Thanks to Bookouture for allowing me to read/listen to a digital copy and ALC. The combination enhanced my experience and allowed me to keep reading during some busy real life times.

You can get the gist of the story from the synopsis so I’ll just give my thoughts on what I liked about this book. I love getting in on the first in a series. I enjoy an Ireland setting and love hearing Irish narration. I’ll attempt to do a read/listen of the next book in the series. Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was seeing Tessa assemble a special investigation team. The three share a certain empathy that originated at an early age and is required for the team. There were times when I thought the action packed scenes were a bit over the top but I was invested in the outcome so was willing to let the author tell his story.

All in all, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the D.I. Tessa Burns series.

Narration: I thought it was great and wouldn’t hesitate to listen to more of Melanie McHugh’s work.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my approval to read and review this book.

Tessa Burns is based in Dublin as part of the Ireland's Special Detective Unit, fighting threats to national security. Tess is investigating a child kidnapping for ransom. Tessa following a successful rescue is promoted to Inspector and is put in charge of a specialist team with two colleagues. They go to a little town to find out why Aisling Connolly is found but her parents are missing from their farm. Have they been taken in retaliation for their moonshine activities? Or for some other reason? Then the O'Neill's family are found shot to death. How are the cases connected? Is it because they made moonshine? Or is it because they both lived and worked on a farm? Or is it for another reason? No more spoilers as you will need to read the book for yourself to discover the twists and turns with a surprising conclusion.

This talented author has written a cannot put down novel. Do not try to guess the ending quickly. Twists and turns kept me guessing. The main character is determined to do her job. Family and friends…red herrings…thanks Netgalley.