I was so glad to get approved for the ARC of book one in the series, and once I devoured that, I knew I was super lucky to have book two already waiting for me.

As stated in my review for book one, there really wasn't anything I disliked, and the same goes for this. I was so glad to get to dive deeper into the pasts of Tessa and Danny. It helped to further understand why they act the way they do. Since the characters were so well developed in book one, the sneak peek into more of how they worked kept it from being stale. I just kept learning more and more about them!

The plot was also super fascinating to me. A boat drifts ashore with three young children, all unharmed, were found aboard, seemingly alone, minus the dead body of the captain. There were many questions to be answered: who are these kids, where did they come from, were their parents initially onboard, were they kidnapped? Also, where is the rest of the crew?

The web S.A. Dunphy wove was intricate, and it pulled me immediately. The pace of the book was great, and it was hard to put it down. I like how book one was wrapped up, and this was a completely new story, with new villains involved. In a small town setting, it could've been easy to do that, but this just goes to show you, darkness can land anywhere.

There were some shocking moments, and I was so worried about the characters I grew to love. With that, I also enjoyed the surprise romantic element in this book. It was nice to see some hope and humanity mixed in with the sadness.

I sincerely hope there is more in the Tessa Burns series!

”Only the Children," the second installment in the DI Tessa Burns series, is a heart-stopping Irish crime novel. When a shipwreck reveals three traumatized siblings, Tessa's child-centric expertise unveils a shocking past. Unputdownable, with a jaw-dropping twist, this Irish police procedural delves into dark secrets, leading to an intense race against time. The suspense is riveting, leaving me eager for more from S.A. Dunphy.

Wow! I loved the first book in the series and this is one is just absolutely, jaw droppingly amazing. Loved this one so much! Addicted to this series.

I was instantly hooked on the writing in the first DI Tessa Burns book, prompting me to quickly grab the sequel from NetGalley. I've developed a quick love for this series because it satisfies my craving for a good crime story. These detective thrillers are precisely what I look for - action-packed, highly engaging, dark, and filled with intense suspense. While "Only the Children" can be read on its own, I don't recommend it as you won't fully grasp the character dynamics. Knowing the team beforehand made a big difference in how much I enjoyed this sequel.

In this sequel, the story unfolds in a different part of Ireland, and I had a wonderful experience traveling to the coast. The descriptions are superbly executed, and this series unquestionably portrays authentic Irish crime. I found the ship scenes to be especially remarkable, creating a captivating atmosphere and a thrilling beginning to the story. Nevertheless, the supply of intense and dangerous moments is never-ending.

An amazing second book and I am impatiently waiting for the next one.

Many thanks to @dunphyshane1 @bookouture & @NetGalley for the chance to read it.

DI Tessa Burns and her team are called in when three children are found alone on a cargo ship. Everyone else on the boat is dead and the children seem to be alone and they were told not to speak. OMG! What a mystery this one turned out to be. After reading the first book Little Witness I didn't think it could get any better but instead it has exceeded all my expectations and then some. I appreciate how relaxed and comfortable Maggie is with the children and I developed a soft spot for the youngest girl who I don't think I would be able to say no to, she is just so sweet. It broke my heart what they went through but it was great that they had Tessa and the team caring for them. The mystery is a difficult one to solve but DI Tessa made it seem easy. I felt my heart pounding through my chest at some of the things they are faced with. I now will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next book and hoping that this is going to be a long series because I am well and truly hooked!

Oh what a treat it was to be able to dive straight into this having read the first in the series Little Witness.
I love the slightly oddball team of Tessa, Danny, Maggie & of course Pavlov the dog, the so-called Burns unit.
This, the second book is even better than the first and the characters now feel like friends. Again a brilliant main plot dealing with some disturbing subjects with lots of twists and again a nice nod to some Irish folklore. The subplot is developing nicely as are the characters and I'm feeling bereft now I've finished being in their company. I'm really looking forward to what awaits them as they head off to Cork in the next instalment.

The second book in the DI Tessa Burns series is an engaging mix of crime thriller, drama, folklore, and police procedural. A ship runs aground on the Irish coast, and when boarded, it has the appearance of an abandoned vessel except for the dead Captain and three traumatised children. It is the children's welfare that draws Tessa and the team into the situation, but they soon find themselves embroiled in organised crime and people trafficking. The mystery has many twists, each delivered with intensity and suspense. The characters are complex. The team faces danger whichever way they turn. Despite the evil criminals, the courage and commitment of the detective team and the unlikely hero they encounter restore the reader's faith in humanity. It explores disturbing themes and immoral individuals. The author achieves a sense of evil and foreboding without gratuitous dramatics or violence. I like the contemporary good versus evil struggle, the complex characters and the nail-biting suspense.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Only the Children by SA Dunphy is the second in her recently released new series featuring Tessa Bailey, Maggie, Pav (the dog), and Danny Murphy. They have discovered three children in the hold of a boat that has washed up on shore with no crew, only the captain on the bridge with his throat cut. The children won’t speak. The security tapes show another child or small woman flitting around. Is this the killer? The children are taken to the hospital where they are declared fit but kept there with Maggie at Tessa’s request. It seems too early to have them taken into care. This was quite a story; the people they came in contact with ranged from cold-hearted brute to kind-hearted criminal, sort of. It took a while but eventually the little girl (two boys, one girl) started to communicate. Then one of the boys was taken. It happened quickly. Maggie was attacked in the hospital, badly enough to become a patient.

These are living characters. Dunphy is writing in their growth with every chapter. Working with children is difficult but this new team is coalescing into one which is effective and thorough. The investigation lead them into interesting and gruesome territory where they see the worst of humanity. It is a compelling story, well-told. Can’t wait for more.

I was invited to read Only the Children by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #SADunphy #OnlyTheChildren

Tessa and the Burns Unit are back in action when a cargo ship runs aground. The only people still alive on board are three abducted children. They aren't talking and the team are going to be up against it to identify them.

Ballymoney Beach, near Rosslare is where the boat pitched up and the Coast Guard are also involved in the investigation. What unfolds is a complicated, chilling story of politics, child trafficking and trauma survival.

Whilst most of the story is told through the POV of the team, the real heart wrenching moments come from the odd chapter from the kids POV. There are layers upon layers to the story and I really sunk myself into it. I read this in one fell swoop and didn't even take a comfort break.

Fast-paced, chock full of suspense and emotive. There is even the beginnings of a relationship for Tessa. One where both partners are on even footing, in law enforcement and on the same page morally.

I'm on tenterhooks for book 3!

Thanks to Bookouture and netgalley for this arc.
Book 2, im so excited ... ...
W.O.W what a corker of a read....... Tessa and the team are killed into a case where all of a ships crew have been killed, onboard are also 3 chikdren but why? A strange figure has been seen on the ship and on land known as MERROW. She takes issac from the hospital where him and his siblings are being cared for by the guardai. Is she trying to protect the children or cause them harm????? Who is MERROW? And what does she want?? Tessa and the team intend to find out. I loved it, another hard to put down book, hope there will be a book 3? Highly recommend

The second book in the DI Tessa Burns series, a child centred taskforce comprising three officers and a dog! This time a Cargo ship is discovered beached on Ballymoney beach near Wexford. My partner has been there and describes it as a beautiful beach but notwithstanding that this would be a somewhat unusual occurrence! The captain has had his throat cut, the rest of the crew are missing, and three young children are discovered alive in one of the cargo holds.

Briefly, Tessa and her team are called in to investigate. So many questions. What has happened to the ship and crew, who are the children and why are they on the ship? The children are terrified and won’t tell them anything and just when they think they may be getting somewhere the team find themselves having to cope with criminal chaos in Wexford Town…

A very clever and dark storyline with to be fair some awful characters. However, I do love the police team and the way they are so good and caring with the traumatised children. I enjoyed the first book and this is even better and I definitely recommend reading book 1 first although this would read as a stand-alone. Excellent.

Book Review:
Only the Children (DI Tessa Burns 2) by S.A Dunphy
Bookouture, 12th February 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:
When a cargo ship runs aground off the Irish coast, the police are horrified to find the captain dead at the helm, the crew missing, and three little red-haired children, terrified but unharmed, locked in the galley kitchen. As an expert detective running a child-centred taskforce, DI Tessa Burns is called in to lead the case.

Despite Tessa’s best efforts, the children won’t reveal a thing – not even their own names. Slowly gaining their trust, Tessa uncovers a deadly secret about their past – and the mystery of their missing parents’ whereabouts – that turns everything she thought she knew on its head.

But just as it seems she’s cracked the case, Tessa’s team is attacked one dark night, and it’s clear the children are still in terrible danger. And when another senseless killing sends shockwaves through her team, Tessa realises the murderer is someone much closer to home than they could have ever imagined.

Review:
I feel so privileged to have been able to read the first two books in this wonderfully compelling DI Tessa Burns series ahead of publication. Revisiting the small, close-knit team of four - yes, Pavlov the dog very much counts as a member of the team - felt like dropping in on an old friend, akin to reading Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli & Isles' books.
The unusual setting for Only the Children's mysterious case, threaded through with mystical folklore and despicable criminal characters combine to form an explosively gripping story.
S.A. Dunphy creates tales with such eloquence that seamlessly blend heartwarming moments with thrills galore. Whilst awaiting book three, I'll dig into the author's Boyle & Keneally series.

*Thanks to Bookouture and S.A. Dunphy for providing an eARC via NetGalley. This is my unbiased review.

#BookReview #SADunphy #OnlyTheChildren #Bookouture #Bookstagram

No sooner have Tessa Burns' team finished with one case than they are straight off to the next one! A ship that went missing in a storm has been found. On board is the captain with his throat cut & three frightened children. At first it is very difficult to get anything from them, even their first names. But where are their parents? & how come they were on board? The case gets murkier involving child trafficking & when one of the children is snatched from under their noses by the 'Merrow' a mythical mermaid, the stakes get higher.

Once again this is a fast paced but complex police procedural. The team of Tessa, Danny, Maggie & Pavlov the dog are a brilliant collection of characters that really capture the heart. I suppose you could read this as a 'stand alone' although I would definitely recommend reading this in order. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- I can't wait for book 3!!

This was my fourth book by this author and it was every bit as good as the others. However think I’m too cynical to keep enjoying tales of a magical dog so probably won’t be looking to read any more. That sound mean and curmudgeonly so ignore my view because the book is so much more than that.

Irish master storyteller S.A. Dunphy returns following Little Witness with his famous cop procedural series (Tessa Burns #1) with his latest, ONLY THE CHILDREN (Tessa Burns #2). Tessa and her team are back with another intense case when three abducted children are discovered on an abandoned cargo ship in this gripping, emotional, and heart-stopping Irish crime suspense thriller.

Di Tessa Burns, Maggie, Danny, and Pavlov (Maggie's dog), whom we met, fell in love with and invested in (first book), return in this installment to solve another complex case surrounding children— that puts them all in harm's way.

A cargo ship, The Dolphin, runs aground off the Wexford coast of Ballymoney Beach and is discovered. Tess heads up the task force and calls in her team due to the mysterious circumstances surrounding the discovery.

All crew members are missing, and the captain (throat cut) is dead. Three young red-headed children were found locked in a storage room. The kids are scared and not speaking, which is the case when, most likely, they are threatened not to.

It is Tessa and her team's job to earn trust and make the children feel safe and comfortable enough to tell them everything about what they know since it is critical information and timely; however, at the same time, being sensitive and caring for their needs and trauma.

With a twisting plot and action-filled suspense, the standoff at Kaats Strand with Kate and O'Dowd was filled with tension and INTENSE. I particularly enjoyed hearing POV from the children, love Tessa and her tenacity, and delighted she has met a chief officer in the Irish coastguard for a new romantic love interest —both being in law enforcement with an understanding of long-distance relationships and mutual respect of their work and time.

Wow! LITTLE CHILDREN is a complex, riveting, multi-layered Irish crime suspense novel with an unstoppable team fighting for the survival of the Bolger children and themselves, not knowing whom to trust while being one step ahead of the criminals in this game of survival. Full of emotion, rich in detail, and intense psychologically.

Highly charged topics, from human and child and people trafficking (modern slave industry), abuse, politics, criminals, greed, Irish gangs, threats, attacks, and murder, all the while they are trying to protect the young lives—physically, mentally, and psychologically.

Fast-paced action and thrills, an unstoppable team, shocking mystery and suspense, intense and remarkable detective work! A well-written crime novel and I cannot wait until the next book in this fascinating series. We get a teaser, and it appears the team is headed to Cork next.

THE AUTHOR: What sets this book and the series apart from all the rest is the Author! His writing, vast knowledge of children, background, and expertise with highly charged topics while written with compassion and sensitivity.

His other fascinating topics are intriguing and meticulously researched, with further reading resources included. His knowledge of ships and his documentaries are fascinating. In addition, he is an expert in the areas he writes about, and his settings are vivid and breathtaking (he references all the actual settings and locations as accurate and knows them well).

Also, his well-developed characters come alive on the page and are highly relatable (personally & professionally). I particularly find the well-written Author's notes and Acknowledgments appealing, with the inspiration behind the novels and his journey heartfelt. I appreciate his sharing of experiences, which further enhances the reading experience with readers. Thank you for writing this story through divorce, COVID, and all the challenges! Your attention to detail does not go unnoticed. Congrats, another hit.

I look forward to reading Dunphy's original audio-true-crime book, The Bad Place—He references information, statistics, and accounts from survivors, among others.

My second book by the author, and I look forward to reading more of his backlist. Thank you, Bookouture and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an early review copy.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudthDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 12, 2024
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I picked this one up right on the heels of the first book as I was hooked on these characters. This one got 5 enthusiastic stars from me. It was incredibly written. So fast paced filled with heart stopping moments. Tess is a real heroine that we didn’t know we needed. I love this ragtag bunch and the team they have put together. Children in danger puts fear into every parents heart and this was no exception. Fear to the max
Well done!

Only the children is book 2 in the DI Tessa Burns series. This could easily be read as a stand alone thriller however having read both I’d say it’s worth reading book 1 which is called little witness, purely because it’s just a really good book and you learn quite a lot about all of the main characters in it.

The three children are found on a cargo ship just off the Irish coast, with the crew of that boat all dead Tessa and her team take responsibility for the 3 children and try to find out exactly what is going on, however none of the children are uttering a word.

As time goes by Tessa and her team being to gain the children’s trust and soon their names are revealed. Just as things seem to be on the up with the children the youngest boy is kidnapped throwing Tessa’s case into turmoil. Just when Tessa thought she was getting somewhere everything is turned upside down and Tessa has no idea where things are going.

During this investigation Tessa herself is attacked and Maggie (a member of her team) is abducted. Clearly someone doesn’t want Tessa and her team cracking this investigation and will do everything in their power to stop this happening.

When Tessa and her team do uncover the truths, the revelations are truly shocking. I had no idea throughout this whole book who was responsible for kidnapping and trafficking those poor children nor who was responsible for the killing of the ship crew.

Only the children is probably one of the cleverest thrillers I’ve ever read. There is so much suspense and mystery in the way it is written you had no idea what was coming next. There were plenty of twists and turns the whole way through this book keeping the reader hooked from start to finish.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out. Hopefully we won’t be kept waiting too long.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

This is book two in the DI Tessa Burns series.

Tessa is one tough nut to crack. She is determined to help and save children and she does not back down from any challenge.

A ship has come ashore without any crew aboard. But there are three small children found on the ship.

I have come to love the group of officers assigned to aid children. They are an eclectic group, each with their own challenges. I love that their human flaws are shown and not portrayed as the perfect group of people.

As the book went on I became more and more invested in the children and how they ended up on the ship alone.

I will say that there are some scenes that are a little over the top, but that in no way kept me from enjoying the book.

Waiting for the next one to come out.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.

4.5⭐

Tessa Burns and the Burns team are back in a confounding yet gripping Irish thriller.

That sees Tessa and Danny called to the scene of a cargo ship that has run aground off the Irish coast and the local gardai are horrified to find the captain murdered, the rest of the crew missing and three young children aboard.

Three children who are terrified and refusing to speak. So Maggie and her trusty dog Pavlov are called in to try and coax any information she can out of them.

But before she has any real luck a mysterious figure abducts one of the children and Danny receives a threat.

A threat that leaves the team reeling.

And as the case unfolds the shocks keep on coming.

But the team are determined to get answers and do whatever is necessary to reunite these children and keep them safe in the future.

And with perfect pacing, great characters and lots of twists. This was a cracking read. That I devoured in a day it was genuinely that good.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Only The Children’, book 2 in the DI Tessa Burns series written by S A Dunphy, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A cargo ship is found to have run aground on Ballymoney Beach, North Wexford, with the crew either dead or missing and three children locked in a cupboard. The children, two brothers and their little sister, won’t speak as they’ve been told not to, and it takes all the resilience of DI Tessa Burns and especially FLO Maggie Doolan with her terrier-mix dog Pavlov, to encourage them to communicate.

Having just read book 1 and given it 5 stars, I wasn’t sure if ‘Only The Children’ could keep up the momentum but I needn’t have worried as, if anything, it’s even better. This case that involves the identity of the siblings and the reason they’re in the ship, soon becomes a tangle of loose threads all crossing over each other with none linking, made more complicated by gangs of baddies doing their utmost to stop Tessa, Maggie and DS Danny Murphy from furthering their investigation. I’ve loved reading more of Tess and her team who’ve all had tough childhoods giving them a greater reason for protecting the children they come across. They’re helped in this book by Coastguard In Charge Jim Shiels and the enigmatic Eric Stafford, the freight company’s fixer who always turns up when least expected. This book is packed full of mystery, suspense and intrigue, and has had me gripped from the first page to the last unable to stop reading until I’d reached the conclusion. I’m delighted that the final page leads perfectly to the next book in the series which I hope won’t be too far in the future.