Only the children is the second novel featuring DI Tessa Burns and her team Danny, Maggie and Pav the dog (love him), as with the first book, I loved the characters but I didn’t feel the story was as gripping as the first story, the team didn’t really work together as they all seemed to do their own thing and failed to keep each other informed on what was going on which I found irritating but apart from that the story is a good one and I will be looking out for the next one when it’s released.

Another incredible book by dunphy!
The burns team are back again!
I was lucky enough to be chosen to read the ARCs for both books. Both were incredible reads! A great storyline, brilliantly told. Just enough of the characters’ side-story to keep you interested, without deflection from the main story.
Dunphy is a great writer, with an amazing talent!

Only the children is book 2 in the DI Tessa Burns series and another brilliant read from the author.
After a severe storm, the coast guard discovers the cargo ship ‘The Dolphin’ run aground of the Irish coast. Only to discover that the captain is dead, and half of his crew is missing, and the only other occupants are three mysterious children who won’t speak. DI Tessa Burns, Danny, Maggie, and dog Pavlov are sent to investigate. They discover that the ship is linked to children trafficking and also some gangsters and dodgy politicians thrown into the mix.
When the children are sent to the local hospital, the eldest child is kidnapped again by ‘The Merrow’. Who locals say she is a mermaid. DI Tessa Burns doesn’t know what is going on. But the hell he is going to go a find out and what has these children got to do with it?
This is another gripping page turner from Mr Dunphy that I couldn’t put down. It is fast paced and full of action. I love the characters in this story especially the protagonist Tessa. I love her feistiness and she is not afraid of anything. If she was a real person, I hope she would be on my side. But they are all likeable in their unique way.
I do hope also we see some more of Eric Stafford. He his always handy in extreme crisis.
I highly recommend. 5 stars from me.

This is #2 in the DI Tessa Burns series.

After going missing a few days ago in a terrible storm, the ship ‘Dolphin’ is discovered run aground. Tessa and her team were not expecting to find a murdered captain and they certainly didn’t think that they’d also find three young children on board – and locked in the galley kitchen.

The children are clearly terrified and won’t give out any information at all, not even their names. They’re alone on the ship, apart from the dead captain, and the rest of the crew are missing, feared drowned.

The tale then twists and turns many times, but gets a lot closer to home than the team ever imagined.

A brilliantly gripping read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Have enjoyed the previous book in the series and this one hit the mark. Plenty of suspense throughout and likeable characters. Look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Another case for Tessa and her team to investigate in book 2 of the Tessa Burns series set in Ireland. This is another well written, fast paced and totally gripping story from the author. I highly recommend this and it was an easy 5* from me. please don't keep us waiting too long for book 3! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I have read the 1st book in the series and started reading this straight away. Detective Tessa Burns along with her other colleagues Danny and Maggie are tasked with finding out what happened to a crew on a ship was found abandoned apart from one crew member who had been murdered.
When they find 3 children hiding on the ship who refuse to speak they have no idea what is going on. They are soon left trying to keep the children alive as someone wants them at whatever the cost.
This is another author I will be looking out for to read. Highly recommend.

A cargo ship washes ashore minus its crew, leaving behind a murdered captain and three frightened children. Where is everyone? Where are the children's parents? Why are the children terrified to talk to anyone? This is book two in the new mystery thriller series set in lovely Ireland with DI Tessa Burns and her small team of three and a genuis pup, the crews goal is to protect children.
Sometimes if you really enjoyed book one in a series book two will fall a little flat or disappointing, not so this one! Great job S.A. Dunphy at keeping the momentum going. I really enjoyed learning more about Maggie and Tara the Merrow was a very intriguing character. I'm also fascinated with who the "faceless men" are. I thoroughly enjoyed Tessa's romance with Jim Sheils and would like to see that grow, so you can definitely count me in for book three when it comes out.
#Netgalley #S.A.Dunphy #DI Tessa Burns Series #goodreads

The second book in the Tessa Burns series is even better than the first, so I'm definitely looking forward to more to come. Fast-paced and full of suspense, it's a read I could'nt put down.Keeps you guessing and keeps the story flowing brilliantly from beginning till end,
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Thanks to Shane and NetGalley for allowing me to read Only The Children before the publication date.
It would be difficult to place this second book in the series into one category as it ticks the box in so many and impossible to precis without giving away the plot.

The case sees DI Tessa Burns getting involved with various crime families, none of whom can be trusted. Every agency seems to want to get involved in the investigation, yet they lack the relevant documentation to support their claims, leaving Tessa questioning who she can trust.
Meanwhile Detective Danny Murphy continues to have temper issues which add to Tessa’s workload.
The presence of Maggie's dog, Pavlov, and the little bits of Irish folklore add to the tale.

It is a fast paced story with plenty of action and more than a few surprises along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of the second book in the DI Tessa Burns series.
Only The Children by S A Dunphy.
This series keeps getting better. Tessa and her team take charge of 3 children found on a ship run aground on the Irish coast.
All the crew dead and no clues as to their identity. None of the children will speak they are so terrified.
Struggling to find any answers the team is lied to, misdirected, threatened and one of them is kidnapped.
A great read that I raced through. I cannot wait for the next.

I enjoyed the first of the books featuring 'The Burns Unit' so much that I couldn't wait to start on theis sequel. I was not disappointed. This story is fast paced, intriguing and kept me changing my predictions throughout.
It was hard to keep track of the various 'goons' at times, as they all seemed to have similar names, but this didn't detract from my enjoyment.
I found the frequent descriptions of Danny as 'the big detective' (and other phrases referencing his size) annoying which stopped me giving the book giving 5 stars. It was annoying in the first book too, but less so, as the characters were being developed.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's great to follow this police team extraordinair on their next mission. They get to know each other better, which results in working together even better than they already did before as well.

Tessa, always feisty and never stepping back, never letting go even if her life is endangered. Then there is Danny, a gentle giant when it comes to those he likes and wants to protect, but who, every once and again, has a tiny(!) problem with reigning in his temper. Maggie is also a force to be reckoned with even though it's not easy for her to defend herself or her charges, but she does not let that stop her and neither do Tessa or Danny. And then the one character you just have to adore is Pavlov. He is a pocked-sized giant, but he throws every gram of his weight in every battle. :)

Because the teams forte is dealing with cases that involve children, these stories are filled with emotions and be warned that there is a risk your heart will break multiple times. 

Children should be cherished and protected at all times. Unfortunately lots of villains don't see it this way. Well, they better start shaking because Tessa and her team are ready to go and put them all behind bars.

An amazing second book and I am impatiently waiting for the next one. ;) 5 stars

Thank you

Only The Children is another exceptional episode in the DI Tessa Burns series. The Garda detective and her team are called in when a boat runs aground on the Wexford coast with three young children aboard. There are dead bodies on the craft, but most of the crew is missing. And the children won't talk to anyone.

The investigation takes the team into dark areas, with links to people smuggling, child abuse and political corruption all figuring. It's a complex and difficult investigation to crack, with a colourful set of characters involved. And it's not always clear which side several of the key players are on.

This is a dark and violent novel in places, but the care that Tessa and her team take of the children shines through. Their interests are always put first. The tale is engrossing and expertly told.

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

Tessa, Danny, Maggie and Pavlov the dog are asked to investigate a container ship, called the Dolphin, which had been found washed up on a beach near Ballymoney. It had been due at Rosslare 2 1/2 days ago from Oslo. There are 3 children are found on board along with a dead sea captain on the bridge. What happened with the crew is a mystery till the team watch the CCTV? What set off this chain of events? Why? Who? Well, what a story with nerve tangling twists and turns and a few red herrings along the way. You left with an unputdownable book!! It's no surprise that ending is explosive! I really hope there is a book 3. I highly recommend this book.

This talented author has written a page turner. Secrets and red herrings…realistic characters…fast moving story…thanks Netgalley.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read "Only The Children" in exchange for my honest review.

This was the second book in the DI Tessa Burns series and as with the first book, I read it in one sitting because it is simply unputdownable! Mr. Dunphy once again has written a gripping and thrilling story that grabs the reader on page one and doesn't let you go until the last word is read. He has created a team that has incredibly likeable characters that the reader will immediately care about.

The story starts with 3 children on the Irish ship Dolphin heading for Rosslare from Oslo. They are caught in a fierce storm and there has been no contact with the ship for 2 1/2 days. There are some struggles onboard and when next the ship is seen it is washed up on Ballymoney Beach in North Wexford. DI Tessa Burns and her team of Detective Sergeant Danny Murphy, Maggie Doolan and her black & white terrier mix Pavlov have been called in to protect the children and find out why they were on the Dolphin to begin with. Crew members are missing or dead and they find a journal that outlines that the ships crew suffered some form of hysteria think that they were being attacked by a Merrow.

The children are taken to Wexford General Hospital, while they are physically unharmed, they are not speaking to anyone, not even Maggie and Pavlov can work their magic. One of the children is abducted from the hospital by one can only be called a Merrow but we all know mermaids are not real, or are they?

There are more deaths, threats from gangs, people pretending to be someone they are not, false information being thrown about. The team finds an ally in Eric Stafford who is a "fixer" and saves them more than once. When the identity of the children is learned the team are shocked to find that they were not reported missing. There is an attempt to make them wards of the State following complaints from some unnamed person. Everyone is working hard to get the team off this case. They figure this is something much bigger than smuggling children. They are warned that they have no idea what they're mixed up in. They suspect a mole in the police station and wonder how far will people go to keep them from learning the truth.

Once again Mr. Dunphy deserves more than 5 stars because they is a brilliant follow-up book to "Little Witness". I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this wonderful new series.

Just as my review for this first book -I was excited to read this book as it really intrigued me. Overall I felt drawn into the world of book and was hooked by the tension and twists / turns, both books kept me hooked until the end.

Another good book by S.A Dunphy.
I really enjoyed this gripping intense edge of your seat thriller. I love a good crime/thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

The dolphin, a cargo ship runs aground. There are no crew, only the murdered captain. Then three children, and who are not talking are found on board. Tessa, Danny and Maggie as well as Pavlov the dog are sent to investigate. There are links to criminals and to political figures. More deaths and then one of the children is kidnapped by the Merrow, a mysterious woman spotted on the dolphin’s cctv. Can they get to the bottom of things?

This had me hooked from the first chapter. The vice descriptions of the storm and how the ship ran aground were engaging. In fact, I was frustrated not to get her whole story and to switch to the prospective of the detectives.
It was enjoyable to see Tessa’s relationship develop with the coastguard. Also to see Maggie and Danny coming into their own too. The story was fast paced and there was a lot going on. Many suspects and threads of stories. All were finished and no loose ends were left, but there were times when it was hard to keep track. I would guess that mimics the pace of a real police investigation (at times).

This is one I highly recommend and I look forward to catching up with these four soon!