Don't Let Her Go by Willow Rose coming February 2nd, 2024

First of all, i would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC. i am truly grateful🤍

secondly, this was my very first audiobook, and I REALLY ENJOYED IT!!! english is not my first languange, and i thought it would be difficult to understand the story, but i felt the opposite way. Lisa Rost-Welling did an amazing job narrating this book and i really liked her voice.

and as for the story itself, it was so good. this was the “just one more chapter" kind of book. it kept me intrigued from start to finish.
there was one scene that i found was too uneccesary to happen, (her husband's case) like WHY... i mean everything was already good, you didn't have to add more drama into it.

but overall, Don't Let Go was an entertaining book with a brilliant plot and amazing characters. i highly recommend this book!

it's safe to say i plan to listen to more audiobooks in the future. 🥹

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of Don’t Let Her Go by Willow Rose.
It was narrated by Lisa Rost-Welling and she did an excellent narration. It is set in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where five-year-old Emma goes missing and her mother, Marissa, desperately calls Detective Billie Ann Wilde for help. Something isn’t right and then Marissa goes missing and more bodies are turning up. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it, what a great thriller. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series. I’ve read many other books by this author and she hasn’t disappointed me yet. Thanks also to Bookouture Audio for the chance to listen to this book.
#NetGalley #DontLetHerGo

I do not like to write negative reviews, but overall-- this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. I can only say that I barely held myself back from it being a DNF but only because I had to see just how much worse it could get.

To sum it up, a preposterous kidnapping and serial killer crime thriller. The characters are beyond unbelievable and completely unlikeable. The narrative flips between characters in a before and after format and is a constant stream of melodramatic exhortations and angst with repetitive phrases and responses to every situation. Could someone please count how many times "tears streamed down" and "smirked" and "piercing blue eyes" appear in this book? The plot just got more ridiculous as it went on and just when you think it can't possibly get more unrealistic, it surely does. It is a constant tell rather than show and so drawn out making the simple situation overly long. Lots of cliches. Totally predictable.

This is supposed to be the first in a new series featuring the character of Cocoa Beach homicide cop Billie Ann Wilde and from how she acted there is no way she could be a police detective. So unprofessional and her life is a train wreck. It's not that she's just decided to come out as a lesbian, it's her overly emotional carrying on over every single thing. In any event, I won't be reading any further installments or any other books by this author as this was the second I have tried.

This was an audio version of the book and I can't say that the narration was well done. The accents and voices sometimes didn't change when they should have and the voice of Kitty was particularly off. And the male voices, oh my.

I was shocked to see other reviews and decided it must just be me. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this author's work. I'm not recommending.

Wow! What a book! I was hooked into this book from the first chapter. The character development was great throughout. I guessed the few twists there was which is the only reason why this isn’t a 5 star. The story was gripping and I couldn’t stop listening. I highly recommend the audiobook!

I will definitely following this series!! 4.5 stars

A missing child, a dead teenager and more bodies piling up!!

When Marissa files a complaint about her missing 4 yr old no one including the cops believe her - they thing that she might have made up the whole thing. But when Detective Billie Ann Wilde finds proof that a child might have been in that house she starts to gather more details and learns that this could be connected to another case she could not solve in her early career days.

As Detective Billie finds out more there seems to be someone in her own team who is trying to jeopardize all her work - but why? Does that person know more that they are letting on? The answer to these questions leads the cops to a deadly serial killer who will stop at nothing to keep their identity hidden, even if it means degrading someone's personal life and career!

This was a very intense book with chapters in the past and present, very well written - thanks to Bookouture Audio, .Willow Rose and Netgalley for approving the audio ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

A well written mystery with suspense in every chapter. I enjoyed this unique twist to a kidnapping thriller. The two big plot twists were guessable towards the end so it wasn't really an "I didn't see that coming!" type thriller but it was still a fun read and I enjoyed the story, the writing and the narration (as I listened to the audiobook version). I finished this book in less than a day and I will definitely read more from this author.

This was a fast paced thriller with two time lines. The past is about a young girl who gets kidnapped by a man who says he is a cop and a friend of her parents. The future is about another girl who was taken and several people who are found dead with only the thinest threads holding their deaths together. Detective Billie Ann Wilde who is in charge of the case is also in the middle of a separation from her husband because of her revelation that she is gay. Her teenagers are not thrilled and her husband is less than supportive. 

Toward the end things started to get a little contrived but I was already invested and while the ending was a bit predictable I still enjoyed this read and will probably give another book by this author a try.

The narration of the audiobook was OK. The premise of the story was interesting. I felt that there were too many side plots going on, the dialogue was a bit basic and I saw the twist of the story coming quite early.

This is my first time listening to an audiobook from Willow Rose and this is an author I can get behind! I will certainly be adding the books to my tr, but for now, the audiobook

Stunning, chef's kiss level stunning

Lisa Rost-Welling is versatile and created ambience for every nuance throughout the book. Her pacing, tone and characterisations were simply exceptional. Willow Rose creates a narrative that immediately draws you in and I was invested from the first two minutes (I checked)

I admit to upping the speed in the last 3 chapters as I needed to get to the end and still I exclaimed aloud (and that is all I will say on the ending, suffice to say, I will be needing to read more and gladly so!) No fault of the narrator, Rose's writing has the tendancy to pull you into the pace, to keep you along with her thought processes

Billie-Ann is incredible, a real lionheart and tenacious with it

I was physically exhausted when I finished listening and yes, absolutely I will be looking out for the next book!

Thank you very much to NetGalley for teh eARC of this epic thriller. The review is given of my own volition

This was a gripping, intense psychological thriller that left me wanting to read more by this author.

When a five year old goes missing from the bus stop, Detective Billie Ann is on the case, but can’t find no traces of a child. The plot thickens to a crime not solved years ago.

I listened to the audiobook and I was engrossed, a great crime/ detective story. The narrator was prompt with her speech and great at changing her tone and accent for the different characters. It was easy to follow.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Detective Billie Ann Wilde is on a case of a missing 5 year old girl called Emma. The mother is very scared and reluctant to speak to the police. She claims she has no birth certificate or photos of her daughter and when Billie Ann phones the local doctors to get medical records of the child they don’t know anything about her. Her colleagues think Billie Ann is dealing with a woman making things up. But Billie Ann is intrigued.

Very soon the body of a young woman is found close to the garden where Emma went missing. It’s not Emma but she is linked to Emma.

We then go back 14 years to young 10 year old Kitty who was kidnapped. She was never found. Are the two cases linked?

Billie Ann also has personal problems at home which I didn’t think added much to the story, unless its setting up the scene for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance listening copy.
#DontLetHerGo #NetGalley

My Rating: 1.75

I received an advance review copy of the audiobook Don’t Let Her Go by Willow Rose from NetGalley and Bookouture Audio in exchange for feedback. Thank you!

I struggled to get through this book, but wanted to give it a thorough review. I found the writing to generally ‘tell’ rather than ‘show’, and found it difficult to connect with the characters and narrative. This was not helped by the at times absurdly monotone narration of the audiobook.

While interesting on the surface, the plot ended up feeling contrived and formulaic. The big reveal at the end was very predictable, and had an unbelievable premise.

For those interested in the adventures of a lesbian detective, I would recommend A Grave Talent by Laurie R. King for a more nuanced and natural inclusion of sexuality in a thriller.

I liked this book. It ended most chapters on a cliff hanger so it kept me interested and eager to know what happened. That said, I didn’t like side plots about Billy Ann’s family drama. It messed with the pacing and brought me out of the suspenseful feeling. While other readers mentioned that the plot was kind of predictable, I thought it had plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I think the predictable parts were meant to be predictable— like the reader was supposed to know more than three characters at some points. Overall, I would recommend. Readers should definitely be aware of the trigger warnings though because there was some really tough content.

Dont Let Go by Willow Rose certainly had a lot of potential for a gripping thriller, but for me, it fell short. Despite being a fan of the genre, I found the book somewhat lackluster. The blurb, which initially drew me in, didn't seem to align well with the actual storyline.

One of the biggest hurdles was the inability to connect with the characters, a crucial element for any reader's immersion. Additionally, the pacing felt rushed, especially towards the conclusion, leaving me bewildered and longing for more depth, particularly in character development.

Trigger warnings are essential, and this book would benefit from them, given its heavy themes of child abuse, rape, sexual abuse, and child grooming.

By the 40% mark, my interest waned significantly, with multiple storylines vying for attention but lacking substantial character growth, particularly for the protagonist.

Moreover, the swift transition from the murders left much to be desired. A deeper exploration of the main character's thought process during these events would have added dimension to the narrative. Despite these shortcomings, the audiobook narration was a saving grace, elevating the experience. Overall, while Dont Let Go had its moments, it ultimately didn’t to captivate me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio of this novel.

This...blew my mind. I was so invested in this story, and as I'm coming to realize, Willow Rose is great at pulling the wool over the reader's eyes and completely veiling the truth in someone we learn to trust.

We first meet Detective Billie Ann Wilde. As she deals with personal and family problems, she is trying to solve the potential kidnapping of a 5-year-old girl. She soon realizes though, that there is something this little girl's mother is not telling her. Does this little girl even exist? Where did this woman come from, and why is there barely any trace of her?

Throughout this case, bodies are being found around their town, specifically in the marshlands. Billie is trying to connect the dots to the murders and the missing girl.

A few books I could compare this to would be The Room and Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan. If you know and dislike the themes of those books (abduction, imprisonment, SA), please avoid.

The narrator, Lisa Rost-Welling, did an excellent job. I never felt confused over who's point of view we were hearing from - there are flashbacks and multiple POV's, and it all flowed and made sense.

Would recommend, and I will definitely be continuing on with the series.

I am so pleased to have been able to catch this new series at the start, because this is a brilliant book!

Detective Billie Ann Wilde, Head of Homicide, stars in this multi-faceted story that comes together in an explosive finale.

Full of twists and intrigue and told across two timelines, Billie Ann is on the hunt for a missing child, a murderer and dealing with a complicated personal life.

A great start to a new detective series with a perfect balance of character introduction and plot.

My only criticism is that the blurb gives away one of the main twists.

I love audiobooks, but in this instance I preferred the ebook, as the narrator wasn’t my favourite, particularly when voicing Kitty over several years, from a young child to a young woman, she still sounded like a 5 year old!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Willow Rose and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Despite her personal life falling apart, Detective Billie Ann Wilde remains committed to finding a missing five-year-old girl. However, the girl's mother is acting suspiciously. There are no pictures of the missing child in her home and the police have doubts about her existence.

Overall, I enjoyed Don't Let Her Go more than I expected. However, some parts were challenging to read due to the sensitive topics it addresses.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with a complimentary audio copy of this book to review.

If you're looking for a creepy detective thriller, this is going to be a great series for you. Detective Billie Ann Wilde has had a bumpy career, but Don't Let Her Go will take her to some dark places. A missing 5-year-old, and her desperate mother whom no ones believes because there are no record of either of them. An unsolved missing child case from 14 years ago that mistakes were made on. Then Billie realizes the mother is that past missing child.

This was a dark and twisty ride, which keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages to figure out just how all the pieces will fit together, and find out if Billie can find the missing child.... before it's too late.

I did take 1 star off just because I felt the ending was a little rushed, and I felt there were a couple of loose threads that weren't clarified.

Overall, great read. Looking forward to seeing what Detective Billie Ann Wilde has on her next case!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub Date: 02 Feb 2024

Don't Let Her Go (Detective Billie Ann Wilde #1) by Willow Rose
Narrated by Lisa Rost-Welling
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: February 2, 2024

Don't Let Her Go is the first book in the new Detective Billie Ann Wilde series by Willow Rose. This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I’m confident it will not be the last! I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series, as well as the author’s other series!

I absolutely loved this book! I thought the story was fascinating and I loved the characters! This was so fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat. I loved that it was set in Cocoa Beach, it was almost like going home!

I thought the narration by Lisa Rost-Welling was wonderful! I loved how she brought this book to life!

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series! I can’t wait for it to come out. I think I’ll have to check out one of the author’s other series to get me through the wait!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Not only has a five-year-old girl named Emma gone missing, but her very existence is doubted by Detective Billie Ann Wilde and just about everyone else. No photos, no birth certificate. Nothing. Billie and her team can't help but wonder if the mother Marissa is having mental issues.

Billie digs deep into the case of missing Emma, but also is on the case for some recent murders. Meanwhile, Billie's home life is falling apart, despite the strong love she has for her husband and children.

Billie wonders if the recent murder of a teen girl is tied to Emma's disappearance. More than that, there is just something about Marissa and Emma is determined to figure out exactly what that is.


As this is the first book in a new series, some background is given on Billie and the decisions she is facing and how some past events have affected her career in police work. This good read was made even better as I had the opportunity to listen to it as an audiobook.

Many thanks Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.