Member Reviews

The plot centers around Moira, a missing girl, and her friend who has since become a detective. Although it's a cold case, recent deaths connected to Moira's disappearance reignite interest and urgency.

This was my first experience with Teague's writing, and I was impressed by his storytelling skills, especially how he navigated between different time periods. Overall, the book was a solid read—while it felt somewhat middle of the road in terms of excitement, it was consistently engaging and well-executed.

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Hollie 's friend disappeared at a fair, while they where at university. Now 25 years later Hollie is a police officer and his called to the same fair to deal with a crime.
I really liked this book despite working out some of the plot and those involved well before the end. The book dealt with some sensitive issues, the pace of which was just right for me.

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This series is AMAZING. It was the perfect combination of mystery and thriller and left me wanting more until it was over! It was so fast paced and I never would have guessed the twists!

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I loved the last three books, so I was extremely excited when I saw book 4 in this series had been released. Detective Holly Turner finds her new case begins to haunt Holly as she is sure that the murder at the Hull Fair of her late superintendent could be related to that of her friend Moira who disappeared twenty-five years ago. Holly has kept this secret since Moira died and buried it deep inside her but never forgot her dear friend and Holly admits it was also one of the reasons, she joined the police force to help bring justice to the victims. Holly was also the last person with Moira before she vanished twenty-five years ago, and it has always bothered Holly how quick the case was closed.
As Holly and her team delve deeper into the case and another body shows up it is too much of a coincidence that both men worked or had something to do with the children’s home were Moira had lived when she was younger.
This is a fast-paced book with plenty of nail-biting moments as we go back in time when Holly was 19 and was at collage with Moira her best friend. We also learn about Hollys oldest daughter her father and Holly pregnancy whist she was still at collage. The book keeps you turning every page as the plot goes deeper and deeper as Holly unravels this case and finds it goes back to Moira's days in the children’s home with some dark and horrible secrets that Moira never shared with Holly. It is great the way the team interact and has great characters that will keep you hooked until the last page.
I loved this book and Paul Teague is now becoming one of my favourite authors due to how he can author such excellent books and is an exceptionally talented writer. I feel like I am in Hull with Holly and the team as Teague describes places with such intricate details that you could easily be there in the fair ground and the city. The whole book is so professionally written that you feel your part of the action, and the ending has left me wanting more from Holly and the Team. 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.

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2.5 stars rounded to 3

Didn't realize this was a #5 in a series, so a few things confused me that related to previous cases/books, but overall it was a good one. The ending was a bit disappointing but solid twists along the way.

Detective Inspector Hollie has a new case fall in her lap that has ties to her past and her friend Moira who went missing in university. A string of murders is tied to a local children's home with allegations of previous abuse and Moira's disappearance. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way that made this an interesting read, but not a mind-blowing thriller.

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Detective Hollie Turner returns in book #6 in the series, and this one gets personal.

In 1999, when Hollie was a 19 year old university student, her best friend Moira vanished one night while at the Hull funfair. Moira was never one to talk of her past, but not long before her disappearance, opened up to Hollie about her past in the care system, specifically the childrens home she was brought up in. Those weren't happy days, but she never gave Hollie enough details to be able to help in her disappearance.

25 years later and a body is found at the Hull fair, and Hollie can't help but think there may be a connection. On investigation, they realise the victim was connected to the children's home. Those worries are soon made even more real when another body is found who was also connected to the home.

I really enjoyed the layout of this plot line, with Hollie's flashbacks to her past, it really gelled the story together. It was a story that felt relevant to the way society was in 1999 and then switching to the here and now. It shows just how much can change but also the mistakes and prejudices that are still hanging around decades later.

The pacing throughout was spot on and seriously held my attention. It had me guessing the whole way through. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was span in another direction.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

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This book is the first I have read in the series so it works as a stand alone thriller. Hollie lost her best friend at the fair in 1999. Moira was never seen again and the case was handled poorly. This led Hollie to become a police officer so she could help people. Now, a new case might help reveal the truth of what happened years ago. I liked how the past is slowly unraveled to show the horror that has gone on for years.

Learning the truth about what happened to Moira years ago and the abuse that she endured was gut wrenching to read. This book kept you guessing until the end. You felt for Hollie and the emotional roller coaster she was on being part of the case.

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This is book number 5 in the Detective Hollie Turner series and although it can be read as a standalone I recommend reading the previous books in the series to get the back story.
In 1999, Hollie’s best friend vanished from the Hull Fair and now another body is found on the ghost train.
Written in dual timelines this book introduces the reason why Hollie Turner became a policewoman and the connection with the current investigation. It is another well written addition to this series and I am already looking forward to book number six.
Highly recommended!

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This was just a mediocre read for me I’m afraid. I was hoping it would be a tense and thrilling story but I found it quite slow moving and uninteresting at times. The writing was OK, although it felt slightly amateurish in places. The author’s change in name use had me pausing at times, and that’s never a good thing! For example when DS Ben Anderson was in conversation with DI Hollie Turner (who was demoted to DS on two occasions!) he was sometimes referred to as Ben, sometimes as Anderson, and sometimes as DS Anderson. All in all it was a decent read and anyone who likes a slow mystery would enjoy it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy.

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This is part 5 of Detective Hollie Turner series by Paul J Teague. Another action packed, gripping thriller with a great twist at the end. Page-turner for definite

Hollie investigates the death of a retired police superintendent, body found at fair. This has bad memories for Hollie as her best friend disappeared 25yrs ago and she has felt guilty since.

Paul J Teague is becoming one of my favourite authors. Highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

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A fast paced twisty book. With great characters which are amazing. This book is part of a series but also could be read as a standalone alone as well

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This is the fifth book about detective Hollie Turner, but the first I have read. Not having read the preceding books didn’t matter to the story, and this book stands alone quite happily. This story revisits Hollie’s youth, and the mystery of a friend who went missing when they were both still teenagers. A murder at the local show brings the disappearance of Hollie’s friend, Moira, and eventually leads her to be able to link the two mysteries.
I enjoyed this book. It’s relatively fast paced and keeps the twists and revelations coming. One can’t help but empathise with Moira and the way she was treated as a teenager, and with Hollie dealing with the loss of her friend without any understanding of the reason.

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A former police inspector's body is found inside a ride at the local fair... a place where thousands have left fingerprints, DNA, and non-clues. Detective Holly Turner must find who committed the crime that seems to have connections to the disappearance of her best friend 25 years earlier.

I wanted to like this book because I particularly enjoy British police stories. I read over half the book before skipping to the last couple of chapters for the 'reveal'. If characters can't be likeable, they should at least be compelling, but they were neither, including Holly, the main detective. It plodded along at a slow pace until I ultimately gave up in boredom and indifference to the outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Her Final Secret by Paul J. Teague is a gripping, nerve-wracking thriller that takes hold of your imagination and won't let go until the very end.
Teague has crafted a well-written, exciting mystery with layers that reveal themselves as the story goes back and forth in time. There is a sense of urgency to find a killer out for revenge while at the same time a 20-year-old cold case is intertwined with the current mystery, giving the entire storyline a thoroughly engrossing feel.
I had not read anything by this author before, but you can bet he is on my list now!
Thank you for the ARC of #HerFinalSecret to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing.

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It is 1999 when two friends out for a night of enjoyment at the Hull Fair when the unthinkable happens and one of them, Moira, disappears. Hollie puts all her efforts into the ongoing search for her good friend but unfortunately no leads are found, and the case goes cold.

Struggling through the emotions of all of this, Hollie drops out of school and takes up a career with the police. Now 25 years later another body is found, that of a retired police superintendent. The dual timelines work well, opening the events that have occurred over this twenty-five-year period. So, what did happen to Moira and will Hollie finally get the answers she needs to put to rest her past?

A strong plot and likeable characters keep this mystery/thriller moving a long at a good pace and keeps your attention throughout trying to work out what happened all those years ago and how it relates to the most recent incident.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

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This is #5 in the Detective Hollie Turner series but can easily be read as a standalone.

Hollie’s university friend, Moira, disappeared 25 years ago at Hull Fair and was never found. Now, the body of a retired police superintendent has been found at Hull Fair, so this brings back all sorts of memories for Hollie, and the possibility of the cold case linking up with the current case.

Secrets from the past start to appear, including abuse at a local children’s home – where Moira had lived prior to starting university.

An absolutely gripping read. I’ll definitely be going back and reading the first four books in the series.

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

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Book 5 in the DI Hollie Turner series had me gripped from the start. We learn more about Hollie and her background, particularly about her experience as a student, where a close friend goes missing, and Hollie still blames herself for not doing enough to help find her. When an ex police officer is murdered, it triggers more memories for her; as things evolve she becomes even more involved and determined to do right by the missing girl. Unfortunately the subject matter is all too believable and relevant. The fact that authority figures are involved is also too realistic, and still allegedly happening. I think the way this book is written handles the crime of child abuse really well, no sensationalism and very readable.

Although this book is part of a series, it still works as a standalone read. Gripping, page turner and thought provoking. A nicely twisted plot, and while I thought I knew where it was heading, the ending was still dramatic and pleasing. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy of Her Final Secret by Paul J Teague.
This is the fifth book in the Detective Hollie Turner but could be read as a standalone.
The book centres around a cold case from 25 years ago when Hollie was at university in Hull. The town where the series is set.
With a new murder of a former police officer, the past is brought to life. Can Hollie find the killer?
I’m enjoying this series and it gets better with each book.

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A fast paced thriller who's main character is more involved than usual due to her history. The dual timeline really helps you to discover the truth from different perspectives. Intense and enthralling.

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This was a solid police procedural read with an interesting personal connection as the main character, DI Hollie Turner, is overwhelmed with memories of her missing friend Moira when a murder occurs at Hull Fair where Moira went missing 25 years ago and it soon becomes apparent the two cases could be linked. There’s some fantastic characters in this and a gut wrenching story which sadly feels all too plausible. Told mostly in the current day as they try to identify the murderer and also if there’s links to other recent crimes but also interspersed with flashback from the last 1990s, most often at a crucial point in the present day action! I haven’t read any previous books by this author but it seems there was some backstory to Hollie but nothing that impeded my enjoyment of this.

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