I was delighted to receive an audio ARC of The Missing Ones because I've had lots of great feedback over the years as to how wonderful the Lottie Parker series is.

However it really shows that this is Gibney's debut novel. In my experience good authors improve as they continue their journey so I shall read more of this series despite being irritated by this first novel.

And I'm afraid I was very irritated. I did not like Lottie Parker at all. In fact her lack of empathy and intelligence drove me to distraction. I'm hopeless at whodunnit (even though I really enjoy them) but even I could put two and two together once the main characters were in play.

I confess I was talking back to the recording by a third of the way through and had it 1.5x the speed by the end. Lottie had to be the rudest, most ineffectual detective I've read yet. She flails about accusing everyone who comes within range of committing murder.

There were several parts relating to Lottie's bad attitude that truly angered me but it was nothing to do with the case. And yes I understand she was under pressure and that makes people make mistakes but I finished the book wondering how truly awful the other detectives must be if she were their inspector. I found the answer out later. Yes, all truly hopeless.

Thankfully someone spoon-fed her the answers and the case came to a halt; I breathed a sigh of relief that it was all over and said a little prayer that #2 would be better.

The narration by Michele Moran was excellent though. She had a nice voice to listen to and didn't over-dramatize. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to her and I'd look out for other narrations she's done.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bookoutre Audio for the audio advance review copy.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for an advance copy of this audio.

The premise of this book was so intriguing to me. The first paragraphs were chilling and draws you in right away. Unfortunately, things are revealed extremely slowly and the book is too long. By about 20% I was bored and had no urgency to continue to listen. There was no real sense of urgency in the characters, which made it difficult to stay invested.

Unfortunately, this is a pass for me.

The DI Lottie Parker series has been on my radar for a while, so I thought it was high time I started Patricia Gibney’s debut.

DI Parker and the team are called to investigate an unnatural death in a church, it becomes apparent that this is not an isolated crime.
The dark story is told is dual timeline. The present day narrative follows the complex and expanding investigation, as the body count rises. The extracts from the 1970s give details of the unfortunate individuals, who found themselves isolated with no-one to turn to for help.

The characters were well developed, the story intricate and fast moving.
I really enjoyed the narration by Michele Moran. The characters felt distinct, and the emotions were conveyed authentically through the vocal portrayal.

The book is harrowing and intense. The experiences endured by the 1970s’ characters are horrendous, it’s certainly not a light, cosy read.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Missing Ones, and am looking forward to the reading/listening to the rest of the series. 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

This is a solid start to a series with a great main character who has much to be discovered about in future instalments The mystery is nicely twisty with crimes and motives both past and present. It's a fabulous listen, with a great narrator, and I'm looking forward to more.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook ARC.
To note, but I'm sure this will be fixed on final release, there were some slight static disruptions within the first few chapters.

While the narrative is compelling and the characters well-developed, the pacing can be uneven at times, with some parts feeling a bit drawn out. Additionally, the abundance of subplots might make it challenging for some listeners to keep track of all the details.

Overall, “The Missing Ones” is a solid start to the Detective Lottie Parker series, offering a mix of suspense and drama. It’s a good listen for fans of crime thrillers, and I will continue on with the series.

I reluctantly pick up books that are part of a series as it always scares me that I won’t have time to listen to the following books haha, but I went with this as I love the genre and the blurb got me and sucked me in. The plot and premise was great and the and the characters were thoroughly a good match to the story. Have recommended this to the women in my book club as it’s 100% their vibe , will look for further books in this series and in general from this author

Just finished this audiobook and was totally absorbed in this very twisty story.
Between 1975 and the present day DCI lottie follows a very sad trail to uncover the terrible crimes leading to the murders she is assigned to investigate.

The narration was perfect and kept the pace of the story well with great expression and emotion.

Loved this book and will definitely read more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity.

Trying to solve two murders, Detective Lottie Parker has to travel back in time several decades to a children’s home that was rife with abuse to find the answers. Fair warning that there is some disturbing content involving child predation

I may have just found my new favorite “detective” series. This is a gripping novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Lottie Parker is an interesting and intriguing main character. I’m excited to read more books in this series to get to know her even better.

However, I will say there are subjects discussed that could be considered triggers for some.

4.5-4.75⭐️

Book no 1 DI Lottie Parker series

I had the audiobook read by Michele Moran I must admit an Irish narrator was my reason for choosing this book. She is excellent really bringing the book to life.

Irish police procedural that combines current deaths to decades old murders with a link to St Angela’s a former children’s home which has a dark link to Lotties past.

It may have triggers for some, its themes are dark but not graphic. The characterisation is good, the stories that we hear from the past are heart wrenching. Lottie and Boyd have a good relationship they are close although bicker. I like both of them as individuals, I like that Lottie pushes professional boundaries.

It’s well written and flows well between the past and the present storylines. I found the topics covered very moving, I like it when a book engages me emotionally. The characters are well crafted to really draw you in. That ending!!

I would highly recommend this audiobook which is the first in the series, its heart wrenching and moving, looking forward to the next in the series.

Summary:
Detective Lottie Parker is thrust into a chilling investigation when a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral, followed by a young man found hanging from a tree. Both victims bear the same distinctive tattoo, hinting at a sinister connection. As Lottie delves deeper, the trail leads her to St. Angela’s, a former children’s home with dark ties to her own family history. The case becomes personal as she uncovers links to unsolved murders from decades past. With two teenage boys now missing, Lottie races against time to unmask a twisted killer with a warped sense of justice, all while grappling with the terrifying possibility that her own children could be the next targets.

Audio experience:
There were times when I was confused about who was speaking and about what. Honestly, it feels like something is missing in the audio. I’m not sure how to explain it, but it was definitely a different experience for me.

Recommend:
If you’re a fan of stories that unravel slowly, this is the audiobook for you.