What She Said

This was a great addition to the series. I have enjoyed the previous books and was looking forward to reading this. I was not disappointed and am looking forward to reading more.

When a young child sees a woman being abducted and bundled into a van, nobody is sure if it really happened - the young girl is known for telling lies. However Detective Karen Hart feels like the girl is telling the truth, perhaps because she reminds her of her own daughter who she is still grieving for. Soon a missing woman is reported and it becomes clear that the team must do all they can to find the missing woman and solve the mystery as fast as possible.

Another brilliant entry to the Karen Hart series. Thrilling and full of secrets, lies and twists. Loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

This book was sent to me electronically for review…thank you Netgalley. The protagonist is trying to solve a murder mystery…missing women…she has so many others telling her what to do that it gets in the way of her investigation…the characters in this book are so alive that it seems as if the story is true…from the little girl, the witness, to the husband hiding something. This author has written a can’t put down novel. Who did it? Why? Will that person be caught? So many red herrings…many clues…a puzzle to determine the ending…don’t miss this book by a talented writer.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC

What a brilliant mystery full of suspense and a brilliant page turner

Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action and great police work! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! I will recommend reading it! It was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

It was a great mystery. I couldn’t have judged the murderer at all. The writing style was quite unique and I loved how the story was presented. The ending was one of the most satisfying ones I’ve ever read and it’s one of the best books of 2022 for sure

5 stars!!!

This is the sixth novel in the Detective Karen Hart series by author D.S Butler. I really enjoy this series, great characters, exciting plots and so well written make this a must read for all fans of police procedurals.

A young child is known as a storyteller witnesses a woman being abducted through the window of her family home. The woman is bundled into the back of a white van and driven off. Both the police and her mother have doubts about her story and it is only when Detective Karen Hart hears it that it is given any credence. A playing card is found down the drain close by to where the abduction occurred and again only Karen show any interest. When a second card is found at the home of the missing woman it enforces what Karen already suspected, that it was left by the abductor. Shortly after discovering the identity of the missing woman is Tamara another victim is snatched who just happens to be linked to her. When a body turns up in a farmer’s field the crime is escalated to a murder enquiry.

Fast paced police procedural novel that is well written and makes a very entertaining read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Karen Hart and her team are investigating the abduction of a woman who was grabbed off of the street and thrown into a van. The initial report was delayed, as the only witness was a young girl with an active imagination. But luckily Karen believed her and pushed everyone to treat it like a crime from the start. She turns out to be right when a local woman is reported missing by her husband. Although he seems distraught, the team believe he's hiding something, due to his defensiveness and odd behavior.

Good thing they have a consultant on hand - Dr. Michaels, an expert on serial killers (or so he believes) from America. Karen can't stand him but Detective Constable Sophie Jones is infatuated. After meeting him and his assistant after attending one of his talks, he is invited to visit their station and offer his opinions on their current case. Karen had tried to prevent him from doing so but was overruled by her superiors. So he tags along on visits to family and friends of the woman who was taken and critiques any interrogations the police have with suspects. He might end up being more of a hindrance than anything, but the team tries their best to consider his opinions. His assistance doesn't stop another woman from being taken, though, and Karen knows the team will need to work harder than ever to catch the culprit before any more women disappear.

There's a lot going on in this story, plenty of suspects and abrasive characters on all sides of the investigation. You'll find yourself wondering who the good guys really are, and the reveal of who was behind the crimes is unexpected. I love any type of surprise and this one was great - proof of why this is a series you can't miss.

The first book in months I finished in one sitting. This is the sixth installment in the Det. Karen Hart series and I was certainly not disappointed. If you love domestic thrillers, top notch writing, and great police work, this is the book for you! Kudos to D.S Butler for a brilliant novel!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this copy to read and review.

Nobody believes the young girl who claims to have witnessed an abduction. Karen Hart does though, possibly as she reminds her of her own young daughter. With two women missing can Karen and her team solve the crime?

I really enjoyed this and have enjoyed the whole series. The characters are really likeable and work well as a team.

Lots of suspense and red herrings. I had my own theory of whodunnit- completely wrong but I still didn’t see the ending coming.

5 stars, I highly recommend!

Compelling, twisty and unpredictable, I couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting and it kept me guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed it.

Excellent read, it kept me interested all the way through, characters are full and interesting, liked the author and I'm now interested in her work. I haven't read the series and this book can be a stand alone if it weren't for a couple of hints here about DS Hart's past, now I'm off to read them all. It was a good mystery with a good ending, I'm now a fan of DS Butler. Thank you NetGalley

I received an ARC of, What She Said, by D.S. Butler. Such an intriguing read. The only witness is a child, can the investigators trust her, before someone else dies? Such a good read.

Another great read in the d.s. Karen hart series. A woman is abducted in broad daylight her name is Tamara, theres a witness in molly who is 5 years old, and likes to make up stories. Is molly telling the truth? Does d.s. hart believe her?.A second woman rachel, who is tamaras sister is abducted. Who is doing this? What is aiden tamararas husbands secret? This drew me in from the 1st page, twists galore,love the story, highley recommend

The characters in What She Said by D. S. Butler felt like old friends. I really enjoyed reading this installment. There were good red herrings and lots of characters to have me guessing about the mystery. The book is well written, and the author has a nice writing style that kept me engaged.

I would definitely recommend this book, and I will read more from this author.

#WhatSheSaid #NetGalley @AmazonPub

Yet another great police procedural in a long line of great books by this author.
This story had so many twists I couldn't help but read this in one sitting.
Amazing work as usual

This was my first in this series, so playing catch up so it would probably have been better to have read the previous books. But given that it was an enjoyable read and a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Not going to say much about the plot etc as will give things away but all in all a good read.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Dr Michaels is a serial killer expert from Virginia in the USA. He has just given a lecture that DS Karen Hart and DC Sophie Jones attended.

A little girl named Molly McCarty is looking out her window on a rainy morning and sees a woman pulled into the back of a white van. Molly is almost 5 and is known to exaggerate the truth. Can they believe her?

The missing woman is identified and the search is on for her. Soon another woman is kidnapped and there may be a parallel to one of Dr. Michaels old cases, so he consults. Will they find the victims in time?

This is my first book by this author. There was a good mystery. Although I am just stepping into the series,it was pretty good.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Although this is book 6 in the series and I haven’t read any of the others I liked the sound of it so thought I would try it. The only witness to an abduction is a 4 year old child but the police have to work out if she is telling the truth or not. Quite unpredictable and a good solid storyline that kept me engrossed. A great read and I will definitely look to read the rest of the series from the beginning.

4⭐️
Firstly, thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the E-ARC of What She Said by D.S. Butler. The below is my honest opinion!

This is the sixth installment of the Decetive Karen Hart series. I have not read the other books and easily was able to get into the story and get to know the characters.

Summary: A woman is abducted in broad daylight in a peaceful neighborhood, the only witness: a 6 year old girl. Can DS Hart trust the girl who’s known for making up stories? When another woman goes missing and then a body turns up, DS Hart & the rest of her team need to solve the case fast in hopes of finding the killer and other woman.

This book was well written, easy to follow and full of plot twists/turns. I had a number of suspects throughout the book and none of them ended up being who I thought. I really enjoyed the world of DS Hart and will be reading more of the series as well! I highly recommend this book (and series) to those who love a page turning mystery/suspense whodunnit.

These books in the Detective Karen Hart series are great, D S Butler has written another great book, A young girl sees a woman abducted but her mother has doubts as to wether she is telling the truth, but detective Hart feels differently then another woman gets abducted a clue that these crimes are connected is a playing card found at both the scenes, This is a book with lots of secrets twists and turns and of course lies absolutely loved this book

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of What She Said, the sixth novel to feature DS Karen Hart of Lincolnshire Police.

A woman is abducted from a residential street in Lincoln perhaps, with the doubt stemming from the credibility of the only witness, a four year old with an active imagination. Karen is inclined to believe the child and the discovery of a playing card at the scene convinces her. A second identical card found at the home of missing woman Tamara Lomax confirms the abduction theory and the victim’s identity. Then a body is found.

I thoroughly enjoyed What She Said, which is a straightforward police procedural with plenty of twists and turns. By straightforward I mean that the investigation progresses logically and there is little in the way of subplot or personal drama. The emphasis is almost wholly on the investigation, just as I like my reading.

The novel held my interest throughout with unexpected developments and, to my mind, several suspects, although Karen has the victim’s husband, Aiden, firmly in her sights, because, if he’s not lying, he’s definitely withholding information. It develops well with each little bit of information adding to the picture and making the theorising more specific, although the theorising is redundant when routine police work uncovers the answer. Some of the answer is a surprise, but much of it is easy to surmise before the final showdown. Not that guessing the broad brushstrokes in advance spoiled my enjoyment of the novel as there were still the unexpected events.

The novel is very much the Karen Hart show. She drives the investigation and is involved in much of the action. A profiler is brought in to assist and the tension ratchets up as they don’t initially agree on much, if anything. Cross Karen at your peril.

What She Said is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is a great series, and it keeps getting better and better. A woman is abducted in front of a girl who tells tall tales and Detective Karen Hart needs to find out if it’s true. If so, who’s the victim. This time, Sophie’s hero Doctor Michaels is there to help. But could he be involved in it, somehow? There was a playing card at the crime scene, and he just wrote a book about a similar case. Or could it be the husband, who’s acting strangely? The plot was suspenseful and I really had no idea whodunit. The team of detectives have great chemistry, even with DCI Churchill, who is new to his position as their boss. It’s a fast-paced read and impossible to put down.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Amazon Publishing UK!

What She Said is the sixth in the Detective Karen Hart series, though it was easily read as a standalone. This was a police procedural without any of the “extras.” You get very little into Karen’s personal life or interpersonal relationships outside of work. There are some moments the plot follows some of the other detectives, and we get a smidge more non-police work there. This is really up to the reader if it’s the type of procedural for you - although I overall enjoyed the pacing, story and writing I found myself missing some of that personality subtext, or side plot to enhance the depth of the story. However I liked it enough I would go back at start the series from the beginning.

Another really good book in this great series. This is well written and if you like murder mystery who dunnit books then this one is definitely for you.

Another enthralling book by D.S. Butler that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and would recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller which keeps you guessing to the last page. It features D.S. Karen Hart and her team solving the crime of an abducted woman.

Great addition to the Karen Hart series about a woman who is abducted. Really liked the character that was introduced, an American profiler would be great to be in more series. A great read with a fabulous plot and reveal!

I didn't realise this was part of a series so I'll definitely be looking to explore the rest! As for this one, it really does well as a stand alone for those like myself who haven't read the rest of the books 1st. I loved the premise and thought it was really unique and it kept me engaged throughout. It was very procedural and fucused mainly on the technical aspect of the investigation and didn't do too much to delve into the characters personal lives but that might have bn built up in the previous books already. It would have bn nice to get more of a feeling for who the characters were and not just to have bn so focused on solving the crime, ignoring the characters that were solving it

Thank you to #NetGalley for my advance copy of #WhatSheSaid by DSButler
When a small girl looking out of the window is the only one to see a lady being kidnapped no one know wether to believe her until Tamara is reported missing. The team have nothing to work on and are searching for her when a body is found, but to not her.
Twists and turns on every page and the whole thing complicated by a visitor who is determined he is right.
This is the sixth book in the DS Hart series but the first one I have read. This did not affect my enjoyment of the book. Although previous happenings in the previous books were mentioned, this book worked well as a standalone.
A Great Read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When a woman is abducted from a quiet suburban street and bundled into the back of a white van, the only witness to the crime is a child with a reputation for telling tall tales.
The police doubt the girl’s story, except for Detective Karen Hart, who is determined to follow her instincts—perhaps because the shy little girl reminds her of the daughter she’s still grieving.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an excellent page turner that I couldn’t put down.

DS Karen Hart and her team are called in when a child appears to have witnessed a woman being abducted off the street. An already difficult case is made more complicated by internal politics and lying witnesses. 

I really enjoy this series and especially like the main characters of Karen and her colleague DC Rick Cooper, although we didn't get to see a lot of him in this book. I have mixed feelings about DC Sophie Jones. She is becoming a good detective and supports DS Hart well, but her overeager attitude and immaturity can be annoying. 

Overall, I like how this team works together to solve the case. This book focuses on the investigation while some of the prior books go into more depth about Karen's personal life. The case in this book is completely separate from the cases discussed in prior books so it works as a standalone. If you like it, you will want to go back and see the difficult situations Karen has gotten through both on and off the job. 

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Thomas & Mercer. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

4.25⭐

This is my first introduction to D.S. Butler's Detective Karen Hart Series, and I really enjoyed it. Not only because it's set in Lincolnshire which is where half my family are from, but because the story really drew me in.

As D.S. Hart is called to a family home after five-year-old Molly tells her mum that she's seen a young woman abducted and tossed into the back of a van. But is she really telling the truth or just making up another tall tale?

And with lots of procedural detail, great pacing and an interesting mix of characters this was a very engaging read. That had plenty of twists and turns and it genuinely had me guessing throughout. Which is why I would happily recommend it, and I'll certainly be reading the five books I've missed out on.

This is #6 in the DS Karen Hart series but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Little Molly is looking out of the window when she sees a woman being bundled into a van parked outside, but Molly has a vivid imagination and her mum isn’t sure whether she’s telling the truth or concocting a story. Her mum takes a chance and contacts the police, but they’re doubtful. DS Karen Hart is the only officer to believe Molly, because she reminds Karen of the daughter she is still grieving for, a little girl who also had an imagination but knew the difference between fact and fiction.

Tamara is reported missing and a piece of evidence found at her home is the same as the only piece of evidence at the scene of the kidnapping. Then a second woman goes missing, and a body is found in a field – which of the two women is it?

Just before the first kidnapping, DS Sophie Jones persuaded Karen to go with her to a talk given by a crime author/profiler from the USA – Dr Michaels – and he and his entourage become involved in the case.

A brilliant story that had me gripped, as did the previous books in the series, and I can’t wait for the next DS Karen Hart book!

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

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing Company and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘What She Said’, book six in the Detective Karen Hart series written by D S Butler, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Four-year-old Molly is having breakfast when she looks out of the window and sees a man grab hold of a woman and throw her in the back of his white van. DS Karen Hart is sent to talk to Molly and whereas her parents think it’s Molly’s vivid imagination Karen believes her. As the missing woman is identified as Tamara Lomax, another woman known to Tamara is also abducted.

‘What She Said’ is the latest novel featuring DS Karen Hart and is a worthy addition to the series. The plot is complex and the intrigue, suspense, drama and twists and turns add to what is without question an entertaining and action-packed thriller. I’ve been so involved with the story that I haven’t been able to stop reading and finished it in twenty-four hours. This has been a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting thriller with a surprising conclusion that I wasn’t expecting. I can recommend it and very much hope there’ll be another in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review. When a young girl says she witnessed a woman being abducted outside her house everyone knows she has a vivid imagination and her mother almost doesn’t report it. DS Hart interviews and senses she is telling the truth and the hunt for the woman begins. Hart learns the husband was having a affair and he quickly becomes the prime suspect. Then another woman is abducted in similar circumstances. Will Hart and her team solve the case in time?

A woman is abducted from a quiet suburban street and the only witness is four-year-old, Molly, with a vivid imagination. While her parents don't believe her tales, DS Karen Hart does. As the missing woman is identified as Tamara Lomax, another woman related to Tamara is also abducted.
Will Hart and her team solve the case in time?

This was an engaging read, the pacing was great and the characters were interesting. It's the sixth book in the series. While I haven't read the previous books, I had no problem getting 'into' the plot. I must say this is a #mustread.

This was a fun British procedural. It's the sixth in a series and I have not read any of the others, but that wasn't an issue at all. It references some things that the main characters have gone through without spoilers and without leaving the reader feeling lost. The MC is a competent police officer who is likeable and dealing with grief. Other officers play supporting roles. The crime is a bit perplexing in a good way. There is very little violence, no sex, cussing, torture, etc. The "whodunnit" was a little Scooby Doo but that's to be expected in this kind of book, as nobody would read a mystery where everything was logical and predictable. :) Altogether a good, fast paced read. I'd happily read more by this author.

I read a digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

3.5 stars

What She Said by D.S. Butler is the 6th in the Detective Karen Hunt series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DS Karen Hart lost her husband Josh and her daughter Tilly in a car accident. She later discovered it wasn't an accident, but it was covered up by some corrupt police officials.  She works with DI Scott Morgan,  DC Sophie Jones, and DC Rick Cooper.  She has a new boss, DCI Churchill, and she isn't sure about him yet.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
A 4-year old is sure that she saw a woman kidnapped off her street by a man in a white van.  Everyone seems to doubt her, except Karen.  When she finds a playing card at the scene, no one is sure that it is even a clue.  That is, until, an identical card is found at the home of a missing woman.

Then, a second woman is kidnapped.

Meanwhile, a noted author from the US who often helps the FBI with their cases, steps in to help.  Sophie, who is a big fan of the man, is ecstatic.  Karen, not so much.

But the main thing is to find these women, and Karen will do whatever it takes to make that happen.  If only people weren't keeping so many secrets!


My Opinions:   
This was probably the best in the series.  It could be that it was more case-centered, instead of police-corruption centered.

The plot was good, even if it was a little predictable.  As usual, all the evidence pointed in one direction, so of course we knew that wasn't it.  As well, the actual perpetrator was easy to guess quite early.  As interesting as the plot was, for some reason I found it long.  I didn't particularly like any of the characters other than the police officials.  I still love Karen, Morgan and Rick.  I still find Sophie really annoying.

As always, everything was laid out nicely in the end.  Overall, it was good, but maybe a little too predictable.

Although I haven't read the other books of the Detective Karen Hart series it was easy to get in to it. I liked the plot and characters, with an ending that is not your first thought. I did like it but somehow it didn't kept me hooked to read in one go.

When a woman is abducted from a quiet suburban street and bundled into the back of a white van, the only witness to the crime is a child with a reputation for telling tall tales. The police doubt the girl’s story, except for Detective Karen Hart, who is determined to follow her instincts perhaps because the shy little girl reminds her of the daughter she’s still grieving. When a playing card is found at the scene, Karen finds her first clue. And when a second card is found at the home of a missing woman, Tamara, Karen finds her victim. But before the team can catch their breath, another woman linked to Tamara is snatched. And then a body turns up in a farmer’s field.
This is the sixth outing for Karen & it could be easily read on its own but as I love series & how characters develop & grow, I would recommend reading the earlier books. Another well written fast paced book that drew me in from the start & held me gripped until the early hours when I turned the last page. There were twists & turns I didn’t see coming, there were secrets & I found it very hard to put down
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another fantastic read in this series. It is a well written fast paced story but easy to follow. I was gripped from page 1 and read it well into the early hours .
I look forward to reading more

Book 6 in the Detective Karen Hart series begins with a young girl witnessing the abduction of a woman. This is an excellent series, always well written and full of suspense. I like the character of Karen and her relationship with her colleagues. The plot was interesting, there are lots of secrets, but the ending was not quite what I was expecting, too many loose ends not tied up. It's still a good read and crime lovers will enjoy it. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
This 6th in the DS Karen Hart series is another good one, I really like this series.
Karen goes to interview a little girl who says she saw a woman being pushed into a white van. Her mother says the little one often fantasizes and tells stories, but Karen believes the story and delves into the case, which proves to be true. Shortly thereafter another woman goes missing and a body is found in a farmer's field.
Karen is a thoroughly likeable character and her various team members are interesting, even though one of them can be comically annoying. The book can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the whole series...you won't be disappointed!
Definitely recommended!

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of What She Said.

When the police doubt a child's story about having witnessed a woman being abducted, Detective Karen Hart is the only one who believes the young girl and is determined to follow her gut feeling. What She Said takes off from there and provides quite a wild ride!

I was drawn in from the beginning and found the plot to be fast-paced. It was entertaining and surprising with every twist and turn!! I very much liked how the team worked together, other than a bump or two.

I wasn't familiar with this series but now I want to read more, more, more! Even though What She Said is #6, I'm happy to say I didn't spend a lot of time completely lost. In my opinion, it can be read as a stand-alone. I definitely recommend What She Said to anyone who wants to be entertained!!

What A Rollercoster Of A read, Brilliant from start to finish.it gets you hooked from the first page.
A four year old girl sees a woman being abducted into a white van by a man. Is it her imagination or not?
Detective Karen Hart needs to find this woman asap .into the mix is an american Author and Profiler
Then another woman goes missing .
Detective Karen Hart is also grieving over the loss of her own child.
highly recommended i Am not giving away any more spoilers As you need to read it

Thanks to Danica and NetGalley for allowing me to read What She Said before the publication date.

DC Sophie Jones is an avid true crime fan. Dr. Michaels, an American author and expert in serial killers is giving a presentation. Sophie and DS Karen Hart attend the event. As Sophie joins the queue to have her book signed, Dr. Michaels’ assistant approaches Karen and offers to take them to meet Michaels who expresses and interest in British policing.

When 5 year old Molly tells her mother that she saw a woman being pulled into a white van outside their home, her mother thinks that this is another of Molly’s tall tales. A couple of hours later, although still doubtful, she calls the police. Karen listens to the Molly and, convinced that she is telling the truth, requests that the area is cordoned off and searched. A playing card is found.

Michaels and his team arrive to be given a tour of the police office until Karen gives them short shrift. Undeterred, Michaels approaches the senior officers and is given access, albeit without the camera man.

A local woman is reported missing and a playing card is found at her home, giving credence to Molly’s story. Michaels is quick to offer his expertise to the investigation.

Is this all too much of a coincidence?

Danica has woven secrets, lies and corruption into a story with more than a few twists, turns and red herrings. However I felt that the overall story is contrived and the portrayal of some of the characters required the reader to suspend belief.

A DS Karen Hart thriller, such an excellent read! The witness is a young child, so Karen acts on her intuition.
Loved the relationship between the police, crime investigators and visiting criminologist. I was hooked and enjoyed the many twists

Just in time for summer, D.S. Butler offers you an invitation to take advantage of a thrilling roller coaster ride through the pages of What She Said. An amazing mystery with an unbelievable surprise ending. Fantastic!

I haven't read any of Butler's others but loved this one! Karen is called in when a young child "witnesses" an abduction of a young woman. But Molly has been known to fabricate and her imagination is wild so even her parents aren't sure she is being truthful. Fortunately Karen is a smart detective and utilizes all of her resources and intuition to figure out what's going on when the victim's sister is also kidnapped. Great tension and twists I didn't see coming so I inhaled this one!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

What She Said is a very enjoyable and readable sixth book in the DS Karen Hart series from D S Butler with a good pacy underlying story keeping the pages turning.

I really enjoyed this tense police procedural. Great cast of characters and an entertaining, well thought out plot. Will definitely be looking out for more from this author. Solid five stars.

Another terrific read in the DS Hart series. Can be read as a stand alone. Well written with likeable characters and a great story. Fast paced and keeps you reading as it twists and you are kept guessing. Really enjoyable and looking forward to next in series.

A modern story of the little girl crying wolf - how do you believe a child with a repufor lying?

A woman's life hangs 8n the balance, there are no other witnesses - does a Detective gamble on believing the liar?

For fans 9f British mysteries and proper, rule driven detectives.

4 Who do you Believe Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
D. S. Butler presented in What She Said (Detective Karen Hart, #6) the standard question...who do you believe and why. When a woman is kidnaped and thrown into a white van, the only witness to this horrific event is a little girl who has the reputation of telling tales.

All dismiss her as unreliable except Detective Karen Hart.</b> She has a serious gut reaction that this little girl is telling the truth and starts to find clues that lead her in the right direction.

This tale starts off intriguing and takes off from there. I am new to D.S. Butler and will search out more.

I have read the first two books in the series but it has been a while so when I was invited to read this one, I immediately downloaded it . It can be read as a stand-alone as there are allusions into Karen’s back story which jogged my memory. I did enjoy reading the book and how it centred around one of the characters looking as the suspect and found the ending a bit of a surprise so I’m going to reread the first two books before getting the others.

Another case for Butler's favorite detective Karen Hart. A woman seems to be abducted, but then again, hard to say. Mixed in the middle of her case is a visit from an American true crime author on a book tour, who gets pressed into serving as an advisor., and a sister who is murdered. Hart isn't thrilled with his help, and the combination of personalities is what drives this, the latest in a series that I have enjoyed over the years from this author. You can read this book independent of the others, but you will appreciate some of the backstories that are referenced all that more.

How reliable can a 5 year old witness to a kidnapping be? DS Karen Hart is back, and tasked with finding a missing woman with only 5 year old Molly as the witness. Add into the mix an American Profiler, over in the UK for a book tour, who tries to inveigle himself into the investigation, and you know you’re in for a good read.

This is the sixth book in the series, very well written, nicely paced and with twists and turns galore, full of secrets and misdirection, with Karen’s cynicism evident when profiler, Dr Michaels, expounds on his theories. A good police procedural although I’m not sure that a DCI would spend so much time in the middle of interviews and searches himself. However, that slight niggle aside a really satisfying read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What She Said is the sixth book in the DS Karen Hart series. This book can be a stand alone, but they are so good you will enjoy starting with the first. DS Karen Hart and her team are tasked with speaking to a child who has told her mother that she saw a woman being taken by force and put into a van which drives away. Now, this child has been known to tell tales so she isn't believed at first. But Karen thinks the child might just have seen what she has reported. As the team begins to investigate little by little Karen finds that there was an abduction. There are plenty of twists and turns until the mystery is solved..

This is a wonderful series with strong characters and very likeable. It is interesting to read how they go about solving these crimes. This particular book didn't go into Karen's back story as some of the others do, but there are references that keep the past present for Karen as she tries to deal with the past.

A woman is abducted; the only witness is a young child known to fantasize. DS Karen Hart’s belief in the child’s story is validated when a woman is reported missing. A playing card found at the scene may or may not be a clue and soon a second abduction takes place.

This is the sixth in the Karen Hart series; it is the third I have read. I like this main character. She is likable, capable, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. The story is fast paced; I didn’t want to put it down and, in fact, read it in one day.

Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy this well written book, along with others in the series. Although there is mention of events from Karen’s background that are not fully explained, this will work well as a standalone. I look forward to the next issue in this series for another entertaining read.

Thanks to #Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the DRC.

Detective Karen Hart 6

When a woman is abducted from a quiet suburban street and bundled into the back of a white van, the only witness to the crime is a child with a reputation for telling tales. The police doubt the girls story, except for DS Karen Hart, who is determined to follow her instincts - perhaps because the little girl reminds her of the daughter she is grieving.

Detective Karen Hart needs to get as much information as she can from five year old Molly McCarthy, the only witness to a woman's abduction. They have no idea who the victim was. Then another woman is kidnapped.

The pace is steady from the beginning. With lots of twists and red herrings, I never knew where the story was taking me next. There's an interesting mix of characters and a gripping plotline. Tis well written book is easy to follow and can be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingUK and the author #DSButler for my ARC of #WhatSheSaid in exchange for an honest review.

Another DS Hart book. DS Hart and her team are really good at solving mysteries and this instalment in the series does not disappoint. Crisp, and well written it proves to be a great read.

A young child is the only witness when an unidentified woman is abducted in broad day light. Her mother is reluctant to call the police as the little girl has a vivid imagination and is know to tell embellished stories..When the police are finally called out DS Karen Hart chats to the young girl and her insiincts tell her that the child is telling the truth. As the story unfolds the plot thickness and the book becomes a riviting, compulsive read.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a great addition to the series. A gripping main plot with nice developments in the subplots any characters too

I enjoyed following this character into yet another book. I always find it interesting how things are done differently than here in US. I will continue to follow this author.

A Dilemma.,,
The sixth in the Detective Karen Hart series finds the detective with a dilemma following an abduction. A child with a reputation for tall tales is the only apparent witness. Should she trust her instincts and believe the child or should she go with the general consensus of doubt. As more clues are discovered, the pace picks up and soon the case is escalating fast. A solid police procedural with a well drawn cast of characters, twists aplenty and a pacy plot. A worthy addition to the series,

The sixth book in the Karen Hart series and my second book. DS Karen Hart investigates when a woman is kidnapped from off the street and the only witness is a 5 year old Molly who has an over active imagination. The child's mother does not believe her but Karen does. When another woman goes missing and is found murdered , Karen and her team pull out all the stops with the help of a consultant.
D S Butler has written a great police procedural novel and can be read as a stand alone novel. I look forward to reading the others in this series.

An intriguing story. Can you take the word of a pre-school age child about an abduction? Is it likely that an abduction would take place at 8 in the morning? Then another at rush hour in a busy street - and what have the chickens to do with it?
Really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

Worthy addition to the DS Karen Hart series with relateable characters that weave in and out of the plot. A realistic tale with plenty of secrets and lies to keep you guessing right to the end.

Review of eBook

When Detective Sergeant Karen Hart arrives on Royal Oak Lane in Aubourn to investigate an abduction report, she knows the witness is Molly, the four-year-old daughter of Karen and Terry McCarthy. While her mother insists Molly often tells imaginative stories, Karen finds the child’s report strangely compelling.

Determined to follow up on the little girl’s story, Karen visits the crime scene. The discovery of a playing card provides a clue and a home security system provides a partial view of a vehicle that might match the one Molly described.

When the report of a missing Aubourn woman, Tamara Lomax, seems to match the information provided by Molly, Karen and Detective Constable Sophie Jones visit Tamara’s husband, Aiden, but are left feeling unsettled by what was said . . . and not said. However, the delivery of a playing card, dropped through the Lomax's mail slot, gives credence to the investigation since it matches the one found at the crime scene.

When a second woman disappears . . . one related to Tamara . . . and then a body turns up in a field, the team finds itself racing against time to discover the reason for the kidnapping and the murder before there can be another victim.

It’s a case made all the more difficult by a visiting serial-killer expert turned well-known true-crime writer who may want to help or may just want the publicity that will come from being involved in the case and who manages to worm his way into the investigation as a consultant.

But can even an expert hope to find the truth amid the multitude of secrets surrounding the case?

=========

Sixth in the author’s Detective Karen Hart series, the story works fairly well as a standalone although a few references to previous events fail to provide sufficient information for readers new to the series. However, the coherent story is strong enough to overcome this slight bump in the telling of the tale.

Several unexpected twists in the plot keep the suspense building and are certain to surprise the reader. The fast pace of the unfolding narrative keeps readers involved and guessing. Strong characters, a “who should you believe” scenario that keeps readers wondering, and a captivating plot that keeps the whole team involved all work together to make the narrative both realistic and believable. That said, the unexpected solution to the complex mystery in the denouement is sure to stun readers.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley
#WhatSheSaid #NetGalley

A great thrilling read. DS Karen Hart is trying to find if a woman was really abducted the only thing is that the witness is a very young child. Karen knows that Molly isn't lying but they have no idea who the woman is at the present time. They are given a lead about a missing woman Tamara Lomax she never arrived at work. Karen & her team to need to find out everything that they can about her. They interview the husband Aiden but Karen thinks that he is hiding something.
With no leads they interview her work colleagues some seem to be hiding something and there was talk of Tamara seeing someone else. But there is nothing to prove that.
Karen has just been told that Dr Michaels will be helping with the case but she just doesn't trust him. Can he really help them with the case.
Another woman is taken and they are no closer to finding Tamara and when they find out who the other woman is they realise that they have been targeted. But why?
Will they find both women alive or will it be too late? The killer isn't who anyone was expecting.
The book is full of twist & turns. Loved the characters as they all work well together.
Karen is a very strong personality as she talks her mind & she gets results. The tragedy that she has experienced has made her a better cop.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review.

What She Said starts out when a young girl claims she saw a woman adduced into a van outside her living room window. No one believes her not even her mother, but DS Karen Hart thinks she’s telling the truth then they get a report of a missing woman. This was a very fast paced story that had plenty of twists and kept me guessing till the end. I have really enjoyed this series and can’t wait for the next book. Thanks Netgalley for this Arc.

I love this series Karen is a great character, trying to find a serial killer with the help of a notorious author of serial killers, she is very skeptical of his skills and ability to help her team but is she right! Action packed as always

Book six in the Karen Hart series and it started off really well. It begins with a youg girl witnessing the abduction of a woman. A good plot, plenty of misdirection. Unfortunately for me the story left unfinished. So many unanswered questions and the conclusion was a bit bizzare. All in all a good read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

When a woman was kidnapped and the only witness a 4 year old little girl that could describe the van, would anyone believe What She Said?
D.S. Butler writes with total comprehension of what makes a marvelous mystery novel.
The twists and turns in What She Said almost gave me whiplash.
With an ending that was oh, so satisfying.

This is book number 6 in the Detective Karen Hart series.
A woman is abducted on a quiet street, and the only witness is a five year old girl. DS Karen Hart has to fight against time to identify the victim, and soon a second woman is abducted.

I really enjoyed this book. It is fast-paced and well written with interesting characters. I have not read all the books in this series, but this book does well as a standalone.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for an advanced review copy of this novel.
A challenging case for Karen Hart where a woman has been abducted and bundled into the back of a van, witnessed only by a child. Then another woman is abducted, but this one is caught out cctv. You would think that with some cctv footage it would make the case a little bit easier, but in fake ends up making more questions, especially with who the second abductee is.
An interesting and unusual plot which will keep you reading on to find out who done it and why.
You have all your usual suspects, but figuring it out will not be easy.
Recommended for all police procedural, mystery and thriller readers.

Karen Hart is a good police officer but she is still grieving for her little girl and is this colouring her reaction to what another little girl is telling her?

Karen and her colleagues follow the clues, even with a less-than-supportive boss and an overly confident author who like to obstruct her.

There are some twists and turns in this book, but at the end of the day this is a solid police procedural with a murderer revealed whom I suspected earlier on of being a bit suspicious but who knows with books like these!

Would definitely like to read the next book in the series :)

4 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

A good mystery with a different twist. DI Karen Hart is dispatched to a investigate the abduction of a young woman off the streets of a quiet suburban neighborhood. The question is whether or not there has truly been an abduction. And so begins the bazaar mystery that DI Hart is challenged to unravel. A well written plot and well developed characters what will keep you guessing till the end. Highly recommend for mystery aficionados.

Detective Karen Hart has thankfully returned to another outstanding storyline by D.S. Butler.

Such a clever concept, thoroughly devious and full of twists, all starting with a little girl seeing an abduction in the street, but will anyone believe her? Plenty of red herrings to stray you off the track and just when you think you have figured it out, you realise you haven´t!

A fantastic read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Twisty and unpredictable is what you will get reading What She Said.
Though I haven’t read the previous books in the series, I had no issue reading this. With that said, I do want to catch up on the series and will be picking up the first books!
Suspenseful and thrilling domestic thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

DS Karen Hart and her team are called out after a woman is kidnapped off the street on her way to work and the only witness is an imaginative five year old girl. The novel traces the unit’s work in looking for the woman, dealing with reciprocal activities and, ultimately, finding the suspects. It is well plotted and well written and brings the reader into the story. It is a procedural that covers all angles. Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It drew me in from the first page and I didn't figure it out till the reveal. Just a good book and a favourite series of mine.

What She Said finds DS Karen Hart on the trail of a missing woman, but is there really a case? Her main witness is a very young girl who was in the midst of an argument with her mother. The mother insists her daughter has a habit of making up tall tales. The daughter insists she saw a woman being grabbed off the street and being thrown into a white van. Who is she to believe? Hart also has to deal with team members who don’t believe the little girl and don’t believe Hart being female should be in a position of authority. Matters are further complicated when an expert in serial abductions and murders attempts to horn in on the investigation. Hart’s superior officers are not pleased and feel that she invited the man into the case. But the expert and his assistant both give off vibes that they might be more than tangentially involved in the case. The book is well written and has more than enough to keep the reader engaged. I look forward to reading other books in the Karen Hart series.

I have been loving the karen hart series, and What She Said is a wonderful addition

Well written, great characters and a gripping plot

Brilliant read i love the Detective Karen Hart books the stories and characters always go so well together and keep you hooked from start to finish.5*

Great plot twists. Engaging from start to finish.

The sign of a great story is one that you can’t wait to get back to reading. This is the perfect example of a be of those stories. With three-dimensional characters that drive the plot forward, Butler is an absolute master of her craft.

Also important to note is that this is part of a series, of which I have read none. What I enjoyed immensely is that I didn’t feel as though I was missing out by jumping in at this point. While there were references to past events that I assume were from previous novels, this book stood very well on its own.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I await the next in the series, and can use the time to catch up on previous adventures.

This series checks all the boxes for me. Mystery=check, enjoyable characters- check, twists and turns and didn't see that coming=bonus!!! I started reading D. S. Butler from the Kindle Unlimited. My subscription expired and I was given the opportunity to read book six from the Publisher. (Thank you). That being said, I will buy the books as they come out...I enjoy this series that much.

Prolific author D S Butler has released the sixth book of her Detective Karen Blackwell series - What She Said. The police case begins with an imaginative five year old girl witnessing a kidnapping. Yet the police feel she cannot be relied upon despite her seeing the woman abducted off the street in front of her. Detective Blackwell is not so certain and sees a stark reminder of her own child. Initially, she is reluctant to accept help from a visiting American criminal profiler as the team chases down leads and the tensions and human dynamics interplay. An engrossing police procedural with great characters and a captivating case that builds to an unexpected outcome. It’s a most enjoyable crime novel with a four-star read rating. With thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and the author for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes, All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.

This book was great, the characters were well developed. The plot was interesting. Highly recommend it.

This novel is a thoroughly brilliant Police mystery with intrigue from the very start when they are first alerted by a mother of a 4 year old girl who saw a woman being grabbed from a man in a white transit van. The detectives can’t be sure that this is a real abduction as even the child’s mother says she tends to make things up but the child, Molly is adamant and the Police get underway with their investigation.

I could really see this coming to the screen in a fast paced Netflix drama, all of the characters are rich in description and likeable especially Detective Karen Hart, who clearly has her own skeletons in the closet that she doesn’t want to open and a pressurised job coming up against harsher officers above her.

Interesting is the fact that when the Police check to see if anyone local has been reported missing, Tamara Lomax has and her husband, her sister and her boss could potentially all be trying to hide something important. The author has been very clever in creating a suspense of a victim that you know llittle about from anyone other than the potential perpetrators.

The only negative I have is that, though the author fleshes out in great length the characteristics of the Police team, I don’t feel that was enough about the loss of Karen Hart to really see her vulnerabilities. An exceptional cop nonetheless, but I wanted to know so much more about what had happened to her.

I didn’t see who was the person responsible until DS Hunt did which I loved and the ending is perfectly emotional and gives the feeling of closure to a good novel.

All in all, a good read that I would recommend.

Book available – release date – 24th May 2022:-

What She Said (Detective Karen Hart Book 6) eBook : Butler, D. S.: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Date of review: 7th June 2022

SPOILERS- YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Another amazing Karen Hart book. I found this one, a bit less intriguing than the previous ones, but nonetheless, really gripping. I liked seeing more of the dynamic between all of the side characters, especially Sophie, even though I found her a bit annoying at times. The American psychologist person was so shifty, he ended up disappointing by the end. I did think that the whole mystery was kind of underwhelming. Everyone died accidentally and the 'villains' were mediocre. Not much development of the tension, and it's a bit weird when nearly everything suspicious turns out to be fine and the whole case is unravelled based on one chance thing, that could have happened at the beginning of the book.

Either way, I'll still continue with the series and can't wait for the next book!
Highly recommend for people who like crime thrillers, but without as much gore.

What She Said by D. S. Butler is a thought-provoking mystery in the Detective Karen Hart series. This is book six and I have enjoyed this whole series! Many children are gifted with creative imaginations and that is a cause for concern when the only witness to an incident is a playful child. She is playing one morning when she observes a woman being pulled from the sidewalk and forced into a van. She tells her mother, but the mother thinks she is avoiding getting ready for their day and wants to play. Detective Karen Hart is really considering all the possibilities as she questions the little girl and has officers pick up any debris on the curb close to where the child said the van parked. Soon, there is no doubt that a woman has gone missing from their neighborhood. The investigation really picks up when another body is found along with another playing card. The story is intriguing!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Well I must say having read some rather dire police procedurals recently this made an excellent change. I haven't read this author before but I certainly will again. What struck me was how believable the police team was. They had a night shift, people went home and had something to eat- no breatharian detectives here who are the only police officers on the force! Whilst the DS Karen Hart has had her troubles she hasn't turned into an alcoholic, chain smoking, pain killer addicted saddo. Thank heaven!
The attention to detail was excellent. I really liked the way DS Hart interacted with people. The characters were well drawn and the book very well written. Believable plot , no rabbits out of a hat just for the sake of adding "jaw dropping" to a headline. Concentrating on a good story. Right up my street. I shall search out the earlier books and am very pleased to have read this one.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

I actually want to go back and read what happened to Karen in her previous books. This book was ok in the beginning but got a lot more interesting once I hit halfway through.

Fantastic! A real page turner of a story with a totally unexpected ending, had me guessing all the way through. The tension was palpable, a great read.

I received an ARC of this book. This is an excellent detective series. I love the characters. Full of action and suspense!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. When playing cards are left at the scene of a crime, its up to Karen who is a detective to figure it out. This book captured my attention from the start.

A young girl, not-quite-5-year-old Molly McCarthy, is dawdling rather than getting ready for school. She's looking out the window at a white van. A young woman walks by; someone jumps out of the van, grabs the young woman, tosses her into the van; and then drives off. Molly's mother thinks she's making it all up, but eventually does call the police. They send around DS Karen Hart to talk to Molly. Hart believes Molly, in part because Molly reminds her of her own daughter, Tilly, still deeply mourned after her demise in an auto accident. And so, the search begins for the van and the missing woman.

Complicating the investigation is that a new chief inspector, DCI Churchill, has just been appointed to oversee the police station in which Karen works. Churchill is skeptical of the competence of women in general, and of DS Hart in particular. He has heard that DS Hart has a way of being a bit unorthodox at times, and also a bit prickly. Some of that may be true, but she does have a way of getting cases solved.

An additional complication is that Dr. Michaels, a famous criminologist from the U.S., is visiting on a book tour with his entourage of publicists, right-hand man, Zane Dwight, and photographer, Nicholas Phinny. Dr. Michaels wants to "help out". But, is he actually helping, or is he hanging out to generate more publicity for himself?

Eventually, they figure out that the missing woman is likely Tamara Lomax. When the police interview her husband, he seems unusually nervous. Was he, perhaps, involved in some way? Later on, they find that Tamara's sister, Rachael has also been abducted in a similar fashion. One intriguing feature of all this is that a playing card, the Queen of Hearts, is found at each abduction site, and so as not to be missed, stuffed through the Lomax's mail slot. Dr. Michaels detailed a serial crime of female abduction wherein an Ace of spades was the "calling card" feature of the crime. Is someone recreating one of Dr. Michaels' previous cases? If so, that would certainly be Good for publicity.

So, why are the sisters targeted? Why is Aidan so twitchy? What's up with the Queen of Hearts? Where is the van? It all comes out in the end in this book. This is essentially yet another British police procedural story. It's a rather popular form of fiction these days, and justifiably so. I've read some of DS Hart's adventures previously, and will likely do so in the future.

#WhatSheSaid #NetGalley

I’ve been with this series since the beginning. After the last one I was ready to give it up. But I don’t give u0p easily. I’m still not sure who “She” is in the title. Is it the little girl who witnesses the abduction in the beginning? Is it the victim? Is it the cop? I’m starting to really wonder about titles. Anyway, after the last book, I was more interested in this story. My mind kept scoming up with possibilities with each new character. I could imagine how this person could be involved and what their motive would be. That is part of the fun of reading a thriller. Trying to think of all of the possibilities.

Who would pull a woman into a van in broad daylight? Is it the husband? Is it the sister, whom we are told over and over looks just like the victim? Is it the cocky American profiler? His creepy and intense assistant? The mob-adjacent owner of a chicken slaughterhouse?

That all kept me reading. Even thought Kate has become a boring character. She should be interesting even if she is not in some Sort of weird romantice turmoil. This series still defines its female characters by their relationships with men. The women are constantly reacting to the men. I don’t get it from a female author. Similarly, I was hoping Sophie would grow. She still acts like she graduate the police academy yesterday. She is always following someone around and seriously second guessing every thing she does and says. When will she become more?

Other characters didn’t show any growth, either. Morgan has become just a bore. Rick became more interesting in the last few books but is largely ignored here. He has the potential to have depth. It is there somewhere but we are not given access to it. Disappointing.

The author continues to overexplain almost everything, but then I found huge jumps were made that were not explained. For example, how does something on a mantle tell one character who did it? Because you found out the victim knew someone you already knew that they knew? Why was the first abduction done where it was done if it was done for the reason it was done? It seems like it should have been more like the second if that was the point the whole time.

The good-the introduction of possible suspects and motives.
The questionable-some of the jumps and choices made by characters.
The bad-lack of growth in recurring characters.

Read it for the story. You don’t need to have read previous books.

What She Said, by D.S. Butler, is a fast paced detective, suspense novel. The main character, Detective Karen Hart, is likeable and interesting. The story kept my interest and I had a hard time putting it down.
A woman is kidnapped, in broad daylight, right off of the sidewalk of a quiet neighborhood. Unfortunately, the main witness is a little girl with the habit of telling wild stories as if they're fact.
The police aren't taking her story very seriously but Detective Karen Hart is and she's learned to listen to her own instincts. After a queen of hearts card is discovered nearby, Karen believes that she's found a possible clue. Especially after another card is discovered at the home of a missing woman.

This is a very interesting story. A little girl is the only witness to a woman being abducted. A doctor from the US is in town to promote his book. With his history of helping the police in America he offers to help with this case. Karen is not too sure bring in an outsider is a good idea. As the case investigation continues Karen finds her self working directly with Dr. Michael’s. Will they be able to find the missing women? I enjoyed the story and the unexpected twists and turns.
Thank you to netgalley for complimentary copy. Recommended read.

WHO do you believe and WHY? When a woman is kidnaped and thrown into a white van, the only witness to this horrific event is a little girl who has the reputation of telling tales. This story was unpredictable, a real page turner (one the was hard to put down)
Crime lovers will enjoy this book! I give these 3 1/2 to 4 stars.
Thank you for allowing me this arc!

This book was a good twister. I admit that the suspense had my mind jumping here and there with a number of possibilities as to who is behind the crimes committed. I enjoyed that the story read very easily for me. The dialogue and narrative was captivating and engaging to me as the reader. The characters dialogue amongst each other was outstanding,it was as though they had a real conversation over an actual crime being committed. I found a number of details related to the police force came with a lot of factual information. This is a very good entertaining book.

A Fast Paced British Police Proecdural

Maggie, a five-year-old with a vivid imagination, insists that she’s seen a woman walking past her house being pulled into a white van. The mother worries that her daughter is telling tall stories, but DS Karen Hart thinks the child is reporting what she’s seen. The other investigators are not as certain. Some believe that Karen is being led astray because of the child’s resemblance to her daughter.

When a playing card is found in the drain near where the woman was snatched and again at the house of another kidnapping victim, the police take the case seriously. When a body is found in a farmer’s field, the crime escalates from kidnapping to murder.

DS Karen Hart is a character who stands up for what she thinks is right. I like that. I also thought using the child in the open of the story set the stage well. The pace is fast and full of twists. It’s not easy to figure out what happened until the end. If you like police procedurals, particularly British police procedurals, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from Amazon Publishing for this review.

When Molly tells her mother that she has seen a lady being bundled into the back of a white van, her mother is a bit sceptical. Molly is a bright imaginative child- is this one of her stories. However she gets in touch with the police. Detective Karen Hart's instinct is to believe Molly, although she admits to herself that it could be that she reminds her of Tilly- whose death she will never get over. When another woman goes missing it seems Karen's instincts are correct. However nobody seems particularly keen to be helpful in answering the teams enquiries- not that it will stop Karen getting to the truth (whilst keeping the reader confused!)

This was an excellent read. For some reason I only seem to read even numbers in this series but they have all been twisty interesting stories with good characters. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- maybe I'll actually et to read an odd numbered one next!

A little girl, playing in her lounge, sees a woman bundled into the back of a van. She tells her mother, but initially is not believed. However, a woman is reported missing and suddenly Karen Hart realises the little girl is the only witness to this crime. A playing card is found at the scene, and another at the home of the missing woman, and suddenly the race is on to find her before its too late.

An American profiler is brought in to assist, as Karen, still haunted by her past, tries to piece together the puzzle and find the missing woman.

An interesting tale, I'm not really sure about the significance of the playing cards at the end. The characters were well drawn but the ending felt a bit contrived. A good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When the only witness to a kidnapping is a 5 year old for a reputation for tale telling it seems as though no one will take her story seriously that is until Ds Karen Hart has a feeling that this time she may be telling the truth and when another woman is kidnapped the race to find the woman begins

Number 6 in the Karen Hart series and as good as ever

I received a complimentary electronic ARC of this excellent British police procedural on May 24, 2022, from the author via Netgalley. I have read What She Said of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I always enjoy D. S. Butler. She writes an intriguing tale with personable characters that I am always glad to visit. And revisit.

Molly McCarthy, almost 5 years old, witnessed the abduction of a woman in the street in front of her house early in the morning. The woman was wearing a coat and was tossed into the back of a white van. A white van like her Dad's but without the writing on the side.
Molly has a wonderful imagination and is often the teller of tall tales, entertaining her family and their neighbors with stories involving her dolls or the next-door dog. Molly's mom is hesitant to call the police, but Molly is certain of what she had seen and after a delay, she does report the possible incident. DS Karen Hart is about the only person, who takes her story seriously - until the woman from a couple of streets over is reported as missing when her boss called her home to find out why she has missed a very important meeting. Tamara Lomax left for work as usual. And as usual, she chose to walk to work, crossing through the Lincoln neighborhood rather as the crow flies, cutting through streets as necessary to save steps. House-to-house searches leave the police with only little Molly as a witness. Then there is input from the American serial killer profiler, Dr. Michael, author of a book just released, who insists upon offering his reading of the clues available to them. Karen isn't sure his reading of the situation is correct, though she is urged to take his advice to heart by her coworkers who 'believe' the Doctor's press.

On day 2 as Karen and her partner Rick as going through camera footage from the small neighborhood seeking white transit vans, word comes to them of yet another abducted woman, a woman several adult witnesses saw, one of whom even attached her molester whom the victim was also fighting, before being forced into the back of a white transit van. This abduction was on a busy street and there were miles of CC footage to sort, lots of white transit vans but only a couple who were also in the Lincoln neighborhood footage. The cases seem to be coming together. Or are they completely wrong with their investigation?

DS Karen Hart keeps up her good work in What She Said, by DS Butler. It's a delightful read and I will look to read other books in the series.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read and review an advanced reading copy of this book.

Nobody wanted to believe a young girl when she said she saw a woman abducted on the street outside her house. She saw a man put a woman in the back of a white van. When her mother finally called the police, DS Karen Hart is sent to interview the child. She wants to believe her story, but there are few clues at the scene, except for a playing card in the storm sewer. When the same playing card shows up at the home of a missing person, the investigation begins.

This is a missing person mystery with several side stories: the usual suspects who seem to be hiding the truth, an expert on serial killers who is in the area on a book tour, a conflict between DS Hart and her superior, and even DS Hart’s previous history. When another woman goes missing, the entire team races to find the missing women and their abductor.

This story has some very nice elements along with some surprises to keep the reader engaged.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I have not read any other books in the series and found that some previous events were only hinted at so it was hard to understand how they had impacted on the characters. I thought Karen's behaviour was unprofessional, telling someone she didn't know that they were investigating an induction case without any respect for confidentiality. I thought some of the writing was inaccurate, no nurse would refer to the surgery team, they would say the surgical team.
This was more of a cosy mystery level than a crime thriller, and I wouldn't read any other books by this author.

What can I say another brilliant read. I am getting annoyed that I keep reading these books out of order so will have to buy the ones before them now.
I love these kind of crime books where it keeps you guessing right till the end. You think you know who did it but then no it’s not that person. The book like the last one I read was very well written I read a lot of crime books I really don’t like the easy books the one with no substance I just bored with them. This book is different as it gripes your interest from the beginning and you just want to keep reading to find out what happens next.
The book starts with a little girl witnessing a crime and then the police have to work out who was involved who was the woman the little girl saw. They do find out who she is and that’s where the twists start. All in all a very good book I would recommend

What She Said by D.S. Butler was a fabulous read that had me totally gripped from the start.

This is the 6th book in the series featuring DS Karen Hart, set in Lincolnshire and I picked up the series with Don't Turn Back (book 3) which I also thoroughly enjoyed. The fantastic plot line and brilliant characters made What She Said a superb tale that held me captive throughout.

With innumerable twists and turns, guessing the identity of the perpetrator was nigh on impossible and the zippy pacing meant there was no room for boredom or tedium. It was an impeccably crafted story and the absence of witnesses except for a fib-telling child at the beginning of the story when the hunt for an abductor started, helped towards creating the tense atmosphere. Danica Butler weaves a masterful police procedural that culminates in a surprising denouement. Her rich character development is both multi-dimensional and plausible. This tale should not be missed as it is a fantastic continuation of an excellent series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I have not read anything by D,S. Butler but I cannot wait to read all of this series! It references some things from within the series but it does not make you seem like you missed everything.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Fisher and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, such a good read that kept me guessing right to the end . The twists and turns kept going through the whole book which made it difficult to leave down. The story unfolds leaving you wanting more after every chapter. I would highly recommend this book to everyone you loves a good psychological thriller .

Book 6 in the Karen Hart series and as per usual i absolutely loved it. I will say if you haven't read the first 5 books do so!!! It's a great series and totally worth the read, however you could read this as a stand alone if you like.

When a little girl watches the lady from the shop get kidnapped on her way to work, her mum doesn't believe her, she's known for making up stories and her mum thinks this is one. But to be on the safe side she calls it in. Unlikely her mum detective Karen Hart completely believes the little girl and begins to investigate. Meanwhile Sophie's dreams come true when she meets her favourite true crime author who worked as a profile. He's in town on a book tour. When a playing card is found at the scene of the abduction scene they invite him to consult him on the case, as one famous serial killer from his past used playing cards only issue is he's in prison in America so do they have a copy cat on their hands.

Honestly i really enjoyed this instalment, i love Karen's character and she brings so much to the role. Karen dives head first into the case, whilst everyone is looking one way she's looking the other, although the profilers expertise is great she feels the team is being mislead and misdirected. This was made worse when information about the case is leaked and her face is front page, she can't help but wonder is their lack of progress her fault?
it's interesting the team dynamic with the addition of the visiting profiler, Sophie is obsessed with him and thinks he knows best but her loyalty still lies with Karen so she is torn. when Sophie see's the newspaper article she has her suspicions about who is selling information about the case but she has to get her facts first.
I enjoyed the added twist of a second person being kidnapped also and i found myself even more confused about what was going on and yet i couldn't put the book down at all.

what i really enjoyed about this case is the why? i did guess the twist quite early on but i couldn't work out what the motivation was for the kidnap. that is what kept me reading but why is all i kept asking myself throughout. The police investigation was great to follow and i really felt like i was part of the investigation myself.
it is very well written, and i loved the different POV's that you are given throughout the book it kept me completely hooked. I also found that the investigation is written extremely well with well researched police procedure.

All in all i really enjoyed book six of the Karen Hart series and i cannot wait for book 7. Get ready for twist and turns throughout the book and i promise you when you think you've worked it out completely well you haven't, i promise you. 4 stars. recommend if you enjoy M.K Farrar, C.L Taylor, Helen Phifer and basically any amazing crime thriller/psychological thriller writers.

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer publishers and D.S Butler for the digital ARC of what she said in exchange for my fair and honest opinions

This was the second Karen Hart mystery book I've read, and I was not disappointed. It was every bit as enjoyable as the first book. This book was engaging and filled with twists and turns. The solution to the mystery was one I hadn't anticipated. I highly recommend this book to other police procedural readers.

DS Hart is a very interesting, very likeable character. Her team mates are an integral part of the story and all of them read like people you would meet in real life.


D.S. Butler is a talented story teller and I've yet to be disappointed in one of her books.

I love D.S. Butler’s Karen Hart series! The detective is feisty and has fought her way to the top in her profession, despite personal tragedy! This book provides a fast paced mystery that readers will devour!

This is the sixth in the Karen Hart series but also stands alone. When a child sees a kidnapping but is often known for telling stories only Detective Hart believes her. but no one else is sure she's telling the truth. It was twisty and a compelling read. D.S. Butler is an auto buy author for me,
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is the 3rd Detective Karen Hart book that I've read and I've enjoyed all of them. The books can be read as standalones. The characters are well-drawn and the cases do not depend upon each other.

Should you believe it when an imaginative 5 year old girl tells you that she has seen a woman thrown into the back of a white van? Neither the mother nor the police quite trust the little girl's story, but DS Karen Hart has a feeling that this is a situation that she must pursue. When another woman is abducted, Karen's trust is vindicated. Now, the race truly begins to find the victims and catch the perpetrator.

I look forward to reading new Karen Hart adventures in the future.

Another solid addition to the Karen hart series. Really enjoyed the way the team interacted with outside assistance/distractions within this novel.

Ok. Conversation felt repetitive and wooden. The investigation was based on feelings rather than facts and the profiler felt like a gimmick (his sidekick even more so) . No action as such, the whole book felt very mundane.
I had enjoyed a previous book in the series , this one could be better if edited .My thanks to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Not bad, but have read better

I love D S Butler books! Always guaranteed a fantastic plot and brilliant writing. Characters perfectly written and presented to the reader. This author just writes page turners!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. This was an excellent read.
Thoroughly recommended
Kept me guessing throughout.

This is the sixth book in the series featuring Detective Karen Hart and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The only witness to a woman being abducted and pushed into a white van is Molly, a young five year old girl. On telling her mother what she has seen, her mother is tempted to think that Molly is fantasising but still thinks she ought to report it to the police. There is only Karen who thinks that Molly is telling the truth but doesn’t know if it’s because she reminds her of her own daughter who died. Karen discovers a playing card left at the scene and soon identifies the abducted woman as Tamara Lomax. Another playing card is found at her house and then another woman is abducted. Karen realises that they have a complex case on their hands when a body is found. This book has plenty of drama and intrigue with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

“What She Said” was a good addition to the series. Dr. Michaels, a law enforcement officer, criminologist, psychologist and bestselling author from the US on a book tour in England, served as a good foil for DS Hart. He is asked to consult on a missing person’s case that bears some similarities to one of his most famous cases and where the missing woman (Tamara) was a true crime fan who owned copies of Dr. Michaels' book. DS Hart is convinced that Tamara’s husband Aiden is hiding something and wants to keep the pressure on him, but Dr. Michaels is convinced the kidnapper is someone else.

Aiden’s secret is pretty easy to figure out, although the authorities do not do so until rather late in the story. Tamara’s disappearance becomes more confusing when her sister also goes missing, and it becomes apparent that the crimes might be related to their parents’ estate, which was still in probate, and which will leave the daughters seemingly well off but also responsible for an expensive to maintain wildlife sanctuary.

One thing I particularly liked is that the story starts out with a little girl (Molly) witnessing the abduction of Tamara and telling her mother, who does not believe her, as she is known to tell elaborate stories. It is several hours later before her mother contacts the police. When the police arrive, they are skeptical, as there are no obvious signs of an abduction. However, after talking with Molly, DS Hart believes her. A more thorough search will reveal clues. The story ends with DS Hart returning to Molly's home to give her a teddy bear in a police uniform and thank her for her help.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Brilliant read
Love the Karen Hart series
Had me hooked from the first page to the last
Can’t wait for the next in the series
Thanks NetGalley

Part of a series featuring D'S Karen Hart. Do you believe a young girl who tells you a woman has been abducted although there is no proof? An engrossing story with a good mix of characters.

A little girl with a vivid imagination says she saw a woman kidnapped right outside the window. Everyone except for Detective Karen Hart has their doubts until Hart finds a playing card at the scene of the crime and then another at the home of a missing woman. Then, shortly after, another woman is kidnapped. Will Hart be able to find the kidnapper before more victims are taken?
This is the first book I have read by D.S. Butler and despite being #6 of a series, I had no problem following the story. I was drawn in by the premise of the book and found it to be a quick read that kept me interested and guessing until the end. I won't hesitate to pick up another book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the first I’ve read of Butler’s work, but it certainly won’t be the last. This story kept me guessing all the way through. I thought the characters well developed and settings well described. I’d highly recommend this book.

This book starts with a cute little girl seeing a woman shoved into the back of a white van. Although the child is certainly an unreliable witness, Detective Karen Hart takes her seriously enough to carefully investigate.

This was a good mystery. I guessed parts, but not all of, what was happening, and I especially like the main character (so I like the series). Karen sticks up for herself, and treats her coworkers with respect. She also finds ways to work with people who are annoying. I also like her coworkers, and a big shout out to Rick who is trying to cope with work and a mother who has dementia.

I have now read three books in this series with plans to read the other three. This one can certainly be read as a stand alone, but I was also glad I'd read a couple of the previous books because Karen has developed and grown.

OOps, I'm a little behind in my reviews but catching up to date because I sure didn't want to miss another episode of Karen Hart DS. This book is part of a series but can easily be read as a stand alone. I have read most of them but may have missed a couple along the way and it did not deter from understanding the story in any way. Great storyline, interesting characters and it will keep you turning pages and guessing 'who dunnit' until the very end. Read the cover or other reviews for details, I don't do book reports. Great read! Enjoy!
I was provided a copy of this book at my request and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

★★★ 3 stars

For some reason, I was expecting a more sinister crime fiction.

I have tried multiple times picking up British crime-detective fiction but I haven't been able to finish one because I find them a little too … tame and just generally too nice. That's not to say that I want my detectives to be banging a person's head against the table when they come in for questioning. I just like them a little roguish and sprinkled with a little mischief.

Nevertheless, I finished this. So yay for me.

I found enjoyable despite it being more elaborate and shall I say a little bit too proper? Very much unlike the American detectives I'm used to.

Without giving much away, Detective Karen Hart's journey of uncovering the truth behind an abduction is burdened by her grief and a change in ranks in her department. This case in particularly is difficult to work out given that the prime eye-witness is a child. Through experienced detective work and with the unexpected help from a self-proclaimed expert, DS Hart has her hands full on this one.

This is book 6 in Detective Karen Hart series. And even though I haven't read any of the previous books, it was easy to follow. I must say, I might try more from D.S. Butler after this.

Thanks so much to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the copy!

Plot: ★★★
Writing: ★★★★

Publication date: 24 May 2022

I received an advance copy in exchange for honest thoughts and review.

What She Said (Detective Karen Hart #6) was a great read by D.S. Butler. It seems that DS Karen Hart must rely on the word of a little girl to save the life of a woman in a lot of danger. A woman is abducted from the quiet suburban street and put into the back of a white van, and a young child who has a reputation for telling tales was the only person to witness. Detective Karen Hart is the only person who seems to believe the young girl. The first clue is a playing card that is found at the scene. A second card is found at the home of a missing woman, Tamara, she is the victim. Unfortunately another woman linked to Tamara is snatched and a body turns up in a farmers field. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

DS Karen Hart and her team does another great job solving their case. This is an interesting and intense page turning plot. The characters are wonderful. As they dig into the plot to uncover a murderer they soon realize that things are not as they seem. People and clues are being manipulated and will take all the tenacity and hard work of the detectives to solve the case.

Great read - a young girl witnesses an abduction but can she be believed?
DS Hart & co are called in to investigate the abduction which then turns into a murder investigation.
Twists and turns in the book that keep you guessing - great characters and well written.

I really enjoyed this novel! I understand where people came from in not believing the little girl but sometimes it is just one person that can change the path. I truly believe the story line of this novel is easy to follow but interesting and I didn’t want to put down. I really liked the thrill of this novel and that you never know who people really are.

Would you investigate a possible abduction, all based on the eye witness testimony of a child?
This is what the police and DS Karen Hart have to try figure out - did the child imagine it or did she witness it, even though no one has filed a missing person report?
A great read with quite a few twists and turns that leave the reader guessing and trying to solve the puzzle. From what I understand whilst reading this book, is that is possibly the second book in a series with DS Hart, as there were bits of the story that hinted at a previous book, but this didn't spoil the gist of the story or make the book unreadable.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites yet. This is a well written story where the author used their writing skills as well as attention to details that made the story come to life on each page. This is a well written story that is not only hard to put down but engaging as well. The characters are connectable and added a lot to the story. I enjoyed how they were able to pull me into the story from the start. They truly made this story for me. The twists and turns had me sitting on the edge of my seating just waiting to see what would happen next. There is great growth with the characters as well as the plot which made it an easy story to read. I highly recommend this book.

Detective Karen Blackwell has a new case. This was a cleverly crafted plot and a compelling police procedural. Very well written.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is book 6 in the Karen Hart series but because it is the first after the police corruption story has finally concluded, it can easily be read as a standalone. In this book Katen not only has to trust her gut instinct, she has to convince her team including DCI Churchill, with whom she has never seen eye to eye. This was an exciting missing persons case that contained some major plot twists including a massive shock when eventually a body is discovered. I love this series, the dynamic of Karen's team works so well together. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book