I love the Jo Fournier mysteries. They never disappoint. The story in Little Lost Dolls moves right along as Fournier and Arnett struggle to piece together clues to a baffling string of murders targeting pregnant women. There is some food for thought in this one too because each of the victims is in a different life situation with a first baby on the horizon. Multiple men orbit the circle of women as the husbands, lovers, bosses and pimps. So with clues suggesting a bizarre cult connection, financial dishonesty in one woman’s non-profit, a couple of contentious divorces and a strip club, Jo finds her suspicions being pulled in a number of seemingly unrelated directions. The suspect pool keeps changing and growing. Who dunnit? A super entertaining read!

Thank you MM Chouniard and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the very first book I've read by this author, and it did not disappoint! I'll definitely be looking into this series to start from the beginning.
Jo and her team are fantastic! While they worked through the case, it was fun to follow. So many times I thought I knew who the mastermind behind the killings was, only to be proved wrong! This was a page turner for sure.
Thank you Net Galley for the chance to read this fantastic book early and giving my honest review.

I continue to really enjoy this series by M.M. Chouinard. The murders in this one are brutal so make sure you read the description before reading. We get the pleasure of reading a lot of point of views of potential suspects and victims. We get more of Jo’s brother-in-laws indiscretion and how that is impacting Sophie and the whole family. This is definitely twisty and there are lots of suspicious characters. I wish we had a little bit more Jo in this; the non-detective work interactions are slim. I zoomed through and really enjoyed it, and there’s enough left hanging to keep you excited for the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

WOW! This was one fast paced, twisty thriller that had me captivated in the beginning. There were so many secrets revealed like bread combs leading you to who the killer was. Finding out who the killer is leaves you shocked and saddened at the same time. The lengths that someone would go to for the ones you love is mind boggling.

The vivid descriptions of the victims will stick with you long after you finish the book. I really enjoyed the witty banter between Jo and Arnet.

I have read this whole series and it just keeps getting better. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Madison is one person I felt sorry for because she just couldn’t get a break. No, matter how hard she worked bad luck followed her everywhere.

I wait with eager anticipation every time a new Jo Fournier comes out - so I was really excited when this landed on my shelf! All others were put to the side, and this did not disappoint.
Links to Jo’s brother in laws affair to a recent murder draw us back into the family dynamics- (and make me dislike Chelsea even more than o did before)
Murdered pregnant women, with ritualistic undertones keep Jo and her team busy trying to find the killer before another woman is killed.
It was a rollercoaster of twists and turns - but the skilful way that this series is written, makes the reader suspect everyone!!
Loved it - as always!

Detective Jo Fournier is investigating the deaths of pregnant women, brutally stabbed, and the baby in the woman being horrifically stabbed as well.
The women are all members of the same organization that assists mothers.

I battled to get into this book for some reason. It didn't 'grab' me like I thought it would. The plot was good, but for me the writing wasn't exciting.
There were twists and suspicions of many of the characters, but the writing did not flow, in my opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read. It gave me something to look forward to and the end of the day. The author keeps you guessing until the end as to whose nefarious plot this was, giving several characters motives over the course of the book. I read this book quickly, mainly because I couldn't put it down.
Top marks ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the reasons I like to read series is because of the glimpse we get into the personal lives of the main characters and see how they evolve. Slowly but surely those fictional people become someone you get to know better and better and you even start learning how they will react. Oh no, Jo will not like this or Christine will not let that go or Bob will have to hold Jo back a bit,... These are all thoughts that go through your mind whilst reading this story, because the main players are no strangers to you anymore.

I loved the way Jo talked down someone who clearly thought they had the upper hand and enjoyed how they fell from their high horse. :)

I also liked that other beliefs were put in a different light. Some symbols are immediately considered bad because they refer to Satan, but people should dig a bit deeper and try to understand that those are not all bad either. Some people worship nature. Does that mean they are bad? No not at all. Is there something more powerful than nature? I think people should learn more about something before they judge...

Some people find themselves in a situation they do not want to be in (anymore). That is understandable and there is nothing wrong with finding a solution to solve this situation. The only thing that is wrong about it, is the way they go about it. They see a sign and consider it the thing that justifies their actions. Add to that a bit of collateral damage to wrap it all up and you find yourself face to face with a cold blooded killer.

A very, very good story that kept me guessing and guessing and guessing some more.  5 stars 

Thank you

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the copy of Little Lost Dolls (Detective Jo Fournier Book 7) by M.M. Chouinard. I was really late to this series and am trying to catch up but couldn’t resist reading this one next. Jo is such a great character and I love learning more about her family and team. The story was chilling and puzzling. Chouinard does a masterful job of dropping enough hints so after the reveal I thought ‘Oh of course’ without giving it away. The other characters and their relationships were interesting and I loved how they were entwined. If you’re looking for a fast-paced book with a great story and memorable characters, you will love this book!

Little Lost Doll by M.M. Chouinard

Published: May 4, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Serial Killer Thrillers
Pages: 328
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

M.M. Chouinard is the author of the Detective Jo Fournier mystery thrillers, and the standalone mystery thriller The Vacation. Her first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millennium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity's sake, she released them.

“Don’t worry, darling. I made sure they can’t prove anything.”

Jo is finding the balance between her work and home life, and she finally feels like she and Matt have things figured out. She is still concerned for her sister and brother-in-law and isn’t sure what is happening with their marriage. When a pregnant woman is found murdered in what seems to be a cult-like ritual, now Jo and team are in a race against the clock.

OH, MY STARS. The puzzle pieces in this book were insane. The way the story builds is so brilliant and so detailed. I loved having so many characters to follow!

We meet some new characters in this book right away, and we get to know a character a bit better. We also witness Jo and the team work their magic together to solve a mystery.

Something I love about M.M.’s writing is she does not stray away from social issues, like satanic panic, and proves that it is usually a false narrative. I found that element so interesting in this story. It added such a weird dynamic and how the pieces fall into place; you don’t know what is real.

I was again blown away by Chouinard’s ability to bring a monster to life while keeping the human element close. The narcissism and ego, and fragile masculinity were so well done. The way the negative aspects of the traits were all represented but also woven into the fabric, so they blended when necessary, was fantastic.

I loved the way this story unfolded and that we got to experience Jo’s thought process and how she sifted through the information to find the truth. There were a couple of callbacks to other books that I appreciated and one that made my heart clench.

The pacing of this book is so intense, and as the pressure builds, you don’t know who is doing what- until suddenly, the lights come on, and you find yourself utterly stupefied.

I did not see the twist coming, and when it played out, I could not read fast enough. The way this book ends will make you furious, but it will also make you love Jo and her team!

As always, this was well worth the wait. The time and attention to detail are spectacular. I truly dread the day this series comes to an end. I cannot imagine having to say goodbye to Jo and her team. I’m anxiously (and obnoxiously) waiting for the next one!

The characters are realistic and come alive on the pages of this story. This talented and gifted author has written a cannot put down novel. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Trying to discern the ending is almost impossible. The secrets and red herrings threw me off. Why is someone killing innocent people? The age old question is answered. Enjoy.

Great book and series! This book was awesome! It had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, serial killer, some great police work, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!