I LOVE this group of characters - Dunphy does an amazing job showing strong and vulnerable men and women. I'm totally here for it.
Excellent suspense, loved the plot but again it's the people I'll be returning for.

Number 2 in the series and I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Some of this book is not pretty, again plenty of violence and gore but also child trafficking and child abuse in this book. If I were to criticize, I found the teamwork of the 3 detctives less cohesive than in the first book, though new characters are introduced which make for interesting reading. The investigation is complicated and the solution depends on what is said rather than detection, but it is well written and could easily happen in this day and age.
Thanks to Net Galley for another great read in exchange for an honest review

Only the Children by S.A. Dunphy
DI Tessa Burns #2

Wonderful addition to an excellent series ~ Can’t wait to see what happens next!

What I liked:
* The seamless transition from the first to second book
* Tessa Burns: parents murdered when she was young, spent years in the child-care system, ex-military, strong, lethal, dedicated, wise, mature, good friend, intriguing, good people skills, team player
* Danny Murphy: lost his parents when young, raised in foster system, usually a gentle giant , quiet but also deadly, physically fit, caring, protective
* Maggie Doolan: family liaison officer, psychology and sociology degrees, qualified therapist, has cerebral palsy, friends with Tessa since childhood
* Pavlov: Maggie’s partner, support dog, a small black-and-white terrier-mix, bright, calming presence, protective
* The three children in potential peril – really hope they land in a soft spot
* Jim Shiels: Chief Officer in Coast Guard, intelligent, attractive, divorced, attracted to Tessa, potential love interest, hope to see more of him
* Eric Stafford: fixer for big shopping company, silent but deadly, saved the day a few times, wonder if he will show up again
* Being able to hate the bad guys…and there were plenty to hate
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* The police procedural aspects and how the case unfolded
* That I became invested in the story and cared about the outcome
* The hook at the end that introduces the next book
* All of it and too many things to list every one of them

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the life the Merrow must have lived

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars

This is Irish police procedural at its best. I loved the cast of characters that we meet in this one. This is the start of what’s a brilliant series. I am already waiting for more.

These are reads that do not disappoint. These absorb you and keep you gripped from the beginning. I love how these are written, you feel as though you are watching the events are panning out.

It’s easy to become absorbed in these. I had no hesitation in delving straight into book 2 when I finished book 1. Tessa Burns is fantastic and this is one which is packed full of trafficking, terrorism and corruption.

These are fast paced and completely brilliant! This is an author I have adored reading and have no hesitation in recommending to other readers.

Little Witness introduces us to Tessa Bailey and the crew. Poor little Aisling is found in a shipping container. Her parents are nowhere to be found and Tessa and Maggie need to solve the case. I absolutely adored this book. I was pulled in and found myself devouring page after page.

Only the Children sees us transported to the Irish coast. There’s a child who isn’t speaking and Tessa once again has a case to solve. This has been another addictive instalment.

I highly recommend these books.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒚

This case really takes its toll on Tessa because there are so many similarities to her own experiences as a child. But she can't seem to get through to these terrified children until she brings in her colleague Maggie with her secret weapon, a little dog. There is an almost supernatural feel to this story,with it's talk of mermaids and evil. I don't know about other countries but in Ireland you might not quite believe in mysticism but you are afraid to disbelieve. There was plenty of suspense from the outset which led up to a thrilling climax that had the tension ramped right up to eleven. The story of Tessa's childhood is obviously going to run through the whole series leaving the reader desperate to find out more. I look forward to book 3.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

These books are filled with unexpected twists. DI Tesa Burns works with her team in Ireland’s Special Detective Unit, helping the children in their cases.
Tessa, Danny, Maggie & her pup, Pavlov(my fav) work together seamlessly.
This is an outstanding & intense story!
Dunphy fantastically uses his own knowledge to write this series and his talent is amazing.

Thank you, S. A. Dunphy, Bookouture, & netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.

I think I enjoyed this second book in the series even better than the first one! We gain even more insight into what makes each of the three main characters tick. Tessa gets to kick some major bad guy butt. But the tables get turned on her later and we witness a confrontation that has her outmatched. Danny wrestles with his anger and takes it out on bad guys threatening his family. Maggie and Pavlov once again are a key component for gleaning kernels that lead to the truth of what happened. Maggie again shows that she is often underestimated because of her disability, but she makes a formidable police officer! Our team secures two unexpected allies while tracking the case and they both will hopefully make appearances in the future as they are both very intriguing characters.

The case under investigation goes through multiple twists and turns, there are multiple "bad actors" and just when you think you know who the ultimate villain might be, another twist comes along. This book has more violence than the previous, but also is a real brain burner for following the clues. If new books by this author come along, you can be sure I'll be there for the ride.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Only the Children is the second book in the DI Tessa Burns series by SA Dunphy was published on February 12th 2024.

This might be the second book in a series but in my opinion it’s up there with the first one. I absolutely love this series and really hope there will be more in the future because I’ll be waiting for them.

Three children, two brothers and a sister, are found on a boat.
Everyone else on the boat is apparently dead. The children have been instructed not to speak, so it is unclear where the children were from. Di Tessa Burns must do what she can to get the children to trust her enough to let her know who they are, why they were on the boat, who their parents were, and why the murders took place.
Just as the children might be able to trust Tessa, one of them is taken. There was a mystery person on the boat and it appears that person is the one that took one of the boys. Meanwhile, Tessa and her team find themselves in danger. In fact, Maggie, a wheelchair-bound family liaison officer, and Tessa's good friend, finds herself in a very difficult situation during the investigation.

Book 2 in the DI Tessa Burns series.

In this book Tessa and the team are called to a ship that's run aground. The captain has been found murdered and more disturbingly 3 children have been found hidden onboard. Who are they? Why are they there? Their investigation is made more difficult as the Children refuse to speak. As they did deeper the answers are more horrible than they could possibly imagine.

I loved this book and I'm really enjoying getting to know these characters. I like that you get a hint of the plot in the next book and that ending has just made me want to read book 3 even more!

I loved this book! Tessa is called to a ship that comes to shore where the entire crew has been killed only to discover 3 small children. She works with her amazing team (Maggie and Pavlov her dog are my favorites) to work out what is going on with this case. Such a good read!

Only the Children by S.A. Dunphy is the second book in the brilliant DI Tessa Burns series and I have just loved these books. When a cargo ship that ran aground off the Irish coast the police are horrified to find the captain is dead at the helm, and all the are crew missing........But, three little red-haired children two brothers and a sister, who are terrified but unharmed, locked in the galley kitchen.

Who are these children?

When the Police try to talk to the children, there is only silence they have been instructed not to speak to anyone, so it is unclear where the children were from and who they are.

DI Tessa Burns must do what she can to get the children to trust her enough to let her know who they are, who their parents are, why they were on the Cargo ship, where are the crew and who murdered the Captain.

The clock is ticking and DI Tessa Burn's team is attacked one dark night, the youngest boy is kidnapped yet again. It is very clear all the children are still in terrible danger. Another senseless killing sends shockwaves through her team.

She realises the murderer is someone much closer to home than they could have ever imagined.

Will she be able to uncover the truth in time, or will it be too late for her, and, most devastating of all, for the children!!!!

Wow this book is excellent and full of great twists and turns that will have you turning the pages quickly to find out what happens next!!! Brilliant!!!

I highly recommend this book and another 5 star read!

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my Arc.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I was eagerly anticipating diving into the first two novels of S A Dunphy’s new DI Tessa Burns series, and they did not disappoint, delivering a powerful impact both figuratively and literally!

In Little Witness, the first book, DI Tessa Burns assembles her team of detectives, including Maggie and her dog Pavlov, who exhibits more humanity than canine! They are joined by Danny, a formidable presence. Each team member has a background in the care system. Their mission is to locate a frightened seven-year-old named Aishling and reunite her with her parents.

The second book, Only the Children, follows the team's investigation of three children abandoned on a ship that has run aground without its crew.

The captivating plot twists kept me engaged throughout. The characters are so authentic that they feel like friends you have yet to meet. I wouldn't want to be on their bad side!

Don't miss out on these gripping reads - get your copies now!

In a Nutshell: Book Two of the Tessa Burns series. Didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one, partially due to my reading preferences and lack of familiarity with the topic. Regardless, it is still an interesting continuation to the series. I am curious to see what’s next for Tessa, though not as excited as I was after the first book.

Plot Preview:
Tessa and her team have been called to an unusual location: a cargo ship that left from Norway a few weeks ago has run aground off the Irish coast. What makes it horrifying is that the captain is found with his throat slit, and the rest of the crew is missing. Tessa has been summoned because of another reason: three little children have been found in the ship’s galley kitchen, terrified but unharmed. Even when taken into care, they refuse to speak a word.
As the team investigates the identity of the children, several facts come to light, which make it clear that the enemy is closer than assumed. And that the danger is not necessarily from small-time crooks.
The story comes to us mostly from the third person perspectives of Tessa’s team.


Bookish Yays:
⛴ The prologue, set on the ship during a storm, was so vivid and gripping that I almost felt the storm water splashing on me! If the entire book had been like that, I’d have completed this in two hours flat.
⛴ Maggie and her dog Pavlov are still as loveable and amazing as in the first book, though Pavlov gets fewer active scenes this time.
⛴ The book doesn’t waste time on extensive character buildup for the main trio. We get a brief intro on their background and then the story moves on. In that sense, it is a good sequel as it continues seamlessly from the earlier book without needless repetitions.
⛴ The three children and their feelings are written in a touching way. As I said in the review for the first book, the author’s experience in child protection makes him portray child characters realistically and in an age-appropriate manner. This book confirms the same.
⛴ The Irish factor is strong even in this book. Yet again, the author shows his knowhow of Ireland and its functioning, and puts the location to marvellous use.
⛴ There are some truly surprising moments, some of which even made me pause and ponder – something that rarely happens when I read this genre.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
⛵ I had praised the first book for steering clear of romance. Well, I had to jump the gun, didn’t I? This book introduces a romantic angle to Tessa’s arc. *deep sigh* To be fair, the romance doesn’t overshadow the main plot, and both Tessa and her new beau are great with each other. But I still am the Grinch who doesn’t like romance shoved into non-romance genre books.
⛵ The storyline is much more complicated than in the first book. In a way, this is good because it shows the series to have developed to the next level from Book One, which was more like an opening act. However, it is also bad because the ongoings are too intricate to keep track of. My lack of familiarity with (and interest in) Irish politics also didn’t work in my favour.
⛵ The number of characters is also much greater than before, which, when combined with the convoluted plot, means that there is too much to keep track of. It was easier on the kindle as the search button helped me recollect the character
⛵ The ‘Merrow’: Her personality – Wow! Her backstory: Shucks! Her use in the plot: Goes between creepy to schmaltzy! How I wish she had been better utilised!
⛵ I didn’t like Tessa as much this time around. She seems to take rash decisions that don’t make any sense for an experienced police officer. What appeared like confidence in Book One seems like cockiness in this sequel. For a protagonist of the series, she makes surprisingly stupid choices and needs external help more than once. She also has a weird policy about whom she collaborates with, having no qualms about making offers to criminals while steering clear of those who might be beneficial to the investigation. All of this proves her to be human, but doesn’t make her a great lead character for a procedural.
⛵ The pacing is also slower than that of the first book, with the middle section feeling much dragged.

Bookish Nays:
🌊 Yet again, the climax is too smooth to be acceptable. Certain people always arrive at the right moment and get the mess sorted out in an instant. Even the investigation of the team leads to almost-accurate results, with hardly any major goofs in their assumptions.
🌊 There are too many OTT situations and coincidences throughout the story. I don’t like any thriller that reminds me of Bollywood action movies, and this one was like an Irish adaptation of a Bolly potboiler.


Overall, this is not a bad book but the first one – ‘Little Witness’ – was so good that this pales in comparison. I guess the first book was more my kind of read, while this one is more like a typical OTT procedural.

I am still interested in reading the next of the series, because just like last time, this book ends with a hint of the upcoming case, and it sounds like a cracker of a plot! I hope Eric Stafford returns – he is way more interesting than Tessa and her new romantic liaison. I am also keen to know more about the “faceless men” from Book One. I was kinda hoping they would be key in this plot but they get just a single mention. Considering how formidable they were in the first book, I am very eager to see their arc become the major plot point in this series.

Recommended, but not with as much gusto as I had advocated the earlier book. I must make it clear that my opinion is contrary to the ratings scale: most readers have found this book better than the first one.

3.25 stars.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the DRC of “Only the Children”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I was lucky enough to read this book right after reading the first one, so I was already familiar with the characters This case was intense, and because I loved the first one so much that I was invested in this book from the get go.

Once again, Dunphy has written an action packed book, keeping you on the edge of your seat. I read this one even faster than the last one!

I really enjoy Dunphy’s writing. It’s easy to read, flows nicely, and he uses dialogue a lot to push the story forward. And anyone who has read my reviews before know how much I love dialogue in the book. So this was perfect for me!

I highly recommend this one as well, and cannot wait for the next one in the series!

I thought this was even better than the first book in the series. The team has started to mesh and I learned a little more about them as they worked the next case.

On a marooned ship, everyone claims to have seen a mermaid or a ghost. That piqued my interest. Again the team is protecting kids that were found on the ship. The team ends up in danger themselves as they work to solve this one. I read this in a day and didn’t want to put it down. There is something about these characters and the setting that really makes this one feel fresh and different from the other procedurals I have read.

While these books are always set up to be able to be read as a stand alone, this is only book two and I think book 2 was partially enjoyable because of book 1.

S. A. Dunphy knows how to write an exciting, complex mystery story with great characters. Only The Children is the second book in the new DI Tessa Burns series, set in Ireland, and it has fast become one of my favorites. In this one, a ship runs aground in Wexford in southeast Ireland, after a terrible storm. (The descriptions of the storm pounding the ship were quite frightening!) The entire crew is missing, presumed dead and the captain is found murdered on board. AND three young children, two boys and a girl are found on board, none of whom will say a word to anyone. Tessa Burns is called in with her special team, which concentrates on crimes involving children. In addition to Tessa, there’s Danny Murphy, a giant of a man who is learning that his size can be an asset as well as a problem; Maggie, a family liaison officer who is mostly wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy (but do NOT underestimate her!), and her amazing dog Pavlov, who provides comfort to the children and is also fierce when need be.

Sometimes I find that an author describes clothing in detail for no good reason, slowing down the story. Dunphy, on the other hand, describes appearances and clothing to great effect, establishing the “character of the character.”

There are some very dark themes explored in this book but be reassured - there is no violence affecting the children during the course of the story. Also, while this is the second book (and I highly recommend the first one, Little Witness), it is not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this one.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

S.A Dunphy is a new author to me, but will definitely be in my rotation.
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this story is for you!! Detective Tessa Burns has a horrible past but does her best to help children and vulnerable adults. She works with Maggie, her best friend, who happens to be in a wheelchair, and Danny, an officer with anger issues. The characters are realistic and relatable.
I am looking forward to the next books in this series! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#LittleWitness #OnlyTheChildren #SADunphy #NetGalley #Bookouture #BookLove #BooksSetInIreland #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

I was so glad to get approved for the ARC of book one in the series, and once I devoured that, I knew I was super lucky to have book two already waiting for me.

As stated in my review for book one, there really wasn't anything I disliked, and the same goes for this. I was so glad to get to dive deeper into the pasts of Tessa and Danny. It helped to further understand why they act the way they do. Since the characters were so well developed in book one, the sneak peek into more of how they worked kept it from being stale. I just kept learning more and more about them!

The plot was also super fascinating to me. A boat drifts ashore with three young children, all unharmed, were found aboard, seemingly alone, minus the dead body of the captain. There were many questions to be answered: who are these kids, where did they come from, were their parents initially onboard, were they kidnapped? Also, where is the rest of the crew?

The web S.A. Dunphy wove was intricate, and it pulled me immediately. The pace of the book was great, and it was hard to put it down. I like how book one was wrapped up, and this was a completely new story, with new villains involved. In a small town setting, it could've been easy to do that, but this just goes to show you, darkness can land anywhere.

There were some shocking moments, and I was so worried about the characters I grew to love. With that, I also enjoyed the surprise romantic element in this book. It was nice to see some hope and humanity mixed in with the sadness.

I sincerely hope there is more in the Tessa Burns series!

this was a bit confusing with all the threads but that might just be me.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

”Only the Children," the second installment in the DI Tessa Burns series, is a heart-stopping Irish crime novel. When a shipwreck reveals three traumatized siblings, Tessa's child-centric expertise unveils a shocking past. Unputdownable, with a jaw-dropping twist, this Irish police procedural delves into dark secrets, leading to an intense race against time. The suspense is riveting, leaving me eager for more from S.A. Dunphy.