Cover Image: Little Girls Sleeping (Detective Katie Scott Book 1)

Little Girls Sleeping (Detective Katie Scott Book 1)

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. It started out well, but I soon found Katie to be irritating and not overly likeable. A lot of time was spent going over details that had already been provided instead of any real character development, so I found that I wasn’t really interested in any of the characters. Throughout I had many questions and wondered why there was no follow through on most of the plot lines - it was almost as though the author was just trying to get us to the end as soon as possible so didn’t try to flesh anything out except to go on about poor Katie and all the near-misses she kept having *eyeroll* I found that Katie didn’t seem to have any real revelations, she just kept stumbling across things. Although I found it easy to read I must admit as soon as I knew who was responsible I thought about calling it a day.

Thanks Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

This read was a struggle for me. Jennifer Chase has very solid ideas for what could be an exciting novel. I was hooked reading the synopsis. However, the execution is seriously lacking. The entire novel felt superficial and disjointed. Character development was non-existent and what we were told about the characters was only surface details. Relationships between the characters were lacking chemistry, and each character was formulaic, which isn't necessarily an issue so long as you use a different formula for each character. Scenes were not linked together well and were often mired in unnecessary and repetitive detail and dialogue.

Was this review helpful?

There is a lot going on in this story and most of it works quite well. The main character, Katie Scott, an ex-cop, ex-soldier, is not as strong as she would like everyone to think but having recently returned from two tours in Afghanistan she is living in her late parents home while she tries to work out what to do next. Offered a job by her Uncle, who also happens to be the local sheriff, Katie hopes she can find her feet again in familiar surroundings.

There were plenty of twists and turns as Katie and her new colleagues try to find the killer of a young girl which had been downgraded to cold case status until startling new evidence comes to light. This brings her into contact with people from her past as well as new people at work and in her private life, all of whom permeate the case to a greater or lesser extent.

I enjoyed seeing things through Katie's eyes and also the descriptions of the area, new and old friends and the crime scenes. The details conveyed a moving picture it was easy to feel a part of and the final few chapters were original and satisfyingly taut.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who wants to begin a new series of books based around cold cases or enjoys multi-layered crime writing.

Was this review helpful?

An interesting read had a little trouble following all the different characters there were a lot of them but I still enjoyed reading it

Was this review helpful?

This was an enjoyable read. It held my interest and the story moved quickly. There's so many similar books out there on the market and I d8dnt feel like this stood out in any way

Was this review helpful?

This was truly an amazing book. The storyline flowed, the characters were engaging and I could barely tear myself away from this book. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

This book was so much more than I expected. Katie has just come back to her home town from Afghanistan after serving 2 years in the military. Prior to that, she was a police officer and now has to decide what direction her life will take. She is helping out with the local sheriff's department at the suggestion of her uncle who happens to be sheriff. He pulled some strings before she came back home and surprised her with her K-9 partner, Cisco, an amazing German Shepherd. As she finds herself with extra time while doing her temp work, she begins looking into a cold case of a missing girl who reminds her of her childhood camp mate who was killed in a family tragedy. That has haunted her her whole life and pushes her to involve herself in this cold case. Before she knows it, she's thrust deep into the investigation with the detectives and racing to find the killer of what they discover to be multiple little girls.

The story moves a long at a good pace with a fascinating amount of detail as to how Katie uses her military training to investigate. I loved reading her interactions with Cisco and learning how these dogs are trained and how they assist their human partners. Too bad the humans she interacts with are not as engaging, but they are realistic, especially the condescending officers who believe it's only because of her uncle's status that she has any success. I really hope that there are further stories to come with these characters, as this book sets a good foundation for a brand new series. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Katie and Cisco!

Was this review helpful?

Really disappointing. The protagonist and the story had great potential, but poor writing and editing have left the book almost unreadable. This is a good example of why having the knowledge about a particular field does not automatically mean a person can write about it. The author's prose is unwieldy, repetitive and clunky. Of the many tortured, unintentionally hilarious sentences, this is my favourite: "Her cop skills fired a warning shot over her head to urge her to find what she was missing" (context: the detective is reviewing her notes of the case trying to find clues). The various subplots are hopelessly uninteresting, the characters are two-dimensional and caricatures while the situations are unrealistic and unbelievable. The ending is terribly convoluted and by this time you don't really care if the heroine makes it or not.

Was this review helpful?

Easy read with some good twists throughout, this is an engaging bedtime read. The central character's difficulties in adjusting to life outside of the military and her close relationship with Cisco the dog forms the backbone of this novel; Katie's discovery of a cold case and the lack of detailed attention that it originally received provide an opportunity for Chase's protagonist to demonstrate how effectively she can combine her previous set of skills with her new role within the Pine Valley police unit. Interesting, original and sometimes surprising.

Was this review helpful?

Detective Katie Scott’s involvement with the case of a missing eight year old has reopened old wounds. Twenty years earlier, Katie’s friend Chelsea disappeared from summer camp was never found. Determined to finally get answers, Katie’s investigation leads her to a hidden, homemade cemetery in the woods. Is the graveyard Chelsea’s final resting place? And what is the connection to the latest round of missing girls?

Was this review helpful?

I love finding a new Author. This was a great book, a real page turner, loved it and have already bought more by this author.

Was this review helpful?

This book really wasn't for me.
I'm afraid by the time I'd rolled my eyes a second time,I knew it wasn't going to be gritty enough for me.
By the time some one was trying to run Katie over,and she then just goes on a picnic... I really knew it.
I skim read a bit after that I'm afraid.
I liked the idea that motivated the killer,and he was creepy enough,the rest just didn't do much for me personally.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book and getting to know Kate, will definitely read more in the series when they come out. She's strong, resilient but at the same time vulnerable and suffers anxiety making her more real.
Trying to fit into a new police department with seniors not taking her posting well, trying to stop a serial killer who's now turned his attention to Kate!
Action packed from start to finish

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book. It’s not out for a while so posting initial feedback here, will update nearer the time with full review and blog links. Really enjoyed it though!

Was this review helpful?