I nearly gave up on this book. Within its scope are issues of child loss, repeated miscarriage, grooming and child abuse- any of which may be very upsetting for some readers. At the start it feels very confusing as pieces of the past are regularly inserted into the text, and they’re disorientating. Gradually these pieces are woven together with the present case and the fragments build up in your mind to make a clear picture. I guessed the full back story some way from the end but there were still twists to follow. I’m really glad I persevered as ultimately, I was really drawn into the narrative and needed to know how it would end.
Skilfully written, I would definitely recommend this book to those who won’t be triggered by its themes. I would happily read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5* This story is a web of tales carefully woven together to a breath stopping conclusion. The two young and damaged girls in the care home are described so vividly, your heart aches for their souls. But 35 years on a team of able police colleagues are desperately trying to untangle the web of deceit to save a life. With each chapter at the start describing the past and the present alternately, it is definitely worth sticking with it as the story comes together with thrilling action and detail. A great read.
ARC copy.

A really good book with a different perspective to the general police procedural as a lot comes from an analysts point of view. Sad and shocking this is a really thrilling book. #NetGalley#WhenILostYou

I enjoyed this book but did find it slightly confusing at times. All in all though it’s worth a read & I would recommend it to anyone who likes this type of book.

A story spanning 35 years about the damage done to young girls- who feel unloved - by predatory men. If they survive then what has happened is written into their core, and who knows what will trigger it again.

A sad book, which felt real.

This is a book with great potential. Overall I found it a gripping read with an unusual angle but as so many of us pick up our reading in between busy lives I do believe that more attention could be paid to the way the chapters, dialogue and intros to each change of scene are dealt with. It was so confusing at times and I found myself rereading and going back over chapters to check out who I was hearing from now. If I had had the opportunity to read this in one sitting then I can appreciate that it would have worked better but that is just not realistic for most of us readers.

A baby is found dead and pathologist Eve insists that the mother is guilty even before she does her examination of the body, despite the apparent lack of evidence. Then someone writes an accusing letter to her reminding her that she has done this before and accused innocent women of harming their babies. Her husband shows the police this letter and they start to investigate. What they uncover is a tale of children's homes and abuse and two young girls who care for each other in an uncaring world.

I enjoyed this book but not as much as I thought I would. For me the best part was learning about what a crime analyst does and I found the character of Carla quite sympathetic. Other characters though didn't seem to come to life. I guessed what was going on very early on and found it so unlikely that I lost a little patience with the book.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Over all a good crime novel. Loved the twists and turns. Although I found some of the dialogue abit on the confusing side. Still a good read.

An intriguing story line, with a sometimes confusing plot, but all is revealed and with a stunning ending. Hopefully more to come from this Oxford team. Well recommended

Took some getting into sorting out the characters but enjoyed it after the first few chapters. Was very twisty and kept going back in time to the two girls living in a children's care home. Would definitely read more by this author.

I think it’s great when you get a chance to try out a new author and thanks to NetGalley I received a copy of When I Lost You to review. The blurb sounded great and is an accurate clue at the story. Primarily based around a cluster of police detectives and a civilian analyst this has a great mix of characters, a very unusual but gripping storyline and is very well written making it a very enjoyable read. I did guess how the story was going but I’m glad to say it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book and there were still plenty of twists on the way. Some elements of the story are quite disturbing however they explain so much about how the situation occurred that they’re a vital part. Overall this is a great page turner.

Nice book, but the dialogue can get confusing. The storyline is a great one. I wish a bit more editing was done on the characters' dialogue

Took me a little while to work out the details of this book, but I loved it! Two girls are taken into care following abuse at home and are befriended by a local cafe owner who grooms and sexually abuses them both. One of them becomes pregnant and is killed, while the other has to live with the guilt and blames herself for not having done more. In the present day, a mother is apparently falsely accused of murdering her baby by a forensic pathologist. Letters soon start arriving accusing the pathologist of falsifying reports in order to ensure the conviction of the mother in several other cases. Full of twists and turns, this book kept me guessing right to the end.

A really interesting story but occasionally quite confusing, I enjoyed it nevertheless and would recommend to fans of twisty tales and police procedurals!

I was given an advance copy of this book by Penguin to give an honest review and I found it to be absolutely brilliant. The novel is about two young girls who are taken into care having already been sexually abused by family members and how they are befriended by a local cafe owner who also sexually abuses them. One of the girls becomes pregnant and is murdered by the cafe owner the other escapes, changes her name and starts to lead a normal life as a Forensic Pathologist. The role of the Police Analyst is also very much in evidence within the book and shows what role they have in the modern police.

Really enjoyed this book, plenty of twists and turns. The plot was good and easy to follow. It is one of those books that you want to keep reading to find out the ending. Gripped from start to end.

Brilliant story really enjoyed it all the twists and turns kept me reading into the early hours loved the characters especially Carla. I would never have guessed the ending in a million years such a good plot and easy to follow would definitely recommend this book can’t wait to read more of this author.

I enjoyed the book but I shouldn't have started it with a house full of guests as it needs every bit of your concentration. It took me much longer to read than normal probably because of the different time periods and lots of different names to remember. It is well written and I'm glad I persevered with it although I have to say it's not been one of my best or favorite reads.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers Random House UK for the ARC.

Well written with great dialogue but I got SO confused to be honest. The characters got muddled, names flown around everywhere constantly, I never quite knew where I was with it.

This book is not yo be taken lightly, it's not a 'pick up & put down' book by any means, concentration is most definitely needed!

The central storyline is dealt with remarkably with real sensitivity as are the underlying storylines of child grooming, abuse and domestic violence.

A slow burner but if your able to stick with it its worth read, just give yourself an afternoon of no interruptions and get it done in one sitting!

Present day - a baby is found dead, and the police pathologist points her finger at the young and clearly traumatised mother.
Several years ago - a mother is convicted of murder, convicted by the evidence of that same pathologist.
Thirty five years ago - two abused young girls meet in a care home and form a bond which will connect them for the rest of their lives...

When DS Nell Jackson and her colleague Paul attend an unexpected death scene they expect it to be a tragic case of sudden infant death, only for the pathologist to quickly determine that it's a murder case. Nell is dealing with a new DI, a hotshot catapulted into Thames Valley from the Met, and PTSD from an attack she is desperate to put behind her. Meanwhile Crime Analyst, Carla, is finding herself challenged, by both her DI's expansion of her role and Nell's hostility, while at home her boyfriend is desperate for her to settle down and become a mother. This new and disparate team have to find a way to work together while they investigate just why pathologist, Eve, has accused more mothers of murder than statistically likely and what, if anything, this case has to do with a tragic case of child grooming several decades ago.

The theme of motherhood, thwarted, unwanted, longed for, abandoned, runs through the core of this twisty, intelligent book. The various threads come together in a satisfying climax but only after a heart stopping ride through an Oxford Morse would never recognise, an Oxford of no hopes, homelessness and empty dreams.

This is a beautifully written, timely, sensitive book full of unforgettable characters and a team I hope we get to revisit in a future book (soon!). Put an afternoon aside to read this, because you won't want to put it down. Highly highly recommended.