As a first in the series, the emphasis is on character introduction and development - it was good to see Amanda change as the story ended. The mystery and suspense are well-maintained throughout the story. The identity of the murderer was shocking and unexpected. Overall, The Little Grave was a promising series debut and I am looking forward to reading more of Amanda's adventures.

A promising start of a series with an efficient detective, Amanda Steele, who is following in her father´s steps aiming to achieve the highest rank in the corporation, however, she suffers an accident that turns her personal and professional life upside down. After that, she starts to live her life without joy and purpose, until she is allowed to investigate a case involving a man who hurt her badly in the past. She meticulously works to discover the connections between his death and two other murders and ends up discovering a sexual exploitation ring, The story is told at a fast pace, keeps the reader wanting to know what will happen till the end which uncovers a piece of unexpected information that will surely lead to another book, another story in the series. Entertaining and easy to read.

I really enjoyed reading this book, cant wait for more from this series. Found the author wrote very and the story was well written.

Murder, child abduction, sex trafficking - it was all there. It was an interesting read and I couldn’t figure out how everything got together. But I did not like? I understand that she suffered great loss. But she was just mean to everyone. Didn't make her very likable, maybe I like her more in the next book.

Heart-poundingly fast paced and absolutely brilliant. Loved loved loved this amazing book. A tense, pacy, absolutely unputdownable killer read. Very highly recommend it to everyone.

I admit I don't read a lot of American crime; I've nothing against it but I just happen to prefer my crime books to be set in the UK however, this one caught my eye and I thought I'd have a bit of a change and, overall, I was very satisfied.

The blurb, as you can see, is a long one and sets the scene very well for this solid start to a new series.

Amanda is a complex character and was difficult to get to like at first but this was understandable given what she has experienced; she did grow on me at the end as she started to work through her grief and the true Amanda came out however, I admit to nearly giving up on her but glad I didn't.

As the blurb says, Amanda is investigating the murder of the man who killed her husband and daughter but can she be objective and why is she getting threatening phone calls telling her to back off? She doesn't of course, otherwise there wouldn't be a book, but this is not a straightforward murder and does it have anything to do with the murder of the man's business partner and an exotic dancer or is it just a coincidence? The closer Amanda gets to finding out, the closer she gets to discovering the answers are closer to home than she could ever imagined.

The plot was great, the pace was good and the characters were explored just enough to wet your appetite to want to get to know them more, particularly Trent, but what I felt was really well explored was the grieving process that Amanda was experiencing. I really got a sense of her total desolation and how little things triggered memories of her dead loved ones and how this impacted on her every waking minute because, let's face it, if you had lost your entire reason for being, I'm sure you'd be the same.

Like I said at the beginning, this is a solid start to a new series and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Many thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.

I never repeat the blurb and I didn't finish this - I did try, but eventually, it became a chore, which is something reading should NEVER be. Just didn't care about the protagonist or the case. Sorry.

Amanda Steel had lost her reason for living. She lost her husband and her child to a drunk driver. Since then, her life has been a series of one night stands and a loss of her desire to follow in her father’s footsteps, becoming a police chief. It takes a sleeping pill for her to get any rest. Becky, her best friend, is her salvation.

When the man responsible for her family’s death ends up dead himself, she is allowed to investigate, under the direction of her new partner, or so they say. That is the only thing I didn’t like about the book. Maybe it would happen in real life, maybe not, but Carolyn Arnold’s books are so realistic, that it stuck with me.

At times I was sure I knew where Carolyn and Amanda were taking me…then there would be a curve in the road, leading me to who knows where. Only Carolyn Arnold knows…until YOU read the story yourself.

Amanda Steele’s past comes back to haunt her, though, in truth, it never left her.

Carolyn Arnold is an amazing author, creating complex stories and characters that keep me reading until the last page is turned. I want to know, I have to know. I do hope Amanda Steele can find the life she is meant to live.

Some serious issues arise, like murder, alcoholism, death, sex trafficking, and Amanda Steele, Carolyn Arnold, and I are on the case.

Two doozies at the end of the story have me salivating, thirsting for the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of The LIttle Grave by Carolyn Arnold.

This is a new to me author.

This is a great start to a new series and can't wait to read more.

This is filled with mystery and intrigue and will keep you hooked from start to finish.

The story flows well and the pace is great. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

The initial part of the story is quite slow with Amanda wallowing in grief most of the time and the plot not moving at all. Halfway through, the narrative finds it way forward and becomes really good with a neat twist. Will be looking forward to the next one. 3.5 stars

When the drunk driver that killed Detective Amanda Steele’s husband and young daughter is found dead in a low budget motel seemingly murdered, Amanada feels that investigating his death will help give her the closure she desperately needs despite being under suspicion of committing the act herself from her colleagues. Her world has spiralled out of control since losing her loved ones into drink, addiction to prescription drugs and numerous one night stands. As the investigation gets under way, amanada realises that the victim is involved in a very murky and sinister world.

I don’t usually read police procedural books set abroad however, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. There was many twists and turn and the ending was explosive. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Carolyn Arnold kicks off a brand new series with The Little Grave featuring Detective Amanda Steele.

Amanda Steele, a homicide detective with the Prince William County Police Department, is living in the small community of Dumfries, Virginia, struggling to move on from the deaths of her husband, Kevin and daughter, Lindsey five years ago. When she gets a call from long-time friend and colleague, Becky Tulson of Dumfries Police about a case of a man found murdered in a motel room, he turns out to be Chad Palmer, the same person who killed her family...

With its excellent plot and comfortable pacing, I had difficulty putting this book down between chapters. The Little Grave was such a compelling read, and I relished every moment. Detective Amanda Steele was really well-drawn - a traumatised, broken, raw woman who had an inclination to be caustic and acerbic with her colleagues, but this was understandable.

This riveting, dark tale was emotionally very weighty and Carolyn Arnold brilliantly showcased the emotional impact of the trauma experienced by the main character, Amanda Steele. Trying to help herself get through each day with prescription drugs, and drinking more than she ought to, she turns her attention to the death of her family's killer as the case drives her to find justice and ease her personal suffering. With several twists and enough mystery and intrigue to compel me to read late into the night, this was an absolutely cracking piece of crime fiction, superbly delivered.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Holy smoke this was full on! A dead pole dancer, a body found in a motel room, a tortured murdered business partner and a detective with some serious issues.

The prologue starts just over five years ago in Atlanta, Georgia. Casey-Anne is working in a strip club and just minutes into her set she spots a face that she doesn’t want to see. Fleeing so urgently she leaves her money on the stage she goes home to pack and disappear. Making the unfortunate decision of taking a shower.

We then head to present day Woodbridge, Virginia and meet Detective Amanda Steele who is in a bad way, having lost her husband and child, because of a drink driver. She’s using one night stands and popping pills illegally obtained to numb the pain of her grief. After a sexual encounter in a hotel with a stranger she’s leaving to go home when the man responsible for her family’s death is found dead. Using her father’s position as Police Chief she gets herself on the case but it comes with conditions. She won’t be the lead on paper and she has to have a partner. Enter rookie Trent Stenson.

I’ve really got back into reading police procedurals over the last year and this looks to be the start of a terrific series. For me they work best when you love the lead, Amanda Steele didn’t make it easy but I still found myself invested in her and rooting for her to be better. Her colleague Becky helped, with their friendship proving that some are willing to stick with her.

So full of action I was half expecting Jason Statham to pop up, but I was more than happy with Trent to fill that void. Plenty of twists and a nice unexpected ending has put this author on my radar and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Detective Amanda Steele – a cop still shattered by the death of her husband and child five years previously. The drunk driver who destroyed her life had been in jail, while Amanda tried to drown her memories in booze and drugs, along with constant one-night stands. She was a wreck! But when she was called to the site of a murder, and told it was the man who had killed her family, for some reason, she was determined to take the case.

Amanda’s sergeant was against her involvement, but Amanda wanted to uncover the truth about what happened. The deeper she dug into the investigation, the more secrets she uncovered. There was danger heading her way; heading her family’s way – and more murders linked to the victim – could Amanda right the wrongs and solve the murder?

The Little Grave by Carolyn Arnold was a difficult read for me. In my opinion, I couldn’t work out why Amanda hadn’t been kicked out of the police force. And the continual going over of her grief and pain slowed everything down, didn’t allow for growth or development in the story. I couldn’t connect with Amanda’s character – yes, she faced shocking loss, but I found it hard to offer her sympathy. This one took me some days to read, and was not for me, unfortunately.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

What an excellent start to a new series!!!

I loved this one. The characters were great, the obvious plot was interesting but the deeper plot that emerged was fantastic! And best of all, the ending truly surprised me!

The only thing I didn’t love about this book was the part of the plot where Steele risks her career to buy Xanax from a known drug dealer. Xanax is so incredibly easy to get legally from a doctor that I think it’s absolutely insane that a career detective would risk buying it from a drug dealer rather than to talk to a psychiatrist. I know the author says that Steele’s doctor wouldn’t renew it after the accident, but it would be so much easier (and legal!) to find a doctor who would prescribe it that I just could not let the detail go.

The little grave is a crime series centred around Detective Amanda Steele. This is the first in the series and we get to know alot about Amanda during this book.
5 years earlier Amanda"s husband and daughter were killed by a drunk driver. So when he turns up dead only days after his release Amanda is drawn to the case and is on a mission to find our how he dead, one big issue though she has motives. During the course of the investigation Amanda stumbles across something far more sinister and this leads to more questions than answers.

Amanda as the lead protagonist is an interesting choice. She clearly harbours guilt and likely ptsd from the death of her family. What I struggle to believe is that she would be allowed anywhere near the case, in reality she has thr biggest motive out of everyone, but this is fiction so I didn't spend time over thinking this. I went from thinking Amanda was a bad ass to a drip. I understand that we are given her history for why she is the way she is but that still made it hard to truly commit to her. I actually really liked her partner in the case, I almost wish we got to head both voices throughout the book not just the one.

I know the case is surrounding the guy who had served time for the deaths of Amanda's family but at points I felt there was to much pain and sadness and not enough police work. This didn't make me enjoy it any less I fo love a good background. However I would of liked a chapter dedicated to exactly what happened. But that could be just me.

I thought I had worked out the killer I was so close. That is one thing I loved about the way the novel is written thru dont allude to anyone like alot do we are left to our own devises working out who did what. The second case that is covered in the book is far more interesting in my opinion and I have a feeling that isn't done, it feels like just the start and I cannot wait to read how that plans out.

All in all a good easy read with a unique murder, I do not recall reading anything like that before so that aline is worth five stars. However the book 2ws lacking in some part. The end reads with much more suspense and tension. I will be reading any more to come in this series as it really was quite enjoyable and I hadn't guess the killer. 3.5 stars 🌟



Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and Carolyn Arnold for the digital advanced copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Carolyn Arnold is a veteran of this type of police procedural and an accomplished writer. In an over-crowded genre she never disappoints.
Detectives Amanda Steele and Trent Stensson embark on their first case together. The chemistry works well in a gritty, complex plot. I look forward to more titles in this series.

The Little Grave by Carolyn Arnold is the first book in the Detective Amanda Steele series and a new author to me, especially when I'd heard good things about this author This book started of really good, then somehow I lost my way! and I could not get into this book again which is strange as I just love reading. But, I will read another book by Carolyn in the future. This will not put me off

Big thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own.

It's been five years since the day Detective Amanda Steele lost her whole world because of one person's decision to drive while drunk. When the driver that killed her family is found dead in a motel room she can't stay away from the case, despite the conflict of interest. Not everything is what it appears to be, and Amanda finds herself digging deeper and deeper into the darkness behind a string of murders.

Amanda Steele is a Jessica Jones type, a good cop with baggage and self-medicating tendencies. She's also a strong-willed character, justice-seeking character who you want to see solve everything. This is a great police procedural and had enough action to keep things interesting. This was a fun read from figuring out how everything ties in and encountering the plot twists that take you to the end!

Thank you to Carolyn Arnold, Bookouture, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I was looking forward to reading this novel! However, I had trouble moving through it. The plot sounded interesting, but several things about Amanda Steel made me dislike her. I think it was how we went over her grief over and over. I understand her grief about her family, but felt it was part of the reason the story was difficult for me to finish.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my voluntary honest review.