This is the 9th outing for Lottie Parker and her team. Twenty five year old Rachel Mullen is found dead in her bed the night after attending a party at a new restaurant. She was poisoned and a piece of glass was found in her throat. A psychiatrist Ellen Gormley is then found dead at the bottom of her stairs with similar causes. Glad to have her sidekick Boyd back at work Lottie struggles to make sense of the killings. Every suspect they interview seems to be hiding something. So she has to assume everything is relevant to her case. With only four days to go until their wedding day and her daughter nagging her about the arrangements Lottie must get this case sorted quickly. The closer she gets things really start to spiral out of control. A tale of a dysfunctional family and a deeply disturbed serial killer. There is a large number of characters making it difficult for the reader to decide who the killer is. Patricia Gibneys intricate plotting make this a tense read. Will Lottie and Boyd make it to the wedding?

Some parts hard to believe🤔

The murder mystery part of this book was good and I really never figured out the killer's identity until it was handed to me by Detective Lottie's big reveal scene with the confessing culprit. So, plenty of questions, loads of potential suspects with suspicious behavior and a killing spree that totally messes with Lottie's and Mark Boyd's wedding day.

But that's the part I really found hard to believe and a weak point in an otherwise good plot. Lottie and her fiance with no plans to take at least a few days off before the wedding?! Okay, they are dedicated to their calling and this case is brutal and baffling but I just could not get my head around this cavalier attitude toward their big day.

Thanks to publishers Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Silent Voices’, book nine in the Detective Lottie Parker series written by Patricia Gibney, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

In Ragmullin three women have been murdered by poisoning and Detective Inspector Lottie Parker realises they’re connected as each woman has a piece of glass in her throat. Lottie’s desperate to find the killer before her wedding to Boyd takes place on the following Saturday but the more she digs into the history of the victims the further away she is from discovering the truth and the identity of the person responsible.

‘Silent Voices’ is another gripping instalment in the series with an action-packed and dramatic plot, credible suspects, twists and turns, and although I did at times become a bit confused with the number of characters involved, there was a tense ending that had me sitting fingers crossed hoping that Lottie and Boyd were going to come out of it unscathed. This is an enthralling and easy read and I’m looking forward to the next one.

Silent Voices by Irish bestselling author Patricia Gibney is published February 5th with Bookouture. This is the ninth book in the hugely successful DI Lottie Parker series and, to my shame, it is my first. It is described as ‘an unputdownable crime thriller with an ending that will blow your mind. If you like Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine you’ll be totally hooked by Silent Voices'

With a week before her wedding to police colleague Mark Boyd, DI Lottie Parker needs no more distractions in her life. Her daughter Chloe is organising the nuptials with gusto and her other daughter Katie is en-route back from London with Lottie’s grandson. Her sixteen year old son, Sean, is happy to see his mum marry Boyd, finally welcoming him into their family. A new beginning is just what the Parker family needs.

An urgent call for Lottie to attend a crime scene at the house of Rachel Mullen following the discovery of her body by her twin sister, Beth, diverts her attention somewhat. When she enters the bedroom room she immediately detects that this is evil she is witnessing. Rachel Mullen’s anguished death mask shakes Lottie and her team to the core. This is murder. This is no accident. Following all avenues, each leading to a dead-end, Lottie’s frustrations grow. With the wedding in the back of her mind, Lottie is anxious to expedite this investigation but she has to tread carefully. Following previous unorthodox handling of cases, Lottie is on shaky ground with her superiors. Everything has to follow the book. But within a few days, when a second body is discovered of a well known local therapist in similar circumstances, Lottie’s back is against the wall. Playing by the book will not provide the answers Lottie needs, answers she needs fast.

Ragmullin is a town that has had its fair share of trouble over the years but now with a potential serial killer on the loose, the police are very much aware that speed is of the essence. Rachel had been an entrepreneur with a vision for her future. Looking for an investor, she was last seen at a launch party for a new restaurant in town belonging to the soon-to-be ex-wife of local successful business man, Matthew Fleming. Annie Fleming and her husband have had marital difficulties for years. Now Annie plans to move out from under his shadow and step into the limelight herself hoping to achieve the notoriety she so wishes for. Her two daughters, Tara and Jessica, have strained relationships with their parents resulting in a dynamic in the family that makes for a very dysfunctional environment.

Maddie Daly is a young teenager caught up in her tragic life. No matter what she does, no matter how hard she tries, she just cannot escape the poverty trap that she is in. Maddie does not want this life for herself but is stuck in a rundown home with her sister Stella, Stella’s two small kids and Stella’s drug dealing and very sleazy boyfriend. Maddie unwittingly becomes embroiled in these horrific murders and soon fears for her own safety. A spunky individual, I would have loved a bit more to Maddie’s story when the cards finally did fall. I was really drawn to her as a person and had developed a lot of empathy for her situation.

With a collection of very suspicious characters, Patricia Gibney, creates a story that keeps the reader guessing by planting red-herrings in the mind, redirecting on every page. The past is never prepared to stay there and, as circumstances change, people get scared. Someone in Ragmullin does not want the skeletons in their cupboard to be revealed and will resort to the most extreme and malevolent measures to achieve their ultimate goal.

As the body count rises, Lottie is fighting an uphill battle all the way. When her own safety and that of Boyd comes into question, it gets personal for Lottie. Lottie is a tenacious individual not willing to step back from danger. Her character is very well depicted as she becomes deeply entangled in these murders. Her frustrations are palpable as she attempts to follow the evidence trail, however tenuous the lead. The politics of policing are also given a platform as Lottie’s boss is constantly breathing down her neck looking for answers, pushing Lottie to work harder, at times to the detriment of her own safety. Lottie is very likable as a main protagonist. Her appeal I think is her straight-forward characterisation as a struggling parent and mother, a concerned lover, a hard-worker and a friend. She expects respect and in return is loyal to those around her.

Silent Voices is a fast-paced page turner with some seriously nasty and frighteningly believable characters. Greed, despair, power, anguish, fear and murder all combine to provide the reader with a compelling and explosive read. A thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing police procedural, one that I’m sure will both satisfy and delight all fans of this bestselling and very popular series.

I was hooked on this book from the very first word and from the prologue it felt as though I was spending time with family. I love Lottie Parker with her acerbic wit, quick thinking mind and her fabulous relationship with Boyd. We also see a more gentle side to Boyd in Silent Voices and I really enjoyed this aspect of his character. 

From the prologue, it is easy to see that Silent Voices will build up to a big finale and this was always in the back of my mind as I was reading. This means there is always a degree of tension running through the novel but there are also plenty of other twists and turns to keep us guessing. 

In between chapters, we occasionally hear from a young girl and from the first time she appeared I was intrigued as to who she was and what her connection was to the investigation. 

The plot of Silent Voices is quite complex as we get to grips with who all the suspects are and how they relate to each other. It did take me a while to figure it all out but this just makes the novel all the more fascinating. I did not get anywhere near guessing who the killer was! 

I cannot wait for the tenth book in this series!

Beth Mullen returns home expecting to find her twin sister, Rachel, at the house they share but she is not prepared for what she does find – Rachel is dead in her bed, seemingly poisoned in what looks like a horrifically painful death. Detective Lottie Parker realises that Ragmullin has another serial killer when a second woman is found dead in similar circumstances, a shard of glass having been found in both of their throats. When Lottie’s fiancé, Boyd, goes missing before their wedding, she knows it is something to do with the case. Can she find him before he suffers the same fate as the women?

This is the ninth book in Patricia Gibney’s Lottie Parker series and I am enjoying reading them just as much as ever. Over the course of the series, we have got to know Lottie, her family and her colleagues really well and each new book is like catching up with old friends. In Silent Voices, we see Lottie finally about to put her troubled past behind her by marrying her fiancé and colleague, Boyd. After everything that has happened to Lottie since the death of her first husband, we cannot begrudge her a little happiness but, in true Detective Parker style, you just know that things would not run smoothly!

This is probably one of the most complex plots of this series with numerous characters making you wonder how they were all going to connect. The author manages to do this with ease as the book progresses and, by the end, I felt I had a complete picture of who everyone was and how they became involved in such a heinous crime. This is a book very much about secrets and although we are given a hint quite early on in the book as to the event that triggered the murders, we do not know who the person is that it is referring to, leaving you guessing right until the end.


I think what I liked most in Silent Voices was how there were numerous, seemingly unconnected plots, each one tying together neatly by the end. I found myself connecting most with the character of Maddy, someone who Boyd encounters and becomes concerned about. I willed everything to work out well for Maddy and hoped that whatever it was that she had experienced in her past would be able to be resolved.

Silent Voices is another great book in the Lottie Parker series and, without giving too much away, I hope that the detective finds her happiness in book 10!

Absolutely brilliant book, I loved it! I have read all of the books in this series and this one did not disappoint. I can’t wait for the next instalment. Highly recommended. Five stars

Many thanks to netgalley and Patricia Gibney for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

This is book nine in the Detective Lottie Parker series and it's one of the best! We catch up with Lottie and Boyd as they prepare for their wedding day. A series of suspicious deaths has them trying to find the killer. There is plenty drama and red herrings, a fast pace and good characterisation in this well written book. I would highly recommend this series, full of twists, murder and action. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

It only seems like yesterday that I first met DI Lottie Parker, DS Mark Boyd and her team. And here we are at book 9! I may have missed a few in between the first books and where I next picked up with Lottie and Boyd, but it feels as though I have been with them every step of the way. And when a new book comes along it is always a treat to catch up with them all once again.

That being said, SILENT VOICES suffices quite well as a standalone (as does each book in this series) but as with all series it is always best to start from the beginning to get to know the characters and their backstories. Sure, I've missed a few pertinent happenings but I'm well caught up in the books that have followed since.

This 9th installment of the DI Lottie Parker series may be called SILENT VOICES, but I think "Silent Screams" might have been a better choice, given how the victims in the book died...which soon becomes clear.

For the past several books, we have been skirting around Lottie and Boyd's engagement and wonder are they ever going to get married? After all, the two certainly danced around the topic often enough. But finally, that day has arrived. After an opening which saw the death of a young boy being pushed to his death in a quarry, we then move on to the prologue which sees Lottie out of her standard jeans and shirt and wearing a chiffon dress in front of a mirror, pondering the day ahead. This is her wedding day! After a tumultuous week, she and Boyd were finally getting married! But when she walks outside and sees her daughters, her mother and Boyd's sister Grace standing together along with Kirby, acting as Boyd's best man, her stomach drops. Something has happened. Racing into the cottage where Boyd and Kirby were dressing for the ceremony, she finds a note addressed to "Mark Boyd" with a cryptic message inside...as the world suddenly goes black and Lottie falls to the floor.

Rewind a week earlier and Rachel Mullen attends a drinks networking gig at the newly opened Annie's Restaurant, owned and operated by Annie Fleming. The next day Rachel's twin sister Beth returns home from Dublin to find her dead, her back arched, her fingers clawing at her neck and her mouth opened in a silent scream. The cause of death returns as strychnine poisoning, a particularly nasty (and very painful) way to die. But who would want to kill Rachel? And in such a painful way? Who hated her that much? Lottie and her team pose the question to her devastated twin Beth who can think of no one. As the team dig into Rachel's background they discover that she was just starting her own cosmetics business which was to be sustainably sourced from organic products such as rock and stone...things found in a quarry. And then they learn that her meeting just prior to the drinks party she attended the night before at Annie's restaurant was with Matthew Fleming, Annie's estranged husband...and owner of a local quarry. Are the Flemings somehow linked to Rachel's death?

Then a couple of days later 15 year old Maddy Daly returns the bike she had borrowed from her friend Ellen Gormley, but upon getting no answer to her knock, goes inside. There she finds Ellen in a broken heap at the bottom of her stairs, her face in apparent agony and her mouth open in a silent scream. Toxicology comes back also as strychnine poisoning. But the time of death was at least 24 hours prior to Rachel's. Lottie must work out how the deaths of these two women are related...and where does young Maddy fit in, whom Boyd seems to have a soft spot for?

When a third woman is found in similar circumstances, Lottie realises she has her hands full...what with the investigation and Supt Farrell breathing down her neck. How is she to get this case solved and put to bed before her wedding in two days' time?

And then Lottie's sixteen year old daughter has an apparent new boyfriend whom she is yet to meet, and who she knows nothing about. But Chloe has been through a lot in the past five years since her father's death from cancer, as has the whole family, Lottie has given her daughter the freedom to work at a local pub and become her own person. It's her son Sean that is the worry for her. Her eldest Katie now lives in New York with her two year old son Louie, whom Lottie misses terribly. But they will be back for the wedding which she can hardly wait for - on both counts.

Then when there the massive storm that has been brewing all week hits on the Thursday and flooding half the town, Chloe rings Lottie in a panic because the hotel where the wedding reception is to be held has been flooded and they have no back-up plan! But then a though occurs to Lottie...however unethical it might be. She just wants to marry Mark Boyd.

There is so much going on in this book, but in a good way so you don't get confused. Murders, Maddy, weddings...with a bit of drug dealing and the odd quarry explosion not to mention the batch of shifty characters...there is everything in SILENT VOICES you need for another twisty suspenseful thriller. I love how the Lottie Parker series is not JUST a police procedural...but a crime thriller as well. You get to see the story from various perspectives without giving anything away. For me, this is the best kind of police procedural, as it keeps the pace going at the rate of knots.

I have loved to see Lottie grow into the woman she is now. I have to admit to not really liking her all that much when I first met her. She was stubborn (she still is) and a bit arrogant in wanting to get to the truth whatever the cost, whilst going home to down a couple of bottles of red or white or whatever was on offer. These days she has mellowed somewhat and I think Boyd has been good for her. I must admit to missing Boyd working alongside her in the previous couple of books, what with his receiving treatment for leukaemia. In the last book he was still there but not back at work yet, so it wasn't quite the same. The book before I don't recall him being around much at all and I must admit to missing him at Lottie's side. Together they make the perfect partnership...which begs the question, where will that leave them when they marry? Will their partnership be split after their marriage?

SILENT VOICES is a brilliant addition to the series and very probably the best yet...but that may be down to the return of Boyd to their partnership. I have no hesitation in recommending this book or the entire series for that matter. Should you choose to read this as a standalone, it can be done, but I do recommend starting from the beginning to appreciate the characters and their personal growths more.

Overall, a fast paced thriller that kept me turning the pages right up to the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it and welcome the return of Lottie and Boyd!

I would like to thank #PatriciaGibney, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #SilentVoices in exchange for an honest review.

A suspenseful thriller with a well-constructed and well-thought-out plot.

By far the strongest part of this book is the very interesting and complicated plot. The author has created many suspects and they are all equally likely to be the perpetrators. Everyone is acting suspiciously and has something to hide. Every now and then we learn about new connections between characters and new secrets. I loved it! Until the end, I had no idea who the murderer really is. Patricia Gibney can write convincing suspects and an intricate storyline that keeps you on the edge of your sit from start to finish.

What I did not expect was Lottie, a non-obvious main character with a difficult character. She is a strong and intelligent woman, certainly not a boring or conventional heroine. I hadn't read the previous books in this series, and perhaps that's why I found it difficult at times to understand her and her relationship with Boyd. For most of the book, Lottie appears to be irritated. I'm not sure exactly what the dynamics of her relationship with Boyd are. I haven't read the previous books, so I don't know how their relationship developed, but for a couple who are about to get married, they don't talk much to each other, either at work or outside. I didn't feel much chemistry between them. It's a pity because both Lottie and Boyd are fascinating and complex characters. While they're solving this case together, I'd like to see them really do it together as a couple.

Fortunately, it wasn't something that bothered me a lot, or distracted me from the brilliant plot, unexpected twists, and the complicated personalities of all the characters and suspects. If anything, it encourages me to read the earlier books in this series, especially as there seems to be a lot going on in Lottie and Boyd's lives. I don't think this is my last book by this author.

Book 9 in the series and still going strong!

I was hooked from the very first page. The twists and turns kept the pages turning and me guessing til the very end.

It was great to be back in Ragmullin with Lottie, Boyd and the rest of the gang. As usual nothing goes to plan for them.

Absolutely loved it and can't wait to read the next one.

Apologizing in advance for the negative review.
The story premise was very intriguing. The detailed description of the murders and the many shady characters kept me guessing who the killer must be. I was quite invested in the book till about 50% of the story when things started getting absurd.

In which world does a police interrogation happen over dinner at a suspect's home?  The whole notion of accepting a dinner invite from a person of interest in an ongoing murder investigation of which Lottie was lead detective, seemed totally unethical. Also, the way Annie deflected from answering Lottie's questions by stating that they were 'private matters' and Lottie quietly accepting it made no sense to me. I have never read or watched an interrogation scene where the detective accepts that as a valid reply.

The scene where Mark Boyd gives Maddie's phone number to Tara 'to get in touch because they seemed so alike' was ridiculous. They were not even the same age, for crying out loud; Maddie was a 16yr old kid while Tara was around twenty-five-years old. Again, isn't it unethical to give out a minor's details to a random person -  something that a seasoned cop or an author of 9 detective novels would be aware of?

Another thing that I could not wrap my head around was the tantrum that Lottie threw over Boyd objecting to their wedding taking place at Annie's house - why would the author portray Lottie, a senior detective, that way - like a spoilt child or a naive bystander who doesn't understand the ramifications of accepting favors from a suspect?

The whole scene between Brendan and Maddie felt like it was written by a child. The character of Brendan didn't even serve any purpose to the plot.

I was very tempted to DNF this book, but seeing that it was Book 9 of a series, I figured that there must be something worth reading if it has lasted this long and so, I persisted. While the story started with a lot of promise, a half-baked plot with shoddy writing ruined it for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an amazing series, I can't believe we are already on book number 9!

Lottie Parker is trying to figure out who is going around murdering young woman whilst also trying to plan her wedding. There are lots and lots of players in this drama and even though I had a good idea who the murderer was early on, this is a well-written book that I just couldn't put down.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

A deliciously addictive thriller that you do not want to miss !!! Love this book and the series ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book ! #Netgalley #Bookouture #SilentVoices

It seemed like yesterday when we first met DI Lottie Parker and we're already at book 9. Nine! A series running this long is in danger of becoming quite repetitive, but one thing to point in this one is that the MC has evolved quite a lot since her first appearance, and that's something to be thankful for. Halfway through the series I got pretty disenchanted with the course Lottie's character was taking. She was obnoxious, controlling of her kids, alienating everyone around her both in her personal and professional life, but with time she has managed to soften her edges and, although she can still be quite abrasive (especially with some of her colleagues), she's much more likable now. As Roxette sang, it must have been love! Wedding bells are ringing for Lottie and Boyd but the poisoning of a young girl just days before they tie the knot threatens to derail their wedding plans.

As usual in this series what follows is a tremendously entertaining police procedural with dozens of characters, red herrings and investigation lines that keep the plot moving at quite a brisk pace. While reading these books I always keep saying to myself "it's impossible for her to tie everything together, there are way too many things", but when THE END comes every loose tie finds itself wrapped with a nice bow. In this case, although everything had an explanation, I found the resolution a bit of a stretch, hence this one not being 5 stars.

Maybe it's me, who after nine installments feel these characters as part of the family, maybe it's the books themselves, but I think this series just keep getting better and better, being a MUST for all those police procedural fans out there.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book nine of a cracking series and, as usual, series rules apply although the main story is self-contained.
Rachel Mullen is found dead in bed by her twin sister. There's a glass shard in her throat. Enter Lottie Parker and her team to investigate. They have just got started investigating a party the deceased had attended when there's another death - a young doctor, also with a glass shard - and Lottie has to take her investigations on a new path. But they are a determined bunch and no fools to investigating and will pull out all the stops to unearth the truth and bring the perpetrator to justice...
I love this series. In my previous reviews, I made no secret of the fact that it took me until quite late in the series to actually gel with Lottie. Slowly slowly catchy monkey! But we are on firm feet now and that relationship is holding on. As is hers with Boyd - well as holding on as a Police relationship can!
Anyhow, the crime being investigated was interesting and intriguing and held my attention nicely throughout, With many suspects all being ruled in and out as the book went on, I had to have my wits about me to try and guess - I failed but I did have a great time trying. There are secrets and lies aplenty and more than a fair slice of duplicitous behaviour to be found herein, making it hard to cut through the noise. But Lottie is nothing but determined and, once she got there, it was a joy to be held and I left the book wholly satisfied.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already impressive series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Silent Voices, the ninth novel to feature DI Lottie Parker of the Ragmullin An Garda Síochána.

Lottie and her team are called out to a death scene. Beth Mullen comes home to find her sister Rachel dead in her bed. One look and Lottie knows it’s murder and suspects poison. Unfortunately Rachel is not the only victim so the hunt is on for links between the victims that will lead them to the killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed Silent Voices which is an exciting read with plenty of suspects and a well concealed perpetrator and motive. The novel has a varying timeline, opening with a death nine years previously, then jumping to a present day shocker before going back to week before to cover the events that led up to the shocker. It also tells these events from various points of view, including some mystery chapters from an unidentified voice - no prizes for guessing whose voice it is, but identifying the voice was beyond me. To be honest I didn’t pay it too much attention as its relevance is only latterly apparent and the self pity has been done ad nauseum in modern fiction. The investigation is the thing for me.

Surprisingly I found the different voices lured me deeper into the novel, rather than my more usual lack of interest and desire to put the novel down. I think characterisation plays a strong role in this. The author has a knack for it and they always seem like people you could know. Lottie is the best, trying to run a demanding job and a family as a single parent and fending off her mother’s “helpful” suggestions and “constructive” criticism. I’m quite sure it’s a situation many of us can empathise with. It all seems like a ginormous mess with Lottie not really knowing what she’s doing, but that’s a front. She knows people and her instincts guide her. I loved the running gag about wedding planning.

Like Lottie the investigation doesn’t run smoothly, as ever it comes down to history and interpersonal relationships. Untangling them and getting people to tell the truth and reveal their inner shame is never easy but it’s addictive for the reader as they gradually come to light.

Silent Voices is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Yes! Another one in this brilliant series. I have read them all and am yet to be disappointed. In fact my mother and I have both read every instalment of the Lorrie Parker series and this one does not disappoint.

Lottie is trying to find out how/why women are being poisoned in our beloved Ragmullin. In this book we get what we love and that is a plenty of intrigue and interesting characters as she tries figure out the web of deceit and clues. On top of this she is also about to get married to Boys so we see another side to her too. It is genuinely a great page turner. I loved how it all tied in together.

I’ve always enjoyed Lottie’s character, she’s smart and sassy and just a great main protagonist. The series is fantastic and while you could read this one as a stand alone I’d recommend to read it as part of the series instead. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this great book.

A twisty police procedural
I probably shouldn't have started with book 9 in a series as I'm sure I would've enjoyed it much more. That being said, this was a good read. It was well written, twisty and fast paced. A strong female lead, a great cast of supporting characters and a killer that wasn't easy to determine kept me turning pages. Now I have to start at the beginning of this wonderful series!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Lottie is preparing for her wedding but of course work intervenes! A young business woman is found dead in her bed after attending a party in a local restaurant. Who would want to harm her and why? Shortly after a young doctor is found dead in a similar fashion and the hunt leads Lottie and her team to a young girl Maddy who knew the doctor and waitressed at the party on the night Rachel was killed. Does she know something? Is she in danger?
Yet again you are pulled into Lotties life and that of her team and her family. With each book you are pulled into their story and kept guessing until the end. I loved it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.