4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lisa Gray’s Lonely Hearts is a compelling and suspenseful thriller that blends modern-day dangers with classic mystery pacing. With a dark premise rooted in online dating and the secrets people keep, Gray keeps the tension tight and the twists coming.

What I Loved:
The concept is chilling in the best way—murders linked to a dating app, where victims are being targeted for their loneliness. Gray taps into very real fears about digital vulnerability and isolation, making the story feel current and unsettling.

Jessica Shaw, the private investigator at the center of the story, is sharp, determined, and refreshingly human. She’s not a caricature of the “tough female PI” trope—she has depth, doubts, and drive, which makes her easy to root for. The narrative moves quickly, with short, punchy chapters and reveals spaced just right to keep you hooked.

What I Didn’t Love:
Some of the twists, while engaging, felt slightly convenient or underdeveloped. A few supporting characters blurred together, and at times I wished for deeper emotional stakes—particularly when the story leaned heavily into plot mechanics over character introspection.

Also, while the pacing is generally tight, the ending felt a bit rushed. There were a few loose threads I wanted more closure on.

Final Thoughts:
Lonely Hearts is a smart, fast-paced thriller that explores the darker side of digital connection. It’s gripping without being overly graphic, and Lisa Gray knows how to keep a reader guessing. If you like mysteries that feel grounded in modern fears with a strong female lead, this one’s worth adding to your list.



❤️shaye.reads

My first experience of this author, and the story didnt disappoint. I will be looking out for others now. Highly recommended.

Another author I have enjoyed often is Lisa Gray as I find she writes the past/present timelines well as her books start with a murder or crime and then jumps 15-20 years into the future. In Lonely Hearts, we see Devin being murdered, and then jumping forward into the current timeline is PI Jessica Shaw who has been hired by a lady to find her best friend. Years ago, her best friend disappeared with her daughter and they lost contact. This friend is worried that her old friend and daughter are in danger as the wife of a serial killer has been recently found murdered. It turns out that this friend also fell for the same serial killer and had a daughter Mia to him and then after their identity was revealed to the world, she changed their names and ran away where they couldn't ever be found. That is until now as Jessica Shaw is good at her job and if anyone can track them down, it is hers. However, is Jessica Shaw being played and leading the new killer right to their doorstep? I enjoyed this book as the title Lonely Hearts comes from a prison pen pal program I have always wondered about writing a letter to a prisoner - I wouldn't but the idea does intrigue me which is why one of my favorite true crime books is The Last Victim by Jason Moss in which he also wrote to criminals. If you love murder, thrillers, and Private Investigators getting justice - then check out Lisa Gray's Jessica Shaw series where each one can also be read as a standalone book.

3.5 Stars

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

In the thriller "Lonely Hearts," private investigator Jessica Shaw delves into a complex missing persons case involving Veronica Lowe, who vanished years ago after being involved with a notorious serial killer on Death Row. As Jessica uncovers Veronica's ties to the prison pen pal service, the Lonely Hearts Club, she realizes the danger Veronica and her daughter may be facing, especially when a series of murders echo the killer's M.O.

The book delivers a series of intriguing twists and turns, creating an engaging, mystery-laden narrative. It strikes a balance between dark themes involving serial killers and a more light-hearted reading experience, making it a compelling choice for bedtime reading. The characters are eccentric and captivating, particularly Jessica, who's portrayed realistically but isn't always endearing. While the storyline offers depth, some aspects could be deemed predictable, and the recurring element involving Connor feels somewhat repetitive. Nevertheless, the increased suspense adds an interesting layer to the narrative.

The book was great in so many ways. The plot was intriguing and original, which in my book are the pillars of a good thriller.
However, I think the book needed more editing, specifically developmental. Some parts felt so rushed and kind of disconnected from the whole storyline. It gave the impression that the author was kind of writing and rushing through things as of trying not to lose muse.
The transition between each chapter and the next wasn't smooth, the weren't fluidly connected.
That being said, I loved the overall pace so much, the author didn't try to highlight every revelation to say, "look, a twist!!," She literally just let the story talk which was refreshing to see.
I loved the characters, they were so real and multilayered, and I liked how each character had a distinctive personality and approach to the mystery.
Overall, a success!!
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Lisa gray's Jessica Shaw series is top notch. She's a tattooed, edgy private detective on the run from her past with well thought out plots and a change of scenery for each book. Love this series.

A brilliantly written read. Characters you like and a story that saw this read in 2 sittings. The first chapter alone had my heart beating fast!
Good news too. It’s the 4th in a series so I’ve now hit 3 new books!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for this book.

I felt the writing was done well in this book but there was just something missing for me and I couldn't get into it and enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.

This book has all the hallmarks i love in a thriller yet it didnt entirely read like one, and for good reason. This is really thought provoking about the complex layers behind true crime fans and the role it can play in and amongst our lives.

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

This is the 4th Jessica Shaw book in a series and while I don’t think it’s imperative to read all of them, I highly recommend because a) they are all good and b) you will understand some of the characters that appear throughout the series.

One thing I love about this series is that each book is different and isn’t a rinse/repeat of the previous. I loved the premise of tracking down a missing person who fell in love with a serial killer through The Lonely Hearts Club - a pen pal service for incarcerated individuals. I read this pretty fast since I was engaged the entire time.

My only gripe is that I felt like Jessica was a little too siloed in this one and I missed some of the side characters. Pryce and Medina were still there but Conner was phoned in. Did he have covid? Lol I could also have done without their drama since nothing really meaningful happened with it. If you haven’t read the others, it probable won’t bother you. Still highly recommend!

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I didn't realize that this book was part of a series when I got it. However that really didn't matter. This book was really well paced and had a lot of action. It kept me guessing all the way until the end. I really enjoyed the way that this author writes and I plan to go back and read the prior books in the series.

I love police procedurals and PI books. This was an interesting take on the search of a missing woman who was a pen pal with a prisoner convicted of murder. The mystery spans over dual timelines with PI Jessica searching for Veronica using tips from Veronica’s best friend. The trail leads Jessica in several directions and then she discovers the clue that changes everything. This is book #4 in the Jessica Shaw Series and my first.

This is the fourth book in a series. I knew that going in and took a chance that it wouldn't be hard to catch up and I was right. There were lots of little twists in this tale involving Jessica Shaw, PI, as she delved into a "finding love on death row" situation causing deaths outside the prison. As she gets to the heart of the situation, Jessica finds herself being watched closely as well. I read this book quickly and absolutely loved it! Great thriller and thankful for the ARC

This was a cleverly plotted mystery with some twists that kept me guessing. Jessica has spunk and is a likeable character. Great series.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first book I’ve read from this series but I loved Jessica so I will definitely be going back to read the rest. A private investigator makes a change from all the police procedural books l I read. This book is full of twists and turns with lots of drama. I kicked myself for not working something out sooner. I’m also so intrigued by people that are obsessed with death row prisoners so that was an interesting plot point. The quick pace and short chapters made it an easy read that I devoured in 2 sittings.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Fourth in the series about private investigator Jessica Shaw. An intriguing storyline which goes back and forth and has lots of twists and turns. A good read.

A suspenseful, twisty story that kept me gripped to the last page. Really enjoyed reading this one and look forward to more from this talented author. 5 stars

I really love this series. It is one of the best ones going right now, in my opinion, and I was not at all disappointed in this latest entry. I like this author's writing style. It is just very easy to read and the stories are very engrossing. I never get bored, there are always twists and turns and new info being discovered. I like the Jessica character and Pryce and Connor and am interested in seeing where Jessica goes from here. I blew through this book in one day and can't wait for Jessica's next case

Number four in the series about a private investigator Jessica Shaw. This time she is hired to find someone who has been missing for over fifteen years.. I am really enjoying this series, Jessica is a strong and interesting character and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.