DS Karen Hart and her team does another great job solving their case. This is an interesting and intense page turning plot. The characters are wonderful. As they dig into the plot to uncover a murderer they soon realize that things are not as they seem. People and clues are being manipulated and will take all the tenacity and hard work of the detectives to solve the case.

What She Said (Detective Karen Hart #6) was a great read by D.S. Butler. It seems that DS Karen Hart must rely on the word of a little girl to save the life of a woman in a lot of danger. A woman is abducted from the quiet suburban street and put into the back of a white van, and a young child who has a reputation for telling tales was the only person to witness. Detective Karen Hart is the only person who seems to believe the young girl. The first clue is a playing card that is found at the scene. A second card is found at the home of a missing woman, Tamara, she is the victim. Unfortunately another woman linked to Tamara is snatched and a body turns up in a farmers field. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

OOps, I'm a little behind in my reviews but catching up to date because I sure didn't want to miss another episode of Karen Hart DS. This book is part of a series but can easily be read as a stand alone. I have read most of them but may have missed a couple along the way and it did not deter from understanding the story in any way. Great storyline, interesting characters and it will keep you turning pages and guessing 'who dunnit' until the very end. Read the cover or other reviews for details, I don't do book reports. Great read! Enjoy!
I was provided a copy of this book at my request and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

★★★ 3 stars

For some reason, I was expecting a more sinister crime fiction.

I have tried multiple times picking up British crime-detective fiction but I haven't been able to finish one because I find them a little too … tame and just generally too nice. That's not to say that I want my detectives to be banging a person's head against the table when they come in for questioning. I just like them a little roguish and sprinkled with a little mischief.

Nevertheless, I finished this. So yay for me.

I found enjoyable despite it being more elaborate and shall I say a little bit too proper? Very much unlike the American detectives I'm used to.

Without giving much away, Detective Karen Hart's journey of uncovering the truth behind an abduction is burdened by her grief and a change in ranks in her department. This case in particularly is difficult to work out given that the prime eye-witness is a child. Through experienced detective work and with the unexpected help from a self-proclaimed expert, DS Hart has her hands full on this one.

This is book 6 in Detective Karen Hart series. And even though I haven't read any of the previous books, it was easy to follow. I must say, I might try more from D.S. Butler after this.

Thanks so much to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the copy!

Plot: ★★★
Writing: ★★★★

Publication date: 24 May 2022

I received an advance copy in exchange for honest thoughts and review.

This book starts with a cute little girl seeing a woman shoved into the back of a white van. Although the child is certainly an unreliable witness, Detective Karen Hart takes her seriously enough to carefully investigate.

This was a good mystery. I guessed parts, but not all of, what was happening, and I especially like the main character (so I like the series). Karen sticks up for herself, and treats her coworkers with respect. She also finds ways to work with people who are annoying. I also like her coworkers, and a big shout out to Rick who is trying to cope with work and a mother who has dementia.

I have now read three books in this series with plans to read the other three. This one can certainly be read as a stand alone, but I was also glad I'd read a couple of the previous books because Karen has developed and grown.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the first I’ve read of Butler’s work, but it certainly won’t be the last. This story kept me guessing all the way through. I thought the characters well developed and settings well described. I’d highly recommend this book.

Part of a series featuring D'S Karen Hart. Do you believe a young girl who tells you a woman has been abducted although there is no proof? An engrossing story with a good mix of characters.

A little girl with a vivid imagination says she saw a woman kidnapped right outside the window. Everyone except for Detective Karen Hart has their doubts until Hart finds a playing card at the scene of the crime and then another at the home of a missing woman. Then, shortly after, another woman is kidnapped. Will Hart be able to find the kidnapper before more victims are taken?
This is the first book I have read by D.S. Butler and despite being #6 of a series, I had no problem following the story. I was drawn in by the premise of the book and found it to be a quick read that kept me interested and guessing until the end. I won't hesitate to pick up another book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Brilliant read
Love the Karen Hart series
Had me hooked from the first page to the last
Can’t wait for the next in the series
Thanks NetGalley

“What She Said” was a good addition to the series. Dr. Michaels, a law enforcement officer, criminologist, psychologist and bestselling author from the US on a book tour in England, served as a good foil for DS Hart. He is asked to consult on a missing person’s case that bears some similarities to one of his most famous cases and where the missing woman (Tamara) was a true crime fan who owned copies of Dr. Michaels' book. DS Hart is convinced that Tamara’s husband Aiden is hiding something and wants to keep the pressure on him, but Dr. Michaels is convinced the kidnapper is someone else.

Aiden’s secret is pretty easy to figure out, although the authorities do not do so until rather late in the story. Tamara’s disappearance becomes more confusing when her sister also goes missing, and it becomes apparent that the crimes might be related to their parents’ estate, which was still in probate, and which will leave the daughters seemingly well off but also responsible for an expensive to maintain wildlife sanctuary.

One thing I particularly liked is that the story starts out with a little girl (Molly) witnessing the abduction of Tamara and telling her mother, who does not believe her, as she is known to tell elaborate stories. It is several hours later before her mother contacts the police. When the police arrive, they are skeptical, as there are no obvious signs of an abduction. However, after talking with Molly, DS Hart believes her. A more thorough search will reveal clues. The story ends with DS Hart returning to Molly's home to give her a teddy bear in a police uniform and thank her for her help.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is the sixth book in the series featuring Detective Karen Hart and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The only witness to a woman being abducted and pushed into a white van is Molly, a young five year old girl. On telling her mother what she has seen, her mother is tempted to think that Molly is fantasising but still thinks she ought to report it to the police. There is only Karen who thinks that Molly is telling the truth but doesn’t know if it’s because she reminds her of her own daughter who died. Karen discovers a playing card left at the scene and soon identifies the abducted woman as Tamara Lomax. Another playing card is found at her house and then another woman is abducted. Karen realises that they have a complex case on their hands when a body is found. This book has plenty of drama and intrigue with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. This was an excellent read.
Thoroughly recommended
Kept me guessing throughout.

I love D S Butler books! Always guaranteed a fantastic plot and brilliant writing. Characters perfectly written and presented to the reader. This author just writes page turners!

Ok. Conversation felt repetitive and wooden. The investigation was based on feelings rather than facts and the profiler felt like a gimmick (his sidekick even more so) . No action as such, the whole book felt very mundane.
I had enjoyed a previous book in the series , this one could be better if edited .My thanks to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Not bad, but have read better

Another solid addition to the Karen hart series. Really enjoyed the way the team interacted with outside assistance/distractions within this novel.

DS Hart is a very interesting, very likeable character. Her team mates are an integral part of the story and all of them read like people you would meet in real life.


D.S. Butler is a talented story teller and I've yet to be disappointed in one of her books.

I love D.S. Butler’s Karen Hart series! The detective is feisty and has fought her way to the top in her profession, despite personal tragedy! This book provides a fast paced mystery that readers will devour!

This is the sixth in the Karen Hart series but also stands alone. When a child sees a kidnapping but is often known for telling stories only Detective Hart believes her. but no one else is sure she's telling the truth. It was twisty and a compelling read. D.S. Butler is an auto buy author for me,
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is the 3rd Detective Karen Hart book that I've read and I've enjoyed all of them. The books can be read as standalones. The characters are well-drawn and the cases do not depend upon each other.

Should you believe it when an imaginative 5 year old girl tells you that she has seen a woman thrown into the back of a white van? Neither the mother nor the police quite trust the little girl's story, but DS Karen Hart has a feeling that this is a situation that she must pursue. When another woman is abducted, Karen's trust is vindicated. Now, the race truly begins to find the victims and catch the perpetrator.

I look forward to reading new Karen Hart adventures in the future.