Hidden Daughters by Patricia Gibney, is the 15th book in the Lottie Parker series. This was a action packed book, but one that I never really connected with. I know everyone seems to love it, but it just wasn't for me. Having said that I would still recommend this to others.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm always excited to return to the world of Detective Lottie Parker: with *Hidden Daughters*, Patricia Gibney delivers another gripping and quietly emotional mystery.
The story opens with a scene that could belong in a horror novel: an abandoned convent and a woman scalded to death. It’s hard to put the book down once you're drawn into the atmosphere. The pace is steady: the tension builds gradually, and there’s always that underlying sense of something darker lurking beneath the surface, which at times genuinely creeped me out.
What I really appreciated in this one is how Lottie, despite being meant to take some time off, is as tenacious and human as ever: she refreshingly doesn’t complain about her missing holiday.
I liked how the personal and professional threads in her life continue to evolve: it makes her feel real, flawed, and relatable.
The plot explores some heavy themes, especially institutional abuse: Gibney handles them with care and restraint. There's no sensationalism—just a raw, understated emotional weight that lingers.
*Hidden Daughters* delivers an intriguing mystery, strong characters, and that familiar gritty small-town Irish atmosphere I’ve come to expect from this series. It’s not just about solving a case: it’s about reckoning with the past, piecing together broken truths, and seeking closure.
Another gripping and solid addition to the series: highly recommended if you enjoy crime fiction with both heart and bite.
Don’t read it at night if you're hoping to get some sleep: this book is addictive, and I found it hard to put down.
Many thanks to Bookouture for the digital copy: all opinions are my own.

4.5 stars
Well... here we are again, and we are up to 15 in this cracking series. Obviously you know what I am about to say, albeit it you will have a lot to play catch-up with if you haven't been with this series from book one. Lottie, her family and colleagues, have all been through the wars during the previous 14 books and they have a bit of a backstory to get to grips with. All that said, the main story being told herein is self contacted so...
Lottie and Boyd have travelled to Connemara, to visit and stay with Boyd's sister Grace, and to attend her wedding to Bryan. This leaves Kirby in charge of her team back home and it is to his absolute shock and horror that a murder victim is discovered and he is assigned SIO.
Meanwhile, not to miss out, in Connemara, another body is found. Lottie gets wind of it and really can't help herself, inveigling herself into the investigation by practically insisting that local SIO Matt Mooney could really do with her help!
Meanwhile Lottie herself is asked by Bryan to investigate something from his past that he hasn't yet told Grace about. This puts the cat well and truly amongst the pigeons as well as threatening and jeopardising her own relationship.
And then, that thing that Lottie was looking into becomes a big part of the murders and, as the body count rises further, and the two cases, Ragmulllen and Connemara are linked, it becomes obvious that they need to get to grips with it all and catch the killer before more people die...
Oh Lottie... you really don't make things easy for yourself, do you? And you really can't see how your actions affect those around you. Your loved ones, family and friends. That said, it is one of the things that also makes you a great character. Something I have grown to love about you, after our somewhat shaky start. And if I can accept you, warts and all, I think Boyd should know you by now and know you aren't for changing and...well.. put on his big girl pants...
And don't get me started about his sister... if she never pops up in this series again, I'll not miss her... Although, that said, maybe there is more to get to know there...
And the story is harrowing and horrible and, as I believe, actually based on things that really did happen. The laundries and industrial schools were real, and just as depicted in this book. Oh Boy... it's a hard book to read but you can see why Lottie couldn't let things go. But all that said, she does need to switch off occasionally. She is using her workaholic tendencies as avoidance tactics. For things she really should be dealing with. She can't go on like this forever... But she wouldn't be Lottie if she changed... Although, maybe with the news she got towards the end of this book, maybe there's a new angle for the author to explore... we will have to see...
All in all, a worthy addition to what is now a very well established and respected series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This book took a little longer for me to get into than the others in the series but once the plot was set up, time flew by! Lottie can't help getting involved in a case, even if it's not her jurisdiction, it's just her nature even at the detriment of her personal relationships. This has been apparent throughout the series and a reason why I love Lottie and will continue to read the series. She is messy but you really get a feel for her sense of injustice and passion for her job! Another great book by Patricia Gibey. Thank you Bookouture for the copy!

Taking some time away from work to attend the wedding of Boyd’s sister was never going to be easy for Detective Lottie Parker. When the body of a woman is found in an isolated cottage, her skin scalded and blistered, Lottie can’t help but get involved, much to the despair of her partner, Boyd. Back in Ragmullin, another body of a woman has been found, also burned, piquing Lottie’s interest even further. Knowing there must be a connection, Lottie undertakes her own investigations, uncovering a link to the Sisters of Forgiveness Covent. What happened in the past that to cause their deaths and can any more be prevented?

This is the fifteenth book in the series and it is really going from strength to strength – I would even say that this is one of my favourites so far. In Hidden Daughters, we see Lottie out of her Ragmullin comfort zone, but this does not stop her natural police instincts when she manages to involve herself in a local crime. It is here where we begin to see the difference between her and Boyd who is able to leave work behind him and focus on the upcoming marriage of his sister. For a long time, cracks have been showing in their relationship but is this one step too far for Boyd? It was also good to be able to see how Lottie’s team cope without her as they have crimes of their own to solve in her absence and I was pleased to see much of the book focusing on them rather than their boss.

The theme of the book is quite an emotive one, that of the plight of girls and young women who were removed from their homes and sent to work in laundries due to pregnancy. In recent years, the true nature of these establishments have come to light and Patricia Gibney certainly paints a bleak picture of the atrocities experienced and witnessed by these women at the hands of those in authority who were supposed to be looking after them. The book is well-written, mixing a suspenseful crime story with enough factual details to give it an air of authenticity.

This is a great addition to the series and one that has major ramifications for future books. I look forward to seeing where the author takes Lottie next.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Hidden Daughters’, book 15 in the Detective Lottie Parker series written by Patricia Gibney, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DI Lottie Parker and her partner DS Mark Boyd are in County Galway for the marriage of his sister Grace to Bryan O’Shaughnessy. Bryan asks for Lottie’s help in finding his long-lost girlfriend who was taken way when pregnant with his baby, but then a murder takes place and when Lottie shows an interest the officer in charge asks for her advice. Meanwhile, during their absence from Ragmullin, a woman’s body is found on the edge of a riverbank and in their absence Detective Larry Kirby is in charge to the annoyance of Detective Sam McKeown.

‘Hidden Daughters’ is the emotional story of what happened to young pregnant unwed girls who were sent to The Sisters of Forgiveness convent, and wayward boys whose punishment at Knockraw far outweighed their minor misdemeanours. Lottie can’t help herself by getting involved with the disappearance of a young woman researching for a documentary and a body that’s found in a bath which adversely affects her relationship with Boyd. I look forward to reading the next book to see if they get it back on track. The story is well-written although not easy to read at times, but it lifts the heart when Lottie’s Ragmullin family join them for the wedding, and the final pages have an interesting twist that give a just conclusion.

Another fantastically gripping book in this series. Although it is part of a ( fabulous) series, this can be read as a standalone. Once you have discovered this author though, you will want to read everything she’s written. I love the way the main plot is never lost, while the family lives of the main detectives weave into the story, really fleshing out the characters. I devoured this story and can’t wait for the next one.

Another chilling, smartly woven installment in the addictive Lottie Parker series. Hidden Daughters delivers both on suspense and emotional depth, with a gripping storyline rooted in the dark history of a Magdalene laundry and the long shadows it casts over the present day.

The book opens on a slower note, with Lottie and Boyd trying to enjoy a rare holiday and wedding festivities, giving the reader a brief breather—until Lottie is inevitably drawn into a haunting new case. Meanwhile, her team back in Ragmullin picks up the investigation into the murder of a vulnerable woman, and things quickly spiral into a complex web of secrets, trauma, and brutal killings.

The tension builds steadily, not only in the criminal case but also in Lottie’s uneasy interactions with Boyd’s family. The emotional stakes are high as old wounds are exposed, new victims emerge, and it becomes clear that someone is desperate to silence the past.

Patricia Gibney masterfully connects the dots between past and present, crafting a story that is dark, disturbing, and deeply human. While the pacing in the first part is a touch slow and the book could have been slightly tighter overall, the pay-off is well worth it.

With a gritty, disturbing atmosphere and complex emotional undercurrents, Hidden Daughters is another compelling read in a standout series. Highly recommended for fans of tense police procedurals with heart.

Book 15 in the gripping Detective Lottie Parker series. Despite being on holiday with her partner Mark who is her sergeant she manages to get involved with a local police investigation into a brutal murder with potential links to historical events in the Magdalene Laundry’s. Lottie who has her flaws once again is determined to investigate a murder that strains her relationship with Mark and his sister whose wedding they are attending. In addition to the page turning thrills of the investigation the story line was enhanced by a more prominent role from Marks sister and her fiancé. The turbulent & strained personal relationships surrounding Lottie added to the drama and tension in the novel. Another member of her team also had a more prominent role in the story as a result of Lotties absence from work and this added interest due to his uncertainties and self doubt in heading up the team and a murder investigation during Lotties absence. I have read and enjoyed all of the Lottie Parker series, she is a flawed character but a determined investigator and the combination of page turning crime novel along with the development of the characters and their personal relationships makes for a great read. I look forward to the next book in this series to see what happens next in Lotties personal and professional life..
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC of this book.

Excellent mystery with a tragic historical heart😰
🙈🙉🙊

What an emotional ride, with a present day set of murders connected to the tragic days of Ireland's Magdalene laundries. A journalist goes digging into a notorious convent in Galway and the shady characters who used and abused children turned over to the convent only to be put to hard labor as laundry workers in terrible conditions. When her sources start dying one by one in a horrifying, similar manner and the journalist goes missing, vacationing DI Lottie Parker just can't resist getting stuck into the investigation even though it's causing friction in her romantic life.

I found this a very moving fictionalized account of a very sad part of Ireland's recent history. The murder mystery kept me guessing for a long time and the tension keeps building as more victims are targeted and the Gardai investigators remain spinning their wheels. As a bonus, in the end, an extra twist surfaced I had never expected. It's got a good pace and, despite its length, kept me engaged and eagerly reading long into the night.

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

Review shared on Goodreads on 6/19/25. To be shared with Barnes & Noble and Bookbub upon publication.

I wasn’t sure what to expect diving into Hidden Daughters, especially since it’s book 15 in the Lottie Parker series and I hadn’t read the others. But honestly? It didn’t matter. I was hooked from the first chapter. Patricia Gibney does a fantastic job of grounding you in the characters and their world, even if you’re coming in fresh.

The story kicks off with Lottie and her partner Mark Boyd heading to Connemara for his sister Grace’s wedding. A peaceful getaway that doesn’t stay peaceful for too long. When a woman’s body is discovered in a nearby holiday cottage, Lottie can’t help but get involved, despite being on leave. Boyd is less than thrilled, especially when things start to spiral and her focus is split between two murder investigations, one in Connemara, and another back home in Ragmullin that shares eerily similar details.

As the cases begin to overlap, what unfolds is a dark and deeply unsettling story linked to a local convent and the grim legacy of the laundries.

I loved how the author slowly builds tension, with twists that genuinely surprised me, and flashbacks that added even more depth to the narrative. I loved how she balances the suspense with real emotional depth, never losing sight of the humanity behind the crimes.

This was such a well plotted read, layered, atmospheric, and deeply emotional. Even with multiple threads and timelines, the story never felt confusing. It just pulled me further in.

Hidden Daughters was my first Lottie Parker novel, but it absolutely won’t be my last. I’m already adding the rest of the series to my TBR. If you love police procedurals with emotional depth and a strong, flawed heroine, then you should definitely give this one a try.

Another fantastic read about Lottie Parker and Mark Boyd. Very harrowing in parts due to the subject matter of the premise. Well written with amazing characterisation. Kept me enthralled from the first to the last page. Loved the backstory and looking forward to the next offering.

Oh I've missed Patricia Gibney.

What a fantastic read. I literally flew through Hidden Daughters although I didn't want it to end.

I recommend that you read the books in order, that way you can grow with the characters..

I thought I knew who the murder was, I was so very wrong. This will keep you in the edge of your seat the whole way through.

Another fantastic read

Lottie and Boyd take a much-needed break from work to attend the wedding of Boyd’s sister, Grace, in Galway. What begins as a peaceful getaway quickly turns grim when a brutally murdered body is discovered nearby. Lottie, ever the dedicated detective, offers her assistance to the local detective, much to Boyd’s frustration. He’s upset that Lottie is, once again, putting work before their relationship. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that all the victims share a troubling connection to a local convent with a dark and sordid history. Despite her intentions to stay out of it, Lottie is drawn deeper into the case.
Back in Ragmullin, Detective Kirby is holding down the fort in Lottie's absence. He’s investigating a disturbing murder that bears chilling similarities to the Galway killings. Could there be a link between the two cases? As the pieces start to fall into place, a wider, more sinister pattern begins to emerge.

Book 15 in the Lottie Parker series does not disappoint. Every time I pick up one of these books, I'm instantly transported back to the familiar world of Ragmullin and its compelling cast of characters. This installment is another gripping and addictive read, weaving a chilling storyline that shines a light on the tragic history of Ireland’s mother and baby homes. The book powerfully brings to the surface the horrors endured by women and children in these institutions. At times, it was difficult to read due to the disturbing subject matter, but the emotional weight only added to its impact. It's a haunting, thought-provoking story that will stay with me for a long time. An excellent addition to an already outstanding series.

Thanks to bookouture and Patricia Gibney for this pre-approved ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book 15 in this exceptional series! When I first started thus book I stopped a couple times with a "ugh just another book" well I finally picked it back up and once I got into it?! I loved this book! What an enjoyable read! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, and so many crazy twists! And a bit of a who done it! I highly recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading!

Book 15 in the Detective Lottie Parker Series. I think most people are aware of the brutality of the Catholic Church in Ireland and their appalling treatment of young pregnant women, their new babies and indeed other children dumped in their ‘care’ by their families, known as the Magdalene Laundries. This book is based on one such Institution and the ramifications of the treatment and death of one particular child incarcerated within it.

Briefly, DI Lottie Parker has taken a break to attend her partner Boyd’s sister’s wedding in Connemara. However back in Ragmullin the team are dealing with the scalded and burnt body of an unidentified victim. Then Lottie is caught up in a murder near where she is staying and it appears both killings are of a similar nature and it can’t just be coincidence can it? With a local detective trying to keep his sanity as Lottie, without authority, gets involved, more murders occur and there is clearly a serial killer at large.

Lottie isn’t an easy character, she is flawed from her past and her partner, Boyd is struggling with her refusal to back down on her work. A vivid and at times graphic book with scenes which may cause distress to some but what a brilliant book. As for the perpetrators, and those in Authority who helped cover their crimes, may they all rot in h3ll. A compelling police procedural, emotional and tense this is a fantastic read.

Detective Lottie Parker Book 15

I was horrified reading this book. Of course I'd heard of the Magdalene Laundries but this book highlights the horrors that happened in them.

The blurb doesn't really explain what happens. Lottie is on holiday with Boyd when a woman's body is discovered in a nearby cottage. Not able to keep her nose out she goes to the scene to find out what happened. The local detective makes the mistake of letting her see the scene. After that she is compelled to find out what happened. Who would murder a woman in such a torturous way?

I loved this book and I flew through it in 2 sittings. I can't wait to read the next one in this great series.

Book 15 in the fantastic crime series with Detective Lottie Parker. Another brilliant read that I read in one sitting!

This is another brilliant and addictive read in the Lottie Parker series, one of my favourites in the crime thriller genre. I found this to be an emotional and difficult read due to the subject matter but it gripped me despite that. Lottie is a complex character, and her relationship with Boyd is under pressure. You could certainly feel the tension building between the pair as they went to attend the wedding of Boyd's sister, Grace. I thoroughly recommend the whole series, I am sure readers won't be disappointed with the well written and tension filled books. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for my copy of Hidden Daughters by Patricia Gibney.
Detective Lottie Parker is on holiday with her partner Boyd when she hears about a murder.
We all know that Lottie will have to get involved, no matter the consequences.
A woman has been found scalded to death. Everything goes back to the old convent and what happened there.
A journalist is investigating what happened there and awakening old memories and old monsters.
The story weaves in and out between the two times and there are twists and turns on every page.
I couldn't put this book down. Riveting and sad read, I had to know the ending.
This is book 15 in the series. Already waiting for book 16.