The Missing Ones (DI Lotti Parker #1) by Patricia Gibney
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction
Read: 12th June 2018
Purchase: Amazon
★★★★★ 5 stars
A fascinating debut thriller, this time set in Ireland, featuring new Detective Lottie Parker. The opening Prologue drew me in quickly as I love thrillers that have a backstory mystery from way back when. I feel it adds more depth to the current storyline and gives it that added edge. However, once it moved to the present day I found it difficult to engage with Lottie and the characters at first, and therefore found the opening chapters a little slow to get into. It didn't take long for my interest to take hold as the story unfolds within two timelines 39 years apart.
The key to this case is St Angela's, a former children's home - for unwed mothers, wayward children, you name it - now a formidable shadow in the centre yet overlooking the Irish town. Particularly chilling is the fact it is winter, making the building seem an even more isolated, imposing and intimidating structure. We see the story unfold both in 1975/1976 and in the present time within and around the confines of St Angela's, as Lottie delves into the secrets this building the Catholic Church, particularly the Bishop, seem at pains to cover. Meanwhile, the body count rises.
Lottie is an interesting character, though a little annoying at times. She lost her husband to cancer 3 years previously and still trying to come to terms with it as well as trying to engage with her three children who appear to fend for themselves a lot. What I didn't like was her relationship with her mother. I know some people do have a similar type of relationship with theirs but I don't, and I find it hard to comprehend such indifference to your own mother. In many books I read, most protagonists have difficult relationships with their parents (particularly mothers) and even on TV it's the same. It's as if there is no honour for one's parents. And sadly, Lottie's own relationship with her children looks to be heading in the same direction, particularly with her oldest Katie. However, having said that, it becomes clear that Lottie's relationship with her mother is paramount to the history of her own story and that of the book. I still don't like it and find it hard to correlate how so many people do.
Lottie's relationship with her DS Mark Boyd is an interesting one. He obviously wants more but she doesn't - still mourning her husband and the fact they work together would make it doubly difficult not to mention uncomfortable. Imagine the smirks and elbowing between the lads in the break room. I'm guessing Lottie wants to maintain the respect of her team and by pursuing a relationship with her DS she would probably lose that. So a good friend he remains. I love their banter and friendly fire with each other. They certainly make a good team.
The book throws a lot of clues and red herrings the readers' way, and in all makes for exciting and thrilling reading. There is loads of uncertainty as the pages turn with tons of suspense in the final 20-30%, as you wonder who to trust. Whilst I figured one or two parts of the story, there were still mysteries unveiled right up to the very end. And one I didn't see until just before it was revealed by a main player but right then it made perfect sense. The story had then come full circle.
"The Missing Ones" is a brilliant and thrilling read that grew on me after what I felt was a slow start that I couldn't put down until I had finished. I can't wait to read more by Patricia Gibney and get to know Lottie and Boyd that little bit more.
The key to this case is St Angela's, a former children's home - for unwed mothers, wayward children, you name it - now a formidable shadow in the centre yet overlooking the Irish town. Particularly chilling is the fact it is winter, making the building seem an even more isolated, imposing and intimidating structure. We see the story unfold both in 1975/1976 and in the present time within and around the confines of St Angela's, as Lottie delves into the secrets this building the Catholic Church, particularly the Bishop, seem at pains to cover. Meanwhile, the body count rises.
Lottie is an interesting character, though a little annoying at times. She lost her husband to cancer 3 years previously and still trying to come to terms with it as well as trying to engage with her three children who appear to fend for themselves a lot. What I didn't like was her relationship with her mother. I know some people do have a similar type of relationship with theirs but I don't, and I find it hard to comprehend such indifference to your own mother. In many books I read, most protagonists have difficult relationships with their parents (particularly mothers) and even on TV it's the same. It's as if there is no honour for one's parents. And sadly, Lottie's own relationship with her children looks to be heading in the same direction, particularly with her oldest Katie. However, having said that, it becomes clear that Lottie's relationship with her mother is paramount to the history of her own story and that of the book. I still don't like it and find it hard to correlate how so many people do.
Lottie's relationship with her DS Mark Boyd is an interesting one. He obviously wants more but she doesn't - still mourning her husband and the fact they work together would make it doubly difficult not to mention uncomfortable. Imagine the smirks and elbowing between the lads in the break room. I'm guessing Lottie wants to maintain the respect of her team and by pursuing a relationship with her DS she would probably lose that. So a good friend he remains. I love their banter and friendly fire with each other. They certainly make a good team.
The book throws a lot of clues and red herrings the readers' way, and in all makes for exciting and thrilling reading. There is loads of uncertainty as the pages turn with tons of suspense in the final 20-30%, as you wonder who to trust. Whilst I figured one or two parts of the story, there were still mysteries unveiled right up to the very end. And one I didn't see until just before it was revealed by a main player but right then it made perfect sense. The story had then come full circle.
"The Missing Ones" is a brilliant and thrilling read that grew on me after what I felt was a slow start that I couldn't put down until I had finished. I can't wait to read more by Patricia Gibney and get to know Lottie and Boyd that little bit more.
No comments:
Post a Comment