Final Betrayal (DI Lottie Parker #6) by Patricia Gibney
Genre: Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Thriller
Read: 15th April 2019
Purchase: Amazon
(release date: 18th April 2019)
★★★★ 4 stars
One could be forgiven for making assumptions when any book with the word FINAL in the title meant that the series was coming to an end. After all, another exciting series I began at the same time as the first book in this series has since ended after just 4 books. However, we can be assured that there will be a book 7 and hopefully more to come. Particularly as this book ended on somewhat of an emotional cliffhanger. I turned the page expecting more and saw that it was the end, and I inwardly screamed "NOOOO!!!" And now, like other fans, eagerly await the 7th book in this compelling series.
So FINAL BETRAYAL is the sixth book in the DI Lottie Parker series, and as I have only read the first one before this, I will advise others that this series is really best read in order. There is so much going on in this book that happened between the first book and this one, that had me partly confused and mentally putting the pieces together, having not read the ones in between. There is one particular story arc that is paramount to this book that had taken place in an earlier book - possibly the one before, I don't know. Unfortunately, it has now told me who is responsible for whatever murders took place in that previous book. However, that is not the fault of the writer - that is mine, since I chose to read this book when it came up on NetGalley knowing full well I hadn't read the other four. Still, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book, and I hope when I get around to the earlier ones it won't spoil those either. Hopefully I will leave it long enough for me to forget some aspects of this book when reading the others.
FINAL BETRAYAL begins with two young women enjoying a night on the town at a local nightclub, where ironically Lottie's two daughters Katie and Sophie are on the same night, then disappear without so much of a trace. Their bodies are found in a derelict house, used as a crack den, after reports were made by an elderly neighbour about the comings and goings late into the night. Their hands are found to be clutching what appears to be silver coins, though they don't resemble any coin Lottie and her team have ever seen, with no real markings on them.
One of the young women murdered had been a witness ten years before and paramount in putting away a young man for the robbery and assault on 64 year old councillor Bill Thompson, who suffered a stroke as a result and was unable to speak or give a description of his attacker. He died twelve months later of his injuries. Lottie and her team wonder if the case ten years ago was linked to the girls' recent murder, particularly as the man convicted of the crime had just been released from prison.
When two more young women are found murdered, one of which had been the other witness paramount in putting young Conor Dowling away for the robbery and assault on Bill Thompson ten years ago, Lottie believes it to be more than a coincidence. She is sure Conor knows something, though ten years in prison has changed him from the wide-eyed young man into a hardened one and he isn't going to make it easy for Lottie to get to the truth.
As if Lottie didn't have enough to deal with, her half brother Leo (revealed in a previous book) arranges for her half sister Bernie Kelly (also revealed in a previous book) to be given a day pass from the asylum where she has been incarcerated for the past year. Bernie, however, has other ideas and scarpers on Leo's watch only to disappear without a trace. This news does not bode well with Lottie, knowing full well the depth of Bernie's hate for her and what it could possibly mean for her family. Then Lottie finds a silver coin in the pocket of he grandson's little jacket...and a shiver runs down her spine.
All at once, Lottie's senses are in overdrive as she tries to keep on top of the case at hand, reeling from the team's recent loss, Bernie's sudden reappearance and subsequent disappearance, threats to her family and a boss who only cares for a balanced budget and an even quicker result.
Whilst investigating the murders, Lottie and Boyd visit the construction site where Cyril Gill, the father of one of the murdered girls, Louise Gill, has a major development under construction. Then a crane collapse on the site trapping Lottie and Boyd beneath the rubble for a short while and many others dead, injured or trapped and missing. One of the dead turns out to be be Cyril Gill, owner of the development. But one of the workers and their prime suspect, Conor Dowling, has disappeared from the site. Is he one of the dead? Is he trapped? Or has he used this opportunity to make his escape unnoticed?
Then Lottie's own daughters go missing and her priorities shifted. She is sure she knows who is behind her daughters' disappearance and sets out at all costs to get to them before it's too late. That is, if she can dodge her boss quick enough who seems to want Lottie's head on a plate after learning about her relationship to Bernie Kelly via a TV news report. Convinced Conor Dowling knows more than he's letting on, Lottie sets out to find him and get the answers she needs to both find her daughters and solve this case.
There is so much going on in this book even I had a headache on behalf of Lottie and sympathised with her trying to keep afloat. Although there were times I screamed at her when she went ahead and ignored Boyd's advice and those of her own instincts.
FINAL BETRAYAL is a heart-stopping story guaranteed to set your pulse racing. The story has you hooked from the first page to the very last as you follow the breadcrumbs sprinkled throughout the book. Realising I have missed out on a lot since jumping from Book 1 to Book 6, I found myself piecing together not just the history but the mystery surrounding the murders in this one. About partway through I made a connection that may or many not have been noticeable to others and began to see a couple of characters in a different light, as my suspicions grew. Not for the first time my suspicions proved to be correct but that never deters me away from the enjoyment of a good solid read. And that is what Patricia Gibney's Lottie Parker series are.
I have to add that this has to be one of my favourite series, as I love the camaraderie between Lottie's team, the compelling mysteries as well as the insight into her personal life. My only complaint on this book was the abrupt ending Gibney left us on. An emotional cliffhanger to say the least. And now I eagerly await Book 7 and the inevitable outcome.
I would like to thank #PatriciaGibney, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #FinalBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.
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