Gytha LodgeCritiques

thriller

I was shocked at many of the reviews being so highly critical and negative. Maybe I don't come from the same place that other readers do. I don't usually read this genre: mystery thriller/crime fiction, but I wanted to step out of the box and expand my horizons. I can't attest to this being very similar to other books written in those genres as others can. However, I think I can tell if a book is very well-written with my background as a former middle school English teacher. I have noticed a writing trend that over time, books are written to go back and forth between the past and the present, and I have fully embraced that. I think that it adds to the suspense of wondering what is going to be revealed next. I thought I was not going to feel any attachment to the characters, but by the end, I did. I should say that I felt kindly toward all of them, except the killer. I felt like there was one loose end not fully developed by the end of the story that could lead to a second book in the future, as I am dying to know the whole story about the one police officer having romantic issues. That is not necessarily a negative. I like stories that happened in the '80s because I was in college then and can easily relate to many things that are discussed. I made a guess early on "who done it". I kept to that choice to the bitter end and I was WRONG! I feel like as the book goes on that the characters are so well-developed that you could wonder if anyone in the circle of friends or even a police officer who knew Aurora could have murdered her. A brief overview of the book is that a young girl is murdered while she and her sister and friends are camping, while they are out there doing illegal drugs and drinking (basically, being teens and thinking they won't get caught). The one character of this story I thought was very cold and had a pretty good motive ended up being the one I could forgive in the end due to maturity and how the conclusion of the investigation created a sense of community and love. If you have trouble remembering names and characters, you need to take it slowly, as I did. I saw where one reviewer had gotten bored and skimmed over the rest of the book. That is how you miss the beauty of the plot and the ending. I know in today's fast food world it is hard to take your time to read, but reading is way different than texting or computer surfing. I enjoyed learning a little police terminology, as well. If you like thrillers that make you think and put you on the edge of your seat, this is one I highly recommend! I thank Random House books for sending me this book. I truly enjoyed it!

Aisling Cooley would have never dreamed that submitting a DNA sample to try to find her father would turn into a nightmare.

The Bonfire Killer was on the loose, and unknown to Aisling someone whose blood type matched blood at the newest murder scene belonged to a close relative of hers. It could be her father, brother, or son.

Aisling had two sons, but she told the police they are both mild mannered and would never have killed anyone, but could it have been her estranged father's blood?

A KILLER IN THE FAMILY has a bit of a slow start, but as the tension grows, as we wait for the results of the DNA samples from Aisling’s sons, and as surprises pop up, you will be glued to the pages.

Fans of Gytha won't want to miss this one...will you figure it out? 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Watching from the Dark is the follow up to She Lies In Wait featuring DCI Jonah Sheens. I loved She Lies In Wait and Watching From The Dark does not disappoint!

In this book, Zoe, a promising young art student, turns up dead in her flat. Her secret boyfriend appears to have heard her being murdered via an open Skype channel. This leads Jonah and his team down a series of pathways that eventually result in a nailbiting showdown with the real killer.

There's a lovely immediacy and authenticity in the characters and the way they are described, and you feel engaged in their emotions in a way that is all too often rare in crime fiction. Everything has a light touch and moves along at a breathless pace, and I finished it in about three sittings.

Would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.

A Killer in the Family by Gytha Lodge is a highly recommended murder mystery/procedural and the fifth book in the series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens.

In Southampton, England, the "Bonfire Killer" has struck again. Three months earlier his first victim was burned beyond recognition. The latest victim did not burn. Even more hopeful for the investigation is that blood was found at the scene. In the meantime, Aisling Cooley, single mom to two teenage boys, decides to upload her DNA to an ancestry website in a search for her father who left his family 30 years earlier. What she has is DCI Jonah Sheens contact her because her DNA is a close match with that of the Bonfire Killer, who apparently is a close relative of hers.

This is another well written novel by Lodge. After a attention grabbing opening, the beginning moves at an even pace until all the pieces are set into place and then A Killer in the Family takes off, racing against time. The plot is interesting, compelling, and realistic while also providing plenty of twists along the way. Although it is the fifth book in the series, this solid procedural works well as a stand alone novel too. The characters are all fully realized and realistic. A Killer in the Family is another excellent novel by Lodge.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Random House via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/08/a-killer-in-family.html

The “Bonfire Killer” has struck again but this time is different. The pyre upon which he places his dead middle-aged female victims did not burn. It has been three months since the burned body of his previous victim was discovered and DCI Jonah Sheens and his team are no closer to solving the case. However, their luck may be changing. Blood was found at the most recent scene and while there is no DNA match in the system, they are trying something new: searching genealogy websites for possible matches. The results and further DNA analysis concludes the blood belongs to one of four people: Aisling Cooley, her two sons or her father, who has been missing since he ran out on the family in 1987. Have there been more murders with a similar M.O.? Will the killer strike again before he is caught? It is a race against time to identify and locate all suspects.
This fifth book in the DCI Jonah Sheens series (Little Sister, 2022) stands on its own. It is a solid police procedural with a believable and interesting plot, good characters, excellent pacing and multiple twists and turns. Perfect for fans of Peter Robinson.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I debated requesting this, because I wasn't so keen on the last two in this series. This instalment however, is excellent. I like the characterization of the various police officers: the messy Domnall, the inscrutable but vulnerable Ben, and so on. I thought Jonah was strangely absent here - mainly musing on how good it is that his partner Michelle is going out every night getting drunk while he works late and their nanny (whom I hope they are paying double) raises their daughter.

The actual mystery was also excellent - twisty and turny in a logical way, although the DNA ramifications and the inter-relatedness (or not) of the characters made my brain hurt at times. I liked the relationships Aisling had with her sons - it felt real. The ending was sad but satisfying.

This is my first novel in the Jonah Sheens series. Fortunately, I found it quite easy to read and understand without having read the prior three novels. This novel was a bit of a surprise, it didn’t end up the way I thought it was going to. It started out as an abduction and ends up as a sort of redemption story. The story centers around two troubled sisters who have spent most of their lives in foster placement. The sisters were always together, so when one sister walks out of the woods covered in blood, detectives can only assume the worst has happened to the younger sister. Jonah’s unit hasn’t prepared themselves for Keely. A mega manipulator, Keely has invested a lot of time giving the police the right dog to chase. Things become a little messy for me in the later part of the novel when the truth is finally revealed. I generally enjoyed this story. I wasn’t as big of a fan of the character reveals. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange an honest review.

Little Sister by Gytha Lodge is a 2022 Michael Joseph publication.

A teenager covered in blood, emerges from the woods, just as Jonah was taking a small breather from work and his heavy home life. Jonah and his team quickly become involved, learning that the young woman’s name is Keely, and she has a sister, Nina, who is missing.

But instead of acting traumatized or desperate to locate her sister, Keely begins telling a story about how she and her sister were abused while in foster care, only dropping hints, and leaving clues as to where her sister might be or if she’s okay or not.

Jonah, Ben, and Juliette are all sent on wild goose chases, while they ponder Keely’s controlled narrative, and possible psychopathic tendencies, as she regales them with tales her life in foster care, and the abuse and neglect she was subjected to. As the team works to find Nina, Keely’s games leave Jonah fighting through a murky fog of possibilities-

Is Keely a victim? A Vigilante? Or a stone-cold killer?

This is my fourth book by Gytha Lodge and so far, we are four for four. I thought the plot here was imaginative. The story employs a sort of Scheherazade style format. Keely takes charge of the narrative, in segments, and Jonah tries to dissect the hints she drops, while the rest of his team is out in the field following up on Keely’s clues. It’s genius in a way and is absolutely riveting!

While Jonah is wrapped up in this case, working long hours, his thoughts are still conflicted about his feelings for Michelle, who is at home struggling through the first stages of motherhood alone.

This story is a dark portrait of abuse, power, control, manipulation, and deals with uncomfortable topics. But, the plot is wholly unique, which is very rare these days. This year's thriller's have been so tepid, which really makes this novel stand out, and is why I think it deserves the full five star treatment.

Little Sister by Gytha Lodge is an excellent example of the British police procedural model. This is the fourth instalment of the Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens series but it reads well as a stand-alone, with the author updating the reader of any pertinent details from the previous novels. Two young girls are at the center of this mystery. One sister, Keely, shows up at DCI Sheens’ pub, with a jumbled tale, so intriguing that he can’t help but give her the benefit of the doubt. It appears that her younger sister, Nina, is missing. Both girls had been in care for several years, following the death of their mother. The mystery starts there and will lead the DCI and his detectives on a path of confusion and danger, while time is running out. Nothing is as it seems. The girls had gone from foster home to foster home, the last being worse than the previous. The DCI’s team are totally dedicated to getting to the bottom of Nina’s disappearance and that journey makes for a fascinating read. The characters are colourful and well-drawn. The plot captivates as the reader attempts to solve this mystery. Little Sister is well worth the read. This is my first Gytha Lodge book but I look forward to reading the others. Highly recommended. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Why would you harm your little sister?

Keely and her sister were in foster care since their mother died and both left the care home they were in without permission, but Keely is the only one who makes it into the public eye and tells the police her story.

Where is her sister Nina?

Keely won’t tell the police why Nina wasn’t with her, but seeing Keely covered in blood made DCI Jonah Sheens and his team know it is urgent to find her as soon as possible.

The team was definitely challenged as Keely was hinting at clues to her sister's whereabouts as she told her story about their days in foster homes and as the team tried to interpret and figure out the clues they knew Keely was weaving into the story.

Her story is chilling, and her personality is frightening.

She grins when she sees the team thinking they have figured out a clue, and she enjoys seeing that her tricks worked to lead them in the wrong direction.

Keely is a tough one...manipulative, angry, unlikeable, brilliant, and cruel.

The reader is frustrated along with the police team as they try to figure things out and figure out where her sister is before it is too late.

Those readers who “really” enjoy guessing will not want to miss this twisty, creative read.

Ms. Lodge brilliantly kept us at bay and created another amazing thriller. 5/5

**Be aware that child abuse is part of the story line**

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

"Little Sister" is a psychological thriller with more twists and turns than Deals Gap. It is the fourth book in the series, but having never read the previous books, it was able to stand on its own. The story follows the Lennox sisters, and the mysterious disappearance of the younger one Nina.

Although the story itself is good, this book just wasn't for me. I found much of the plot to be unbelievable and had difficulty connecting with any of the characters. I did enjoy that it was told from different POVs and the twist at the end. I also appreciate the fact that the book itself shines a light on the flawed foster care system.

A huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the chance to review this book before it comes out on June 28, 2022.

Little Sister by Gytha Lodge is a very highly recommended police procedural and psychological thriller. This is the fourth book in the series featuring DCI Jonah Sheens and his team of the Southampton PD.

Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens is with his infant daughter in a pub garden when a red headed teenager with her hands covered in blood wanders out of the woods and toward the pub. He asks the girl, Keely Lennox, 16, if she needs help to which she replies she doesn't but her sister Nina, 14, does. The two sisters disappeared from a children's home a week earlier. When questioning her about Nina's location, Keely says that they must listen to her whole story from the beginning to the end in order to learn where Nina is located.

Once at the police station, Keely makes it clear that their story involves three men who have been abusers. She then proceeds to tell her story while displaying an emotionless flat affect. It is clear to Jonah that Keely is very clever, but is she also a sociopath? Keely will answer no direct questions and will only tell her story, insisting that the clues are all there for them to find Nina. Jonah and his team of DS Ben Lightman, DS Domnall O'Malley, and DC Juliette Hanson, are all scrambling to find the hidden clues in her story and investigate the lives of the girls in a frantic effort to find Nina.

For anyone who enjoys procedurals, Little Sister is a perfect choice. Although it is the third in the series, following She Lies in Wait, Watching from the Dark, and Lie Beside Me, I felt that it could be read as a stand alone. You're going to miss some character background information, but the suspense and intrigue in this case will eclipse any questions concerning character development. This is really the strongest novel in the series and an excellent police procedural and psychological thriller.

The writing is exceptional, with an intricate and clever plot that keeps a fast pace throughout. The team has to use all their skills and wit to discover the clues Keely is leaving and uncover the dark deeds she wants them to investigate while listening to her tale. And the things she wants them to discover are sinister. There are several big twists in the course of the investigation, and several of these will change your entire outlook on the case. You won't be able to predict where this novel is heading but you will be glued to the pages while trying to get there.

After reading other novels in the series, these are well established characters for me, but I really do think you can read this one without the previous three novels. The narrative alternates between the point-of-view of Jonah, Keely, and Juliette Hanson. The focus of the plot is Keely's story and the intense investigation rather than the character's lives, which makes it easy to jump right into the story without much background information on the team members.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/06/little-sister.html

This was a slog. It picked up a bit before the end but I feel like it took way too long to finish this
Spoiler Alert for personal reference. It’s the wife

This is a great debut. DCI Jonah Sheens was a new constable shortly after Aurora Jackson disappeared. He knew her, and her friends. One of them killed her while camping. I was kept guessing.

‘She Lies in Wait’ is the debut novel from new British crime writer Gytha Lodge. It’s released on 10th January 2019 and the first book in a 3-book deal she has signed with Penguin. If you’re a crime fan I strongly suggest you put that date in your diary, because this is a solidly entertaining whodunnit.

The books opens with the discovery of the corpse of a young girl who has been missing for 30 years. The plot that follows isn’t desperately original, but it is satisfyingly told. Protagonist DCI Jonah Sheens is a strong central character, flawed enough to be interesting without those flaws ever overwhelming the story. The supporting cast of characters are satisfying too. On the one hand Sheens’ team are varied and interesting - a rebellious ex-soldier, a by the book nerd and an unsure, newly promoted female detective. On the other, the six suspects are distinct and memorable. The fact that Sheens was at school with them and the victim adds a lot to the story and Lodge manages to keep it interesting without ever making it feel like a gimmick.

She tells the story through chapters detailing the investigation intertwined with flashbacks to the night of Aurora’s death. This is a tried and tested method of keeping things interesting and can feel hackneyed, but here it works really well. The scenes of teenage hedonism in the 1980s are convincing (and dare I say it, familiar), whilst the investigation Sheens leads has a convincing shoe leather to inspiration ratio. Lodge makes good use of both period and location. The result is a thoughtful musing on the difference between our teenage and adult selves and on the way some families can dominate a small town. The examination of male exploitation of and aggression towards young women is similarly interesting and admirably even handed. None of the male characters are free from suspicion and that fact looms darkly over the proceedings at times. Ultimately though, there is a recognition that not all men are aggressors and the end result feels well balanced.

The intelligent handling of the themes at the heart of the book is evidence of Lodge’s talents as a writer. She is also an adept storyteller, with the mystery carefully unveiled in a way that kept me gripped and fascinated. The plot ramps up gradually to a really thrilling climax which had me clandestinely reading the book at my work desk. It was the characterisation that impressed me most though. These really do feel like real people and I ended up caring enough about them that I couldn’t imagine not reading the book to its conclusion.

In summary, this is a fairly traditional mystery told with heart and skill. On paper it might seem similar to Peter James’ Roy Grace series, but I’ve always found the Grace books a little plodding. ‘ She Lies in Wait’ has a lightness of touch and a depth that can be missing from modern crime fiction. For me it’s the best crime debut since Jane Harper’s excellent ‘The Dry’. I recommend it wholeheartedly and can’t wait to read Sheens’ next case.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

It's hard to write about this without giving away elements of the plot, but I found it confusing, artificial and unnecessarily convoluted. There was far too much going on. The little clues in the wording of the interviews were absurd and irritating. I was never sure how old the sisters were meant to be at any given time; they read as older than they were meant to be even at the end I think. The sections recounted by one of the sisters at the police station were spoken in a very literary register, far removed from natural speech patterns, and although this was alluded to at the end I think it was a failing. Finally, I found the whole plot sad and disturbing (although I appreciate that was the point).

On the plus side, there was one good twist at the end. That's the last two in this series that have disappointed me...

This is the third book in what has become one of my very favorite mystery series. One of the things that makes this series standout so much for me is that each book has been different from the others. This book almost felt like a domestic suspense from the way that it was written. In it, one of the main characters Louise is writing to her husband and explaining certain things as one storyline. Sorry to be vague here but I don't want to spoil anything because the setup is pretty brilliant. In the other storyline, we see the events of Louise waking up next to a stranger and the subsequent investigation by Jonah Sheen's team. The second thing that really stands out to me and that is present throughout each book in this series is the care that is taken with the characters and especially the victims. The author always takes the time to allow the reader to really feel like they are getting to know these characters in a way that isn't always present in other mysteries or thrillers. I loved how the author kept me guessing throughout this book. I wasn't sure who to trust and/or who was to blame. The only thing that I really knew is that Jonah and his team would figure it out in the end.

Overall, I found this book to be another strong addition to one of my favorite mystery series out there. I NEED other readers to find and love this series as much as I do! You don't necessarily have to read these books in order but I would recommend it if possible. There are these small threads that play out from each book that you would miss out on otherwise. I think that you should pick this book up if you enjoy domestic suspense but want something a bit different, if you enjoy police procedurals, or just want a truly page turning read. I definitely couldn't turn the pages fast enough while reading this one! Now begins the long wait for the next book in the series...I will be jumping on that one as soon as it gets released! Highly recommended!

Bottom Line: A suspenseful addition to a standout series!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I ended up reading a copy thanks to my local library. Honest thoughts are my own.

Lie Beside Me by Gytha Lodge is a 2021 Random House publication.

This series keeps getting better!

Louise’s husband is out of town, giving her the perfect excuse to go out partying with her best friend, April. The trouble starts when Louise, as per usual when she’s out with April, gets rip -roaring drunk, then April leaves her at the bar to run off with a guy she just met…

Louise wakes up with the mother of all hangovers and discovers a man in bed beside her- a dead man…

Panicked, Louise moves the body outside before calling the police…

She has no idea who the man was, and she can’t remember one thing that happened after April left the bar…

Once Jonah and his team are handed the case, they are genuinely flummoxed, but when Juliette makes a stunning discovery, Louise becomes the prime suspect.

Meanwhile, Juliette’s ex is still stalking her- but his interference is escalating, jeopardizing her new romantic relationship…

This book grabbed me from the very first paragraph and kept me riveted all the way to the very end. In fact, I put all other books aside to focus on this one exclusively. Man, this series is good!!

The psychological suspense is super tense, and the plot is well- executed. It’s a layered story with several stunning white-knuckle twists, before cleverly weaving all the threads together for a satisfying conclusion.

The detectives, though, are left with some heavy personal issues to cope with, and it will be interesting to see how all this plays out in the next installment, which I can’t wait to read!!

4.5 stars½

I really like this author and have read her previous books. This one, I just kept losing touch with. I did finish it but it was just not a satisfying read. Maybe it was me and the mood I was in, but it just never grabbed me as the characters all seemed to be so pathetic. Wanted to see the Damien situation resolved in a bigger and better way but it got lost in the shuffle. Meh

Watching From the Dark by Gytha Lodge is a 2020 Random House publication.

When Adrian Poole logs on the internet to accept a Skype call with Zoe, his girlfriend, he’s annoyed to discover she’s not in the camera’s view.

But, as he continues to watch, he believes something bad has happed to
Zoe. But, because of the circumstances of their relationship, instead of calling the police, like any other concerned person would, he leaves an anonymous message, instead.

It’s not until DCI Jonah Sheen happens across the report that Zoe’s body is found. Once he’s gathered his team, the unit must determine why anyone would want to murder Zoe.

This means interviewing her friends, family, and neighbors. As they dig into Zoe’s life, a complex web of manipulations, secrets, and lies, creates a number of possible suspects and motives, which keeps the team- and the reader- guessing, second guessing, and confused until the bitter end.

The current investigation is alternated with the Zoe’s voice, detailing her life leading up to her death, including her interactions with friends, colleagues, and of course, Adrian Poole.

This approach is one also used in the first installment, and I think it adds a haunting, atmospheric quality to what is, for all intents and purposes, a police procedural- which seldom comes with many bells and whistles.

Lodge again keeps the primary focus on the murder victim and the suspects, although we do get a closer glimpse of Sheen’s complicated private life.

For some reason, the atmosphere here reminds me a bit of Deborah Crombie’s series, only without the personal touches and developed private lives of the star detectives.

I wouldn’t mind if this series added a little more of those personal asides, but since we are only two books in, I’m thinking the recurring characters will slowly develop as the series continues.

As to the criminal case, the plot turns into a fascinating drama, and like the detectives, I thought I knew for sure who the murderer was, only to waffle and change my mind multiple times. I was constantly trying to work it out.

Overall, a fantastic effort by Gytha Lodge. This series is very promising and is one I will not let myself get behind on! I’ve already queued up the next installment!!

4 stars

Thirty years ago in July 1983 and seven teenagers are out camping, but by morning one will be dead. Now a family are camping in the area and the young daughter finds the bones. DCI Jonah Sheens, as he was a young constable at the time, knows who the bones belong to and it is him and his team who are brought in to investigate.
With two different timelines the truth is finally revealed. I enjoyed this mystery, and find the police team a good mix of characters. But who could not be charmed by Aurora herself.
A NetGalley Book.

She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge is a 2019 Random House publication.

It’s 1983 and a group of popular kids are out camping together. Aurora Jackson is there with her older sister, Topaz- a situation Topaz is unhappy about and makes sure Aurora knows it. After a night of hard partying, though, it comes to her attention that Aurora is missing.

Now, thirty years later, tests confirm that the recently discovered remains of a young female are indeed that of Aurora Jackson. Jonah Sheens is the head investigator, but the case is a personal one for him. He happens to have connection with the case that if it came to light might be construed as a conflict of interest. Working alongside him is rookie DC, Juliette Hanson, who is trying to make a good first impression.

Working the cold case opens a Pandora’s box of new memories, fresh information, and painful revelations for Jonah, and reopens old wounds for Aurora’s family and the teens who were present when she disappeared. Old and new suspects become targets of the investigation, while Jonah and Juliette try to focus on solving this case once and for all, despite their own personal issues. Will Jonah finally solve the case that has haunted him for thirty years?

I loved the cold case trope, one of my favorites in crime fiction, and I’m usually always up for a good British police procedural. My experience with pure procedural's is that they are often fairly straightforward, without too many bells and whistles. This book does follow that format, so don't expect much flair.

That said, the plot was well- developed, and executed. The story held my interest from start to finish- I didn’t begin to piece the puzzle together but didn’t have a clue about the motive or how everything would eventually come together.

The professional chemistry between Jonah and Juliette was a little awkward, in my opinion, but I think that relationship was beginning to show promise. Juliette has a developing personal crisis running I the background, a situation I would love to see explored in future installments, as well.

Overall, the characterizations of the main characters need a little work, but other than that, this is a solid start to the series. I liked it well enough to give the second installment a try.

3.5 stars½

I am very sorry to say that I did not love this book, at all. The writing was great, and I would try something from this author again for sure. This story was far fetched to say the least, which I know, most mysteries are of course. But this one was just, odd. Also, there was not one character to like, not a single one. Not even the victim. It's hard to care when you cannot find anything redeeming about any one in the book.
So, bottom line, book not great, author is though so check them out, leave this one alone.

I am very sorry to say that I did not love this book, at all. The writing was great, and I would try something from this author again for sure. This story was far fetched to say the least, which I know, most mysteries are of course. But this one was just, odd. Also, there was not one character to like, not a single one. Not even the victim. It's hard to care when you cannot find anything redeeming about any one in the book.
So, bottom line, book not great, author is though so check them out, leave this one alone.