I am usually a fan of DS Butler and there really was nothing wrong with this book either in the plot the characters or the style of writing. However my reviews are always about liking and not liking and it was the subject matter that didn’t suit me. So purely on personal taste I’m only giving it three stars so don’t  llet that put you off reading it  and I will definitely try more from this author.

This is a very suspenseful police procedural that takes place in a small English village.. It can stand by itself, but I highly recommend you read the previous book in this series. The characters are diverse and very realistic. The style of writing produces good mental images and is easy to read with few Brit phases. Karen remains on the edge of an emotional breakdown through most of the book, but holds it together for a satisfying conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and met some interesting characters.

Book 3 in the Karen Hart mystery series and a man is found in the woods bludgeoned to death. She is also dealing with her own tragedy and doesn’t know who to trust. Secrets and lies.

Detective Karen Hart is barely coping with the death of her husband and child. They were killed in an automobile accident. There were no witnesses or evidence found at the scene.
Right now her focus is on the murdered man found in a small forest of trees. He is almost unrecognizable. He has been bludgeoned to death. His clothes are dirty and he has dirt encrusted in his nails. He has a very unkempt look about him. He could possibly be a homeless person.
While investigating this case she is led to the owners of a bar. These were the people she had been investigating when the tragic loss of her family happened. That case had been closed because there was lack of evidence. 
Now the coaster found on the back pocket of their murder victim points them back to that case again. A case of white slavery. 
An intriguing look into the cases involving murder, slavery, arson and corruption.
Excellent read!

I enjoyed this book very much however I had no idea it was part of a series. I might have liked it more had I read the other books in the series but I am just guessing. It reads fine as a stand alone book.  DS Karen Hart is a strong female character who has lost her husband and daughter.  This is a very original story and very involved. I would definitely read the other books in this series and those still yet to come.

Detective Karen Hart is a police officer in a small hamlet in Great Britain.  She is drawn into a murder case when a body is found in a local park.  Karen is a widow and is still haunted by the traffic accident that took her husband and daughter.  There are people in the department that make her job easier and some that make it harder.  Dealing with personal grief, departmental politics and interference from the outside she still manages to do a good job of solving the crime.  

The location is fun (UK), the characters are interesting and the mystery stays a mystery until the end.  I recommend this to mystery fans and police story fans everywhere.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I feel very meh about this book. I liked the main characters and the setting was good, but there were too many obvious parts. The reader is supposed to think that the case of the bludgeoned man from the first chapter and the deaths of DC Hart's husband and daughter 5 years previously are not connected, but from the moment Hart gets involved in the case, it's clear that they are related.

The antagonists are crystal clear, like, there is never a doubt that this one or that one are no good. And yet, the protagonists are somehow surprised? I dunno, but I'm not buying it. I prefer some twists in the plot instead of having it all served up so neatly.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

You can cover up the truth but it won’t stay buried forever.
A man is found bludgeoned to death in woodland by the village of Canwick, and the close-knit community is sent into shock. Detective Karen Hart, still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter nearby, is brought in to investigate the horrific murder.
It soon becomes clear that dark secrets lie behind Canwick’s unspoiled appearance. When Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers, she faces a race to find proof before the culprits slip from her grasp. But when key witnesses start disappearing, it’s obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy to keep prying eyes away from the truth.
But in a village where everyone knows everyone, who knows more than they are letting on—and who can Hart really trust? She’s in deep and she’s never been more alone. She must confront the tragedy of her own past if she wants to catch the killers before it’s too late. Because one thing’s for certain—there’s no turning back…

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.  This is my own honest voluntary review.

This is my first D.S. Butler book, but not the first book in the series.  It wasn’t necessary to read the previous books.  The author includes all the information you need in the story.  Still mourning the loss of her family, DI Karen Hart lands a case that has ties to a previous case she's investigated. There are numerous twists and turns as the story unfolds.  It kept me guessing and I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this great detective mystery.  Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing.  Couldn't put it down!

Murder abounds in this story. From the   beginning of the book, you hold on to your seat and the book takes off.  The past coming back to haunting the  department and our favourite inspector is at the forefront of it. There is no shortage of mystery, suspense and valid issues that occur today, all over the world.  Once one mystery is solved, another crops up. 
This was a well rounded read. 4.7*/5*

This is the first book I have read from this Author. I really enjoyed it and will go back and read the rest of the series now. The story begins with a murder of a man. DS Hart and her team are called in to investigate and solve this crime, they some immigrants who are living in a pub garage but what they're doing there? There's also a bit of police corruption thrown in too! An action packed book bursting with lots of different roads, how do they all come together in the end? Read the book to find out more!

A fascinating look at the life of a policewoman. After the loss of her family nothing much matters except work.  A murder, a human trafficking ring and a fire all combine to bring back memories of a very bad time. A very well-written novel with superb characters and real life action.

I haven’t read the rest in this series which is always worrisome however I was hooked right from the beginning. The slavery ring, the murders, it all made for such an exciting story! This type of reading is right up my alley and I truly loved it!

I enjoyed the premise, as human trafficking is a serious global problem and I appreciate authors' efforts to draw attention to it. I didn't, however, enjoy the author's voice. She constantly overexplained and 'word-padded', invariably taking three paragraphs to say something that should take three sentences. I didn't find Karen to be a particularly engaging character, so it was hard to empathize with her. Overall, this isn't a book I can recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the chance to read the book.

Thank you for the Netgalley! This is the first time that I’ve heard or read anything by the author and I’m glad I did. I’ve read so many police procedurals that they eventually sound the same, but this was different. I was sucked in really early on and enjoyed getting to know the characters. However, I rated it as a 3.5 because the middle part of the book started getting slow and I had to fight hard to stick with it.

Upon completion I learned that this is the third book in a series but having not read the previous two it actually can stand alone.  DS Karen Hart works in a rural police station.  She has lost her husband and daughter years ago to a horrific accident but clearly thinks it wasn’t an accident at all.  Her partner/boss DI Scott Morgan also has a past.  They work together to solve a murder, which expands to include trafficking of humans.  Auxiliary characters help while others interfere with their investigation. Both Karen and Scott end with resolutions to their own problems while solving both cases.  Many thanks to D S Thomas &Mercer, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this ARC of a soon to be published mystery.

The mystery begins with the 

The mystery begins with the discovery of a man is found bludgeoned to death in a set of sparse woods  near the village of Canwick. Canwick is a close-knit community and therefore is sent into shock. Enter Detective Karen Hart. Karen is certainly capable but still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter which occurred very near the same site. That’s tough no matter how great a detective one happens to be. 

As dark secrets begin to manifest,  Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers. The race is now on to find proof before the culprits slip Away. Intrigue builds when key witnesses start disappearing an it is  obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy going on in this innocent little village where everyone knows everyone and some know more than they are letting on, 

the storyline is one  that is a bit different and I really liked that. It was the slow pace of the investigation  that kept me from really enjoying the read. The pace was that of a real life style investigation. I wanted more action and twists to give my mind the oh wow ,I didn’t see that coming effect. 

This was my first Detective Karen Hart adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I really enjoyed this book and will go back to read the previous two.  This definitely can be read stand alone as it didn't feel like I was missing anything vital from the other books in the series.  The author did a great job filling any gaps that might have made.
I wonder if there will be a 4th book as I would love this to continue.
I would highly recommend this author and this book.

D. S. Butler is a new author for me and as 'Don't Look Back' is the 3rd book in the series I was sceptical as to how easy it would be to work out the main character. As it turned out it was very easy to form an understanding. Good plot, with varying twists and turns, a very easy but engrossing read. I will be reading more from this author.