Very good mystery. It reads like a Ann Cleeve’s book or a DCI banks book . It is well written and plotted with believable characters. I enjoyed this one and want to read more by this author

Much better than I was anticipating! Very clever story although anything with children disappearing leaves me with a pit in my stomach. Good policework and a nice setup for this to be a series. You can tell the author has quite an affection for her characters. I finished it in one sitting.

A mother's back is turned. A child goes missing. The first 24 hours are the most crucial and with each passing hour, the chances of finding her alive continue to shrink. Door to door enquiries are undertaken but police are finding the community reluctant to help to the point of refusal. Why?

DI Bernadette "Bernie" Noel came to Wiltshire from the Met to escape. With her move came a promotion after a successful conviction in London which resulted in her receiving death threats. A move to the West Country was to put all that behind her and to protect both herself and her family. But despite her rank and her stoic exterior, Bernie is as emotional and fallible as the next person. But she cares. And that, and her tenacity, is what makes her a good detective.

Now six months later Bernie is on her way back from her grandfather's funeral in London when she receives the call and races to the scene. She arrives to find a search already underway and her crime scene trampled. With no clue as to how 5 year old Molly Reynolds left the playground, police can only surmise possible scenarios with no real idea as to what actually happened. Had Molly been taken? Was it a stranger? Was it someone known to her? Was she playing her favourite game of hide and seek and had hidden herself just a little too well? Or had she just wandered off and gotten lost? Police dogs are brought in to track her scent...but only get as far as the gate before the trail goes cold. If Molly had left the playground - which she obviously did as she was no longer there - then why does her scent end at the gate? She didn't grow wings and fly away...so where did she go?

Bernie's questions of the community fall on deaf ears. She is met with belligerence, has doors slammed in her face while others don't even answer the door! No one, it seems, wants to help find little Molly. Why is the community of Otterfield so intent on being unhelpful?

When Bernie questions distraught mother Jessica Cole, she learns that Molly has no friends and plays by herself. When they arrived at the playground after school, Molly even had to wait around half an hour before the other children left and allow her play on the equipment. Bernie found this strange behaviour and it appeared the entire community was against both Molly and her mother. But even so, wouldn't the community want to help find little Molly, regardless of how they felt about her mother?

Not only has Bernie got this troubling case on her hands, she also has office politics to deal with when her superior, DCS Wilson, announces that a new DS is being foisted upon her who "has a great deal of experience" and will take over as FLO for the family. As Bernie already had an FLO in place, she feels undermined and outranked. And given Wilson's praise of the newcomer from Scotland, that he doesn't have the faith in her to investigate this case and close with a good result.

Needless to say when DS Dougal (Dougie) Anderson arrives, swooping in to take over FLO duties, he dismisses the uniformed PC guarding the Coles' house as well as the volunteer home help Bernie called in to assist Jessica in caring for baby Sam. This leads to conflict between Anderson and Bernie as she reminds him that she is his superior officer and he had no authority to dismiss those she had put in place without first clearing it with her. It is soon clear to Bernie that DS Anderson is used to giving orders, making him something of a mystery. The fact that they don't always see eye to eye creates a simmering layer of conflict between them. Thankfully, there isn't too much of that and Anderson ends up being an essential member of Bernie's team.

The rest of Bernie's team - DS Kerry Allen and DC Matt Taylor along with Sgt Alan Turner, DCS Wilson and media liaison Jane Clackett - are an interesting bunch and despite conflicts with the latter two, the team are like a well-oiled machine that moves along smoothly. And if anyone can solve the disappearance of Molly Reynolds, it's Bernie.

The story is told in the third person perspective of Bernie throughout with the exception of little snippets, inserted every few chapters, from the villain. These fragments create another aspect to the story as we try to figure out who is behind the disappearance...and why. Part of the fun in reading crime fiction is trying to guess the culprit but Joy Kluver had me well and truly hoodwinked. Although some aspects I did manage to figure out successfully.

With a fast moving plot, there is a lot packed into LAST SEEN, from a missing 5 year old, a series of thefts at betting shops in the county and surrounds, an historic child abduction to a fact from Bernie's past she has not yet met and the underlying threats from a past case as well the ongoing power struggles and office politics. But it was all well written and each facet complemented the rest of the story.

I found it slightly ironic, however, that Bernie - who had made the move to Wiltshire to keep a low profile - spends a lot of time appearing at press conferences, interviews and in the public eye and yet still survives unscathed. If her superiors are truly aware of her circumstances, I'm sure they would have made allowances to keep her safe and out of the public eye. After all, she is meant to be keeping a low profile. But whether they are or not, I'm not sure. Surely they aren't as it would be professional suicide to place a member under their command at risk. However, I'm sure there is more to come on that front as the series progresses.

A promising start to the series, I thoroughly enjoyed LAST SEEN and look forward to reading more about Bernie and her team. I recommend this book/series to fans of crime fiction, police procedurals and those of Carol Wyer, Val McDermid, Helen Phifer, Angela Marsons and Carla Kovach.

I would like to thank #JoyKluver, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #LastSeen in exchange for an honest review.

This is a promising debut novel and a good start to a new series featuring DI Bernadette Noel. I am struggling to like her but I am sure that will improve in the next book. Although the plot was good, it was a bit slow paced and I feel the motive for the kidnapping of 5 year old Molly was a bit poor. There was a bit too much going on in the story and I felt the ending was just a bit rushed and unsatisfactory. Overall an ok read. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Last Seen is the debut novel by Joy Kluver, and it's a story I was excited to read. Even though it's not my usual choice when it comes to crime fiction purely because as a Brit I don't tend to enjoy a lot of British detective stories. But there was just something about this one that appealed to me, and I'm glad I got the chance to read it. As it was a well-written and intriguing story that easily pulled me in and perfectly detailed the South West without creating regional stereotypes. Furthermore, the police procedural aspects were on point, and there were just enough twists and turns to keep me reading even when the pace dropped off. And with likable characters who have plenty more to offer I'm excited to see what comes next.

Would recommend.

This was the authors debut novel and the first in a new series. It was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a unique crime thriller with some great characters. It kept me hooked from start to finish and I’m already looking forward to book 2 in the series.

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. Last Seen is an interesting debut novel which introduces the reader to Bernie and her team. Soon after attending the funeral of her beloved ’Pops’ Bernie has to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Molly, from a play area. You would expect the local community to help with finding her but there is reluctance from the locals. The reasons why are revealed further into the novel but this is a close knit community and like many they don’t like questions, they are loyal and there are a lot of memories. I could understand how frustrating this was for Bernie and her team.
Bernie is new to the area, she relocated from the MET Police for reasons unspecified but the disappearance of Molly is putting her in the spotlight. Something which she is trying to avoid. The loss of Pops, not really knowing the local area and receiving what could be a threatening card adds to her worry. Not to mention having to work with a new colleague who she can’t make her mind up about.
One of the strengths of this novel is how long it seemed to take for the team to get their answers. It showed that not every case is fast moving and even though only a few days had gone they all felt the exhaustion and frustration and were fully aware that they needed to get a breakthrough.
Little is revealed about most of them, including Bernie. Even though I liked her a lot, I felt I only knew her as a police officer. I wanted to know more about her life outside of the job. I expect that more will be revealed further into the series as she settles into her new life. I know that many series are similar and this isn’t a criticism but she seemed to be somebody I would like to know in real life. I am looking to forward to learning more about all of them in book two.

I love a new series, even better a debut. This was a brilliant read, I couldn't put it down, I loved the characters and the storyline was gripping, I'm really excited for more by this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Last Seen, the first novel to feature DI Bernadette Noel of the Wiltshire Police.

5 year old Mollie Reynolds disappears from the swing park in the small village of Otterfield and Bernie and her team are quickly on site to start the hunt. All they find are Molly’s fleece and the sticker she was given that day in school. Bernie is convinced that there are secrets to be uncovered, especially as the villagers are uncooperative, and is vindicated when she discovers that another 5 year old girl vanished years earlier.

I thoroughly enjoyed Last Seen, which is an engrossing read and, as a kidnapping, a refreshing change from my usual fare of murder investigations. The novel is told mostly from Bernie’s point of view with the unnamed perpetrator occasionally adding an update. I’m not always a fan of hearing from this latter, but in this case it offers a little news and hope to the reader.

I thought that the plot is well done with several twists and its well buried roots hidden deep in the past. The plot is well conceived with reveals at the right moments, several false starts and the inevitable personality conflicts. It makes for a heady brew. I understand that this is a debut novel, but you’d never know. It is accomplished and seems to have the balance right between character and investigation. Yes, it might be a touch over complicated in the motive department and I must admit that I didn’t quite get or accept some of it, but as it comes at the end it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of a very interesting journey to that point.

I like Bernie Noel who is a recent transplant to Wiltshire from The Met. There are hints about threats that forced her to move, but nothing substantive in this novel, so that may be for the future. Otherwise she is smart, empathetic and on the ball, but no pushover as her colleagues can attest. I would definitely spend more time with her.

Last Seen is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Last Seen is a the debut novel from Joy Kluver and follows Detective Bernadette Noel. In this installment, a little girl goes missing, only no one in town seems to care or wants to help. Bernadette, or Bernie as she is called, is going to get to the bottom of it and solve the case.

This one was a pretty good read. There were some very interesting twists and turns, and it’s a compelling read. Several great characters, including Bernie of course, are introduced and will certainly be staples for future books in the series. Bernie herself is a lot of fun. She is whip smart, but still real. She makes mistakes sometimes and gets lucky too. I think she’ll be a great detective to follow. The main mystery of this book is neatly wrapped up, but there is plenty of intrigue left for book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

I cannot believe that this is a debut novel! It’s such a good read. From the first page it grabs your attention and holds its right to the end. I read this book very quickly, over two evenings and didn’t want any interruptions, as I was so engrossed. I love a series and this has all the ingredients of being an excellent one. Meet Detective Bernadette, ‘Bernie’ Noel, recently transferred from The Met to not so friendly Wiltshire. A brilliant backstory that’s got loads to give and which we’ve only had a tantalising glimpse of so far. When 5 year old Molly goes missing Bernie is stunned at the lack of help and support from the villagers, With time running out to find her we are treated to a brilliant plot with lots of twists and turns. Believable investigating, with frustrating dead ends, waits for forensics and internal power plays and a great cast of characters with pasts to die for and so much more development to explore.
Really looking forward to reading the next one

Last Seen is the debut novel by Joy Kluver and in it we meet Detective Bernadette Noel who has recently moved to Wiltshire and is returning from her grandfather’s funeral when she is called in to lead the investigation into Molly who has gone missing from a local park. I thought this was a bit slow moving but did seem realistic in that she followed many leads that ultimately led to dead ends, which would happen to real detectives. There were some good twists and turns but overall I found myself bored parts and wanting more to happen at a quicker pace. This was very well written however and I would definitely read more by this new author.

I wanted to read this as it's by a fellow blogger and I am so pleased I did! A well worn format has been given new life and a new style by Joy and it was a gripping read. Scary as it could so easily happen in real life. fully fleshed characters and a great new detective!

Detective Bernadette Noel leave s London to protect her family and moves to a new job in a quiet village . she is coming back from her grandfathers funeral when she gets a call that a child has been abducted from Otterfield park . the mother Jessica changed her babies nappy and her daughter had gone . no one wants to help this family her husband is in the army .Bernadette s .superior says she need help so in walks Dougie Anderson. and someone is robbing bookies in different towns and who is sending Bernadette sympathy cards is it a stalker i so enjoyed going to be a good series

When a child goes missing, few are found alive after 24 hours and those odds continue to shrink by the hour. Personally I think it's one of the scariest things that could ever happen to a community, so why have they refused to help little Molly?

Detective Noel, Bernie, is a human being. Behind the badge and her rank, she is emotional and fallible just like anyone else, but she cares about her work. In such a close knit and closed community, it is seemingly borderline impossible to figure out who took Molly as no one will speak to the police.
To keep such tenacity in uncovering the truth and unravelling the terrible events that lead to another missing child was nothing short of brilliant writing and intelligent character development.

Whilst the format may seem familiar and well-trodden, Kluver cleverly deviates from the pack by keeping the reveal right until the very end. Because of the lack of big reveals earlier in the story, I found myself clinging to every breakthrough the team made, however little, feeling that small relief the same way Noel and her team did.

I am Blown Away by this book the twists and turns are mind boggling In this book we meet Detective Bernadette Noel and her team.A little 5 year old girl named Molly goes missing from the playground while her moms back is turned.Why aren't the locals coming forward to either help or with information is a concern to Bernie and as the search begins the team are on a knife edge will they find Molly alive or dead that is the question.I can highly recommend this BRILLIANT book and if i could i would give it more than 5* Excellent loved it and look forward to the next book.

Jessie Cole mother of Molly Cole got abducted from the park
It was about three forty five
Around the park and the people who lived in around didn’t help the police
Where had Molly gone and who with
I had an ARC

A good start to a new series. Detective Bernie (Bernadette) has a past haunting her, and part of it is catching up with her. She does not know what to do. At the same time there is a little girl gone missing in a strange little town, and people are not behaving the way you would expect them to behave. No one seems to be willing to help with finding the little girl.

There seems to be only a little to go with, and no real suspects. Once the story starts to unfold things really start to happen, and it is also pretty clear why no one wanted to help the police finding the girl. The town is still traumatized by its past, and the missing girl's parents will learn a truth or two about some things they wished they'd never knew.

Bernie is an interesting person, and I'd like to get to know her better. The writing flows nicely, and it was a surprisingly quick read even though the subject is fairly heavy. I got this creepy feeling when I read about the reactions of people after the girl had gone missing. In fact it chilled me to the core. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

5 year old Molly goes missing from a local playground while her mother's back is turned briefly. DI Bernie Noel, newly arrived from London, is investigating the case. However no-one in the tiny village is interested in helping in the search for Molly. The case has the reader following along with police procedures. DI Noel has a good team behind her but they have their workload increased when other cases start to come in.
A good debut novel and introduction to Bernie and the team.
I received this book from Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Last Seen' by Joy Kluver.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 26th March 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is her debut novel and also the first book in the 'Detective Bernadette Noel' series.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching and beautiful cover and its intriguing synopsis. The synopsis stated that if you are a fan of Angela Marsons among others you will love Joy Kluver. I am a fan of Angela's books so am interested to see if it will live up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 40 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium to long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Wiltshire, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Detective Bernadette Noel. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Wow!! Just Wow!! What can I even say?!? Joy are you sure this is your first book because you have absolutely slam dunked it!!! What an absolutely EPIC debut novel. You are going far!!! Anyway... Will I get on with my review? Best had....

As you can tell from my opening statement this book is brilliant! More than brilliant, amazing!!! It had been fantastically written and the descriptions completely absorb the reader into the storyline.

The storyline is absolutely gripping, addictive and captivating. Filled with everything you are looking for in a book... Suspense, tension, mystery, red herrings, researched police procedural, you name it this book has it. I was absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I had a complete shock at the twists and finding out who was who and who did what. A HUGE congratulations there as it is getting harder and harder to surprise me these days but that was a whooper!! I loved the snippets after every few chapters from the abductor and everything came together perfectly, nothing worse than crucial parts being mentioned and then left and not mentioned again, this was all perfectly tyed up a the end. This is an absolutely fantastic start to what promises to be a heart racing and nail biting new series.

Love, love, loved all the characters!!! I cannot wait to meet them again. The fact that Bernice is such a strong, determined and captivating female lead is a huge bonus for all female readers. Woman power!! It wasn't just Bernie who was a super woman though as Kerry was also whoop butt. The dynamic of the team was spot on and I really enjoyed reading all the different personalities and watching friendships bond. Matt and Anderson were also excellent members of the team and Anderson will definitely be an intriguing one to continue to read about.

I really cannot compliment this book and successfull author more. I would love to see this made into a movie and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

Overall an addictive, gripping and page turning thriller that will keep you hooked.

Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Crime and Police Procedural amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer, P. J Tracy and anyone looking for an epic read .

358 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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