Last Seen by Joy Kluver is the promising first installment of a series focused on Detective Bernadette Noel. I love getting onboard with a new series from the very start, and this one certainly intrigued me enough that I will make an early commitment to continuing with it.

Detective Bernie Noel has arrived in a rural village in the hope of laying low following her involvement in a high profile prosecution. But shortly after her arrival, a young girl is reported missing, and Bernie knows that her chances of remaining low key have just flown out the window. As she begins to question the villagers, Bernie is surprised to discover that, as a whole, they are less than forthcoming with any information that would provide leads to finding the missing girl. What has transpired in the town that would have the local community so closed off from doing what is right to find a child whose very fate hangs in the balance?

This is an intriguing, cleverly plotted debut that lays a strong foundation for a most compelling series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

In “Last Seen” we meet DI Bernadette (Bernie) Noel and the Wiltshire Major Investigation team which includes DS Kelly Allen, DC Matt Taylor and DS Dougal (Dougie) Anderson. Rounding out the main characters at Wiltshire Police HQ, are DCS Wilson, Sergeant Alan Turner and Media Liaison Jane Clackett. This is a debut novel by Joy Kluver and the start to a new British police procedural series set in the small rural Wiltshire villages of Marchant, Otterfield and Devizes.

The story begins with a missing 5 year old girl, Molly, who has been abducted from Otterfield Park. That in itself causes the tension and suspense from the very beginning, and the momentum of the story continues, as we meet various characters during the investigation. The prevalent disinterest of the residents of Marchant and Otterfield, over the missing child, adds to the suspense and foreboding tone of the story. Part of the satisfaction for readers of the genre, is to decipher the clues, guess the perpetrator and unravel the twists, turns and red herrings. This story did not disappoint.

We learn from this story that Bernie transferred from London 6 months ago and whilst there are snippets of back story, the main reason for her transfer other than safety reasons has not yet been revealed. Bernie is an interesting lead character. Whilst she isn’t exactly an unlikeable character, she is most certainly flawed, as the chip on her shoulder manifests in how she treats members of her team, demand for respect and deep-seated insecurity, leaks from the pages. Whilst the passion for the job and her desire to find the missing child is commendable, she can be at times a difficult character to connect to. Hopefully that changes over the course of the series.

This was a promising start to the series and look forward to reading more books in this series and by this Author. Thank you to the Author, Bookouture and NetGalley for the complimentary digital advance reader copy. I’m voluntarily giving my unbiased opinion and review of the story.

Release date -26th March 2021.

Last Seen is the debut novel by Joy Kluver, and it’s a book I’ve been looking forward to reading for a while now. It is the start of what I hope will be a long-running series featuring Detective Bernadette Noel.

Detective Bernadette Noel has recently been appointed to a town in Wiltshire under something of a cloud. She was previously working with the Metropolitan Police, so what was the reason behind her move to Wiltshire? Not long after she is reassigned, she is thrown into a high profile investigation when five-year-old Molly disappears. But why do none of the locals want to help in the search?

Joy Kluver has created such an intriguing premise in her debut novel. Usually, and especially in the case of a missing child, the public wants to help. There are searches organised, and people are ringing the police hotline constantly with sightings to report. But in this case, the police aren’t getting anything. When they carry out house to house enquiries, they are met with hostility, with the door practically being slammed in their faces. People are also very reluctant to put up missing posters. What is going on here? It made me really dislike the residents of their town. Couldn’t they see that this was about bringing Molly, an innocent girl home?

The investigation is a complex one, and Joy Kluver cleverly weaves everything together. The investigation does start off quite slow, particularly when people are unwilling to help, but it gradually gathers pace. There are some shocking reveals as the police look into the past of the victim’s family. It’s then that they begin to understand why the locals don’t want to know. I really wanted to find out the reason behind this.

I liked the friendships between Bernie and her team, and I think Joy Kluver builds on this really well as the novel progresses. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops as the series moves on from here.
This is a fantastic start to a new series, which I’m sure will keep readers coming back for more.

Jessica turns her back for a moment and her daughter Molly is gone. Detective Bernie Noel and her team are determined to find her, but they hit dead ends at every turn. Where is Molly? Can they find her before it’s too late?

This is a great debut novel by Joy Kluver. It’s a proper crime novel where the reader works with the police, uncovering clues and considering evidence. I had a few ideas where the story was going and I was wrong about all of them! The writing is well paced and the story is excellent.

I liked Detective Noel and look forward to learning more about her in future novels. This is a great read and I’ll definitely look out for further books in this series! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Last Seen by Joy Kluver. DI Bernie Noel has just arrived to a new job in a new location. She has just left London and looking to start over.
Bernie is quickly called to help with a missing person case and she is determined to find this mssing child. The case heats up, but Bernie's past is always bubbling to the top.
Will she be able to find this child in her new role, or will she find that trouble finds her wherever she goes.
This is more than likely going to be a series book. Not sure if I like Bernie too much, but the book was solid.
3 stars.

I have high hopes for this new book series! I'm always a bit hesitant with an author I haven't heard of but I'm so glad I chose to read this book. A young girl named Molly was kidnapped from a park, and DI Bernadette "Bernie' Noel can't figure out why no one in the small village appears willing to help search for her. It's as if they could care less about the missing girl. The girl's mother, Jessica, isn't surprised, as she's felt the same way since she moved there a few months back - like an outsider, ignored by everyone.

Bernie can't figure out why the locals are so unhelpful, but she's not going to stand for it. She insists that her team keep on with the questioning whether people want to aid law enforcement or not. Eventually, they discover why there was reluctance to help in the search, though it by no means justifies the actions of the villagers. It does, however, bring a new lead - the disappearance of another young girl years ago. Bernie and her team can't believe who the main suspect was for that case and how it changes everything about Molly's disappearance.

This story did well laying the groundwork for a new series about DI Noel. We're introduced to the members of her team, learning their backgrounds and seeing how their personalities align, or clash, in some cases. The author takes time building the story - it's not just a quick read, but an intricate whodunit with more layers to the plot than you can believe. I was invested from page one and I can't wait to see what's next for DI Noel and her team.!



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Last Seen is the debut novel by Joy Kluver and in it we meet DI Bernie Noel and her team. Recently moved to Wiltshire she 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. With no witnesses and the residents of the village seemingly unwilling to help she certainly has her work cut out for her. As they chase false leads, they wonder if they will ever find Molly alive and Bernie finds her whole investigation being questioned by her superiors.
Bernie Noel is a bit of a prickly character who hates to feel like she is not in control of a situation, a fact that is proved when she is saddled with DS Dougie Anderson. They seem to butt heads quite a lot at the start but the more you get into the book the more you understand them. Both have things in their past that they are trying to get away from and although you learn more about Dougie’s reasons for why he has been transferred to the team, Bernie’s past remains largely a mystery. There is clearly something there that means she does not find it easy to trust those she does not know, and I am looking forward to possibly finding out why in the future. As we find out during the investigations, even the best kept secrets have a way of making their way front and centre. Despite this, she does appear to have the full support of her team and there is an undeniable friendship between Bernie and DS Kerry Allen that is used to its full advantage when diffusing otherwise tense situations. Her superiors want to trust her with this important investigation but at the same time have doubts that she is committed to the team past this case.
There are a few twists and turns in the book that will keep you guessing as to who is behind Molly’s disappearance and the misdirection’s just add to the tension, but all questions are answered once the perpetrator and their motives are revealed. I am looking forward to what is in store for Bernie and the team and learning more about all of them and what makes them tick.

Last Seen introduces readers to newly appointed Detective Inspector Bernadette (Bernie) Noel who has just transferred to Wiltshire Police from The Met. The idea was to keep a low profile, her first major case makes sure that she is anything but, plunging her straight into the investigation into the suspected abduction of a young girl, Molly. There is no clear motive and no obvious ransom demand, leading to real concerns that there are far more sinister reasons behind the child's disappearance. Concerns for the police and concerns for her family but a strange level of apathy amongst the residents of the village in which the child lived setting all the alarm bells ringing and letting us know that there is far more to the picture than meets the eye.

Joy Kluver has created a very interesting premise here, one that makes you question just what is happening behind closed doors and why are the locals and the resident of a neighbouring village to loathe to help anyone. It's a mystery that takes some time to get to the bottom of, bubbling along in the background of an investigation that is full of similar niggles and unanswered questions. The question marks aren't only raised about the people who are suspect in the investigation but also surrounding Bernie, who clearly has a difficult past and a new DS who is foisted upon her at the start of the investigation, Dougie Anderson. It's fair to say that the pair don't always see eye to eye which leads to another layer of conflict at times in a case already fraught with it.

It's always interesting getting to know a new team and the one that the author has created is as diverse as you could imagine. From seasoned Detectives Noel, Anderson and DS Kerry Allen, to DC Matt Taylor, an intelligent and astute Detective on the fast track program, they probably as different as could be. There is a strong friendship between Bernie and Kerry and it is clear there is real respect there. On the other side of the room you have Anderson who is new, forthright and seemingly capable of rubbing folk up the wrong way. But then there is Bernie. I can't lie - it took time to settle into her style and her as a character as she is quite impulsive and passionate about the victims, almost too much so some times. There were times when she made rash decisions or comments that made me pause, but all in the pursuit of finding Molly alive. It is clear from the little snippets of back story that we get about Bernie that there is far more to her than we know, and whatever drove her from the Met is also driving her passion and determination in this case, as well as a certain amount of fear and trepidation, so I look forward to seeing that explored in future books.

There are a number of threads to this story, all pulled together quite neatly by the end, but it takes time for that picture to form. Other side cases seek to distract the Detectives from their goal of finding Molly, and there are a number of leads to follow which may or may not lead them towards their goal but which keep readers on the hook. The pacing flows well and tension and pace certainly pick up towards the end as the perpetrators and motives are finally revealed. All questions about the case are ultimately answered, but there are many question marks still hanging over members of this new team and they make me very curious to see how this affects them, and the cases, moving forward.

358 pages

3 stars

This is a pretty fair book. It has moments of a bright future for the author, but at the same time, it was disappointing. There is much going on in this book.

DI Bernadette “Bernie” Noel is new to the small town in south England. She is escaping her situation in London that left her with bad memories. When a desperate call comes in for a five-year old missing little girl, Bernie is spurred into immediate action. She and her team comb the village park using dogs, police officers and a helicopter. All to no avail. Okay, this is good, but I began to feel that there was something not quite right about DI Bernie.

She is a new DI, so I can understand her slight tentativeness in the investigation. She was however, quick to become frustrated and seemed a tad too dogmatic for my taste. When another officer is assigned from Scotland, she almost goes off the rails. I judged it to be an overreaction. She was too friendly with the potential suspects, asking them to call her “Bernie” when she wanted her subordinates to call her “m'am.” It seemed an inconsistent way to act. She wanted to be the witnesses' buddy when questioning them and got upset when the other officers would ask the hard questions.

I guess I just didn't care for her.

The story idea was a good one, but the motive for the kidnapping was rather silly. I think Ms. Kluver could ably resurrect Bernie in the next book. Give her some backbone and a more professional attitude are a couple of suggestions.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this promising book for me to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This was a slow thriller not a lot of action.Good dialogue but it was an okay read. I wish it was more action in the book it got kinda of boring.

Oh wow! This is an awesome read. It is always wonderful when you discover a new author whose debut novel has you burning the midnight oil. It's even better when that book is the first in a series. I only hope Joy Kluver can write at warp speed because I am impatiently awaiting her next book.
As well as the main story here there is a sub plot that I assume will continue throughout the series. In fact, I am eager to get to know several of the characters' back stories. Give this book a try, I guarantee you won't regret it.

Top notch, very well written, fast paced story, definitely edge of your seat stuff. There isn’t a single dull moment from start to finish, high octane all the way and a rollercoaster of emotions. Two child abductions, a generation apart and for some reason the locals are less than interested in helping to find a vulnerable little girl. The plot has many twists and turns and we also build up a good bond with the investigating officers as they battle to follow the evidence which isn’t always what it seems. Truly captivating (pun intended) and not to be missed.

Predators are very patient creatures whether they are of the animal or human kind. They choose their prey, lie in wait and when the adult is forced to focus their attention on something else even for a short time, they go for it. Nobody sees them. Nobody hears them. Nobody finds any trails. The result is devastating though…
DI Noel has been promoted recently when she has to put her teeth into this case. She and her team work around the clock in order to find the culprit. Few clues are being found and DI Noel is running out of time.
Who is this abductor? They seem like a ghost. Are they an expert in hiding or are they hiding in plain sight by playing an Oscar worthy role?
Will she be replaced by another DI because she can’t handle the case or does her determination pay off?
Sometimes the press and the police are not the best of friends, but sometimes they can work pretty well together.
Di Noel has a past that is following her around. I am very anxious to find out what happened to her. The author allows us to find out a bit about it, but I guess there is a lot more to it.
Di Noel was maybe a bit too inexperienced to be the right person in the right place, but in the end, she certainly delivered.
I enjoyed the book that kept me guessing until the end. No way that name was on my list 😉 4 stars.

Thank you, Joy Kluver and Bookouture

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

3.5* rounded down. This is the first in a series, although there were distracting references to DI Bernie's past and the fact that she was meant to be keeping a low profile in the West Country, having left London for unknown reasons. Obviously she spends the whole novel appearing at press conferences and being interviewed by the BBC, but survives unscathed.

The plot moved pretty quickly, and the following and dismissing of dead ends felt realistic, but much of the motivation felt a bit off to me. The senior police officers and press officer were capable of rapid and extreme mood swings, and I just don't accept the fact that an entire village would think as one and fail to help look for a missing 5 year old for the reasons given. That part felt a bit like an alternate reality.

There was a lot packed into one novel - a missing 5 year old, a series of crimes at betting shops, an historic child abduction, a potential romance for Bernie, Bernie's father introducing himself to her for the first time, power struggles within the police force, and so on. The ending was a little rushed and although this was a reasonably good read, I don't think I would rush to read the next in the series.