This series is unique as it is set in the past. This gives a different context to the character interactions. I like Helen as a character which makes her personal life parts that are weaved in interesting. This one was a little darker than the others which I liked. The unravelling of the serial murders was at a good pace. Nothing was overly obvious and everything was masterfully weaved together to make an interesting read from first page to last.

Thanks to netgalley for providing an advanced copy for the purpose of review.

This is part of a series and is a police procedural set in the 70's which is a refreshing and interesting change. This was a tense and suspenseful read.

This is the fourth book in the series featuring Detective Helen Carter. I hadn’t read any of the previous books but found this one worked well as a stand-alone. The series is set in the 1970s in Edinburgh. Helen’s father had also been a detective and twenty years previous had worked tirelessly on the case of a serial killer known as the Button Killer as all his victims had buttons stuffed in their throats. After intensive investigations he found the killer, Mark Landis, who was convicted and given a life sentence. But when Helen finds herself investigating killings across the city with the victims having buttons stuffed in their throats she suspects that they may have either a copycat killer or Mark Landis wasn’t guilty of the murders. He has always professed his innocence but Helen is convinced that her father was right and that Mark really was the killer so she will have to prove it, which will not be easy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was mostly told from Helen’s point of view with an odd chapter from the unknown killer. There is plenty of tension, twists and turns and an unexpected ending. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The serial killer is back? Or is he? Could it be a copycat? Det. Helen Carter is back trying to solve this twisty book revolving around the killings of the elusive Button Killer, a notorious killer that her detective father famously put away 20 years ago. Now the killings have started again and it's up to Helen to solve the mystery.

I didn't expect this to be a historical thriller, but it takes place in the 70s. I really liked the Helen Carter character and enjoyed watching her unravel this series of killings. This was my first book in the series and I'll look into reading the previous volumes.

Chills…
The fourth outing in the Detective Helen Carter series and a missing woman is just the start of a gruesome and emotional case for the detective and team. A spate of crimes which bear a startling resemblance to a past killing spree give Carter the chills. Is a copycat killer operating locally or was the wrong man convicted all those years ago? A credible and well crafted cast of characters populate a swiftly moving plot with an engaging narrative. A worthy addition to the series to date.

To begin with, I have not read any of the other stories in this series which makes me feel as though I was missing something in terms of certain characters and their relationships to one another. It wasn't enough to make me enjoy that part of the story less in any way, more curious about what all I had missed (not only in terms of Helen's relationship with her ex-fiance but also in terms of one of her colleagues divulging information to a journalist; as this happens in the very beginning of the novel, it was very confusing and to be honest, even though there was a resolution by the end of the novel, it didn't feel like a very satisfying one).

Now moving on from that, and speaking just about this one, there was nothing wrong with this novel per say. It was just not what I expected. For the most part, it seemed to drag on when I expected there to be more edge-of-your-seat moments (this could also have something to do with the fact that there were over seventy chapters!). I definitely feel like there were some things that could have been taken out that would have shortened the story without losing any of the key elements. One such thing is the introduction of bank statements supposedly paid to Helen's deceased father. Helen believes they were faked to throw doubt on her father's investigation, therefore, we are led to believe the same thing, except it is never really proved or disproven either way. And in the grand scheme of things, that whole plot point did nothing in terms of moving the current plot along, merely wanting to cast doubt on a prior arrest.

I also had the big reveal figured out well before Helen did, although maybe that is just because I've read so many police procedural novels recently that it makes certain phrases or actions stick out more than they would have before.

All things considered however, I would read more from this author, and I'm sure others will enjoy this story more than I did.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Helen Carter is back in her 4th case - set in 1970s Edinburgh. Feels like those days - no mobile phones, little forensic science and people who talk to each other. This time she and her team are tying to determine whether a decades ago "Button Killer" is back, a copy cat is out there or did her father really get it all wrong 20 years ago.. As a woman in a man's world and 50 years ago she has to be resilient. There are sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. It lost a star simply because I've read an awful lot of 'serial killer are they aren't they' novels and this has some of the usual tropes. Nonetheless, still a good and recommended read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Loved this book. The storyline had me hooked from the first few pages.

Author to follow without a doubt.

Book four in the Detective Helen Carter series.

I have always found Helen to be a resilient character working in a man's world, she is not afraid to speak up for herself. Set in the male dominant 1970s police force Helen writes with the style and flare that the era dictates.

This case sees Helen flown into a part of her past she'd rather forget as a murderer is on the lose killing victims in a similar vain to one that was convicted years ago AKA the button killer her's Helen's dilemma is a copy cat at large or was the wrong man convicted all those years ago.

A tense suspenseful read.

Helen Carter is trying to catch a killer. The Button Murderer was put in prison fifteen years before by Helen's father. Now the killings have begun again. The original killer, Landis, is claiming he was wrongly imprisoned. And, Stanton, the psychologist who wrote a book about Landis, has been pushed off a train, and is dead. Actually the papers claim it was an accident. An attractive woman has disappeared, and a call to the police claims she has been killed. Helen looks through the house which has been thoroughly cleaned. However, she does find a box with some papers and photos.

The first killing is very much like the first killing years ago. A beautiful young woman is found in the woods and a button has been cut off her jacket and stuffed down her throat. Then the second one is a taxi driver, just as with the second killing years ago.

Helen and her colleagues are working overtime trying to find the killer. There is a question hanging on whether this is a copy cat killer or they had arrested the wrong man. The press seems to be trying to get the arrested man free. But Helen is sure her father had arrested the right man. However, the new copycat killer has Helen in his sights. Can she figure out who it is before she is the next victim?

I thank Joffe Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in order to write an honest review.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #JoffeBooks for the copy of #TheMissingWoman By #JodieLawrance
Although I finished this book I really think I should have read the earlier books in the series first.
I didn’t know the back story or that it was set in the 70s which is probably why i didn’t enjoy it as much as I should.

The Missing Woman by Jodie Lawrance
Posted on May 14, 2023 by Jack
Another good mystery by Jodie Lawrance. I had read and reviewed two by her a few years ago (https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/tag/jodie-lawrance/). So I was happy to see this available. I thank both Netgalley (https://www.netgalley.com) and Joffe books (https://joffebooks.com/) for the chance to read this before publication. The book is “The Missing Woman” by Jodie Lawrance.

This is the 4th in the DS Helen Carter series. Years ago her father had arrested a serial killer known as the Button Killer who was sent to prison. Now the murders have started again with the same MO.

Did her father cause the wrong man to be jailed? If so, why did the murders stop for years?

Are these murders being done by the real Button Killer or a copycat?

Will Helen stop these murders and catch this killer?

Jodie Lawrance tells the story well. I enjoyed this story and recommend this book.

Another thrilling addition to the Detective Helen Carter series. This book would work perfectly as stand alone.

A woman is reported missing but when the detectives arrive to investigate the flat is spotless with no sign of the occupant but forensics do find a couple of clues a faint bloodstain and a train ticket inside a book. Not just any book it was being used as a bookmark in a book about THE BUTTON KILLER. 2 decades ago Helen's father worked himself into the ground trying to catch the Button Killer and he succeeded. The killer is behind bars. But then bodies start appearing that have all the marks of being the work of THE BUTTON KILLER. Either they have a copycat or her dad put the wrong man away. Helen is in a race against time to find out the truth before more people die.

An absolutely gripping read that keeps the pages turning. So many twists and turns that lead to dead ends. Helen is suspecting everyone except the right person and as we approach the ending and the identity is revealed I am sure you will be as shocked as I was.

The characters continue to develop and grow but I am sure they have a lot still to give and I can't wait for the next book.

It's the first book I read by this author and in this series. It's a pleasant, compelling, and gripping police procedural.
The solid mystery kept me guessing and I liked the well developed characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This is book 4 in the Detective Helen Carter series. I haven’t read the other but I was able to jump in with no problem. I recommend the read!

Detective Helen Carter will never forget when her father, Detective Richard Carter, chased after and caught the Button Killer. It tore her family apart and led her towards a career in law enforcement.

Now a serial killer is targeting young women and the MO is the same as the Button Killer. Did the police convict the wrong man? Someone sure wants them to think so but Helen doesn’t believe that’s true. Can she identify the killer before more victims are claimed?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first read by author Jodie Lawrance, this is book 4 in a series and I will be reading the past 3.

We meet DS Helen Carter, living in Edinburgh back in the 70s. Helen's father tirelessly fought for the capture of the Button Killer but it appears that he is now back to his old tricks again.

We follow DS Helen Carter as she navigates her way to figuring out if her father put an innocent man behind bars and who is the real Buttons Killer.

This book really gripped me, I did find it quite hard to really get immersed into this novel, but perhaps you need to read the previous novels. Jodie Lawrance really weaves a pretty good story and leaves the reader wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jodie Lawrance and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel.

Another author whose books I have enjoyed in the past.
A good strong storyline, but just falls short of a five star read..

Was Mark Landis the Button Man? DS Helen Carter's father Richard was the detective who pursued him and got him convicted but now 20 years later, young women are once again being found murdered-and buttons are in their mouths. She's got a problem, one which only she can solve, It's a nicely done procedural with great atmospherics, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This series is so addictive! This is a great detective book and series to get caught up in. I really enjoyed this one so far the best! Please hurry with more!
I just reviewed THE MISSING WOMAN by Jodie Lawrance. #THEMISSINGWOMAN #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This book is set in the 70's in Edinburgh and features DS Helen Carter. Although it is book 4 in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. The plot was quite similar to other serial killer tales, with a few twists along the way. I liked the characterisation there was plenty tension, it kept me guessing and I enjoyed the unexpected ending. A good read from the author and one I would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.