4.5 Stars: Don't Let Her Go is the first book in Willow Rose's Detective Billie Ann Wilde series. I was fortunate to have both an ebook and audiobook, so did a read/listen. The book opens with Marissa doing laundry while her young daughter Emma plays outside. When she goes out to get her, she realizes that she is missing. She gets on her bike and rides around looking for her and doesn't find her. Reluctantly, she goes to the police and Detective Wilde meets with her. She is hiding something and tells her very little, finally leaving the station. No one else believes that there is a missing child, but what they do have is a dead teenager, and that is what Billie is told to work on. Billie continues to question people and eventually, realizes that she knows who Marissa is. She was once a kidnapped ten year old in a case that Billie failed to solve at the previous precinct she worked at. How do these cases tie together. Will Billie find Emma before she ends up dead or missing forever?

This is a dual timeline story. In the present the police are working on a couple of murders, while Billie continues to search for Emma and Marissa who is either in hiding or missing. The past storyline is of a young girl who has been taken from her parents by a family friend. He is a police officer, so she doesn't realize something is wrong until it is too late. Eventually, he begins using her to have children and then takes them. We don't know what he does with them. This is not an easy storyline, but there is no description of that abuse. I was scared for Emma, as I didn't know what was going to happen to her. Listening to the audiobook, was actually a spoiler because with the voices used, I was able to figure out who was behind everything, which I probably would not have done if I was reading it. I really liked Billie Ann Wilde. She was a good cop, who was black balled at her previous position due to reporting a fellow officer who raped her. She didn't back down, she worked hard and has a conscience. She is also dealing with some personal issues that play a role in this story as well. Although there are some tough topics in this book, I raced through it to see what was going to happen next and I was happy with the ending. The audiobook was narrated by Lisa Rost-Welling, who is a new voice actress to me. I enjoyed her performance, with the voices she used giving the various characters their own identity. Her pacing, tone and expression were perfect for this story.

Don't Let Her Go by Willow Rose and narrated by Lisa Rost-Welling is the first book in the new Detective Billie Ann Wilde series, which is a mystery and suspense thriller and what an excellent start to a new series this was. It was addictive from start to finish and full of brilliant twists and turns throughout. I loved this new character Detective Billie Ann Wilde and looking forward reading more books with her in.

The narrator Lisa Rost-Welling was excellent.

I highly recommend this book.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and especially Bookouture audio for my ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ALC!

⭐⭐⭐/5

TW: Graphic child abuse, sexual abuse, rape.

Marissa Clemens reports her four year old daughter, Emma, missing, but with no evidence of a child at her home only Billie Ann doesn’t see her as a fantasist, even when Marissa can supply no background details or a photograph. In the meantime there is a killer on the loose and Billie Ann suspects a link to Emma.

The story started being really intriguing, but I found myself losing interest about halfway through. There was so much potential for this book. I have mixed feelings about it. But i would still recommend if you love your mysteries.

Publication Date: February 2, 2024

I have heard so many good things about Willow Rose, but this is the first time I've been able to read one of her books. She has tons and I really want to read them all after this one! Detective Billie-Ann Wilde receives a call that a child is missing. She isn't sure if the mother is delusional or what the deal is as there is really no trace of this little girl that is missing. Other people in the town come up dead including the child's supposed babysitter and a local pediatrician. Everything gets revealed in the end and you will not believe what the truth is! This does have multiple story lines but they tie together beautifully.

Don't Let Her Go was my first by Willow Rose. It was a very fast read; nice short chapters that flowed well. The plot was very intriguing, cancer survivor cop questioning her orientation immerses herself into a kidnapping of a child that essentially doesn't exist. I didn't quite like Billie Ann, there were a few things she did in the book that I just couldn't understand why but the novel itself was really good!! Debating reading more in the series but definitely want to read more of the author

Detective Billie Ann Wilde, Head of Homicide, is looking for a missing child. The problem is that there is no record of the Emma, and her mother, Marissa ever existing. Of course, this makes the case difficult for Billie. She finds the mother and interrogates her. Billie is starting to wonder if the child really exists or is she a figment of Marissa imagination. Meanwhile, a young girl is found murdered, strangled with a belt buckle. Many suspects and more murders happen. While still looking for Emma, Billie seems to remember a case very much like this one many years ago. This book is amazing, one of the best books I've read this years. Lots of twists and turn and lots of surprises.

I’ve read a few of this authors books and enjoyed them, this one wasn’t a favorite.
The plus’ we’re short chapters and I love the dual timelines. I didn’t care for Billie Ann as a character, her choices and decisions.
The plot is pretty simple, a five year old is taken from her yard - her mother desperate for her to be found. Hidden truths, dark secrets and a detective with her own secrets close to the surface.

A gritty, intense, fast-paced, riveting, artful melding of stunning psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. Edgy, atmospheric and full of dark secrets, shocking plot twists and pulse-pounding, palpable tension. A MUST for fans who thrive on superbly-written, unputdownable thrillers!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

First book of a new series. I found it to be not up to the quality I have grown used to reading from Willow Rose. Instead, it seems to mostly be a vehicle for a new woke line with a lesbian detective who leaves her family for the freedom to be a lesbian but to not actually practice as one? Guess I am a little to straight to understand all of that, but I certainly noticed the many holes in the plot. Not sure what else to say about this one, except I think I may skip future installments of this series.

A gripping book from start to end, I just couldn’t put it down! Will look out for the next installment.

Another winner from my favorite author. The start of this series begins with a bang. Billie Ann Wilde is a tough character who never gives up. The case of a missing child has her confronting her past and dealing with her demons. The characters are well written and believable. The short chapters kept me turning the pages. The dual timeline kept me interested and guessing the reason behind it. I would highly recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

What an introduction to Willow Rose books. I can safely say that this was one I absolutely loved and devoured in just one sitting.

This book had me plenty of suspense to keep me hooked throughout this one. I loved it from beginning to end. Rose has packed this with brilliant characters and a story that completely made pulls you in.

The first book in a series is always make or break and this one has definitely made me want to read more. This book is excellently plotted and completely addictive. I loved the pace of this one and how I wanted to bite my nails from the suspense.

This has been brilliant.

I absolutely recommend this gem.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I love Willow Rose's books and was so excited for a new series. However, I don't care for Billie Ann and may or may not read subsequent books. She is self-centered and willing to give away her family's happiness in order to satisfy some delusional childhood dream she had. I don't like the way she treated her husband or her children.

I’m entranced with this new crime series from multi-million-copy bestseller Willow Rose! Book 1 introduces Billie Anne to her audience in an intense, unputdownable story with heartbreaks abound. She’s a flawed main character working hard to find the missing ones in her case, as she grapples with her own battles. I was taken in with this suspense thriller that left me surprised at the twist.

Thank you, Willow Rose, Bookouture, #
Bookouture audio & netgalley for my ecopy & audiobook! All opinions are my own

Chilling and intense. Lots of great suspense - loved Wilde, strong and passionate.
A five year old is taken from her yard - her mother desperate for her to be found. Hidden truths, dark secrets and a detective with her own.
Great start to a new series!

Don’t Let Her Go by Willow Rose
Detective Billie Ann Wilde #1

This is not an easy review to write. The premise for the book, inspired by real life, had great promise. It felt fragmented and was difficult to sink my teeth into. There were many characters that popped up in scenes that felt out of the blue and though eventually tied to the main case Billie was following, didn’t necessarily have a purpose to further the story.

As for Billie, the main character, she wasn’t easy to warm up to. Her past definitely impacts her but a lot of it was revealed but not necessarily dealt with in this book. And what a mixed bag the issues they are: medical, personal, gender, religious, health, social, professional, family, marital…and the list goes on. How she handles some of the issues will no doubt be looked at and dealt with in future books of the series. Perhaps she will grow as the series continues – I hope so – and that she will figure out how to move forward successfully while navigating all those issues

As for the crime(s) in this book – there is a serial killer that is killing to cover up another heinous crime that is ongoing and harmful to more than one person. I guessed who the killer was early in the story so skimmed to get fill in the details. The bad guy is caught, his friend is in the wind, at least one of those harmed is better off, and hopefully in the future stories more information will be given about Kitty and her children.

Did I like this book? It was okay
Would I read more in the series? Maybe

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3 Stars based on averaging the 2 for my overall feelings + 4 for the NetGalley ask if it is publish-worthy

Detective Billie Ann Wilde is a mom of 3, a cancer survivor, a wife, and a homicide detective, but her life is about to change radically so she can be her whole self. In the midst of personal turmoil, she is also in charge of a murder investigation of a young woman found dead in a neighborhood pond. At the same time, a young child in the neighborhood goes missing. The problem with the latter is that there is no evidence that the child ever existed. As more murders pile up, all with some tie to the first, Billie must try to solve the case/s and wrestle with issue of being a mother to a teenage girl. It's a great story with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Weaving together chapters of the past with the present, the suspense builds to an unexpected denouement. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

This was okay and not great but not bad. It just didnt really surprise or delight me like I wanted to. It was a book that I knew pretty quickly what was going to happen and that just isnt my thing. I want something a little more thrilling.

This is a common review for the two books I read in this series
I read other books by Willow Rose and appreciated the storytelling and well round characters
These are the beginning of a new series and I thoroughly enjoyed these novel as they're fast paced and full of twists.
Billie Ann is a strong MC and I'm curious about her. The tightly knitted and solid plot kept me hooked
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I could not put this book down! I am a huge fan of all things Willow Rose! I have yet to find a book by this author that has not kept me captivated and wanting more!