Having rescued a child, Tessa Burns is promoted to Detective Inspector and heads a special team dedicated to work on crimes involving children. We have Maggie, a woman with cerebral palsy mostly confined to a wheelchair, her dog Pavlov and Danny, a police officer with a short temper. Tessa, Danny and Maggie have been in care or foster homes growing up and that makes them a strong team.

Set in Dublin, together, they now investigate the case of the missing parents of a young girl, Aisling who after her parents have been abducted is hiding in an isolated cabin on the edge of her farm. She may have witnessed something which would be the key to why and who are responsible for the crime.

This was a gripping read from start to finish. Intriguing and mysterious with unexpected twists and a lot of action. The Irish police procedural was meticulous and held my interest. I loved the characters with their different personalities, they did gel well together and had me rooting for them especially Tessa who is kickass. The characters definitely added a unique touch to the story.

On the surface, this seems like a typical missing persons investigation but it was so much more than that. This is the first book in DI Tessa Burns series and now I will be reading the second book soon which was relased alongside this one. Highly recommend if you are looking for a thrilling, Irish crime mystery.

📖🎧”Little Witness" by S.A. Dunphy is a jaw-dropping Irish crime fiction masterpiece. Seven-year-old Aisling Connolly's harrowing journey, coupled with Detective Tessa Burns' own haunting past, creates a gripping narrative. The audiobook, with its compelling narrator, heightens the suspense, making it an immersive experience. A tale of resilience and twisted mysteries that kept me on edge.

In a Nutshell: A gripping police procedural set in Ireland. Great characters, interesting plot line, excellent use of the setting. Definitely recommend this series starter.

Plot Preview:
Detective Tessa Burns, as a former child witness, has always wanted to work in crime cases involving children. And now, she finally has a dream team ready, comprising Danny Murphy – a garda with a large body, a bigger temper, and a soft heart; Maggie Doolan – who doesn’t allow her cerebral palsy or her wheelchair to stand in the way of her job as a police liaison officer, and Pavlov – Maggie’s loyal dog.
When seven-year-old Aisling Connolly is found in an isolated cabin, she takes her time to trust the trio who saved her, and will try to save her missing parents. As little Aisling reveals what she knows of that awful night, Tessa and her team know that they have a tough task ahead, especially as the days go by and the body count go higher.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of various characters.

I rarely pick up anything from the thriller set these days, as I am saturated with the amount of repetition and exaggeration that has become a hallmark of this genre. But when I read about this series, I knew I had to give it a go. I have a soft corner for police procedurals, and when I saw the author’s profile, I realised there was no way he would mislead the representation. I also have a soft corner for children, so seeing young Aisling get the titular role in a police procedural made me curious to see how the plot had been approached. I was not disappointed on either count.

Bookish Yays:
👏 The central trio of Tessa, Maggie and Danny: Perfect for this story! Their personalities are so well carved that you can almost guess how they will respond in each scene. I loved all three of them, and when you love the main characters, the story becomes that much easier to enjoy.
👏 Pavlov, Maggie’s dog: A great dog always deserves a separate Yay and a Woof of appreciation – Woof!
👏 The pacing: The story starts off a little slower as it seems to be establishing the backstories of Tessa and her team. Slow doesn’t mean boring in this case – I was completely invested in all three characters and learning what makes them function. As the plot moves ahead, so does the pacing progressively increase. I loved the steady adrenaline rush.
👏 The approach: The story seems to highlight the human side of police procedurals, with the cops’ feelings, opinions, and strategies playing a prime role in the proceedings. We do have the usual action scenes and forensic cheks, but the latter has a minimal appearance, and the former is well-scattered throughout the book. I enjoyed how the narrative viewpoint is mainly of the cops, and how they work as a team.
👏 The author’s background making an impact: Author Shane Dunphy (who writes narrative nonfiction under his full name and crime novels using his initials) has worked as a child protection worker for 15+ years and has also been a journalist and documentary maker. It is no surprise then that the strongest features of this novel are the true-to-life approach and the children. He has his pulse right on Aisling’s behaviour, as well as on the issues faced by Tessa, Danny and Maggie in their childhood. The representation of the kids has a genuineness to it that is seen in few books.
👏 The add-on themes: The story highlights how childhood trauma affects adult behaviour, either positively or negatively. Each member of the detective team has issues in their past influencing their present behaviour. This is well-handled without going over the top. The plot also covers the pros and the problems of foster homes. Through Maggie’s cerebral palsy, we also see a bad-ass detective who demonstrates effectively how physical restrictions don’t hamper the spirit. I simply loved how realistically Maggie’s arc was presented.
👏 The Irish factor: For a change, the story is not just set in Ireland, but it makes use of the setting in every way. Right from the location to the atmosphere to the illegal poitín distilleries to the economic and political situation, you actually feel Ireland in this story.
👏 No romance (Yippee!): A High-five of gratitude to the author for not forcing a romantic arc in the plot! I am so tired of police procedurals that focus more on personal relationships than professional ones. (I hope I haven’t spoken too soon; I have yet to read the next book of this series!)
👏 The author’s note: So heartfelt that it won my heart! It enhances the impact of the novel.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
👀 The use of foreshadowing: I am not a big fan of foreshadowing, so this is more of a ME problem. But I must say, there were two instances when the augurs sent a chill down my spine.
👀 The Resolution: The final face-off (if I can call it that) between police and opponent was a bit too smooth to feel satisfactory. I don’t want to go into spoilers, but my head couldn’t buy the ease with which everything went so conveniently. It was not OTT with high-octane clashes (which is good) but implausible in its ‘uneventfulness’ (which is not so good). The epilogue makes up for this, giving us a creepy glimpse of what might come in the next book. I still liked the ending, but I feel like it could have done with a greater punch, literally and metaphorically.

All in all, this was a highly competent police procedural that offers a good combo of characters, plot, pacing and setting. I didn’t hate any part of it, and I loved most of it.

Definitely recommended to fans of this genre. I can’t wait to dive into Book Two and see what lies in store for Tessa’s team.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the DRC of “Little Witness”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Wonderful. Tense. Thrilling. A spectacular first instalment of an amazing new series. Cannot wait for the next!

Introducing DI Tessa Burns, a detective with exceptional instincts and an intriguing backstory, committed to the protection of children. The narrative kicks off with a thrilling action sequence that reveals Tessa's badass and occasionally impulsive behaviour. Since Tessa saved a child and became a hero, she has been given the chance to assemble her own team.

To create her team that focuses on protecting children, she selects her old friend Maggie, a young constable Danny, and Maggie's little dog Pavlov. Tessa's personal experience of a traumatic childhood fuels her passion for protecting the most vulnerable victims.

Meet the Connollys, a family who dabble in the illegal trade of alcohol. It's Tessa and her team's responsibility to locate the missing parents and ensure the safety of their daughter.

I've just discovered this author and I'm already hooked! I was immediately captivated by the characters and storyline from the very beginning. I wanted to know more about Tessa and her team. Every single one of them has tales to reveal, particularly about the childhood traumas that moulded their character. I am hopeful that this will evolve into a series that lasts for a while. I definitely have S.A. Dunphy on my auto-buy list.

Many thanks to @dunphyshane1 @bookouture & @NetGalley for the chance to read it.

Wow! What a great start to what is set to be a gripping police procedural series. What I loved about the book the most is the characters because they seem real especially Maggie who like myself has a disability and a gorgeous, courageous support dog called Pavlov. DI Tessa Burns is the protagonist and along with Maggie, Pavlov and Danny they are working on a case to find a young girls parents while trying to figure out what happened. I found this book extremely hard to put down and I read it in one sitting and moved straight on to the next book. I think it is well written and the characters are well represented, the plot manifests at a startling pace and I believe it is the best police procedural that I have ever read!

New to me author and a fab series to cut my teeth on!

Tessa is former army, former foster kid and currently Detective Inspector (DI). She's unorthodox to say the least and when the Commissioner giver her carte blanche to form a new team, a first of its kind in Ireland, to investigate crimes involving children - her choices are just as unorthodox.

Maggie, a wheelchair user, who is the family liaison officer. Danny, a hulking sergeant with a short temper but a gentle soul. Then there is Pavlov - part service dog, part therapy dog and all around good boy! The one thing linking all the humans together? They all know what being in care can do to children.

Kidnapped parents, a young girl left behind, a local moonshine ring and the murder of a local family. What links these diabolical acts?

This was a great, immersive read. The storyline was taut and felt true to life. The characters are complex, flawed, opinionated and down to earth. I'm always a bit fearful of reading Crime Fiction set near to home cos I usually just spend time picking holes in the procedures (I work for the same kind of organisation in Scotland) and I just end up frustrated with inaccuracies. But with being set in Eire, I don't know enough of the system to know if it's portrayed accurately or not ;)

Roll on book 2!

Thanks to Bookouture and netgalley for this ARC. Another new author for me and very impressed with the first book. Tessa Burns is given the authority to select her own task force team looking into solving cases involving children.. when Aisling Conolley is left for days cold, hungry and hiding in their farm, after a man had taken her mom and dad away. When tessa finds her she understands exactly what aisling will be going through as she has been in that same pisition herself.. she encourages aisling to remember every little detaik about what happened that night. Where are aislings mom and dad? Why have they been taken?...... This book certainly kept my attention, twists, lots of suspects. Highly addictive, i loved it cant wait to start book 2

When Aishling is found in an outbuilding on a farm she is traumatised & there is no sign of her parents. DI Tessa Burns, no stranger to childhood trauma has just started a new unit focusing on crimes involving children. Along with Danny- a detective with a temper and Maggie; Maggie has cerebral palsy & is mostly confined to a wheelchair but along with Pavlov, her rescue dog they are definitely not to be underestimated! In hospital Ash at first is totally withdrawn but Pavlov soon breaks through. It seems Ash's parents were involved with some very shady characters, can she provide clues to their whereabouts before it's too late?

I really enjoyed S.A. Dunphy's Boyle & Kinneally books, so I was looking forward to this one (Nice to meet the police commissioner from them again!) I definitely wasn't disappointed. The characters seemed so 'real' & easy to relate to from the start. This was a fast paced police- procedural that kept me reading far into the night. Thank goodness I have book 2 to dive into. Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this terrific book.

The first book in the Di Tessa Burns series is a fast-paced, intense police procedural set in rural Ireland. It begins with a dynamic introduction to Tessa that shows her to be a driven and skilled law enforcement officer, given a chance by Commissioner Dawn Wilson to work where she wants to. She chooses to work with children and vulnerable adults affected by crime and picks her team with this in mind. Maggie is a family liaison officer and her best friend. Maggie refuses to let her disability define her. She is a psychologist and therapist and has a delightful partner in Pavlov, the dog who is an asset to their team. Danny, a police officer, is repenting his fiery temper when Tessa recruits him to her team. The team is small and skilled, and this story shows how their dynamic develops and the challenges and demons they face in solving the crime that has left a young, courageous girl without her parents.
The story evokes rural Ireland and gives a unique perspective on the crimes. There are disturbing events and unlikeable characters, but the author manages to make each character a mix of good and evil, although not evenly balanced. The suspenseful story is edge-of-your-seat reading that immerses you in the people and their lives. It is not overly graphic but still conveys the evil lingering just out of reach. The ending is intense and satisfying. I like the detective team, the suspenseful intensity and the Irish setting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I was a bit apprehensive about starting this one as the author was unknown to me and I find a lot of the Ireland based books have language that is awkward reading for me. This was a pleasant surprise. The story had fantastic characters I loved! The plot was intriguing and the story was well written. This moves along at a good place holding you in suspense until the very last page!

Welcome to a new series featuring DI Tessa Burns. It is set in Monaghan in rural Ireland and features a new team set up for Tessa to investigate cases involving children or vulnerable adults. The team is small and comprises Danny, a gentle giant with anger issues and Maggie who operates a lethal wheelchair and her dog Pavlov! Well written with a great plot.

Briefly, when a 7 year old girl Aisling is found by the police they soon discover her parents are missing and Aisling is the only witness. It is clear violence has been used but why and why is the young girl a target for the aggressors? The illegal production of poitin, not uncommon in this part of Ireland, comes to the fore of the investigation.
How much danger are Tessa and her team in and can they find the missing parents before more blood is shed?

A gripping and fast paced Irish police procedural with some lovely moments between Aisling and Danny. In fact I loved all of this small but perfectly formed team. Very enjoyable read with some great twists and turns and a great start to a new series. I’m looking forward to book 2.
4.5⭐️

I got asked by the publicist to read this as a book tour. I was so pleasantly shocked with how quick Little Witness hooked me in. I instantly thought Tessa Burns was somebody I would want on my side. Then as she started building her task force I thought wow she is bad ass. Danny was such a great flawed character and I could totally see the guy who plays in the Jack Reacher series play him. Maggie and Pavlo were chef kiss! This book was twisty and was a great cat and mouse chase. I didn’t know that making moonshine was illegal in Ireland! I am excited to pick up the next book in the series. I am very curious as to Tessa’s parent’s murder and how that will play out in the books to come. It was unputdownable and I found myself wanting to come back as I was running errands to finish up the story. It took me two sittings.

A huge thanks to Sarah Hardy from Bookouture for the opportunity to be part of this book tour.

My reviews can be found on;
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Goodreads: Nikki- Hedwig’s and Hopes

Aisling Connolly is only seven when strangers come in the night and now she’s parentless and alone. Her mum said to run and not look back, which she did, but she’s terrified but the reassuring presence of DI Tessa Burns helps somewhat. A former child-witness, Tessa must take Aisling through everything that happened, trying to draw out any moment, however tiny, to add clues as to where her parents are, and who took them. This is a great start to a new series from Shane whose work I rate.

This was a great start to the DI Tessa Burns series, it had everything that I was looking for from this type of book. The characters were unique and I enjoyed getting through this story with them. It had a great crime element to it and worked with what I was hoping for. I loved the use of Irish elements and thought it worked perfectly. It left me wanting to read the next book asap.

S.A. Dunphy, Pseudonym (Shane Dunphy) is back with a riveting new cop procedural Irish crime series starring DI Tessa Burns #1, LITTLE WITNESS. When parents go missing/abducted, only a frightened child can help Tessa and her team solve this case before it is too late!

Set in Dublin (County Monaghan), DI Tessa handpicks her new team, heading up a specialized police unit helping children after her bravery and work previously.

A little seven-year-old girl, Aisling (Ash) Connolly, is found hidden away in an isolated cabin in a shipping container on the edge of her farm after her mum told her to run and not look back. She is traumatized and frightened. It has been two days since the men came and took her parents away. She has not seen them since.

Detective Tessa Burns is the perfect one to help Aisling since she was also a former child witness. She understands and sympathizes with her, but at the same time, she knows the little girl must remember and recall everything about that horrible night to save her parents. Will she open up and speak before it is too late?

Tessa could not do this for her parents many years ago. Tessa is also ex-army and choose a diverse team. Maggie, a family liaison officer in a wheelchair suffering from Cerebral Palsy, and her dog, Pavlov. Also, Danny (the Hulk protector) is a troubled cop with a short fuse.

All of them spent their youth in foster care and care homes, leaving them relatable and helpful with their own traumas and psychological demons.

The girl's parents, Joe and Daisy Connolly, have been taken—trading in the illegal distribution of Poitin. Other families involved have also been taken and wind up dead. Daisy is the daughter of Jim Reville, an enforcer for the Shiggins Mafia out of Tallaght.

Poitín, anglicized as poteen or potcheen, is a traditional Irish distilled beverage. Former common names for Poitín were "Irish moonshine" and "mountain dew".

The team is patient and caring, taking special care and building trust to get her to open up, as she is vital to finding her parents and helping others. There are other murders and crimes, so they must protect Ash with a race against the clock in this gripping psychological Irish crime thriller.

Will Tess, Maggie, Danny, and Pavlov find the Faceless Men and the Unattested—bring them in and the people who controlled them to justice in time?

LITTLE WITNESS is well-written and gripping, with a great cast of diverse characters starring in this new series! Tessa is a highly relatable main character with her traumatic history. She also had hidden after her parents were murdered, and they were never caught, winding up in the foster system.

AUDIOBOOK: I read the book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Melanie MacHugh, bringing the story and the characters to life with her lovely Irish accent and a perfect voice for all characters.

AUTHOR: The author's bio is highly impressive, and he is a pro (insider) with a background in child protective services, making the novel almost like a true crime written with expertise and sensitivity. I also enjoyed the author's notes, his journey, and his inspiration behind the novel and its dedication. There are notes on the illegal distilling trade in Ireland and further reading.

LITTLE WITNESS is well-plotted, atmospheric, intense, emotional, full of action and suspense— a fantastic Irish crime psychological suspense thriller, cop procedural, and an excellent start to a new series. I also enjoyed Ash's character, the team, and the dog. Sometimes, it takes a child's view to make your day!

BOOK #2: Stay tuned for Only the Children out Feb 12, 2024 (DI Tessa Burns #2), with a lead-in to three kids on board a vessel. (Extract Included). Also, in e-book and audiobook with the same narrator. It is coming up next for me! My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more.

Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for gifted ALC and ARC review copies and the intro to this newfound talented author.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 12, 2024
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4.25⭐
Little Witness introduces readers to Tessa Burns. Who after saving a child comes to the attention of the commissioner and is so impressed with her she offers her any job she wants. So Tessa opts for one that doesn't exist.

One that involves heading up a team that specializes in cases with children at the heart of them and after being given the green light Tessa enlists her best friend cerebral palsy sufferer Maggie and her trusty dog Pavlov along with troubled gardai Danny Murphy and they are soon called into action.

When seven-year-old Aisling (Ash) Connolly is found in a shipping container on her parents' farm. But both of her parents are missing and the local gardai believe it's got something to do with them brewing poitin and creating a whole distribution network.

But there only witness is Ash who is currently mute.

So, it's up to Maggie and Pavlov to get her talking and learn as much detail as possible about what could've happened to her mum and dad.

However, soon another family is slaughtered, and an attack is made on Ash, and her attacker is somewhat strange.

Then Tessa, Danny and Maggie learn of an Irish legend, but for one of them they know all too well it's real.

And a race begins to catch this group of killers before they can kill the Connolly's, Maggie, Danny and Tessa.

But who could be employing them? And will getting answers bring a team member some much needed closure?

And with interesting characters, plenty of twists. Not to mention a great location and a little Irish mythology thrown in. This was an intriguing and enjoyable introduction to the series.

But I did find it a little slow paced. Which is why I didn't rate it higher.

A well written gripping start to the DI Tessa Burns series.
I love the slightly oddball team of Tessa, Danny, Maggie & of course Pavlov the dog, the so called Burns unit.
Excellent main plot, unusual and with lots of twists. As with all books from the author there is a nod to Irish folklore which adds to the overall suspense and indeed sets up an interesting subplot that I'm sure will be continued in the further adventures of this intriguing crew. I'm delighted I'm able to jump right into the second in this series and sincerely hope there will be more to come soon

Dunphys writing just flows like wine
Full off suspense
Fast paced throughout I can't wait to meet the team again
Absolutely action packed

Thank you netgalley, S A Dunphys and Bookouture

This is a common review for both Little Witness & Only the Children.
I love S.A. Dunphy's thrillers and I always read them in one sitting as the fast paced and twisty stories kept me turning pages.
A serious case of just-one-more-chapter and the books in the series are very high in my chart of books-that-caused-sleep-deprivation.
I don't feel any remorse for reading till 3 am as I wanted to know what was going to happen.
i loved Tessa, Maggie, Danny and I think that Pavlov is a strike of genius as he's the best way to reach the heart of children and reads.
The characters are all damaged as they had to face a very hard life since a young age. Maggie is a great character and I'm happy to read about a kick-ass heroine who uses her wheelchair as a weapon.
There's a lot of darkness in these stories, there's children who were abused or had to face horrible situations.
The author never uses a pathetic tone and there's a lot of empathy.
I hope to read other stories soon as I love these two.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions are mine