An 11 year old boy goes missing, with a blue teddy left behind at the last known location of the child. The blue teddy found reminds detectives of a previous investigation where 3 young boys were taken and murdered. The killer is still in jail. Is this a copycat?

No 9 in the Detective Karen Hart series, Leave No Trace is a psychological thriller that gripped me right from the start. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. It unravels an exciting story with many twists to keep you guessing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Leave No Trace - a detective mystery with a balanced storyline, safe writing, and little thrill.

A simple read with a lack of engagement; the "white bread" of crime thriller. If you're more interested in a basic mystery novel over gritty, thrilling, gripping entertainment then you might enjoy this book. For what it is, it is well written, but it does drag on with little action or surprise.
I give the author credit for building several mysterious instances and red herrings, but this was no page turner for me. I struggled to pick it up and finish. I was bored with this read.
As I haven't read the first books of this series so I can't comment too much on the character development, but the author did do a decent job of looping the reader into prior storylines.

Unfortunately I can't recommend this book to those of us who love a good thriller with captivating storylines, characters, and murder.
This is more of the "Sunday church crowd" type mystery, and if that's your style then this one could be for you - well written and cohesive but very drab.

I'm giving this one 3 stars and would not recommend to those looking for a real thrill.
⭐⭐⭐

A fantastic read, although part of the series it can be read as a standalone. A fantastic storyline with many twists which had me guessing throughout.

I didn't think this was one of the better books in this series. The victim, an 11 year old boy was unlikeable and his parents had their own problems (being aware of what their son was up to being one of them) . The pace was slow and the investigation not very thorough and did not really make sense in places. I have read others in the series that I enjoyed more. Location is Lincolnshire but it could have been anywhere. Karen has problems in her personal life with her parents and future inlaws, but that did not really ring true either.
I did finish and I suppose the book did come to a logical conclusion. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

I really enjoyed Leave No Trace Detective Karen Hart book 9 crime mystery by D. S. Butler it was such an exciting read.

Tommy Barton's Mother takes him to Tattershall Castle in order to get him away from him being stuck indoors playing games on his computer. Unfortunately Tommy has vanished into thin air and only a blue bear with menacing eyes has been left behind by a tree.

The blue bear brings back similiar tragic events which occured fifteen years ago when three young boys were murdered and only a blue bear was left behind at the scene. The murderer was found and put behind bars but now detective Karen Hart and her team are wondering if he had an accomplice working on the outside.

D S Karen Hart and her team are wondering whether Tommy Barton's disapperance is due to the work of a copy cat killer as there has been no sighting of Tommy anywhere on cameras around the vicinity of the castle but a blue bear was left just like it had fifteen years ago when three young boys lost their lives.

The team go knocking on doors in Dahlia Close where Tommy Barton and his family reside. Karen feels like she is being watched as curtains twitch and neighbours hide behind their curtains. Some of the residents of Dahlia Close have secrets which they would rather take to their grave then reveal them.

D S Karen Hart and her team investigate every lead they get which will bring them closer to finding Tommy Barton before he is another victim.
There are many suspects and Morgan who does everything by the book has been told that he is a robot and an old softie made me smile.

Leave No Trace by Ds Butler who is one of my absolute favorite authors ever! I have read so many books by this author and I will definitely be reading more of them in the future. Leave No Trace is due to be published August 27th 2024 by Thomas and Mercer is the ninth installment in the Detective Karen Hart series. I have read them all now 1-9 and I just absolutely love Karen Hart so much she’s like one of my favorite characters.

“Three boys were taken and murdered fifteen years ago. The killer is in jail. So why is history repeating itself?
A family outing to Tattershall Castle comes to a chilling end when eleven-year-old Tommy Burton disappears without a trace in broad daylight. All that remains in his place is a small blue teddy bear. DS Karen Hart and her team are called in to investigate the unusual circumstances-but for Di Morgan the crime scene is eerily familiar.
It's been fifteen years since Morgan worked on a traumatic case that saw Graham Donaldson put behind bars for abducting and murdering three young boys. His calling a blue teddy bear left at the scene of each crime, a detail never revealed to the press or public. Could Donaldson, recently transferred to a local prison, have something to do with the missing boy? Has he somehow inspired a copycat? Or, worse, is the original killer still out there— and embarking on a second campaign of terror? With Tommy still missing, and a growing list of suspects, Karen's team must piece the puzzle together before the unthinkable happens. But as a dizzying chase for the truth unfolds, could it be that the evil they seek is hiding in plain sight?”

My Thoughts /

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer Publishing, and author D.S. Butler, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for August 27, 2024.

If you happened to spot my GR’s update you would have seen that I finished this book in a day. It’s been a hot minute since that happened, and I’m thankful that all my Chakras aligned; my coffees remained hot and my phone remained quiet, so that I could immerse myself in Leave No Trace.

As seems to be my “norm” this year, I have (again) dropped into a well established series. Leave No Trace is book #9 in the Detective Karen Hart series by author D.S. Butler; and again, I’ve been lucky enough to fall into another well written police procedural-mystery that can be read quite easily as a standalone novel. Readers already familiar with this series will know what I’m talking about.

At its core, this is the story of a missing child. Eleven-year-old, Tommy Burton, has disappeared while on a visit to Tattershall Castle with his mother, Amber. For Detective Sergeant Karen Hart and her team of detectives, a missing child meant that every moment wasted could be the difference between life and death.

The author has served up a well-written and engrossing story. A totally immersive plot where no one (at first glance) is what they appear to be. At the site where Tommy was last seen now lies a lone blue teddy bear. This one piece of evidence links back to a case some fifteen years ago, where three boys were taken and murdered - a blue teddy bear was left at each scene. At the time, this piece of evidence was withheld from the public. A suspect was found, convicted and is currently serving time. So the question for Hart and her team now is - do they have themselves a copycat, or, is the wrong person sitting in a jail cell?

The writing style is concise and engaging, and the banter between characters has just the right amount of sass; with the author sprinkling the dialogue with just the right amount of wicked humour written into what is a very serious crime.

All characters play a role in this investigation, which earns this a big ✅ from this reader. Hart is the consummate leader, even going so far as to include DC Sophie Jones - who, in a previous book, was attacked and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Recuperating at home and very bored, Hart recognised that Jones could benefit from inclusion in the case. Jones exhibits high attention to detail and that attribute could prove a bonus in this case, so Hart sent over reports for her to go through and mark any inconsistences she could find.

🌟Brilliant pacing
🌟Enthralling storyline
🌟An excellent police procedural investigation (which focuses on the use of procedure and its officers)

She looked around the table. It was the friendship between all four of them, despite their disagreements and differences, that truly made them all work well together. and she was proud to be a part of the team.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

#LeaveNoTrace #DetectiveKarenHart #NetGalley

4* Good storyline, but what a toerag!! Can't name who I mean, but not sure I felt sorry for them 😐

Book 9 in this series can be read as a standalone although there's the aftermath of Sophie's attack in the previous book that is still apparent, with her boss, boyfriend and parents trying to help her get back to full physical fitness, although her mental health will no doubt be something else altogether. It's not a huge part of the tale but if you've not read the previous one, you might have questions.

The storyline seems simple but the secrets of suburbia, and of a young boy, are quite shocking in quiet rural Britain. Did I see the culprit before the ending? It depends on who you class as the culprit/s, but the answer is No and No. Not at all.

The reveals were well paced, and events were low-key shocking, with a really good finale. I think one person got what was coming to them, but the other, emotionally troubled or not, didn't quite, at least not in my book, no pun intended, which left me unsatisfied at the end. Sadly, whilst this is decent writing and a decent tale with seemingly realistic police procedures, the characters lack charisma and standout visuals, so for me, once I'd read the book and left it a couple of days, I struggled to recall names in order to recall enough to leave a review. Still, it's worth a read, but Thomas and Mercer has better offerings.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my reading pleasure.

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Leave No Trace" by D.S. Butler is the new, captivating instalment in the Detective Karen Hart series. When eleven-year-old Tommy Burton vanishes at Tattershall Castle, a blue teddy bear left behind recalls a series of abductions and murders from fifteen years ago.

Detective Karen Hart and her team, including DI Morgan, who worked on the original case, must work-out if the police convicted the wrong person or if a copycat is at large. Butler's sharp writing creates a sense of urgency and dread, with well-developed characters, particularly the determined and empathetic Karen Hart and the haunted DI Morgan. Their dynamic and the well-chosen list of suspects kept me guessing.

The plot is full of twists, each clue leading to more questions. "Leave No Trace" blends intense suspense with deep emotional undercurrents, making it a great read for both long-time fans and newcomers.

Three boys were taken and murdered fifteen years ago. The killer is in jail. So why is history repeating itself?

Eleven years old Tommy goes missing on a day out with his mum. He’s not exactly a baby so why didn’t Tommy shout out or scream for his mother.
D.S. Karen Hart and her team have their work cut out finding the boy. Detective Morgan remembers the case from fifteen years ago and regrets not finding and saving the boys then. Can Karen and Morgan find Tommy before it’s too late.
Leave No Trace is an exciting book with plenty of red herrings. It can be read as a standalone though it is book nine in a series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An eleven year old is taken at Tattershall Castle while his mother is distracted and a blue teddy bear left in his place. The MO is reminiscent of three children abducted and murdered fifteen years ago, but someone was arrested and is in jail for those crimes. Could they have charged the wrong person, does he have an accomplish, a copy cat, or is something else at play here? DS Karen Hart and DI Morgan investigate.

This is a fast paced, well plotted, suspenseful mystery with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I didn’t want to put the book down. I enjoy this main character.  She is engaging, capable, empathetic and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. D.S. Butler is another author who always captures my attention and doesn't let go.

The ninth in the Karen Hart series, it is the fifth I have read. Although the main players’ stories progress with successive books, each one can be read as a stand alone.

Just finished reading this, I enjoyed the premise of the book I just don't find the characters show much personality in this book so they're forgettable once you've finished reading.
The actual story line was good and unravelling all the clues to find out who had taken the young lad and why.

This is my 1st read by this author and it didn't disappoint. I was invested in the characters from the beginning and could see how the dynamics would change. I was hoping that Saffy stayed for her interview and didn't get sucked into the problems of her friend. There were lots of twists and turns and i was kept guessing until almost the end.

An amazing mystery where no one is what they seem. This time, there is a ticking clock, since a child is missing. A blue teddy bear left behind ties this with a string of abductions that Morgan investigated back in the day. The culprit was caught and is still in prison. The new baddie seems to know details that were never made public so back to the original case Morgan goes. Karen is convinced that it’s a red herring and, as they keep finding clues, the case gets more complicated. The tension between Morgan’s and Karen’s investigating skills also comes to a head. Her following her instincts instead of the rules adding some tension to their interactions. The cast of suspects is well chosen because most of them are likable and, the more they learn about the case, the more the motive seems, if not justified, at least understandable. The last part is very suspenseful and I couldn’t stop reading until I found out what happened to two furry supporting characters (extra kudos for adding them to the plot). Very entertaining, as usual with this series.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer.

Amber Burton and her son Tommy are on a day out at Tattershall Castle when Tommy goes missing. When a blue teddy bear is left in the place where Tommy was last seen, it brings back bad memories of a crime 15 years ago. DS Karen Hart and her team get assigned the case. Many years ago, 3 boys were abducted and murdered and blue teddies were left. For DI Morgan on the team, he wonders if they caught the correct man or is it a copycat. This is a fantastic book with lots of police procedurals, tension and drama. I loved it. I cannot wait to read more by D S Butler.

Gripping, exciting another bestseller from this fabulous author. Please keep them coming I can’t wait to read more!

A killer is in jail for murdering 3 young boys 15 years ago. Unbeknownst to anyone but the detectives, he left a blue teddy bear when he took each boy.
Now another young boy is missing and a blue teddy bear has been left behind.

The story takes the reader on a wild ride in which the circumstances keep changing and the list of possible killers keeps growing.

This one is a binge read since you won't want to put it down.

A decent read, for those who enjoy crime fiction. Although not a page turner in comparison to some I have recently read, it was still enjoyable.

How lovely to have another book in the long running DS Karen Hart series. Starting a new book really is like getting together with old friends. Karen, Morgan and the team have their hands full with an abducted child in 'Leave No Trace'. Investigating the case leads them on a merry chase back to one of Morgan's cold cases and into most of the families in one of Lincoln's smart cul de sacs. There is certainly no shortage of red herrings and twist and turns and ending itself is totally unexpected - well it was to me! A thoroughly enjoyable 5* way to pass a wet Sunday.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my copy of Leave No Trace by D S Butler.
The ninth book in the Detective Karen Hart Series.
When Karen and her team are called out for a missing child everyone knows the first 24 hours are crucial.
But even in a busy place with lots of families enjoying the sunshine no one saw Tommy Burton disappear.
All that's left is a small blue teddy, the trademark of a child killer put away 15 years ago.
Is this a copycat, did they get the wrong man? the team race to unravel the clues before another child dies.
The story keeps moving along nicely with clues and misdirections. I am enjoying this series.