Don't Turn Back

D.S. Butler is a new author to me and one I hope to read more from. Though I haven’t read the previous books in this series, the author does a good job of bringing you up to speed so you are not lost.
Don’t Turn Back is a police procedural about detective Karen Hart. In a previous book,her husband and daughter are killed in a mysterious car crash which continues to haunt her. In this book, she investigates a murder that leads into deeper issues. Get ready for major twists and turns as the story unfolds.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Karen Hart is still in shock after losing both her husband and her daughter, but her job as a detective requires she put personal feelings on hold. The village of Canwick is picture perfect, something off a postcard, that’s way a brutal murder there is so shocking. But as Karen digs into the little village, she discovers that it’s charm is only surface deep. Ugly secrets, including what may be a slavery ring are buried in this town, and Karen will have to try to submerge her own grief to find the answers

This was an absolutely superb read.From the first page I was completely hooked and that doesn't happen very often. My only irk is that there are two previous books that I haven't read and I do so love to start at the beginning and I'm a bit worried that I might not enjoy books 1 and 2 as I already know what happens.
From the start the plot unfolded at a good pace and I gelled with the writing style. It struck the right balance between giving background detail and moving the plot along. One of the best things about this book is that it is believable. So often we have a one man band maverick police officer who never eats, drinks or sleeps ends up in intensive care only to discharge her/himself and do it all again in the next book.The author skilfully weaves the back story of how Karen's family were killed in a car accident with a current investigation into modern slavery and police corruption. I initially thought the author had taken on too many plot lines but actually it all worked really well and made complete sense and the most important thing- it was believable.. Attention to detail was spot on. The threads all came together very neatly but not contrived
Could I ask that for the Kindle version page numbers are put at the bottom and preferably as Page x of y
Chapters are clearly laid out and a new chapter on a new page-very pleasing
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy- I can't post a review on Amazon yet but it will be 5 stars when I am able. Needless to say I am going back to Amazon to get more books by this author
Excellent book- highly recommended

I have loved getting to know DC Karen Hart a workaholic since the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter but she gets right into a case and see's then through to the end.When a mans battered body is found in woodland Karen has to try and discover who he is.This is a case that will grip you and keep you wanting more i have really loved it Thank you D S Butler for being a great writer 5*

Wow what a rollercoaster ride this was. I finished this in one sitting, couldn’t put it down! Great to catch up with all the characters and this latest book brought the whole of Karen’s story from the previous books together. Hoping this isn’t the end of Karen Hart as she is a great character along with her fellow officers. This was a fantastically well written series of books looking forward to more from a great author. Highly recommend that reading the series of three books.

Another great story in the D S Karen Hart series. An intriguing plot with lots of twists and turns D S Harts determination kept her digging away to bring this case to a successful climax. Another winner from Ms Butler., recommended read.

Police thriller with some interesting characters and lots of police corruption.Plenty of twists and a fast moving storyline.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Don’t Turn Back’, the third in the Detective Karen Hart series written by D S Butler, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DC Karen Hart is still getting over the death of her husband and daughter when she’s brought in to investigate the death of a man found in the woodlands near the picturesque village of Canwick. But as Karen digs deeper into the village and its inhabitants she uncovers secrets including slavery, people trafficking and police corruption. Karen will have to put aside her own grief for the time being and find the answers with the help of her loyal team.

‘Don’t Turn Back’ is an exciting and tense thriller with an interesting storyline, fast-paced plot, and twists and turns. It’s good to meet up with Karen and her team again and this latest thriller is just as enjoyable and involving as the previous two in the series. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading it and can definitely recommend it.

Still haunted by the death of her husband and daughter Dc Karen Hart throws everything into her work and with a battered body in woodland,people trafficking and corruption within her force she certainly has a lot to contend with

D. S. Butler is a new author to me, and what an introduction! I haven't read the first 2 books, so I was a little worried there would be things I couldn't understand or that I'd be missing important information. Thankfully D. S. Butler included important scenes which kept me in the loop and at no point did I feel I'd missed something.
DS Karen Hart has had a rough few years after the loss of her husband and daughter. She lives in a quiet village where the police force are shocked by a grisly discovery; one which quickly leads to suspicions of corruption, slavery, and more.
Fast paced and thrilling from the start, I found myself torn between wondering if DS Hart was a wonderful detective, or in need of some more therapy. Ultimately the twists and turns held many surprises which I didn't see coming. I highly recommend Don't Turn Back.
I'll definitely be indulging in more D. S. Butler very soon. Thank you for the adventure.

'Don't Turn Back' is my introduction to the D.S. Karen Hart series by D.S. Butler and I will eagerly be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series. Although, there are 3 previous books, it is not essential to have read these in advance of reading 'Don't Turn Back'. The author provides a brief but sufficient account of Karen’s life in various stages and the reader is brought quickly uptodate on her life.

This is an issue that has disrupted my enjoyment of novels in other series – the author either assumes that the audience are well versed in their universe/background, and so opt not to provide sufficient background or seem not to realise how important a few scenario details are to newcomers. Butler deals with the issue well by introducing Karen in a scene with her family and giving the reader a sense from the start that there is a tragic history. Within the next two/three chapters, we gain satisfactory information to enjoy the story.

And this is certainly a tale to enjoy – corruption, human slavery and betrayal are all common threads of the story and provide for a fast paced storyline. There are a few moments where the reader starts to wonder about Karen and her mental health in the past 5 years as the story continues to twist and change sides.
Well worth a read and I will be looking up the first three books in the series.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGallery in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
This, the 3rd in the DC Karen Hart series, is, in my opinion, the best yet. A really good read with a great ending.
Karen, still traumatized by the accident that took her husband and daughter, is a workaholic, trying to stop her mind from grieving. This particular case starts with the finding of a man's body in woodland, but evolves into people smuggling and police corruption. How can a picture perfect village hide such evil?
Karen and her team are so likeable, it's a perfect counterpoint to the horrific crimes they have to investigate and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable, tense read that's hard to put down. Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I read the other two books in this series previously and just love it. This was a good book, with some good suspense, and twists I did not see coming.

I just love this book series. I've been following this book from the very first book and I just absolutely loved the characters in it. The same goes for this book, Wonderfully written story which just hooks on to you from the word go and doesn't just let go. Though in this book there was a lot less of Nick and Sophie but more about Karen Hart and DCI Morgan. There were other characters who were in this book who had the desired effect for which they had been created. But the best part about this book was how it ended. I just loved it from the beginning to the end and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to any reader who loves a good police procedural. And finally a big thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.I liked the main character, and the pace of the book was good.The story was well told and plausible and was surprised by some of the events.Great book, well worth a read.

Another great entry to the Karen Hart police procedural series. Beginning with a man found bludgeoned to death in woodland, a captivating tale of slavery and police corruption follows. Those who have read the previous Karen Hart series will be pleased to hear we finally get some answers about the tragic events of her past, and also some revelations about other characters and events too. D. S. Butler has done a fantastic job again, not just by writing a great story, but by creating these characters that we can get to know and love. Really recommend this series of books - I can't wait for the next one!

Great read. Have not read the others in the series but want to now! The author provides insight into the characters and introduced them well.

A book for those who enjoy a detective thriller, twists turns and police corruption. Would definitely read more from this author 5 stars from me

we had to wait a while for this book in series but worth the wait what a story .a man is found dead and leads Karen back to a public house to a couple she not like but how this story unfolds is just brilliant the story pulls you in from page 1 i so so recomend

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of Don’t Turn Back, the third novel to feature DS Karen Hart of the Lincolnshire Police.

When a dead body is found in the Canwick woods certain evidence leads Karen to believe that he may have been involved in a slavery ring. As the team investigates they come to realise that there may be much more to the case than they originally thought, including links to the fatal accident involving Karen’s husband and daughter five years ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed Don’t Turn Back which is a gripping read with plenty of twists and turns. It is mostly told from the investigative point of view so the reader knows as much as the detectives throughout the course of the novel. This is my favourite approach as it allows me to try and work out the solution alongside the detectives, not that I had much room for reflection as it is one big reveal after another with twists thrown in for good measure. There is never a dull moment.

The novel basically follows two threads, the murder/slavery angle and Karen’s re-awakening belief that it was not an accident that killed her family. I liked the way these two gradually came together. It should be noted that this novel is entertainment so there is not much detail on the way these people are treated, in fact they seem remarkably healthy, given their living conditions. This is not a criticism as I prefer to get this kind of information from the news rather than in my lighter moments when I’m seeking escapism.

I found it interesting in the novel that for such a tight knit team Karen and her boss, DI Scott Morrison, kept their thinking secret and seemed to be running parallel investigations although their end goals were the same. Obviously it makes for good reading as it casts a wider net but I’m not sure how realistic it is.

Don’t Turn Back is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Don’t Turn Back by DS Butler
3 Stars
Good book but missing something to make it a great book.

This is the third in a series with DS Karen Hart, the central police character, working with her boss DI Scott Morgan in Lincolnshire. Morgan transferred from Thames Valley at the start of the series and some of his very unlikeable ex-colleagues make an appearance in this instalment as the family which appear to be at the heart of the crimes have links to the Thames Valley area.

It starts with an unnamed character on the run, not from the police, and he’s determined to hide a notebook before he is caught. The discovery of his body leads a relieved Karen to leave an awkward family barbecue. She lost her husband and daughter in a tragic accident prior to the first book and although she’s still coming to terms with it, her sister is chivvying her along to start a new relationship! Subsequent events in this book make her recovery process even harder.

Without giving away the plot, parts of it are very believable but I felt the underlying police corruption theme was a bit contrived and to me the ending, and those involved were telegraphed from quite early on.

I did enjoy it but just felt I wasn’t as invested in Karen as I should’ve been - her and her boss seemed to change personalities when the ex colleagues appeared and Karen changed from a strong woman to someone who took orders from a subordinate. I know that the upheaval in her personal life from what she learns doesn’t help but I felt it was a little unbelievable.
I feel a bit guilty giving it three stars but I don’t think it warrants a four. That said, I would read a fourth instalment, were there to be one.

@sunnybookreviews who received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

A complex case of people trafficking and police corruption with a well written narrative and relatable if serious characters.

The third in the Karen Hart series and it's an exceptionally good read. There's lots going on just as Karen likes it, she needs to be occupied and try to move forward after the death of her husband and daughter five years previously. She always has a niggling doubt that the car crash that took their lives was an accident and not a targetted attack that was covered up by colleagues but is she just tormenting herself unnecessarily. The story touches on modern-day slavery, murder and corruption, which adds to it being a thrilling and compelling read.

This is the first book I've read by this author, need to read the first two in the series now. I loved this book & couldn't put it down, kept you on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen next. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this ARC in return for an honest review.

A tale of modern day slavery and so much more. Detective Karen Hart is gradually putting her life back together again after a devastating car accident took the lives of her husband and young daughter. A body is found beaten to death and a visit to a local pub uncovers three men locked in a garage. And this is only the start. Atmospheric and chilling, it beggars belief what we as a human race can inflict on each other. It is upto Morgan her boss and their team to find answers and uncover the truth no matter the cost. This read had me glued to my seat and tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker. Action packed and a good police procedural. Can't wait to read more as Karen, Morgan and their team have unfinished business. Another in this gripping and very addictive series.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the ARC.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC. I really love this series of books, this is the third book in the DS Karen hart series and it just keeps improving. I really like the character of Karen, who is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her husband and daughter in a car crash. A dead body is found in woods and the investigation uncovers a people trafficking ring in Lincolnshire. The investigation leads to police corruption and there are plenty twists and surprises. I liked the ending with a piece of the puzzle missing and look forward to a fourth book in this series.

Love this series, was so excited to read this next instalment of karen hart.i certainly wasn’t disappointed i absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down.if you haven’t already read these books in order you can read this one as it takes you back in the story explaining about her husband and daughter.would definitely recommend this book and looking forward to the next one.

Don’t Turn Back is the first book written by D S Butler that I have read but it won’t be the last.

This is the latest book in the DS Karen Hart series which is set in Lincolnshire however without having read the previous book I had no issues with following the story as a stand-alone.

The main storyline also has a further arc that weaves in and out that adds to the reader’s enjoyment and page turning. The story is also nicely left open for the next in the series

This is definitely a book that I would recommend to all police thriller readers

Detective Karen Hart is trying to put a brave face on things even though she is still not coping well with the death of her husband and daughter. She is enjoying a barbecue with her family and finally relaxing a little when she is called to a crime scene which, although she doesn't know it yet, is going to blow apart everything she thought she knew and cause her to doubt everyone.

The battered body of a man found in woodland by a curious dog leads to a family Karen has had dealings with before and a comment that chills her to the bone. When two London detectives known and disliked by her boss Scott Morgan are seconded to their team the tension increases steadily until everyone can see something or someone will have to give before long. Who will survive the fallout is anyone's guess but both Scott and Karen know the case is more important than any one person and keep pressing on despite the danger it could cause.

Once again D S Butler has written an entertaining, fast moving story which covers a great deal of ground. The main characters are sympathetically drawn and although the London officers were a little stereotypical that maybe because they were accurately described for the situation they found themselves in.

There was one piece of unfinished business which I'm not sure will appear in a future storyline but hopefully there will be more from this series of books as they are an entertaining, well written and relevant set of police procedural mysteries.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery with relatable stories and characters.

My reaction to Don't Turn Back is generally positive, but I hasten to add that the characters in the novel were not very likable. For whom was I supposed to root? The most likely candidate is the protagonist, Karen Hart, for whom the series is named. But I didn't particularly like her either. The fault may be mine,or perhaps the author needs to work on character development.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Read this straight through.
Love the Karen Hart character.
DS Hart is a detective in Lincolnshire. Her husband and daughter died in a car crash and she is still trying to come to terms with it.
She is called to attend the discovery of a body in nearby woods.
The man has been battered to death and they struggle to identify him.
A beer mat from a nearby pub with date and time on it is the only clue.
The story moves at a good pace and soon Karen is involved in people smuggling ring and police corruption.
This is a really enjoyable British crime novel with some good twists and turns and an exciting ending.
Well written characters and plot.
I have read the Jack Mackinnon books and can recommend both these series.

An excellent suspense-filled police procedural. Detective Karen Hart still has nightmares from losing her husband and daughter to an accident that she has always thought was no accident. As she tries to get back in the swing of investigating, she's thrown into a murder mystery and human trafficking cases that take her back to the case she was working on when her family was ripped from her life. When a suspect says to her, "You should have learned your lesson last time," she begins to wonder if the loss of her family is somehow related to these new cases. She seems to be thwarted in her investigations from all sides, and she's frustrated but determined. It's a great read with lots of guilty possibilities. Will she survive this precarious situation or end up losing her career as she pursues her hunches? Danger lurks in every shadow.

This just didn't have enough going on to keep my attention. I was stuck home in quarantine and kept reading hoping the ending would be a good twist, but nothing much happened. If I had known it ended so weakly I would have stopped way before the end.

4.5 Stars
This was a first for me with this author but will not be a last. I was taken on a ride and thoroughly enjoyed it.
We are with a woman who is a detective. She has recently endured the tragic loss of her husband and child in a car crash. This has thrust her into working none stop to block out everything else in her life.

This takes place in a village that seems perfect...charming etc....and maybe too perfect. Because with the discovery of this dead man...all the secrets of this village start to seep out.
Well Done.

Review of eBook

The discovery of a savagely beaten man’s body in the woodland sends shock-waves through the little village of Canwick. Detective Sergeant Karen Hart, still reeling from the deaths of her husband and young daughter some five years earlier, investigates and finds hints of a modern-day slavery ring. As the investigation forges ahead, witnesses begin to disappear and it soon becomes clear that there is a strong conspiracy working to hide the truth. Can Karen trust the information she’s given? And what will the truth reveal?

This, the third in the Karen Hart series, is a quick-read mystery that contains sufficient backstory to work well as a stand-alone for readers new to the series. There are plenty of twists and turns, but, at times, Karen seems far too caught up in the tragedy of the past, a plot point that serves to interrupt any suspense surrounding the story-lines involving the current murder investigation and the probe into a possible human slavery ring. Instead of being well-developed, some characters more closely resemble caricatures and astute readers will figure out everything early in the telling of the tale.

Rather than moving the story forward, the possibility of long-standing corruption within the police department seems to serve only as a convenient explanation for previous events and is certain to be hugely off-putting for many readers.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley
#DontTurnBack #NetGalley

Don't Turn Back is the third in Butler's Detective Karen Hart series. While I probably would've had a better understanding of Karen Hart's background and character if I had read the first two in the series, this also works well as a stand-alone novel. When Karen Hart is called to a murder, she revisits the case that she was working on at the time her husband and daughter died in a car accident. The new case digs up feelings from her past.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, and the characters are well developed with just enough background. I loved getting to know Detective Karen Hart and her team. The book was written from multiple viewpoints, which really gave the reader a full picture of the case they were working on. This was my first D.S. Butler novel, but it certainly won't be my last.

Incredibly boring. I couldn’t find anything interesting in this modern-day slavery ring to finish the book.

5 ⭐️
arc provided by netgalley.
So when I requested this arc I didn’t notice it was a series but I was able to read and understand everything, because the author explained the previous things that happened and I really enjoyed that. What can I say?? I fell in love with D. S. writing, with the investigation and the direction the story went, I got stuck in the story since the beginning and loved every second of it. Really glad I got to read this book and met D.S, I’m totally gonna read her other books!

I've received each book in this series from Netgalley since book one. It just continues to get better and better. Hope to see this series continue.

Thanks NetGalley for this advanced copy! This was the first book I have read from this author. It was fast paced and just the type of thriller I am in to.

This was my first experience with DS Karen Hart and I was not disappointed. It is not necessary to read the first two installments to enjoy this novel. The author does a great job of painting the backstory.

The premise of this novel is a murder. The man is bludgeoned to death and also may be tied to human trafficking. DS Hart is investigating this while still being haunted (who wouldn't be) by the accidental deaths of her husband and daughter that happened 5 years ago. The pacing of this novel is wonderful and keeps you guessing.

I look forward to finding out what happens next!

A special thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and D.S. Butler for providing me with this ARC.

Still reeling from the end of the book!
Still trying to wrap my head around the implications from the last case of Detective Hart. Intense reading from the very first chapter, the drama and action held me hostage until the last page. One of the most interesting and intriguing crime fiction series out right now, it is definitely worthy of your time.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book .
#netgalley #dontturnback

I found this book overall a pleasant read. The case was an interesting twist on the typical murder mystery. I found some of the characters to be a bit irritating, I would have preferred for more chapters be from the perspective of the main male detective. The end intrigued me to read the next.

I would give it a 3.5 stars

Don’t Turn Back, @dsbutlerauthor gets 5 * from me. Just love this Detective Karen Hart series. And book three has left me wanting more!

This is book three. Don’t Turn Back can stand alone, however you’ll get a more in-depth appreciation of what’s going on if you read books one and two. D S Butler has ingeniously scattered seeds here and there in her previous books that come together as you read this book.

As I mentioned in my review of #wheresecretslie Detective Karen Hart doesn’t let anything go and if you read the previous two books you’ll see what I mean when you read #dontturnback.

It starts well ‘He was going to die tonight. But that didn’t slow him down. His death might have been inevitable, but a primitive urge to flee kept his legs moving as he stumbled up the mist-cloaked escarpment.’

‘Terrified, he turned to face the snapping jaws and heard the cold laugh of victory – the sound of a man who’d caught his prey.’

The story has two separate cases moving along side by side, one about human trafficking and the other a murder..... with a connection to the Red Lion Pub. Karen has history with Patricia and Rod Perry, the owners of the pub, and when Patricia hissed ‘You should have learned your lesson last time.’ Karen was knocked off balance and needed to understand why she had said this... Karen Hart is haunted by the loss of her husband and daughter.

Full of twists and turns and Butler writes in great detail.

‘The man had no morals. No qualms about killing. He’d kill again given the chance. xxxxxxxx injuries, his smashed face and skull, had made it clear his killer was a man out of control. The cool, conceited way he delivered his lines told her this was rehearsed.’

‘Stay calm. Screaming at him won’t help.’ ‘She wanted answers so badly. Needed them. But had it really come to this? Relying on this man for answers? He was a psychopath. There was no remorse for what he’d done, no empathy for his victims.’

‘She felt the familiar tug of her old obsession – the uncertainty, the paranoia – but it was different this time. Now, she wasn’t working alone. She looked up and handed Morgan one of the forensic reports. He smiled as he took it from her. ‘It might take a while, but we’ll get answers.’ Karen returned his smile and raised her glass. ‘Yes. This time, we will.’

I don’t want to say much more, not into spoilers, just buy the book and enjoy!

A door is left open to more books in the series. Here’s to book four of the 🕵️‍♀️ Karen Hart series! 💃💃💃

A man is found bludgeoned to death in woodland by the village of Canwick, and the close-knit community is sent into shock. Detective Karen Hart, still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter nearby, is brought in to investigate the horrific murder.
It soon becomes clear that dark secrets lie behind Canwick’s unspoiled appearance. When Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers, she faces a race to find proof before the culprits slip from her grasp. But when key witnesses start disappearing, it’s obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy to keep prying eyes away from the truth.
This is the third book in the series & can be read on its own. I haven’t read the earlier books but after being totally caught up in this book I’ll certainly be reading them now. A fast paced story, well defined characters all made for a read that I was loathe to put down & I read it in two sittings. There are plenty of twists, turns & red herrings also some revelations that had me gasping & made the pages fly by. I liked that it was written from the point of view of the investigators so I was able to see if I could work out the solution before the team
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Loved this book. Karen Hart at her best true saying be careful who you trust. Cant wait to read more books like this

Another book with detective Karen Hart. A brilliant series of books. Tense and thrilling. Next one please.

Don’t Turn Back, by D.S. Butler, is the third book in her series featuring DS Karen Hart.

A man is found bludgeoned to dead. In his pocket, a scribbled beer mat from a pub. Buried not too far from the body, a mysterious ledger. Investigating the Red Lion pub, DS Karen Hart and her boss, DI Scott Morgan, discover undocumented workers hidden in a garage.

What begins as two seemingly separate cases, one allowing DS Hart to prove old suspicions against the Red Lion’s owners, turn into a nationwide investigation in human trafficking. An investigation, quite different from the previous ones, that will bring back ghosts from both DS Hart and DI Morgan’s pasts, and lead to shocking revelations.

Although this book can be read as a standalone, it can only be fully appreciated if you have read the previous entries in the series. D.S. Butler subtly seeded several plot points in her first two novels that all come together in quite a thrilling way in the course of this story.

The author keeps to her usual style of a third person narration alternating the point of views of the multiple characters featured in the story. It’s particularly efficient this time around, as events bring back DS Hart’s paranoia with a vengeance, and push DI Morgan back to keeping to himself. The outside POV of the team’s two young DCs, and of other protagonists (and antagonists), bring us to doubt the two main characters, and ourselves, as to what is really going up with the investigation. Multiple narrators means some, if not all, have to be unreliable.

This time around, more time is spent on the investigation itself, and less on the personal lives of the team. That is, until those personal lives come crashing into the story, all the way to a very satisfying payoff.

Not much more can be written without spoiling anything. Unexpectedly, the three books finally end up forming a trilogy, rewarding the constant reader. Do not worry, however, as a door is left open to more books in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Amazon Publishing for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.


Review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3202221086

Review of book two : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3213896315

Full review to be published online in early April.


DON’T TURN BACK begins with an unnamed character on the run, and he’s determined to hide a notebook before he is caught. The discovery of his body leads a relieved Karen to leave an awkward family barbecue. She lost her husband and daughter in a tragic accident prior to the first book and although she’s still coming to terms with it, her sister is chivvying her along to start a new relationship! Subsequent events in this book make her recovery process even harder.

Without giving away the plot, parts of it are very believable but I felt the underlying police corruption theme was a bit contrived and to me the ending, and those involved were telegraphed from quite early on.

I did enjoy it but just felt I wasn’t as invested in Karen as I should’ve been - she and her boss seemed to change personalities when the ex colleagues appeared and Karen changed from a strong woman to someone who took orders from a subordinate. I know that the upheaval in her personal life from what she learns doesn’t help but I felt it was a little unbelievable. I enjoyed it enough to continue the series, however.

Third book in a series by J S Butler.

I have read the previous in the series so was looking forward to reading this. It exceeded my expectations and had me hooked right from the start. It can easily be read independently of the others in the series and is a great police procedural with realistic characters.

3rd book in a Detective Karen Hart series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. This is the first one I have read from this author, and look forward to reading the others. It was a great thriller that I could not put down until the end. All the twists and turns kept me guessing and it was a surprise towards the end!
Set in Lincolnshire, DS Karen Hart is still very much tramatized after the loss of her husband and daughter. The quiet village she lives in is shocked and on edge by a grisly murder and suspicions of police corruption, human slavery and ties with the death of her husband and daughter.
You won't be sorry buying this novel!


Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

Great police procedural,mystery. Apparently it is a third book in a series but is easily read independently. I have read one other book of the DS Hart series,but it is not necessary to have ready any of the prior books to enjoy this one.
DS Hart and her boss are investigating human trafficking, murder and a possible connection to the death of her husband and child as well as police corruption. Who is trust worthy??
Characters are conversational and easy to follow so that you feel you are there and can see and feel their experiences. No profanity, blood and it's or raunchy sex.

A good clean mystery read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased reviews.The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author,publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the third book in the Detective Karen Hart series and as far as I am concerned it’s the best so far and although it’s part of a series it can equally be read as a stand-alone but I would say that the previous books are far too good to be missed so do yourself a favour and read them all !
So in this read we learn a whole lot more about Karen Hart and DCI Scott Morgan and what a lot is going on here, a man is bludgeoned to death and what’s follows is a complex plot involving people smuggling, corruption and a whole lot more in a mighty fine police procedural that sure kept me gripped throughout.
What I love about D.S. Butlers writing is not only the fact she writes a damn good plot but she also writes with empathy making her characters very real whilst hooking you from the first page making the book an unputdownable and brilliant reading experience and leaves you desperately waiting for the next instalment of a fabulous series.
So many, many thanks to D.S.Butler I loved the read !!
My thanks also to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion,

This was my first book by D.S. Butler and yes, therefore my first book in the DS Karen Hart series, even though this is the third book. But I enjoyed it very much! I plan on going back and reading the first two books so I know more on the back story about Karen's husband and child. Without reading the first two, I feel like the author gave me enough info to keep me interested. And now, I want to read the next book since the secrets are only just beginning!

The investigation of a man found beaten to death leads DS Karen Hart back to suspects who have unpleasant memories for her. She investigated them for human trafficking right before her world was upended by the death of her husband and daughter in a car accident. Now paired with DI Scott Morgan, who has his own

The third in the series, this is the first Karen Hart novel I have read. I enjoyed it. Fast paced, with tight writing and likable protagonists, fans of British police procedurals will enjoy this story.

Loved this book. !!! This is the first book I have read by this author and it was a thrill ride read. Lots of plot twists and turns. I was on the edge of my seat till the last page. Just enough police procedure and an interesting plot that combined made for a exciting book. Looking forward to the next book.

DS Kate Hart #3

The ody of a man has been discovered in the woods. He has been bludgeoned to death and left unrecognisable. The only thing he had on his person was a beer matfrom a local pub with a date and time written on it. Karen had had dealings in the past with the landlords of the pub. Karen is teamed up with DI Morgan who was at her family bbq when the call came in.

This is a complex plot that revolves around people smuggling, slavery and police corruption. The pace is fast in this well written and gripping police procedural. There is quite a lot of characters to follow. This is suspense packed and full of twists. There is enough backstory to keep you up to speed so the book could be read as a standalone. But it is always best to read a series in the order they were written in.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author D.S. Butler for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Karen Hart, still grieving the deaths of her husband and daughter, is called to investigate the horrific beating and murder of an unidentified man.

When investigating, Karen and her team find a tenuous link to a possible modern day slave operation. Key witnesses start to disappear ... and their prime suspects were killed in a house fire .. the victims of arson.

It's a small village where everyone knows everyone else ... but there are also dark secrets that are firmly buried. And someone doesn't want those secrets exposed. Karen doesn't know who to trust ... someone close to her may be at the heart of these crimes.

This is a page-turner, lots of twists and turns, and plenty of suspects to watch out for. Not everyone is who they say they are. The characters are deftly drawn and remain memorable even after reaching the unexpected conclusion. Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone.

Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Don't Turn Back is the third instalment in the Detective Superintendent Karen Hart series, based in Lincolnshire. Although perhaps preferable it certainly isn't essential to have read the preceding books before jumping into this one as Ms Butler provides plenty of backstory to catch new readers up with important prior developments. When the bludgeoned body of a man is discovered in the woodland that surrounds the stunning and seemingly picture-perfect village of Canwick, local residents are shocked to their core. DS Hart is immediately assigned to investigate the brutal murder and swiftly uncovers evidence that the victim had ostensibly been involved in what was a modern slavery ring hiding in plain sight under villagers noses. Despite her still being deeply affected by the tragic loss of both her husband and young daughter in a fatal accident five years earlier, Karen knows she must set aside her personal feelings in order to think clearly in what becomes a complex case. It complicates things further when she finds a possible link between this thriving small-town criminal fraternity and the accident that had taken away all she loved.

This is a thoroughly riveting, action-packed and absorbing thriller and from the opening pages, it had me hook, line and sinker. Based around a criminal conspiracy and the topical issues of people trafficking, slavery and police corruption I must admit I was on the edge of my seat, despite it being cliche, but I really found it tense and brilliantly twisty. It moves at a rapid-fire pace and proves that no matter the size of the local community population despicable criminals can be using it as a hub for their nefarious operations without a single resident batting an eyelid. It's an impeccably crafted story and I thought beginning the narrative with what seems like two separate strands to the plot and then proceeding to merge the two as the plot unravelled was cleverly done. An immensely gripping and highly entertaining police procedural with an engrossing high stakes race against time. Strap yourself in and enjoy the nail-biting ride. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing for an ARC.

I do believe I would have enjoyed this more had I read the two preceding books in the Karen Hart series. Like back when her husband and child were killed. Karen has had suspicions that a certain couple who own a local bar, the Red Lions, could have been involved in their deaths, especially after a remark made when she questions them about a recent murder. Before leaving the property, she finds vagrant-type men locked in a garage which leads to an all-out investigation of a slavery ring. Before long, two different cases meld into one.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.

DS Karen Hart is brought in to investigate, when a man’s body is found in the woods. The only clue on the body is a pub coaster with a date and time written on it. When the police go to the pub, they discover some undocumented immigrants living there. After a Mysterious fire at the pub, the team starts to try to link up all of the events together. Hindered when an outside team is brought it to share the load, DS Hart and her lead DI Morgan must find the truth. When corruption seems to lead back to the police force, the investigation leads them all the way back to Karen’s past, where her family was destroyed by tragedy.

The narrative, characters, and storyline were all well thought out and executed. This was a great British mystery.

Detective Karen Hart is called to investigate the bludgeoning death of an unidentified man in the village of Canwick. Karen soon finds connections to a case she worked years ago that she never was able to prosecute. The earlier case happened around the time of the death of her husband and only child in a traffic accident. As Karen puts the clues together, witnesses keep disappearing. Karen begins to wonder if the death of her family was really accidental. The investigation moves from town to town and even into the police department itself.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I stayed interested during the entire story. It is a stand alone in a series. However, I often felt like I was missing some information when the story went back to the investigation and accident from the earlier case. I will go back and read those books.

The next installment of the Karen Hart series delivers. I really enjoyed the first two in the series because of the balance between the tedium of police work and the quick, out of nowhere, revelations. I like the characters and the interactions. This book was less condescending to the underlings and I enjoyed the new characters brought in.

Without giving too many things away, there was a story that could be followed without having read the previous works but enough that rounded back to previous stories in a satisfying way. My one pet peeve is the over explanation at the end.

Wow another great book by Dani! It keeps you enthralled from page one to the end. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone! A woman walking her dog discovers a body of a murdered man and DS Karen Hart in the village of Canwick investigates and is plunged into world of slavery.

A man is found bludgeoned in the woods and Detective Karen Hart is brought in to investigate. With long-held suspicions of a modern day slavery ring and police corruption, Karen starts to connect the dots while unearthing the ghosts of her past.

The story was fast paced and I felt that the characters had really interesting stories behind them. An easy read and enjoyable, however, there was just something missing for me and I think I would have liked a bit more information around the slavery ring.

While this was the third book in this series, I haven’t read the first two but didn’t see that as essential to the overarching story.

Thank you to D.S. Butler, NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC.

I loved this book. great plot and character development,.. highly recommend it. very enjoyable.. great cover.

I haven't had the pleasure of reading the first two books in this series featuring Karen Hart, a detective in Canwick, a seemingly calm town.
Hart, who is still feeling the effects of the loss of her husband and daughter, finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation that soon leads her to suspect that there might be a slavery ring in the village.
It's obvious that a dark secret runs through the village right through to the police department. Hart isn't sure if she can trust anyone. This book is full of interesting characters, and I had no trouble keeping up with all of them even though I hadn't read the first two books.
I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series, and try to go back and read the others if I can.

Brilliant. This story is as great as the rest of the series. Karen is an interesting character who I keep wanting to know more about. The plot and characters makes this book a compelling read. Slavery and corrupt police are an interesting and thought provoking read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Five years ago Detective Sergeant Karen Hart's life came crashing down with the death of her beloved husband and daughter in a car accident. This occurs shortly after she began investigating an exploiting worker claim against the Red Lion Pub. She has always been suspicious of the circumstances shrouding the so-called accident and suspected foul play and even possibly a police cover-up .... but why? She could not prove anything, but yet a smothering cloud hovered over her work and everyday life.
This third tale of D.S. Hart begins with a man running for his life with dogs and men close on his heels. He momentarily stops and with his hands hastily digs a hole and buries a ledger and continues his flight. He is found brutally bludgeoned to death with his face completely obliterated in the woods by a passing woman with her dog. Karen is tasked with the investigation of his murder ... with the only clue being a bar coaster found in his back pocket containing a date and time. Surprisingly it is from the infamous Red Lion Pub. She and her partner follow up at the pub and are met with a chilling reception by the surly woman owner ... her husband is supposedly not available to talk. Not giving up, they explore the adjacent garage and find it inhabited by three disheveled men ... are they homeless or the result of a trafficking operation? Further deaths occur in their attempt to make sense of the situation.
D.S. Butler weaves a compelling narrative in this suspenseful British police procedural packed with twists and turns and unexpected revelations. This can be enjoyed as a standalone because of the seamless expert insertion of relevant back story. Throughout this gem percolates the possibility of police corruption. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publications UK for providing an Electronic Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. Excuse me while I go download the first two books in this thoroughly enjoyable series.

The book is entertaining and fast-paced. It is that type of book that makes you keep turning the pages till you complete it.The twists and turns held many surprises which I didn't see coming.

The premise of this novel is a murder. The man is bludgeoned to death and also may be tied to human trafficking. DS Hart is investigating this while still being haunted by the accidental deaths of her husband and daughter that happened 5 years ago.

I look forward to finding out what happens next!

A special thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this ARC.

Don’t Turn Back is the gripping tale of a woman named Karen, that lost her husband and daughter to human traffickers that would kill to hide their secret.
Where the police covered up the details and she didn’t know who she could trust anymore.
Solid four stars

This was an enjoyable police procedural. DS Hart and her colleagues were likable characters with interesting backstories. The book starts out with a murder, but soon delves into modern slavery/human trafficking and exploitation of workers. There is also an undercurrent of possible police corruption. Adding to the tension is that five years ago, DS Hart's husband and daughter died in a car accident. She did not believe it was an accident and raised the possibility of a cover-up, which did not sit well with some of her colleagues on the force, especially her superiors. However, the current investigation required her to talk to a couple she had been investigating for possible exploitation of workers five years ago, right before the accident. During their present-day conversation, the wife commented that DS Hart should have learned her lesson five years ago. This comment caused DS Hart to rethink her prior concerns and colored her approach to the current investigation. The plot was creative and well-crafted. There were some good surprises in the book. I am definitely interested in reading the other books in the DS Hart series.

I received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

4 stars / This review has been posted at BookwormishMe.com.


Here I go again, jumping into a book series midstream! DS Karen Hart #3, otherwise known as “Don’t Turn Back” finds our detective investigating the murder of an unknown man in a public park. Since this is my first book with DS Hart, it was possible I wouldn’t know or understand what was going on, but that was not the case. I was easily able to jump in and follow the story. Butler gives us plenty of background info to pick up the series or read this as a standalone.

A woman and her dog uncover a body in a wooded area of a public park. DS Hart is called to investigate, but then an object is found that could tie the murder to a previous case of hers. DS Hart is called off the murder investigation and put back into the fire with the previous case. The owners of a local pub are the focus of the old case, and DS Hart has always had a feeling that they were involved in the deaths of her husband and daughter.

Organized crime and police corruption abound in this novel. A very well written crime story that also tugs at the heartstrings. There are a lot of characters to follow, but each is unique and makes it a bit easier to keep up with the story. I always find that series are better when started from the beginning. Still, I truly enjoyed this story and would love to read more of Butler’s writing and find out where DS Hart ends up next. Perhaps also read numbers one and two and catch up.

A fantastic & edge of your seat thriller. It is exceptionally well written & the twists and turns are genuinely surprising & shocking . If you are looking to have your mind taken off isolation & the Corona virus then this is the perfect escape

Gripping suspense.

This book had me on the bitting nails edge. Love suspense and mystery and D.S. Butler provided it in spades within this story. Twist and turns that keep you guessing. Amazing book. I am grateful to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book in advance.

This was a great thriller, I was hooked from the start. I hadn't read any of the preceding books but it didn't matter. I thoroughly enjoyed this real. The slavery ring, the conspiracy, the murders, it all made for a really exciting story. I will definitely seek out more from D.S. Butler in the future. This kind of writing is right up my street. It would incidentally make a great TV detective series also along the lines of Line of Duty which I absolutely adore!!!!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This was a very interesting British police procedural. DS Karen Hart is still somewhat shell shocked by the deaths of her husband and daughter in a car crash. She is now the investigator tasked with finding the perpetrator of a brutal murder in the woods near a peaceful community. As this murder case progresses, she is reassigned to a suspicious fire which burned in a nearby bar and grill. She feels strongly that the cases are related. The book keeps the reader's attention as new developments and surprises unfold.

Although this is the third novel in the series, the important characters are fully developed and the book can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Don't Turn Back by D.S. Butler is the third installment of a series focused on DS Karen Hart. I had previously enjoyed the second book of the series, but this one works fine as a standalone novel.

DS Karen Hart is still carrying the grief of losing her husband and daughter five years previously. When a grisly discovery is made, Hart finds herself at the centre of an investigation that rocks the small town of Canwick. As she begins to uncover some dark and shocking truths that lurk underneath the town's benign exterior, Hart is forced to confront her own ghosts in the process.

This is a well executed police procedural that will certainly keep you engaged throughout although, for me, this one didn't have quite the same wow factor of the second book, Where Secrets Lie. The focus is less on DS Hart's personal circumstances, and I did miss some of the in depth characterization . Nonetheless, a strong addition to the series, and I am excited to see that the door remains wide open for a continuation.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, D. S. Butler, and Thomas & Mercer. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this work of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend D. S. Butler to friends and family. She writes a tight tale, British police procedurals based in Nettleham, and they are interesting and unique among their genre.

DS Karen Hart carries a heavy burden of grief as she makes it through the days and years after the death of her husband and daughter. She is tired of sympathy from friends, family, and co-workers, but she cannot accept that the accident that took her family was just that - an accident. She has learned, over time, to keep her suspicions to herself but this latest murder case is covering some of the same ground that she was working back then and brings the accident and the losses all too close to the surface again. When the clues from this new murder take them back to the Red Lion Inn, she finds she cannot separate her suspicions centered on Rod and Patricia Perry, suspects now, and then for the death of her family. It is something she has to try to cover, as her co-workers already think she is a bit daffy when it comes to that period of time. But where do you draw the line between fact and paranoia?

This is the first book I have read in the DS Karen Hart series and I really struggled to get into it, I did preserver to the end but I’m afraid it’s just not for me.

I enjoyed the premise, as human trafficking is a serious global problem and I appreciate authors' efforts to draw attention to it. I didn't, however, enjoy the author's voice. She constantly overexplained and 'word-padded', invariably taking three paragraphs to say something that should take three sentences. I didn't find Karen to be a particularly engaging character, so it was hard to empathize with her. Overall, this isn't a book I can recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the chance to read the book.

Thank you for the Netgalley! This is the first time that I’ve heard or read anything by the author and I’m glad I did. I’ve read so many police procedurals that they eventually sound the same, but this was different. I was sucked in really early on and enjoyed getting to know the characters. However, I rated it as a 3.5 because the middle part of the book started getting slow and I had to fight hard to stick with it.

Upon completion I learned that this is the third book in a series but having not read the previous two it actually can stand alone. DS Karen Hart works in a rural police station. She has lost her husband and daughter years ago to a horrific accident but clearly thinks it wasn’t an accident at all. Her partner/boss DI Scott Morgan also has a past. They work together to solve a murder, which expands to include trafficking of humans. Auxiliary characters help while others interfere with their investigation. Both Karen and Scott end with resolutions to their own problems while solving both cases. Many thanks to D S Thomas &Mercer, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this ARC of a soon to be published mystery.

The mystery begins with the

The mystery begins with the discovery of a man is found bludgeoned to death in a set of sparse woods near the village of Canwick. Canwick is a close-knit community and therefore is sent into shock. Enter Detective Karen Hart. Karen is certainly capable but still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter which occurred very near the same site. That’s tough no matter how great a detective one happens to be.

As dark secrets begin to manifest, Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers. The race is now on to find proof before the culprits slip Away. Intrigue builds when key witnesses start disappearing an it is obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy going on in this innocent little village where everyone knows everyone and some know more than they are letting on,

the storyline is one that is a bit different and I really liked that. It was the slow pace of the investigation that kept me from really enjoying the read. The pace was that of a real life style investigation. I wanted more action and twists to give my mind the oh wow ,I didn’t see that coming effect.

This was my first Detective Karen Hart adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I really enjoyed this book and will go back to read the previous two. This definitely can be read stand alone as it didn't feel like I was missing anything vital from the other books in the series. The author did a great job filling any gaps that might have made.
I wonder if there will be a 4th book as I would love this to continue.
I would highly recommend this author and this book.

D. S. Butler is a new author for me and as 'Don't Look Back' is the 3rd book in the series I was sceptical as to how easy it would be to work out the main character. As it turned out it was very easy to form an understanding. Good plot, with varying twists and turns, a very easy but engrossing read. I will be reading more from this author.

Don't Turn Back by D.S. Butler was a fabulous read that had me totally gripped from the start.

This is the third book in her series featuring DS Karen Hart, set in Lincolnshire. With a fantastic plot-line and brilliant characters, it was a superb and compelling tale that held me captive throughout. Although this book was very enjoyable as a standalone, in my view it would be beneficial to read the instalments of the series in order.

The battered body of a man is discovered in woodland that surrounds the stunning and picture-perfect village of Canwick, shocking the local residents. He had a pub beer mat in his pocket, with a note scribbled on it. Whilst checking out the Red Lion pub, DS Hart and her boss, DI Scott Morgan, uncover evidence that the victim was involved in a modern slavery ring. As the team investigates, they soon realise there may be a great deal more to the case than they originally imagined, including links to a fatal accident involving Karen’s husband and daughter five years ago.

With its fair share of twists and turns, Don't Turn Back is mostly told from an investigative point of view so the reader has the same level of information as the detectives throughout the course of the novel. With the swift pacing, there was no room for boredom or tedium, here. It's an impeccably crafted story, and beginning the narrative with seemingly isolated plot threads, then combining the two as the plot unravelled was cannily done by D.S. Butler. This gripping and highly entertaining police procedural should not be missed!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I am loving this series, it had me gripped throughout with lots of twists and kept me guessing till the end. I'm looking forward to reading more in the future.

Don't Turn Back is the third in D.S. Butler's Karen Hart series. Detective Sergeant Hart is called to help investigate the mysterious bludgeoning death of a foreign man who is believed to have entered the country illegally. Five years ago Hart's husband and daughter were killed in a car crash, and Hart has never stopped believing that the resulting investigation was a cover-up of some sort. After interviewing the owners of the Red Lion pub and discovering several men locked in the owners' garage, she gets a hint that the pub owners may be involved in human trafficking and that they may have knowledge of the deaths of her family members. This book is all over the place as Hart's mind links one discovery to another, forming conclusions without evidence to back them up. Conversations ramble. Everyone is a suspect. I finished the book, and while Butler did connect all the loose ends into a tidy, if unbelievable, package, I confess to being exhausted. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy of the book.

Mediocre police corruption story

Here we have a police corruption story centred on human trafficking. It's not gruesome as some other ones are, but it didn't engage my interest very strongly. The writing is often ponderous and the dialog stilted. I think that there are some gaping holes in the story.

It's a good enough beach or quarantine book but it is not one you will read twice.

I found D. S. Butler’s Don’t Turn Back a very enjoyable and easy read. I haven’t read the previous books in the series but didn’t feel like I was a disadvantage reading this as there was enough backstory to fill in any blanks.

It is a novel that has a lot going on (murder, people trafficking, modern slavery and police corruption) that effortlessly moves into one bigger story. It has plenty of twists and turns with some red herrings, as you would expect from a book from this genre, but with some surprising events. A very well-crafted story.

The only small negative for me was the Karen, her boss, and other detectives seem to be keeping parts of the investigations to themselves rather than working together, though the end goals are the same. That said, some parts did need to be written that way to advance the story and add in the tension.

This is an easy and enjoyable read. It is reasonably fast paced with some good characters. A good police procedural novel and I will now be going back to read the previous two novels in the series whilst looking forward to a fourth book.

Don’t Turn Back is a well written, well thought out story about a policewoman who stumbles onto a human trafficking scheme. Added to her case problems is a fear that those assigned to work with her could be on the take and her growing realization that those involved in the scheme could be responsible for the car crash that killed her husband and daughter years before. The only negative I found with the book is the repetitive discussions of the same material related to the case but I suppose if you had two groups working a crime while reporting to a third you would have a lot of those same discussions.

I hadn’t read the first two in this series. This book was ok, I found it a bit strange the guilty person would just turn himself in. I would have liked to know a bit more of Hart’s backgrounds d which could have made it a bit more interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

Don’t Turn Back by D.S. Butler is the third in the Detective Karen Hart series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Amazon Publishing UK, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  

Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DS Karen Hart lost her husband Josh and her daughter Tilly in a car accident. Years later, she struggles to move on, living in the same large house, afraid to move lest her memories of them weaken. She pours her energy into her work. Hart, who relies heavily on her instincts and hunches, has a new boss, DI Scott Morgan, who takes a very logical/fact-based approach to the job (and his life), leaving little room for emotional thoughts. Hart is trying to keep her own emotions in line, while also trying to keep her constables reigned in. DC Sophie Jones is fairly new, ambitious, and prone to mistakes. DC Rick Cooper is a talkative, more experienced man, but dealing with an aging mother. The two constables are constantly bickering.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

The body of a man is found in an area popular with dog walkers.  A beer mat from a local pub is in his pocket.  When Karen and her partner investigate the pub, they find three men living in the garage, in poor conditions.  Karen has had a run-in with the owners of the pub before, and their attitude is still obnoxious.  Karen is sure they have found an illegal slavery ring, but the men won't talk.

When the powers that be separate the two cases, Karen finds herself struggling to get information that will definitively link them.  She is sure the dead man is linked to the pub.  When they start to look into a haulage firm that regularly visited the pub after hours, another police team from Thames Valley are called in to assist, as they already have an on-going investigation into the owner.  Unfortunately, the pair that arrive are Scott's old boss, and his arrogant DC.  Karen and her team struggle to work with these officers, who quickly step in and take over.

Meanwhile, the case is bringing back memories of the accident that claimed the lives of Karen's husband and child.  Again, she thinks there was a police cover-up.  The case is also bringing back bad memories to Scott, whose old partner is determined to remind him and everyone else why Scott left Thames Valley.

 My Opinions:  

Although these books are an easy and entertaining read, I found this one really long.  It wasn't boring, but some parts did drag. This story could be read on its own, but reading the books in order definitely has advantages.

I am really enjoying the characters, and although we don't learn a lot new about any of them, what we do learn is surprising.  When the topic of police corruption came up, I realized that it was going to be difficult to figure out who to trust, as there are a lot of characters, and a few red herrings.  That was well done.

Even though my mind wandered off occasionally, it was a good book, and I will definitely be looking for the next in the series.

This is another in the Karen Shaw series, a criminal investigator in the UK. The story centers on a car accident that kills her husband and daughter before the events of the book take place, and are at the center of a conspiracy that extends into the police force. As Shaw uncovers more wrongdoing, we are drawn into the story and into the inner workings of her mind and her conflict between being a good cop and doing the right thing and being frustrated with building the case for her to seek justice. It is a great read with some interesting characters and conflicts. I highly recommend this book and want to dive into the author's earlier works.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t just a whodunit Murder mystery or police procedural, there were personal elements involved and everything combined to make it a great story. I only found out after I read it that this was the third in a series but yet it was good as a stand alone. Now of course I will have to backtrack and read the first two.

“Don’t Look Back” by D.S. Butler -a review. I was gifted this book by #netgalley for a unbiased and honest review.
If you like Police Mysteries this book is definitely the book for you! Full of mystery and suspense and even some police corruption! 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Detective Karen Hart is still reeling from the death of her husband and daughter that happened five years earlier. Convinced that there was a cover up, she is unable to let it go. When a man is found murdered in the woods, Karen is brought back to five years when she was investigating the local bar the Red Lion. Something that the owner says about her not learning her lesson last time continues to nag at Karen. As the body count increases the likelihood of corruption seems more feasible. Hang on tight to find out who Karen can trust and who is being paid off to help the crooks get away with murder and human slavery.

A New Murder Revives Memories of Old Crimes

A man is bludgeoned to death in a wooded area near the village of Canfield. Before he’s killed he scrabbles in the ground to hid a ledger. In his pocket is found a beer mat from the Red Lion Pub. None of the clues target a suspect, but DS Karen Hart and he boss DI Scott Morgan have had suspicions about the Red Lion before.

When they arrive to question the proprietors, they discover several men living in the garage. The facilities are almost non-existent which leads the investigators to question whether the proprietors are running a human trafficking ring.

This is the third book in the series. While it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, exposure to the previous books will flesh out the motives in this novel. It is much easier to understand Karen’s motivations when you read that the last time she had a case involving the Red Lion her husband and daughter were killed in an automobile accident.

The narrative is written in the third person, but the major characters all have chapters for their points of view. This gives us a view into why DS Hart is so focused on finding the answers when the Red Lion becomes a focus of the investigation and why DI Morgan tries to keep to himself.

This is a well written police procedural. I liked the psychological aspects. The author gives you a window into understanding what drives the investigators as well as the finding the clues to the new crime.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Don't turn back will give you insights into cop corruption and brave officers who stand up for justice. The characters were intriguing . Lots of twist that keep you thinking.

This is the first book I've read from D.S. Butler and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story had enough meat to it to keep me entertained till the end. Some clues were very obvious and some creep up on you like a thief in the night!

I will definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and Amazon PublishingUK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a very suspenseful police procedural that takes place in a small English village.. It can stand by itself, but I highly recommend you read the previous book in this series. The characters are diverse and very realistic. The style of writing produces good mental images and is easy to read with few Brit phases. Karen remains on the edge of an emotional breakdown through most of the book, but holds it together for a satisfying conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and met some interesting characters.

Book 3 in the Karen Hart mystery series and a man is found in the woods bludgeoned to death. She is also dealing with her own tragedy and doesn’t know who to trust. Secrets and lies.

Detective Karen Hart is barely coping with the death of her husband and child. They were killed in an automobile accident. There were no witnesses or evidence found at the scene.
Right now her focus is on the murdered man found in a small forest of trees. He is almost unrecognizable. He has been bludgeoned to death. His clothes are dirty and he has dirt encrusted in his nails. He has a very unkempt look about him. He could possibly be a homeless person.
While investigating this case she is led to the owners of a bar. These were the people she had been investigating when the tragic loss of her family happened. That case had been closed because there was lack of evidence.
Now the coaster found on the back pocket of their murder victim points them back to that case again. A case of white slavery.
An intriguing look into the cases involving murder, slavery, arson and corruption.
Excellent read!

I enjoyed this book very much however I had no idea it was part of a series. I might have liked it more had I read the other books in the series but I am just guessing. It reads fine as a stand alone book. DS Karen Hart is a strong female character who has lost her husband and daughter. This is a very original story and very involved. I would definitely read the other books in this series and those still yet to come.

Detective Karen Hart is a police officer in a small hamlet in Great Britain. She is drawn into a murder case when a body is found in a local park. Karen is a widow and is still haunted by the traffic accident that took her husband and daughter. There are people in the department that make her job easier and some that make it harder. Dealing with personal grief, departmental politics and interference from the outside she still manages to do a good job of solving the crime.

The location is fun (UK), the characters are interesting and the mystery stays a mystery until the end. I recommend this to mystery fans and police story fans everywhere.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I feel very meh about this book. I liked the main characters and the setting was good, but there were too many obvious parts. The reader is supposed to think that the case of the bludgeoned man from the first chapter and the deaths of DC Hart's husband and daughter 5 years previously are not connected, but from the moment Hart gets involved in the case, it's clear that they are related.

The antagonists are crystal clear, like, there is never a doubt that this one or that one are no good. And yet, the protagonists are somehow surprised? I dunno, but I'm not buying it. I prefer some twists in the plot instead of having it all served up so neatly.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first D.S. Butler book, but not the first book in the series. It wasn’t necessary to read the previous books. The author includes all the information you need in the story. Still mourning the loss of her family, DI Karen Hart lands a case that has ties to a previous case she's investigated. There are numerous twists and turns as the story unfolds. It kept me guessing and I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this great detective mystery. Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing. Couldn't put it down!

Murder abounds in this story. From the beginning of the book, you hold on to your seat and the book takes off. The past coming back to haunting the department and our favourite inspector is at the forefront of it. There is no shortage of mystery, suspense and valid issues that occur today, all over the world. Once one mystery is solved, another crops up.
This was a well rounded read. 4.7*/5*

This is the first book I have read from this Author. I really enjoyed it and will go back and read the rest of the series now. The story begins with a murder of a man. DS Hart and her team are called in to investigate and solve this crime, they some immigrants who are living in a pub garage but what they're doing there? There's also a bit of police corruption thrown in too! An action packed book bursting with lots of different roads, how do they all come together in the end? Read the book to find out more!

A fascinating look at the life of a policewoman. After the loss of her family nothing much matters except work. A murder, a human trafficking ring and a fire all combine to bring back memories of a very bad time. A very well-written novel with superb characters and real life action.

I haven’t read the rest in this series which is always worrisome however I was hooked right from the beginning. The slavery ring, the murders, it all made for such an exciting story! This type of reading is right up my alley and I truly loved it!

I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.

Can I just say how much I love reading this author's work. I love reading about D.S. Hart and what she uncovers. She is a smart D.S. that does not back down from anything. She makes an amazing detective. When she starts looking into the Red Lion Pub D.S. Hart ends up uncovering more than just a murder. It seems that there is some human trafficking among some corruption within the police department. D.S. Hart while working and uncovering what is really going on within the Red Lion Pub will have to come to terms with her husband and daughter's death. She will finally get the answers that she needed when it first happened and she learns that her gut instinct was correct on it. Now as I started reading I did not know that this was book three, so I would recommend that you read the first two books in this series just so you get a bit of a back story. Though you can read this book as a stand-alone.

I am excited to see what else D.S. Hart will have to solve in her next book. The plot was very steady and the characters were well developed. If you like police mysteries then pick this up!

In a small village, where everyone knows everyone, a man is found brutally beaten to death. The book starts with him running for his life and he manages hide a book before he is beaten.
DS Karen Hart is sent to investigate. She has troubles of her own, having recently lost her husband and child in a vehicle accident. The only clue on the body of the man is a coaster beer mat from.a local pub. On it is written a date and time.
When the detectives go to the Red Lion pub, the owners are not helpful at all and seem to be hiding a secret. Soon one of their secrets are discovered when 3 men are found in a garage where they are obviously kept in disgusting surroundings.
The detectives decide to investigate more, but while awaiting authorization to search, the building is on fire.
I would have liked this book a lot more if it flowed a bit quicker.
I do thank the publisher, author and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my first DS Hart book, and I’m not sure I’ll pick up the next one. To me, the pace seemed a little off, and all the characters too fraught. And it’s also just a little heavy on the explaining.

Another fantastic book in the DS Karen Hart series! I love this character so much and once I started the book I could not put it down!

I am usually a fan of DS Butler and there really was nothing wrong with this book either in the plot the characters or the style of writing. However my reviews are always about liking and not liking and it was the subject matter that didn’t suit me. So purely on personal taste I’m only giving it three stars so don’t llet that put you off reading it and I will definitely try more from this author.

A very good story with believable and likable characters. There are many suspects and so many twists that I could not put it down.

This is a new police series for me as a reader but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story gripped me straight away and developed into much more than just a murder case.

Many thanks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant read. Kept me gripped to the end. Highly recommend this book, this series and this author. Absolutely fantastic

I found this book to be very well written. DS Hart is a police detective in England. She is called out to the scene of a murder. Ultimately, the murder ties into her own personal tragedy. I think this is more of an adult read. This is very English, and I found myself occasionally needed to figure out words and phrases through context clues. All that being said, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, complex plot lines, and a satisfying story.

This is the first book I have read from this Author. I really enjoyed it and will go back and read the rest of the series now. The story begins with a murder of a man. DS Hart and her team are called in to investigate and solve this crime, they some immigrants who are living in a pub garage but what they're doing there? There's also a bit of police corruption thrown in too! An action packed book bursting with lots of different roads, how do they all come together in the end? Read the book to find out more!
Blurb .... You can cover up the truth but it won’t stay buried forever.
A man is found bludgeoned to death in woodland by the village of Canwick, and the close-knit community is sent into shock. Detective Karen Hart, still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter nearby, is brought in to investigate the horrific murder.
It soon becomes clear that dark secrets lie behind Canwick’s unspoiled appearance. When Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers, she faces a race to find proof before the culprits slip from her grasp. But when key witnesses start disappearing, it’s obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy to keep prying eyes away from the truth.
But in a village where everyone knows everyone, who knows more than they are letting on—and who can Hart really trust? She’s in deep and she’s never been more alone. She must confront the tragedy of her own past if she wants to catch the killers before it’s too late. Because one thing’s for certain—there’s no turning back…

I haven't read any others in the series, so that may have affected my opinion. I liked the story and the characters but it seemed like a very long book - of course everything worked out in the end. I would read another by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

I really enjoyed the mystery and crime solving in this one, but I definitely felt like it was lacking something - I don't know if it's just because it's a new author for me or if it was a little wordy at times with no plot development in the start - but I liked how it all came together at the end and overall enjoyed the story.

Another page turner by D S Butler; another gripping book; another great storyline with characters that you actually believe in and feel for; a story that must actually be sadly so true for so many that we just don't know about; another must read to add to your list. I'm sure each book by this author gets better and better. Loved it, sorry when I had finished it!

I received an advanced reader copy of Don't Turn back by DS Butler, from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. As I knew this was the third in the DS Karen Hart series, I deliberately didn't read it until I had read the first two books and reviewed them. That said, Don't Turn Back holds its own very well as a standalone book, although I am glad I did read the others first.

The brutal murder of an unidentified man leads DS Karen Hart back to a couple she has had dealings with before, and suspected of being involved in modern slavery. Still mourning the tragic loss of her husband and child in a car accident five years earlier, Karen begins to suspect there is a conspiracy which may even implicate police officers in her own force. A conspiracy which she begins to believe may be connected to the loss of her family. DI Scott Morgan has his own problems. His old boss from Thames Valley police is working on the investigation with them and seems determined to undermine his authority and reputation.
As Karen begins to doubt her own judgement, she realises the investigation is much more complicated than at first thought. As two investigations merge into one, she finds becomes more and more convinced there is a corrupt influence within the police holding them back.

I honestly believe this is the best book in the series so far. More complex than its predecessors and extremely well thought out. I like these characters and felt for Morgan when Rob Miller turned up, and took an instant dislike to DC Olivia Webster. I would have found it difficult to be so diplomatic around her. I did feel that Rick and Sophie could have been more involved in the early investigation but it was good to see them develop as investigators later on.
I am happy to recommend Don't Turn Back to anyone, whether they are new to the genre or a pro. Eagerly looking forward to book four...

Dectetive Karen Hart as she struggles to move on from personal loss picks up a case close to home that quickly intersects with her past.

I enjoyed this book as it kept me riveted and I didn’t want to put it down. Having read previous books by this author made it easy for me to pick up storyline, but as a stand-alone book it would be good also.

Don't Turn Back by D. S. Butler is the third book in her series featuring DS Karen Hart and set in Lincolnshire. This is the first I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. Plus I will be going back to read the other 2 books. I enjoyed and reading about all the characters and looking forward to the next installment.

Big thank you to the publisher: Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

A 5 star book I strongly recommend. The book is very well written. The characters are strong and well developed. The story is awesome and very intriguing. A must read!

I've heard good reports from this author and decided to give this one a go not disappointed, usual crime procedures and D S Hart has had a previous tragedy losing her husband and daughter in a car crash which she has always felt it was not an accident but has tried to put it to rest, and in this episode, her DI Scott Morgan calls for her to view a body where the face had been brutely bludgeoned to hide who he is. On investigating she comes into contact with Perry's the people who run The Red Lion pub nasty pieces of work, and Karen Hart always believed they were behind her husband and daughter's death. While trying to have a word with this couple D S Hart sees something untoward in the garage, and lo and behold 3 pitiful men were there in filthy condition, and Perry's excuse is they were putting a roof over their heads. Disappointingly they can't keep Perry's in jail on such minor charges as nobody is talking. Morgan and Scott always feel that the culprits are one step ahead, how can that be?. Few days in and Morgans' previous boss comes in on the action, and he brings along his DC they are from Thames Valley and looks like his case overlaps with theirs Morgan and Hart have a job on their hand their counterparts want to belittle them most of the time but can they get the upper hand, and will Hart get justice for her husband and daughter. good book writing is superb the characters well balanced and a joy to read. I would like to thank Netgalley and AmazonPublishing UK for a copy to review.

DS Karen Hart is a seasoned detective with the Lincolnshire police force. She is a very determined individual with a very intuitive gut instinct but that is not how you solve cases. Karen has worked very hard to let go of her heartbreaking past but all that is about to change when she is forced to revisit the Perry's. This murder mystery has a lot going on but Karen will do everything she can to find the truth. What a great book. I love the setting, the characters and the story line. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to preview this book.

thanks netgalley. Karen is still haunted by the death of her husband and daughter, she believes it was a coverup within the police department.

While Karen is investigating a murder, she uncovers what she believes is a human trafficking ring. As she starts to figure things out she finds that she may not have been wrong about the death of her family

Det. Karen is sent to investigate a horrific murder. As she begins her investigation, she has to return to a Bar that she has looked into before. she had only quit looking into that bar because her husband and daughter were killed in a car accident and she was obviously in a great bit of grief and that took a long time to come to terms with..
however she has never stopped being suspicious of the owners activities and has always thought they might somehow be involved in the car accident, although she has lately come to think she might be wrong about that.
the story unfolds like an investigation and is interesting to read. won't tell you anymore as to not take away how it all works out,
It is a pretty good read.

Great read! Even though #dontturnback is number 3 in the DS Karen Hart series I didn’t feel at all out of sync or behind in the story line. This police procedural is tightly crafted and contains just enough twists to keep you guessing. I will definitely look for more in the series. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for this ebook to read and review.

This was an engaging read with plenty of plot twists to keep me guessing, I couldn't put it down. I'm looking forward to the next book from this author.

Great book with a lot of twists and turns! This is the first book I have read by this author and I am truly impressed! The story is very interesting and intriguing. The character development of the protagonist is very elegantly done. Overall, its a great police-thriller novel. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.

This isn’t my usual type of read, but I was surprised that I enjoyed it. It was well written and kept me wanting to read more. It’s part of a series I believe, but you wouldn’t have known by reading this, it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the others.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This is the third novel in the series, but the first book I have read. There is enough background within this story that I don’t think there is a need to read the previous 2 books. Set in the small town of Lincolnshire, Detective Sargent Karen Hart is holding her life together 5 years after her husband and daughter died in a car accident. A violent, bludgeoning death brings Karen once again to face an old nemesis in the form of the Perry family. The Perry’s are a slimy group that are well known to Karen’s team since they have been investigated before for illegal payroll practices. This time around, Karen and her partner find 3 very dirty men living in squalid conditions in the Perry’s garage. With enough evidence to bring the Perry’s in for questions involving an illegal modern slavery trade, Karen looks to lock up the Perry’s for good this time. When the Perry’s bar The Red Lion is set alight in the middle of the night and witnesses start disappearing, it becomes clear that the Perry’s may have been a front for a much larger, more dangerous organization who’s purpose is to exploit vulnerable groups for cheap labor. A complex, layered story complete with murder, mayhem, and dirty cops. Karen is a sympathetic figure who is determined to do her job to the best of her ability, while also struggling with many demons from her past. While story doesn’t contain mind blowing shockers, story is well rounded and has many different facets. There was a bit of a lag in pacing in the middle, but it finished strong. Should appeal to fans of this series and police procedurals at large. Review posted to Goodreads, LibraryThing, and Amazon.

I enjoyed reading this book and thought the author did a great job exposing the corruption in the British police dept. at the end. Bringing her past to the present along with other characters made you want to know the real story behind imported slavery. Well-developed story with several twists.
This book was given to me by Net Galley for an honest review.

Nice lean writing. Interesting plot line. good character development. Looking forward to more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

This is the first book of Butler that I have read, and I was not disappointed. The characters were well developed and I was easily drawn into their world.

A dead body, a threat from an old suspect, a deadly fire and some old questions. Detective Hart is determined to discover the truth: is there a connection? Startled, Detective Hart begins to wonder about the real circumstance surrounding the accident. Dealing with emotions from the loss of her family, the difficulties of solving a brutal murder and unsettling issues within the police force, she struggles to keep her sanity while performing her duties.

A psychological study of one woman’s sanity is measured against the backdrop of police work and corruption. Is there corruption, where is it, who can be trusted? Those are the questions that must be answered along with solving the murder of the mystery man, the arson that killed three people, and what is going on in the Red Lion? Hart’s struggles while doing her job take this police drama to a higher level of mystery and danger.

DS Butler finds body that leads to involvement in human trafficking. It is also connected with the accident (or was it) that killed her husband and 5 year old daughter a few years back. She is dogged in her pursuit, especially when she thinks there may be crooked police as part of a much larger conspiracy. Classic British whodunit, with clues scattered about, a bunch of great characters, and several interlocking plots all coming together at the end. A terrific series.

D S Butler writes about several different investigating teams, all of which are excellent reads, but I think DS Karen Hart is probably his most complex. As well as being faced by appalling crimes and their perpetrators on a daily basis she is trying to deal with the tragic loss of her husband and child. The motive for the murders here is bang up to date,, to cover up the crime of human slavery. This is a great read and I can't wait for the next in the series.

Apparently this is 3rd in a series so I was worried that I would be lost as there are a LOT of characters, but Butler does fill us in so by the end of the novel I was clear. DI Karen is still haunted by the accidental death of her husband and daughter five years ago and when a murder occurs that involves some of the shady suspects related to their deaths, of course it re-awakens those memories and spurs her on in the investigation. There are lots of investigators, red herrings, jealousies, suspicions, and all the things you probably have come to expect and enjoy in a police procedural. This won't be the last of Butler's books I read as it was captivating from beginning to end.

Really enjoyed the other books in this series,so could not wait to read this book.
Was not let down,another great storyline that will keep you reading.
Good to link the background and present to and get a full picture.
Liked the way other characters are developing.
Can't wait for the next book!!

I was so eager to read this book, as I read D.S. Butler's two previous ones. This third is just as good, an exciting read from page one to the end. I will plan to read additional books by this author. I like the characters, felt the story moved at a good pace and no matter where I stopped reading, I wanted to get back to reading and learning more about the story. I did receive a copy from NetGalley and appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book. I hope the author finds many more interested readers, as I am ready for the next. book in the series.

A very good police procedural featuring a widowed detective sergeant and her boss. The murder leads to bigger things being discovered in their small town. Very good writing and characters made for a good read. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

In the prologue, a man is running from his killers. He has to keep a small blue notebook away from them. He falls in the woods, scrambles to bury the notebook, and gets up to run more. What was in that notebook? Intriguing prologue!
"Don't Look Back" is the third in a series of books about Detective Karen Hart. When the man's body is discovered, there's a beer mat in his pocket. This leads the detectives to a pub, Many many investigations and interviews encompass this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the privilege of reading "Don't Look Back."

DC Karen Hart has had some extreme trauma in her life, losing her husband and daughter, but chooses to keep working as a means to heal. She accepts an assignment to a small town where neighbors are friends and family too but also seem disguised as persons of criminal intent. DC Hart finds herself in the middle of a crime ring unable to decide who is at the root of the crime. DS Butler books are always enjoyable reads. Fast moving, tension filled and enough clues that keep you guessing until the very end.

Don't Turn Back is the 3rd book in the D. S. Karen Hart series in which investigating a crime leads to old, personal wounds being reopened for our female lead.

A bludgeoned body of a man is found in the woods around Canwick with a beer mat of a local pub, the Red Lion, in his pocket. The mat has a date and time scribbled on it. Not far from the body, a ledger is uncovered which consists of dates, codenames and payment figures. D. S. Karen Hart already has had a run in with the owners of the Red Lion in the past. 5 years ago, she had investigated the owners on the suspicion of them being involved in human trafficking and modern day slavery. However, she had to let her investigation go because of a personal tragedy involving an accident and deaths of her husband and daughter. When she and her boss D. I. Morgan investigate the pub, her suspicions prove to be correct as they discover three undocumented workers living in undesirable conditions in the garage.

What starts off as two separate investigations, a murder case and a small town modern slavery case takes a turn when it comes to light that both these seemingly separate cases are part of one huge puzzle involving a nation wide human trafficking business. While investigating D. S. Karen begins to suspect that a few members of the police force might be part of this problem too and she can't help but wonder if her initial inkling was correct about her family's death not being an accident but a murder, because of her involvement with the case and the fact that it was hushed up as an accident.

This is a complex and taut plot which covers human trafficking, modern day slavery and corruption within the police department. The pacing is fast and taut and the police procedural is gripping with a couple of shocking revelations in the end. Although, this is the 3rd book in the series, it has enough backstory to be read as a standalone.

I like how the author is moving forward with the series with an emphasis on police corruption. Towards the end, the author also introduces a new character, an ex police officer, who could play an important role in helping D. S. Karen Hart uncover the root of the police corruption issue in future installments.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Amazon Publishing and the author D. S. Butler for an e-Arc of the book.

Really good conspiracy theory book. Loved the suspense and thrill. The story line was very detailed and made you think.

#NetGalley #D.S.Butler

Don't Turn Back is a fast moving, un-putdown-able book that i really enjoyed. The main protagonist DS Karen Hart, was a smart, empathetic and likeable character. The story began with a man being chased and then bludgeoned to death. DS Hart is called to the murder scene and finds a beer mat in the deceased's pants pocket with the name of a local bar, The Red Lion. Following that lead, she discovers three men in a building on The Red Lion's property who she suspects are living there in squalor and working for petty wages. Thus begins the investigation into what they suspect is human "slave" trafficking and whether the two cases are related is just speculation at this point.

The case has allot of twists and surprised me all the way till the end. I did not see it coming. I found this book very entertaining and would definitely recommend it. This was my first book by the author and even though it was the 3rd in the DS Karen Hart series it definitely worked as a stand-alone. I look forward to reading other books by D.S. Butler and also more about Karen Hart!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I liked the characters and the story overall, but the people who seem like the bad guys are--surprise--the bad guys. The writing was fine, but the ending was disappointing. I liked the two main characters, but there was a surprising lack of tension here.

Hart's efforts to find out the truth about the deaths of her husband and daughter were more gripping than the murder mystery.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. Normally, I am not enthralled by British mysteries, however, found this one engaging.. Think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the author's previous novels.
This was a very detailed police procedural and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It seemed very repetitive, very slow, and very predictable. After the discovery of an unidentified, murdered man, DC Hart is working on two parallel cases, and the connections between the two were fairly obvious right at the start. Then a case from Karen Hart's past, the murder of her husband and daughter are added to the mix, and once again, you can see where it is going. The main problem for me is that I don't think I empathized with any of the characters. DC Hart seemed a bit wimpy for her position as a detective constable, her staff seemed to take extra initiative, and her boss seemed clueless. The book had an interesting story line, but for me, fell a little flat.

I have not read the first two books in this series but I plan to do so now. This was a great mystery with a very deep plot that was like a puzzle. Karen is a great investigator, although still broken from personal loss. I look forward to reading more of this series.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

You never know who or what is genuine and what is fake. I can't really say more about the plot, otherwise I would spoil the fun and thrill of reading it. And it sure is a gripping read with some twists.

I was a bit surprised how the police is treated by the people their are interviewing. Very disrespectful, and not only by the Perry couple. Also two elderly ladies tell Karen Hart off for being her 'behaviour'/doing her job. And in my opinion she treats them all very gentle, cautious and polite. Something that would never happen in a US-thriller. I did not like DC Webster at all, she was a horrible b*tch, but she voiced my feelins exactly when she said: "I'm surprised you ever get anything out of interviews if you give up that easily!"

I suspect that Karen Harts personal storyline is not finished with this 3rd part of the series, I think there is even more to it than she found out now. We'll see when the 4th book comes out.

Although I did enjoy her writing, I wasn't in the mood for this before archived up so I didn't finish it before then, but did enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher

This is the 3rd in the series featuring DS Karen Hart, I haven’t actually read the second one yet but I don’t think it’s really necessary. But I highly recommend you go check out all the books in this series as they’re brilliant. Great storyline which keeps you hooked from start to finish. And Hart is a great character who I like reading about in each book.

DS Karen Hart is still haunted by the death of her husband and daughter in a tragic car accident. She is trying to move on and focus on her job. When a man is bludgeoned to death the trail leads her back to the case she was working on when they died. Was it really a tragic accident?

While I enjoyed this book, I did not feel that the plot moved quick enough, or with enough OMG moments to keep me intrigued.

D. S. Butler is one of my go-to British authors. I especially love DS Karen Hart. No nonsense and do what it takes attitude help DS Hart to find her footing in investigations.

When things seem amiss and everyone is shutting her down on the accident that ruined her life and killed the two people she loved most in the world, she starts to feel like it's a cover up from the higher ups.

This new case she's on brings her back around to an investigation she was working on before she had to take a leave. Could they be connected or is it coincidental? Will she ever find out what is amiss with the past?

Can the neighbors be trusted? Did they see what they're claiming or are they a bit senile in their old age?

This story is quite tumultuous and you will not want to put it down.

This book started out pretty well, but then got a bit slow for me. Karen is still reeling from the loss of her husband and daughter 5 years earlier. She has tried putting one foot in front of the other, but finds herself still wondering if there was a cover-up. When her instant case seems to merge with the people who had caused problems for her before, Karen is left wondering what is really going on. She is then left to wonder who she can trust and who is not what they seem. The plot was interesting, but kind of slow. There were a few times where it was just redundant and was boring The conclusion was petty open-ended.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

This is another book in the Detective Hart series, and even though this one reads nicely enough as a standalone, I would advise you to read the previous books in the series, just to make sure you follow the backstory. And read the previous books, because why wouldn't you want to anyways! This is one of the best books I've read in 2020 so far, and I can't wait to dive into the next book. Highly recommended.
TB

Another great read in this detective series. This series does not disappoint and in fact they keep getting better and better. This book was a.thriliing read that kept my interest the whole way through.

Don't Turn Back was a great read by D.S. Butler. In the woodland's of Canwick, a man was found bludgeoned to death. The community is a very small one that now is sent to shock. Detective Karen Hart is brought in to investigate the murder while she is still haunted by the loss of her husband and daughter. Karen starts to believe that there may be a modern-day slavery ring in the small village. Unfortunately for her witnesses start to disappear to try and keep her from the truth. This was a good read about Detective Hart finding the killers.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the series, and I do feel it would have been beneficial to read the other books first. Nonetheless, a good suspenseful police procedural. Well-written, great characters, Recommended.

*4.5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really good read and I liked the characters. It had a good ending also.

I have been enjoying this series about DS Karen Hart, but this one is the most exciting yet. Lots of twists as corruption is uncovered. I don’t want to say too much as I don’t want to give any spoilers, but read this book you won’t be disappointed

I would like to thank Amazon Publishing UK / Thomas & Mercer and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.

I love the beautiful cover of this book where you can see Detective Karen Hart, I think it's her, running on the road.

When you read this book you learn a lot of things, the first thing you learn is that you can hide the truth about a lot of things, someone will know the truth one day.

It all begins when a man is found beaten to death in a wood near Canwick. Karen Hart is still in shock over the tragic loss of her daughter and her husband is being investigated for the murder.

To Karen it seems obvious that there are terrible secrets lurking in the village. Like a network of modern slavery well hidden from the sight of the villagers. She will have to find evidence before the culprits go away. Until the day when key witnesses disappear, Karen thinks there might be a conspiracy somewhere. Who can she trust?

A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked into the story, so moving at certain passages, captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters.

Love this book. Kept me on the edge of my seat. A must read if you want to be enthralled. May keep you up all night!

Don't turn back will give you insights into cop corruption and brave officers who stand up for justice. The characters were intriguing . Lots of twist that keep you thinking. Good plot, vivid characters, and good story line. Realistic book! Easily held the readers attention until the bitter end. Great read

A total page turner right from the beginning! I had a tough time even putting it down to get a few hours of sleep. I can’t wait for the next book! Thanks for such a great book!

Series thrillers are a particular type of read and I akin them to a snack (a delicious one). The thriller storyline is not always as in-depth as a stand-alone, but there is often more character development to carry the cast of characters through further stories. Each book feels like revisiting an old friend and catching up since you last picked up.

In this case, my friend Detective Karen Hart has been up to some gruesome business.

She has been investigating what appears to be a modern-day slavery ring. I hopped in with the third book in the series without reading the previous two and still loved it. It felt like a BBC police procedural show, which is very much my cup of tea. As Detective Hart is knocking on doors and doing her detective thing, witnesses begin disappearing and it is clear that the web of deception and potential corruption is more widespread than she originally realized…

But Detective Hart is in too deep … so there’s no turning back!

The third installment in the Detective Superintendent Karen Hart series. A thriller with a slow start soon finds its pace and gathers speed until it is an unstoppable force culminating in a cliff hanger end that will have you on the edge of your seat

D S Butler, has brought to life the wonderful Karen Hart. This book is part of a brilliantly thought out series. The characters, plots and even the twists are executed perfectly.
Definitely a series for fans of crime fiction!

Another great addition to the hart and Morgan series. Was great to see Morgan and hart both get answers to their respective worries.

Amazing thriller! I have to admit that it was quite slow at the beginning, but I quickly got stuck into it and read it in one sitting. I would definitely luke to read other books by this author as I also enjoyed her writing style. Read this if you are looking for a thriller with twists that will lesve you surprised.

The synopsis sounded good when I requested it. Unfortunately, it no longer piques my interest. I will give it a good rating though as I was thankful for the early access.