17.7.21

BLOG TOUR, BOOK REVIEW - One Left Behind (DI Gina Harte #9) by Carla Kovach

 

                                                                 BOOK DESCRIPTION

Music and loud voices echo through the woods surrounding her. Wiping her tears, she hears the rustle of leaves close by. Footsteps. She has no time to scream before a hand covers her mouth and her entire world goes black.


In a patch of forest on the outskirts of a small town, five teenage school friends prepare to spend a night away from home. Carrying their tents and sleeping bags, they laugh and joke as they make their way into the darkest part of the woods, away from prying eyes. But as the sun rises the following morning, only four are left alive.


Devastated, Leah’s friends all swear they didn’t see or hear anything. Her best friend sobs as she recounts what she remembers from that night – dancing, roasting marshmallows, sipping warm cans of beer by the fire – but is it grief, or is she hiding something? What happened to Naomi in the hour that no one can account for? And what troubled past lies behind the perfect manners of the boy who organised the trip, and who is prepared to lie to keep it buried?


As the cracks in their stories grow, it’s clear one of them is lying, and one of them is next…


Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, One Left Behind is a thrilling crime novel that will have you hooked from the very first page!



The chapters of this gripping,addictive thriller were voiced from the perspectives of DI Gina Harte, a teenage girl called caro and a disabled woman called Sandy who was married to a manipulative, abusive bully called Frank. The death of a teenage girl called Leah is the catalyst for a complex and frustrating investigation that had a multitude of suspects and more false trails and dead ends than a maze. The victim had been partying in the woods where her body had been discovered with her four friends and as Gina and her team of loyal investigators questioned the other party goers, it became apparent that there was a sinister undertone to the parties and the friends were keeping secrets from the police. Gina is a really likeable character and I love how well the team work together and how Gina treats each member as her equal. I like how each member of the team is given the opportunity to contribute their own input into the investigation and it's not just Gina who finds the vital clue that cracks the case.


On the personal front, it appeared that Gina's past was About to catch up with her when she and her boss and lover started receiving anonymous text messages from someone who was threatening to reveal the truth. To make matters worse, Gina's daughter with whom she already had a volatile relationship was acting more cold and standoffish than normal. Why did Hannah suddenly appear to be avoiding talking to her mother? If Gina's secret was revealed, she would probably end up in prison,lose her job and her team who she was very fond of and thought of as her family.


Caro, who hadn't been at the party on the night that Leah had been murdered was also receiving anonymous text messages threatening that if she didn't keep her mouth shut then she would be the next to die. She had refused to attend the party due to having the feeling that something bad had happened at the previous party. To begin with her memories were all confused and hazy but as time passes and her thoughts started to clear, the truth about what really went on at the parties was revealed and it became a that, with friends like Caro's, who needed enemies.


Sandy's parts of the story were uncomfortable to read at times but not overly graphic. Her story was a shocking blend of abuse, manipulation and unfair judgement on social media and by ignorant vigilantes that contained a thought provoking question about the court of public opinion.


Omg, this is a absolutely bloody brilliant series and this latest addition is no exception. It's a very well written, fast paced, at times intense and gripping read that is packed full of twists and turns, kept me guessing and glued to my kindle. The chapters are short and snappy and very often end in a way that gives the reader a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome. The author has created a fantastic cast of recurring characters, individuals who worm their way into your heart and make you care about them. Although this is the ninth book in the series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. A very enjoyable, captivating, addictive read and very very highly recommended.


                                                                         Author Bio

Carla Kovach is a crime and horror author from Worcestershire. Her most popular work, the DI Gina Harte series is published by Bookouture. As well as books, she also writes stage and screenplays

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Pub Day: July 15th 2021

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