I had no clue who was responsible for the crime. Lodge does a great job of keeping multiple suspects a real possibility. Aurora has finally been found and so begins the gripping investigation that may finally conclude what happened on that ill-fated night in 1983. According to Keely, the sisters were subjected to emotional, physical and sexual abuse in two foster homes and one group care facility. In each case, their claims were discredited, and the evidence points to Keely being a sociopath and pathological liar. Nina is the “good” sister and the police try to follow the frustrating clues to find the missing, and possibly injured child. Little Sister had me thoroughly hooked right the way through, with twists and turns I did not see coming. Vivid characterisation, and a masterly control of the rising tension. A fantastic crime novel -- Katherine Webb Jonah Sheens is enjoying a moment of peace in a pub garden on his day off when a teenage girl wanders out of the woods. She's striking, with flame-red hair and a pale complexion. She's also covered in blood.

The story is built out in a very compelling way. As the Reader you get entire chapters of Keely telling their story from the beginning.Is she witness, victim, or killer? And if Jonah follows the trail of clues in her story, will they lead him to the missing girl--or distract him until it's too late? The Lennox sisters’ story is quite disturbing and I felt a lot of empathy for them and what they experienced. The fact the girls had to resort to the way the plot revealed itself was upsetting in itself and was a subject I commend the author for covering. The pace is fast and the story flows, so much so that it’s hard to put down as it’s so gripping. The characterisation is excellent, the police team are very likeable, some are flawed but that makes them feel authentic and very real. The portrayal of the sisters and the telling of their story is outstanding and you definitely end up rooting for them. The narrative alternates between Jonah, Juliette Hanson, a member of Jonah’s team and the young woman. Little Sister was an excellent introduction to this series for me. It was an uncomfortable read at times because of the story that Keely had to tell. Orphaned, both girls were placed into care and it was not a pretty story. Gytha Lodge has written a compelling story of crime fiction which not only twists and turns but also includes darker themes at its core.

The book focuses on trust and friendship. Six teenage friends go camping and only five return. But not all the relationships have held up, so the stories coming out now are different than they were at the time. DCI Jonah is relaxing at a bar while pondering his domestic problems. A young woman with blazing red hair stumbles out of the woods drenched with blood. She deliberately approaches the bar. Jonah is concerned, but she is not forthcoming in her answers. He learns that she is 16-year-old Keely Lennox and that she and her younger sister, Nina left an abusive care home five days earlier. She says she is alright, but the missing Nina should concern him. Whose blood is it? Is it Nina's? Did Keely injure or kill someone? The story begins with DCI Jonah Sheens enjoying the beautiful weather (and a drink) in the pub's beer garden with his baby daughter Milly, waiting for Jonah’s domestic partner, Michelle to arrive so they can do a child handover. In this rare moment of quiet enjoyment, a young teenage girl wanders onto the grounds and is heading in their direction. With striking features and flaming red hair, she's beautiful; but it's not those attributes which draws everyone's attention. The young teenage girl stumbling into the yard is covered in blood. Present Day: A young girl camping with her family, stumbles upon the bones of a human hand in a small cavern at the base of a tree.

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But instead of finding answers, she comes face to face with Detective Jonah Sheens. Aisling's DNA is a match for a recent crime scene - the latest in a string of murders by a dangerous serial killer, known as 'the bonfire killer'. And the police have three lead suspects: her father, or one of her two sons... A book to keep you on your toes and break your heart a bit too. Riddled with clues I guarantee you won't guess! -- Victoria Selman I hope that Lodge continues on with DCI Sheens character. I enjoyed him and the other officers he had on his team. The story is told from the point of Jonah and a few of his colleagues, but we also hear from Keely, who tells a terrible story about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her foster carers. Through Lodge’s careful story crafting, we are led to believe that perhaps Keely is not at all what she seems, and there is enough suspicion with the young, troubled, Keely, that the story she tells could be completely fabricated. It is not until the final chapters when we discover the truth, and all of the plot lines are tied up in little bows, leaving no questions unanswered. Nina is one of two sisters who disappeared, but Keely turns up in a pub garden covered in blood. From the off there’s unsettling suggestions that’s something is amis. Is Keeley an innocent victim? Where’s Nina now? Why is keeley covered in blood? So many questions to hold the readers’ attention. What follows is a dark, riveting tale of resentment, jealousy, manipulation and control and revenge.

This book is told in alternating time-lines. Aurora in the past and her experiences during the camping trip and in the present as Jonah investigates what happened in the woods that lead to Aurora's death. Have the group members changed over time? Are they still the cohesive group? Do any have secrets? Does anyone have any new information? We learn not only about the relationships of the suspects but also the police team. There’s a new member, young DC Hanson, and Sheens is trying to see how she fits in. Normally I was planning to give five stars but I think I’m addict of the series so I decided to round up 4.5 stars to 5 creative writing, perfect characterization stars! Little Sister is a solid procedural/thriller. The mystery is intriguing, most of the characters are likable, and the villains are scum. Things wrap up rather neatly, which would have normally irked me, but in this case, I was satisfied, as the sisters took me on an unpredictable ride! As soon as we start to hear Keely narrate her story from how she and her younger sister Nina became orphans, there’s an instant sense of foreboding. Chilling and haunting, her revelations sends the reader (and the police) down several rabbit holes, incorporating puzzles within her statements to help locate her sister.

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Yet again, however, my all-time favorite aspect of this book (as well as the entire series), were the characterizations. But this time around, the sisters at the heart of the story were just as gripping as the police team behind the investigation. I do have to say, though, that a few of the detectives were so deftly drawn that they came to life before my eyes. With real world hurts and flaws, they were justifiably imperfect which made them all the more genuine. Darkly fascinating, gripping and emotionally intriguing, with a conclusion I really didn't expect -- Emma Haughton

On closer inspection, Jonah discerns that she seems unharmed. When he asks if he can help her, she merely smiles and says she’s okay, but that her sister, Nina, might need his assistance. Introducing herself as Keely, Jonah learns that the sisters vanished five days ago from their children’s home apparently of their own volition. With Keely now sitting across from him in an interview room, he dives into questions that will hopefully lead his team to wherever Nina might be.

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The small-town detective in charge of the investigation, DCI Jonah Sheens, knew all the kids involved. In fact, when it happened, he was just a kid himself, at school with all the rest of them. Trying to keep his past private, DCI Sheens and a great cast of fellow officers, slowly unravel what happened to poor Aurora on that night long ago.