‘Last Seen’ by Joy Kluver is her debut novel featuring Detective Bernadette ‘Bernie’ Noel. Set in Otterfield in Wiltshire She came from the Met to escape. Her relocation came with promotion after a successful conviction in London which ended in her receiving death threats. A move to the West Country was to start afresh and to protect both herself and her family. But despite her rank and her stoic exterior, Bernie is as emotional and fallible as the next person. But she cares. And that, and her tenacity, is what makes her a good detective.
When five-year-old Molly is taken from the park in Otterfield, Bernie is on the case. She discovers Molly’s cardigan dumped under a bush in the park. This is the first clue in a chain of clues to be found. Bernie has a gut feeling the cardigan is more than a clue, it feels like a message is being sent. The residents of the village don’t want to help, Bernie is stumped and can’t understand their behaviour. After speaking to Mollys’ mother she finds out that the village community seem to be against them. Bernie wonders why they aren’t even interested in finding Molly. Bernie is up against time with no help from the community can Bernie and her team find Molly?
A story told in the third person perspective of Bernie, so we really get to know this new Detective Inspector and her views on this case that is her first in Otterfield. We are occasionally given little glimpses from the kidnappers’ view, so we can attempt to put some things together while we also follow the investigation into who is behind this terrible crime.
Definitely fast-moving and with more than just this case, Bernie, it appears is going to be busier than she planned with her fresh start. The amount of times she had to deal with the media doesn’t help her to keep her low profile either. I found this new D.I a really interesting one and I am certain we are going to learn an awful lot about her in future books, I can’t wait!
Joy Kluver has managed to write a crime fiction story that I just devour so easily. I was planning on just a quick read and sat there all day until I finished it. An addictive and immersive story that brings characters that are very relatable and not perfect. I loved it.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the copy of the book and my place on the tour.
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