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As two more women go missing from Ragmullin, Lottie and her team fear there is a serial killer on the loose. And the disappearances are strikingly similar to a cold case from ten years earlier. Could history be repeating itself?
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As journalists begin to interfere with Lottie’s investigation, she fears the killer is about to strike again. Lottie is in a race against time to find the missing women, but the killer is closer than she thinks. Could Lottie be his next target?
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If you love Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love the latest pulse-pounding thriller from Patricia Gibney. No Safe Place will keep you guessing until the very last page.
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Tell Nobody
Detective Lottie Parker Book 5
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The boy’s body was so white it was almost transparent. But that’s not what caused the nausea to rise up her throat. He was so young. His body was unmarked, surrounded by a halo of plucked wildflowers.
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One hot summer evening, eleven-year-old Mikey Driscoll is on the way home from playing with friends. Two days later, his body is discovered on a bed of wildflowers by some local teenagers.
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The case is assigned to Detective Lottie Parker and this time it’s personal. The victim was a close friend of her son, Sean, from the run-down Munbally estate on the other side of town. Sean tells his mother Mikey was behaving normally before he died, but Lottie can’t help but feel that her son is keeping something from her…
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Then days later, another boy is found dead, surrounded by wild flowers next to beautiful Ladystown Lake.
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On the hunt for a twisted individual with a terrifying calling card, Lottie must uncover the web of secrets within Mikey’s circle of friends. Someone is hiding something but who are they protecting and can Lottie find out before it’s too late? Lottie is desperate to catch the killer before he strikes again because this time her own child could be in terrible danger…
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If you love Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love the latest heart-stopping thriller from Patricia Gibney. Tell Nobody will keep you guessing until the very last page.
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Final Betrayal
Detective Lottie Parker Book 6
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‘She lifted the flap of the envelope and pulled out the single white page. As she opened it up she stared, open mouthed. Four words were typed on the page. I am watching you.’
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When Amy Whyte and Penny Brogan leave a local nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning and don’t arrive home, their families are beside themselves with worry. Conor Dowling has just been released from prison, a man full of hatred for Amy, the girl who put him behind bars in the first place.
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The case is given to Detective Lottie Parker, when the girls’ blood-soaked bodies are found, days later, in a derelict squat. Chillingly, both girls are clutching silver coins in their hands – what message is this killer leaving behind? All the signs point to Conor but his alibi is water tight.
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As Lottie examines Penny and Amy’s final days alive in a desperate search for clues, two more girls are found stabbed to death in a luxury apartment complex. Caught up in what is fast becoming her toughest case yet, Lottie is unaware that somebody is watching her every move.
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Then Lottie’s two daughters, Katie and Chloe suddenly disappear from the town centre. Terrified that the killer has her girls, the stakes have never been higher for Lottie.
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But as Lottie puts everything on the line to find her daughters and solve the case, she’s about to find herself in terrible danger – someone has a personal axe to grind with her and they know the best way to get to her is to hurt the ones she loves the most.
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If you love Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Abbott, you’ll be hooked by this heart-stopping thriller from Patricia Gibney. Final Betrayal will keep you guessing until the very last page.
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Broken Souls
Detective Lottie Parker Book 7
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‘She shivered, though the kitchen was warm. Icicles of foreboding trickled down her spine. With trembling hands she whipped back her hair at the nape of her neck. As she turned away from the window, she missed the shadow passing by.’
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One dark winter’s morning, bride-to-be Cara Dunne is found hanging in her home, dressed in her wedding dress, with a lock of hair removed. Detective Lottie Parker is first on the scene. Looking at Cara’s bruised and battered body, she wonders who could have hated her enough to kill her at the happiest time of her life.
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The case takes a darker turn that afternoon with another shocking discovery – the broken body of a second young woman, pushed from the roof of the hospital where she worked. Fiona Heffernan was also due to be married, and her body is clad in a wedding dress, a lock of her hair cut off.
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The killings seem so personal that Lottie is convinced the girls have been killed by someone they knew. When she goes to break the news to Fiona’s family, she’s on the alert for anything suspicious. But then she makes a discovery that causes her blood to run cold – Fiona’s eight-year-old daughter Lily didn’t return home from her dance recital that afternoon. Terrified that Lily will be the next victim of a twisted and dangerous individual, Lottie takes the case into her own hands, risking her life when she comes face-to-face with the killer…
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If you love Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine, you’ll be hooked by this heart-stopping thriller from Patricia Gibney. Broken Souls will keep you guessing until the very last page!
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Buried Angels
Detective Lottie Parker Book 8
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Bubbles of cold sweat trickled down Faye’s spine. The hole wasn’t empty. Before she could turn and run, she caught the two sightless eyes staring up at her. Only then did she scream.
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When Faye Baker discovers a fragile child’s skull behind the walls of her new home, Detective Lottie Parker is called to investigate. The house has been owned for years by the family of Faye’s boyfriend Jeff, so when Jeff starts acting suspiciously, Lottie wonders what he might be hiding…
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Lottie doesn’t have long to dig deeper before a child’s bones are found by eleven-year-old Gavin on nearby railway tracks. The bones don’t match the small skull behind the walls, but Lottie can’t ignore the coincidence. Someone out there must be missing their loved ones and it’s up to her to put right a terrible wrong.
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Unable to shake a feeling of foreboding, Lottie goes to speak to Faye, and discovers that she hasn’t turned up for work. When Faye’s body is found stuffed in the back of her car, Lottie needs to find out who wanted her to keep quiet.
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As Lottie hunts for Faye’s killer, the case takes a darker turn when Gavin goes missing. Faye and Gavin are connected only by the grisly body parts they discovered. But who are these little victims and why has their killer come back? Can Lottie find the answers before another precious life is taken?
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This thrilling new novel from bestselling author Patricia Gibney will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. If you like Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine, you’ll love Buried Angels.
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Silent Voices
Detective Lottie Parker Book 9
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p; * * *
She lay so still, blue eyes shining, blonde hair fanned out, her mouth stuck forever open in a soundless scream…
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When Rachel Mullen is found dead by her only sister Beth, her body twisted in an arc of pain, Detective Lottie Parker knows that she has been murdered the minute she enters the bedroom. Lottie’s heart aches for Beth, all alone in the world, whose last memory of her sister will forever be the brutal way she was taken. And when Lottie finds a shard of glass placed in the young girl’s throat, she fears that Rachel may be just the first victim.
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The night before, Rachel had attended a party at a luxurious new restaurant in Ragmullin, and Lottie wastes no time in tracking down the other guests. But there are several things troubling her: Rachel’s handbag and keys are nowhere to be found, and no one at the party seems to have seen her leave.
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Just as Lottie thinks she’s onto something, her worst fears are confirmed: another woman is found murdered… with glass in her throat. The brilliant, young doctor wasn’t a guest at the party and Lottie is forced to question everything.
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Desperate to find proof of what really happened that night, Lottie gets close to the hostess of the party, whose two daughters were friends with Rachel. But Lottie’s hunt for the truth must be getting under the killer’s skin, because then her beloved fiancé, Boyd, goes missing.
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Can Lottie get in the mind of this twisted killer before it’s too late? Or will the man she loves be silenced forever?
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An unputdownable crime thriller from bestselling author Patricia Gibney, with an ending that will blow your mind. If you like Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine you’ll be totally hooked by Silent Voices.
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Acknowledgements
Little Bones was written during the second and third Irish lockdowns in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I found writing in lockdown-enforced isolation difficult, which is odd as writing is mainly a solitary occupation. I couldn’t have got over the end line without the support and encouragement of many people. First of all, thank you for reading Little Bones. To each and every person who continues to follow Lottie’s journey, thank you for reading my books.
In these uncertain times, when personal contact is limited, I am lucky to have my family close to me. With all my heart I say a special thanks to my children, Aisling, Orla and Cathal. You are all brilliant and amazing young adults. Your dad, Aidan, would be so proud of you, as I am. I am forever thankful to have you in my life.
I am surrounded by endless love and affection in the form of my grandchildren, Daisy and Caitlyn, and Shay and Lola. Your grandad Aidan is laughing along with you and keeping an eye on you all. He is guiding us through life and spreading his love through each one of us. I love you all.
My parents, Kathleen and Willie Ward, are a constant support. Thank you both. Thanks also to my mother-in-law, Lily Gibney, and her family. Special thanks to my sister-in-law, Kate Gibney, in New Jersey for spreading the word Stateside. This book is dedicated to Kate and Eamonn’s eldest son, Liam. Liam has overcome so much from the day he was born aided by his supportive mom and dad, his brother Brody, his strong faith and resilience. You are an inspiration to us adults, Liam.
I am lucky to have my sister, Marie Brennan, as an integral part of my writing process, always on hand to help me with my edits and proofreading. Thank you, Marie.
As always, my agent, Ger Nicol of The Book Bureau, is behind me with encouragement and support. I am indebted to Ger for advice and friendship. Thanks to Marianne Gunn O’Connor. Thanks also to Hannah Whitaker, at The Rights People, for sourcing foreign translation publishers to publish my books.
My editor, Lydia Vassar Smith, has been with me since my debut book, The Missing Ones. I am so grateful for her professionalism and expertise in encouraging me to raise the bar with each book. Cannot believe this is Book 10!
Kim Nash, head of publicity at Bookouture, is a rock! Thank you, Kim, for reading my books and for your encouragement. I’m delighted to see your own success as an author. Thanks also to Sarah Hardy and Noelle Holten for the social media shout-outs and your promotional work on my books.
Special thanks to those who work directly on my books at Bookouture: Alex Holmes (production) and Hamzah Hussain (publishing), Alex Crow and Hannah Deuce (marketing). Thanks to Tom Feltham for proofreading. I’m forever grateful to Jane Selley, whom I rely on for her excellent copyediting skills.
Thank you to all at Sphere and Hachette Ireland, who publish my books in paperback, and thanks to all my foreign translation publishers for bringing my books to readers in their native languages.
Michele Moran is the amazing voice on the audio format of my books. Bringing Lottie to life in the ears of those who listen to audio books is a special gift. Thanks, Michele and the team at The Audiobook Producers.
I am grateful to every reader who has posted reviews, because you all make a difference. Thank you to the brilliant book bloggers and reviewers who take time to read my books and in turn help readers find them.
I have found the writing community to be a very supportive network. Special thanks to my fellow Bookouture authors and the many Irish authors who offer me advice and encouragement, with special mention to Liz Nugent. Thanks to the local bookshops and libraries who have had to endure these difficult times but have been able to adapt to continue bringing books to readers.
Special thanks to John Quinn and Rita Gilmartin for responding to my queries. I usually fictionalise police procedures to add pace to the story. Inaccuracies are all my own.
Thanks to Patricia Ryan for the use of her remote cottage in Sligo overlooking the ocean. Perfect location for clearing the mind and enhancing concentration.
My friends have been brilliant through these unpredictable times. Antoinette Leslie, Jo Kelly, Jackie Walsh, Gráinne Daly, Niamh Brennan and Louise Phillips. Thank you for lifting me when my spirit flagged.
I was born and live in Mullingar, which is situated in the heart of Ireland. The support I’ve received from everyone is invaluable. Thank you to all media outlets, with special thanks to the local newspaper reporters for flying my flag – Olga Aughey, Eilis Ryan and Claire Corrigan.
Ragmullin and its characters are fictional, as is Misneach which features in Little Bones. If you follow an ancient path not far from my home town, you just might find a similar site steeped in mythology. Just ask Marty Mulligan or Justin Moffatt.
On a final note, dear reader, you make it all worthwhile and I hope to continue entertaining you with my crime and mystery stories. I’m currently writing the next book in the series (Book 11), so you shouldn’t have too long to wait to see what happens next!
Sincere thanks for travelling this journey with me.
Published by Bookouture in 2021
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An imprint of Storyfire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
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www.bookouture.com
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Copyright © Patricia Gibney, 2021
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Patricia Gibney has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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Little Bones: A totally addictive crime thriller Page 38
