Book Review and Blog Tour: Hush Little Girl (Detective Josie Quinn #11) by Lisa Regan

From Goodreads:

Dressed in pajamas covered with stars, the little girl’s body is perfectly still, her arms folded neatly over her chest. The wildflowers decorating her hair scatter across the grass in the sharp breeze. Her lips are parted slightly, as if to whisper goodnight for the very last time…

When twelve-year-old Holly Mitchell’s fragile little body is found on the steps of a mountainside church in the small town of Denton, a doll made from pine cones clasped tightly to her chest, Detective Josie Quinn rushes to attend the scene. She knows this little girl’s angelic face, her mother had offered Josie help when she’d needed it most.

Searching the girl’s house, Josie is devastated to find that Holly’s mother is dead too, and her little sister is missing. But why has this family home been stripped of all sharp objects? Re-tracing her steps, Josie finally finds a secret hiding place with Holly’s sister inside, terrified, but alive. Moments later, another doll made of twigs turns up.

Certain the killer is close by, Josie holds the little girl tight and tries to coax answers from her, but it’s clear the pile of burnt photographs and letters found in the greenhouse is her only lead. No one is safe until Josie can figure out the dangerous secret that has escaped this remote family home.

Just when Josie is finally closing in on the killer, the unthinkable happens, a tragedy that shakes her to her very core. And on the windshield of her car: a third wooden doll. Could stopping this twisted monster from taking more innocent lives come at the ultimate price for Josie?

An absolutely gripping rollercoaster ride of a crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

My review:

You may have read my review of my introduction to the world of Josie Quinn, Breathe Your Last (affiliate link). (If not, go take a look!) I was absolutely blown away by Lisa Regan’s ability to craft an engrossing story that delivered a big punch with the reveal. I had high hopes for this, her newest book.

It delivers.

Josie and Noah are getting married. A joyous occasion! But before it even gets started, the celebration comes to a screeching halt when the body of a young girl, a girl Josie knows, is found on the steps of the chapel.

Josie is compelled to investigate. She knows this girl. Her mother helped Josie in a time of need, and Josie can’t just go on with her wedding and let her team handle it. That isn’t how she rolls. And when she learns that the girl’s mother is dead and her younger sister is missing, things really kick into high gear.

Josie is quite possibly one of the best protagonists I’ve read in a long time. She is driven, not by the desire to be in the spotlight, but by a need to solve the case. She cares deeply about justice for those who are killed on her watch. And as much as she knows that getting emotionally invested in her cases can lead to trouble, sometimes she does it anyway.

And once again, I had a hard time putting this book down. I did only because I had to sleep. The action grabs you and sucks you in, and you just cannot bear to stop reading because you gotta know what comes next. I found myself emotionally invested in Holly and Emily and their family, and I will own up to tearing up in places.

Ms. Regan also did a good job with her treatment of mental health issues. She writes her characters and explains their struggles sympathetically and realistically. I just wanted to reach into the book and hug them at times.

To sum up, if you’re looking for an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat, gotta-know-what-happens-next read that will keep you guessing until the end, you cannot go wrong with Josie Quinn. Five white-knuckle stars from me.

Author Bio:

Lisa Regan is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and Amazon bestselling crime novelist.  She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University.  She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Find out more at her website: www.lisaregan.com

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan

WEBSITE: www.lisaregan.com

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan