DESCRIPTION:
The girl shuddered violently as she hid behind the crumbling walls. Through the gloom she saw something that made her blood freeze in fear, and heard the heavy footsteps. She knew there was no way out…
When the call comes in about a lonely woman found burned to death in a deserted cottage, Detective Lottie Parker is first on the scene. Her investigation swiftly reveals the victim has no family to mourn her. As a young girl, she was abandoned by her parents and hidden away at the Sisters of Mercy Convent. Has something in her tragic past led to her murder?
Then Lottie discovers that she had a visitor just before she died. A young journalist, Imelda, had called on the vulnerable woman. Could she have something to do with her death?
Lottie’s search takes her to the abandoned convent, and as she takes in the imposing dark walls, she can only imagine how terrified the girls must have been. The old caretaker on site tells Lottie that a woman matching Imelda’s description had been there a day earlier…
But later that day, Lottie is devastated to learn that the caretaker has been scalded to death like the woman in the cottage. Imelda is the only connection between the victims, and Lottie is in a race against time to find her.
Yet when Imelda’s blood-stained jacket is found in an abandoned farm-building Lottie fears that the killer has got to the young journalist first. Desperate to find Imelda alive, and identify the deadly perpetrator, Lottie needs to find answers from the other broken women who were hidden at the convent. But can she find them before another victim is silenced forever?
A totally addictive page-turner from bestselling author Patricia Gibney. If you like Rachel McLean, Kendra Elliott and Robert Dugoni, Hidden Daughters will have you hooked.
When the call comes in about a lonely woman found burned to death in a deserted cottage, Detective Lottie Parker is first on the scene. Her investigation swiftly reveals the victim has no family to mourn her. As a young girl, she was abandoned by her parents and hidden away at the Sisters of Mercy Convent. Has something in her tragic past led to her murder?
Then Lottie discovers that she had a visitor just before she died. A young journalist, Imelda, had called on the vulnerable woman. Could she have something to do with her death?
Lottie’s search takes her to the abandoned convent, and as she takes in the imposing dark walls, she can only imagine how terrified the girls must have been. The old caretaker on site tells Lottie that a woman matching Imelda’s description had been there a day earlier…
But later that day, Lottie is devastated to learn that the caretaker has been scalded to death like the woman in the cottage. Imelda is the only connection between the victims, and Lottie is in a race against time to find her.
Yet when Imelda’s blood-stained jacket is found in an abandoned farm-building Lottie fears that the killer has got to the young journalist first. Desperate to find Imelda alive, and identify the deadly perpetrator, Lottie needs to find answers from the other broken women who were hidden at the convent. But can she find them before another victim is silenced forever?
A totally addictive page-turner from bestselling author Patricia Gibney. If you like Rachel McLean, Kendra Elliott and Robert Dugoni, Hidden Daughters will have you hooked.
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Author: Patricia Gibney
Series: D.I. Lottie Parker Book 15
Publisher: Bookouture
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 483
Date of Publication: June 25, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
As this 15th book in the D. I. Lottie Parker series begins, Imelda Conroy is recording a telling documentary. Imelda has done countless research into the convent laundries in Ireland that began in the 18th century and carried on for over a century.
Meanwhile, Lottie and Boyd have escaped to Connemara to attend the wedding of Boyd’s sister Grace. Their rare time together is interrupted when Lottie is asked to assist as a consultant on a local police investigation. A man named Robert Hays has disappeared, and the police are desperately seeking for answers. This greatly displeases Boyd, as he’d rather Lottie focus on their relationship and on the upcoming wedding of his sister.
The more Lottie investigates, the more she becomes unsettled. One thing very disconcerting to Lottie is it becomes more and more possible that Grace’s fiancé Bryan just may have something to do with Robert’s disappearance. Soon, Imelda also disappears and this makes Lottie look even closer at Bryan. This causes her genuine desire to maintain the wedding plans to take a backseat. However, Lottie’s unwavering commitment to justice remains unshaken.
The unfolding tragedy is a poignant reminder of the injustices faced by women in the past. As an avid bibliophile, I had no prior knowledge of the convent laundries, making this discovery particularly disheartening. These institutions had promised to be a safe haven for women in need, yet they were subjected to brutal treatment, often worse than that of servants. They were also subject to forced labor. The scandals that plagued these convents were numerous, yet the victims rarely received justice. It is disheartening to learn that these convents existed not only in Ireland but also in other parts of Europe.
From the very beginning, I have been captivated by the author’s thrilling series, and Lottie Parker has become a compelling character. Her relationship with her family and Boyd is heartwarming, and I appreciate the contrast between the drama of the past and the drama of the present. The intensity of the drama in this book has solidified its place as one of my favorites within the series. Book 16 offers a lot of hope, albeit with a touch of desperation for me as a reader.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
In 2009, after her husband died, she retired from her job and started writing seriously. Fascinated by people and their quirky characteristics, she always carries a notebook to scribble down observations.
Patricia also loves to paint in watercolour and lives in the Irish midlands with her children.
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Patricia Gibney here: https://www.bookouture.com/patricia-gibney
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