Simply put, amazing! What a fantastic start to a new crime series. To say I loved Unsolved would be an understatement. With my intrigue piqued, I found myself eager to turn the page, desperate to find the truth. I was hooked! The character development is amazing. My relationship with the characters was constantly evolving and I couldn’t resist playing detective, questioning everything including what wasn’t being said! I basically went on this journey with Cal & Layla. Perfect! The storyline (which I’m sure will be at the heart of the series) of Cal’s sister being missing, is his driving force behind his podcast. He is forever searching for closure, for some kind of answer as to what happened to Margot and in lieu of that, he will do all he can to get that closure for other families. I adore Cal. I felt his pain, his loneliness, how lost he felt, the angst and sadness that he carries around. He is brilliant, yet tortured. The perfect combination for a main character in a crime novel. And I haven’t even mention the phenomenal writing & how beautifully descriptive it is. *chef’s kiss* I honestly cannot wait for book 2, and the moment it’s announced I’ll be getting my preorder in! One final note, when reading this, I kept thinking it would be a fantastic series to adapt into a tv show like Vera or Grace. Might need a few more books first, but fingers crossed for the future. ♥️

I'm a sucker for a podcast novel. I'm not sure why as I never listen to podcasts but I find them a really fascinating focus for a crime novel. In Unsolved, Cal Lovett is the presenter of a true crime investigative podcast in which he tries to find out what happened to people who have gone missing. When Cal was a child his older sister, Margot, disappeared and it's clear that it is this that is driving his need to help others who are missing loved ones. He decides to investigate a missing woman in Scotland and heads there to look into what happened 35 years earlier. Unsolved is a truly gripping read which I flew through. There's something about the combination of the cold case in Scotland, the modern day podcast and Cal's own experience that makes for the perfect crime novel. The writing is sympathetic towards the loved ones of the missing women, the desire to know what happened fighting against the need not to know, and it gave me lots to think about as well as being a rollicking good suspense. I loved the red herrings and the plot twists, and the small-town Scottish setting, where everybody knows everybody else and not much happens to excite a young woman yearning for more. I'm really pleased that this is the first of a trilogy featuring Cal Lovett. He's a character with depth, lots bubbling away under the surface, and the ending of Unsolved made me eager to know what happens next. This is a brilliant debut novel, tense, dark and beautifully written.

What an outstanding debut! Unsolved ranks up there with some of the very best crime thrillers. Packed with twists and turns that keep the story rolling to the very last page, it’s impossible to put down. The writing is brilliant, with powerful descriptive phrases to put the reader into the story. Cal is a great character and unique in the role that he plays in the story, being a podcaster instead of a detective. The totally unexpected twist at the end leaves you hungry for more! Bravo Heather!

Cal Lovett is a true crime podcaster. He is called to Aberdeenshire to solve the mystery of a missing girl who disappeared 35 years ago. As he delves deeper into the case it brings back memories of his sister who also went missing when he was a child. I very much enjoyed this thriller. It’s a well written, easy and entertaining read. It’s told over two timelines, the first during 1986 and the second during the present day. There are plenty of twists and turns, and also the odd red herring. I found it suspenseful and the tension definitely racks up as Cal gets closer to the truth - it kept me on the edge of my seat. Although Layla, the girl who disappeared, doesn’t come across as particularly pleasant, I was still filled with a sense of foreboding every time the narrative returned to 1986. I wanted Layla to be found and have some sort of justice. I liked Cal as a character and look forward to joining him again on his next podcast adventure! I read this book via the Pigeonhole app and looked forward every day to each stave. It’s a page turner!

I found a very old proof lurking in my to be read towers yesterday - thank you to the publishers and also obviously sorry that it had sat there so long unread... But now that it has been read and absolutely loved I am raving about it! Couldn't put it down and stayed up far too late reading it. I will absolutely be reading book 2 & 3 asap - just have to purchase first, then I will be all ready for book 4 later this year. I read a lot of crime books and a lot of debuts and I am delighted to say that this was truly BRILLIANT! Excellent pace and tension and I very much liked the characters especially Cal and his daughter. So if you like me are behind the curve with Heather's books - get on it today you will not regret it.