M. M. Chouinard

This can best be described as dark, devious, and sinister. It's a crafty, compelling police procedural where we are introduced you Detective Jo Fournier, a complex, driven, young woman who is on the hunt for a murderer with a penchant for married women who enjoy spending their spare time immersed in the World of Warcraft, and are in need of a little extra attention. The writing is and intense and the characters are a mix of ruthless, cunning, and vulnerable. The plot is told from multiple perspectives, giving the already suspenseful tale lots of twists, turns, manipulation, duplicity, intrigue, violence, and of course...murder. Overall, I would have to say that it's a creepy, very promising first novel in this, a new series, by this author. It highlights just how exposed the internet has truly made us and how easy and quickly it is for those with nefarious tendencies to find and target their unsuspecting victims.… (mehr)

Little Lost Dolls by M.M. Chouinard is a very highly recommended procedural/crime fiction and number 7 in the Jo Fournier series

Detective Jo Fournier is called because Madison Coehlo, a young pregnant woman, is missing. She learns where the woman's dog was found, in Crone Ridge Woods, and the search there discloses the woman's body. In her hand is a tiny baby from a king cake, but how does this tie into the murder. It becomes obvious that it does when a second pregnant woman is found with the same plastic baby in her hand. Is a serial killer targeting pregnant women?

This is an excellent installment of the Jo Fournier series which can be read as a standalone novel. Every step of the investigation and the clues uncovered is disclose. Jo is a great detective, detail oriented and careful as she investigates her cases. Each complicated case is full of drama and complications, along with twists and surprises. There are plenty of suspects along the way and expect twists and surprises.

At this point Jo is a fully realized character, but new comers to the series can still follow along and appreciate her cases as enough background information is provided. The writing is excellent and the pacing is fast and furious as the pressure builds during the investigation.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/05/little-lost-dolls.html… (mehr)