Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in a new series by author and criminologist Jennifer Chase. The plot revolves around Katie Scott who has just arrived home in Pine Valley, California after leaving the Army after a tour of Afghanistan. She is suffering from anxiety and PTSD but is working through her problems with the help of her trusted service dog Cisco who has returned with her and her Uncle who is the local sheriff.

Her uncle offers her a job inputting data onto the police computer system whilst Katie decides what she wants to do next with her life. Whilst going through the files she comes across an old cold case of a young girl that went missing four years ago, eight-year-old Chelsea Compton.

Katie has an interest in the case as her best friend when she was at school was taken and murdered and so she knows what the girls family must be going through with no-one being brought to justice. She decides to take on the case herself, covertly, but people start to suspect her of meddling when she starts asking questions.

Can Katie find the answers Chelsea Compton’s family are so desperately in need of and could she be just one of the victims of a serial killer that is choosing young girls as their victims?

My first thoughts about the book were how refreshing it was to have a character who doesn’t always believe in herself and suffers from anxiety. Katie is a brave young woman who has been through a lot whilst serving in the Army. It was her and her service dog Cisco’s job to make sure the paths/roads were clear of bombs and she saw too many of her fellow comrades killed in action.

Throughout the book, we see passages from Katie as she recalls the time spent with her friend who was murdered as a child and her last day with her. There are also chapters from the mind of the killer.

The book moves at a fast pace and there was plenty of action. I can’t really say that I had any clue as to who the culprit was and never really suspected anyone until just before the killer was revealed. As the series title tells you, Katie eventually becomes a detective due to her help with the case and it was lovely to watch her get the recognition she deserved. It wasn’t quite so nice to see her being bullied by officers who had been stationed at Pine Valley longer than her though for doing her job and being more efficient than them.

There is plenty of criminological and forensic language but what else would you expect from an expert criminologist turned author. I also like the twists and turns that were created to keep you on the edge of your seat along with a couple of red herrings thrown in for good measure too.

I am now intrigued to see what author Jennifer chase has for us in book two as I enjoyed spending my time with Katie and can’t wait to see her detective skills again.

About the Author

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

Jennifer Chase was born and raised in California and still lives there with her husband, dogs and cats. In addition to writing and consulting, Jennifer enjoys spending time outdoors, both at the beach and hiking, and engaging in some amateur photography.

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