D.S. Butler delivers another gripping, fast-paced addition to her Detective Karen Hart series with See No Evil, the eleventh installment in this long-running and consistently strong British police procedural. Dark, emotional, and intricately plotted, this book pushes Karen into one of her most personal and dangerous investigations yet.
A Murder Too Close to Home
The story opens on what should have been a joyful night. Detective Sergeant Karen Hart and her fiancé, Mike, are preparing to celebrate their engagement when they make a horrifying discovery Mike’s mother, Lorraine, has been brutally murdered. Even worse, the killer has sewn her eyes shut in a grotesque signature that chills both Karen and her team to the core.
Because of her personal connection to the victim, Karen is officially barred from participating in the case. Yet stepping back has never been her style. As her colleagues follow procedure, Karen quietly begins her own investigation, uncovering secrets buried deep within Mike’s family history. When another of his relatives is found murdered in the same horrifying manner, it becomes clear that someone is targeting those closest to her. With the police investigation faltering and the killer closing in, Karen must risk everything to stop a murderer before she becomes the next victim.
A Series That Keeps Getting Better
Butler continues to excel at crafting tight, believable police procedurals grounded in human emotion. The pacing here is relentless, with tension building from the first page to the last. The murder scenes are chilling but never gratuitous, and the author’s steady hand ensures that the procedural details feel authentic and immersive.
Karen remains a compelling lead determined, intuitive, and emotionally complex. Her conflict between professional duty and personal grief adds a raw intensity to this story. The decision to sideline her from the official investigation gives readers a fresh perspective, forcing Karen to operate on instinct and emotion rather than authority. It’s a risky choice for her as a detective and a fascinating one for us as readers.
The supporting cast is another highlight. Sophie, Karen’s sharp and loyal colleague, provides a strong moral center, while Arnie continues to evolve into one of the series’ most endearing secondary characters. In contrast, the new team leader, Falkner, is written with just the right amount of arrogance and incompetence to make readers’ blood boil. He represents the bureaucratic frustrations that often plague real-life investigations and his presence makes Karen’s rebellion all the more satisfying.
Twists, Secrets, and Emotional Stakes
What sets See No Evil apart from standard detective fare is Butler’s attention to the emotional undercurrents driving both the investigation and the characters. This is not just a story about catching a killer; it’s also a meditation on grief, family loyalty, and the secrets we keep to protect those we love.
The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with multiple red herrings and well-timed reveals. Even seasoned thriller readers will find themselves guessing until the final chapters. The “eyes sewn shut” motif is both gruesome and symbolic, hinting at the book’s deeper themes of denial and willful blindness.
Final Thoughts
See No Evil is a taut, suspenseful, and emotionally charged crime novel that proves D.S. Butler’s Karen Hart series is still running at full strength. It combines the satisfying structure of a classic British procedural with the emotional depth of a character-driven thriller. Fans of authors like Joy Ellis, Angela Marsons, or Rachel McLean will feel right at home.
While part of a series, this book can easily be read as a stand-alone though once you’ve met Karen Hart, you’ll likely want to go back and start from the beginning.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
A tense and skillfully written police procedural that blends chilling suspense with genuine emotional heart.
