My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 465
Publisher - Zaffre
Source - Book shop
Blurb from Goodreads
Two girls go missing. Only one will return.
The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake. One child will die.
When nine-year-old best friends Charlie and Amy disappear, two families are plunged into a living nightmare. A text message confirms the unthinkable; that the girls are the victims of a terrifying kidnapping.
And when a second text message pits the two families against each other for the life of their children, the clock starts ticking for D.I. Kim Stone and the squad.
Seemingly outwitted at every turn, as they uncover a trail of bodies, Stone realises that these ruthless killers might be the most deadly she has ever faced. And that their chances of bringing the girls home alive, are getting smaller by the hour…
Untangling a dark web of secrets from the families’ past might hold the key to solving this case. But can Kim stay alive long enough to do so? Or will someone’s child pay the ultimate price?
My Review
This is book three in the series, whilst you could get away with reading this as a standalone I would suggest reading the previous two. One it will give you better knowledge of the team, dynamics, relationships and two the books are fantastic, book two is one of my fav this year.
So, two little girls go missing, best friends, parents are besties and it is quickly established it is an organised kidnap. If that isn't horrific enough the families are played against each other and forced to make a horrific decision. Stone is in charge, feathers are ruffles, two innocent lives are at stake and Stone won't rest until she gets the girls home.
As with Marson's previous books the chapters are short, I love it! We hear from Stone, the investigation and the bad guys. One is a sick, twisted and evil individual, guys there is animal torture, homophobia, violence, brutality and not for the faint hearted. It is a grabbing story, as with the previous books it all kicks off really quickly and you are soon absorbed. What is going to happen to the kids, how will Stone fair against such evil, what is the motive, what is the end game?
Marson's is one of those authors you can help but be delighted to come across, I want to devour all her books but also keep them because there are only four left to read. Engaging, challenging and all absorbing, do not pick this up before bed thinking you will only read one chapter, or any of her books as you will be up all night reading. They hook me in, I love Stone, she is such a great character, flawed but so loyal and has a strong purpose/sense of what is right and wrong, loyalty and I bloody love her and her wee dogs relationship. 4.5/5 for me this time, book four is sitting on my shelves and if I don't get the others for my birthday I will absolutely be ordering them. A fantastic creation of characters, she just needs to learn to write faster :D
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The plot sounds fantastic. The situation sounds riveting. I would always read a series in order. Even when a book can work as a standalone, I think going in order enhances the reading experience.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a riveting, edge-of-your-seat story. Excellent review, Lainy!
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