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Captives

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From the author of Obsessed: Six women fight to survive a kidnapper’s lethal game as a seventh is about to be drawn into his lair . . .

Noa Vickerman, host of a late-night confession show, gets a call from a man claiming he has six young women imprisoned. At first, it’s dismissed as a prank—but that changes when the first body shows up.

As the captives huddle in fear, he puts them through challenges, intent on finding a single special woman that suits his ultimate purpose.

Meanwhile, with police watching her every move and the public following the story breathlessly, Noa is determined to save the women—but will she have to put herself within the monster’s reach to do so?

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2023

6 people are currently reading
82 people want to read

About the author

Jane Heafield

12 books20 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Sue.
1,417 reviews5 followers
April 8, 2023
CAPTIVES is a dark psychological suspense novel by Jane Heafield. Having really enjoyed her previous novels, I was anxious to start this one.

Her Standalone Novels Include:
Don't Believe Her (2021)- Read
Her Dark Past (2021)- Read
Obsessed (2022)- Read
Captives (2023)-Read

“He only needed one. The others were, disposable.”

Six women get kidnapped where they must follow their captive’s demands. And now a seventh is about to be drawn into his web.

Noa Vickerman, was rich and had been left a sizable inheritance from her late father. She hosts a late-night radio show that invited people to admit their sins. She liked to help people, and did a lot of charity work.

One late-night confession show, Noa gets a call from a man claiming he has six young women prisoners. At first, it was thought of as a prank, but everything changes when the first body shows up.

As the young women huddle in fear, the captive puts them through challenges, intent on finding a single special woman that suits his ultimate purpose.

But Noa is determined to save the women—but at what cost?

This gripping psychological suspense novel will have you flipping the pages until the final twist at the end, a cliffhanger that you don’t see coming. I’m not sure how I feel about the way it ended, but overall, it was a good read!

Many thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.
Profile Image for Lin Perrett.
297 reviews102 followers
April 4, 2023
Thank you Bloodhound books for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review. Noa Vickerman hosts a late night confession show. She has a phone call from a man claiming to be holding women captive. He gives Noa a location code to break and they find the remains of a missing woman.
The man holding the women captive makes them perform challenges to find the special woman he is looking for. Noa is determined to save these women and sets out on her own to meet the killer. A gripping thrilling story I didn't want to end.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,399 reviews140 followers
April 12, 2023
Captives by Jane Heafield.
Noa Vickerman, host of a late-night confession show, gets a call from a man claiming he has six young women imprisoned. At first, it’s dismissed as a prank—but that changes when the first body shows up.
Really enjoyed this book. Couldn't put it down. Had to find out what happened. A gripping read. 5*.
Profile Image for Kirstie Cooper.
598 reviews17 followers
April 12, 2023
This book had the foundation to be an amazing book, and a very easy 5 stars. But in places I found the book a bit repetitive and I felt the book could have been 50 pages shorter at least. At one point, I thought my kindle had reverted back to the beginning of the book as I had read pretty much exactly the same previously.
That said, don't let that part put you off as it was still a great read, with a great storyline that I havnt personally read similar before.
Great characters, great storyline that at times reminded me of the Saw films!
Great little twists too that I never saw coming.
Stayed up until 2am to get it finished as the ending was a good one!
Profile Image for Vicky Chapman.
293 reviews14 followers
April 11, 2023
It's fast paced and twisty, particularly once you hit about half way. There are multiple characters and timelines to keep up with.
I enjoyed it for the most part, but can't give more than 3 stars due to the highly frustrating conclusion.
Thanks to bloodhound books for the arc ebook.
881 reviews9 followers
April 15, 2023
Wow! What an exciting read. Thrilling, chilling and very entertaining. It did stretch my imagination a little but that's the wonderful world of fiction. Beautifully put together at at a steady pace building up incredible suspense.
The twisty and creepy storyline had me holding my breath. The story swaps from present and past throughout the book gradually introducing you to the bigger picture but the end game is what I was so intrigued about, it's unpredictable...just like the characters involved.
I've not read anything by this author before but eager to read more. A great page turner.
Profile Image for Karolyn.
1,322 reviews43 followers
April 11, 2023
Noa Vickerman is the host of a late night confession radio show. The confession can be anything but if it needs police intervention then the police are notified. She is doing the radio show for free as when her father died, he left her a pot of money. She’s working her way through it but does some charitable work in a shop as well as putting money in various tins etc.

She is known as the rich woman around town so some people try to shake her down for money. She is attacked coming home one night from the radio station so she hires bodyguards to protect her.

One night on her radio show, a man rang in to say he had kidnapped six young women and he was holding them prisoners. At first, it was just laughed off, no-one would do that. Would they? He comes back on air and using the global address system, what3words, gives an address where the first woman can be found. The police got there and cordoned off the area, some locals had tried to gain access but weren’t that successful. A local journalist tried his best to get a photo. Nothing was really coming out of the area until later the next morning and then the news wasn’t great……Isobel Waring was found dead. She was a skeleton so had been dead for a while.

Why has this guy kidnapped the women? Does he intend to kill them all? Will he kidnap anyone else?

I really enjoyed reading this book. There were two aspects to the book, the kidnappers story and Noa’s side. It made for an interesting plot which was very well written. I quite liked Noa’s character and how she developed to tackle the kidnapper then got involved with the police to tackle him. It was a great psychological thriller and I will look out for more by this author.
Profile Image for Julie (JuJu).
1,166 reviews221 followers
April 9, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
“Captives” grabs you at the start and will not let loose! This gorgeous cover caught my eye and that’s all she wrote.

One woman goes to extreme lengths in this dark and tangled tale that holds you emotionally captive as she negotiates with a madman holding several actual captives.

Noa hosts a popular late-night confession show. Most of her callers are confessing to insignificant slights to make themselves feel better. Then she receives a call from a man claiming he has a woman captive and wants to set her free. This one phone call changes her life. The police become involved. Dead bodies turn up and her audience is angry. Noa goes down a seriously reckless rabbit hole to save the final woman he holds.

This is a grimly twisted roller-coaster ride that kept me on my toes. Get ready for an unexpected conclusion that will take your breath away!

Sincere thanks to Bloodhound Books and Jane Heafield for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Profile Image for Plum-crazy.
2,467 reviews42 followers
March 23, 2023
A gripping read that is an original take on an abduction scenario. In this case, six women are fighting for survival as an abductor plays a lethal game with them but a late night host of a confession show, Noa, has also unwittingly been drawn into the fray. Noa finds herself in an unenviable position, blamed by the public when the bodies start to turn up & at odds with the police, she is nevertheless determined to find & rescue the abductors "special woman".

The story swaps from past to present so that as well as following Noa's efforts, the situation of the captives is gradually revealed & it certainly makes for engrossing reading. The story keeps you guessing throughout, with the tension building beautifully & culminating in an ending that I never envisaged.

Overall an excellent twisty, creepy & compelling read that surely is a must for a mini series. This is the first book I've read by this author & it won't be the last.

* I received an advance copy from Bloodhound books & this review is my own opinion*
Profile Image for Amanda.
158 reviews3 followers
March 29, 2023
This book is incredible. I mean...truly, undeniably, fantastically incredible.

The characters in this book are well developed. Even the ones that we only catch glimpses of leave a lasting impression. Each character has a backstory that is presented beautifully without weighing the book down.

The storyline...it's so good! There are many books about kidnapped women, but this one stands apart. It's in a league of its own. It is brutal without being gory or over-sexualized. The author builds up so much hope only to unashamedly bash it to the ground. No matter what you think is going to happen...you don't.

There are several really good, mind-blowing twists thrown in, especially towards the end of the book. I never saw them coming. This one really kept me guessing all the way until the last page.

The only negative I have is the cliffhanger! Oh my goodness. I don't know if there will be a sequel, or if we are left to make our own conclusions. Either way, this book is incredible and so worth the read. Now I'm off to read everything else this author has written!
Profile Image for Lesley.
277 reviews9 followers
April 12, 2023
Isobel Waring has been kidnapped, and the person responsible for holding her for a year and a half has contacted a small radio station to confess his "sin" and give her up.

Wealthy thanks to her father, Noa is the radio show presenter determined to track down the girl with or without the help of the police.

Unfortunately, it is too late for Isobel, but there are others. Noa must decide which one to free and which ones must stay behind to face the kidnapper's challenges.

However, thanks to the show, she is receiving unwanted attention of her own, from the press and the public, both unhappy with her handling of the situation.

I loved this book. The author creates a real sense of unease. While I didn't really warm to Noa, I felt for the Captives, and this enhanced the tension.

I read a lot of crime and thriller books, and this was just that bit different.

Thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for the eARC of this book.
638 reviews3 followers
April 4, 2023
The reasonable story started off quite well, Noa Vickerman works for a late-night radio show where anybody can ring up and confess their sins. One call grabs her as a man confesses to abducting women hoping to get the perfect one.
Noa herself I could not relate to her at all perhaps it was the way the author portrayed her, self-centered and obnoxious.
Quite a few characters too really get to grips with which they have to compete with one another. and Noa trying to lure this man out obviously puts herself in danger and this is where I find the story start to deteriorate.
The ending was most peculiar not what I expected strange but it does leave it so the author could do a novel 2.
Although I found the ending strange and a little unsure it did make me finish the book just to know the outcome, shame it was disappointing.
I would like to thank Bloodhound Books for an ARC to read.
Profile Image for Dannielle Skander.
9 reviews
April 2, 2023
Wow! I could not put this one down. This thriller kept me guessing at each page and the plot was unlike any other book I’ve ever read. I really didn’t see the plot twists coming. It has just enough details to give you the creeps, but not too much!

The books main character Noa was surprisingly frustrating to me. For the greater portion of the book I found myself getting angry with her decisions but it all came together towards the end. I really enjoyed that the book goes back and forth between a present and past time.

Unfortunately this book does have a cliffhanger, but that much means we can hope for a book #2!!
Profile Image for Sandra Cook.
193 reviews6 followers
April 9, 2023
This story is coming out April 12, 2023, The paperback is available April 3, 2023. The book is entertaining. thrilling, compelling, and suspenseful. When Noa Vickerman, a radio station host. Noa is well off, she stay n a luxury residential property, worthy ten million dollars or pounds. Noa's father bequeathed, her one million to live with and more when she turns fifty. At Noa Rado Station a man claim ne has six women in captivity or imprisoned. Then, there is a murder. A body of the woman Isobel Waring was found. The main reason for getting the women, you have to read this chilling reasoning. it is unputdownable 📙 book.
76 reviews2 followers
April 12, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book it was definitely one I didn't want to put down, with quite a few twists and turns to keep you reading.

Noa is the host of a radio confession show between midnight and 1am where people can ring in and make confessions. one evening she get a call from a man to say he kidnapped a woman a year and a half ago and wants to set her free. Is this a prank call or a genuine confession as the story unfolds we find out that it was not just one woman he had kidnapped.

The book is told through the eyes of Noa and the kidnapped women . This a definite must read book.
Profile Image for Bobbi Wagner.
5,000 reviews63 followers
April 12, 2023
This is an author that I have read most of if not all of her books. They are suspenseful, engaging and hard to put down. I enjoy how she uses details to make her stories realistic. This one is no different, it just might be my favorite yet by her. I found this book to be well written and full of twists and turns that you don't want to miss. A story where the characters pull you into their world from the start. They are connectable and they truly made the story for me. I enjoyed watching the growth of the plot and characters which made the story easy and added to the entertainment value. This is a story that you don't want to miss. I highly recommend this book and this author.
511 reviews12 followers
March 29, 2023
This is a very different approach to a very gripping thriller.
From the very start, you are captured into a well written storyline and plot, which has some surprising revelations and clever twists, and also features very strong characters.
It's very much a page turner that has you guessing as you read.
You are gripped and captured from the beginning to that final twisty conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
My thanks to Bloodhound books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Lydia.
169 reviews1 follower
April 10, 2023
I was given an ARC of this book to review (thank you bloodhound books).
The story follows a young woman who hosts a confession radio show and receives a call from someone claiming they have a woman held captive.
The story is compelling, fast paced and keeps you guessing. If you love thrillers and want a book that sucks you in, then this book is for you. I read the whole thing in a day as I needed to know what was going to happen next. This is my first book by this author but I will definitely be reading more!
Profile Image for Vivian.
692 reviews30 followers
April 12, 2023
This book was a fast read with a plot I haven't seen or read in another book. It has lots of twists and turns and different points of view and time frames.
It grabs you from the beginning, although in some parts feels a little repetitive.
The main character at times was someone I wanted to strangle because of her bad decisions and actions, but that was the intention of the author, so well done!
The ending, on the other hand felt very abrupt and made the book feel unfinished, unless the author plan to write a sequel.
Overall a good read.
12 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2023
A little thriller, that will have you staying up late at night. It all starts when a call comes in to Noa, on the late night confessions show , saying that he is going to kidnap and hold prisoner 6 women. Noa needs to know if the call is for real, or if it's a crank call. I was on the edge my bed at times especially towards the end. A must read. Many thanks to the author and bloodhounds books for allowing me a free digital copy.
Profile Image for Susan Blissett.
254 reviews
April 4, 2023
This was an exciting read told from the perspectives of women held captive and a radio presenter who is talking to the captor and trying to work out how she can help. I particularly liked the perspectives of the women held captive and their experiences. At points in the story, there were some slower and lengthier chapters, but there were also some shorter chapters which kept the pace; almost like some chapters were more edited than others. Some parts, particularly surrounding the police, seemed a little far-fetched and the ending happened quite quickly and left me wanting a little more. Overall though, an interesting read!

I received an ARC from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Leanne.
2,157 reviews43 followers
April 2, 2023
Wow! What a exciting physcological thriller. It's tense, creepy and compelling. The plot is interesting as a man has six women imprisoned and plans weird challenges for them. So it seems like a fight for survival. I thought the characters were all weird as is the storyline but that is the wonderful world of fiction and I really enjoyed using my imagination to picture everything described. The twists and turns just kept coming and made for a interesting read.
Profile Image for Sue.
116 reviews
April 5, 2023
Using the "What3Words" app as locations for released captives, gives the book a modern feel, and what happens then keeps the suspense building to an unexpected ending.

Creepy and keeps you guessing - just what is going on?

Well written and realistic with interesting characters, this is my first read of this author and I will certainly be looking out for more of her books.

Thank you to BloodHound Books for the ARC and introducing me to this author.
12 reviews
April 9, 2023
Started off quite interesting, I wanted to get to know more about the mysterious Noa Vickerman. The story had me quite gripped till about chapter 22, where I got quite frustrated with the back and forth in time. I usually like this genre but I found it a long slow burn that had me reading the last two chapters and missing the rest of the book. If you like a long suspense, intriguing story this may be for you, but for me the pace was too slow.
Profile Image for nvl_reads.
505 reviews6 followers
March 24, 2023
This the the first book I have read from this author and it is a good thriller. There were many twists and turns and I definitely did not see the end coming! I’m not sure how I feel about the way it ended, but overall it was a good book that I would recommend to anyone who likes suspense/thriller novels. I was given an advanced reader copy in return for my review.
203 reviews8 followers
April 4, 2023
Thank you for the advanced readers copy for an honest opinion/review

It’s based on the main character Noah who is quite rich, and does a lot of charity work. One of the things/ jobs she has is DJing a radio chat show where you reveal secret’s.

I like the writing style for this book, drew me in right from the start. This is a new author to me. Would definitely recommend


Profile Image for Sarah Westfield .
41 reviews3 followers
April 4, 2023
Thank you to bloodhound books for the chance to read and review with ARC.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I was hoping to be pulled in right from the start but I couldn’t get into it as well as I’d hoped. I couldn’t keep up with the many characters and timeline.

The last twist was very unexpected I still can’t get my head around it
Profile Image for Vanessa.
3,193 reviews26 followers
April 11, 2023
Captives by Jane Heafield was an excellent psychological suspense thriller that was an excellent page turner from start to finish especially as Jane is a new author to me. This book had lots of twists and turns throughout with great characters I loved it.

Big Thank you to Jane Heafield the author and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.
17 reviews
April 12, 2023
I was gripped by the story from the outset; I liked the premise and the characters, and I enjoyed the way it was told from different points of view. That was, until the climax which was somewhat predictable and the ending which I hated. There were some unexpected twists and turns throughout but for me, the final part let the story down.
Profile Image for Kristen.
748 reviews87 followers
April 12, 2023
This story is filled with suspense and mystery that captures you from the first page all the way to the last where you are thrown a twist that you didn't see coming. Noa Vickerman, the main character, is someone who seems generous and likeable while at the same time there is something niggling about her. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews

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