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Detective Madison Harper #3
Příchuť zla
Minulost volá. Třetí díl návykové detektivní série.
Madison Harperová s pomocí Natea Monroea konečně očistila své jméno. Teď musí znovu vybudovat svou kariéru a také vztah se synem, s nímž se během uvěznění nesměla vídat. Hned první den cestou do práce Madison najde havarované auto, v něm spoustu krve a opuštěné batole. Vzápětí se rozjíždí vyšetřování plné komplikací. Nateovi se mezitím ozve otec Jack Connor, což nevěstí nic dobrého. Vezme spravedlnost do svých rukou, nebo ďábelského kněze přenechá s největším sebezapřením policii?
Madison Harperová s pomocí Natea Monroea konečně očistila své jméno. Teď musí znovu vybudovat svou kariéru a také vztah se synem, s nímž se během uvěznění nesměla vídat. Hned první den cestou do práce Madison najde havarované auto, v něm spoustu krve a opuštěné batole. Vzápětí se rozjíždí vyšetřování plné komplikací. Nateovi se mezitím ozve otec Jack Connor, což nevěstí nic dobrého. Vezme spravedlnost do svých rukou, nebo ďábelského kněze přenechá s největším sebezapřením policii?
384 pages
First published July 29, 2021
2541 people are currently reading
892 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Dranfield
21 books625 followersWendy is the author of the Detective Madison Harper series. Her novels and short stories have been shortlisted and longlisted for various writing competitions and awards, including the International Thriller Writer Awards.
Please note; as Wendy writes crime fiction, including police procedurals and psychological thrillers, her books contain plots, characters and actions dealing with a variety of crimes, including physical and psychological.
Wendy does not use social media, so if you find an account pretending to be her on any platform, it’s 100% fake! Visit her website for the most accurate and up-to-date information about her books: wendydranfield.co.uk
The final book in the Det. Madison Harper series will be out in May 2026.
Please note; as Wendy writes crime fiction, including police procedurals and psychological thrillers, her books contain plots, characters and actions dealing with a variety of crimes, including physical and psychological.
Wendy does not use social media, so if you find an account pretending to be her on any platform, it’s 100% fake! Visit her website for the most accurate and up-to-date information about her books: wendydranfield.co.uk
The final book in the Det. Madison Harper series will be out in May 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
July 15, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐.7 Rounded up 😃
This is Book #3 in the Madison Harper series. Although it is helpful to have read the earlier stories in this series; you will not be in the dark as the past information is presented.
I read the first book in the series Shadow Falls. It was great and I gave it 5 Stars ~ I give very few perfect 5 star ratings!
In that story, Madison is a former police officer and private investigator. Nate Monroe is a PI. Both have something in common in that they both were framed for crimes they didn’t commit and sent to prison. After 17 years, Nate was found innocent as there was no proof that he killed his fiancée, Stacy ~ Father Jack Connor’s niece.
Wendy Dranfield does a great job in giving us information that occurred in the other stories but doesn’t go into long details but enough that a first time reader isn’t lost!
This story starts when
Detective Madison Harper is returning to working for the Lost Creek Police Dept. Her first day in seven years after serving six years in prison for killing her co-worker, a crime she didn’t commit. It was proven that she was innocent and was framed.
As she is drive to the Police Station she sees an abandoned car. She finds a baby girl wrapped in pink and a lot of blood. However, no one else; where is the mother and whose blood?
Nate and Brody are now a big part of Madison’s life and YES Nasty Father Jack Connor is back and truth is revealed!
Story kept me turning pages.
Another Wendy Dranfield WOW story!
I always enjoy reading the author’s notes and acknowledgements.
In the “A Letter from Wendy” she thanks us readers for spending some time with Madison, Nate and Brody. Also hints that we might hear more from evil Father Connor and Vince Radar just may make an appearance as well.
In her acknowledgements, she thanks many including her husband who is not only a beta reader for her stories but also did some research. She then jokes if we find any errors ~ it is his fault!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 29, 2021.
This is Book #3 in the Madison Harper series. Although it is helpful to have read the earlier stories in this series; you will not be in the dark as the past information is presented.
I read the first book in the series Shadow Falls. It was great and I gave it 5 Stars ~ I give very few perfect 5 star ratings!
In that story, Madison is a former police officer and private investigator. Nate Monroe is a PI. Both have something in common in that they both were framed for crimes they didn’t commit and sent to prison. After 17 years, Nate was found innocent as there was no proof that he killed his fiancée, Stacy ~ Father Jack Connor’s niece.
Wendy Dranfield does a great job in giving us information that occurred in the other stories but doesn’t go into long details but enough that a first time reader isn’t lost!
This story starts when
Detective Madison Harper is returning to working for the Lost Creek Police Dept. Her first day in seven years after serving six years in prison for killing her co-worker, a crime she didn’t commit. It was proven that she was innocent and was framed.
As she is drive to the Police Station she sees an abandoned car. She finds a baby girl wrapped in pink and a lot of blood. However, no one else; where is the mother and whose blood?
Nate and Brody are now a big part of Madison’s life and YES Nasty Father Jack Connor is back and truth is revealed!
Story kept me turning pages.
Another Wendy Dranfield WOW story!
I always enjoy reading the author’s notes and acknowledgements.
In the “A Letter from Wendy” she thanks us readers for spending some time with Madison, Nate and Brody. Also hints that we might hear more from evil Father Connor and Vince Radar just may make an appearance as well.
In her acknowledgements, she thanks many including her husband who is not only a beta reader for her stories but also did some research. She then jokes if we find any errors ~ it is his fault!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 29, 2021.
July 21, 2021
Wow. Just wow. I stayed up past my bedtime two nights in a row to finish this book. It is that good!
The prologue details the suicide of two 12 yo girls who suffered trauma, shame.
Madison is on her way for her first day of work - when she comes upon a car accident. Blood on the seats - but only a infant in the backseat.
Nate returns from two months relaxing at Rex's house. He receives a phone call from Rex's neighbor- the police are at the house, out comes a body bag. Nate becomes the lead suspect.
This action packed, gasp out loud story will have you staying up late and begging for more.
The prologue details the suicide of two 12 yo girls who suffered trauma, shame.
Madison is on her way for her first day of work - when she comes upon a car accident. Blood on the seats - but only a infant in the backseat.
Nate returns from two months relaxing at Rex's house. He receives a phone call from Rex's neighbor- the police are at the house, out comes a body bag. Nate becomes the lead suspect.
This action packed, gasp out loud story will have you staying up late and begging for more.
May 2, 2022
This is the third book in the Detective Madison Harper series by author Wendy Dranfield. This was an enjoyable read without really hitting any high points. Detective Madison Harper is growing on me and leaves me optimistic for future books.
Detective Madison is returning to work for the first time since her life was shattered when she discovers an abandoned baby. A baby girl wrapped up tightly is looking back at her, but there is no sign of her mother. Madison senses that there is something more than the obvious and that there is something sinister about the scene. On further investigation she discovers a sneaker down a muddy trail nearby with blood spattering’s on it.
The shoe is quickly identified as belonging to Kacie Larson, a waitress at the local diner who worked to keep herself and young daughter fed and clothed. Madison felt certain that Kacie wouldn’t just abandon her child, but would have a hard job convincing the rest of the team.
Shortly after a body is pulled from a nearby lake, but it is not Kacie and the case suddenly gets more intriguing. More questions than answers, is this missing mother really who she says she is? Is there a chance she’s still alive?, and then the young girl that Madison rescued is snatched from a crowded street.
This was an enjoyable read and I would rate it 3 to 4 and left me looking forward to the next instalment.
Detective Madison is returning to work for the first time since her life was shattered when she discovers an abandoned baby. A baby girl wrapped up tightly is looking back at her, but there is no sign of her mother. Madison senses that there is something more than the obvious and that there is something sinister about the scene. On further investigation she discovers a sneaker down a muddy trail nearby with blood spattering’s on it.
The shoe is quickly identified as belonging to Kacie Larson, a waitress at the local diner who worked to keep herself and young daughter fed and clothed. Madison felt certain that Kacie wouldn’t just abandon her child, but would have a hard job convincing the rest of the team.
Shortly after a body is pulled from a nearby lake, but it is not Kacie and the case suddenly gets more intriguing. More questions than answers, is this missing mother really who she says she is? Is there a chance she’s still alive?, and then the young girl that Madison rescued is snatched from a crowded street.
This was an enjoyable read and I would rate it 3 to 4 and left me looking forward to the next instalment.
July 28, 2021
Little Girl Taken is the third instalment in the Detective Madison Harper series set in the small town of Lost Creek in Colorado. Both Madison and her friend and sidekick, Nate, have returned to work after being released from prison and clearing their names. She is back in her detecting job is once again able to be the mother she once was to her 17-year-old son, Owen, and they now live together once again whereas Nate has returned to being a private investigator. They spent 6 and 17 years in the slammer, respectively for crimes they did not commit. One rainy day, Madison comes upon a crashed car down an embankment by the side of the road and when she stops to check it out she discovers a baby girl left all alone, crying and shivering intensely and there's neither hide nor hair of her mother in the vicinity. As if this wasn't worrying enough, she also finds a single trainer down a muddy path with its laces speckled with blood spatter. Soon the seemingly neglectful mother is determined to be Kacie Larson, a local waitress at Ruby’s Diner who didn't turn up for her recently scheduled shift. It doesn't add up that Kacie would just simply abandon her child when she had been saving all of her disposable income and tips from work to allow her to move away from the town and provide a better life for her baby.
The body of a young woman is then pulled from the local lake with everyone believing it likely to be the missing mother, but it isn't. Things then take a drastic turn for the worse when the baby is snatched in broad daylight on a street in town; now all of a sudden they're looking for both mother and child. The diner’s proprietor, Vince, becomes a person of interest due to his suspected involvement in the disappearance of his wife and grandson many years earlier and who were never seen again, a crime writer’s deceased body is located in dense woodland and a convicted child predator is on the prowl, but how do they fit within the puzzle and will Kacie and her baby ever be reunited? This is a compulsive and enthralling procedural with a multilayered plot with several subplots all woven together superbly. There is a plethora of absorbing twists and turns and never a dull moment as there is a development every few pages. There is lots of action, drama and secrets to spill and the tension just keeps on mounting as the race to reunite the pair and find out who separated them is on. But among the suspense, there is an emotional and tragic story both for the mother and baby and Nate and Madison themselves and the ending really blew my expectations out of the water as it was so unexpected. Highly recommended.
The body of a young woman is then pulled from the local lake with everyone believing it likely to be the missing mother, but it isn't. Things then take a drastic turn for the worse when the baby is snatched in broad daylight on a street in town; now all of a sudden they're looking for both mother and child. The diner’s proprietor, Vince, becomes a person of interest due to his suspected involvement in the disappearance of his wife and grandson many years earlier and who were never seen again, a crime writer’s deceased body is located in dense woodland and a convicted child predator is on the prowl, but how do they fit within the puzzle and will Kacie and her baby ever be reunited? This is a compulsive and enthralling procedural with a multilayered plot with several subplots all woven together superbly. There is a plethora of absorbing twists and turns and never a dull moment as there is a development every few pages. There is lots of action, drama and secrets to spill and the tension just keeps on mounting as the race to reunite the pair and find out who separated them is on. But among the suspense, there is an emotional and tragic story both for the mother and baby and Nate and Madison themselves and the ending really blew my expectations out of the water as it was so unexpected. Highly recommended.
June 14, 2021
Wow.. Death's I didn't expect, a shocking reveal in Nate's case, and a heartbreaking missing person case that itself threw a huge curve ball. Defiantly a page turner.
Little recap - Nate Monroe was on death row for 17 years for killing his girlfriend before he was fully absolve and released. Madison Harper a former police detective served 6 years for manslaughter after being set up from someone on the police force.
Book two in the series solved and put to rest Madison's past. In this book we finally get the same for Nate and as Madison's closure was it guts you with the sheer depravity of humans.
This is a great suspense series and now that Nate and Madison's past can be put to rest I cannot wait to see what is next for these two.
Little recap - Nate Monroe was on death row for 17 years for killing his girlfriend before he was fully absolve and released. Madison Harper a former police detective served 6 years for manslaughter after being set up from someone on the police force.
Book two in the series solved and put to rest Madison's past. In this book we finally get the same for Nate and as Madison's closure was it guts you with the sheer depravity of humans.
This is a great suspense series and now that Nate and Madison's past can be put to rest I cannot wait to see what is next for these two.
June 18, 2021
Book released 29th July 2021.
Book 3 in the Madison Harper series and boom this book was the best so far
There are sensitive topics in this book child abuse, rape and suicide so be mindful if any could be a trigger.
After a dramatic year, Maidston is finally back to work and she is back as a detective. On her first day back on the way into work she stumbles across an abandoned car. When she goes to investigate she finds a baby and a lot of blood on the windscreen. Maidston has two jobs find out whose baby she has and also find out whose blood is on the windscreen. Meanwhile Nate has returned from his visit to see rex and finds himself being tormented by father Connor. But is either one of them in danger.
I just love these characters. I find Madison to be super likeable she has had so many struggles in life already so returning to work in the police station that arrested her doesn't seem like the best of ideas, but hey she has something to prove.
I found this case to be very well laid out. We have 3 main suspects and somehow there's a correlation between or 3 bit the question is what Is it? Why is our missing mother missing!
I must say i have only ever cried at the end of one other crime thriller book (woman in the water katerina Diamond), so I was so shocked to be in tears at the end of this one. When you read it you will understand why.
What this book also does well is it intwines letters throughout the story from Bunny and Ace which we know are pen names. We can work out who bunny is early on Ace is our wild card. Omce to guess you will believe you've put the pieces together spoiler alert 95% won't have guessed correctly at all.
Now I am team Mate get it Madison and Nate ha! I have routed for them to get together from book 1. I know men and women can be friends. But in this book both Nate, Owen and Madison refer to Nate returning home. They ard like the cutest instant family. Even with Madison struggling with Owen she went to prison and left behind a 10 year old kid and returned to a 17 year old young adult. I love that Wendy has written about the struggles of them adjusting and building that parent child trust, as so many authors with similar syorylines have make it so easy.
Aswell as following Madison we follow Nate as well. Now I can't say too much about his storyline other than its heart breaking and epic all at the same time. I was so engrossed with him I just wanted to continue reading so I knew how it would turn out. What I will say is Madison has to make some tough choices when it comes to Nate or her job.
As always the dialogue is great, flows so naturally going from Nate to Madison. Also we have been introduced to some new characters one of which inhope becomes a regular.
In conclusion would I recommend this book? Absolutely!! You could read it as a stand alone as alot of the background I'd touched upon in this book but I highly recommend you start with book one Shadow Falls. Wendy Dranfield is a talented writer so much so she had me inn love with Brody who is a dog and I strongly dislike all dogs! I love that in each book we get to see character development before us everytime. If all the next books in the series are written to this standard then I didn't see the end turning out exactly as it did. I was half right though. Wemdy Dranfield you have a fan for life. Easy 5 stars
Thank you to netgalley, Wendy Dranfield and bookature publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinions. Cannot wait for book 4
Review to follow
Book 3 in the Madison Harper series and boom this book was the best so far
There are sensitive topics in this book child abuse, rape and suicide so be mindful if any could be a trigger.
After a dramatic year, Maidston is finally back to work and she is back as a detective. On her first day back on the way into work she stumbles across an abandoned car. When she goes to investigate she finds a baby and a lot of blood on the windscreen. Maidston has two jobs find out whose baby she has and also find out whose blood is on the windscreen. Meanwhile Nate has returned from his visit to see rex and finds himself being tormented by father Connor. But is either one of them in danger.
I just love these characters. I find Madison to be super likeable she has had so many struggles in life already so returning to work in the police station that arrested her doesn't seem like the best of ideas, but hey she has something to prove.
I found this case to be very well laid out. We have 3 main suspects and somehow there's a correlation between or 3 bit the question is what Is it? Why is our missing mother missing!
I must say i have only ever cried at the end of one other crime thriller book (woman in the water katerina Diamond), so I was so shocked to be in tears at the end of this one. When you read it you will understand why.
What this book also does well is it intwines letters throughout the story from Bunny and Ace which we know are pen names. We can work out who bunny is early on Ace is our wild card. Omce to guess you will believe you've put the pieces together spoiler alert 95% won't have guessed correctly at all.
Now I am team Mate get it Madison and Nate ha! I have routed for them to get together from book 1. I know men and women can be friends. But in this book both Nate, Owen and Madison refer to Nate returning home. They ard like the cutest instant family. Even with Madison struggling with Owen she went to prison and left behind a 10 year old kid and returned to a 17 year old young adult. I love that Wendy has written about the struggles of them adjusting and building that parent child trust, as so many authors with similar syorylines have make it so easy.
Aswell as following Madison we follow Nate as well. Now I can't say too much about his storyline other than its heart breaking and epic all at the same time. I was so engrossed with him I just wanted to continue reading so I knew how it would turn out. What I will say is Madison has to make some tough choices when it comes to Nate or her job.
As always the dialogue is great, flows so naturally going from Nate to Madison. Also we have been introduced to some new characters one of which inhope becomes a regular.
In conclusion would I recommend this book? Absolutely!! You could read it as a stand alone as alot of the background I'd touched upon in this book but I highly recommend you start with book one Shadow Falls. Wendy Dranfield is a talented writer so much so she had me inn love with Brody who is a dog and I strongly dislike all dogs! I love that in each book we get to see character development before us everytime. If all the next books in the series are written to this standard then I didn't see the end turning out exactly as it did. I was half right though. Wemdy Dranfield you have a fan for life. Easy 5 stars
Thank you to netgalley, Wendy Dranfield and bookature publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinions. Cannot wait for book 4
Review to follow
June 22, 2021
Madison is back home working. Not everyone is happy that she is back, and people are suspicious. Life is not easy with her son Owen either. Then all hell breaks lose in town, and in life in general. A little girl is found alone, her young mother nowhere to be seen. Nate's friend is found dead. Murdered. Nate knows who is behind it, but instead he is the one the police is after.
Everything seems like a big mess. There are so many secrets, but the past is about to catch up with many people. Wendy Dranfield has once again written a superb story with so many twist and turns that it simply took my breath away. I could not put this gem down! I finished it in one go, there simply was no other option!
I was happy to finally see Nate get some justice. This seemed to be the overall theme in the book. Setting old records straight, coming to peace with horrible wrongdoings in the past, finally taking control of things. The truth can be uglier that anyone could ever have imagined. This series does not disappoint. Not at all. Wendy Dranfield is a must read for anyone claiming they enjoy detective stories.
Everything seems like a big mess. There are so many secrets, but the past is about to catch up with many people. Wendy Dranfield has once again written a superb story with so many twist and turns that it simply took my breath away. I could not put this gem down! I finished it in one go, there simply was no other option!
I was happy to finally see Nate get some justice. This seemed to be the overall theme in the book. Setting old records straight, coming to peace with horrible wrongdoings in the past, finally taking control of things. The truth can be uglier that anyone could ever have imagined. This series does not disappoint. Not at all. Wendy Dranfield is a must read for anyone claiming they enjoy detective stories.
July 27, 2021
I requested a copy of this book
From Bookouture and NetGalley for me to take a look,
Having read the story and written my honest review
I have chosen to share it here with you.
Madison Harper has recently been cleared
And is out of prison where she’s spent years.
She’s returning to her job as a police detective again
When driving to do so through the driving rain
She finds a car, abandoned and crashed
With a baby on the back seat stashed.
As Madison starts to investigate
Everyone worries about the baby’s mothers fate.
What has happened, why did she leave her child?
Rumours and mystery, run wild.
But Madison’s colleagues aren’t listening to her,
How can she get them onside and to care?
With Nate and Brody back in town, too,
This story has more than one thread running through
It is a superb page turner, a riveting read
With history and mystery and clues them to lead.
Can they help prevent more victims from a killer
Discover for yourself by reading this 5* thriller!
From Bookouture and NetGalley for me to take a look,
Having read the story and written my honest review
I have chosen to share it here with you.
Madison Harper has recently been cleared
And is out of prison where she’s spent years.
She’s returning to her job as a police detective again
When driving to do so through the driving rain
She finds a car, abandoned and crashed
With a baby on the back seat stashed.
As Madison starts to investigate
Everyone worries about the baby’s mothers fate.
What has happened, why did she leave her child?
Rumours and mystery, run wild.
But Madison’s colleagues aren’t listening to her,
How can she get them onside and to care?
With Nate and Brody back in town, too,
This story has more than one thread running through
It is a superb page turner, a riveting read
With history and mystery and clues them to lead.
Can they help prevent more victims from a killer
Discover for yourself by reading this 5* thriller!
August 2, 2021
Little Girl Taken by Wendy Dranfield is a great example of a book that combines the details of a missing persons/murder investigation you would expect from a procedural with the suspenseful elements of a thriller. There are currently three books in this series. This book, which takes place in Colorado, is my favorite of the three. Each book has a unique case that is resolved by the end, but there is an ongoing story arc involving the main characters Detective Madison Harper and her friend private detective Nate Monroe. For that reason, I recommend starting this series at the beginning. You won't be disappointed! I loved the book and would rate it 4.5 stars. This book just came out, but I am already looking forward to the next one.
October 26, 2022
4.75 🌟
Again, love this series. I think this one might be my favorite of the series so far. I love how the current and past stories unfold so naturally. This is part of a series, but as with any of them so far, can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Detective Madison Harper and Nate Monroe have become part of my favorite characters. There is a great balance of character driven and story driven elements. I will continue to read any future submissions. This review is my own opinion and will be cross-posted.
Again, love this series. I think this one might be my favorite of the series so far. I love how the current and past stories unfold so naturally. This is part of a series, but as with any of them so far, can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Detective Madison Harper and Nate Monroe have become part of my favorite characters. There is a great balance of character driven and story driven elements. I will continue to read any future submissions. This review is my own opinion and will be cross-posted.
June 24, 2024
Entertaining story. Steady building of tension all the way to the end. Give it a try it's a great read.
July 27, 2021
Another brilliant book from Wendy Dranfield.
I love the main characters, Madison and Nate, and Brody of course.
I had to read the end of book 2 again as I’d forgotten how it ended and this really helped me get stuck in to book 3.
Madison gets her Detective badge back but some people are clearly holding her past against her still.
On her first day back she’s finds a baby left on the back seat of a crashed car, with no sign of the mother.
Nate receives some devastating news and is soon on the run again.
This is an action packed crime thriller that will definitely have you racing through the pages to find out what happens next.
I’d recommend reading both the books before this one to get a full understanding of the characters and their past.
This is a brilliant crime thriller and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I love the main characters, Madison and Nate, and Brody of course.
I had to read the end of book 2 again as I’d forgotten how it ended and this really helped me get stuck in to book 3.
Madison gets her Detective badge back but some people are clearly holding her past against her still.
On her first day back she’s finds a baby left on the back seat of a crashed car, with no sign of the mother.
Nate receives some devastating news and is soon on the run again.
This is an action packed crime thriller that will definitely have you racing through the pages to find out what happens next.
I’d recommend reading both the books before this one to get a full understanding of the characters and their past.
This is a brilliant crime thriller and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 13, 2021
Fantastic! This is by far, in my opinion, the best in the series. Can’t wait for the next one!!!
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
July 8, 2021
This is the third book in this series featuring Colorado Detective Madison Harper and her friend Nate Monroe. Both were imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit (she for six years, he for 17); she's just returned to her former job while Nate, a former priest in training, is trying to find his way back by doing private investigation work. On a rainy day, Madison discovers a wrecked car; as she leans in, she spots a baby girl. Doing a quick look-around for a grown-up, she finds a sneaker streaked with blood - definitely not a good sign, Madison thinks as she heads in to the station.
Before too long, both the baby and shoe are connected to Kacie Larson, a young server at the local diner who didn't show up for her most recent shift. It's hard for Madison, who just reconnected with her now-17 year-old son Owen, to believe Kacie (or any mother) simply abandoned her baby. There's much more to that story, and Madison wants to get to the bottom of it. For extra help, she calls on her old friend Nate, who has a cool former K9 companion named Brody. She also gets some help from Vince, the diner owner who took a chance on hiring Kacie and seems to have taken her under his wing. But clearly, Vince has issues of his own - he's a suspect in the years-ago disappearance of his wife and grandson - so just how far can he be trusted, if at all? Meanwhile, a convicted child rapist somehow gets an early parole and returns home, so he gets added to the growing suspect list. That's only a couple of the story subplots, all of which make twists and turns to get to resolution.
I really connected with both primary characters from a likability perspective, and this book stands alone well. That said, I have no doubt that reading it would have been far more satisfying had I been aware of the content of those first two - I'm sure a few of the characters who popped up almost out of nowhere had made appearances in earlier books. I also was rather amused at terms that struck me as more British than American such as using "fell pregnant" to describe a mother-to-be. One major scene involving a vehicle totally confused me until I realized the steering wheel must have been on the right. When I learned the author lives in the United Kingdom, though, all that made sense. I also took issue when a TV reporter was "forced" by her boss to "report both sides of a story." Over here, any reporter worth his or her salt who didn't do that from the git-go would be kicked to the curb faster than you can say journalistic integrity.
In the end, most of the twists get straightened out, although plenty of fodder is left for the next installment. Having very much enjoyed getting to know these characters, I'll be watching for it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
Before too long, both the baby and shoe are connected to Kacie Larson, a young server at the local diner who didn't show up for her most recent shift. It's hard for Madison, who just reconnected with her now-17 year-old son Owen, to believe Kacie (or any mother) simply abandoned her baby. There's much more to that story, and Madison wants to get to the bottom of it. For extra help, she calls on her old friend Nate, who has a cool former K9 companion named Brody. She also gets some help from Vince, the diner owner who took a chance on hiring Kacie and seems to have taken her under his wing. But clearly, Vince has issues of his own - he's a suspect in the years-ago disappearance of his wife and grandson - so just how far can he be trusted, if at all? Meanwhile, a convicted child rapist somehow gets an early parole and returns home, so he gets added to the growing suspect list. That's only a couple of the story subplots, all of which make twists and turns to get to resolution.
I really connected with both primary characters from a likability perspective, and this book stands alone well. That said, I have no doubt that reading it would have been far more satisfying had I been aware of the content of those first two - I'm sure a few of the characters who popped up almost out of nowhere had made appearances in earlier books. I also was rather amused at terms that struck me as more British than American such as using "fell pregnant" to describe a mother-to-be. One major scene involving a vehicle totally confused me until I realized the steering wheel must have been on the right. When I learned the author lives in the United Kingdom, though, all that made sense. I also took issue when a TV reporter was "forced" by her boss to "report both sides of a story." Over here, any reporter worth his or her salt who didn't do that from the git-go would be kicked to the curb faster than you can say journalistic integrity.
In the end, most of the twists get straightened out, although plenty of fodder is left for the next installment. Having very much enjoyed getting to know these characters, I'll be watching for it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
July 29, 2021
Ohmahgawd.
This author is absolutely brilliant. The way she writes multiple storylines with such depth and characters that are just amazing. I love this series. And honestly I was worried. How could book three be as good as the first two.
Well shut my mouth…
It was just as good if not better. Non stop action, twists and turns to the point I have whiplash. Sheesh. I love these characters and I can not wait for more. I need more.
This author is absolutely brilliant. The way she writes multiple storylines with such depth and characters that are just amazing. I love this series. And honestly I was worried. How could book three be as good as the first two.
Well shut my mouth…
It was just as good if not better. Non stop action, twists and turns to the point I have whiplash. Sheesh. I love these characters and I can not wait for more. I need more.
August 2, 2021
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. This is the third book in this series but could be read as a standalone. I absolutely LOVED the first two books in this series and I have been eagerly waiting for this book since I finished them.
I don’t know how Wendy does it. This book is better than the first two and as I said I loved those. This book had 2 stories. The main story of the missing girl Kacie and the continued story of Nate and Father Conner.
Kacie’s story is an extremely sad and engrossing one. This poor girl has been through so much. I felt so much sympathy for her. I just wanted to mother her. She has been let down time and time again. The case kept me on edge until the very end. There were some good twists with this one which I very nearly got but not quite. Wendy did an excellent job of keeping you hooked.
The case of Nate and Father Conner was also very interesting. This story has been ongoing through the series but there is enough information given for you to be invested in this storyline. I was very happy with how this played out and think that the outcome was the right one.
I was addicted to this book from page 1 and I cannot wait to see what Maddison has in store in the next book!
I don’t know how Wendy does it. This book is better than the first two and as I said I loved those. This book had 2 stories. The main story of the missing girl Kacie and the continued story of Nate and Father Conner.
Kacie’s story is an extremely sad and engrossing one. This poor girl has been through so much. I felt so much sympathy for her. I just wanted to mother her. She has been let down time and time again. The case kept me on edge until the very end. There were some good twists with this one which I very nearly got but not quite. Wendy did an excellent job of keeping you hooked.
The case of Nate and Father Conner was also very interesting. This story has been ongoing through the series but there is enough information given for you to be invested in this storyline. I was very happy with how this played out and think that the outcome was the right one.
I was addicted to this book from page 1 and I cannot wait to see what Maddison has in store in the next book!
July 29, 2021
Time seems to stand still when you are looking forward to the next part in one (or more) of your favorite series. Can you imagine how I felt when I took a look at my schedule and saw that this one was next on my list. I most certainly did a happy dance. 🙂
The two previous books were gemstones. Was the author going to deliver another three in a row work of art? Yes, yes, yes. This story was amazing too. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it.
Can you read it as a standalone? Yes, you can. Should you read it as a standalone? No, you shouldn’t. It’s too important to know what happened in the past to skip it. Will you still enjoy the book? Yes, you will, but you will be missing out on so much good stuff.
I opened the book and my heart broke in one thousand pieces. This was quite an eye opener. The rest of the story is filled with suspense and some devastating things occurred. The heartbreak is not over yet though…
Some questions were answered and new ones popped up which makes me counting the days once again. I love this series. 5 stars
Thank you, Wendy Dranfield and Bookouture
The two previous books were gemstones. Was the author going to deliver another three in a row work of art? Yes, yes, yes. This story was amazing too. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it.
Can you read it as a standalone? Yes, you can. Should you read it as a standalone? No, you shouldn’t. It’s too important to know what happened in the past to skip it. Will you still enjoy the book? Yes, you will, but you will be missing out on so much good stuff.
I opened the book and my heart broke in one thousand pieces. This was quite an eye opener. The rest of the story is filled with suspense and some devastating things occurred. The heartbreak is not over yet though…
Some questions were answered and new ones popped up which makes me counting the days once again. I love this series. 5 stars
Thank you, Wendy Dranfield and Bookouture
June 20, 2021
The 3rd in the Madison Harper series, can be standalone novels but best to read the other 2 as well, not only to have prior info but also because they are so good. This book also doesn't disappoint the reader.
Madison returns to Lost Creek for her first day back at work following her released from prison for murder she didn't commit but on her way discovers an abandoned car with a baby inside. There follows a race against time to find the baby's mother. We also catch up with Nate who's still troubled from his dealings with Father Connor.
Can't wait for next book in the series. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review
Madison returns to Lost Creek for her first day back at work following her released from prison for murder she didn't commit but on her way discovers an abandoned car with a baby inside. There follows a race against time to find the baby's mother. We also catch up with Nate who's still troubled from his dealings with Father Connor.
Can't wait for next book in the series. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review
July 23, 2021
Wendy Dranfield is quickly becoming a favorite author. I Love this series. Little Girl Taken is book 3.
Nate and Madison are back to solve yet another crime. Madison's first day back on the job is not what she had hoped. She's not even at work yet when she discovers a car off the road. There is a baby inside and blood in the driver seat but not adult passengers.
Brody is back doing his thing making this another great addition to the series.
Many thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.
Thanks to Ms. Dranfield for a great read.
Nate and Madison are back to solve yet another crime. Madison's first day back on the job is not what she had hoped. She's not even at work yet when she discovers a car off the road. There is a baby inside and blood in the driver seat but not adult passengers.
Brody is back doing his thing making this another great addition to the series.
Many thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.
Thanks to Ms. Dranfield for a great read.
July 15, 2023
It’s Halloween week in Lost creek and Madison Harper is back as a detective in the third instalment of the series!
On her first day back she notices a traffic collision and when she investigates there’s only a baby girl wrapped in a pink snowsuit in the car and a single converse trainer covered in blood, No adults are anywhere at the scene.
Also PI Nate is back and he’s got problems of his own involving his nemesis Father Connor.
I’m loving this series, it has a multi layered plot, with dangled carrots making you want more and more. The characters are all well established and relatable and the author isn’t afraid of killing off goodies aswell as baddies! Onto book 4
On her first day back she notices a traffic collision and when she investigates there’s only a baby girl wrapped in a pink snowsuit in the car and a single converse trainer covered in blood, No adults are anywhere at the scene.
Also PI Nate is back and he’s got problems of his own involving his nemesis Father Connor.
I’m loving this series, it has a multi layered plot, with dangled carrots making you want more and more. The characters are all well established and relatable and the author isn’t afraid of killing off goodies aswell as baddies! Onto book 4
September 13, 2021
Great book! I look forward to reading the next one, I hope there is a next one??
August 4, 2021
Wow one of the most thrilling and addictive page turned I've read in a while. Just amazing. A heart pounding rollercoaster of a read.
January 19, 2022
Very enjoyable series. Highly recommended !!
Read
February 21, 2022Excellent book
December 26, 2021
A good police procedural by author Wendy Dranfield that kept me hooked to my kindle. I loved the thorough investigation done by Detective Madison.
August 3, 2021
About Little Girl Taken: Rain rattles through the trees as she leans into the car, careful not to touch anything. Two pretty blue eyes stare back through the dark, wide with relief, or maybe fear. A baby girl, wrapped up in a pink snowsuit, reaches out a tiny hand. Her mother is nowhere to be found…
An abandoned baby is the last thing Detective Madison Harper expects to find as she drives to her first day back at work since the case that ripped her life apart. But as she cradles the shivering child close, all her instincts tell her there’s something more sinister at play. Then she finds a lone sneaker down a muddy trail nearby, the laces spattered with blood…
In a town as small as Lost Creek, Colorado, the baby and the shoe are quickly identified as belonging to Kacie Larson, a waitress at the local diner who quietly stashed away her tips to make a better life for her daughter. A mother herself, Madison can’t believe that Kacie would just abandon her child, but she also can’t convince her new team. Not for the first time, Madison feels she must go it alone to get the job done.
But when a body is pulled from a nearby lake, and it’s not Kacie, the case takes an agonizing turn. Is this missing mother really who she says she is? Is there a chance she’s still alive? Madison barely has time to think before the sweet little girl she rescued is snatched on a crowded street. Gone, in the blink of an eye.
To break this case and earn her place back on the force, Madison must learn to trust her team, and herself again—and fast. If she doesn’t find this twisted individual in time, a little girl could die…
A pulse-pounding, absolutely gripping and totally addictive page-turner that will have you racing through the pages and reeling at the twists. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot, you’ll be sleeping with the lights on!
My Thoughts: I was hoping that this novel, the third in Wendy Dranfield's series featuring detective Madison Harper, would be equally as good as the first two instalments and to my great delight, it was!
Madison is back at work after a long departure, as is Nate who has been staying at his friend, Rex's house. Madison has been reinstated as a detective at Lost Creek Police Department, and Nate is resuming his role as a private investigator. Madison comes across an abandoned, wailing baby in a wrecked car, dressed in a pink snowsuit. Trouble is afoot for Nate; a body has been found at Rex's place and Nate is a suspect...
Wendy Dranfield has once again penned a remarkable tale with so many twists that I could not put it down. The multilayered plot is enthralling and the subplots are all woven together superbly creating a compulsive police procedural. With the tension levels on the upwards ratchet, there's tonnes of action and drama as well as secrets galore. Truly brilliant.
Disclosure: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Little Girl Taken by Wendy Dranfield for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
An abandoned baby is the last thing Detective Madison Harper expects to find as she drives to her first day back at work since the case that ripped her life apart. But as she cradles the shivering child close, all her instincts tell her there’s something more sinister at play. Then she finds a lone sneaker down a muddy trail nearby, the laces spattered with blood…
In a town as small as Lost Creek, Colorado, the baby and the shoe are quickly identified as belonging to Kacie Larson, a waitress at the local diner who quietly stashed away her tips to make a better life for her daughter. A mother herself, Madison can’t believe that Kacie would just abandon her child, but she also can’t convince her new team. Not for the first time, Madison feels she must go it alone to get the job done.
But when a body is pulled from a nearby lake, and it’s not Kacie, the case takes an agonizing turn. Is this missing mother really who she says she is? Is there a chance she’s still alive? Madison barely has time to think before the sweet little girl she rescued is snatched on a crowded street. Gone, in the blink of an eye.
To break this case and earn her place back on the force, Madison must learn to trust her team, and herself again—and fast. If she doesn’t find this twisted individual in time, a little girl could die…
A pulse-pounding, absolutely gripping and totally addictive page-turner that will have you racing through the pages and reeling at the twists. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot, you’ll be sleeping with the lights on!
My Thoughts: I was hoping that this novel, the third in Wendy Dranfield's series featuring detective Madison Harper, would be equally as good as the first two instalments and to my great delight, it was!
Madison is back at work after a long departure, as is Nate who has been staying at his friend, Rex's house. Madison has been reinstated as a detective at Lost Creek Police Department, and Nate is resuming his role as a private investigator. Madison comes across an abandoned, wailing baby in a wrecked car, dressed in a pink snowsuit. Trouble is afoot for Nate; a body has been found at Rex's place and Nate is a suspect...
Wendy Dranfield has once again penned a remarkable tale with so many twists that I could not put it down. The multilayered plot is enthralling and the subplots are all woven together superbly creating a compulsive police procedural. With the tension levels on the upwards ratchet, there's tonnes of action and drama as well as secrets galore. Truly brilliant.
Disclosure: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Little Girl Taken by Wendy Dranfield for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
July 1, 2022
Wow the third book in detective Madison Harper cases and you will not be dissapointed, as she finds a baby in the back seat of an abandoned car she has her next case as she has just returned to work. Also nate is back eventually and hopefully here to stay but you will have to read the book to find out about his journey. I love these books and the just keep you on edge of yr seat from the start, ok so I'm going straight onto t the next book in the series now...
June 21, 2021
Another great installment in this new favorite series of mine! Detective Madison Harper has just been reinstated after clearing her name and gets thrown right into a new case involving an abandoned baby found in a crashed car on the side of the road. Once she and her team identify the child they have more questions than answers. Why would her mother, a young waitress at a local diner, have been out in a stranger's car with her baby that late at night? And why would she ever leave her daughter alone like that? It doesn't look good for Kacie and Madison and her team hope this doesn't turn into a murder investigation. It's hard enough for Madison around town when everyone still believes she's guilty of her partner's murder years ago. How will she ever get them to open up to her so she can locate Kacie?
Along with adjusting to her new work life, we see how Madison and her son, Owen, are adapting to living together again after being reunited. It's sad to see how the closeness she envisioned with him just isn't there, yet. Having Nate around helps with the awkwardness as Owen adores him, but he doesn't know what to do now that Madison has gotten her life back. He no longer needs her assistance with his PI work, but here in Lost Creek he feels more at home with Madison and Owen than anywhere else.
There was plenty of action in this story, but other parts were painful to read. Past crimes committed that tie into the case are just tragic, and it's hard not to sympathize with a victim's need for vengeance. The story also makes brilliant note of how criminals can be glamorized in the media, constantly in the spotlight, yet the victims and their families are forgotten. They live every day with their lives torn apart, trying to move on, somehow. But how can they when society continues its obsession with notorious criminals?
Along with adjusting to her new work life, we see how Madison and her son, Owen, are adapting to living together again after being reunited. It's sad to see how the closeness she envisioned with him just isn't there, yet. Having Nate around helps with the awkwardness as Owen adores him, but he doesn't know what to do now that Madison has gotten her life back. He no longer needs her assistance with his PI work, but here in Lost Creek he feels more at home with Madison and Owen than anywhere else.
There was plenty of action in this story, but other parts were painful to read. Past crimes committed that tie into the case are just tragic, and it's hard not to sympathize with a victim's need for vengeance. The story also makes brilliant note of how criminals can be glamorized in the media, constantly in the spotlight, yet the victims and their families are forgotten. They live every day with their lives torn apart, trying to move on, somehow. But how can they when society continues its obsession with notorious criminals?
July 24, 2021
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Little Girl Taken' by Wendy Dranfield.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Wendy Dranfield, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 29th July 2021.
This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in the 'Detective Madison Harper' series but it can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'Cry For Help' which is the second book in the 'Detective Madison Harper' series and which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot, you’ll be sleeping with the lights on! .' I am a huge fan of Melinda, Lisa AND Kendra so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a fan of Wendy Dranfield and if this is half as good as 'Cry For Help' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 76 chapters. The chapters are short in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Lost Creek, Colorado, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Detective Madison Harper and Nate Monroe. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out on anything.
Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done Wendy you done it again!! Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!!
This books is very well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading the next book, and the previous one in this series.
An addictive, nail biting, page turning, heart racing and compelling storyline which had many layers of mysteries and crimes for the reader to be kept guessing throughout. Filled with twists, turns, shocks, tragedy and red herrings throughout I had no idea who did what until the end. This is an achievement in itself as it is definitely getting harder to surprise me with the amount of crime novels I've read. The plot was unique and realistic. It started straight in the action and kept you going on a roller-coaster ride of suspension throughout. I was almost in tears when I read certain things, absolutely heartbreaking and certain people got what they deserved in my eyes. I am so glad that another certain character got their comeuppance too!!! It is so hard to say how glad I am and how gutted I was about certain events without giving anything away to future readers but I'm sure once people have read it they will know exactly what I mean. Well done Wendy you did absolutely amazing and everything was tied up perfectly. I believe you definitely did the right things with certain characters and I just could not put this book down.
Before you start this make sure you clear your schedule because once you pick it up you are not going to want to put it down!!!!
I absolutely loved meeting certain characters again which definitely included Madison, Nate and Brody along with discovering new ones!! I loved the fact that the main lead was such a strong female with alot of background and yet having gone through so much and still going through so much Madison still didn't back down!! I cannot wait to read what happens next with her. I also enjoyed Nates character but of course being an animal lover my favourite has to be Brody!!! The new characters that definitely stood out for me have got to be Vince and Mendes. I really liked Vince's character and his obsession with all things crime and I hope he gets the answers he is looking for. I am looking forward to seeing how Mendes and Madison's relationship develops in the next book and although I really didn't click with her at the start she definitely surprised me at the end. All the characters were strong and well defined. I was shocked by some of them and nicely surprised by others. I am looking forward to seeing if anything happens between Nate and Madison. I enjoyed that the author gave just the right amount of background information on the characters to let us know about them for it to be a standalone but not too much so if you've read the first book your not going over the same information too much.
Congratulations Wendy on yet another success and here's to the next explosive book in this absolutely epic series!!!
Overall a pulse racing, addictive page turning crime thriller thay will keep you on edge.
Genres covered in this novel include Crime, Police Procedural, Crime Thriller and Mystery amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans Melissa Leigh, Angela Marsons, C. L Taylor, Carol Wyer and anyone looking for a great new series.
313 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#LittleGirlTaken #Bookouture #WendyDranfield #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@WendyDranfield @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
Review for 'Little Girl Taken' by Wendy Dranfield.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Wendy Dranfield, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 29th July 2021.
This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in the 'Detective Madison Harper' series but it can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'Cry For Help' which is the second book in the 'Detective Madison Harper' series and which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot, you’ll be sleeping with the lights on! .' I am a huge fan of Melinda, Lisa AND Kendra so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a fan of Wendy Dranfield and if this is half as good as 'Cry For Help' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 76 chapters. The chapters are short in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Lost Creek, Colorado, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Detective Madison Harper and Nate Monroe. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out on anything.
Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done Wendy you done it again!! Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!!
This books is very well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading the next book, and the previous one in this series.
An addictive, nail biting, page turning, heart racing and compelling storyline which had many layers of mysteries and crimes for the reader to be kept guessing throughout. Filled with twists, turns, shocks, tragedy and red herrings throughout I had no idea who did what until the end. This is an achievement in itself as it is definitely getting harder to surprise me with the amount of crime novels I've read. The plot was unique and realistic. It started straight in the action and kept you going on a roller-coaster ride of suspension throughout. I was almost in tears when I read certain things, absolutely heartbreaking and certain people got what they deserved in my eyes. I am so glad that another certain character got their comeuppance too!!! It is so hard to say how glad I am and how gutted I was about certain events without giving anything away to future readers but I'm sure once people have read it they will know exactly what I mean. Well done Wendy you did absolutely amazing and everything was tied up perfectly. I believe you definitely did the right things with certain characters and I just could not put this book down.
Before you start this make sure you clear your schedule because once you pick it up you are not going to want to put it down!!!!
I absolutely loved meeting certain characters again which definitely included Madison, Nate and Brody along with discovering new ones!! I loved the fact that the main lead was such a strong female with alot of background and yet having gone through so much and still going through so much Madison still didn't back down!! I cannot wait to read what happens next with her. I also enjoyed Nates character but of course being an animal lover my favourite has to be Brody!!! The new characters that definitely stood out for me have got to be Vince and Mendes. I really liked Vince's character and his obsession with all things crime and I hope he gets the answers he is looking for. I am looking forward to seeing how Mendes and Madison's relationship develops in the next book and although I really didn't click with her at the start she definitely surprised me at the end. All the characters were strong and well defined. I was shocked by some of them and nicely surprised by others. I am looking forward to seeing if anything happens between Nate and Madison. I enjoyed that the author gave just the right amount of background information on the characters to let us know about them for it to be a standalone but not too much so if you've read the first book your not going over the same information too much.
Congratulations Wendy on yet another success and here's to the next explosive book in this absolutely epic series!!!
Overall a pulse racing, addictive page turning crime thriller thay will keep you on edge.
Genres covered in this novel include Crime, Police Procedural, Crime Thriller and Mystery amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans Melissa Leigh, Angela Marsons, C. L Taylor, Carol Wyer and anyone looking for a great new series.
313 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#LittleGirlTaken #Bookouture #WendyDranfield #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@WendyDranfield @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
July 29, 2021
From the first book in the Detective Madison Harper series, I was hooked on both the original backstory of the main characters and the obstacles they faced in getting some degree of normality back into their lives. Last we met, Madison had found out who was behind her wrongful incarceration which saw her spend six years in prison, six years away from the job she loved and six long years away from her beloved son, Owen. In Little Girl Taken, Madison is about to start her first day back at Lost Creek Police Department as a detective. She’s nervous and excited, knowing it won’t be easy for her to trust her fellow officers immediately and expecting some backlash from the community. Luckily for her (if I can call it lucky) she doesn’t have time to let those thoughts fester as she finds a car in a ditch, inside which a baby girl lies, alone and crying.
So begins the case to find out who the child is and where the driver of the vehicle is, assuming said driver is the child’s mother. Reports of a missing waitress lead her to believe the missing woman is a waitress at a local diner.
Meanwhile, Nate, the other main character, returns from visiting his good friend, Rex, not really knowing why he has gone back to Lost Creek now that Madison has her life sorted, her son is back with her and she has her job to keep her busy. Nate, however, knows he cannot settle until Father Connor has been caught, and disturbing messages from the priest who set him up for the murder of his fiancée, torment him regularly. Progress has been made in that he’s stopped his drug use since visiting Rex, but the temptation is still there to drag him down into that dark spiral of depression.
Madison has her hands full: she and Owen are struggling to communicate well, he’s not the young boy she was forced to leave behind anymore; also, at the police department, she has been partnered with the very officer who put her away. Now that he is struggling himself, she finds herself bearing the brunt of their work and the two of them still have both different approaches to the job and very different views on getting the job done. She’s also worried about Nate. She wants to help him, but is so busy, and she’s concerned he might leave Lost Creek and hunt for Father Connor by himself.
Little Girl Taken sees Madison take on her first major case with gusto and empathy, digging deep in the the missing mother’s life to reveal a tragic and heartbreaking tale of untreated trauma. The path Madison takes to learn these facts is deliciously convoluted as the author drops clues like confetti. The way the story twists and turns makes it an absolute page-turner. Added to Madison’s complicated life, poor Nate isn’t having a great time either when yet more tragedy befalls him, putting him back on the police’s radar for another murder. He knows Father Connor is behind matters, and can delay no longer in hunting him down. It’s dramatic, tense and excrutiatingly difficult to watch Nate break down. He will need to rely on Madison to get him through this latest episode.
This is a very clever crime thriller that had me second guessing everyone in Lost Creek at some point. Brody, the K9-trained dog is a star, as always, his training as a cadaver dog being used widely throughout the investigation. A new character – Vince Rader – is established as one to watch. He’s runs a crime podcast and is keen to interview Madison and Nate, but he also employed the missing woman. On top of that, he is grieving the loss of his wife and grandson and trying to ignore the aspersions cast his way that he was responsible in some way. He manages to appear to be both a bad guy and a good guy at times before his true self is laid bare, and he really is as genuine as he makes out. Hopefully, he’ll be part of Nate’s decision as to whether his future is in Lost Creek or not. I’m pretty convinced Madison and Owen want him to stick around.
I’ll be keeping an eye for the next instalment; Wendy Dranfield has becomes one of of must-read authors. Thanks go to Netgalley, Wendy and the publishers for my copy of this book which I’ve reviewed voluntarily and with the greatest of pleasure. My only query is regarding the book cover which didn’t seem to relate to the story at all, although it does match the style of others in the series and also the market for crime thrillers. Does it matter that it doesn’t go with the story, IMHO? Probably not, but if we’re led to believe that covers sell books, then this wouldn’t have done so for me. Luckily, the author’s name alone is enough for me to choose this one.
So begins the case to find out who the child is and where the driver of the vehicle is, assuming said driver is the child’s mother. Reports of a missing waitress lead her to believe the missing woman is a waitress at a local diner.
Meanwhile, Nate, the other main character, returns from visiting his good friend, Rex, not really knowing why he has gone back to Lost Creek now that Madison has her life sorted, her son is back with her and she has her job to keep her busy. Nate, however, knows he cannot settle until Father Connor has been caught, and disturbing messages from the priest who set him up for the murder of his fiancée, torment him regularly. Progress has been made in that he’s stopped his drug use since visiting Rex, but the temptation is still there to drag him down into that dark spiral of depression.
Madison has her hands full: she and Owen are struggling to communicate well, he’s not the young boy she was forced to leave behind anymore; also, at the police department, she has been partnered with the very officer who put her away. Now that he is struggling himself, she finds herself bearing the brunt of their work and the two of them still have both different approaches to the job and very different views on getting the job done. She’s also worried about Nate. She wants to help him, but is so busy, and she’s concerned he might leave Lost Creek and hunt for Father Connor by himself.
Little Girl Taken sees Madison take on her first major case with gusto and empathy, digging deep in the the missing mother’s life to reveal a tragic and heartbreaking tale of untreated trauma. The path Madison takes to learn these facts is deliciously convoluted as the author drops clues like confetti. The way the story twists and turns makes it an absolute page-turner. Added to Madison’s complicated life, poor Nate isn’t having a great time either when yet more tragedy befalls him, putting him back on the police’s radar for another murder. He knows Father Connor is behind matters, and can delay no longer in hunting him down. It’s dramatic, tense and excrutiatingly difficult to watch Nate break down. He will need to rely on Madison to get him through this latest episode.
This is a very clever crime thriller that had me second guessing everyone in Lost Creek at some point. Brody, the K9-trained dog is a star, as always, his training as a cadaver dog being used widely throughout the investigation. A new character – Vince Rader – is established as one to watch. He’s runs a crime podcast and is keen to interview Madison and Nate, but he also employed the missing woman. On top of that, he is grieving the loss of his wife and grandson and trying to ignore the aspersions cast his way that he was responsible in some way. He manages to appear to be both a bad guy and a good guy at times before his true self is laid bare, and he really is as genuine as he makes out. Hopefully, he’ll be part of Nate’s decision as to whether his future is in Lost Creek or not. I’m pretty convinced Madison and Owen want him to stick around.
I’ll be keeping an eye for the next instalment; Wendy Dranfield has becomes one of of must-read authors. Thanks go to Netgalley, Wendy and the publishers for my copy of this book which I’ve reviewed voluntarily and with the greatest of pleasure. My only query is regarding the book cover which didn’t seem to relate to the story at all, although it does match the style of others in the series and also the market for crime thrillers. Does it matter that it doesn’t go with the story, IMHO? Probably not, but if we’re led to believe that covers sell books, then this wouldn’t have done so for me. Luckily, the author’s name alone is enough for me to choose this one.
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