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Taken
I am accused of the worst of crimes – murdering my baby – and I have hours before this passenger ferry docks in Spain to find him, alive.
Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I think they’ve taken my baby. But who would do this to me and why? I know the answer. Or at least I think I do…
The police want to know why I have fled my home and husband. How do I tell them that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? That today is the anniversary of his death? That my husband is planning on having me sectioned?
Despite what my husband says, I’m not ill. Am I? For I have discovered he has an agenda…
So how could I have been so wrong about him?
And how do I convince the police I’m innocent, when everyone believes I’m guilty, and get my baby back before he disappears forever?
Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I think they’ve taken my baby. But who would do this to me and why? I know the answer. Or at least I think I do…
The police want to know why I have fled my home and husband. How do I tell them that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? That today is the anniversary of his death? That my husband is planning on having me sectioned?
Despite what my husband says, I’m not ill. Am I? For I have discovered he has an agenda…
So how could I have been so wrong about him?
And how do I convince the police I’m innocent, when everyone believes I’m guilty, and get my baby back before he disappears forever?
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2024
214 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Ramsay
20 books142 followersDanielle Ramsay is a proud Scot living in a small seaside town in the North-East of England. Always a storyteller, it was only after initially following an academic career lecturing in literature that she found her place in life and began to write creatively full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 27, 2024
Taken by Danielle Ramsey, British nurse Alice is married to Tom, who is an American. when they move to Massachusetts. Alice gives birth to baby Noah, but when the unthinkable happens and they lose babyNoah to sudden infant death syndrome Alice doesn’t know how she can go on. she doesn’t even care when she inadvertently finds out about and meets perfect Blair, who is also Tom’s ex fiancé. Tom is worried about Allison state of mind and decides to send her to a hospital for mental health. Soon Alice is back and although sad about her son, she and Tom soon have Baby Eli to focus on. all is not well, however, because soon someone tells her that Tom is cheating with their nanny, Florence and even send a video to prove it, but all this is just the tip of the iceberg. Alice has a lot of secrets in her past, but it will be someone else’s secrets,that will be the cause of ruining Alice’s life for good. there are so much more to this gradebook I thought for certain I had read other books by this author, but it seems I haven’t so this will just be the first of many. I really love a book that delivers and then delivers again and I have been getting a lot of those recently and this one included and OMG what a great book it is, I really love that. Alice is a person to root for despite her past and thought the ending was so awesome. This really was a great book and one I definitely recommend. you really can tell the difference between someone who is riding stories to make money and someone who is riding stories because they want to tell a great tale and I do believe Danielle Ramsey is in the latter category. This was so good! #NetGalley, #DanielleRamsey, #Taken,
November 25, 2024
This is a really solid thriller! The writing draws you in and doesn't let you go until the end. I had a hard time putting this down and would recommend this to anyone who enjoy thrillers! Special Thank You to Danielle Ramsay,Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2024
I love this author, she always thinks of fantastic plots, and she definitely delivers. This particular story might be a too much for those who have experienced this, so please read the TW.
But the author has a gentle approach to this scenario, it really is a brilliant book. You definitely get engrossed in this, occasionally I felt like I was sat right next to Alice. It really isn’t a smooth ride for this mumma, and as a mum myself it really heightened my anxieties, in a thrilling way.
But the author has a gentle approach to this scenario, it really is a brilliant book. You definitely get engrossed in this, occasionally I felt like I was sat right next to Alice. It really isn’t a smooth ride for this mumma, and as a mum myself it really heightened my anxieties, in a thrilling way.
November 15, 2024
What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive’ Sir Walter Scott, published in 1808. Danielle Ramsay has gifted us with a psychological thriller that engulfs the quote from Sir Walter Scott. Taken is a lively, intriguing story of deception and lies, with a side of secrets from the past this book must be read by everyone who loves a thriller.
The story of Alice and her husband Tom.. Alice is the narrator and while she is unreliable for a while, she becomes the victim running to save her life. Taken has references to SIDS, therefore a possible trigger for some readers.
The mind set of a parent in grief has been beautifully written by Danielle, I could feel the pain and anguish of Alice in how the words were written.
It was an absolute pleasure to read and review Taken, it will be a book that remains in my mind for a long time ahead.
5+ stars for the portrayal of mental health and SIDS.
#netgalley #TakenbyDanielleRamsay
#Taken
#psychologicalthriller
#thebookcaseofkay
The story of Alice and her husband Tom.. Alice is the narrator and while she is unreliable for a while, she becomes the victim running to save her life. Taken has references to SIDS, therefore a possible trigger for some readers.
The mind set of a parent in grief has been beautifully written by Danielle, I could feel the pain and anguish of Alice in how the words were written.
It was an absolute pleasure to read and review Taken, it will be a book that remains in my mind for a long time ahead.
5+ stars for the portrayal of mental health and SIDS.
#netgalley #TakenbyDanielleRamsay
#Taken
#psychologicalthriller
#thebookcaseofkay
April 28, 2025
Despite loving Ramsay’s previous book, this one did not deliver in the same way. To be honest, it felt too similar to her other novel: a character struggling to remember events, plenty of medication and a suffocating difficulty to get to the truth.
I think the sensitive topics played with my head a bit as well. The protagonist is suffering from post partum depression that verges on post partum psychosis. Not only that, Ramsey explores crippling OCD and the devastating impacts of SIDs. It’s not a light-hearted read! In this way, I struggled to wade through this narrative because of these emotive topics and found they dominated the pace of the narrative too much.
The story moves quite slowly. I think it is the only in the final chapters does the title truly become clear, as well as what the premise has been suggested. Opening with Alice in a drowsy state, she quickly turns confused and panicked when she believes her baby boy has been taken from her. Yet, the empty wine bottle and blister pack would suggest something more sinister and even Alice cannot deny she has been struggling over the last few weeks. What then follows is a return to the beginning of Alice’s story, where readers are taken on a journey of Alice’s breakdown and how she has come to this opening scene.
I thought the story moved very slowly because of how much Alice questions everything. It is clear that she is being medicated for her “own benefit” but this inevitably leads to paranoia and mistrust. Even her husband is presented as keeping things from her, potentially even trying to section Alice, and I thought this dynamic between the couple, as well as Alice’s drowsy state, was too similar to Ramsay’s other book. As a result of this slow pace and, well, paranoia about everything, I began to lose interest in the story and became frustrated that revelations did not come out sooner.
Indeed, when answers are revealed, it is in just a couple of chapters. We have all the answers in a lengthy conversation that neatly ties up the plot. This was too neat, in my opinion. I had been waiting for so long for the answers, I would have preferred it if the author had spaced them out, rather than saving them for the end of the book. As a result, I thought the answers not too surprising, and just a convenient and predictable way to conclude the novel.
I think you need to be pretty strong going into this novel because of what Alice emotionally suffers with. I think this put me off the story because of how heavily it dominates the narrative and there are few reprieves in the story. Not only that, the accused wife felt too similar to other domestic thrillers, especially when compared with the author’s other book.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think the sensitive topics played with my head a bit as well. The protagonist is suffering from post partum depression that verges on post partum psychosis. Not only that, Ramsey explores crippling OCD and the devastating impacts of SIDs. It’s not a light-hearted read! In this way, I struggled to wade through this narrative because of these emotive topics and found they dominated the pace of the narrative too much.
The story moves quite slowly. I think it is the only in the final chapters does the title truly become clear, as well as what the premise has been suggested. Opening with Alice in a drowsy state, she quickly turns confused and panicked when she believes her baby boy has been taken from her. Yet, the empty wine bottle and blister pack would suggest something more sinister and even Alice cannot deny she has been struggling over the last few weeks. What then follows is a return to the beginning of Alice’s story, where readers are taken on a journey of Alice’s breakdown and how she has come to this opening scene.
I thought the story moved very slowly because of how much Alice questions everything. It is clear that she is being medicated for her “own benefit” but this inevitably leads to paranoia and mistrust. Even her husband is presented as keeping things from her, potentially even trying to section Alice, and I thought this dynamic between the couple, as well as Alice’s drowsy state, was too similar to Ramsay’s other book. As a result of this slow pace and, well, paranoia about everything, I began to lose interest in the story and became frustrated that revelations did not come out sooner.
Indeed, when answers are revealed, it is in just a couple of chapters. We have all the answers in a lengthy conversation that neatly ties up the plot. This was too neat, in my opinion. I had been waiting for so long for the answers, I would have preferred it if the author had spaced them out, rather than saving them for the end of the book. As a result, I thought the answers not too surprising, and just a convenient and predictable way to conclude the novel.
I think you need to be pretty strong going into this novel because of what Alice emotionally suffers with. I think this put me off the story because of how heavily it dominates the narrative and there are few reprieves in the story. Not only that, the accused wife felt too similar to other domestic thrillers, especially when compared with the author’s other book.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2024
This novel starts in a sad way as Alice and her surgeon husband Tom have just lost their infant son to SIDS. Alice doesn't cope well but part of it is that she is British and staying in America with Tom's mother who doesn't like her, and Tom's old girlfriend is hanging around. I found it a bit strange that people were critical of Alice at being upset at her own baby's funeral, but in the days to come she won't get out of bed or eat or drink. Tom talks her into putting herself into a mental health facility and although she doesn't want to go she does get better. Then she becomes pregnant again and is fearful that her baby will have the same fate.
I'm not a big fan of stories about gaslighting or women getting locked up against their will; but this story has some original twists and turns and I found myself turning the pages eager to see what would happen. Alice has a second son she names Eli and as the book's title suggests, at one point Eli is kidnapped but will anyone believe unreliable Alice? This book uses modern technology as a culprit in what happens to Alice and Eli and while some of it was unbelievable, it had an exciting and unexpected ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this ARC for review.
I'm not a big fan of stories about gaslighting or women getting locked up against their will; but this story has some original twists and turns and I found myself turning the pages eager to see what would happen. Alice has a second son she names Eli and as the book's title suggests, at one point Eli is kidnapped but will anyone believe unreliable Alice? This book uses modern technology as a culprit in what happens to Alice and Eli and while some of it was unbelievable, it had an exciting and unexpected ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this ARC for review.
November 25, 2024
"Taken" is a story about a woman named Alice. Having had a troubled childhood that she feels guilty for and losing a child herself, Alice falls apart... I won't give away more of the story because you really have to read it! It's confusing and twisty, in a good way, making you scratch your had as you will not see what's coming! It's written in great detail with deep emotion and the ending just ties it all together!
November 12, 2024
Taken by Danielle Ramsay is a heart-pounding, emotional thriller that pulls readers into a dark world of trauma, deception, and survival. This story centers on Alice, a mother grappling with the loss of her first child to SIDS, only to face an unthinkable nightmare with her second. Her young son Eli disappears, and Alice, already on shaky ground mentally, finds herself under suspicion as the police—and her own husband—question her every move.
The novel's beginning is deeply emotional, with Alice's grief and fragile mental state portrayed so vividly that it almost becomes suffocating. Ramsay takes the reader on a rollercoaster of feelings as Alice’s breakdown and the lingering scars from her past are laid bare, bringing themes of motherhood and mental health to the forefront. The writing skillfully reflects Alice’s spiraling emotions, which makes the story both intense and uncomfortably immersive.
Just when you think the story might slow, Ramsay throws in twist after twist, shifting the narrative from a slow-burn emotional exploration to a high-speed chase as Alice races to uncover the truth about her missing child. The story becomes a puzzle of betrayal and secrets, with Alice forced to confront her husband’s intentions as well as the reality of those around her. Suspense builds with each revelation, making the reader question the trustworthiness of every character involved.
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that blends raw emotion with edge-of-your-seat suspense, Taken is a fantastic pick. Danielle Ramsay delivers a masterful thriller that lingers long after the final page, diving into themes of grief, trust, and the fierce lengths one mother will go to protect her child. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this gripping ARC
The novel's beginning is deeply emotional, with Alice's grief and fragile mental state portrayed so vividly that it almost becomes suffocating. Ramsay takes the reader on a rollercoaster of feelings as Alice’s breakdown and the lingering scars from her past are laid bare, bringing themes of motherhood and mental health to the forefront. The writing skillfully reflects Alice’s spiraling emotions, which makes the story both intense and uncomfortably immersive.
Just when you think the story might slow, Ramsay throws in twist after twist, shifting the narrative from a slow-burn emotional exploration to a high-speed chase as Alice races to uncover the truth about her missing child. The story becomes a puzzle of betrayal and secrets, with Alice forced to confront her husband’s intentions as well as the reality of those around her. Suspense builds with each revelation, making the reader question the trustworthiness of every character involved.
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that blends raw emotion with edge-of-your-seat suspense, Taken is a fantastic pick. Danielle Ramsay delivers a masterful thriller that lingers long after the final page, diving into themes of grief, trust, and the fierce lengths one mother will go to protect her child. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this gripping ARC
October 19, 2024
Definitely a good book. After Alive loses her son Noah to SIDS, she starts losing her mind. husband has her committed, she grows intensely paranoid. She starts to lost blocks of time. Then she discovers she is pregnant again. Her biggest fear is harming this child. But without the support from her husband how can she make it through. Her second baby is taken and she doesn’t know what to believe anymore. One thing is for sure, thing are never what they seem.
October 7, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
Alice and her husband Tom tragically lose their baby son Noah. Alice goes to pieces be ends up in a mental health facility while she recovers from a breakdown. Later they have an 8 week old son Eli and a nanny to help. When ‘a friend’ sends her an incriminating video and tells her to check Tom’s emails, Alice panics. He plans to have her committed and take Eli away to America to begin a new life. Alice ups and leaves on a ferry to Spain. And then her baby disappears.
Oh wow! This starter slowly and was quite traumatic. I thought it was going to be a disappointment. Then twist after twist, explosive revelations and a fast paced story. I was paying attention and did suspect one thing (no spoilers) to be proven right. A satisfying ending with all loose ends tied up. Highly recommend.
Alice and her husband Tom tragically lose their baby son Noah. Alice goes to pieces be ends up in a mental health facility while she recovers from a breakdown. Later they have an 8 week old son Eli and a nanny to help. When ‘a friend’ sends her an incriminating video and tells her to check Tom’s emails, Alice panics. He plans to have her committed and take Eli away to America to begin a new life. Alice ups and leaves on a ferry to Spain. And then her baby disappears.
Oh wow! This starter slowly and was quite traumatic. I thought it was going to be a disappointment. Then twist after twist, explosive revelations and a fast paced story. I was paying attention and did suspect one thing (no spoilers) to be proven right. A satisfying ending with all loose ends tied up. Highly recommend.
November 29, 2024
3.5 stars
Taken has a very interesting premise and the book grabbed my attention right away. The mental health clinician in me was intrigued by the mental health issues and how they were being handled.
I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow. It was clear that we were struggling through the main character's paranoia and brain fog but that did get tiresome at times.
The book did pick up and I did find the ending satisfying even if not completely surprising.
Overall, if you are a fan of psychological thrillers then I would definitely give this one a try. I look forward to reading additional things by this author.
Taken has a very interesting premise and the book grabbed my attention right away. The mental health clinician in me was intrigued by the mental health issues and how they were being handled.
I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow. It was clear that we were struggling through the main character's paranoia and brain fog but that did get tiresome at times.
The book did pick up and I did find the ending satisfying even if not completely surprising.
Overall, if you are a fan of psychological thrillers then I would definitely give this one a try. I look forward to reading additional things by this author.
October 29, 2024
A very good story, and the author has a way of bringing you in and making you feel Alice's anxiety. I think I'mma need to double my dose of Ativan...but we see where that got dear Alice! This poor woman. Losing a child, thinking it was her fault and some sort of karmic justice for what happened with her mother, battling ferocious bouts of depression and anxiety, finding herself pregnant paranoid and slowly losing her grip on her sanity after battling back from the brink. It's all too much. It was definitely a good read, but it'll be tough if you easily trigger on others' mental health, depression and anxiety.
January 21, 2025
'Taken' by Danielle Ramsay had me absolutely hooked from start to finish! Danielle Ramsay delivers an intense, nerve-wracking thriller that kept me flipping pages late into the night. The tension, the twists, the emotional gut punches—I was all in! The plot is layered with secrets and suspense, and just when I thought I had things figured out, Ramsay threw another curveball my way.
Alice’s story is absolutely heartbreaking. Accused of the unthinkable—murdering her own baby—she’s forced to flee, desperate to find her child before a passenger ferry docks in Spain. Her grief over losing her first child, Noah, is gut-wrenching, and her struggle to bond with her second, Eli, while running for her life had me completely invested. The emotional weight of this story, mixed with its fast-paced suspense, made Taken impossible to put down. If you love thrillers that keep you on edge and hit you right in the feels, you need to read this one ASAP!
Thank you NetGalley, Danielle Ramsay, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for a candid review.
Alice’s story is absolutely heartbreaking. Accused of the unthinkable—murdering her own baby—she’s forced to flee, desperate to find her child before a passenger ferry docks in Spain. Her grief over losing her first child, Noah, is gut-wrenching, and her struggle to bond with her second, Eli, while running for her life had me completely invested. The emotional weight of this story, mixed with its fast-paced suspense, made Taken impossible to put down. If you love thrillers that keep you on edge and hit you right in the feels, you need to read this one ASAP!
Thank you NetGalley, Danielle Ramsay, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for a candid review.
October 30, 2024
by the story and the multiple red herrings thrown in to confuse the reader!
An excellent read, so clever and deceptive. Highly recommended.
An excellent read, so clever and deceptive. Highly recommended.
January 10, 2025
"Your baby has been taken. But who will believe you?"
Alice is a young British nurse, originally from Devon but now living and working in London, who meets and after a whirlwind romance, marries American neurosurgeon Tom, more than ten years her senior and in the country working temporarily. Some months later, following the birth of baby Noah, they return together to Tom's home, where his parents William and Barbara apparently welcome Alice with open arms.
However, Alice has a guilty secret, one she has never shared with Tom, about a childhood incident at the family home, which has left she and her brother Oli virtually estranged and an emotionally and mentally vulnerable Alice, petrified of water. So when tragedy strikes for Tom and Alice, as well as them both being left bereft, torn apart by their loss and inconsolable with grief, a demented Alice is on the verge of completely losing her sanity.
Having been placed under sedation for her own good and unable to communicate or move, Alice does overhear a conversation between Tom and his mother, which makes it clear that Tom is harbouring secrets of his own about a past history with someone called Blair. Totally unable to function, Alice's continuing paranoia leads to her being 'voluntarily and temporarily' sectioned, where she still adamantly refuses to discuss her past, even when Oli arrives out of the blue to support her, as Tom withdraws and grows evermore distant from his wife, especially after the unexpected arrival of Blair.
At the end of his tether, Tom manages to convince Alice that he still loves her, although events conspire to take yet another strange twist of fate, filling them both with renewed hope, tempered with dread and trepidation about the future. During a short trip back to London, Alice receives an anonymous tip-off, which leads to her discovery of things about Tom which horrify and repulse her. Now convinced that she is not as sick as everyone would have her believe, with Oli's help, Alice plans to make good her escape and join her brother in Europe. However, her tormenter decides to up the ante, to the point where Alice is under suspicion of terrible crimes and threatened with prison, or worse!
Can Tom convince people that Alice is innocent and that he had no part in the conspiracy against his wife? And will he and Alice ever find renewed solace in a relationship together?
...
My potted synopsis of this masterful fictional psychological thriller, probably doesn't do it adequate justice, however to elaborate further would be to give the game away completely. With so many more twists and turns, false leads and accusations, many of which I never saw coming, be prepared for a gut-wrenching ride, which is unrelentingly pursued and consumed by anguish and guilt from just about every direction! Just a small word of warning to anyone who has a trigger point related to SIDS, who might want to consider the consequences of reading this book ... Although, to me as a layperson, it seems amazingly well researched, sympathetically authentic and true to the subject, it is thus very detailed and explicit.
The narrative is set mostly in the present, although there are various flashbacks in time mingled in. However, when these events dictate, the chapter breaks are clearly defined and easy to follow, so no second-guessing is required.
There are references to various locations in Europe, the UK and the USA, however, none are really fleshed out in detail, although they are real places. This dark, slow-burning storyline is all about the characters, their rollercoaster emotions, their vulnerabilities, their acts of revenge and deception, and their interactions with one another.
I found it quite difficult to relate to, or become invested in, any of the characters, especially Tom, who I found particularly weak and a bit dim-witted when some things were staring him right in the face, although I'm not sure that was the outcome the author had hoped for. So whilst, yes, Alice's fragility and grief, leading to her complete breakdown and loss of reality, were undoubtedly founded and definitely twofold - Those lingering scars which had haunted her since childhood, her feelings of abandonment by her father, coupled with her belief that her mother didn't love or want her, and Alice's all-consuming guilt surrounding her mothers eventual death; coupled with those spiralling, traumatic and fragile emotions of a mother trying to come to terms with the loss of not one, but ostensibly two babies. However, no matter how vividly and realistically those events and their outcomes were portrayed, and never having walked a mile in Alice's shoes, as so many other readers might well have done, the storyline and narrative, descriptive, compelling and immersive as it was, was almost suffocating in its intensity, seeming much more lengthy than its purported 330 odd pages. Which, in all honesty, is probably the only reason I marked this review a little down at 4*
Did I guess who the villain of the piece was? Well I must admit that I did have an inkling, but nothing tangible enough to make me 'nail my colours to the mast' over.
Alice is a young British nurse, originally from Devon but now living and working in London, who meets and after a whirlwind romance, marries American neurosurgeon Tom, more than ten years her senior and in the country working temporarily. Some months later, following the birth of baby Noah, they return together to Tom's home, where his parents William and Barbara apparently welcome Alice with open arms.
However, Alice has a guilty secret, one she has never shared with Tom, about a childhood incident at the family home, which has left she and her brother Oli virtually estranged and an emotionally and mentally vulnerable Alice, petrified of water. So when tragedy strikes for Tom and Alice, as well as them both being left bereft, torn apart by their loss and inconsolable with grief, a demented Alice is on the verge of completely losing her sanity.
Having been placed under sedation for her own good and unable to communicate or move, Alice does overhear a conversation between Tom and his mother, which makes it clear that Tom is harbouring secrets of his own about a past history with someone called Blair. Totally unable to function, Alice's continuing paranoia leads to her being 'voluntarily and temporarily' sectioned, where she still adamantly refuses to discuss her past, even when Oli arrives out of the blue to support her, as Tom withdraws and grows evermore distant from his wife, especially after the unexpected arrival of Blair.
At the end of his tether, Tom manages to convince Alice that he still loves her, although events conspire to take yet another strange twist of fate, filling them both with renewed hope, tempered with dread and trepidation about the future. During a short trip back to London, Alice receives an anonymous tip-off, which leads to her discovery of things about Tom which horrify and repulse her. Now convinced that she is not as sick as everyone would have her believe, with Oli's help, Alice plans to make good her escape and join her brother in Europe. However, her tormenter decides to up the ante, to the point where Alice is under suspicion of terrible crimes and threatened with prison, or worse!
Can Tom convince people that Alice is innocent and that he had no part in the conspiracy against his wife? And will he and Alice ever find renewed solace in a relationship together?
...
My potted synopsis of this masterful fictional psychological thriller, probably doesn't do it adequate justice, however to elaborate further would be to give the game away completely. With so many more twists and turns, false leads and accusations, many of which I never saw coming, be prepared for a gut-wrenching ride, which is unrelentingly pursued and consumed by anguish and guilt from just about every direction! Just a small word of warning to anyone who has a trigger point related to SIDS, who might want to consider the consequences of reading this book ... Although, to me as a layperson, it seems amazingly well researched, sympathetically authentic and true to the subject, it is thus very detailed and explicit.
The narrative is set mostly in the present, although there are various flashbacks in time mingled in. However, when these events dictate, the chapter breaks are clearly defined and easy to follow, so no second-guessing is required.
There are references to various locations in Europe, the UK and the USA, however, none are really fleshed out in detail, although they are real places. This dark, slow-burning storyline is all about the characters, their rollercoaster emotions, their vulnerabilities, their acts of revenge and deception, and their interactions with one another.
I found it quite difficult to relate to, or become invested in, any of the characters, especially Tom, who I found particularly weak and a bit dim-witted when some things were staring him right in the face, although I'm not sure that was the outcome the author had hoped for. So whilst, yes, Alice's fragility and grief, leading to her complete breakdown and loss of reality, were undoubtedly founded and definitely twofold - Those lingering scars which had haunted her since childhood, her feelings of abandonment by her father, coupled with her belief that her mother didn't love or want her, and Alice's all-consuming guilt surrounding her mothers eventual death; coupled with those spiralling, traumatic and fragile emotions of a mother trying to come to terms with the loss of not one, but ostensibly two babies. However, no matter how vividly and realistically those events and their outcomes were portrayed, and never having walked a mile in Alice's shoes, as so many other readers might well have done, the storyline and narrative, descriptive, compelling and immersive as it was, was almost suffocating in its intensity, seeming much more lengthy than its purported 330 odd pages. Which, in all honesty, is probably the only reason I marked this review a little down at 4*
Did I guess who the villain of the piece was? Well I must admit that I did have an inkling, but nothing tangible enough to make me 'nail my colours to the mast' over.
February 13, 2025
Synopsis:
When British nurse Alice meets her husband, the successful American surgeon Tom, she can't believe her luck. However when they fly across the pond with their newborn Noah to meet Tom's parents, something terrible happens that threatens their relationship. Not only that, but there's also Tom's gorgeous ex-fiancée, who is perfect in every way and seems to make a much better daughter-in-law than Alice.
The book deals with the tragedy of losing your child and blaming yourself for it, but also with the ensuing mental health struggles such as severe (postpartum) depression and OCD, subjects that are important to discuss and affect many people in our society.
The author also makes a point that looks can be deceiving and what appears perfect on the outside, might just be an illusion. She holds a mirror to society, so to speak, about the dangers of stereotyping people and judging them based on superficial, incomplete information.
I will say that this book is not a light-hearted read due to the seriousness of the topics addressed in the book, so if you're looking to be entertained, you might want to skip this one. Even if the subjects were different, the book isn't fun to read.
There were more holes in the plot than in Emmental cheese and overall it just appeared as if the book was actually just supposed to be a script for a small village theatre, where you only have four actors and therefore need to limit the amount of people you can include in your story. Also, all of the protagonists were monodimensional and the only one I could somewhat relate to was the husband.
Furthermore, I felt very uncomfortable with the gaslighting the protagonist endured. A big fear of mine is being held in a mental hospital against my will and someone falsely claiming that I am a harm to myself or others, so that part properly terrified me. The plot twist however, was the most unrealistic and far-fetched thing I've ever read. There was nothing shocking or interesting about it, in fact it made the writer appear amateurish.
I suppose my takeaway is that the target audience of "Taken" are mothers between the ages of 20 and 30, I'd be very surprised if anyone outside of that demographic would love or even like this book and while Danielle Ramsay is a skilled writer who can express herself well, she doesn't manage to bridge the gap between creativity and credibility.
When British nurse Alice meets her husband, the successful American surgeon Tom, she can't believe her luck. However when they fly across the pond with their newborn Noah to meet Tom's parents, something terrible happens that threatens their relationship. Not only that, but there's also Tom's gorgeous ex-fiancée, who is perfect in every way and seems to make a much better daughter-in-law than Alice.
The book deals with the tragedy of losing your child and blaming yourself for it, but also with the ensuing mental health struggles such as severe (postpartum) depression and OCD, subjects that are important to discuss and affect many people in our society.
The author also makes a point that looks can be deceiving and what appears perfect on the outside, might just be an illusion. She holds a mirror to society, so to speak, about the dangers of stereotyping people and judging them based on superficial, incomplete information.
I will say that this book is not a light-hearted read due to the seriousness of the topics addressed in the book, so if you're looking to be entertained, you might want to skip this one. Even if the subjects were different, the book isn't fun to read.
There were more holes in the plot than in Emmental cheese and overall it just appeared as if the book was actually just supposed to be a script for a small village theatre, where you only have four actors and therefore need to limit the amount of people you can include in your story. Also, all of the protagonists were monodimensional and the only one I could somewhat relate to was the husband.
Furthermore, I felt very uncomfortable with the gaslighting the protagonist endured. A big fear of mine is being held in a mental hospital against my will and someone falsely claiming that I am a harm to myself or others, so that part properly terrified me. The plot twist however, was the most unrealistic and far-fetched thing I've ever read. There was nothing shocking or interesting about it, in fact it made the writer appear amateurish.
I suppose my takeaway is that the target audience of "Taken" are mothers between the ages of 20 and 30, I'd be very surprised if anyone outside of that demographic would love or even like this book and while Danielle Ramsay is a skilled writer who can express herself well, she doesn't manage to bridge the gap between creativity and credibility.
November 5, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+⭐
Taken by Danielle Ramsay is emotional overload! Like, it will blow your mind off!
Oh my God! I don't know where to start! I want to scream and laugh and cry at the same time!
Let's start with - this is the first book in my life that I could not stand for a good 50% and ended up absolutely loving it to the state that I am putting on my special 6-star shelf! I promise it has never happened before!
Trigger warnings: child loss or more specifically SIDS! Please be mindful if this triggers you!
I would say that the first 50% of the book is emotionally attached to SIDS, breakdown, and emotional dealing with trauma. It's seriously ripping your heart out! There is so much emotion! Too much emotion! You struggle to understand how this could be a psychological thriller up to at least 80% of the book... And then things fall in place and you can calm down your madly racing heart! Seriously I thought I would have a heart attack! I wanted to scream! And shout! And cry! Oh my, oh my, oh my!
The expected publication for this book is 25 November so you have time to make your mind up if this fits on your TBR pile, if this is good for your mental health or if are you ready to shred your emotions in complete pieces!
Alice is accused of the worst of crimes ever– murdering her baby...
My advice - don't read the prologue and chapter 2 as this is where confusion comes in! It just messed up my head, seriously! This is why I didn't like the first part of the book as I was constantly confused! And erutated! And annoyed! And I can treasure you, you are not missing out as information will come (repeat) at the right time!
Start with Chapter One, Chapter Three, and then nicely follow the story!
Sometimes jumping back and forth in time works well but not in this book! Thankfully it's presented just from Alice's point of view, I don't think I would cope if there were multiple POV on the top of confusion that gives the beginning of the book.
If you are the person who gives up early - please carry on - it's worth it!
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this copy!
Taken by Danielle Ramsay is emotional overload! Like, it will blow your mind off!
Oh my God! I don't know where to start! I want to scream and laugh and cry at the same time!
Let's start with - this is the first book in my life that I could not stand for a good 50% and ended up absolutely loving it to the state that I am putting on my special 6-star shelf! I promise it has never happened before!
Trigger warnings: child loss or more specifically SIDS! Please be mindful if this triggers you!
I would say that the first 50% of the book is emotionally attached to SIDS, breakdown, and emotional dealing with trauma. It's seriously ripping your heart out! There is so much emotion! Too much emotion! You struggle to understand how this could be a psychological thriller up to at least 80% of the book... And then things fall in place and you can calm down your madly racing heart! Seriously I thought I would have a heart attack! I wanted to scream! And shout! And cry! Oh my, oh my, oh my!
The expected publication for this book is 25 November so you have time to make your mind up if this fits on your TBR pile, if this is good for your mental health or if are you ready to shred your emotions in complete pieces!
Alice is accused of the worst of crimes ever– murdering her baby...
My advice - don't read the prologue and chapter 2 as this is where confusion comes in! It just messed up my head, seriously! This is why I didn't like the first part of the book as I was constantly confused! And erutated! And annoyed! And I can treasure you, you are not missing out as information will come (repeat) at the right time!
Start with Chapter One, Chapter Three, and then nicely follow the story!
Sometimes jumping back and forth in time works well but not in this book! Thankfully it's presented just from Alice's point of view, I don't think I would cope if there were multiple POV on the top of confusion that gives the beginning of the book.
If you are the person who gives up early - please carry on - it's worth it!
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this copy!
August 18, 2025
TAKEN By Danielle Ramsay
I am accused of the worst of crimes – murdering my baby – and I have hours before this passenger ferry docks in Spain to find him, alive.
Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I think they’ve taken my baby. But who would do this to me and why? I know the answer. Or at least I think I do…
The police want to know why I have fled my home and husband. How do I tell them that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? That today is the anniversary of his death? That my husband is planning on having me sectioned?
Despite what my husband says, I’m not ill. Am I? For I have discovered he has an agenda…
So how could I have been so wrong about him?
And how do I convince the police I’m innocent, when everyone believes I’m guilty, and get my baby back before he disappears forever?
😊What i liked -
✔ Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thriller.
✔ Uhhhggggg i cannot believe i am going to say this but - miscommunication in this book worked wonders. This book promised me an edge of the seat Psychological thriller and woah did it deliver. I was equally frustrated and intrigued through the pages and as the story progressed. I liked the plot and the writing style. It made me question my own theories. I must say this book did surprise me.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ Ahhh my guess was perfect but it did not spoil my experience- so i will say nada.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
🕵️Thriller Lovers
📈My Rating : 4.4/5
I am accused of the worst of crimes – murdering my baby – and I have hours before this passenger ferry docks in Spain to find him, alive.
Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I think they’ve taken my baby. But who would do this to me and why? I know the answer. Or at least I think I do…
The police want to know why I have fled my home and husband. How do I tell them that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? That today is the anniversary of his death? That my husband is planning on having me sectioned?
Despite what my husband says, I’m not ill. Am I? For I have discovered he has an agenda…
So how could I have been so wrong about him?
And how do I convince the police I’m innocent, when everyone believes I’m guilty, and get my baby back before he disappears forever?
😊What i liked -
✔ Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thriller.
✔ Uhhhggggg i cannot believe i am going to say this but - miscommunication in this book worked wonders. This book promised me an edge of the seat Psychological thriller and woah did it deliver. I was equally frustrated and intrigued through the pages and as the story progressed. I liked the plot and the writing style. It made me question my own theories. I must say this book did surprise me.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ Ahhh my guess was perfect but it did not spoil my experience- so i will say nada.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
🕵️Thriller Lovers
📈My Rating : 4.4/5
December 1, 2024
Taken by Danielle Ramsay
I am accused of the worst crime: murdering my baby. I have only hours before this passenger ferry docks in Spain to find him alive.
Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I fear they have taken my baby. But who would do this to me, and why? I think I know the answer—or at least, I think I do.
The police are questioning why I fled my home and husband. How do I explain that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? Today marks the anniversary of his death, and my husband is planning to have me sectioned.
Despite what my husband claims, I'm not ill. Am I? I have discovered he has an agenda.
How could I have been so wrong about him?
I need to prove my innocence to the police, even though everyone believes I'm guilty. I will do whatever it takes to get my baby back before he disappears forever.
This is another edge-of-your-seat thriller by one of my favorite authors. The writing is always compelling, and this story is no different. Initially, it may seem like a slow burn, but then it picks up pace, and you won't want to stop until you close the book with immense satisfaction.
The characters are brilliantly crafted, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing throughout.
I am thrilled to recommend it.
I want to thank Boldwood Books, author Danielle Ramsay, and Rachel's Random Resources for providing a copy to read and review.
I am accused of the worst crime: murdering my baby. I have only hours before this passenger ferry docks in Spain to find him alive.
Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I fear they have taken my baby. But who would do this to me, and why? I think I know the answer—or at least, I think I do.
The police are questioning why I fled my home and husband. How do I explain that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? Today marks the anniversary of his death, and my husband is planning to have me sectioned.
Despite what my husband claims, I'm not ill. Am I? I have discovered he has an agenda.
How could I have been so wrong about him?
I need to prove my innocence to the police, even though everyone believes I'm guilty. I will do whatever it takes to get my baby back before he disappears forever.
This is another edge-of-your-seat thriller by one of my favorite authors. The writing is always compelling, and this story is no different. Initially, it may seem like a slow burn, but then it picks up pace, and you won't want to stop until you close the book with immense satisfaction.
The characters are brilliantly crafted, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing throughout.
I am thrilled to recommend it.
I want to thank Boldwood Books, author Danielle Ramsay, and Rachel's Random Resources for providing a copy to read and review.
December 16, 2024
Alice gives birth to Noah, only to have teh unimaginable happen - he soon dies from SIDS. Alice is heartbroken and blames herself. Alice's mental health understandably takes a dive, but her husband Tom is there to support her. Or is he just trying to lock Alice up in a mental institution? Not long after the loss of Noah, Alice becomes pregnant again and later gives birth to Eli. But Alice soon uncover some evidence that shows she cannot trust anyone, especially her husband. She makes the decision to flee with her baby, only to be discovered on a ferry in Spain. But to make matters worse, they are saying that Eli is dead. And Alice was responsible for his death. Alice cannot remember the evening question, so she has no idea if the accusations are true. But she knows she wouldn't harm her baby. Right?
The author did an excellent job at casting doubt on all the characters, making the reader wonder if it is the case of an unreliable narrator or if someone else is lying. I was constantly going back and forth on whether Alice was actually crazy or not. And if not, who was making it look like she was? There were plenty of suspects to choose from. There were lots of interesting twists and turns that I did not expect. It is a super fast paced read that will have you questioning everyone. Definitely recommend!
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The author did an excellent job at casting doubt on all the characters, making the reader wonder if it is the case of an unreliable narrator or if someone else is lying. I was constantly going back and forth on whether Alice was actually crazy or not. And if not, who was making it look like she was? There were plenty of suspects to choose from. There were lots of interesting twists and turns that I did not expect. It is a super fast paced read that will have you questioning everyone. Definitely recommend!
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2024
Alice and her husband Tom have just lost their infant son to SIDS. Alice's mental health starts to suffer, and Tim manages to talk her into going into a mental health facility. Then Alice discovers that she is pregnant again. Later, we find out that she has an eight week old son called Eli. She also has a nanny to help her cope. When "a friend" sends Alice an incriminating video and tells her to check her husband's emails, she discovers Tom is planning to have Alice committed. So Alice leaves and takes baby Eli with her to Spain. But Eli disappears and no one believes her.
This story is told from Alice's perspective. The story starts off slowly, then the pace is fast. It's emotional, traumatic, filled with twists, covers mental health issues and SIDS. At the beginning, it was a bit confusing. The last 25ish% was gripping and it had a great twist at the end.
Published 25th November 2024
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #DanielleRamsay for my ARC of #Taken in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told from Alice's perspective. The story starts off slowly, then the pace is fast. It's emotional, traumatic, filled with twists, covers mental health issues and SIDS. At the beginning, it was a bit confusing. The last 25ish% was gripping and it had a great twist at the end.
Published 25th November 2024
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #DanielleRamsay for my ARC of #Taken in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2024
This was an absolute page-turner! The prologue finds us on a ferry to Spain, with Alice waking to find her baby cold, but it's not Eli, her son, it's Noah, her first baby who died from SIDS a year earlier. Alice is on the run, but why? And who is she running from?
Alice and Tom had a wonderful life until Noah died. Since then, Alice has found it difficult to function, quite understandably. She blames herself for her mothers death and now for her child's death. When Alice discovers that Tom is moving on with his life and planning to take Eli with him, she runs, but then Eli is taken. With Alice's history of mental health problems, it is clear that nobody believes her and she knows that she only has until the ferry docks to find her baby.
Twisty and gripping! A fast paced and action packed read that I really enjoyed.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Alice and Tom had a wonderful life until Noah died. Since then, Alice has found it difficult to function, quite understandably. She blames herself for her mothers death and now for her child's death. When Alice discovers that Tom is moving on with his life and planning to take Eli with him, she runs, but then Eli is taken. With Alice's history of mental health problems, it is clear that nobody believes her and she knows that she only has until the ferry docks to find her baby.
Twisty and gripping! A fast paced and action packed read that I really enjoyed.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.
November 28, 2024
Taken tells the story of a woman called Alice who is going through a bad time and has a lot of mental health problems due to a horrific accident in her past. She becomes depressed and her new husband Tom tries to help her get over this new tragedy in their lives. Then things go from bad to worse once her second child is born. Things seem to be happening that are out of her control and her memory seems to be getting worse too. But who do you trust when you think you have no one to turn to?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was finished in two days! The plot was great, characters were very complex and so you could struggle to get into their head and see what they might think or do! It definitely kept me on my toes!!!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #Danielle.Ramsay.Author.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was finished in two days! The plot was great, characters were very complex and so you could struggle to get into their head and see what they might think or do! It definitely kept me on my toes!!!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #Danielle.Ramsay.Author.
December 1, 2024
Alice and Tom go through something that no parent ever should - they lost their son Noah to SIDS and understandable this has a devastating effect on Alice, yet Tom seemed to be coasting on. I felt like Tom's feeling were all but forgotten about whilst the focus was on Alice and how she understandably wasn't coping after her sons death, but it almost felt like his character was gaslighting Alice which I didn't take to - but once you get to the end you realise what it was all about and how it meant to appear that way. I don't really want to spoil it but there was a lot going on with this book, and when Alice gets pregnant again so soon after losing Nosh she goes into an almost neurotic state fearing that something will happen to Elijah - and when the story moves on and the truth comes out I was a little blindsided, but boy was it a good twist.
November 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an ARC of Taken.
Not too sure where to start, I am still trying to catch my breath after reading! The story does start slowly and takes a bit of time padding out the characters, which then aids the tale further in. I felt very sorry for Alice, and the author really gave an insight into serious mental health issues and how people cope (or don’t cope) with their own battles inside their heads.
The last 25% of the book flew by, it was one thing after another for poor Alice and her baby. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it gets a solid 4 stars from me.
Trigger warning: baby loss, mental health, post partum psychosis, post natal depression.
Not too sure where to start, I am still trying to catch my breath after reading! The story does start slowly and takes a bit of time padding out the characters, which then aids the tale further in. I felt very sorry for Alice, and the author really gave an insight into serious mental health issues and how people cope (or don’t cope) with their own battles inside their heads.
The last 25% of the book flew by, it was one thing after another for poor Alice and her baby. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it gets a solid 4 stars from me.
Trigger warning: baby loss, mental health, post partum psychosis, post natal depression.
December 1, 2024
Thank you, @rararesources, for letting me be part of this tour and reviewing this book. Taken is psychological thriller genre. Taken is a splendid read that I read in one day. I was hooked from the start and loved the twist. I had a feeling i knew what was going to happen but than the book persuade me to think differently, and I was so wrong. Love that. The story about Alice who loses her baby and becomes Ill and moves to her husband (Tom) parents house in America. Alice is dealing with a lot since Noah death. Things start to go downhill for her. I found Taken to be addictive read that will hold your attention to the end. Its brilliant read and touched my heart in places. I liked the characters and the plot. Amazing . This book blew me away. 5 stars
March 23, 2025
Danielle Ramsay’s Taken is a tense and emotionally charged psychological thriller that explores the depths of a mother’s love and the lengths she will go to protect her child. Told from the perspective of Alice, the story weaves a gripping narrative filled with paranoia, suspicion, and heart-wrenching twists. Ramsay expertly captures the intensity of Alice’s emotional turmoil, drawing readers into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
With an intricate plot and a pace that keeps readers hooked until the final page, Taken is a powerful blend of suspense and raw emotion. Danielle Ramsay proves once again that she is a master of the psychological thriller, delivering a story that is both thought-provoking and impossible to put down.
With an intricate plot and a pace that keeps readers hooked until the final page, Taken is a powerful blend of suspense and raw emotion. Danielle Ramsay proves once again that she is a master of the psychological thriller, delivering a story that is both thought-provoking and impossible to put down.
December 1, 2024
Whilst not akin to anything featuring Liam Neeson, it is on the hand a fantastic psychological thriller that takes you on a tangled journey through mental health, the loss of a child and then the fight to survive.
It's a fast paced read and I found it very hard to put down once I'd started. Suspense and angst are prevalent throughout, anxieties are exacerbated and emotions run high.
With Alice's spiralling mental health I found myself questioning her narrative at times, was she telling the truth or was it down to her neurotic anxieties.
A solid and enjoyable thriller, definitely one to recommend.
It's a fast paced read and I found it very hard to put down once I'd started. Suspense and angst are prevalent throughout, anxieties are exacerbated and emotions run high.
With Alice's spiralling mental health I found myself questioning her narrative at times, was she telling the truth or was it down to her neurotic anxieties.
A solid and enjoyable thriller, definitely one to recommend.
October 9, 2024
Alice and Tom lose their baby, Noah. Alice, understandably, cannot cope with the loss and is admitted to a Mental Health Hospital to recover. She is also guilty about something that happened to her mother when she was a teenager.
Alice falls pregnant again, and strange things start happening.
This book had a slow start. It seemed a little repetitive, but then started getting interesting, and exciting.
I however, did predict the ending, not giving any clues or spoilers. You will have to read the book yourself to see the twists!
Alice falls pregnant again, and strange things start happening.
This book had a slow start. It seemed a little repetitive, but then started getting interesting, and exciting.
I however, did predict the ending, not giving any clues or spoilers. You will have to read the book yourself to see the twists!
October 24, 2024
My thanks to Net Galley, Boldwood, and the personal invitation I received to review this arc.
3.5 stars. I DID like this book but I thought it was going to be about a straight forward abduction. It seemed to go all over the place with Alice s paranoia. I get that losing Noah would trigger that in a mom, but the majority of the book in the beginning established that. It finally picked up when she got on the ship. However, the extent of that ending? A bit out there. All in all not a bad read but not wowed.
3.5 stars. I DID like this book but I thought it was going to be about a straight forward abduction. It seemed to go all over the place with Alice s paranoia. I get that losing Noah would trigger that in a mom, but the majority of the book in the beginning established that. It finally picked up when she got on the ship. However, the extent of that ending? A bit out there. All in all not a bad read but not wowed.
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