The Boy in the Reeds

DI Jemima Huxley Thrillers #7

by Gaynor Torrance

It’s the perfect light for birdwatching. The sun’s rays stretching out low in the early morning. At first she thinks the movement in the reeds is a bird. But then she sees — it’s a little boy, barefoot, dirty, and barely clothed.

Emerging from the undergrowth, the little boy leads a woman by the hand through the marshy wetlands. She’s bleeding. Badly. Terror etched on both their faces.

Who are they running from?

When Detective Jemima Huxley gets the call from the hospital, she learns three things:

One: the little boy is too traumatized to speak.
Two: the woman has been placed in a medically-induced coma.
Three: the woman has been missing for eight years. DNA shows the boy is not her son.

Who are they? They’ve clearly escaped from something unimaginably horrific . . .

What if they aren’t the only ones?

Genres: Fiction

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 24, 2024

About the author

Gaynor Torrance lives near Cardiff with her husband and their rescue cat, Cleo. The area is the setting for her Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller series of books. Like Gaynor, Jemima has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Though, apart from them both having a keen interest in human behaviour, that’s where any similarity ends.

When she’s not writing or glued to her Kindle, Gaynor enjoys listening to music, playing the piano, walking, travelling, and eating far too much chocolate.

Find out more at: http://www.gaynortorrance.com
Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/gaytorauthor and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gaynortorran...

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two birdwatchers are shocked when they see a barely dressed woman and child wandering in the field. Police are summoned, and the pair is hospitalized. DCI Jemima learns that they have been held hostage by a psycho, along with several other young women and their children. Now it's up to her team to find the perpetrator of this horrifying crime and rescue the victims, and to find out who is bankrolling everything. This is part of a series, but reads well as a stand alone. There is a hint of a future novel in the epilogue. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Rachel Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has me from the very start! Despite it being book seven in a series, it was easy to read as a standalone. The victims were written so beautifully. I felt their pain and fear. I could feel the determination of Jemima and her team to find the monster of a man who did this to them. I wanted the case to close as much as everyone else. I was surprised that the perpetrator was identified as early as he was. I wasn't expecting there to be a twist that changed the focus of the second half of the book. And then the epilogue has me wanting to read book eight!

I could really see this as a movie or mini series and I would definitely watch it!

[Katie Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly thank-you to @joffebooks for the ARC of this book! This is actual part of a Detective series and follows DCI Jemima Huxley as she tries to find out what happened to a woman and a boy after they are found escaping from being kidnapped for 8 years. This can be read as a standalone and I have t say that this was a good book! I had it pinned at 3 stars for a while, that being said, the last 50% of the book really did change and take a massive turn which had me hooked! It was far worse than I could have ever imagined but it made it all the easier to read! 🥰 I did end up reading this in less than 24 hours too! 😍

[Karen Mazzaferri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jemima Huxley is a detective in a small community in rural England outside of London. She is driven and fair and has great respect for her fellow detectives. She is assigned to a case of a woman that had been missing for eight years. Upon getting a call from a couple of birdwatchers who find a boy and a woman covered in blood on dressed in underwear, she is destined to find out where and why they were held captive. The woman is in a coma and the boy will only say a few words that are a result from trauma
I loved the way this book began. It set the scene for the rest of the story, which has many twist and turns. Although this was part of a series, it is also just as good as a stand alone. However, the end does leave with an exciting cliff hanger that will want you waiting to read Jem’s next case that will most likely take her on her own personal journey

[Carole Gourlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this was a fantastic read. It held my attention, and after reading the previous one, which I have to confess didn’t hold me, this one was so different and it seemed the characters gelled together better and kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s funny, but I thought I’d recognised parts of the characters traits, but as I read so many it was hard to remember with any clarity.

I read it in a day, it was so gripping and well written. This is definitely 5 stars from me.

My thanks to the author and Joffe publishers for the ARC

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a highly descriptive one of man's inhumanity to man. There is quite a bit of abuse, both physical and mental, however it is so well written that you cannot help but feel for not only the victims, but also their families and the police force who have to deal with scenarios like this. Although it is book 7, it reads very well as a standalone too. ( I've read 1-3 but missed the next 3!) Highly recommended.

Thanks to Joffe books for the ARC to review.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, well written and one I could hardly put down.
DCI Jem Huxley and her team are back investigating what happened to a young woman and boy found staggering out of the reeds at a nature reserve. Both were in an ematiated state and wearing only under clothes.
It turns out the young woman had been reported missing several years before, so where has she been and who is the boy?
Great read.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of Action

Two friends are out early in the morning to spend some time bird watching but instead they find a woman and small boy barely dressed and close to exhaustion. By the time Detective Chief Inspector Jemima Huxley arrives at the hospital the woman is unconscious and the boy is unable to tell her anything. It will take Jemima and her team all their knowledge and experience to find out what has happened to them but will they be in time? Someone is anxious to make sure this doesn't happen. I really enjoyed this book which kept me engrossed from page 1.

[Michelle Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe publishing and author Gaynor Torrance for the ARC and the ability to review this book.

First, it started off with a bang. Right away there was a twist that had me wanting to keep reading. The storyline and characters were well developed and I finished the book in one sitting.

There were more twists along the way that made it a fast paced and suspenseful read. I couldn’t wait to get to the end and see what happened.

This was one of those books that left me constantly wondering, especially after the ‘killer’ was identified only mid way through. I wondered what path the author would take us on at that point and was quite impressed.

My only negative opinion would be the epilogue. While the author very basically touched on the subject included in the epilogue briefly in the book to have it end with that didn’t seem right. I feel this could be a whole other book and instead of an epilogue it could have been a teaser to the next book.

Overall, 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I would recommend this book to others and would also read other books from this author.

[Maddi Girling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me from the very first chapter all the way to the final chapter and the ending has gotten me excited for the next book. This book was beautifully written which helped you understand the characters and feel their pain. Highly recommend.

[ian wyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consistently enjoyable reading

Gaynor has brought her many skills to ensure that the reader can confidently enter the of her characters in the full knowledge that a realistically enjoyable read awaits them.With the teaser contained in the final pages I look forward with optimism to more of her books.

[Barbara richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. You wanted to know the story from the start and it kept you intrigued. Looked forward to time spent reading. A great writer.

[mary phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant

Absolutely brilliant book
Could not put it down
Looking forward to next book
Highly recommend this book
A +++++
Outstanding

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for advanced copy for my honest and embarrassingly delayed review😅.

This book was very captivating from the start with a very eery and interesting story line. The killer is revealed about half way through leaving 50% of the book for the author’s creativity to be expressed with multiple twists.

Because this is a book from a series, there is some background information missing from the main characters which I assume has been given in previous books. I’ll admit this is the first book I’ve read of this series and I’d be able to take so much more from it if I had read them in order. If you’ve read the first books, it would have been a seamless transition into this one. Nonetheless, it was fairly easy to follow along with and be a good standalone.

While the story was interesting, I feel as thought the “why” was missing for me. Why did he do that he did, why did a certain someone arrange for this to happen. Why was the boy so terrified of the psychologist? Without giving away any spoilers, there was a lot of “why” questions that remained unanswered for me. These questions left loose ends and some plot holes which would have been key to a well rounded story.

The main characters were detectives solving a case. Their stories were much more developed as they’re part of the first books in the series. The boy and the woman with him didn’t have much of a story line. So much so, I’m wondering why the title is “The Boy in the Reeds”. In my opinion the title didn’t really go with the themes and plot of the book. I was anticipating reading more about this boy but his story was very minimal. The book was mainly on the woman found with him.

I’d probably read more from this author but I wasn’t over the moon thrilled by this book.

[Michael Cordery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and no nonsense DCI Huxley and her team. This is a good police procedural and an excellent read. There are no bad or difficult cops which believe me makes a great change from most UK crime books.

I saw one obvious error half way through the book. The property of the perpetrator, where he kept his victims and the owners of that property. I thought that they were so obvious and as was the behaviour of the first victim's father and the police missed this. There was a clearly a second party and he stood out. The police had difficulties in finding out the details of the company from the Companies Office but they should have seen the obvious. I did at the 51% mark of the book thus I was reading a book where I pretty much knew the end.

What also was disappointing was the last chapter/epilogue. There was no reference to anything that had occurred in the book or the various parties reaction to them. Suddenly we moved to Jemima and the possible father of her son. The end! "Read my next book".

For those reasons I taken 2 stars from my rating. It was all round a good book, an enjoyable read but let down by one obvious error and in my view a poor epilogue.

[Coffee&Cliffhangers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy In The REEDS grabbed my attention right from the start, way to draw you in! I love a book that shows me from the very first chapter why I am not going to be able to put it down. Even though this is part of a Detective series it works great as a stand a lone as well.
DCI Jemima Huxley investigates a case of a boy who came stumbling out of the reeds with a young woman who has been missing for years. The woman is in bad shape, and DNA shows the boy is not her own. Where has she been, whose boy is this, and are there others?
Such an intriguing story that had me heartbroken over the characters, and rooting for Detective Huxley to solve this case.
I loved the writing style, the characters, and the way she wrapped it up. I devoured this book in one day, I will definitely be reading more by Gaynor Torrance.
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Alyce Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Joffe Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, number 7 in the DCI Jemima Huxley series.

The book starts with two bird watchers spending a morning in their favourite blind when suddenly one observes a young boy walks out of the reeds. He's barely dressed, barefoot, and holding the hand of an injured woman. The woman collapses and is in a coma. The young boy severely traumatized but hints there are others being held. DCI Huxley and her team are called in when DNA reveals the woman went missing in her late teens, eight years ago. The race is on to find their captor and the others being helded.

The subject matter might be disturbing to some, but this book is written with skill and sensitivity. It could easily be read as a stand alone but the whole series is very good and Torrance is an excellent writer. Highly recommend it. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Sally Cowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young woman and a small boy, in a dreadful conditon physically and mentally are found by bird watchers on a nature reserve a major investigation is underway to find out who they are, what has happened to them and where they have  come from.

This is a gripping thriller with lots of twists and turns. It is based in the Wetlands of the UK but feels it has been written from an American audience as a lot of the cultural references are explained (eg colloqualisms  between the detective and her staff), when we would usually take them for granted. An quick read that kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Donna McDermott · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed

Enjoyed this story line very much. Really fast paced at times. Unfortunately so quick at times that areas seem to have been missed or forgotten. Descriptions of things happening but then they just stop and never appear again. Or deliberately inserted matters which then crop up later and had obviously been planted initially for that reason. The storyline was good and the twists and turns kept you thinking but no need to include unnecessary things that don’t add anything to the story and, in fact, sent me backtracking thinking I had missed whole areas. Will read more by this author.

[Jase · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a boy and woman both in their underwear are spotted at the Newport Wetlands, DCI Jemima Huxley and her team have a new investigation.

This for me is the best installment yet in the series. The narrative was tight, the pace was quick, plenty of drama throughout. The case is well put together, clues gathered, but not necessarily obvious. Having read all the books in the series I feel I’m invested in the characters, although this volume dwelt less on personal stories than seen in previous books. I’m sure there must be a Book 8 coming out, that ending sets it up perfectly and I will be looking out for it.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is quite the fast paced read in the series featuring Jemima Huxley. Although it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. The characterisation is very believable and well portrayed and I could easily imagine being right in the middle of the action. I was hooked from the start and I loved the unexpected ending. Please don't keep me waiting until I find out what is next in store for Jemima and her team! I highly recommend the read. Thanks to Net Galley and Joffe Books for my ARC.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a riveting book. It started so well with the discovery of a woman and young boy and it soon becomes clear the woman has been missing for several years. Jemima and the team begin to investigate who took her and where was she held all this time.

With that start, it couldn't fail to grab your attention and I found the pace didn't let up throughout and the urgency of the investigation was palpable. Just when I thought it was over, there was another twist. As for the ending, wow! Can't wait for the next book.

My thanks to Joffe Books for a copy of this and this is my honest review.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman who has been missing for eight years, appears out of nowhere, with a traumatised young boy. That was me hooked straight away!

The case is taken on by DCI Jemima Huxley and her team, who are great characters and I really enjoyed getting to know them as this was my first read in this series.

There were plenty of twists and some huge jaw droppers at the end as we find out how far some people will go to get what they want and protect only themselves.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Gaynor Torrance and Joffe for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Nat Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the eARC !


TW: kidnapping, SA, murder

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Considering this is the 7th book of the series, I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to follow along with the story let alone the characters but thankfully that wasn’t the case! A solid mystery thriller that surprised me with a twist inside of a twist. I was especially grateful that the author explained how the different characters are known and gave backstory to them. Based on the epilogue, I’m going to be keeping my eye out for the 8th book!

[TheLisaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve seen stories close to this in the news and it’s always horrific, someone goes missing and somehow years later they are able to escape. There are something in this book that may be a trigger warning for SA so if that does trigger you this may not be the book for you. That being said I think our author did such a great job with this story that I was very invested in it and the characters. I can’t wait to read their next book.

[Tove R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading it and swoosh, I realized I was halfway through the book. This was a fast-paced book filled with twists and turns. There is a nice suspense throughout the whole book. I like how the plot was built that even though at one point you'll find out the culprit, but you do not find out the whole story. A good add to this great series!

[lynda mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, fast moving, involved and intricate book. I only picked it up as it is based near to me, (which was a bit spooky)but was I wowed with the detail of the police work, without it being boring and the plot was nail bitingly wonderful. Great thing is this is the 7th book in the series, so I have a back read of 6 to catch up on.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not finished yet but have made fast reading so far, so should be through in the coming days.
This book is a very good distraction. A real detective story that keeps you hooked.
The narrative is film-like and you can just picture yourself every scene!
I am not sure I would like to read all the books in the series but one every so often is pure entertainment.

[Heather Creeden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that has you pulled in and thinking it’s real but thankful that it’s not. The detective was a strong female, my favorite, and knew how to gracefully interview the victims and then like a shark attacked the criminal.

[J Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty tale of abduction and murder.

This book is not for the faint-hearted. It's a tough and very emotional case for DCI Jemima Huxley and her team with a race against time throughout. A real page Turner.