A Kidnapping in New York

by Jackie White

When her newborn baby is snatched in broad daylight in Central Park, a woman must call on her deepest instincts, in this twist-packed debut thriller.

Gwendolyn Black is one of New York’s most renowned attorneys. But after her baby is kidnapped during her morning jog, the detectives working the case suspect she is hiding something.

Further uptown, a retired criminal gives the ultimate gift to his girlfriend, who has just lost a full-term a perfect baby girl.

With the media transfixed, the detectives tighten their noose, hoping Gwen will lead them to the kidnappers. But she has everything to lose and cannot trust the cops. Instead, she decides to face the kidnappers alone.

Sometimes, the only answer is to take justice into your own hands . . . and settle the score, regardless of the cost.

This fast-paced, gripping debut delves into themes of jealousy, privilege, and how past trauma can impact the present in insidious and unforeseen ways. This cat-and-mouse page-turner will keep you in suspense until the final shocking revelation.

Genres: Suspense

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author but definitely not my last. When Giselle's baby is stillborn, her partner miraculously appears with another daughter. Life of course, is not that simple and it transpires he kidnapped the baby from a lawyer. We are taken into the underworld with this story, which is told from the perspective of the three main characters. It's so well written that we find our sympathy swaying throughout the book.
There are enough twists and turns to keep you engaged and the characters are really well developed. The story is original and it gets a strong 4 stars from me.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know what’s worse: The pile of bullshit sandwiches the author is asking me to eat or that a MC’s name is jizzy. JIZZY!

Initially I was curious… a woman 4weeks PP is out jogging with her baby in Central Park when she is attacked and the baby taken. What a nightmare! You’ve got my attention!

Sadly that was the last good bit. We switch to the other MC. She’s 2weeks PP and in a depression because her baby died. Her partner is annoyed she won’t have sex with him and is mopey so he steals the other woman’s baby for her.

Before he gives her the baby though, there’s a sex scene where milk starts leaking from the woman’s breast and she doesn’t know what it is or what’s happening. HUH? Is she 11?

That aside, her breast would not be leaking 2 weeks PP if she hasn’t been breastfeeding this entire time. Even women who do BF don’t necessarily leak. She would also have had to go through being encouraged which you really can’t not notice even if you’re depressed. Ask any woman who’s had a baby.

This all bothered me (do the editor and author not have access to Google? Have they never met a woman who breastfed?) but I trudged on because I was still curious…

Then there was so much talk about bulimia; I can understand the mother with the stolen baby returning to her old coping mechanism in this difficult time, but did we need to talk about it that much? Was it even necessary? The author seems to have done more research on purging than breastfeeding.


What finally causes me to quit was the author asking me to believe this couple had a baby, and it died, TWO WEEKS AGO and no one else on all of planet earth knew. In NYC.

Hi, I’m from NYC and even though there are 8 + other milllion people here, I see so many others daily or near daily (other apartment people, the bldg manager and his wife+kid, the cashier at the bodega, the barista, the woman who is always walking her dog, the doorman at another building, the girl who works at the laundromat, the woman at the bank, the owner at the Thai place I like, etc) that they would have noticed I had my baby. Or I hadn’t been around. Something. Plus there are my umm coworkers but I guess neither people has those. Or a job of any kind.

I am also not able to do dumb female characters. This one is a particular dumb dumb. She and her partner are flat broke living in squalor but her partner comes home with an expensive stroller and various other baby things. Sure. Why didn’t you ask how he paid for that when you can’t pay rent? Diapers be expensive yall.

I just don’t like the taste of a shit sandwich.

DNF at 29%

Thanks netgalley for my ALC.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO not what I expected - in the best possible way. I was enjoying the story, following along with the parallel storylines about a missing baby and a found one, thinking that this was a fine tale but nothing special when, out of nowhere, the first twist happened. I was totally caught off guard - which almost never happens - and loved it, so started listening a little more closely. This was followed by a series of additional twists and turns that I also didn't see coming at all, and which brought a huge smile to my face as I realized that there was way more here than I initially thought...

White did an excellent job crafting a tale that drew me in, kept hold, then tightened that hold - repeatedly - just when it seemed like I was falling into a set of expectations. I then realized the magic here was in the way she lulled the reader/listener into a sense of complacency, then pulled that rug right out from under you with nary a glance back to see how hard you fell! It made for a magnificent tension that kept the last half of the book a tightrope walk of waiting to see when the next shoe would drop.

It was engaging and despite a cast of characters that offered a mixed bag of likeability, I found myself routing for them all - and particularly for the comeuppance that I didn't even realize was coming until it arrived! This was a great find and White is DEFINITELY on my watchlist!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Great debut!

In this debut thriller, a woman's newborn baby is kidnapped in Central Park, leading her to rely on her instincts to unravel a twist-packed mystery. As suspicions arise about her involvement, she must decide whether to trust the detectives or take matters into her own hands to find the kidnappers. Themes of jealousy, privilege, and past trauma are explored in this fast-paced, suspenseful cat-and-mouse game that keeps readers guessing until the final revelation.

This book caught my attention with its intriguing blurb, sparking my curiosity from the start. Once I began listening to the audiobook, I found myself completely engrossed in the story. The narrator's skill in giving each character a unique voice, particularly the Slavic accent, added depth to the experience. Kudos to the author for selecting such a talented narrator.

The plot of the book was delightfully twisted, keeping me on the edge of my seat as it unfolded. I was so captivated that I took an extra-long walk just to finish listening to the entire book in one day. The characters were well-developed, flawed in a relatable way that made me root for the women in this thrilling rollercoaster of a story.

The ending took me by surprise, but deep down, I was secretly hoping that the two-woman characters would find a way to become a family. If you enjoy suspenseful domestic thriller with unexpected twists and turns, this book is must-read.

Thank you, Dreamscape Media, for the audiobook ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Kidnapping in New York" by Jackie White is a mystery thriller. It is set a few decades ago when there were still payphones in the NY subway, but people had mobile phones also. So maybe late 90s to early 2000s

This starts with a violent attack on a new mother as her 2 week old baby, Cassie, is kidnapped. She is Gwendolyn Black, a criminal defense attorney.

Next, we learn about Zivi and Giselle. She had a stillborn baby and is deeply grieving. One day, Zivi comes home with a very young baby "for Gizzy". Reluctantly, Giselle starts to care for the baby. They quickly become fond of her and rename her Nell.

There is a huge twist about halfway through. The end is also pretty surprising. I kind of liked the end, though.

The author is talented with descriptions of disgusting things and smells. Don't plan to eat while you read or listen to this one. Plus, Gwendolyn has Bulimia, an eating disorder.

Devon Sorvari is the talented narrator believably voicing all the characters in the audiobook.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 30/8 = 3 6/8 rounded up, with hesitation, to 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jackie White for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a mum, I always find it hard to read books that involve children and this was a tough one!

I loved that this was written from the different pov's throughout and this really had me connecting and empathising with all parties, which doesn't tend to happen when there's been a crime committed.

I really felt for Gwen the most. Having her baby taken away from her would be the hardest thing but to also then have the police looking at you as a suspect!
Deciding to take things into her own hands, I was just waiting for things to go wrong.

This was super fast-paced and with the switching pov's I found myself racing through this, desperate to get to the end and see the outcome for all characters.

The writing style was engaging and exciting and I loved that everything became twisted and flipped on its head, leaving me wondering where it would go next and how it would end.

A really great read and definitely an author I'd read again in the future.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

One lady has his baby, another one gave birth to a stillborn baby, he is determined to get whatever it takes to make his woman happy. But there is one thing he can't stop doing, and that is getting in trouble with the law. But then his two worlds collide, and he has no idea what is coming next! It even surprised me! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not often that I hard DNF a book, but unfortunately this book is one of them for me. I made it 17% through the audiobook before I decided I had enough.

• Being 2 weeks postpartum and never having breastfed once, then all of a sudden having a steady flow of dripping lactation is not a thing.
• Having penetrative sex only 2 weeks postpartum and not being in extreme pain during and after is not a thing.
• Lastly, being named Giselle and your boyfriend using the nickname "Jizzy" for you should NOT be a thing. (Reader, he called her this more than once).

Still, thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape_Media for this unique experience.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read this year - or any year. The tone constantly changes in this book full of surprises. Gwen, Gisele and Zivi are truly unforgettable characters. I had love/hate relationships with all three of them. One minute I was in love with one or the other of them only for that love to turn to hate and vice versa. I've never known such an emotional rollercoaster.
The plot is tense and taut; overflowing with shocks and surprises; and the very best black humour played out to perfection. The dialogue is as crisp and to the point as anything written by Raymond Chandler.
There's nasty old-fashioned gangsters; Keystone-style cops; and plenty of legal skullduggery making the many serious issues tackled in the story far more palatable.
An absolute joy to read.

[Jillian Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read by Jackie Write.
This is a fast paced page turner of mystery & twists.
I loved the interaction between the key parties and it was great to see how relationships formed, changed and ultimately ended very abruptly with one final twist (aka final nail in the coffin).
Definitely worth the read to find out more 👏👏

[Anita Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great captivating read interesting characters & a great storyline. True to life touching on sensitive subjects. Some twists thrown in & was surprised although not disappointed at the ending.

[Sallie Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a little slow to get going but once I had got into it I really enjoyed this book. It was very cleverly written and I definitely felt a great deal of empathy for Giselle after what she had been through and absolutely loved the ending - can’t say anymore without giving it away!

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good thriller book but be warned includes still birth and other trauma factors so be aware. Thought the characters were good but kept changing my mind which I liked best at times. Well worth a read.

[Aurora Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Wow this isn’t what I thought it was going to be!

When Gwen’s baby is kidnapped, the cops suspect she knows more than she’s saying

Gwen is a ruthless public defender, exercises obsessively and suffers with bulimia

We’re then introduced to Giselle and boyfriend Ziggy, (a Bosnian former drug dealer) who have just lost their baby

I thought the story was going one way (drugs and gangs) but it soon twisted and thank goodness cause I hate that! In fact the early twist was so exciting, I was hooked and read this in a day!

The three main characters are so well developed and the multiple POVs helped me empathize with each person at different times - they’re the worst - now I love them!

I enjoyed the fact that the two cops, only had a basic backstory - their presence was necessary but it was the perfect balance of being there without stealing the limelight

I enjoyed the audiobook, but got a bit confused with Ziggy’s accent. I personally found it distracting but the majority of reviewers love it, so maybe it’s just my ears

This popcorn thriller may be a little far fetched, but it’s kickass and will have you guessing and spinning throughout

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Morgan Sawan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two women, one man, a missing baby…

A Kidnapping in New York has a unique premise that hooks you from the start by following the pov of not only the mother of the baby, but the kidnappers, and even occasionally the cops working on the case.

There are a couple of great twists in the story, and an ending that I loved!

As for the multiple points of view, I personally would’ve preferred it if they had just stuck to only the two women ‘s povs and developed each of them more, as they were both compelling characters that I wanted to know more about. The man’s pov was interesting but I ultimately just didn’t care about him, while the cop’s pov was barely included, and I feel like they could’ve accomplished the same thing with just a few lines of them interacting with the mother in her sections.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and a unique story, but it wasn’t as action packed or thrilling as I wanted it to be.

Devon Sorvari did a great job narrating the audiobook! Her pace was great, and she successfully differentiated between each character, making it easy to keep up with who the story was supposed to be following at the moment.

[Brittany Devereaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley but opinions are my own. This book pulled me in from the beginning! I found my sympathy and like for each female character shifting back and forth, and it was quite the ride! This book went in a direction I certainly didn’t expect! There were a couple pieces that felt unrealistic, but I still really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator did a great job, including voicing a male with a Bosnian accent. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

A Kidnapping in New York by Jackie White, narrated by Devon Sorvari, is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that delves into the heart-wrenching experience of a mother whose newborn baby is abducted in broad daylight. This debut novel combines suspense, drama, and a deep exploration of human emotions, making it a standout in the crime thriller genre.

The story follows Gwendolyn Black, a renowned attorney in New York City, whose life is turned upside down when her baby is snatched during a morning jog in Central Park. As the police investigation unfolds, Gwen finds herself under suspicion, forcing her to take matters into her own hands. Meanwhile, a retired criminal, desperate to console his grieving girlfriend who has just lost a full-term pregnancy, presents her with a “gift”—a perfect baby girl. The narrative weaves through the perspectives of these complex characters, creating a tense and unpredictable cat-and-mouse game.

Devon Sorvari’s narration is a highlight of this audiobook. Her ability to convey the raw emotions of the characters, from Gwen’s desperation and determination to the sinister calm of the kidnapper, adds a profound depth to the story. Sorvari’s performance enhances the suspense and keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, making it difficult to pause the audiobook.

Jackie White’s writing is compelling and evocative. She masterfully builds tension, layer by layer, revealing the psychological and emotional toll of the kidnapping on all involved. The plot is intricately crafted, with twists and turns that keep the listener guessing until the very end. White’s exploration of themes such as jealousy, privilege, and the impact of past trauma adds a rich, thought-provoking dimension to the thriller.

I enjoyed A Kidnapping in New York 's character development. Gwen is portrayed as a strong, intelligent woman pushed to her limits, yet she remains fiercely determined to find her child. The antagonist’s motivations are explored in chilling depth, providing a scary insight into the mind of someone driven to commit such a heinous act.

A Kidnapping in New York is a must-listen for fans of psychological thrillers and crime dramas. Jackie White’s debut novel, combined with Devon Sorvari’s captivating narration, makes for an unforgettable audiobook experience. 

[Luzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a kidnapping of a baby, written from three different POVs: the mother, the kidnapper and his girlfriend that had a stillborn baby and is now taking care of said kidnapped baby.

I am not too sure what to say about this book. It is marketed as a thriller, but there was no point where I got the chills. Most things that happen are pretty mellow, what bothered me most was the mother that had lost her baby being coerced into having sex two weeks postpartum… but the author did not seem to think that this was an extreme thing, because this is described and then never addressed again. Obviously, it is also extreme to birth a stillborn child, but this happens prior to the story, so it’s not described very vividly. Something that the author did really well is describing the emotions of the characters and making them believable. The interactions between Gisele and Gwen, although odd, were also very entertaining and brought across the interests of the characters really well. I am thinking, maybe this is more of a drama?

There are many logical issues, with the twists and turns and the rationales the characters have. Zivi’s actions did not make any sense to me at all, and how does an extremely bulimic person even carry and birth a child? Many of the twists were also pretty predictable, but this critique is not to say that I was not entertained, because I was. This was a 2,5-star read for me. If this book was marketed as a drama, it might have made it to a 3-star rating.
I listened to the audiobook and can recommend the production.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me this ALC of the audiobook to review. All opinions are my own. I was not paid to leave this review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: A Kidnapping in New York
Author: Jackie White
Narrator: Devon Sorvari
Format: 🎧
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Audiobook Release Date was: September 17, 2024
My Rating: 2 generous stars
Pages 320

Gwendolyn Black is a New York public defender whose baby was kidnapped while she went out for her morning jog in Central Park; while pushing her newborn baby Cassie in her jogging stroller she was attacked and Cassie taken.

Further uptown, a former drug dealer gives the ultimate gift to his girlfriend, who just gave birth to a stillborn baby girl. ~ Hmmm same baby?

The detectives working the case suspect Gwendolyn is hiding something.
As they police search for the missing baby, we learn the back stories of Gwen, Gisele and Zivi the three main characters.

This story was a struggle for me. I immediately found the foul-mouth characters unlikeable and wanted to give up. However, I have found on more than one occasion that the ending turns out great and I was glad I hung in there.
Unfortunately that did not happen – this never got better
The only good thing about the ending was that it was finally over!!!

Although I was disappointed I want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook. I know I have choices and this was not one of my good ones- so that call was on my part.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 17, 2024.

[Jayna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gwendolyn Black is a ruthless public defender who lives a very regimented life. So regimented that when she has a baby as a single mother, she is back to her long daily run immediately. Just with a stroller. Then the unthinkable happens- her baby is kidnapped while she was out running.

Giselle is an artist living in a dingy apartment with her long term boyfriend. She, too, just had a baby. But that baby died. She is overwhelmed with grief. Until her boyfriend comes home with a new baby for her.

Looking at the other reviews, I am apparently in the minority on this one. I thought it was just OK. Gwen was such an awful person, it was difficult for me to read her POV. She has reasons for being the way she is, but she is still awful. The more you understand her, the easier she is to deal with, but still.

My practical mind also had issue with some of the events. Oh, and other than filler and comedic fodder, the chapters from the police's POV were kind of pointless.

I did like how it ended. That was the redeeming part, but I was still to unenthused by the rest of the book to rate it any higher.

Devon Sorvari narrates. I did speed it up faster than usual- up to 2.0. Her pacing was great and allowed for the change.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Myiah (storygraph) audiobook_junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧 Book Info

- Title: A Kidnapping in New york
- Author: Jackie White
- Narrator: Devon Sorvari
- Length: 10ths 55mins

🧠 Plot & Characters

- Brief Plot Summary: A baby is kidnapped and the detectives have to figure out who did it and for why. As the mystery unfolds, more secrets are kept and questions are asked. The more answers given, the more confusing things become.

🎙️ Narration

- Narration Quality: The narration of this book was so crisp and clean - it’s hard to explain - but it was very easy on the ears. this was my first listen from Devon and I really enjoyed it! Her voice is so soothing, I had to speed the book up because i was falling asleep 😂 perfect voice for narration!

🌌 Atmosphere

- Setting & Mood: the busy state of New York
- Suspense Level: 🔍🔍

💭 Final Thoughts

- Overall Enjoyment: this book did not feel as long as it was! so good and it wasn’t drawn out like most 10+ hours books. I also love how the characters are grouped in groups instead of individually. It made the story easier to understand.
- Rating (out of 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Recommend? Yes, especially if you love books about family dynamics and mystery!

Special thanks to Jackie White, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for the ALC

*Remember to research trigger warning(s) before reading/listening. Happy Listening! 😊*

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwen is a ruthless New York city defence lawyer who specialises in beating charges brought against all kinds of lowlife criminal types. So when her newborn baby is snatched while she is jogging (!) in the park, the police officers are not all sympathetic, though they are willing to do their duty in recovering the child.

But this story is not what it seems. Gwen is deeply troubled, suffers from issues with respect to body image and an eating disorder, and is driving her psychiatrist to distraction with her high maintenance ways and her half-truths.

Not that the psychiatrist knows the half of it. Because Gwen has many secrets, including a possible link to the kidnappers who have stolen her baby...

This story was not for me. I found Gwen deeply unlikable, and the same applied to the criminal who took her baby - supposedly to cheer up the love of his life who has been grieving the loss of their own baby. In fact, I found his character absolutely loathesome - AT SO MANY LEVELS.

The lowlife's girlfriend Giselle was the only one I found at all interesting or relatable, but her incredibly bad taste in men was deeply puzzling to me! So, in summary, I felt the premise of this story was really interesting - but its execution failed to live up to expectations.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Bhuku · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. Grand-scale telenovela drama meets popcorn thriller bingeability! The unreliable narrator vibes are strong in this one right from the start and I lived for it.

Premise - A seriously unlikeable type A NYC lawyer with a serious eating disorder (bulimia, exercise bulimia) and a need for complete control takes her newborn (!) out for a punishing run one day and the baby is snatched straight out of her arms. When. I. Say. Drama!

I'm not sure there's anyone to root for in this one, other than the personality-free newborn, but that didn't stop me from devouring each twist and delicious turn. Bad guys (and girls) being bad from beginning to end!

The ED stuff was pretty rough, so if you're sensitive to such content you might want to skip, but it was done with enough restraint to not put off your average reader.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Devon Sorvari, and she slayyyyyyeeeeeeeed. Great delivery, great characterizations, and overall just a really strong reader who's a true treat to listen to. I highly recommend!

Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically find it challenging to connect with books that feature children, but this particular book was quite a tough read for me. What I liked about it was that it was written from different perspectives. It made me connect and empathize with all the characters, which doesn't usually happen with crime stories. I felt for Gwen the most. Having her baby taken away would be the hardest thing, and then being suspected by the police! I was waiting for things to go south when she decided to take matters into her own hands. The story was super fast-paced, and with the switching perspectives, I found myself racing through it, eager to see how it would all end. The writing style was engaging and exciting, and I loved how everything got twisted and turned, leaving me wondering where it would go next and how it would end. A great read, and I'd definitely read more from this author in the future.

[Jaylee Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwen is a famous and powerful defense attorney. Her world turns upside down when her baby gets stolen from her while she's out on a walk.

Skip to another main character, Giselle, who recently gave birth to a stillborn baby, her partner gifts her her the perfect, healthy baby stolen from Gwen.

Gwen needs to take matters into her own hands when the detectives start to question her own involvement based on a bias from her work as a defense attorney.. Turning into a cat and mouse game, the twists were totally shocking to me!

Three different point of views in this book - Gwen, Giselle and her boyfriend, and the detectives working the case. This story was fast paced from the start. It had you empathizing with both sides of the story. I would definitely read more from this author!

The narrator was expressive and made clear distinctions between character voices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Out on 9/17!

[Nicola Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows Gwen, a lawyer whose baby is kidnapped and also follows Zivvi, the kidnapper and his girlfriend Giselle, who he gives the baby to after they lose their own.

The characters in this book were not likeable (except for Giselle who did the best she could in the situation) and a lot of the storytelling was done through conversations which sometimes got a bit repetitive, and I would have preferred more action scenes.

The narrator was great, she was really effective with the voice acting and the accents and I never questioned which character was supposed to be talking.

There were some interesting twists that I didn’t see coming and although I felt that it dragged on a bit, I was invested in the storyline and eager to know how it would end. And I wasn’t disappointed with the ending – it was great!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy.

[lori pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Devon Sorvari narrates this and does a fantastic job! KUDOS to the narrator!!! I highly recommend the audiobook!

This is the story of Gwen, Gisele, Zivi, and a baby girl. Gwen is a single mom who gives birth to a baby girl that is kidnapped during a park visit. Around the same time, Gisele and Zivi lost their baby girl who was a stillbirth. The story slowly builds alternating between the 2 different families until the first twist happened. From there, the pace accelerates and the twists and turns start coming!

This is a tense and taut story full of secrets, shocks and surprises. I loved the gangsta vibe and the dark sarcastic humor. This is a very well written story that pulls you in and won't let you go until the very end! Highly recommend!

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet Gwen, a NY attorney known for getting people out of prison sentences. After having her baby she jumps right back into her disordered eating and extreme exercise regimen. Read the trigger warnings if you are sensitive to bulimia. On one of her runs she gets jumped and they take her baby.
Meet Giselle, her baby is stillborn and she is distraught. Her boyfriend, Zivi, pushes her to get out of the house and have sex and get back to her old self. I have never been more frustrated at a character than I was with Zivi in this moment.
Zivi and Gwen have a past, she was his attorney and got him off some big charges. Through this story you learn how these lives are intertwined and what lead them to do what they did.
Narrator Devon Sorvari was great. Her pace and tone were perfect for this book. I was able to listen on 2x but not lose out on her skill.
*ALC Review*

[Kristin 💙 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is not one single redeemable character in this book. And while sometimes that can be a good thing and it keeps the story going, other times is can be frustrating and make it hard to get through. This was the second scenario. I felt like I was trying to push through to get to the point, everything got so muddled so quickly.

I think I finished this book out of pure spite and I just wanted to know where it was going.

At points this was a bit confusing to follow between the two storylines. They were all so delusional 😂

The MC also felt incredibly weak and borderline useless at parts. The author did not do a good enough job of explaining why she even decided to have this kid with all her reservations. She also was just so hopeless it was more depressing than anything else. I found her very frustrating and irrational.

The dialogue felt stilted and awkward at many parts. The second couple were making me soo frustrated with their rationale and decision making. Stealing a baby and justifying it is CRAZY!

However, I’ll give the author points because I never expected that ending. So I gave it three stars really for the ending and it kept me wanting to know just enough to keep going.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5

[Andrea A · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to review this arc.

The premise of the story drew me in. Lawyer Gwen Black is telling her therapist how her baby Cassie was kidnapped. The more I learned about Gwen, the more I saw how self centered, selfish, cold, and didn't want to be a mother. Then we meet Zivi and Giselle (Gizzy) who lost their own baby Madison. Zivi is involved in the kidnapping and gives baby Cassie to Giselle to bring her out of her depression from losing her child. Giselle adores her new baby. A twist is revealed that may allow them to keep the baby till Giselle has a change of heart.

The end was a bit redeeming but Gwen was such an awful character, it made listening not enjoyable.