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Detective Patrick Lennon #1
From the Cradle
The first child was taken from her house.
The second from his mother's car.
The third from her own bedroom...
When Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their teenage daughter babysitting little Frankie, they have no idea that they are about to face every parent's greatest fear.
Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the three children who have been abducted in this patch of south-west London will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realizes that time is running out—and that nothing in this case is as it seems...
Blending police procedural with psychological thriller, From the Cradle will have every parent checking that their children are safe in their beds...then checking again.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2014
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3578 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
May 28, 2019
A good book, with twists and turns, and nothing is as it seems. It sees Detective Lennon looking for three kidnapped children, with the focus on the latest to go missing, Frankie Phillips. The race is on to save Frankie and the other two children, but dead ends, hidden motives, and secrets stonewall Lennon from every angle. Then the secrets start to reveal themselves, ending in a surprising conclusion. I found this book to be quite gripping, hoping Lennon could get through the lies and misinformation before Frankie was gone forever. Recommended.
May 17, 2025
I am a huge fan of almost all of Mark Edward's books but this is my first time reading anything featuring Louise Voss and them writing as a team. I can't put my finger on it, but the book certainly had a different "slant" to Mark's solo books, but that's to be expected no doubt with two voices instead of one. That's as clear as mud right? I mean did you know Nikki French was a husband and wife team? Edwards and Voss are not married but many a book is written by two separate people.
This one blends police procedural with psychological thriller, except the psychological thriller element was not strong enough for my liking. However, it's certainly very readable, didn't take me long to read with a decent plot.
The first child was taken from her house.
The second from his mother's car.
The third from her own bedroom...
When Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their teenage daughter babysitting little Frankie, they have no idea that they are about to face every parent's greatest fear.
Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the three children who have been abducted in this patch of south-west London will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realizes that time is running out—and that nothing in this case is as it seems..
Three children have been abducted and a community is in shock. The abductions spread tension and ripples of dissent through the families involved, it delivers a good bit of family drama this book as you read.
It seems everyone has a secret or two, Edwards and Voss filter down these secrets to the reader bit by bit, some with small impact, others with a big impact.
The twist at the end I did not see coming and was open mouthed looking like I was trying to catch flies for a minute or so. I re-read the paragraph with that reveal in it. I liked the ending too. That was done exceptionally well.
The plot is good but I felt it needed some pace to it, some thrill factor, it moves along but needed a bit of oomph in my opinion, that page turning frantic action that I have had with Mark Edwards' books like The Magpies. This one didn't exactly mess with my head and I like a good bit of head messing.
I did like the dynamics between characters, lots of light and shade there, not everyone is as it seems and the characters play a really big part in making this book highly readable. Some characters I loved, others I hated. I like that in a book, give me some mixed up stuff.
There really is nothing so utterly terrifying as a parent than realising your child has gone. I remember a moment in a busy shopping centre when my son was about 4 years old where he took off and I lost him. The panic and terror you feel is indescribable. I would have liked to have seen more of this strong emotion coming off this book to me, the reader.
I am struggling to write this review, that indicates to me that it's already drifting from my memory, it has not had a huge impact. I liked it, I read it in one sitting, I loved some of the twists and reveals, but it is just missing that certain something to push this up there as a memorable read. Bit disappointed really. I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards and will happily read his books in future, I would try another combination book too, just to see what I think of another.
My rating? I am stuck between a 3 and a 4, so going with that awful middle ground of 3.5, then I have to decide do I bump it up to a 4 for Goodreads, or down to a 3. Seriously, Goodreads needs to have those half score options. This is stressful! I am going with with a 4 for now.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher Amazon Publishing, Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Many thanks.
Thanks SO much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻
Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews. You can browse through my many great books reviewed for your next awesome book to enjoy.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
You can also find me on Amazon UK where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
This one blends police procedural with psychological thriller, except the psychological thriller element was not strong enough for my liking. However, it's certainly very readable, didn't take me long to read with a decent plot.
The first child was taken from her house.
The second from his mother's car.
The third from her own bedroom...
When Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their teenage daughter babysitting little Frankie, they have no idea that they are about to face every parent's greatest fear.
Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the three children who have been abducted in this patch of south-west London will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realizes that time is running out—and that nothing in this case is as it seems..
Three children have been abducted and a community is in shock. The abductions spread tension and ripples of dissent through the families involved, it delivers a good bit of family drama this book as you read.
It seems everyone has a secret or two, Edwards and Voss filter down these secrets to the reader bit by bit, some with small impact, others with a big impact.
The twist at the end I did not see coming and was open mouthed looking like I was trying to catch flies for a minute or so. I re-read the paragraph with that reveal in it. I liked the ending too. That was done exceptionally well.
The plot is good but I felt it needed some pace to it, some thrill factor, it moves along but needed a bit of oomph in my opinion, that page turning frantic action that I have had with Mark Edwards' books like The Magpies. This one didn't exactly mess with my head and I like a good bit of head messing.
I did like the dynamics between characters, lots of light and shade there, not everyone is as it seems and the characters play a really big part in making this book highly readable. Some characters I loved, others I hated. I like that in a book, give me some mixed up stuff.
There really is nothing so utterly terrifying as a parent than realising your child has gone. I remember a moment in a busy shopping centre when my son was about 4 years old where he took off and I lost him. The panic and terror you feel is indescribable. I would have liked to have seen more of this strong emotion coming off this book to me, the reader.
I am struggling to write this review, that indicates to me that it's already drifting from my memory, it has not had a huge impact. I liked it, I read it in one sitting, I loved some of the twists and reveals, but it is just missing that certain something to push this up there as a memorable read. Bit disappointed really. I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards and will happily read his books in future, I would try another combination book too, just to see what I think of another.
My rating? I am stuck between a 3 and a 4, so going with that awful middle ground of 3.5, then I have to decide do I bump it up to a 4 for Goodreads, or down to a 3. Seriously, Goodreads needs to have those half score options. This is stressful! I am going with with a 4 for now.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher Amazon Publishing, Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Many thanks.
Thanks SO much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻
Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews. You can browse through my many great books reviewed for your next awesome book to enjoy.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
You can also find me on Amazon UK where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
January 10, 2019
Three children have been abducted and Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the children will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realises that time is running out.
This is a suspenseful read which kept me on the edge of my seat. It's every parents worst nightmare that their child goes missing. This is also a fast paced police procedural with a touch of psychological thriller. There are lots of twists. The plot has been very well thought out. The story is told by different points of view.
This is a suspenseful read which kept me on the edge of my seat. It's every parents worst nightmare that their child goes missing. This is also a fast paced police procedural with a touch of psychological thriller. There are lots of twists. The plot has been very well thought out. The story is told by different points of view.
March 24, 2017
FROM THE CRADLE by Mark Edwards and Louise Voss is a suspenseful psychological thriller and police procedural read and keeps you entertained from start to finish. I normally am not a fan of joint authors, but in this case, it works well.
The first child was taken from her house.
The second from his mother's car.
The third from her own bedroom...
Children were being abducted. Every parent’s nightmare!
When Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their teenage daughter babysitting little Frankie, they have no idea that they are about to face every parent's greatest fear.
Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the three children who have been abducted in this patch of south-west London will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realizes that time is running out—and that nothing in this case is as it seems...
This is a well-developed book, and the characters come alive as you read each small detail unfolding. The writing is strong with believable characters and a steady plot. The only fault I personally had with this novel was that I would have liked more “WOW” or “THRILL” incorporated in the plot.
Now on to Book 2 in this series, The Blissfully Dead.
Many thanks to NetGalley , Amazon Publishing Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
The first child was taken from her house.
The second from his mother's car.
The third from her own bedroom...
Children were being abducted. Every parent’s nightmare!
When Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their teenage daughter babysitting little Frankie, they have no idea that they are about to face every parent's greatest fear.
Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the three children who have been abducted in this patch of south-west London will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realizes that time is running out—and that nothing in this case is as it seems...
This is a well-developed book, and the characters come alive as you read each small detail unfolding. The writing is strong with believable characters and a steady plot. The only fault I personally had with this novel was that I would have liked more “WOW” or “THRILL” incorporated in the plot.
Now on to Book 2 in this series, The Blissfully Dead.
Many thanks to NetGalley , Amazon Publishing Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
June 12, 2016
I'm experiencing a split decision with this book. There are two authors, two Detective Inspectors who don't like each other, basically two "crimes", and chapters from two points of view. Does this book have a split personality? At times it felt like two books meshed together.
I liked DI Patrick Lennon. His partner, DS Carmella Masiello is mostly forgettable. While three children are missing, the main focus is on parents Sean and Helen Philips. The pace was not fast and sometimes the book felt like it dragged on. At the end, I felt almost relieved to be done with it.
I mostly liked the book, but it didn't enthrall me. I'm not so sure I'll read more by this author duo.
I liked DI Patrick Lennon. His partner, DS Carmella Masiello is mostly forgettable. While three children are missing, the main focus is on parents Sean and Helen Philips. The pace was not fast and sometimes the book felt like it dragged on. At the end, I felt almost relieved to be done with it.
I mostly liked the book, but it didn't enthrall me. I'm not so sure I'll read more by this author duo.
April 6, 2018
I am a big fan of Mark Edwards books but unfortunately I didn't fully connect with this book although it did get better in the second half of the novel.
This is a psychological thriller in which young children are abducted and Detective Patrick Lennon is tasked to solve the mystery. This is the first in a new series featuring this detective and the character appears to be meaty enough to build on.
Please don't be put off reading books by both of these authors as they are both worth reading more of, Mark Edwards 'The Magpies' and 'Forward Slash' by the pair of them are both excellent novels.
This is a psychological thriller in which young children are abducted and Detective Patrick Lennon is tasked to solve the mystery. This is the first in a new series featuring this detective and the character appears to be meaty enough to build on.
Please don't be put off reading books by both of these authors as they are both worth reading more of, Mark Edwards 'The Magpies' and 'Forward Slash' by the pair of them are both excellent novels.
December 1, 2022
When Helen and Sean Phillips' three-year-old daughter, Frankie, disappeared from her bedroom, their lives were turned upside down. In the past week, two other young children have been abducted. Izzy Hartley was taken from her home. Liam McConnell was removed from his mother's car. No ransom has been demanded. Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon has been assigned the case. He and his partner, D.S. Carmella Masiello have been tasked with finding the children and the person responsible for their abduction.
This is my first book by either of these authors, but it won't be my last. The book starts with a shocking prologue, after which I didn't want to stop reading. The story is told primarily from the points-of-view of Det. Lennon and Helen Phillips. There were many characters introduced in the first few chapters. I kept asking myself how some of them fit into the story. The plot holds many surprises. There were several twists I never saw coming. I'm still thinking about the ending and wondering what Detective Lennon's next move will be in his personal life. My rating: 4.5 Stars
This is my first book by either of these authors, but it won't be my last. The book starts with a shocking prologue, after which I didn't want to stop reading. The story is told primarily from the points-of-view of Det. Lennon and Helen Phillips. There were many characters introduced in the first few chapters. I kept asking myself how some of them fit into the story. The plot holds many surprises. There were several twists I never saw coming. I'm still thinking about the ending and wondering what Detective Lennon's next move will be in his personal life. My rating: 4.5 Stars
April 21, 2018
A gritty and disturbing, character-driven, police procedural!
"From the cradle" is my first novel by this duo of authors and I was very impressed. I am always amazed at how two people can write one story and make it seem so 'seamless'. It shouldn't have been surprising though, as the Goodreads rating is very high with over four thousand people having a say. Also, it is a British police procedural, which is a favourite sub-genre of mine.
This is the first novel in a series which features Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon who works in the South West London/Richmond-Upon-Thames area. The book starts strong (the prologue actually made me gasp while simultaneously giving me shivers) and doesn't let up in quality the whole way through.
Patrick Lennon is not your usual police DI. Now in his mid-thirties, in his earlier days he was a 'goth' musician. He still bears the tattoos and piercings that went with that persona. Also, he suffers from tinnitus from his years listening to overly loud music. Now, he is living with his parents due to the fact that he needs childcare for his two year-old daughter, Bonnie. He is working long and irregular hours because there has been a spate of child abductions in the area. Three toddlers have been snatched and their parents are desperate to be re-united with them. It is assumed that the three children have been taken by the same person(s), as the abductions have occurred in such a tight time span.
The latest abduction was that of Frankie Philips. Her parents, Helen and Sean Philips, had left Frankie in the care of her teenage stepsister, Alice, while they walked to a nearby restaurant for a meal out. When they returned, Alice was asleep on the living-room couch and little Frankie was missing from her cot.
Patrick Lennon and his partner DS Carmella Masiello are tasked with the case of finding all three children. The case is frustrating and disturbing. Although all three children were taken from affluent neighbourhoods, there has been no ransom demands. The media have coined the kidnapper "The Child Catcher".
The case escalates when one of the little girls is found...
Leaving no stone unturned, Patrick and his team investigate with little success. Another DI on the team, jealous of Patrick who is a favourite of their boss, thwarts every effort they make in the attempt to make Patrick look bad so he can take over as lead investigating officer.
Feeling stressed about this difficult case and worrying about his elderly mother who is getting tired from chasing his rambunctious two-year old daughter all day, Patrick is nearing the end of his rope.
I would term this a high-octane police procedural. It combines rich characterization with a fast pace. The plot holds surprises and several unexpected twists and turns. The desperation and panic of the parents is described in such a way that the reader feels their desolation.
Patrick's unique and troubled character was one that I would like to read more of. I enjoyed his rapport/working relationship with his lesbian partner, Carmella. The Philips' family's anxiety and anguish were palpable. Their family dynamic was well described: the mixed race wife, the racist mother-in-law, the teenage stepdaughter... The teenage characters were well wrought with the contrast between the affluent homes and the impoverished housing estates jarring - and, at times, shocking. The ending of the novel was adrenaline-filled and contained a moral dilemma.
This novel is the first in the DI Patrick Lennon series. You can be sure that I will read the rest of the novels in this series. "From the cradle" started strong and kept the pace throughout. Though a crime novel, it was also a novel about parents and parenting. About good people who find themselves in dire and desperate situations. About how one mistake can impact a whole life. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. I provided this review voluntarily to share my thoughts about the book.
"From the cradle" is my first novel by this duo of authors and I was very impressed. I am always amazed at how two people can write one story and make it seem so 'seamless'. It shouldn't have been surprising though, as the Goodreads rating is very high with over four thousand people having a say. Also, it is a British police procedural, which is a favourite sub-genre of mine.
This is the first novel in a series which features Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon who works in the South West London/Richmond-Upon-Thames area. The book starts strong (the prologue actually made me gasp while simultaneously giving me shivers) and doesn't let up in quality the whole way through.
Patrick Lennon is not your usual police DI. Now in his mid-thirties, in his earlier days he was a 'goth' musician. He still bears the tattoos and piercings that went with that persona. Also, he suffers from tinnitus from his years listening to overly loud music. Now, he is living with his parents due to the fact that he needs childcare for his two year-old daughter, Bonnie. He is working long and irregular hours because there has been a spate of child abductions in the area. Three toddlers have been snatched and their parents are desperate to be re-united with them. It is assumed that the three children have been taken by the same person(s), as the abductions have occurred in such a tight time span.
The latest abduction was that of Frankie Philips. Her parents, Helen and Sean Philips, had left Frankie in the care of her teenage stepsister, Alice, while they walked to a nearby restaurant for a meal out. When they returned, Alice was asleep on the living-room couch and little Frankie was missing from her cot.
Patrick Lennon and his partner DS Carmella Masiello are tasked with the case of finding all three children. The case is frustrating and disturbing. Although all three children were taken from affluent neighbourhoods, there has been no ransom demands. The media have coined the kidnapper "The Child Catcher".
The case escalates when one of the little girls is found...
Leaving no stone unturned, Patrick and his team investigate with little success. Another DI on the team, jealous of Patrick who is a favourite of their boss, thwarts every effort they make in the attempt to make Patrick look bad so he can take over as lead investigating officer.
Feeling stressed about this difficult case and worrying about his elderly mother who is getting tired from chasing his rambunctious two-year old daughter all day, Patrick is nearing the end of his rope.
I would term this a high-octane police procedural. It combines rich characterization with a fast pace. The plot holds surprises and several unexpected twists and turns. The desperation and panic of the parents is described in such a way that the reader feels their desolation.
Patrick's unique and troubled character was one that I would like to read more of. I enjoyed his rapport/working relationship with his lesbian partner, Carmella. The Philips' family's anxiety and anguish were palpable. Their family dynamic was well described: the mixed race wife, the racist mother-in-law, the teenage stepdaughter... The teenage characters were well wrought with the contrast between the affluent homes and the impoverished housing estates jarring - and, at times, shocking. The ending of the novel was adrenaline-filled and contained a moral dilemma.
This novel is the first in the DI Patrick Lennon series. You can be sure that I will read the rest of the novels in this series. "From the cradle" started strong and kept the pace throughout. Though a crime novel, it was also a novel about parents and parenting. About good people who find themselves in dire and desperate situations. About how one mistake can impact a whole life. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. I provided this review voluntarily to share my thoughts about the book.
October 1, 2014
When Helen and Sean Phillips went out for their first date night in weeks, they left their three-year-old daughter Frankie in the care of her half-sister, fifteen-year-old Alice, who is old enough to take care of her. But for Helen, it’s not an easy decision to leave them alone that night. And she’s not worried for no reason. Two sets of parents within three miles of their house no longer heard the giggles of their babies. In the past month two small children had been abducted in the area, south-west London. Liam McConnell and Izzy Hartley had vanished into thin air within two days of one another. And Helen’s worst fear came true when they returned home to find Frankie missing.
From the Cradle by Mark Edwards and Louise Voss is a suspenseful read and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It is the best book to date by the writing duo who has written several bestsellers together. After Sean and Helen called the police, Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon of the Metropolitan Police’s Murder Investigations Team finds himself in an unenviable position with one more child missing, and the police nowhere near making a breakthrough in the earlier two cases. He faces a daunting task and a race against time when a body is recovered from a local park.
Edwards and Voss crafted an incredibly absorbing, fast-paced police procedural with a touch of psychological thriller which will satisfy readers’ craving for a good read. This novel is the fifth collaboration between the two authors which follows the earlier four hugely successful novels Killing Cupid, Catch Your Death, All Fall Down and Forward Slash. What is remarkable about Edwards and Voss is that they are the first UK self-published authors to reach the #1 and #2 spots simultaneously way back in 2011, and in the process were dubbed ‘internet publishing sensations.’
From the Cradle by Mark Edwards and Louise Voss is a suspenseful read and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It is the best book to date by the writing duo who has written several bestsellers together. After Sean and Helen called the police, Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon of the Metropolitan Police’s Murder Investigations Team finds himself in an unenviable position with one more child missing, and the police nowhere near making a breakthrough in the earlier two cases. He faces a daunting task and a race against time when a body is recovered from a local park.
Edwards and Voss crafted an incredibly absorbing, fast-paced police procedural with a touch of psychological thriller which will satisfy readers’ craving for a good read. This novel is the fifth collaboration between the two authors which follows the earlier four hugely successful novels Killing Cupid, Catch Your Death, All Fall Down and Forward Slash. What is remarkable about Edwards and Voss is that they are the first UK self-published authors to reach the #1 and #2 spots simultaneously way back in 2011, and in the process were dubbed ‘internet publishing sensations.’
November 13, 2017
La Peor Pesadilla es mi primera lectura de Louise Voss y Mark Edwards y la inicie con un poco de dudas pero lo cierto es que la sinopsis me parecio tan interesante que no me lo pense demasiado antes de leerla.
Esta novela no fue lo que esperaba, en parte imaginaba que seria una historia mas oscura y retorcida pero eso puede ser porque he leido varios thrillers y me he " acostumbrado " a esperar lo peor de este tipo de novela pero lo cierto es que es una buena historia si quieres estrenarte con el genero, es bastante ligero.
La trama en un principio me causo mucha curiosidad y la lectura empezo con mucha fuerza pero segun fueron avanzando los capitulos fueron relajandose, quizas por esa razon no me senti del todo atrapada con la lectura, era entretenida ( aunque con algunas partes aburridas ) y en general fue un libro interesante pero no me termino de convencer.
Cuando se resuelve el misterio me senti un poco decepcionada, es cierto que no esperaba que la trama diera ese giro pero aun asi esperaba mas de la historia.
Tampoco me convencio del todo la longitud del libro, se me hizo innecesariamente largo y no ayudo que hubiera tanto relleno que no me interesaba ( los lios romanticos entre el protagonista, su esposa y su jefa, por ejemplo ), ademas en algunas ocasiones no me " cuadro " algunas expresiones o pensamientos de los personajes, para ser adultos utilizaban una jerga bastante adolescente e inmadura.
En fin, lo recomiendo si quieres algun libro de suspense simple o si quieres estrenarte en el genero con una historia que no sea demasiado fuerte o macabra, no estuvo del todo mal.
3 Estrellas!
April 2, 2025
Un thriller con mucho ritmos y varias tramas entrelazadas que te llevan a un final redondo.
July 14, 2021
A reasonable solid child snatch story with a lot of twists and turns that keeps you guessing right to the end. Unfortunately, I really never got into the DI Patrick Lennon and DS Carmella Maisiello combo. He was fairly uninteresting and she was quite forgettable. As 'procedurals' have such a tight structure, the interplay between the two central detectives is an important aspect for me, and I found it lacking in this book.
December 13, 2017
Grata sorpresa al leer este libro. Aunque no haya escenas peliagudas, es duro de leer, al estar involucrados los niños. Los protagonistas, por un lado la familia de la última desaparecida; y por el otro, el equipo encargado de la investigación, me han gustado ya que están lo suficientemente detallados para que le puedas tomar simpatía o antipatía.
La trama, en algunos momentos, un poco rebuscada...
La trama, en algunos momentos, un poco rebuscada...
August 13, 2015
I am so glad I gave these authors another chance! I had read one of their books some time back and was not impressed. When this one was offered through NetGalley, I decided to try them again.
Young children are being abducted. It's up to DI Patrick Lennon to find these children and the person or persons responsible for their disappearance. The first child taken is found dead. The detectives become desperate to find the others .. still alive. When the second child taken is found alive and well, they determine that the third child, still missing, was not abducted by the same person.
Many people are lying... the child's father, the child's older sister who was babysitting, a friend of the mother's. Once you figure out the lies, then you have to wonder at the why.
DI Lennon has almost more than he can handle. His own wife tried to kill their infant daughter and she has been in the mental hospital for almost two years. He is attracted to his boss, who is married. There is another detective who wants Lennon's job and tries to discredit him at every opportunity.
The plot itself is intricate and very well thought out. Characters are drawn well. Even the petulant teenagers are pretty much true to form.
I am looking forward to Book 2 in this series .... The Blissfully Dead.
Many thanks to NetGalley / Amazon Publishing / Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Young children are being abducted. It's up to DI Patrick Lennon to find these children and the person or persons responsible for their disappearance. The first child taken is found dead. The detectives become desperate to find the others .. still alive. When the second child taken is found alive and well, they determine that the third child, still missing, was not abducted by the same person.
Many people are lying... the child's father, the child's older sister who was babysitting, a friend of the mother's. Once you figure out the lies, then you have to wonder at the why.
DI Lennon has almost more than he can handle. His own wife tried to kill their infant daughter and she has been in the mental hospital for almost two years. He is attracted to his boss, who is married. There is another detective who wants Lennon's job and tries to discredit him at every opportunity.
The plot itself is intricate and very well thought out. Characters are drawn well. Even the petulant teenagers are pretty much true to form.
I am looking forward to Book 2 in this series .... The Blissfully Dead.
Many thanks to NetGalley / Amazon Publishing / Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
June 27, 2018
The first book in this series and I am looking forward to reading more. DI Lennon becomes involved in the investigation of some abducted children. Just when they think they have a lead there is a twist and the plot suddenly becomes a lot more complex. Dealing with his own demons, his wife serving time for what she inflicted on their own child - he is up against angry parents, competitive colleagues and his own family issues.
August 28, 2020
Una trama muy bien pensada, rápida, con mucho suspense y muchos giros.
October 3, 2015
Another great novel by British duo, Mark Edwards and Louise Voss, who pull on the heartstrings of any parents or those close to young children. After returning from dinner out, Helen and Sean Phillips find their toddler missing from her bed and Sean's elder daughter passed out on the couch. Fearing the worst, they alert the authorities, who are already handling two other kidnapped toddler cases in the region. DI Patrick Lennon heads up the investigation and adds the Frankie Phillips case to the list, seeking similarities that might help the investigation. When one of the children's bodies turns up, Lennon must determine if this is the work of a serial kidnapper and what fate might belie the other children. Struggling with issues in his personal life related to his daughter and estranged wife, Lennon juggles moving forward with the investigation as the leads prove fruitless. Might there be someone with an inside interest in the Phillipses, seeking to enact revenge for something they've done? Lennon and the MIT9 Squad must strike before Frankie becomes a victim of more than kidnapping. A great mix of drama and psychological thriller, Edwards and Voss pen an excellent novel, complete with plot twists, that will pain any parent but force them to read on in hopes of redemption.
Well-versed in the Edwards-Voss team writing, I could not wait to get my hands on this novel. It has the necessary story development to keep the reader intrigued and characters with an ever-evolving backstory to ensure that minute facts play strong roles in the forward movement of the narrative. With a sprinkling of social media mention, common for both their series, Edwards and Voss bring the novel into the 21st century to a time when false empathy and highly critical statements have their own virtual soapbox. Well written and captivating to the point that I am looking for the sequel to see how Lennon will handle all that he has on his plate.
Kudos, Mr. Edwards and Madam Voss for this wonderful introduction to the MIT9 Squad. You have Patrick Lennon painted in an interesting light and I am eager to decipher more about him, given time.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Well-versed in the Edwards-Voss team writing, I could not wait to get my hands on this novel. It has the necessary story development to keep the reader intrigued and characters with an ever-evolving backstory to ensure that minute facts play strong roles in the forward movement of the narrative. With a sprinkling of social media mention, common for both their series, Edwards and Voss bring the novel into the 21st century to a time when false empathy and highly critical statements have their own virtual soapbox. Well written and captivating to the point that I am looking for the sequel to see how Lennon will handle all that he has on his plate.
Kudos, Mr. Edwards and Madam Voss for this wonderful introduction to the MIT9 Squad. You have Patrick Lennon painted in an interesting light and I am eager to decipher more about him, given time.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 11, 2014
This is the latest explosive thriller from the dark minds of the talented Voss-Edwards duo.
It was a long wait for this collaboration but the old adage was true and this was much more than just a meagre 'good thing'. The book started with a chapter which dared the reader to put the book to one side. You just can't do it. From that first excerpt, I just couldn't stop reading. There's nothing worse than waiting for a new release and then reading it in one day, I want to drag it out and savour it, but I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen next. However, each time we unravelled one mystery, another one appeared.
I loved the way the characters were presented to us, even if I didn't like them as individuals. I really liked the inclusion of cross-culture characters, this was definitely quite refreshing and made the final twist all the more difficult to have guessed at. I found the characters so true to life. Alice and Frankie could literally have been based on two of my own daughters, which made the events all the more terrifying.
Voss and Edwards never fail to impress me and this book is nothing less than was expected. I particularly enjoyed having a character named after me (A competition win!!), the distinguished Dr Hudson. I can even forgive you both for ageing me by 10 years!!
It was a long wait for this collaboration but the old adage was true and this was much more than just a meagre 'good thing'. The book started with a chapter which dared the reader to put the book to one side. You just can't do it. From that first excerpt, I just couldn't stop reading. There's nothing worse than waiting for a new release and then reading it in one day, I want to drag it out and savour it, but I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen next. However, each time we unravelled one mystery, another one appeared.
I loved the way the characters were presented to us, even if I didn't like them as individuals. I really liked the inclusion of cross-culture characters, this was definitely quite refreshing and made the final twist all the more difficult to have guessed at. I found the characters so true to life. Alice and Frankie could literally have been based on two of my own daughters, which made the events all the more terrifying.
Voss and Edwards never fail to impress me and this book is nothing less than was expected. I particularly enjoyed having a character named after me (A competition win!!), the distinguished Dr Hudson. I can even forgive you both for ageing me by 10 years!!
June 30, 2016
That does it, I definitely need a break from books about missing children. They all get a bit samey after a while.
I reckon I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. It was pretty good really. Three young children disappear within a week or so. Naturally the police pull out all stops to find them. Then a little body is found, oh dear, what is the fate of the other two missing children?
As the police follow every little lead some things are not quite adding up. Each family is put under scrutiny, but still some questions remain unanswered. Every time you get closer to the truth there is another twist. It was a good story, the pace though was a teeny bit slow. And don't some young people have some really dumb ideas???
I reckon I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. It was pretty good really. Three young children disappear within a week or so. Naturally the police pull out all stops to find them. Then a little body is found, oh dear, what is the fate of the other two missing children?
As the police follow every little lead some things are not quite adding up. Each family is put under scrutiny, but still some questions remain unanswered. Every time you get closer to the truth there is another twist. It was a good story, the pace though was a teeny bit slow. And don't some young people have some really dumb ideas???
January 2, 2016
From the Cradle by Louise Voss and Mark Edwards
#1 in the D I Patrick Lennon Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Book Description
The first child was taken from her house. The second from his mother's car. The third from her own bedroom... When Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their teenage daughter babysitting little Frankie, they have no idea that they are about to face every parent's greatest fear. Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the three children who have been abducted in this patch of south-west London will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realizes that time is running out—and that nothing in this case is as it seems... Blending police procedural with psychological thriller, From the Cradle will have every parent checking that their children are safe in their beds...then checking again. From the Cradle is the first book in the Detective Lennon Thriller Series.
My Views
This series is set in the suburbs of South London and is my first book by husband and wife team Louise Voss and Mark Edwards. I have to say this book starts off with a bang, a very powerful opening that tells you a lot about the angst ridden D I Patrick Lennon. After a powerful opening, I feel the book takes a while to really get going and is told from different viewpoints. This said though as the book gets further on it really grabs you and doesn't let you go. There are plenty of twists, bags of suspense and a strong ending to the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes crime novels, or is looking for a new detective to follow, although there are only two books so far in the series. The book certainly leaves you wanting to read the next book to see what is going to happen next in Patrick's life. I certainly feel this book is worthy of a wider audience.
#1 in the D I Patrick Lennon Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Book Description
The first child was taken from her house. The second from his mother's car. The third from her own bedroom... When Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their teenage daughter babysitting little Frankie, they have no idea that they are about to face every parent's greatest fear. Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon is hopeful that the three children who have been abducted in this patch of south-west London will be returned safe and well. But when a body is found in a local park, Lennon realizes that time is running out—and that nothing in this case is as it seems... Blending police procedural with psychological thriller, From the Cradle will have every parent checking that their children are safe in their beds...then checking again. From the Cradle is the first book in the Detective Lennon Thriller Series.
My Views
This series is set in the suburbs of South London and is my first book by husband and wife team Louise Voss and Mark Edwards. I have to say this book starts off with a bang, a very powerful opening that tells you a lot about the angst ridden D I Patrick Lennon. After a powerful opening, I feel the book takes a while to really get going and is told from different viewpoints. This said though as the book gets further on it really grabs you and doesn't let you go. There are plenty of twists, bags of suspense and a strong ending to the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes crime novels, or is looking for a new detective to follow, although there are only two books so far in the series. The book certainly leaves you wanting to read the next book to see what is going to happen next in Patrick's life. I certainly feel this book is worthy of a wider audience.
January 23, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Young children are stolen. From their houses, their cars or even from their own beds... When Helen and Sean return home they find their babysitting older daughter passed out on the couch and their three year old daughter Frankie missing. Time seems to be running out.
I've to admit I'd never heard of Louise Voss or Mark Edwards before, but when I saw this book, it sounded interesting enough. I used to read a lot of British detectives a few years back, but needed a sabbatical since I think I might have read a bit too many in too short a time. I think that break is over now, because I almost felt like I missed reading them...
From the cradle is a very decent British detective. It's not a ground breaking new concept, but if you happen to enjoy it, you'll probably like this novel. I got the idea this is a standalone novel, or at the very least it can be perfectly read without any prior knowledge of the characters and without feeling lost. The story kept me guessing for quite some time, the resolution in the end was a bit too much perhaps for me, but it was not a really big problem for me. I would pick up another book written by this duo and certainly give it a try!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Young children are stolen. From their houses, their cars or even from their own beds... When Helen and Sean return home they find their babysitting older daughter passed out on the couch and their three year old daughter Frankie missing. Time seems to be running out.
I've to admit I'd never heard of Louise Voss or Mark Edwards before, but when I saw this book, it sounded interesting enough. I used to read a lot of British detectives a few years back, but needed a sabbatical since I think I might have read a bit too many in too short a time. I think that break is over now, because I almost felt like I missed reading them...
From the cradle is a very decent British detective. It's not a ground breaking new concept, but if you happen to enjoy it, you'll probably like this novel. I got the idea this is a standalone novel, or at the very least it can be perfectly read without any prior knowledge of the characters and without feeling lost. The story kept me guessing for quite some time, the resolution in the end was a bit too much perhaps for me, but it was not a really big problem for me. I would pick up another book written by this duo and certainly give it a try!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 1, 2014
REVIEW: FROM THE CRADLE by Louise Voss and Mark Edwards
FROM THE CRADLE is a riveting suspense, a British police procedural, and an exposition behind the scenes of the interpersonal machinations and conflicts in a big-city police department. Yet it is much more, as it takes on the issuesof child abduction, paedophilia, infanticide, mental illness--and some really twisted characters. DI Patrick Lennon is a gem, and I hope to encounter him again in future mysteries.
FROM THE CRADLE is a riveting suspense, a British police procedural, and an exposition behind the scenes of the interpersonal machinations and conflicts in a big-city police department. Yet it is much more, as it takes on the issuesof child abduction, paedophilia, infanticide, mental illness--and some really twisted characters. DI Patrick Lennon is a gem, and I hope to encounter him again in future mysteries.
September 26, 2015
This is my favourite so far of Louise Voss & mark Edwards books kids go missing detective on the case unraveling secrets on the way a gripping read and want to read more of there books love the style of there writing hooked from the start recommend this book psychological read great book.
March 1, 2022
After beating the first 11 chapters, I found the characters to become quite boring and the storyline was very repetitive. The pace and action of the book was incredibly slow, and the story just dragged on and on. There was no wow factor, or excitement I don't know why it has such a high rating it's only a simple police procedural story with nothing very exciting to deliver.
January 11, 2025
From The Cradle is a perfect blend of a police procedural and psychological thriller. We have a shocking case involving children, lead detective with traumatic past, flawed characters a plenty, enough twists and turns to make sure you keep on reading.
It's one of those stories that you won't be able to put down. I really enjoyed it.
It's one of those stories that you won't be able to put down. I really enjoyed it.
February 19, 2016
I knew this would not be for me on the first page. By the second page, when the detective protagonist had casually referred to 'the purity of the family' perhaps only in his thoughts but that's hair-splitting, I nearly gave up on it completely.
I persevered but only because I'd already paid for this and I have a long commute. I didn't care about or remotely believe in any of the characters and the authors didn't seem to either. 3 small children are abducted but we only ever talk about the last of them. One police officer is not only extremely obnoxious but also so obviously bad at his job that the most inept of police forces ought to have noticed and relieved him of duty.
I persevered but only because I'd already paid for this and I have a long commute. I didn't care about or remotely believe in any of the characters and the authors didn't seem to either. 3 small children are abducted but we only ever talk about the last of them. One police officer is not only extremely obnoxious but also so obviously bad at his job that the most inept of police forces ought to have noticed and relieved him of duty.
November 6, 2014
Wow wow wow!
What a novel. Had no idea where it would end up and I was overjoyed by the unpredictable ending. Totally had me hanging on every last word. This is a fantastic book and I am off to read other books written by this incredible writing team!
What a novel. Had no idea where it would end up and I was overjoyed by the unpredictable ending. Totally had me hanging on every last word. This is a fantastic book and I am off to read other books written by this incredible writing team!
August 21, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The subject matter isn't one of the nicest to read about especially as a parent but I was gripped from start to finish. There are certainly some twists in there and the end was really fast paced. Loved it.
March 24, 2016
Wow what an ending, I couldn't put this book down especially the last few chapters. You know when you're reading a good book and the rest of the world doesn't exist but you and you're book!!!
September 15, 2015
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a complimentary reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dynamic duo, Louise Voss and Mark Edwards combine their talent, wit, and style, delivering FROM THE CRADLE, introducing a new psycho-crime, cop thriller series, featuring London’s Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon—a Mystery. A child abduction. A Kidnapping. Juicy scandalous secrets.
Interracial couple, Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their 15-year-old teenage daughter, Alice to babysit younger 3-year old sister, Frankie. They have no clue what they will find when they return. Frankie is gone. Alice remains.
DI Patrick is married to Gill, with a five-month-old baby, Bonnie. At the opening of the book, Patrick walks into his home, to find a horrific scene.
We jump to eighteen months earlier, alternating chapters with Helen and Patrick, recounting the days leading up to the abduction, with Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon and his colleague Detective Sergeant Carmella Masiello.
Then more children missing. In London, there are three couples, frantic after their children have been taken from them in very different ways. There are no ransom notes. Motive? Children are vanishing in thin air? Who is taking the children and why? Are they connected?
As Patrick deals with his own demons, inside his family, he is desperate to solve the mystery of the missing children. What do these cases have in common?
A fan of both Voss and Edwards, separately, and combined—a talent for mixing psychological suspense with cop procedural, and some wit, for heart-pounding suspense. Truth or lies? What is missing? Secrets?
Poor Patrick has all sorts of problems, from his wife, his family, his work. Patrick's personal problems adds a bit of spice and intrigue to the overall story- can't wait to see what is next for him!
Complex and multi-layered, readers will be glued to the pages to solve the mystery. A nice twist at the end, leaving you dying for the next installment, The Blissfully Dead.
I listened to the audiobook last year, narrated by James Clamp, delivering a suspenseful performance. As often the case, I listen to audiobooks, while traveling, not always in a place to post a review, straightaway. I failed to return with a review, and when starting The Blissfully Dead, realized I needed a refresher.
Fans will be delighted with this new exciting series.
JDCMustReadBooks
Dynamic duo, Louise Voss and Mark Edwards combine their talent, wit, and style, delivering FROM THE CRADLE, introducing a new psycho-crime, cop thriller series, featuring London’s Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon—a Mystery. A child abduction. A Kidnapping. Juicy scandalous secrets.
Interracial couple, Helen and Sean Philips go out for the evening, leaving their 15-year-old teenage daughter, Alice to babysit younger 3-year old sister, Frankie. They have no clue what they will find when they return. Frankie is gone. Alice remains.
DI Patrick is married to Gill, with a five-month-old baby, Bonnie. At the opening of the book, Patrick walks into his home, to find a horrific scene.
We jump to eighteen months earlier, alternating chapters with Helen and Patrick, recounting the days leading up to the abduction, with Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon and his colleague Detective Sergeant Carmella Masiello.
Then more children missing. In London, there are three couples, frantic after their children have been taken from them in very different ways. There are no ransom notes. Motive? Children are vanishing in thin air? Who is taking the children and why? Are they connected?
As Patrick deals with his own demons, inside his family, he is desperate to solve the mystery of the missing children. What do these cases have in common?
A fan of both Voss and Edwards, separately, and combined—a talent for mixing psychological suspense with cop procedural, and some wit, for heart-pounding suspense. Truth or lies? What is missing? Secrets?
Poor Patrick has all sorts of problems, from his wife, his family, his work. Patrick's personal problems adds a bit of spice and intrigue to the overall story- can't wait to see what is next for him!
Complex and multi-layered, readers will be glued to the pages to solve the mystery. A nice twist at the end, leaving you dying for the next installment, The Blissfully Dead.
I listened to the audiobook last year, narrated by James Clamp, delivering a suspenseful performance. As often the case, I listen to audiobooks, while traveling, not always in a place to post a review, straightaway. I failed to return with a review, and when starting The Blissfully Dead, realized I needed a refresher.
Fans will be delighted with this new exciting series.
JDCMustReadBooks
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