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Deception Bay #2
The Stolen
An unputdownable crime thriller featuring Detective Antigone Pollard from the bestselling author of The Unbelieved.
'Gripping, heartfelt, and intelligent, The Stolen is an emotionally rich thriller that crackles with tension.' Christian White, author of The Ledge
'The Stolen is compelling, down-to-earth Australian crime fiction that delivers on absolutely every page. Vikki Petraitis is the real deal!' Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling
Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is fearless. Armed with a trained police dog, a black belt in judo and the will to speak her mind, she faces opposition head-on.
After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. The summer holiday season is off to a slow start and crime rates are down. But when a distraught mother calls the station to report her baby missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.
In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone's mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret, which she needs Antigone's help to resolve. Antigone takes a DNA test that yields two surprising results.
And just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new commander, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, at the helm, circumstances change one stormy night. In the blink of an eye, Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler, is back, making the missing baby investigation harder every day.
Once again, Antigone faces the who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?
'To read a Vikki Petraitis crime novel is to be let in on the secret of how things really work, both at a procedural level, and in terms of the best and worst ways humans behave. It was a treat to revisit Senior Detective Antigone Pollard as she unravelled another twisty and topical mystery with the help of her authentic and (mostly) faithful support crew. Like The Unbelieved, The Stolen is a clear-eyed, fast-paced take on the reverberating effects of a crime on survivors and their community, making it a must-read for anyone who likes to go beyond the headlines, to where the true story waits.' Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name and Leave the Girls Behind
'As well as fantastic storytelling and a gripping crime plot, the author includes important themes of toxic masculinity, domestic violence and gender inequality. Thought-provoking, topical and incredibly compelling.' Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver
'The Stolen blends tense, gritty crime with warm and witty characters – a compulsive combination that will keep you glued to the pages. The premise is utterly chilling, the sharp social observation spot-on. Cut a slice of banana cake and dive in!' Michelle Prak, author of The Rush and Barren Cape
'Vikki Petraitis knows how to draw us into a story and hold us there. She has the gift of making us become emotionally invested in her characters. If you begin The Stolen, you will finish it, and you will have experienced a richly satisfying range of emotions along the way.
'Gripping, heartfelt, and intelligent, The Stolen is an emotionally rich thriller that crackles with tension.' Christian White, author of The Ledge
'The Stolen is compelling, down-to-earth Australian crime fiction that delivers on absolutely every page. Vikki Petraitis is the real deal!' Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling
Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is fearless. Armed with a trained police dog, a black belt in judo and the will to speak her mind, she faces opposition head-on.
After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. The summer holiday season is off to a slow start and crime rates are down. But when a distraught mother calls the station to report her baby missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.
In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone's mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret, which she needs Antigone's help to resolve. Antigone takes a DNA test that yields two surprising results.
And just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new commander, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, at the helm, circumstances change one stormy night. In the blink of an eye, Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler, is back, making the missing baby investigation harder every day.
Once again, Antigone faces the who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?
'To read a Vikki Petraitis crime novel is to be let in on the secret of how things really work, both at a procedural level, and in terms of the best and worst ways humans behave. It was a treat to revisit Senior Detective Antigone Pollard as she unravelled another twisty and topical mystery with the help of her authentic and (mostly) faithful support crew. Like The Unbelieved, The Stolen is a clear-eyed, fast-paced take on the reverberating effects of a crime on survivors and their community, making it a must-read for anyone who likes to go beyond the headlines, to where the true story waits.' Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name and Leave the Girls Behind
'As well as fantastic storytelling and a gripping crime plot, the author includes important themes of toxic masculinity, domestic violence and gender inequality. Thought-provoking, topical and incredibly compelling.' Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver
'The Stolen blends tense, gritty crime with warm and witty characters – a compulsive combination that will keep you glued to the pages. The premise is utterly chilling, the sharp social observation spot-on. Cut a slice of banana cake and dive in!' Michelle Prak, author of The Rush and Barren Cape
'Vikki Petraitis knows how to draw us into a story and hold us there. She has the gift of making us become emotionally invested in her characters. If you begin The Stolen, you will finish it, and you will have experienced a richly satisfying range of emotions along the way.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
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August 18, 2025
The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis
Synopsis /
After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. Crime rates are down after a slow mild start to the summer holiday season, but when a frantic mother, Maddy Muir, calls the station to report her baby is missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.
In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone's mum, Dr Jilly Pollard arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret and needs Antigone's help.
Just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new boss, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, circumstances change one stormy night, and in the blink of an eye, Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler is back making the missing baby investigation harder every day.
While Antigone juggles both investigations, Mum and Nan move into the farm to unravel the family secret. Meanwhile, Antigone takes a DNA test with two very surprising results.
Once again, Antigone faces the who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publisher Allen & Unwin, and author Vikki Petraitis, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for September 02, 2025.
This Australian author has been a crime writer for over 25 years and in that time, has written 14 true crime books. Her first crime fiction novel featuring Senior Detective Antigone Pollard, The Unbelieved published in 2022, was the winner of the inaugural Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize. The Stolen is the sequel to that novel.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: there are strong themes around child endangerment, and domestic and family abuse.
After relocating from Melbourne to the coastal town of Deception Bay, Senior Detective Antigone (pronounced an-tig-o-nee) Pollard is finally feeling like she's planting roots. She's enjoying life in Deception Bay, her work and feels as though she has settled nicely into the community.
When a young mother calls the station and reports her baby missing, Pollard and her team are on high alert. Then, when a series of social media posts made by the baby's father are posted the team realise they are looking at an abduction with menace. Things get spicy when the vehicle the father was driving is involved in an accident – the husband is deceased and there is no sign of the infant child.
Petraitis writes a capable and strong lead female MC. As a reader, I was never once left feeling that she was unable to hold her own in any given situation. She is able to stand up for herself when it counts and knows when to pick her battles. There is great rapport between Pollard and her bumbling but well intentioned, partner, Detective Senior Constable Warren (Wozza) Harvey and their alliance is solid. And the addition of Waffles, Antigone's faithful canine companion will bring all the dog lovers to the table.
The ‘Records of Interviews’ scattered throughout the book also added a real, lifelike element to the story and these ROIs had me hooked!
No filler. No fluff. Just great writing.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Allen & Unwin for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 02, 2025.
Synopsis /
After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. Crime rates are down after a slow mild start to the summer holiday season, but when a frantic mother, Maddy Muir, calls the station to report her baby is missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.
In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone's mum, Dr Jilly Pollard arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret and needs Antigone's help.
Just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new boss, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, circumstances change one stormy night, and in the blink of an eye, Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler is back making the missing baby investigation harder every day.
While Antigone juggles both investigations, Mum and Nan move into the farm to unravel the family secret. Meanwhile, Antigone takes a DNA test with two very surprising results.
Once again, Antigone faces the who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publisher Allen & Unwin, and author Vikki Petraitis, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for September 02, 2025.
This Australian author has been a crime writer for over 25 years and in that time, has written 14 true crime books. Her first crime fiction novel featuring Senior Detective Antigone Pollard, The Unbelieved published in 2022, was the winner of the inaugural Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize. The Stolen is the sequel to that novel.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: there are strong themes around child endangerment, and domestic and family abuse.
After relocating from Melbourne to the coastal town of Deception Bay, Senior Detective Antigone (pronounced an-tig-o-nee) Pollard is finally feeling like she's planting roots. She's enjoying life in Deception Bay, her work and feels as though she has settled nicely into the community.
When a young mother calls the station and reports her baby missing, Pollard and her team are on high alert. Then, when a series of social media posts made by the baby's father are posted the team realise they are looking at an abduction with menace. Things get spicy when the vehicle the father was driving is involved in an accident – the husband is deceased and there is no sign of the infant child.
Petraitis writes a capable and strong lead female MC. As a reader, I was never once left feeling that she was unable to hold her own in any given situation. She is able to stand up for herself when it counts and knows when to pick her battles. There is great rapport between Pollard and her bumbling but well intentioned, partner, Detective Senior Constable Warren (Wozza) Harvey and their alliance is solid. And the addition of Waffles, Antigone's faithful canine companion will bring all the dog lovers to the table.
The ‘Records of Interviews’ scattered throughout the book also added a real, lifelike element to the story and these ROIs had me hooked!
No filler. No fluff. Just great writing.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Allen & Unwin for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 02, 2025.
September 8, 2025
EXCERPT: It took eleven minutes for the street outside Maddy Muir's house to fill with cop cars, lights flashing red and blue. The crackle of police radios, uniforms with clipboards, and Wozza and I in our unmarked CIB car. Maddy was at the front gate when we pulled up. She was a young woman, around twenty-five, I guessed. Long cardigan over a white t-shirt with #march4justice printed in purple across the front. Thongs. We moved her back inside as the neighbours in her quiet little street came out to see what was wrong.
'He's gone, he's gone,' Maddy kept saying, as frantic as anybody I'd ever seen.
Wozza's calm was the perfect antidote to her panic. 'Take us through what happened,' he said in a gentle voice.
Maddy hurried into a bedroom to the right of the hallway. It was a bright baby's room with a cot in the middle and colorful giraffes and monkeys on the wallpaper.
ABOUT 'THE STOLEN': Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is fearless. Armed with a trained police dog, a black belt in judo and the will to speak her mind, she faces opposition head-on.
After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. The summer holiday season is off to a slow start and crime rates are down. But when a distraught mother calls the station to report her baby missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.
In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone's mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret, which she needs Antigone's help to resolve. Antigone takes a DNA test that yields two surprising results.
And just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new commander, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, at the helm, circumstances change one stormy night. In the blink of an eye, Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler, is back, making the missing baby investigation harder every day.
Once again, Antigone faces the who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?
MY THOUGHTS: An angry ex-boyfriend. A stolen baby. The Stolen is a hard book to put down - mysterious, thrilling and thought provoking.
Antigone Pollard is my new hero! She is a strong character not afraid to show her vulnerabilities. She has a wonderfully supportive family at her back. Just wait till you meet her Nan - she's a legend!
And Wozza, her pastry loving, warm-hearted, not the brightest bulb in the pack, offsider is the perfect foil for Antigone. They make a great team. A lot of thinking and idea sharing is done over cups of tea and slices of banana cake in the office, or over pastries at Angie's café.
I love the slower pace and small-town vibes of Deception Bay. It is the perfect offset to the tense investigation into the missing baby, because even in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business, do we ever truly KNOW anyone?
I was totally perplexed as to where the baby could be, and the big reveal left me stunned.
But the missing baby is not all that is going on. There are side stories concerning Antigone's family that are compelling, and the consequences of the drug/rape story from The Unbelieved are still reverberating throughout the community, resulting in a moral dilemma for Antigone. And if you have been following my reviews for a while, you'll know there's nothing I love more than a good moral dilemma.
In her acknowledgements, Vikki Petraitis states that she began writing The Stolen before The Unbelieved even hit the bookstores. I hope that Deception Bay #3 is now well underway because I can't wait to feast my eyes on it.
While it's not absolutely necessary to read Deception Bay #1, The Unbelieved, prior to The Stolen I strongly recommend you do. There are references and connections to events in the first book in The Stolen.
My favorite quote from The Stolen - . . . society sells women a lie that we need to find the right man to feel complete. They should be telling us to find our own completeness BEFORE we join to someone else.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheStolen #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: VIKKI PETRAITIS - Ever since she was a small child, Vikki dreamed of being a writer. One of her favourite things is when people tell her how her books have changed their life or influenced their career choice. There’s more than one cop, forensic psychologist, podcaster, or investigator whose journey began with opening one of Vikki’s books. (SOURCE: vikkipetraitis.com)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen & Unwin via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'He's gone, he's gone,' Maddy kept saying, as frantic as anybody I'd ever seen.
Wozza's calm was the perfect antidote to her panic. 'Take us through what happened,' he said in a gentle voice.
Maddy hurried into a bedroom to the right of the hallway. It was a bright baby's room with a cot in the middle and colorful giraffes and monkeys on the wallpaper.
ABOUT 'THE STOLEN': Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is fearless. Armed with a trained police dog, a black belt in judo and the will to speak her mind, she faces opposition head-on.
After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. The summer holiday season is off to a slow start and crime rates are down. But when a distraught mother calls the station to report her baby missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time to find the baby and the person who brazenly took him.
In the middle of the frantic investigation, Antigone's mother, Dr Jilly Pollard, arrives for an unexpected visit and shares a tragic family secret, which she needs Antigone's help to resolve. Antigone takes a DNA test that yields two surprising results.
And just when things at the Deception Bay police station are running smoothly with a new commander, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, at the helm, circumstances change one stormy night. In the blink of an eye, Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler, is back, making the missing baby investigation harder every day.
Once again, Antigone faces the who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?
MY THOUGHTS: An angry ex-boyfriend. A stolen baby. The Stolen is a hard book to put down - mysterious, thrilling and thought provoking.
Antigone Pollard is my new hero! She is a strong character not afraid to show her vulnerabilities. She has a wonderfully supportive family at her back. Just wait till you meet her Nan - she's a legend!
And Wozza, her pastry loving, warm-hearted, not the brightest bulb in the pack, offsider is the perfect foil for Antigone. They make a great team. A lot of thinking and idea sharing is done over cups of tea and slices of banana cake in the office, or over pastries at Angie's café.
I love the slower pace and small-town vibes of Deception Bay. It is the perfect offset to the tense investigation into the missing baby, because even in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business, do we ever truly KNOW anyone?
I was totally perplexed as to where the baby could be, and the big reveal left me stunned.
But the missing baby is not all that is going on. There are side stories concerning Antigone's family that are compelling, and the consequences of the drug/rape story from The Unbelieved are still reverberating throughout the community, resulting in a moral dilemma for Antigone. And if you have been following my reviews for a while, you'll know there's nothing I love more than a good moral dilemma.
In her acknowledgements, Vikki Petraitis states that she began writing The Stolen before The Unbelieved even hit the bookstores. I hope that Deception Bay #3 is now well underway because I can't wait to feast my eyes on it.
While it's not absolutely necessary to read Deception Bay #1, The Unbelieved, prior to The Stolen I strongly recommend you do. There are references and connections to events in the first book in The Stolen.
My favorite quote from The Stolen - . . . society sells women a lie that we need to find the right man to feel complete. They should be telling us to find our own completeness BEFORE we join to someone else.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheStolen #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: VIKKI PETRAITIS - Ever since she was a small child, Vikki dreamed of being a writer. One of her favourite things is when people tell her how her books have changed their life or influenced their career choice. There’s more than one cop, forensic psychologist, podcaster, or investigator whose journey began with opening one of Vikki’s books. (SOURCE: vikkipetraitis.com)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen & Unwin via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Stolen by Vikki Petraitis for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 18, 2025
Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is pleased that she left Brunswick to make her home in Deception Bay a place that she spent most of her childhood, she is living on her grandmother’s farm with her dog Waffles and now with a new boss Amanda Filipovic and her partner Wozza it is summer and crime is slow, that is until a bay is kidnapped.
Antigone and Wozza throw themselves into the investigation they must find baby Ethan as fast as possible but when they discover who took the baby and there is an accident but still no baby, the press is hounding them and the mother of the baby will they find Ethan before something happens to him is he lost or has someone got him?
Antigone’s mother Dr. Jilly arrives back in Deception Bay with a family secret, Antigone has a DNA test to help with this, could she have a sibling or could she finally find out who her father is?
Then new boss Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic is in an accident and in hospital and the old boss Bill Wheeler is back and making life very hard for the team and causing problems with the investigation, what really happened to Amanda that night?
Vikki Petraitis has again pulled me in in another unputdownable story that had twists and turns, her leading character, Antigone fights for the woman and the way they are treated by many of the men in this town, this story takes in a lot of issues that plague the world today domestic violence, media reporting that is so bad towards woman and so much more, but the more she uncovers the more that it appears that some of this might be linked to the first case she worked on in Deception Bay, will Antigone get the answers in the next book?
I do highly recommend this one and I can’t wait for the next book, a fabulous story that will keep the reader turning the pages.
Antigone and Wozza throw themselves into the investigation they must find baby Ethan as fast as possible but when they discover who took the baby and there is an accident but still no baby, the press is hounding them and the mother of the baby will they find Ethan before something happens to him is he lost or has someone got him?
Antigone’s mother Dr. Jilly arrives back in Deception Bay with a family secret, Antigone has a DNA test to help with this, could she have a sibling or could she finally find out who her father is?
Then new boss Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic is in an accident and in hospital and the old boss Bill Wheeler is back and making life very hard for the team and causing problems with the investigation, what really happened to Amanda that night?
Vikki Petraitis has again pulled me in in another unputdownable story that had twists and turns, her leading character, Antigone fights for the woman and the way they are treated by many of the men in this town, this story takes in a lot of issues that plague the world today domestic violence, media reporting that is so bad towards woman and so much more, but the more she uncovers the more that it appears that some of this might be linked to the first case she worked on in Deception Bay, will Antigone get the answers in the next book?
I do highly recommend this one and I can’t wait for the next book, a fabulous story that will keep the reader turning the pages.
September 1, 2025
4.5★
It's barely 2 months since I was blown away by The Unbelieved (#1 in this series) so it's still really fresh in my mind and gives me the confidence to say that this follow-up is even better. Petraitis is in her stride here, serving up another Deception Bay mystery for Antigone & Wozza to solve, while the fallout from their previous sensational case is still very much front of mind for locals and colleagues alike. As a reader it helps to be familiar with the plot of the earlier book, because not only are details referred to fairly often, there is a sub-plot here that very much continues that story...
A slow day at the Deception Bay police station suddenly turns frantic when Antigone takes a call from young mum, Maddy Muir. While she was in the shower her infant son, Ethan, had disappeared from his cot. On the scene, neither Antigone, Wozza nor Maddy can fathom how the baby could have just vanished, until the baby monitor provides a vital clue. From that point, the time-sensitive search is on!
Meanwhile, Antigone's mother turns up unexpectedly for a family visit. She has something she wants to tell her daughter and her mother. Antigone and Nan are blindsided by the news and what it might mean for their family.
This is a fast-paced investigation that takes many unexpected turns. As with the previous book, Petraitis shines a light on topical societal issues - this time media bias and toxic masculinity (and yes, it made me hot under the collar all over again!!). While the main threads of the story are satisfyingly resolved, there is one ongoing element that feels like it could spill over into a potential third book. I hope so!
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for an eARC to read and review.
It's barely 2 months since I was blown away by The Unbelieved (#1 in this series) so it's still really fresh in my mind and gives me the confidence to say that this follow-up is even better. Petraitis is in her stride here, serving up another Deception Bay mystery for Antigone & Wozza to solve, while the fallout from their previous sensational case is still very much front of mind for locals and colleagues alike. As a reader it helps to be familiar with the plot of the earlier book, because not only are details referred to fairly often, there is a sub-plot here that very much continues that story...
A slow day at the Deception Bay police station suddenly turns frantic when Antigone takes a call from young mum, Maddy Muir. While she was in the shower her infant son, Ethan, had disappeared from his cot. On the scene, neither Antigone, Wozza nor Maddy can fathom how the baby could have just vanished, until the baby monitor provides a vital clue. From that point, the time-sensitive search is on!
Meanwhile, Antigone's mother turns up unexpectedly for a family visit. She has something she wants to tell her daughter and her mother. Antigone and Nan are blindsided by the news and what it might mean for their family.
This is a fast-paced investigation that takes many unexpected turns. As with the previous book, Petraitis shines a light on topical societal issues - this time media bias and toxic masculinity (and yes, it made me hot under the collar all over again!!). While the main threads of the story are satisfyingly resolved, there is one ongoing element that feels like it could spill over into a potential third book. I hope so!
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for an eARC to read and review.
July 7, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Small Town Suspense, Fierce Female Lead
- - -
After absolutely devouring Vikki’s first fiction novel The Unbelieved in 2024, I had sky high hopes for The Stolen and it delivered every bit of that same electric, impossible to put down energy.
Detective Antigone Pollard, one of my favourite fierce female leads, is back and she dives headfirst into another emotionally charged investigation - this time, the disappearance of a baby. It's a heavy and intense storyline (a trigger warning heads up to parents of little ones), but the way Vikki handles and calls out sensitive topics like misogyny and systemic failures is bold and brave.
The pacing of this book was perfect - purposeful and exactly the right length. No filler. No fluff. Just sharp, suspenseful storytelling packed with red herrings, character depth and a town full of secrets.
The writing was grounded but gripping and the twists had me guessing right until the very end.
If you love your crime reads with substance and strong female leads who take no crap, this is for you.
Big thanks to Allen and Unwin and Netgalley for this sneak peek.
Vibes: Small Town Suspense, Fierce Female Lead
- - -
After absolutely devouring Vikki’s first fiction novel The Unbelieved in 2024, I had sky high hopes for The Stolen and it delivered every bit of that same electric, impossible to put down energy.
Detective Antigone Pollard, one of my favourite fierce female leads, is back and she dives headfirst into another emotionally charged investigation - this time, the disappearance of a baby. It's a heavy and intense storyline (a trigger warning heads up to parents of little ones), but the way Vikki handles and calls out sensitive topics like misogyny and systemic failures is bold and brave.
The pacing of this book was perfect - purposeful and exactly the right length. No filler. No fluff. Just sharp, suspenseful storytelling packed with red herrings, character depth and a town full of secrets.
The writing was grounded but gripping and the twists had me guessing right until the very end.
If you love your crime reads with substance and strong female leads who take no crap, this is for you.
Big thanks to Allen and Unwin and Netgalley for this sneak peek.
October 18, 2025
What a joy to return to the world of Detective Antigone Pollard, and the (fictional) town of Deception Bay, near the coast to the south-east of Melbourne! Vikki Petraitis's fiction debut The Unbelieved was a tour de force and The Stolen is a worthy successor.
In The Stolen, Antigone and her police partner Wozza are on the trail of a kidnapped seven-month old baby, Ethan Muir, taken from his cot by his hapless father Josh McCreedy, apparently in retaliation for Ethan's mother Maddy refusing him visitation. Josh has posted a series of selfies of himself with Ethan at various sites around Deception Bay, paired with provocative messages aimed at Maddy, but so far police have been unable to locate Josh and reunite baby Ethan with his mother. When Josh's car is located at the scene of an accident, with Josh deceased inside, it's quickly established that baby Ethan is not present - has Josh left him somewhere alone, or is someone looking after him? As the hours turn into days, the media descends on Deception Bay, some disruptive elements seeking to blame Maddy for what's occurred, an example of a perceived wider -societal issue where women vengefully prevent men from having contact with their children.
Antigone and Wozza face greater pressure when their new and respected boss, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, is herself involved in a suspicious car accident, sidelining her from the case indefinitely. Initially, two detectives from Melbourne arrive to assist with the Baby Ethan case, but then the arrogant and misogynistic Senior Sergeant Bill "Wheels" Wheeler arrives back in Deception Bay, determined to reclaim his territory and discredit Pollard in the process.
Meanwhile, Antigone's mother Jill has returned temporarily to the family farmhouse, and reveals some important information about their family to Antigone and her grandmother. Antigone must also consider the future of her relationship with Daniel, the man she had left behind in Melbourne prior to the events of The Unbelieved.
Like The Unbelieved before it, The Stolen explores important issues in gender politics, specifically domestic violence and coercive control, toxic masculinity, paternalistic attitudes to parenthood, and the influence of bigoted voices in the sensationalist media. The excerpts from "The Drew Nayle Hour" on radio 3PPP and associated news reports by journalist Lincoln Steele had my blood boiling, especially as they're a pretty close facsimile of provocative content demonising women that is aired and printed daily around Australia.
I'd highly recommend The Stolen to any reader who enjoys high quality contemporary Australian crime fiction, especially those with an interest in the gendered nature of crime (both male and female) and the way the media can skew the narrative in terms of how certain crimes are reported and perceived by the public. Due to the central theme of child loss, and the focus on violent and coercive relationships, this title won't be suitable for all readers.
In The Stolen, Antigone and her police partner Wozza are on the trail of a kidnapped seven-month old baby, Ethan Muir, taken from his cot by his hapless father Josh McCreedy, apparently in retaliation for Ethan's mother Maddy refusing him visitation. Josh has posted a series of selfies of himself with Ethan at various sites around Deception Bay, paired with provocative messages aimed at Maddy, but so far police have been unable to locate Josh and reunite baby Ethan with his mother. When Josh's car is located at the scene of an accident, with Josh deceased inside, it's quickly established that baby Ethan is not present - has Josh left him somewhere alone, or is someone looking after him? As the hours turn into days, the media descends on Deception Bay, some disruptive elements seeking to blame Maddy for what's occurred, an example of a perceived wider -societal issue where women vengefully prevent men from having contact with their children.
Antigone and Wozza face greater pressure when their new and respected boss, Senior Sergeant Amanda Filipovic, is herself involved in a suspicious car accident, sidelining her from the case indefinitely. Initially, two detectives from Melbourne arrive to assist with the Baby Ethan case, but then the arrogant and misogynistic Senior Sergeant Bill "Wheels" Wheeler arrives back in Deception Bay, determined to reclaim his territory and discredit Pollard in the process.
Meanwhile, Antigone's mother Jill has returned temporarily to the family farmhouse, and reveals some important information about their family to Antigone and her grandmother. Antigone must also consider the future of her relationship with Daniel, the man she had left behind in Melbourne prior to the events of The Unbelieved.
Like The Unbelieved before it, The Stolen explores important issues in gender politics, specifically domestic violence and coercive control, toxic masculinity, paternalistic attitudes to parenthood, and the influence of bigoted voices in the sensationalist media. The excerpts from "The Drew Nayle Hour" on radio 3PPP and associated news reports by journalist Lincoln Steele had my blood boiling, especially as they're a pretty close facsimile of provocative content demonising women that is aired and printed daily around Australia.
I'd highly recommend The Stolen to any reader who enjoys high quality contemporary Australian crime fiction, especially those with an interest in the gendered nature of crime (both male and female) and the way the media can skew the narrative in terms of how certain crimes are reported and perceived by the public. Due to the central theme of child loss, and the focus on violent and coercive relationships, this title won't be suitable for all readers.
September 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 4.75/5 spoiler FREE
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍! 𝙰 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝟹𝟶𝟿 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎-𝚎𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚘𝚏 - 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚘𝚘𝚗 & 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 - 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔!
𝚅𝚒𝚔𝚔𝚒 𝙿𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜.
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚝𝚜.
𝙰𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 ’𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚝’ 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚞𝚙 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎. 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎 𝚊𝚑𝚑 𝚑𝚊𝚑 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 - 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐!
𝙰 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚏𝚊𝚝 𝚈𝙴𝚂 - 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠!
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍! 𝙰 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝟹𝟶𝟿 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎-𝚎𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚘𝚏 - 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚘𝚘𝚗 & 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 - 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔!
𝚅𝚒𝚔𝚔𝚒 𝙿𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜.
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚝𝚜.
𝙰𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 ’𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚝’ 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚞𝚙 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎. 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎 𝚊𝚑𝚑 𝚑𝚊𝚑 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 - 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐!
𝙰 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚏𝚊𝚝 𝚈𝙴𝚂 - 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠!
September 29, 2025
Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The disappearance of a baby opens a Pandora’s box.
Secrets and crimes are let loose as a town frantically search for seven month old Ethan.
The mystery triggering for the Senior Detectives mum who has a part of her past buried in sorrow.
Antigone Pollard is now positioned in the quiet seaside town of Deception Bay and summer has arrived.
The missing baby is at the forefront of her detective work but her mother’s proclamation is also on her radar.
A DNA test creates a tremor among the town and the truth unravels that connects the dots for Antigone.
Unscrupulous actions were left unchecked in the past.
Emotional and evocative this gripping mystery covering two time periods will have the reader entertained.
Babies are so precious and the relationship between mum and Bub is unbreakable until they are taken.
The crime genre is so strong among our Australian authors and this sits right up with the best.
The disappearance of a baby opens a Pandora’s box.
Secrets and crimes are let loose as a town frantically search for seven month old Ethan.
The mystery triggering for the Senior Detectives mum who has a part of her past buried in sorrow.
Antigone Pollard is now positioned in the quiet seaside town of Deception Bay and summer has arrived.
The missing baby is at the forefront of her detective work but her mother’s proclamation is also on her radar.
A DNA test creates a tremor among the town and the truth unravels that connects the dots for Antigone.
Unscrupulous actions were left unchecked in the past.
Emotional and evocative this gripping mystery covering two time periods will have the reader entertained.
Babies are so precious and the relationship between mum and Bub is unbreakable until they are taken.
The crime genre is so strong among our Australian authors and this sits right up with the best.
July 20, 2025
The Stolen is a gripping and powerfully written novel that had me hooked from the very first page. Vikki Petraitis wastes no time pulling readers into the heart of the story — the prologue alone was so compelling I nearly canceled dinner plans just to keep reading. It’s that good.
What struck me most was the realism. The circumstances surrounding the kidnapping felt chillingly authentic, tapping into fears that feel all too plausible. I found myself holding my breath as the story unfolded, caught in the emotional current of a plot that felt both urgent and disturbingly believable.
Petraitis also shines in her portrayal of the media — particularly the sensationalist kind. The depiction of clickbait headlines, exploitative commentary, and the morally murky world of radio shock jocks was spot-on. It’s a searing reflection of the way real-life tragedies are often twisted into entertainment, and it added another layer of depth and commentary to an already riveting story.
This was my first book by Vikki Petraitis, but it certainly won’t be my last. Her storytelling is taut, her characters fully realized, and the tension never lets up. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, thought-provoking thriller that mirrors society’s darker obsessions, The Stolen is a must-read. An easy five stars.
August 1, 2025
This book was a real page-turner—I found it hard to put down and was completely hooked by chapter two. The author explores themes of misogyny, sexism, and stereotypical gender roles in a way that feels authentic and grounded, without ever becoming heavy-handed. These serious topics are handled with nuance, and the story is layered with well-placed touches of humour that offer balance and heart. A compelling, thought-provoking read that kept me turning the pages right to the end.
August 24, 2025
Australian true crime author Vikki Petraitis made her crime fiction debut with The Unbelieved. That book introduced police detective Antigone Pollard at dealt very bluntly with issues of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. The follow up The Stolen continues to play out the themes of that first book but also broadens them out to explore misogyny and some toxic gender politics.
As the name suggests The Stolen opens with the taking of seven month old baby Ethan from his mother Maddy. It quickly turns out that Ethan has been taken by his father, Josh, who had been estranged from Maddy and starts posting photos of the baby on Instagram claiming he is taking “revenge”. Before Antigone and her partner Wozza can find the baby, Josh is killed in a car accident. The baby is nowhere to be found. There is a lot more going on in The Stolen than just this main – Antigone’s boss is badly injured in a suspicious car accident, another involves an admission by Antigone’s mother around some painful family history and the third is the return of Antigone’s detective-ex who is seeking to rekindle their relationship.
There is a lot going on in The Stolen but Petraitis has a good handle on all of the plot threads, and more importantly what she is trying to say with them about the treatment of women in society and the media. Despite the fact that he took the baby, Josh is soon being lauded by the media as a ‘wronged father’ and this causes many in the town to turn on Maddy. That attitude is reflected by at least one of the Melbourne detectives who is assigned to help, egged on by Wheeler, Antigone’s old boss who is brought back due to the other accident. And in the background, the ongoing consequences of the drink spiking and sexual abuse investigated in the first book are still in okay given that Josh and his brother, who dies tragically the year before, were also involved.
With The Stolen, Petraitis once again has delivered crime fiction with a lot to say about hot button issue and still prevalent societal and media tropes that tend to blame women for the sexual abuse and domestic violence that they suffer. And while there are plenty of issues being dealt with, the narrative is, for the most part, not didactic and the issues are well worked into the plot. This is particularly helped by focussing on Antigone Pollard, her trustee ex-police dog Waffles, colleagues and family. The Stolen ends on a bit of an ambiguous note so that it feels like Petraitis has more to say about these issues in a third outing for Antigone and the community of Deception Bay.
As the name suggests The Stolen opens with the taking of seven month old baby Ethan from his mother Maddy. It quickly turns out that Ethan has been taken by his father, Josh, who had been estranged from Maddy and starts posting photos of the baby on Instagram claiming he is taking “revenge”. Before Antigone and her partner Wozza can find the baby, Josh is killed in a car accident. The baby is nowhere to be found. There is a lot more going on in The Stolen than just this main – Antigone’s boss is badly injured in a suspicious car accident, another involves an admission by Antigone’s mother around some painful family history and the third is the return of Antigone’s detective-ex who is seeking to rekindle their relationship.
There is a lot going on in The Stolen but Petraitis has a good handle on all of the plot threads, and more importantly what she is trying to say with them about the treatment of women in society and the media. Despite the fact that he took the baby, Josh is soon being lauded by the media as a ‘wronged father’ and this causes many in the town to turn on Maddy. That attitude is reflected by at least one of the Melbourne detectives who is assigned to help, egged on by Wheeler, Antigone’s old boss who is brought back due to the other accident. And in the background, the ongoing consequences of the drink spiking and sexual abuse investigated in the first book are still in okay given that Josh and his brother, who dies tragically the year before, were also involved.
With The Stolen, Petraitis once again has delivered crime fiction with a lot to say about hot button issue and still prevalent societal and media tropes that tend to blame women for the sexual abuse and domestic violence that they suffer. And while there are plenty of issues being dealt with, the narrative is, for the most part, not didactic and the issues are well worked into the plot. This is particularly helped by focussing on Antigone Pollard, her trustee ex-police dog Waffles, colleagues and family. The Stolen ends on a bit of an ambiguous note so that it feels like Petraitis has more to say about these issues in a third outing for Antigone and the community of Deception Bay.
January 24, 2026
Another good read by this author. It once follows Senior Detective Antigone Pollard who we meet in her earlier book The Unbelieved. A young mother calls the police to report that her baby has been taken. Suspicions lie with the father of the baby who then sends a series of alarming texts as he drives round before ending up in a suspicious accident where he is found dead. But no sign of baby Ethan. Where is he? Also, police commander Amanda is found unconscious after a car accident which is also suspicious. In the meantime, Antigone takes a DNA test to try and find some answers. Hoping there is another book in the pipeline.
October 16, 2025
A compelling crime fiction, set in a small Aus coastal town. The descriptions of what the local cops have for morning tea all made for a familiar feel. A stolen baby, illegal adoptions and DNA revelations all made for an easy to listen to audiobook. It was a good pick for the local library's September bookclub.
January 22, 2026
I like the main character and the main mystery but a lot of the dialogue is corny and like the men who hate women are just so vocal about it in a way that feels a bit unrealistic. Obviously there are so many men who do hate women like that but I almost think displaying them like that simplifies it when in reality it isn’t always that obvious and easy as just standing up to them. A lot happened in the tail end and there were a few little mysteries going on that weren’t all completely tied up.
September 12, 2025
Quick, easy read.
January 31, 2026
I read this book in a day. Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story line.
October 31, 2025
An engaging mystery with interesting characters. However, the ending felt rushed with resolutions that seemed too far fetched.
July 3, 2025
(3.5 stars)
When I read The Unbelieved, I wrote that the author, Vikki Petriatis, has a “tendency to school readers on facts about violence against women through the character of Deception Bay Senior Detective Antigone Pollard.” In The Stolen, she’s equally fond of a lecture: "So much family violence was about one partner trying to control the other partner, disguising the control as love. But it wasn't love, it was power." Other people's books show it's possible to build reader understanding of domestic violence by showing the actions of a perpetrator or police, rather than telling them in a lecture. This stops these books from being good, immersive crime fiction. This may be because Petriatis was a true crime writer, and has taken over genre conventions to her fictional works.
Petriatis is also fond of overblown food writing, and it shows in the book's obsession with what the cops are eating: "Their ham and pineapple pizza was a melt-in-your-mouth experience of rich Italian flavours with lashings of cheese." Comfort is a banana cake hidden in your office drawer apparently: "Chocolate cake for breakfast and muffins for morning tea. The detective's diet." There's also some gender analysis thrown in: "I think society sells women a lie that we need to find the right man to complete. They should be telling us to find our own completeness before we join to someone else. Because in my day, the find-the-man bit was it. That was the goal. Whereas the story sold to men about finding a wife is simply a step in their bigger journey." Sometimes these bits get in the way of good storytelling. Would like the author to experiment with more subtlety. It didn't feel like a particularly believable story, particularly dining in the same week with two people it turns out you're related to through stolen babies...
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
When I read The Unbelieved, I wrote that the author, Vikki Petriatis, has a “tendency to school readers on facts about violence against women through the character of Deception Bay Senior Detective Antigone Pollard.” In The Stolen, she’s equally fond of a lecture: "So much family violence was about one partner trying to control the other partner, disguising the control as love. But it wasn't love, it was power." Other people's books show it's possible to build reader understanding of domestic violence by showing the actions of a perpetrator or police, rather than telling them in a lecture. This stops these books from being good, immersive crime fiction. This may be because Petriatis was a true crime writer, and has taken over genre conventions to her fictional works.
Petriatis is also fond of overblown food writing, and it shows in the book's obsession with what the cops are eating: "Their ham and pineapple pizza was a melt-in-your-mouth experience of rich Italian flavours with lashings of cheese." Comfort is a banana cake hidden in your office drawer apparently: "Chocolate cake for breakfast and muffins for morning tea. The detective's diet." There's also some gender analysis thrown in: "I think society sells women a lie that we need to find the right man to complete. They should be telling us to find our own completeness before we join to someone else. Because in my day, the find-the-man bit was it. That was the goal. Whereas the story sold to men about finding a wife is simply a step in their bigger journey." Sometimes these bits get in the way of good storytelling. Would like the author to experiment with more subtlety. It didn't feel like a particularly believable story, particularly dining in the same week with two people it turns out you're related to through stolen babies...
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
November 16, 2025
I sped through this in a day and a half. The day I finished this 338-page book, I started at page 71. I didn’t read 260 pages in a day just because. I was engaged from beginning to end in a story that threw me into the plot from the first minute. The story was written extremely well, had great pace, and was twisty. The subplots stood out just as much as the main plot, so there was always something to find out. I especially liked that this book was a direct continuation of the first. A lot of crime series will revisit the same characters but have each story able to be read as a standalone, which leads to things getting formulaic and repetitive. This story’s events are directly influenced by those of the first book, and the first book’s events are referenced several times. I believe that the first book has context necessary for the second, and it makes me more excited to read further instalments in the series.
This author is an established true crime writer, and her knowledge of crime scene investigations and media reports of crimes is obvious. It adds a layer of authenticity and intrigue to the story, especially with the common theme in this series of modern issues that women face. The angle in this story of the men’s rights activists twisting facts and reporting fake news made the story seem so much more realistic and provided me with someone to root against. Throughout the book, the clearly defined heroes and villains made me excited to keep reading. If I wasn’t rooting for the heroes to solve the mystery, I was rooting for the villains to get what was coming to them.
I’d feel pretty confident in saying that this is one of my favourite crime series. It stands out on so many levels, and I’d happily read as many books as this series put out. I can only hope that there are many more instalments in this series to come, and I will be eagerly awaiting an announcement of any sequels.
This author is an established true crime writer, and her knowledge of crime scene investigations and media reports of crimes is obvious. It adds a layer of authenticity and intrigue to the story, especially with the common theme in this series of modern issues that women face. The angle in this story of the men’s rights activists twisting facts and reporting fake news made the story seem so much more realistic and provided me with someone to root against. Throughout the book, the clearly defined heroes and villains made me excited to keep reading. If I wasn’t rooting for the heroes to solve the mystery, I was rooting for the villains to get what was coming to them.
I’d feel pretty confident in saying that this is one of my favourite crime series. It stands out on so many levels, and I’d happily read as many books as this series put out. I can only hope that there are many more instalments in this series to come, and I will be eagerly awaiting an announcement of any sequels.
July 29, 2025
Detective Antigone Pollard is still enjoying life in Deception Bay and has settled into the community. She has a great working relationship with fellow detective Wozza, and life is good.
When a young baby goes missing it is a race against time to try and find him. This investigation is already frantic and when the replacement Senior Sergeant ends up in hospital after a serious car accident, the incredibly misogynistic Wheels is back in charge, making Antigone's job so much harder.
A welcome visit from her mother and Nan begins an emotional journey as Antigone learns she may have a sibling, and a DNA test brings about a surprising result.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the drink spiking from The Unbelieved may be more serious than they ever thought. Were there more perpetrators and does someone know who they are?
I enjoyed the different stories that were woven through this book. Nothing is ever far fetched. Everything is plausible, which I like in my crime stories.
I loved that the ending was left very open for a third book in this series and I would be very happy to read another story with these characters in it.
The background of Vikki with true crime and her podcasts shines through in the storylines and the characters. There really are some despicable, vile, disgusting men out there and I got as angry reading this one as I did with The Unbelieved. Their actions and the things they say and the justifications they try to use to minimise their behaviour and push the blame onto women is deplorable.
When a young baby goes missing it is a race against time to try and find him. This investigation is already frantic and when the replacement Senior Sergeant ends up in hospital after a serious car accident, the incredibly misogynistic Wheels is back in charge, making Antigone's job so much harder.
A welcome visit from her mother and Nan begins an emotional journey as Antigone learns she may have a sibling, and a DNA test brings about a surprising result.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the drink spiking from The Unbelieved may be more serious than they ever thought. Were there more perpetrators and does someone know who they are?
I enjoyed the different stories that were woven through this book. Nothing is ever far fetched. Everything is plausible, which I like in my crime stories.
I loved that the ending was left very open for a third book in this series and I would be very happy to read another story with these characters in it.
The background of Vikki with true crime and her podcasts shines through in the storylines and the characters. There really are some despicable, vile, disgusting men out there and I got as angry reading this one as I did with The Unbelieved. Their actions and the things they say and the justifications they try to use to minimise their behaviour and push the blame onto women is deplorable.
September 2, 2025
Vicki Petraitis has written an absolutely marvelous crime story in The Stolen.
Set in a small coastal town 2 hours east of Melbourne, Australia, Deception Bay provides a contrast to the undercurrent of violence and crime. Detective Antigone Pollard has moved back down to Deception Bay carrying her own emotional baggage - her family has a small farm where she and her newly acquired dog Waffles who had failed to make it in the Dog Squad, have settled after a tumultuous time in Melbourne.
With several plots and sub-plots weaving throughout the story we are held spellbound! Intertwined with the plots there are themes of sexual abuse, domestic violence, revenge and the stealing of babies. While it seems to start simply with what appears to be a father kidnapping his child becomes a complex story of families, relationships and conflict of expectations.
The role of media, social as well as reporters, plays an interesting role in firing up feelings and generating highly emotional reactions which add to the dynamics of the story as it progresses.
The characterisation is terrific! The writing is clear, precise and flows smoothly throughout the whole novel. The descriptions are crisp and captivating.
Highly recommended read!!
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Allen & Unwin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheStolen #NetGalley
Set in a small coastal town 2 hours east of Melbourne, Australia, Deception Bay provides a contrast to the undercurrent of violence and crime. Detective Antigone Pollard has moved back down to Deception Bay carrying her own emotional baggage - her family has a small farm where she and her newly acquired dog Waffles who had failed to make it in the Dog Squad, have settled after a tumultuous time in Melbourne.
With several plots and sub-plots weaving throughout the story we are held spellbound! Intertwined with the plots there are themes of sexual abuse, domestic violence, revenge and the stealing of babies. While it seems to start simply with what appears to be a father kidnapping his child becomes a complex story of families, relationships and conflict of expectations.
The role of media, social as well as reporters, plays an interesting role in firing up feelings and generating highly emotional reactions which add to the dynamics of the story as it progresses.
The characterisation is terrific! The writing is clear, precise and flows smoothly throughout the whole novel. The descriptions are crisp and captivating.
Highly recommended read!!
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Allen & Unwin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheStolen #NetGalley
December 19, 2025
This is one of those rare books that I picked up to read a chapter or two before bed, and at 3am I was still clutching my copy and arguing with myself about whether I really needed any sleep that night. This was remarkably compelling.
Although I read this novel as a stand alone, it’s clear some elements in it are continued from the first novel in the series (“The Unbelieved”). There are also some unresolved threads here which I presume will be addressed in the next in the series. I found the novel strong and compelling anyway – you get enough of the history to have no problems with the story.
The primary plot is absolutely compelling – the search for the baby will hook most readers emotionally and intellectually. I was desperate to know what happened. As we follow this thread, we get to know Antigone better. Once you start caring about her as a character, the rest of the plot also becomes of great interest.
A strong undercurrent through the plot and characters is feminism, and how men and women relate to and treat each other. That’s very topical, but for any woman it also feels incredibly real and relevant. You’ve had these kinds of encounters, seen or experienced this behaviour from men. At the same time, the novel doesn’t demonise all men.
I really enjoyed this. The plot was top notch, the characters strong and believable, and the setting and context interesting. This is a first class crime novel, and I highly recommend it.
Although I read this novel as a stand alone, it’s clear some elements in it are continued from the first novel in the series (“The Unbelieved”). There are also some unresolved threads here which I presume will be addressed in the next in the series. I found the novel strong and compelling anyway – you get enough of the history to have no problems with the story.
The primary plot is absolutely compelling – the search for the baby will hook most readers emotionally and intellectually. I was desperate to know what happened. As we follow this thread, we get to know Antigone better. Once you start caring about her as a character, the rest of the plot also becomes of great interest.
A strong undercurrent through the plot and characters is feminism, and how men and women relate to and treat each other. That’s very topical, but for any woman it also feels incredibly real and relevant. You’ve had these kinds of encounters, seen or experienced this behaviour from men. At the same time, the novel doesn’t demonise all men.
I really enjoyed this. The plot was top notch, the characters strong and believable, and the setting and context interesting. This is a first class crime novel, and I highly recommend it.
December 24, 2025
The Stolen – Vikki Petraitis
Blurb:
Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is beginning to feel settled in Deception Bay. Crime rates are down, the summer holiday season is quiet, and things finally seem to be running smoothly at the station. But calm is shattered when a distraught mother reports her baby missing, launching Antigone and her colleague Wozza into a race against time. As the investigation unfolds, Antigone is forced to confront deeply personal revelations, including a shocking family secret and unexpected DNA results, while long-standing tensions within the police force resurface. Tackling themes of power, belief, and whose voices are protected, The Stolen is a gripping, emotionally charged Australian crime novel that looks beyond the headlines to where the real story lies.
Review:
This was a really enjoyable and fast-paced crime read that I flew through with ease. The chapters are punchy, the plot moves quickly, and it never feels bogged down despite juggling both a missing baby case and Antigone’s personal storyline. Antigone Pollard was a definite highlight for me — fearless, capable and refreshingly human — making her a main character I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. While it didn’t quite tip into five-star territory, it was consistently engaging, topical and satisfying. A great holiday read too, and a particularly fitting find borrowed from a hotel library in Adelaide.
Blurb:
Senior Detective Antigone Pollard is beginning to feel settled in Deception Bay. Crime rates are down, the summer holiday season is quiet, and things finally seem to be running smoothly at the station. But calm is shattered when a distraught mother reports her baby missing, launching Antigone and her colleague Wozza into a race against time. As the investigation unfolds, Antigone is forced to confront deeply personal revelations, including a shocking family secret and unexpected DNA results, while long-standing tensions within the police force resurface. Tackling themes of power, belief, and whose voices are protected, The Stolen is a gripping, emotionally charged Australian crime novel that looks beyond the headlines to where the real story lies.
Review:
This was a really enjoyable and fast-paced crime read that I flew through with ease. The chapters are punchy, the plot moves quickly, and it never feels bogged down despite juggling both a missing baby case and Antigone’s personal storyline. Antigone Pollard was a definite highlight for me — fearless, capable and refreshingly human — making her a main character I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. While it didn’t quite tip into five-star territory, it was consistently engaging, topical and satisfying. A great holiday read too, and a particularly fitting find borrowed from a hotel library in Adelaide.
October 6, 2025
You best believe I was straight into this book after finishing The Unbelieved and it was another fantastic Aussie crime novel.
Antigone and Wozza are back, and this time they’re desperately searching for baby Ethan after he’s taken from his mum by his father in some sort of revenge action. Time is of the essence, especially when his father is found dead at a car crash and there’s no sign of Ethan. Antigone is also dealing with a surprise visit from her mum who has something important to tell her.
Antigone and Wozza have become one of my fave investigative duos over these two books and I am so excited to see them in future instalments! I continue to love Antigone’s dog Waffles, and I’m also hooked by her will they won’t they relationship with her ex Daniel. Wozza’s love for cake and pastries also makes me chuckle. The case in this one was hard to read - I’m not a mother but I can’t even imagine how painful it would be to not only have your baby taken but then to be vilified by the media who blame you for not letting its father see it (no matter the truth behind it). These books have great commentary on toxic masculinity - though it really grinds my gears hahaha. Absolutely recommend this book and this series and I would recommend starting with book 1 so you have some background as certain things in this one were introduced in book 1. Huge thanks to @allenandunwinnz for sending this my way!
Antigone and Wozza are back, and this time they’re desperately searching for baby Ethan after he’s taken from his mum by his father in some sort of revenge action. Time is of the essence, especially when his father is found dead at a car crash and there’s no sign of Ethan. Antigone is also dealing with a surprise visit from her mum who has something important to tell her.
Antigone and Wozza have become one of my fave investigative duos over these two books and I am so excited to see them in future instalments! I continue to love Antigone’s dog Waffles, and I’m also hooked by her will they won’t they relationship with her ex Daniel. Wozza’s love for cake and pastries also makes me chuckle. The case in this one was hard to read - I’m not a mother but I can’t even imagine how painful it would be to not only have your baby taken but then to be vilified by the media who blame you for not letting its father see it (no matter the truth behind it). These books have great commentary on toxic masculinity - though it really grinds my gears hahaha. Absolutely recommend this book and this series and I would recommend starting with book 1 so you have some background as certain things in this one were introduced in book 1. Huge thanks to @allenandunwinnz for sending this my way!
December 13, 2025
After six months, Antigone is feeling more settled in Deception Bay. Crime rates are down, but when a distraught mother, Maddy Muir, calls the station to report her baby is missing, Antigone and Wozza begin a race against time. Antigone's old boss, Bill Wheeler, is back, making the missing baby investigation harder every day. Once again, Antigone faces the questions: who's protecting the women? And what happens when we don't believe them?
This was the long awaited sequel to The Unbelieved, which I really enjoyed! Once again, this was meticulously written, from the plotting, pacing, to the inclusion of radio show scripts. The show was equally funny and infuriating.
Antigone had a few things to balance in this one - her career, personal life and the case. The combination made the story layered and even more fun! The pace was terrific - there wasn’t a single moment that felt dull to me.
Just like the previous book, there were mentions of blood-boiling twisted media stories and public comments which I’d imagine were based on real events, given Vikki’s background.
I need the next book, please!
See my bookstagram review.
This was the long awaited sequel to The Unbelieved, which I really enjoyed! Once again, this was meticulously written, from the plotting, pacing, to the inclusion of radio show scripts. The show was equally funny and infuriating.
Antigone had a few things to balance in this one - her career, personal life and the case. The combination made the story layered and even more fun! The pace was terrific - there wasn’t a single moment that felt dull to me.
Just like the previous book, there were mentions of blood-boiling twisted media stories and public comments which I’d imagine were based on real events, given Vikki’s background.
I need the next book, please!
See my bookstagram review.
January 28, 2026
Känner mig manad att påminna om att en fyra för en deckare inte är samma sak som en fyra för litterär fiktion (vad heter det ens på svenska?)
Men det här är för 1) underhållande 2) icke-irriterande för att få lägre betyg (för i sådana fall har jag inget kvar att ge standarddeckare som bara stör lite lagom, liksom).
Att vi är i outbacken bidrar som vanligt, men Petraitis lyckas även väva lite lagom många intrigtrådar på ett lite lagom smart sätt. Ja, bifigurerna är lite för få för att man inte ska fatta att någon/några av dem har större roller att spela i upplösningen - men hellre det än författare som supersent kastar in ett psyko som får stå för allt, ni vet. Allt är inte helt uppenbart förrän lagom långt fram i historien, och karaktärerna är okej runda (särskilt för genren).
Podcast-och incelinslagen är kanske lite väl topical (nä, försöker inte översätta det, ni såg ju hur det gick med literary fiction!), men att det blir överdrivet är ju för att den världen är överdriven - och tyvärr verkar australiska män ha värre issues än svenska av vad jag sett och hört*.
Kan tänka mig att läsa fler i serien, och det säger jag inte så ofta längre!
*nä, inte min egen - men i sin manlighet är han mer svensk än australisk. Och som sagt - min.
Men det här är för 1) underhållande 2) icke-irriterande för att få lägre betyg (för i sådana fall har jag inget kvar att ge standarddeckare som bara stör lite lagom, liksom).
Att vi är i outbacken bidrar som vanligt, men Petraitis lyckas även väva lite lagom många intrigtrådar på ett lite lagom smart sätt. Ja, bifigurerna är lite för få för att man inte ska fatta att någon/några av dem har större roller att spela i upplösningen - men hellre det än författare som supersent kastar in ett psyko som får stå för allt, ni vet. Allt är inte helt uppenbart förrän lagom långt fram i historien, och karaktärerna är okej runda (särskilt för genren).
Podcast-och incelinslagen är kanske lite väl topical (nä, försöker inte översätta det, ni såg ju hur det gick med literary fiction!), men att det blir överdrivet är ju för att den världen är överdriven - och tyvärr verkar australiska män ha värre issues än svenska av vad jag sett och hört*.
Kan tänka mig att läsa fler i serien, och det säger jag inte så ofta längre!
*nä, inte min egen - men i sin manlighet är han mer svensk än australisk. Och som sagt - min.
August 7, 2025
I loved this book from start to finish. Crime fiction is not a genre that I generally choose to read, but I'm now re-evaluating that!
The plot is not so complex that keeping track of the characters is a challenge. The subplots that surround the genealogy of some of the characters were interesting and intriguing. I was initially curious about the relevance of these subplots but the author ties it all together beautifully as the story reaches its conclusion.
The key characters of Antigone and Wozza were nicely developed. I loved the easy relationship between them. Wozza's vulnerability as a male detective, his humour, and his warm relationship with Antigone was refreshing.
As a person who has previously worked in the area of violence against women, I appreciated the inclusion of the 'shock jock' analysis of the circumstances surrounding the missing baby. Women continue to be blamed for male violence toward them and their children. The horrific radio conversations detailed in the book are a faithful representation of the ongoing narrative we continue to hear from some sectors of our community.
This was a fantastic read!
The plot is not so complex that keeping track of the characters is a challenge. The subplots that surround the genealogy of some of the characters were interesting and intriguing. I was initially curious about the relevance of these subplots but the author ties it all together beautifully as the story reaches its conclusion.
The key characters of Antigone and Wozza were nicely developed. I loved the easy relationship between them. Wozza's vulnerability as a male detective, his humour, and his warm relationship with Antigone was refreshing.
As a person who has previously worked in the area of violence against women, I appreciated the inclusion of the 'shock jock' analysis of the circumstances surrounding the missing baby. Women continue to be blamed for male violence toward them and their children. The horrific radio conversations detailed in the book are a faithful representation of the ongoing narrative we continue to hear from some sectors of our community.
This was a fantastic read!
August 20, 2025
Following her compelling debut novel The Unbelieved, Vikki Petraitis returns to Deception Bay in this gripping sequel, reuniting readers with Detective Antigone Pollard and her side-kick, Wozza. While this novel can be enjoyed as a standalone, I highly recommend reading The Unbelieved first, to fully appreciate the depth and development of the characters.
The story opens when seven-month-old Ethan is abducted from his cot by his father while his mother is showering. What follows is a tense and emotional race against time, as Antigone leads the search to bring the missing child home safely.
Antigone is portrayed as a bold, tenacious, and fiercely independent detective, with moments of vulnerability that emerge particularly in her family relationships. Whilst Ethan’s abduction forms the central narrative, the novel skilfully weaves in threads involving Antigone’s personal life, a romantic interest, and an incident involving a superior officer—each contributing to the story’s momentum.
I was hooked from the outset & can highly recommend this fast-paced Australian thriller.
The story opens when seven-month-old Ethan is abducted from his cot by his father while his mother is showering. What follows is a tense and emotional race against time, as Antigone leads the search to bring the missing child home safely.
Antigone is portrayed as a bold, tenacious, and fiercely independent detective, with moments of vulnerability that emerge particularly in her family relationships. Whilst Ethan’s abduction forms the central narrative, the novel skilfully weaves in threads involving Antigone’s personal life, a romantic interest, and an incident involving a superior officer—each contributing to the story’s momentum.
I was hooked from the outset & can highly recommend this fast-paced Australian thriller.
August 26, 2025
In Detective Antigone Pollard’s second outing, we find her feeling more settled in Deception Bay since moving back there from Melbourne six months ago. It’s now summer, crime rates are sluggish and the station is also working better under its new boss Amanda Filipovic. But then frantic young mother, Maddy Muir calls to say her baby has been stolen from his cot and Antigone and her partner Wozza (Detective Warren Harvey) must race against time if there is any chance of finding him alive.
This a tense and gritty, fast paced plot with a small town vibe that draws the reader in. Antigone is a strong female lead and she and the cake-loving, somewhat bumbling Wozza make a good team. Antigone’s character is further enhanced by her love for her dog Waffles and her relationship with her mother, who has something difficult to reveal to her. Petraitis’ writing is sharp and insightful with themes of masculine toxicity, domestic violence and bigoted, sensationalist media reporting underpinning the plot to add realism as well as current relevance. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Antigone in this excellent series.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin via Netgalley for a copy to read
This a tense and gritty, fast paced plot with a small town vibe that draws the reader in. Antigone is a strong female lead and she and the cake-loving, somewhat bumbling Wozza make a good team. Antigone’s character is further enhanced by her love for her dog Waffles and her relationship with her mother, who has something difficult to reveal to her. Petraitis’ writing is sharp and insightful with themes of masculine toxicity, domestic violence and bigoted, sensationalist media reporting underpinning the plot to add realism as well as current relevance. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Antigone in this excellent series.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin via Netgalley for a copy to read
August 30, 2025
𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 4.5/5 ☆
Vikki Petraitis has done it again with The Stolen, the second book in the Antigone Pollard series. With the characters already established in The Unbelieved, The Stolen jumped right in and started with a bang. The prologue alone was amazing!
This time Antigone is investigating the disappearance of a 7 month old baby boy who was snatched from his cot.
The Stolen is the perfect cosy mystery. While it's not highly graphic and avid mystery readers are likely to pick the twists easily, the enjoyment in this book comes from how it highlights important social issues. And of course in how the lovable characters deal with the events and react as the story unfolds. Nan, Wozza and Waffles were all competing hard for #1 sidekick, I couldn't possibly pick a favourite.
If you like small town mysteries, strong female leads and heart warming characters then I highly recommend this series. Definitely start with The Unbelieved and if you've read that then mark your calendars for the release of The Stolen on September 2nd you won't be disappointed
Vikki Petraitis has done it again with The Stolen, the second book in the Antigone Pollard series. With the characters already established in The Unbelieved, The Stolen jumped right in and started with a bang. The prologue alone was amazing!
This time Antigone is investigating the disappearance of a 7 month old baby boy who was snatched from his cot.
The Stolen is the perfect cosy mystery. While it's not highly graphic and avid mystery readers are likely to pick the twists easily, the enjoyment in this book comes from how it highlights important social issues. And of course in how the lovable characters deal with the events and react as the story unfolds. Nan, Wozza and Waffles were all competing hard for #1 sidekick, I couldn't possibly pick a favourite.
If you like small town mysteries, strong female leads and heart warming characters then I highly recommend this series. Definitely start with The Unbelieved and if you've read that then mark your calendars for the release of The Stolen on September 2nd you won't be disappointed
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