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Deception Bay #2
The Stolen: Australian crime fiction at its unputdownable best
Step into the dark heart of small-town Australia in this gripping follow-up to the award-winning The Unbelieved – perfect for fans of Chris Hammer’s Scrublands and Jane Harper’s The Dry.
After a calm start to the summer holiday season, the small coastal town of Deception Bay is rocked by a report of a missing baby. Detective Antigone Pollard steps up to lead the team searching for the kidnapper, but the case is complicated by the return of her old boss, Bill Wheeler, who seems determined to thwart her progress.
To make matters worse, the frantic investigation is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Antigone’s mother in need of her help. As family secrets threaten to spill over, and with time running out to find the missing baby, Antigone finds herself fighting on two fronts and facing the same two questions. Who’s protecting the women? And what happens when we don’t believe them?
‘Delivers on absolutely every page. Vikki Petraitis is the real deal!’ HAYLEY SCRIVENOR, award-winning author of Dirt Town
‘Crackles with tension’ CHRISTIAN WHITE, author of The Ledge
‘A must-read’ JACQUELINE BUBLITZ, author of Before You Knew My Name
After a calm start to the summer holiday season, the small coastal town of Deception Bay is rocked by a report of a missing baby. Detective Antigone Pollard steps up to lead the team searching for the kidnapper, but the case is complicated by the return of her old boss, Bill Wheeler, who seems determined to thwart her progress.
To make matters worse, the frantic investigation is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Antigone’s mother in need of her help. As family secrets threaten to spill over, and with time running out to find the missing baby, Antigone finds herself fighting on two fronts and facing the same two questions. Who’s protecting the women? And what happens when we don’t believe them?
‘Delivers on absolutely every page. Vikki Petraitis is the real deal!’ HAYLEY SCRIVENOR, award-winning author of Dirt Town
‘Crackles with tension’ CHRISTIAN WHITE, author of The Ledge
‘A must-read’ JACQUELINE BUBLITZ, author of Before You Knew My Name
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 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.
October 27, 2026
The second in the ‘Deception Bay’ series in which Detective Tig Pollard and Wozza follow up on the case of a ‘stolen’ baby. I came here after watching the intelligent Australian crime series ‘Dustfall’ which I read was a faithful adaption of the first book in this series. This one was OK. but lacked subtlety and seemed overly didactic at times. It could have been good, but it just didn’t get there and I got bored listening to almost every male character spouting on about how woman should know their place and accept male superiority- a little over the top for me.
September 6, 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.
October 14, 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.
My thanks to the author, Vikki Petraitis, publisher Allen & Unwin, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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.
My thanks to the author, Vikki Petraitis, publisher Allen & Unwin, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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.
March 18, 2026
**4.5 stars**
I was very excited to read this novel as I loved the author's previous fiction one (which has the same lead character). It did not disappoint in any way whatsoever, this one is another excellent read. The disappearance of a young baby leads to a nail-biting investigation by police as well as a series of traumatic events from the past being revealed. I think that the author is a great storyteller and her years of researching and publishing true crime means that her fiction has a very believable credibility to it. For me one of the most disturbing parts in this book was that the disgusting attitudes displayed by some of the men towards women is unfortunately a mirror of real life, as is the manipulation by some media to portray a story a certain way and the impact that can have. The interwoven storylines make for a compelling page-turner.
Overall: highly recommend this Australian crime novel, an excellent read.
I was very excited to read this novel as I loved the author's previous fiction one (which has the same lead character). It did not disappoint in any way whatsoever, this one is another excellent read. The disappearance of a young baby leads to a nail-biting investigation by police as well as a series of traumatic events from the past being revealed. I think that the author is a great storyteller and her years of researching and publishing true crime means that her fiction has a very believable credibility to it. For me one of the most disturbing parts in this book was that the disgusting attitudes displayed by some of the men towards women is unfortunately a mirror of real life, as is the manipulation by some media to portray a story a certain way and the impact that can have. The interwoven storylines make for a compelling page-turner.
Overall: highly recommend this Australian crime novel, an excellent read.
August 12, 2025
Clever, compelling and convincing Australian crime fiction!
This reads like true crime, despite being a fictional story.
I loved the return of Detective Antigone Pollard, after her debut in The Unbelieved. This time she is investigating the disappearance of a baby, and the chaos that ensues.
I enjoyed the cleverly intertwined stories, how social media and the impact of sensationalist headlines impact the investigation, as well as the unexpected twists that kept me reading long into the night. I am hoping that the ending offers another book with these memorable characters.
If you enjoy suspenseful storytelling, with a fierce female lead then give this one a read.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
This reads like true crime, despite being a fictional story.
I loved the return of Detective Antigone Pollard, after her debut in The Unbelieved. This time she is investigating the disappearance of a baby, and the chaos that ensues.
I enjoyed the cleverly intertwined stories, how social media and the impact of sensationalist headlines impact the investigation, as well as the unexpected twists that kept me reading long into the night. I am hoping that the ending offers another book with these memorable characters.
If you enjoy suspenseful storytelling, with a fierce female lead then give this one a read.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
July 4, 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.
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.
February 15, 2026
I know that when I pick up a book by this author, I won’t be able to put it down, and that’s exactly what happened with this book. This is the second book in the Deception Bay series and I enjoyed this as much if not more than the first book.
Not only is this book gripping, intense, and addictive, but it also touches on many important issues. Highly recommended
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
Not only is this book gripping, intense, and addictive, but it also touches on many important issues. Highly recommended
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
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 24, 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.
February 2, 2026
The Stolen begins as an easy, enjoyable police procedural set in a Victorian seaside town, centred on the investigation of a stolen baby. The premise is engaging and the early pace strong, with a female police officer as the central protagonist.
Unfortunately, the novel doesn’t sustain this promise. The characterisation feels shallow, and the overt feminist messaging is heavy-handed, simplistic and lacking nuance.
The ultimate resolution strains credibility and veers into implausible ideological territory, undermining the story as a whole.
A readable procedural with a solid setup, but let down by thin character work and an unconvincing conclusion – chick lit.
Unfortunately, the novel doesn’t sustain this promise. The characterisation feels shallow, and the overt feminist messaging is heavy-handed, simplistic and lacking nuance.
The ultimate resolution strains credibility and veers into implausible ideological territory, undermining the story as a whole.
A readable procedural with a solid setup, but let down by thin character work and an unconvincing conclusion – chick lit.
September 21, 2026
We're back in the sleepy Victorian seaside town of Deception Bay. Senior Detective Antigone Pollard also returns, dog lead in hand (Waffles is freaking adorable IMHO!)
It's the start of a brand new year and holiday makers have converged. In the midst of the tourism wave and the relentless heat, comes the frantic call from a young mother.
Seven month old Ethan has been kidnapped- by his own father. Worryingly, Joshua has been posting photos on social media, taunting his ex, Maddy. Although Antigone and partner Wozza jump right into action, there's no way to predict the outcome of the investigation...
You would think that Maddy's plight would gain sympathy, but there's scrutiny in the media. Suddenly, she's viewed as a bad mother, which is less than ideal. Talk about public opinion- things get CRAZY and you can't help feeling for the young, single mum.
Whilst all of this is occurring, Antigone's boss is involved in a near fatal incident- premeditated. So... Who wants Senior Sergeant Amanda Flipovic gone?
Also happening, Antigone's mum, Dr Jilly Pollard is visiting and with it, comes a revelation that will change the family forever...
I've forgotten how awesome this series is!! Vikki, please excuse my lack of picking up The Stolen sooner.
All I can say is, The Stolen is my favourite in the series so far. Anything that relates to a missing person (especially a child), tugs at my heartstrings. If you're not already aware, Vikki has penned non fiction books covering these exact mysteries, which makes this fictionalised version all so real.
Loved, loved, LOVED Antigone's mum and Nan! It's clear where Antigone gets her fire cracking wit from! I'm glad that they're sticking around on the farm for a bit longer.
Top tier Aussie crime drama. I can't wait to visit again.
5 🌟
It's the start of a brand new year and holiday makers have converged. In the midst of the tourism wave and the relentless heat, comes the frantic call from a young mother.
Seven month old Ethan has been kidnapped- by his own father. Worryingly, Joshua has been posting photos on social media, taunting his ex, Maddy. Although Antigone and partner Wozza jump right into action, there's no way to predict the outcome of the investigation...
You would think that Maddy's plight would gain sympathy, but there's scrutiny in the media. Suddenly, she's viewed as a bad mother, which is less than ideal. Talk about public opinion- things get CRAZY and you can't help feeling for the young, single mum.
Whilst all of this is occurring, Antigone's boss is involved in a near fatal incident- premeditated. So... Who wants Senior Sergeant Amanda Flipovic gone?
Also happening, Antigone's mum, Dr Jilly Pollard is visiting and with it, comes a revelation that will change the family forever...
I've forgotten how awesome this series is!! Vikki, please excuse my lack of picking up The Stolen sooner.
All I can say is, The Stolen is my favourite in the series so far. Anything that relates to a missing person (especially a child), tugs at my heartstrings. If you're not already aware, Vikki has penned non fiction books covering these exact mysteries, which makes this fictionalised version all so real.
Loved, loved, LOVED Antigone's mum and Nan! It's clear where Antigone gets her fire cracking wit from! I'm glad that they're sticking around on the farm for a bit longer.
Top tier Aussie crime drama. I can't wait to visit again.
5 🌟
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!
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.
November 3, 2026
Awesome second book - love how there is the main story then other smaller storylines weaved in. Vikki’s realistic descriptions of settings make me laugh sometimes (don’t think I will look at a hospital chair the same way) and I love her Nana. I also enjoy a crime novel where the bad guys get what they actually deserve (even if it’s not always true in real life). Straight into book 3 then I’m going to binge watch the tv show
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 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.
November 13, 2025
An Aussie crime thriller focussed on finding a missing baby, with Senior Detective Antigone Pollard leading the investigation. With fabulous writing and a story that hooked me in right from the start, this author has once again cemented why she deserves all the praise. I guarantee once you start this one, you too will find it unputdownable!
September 12, 2025
Quick, easy read.
January 31, 2026
I read this book in a day. Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story line.
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.
July 18, 2026
I absolutely loved Vikki’s first novel, The Unbelieved. She showed such mastery of the topic of sexual assault, its bias and shames and how the court deals with it. Getting to journey with Antigone again was a joy, especially after a long wait. I was a bit worried she was giving the game away on a couple of occasions but they were red herrings and the climax was well explained and a decent surprise. I also enjoyed the sub plot that was an historical mirroring of a similar event. Fascinating. I’m looking forward to the next instalment!
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.
May 30, 2026
Petraitis's 30-year background as a prominent Australian true-crime author adds deep procedural realism and believable dialogue.
Senior Detective Antigone Pollard and her trusty former police dog, Waffles are back for another procedural story.
The book is a sharp exploration of systemic issues, particularly toxic masculinity, media bias, and victim-blaming.
Senior Detective Antigone Pollard and her trusty former police dog, Waffles are back for another procedural story.
The book is a sharp exploration of systemic issues, particularly toxic masculinity, media bias, and victim-blaming.
April 12, 2026
Loved it! I love Vikki Petraitis's fiction writing!
October 31, 2026
Excellent crime investigation, ready for the next instalment.
July 18, 2026
Even better than her first book.
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