The Girl with the Golden Heart

by Matt Pociask

Thirty-five years ago, a baby vanished without a trace. Now, the truth is waking up.

Detective Ava Clarke didn’t ask for the Emily Rose case. And she certainly didn’t care to chase down the ghost of a missing heiress born into wealth and privilege—a world that had never opened its doors to her. Raised in the foster system, Ava knew what it meant to be truly forgotten.

But when she opens the file, something doesn’t sit right. The details don’t add up. The silence feels too calculated. And the deeper she digs into the Rose family’s history, the more the cracks begin to show.

What starts as skepticism turns into obsession. And as the investigation tightens around her, Ava begins to realize the truth isn’t just buried in the past—it’s entangled with everything she thought she understood about the present.

A must-read for fans of Freida McFadden, Ruth Ware, and twist-filled psychological thrillers.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2025

Reviews

[Ryan Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really gripping. Interesting family dynamics and complex character relationships keep the pages turning. The truth unravels through various accounts of the case and the reader is challenged to find out who to trust. Our main character Ava is mysterious but dedicated to her craft. She goes through ups and downs that the reader experiences right along side her throughout the plot. Great writing and imagery about a broken family desperately trying to forget a fateful kidnapping. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is a fan of detective thrillers!

[Laurie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

New author. Must read

This first time author has nailed it with this novel. Weaving the past and present of the main character while solving a cold case was expertly done. Definitely looking forward to the next novel from Matt Pociask.

[Rachel Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was such a good read that it pulled me in and I stayed up late to finish it. I read the entire book in one day.
Ava is a detective and she gets a cold case that she doesn't want. Her partner, Ryan, is kind of like the yin to her yang and he is game for any case. They delve into this missing infant case that is over 30 years cold. Ava and Ryan wade through the lies, deception, and clues to find out what happened in this maze of a story. This book has a lot of twists and turns. I was pretty sure I knew how it would end. Only to realize toward the end that my initial assumption was inaccurate. I'm glad though because the book ending was really good; such an unexpected twist.
Ava is a great, strong female character with a tragic background. She is rough around the edges, but still compassionate. She's complex in a way that feels real and raw. I really enjoyed the character.
This book touched on a lot of topics; mental health, abandonment, love, control, and sacrifice, to name a few. I won't spoil anything but the ending was complex and thought provoking. It was strong and difficult and really unexpected. This book kept a good pace and was entertaining all the way through. Well written, the story line was well thought out, a really good read.

[Laurie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, this book was written by my cousin and I didn't even know that he was writing a book. Being an avid reader I purchased the book with no expectations. this is my favorite genre of book and my hope was that it was going to be a decent read.
I finished the book in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. While reading this book, I felt like I was personally immersed in the story. Not only is it well written, but the storyline flows beautifully.
I look forward to reading more novels from my cousin, Matt Pociask.

[Allie Coll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me hooked from start to finish! The author has a great writing style and a diverse cast of characters that keep the pages turning.