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Detective Josie Quinn #24
Stolen Family
A breath of warm air lifts the canvas opening of the tent to reveal a carpet of crimson petals within. Two bodies lie side by side. Mother and daughter are achingly beautiful in the glow of the twinkling fairy lights above, but their cold blue lips have whispered their last “I love you…”
As a heatwave chokes the small town of Denton, Maxine and Haven Barnes are discovered dead at a local festival, blood-red camellias pressed into their once-clammy skin. Detective Josie Quinn races through the crowds to attend the scene, horrified that something so disturbing could happen at a family event. Maxine was known to the police for issues with her abusive husband, but the trail ends there.
Hours later, a call rocks Josie to her core: another mother and teenage daughter are missing, with the same rare flowers left on their doorstep. And just when the stakes couldn’t get any higher, the missing women are linked to the most challenging member of Josie’s team, Detective Kyle Turner. He had a secret family he’s kept hidden from them all, and now their lives are in danger…
Clock ticking, it will take everything Josie has to break down the walls Turner put up to protect himself and the people he loves. But when tracing the flowers back to their origins has the killer within her grasp, a truth much closer to home reveals itself. And with it, more danger than anyone could have imagined. Can Josie bring this monster to justice before any more precious lives are taken?
As a heatwave chokes the small town of Denton, Maxine and Haven Barnes are discovered dead at a local festival, blood-red camellias pressed into their once-clammy skin. Detective Josie Quinn races through the crowds to attend the scene, horrified that something so disturbing could happen at a family event. Maxine was known to the police for issues with her abusive husband, but the trail ends there.
Hours later, a call rocks Josie to her core: another mother and teenage daughter are missing, with the same rare flowers left on their doorstep. And just when the stakes couldn’t get any higher, the missing women are linked to the most challenging member of Josie’s team, Detective Kyle Turner. He had a secret family he’s kept hidden from them all, and now their lives are in danger…
Clock ticking, it will take everything Josie has to break down the walls Turner put up to protect himself and the people he loves. But when tracing the flowers back to their origins has the killer within her grasp, a truth much closer to home reveals itself. And with it, more danger than anyone could have imagined. Can Josie bring this monster to justice before any more precious lives are taken?
424 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
Lisa Regan
35 books3,886 followersLisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series as well as several other crime fiction titles. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers’ Association, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
May 9, 2026
Lisa Regan’s “Stolen Family” hits like a heatwave and does not let up. Set against Denton’s Balloons and Tunes Festival, it opens with a tableau that is both theatrical and chilling: two bodies, mother and daughter, arranged beneath fairy lights, and marked with blood-red flowers. The case hooks on spectacle, but it tightens quickly into something far more unsettling - because the killer’s calling card is not just a flourish, it is a promise.
»They're camellias.«
From there, the novel sprints. Regan is excellent at drip-feeding information without ever letting it feel like stalling, and the heatwave setting adds a faint sense of delirium to the investigation; everything is bright, crowded, and slightly too loud, which makes the moments of quiet menace land harder. When the book swerves, it does so on the back of evidence, not authorial whim.
The pacing keeps widening the circle without losing clarity. Each new lead feels like it should be a detour, yet it snaps back into the central pattern, tightening the net around the killer while simultaneously revealing how many people have been living with secrets. Even when I thought I had the shape of it, Regan kept finding ways to unsettle my assumptions.
What makes this instalment sing, though, is how decisively it becomes Detective Kyle Turner’s story. Turner has often been the closed door in Josie Quinn’s team dynamic, and here Regan finally pries that door open - slowly, and with intent. Turner’s voice can be sharp, almost performative, even when the ground is shifting beneath him.
»Quinn, you plan on showing up for work today, or what?«
But the book’s real power lies in the moments when that performance slips. One small scene captures it perfectly:
»He turned the car off and met her eyes. They were devoid of all emotion.«
That emptiness is frightening, yes, but it is also clarifying, and the plot uses it to explore what Turner has buried, why he buried it, and what it costs when the past comes looking. The secret-family thread could have tipped into melodrama, yet Regan plays it straight and ruthless, letting the emotional consequences do the heavy lifting.
I also loved the domestic counterpoint: Josie’s and Noah’s home life with Wren threads tenderness through the tension without ever deflating it. Those scenes are not mere palate cleansers; they sharpen the book’s central fear—what it means to keep people safe, and what happens when safety turns out to be an illusion.
Compared with my other Josie Quinn high points - “Remember Her Name” and “Face Her Fear” especially - “Stolen Family” feels just as compulsively readable, but even more character-driven, with Turner’s arc giving the suspense real bite. This one is tighter, more focused, and more personal. It delivers the nail-biting thrills I come to this series for, and it leaves the characters changed in ways that feel earned.
Five stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
»They're camellias.«
From there, the novel sprints. Regan is excellent at drip-feeding information without ever letting it feel like stalling, and the heatwave setting adds a faint sense of delirium to the investigation; everything is bright, crowded, and slightly too loud, which makes the moments of quiet menace land harder. When the book swerves, it does so on the back of evidence, not authorial whim.
The pacing keeps widening the circle without losing clarity. Each new lead feels like it should be a detour, yet it snaps back into the central pattern, tightening the net around the killer while simultaneously revealing how many people have been living with secrets. Even when I thought I had the shape of it, Regan kept finding ways to unsettle my assumptions.
What makes this instalment sing, though, is how decisively it becomes Detective Kyle Turner’s story. Turner has often been the closed door in Josie Quinn’s team dynamic, and here Regan finally pries that door open - slowly, and with intent. Turner’s voice can be sharp, almost performative, even when the ground is shifting beneath him.
»Quinn, you plan on showing up for work today, or what?«
But the book’s real power lies in the moments when that performance slips. One small scene captures it perfectly:
»He turned the car off and met her eyes. They were devoid of all emotion.«
That emptiness is frightening, yes, but it is also clarifying, and the plot uses it to explore what Turner has buried, why he buried it, and what it costs when the past comes looking. The secret-family thread could have tipped into melodrama, yet Regan plays it straight and ruthless, letting the emotional consequences do the heavy lifting.
I also loved the domestic counterpoint: Josie’s and Noah’s home life with Wren threads tenderness through the tension without ever deflating it. Those scenes are not mere palate cleansers; they sharpen the book’s central fear—what it means to keep people safe, and what happens when safety turns out to be an illusion.
Compared with my other Josie Quinn high points - “Remember Her Name” and “Face Her Fear” especially - “Stolen Family” feels just as compulsively readable, but even more character-driven, with Turner’s arc giving the suspense real bite. This one is tighter, more focused, and more personal. It delivers the nail-biting thrills I come to this series for, and it leaves the characters changed in ways that feel earned.
Five stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
April 14, 2026
I loved this book! We get to see Turner in a whole new light, and I was here for it. I was here for the broken man, but we see the softer side, the father side. The side he keeps hidden away, and we learn why he is the way he is. The mistruths and it was actually quite upsetting.
This case too boggled the mind. We have a death and a missing case, and it was quite mad how it was linked, and I didn't foresee it.
Regan is keeping it fresh, we have insights into personal lives with Wren joining the family and then at the end with more merging families. I love this! I love that everyone is starting to come together. It makes their bond so much stronger. I do, however, enjoy douchebag Turner. He does make me smile now.
I really do need to still read books 1 and 2 of this series, and I am still so intrigued to see what Josie was like, especially with the inklings we have. But I still love this series despite not starting at the beginning. The characters have already grown so much.
This case too boggled the mind. We have a death and a missing case, and it was quite mad how it was linked, and I didn't foresee it.
Regan is keeping it fresh, we have insights into personal lives with Wren joining the family and then at the end with more merging families. I love this! I love that everyone is starting to come together. It makes their bond so much stronger. I do, however, enjoy douchebag Turner. He does make me smile now.
I really do need to still read books 1 and 2 of this series, and I am still so intrigued to see what Josie was like, especially with the inklings we have. But I still love this series despite not starting at the beginning. The characters have already grown so much.
April 12, 2026
The small town of Denton, Pennsylvania is rocked by the brutal murders of a mother and daughter, and when another pair goes missing, Detective Josie Quinn and her team know they are in a race against time to find them.
The first victims, Maxine and Haven Barnes, are discovered at a local festival, each marked with a chilling signature - camellias carefully pressed onto their bodies. When the same flowers appear on the doorstep of another missing mother and daughter, Josie has no doubt they are dealing with a calculated and escalating offender.
The case takes on an even more urgent, deeply personal edge when Josie realizes that one of her own colleagues, Turner, is the husband and father of the latest victims. Desperate for their safe return, Turner is a man unraveling in real time, even as the truth about his troubled marriage begins to surface. Separated from his wife and carrying the weight of that fractured relationship, his fear and guilt bleed into every interaction, making him as volatile as he is heartbroken.
Despite her complicated history with Turner, a coworker who has never been particularly well-liked within the department, Josie refuses to let personal feelings interfere with the investigation. She remains focused, steady, and determined. Every lead feels more urgent because of Turner’s raw emotional state; every setback hits harder. His grief, anger, and regret are not just background elements. In fact, these actions actively shape the tension of the story, making the stakes feel painfully real.
Lisa Regan once again delivers a gripping, fast-paced thriller that balances procedural detail with emotional intensity. What truly stands out in Stolen Family is how deeply personal the investigation becomes, not just for Josie, but for everyone involved. Turner’s spiraling emotional state injects the story with a sense of immediacy and heartbreak that lingers long after the final page. This isn’t just a race to catch a killer. No, it’s a desperate fight against time, loss, and the haunting possibility of what might already be too late.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The first victims, Maxine and Haven Barnes, are discovered at a local festival, each marked with a chilling signature - camellias carefully pressed onto their bodies. When the same flowers appear on the doorstep of another missing mother and daughter, Josie has no doubt they are dealing with a calculated and escalating offender.
The case takes on an even more urgent, deeply personal edge when Josie realizes that one of her own colleagues, Turner, is the husband and father of the latest victims. Desperate for their safe return, Turner is a man unraveling in real time, even as the truth about his troubled marriage begins to surface. Separated from his wife and carrying the weight of that fractured relationship, his fear and guilt bleed into every interaction, making him as volatile as he is heartbroken.
Despite her complicated history with Turner, a coworker who has never been particularly well-liked within the department, Josie refuses to let personal feelings interfere with the investigation. She remains focused, steady, and determined. Every lead feels more urgent because of Turner’s raw emotional state; every setback hits harder. His grief, anger, and regret are not just background elements. In fact, these actions actively shape the tension of the story, making the stakes feel painfully real.
Lisa Regan once again delivers a gripping, fast-paced thriller that balances procedural detail with emotional intensity. What truly stands out in Stolen Family is how deeply personal the investigation becomes, not just for Josie, but for everyone involved. Turner’s spiraling emotional state injects the story with a sense of immediacy and heartbreak that lingers long after the final page. This isn’t just a race to catch a killer. No, it’s a desperate fight against time, loss, and the haunting possibility of what might already be too late.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 14, 2026
Stolen Family stole my life for a few days as I could not stop reading it and was thinking about it when I couldn't read it! What a fantastic book in the Josie Quinn series! I have read most books in the series and I would rate Stolen Family at the top because it has everything that makes this series so special! During a heatwave in July, 2 bodies are found in a tent, at the local festival. The bodies are a mother and daughter named Maxine and Haven Barnes. This disturbing discovery has everyone on edge as this is supposed to be a fun family event. Josie Quinn fights traffic and the crowds to get a look at the scene. Both women have blood red camellias laying on their chest and Maxine had called the police to report her abusive husband.
A few hours later Josie gets another call about a missing mother and daughter. When she goes to their house she discovers the same blood red flowers on their doorstep, but nothing else. These two women are connected to Detective Kyle Turner and he's been keeping a huge secret from everyone. The woman missing is his wife that he's separated from and the girl is his daughter! Josie has to break the news to Kyle and he loses it! Who would kidnap and possibly kill 2 sets of mothers and daughters? Why? Will they be able to find Kyle's family before it's too late? During the investigation the flowers are unique and Josie tries to find information about them. Will this break the case open or is it a wild goose chase? How are they going to find Kyle's family before they're killed? What does the killer want? This book will have you feeling like it's your family missing and you'll be so stressed out that you won't be able to stop reading it! I rate Stolen Family 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. Get this book and enjoy the ride! Lisa Regan has done it again and I can't wait for the next book in the series! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Stolen Family in exchange for a fair review. #StolenFamily
A few hours later Josie gets another call about a missing mother and daughter. When she goes to their house she discovers the same blood red flowers on their doorstep, but nothing else. These two women are connected to Detective Kyle Turner and he's been keeping a huge secret from everyone. The woman missing is his wife that he's separated from and the girl is his daughter! Josie has to break the news to Kyle and he loses it! Who would kidnap and possibly kill 2 sets of mothers and daughters? Why? Will they be able to find Kyle's family before it's too late? During the investigation the flowers are unique and Josie tries to find information about them. Will this break the case open or is it a wild goose chase? How are they going to find Kyle's family before they're killed? What does the killer want? This book will have you feeling like it's your family missing and you'll be so stressed out that you won't be able to stop reading it! I rate Stolen Family 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. Get this book and enjoy the ride! Lisa Regan has done it again and I can't wait for the next book in the series! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Stolen Family in exchange for a fair review. #StolenFamily
April 19, 2026
Detective Quinn solves another crime in book #24 of this series called Stolen Family. This can also be read as a stand-alone and I enjoyed it as I have a few of her others in this series. Quinn is one smart detective!!
April 9, 2026
Stolen Family by Lisa Regan is a Josie Quinn novel; police procedural. There were two bodies. A mother and her teenager daughter. Both dead. The soon-to-be-ex-husband was not a good guy but Josie didn’t like him for this murder, no matter how big a jerk he was. But who? Then, another mother and daughter duo were kidnapped. This was was close to home and the entire police force of Denton, PA was working on it. All of them without much sleep. This is a story written in two timelines: the investigation and two of the victims in real time. Turner was pretty much useless so it was up to Noah, Josie, and Gretchen to find these two and bring them home. This is a story full of misdirection and mistakes. And what a great story it is. Suspenseful. Emotional. Frightening.
Josie Quinn is an amazing character that Lisa Regan has nurtured throughout the series. She has grown, not only as a police officer, but also as a person, overcoming much of her past to become a friend, lover, and family to those around her. Noah is still suffering some PRSD from his kidnapping a couple of books back, but is beyond functional on all levels. They have been joined by Wren, a teenage girl who has lost her parents, both of whom were part of Josie’s past. Living with a teen is difficult in the best of circumstances, but they are making progress. Josie still can’t cook and Noah is only slightly better, but they are managing. And now they are doing goat yoga because Josie lost a bet. It is turning out to be a great day! I always enjoy a good Josie Quinn novel!
I was invited to read Stolen Family by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #LisaRegan #StolenFamily
Josie Quinn is an amazing character that Lisa Regan has nurtured throughout the series. She has grown, not only as a police officer, but also as a person, overcoming much of her past to become a friend, lover, and family to those around her. Noah is still suffering some PRSD from his kidnapping a couple of books back, but is beyond functional on all levels. They have been joined by Wren, a teenage girl who has lost her parents, both of whom were part of Josie’s past. Living with a teen is difficult in the best of circumstances, but they are making progress. Josie still can’t cook and Noah is only slightly better, but they are managing. And now they are doing goat yoga because Josie lost a bet. It is turning out to be a great day! I always enjoy a good Josie Quinn novel!
I was invited to read Stolen Family by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #LisaRegan #StolenFamily
April 8, 2026
Wow! This was my first Lisa Regan book, and I could not put it down. It was so well written—a true page-turner packed with suspense and twists at every turn. The main characters work at a police station, and the camaraderie between them feels authentic and relatable.
Although I wish I had read some of her previous books, I had no trouble following along. Lisa did a great job weaving in the characters’ backstories without overwhelming the plot. It can definitely be read as a standalone.
If you’re looking for a murder mystery/thriller that will keep you up well past your bedtime, you need to give this one a try. It will not disappoint! I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Although I wish I had read some of her previous books, I had no trouble following along. Lisa did a great job weaving in the characters’ backstories without overwhelming the plot. It can definitely be read as a standalone.
If you’re looking for a murder mystery/thriller that will keep you up well past your bedtime, you need to give this one a try. It will not disappoint! I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
May 10, 2026
The Josie Quinn stories never fail to provide a great ride with interesting surprises along the way, both in revelations about the main characters AND with the plots! This is no exception. Lisa Regan has become one of my favorite authors (on a list that includes John Sandford, Michael Connelly, Elizabeth George, J.D. Robb, and many others). Already looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 21, 2026
5⭐️ Like watching an episode of my favorite show…
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Let me preface this by saying I started reading this and could not put it down. I missed my bedtime by three hours, AND it was a work night. Ope.
Lisa Regan delivers another gripping instalment in the Detective Josie Quinn series with Stolen Family, a case that is as emotionally layered as it is unsettling.
When a mother and daughter are found murdered at a summer festival, posed beneath fairy lights with blood-red camellias pressed into their skin, the horror feels almost theatrical. But as a suffocating heatwave settles over Denton, the case quickly turns personal. Another mother and daughter go missing, the same rare flowers left behind as a calling card. And this time, the connection leads straight to Detective Kyle Turner and the secret family he’s kept hidden from his team.
What follows is a race against time that forces Josie not only to hunt a killer, but to confront the emotional walls within her own team.
The mystery itself is tightly woven and full of satisfying reveals. The flashback-style chapters were particularly clever, disorienting in a way that made me question what I thought I knew. Once I realised what was happening, I had that delicious “ohhhhhh” moment. I was irrationally proud of myself for clocking that the Cassidy mentioned was Turner’s Cassidy, suspecting the “dead” guy wasn’t quite so dead, and immediately pinging on Reina’s brother. Normally, those kinds of clues sail straight over my head, so this felt like a personal victory.
That said, there were a few threads I expected to build into something bigger, the book-loaning detail especially felt like it was leading somewhere. And Haven’s death? Absolutely gutting. The injustice of men like Charles walking free while innocent lives are taken hit hard, but perhaps that uncomfortable realism is exactly the point.
For four books, Kyle Turner has been… let’s say deeply punchable. In Stolen Family, Lisa Regan peels him back like an onion, layer by layer. Underneath the defensive arrogance and prickliness is someone shaped by abuse, by being misunderstood, by always expecting the worst from people because that’s what he’s always received. He’s less a villain and more a porcupine with a marshmallow centre. Learning about his father, his instinct for self-protection, and, most importantly, how fiercely he loves his daughter reframed everything. I still wanted to smack him upside the head a few times, but now I understand him. And that emotional shift felt earned.
The true emotional anchor of this book, as always, is Josie. Her vulnerability regarding Wren was raw and real. There were multiple moments where I felt that ache in my chest for her. I was genuinely relieved when Wren’s name wasn’t in the art show programme, I’m not even embarrassed to admit it. And Noah remains one of the healthiest, most grounding romantic partners I’ve ever read in a crime series. The way he loves Josie: flaws, idiosyncrasies, obsession with the job and all — feels adult and earned. Their dynamic, with Noah as the steady calm to Josie’s storm, is one of my favourite elements of the entire series. It’s not flashy romance; it’s emotional safety. And that’s rare in thrillers. And I LOVE it. If I could find that in real life, I would snatch it up!
On a very personal note, Lisa named one of the characters after my beloved Grandma Annette, and it was so lovely to see my grandma’s name in print. I adored her character. I loved that she nicknamed him “shitbird,” I laughed so hard. Although they worked together, it was a little disappointing that she didn’t have his back the way Gretchen, Noah, and Josie have each other. But she was fiercely loyal to her niece, so I can’t really fault her for that. Overall, she was kickass, and I loved that.
Stolen Family may not be my absolute favourite in the series, but it is one of the most emotionally revealing. It deepens team dynamics, reframes a long-standing character, and reminds us that the most dangerous secrets are often the ones closest to home. Lisa Regan continues to balance brutal crimes with deeply human moments, and I will apparently continue sacrificing sleep to read “just one more chapter”. If you love crime thrillers with strong team dynamics, emotional depth, and twists that click into place in deeply satisfying ways, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lisa Regan delivers another gripping instalment in the Detective Josie Quinn series with Stolen Family, a case that is as emotionally layered as it is unsettling.
When a mother and daughter are found murdered at a summer festival, posed beneath fairy lights with blood-red camellias pressed into their skin, the horror feels almost theatrical. But as a suffocating heatwave settles over Denton, the case quickly turns personal. Another mother and daughter go missing, the same rare flowers left behind as a calling card. And this time, the connection leads straight to Detective Kyle Turner and the secret family he’s kept hidden from his team.
What follows is a race against time that forces Josie not only to hunt a killer, but to confront the emotional walls within her own team.
The mystery itself is tightly woven and full of satisfying reveals. The flashback-style chapters were particularly clever, disorienting in a way that made me question what I thought I knew. Once I realised what was happening, I had that delicious “ohhhhhh” moment. I was irrationally proud of myself for clocking that the Cassidy mentioned was Turner’s Cassidy, suspecting the “dead” guy wasn’t quite so dead, and immediately pinging on Reina’s brother. Normally, those kinds of clues sail straight over my head, so this felt like a personal victory.
That said, there were a few threads I expected to build into something bigger, the book-loaning detail especially felt like it was leading somewhere. And Haven’s death? Absolutely gutting. The injustice of men like Charles walking free while innocent lives are taken hit hard, but perhaps that uncomfortable realism is exactly the point.
For four books, Kyle Turner has been… let’s say deeply punchable. In Stolen Family, Lisa Regan peels him back like an onion, layer by layer. Underneath the defensive arrogance and prickliness is someone shaped by abuse, by being misunderstood, by always expecting the worst from people because that’s what he’s always received. He’s less a villain and more a porcupine with a marshmallow centre. Learning about his father, his instinct for self-protection, and, most importantly, how fiercely he loves his daughter reframed everything. I still wanted to smack him upside the head a few times, but now I understand him. And that emotional shift felt earned.
The true emotional anchor of this book, as always, is Josie. Her vulnerability regarding Wren was raw and real. There were multiple moments where I felt that ache in my chest for her. I was genuinely relieved when Wren’s name wasn’t in the art show programme, I’m not even embarrassed to admit it. And Noah remains one of the healthiest, most grounding romantic partners I’ve ever read in a crime series. The way he loves Josie: flaws, idiosyncrasies, obsession with the job and all — feels adult and earned. Their dynamic, with Noah as the steady calm to Josie’s storm, is one of my favourite elements of the entire series. It’s not flashy romance; it’s emotional safety. And that’s rare in thrillers. And I LOVE it. If I could find that in real life, I would snatch it up!
On a very personal note, Lisa named one of the characters after my beloved Grandma Annette, and it was so lovely to see my grandma’s name in print. I adored her character. I loved that she nicknamed him “shitbird,” I laughed so hard. Although they worked together, it was a little disappointing that she didn’t have his back the way Gretchen, Noah, and Josie have each other. But she was fiercely loyal to her niece, so I can’t really fault her for that. Overall, she was kickass, and I loved that.
Stolen Family may not be my absolute favourite in the series, but it is one of the most emotionally revealing. It deepens team dynamics, reframes a long-standing character, and reminds us that the most dangerous secrets are often the ones closest to home. Lisa Regan continues to balance brutal crimes with deeply human moments, and I will apparently continue sacrificing sleep to read “just one more chapter”. If you love crime thrillers with strong team dynamics, emotional depth, and twists that click into place in deeply satisfying ways, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
: Stolen Family
Author: Lisa Regan
Series: Detective Josie Quinn Book #24
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: April 9, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 424
If you are new to Josie Quinn you will miss a lot of back information but I believe you will still enjoy it. Author, Lisa Regan does try to review Josie’s childhood so that hew readers are not completely lost. Here are some background ~ skip if already a Josie fan!
When Josie and her twin sister Trinity were three weeks old, they had a nanny but Josie was kidnapped by Lila Jensen the woman who cleaned their parents’ home. She set the house on fire; which had the authorities believe Josie died in the fire. The nanny was able to save baby Trinity.
Josie didn’t die and Lila took her to Eli Matson in Denton and told him he was the baby’s father. He believes her and ending up loving little Josie - love is something Lila never experienced. Eventually Josie was finally away from Lila and raised and loved by Eli’s mother Lisette Matson the woman whom Josie thought was her real grandmother.
When Josie is an adult she finds her twin Trinity as well as her biological
parents- Christian and Shannon Paynes. Trinity is a television journalist and engaged to FBI agent Drake Nally.
Additionally, we follow Josie and her husband Noah who have been wanted to start a family and finally decided to adopt. They were in the final stages of the process when the agency pulled their application and said their lives were so dangerous they felt it would be difficult for Josie and Noah to keep the baby safe 24/7.
So when fourteen year old Wren McMann mother’s died and then while still getting to know her real father , he died-Josie and Noah welcome her and now are her Guardians. Wren is going to grief therapy as she has abandonment issues and although adjustment is very slow, she is adjusting.
This story starts when Denton a small town in Central Pennsylvania is hosting the first Balloons and Tunes Festival which they plan will be an annual event. It is well attended including Maxine and her teenage daughter Haven Barnes staying there-rather than driving back and forth.
Only something they didn’t count on happened- they are murdered. They were discovered dead with flowers shattered everywhere and a single flower is placed on each of their chests.
Maxine had called the police regarding her abusive husband. Detective Kyle Turner who is somewhat new to the department and is not well liked due to his arrogance as well as his sexist remarks was the detective who took and earlier report regarding the husband.
As they are investigating this case, they get called that someone is worried about his neighbors Danielle ‘Dani’ Schwarber and her sixteen year old daughter Cassidy.
Josie cannot help but think about a recent visit at the Police Station by a teenager named Cassidy stating she was looking for her father.
Everyone was surprised as no one knew that Kyle Turner had a secret family!
We soon learn there is a softer side of the nasty foul mouth Turner.
Story gets very involved – have to admit it wasn’t a quick read as I needed to digest what was ‘really’ going on.
As always I enjoy reading the ‘Author’s Notes – in this case “A Letter from Lisa’. She tells us that writing Turner’s story bit difficult and actually writing the entire story was emotional rollercoaster writing. I can assure you that reading it was also a roller-coaster ride.
She also tells us that she hopes we readers ended up seeing him in a new light` even if we still may not like him.
Although I need a day to digest this, I can assure you I am looking forward to #25!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 9, 2026.
Author: Lisa Regan
Series: Detective Josie Quinn Book #24
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: April 9, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 424
If you are new to Josie Quinn you will miss a lot of back information but I believe you will still enjoy it. Author, Lisa Regan does try to review Josie’s childhood so that hew readers are not completely lost. Here are some background ~ skip if already a Josie fan!
When Josie and her twin sister Trinity were three weeks old, they had a nanny but Josie was kidnapped by Lila Jensen the woman who cleaned their parents’ home. She set the house on fire; which had the authorities believe Josie died in the fire. The nanny was able to save baby Trinity.
Josie didn’t die and Lila took her to Eli Matson in Denton and told him he was the baby’s father. He believes her and ending up loving little Josie - love is something Lila never experienced. Eventually Josie was finally away from Lila and raised and loved by Eli’s mother Lisette Matson the woman whom Josie thought was her real grandmother.
When Josie is an adult she finds her twin Trinity as well as her biological
parents- Christian and Shannon Paynes. Trinity is a television journalist and engaged to FBI agent Drake Nally.
Additionally, we follow Josie and her husband Noah who have been wanted to start a family and finally decided to adopt. They were in the final stages of the process when the agency pulled their application and said their lives were so dangerous they felt it would be difficult for Josie and Noah to keep the baby safe 24/7.
So when fourteen year old Wren McMann mother’s died and then while still getting to know her real father , he died-Josie and Noah welcome her and now are her Guardians. Wren is going to grief therapy as she has abandonment issues and although adjustment is very slow, she is adjusting.
This story starts when Denton a small town in Central Pennsylvania is hosting the first Balloons and Tunes Festival which they plan will be an annual event. It is well attended including Maxine and her teenage daughter Haven Barnes staying there-rather than driving back and forth.
Only something they didn’t count on happened- they are murdered. They were discovered dead with flowers shattered everywhere and a single flower is placed on each of their chests.
Maxine had called the police regarding her abusive husband. Detective Kyle Turner who is somewhat new to the department and is not well liked due to his arrogance as well as his sexist remarks was the detective who took and earlier report regarding the husband.
As they are investigating this case, they get called that someone is worried about his neighbors Danielle ‘Dani’ Schwarber and her sixteen year old daughter Cassidy.
Josie cannot help but think about a recent visit at the Police Station by a teenager named Cassidy stating she was looking for her father.
Everyone was surprised as no one knew that Kyle Turner had a secret family!
We soon learn there is a softer side of the nasty foul mouth Turner.
Story gets very involved – have to admit it wasn’t a quick read as I needed to digest what was ‘really’ going on.
As always I enjoy reading the ‘Author’s Notes – in this case “A Letter from Lisa’. She tells us that writing Turner’s story bit difficult and actually writing the entire story was emotional rollercoaster writing. I can assure you that reading it was also a roller-coaster ride.
She also tells us that she hopes we readers ended up seeing him in a new light` even if we still may not like him.
Although I need a day to digest this, I can assure you I am looking forward to #25!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 9, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Finished reading: March 15th 2026
"We both know there are some things you can't guarantee. Living with uncertainty is part of life. A really terrible part of life."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stolen Family by Lisa Regan is an exceptional, very highly recommended crime thriller/procedural. You won't want to miss this absolutely un-put-downable 24th book in the Detective Josie Quinn series! Seriously, I had to stay up late to finish Stolen Family. At a certain point in the gripping plot it becomes impossible to not keep racing through the pages while your heart is pounding.
Denton, PA, is having their first Balloons and Tunes Festival which seems to be wildly popular and will hopefully become an annual event. Detective Josie Quinn and Detective Kyle Turner are called to a glamping site at the festival where Maxine and her teenage daughter Haven Barnes have been found murdered and left with white-tipped blood-red camellias laid on their bodies while other flowers are scattered across the room. Turner admits he recognizes Maxine from an earlier spousal abuse incident. As the team is investigating, a report of another suspected missing mother and daughter is called in.
The missing are Danielle ‘Dani’ Schwarber and her sixteen-year-old daughter Cassidy and the same camellias are left behind. Even more shocking is that they are Kyle Turner's estranged wife and daughter. Now the clock is ticking to find who abducted Kyle's family and hopefully find them before anymore lives are lost.
As expected, the writing is superb. The plot is fast-paced, complicated, immersive, and riveting, due to both the investigations and personal interactions. The tension keeps rising right up to the action-packed conclusion. The procedural part of the narrative is excellent with all the clues logically followed and leads investigated. Complicating everything is the personal connection to Turner.
I continued to enjoy all the realistic interaction between the characters. All the characters are portrayed as fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Josie's personal life is going well. Her husband, Noah, is back at work while still recovering emotionally from a previous case. Their relationship with Wren, the teenager they are custodial parents too, is making progress. Kyle Turner is the character with the most development. He is known for being disagreeable, lazy, and all-around unlikable. Now we are introduced to a different side to his character.
Although this is the 24th book in the series, Stolen Family could be read as a standalone novel, however, knowing the history of the characters will make it a richer reading experience. There is enough of the backstory covered that new readers can follow along and appreciate this latest thrilling procedural.
Stolen Family is a exceptional crime thriller/procedural and is a perfect choice for everyone following the series. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Denton, PA, is having their first Balloons and Tunes Festival which seems to be wildly popular and will hopefully become an annual event. Detective Josie Quinn and Detective Kyle Turner are called to a glamping site at the festival where Maxine and her teenage daughter Haven Barnes have been found murdered and left with white-tipped blood-red camellias laid on their bodies while other flowers are scattered across the room. Turner admits he recognizes Maxine from an earlier spousal abuse incident. As the team is investigating, a report of another suspected missing mother and daughter is called in.
The missing are Danielle ‘Dani’ Schwarber and her sixteen-year-old daughter Cassidy and the same camellias are left behind. Even more shocking is that they are Kyle Turner's estranged wife and daughter. Now the clock is ticking to find who abducted Kyle's family and hopefully find them before anymore lives are lost.
As expected, the writing is superb. The plot is fast-paced, complicated, immersive, and riveting, due to both the investigations and personal interactions. The tension keeps rising right up to the action-packed conclusion. The procedural part of the narrative is excellent with all the clues logically followed and leads investigated. Complicating everything is the personal connection to Turner.
I continued to enjoy all the realistic interaction between the characters. All the characters are portrayed as fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Josie's personal life is going well. Her husband, Noah, is back at work while still recovering emotionally from a previous case. Their relationship with Wren, the teenager they are custodial parents too, is making progress. Kyle Turner is the character with the most development. He is known for being disagreeable, lazy, and all-around unlikable. Now we are introduced to a different side to his character.
Although this is the 24th book in the series, Stolen Family could be read as a standalone novel, however, knowing the history of the characters will make it a richer reading experience. There is enough of the backstory covered that new readers can follow along and appreciate this latest thrilling procedural.
Stolen Family is a exceptional crime thriller/procedural and is a perfect choice for everyone following the series. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In the 24th installment of the Josie Quinn series, Lisa Regan proves that even after two dozen cases, she still knows how to twist the knife. Stolen Family isn’t just a gripping police procedural. It’s a high-stakes emotional wrecking ball that hits way too close to home for the Denton PD and their most loved-to-hate detective, Kyle Turner.
It’s a nightmare scenario: a family vanishes from their home, leaving behind a half-cooked dinner and not much else. Josie is called in, but with little to go on, she has to dig into the family’s past in hopes of finding a thread to unravel. The tension skyrockets when another family disappears, Kyle Turner’s daughter and her mother.
What made this book hard to put down was how Regan handles Turner’s pain and need to be part of the investigation, even knowing that it’s not smart. She knows how hard it is to sit on the sidelines when someone you love is missing while trusting others to find them. Turner’s pain is absolutely palpable. It’s raw, jagged, and desperate. Watching him unravel as he realizes his family is gone creates a sense of urgency that makes the pages practically turn themselves, even if you’ve never liked his character in previous books. In Stolen Family, you learn what makes Turner tick, and you’ll be more than a little surprised to uncover the truth. You’ve always seen him as a lazy detective, but in Stolen Family, you see him as a father watching a ticking clock and wondering if he’s lost his chance to make things right.
Josie discovers that the key to finding these families lies in the flowers found at the scenes. She must trace the history and symbolism of these flowers in hopes of getting into the kidnapper's head. The Victorian language of flowers is used here not for romance, but as a chilling breadcrumb trail Josie must decode. It adds a layer of depth and intellect to the gritty, macabre scavenger hunt the team is on. Josie’s intuition is front and center as she tries to view the case through the kidnapper's eyes rather than a cop's.
While all of that is going on, Josie is learning how to live and raise her foster daughter, Wren. She’s worked hard to connect with her, but feels ill-equipped to help the girl through her grief. In a touching family moment with her husband, Noah, she realizes that she is the only person who can help Wren through her grief. The moment she realizes that, you see her relationship with Wren change, and her confidence in helping the girl through tough emotional situations increases tenfold.
Stolen Family is a gripping, heart-wrenching addition to the Josie Quinn series. It manages to be both a clever police procedural and a complicated, twisting detective novel, while offering the reader a poignant exploration of what defines a family.
It’s a nightmare scenario: a family vanishes from their home, leaving behind a half-cooked dinner and not much else. Josie is called in, but with little to go on, she has to dig into the family’s past in hopes of finding a thread to unravel. The tension skyrockets when another family disappears, Kyle Turner’s daughter and her mother.
What made this book hard to put down was how Regan handles Turner’s pain and need to be part of the investigation, even knowing that it’s not smart. She knows how hard it is to sit on the sidelines when someone you love is missing while trusting others to find them. Turner’s pain is absolutely palpable. It’s raw, jagged, and desperate. Watching him unravel as he realizes his family is gone creates a sense of urgency that makes the pages practically turn themselves, even if you’ve never liked his character in previous books. In Stolen Family, you learn what makes Turner tick, and you’ll be more than a little surprised to uncover the truth. You’ve always seen him as a lazy detective, but in Stolen Family, you see him as a father watching a ticking clock and wondering if he’s lost his chance to make things right.
Josie discovers that the key to finding these families lies in the flowers found at the scenes. She must trace the history and symbolism of these flowers in hopes of getting into the kidnapper's head. The Victorian language of flowers is used here not for romance, but as a chilling breadcrumb trail Josie must decode. It adds a layer of depth and intellect to the gritty, macabre scavenger hunt the team is on. Josie’s intuition is front and center as she tries to view the case through the kidnapper's eyes rather than a cop's.
While all of that is going on, Josie is learning how to live and raise her foster daughter, Wren. She’s worked hard to connect with her, but feels ill-equipped to help the girl through her grief. In a touching family moment with her husband, Noah, she realizes that she is the only person who can help Wren through her grief. The moment she realizes that, you see her relationship with Wren change, and her confidence in helping the girl through tough emotional situations increases tenfold.
Stolen Family is a gripping, heart-wrenching addition to the Josie Quinn series. It manages to be both a clever police procedural and a complicated, twisting detective novel, while offering the reader a poignant exploration of what defines a family.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We've had Josie, Noah and Gretchen's story and now, as LR promised, we have Turner's story... and what a story it is!
Once again, LR not gave us what she promised but she gave us it in bucket loads. How can it be that we are in so deeply into a series, book #24 and it still gives me that feeling of pure exhilaration when it hits my inbox and spine tingling goosebumps the minute I see 'Prologue'.
Each and every installment has been my favourite, what can I say, I'm a full on fan girl of the outstanding Detective Josie Quinn, and this has easily become my new favourite.
For those avid readers of the series, we all know (and detest) the douchebag that is Kyle Turner. The sexist, selfish, arrogant Detective that will rather spend his time doom scrolling on his phone than actually doing his job.... or so it seems!
Book #24 will show you a side that not only we haven't seen but one we'd never expect. A man that would do anything to protect the ones he loves..
When the bodies of a mother and daughter are found, in a glamping tent at Denton festival, Josie and her team face the challenge of finding out the why's, what's and who? An investigation that leads them down many paths without many answers. The list of suspects grows rapidly so the team have to dig deep to cross each name off their ever growing list.
When another mother and daughter are abducted things take a turn, Josie recognises the girl from when she turned up at their offices, its Turner's daughter.
Josie's biggest challenge is trying to get Turner to open up, to break down his facade so she can do what she does best, saving people.
Alongside Turner's story we also learn more about Josie and Noah's new 'daughter' Wren. I'm absolutely loving watching their relationships develop and watching this young girl start to open up and see that she is now apart of their family, they will protect her at all costs.
This was one hell of a page turner, paced, as we've become accustomed to a break neck speed with more twists and turns than a waltzer.
Characterisation, as always was sublime. I thoroughly enjoyed having my brain turned in another direction when it came to Turner. As the saying goes, never judge a book by it's cover.
As I always reiterate and will constantly shout from the rooftops, if you've been living under a rock and never heard of or picked up this series then you truly don't know what you are missing. Yes, you can pick it up from any previous book but why would you when you can start at the very beginning?
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Once again, LR not gave us what she promised but she gave us it in bucket loads. How can it be that we are in so deeply into a series, book #24 and it still gives me that feeling of pure exhilaration when it hits my inbox and spine tingling goosebumps the minute I see 'Prologue'.
Each and every installment has been my favourite, what can I say, I'm a full on fan girl of the outstanding Detective Josie Quinn, and this has easily become my new favourite.
For those avid readers of the series, we all know (and detest) the douchebag that is Kyle Turner. The sexist, selfish, arrogant Detective that will rather spend his time doom scrolling on his phone than actually doing his job.... or so it seems!
Book #24 will show you a side that not only we haven't seen but one we'd never expect. A man that would do anything to protect the ones he loves..
When the bodies of a mother and daughter are found, in a glamping tent at Denton festival, Josie and her team face the challenge of finding out the why's, what's and who? An investigation that leads them down many paths without many answers. The list of suspects grows rapidly so the team have to dig deep to cross each name off their ever growing list.
When another mother and daughter are abducted things take a turn, Josie recognises the girl from when she turned up at their offices, its Turner's daughter.
Josie's biggest challenge is trying to get Turner to open up, to break down his facade so she can do what she does best, saving people.
Alongside Turner's story we also learn more about Josie and Noah's new 'daughter' Wren. I'm absolutely loving watching their relationships develop and watching this young girl start to open up and see that she is now apart of their family, they will protect her at all costs.
This was one hell of a page turner, paced, as we've become accustomed to a break neck speed with more twists and turns than a waltzer.
Characterisation, as always was sublime. I thoroughly enjoyed having my brain turned in another direction when it came to Turner. As the saying goes, never judge a book by it's cover.
As I always reiterate and will constantly shout from the rooftops, if you've been living under a rock and never heard of or picked up this series then you truly don't know what you are missing. Yes, you can pick it up from any previous book but why would you when you can start at the very beginning?
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*CRACK* That is the sound of Lisa Regan hitting it out of the ballpark with another thrilling and gripping book in her Detective Josie Quinn Series! I swear the books in this series keep getting better and better! I love the character development, the plots, the cast of characters, and how each book focuses on one of the characters. In Stolen Family, it's Detective Turner's turn to take center stage. He is known for his offensive comments, being missing in action, endless scrolling on his phone, and an interesting connection to Josie's sister, Trinity!
As a heatwave hits Denton and the sweat begins to trickle down the back of resident's necks, a mother and daughter are found dead with flowers arranged on their bodies. Josie Quinn and the Denton PD jump into action and begin their investigation! Then a frantic call comes in informing the force that another mother and her teenage daughter are missing! But this time the call hits closer to home as the mother and daughter missing are Detective Turner's secret family!
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see another side of Turner. I also loved seeing Josie and Noah with Wren at home as they continue building their relationship with her. I also enjoyed how Lisa Regan handled trauma so realistically in this book and showed how Noah was doing since the events in the last book.
As the clock ticks down, the tension mounted and anxiety piqued for both the characters and this reader. I loved how the dread dripped from the pages that I could not stop turning. This book had it all: great character development, tension, dread, danger, suspense, a chilling mystery, and a sense of family. This book became a fast-paced page turner for me!
Wonderfully written, gripping, well thought out, tense, and hard to put down! I can't wait to read what happens next!
*A Wonderful Witches Words buddy read with DeAnn, Carolyn, and Dorie. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Stolen Family!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
As a heatwave hits Denton and the sweat begins to trickle down the back of resident's necks, a mother and daughter are found dead with flowers arranged on their bodies. Josie Quinn and the Denton PD jump into action and begin their investigation! Then a frantic call comes in informing the force that another mother and her teenage daughter are missing! But this time the call hits closer to home as the mother and daughter missing are Detective Turner's secret family!
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see another side of Turner. I also loved seeing Josie and Noah with Wren at home as they continue building their relationship with her. I also enjoyed how Lisa Regan handled trauma so realistically in this book and showed how Noah was doing since the events in the last book.
As the clock ticks down, the tension mounted and anxiety piqued for both the characters and this reader. I loved how the dread dripped from the pages that I could not stop turning. This book had it all: great character development, tension, dread, danger, suspense, a chilling mystery, and a sense of family. This book became a fast-paced page turner for me!
Wonderfully written, gripping, well thought out, tense, and hard to put down! I can't wait to read what happens next!
*A Wonderful Witches Words buddy read with DeAnn, Carolyn, and Dorie. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Stolen Family!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I forgot how much I miss Josie and her team until I picked up a new addition to the series. This book was quite the roller coaster of twists and emotions. What I really liked about this book is that I got to know Turner a bit better, especially his daughter, Cassidy.
Stolen Family is a gripping rollercoaster set against the backdrop of a small town grappling with the devastating impact of a brutal crime. This book balances heart-wrenching emotion with persistent suspense. The story opens with a chilling scene—a mother and daughter found dead at a local festival, their bodies adorned with blood-red camellias. The author's imagery drew me into the scene, highlighting a sense of dread that lingers throughout the book. As Detective Josie Quinn arrives at the festival, her shock and determination to uncover the truth are tangible, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist.
One of the standout elements of the book is its exploration of complex family dynamics. Maxine and Haven Barnes’ tragic fate is just the beginning, as the investigation quickly spirals into a shocking revelation about another mother and daughter who have gone missing. The author intertwines personal stories and relationships, particularly through Detective Kyle Turner, revealing layers of secrecy and vulnerability that heighten the stakes. As the investigation unfolds, the pacing is non-stop, with each twist more surprising than the last.
Also, the author's character development is top-notch. Josie's fierce dedication to her work is complemented by her empathy, and her interactions with her team bring a genuine warmth to the story. The layers of complexity in Turner's character, especially as his secret life is uncovered, add depth and intrigue. Plus, Gretchen is always great.
Stolen Family is a standout addition to the Detective Josie Quinn series, delivering a perfect blend of suspense, emotional depth, and intricate character dynamics. I really appreciated this well-crafted mystery that tugs at the heartstrings, and readers will find themselves fully immersed in this enthralling narrative. The author proves once again that she is a master storyteller, and this book leaves me eagerly anticipating what lies ahead for Josie. I recommend this book, series, and author.
#StolenFamily #NetGalley @bookouture
Stolen Family is a gripping rollercoaster set against the backdrop of a small town grappling with the devastating impact of a brutal crime. This book balances heart-wrenching emotion with persistent suspense. The story opens with a chilling scene—a mother and daughter found dead at a local festival, their bodies adorned with blood-red camellias. The author's imagery drew me into the scene, highlighting a sense of dread that lingers throughout the book. As Detective Josie Quinn arrives at the festival, her shock and determination to uncover the truth are tangible, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist.
One of the standout elements of the book is its exploration of complex family dynamics. Maxine and Haven Barnes’ tragic fate is just the beginning, as the investigation quickly spirals into a shocking revelation about another mother and daughter who have gone missing. The author intertwines personal stories and relationships, particularly through Detective Kyle Turner, revealing layers of secrecy and vulnerability that heighten the stakes. As the investigation unfolds, the pacing is non-stop, with each twist more surprising than the last.
Also, the author's character development is top-notch. Josie's fierce dedication to her work is complemented by her empathy, and her interactions with her team bring a genuine warmth to the story. The layers of complexity in Turner's character, especially as his secret life is uncovered, add depth and intrigue. Plus, Gretchen is always great.
Stolen Family is a standout addition to the Detective Josie Quinn series, delivering a perfect blend of suspense, emotional depth, and intricate character dynamics. I really appreciated this well-crafted mystery that tugs at the heartstrings, and readers will find themselves fully immersed in this enthralling narrative. The author proves once again that she is a master storyteller, and this book leaves me eagerly anticipating what lies ahead for Josie. I recommend this book, series, and author.
#StolenFamily #NetGalley @bookouture
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stolen Family opens with a scene so hauntingly beautiful and unbearably tragic that it lingers long after you turn the page — a tent lifted by warm air, a carpet of crimson petals, and a mother and daughter posed with heartbreaking tenderness beneath fairy lights. It’s an image that sets the tone for a story steeped in sorrow, urgency, and the fierce determination of Detective Josie Quinn.
What follows is a blistering investigation unfolding under the suffocating heat of a Denton summer. The contrast between the festival’s cheerful chaos and the brutality of the crime gives the book a sharp, unsettling edge. Maxine and Haven Barnes aren’t just victims; they’re the centre of a web of fear, secrets, and past violence that Josie must navigate with her usual blend of grit and empathy.
The discovery of the rare camellias — delicate, symbolic, and chilling in their placement — becomes the thread that pulls Josie deeper into a case that quickly spirals beyond anything she expects. When another mother and daughter vanish, the tension tightens, but the emotional blow lands hardest when the missing pair are linked to Detective Kyle Turner. His hidden past cracks open, exposing vulnerabilities he’s spent years burying, and the novel handles his unraveling with a raw, human honesty that adds real depth to the procedural pace.
The investigation moves with relentless momentum: secrets buried in plain sight, a killer who communicates through flowers, and a team pushed to their emotional limits. The heatwave becomes its own character — oppressive, stifling, mirroring the rising stakes as Josie races to stop a pattern that feels both ritualistic and deeply personal.
By the time the truth emerges, the reveal is both shocking and painfully intimate, the kind of twist that forces you to rethink every earlier clue. It’s a story about obsession, fractured families, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love — or punish them.
Taut, emotional, and utterly gripping, Stolen Family is another standout entry in the Josie Quinn series, blending high-stakes suspense with the complex, beating heart of its characters. It’s the kind of thriller that keeps you turning pages long past bedtime, breath held, hoping Josie gets there in time.
With thanks to Lisa Regan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What follows is a blistering investigation unfolding under the suffocating heat of a Denton summer. The contrast between the festival’s cheerful chaos and the brutality of the crime gives the book a sharp, unsettling edge. Maxine and Haven Barnes aren’t just victims; they’re the centre of a web of fear, secrets, and past violence that Josie must navigate with her usual blend of grit and empathy.
The discovery of the rare camellias — delicate, symbolic, and chilling in their placement — becomes the thread that pulls Josie deeper into a case that quickly spirals beyond anything she expects. When another mother and daughter vanish, the tension tightens, but the emotional blow lands hardest when the missing pair are linked to Detective Kyle Turner. His hidden past cracks open, exposing vulnerabilities he’s spent years burying, and the novel handles his unraveling with a raw, human honesty that adds real depth to the procedural pace.
The investigation moves with relentless momentum: secrets buried in plain sight, a killer who communicates through flowers, and a team pushed to their emotional limits. The heatwave becomes its own character — oppressive, stifling, mirroring the rising stakes as Josie races to stop a pattern that feels both ritualistic and deeply personal.
By the time the truth emerges, the reveal is both shocking and painfully intimate, the kind of twist that forces you to rethink every earlier clue. It’s a story about obsession, fractured families, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love — or punish them.
Taut, emotional, and utterly gripping, Stolen Family is another standout entry in the Josie Quinn series, blending high-stakes suspense with the complex, beating heart of its characters. It’s the kind of thriller that keeps you turning pages long past bedtime, breath held, hoping Josie gets there in time.
With thanks to Lisa Regan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
March 8, 2026
Stolen Family is book 24 of the Josie Quinn series and just like the other books in the series was an amazing read! I found it to be a page turner and with a lot of twists that I didn’t see coming. The plot was great, the story flowed beautifully and the suspense and mystery was intricately woven into the story. I loved seeing Josie and Noah, who are total couple goals! Josie continually impress me with how she thinks and how the puzzle comes together for her. I love reading this step by step and experiencing it like you’re standing next to Josie as everything is happening. That’s how good Lisa’s writing is you legitimately feel like you’re right there whilst the events are happening. Wren is such a great addition to the cast and I loved seeing the emotional upheaval that Josie, Noah and Wren are all on together. Seeing those little triumphs and how much happiness is in those little moments especially when Wren’s had such a tragic life, she reminds me a lot of Josie and Dex knew how good an influence she’d be for Wren. I can’t wait to see more of Wren and her life moving forward with Josie and Noah and the trust their building. The love and devotion Josie and Noah have for one another is unmatched and how they enfold Wren and the rest of the people they love into it is amazing. This book was mostly about Turner and his story and I have to say I found it very interesting to learn about the man behind the mask. Finding out how hurt he’d been was really sad and seeing the emotional trauma he was going through throughout this book was really hard to read. I loved meeting Cassidy and can’t wait to get to know her more. I think in little slivers we’re going to see the man Turner used to be- although I think he’ll maintain his douchebag persona to a degree. I loved seeing my favourite secondary characters- Noah, Gretchen, Chief Chitwood, Trinity, Misty, Harris, Turner, Cassidy, Zara, Penny, Erica and who doesn’t love Trout! I’m a Josie Quinn series fanatic and I don’t see myself ever missing a book by Lisa Regan because her work continuously impresses me! Can’t wait for book 25!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lisa Regan's book 24 of the Josie Quinn series is coming up. I can't believe it is book 24 because when I sit down to read Josie and the gang it is like we never left the town of Denton. This book can read as a standalone, but I highly recommend you start from the beginiing of this fantastic journey. The series is that good!
Since we last spent time with Josie, she has been getting to know life with Wren and Noah and how it is to be a parent. A dream she has been hoping for but never thought she would have. It has been an adjustment for all of them, but a welcome time in their lives. The latest case Josie is tackling is a mother daughter murder at the towns first Balloons and tunes festival. Although there were no signs of sexual assault, the daughter must have fought back. A calling card that sets this murder apart from others were the flowers (that turn out to be rare) called the Crimson Bride. placed on the victims as if laid to rest. As they are still working the case, another mother daughter goes missing which truns out to be people close to home. Turner's wife and daughter which Josie only found out a couple weeks prior of their existence. Josie never thought she would see Turner so vulnerable and have empathy for his situation, but she will not let anything get in the way of finding his family. After all, despite the rocky relationship he has with their team, he is part of their office family. Will they find Dani and Cassidy before the killer does the unthinkable to Turner's family?
Lisa Regan has captured us readers with this Josie Quinn family we love so much. Turner has been one character we all love to hate, and I was so excited we get his story this time around. A lot of questions about Turner have been answered here in this story and it was a masterpiece. How Lisa keeps writing stories that are so well plotted, keeps us engaged where I have to keep reading is AMAZING. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of this awesome book!
Since we last spent time with Josie, she has been getting to know life with Wren and Noah and how it is to be a parent. A dream she has been hoping for but never thought she would have. It has been an adjustment for all of them, but a welcome time in their lives. The latest case Josie is tackling is a mother daughter murder at the towns first Balloons and tunes festival. Although there were no signs of sexual assault, the daughter must have fought back. A calling card that sets this murder apart from others were the flowers (that turn out to be rare) called the Crimson Bride. placed on the victims as if laid to rest. As they are still working the case, another mother daughter goes missing which truns out to be people close to home. Turner's wife and daughter which Josie only found out a couple weeks prior of their existence. Josie never thought she would see Turner so vulnerable and have empathy for his situation, but she will not let anything get in the way of finding his family. After all, despite the rocky relationship he has with their team, he is part of their office family. Will they find Dani and Cassidy before the killer does the unthinkable to Turner's family?
Lisa Regan has captured us readers with this Josie Quinn family we love so much. Turner has been one character we all love to hate, and I was so excited we get his story this time around. A lot of questions about Turner have been answered here in this story and it was a masterpiece. How Lisa keeps writing stories that are so well plotted, keeps us engaged where I have to keep reading is AMAZING. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of this awesome book!
April 11, 2026
I discovered this series when stalking my library's purchased books. I'm so glad I did because it has become one of my favorite series.
Up until now, Turner has been a source for entertainment as I read but he didn't feel much like part of the team to me. As the group slowly started to learn a little more about him, he's been becoming a lot more interesting. I started to appreciate him a little more a couple of books ago when he was so good to Josie during a trying time. But this installment really had me warm up to him. And I loved that the author was still able to make a mention of Mettner as the book focused on Turner. Mettner will always be one of my favorite characters.
I am amazed that the author comes up with new ways to make it personal for the team without having me roll my eyes. I like reading about a very personal case in a police procedural and how that affects the team. Getting in their head for those cases gives a little bit of a twist to the genre. But I might have to reconsider being a police officer in a town where the police and their family are targeted so often. :)
While I loved the focus on Turner and the team, this was not one of my favorite cases. But I still enjoyed the book. I didn't feel as connected as I normally do as it unspooled to its conclusion. I think this is a series you can read one or the entire lot, but I feel this one is better appreciated after having read the last few to know Turner's history.
Of all the police series I read, this one seems to pack the most emotional punch. Maybe due to the personal cases, but the wear and tear the cases take on the detectives really tugs on my heart. The characters are multi-dimensional after continuing to grow in each book. And the team as a whole and how it is an ever-growing group.
Whether you are looking for a crime novel to keep you up all night or a series to invest in for the long haul, this book/series should be on your radar. It has remained one of my favorite series since I read the very first book.
Up until now, Turner has been a source for entertainment as I read but he didn't feel much like part of the team to me. As the group slowly started to learn a little more about him, he's been becoming a lot more interesting. I started to appreciate him a little more a couple of books ago when he was so good to Josie during a trying time. But this installment really had me warm up to him. And I loved that the author was still able to make a mention of Mettner as the book focused on Turner. Mettner will always be one of my favorite characters.
I am amazed that the author comes up with new ways to make it personal for the team without having me roll my eyes. I like reading about a very personal case in a police procedural and how that affects the team. Getting in their head for those cases gives a little bit of a twist to the genre. But I might have to reconsider being a police officer in a town where the police and their family are targeted so often. :)
While I loved the focus on Turner and the team, this was not one of my favorite cases. But I still enjoyed the book. I didn't feel as connected as I normally do as it unspooled to its conclusion. I think this is a series you can read one or the entire lot, but I feel this one is better appreciated after having read the last few to know Turner's history.
Of all the police series I read, this one seems to pack the most emotional punch. Maybe due to the personal cases, but the wear and tear the cases take on the detectives really tugs on my heart. The characters are multi-dimensional after continuing to grow in each book. And the team as a whole and how it is an ever-growing group.
Whether you are looking for a crime novel to keep you up all night or a series to invest in for the long haul, this book/series should be on your radar. It has remained one of my favorite series since I read the very first book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The annual family festival in Denton, was bathed in the summer heat; the traffic was heavy with frustrated drivers blasting horns. Detective Josie Quinn & Detective Kyle Turner were making their way to the grounds where the glamping tents were, after learning of a horrific find in one of the tents. The bodies of two women - mother and daughter - were lying, peacefully it seemed, among flowers, beautiful but obviously dead.
As Josie and her team set to work on the investigation, it was only a matter of a day or so, when another mother and daughter went missing. From cameras in the vicinity, it seemed they were abducted. But by whom, and why? And when Josie discovered who the missing women were, she was horrified. How would they manage this one? The Chief threw everything into the two cases, even working them himself. They hoped the women were alive, but feared they'd gone the same way as the first mother and daughter. Would their tireless efforts pay off? Or were more women to be targeted?
Stolen Family is #24 in the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan and it was another brilliant episode in this highly addictive series. I wait patiently every year for a new book and faithfully, Lisa Regan delivers! I love the characters (except maybe Kyle!) and it's good to catch up with the team every book. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
As Josie and her team set to work on the investigation, it was only a matter of a day or so, when another mother and daughter went missing. From cameras in the vicinity, it seemed they were abducted. But by whom, and why? And when Josie discovered who the missing women were, she was horrified. How would they manage this one? The Chief threw everything into the two cases, even working them himself. They hoped the women were alive, but feared they'd gone the same way as the first mother and daughter. Would their tireless efforts pay off? Or were more women to be targeted?
Stolen Family is #24 in the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan and it was another brilliant episode in this highly addictive series. I wait patiently every year for a new book and faithfully, Lisa Regan delivers! I love the characters (except maybe Kyle!) and it's good to catch up with the team every book. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
May 13, 2026
Stolen Family by Lisa Regan
Detective Josie Quinn #24
~ Gritty, gripping, immersive story that had me guessing till the end ~ Couldn’t put it down ~
What I liked:
* Josie: homicide detective, survivor of a difficult childhood discussed in previous books, wife to Noah, strong, resilient, intelligent, team player, intuitive, guardian of Wren, and the main character of this series
* Noah: police department lieutenant, Josie’s husband, calm, wise, good leader, sees the big picture, co-guardian of wren, there for Josie in more ways than one
* The deep love, trust, and mature relationship Josie and Noah have
* Wren: lost both her parents, artist, teenager, trust issues, settling in a bit more with Josie and Noah
* Gretchen: Josie’s partner on the job, older, highly qualified, lives with daughters, strong, wise, supportive
* Kyle: newest member of the team, abrupt, abrasive, his secrets and backstory fleshed out more in this book, daughter Cassidy kidnapped as big part of this story, eager to find out what will happen next in his life
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Not knowing who the killer was till near the end
* That I cared about the characters and the outcome
* Seeing and feeling with the victims and police force as they searched for the kidnapper/killer
What I didn’t like:
* Who I was meant not to like: creeps, lurkers, killers, perverts, and the impact they had on those they harmed
* Thinking about how evil some people are
* Having to wait to find out what will happen next
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review
5 Stars
Detective Josie Quinn #24
~ Gritty, gripping, immersive story that had me guessing till the end ~ Couldn’t put it down ~
What I liked:
* Josie: homicide detective, survivor of a difficult childhood discussed in previous books, wife to Noah, strong, resilient, intelligent, team player, intuitive, guardian of Wren, and the main character of this series
* Noah: police department lieutenant, Josie’s husband, calm, wise, good leader, sees the big picture, co-guardian of wren, there for Josie in more ways than one
* The deep love, trust, and mature relationship Josie and Noah have
* Wren: lost both her parents, artist, teenager, trust issues, settling in a bit more with Josie and Noah
* Gretchen: Josie’s partner on the job, older, highly qualified, lives with daughters, strong, wise, supportive
* Kyle: newest member of the team, abrupt, abrasive, his secrets and backstory fleshed out more in this book, daughter Cassidy kidnapped as big part of this story, eager to find out what will happen next in his life
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Not knowing who the killer was till near the end
* That I cared about the characters and the outcome
* Seeing and feeling with the victims and police force as they searched for the kidnapper/killer
What I didn’t like:
* Who I was meant not to like: creeps, lurkers, killers, perverts, and the impact they had on those they harmed
* Thinking about how evil some people are
* Having to wait to find out what will happen next
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review
5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book #24 and it did not disappoint! I’ve loved the Detective Josie Quinn series for a while now, but this one might be one of my favorites. From the first chapter, the story pulled me in, and I didn’t want to stop reading. The pacing is fast and the chapters keep you saying: just one more. The series is known for being addictive and full of twists, and this book definitely delivers that.
What really makes these books work is the characters. Josie is such a strong main character, and I always enjoy seeing how much she cares about the victims and how determined she is to get justice. The team around her also adds a lot to the story and makes the investigation feel real and intense. One of my favorite parts of this book was getting a deeper look into Turner’s life. It was really interesting to see another side of him, and it made me question whether he’s actually the bad guy people assume he is. That added a lot of depth to the story and to his character. Which was honestly much needed at this point!
The mystery itself kept me guessing the whole time. There are plenty of twists and turns, and every time I thought I had it figured out, something new would come up. The tension keeps building all the way to the end, and the final reveal was both shocking and emotional.
Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the series. It’s tense, emotional, and packed with twists. If you’re already a Josie Quinn fan, you’ll love this one. And if you’re new to the series, please start from Book 1, you won’t regret it!
Thank you to Bookouture for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.
What really makes these books work is the characters. Josie is such a strong main character, and I always enjoy seeing how much she cares about the victims and how determined she is to get justice. The team around her also adds a lot to the story and makes the investigation feel real and intense. One of my favorite parts of this book was getting a deeper look into Turner’s life. It was really interesting to see another side of him, and it made me question whether he’s actually the bad guy people assume he is. That added a lot of depth to the story and to his character. Which was honestly much needed at this point!
The mystery itself kept me guessing the whole time. There are plenty of twists and turns, and every time I thought I had it figured out, something new would come up. The tension keeps building all the way to the end, and the final reveal was both shocking and emotional.
Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the series. It’s tense, emotional, and packed with twists. If you’re already a Josie Quinn fan, you’ll love this one. And if you’re new to the series, please start from Book 1, you won’t regret it!
Thank you to Bookouture for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This might be one of my favorites in the Josie Quinn series. There is another depraved killer on the loose in Denton with an obsession with flowers. This one hits way too close to home for the team. There was some deep emotion for all of the characters in this book. I found myself sniffling a few times.
As far as police procedurals go, you will not find any better stories or cast of characters than the Josie Quinn series. In this case, the guys and gals of Denton are going to be tested to their limits, both personally and professionally. With a mother and daughter dead, and a now a mother and daughter missing, the urgency to get inside this maniac's head is increased tenfold, and they are a deep, disturbing mystery.
Turner's humanity is on full display in this book, which quite frankly was heartbreaking at times. I wanted to cry. You learn a lot more about what makes the mysterious, stoic, smart aleck Turner tick. I quickly realized he was not made of steel, and he does have a heart buried underneath that sarcastic personality. He has always been a mystery and not someone I fully trusted. However, at least part of that mystery is revealed. The detective, of which I was a little leering wondering what made him tick, is now just another man hiding behind a wall of sarcasm and wit. He is human after all.
The dark secrets and intrigue will keep you feverishly turning the pages to uncover the reveal all the way to the stunning conclusion. I thought my heart was going to explode before I finished it.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As far as police procedurals go, you will not find any better stories or cast of characters than the Josie Quinn series. In this case, the guys and gals of Denton are going to be tested to their limits, both personally and professionally. With a mother and daughter dead, and a now a mother and daughter missing, the urgency to get inside this maniac's head is increased tenfold, and they are a deep, disturbing mystery.
Turner's humanity is on full display in this book, which quite frankly was heartbreaking at times. I wanted to cry. You learn a lot more about what makes the mysterious, stoic, smart aleck Turner tick. I quickly realized he was not made of steel, and he does have a heart buried underneath that sarcastic personality. He has always been a mystery and not someone I fully trusted. However, at least part of that mystery is revealed. The detective, of which I was a little leering wondering what made him tick, is now just another man hiding behind a wall of sarcasm and wit. He is human after all.
The dark secrets and intrigue will keep you feverishly turning the pages to uncover the reveal all the way to the stunning conclusion. I thought my heart was going to explode before I finished it.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In this latest Detective Josie Quinn book, a mother and daughter are found in a glamping tent on the grounds of a festival, lying dead in the beds, surrounded by flowers. That leads to one of the coolest things in this story – floriography, the language of flowers. And especially the Victorian symbolism associated with it, when men and women would use coded flowers to convey messages. I’d heard about that before, and I’ve always found it fascinating. So I was overjoyed when it turned up in this book. Josie and the team use floriography to help them search for the killer, as it assisted with determining why someone would have done this to the victims.
But it’s not all lighthearted, as one of the worst things that could happen to the team occurs – the family of one of their own is targeted and kidnapped. Conflicting emotions ensue for Josie because it is the wife and daughter of Kyle Turner, the obnoxious and lazy detective she doesn’t quite get along with. I’ve always imagined there’s more to him than meets the eye, and I was pleased that he’s actually not a bad guy. I’m glad Josie sees it now! But that doesn’t mean he makes it easy working the case. He’s so worried about them that he quickly flies off the handle with each update, and everyone has to keep him from compromising the investigation.
It’s an emotional story that perfectly balances the crimes and the victims, and I kept bracing myself for devastation. You truly can’t pass this one by.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
But it’s not all lighthearted, as one of the worst things that could happen to the team occurs – the family of one of their own is targeted and kidnapped. Conflicting emotions ensue for Josie because it is the wife and daughter of Kyle Turner, the obnoxious and lazy detective she doesn’t quite get along with. I’ve always imagined there’s more to him than meets the eye, and I was pleased that he’s actually not a bad guy. I’m glad Josie sees it now! But that doesn’t mean he makes it easy working the case. He’s so worried about them that he quickly flies off the handle with each update, and everyone has to keep him from compromising the investigation.
It’s an emotional story that perfectly balances the crimes and the victims, and I kept bracing myself for devastation. You truly can’t pass this one by.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lisa Regan is not only an expert at writing mystery thrillers, but is a master at developing intriguing characters that become family to each other and to us fans (at least me), people who have earned our loyal affection. With Kyle Turner, fairly new to the Denton police, she has created an edgy, standoffish, sometimes mean, purposefully annoying, unfocused, messy, and seemingly lackadaisical detective. Except when he’s not. As such, he’s been an enigma of a personality to Josie Quinn, a thorn in her side. Regan has sprinkled little hints of something deeper driving Turner throughout the series since he entered the picture, and we finally learn his back story in STOLEN FAMILY. I have been waiting for THIS book for, it feels like, ages (but really only a couple of years?).. And wow was it satisfying! Turner is pushed to a breaking point, Josie has to keep him from making things worse, and there is a bit of a minor earthquake in how they relate to each other. Full of nerve-wracking races to find a killer in time, this book does not give you much time to breathe. You’ll be so invested that sleep will not matter to you.
While I highly recommend this book for all police procedural and mystery/thriller fans, and it can certainly be read as a standalone, I do think you’d get more from it by reading the earlier books which establish Turner’s character (I think starting with book 20, Her Dying Secret).
Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley, and the author, Lisa Regan, for early access to this excellent book.
While I highly recommend this book for all police procedural and mystery/thriller fans, and it can certainly be read as a standalone, I do think you’d get more from it by reading the earlier books which establish Turner’s character (I think starting with book 20, Her Dying Secret).
Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley, and the author, Lisa Regan, for early access to this excellent book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It’s midsummer in Denton, Pennsylvania and a heatwave is sweeping the town. A ‘Balloons and Tunes’ festival has brought the crowds and the traffic is at a standstill. At the ‘glamping’ ground a mother and daughter, Maxine and Haven, have been found dead in their beds in their tent, surrounded by red and white camellia flowers. Maxine’s separated husband is well known to police but claims he did not kill his wife and daughter.
When a second mother and daughter disappear and the same type of camellias are left on their doorstep, Detective Josie Quinn and her husband Detective Noah Fraley, know the cases are linked and they are looking for a different suspect. It’s especially urgent that the two women are found quickly as they have inks to one of Denton Police force’s own.
This series continues to deliver gripping mysteries alongside excellent character development. This time we get to learn more about Denton’s newest detective, Kyle Turner, who has made settling into the department difficult for himself and not earned many points for diligence or personality. We might just find out why he is so surly and why he spends so much time scrolling on his phone. We also get an update on how Josie and Noah are getting on with their guardianship of teenager, Wren as she becomes part of their found family. A terrific series, still delivering strongly after 24 episodes. 4.5★
*This was a Witches Word buddy read with DeAnn, Debra, Dorie and Brenda.
With thanks to Bookouture via Netgalley for a copy to read
When a second mother and daughter disappear and the same type of camellias are left on their doorstep, Detective Josie Quinn and her husband Detective Noah Fraley, know the cases are linked and they are looking for a different suspect. It’s especially urgent that the two women are found quickly as they have inks to one of Denton Police force’s own.
This series continues to deliver gripping mysteries alongside excellent character development. This time we get to learn more about Denton’s newest detective, Kyle Turner, who has made settling into the department difficult for himself and not earned many points for diligence or personality. We might just find out why he is so surly and why he spends so much time scrolling on his phone. We also get an update on how Josie and Noah are getting on with their guardianship of teenager, Wren as she becomes part of their found family. A terrific series, still delivering strongly after 24 episodes. 4.5★
*This was a Witches Word buddy read with DeAnn, Debra, Dorie and Brenda.
With thanks to Bookouture via Netgalley for a copy to read
April 24, 2026
Another exciting visit to Detective Josie Quinn and her team at Denton P.D. Josie has been trying to adjust to the newer member of the department, Detective Kyle Turner. He replaced one of their own, a beloved friend, who had been killed. She finds Turner abrasive and he believes that she has embraced being the “star” of the department. They will have to join forces when a woman and her teen daughter was killed at the local festival. The woman was going through a contentious divorce from her husband. Josie and her team first concentrate on the husband, but when another woman and her teen daughter are missing, the case becomes personal. The missing are Turner’s wife and daughter. The investigation finally focuses on a man who had stalked both women, but swears that he wasn’t involved in their disappearance. As they delve further into his past, they learn that he was at one time interested in a relationship with both women and had been courting them with flowers, flowers that were found at the first crime scene. Turner has been even more belligerent, toward Josie, doubting her ability to find his wife and daughter. Following further conversation with their current suspect, will lead them to another possible suspect, but will the find the man in time to save his wife and daughter before it is too late? Although this is book number twenty-four, enough back story is provided, by the author, about the series and characters. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
During a festival and oppressive heat wave in Denton, PA, a mother and daughter are found murdered while glamping on the festival grounds. The only clue left at the scene are some rare flowers. Soon after, the estranged wife and daughter of one of Detective Josie Quinn’s colleagues are reported missing. Josie and her team race to solve the murders and find the missing women before they meet the same fate.
This is the 24th book in the Josie Quinn series, and I have read all of them. However, if you are new to the series, it would work as a standalone as the author does an excellent job of filling in the backstories of the characters.
This is one of my favorite series. As soon as a new installment becomes available, I stop everything I am doing and sit down to read it. The characters are well-developed and have evolved over time. I like Josie. She is a capable, intelligent, though vulnerable young woman. Finally, readers get insight into the chameleon personality of the character Josie has given the moniker, “Douchbag”, Kyle Turner, the newest member of the team. Does he have some humanity after all?
This is cleverly plotted and thrilling as the tension builds and the mystery unravels. It is fast-paced, and there are twists in this character-driven story that combines mystery, thriller, family drama, found family, and police procedural in an entertaining and compelling narrative.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.
This is the 24th book in the Josie Quinn series, and I have read all of them. However, if you are new to the series, it would work as a standalone as the author does an excellent job of filling in the backstories of the characters.
This is one of my favorite series. As soon as a new installment becomes available, I stop everything I am doing and sit down to read it. The characters are well-developed and have evolved over time. I like Josie. She is a capable, intelligent, though vulnerable young woman. Finally, readers get insight into the chameleon personality of the character Josie has given the moniker, “Douchbag”, Kyle Turner, the newest member of the team. Does he have some humanity after all?
This is cleverly plotted and thrilling as the tension builds and the mystery unravels. It is fast-paced, and there are twists in this character-driven story that combines mystery, thriller, family drama, found family, and police procedural in an entertaining and compelling narrative.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.
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