Stealth Moves

by Sanna Hines

Three daring, daylight kidnappings stun Boston. When Beacon Hill preppie Liv Smallwood sees an extraordinary classmate taken, she can’t wait for police to find her friend. Liv launches a social media campaign to intrigue the kidnapper and draw all of Boston into the search. Even this is not enough. Two obstacles stand in her way: bodyguard and kidnapper. Holly Glasscock, new college grad and cop wannabe, wins the role of Liv’s bodyguard with bold moves of her own. Convinced the job will propel her into a law enforcement career, Holly soon learns “to protect and to serve” takes more than education and martial arts skills. She’ll need wit, courage, and heart to keep Liv from the man who calls himself “Stealth,” a man tormented by the death of his twin brother, Brandon. One person with two souls, Stealth will do anything to appease Brandon, even risk a final, desperate capture.

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2015

About the author

Sanna Hines is fascinated with the question, “What IF?” What if I were in danger? Would I face it with bravery and resourcefulness—or give in to fear? What if I could live forever, but my loved ones could not? What lies waiting to be discovered behind the veil of ordinary existence?

Journalism, art history and business studies led Sanna to a career in marketing communications. In 2004, she turned to fiction.

She holds a master's degree in art history and two black belts in Tae Kwon Do. Sanna and her family live in Maine.

For more on Sanna, read Mary Woldering's interview here: https://www.maryrwoldering.com/single... Mercedes Fox' interview here: https://mercedesfoxbooks.com/meet-aut... The Thursday Interview here: http://the-thursday-interview.blogspo... S.A. Hoag's interview here: https://topaz08.wordpress.com/2016/06...

Happy reading!

Reviews

[A.M.H. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Olivia Smallwood (goes by Liv). She's a young girl who witnesses her best friend's abduction (the third in a series of abductions) as soon as the book opens. She's your average teen, creative, driven, and not one to be babied, even though her wealthy grandmother from Beacon Hill in Boston has just hired her a bodyguard.

Then meet Holly Glasscock (honestly, hands down my favorite character and the true moral compass of the book). She's a recent graduate who Mrs. Smallwood has just hired as her granddaughter's bodyguard. She's been aiming to become a cop like her father, and just missed the cut at her town's local PD. But that doesn't stop her from investigating the kidnapping case to protect her charge. All the while dealing with two men trying to win her affections: Myron Smallwood (Liv's uncle) and Dan Vogel (a local Boston cop running the investigation).

And lastly meet Stealth. He's a man who is clearly disturbed, with his dead brother harbored in him as a second personality. He's the one who has been running around Boston kidnapping its brightest and wealthiest teens.

These are Stealth Moves three narrators we follow while: Olivia works with her friends and social networking to start a movement to free the kidnapped teens; Holly does her best to protect Olivia (even from herself) and learn the high society rumors/secrets of the Beacon Hill community; and Stealth works to cover his tracks and gather more stealthies (his name for his kidnapped victims) for his cause. Stealth Moves takes a new perspective of the mystery genre, while bringing it into the age of the Internet while also keeping a realistic perspective at investigations. It's a book with so many twists and turns, it will keep you guessing until the last page.

[Michael Lynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Stealth Moves” by Sanna Hines is a well-written novel. I picked up this story as it was one of the selections offered by an online book club I am a member of. It’s a bit outside of the genre I would normally read but the cover and the book blurb intrigued me nonetheless.
I am a great fan of sophisticated Mystery/Suspense tales with some of my especial favorites being Dean Koontz and Allister McLean. The blurb hinted at a fast paced tale with some unexpected twists. With all this in mind I began with very high hopes. Unfortunately, for me a least, this was a somewhat unrealized expectation.
In my humble opinion this work would best fit into the YA Thriller/Amateur Sleuth genre with the MC and her surrounds being basically high school sophomore age. All of the other characters are either ‘peer’ under 30-somethings or more authoritative parental types. As is typical in this genre the plot is replete with teenage antics and angst, as well as being a fairly violence and gore free presentation. Much of the plot concerns the doings and surrounds of the wealthy Boston Back Bay high society crowd and Ms. Hines provides a very complete rendering of this rarified environment.
The author does a very good job setting scenes, and rich descriptions filled with interesting dialog run throughout this tale. The amount of description and exposition, especially in the beginning stages of the novel can be a bit distracting, but once this tale gets going it is both engaging and compelling. All that said, my review.
Our story opens as we meet Liv, Olivia Smallwood, and we are immediately enmeshed in both her exclusive Boston Back Bay private school environment as well as the mystery surrounding the kidnapping/disappearance of one of her schoolmates, Kyle, who is we learn the second Sidley School student to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the past weeks. The tension of the kidnapping and how it roils the nigh imperturbable atmosphere of this old-money secluded enclave is an instant hook. The reader is very nicely drawn into the unfolding plot as we wonder…who could be preying upon these pampered scions of Boston’s most prestigious society families?
Among those upset residents is Catherine Smallwood, Liv’s maternal grandmother, and it is in response to her solicitation for a bodyguard that we are introduced to Holly Glasscock, our co-heroine, who is desperately in need of a job and is on her way into town to interview for a new position as ‘private security’ on Beacon Hill. On the subway ride she has a chance encounter with a ‘groper’ – a creepy man who she confronts after he takes advantage of the packed train conditions to cop an illicit feel. Coincidentally this creepy pervert turns out to be Stealth, as he calls himself, and groping young women is not the only vice Stealth enjoys. No spoilers, but this chance encounter places Holly in direct contact with a denizen of the dark underside of this high-society enclave. Our story picks up pace from there and really clips along breathlessly as the complete tale unfolds, reaches its climax and resolution in only fourteen days’ time!
If all this seems like a lot, it is…and though the story does do this diverse and plentiful set of characters justice there are just so many coincidental plot connections that they begin to strain credulity and in some cases require the reader to exercise willing suspension of disbelief. Plot issues aside the story does pick up pace and becomes a very engaging if quick and relatively easy read. The mystery is not, in the end, too mysterious and in due course the author winds the multiple story lines up and brings this tale to a very satisfactory and surprising conclusion.
Overall I gave this story a rating of 4 stars, though in truth it should be a 3.5 rounded up to four. There are several plot issues, most critically the overuse of coincidence to connect plot events together. Chance encounters are what drive this story forward, and they are often too pat and improbable to be easily accepted by even a credulous YA audience. For my personal taste there were many points in the story where I found myself forced to overlook these unartful connects so as to preserve the overall story progression. On the upside the writing style is strong and clean and there were no grammatical or syntactical errors. One other structural difficulty was the choice of a highly compressed timeline. This tale unfolds and concludes over the span of fourteen days. This requires the plot to move at a breathless, near frantic pace, and this also strains credulity and drains the readers reservoir of belief in the tale as told.
In summary: The downs – somewhat improbable plot, coincidental plotline linkages and artificially compressed two week timeline. Representations of the main characters are a bit formulaic, each one is a stereotype/archetype. Character voices are practically interchangeable and at times with the compressed plot and action it was difficult to know who was speaking a specific set of dialog.
The ups – This story had lots of action, was well written and clean with good characterizations. Good descriptive and scene setting, a few nice plot twists and a surprise ending that will delight many YA audiences. Light Romance is a sub-plot but it never goes beyond a G rating on the heat scale.
All that said, fans of somewhat mysterious/thriller/YA novels will not be disappointed. Overall this story was well written and I do wish the author good luck in her future endeavors.

[Phyllis Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

STEALTH MOVES by Sanna Hines literally starts us out on a wild ride. Liv and Ari, two students who attend the exclusive school, Sidley, saunter through Boston’s Back Bay streets, stopping only to buy gelatos from a street vendor and rescue a stray puppy. A van pulls up for a fleeting moment. When it pulls away on squealing tires, Ari and the puppy are gone. “Ariel Kelly!” Liv screeches in panic searching for her friend, “Stop hiding. This isn’t funny.” And she’s right—there’s nothing funny in kidnapping, especially when Liv confirms the act by finding Ari’s purple beret on the street, grimy with tire tracks. Ari is kidnap victim number three and Liv’s scared!

Thus begins the YA Thriller, STEALTH MOVES, no ordinary crime/kidnapping story, with not a speck of predictable characters. And no worn out PI hot on the trail either. In STEALTH MOVES, Sanna Hines seems to have chartered her own circuitous territory with atypical twists and turns. What you see in the average thriller might be wrapped around what you get. But not this time. What we’re presented with is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Here Sidley students from wealthy Boston families, appear to be targets for kidnappers seeking huge ransom payoffs.

Or not.

Hines has devised a devilishly clever set of interweaving plot turns, both unique and surprising that offer unusual characters like the twins, Stealth and Brandon—definitely not the men they seem. “It’s complicated,” says another character. “You call him Brent, but Stealth hates that name.”

Brent/Brandon/Stealth? What we do know is it can be dangerous to push one of them too far.

A handful of others intertwine in this complex story: Dan Vogel, a tough Boston police officer, Mike Smallwood, Liv’s uncle and Cameron, the guy that knows Parkour, a military obstacle course training that comes in handy.

But best of all is Holly Glasscock, a 22 year old college grad who starts out without a job or a plan, but ends up risking her life to save others. Besides her martial arts skills, she proves herself worthy of praise as a bodyguard protecting Liv. It’s not the easiest assignment.

Author Hines has maneuvered the reader of this fascinating book in a guessing game that goes on until at last we finally breathe a sigh of relief.

[D.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read a book outside my usual genre, I try to place myself in the mind of the intended audience. Thinking as a young adult becomes more and more challenging as I age, but I found reading the YA suspense novel by Sanna Hines, “Stealth Moves,” enjoyable for any age.

Shortly after a teenage girl goes missing in South Boston, high school students begin disappearing on their way to The Sidley School in Boston’s upscale Back Bay. Jokester Kyle Blake is the first to go missing and then a popular girl, Ariel (Ari) Kelly was abducted. Olivia (Liv) Smallwood witnesses the abduction of Ari, placing her in jeopardy as a witness. Fearful of Liv becoming the next victim, her grandmother hires a bodyguard to watch over Liv. Enter Holly Glasscock, a tall, redheaded, aspiring police officer in her early twenties. Holly applies for the bodyguard role, thinking it might be a stepping stone to her police career. The assignment turns out to be more challenging than even Holly expected.

With Holly constantly in her shadow, Liv and her classmates launch a social media campaign aimed at flushing out the kidnapper. Their campaign takes a more desperate turn when the decomposing body of the missing South Boston girl is found.

Early in the story, an unstable, yet brilliant, Sidley School graduate becomes the primary suspect in the abductions. Stealth, now a young adult, is the twin of a brother, Brandon, who was tragically hit and killed by a car just outside school grounds many years earlier. Brandon’s death haunts Stealth, who takes on Brandon as his alternate personality.

Many plots, subplots and questions develop. Are Kyle and Ari still alive? Will Stealth claim any more victims? Is Stealth acting alone? Will the social media campaign flush out the killer/kidnapper? Will Holly be successful in protecting Liv? There’s even a love triangle that develops between Holly and two suiters. The story is fast-moving and multidimensional. At times, I needed to jot a few notes to keep all the players in order.

It’s clear the author understands teenagers. The jargon and dialogue flow naturally, making the storytelling believable and compelling. Sanna Hines has produced a YA suspenseful winner, enjoyed by someone far from being a young adult.

[Bruce Perrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealth Moves is the story of high school sophomore Liv Smallwood’s efforts to rescue three other teens from the clutches of a deranged kidnapper, Stealth. In true YA fashion, Liv outmaneuvers her older bodyguard, Holly Glasscock, in these attempts, only to place herself in Stealth’s sights. In the end, Liv and Holly must work together, when it’s not at all clear whom they can trust other than themselves.

Overall, this book held my attention, with good action start to finish. Liv’s actions take her from one tight spot to the next, with Holly trying to keep up. The descriptions of Boston, Beacon Hill, and the surrounds were well done; they had the feel of wealth, tradition, and history. And in general, the characters were well developed, although some, particularly Liv, seemed somewhat stereotypical.

An otherwise well-written story suffered, however, from a rather unlikely plot. Often, adults in books of the YA genre are conspicuous by their absence or are ignored. But readers of any age might have expected at least some leads to be developed when the third teen is kidnapped in broad daylight, on a busy street, even if Liv did not see who did it. Or they might have expected some investigation of the owners of the building where a body was found, which coincidentally, belonged to the kidnapper’s family. Or they might have thought that the psychologist sister of the kidnapper might have suspected that something was wrong with her brother, who also believed he shared his body with his dead twin. Or they might wonder why the US government is buying weapons from an unknown, 20-something year old without any background checks, oversight, or a contract. And so on.

I would be hard-pressed to recommend this book as a taut, well-constructed yarn – there are simply too many plot holes and convenient coincidences. But for fans of the genre, the action and our two heroines’ growth and courage should be enough to entertain.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, nonreciprocal review.

[Brian O'Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful Tale, Masterly Told

Stealth moves by Sanna Hines is a fast-paced YA thriller. Excellent writing skills, a cleverly plotted story, an interesting and convincing Boston locale, and a cast of well-drawn characters grab the reader’s attention and never let go.

If a reviewer is to be fair to the author and true to his task, one criterion that he must consider is the author’s purpose. Who is the book aimed at? What is their natural language and milieu? Does the author have a feel for her target audience? This book is clearly aimed at the teenage market with its current slang and its modern values. In aiming at them, Hines succeeds on all fronts. The overall attitudes of the young protagonists have that strange, unreachable feel for those of us who have moved a long distance from that age group. We can read about their adventures, maybe quibble a bit at their immaturity, but the author seems to have nailed the inner psychology that is a mystery to most adults. For this only, if for no other reason, the author deserves her five stars.

But, of course, as with any good writer, the psychology of character is but one element of the work. The storyline is cleverly worked out, the interaction between the teenagers and their adult minders is so true to life. Then there is the ‘yeucchh factor’, an ever present, if baffling, component of teenage taste, found in the gross and repellent Momster. But most of all there is the bizarre Stealth, an extraordinary new slant on multiple personality or, more correctly, dissociative identity disorder. The Brandon/Stealth duo is a strange but fascinating element of the book, keeping the reader glued to the pages and filled with curiosity as to the manner in which this abnormal dualism will eventually culminate.

Stealth Moves is well-written, enjoyable book. I can see teenagers absolutely loving it. If you are a reader of YA fantasy and thrillers, then buy this book. You won’t be disappointed.

[A.J. Culey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealth Moves by Sanna Hines is an enjoyable read, with plenty of tension, a fast pace and an intriguing mystery to solve. Having said that, there were a few issues along the way that kept the book from receiving five stars, in particular, consistency and coincidence.

First, re consistency: when the character of Myron Smallwood is introduced, one character refers to him as Myron and in the very next line, a different character refers to him as Mike, with no explanation as to why these two names. From that moment forward, this character is at times referred to as Myron and at other times as Mike and there seems to be no real reason for this. The result is that it feels like an error in consistency rather than a nickname of some sort. This issue was easy to adjust to once I understood these two character names referred to the same one. As a result, after a while, the different names didn’t even trip me up.

The overuse of coincidences to drive the story forward, however, did impact the reading significantly. At times, it felt as if the story should be set in a small village of a couple hundred people because there were so many overlaps and coincidences. This overreliance on coincidence to drive the plot forward keeps this novel from achieving its full potential. Chance encounters (like the one on the metro) and coincidentally managing to be at the right location in all of Boston to make a discovery critical to pushing the storyline forward combine to make the reading less believable and thus, less enjoyable than it could have been.

Having said that, the book is so well-written, with an interesting plotline, intriguing characters and a pace that keeps the reader hooked, it is relatively easy to overlook these flaws. In the end, I did enjoy the read.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealth Moves is a novel about Liv Smallwood, a member of the Boston Aristocracy who witnesses one of her friends (Ariel) literally get kidnapped by a mysterious van. Seeing as how this was the 3rd kidnapping in just a short amount of time, Liv's mother does what any rational rich woman would do- hire a bodyguard! Too bad though that the very green bodyguard was never expecting a kidnapper with dual personalities (and so many other issues), plus an extremely determined teenager who is not going to stop until she gets her friend back!

Stealth Moves is a wonderful novel, cleverly written, and will appeal to the inner detective in all of us. A personal pet peeve of mine --since I am an upper grades teacher-- is when adults write much younger characters that have the vocabulary and reactions of 70 year old historians. This thankfully was NOT the case with this story. Sanna Hines did a wonderful job, and as I was reading it felt as if I were simply walking across the hallways in my school. Many modern day aspects arise in this book as well, such as social media. Each character is very believable, reacts how they should to the extreme situations that arise in the story, and even though there are some fanciful parts of this story, they are eloquently written in a way that you mumble to yourself 'Well, that could work.'

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to any Young Adult/ teenage reader that likes edge of your seat suspense thrillers in a modern day setting!

[Laurel Heidtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m hardly a “young adult,” but I really enjoyed this YA novel. Upper class Boston society is shocked and scared when three teens are kidnapped, two from the same high school. Sophomore Liv Smallwood witnesses one of the kidnappings. Because Liv saw the van that spirited her friend away, her grandmother, with whom she is living in Beacon Hill, hires Holly Glasscock to be Liv’s bodyguard until the kidnapper is caught. Liv, like too many teens, thinks she can “take care of herself,” and resents being treated like a baby. She doesn’t realize that she is indeed being watched by the kidnapper, a young man who hasn’t been on speaking terms with sanity since his twin brother died.

The story shifts point-of-view from Liv to Holly to the kidnapper, and the author handles that shift well. I enjoyed the story, the action, and the characters. My only complaint is that in the first part of the book, there are a few too many coincidences. I won’t list them here because that would give away a bit too much of the story, but they do strain credibility a bit. Still, it wasn’t enough to keep me from thoroughly enjoying the story.

I got this book free through a Goodreads review round in exchange for an honest review.

[Ica Iova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealth Moves is a fast-paced, YA thriller through and through.
Meet the three main characters:
Olivia Smallwood, a friendly young woman who witnesses the kidnapping of another girl.
Holly Glasscock - a college graduate with ambitions to join the Boston police force; she’s
hired by Olivia’s wealthy grandmother to bodyguard her granddaughter.
Stealth, a man with multiple personalities, controlled by his past and confused by his present.
And then there is a pack of students at the prestigious Sidley School, each one having their unique role in the story.
As kidnappings plague the Boston private school, families leap into a protective mode. Olivia Smallwood wants to find her friend Ari but the body guard hired by her grandmother to protect her, may slow things down.
Stealth Moves takes the reader on a suspenseful roller coaster as Holly Glasscock, the body guard, realizes that protecting Liv is not as easy as she had anticipated.
The story ends with another unexpected twist loose ends are tied.
There were only a few minor editing issues, so without reservation I am giving this a 5 stars.

[Toni Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Toni Louise Diol

Little did Holly realize how difficult this task would be due to Liv’s strong will and determination to live her life freely.

In between the goings on, Liv also tried to help her friend, Stealth heal after the death of his twin bother.

I did not anticipate the twist at the end of the book. Throughout, my heart raced and my adrenalin flowed. Every chapter had a surprise that drew me in deeper into the storyline. I cared about these people who became real to me. Constant action did not let up and brought new surprises to Liv’s never ending quest to find her classmate and to slip away from her body guard.

I recommend and encourage folks to discover the wit, charm, quick and snappy dialogue, humor and writing style that keeps a reader anxious to return to the book. My fingers could not turn the pages faster. Terrific story. I am being very careful not to be a “spoiler” for other readers and suggest they curl up this week-end with "Stealth Moves”.

[R.J. Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that strikes you about Stealth Moves is that it’s extremely well written; Sanna Hines is an accomplished writer. The story gives us a view of wealthy young people in Boston that was new to me and, while I did not feel I wished to meet them, I certainly can’t fault the author’s presentation of them. How much I actually like Olivia Smallwood is open to question but I certainly feel I know her,

The disorder suffered by the character known (at least by himself and his dead brother) as Stealth is clear from the beginning; the book’s merit is in the unfolding of a story rather than the solution of a mystery.

What will stay with me from this book is probably the feeling that I have been – for a while – closer to a bunch of self-regarding people than I might have wished; and that I enjoyed every minute.

[Cynthia Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealth Moves is a great game of ‘cat and mouse.’ From start to finish it held my attention. All of the characters are distinct and dimensional. From Liv Smallwood, who sets out to find her kidnapped school friends, to Holly Glasscock, a college graduate and martial artist hired by Liv’s wealthy grandmother to bodyguard her granddaughter, to the very complex Brent Tinsley, a genius with a secret past, the characters are real and present. The action increases with each new chapter, and I even learned something about Parkour, a physical discipline using only the human body to propel oneself from one point to another. The end of the story comes with a twist, a daring escape and an unforeseen ending. I love twists and cool endings. I highly recommend Stealth Moves.

[Georgann Prochaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kidnappings plague Boston as students from a private school disappear. Leaping into protect-mode, families suffer the trauma of not knowing when or with whom to share family details to advance the search. For students of the school friends of the missing, a plan is clear. Hit social media. Liv Smallwood wants to find her friend Ari. She weaves her way through her insecurities and fierce loyalties while coming to terms with a body guard. Holly Glasscock, the body guard, finds protecting Liv is more of a challenge and threat than she anticipated. The story may be written for young adults but is a thriller for adults also. Heart pounding action combines with typical kid dialogue to make us smile.

[Angelina Kalahari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story excellently told and well written.

I loved this novel for young adults. Steal Moves takes us to Boston where three young people are kidnapped. The story follows many turns and twists to a satisfying, albeit surprising, end.

What I particularly enjoyed in the novel - apart from the fact that it is a fast paced and cracking thriller - was the outstanding characterisation of the cast of characters who range through a variety of ages. The author portrays each character perfectly according to the nuances of their age group.

[Julie Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealth Moves is well written and intense, following Liv Smallwood and her bodyguard, Holly, as they try to discover who kidnapped two students from the same private school. Holly has her work cut out for her trying to keep independent-minded Liv safe. The rapid paced twists and turns keep the reader flipping the pages to see what happens next. A great read. I highly recommend it!

[Catherine Strauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a page turner from beginning to end! I am in love with Stealth, the sexy complex bad boy. All the characters are well developed and the story line moves along with twists and turns that keeps you wanting more.

[Ryan Troske · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a fan of the mystery/thriller genre (have a book of my own in the works actually) so I was looking forward to this read. It did not disappoint. A series of kidnappings, an unlikely duo set on solving the mystery and getting the victims home safely, and a tormented man whose brother's presence never has quite left after his death years ago.

Stealth Moves was well written and easy to follow, scenes described in such a way to bring the reader right into the story, following along as though with the characters themselves.

There were a few things that bugged me, however. For instance, there were some parts where dialogue seemed kind of choppy and hard to believe the characters would speak they way they were. There were also a number of huge coincidences that drove the plot along that were hard to ignore. It didn't ruin the great story, but it did cut down the believability of it all. For spoilers sake I won't mention specific examples. Another thing that bugged me was the refusal to believe Holly when she voiced her suspicions on who the killer was. Though the evidence was circumstantial, together it was pretty damning (and of course as the reader we already know who the killer is), but Mike dismisses her theory quite easily without much thought. Just seemed a little strange how he reacted.

Overall I enjoyed the read and diving into this mystery. Characters were easy to get behind, each with their own distinct personality, and perhaps another with two (wink, wink), and the book drove along without too much distraction or falter. If you're a fan of YA, mysteries or thrillers, I'd recommend picking up Stealth Moves and joining the journey of a shattered town, a troubled teen, a and tormented young man.

[Traci Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is a kidnapper targeting kids from a Boston prep school? The answer might surprise you.

Although romance is usually my go-to genre, I definitely enjoy getting lost in a great suspense novel on occasion, especially psychological thrillers. This one delivered for me!

The characters were all well developed; any one of them could take center stage in a spin-off sequel. I love it when that happens. My favorite character was Holly, the wannabe cop hired to protect Liv Smallwood, a fifteen-year-old rich girl at a local prep school. Though she started out somewhat shy and unsure of herself, she developed into this resourceful, spunky little spitfire who would stand up to anyone.

The problem is, Liv doesn't want a bodyguard, and she rebels against Holly's protective measures at every turn, even when she becomes the kidnapper's ultimate target.

The villain, Stealth, was magnificently portrayed. I thoroughly enjoyed the "conversations" between him and his alter ego Brandon to move the story along. Brilliant!

Most impressive to me was how the author wove so many seemingly small details into the final climax of the story. It was one of those "Yeah, that makes sense" type of constructions and I found it very satisfying.

The pace was not edge-of-the-seat all the way through, but it was steady. I would like to have seen a bit more dialogue than narrative at certain points, which would have drawn me into the story and helped me connect with the characters more. But for a YA novel, I'd say this was spot on! I can absolutely picture this being a movie on Lifetime TV.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light psychological suspense with many twists and turns.

[Mary D'Alto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealth Moves is a suspense novel with an interesting story line, and lots of intrigue, all of which keeps the reader interested in the outcome.

Reading this book was difficult for me for one simple reason; I have never read Young Adult books. Not ever! Even when I was of the appropriate age to do so, I was the one reading Emily Dickinson. I started Stealth Moves, put it down and then started it again, twice, until at last I was able to align myself with the flow of the book. I sat there with a cup of tea and willed myself to be present for the author, who certainly deserved my best efforts, the book itself notwithstanding. I found that by reading the chapters individually, almost as if they were short stories, I was able to view the writing and the writing style with the same perspective that I apply when reading other books. Once I was in the proper zone, I was able to thoroughly enjoy it, and find interest in the many adventures of its many characters. I think this is an important point, crucial in fact in terms of this book and its strength. Here I am a non-reader of Young Adult books (entirely), and here is this book I’ve been slated to review. It is one thing to read outside one’s genre. Romance, for example, is tolerable for those who prefer Science Fiction. But Young Adult books, as I have learned from Stealth Moves, exist on a whole other horizon. That I was able to make a connection with the book, and actually begin to gain a sense of understanding of the characters speaks quite well to the author’s writing skills. I want to make it clear here that my review of a book (this one or any book) is never based on “whether I like it”, but rather the book’s qualities. It’s just that when a book is so entirely outside of my scope it becomes more difficult to make a connection with it. That I was able to make a connection with the story line of Stealth Moves evidences the author’s skill, because I connected with the book by connecting with its characters. That, of course, is only possible when the characters are well formed, as they are in Stealth Moves.

There is some good description in this book. I particularly enjoyed the bit about the little dog at the shelter. The whole scene was described quite well, and it made me wish I’d read a book like this when I was a “young adult”. Then there were the bold statements, sprinkled through the story line in a way that perks up the reader. My very favorite was, “He’s a Lawyer. Nobody likes Lawyers.” Grownups are rarely so blunt. It was refreshing!

All things being said, I am quite glad I read this book.

[Scott Spotson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, I struggled with the concept embraced enthusiastically by the main characters of this book—a public relations exercise called “Be a Hero” campaign that involved making an eye-catching, lively video extolling how great the kidnapped victims were prior to their misfortune, and also appealing to the kidnapper himself to turn in the victims out of virtuosity and raising money for information leading to the safe return of the victims. This really threw me off, as it seems so misguided and not in congruence with the appalling calamity that befell the victims. Moreover, I think such a video and campaign glamorizes the kidnapper as well as the victims and sends entirely the wrong message, and complicates the work of the police, whose job is to track down the victims and arrest the perpetrator.

Even if that campaign never saw the light of day, I still struggled with this book, as it seemed to veer off the plot, with too many secondary characters to count, and I lost track of who was who. There was even a subplot about a puppy being found near a dead body… and I felt the puppy got more attention than did the murder victim!

I give this story some commendation for its loving portrayal of Boston. Also, some of the characters seemed interesting, even though their endearment got lost a bit in the bewildering plot and inexplicable choices made by several in the book.

[Leonard Mokos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific young adult novel. It’s a suspense filled abduction/murder/madness story set in an elite private school in Boston. A place for the kids of well monied families. Too bad it’s not safe. When Olivia witnesses the kidnapping of another girl, she’s in danger. Her grandmother’s solution is to hire Holly Glasscock, a college aged woman who intends to join the Boston police force. She is a martial arts expert. Safeguarding Olivia isn’t so easy, however; teenaged Olivia has her own ideas and willfully pursues them.

Stealth Moves is fast paced yet densely populated with complex characters, mostly teens at the school. The dialogue is from a trained ear, real, rapid, smart. The whole thing is highly immersive, with great plunges into Beacon Hill and Back Bay, and the feel of the kids, their worldview, bottled into a suspenseful mystery that ramps to a perfect twist of an ending.

Loved this one.

[L.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this story overall. It has great, compelling characters and a tight plot. It manages to move between different PoV characters without feeling too choppy past the first few chapters.

So, why not five stars?

Mentally ill, gay villain.

That's not too spoilery, as both are revealed fairly early on.

But yeah. In 2017 I'm still reading books about mentally ill, gay villains. Which I'm not against when neither of those facts are suggested to be the reason why they're doing the bad things they do. Or when they're not the only mentally ill or LGBTQ+ representation in the book. But in this case, the villain is the only mentally ill or LGBTQ+ character in the book, and he killed his brother because he threatened to out him and everything he does past that point seems loosely motivated by money and largely motivated by his mental illness.

Mentally ill people - yes, even those with "scary" illnesses - are more likely to be the victims of violent crime than the perpetrators. In fact, they're more likely to be the victim of violent crime than the general population. Perpetuating the idea that mental illness leads to criminal behaviour increases the stigma associated with mental illness and contributes to that high rate of abuse mentally ill people suffer.

And even if you take him at his word - that he's not mentally ill, just possessed by a ghost - he's still a gay murderer.

So, yeah, three stars. If mentally ill, gay villains don't bother you, go for it. I, personally, am in need of a recovery nap...

[Daniel Nanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a father of three daughters, I usually avoid books about kidnapping of teenage girls. Maybe I am just squeamish. Anyways, as I began Stealth Moves by Sarah Hines, I worried it would turn into a dark book that I would want to quickly lay aside or have to force myself to finish. I am glad to say that was not the case.

Hines has a great written voice and her stories are definitely entertaining. I was quickly drawn in to the story and found myself quite engaged. At the same time, she didn't go too dark or try to explore the madness of what would cause one human being to want to hurt or attack young teenage girls, for which I was very thankful. Overall, the story is well written and worth reading. It has some very clever plot twists and unexpected turns that kept me guessing as to how the story would end.

My only point of criticism would be that at times the adults in the story seemed a little too clueless and the plot had some logic issues. With all the attention that three kidnapped teenagers would have brought, it seemed odd that the only law enforcement involved in the investigation was a bumbling local cop who seemed clueless about the mounting evidence pointing in a particular direction. It also seemed a little strange that someone with serious mental issues was being paid thousands of dollars in cash by the government for weapons that he was inventing in his house. Finally, the end seemed a bit odd and left me wanting more justice to be served, rather than what seemed like an unlikely resolution to such a terrible crime.

That said, I think most Young Adult readers would argue that they think all adults are clueless anyways, and some of the logical distractions won't really matter to them as the story is well written and the logic issues may just be me being overly analytical.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to young adults for sure!

*I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well developed storytelling, interesting characters, funny and poignant. "Stealth Moves" is classified as YA fiction but it could have just as easily been classified as Crime or Suspense.

Liv (Olivia) struggles to fit in her new environment in a new city and a new school. Up to now, her attempts to find new friends has not been very successful. Her world changes suddenly when she witnesses one of her new acquaintances being kidnapped, one of three kidnappings of high school kids within a few months. Liv's grandmother hires a bodyguard, Holly, to protect her but Liv is not happy with the limitations put on her movements. Liv, and her new-found friends, are determined to rescue the hostages, with or without the help of her bodyguard.

Although I sometimes found the action scenes a bit confusing as to what was actually happening, I was still hooked by the twists and turns in the plot. The introduction of a schizophrenic principle character adds the suspense element to the book. A goodread.

[Deb McEwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was too long in the tooth to read YA books but this one was highly recommended by a friend so I decided to give it a shot. I wasn’t disappointed. Paced as excellent thrillers should be, there were lots of edge of the seat moments that got my heart racing and a marvellous plot that kept me guessing. Some of the characters were rich kids who could have easily been portrayed as shallow and uninteresting. However, this author is far too intelligent and talented for that to happen.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story as well as learning a little about Parkour (seriously).
Highly recommended enjoyable read.

[Julie Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealth moves is well written and intense, following Liv Smallwood and her bodyguard Holly as they try to discover who kidnapped two students from the same private school. Holly has her work cut out for her trying to keep independent-minded Liv safe. The rapid paced twists and turns keep the reader flipping the pages to see what happens next. A great read, I highly recommend!

[Christie M. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story with an ending that was a bit of a surprise. I definitely enjoyed it and would read future books from this author!

[John Matsui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealth Moves, a Sanna Hines YA thriller, begins with a premise a lot like Along Came A Spider back when James Patterson first earned his reputation as a master twist-meister.
A kidnapper with multiple personalities abducts two students at The Sidley School, a private establishment in Boston’s posh Back Bay.
That’s where the similarity ends. Instead of Patterson’s psychiatrist/detective Alex Cross, the protagonists are rebellious teenager Liv Smallwood and wanna-be cop Holly Glasscock.
The kidnappings of Liv’s fellow Sidley students, Kyle Blake and Ari Kelly, come after the disappearance of Natalie Porcini, a student at the less lofty St. Winifred’s Catholic high school in South Boston.
Liv is drawn into the mystery when she sees Ari abducted in broad daylight. Her wealthy grandmother Catherine Smallwood fears that as an eyewitness her granddaughter may be in danger.
Grandma hires Holly, a tall, athletic, recent college graduate with martial arts training to protect Liv. Holly takes on the role because she needs a job and thinks that the experience may add credentials for her application to police.
Problem solved for grandma and Holly. The only hitch is Liv. The rebellious teen doesn't like the idea of having a watchdog. She wreaks havoc on Holly’s job and life by slipping her leash more than once.
The antagonist’s world is equally unstructured. Brent Tinsley, a former Sidley student, is torn by a pair of alternate personalities. Brent cedes control to Brandon and Stealth who take turns at the helm. Brandon is the personification of his dead twin brother. Stealth is a dark psychological entity that drives the agenda for Brent’s scientific genius and ambition.
Tossed into the mix are a police detective, friends, and relations in the tight-knit society orbiting The Sidley School.
Liv’s irrepressible spirit, her fascination with the obstacle-course sport parkour, and her desire to appear at her birthday/Halloween party dressed as a superhero add elements and YA touches that prove important to the storyline.
Stealth Moves is a thriller that works best when the story comes directly from Liv, Holly and Stealth. Our insight into the key characters deepens and the story unfolds in ways that are unexpected and not as dark as I originally suspected.
An excellent thriller for YA devotees.