A Matter of Chance

by Julie Maloney

When eight-year-old Vinni Stewart disappears from a Jersey shore town, Maddy, her distraught single mother, begins a desperate search for her daughter. Maddy’s five-year journey leads her to a bakery in Brooklyn, where she stumbles upon something terrifying. Ultimately, her artist neighbor Evelyn reconnects Maddy to her passion for painting and guides her to a life transformed through art.

Detective John D’Orfini sees more than a kidnapping in the plot-thickening twists of chance surrounding Vinni’s disappearance, but his warnings to stay away from the investigation do not deter Maddy, even when her search puts her in danger. When the Russian Mafia warns her to stop sniffing into their business, Maddy must make a choice whether to save one child―even if it might jeopardize saving her own.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Book Club, Suspense

368 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2018

About the author

Former dancer/choreographer. Founder/director of Women Reading Aloud, an international organization dedicated to the support of women writers. Visit:
www.womenreadingaloud.org. Debut novel, "A Matter of Chance," published by She Writes Press. April, 2018. To learn more about researching this novel, visit:
www.juliemaloney.net

Reviews

[Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddy Stewart, a single mother, is on vacation at the Jersey shore with her eight-year-old daughter Vinni. While walking along the beach she spots her elderly neighbors while the husband is having a medical emergency. Maddy leaves her daughter with the wife to call for help. When she returns, both her daughter and the wife are gone.

Fixated on finding her daughter, Maddy starts her own investigation of her daughter’s disappearance. The local authorities won’t share their progress and she is warned repeatedly by the officers that she is hindering their progress. With every passing year, Maddie remains steadfast that her daughter is still alive.

A Matter Of Chance is a debut novel by Julie Maloney. What makes this book stand out are the realistic and varying emotions conveyed by a mother dealing with her loss while clinging to a shred of hope. I look forward to a sequel to this story.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it possible to go on after your child is stolen and all trails lead to a cold, impossible nowhere? How do you rise each morning and continue breathing? How does the sun continue to rise over your grief and despair? In her assured and enthralling debut, Julie Maloney takes the reader deep into a parent's nightmare come true: a child snatched away and a mother's suffering quest to find her daughter before she loses herself.

Maddy Stewart, a single mother and fashion editor in Manhattan, is deeply bonded to her bright and lively seven-year-old daughter, Vinni. Left only for a moment with trusted friends, Vinni disappears. What follows is a wrenching closeup of a mother's dissembling over time as she rides the waves of despair and determination. Maddy is sustained by a few close friends, by her art, and by the certainty that she will find her daughter again, alive. She stumbles unwittingly into a circle of corruption that takes this novel from an intimate portrait of grief into a gripping thriler with global implications.

A Matter of Chance is a captivating blend of nuanced character study and page-turning mystery. It will make you late for work, keep you up past your bedtime, find you waving loved ones away, so you can continue reading, breathless with suspense and hope.

My thanks to She Writes Press for an opportunity to read and review an ARC.

[Nazanin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

DNF @ 40%

It was like I’m reading a diary, about a mother who was devastated after her eight-year-old daughter was stolen. Of course, it wasn’t a diary, I just felt like that. The story is written in five parts and each part expresses one year after Vinni's disappearance. When I got to the third year I couldn’t read further anymore. It was full of sorrows of a mother who doesn’t want to lose her faith. Even the writing couldn’t encourage me to read the whole story. It’s not Mystery because from the first chapter we know what's happening but it wasn’t even thriller. So even with the good writing, I gave up… But I think it was just me not the book so hope you enjoy it more than me!

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the kidnapping of Vinni actually been planned? Were Rudy and Hilda watching and planning each time Maddy and Vinni were at the beach?

Maddy couldn't stop blaming herself for Vinni's disappearance. Why didn't she have her cell phone with her instead of having to run back to the house to call the ambulance for Rudy. Was his accident really an accident or had Hilda planned that on her own too?

We follow the police investigation as well as Maddy's own investigation and share Maddy's pain as she mourns the disappearance of her daughter. Maddy did annoy me a little when she did her own investigation that might have hindered the investigation. I am sure I would have done the same though.

There were not that many characters in the story, but you did get to know each character well. Ms. Maloney described each character in detail and will have you feeling as if you are sitting right there with them and experiencing what they are experiencing.

A MATTER OF CHANCE has beautiful, detailed writing and a smooth, pull-you-in story line. You won't want to stop reading because of the engaging situations.

Mystery fans as well as suspense fans will enjoy A MATTER OF CHANCE.

There are a few sensitive topics addressed, but this book is a marvelous, moving read that will fill you with terror as well as love. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the author in return for an honest review.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about "A Matter of Chance" by Julie Maloney.  What would you do if your eight year daughter old disappeared within a few minutes of being in your sight? As a parent, how would you feel? Julie Maloney has an amazing style of writing that has  the reader captivated and glued to every descriptive word. The genres for this book are fiction, mystery, thriller, psychological thriller, and suspense. The timeline for this story is set within mostly a five year period taking you from a beach in New Jersey to  Germany to Brooklyn, and New York City.

The author describes her  characters as complex and  complicated due to the circumstances. Single artistic mom, Maddy Stewart and her precocious eight year old daughter Vinni are on the beach in New Jersey, when there is an emergency and an older man collapses on the beach. Maddy goes to call 911 and leaves her daughter with the wife. Only when Maddy returns, only the ambulance is on the scene with the deceased man. Where has her daughter gone? Maddy  meets with Detective  John D'Orfini , hysterically looking for clues about her daughter and the deceased man's wife. How could they disappear without a trace?

Maddy does have the support system of Evelyn, her neighbor and an older woman who paints to express her feelings. Maddy's friend Kay, and the detective  also offer emotional support as the investigation goes on. Maddy believes that Vinni is alive. This is not just a usual disappearance. Why does it seem like Vinni has been kidnapped? There are twists and turns and danger.  The FBI and the Police want Maddy to stop investigating by herself. The Russian Mafia and  others are giving Maddy  warnings to stay out of their business.

I loved the layers in this story, and the adventure. I admire Maddy's determination , bravery and courage especially with adversity.  Instead of losing herself, Maddy finds a way of dealing and expressing her emotions.

I appreciate the way the author discusses the importance of mother and child bonding, family, friends, love, faith and hope. I would highly recommend this book to readers that like that intense feeling and being on edge. I received an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review. Happy Reading!!

[Vivian Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this very intriguing debut novel by Julie Maloney, A Matter of Chance deals with the heartbreak of a mother losing a child to kidnapping and the torturous and difficult five years she searches for her eight-year old daughter, Vinni. Maddy Stewart feels in her heart that her daughter is alive somewhere and vows never to give up searching for her.

Maddy suffers endlessly and her life is turned upside down, but her elderly neighbor, Evelyn, a mother figure and painter who is nurturing, and Detective John D’Orfini’s vigilance and care help sustain and get her through the traumatic years. John D’Orfini and the FBI are well aware of the dangers in this case, and his numerous warnings as well as the Russian Mafia’s to stop meddling into their business don’t deter Maddy from taking things into her own hands. As distraught as she is, she defies everything and continues her search as nothing can penetrate the love for her child.

Julie Maloney’s mysterious and thrilling story grips and captures from the very beginning. It’s fast reading and a page turner, and I couldn’t put it down. It definitely has a “wow” factor, and that’s what I love about a book. Maloney’s character descriptions pull you in as well as the way she describes her vivid scenes. I also like the way she says it like it is, and she writes with moxie. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from Julie Maloney and her publisher, She Writes Press, for my honest review.

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile I come across a very unique book. One with a complicated plot, complex characters, written in a pattern that draws you in until you’re so absorbed you don’t notice time passing. THIS is one of those books! Beyond brilliant!
Thanks to the author for this copy:)

[Jacqueline Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book that makes me put aside everything else in my life. Well, not eating, or a good glass of wine; those things just go with a great book. But I was willing to follow this character where ever her fine madness took her. And I was continually surprised where her hunt for her daughter took her. I want a character who never gives up. I want the unexpected and this debut novel offers both.

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for this review copy - all opinions are my own!

I grabbed this off of my review shelf, thinking I'd maybe give it 20 pages to determine whether I would read the entire thing......and then absolutely couldn't put it down and inhaled the entire book in one blizzarding April day. This is one of those books I very well may not have been exposed to if not for the author reaching out to me, given that it's published by a smaller press, and I am SO grateful to have had the opportunity to read it ~ the glories of the reviewer life!

Maloney has written a marvelous story that I would best describe as a cross between a domestic drama and suspense ~ it takes place over the course of 5 heartbreaking years in which a mother is desperately searching for her kidnapped daughter, both in the US and abroad. The pain is palpable and the journey was riveting for me, with rich supporting characters and strong settings.

I highly recommend this one to anyone who wants a story that will drag you right in and not let go. And while it is about a tough parenting topic, it wasn't one that was triggering or traumatic to me as a mother, perhaps because the setting and circumstances are so removed from my own. Fabulous debut, Julie!

Also, another book by the same press that hit me equally hard last year was EDEN by Jeanne Blasberg ~ it was one of my top beach picks of last summer and I highly recommend it! Another one that I wouldn't have encountered if not approached by the author.

[Cheryl Olivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Maloney's A Matter of Chance is superb, breath taking, and a thrill a minute.

This suspense novel starts out with a kidnapping, but soon heads down a dark road. It was unbelievable, I was unable to stop reading until chapter 29, where I had to put the book down to breath, and absorb what I had read.

The characters are developed really well, all likeable. You fall in love with each character individually.

Maloney's settings and descriptions of what's happening in the story is so good, you will be terrified by how real it seems.

I loved this story and it will stay with me a long time. Fast paced thriller. The plot takes your heart on a wild ride. Big applause for Maloney. This novel is a must have.

[Margaret Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Loved the characters and the story. Very well written. Definitely a page-turner. Kept my attention throughout the entire book. Congrats Julie Maloney on a marvelous job!!!!

[Anna Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a mother who never gives up searching for her kidnapped child. Your worst nightmare put into words, explored to the bone. This layered, nuanced novel is so beautifully crafted and complex, that even when I wanted to race to the ending—to find out if Maddy finds her daughter, I became so captivated with the supporting characters, the weaving in of international art and mafia threads, I didn’t want to miss a word. Incredibly captivating, brilliant story.

[Joanne Edelmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Matter of Chance: A Novel by Julie Maloney will challenge your life long beliefs and long held moral values.
The world of this novel is one of uneasy choices that beg the question - is there always a clear right and wrong. Is there a simple answer to loss? How does one ease their own pain without causing unimaginable pain to others? Can you justify and stand by your choice if the innocent one is not harmed, but in fact is nurtured and loved?
When something happens to you by "chance" can that event be the ultimate force that drives you to fulfillment?
Julie Maloney takes us on a ride with quick turns that are as unexpected as life itself.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyce Norman
Never have I read a novel like this! Not even close. From the very first you are pulled into this riveting story and can't stop turning pages until its heart-pounding conclusion. I've known Julie a long time and knew she was a gifted writer. However, this novel is outstanding in every way. Her ability to tell a story while keeping the readers focused is extraordinary. This is a reading experience you won't want to miss. Julie Maloney has a hit on her hands! (less)

[Donna Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novel to be expertly crafted - wonderful character development with the perfect amount of suspense.

What was especially interesting to me was how the author managed to interweave a child kidnapping, a fascinating glimpse into the world of international art & painters and the gritty dark side of the Russian mafia into a terrifying and believable tale.

The pain and grief that Maddy, the child's mother, endured through this ordeal was palpable and heartbreaking. It is a wonderful gift to make the reader be able to actually FEEL what a character is feeling.

Truly a page-turner from start to finish, with a strong ending (no spoilers here!). I look forward to Ms. Maloney's next novel!

[Jennifer Haupt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mother's worst nightmare, the abduction of her 8-year-old daughter, is masterfully brought to life in Julie Maloney's debut novel. I was all-in from the first sentence: "The day Vinni and I lost each other, we woke early to have breakfast on the beach." I had to keep reading, and was not disappointed! The tension is masterfully drawn out with details and gorgeous writing throughout the novel. This is a great book club pick!

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Maddy Stewart, a divorced woman who works as a journalist for Hot Style magazine in New York City and who has an eight year-old daughter, Vinni (short for Lavinia). Because she usually works such long hours, Maddy decides to rent a house in the town of Spring Haven at the Jersey Shore for the summer so she and Vinni can spend more time together. At the outset of the novel, Maddy and Vinni are eating breakfast on the beach when they see an elderly couple, Rudy and Hilda, whom they know. Rudy seems to have passed out, so Maddy and Vinni run to help. When they get there Rudy is unconscious. Maddy had forgotten her cell phone, so she leaves Vinni with the elderly couple and runs back to her rental house to call 911. When she returns, Rudy is dead on the sand, and Hilda and Vinni are nowhere in sight.

And so begins a story of a mother searching for her kidnapped child, a story that lasts for five years. (Not a spoiler; the back cover says as much.) In addition to the local police, most notably Detective John D’Orfini, the FBI soon joins the search. Along the way we meet quite a few other people. Steve, Maddy’s ex-husband, flies in from San Francisco where he now lives to join in the search for his missing daughter. Maddy’s college friend, Kay, who just happens to be a prosecutor, turns up as well. All of them advise Maddy to leave the investigating to the experts and to avoid tracking down leads on her own. It’s advice Maddy just cannot take, well, because she’s a mother and is convinced she is the one most committed to finding Vinni. The plot then alternates between Spring Haven and New York City. Detective D’Ofini stays on the case over the years. Vinni is the only lost child from Spring Haven, and he is eager to see the case solved. Maddy asks him questions, and he will resist answering saying it is too early to say. Or he will answer and tell her about a clue, but tell her she is not to look into it on her own. Of course, she looks into it on her own. On some occasions, D’Orfini will include her on a trip to check something out. And then again, he will tell her not to go to this or that place on her own, and she goes anyway. And so it goes throughout the novel.

There are interesting subplots. Most importantly, we meet Evelyn Daly, who lives downstairs from Maddy’s NYC apartment and who is an accomplished artist. Evelyn is old enough to be Maddy’s mother and cares deeply for her. When Maddy is ill, Evelyn takes her to see Dr. Stanley Goodman, who just happens to be Evelyn’s ex-husband. These two characters are wonderful, caring people, full of love and wisdom. To me they are the beating heart of the book. During the course of the novel, Maddy works on her painting skills, and through connections Evelyn has, Maddy’s work becomes more widely known. So despite the horrible loss caused by Vinni’s disappearance, Maddy does come to know herself and her own vision better.

There are many other characters and eventsof interest, but to talk about them here could spoil where the story goes. This book is intended as a thriller, and clues are released slowly. Too slowly for my taste, but the last forty pages or so of the book finally do pick up speed. I guessed some major points very early on, but on other points I was well off the mark. Even at the end of the book, I have a few questions left. Not my favorite genre, but if it is yours, you might enjoy.

[Janelle Janson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author and She Writes Press for providing my free copy of A MATTER OF CHANCE by Julie Maloney - all opinions are my own.

Maddy Stewart is a single mother who lives in Manhattan with her eight-year-old daughter, Vinni. While on vacation in a Jersey shore town, she leaves Vinni with friends for a brief moment when she goes missing, disappearing without a trace. Maddy spends years desperately trying to find her daughter. She will go to great lengths, even if it puts her in danger.

This story is every parent’s nightmare and Maloney writes it effortlessly. Maddy is deeply saddened and starts to cling to friends, to her art, and never gives up on finding her daughter. During her search, she accidentally falls upon a world of danger that turns this book into a compelling, page-turning mystery!

There are so many layers to this story with very complex characters and vivid descriptions. A MATTER OF CHANCE is emotional, gripping, and suspenseful! I highly recommend this gorgeous debut and I am excited to read whatever Maloney comes out with next!

[Maryann McFadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to believe this is a first novel, as Julie Maloney's writing is simply beautiful and the plot so well crafted. When Maddy Stewart's daughter goes missing one beautiful June morning, the reader may think that this will simply be a story of trying to find the child. But it is so much more! It is the journey of a woman in pain who begins to put the pieces of her self back together through art. At the same time, Maddy begins her own investigation into what happened that beautiful June morning that changed her world. The police seem to have given up, including the detective she's falling for, but Maddy never will. Her determination takes her into the underbelly of crime and puts her own safety in jeopardy. At the same time, she begins to find new strength through her art, a journey that takes her to Germany and her own muse, the renowned artist Kathe Kollwitz. It is there that her paths begin to converge. Like her daughter's disappearance, is it simply a matter of chance? Or is the hand of destiny at play? The unexpected twists and incredibly real characters make this novel a page turner. Book clubs will love this novel!


Maddy knows that the police may give up finding her daughter, but she never will. While Maddy never gives up hope on finding Vinny, her strength and determination put her own life in peril.

[Maryann McFadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this as a manuscript prior to publication. It was a page turner and so beautifully written. I predict this will be a bestseller!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few days to write this one. A Matter of Chance is one of those rare books that leave you a little hungover with the need to process what just happened.

When Vinni is taken, Maddy refuses to give up hope. She knows her daughter is alive, but is getting nowhere in finding her. Detective D’Ofini hates that a child was lost on his watch. Together, with her ignoring his warnings, for the next 5 years they uncover a tangle of connections, lies, and hurt. Is it a case of human trafficking? Why is the Russian mob involved? Where is Vinni?

As a mother my heart was sick needing to know what happened. In depth characters and a riveting story, A Matter of Chance will grab ahold of you until the very last page.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are mine alone.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Matter of Chance tells the story of a mothers worst nightmare come true. Maddy Stewart's eight year old daughter Vinni is kidnapped from a beach in New Jersey. When her best friend Kay and her ex-husband Steve give Vinni up for dead, Maddy knows in her heart that her daughter is alive. The story takes us through the five heartbreaking and soul searching years of Maddy's search for her daughter. Maddy's friend and neighbor Evelyn help her find an outlet for her grief in renewing her love of painting. Detective John D’Orfini keeps Maddy informed on the progress of the case and warns her not to take matters into her own hands. Of course Maddy does not listen to this advice which puts her in a dangerous situation. It is hard to believe this is Julie Maloney's debut novel. The heartbreaking story is beautifully written and at times poetic. The characters are well developed and the story captures you from the very beginning. Thank you Julie Maloney for an ARC of your book and this is my honest review. A must read!

[Jenna Kooi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Maloney's debut novel will keep you turning the page as this spellbinding mystery unfolds. A Matter of Chance will tug at the heart of every mother reading it because whose worst nightmare isn't having their child kidnapped. This author shows a grasp for description and emotions, even ones that are raw at times. While reading this novel, you'll also learn about the world of art and the complexities of love and friendship. I started reading A Matter of Chance while traveling on an airplane and could only put it down because the plane landed. A must read for 2018! And it arrives just in time for spring and summer travels!

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Matter of Chance is one of the most passionate, emotionally-charged books I’ve read! When Maddy Stewart’s daughter Vinny goes missing, we can feel deep in our souls how devastated she is. As the years go by and there is no trace of Vinny, we feel Maddy’s heartache and her desperate determination to find her as if it were our own child who was missing. This book is so beautifully written, with subtle nuances that give us a window into how Maddy is truly dealing with her loss. A Matter of Chance is a riveting, truly remarkable book about the depth of a mother’s love...a story and characters that I will keep in my heart a long time. The fact that this is a debut novel makes me very excited to read more by this immensely talented author.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely 4 stars. Gut wrenching, emotional and twisted. You will flip for this debut novel and love the trip it sends you on to the brink and back

Loved the twists. Also loved the emotional stories.

A great first read of the year!!!

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This slower paced women's fiction was remarkably engaging. The audio performance superb. The story was so well carved out that I felt myself being drawn in effortlessly.

When Maddie's daughter is kidnapped, she is desperate and unrelenting in finding her. The plot was simple in its arc yet so complex in its emotional layers. It was a character study of sorts involving the loss of one's child.
I appreciated the emotional struggles and impossible decisions that Maddie had to make during her quest. The ending was powerful and I will admit to experiencing a burst of ugly cry. My only reason for not giving it five stars was the dialogue. At times it was confusing as to what the character was getting at. Cryptic dialogue isn't my thing. I prefer raw and direct.

[Booksandchinooks (Laurie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent an advance copy of this book by the author for an honest review. This book is well written and draws you in immediately. Maddy and her eight year old daughter Vinni are spending the summer at the Jersey Shore. When they see their elderly neighbours in distress Maddy runs to call 911. Rudy has collapsed and Maddy leaves Vinni with his wife Hilda as she goes to make the call. When she returns Vinni and Hilda are gone and Rudy is deceased. As Maddy stays with the EMT’s and police officers she voices her concern that her daughter is missing. After checking the house they realize both Vinni and Hilda are gone. This is only the beginning of a long nightmare for Maddy and you can feel how gut wrenching and horrible this is. As time passes many people believe that Vinni won’t be found alive. Even Maddy’s best friend and ex husband, Vinni’s father give up thinking the search will end positively. Maddy feels and firmly believes that her daughter is alive. She continues the search with the help of a police officer who was first involved in the case. Your heart breaks as time elapses and Maddy misses precious years with her daughter. The characters are well written and the story is well paced. I was totally engaged in this book and the heartache Maddy was enduring. There are more twists and turns along the way as Maddy continues the search for her daughter.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysteries involving disappearances are always a big hook for me. I started this book on Easter weekend and REALLY wished we celebrated Easter Monday as they do in Europe, because I wanted to blow off work to finish it! As it was I read like a machine, because I was so intrigued by what had happened to Vinni. As a mother, I can only imagine the horror and heartbreak, single mom Maddie must have felt when in a matter of minutes, Vinni turns up missing on the beach. I truly loved the character of Evelyn, Maddie's neighbor, an artist who had become like a surrogate mother to Maddie. She helps Maddie cope with the loss of Vinni through art, a passion they both share. Maddie never gives up and neither does Detective John d'Orfini, the policeman called out on the day of Vinni's disappearance. He and Maddie develop a bond and burgeoning romance, which was a sweet highlight of the story. Maddie almost jeopardizes the ongoing investigation several times, but as a parent I could understand taking these risks to try and find your child. The conclusion is both shocking and satisfying. I look forward to more from Ms. Maloney. Thank you to the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a debut novel? I never would have guessed. The writing was so crisp, so sensory. The story unfolded bit by bit, tantalizingly, and it was a struggle not to finish it in one sitting!

What an incredible portrait of a mother's love, faith, and persistence. How life can go on and stop all at once. How, in the face of the worst thing imaginable, Maddy fights, and even loves.

Wonderful.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Maddy's daughter disappears, She gets, of course, a little maniacal. Desperate to find her missing daughter, she does some crazy things. She's hell bent on a mission and I don't blame her. However, she does do a lot of dumb stuff, desperate in her search.

I found this to be a decent read. There were times when I felt that the story bogged down a little, but just as fast, the action would pick right back up.

In the end, I was glad that I got to read this book as I sped through it reading it all in one sitting.

Thanks to She Writes Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.