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Found
When 11 year old Evan vanishes without trace, his parents are plunged into their worst nightmare.
Especially as the police, under massive pressure, have no answers. But months later Evan is unexpectedly found, frightened and refusing to speak. His loving family realise life will never be the same again.
DI Naylor knows that unless those who took Evan are caught, other children are in danger. And with Evan silent, she must race against time to find those responsible...
A gripping, heart-wrenching thriller with the emotional power of series like BROADCHURCH and THE MISSING, this is the perfect read for fans of Cara Hunter, Heidi Perks, Claire Douglas, Fiona Barton, Susie Steiner and Nuala Ellwood.
Especially as the police, under massive pressure, have no answers. But months later Evan is unexpectedly found, frightened and refusing to speak. His loving family realise life will never be the same again.
DI Naylor knows that unless those who took Evan are caught, other children are in danger. And with Evan silent, she must race against time to find those responsible...
A gripping, heart-wrenching thriller with the emotional power of series like BROADCHURCH and THE MISSING, this is the perfect read for fans of Cara Hunter, Heidi Perks, Claire Douglas, Fiona Barton, Susie Steiner and Nuala Ellwood.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2019
9560 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,108 reviews
October 23, 2019
I found this book so very boring. Too many characters who were all under developed. The slow pacing of the book was one of the main reasons for my bordem i think, and the premise was poor and lacked detail! Can hardly call this book a psychological thriller, nothing about the crimes were revealed, it takes a stance on the effects on the family when a child goes missing and that's it. If you get attached to the characters i can see how the book is tear jerking and heart warming but otherwise it's the most boring crime book you will ever read.
May 19, 2020
Very tame, boring, and straight forward narrative. No unexpectedness or twists and turns, no clever linkages, no red herrings, no false leads, no fall outs, no nothing. Can’t understand why this book has such a high-rating or why it’s allowed to be classified a thriller. It basically goes like this:
Boy goes missing
Boy is found
Boy goes home and retreats into his shell by not talking at all
This is hard for his parents
So boy goes to live with grandparents and begins to come out of his shell but still only says about 10 words
Grandmother dies of natural causes
Another boy is kidnapped
First boy finally speaks a small handful of words
Second boy is found
Grandfather dies of natural causes
A trial happens apparently and lots of men we know nothing about are found guilty
The end
Also that tag line: “A missing child returns. But who took him?”
Yes as people who finished the book we’d quite like to know that too! Who took him?!!
“Some men.”
Oh okay.
Boy goes missing
Boy is found
Boy goes home and retreats into his shell by not talking at all
This is hard for his parents
So boy goes to live with grandparents and begins to come out of his shell but still only says about 10 words
Grandmother dies of natural causes
Another boy is kidnapped
First boy finally speaks a small handful of words
Second boy is found
Grandfather dies of natural causes
A trial happens apparently and lots of men we know nothing about are found guilty
The end
Also that tag line: “A missing child returns. But who took him?”
Yes as people who finished the book we’d quite like to know that too! Who took him?!!
“Some men.”
Oh okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2019
Evan and friend Stewie are delayed from leaving rugby practice by Evan looking for his boot. They go to the newsagents for crisps and a can of Fanta, but the time they reach the bus stop Evan has missed his bus so Stewie walks home and leaves Evan to wait for the next bus. Sadly Evan never boards the bus as he disappears!!
The police investigate his disappearance but the case soon goes cold. After 8 months Evan is discovered but he returns too traumatised to talk. Getting Evan back is not the end of the story, as we see what happens after a kidnapped child returns. Evan hides in his room too afraid to go out, with the family not knowing what to do for the best.
When another boy goes missing, the police are having to rely on Evan to help them.
I am guilty of saying I will not read a book about missing children again, as this seems to be a popular topic, but I thoroughly enjoyed this,It was a beautifully written story about families, loss and learning to move on.
Will definitely be looking out for Erin Kinsley’s next book. Can’t believe this is her debut.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
The police investigate his disappearance but the case soon goes cold. After 8 months Evan is discovered but he returns too traumatised to talk. Getting Evan back is not the end of the story, as we see what happens after a kidnapped child returns. Evan hides in his room too afraid to go out, with the family not knowing what to do for the best.
When another boy goes missing, the police are having to rely on Evan to help them.
I am guilty of saying I will not read a book about missing children again, as this seems to be a popular topic, but I thoroughly enjoyed this,It was a beautifully written story about families, loss and learning to move on.
Will definitely be looking out for Erin Kinsley’s next book. Can’t believe this is her debut.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
July 30, 2019
Wow! I had no idea when I picked up this book that it would be such an emotional punch to the gut! I was probably expecting a run of the mill police procedural but what I got was a beautifully written book about family and loss that evoked so many feelings in me, I developed goosebumps. Yes, it is a crime drama with a police investigation into the disappearance and subsequent reappearance of an 11 year old boy but it’s also the story of the family affected and that really tugs at the heartstrings. It may have a harrowing and difficult to read subject matter but never does the reader feel like they are also being exploited. Everything about the time Evan is away from his family is handled with a quiet dignity and no overly graphic information. I found myself probably more upset by what wasn’t said than by what was.
I couldn’t begin to imagine the fear and horror that must explode into the world of the parents of missing children. Ofcourse there are different levels and types of abductions but when Evan disappears it does appear to be that very rare instance of an opportunist abduction by a stranger. As Claire, his mother, observes it’s only by a string of “if onlys” strung together by a length of coincidence that lead to his enforced estrangement from them. And if his parents thought it was hard before, when he returns to them broken and devastated and no longer the same little boy he was, they realise that things have to get worse before they get better.
I can quite understand why this has been chosen for the Radio 2 Book Club Read this summer as it has so many themes running through it that can be used to start discussions. I loved the character development especially that of Rachel Naylor who started off quiet but gradually became the driving force that drove the investigation onwards. Her personal life added enough detail to form a fuller picture of her goals and I loved watching her work to achieve them.
The dedication on the first page sets the tone for this book and throughout I really did feel for parents who have to go through the horror of a missing child in real life. Erin Kinsley has delivered a perfect snapshot into a club that no one ever wants to join. I’d give it more than 5 stars if I possibly could!
I couldn’t begin to imagine the fear and horror that must explode into the world of the parents of missing children. Ofcourse there are different levels and types of abductions but when Evan disappears it does appear to be that very rare instance of an opportunist abduction by a stranger. As Claire, his mother, observes it’s only by a string of “if onlys” strung together by a length of coincidence that lead to his enforced estrangement from them. And if his parents thought it was hard before, when he returns to them broken and devastated and no longer the same little boy he was, they realise that things have to get worse before they get better.
I can quite understand why this has been chosen for the Radio 2 Book Club Read this summer as it has so many themes running through it that can be used to start discussions. I loved the character development especially that of Rachel Naylor who started off quiet but gradually became the driving force that drove the investigation onwards. Her personal life added enough detail to form a fuller picture of her goals and I loved watching her work to achieve them.
The dedication on the first page sets the tone for this book and throughout I really did feel for parents who have to go through the horror of a missing child in real life. Erin Kinsley has delivered a perfect snapshot into a club that no one ever wants to join. I’d give it more than 5 stars if I possibly could!
December 16, 2019
While I love ‘who dunnits’ and the thrill of the chase,the vital component,for me,is the connection made with the main characters,be they the police officers or the victim.
And while this story’s premise is interesting and piqued my curiosity,I found something profoundly lacking in its midst.
I didn’t relate to the main officers,called by their last names,as there was no character development in the story.I didn’t walk in their footsteps,shadow them in their quest to find out who abducted Evan,nor did I share in their despair at not finding them.
Yes,I felt sorry for Evan and his family but there was a disconnect that left me feeling heartless and a little bored with the plot. There wasn’t that necessary empathy,that feeling of shared responsibility to find the culprits,there was just a story narrated somewhat dispassionately that left me feeling like an outsider looking in,not part of the team.
Prospective readers,please read the other reviews and decide for yourself if this book is for you.
And while this story’s premise is interesting and piqued my curiosity,I found something profoundly lacking in its midst.
I didn’t relate to the main officers,called by their last names,as there was no character development in the story.I didn’t walk in their footsteps,shadow them in their quest to find out who abducted Evan,nor did I share in their despair at not finding them.
Yes,I felt sorry for Evan and his family but there was a disconnect that left me feeling heartless and a little bored with the plot. There wasn’t that necessary empathy,that feeling of shared responsibility to find the culprits,there was just a story narrated somewhat dispassionately that left me feeling like an outsider looking in,not part of the team.
Prospective readers,please read the other reviews and decide for yourself if this book is for you.
May 23, 2019
2.5 stars
I couldn't decide what this book was trying to be,a mystery/police detective type book,or a family drama,because depending on what page you opened it on,it could be either.
It's a very readable book,but for me,there just felt a lack of urgency,a litte laid back.
I can't really put my finger on it... I felt something was missing,or possibly I missed something?
That said,I rather wanted to move in with grandad myself.
I couldn't decide what this book was trying to be,a mystery/police detective type book,or a family drama,because depending on what page you opened it on,it could be either.
It's a very readable book,but for me,there just felt a lack of urgency,a litte laid back.
I can't really put my finger on it... I felt something was missing,or possibly I missed something?
That said,I rather wanted to move in with grandad myself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2019
Found is the debut novel by Erin Kinsley and what a gripping thriller it is.
After rugby practice Evan and Stewie go to the local newsagents, at first, they are undecided what to buy, Evan decides to buy a can of Fanta and Stewie chooses salt and vinegar crisps. They part company when Stewie walks up Church road and Evan walks towards the bus stop but, he never makes it, he disappears.
The police look for Evan but without no proper leads and other cases taking precedence. The case runs cold. Until months later, Evan is found. But Evan is not the same boy. At first, he will not speak. He is totally traumatised. He goes and lives with grand parents on a farm. He loves it there and soon Evan starts to open and when news that another boy has gone missing it’s up to him to help the police.
I really enjoyed this. This is a great page turner, not as fast paced as other thrillers but, it had an interesting storyline and a great character. I thought it was well written and sensitively done considering the subject matter. I would highly recommend.
After rugby practice Evan and Stewie go to the local newsagents, at first, they are undecided what to buy, Evan decides to buy a can of Fanta and Stewie chooses salt and vinegar crisps. They part company when Stewie walks up Church road and Evan walks towards the bus stop but, he never makes it, he disappears.
The police look for Evan but without no proper leads and other cases taking precedence. The case runs cold. Until months later, Evan is found. But Evan is not the same boy. At first, he will not speak. He is totally traumatised. He goes and lives with grand parents on a farm. He loves it there and soon Evan starts to open and when news that another boy has gone missing it’s up to him to help the police.
I really enjoyed this. This is a great page turner, not as fast paced as other thrillers but, it had an interesting storyline and a great character. I thought it was well written and sensitively done considering the subject matter. I would highly recommend.
Read
January 11, 2020I listened to the audio book of Found and was enwrapped. I am not normally a big fan of police procedurals but this book captured me with the tender, thoughtful and realistic portrayal of the the victims of the crime - not just Evan, the snatched boy, but his mother, father and grandparents. Following their emotional journeys through the book was as gripping as the investigation to find Ewan and arrest his kidnappers. Hugely recommended.
July 24, 2019
Claire and Matt are faced with every parent’s worst nightmare when their son, Evan, fails to return from school. Evan was taken from a bus stop in broad daylight. With no witnesses, zero leads and a reconstruction that doesn’t provide any answers, detectives fail to move forward in their investigation.
Months go by, until Evan is unexpectedly found and returned home to his parents. But the damage has been done. Evan won’t talk, will not venture outside and hides himself away in his bedroom. Detectives are desperate to hunt down Evan’s kidnappers for fear they might strike again and kidnap another child but without Evan’s help, they don’t even know where to start.
I must say, this didn’t at all turn out the way I expected it to. This is one of those books that doesn’t quite fit into just any category. There’s the police procedural angle as the reader follows detectives on their frustrating journey to answers. But there is also more of a family drama side to this story as Evan’s family first go through the horrible period of his disappearance and then later need to deal with his return and the changes he’s undergone.
These were the chapters that are still very much at the forefront of my mind. The relationship between Evan and his granddad, especially, really got to me. It was just so warm and genuine, full of love and patience and I adored every minute they spent together. I never really considered that Found would move me as much as it did.
As harrowing as Found’s topic may be, I feel the author really managed to get events across without bombarding the reader with disturbing scene upon disturbing scene. A lot is left up to the reader’s imagination, be that a good or a bad thing. The story is chilling enough on its own, it didn’t need any added shock value and I appreciate that Erin Kinsley shied away from that and dealt with things in an incredibly sensitive way.
Found is a compelling and often devastating read, beautifully written and extremely sympathetically done. A truly impressive debut by Erin Kinsley.
Months go by, until Evan is unexpectedly found and returned home to his parents. But the damage has been done. Evan won’t talk, will not venture outside and hides himself away in his bedroom. Detectives are desperate to hunt down Evan’s kidnappers for fear they might strike again and kidnap another child but without Evan’s help, they don’t even know where to start.
I must say, this didn’t at all turn out the way I expected it to. This is one of those books that doesn’t quite fit into just any category. There’s the police procedural angle as the reader follows detectives on their frustrating journey to answers. But there is also more of a family drama side to this story as Evan’s family first go through the horrible period of his disappearance and then later need to deal with his return and the changes he’s undergone.
These were the chapters that are still very much at the forefront of my mind. The relationship between Evan and his granddad, especially, really got to me. It was just so warm and genuine, full of love and patience and I adored every minute they spent together. I never really considered that Found would move me as much as it did.
As harrowing as Found’s topic may be, I feel the author really managed to get events across without bombarding the reader with disturbing scene upon disturbing scene. A lot is left up to the reader’s imagination, be that a good or a bad thing. The story is chilling enough on its own, it didn’t need any added shock value and I appreciate that Erin Kinsley shied away from that and dealt with things in an incredibly sensitive way.
Found is a compelling and often devastating read, beautifully written and extremely sympathetically done. A truly impressive debut by Erin Kinsley.
November 30, 2019
9There were aspects of this book that I enjoyed but ultimately I would not describe it as "a gripping, heart-wrenching thriller", I would actually refrain from using the word 'thriller' at all.
I was very intrigued by the premise of Found (as someone who very rarely picks up crime/ thrillers) and I did race through the first quarter of the book, however when Evan was found the story became more about family therapy and the mundane day-to-day lives of every character. It is probably quite realistic that the police face budget cuts and are reassigned from one case to another, unfortunately this just didn't equate to a gripping read.
I can see the merit in the reviews saying that this book deals with a sensitive topic in a respectable way, but there is no sense of urgency at all, not in regards to finding the people responsible or helping Evan come to terms with what has happened to him.
If this book had been described as a novel about family and coming to terms with grief, with some aspects of crime then I think I would have given it a higher rating. I just kept waiting for a break in the case, or the suspense and anticipation usually felt in a thriller novel and I was left disappointed.
I was very intrigued by the premise of Found (as someone who very rarely picks up crime/ thrillers) and I did race through the first quarter of the book, however when Evan was found the story became more about family therapy and the mundane day-to-day lives of every character. It is probably quite realistic that the police face budget cuts and are reassigned from one case to another, unfortunately this just didn't equate to a gripping read.
I can see the merit in the reviews saying that this book deals with a sensitive topic in a respectable way, but there is no sense of urgency at all, not in regards to finding the people responsible or helping Evan come to terms with what has happened to him.
If this book had been described as a novel about family and coming to terms with grief, with some aspects of crime then I think I would have given it a higher rating. I just kept waiting for a break in the case, or the suspense and anticipation usually felt in a thriller novel and I was left disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2019
I came to this with high hopes, the reviews were amazing and included two from writers I respect. What a disappointment. As other reviewers have said, the book couldn't decide what genre it wanted to follow and rambled unconvincingly. The police procedural aspect was shoddy, at best. Surely two of the first aspects to be investigated after an abduction would be the background of the school caretaker and the history of the car the boy was found in? It is all very well bemoaning lack of resources for the police but how did it take them 18 months to discover the car was reported missing after the boy was found? No doubt the lead detective was too busy deciding what filling to choose for her three olive ciabatta.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2020
Extremely bland. Much more of a character study of a family torn apart by their child being kidnapped, than a thriller about the kidnap itself. The plot seriously lacked development.
October 6, 2024
Such a boring story.
March 9, 2025
This was one of those books that I really didn’t want to end but really wanted to finish to see what happens!
It was about a boy who was taken and then found. A not nice event but it was written in such a thought provoking way, without any “thriller” detail.
All the characters were so likeable and lovable. Especially Jack. He was the grandpa everyone would Love.
Also Tissues needed for this book.
It was about a boy who was taken and then found. A not nice event but it was written in such a thought provoking way, without any “thriller” detail.
All the characters were so likeable and lovable. Especially Jack. He was the grandpa everyone would Love.
Also Tissues needed for this book.
August 16, 2020
What a novel
I really, really enjoyed this read. I have such a soft spot for children being abused in any fashion but I enjoyed the way this book relayed such a message. I can’t wait to read her next novel Innocent. Her writing style and character portrayals are excellent. I was into this book from the first page until the end.
I really, really enjoyed this read. I have such a soft spot for children being abused in any fashion but I enjoyed the way this book relayed such a message. I can’t wait to read her next novel Innocent. Her writing style and character portrayals are excellent. I was into this book from the first page until the end.
December 21, 2022
I enjoyed this book enough to give it 3 stars. Thankfully everyone has their own opinions and although it wasn’t fast paced it was still good to read.
August 2, 2021
4,2 Vrlo dobra obiteljska drama, razradena, detaljna, bez nepotrebnih preokreta i teatralnosti. Zanimljiv roman s puno detektivskih dijelova, ali njegov najbolji dio je pozadinska obiteljska prica koja dokazuje kolika je snaga ljubavi, potpore i razumijevanja.
January 31, 2025
A harrowing subject but it was handled really well. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 22, 2019
Story was okay. Ending was not exciting
Story was very good at the start of this book. The ending was not as exciting as I imagined it was going to be.
Story was very good at the start of this book. The ending was not as exciting as I imagined it was going to be.
September 24, 2024
At 50+ percent I can’t finish this book. Nothing gripping about it. The writing drags to the point that I can’t engage.
January 28, 2025
A young boy is kidnapped from a bus stop as he comes home from school. Around a year later, he’s found and returned to his family.
What happened to him? And can he help investigators find the ones who did this to him before they strike again?
Found by Erin Kinsley is a thriller, but it is also poignantly character driven to the point where you truly feel for the characters involved. It’s unconventional in the sense that the integral mystery--finding Evan--is accomplished rather quickly in the novel.
However, the characters and the storyline keep you around until the very end when the final truth is revealed and resolved.
What happened to him? And can he help investigators find the ones who did this to him before they strike again?
Found by Erin Kinsley is a thriller, but it is also poignantly character driven to the point where you truly feel for the characters involved. It’s unconventional in the sense that the integral mystery--finding Evan--is accomplished rather quickly in the novel.
However, the characters and the storyline keep you around until the very end when the final truth is revealed and resolved.
July 25, 2019
I have seen this book mentioned a lot lately and I was pleasantly surprised when I was approved on Netgalley (sorry for swearing there!) to read it, I wanted to make sure I read it in time for today! This is a little gem of a book, tackling a horrifying situation in such a way made this story all the more moving.
Evan goes missing one day after school, taken from a bus stop, no rhyme nor reason to why. Just gone! When reading that my heart stopped, making me live terrors I never want to have to face with mini-me. How could he just disappear? Why?
Found is told from multiple points of view and flits between first and third-person narration. I loved this! A couple of times I got confused but once you got in the flow of the book, I found it easy to know where I was and with who. To me, this narration made more of an impact, to allow us to separate from the situation we are in with Evan and his family. The chapters are all headed up with the date, further adding to the dread of whether Evan would come home?
I did find the book dipped a little in the middle because I couldn’t see where it was going. I wasn’t going to stop reading or anything, and then I found once I got through the midway I was racing to the end to get answers. This is not a thrill-seeking flying book, this book attempts to allow you to feel the gravity of such a situation, chapters highlighting the day, showing how slow and long investigations can take. How long a journey that Evan and his family must take to regain new normality.
We live the months of Claire and Matt, Evans’ parents, trying to survive each day, living separate lives, one finding solace down the end of a bottle and the other, well we never quite know. We also focus on Naylor and Hagen the lead detectives on the case. Feeling the frustration they feel with the constant dead ends, and then being told to focus their energies elsewhere. Then Evan comes home!
The middle part of the book focuses on this. How he has withdrawn himself from the horrors and finds a sanctuary at his grandparent’s house. A place he feels safe as he can see all around. Here my heart broke, his relationship with his grandpa Jack brought me to my knees. A man who is overwhelmed to have his grandson back, never pushing him to talk, just takes him fishing, helping on the farm. Such a wonderful support for him. Not going to lie I cried in a few of these pages and then a lot at the end. Jack’s love shines through and this helps Evan take those small steps back to our world.
The last part is where it does ramp up. Another boy has been taken, can Evan help? This was tough as a reader, you never quite know what Evan has gone through as you are never told. But from the snippets that Naylor and Hagen mention you can imagine the horrors he has experienced.
I think what Kinsley has done here with this book is immense. She has shown us such a difficult subject to read, there is no glamour nor glorification, more a realistic indication of how things work. The in-depth police procedural was thrilling to read, uncovering each new piece of evidence, new leads, the breath of emotion when things don’t always pan out. Alongside this, was the everyday mundane we take for granted. A family wanting to get back to “normal” whilst trying to pick up the pieces of this shocking situation. Seeing Naylor lead her life, the talk of the police Christmas party amplifies this, a break from the horrific.
I will be keeping an eye out for Kinsley future works as this was taut and left me dealing with so many overwhelming emotions. I cried a lot at the end, for the relief and for the pain in Found, I needed to know that there would be a conclusion and one that was satisfying. Sitting back and thinking of this book as a whole, has left me speechless, where at first I thought “I enjoyed it, it was good.” I am rethinking this and I think I did absolutely enjoyed it and think it is a must-read. You may feel in places that paragraphs don’t add to the book, or they are cumbersome but when reflecting they meant something, they were powerful, highlighting the differences in the separate lives. For me, I am adding this to my list for book of the year. I am so moved by this book, I want to say it’s a beautifully woven story, but I can’t explain why due to the plot. I do feel like it’s beautifully told, the growth from the characters, albeit unnecessary as no one should have to go through this, showed strength, a family finding themselves again.
July 2, 2023
You can always judge how good a book is by how late you stay up at night reading it/ how quickly you finish it! This was a great read. A family living a nightmare as their son goes missing one day, and although they have the ecstasy of Evan returning, no one (including myself) is prepared for how the events will affect Evan afterwards..
August 2, 2019
Claire and Matt Ferrer find themselves plunged into every parents worst living nightmare when their eleven year old son Evan vanishes on his way home from school. The police find themselves under massive pressure to solve the case but find they have no answers to where Evan is.
Then,..months later Evan is unexpectedly found but he is severely traumatised and refuses to speak. His family are overjoyed that he is home again but begin to realise that their lives will never be the same again.
DI Naylor and her team know that unless the people who abducted Evan are found,other children are in danger. But with Evaan not talking,will they find themselves in a race against time to find the perpetrators before it is too late.
Although Found is a police procedural,the heart of the story is how Evan's family are affected and cope during and after his abduction. It was obvious that Claire loved her son deeply and her conflicting feelings about how much she wanted to know about what happened to Evan were portrayed realistically. I don't know how much detail I would want to know if I found myself in the same situation. Evan's relashionship with his grandfather Jack was heart warming,Jack had so much patience with Evan and the scenes where Jack went into Evan's bedroom at night and read to him when he was having nightmares were lovely and brought a lump to my throat. I liked Claire and Jack but I can't say I liked Matt very much,he seemed to have a very negative attitude towards everything and never seemed interested in helping his son recover from his traumatic experience.
I loved the banter between DI Naylor and her team,they worked well together and there was none of the oneupmanship and back stabbing that you normally find in a lot of police procedurals. I think that it is disgraceful that in the twenty first century,the police are forced to prioritise cases due to lack of resources and cases like Evan's can be shelved and not even one officer be left investigating and trying to find new leads. And yet certain cases are constantly having large pots of money put into the resources fund by the government,have large teams of detectives but are still unsolved. Cases involving missing children should all be top priority and be funded more fairly.
Found is a beautifully written story that is difficult to read at times,the subject matter is written with care and sensitivity. It's not what you read but what you imagine happened to poor Evan. The story really pulls at your heart strings and caused me to experience a myriad of emotions,I was honestly almost in tears at one point. I will definitely be reading more books written by this author in the future. Highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Jennifer Harlow of Headline Books and Anne Carter of Random Things Tours for sending me a copy of this book and for giving me the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour.
Then,..months later Evan is unexpectedly found but he is severely traumatised and refuses to speak. His family are overjoyed that he is home again but begin to realise that their lives will never be the same again.
DI Naylor and her team know that unless the people who abducted Evan are found,other children are in danger. But with Evaan not talking,will they find themselves in a race against time to find the perpetrators before it is too late.
Although Found is a police procedural,the heart of the story is how Evan's family are affected and cope during and after his abduction. It was obvious that Claire loved her son deeply and her conflicting feelings about how much she wanted to know about what happened to Evan were portrayed realistically. I don't know how much detail I would want to know if I found myself in the same situation. Evan's relashionship with his grandfather Jack was heart warming,Jack had so much patience with Evan and the scenes where Jack went into Evan's bedroom at night and read to him when he was having nightmares were lovely and brought a lump to my throat. I liked Claire and Jack but I can't say I liked Matt very much,he seemed to have a very negative attitude towards everything and never seemed interested in helping his son recover from his traumatic experience.
I loved the banter between DI Naylor and her team,they worked well together and there was none of the oneupmanship and back stabbing that you normally find in a lot of police procedurals. I think that it is disgraceful that in the twenty first century,the police are forced to prioritise cases due to lack of resources and cases like Evan's can be shelved and not even one officer be left investigating and trying to find new leads. And yet certain cases are constantly having large pots of money put into the resources fund by the government,have large teams of detectives but are still unsolved. Cases involving missing children should all be top priority and be funded more fairly.
Found is a beautifully written story that is difficult to read at times,the subject matter is written with care and sensitivity. It's not what you read but what you imagine happened to poor Evan. The story really pulls at your heart strings and caused me to experience a myriad of emotions,I was honestly almost in tears at one point. I will definitely be reading more books written by this author in the future. Highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Jennifer Harlow of Headline Books and Anne Carter of Random Things Tours for sending me a copy of this book and for giving me the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour.
May 17, 2021
What an intensely compelling book! I picked up Found and couldn't put it down, almost finishing it in a day until sleep overcame me. Erin Kinsley's brilliant debut novel is an incredibly gripping and highly addictive read. I always get a thrill when my native North East is mentioned in books so I was delighted to find that one of the policeman was from Gateshead - you can always find a Geordie wherever you go!
It's a different take on a child abduction story as rather than focusing on the dark details of the child's imprisonment, the book is mainly set in the days and months following the return of Evan Ferrers, the abducted child. Evan refuses to talk about his ordeal and I found my heart breaking for him; I don't know whether it's worse to actually know what he went through or whether it's worse to imagine it, but I could imagine the distress this caused his family. I really feel like I got to know the Ferrers family over the course of the novel and I felt every emotion experienced by them as I was so emotionally invested in the story.
Found is a strange book to review as although a lot of the story is the police investigation into who took Evan, I felt that this was overshadowed by Evan's recovery with his family. It's not that I wasn't interested in finding out who Evan's captor was, it's just that Erin Kinsley had written such emotive characters that I was more concerned with their wellbeing.
Found is a gripping abduction novel that tackles its dark subject matter so very sensitively, choosing to focus more on the positives which makes for a heartfelt story.
It's a different take on a child abduction story as rather than focusing on the dark details of the child's imprisonment, the book is mainly set in the days and months following the return of Evan Ferrers, the abducted child. Evan refuses to talk about his ordeal and I found my heart breaking for him; I don't know whether it's worse to actually know what he went through or whether it's worse to imagine it, but I could imagine the distress this caused his family. I really feel like I got to know the Ferrers family over the course of the novel and I felt every emotion experienced by them as I was so emotionally invested in the story.
Found is a strange book to review as although a lot of the story is the police investigation into who took Evan, I felt that this was overshadowed by Evan's recovery with his family. It's not that I wasn't interested in finding out who Evan's captor was, it's just that Erin Kinsley had written such emotive characters that I was more concerned with their wellbeing.
Found is a gripping abduction novel that tackles its dark subject matter so very sensitively, choosing to focus more on the positives which makes for a heartfelt story.
January 30, 2020
Poorly written. No character development or depth, so I couldn't care less about them. and my biggest bugbear - written in the present tense. I don't find this tense an easy one to read. I'm surprised that overall this book has achieved such a high rating. I skim read from about half way through as bored, but wanted to see what happened. Wish I'd not bothered. I wouldn't read any more of her books
January 20, 2020
Really good book and a difficult topic that was written about with taste. Only thing I’d say is some characters weren’t revisited. For example - Stewie was really concerned and felt it was his fault but wasn’t said to have tried to visit him once, nor Stewie’s parents?
January 30, 2021
Excellent read - sad and thought provoking book. Well written and will read more from the author. Highly recommend this book.
December 27, 2021
I own this book.
I love a crime/mystery/thriller as much as the next person and this book had been on my pile for so long I thought it was finally time to pick it up. 11 year old Evan Ferrers and his friend Stewie are walking back from rugby practice which ran over it's usual time. They stop at the stop, Evan misses his bus and says goodbye to Stewie while he waits on the next one. But he never gets on it. In fact, he isn't anywhere to be found. His family, the police and everyone involved is thrown into a tizzy as there is little to no evidence of where Evan is or who took him. Then he shows up again, months later, in the boot of an old car and he can barely speak. The police quickly discover that what happened to Evan is at high risk of happening again but with Evan unable to speak and very little evidence, will they get to the bottom of the mystery before another child is taken?
I liked this book, it was well paced, enjoyable and I found the characters and their reactions to situations very believable. I think it was good in the sense that nothing was overly sensationalized, it was realistic in the sense that the police had to call it after a certain amount of time, the guilt that Evan's parents felt and the reactions Evan had when he came home to certain situations. I enjoyed the writing. I enjoyed the story. Overall, a really good and solid crime story. I wouldn't so much call it a thriller, but it's definitely a mystery.
I love a crime/mystery/thriller as much as the next person and this book had been on my pile for so long I thought it was finally time to pick it up. 11 year old Evan Ferrers and his friend Stewie are walking back from rugby practice which ran over it's usual time. They stop at the stop, Evan misses his bus and says goodbye to Stewie while he waits on the next one. But he never gets on it. In fact, he isn't anywhere to be found. His family, the police and everyone involved is thrown into a tizzy as there is little to no evidence of where Evan is or who took him. Then he shows up again, months later, in the boot of an old car and he can barely speak. The police quickly discover that what happened to Evan is at high risk of happening again but with Evan unable to speak and very little evidence, will they get to the bottom of the mystery before another child is taken?
I liked this book, it was well paced, enjoyable and I found the characters and their reactions to situations very believable. I think it was good in the sense that nothing was overly sensationalized, it was realistic in the sense that the police had to call it after a certain amount of time, the guilt that Evan's parents felt and the reactions Evan had when he came home to certain situations. I enjoyed the writing. I enjoyed the story. Overall, a really good and solid crime story. I wouldn't so much call it a thriller, but it's definitely a mystery.
January 28, 2020
A punchy, addictive read that blends police procedure and crime thriller in one.
What I loved about this book was the story of the family, a hope in very difficult and unimaginable circumstances and the bonds that helped them survive. Jack and Evan's wonderful relationship was the right tonic to counterbalance the terror and haunting mystery of Evan's disappearance. This isn't a graphic book but it deals with a very difficult subject matter and in some ways what isn't said is the most harrowing part. The bravery and determination of the family, as well as the commitment of DI Naylor and her team, combine to make this a great read.
What I loved about this book was the story of the family, a hope in very difficult and unimaginable circumstances and the bonds that helped them survive. Jack and Evan's wonderful relationship was the right tonic to counterbalance the terror and haunting mystery of Evan's disappearance. This isn't a graphic book but it deals with a very difficult subject matter and in some ways what isn't said is the most harrowing part. The bravery and determination of the family, as well as the commitment of DI Naylor and her team, combine to make this a great read.
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