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Jackman & Evans #2
Die verschwundenen Töchter
Tief in den schlammigen Feldern der Lincolnshire Fens wird eine orientierungslose Jugendliche aufgegriffen. Sie sucht ihre Freundin Emily. Doch niemand hat je von dieser Emily gehört, niemand vermisst sie. Nicht weit entfernt wurde stattdessen die Leiche einer weiteren jungen Frau angespült. Die Fälle ereignen sich auf demselben Stück Land, wo bereits viele Jahre zuvor ein kleines Mädchen spurlos verschwand. Rowan Jackman, Marie Evans und ihr Team stehen unter enormem Druck, die Schuldigen hinter diesen schockierenden Verbrechen zu überführen, bevor das Moor noch mehr seiner Kinder frisst.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2017
5838 people are currently reading
3711 people want to read
About the author
Joy Ellis
60 books2,426 followersJoy Ellis grew up in Kent but moved to London when she won an apprenticeship with the prestigious Mayfair florist, Constance Spry Ltd. Having run her own flower shop in Weybridge for many years, Ellis then worked as a bookseller until a trip to the Greek island of Skyros, where she took part in a writer's workshop with Sue Townsend, encouraged her to write her own books. Joy soon after moved to the Lincolnshire Fens, where she has spent many of years living among the countryside accompanied by her partner, Jacqueline, and her variety of springer spaniels. After many years of writing, Jasper Joffe, from Joffe Books, discovered Joy's work and approached her with the offer of becoming her new publisher. This new relationship introduced Joy's work to the fascinating world of ebooks and audible listening. Since their partnership, Joy's success has grown further than she could have ever imagined. She has recently celebrated her 10th UK No.1 book on the Amazon 'Best Sellers' chart, with her 9th instalment in the Jackman & Evans series, Solace House. Joy boasts a staggering estimated total over 3.4 million copies sold worldwide, and became a short-listed nominee at the British Book Awards, 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,284 reviews
May 10, 2020
If you follow my reviews, you know I’m a huge fan of Joy Ellis’ Nikki Galena series. I liked the first book in this series, but didn’t love it. Ellis does a good job of creating believable characters, and I like what she’s done with Jackman and Evans. I also like how her plots are realistic, with overworked detectives juggling multiple cases.
It took me a while to get into the plot of this book. But once I was hooked, I wanted to listen nonstop. Ellis threw in several plot twists I didn’t see coming. The major twist I wouldn’t have seen coming in a thousand years.
I enjoyed this enough to go for book three in the series.
Richard Armitrage does a good job narrating this book, but not as good as Henrietta Miere does with the NG series.
Miscellaneous thoughts - Here’s when I know I've been spending too much time on the Fens. When Rory Wilkerson says he needs a forensic anthropologist, my first thought was why didn’t they contact Ruth Galloway…
And having listened to both the Nikki Galena series and this one, it threw me off when Rory’s voice was very different.
It took me a while to get into the plot of this book. But once I was hooked, I wanted to listen nonstop. Ellis threw in several plot twists I didn’t see coming. The major twist I wouldn’t have seen coming in a thousand years.
I enjoyed this enough to go for book three in the series.
Richard Armitrage does a good job narrating this book, but not as good as Henrietta Miere does with the NG series.
Miscellaneous thoughts - Here’s when I know I've been spending too much time on the Fens. When Rory Wilkerson says he needs a forensic anthropologist, my first thought was why didn’t they contact Ruth Galloway…
And having listened to both the Nikki Galena series and this one, it threw me off when Rory’s voice was very different.
June 20, 2024
This is an amazing thriller narrated by an amazing narrator, Richard Armitage. “Their Lost Daughters” by Joy Ellis introduces DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans. This is the first Joy Ellis audio book I’ve had. She’s one that I’m going to follow.
A delirious teen girl, Toni was found on an isolated beach. Her friend Emily went with her but was abducted at a “drinking club” party. A different teenage girl disappeared 10 years prior, and this girl’s mother is sparked to pressure the police again in finding her daughter.
Jackman and Evans encounter trouble in identifying Emily. No one has reported a missing daughter/girl. Eventually the duo has 4 missing girls from 4 different families.
The plot is full of crazy twists and turns. Ellis does a fine job of weaving her complicated plot with insane surprises. There are many characters, but they are easy to follow. I also appreciated Ellis’s wit. Clever one-liners keep the story from becoming disturbingly dark. Although what happened to the girls is grisly, Ellis allows the reader to imagine it rather than describe in gory detail. I appreciated that detail. Her writing is clear, and the reader gets lost in her story.
The best part of the novel is the final reveal!
This is a great story. Richard Armitage adds to the perfect story. He’s a trained actor, and his voice made it a joy to listen to.
5 glowing stars for this gripping thriller!
A delirious teen girl, Toni was found on an isolated beach. Her friend Emily went with her but was abducted at a “drinking club” party. A different teenage girl disappeared 10 years prior, and this girl’s mother is sparked to pressure the police again in finding her daughter.
Jackman and Evans encounter trouble in identifying Emily. No one has reported a missing daughter/girl. Eventually the duo has 4 missing girls from 4 different families.
The plot is full of crazy twists and turns. Ellis does a fine job of weaving her complicated plot with insane surprises. There are many characters, but they are easy to follow. I also appreciated Ellis’s wit. Clever one-liners keep the story from becoming disturbingly dark. Although what happened to the girls is grisly, Ellis allows the reader to imagine it rather than describe in gory detail. I appreciated that detail. Her writing is clear, and the reader gets lost in her story.
The best part of the novel is the final reveal!
This is a great story. Richard Armitage adds to the perfect story. He’s a trained actor, and his voice made it a joy to listen to.
5 glowing stars for this gripping thriller!
May 9, 2025
Jackman e Evans estão de volta para mais uma aventura. Eles receberam uma ligação logo cedo para investigar a morte de uma jovem encontrada numa praia isolada. Em seguida, outra jovem é encontrada a vaguear pelos campos, drogada. Ela quer saber onde está Emily. Mas quem é Emily?
E há uma conexão com uma rapariga desaparecida a alguns anos atrás? A Sua mãe insiste que ela ainda está viva, mas ninguém conseguiu encontrá-la ou descobrir o que aconteceu com ela.
Quatro raparigas … quatro desaparecidas ou mortas… e as famílias querem respostas.
Há uma ligação com as festas ilegais que a polícia gostaria muito de ver os casos encerrados?
Muitas reviravoltas… um policia corrupto que se esqueceu de que lado da lei está… um antigo hospital abandonado cheio de segredos sombrios. E a ala infantil… o tipo de coisa que dá pesadelos. Um final aterrorizante.
Este não é o primeiro livro que leio da autora… e certamente não será o último. É um thriller policial bem escrito com personagens inesquecíveis.
E há uma conexão com uma rapariga desaparecida a alguns anos atrás? A Sua mãe insiste que ela ainda está viva, mas ninguém conseguiu encontrá-la ou descobrir o que aconteceu com ela.
Quatro raparigas … quatro desaparecidas ou mortas… e as famílias querem respostas.
Há uma ligação com as festas ilegais que a polícia gostaria muito de ver os casos encerrados?
Muitas reviravoltas… um policia corrupto que se esqueceu de que lado da lei está… um antigo hospital abandonado cheio de segredos sombrios. E a ala infantil… o tipo de coisa que dá pesadelos. Um final aterrorizante.
Este não é o primeiro livro que leio da autora… e certamente não será o último. É um thriller policial bem escrito com personagens inesquecíveis.
March 29, 2017
Two girls go to a party but only one returns alive. Toni is found wandering in muddy fields. She's been drugged and says her friend Emily had been dragged away from the party. No one who Emily is or if she is still alive.
The drowned body of another girl has been washed up on an isolated beach. How does this relate to the disappearance of a little girl over ren years ago.
DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evansof of the Fenland Police search for justice for the families.
This book had me hooked from the first few pages. I liked the characters, plot lines, the twist and turns. A great read.
I would like to thank Joffe Books and the author Joy Ellis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The drowned body of another girl has been washed up on an isolated beach. How does this relate to the disappearance of a little girl over ren years ago.
DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evansof of the Fenland Police search for justice for the families.
This book had me hooked from the first few pages. I liked the characters, plot lines, the twist and turns. A great read.
I would like to thank Joffe Books and the author Joy Ellis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2020
Audio 5 Stars
Story 4.5 Stars
Story 4.5 Stars
April 7, 2023
Joy Ellis has a way of bringing an intricate case to us without its descriptive brutality. It’s almost… cozy in a sense… yet it’s anything but.
I listened 🎧 to Richard Armitage narrate this story and it was, for me, too slow. I’m not one to speed up and ruin his voice (you all know he’s my fave, lol) so this took time. It was a good thing for me. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the case.
It’s psychopathic and serial. It has many layers. I connected the dots maybe about 3/4 through, however, I couldn’t string them all together. In the end every single layer of this story was complete. That’s a breath of fresh air, as so many books I’ve read in the last couple of years tend to forget secondary and tertiary storylines.
What moves me in this book is the impact on all its victims in the future. You’re lead there by the detectives and then you’re left wondering 💭 what would a person really do?
At certain points the detectives seemed to not consider ALL points/people/sides of the story. It’s deliberate and it’s annoying. When that happened I wanted to smack them upside the head.
The best way to describe this book is as if it was a detective mini series written out. Maybe that’s not right, but it does make me wonder if her books have been picked up by television.
I also learn more vocabulary from these English stories. I even looked up the area to better visualize the setting. Ellis is very good at at atmospheric story.
I listened 🎧 to Richard Armitage narrate this story and it was, for me, too slow. I’m not one to speed up and ruin his voice (you all know he’s my fave, lol) so this took time. It was a good thing for me. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the case.
It’s psychopathic and serial. It has many layers. I connected the dots maybe about 3/4 through, however, I couldn’t string them all together. In the end every single layer of this story was complete. That’s a breath of fresh air, as so many books I’ve read in the last couple of years tend to forget secondary and tertiary storylines.
What moves me in this book is the impact on all its victims in the future. You’re lead there by the detectives and then you’re left wondering 💭 what would a person really do?
At certain points the detectives seemed to not consider ALL points/people/sides of the story. It’s deliberate and it’s annoying. When that happened I wanted to smack them upside the head.
The best way to describe this book is as if it was a detective mini series written out. Maybe that’s not right, but it does make me wonder if her books have been picked up by television.
I also learn more vocabulary from these English stories. I even looked up the area to better visualize the setting. Ellis is very good at at atmospheric story.
March 30, 2017
Jackman and Evans are back for another adventure. They receive an early morning call to investigate the death of a young girl found on an isolated beach. Then there is another young girl found wandering through the fields, having been drugged. She wants to know where they took Emily. But who is Emily?
And is there a connection to a missing girl from years ago? Her mother insists she is still alive, yet no one has ever been able to find her or find what happened to her.
Four girls ... four missing or dead ... and the families want answers.
Is there a connection to the illegal rave parties that law enforcement would dearly love to shut down?
Lots of twists and turns .... a crooked cop who has forgotten what side of the law he is on .... an abandoned former hospital that holds dark, dark secrets. And the children's ward .. the stuff nightmares are made of. A terrifying twist at the end.
This is not the first I've read by this author .. and it certainly won't be the last. This is a well-written crime thriller with unforgettable characters.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Negalley for the proof addition of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
And is there a connection to a missing girl from years ago? Her mother insists she is still alive, yet no one has ever been able to find her or find what happened to her.
Four girls ... four missing or dead ... and the families want answers.
Is there a connection to the illegal rave parties that law enforcement would dearly love to shut down?
Lots of twists and turns .... a crooked cop who has forgotten what side of the law he is on .... an abandoned former hospital that holds dark, dark secrets. And the children's ward .. the stuff nightmares are made of. A terrifying twist at the end.
This is not the first I've read by this author .. and it certainly won't be the last. This is a well-written crime thriller with unforgettable characters.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Negalley for the proof addition of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 7, 2018
I listened to this one on Audible, and it was an excellent, original story that grabs you from the first chapter. No mind-wandering when listening to this one! Lots of gritty little twists and turns and nifty surprises, great characters, and wonderful narration by the lovely Richard Armitage 😉
January 12, 2019
Tragic crime, interesting suspense, likable characters.
I love how the detective's team respect and support each other.
It pissed me off, that one of the villains escaped the justice, but I assume they'd nail the fucker in one of the following books.
I love how the detective's team respect and support each other.
It pissed me off, that one of the villains escaped the justice, but I assume they'd nail the fucker in one of the following books.
February 1, 2023
I had a rather mixed experience with this book.
First of all, Richard Armitage's narration was excellent. That was easily a five star experience.
The story itself definitely had plenty of strengths, particularly the mystery/investigation aspects, and some of the reveals and connections were handled wonderfully - I want to stress how much the author impressed me with this, as it is the main reason I will continue with the series despite it ultimately being a three star read.
The things I struggled with were:
- A complete lack of connection to any of the people working on the case (hopefully this will improve as I progress, as surely I will learn more about them) and;
- The way I got a bit twitchy every time a character spoke in clichés, which happened frequently. I know well worn expressions have their place, but I was often able to predict where the conversations were heading, and what they would say and how they would say it, because it was all so familiar. At times they didn't feel like real people, just characters I have encountered many times before, in books and films and indistinguishable television shows.
But with the undeniably interesting plot, I am curious to see how this series builds upon previous books. Perhaps the police team will grow on me!
First of all, Richard Armitage's narration was excellent. That was easily a five star experience.
The story itself definitely had plenty of strengths, particularly the mystery/investigation aspects, and some of the reveals and connections were handled wonderfully - I want to stress how much the author impressed me with this, as it is the main reason I will continue with the series despite it ultimately being a three star read.
The things I struggled with were:
- A complete lack of connection to any of the people working on the case (hopefully this will improve as I progress, as surely I will learn more about them) and;
- The way I got a bit twitchy every time a character spoke in clichés, which happened frequently. I know well worn expressions have their place, but I was often able to predict where the conversations were heading, and what they would say and how they would say it, because it was all so familiar. At times they didn't feel like real people, just characters I have encountered many times before, in books and films and indistinguishable television shows.
But with the undeniably interesting plot, I am curious to see how this series builds upon previous books. Perhaps the police team will grow on me!
May 11, 2017
I was very disappointed with this book, I wish I had just left it when I initially wanted to. I found it a real slog to read, the writing was poor and the storyline ridiculous. I hated the way everything so neatly fitted together at the end. I found the characters so cliched and not in any way original.
I love this genre but unfortunately this book did not do it justice.
I love this genre but unfortunately this book did not do it justice.
May 3, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviecafe.com
Don’t you just love it when you pick up a book by an author you’ve never read before, with no expectations and it’s just so darn good you’re left wondering why and how you’ve never read this authors books before. That’s exactly how I’m feeling after picking up The Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis, my god it’s good, in fact it was that good it made for an outstanding and engrossing read and definitely one that I was reluctant to put down.
This is the second book in Jackman and Evans crime series but it can be easily read as a standalone. From the opening chapter when a young girls body is found on the beach I just knew this one was going to grip me and it certainly did not disappoint. As the plot evolves the reader is presented with many threads a missing girl, a cold case and illegal drinks club. The author expertly links them together and slowly but deftly reveals horrors that are unimaginable.
Jackman, Evans and the rest of the team are an interesting bunch, they are very much a team which is pretty unusual in a crime thriller as most police teams have some animosity between them, that’s not a criticism in fact I found it refreshing. The back drop of the Fens give this book an atmospheric feel, and running throughout is a sense of evil that I found at times overwhelming. As the plot becomes more complex Joy Ellis throws in some deliciously twisted turns that I never seen coming. I loved the way the author expertly drew all the threads together in a way that left me open mouthed with its very imaginative conclusion.
Despite the subject matter the author doesn’t go into the finer detail, so this book never made for an uncomfortable read, but it certainly made for a suspense filled one. Although the plot line may not be the the most credible at times, this in no way spoilt my enjoyment of The Lost Daughters. Dark and menacing, this book was one I found hard to put down and I really am kicking myself for not reading this authors books before.
Don’t you just love it when you pick up a book by an author you’ve never read before, with no expectations and it’s just so darn good you’re left wondering why and how you’ve never read this authors books before. That’s exactly how I’m feeling after picking up The Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis, my god it’s good, in fact it was that good it made for an outstanding and engrossing read and definitely one that I was reluctant to put down.
This is the second book in Jackman and Evans crime series but it can be easily read as a standalone. From the opening chapter when a young girls body is found on the beach I just knew this one was going to grip me and it certainly did not disappoint. As the plot evolves the reader is presented with many threads a missing girl, a cold case and illegal drinks club. The author expertly links them together and slowly but deftly reveals horrors that are unimaginable.
Jackman, Evans and the rest of the team are an interesting bunch, they are very much a team which is pretty unusual in a crime thriller as most police teams have some animosity between them, that’s not a criticism in fact I found it refreshing. The back drop of the Fens give this book an atmospheric feel, and running throughout is a sense of evil that I found at times overwhelming. As the plot becomes more complex Joy Ellis throws in some deliciously twisted turns that I never seen coming. I loved the way the author expertly drew all the threads together in a way that left me open mouthed with its very imaginative conclusion.
Despite the subject matter the author doesn’t go into the finer detail, so this book never made for an uncomfortable read, but it certainly made for a suspense filled one. Although the plot line may not be the the most credible at times, this in no way spoilt my enjoyment of The Lost Daughters. Dark and menacing, this book was one I found hard to put down and I really am kicking myself for not reading this authors books before.
August 27, 2017
I am shocked at the number of high ratings for this book! I can give some credit to the idea, there was definitely a good concept and I did find myself wanting to know what happens, eventually.
However, the characters could have been the same person talking the entire time, the plot convenience was off the charts and the amount of cliched lines made me actually moan out loud on occasion. I really had trouble with the way it was written, it was so dull and had no flair.
Then, considering this is a detective book, it's like the police never actually have any trouble doing anything, everything falls into their favour. No restrictions from their superiors or any operations being unduly scuppered. And can we please talk about how in every book everyone seems to have a token "screw the law" hacker to reeeeeaalllyyyy make everything so easy? I was bored until about halfway through, then my interest was piqued but the ending was so disappointing and predictable, and it didn't even make a lot of sense. I found it frustrating. I've not read any other books by this author and I'm not sure I will again.
Tldr; good concept, executed extremely poorly.
However, the characters could have been the same person talking the entire time, the plot convenience was off the charts and the amount of cliched lines made me actually moan out loud on occasion. I really had trouble with the way it was written, it was so dull and had no flair.
Then, considering this is a detective book, it's like the police never actually have any trouble doing anything, everything falls into their favour. No restrictions from their superiors or any operations being unduly scuppered. And can we please talk about how in every book everyone seems to have a token "screw the law" hacker to reeeeeaalllyyyy make everything so easy? I was bored until about halfway through, then my interest was piqued but the ending was so disappointing and predictable, and it didn't even make a lot of sense. I found it frustrating. I've not read any other books by this author and I'm not sure I will again.
Tldr; good concept, executed extremely poorly.
March 28, 2017
Ok,firstly I will start with a admission....I was wrong when I decided not to request the first book in this series The Murderers Son.I was going through a phase where I was getting fed up with books about troubled detectives or detectives that spend most of the book butting heads with arrogant colleagues/superior officers so I decided not to bother.After reading this gripping,twisty thriller I honesty regret that decision.
A teenage girl is found wandering the muddy fens,she has been drugged and is delirious.She says that she witnessed her friend Emily being dragged away from the party that they both attended that night.But no one knows who Emily is or even if she is still alive.
Meanwhile the drowned body of another girl is found on a isolated beach.
And how does this all relate to the shocking disappearance of a little girl nearly a decade has,a crime which was never solved.
DI Rowan Jackman and DS Maria Evens are stretched to the limit as they try to solve these terrible crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.
I really enjoyed this Intreguing mystery,it was packed with twists one of which I certainly didn't see coming.I loved DI Jackman and his team,they worked well together,I loved the banter that the characters shared and the fact that there was no interdepartmental back stabbing.Jackman was a caring boss who listened to his colleagues opinions and was prepared to bring in outside help when it was needed to help solve the case.The cast of characters where realistic and believable,the plot was intreguing and engaging and some of the settings were really quite creepy.
I thought it was a very good book,I will definitely be reading the first one and look forward to reading more DI Jackman investigations in the future.
Many thanks to Joffe books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this Intreguing mystery
A teenage girl is found wandering the muddy fens,she has been drugged and is delirious.She says that she witnessed her friend Emily being dragged away from the party that they both attended that night.But no one knows who Emily is or even if she is still alive.
Meanwhile the drowned body of another girl is found on a isolated beach.
And how does this all relate to the shocking disappearance of a little girl nearly a decade has,a crime which was never solved.
DI Rowan Jackman and DS Maria Evens are stretched to the limit as they try to solve these terrible crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.
I really enjoyed this Intreguing mystery,it was packed with twists one of which I certainly didn't see coming.I loved DI Jackman and his team,they worked well together,I loved the banter that the characters shared and the fact that there was no interdepartmental back stabbing.Jackman was a caring boss who listened to his colleagues opinions and was prepared to bring in outside help when it was needed to help solve the case.The cast of characters where realistic and believable,the plot was intreguing and engaging and some of the settings were really quite creepy.
I thought it was a very good book,I will definitely be reading the first one and look forward to reading more DI Jackman investigations in the future.
Many thanks to Joffe books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this Intreguing mystery
September 19, 2018
Ok, so the honest truth, I only picked this up because it's read by Richard Armitage. I hate flying, and had two five-hour flights ahead of me, and save pharmaceuticals there is very little that calms me down like that man's voice. So there.
I doubt I would have been able to finish this if I'd had to read it myself. The writing was pretty dull in my opinion (I lost track of the number of times something had to be "ascertained" for example. It was all the time.), and the plot (while it had potential) was so predictable I actually wanted to slap the supposedly best detectives in the county for not seing what was right in front of them...
All in all, it was great to listen to, but even the excellent narration couldn't save this for me.
5 stars for the narration
2 stars for the plot
3 in total
I doubt I would have been able to finish this if I'd had to read it myself. The writing was pretty dull in my opinion (I lost track of the number of times something had to be "ascertained" for example. It was all the time.), and the plot (while it had potential) was so predictable I actually wanted to slap the supposedly best detectives in the county for not seing what was right in front of them...
All in all, it was great to listen to, but even the excellent narration couldn't save this for me.
5 stars for the narration
2 stars for the plot
3 in total
August 5, 2018
I listened to the Audible Studios production which featured Richard Armitage as narrator. I've said it before about other audiobooks he's narrated, but he's an absolutely fantastic narrator. He has a wide variety of accents and voices and he lends the right amount of gravitas to the non-dialogue parts of the prose. I could honestly listen to him narrate the phone book.
As to the writing itself, it was excellent. This book read like a really good British tv crime drama. In fact, it would make a really good British tv crime drama.
A teenage girl is found wandering the fens, and another teenage girl is found murdered. DI Jackman, DS Evans, and their team begin to investigate, while also investigating a cold case from nearly a decade ago involving a missing little girl.
As Jackman, Evans, and team investigate they have to navigate through many twists and turns as the cases uncover secrets bigger than anyone could have possibly imagined.
The characters are compelling, well written, and likeable, and I loved the Fenlands as a setting.
I highly recommend this book if you like British Crime books.
As to the writing itself, it was excellent. This book read like a really good British tv crime drama. In fact, it would make a really good British tv crime drama.
A teenage girl is found wandering the fens, and another teenage girl is found murdered. DI Jackman, DS Evans, and their team begin to investigate, while also investigating a cold case from nearly a decade ago involving a missing little girl.
As Jackman, Evans, and team investigate they have to navigate through many twists and turns as the cases uncover secrets bigger than anyone could have possibly imagined.
The characters are compelling, well written, and likeable, and I loved the Fenlands as a setting.
I highly recommend this book if you like British Crime books.
April 6, 2025
Complex and twisted story that's gripping and absolutely unputdownable.
Full of twists and turns and yet so brilliantly written that it never loses its clarity, Their Lost Daughters is a brilliant second book in Jackman and Evans series and it delivers in every aspect.
Joy Ellis wrote a fantastic story with some great characters and I can't wait to read more in that series.
Full of twists and turns and yet so brilliantly written that it never loses its clarity, Their Lost Daughters is a brilliant second book in Jackman and Evans series and it delivers in every aspect.
Joy Ellis wrote a fantastic story with some great characters and I can't wait to read more in that series.
February 14, 2025
4.5 Stars
I love this series although I'm not reading it in order.
Most stories take place in The Fens in England.
Sounds like a huge marsh inlet by the ocean.
Jackman and Marie are investigating numerous child abductions.
Some stem from private parties held by older men who are into voyeurism and much more.
The investigation gets much deeper as they discover a kind of crypt of lost children/teenagers.
The twists are page turning in this book. A definite must read for detective novel lovers.
TW for abuse- off page
I love this series although I'm not reading it in order.
Most stories take place in The Fens in England.
Sounds like a huge marsh inlet by the ocean.
Jackman and Marie are investigating numerous child abductions.
Some stem from private parties held by older men who are into voyeurism and much more.
The investigation gets much deeper as they discover a kind of crypt of lost children/teenagers.
The twists are page turning in this book. A definite must read for detective novel lovers.
TW for abuse- off page
September 21, 2017
4.5 stars. Twisty and dark and very, very good.
November 2, 2025
Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year! ✨ The plot was full of genuine surprises; I loved that I couldn't predict a single thing ✨on to book 2…
January 15, 2018
Oh I love, love, love, luuuurrv Joy Ellis' work! Having read nearly all of her Nikki Galena novels and both of the Jackman & Marie books I can honestly say she just keeps getting better with every book.
Their Lost Daughters is the second of this newer series and hooked me from the very first line to the shocking, stunning & heartfelt conclusion. There is very rarely happy endings in crime mystery/police procedurals. Yes, you catch the perpetrator, and there is a sense of relief in that but never joy. That's what makes this novel a little special, I think, in having that wonderful final moment that uplifts you - a very happy ending.
The characters she has created are so life-like, every one of them different and with their own strengths, yet they form such a cohesive unit (hmmm .... a little too much with a certain couple?). We see a new character introduced into the team, PC Gary, and he melded so effortlessly with the rest of the team it was almost as if he were there from the very beginning. I see big things happening for him in upcoming books.
I don't rehash synopses (I must put that in my profile) because it's all there in the blurb, but I will say that the author has done an amazing job in writing a novel steeped in adrenaline with numerous twists and turns, seamlessly weaving the complex main plot with the other subplots to bring home an exciting, satisfying conclusion.
Highly, highly recommended for Joy Ellis fans and for those that love their police crime mysteries with believable characters and scenery as compelling as the plot.
Their Lost Daughters is the second of this newer series and hooked me from the very first line to the shocking, stunning & heartfelt conclusion. There is very rarely happy endings in crime mystery/police procedurals. Yes, you catch the perpetrator, and there is a sense of relief in that but never joy. That's what makes this novel a little special, I think, in having that wonderful final moment that uplifts you - a very happy ending.
The characters she has created are so life-like, every one of them different and with their own strengths, yet they form such a cohesive unit (hmmm .... a little too much with a certain couple?). We see a new character introduced into the team, PC Gary, and he melded so effortlessly with the rest of the team it was almost as if he were there from the very beginning. I see big things happening for him in upcoming books.
I don't rehash synopses (I must put that in my profile) because it's all there in the blurb, but I will say that the author has done an amazing job in writing a novel steeped in adrenaline with numerous twists and turns, seamlessly weaving the complex main plot with the other subplots to bring home an exciting, satisfying conclusion.
Highly, highly recommended for Joy Ellis fans and for those that love their police crime mysteries with believable characters and scenery as compelling as the plot.
July 15, 2023
Review to come...
September 22, 2022
A surprising gem! Books like this are what keep me from throwing in the towel with Kindle Unlimited. The audiobook is an Audible Original—another monthly membership—so I was able to switch seamlessly throughout the day from reading and listening. I really do like that. I can’t say it was “free.” I’ll just say both were available at no additional cost! The best thing was listening to Richard Armitage narrate!
Two different websites conflicted as to which title is first in this Jackman and Evans series. I had already started THE MURDERERS SON when I read this one was first so I switched over. I don’t suppose and I hope it doesn’t make a huge difference. Right now, I’m just delighted to have found another compelling crime series from the UK!
I was hooked from the start and held in the novel’s clutches till the end. It was refreshing for the DI not to be tormented by personal demons. Rowan Jackman is a nice guy and a good copper. DS Marie Evans is the key person of his team and they mesh well together.
There is a big plot afoot that is carried off with style. It definitely went in an unexpected direction and high marks for that. The subplots work fine too. Just a very enjoyable read and I’m sure I will finish the series. I would recommend it as well. The most affecting feature involves that unexpected curveball where I was feeling that OMG horror vibe and suddenly I was wallowing in compassion and sadness. That is good writing.
Here’s why I withheld the fifth star: the dialogue is often stilted and unnatural. (Having Richard Armitage narrate does serve to soften that.) The star characters are somewhat lacking in depth. They don’t have to be messed up to add dimension. And perhaps things wound up a bit too pat at the conclusion.
Not five stars, but these four I’m-glad-I-found-this-series stars are strong and bright.
Two different websites conflicted as to which title is first in this Jackman and Evans series. I had already started THE MURDERERS SON when I read this one was first so I switched over. I don’t suppose and I hope it doesn’t make a huge difference. Right now, I’m just delighted to have found another compelling crime series from the UK!
I was hooked from the start and held in the novel’s clutches till the end. It was refreshing for the DI not to be tormented by personal demons. Rowan Jackman is a nice guy and a good copper. DS Marie Evans is the key person of his team and they mesh well together.
There is a big plot afoot that is carried off with style. It definitely went in an unexpected direction and high marks for that. The subplots work fine too. Just a very enjoyable read and I’m sure I will finish the series. I would recommend it as well. The most affecting feature involves that unexpected curveball where I was feeling that OMG horror vibe and suddenly I was wallowing in compassion and sadness. That is good writing.
Here’s why I withheld the fifth star: the dialogue is often stilted and unnatural. (Having Richard Armitage narrate does serve to soften that.) The star characters are somewhat lacking in depth. They don’t have to be messed up to add dimension. And perhaps things wound up a bit too pat at the conclusion.
Not five stars, but these four I’m-glad-I-found-this-series stars are strong and bright.
March 30, 2017
If you can't tell from the cover illustration, this book is not for the faint of heart. It's the story of horrible, unspeakable crimes and the pain that led to them.
However, the story is an amazing thriller which will keep readers on the edge of their seats. There's a lot of moving parts, but it all seems to come together in the end in the story of people that are dealing with their painful legacies.
The story begins when the body of a young girl washes up on a beach, badly beaten. She was a bit of a "wild child" who liked to party. Soon other girls begin turning up drugged or missing and Police Detectives Rowan Jackman and Marie Evans must figure out what's going on. Meanwhile, they're also asked to reopen the case of a young missing girl from seven years ago - a sort of JonBenet of rural England.
It seems so weird to say that I liked this book, because as I said earlier, the answers to the mystery are quite gruesome. It's not pleasant. But as a fictional story, it is enjoyable in that there is so much suspense and intrigue. I was so into this book, waiting to see how everything came together.
It's like a season of American Horror Story. How could we all like that stuff?! I don't know, but we do!
There were a lot of moving parts, which did make some of it confusing, but most issues were resolved the end. I do wish that some other things had been clearer (like the past events that led to the current ones). I don't even know how to describe things from 50 percent of the story onward without spoiling things.
But trust me, this book is worth it. It is a thrilling ride from start to finish.
However, the story is an amazing thriller which will keep readers on the edge of their seats. There's a lot of moving parts, but it all seems to come together in the end in the story of people that are dealing with their painful legacies.
The story begins when the body of a young girl washes up on a beach, badly beaten. She was a bit of a "wild child" who liked to party. Soon other girls begin turning up drugged or missing and Police Detectives Rowan Jackman and Marie Evans must figure out what's going on. Meanwhile, they're also asked to reopen the case of a young missing girl from seven years ago - a sort of JonBenet of rural England.
It seems so weird to say that I liked this book, because as I said earlier, the answers to the mystery are quite gruesome. It's not pleasant. But as a fictional story, it is enjoyable in that there is so much suspense and intrigue. I was so into this book, waiting to see how everything came together.
It's like a season of American Horror Story. How could we all like that stuff?! I don't know, but we do!
There were a lot of moving parts, which did make some of it confusing, but most issues were resolved the end. I do wish that some other things had been clearer (like the past events that led to the current ones). I don't even know how to describe things from 50 percent of the story onward without spoiling things.
But trust me, this book is worth it. It is a thrilling ride from start to finish.
January 4, 2020
4 (and a pinch) Stars. The storyline is much better in book 2; I enjoyed this one. There are a lot of bad guys in this, along with a long list of minor characters and I found it hard to keep them straight. Book 2 made up for Book 1s lack of police procedure and got rid of a couple of other pet peeves I had with the first.
I was surprised when I saw Joy Ellis in an interview with Richard Armitage (the narrator) because she looks like most of my friends [sweet (or not) grandmothers]. How these dark subjects and gore come out of that white-haired head is a wonder.
Any fan of Louise Penny, who can take a darker gorier scene, would like this series.
I was surprised when I saw Joy Ellis in an interview with Richard Armitage (the narrator) because she looks like most of my friends [sweet (or not) grandmothers]. How these dark subjects and gore come out of that white-haired head is a wonder.
Any fan of Louise Penny, who can take a darker gorier scene, would like this series.
January 7, 2019
Lets leave aside the inability of this book to let the reader even come to simple conclusions on their own, the clunky exposition, the 'oh look, isn't it horrible' that seems to come directly from the author even when the characters are saying it. The problem that left a real bad taste in my mouth was this books misuse of psychology and misrepresentation of the mentally ill and victims of childhood abuse. It uses all the negative tropes and really comes across as quite insulting and harmful.
May 11, 2023
Atzīstu, ka sižetam manās acīs nav liela nozīme - nez vai bez Ričarda Armitidža ierunāšanas jelkad būtu izvēlējusies lasīt klasisku detektīvu, kura centrā ir 2 policisti, kuri vienkārši izmeklē noziegumu (vai vairākus noziegumus kā šeit, kas ir pluss, jo nekad neesmu ticējusi, ka policisti var veltīt visu savu laiku tikai 1 lietai), turklāt jau otro no vietas.
Lielākais pārsteigums bija pēdējā no upurēm, kuras bija izvēlējies sērijveida slepkava, kuru sākumā sauca vienkārši par Emily, tad atklājās, ka viņa esot no kādas Austrumeiropas valsts un neviens tāpat nevarot izrunāt viņas vārdu, tad nu izvēlējusies sevi saukt sev patīkošā vārdā, bet īstais vārds bija A-i-dža un uzvārdu nekādi nespēju uztvert, un viņa esot Latvijas pilsone. Tad nu tinu trīsreiz atpakaļ, lai sapratu, kā viņu sauc, mans labākais minējums bija Aija vai Aiga Ozoliņa. Lai nu kā, tas pierādīja to meitenes argumentu pseidonīma lietošanai, ka angļi viņas vārdu neprot izrunāt, fakts.
Spriedzi jutu, klausīties it kā ir interesanti, bet nu ir kaut kāda mana nesaderība ar šo žanru kopumā, vēl arvien bez ierunātāja liktu tikai 3, bet ar Ričardu vēl steidzu izmantot Audible bezmaksas mēnesi un steidzu pie trešās sērijas grāmatas, kamēr abonements nav beidzies.
Lielākais pārsteigums bija pēdējā no upurēm, kuras bija izvēlējies sērijveida slepkava, kuru sākumā sauca vienkārši par Emily, tad atklājās, ka viņa esot no kādas Austrumeiropas valsts un neviens tāpat nevarot izrunāt viņas vārdu, tad nu izvēlējusies sevi saukt sev patīkošā vārdā, bet īstais vārds bija A-i-dža un uzvārdu nekādi nespēju uztvert, un viņa esot Latvijas pilsone. Tad nu tinu trīsreiz atpakaļ, lai sapratu, kā viņu sauc, mans labākais minējums bija Aija vai Aiga Ozoliņa. Lai nu kā, tas pierādīja to meitenes argumentu pseidonīma lietošanai, ka angļi viņas vārdu neprot izrunāt, fakts.
Spriedzi jutu, klausīties it kā ir interesanti, bet nu ir kaut kāda mana nesaderība ar šo žanru kopumā, vēl arvien bez ierunātāja liktu tikai 3, bet ar Ričardu vēl steidzu izmantot Audible bezmaksas mēnesi un steidzu pie trešās sērijas grāmatas, kamēr abonements nav beidzies.
May 14, 2023
My limited experience with Joy Ellis has not been as positive as I'd have liked. I thought 'Crime On The Fens' (2010), the first Nikki Galena book, had an original story and some strong characters but was marred by boilerplate text delivered by an indifferent narrator. The next thing I read was a standalone novella 'Guard Her With Your Life' (2022). The writing was vastly improved and I liked the plot but I felt the ending let the novella down a bit.
Still, it left me with an appetite for some more Joy Ellis so I took advice from a well-informed fan of her work and was pointed to the Jackman and Evans series, narrated by the inimitable Richard Armitage and told that the second book, 'Their Lost Daughters' (2017) was the right place to start.
It was excellent advice.
The plot of 'Their Lost Daughters' is complicated and unusual but credible. I liked the way that Joy Ellis fed me multiple, apparently unrelated, incidents that grabbed my attention and got me invested in the investigation, but left me wondering how and if all the threads would come together and then slowly but confidently led me through the maze of relationships and histories until the mysteries were solved.
Ellis' storytelling style was strengthened by the introduction of a strong and diverse ensemble cast of police officers who worked together to figure out what was happening. I found this more interesting and much more credible than the more typical lone-tormented-genius-rule-breaking-cop-follows-their-gut-to-get-the-answer-and-nearly-gets-killed-along-the-way. Ellis' police officers are real people. They have lives outside of work. The nasty things that they encounter in their work take an emotional toll on them. They support each other. They follow protocol. They do their jobs and they build relationships and skill along the way. I think this is an excellent foundation for building a series.
I liked that the story was textured. It wasn't all one evil-doer who must be stopped at all costs. It was more complicated than that. Some of the things driving the plot were unusual and dramatic. A lot of the plot was driven by the banal evil of corrupt venal narcissistic people who treat the rest of us as prey. I think that mix worked very well. The story also had a strong sense of place. The geography, history and culture of the Fens were all woven into the plot.
Then there was Richard Armitage's narration. He was the perfect choice for this. He manages all the voices and accents effortlessly and moved through the plot exposition details at a measured pace that kept me moving forward.
So, now I'm a fan.
I've already started the next book, 'The Fourth Friend' which is quite different but just a good and I know that the Joy Ellis / Richard Armitage combination will be one of my comfort reads from now on.
Still, it left me with an appetite for some more Joy Ellis so I took advice from a well-informed fan of her work and was pointed to the Jackman and Evans series, narrated by the inimitable Richard Armitage and told that the second book, 'Their Lost Daughters' (2017) was the right place to start.
It was excellent advice.
The plot of 'Their Lost Daughters' is complicated and unusual but credible. I liked the way that Joy Ellis fed me multiple, apparently unrelated, incidents that grabbed my attention and got me invested in the investigation, but left me wondering how and if all the threads would come together and then slowly but confidently led me through the maze of relationships and histories until the mysteries were solved.
Ellis' storytelling style was strengthened by the introduction of a strong and diverse ensemble cast of police officers who worked together to figure out what was happening. I found this more interesting and much more credible than the more typical lone-tormented-genius-rule-breaking-cop-follows-their-gut-to-get-the-answer-and-nearly-gets-killed-along-the-way. Ellis' police officers are real people. They have lives outside of work. The nasty things that they encounter in their work take an emotional toll on them. They support each other. They follow protocol. They do their jobs and they build relationships and skill along the way. I think this is an excellent foundation for building a series.
I liked that the story was textured. It wasn't all one evil-doer who must be stopped at all costs. It was more complicated than that. Some of the things driving the plot were unusual and dramatic. A lot of the plot was driven by the banal evil of corrupt venal narcissistic people who treat the rest of us as prey. I think that mix worked very well. The story also had a strong sense of place. The geography, history and culture of the Fens were all woven into the plot.
Then there was Richard Armitage's narration. He was the perfect choice for this. He manages all the voices and accents effortlessly and moved through the plot exposition details at a measured pace that kept me moving forward.
So, now I'm a fan.
I've already started the next book, 'The Fourth Friend' which is quite different but just a good and I know that the Joy Ellis / Richard Armitage combination will be one of my comfort reads from now on.
January 9, 2023
Perfect,
From the first to the last page, this book kept me wondering what's gonna happen next, the team is super realistic, their connection makes the storytelling more fluide and believable, the plot was great, the psychological and archeological aspect of the investigation were very well used, and how everything turned out to be linked in the end made this read more than enjoyable.
Will definitely keep reading this series!
From the first to the last page, this book kept me wondering what's gonna happen next, the team is super realistic, their connection makes the storytelling more fluide and believable, the plot was great, the psychological and archeological aspect of the investigation were very well used, and how everything turned out to be linked in the end made this read more than enjoyable.
Will definitely keep reading this series!
May 1, 2020
Notes:
Great Narration by Richard Armitage
If I'm in the mood for a character driven story, I'll come back to this series. The case & the way it all unfolds was not that interesting or mysterious. Good atmosphere & relatable characters/scenes.
Great Narration by Richard Armitage
If I'm in the mood for a character driven story, I'll come back to this series. The case & the way it all unfolds was not that interesting or mysterious. Good atmosphere & relatable characters/scenes.
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