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When the past catches up with the present...
... the result can be deadly.

DI Sara Ramsey and her team are tasked with finding an elusive kidnapper. Someone driven by dark secrets.

Several women have been abducted, some in broad daylight, but why?

With few clues and even less evidence, can Sara find the women before their abductor moves onto the next stage in their warped plan?

In the midst of one of the most depraved investigations of her career, Sara is dealt a shocking blow by her partner, Carla.
Sara is pushed to her limits personally and professionally. Can she remain true to herself and prevent a massacre from
happening?

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2021

162 people are currently reading
103 people want to read

About the author

M.A. Comley

176 books815 followers
New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. Over one million copies sold world wide. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career.

When I'm not writing crime novels I'm either reading them or going on long walks with my rescue Labrador, Dex.

I hope you enjoy reading my books, especially the Justice series, Cruel Justice, Impeding Justice, Final Justice, Foul Justice, Guaranteed Justice, Ultimate Justice, Virtual Justice, Hostile Justice, Tortured Justice, Rough Justice, Dubious Justice, Calculated Justice, Twisted Justice, Prime Justice. There are several novellas and short stories in the series too.

My other successful series are: The DI Sally Parker thriller series, which includes WRONG PLACE, NO HIDING PLACE and COLD CASE

The Hero series, TORN APART, END RESULT, IN PLAIN SIGHT and DOUBLE JEOPARDY(published by Bloodhound Books)

I have three books in the Intention series, Sole Intention, Grave Intention and Devious Intention.

I've also written a couple of standalone novels - EVIL IN DISGUISE and FOREVER WATCHING YOU.

As well as co-authoring The Caller with Tara Lyons.

And Clever Deception, Tragic Deception and Sinful Deception co-authored by fellow NY Times bestselling author Linda S Prather.

If you'd like to keep up to date with new releases you can find me on Facebook by following this link http://smarturl.it/sps7jh or sign up for my newsletter http://www.hyperurl.co/su1xnt

If you fancy a lighter read, why not try one of my romances: A Time to Heal, and A Time for Change--Based on a TRUE story. I also have a selection of short stories and novelettes available which I know you'll enjoy.

You can find out more about me at the following blogs.

http://melcomley.blogspot.com

http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com

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5 stars
537 (64%)
4 stars
195 (23%)
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87 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Kathi Defranc.
1,182 reviews497 followers
July 28, 2021
DI Sara Ramsey returns with a case of women going missing. First one, then another...Soon they are looking for several women, with little in the way of clues or evidence to go by! Just who is taking these hard working people, and why?! It seems someone's past has returned to them, when bullies ruined her everyday life. It is time for revenge, in her own special way...
Sara is shocked when she observes her partner, Carla. Hiding her face and being extremely quiet, until Sara gets a good look, and doesn't know whether to scream, yell or hug Carla. Well Carla takes things into her own hands, storming out of the precinct with some words that stun the whole force! Great, a case they need to solve before things really get out of hand, and now this!
A fantastic story that looks into some awful things many have gone through themselves, with care, and tenderness by an author who keeps her readers in mind with every line she writes. There are some explicit moments that may take your breathe away, but the kindness and hard work by the police force calm you as they try to find this kidnapper, and deal with any problems Carla may be in.
I love this series and encourage You to start reading now!! I received an ARC from the author and offer you my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
Profile Image for Sarah.
2,950 reviews222 followers
August 14, 2021
Locked Away is the thirteenth book in the DI Sara Ramsey series. As some of the storyline focuses on Carla and her personal life in this book, I would recommend reading some of the previous novels before reading this one although the author has written it in a way that readers have enough information from what has happened previously of they prefer to jump straight into this one.

As the blurb states, this is one warped villain in this case. I can’t say too much but what the women who are kidnapped have to endure, seriously gave me the chills. It’s one of those cases that will have the reader having mixed feelings when you come to understand the reasonings behind the kidnappings but that’s all I am going to say on the matter as don’t want to give anything away.

The storyline involving Carla and her partner had me go through so many emotions, mainly very similar to Sara and I think the way the author handled this particular topic was done sensitively and well. Whilst I was wanting to grab Carla and give her a good shake, it made me realise how manipulated victims of abuse are and certainly gave me a greater understanding.

Locked Away is a page turning, compulsive read of which I wouldn’t expect anything less from M.A. Comley. She quickly draws you in and grabs hold, not letting go until you turn that last page. I’m loving Sara and the team and didn’t think anyone could come close to the characters in the author’s Justice series but DI Sara Ramsey is definitely hot on the heels of DI Lorne Simpkins! Another enthralling and gripping read!

My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,709 followers
August 19, 2021
Someone is kidnapping women .. sometimes in broad daylight. The person responsible is keeping them captive and planning a horrific outcome in the name of vengeance.

DI Sara Ramsey and her team are called in to investigate although they normally don't take on missing persons cases. There;s no seemingly connection among the woman ...so who is taking them? Where are they being kept? Is murder the end plan?

As with all the previous books in this series, this is well written. Characters are fully fleshed out and the story line is full of action. There are twists and turns that are riveting. I really enjoy the interaction of Sara and her team, especially her partner, Carla. This time around Carla faces a personal issue that may affect her professional life. Although 13th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, i highly recommend the entire series.

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Profile Image for Dee Groocock.
1,405 reviews60 followers
August 16, 2021
When a woman goes missing, DI Sara Ramsey and the team are asked to look into her disappearance. As more women go missing, there don’t appear to be any clues as to why they have been taken or who could be involved.

With Carla having problems at home, Sara gets to a point where she can’t keep quiet anymore. Will they manage to sort things out or could this be the end of one of their careers?

Having been bullied in primary school, this book touched a raw nerve, even now after all these years. One thing I love with this author is that she doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. I found it very hard to stay neutral, although I wouldn’t wish what happens in the book on anyone. My thanks to the author for yet another outstanding read.
Profile Image for Angela.
424 reviews2 followers
July 28, 2021
DI Ramsey had to find the kidnapper
After several women had been abducted
Can she find the kidnapper
I had an ARC
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,324 reviews571 followers
August 11, 2021

I loved this latest DI Sara Ramsey thriller.

We get to see things clearly from both the villain and the police's point of view, and even I was wondering how on earth Sara and her team were going to solve this one.

And I continually was wondering about the motivation for one person to adduct multiple women after clearly stalking them to learn their routines, and in some cases in broad daylight too.

I was also rather invested in the latest progression of Carla's storyline, and at times I was completely despairing with her in this book, while feeling for her too.

It's another wonderful addition to this rather addictive series. I couldn't get enough of trying to see how it may unfold, and really enjoyed all the continuing storylines with the team too.

Was also really interesting to see so closely into the mind of the abductor, who I didn't' sympathise with at all even when we learn the motivation,.

Just another fabulous book from one of my favourite authors.

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
Profile Image for M.
1,576 reviews
April 7, 2022
Abused woman drama/melodrama with attached police procedural

2.5 stars

The DI Sara Ramsey books have been uneven, mostly so-so for me, but I wanted a fast read and picked this up. The missing women mystery should’ve been primary, but the author disclosed the kidnapper at the beginning. That made it easy to posit the culprit’s possible rationales, given what was disclosed during the kidnappings. That made this a rote of a read with a cut-and-paste storyline.

The abuse case was decent at first, but became less so when the victim changed her mind too quickly. It wasn’t an organic change, but instead was a device to drive a subplot in this book of less than 200 pages. I prefer the police procedural/mystery as primary plot instead of a messy domestic melodrama. I sense why the author wrote as she did, but the abuse victim needing to be rescued by her bosses?

I began skimming at ~40%, then speed-skimmed to the end. No surprises or twists during the story or at denouement—which was more vanilla than I expected.
Profile Image for Kath.
3,067 reviews
August 2, 2021
Wowsers... book 13 and absolutely no signs of flagging. This book is just as fresh as book one, as fresh as every book between too. Usual series rules apply if you want to get the best from Sara and the other series characters, their backstories and development. And, as already hinted at, they are all cracking reads in themselves.
So... another day, another heinous crime for Sara and her team to get to grips with. Although Carla is a bit under par as she is going through a bit of private hell and is reluctant to either ask or accept help. So much so that her previously strong relationship with Sara is seriously threatened. But this distraction isn't enough to keep our crime fighters away from their main task, in this book, being the kidnap of a woman. The ink is still wet on the reports of this first crime when another woman goes missing. Double the crime is not yielding double the clues however and the team have their hands full just starting to investigate. And then a third woman is taken...
This amazing prolific author has many series that she flits between and I have to say that this one is one of my favourites. I love the partnership between Sara and Carla, the way they bicker one moment and support each other the next. The way they can talk candid and say it as it is, so... I was devastated when this was threatened by something so horrible. My heart was in my mouth as I was reading some of the descriptions of what was going on. And then during the visit - sorry, spoilers prevent me from saying much more - well, what true colours come out. I was begging the author to resolve this stuff... You'll have to read yourself to find out what happens there though.
And again, the main crime, the kidnapping, and the reasons for it. Phew, talk about harrowing.
All sound a bit dark doesn't it. But, fear not, the author has it covered. The balance is kept on the right path. There are lighter moments, some humour and, yep, some weepy parts! And by the time I got to the end, after I'd run the emotional gamut, been put through the wringer, I sat back exhausted and applauded the author for a job well done - at the same time as wagging my finger at what she put me through on the way...!
941 reviews5 followers
January 20, 2024
This is a typical MA Comley novel - short, with a reasonable plot until the let down of an ending. The couple of chapters dealing with Carla and her abusive boyfriend add little other than needless extra pages. There are also several sentences that are just plain stupid - such as "She jumped in the shower and made herself a cheese and pickle sandwich." That's not what most people tend to do in a shower, and it must get awfully soggy. Thankfully, this book only cost me £1. Not recommended, honestly. I have 2 more of his on my tr pile for when I fancy a badly written book.
222 reviews7 followers
August 18, 2021
Another fantastic book in the DI Sara Ramsey series.
One woman is kidnapped which starts a train of events. This great team of crime workers with very little to go on manage to pull out all the stops and come out on top again. Brilliantly written, but then this is what this author does best.
91 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2021
Wow the latest in the DI Sara Ramsey series and what a storyline. Non stop action as usual as women are being kidnapped left, right and centre. Is no one safe? Why are they being abducted and can Sara save them? Continuing twist with Sara’s sidekick Carla, will she stay with Gary or won’t she! Loved this book.
25 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2021
Amazing read

Covering so many taboo subjects in this book and showings impacts of them.
I love the Sara books and I am excited for the next one 😀
Profile Image for Craig Gillan.
526 reviews8 followers
August 16, 2021
Fantastic read, covers the issues of bullying and domestic violence very well. One of my favourite series
667 reviews6 followers
August 16, 2021
lovely

Another brilliant edition of this exciting and thrilling series, subject matter a little worrying but the outcomes are always superb.
Profile Image for Annette.
918 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2021
Another great read in this brilliant series. DI Sara Ramsey is tasked with finding a young woman who has gone missing whilst out on a hair appointment. As a mobile hairdresser Jennifer tried not to make appointments past her normal working hours but the client sounded desperate so she agreed to fit her in, something she would live to regret. This is just the beginning and the tally of young women going missing starts to mount up, this is hard enough for Sara but she has also internal manpower matters to sort out and also the personal life of her second in command is starting to worry her.
Profile Image for jane reding.
9 reviews6 followers
August 18, 2021
Stilted dialogue makes for a tough read.

If I had not read previous books in this series, I would have stopped reading before I reached the end. The plot is OK and had the dialogue not been so abysmal the book could have been entertaining. I kept thinking to myself, real people do not talk like this, too much gushing and endearment for people who were peripheral to the story at best. Although I have stuck with this series now through 13 books, this is the last I will read. If you read cozy mysteries, you might enjoy it but it is just too irritating slogging through the dialogue.
Profile Image for Mrs B E Woods.
286 reviews6 followers
August 21, 2021
Another whirlwind of a book where so much is happening.

A woman has been reported missing and, whilst such cases do not fall under her department’s remit, the circumstances are such that Sara decides she and her team will investigate as they have no major cases at present.

Sara had previously been informed by her superior officer of the directive from headquarters that, in order to cut costs, staff levels were to be reduced. It is a decision that Sarah has been putting off, but the time has now come for her to select a member from her team. How will she decide which person should leave, especially when she has such a great team.

She and Carla, her friend and work partner, have not been getting on too well of late and Carla makes a decision that threatens both their working relationship and friendship.

Meanwhile, whilst the team are looking into the disappearance of the first young woman, another two ladies are seemingly abducted. Are the cases linked? Will Sara and her team find and rescue the young women, or is it already too late?

Altogether a trying time for Sara.

Definitely a book you will not be able to put down. Highly Recommended.
Profile Image for Lynda.
2,206 reviews118 followers
August 22, 2021
You can pretty much guarantee a good, easy read when you pick up a book by MA Comley and Book 13 in the DI Sara Ramsey series is no exception to this. What is a bit different this time is the subject matter. There are two threads within the book both dealing with different forms of physical and verbal abuse. I am putting this out there as for some this may be a trigger. However, be assured this is handled in a sympathetic way by the author leaving no doubts as to the wrongs.

Briefly, someone is kidnapping women, not just one but a number of women. Is there a connection between the victims? Why are there no bodies? Are they dead or alive? Can Sara and her team stop the kidnapper before more women go missing? Alongside this Sara’s work partner Carla is now back with her partner and he is still treating her badly but she won’t face up to the fact that he needs help.

This is definitely more gruesome than most of the books I’ve read by this author, for me not a bad thing at all, I liked this book a lot. Difficult to say much more without spoilers but if you are expecting cosy crime, in this instance you are not getting that. A very enjoyable read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for BrummieGirl.
320 reviews
August 19, 2021
What a shocker of an instalment in the DI Sara Ramsey series. As for the police team, I carried so much tension for Carla and her story. Then there was the case. What a moral dilemma for me as the reader in choosing who I should root for.

As for the crime, be prepared for something super sinister and to have feelings all over the place. The concept of black and white thinking has no place here. There are so many shades of grey, that’s what makes everything far more interesting. I think, given the content and the questions this book threw up, it would make a good talking point amongst people who’ve read it, especially in where blame lies.

I love a book that makes me think and as I’ve been personally affected by some of the content, I relished the chance to have a real good think. I know where my sympathies lie but who would have yours? That is the big question!
431 reviews6 followers
August 22, 2021
DI Sara Ramsey is under pressure with cutbacks in her Department on her mind ..When several women go missing within the space of a week , there are no leads ..no clues as to who could have taken them and why ..But when someone close to Sara shows the signs of abuse , Sara cannot and will not hold back or stay silent .As more women vanish in broad daylight; Sara is pushed to the limit and beyond..Could the key to the case lie in the past? Once again in the 13th book in the series, Sara Ramsey is a force to be reckoned with ..unrelenting in her pursuit...she will not rest until the perpetrator is found ..Another 5 star read from Mel Comley..A really fabulous series ..
303 reviews1 follower
November 25, 2021
How does she do it?

This author consistently has a fabulous plot, A side plot, and plenty of the twists and turns that make a good thriller. While the books are shorter than many I've read, they're fast paced, well written and thought out, and honestly sometimes I don't want to read the same type of thing over and over just for TBE sake of more pages. This was a great book dealing with what so many have gone through in their youth, and so many still are, and how it can effect ones mental health. I recommend this book, and can't wait to read the next one. Oh wait, its the last one in the series, at least for now!
308 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2021
Ok read

I've read all the books in this series, I can't say I haven't enjoyed them otherwise I wouldn't have continued with this series, it's just that there are much better ones available. I like Sara but Carla just gets on my nerves even more so in this book. I find their relationship childish with all the sniggering! also the gushing sentiments all the time, who really speaks like that, it's like a bad rehearsal from a play. Get rid of Carla she can swan off with her new beau and Will can step up in her place 😁
Profile Image for Kayli.
34 reviews2 followers
August 5, 2023
I have just finished this book, all I can really say is wow what a great read. It had me gripped from the beginning and I loved the pace of it.
I have read this series from the start and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the characters and love reading about their personal lives too.
I advise that if you are to read this book, you should really read the earlier books first as there is parts in this that follow on from other books. Just downloaded book 14, can’t wait to get started.
Profile Image for Julie Simon.
321 reviews16 followers
August 22, 2021
Loved this book from start to finish. Starting a new book in this series is like reuniting with old friends, you feel you know the main “good”characters so well. This author always manages to tackle real serious issues in her books and always does it so well, really makes you think about the effects of bullying on a child and the consequences in later life.
Brilliant series.
Profile Image for kenneth  Fowler.
164 reviews
September 6, 2021
Revenge can be sweet

A woman looking for revenge is the driving factor in this novel in the Sara Ramsey series , another great read involving all the team we have grown to love , a steady paced novel unfortunitleyfor me ,,the end was a little vague and rushed, not as polished as we have come to expect but it may just be me what do you think?
Profile Image for Su Biela.
76 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2021
Revenge is a dish best served cold

Another great book by M A Comley. DI Sara Ramsey, already under pressure having to chose someone to let go due to police cuts, finds herself running out of time when women start being abducted. Can she find them before its too late? A gripping read!
Profile Image for Shirley Cooper.
18 reviews
April 29, 2022
Great Read!!

Love it MA.You never seem to amaze me!! Libby was a mental case for sure. All the dreadfully thing those Women did to Libby was pure evil! There is things like that in all schools now. A lot of the students don’t get help at home. They start acting out badly and so many commit suicide. Really sad isn’t it?
3 reviews
August 26, 2021
Another fantastic read by M A Comley

Loved this book read it in two days.Love the characters both in their professional roles and their home life. Great story line i was totally engrossed
121 reviews
August 30, 2021
Excellent and very different
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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