Innocence Lost

by D.K. Greene

Mackenzie Jones returns to her son's summer camp to deliver something he left behind. But the mountain retreat that should overflow with kids and counselors is a ghost town. Cabins locked. Lights off. Not a soul to be found.

Jones reports her son's abduction only to be met with disbelief. How could an entire summer camp disappear?

This short story bridges the gap between The Mommy Mysteries and The Killers Club, detailing the kidnapping scheme that took Mackenzie Jones from homemaker to special agent.

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Shelley Amazon ca reviews as Purrrplehaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza!

A super-short short story that packs a wollop!

Don't mess with a Mama!

Mackenzie drops off her son at camp and then realizes she forgot Barnacles and heads back.

What she sees when she gets there chills her to the core.

Nobody. Nobody. Is there.

This is a super short intro. to how Mom, MacKenzie Jones, goes from being Mom to a special agent.

I received a free copy of this book through Bookfunnel, and I am giving you my honest review.

[Sofe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ebook Review: INNOCENCE LOST by D.K. Greene

( I ) magination
(N) eeds
(N) uance...
(O) bjectively
(C) onsidering
(E) vents...
(N) eeds
(C) onscious
(E) valuation...

(L) isting
(O) bstacles...
(S) ystematically
(T) esting...

INNOCENCE LOST,
when evil lures in its victims.
Trust disappears,
when choice is not an option.

It happened,
yet no one else would believe.
That's when,
step up to odds against you.

With clarity,
of mind and determination and commitment.
Without hesitation,
address the issue and intensely proceed.

Include others,
without letting them slow you down.
Time priority,
yet don't let it become emotional.

Will interfere,
with the outcome and muddy waters.
Stay focused,
see it through to the end.

Fantastic story,
definitely wet my appetite for more.
I await,
for more and where takes us.

***************************
I received this book free,
and I am leaving this
review voluntarily.
***************************

[Bianca Ellerkamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mac wants to give her boy his teddybeer so he can sleep at night, she discovers that the summer camp is empty. Where are all the children she saw this morning when dropping off Ryan? And most important, where is her son Ryan?
She goes to the police station to file a missing persons report but it seems that everyone thinks she is a little confused. When she reads the small letters again it seems that the summer camp is nothing like that.
The story is real short and it would have been nice to add some more pages and stretch out the story. It grips you by the throat and doesn't let you go until the last words. Yes, is is a little unbelievable but most books are like that.
It is written in a very pleasant way and is gives you all you need to enjoy reading it.

I received a free copy and I'm leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through a newsletter promotion and this is my voluntary and honest review. I started reading this very short story and couldn't put it down until I finished it. This was my first time reading a book by D. K. Greene and it won't be my last. A Mother, Mackenzie, drops her nine year old son off at summer camp in the mountains. When she realizes he forgot his stuffed toy that he can't sleep without, she drives back to the camp arriving after dark to find the camp deserted and locked up. She goes to the police station and is told to wait until morning when the search and rescue and state police will arrive. When they arrive and won't let Mac help with the search, she does her own detective work to solve the case. I highly recommend this suspenseful book.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mackenzie (Mac) Jones discovers everything is not as it seems at the Summer Camp where she dropped off her son. No-one, especially the lead detective, seems to be taking her concerns seriously. On rereading the contract waiver clauses, Mac makes a startling discovery and decides to take matters into her own hands. Will she be able to rescue her son and the other children before harm comes to them? You'll need to read this prequel yourself because I'm not telling.

I received a free copy of Innocence Lost from the author and have chosen to leave a review.

[Connie Charron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this short story but I found some of the actions Mac takes to not be credible. I, of course, would never underestimate the power of a mother who's been unlawfully separated from their kids. Why would anybody believe that she can find what the law enforcement groups can't or won't do? It's well written but just not credible in my honest opinion. I haven't decided yet whether or not I will decide to read any of the other books involving Mac.

[karin whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story, introducing to the Mommy files. Summer camp has started, Mom drops son off, gets home and finds his Teddy Bear, she rushes back to deliver his bear, and the kids, the camp, everything is gone. Mac (the mother) goes to the police; they think she's a nut case. She begins the hunt for her son. Am going to read more of this story, it captured my attention.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book but well written. People skip over the terms and conditions - but they can hide things that matter. Read the small print

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a (very) short story, this was really good! Suspense on every page and a great ending.

[Laurie Durbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. I related to the main character and could imagine myself going thru all the same feelings. It's a great short read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice bridge from the Mommy Mysteries to the Killers Club

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mother drops her son off at summer camp. She returns later that day to drop off an item her son sleeps with. The camp is deserted and the children are missing.

[Naznin Azeez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complwte story in a short format. Good one.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tense, twisty, and impossible to put down—this short story packs a full-sized punch!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mother drops off her nine-year-old son at a summer camp for a week of fun. Realizing he had forgotten his teddy bear, which he needs at bedtime, she goes right back the next day to take it to him. Getting there, she finds the camp to be completely empty with no sign of belongings or anything. Going to the police, she is not believed that dozens of children could have vanished. When she discovers that in the fine print of the release form she had to sign, the camp is not what it is set up to look like, and her child -plus the many more - are in danger, she causes such a commotion that the police come alongside.
A good book, but after reading this intense and dramatic short story, I wondered how a frantic mother could find her child in such a short time - and uncover the crime - when the police were hardly making any progress.

I chose this book for the52bookclub 2023 challenge, prompt "Title starting with the letter I."