The Kidnapper's Word

by E.J. Wood

Sussex, United Kingdom. 1969.

Meet Detective Chief Inspector Clarence Landon. Unsurpassed by his intelligence, Clarence is a renowned officer of the law and has a natural instinct for understanding the criminal mind. But is it enough to solve a case that is a little too close to home?

AN ABDUCTED CHILD. AN INNOCENT DINNER PARTY.

When nine year old Emily disappears, Detective Chief Inspector Clarence Landon knows time isn’t on his side.

It's the 1960s. Child abductions are rare.

Her mother, Ava blames herself. What mother would leave their child alone?
Behind twitching curtains, an unsettling truth of what happened is revealed. A story of family secrets and a chilling tale of deception is unraveled.

What would you be capable of when pushed to your limits?

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Historical Fiction, Domestic Suspense, Procedural, Domestic Thriller

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2022

About the author

Wood is just a storyteller!
E.J. Wood is a British writer of dark romance and thrillers with imperfect, morally grey characters. Stories that kiss you sweetly before they tear you apart, luring you in with tenderness and leaving you breathless in ruins.

Her often comical experiences of life in Spain encouraged her to write her *Get Spained* memoirs.

Her GET SPAINED series has been featured in The EuroWeekly, a leading English-language newspaper in Spain, and her historical thriller series, the Landon mysteries highlighted in Sussex World in the UK, drawing attention across international media.

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Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.

The Kidnappers word is the first book by E J Wood that I've had the pleasure of reading and it definitely won't be the last!
Ava is at a dinner party hosted by her neighbours - she doesn't really want to be there and can't wait to go home and see Clarence (her boyfriend who's also a detective).
When Ava goes home she meets her worst nightmare- the front door is open a few inches and her daughter Emily is missing.
Clarence is very concerned and starts his own train of investigations and has his old partner hot on the case too. Family lies, betrayals and secrets unfold and the story cleverly unfolds as to what has happened to Emily. I did not see the ending coming at all!
This book was really good - I enjoyed all the little twists and the fact its set in the 1960s too.

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ An Engrossing and Twisty Thriller

The Kidnapper's Word is an Engrossing Thriller full of juicy Twists, Deceit, Secrets and Betrayal.

When Ava arrives home from a dinner party at new neighbours house, she is about to walk into any parents worst nightmare!

Her 9yr old daughter Emily is missing. With the front door ajar and the house empty, Emily is no where to be seen.

She quickly rings the police and her partner Clarance who is a Detective in the force, comes rushing to her side when she tells him about Emily.

Things don't look good for Ava, especially as she left Emily home alone whilst she went out to a dinner party.
It's a race against time to find Emily.
Are they right to suspect Ava or is there more to this case than meets the eye?

With so many juicy twists, just when I thought I may of worked things out another lie, another secret is uncovered.
The Kidnapper's Word is a Compulsive, Gritty and Engrossing read. It's not overly long but really packed a punch.
I'm excited to read more from this Author!


Thank you to Zooloo's Blog Tours and Question Mark Press for my copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.




You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/1...

[Bookgirl Book Blogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of E.J. Wood, so I signed up for an early copy and boy I wasn't disappointed.
Recommend this book to lovers of psychological and suspense thrillers.
I always find it difficult to write reviews without adding spoilers, however, here goes:

I had no idea what happened to Emily until it came clear. What a great read. I kind of had some ideas, but I was completely wrong, as usual. The book starts with a dinner party hosted by the new neighbours, Ava, the mother didn't want to go. I really sympathized with her when she discovered her daughter missing.

The Kidnapper's Word is so full of family lies, secrets and betrayal, it's a wonder nothing dreadful had happened before...........

I love how it was set in the late 1960s, and historical facts were cleverly interwoven.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there’s one thing that I like doing, it’s discovering new authors and E. J. Wood is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘The Kidnapper’s Word’ and it certainly sounded like the fast paced, police procedural type of read that I particularly enjoy. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. Overall I did enjoy reading it but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into this story from the very first word on the very first page. The story takes place during the 1960s and features a new detective pairing of Landon & Burke. I found it nigh on impossible to put this book to one side for any length of time. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The crime intrigued me and I was interested to see in which direction the story was going to take me next. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth or if I had completely the wrong end of the stick. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘The Kidnapper’s Word’ and I had to say farewell to the new detective pairing of Landon and Burke. I found ‘The Kidnapper’s Word’ to be a gripping and tense read, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
‘The Kidnapper’s Word’ is well written. E. J. Wood certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, the story started with a bang, it hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘The Kidnapper’s Word’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which this author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action.
I do have to say that there are a couple of accuracy errors within the story that are important in themselves but which don’t have any great impact on the story. The story is set in the 1960s and makes reference to the Sex Offenders Register. The Sex Offenders Register only came into being in 1997 following a change to the law so wasn’t around in the 1960s. I also felt that some of the language used in the story wouldn’t have been used in the 1960s- words such as ‘perp’, which is a fairly modern American term and not really a British term. Like I said, two little blips, which whilst important in themselves don’t make a lot of difference to the overall enjoyment of the story.
In short and overall I did enjoy reading ‘The Kidnapper’s Word’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow..... wow this book left me pretty speechless! The author had an absolute talent for hooking you and keeping hold of you until the last minute.

This story is set in 1960's , a time when people going missing wasnt an every day occurrence so when little 9 year old Emily goes missing they know they must find her fast! Her mother Ava feels guilty as she left her alone at home while she went to a dinner party , the disappearance of the daughter is about to open up some secrets that have been locked away and deception is on the horizon.

The characters in this book are well described, with great depth you feel like you know them as you are trying to put the puzzle pieces together with Detective Chief Inspector Clarence Landon to find Emily. The book is gripping , plenty of twists and turns to pull you in and make you want more.... and this isn't a spoiler but I was not expecting the ending! A truly fantastic read !

[Kirstie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series by this author, and is the first book I have read of hers too!
I will be honest, I wasn't sure this would be my thing as when I see a book has historical facts etc I just presume that it will be complicated to read and boring, but this book wasn't like that at all.
It had a really strong start which pulled me in right from the start.
Lots of little twists - and I did not see the ending coming at all.
Great read - would definitely recommend

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in a new series (DCI Landon) from E. J. Wood; The Kidnappers Word and an historical suspense according to the blurb. I’m not sure when the years of my childhood became historical but suffice to say this is set in the 1960’s. It’s so well written that it felt as though it had actually been written at that time not just about that era. As the daughter of a police officer during this period I could really relate to a lot of this. For me this crossed a few genres but if asked I would say a police procedural psychological thriller set in the late 1960’s.

Briefly, DCI Clarence Landon has been living with Ava and her 9 year old daughter Emily and their life has been good. So he is shocked to get home one evening to find that Ava went out to dinner at their neighbours home, leaving Emily home alone, and Emily appears to have been kidnapped. Ava is distraught, blaming herself. As Clarence is unable to run the case himself DI Burke is brought in to investigate the case; and they have history. Can they find Emily? And who was responsible for abducting her?

I loved these characters, in particular the relationship between Landon and Burke which is excellent and is clearly the foundations for the new series. As for Ava, what a complex character she is. I loved that this is going back to the Bobby on the beat days when policing was down to the men and women working the case and long before computerisation and DNA testing. It was quite a quick read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Roll on book 2. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness me. This was so full of twists and turns I never saw it coming.

This is an absolute smasher of a start in a new series. Another great novel screaming to be noticed. I loved the undertone too. Truly gripping. Hard to know who to trust, who to root for. It begged the question, how well do you really know someone and anyone.
I couldn't predict at all where this was headed and therefore it kept me turning the pages.

Really well thought out book.

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review and I'm gladly doing so.

[Lynne Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first in a new series which is set in the 1960s. Follow DCI Landen and DI Burke in solving a child kidnapping which is directly linked to Landen. This story is full of twists and turns that I definitely did not see coming. I loved the relationship between Landen and Burke which is well told and develops as the story unfolds. I found the story to be entirely believable although unbelievable at points! Great starting book for a series, cant wait for the next one.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased and honest opinion which I happily submit.
The Kidnapper's Word is the first, I believe to be in a brand new series. I surprisingly really enjoyed it - only because I don't usually pick up historic fiction but the blurb sounded so good! Although it is set in the late 1960s it's very reminiscent of The Sweeney and TV programs alike. Hardcore policing without the intervention of modern technology. I really enjoyed it for many different reasons and I found it clever how the case was dealt with without the aid of modern technology. I'd definitely recommend it to your TBR lists.

[Aly Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
4.5 stars!!!
I devoured this one in a day!
It's ridiculously hard to put down. I was questioning a couple of people while reading this. I suspected 3 people, and turned out it wasn't any of them. It left me truly gobsmacked.
I gave 4.5 stars rather than 5 purely because I wish it was a bit longer.
Give it a read, you certainly won't be disappointed

[Ang]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of The Kidnapper's Word by EJ Wood, the first book in a new series staring DCI Landen and DI Burke.

The story about a child abduction is set in the 1960s which was very interesting with attention to detail. The twists and turns through the book keep you gripped until the very end. Believable characters and a really good storyline. The interaction and chemistry between Landen and Burke was really good and I am really loooking forward to seeing how the series continues with these two characters.

I love this authors work. I read this book in two sittings, extremely difficult to put down. Thank you for the ARC, throughly enjoyed it.

I can definately recommend this book. Its a 5* rating from me.

[E.J. Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nerving suspense about a young woman returning home to discover her daughter is missing.

Ava and DCI Landon seem to be the ideal couple. They have a loving relationship, a beautiful home, and a bouncing, beautiful, nine-year-old daughter. But one night, the daughter goes missing.

Why, no one knows.

Behind twitching curtains, an unsettling truth of what happened is revealed. A story of family secrets - a twisty ride of lies and betrayal.

What would you be capable of when pushed to your limits?

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A parent’s worst nightmare!! Nip to a dinner over at the neighbours after your child is in bed for the night (it is set in the 60s) and find her gone when you return a few hours later without a trace of evidence or clues. This is exactly what happens to Ava’s daughter Emily and it’s down to DC Landon and DC Burke to solve the case and return Emily home safely.
The Kidnapper’s Word is a fairly short introduction to a new detective team (Landon and Burke) and is made even more tense by the fact that DC Landon is Ava’s partner. Delivered in short, punchy chapters that move at a very quick pace, it had me on the edge of my seat, surprising me constantly until the very end.
Being set in the 60’s gives this novel an amazing atmosphere. I spent a lot of time coming to terms with the fact the mother had left the child alone and that was actually quite a common occurrence back then. I loved the difference in policing compared to novels set in the modern day with technology assistance. Fascinating!
Many of the characters are off – in my opinion they aren’t the most likeable but I think this is very purposeful, making it difficult to know who to trust and where to cast suspicions. My thoughts were constantly changing and in no way was I prepared for the ending!
This is a great introduction to a new detective team.

[Sallie Greenhalgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava has to spend the evening at her neighbours dinner party without her detective partner Clarence and in doing so leaves her young daughter Emily home Returning from the neighbours Ava’s worst fears are realised - she finds the front door open and her daughter gone. Although not officially on the case Clarence gets to work, with his old work partner, trying to find out what has happened to Emily. Thus begins a series of twists and turns that you could never imagine - I never saw the end coming!
I was given this book in exchange for a review but all views are my own.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am a big fan of Emma's writing and like the fact you are never quite sure what time period you will be transported to next. This time it is post war, im not sure exactly when, but a time when there was no technology of any kind. It focuses around a missing girl and who took her.
Its an unusual way of telling the story, but really effective at keeping you gripped and not wanting to put it down until it is finished. The revelation is a complete jaw to the floor shock, one I never saw coming.
The character of Landon was a strange one, I couldnt warm to him, but I dont think you are supposed to. You get the impression he is a cop way ahead of his time. His situation was complicated by being in a relationship with Ava, the mother of the missing girl.
Ava is a strange woman, she plays the victim, and is totally believable as her child is missing, but Landon senses something is wrong with her story.
The other main character is Burke who is a bit of a bitch, but there is an underlying vulnerability. She clearly has feelings for Landon and she is lonely and insecure in her abilities as an investigator.
The last line of the book, unexpected and genius.

[Pauline Render · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1960’s, DCI Clarence Landon is hunting the kidnapper of a nine year old girl. With very little to go on, as the case progresses he uncovers disturbing family secrets where things aren’t always what they seem.
This is a great start to a new series with fascinating characters, Landon is particularly interesting as he seems to be progressive in his way of thinking but also needs to be pulled back at times by DI Burke. I really got a sense of the era thanks to E J Woods style of writing and the research she has so thoroughly done. There were plenty of twists and I found it impossible to work out who was innocent and who was guilty.
As the first in the Landon and Burke series, I’m looking forward to reading their next case, not to mention finding out more about their pasts.

[Sheron Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. A good psychological thriller. Set in the late 1960’s, with lots of twists to it. Started out with a dinner party hosted by her neighbours, as the book went on I thought I knew what had happened to the little girl but was surprised with the ending. A good read for anyone. Carn’t wait for the next one.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Characters were believable and the story kept me interested. There were twists I didn’t see coming. Set in the 1960’s it’s a different kind of crime book to modern times but equally as good. This book had a unique simplicity and almost innocence to it which is unusual in a crime story but perfectly fit the time it was set in. I’m looking forward to seeing what Clarence Landon does next.

[Dorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE KIDNAPPER'S WORD is for me an outstanding first in a new series. Not a lengthy book at all. This novel is about a child abduction during the 1960s and progresses at a great pace. It was full of twists and fact which I have come to enjoy from E.J. Wood with her historical crime. Totally gripping. I kept flipping the pages as I had to know what happened next. I really enjoyed it, hope you do too.

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to a new police series from EJ Wood. Set in the 60’s it made a nice change to take a step back in time and see how it was done as most books I read are set in present time. A well written storyline with the usual likeable characters and the not so desirable characters. I won’t write about the storyline as I feel this is the job of the blurb.

[Andrea Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

EJ Wood did an amazing job weaving historical information in her fictional account of a girl who gets kidnapped in the 1960s. She generates the right amount of tension in her transitions between chapter cliffhangers to keep you reading to find out what happens, and how did this girl get taken when her mother was right next door.

[Rosie Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series by the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The fact that it was set in the 1960s gave it a interesting twist. DCI Landon is something of an odd duck, but strangely likeable and the interaction between him and the more savvy DI Burke shows promise for the next books in the series.

I honestly didn't see how the storyline was going to progress, call me naïve, but it threw me completely. It was refreshing for the detective work to be driven solely by the characters, without the benefit(?) of modern technology.

I loved how the author wove historical information into the narrative and the main thing I took away from the novel, was how well do you really know someone and if you really want to, you can keep almost anything secret.

I received an ARC of this book and am happily submitting my honest review

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kidnapper's Word has so many lies, betrayals it makes you wonder how well you really know people.

I can't really say anything other than the blurb as I don't want to give the plot away but it is a very riveting story with a powerful element. I'm happy to recommend it.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for receiving an advanced copy.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kidnapper's Word has so many lies, betrayals it makes you wonder how well you really know people.

I can't really say anything other than the blurb as I don't want to give the plot away but it is a very riveting story with a powerful element. I'm happy to recommend it.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for receiving an advanced copy

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was reading the premise for this book that initially drew me in. I'm a sucker for child abduction stories...but this one was something different and not your usual missing child trope. THE KIDNAPPER'S WORD is my first read by this author, one I am not familiar with, but I was intrigued just the same...despite my ever growing TBR list.

Ava reluctantly attends a dinner party next door with her new neighbours, the Hendersons. She didn't really want to be here as her boyfriend, DCI Clarence Landon, was working the late shift and couldn't attend with her. So Ava went on her own leaving her 9 year old daughter in bed upstairs. Why would you leave a child in the house alone, one might say? But one must remember that this was the 1960s and times were different then. Ava must have believed Emily to be safe upstairs in her bed, asleep.

The dinner party was incredibly arduous with host Wallace Henderson not even hiding the fact he was ogling her breasts while his dim-witted wife Claudia giggled with John and Jane at the other end of the table. The phone rings, Wallace answers it, and returns moments later to continue his perusal of Ava's cleavage.

By 9pm, Ava had had enough. She was going home. And bidding her neighbours goodnight, she walked the 25 metres to her own front door...which, to her horror, she discovered was ajar. She ran screaming into the house and upstairs to Emily's room. She was gone. Emily was missing. Someone had taken her.

While Ava sat in a tearful mess, the police were called and Clarence arrived to console his girlfriend. Instinct told him to act; to investigate; to ask questions and find Emily. But he was too close and would compromise the investigation. To his surprise, his former colleague DI Tenley Burke arrived to take over as SIO as she co-ordinated the search and ran the investigation into the disappearance of little Emily.

What begins as a missing little girl turns into a Pandora's box revealing secrets and lies that have been locked away for a long time as deception and betrayal slowly surfaces. When the reveal comes, it is shocking as it is disturbing and I thought for a moment..."what am I reading here?" It certainly gave the story a twist that blindsided the reader...even me, a seasoned veteran able to spot a twist from a mile away...lol

The plot was different, written in a matter of fact style, almost like a newspaper article. I felt the scenes jump about a bit from one sentence to the next a little too quickly...again, like you would read in a news report. But then again, you weren't bogged down with unnecessary descriptions either, making THE KIDNAPPER'S WORD a quick read at just 201 pages. And as such, I read it in just over 3 hours.

The characters are all a little strange. I couldn't warm to Landon but that could be a generational thing being set in the 60s and a different type of policeman we'd be used to today. Ava is also a strange one. She's a victim but is she believable? Landon senses something is amiss with her story but can't quite put his finger on it...but then again, maybe he is just too close to the investigation to see thing objectively. After all, he considers Emily as his daughter despite not having fathered her. And Burke could be a bit of a bitch with all the sensitivity of a sledgehammer...and she still has the hots for Landon.

Loved the Epilogue with the closing lines which, ironically, was the title of the previous book I read pretty much indicating much the same thing. It was unexpected and quite clever to end on such a twisted yet satisfactory note. I also loved the short snappy chapters, which are a favourite of mine.

Not a bad read, though I'm not sure it would entice me to read any others, THE KIDNAPPER'S WORD is a taut psychological thriller set in the 1960s that is fairly fast paced and a quick read that manages to pack a punch. If you like your psychological thrillers dark and a little disturbing, then THE KIDNAPPER'S WORD might be for you.

I would like to thank #EJWood, #QuestionMarkPress and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheKidnappersWord in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Hannah May Book Reviews]

Title: The Kidnapper’s World
Author: E.J Wood
Pub: Question Mark Press
Pages: 184


A huge thank you to the author and Zoo Loo’s Book Tours for allowing me to be part of the blog tour.

Synopsis:

It’s the 1960s and child abductions are rarer so when nine-year-old Emily disappears as her mother attends a dinner party at her neighbours, Detective Chief Inspector Clarence Landon knows he must find her fast, because when a child is kidnapped, time is rarely on your side. Her mother Ava is full of guilt and blames herself, afterall what mother would leave their child alone? When the truth is revealed, it is unsettling. The Kidnapper’s World is a story of family secrets as a chilling tale full of deception us unravelled.

Review:
The description of this book really did sound like it would be up my street, it was short and sweet and left me wanting more. I went in blind with this book and I was excited to see the secrets it contained but unfortunately for me, the connection just wasn’t there. However, we all connect with reads differently, so I will list some positives and you may decide that this one is for you and question my judgement!
I liked how the book got quite dark in places, this appealed to my ‘weird’ side. I liked how we are thrown straight in to the story and that things kick off straight away. I enjoy books that do have me questioning my judgements and this did at times! There were some thought-provoking mottos in there too which did get me thinking and contemplating. I also like the pace in which the story moved and I feel the short, snappy chapters helped this.
For me the things that really did throw me was I found myself getting confused at times with where the story was going and I did find some parts unbelievable, like how a detective is allowed to take part in the case of his missing step-daughter, surely in the real world this would be a conflict of interest? Please don’t let these negatives put you off! If you like your psychological thrillers that can be quite dark, then explore this for yourself, you may feel differently!

[Nicola Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting prologue not only did I learn something new about what London used to be called in the Roman era but It left me with an interesting introduction. A person digging a hole for a dead body. That was it I was grasped I needed to know who this victim was on who this killer could be. And so we begin…

I found it really interesting how characters were developed into the story straight away giving you a back ground to who they were and how they looked and of course how Ava was connected to Landon. This author does an amazing job at keeping you waiting before you meet the DCI.

When every mothers worst nightmare comes true you can’t help how your feelings spiral. Your angry at Ava for leaving her daughter unattended at nine years old in the house by herself when she went around the neighbours but you also feel her pain. The whole initial investigation made me feel sick. I hated how everyone was feeling I hated how everyone was so involved.

This is extremely shorted than normal for a brilliant thriller. I didn’t know the era when this book started off but there was some references that bought me back to time. Like the fact Emily loved to watch those creepy puppet thunderbirds. So it was nice reading a book set in the 1960s.

I loved the twists in this I loved the torment of wanting secrets to be revealed sooner rather than later. This was fab. I can’t wait to see if there will be more from DCI Landon.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

the situation by continually refilling her wine glass. When Ava finally went The Kidnapper’s Word is by E.J. Wood. This is a psychological thriller and it definitely meets the qualifications. I had forgotten what genre the book was when I started reading it. It didn’t take long to figure out the genre. I am not a big fan of books that scare me but this one is pretty good. The fright comes from thinking that your child could be kidnapped at any time and completely disappear. For a parent, that has to be the worst nightmare possible.
Ava Willow had reluctantly accepted a dinner invitation for herself and her partner, Detective Chief Inspector Clarence Landon, with their neighbors, the Hendersons. At the last minute, Clarence had to work so Ava went by herself. She put her daughter, Emily who was nine, to bed and walked next door. At least she would have an excuse to leave early. However, Claudia wasn’t helping home, it was to discover that the front door was open and Emily was missing. Someone had kidnapped her daughter.
Clarence and his former partner DI Burke are working hard to uncover clues to finding Emily; but are coming up empty. Things are beginning to get serious as they begin to run out of clues. Can Clarence keep his cool looking for the little girl he claims as his own?

[Ceri Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kidnappers Word begins with Ava Willows attending the dinner party of her neighbours Wallace and Claudia Henderson. She is not happy as her partner Detective Inspector Clarence Landon has not been able to attend.

Ava makes her excuses to leave and gets home to find the worse thing that can happen to a parent, her daughter Emily is missing!! Clarence takes it upon his self to investigate the disappearance of his step daughter with his partner Tenley Burke.

Clarence is convinced this is down to Emily’s biological father and begins to take the investigation down this route. What follows is a series of revelations about Ava and her past that Clarence was unaware of. Plenty of twists and turns and an ending that you won’t believe!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, as a Derbyshire native it was great to see the phrase “Aye Up, Duck” in a fiction book! Also as a true crime enthusiast it was good to see a reference to a real unsolved (at the time this books was set anyway!) crime in the 1960s.

Happy Reading!!