Member Reviews
This book marks the start of a new series set in the beautiful channel islands. Saskia Monet, a forensic psychologist, has returned to Jersey to keep an eye on her charming brother David; as we discover that he has dark tendencies. Whilst working with prisoners at Le Moye prison, Saskia is approached by DI Winter Labey to help the local police to identify who has been kidnapping local children. The kidnapper has been labelled as the pied piper as after each incident a small wooden flute is left behind. As the tension mounts and time is beginning to run out for the children, Saskia and Winter must work to identify the perpetrator. But as the police close in on their prime suspect, Saskia is increasingly sure they’ve got the wrong man. Her attempts to intervene see her side-lined from the case, with only DI Labey standing firm, relying on her ability to identify the culprit.
This is a well plotted story with suspicion switching between a number of characters before the culprit is revealed. However, we are only given scant information about the key characters which made it feel like this was a series about DI Labey rather than Saskia Monet. At points, Saskia is sidelined so does not appear in the story. I suspect more will be revealed as the series progresses and we get to know the characters better. Overall, this is a good police procedural thriller which moves at pace. There are some violent elements but they add to the oppressive atmosphere and the sense of jeopardy. With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for a review.
Ever since I got my hands on my very first ARC from Gwyn Bennet, I was immediately hooked and I became an instant fan of her works.
When I start reading The Stolen Ones, I know I'm gonna be at the edge of my seat, and eyes glued to my kindle until bed time. I'm not complaining though. I love the thrill, the challenge, and the sleepless nights.
This book doesn't have only one pov. It has multiple including the pov of the k*ller, the police, and even Saskia's brother.
I just love how us readers are able to read what's on the mind of every character in the book. It's refreshing and very convenient.
What I notice in this book that even though this is a Saskia Monet series, she doesn't have that much exposure in the book. I find it weird at first but after reading a few chapters I feel like, "oh, now I get it."
Every time I read Saskia's pov, I feel like she already said everything including her theories and findings that the police needs to hear and it's up to them to figure out the rest.
Saskia's mind is unbelievable!
Hooked! I was absolutely on the edge of my couch the whole time reading this!! This book was amazing! I couldn't stop reading this book for nothing! 5 star read!
I just reviewed The Stolen Ones by Gwyn Bennett. #TheStolenOnes #NetGalley
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The first book of a new series and what an exciting book it is. From page one I was drawn it, on the edge on my seat and was turning the page as quick as I could to see what was going to happen next.
This is tense, emotional, gripping, fast paced and exciting. The characters are well written and believable, the story is one which makes you want to read more. It had enough depth to make it real, missing children, police, mystery and so much more. Now I can't wait to see what happens in the next instalment of this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Fast-paced edge-of-the-seat Police Procedural.
Stolen Ones by Gwyn Bennett is set on Jersey England. This book is the story of Saskia Monet, who recently relocated to Jersey from Kent, and Saskia is working at Le Moye prison assisting with prisoner rehabilitation. DI Winter Labey asks for Saskia’s help and input into the distressing case of four missing children from wealthy families. The little girls and boy have vanished without a trace, and each disappearance has been marked by a wooden flute left at the scene, which is the chilling signature of the kidnapper known as the Pied Piper. Winter must catch the person before the unthinkable happens to the children as the clock is ticking.
The main characters are believable and well-developed, and the supporting characters are also believable and are integral to the story. This is a story of revenge and retribution with a remarkably interesting and entertaining plot, which is very deep, with dark characters. This book is a fast-paced edge-of-the-seat police procedural. A new author for me and a good crime thriller. Good setting, atmospheric and so much more. I highly recommend this to those who like a strong female lead in a police procedural. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you’re a fan of fast-paced crime thrillers, “The Stolen Ones” is for you!
Book one in a new series written by Gwyn Bennett, “The Stolen Ones” follows Saskia Monet as she teams up with DI Winter Labey to solve a case of children being targeted for abduction.
I felt that this book was a good start to a new series and can’t wait to read the next one.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me access to this advanced copy.
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest and free review. What a ride this book is! Perfect storyline and so suspenseful the entire read. Highly recommend this one! Can’t wait for more books with these characters!
Saskia Monet is a psychologist asked to the police with the disappearance of several children while also trying to keep her brother's psychopathy at bay. This was decent, and I would give another book in this series a shot. 3 stars.
Thanks for letting me review this book. I was hooked by the storyline from the beginning. I found the insights by the Forensic psychologist fascinating.
Definitely worth reading and I look forward to the sequel.
I love this author and I’m a huge fan of her other series.
This one did not disappoint, it’s a great taste of what’s to come from the rest of the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
It has the usual amazing characters that are unlike other characters in books of the same genre which I just love.
This new series, set on the island of Jersey, had me hooked immediately. The lead detective investigating the kidnapping of four children asks a recent island transplant, forensic psychologist Saskia Monet for help profiling the perpetrator, bringing them together to find the children before it’s too late. I enjoyed both characters and the way they interacted, as well as their back stories. DI Winter Labey is island born, and wants to keep his community safe, the island history included in the book was a nice addition. Saskia comes from a darker background, and is still needing to live with it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy, I’m looking forward to the next to see what happens to Winter and Saskia, and will definitely try books from authors other series.
This was a new author for me and the start of a new series.
Interesting characters, starts with an intriguing opening and closed with a satisfying ending.
An atmospheric setting, intense plot full of mystery look forward to seeing how this develops.
I put a review on Amazon for this, and think I have left it too late to do one here now. New to Netgalley and just getting to understand how it works!
Gwyn Bennett's "The Stolen Ones" is a slightly different take on a kidnapping plot point. Three small girls go missing from very secure locations and when a fourth boy is also taken, the perpetrator gets into a cat and mouse game with the parents of the children, prompting the Investigative officer DI Labbert to seek the help of forensic psychologist Dr. Saskia Monet.
The irregularities in the case leads Saskia to believe that the perpetrator might not be motivated by greed but by revenge. Who is he and why is he doing the things he is?
The main narrative of the kidnapping is interspersed with Saskia's struggles with her psychopathic brother and her own personal demons. This is a fresh plot point and it serves to make the characters and story more human and real. The story has a brisk pacing and many interesting insights into the smallest negative shades of human beings.
I am intrigued enough by Saskia's character to want to read more of her. Definitely check this book if you are into books which portray complex and real human beings.
Saskia Monet is asked to help in Jersey with children missing, she soon realise not all the local police welcome's her help. Good characters with good plotting. This book is a good start to the series and a real page turner. I received this book from Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review.
The Stolen Ones by Gywn Bennett is a page-turning suspense. Saskia Monet is a forensic psychologist who is asked to help the local police in finding 4 kidnapped children. Will Saskia help in solving the case before the children are harmed? Will she also be able to keep her brother from progressing with his psychopathic behavior before it's too late?
A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.
Set in Jersey, I thought this was a book with 2 different sides. The investigation into the kidknapping of 4 children was well done and Saskia, the profiler, added to the plot. I liked the way the crime came together, though was worried that the children would have come to harm (the crime against the children does not become more serious than previously mentioned) .This was well thought out and a cryptic puzzle to solve.
The other half of the book involves Saskia's personal life, especially her brother, David. I was not too enarmoured by this, though do understand that the author maybe wanted to do more with this book than a police procedural. I`m left with a feeling of why add such a nasty character. May be that will become more apparent as the series progresses .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC .
A clever story, using a childhood tale of the pied piper. Lies and deception with a price to pay! But who has done it?
Will they find the missing children? Why have they been taken? Who is hiding something?
A fast paced thriller!
Well written, good storyline and liked the main characters. I enjoyed the mystery throughout and how it is all revealed. A good introduction, which certainly whets the appetite. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Gwyn Bennett's "The Stolen Ones" is an exhilarating crime thriller that grabs your attention from the first page and doesn't let go. Saskia Monet, a compelling and complex character, takes readers on a rollercoaster of suspense as she races against time to solve a series of chilling crimes. The nail-biting twist will leave you stunned. A must-read for thriller enthusiasts craving an unputdownable experience.