Member Reviews
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novel.
This book totally missed all of the marks for me.
Starting off, I really don’t think it can even be classified as a thriller. It felt like a YA novel, there was no suspense, no twists or suprises whatsoever.
Every single character felt fake. As if every single one was a bad actor straight out of an “after school special”.
The dialogue was so corny and unrealistic. It makes me wonder if the author has actually had a conversation with another person before.
Lastly, page 217 states “Selena and Kia watched…..”. Who is Kia? I’m assuming that was supposed to be Mei Lin but that’s a pretty big mistake to be in a published book. And let’s end the completely predictable book with the longest run on sentence in the history of the english language.
Just not good.
This compelling novel drew me in straight away outlining a parent’s worst nightmare. Though harrowing and very upsetting at times, the underlying theme was hope. I’d highly recommend it!
This was my first book of Jeff Stetson's that I have had the pleasure of reading. I am so impressed by this read that I wanted more. I found myself literally yelling at my Kindle while reading. I felt like I was watching, in horror, an actual horror movie.
The story goes, little girl gets taken without a trace. Only to find out that she isn't the only little girl there. What the Hell is going on? A few days later another child is also brought to the same place. The girls are being fed and bathed. They aren't being treated horribly, except that they are chained around their wastes and can barely reach each other. They do get beaten if they don't listen and aren't obedient.Oh, and this is supposed to be their new home and family Not to mention that they can't go anywhere anymore. Freedom is no longer free!
Meanwhile, the author takes us down the path of the parents side of things. The rich and privileged people versus the less fortunate. The amount of exposure one family gets for their child versus how little the other less fortunate families get for theirs. The way two fathers come together in a time of desperate events.
He also takes us on the path of the police and the detectives assigned to the case. This book does not allow you to guess ,it isn't a who done it. It is however an amazing read that will keep you yelling at your book! I will highly recommend this one!
This is the first book I’ve read by Jeff Stetson. The pace and plot of the book were good, but at times it seemed like the storyline could be expanded on a bit more.
The storyline of the book follows young girls of different races that are kidnapped, sharing their stories of survival and trauma. The twists in the book were good, as we learn Ron and Todd, the girls fathers will stop at nothing to find their daughters. Both fathers from two different backgrounds find support in each other on the journey to finding the girls. We weave back and forth between fathers and daughters in short, fast paced chapters.
By the end of the book I was wanting a bit more to the ending. It felt like it was lacking something after reading through the bulk of the book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Interesting book. The book explored race and economic differences within the mystery. I would definitely read another of his books!
Loved this ! Kept me interested and on edge. I didn’t want nor could I put it down. Was an intense mind blowing rollercoaster ride I didn’t want to get off. Such a brilliant mystery thriller that left me thinking about it for days.
Definitely recommend you need to read this
Two daughters from two different social standing families go missing. Thinking the police are not doing enough to find the daughters they team up to try and find them.
An interesting premise bit I found it a little long winded in places and found myself skipping ahead as my attention wandered a little.
I liked the sound of the premise but I ‘m afraid the book just did not deliver for me. Skimmed a good lot of the racial inequality which I thought was overplayed. The ending did not explain the motivation behind the kidnappings. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.
The Stolen Girls is an emotional, well-written story of trauma, survival, friendship and most of all about what connects us to one another is stronger than that which divides us, compassion, respect, working together and love. Despite their differences, Ron and Todd form a close friendship while searching for their missing daughters. I enjoyed seeing their bond grow stronger as they shared personal experiences while continuing the complicated hunt for their missing children.
Incredibly heartwarming story of two dads from completely different walks of life coming together to find their daughters.
This book touches on the struggles of POC throughout the book. Some of the reviews say the characters are stereotyped too much but I personally think that is the point the author is highlighting. However, I’m not very well versed in the subject so I don’t want to say any more.
The reason I have this book 3 stars is because it’s just too long. It could’ve been nearly half as long as it was and still been a great read. However, I do understand the author may be trying to portray the long agony of having a child go missing.
I enjoyed the story and rooted for the characters, it was a good read but just didn’t have that wow factor for me. But that’s okay!
This is the first book that I have read by the author and it definitely won't be the last.
The novel was a brilliant page turner that had me hooked. I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. A very enjoyable and entertaining novel that I highly recommend.
❤️ Thank you to storm publishing, netgalley and the author for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A fast paced, easy to read book that will appeal to many readers. As many other readers have mentioned, the girls come across much older than they are and I would have liked to have known more about the kidnapper- his background and why he did it, and why he chose those girls.
I did enjoy the relationship that developed between the two fathers and the chilling feeling of menace when the kidnapper was visited in his home. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this review copy. 3.5 ⭐️
This was a quick read and I'm not sure why. Gosh, I don't like reviewing books that give you mixed feelings, but here we go. There were a lot of things I liked about the book and a lot of things I didn't like. I absolutely loved the story idea and think it could be a great story with some changes. The bond that grew between Ron and Todd was very nice. I liked that in this book the feelings of the fathers were explored but it was way too much, especially for a Thriller. Now, weaving emotions in the story is a good thing as it makes your characters likeable and relatable but overdo it and you get the opposite and the reader gets annoyed. I got annoyed and had several ‘eye rolls’. I liked the diversity of the girls, but it would have been nice to change the ‘stereotypes’. Again the rich white girl….ugh. The language of the girls was a problem for me as well. They sounded like 40-year-old women instead of young teenagers.
I did like the darker scenes that gave me the creeps without being overly descriptive. The story was fast-paced which made me finish it pretty fast and I liked that. I still don't know why the perpetrator did what he did and some kind of his backstory explaining that, would have made more sense. The ending was…I don't know…I’m still processing it lol. This wasn't the best book I've read, but it wasn't the worst either. Maybe it's just an editing issue as it was an okay read that could have been much better. Definitely not close to a John Grisham book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for this ARC.
Intrigue and mystery…realistic characters…a page turner…wondering and guessing…red herrings…a talented author…a recipe for an afternoon of trying to discern the ending…thanks Netgalley.
An incredible book filled with anticipation and pulse-racing moments. The genre is quite popular, involving the abduction of young girls one by one, by a perpetrator with a unique backstory and a seemingly rational motive. However, the intricate details possess a genuine sense of originality, and the storyline is dotted with captivating twists that held my undivided attention, accompanied by a pervasive sense of suspense. Two fathers, both grappling with the kidnapping of their daughters, come together to conduct their own investigation. Their unlikely mixture of backgrounds and personalities adds a compelling layer of intrigue and emotional depth to the narrative. Additionally, the distinct and resilient personalities of the girls who unite in the face of adversity are portrayed with exceptional skill.
I thoroughly enjoyed the brisk pace of the story, and the author's clever attention to detail kept me thoroughly engaged without giving away any spoilers. The writing style is highly immersive and easy to follow. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Some of the aspects that I enjoyed included: easily read chapters that kept me interested, connections between the characters (including daughters/fathers), exploration of how family relationships break down, and dialogue of the characters really assisted with getting to know each character. At some points, there was so much description that it impacted the flow of the book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.
There was definitely scenes that I found hard to read and this meant I read it slower as I needed breaks but this didn't take away from the novel, as the subject matter was often dark but built up with suspense all the way through
Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for this advanced copy of The Stolen Girls by Jeff Stetson to be published February 9, 2024.
Ron is at school looking for his daughter, Jennifer. She never shows up. Ron finds out his daughter is missing. That’s not the worst part – the police don’t seem to want to do much to find her because of the color of his skin.
Until…..an affluent white couple’s daughter also is missing. Todd and Liz’s daughter, Rebecca, was also abducted. Then the local police, state police, and FBI get involved.
Ron and Todd don’t think they are doing enough to find their daughters. So, they team up and take on the task themselves.
This book was a roller coaster from start to finish. Ron and Todd develop an unlikely friendship in the quest to find their missing daughters.
I laughed in a few places and cried in a few others. The Stolen Girls will keep you engrossed until the very climactic ending!
#netgalley #thestolengirls #jeffstetson #stormpublishing
A girl goes missing after school and then days later another girl goes missing. They are from different backgrounds and one girl gets more press while the other is questioned for hurting his daughter. Where are the girls and who took them?
I have to admit this book did not keep my attention through parts. I liked the premise but some of the dialog was dull. The book did have a buddy aspect to it at certain points and the two dads worked together to find their daughters. All in all it was a good book. I just had some trouble at certain spots keeping my attention.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
When both of their daughters are kidnapped and disappear with no trace, Ron and Todd strike up an unlikely friendship. More different than can be, their loss ties them together and they try to trace their girls.
I found this quite a long read. It wasn’t one I could read easily especially when tired, but it was well worth it. The story is told from the pov of both parents with additiqnal chapters from the girls, showing how bad things are from them. The descriptions and details were vivid and the details of the bad guy teased out slowly. A great read.
Stolen Girls by Jeff Stetson is a compelling and disturbing read that left a lasting impact on me. The story revolves around two fathers, one rich and one poor, who form an unexpected bond as they both seek to find their abducted daughters. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, their shared goal of bringing their girls home solidifies their connection. While the book is enthralling and well-written, it delves into difficult subject matters such as child abuse and pedophilia, making it a tough but important read. The fast-paced narrative kept me engaged from beginning to end, delivering a memorable and powerful story that lingers in the mind long after the final page.