4.5 stars

Stolen Mothers by Stacy Green is the ninth in the FBI Agent Nikki Hunt series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
Series Background:    (Contains spoilers from previous books)
Nikki Hunt is an FBI Agent whose parents were murdered when she was young.  Their real killer is now behind bars, after she helped free Mark Todd (who she originally helped incarcerate). She now lives with his brother Rory, and family dynamics are settling down. She has a young daughter (Lacey), and her ex-husband (Tyler) was murdered by a serial killer (Frost) who is also now behind bars, and is apparently Nikki's half-brother.  Nikki heads the BAU unit based out of St. Paul Minnesota.  Her team consists of Crime Scene Analyst Courtney Hart and Agent Liam Wilson.  They work closely with Sheriff Kent Miller.  She has a new boss, Henry Garcia...and the verdict is still out.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Nikki is called to the scene of a gruesome discovery.  The tortured body of Kiania Watson has been found 3 doors down from her own home, pink trilliums are tied to her hand.  Nikki knows this killer, whom she had been told was dead.  But she is sure it is the same man who, nine years ago, had let her live.  The same man who had told her that they would meet again.  Now she just has to convince her team he's still alive.

On further investigation, they find two morel victims who had died with the same injuries, stomach contents, and flowers by their side.  They start looking for more,  just across the border in Canada.   The only one not convinced is Sheriff Kent Miller, who seems to have his mind on other things.

Nikki soon realizes that the killer is targeting mothers to newborn babies.  He may have let Nikki go 10 years ago because she was still pregnant with Lacy at the time.  But he definitely has mother issues....and he may now be targeting Nikki.


My Opinions:
I am still really enjoying this series.

The plot was a little dark and twisted, but excellent! It dealt with motherhood, miscarriages, and torture against women.

There were a lot of characters, often from different police agencies, but it wasn't a bit deal.  All the characters were interesting, but not all of them were "nice".  There was one really despicable father that I would love to speak with....  I love the way things turned out with Anita.  I also liked the friendship between Kent and Nikki, and the growing bond between Nikki and her new boss.  Nikki's team is strong, and they have each others backs.

Overall, this was a really good book.  They really need to be read in order, because Nikki's past experiences has really formed her into who she is today.

Definitely recommend this series!

I've been a fan of this series from the beginning and am always excited when a new instalment comes out! And <em>Stolen Mothers</em> is another great addition to this gripping series!

This book had everything I love about thrillers - great characters you love to spend time with, shocking crimes with a touch of darkness, a serial killer with a mission, a touch of profiling, and some really great investigative work from the whole team.

The only thing I hate about this series (and I say 'hate' in a good way, as it shows how much I engage with these characters) is the constant battle that Nikki has with wanting to be good at her job and wanting to look after her family. A few times I have wished she would just give it all in to keep her daughter safe, but I also want to keep reading about her great detective work! This instalment is especially tense in that regard as we go back to a case that began when Nikki was pregnant with her Lacey, so I loved going back to that time and seeing everything come full circle.

These books are always so easy to read and enjoy and you can often read them in one sitting. So if you're a fan of detective thrillers that are a little dark with immensely likeable characters, this is definitely a series you need to get into!

I'm on the blog tour on the 17th so my reviews will be live then!

Stolen Mothers is book 9 in the Nikki Hunt series by Stacy Green.
It was so good to be back at it again with Special Agent Nikki Hunt.
This is one of my favorite crime series. And each book hooks me and keeps me engaged.
Another explosive and heart-pounding story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Green's writing is immersive and filled with tension, keeping readers hooked.
With its unpredictable plot and unputdownable narrative, "Stolen Mothers" is a must-read for fans of suspenseful mysteries.
A completely unputdownable and heart-racing mystery and suspense thriller that was so much fun to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

What an awesome book!
This is the 8th in the series, but a new reader would have no problem following along.
Love these characters, flaws and all. This plot had everything - mystery, suspense, action, deceit, and a cold case closure. Cannot recommend this book and series enough.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The ninth book in the Nikki Hung FBI series but my second read of the series did not disappoint! I need to go back and read the rest of the series because I love Nikki and the flashbacks are so interesting that I want to hear the full story. I love that Nikki is a mother who can do a male dominated job and do it very well. The balance of Nikki’s personal life and her professional life is always a great read. I love watching Nikki and her team work to solve the case that keeps getting worse.

Stolen Mothers may be Nikki Hunt Book 9 but it has not lost any of its steam. In fact, it is better than ever. I have been following this author since Tin God was first published. Since then Stacy Green has become a powerhouse of a writer. I know when I start a Nikki Hunt book, my favorite series by her, I will not get anything else completed until I finish that book.

The same held true for Stolen Mothers. It is a completely unputdownable and heart-racing mystery. I like how it takes regular police work by the characters, turning it into a suspenseful thriller. This time Nikki is facing a past villain who has come calling again. There are flashbacks and a minor timeline to a past event in the killer’s life. It doesn’t end with heroics but with a fight for survival. My heart was pounding by that time, anxious to see who lived through it.

I highly recommend Stolen Mothers and the entire series to all readers but especially those who enjoy suspense and thrillers.

This is a great crime thriller.
When Nikki and Liam head out to a murder scene, Nikki is shocked to see a certain type of flower being held by the victim.
This is the flower she was given when she came face to face with a killer when she was pregnant with her daughter. He said he’d be back for her, and she knows in her heart it’s him.
It takes a while for her to persuade some colleagues about the killer but once the evidence comes in, they know they need to find him fast.
With another woman being taken, Nikki knows she needs to meet him face to face to get him to stop.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The serial killer had a signature and Special Agent Nikki Hunt had met him before. She knew the latest victim had been killed by him; the rare, beautiful flowers told the story. As Nikki and her team followed the evidence, searched for DNA and checked for other previous victims, another young mother was taken. Nikki knew he was laying a trail for her - he'd told her all those years ago that he would see her again...

As Nikki followed the clues, the brutality of the killer's murders made her shudder. She was reminded of Mariah in Minnesota where Nikki's guilt never left her. But this time she was determined to catch him - a cold blooded killer of young mothers should never be on the streets.

Stolen Mothers is the 9th in the Nikki Hunt series by Stacy Green and it was another gripping thriller. Nikki is an outstanding character, and her personal life with Rory and daughter Lacey, adds to her character. Her team, especially Liam, always have her back, as she does theirs. I'm loving this series, and recommend it highly.

With thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

In book #9 of the FBI Nikki Hunt series, we see a decision that Nikki made in her past come back to haunt her with a vengeance.

14 years ago, whilst on the hunt for the murderer of a new mother, Nikki is chasing a killer through the woods when she trips and ends up face to face with a masked man, a split decision to tell him she was pregnant, saved her life but departed by telling her he would see her again. Not long after, the burnt body of the man is found within 'trophies', Nikki can now breathe!

Now, in the present day, Nikki and her partner Liam are confronted with a grisly scene. A body of a woman who went missing 3 weeks previously is found dumped in someone's front garden. Similarities spark in Nikki's mind, and then when a particular flower is found clutched in the victims hand, she knows... he is back, so who was the man found all those years ago?

Nikki and her team, now on full speed to try and catch this sadistic killer before it's too late, then receive a phone call from a worried colleague. Her friend has gone missing, and the circumstances of her disappearance match those of his previous victims. So now the speed is amped up even more. Can they put all the puzzle pieces together in time?

Whilst I will recommend this series loudly to everyone and highly recommend reading them all from the beginning, this could easily be read as a standalone. For those new to the series, this installment gives enough backstory of the past so that you understand and connect with the characters, but it's not too repetitive for those who have read all books previously.

As always, an exceptionally crafted read that is packed to the rafters with twists and turns. Suspense fuelled and thrilling is an understatement.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Ten years ago on the Appalachian trail Agent Nikki Hunt came face to face with a depraved killer. Who left her begging for her unborn daughters life before he fled the scene. However, Nikki luckily was found alive and told the killer had been caught and because of her injuries and pregnancy she never thought to question it.

Until now....

As a body is found amongst the Halloween decorations in a families front garden, and the body is soon identified as that of local missing mother Kiana who had recently returned to work after giving birth. And it's clear from the scene she has been brutally murdered in a manor Nikki is sure she has seen before and when her colleague arrives to process the scene she makes a discovery that confirms Nikkisl's worst suspicions and rocks her to her core.

And as Nikki sets about getting answers, she learns that someone close to her has been hiding the truth for years and a killer she thought long dead has been brutally murdering woman all across the country and has now returned to face her just like he promised.

But with little evidence from the new crime scene, Nikki and the team have no choice but to return to the past and hope it can provide answers especially when another new mum disappears.

And as the race to find this twisted killer intensified I couldn't turn the pages fast enough especially as the danger mounted and the stakes got higher! And with great pacing, twists and turns, this was a story I couldn't put down and it's one I would happily recommend to all.

This is my 7th book that I have read in this series and each one is just as brilliant as the last one. So much action with Nikki and her team trying ti find the serial killer from her past who let her go but said he would be back for her. Is it him or somene else as he had been idenitified as dead by the police years ago. had they got it wrong.
Can't wait for the next instalment to see what happens next.

This is a very well written police procedural, but usually I don't like jumping back and forth in time. This time the instances are written as the main character's memory, and that's better. Anyway, this is a very entertaining book with a good plot and great characters.

An absolute page turner!

What an opening to set the scene wanting to know what lead to the moment in the prologue and how is this going to end! How did Kikki get out of this situation 10 years ago??

This story switches between the case now with flashbacks to 10years ago filling in the gaps and answering questions raised in the gripping opener.

Stacy weaves another story that is a great addition to this series. You will get the great mystery as well as more background on all of the main characters giving them all more depth. There are OMG, what?!?!? moments that will have you on the end of your seat.

I just love the prospect of a new Nikki Hunt novel.

Stolen Mothers is ninth in this series and although I've missed some of the others, it hasn't impacted on my ability to follow, or enjoy, the unfolding crime.

More so than any other, I felt a sense of urgency to solve this mystery. Although the others have, at times, resonated personally for Nikki, I felt this one was traumatising for her to delve into.

As I've come to expect I was sucked right into the story and could hardly put it down. However, there were a couple of instances when I went back to re-read sections of the book as there seemed to be no apparent reason or discussed possibility that led Nikki to make definitive statements or steer the investigation in a particular direction.

Needless to say though, Nikki and her team work tirelessly to solve this mystery and bring it to a successful conclusion in the way we know she does...time and time again.

I can't wait to see what case comes across Nikki's desk next!

Nikki Hunt is at it again. This time, she realizes the serial killer she escaped years ago is not only still alive, but he's playing a lethal game, and she could be his next victim!
This is a spine chilling, mind blowing, terrifying read!
If you want to read a phenomenal psych9logical thriller==GET THIS BOOK!

Love love love this series!
Years ago Nikki faced a killer who let her go because she was pregnant. With her newest case it appears Nikki has to face that killer once again.
Great read, can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

Nikki Hunt Closes A Bothersome Cold Case

The novel opens with a flashback to 2014. Special Agent Nikki Hunt is investigating a cabin that a suspect is using. She understands that the suspect is gone. She enters the cabin. The filth and foul order is quite strong. She enters the bedroom, which is even worse. The window is boarded up, but enough light filters through for her to see what else is in the room. She rushes out of the cabin just before she vomits. She sees someone running among the trees and chases him. As she is chasing him up a cliff, she loses her footing and falls. She hits the bottom, has the wind knocked out of her, and loses her gun. She sees the man coming down the slope. When he reaches her, he grins and takes out a knife. Nikki yells, "Please don't! I'm pregnant." A 20-year cold case begins.

This novel has two threads. The first is the current murder and further investigations, which Hunt narrates. The novel starts with Hunt feeling bad as she has not followed up on the initial investigation. Now, the supposedly dead killer is back for her, fulfilling his promise ten years ago. Her investigation is hindered by a usually helpful Sheriff who is distant and uncooperative. She has a new supervisor with whom she was not on the best terms at the FBI Academy. Hunt needs information from the Washington, DC, police about the 20-year-old murder, but she was in a very public and bitter quarrel with the police, so the chance of their cooperation even now is nil. The second thread consists of a few chapters narrated by the victims. Yes, my attention was sucked in quickly and thoroughly engaged with each new clue. It was a quick and easy read, as I finished reading this novel in four days, half of my median read time.

I have read all but one of this series, so let me provide where I learned the most about the Nikki Hunt character. Her friendship and professionalship can be seen in her relationships with her partner, Liam, and the Crime Lab supervisor, Courtney. To see how Nikki works with someone with whom she had a rocky start in her FBI career, observe her interactions with her new boss, Garcia. Also, observe how she handles this relationship when it sours. To see her commitment to friends, see relationships with Sheriff Miller and Anita, the mother of the 2014 victim. These aspects enhanced my reading enjoyment.

Very few aspects can cause some readers to stop reading this novel. There are no intimate scenes. Most of the language is impolite versus vulgar. The violence is descriptive after the fact until the chapters where the victims describe their captivity. Lastly, this novel is the ninth in the series, and with the background provided, it did not require reading the previous eight.

I had no issues with this novel, although the crimes against women may stop some readers. What I liked were all the various views of Nikki Hunt’s character. The statement of the killer telling Hunt 20 years earlier that he will see her again, combined with her learning that he was not dead, kept a tension that also kept me reading. There are no loose ends at the end of the novel. I was happy with the ending as it showed that Nikki Hunt could accept her faults and the faults of others. In a way, this was a C-storyline in this novel. If the trailer interests you, I do recommend reading this. This is a must-read if you have read six previous Nikki Hunt novels like me. I am looking forward to reading her next novel. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Bookouture. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

I love Nikki Hunt books and this one was no different. All the intrigue and suspense. In this book agent Hunt is after a serial killer with a personal vendetta. As always agent Hunt is up for the fight.

FBI Agent, Nikki Hunt's, past comes back to visit in Stolen Mothers. When pregnant with her daughter, Nikki had a confrontation with a serial killer in the woods. She was chasing him in an attempt to capture him, when she tripped on a root. He let her live - and she did - for two days in the rugged terrain before she was rescued. What sticks out to her about that time, was the smell of the pink flowers nearby. The same pink flowers that are found clutched in a murdered mother's hand in Minnesota. Nikki was told the serial killer was killed, but now she believes that was not the case. As she digs through files with her team, there's even more to the case than she was told. Told with some flashbacks, Stacy Green weaves an incredible story. The Nikki Hunt Series is one of my absolutely favorites - I hope it becomes one of yours, as well. I look forward to each and every book! Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

"Stolen Mothers," the ninth installment in Stacy Green's Nikki Hunt series, served as my introduction to her work. In this novel, Special Agent Nikki confronts a chilling and sadistic serial killer who specifically targets postpartum women.

While fictional, the story seems to be inspired by the real-life Gilgo Beach murders, diving into themes of societal dehumanization and neglect of certain victims. Green's reference to Shannan Gilbert, a real-life victim, underscores how sex workers are tragically perceived as "disposable," their cases often overlooked by investigators. These real-world connections added a spine-chilling depth to the narrative.

Initially unfolding at a slower pace, the story steadily intensifies, gripping me to uncover the suspect's identity and motives. I look forward to reading her previous installments in the series and would most certainly tune in if it were a TV series.

Special thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC and uncover Stacy Green's work!