There is much to sort out in this book.
Alice spends much of the book in a fog so that was a thick fugue to wade through.
Ramsay does a very good job of persuading readers things are happening a certain way when in fact it’s not like what it appears at all.
The ending is happy which was a relief because there is a lot of angst in the story.

Wow, what a gripping read! This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I felt so deeply for Alice as she navigated such a terrifying and heartbreaking situation.

The story starts off a bit slow, with time spent developing the characters, but I appreciated this as it made the events later on feel so much more impactful. Alice’s struggles really hit me hard—the author did an amazing job portraying the complexity of mental health issues and the inner battles so many face.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns—it’s the kind of book that keeps you thinking long after you’ve finished. However, I think it’s important to mention that it does touch on heavy topics like mental health struggles, depression, and anxiety, so it might be tough for some readers.

This was such a powerful and suspenseful read. It had everything I look for in a thriller—pacing, depth, and an ending that left me stunned. Definitely worth picking up!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alice and her husband Tom have just lost their infant Noah son to SIDS. Alice's mental health starts to suffer, and Tom manages to talk her into going into a mental health facility. Alice discovers that she is pregnant again. We find out later that Alice has an eight week old Son called Eli. She also has a nanny to help her cope. When "a friend" sends Alice an incriminating video and tells her to check her husband's emails, she discovers Tom is planning to have her committed. So Alice leaves and take baby Eli with her to Spain. But Eli disappears and no one believes her.

The story is to;d from Alice's perspective. The story starts off slowly, then the pace is fast. It's emotional, traumatic, filled with twists, covers mental health issues and SIDS. At the beginning, it was a bit confusing. The last 25ish% was gripping, and it has a good twist at the end.

Published 25th November 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #DanielleRamsay for my ARC of #Taken in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Taken’ written by Danielle Ramsay in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Alice, Tom and new-born baby Noah move to America and stay with Tom’s parents in their home in New England. Noah dies suddenly of SIDS at eight weeks old and Alice has a breakdown believing it’s her fault. She’s struggling but nobody understands how losing a baby has affected her and she feels that Tom is gradually moving away from her.

From the description I thought ‘Taken’ was going to be about the abduction of a baby so didn’t expect it to be so slow and drawn-out. It was so sad and depressing I couldn’t get into the story and the way the timespan moved around from what happened a year ago to the present time didn’t help. I only read about a third then my interest was lost and I was skipping chapters hoping it would improve. This is purely my impression and I’m sure a lot of readers will love it but unfortunately this time I’m not one of them.

This was an absolute page-turner! The prologue finds us on a ferry to Spain, with Alice waking to find her baby cold, but it's not Eli, her son, it's Noah, her first baby who died from SIDS a year earlier. Alice is on the run, but why? And who is she running from?

Alice and Tom had a wonderful life until Noah died. Since then, Alice has found it difficult to function, quite understandably. She blames herself for her mothers death and now for her child's death. When Alice discovers that Tom is moving on with his life and planning to take Eli with him, she runs, but then Eli is taken. With Alice's history of mental health problems, it is clear that nobody believes her and she knows that she only has until the ferry docks to find her baby.

Twisty and gripping! A fast paced and action packed read that I really enjoyed.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

To start, I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Danielle Ramsay for allowing me to read this book, Taken, via #netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

*Before I dive in, I do want to warn readers that this book does deal with some triggers, specifically, loss of child due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), mental health struggles, and Severe Post Partum Depression. *

This novel follows Alice, an accomplished nurse from the UK who is madly in love with and married to an American neurosurgeon named Tom. They have a son named Noah who tragically dies from SIDS at 8 weeks old. Alice descends into a debilitating depression and blames herself. Her depression is so bad that Tom and a psychiatrist convince her to voluntarily commit herself to a psychiatric hospital so she can get well. The day before this, she finds out she is pregnant.

Alice is terrified to have another baby, but she also can't imagine giving up the baby. When Eli is born, Tom is over the moon, but Alice is just terrified she will hurt him. At first, she doesn't bond with him because of her fears, so Tom hires a nanny. Over the next few weeks, though, Alice bonds with Eli. However, Alice fears Tom still doesn't trust her, and a text and some emails confirm her worst fears. Quickly, Alice realizes she may lose her husband and the son she fought so hard for. What will a mother do to prove her love?

After some deliberation, I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I wanted to give it a 5 because it kept me on the edge of my seat. Ultimately, though, I felt as if it ended up being a bit too farfetched. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining read that I would recommend to others!

#brenbreathesbooks #brenreviewsbook #4starreads #thriller

What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive’ Sir Walter Scott, published in 1808. Danielle Ramsay has gifted us with a psychological thriller that engulfs the quote from Sir Walter Scott. Taken is a lively, intriguing story of deception and lies, with a side of secrets from the past this book must be read by everyone who loves a thriller.
The story of Alice and her husband Tom.. Alice is the narrator and while she is unreliable for a while, she becomes the victim running to save her life. Taken has references to SIDS, therefore a possible trigger for some readers.
The mind set of a parent in grief has been beautifully written by Danielle, I could feel the pain and anguish of Alice in how the words were written.
It was an absolute pleasure to read and review Taken, it will be a book that remains in my mind for a long time ahead.
5+ stars for the portrayal of mental health and SIDS.

#netgalley #TakenbyDanielleRamsay
#Taken
#psychologicalthriller
#thebookcaseofkay

Taken by Danielle Ramsay is a heart-pounding, emotional thriller that pulls readers into a dark world of trauma, deception, and survival. This story centers on Alice, a mother grappling with the loss of her first child to SIDS, only to face an unthinkable nightmare with her second. Her young son Eli disappears, and Alice, already on shaky ground mentally, finds herself under suspicion as the police—and her own husband—question her every move.

The novel's beginning is deeply emotional, with Alice's grief and fragile mental state portrayed so vividly that it almost becomes suffocating. Ramsay takes the reader on a rollercoaster of feelings as Alice’s breakdown and the lingering scars from her past are laid bare, bringing themes of motherhood and mental health to the forefront. The writing skillfully reflects Alice’s spiraling emotions, which makes the story both intense and uncomfortably immersive.

Just when you think the story might slow, Ramsay throws in twist after twist, shifting the narrative from a slow-burn emotional exploration to a high-speed chase as Alice races to uncover the truth about her missing child. The story becomes a puzzle of betrayal and secrets, with Alice forced to confront her husband’s intentions as well as the reality of those around her. Suspense builds with each revelation, making the reader question the trustworthiness of every character involved.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that blends raw emotion with edge-of-your-seat suspense, Taken is a fantastic pick. Danielle Ramsay delivers a masterful thriller that lingers long after the final page, diving into themes of grief, trust, and the fierce lengths one mother will go to protect her child. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this gripping ARC

This book is intense and leaves you feeling all of the emotions! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read the Arc! I will be reading more Danielle Ramsay titles.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book with Alice being desperate to prove her innocence and reclaim her child before it was too late. However, I found the first half a bit slow-paced, which made it challenging to fully connect with the characters. That said, the twist toward the end was worth the wait, with the story picking up nicely in the second half. I'm glad I stuck with it, as the last chapters made for a satisfying conclusion!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Taken is about Alice and Tom who tragically lose their baby son Noah. Alice understandably is a mess and Tom wants to have her committed to a mental facility. The plot starts out at a nice even pace and I found myself pleasantly enjoying the ride and then BAM the twists begin. It becomes a exciting and bumpy road and I had no idea if it was reality or fiction. The characters are hard to read and I wasn't sure if I liked them or not. It's a mind bending and twisted psychological thriller that I was thoroughly entertained by.

I have been accused of murdering my baby
I have to find him in Spain to find him alive
How do I protect myself because I’m innocent
I had an Arc

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+⭐
Taken by Danielle Ramsay is emotional overload! Like, it will blow your mind off!
Oh my God! I don't know where to start! I want to scream and laugh and cry at the same time!
Let's start with - this is the first book in my life that I could not stand for a good 50% and ended up absolutely loving it to the state that I am putting on my special 6-star shelf! I promise it has never happened before!
Trigger warnings: child loss or more specifically SIDS! Please be mindful if this triggers you!

I would say that the first 50% of the book is emotionally attached to SIDS, breakdown, and emotional dealing with trauma. It's seriously ripping your heart out! There is so much emotion! Too much emotion! You struggle to understand how this could be a psychological thriller up to at least 80% of the book... And then things fall in place and you can calm down your madly racing heart! Seriously I thought I would have a heart attack! I wanted to scream! And shout! And cry! Oh my, oh my, oh my!

The expected publication for this book is 25 November so you have time to make your mind up if this fits on your TBR pile, if this is good for your mental health or if are you ready to shred your emotions in complete pieces!

Alice is accused of the worst of crimes ever– murdering her baby...

My advice - don't read the prologue and chapter 2 as this is where confusion comes in! It just messed up my head, seriously! This is why I didn't like the first part of the book as I was constantly confused! And erutated! And annoyed! And I can treasure you, you are not missing out as information will come (repeat) at the right time!

Start with Chapter One, Chapter Three, and then nicely follow the story!
Sometimes jumping back and forth in time works well but not in this book! Thankfully it's presented just from Alice's point of view, I don't think I would cope if there were multiple POV on the top of confusion that gives the beginning of the book.

If you are the person who gives up early - please carry on - it's worth it!

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this copy!

This novel starts in a sad way as Alice and her surgeon husband Tom have just lost their infant son to SIDS. Alice doesn't cope well but part of it is that she is British and staying in America with Tom's mother who doesn't like her, and Tom's old girlfriend is hanging around. I found it a bit strange that people were critical of Alice at being upset at her own baby's funeral, but in the days to come she won't get out of bed or eat or drink. Tom talks her into putting herself into a mental health facility and although she doesn't want to go she does get better. Then she becomes pregnant again and is fearful that her baby will have the same fate.

I'm not a big fan of stories about gaslighting or women getting locked up against their will; but this story has some original twists and turns and I found myself turning the pages eager to see what would happen. Alice has a second son she names Eli and as the book's title suggests, at one point Eli is kidnapped but will anyone believe unreliable Alice? This book uses modern technology as a culprit in what happens to Alice and Eli and while some of it was unbelievable, it had an exciting and unexpected ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this ARC for review.

Oh this was so sad! Thrilling and twisty too. but when you read about babies and SIDS etc then you know it's going to be a humdinger. It's a good way to start a thriller however and really gets into your head and under your skin.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an ARC of Taken.

Not too sure where to start, I am still trying to catch my breath after reading! The story does start slowly and takes a bit of time padding out the characters, which then aids the tale further in. I felt very sorry for Alice, and the author really gave an insight into serious mental health issues and how people cope (or don’t cope) with their own battles inside their heads.

The last 25% of the book flew by, it was one thing after another for poor Alice and her baby. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it gets a solid 4 stars from me.

Trigger warning: baby loss, mental health, post partum psychosis, post natal depression.

by the story and the multiple red herrings thrown in to confuse the reader!
An excellent read, so clever and deceptive. Highly recommended.

A very good story, and the author has a way of bringing you in and making you feel Alice's anxiety. I think I'mma need to double my dose of Ativan...but we see where that got dear Alice! This poor woman. Losing a child, thinking it was her fault and some sort of karmic justice for what happened with her mother, battling ferocious bouts of depression and anxiety, finding herself pregnant paranoid and slowly losing her grip on her sanity after battling back from the brink. It's all too much. It was definitely a good read, but it'll be tough if you easily trigger on others' mental health, depression and anxiety.

Omg I could not put this down it had me up late into the night reading definitely a gripping book. I loved the story and how it drew me in straight away and kept me hooked until the very end. I had so many emotions going on throughout this. I also did not know how it was going to end but wow what an ending it was. I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to recommend it to everyone. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the chance too read this.

"Taken" is a story about a woman named Alice. Having had a troubled childhood that she feels guilty for and losing a child herself, Alice falls apart... I won't give away more of the story because you really have to read it! It's confusing and twisty, in a good way, making you scratch your had as you will not see what's coming! It's written in great detail with deep emotion and the ending just ties it all together!