A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I loved it and would definitely recommend it to others!

Please please approve me for more books by this author!

A fuller review has been left on Goodreads

On board a cruise in 1984 two year old Robert vanishes without a trace while his family are all sleeping in the cabin beside him. Despite all efforts from his family he is never found. Skip forward to 2024 Lily is has lived in the shadow of her brothers disappearance all her life juggling her career as a psychotherapist and her family as well as being a mediator between her divorced parents. When a new client claims to be her missing brother lily belief that Robert drowned starts to crumble and she will have to face the truth of what happened on the cruise ship all those years ago.

This is a very slow burn and I did feel a bit lost till I got to grips with both timelines and all the characters, but it's well worth it and the twists were brilliantly done and I had no idea what to expect.

I also listened to this on audio and at times I found the Audio a little annoying and didn't follow completely but I had the ebook which I was reading alongside but overall not a bad audio. (Would give the audio 3 stars)

Thank you to Netgalley, Headline and Carmel Harrington for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Stolen Child is a suspenseful and emotionally charged thriller that centers around the abduction of a toddler on a cruise ship, an event that shakes the lives of everyone involved. The novel unfolds across multiple perspectives and timelines, skillfully revealing the psychological toll the incident takes on the characters, while gradually unraveling the mystery of what really happened to the child.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its well-developed characters. Through various points of view, we witness the impact of the tragedy on all involved, all of whom are vividly brought to life. Each character’s experience is unique, but all are deeply affected by the sense of loss and unanswered questions, making for a rich, layered reading experience. The alternating timelines add an intriguing layer of complexity, slowly revealing key details while maintaining an atmosphere of suspense throughout.

While I was able to anticipate the ending relatively early on, the predictability did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. Instead, the appeal lies in how Harrington crafts the story—showing not just the outcome, but the twists and turns that lead to it. The emotional and psychological depth of the characters, combined with the chilling nature of the crime, keeps readers engaged, wondering how it all unfolds.

In sum, The Stolen Child is a gripping read that offers more than just a mystery. It’s an exploration of grief, guilt, and the complexities of human relationships, wrapped in a well-paced, thought-provoking narrative. Though the ending may be anticipated by some, it is still a journey worth taking for the compelling characters and the intricacies of how the truth is revealed.

Kimberley, Jason and their children, Robert and Lily, are holidaying on a mediterranean cruise. And during this trip Kimberley wakes up to discover that two years old Robert has vanished not only from their cabin but the boat as well. He is searched for but never found.

Forty years later and Lily is now a therapist and a new client Zach, reveals to her that he believes he is her brother after watching her father do an interview

A lot of twists and turns in this story and an ending I didn't see coming! Loved it

Really enjoyed this book, it was fast-paced and kept me guessing, I did suspect the twists but liked the journey to get there! A very clever book.

The Stolen Child starts in 1984 on a cruise ship, where two year old Robert disappears from his cabin one night to the horror of his mother, step-father and sister, Lily. Then we find ourselves in 2024, where Lily is a psychotherapist and mother; her parents are divorced and her step-father has never got over little Robert's disappearance. Things take a turn when Lily has a new client who has vague memories of an 'other mother', bringing Robert's disappearance back into question.

I've read a number of books about missing children, and suspected that this one would be much of the same, but how very wrong I was! I really enjoyed the multiple timelines; there was also an earlier one, telling of two orphaned girls growing up. I loved trying to piece the information together across the timelines, but I wasn't even close to figuring out what happened.

The book was so well written, it genuinely kept me guessing. I was invested right from the start and loved getting to know the characters and trying to work out who had done what.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

A great read as usual from Carmel. A nightmare happens when a child goes missing from
A cruise ship. Having taken 2 cruises I can see how this could happen. There are two separate stories running through the book. I would love to see this made into a movie.

What appears to be 2 very different stories at first come together in a rather amazing way.
In the first story a toddler Robert is taken from his parents cabin on a cruise ship, sailing in the Med. There is no sign of the boy on board , but his favourite toy rabbit is found near the railings , making it look as if he has managed to slip out and over the edge. The boat is searched and when it reaches port the police are called. As there are no clues the investigation fades away.
The mother Kimberly and stepfather Jason( who some people suspect) are distraught and eventually return home with their daughter Lily , Kimberly throwing herself into her business , but Jason believes Robert to be alive and spends the next 40 years searching, alongside a charity"Stolen Child" set up for people in similar circumstances.
In the 2nd story a young girl Sally is sent to a children's home by her mother, where she befriends an older girl Elsie.
Elsie leaves the home when she is 18 and loses contact with Sally,eventually Sally leaves the home and as she has little money and is put into a flat struggles.However Elsie expecting her to be nearby when she leaves the home finds her and helps her out.Sally eventually gets a job as an hairdresser with Nicola and the 3 become firm friends.Sally marries a policeman who turns out to be an abuser , so the 3 make escape plans to get Sally and her son free from him, but the plans go wrong.
After Jason makes a 40th anniversary TV appeal for information about Robert,to keep the case alive a man called Zach contacts Lily , who is now a psychoanalyst , with a strange story and eventually tells Lily he suspects he is her brother .
This is where the 2 stories come together with amazing twists and recriminations.

This book started off interesting. There were parts of this book that for me dragged on slowly and I began to skim over them to get back to the interesting part. I also found some aspects implausible. I'm not a fan of the time lines, going back and forth either.

Wow I loved this. It was gripping stuff waiting to find out who had stolen the child and if that child was actually Zach. It was obvious all the threads would converge at some point but whilst I did see some of plot twists coming, I could never have predicted them all. The triple timeline worked so well to develop the story and its characters meaning you had a good understanding of people's motives and felt for everyone at different times. It really was a roller coaster of heartbreaking emotions, hopes and fears. I also loved the fact that this book is inspired by a real-life event and idea from the author's twelve-year-old son. So in case you hadn't guessed I would totally recommend this and will definitely be seeking out more by this author.

Brilliant, Brilliant from start to finish. Sad, heart breaking. The storyline was fantastic and a page turner. Couldn't wait to get reading each day

This is my first of Carmel Harringtons and it will definitely not be my last. I was enthralled from start to finish. The storyline unfolds through a past and present timeline which works well. It’s very cleverly written and it builds the suspense. I did find it to be a slow paced listen and a little predictable at times but having said that I still enjoyed it. When it comes to the characters I can’t say I really warmed to any of them as they gave me mixed emotions but I did really like Sally and I loved the relationship between Lilly and Zach. The narration was spot on and really brought it to life. Enjoyed this one and would recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline Audio for the opportunity to read and review #TheStolenChild

I loved this book, the characters I fell in love with straight away, the story hooked me and the twists and turns kept me guessing. I would highly recommend this book

It's every parent's worst nightmare. But there's no waking up from this . . .
On board a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, Kimberly wakes to discover that her two-year-old son Robert has vanished from the cabin overnight. She and her husband Jason vow to do whatever it takes to bring Robert home.

But he is never found.

Forty years later, their therapist daughter Lily welcomes a new client into her home. Zach has a shocking theory about what happened to her brother Robert years before.

If Zach is to be believed, someone out there knows what happened on that ship. And they would do anything to stop the truth getting out.

Wow! The Stolen Child is one heck of a gripping read. Told over three timelines, before, then and now, the story unravels and it has a jaw dropping twist!

I really enjoyed this book. The book goes backwards and forwards through eras and all comes together at the end. A couple lose their child, Robert, on a cruise. Where did he go and how. The ship is docked and searched but he is never found. Lily grows up knowing that her big brother has disappeared and growing up without him is difficult. Her parents, especially her dad spends many years looking for him causing his marriage to fail and for Lily to feel second best in the family. Lily grows up, marries and has a child of her own. Then the story really picks up pace. It starts with children in an orphanage and their journey. Elsie befriends Sally and are close until Elsie leaves at 18 and eventually so does Sally. They meet up by chance and continue their friendship. Things go from bad to worse in their lives with all the twists and turns. Secrets abound. Jason, Lily’s dad, is still trying to find Robert and a man called Zach feels that he is possibly Robert. This is where the story gets you – it is very sad and uplifting in equal measure. A must read

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Headline.

With echoes of Madeleine McMann, this book starts off on a cruise ship with a child seemingly being taken from their cabin in the middle of the night. The story also flashes back to the 1960s and 1980s as we learn more about the family and friendship dynamics at play.

A really hard hitting storyline that makes you question what you would have done in the same situation.

My favourite quote:
"Elsie warned Sally to avoid the loose step halfway up, which always told tales."

Kimberly and Jason are enjoying a family holiday on a cruise ship with their two children, baby Lily and two year old Robert. One morning Kimberly wakes to discover that Robert has disappeared from their cabin. The cruise ship is locked down while an intensive search for Robert takes place. However the child is not found and he's believed to have fallen overboard.. Jason, Robert's stepfather is under suspicion of harming Robert and spends the next 40 years frantically searching for the boy. Fast forward 40 years, and Lily is now a successful psychotherapist when a new client Zach comes to see her explaining that he's seen one of her father's interviews about her missing brother and sees a resemblance to himself in the photos of Robert.
Interspersed with the story of Robert's disappearance we hear from two young girls who are both living in an orphanage in Ireland in the 1960's. Five year old Sally is taken under the wing of Elsie who is a few years older and they remain the best of friends until Elsie leaves the orphanage when she turns 18. Once Sally also leaves they get back in touch and resume their friendship.
Told from three POV and three timelines, this is an enjoyable story although a little implausible at times. I did have an inkling what the twist at the end was going to be but wasn't completely right!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading an ARC of this book.

THE PHRASE ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ does a lot of heavy lifting – once you start thinking about the worst thing that can happen to your child, you come to realise that the list is unbearably long. Yet, having your son or daughter go missing never to be found again must be pretty close to the top.
It’s summer 1984 and the Murphy family is on a European cruise. A delayed honeymoon for the parents, they have their six-month-old daughter Lily also in tow, as well as Kimberley’s son Robert, her two-year-old from a previous relationship.
While life on board the ship isn’t perfect, it’s typical of a family holiday with two young children. Robert plays a little too roughly around his little sister, and so earns a telling off from his stepfather, Jason. Kimberly feels a headache coming on, spoiling her and her husband’s plans to have a night at the cabaret while the kids are looked after by the on-board babysitters.
While she sits out the evening and takes a pill to sleep off the migraine, she encourages Jason to enjoy himself with a few drinks at the bar. The children are put to bed, Kimberley conks out, after a few hours Jason slips in to the room with only a hint of a stumble.
In the morning, they are ready to begin again – until they discover that Robert is not in their cabin. A frantic search ensues, the exits are blocked now that they have docked overnight in Barcelona, the local police are called in to help. It becomes clear that Robert is no longer on board the ship.
The story continues almost forty years later, in a now grown-up Lily’s office in Phibsborough. She is a psychotherapist with a young son of her own, happily married and supportive of her now separated mother and father, whose lives have been devoted to growing their business and keeping up the long search for Robert, respectively.
When a new patient walks through her doors their lives are upended, and the intersecting 1980s and 2020s storylines come together to flesh out the devastation of the actions of the past have inflicted upon them all over the decades.
Meanwhile, a third, earlier and seemingly unrelated storyline is also in play. It follows little Sally Fox as she finds her way from orphanage to the big wide world, in 1960s and 70s London. It is like an entirely different story, even down to tone, and a trust in the storytelling process is required not to skim these passages, which have the melodramatic quality of a second-hand paperback.
When all the strands converge, it is revealed what connects Sally to the Murphy family. It’s not the most groundbreaking twist of all time, nor one that most readers will not have seen coming towards the build up to the climax, but it is clever, and a solidly plotted and executed denouement.
The Stolen Child asks how much the past influences our present, and does it well. The characters of Kimberley and Jason each have very different responses to their child’s abduction, with Kimberley choosing to get on with her life as best she can and Jason abandoning everything else in the pursuit of the truth of what happened to his son.
Lily, then, has survivor’s guilt thrust upon her from an early age, and has always served as her parents’ mediator. Her early and continued experience of loss and grief has influenced her decision to enter the therapy profession, and as her own son approaches Robert’s age when he was taken, empathy with her parents’ anguish increases.
Sally’s story too investigates childhood trauma and inherited stigma, as well as the desperate acts of those in terrible poverty, and domestic abuse. Again, these themes are laid on a lot thicker than the more subtle subject treatment in the main storyline, and once the stories align the over-the-top drama seeps in to the otherwise restrained main narrative.
Overall, The Stolen Child is a well-paced story that deals with worst case scenarios and their impact on people and their descendants. The characters are generally well drawn and their growth believable, the three storyline threads well-woven. A good read, but probably best not reserved for this summer’s family ferry trip.

#netgalley

It’s 1983, and aboard The Carousel cruise ship, just off the vibrant shores of Barcelona, Kimberly awakens to a nightmare: her two-year-old son, Robert, has disappeared without a trace. While his sister, Lily, sleeps peacefully in her crib, darkness looms over Kimberly as the shocking reality sets in.

Enter a gripping tale billed as “a tense and emotional family drama brimming with secrets, an abducted child, and a mother’s desperate quest for the truth.” And oh my days, the web of lies is thick—who can really be trusted in this harrowing journey?

As frantic searches unfold with the crew and Spanish police scouring every corner of the ship, hope begins to dwindle. Robert’s family, haunted by his absence, fights to stay afloat emotionally.

Despite his family disembarking the ship in Barcelona and waiting for any news, none comes, and the family has to eventually return home to Dublin.

Understandably, this event leaves a palpable trauma hanging over the family unit, torn between focusing all hope on getting Robert to return to them and simply surviving everyday life.

Years later, a stranger appears, claiming to be Robert. The past resurfaces in a whirlwind of emotions, unravelling bonds and testing the very fabric of their relationships.

With the narrative skillfully woven across three key timelines and told from multiple captivating perspectives, each short and snappy chapter pulls you deeper into the mystery of Robert’s disappearance, the backstory and of course, the turmoil that follows.

Although I figured out the big plot twist fairly early on, I still found The Stolen Child to be a tense, twisty read. It’ll be a perfect companion for those lazy days lounging by the pool—you won’t want to put it down!

Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley. As always, this is an honest review. The Stolen Child is available now.