What an amazing ride this was. In my mind it should win the book of the year award for complexity, intrigue and writing. I spent most of the time trying to connect all 3 time periods and to see how the characters were developing, which led me to guessing all the way as to what had happened and who had stolen the boy. I loved the final chapters when it was all explaind and in particular the final ending which mad me smile.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of The Stolen Child.

Carmel Harrington is a new author for me and I will immediately be seeking out other books she has written!

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book! Just wow! Couldn’t put it down. So glad it’s half term so I had time to just sit and read!

I spent most of the book trying to work out how Sally fit into the picture, and did not see the twist coming until it was more or less on top of me. Loved the portrayal of strong women, some of whom had a tough start to life, but fought through it to build a future for themselves.

I’d give it more than 5 stars if I could, if you only read one book this year, make it this one. A absolute winner for me!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A really good read with great story telling. I liked how the three different time periods were woven throughout the book and although I guessed what had happened, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment

This is an amazing book, especially if you’re a fan of Freida McFadeen. The story is told over 3 timelines and 3 perspectives which are woven together beautifully into one twisty plot. A real page-turner with realistic characters. This is a perfect thriller + emotional family drama: if you’re a mum, you might want a box of tissues! . I throughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a story that truly kept me guessing right up to the final pages. I definitely had to keep my attention totally focused with the sheer number of time and character jumps, but Carmel Harrington managed to make the story compelling and heartbreaking all at the same time.

The Stolen Child is another unputdownable read by Carmel Harrington. This authors books are always brilliant and I honestly think this is her best one yet. Right from the prologue I was captivated by this story and what was going to happen. Brilliant characters and some omg moments. I loved it.

This is a great read. Told over 3 timelines and 3 perspectives which are skilfully woven together into one thrilling plot. A real page-turner with realistic characters. This is a thriller + emtional family drama. I throughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free copy of The Stolen Child by Carmel Harrington, from their publisher and NetGalley for my honest opinion.

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time!!!

I absolutely love this book by Carmel. I was instantly drawn in from the very first chapter. I love the friendship between Elsie and Sally back in the 80’s. I thoroughly enjoyed going back to the past and then jumping to 2023. It’s a great book and the plot was fantastic.

I didn’t want the book to end. And the last few chapters was fab, it brought everything together.
Please give this book a read, and well done Carmel and thank you so much for the chance to read this

Thank you to Review ,publisher, and NetGalley for the pre publication copy of this book in return for an honest review. I hovered between 4* and 5* and decided on four only because I felt the novel is a bit longer than it needs to be and there are some parts that are a bit too predictable. Having said that, I did not see the plot twist near the end coming at all! It’s excellent and made the book a very worthwhile read. I liked that the winding up chapters weren’t too cheesy, I felt that people’s emotions and subsequent actions played out as they would and should. I recommend this book and will read more by Carmel Harrington.

Absolutely brilliant read! This book is an incredibly addictive read. It is so well written, with really well written characters. It is a suspense thriller but actually it is so much more than that. This book is also literary fiction that portrays some difficult issues. It is hard to go into too much more detail with this review other than to say you won’t be disappointed.

Wow!
Wow-wee!
OMG!
Unputdownable!
Shocking!
Brilliant!
Amazing!

... no still can't come up with cohereent thoughts....

Addictive!
Carmel Harrington's best book!
Unpredictable!
Couldn't Get Enough!

All of these are my initial reactions on finishing this simply wonderful book.

There are multiple time lines in this story, each more compelling than the next and although you kind of know as a reader they are all connected, the exact details totally shocked me.

There is so much going on, and so much depth to all the characters, it makes for totally compelling reading.

I literally read this in two sittings, with my thoughts on the characters and just what would happen, when I wasn't reading. It's everything that I would have wanted from a book from this author, and a whole lot more besides.

And it starts on a cruise ship, which always attracts me.

It will also leave you pondering what you might do in similar situations to well most of the cast to be honest, as there are some rather juicy decisions made all over the place.

Clear your schedule, curl up and prepare for a wonderful ride, as you read this *insert all the superlatives here* book!

Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What a brilliant book! From the superbly imagined characters, the descriptions of poverty and the heartbreaking emotions this was a beautifully written masterpiece. The story begins in 1983 when Robert, a two and a half year old disappears from his cruise ship cabin in the middle of the night and despite a desperate search he is not found. Forty years later his stepfather is still searching. The rest of his family, while wanting answers have moved on with their lives. Suddenly the story switches to an orphanage in the 1960’s where two young girls become friends in a sad, lonely world where they have no-one else. What has this got to do with the main story? No spoilers here but the accounts from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s as well as the present day are researched in amazing depth and detail and even if you knew the shocking twist that was to come, it is very well worth reading. I hadn’t read anything by this author before but I will certainly do so again in the future. Thoroughly recommended.

When I saw the descriptions of this book offering "a twist you'll never see coming" I knew I just had to read it!

This story covers many harrowing topics, with the author handling each with real care and attention. I was gripped from the off, and really enjoyed the dual POVs from Sally, Kimberley and Lily's perspectives past and present. I did find myself occasionally lost in the timeline, but I think that was more as I wasn't paying enough attention to the years of each title as I was desperate to find out what was happening!

There were points within the story where it felt to drag a little, but on the whole I was gripped, and enjoyed the twist the story took at the end. I didn't quite predict it how it played out, and spotted what I think were a few red herrings set to send us in a different direction. I love how the story unfolded and what became of each character. I loved even more to learn that the story came from true life inspiration of a scary experience the author endured, and her 12 year old son helping to create the plot twist!

A thoroughly enjoyable missing person thriller that I highly encourage any thriller fan to read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Kimberly and Jason's young son Robert disappears from their cabin on a cruise ship and is never found. They never give up hope of finding him alive. 40 years later their daughter Lily welcomes a new client at her counselling business. He has seen an article on TV and he believes he is Robert. Another story of 2 young girls growing up in an orphanage in the 70s is told alongside the main story. You will think you have it all worked out like I did, but you will almost certainly be wrong!! This kept me guessing right to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This book was a really good read and the plot twist towards the end was unexpected. The author keeps up the intrigue throughout and uses intermittent backstories to keep the reader interested . There are chapters from the perspective of the main protagonists which help to explain how the story developed. I would definitely recommend the book .

The plot was really good and enjoyable however I did figure out the majority of the story by the end of part 1 but despite that it was still great and had more twists that I could have imagined.

It’s a long book with multiple parts which did break up the story but the different POV’s were confusing at times.

Overall a good book and I’ll happily read more from this author

A parent's darkest fear becomes a devastating reality. Kimberly's world is shattered when her two-year-old son Robert disappears from their cabin on a Mediterranean cruise. Despite her and her husband Jason's desperate efforts, Robert is never found. Decades later, their daughter Lily, now a therapist, is confronted with a shocking revelation when a new client, Zach, shares a disturbing theory about her brother's disappearance. If true, it means that someone has been hiding the truth for 40 years - and will stop at nothing to keep it buried. But secrets have a way of surfacing, and the truth is finally within reach.

🤯 Wow. Just wow. 🤯
This is hands down the best book I’ve read in a long time. It had me in tears multiple times, and I still don’t know how to move on from it. The characters felt so real, their pain so raw, and the story—absolutely heartbreaking. That plot twist? I never saw it coming.

This book isn’t just a 5-star read; it deserves all the stars and a sprinkle of glitter. ✨ Even if I’ll be grieving this one for a while, it was worth every emotional moment. I still can’t decide what I would’ve done in each of their positions—I felt everything.

This is a must-read in my opinion! If you love books that break your heart and stay with you long after the last page, this one is for you!

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Headline books for this copy, in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and to Headline for allowing me an early copy to enjoy.
This is my first ever read of one of Harringtons books and it won't be my last!
It was written across 3 timelines, 1963, 1983 and 2023. The storyline grabbed me at the prologue.
It was a well written story about betrayal, heartache, loss, hope and love with an unpredictable twist at the end. A great 5* read!

Full of twists and turns this was an unexpected read that I ran though, everything lined up well and was really well written