I've just finished my gratefully received ARC of #TheStolenChild and it's brilliant! I love a book with a twist and this one was both unanticipated until the time was right, and believable - a rare combination! Add it to your pile!

Themes of found family, escape from poverty, domestic abuse and love.

I genuinely couldn't put it down - I was reading this at a ceilidh!

When a child is snatched from its bed on a cruise ship and disappears, it triggers a long search for the truth. This is a psychological thriller I didn't want to put down and I did not see the clever twist coming until very close to its unveiling.
The writing style didn't thrill me (sorry), I didn't warm to the characters and the pace was rather uneven. Still, I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery thriller. Would make an interesting film.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

When their little boy goes missing while enjoying a cruise, Kimberly and Jason, her husband are heartbroken. The story is sensitively told from several viewpoints and timeframes.

This is one of those books you are unable to put down, a roller coaster of emotions, hopes and fears. Various accounts are given by Kimberly, Lily’s daughter, and others. Sally and Elsie, two girls who have become friends while in an orphanage also tell their story, and I enjoyed reading how everything evolved.

It’s a book of hopes, fears, and reunions, emotively told by the author. Characters are expertly portrayed, and I became invested in their stories. Kimberly and Jason, whose young son has been stolen; Sally, a young girl growing up in an orphanage, who feels lost and alone. With many twists and turns as this complex plot unfolds. Recommended.

Good story about the fallout from a child who goes missing from the family cabin aboard a cruise ship in the 1980s.
Years later a man claims to be that missing child. But is it really him? And what really happened back then?
The story flits between the present day and the 1980s and both stories merge as we find out what happened. Memorable characters and a good storyline. Recommended.

This book by Carmel has been a truly wonderful reading experience. From the cover, not one I would have readily chosen off a shelf but glad I had a chance to read. Highly recommend.

40 years ago, a child goes missing on a cruise ship. Is he dead? Or is he still alive?

“Secrets always find a way to reveal themselves”

This book is told in multiple POV, across multiple timelines and I felt it was a little confusing until I got used to who was who and what was where.

It’s a fairly sad family drama but quite thought provoking in places. Whilst I didn’t overly warm to any character in particular, Sally seemed very sweet and Lily and Zach had a heartwarming bond.

I found it believable, but it was a little slow paced and predictable for my liking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for my advanced copy.

Loved the writing in this one! The story is told with a multi-POV timeline, across 3 different years. I really liked the short chapters and mini twists at the end of each, which kept me gripped throughout much of the first half of the book. I did guess one of the twists here, although it still made my jaw drop!

I found the second half of the book to be of a much slower pace. It did feel like it dragged and unfortunately became a little boring for me in places. The amount of characters being written about did become slightly confusing for me at times too. It’s probably just me thought not used to reading more complex books 😂

The pace did improve towards the end though and I enjoyed the final twist! I loved the author notes at the very end. The fact that this book is inspired by a true story is so lovely and left me feeling content.

Whilst this one took me a little longer to read, I definitely recommend! I can’t wait for Carmel’s next book in 2026!

A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e/book copy.

It's about a family on a boat in the sunny sea. Mom, Dad, and their kids, Robert and Lily. Then, boom, Robert vanishes.

At first, it's super intense. You really feel the mom freaking out, and you're like, "What's up with the dad?" The story jumps around in time. We see what happened when Robert disappeared, what happened way before, and what's happening now.

Now, Lily's grown up, and she helps people with their problems. Her parents aren't together anymore, and Dad's still stuck on Robert. Then, someone she's helping says something that flips everything upside down.

The scary, fast feeling goes away a bit. It gets more like people thinking about stuff, not just running around. It's like, time has passed, so everyone's a bit calmer, but slower. But I still wanted to know what happened. And there were surprises I didn't see coming. It was a fun story, and I liked it.

This was my first Carmel Harrington novel and will not be my last! The Stolen Child is a gripping but also heavy read. I loved that we got dual timelines and that the story was told in different POVs, which allows us to learn more about what happened and what led up to the events of Robert disappearing and the aftermath. I really enjoyed how everything came together and Carmel's writing had me guessing throughout.

The Stolen Child is a thought-provoking and intense read that has you wondering how you would react and the actions you would take in this situation. The thoughts and feelings this provoked were done so well, especially after you read the author's note and the real-life situation that influenced this story. I cannot wait to pick up more of Carmel Harrington's books in the future!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. I was drawn into the story from the very first chapter. I couldn’t put it down. And it kept me guessing right to the end with brilliant twists.
“ gripping emotional thriller with a twist you’ll never see coming “
It’s warm, uplifting, moving, addictive, poignant, unputdownable, immersive with a great ending but is so much more than a thriller. Just brilliant
1984 - On board The Carousel cruise ship two year old Robert vanishes while his parents sleep.
2024 - Lily, now a psychotherapist receives a new client Zach who tells who something about Robert that changes everything.
I really enjoyed the different POV’s from Sally, Kimberley and Lily, past and present. They were woven together beautifully and added depth to the story. I especially loved the early relationship between Sally and Elsie. The characters felt so real and you could feel their emotions and thoughts just jumping off the pages. It’s so well written. I just love @happymrsh writing style.
An intriguing and compelling story about love, heartache, betrayal, loss and hope. Definitely recommend this one. It’s well worth the read.
With thanks to #NetGallery #Headline for an arc of #TheStolenChild in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 27 February 2025

Forty years after a child goes missing on a cruise ship, a man approaches the family claiming to be the missing Robert. Is he telling the truth? What secrets from the past have led to this moment in time?
This was a good story, with the history of the main characters giving the overall picture of the main events of the story. Some very sad moments, along with sweet family moments and the loving connections that hold them together. I think the story was well thought-out and well written. Definitely worth a read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Carmel Harrington is known for writing twisty page-turners that feature relatable and strikingly realistic characters.

Stretching out across 50 years and a variety of locations, Harrington’s newest book relies heavily on her ability to write convincing characters.

The plot revolves around deep moral dilemmas and emotions such as guilt and betrayal, making well-defined narrators essential to its success.

Thankfully, the three main characters are anything but clichéd, taking turns to narrate their stories across different time periods.

Read my full review here: https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41576473.html

4.5 star.
Wow what a book! This was a great read and an amazing plot. Told over 3 timelines. A family drama with twists, an easy read! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return an honest review. this is due to be released 27th Feb, not one to miss out on. Page turner for sure! Brilliant read…characters were fantastic in thus book! And I didn’t want this to end, thank you so much for the arc.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I found it to be very good. It is written in 3 timelines. The book begins Iin 1983 when Kimberly and Jason take a cruise with their 2 young children, Robert & Lily. Robert, is stolen from the cabin whilst they all slept. Then, we are taken back to 1963 to meet Elsie and Sally in an orphanage. Who are these girls? Why are they linked to the story? Are the questionsthat were in my head. The story then moves on 2023, when Zach visits Lily a psychotherapist. As the story unfolds secrets are discovered, slowly all the links fall into place.
I found the characters interesting and believable. We are taken through history with the changes in society and expectations. We experience poverty, violence, riches, abuse, and friendship. Overall a good read, although at times the pace is slow. The twist at the end was unexpected. I can recommend this book, not a thriller in a heavy sense, nor really a crime fiction. It could be a real life drama.

Anyone who has children cannot but identify with the horrendous nightmare of losing a child … and can put themselves into the shoes of this mother, and the distraught father who searches for forty years, and everyone affected by this tragedy. Carmel Harrington employs a few sly clues, parallel stories that might be connected – or not. Friendships, damaged souls, smothered grief, guilt and desperation, are teased out as the intrigue and truth play out unpredictably about a terrible wrong committed for the right reasons.

My thanks to Headline and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Stolen Child’ written by Carmel Harrington in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

In July 1983 Kimberley and Jason are having a late honeymoon cruising on The Carousel with their children Robert and Lily, when two-year-old Robert disappears sometime during the night. Forty years later Lily is a psychotherapist and meets a new client, Zach, who believes he has a theory of what happened that night.

‘The Stolen Child’ is more a domestic drama than a thriller with the story told across three timelines. The first is in 1983 when Robert disappears, the second is in 1963 when five-year-old Sally is taken from her mother to live in an orphanage called Sunshine House, and the third is the present time when Lily, now forty, is wife to Michael and mother to Ben. The novel is well-written and interesting, the character descriptions believable, but although it’s kept me involved I’ve found it to be slow at times and not as enjoyable as a previous novel I’ve read by this author. This is purely my own opinion and despite it not being a novel I’d want to read again, I recommend it to readers so that they can make their own decisions.

his is the type of book my Nana would have classified as " a good old yarn".
In 1984 a toddler goes missing on a cruise ship. In 2024 the family are still devastated and the fall out from the loss of their son and brother has fractured and impacted this family every day since. After forty years, the truth is finally going to surface.

I thought this book started strongly but unfortunately my interest waned as the book carried on. I think it is more of a domestic drama than a thriller/suspense and I will admit these type of books wouldn't be the genre I am drawn too so possibly a case of wrong reader for this book. I too think fans of this author/ genre will enjoy this book but for me, it was a little too drawn out with unnecessary detail and I found the pacing uneven. Had it been shorter I think I would have enjoyed it more.

2.5 stars

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book had me hooked from the beginning.

When Kimberly and Jason are on board a ship, Kimberly wakes up to see that her son isn’t with them. They both decide that they will do whatever it takes to find Robert, and bring him home. But, after they’ve done all they can, he’s not found.

Now, after a long time from that happening, Lily, their daughter who is a therapist has a new client living in her home, Zack, he has a theory which isn’t what she ever thought, and it concerns her brother Robert and what happened to him.

If what Zach has told her is true, then there’s someone who knows what happened, and they won’t let the truth be known.

The story was well-written and had you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this family drama/thriller book so much.

I expected a search for a stolen child, a few red herrings, and finally, they turn up.

THIS IS NOTHING LIKE THAT...

Told over 3 timelines, the day the child is stolen, a long time before, and a long time after. I enjoyed each timeline equally, and they all flowed seamlessly.

The past goes back to the 60's/70's and I loved looking at life in that era.

I listened via audiobook and loved the narrator's soft accent. She really brought the characters and story to life.

I have never read anything from this author before but I really enjoyed the change of town compared to the style of books I’m Used to (Frieda, Hurst). The book is in four parts each with an EastEnders style duff duff or reveal. In my opinion the ending went on a little long but everything was wrapped up and all my questions were answered. I would definitely look out for books by this author in the future.