Two year old Robert disappears from his cabin aboard the Carousel cruise ship and is never found. 40 years later Robert’s sister Lily is working as a psychotherapist when a man called Zach walks in who’s past possibly echos that of Robert’s. What really happened to Robert?

This was my first book by this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was generally pleasantly surprised. The book started strongly and I was interested to see where it would go. I enjoyed the writing style and felt that there was a lot of depth, with different time frames building up the story. I ended up enjoying some time frames more than others but understand their importance in developing the characters and ending.

I found the characters intriguing, although I didn’t necessarily connect with them for some reason and I also I found the story repetitive and slow paced at times, while playing out more as a drama than a thriller. I found the story quite predictable and didn’t get any major shock moments, while finding parts far fetched. Saying that, apart from these niggles, I did find the general proportion of this story captivating and emotional and would certainly say that this is a solid family drama. 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Captivating from the prologue with intriguing characters and a complex plot. The story is told over a triple timeline and from three different POVs which takes a bit of concentration but is well worth the effort.
In 1983 Kimberley and Jason wake up in their cabin aboard a cruise ship to discover their two year old son Robert has disappeared. With their younger daughter Lily the couple and extended family and friends searched for Robert intensely but he was never found. The strain of the situation split the family.
In 2023 a man named Zach turns up in Lily's psychotherapy practice claiming to be her missing brother.
Alongside these timelines we are sent back to 1963 where Sally is 5 years old and living in Sunshine House Orphanage. Sally is befriended by an older child, Elsie, who looks out for her and they become great friends.
The final part of the book brings together all the different parts to explain what truly happened. Whilst I did guess the twist based on the very early clues it did not spoil my enjoyment of this emotional, domestic suspense novel.
I am grateful to to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this highly recommended book.

Incredible! I was utterly gripped by this story, told across two timelines and three women’s perspectives. A story of friendship, family, love and betrayal, it was so cleverly plotted and I felt the emotions of the characters. The twist at the end was one of the best I’ve read in a very long time - a must read.

Thanks to Headline Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Great story from a new author to me. Having the three storylines is unusual but worked well. Characters were all described so well and I must admit I didn't see the twist coming until it happened which shows the author's writing skills to me.

Lovely strong women characters with great relationships.

Will certainly read more from this author,

I thoroughly enjoyed this book & found it difficult to put down. While I did predict the twist, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. I especially loved Sally & Elsie’s friendship throughout their childhood into adulthood & I thought the dual timeline worked really well the plot.
This was my first read from this author & it certainly won’t be my last!

I received both an eARC and an audiobook for review. However, I had to DNF the audio at 15% due to distracting mouth noises from the narrator.

I'd never read or even heard of the author but the title and description sounded right up my street so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
The story is told in 3 separate timelines. When the child, Robert, is taken, years later when Robert is found and a seemingly separate story about Sally, a child who goes to an orphanage.
I enjoyed the story to begin with especially Sally's story. I was intrigued to know how all the stories linked. By halfway through it became very obvious where the story was going and the big twist wasn't a surprise to me. I didn't enjoy the second half of the book particularly. I started to speed read to get to the end and was happy when the book ended. It was a good enough read but not great and I probably won't read this author again.

Having never read anything by Carmel Harrington I did not know what to expect. The event and the shockwaves after are something that no one wants to experience but clues at the start drop hints of the "twist". An enjoyable read but for me no real shock at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

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.