Fantastic story, great characters

I was provided with a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

I feel very fortunate in that having received a free copy of Faceless (book 2) by the same author I was lucky enough to obtain this third novel free in return for my honest opinion.

Upon listening to Faceless I loved the characters the author created and I was looking into following up on them when I got the free copy of Stolen.

I was thrilled to find the same narrator reading the story and within minutes it felt like an extension to the previous novel. The characters are well drawn, sympathetic and interesting. Although it is probably better to read them in sequence as a series, they are perfectly good novels as standalone stories.

The author has a great talent for dealing with incredibly difficult subjects (warning for all this novel deals with child abduction and associated issues) and treating them sensitively and humanely. She is able to give even difficult characters a human side and I love this ability of hers.

There is no doubt in my mind now that Dawn Whiddon is going on my authors to look for list. One book can be a one off, but two shows skill and talent, I'm looking forward to the next instalment of Whitley and Keal.

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"Oh, what a tangled web we weave."

I think I can honestly say that this is the first series of crime novels that I've followed through with - mainly because I would read the second one so long after the first that I'd forgotten all the details. Thanks to the wonder of audiobooks, I've been able to work my way through this series in a more reasonable time frame and I'm enjoying getting to know more about these characters with each book.

Now, in book 3, the crime involves another murder, with two suspects and two young children of unknown identity. I don't think it would be a spoiler to mention that there is a pedophile involved, so this may not be suitable for some readers.
Untangling the identities of the children and the suspects makes for riveting listening and so I also managed to do quite a bit of ironing :)
I was happy to see that the narration was by Amy Deuchler, the same narrator as book 2. She does a good job with both male and female voices and spoke at a good pace.

I enjoyed the twisty nature of this novel and the ending was satisfying. It was a pleasure to reunite with the crime team of Marty Keal and Jean Whitley, plus Marty's fiance, Hope, whose insights into child psychiatry are fascinating. We also find Jean's daughter Bethany getting involved again, this time through her involvement with her boyfriend Dylan.

Book 4 next...

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A 'must listen'!

I absolutely LOVE this series. So much so that having already read book 3, I have 'double downed' and listened to it as well. I feel a bit stymied because I gave book 2 a 5 star review and, if possible, this one is even better! The story is heart breaking, and worryingly happening in real life. In fact the numbers involved are mind boggling and it's so necessary that authors tackle these difficult subjects in their writing. The mystery is very cleverly written, but what I especially like is the back story behind the main players. In so many books today the people involved seem completely alone in the world; they seem to have no family, no friends, no one who cares about them. Not so in this series; we get to meet all the Keals and the Whitley family, Hope and her mother. It's heart warming and provides a very welcome foil for the sadness and horror that the mystery brings with it. This is a fabulous read and I loved every single minute of it. 5 stars and a 'must read' recommendation from me.

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1 person found this helpful

Wow. Left me crying.

Such a gripping mystery from start to finish and the “switch” of the main character was refreshing and a good slant. Well written so that you just cannot put it down. Such a scary and very real topic. Great ending!

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Enjoyable listen

The main characters were likeable and the story was easy to follow and also engaging. Th plot line was enjoyable without being convoluted and was easy to follow. I enjoyed this listen and look forward to more from the same author/ narrator

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2 people found this helpful

STOLEN

This is a thriller read that will have you on the edge of your seats from beginning to end. The storyline is heartbreaking,A stolen child. a parents worse nightmare.

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1 person found this helpful

amazing storyline

Another homicide has rocked the small town of Fallsburg, New York. In a cabin nestled deep in the woods,
amazing story could not stop listening

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Incredible

Any additional comments?

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Stolen is the third book in the Whitley & Keal series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Whereas Faceless (book #2) was more focused on Jean Whitley and her family, Stolen was more focused on Marty Keal and his family. I really liked the interaction between Marty and Hope, and even with the Captain and the lost child. Whidden has a real ability to create authentic characters that draw you into the plot and make you care.

The narrator, Amy Deuchler, is also an incredible fit for this series. While I prefer her narrating as Jean, I did like her narrating as Marty as well, and for the most part I did find it easy to differentiate the characters by the narrative.

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Another fantastic story in this series

Having read all three of the books in this series, I feel like I have really got to know the characters and they have all been written so well, with great character development. There was not a moment of this book where I wanted to put it down, I was so eager to find out what was going to happen next.
This is a beautifully written story about stolen children and their lives afterwards. There is mention of child abuse throughout, but for me, there was enough emphasis to explain without too many details.
I can’t wait to read the next one and see what happens next for Jean and Marty in their respective lives.

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Thrilling read

The third in the Whitley and Keal series, which keeps getting better and better. The story centres around what happened in a cabin in the woods and the identities of the two children found in the aftermath of a shooting. The mystery of these children and those involved in the events gives an absorbing thriller. As well as the mystery you also get to know the cops and their families. An interesting listen, with good narration, if only I could give it 4.5 stars!

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