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The Stolen Child

the gripping emotional thriller with a twist you'll never see coming

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The Stolen Child

By: Carmel Harrington
Narrated by: Emer Heatley
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*The Irish Times No. 1 bestseller*
*A Sunday Times best crime fiction of the year selection*

'One of the greatest twists I've ever read' CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD

'An addictive, immersive, incredibly poignant page-turner ' ANDREA MARA

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.

But secrets always find a way to reveal themselves . . .

PRAISE FOR CARMEL HARRINGTON'S NOVELS
'Warm, uplifting & important...a very VERY special book' MARIAN KEYES

'Beautifully moving and uplifting' CECELIA AHERN

'Storytelling at its best' SHEILA O'FLANAGAN

'We defy you not to say, just one more chapter!' BELFAST TELEGRAPH

'Beautifully written, emotionally intelligent & moving in the extreme' DAILY MAIL©2025 Carmel Harrington Domestic Thrillers Family Life Genre Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Exciting
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Critic reviews

A compelling, extremely tender page-turner (Adele Parks)
Harrington's writing has some of Maeve Binchy's lyrical touch that enlivens everyday detail. Her skill of weaving mystery at regular intervals make this a winner
This globetrotting thriller comes with a twist you'll never see coming
An addictive read
This complex novel requires faultless plotting, and Harrington pulls it off with consummate ease
One of the greatest twists I have ever read
Clever, compelling and compulsive, a read-until-the-early-hours rollercoaster
An addictive, immersive, incredibly poignant page-turner - I flew through it. Readers will love it - an absolute triumph!
This is a mystery that unspools across decades and generations, riverine in its twists and turns, and told with insight and emotional intelligence; Carmel Harrington's legions of fans will not be disappointed! (Karen Perry)
Full of heart, The Stolen Child tackles big themes with empathy and skill. A delicately woven story of family tragedy and a compelling mystery that will have you turning the pages, The Stolen Child is a perfect holiday - or anytime - read (Catherine Kirwan)
A moreish, mind-bending read
All stars
Most relevant
loved the way the I was drawn in by the characters development. a great read. highly recommend

Great characters

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A really engaging novel, with interesting and conflicted characters.

I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Well-paced. A few unexpected plot twists. The audiobook version is very good.

There is movement between the present and the past and followers two separarte storylines that ultimately overlap in a most surprising way.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

Unexpected plot twists!

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This story was really good. It provided me with a good few hours of escapism. However, the narrators incessant swallowing and cheek sucking mouth sounds nearly drove me to distraction! I've never heard this before on an audio book. It surely could have, indeed should have, been edited out!

Mouth Sounds

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The most absorbing book. The readers changes of character voices stunning. Complex, emotional and a fantastic conclusion.

A book to escape into. Captivating.

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Loved the storyline and the characters were very believable. Great twist. Looking forward to the next novel by Carmel Harrington

Another great book by a great author

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