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Snatched
A kidnapping thriller that will keep you up all night! Perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, Liane Moriarty, L J Ross and Lisa Jewell.
How do you keep hope alive when your worst nightmare becomes reality?
Eleven-year-old Danny Stone is brutally snatched from the street on his way home from school.
He finds himself imprisoned in a semi-derelict building, alone, cold and terrified of what might happen to him.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, are thrust into an unimaginable nightmare.
With their only child missing and a ransom demanded, they are forced to meet the kidnappers’ demands or lose their son forever.
As family secrets bubble to the surface, the Stones' marriage is put under strain.
Will Danny make it out alive? Can his parents save him?
Or will one horrific moment cause irreparable damage to all three of their lives…?
SNATCHED is a page-turning kidnapping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. This emotional psychological thriller will stay with you long after the pages have turned.
How do you keep hope alive when your worst nightmare becomes reality?
Eleven-year-old Danny Stone is brutally snatched from the street on his way home from school.
He finds himself imprisoned in a semi-derelict building, alone, cold and terrified of what might happen to him.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, are thrust into an unimaginable nightmare.
With their only child missing and a ransom demanded, they are forced to meet the kidnappers’ demands or lose their son forever.
As family secrets bubble to the surface, the Stones' marriage is put under strain.
Will Danny make it out alive? Can his parents save him?
Or will one horrific moment cause irreparable damage to all three of their lives…?
SNATCHED is a page-turning kidnapping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. This emotional psychological thriller will stay with you long after the pages have turned.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2017
About the author
Gillian Jackson
30 books199 followersAuthor of Abduction, Snatched, The Accident, and four more books published by Bloodhound books
Wife to Derek, mother to four and grandmother to nine.
Our lovely rescue dog Liffey completes my family and ensures that I take regular breaks from my desk!
Wife to Derek, mother to four and grandmother to nine.
Our lovely rescue dog Liffey completes my family and ensures that I take regular breaks from my desk!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
October 5, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to Gillian Jackson and Sapere Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always ready to try a new author, I was pleased to have been contacted by the publisher with this Gillian Jackson book. While dealing with a sensitive topic like child abduction, Jackson pulls the reader in with her fast-paced writing and numerous plot twists. When Danny Stone is kidnapped on his way home from school, no one seems to notice. The boy of eleven cannot even tell what’s happened to him, though he soon realises that he is no longer around those who love him, but rather in a dingy room with only the bare necessities. Thank goodness there is another boy in the room with him, though Lewis does not seem to be much help during the early days. When Martha and Richard Stone realise their son has not returned home, panic sets in, which is only exacerbated when they receive a ransom note. Working with the police, the Stones try their best to gather the money, though it will not be easy and the deadline seems too quick. All the while, Danny learns a little more about his surroundings, including the role young Lewis plays in the entire game. With the kidnappers apparently keen on quick cash, they are breaking all the unwritten rules, leaving Danny to try a daring move. Playing off the unique twists in the situation, Richard Stone tries to secure his son’s release, but the web is quite complex and pulls everyone in. Jackson does well in this quick read, keeping the reader on their edge and wondering what’s coming next. Recommended to those who like quick thrillers, as well as the reader who prefers a story they can devour in a few hours of reading.
Having never read Gillian Jackson before, I was quite eager to see if this was the sort of writing that I could find to my liking. Jackson sets the stage early and keeps the action going from there, with wonderful twists the reader may not have seen coming. Danny Stone plays an interesting protagonist of sorts, showing the reader the perspective of the captive and trying to reason why he has been taken. Left in poor conditions, the reader soon sees that Danny is unwilling to give up, letting his optimism shine through in each situation. Richard Stone counterbalances him as a secondary protagonist on the other side of the literary equation. The elder Stone has been harbouring secrets and while he tries to save his son. Richard appears eager to bring this all to an end, but his agenda does not always align with that of the others. Jackson uses a few other key characters to push the story along, leaving the reader to see a number of the kidnapping perspectives as the narrative builds. The story itself held my attention, with a few twists and a great split narrative, depicting the two sides of the story. Jackson keeps the chapters short and the action high, allowing the reader to devour this book in short order. While a heart wrenching subject for anyone close to a child, Gillian Jackson handles herself well while touching on numerous area of the crime throughout.
Kudos, Madam Jackson, for a great read. I hope others will take some time to read this and your other writing!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Always ready to try a new author, I was pleased to have been contacted by the publisher with this Gillian Jackson book. While dealing with a sensitive topic like child abduction, Jackson pulls the reader in with her fast-paced writing and numerous plot twists. When Danny Stone is kidnapped on his way home from school, no one seems to notice. The boy of eleven cannot even tell what’s happened to him, though he soon realises that he is no longer around those who love him, but rather in a dingy room with only the bare necessities. Thank goodness there is another boy in the room with him, though Lewis does not seem to be much help during the early days. When Martha and Richard Stone realise their son has not returned home, panic sets in, which is only exacerbated when they receive a ransom note. Working with the police, the Stones try their best to gather the money, though it will not be easy and the deadline seems too quick. All the while, Danny learns a little more about his surroundings, including the role young Lewis plays in the entire game. With the kidnappers apparently keen on quick cash, they are breaking all the unwritten rules, leaving Danny to try a daring move. Playing off the unique twists in the situation, Richard Stone tries to secure his son’s release, but the web is quite complex and pulls everyone in. Jackson does well in this quick read, keeping the reader on their edge and wondering what’s coming next. Recommended to those who like quick thrillers, as well as the reader who prefers a story they can devour in a few hours of reading.
Having never read Gillian Jackson before, I was quite eager to see if this was the sort of writing that I could find to my liking. Jackson sets the stage early and keeps the action going from there, with wonderful twists the reader may not have seen coming. Danny Stone plays an interesting protagonist of sorts, showing the reader the perspective of the captive and trying to reason why he has been taken. Left in poor conditions, the reader soon sees that Danny is unwilling to give up, letting his optimism shine through in each situation. Richard Stone counterbalances him as a secondary protagonist on the other side of the literary equation. The elder Stone has been harbouring secrets and while he tries to save his son. Richard appears eager to bring this all to an end, but his agenda does not always align with that of the others. Jackson uses a few other key characters to push the story along, leaving the reader to see a number of the kidnapping perspectives as the narrative builds. The story itself held my attention, with a few twists and a great split narrative, depicting the two sides of the story. Jackson keeps the chapters short and the action high, allowing the reader to devour this book in short order. While a heart wrenching subject for anyone close to a child, Gillian Jackson handles herself well while touching on numerous area of the crime throughout.
Kudos, Madam Jackson, for a great read. I hope others will take some time to read this and your other writing!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
February 6, 2024
Snatch "Snatched" if you're seeking a well-written child abduction thriller with a GOL (Gasp Out Loud) epilogue.
WHY NOT 5 STARS?
The pacing was uneven and, therefore, the "suspense" factor that I was seeking never materialized.
I listened to the audiobook read by Annie Aldington, who did a superb job with the narration.
I am a huge Gillian Jackson fan and I look forward to listening to future titles by this talented author.
October 4, 2019
They say that you don't appreciate something until it's gone,well Martha and Richard Stone are about to find out just how true the saying is when their eleven year old son Danny is snatched off the street and bundled into a white van whilst on his way home from school and they find themselves plunged into every parents worst living nightmare.
There was no witnesses and the police have no leads and no idea where Danny is or even if he is still alive. The mystery deepens when Danny's parents receive a ransom demand for a suspiciously low amount of money. Why have the kidnappers asked for such a low sum of money? Why is Richard behaving so suspiciously? What is he hiding? Could he have been involved in the kidnapping of his own son? Thousands of children go missing every year,many of whom are never found. Will Danny ever return home to his parents or is he destined to join the ranks of the forever missing?
The chapters of this gripping page turner alternate between Martha and Richard,the police investigation and Danny's ordeal at the hands of his kidnappers. My heart went out to poor Martha as we witnessed her anguish and grief,feelings that intensified as each day passed and her child remained missing.She didn't get any support from her husband who's behaviour was secretive and erratic. I really didn't think Richard was a very likeable character for various reasons. Danny was a very likeable,brave and resourceful young boy whose chapters were chilling and heart poundingly intense at times. I really liked DI Radford and his team,I loved the camaraderie between him and DS Best,he was a very approachable boss and the team worked well together. The villains were cold,cruel,twisted individuals,very nasty,greedy people.
Snatched is a tightly plotted,mesmerising,intense thriller that hooks the reader in from the first page,keeps you captivated throughout the entire extremely well written story. There was likeable and unlikable characters and characters who were not who they appeared to be. I hope DI Radford and his team feature in more of this author's books. I really loved this unputdownable thriller and think it deserves far more than five stars. Very very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Sapere Books for a arc of this brilliant book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
There was no witnesses and the police have no leads and no idea where Danny is or even if he is still alive. The mystery deepens when Danny's parents receive a ransom demand for a suspiciously low amount of money. Why have the kidnappers asked for such a low sum of money? Why is Richard behaving so suspiciously? What is he hiding? Could he have been involved in the kidnapping of his own son? Thousands of children go missing every year,many of whom are never found. Will Danny ever return home to his parents or is he destined to join the ranks of the forever missing?
The chapters of this gripping page turner alternate between Martha and Richard,the police investigation and Danny's ordeal at the hands of his kidnappers. My heart went out to poor Martha as we witnessed her anguish and grief,feelings that intensified as each day passed and her child remained missing.She didn't get any support from her husband who's behaviour was secretive and erratic. I really didn't think Richard was a very likeable character for various reasons. Danny was a very likeable,brave and resourceful young boy whose chapters were chilling and heart poundingly intense at times. I really liked DI Radford and his team,I loved the camaraderie between him and DS Best,he was a very approachable boss and the team worked well together. The villains were cold,cruel,twisted individuals,very nasty,greedy people.
Snatched is a tightly plotted,mesmerising,intense thriller that hooks the reader in from the first page,keeps you captivated throughout the entire extremely well written story. There was likeable and unlikable characters and characters who were not who they appeared to be. I hope DI Radford and his team feature in more of this author's books. I really loved this unputdownable thriller and think it deserves far more than five stars. Very very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Sapere Books for a arc of this brilliant book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
September 13, 2022
What started out as a pacey thriller soon left me bored and frustrated. It slowed down considerably, despite the short chapters and prompts about how much time had passed since Danny’s kidnapping.
It did not help that I disliked the characterisation in this story. In my opinion, Martha and Richard, the distraught parents, are not deserving of one another, let alone having a wonderful son. They care more about their careers and reputation until their family life is threatened. Furthermore, the way they treat one another is depressing and whilst it is a reflection of their grief and worry with Danny’s disappearance, I think it demonstrated how unlikeable they were as people.
I found it frustrating how useless the police were. Even when key evidence comes to light, I did not get a sense of urgency into the investigation at all. The resolution of the kidnapping felt all very convenient and I was not worried or concerned about Danny’s whereabouts. Indeed, the way he befriends some of the criminals felt far-fetched and I disliked how he was suddenly presented as heroic and brave, despite actually being a child who has been abducted.
Unfortunately, I was able to foresee how the plot would unfold. The opening chapter was really intriguing but as I grew less interested in the plot developments, I found I was more focussed on how this opening chapter would link to the rest of the story. Once I had been proven correct, I thought it took a lot of time just getting to the point – even though this book isn’t actually very long.
Although this book has great foundations, I don’t think it was executed well enough to be the thriller it was intended to be. Unnecessary, banal detail was included, rather than building atmosphere and tension. The parents are unlikeable and I thought they were more concerned about themselves and the inconvenience of having a police presence in the house. I thought Jackson had some really promising ideas and this what kept me reading; it was how the characters were portrayed and some of the unrealistic developments that made this less of a winning story.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It did not help that I disliked the characterisation in this story. In my opinion, Martha and Richard, the distraught parents, are not deserving of one another, let alone having a wonderful son. They care more about their careers and reputation until their family life is threatened. Furthermore, the way they treat one another is depressing and whilst it is a reflection of their grief and worry with Danny’s disappearance, I think it demonstrated how unlikeable they were as people.
I found it frustrating how useless the police were. Even when key evidence comes to light, I did not get a sense of urgency into the investigation at all. The resolution of the kidnapping felt all very convenient and I was not worried or concerned about Danny’s whereabouts. Indeed, the way he befriends some of the criminals felt far-fetched and I disliked how he was suddenly presented as heroic and brave, despite actually being a child who has been abducted.
Unfortunately, I was able to foresee how the plot would unfold. The opening chapter was really intriguing but as I grew less interested in the plot developments, I found I was more focussed on how this opening chapter would link to the rest of the story. Once I had been proven correct, I thought it took a lot of time just getting to the point – even though this book isn’t actually very long.
Although this book has great foundations, I don’t think it was executed well enough to be the thriller it was intended to be. Unnecessary, banal detail was included, rather than building atmosphere and tension. The parents are unlikeable and I thought they were more concerned about themselves and the inconvenience of having a police presence in the house. I thought Jackson had some really promising ideas and this what kept me reading; it was how the characters were portrayed and some of the unrealistic developments that made this less of a winning story.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2019
A missing child is one of the most terrifying experience for any parent. Frightening to know your child is in the hands of a total stranger.
Danny Stone is an 11-year-old boy grabbed off the street as he walked home from school. He's driven away to an unknown destination. All Danny knows is that he is cold, and alone, and afraid.
The parents, Martha and Richard are living a nightmare. A ransom note is delivered asking for a substantial amount of money .. details to follow. Martha knows they have the money and prays that the kidnappers will release her son when they get the money.
And that is where the problems begin in earnest. Most of their money is gone. Richard says he has made a few investments .... why did he not tell his wife? Where did the money actually go?
The kidnappers give them explicit instructions for delivering the money .... but when Richard drives away .. he drives in a completely different direction. What is he doing?
When the police question him, he lies.
Meanwhile Danny has actually made a friend ... of sorts. He's in a locked room ..it's cold ...he has no toilet ...and he's hungry. His 'minder' brings him bread and water, and tries to tell him that he will be released .. unharmed .. as soon as they receive the money.
But can his 'friend' be trusted?
This is a well written psychological thriller with twists and turns that lead to an unpredictable...and surprising ending. And just when you think you've reached the end .... you haven't. Even more secrets are exposed.
Many thanks to the author / Sapere Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this emotional roller coaster of a ride. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 28, 2020
Snatched is a tense, gripping story about a boy abducted from plain sight and held at ransom. This is my first book by Gillian Jackson and I liked it a lot. There were some twists that left me with a sense of dread for the central characters. Some 'twists' were predictable, however, the last one threw a spinner that left me shocked.
When eleven-year-old Danny stone is snatched from a street during a walk home from school, his parents are devastated. Martha and Richard Stone are an average couple leading very normal lives. They're not wealthy, so no one understands why they were targeted. When the kidnappers demand a ransom, both don't hesitate in readying their resources to pay the ransom. With their only son in danger, both Martha and Richard want Danny home safe and sound. But when gathering the money, the Stones discover shocking truths leading them to question their marriage. As the tension bubbles to the surface, they must keep together till they can get Danny home safe. Will they find Danny in time?
This story appealed a lot to me. I found Danny's innocence to be very endearing. Initially, I thought the story focussed too much on his time being abducted and was waiting for something in the story to shift; I was keen to know the how's and why's. However, those moments where Danny was locked and at the mercy of his abductors were the good parts! The story is fast-paced and quite enjoyable despite its plot being simpler than the twisty psychological thrillers I generally read. This book has its fair share of twists to keep one engaged and turning the pages!
Thank You, NetGalley, Sapere Books & Gillian Jackson for an arc!
When eleven-year-old Danny stone is snatched from a street during a walk home from school, his parents are devastated. Martha and Richard Stone are an average couple leading very normal lives. They're not wealthy, so no one understands why they were targeted. When the kidnappers demand a ransom, both don't hesitate in readying their resources to pay the ransom. With their only son in danger, both Martha and Richard want Danny home safe and sound. But when gathering the money, the Stones discover shocking truths leading them to question their marriage. As the tension bubbles to the surface, they must keep together till they can get Danny home safe. Will they find Danny in time?
This story appealed a lot to me. I found Danny's innocence to be very endearing. Initially, I thought the story focussed too much on his time being abducted and was waiting for something in the story to shift; I was keen to know the how's and why's. However, those moments where Danny was locked and at the mercy of his abductors were the good parts! The story is fast-paced and quite enjoyable despite its plot being simpler than the twisty psychological thrillers I generally read. This book has its fair share of twists to keep one engaged and turning the pages!
Thank You, NetGalley, Sapere Books & Gillian Jackson for an arc!
October 16, 2019
This book had my heart racing in a good way. The novel starts out explaining Danny an 11 year old boy who felt older as he was trusted by his parents to walk home from school. His mom Martha and Richard are working parents who usually leave Danny alone for an hour or two after he gets home from school. However, this routine changed one morning when Danny was looking at his phone and gets snatched. He gets thrown in the back of a van and realizes that he has been kidnapped.
This book tells you the different views of what is occurring the view from Danny who is scared, hungry and wanting to find a way to get out of the building he is in. He wants to go home.
The view of Martha who is scared and is starting to regret being such a workaholic and the view of Richard. Whose secrets tend to unravel especially when the 300,000 randsom that the kidnappers demand.
This book has so many twists and turns. What is Richard hiding that could affect his marriage and getting his son back? Can Danny escape? Will Richard and Marthas marriage survive?
I wont give you any spoilers but i will say this is a great read.
This book tells you the different views of what is occurring the view from Danny who is scared, hungry and wanting to find a way to get out of the building he is in. He wants to go home.
The view of Martha who is scared and is starting to regret being such a workaholic and the view of Richard. Whose secrets tend to unravel especially when the 300,000 randsom that the kidnappers demand.
This book has so many twists and turns. What is Richard hiding that could affect his marriage and getting his son back? Can Danny escape? Will Richard and Marthas marriage survive?
I wont give you any spoilers but i will say this is a great read.
October 4, 2019
A sucker for missing child investigations, I was excited to snap up Gillian Jackson's SNATCHED. Of course, a missing child is one of the most terrifying experiences for any parent and that fear and tension felt by the parents is palpable within these pages.
The story begins with an opening Prologue in 1988 in which two young children are found abandoned in a derelict building, their parents nowhere to be found. There is little food in the cupboards and fridge, and the stench of urine and excrement is unmistakable. The girl, who appears to be about 4 years old, shelters her barely 2 year old brother with her arms. When authorities attempt to goad them to safety, the girl screams and bites the social worker on the arm causing the little boy to cry. He had faeces clinging to his little legs, his face red from crying. The poor little mite must be in agony. It was not the worst scene the veteran social worker had come across but it was close.
In the present day, Danny Stone is an 11 year old boy from a middle class family - not affluent, but comfortably off. He is walking home from school one afternoon when he is suddenly grabbed off the street. He is driven to an unknown location about an hour away, seemingly far away from his home of Bristol. He has no idea who took him, where they were going or what they want with him. All he knows is that he is cold, alone and afraid.
Danny is the only child of Richard and Martha Stone. When they return home to find Danny isn't there, they begin to worry. Even more so when he's not home by nightfall. When his rucksack is found under a bush on the pavement where he dropped it, Martha and Richard know something terrible has happened to their son. The worst nightmare has become a reality.
DI Radford and DS Best are tasked with the investigation into Danny's disappearance. Then a ransom demand is made. Richard is vague about their ability to raise the money requested but Martha knows they have the £300,000 the kidnappers have asked for. What is Richard hiding? He quietly confides in Martha that he made some investments with their savings and isn't able to raise the cash immediately. But when she looks into their bank accounts which Richard keeps locked in study, she discovers that most of their money is gone. Surely not on these investments? What is he hiding? Why did he not tell his wife? After all, it was her money as well. So where did the money actually go?
They manage to scrape together £190,000 - but is it enough?
Then the kidnappers make contact and instructions for the delivery of the ransom are given. Richard is to make the drop - alone. The police stake out the area, covertly in place along the route to the drop point. But when Richard leaves to deliver the money he doesn't take the route they'd mapped out, instead driving in the opposite direction. Where is he going?
When Richard returns, he has new instructions. They kidnappers took what they had but they have given him another 48 hours to come up with the remaining amount plus an extra £10,000 for their trouble.
When the police question Richard, he lies. What is he really hiding?
Meanwhile, Danny is held captive in a derelict, abandoned farmhouse...and he forms an unlikely friendship with the boy whose mother is paid to keep watch. The young lad brings him food and water when he can and tells him that he will be released as soon as they receive the money.
As Danny begins to wonder if freedom will ever be in sight, he starts to think about escape. He asks Lewis, the young lad, to assist him with the promise that his parents will help him and his mother in recompense. But Lewis' mother is terrified of Pete, one of the kidnappers, and he doubts she will co-operate.
But can his new friend be trusted?
Unique in its narrative, SNATCHED is told in the third person from the perspectives of Danny, Martha, Richard and DI Radford. Through each narrative we are given a glimpse of their thoughts, their fears and their secrets. Martha and Richard both have secrets they have been keeping from the other - so how will they affect the safe return of their son?
A well-written psychological thriller with a slow building tension, SNATCHED has several twists and a couple of surprises that will complete the puzzle. I admit to discovering the final piece about a third of the way through before having the rest of the picture in place, so I wasn't sure where that piece fit. When it came together it finally made sense. Even the tie-in with the abandoned children in the Prologue at the beginning wasn't clear until the final chapters.
But the piece de resistance was the Epilogue, which was told in the first person, unveiling yet another twist no one saw coming.
SNATCHED was a very different "missing child" read but still oddly enjoyable.
I would like to thank #GillianJackson, #NetGalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #Snatched in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The story begins with an opening Prologue in 1988 in which two young children are found abandoned in a derelict building, their parents nowhere to be found. There is little food in the cupboards and fridge, and the stench of urine and excrement is unmistakable. The girl, who appears to be about 4 years old, shelters her barely 2 year old brother with her arms. When authorities attempt to goad them to safety, the girl screams and bites the social worker on the arm causing the little boy to cry. He had faeces clinging to his little legs, his face red from crying. The poor little mite must be in agony. It was not the worst scene the veteran social worker had come across but it was close.
In the present day, Danny Stone is an 11 year old boy from a middle class family - not affluent, but comfortably off. He is walking home from school one afternoon when he is suddenly grabbed off the street. He is driven to an unknown location about an hour away, seemingly far away from his home of Bristol. He has no idea who took him, where they were going or what they want with him. All he knows is that he is cold, alone and afraid.
Danny is the only child of Richard and Martha Stone. When they return home to find Danny isn't there, they begin to worry. Even more so when he's not home by nightfall. When his rucksack is found under a bush on the pavement where he dropped it, Martha and Richard know something terrible has happened to their son. The worst nightmare has become a reality.
DI Radford and DS Best are tasked with the investigation into Danny's disappearance. Then a ransom demand is made. Richard is vague about their ability to raise the money requested but Martha knows they have the £300,000 the kidnappers have asked for. What is Richard hiding? He quietly confides in Martha that he made some investments with their savings and isn't able to raise the cash immediately. But when she looks into their bank accounts which Richard keeps locked in study, she discovers that most of their money is gone. Surely not on these investments? What is he hiding? Why did he not tell his wife? After all, it was her money as well. So where did the money actually go?
They manage to scrape together £190,000 - but is it enough?
Then the kidnappers make contact and instructions for the delivery of the ransom are given. Richard is to make the drop - alone. The police stake out the area, covertly in place along the route to the drop point. But when Richard leaves to deliver the money he doesn't take the route they'd mapped out, instead driving in the opposite direction. Where is he going?
When Richard returns, he has new instructions. They kidnappers took what they had but they have given him another 48 hours to come up with the remaining amount plus an extra £10,000 for their trouble.
When the police question Richard, he lies. What is he really hiding?
Meanwhile, Danny is held captive in a derelict, abandoned farmhouse...and he forms an unlikely friendship with the boy whose mother is paid to keep watch. The young lad brings him food and water when he can and tells him that he will be released as soon as they receive the money.
As Danny begins to wonder if freedom will ever be in sight, he starts to think about escape. He asks Lewis, the young lad, to assist him with the promise that his parents will help him and his mother in recompense. But Lewis' mother is terrified of Pete, one of the kidnappers, and he doubts she will co-operate.
But can his new friend be trusted?
Unique in its narrative, SNATCHED is told in the third person from the perspectives of Danny, Martha, Richard and DI Radford. Through each narrative we are given a glimpse of their thoughts, their fears and their secrets. Martha and Richard both have secrets they have been keeping from the other - so how will they affect the safe return of their son?
A well-written psychological thriller with a slow building tension, SNATCHED has several twists and a couple of surprises that will complete the puzzle. I admit to discovering the final piece about a third of the way through before having the rest of the picture in place, so I wasn't sure where that piece fit. When it came together it finally made sense. Even the tie-in with the abandoned children in the Prologue at the beginning wasn't clear until the final chapters.
But the piece de resistance was the Epilogue, which was told in the first person, unveiling yet another twist no one saw coming.
SNATCHED was a very different "missing child" read but still oddly enjoyable.
I would like to thank #GillianJackson, #NetGalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #Snatched in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 2, 2019
‘Danny loved his new school.’
Danny Stone is walking home from school one day when he is snatched off the street and bundled into a vehicle. Danny is eleven years old. Danny finds himself locked in a room in a semi-derelict building. He is alone, cold and hungry.
For Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, this is a nightmare. Who has taken Danny and why? A ransom demand is made. Martha knows that they should be able to raise the money requested, and surely Danny will then be released. But the nightmare is only just beginning. Richard tells Martha that he’s made some investments and can’t come up with all the cash requested.
The kidnappers make contact. Instructions for the delivery of the ransom are given. The police are covertly in place, hoping to arrest the kidnappers once Danny is safe. Richard drives off to deliver the money, but he doesn’t take the route mapped out. Why? What is happening? The police question him, but he lies.
In the meantime, Danny makes an unlikely friend. He’s told that he will be released once the money is paid. Danny would like to believe this, but he is understandably anxious. Can he escape?
It’s difficult to write more about the story without spoiling it. Richard has secrets, secrets which may destroy his marriage and will undermine the efforts to release Danny. There are a few twists in this story, there’s plenty of tension, and a couple of surprises before the end.
Recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Danny Stone is walking home from school one day when he is snatched off the street and bundled into a vehicle. Danny is eleven years old. Danny finds himself locked in a room in a semi-derelict building. He is alone, cold and hungry.
For Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, this is a nightmare. Who has taken Danny and why? A ransom demand is made. Martha knows that they should be able to raise the money requested, and surely Danny will then be released. But the nightmare is only just beginning. Richard tells Martha that he’s made some investments and can’t come up with all the cash requested.
The kidnappers make contact. Instructions for the delivery of the ransom are given. The police are covertly in place, hoping to arrest the kidnappers once Danny is safe. Richard drives off to deliver the money, but he doesn’t take the route mapped out. Why? What is happening? The police question him, but he lies.
In the meantime, Danny makes an unlikely friend. He’s told that he will be released once the money is paid. Danny would like to believe this, but he is understandably anxious. Can he escape?
It’s difficult to write more about the story without spoiling it. Richard has secrets, secrets which may destroy his marriage and will undermine the efforts to release Danny. There are a few twists in this story, there’s plenty of tension, and a couple of surprises before the end.
Recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 26, 2019
A fast paced psychological thriller about Danny, a young boy, who is kidnapped, indeed ‘snatched’, as he is walking home from school and is kept held for ransom.
This story is told from the parents’, the child’s and the police’s points of view. I thought it showed the horror, shock and tension of all concerned very well, how feelings resonate at a time such as this. Danny is the star of the show, he copes admirably. It’s quite a rollercoaster of a ride and I flew through it fairly quickly. There are some grey areas and some unconvincing moments. However, I was eager to turn the pages to find out what happened next and overall I enjoyed it.
Thanks to Sapere for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This story is told from the parents’, the child’s and the police’s points of view. I thought it showed the horror, shock and tension of all concerned very well, how feelings resonate at a time such as this. Danny is the star of the show, he copes admirably. It’s quite a rollercoaster of a ride and I flew through it fairly quickly. There are some grey areas and some unconvincing moments. However, I was eager to turn the pages to find out what happened next and overall I enjoyed it.
Thanks to Sapere for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
October 27, 2019
Snatched is a gripping story of a kidnapping - every parent’s worst nightmare. It illustrates the far reaching effects that such a traumatic event has on everybody involved, revealing secrets beyond the immediate crime itself. This novel is different from other similar stories in that the reader develops some sympathy with certain ‘secondary’ members of the kidnapping gang, who are really victims themselves. There are unforeseen twists in the tale which keep the reader guessing. Thanks to Sapere Books and the author for the ARC.
October 19, 2019
This is a fast paced thriller that I really enjoyed.
Danny is kidnapped on his way home from school and his parents are desperate to get him back.
We get the story from his parent’s perspective but also from his as he comes to terms with being held against his will.
Danny makes a friend, but just wants to get home so tries to persuade Lewis to help him.
The kidnappers have asked for £300,000 in exchange for Danny, and his parents are doing all they can to get the money.
This is a gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seats.
Thanks to Sapere Books for sending me a copy to read.
Danny is kidnapped on his way home from school and his parents are desperate to get him back.
We get the story from his parent’s perspective but also from his as he comes to terms with being held against his will.
Danny makes a friend, but just wants to get home so tries to persuade Lewis to help him.
The kidnappers have asked for £300,000 in exchange for Danny, and his parents are doing all they can to get the money.
This is a gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seats.
Thanks to Sapere Books for sending me a copy to read.
October 16, 2019
Thanks for Sapere Book last for inviting me to review this book. Having read the prologue I pondered where the siblings fitted into the book
This book had me grubbed from start to finish - when a 11 year old boy is kidnapped on his way home from school the story really start to unfold. Parents relationship is explored and friendships firm in unusual circumstances
Excellent read and really well written
Thanks Gillian Jackson
This book had me grubbed from start to finish - when a 11 year old boy is kidnapped on his way home from school the story really start to unfold. Parents relationship is explored and friendships firm in unusual circumstances
Excellent read and really well written
Thanks Gillian Jackson
October 10, 2019
Author : Gillian Jackson
Snatched
241 pages
5 ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐🌠
Publication date: September 28, 2019
How do you keep hope alive when your worst nightmare becomes reality? Eleven-year-old Danny Stone is brutally snatched from the street on his way home from school. He finds himself imprisoned in a semi-derelict building, alone, cold and terrified of what might happen to him.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, are thrust into an unimaginable nightmare.
With their only child missing and a ransom demanded, they are forced to meet the kidnappers’ demands or lose their son forever.As family secrets bubble to the surface, the Stones' marriage is put under strain.Will Danny make it out alive? Can his parents save him?Or will one horrific moment cause irreparable damage to all three of their lives…?
📕📗My REVIEW📕📗
Having read alot of child kidnaping psychological thrillers I must say I loved this authors different spin on it. It was well written and had me reading it all night. There was likeable and unlikable characters as all good thrillers should have. The story begins with an opening Prologue in 1988 in which two young children are found abandoned in a building. It's not until the last 2 chapters that you find out how this all ties in. While there was several twist the Epilogue has the biggest twist I never saw coming. I would like to thank GillianJackson, NetGalley and SapereBooks for an ARC of Snatched in exchange for an honest review.
Snatched
241 pages
5 ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐🌠
Publication date: September 28, 2019
How do you keep hope alive when your worst nightmare becomes reality? Eleven-year-old Danny Stone is brutally snatched from the street on his way home from school. He finds himself imprisoned in a semi-derelict building, alone, cold and terrified of what might happen to him.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, are thrust into an unimaginable nightmare.
With their only child missing and a ransom demanded, they are forced to meet the kidnappers’ demands or lose their son forever.As family secrets bubble to the surface, the Stones' marriage is put under strain.Will Danny make it out alive? Can his parents save him?Or will one horrific moment cause irreparable damage to all three of their lives…?
📕📗My REVIEW📕📗
Having read alot of child kidnaping psychological thrillers I must say I loved this authors different spin on it. It was well written and had me reading it all night. There was likeable and unlikable characters as all good thrillers should have. The story begins with an opening Prologue in 1988 in which two young children are found abandoned in a building. It's not until the last 2 chapters that you find out how this all ties in. While there was several twist the Epilogue has the biggest twist I never saw coming. I would like to thank GillianJackson, NetGalley and SapereBooks for an ARC of Snatched in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2022
This fast-paced thriller by Gillian Jackson was a rapid read. Abduction novels usually grip you by the throat and pull you in . This one was no exception.
A young schoolboy is snatched on his way home from school. He is taken to a derelict house where is a watched over by a woman and her son Lewis. Lewis and Danny become friends which results in a major twist as the plot advances.
The kidnappers demand a ransom which the police consider to be an unusually low amount. Indeed, given that they are a middle class couple nor rolling in money, Richard and Martha seem unlikely targets for such an extortion attempt. Richard has difficulty raising the amount requested even though on the surface he should have encountered no difficulty in doing so. The reason Martha discovers, as she hunts for an explanation, is that Richard has raided their accounts for some unspecified purpose. Richard has been up to no good. He has a mistress and has bought her own pad in her own name although Martha does not suspect where the money has gone. Richard talks about some nebulous investment.
They pull together an amount less than the kidnappers had demanded. When this is dropped off, the kidnappers demand the original amount. Martha raises more and there is a second attempt . Meanwhile we are aware of the location where and how Danny is being kept through a section of the narrative that relates the experience through Danny's eyes. Danny and Lewis conclude that the kidnappers will kill Danny when they return. So Lewis helps Danny escape. This ends tragically.
Meanwhile the police are hot on the trail of identifying the kidnappers and the other major figure who figures in the planning.
I greatly enjoyed this thriller. I liked the author's crisp writing.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing me with an Advance Review Copy of this novel.
A young schoolboy is snatched on his way home from school. He is taken to a derelict house where is a watched over by a woman and her son Lewis. Lewis and Danny become friends which results in a major twist as the plot advances.
The kidnappers demand a ransom which the police consider to be an unusually low amount. Indeed, given that they are a middle class couple nor rolling in money, Richard and Martha seem unlikely targets for such an extortion attempt. Richard has difficulty raising the amount requested even though on the surface he should have encountered no difficulty in doing so. The reason Martha discovers, as she hunts for an explanation, is that Richard has raided their accounts for some unspecified purpose. Richard has been up to no good. He has a mistress and has bought her own pad in her own name although Martha does not suspect where the money has gone. Richard talks about some nebulous investment.
They pull together an amount less than the kidnappers had demanded. When this is dropped off, the kidnappers demand the original amount. Martha raises more and there is a second attempt . Meanwhile we are aware of the location where and how Danny is being kept through a section of the narrative that relates the experience through Danny's eyes. Danny and Lewis conclude that the kidnappers will kill Danny when they return. So Lewis helps Danny escape. This ends tragically.
Meanwhile the police are hot on the trail of identifying the kidnappers and the other major figure who figures in the planning.
I greatly enjoyed this thriller. I liked the author's crisp writing.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing me with an Advance Review Copy of this novel.
September 14, 2022
This book is supposedly a re-release from a previously published book.
This was definitely right up my street from the start.
It got straight into the action straight away, with lots going on throughout.
Lots of little twists and surprises - most of which I am proud to say I did actually guess ❤️
Fast paced and enjoyable - would definitely recommend
This was definitely right up my street from the start.
It got straight into the action straight away, with lots going on throughout.
Lots of little twists and surprises - most of which I am proud to say I did actually guess ❤️
Fast paced and enjoyable - would definitely recommend
December 29, 2019
Synopsis right up my street, but was just OK, not sure about the writing, just didn't click, characters a little one dimensional and ending not really a twist for me
September 10, 2022
3 1/2 stars
November 14, 2019
A young boy, Danny, is snatched on his way home. The story is told from the boys view, his parents view and the police view. It is a fast paced, gripping read and I can only imagine the horror for any parent to go through this ordeal. The writing is good, the plot is good and the story is really well told. The additional storylines alleviate the novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 16, 2019
Thank you to Sapere Books for providing a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I seem to be in the minority with my 3 star rating. While I didn't hate Snatched, I didn't love it either. It was slow to start and I had a problem even caring for Danny's parents. The book finally started picking up about halfway through and got a tad bit more interesting. Anyone that pays close attention to the books Prologue will have Snatched figured out 3/4ths of the way through.
Not my favorite Psychological Thriller, but far from the worst.
I seem to be in the minority with my 3 star rating. While I didn't hate Snatched, I didn't love it either. It was slow to start and I had a problem even caring for Danny's parents. The book finally started picking up about halfway through and got a tad bit more interesting. Anyone that pays close attention to the books Prologue will have Snatched figured out 3/4ths of the way through.
Not my favorite Psychological Thriller, but far from the worst.
October 6, 2019
The book starts with a flashback, of two very young, neglected children being taken into care. Once the book “proper” started, I kept wondering how and where the flashback came into the story, and on numerous occasions I calculated the likely ages of different characters to see if they could possibly be one of the children. It is a credit to the author that I was very surprised when the reveal eventually came.
Danny, a hard working, reliable eleven year old, is kidnapped on his way home from school. A ransom is demanded – a sum that seems relatively low for the child of two professional parents. although to the surprise of his mother Martha, there is far less money available in the family accounts than she thought and they struggle to raise the funds, leaving Martha no longer able to trust her husband.
Meanwhile Danny has been transported to a hideaway where he is being held securely and “looked after” by Sally, the drink and drug dependent lady friend of one of the kidnappers, and her son Liam. Danny and Liam strike up an unexpected friendship. At first I thought this was going to turn out to be a story about Stockholm Syndrome but as the story unfolds it is clearly just the natural inclination of teenage boys, both denied their freedom in different ways, to form a close bond in the face of adversity.
That’s about as much as I can say without introducing any spoilers, but the book is a gripping and dramatic read, with lots of twists and heart-stopping moments. Lies and secrets that don’t appear to be connected to the story all slot neatly together by the end, and our view of, and sympathy for, the various characters changes throughout the book.
An exciting, absorbing and moving page-turner.
Danny, a hard working, reliable eleven year old, is kidnapped on his way home from school. A ransom is demanded – a sum that seems relatively low for the child of two professional parents. although to the surprise of his mother Martha, there is far less money available in the family accounts than she thought and they struggle to raise the funds, leaving Martha no longer able to trust her husband.
Meanwhile Danny has been transported to a hideaway where he is being held securely and “looked after” by Sally, the drink and drug dependent lady friend of one of the kidnappers, and her son Liam. Danny and Liam strike up an unexpected friendship. At first I thought this was going to turn out to be a story about Stockholm Syndrome but as the story unfolds it is clearly just the natural inclination of teenage boys, both denied their freedom in different ways, to form a close bond in the face of adversity.
That’s about as much as I can say without introducing any spoilers, but the book is a gripping and dramatic read, with lots of twists and heart-stopping moments. Lies and secrets that don’t appear to be connected to the story all slot neatly together by the end, and our view of, and sympathy for, the various characters changes throughout the book.
An exciting, absorbing and moving page-turner.
August 31, 2022
Snatched by Gillian Jackson was read in two sitting and I loved it. I was gripped from the first few pages and I wanted to find out what happened next to Danny Stone.
Parents worst nightmare is just about to begin............
Danny Stone is eleven years old and the only child of Martha and Richard. Whilst walking home from school Danny is brutally snatched from the streets. All that is left is his school rucksack on the pavement.
Danny finds himself imprisoned in an old semi-derelict building. He's alone in this damp room, he is cold and hungry, with only a bucket to go to toilet on. Danny terrified of what might happen to him.
Why has he been snatched?
Who are the voices he can hear down stairs?
Danny becomes close to a young lad who is staying at this house with his mother. and an unlikely friendship develops in the most difficult of situations, and a powerful, far reaching, bond is forged.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, their only child missing and a ransom is demanded,
Will they be able to meet the kidnappers’ terms, or will their son be lost to them forever?
Will their marriage survive?........as secrets and the pressure of their marriage come to the surface.
Can they find the ransom?
Will Danny be found in time?
WoW, I didn't expect that ending.....10/10 Book. I highly recommend this brilliant book!
Big thanks to Gillian Jackson the author, Heather Fitt of Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this emotional roller coaster of a ride. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Parents worst nightmare is just about to begin............
Danny Stone is eleven years old and the only child of Martha and Richard. Whilst walking home from school Danny is brutally snatched from the streets. All that is left is his school rucksack on the pavement.
Danny finds himself imprisoned in an old semi-derelict building. He's alone in this damp room, he is cold and hungry, with only a bucket to go to toilet on. Danny terrified of what might happen to him.
Why has he been snatched?
Who are the voices he can hear down stairs?
Danny becomes close to a young lad who is staying at this house with his mother. and an unlikely friendship develops in the most difficult of situations, and a powerful, far reaching, bond is forged.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, their only child missing and a ransom is demanded,
Will they be able to meet the kidnappers’ terms, or will their son be lost to them forever?
Will their marriage survive?........as secrets and the pressure of their marriage come to the surface.
Can they find the ransom?
Will Danny be found in time?
WoW, I didn't expect that ending.....10/10 Book. I highly recommend this brilliant book!
Big thanks to Gillian Jackson the author, Heather Fitt of Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this emotional roller coaster of a ride. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 11, 2022
My review of ‘Snatched’ by Gillian Jackson.
Description
A ransom demand leads to secrets revealed, in this twisting crime suspense from the author of The Victim.
Eleven-year-old Danny Stone is snatched on his way home from school, bundled into the back of a van, and driven to a remote, deserted farmhouse.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, are frantic when their only child goes missing and call the police. Their home in Bristol is searched, and their lives and Richard’s career as a solicitor come under scrutiny. Finally, a ransom demand arrives. Martha wants to pay, but Richard procrastinates.
When he leaves the house, Martha searches through his papers. It’s clear her husband has been keeping something from her. But as she tries to untangle his lies, while the police continue their search, Richard risks a dangerous negotiation on his own. And the question remains—how long can Danny survive?
Review 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
‘A superb page turner’
‘Thriller was invented for this!’
If you love a well written psychological thriller then look no further for you next read!
I was hooked right from the very beginning. This is such a great book! I just couldn’t stop reading until the very end. At times I wished I could read quicker so I could find out what happened! And the writing was superb all the way through. Well described, believable characters, had me holding my breath! This book is why the word ‘thriller’ was invented. Just terrific!
Thank you so so much to Bloodhound Books for my ARC and to Gillian for her wonderful creation! 🙏
Description
A ransom demand leads to secrets revealed, in this twisting crime suspense from the author of The Victim.
Eleven-year-old Danny Stone is snatched on his way home from school, bundled into the back of a van, and driven to a remote, deserted farmhouse.
Danny’s parents, Martha and Richard, are frantic when their only child goes missing and call the police. Their home in Bristol is searched, and their lives and Richard’s career as a solicitor come under scrutiny. Finally, a ransom demand arrives. Martha wants to pay, but Richard procrastinates.
When he leaves the house, Martha searches through his papers. It’s clear her husband has been keeping something from her. But as she tries to untangle his lies, while the police continue their search, Richard risks a dangerous negotiation on his own. And the question remains—how long can Danny survive?
Review 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
‘A superb page turner’
‘Thriller was invented for this!’
If you love a well written psychological thriller then look no further for you next read!
I was hooked right from the very beginning. This is such a great book! I just couldn’t stop reading until the very end. At times I wished I could read quicker so I could find out what happened! And the writing was superb all the way through. Well described, believable characters, had me holding my breath! This book is why the word ‘thriller’ was invented. Just terrific!
Thank you so so much to Bloodhound Books for my ARC and to Gillian for her wonderful creation! 🙏
September 6, 2022
A young boy (Danny) is kidnapped while walking to school one morning. Bis parents, Martha and Richard, are rich and successful, Martha with her own recruitment company and Richard, a lawyer, who helps low income families with cases in his spare time. The parents realise their son is missing and then receive a message from the kidnappers asking for a huge amount of money for the safe return of their only child.
Meanwhile Danny is being held by the kidnappers in a local farmhouse, where there is another young boy, Lewis, who has connections with the kidnappers. Danny and Lewis form a strong bond.
This book is excellent and a very good read. The sections of the book concerning the police and how they were progressing with the case were particularly interesting. I was routing for Danny and Lewis (the two young boys) and the book contained very well developed characters. This was a really good read and I was engrossed with the story and how it was developing. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be looking out for others by this author. Thank you to Bloodhound books for the ARC.
Meanwhile Danny is being held by the kidnappers in a local farmhouse, where there is another young boy, Lewis, who has connections with the kidnappers. Danny and Lewis form a strong bond.
This book is excellent and a very good read. The sections of the book concerning the police and how they were progressing with the case were particularly interesting. I was routing for Danny and Lewis (the two young boys) and the book contained very well developed characters. This was a really good read and I was engrossed with the story and how it was developing. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be looking out for others by this author. Thank you to Bloodhound books for the ARC.
September 5, 2022
When eleven year old Danny gets snatched on his why home from school and taken to an isolated farmhouse and locked into a room with only a mattress, thin blanket a bucket he is obviously distraught.
His parents father Richard a barrister and his mother Martha who owns her own recruitment company have reported Danny missing but after a day without any word as to what has happened they receive a ransom demanding for £300,000 and tell the police that they will pay anything yo get their son back safe and sound.
But Richard has been keeping a deap secret from Martha and has told her that the cash isn't readily available due to some investment but what is Richard hiding from not only his wife and the police?
Whilst been held captive a young boy Lewis and his alcohol fuelled mother have the task to keep Danny in place until the ransom is paid.
A unlikely friendship bounds to two boys together but will their friendship end in disaster?
Such an intriguing book with a great plot and twists.
His parents father Richard a barrister and his mother Martha who owns her own recruitment company have reported Danny missing but after a day without any word as to what has happened they receive a ransom demanding for £300,000 and tell the police that they will pay anything yo get their son back safe and sound.
But Richard has been keeping a deap secret from Martha and has told her that the cash isn't readily available due to some investment but what is Richard hiding from not only his wife and the police?
Whilst been held captive a young boy Lewis and his alcohol fuelled mother have the task to keep Danny in place until the ransom is paid.
A unlikely friendship bounds to two boys together but will their friendship end in disaster?
Such an intriguing book with a great plot and twists.
October 4, 2019
A brilliant story of kidnap, heartache and the secrets that lie behind closed doors. At first, I thought this would be a fairly standard kidnap story that has been covered by many authors. But I was pleasantly surprised.
Danny, an eleven-year-old boy, is kidnapped on his way home from school. Locked in with his captors, Danny is faced with circumstances that are far beyond the comfortable life he’s led at home. Only a miracle could save him now.
Back at home, his parents are struggling to come to terms with the sequence of events that unfold when Danny is taken. Tempers and emotions are running high, and secrets bubble to the surface. Through it all, they must work with the police and do all they can to secure the ransom demanded. The tension is palpable in this story.
Very well written and thought out. I was not expecting some of the twists and the author’s way of writing was captivating and engulfing at just the right level. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Danny, an eleven-year-old boy, is kidnapped on his way home from school. Locked in with his captors, Danny is faced with circumstances that are far beyond the comfortable life he’s led at home. Only a miracle could save him now.
Back at home, his parents are struggling to come to terms with the sequence of events that unfold when Danny is taken. Tempers and emotions are running high, and secrets bubble to the surface. Through it all, they must work with the police and do all they can to secure the ransom demanded. The tension is palpable in this story.
Very well written and thought out. I was not expecting some of the twists and the author’s way of writing was captivating and engulfing at just the right level. I look forward to reading more from this author.
November 20, 2019
This is a story of a family in turmoil. Danny, an 11 year old boy, is kidnapped on his way home from school and taken to a remote farmhouse where the kidnapper‘s girlfriend and her son Lewis are left to guard him. Danny makes friends with Lewis as they are the same age but have totally different backgrounds. His distraught parents receive a ransom demand which the police are suspicious of as it is for quite a low amount of money and Danny’s mum can’t understand why her husband is struggling to find the ransom money. As the story unfolds we learn of all the secrets that hat have been hidden by both parents and if Danny be returned to them unharmed. The book investigates the personal feelings of them, grandparents, police and friends and is told in chapters from the perspective of Danny, his parents and the police. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 11, 2019
First Gillian Jackson book I have read and it drew me in from the start. It centres around a missing boy Danny Stones whom we learn has been kidnapped on his way home from school. The parents are obviously frantic with worry. The demand ransom is pretty low in terms of their social standing and thats when the spotlight shines on where is the money? The father's "investments" and pro bono trips to London? Can the parent's relationship survive with hidden secrets? Who are the kidnappers and how they tie in with the Stones family? Cleverly thought out plot with twists and turns.
There is also the unlikely relationship development between Danny and Lewis (the boy who was helping the kidnappers keep Danny incarcerated).
A fantastic enjoyable read that shines a light on family and how important it is to be aware of what is actually going on in the lives of your nearest and dearest rather than focussing too much on career etc.
Highly recommend this. Four stars.
There is also the unlikely relationship development between Danny and Lewis (the boy who was helping the kidnappers keep Danny incarcerated).
A fantastic enjoyable read that shines a light on family and how important it is to be aware of what is actually going on in the lives of your nearest and dearest rather than focussing too much on career etc.
Highly recommend this. Four stars.
November 19, 2019
An unimaginable nightmare - your young child is kidnapped! This is what Martha and Richard have to endure while they await the phone call to tell them what their child's abductors want. Finally they get the call and Martha is ready to go to the bank and withdraw the money, but Richard seems somewhat reluctant. When Martha sees their bank balance, she is shocked as there is nowhere near what should be in their account. They don't have enough to pay the kidnappers and Richard seems to have many excuses as to where their money has gone. Meanwhile their son Danny is locked up, scared and hungry. Finally Richard's secrets come to light as the police try to help find Danny.
This story is well written and the author has made the characters believable and followed through with a great ending which ties up all the loose ends.
This story is well written and the author has made the characters believable and followed through with a great ending which ties up all the loose ends.
October 16, 2021
Imagine having the partner, the son, the perfect job and life just seems to be going perfectly, now imagine that world be turned upside down when your son is kidnapped. A ransom request could lead to more being unravelled than you could ever imagine but at the end of it all surely getting your son back alive is going to make everything right.
This book is one that is amazingly well written and draws the reader in within the first few chapters and sees you want to never put the book down. One thing I especially found I loved was that even as the book came towards the end it still felt like it was delivering rather than just looking to come to an end.
Excellent editing, fantastic characters and dialogue make this a book I truly loved and I've already sent an idea to the author for a sequel as I could read much more based on this platform.
This book is one that is amazingly well written and draws the reader in within the first few chapters and sees you want to never put the book down. One thing I especially found I loved was that even as the book came towards the end it still felt like it was delivering rather than just looking to come to an end.
Excellent editing, fantastic characters and dialogue make this a book I truly loved and I've already sent an idea to the author for a sequel as I could read much more based on this platform.
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