I found the subject matter very compelling and moving and I was gripped from the first page to the last. A most enjoyable read.

Alas it was archived before I got chance to read it.

Pulled in in the first chapter this was a read in one go thriller. Well written characters and a tense detective story of a missing child from not so a simple family

The Stolen Child was a great book that kept me hooked from the first few pages.
A great story with lots of twists and turns.

The stolen child tells the story of a family who have adopted a little girl from birth, several years later Evie starts to receive secret presents from her biological father. Eventually Evie is kidnapped and the story to find her is harrowing.

The book is set where I grew up so I can picture th moors and places well which added an extra personal chill to the book for me.

A great psychological thriller of a book and a must read for fans of this genre.

A really gripping thriller with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I felt there were some strands of the story that didn't stack up or weren't fleshed out but all good thrillers require an element of suspension of belief and this is a good thriller. It's setting on the Yorkshire moors adds drama and the plot is very deftly tightened to a point of unbearable tension. A really good read that I will recommend.

3.5 stars - This was my first novel by Sanjida Kay and what an enjoyable one it was. I particularly liked the opening chapter, despite the reader knowing from the blurb, that Zoe and Ollie are adopting a baby, Kay introduced this novel with the couple on route to the hospital – it was a very good introduction to the novel and if you read this book without reading the blurb, you’ll find your first surprise at the end of the chapter.

Seven years later, Zoe and Ollie have a baby of their own but Evie is still very much their ‘first-born’ and the couple’s worst nightmare comes true when Evie’s dad comes to take her back. I read this novel in two sitting – Kay has a nice, easy writing style that allows you to fly through the pages. When Evie begins acting a little ‘off’, the trouble begins… My only real issue with this novel was, there was a point when Evie was wearing a dress and Zoe didn’t know where Evie got it from as she didn’t buy it for her, but she didn’t want to ask her where she got it because she didn’t want to risk upsetting her – at seven-years-old, Evie clearly didn’t buy it for herself. That annoyed me because if my child was wearing clothes and I didn’t know where they came from, the world is standing still until I find out!

Based on me thinking, ‘it couldn’t be that simple’, I figured out the twist in the novel, nonetheless, this novel does have a few surprises along the way. Even though I wasn’t fooled, I appreciate Kay’s ability to misdirect the reader several times. The portrayal of the family’s grief was realistic and Kay used the moor setting, where the family lived, to add a dark layer to the parent’s grief as it allows the reader to imagine some truly horrific circumstances.

This is another novel I’m placing in the ‘light-hearted’ psychological thriller category because I didn’t find it too dark or disturbing and the psychological thrills don’t run too deep. As a general fiction novel, I’d say this is a very good book but if you’re looking specifically for a mystery and thriller novel, this is one may fall a little short for you. For me, I didn’t find the plot too complex and I usually look for much darker content in my psychological thrillers.

However, I have no reservations recommending this novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

There were more twists and turns in this book than the winding roads in the Yorkshire moors. An excellent plot that keeps you guessing and neatly heads you in the wrong directions all the way through. It was clever how there were so many characters who could have been suspects by association or motive. I've heard about foetal alcohol syndrome babies so that was interesting. Ollie and Zoe are married with an adopted girl of 7 called Evie. Ben, aged two is their biological son. I didn't think Zoe was a nice person by the way she perceived things and people. I found her selfish, shallow and disorganised as a mother even before it all kicked off. I can't imagine their marriage being very successful - an interesting sub theme. The pace revved up at the end into a bite-your-nails pitch. Thank you for letting me read it. I shall post my review on Facebook, amazon. co.uk, and my blog.

Sadly gave up half way, such a shame as I hate giving poor reviews.

The Stolen Child is a truly 'unputdownable' book, I did have to put it aside a couple of times but could not wait to pick it up again and I found myself telling my husband what had happened so far — e.g. "you'll never guess what this and that". A great story about a professional young couple with 2 children one of whom is adopted — the main psychological plot revolves around her but there is also another exciting storyline regarding the relationship of the parents. I thought I knew what the ending would be but I was wrong — at least twice. This is a fantastic read!

A great psychological thriller that pulled me in from the first page and kept me hooked till the last. An atmospheric family drama full of suspense.

Tense thriller about a child taken from her adoptive parents. The author has perfectly captured the joy and frustration of being a parent, and of juggling your own life and interests around that of the children.

The menace at the heart of the novel comes ever closer, and the resulting twist did surprise me.

Really enjoyed this book once the storyline emerged of adoption and subsequent abduction l was hooked wanted to shake both the main characters for their careless acceptance of family life and the constant striving to achieve success and fulfilment.
The one criticism if that is what it is - is why the abductor was Muslim l just could not see why this mattered or its relevance perhaps l missed something?
Having said that this was a well written book which l enjoyed very much thank you net galley

I enjoyed this story. It's set on the edge of Ilkley moor in Yorkshire, and there are lots of descriptions of the landscape. Zoe and Ollie live with their adopted daughter, Evie, aged 7, and their son, Ben, who is a toddler. Evie starts to receive cards and gifts which say they are from her 'real' Daddy, and her parents believe there is a real threat that she may be abducted. But who is this person, and how did they manage to find Evie? A real page turner with a number of twists and turns. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

Zoe Morley is an artist and a mother - it's not always easy to combine the two, particularly when husband Ollie seems increasingly absent, more engaged with his work than with his family. She paints the moors where she lives, and cares for their two children: seven year old Evie who they adopted at birth - the child of a drug-using mother, born addicted - and little Ben, the surprise baby who came along five years later. But Zoe's world is completely upended when Evie begins receiving cards and gifts from someone claiming to be her birth father - a person whose identity they have never known. He wants her back - and he's coming to get her. But who is he and what is he really after?

Sanjida Kay deftly leads us - and Zoe - down various garden paths and moorland trails before the truth is finally revealed.

The Ilkley setting was well depicted and added an atmospheric further dimension (thankfully the little voice insistently singing "On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At" at the back of my mind did shut up after a while). It's good to read books with such a distinct sense of place, especially when that place is somewhere other than London.

Something I really loved about this book was how believable and realistic the characters felt. Evie herself was far from a generic child-in-danger but a complex character in her own right, with conflicting emotions and loyalties. Zoe, too, was a character whose actions and reactions, while not always sensible (who is?) always felt credible and human in the context of the situation. The police were neither idiots nor superheroes but professionals doing a difficult job to the best of their abilities. There was only one character, towards the end, whose actions and motivations I found harder to comprehend.

There are a couple of maybe too convenient coincidences, but the plot is well crafted and kept me engrossed throughout, desperate to find out what had happened to Evie and who was responsible. Sanjida Kay doesn't gloss over the complexities of relationships, including the parent-child relationship - especially when complicated by adoption.

A superior psychological thriller and I will definitely seek out Sanjida's previous novel, Bone by Bone.

A couple adopt a baby girl and seven years later the birth father contacts the child to say he wants her back. This is a very good psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. I had sympathy with this child, her birth parent and the adoptive family and I was hoping for a happy ending. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for a honest review.

I began to be a fan of Sanjida Kay after reading the paperback Bone To Bone. I am so glad that Sanjida is back with a brand new novel The Stolen Child that I must say is now one of the best paperback thrillers that I have read. My heart went out to Zoe and Ollie Morley as their family is torn apart. Zoe and Ollie tried for years to have a baby and couldn't. They decided to adopt a baby. There seems to be a problem with the little baby that they have named Evelyn, Evie for short. Evie seems to have black hair and her skin is pale brown. But little Evie is suffering from Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and is being treated for drug addiction. Once Evie starts school Zoe has her heart-broken when she reads a story by Evie about the princess who lives with her nasty wicked stepmother and father and she sets off across the moor in search of her real parents. Presents and letters are given to Evie who claims that he is her real daddy and her real daddy is coming for her. The race is on when Evie goes missing from school, someone has taken her. Will the police and Zoe find Evie? I loved every page with all its twists. A stop and order The Stolen Child is a must.

A fantastic psychological thriller that grips you from the very first page!

This is a dark, unsettling, and multilayered psychological thriller that dwells on every family's nightmares of their child going missing. In London, Zoe and Ollie Morley have seen their desperate dreams to have a child turn to ashes, pushing them to look towards adoption. They are blessed when they adopt baby Evie and so happy. Their circumstances change drastically as seven years later, they are living in Yorkshire, and have a surprise addition to their family in the form of naturally conceived baby boy, Ben, now a toddler. However, things are amiss within the family. Zoe is feeling underappreciated, missing her vocation as an artist, and has the lion's share of caring for the children. Ollie is largely absent out at work, and Evie is acting and behaving in a disturbing manner. The story is largely related from the perspective of Zoe.

Evie's behaviour becomes more understandable when it becomes apparent that she is being heavily influenced, and receiving gifts, and letters, purportedly from her biological father, keen to have her back. This increases the stresses and worries within the family, and events take a sinister turn when Evie is taken from school whilst Zoe is in hospital with Ben and Ollie. There are a host of suspects that appear to have motive for the abduction. The police uncover the gaping holes in
peoples' accounts, raising the levels of fear and paranoia in the novel. The fissures in Zoe and Ollie's marriage widen as conflict between them escalates, and Zoe feels a growing connection with Harris, a fellow artist with a passion for the bleak, dark and eerie moors. Psychologically, Zoe is a mess, and the sky high stress contributes to her poor and irrational behaviour and decision-making. She is a mother, with all that entails, desperate to have her child back. With the police failing to make progress, Zoe decides to take matters into her own hands as she hunts for Evie.

Sajida Kay has written an impressive plotted novel, with some great twists. Her prose is beautiful, and atmospheric, particularly in the descriptions that evoke the moors. I have to admit to not particularly liking either Zoe or Ollie but I find the scenario they found themselves in absolutely gripping. Kay authentically captures the dynamics, complexities, and difficulties of marriage, and the stresses and responsibilities that children bring into any family. Added to this mix are the thorny issues that adoption brings and a child being abducted. I found this a tense and suspenseful read infused with a growing sense of foreboding. Thanks to Corvus and Atlantic Books for an ARC.

I just could not put this book down! This book is responsible for me being awake at 2.30 this morning unable to go to sleep until I had wrung every single word from its pages. So today I am a tired and grumpy book blogger especially as I have no coffee in the house any longer as it gives me palpitations! Which is probably a good thing as this book alone was responsible for plenty of palpitations yesterday!

I actually wish I hadn’t read the book blurb before I started The Stolen Child. That first chapter was intensely hardest hitting and emotional so it probably would have had even more impact on me if I hadn’t know what Zoe and Ollie were actually going through. But it was an incredible start to a hugely emotional journey that had my instincts as a mother on high alert for Zoe and her family immediately. This is one of those books where you suspect everybody and trust nobody as you hope and pray that everything comes good in the end. And one of the things that made The Stolen Child stand out for me was that you were never quite sure HOW it was going to end due to the realistically applied family circumstances used to great effect by Sanjida Kay.

The setting of Ilkley gave this thriller an extra creepy and atmospheric edge and the descriptions were beautifully written with a knowledge and passion that projected off each page. And whilst I didn’t particularly take to the “Boden catalogue” couple (in fact during the second chapter I absolutely detested Ollie!!) that didn’t impact on the tension I felt watching their beautiful but confused child deal with the difficult emotions she was going through. Her complex family dynamics also evoked many emotions within me and left me completely drained at times.

This is a tense family drama that is taken to another level by the ravishingly descriptive narrative which sent shivers down my spine. The anxieties of parenthood were heightened to such an extent I just wanted to grab all my kids/grandchildren and give them the biggest ever bear hugs. Giving children the freedom to find themselves and make their own decisions is one of the hardest parenting choices you can make especially when all you want to do is keep them safely close to you! And Samjida Kay obviously knows what frightens parents the most, using that knowledge so that her readers can safely live out their own fears for within this fictional melodrama.

I enjoyed this so much that as soon as I finished, even though it was The wee small hours of The morning, I went on Amazon to buy any other books by Sanjida Kay. Then learnt that apparently I had already bought Bone by Bone in March 2016 and it has been hiding in my kindle TBR pile since then! So I know what I will be reading next time I can’t sleep!