He's Gone by Alex Clare.
How do you find a missing child when his mother doesn’t believe you have the right to even exist? When Detective Inspector Roger Bailley returns to work as Robyn, all she wants is to get on with the job she loves while finally being herself. When three-year-old Ben Chivers is snatched from a shopping centre on her first day back at work, Robyn has to find Ben – and herself – as she deals with the reactions of her police colleagues, the media and her own daughter.
I really did enjoy this book. Gripping. 4*.

As enjoyable as this book was, it was nothing new and read like a look of Detective Inspector trying to solve the mystery of a missing/murdered child, and for that reason it did not impress me that much.

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat threw out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book thrilling the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way threw keep you guessing until the end this book stays with you long after you close the book this book is well worth the read I promise you wont be disappointed

This was a great read, dealing with the disappearance of a young boy, and in a technical way, with the disappearance of the main detective. It was gripping and worth the effort.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Impress Books for a review copy of He's Gone, the first novel in the DI Robyn Bailley series of police procedurals set in the fictional town of Meresbourne, Kent.

After a holiday DI Roger Bailley returns to work as Robyn as the first stage of her transition and is immediately plunged into a missing child investigation. 2 year old Ben Chivers has been snatched from a local shopping centre. With little to go on Robyn and the team soon start to feel the pressure and this is compounded by Ben's mother, Melissa's attitude. She refuses to discuss Ben's father and refuses to discuss anything with Robyn as her transition offends her Christian beliefs.

I thoroughly enjoyed He's Gone which is a well plotted police procedural with an interesting protagonist. The plot is well executed, especially for a début, with several unexpected twists and some well paced reveals so it held my interest throughout. It starts with a missing child but it soon broadens out into much more, raising some interesting points along the way about the nature of parenting.

It is unusual to have a transitioning protagonist- I don't think I've read such a novel before but Ms Clare handles it with aplomb and sensitivity. Robyn is necessarily sensitive about other people's opinion and is quick to take offence, even if it isn't meant, which is a reasonable reaction to such a major life change and realistic. It is amusing that she continually forgets her handbag, something us women would never do as we've all had years of practice. Less amusing is which toilet to use. It's a simple thing but fraught with problems. This novel has given me a much deeper appreciation of the bravery involved and mocks my simplistic approach of people are people to be judged by their inside rather than their outside.

He's Gone is an assured début and a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I did not like this book that much. The story felt a bit unbelievable to me and the characters almost bland at times.