While I did enjoy this book, despite not reading the first books in the series, I also found my interest level dipped towards the end.
The intensity didn't feel like it was there for me. Or not consistent enough for me.
The multiple POV in this case didn't work. I found the story felt disjointed at times due to jumping around and the inclusion of some side stories that did nothing for me.

I probably won't continue the series but this was OK.

Ughhhh, the claustrophobia reading this.

I must admit, the idea of being locked in a shipping crate and/or an underground bunker is right up there on my list of "things I'm terrified will happen to me" and this book explores exactly why it's such a grim and frightening prospect.

Part of the DC Ian Bradshaw police procedural series, The Chosen Ones can absolutely be read as a standalone, though you will be missing some of the back story - especially with regards to his journalist sidekicks, Tom and Helen, who have a "will they, won't they" vibe and a lot of messy shared history of the non-platonic variety.

In this book, Bradshaw has been handed the unenviable task of investigating the "Disappeared" - a group of women from County Durham who have absolutely nothing in common - nothing except they've all vanished without a trace. When a woman's body turns up in the forest - strangled to death - and it's revealed she's been missing for eighteen years, the tension gets cranked way up. Bradshaw begins to wonder... how far back do these crimes go? And how will he ever find these missing women?

Through flashbacks, we get creepy and gruesome insights into the mind of the kidnapper, and in the present time, Linskey flips between the exploits of the police and one of the disappeared - a plucky and interesting woman named Eva Dunbar, who is determined to escape captivity. Eva was a fantastic character and it really gave the reader a glimpse into what it must be like to be in her position - all alone with only your wits to save you. Trapped. It's hellish and disturbing and I just kept hoping against hope that she would be saved.

The Chosen Ones is well worth a read if you're a fan of police procedurals (Bradshaw is great) and psychological thrillers. My favourite part is that it's set in the 90s, before the advent of the Internet, social media and all of its associated irritations. I'm off to read the rest of the series, how about you?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am exceedingly late on this one because my Kindle died [doused in water] and I lost the ARC. I was so curious about the book that I ended up purchasing for myself. Not a single regret about that!

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

Great hooking story from the beginning, didn't really know what to expect from this as nothing was predictable. Parts showed me just how easy it is to twist Bible passages into something that fits your agenda. Major twist at the end, which you suspect but not in the way it was presented.

Dear Publishers.

Firstly, thanks very much for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Unfortunately, I just wanted to let you know that I won't be reading and reviewing this title due to the large number of titles that I currently have on my shelf, and my inability to read them all. Also, I feel that a review at this late stage probably won't assist you or the author. And lastly, I note that this is a police procedural, being a genre that I used to really enjoy but that I've gone somewhat off in recent years. For these reasons, I've decided to tidy up of my Netgalley shelf and I will be removing this one from my TBR pile.

I hope to be able to read and review further titles for you in the future.

Thanks and Regards
Kim

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's a 4-star verdict from me. I'm new to this series and author and although perhaps not up there with the likes of Rankin, Billingham and Connelly for me, a solid read nonetheless.
My only complaint was perhaps compared to those mentioned, despite the typical circumstances, they always seem to manage to get some humour in there too, which is always welcome.
No other complaints though - a decent story coupled with some good characters make it a worthy read. Many thanks.

DNF. I couldn't connect with this book at all and found it really hard to get into. I had high hopes for this, which is a shame.

Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish, u didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended, if you like books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

Although this is the first in this series I have read the story really grabbed me.
The characters kept me engaged and the story line has a real twist to the ending.
A really good read.

Heros and Superstars are human but do we want to know the real person behind the deeds?

What happens after a global event where someone or a group save us all? How are the 'Heroes' treated? What happens to them afterwards? Can they ever have a normal life?

These are just the questions Veronica poses in the first third of her novel.

Magic appears in the world and there's a profecy of a Chosen One, only the US government dept, ARIS, collects all possible teenagers who might fit the criteria, there are 5 of them. 10 years later, on the anniversary of victory, they all gather and we see what their lives have become.

The novel is part media/part government reports and part narrative from Sloan's point of view, one of the 5 possible chosen ones who is now 23.

We never get the whole story of how they win, and we get a drip feed, in a very stream of consciousness style, which makes it more credible and we easily identify with the authentic world of Solane. Sloane was a victim, she lost her brother and father to the 'Dark One', her mother ignored her and life is hard. She is recruited as someone who fits a prophecy but is viewed as a misfit. 10 years after the 'Dark One' has been defeated she requests copies of their ARIS files and is not thrilled at the contents. It makes her question people and events, especially when one of the group dies.

So that's just the first part. The second considers ... where did the magic come from? If you believe the many worlds theory then are you responsible for defeating evil in other dimensions as your battle tore a hole and allowed them to be linked? What makes you the perfect version of you? Your decisions and experiences?

A very grown up idea that makes my head hurt but I loved the idea of. As a great fan of Quantum Leap, The Tomorrow People and Time Tunnel, to name a few, I loved this universe. However, if that's the case and the first battle almost killed Sloane will she survive another one?

Any more would be a spoiler but I love the fragmented narrative style that's very reflective of the current world and creates a credible experience for the reader. Can't wait to see what the film of this one looks like.

I was given the novel free by netgalley.com for my fair and honest review.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Eva Dunbar wakes up in a large metal box and has no idea how she got there or who had taken her. Eva is not the first person to disappear. Detective Ian Bradshaw has no leads, no clues and just no ideas.

When a body is found, the police hope the discovery will at least provide a clue that will help them find the kidnapper. This book features Detective Ian Bradshaw and journalist Tom Clancy. Bradshaw seems to get the jobs no one else wants to do. This is a fast paced, tense, gripping roller coaster of a read with many twists thrown in.

This is the first book i've read from Howard Linskey and have not read any of this authors work so I do feel I need to read the rest of the books in this series to get a feel for Detective Bradshaw.

This was another killer read by a very talented author. I love his books, and can't wait for another thrilling read! Thanks for the opportunity to have read the ARC. Recommended.

This is a book that will keep you awake long after you've finished reading it. The fourth book in the series, this works as a standalone (but why would you want to miss out!) This is dark and scary - but utterly brilliant!

I always enjoy discovering a new series to read, and this did not disappoint.
Detective Ian Bradshaw is investigating the disappearance of 5 young women, with the help of Journalists Tom Carney and Helen Norton.
This is the 4th book in this series so I am unsure of the back story of the three characters, I do intend to read the first three books after reading this.

Not my cup of tea, unfortunately. Part of a series, this crime mystery flits from character to character, focussing a lot on the DI and journalist duo protagonists who presumably crop up in the other books too.

More of a casual look at an investigation than a thriller, the plot is a slow-burn and is spread thin by the numerous different character perspectives and events. There seemed to be quite a lot of flat exposition, too.

I can’t say I particularly liked or enjoyed reading about the three core protagonists, whose work and relationship sub-plots just felt like filler to me. I was much more interested in the crime - the kidnappings which the book opened on; the hook, but instead we had to endure other small crimes like Tom’s insufferable ex-girlfriend’s problems.

With the lack of time spent examining the main plot, the whole thing ended up feeling far-fetched and it was frustrating waiting for the protagonists to finally get round to solving it.

This was strange book, the story was good and the ending was very interesting but I didn’t like the time period it happens. The story happens in the 1997 , some police corruption which I hate( is not that it’s not believable but I just like the main story to continue and didn’t like the side one.)

Had decided that I was slightly bored with reading police procedurals but this was actually a good read! Well written and kept me turning the pages, enjoyed it! Would read more books with Tom, Helen and Bradshaw ;-)

This is the fourth book in the Ian Bradshaw series, a fact that I didn't know until I started reading this book. Normally, I would first read the other books in the series to see how this one connects to the other stories, but I read this as a stand-alone. It might have made sense to read the other books, though. There was some mentioning of previous events that was beyond mere hinting and it added to the history between the main characters, but the curious side in me wanted to know what exactly had happened.

Anyway, it was an engaging book.

And the fact that I did not find it too disturbing and bone chilling and not a true page-turner is certainly because I have read far too much in that genre and am not easily spooked.

As per many other people, I didn't realise this was the fourth book in a series. Whilst it's certainly not imperative that you've read previous novels before you take this one on, it did bother me that things had happened before this that I wasn't aware of.

Eva Dunbar wakes in a large metal box, and has no idea who has taken her. She can't get out. Detective Ian Bradshaw is acutely aware that this has happened before and with no leads, he has very little time to solve the case. A body is then found, and the police hope for clues that will help them find the kidnapper...but when the body is identified, everything gets a lot more complicated.

One of the really unique parts of this book is that the lead detective works with journalists, and the relationship between the two professions works really well. It makes a change from the cliched old policeman cursing the journos for wrecking his investigation.

It's a bit of slow starter, but if you stick with it, the pace quickens. The characters are well written and nuanced, and the writing style is excellent.

All in all, a great book...but I wish I'd been able to read the other novels first.