I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review. This is the first book by Howard Lindskey i have read. When i read the book i didn't realise this was part of a series but dispite this i found it an enjoyalbe read. I liked the characters in the story and the pace was a steady. I will look out for more books by this author in the future. I would recommend this book if you enjoy crime series.

While there's nothing ground breaking in this thriller about kidnapped women, there are enough twists and turns along the way to keep you engaged in what comes next.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

A gripping, fast paced novel with a few different threads running through the book, including a 'will they / won't they' love angle. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review and it will suffice to say that when I had finished this book I bought the rest of this series.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I didnt guess 'whodunnit' and that, in itself is rare for me! Definitely recommended.

Eva Dunbar wakes in a large metal box.

She has no idea who has taken her.

She has no way out.

She isn't the first young woman to disappear. And with no leads Detective Ian Bradshaw has precious little time. When at last a body is found, the police hope the tragic discovery might at least provide a clue that will help them finally find the kidnapper. But then they identify the body - and realise the case is more twisted than they ever imagined .

A bit of a slow starter but kept me interested thanks to the interesting characters and solid female leads, this is part of a series which I didn’t know when I began to read but it worked well as a stand-alone too.
The setting was claustrophobic at times and quite bleak but very cleverly thought out as was the plot itself that although rushed in places, was descriptive and clear.
I liked the trio of Bradshaw and the two journalists, it added character and a bit of a difference to the storyline.
All in all, a solid read.

When Eva Dunbar goes missing it takes a while for the police to realise that she is just one in a string of women who have gone throughout the North. Then a body is found and links are made with an old case where a woman was killed but before she died she claimed to have been held prisoner. For DI Bradshaw the case is complicated by the ongoing corruption in the police force and the antagonism of his colleagues to his use of the journalists Tom and Helen to support him. For their part Tom is juggling his young girlfriend and the needs of his old flame who has a shameful secret and is being blackmailed and Helen is vacillating between her ex and her feelings for Tom.
Again Linskey has written an excellent police procedural set across Durham and Northumbria and rooted in the less that pc times of the 1990s. Whilst mobile phones are around the internet isn't and good old-fashioned police work is the order of the day. However Linskey does have a thread running through his books about corruption and prejudice in the forces and this lifts his books from the mundane into something extra.

This is what I would call a ‘grower’, starts a bit slow and builds momentum. Interesting twist towards the end. Characters a bit cheesy in the things they say if I’m honest. It’s okay, probably wouldn’t buy for a friend or rave about to people.

Along with many others I didn’t realise this was book 4 in a series and I wouldn’t have started if I did know! This doesn’t always matter but I think it did this time as there’s quite a lot of references to the previous books. It’s not a bad book, far from it but not really my cup of tea as I prefer stand alones but I’m sure there are plenty who will enjoy it. My thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I didn't realize this was a part of a series. I still probably would have grabbed this even if I did just because most crime and/or police procedural are acceptable to jump in wherever. I feel like missed some things in this book. I should have started at book 1. That's my fault. However, the story-line was pretty good. I love a good mystery.

Eva Dunbar wakes up in a big large metal
Box and she has no way out .
Chosen one is very agreeable definite for sadness
I recieved an ARC from Penguin

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Book 4 in the series set in Durham and one of the best yet. Roll on book 5

Women have been disappearing in the North East but the stretched Police force have more to concern them than a few potential runaways until a body is found. It appears to be unconnected but DS Bradshaw has other ideas. He and investigative journalists Tom and Helen make it their mission to discover the truth. Elsewhere a village shop owner is receiving threatening messages causing torment in her life. The story is fast paced and thrilling with strong characters. It unfolds with many shocks, twists and turns. However, I felt the story jumped quite bizarrely from one part to another and one aspect (no spoilers here) seemed to have no real place within the main story and quite suddenly ended with a character becoming central who had had no build up or introduction which made the outcome quite bland. I felt that this was used as padding and the book would have worked better without it. However, I liked the main characters sufficiently to read another book involving them.

Misinterpreting of a religion is a dangerous frame of mind to be in.Very gripping storyline which keeps you baited from start.

This is my only criticism so far is the switching of persons in between the paragraphs which throws me quite a bit, as I find myself stopping and thinking who this person is.However,this scene switching mid page works extremely well towards the end,during the pumping adrenalin moment,as I can picture the scene in a film setting.

A great read.

Overall, this was a good airport type read with a decent storyline. However, there were a few things that irked me about it.

For a start, there seemed no plot benefit to it being set in the 90s. This merely made it feel as though the author wrote it in the 90s and it took him this long to get it published.

It should be made much clearer that this is part of a series, as the constant references to the previous book become rather irritating after a while.

Some of the book feels rushed and lacking depth. There isn't enough build up to big scenes, which denied a certain level of drama that you'd expect. There is a real lack of suspense to the writing style, which makes it feel a bit amateurish.

There are many, many strange things people do to each other and as the author says himself at the end of this story, reality is often more unbelievable than fiction. That said, this is not based on a true story; Mr Linskey took a perfectly, non-sinister story he heard and once his imagination had gone to work on it, the central conceit for 'The Chosen Ones' was born.

Well-written and extremely well-paced and plotted, this is my introduction to DS Bradshaw and journalists Tom Carney and Helen Norton - apparently they've had quite a few traumatic incidents in their pasts, hinted at throughout the narrative. They make an appealing trio and 'The Chosen Ones' made me want to read the previous books.

It was also very refreshing to have every single female in the story have a backbone. And a logical train of thought. In fact, a couple of times I mentally applauded them for their ingenuity; I only hope that I would have such wherewithal in dire circumstances. I think this is one of the reasons I enjoyed the book so much, I didn't sigh once at the actions of those involved.

The final, brutal revelation in the last pages of the book will leave you reeling at the imagined horror the person must have endured and shaking your head in disbelief at the sheer power religion and its clever structure as the perfect indoctrination tool, has over the human mind.

This is the first book from the author I’ve read, the detective Ian Bradshaw books are now on my list of must reads!

What a creepy and engaging little book! The stuff of nightmares really 😂 just what I like. Loved the lead detective and thought the book was very fast paced and kept me on my toes until the end. A seriously good read for anyone who loves thrillers and creepy serial killers!

I enjoyed this book, pretty standard cop thriller with the added mix of journalists. The story is well written though felt a bit rushed in parts, and the victims stories undersold to push forward the narrative of the recurring characters in the series.

I haven't read any of this author's previous books but I will now. The Chosen Ones had me hooked from the start. Very compelling and easy to read. Recommended.

Eva Dunbar wakes up to find that she is imprisoned in a small windowless cell, She has no recollection of how she got there, there is no way out and she is terrified.
DS Bradshaw is in charge of investigating Eva’s disappearance which may be linked to the disappearance of four other young women and some historic ones. The police are particularly short staffed due to some officers being suspended for corruption allegations. DS Bradshaw enlists the help of two investigative journalists, a somewhat unusual alliance, but he has worked its them before.. When a woman is found murdered and linked to their investigation things begin to hot up.
This is a really fast moving and gripping story which I enjoyed. It is number four in the series and whilst it reads well as a stand alone book I would like to have known more about the characters combined past.

Thoroughly enjoyable story with lots of twists. The characters were all interesting and it will be interesting to see how the author develops their story.I am hoping for more. Fast paced and exciting.