I really loved this book in a new to me author. The characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

I have not read anything by this author before.  I found this book gripping from the first page and I will look out for more by this author.

2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Digital for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

When I first requested this title through NetGalley I didn't know it was book 9 in an established series. Normally I like to start a series from the beginning but my TBR is so big that I finally just decided to read this title. Maybe it could be read as a stand-alone but I found myself wishing I had the background of Anderson and Costello from books 1-8. Regardless, I carried on. 

There are a few storylines happening right away in this title. A trial for a murdered child doesn't go the way of justice and a 6-week old baby is kidnapped and replaced with a different baby of about the same age. Detective Anderson is on desk duty pursuing cold cases and Detective Costello is trying to adjust to investigating cases without Anderson next to her. A cold case that lands on Anderson's desk is traveling toward the kidnapped baby case, bringing Costello and Anderson back together as de facto partners. What could a cold case possibly have to do with a 6-week old baby switching? Following vague leads both Detectives begin to distinguish specific details that do tie together. In order to find the 6-week old who is missing, locate the 6-week old's family, and solve the cold case Anderson and Costello join teams and pursue justice. 

There were a lot of moving parts, characters, and storylines happening in this one book. It felt a bit disjointed to me. It seemed as if Ramsay had all these great ideas and twists and turns, not just for the story but for character development, that she couldn't let go of or put a hold on so she wrote them all into one story. It made for a confusing read, trying to keep track of characters and which, if any, of the storylines they belonged to or crossed over into. While I didn't dislike the book, I also was indifferent to it. Given my TBR I think I will skip this series and call it good with this one title.

Took me a little while to get to grips with what was happening but once I did...boy oh boy was this thrilling, terrifying and exhausting all at the same time. Lots of characters to establish at first (which I think added to my confusion) but totally worth it.

The Suffering of Strangers by Caro Ramsay is book 9 in the Anderson and Costello series. A little one disappears under mysterious circumstances while left asleep in a car alone. Who took him and why? This book captivated me from the very first page. I was enthralled by the plot and amazed at the storytelling. But just as the story really began to unfold, it felt like the storytelling fell apart. It was really hard to read after reading the first quarter of the book. It became disjointed and hard to follow. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuousluy.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.  This is my own honest voluntary review.

I feel like I missed something with this book. Like I read every word but just did not connect with it at all which is really unusual. It just felt disjointed and half the time I didn’t know what was going on but I’m sure it must have just been me.

A bizarre mix of a million characters left me not knowing what was going on.  I really wanted to like it, the idea was good but I don’t know who was who, what was where or the answer to anything!  I’m left highly confused. A very odd reading experience!

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review!

A very busy book, lots going in made it a confusing read at times.  I had to concentrate rerally hard to keep up with the story, but I did enjoy the book.  Have not read any of Caro Ramsay's other books but will be looking them up.

While the plot and characters are intriguing, and I liked the Glasgow setting, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I might - but it hasn’t put me off reading earlier books in the series. Apart from anything else, I’m interested to learn more about the backstory of the characters. And this one ends in a cliffhanger... so I’m probably going to have to read the next, too.

This novel is part of a series which I did not realise when I requested it.  It had a slow beginning and I was unable to get into the story so did not finish the book.

This is the 9th in the series apparently but I’d not have known! 

Very well written thriller with some quite sensitive subjects that are well handled, had me on the edge of my seat and awake most of the night reading it. The detectives were great and I loved the characters, a really good read that keeps you guessing and hooks you from page one!

I’m off to try and get the earlier books online, fingers crossed!

I wish I had read an earlier book in this series, as it was well written. A new mom leaves her new baby in the care while she runs into a market - surprise - the baby is missing when she returns. This begins a really good mystery. I will be back for more. Thank you #NetGalley #servernhousepublishing #TheSufferingofStrangers

Police detectives Costello and Anderson investigate a kidnapping and mysterious exchange of babies, and a cold case of rape respectively, but keep running into each other, insinuating correlation. The storyline was interesting, but there were lots of characters that became confusing in what is the ninth book in the series, something not shared until the end of the book and not at all on NetGalley. Dear Reader following the series would definitely appreciate the continuation of the series in this intriguing and unique tale. Although Severn House Publishers graciously offered this story through NetGalley, they should have informed potential reviewers that it was a series.

Her six-week-old son will not stop crying. Desperate for a bit of peace, Roberta drives all over town. The baby finally falls asleep. At her husband’s urging, Roberta pops into a store with big windows where she knows the owner to pick up a bottle of champagne. In spite of the two of them keeping a close eye on the car, when she returns the car is gone and her baby with it. When the car is recovered shortly afterwards, there is a baby there–but it is not hers. The new child is the same age, but with Down Syndrome.

DI Costello is assigned to work the case. She’s amazed at the level of planning required to pull something like this off, and soon realizes that this signifies the existence of a larger organization. Sure enough, she begins to discover other missing babies, not to mention suspicious adoptions. The race is on to find Roberta’s child before he is sold and disappears. On top of that, DI Costello has become aware of a child from a wealthy family who nonetheless strikes her as being at great risk. Her attempts to rescue him may lead her further than she realizes.

Meanwhile, DCI Anderson has been moved to the cold case department, where he is investigating a 20 year old rape. The case leads him back in contact with old friends from college, but it also seems to have some weird echos from that of DI Costello’s. Could the two be connected? If so, how?

The Suffering of Strangers is the 9th book in a series I’d never heard of before. How? That’s rhetorical of course, but at the same time, for someone who enjoys police procedurals as much as I do, I’m a little dismayed. I enjoyed the book a lot and was able to fill in blanks that obviously referred to previous books without any problem. And adding 8 more books to my TBR pile isn’t a problem, right? Author Caro Ramsey creates believable characters who are easy to invest in. At this point, I can highly recommend this book. I’ll let you know what I think of the other 8.

I did not get the chance to finish this before the file expired. However, I have just bought a copy as I was enjoying it so much. Well written and engaging plot.

Caro Ramsey has provided a plot, characters, and mood comparable to the great classic British mystery/suspense novels. It's got well-developed characters who are easy to like, suspect or sympathize with and the plot is so multi-layered that the reader is kept guessing which way it will turn next. Great for cozying up for a nice winter read by the fire. Loved this book and will be digging into others by this author!

Thanks to Netgalley, Ms. Ramsey and her publisher, Black Thorn for this opportunity to read and write an honest review!

An excellent book about a child who is missing and two detectives who are trying to find out what has happened,  While investigating they find out about child abduction and the answer to an old Cold Case.  Engrossing reading.  Quite believable, an intriguing plot,

I read this book, blissfully unaware that it was 9th in the series. 
That did not put me off and I believe that this book can be read as a standalone, as I did not struggle to read it.

This book does contain trafficking and child abuse so it could put some people off.  however, as i am used to reading this sort of book, it did not put me off. 

I will be seeking to read the rest of the series!

The Suffering of Strangers is a very readable detective story. The characters are diverse, interesting and human. The plot was intricate but the story well told so it was never confusing. And that ending! There will definitely be another and I’d love to read it. Highly recommended..

Where the hell have I been!? I am new to Caro Ramsay’s Anderson & Costello series and I am so sad that I’ve missed out on some amazing stories! I mean seriously. This book had me all twisted up inside and taken on an incredible roller coaster of twists and turns. It’s a fast-paced, page turning, edge of your seat police procedural that will leave you begging for more. Literally.

From the beginning, Ramsay draws the reader in with well chiseled characters. The emotions instantly fly with this one. I mean seriously. I was angry with Roberta almost instantly for one little thing she did that started the intense, white knuckle gripping, gotta-see-what-happens-next events of this story. Just when I think I would have it all figured out, Ramsay threw me another twist to the story and bam. I had to back track and start all over again to see if I could figure it out.

That’s an incredible 5 star worthy read, if you ask me. Filled with some hard hitting life lessons, and gripping characters, Ramsay knows what to throw new readers to make them want to come back. This is a series that I will be going back and reading from start to finish. Ramsay will have you captivated, fully, from first page to last and won’t let your shackles go until you reach the very last word.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*