My first book by B R Spangler, a fantastic author who writes under several pen names across different genres.

Taken from Home, marks the first in a new series featuring Detective Casey White. In this cracking opening instalment, the reader gets to meet Casey when she investigates after she herself discovers a teenage girl on the shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, whilst on enforced leave in the area. Her initial alarm is heightened when she thinks the dead girl is her daughter Hannah who was taken from their family home fourteen years ago. But this victim is someone else's tragedy, the Parry's, whose daughters, Cheryl and Ruby were snatched whilst on a seaside holiday. Ruby was found dead shortly after, but until now it would appear that someone had been hiding Cheryl. When another teenager is found in a forest, Casey believes there is a serial killer at large. Drafted in to help the local Police Department on an unrelated case, Casey finds herself working with Patrol Officer Jericho Flynn. As they work on the cases, they aren't sure if there is a link between them, until they eventually find some evidence...

This first book in what promises to be a marvellous series certainly caused some ripples for me! Firstly, I loved the author's well drawn characters. Casey came across as very determined and focused, though obviously carries a lot of emotional baggage. Jericho, for his part was Mr Nice Guy, the amiable one that everyone trusts, though still very driven. With a frenetic pace there was plenty of action, with certainly no room for tedium or boredom. The plot itself was fascinating and I revelled in the complexity of the investigations, and the way everything was eventually brought together.

I shall be watching out for the next in the series and I'm immensely keen to see where the talented B R Spangler takes Detective Casey White next.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

(*Where Lost Girls Go*)

This was a fantastic first book in a new series. Detective Casey White is following a lead from her daughter Hannah’s kidnapping when she discovers a young girl at the side of the road. She stops to help her and soon find herself being volunteered to help the local police investigate what happened to the girl. It’s fast paced and I loved the characters of both Casey and Jericho. I was a little disappointed by the ending but I know that it was probably to make sure I read the second book, which I definitely will! If you like mystery/suspense novels with a female lead this is a great one and I look forward to seeing what happens to Casey in future books! Thanks so much to Netgalley for the early copy.

i have never read anything by this author and i plan on continuing to read this series and keep her on my radar.
it was a very fast paced mystery book that i was able to read very quickly with all the spare time that i have had.
the story is about Casey, a detective that is on vacation, who has been missing her daughter for 14 years. while on vacation she runs into another detective Jericho who takes her to a body that was found and asking her to help them with the case. she is drawn to this case when she hopes that her daughter might also be connected to this recent case.
the main character is very likable, strong, and courageous.

Her daughter Hannah was kidnapped fourteen years ago and she has never given up the search. Detective Casey White is taking some time off when she rescues a pregnant woman. Delivering her to the hospital, she hears of a young woman found dead on a yacht and wonders, like she always does, could she be her missing daughter? Since she is a detective, even though not from the area, she gets drawn in to the case of other young girls that have gone missing, always searching and hoping. I found the beginning of the book confusing as the story switched back and forth and I wasn’t really sure who the characters were. It was a difficult read due to the subject matter, and the ending was not what I expected or hoped for. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Unputdownable. You couldn't pry it out of my hands. One positive aspect of the lockdown is the ability to read anything and everything you want with endless hours in front of you because trust me once you start reading this winner of a book you won't put it down. Happy reading!

A great start to a new series.
Casey is a Detective who is on vacation but she’s also looking for her daughter who was taken from her fourteen years ago.
She’s following a lead in an area which is new to her and as she’s looking for the place she’s heading to, she sees a woman in need of help.
Casey takes her to the hospital and whilst there meets Jericho who takes her to a crime scene as a girl’s body had been found.
Jericho and his colleagues persuade Casey to help with the case as they’re in desperate need of a Detective and she can look for Hannah while she’s helping them.
There are lots of strands to this story and I liked the way they all came together in the end.
I like the character of Casey and look forward to finding out what’s in store for her next.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Taken from Home is the first book in a new series by author B.R. Spangler featuring detective Casey White.

Fourteen years prior to the story, Casey White’s daughter has been abducted, never to be found again. When she notice a young pregnant girl stumbling in the middle of a road in a nightgown, having been kept captive for years, she can’t help thinking about her own tragedy. This feeling deepens when a body is discovered, and it appears a serial kidnapper / killer has been active in the area, sometimes keeping girls for years. And the possibility her daughter might be one of them is very real.

This is a strong debut for a new series which reads more as action than police procedural, and should be taken as such. A bit of suspension of disbelief is required at the events and twists happening along the pages. Some of those events are pretty hard, and might be triggers to some sensitive readers, Casey White herself appears almost as a one woman army.

The book is mostly written in the first person, from her point of view, reminding some of the Jack Reacher novels. However, contrary to the use of this literary device by Lee Child, we don’t really get any stream of consciousness, or even chain of thoughts, from Casey White. It wouldn’t be much different written in the third person (which is the case when the book switches to other POVs). As such, we don’t learn much about Casey White herself, nor her personality. For this first book, she’s a woman on a mission. It might change in further entries.

An entertaining read if not taken too seriously.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

This was an incredible detective story. This book had me from the beginning. This book did not start out slow at all or was slow at any point of the book. There was a lot of action in this book to keep you guessing who done it. There are some emotional parts in the books as well that made me feel so bad for the characters. For me this made the book even better. The ending was sort of shocking. I kind of guessed what happened earlier is the story but was still shocked I was right. This book was very well written since everything tied together so well even though so much happened in it. I look forward to reading future books in this series.

TAKEN FROM HOME is a rousing start to a brand new mystery series featuring Detective Casey White. For years, Casey has dedicated her life to missing persons cold cases, spurred on by the unsolved kidnapping of her own daughter. A near fatal mistake she makes, due to overwhelming stress, forces her to take a leave of absence, so she travels to the Outer Banks in North Carolina for some rest and rejuvenation. It’s not all a pleasure trip, though. When Casey travels, she always takes her file detailing her search for her missing daughter and she brings that with her on this trip along with a long buried lead that was so unlikely she hadn’t pursued it until it was the last possible lead.
As Casey drives into the Outer Banks area, she gets lost and comes across a young woman, naked and trying to escape the woods where Casey has gotten lost. Casey rushes her to the hospital, thinking the young woman was pregnant until her examination reveals she had recently given birth. Believing the discovery of the young woman may lead to a seriously deranged individual, Casey drives over to the beach just in time to see a recovery effort bringing the body of a young woman on shore from a burned out yacht. Casey gets pressed into service by the mayor as they are awaiting the arrival of a new detective and in dire need of someone to process the scene before the clues disappear with the tide.. Casey agrees to work the scene for the first day in order to gather information before it disappears and then plans to move forward with her own plans. As she is working the scene, the officers come across another young woman who has been shut in a closet and left for dead, complicating an already baffling case.
As more facts emerge, Casey becomes more and more entangled in both cases while the district attorney tries to link the two cases together; something Casey and her counterpart, former Sheriff and now member of the Marine Patrol, Jerico question. Both Casey and Jerico are driven, law enforcement officers, each with their own complicated back story. As they work the two cases, they draw closer together in a relationship that hopefully, will continue to grow and develop as the series continues.
The entire book is a series of roller coaster rides that will have the reader rushing through parts to learn what happens next, only to slow down for a breath and then go again. The pacing for the book is excellent, pulling the reader through at a good speed, but not so fast as to leave you breathless. The ending twist was not a surprise for me, but may be for others. Regardless, it was very satisfying with the one exception of one poor decision Casey made which felt a little contrived to set up the situation. It was not enough of a misstep to do any measurable harm to the book itself. I look forward to the next book in this series and think most readers who like police procedurals and series books will do well to start with this first book. My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it. It was full of suspense, had very likeable, believable characters with good background stories. There were so many twists and turns in the story that I didn’t expect which made it a thrilling read. I thought it was very well written book, Casey’s thoughts, feelings and emotions were very descriptive and I had such empathy for her. At times though, I thought some of the scenes were a little to long and I found myself skimming the pages more and my attention dropped a bit. Overall this was a great book to read and I will definitely want to read the next one to see how the characters develop. 4 stars.

I loved this book!! It has everything you could want in a mystery/thriller. It grabbed me from the first sentence and didn't let me go until the last one. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
Detective Casey White is on forced leave from Philadelphia after a near tragic incident. She heads to the Outer Banks to follow up on a lead regarding her daughter's 14 year old missing person's case. After getting turned around she comes across an injured girl coming out of the woods. Things just take off from there. More missing and dead girls, a yacht used for sex trafficking and a serial killer! How is it all connected to the nearby girls detention facility? There's alot going on but B.R. Spangler handles it well and I didn't have any problems following what was happening. The characters are all strong, believable, honest and well developed. The relationship that develops between Casey and Jericho is natural and makes them even more likeable. The tension increases throughout the book with surprising twist that leads us to the shocking conclusion. This book is one of my favorites of the year so far and I'm looking forward to the next book in the Casey White series!
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first book to feature Detective Casey White is filled with emotion and plenty twists and turns. I liked the character of Casey, still searching for her abducted daughter fourteen years after the event. Set in North Carolina, the book is well written and I would happily read another in the series. An exciting new series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What an action packed detective thriller and an explosive start to a new series…. Det Casey White’s daughter, Hannah was kidnapped 14 years ago having been abducted from her front garden when she was only 5.

Following a forced leave from her job after an incident put a colleague at risk, Casey decides to go to The Outer Banks in North Carolina where she has a lead in her daughter’s case she never followed up…. Having taken a wrong turn and ending up on a dirt road leading through the forest, Casey stumbles across a young girl, blood and dirt covering her long white gown and heavily pregnant… And so begins an exciting fast paced thriller. With the town down a Detective, Casey gets roped into assisting the local Sheriff’s office with a murder case after a body was discovered, teaming up with Marine Patrol Officer Jericho Flynn, they follow the clues or none such as the case may be! As the cases build up, are they all related? Where does Hannah fit into all this?

An absolute rollercoaster of a detective thriller, this one will keep you on the edge of your seat, not the easiest of reads given the nature of the crimes but suffice to say, once you start this book, you better clear your diary, this book moves fast and has so many twists and turns, your neck will be sore…. Highly recommend and can’t wait to see what’s in store for Casey White going forward.

Fourteen years ago Detective Casey White failed to prevent her little girl from being snatched out of her grasp. Now she is on vacation in North Carolina's Outer Banks following a long forgotten clue into Hannah's disappearance when a bloodstained teenage girl literally falls at her feet. Seconded into the short staffed local sheriff's office she takes charge of the distressing case and discovers an area crisscrossed by serious crimes involving youngsters.

Partnering with Jericho Flynn, Casey gains the advantage of being with a man everyone seems to like and trust. Gradually they begin to chip away at two similar cases, not sure if they are linked in anyway and then Casey finds a photo, a recent photo, of Hannah with a dead man.

If you want a calm, cosy crime novel then this isn't it. It is rip roaring action from the start and I loved it. Casey White is instantly sympathetic and I rooted for her from the start and Jericho Flynn is equally compelling. The author isn't afraid to add high octane scenes one after another but none of it felt gratuitous or out of place.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it highly. This is book one in a series I shall definitely be on the lookout for and Jericho has just appeared in his own Outer Banks thriller series so hopefully they will crossover successfully as the writing, characterisation, and believable action scenes make these two protagonists new but firm favourites to enjoy for the foreseeable future.

This is one of the best mysteries I have read this year. It's an emotional rollercoaster. Full of suspense, the action never lets up. Casey is complex and her journey is compelling. I love Jericho and the progression of their relationship. I can't wait to learn more about his past.

The cases in this book are gripping. I couldn't put this book down. There are several surprises. There are so many interesting characters involved and you can't help but become invested in the outcome. I held my breath, cried a few times, and smiled a few others.

This was my first read by this author and it won't be my last. I cannot wait to see where the series goes from here.

Detective Casey White has been searching for her daughter for fourteen years, she was abducted when she was five years old. Following a lead she arrives in North Carolina's Outer Bay. While looking for an address Casey takes a wrong turn and ends up in the woods. Stumbling out of the woods is a young girl wearing a long white night gown, heavily pregnant and covered in blood and dirt. Is it her daughter who is she??? From this day Casey's life will never be the same again. OMG WHAT A BOOK!!! A real page turner and rollercoaster of crime thriller. Hooked from the first page I literally devoured this book in one sitting. Cancel everything and curl up with this fantastic five star read and I promise you will not be disappointed. A new author for me and the start of a new series and this book has definitely left me wanting more. This author will now go to the top of my reading pile when they have a new book released. A well deserved five stars and so Highly Recommended. I LOVED IT!!!!
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Taken from Home, the first novel to feature Detective Casey White, set in the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

An enforced holiday sends Philadelphia detective, Casey White, to the Outer Banks, chasing up a slim lead in the 14 year old disappearance of her toddler daughter, Hannah. A wrong turn on the road takes her through a forest where she is stopped by an injured teenager in a long white nightdress and she is not the only one. Drafted in to help the local PD on an unrelated case she soon finds that there is a serial killer on the loose, one who has been at work for years.

I enjoyed Taken from Home which is an action packed read that never lets up. It is told mostly from Casey’s point of view, after the initial scene setting, with the odd chapter from “him”. They are mercifully brief and don’t add much, apart from the usual inference that his needs are not normal. It also means that they don’t distract from the main narrative.

I hesitate to say the novel is a fun read because it’s violent, cruel and inhuman but it certainly shouldn’t be taken too seriously. The amount of mayhem involved is not credible but it’s exciting and holds the attention throughout. I never knew what was coming next and had my eyes wide open (not sure if it was in disbelief) at every twist and turn. The plot also hinges on coincidences, Casey finds an old business card that sends her to the Outer Banks only after 14 years where her satnav fails her and she stumbles across a dying girl etc. This is the cold logic, but during the read it’s engrossing and curiosity inducing. The novel does what it’s supposed to do, entertain and it does so admirably.

Casey White is a driven woman, rarely distracted from her main purpose in life, finding Hannah, and in this she makes some progress although it seems that this thread will run through any subsequent novels. It does not, however, prevent her from solving a few cases along the way and finding love. Oh, and she’s also superwoman, shrugging off injuries and getting back into the fray. My kind of fictional gal. I imagine she’d be a bit full on in real life.

Taken from Home is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Haunting story of sex trafficking and a corrupt mayor who's crimes have been well hidden for years. While Detective Casey White is forced to take a vacation after an on the job incident, she chooses the Outer Banks to further her search for her daughter who was kidnapped many years before. Casey ends up assisting the town police who are short a detective, and she also finds the information she is looking for, and also finding someone who awakens feeling she hadn't felt for years in Jericho of the Marine Patrol. Jericho also has a past that haunts him. Looking forward to the next book to see if Casey finally gets reunited with her daughter, and more of Jericho's past.

Casey White might be my new favorite character. B.R. Spangler's Taken From Home starts off with a bang and keeps the intensity flowing throughout the entire novel. Whilst trying to locate her kidnapped daughter, Casey stumbles on a tragedy that becomes interwoven in her vacation community. Enlisted by the police to be the lead detective on the case, Casey is assisted by former Sheriff Jericho (who is equally as fabulous as Casey). Beautifully set in the Outer Banks, this introduction to Casey White will leave readers salivating for more! It's a fantastic read and I can't wait to read the next installment in the series! WOWZA!

This is the first book with Detective Casey White and, although it didn’t grip me, I am intrigued enough to want to read book two.
Casey’s daughter Hannah has been missing for fourteen years. When tracking down a lead whilst on a holiday she discovers a young woman running out of the forest. Cheryl Parry went missing nine years ago and was never seen again until now. Casey finds herself seconded to the case and when more young girls are discovered missing it’s clear there is no simple answer.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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