This is a brilliant addition to this series and the best book so far. 
The story is quite hard hitting but is dealt with sensitively. 
DCI Matilda Darke is asked to investigate when a 9 year old girl goes missing. Her mum gets a call saying she’s been kidnapped and they want £50,000.
The family are not well off so there’s no way they can raise the money but then they hear nothing further from the kidnapper. 
Matilda was involved in another missing person case and this one reminds her of that, and she just hopes it has a better outcome. 
I can’t say much more as I don’t want to give any element of the story away as this one is a crime thriller with a few twists. 
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and after the epilogue, can’t wait to find out what happens next. 
This is a fantastic crime thriller that can be read as a stand alone but this is a great series, so go for it and read them all. 
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Stolen Children’, the sixth in the DCI Matilda Darke series written by Michael Wood, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Three years ago DCI Matilda Darke was in charge of co-ordinating the search for missing eight-year-old Carl Meagan, but the handing over of the ransom went wrong and Carl disappeared nearly ruining her career.  A young boy walks into a French police station claiming to be Carl Meagan but can it really be him?   At the same time nine-year-old Keeley Armitage disappears and a demand for £50,000 is received by her parents.  Matilda fears it’s all happening again.  

‘Stolen Children’ has everything in a thriller that makes me want to start reading, a strong and well-written plot that’s full of action, believable characters, unexpected twists and turns, drama and suspense.  Add to this the strong-willed, fair-minded and entirely likeable DCI Matilda Darke and her amazing team and you have all the ingredients of a best-seller.  I was hooked from page one but as I’ve got involved in the story it’s became more and more exciting till I’ve been unable to do anything but read.  The final chapters are so shocking that I’m open-mouthed in admiration for an author who can put together an exciting thriller with such a staggering conclusion that’s kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more.  And as for the final cliff-hanger, I can’t wait for book number seven!

So. Let it be known that Netgalley doesn't always note when something is part of a series. I read the blurb, thought it sounded interesting, but it didn't occur to me that there were more Matilda Darke books before this one. It wasn't until I marked it as "currently reading" on Goodreads that I saw it had a number next to its name, indicating that yes, there were others before this one.

But hey, there are many detective books out there that you don't have to read in order, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

As a whole, I did like this one. It held my attention and the plot was interesting enough. It was like reading a good episode of SVU. However, I called the ending very early on so I wasn't shocked like I hope to be by the thrillers I read.

Also, there were a lot of characters. It was kind of difficult to keep track of everyone, specifically smaller characters that aren't mentioned often. I will note that this may be easier for people who have read the first few books in the Matilda Darke series because maybe they may have been utilized more in previous books. I don't know. But then again, some were random neighbors, so maybe there were just a lot of characters. 

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, it made me curious to read the others in the series, but it didn't shock me and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. A middle of the road book for me, but not bad by any means.

Some cases are cold. Some suspects are never caught. Some deaths stay with you forever!
What a powerful story in this new piece by Michael Wood in which we venture out into the unknown with Stolen Children.
Now, you're not going to imagine this but often when kids are stolen it's by someone they trust or know fairly well.
However, in this case there's so much more than meets the eye because we have several clues that just don't add up.
This bird trail of crumbs keeps leading to more and more heavy hitters and it became apparent that readers where in for a treat!
The suspense was riveting. The action was hot! The characters were dynamic! The writing was off the chart!
I didn't know who to believe at first especially when there's two similar cases with two missing kids.
Both involved high stakes action, ransoms, and botched jobs.
However, someone has to be held accountable, someone is responsible, someone out there knows the truth about these kids.
Kelley and Carl are on the radar with Carl coming forth in France from Sheffield to claim he's the real deal. Now if only we could find Kelley.
As the cycle perpetuates and ramps up we uncover more than just a child missing. Readers are lured into this cycle of abuse from all angles and it's bloody brilliant yet frightening -simultaneously.
What if the perpetrator is closer than you think? What if the perp is already dead? What if the girl is no longer with us?
It's such a dark story but one that I'm so glad it was told because it touches on the topic of sexual abuse that is crucial for today's crazy world.
DC Ellen and Matilda were such great characters for being such strong role models and standing up against the injustices of these kids.
Wait-WHAT?
This just in- someone has jumped the bridge?
Are you kidding?
Parenting is never easy but brain washing, manipulation, and sicko's are out there.
This story also touched upon suicide and the after effects of abuse with lies being the central topic and how crucial it's to believe a child's story.
An entire family torn to shreds by one person who gained trust of so many!
I can't imagine this scenario that Michael Wood has carried out to light but you might want to leave that light on and get that blankie ready to dash under for safety's sake.
Wow!
I'm a believer and can't wait to see what comes next from Mr. Wood!

Really enjoyed it😊!

4.5🌟stars
Although I had guessed who had orchestrated the young victim's disappearance way before the book's climax I still enjoyed the journey there.  This was my first time reading a DCI Matilda Darke mystery and I liked her character, the interplay with her colleagues and the way the plot unfolded.   I also liked the thread of extra suspense provided by the still open case of disappeared Carl, whose story actually started before the first book in the series.  

There's a "police are prone to personal and professional mistakes too" realism as lines of inquiry are overlooked, reasonable caution gets overlooked and an officer tries to hide a major screw-up that endangers his family and the successful prosecution of a major case.   And these officers really do throw themselves into danger for each other and successful resolution of a case!    The whole plot only takes less than two weeks but with lots of twists and red herrings enough to keep up the tension and suspense.  And I liked the light touches, like the playful fights over the sweet snacks cache🙂.

I will be looking for more from this series because DCI Darke and her team are a likable ensemble and the author knows how to weave a good crime yarn.

Thanks to publisher Harper Collins One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book;  this is my voluntary and honest review.

This is a book that will really resonate with fans of the Matilda Darke series by Michael Wood. One of the key cases that has haunted Matilda throughout the course of the series is the 'one that got away', or more accurately, the one she never got back - Carl Meagan. At the start of this book we are faced with the very real prospect that Carl may have been found, something which backs up the strange calls that his mother was receiving in the previous book. But is it him, and will waiting to hear the truth distract Matilda from her very latest case, one that has eerily similar overtones to the Carl Meagan case? A young girl has gone missing, a call made to her distraught parents demanding money if they ever wish to see her again. Is history repeating itself and, if so, why choose a family who so clearly cannot afford to pay such a crippling ransom?

This book will play with your emotions. Not only because of the Carl Meagan angle, or the disappearance of the young girl, but because of all the emotional baggage that surrounds the family. With a disabled son, the parents are already stretched to the limit to ensure that he has a great life, almost to the detriment of his two sisters. Michael Wood plays this to perfection, the toll that her daughter's disappearance takes on the mother almost painful to read at times. But there is always the sense of something not being quite right in the household, a kind of edginess and undercurrent of unease that goes beyond the current circumstances.  There is always a sense of mistrust between the reader and the family at the heart of the story and as much sympathy as I found being drawn out, I was wary too as were the police. In truth, this is a very dark subject matter, but expertly handled. The final reveal is gradual, the tension building all the time, and the realisation, when it comes, it is both shocking and yet also not really a surprise. I had my suspicions from the start but Michael Wood throws in a raft is suspects and possible scenarios throughout so you will probably find yourself second guessing what is really going on.

As always the character portrayal in the book was brilliant, many of them wrestling with personal circumstances and situations that take their eye off the ball a little. Matilda is especially distracted, a blossoming romance put on hold as she tries to come to terms with her emotions over the Carl Meagan case and the similarities to her new missing child case. In fact it seems like most of the team are preoccupied with affairs of the heart and that distraction puts them kind of off their game in a way that could prove deadly for more than one of them. But it is the sense of family in the books which makes them every bit as enjoyable to read as the police investigations, and at least it adds a really positive lift to a dark and fraught case. The story is packed full of emotion, both of the smiling and tear filled kind, as well as a the usual tension and action that you come to expect from the series. Although Matilda is suffering from a lot of guilt, as always, it was nice to see her finally have a few moments of happiness, even if they were only brief.

Another great case with an ending full of promise that has left me hungry for more. When's the next book due?

Oh my goodness ... that was riveting!

This is the 6th in this excellent series and although, ideally, it would be good to read them in order, this is not absolutely essential as this works as a standalone but you do miss the development of the characters and some back story relating to previous cases.  However, please do not let this put you off starting the series with this one because you will so kick yourself for missing out on this excellent book and then you can go back and enjoy the rest!

This book has a strong and compelling story line BUT it's also dark and upsetting so be warned that there are some sections that are very difficult to read.  The pace is perfect and I found myself racing through the chapters desperate to find out what was going to happen next.  The characters are excellent and believable with DCI Darke being one of my favourite fictional characters - she is strong, sensitive, likeable, loyal but with flaws that make her sensitive and not above making mistakes; this makes her believable and plausible.

I have read some good books this year but this has got be amongst the top so far without a shadow of a doubt and I have to give a massive thank you to HarperCollinsUK / One More Chapter and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I cannot wait for the next one especially if that ending is anything to by!!

I would like to thank NetGallery, One More Chapter, and author Michael Wood for a free E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Before deciding on reading this book please beware of some trigger warnings: Child abuse/talk about child rape, and death of a child. While this is the sixth book in this series, it can be read as a stand alone. This was my first book that I have read in the series and I did not feel lost while reading this book. The prologue had me completely pulled into this book. This book is a well crafted thriller. The layers in which the plot was built up and revealed was well done. The pacing kept the story moving while including the key details to the mystery around the cases of both kidnappings as well as some of the ongoing investigations. This book and its characters kept my attention the entire time. The characters were solid individuals that have bonds that are deeper than just co-workers. They are caring and willing to support one another through the ups and downs of not only their professional, but also their personal lives. I appreciated the author allowing time to show these characters outside of the investigations as well as their human sides during the cases. I was really drawn to Matilda as a character. She was a strong female character that made every member of her team felt heard and important to the different cases they were working. The author did a great job of weaving some crazy twists and turns throughout this book that led the readers to a fantastic ending and screaming for more! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking into reading the previous books in this series as well as looking forward to the next book.

DCI Matilda Darke is haunted by the unresolved Carl Meagan kidnap case, she still sees his face in her dreams and knows what happened is her fault. The youngster disappeared during an impossibly difficult time in her life, her focus was off and her inability to delegate a deciding factor in what happened. 

Three years have passed when nine-year-old Keeley doesn't come home from school and when a ransom demand is made the memories come hurtling back for all members of her team. With two girls and a severely disabled son Keeley’s parents are stressed and overwhelmed most of the time but their world implodes when their daughter disappears.

At the same time a child walks into a police station in France saying he is the missing boy everyone's been searching for. With tension increasing, the pressure on Matilda's team becomes all encompassing and the danger to those involved in searching for Keeley becomes deadly. Can she find the little girl alive as well as keep up to date on what is happening in France and ensure her colleagues safely? With her confidence deserting her for the first time she begins to doubt she can.

Once again Michael Wood has written an excellent, tension filled novel which is both exciting and breathtaking. Matilda is a sympathetically written main protagonist and those that work with her compliment this. The story reaches a conclusion with no one spared from the fast paced rush toward a denouement which I found to be wholly satisfying. 

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 as a worthy addition to a first class series which can be read as a standaone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a thriller, and it is the 6st book in the DCI Matilda Darke Thriller series. This is the first book in this series that I have read, but I did not feel lost. This book was so good. I think the pacing was just right, and it was well written. The ending had twist and turns that was well-crafted, and I could put it down during any of the twist and turns. I have to say this book as some dark points. This book as some things that may upset some readers, so if you are a reader that gets upset by what you read please look into what is in this book. This is a solid Thriller that I really enjoyed reading. This book was everything I wanted from this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (One More Chapter) or author (Michael Wood) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on October 2-2020.

Another Matilda Drake masterpiece. House of Corrections was well written and the characters were thoroughly believable. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't want to put it down.
Well done Michael Wood, I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you Michael Wood, Netgalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion.

I am back in Sheffield for the next in the DI Matilda Darke series and in my opinion the best one yet. The Armatige family are the focus. Nine year olds Keely is missing. The mother gets a phone call demanding a ransom for the return of her daughter. When the arranged time for the handover has been and gone Matilda realises it was a hoax, so where is Keely? I thought I knew what to expect when I started reading. But nothing prepared me for what unfolds. Once I started reading this book it was very hard to put down, just another chapter then I will get up. It didn't happen. Yes this book is that good. A real page turner and at times I could not believe what I was reading. As for the ending well I just need the next book now !!!!!
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Wow, a brilliant 5⭐️ Read from Michael Wood. Matilda Darke is back in book 6 of this brilliant series set in Sheffield. A young boy turns up at a police station in France claiming to be Carl Meagan a boy who had gone missing four years earlier. Matilda had worked that case, she felt she had failed the family and blamed herself that he was still missing. So when the information comes through that this could be Carl she is at first elated but then worried in case it’s not him. But then a 9 year old Keeley Armitage goes missing whilst out shopping after school with her sister, when the family get a phone call asking for £50,000 in exchange for Keeley everyone who knows the Meagan case can’t help but think of similarities.

Matilda is determined to solve this one though, she can’t face going through the same thing again. So many memories are brought back from that first case, putting added pressure on Matilda, which isn’t helped by a local newspaper reporter who enjoys raking up the past in the hope of getting a story that will help him make it in the reporting world.

But are the two cases linked? Who would ask a family who are struggling financially to pay out that sort of money? As the team investigates the tension builds. This is a brilliantly written, suspenseful read, fast paced, with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I started this in the morning and could not put it down until I had finished it. The characters are believable, relatable and three dimensional. 

I would highly recommend this book, even if you haven’t read any of the earlier books in this series this is easily readable as a stand-alone novel. I can’t wait for book 7 in the series.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

This is an awesome series and I was so happy to get my hands on this latest instalment. DCI Matilda Darke has to battle her personal demons when 9 year old Keeley Armitage goes missing. Four years earlier a bungled ransom drop resulted in another kidnapped child, Carl Meagan, not being returned to his family. Matilda still feels incredible guilt over this and vows to find Keeley. It doesn’t help that the media crucified her over the previous case and comparisons will inevitably be drawn.

A ransom demand of £50,000 is made but this is very strange as the family does not have any spare funds. What they have is spent on care and equipment for their severely disabled 4 year old son. Meanwhile the police tear apart the lives of the Armitage family and look for suspects among known paedophiles. Everyone who knows the family is questioned but nothing seems to stick. Still, there is a strange, fishy vibe about the whole case. I did have an inkling but Mr Wood paced this story perfectly. And the pace picked up inexorably as it approached the shocking and harrowing ending. There is little satisfaction in solving this crime as so many lives are destroyed in the process.

Aside from the gut-wrenching case, Matilda’s team continues to delight the reader as the characters grow and develop. Matilda herself has a chance at happiness again as she finally moves on from the death of her husband 4 year earlier. Will there be another episode? I certainly hope so as these books are so wonderfully dark and compelling. Many thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and Michael Wood for providing a copy. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the sixth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series, you wouldn’t need to read them all to enjoy this one but they are pretty darn good so I would recommend it. I love this character more every book I read and I cannot wait for the best book what a teaser at the end. Matilda is haunted by the disappearance of a young boy from years ago, a ransom drop gone wrong at the most difficult time of her life; when another child goes missing and a ransom call is made, is history repeating itself. As Matilda and her team try to solve the case, will all of them make it out alive?

It was such a good book; lots of twists and turns, I was on the edge of my seat as the team closed in on the guilty party. And that last chapter  .... I cannot wait for the next book.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Stolen Children but that has in no way influenced my review.

Stolen Children is the sixth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series and it's an absolute cracker! I love this series and always look forward to the next book (although, confession time, I haven't read the first book yet! 🤦). Wood is an accomplished writer, his stories are always gripping and engaging and I'm a little bit in love with Matilda.

DCI Matilda Darke and her team are called to investigate the case of a missing child. Nine-year-old Keeley Armitage vanished from outside the local shop and hasn't been seen since. Her mother is frantic with worry. Then the call comes demanding £50,000 for Keeley's safe return. The thought of another missing child case sends chills down Matilda's spine, following the Carl Meagan case several years before, which nearly destroyed Matilda and her career. Keeley even looks a little like Carl with her blonde hair and blue eyes. Can the two kidnappings be connected? The more the team dig, the more secrets they discover. Can Matilda keep a clear head and find Keeley before it's too late...?

If you're already a fan of this series the prologue will have your jaw hitting the floor. I won't go into detail - it's already in the blurb - but what a great way to start the book. The thread of that particular storyline has been running through all of the books in this series and it just goes to show how fallible Darke is. Will she ever escape the hold that particular case has over her?

There are two storylines running through Stolen Children. The one I was trying to be vague about up there ⬆️ and the investigation into Keeley Armitage's disappearance, which creates the bones of the book. It's another thrilling, shock-filled investigation which kept me turning the pages from start to finish. I adore these characters and feel as though I could meet them all down the pub for an orange juice and a catch-up. They're all so brilliantly human and stand tall from the page. Even the lesser characters are well written and wonderful examples of how to create engaging, believable characters. I feel very invested in them and their futures. And I love the way the author isn't scared to put them through the wringer. More than other authors, I believe. He pushes them further and harder, sometimes with no return...

This is a terrific book and I will be awarding it five stars but I do want to add that I struggled a little with the storyline at times. This is the first book in a long time that really got to me. It affected me quite deeply and some of the scenes and descriptions made me feel uncomfortable (as scenes and descriptions of that nature should). I think I'm just feeling a little oversensitive at the moment because I love my fiction dark and I feel really strange adding this to the review, but I wanted to share my honest thoughts with you. You may not feel the same, of course. Any book involving bad things happening to kids (particularly kids the same age as mine) has always been and will always be an uncomfortable read for me.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I would recommend the entire series. I think it's worth starting at the beginning though with book one as you'll get the whole picture and see the team develop and grow. As I mentioned, I haven't read the first book which I believe laid the building blocks for the rest of the series but I've been able to piece together what I think I need to know from that first investigation. I hope there are many, many more Matilda Darke books to come.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Stolen Children. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Even though I am writing my review the day after I finished this book, my heart is still racing.

Without a doubt this is a series that just gets better and better. How the author does it, I really do not know but I can not get enough of them. The pacing started off steady and then went off the scale. At least half of this book I was on the edge of my sit and I could not rest for one minute. The build up of tension and emotions was just phenomenal and it kept me awake most of the night trying to let everything sink in at what I had read. It’s a storyline that really grabs hold of you.

I love how we get the mix of the Carl Meagan case, which like Matilda, I won’t rest until I find out the truth and a new case of a missing girl. Keeley’s family members had me going through so many emotions and what they were having to deal with as well as already dealing with. I loved the character Ellen Devonport who is the family liaison officer for the family. It was great to get a better insight as to what their job entails and how they go about doing their job whilst offering support.

What I particularly enjoyed was that even though Matilda is very much the lead character, her team play such a pivotal role in the story and I enjoyed that they all had their part to play of which tied in nicely with the cases. Their is a strong bond between these team members and I like that we get to see a bigger cast of team members which is a lot more true to life than the usual lead detective and their side kick.

Stolen Children is a crime novel that will seriously mess with your head. It is so compulsive. I put it down with the intention of going to sleep as it was past my bedtime but had to pick it back up again to finish it. The need to know was so strong and my mind was going into overdrive at what was being revealed to us. This was such an incredible read that has clung to me and got the adrenaline going. There were so many shocks that it should probably come with a warning. Brilliant! Can’t wait for the next one.

DCI Matilda Darke is still haunted by the Carl Meagan case, a young boy who was kidnapped 5 years ago and never found. Matilda blames herself for Carl so when 9 year old Keely Armitage goes missing and her parents receive a ransom demand Matilda can’t help thinking about Carl. Keely’s mum is distraught, her dad is being strong for the family, her older sister Jodie is spending all her time looking after her 4 year old severely disabled brother Riley. 
Despite the appearance of the perfect family Matilda knows that every family has secrets and it’s her job to dig deep and find them. She is determined to find out what happened to Keely but as the team investigates they uncover things far more disturbing than they expected. 
This book takes you to places you might not want to go but it tackles uncomfortable subjects well and keeps you gripped until the last page.

This was a fine book and written well, it just wasn’t for me unfortunately..............................."..........................

Stolen Children is the sixth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series. I was drawn to this book as I knew from the synopsis that it would be right up my street. It’s also set in Sheffield which is close to where I grew up so I knew many of the places mentioned. Although I haven’t read the previous books, I didn’t feel that detracted from this novel in any way, however after enjoying this one so much, I will certainly go back and read the others. 

This book starts with a young boy walking into a police station in France claiming to be Carl Meaghan. A boy who went missing from Sheffield who still hasn’t been found. On the way home from the supermarket, nine year old Keeley Armitage goes missing and it’s down to DCI Darke and her team to find her. However Darke is struggling as she was unable to find Carl and is scared of letting another family down.

This book quickly gathers pace. It’s gritty, tense and thrilling and draws you in with each turn of the page. I would rate this book 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.