We return to Sheffield for the latest instalment of the excellent DCI Mathilda Darke series. In this one the investigation centres on the Armitage  family - parents Linda and Craig, daughters Jodie and Kelly and disabled son Riley. Linda receives a £50,000 ransom phone call for nine year old Keeley who goes missing after a trip to the shops with her older sister. What transpires is a harrowing tale which tests the team to their limits and places several in extreme danger. In the background is the ongoing mystery of the disappearance of Carl Meagan, now in its fourth year which continues to haunt his parents and Mathilda. 

This is yet another gripping storyline in what is becoming one of my favourite crime series and which draws you in from the start. The police team are so good, their characters feel authentic and real and I love the dark humour between them which not only releases their tension but that of the reader! Mathilda is an excellent character and she is now taking baby steps to move on from the tragic death of her much loved husband James. The Armitage household is an intriguing focus for the unfolding drama as it’s a strange, tense and unsettling home. The further the case progresses it hits brick walls and becomes ever more compelling reading and very dark. There’s a good amount of tension, the atmosphere builds, the mystery deepens, there are shocks aplenty as it reaches a high octane conclusion. It’s seat of your pants, take a deep breath as for some of the events you’ll need extra oxygen. As the truth emerges it reveals a calculating psychopath which is mind numbing. 

Overall, another engrossing instalment and naughty Mr Wood, you sure know how to entice readers to want to dive into the next one! I can’t wait!! 

With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Fiction, One More Chapter and Michael Wood for the much appreciated ARC.

Stolen Children is the sixth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series and I begin this review with a warning…start reading it late at night at your peril…this is one which will definitely have you reading way past your bedtime!
It will have all Matilda Darke fans hyperventilating, but even those coming to this new will find themselves sucked in. I’m giving away no spoilers when I say this, it’s all in the blurb, but when a young boy walks into a French police station and announces he is missing Carl Meagan then a whole realm of conflict and emotions are created for Matilda. Carl’s case is the one that haunts her as she blames herself for his kidnapping going wrong all those years ago. The case has also fascinated and engaged readers of the series so this addition to Stolen Children is going to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Any book featuring missing children is going to be emotive and as another child goes missing, Matilda is determined to do all that she can to ensure her safe return. However, the spectre of Carl Meagan always hangs over her and she is constantly questioning her own abilities and actions. Michael Wood is a master of character development and throughout this series, we have seen Matilda get dragged through an emotional wringer both in her personal and professional life. He has brought her, and her team to life throughout this series and I feel as though I have grown alongside them all. When I picked up this book, I immediately felt a part of the story, of the investigation. I felt the frustrations of a team who go above and beyond, not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to support one another throughout the process. And definitely without giving any spoilers away, there are a few occasions in this book where, as a reader, I found myself on an emotional cliff edge as I became caught up in the lives of Matilda Darke and her team.
The plot is emotive, it leaves you questioning everyone and sometimes believing nobody. The family of the most recent missing child bring out a tension which seeps through the pages and I found myself caught up in all the emotions of this case. Michael Wood keeps the story topical with frustrations around budget cuts in the police force and passing reference to current political issues but never getting bogged down in the mundane and miserable; he brings the story alive with humour, humanity and hope. He laces every chapter with a tension that drips away leaving the reader on the edge of their seat at the end of each chapter, ensuring they are going to be turning the page, for “just one more chapter”.
And as you reach the end, well be warned, Michael Wood plays your emotions like a fiddle as he leaves you on the brink so many times, pulling you back and then dangling you over again and again. Stolen Children is a MUST for fans of this series, it’s a MUST for those who have never read any of the books, pick it up, go on, you know you want to!


Review will appear on my blog closer to publication date

6th in the series of DCI Matilda Darke by Michael Wood, this story brings you in from the very beginning. A young boy claims to be kidnapped child Carl Meagan, a troubling case DCI Darke was involved with previously.

At the same time a 9 year old girl disappears and her mother receives a ransom call. It all seems so similar to the Carl Meagan case and DCI Darke wants to ensure no stone is unturned in finding the girl and solving this crime. 

The characters are stunningly portrayed from the distraught mother, the relationship the HMET police team have with each other to the support of the Family Liaison officer.

This truly was a fantastic read, with tension, dips and turns that make you want to read faster to find out what's is going on!

I'd never read anything by Michael Wood before, but he's going to be on my reading list going forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and  the Publisher for the advanced readers copy for an honest review.

When i see a new Michael Wood book is available to request on here it's like Christmas for me. It must have been the complete opposite of how Matilda Darke felt when she heard a child had gone missing. Nine year old Keeley has been taken and the kidnappers want money. From the start you are there with the family facing their worst nightmare but this is Matilda's worst nightmare too. Another child missing and she has to find the answers. Wood's writing is so emotive and compelling i feel like i know Matilda, and her team, so i knew before starting this story was going to be a battle for her. Everything about this was superb. The writing, the characters and their development and by the last few chapters i was on the edge of my seat. I don't think i'd ever been so tense.

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

I’m a big fan of Michael Woods Matilda Darke series and his latest book,  in my opinion, is the best in the series so far.    I love Matilda as a character, she is determined, feisty and has really grown on me over time, she has a great working relationship and rapport with her colleagues who have become her friends.   Matilda investigates a missing girl, and an old case from the past returns to haunt her.    I read this book in just over a day and it kept me up into the early hours to finish it.   I thought it was a thrilling read with lots of suspense.   There are many twists and turns that race towards an ending I did not see coming.   I was hooked from the first to last page, I love the authors writing style and look forward to the next book.    Overall, a cracker of a read.

Stolen Children written by Michael Wood, the 6th in the DCI Matilda Darke series is yet another fantastic dark twisty addition. The story begins in France, where a young boy is desperately trying to find a police station in the early morning hours. He claims to be kidnapped child, Carl Meagan, a character that was introduced in previous books in this series. It is DCI Matilda Darke’s most troubling case. Now enter Keeley  Armitage, nine years old, waiting outside a store for her older sister.  Until she vanishes without a trace. A phone call is made demanding ransom, and the likeness’ to the Carl Meagan case are brought front and center again. Could this really be happening all these years later? DCI Matilda Clarke is determined to find Keeley, she will not rest until she is found safe and she redeems herself from the case of Carl that almost destroyed her career. 

As Matilda begins her investigation, she realizes things are not adding up. There are secrets being kept not only within the family of the victim, but neighbors have their own dark opinions as well. The Armitage family does not have the ransom money, or any money for that matter. They are a family of five, father Craig, works two jobs just to make ends meet, children Jodie, the 14 year old that has taken over as caretaker of the family, 9 year old missing Keeley...who loves princesses and is waiting for her Prince Charming, brother Riley, severely disabled due to a history of epileptic seizures and needing 24 hour care by their mother Linda. They are a close knit, loving family, and Family Liaison Officer Ellen Devonport is their on duty contact during this tragic time. Everything seems perfectly normal in the beginning, until looking for Keeley starts to unravel the tangled creepy web the family is wrapped in. When the investigation gets deeper, everyone, including DCI Darke realizes the suspect is closer than anyone realizes. 

The Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) in charge of heading this case is a strong one. With Matilda as the leader, she is lucky to have many qualified detectives at her side through supporting each other, going above and beyond the constraints of the job, especially when one of their own is in trouble.  As the story unravels, and the truths come out, we see the dark intensity behind the crime. It is intense, the characters are twisted, troubled, but so well defined. DCI Darke and her team are so good at what they do, regardless of the difficulties they face.

This is only the 2nd book I have read in this series, I read book #5 as well. I am an absolute fan! It’s easy to follow along, even as snippets of previous books are mentioned. The author does a nice job of explaining just enough so you are not lost. I’ve said before, I need to read the previous books in the series, and I’m going to hold myself to it. As I mentioned, this is a tough one to get through because of the crimes against children, but if that doesn’t bother you I highly recommend reading this book, as well as others in the series.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Harper Collins, One More Chapter and Michael Wood for an advanced reader copy of this dark gripping book.

I love the Matilda Darke series (it’s one of a very few series where I’ve been there from the start and stayed with it) but I have to say that Michael Wood has surpassed my expectations this time as Stolen Children is the best book in the series so far! If you’ve not read any of the series before then I do think you need to and you need to NOW! You’ll certainly get more out of Stolen Children if you know the backstory of Matilda, her team and, ofcourse, the kidnapping of Carl Meagan. We have all been kept on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome of this heinous crime so it looks like, finally, answers are on their way but at what cost and is there a connection with the recent disappearance of a young girl? The answers shocked the hell out of me and gave me goosebumps!

One of the things I love about this series is how Matilda’s team are brought to life with their personal lives taking centre stage as much as the crimes being solved. And the last 20% of this book especially had me on the edge of my seat as more than one of the team members fought for survival! But it was the disappearance of Keeley Armitage, a truly sickening crime, that gripped me from the start and there were some rather difficult to read scenes as Matilda sought to bring justice for Keeley’s family. I honestly struggled to put this book down as all these threads started to knit together but I was NOT expecting that ending!

Matilda is a wonderful character creation and I’ve loved watching her grow and develop throughout the series. And I have a real soft spot for Sian and her “there for everyone” snack drawer (mines a Twirl please Sian) which does come dangerously close to empty this time. I also spotted a very familiar name in there that made me chuckle although the character herself didn’t have much to smile about!

I loved loved LOVED this book and as soon as I finished it I wanted to go back and read the whole thing again! It’s a compelling crime thriller with a dark storyline that will blow your socks off! Absolutely brilliant!

I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, one More Chapter for an advance copy of Stolen Children, the sixth novel to feature Sheffield based DCI Matilda Darke.

When 9 year old Keeley Armitage disappears on her way home from the supermarket and her mother receives a ransom call Matilda is thrown back into her worst nightmare, the case she botched badly three years earlier, the kidnap of Karl Meagan.

I enjoyed Stolen Children which pits Matilda and her determination to get this case right against a volatile family dynamic where nothing is clear cut. I like the novel for its readable style and strong characterisation. It also has unexpected events that jolt the reader out of complacency. Having said that, I was very disappointed in the transparency of the plot. I had the perpetrator and the motive worked out before I was half way through so my main interest after that was how it would play out and I can’t help but think that Matilda and the team were a bit thick on that one.

I like this series for the characters and the sense of practicality in the investigation. I thought Keeley’s mother, Linda, was well drawn in her hysteria and illogicality. It added to the urgency of the investigation and the read. I like Matilda Darke as she is a woman with real world, identifiable problems, be it a misbehaving member of her team or her mortification over the mishandling of Karl Meagan’s abduction. This is a recurring thread in the series and perhaps it’s time to allow her to move on as she is in other areas of her life.

Stolen Children is a good read for the characters and their interactions but let down by over obvious plotting.

Another missing child for DCI Darke and her team to find,can they solve the mystery of her disappearance. Lots of twists and turns and a few surprises. A good read.

I want to start by thanking NetGalley for my eARC for an honest review. I am sure I write this after reading every Michael Wood, DI Matilda Darke novel, the superb strong character driven mystery is wonderful.  Bringing together this group to solve yet another harrowing mystery while updating us all on a past that any loyal reader would not let go of.  i look forward already to the next! 4.5 stars.

Michael Wood's latest addition to his brilliant Sheffield based crime series, featuring DCI Matilda Darke and her Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET), is a emotionally harrowing humdinger. It brings back all of Matilda's demons and guilt as a young boy in Marseille, France, enters a police station claiming to be Carl Meagan, and to compound matters further, a young 9 year old girl, Keeley Armitage, from Stannington, has been abducted after going missing from outside a supermarket. Her mother, Linda, falls apart after receiving a £50 000 ransom demand over the phone. Craig, the father, struggles to hold himself and the family together, while his 14 year old daughter, Jodie, does her best, trying to look after her 4 year old disabled brother, Riley, who requires 24 hour care.

This is not a family that can afford a ransom, they can barely makes ends meet, with Riley's care the focus of their attention and finances, so why would anyone abduct Keeley? One of the thoughts is that this ransom is merely to draw focus away from something dreadful having already occurred to Keeley. With Matilda's boss, ACC Valerie Masterson, facing her own troubling family issues, she is going to have to cope on her own more, and despite the support of best friend, Adele Kean, and others, she is going to find herself stretched to the very edges of her limits, considering the unthinkable, that of betraying her colleagues. DC Ellen Devonport is a great Family Liaison Officer (FLO), placed amidst the Armitage family, and as the police try to locate the missing girl, she gets to know the family better, feeding the information back to the police. She grows increasingly unsettled and disturbed, what exactly are the secrets that fester within this family?

A major highlight of this crime series is the focus on the HMET police team, the likes of DS Sian Mills with her lifesaving snack drawer, the relationships, the way they go over and beyond to work the case and support each other, although they can bring their problems too, such as with DS Aaron Connolly. DC Scott Andrews's relationship with Chris develops further as they look for a place to live together, and there are other personal developments too, even Matilda herself is not immune. When team members find themselves in grave danger, you can see just how far they will go for each other, for example, where DC Ranjeet Deshwal refuses to give up, putting his life in danger to try and save a friend and colleague. This is a terrific read, dark, intense, and suspenseful with its theme of stolen children, guaranteed to push all of Matilda's buttons. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HarperCollins and One More Chapter for an ARC.

Wow wow wow I could not put this book down I absolutely loved it kept me hooked from start to finish with who done it and so many twist and turns I’ve never read anything by this author before but I’m keeping me eye out from now on.

Wowzer this book was great I loved it.  My first read by this author and I will definitely be reading more.  I got sucked in from page one and didnt put it down until I had finished.   A really enjoyable book with just the right amount of tension and plot twists to keep you guessing.   Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.  Totally deserves 5 stars it was awesome.

Oh my goodness what a roller coaster of a read, just brilliant, full of twists and turns with great characters and I was gripped from the very first page, a brilliant well written thriller with a nail biting and edge of seat ending.

Michael Wood is a new author to me but I will definitely read more from him in the future and I can thoroughly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins (OMC) for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

Another fantastic addition to the, DCI Matilda Darke, by Michael Wood.
A heartbreaking child abduction case is the newest crime that had Matilda and her team on the hunt. Memories of a similar disasterous  has Matilda  hyper focused on delivering a different outcome for this newest victims family.
Harrowing and heart wrenching until the very last page. This is one of the best police procedures series I have ever read. I hope there are many more DCI Matilda Darke books to come.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy.
#netgalley

One child is found, one child is missing. 
Keeley disappears on her way from the supermarket. Soon the kidnapper calls demanding a ransom. Girl's  family is shaken with grief and sadness.  When detective Matilda Drake begins her investigation the hunt begins. She's determined to solve the case.
 
This is my first book by Michael Woods but I'm sure it's not the last. I just love the way he builds up  the tension. It's brilliantly written and the characters are just so real. It was heartbreaking to see all the things Keeley and her family were going through. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Michael Wood you have outdone yourself on Stolen Children!

I could not turn the pages fast enough, had to remind myself to keep breathing as I rushed to the ending as the tension  kept increasing.

Matlida Darke is one of my favourite series, she is so compassionate and almost nothing stops her and her team.

This time they are trying to find one child who is missing, one who was missing has reappeared .

Just the tip of the iceberg.

I trusted many , suspicious of a few and yet I was wrong.

Thanks to NetGalley , Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for a captivating read!

Yet another STONKER of a book from Michael! If you start reading this book and think ‘wonder if it’s another child going missing wonder if the father’s involved?’ kind of book then think again, it’s much much more (and better) The story hurtles along at a frantic pace yet is often heart breaking. I found this book to be more dark and disturbing in places and the story is made even better if you’ve invested the highly recommended time in the series so far. I love these characters, I miss them when i’m not reading about them and I can’t wait for the next in this highly recommended series. With thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advance copy.

Michael Wood opens Stolen Children with a hell of a prologue, I’m sure my heart literally stopped! finally a mystery that has run throughout the Matilda Darke series is revealed (but it’s been so worth the wait). I have loved every one of Michael Wood’s Matilda Darke books but I have to say ‘this is the best one yet

It was a good book. I enjoyed reading it. It was full of action and adventure. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book.