Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for an ARC of The Stolen Child.

I couldn't put this book down. I had so many theories to how the story would end, it kept me guessing. I was delighted to finish the book, but also devastated that I'm no longer reading about them all.

Highly recommend.

This is a heavy book that deals with abandonment, violence and abuse, abduction, and lifelong traumas. Although these themes, when combined, can make for difficult reading, the author successfully intertwines them in gripping storylines and creates a story that both educates and hooks the reader.

The story of ‘missing 2 year old Robert’ is told through 2 time frames. Then - when he was taken, and now, which focuses on how his little sister Lily’s life has changed since Robert was taken.

Running alongside this plot is the subplot of Sally and Kimberley. Sally, who meets Kimberley at the orphanage, has had to face endless challenges and obstacles as she grows up. Similarly, Kimberley’s character highlights how far a person sometimes has to go to make ends meet. She also teaches us that impulsivity and fear can be a dangerous combination.

I really enjoyed reading this complex and intriguing book. Harrington deep dives into the darkest parts of humanity, while also giving us hope of a light at the end of the tunnel for some of her characters.

When two-year old Robert goes missing overnight from a cruise ship his Mother and Step Father are distraught.

Being an avid cruiser I did have to suspend a little bit of belief during the reading of this novel, and some of the scenarios written about couldn't feasibly happen/or would be very difficult...

That said, it is an enjoyable novel, if tense at times.

This was cleverly written. I felt I was almost holding my breath and the tension leapt out of the pages. Gripping, exciting and an absolute belter of a read. A must have book this year.

A slow burn but worth sticking with.
First time I have read a book by this author. Very much enjoyed it. Multiple points of view so make sure to check the chapter heading when reading.
Trigger warning for domestic violence.
What happens when your child goes missing from a cruise liner at sea? 40 years later it feels like it could be closer to be solved. Jason does a tv appeal that might provide some answers at last.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Two girls become best friends when they both find themselves in an orphanage. They will always look out for each other even when they leave.
A family cruise on on a ship soon to dock in Barcelona and two year old Robert goes missing, no trace can be found. His father Jason never gives up hope but it seems that Mum, Kimberly, is hiding something and believes him to be alive. Daughter Lily grows up and becomes a psychoanalist when one day a new client arrives and says he believes he is Robert but his mane is Zach. How do the two seemingly different event and stories add up. A well written story that keeps you guessing until the very end..........

An intense read and more than just a psychological thriller I believe. I guessed part of it but not all and the complexities of the situation were not always black and white. Thanks @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Stolen Child is about a family whose toddler goes missing while on a cruise. Years later, they are still trying to piece together what happened. Is everything as it seems?

From the very beginning of this book, I was hooked. I was easily caught up in the lives of all the characters and felt so invested in the story and finding out the truth. I wasn't expecting any of the twists and turns through this book, and the ending left me completely shocked. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely read more of her books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book my first read from Carmel Harrington. The twist really twisted and kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the very end. I will definitely read more from this author. Thank you for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Perhaps because of the acute sensitivities they entail, missing child mysteries are still fairly rare among the contemporary thriller output – but Carmel Harrington is brave enough to step into this void with her offer of The Stolen Child. From the outset, this is a novel that has all the hallmarks of a spellbinding thriller – atmospheric settings, great characterisations, and a mystery that unravels into a myriad of unanswered questions and doubts with the reader left pondering the deeper themes underlying the storytelling.
The novel starts in the Mediterranean in the 1980s, where a young family are enjoying a cruise holiday: Kimberly, Jason, their toddler son Robert and newborn baby Lily. The little boy’s night-time disappearance from the cabin sets in motion a chain of traumatic events that last for decades, and it starts off the triple timelines that dominate the novel: we have the point-of-view of an enigmatic 1960s character called Sally, the 1980s timeline of Kimberly and her young family, and also a 2023 timeline set in Dublin, where Lily, now an adult woman working as a therapist, takes on a new client who claims to know what happened to her baby brother. How all these threads are related, is not revealed until the end of the novel, and it is very well done. Because of its structure, this is not a thriller that can be devoured in one sitting, but it is all the better for the thought processes on family issues, sibling relationships and motherhood that it triggers in the observant reader. I wish to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC of this novel that allowed me to read it ahead of publication and to formulate this honest, unbiased review.

BOOKWORMS REVIEW:
When toddler Robert goes missing on a cruise ship in 1984...it changes everything for his family. Aside from a teddy nothing gives any clues as to what happened the 2 year old..and the family never find out.
Fast forward 40 years later and Lily,Roberts sister,is now a psychotherapist. When she takes on a new client Zach,who reckons he knows what happened to Robert,she doesn't know if he's deluded or there's something to his theory.
Kimberley- Lily's mum and her stepfather Jason never got over the loss of Robert,so if theres anyway she can give them some answers or closure,she's open to it.
This is told in usual Carmel style and detail. There's one particular scene that had me staring at the book with a gaped mouth!What a twist.
Caramel captures the scenery,the tragedy,the yearning,the friendships and relationships,all wonderfully. Totally recommend this latest from Carmel..she can do no wrong for me.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I loved it and would definitely recommend it to others!

Please please approve me for more books by this author!

A fuller review has been left on Goodreads

On board a cruise in 1984 two year old Robert vanishes without a trace while his family are all sleeping in the cabin beside him. Despite all efforts from his family he is never found. Skip forward to 2024 Lily is has lived in the shadow of her brothers disappearance all her life juggling her career as a psychotherapist and her family as well as being a mediator between her divorced parents. When a new client claims to be her missing brother lily belief that Robert drowned starts to crumble and she will have to face the truth of what happened on the cruise ship all those years ago.

This is a very slow burn and I did feel a bit lost till I got to grips with both timelines and all the characters, but it's well worth it and the twists were brilliantly done and I had no idea what to expect.

I also listened to this on audio and at times I found the Audio a little annoying and didn't follow completely but I had the ebook which I was reading alongside but overall not a bad audio. (Would give the audio 3 stars)

Thank you to Netgalley, Headline and Carmel Harrington for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Stolen Child is a suspenseful and emotionally charged thriller that centers around the abduction of a toddler on a cruise ship, an event that shakes the lives of everyone involved. The novel unfolds across multiple perspectives and timelines, skillfully revealing the psychological toll the incident takes on the characters, while gradually unraveling the mystery of what really happened to the child.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its well-developed characters. Through various points of view, we witness the impact of the tragedy on all involved, all of whom are vividly brought to life. Each character’s experience is unique, but all are deeply affected by the sense of loss and unanswered questions, making for a rich, layered reading experience. The alternating timelines add an intriguing layer of complexity, slowly revealing key details while maintaining an atmosphere of suspense throughout.

While I was able to anticipate the ending relatively early on, the predictability did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. Instead, the appeal lies in how Harrington crafts the story—showing not just the outcome, but the twists and turns that lead to it. The emotional and psychological depth of the characters, combined with the chilling nature of the crime, keeps readers engaged, wondering how it all unfolds.

In sum, The Stolen Child is a gripping read that offers more than just a mystery. It’s an exploration of grief, guilt, and the complexities of human relationships, wrapped in a well-paced, thought-provoking narrative. Though the ending may be anticipated by some, it is still a journey worth taking for the compelling characters and the intricacies of how the truth is revealed.

Kimberley, Jason and their children, Robert and Lily, are holidaying on a mediterranean cruise. And during this trip Kimberley wakes up to discover that two years old Robert has vanished not only from their cabin but the boat as well. He is searched for but never found.

Forty years later and Lily is now a therapist and a new client Zach, reveals to her that he believes he is her brother after watching her father do an interview

A lot of twists and turns in this story and an ending I didn't see coming! Loved it

Really enjoyed this book, it was fast-paced and kept me guessing, I did suspect the twists but liked the journey to get there! A very clever book.

The Stolen Child starts in 1984 on a cruise ship, where two year old Robert disappears from his cabin one night to the horror of his mother, step-father and sister, Lily. Then we find ourselves in 2024, where Lily is a psychotherapist and mother; her parents are divorced and her step-father has never got over little Robert's disappearance. Things take a turn when Lily has a new client who has vague memories of an 'other mother', bringing Robert's disappearance back into question.

I've read a number of books about missing children, and suspected that this one would be much of the same, but how very wrong I was! I really enjoyed the multiple timelines; there was also an earlier one, telling of two orphaned girls growing up. I loved trying to piece the information together across the timelines, but I wasn't even close to figuring out what happened.

The book was so well written, it genuinely kept me guessing. I was invested right from the start and loved getting to know the characters and trying to work out who had done what.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

A great read as usual from Carmel. A nightmare happens when a child goes missing from
A cruise ship. Having taken 2 cruises I can see how this could happen. There are two separate stories running through the book. I would love to see this made into a movie.

What appears to be 2 very different stories at first come together in a rather amazing way.
In the first story a toddler Robert is taken from his parents cabin on a cruise ship, sailing in the Med. There is no sign of the boy on board , but his favourite toy rabbit is found near the railings , making it look as if he has managed to slip out and over the edge. The boat is searched and when it reaches port the police are called. As there are no clues the investigation fades away.
The mother Kimberly and stepfather Jason( who some people suspect) are distraught and eventually return home with their daughter Lily , Kimberly throwing herself into her business , but Jason believes Robert to be alive and spends the next 40 years searching, alongside a charity"Stolen Child" set up for people in similar circumstances.
In the 2nd story a young girl Sally is sent to a children's home by her mother, where she befriends an older girl Elsie.
Elsie leaves the home when she is 18 and loses contact with Sally,eventually Sally leaves the home and as she has little money and is put into a flat struggles.However Elsie expecting her to be nearby when she leaves the home finds her and helps her out.Sally eventually gets a job as an hairdresser with Nicola and the 3 become firm friends.Sally marries a policeman who turns out to be an abuser , so the 3 make escape plans to get Sally and her son free from him, but the plans go wrong.
After Jason makes a 40th anniversary TV appeal for information about Robert,to keep the case alive a man called Zach contacts Lily , who is now a psychoanalyst , with a strange story and eventually tells Lily he suspects he is her brother .
This is where the 2 stories come together with amazing twists and recriminations.