I absolutely LOVED this book. Really liked the way it swung back and forwards in time. Loved both Elsie and Sally's characters and my heart ached for both of them for the start they had in life.

Every parent's nightmare when your child disappears and the descriptions given of the different feelings the parents went through really struck a nerve with me.

I thought I'd guessed how it was going to end half way through, but was completely wrong!

I am now a huge fan of this author, I loved the way she writes .

This was my first book of Carmel Harrington's, and I firmly believe I've started with the best. My reading journal is filled with notes and theories about who was really what and what this person's role was in the book.

The marriage of the timelines in the 60s-80s and the present day was absolutely incredible. I kept watching, right on the edge of my seat, as decade long secrets finally became revealed.

The story is incredibly fast paced, and in every storyline things progressed at a good pace. Questions I had ("why not get a DNA test?" "Why do I feel so suspicious about this person?") were quickly answered.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fantastic. Emer Heatley is fantastic at protraying each character in distinctive ways, and her talent for accents really shines here. My one gripe with the audiobook is that you can sometimes hear the narrator clear their throat, which can be a little off-putting.

This is a book I'll be shouting from the rafters for quite some time.

I really enjoyed this book! It had a great story and was a quick read, I was intrigued all the way through.

I enjoyed this twisty thriller alternating between the 1970s / 80s and today with a child stolen on board a cruise ship that vanishes into thin air. It's only as the story unfolds that we realise there's a lot more to this and it's not a chance kidnapping.

A brilliant story spanning different decades. Elise and Sally bond with each other at an orphanage in Ireland run by nuns. They find each other again after leaving the orphanage at different times when reaching 18.
Years later, Kimberly is on a cruise with her family when her son goes missing and is not found. His father, Jason devotes his life to trying to find out what happened and shares a reconstructed photo of the baby now, causing someone to get in touch. Could he be the missing Robert?
Well written and with a link between the women that is not easy to work out!

I

Elsie and Sally are two best friends at the orphanage run by nuns. When Elsie leaves, at the age of 18, Sally longs for the day when they will see each other and become best friends again.
On a cruise ship, Kimberly’s son disappears during the night and she, her husband and their daughter never get over it, with father Jason devoting his life to trying to track down missing children like his wife’s son. On the anniversary of the disappearance of her son, Jason talks on a TV program about him, showing a computer generated photo of what baby Robert would look like now. When a visitor to the area, Zach sees the programme and thinks it might be him the story really gets going.

I really enjoyed this book. All the way through I tried to work out the link between Sally and Elsie,and Kimberly. There are some very emotional parts as well as heartwarming and sad ones. A highly recommended read.

A wonderful, easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable book!!
I loved the well rounded characters & have been engrossed by the storyline. This is one of those books to read in one sitting on a sunny afternoon.

Things are never as straight forward as they might seem
Sally is sent to an orphanage in 70’s where she is befriended by Elsie. Their lives are tough never more so than when they have to leave and stand on their own two feet
Sally eventually marries but her partner is abusive - Elsie rallies to help
Meanwhile a parallel story in the 80’s On a cruise ship tells us about Kimberly and Jason and their search for their stolen child
We move to 2023 to hear the story of Zach who believes he is the lost child
There are so many threads and inter connected stories here but all becomes clear by the end - and it’s not what you expect!

I've just finished my gratefully received ARC of #TheStolenChild and it's brilliant! I love a book with a twist and this one was both unanticipated until the time was right, and believable - a rare combination! Add it to your pile!

Themes of found family, escape from poverty, domestic abuse and love.

I genuinely couldn't put it down - I was reading this at a ceilidh!

When a child is snatched from its bed on a cruise ship and disappears, it triggers a long search for the truth. This is a psychological thriller I didn't want to put down and I did not see the clever twist coming until very close to its unveiling.
The writing style didn't thrill me (sorry), I didn't warm to the characters and the pace was rather uneven. Still, I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery thriller. Would make an interesting film.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

When their little boy goes missing while enjoying a cruise, Kimberly and Jason, her husband are heartbroken. The story is sensitively told from several viewpoints and timeframes.

This is one of those books you are unable to put down, a roller coaster of emotions, hopes and fears. Various accounts are given by Kimberly, Lily’s daughter, and others. Sally and Elsie, two girls who have become friends while in an orphanage also tell their story, and I enjoyed reading how everything evolved.

It’s a book of hopes, fears, and reunions, emotively told by the author. Characters are expertly portrayed, and I became invested in their stories. Kimberly and Jason, whose young son has been stolen; Sally, a young girl growing up in an orphanage, who feels lost and alone. With many twists and turns as this complex plot unfolds. Recommended.

Good story about the fallout from a child who goes missing from the family cabin aboard a cruise ship in the 1980s.
Years later a man claims to be that missing child. But is it really him? And what really happened back then?
The story flits between the present day and the 1980s and both stories merge as we find out what happened. Memorable characters and a good storyline. Recommended.

This book by Carmel has been a truly wonderful reading experience. From the cover, not one I would have readily chosen off a shelf but glad I had a chance to read. Highly recommend.

40 years ago, a child goes missing on a cruise ship. Is he dead? Or is he still alive?

“Secrets always find a way to reveal themselves”

This book is told in multiple POV, across multiple timelines and I felt it was a little confusing until I got used to who was who and what was where.

It’s a fairly sad family drama but quite thought provoking in places. Whilst I didn’t overly warm to any character in particular, Sally seemed very sweet and Lily and Zach had a heartwarming bond.

I found it believable, but it was a little slow paced and predictable for my liking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for my advanced copy.

Loved the writing in this one! The story is told with a multi-POV timeline, across 3 different years. I really liked the short chapters and mini twists at the end of each, which kept me gripped throughout much of the first half of the book. I did guess one of the twists here, although it still made my jaw drop!

I found the second half of the book to be of a much slower pace. It did feel like it dragged and unfortunately became a little boring for me in places. The amount of characters being written about did become slightly confusing for me at times too. It’s probably just me thought not used to reading more complex books 😂

The pace did improve towards the end though and I enjoyed the final twist! I loved the author notes at the very end. The fact that this book is inspired by a true story is so lovely and left me feeling content.

Whilst this one took me a little longer to read, I definitely recommend! I can’t wait for Carmel’s next book in 2026!

A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e/book copy.

It's about a family on a boat in the sunny sea. Mom, Dad, and their kids, Robert and Lily. Then, boom, Robert vanishes.

At first, it's super intense. You really feel the mom freaking out, and you're like, "What's up with the dad?" The story jumps around in time. We see what happened when Robert disappeared, what happened way before, and what's happening now.

Now, Lily's grown up, and she helps people with their problems. Her parents aren't together anymore, and Dad's still stuck on Robert. Then, someone she's helping says something that flips everything upside down.

The scary, fast feeling goes away a bit. It gets more like people thinking about stuff, not just running around. It's like, time has passed, so everyone's a bit calmer, but slower. But I still wanted to know what happened. And there were surprises I didn't see coming. It was a fun story, and I liked it.

This was my first Carmel Harrington novel and will not be my last! The Stolen Child is a gripping but also heavy read. I loved that we got dual timelines and that the story was told in different POVs, which allows us to learn more about what happened and what led up to the events of Robert disappearing and the aftermath. I really enjoyed how everything came together and Carmel's writing had me guessing throughout.

The Stolen Child is a thought-provoking and intense read that has you wondering how you would react and the actions you would take in this situation. The thoughts and feelings this provoked were done so well, especially after you read the author's note and the real-life situation that influenced this story. I cannot wait to pick up more of Carmel Harrington's books in the future!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. I was drawn into the story from the very first chapter. I couldn’t put it down. And it kept me guessing right to the end with brilliant twists.
“ gripping emotional thriller with a twist you’ll never see coming “
It’s warm, uplifting, moving, addictive, poignant, unputdownable, immersive with a great ending but is so much more than a thriller. Just brilliant
1984 - On board The Carousel cruise ship two year old Robert vanishes while his parents sleep.
2024 - Lily, now a psychotherapist receives a new client Zach who tells who something about Robert that changes everything.
I really enjoyed the different POV’s from Sally, Kimberley and Lily, past and present. They were woven together beautifully and added depth to the story. I especially loved the early relationship between Sally and Elsie. The characters felt so real and you could feel their emotions and thoughts just jumping off the pages. It’s so well written. I just love @happymrsh writing style.
An intriguing and compelling story about love, heartache, betrayal, loss and hope. Definitely recommend this one. It’s well worth the read.
With thanks to #NetGallery #Headline for an arc of #TheStolenChild in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 27 February 2025

Forty years after a child goes missing on a cruise ship, a man approaches the family claiming to be the missing Robert. Is he telling the truth? What secrets from the past have led to this moment in time?
This was a good story, with the history of the main characters giving the overall picture of the main events of the story. Some very sad moments, along with sweet family moments and the loving connections that hold them together. I think the story was well thought-out and well written. Definitely worth a read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Carmel Harrington is known for writing twisty page-turners that feature relatable and strikingly realistic characters.

Stretching out across 50 years and a variety of locations, Harrington’s newest book relies heavily on her ability to write convincing characters.

The plot revolves around deep moral dilemmas and emotions such as guilt and betrayal, making well-defined narrators essential to its success.

Thankfully, the three main characters are anything but clichéd, taking turns to narrate their stories across different time periods.

Read my full review here: https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41576473.html