Having read her first book I was eagerly awaiting her second and I was not disappointed. She writes a great story, dark and uncompromising but always thrilling and unexpected.
Her subject matter is inevitably grim, dealing with sex trafficking, stolen organs, and the war in Kosovo. Her characters have now settled into a rhythm of their own, although having Lottie’s three children so deeply involved in the criminal action again is maybe straining credibility.
Still the author is a natural storyteller and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I wavered between 3.5 and 4 stars, but went with 4 because Ms. Gibney is very good at writing. I enjoyed meeting up with Lottie and the gang again, although, we didn't see much of anyone but Boyd. I was happy to get some more of his story.

The opening is very raw and heartbreaking, so be prepared! Once again, we find Lottie struggling with family, work and life, and not always with good results. I appreciate her flaws, but at the same time, would like to see some more stability with her - this is the second novel, so it's starting to feel a little old.

The story moves quickly and has a good helping of bad guys, but, Ms. Gibney does a great job of tying it all together for us. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

Part 2 of Detective Lottie Parker begins with Lottie returning to work after the traumas that were inflicted on her family in The Missing Ones. She's barely swallowed her coffee before there's a knock on her door that is the beginning of a new mystery. A young pregnant girl lies dead, a woman and her small son reach out to Lottie directly for help finding a missing friend....then another body, all the injuries almost identical. Two more girls go missing.As Lottie tries to solve the crime, hampered by language barriers and bureaucracy she discovers disturbing links to her own family.

OK first the good. Patricia Gibney has constructed a thrilling mystery with great characters and a dark and disturbing plot. Again she touches on unpleasant subjects without been gratuitous.

Then the bad. I found after the events of the last novel Lotties lack of attention to her children almost comical. And it could lose 100 pages and be a much tighter story.

I definitely preferred part one of this series but this is great too. I see part three is already in the works and look forward to it with anticipation.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this review copy for an unbiased review.

From the very dark and gruesome opening chapter to the shocking and high tension close, this book had me one hundred percent hooked. If you are looking for cosy crime, look away, as what happens in the prologue is enough to make you grimace and although not gratuitous in any way, enough is implied to make the reader feel uncomfortable and yet not so much as to push you out of the novel. It is heartbreaking but the message is clear. What you are reading is one of the many atrocities of war.

Now you're probably wondering what the idea of war has to do with Detective Inspector Lottie Parker and her team in Ragmullin. Last time of checking Ireland were not at war with anyone and that is absolutely true here too. But I'm not going to spoil the story by telling you why this scene is important. You need to read that for yourselves. The prologue may see us in Kosovo in 1999, but the bulk of the action takes place in Ireland in the present day - most definitely not at war and yet the conditions and story are perhaps no less harrowing. When Lottie and her DS Mark Boyd are called to the a gruesome crime scene, they cannot begin to understand the nature of the case they are faced with or how personal it is set to become to one of them. To complicate matters, Lottie, who has only just returned to work, is distracted by her highly dysfunctional family who are still struggling to recover from the impact of her last case.

I really like the character of Lottie Parker. She is a single mother, still struggling following the death of her husband some years before, and trying hard to raise three children who seem unable or unwilling to communicate with her. Lottie is not without her faults and she turns to unsavoury methods in order to help her cope. Her son is traumatised, her eldest daughter heartbroken and her middle child uncharacteristically sullen. Her relationship with her mother is strained and with a not quite relationship going on with her DS, it is no wonder that Lottie is struggling. And yet she is so very human, very realistic, that you can't help but be invested in her and root for her to succeed. I love the way that Patricia Gibney has framed the pairing with Boyd, his own personal life no less complicated than Lotties, complications which look set to impact upon their current case.

The Stolen Girls is a very timely novel dipping into key issues of today's society. From the plight of refugees to the concept of human trafficking, there are no shocks spared by the author in creating this story. You get an idea very early on as to one of the main threads in the story, and the implications of a discovery that is made during the post mortem. But nothing can prepare you for how far this thread will run or how deep the secrets are buried. Certainly far deeper than the poor girls who are being found all over Ragmullin. What you do get is a highly engrossing and very emotive story, tension which will keep you on the edge of your seat and not just chewing but chomping at those finger nails and a brilliant chemistry between Lottie and Boyd which you can't help but hope will finally lead somewhere.

I know one thing though. Lottie Parker deserves a break. A long and relaxing one. With the announcement that book three is due for release in October, it doesn't seem much like she's going to get one. And you know what? I can't wait.

The Stolen Girls is the second book in the Detective Lottie Parker series. I enjoyed the first book so was looking forward to reading this one.

I felt it started fairly slowly but quickly gathered pace and not long after starting it I was gripped.

You could read this book as a stand alone but as it picks up a few months after where the first book ended, it would make sense to read that first and to also get an idea of the different characters.

The subject matter is pretty hardcore: sex trafficking, stealing of human organs but the book is very well written. The chapters are short and the writing flows well. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Patricia Gibney for the chance to review.

I've been really looking forward to reading this follow up to Patricia Gibney's successful debut "The Missing Ones" and I have not been disappointed with this cracker of a story. DI Lottie Parker is back at work following the events that nearly killed her son and shook her whole family in her previous novel. Her three kids are still struggling to get back to normal and teenage Chloe in particular is not coping but Lottie is too tied up in work to give them the attention they need. The bodies of two girls have been found buried under roadworks, each by the same worker, an Albanian from Kosovo. No one has reported these girls missing but Lottie suspects they are refugees. When a local girl goes missing Lottie is worried that the same killer may have her and she pulls out all stops to work out who it could be.
This is a dark and complex story with many layers. There are Irish gangsters, a suspicious refugee centre director, an illegal sex trade as well as dead bodies and missing girls. There are also flashbacks to Kosovo at the time of Lottie's late husband Adam's tour of duty. Ms Gibney masterfully pulls all the strands together into a tense, action packed drama. She also manages to further develop the characters of Lottie herself, her family and her team, Lynch, Kirby and particularly Boyd. Highly recommended but do read the first book in the series, "The Missing Ones" first!

This review is written with thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of The Stolen Girls.
Following on from The Missing Ones, we catch up with Detective Inspector (DI) Lottie Parker four months later as she returns from leave. Lottie is not eased back into work gently, as on her first day back, a woman arrives at her house with her son begging her for help to find her friend. A body is then discovered by a construction worker at the site at which he is working. Lottie is concerned that the victim could be the woman's friend, but when a second body is discovered by the same person, it is clear that Lottie has a case which is much more complicated than she first imagined. When the investigation leads Lottie to a man who claims he knew her late husband, and her daughter's friend is reported missing, it is clear that the case has become more personal. Can Lottie find the balance between her personal and professional life and find the killer before he claims any more victims?
The Stolen Girls is set over a period of nine days, with Gibney clearly setting out each day as a separate section of the novel. The structure allows the reader to see how the investigation is progressing, and whilst the book is fairly long, so the investigation appears drawn out, the realisation that the novel only covers nine days actually demonstrates how much Lottie and her team achieve in a relatively short time. This gives the novel a fast paced edge, which encouraged me to keep reading to discover who the perpetrator was and whether they would be found.
I warmed to Lottie immediately during The Missing Ones and I was pleased to see that the same determination and kindness are prominent features of her character in this second instalment. Her battle to balance her personal and professional life continues (and this is also true of the other members of her team) which gives her character an element to which readers are able to relate. As The Stolen Girls is the second in the series, I was pleased to be able to learn more about Lottie and see her character develop as the readers' journey with her continues.
There are parts of The Stolen Girls that are set in Kosovo, and the plot is based around the sex trade that operates there. Although, at times, I found the political aspects of the plot slightly confusing as it made the investigation more complex, it is clear that Gibney has done some very thorough research to ensure that her work is realistic. The issues that Gibney raises are issues of which I had very little prior awareness, and I enjoyed the learning curve on which the novel took me.
The Stolen Girls is set in the fictional town of Ragmullin. Although the location is fictional, the descriptions of it are very vivid and its features are mapped out very clearly. As such, I found it very easy to picture what was happening as the investigation unfolded.
I look forward to reading more about Lottie and her team as the series develops.

This is the second book in the series featuring DI Lottie Parker.

I have a confession to make (don’t hate me). Although I have Patricia’s first book ‘The Missing Ones’ on my ever increasing ‘to be read’ mountain, I haven’t actually got around to reading it. Needless to say that after finishing ‘The Stolen Girls’, reading ‘The Missing Ones’ has become one of my top priorities.

As usual I don’t really want to write too much about the storylines as I have an annoying habit of giving far too many spoilers away about books that I have enjoyed and boy oh boy did I enjoy this one. The body of a pregnant woman is found. The same day a woman and her son go to DI Lottie Parker’s house to ask for help in finding their friend. Is the body their friend? Then a second body is found by the same man, who discovered the first body which makes the police suspicious. The second body bears similar hallmarks to the first body and Lottie has to work out if the two bodies are linked, if so how and who murdered them? The case is made even more urgent by the fact that another two people go missing and there are serious concerns for their safety. Who advised the woman and child to go to Lottie’s house? Are the two deaths linked? Who is killing these people and why? Can DI Parker and her team find the killer before it is too late? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves. You won’t regret it.

I absolutely totally and utterly loved the character of DI Lottie Parker. She is a woman close to the edge. After horrific events in her recent past, which are hinted at in this book, Lottie is trying to instill a sense of normality back into her life. Her husband has passed away. Her family is fractured and to be honest she doesn’t enjoy the best of relationships with her children although she does try hard to get through to them. Lottie goes back to work but I think that she would rather stay home with the children but as she is the main (& only) breadwinner in the household, she has to bring the pennies in somehow. Lottie doesn’t always play by the rules and this has got her in trouble with her superiors on more than one occasion. She is certainly sailing close to the wind. Although some of her actions are questionable, Lottie’s heart is in the right place and she works tirelessly to solve the cases assigned to her team and to get some sort of justice for the victim and for their families. Lottie is also not afraid to speak her mind and you could say that several times she opens her mouth before she puts her brain in gear. Lottie Parker certainly kicks some arse. DI Parker remains loyal to the memory of her husband but I think that there is definitely some unresolved sexual tension between Lottie and DS Boyd. DS Boyd reminded me a fair bit of DI Robbie Ross from the popular television series ‘Taggart’. Boyd is a bit of a ‘Jack the lad’, his actions sometimes get him into trouble and he just can’t say ‘no’ to his soon to be ex-wife. Like Lottie, Boyd is determined to get to the bottom of these murders and he doesn’t seem to mind if he cuts corners every now and then as long as the murderer is apprehended. Boyd’s behaviour does cross the line on occasions and Lottie pulls him up on his behaviour several times. However, in my opinion Boyd has more than a soft spot for Lottie and if she is (or her children are) in trouble, she only needs to ring Boyd and he will immediately come running to her/ their aid and to her/ their defence. I think I developed a bit of a soft spot for Boyd.

This book is hugely, fantastically and immensely well written. The story is told in two strands- one being present day and the other strand told in the form of flashbacks to events that happened in Kosovo some years ago. How this ties in with the first strand becomes clear as the book continues. I have to say that this is a real ‘CPID’ book and my Kindle sort of glued itself to my hand and came everywhere with me. I begrudged having to take my two Labradors out which didn’t go down well at all. ‘The Stolen Girls’ grabbed my attention from the very first word on the very first page and I wasn’t released from its grip until the last word on the last page. It was almost as if the book had hypnotized me. I just kept reading on and on and didn’t break off for anybody or anything. This shows me that it was a good book as I usually have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted, but not in this case. I managed to shut out everybody and everything. I simply had to get the book finished and I even delayed going to bed, which again didn’t go down well with my two Labradors. It’s true to say that ‘The Stolen Girls’ hits the ground running and the pace is relentless. Reading this book was a bit like going on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and stomach churning moments. Just when you think that the action has stopped and you can catch your breath, off the action would go again. On more than one occasion I had to read the book through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next and I genuinely feared for the safety of DI Lottie Parker, her children and her team. More than once, I thought that I had figured out who the murderer was and their motives, then along would come a curveball, which would send me off in another direction entirely. I just couldn’t see the twists coming. This book can be read as a standalone but with all the references to past events, I would strongly recommend that you read the series in order.

In short (and if you haven’t already guessed), I absolutely, totally and utterly blinking loved reading ‘The Stolen Girls’ and I can’t wait to read more from the ridiculously talented author, Patricia Gibney. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait too long for book three in the DI Lottie Parker series. In the meantime, I am going to go and dig out ‘The Missing Ones’ out of my huge ‘to be read pile’ and get to know Lottie, her family and her team even better. I strongly recommend that you read ‘The Missing Ones’ and ‘The Lost Girls’. You will certainly thank me for the recommendation. I award this book an easy 5* out of 5* but I would have awarded it more stars if I could have because it really is that good

First of all, why the fudging fudge fudge have I not read the first book in this series?! Despite the fact that I didn't start this series in order, I found it fine to read as a standalone. However, I really do feel that I would have enjoyed it a bit more if I had read the first book as I would have a better insight into Lottie's backstory. 

Oh.My.God this book! It didn't take long for my body to be covered in goosebumps and my brain forgetting how to breathe! There was no easing in gently, or gradually increasing the intensity level. No. It really was super intense nion straight away. 

A body is found, the victim was pregnant.
A young woman and her son approached Lottie Parker for help...on her doorstep. 
A storyline with multiple murders, and multiple missing people. Are they linked? Who is the killer? WHY are they going on a rampage?

Now, seeing as I hadn't read book one, it took me a little while to come up to speed with what happened in Lottie's past. Thankfully the author decided to bring it up in several characters conversations in the storyline. Although, I could tell early on that something devastating must have happened due to the way that Lottie and her family were acting. It kept me glued though!

'The Stolen Girls' kept me on my toes from page one with a storyline that was full of spine tingling, toe curling, and heart racing moments. I have to admit that I struggled to read certain parts of the book due to the extremely vivid imagery that made its way into my mind, thanks to Patricia Gibney's outstanding (if yet uncomfortable) descriptions of certain situations. It was really quite surreal, I had to keep looking on the floor to ensure that a murdered body hadn't found its way into my home! In my opinion, it takes a lot of talent to be able to write such vivid and descriptive scenes, such as the ones which Gibney wrote in 'The Stolen Girls', as well as managing to make the situation come alive for the reader, whether they wanted it or not.

Like I say, pretty uncomfortable reading but geeeeez the author did good!

Again, 'The Stolen Girls' is the type of book that needs to be devoured to be believed. You need to read the book with your very own eyes to be able to appreciate the authors high-end literary skills, that's for sure. I wish I could sit and natter about this book all day, but I think I would get slapped on the wrist for spoilers.

Despite wishing that I had read the first book in the series beforehand, 'The Stolen Girls' seemed to enjoy taking my breath away and scaring me half to death. Patricia Gibney has written such a hair-raising tale of devastation and destruction, I couldn't stop reading. An intense, jaw-dropping novel by Patricia Gibney, I most definitely will be reading a book by this author again, very soon.

Thanks Bookouture.

I was totally blown away by Gibney’s debut, The Missing Ones and really excited that it was the start of a new series featuring Lottie Parker. I’ve been dying to read this book since I finished the first and I’m so glad to be able to tell you that book two is just as amazing as the first one!

There is a lot going on here, plenty of cases running simultaneously and tons to keep Lottie on her toes. First, the body of a young pregnant girl is found and it shakes her to her core. Then, a young foreign girl and her son show up at Lottie’s door asking for help. On top of all of that, a young local girl vanishes and she’s a friend of Lottie’s daughter, Chloe. So plenty of different plot threads and Lottie is under an intense amount of pressure both at work and at home. If you’ve read the first book, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

This is told mainly is present day and follows Lottie and Boyd as they try and untangle a dark web with not much to go on. There are also brief chapters from an unknown child, (then eventually a man) living in Kosovo in the nineties and these were really heartbreaking. I love that this series is a lot more dense than it’s counterparts, it really allows the author to develop the lead characters in a deep manner. Lottie is still a hotheaded mess and I’m still waiting to see what happens between her and Boyd, but their chemistry is great. They both wind up having a personal connection to the cases and the pressure reaches an all time high.

This is action packed and very dark, gritty and disturbing. There are several scenes with violence and rape, some horrifying subject matter that really gets under your skin. Once again, there are several suspects to choose from so it’s downright impossible to guess whodunnit before the author reveals all. This was an excellent addition to what’s quickly becoming one of my favorite new series and I’ll be eagerly awaiting book 3!

The Stolen Girls

by Patricia Gibney

Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 06 Jul 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Stolen Girls through Bookouture and Netgalley:

The body of a young Pregnant Woman is found on a Monday Morning. The same day a Mother and her son visit Detective Lottie Parker begging for help in finding a lost friend. Is their friend the dead pregnant woman whose body was found?

The woman who comes to see Lottie is dressed in a hijab.

A second victim is soon discovered, a victim of the same man.

Just as she tries to tie the two girls together, two more go missing. One of the missing girls is Maeve, Lottie's daughter friend.

Can Lottie's daughter hold the key to finding the person responsible for the murders and disappearances?

I give The Stolen Girls four out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I discovered Patricia Gibney's first novel, The Missing Ones earlier this year (thank you Netgalley) and became an instant fan.

This book doesn't disappoint, although I can say I didn't find it as addictive a read as her first book.

We find ourselves 4 months after the end of "The Missing Ones" as Detective Inspector Lottie Parker and her partner Mark Boyd find themselves in the middle of a triple homicide. Yet again their small Irish town is the centre of horrific crimes with no real leads.

The beauty of Gibney's books are the fast paced nature of them, the incredible detail she goes to in creating not only the characters, but also the setting and the crime, and obviously Lottie and Boyd. My single issue with this book is that it almost feels like there was something that happened to Lottie and Boyd over the course of the 4 months (between the two books), but nothing is ever discussed ... and so the first half of the book feels almost frantic as we are slammed with the murders, trying to figure out what is happening, and get back into Lottie and Boyd's world. It was a little distracting.

That said, once you hit the 50% mark of the book, they seem to fall back into their earlier relationship/ pattern, and it's more about the story - and less about their storyline (that isn't to say the first half isn't good ... it just felt a little frantic).

This is another solid mystery/thriller. If you haven't read the first Lottie Parker book, this is still very readable, however, I think you are doing yourself an injustice skipping that one. Both are good reads that will leave you waiting for the next in the series.

A very solid 3.5 star read. I look forward to the next Lottie Parker adventure ... although I do hope it doesn't involve her family again. (simply for all of their mental well-being!)

Very absorbing, well-written and interesting book. Lots of characters - but not overly confusing. Shines a light on the darker side of life and links well to the previous book in the series.

I find Patricia Gibney's writing very absorbing and can't wait to read her next book.
4.5* (5* on Amazon)

Coming right off of Book One in the Lottie Parker series (The Missing Girls), we go right back into Lottie's life a few months later. Book Two has Lottie getting back to work, but before she can even get out of her house, a young woman and her son are on her doorstep, seeking help. Leaving a mysterious letter they need to translate, she heads into work and is immediately distracted with a murdered young pregnant woman. Lottie tends to push the line when it comes to what she should be doing while on the case - constantly putting her job at risk. But this is why we love her so, am I right? The case becomes personal when her dead husband and her daughter, Chloe, get in the mix. So busy with work, her home life tends to be pushed to the side. Just when she thinks she knows her children.... secrets come to the surface that will threaten all their lives.

Lottie is a hot mess most of the time, but everything she does, she does a thousand percent. Her attitude, banter with Boyd and take charge, won't take shit attitude makes her a great lead character. You can read this as a stand alone but I would suggest starting with The Missing Girls so you can stay on projection as we learn about these characters. This sophomore thriller is action packed, dark, gritty and touches on the subject of rape and sex trafficking. If that wasn't enough, the author touches on the subject of organ harvesting as well. Why not?! I am a huge fan of this series and will definitely be continuing on Lottie's journeys. Get in people - let's solve some cases!

Detective Lottie Parker is a woman in turmoil. After events took a harrowing turn in her previous case, her relationship with her children has become more strained than ever, so when a woman turns up on her doorstep asking for help, Lottie is pushed to her limits. On the same day, the body of a partially decomposed woman is found – could the two incidents be linked?

I can honestly say that the opening chapter of this book, describing atrocities taking place in Kosovo, is once of the most harrowing and emotional I have ever read – not ideal when you are reading it on public transport! Patricia Gibney succeeded in drawing me in right from the start, helping me to develop an emotional attachment to many of the characters. My heart went out to the Kosovan boy who witnessed things that no child should ever have to and also to Mimoza, the woman whose visit to Lottie sparks off an investigation into people trafficking, prostitution and organ harvesting.

In Lottie Parker, we have a very realistic, likeable protagonist who is desperately trying to balance her home and work life. As in the previous book, The Missing Ones, her family become embroiled in the case, the trauma of previous events coming back to haunt one of her children. Although there are some spoilers, it is not essential to have read the first book in the series, but I would advise you do as it is another fantastic book.

The subject matter is, at times, incredibly hard-hitting and evokes sympathy throughout. I genuinely could not put this book down, the short chapters moving the story along at a very fast pace, and the quality of the writing immersing me completely in the plot. This has definitely been one of my favourite reads of the year so far.

The Stolen Girls is the second in the series surrounding Detective Inspector Lottie Parker by Patricia Gibney.

DI Lottie returns to work after several months off dealing with the aftermath of a previous murder case, which left her and her family fractured. Almost in an instant Lottie is thrown back into a new criminal case where the body count rises and the search to find the killer widens. The book spans between Ragmullin and Kosovo, what is the connection, Lottie needs to piece it together, trying to get ahead of the killer.

Lottie is still very much flying on a wing and a prayer, or by the seat of her pants, she is disorganised, flawed but with a big heart, a very likeable character who is a working mum with a career drive. Lottie can be quite curt with her subordinates when they step out of line, but I think this is another part of Lottie which is character defining.

Patricia has written The Stolen girls with some hard-hitting topics, sex trafficking, rape, self-harm. I can’t fault the subject matters as Patricia has written it well without over indulging, just presenting enough to keep it real.

I can’t believe how much I was drawn into this book, Patricia has written another unputdownable police procedural which is fast-paced and a page-turner of epic proportions. I can honestly say I’m still going over the book in my head days after reading it. I would recommend reading The Missing Ones and The Stolen Girls, but they could also be read as a stand-alone, there is enough back story and information in The Stolen girls to make it possible.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Patricia Gibney for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing could have prepared me for The Stolen Girls. I knew the book was the second in a series, but I felt adventurous enough to jump in anyway and go against my own rule about reading books in order. I am both happy and devastated I took that decision!

The opening sets the tone. I was strangely fascinated and repulsed by the story I was being told. A land far away, a few years ago, and yet I could feel everything as if it were happening in front of my eyes. This is the first step of a harrowing jump into the past. Those alternate chapters sending you to 1999 are emotionally exhausting and yet gripping. I hated this narration with every fiber of my being, but I was pushed to read the next again and again by the amazing way the author made it an essential piece of the whole picture. I guessed half the reason behind this subplot about halfway into the book, but it never stopped the tension from ratcheting up. It only made me even more curious about how to make the information I was getting fit the puzzle of what was happening in the 2015 narration.

Because a lot is also happening in 2015! Crime and mysteries are my favorite genres with psychological thrillers, so I should have been more careful, but I guess the title mislead me to think it would be somehow more about disappearances than true crime. Oh boy. We are talking full bloody crimes here, decomposed bodies, gruesome kills, and enough details to make my stomach never want to see food again! Okay, I admit I am faint-hearted, I am squeamish, and “Yikes” is my favorite word, but this book will stay with me as one of the most macabre stories I have read! There is a lot going on in Ragmullin, so much you won't have time to get bored, but not too much so that you feel confused. I was amazed at how the author pulled all the strings of her story in perfect harmony, maintaining the suspense throughout the book, in order to offer her readers a hellish journey that escalated at such a pace I would have cut my finger turning the pages if I hadn't been reading on my Kindle!!!!

Curiously enough, I loved it!!

Adding to the weight of a grisly investigation, Detective Lottie Parker's private life was just as heavy and complicated! I dreaded meeting Lottie and not being able to connect due to the fact I had missed her previous book, but it was impossible not to imagine and warm to the situation of an overbooked single mother dealing with more than most parents would with their kids! Here and there, I picked up information, taking the Parker family picture, detecting the issues, the pain, the lies and the words unsaid. I felt my heart go out to Lottie's children, who had faced the worst and were left to cope with the aftermath. Not knowing exactly what had happened did not matter at all. Emotions washed over me as I watched a crumbling family fight and a mother do her best.

I loved Lottie. I think she might end up in my top ten favorite female characters! She is flawed, she makes mistakes, she throws herself into what she does. The family dynamic was so spot-on I could see Lottie's love for her children spring off from her body and mind without being able to reach them, which was heartbreaking and felt so genuine I was overwhelmed at times.
As a detective, our Lottie is quite a joker to have in one's team! I loved that she wasn't all perfect at her job, it made her feel more human and was completely in sync with the Lottie we can spy on once work is over. She is perfectly imperfect and it is absolutely fine by me!

Secondary characters don't have to worry for their time to shine, as Patricia Gibney gives them enough room and depth for them to appear in front of you, to build this dark world The Stolen Girls is in the middle of, and help you get a hundred percent immersed. They all have a story and a personality. The dynamics between all characters change depending on who's in the room, just as in real life, making this story even more anchored in reality and adding a touch of creepiness when you think of the monsters under the bed!!!

Patricia Gibney's raw style and gripping chapters will let you in on all sides of the story, the past, the present, the scars, the whys, while the Parkers and the victims are drowning, and I was so frustrated I couldn't help talk to everyone!! I wanted to warn them, to slap their head, to shake them! The author is a master at pointing noses in the right direction while keeping you and her characters blind to what's in front of them. Sometimes, it doesn't take far to find the truth, and yet, we are unable to spot it!

The Stolen Girls is a masterpiece in which the author toys with her characters in a ruthless and addictive chase that left me wanting for more!!!

The Stolen Child is the second book by the brilliant Author Patricia Gibney. This book grabbed me from the first chapter and I had to grab a tissue…..WoW what a sad but brilliant start to the book.

At the beginning you are in Kosovo which are at war and starts with some horrific opening scenes. Where a young boy see’s his family raped and killed by soldiers and he can’t do anything to help them. His grandad was too far away to hear or help them. The soldiers also kill their dog Shep. Remember you may need tissues for this chapter. This story returns throughout the book to Kosovo and reveals a little more to appropriate to this storyline.

On her first day back to work Detective Lottie Parker had a female caller with small child to her house, which made her later for work. The woman was foreign with very little English, she is pleading with Lottie to help her find her missing friend and leaves her a note pleading for her to help her. The note was not in English.

A Young Girl is found in the ground by a labourer doing road works. Whilst preforming the post mortem they discover that the young girl was at the early stages of pregnancy and also had a kidney was missing. The same man found another women’s body whilst working.

Is there a link between them and this man? Could this be connected to the mystery foreign woman and small child that called at her house? How did she know where Detective Lottie Parker lived? What is in the note that she received that’s sitting in Lottie’s handbag? So many questions you may ask yourself.

We have a strong story of immigrants, asylum seekers, human trafficking, organ harvesting, survivors, victims and perpetrators of a vicious war, prostitution, and Irish gangsters. This is all wrapped into a serial killer and will keep you hooked to the end of the book and this is all taking place in a town in the centre of Ireland!
WoW……… what a book you may say. This is a complex story and it all sounds so busy. But, if you read it, it will all make sense. Plus, it will tie in with the horrific scenes in Kosovo at the beginning of the book.

This book is well written throughout. But, so much is going on in this book and will keep you hooked. I have only touch the surface.

A bit about Detective Lottie Parker personal life she is juggling a dysfunctional family of teenagers who have problems and with no Husband who recently died and has a responsible job town of Ragmullin. How does she do it and work Full-time as a Detective?
I love the relationship she has with her work partner Mark Boyd. There’s l lot of banter and squabbling between them but they work well together throughout the book.

Everything flows within this storyline and you will turn the pages wondering what’s going to happen next.

The book is just brilliant and a winner for me. I know I will read more by Patricia Gibney. 5 stars from me. I love it!

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Patricia Gibney for and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reviews written for Amazon UK and Good reads

I have been a Lottie Parker fan ever since I finished The Missing Ones and likewise I have been looking forward to read more about her next adventure. Now I’ve read The Stolen Girls there is no doubt left: Lottie Parker has that special something that makes her into one heck of a detective AND main character. Sure, things can be said about her messed up private life being a cliche, but I personally like her style and attitude while trying to solve a case. And she will have her hands full in The Stolen Girls, that’s for sure! This sequel is once again a bit longer than your average psychological thriller, but this only enhanced the richness and complexity of the plot without slowing down the pace. There are a bunch of different storylines and lots of different things happening that might or not be connected… Keeping you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out what is really going on, who is who and who is behind it all. The flashbacks to the past and the whole Kosovo angle in general were probably my favorite part of the story and I liked how well these elements were connected with the rest of the story. The Stolen Girls is packed with plot twists and misleading details that will keep you guessing about the truth and it took me a long time to figure it all out. I just love when that happens! In short I can really recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a well written detective thriller with a complex and rich plot, a lot of action and a healthy dose of kickass personality!

Yes, I am handing out another 5 star to Patricia Gibney who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors for police procedurals. Earlier this year, I read her debut novel "The Missing Ones " and was dying to get my hands on book two. Thank goodness I didn't have to wait a whole year!

The Stolen Girls, takes place four months after the events of the aforementioned book one and Lottie and her team have the task of finding out who is dumping young women near a construction site. The bodies seem to also be missing vital organs and the police cannit help but wonder just what type of criminal operation have they stumbled upon? From the streets of Ragmullin in 2015 to Kosovo in 99, The Stolen Girls is a pulse pounding thrill ride that kept me up until the crack of dawn.

In her personal life, Lottie continues to struggle with communicating with her kids. Son Sean is still reeling from the traumatic events that almost took his life, daughter Kate has withdrawn into her room, and dependable daughter, Chloe is battling her own demons. As Lottie continues to solve the case, it soon becomes clear that her much loved husband, Adam, may be also tied to the case. Then there are Lottie 's feelings for her partner, Boyd that continue to be crackling with sexual tension. But when Boyd's soon to be ex wife returns to Ireland, issues certainly become much more complicated, which makes for a very riveting read.

Now to wait patiently for book 3!