I have read 1 book of this author before which I enjoyed so was looking forward to reading this. It works well as a stand-alone if you haven’t read the previous books in the series as it refers to the background of the main character several times. I did feel it was a little slow to get going in the first few chapters but I stuck with it as I felt it would get better. I wasn’t wrong, it had quite a bit of humour in it where I was chuckling to myself but the ending has been left so you feel you will have to read the next book to find out what happens.

what can i say!!! absolutely loved this book!

this is the first book i’ve read in this series and won’t be the last! i loved the sense of humour of the main character DCI Jessica Daniels and the fast pace of this book. given the ending i can’t wait for the next instalment.

many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just Love Kerry Wilkinson's Books But this one did not have the sparkle like the rest of his books.

DI Jessica Daniel is helping another officer at a rally and witnesses a public figure doused with acid. The Stretford Slasher died in prison and now another killer is on the loose! and is killing people at random and in broad daylight!! People who live here are terrified and very uneasy. The police are none the wiser who is doing it.
Now, Jessica Daniel has been assigned to a a new case; Retired Detective Superintendent Niall Hambleton who'grandchildren have been kidnapped. He arrested the Stretford Slasher some twenty-five years earlier.
Now Breathe! I felt there was so much going on in this book you needed to take notes. It was well written but it did not have the sparkle Kerry's books have, which was a shame.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.

'The Stolen Children’ is the eighth novel in the Detective Jessica Daniel thriller series. It took almost two thirds of the novel before the story of the stolen children even started and was very slow moving, telling a completely different story about four seemingly random crimes, each a lesson to the recipient about decent and fair living. The third thread was about a menacing bully who used the tools of his trade to leach money from his victims; a veritable reign of terror. My favourite part of the novel was this, the shortest thread.
This incarnation of the novel has been produced for an American readership. It was previously released as ‘Crossing the Line’ in 2014, a title that did encompass each of the three storylines. I puzzled and puzzled about the US title, because the stolen children was such a short thread comparatively. I had thought the main and longest thread involved the series of four revenge crimes and had started to wonder if the book cover and its content had been wrongly combined. To be truthful I almost gave up on it, but felt compelled to read to the end as I had received the novel in return for an honest review. I was glad I continued reading in the end, as the shortest thread was the most involving of all.
The three story threads were well written but I was not convinced by the behaviour of the police characters at all. They were unprofessional and over the top with their ‘high jinks’ and joking about. I’m sure this is not a true representation of our excellent police force. I did not like any of the characters much either. I thought the transitions between the three stories were awkward and laboured. I have to say I was not very impressed at all, which really disappointed me as I have read some of his other novels and enjoyed them.

I have to start by saying that I was in a state of dislike and/or confusion for the first half of this book. I had not read any of the previous seven books in the series. I am generally not a detective mystery fan but the premise, as described, piqued the interest of the thriller fan in me. The book started with the main character Jessica and her fellow officer friend at a police stake out of sorts. The banter between Jessica and her fellow officers throughout the novel literally drove me crazy. It felt forced, tedious and antagonistic. I began to wonder if I would be able to finish the story at this point. I found that the sections involving Jessica and non-officer characters were generally more interesting and flowed considerably better and I did enjoy the sections that were outside of the officer to officer content.

My biggest issue with this novel would be the title and book teaser. As it was described – why I chose to read THIS book – the premise was that of a retired detective and his missing grandchildren. At the 20% mark, there had been only one mention (in passing) of the grandchildren. I stopped and went back to the book description to see if I had confused my books. Nope – correct novel. At 35% with no more mention of said grandchildren, I went back and looked again. Nope - still the correct book. At 50% in, I decided it was just an error (although the title suggested otherwise). The subject of the children’s kidnapping entered at exactly 57% and concluded at 77%. Precisely one fifth of the novel was relative to the title and description and at that, was only introduced at over half way in.

The book had 4 major story lines - the detective/grandchildren, the current crimes, Jessica’s friend Toxic Tony and Jessica’s private life. I tend to be a minimalist so I like the parts of a story to work together and have a purpose without excessive verbiage. I cannot get over the fact that, to me, the whole kidnapping was unnecessary in the story. Maybe it ties up some loose ends from previous novels or sets the reader up for the next novel but I would have enjoyed it more if that section had been left out.
At about a third in, I really wanted to quit the novel but felt I had an obligation to finish it. At the 50% mark, my intended rating rose from 2 stars to 3 as the book quickly picked up pace and lost much of the police banter and seemed to concentrate more on story and characters. I don’t think it should have taken it that long for the reader to get into the story. Under normal circumstances, I most likely would have given up before reaching that point.

What I did like……

The author has great imagery. “It tasted like week-old pureed sprouts with the consistency of soggy toilet roll.” I liked the characterizations of Jessica and Toxic Tony. I especially liked the way the author would first write what Jessica thought – usually with a healthy dose of sarcasm and then what she actually replied. It made her character more personable. I was still feeling the 3 star rating up until the end of the novel when the storylines (with the exception of the detective/grandchildren) finally merged together. It was not an ending with a sudden “WOW!” twist that left my head swimming. It was more of a sense of satisfaction at the outcome with all the loose ends nicely tied up. While my experiences with the novel were hot and cold, the overall experience was positive. The Stolen Children wasn’t what I would label as a thriller/mystery but instead a steady paced mystery whose wonderful ending negated any unpleasant reactions and bumped it up from a 3 star rating to a 4 star. It left me with the feeling that I should go back and read some of the prior works. Due to the last line of the novel, I feel very confident that I will be reading the next novel in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for offering a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

Just promoted DI Jessica Daniel is assigned to a kidnapping case. The grandchildren of retired Detective Superintendent Niall Hambleton who captured the Stretford Slasher twenty-five years earlier are the victims.

Helping another officer at a rally, Jessica witnesses a public figure doused with acid. The Stretford Slasher died in prison, but now another killer is on the loose; killing seemingly at random and in broad daylight. The townspeople are terrified. The police are uneasy.

There is much going on in this book. While it is well written, it is a little all over the place plot-wise. I almost like DI Jessica Daniel, but not a lot. There is something about her that rings untrue. (For me, anyway.) I appreciate the author’s attempt at injecting some humor into the story. Jessica’s use of nicknames for her various co-workers was amusing.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.

I'm a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson and "The Stolen Children" is another 5 star cracking read. This time a killer known as the "Stretford Slasher" who died 25 years ago and now there appears to be a copycat killer on the loose. The granchildren of the detective who was responsible for the arrest of the "Stretford Slasher" are kidnapped and the heat is on newly promoted Jessica Daniel to find them before time runs out. This book had me gripped from the very beginning and I read it in almost 1 sitting. Kerry Wilkinson at his very best .
Thank you very much NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of "The Stolen Children" by Kerrry Wilkinson in exchange for an honest review.

NetGalley has offered two of Kerry Wilkinson's stand-alone psychological suspense novels that I read and enjoyed. I didn't review Two Sisters here, but I did review The Girl Who Came Back. When I realized that Wilkinson's police procedurals featuring DS Jessica Daniel were available through Kindle Unlimited, I went through them like candy.

There are ten books in this UK series, and Crossing the Line, is the eighth installment here in the U.S.

I like the complex characters who become more fully developed and interesting with each new book and the skillful and well-thought out plots that are fresh and original. Oh, and I should not fail to mention the dialog that feels natural and is often cleverly amusing.

Although the books can be read as stand-alones, this is a series that benefits from seeing how the dynamic of each plot influences and alters the characters. The series gains strength as Jessica evolves and adapts to each experience. The changes in the secondary characters are less profound, but they, too, feel rounded and genuine.

Twenty-five ago, the Stretford Slasher was convicted. When he dies in prison, the media note the occasion, but then several apparently random acts of violence occur in broad daylight that evoke some of the fear experienced twenty-five years earlier. The attacks are violent, but not deadly, and the police have difficulty making any connections between the targets--except for the fact that they are all disagreeable bullies. There are a couple of other secondary story lines as well that keep the pace moving.

While the book can function in isolation, it is the way the books build, one on another, that makes this series so interesting. I can't wait for the next one.

Read in Oct.; blog review scheduled for November 27.

NetGalley/Bookouture

Crime/Police Procedural. Dec. 12, 2017. Print length: 300 pages.

My first Jessica Daniels book. I'm not sure if there was a title change. There are three different sets of crimes investigated. Some funny scenes mixed in with terrible crimes committed. I did read to the end but I cannot give it 5*. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

I read this book after reading book 7. Book 7 ended on a cliffhanger, and I couldn't wait to start this one. Unfortunately that what I was waiting for, didn't come, and I was confused. Then I saw that this book was an older book, just with a new name. I've already read the original book, I loved it, and even though I was confused about the story line that was bungled (according to me), the book was still a brilliant read, and worth the effort.