I was exhausted by the time I finished this book as I had to read into the wee hours to find out what happened. The shocking twists and turns kept on coming, keeping me hooked all the way. It was hard not to be judgemental of some characters but I love it when an author can create that feeling in me. Emma is one of my favourite thriller characters and I love seeing how she grows in this series.

This is such an interesting series. To be honest this book is really upsetting. It's scary how easy it was for a child to be taken and abused. I will definitely be reading the next one!

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

This series has been amazing! This is book #4 in a series where each book centers on a missing child case. Yes, they are fiction. No, they don't FEEL like fiction while you are reading and the tension builds to the point you have to set your kindle aside for a few minutes.....but not too long. Emma Hunter, an investigative journalist who now assists with missing children's cases, keeps digging and things happen quickly. The characters and the community in which they live and operate seem so real, you almost know you've been there. The stories are heartbreaking, Hunter doesn't let up on the crime just to get more readers. So, be warned, the subjects are dark and the road to solving them at times gets scary, but at least in these books, the crime does get solved.

Engrossing story which kept me turning the pages throughout. Gripping story, and a new author for me to keep up with.

Reading Between the Wines book review #76/135 for 2022:
Rating: 4 ½ 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 📱: Discarded
Author: M.A. Hunter
Genre: General Fiction (Adult)
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: Wow this was one of the most disturbing books I have ever read and I know it is weird for me to say it but it was so good. I felt sick to my stomach reading some parts but could not wait to see how it played out. I did not realize this was part of a larger series when I decided to read it so I will be going back and reading all the ones before and after this book. I really have to know what happened to Emma’s sister.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @HarperCollinsUK for an advanced copy of @Discarded.

#Discarded #MAHunter #HarperCollinsUK #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

There's no denying this book is very well written, but the subject matter is hard hitting and could trigger some readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Truly heartbreaking but absolutely captivating from the beginning, I have enjoyed this series so much

Book four in the missing children files is another gem of a read. In Dorsey a girl has gone missing and this is similar to a cold case from 20 years previously. Can Emma solve the case using her journalistic and investigative skills?
Another superb read. Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review .

I’m really becoming a huge fan of MA Hunters books, I’ve read a few now and they have never failed to impress me. This was no exception, an intense and gripping thriller.

This book is number 4 in the series. Lots of twists , tension and drama and you may think you know whats happened but really you dont.

I have to say, I did not see either of the twists in this story coming. Wow. That was great! I have to say the last 2 chapters were probably the best in the book purely for the surprises. Can’t wait to read book 5

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great storyline with excellent characters. I would highly recommend this book as it was a great read.

Discarded is the fourth book in the Missing Children’s Case Files, I have loved the previous 3 books and this one was no exception, I feel we are getting closer to the truth about what happened to Emma’s sister and I am 100% invested in the storyline.

It begins where we left off in the last book, bones of a young child were discovered at the grounds of the old recording studio that Freddie burned down, will this provide further clues as to the paedophile ring at play for decades?

As and aside, a 9 year old girl has gone missing and her parents have requested Emma to investigate as they have followed her career thus far and what she has managed to uncover when the police could not.

Maddie, Emma’s agent has been receiving photos addressed to Emma, old pictures of young children, is someone trying to tell her something and if so, who? Someone who escaped the paedophile ring?

The story was twofold, one from Emma’s perspective in the “now” and one from a young girl who had been kidnapped and groomed told in the “then”.

As always these books are a harrowing read about abduction, grooming, paedophilia. I do feel you need to read these books in order as there is so much back story that you need to follow and trust me you will be glad you did. Another engrossing story with plenty of twists and some shocking reveals which lead us nicely into Book 5…. I cannot wait! I have to know what happened to Anna Hunter!

This was a difficult read for me as it dealt with a Paedophilic ring.

Emma was back with cop Jack where she had a hint about her sister and was asked to help with a case of a missing child. This was a well developed dual plotline, book 4 in the series by author M. A. Hunter.

Parts of it were emotional and triggering for me, but suspense and well developed characters made it a good read.

I'm not really sure how I felt about this book, there were things I liked and some things I didn't like as much. I didn't realise it was part of series, but I think it can be read as a stand alone, which worked well for me.

The story flicks backwards and forwards between then and now which I did enjoy, the suspense factor was thrilling and I wanted to know more, I felt really sorry for Joanna's sister, Emma, losing her sister, her dad is departed and having a mother with Dementia must have been really harsh. She seemingly has nothing in her life, no spouse, just a loveless life, with only one friend, this existence is powered by the loss of her older sister who was taken by a paedophile ring. But the story with Emma, no matter how lovely she is, I am not particularly interested in, obviously it breaks the book up so there isn't just a lot of dark and disturbing details to read about how the children were abused and mistreated at such a young age, I understand the need for balance but I found myself skimming through the chapters about Emma and her love life, her need to make up with Freddie and aid another family with a supposedly missing child, I really wanted the deal on Joanna, and someone clearly wanted to make contact with Emma herself, letting her know who had been taken, who was lost, missing and who needed to connect the dots and follow up and make the connections to help the lost and the missing, their families and make those responsible accountable.

Obviously this paedophile ring is much bigger than I first realised thinking to start with it's just St Francis Home for Wayward Boys and Pendark Studios but these people mean business and are not just content with the children they have but wanting more are happy to take children off the street at regular every day stops, such as the News Agents Joanna stumbles into.
I struggled to gauge how old Joanna actually is at this point as she seems quite young but at other times she acts very grown up, it just makes me wonder what possessed her parents especially during a time where children actively went missing, I know it's a story but it just doesn't seem believable at times to reference many timelines, even in the 80s and 90s children went missing.

The story itself was quite dark but I enjoyed it, I really wanted Joanna/Kylie to get away and make it out like so many others hadn't before. I was really routing for her so I was somewhat disappointed that the book ended on a cliff hanger, but I also understand it's a series and so the story must continue but I do also think that if I had read from the beginning and this book being the fourth, I would have lost interest by now as I don't like series' that go on and on unnecessarily HOWEVER with that in mind the author has wrote this superbly and with great sensitivity when this book touches on some particularly horrific and deeply traumatising storylines and for that reason I give five stars!

I am now dying to read the next installment of this book and can't wait to get my paws on the next book! I've just got to find out what happens!

WIth thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and M. A. Hunter for this free ARC in return for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

I highly recommend!

I have loved all of the previous books in this series and this was no exception. Back with familiar characters, this book certainly led me up the garden path with a twist half way through.

The story, as is custom, is told in 2 different time spans. In the past, 9 year Joanne is abducted whilst on a trip to her local shop for sweets. She is convinced her parents and sister will find her although this is not the case and she becomes part of an on going paedophile ring.

In the present time, Freddie is released from prison following the arson attack on an old home for wayward boys. During the clear up from the fire a case is found holding human bones. Initially it is thought that maybe this is the remains of Anna, Emma's sister who went missing from her home over 20 years ago. Emma has suddenly received photos via her agent of missing children from around this time. Working with Jack, a police officer, they are able to identify the children in the photographs which adds further evidence to the long on going abuse cases.
At the same time, Emma is asked to help with another missing child callwd Jo Jo.
Absolute corker of a twist at the end.....highly recommend.

This is book four in The missing Children case files with Emma Hunter as the main protagonist.
Police archivist Jack contacts Emma to say a case has been found in a burned out property within it are the bones of a young girl. Emma is also called in when a young girl goes missing.
The case is written in the time periods of then and now as you follow both cases.
This was the best story so far and was so glad that I finished it the day before book five was released and already know that I will be on tenterhooks to read book six which will hopefully finally give Emma the answers she craves.
Thanks to HarperCollinsUK, One more chapter and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm loving this series and I think this is the best installment so far.
A gripping, emotionally charged and entertaining story that kept me on the edge and feeling for Emma.
Excellent plot, full of twists and turns, very good character development.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Discarded by M.A Hunter is the fourth in The Missing Children Case Files series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins UK (One More Chapter) - in particular Claire Fenby, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Emma Hunter is an investigative journalist who is now a best-selling author. Her entire adult life has revolved around finding her sister who has been missing for over 20 years.  Between her friend and literary agent Maddie, and her best friend from college Rachel, Emma has a good support team, although she wishes they got along.    DC Jack Serrovitz  is now working with a team in the National Crime Agency to uncover pedophiles and traffickers working in the UK. Emma's relationship with Jack is "strained".  


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It has been 8 months since Freddie burned down the abandoned video studio where, as a child, he had been forced to star in horrendous sex films.  The judge was kind to him though, and gave him a short sentence, so he is now free.

Jack has been busy with the files that Freddie rescued from the building before he set it ablaze.  The police did not allow Emma access to the files, and she has not seen Jack in months.  When he does call,  it is to let her know that the bones of a young girl were found in the ruins of that same building.  The bones may be those of her missing sister.

When nine-year old Jo-Jo goes missing from Portland, her parents request Emma's presence, and insist that she find their daughter.  Unfortunately, DI Zoe Cavendish is heading up the investigation, and she won't let Emma anywhere near her case.  Another officer, Rick, keeps Emma in the loop.

Meanwhile, Maddie is receiving mail addressed to Emma.  Pictures of missing children are showing up, and on investigation, these children are already dead.  Who is sending Emma these pictures, and what is the link?


My Opinions:
I did not like the fact that DI Zoe Cavendish has returned in this book.  I think her animosity towards Emma just detracts from the actual story, which as always, is quite good.  Fortunately she didn't play as big a part as I was afraid she would.  Actually, she sort of got dropped from the story all together.  Strange.

Again, please read these books in order, as both the relationship building and the character's past are so important.  As well, be aware that the topics covered in these books is a little dark, but knowing they are about missing children,  it would have to be.

I still like the possibility of a relationship between Emma and Jack.  Yes, I am the first to admit I don't like romance in my mystery novels, but this just works.  Of course,  I finally wrap my head around that, and Rick enters the picture.  Go figure.

The book was told from different perspectives and time-lines.  Emma's perspective is current, and a young girl who was kidnapped and groomed for a sex worker was told in the past.  The identity of the girl was a shock.

So, there are to be two books after this, and I am looking forward to them!