I'm really torn on this one - I'm a huge fan of this series, but by the end you'll be asked to believe the unbelievable and it's all that sticks with me when I think back to the story. Emma is asked to assist with a new case of a missing girl at the insistence of the girl's mother. When she meets with the investigators on the case, who does she comes across but her old nemesis, DS Zoe Cavendish. Zoe has hated Emma from the moment they were introduced, believing that Emma profits off of the vulnerability and tragic circumstances of the victims that she writes about. We know that's nowhere near the truth, but Emma tolerates Zoe's rudeness as usual, only sticking up for herself when Zoe's at her worst. I hope we discover some event in her past to explain her excessive disgust with Emma - it's too harsh to not be personal.

At the same time that everyone's searching for the girl, a body is found at the site of the studios that Freddie set fire to. Emma really hopes it's not the body of her sister who went missing twenty years ago. The last thing she wants is to confront the realization that her sister didn't survive. To make matters worse, someone has been contacting her through her agent - sending possible evidence of more victimized children. Is the sender looking for Emma's help or bragging about their crimes? She and Jack can only hope they figure it out before more bodies are found.

I'm not one to post spoilers, so all I can say regarding my major issue with this book is that there's something about her sister that Emma apparently never knew. In all of the years living with her, talking about her, and investigating her disappearance. Speaking with relatives, officers and the media. Researching every shred of legal documentation she can find. Not a clue about this. Twenty years.

I'm left with the dilemma of how to rate this story. I love every other thing about this series up until this point. But when a reader is asked to believe something so unbelievable in an otherwise gritty, realistic portrayal, it just feels wrong. It wasn't necessary, I don't understand why the author thinks we would just run with it, and to me, it took away from the surprising ending. I was literally like "Nope - I can't even process THAT when I'm still irritated about THIS.' But I do want to see how things progress following this latest installment, so I'll continue on, praying that's the only time I'll ever have to suspend such incredible disbelief.

Book 4 in the series. Absolutely loving this series. I cannot wait for the next one. Wish I could read it RIGHT NOW! The drama and anticipation increases with each book. The ending of this one in particular, has me itching for more.
Emma continues her quest to find out what happened to missing children, especially her own sister Anna who has been gone for more than 20 years. Using her investigative journalist skills, along with help from others, Emma never gives up hope. M. A. Hunter is quickly becoming a favorite author.

Thanks to netgalley and One More Chapter for the excellent read.

What a fantastic addition to the series! Believe me, you will not see the plot twist coming! With each book, Emma is a step closer to finding the mystery behind her sister's disappearance. We also have an interesting twist when it comes to 'matters of the heart'. I wonder how the author is going to explore this angle of the story.

I was hooked on to the story until the end.

Unputdownable, page-turner, engrossing and keeps one on the edge of the seat.

I am looking forward to seeing how the aforementioned plot twist is going to change the course of the story. Highly recommended!

I received an advance copy of, Discarded, by M.A. Hunter. Wow this book is just wow. Going back and forth from then and now. So many questions, but where are the answers. So many secrets too.

Thanks to M.A. Hunter, NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for the advance review copy of Discarded.

Firstly I should point out (perhaps with an apology) that this is the first book I have read from the Missing Children Case Files series - having not fully appreciated this was book number 4 in a series. However, I can also add that this book worked perfectly well for me as a stand alone, and bar the odd reference to characters whom I didn't feel I had fully met, I didn't feel I lost anything from having not read the other 3.

Discarded tells the story of investigative journalist and author Emma Hunter, who has supported a number of cases of children who have gone missing, compelled to do so after her own older sister went missing as a young child (aged 11). The book is told through two perspectives - THEN and NOW as we learn about the journey of Emma's sister and what happened when she never returned from the shops after venturing out alone.

21 years later, Emma is called by the police when bones are discovered that they fear may belong to her sister. Then the photos of missing children start arriving - being sent to Emma via her agent. They look older than the age at which they went missing - meaning that someone has sent them who knows where they were after they were taken.. Who is sending the photos and is this going to get Emma one step closer to finding the truth about what happened to her sister?

The book features some hard hitting themes of child abduction and abuse, so in parts it makes for difficult reading but I loved the varied perspectives that helped build up a back story of events leading up to the present day. The ending, whilst not a complete shock to me was well thought out and concluded.

I really enjoyed Discarded and hope that there will be future instalments!

Investigative journalist Emma Hunter is well known for her work locating abducted children and the subsequent books about her work so when the mother of a newly missing girl asks for her help she doesn't hesitate.  Unfortunately this brings her into contact with a detective inspector who isn't one of her biggest fans and makes no attempt to hide her displeasure at Emma's inclusion in the investigation!

Emma is also celebrating the release of her friend from jail while trying to dampen down her fears after an old suitcase containing bones has been found in the rubble of a recently destroyed building. Along with her occasional colleague PC Jack Serrovitz, she waits for the results of the DNA tests; this couldn't really be all that's left of Anna, her sister who's been missing for over two decades could it?

This is the fourth novel in this series which needs to be read in the correct order and is, in some ways, ripped from the headlines. Emma is written sympathetically throughout but this time seems to have more backbone showing than usual. Maybe, because her best friend is away on holiday, she has to take the lead and protect those around her who desperately need her help.

There are return visits from all the main protagonists along with an interesting new character I'm not totally convinced about yet! As always Emma’s search for her missing older sister, Anna, runs throughout this book and we learn more about her and the life she shared so briefly with her family.

There is a cliffhanger at the end which makes me wish I could grab and read number five immediately. With only two books left in this excellent and original series I am looking forward to finding out what happens next, especially as Jack's investigation is definitely gathering pace.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This series gets better and better and is a great read.

So many questions, so much left hanging in the air, Anna, Johanna? Jack or Rick?, I need more information! Another fantastic book, I'm really glad I discovered this series, the characters are very likeable although the subject is a difficult one. That ending tho.. I'll be impatiently waiting for the next installment.