Thank you to Avon Books & @netgalley for approving me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant book. Honestly I couldn’t fault it. It was the kind of book I love! First of all, I’m a huge True Crime lover and I weirdly loved the fact it mentioned Madeline McCann and Shannon Matthews. I’m always following missing people’s cases - and these two are very controversial. So I do love the fact it mentioned those in relation to the storyline.

It was fast paced, and so easy to read. I also found it so modern. I know you can read some books and it just feels old style, this feels so new and ‘with the times’.

I did have a few theories - I guess I was half right on one however the main twist I didn’t see coming and I was shocked 😳

Such a brilliant read and I think it’s going to be a huge hit for 2021 🤩

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

There is nothing like a missing child thriller to get your heart pumping in the race to, not only find them, but uncover the truth behind their disappearance. But STOLEN is not your usual missing child trope. It goes beyond that and delves a little deeper to highlight the missives that accompany such a tragedy. Like media attention and how quickly it can turn from support to judgement...just as it did for the McCanns in the wake of Madeleine's disappearance and for Karen Matthews after it was discovered she had engineered her daughter's disappearance for money and publicity. The media is cruel, it is harsh and it has the power to sway public opinion in the blink of an eye.

But let's go back to the beginning...to where Alex's world came crashing down on a Florida beach. To where the story begins on a plane, thousands of feet in the air between London and their Floridian destination.

Human rights lawyer Alexa Martini is a career woman and that didn't change when discovered she was pregnant. Intending on a termination, she tells boyfriend Luca who immediately proposes and they wed before the imminent arrival of their baby daughter who came into the world kicking and screaming with a scowl on her face. Alex always said her daughter was born angry and willful...and not much has changed in the three years since then.

Charlotte Perpetua Martini - "daddy said I have to a Catholic name so mummy googled saints and picked the worst one she could find" - may look angelic with her halo of blonde ringlet curls but she is the most stubborn and willful child who doesn't actually come across as a three year old would. Bar her tantrums. Those are epic. Particularly the one on the plane that had everyone watching how her mother would handle it before dropping to the floor and playing dead, leaving onlookers to fear the worst. Until Alex gave her an ultimatum that had her recover quick smart. The terrible twos? I did not envy Alex the teenage years, that's for sure.

So Alex and Lottie are on their way from London to Florida for her best friend Marc's beachside wedding to the somewhat aloof Sian. Lottie was to be one of the four flower girls for the event and Alex feared her daughter's unpredictable behaviour may not last the duration, turning the happy event into something of a disaster. That is to say, she was not optimistic. However, Lottie surprised her by behaving not only for the rehearsal but also for the ceremony as she was preceded the gushing bride along the beachfront spreading rose petals in her wake. Alex was seated four rows behind her daughter and glimpsed her throughout as she kicked her chubby legs on the gilted chair in the sand. Alex suspected she had already discarded her ballet slippers as Lottie loathed shoes.

When the ceremony was over, the bridal party along with their gaggle of tiny bridesmaid flower girls preceded the rest of the guests from the beachfront and through the gates into the private function area in the courtyard reserved for the event. Alex caught glimpses of her daughter's halo of blonde curls already escaping her plait in her pink dress as she immediately made her way to the buffet. Alex had no doubt that Lottie would help herself to seconds and thirds throughout the evening as well as the ice cream that was also on offer. With one eye on the flashes of pink hovering near the buffet, Alex settled in to enjoy the evening with her friends secure in the knowledge that she could still see her daughter lingering in the crowd.

It was only later, after she returned from an impromptu assignation on the beach, that she realised Lottie was missing.

Frantic with worry, Alex scoured the venue asking the other guests if they had seen her daughter. Soon everyone has joined the search and police are called. And it was soon ascertained that the little girl Alex had thought was her daughter by the buffet was in fact another of the little bridesmaids and that Lottie had not been seen since the ceremony...four hours before. And it doesn't take long for the focus to turn on Alex.

Alex has not had an easy relationship with her truculent daughter, particularly since the death of her ex-husband Luca who doted on Lottie. Not maternal by nature, Alex was left to raise Lottie alone whilst juggling a busy and demanding career as a human rights lawyer and she never seemed to have enough time, patience or energy to deal with her difficult daughter. Is it any wonder that she never thought herself a good mother? And is it any wonder that in the wake of Lottie's disappearance that the focus of the police investigation turns to Alex, believing her to be responsible in some way?

But with Lottie's disappearance comes a rude awakening. Alex discovers a maternal love so strong for her daughter, that surprises even herself, that she will do whatever it takes to find her.

The hours turn into days then into weeks and before long it's been nearly two months since her daughter's disappearance and still no further leads. Grief stricken and lost, Alex returns to England without her daughter but fueled by a strong determination to continue her search for Lottie for as long as it takes.

STOLEN is not your usual missing child story. And Lottie is not the smiling poster child for missing children. She is not int he least bit angelic but is a strong willed, belligerent and overweight three year old who her mother knows would kick up a huge fuss screaming blue murder should a stranger try to snatch her. Luca always joked that if anyone kidnapped Lottie they would be in a hurry to bring her back, such was the truculent nature of their daughter. But someone did take Lottie...and they have not brought her back.

A compelling picture is painted of what it is like to be the parent of a missing child who may never be found. Alex's pain, anguish and guilt doesn't diminish over time to the point her mental health begins to suffer. While some mothers receive sympathy from the media, others don't and much like the McCanns Alex finds herself judged for being the less than perfect mother and her behaviour both past and present. She is criticised by the media as well as the public as her entire life is put on display and the search for Lottie becomes a political handball against race and class.

The story is told predominantly in the narratives Alex and Quinn, an investigative journalist initially sent to cover the disappearance who becomes Alex's greatest ally in her quest for the truth. There is also the inclusion of an anonymous narrative in the lead-up and in the wake of Lottie's disappearance and the question of their involvement. These narratives are cleverly woven together over the ensuing years in the search for Lottie. It makes for an emotional read as we sympathise with Alex and the lengths to which she goes as we too try to piece together what may have happened to Lottie.

And then...there's the ending. Whilst we had several red herrings thrown our way, the anti-climatic elements I found to be overly dramatic and really didn't tie in with the rest of the plot made for a somewhat disappointing conclusion. There was even an aspect I found to be in somewhat poor taste of what is essentially an ever-growing tragedy in many families today, that was thrown in as what? An excuse? I didn't see it coming because it was so off-kilter and terribly implausible that it was something of a slap in the face to what is essentially a distressing thing to happen to anyone.

However, overall, STOLEN is a well-written thoughtful tale that highlights the impact of missing children on the families and the difficulties in moving on when there is no real closure as to what actually happened to their children. STOLEN is more than just about the abduction of a child. It's about the devastation, the loss, the heartache, the families, the forgiveness, the strength and the resilience...the power of a mother's love and the strength to move on.

This is my third Tess Stimson with her previous two thrillers - "Picture of Innocence" (aka "The Mother", and "A Mother's Secret") and "One in Three" - 5 star reads that WOWed me to the core. STOLEN is a fast paced thrill ride in some aspects though it did dip a little along the way but I didn't find it quite as thrilling as her previous two. It is still an intriguing read that captures your attention but it didn't WOW me.

Still, I look forward to what Tess Stimson has in store for us next!

Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with a twist.

I would like to thank #TessStimson, #Netgalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #Stolen in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have had an enjoyable Saturday reading it, I couldn’t put it down. Poor Alex loses her daughter at a wedding and knows she was taken. Throughout the whole book I thought I knew who was responsible, however I was wrong and did not see the ending coming or the culprit at all. If you love a suspense book, this is the one for you.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Stolen’ by Tess Stimson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Alexa Martini is in Tampa Bay attending her friend Marc’s wedding with her three-year-old daughter Lottie who’s one of their bridesmaids. After the ceremony she thinks Lottie will be safe playing with the other children and goes off to the beach but it’s only some hours later she realises Lottie has disappeared. She knows Lottie wouldn’t wander off with a stranger so knows that whoever has taken her must be known to them both. As Lottie initiates her own search she encounters TV reporter Quinn Wilde who’s normally reporting from war zones overseas but the Lottie Martini story is hers and she intends seeing it through to the end despite the outcome.

‘Stolen’ is one of those thrillers that gets under your skin and you have to keep reading, so I was unable to put it down until I’ve found out what happened to Lottie at the wedding. The story is told by Alexa as she counts down the days, weeks, months and years of how long Lottie’s been missing, as she thinks she’s found her daughter only to experience yet again the heartbreak of mistaken identity. Several very well-known child abductions are mentioned throughout the story making it feel more real-life and less a work of fiction. It contains lots of suspense and twists and turns, but the final twist is so utterly amazing I had to read several pages twice before I allowed myself to reach the conclusion. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading this thrilling and very dramatic novel by an author whose writing I always enjoy and I can definitely recommend it.

A very compulsive read, twisty and surprising, I read it in a day. A little girl goes missing from a wedding and it seems it must be a stranger who has abducted her. The tale is fast and I didn’t suspect the ending but you do need to suspend reality to accept what happens. But it’s a story and an entertaining one.

This book is tense, twisty and very emotional. It gripped me from page one and I literally could not put it down. As the story unfolds you cannot wait to see what’s going to happen next and how it’s all going to end. Really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

This book was a roller coaster of twists and turns and emotional ups and downs. I thoroughly enjoyed it, I was gripped from the get go which I find necessary for a thriller otherwise I become bored and detached quite easily. This definitely wasn't the case with Stolen. It was very fast paced and I didn't lose interest at any point as the writing and storyline really keep you focused. The protagonist, Alex, comes across as a selfish person who puts her own life before caring for her daughter but as the book went on I did begin to empathise with her. As a Mother myself you just know you can't be perfect and there are things you will always berate yourself for. Not that I've ever gone as far as some of things Alex did in the book but you can see why they took place.

I loved the difference twists in the story, not too many to make it ridiculous but just enough to make you think and take notice.

Overall I really loved this and would definitely recommend it.

Single mom Alex is attending a wedding in Florida. Her daughter Lottie is a flower girl. Lottie later disappears during the reception. Was Lottie kidnapped or did she wander off.
The story unfolds little by little as time passes from days to weeks to months and years of Lottie being missing.
Lots of suspicion of numerous people and their reasons for possibly taking Lottie. Quite of few twists and turns along the way as well. There were a few thing I found confusing but overall a sold book.

Thanks to netgalley and Avon Books, UK for the arc

Wow! This story is a twisted tale of a widowed mom of a precocious three year old who goes missing while on holiday. It chronicles the tragedy, recriminations and the aftermath of what happens when a child is taken. There are many twists and turns so go with the flow otherwise this one will give you whiplash! Realistically portrayed and makes the improbable probable.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC!

I have just read Stolen by Author Tess Stimson.

What a great thriller of a book. A career mother who is e-nroute to a beach wedding from London to Florida, soon finds herself in a most stressful situation – when her 3-year-old daughter is abducted.

There are lots of twists and turns, which always make for a good book – lots of guessing and stress along the way!

A good read, a book that captures one’s attention from start to finish!


Thank you to NetGalley, Author Tess Stimson , and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy to read and review.

I have noticed that recently I tend to gravitate towards books that are either about children going missing or weddings so when I read the description of this book about a child going missing while at a beach wedding I knew it was a must for me.
The story had me gripped straightaway and was so emotional, playing on my worst fears as a parent. There were so many twists and turns throughout that just when I thought I had it figured out something else happened that threw me off.
I highly, highly, highly recommend Stolen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC.

This was a great read. It me made me think of Madeline McCannn which was a tragedy. This book was twisty and although I didn’t like the characters very much it didn’t spoil my read. I really didn’t guess who took the little girl at all. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This story is told (predominantly) from Alex's point of view, a single mother to three-year old Lottie. Through Alex's eyes we see how she came to be a, to some extent, unwilling mother; how her constant battles with her wilful child exhaust and diminish her, and then the all-consuming pain experienced when Lottie goes missing.

Were my life a little time consuming and full on, I could easily have read this in a day. I was gripped from the first page, and the short chapters make this a very pacey reed. I particularly enjoyed the candid portrayal of Alex - she was an imperfect mother; she knew it and accepted it. There was no constant seeking of validation or trying to make herself smaller. You can see how, in the eyes of the media, she would be a monster. Women aren't meant to be like this, certainly not if they have children.

I could definitely identify with her more than the typical Insta-Mummies that seem to be dominating the book shelves at the moment. Lottie, on the other hand, was a child I really struggled to have any compassion for. I understand the logic behind many of her mannerisms etc but it all felt a bit too much for me. Three? Sounds like you're writing an annoying six year old but want her to seem cuter. It didn't work. However, that's a minor annoyance on my side, rather than a major let down of the book.

What did drop it down from a 5 star for me though was the culmination of the different strands. Stimson has written a brilliant, twisty read with a few great red herrings; however, the genuine climax, and explanations just didn't work for me. It felt a bit naff and just, oh right, that's done is it? We can all move on now.

Given how gritty and authentic the rest of the story felt, the end felt a bit like a cut and shut. Still, this was a very good read and I have no doubt others will feel the ending was perfect. I'd still recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller/suspense - this has everything.

There are many books on missing people/ children out there so they really need to be good to stand out, this was superb,well written ,many twists and turns and an ending even someone who reads as much as me didn't see coming, A really good read

Alex is a hardworking human rights attorney from the UK. She goes to a very close friends’ wedding in Florida with her three year old daughter, Lottie. At the wedding reception Lottie goes missing, setting off a search. It quickly escalates when the US President talks about Lottie during a news conference. While Alex is desperate to find Lottie, she also questions herself how this could happen?

I found this book very refreshing from a mother's POV. I am not a single mother but have children and know how exhausting they can be. I related to Alex immediately. The book opens with the flight from the UK to Florida and Lottie is a normal three year old with a 3 year old attitude. Lottie is not behaving well on the plane but Alex lets it go at first because she has to pick her battles and a long plane ride ahead of her. If you have kids, you can completely relate! There is also a lot of mothers guilt. They were at a wedding and Alex did not watch Lottie as close as she normally would. When Lottie goes missing, Alex blames herself. How did she not know her daughter was missing? Why was she not watching her closer? Again if you have kids, you can completely relate.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in domestic thrillers and the complexities of being a single mother. I really enjoyed this book and the way secrets were revealed throughout the story. A very good read!

Thank you to #NetGalley anD #AvonBooks for allowing me to read #Stolen by #TessStimson
Wow what a mind blower.
When 3 year old Lottie disappears at a Florida wedding her mother Alex is distraught .
Who do you trust,. where do you look? As time passes public sympathy turns into mistrust and Alex is vilified.
But she knows her daughter is out there somewhere and she is determined to find her.
Superb story.
You will be up all night.

Now that is what you call a perfect thriller! Woooooohhhhh😱
As soon as I finished this book, I was like "What the-- 🤯😱

Let me tell y'all, if you do read a thriller this year, please read this one!

Some things that I LOVED ✔️
-Tense and unputdownable
- Story within a story (I literally freaked out at the realisation!)
- Crazy unbelievable completely unforeseen ending (similar to the crazy ending of Behind Her Eyes 👀)
- Packed with twists and turns
- Emotional and poignant

Some things that I DISLIKED ❌
- Gets repetitive sometimes
- Gets difficult to focus on a particular topic because of inclusion of various topics simultaneously

⚠️Contains discussions of racism, child abduction, child sex trafficking

Highly recommended! 💕

While you might think that the ‘missing child’ trope has become an overly popular theme in contemporary thrillers, this one puts an original spin on the story making for an interesting and engrossing read.

Lottie, the child who is missing, disappeared at a wedding in Florida. She had flown with her mother, Alex from London to be a flower girl at the beachside wedding of Alex’s good friend Marc. On the day itself Lottie was well behaved, performing her duties carefully in her little pink dress. After the wedding ceremony, the wedding party with a gaggle of tiny bridesmaids in pink dresses in tow, walked back across the beach to the reception at the hotel, followed by the wedding guests. Alex was sure she could see Lottie amongst the other little bridesmaids as they headed across the sand and again several times during the wedding buffet, and it was only later that she realised Lottie was missing.

Lottie is not the poster child for missing children, not in the least angelic in looks or nature, but a truculent, strong willed, overweight three year old, who is more than a handful for her mother. Alex had never had an easy relationship with her daughter, particularly since the death of her husband Luca who doted on Lottie. Left to bring up Lottie on her own, Alex has never thought of herself as a good mother. Busy juggling her career as a human rights lawyer she never seemed to have enough time, patience and energy left over to deal with a difficult child. When Lottie goes missing, it’s no wonder the police suspect Alex of being responsible in some way. Nevertheless, she loves her little girl with a vengeance and will do whatever it takes to find her. Eventually, with no new leads, Alex has to return to England, grief stricken but filled with determination to keep searching for Lottie for as long as it takes.

The novel paints a compelling picture of what it’s like to be the parent of a missing child who might never be found. In Alex’s case the pain, anguish and self-blame don’t diminish over time. Where some mothers will receive sympathy from the media, Alex will be judged for her less than perfect parental skills and for her behaviour at the wedding and subjected to more than her share of criticism by the press and social media. She will also be criticised for the time and money put into searching for Lottie, a white middle-class child, compared to the effort spent on missing children with darker skins from poorer homes.

For me, the ending of the novel was somewhat marred by an implausible and over-dramatic element in the climax, that seemed out of kilter with the rest of the plot and unnecessary for the resolution the author was seeking. Nevertheless, overall this is a thoughtful, considered novel about the impact of missing children on mothers and families and how difficult it is to move on.

Destination wedding, anyone? There have been quite a few fictional ones that end in disaster lately and this one is full of surprises. I don't want to reveal too many details or provide spoilers. Here are some things I particularly loved about this book: 1) The diverse setting choices. 2) The character development of the mother. 3) Decisions made with dollars raised. 4) Surprising twists and turns in the plot. I am a Tess Stimson fan after reading this one. You will be, too. If you want to read some other titles with destination wedding blues, here are a few: The Guest List, The Guilt Trip, and The Wedding Night.

Many thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

The unthinkable happens - you go to a friends wedding in FL all the way from the UK with your little girl and she is the flower girl in the wedding. Shortly after the marriage takes place, your little girl is GONE! Has she walked off? Did someone take her? This thriller had me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. A few twists towards the end had me guessing till the very last page. Just when I thought I knew how it would end, it threw another loophole in there! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.