Alex Martini will admit she wasn’t sure about having children but after Lottie’s birth, she knows she could never be without her, even if Lottie is one stubborn little minx from the get go. Honestly, I love their relationship, it’s refreshingly accurate (and watching safely from the sidelines, the toing and froing of the their exchanges made me laugh and cry at the genuine nature of their bond.) And so, when the worst thing that could possibly happen to a parent happens, I was rooting for Alex that her daughter be found quickly and safely.

All around are quick to judge Alex’s parenting skills: Why wasn’t she more attentive? How could she mistake another blonde-haired child in a crowded room for her child? What kind of mother leaves a three-year-old on her own and retreats someone secluded with a male guest, a stranger nonetheless? Ouch! The attacks on her character are brutal. But what is more brutal is that Lottie isn’t found quickly and Alex must return to her old life and try to move on.

But of course she can’t. She keeps “seeing” Lottie everywhere … until one day, on the Tube, she is adamant that her daughter is in a passing train. Getting people to believe her, however, is no easy matter. Poor Alex has no choice but to follow her heart alone … and investigate for herself. There are a multitude of twists and turns that lead her to her destination, some of which seem soooo unlikely that you just have to trust the author and run with it. Believe me, it’s worth suspending belief for a while as the ending is dramatic, edge-of-the-seat stuff that you won’t regret waiting for.

Highly recommended if you enjoy a quick, pacy, breathless ride of a story with all the feels.

Absolutely amazing book. I was captivated by the storyline. Great characters and very well written. I absolutely reccomend that you read this book.

Such and intriguing storyline and you never really know what is coming next, with twists and turns all over the place. Fast paced plot which keeps you guessing right to the end.

Absolutely loved this book. Could not put it down until I'd finished it. The characters were believable and the twists and turns kept surprising me. Will definitely keep a look out for this author.

CW: missing child, kidnapping investigation, alcoholism, hospitalization, car accident, death, physical violence/blood

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Alexa is a young career-driven woman who is a mother to a young firecracker, Lottie. At three years old, Lottie is almost too smart for her own good. As the two travel to Florida for friend Marc's wedding, all Alexa can think about is the work waiting for her in London that she grudgingly left behind for this trip. That is, until she realizes that nobody has seen Lottie since the wedding ended. How far can a small child go, and to what lengths will her mother go to find her?

This story thrilled me from start to finish. I could not have guessed the ending, and I love when that happens. There were so many interesting elements and characters. If you want a real thrill ride, this is the one.

Stolen has so many layers. Alex is judged over and over for her actions and negligence in the book. Lottie is a difficult child who disappears during a wedding in Florida. The author leads readers on a merry chase to,discover what happened to little Lottie. I did tire of the false starts but the real culprit was completely off my radar and an angle I never even considered, although I should have. ,essay characters with a layered plot, but don’t leave children unattended.

Why are mothers always blamed when something bad happens? Alex asks herself that as well as many other questions when her small daughter Lottie disappears without a trace from the resort where they're attending a wedding. They've traveled from London to Florida so she's a bit at sea with so many things. Stimson has a good way with amping up the tension and raising questions in the reader's mind. I was a tad dissatisfied with the ending but that's a small quibble. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me!

This story I could not put down and I was drawn into it straight away. I think it realistically portrays a mother’s panic, worry and grief after her child is abducted but also how a missing children investigation get this kind of media coverage. I think the discussion created on class, race, and working women was incredibly important to add and really brought a lot into the story. Alex was portrayed very realistically because there is not a perfect human – she had her vices and did not mind sharing these with the world. My head started spinning with the sheer number of suspects (perhaps too many?) that were brought up throughout which kept me enthralled but also showed us Alex’s torment still alive to find Lottie. The ending did surprise me, and I am still not sure whether it was the best outcome. I do think there were a few little plot holes or unanswered questions that could have been tidied up better.
Thank you to Tess Stimson, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Alex knows her daughter would never wander off in a strange place. So when her three year old vanishes from an idyllic beach wedding, Alex immediately believes the worst. The hunt for little Lottie quickly becomes a world-wide search, but it's not long before suspicion falls on her mother. Why wasn't she watching Lottie.

Alex is a single mum. Her daughter Lottie had been a flower girl at a wedding being held at the Sandy Beach Hotel when she disappeared at the wedding reception. Alex is also dealing with some personal issues at home.

You can feel Alex Martini's emotions dripping from the pages. It's every parents worst nightmare to discover your child is missing. The story is realistically written and believable. This is a gripping and fast paced read. I was desperate to find out what had happened to Lottie. There is also a few references to abductions that have taken place in the real world. Filled with twists and turns, you won't know who you can trust.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUk and the author #TessStimpson for my ARC of #Stolen in exchange for an honest review.

This is a decent, twisty, drama about a child that goes missing at a wedding.

The first part of the book really hooked me in, unfortunately, I found elements more difficult and a bit lacklustre - in that it dragged on a bit. However, overall, this is a good, easy read that has sufficient number of red herrings to keep you reading and I'd recommend as a decent 3.5* read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon books UK for the opportunity to preview.

An excellent terrifying, moving and riveting story. Alex felt she was not cut out to be a mother, but when her daughter Lottie goes missing she travels the world looking for her. A real incite to a mother’s love and concern for her child that never diminishes no matter what life throws at her.

Oh my gosh, this book...the twisis...the turns...the blurb on NetGalley says "A twisting and emotional thriller that demands to be read in one sitting." Well I am happy to report that NetGalley was 100% correct. I devoured this 343 page book in one sitting, I couldn't stop reading it. I loved One in Three by this author, another five star read for me, so I had high expectations for this one and it did not disappoint.

This isn't your typical child goes missing trope. This was a unique and refreshing take. There are many red herrings and suspects, so many twists your head will spin. I suspected nearly everyone along the way...and even though towards the end I kinda had it figured out it in no way ruined the suspense or thrills for me. I highly recommend this book and Tess Stimson is fast becoming a favourite of mine.

This book is both amazing and ridiculously far fetched. If you can suspend your disbelief then it is a gripping rollercoaster of a ride!

I love thrillers and twists and turns but I think this book has the most twists you could imagine!! Everyone involved seems to have a dark secret to hide and every time you think you have it figured out, another layer of intrigue is unveiled!

A brilliant read.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This story centres around Alex and her 3 year old daughter, Lottie. Alex gets an invite to attend the wedding of her friend Marc in Florida, where Lottie will be a bridesmaid. Lottie seems to be a wilful, feisty child, who often frays her mums patience. Everything seems to be going well, until Lottie disappears at the reception, seemingly without a trace. The case is local before becoming international, and hitting news channels and tabloids around the world. And Alex starts to become vilified. The case goes on and a journalist, called Quinn, becomes obsessed with this unsolved case.

I enjoyed this book, right up until the ending, which didn’t blow me away, and wasn’t in keeping with the storyline. Aside from that, this book was great with punchy lines, and lots of red herrings with twists, turns, and surprises. The story mirrored the real life story of Madeline McCann, and how her parents also got vilified in the media, where she is analysed over her life and how she parents. It showed the media in a somewhat unfavourable light. The story is really well written and descriptive and you can really feel the emotions that Alex feels. The characters were well written, especially with Lottie being not so well behaved often, as many stories usually portray excellently behaved children, and in real life this is not the case. They also mentioned that Lottie wasn’t a traditionally pretty girl, and examined how the media gives more coverage for missing pretty girls rather than all children. Overall, a well written psychological thriller and greatly recommended.

This was my first novel by Tess Stimson and I think I will try another. It is a suspenseful, quick, unputdownable read that draws you in very fast. Alexa is single mom who has recently been widowed. She attends a wedding of her best friend Marc at a luxury resort in Florida with her 3 year old Lottie, a bridesmaid. While Alexa is occupied elsewhere, Lottie disappears. Alexa is portrayed as a "real" mom, her weaknesses and mistakes are raw and most seem believable. There is also an interesting spin on why Lottie's case receives more attention than other missing children. The story is packed with misdirection - maybe a little too much? - but will keep you guessing until the end. There were a few parts that I found overall confusing that kept the book from rating higher for me, but overall, a good read. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Stolen will be available on 8/5/2021.

Alex is a career woman, a human rights lawyer, but then she gets pregnant. Her Italian husband, Luca, promises to do all the childcare if she keeps the baby, but he is tragically killed in a freak accident in Genoa. Alex then has to try and raise Lottie on her own, and Lottie is a stubborn, self-willed small child.

Alex and Lottie fly to the USA so that Lottie can be a flower girl at Alex’s best friend Marc’s beach wedding. You know what it’s like with small children, you blink and they’ve vanished, usually to be found up to their eyeballs in mischief. Unfortunately, Alex blinked, Lottie vanished, and nobody could find her. Alex knows that Lottie would never go off with a stranger, so what’s happened? Has someone Lottie knows taken her? And why? Where is she?

This book kept me gripped right to the end and I’d highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I last read a Tess Stimson book about 15 years ago - Pole Position - which I hugely enjoyed and when I was given the opportunity by NetGalley to read this, I grabbed the opportunity. The publicity for the book says you’ll want to read it in one sitting and having done just that, I agree 100%! I loved this book. Alexa is a flawed heroine - far from the perfect mother - but she was written so sympathetically that I couldn’t help rooting for a happy ending for her. I thought I’d guessed the kidnapper but I was completely wrong. It twists and turns until the eventual denouement. I’ve now realised Tess Stimson has a substantial back catalogue and I’ll now be treating myself to some more of her novels. Excellent book.

Stolen by Tess Stimson is the tale of the abduction of Alex Martini's 3 year-old daughter. Lottie. while they're attending a friend's wedding in Florida. Having been seen struggling with Lottie, a difficult child,on the plane from England and being discovered to have been having sex with a stranger at the time she disappears Alex is viewed with suspicion and attracts the less than tender mercies of the press. This isn't the first time the spotlight has been on Alex's parenting skills,with her late husband Luca formerly being the child-rearer of the family.

This is a deeper book than I was expecting with several issues raised, the different attitudes when a child disappears depending on their parent's social status and race , media intrusion, guilt, grief,hope and a whole lot more.

There are plenty of clever twists and some great characters,many of whom are not what they appear to be on the surface. There were a few nods to the Maddie McCann case ,the circle of friends ,the investigator raking in a small fortune while not actually solving anything,the taxpayer's money seemingly on tap to keep the police investigation going etc.

This is my first Tess Stimson book and I thoroughly enjoyed it,she knows how ramp up the tension and build anticipation and it's very much a "just one more chapter" book of the kind you find yourself finishing at 2 am and wondering where your day went.

Great read,highly recommended.

A huge thanks to Avon Books for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stolen follows Alex a widow, human rights lawyer and mum to three-year-old Lottie. The book begins with them travelling to her best friend's wedding not knowing of the dark cloud hovering over them. Her daughter Lottie is a stubborn, clever three-year-old girl who can spit out some f-words faster than I can say bamboozled and she tends to demand a lot from her mother. Every parent's nightmare manifests itself on the day of the wedding when Lottie disappears. The police are quickly brought in, and the story of missing Lottie makes the news. We watch dismally as the media and public take sides on whether or not Alex is a bad mother but Alex like any good mother focuses entirely on finding who took her daughter and why. The book does a good job of bringing to attention important themes such as child disappearance family,
mother-child dynamics and the role of social media in playing jury and judge in such cases.

Confused having read the book as to if Flora stole a child and how come her child got meningitis twice.
Somehow didn't feel the story flowed properly and somewhat dull in places.