The Lost Children is the ninth book in the Matilda Darke series and it’s one of my favourite crime series EVER! Michael Wood is an author who takes bold risks. Even our favourite characters aren’t safe from his evil imagination. One thing I love about this series is the way the author can surprise me, shock me and to leave me clamouring for the next instalment in this unmissable series. Matilda and her team are back in their darkest investigation to date. As they investigate the murder of a local businessman, they uncover his links to historical child abuse and murder at Magnolia House, a children’s home. They discover abuse and corruption at the highest levels of society and that someone will do anything to silence the team and their investigation.

The book makes for a grim and disturbing read, although Michael Wood approaches the subject of child abuse without sensationalising it. Matilda and her team are torn. On one hand, they are determined to bring the killer to justice, but when the evidence points to the killer being a victim, the lines become blurred. I never thought I would feel sorry for a killer, but when Woods lies bare their horrific back story, like Matilda and her team, I found my sympathies lay with getting justice for the killer rather than the loathsome victims. I should warn you the crimes scenes aren’t for the squeamish, but you can’t help thinking it’s fitting retribution for the victims’ actions!

Matilda has been through several life-changing experiences. We see a less confident Matilda but she continues to show a tremendous strength of character and resilience. Matilda and her team’s characters continue to develop and the camaraderie and dark wit between members of the team add some light relief to this dark and sorrowful tale. The tension is unbearable, the sense of evil palatable, the plot is fast-paced, leaving little time for the reader to catch their breath. The Lost Children is further proof that Michael Wood never disappoints. It’s a cracking read, it’s brutal, disturbing and utterly gripping and I loved it! Roll on the next instalment.

This is the first book I have read by Michael wood and my first introduction to DCI Matilda Darke, it definitely won't be my last.

Matilda is investigating historical abuse claims relating to children in a care home overseen by a priest named Peter. Peter is a wonderfully caring man and is devastated to find out what has happened to his young charges all orchestrated by a powerful local businessman who has many of the districts leading powerful men under his thumb through threats of retribution if they do not adhere to keeping their mouths closed in regard to his sick sadistic ways of abusing young boys. These men are guilty of ruining lives and they deserve everything they get brutal though it may be. Peter has tried several times to have this investigated but due to a corrupt police force has been unable to make inroads.

Matilda is adamant that no matter what, she will find these men and throw the book at them, even if this means losing her career to accomplish this. I love her character, she has been to hell and back in her personal life but nothing will stop her getting justice for those involved.

In many ways this is an incredibly hard story to read due to the subject matter, but Michael Wood does a wonderful job in regard to the sensitivity of documenting this. This book will have your heartstrings pulled, you eyes with tears falling and your mind at an absolute loss as to how this kind of behaviour can be inflicted on young children.

I am now off the purchase the rest of this series and Michael Wood will now be at the top of my list of go to authors. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased honest review.

A plot that hasn't been overdone with smart, yet often confusing clues. We get closer to the truth throughout rather than a conclusion just to end the book
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

The Lost Children by Michael Wood was soooo good! This is a sad topic but so real, and it was hard to read at times about the abuse these boys endured knowing this happens in real life. I liked the author's writing style and the flow of action.

I enjoyed that the book also tackled when the pandemic first began and how people reacted to the lockdown.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and I will read more from this author. I may even go back and read the other books in this series.

The author does an excellent job of providing chilling details on the crime scenes. When I got to the end, I yelled, "Oh, no, a cliffhanger!" I cannot wait to read the next book.

#NetGalley @0neMoreChapter_

Doing the happy dance a new Matilda Darke book has landed in my inbox and goes straight to the top of my reading pile. After the day from hell when she lost half of her team in a horrific massacre and left Matilda in an induced coma. Slowly recovering and is back at work but is still grieving for her colleagues and is dealing with survivors guilt. This case maybe her last and come hell or high water she will get justice for the victims. Historical child sexual abuse is still a difficult subject to read about and the author has dealt with it sympathetically and with sensitivity. Brutal, heartbraking and I will never eat meat balls again. A chilling story and one of the first killers I was rooting for. Only one complaint I need the next now please!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thankyou to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and the author, Michael Wood, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Lost Children in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
May contain spoilers.
I absolutely love this author. His Matilda Darke series just gets better and better so I was really excited about the opportunity to read his new book. That is, until I read the content notice before the story actually began. I went in with the knowledge that it was not going to be an easy read.
I have to say, this author has approached this subject with sensitivity and care. There is no excessive details on the abuse experienced - that is left to the readers imagination. The horror and heartbreak experienced by the boys is written in a way that brought tears to my eyes.
This book certainly provides the roller-coaster ride just like previous novels. The characters are well drawn and compelling. I couldn't put it down until I finished reading it. As with previous novels, you cannot predict where Mr Wood is going to take you. And what an ending!!!!!!
Highly recommended read, especially if you enjoy this series.

This series just keeps getting better. This characters and plot in this one are riveting and well-drawn. Matilda and her team investigate the murders of men tied to historical child abuse in a care home. The author gives a trigger warning at the beginning, but he handles the abuse very sensitively and without gratuitous detail. With such a loaded topic, this could be a difficult read but it was very well done and the investigation was riveting.

Michael Wood is such a brilliant writer I just feel in awe of him! This book brought up so much sadness and anger, Matilda Darke and her team have developed throughout this series and I feel as if I know them. The knowledge of police procedure was astonishing. I don't feel that is appropriate to say that I enjoyed this book because of the subject matter but it was certainly enthralling and well worth reading.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for allowing me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion.

Firstly I would like to Thank netgalley and HarperCollins one more chapter and the wonderful author Michael wood for a copy of this book to read.

This is a fantastic series,I'm never disappointed reading his books.DCI Matilda Drake and her team investigate a case involving a children home a case of child abuse.The author gives a warning in this book and handles the subject with care.I usually avoid books with sexual abuse I couldnt not resist reading this series.No one wanted to investigate this case,is someone in higher authority hiding something. A murder of a local businessman a gruesome murder, is there a connection?Highly recommend this series..one of my favourite authors and looking forward to his next book.

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon.

I love this series and the characters in it keep going from strength.
This book covers historic sexual abuse of young boys in a care home and the layers of lies and prominent members of society who are involved and sweep it under the carpet. I really got a feeling for the vulnerability and deep reaching consequences for the victims and the effects on their lives.
One by one the perpetrators are murdered in a very graphic and appropriately emotive way and yet it is the murderer we are drawn to feel sorry for.
The level of gore and explanations of forensics are spot on for me, enough to give the shock and interest factor but not ‘too much’. The twists and turns of the plot are also satisfying as are the internal politics of the Police.
Very enjoyable and I was definitely left on a cliffhanger wanting more.

Book 9 in the DCI Matilda Darke series is the most bleak, dark and disturbing in the series for me. Set in the first part of the impending COVID lockdown, the team are dealing with a gruesome murder of a local well known business man. It’s not as straightforward as it might have been and the evidence takes them down a road that is bleak but unfortunately all too believable.

This is a stand-alone read but I’m glad that I’d read previous books, as I feel you need the back ground of the members of the team, especially Matilda and Sian This deals with child abuse, the repercussions in the lives of the abused and the betrayal by the abusers. . Michael Wood has a sensitivity in his writing, that helps the reader understand the abject horror of the subjects without sensationalising it. Whilst I can’t say I enjoyed it all, it’s a book that I knew I needed to read to the end. It makes very grim reading at times but is compulsive reading too. I liked the way that previous characters were referenced, especially those in prison, and I found the grim humour amongst the team very reassuring and again realistic. I now need to know where the team goes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Lost Children by Michael Wood.


Another book in the DCI Matilda Darke series, which whilst some of the backstory could be helpful , can be read as a standalone novel.
Set during the covid lockdown of 2020 , it centres on a case DCI Darke and her team have time to look at cold cases. They take on an investigation where DI Brady had already started investigating claims of abuse at a local children’s home. Uncovering high level abuse, and corruption, the team’s own lives are at risk.I
As always a great character in Matilda and her way of working alongside her team was as always exciting and twisty.
Full of suspense and gripping until the final conclusion.

This was a enjoyable read
Has everything you would want in a police procedural book.
Kept me awake for hours

From a rollercoaster ride of the past two books, this one is somehwat more sedate, but still encorporates all the aspects that make up a good Matilda Darke novel.

This is DCI Matilda Darke #9 but can easily be read as a standalone. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m now planning to read the DCI Darke back list.

The story is set in Sheffield in 2020 during the first Covid lockdown, which has led to a drop in local crime, so Matilda and her team have time to look at cold cases. They take on an investigation where DI Brady had already started investigating claims of abuse at a local children’s home. Uncovering high level abuse, and corruption, the team’s own lives are at risk.

A dark and disturbing subject has been dealt with sensitively, and this is a brilliantly gripping story.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

One of my favourite things about this series is that I have no faith the author won't kill anyone off, including Matilda.
It makes every book tense, even if they were just on traffic duty.
This one's quite brutal, and quite gory at times.a few wince inducing moments.
Without giving any spoilers, there are more "wow" moments of things you don't see coming, and getting to know the team even more.
I enjoyed the continuation of Carl's story.
Already looking forward to book 10.

Michael Wood doesn't get the credit he deserves. His Matilda Darke series is one of the best in contemporary crime fiction, and each new instalment outdoes its predecessor. Plot, character and location are always strong, and Wood's writing is exemplary. Matilda has been through several life-changing experiences and, although she often doubts herself, she shows tremendous strength of character and impressive leadership. The Lost Children is a triumph.

Wow! What a chilling story! I hate to say it but those baztards got what was coming to them!! Lol thus book had suspense, intrigue, action, great police work, and a great who done it! It also had heartache and heartbreak! It was definitely a chilling story! The storyline was very interesting I highly recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading! I can't wait for the next book! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! I definitely found a new author!

This book was sent to me for review by Netgalley. This book is too dark and has too much detail for me to read. Others may be able to get through it.

This series just keeps getting better and better! The Lost Children is set at the start of the pandemic and the first UK lockdown of March 2020. Matilda and her team are still traumatised and grieving after the events of the past 15 months. As they investigate the murder of a local businessman they begin to uncover his links to historical child abuse and murder at a Sheffield children's home. They discover abuse and corruption at the highest levels of society and that someone will do anything to silence the team and their investigation.
I love this series and the relationships between Matilda and her team. As with all of this series the plotting is excellent and I was completely gripped throughout. I love the way the author develops the characters and their stories over the course of the series but this never gets in the way of the story. This can be read as a standalone but I would definitely recommend starting at the beginning of the series to fully appreciate the characters histories.
The author does give a trigger warning at the beginning of the novel so do be aware of this. However he deals with the subject matter sensitively and appropriately and there are no gratuitous details. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.