A stunning mystery thriller that will leave readers at the edge of their seats.

An American in Ireland implanted as a member of elite.

I was turning the pages one after the other and astonishingly finished before I could register what was actually happening.

A thrill ride packed with twist, turns, and suspense unlike any others I’ve read in quite some time.

I will be recommending this read to my thriller book club upon release!

A Stolen Child, by Sarah Stewart Taylor, is an international police procedural featuring Maggie D’Arcy, a New York detective who has relocated her family and career to Dublin, Ireland. This book is the fourth in the Maggie D’Arcy series, but I enjoyed it as a standalone – although it’s made me want to read the whole series.
Maggie has trained to be a Garda, aspiring to be a detective again in this new country, and is currently assigned to community policing in Dublin. She and her partner are called to check on a potential Domestic Violence complaint, but the woman who answers the door says there’s no problem, it was just a loud television show. Then, a week later, the woman is found dead in her apartment, and her toddler child is missing. Maggie and her partner wonder, what did they miss on that earlier call?
Then Maggie is assigned to the detective team for the case, temporarily filling in while the team works another high-profile case. It’s a chance for her to use her detective skills and her commitment to and knowledge of the community she’s been working in. She’s also balancing the intense requirements of the case against her personal life – her daughter, her lover and his son, remodeling the lover’s home so it can be sold and they can all move to a new home together. And she’s still adjusting to Irish culture.
What I found most compelling about the book is how Maggie’s professional skills as a detective combine with the professional and personal skills in listening, observing, intuiting the spots where something is off but there’s no obvious clue. As she and the team sort through the facts and witnesses, she weighs a witnesses’ reaction against her own experience as a mother, tests someone’s statements against her sense of whether they might be lying and why.
The book is mostly dialogue – the investigators, the witnesses, the family of the victim, questioning the neighbors – and when the investigation really gets underway this technique becomes a fascinating way to show how police questioning works. It was fascinating to read the questioning and see Maggie’s reactions, her quick shifts in technique based on an unexpected answer or a small revealing physical movement, or something left unsaid. The dialogue took me right inside the police procedural process, how it works and how it feels.
The book is well plotted, and the characters are complex and very individual. It held my interest, and was hard to put down. I’m anxious to go back and read the earlier Maggie D’Arcy books in the series.

United States Publication: June 20, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Maggie D'arcy is a ex-pat in Ireland, having moved from Long Island, and her well-established police career, to hopefully build a life with her Irish-born and bred boyfriend and begin a second police career. However, she has to start from scratch and while on her street beat as a Garda, she and her partner are called to a crime scene. Her detective instincts and training kick in upon arriving on the scene but as a Garda she has to practice self-control and keep her observations to herself. However, Maggie's friend on the force invites her to join the investigation and lend her skills to finding not only the murderer but the child that seems to have been abducted in the wake of her mother being murdered. The clock is ticking as it's all hands on deck to find the missing baby.

I haven't read books 1-3 in this series and after reading this book, I'm not interested in reading them. I didn't really connect with this series or the main character of Maggie D'arcy. It looks like the author has spent time living in Ireland but is not native to Ireland and I think that comes through in her writing. I've read other titles based in Ireland and by Irish-based authors and there are some significant differences between those native authors and those who aren't native to the country and its culture. The author's attempts to bring authenticity to her Irish-based (mostly) series didn't feel true and felt more like a parody than true-to-life.

A transplanted American Detective now a Garda in Ireland.
A good intriguing mystery, suspense with twists and turns,
Good story and characters held my total interest.
Voluntarily reviewed.

I was hooked right away in this novel about a dead former model mother an a missing child. There were many plot twists and turns throughout the novel that kept me hooked the whole time. You will be surprised about the ending.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 20, 2023
“A Stolen Child” is the fourth novel in the Maggie D’Arcy police procedural series, by author Sarah Stewart Taylor. Born in the U.S but educated in Dublin, Taylor is able to bring a realism to American ex-pat Maggie, who is a former American police officer now training to be a detective in Ireland.
A former child model, and reality TV star, Jade Elliott is murdered in her apartment and her two-year-old daughter is nowhere to be found. Garda officer Maggie D’Arcy is called to the scene to investigate, and to help locate the missing toddler. Soon, the police are flooded with subjects and everyone from Jade’s family, to the father of Jade’s baby, to the owners of the modeling agency where Jade once worked is considered a suspect. Although the police have their work cut out for them, Maggie and her team make a shocking discovery, which turns the entire investigation on its head.
Like many police procedurals of its ilk, “Child” is one in a series, and, like its counterparts, it is not necessary to read the other “Maggie D’Arcy” novels in order to be able to follow along with the storyline. However, I always recommend reading the other novels in a series, as it adds character development and ties up more loose ends. Stewart Taylor is a new author completely for me, so this was my first foray into the Maggie D’Arcy world.
Taylor’s characters are strong, and it is easy to build a quick rapport with plucky, headstrong D’Arcy. I’m always more invested in a police procedural where the protagonist is a female, and Taylor does Maggie justice. Although I don’t know her entire backstory, I related to Maggie and found her to be someone worth rooting for.
There are many characters in this novel, and they are all interconnected in intricate ways; however, the novel was very easy to follow, and “Child” has a smooth flow and enough high-octane drama that it’s easy to keep turning the pages. There is non-stop action, and I couldn’t stop reading!
Although police procedurals are not a new genre by any stretch (not even with female protagonists), Stewart Taylor brings her own level of unique creativity, and I am an instant fan. I look forward to catching up on D’Arcy’s past adventures, and joining her on new ones.

It was a joy to read the further adventures of Maggie D’Arcy as she begins working as a new Garda on patrol who is soon seconded to the murder team by virtue of her experience as an American detective when a young single mother is murdered and her child disappears.
As usual, the investigation has many seemingly disparate threads that are expertly woven together by the story’s end. The characters are believably developed, especially Maggie, and the settings and secondary characters, both posh and working class, spring to life with authenticity. The mystery builds to a tense conclusion as the team pursues both credible leads and false trails towards a solution, but the characters really drive the story. The somewhat strained relationship between Maggie and her lover Connor and Maggie’s struggles in being accepted by her work colleagues ring true and serve to raise the story’s emotional temperature. I'm already looking forward to Maggie’s next story!

Well written and well thought out. A book full of twists and turns that you don’t expect. This moved along at a good pace and the characters are likeable and well done. Oozes suspense and unease till the very last page.
I did not see this plot twist coming.
So many jaw dropping moments

I have been really into thrillers and mysteries lately yet this did nothing for me in that respect. It was interesting enough to be able to power through but there were several moments I found myself bored. The plot twist helped renew some interest however, it seemed as though it was added knowing the plot was falling flat. I know a few people that I will recommend this to but it was not what I was looking for.

Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher and the author, Sarah Stewart Taylor.

Full disclosure-I have not read the earlier books in this series. I received an email invitation and I will always accept invites from St. Martin’s and Minotaur.

This mystery/police (Garda) procedural is well written, decently paced, and can easily be read as a standalone. I never felt lost or like I was missing critical background. I enjoyed it enough that I will probably go back and read the earlier books in the Maggie D’arcy series. I liked the majority of the characters that I assume show up in the whole series, and the way they worked together. I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the personal drama and I didn’t love the ending. It’s the kind of thing that leaves me sad and dissatisfied.

But, there was one other thing that really kept this from being something I could recommend without reservation. Early on, in nearly every witness interview, Maggie noted that the interviewee was lying or holding something back. ‘They’re telling the truth, just not the whole truth.’ It felt like the author was trying too hard to make everyone a suspect to make it impossible to solve the crime(s) before the very end. It’s not enough to keep me from reading more of the series, but it does color my overall impression and dampen my enthusiasm for a new-to-me series. 3.5 stars

A young model is strangled to death in her Dublin apartment but there's no trace of her 2-year-old daughter.

Maggie D'Arcy, new to the Dublin police force, catches the call with her partner on foot patrol. Although she has cracked criminal cases on Long Island, Maggie has no standing in her new country.

Staff shortages give her a few days to work with the detectives, though. She sits in on interviews with the father of the dead woman's child, the mother and sister, and the mother of the tot's playmate. But nobody knows where the child might be.

The fourth book in Sarah Stewart Taylor's series travels a twisty road to the solution.

I couldn't contain my excitement when I received the highly anticipated fourth installment of Sarah Stewart Taylor's Maggie D'arcy mystery series. A Stolen Child takes us on another thrilling journey alongside Maggie, a former Long Island police detective who has relocated to Ireland with her daughter, Lilly, and her boyfriend, Conor. This book proved to be an outstanding addition to the series. Maggie, now working as a patrol officer for the Garda, the Irish police force, finds herself caught up in a heart-wrenching case when she and her partner respond to a call at the home of a murdered young woman. The urgency intensifies as they discover that her toddler is missing.

This book has a strong narrative drive and believe me you will need to know whether this child is safe and will be recovered! I did not figure out the resolution of the mystery in advance and A Stolen Child, went places completely unexpected, while checking off most mystery readers need for a satisfying ending.

One of the standout qualities of A Stolen Child is Taylor's ability to keep readers on their toes. I found myself constantly trying to piece together the puzzle, only to be surprised by the direction the plot took. The author's skillful storytelling kept me engaged from start to finish, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.
As the narrative unfolded, I became even more invested in Maggie's journey. Taylor has a remarkable talent for creating authentic and relatable characters, and Maggie is no exception. The development of other key characters, such as Lilly, Conor, and Adrian, adds depth and richness to the story, making them feel like individuals you truly care about.

In my opinion, this book is Sarah Stewart Taylor's best and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. A Stolen Child combines gripping suspense, emotional depth, and a satisfying resolution that will leave readers eagerly anticipating what comes next for Maggie D'arcy.

I received this book in an exchange for an honest review thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine. I will post this review on Goodreads, Bookbub and Amazon.

In A Stolen Child, we find Maggie settling into life in Dublin. She’s completed Garda training and is walking a patrol beat hoping a spot opens up soon to become a detective. While out of patrol, Maggie and her partner respond to a domestic disturbance call and find nothing amiss until the next day when they are called to the same location only to find a body and a missing toddler. Shorthanded, Roly ropes Maggie into the investigation because of her experience and they frantically search for the child and try to solve the murder.

I really like where this series is going. I feel like Maggie is settling back into her groove and not adrift after the events of the previous books. Her relationship with Conor is going really well and her daughter and his son are all settling nicely into the house together minus the construction. This case was tough for Maggie as it brought up a lot of old feelings and struggles dealing with her cousin and all the what ifs. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.


Thank you @minotaur_books and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

A murdered young mom and her missing toddler shock Dublin and surrounding communities. Garda Maggie D'arcy is pulled off foot patrol temporarily to help investigate the crime. It is strange. How could no one have seen anything in this gated community? You will never see the solution coming! Really! This is another wonderfully twisty mystery in the Maggie D'arcy series.

This book is, I believe, the fourth in a series. I have not read the first three books and had no issues jumping in midstream. :)

This was my first book by Ms. Taylor, and also my first police procedural novel. The story was solid, the characters for the most part were believable, and the plot was neatly wrapped up and tied with a bow before the last page.

What few critiques I have, have more to do with the genre than they do the book. I love character development. I love to see them growing, evolving...or devolving, and changing. I'm guessing had I read the first three novels, this would be more evident. And, of course, a procedural follows *procedure* first and foremost. Also, I found myself more than interested in a small subplot in which something was found inside the wall of Maggie's home. I so desperately wanted to explore that in depth. I was kind of hoping it was going to be the set up for the next novel instead of simply a minor detail.

Overall, a good solid read. However, I don't think that this genre is for me.

Many thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC for me to read and review.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this police procedural set in Ireland with the added addition of an American homicide detective.

One can learn a lot about a society from reading their crime fiction. Crime and mystery books tend to ignore the glitz and the magic that so many places want to foster about their countries and cities. Mystery stories tend to ignore the literary bent of their homelands and get to the root of the problems, known to the people who live there, not endorsed by the tourist board. The lack of social services, the lack of places people can go to for help. The way the neighbors treat victims of crime, and how a society might turn its back. A Stolen Child is the fourth book in the Maggie D'arcy series, written by Sarah Stewart Taylor, featuring a retired American homicide detective and D'arcy's new workplace Dublin, Ireland.

Maggie D'arcy and her daughter left America to make a new life with in Ireland with a new family, and both are starting to get used to the new country and new ways of doing things and for D'arcy a new job in the Irish police, the Garda. After months of training D'arcy is finally allowed to to community patrols with a partner who knows the area. The duo are sent on a call to a flat that had been the scene of a domestic violence call once before. However, now it is a murder. The victim is a model and reality show star Jade Elliot, and her only child is also missing. Due to a shortage in policing D'arcy is asked to join the task force investigating the muder and missing child, one that puts her at odds with various people. For even though D'arcy is thought of as a rookie, D'arcy was a homicide detective and all her skills are telling D'arcy that things are only going to get worse.

A different kind of international mystery with an American character not really a fish out of water, but a fish learning how to swim with a new group of people, and a far different police culture than the character is familiar with. The story is good, with some real twist, and plays fair. The setting is different, and watching the investigation take place through D'arcy, and D'arcy wanting to be all American on it, is quite good. Things make sense. Putting D'arcy on the task force, is explained well, and not just making a character be where the action is. D'arcy is a very good character, and has opinions, which causes real conflict, that again fits the story. The writing is very strong, and the secondary characters seem real, including D'arcy's family. There is a lot to like here, and Taylor is very good at keeping both the narrative moving, and keeping the story fresh and intriguing.

A good series that gets better with each book. Ireland is a very interesting place for a story like this, and to see how the case is handled makes for very good reading. I can' wait to read more adventures about Maggie D'arcy.

This is book 4 in a series and I will state up front that I enjoyed this one much more than the recent installment now that Maggie is a cop again only in Ireland. I think that you could read this one as a stand-alone though I do recommend The Mountains Wild.

While Maggie was a police detective back in America, she had to start over again as a patrol officer or garda as they’re called in Ireland. During an evening on patrol with her partner, they are called to a murder scene where they had previously made a domestic call. Due to the lack of personnel available to investigate and Maggie’s experience and prior professional relationship with senior investigator Roly Byrne, it made sense for her to be allowed to help with the investigation. I found Maggie’s position in investigating a case to be much more natural and fitting in this book given the situation. I even enjoyed watching her butt heads with Detective Fiero again.

Maggie’s new position as a garda was clearly frustrating to her as she consciously knew her place but couldn’t help butting into the investigation like a detective despite herself. This both entertained and annoyed me at times. I also enjoyed the tidbits of Maggie and Conor learning how to weave their lives around each other now that they have joined households on a more permanent basis.

If you enjoy mysteries, I recommend this series that primarily takes place in Ireland with an American female main character.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

This is the first book I have read from this author. This is the 4th book in this series. Although I didn’t read the others I was able to get into the story with this one . I found this book really good and has lots of twists and turns ! I will definitely be reading the others !

This was a good addition to the series. Maggie D'Arcy is now a Garda and is paired up with another Garda, Jason Savage, patrolling a section of Dublin, learning about the community and its residents as she waits for an opportunity to become a detective, the type of work she did for years in New York. They are called to respond to a possible homicide at a flat where they had recently responded to a domestic disturbance call, only to be told by the resident that she was alone and the noise that someone heard must have been the movie she was watching. This time the resident, Jade Elliott, is dead, and Maggie and Jason cannot help but wonder if they missed something the last time. However, more concerning is the discovery that Jade has a young daughter, Laurel, who is missing.

Jade was not married to Laurel's father, Dylan Maguire, but he owned the flat where she lived, paid the bills, and had shared custody of Laurel. Dylan is automatically a suspect, but he has a solid alibi for the time when Jade was murdered, and he seemed genuinely surprised that Laurel was missing.

Maggie is temporarily assigned to the murder and missing child investigation due to her past detective experience in the US. The lead detective assigned to the case is Padraig Fiero, with whom Maggie has had issues in the past (see the prior book in the series, The Drowning Sea), and will have issues again, as Maggie is convinced that something is off about Dylan, while Detective Fiero believes focusing on Dylan, once his alibi is confirmed, is a distraction.

Pressure quickly mounts on the police as multiple days pass with no clues as to the whereabouts of Laurel. The investigation is made more difficult as multiple people -- including Jade's sister Nicola and Jade's friend Elizabeth -- seem to be withholding information; several individuals appear to be overly interested in the investigation but have no obvious connection to Jade; and there are suggestions that Jade's past modelling work as a teenager might play a role, but it is unclear how/why. Maggie and her colleagues will have to unravel multiple mysteries to determine who killed Jade and why and what happened to Laurel. The story has some very good and surprising twists.