I am enjoying this series, Amanda Steele is back with a case close to home. A fantastic storyline which had me hooked

Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.
Old wounds open in deadly retribution
The venue is decorated, and the students are dressed to the nines as they file into the Rolling Hills Country Club, but this anticipated event will not go as planned. The festivities have come to a halt before they can even start at the discovery of a murder. Dressed in a prom dress complete with tiara, the young female is found staged in a bathroom stall. Detectives Steele and Stenson are quick to the scene, but the discovery of the victim, while shocking, is not completely unexpected. After having recently been approached by her niece Ava and her best friend Nadine, Amanda suspects that the body may belong to Nadine’s sister who has been missing for almost three days. The duo work quickly to narrow down a list of suspects who would want to harm Reece. The closeness of the case has Ava playing amateur sleuth also, as she is driven by a need to help her friend. As they investigate it becomes apparent that Reece may have been a “mean girl” with a good cover as they encounter several people who had cause to dislike her, but to kill her? Something’s not adding up especially with justifying how a teenager could possibly have performed the brutal murder and staging. Just when the detectives get a major break in the case Amanda learns that Ava is missing. With the stakes higher than ever and the case becoming personal Amanda must track down the location of her niece before she becomes the next victim.
Taken Girls is the eighth in the Detective Amanda Steele series of books by international Best Selling Author Carolyn Arnold. Taking place sometime after Her Dark Grave Amanda is happy for the return of her former sergeant from medical leave. As a second father figure and longtime family friend Sergeant Malone is a welcome return to the force and has allowed the previous sergeant to explore a more relaxing life outside of police work. Amanda also finally appears ready to lay the ghosts of her late husband and daughter to rest and is mulling over a more permanent relationship with Logan. When Ava calls and asks to meet her at a local park, and she hears her concerns regarding the missing teen Amanda is compelled to help, and once the action starts Taken Girls becomes a real breakneck page turner. Overall, the time frame for the entire story encompasses a little under 4 days, but there is not a wasted second as the detectives follow every lead to locate their culprit. With this installment the topic of bullying and its potentially long-lasting scars are a major theme. I would wager that this is a topic that many people have dealt with and in fact the author shares a personal experience of her own in her final message to her readers. I know certain characters and situations struck a chord with me, and to say that there was sympathy if not a small bit of understanding toward the killer would not be an inaccurate statement. This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a while.
If you are looking for a suspenseful page turner with a twist that you will never see coming, Taken Girls will be an excellent choice for you. And if you are concerned with this being part of a larger series, Arnold tends to structure many if not all of her series books in such a way that they can be read as a stand alone without missing any of the main character points.

Taken Girls by Carolyn Arnold has been a roller coaster set of books and this latest book is the eighth book in the brilliant Detective Amanda Steele series. It's the best book so far with lots of great twists and turns from the very beginning till the very end which made it another excellent book. It's fast pace, so Hold on to your seat, you are in for a bumpy ride!!!! This book is superb.

I highly recommend this book and especially this series. It will not disappoint.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Taken Girls is Book 8 in the Detective Amanda Steel series by Carolyn Arnold. In this novel, Amanda is asked to look into the disappearance of her niece, Ava's best friends sister Reece. It appears that Reece had a falling out with her mother 3 days prior and stormed off as teenagers are prone to doing.

Reece is due to be prom queen on Saturday. Amanda and Trent (her detective partner) question everyone in their search. On Saturday evening, Amanda gets a call from Ava telling her to get to the Golf Club where the prom was being held. On arrival, Amanda discovers that a young woman had been found dead in the toilets - it's Reece. Amanda is distraught that she couldn't help her.

I love Amanda's strength of character and her determination to get the best result in her cases as well as her love for her family. She understands that Ava wants to be a police officer when she's old enough; after all, it runs in the family with Amanda's father being a previous police chief!! Having said all that, I think it's obviously testament to Carolyn's writing -that I feel I can connect with Amanda and understand her!

Taken Girls is another fantastic book and I can't wait for the next one.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Taken Girls' by Carolyn Arnold.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Carolyn Arnold, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 15th June 2023.

This is the sixth book I have read by this author. It is also the eighth book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'Stolen Daughters' which I also highly recommend and is the second book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series 'The Silent Witness' which is the third book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series, 'Black Orchid Girls' which is the fourth book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series, 'Her Frozen Cry' which is the fifth book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series, 'Last Seen Alive' by which is the sixth book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series and 'Her Final Breath' which is the seventh book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series . Each book can be read as a standalone and I would recommend them all.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching stunning cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A completely pulse-pounding and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.' I am a huge fan of Angela Marsons so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Carolyn and if this is half as good as 'Stolen Daughters', 'Black Orchid Girls', 'Her Frozen Cry', 'The Silent Witness', 'Last Seen Alive' and 'Her Final Breath' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 53 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Prince William County, North Virginia, USA 🇺🇸

This book is written in third person perspective and the protagonist is Detective Amanda Steele. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

'Taken Girls' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Carolyn discusses/includes bullying and hate crime.

Yet another epic read from the very talented Carolyn Arnold!!! Absolutely rammed full of twists and turns!! Congratulations Carolyn on yet another page turner!!

This is an extremely well written book with vivid descriptions that will suck you straight into the storyline and captivated from beginning to end. The synopsis and cover worked perfectly with the storyline.

Every time I see a Carolyn Arnold book I just know I have to read it and that it will be amazing and that's without me even bothering to read the synopsis and this one was exactly the same!!! The storyline means that there is no problem with this being read as a standalone. I was absolutely hooked throughout, a true page turner from beginning to end. Carolyn is one of those amazing authors who writes these epic books that when you are reading them you promise yourself one more chapter and then you'll go to sleep but each time she ends her chapters in a way that has you hooked so you have to read just one more, but then another and before you know it you have walked around all day with the book glued to your hands and have devoured it in one sitting!!! The storyline was in depth and packed with suspense, murder, twists, family, tension, hate, grief, intensity, bullying, shocks and was an edge of your seat, nail biting and heart racing psychological thriller. I was absolutely hooked. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I'm looking forward to reading the previous books in this series as well as more to come. This series is extremely addictive and I cannot wait to see what the next "episode" brings!! This book is an absolute rollercoaster ride filled with twists, action, murder, heartbreak, suffering, suspense and everything you could ask for in an absolutely thrilling page turner.. Ava who is Detective Amanda Steele's niece begs Amanda to investigate into the disappearing of her school friend who is missing. Reese is 18 years old had a fight with her mum three nights previously, left the house and hasn't been seen since. Reese's mother didn't even bother report her missing and just assumed she had run away. Amanda is devastated when Reese's body is found brutally murdered and dramatically staged at the prom venue. Amanda is determined to get justice for Reese but the killer is determined to get justice of their own and to remove anyone who may reveal their identity and put them at risk. Whose determination will help them survive? Has Amanda met a killer she cannot beat? What is the killer trying to achieve? The answers are.... In the pages of this absolutely epic page turner which you will have to grab your copy today to get them!!!
It is one of the best books I have read this year and I really enjoyed and loved the ending!!! It is filled with suspense, tension, mystery, shocks, love, friendship, sadness, crime and everything you could ever want in a crime novel. As always Carolyn ensures there were no loose ends at the book and that everything was explained and tied up. It is one of my pet hates having loose ends at the end of a book so well done Carolyn!! I won't say more as not to spoil it for future readers. It is a true page turner that will leave you biting your nails on the edge of your seat with your heart racing. I cannot wait to see what Amanda and Trent are going to do now!!!! Hope your busy typing the next one up Carolyn as I cannot wait!!!

Although this is the eighth book in the series you will have absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I loved meeting all the characters again who were all strong, well defined and unique. I have become completely invested in Amanda, Trent and Zoe through reading these books and they now feel like family that I miss when I come to the end of one book but am excited to see again at the beginning of the next!! .Amanda is absolutely whoop a## and I love seeing strong female leads in books. She has a background but will not let it pull her down and she is definitely someone I would love to have on my side. It has been so bitter sweet watching her bond with Zoe even more and watching their relationship develop and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. I've also enjoyed seeing Zoe's confidence growing book by book after everything she went through. They have become like a family to me along with Trent and Malone. Trent is another fantastic team member and they work perfectly well together. I love Rideout's (medical examiner) character and personality with his morgue humour and I also like Malone and see him as a sort of fatherly figure to Amanda. Ava is an intriguing character who is definitely a load but is also following in Amanda's footsteps and I am hoping we see more of her as it would be interesting to see if she does go into detective work herself. A fantastic group of intriguing, realistic and solid characters all brought to life by Carolyn's fantastic evocative writing skills!! I am definitely looking forward to meeting them all (well almost all) again!!!

This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors Carolyn!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!

I could not praise this book enough and highly recommend. Carolyn I cannot wait to read more of your very successful work!!! I would also love to see this book turned into a movie. Another absolutely addictive, compelling and gripping true page turner!!! If you have not read any books by this epic authour then you are seriously missing out!!!

Overall another absolutely captivating, engrossing page turner that is compelling and addictive by an extremely talented author!!!

Genres covered in this novel include Organized Crime, Serial Killers, Noir Crime, Crime, Thriller And Mystery Adventures, Noir Crime, Women Sleuths, Police Procedural, Serial Killer Thriller, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Women's Popular Fiction, Organized Crime Thriller, Murder Thrillers, Suspense Thriller, Noir Fiction, Serial Killer Thriller, Womens Psychological, Crime Thriller, Mystery ,Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction, Serial Killers and Thriller amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Rachel Abbott, K.L Slater, Melinda Leigh, Carol Wyer, Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot, T.M Logan,The Housemaid, The Family Across The Street, The Family Upstairs, DK Hood, Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni, Rachel Caine, The Widow, The Housewarming. and anyone after an addictive, gripping, must read page turner.



349 pages.


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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Disclosure. This is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

This is the eighth title in the Detective Amanda Steele series.

The prologue features the murderer and victim, but some of the details were very gruesome, so pick your time carefully for starting this read.

Detective Amanda Steele usually works in homicide but she requests to work on case of missing teenager Reese Thompson on behalf of her own niece Ava, who is friends with Reese’s younger sister Nadine. The sleuthing girls have discovered Reese’s phone in the river. Why would Reese disappear just days before her big moment as Prom Queen?

But too late, it turns into a murder case, when Reese’s body turns up, grotesquely posed at the Prom.

As the investigation continues, another victim is discovered. And then the killer takes Ava. Can Amanda find her before it is too late?

Some surprising twists in this book that I didn’t see coming. And I do like how this series always intertwines Amanda’s own life into the story.

A thrilling page turner that I couldn’t put down.

Includes some continuity references to earlier stories for those who enjoy reading the whole series but works excellently as a stand-alone read too.

This series is becoming one of my favourites! I love Amanda and her absolute passion and commitment to finding justice. This was book 8 in the series, and while there are no spoilers, do yourself a favour and devour the whole series!

This time, the case hits close to home when her niece Ava's friend's sister is the victim, and Ava (who has detective blood flowing through her veins) decides to take matters into her own hands, resulting in almost becoming a murder victim too!

The multiple points of view gave excellent insight into the detective, the killer, and would be victim's psyche, creating an edge of your seat, gripping novel! I was hooked from the very first chapter, and it kept me guessing throughout.

I could really appreciate how some pretty serious topics were covered and interwoven into the story, where bullying and its extreme consequences are revealed. Bullying comes in so many forms and is so detrimental. (Read the author's acknowledgement too to get a behind the scenes look)

This was an action packed thrill of a read! Lots of plots twists and turns in this story that builds suspense beautifully! A story of struggle, families, grief, recovery and of course - murder

Good read

Taken Girls, book eight in the Detective Amanda Steele series, return readers to the Prince William County where Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent, faces yet another challenging case. A case which will shake her world and pit her in a race against time to stop a psychotic killer. Going into this book, I expected a riveting page turner. Arnold did not disappoint.

Detective Steele attempts to make use of her rare day off. However, as someone who loves her work and can’t wait to sink her teeth into a homicide investigation, she is restless. So when her niece calls her about a possible missing person, she drops everything and went running. Although missing persons is not in her job description, she along with her partner investigates. Soon, what began as a search for a missing person became a homicide investigation.

This case hits quite close to home for Amanda. It has also stirred up some painful memories. However, being the strong woman she is, she pushed through. Amanda continues to grow and in this installment we see her taking a second chance on love. Although I am happy she’s ready to move on in the relationship department, I am not too keen on the person she is with. They have absolutely no chemistry together. She continues to juggle being a single mother with her job. It’s hard, but she manages given the demands of her job.

 
Like all the books prior to this installment, Taken Girls takes readers on a journey filled with mystery and nail biting suspense. The prologue which sets the tone for the story, provide chilling details of the killer’s activities. It was interesting seeing things from the killer’s perspective. Not only do readers learn the reason for the murders, we also see his arrogance and entitlement, which were revealed through his terrifying thought processes.

Plot twists and shocking revelations made for a fast-paced read. I read this one day, that’s how good it was. In this installment, Arnold touches on bullying and its impact on the victim. Once again Arnold takes her fans on a journey filled with mystery, suspense and shocking moments. She has proven the reason she deserves to be dubbed the mistress of police procedurals.

I have enjoyed reading the Detective Amanda Steele series by Carolyn Arnold, and I was not disappointed in this one. Even though we are on book 8 of the series it is still fun and you are still learning new things about Amanda as you go, which I enjoy. You are also getting to just feel like you are part of Amanda’s life and are on the ride along with her. This time you get to see more of her niece Ava and that was an interesting part of the story. It made me wonder if some day we might see a series with Ava as the lead, since she has detective blood running in her veins.
I still enjoy the partnership that Trent and Amanda have with each other, even if I am a little sad they aren’t together because I always enjoy a partnership turned romance, but I am liking her more with Logan now and enjoying that the friendship with Trent is still there for her. You don’t see too much of the supporting characters in this one, you get little bits and pieces with her family here and there, but I like that this one was really focused on the case and solving it. I enjoyed seeing how Ava even as young as she is already has the making of a future detective, even if her involvement created some chaos.
The writing was well done and the story moved along well and it kept you trying to figure out how it was going to play out. There was a surprise about the killer that I wasn’t expecting, and I liked. I thought it was very relevant to the times we live in today. I also like the final part of the book, it was very action packed and it felt like I was watching a movie scene. I could picture in my mind what was happening as I read it. The story was one of my favorites in the series so far. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next for Amanda and Trent, as well as the rest of the supporting characters in her life.
I would definitely recommend the Amanda Steele series if you enjoy mystery/thrillers.

"Taken Girls" by Carolyn Arnold is an intense and gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. In this eighth installment, Detective Amanda Steele finds herself investigating the disappearance and murder of a teenager, who was set to be the prom queen. With her niece Ava providing a unique perspective, Amanda delves into the dark and disturbing world of the crime.

Arnold's storytelling prowess shines through in this murder-mystery-thriller, captivating readers with brilliant characters and a riveting storyline. While the book tackles difficult themes such as bullying and violence, the tension and suspense keep you engaged throughout. The personal development of Amanda Steele is a highlight, and her complex relationships add depth to the narrative.

Although some scenes may be challenging to read due to graphic descriptions, the overall mystery and character dynamics make "Taken Girls" a page-turner. Whether you're a fan of the series or new to Detective Amanda Steele's world, this book delivers an enthralling experience that will keep you hooked until the end.

Amanda Steele may not have started off as one of my favorite characters, but Carolyn Arnold has created a phenomenal character arc and developed her into a woman I can’t stop reading about! Her life is settling down into a sense of normalcy when another case sneaks in and puts a death grip on the entire Steele family!

I love how Amanda is settling into being a mother to Zoe. Even with her demanding job, she makes time for the sweet girl and now that Logan is a more frequent part of their lives, he is stepping up to the plate as well. As much as I wanted to see Amanda and Trent transition into more than work partners, her and Logan are a surprise puzzle piece that fit together quite nicely. Zoe is beginning to spread her wings a bit and because Amanda’s time with Lindsey was cut short, this is all new territory. This is where I really see her character’s transition shine!

Amanda’s niece, Ava, is following in the footsteps of her grandfather and aunt, much to her mother’s dismay. She has a nose for crime and the Steele brains that help guide her through the clues. My heart was non-stop pounding through the scenes of the young girls being taken. The possibilities of suspects were sprinkled throughout with hints of their involvement, but the twist is, by far, one of the best Carolyn Arnold has ever been able to spin on me.

I have been reading Arnold’s books for a while now, but this one took my number one spot as a favorite. Absolutely a visceral read that sticks to your bones!

I received an ARC to read. All opinions are my own.

Amanda is one of my favorite female detective characters. This case is a page turner that keeps you guessing. There were plenty of twists and great suspense. I also enjoy the personal side of Amanda's character. Although her romantic decisions drive me nuts. The ending was interesting and has me anxious for the next book.

The 8th book in the Detective Amanda Steele Series and another gripping police procedural/ thriller with Steele finding herself having to deal with her own domestic issues whilst trying unsuccessfully to stop her niece Ava getting herself into danger. Partnered with Detective Trent Stenson this is a shocking murder case for them and the killer hasn’t finished yet. As always brilliantly written and plotted this was a real page turner and finished in a day.

Briefly, it’s Prom night and Prom Queen Reese who went missing after an argument with her mother three days earlier is still missing. Ava had asked Steele to help as the missing girl is Ava’s best friends sister but before Steele gets to her Reese’s body is found at the Prom venue. We get to see the scene through the eyes of an extremely troubled killer as the murder team are called in. There are an endless list of suspects and the teenage Ava is determined to help.

Numerous twists and turns keep the reader guessing to the bitter end. Everyone seems to have secrets. The book deals with the theme of bullying which could be distressing for some but the author deals with it very well. Another riveting read in this excellent series.

4.5 ⭐️

Book 8 in the Amanda Steele series did not disappoint! Loved everything about it. Good strong characters, good strong plot/story. Fast, enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. This is the 8th book in the Detective Amanda Steele series however they could all be read as standalones.

Amanda struggles to be both a mum and a detective during this book. It shows just how hard it is for her to be present in both aspects of her life. Amanda does a good job of balancing the two but you can tell at times she feels guilty for giving one the priority over the other.

One thing I struggled with in this case was the why now. I got the killer's motive but I just couldn't understand why decades later they had chosen to kill. Other than this Carolyn kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was fast-paced and very easy to get lost in for hours at a time. Carolyn shows how things that happen when we were a teenager can fester and become so much more.

This is a great addition to the series and I look forward to many more!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a prom queen is dead... she had been missing for a couple of days since her argument with her mother but nobody expected her to show up at her prom sitting on her throne dead

detective amanda steele is called to the scene not really knowing what to expect but horrified at the scene one for how this poor girl was displayed and another that her niece was there as well...her niece that shouldnt even be there

amanda follows all the leads that she can but its not until her niece disappears that things start to unravel but will she be able to find her niece before she becomes a victim of this murder

a slow build up but man when it starts going you cant put this book down... and it was lovely to catch up with these characters again

Amanda's current case has a personal connection in that her niece, Ava, has asked her to look into the disappearance of her best friend's older sister. And even though Reese had a fight with her mother, there's no way she would miss out on attending her prom since she was voted as the queen. Unfortunately, Ava doesn't step back and let Amanda investigate but continues to try and find clues. After all, Ava comes from a family of law enforcement members and plans to eventually be the police chief.

As the clues start to turn up, so does the danger and the potential number of suspects, along with another murder. The motive is unknown and some of the evidence confusing, until Amanda and her partner Trent start to close in on the killer. This is a fast-paced story that also pulls in more aspects of Amanda's personal life.

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I have read all of the books in the Amanda Steele series. If you decide to read this series, don’t judge it on the first book, The Little Grave. After I read it, I wasn’t too sure how I’d like the series because that first book was more about Amanda’s grief than the mystery she was working on. Since then, she is dealing with her grief and has been able to move on, and she has become one of my favorite Carolyn Arnold characters.

Amanda’s niece, Ava, has a best friend named Nadine whose sister has disappeared. Even though Amanda is in the Homicide Division, she is allowed to investigate her disappearance which soon turns into a murder investigation. Unfortunately, Ava is a lot like her aunt, and it’s difficult to keep her from leaving the investigation to the police. When Ava is taken, Amanda and her partner, Trent, are pressed for time, and I couldn’t put the book down.

Amanda and Trent have worked well together, but he seems to be getting tired of her not following procedure. He definitely there for her, though, when Ava disappears.

There are twists and more murder and many possible suspects. Every once in a while, there is a chapter that is not narrated by Amanda and is about the killer or Ava. Those chapters helped the story flow well.

I definitely recommend Taken Girls. It does stand on its own if you don’t have time to read the complete series.

She reminded him of his past, and for that she will die. Detective Amanda Steele receives a frantic phone call from her niece, Ava. Ava’s best friend’s sister, Reese, is missing. Reese has run off before, but it is the night of the prom and Reese is the prom queen, she would never miss that. Amanda receives a call that a young girl has been found dead at the prom location and she and her partner, Trent Stenson, respond. The dead girl is Reese and she has suffered a horrible death. Who could have killed this popular senior? As they investigate, Reese was not loved by all, but surely one of her classmates couldn’t have hated her that much. Ava remembers that there was a man at the prom who made her uncomfortable, so she decides to find out more about him. Amanda warns her away from the investigation, but Ava believes she can help. With Ava now missing, Amanda has to believe that she can find Ava in time…she just has to! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)