"Taken While She Slept", by CJ Grayson is highly recommended for fans of suspenseful storytelling! Grayson's debut in the Detective April Fisher series is a gripping read from start to finish. With a gritty narrative filled with unexpected twists, Grayson keeps readers guessing with each turn of the page.

From the outset, the story grips you, plunging you into a world of uncertainty and intrigue. Initially ambivalent towards characters like Detective Fisher and Tony, I found myself drawn deeper into their complexities as the plot unfolded. Grayson's writing flows effortlessly, maintaining a steady pace that keeps you engaged throughout.

What sets this novel apart is the palpable sense of unease and tension woven into every scene. Characters, shrouded in secrecy and suspicion, add layers of depth to the narrative, leaving you questioning their motives at every turn. As the story progresses, Grayson skillfully peels back the layers of deception, keeping readers on their toes with each new revelation.

The final chapters deliver a thrilling climax, packed with unexpected twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. While I may have anticipated some aspects of the ending, Grayson still managed to surprise me, leaving me eager for more.

In summary, this is a gripping read that marks an impressive debut for both author and series. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking an exhilarating literary ride and eagerly await the next installment.

I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley, Joffe Books Ltd, and C.J. Grayson for the Advanced Reader Copy.

This book is the first in a series. Really good detective story with interesting plot.
There were parts that I felt needed better vocabulary selection to rate it higher then a 4 star.
It is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

A narrative that is so suspense filled with twists that it will leave your head spinning. When Tony is attacked and his car stolen with his two year old daughter in the car DS April is called in.

This was a gripping thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. The author expertly crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with twists and turns and this one will make your head spin.


Set in Manchester this had everything a good thriller needs; murders, kidnapping and everything inbetween.

It’s fast-paced and was a pulse-pounding read that left me on the edge of my seats until the very last page.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. So this book is titled Taken While She Slept. So you’d think this book is about a child that’s kidnapped while she’s sleeping, correct? Wrong! While there is a child that’s taken, it’s only about 10% of the entire plot. And she doesn’t even get taken until 19% through the book! Then we really hear nothing more about her til 68ish% of the book. You can tell this book is written by a man. The way he wrote a woman talking about her “time of the month”. Yeah we don’t talk like that (face palm)! And I don’t know what this authors obsession with cars and driveways is but dear lawd!!! Every other sentence talks about a wide driveway or a Volvo or some other European car. There is a scene in the beginning that happens to our main detective. And people ask her about it in every chapter after and it never ends!! Plus the wrap up as to why and if it even happened feels like an after thought. Like oh hey yeah here’s the third storyline I had going on in this hot mess of a book, I should probably wrap that up. And in doing so left me rolling my eyes so much I got a headache. Seriously, save yourself some time and skip this one. It’s insufferable.

#TAKENWHILESHESLEPT #NetGalley. I chose this book as it was set in my home town of Manchester! The first book in a new series featuring DI April Fisher, It was inevitable that some time would be devoted to background of the main character but at times, I found it to be too descriptive and occasionally repetitive and I found my self skim reading large chunks. However, when the action came, it was fast paced and engaging with plenty of twists and turns and red herrings. The ending was quite unexpected! I look forward to reading more books in this series.

The start of this book was dramatic, and the ending was interesting, but I wasn’t invested in between. The middle of the book was slow paced and slightly repetitive. The author jumped between different POVs within paragraphs. I enjoy multiple POVs but it was hard to keep track at times when reading this book. I would have liked if the characters were developed more also, I feel like we were only getting to know some of the characters when the novel ended, especially Derek & Karen. Overall; the storyline was original and the twists at the end were interesting.

There are so many twists and turns in this story that you could be in a labyrinth. No-one seems to be telling the truth and every time the cops feel they are getting somewhere they hit another dead end. This is the first book in a new series and I think it's a great start. DS April Fisher and her partner DS Matthew Phillips are likeable characters who seem to get on well with their superiors so there doesn't seem to be any of the maverick cop and the boss who wants rid of them that so many authors rely on. The pace of the story is almost as frantic as the search for the missing child so it keeps you absorbed until suddenly you realise it's the middle of the night but there's no way you can stop now. I look forward to the next episode.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

A twisty crime book set in Manchester. Fast paced, it involves murders, kidnapping and is mostly involved with a family (mother, father and 2 year old) as well as their parents and brothers. The investigating team have also been looking into the murder of a woman who was found missing an eye and hand, in the same circumstances as two other murders within the city.
The detective , April, appears to be a girl who drinks a lot and as the book begins, she is worried that she has been assaulted. Although I enjoyed the book on the whole and thought that the crimes were well written and interesting, with a few twists I did not predict, I am a little disappointed by the portrayal of the investigating team, a few were little more than names , though there was an attempt to describe their living circumstances half way through the book. Discussion about the case / conversation did not really do it for me either.
I loved the suspense and the action in this book and will definately look out for more in the series
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is the first book in a new series with DS April Fisher as the main character.
I was annoyed by the overuse of titles like DS, DI and DCI in sentences, in addition to repeating names instead of using referring pronouns.

The author occasionally explains too much instead of showing, while also putting too much emphasis on trivial details. This significantly disrupted the pace of the story, especially when Tony Anderson and his wife Amanda were introduced. The author went into too much detail.
Although I found the plot engaging, it lacked meaningful development and I did not find the story to be credible. How can someone in 2023 not remember their spouse's mobile number? Their initial bickering and marital woes came across as tedious.
I found the epilogue peculiar; a more undefined conclusion would have been better. The interrogations with the murderer were not authentic enough in my opinion.
While this is a promising start to a new series, I would advise the author to tighten up the plot, keep it to the point, not over-explain and make the dialogues more natural.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my copy of Taken while she slept by CJ Grayson
Started this morning and just finished. A really engrossing read. I kept changing my mind about who was involved, and didn’t see the ending at all.
Looking forward to the next one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A very interesting book which had me hooked, who has Tony's little girl and why would they have stolen his car. There were lots of twists and turns that took me on a massive rollercoaster as you thought you knew what was happening and then suddenly didn't

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this copy
4 stars

Took me a while too get into and read this i liked april and the police bit fealt the story was a bit slow in places though i wanted too find out what happened with abigail and amanda. Didnt see alot of the twists coming was really surprising and shocking in places.

I received this book from the publisher through Net galley for the purposes of an unbiased review.
Debut domestic thriller by C.J. Grayson started strong. Fast paced and twisting narrative kept me reading for hours. Then I started to lose traction. I wanted the main detective to have a stronger presence and voice, the main suspect to be developed more so I could understand his emotive characteristics. I wanted the characters to be genuine so I could experience their anguish over the disappearances. Ending was unforgettable! I do, however, have high hopes for this author. I believe Joffe books to be one of the best publishers of mysteries and police procedurals in the business.
Disclaimer: I am signed up for their email newsletter, downloading most of their free books and purchasing sets of authors' works when able. I'm looking forward to more from this author and would recommend them to others. Great potential!

This book had me gripped as well as scared and angry, This story is one that had all my emotions going a great story 5*

I’ve read all of CJ Grayson’s books and I was delighted to see on his socials that he had been picked up as an author by Joffe books. This book introduces DS April Fisher - a move away from the Tanzy and Bird series, but an equally engaging protagonist. The plot focuses on the hand-eye killer, a murderer that has struck twice, killing women and removing one of their hands and an eye. When Fisher’s team is alerted to a child who has gone missing in a carjacking, it soon escalates when the child’s mother is also missing. Is this another hand-eye killer case?
A ripping yarn.

Love finding myself a new author and i'm hoping this will become a series I can continue to read and enjoy.
Detective April Fisher Book 1.

What a great read this was. I certainly won't be going to anyone's house to sell my car. Tony takes his car to meet up with someone who wants to buy it. Getting out of the car Tony is attacked. The man is now driving off in Tony's car. The problem here is Tony's young daughter is in the back of the car. A parents worse nightmare.

Returning home to his wife Tony finds that she is now missing and there are traces of blood in the house.
Can things get any worse for Tony.
Well the answer to that is yes, things are going to get a whole lot worse.

Detective April Fisher is sent to investigate. April is having her own issues after an night out that she can't remember.

I do enjoy books that are set in and around Manchester. I find they add more to the story when I can actually visualize the places that are talked about.
This turned out to be a cracker of a read and i have no issues recommending this book.

Hoping this is the start of a series featuring DS April Fisher.
Tony is selling th family car for a bigger model but when he goes to meet a potential buyer it all goes wrong and his car is stolen with his daughter inside. When he gets home his house is in disarray and his wife is missing.
This opens up a whole can of worms with his brothers and his family but what is really going on?
DS Fisher and her team have a lot to unravel.
Well written and a fantastic plot that will keep you on your toes

Taken while she slept! What an excellent read by C.J Grayson. I will definitely be looking out for more of his books and I cannot wait to see what is next to come in the DS April Fisher series. I’m super excited about this one.

Tony takes his car round to a potential buyers, but whilst he is there things don’t go to plan, Tony is assaulted and his car is stolen with his sleeping daughter Abigail is in the back. The police are called and a search is launched to find Tony’s car as well as his missing daughter.

As if things can’t get any worse for Tony when he returns home he finds his wife Amanda is gone and there are traces of her blood around the kitchen.

Beside himself with worry Tony’s daughter fate and that of his wife rest in DS April Fisher and her teams hand and a major investigation is begun. April and her team begin to wonder if this case could be linked to a previous unsolved case and if so the pressure is really on to save Amanda.

I was hooked right from the start of this book. C.J Grayson certainly knows how to capture his readers, and once he’s drawn them in he knows how to keep them there. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with so much packed into it. It was brilliantly written, fast paced, exciting and super twisty.

I particularly loved the ending. Never in my wildest day dreams did I think this book would end the way that it did. I was shocked when I discovered who was behind all these hideous crimes and attacks. As a thriller liver this book was exactly what I’d love to see in every thriller. It was just epically brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

This crime thriller was fast paced and had two cases that tied together at the end very well. I was hooked from the very beginning, and I didn’t breathe until I got to the end. This one was hard to put down. The plot was brilliant. There were twists and turns galore, and none of them were expected! I got whiplash from trying to keep up with the twists, and each on was better than the last. I wondered the entire time who the culprit was, and I was wrong, wrong, WRONG!

I did not like many of the characters, which means a book is well written when it comes to me.

This book moved very fast, and throughout most of the book, I was trying to determine how the various storylines were connected. When it all lined up…WOW! The ending was so unexpected and so GOOD!

What a great start to a new series featuring the intelligent, hardworking, and determined DS April Fisher. I truly enjoyed getting to know her. No more drinking for her though! *wink wink*

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe for my copy in exchange for my honest review.