A great introduction to a new detective. This book had me hooked. I couldn't wait til I got to the last page. So many twists and turns that I never seen coming
A great gripping book. Can't wait till the next one

A cracking new series by this author. An introduction to new character DS April Fisher . She is part of the team investigating the murders of three women. Now the team are tasked with finding a missing child , only to discover the child’s mother has gone missing too. There was always plenty going on to keep you on the edge of your seat. I had no idea who was responsible for any of these crimes as the plot deepened. . I’ll certainly not forget the finale of this splendid crime thriller.

A very busy crime thriller. A young girl has gone missing never to be seen again. Another disfigured body of a woman is found. The victim is missing a hand and an eye just like other two. Packed with red herrings and plenty of suspects. I devoured this book in one sitting and finally turned the last page at 2am. Yes this book is that good. I sat constantly holding my breath and omg that twist at the end. It blew me away. A well deserved five stars and highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

Taken While She Slept is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. It had plenty of twists and turns and kept me guessing throughout. I really enjoyed it and am off to find more books by C.J. Grayson right away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my ARC.

What a great read! I love this new character, DS April Fisher, vulnerable, driven and dedicated to her job. Set in Manchester, the book had me hooked from the first chapter and kept me reading late at night as twist after twist was revealed. I like the writing style and the plotting is very clever. A brilliant first book in a new series! Bring on more please! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I have read a few books from this author but this is his best yet. A fast paced thriller read which kept me on the edge of my seat all the way.

A great storyline, well written with interesting characters with a brilliant conclusion and I personally enjoyed the short chapters.

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe books for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Taken While She Slept, the first novel to feature DS April Fisher of Greater Manchester Police.

Tony Anderson is showing his car to a prospective buyer when he is hit over the head and his car is driven off with his two year old daughter, Abigail in it. When he gets home he finds his wife, Amanda, missing, signs of a struggle in the kitchen and drops of blood. April Fisher and DS Phil Walker are asked to investigate, even though they are already investigating a recent murder, where a woman was found missing a hand and an eye.

I thoroughly enjoyed Taken While She Slept, which is a fast moving read, full of twists and turns. It is told from various points of view, mainly April Fisher and Tony Anderson with other voices chipping in at strategic moments. I’m not always a fan of this approach as it almost never gives me an immersive read, but in this case it works extremely well with these additional voices giving the reader some pointers, but also tantalising them with more possibilities.

I was astonished by how the plot plays out. There are a couple of early twists, but the author saves the big hits for later in the novel, when it’s bam, bam, bam with one twist or reveal after another. And all the time it moves forward relentlessly. There is little waste, with some kind of development or reveal in every chapter. I found it compulsive reading as I like the author’s writing style, which seems to draw the reader in and compel them to keep turning the pages.

I have enjoyed the author’s Byrd and Tanzy series and this is in a similar vein without the humour. Still, April Fisher is a likeable protagonist as the driven detective with next to no social life, if you exclude the opening scenes (the explanation for them comes late in the novel and is the funniest and most relatable part of the novel).

Taken While She Slept is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Did not see that coming !! I really enjoyed this book it was a crazy intense gripping ride I didn’t want to get off.

Well it looks like I’m easily in the minority here but I did not enjoy this book. The plot is fine and the characters are interesting enough but it was the immature writing style I found irksome. The language was very basic with adjectives clearly being a problem to the author as the ones he/she did use were repeated.
I will give three stars but do expect better vocabulary skills.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

I'm a fan of this authors books so was eager to read this latest one featuring DS April Fisher. Tony takes his young daughter with him in his car to meet someone interested in buying it. He is assualted and comes round to find both his daughter and car are gone. DS Fisher and her team investigate and are concerned when it appears his wife is also missing.

Wow, this read certainly hits the ground running and grabbed my attention and interest straightaway. I wasn't sure if I liked either DS Fisher or Tony initially although they did grow on me the more I read. I think this is a well written book that flows easily with a cracking plot line. I love the sense of unease, tension and suspense the author introduces into his writing that made me wonder what is going on here and is all as it seems? Quite a few of the characters aren't particularly likeable to say the least, they are secretive, protective and seem to be hiding things. What though? I honestly felt like I was unwrapping layer upon layer of lies, deceit and subterfuge and each time I'd sussed out what I thought was going on, the author turned the story around by throwing in another twist and I'd change my mind who was responsible. The last part of the book is a real thrilling read, with quite a few wow moments along the way and it raced to an ending I'd half guessed correctly. I didn't get everything right though, read this yourself and you'll know what I mean. Overall, a thrilling read and a great start for new character and series. I'd highly recommend this book and author and look forward to the next one.

4.5 stars

This was one of the books that stayed with me for ages after I'd read it. Especially as it has me hooked right away and I couldn't put it down.

Welcome to new series Greater Manchester And Detective April Fisher.
It's every parents nightmare, a pulse pounding crime thriller.
After a night out April wakes up the next morning bruised and battered and doesn't remember a thing
after been checked out she has a job to do, to catch the hand-eye killer after three female killings before he strikes again.
Tony Anderson meets up with a man to sell his car and the nightmare is about to happen, his daughter Abigail is in the car and it is taken, it all happened so fast.
Stolen car, missing daughter, messy house, blood and no signs of his wife Amanda.
This book was so breathtakingly good as the story gets deeper and deeper, chilling, mind blowing and will keep you hooked and gripped into the full works. I loved every single page.
The character Fisher I hope will bring us more in further books one things for sure she will never drink wine again. 5 stars from me.

I have to admit I'm hooked on C.J's books especially his Darlington books and this is no different. Set in Manchester it brings you chills, heartracing story that C.J is quickly becoming known for. Trust me you won't be able to put this book down.

Wow what a book! Started it in the morning and didn't move until I had finished it later that evening. This book pulls you in from the very first page and the twists and turns will keep you guessing to the very last page. This is looking to be a start of a brilliant new series! You won't regret picking up a copy!

Oh my goodness this is a rollercoaster of a read. Just when you think you have an idea what’s going on, another twist hits you. Great main character with interesting supporting characters and I loved the Manchester setting.

And Breathe!!!!!
Taken while she slept by C.J. Grayson was an Excellent book from start to finish - It was a book once I started to read the first few pages it was hard to put it down, so glad it was the weekend.
This book is set in Manchester the idyllic surroundings of this vibrant but dangerous — City.
You will learn more about this new character Detective Sergeant April Fisher, who I love! She's thirty-four-year-old she needs to be tough in her job especially as she has seen too much much out on the streets of Manchester. She’s experienced more than her share of tragedy in her personal life. However, she takes this all in her stride and keeps her head high, ready to tackle whatever is thrown at her — and she goes through a lot in this book. Hence why I think she is one of the best Detective Sergeant out there at the mo............She’s hardworking, very focused and intelligent, but she has a tendency to be a bit rash in making quick decisions without thinking about the consequences, which often gets her in trouble.
Which is why she is Brilliant!!!! She is like Marmite - either hate her or Love her.........

With three dead bodies, and the victims are missing hands and eyes.

Two missing people, a baby and her mother.

With only one suspected a serial killer stalking the streets of Manchester.

When DS April Fisher is called to investigate. She has got big problems of her own, and especially when she can’t remember much of last night when she went out with her work colleagues and who she went home with, he was someone she has never met before!

But, she need to protect the victims but how; if she can’t protect herself?

Will she catch the killer before they strike again!

WoW WoW - Brilliant!!!

This book is full of brilliant twists and turns that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. So strap your selves in, reschedule all you have planned for that day ahead. Once you open you kindle and see this beautiful cover and start to read the first few pages you will be stuck in your chair!

I highly recommend this book and looking forward reading more.
5 Star's and hats off for creating a new brilliant character!

Big thank you to NetGalley, Joffe and especially C.J. Grayson the author for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Tony Anderson and his two year old daughter, Abigail, go to see a man about buying Tony’s car, the worst thing imaginable happens; Tony’s car is stolen with Abigail still in her car seat in the back of the car.

When DS April Fisher attends the scene, she takes Tony home, only to find his wife, Amanda is also missing and there is blood as well as signs of a disturbance.

With Amanda’s parents blaming everything on Tony, and Tony’s parents seemingly protecting him from everyone, is there more to what has gone on?

Goodness me, what a fantastic start to a new series. This is definitely every parent’s worst nightmare, and certainly played on my mind.

The story is dark and intense, and had so many twists. I didn’t actually like many of the characters in the story, the families weren’t likeable at all. I enjoyed watching DS Fisher and her team working out the logistics etc.

An enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to more in this series from the author.

My thanks to NetGalley and Joffe for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Whoa! What a book! I was a little shocked at that ending! Great book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, serial killers, a fantastic but shocking who done it, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!