4.5⭐

Detective Amanda Steele is back in a gripping case. That sees her and partner Trent desperately searching for one of their own. When their former colleague Katherine Graves is kidnapped from a petrol station and an eighteen-year-old girl working the night shift is shot dead. Just days before Christmas.

But Katherine is a closed book and Amanda and Trent struggle to find who could want to take her and kill and an innocent bystander.

That is until they visit her home and realise she has been keeping secrets and threats against her and that she has some very dangerous enemies. Furthermore, the more the pair digs the bigger the suspect list becomes until a ransom demand is made.

And Amanda knows time is running out.

However, she promised Katherine's aunt May she would bring her home safely and so Amanda is prepared for anything to keep that promise even if that means risking herself.

And with a fast-paced, twisty storyline. That was interestingly also told from Katherine's point of view as well as Amanda's. This was a really enjoyable read. That I found extremely hard to put down, and I would happily recommend it to all.

This book starts out with a vicious attack at a convenience store. When Amanda and Trent arrive on the scene, an eighteen year old store clerk lies dead behind the counter. Nothing appears to be missing from the store. The question is why? They will soon get their answer when they review the security footage. Not only has a young girl's life been tragically snuffed out, a woman has been kidnapped. Shockingly, they know this woman. Katherine Graves is a former colleague. They are horrified to see the killer taking her out of the store where he throws her into a waiting van.

Steele and team are puzzled as to why someone would kidnap Katherine. She has retired from law enforcement and works for her aunt at her local diner. Once they begin digging into Katherine's life, they are shocked to learn that the suspect pool for who might want to harm Katherine is very large. Katherine has made a lot of enemies over her lifetime in law enforcement. They are not quite sure where they even need to start.

In the style we have all grown to love when we read an Amanda Steele novel, we are taken on a wild ride as the team investigates this crime. I also enjoy that the personal lives of the characters are woven into the story. As I read yet another story in this saga, I feel like I know the characters on a personal level. They are top notch investigators who are justice minded. Amanda is a complex character who has suffered tragic loss in her life. This loss has shaped her personal life and work life, but she has never wandered from the pathway of being a fearless detective. Police procedural novels do not get any better than this series.

I was pulled into this story from the first chapter, and I was not going to be satisfied until I finished reading it. Sleep is not necessary when there is a mystery to be solved. This is another winner in the Amanda Steele series.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always look forward to hunting down the crooks and solving the crimes with Amanda and Trent.
This latest one threw me since curveballs.
Arnold delves more into the background of Katherine Graves who is somewhat of an enigma until her roots are exposed.
I was expecting Amanda to do something that she did early in the book. I paused, read it again, and then said wow!
It shifts the dynamics and only Arnold knows how much of a long term effect it will have.
While I would like to see what Amanda did come to fruition, it’s complex and entangled.
Never fear, the ending is good and I’m ready for the next case!

Carolyn Arnold's most recent book, Missing before Dawn, is the tenth installment in the Detective Amanda Steel series that had me glued to my iPad all weekend!

In this book, Amanda responds to a murder at a local garage early in the morning. Reviewing security footage with Trent, they discover it's not just a murder but a kidnapping as well! Their former boss, Katherine, has been abducted, and they are on a mission to rescue her before it's too late.

Alongside the intense case, Amanda's personal life faces challenges in this chapter. Can she juggle solving the murder, rescuing Katherine, and preserving her relationship?

Get your hands on a copy to uncover the thrilling events in this captivating narrative.

Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold is page-turning suspense. The first 48 hours in a disappearance are the most critical. Will Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent find their former colleague Katherine Graves before time runs out. Expect twists in the story. A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.

This is one of the best books I read this year. You will be pulled into this book from the first few pages.
Lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing.
The Amanda Steele series is amazing. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Missing Before Daylight is book 10 in the Detective Amanda Steele series by Carolyn Arnold.
One of my favorite crime series and this book was amazing.
These books in this series just keep getting better and better.
The characters were engaging and the plot was intriguing. The writing was fluid and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.
The book had some great twists and was hard to put down.
Arnold takes her fans on a journey filled with mystery, suspense and shocking moments.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have read many of Carolyn Arnold's Amanda Steele books and enjoyed all of them.

In this episode, Amanda and her partner, Trent, are called to a remote gas station to investigate the shooting death of a teen-age clerk. This would have been bad enough, but the situation becomes more intense when the video footage shows that the killer has also abducted a female customer. Amanda and Trent realize that the kidnapped woman is a former colleague. Can Amanda and Trent find the cold-blooded killer before it's too late for their friend?

This is another great police procedural from Carolyn Arnold.

As one of my 'go to' authors, the ones you know will never disappoint and will always kick start you put of any reading slump, when a new one lands in my inbox it goes straight to the top of my TBR pile!

This is now book #10 in the AMAZING Detective Amanda Steele Series and with each book it just keeps getting better. The tension is always building and the characters become more and more like friends.

Amanda and Trent recieve a call to attend the scene of a shooting of a young attendant at a gas station (petrol station) the early hours of the morning. No witnesses were around bit the station does have CCTV. When viewed they realise the young girl was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, the true victim was an ex colleague Kathrrine who has been abducted.

With time passing quickly, no one can get an understanding on why it's happened. Contacting Katherine's old colleagues from her former New York precinct may give some clues but are they just chasing their tales? Can they find the missing pieces and find Katherine before she becomes another victim?

I have to say the twist right at the end was genius, it tied up all the loose ends but with a thread that can easily be weaved into book #11.

Carolyn's writing style is super solid, it never wavers which just has me constantly wanting more. The build up is always paced brilliantly with this feeling of static fizzling until the pop at the end. She always leaves me guessing! I adore just how effortless it feels reading this series. It makes you feel like your standing in the wings of a theatre watching it all play out in front of you.

I love the complexity of the characters in this series and the whole 'will they, won't they'between Amanda and Trent always brings an extra beat to my heart! They are the perfect duo and maybe one day we'll have some sort of resolution- hopefully the one were all desperate for 😉

This could be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading the series right from the beginning- because why wouldn't you??

If you are after suspense, intrigue, drama, mystery and secrets and lies then this is it all tied up with a bow.

Hige thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Carolyn Arnold continues to bring suspense, solid investigation, action, and intense moments in her latest book Missing Before Daylight . It’s the tenth book in the police procedural and crime thriller featuring Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Detective Trent Stenson. The setting takes place in and around Woodbridge in Prince William County, Virginia.

Amanda and Trent are called to the murder scene of a gas station clerk. While they initially assume it was a robbery gone wrong, they discover nothing was stolen. A review of the security video shows the murder but also the abduction of a customer very familiar to them.

Amanda doesn’t get much down time and has zero hobbies. She hates being idle and feels guilt and regret while trying to balance her family and work lives. She’s resilient and feels she has a duty to find justice for the victims and closure for their loved ones. Amanda’s flaws and struggles make her seem realistic. Trent is loyal, funny, and always has Amanda’s back.

A chilling and suspenseful prologue that grabs readers’ attention is followed by arrival at the crime scene by the police. The novel builds suspense in a way that pulls readers into the lives of the characters. While most of the story is from Amanda’s point of view, readers get insight into what is happening to the abducted customer. This adds another layer of drama, urgency, and suspense that will keep readers rapidly turning the pages.

The descriptive narrative transported me into the terrifying world of the victims and the investigators. The story instills in the reader a feeling of deep anxiety for the abductee. Will the police arrive in time? There are several surprises and twists along the way as the novel progresses. Throughout the investigation, Amanda is facing a personal crisis as well, making the story seem even more realistic. The author weaves murder, abduction, relationships, family dynamics, grief, and more into a finely crafted tale.

The book has solid police investigation and good character development. I was transported into the suspenseful situation and wanted to know who was behind the crimes. Themes include grief, family, relationships, empathy, revenge, work-life balance, and much more.

Overall, this novel is engaging, entertaining, and a solid police procedural. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Amanda and Trent. I recommend this series to those who like police procedurals and crime thrillers with relatable and likeable main characters. This series is best read in order to fully understand the backstories of the main characters.

Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 22, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

What starts out as another homicide for Amanda and Trent quickly becomes more when they find that one of their own has been abducted. Katherine Graves may no longer be a police officer, but the PWCPD won't stop until they find her. But first they must find clues as to who took her and why.

This is a fast-paced thriller with many twists as one clue doesn't pan out and other threads are found. While reading I was a little surprised that there weren't more chapters featuring Katherine and her abductor, although after having read the whole story it became clear why that was. There were many surprises including a personal situation for Amanda. I can't wait to see what happens next in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

High octane suspense! Detective Amanda Steele is at it again, only this time she's in a race against time to save a friend/former co-worker before the bad guy wins. The set up for this story was attention grabbing and had me hooked within the first few pages. Once Katherine entered the picture, it was game on. I loved every minute of the story and always leave looking forward to Amanda's next adventure. I am starting to feel like the Logan/Trent angst is getting a little old and want a solid conclusion there one day soon.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a police procedural with addictive characters who always bring a lot to the storyline. The characters and their angst are always well developed, the crimes believable and the set up for more drama is always just around the corner.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Missing Before Daylight’, book 10 in the Detective Amanda Steele series written by Carolyn Arnold, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s early morning and Detectives Amanda Steele and Trent Stenson from the Prince William County Police Department are called out when a teenage cashier at the Fill ‘n’ Go gas station is shot dead. As they watch the CCTV they realise there’s also a woman in the gas station the killer has abducted who they recognise as their ex-Sergeant Katherine Graves. It’s a race against time if they’re to find Katherine before she becomes the killer’s next victim.

‘Missing Before Daylight’ is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of action, drama and suspense as Amanda and Trent try to make sense of the clues that throw up more questions than answers. As they bring in suspects to interrogate, the more confused they become as to who would keep Katherine hostage and why. This is an addictive thriller that’s a great addition to the series and has kept me guessing as to whether Amanda and Trent will take their friendship further. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the tenth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series, one I've been reading since book four and I enjoy the procedural thriller series. This book starts with Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Detective Trent Stenson being called to the scene of a tragic death. (Be aware that the beginning is violent and difficult to read because an eighteen-year-old girl is killed.) If the death of a young woman isn't bad enough, they realize the case is even more complicated and personal than they thought, and time is running out on this second part of the investigation.

This is a tense and suspenseful book and I really enjoyed seeing Amanda and Trent investigate this complex case. The resolution to the case is dramatic and gripping. I liked that throughout the book, we also get to know a side character from prior books a little better.

I would have liked the book even more if Amanda was as smart in her personal life as she is on the job. She makes some very poor choices in this book and puts her friendship and partnership with Trent on the line. In the end, she tries to do what's right, but I'm not sure I agree with her decision, but we will see what happens as the series continues. Fans of the series will enjoy the book, but it would also work as a standalone for new readers.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Bookouture. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but this didn’t keep my attention, I felt like it dragged in and then suddenly the detective just figured it out.

Missing Before Daylight by Carolyn Arnold is the 10th book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series. As I have noted previously, I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her books, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition. Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department.

In the predawn hours, a young girl working in a convenience store, is shot dead, and a former colleague of Amanda is kidnapped. When Amanda and Trent are called to the scene of the murder, they thought at first that it was a robbery, but watching the security footage, she recognizes the person who was abducted, was Katherine Graves, a former cop and colleague. Now it’s a race against time to find Katherine before she is killed.

Katherine, no longer a cop, had a tough reputation, handling a number of high-profile cases, and Amanda and Trent have to look into old cases and people who may have wanted revenge. Katherine did have a long list of dangerous enemies, which makes it even harder to find the culprit. This is told in two POV’s, for both Amanda and Katherine. In one of her Pov’s, the perpetrator tells Katherine “it’s time to pay for what you did.”

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. From the start, you become engrossed into the story. As Amanda continues to dig into Katherines past cases, the longer her list of suspects becomes. To say too much more would be spoilers.

Missing Before Daylight was another fantastic crime thriller, that was another gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. It was a compelling intricate suspenseful plot, excellent police procedural, great characters, edge of your seat thriller, with a surprise reveal near the end. Missing Before Daylight was once again so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, which is the norm for this author; as I am loving this series. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this series.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with the abduction of Katherine Graves in addition to a murder at a redi-mart. Katherine had stopped to get gas and when she went into pay, she was followed by a gunman that killed the store clerk and took Katherine. Amanda and Trent arrived at the scene but didn't get a full picture until the security video was reviewed. That is when they learned about Katherine. They was little evidence at the scene so their investigation started looking into Katherine's history. After talking with people in NYC they believed that someone from her time as a police officer there was the reason.

Amanda and Trent were searching knowing that time was slipping by which didn't look good for Katherine's chances. During this time a call was made requesting a ransom for Katherine's return. A plan was put in place, but they were not successful. Things changed when Katherine's car was discovered.

Read along as Amanda and Trent closed in on discovering where Katherine was being held. The ending is well done and a secret is revealed. Discover who took Katherine, what reason this person had and how Amanda was affected. It is a definite read.

I love this series and can't get enough of it! I hope Carolyn Arnold never stops writing the Detective Amanda Steele books! Just like all the others ones, this was filled with suspense and mystery and kept me glued to the pages. I read it all in one sitting! Awesome job!

3.5 stars
This is a good crime thriller.
Whilst it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone book.
Amanda and Trent are called to a gas station where a teenage girl who works there has been shot dead.
When they review the CCTV they realise another woman was at the gas station and they see her being forced into a van.
On closer inspection, Amanda realises it’s one of her old colleagues who left the Police.
Amanda and Trent pull out all the stops to find her before it’s too late.
A good read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Missing Before Daylight starts out with a call for Amanda and Trent to go to a gas station where a shooting has occurred. After they get there, they discover that one of their own, Katherine, had been at the gas station and was kidnapped. Neither detectives can figure out why anyone would want to kidnap her.
Can they figure out what is going on before Katherine ends up getting killed?
As always, Carolyn Arnold keeps us guessing up to the end. Her writing is solid, engaging and full of twists you never see coming.
I often wonder where the romance angle is going between Amanda, Trent and Logan. Honestly, I REALLY hope we get some sort of resolution to their relationships!
If you haven’t read the Detective Amanda Steele series, you are missing out! Definitely start with book 1. There is so much back story to the main characters that is important to know.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.