The Toybox

This was a very tense and nail biting book. It kept me at the edge of my seat. Was going to read a chapter a day on the way to work but unfortunately i ended up reading the book in one night didn't want it to finish

This was a compelling novel to read. Though I hadn’t read the previous novel in the series, it was easy to ascertain what I needed to know about the main character’s background. The book kept you guessing until the end, and never truly let you stop wondering. It was a dark story that never let you catch your breath. Highly recommend for fans of Gone Girl or The Girl on The Train

HOLY COW! This book will take you for the ride of your life. Girls all over New Mexico are going missing, including a family friend of Detective Alyssa. She and her partner Cord undertake the mission of finding out why this is happening and putting a stop to it. As usual, I definitely thought I had figured out the "whodunnit" but was left stunned when the truth was revealed. I was anxious and squirming up until the very end. This was the first Charly Cox book I have read, but it most definitely won't be the last! Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Detective Alyssa and her partner Cord are task to finding missing teenage girls who are winding up in New Mexico. This becomes more personal when a good friend of Alyssa daughter Jersey goes missing and Holly feels like she could have done something to have prevent it.

As they did dig deeper we get another POV of a missing girl who tells us what horrible things that are happening to them and even though they are suffering they are determined to fight and be strong. Alyssa is great as she stop at nothing to bring justice. This was edge of you seat story and even when I figure out who the criminal is I was surprised I was right because sometimes I be half right and another twist happens then you be like what. Looking forward to next book.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a great novel. Creepy, spooky, and fill of adrenaline. I kept wanting to read faster! There was one character that I had my suspicions about from the start (and I was right!) but everything else was a surprise. Very well written and kept up a great pace. Highly recommended!

This was the first book by this author that I've read, and I'm thrilled. It's the second in a series which I didn't know, and that wouldn't have been a problem, except that the entire plot of the first book is given away! So, that was kind of disappointing. Otherwise, it's a good mystery with characters that I enjoyed and can see getting to know better in more books to come.

Teenage girls are being taken in New Mexico, including the good friend of our main narrator's daughter. That narrator is Detective Alyssa Watt and she and partner, Cord, are determined to figure out how these missing girls are linked and who could be behind it all. Alyssa's daughter, Holly, also feels a need to help her missing friend Jersey, especially because she and Jersey's cousin Sophie feel like they could have prevented her abduction. We also see from the perspective of one of the captured girl's, Rachel. She gives us a horrifying glimpse into what they are being subjected to. It's hard to contain your emotions as their torture is described, as the details are grisly. But these girls are tough, and though they are suffering, they are determined to be brave and survive to see justice served.

I love discovering a new series that doesn't disappoint. The setting is also a nice change, as I don't think I've come across any other set in the Southwest US, which is depicted quite vividly, making you feel the burning sun coming right through the pages. But there is evil everywhere, no matter the location, and Detective Alyssa Watt is determined to bring justice to those who have been wronged. I can't wait to see what she tackles next!

This book is the second book in the Detective Alyssa Watt Series. Still, it can be read as a standalone book. The Story starts with Rachel Otis, a University student, going to a frat party with her friend Anna. After having a drink, Rachel feels a bit of amnesia and weakness. She looks for Anna around her, nowhere to be found, she tries to go upstairs to check into rooms. In the process, she bumps into a guy, who gives him a smirky smile. She founds Anna in one of the room upstairs with a guy and she pulls her into bed. Rachel wakes up only to find stranger surroundings with four stranger girls.

Angela, roommate of Rachel, reports to police that she is missing. Captain Hammond orders Alyssa Watt to look into the case. She starts investigation with her partner Detective Roberts Cord. They enquire Rachel’s parents, who much to their surprise were not too concerned with the news of her missing daughter. Only Rachel’s brother, Nick looked worried about her. Before they can get further leads on the case, another girl, Jersey Andrews, friend of Alyssa Watt’s daughter Holly goes missing. Then, they find body of a young girl dumped inside a construction site. Alyssa fears that it could be a serial killer operating in the city, kidnapping young girls. Soon, another girl Katelyn Phillipson goes missing. All the missing girls are from area around University of New Mexico. One of the suspects is Jersey’s boyfriend, Beau Cambridge, a rich spoilt boy. Holly and her friends Sophie Quill and Leigh Ann had witnessed a fight between him and Jersey, just before she went missing. Another suspect is Bartholomew Rosenfelt, one of the richest men in the country. Car used in dumping girl in construction site is registered in his company’s name. Alyssa Watt needs to find the links to the disappearances soon, to save the lives of girls, trapped in vicious and dangerous sex racket.

The Plot is a simple one with an engaging story line. I loved the writing style of author, smooth, uncomplicated and pretty lucid. Third person POV is used for narration which created a picturesque description of places and events. Characters are well portrayed and relatable.
During investigation part of the missing complaints of victims, one after another, some boredom crept in as almost same things were being repeated. Either after first case, that part should have been made concise or something different should have been introduced.

Overall, this is a pretty good novel that deals with the Sex Racket and its victims. I will be looking forward to further novels in Alyssa Watt’s Series.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Once again great book by Charly Box! I love the main character in this series. Suspense was great in this book and it kept my attention. I just love this series!

I read this straight after reading the first book starring Detective Alyssa Wyatt and enjoyed it just as much as the first. I also finished it in one day reading until 3am as I wanted to find out how it would end.
This one gave more depth to the back story of Wyatt partner Cord as well.
Young girls are being kidnapped off the streets and the team need to find out who is taking them and I they still alive. I loved how the story unfolded and the differing characters. I can’t wait for book three.
Thanks to Hera books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheToybox #NetGalley

This book was so addictive! I could not put it down. I was on the edge of my seat every time I turned the page!! One of the best crime books I have ever read!!!

Don’t let the title fool you there is nothing playful or funny about this story. What it is about is raw, gritty and sometimes hard to read. It’s also one of the best crime fiction novels I’ve read this year. The second book in this series is even better than the first.
Detective Alyssa Watt and her partner Cord are called into investigate several missing teenage girls.
The evil in this story is terrifying because it happens every day. If your a fan of Lisa Gardner which I am you will love this book.

This book was a quick read with a story that was believable, unfortunately. I say that because human trafficking is a very real problem in the world, and this book helps bring the problem to light. The characters were easy to picture, although I must say that I found it a bit of a stretch that the same police detective had suffered 2 separate family kidnappings prior to this story, where she found herself embroiled in even more kidnappings. That being said, I found it refreshing that the person whom I assumed would be the bad guy DIDN'T end up being the bad guy, though he was still a jerk. If you are the parent of a young girl who is getting ready to go to college, this book might make you cringe a bit.

A dark, tension-filled and absolutely nail-biting crime thriller with a twist – this one will have you reading until the small hours

Whole review to come once the book is published

**Thankyou Netgalley and publisher for approving my request**

Loved this creepy, spooky book! I couldn't put it down. This book was well written and had a great pace.
I didn't realize this was the 2nd book in the series but I had no issues with any characters or plot. I'm interested in reading book 1 for sure. This was a spectacular crime fiction book.

Don't let this title fool you- there is nothing playful about this book. The evil in this story is real and gritty- it happens everyday- how terrifying.

Such a great book! Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

Missing teenage girls, a lead detective whose brother was kidnapped as a child and presumed missing is really a serial killer that kidnaps his sister's son for revenge, her partner whose sister was brutally raped that hung herself, and a jock that degrades women. These are some of the characters of The Toy Box....and I'm not talking children's toys. This story is well written and held my interest. I wanted to know what happened, Only part I didn't care for were some of the parts regarding the why and how of the treatment of the kidnapped girls. My thanks again to Net Galley

Charly Cox's The Toy Box tackles a very rough topic. I had a hard time reading some of the chapters due to the nature of it. However, the mystery was solid... A great leading character who I instantly liked! I've not read any books in this Series yet (but I will!)... but, I didn't need to. Ms. Cox did a fantastic job of keeping the reader well appraised of the past and how it is impacting the characters in this novel.

This is #2 in Detective Alyssa Wyatt's series. The author easily brings you up to date quickly, however after reading this, grab #1 if you haven't done so. Missing young women bring the detectives in to find them. Once the first body is found, could this be a serial killer? Read it and see. I enjoy the ride of this book. I always enjoy a book that doesn't bore me. I will follow this author. Thank you for the ARC from NetGalley.

Detective Alyssa Wyatt is finally beginning to get her and her family's lives back together after a traumatic case involved them all when the disappearance of a college student plunges them headlong into another nightmare. With partner Detective Cord Roberts struggling with the evidence they uncover and the discovery of a body found dumped in a dilapidated and deserted building they both know things will have to get worse before they get better. Maybe it's just as well they don't know how bad that will be.

This is a great story which I read in two sittings only because at 3.00 am I had to get some sleep! The second book in this series by Charly Cox, is even better than the first which was excellent. The story was heartbreaking, the research detailed and horrific while the storyline was page-turningly brilliant.

Characters met in the first book are fleshed out even more here and I have no doubt a successful series could continue with future books. Although the storyline covers the truly horrific subject of sex trafficking, reading about it in a fictional setting in no way minimises its effect. I was anxious to find out what happened as the story played out but also didn't want it to end and loved that when the culprit was unmasked everything continued on for a few more chapters to show the resulting situation for all concerned.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who enjoys police procedural fiction. Charly Cox is a first class exponent of this genre.

Just finished The Toybox, what a gritty fast-paced novel, I couldn’t put it down! The subject matter of adolescent sex trafficking is handled sensitively and gets your heartbeat racing at times. If you enjoy detective novels that multifaceted, well-linked narratives, you will enjoy this book. I’m excited to have discovered Charly Cox, who is certainly not afraid to delve in to the underworld.

This is my first book by this author, it definitely will not be the last. I am unsure my review will put into words how much I have loved this read. It is perfect as a stand alone, despite being part of a series. 
There is nothing playful or funny about this story, despite the title- I love it!! I have really liked the main character Alyssa and found her to be likeable and very real. I have been kept guessing throughout with this one and found that this has been a perfect read . 
I have devoured this book in its entirety in just one sitting, which only happens when the author has managed to fully engage me in the story. This is definitely one of those books, I have nothing negative to say about this. It is a great read which I highly recommend.

As a first time reader of this author, I was unsure about what I would get in this novel, to be honest I got a lot more than I bargained for, a slightly over complex start soon morphed in to a well written, twisting thriller. Plenty of plot was equally matched by plenty of personality in the characters.
Would I recommend this book to my friends - yes, very much so.

The second in the series to feature Detective Alyssa Wyatt and her crack team and OMG WHAT A READ!!! I literally have no nails left. After reading the first book I thought I knew what to expect and boy I was so wrong. A very dark, gripping, distressing and abhorrent tale of human trafficking and an elite sex ring. I read this book in one sitting and only putting it down when needs must. Plenty of heart in your mouth moments and packed with tension and suspense. This crime series is one the best I have read and can't wait to read more. A well deserved five stars and so Highly Recommended and a MUST READ!!!!
Thanks to Hera Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

The second book in the series, set in New mexico to feature Detective Alyssa Watt. It centres around the disappearances of young girls and the subject is dark but written in a sensitive manner. Overall, this is well written and fast paced. I would recommend this author and series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I very much enjoyed this thriller as it was my first from Charly Cox. I definitely want to check out book #1 because of hearing about what happened in this book.

This book is not for everyone. When girls start to disappear because of sex trafficking, Alyssa and Cord are trying to figure out who is behind it all. If this topic bothers you, you might want to not read this one. This is the first book this year to make me cry. I hated Mrs. Otis and I think any normal human would like to reach in the pages and slap her lol.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this! Excited to read more by Charly.

The Toybox is a dark police procedural by Charly Cox, examining the horrific world of human trafficking. This book sees the return of Detective Alyssa Wyatt. Alyssa’s own family is still reeling from the horrific events which happened to them in book one in the series when Alyssa’s son was kidnapped. You don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy this one, but I would recommend it if you want to get a better understanding of the characters and what they have previously been through.

It doesn’t seem as though Alyssa Wyatt’s family is going to be left in peace after what happened to them, when her daughter’s best friend, Jersey goes missing after a frat party. In the opening chapter, Charly Cox draws you into the moments prior to Jersey’s disappearance, and she creates an unnerving, claustrophobic feeling as the party gets underway. Charly has created some instantly dislikeable characters in this book, and I found this particularly with one young man, who Alyssa is hoping to connect to the crimes, and with the parents of one of the missing girls. You can see just how angry these characters make Alyssa and the other detectives working on the case feel. It also made me feel angry that there are people who are like this out there in the world.

I must admit, however, I did find the build-up of the book quite slow. After the opening scenes, it did take time for the tension to get going again. But I did want to find out what was going to happen to the girls who had been kidnapped. I was rooting for Alyssa to reach the answers before it was too late. There are some really tense scenes when we see where the girls have been taken, and Charly Cox made it seem as though time was running out for them.

The tension really turns up a notch as the book reaches its climax. I don’t want to go into too much detail here as I don’t want to spoil it, but Charly Cox still kept me gripping the page as I felt that there was still the possibility that something could go drastically wrong.

I enjoyed catching up with Detective Alyssa Wyatt again in this book, and I will be looking forward to seeing what Charly Cox comes up with next. If you enjoy gritty, police procedurals, then I would recommend giving these books a go.

This is the second book in the unmissable Detective Alyssa Wyatt crime series which reads well as a standalone. The author gives enough background so that the reader won’t feel lost or that they are missing anything. I do recommend reading it though as it is a great read.

I loved the storyline in the authors first book and I will admit that I was slightly worried how she could match, or top the previous case but she has. The Toybox would be anyone’s worst nightmare. What I especially love is that the author doesn’t go into any great detail about what takes place in it. She doesn’t need to. Enough is given so that the readers imagination can do the rest.

We get to know more about Cord, Alyssa’s partner, in this book which was something else I enjoyed. It was could to get to know him better and what makes him tick. I could really feel the work bond between them and they make a great partnership.

The young female victims is what makes this an outstanding read. I can’t say much more than that apart from you need to read this for yourself. The strength shown grabbed on my heart strings and made it quite an emotional read in parts. Holly, Alyssa’s daughter, also plays a bigger part in this one and have to say I am loving Alyssa’s family, they are an added bonus in these brilliant books.

The Toybox is a fantastic addition to the series that shocked and horrified me, yet I couldn’t put it down. If you haven’t read this authors books then I urge you to add her to your reading pile. You won’t regret it I promise you. There is just so much to love about this series and am already a huge fan. A dark and chilling read that will have you hanging on for dear life!

My thanks to Hera Books and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

I have not read a thriller that I felt so physically and emotionally connected to in quite a while. This book started with action and didn't stop until the last page. Throughout the few days that I was reading, I found my heart racing and anxiety coursing through my body as the Detectives got closer to finding the missing girls.

This book is told from the point of view of a missing girl, Detective Wyatt, and her daughter Holly. The stories become complex and intertwined as the cases start to develop and deepen. Each of these character stories built on the other and kept me wondering what was happening and how much closer they were to coming together.

The writing was excellent and allowed me to dive even deeper into the enjoyment of the story. Charly Cox was able to create depth in the characters, incite terror, and anticipation right away and keep it to the end. I will caution readers who are sensitive to rape, abuse, and kidnapping to look for other books. This one has a lot of heart-wrenching scenes that are written well enough to cause terror.

I will be recommending this one for fans of thrillers and crime reads for a long time. Plus, since this is Book 2 of Detective Wyatt stories I know there will be more writing from Charly Cox to enjoy in the future!

I hadn’t read the first book in the series but that didn’t matter. The Toybox was a dark & gripping read focussed on a sex trafficking ring. A real page turner & I immediately bought book 1 when I’d finished

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hera Books for an advance copy of The Toybox, the second novel to feature Albuquerque detective Alyssa Wyatt.

When teenage girls, including Alyssa’s daughter Holly’s friend Jersey Andrews, start disappearing from Albuquerque’s richer neighbourhoods Alyssa and her partner, Cord Roberts, are assigned the case. Then the body of another teenager is found and the stakes are raised as the detectives battle to find the girls and save their lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Toybox which is an engrossing read with some interesting twists, some more guessable than others. This not a comfortable read, in fact I found it quite emotionally distressing and was tempted to skip some of the more powerful passages. The narrative is mostly split between Alyssa’s investigation and the experiences of the captives. This latter is not graphic on their physical ordeal, thank goodness, but is extremely powerful on their emotions. The cruelty And hopelessness broke my heart.

The investigation follows the usual scenario of blind alleys, lies, misleading statements and self protection until the breakthrough. I found the investigation slightly frustrating as they seemed a bit slow off the mark chasing the technology, for example I don’t remember one reference to checking the girls’ social media but once things hot up it’s go, go, go.

I like the partnership between Alyssa and Cord as they work well together. She’s the stronger one and he’s a good foil although he has his own issues to work through in this case.

The Toybox is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Getting started with a series of crime books with the second book in the series is always a bit of a risky bet. Either you'll be completely lost and won't enjoy it – or you'll enjoy it so much you'll want to go back to the first book in the series (even if you already know what's going to happen).

In that case, luckily, it was the second option. Very early on, I started being hooked by the story and rooting for the girls to survive and get out of the hell they were in.
You know it's a good book when the descriptions make you wince and follow you all day long, and that was definitely one of those.
Though the plot twist might have been too much of a cliché for me, and though I'd managed to guess who the culprit was before the book revealed their name, I still greatly enjoyed the thought process that led to the arrest.

All of the characters were very well done and endearing – with a special nod to Nick Otis and Holly, who I hope to see more of should there be more books in the series.

The one thing that did bother me a bit about this book was the repetition of certain facts – notably regarding Cord, who works with Alyssa on this case. Hard to explain without spoiling his backstory, but something happened when he was younger that keeps being repeated, and keeps making Alyssa doubt if he should really be on this case. It was a good backstory; just a touch too much said about it.

All in all, then, a solid, 4 stars crime book that is exactly what I was looking for when I requested it. Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for that early copy!

The Toybox follows Detective Alyssa Wyatt as she tries to locate three missing girls. The horror and urgency only intensifies when a forth girl is found raped and murdered. Can Detective Wyatt find the girls before they meet the same fate?

The Toybox is a crime mystery which took me a little while to get into. The first 50% of the book was a bit slow for me personally, with it also introducing a lot of characters it took a while to wrap my head around who’s who. However, from 50% to 100% blew my mind! The story picked up speed and gained momentum and I just could not put it down. As an author Cox gives clues and hints throughout the story, some to give you insight and others to throw you off completely. There were moments where I had to take a breath as some of the detail in the story is a bit heavy. However, other times I was in shock or shouting “oh my gosh” at what I was reading and what was being revealed.

“Despite the fear, something else had begun to bloom in her chest, something she’d lost within hours of being locked in this place. Hope.”

Publication date: 3rd June 2020

The Toy Box is the second book in the Detective Alyssa Wyatt series and holy shit what a book! Unfortunately when I started this book I was unaware it was a part of a series, however it was still easily read on its own. There are mentions of the events of the first book and the brief glimpses given were enough to ensure me that book 1 is definitely worth reading also.

The Toy Box is a dark and thrilling crime read that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole book. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. While this is a work of fiction the subject matter of the book is not. Sex trafficking is a very real issue. That fact alone makes this book so much more horrifying.

You will be horrified and shocked by the treatment of these young women. Your heart will shatter for them. The young victim's strength and determination will amaze you. And the truth behind their betrayal will leave you shocked. This is a book you NEED to add to your TBR pile. This is a book you will not regret picking up.



I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it will definitely not be the last! Unfortunately this is the second in the series and not having read the first one , (which is referred to throughout this book) , I think would’ve set up the characters personality’s. The storyline is gripping and I liked the fact that it didn’t end like most books of this type do , unable to say more as will give away the plot !! I will definitely read the first in the series and continue to watch out for this author

I appreciate this Authors trying to bring awareness to the sex trafficking that is prevalent today! This is a gritty story of young girls going missing, with miserable sadistic people at it's core. In this story it's girls from wealthy families, good girls, University age, and younger. I thought of my nieces, neighbors, and friends daughters, children I taught in Sunday school, how horrendous it all is. If there is one thing about this book, it should bring to the forefront that people who have knowledge and don't share it, are just as guilty as those who do the deed! How brave the young women who survive something like this is amazing, if they only knew how many people care about their return, they are not at fault, the evil sick perverts are! Love the two main characters, detective Wyatt, and her handsome partner, the girls are all beautiful inside, where it really matters. The only problem I had was the amount of police working the case, I know there would be more than City Police officers handling this case, there would be State, and the local FBI involved, since kidnapping has occurred. I gave it a 3.5 because of this.
I highly recommend! Thank you #Netgalley #The Toybox

This book is, in short, incredible. It is very emotional and covers some hard hitting topics. Although quite traumatic at times it is brilliantly and compassionately written which makes you want to read on. It genuinely felt more like a true story than anything else, I was completely invested in all the main characters and didn’t see the twist coming. Charly Cox was a new author to me but I’m already looking to read other titles.

OMG!!! I thought the first book in this series was good, but this one is even better!! While the subject matter is very hard to read, its reality. It shattered me into a million pieces while slapping me in the face with a dose of reality.

I don't have any triggers, but I have to say parts of this book were very hard for me to read. I cried and that's very unlike me. This is an edge of your seat page turner with lots of action (some of which is just pure evil!), great characters (even the evil ones), and many twists and turns with one that most won't see coming.

While this book can be read as a standalone, do yourself a favor and read all his pretty girls first as its really good and introduces you to the main characters. I really hope there will be more books in this series.

#Alyssa #Cord #Evil #GreatBook #NetGalley

Great thriller, very easy to read! There where many twists in the story that really surprised me! This was a book that I wished hadn’t ended!

This was an easy to read thriller that kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend. Very good!!

Here’s my advice to future readers of “The Toybox” - don’t plan to do anything else until you finish reading this book. The story is intense, suspenseful and realistic. Charly Cox captured the essence of rape and trauma in a very respectful, true and caring manner. Excellent read. I hope this book gets the attention it deserves due to Charly’s writing talent and skill and to make people aware that human trafficking exists and to try to stop this heinous activity.

Thank You to NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC!!

All around Albuquerque, New Mexico, young women are going missing, seemingly vanished into thin air. With no link between the victims, Detective Alyssa Wyatt is quickly plunged into a horrifying case with no obvious clues. And when Jersey Andrews, the best friend of Alyssa’s teenage daughter, Holly, joins the list of vanished girls, the case becomes personal.

As the first tortured body of a young girl appears, abandoned on the streets, Alyssa is forced into a frantic hunt to track down the killers – before more innocent women lose their lives.

I haven't read the first book in the series but it really doesn't matter. This is an extremely dark book which addresses a serious crime that exists in our society. We get to read the ordeal the missing girls face in captivity and it becomes extremely difficult to control your anger and disgust. However their grit and determination will swell your heart with pride.

Overall a great book with interesting characters which keeps you on the edge till the end!!

A fast paced thriller involving the disappearance of young girls in New Mexico. The issue of human trafficking and slavery is heart wrenching and the details gruesome. Though the second book in the series, it gives adequate background information, so no issues there. The links between the victims were tenuous and the psychology of the kidnapper could be better dealt with. 4.5 stars

Wow. What a thriller!

First off, I need to thank Netgalley, Hera Books and Charly Cox for my advanced readers copy.

I was initially interested in this because of the Toybox Killer and this sounded just as dark and twisted.

Alyssa Wyatt is a detective for the Albuquerque Police Department and is investigating the disappearance of a young woman who seemed to vanish without a trace. After her daughter's friend, Jersey, disappears and another young woman is found dead near Jersey's last known location, Alyssa is determined to find these girls and stop whoever is behind this.

This thriller was incredible. It took about 20% of the book for me to get my bearings on the story and it was around 50% when I couldn't put the book down - literally finishing the last 50% in less than 24 hours. It was the perfect mix of police procedural from Alyssa's point of view and personal sides told from the missing girl's points of view.

I liked the majority of the characters (Holly, Alyssa's daughter, was my favorite), and there was enough foreshadowing to throw your guesses off for who was behind it.

My only complaints about this book (and they're hardly complaints) are the heavy references to the first book. I didn't realize this was a sequel until I was approved to read it and I'm not going read the first because I know how it ends. One of the references became redundant by the end of the book, it only needed to be mentioned once or twice. My other complaint is that the first half of the book was more slow, but the ending more than made up for it.

I'd highly recommend this to anyone who loves thrillers and police procedural books. I'd even recommend it if you aren't a big fan of police procedurals because this is on the looser end of it. I'm rating this 5 stars, but my official rating is 4.5/5.

This book has a handful of trigger warnings that should be known: sexual abuse, physical abuse, suicide, kidnapping, animal abuse, and marital infidelity. This book doesn't go into great detail on these, but enough that you know it's happening.

5/5 Stars - I really fell in love with some of these characters!

First things first: this is the second book in the Alyssa Wyatt series and contains spoilers for the first book. That didn’t bother me so much because the solution was so interesting, it made me want to see the puzzle, you know? But just an FYI. 

Speaking of Alyssa Wyatt, her and her daughter, Holly, and friends really made this book shine. They were all devoted to helping and protecting their family and friends and it was a nice, bright spot in a book that had a bit of a heavy subject. I will definitely be reading more of this series to see where these characters go from here.

The story itself was creepy and horrifying - everything a good thriller should be. The bad guys were completely deranged and it was giving me shivers as the reveals came at the end. The author did an excellent job creating people you could root both for and against.

The ending itself was really satisfying, for both the main mystery and some of the subplots that continue throughout the book. Like I said earlier, I am excited to see where things go in the future and will be picking up the next in this series. 

Highly recommended!

A dark and gripping story that kept me on the edge till end.
It's well told, the cast of characters is interesting and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Fear surrounds Albuquerque, New Mexico, after several teenage girls and young women disappear with no clue as to what has happened to them. After a body is found, Detective Alyssa Wyatt finds herself desperately trying to uncover what is happening, especially when the friend of her daughter goes missing. With no apparent link between the victims, Wyatt and her partner Cord, find themselves involved in an investigation into criminals much more depraved than they could ever have imagined. Can they locate the girls before they suffer the same fate as the murdered girl?

One of my favourite books of last year was this author's debut, All His Pretty Girls, the first book in the Alyssa Wyatt series. As someone who doesn't tend to read many books set in the US, this one completely blew me away and I  couldn't wait to read the next in the series. I wondered how Charly Cox would be able to live up to the standard of her first book and I am so pleased to say that she has managed it with ease!

The subject matter is not for the faint of heart, dealing with the horrendous crimes of sex trafficking and physical abuse. This is so well written, however, that the author does not actually need to describe the extent of the suffering that these young women are having to endure as enough is implied so that you know what is happening without actually having to read it. This is, I feel, more powerful than seeing the events written down in front of you as your imagination can fill in the gaps, leaving you feeling nothing but horror about what is unfolding before your eyes. These women were incredibly brave despite their circumstances and I found myself desperately hoping that they would be freed from the predicament without anything even more horrendous happening to them.

One word of caution I will give with The Toybox is that there are spoilers aplenty about the previous installment, to the point that some pretty major twists are revealed. The events in All His Pretty Girls have definitely helped to shape Alyssa and some of her actions and feelings can be explained by what has gone before. Alyssa is a great character with a stable family life and a partner who she trusts implicitly. This is something that is often missing in other police procedurals so I really like how we can focus on the investigation rather than on the private life of the detective.

This really is a superb series and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you are looking for a gritty police procedural with believable characters and a gripping plot, then The Toybox may just be the book for you.

This is the second book in the Detective Alyssa Wyatt series. I had read the first one and enjoyed it and this one did not disappoint. The Toybox is a dark and thrilling crime novel that deals with the heartbreaking issue of sex trafficking. Although the author doesn't go into a lot of detail about what goes on in the Toybox room, enough is given so the reader can imagine the horrors these girls go through. I enjoy Alyssa as a main character and her partnership with Detective Cord Roberts, who has his own issues in dealing with this case. I would recommend this series to fans of Lisa Gardner or Karin Slaughter.

OMG. What a book!! It caused goosebumps to appear as I read down the pages. The author Charly Cox was a master planner who plotted the construction of The Toybox in such a way that her main characters Detectives Alyssa Wyatt and Cord found themselves racing to the finish line to find the lost girls.

Rachel Otis went to a frat party and disappeared. Soon the case touched Alyssa close to her home when Holly's best friend Jersey disappeared. The cops knew they had to work fast to save the girls. This time stakes were too high.

My second book by the author, the writing caused a shiver down my back at the hints of what happened to these girls were told to me. There was nothing graphic but what was left unsaid creeped me out completely.

The prose had a haunting magic to it. I was supposed to read a couple of chapters just before bed, but I couldn't stop reading. The reasons for the kidnapping were nefarious. Every chapter added to the fear in my heart, I could feel it pounding. The things the girls went through and the immense strength shown by them caught me by my throat. I couldn't breathe or sleep. The vengeant heart of mine demanded justice.

I goaded Alyssa and Cord to investigate faster. Their work chemistry and the cohesive way they put their brains to action was poetry in motion. Their vulnerabilities were gently caressed in the midst of a busy case. I loved getting to know them further.

The ending was a maddive shocker. I was in absolute awe of the author's mind in the way she twisted the story. It was a difficult read, but nothing could have loosened my grip on my kindle until I reached the end.

The Toybox is the 2nd book in the Alyssa Wyatt series and it was just as good as the first one!
If you like films like Taken and Hostel then you will love the whole storyline of this book.
Kept me gripped all the way through - not a dull moment at all . When the book seems to reach its climax at 70 per cent of the way through I expected the book to drag but it didn't, there were plenty more twists and I felt as though all questions were answered .
I absolutely love this author and will be looking out for all future releases.

A very dark, chilling read that you won’t want to put down. I finished this book in one night and highly recommend reading it.

I absolutely adored Charly Cox’s debut All His Pretty Girls so I was so happy to see that the second in the Alyssa Wyatt series was coming out.

While it can be read as a standalone, I’d still recommend reading the first in the series, not just because it’s so good but because they refer to events in the previous book in this one.

The Toybox is everything I want in a police procedural, fast paced, fantastic characters and an intriguing story line with that added bonus of having an emotional impact on me.

It starts off with a woman’s worst nightmare. College student Rachel Otis has been drugged somewhere only to wake up in another unfamiliar place, captive with no way of escape. Lucky for her Alyssa Wyatt is on the case.

Alyssa is still suffering from her last case but it’s her partner Cord who really struggles during this investigation with something from his past. I loved getting to know him a little better and seeing part of his back story.

There are some really remarkable characters in this book, some that I liked and rooted for, others that I just loathed.

This novel does cover some upsetting subjects, kidnap and sex slavery are just two, but I think the author handled them with care and gives enough detail without going too far. I will admit I felt a little bit teary eyed watching some of the characters and what they went through.

I will admit I kind of figured out a certain part of the storyline but I had fun playing detective myself.

The Toybox is a dark and gritty thriller that kept me utterly gripped throughout.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. I have been sent a copy of this book for review purposes. This has not influenced or affected my opinions in this review.

With The Toybox, I was not immediately a fan however as I kept reading, I felt it growing on me. You are thrown straight into the action. The characters of this book are full of depth and well fleshed out which I really enjoyed. I did feel a little disconnect from the main character as I hadn’t read the previous book in the series and so I am not familiar with her backstory and so I couldn’t fully connect with her. However, from what I know about the previous book about this detective, it seems really intriguing and I am really interested in reading it. I felt a bit uncomfortable with some of the scenes, but I suppose you could argue that on some level that means that it is well written. The Toybox is a nail biting and gripping thriller and I truly loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good crime thriller filled with twists and turns.

*4 stars*

Great book. Lots of suspense, enjoyed the characters and the intrigue. This is a first for the author but will read her previous book and look forward to more. Thanks to NetGalley and Hera publishing for a copy of this book. Highly recommend.

Detective Alyssa Wyatt returns for a second instalment. Young women are going missing at an alarming rate. The scenario reaches a little too close to home as her daughters friend also goes missing. As one of the missing women turns up dead, Wyatt and partner Cord Roberts race to make connections and rescue the women from the most depraved and sickening situation.

A truly gripping thriller that keeps the pages turning. Can’t wait for a third Wyatt book. A well recommended read.

The Toybox is a crime thriller by Charly Cox.It follows on from the first book featuring Alyssa Wyatt, All His Pretty Girls. The Toybox can be read as a standalone due to the background Charly gives us.
The story is set in Albuquerque. New Mexico. Alyssa and Cord Roberts ,her partner are attempting to find links between several missing young women, without success. The next girl to go missing makes it personal for Alyssa as it is her daughters best friend.This sends them in a race against time to track the perpetrators before anyone else is taken.
An action packed crime thriller, with a
main character that is so fiesty but also compassionate with it.She is always attempting to balance both work and personal life which is a fight in itself. The subject matter can be hard reading as the book deals with human trafficking but it is dealt with in the right manner. So happy Sarah Hardy asked me to be a part of the Hera books blog tour for The Toybox and thanks to Netgalley and Hera books for the ARC.

WOW - just wow....this is a very intense book that will stick with you long after you finish reading it. I don't want to give away anything but be forewarned it can and will hit you in places you weren't expecting...

What a story this is!!! The Toybox is the second book in the Alyssa Wyatt series. And just like it’s predecessor, All The Pretty Girls, Charly Cox has delivered a powerful and intense story. Be prepared to settle in and not want to stop reading until it’s over. Instead of hunting down a serial killer, Alyssa and her team are looking for missing girls. The story is just as thrilling and exciting to figure out this time around. I hope this is just the beginning of this series! Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for the ARC!

Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Detective Alyssa Wyatt and her work partner Cord Roberts are investigating another case. This follows on shortly after the events in book one, All His Pretty Girls, but each instalment contains its own investigation and works on its own.

Young women are seemingly vanishing into thin air. With no obvious clues or links between the victims, Alyssa and Cord are struggling, then Jersey Andrews, the best friend of Alyssa’s teenage daughter, Holly, joins the list of missing girls, and for Alyssa the case has just become personal. Alyssa faces a frantic hunt to track down the killers, before any more innocent women lose their lives.

Alyssa is a feisty, compassionate detective balancing her professional life with her personal life. I like the partnership between Alyssa and Cord as they worked very well together. Although Alyssa comes across as the stronger of the two, Cord is a good anchor although he has issues of his own in The Toybox. This is a well written crime thriller with lots of action and some really great characterisation. There are some themes contained within the tension-filled story that were heavy going and emotionally distressing, such as human trafficking, but they didn't deter me from wanting to read on. In fact I had trouble putting my Kindle down as I needed to see how the story would conclude. The ending was a huge surprise that I didn't see coming. I will definitely be reading the first in the series, All His Pretty Girls and shall be watching out for book three.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Hera Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

I read, loved and reviewed the first book in the Detective Alyssa Wyatt series, which is called 'All The Pretty Girls'. I couldn't wait to get hold of a copy of the next book in the series. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over as the second book in the series called 'The Toybox' was released on 3rd June 2020. It is another fantastic read from Charly Cox. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Toybox' but more about that in a bit.
I love the character of Detective Alyssa Wyatt. She is a feisty lady, who is a dedicated police officer. As soon as I started to read 'The Toybox' I felt as though I had reunited with an old friend in Alyssa. She is tough, tenacious, determined, caring, kind, compassionate, sensitive with a bit of a stubborn streak to her personality. The cases as described in 'The Toybox' become personal for her when the best friend of her daughter just vanishes. Will Alyssa solve the case and discover why the girls are going missing? Well you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
To say that reading 'The Toybox' became addictive seems like the understatement of the century. I was gripped by this book from the moment I first picked my Kindle up and began to read. It was as if the story developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn't willing to break. I made the fatal mistake of beginning to read this book shortly before I went to bed. What a mistake to make! Let's just say that I read into the wee small hours of the morning and I had to literally force myself to put my Kindle down. 'The Toybox' was one of those books that stuck in my mind and I became obsessed with. If I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book. If I had to put the book down for any reason, then I would immediately look forward to being able to get back to reading the book. For me, 'The Toybox' really was the definition of an unputdownable page turner.
'The Toybox' is superbly written, but then I thought that the first book in the series was also well written. Charly grabbed my attention from the start with a shocking synopsis and she drew me into the story. Once Charly had my attention, she wouldn't let me have it back until the moment I read the very last word on the very last page. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's down to Charly's fantastic writing and storytelling. 'The Toybox' is a gripping story, which had me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Toybox' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Charly's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is the second book in a series which I didn't realise until I started reading it, but this didn't deter me from continuing to read it as it briefly summarises what happened in book 1 through the story.

This book really pinned me to it from the first chapter.
The main character Alyssa is hunting down the predator who has abducted three girls aged between 13 and 19 and will stop at nothing to find them.

This book is fantastic! I anticipate an exciting and new fast paced series from Charly Cox emerging soon and cannot wait to get my hands on her next books!

It was hard to read because of the topic but it was so well written it was hard to put it down.
I did guess who the kidnapper was quite early but it did not ruin the book for me.
It's a good book about a hard topic.

The Toybox by Charly Fox
Detective Alyssa Wyatt #2

Well, the book description is correct…I stayed up till 3:30 to finish this book and then had trouble getting to sleep once in my bed. This was a book I will not forget any time soon. Gripping, gritty and gruesome this story is one that though not one hundred percent explicit left no doubt that the missing girls had more to deal with than anyone ever should have to bear.

What I liked:
* Alyssa Wyatt: this female lead character is one to admire. She has both feet on the ground, is a good leader, works well with her team, is compassionate and so much more. She is in a stable marriage with children she loves and cares for. She is…normal.
* Cord Roberts: job partner to Alyssa, he too is normal. A good man, happily married, good team player and someone I want to get to know better, too.
* Alyssa’s family: all seem to be normal (hear the repetition?) I am so ready for crime stories with people in charge that I can relate to
* The writing: plot, pace and writing were excellent
* That I was grabbed immediately then could not put the book down till the wee hours of the morning
* The issue of human-sex trafficking was presented in a way that was real and made me think about how to prevent it…
* That there was a happy ending for some

What I did not like:
* Knowing that human trafficking and sex-slaves really exist in this world and that there is so little regard for the plight of these people
* The entitled hands-off parents some of the girls had in their lives
* The evil amoral abusive people in the story – wanted to see them all experience exactly what they were so willing to do to the women they tortured
* Knowing that I missed the first book in this series – will have to see if I can find and read it soon

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, though the subject matter was not always easy reading
Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Rachel attended a frat party she really didn't want to go to. She never made it home after the party.

Jersey Andrews went missing after a big blowout with her boyfriend. She walked away alone .. and disappeared.

When the two teenage girls wake up, neither of them know where they are or how they got there. They are not alone, either.

Upstairs is a room called the Toy Box. They will be introduced to the room at a later date.

Detectives Alyssa Wyatt and Cord Roberts immediately start interviewing parents, friends, co-workers looking for the reason these girls did not return home. This hits really close to Roberts and his anger may lead him to tank this case.

And then another girl disappears on her way home from school .. she's only 13 years old.

What connects all these girls? They mostly come from higher income families, although there doesn't seem to be anything else. Boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, fathers, step-fathers are all looked at very closely.

What the detectives find is something so horrifying that they almost can't believe it themselves.

TRIGGERS: RAPE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, TORTURE. This may not be the book for everyone.

Although second in the series, this reads easily as a stand-alone. I do recommend reading ALL HIS PRETTY GIRLS as some things are mentioned in the second book that may impede surprising twists and turns in the first book. The plot is solid ... characters are deftly drawn.. with a few surprises thrown in to keep the reader somewhat off-balance. I look forward to seeing this series extended.

Many thanks to the author / Hera Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we are once again back on the job with Detective Wyatt and her partner Cord Roberts. This takes place shortly after the events of book one, but each contains its own investigation and works on its own. If however you plan to read book one, do it FIRST as there are spoilers in book two.

What starts out as a missing persons case quickly morphs into something more sinister. To make matters worse, Jersey Andrews, the best friend of Alyssa’s teenage daughter, Holly, goes missing too. Detective Wyatt won’t stop until she brings these girls home.

This was another brilliant, tightly woven, nail-bitting investigation. When the body of a young woman is found dead, the tension increases. Suspects, absentee parents and new victims lead us down a dark gritty path to the unthinkable.

The clues, suspects and twists did not come easily, and Cox hooked me. I once again devoured this in a single evening.

Cox takes us into the underbelly of a world that parents fear, shedding a harsh light on the terrifying realities. A world no one like to speak of but is a worldwide epidemic. She did so thoughtfully, and factual with just enough horror to unnerve you.

This author has quickly been added to my must read list. The writing flows smoothly as we get to know the key detectives and inner workings of the department.


Full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on June 9th.

This was a gripping crime thriller with lots of twists and turns that kept me turning the page. It was well written and had a good flow to it.

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

I’ve read the author’s previous book and thoroughly enjoyed it. This book did not disappoint, I thought it was a thrilling, compelling read, chilling in parts and very fast paced. I love the authors writing style, and was hooked and engaged in the story right from the start to the end. There were plenty of twists, most I did not expect and the reveal at the end shocked me. I enjoyed reading of the main characters relationships with her work colleagues and the glimpses into her personal and home life and how the case affects her when it becomes very personal. The books subject matter is current, realistic, believable and in my opinion was sensitively written. Another fab read, and I look forward to the next book.

Great read! Nail biting and had me reading on and on way past my bedtime!

I liked the way to story switched between the investigation and what the kidnapped girls were gong through, leaving me feeling both likE I want to read on and also a bit sick and wanting to stop, Would recommend.

I loved this one! I had a good feeling about Det. Alyssa Wyatt in the last book & this book just settled that Alyssa is now one of my favorites. The Toybox is extremely gripping & shocking and the second installment in the series. There were a lot of nail-biting moments. I'm glad I found this author & read the book! Unlike its innocent namesake - The Toybox, the events in this book are extremely twisted & evil. Every chapter was a thrill.

All around Albuquerque, New Mexico, young girls are going missing, seemingly vanished into thin air. With no link between the victims, Detective Alyssa Wyatt is quickly plunged into a horrifying case with no obvious clues. When Jersey Andrews, the best friend of Alyssa’s teenage daughter, Holly, joins the list of vanished girls, the case becomes personal. But this investigation will lead Alyssa and partner Cord into the most sinister depths of humanity; an evil place where life is expendable, and where the depraved can fulfil their darkest desires – if they have the money to pay for it. As the first body appears, abandoned on the streets, Alyssa is forced into a frantic hunt to track down the killers – before more innocent girls lose their lives. But when the truth comes out, it seems that the key to solving the case was hiding in the last place anyone expected…

I loved all characters in this book. I missed Issac a bit as he was more in the shadows in this one. I hoped to know more about his coping mechanisms after his ordeal in the last book. I also wished we had some more insight into the killers & their backgrounds. I always want to know what makes them tick. This book focussed more on the victims & Allyssa than the killers, but I didn't mind this because the outcome was just as good. I hope the next book has some more action & jaw-dropping moments. I would also love to see more of Alyssa's teammates & their backstory. Overall, this book was a fantastic addition to the Alyssa Wyatt series. I can't wait for the next!

Thank you, NetGalley, Hera Books & Charly Cox for an arc!

Thank you to Netgalley, Charly Cox, and Hera publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. To be upfront, there are trigger warnings for sexual assault, sex trafficking and kidnapping. I did not know this book was second in a series, but do not feel as though you need to read book one in order to read The Toybox. This book was very well written and honestly had me hooked from the first chapter. It read like a great episode of Law and Order SVU, and I loved it. There were a few instances where I felt as though descriptions were being used repetitiously, but overall it was written very well. I appreciated the research the author put into this topic. Highly recommend!

Alyssa Wyatt is back! I was thrilled to see a sequel in this series because I absolutely loved the debut book! This author grabs your attention from the very first pages and takes you on such a suspensful mystery. Every time you think you have this book figured out the author makes sure to throw you off ! Young girls are missing and it is up to Alyssa and her team to figure out who has these girls before its to late. I look forward to reading ANYTHING in the future by Charly Cox because her writing is one of a kind! Absoultely loved this book.

This is the first book I have read by Charly Cox, I didn't know this was the second book in a series. I really enjoyed the writing style and would like to read the first book.
This one is a very intense read and delves in to the horrors of sex trafficing, and what the girls went through.
This book had me hooked from the beginning and I enjoyed seeing how it unfolded.

This is the second novel with the Detective Alyssa Wyatt with her coworker Cord. In this novel we have girls that are disappearing including Alyssa's daughter friend. Where are these girls disappearing to?
Then we get a view of the girls and what is happening to them.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you Netgalley, Charly Cox and Hera books for the review copy! These are my honest opinions and are not affected by this in any way.

Rating: CAWPILE: 7.71 => 4 Stars
Characters: 8
Atmosphere: 7.5
Writing: 7.5
Plot: 7.5
Intrigue: 8.5
Logic: 7
Enjoyment: 8

Trigger Warnings : Kidnapping, Rape, Torture, Murder, Sex Trafficking

The Toybox by Charly Cox is the second book in the detective Alyssa Wyatt series. Sadly I hadn't read the first one and it did refer back to the previous case, so if I went back I know things that happened.
The second book is, however, a new case and can be read separately if this one interests you more.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, various young women go missing, with no specific link between any of them. Detective Alyssa Wyatt needs to figure out these disappearances and when her daughter's best friend goes missing the case becomes more personal than expected.

It took me almost a month to read this book and it was not because I wasn't enjoying it. I just had difficulties with the hard-hitting subjects of the story. It was so real and it hurt me and I had to take several days in between reading sessions. Definitely check trigger warnings before reading, your mental health is important.

The writing style was really engaging and fast-paced. The shifts in POV between detective Alyssa Wyatt, the missing girls and Alyssa's daughter Holly expanded the story, seeing it from all different kind of perspective instead of only the detective's case. The missing girls POV's were definitely the hardest to read. All characters were very realistic and had various layers. Also seeing the impacts of the previous case on the detectives and how they handle this new case was very liberating to see instead of cold-hearted work-driven detectives. The various parent-child relationships in this book were developed very detailed.

I haven't such a gripping and hard-hitting thriller in a while and I definitely recommend if you can handle the topic.

This was my first Charly Cox novel, and I was hoping that it wouldn't matter too much that I hadn't read the first book in the series, and luckily, I was right. Perfect as a standalone, The Toybox had everything I like in a Crime Thriller. Fast-paced: Tick. Interesting characters: Tick. Multi-levelled plot: Tick. Various Suspects: Tick. Growing, uncomfortable suspense: TICK.

What I thought set it apart though was that we discover 'Whodunnit' quite a bit before the end, leaving the conclusion of the book to concentrate on the impact of the case and the surviving characters. It made for a refreshing change. Thoroughly enjoyed & recommend.

Oh this book was so good! It was the second in a series and even though I haven't read the first it didn't detract from this one. There are some references to book one but its easy to skip over them.

The characters are well developed and the plot was dark, twisted and intriguing.

I was totally hooked! I am now off to buy the first one.

Will recommend this book to my friends.

After being approved for this book and realising it was book 2 of a series I bought book 1 to read first and wasn’t disappointed.

The toybox had me gripped from the very beginning. It’s the first book in ages of this genre that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Can’t wait to read more in this series. A new author to add to my list of favourites.

Thanks for letting me read this book.

I was fully engrossed in this book from page one. It kept me on edge wondering what would happen next. This book started out with the disappearance of several young teens. But it really hit home for this detective when one of her daughters friends is among the missing. This book was an emotional roller coaster. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally couldn't put this book down at all.

Oh my god, this book. I thought the first book was good but this was next level. Such a good series. It’s dark and terrifying because it’s a very real fear for women all over the world. Parts of it definitely made me cry.

I love Alyssa and the fact that she’s a policewoman who has a stable loving home life and her job doesn’t ruin that. I also like that we get to know her and her family more with each book (especially as she’s always personally involved).

There was so much tension in this book. We switch between Alyssa, her daughter and the missing girls so you get the story from multiple perspectives and it really works. You get to see how everyone is affected. I started getting suspicious about a certain character but I was not expecting the ending. I just couldn't put this book down. I didn't move all day because I had to know what happened and if what had happened to the girls would be discovered.

Highly recommend checking this out.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I started reading this book after reading Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter and from the get-go, I knew this type of books are not for me. I thought they were, but nope... I definitely do not enjoy the violence against teenager girls. If you are a fan of these novels, I'm sure The Toybox would be one of your favourites. But not for me.

This is a gripping read that deals with a very dark story line. Still recovering from the events that happened in Book 1, Alyssa finds herself looking into the case of several disappeared women. Then a body is found…

Detective Alyssa Wyatt finds herself dealing the with the most depraved of people as she struggles to find out the murderer. The story is cleverly told from two points of view so the reader also gets to experience the emotions of the trafficked girls. This is quite disturbing, however the author’s writing is so good, that it is dealt with superbly.

The tension grows throughout the book and it is a great thriller. Highly recommended.

With more twists and turns than a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride, Charly Cox returns with a gritty, addictive and spine-chilling thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats throughout: The Toybox.

Detective Alyssa Wyatt’s latest case might just be her most challenging and distressing yet. All around Albuquerque, New Mexico, young women are going missing and seeming to vanish into thin air. There are no clues, no leads and absolutely nothing to link these victims, plunging Alyssa into an uncertain and confounding investigation she wonders whether she will get to the bottom of. This case was already tough, but it becomes personal for Alyssa when Jersey Andrews, her daughter’s best friend, is the latest victim to go missing. This case has got far closer to home than Alyssa had ever imagined, making her even more determined to solve this case and put the evil predator kidnapping young girls behind bars.

As Alyssa and her partner Cord find themselves exploring the darkest and most depraved corners of the human condition, they find themselves shocked and appalled when they find themselves entangled in a world where every sleazy desire is catered for – but only if one has enough cash in their pocket. Human life is a commodity of no value to those who inhabit this world – and anyone who doesn’t comply to these perverted rules is easily disposed of.

Alyssa needs to work fast as dead bodies begin to appear on the streets and she must uncover the killer and ensure that justice is served before more bodies are claimed and more lives are lost. But will the key to this mystery be found in the most unlikely of places? Can Alyssa find it in time? Or is she already far too late?

I had next to nails left after devouring Charly Cox’s The Toybox! A fantastic page-turner where the pace is fast, the action never stops and the suspense will send readers’ heart rate through the roof, The Toybox features one of crime fiction’s most fearless, humane and believable heroines: Alyssa Wyatt.

An intelligent, tense and terrifying thriller from a fast rising star, Charly Cox’s The Toybox is a must-read for crime fiction aficionados everywhere!

A fantastic book, once I started reading I couldn't put the book down.
I will definitely read more books by Charly

I really enjoyed this book and will give it a huge thumbs up. With a great story line and excellent main characters - I would highly recommend this book.

Wow! What a book! I didn't realise this was part of a series but it gives you enough information without giving too much away. This is a fast paced thriller with so many twists. An unputdownable read. I'm off to purchase the first book and am eagerly awaiting the next.

First of all I didn't had any idea that it was a part of series. For the story it was an amazing fast paced thriller mixed with so many twists & surprises. I'll seriously love to explore more in this series.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity.

A police procedural set in New Mexico focusing on the disappearance of several young women in and around a university town. The women's plight is graphically described by one of the victims, building the tension and the expectations of the readers. The detectives are stunned when the killer moves too close to their personal lives. There are enough suspects to keep you changing your guess every other chapter until the final end brings a surprising twist. Charly Cox has done an excellent job of building characters and a community to give us a thriller that was very hard to put down at all.

Creative, clever, and ingenious. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Many thanks to Hera and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have to say this book is kinda dark and leaves you feeling kind of creepy. I read it with the lights on. The crimes were pretty intense and reading on through the book left me with a case of nerves. The ending of the book left me reeling. What a brilliant read. I highly recommend this book!

i didnt realise this was the 2nd book in the series when i started reading it. it wasnt a problem though as they referred to the 1st one through out so i didnt feel i missed out on anything. the story line was realistic although there is some disturbing scenesthat may be trigger points for some people as they involve sex trafficking, rape and violence. . I liked the characters and the partnership between alyssa and cord . A really good addictive crime thriller i would recommend

An incredible and extremely intense book. Unfortunately, I didn't realise this was the second in a series, so whilst moments were a little confusing, it was still an enjoyable read and didn't take long for me to understand what was going on and what had previously happened.

Detective Alyssa Wyatt, I really like her name maybe because it is a lot like mine. lol This book had me on the edge of my seat. I have not read book one but the author did give enough to make it so I was not lost in this book. I think this is an author I will read more. I enjoyed the story and they edge to this gripping book. It was a thrilling ride. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*