A sad, heartbreaking story.

What I like about Louise Allen's books is: She's been there. She's been a fostered child. She's been a foster carer. I've read and enjoyed quite a few of her memoirs about her fostering experiences. In this new series she writes about County Lines cases-and in the intro, she tells of her own brush with something like this. She's fostered children who've been involved in County Lines. So you get a far better and deeper understanding than in some of these kind of books.

Until recently, and just a few books ago, I hadn't even heard of these crimes; I had no idea what County Lines was. It seems so prevalent now, and is even being tackled in a television soap opera. Thanks to people like the author who work to help people and bring awareness through their writing and all they do.

Another good, fast read, and a real page turner right from the start. This is the third in the series, and this one is written from different characters' points of view. A heartbreaking, intense, and powerful story.

This was, for me, the best of the series so far.

Candace’s Story was absolutely incredible. I flew through it because I physically could not stop reading. Every chapter pulled me in deeper and I finished the book feeling breathless. It is one of those rare reads where you reach the end and realise you have no words left because the journey was that intense.

Louise Allen has such a gift for writing characters who are painfully real. Candace’s voice was gripping from the very first page and her situation unfolded with so much tension and emotion that it became impossible to step away. I cared about her immediately and the way her story developed kept me completely hooked.

The pacing was perfect, the stakes were high and the storytelling was completely immersive. This is the type of book that keeps you up late without even noticing the time passing.

An outstanding, powerful read. I would recommend it to absolutely everyone who loves emotional stories that stay with you long after the final page.