A whole family is abducted and there are no leads, they are not found. Four years later the two daughters are returned to the house they were taken from. They say they were kept by aliens and that they were experimented on, given medicines that made them feel sick, and now they are bleeding through their noses which will be diagnosed as a rare form of cancer. Their parents never returned and the girls never saw them again. They were tended by two gray aliens, one of them had an interesting sign on the arm. The man their grandfather chose to find them right after their abduction and who was fired when he did not find them was rehired to uncover what happened to the girls and where were their parents. He vows that he'll do it, even if he dies trying. But were the girls really taken by aliens or was the case of their abduction a really earthen one? If so, who is behind it and why? The Taken Girls is an intriguing story that will uncover a major lie for a few deranged minds that wanted to achieve the impossible.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

An amazing book - not in the religious vain Glenn usually adopts but science.
Two young girls kidnapped and returned 4 years later still the same age both believing the were on a spaceship!
Thank goodness for Marcus who managed to solve the mystery..
Thank you for the ARC, an easy read.

I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and I was interested to see how all the different pieces fit together at the end because at first it seems like two different cases and then by the end you realise they are linked because the author writes flashbacks into the story.

The only thing that bothered me were the missing words or letters, grammatical errors and spelling mistakes which stopped the fluidity of the story while I tried to figure out what the author was trying to say.

Glenn Cooper, best known for his Cal Donovan series, ventures once again into the realm of conspiracy and suspense with What They Have, a gripping thriller that blends elements of psychological mystery and dark intrigue. The novel opens with the haunting disappearance of two young sisters from a picturesque villa on the Calabrian coast, only to return years later unchanged — a premise that immediately raises chilling questions about the nature of their abduction and what sinister forces might be at play. This book is reviewed here because of its intense exploration of themes such as power, obsession, and the lengths to which the powerful will go to maintain control, making it particularly timely for readers fascinated by twisted thrillers with a metaphysical edge.

Cooper's books never fail to amaze, and this one is no different! His stories breathe life into the impossible, but this tale leans more toward science than religion like the previous books I have read. I had some guesses as to what the girls endured, but I was of course wrong. This story is full of memorable characters, some that straddle the line between friend and foe, keeping you questioning what peril is around the next turn. The book's fast-paced movement will leave you scrambling to keep up with the girls, with the danger. There are some surprising events within these pages, and there is a generally dark vibe to the tale, but I was hooked from the start. No spoilers from me because I love the way the crumbs are sprinkled in the story right up to the end! The book may not keep you up at night, but you won't want to put it down!

I really enjoyed this thriller. It grabbed my attention right away and kept me guessing until the end. The mystery unfolded at a good pace, and every time I thought I had things figured out, something new happened. The characters were interesting, and I liked how the investigation slowly came together. It had enough suspense to keep me turning the pages without feeling over the top. If you like crime novels with plenty of twists and a fast-moving story, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Whenever I get a new Glenn Cooper book, I immediately drop whatever else I'm reading and start the new one. And I don't stop until I am done. This one was a little different topic than most of his books that I have read but nevertheless did not disappoint. The story is very interesting although it keeps you wondering throughout most of it about how in the world (no pun intended) did they pull it off. I would highly recommend this book and anything that Glenn Cooper writes.

The Taken Girls by Glenn Cooper

The Taken Girls is a thriller of unbelievable imagination. The twists and turns, the red herrings, keep the reader fully engaged and often on the edge of their seats.

I will not give away any secrets or endings. I will simply say the author, Glenn Cooper, is a masterful storyteller. He has breadth of knowledge that is well used in this book. The settings of Italy and Spain, and a bit of the United States, are detailed and descriptive.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who likes a mystery and a thriller.

The story in a few words:

This gripping thriller follows a family whose daughters, Victoria and Elizabeth, were abducted and returned four years later, appearing unchanged. At the same time their parents vanished and haven’t been seen since.

Retired CIA officer, Marcus Handler, is hired to investigate. His search will lead to unexpected and disturbing truths….

My thoughts:

The plot follows the investigation journey of Marcus and is divided in 3 parts said with 3 points of view. The narrative’s tone between sci-fi and medical thriller is attention grabbing, tense and quite addictive. The medical jargon is fascinating although the study and tests performed on the children were hauntingly disturbing…..manipulating kids to trust them so they can easily experiment on them…depressing.

This thriller is fast-paced, goes straight to the point clear and firmly. It is cleverly managed with twists and turns to keep us flipping the pages. A touch of extraterrestrial to tease us is a plus.

Mr. Cooper tackles the most unique subject and has a way with words that pulls us in and keeps us glued to his subject.

Although, this story is far-fetched and not very believable yet I was highly entertained and enjoyed every hour I spent reading this crazy story. I was hooked from the start.

Well said and well done

What begins as alien abductions turns into another mystery. Plot is complicated. Characters are flawed and bad guys are very bad. I prefer the Donovan books.

The Taken Girls was definitely not what I expected, but in a good way. The mystery hooked me right away and kept me turning the pages.
This is a mix of thriller, medical mystery, and light sci-fi, with plenty of twists and a fast pace that made it a very entertaining read. However, the story gets quite far-fetched at times, and I wasn't completely sold on every explanation.
The ending also felt a little rushed and a bit too out of left field for me. Still, I enjoyed the ride overall and would rate this a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley, Glenn Cooper, and Aria & Aries for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two little girls and their parents vanish without a trace. Four years later the girls suddenly reappear, but they’re exactly the same age they were when they disappeared. The investigation quickly turns into a mystery that seems impossible to explain.

This book completely blew my mind, I loved it! I was hooked from the very first chapter. The mystery surrounding the girls is absolutely fascinating, but what’s really going on behind the disappearance takes the story to a whole other level.

The author keeps you constantly questioning every possible explanation for the disappearance while making you doubt everything you think you know. And when the truth finally comes out, it’s the kind of twist that leaves you staring at the page in disbelief. I absolutely loved the whole process of reading this book!

I also really enjoyed the relationship between Marcus and Lumaga. They have great chemistry together and I loved their dynamic.

The Taken Girls is a perfect thriller for anyone who loves mysteries, police investigations, and twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.85 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Taken Girls in exchange for my honest review.

The Taken Girls was definitely a wild and unique read. The premise immediately grabbed my attention, a family disappears, and four years later, the two daughters return without having aged. It’s the kind of mystery that keeps you turning pages because you need to understand what happened and why.

The story is divided into three parts, and I found myself especially drawn to Ferrol’s story. His perspective added a fascinating scientific layer to the mystery and helped me understand the bigger picture behind the events. That section was where the story really started to pull me in.

I also really appreciated Marcus Handler’s character. His determination and devotion to finding and protecting the girls never wavered. He wasn’t just solving a case, he genuinely cared about bringing answers and closure to Victoria and Elizabeth. His compassion added an emotional layer to an otherwise very unusual story.

I noticed some readers went into this expecting an alien-abduction story, but that wasn’t the feeling I got from the book. For me, it felt much more like a science-driven mystery exploring the unknown, time, and the possibilities of what we may not fully understand.

Overall, The Taken Girls was definitely an interesting read. It’s a unique blend of thriller, mystery, and science fiction with a fascinating concept at its center. While it didn’t become a favorite for me, I appreciated the creativity behind the story, the emotional depth of Marcus’s journey, and the questions it left me thinking about long after finishing.

A wealthy family are abducted during the night while they are on holiday at their villa in Italy.
A substantial reward was offered for their return and everything possible was done to find them but all this was unsuccessful.
Four years later the two little girls were mysteriously returned to the villa they were taken from but without their parents.
A retired CIA officer Marcus Handler is hired by the children’s grandfather to find out what happened to the family after they were taken.
I really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked Marcus who was determined to help the children at any cost.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lascaux Media for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

i had no idea what i was going to get with this book. it felt such a unique premise and i immediately knew i needed answers.
a well to do family are taken. they have been on holiday in their family villa. but then there is nothing. they vanished, not even a ransom given.
four years later and somehow the two children that were taken are back. but they are back without their parents. but their return get stranger. because they are returned at the same age, same everything. they have not aged. but they are carrying something too heavy for any children to have to deal with. and so the mystery and weirdness begins.
it is now officer Marcus job to find out what happened and the very strange happening surrounding this case.
i really liked how we get a few moving parts and characters in this book. and they all move around and link together perfectly. the pov also gave such great insights into all sides of the story and all sides of what the characters were going through.
of course we also have our retired officer Marcus who when we get to know him, adds a new depth all of his own. you then follow for the plot but also for him.
this for me was a risk at first. i was totally intrigued but im not a fan of sci-fi. but this feel just enough away from that. and had more mystery, thriller and character building vibes. it was one of those where you just have to believe in the story and go with it. dont question, lol.

This book is definitely intriguing and I had to find out what happened. Two girls vanished years later they return but they are still the same age and everything. It's a conspiracy for sure. I felt like I knew nothing and was impressed with how well written the story is.

Unputdownable, thrilling, intriguing and clever story. . There are so many facets that came together to create the whole, enjoyable thriller with a difference. The characters are all well written & interesting even if the reader doesn’t like them all!
Highly recommended.