Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea that I read and reviewed.
This was a very interesting book. I found it intriguing because it was told in both current and past time so you knew what happened and what was taking place as you were reading.
I absolutely loved the story and had no idea who the person was who took the girls until the author revealed it to the reader. I had my guess by a few clues and I was completely off base.
This is an excellent book and I don't want to go into much due to spoilers but it will keep you in the edge of your seat until the end.
This book gets five out of five stars.

Very good story.....Would recommend. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Oh wow. I can say I was pulled into this book and it took me for a ride.
I thought I knew who was behind everything but I was far from being right, when it was revealed I sat there with my mouth opened going are you serious? Why didn't I think of that I mean it always has to be that person in stories like this. We are introduced to Megan and Livia. Megan is the young woman who was kidnapped and escaped and is trying to heal from the ordeal. Though through her therapy she is slowly starting to remember things that were not written in her book. What she will uncover will be something wild. Livia is becoming a medical examiner (which by the way I think is an amazing job), the author did a great job in detailing how Livia would work and how she observed people and their habits. It seems the job of a medical examiner is not easy. I have to say the descriptions of the people that Livia had to autopsy or see were pretty vivid in detail. Livia comes across a man who is a floater but what she will uncover is more missing girls, a club that you only can get initiated into in a weird way, and answers to what happened to her sister and Megan. I really enjoyed how we got to go from the months, weeks and days leading up to the abduction to the present and how it really all connects. The characters developed were well done and the plot was a steady pace. For me this was a page turner. I fell in love with this author's writing style when he wrote Summit Lake and I was hoping for more from him and it was delivered. He has a great way of building a great story and pulling you in until the last page.
You like murder and mystery all wrapped into one, pick this book up!

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC of “The Girl Who Was Taken” by Charlie Donlea, in exchange for an honest review.

Don’t let the unimaginative title fool you, this book packs quite a few twists and turns, and you’ll likely still be surprised when the culprit is revealed, as I was. Following an end of summer beach party before high school seniors take off for college, two girls—Megan and Nicole—go missing. Following a massive two week search, a heavily drugged Megan stumbles into the path of a vehicle on a highway, and the driver calls for help.

A year later Nicole is still missing, and her sister Livia is filled with regret and haunted by the knowledge that her kid sister called her that night, but Livia ignored the call. Now a fellow with the OCME, Livia is training to become a medical examiner, and she has done her best to mentally prepare herself for the day when the body sitting before her on the autopsy table is that of her kid sister. What she wasn’t prepared for is the body of a man who turns out to be the guy Nicole was secretly dating that summer, and while his body was only recently discovered, her examination determines that he died around the time her sister disappeared. As her sister’s case grows colder, questions arise with the discovery of the body of Nicole’s boyfriend, Casey, and Livia is no longer willing to sit back and continue waiting for news. Instead, she delves into Casey’s background, following clues, and joining forces with Megan, who is still in therapy, but is desperate to fill in the voids in her memory so she can uncover what really happened to her and Nicole.

I counted three red herrings as potential perpetrators—one I dismissed almost immediately, as it was way too obvious, but the other two certainly had me convinced, but I was still wrong. I felt a little cheated with the very ending, but told in chapters alternating between the time leading up to and the night of the abduction to the present, in the voices of Livia, Nicole, Casey, Megan, and the culprit, the overall twists and turns leading up to the conclusion more than make up for it. 3.5 stars

I don't know why I'm having such a hard time writing this review... because 4 stars means I enjoyed it right?!

I thought this was a really intelligent mystery/thriller/suspense novel.

The premise of this story is that two girls go missing one summer night. One of the girls, Megan, escapes and returns home. The other girl, Nicole isn't found.

As is the case in these types of novels - not everything is as it appears... and so with the help of Livia (Nicole's sister and a medical examiner) we start to uncover what really happened to Megan and Nicole that night.

The level of forensic detail is incredible (without deterring from the plot or slowing things down), and was a nice change from looking at this from a cop/FBI's perspective. I did find that it was a little slow to get into a first - but once I was hooked - that was it. I didn't want to put the book down.

The author was able to create such tension, I had a knot in the pit of my stomach for most of the book - waiting for more of the underlying story to reveal itself. I thought she did an excellent job of creating three distinct voices:

Livia, an older sister, well educated, well respected in her field.

Megan - first as a high school senior ready to conquer the world; later as a survivor of a traumatic event.

And finally Nicole, a pretty self-centred high school senior, quite immature and quite bitchy.

Alternating both the perspectives between the girls as well as the timing of events (before the abduction, after the abduction and the night of the abduction) moved the story along really well and didn't allow things to drag too much.

If you've read any of Iris Johansen's novels about Eve Duncan - this has a similar feel. It's definitely made to be the first of a series - with Livia as our main character.

Solid thriller - really a perfect summer read. Recommended.

Set in the small town of Emerson Bay, Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald were both high school seniors who disappeared launching a massive investigation and numerous search parties. Regrettably, there were absolutely no clues left behind. However, after a couple of weeks, Megan re-emerged after escaping from a bunker deep in the woods.

A year later Megan’s book with an account of her ordeal has been published and now Megan is not only a local hero but now a national celebrity. Megan’s story is a striking example of survival but it’s missing one thing – Nicole is still missing. Nicole’s older sister Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, is expecting that one day, Nicole’s body will show up on her table. Instead, another body shows up and clues lead Livia on a hunt where the young man appeared to be connected to her sister.

Megan knows more than she revealed in her book which was co-written with the help of her psychiatrist. And while flashes of memory begin to emerge for Megan the chilling details of who and what actually happened are beginning to show Megan the true terror of her captivity.

*** Wow, this one kept me on the edge of my seat and was very difficult to put down! Luckily I started THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN early in the morning and was finished before I went to bed that night! Fabulous writing and lots of twists that kept me on my toes which gave me the surprise of discovering who the REAL villain was.

I loved the details Charlie Donlea took the time to describe allowing the reader to see just what the motivating factors were for the actions of the major players in the story. Also enjoyed the research employed that described some of the tactics and tools used for pathologists to determine how, when and where death occurred.

Bottom line: THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN was a terrific read for those who enjoy a high suspense, fast pacing and lots of red herrings tossed in to keep one guessing. Highly recommended.

Marilyn Rondeau

Two girls actually. But one didn't come back. And the one that did will attempt to a year later find who took her with assistance of the sister of the other girl. Very decent abduction mystery thriller from an author I was unfamiliar with prior to this. Nothing particularly striking, mainly just a case of great many things done right, dynamic writing, good pacing, several misdirections all leading up to an ending twist I didn't see coming. Entertaining quick read genre fans would enjoy. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

This is the story of Megan and Nicole, two girls that were snatched one night from a party, but only one of them came home.

Nicole's sister Livia works for the Medical Examiners office and when a friend of her sisters ends up on her mortuary slab she starts to question what happened on that fateful night and wonders whether she will ever see her sister again.

This book is full of twists and turns but nothing prepared me for the gut punching shock I got when it was revealed who the abductor was!

After reading the authors first book, Summit Lake I was pleased to be invited by the publishers to read this one and really enjoyed it. I would like to thank Kensington Books for the opportunity and will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon UK & US on publication day.

This is my first book written by Charlie Donlea and I was thoroughly impressed.

Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald are both high school seniors in the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina. They both disappear from a beach party - one returns and one doesn’t.

The story is told in present time with flashbacks to “before the abduction”. Here is where we see Megan who has turned from local hero to national celebrity and meet Nicole’s older sister Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, who blames herself for her sister’s disappearance. The two girls become unlikely friends as they try to uncover the mystery behind Megan’s abduction (and “escape”) and Livia’s still missing sister.

You will have to read the book for yourself to see how everything unfolds.

I received a copy of this book through Net Galley and this is my honest review.

This was a great thrilling ride of a book after 2 girls are kidnapped and only one returns home. The story is one that keeps you guessing until the end. I hope there is a sequel being written! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for providing me an ARC in return for an honest review.

Don't let the title bother you. In fact, it was the only thing I didn't like about this book. The Girl Who Was Taken is an amazing mystery and it's also an emotional ride. Although I haven't read the author's previous novel, I will definitely keep an eye on everything he writes from now on.

While I was reading this fantastic book, I realized it was exactly my kind of novel, my favorite type of story. I guess I like that it's a sibling (this time, the sister) investigating the crime. It allows you to become more attached to the story because the characters are directly involved. It sort of reminded me of one of my favorite recent books: My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni, although that was legal-focused and this one is all about forensics.

In terms of structure, you must know that yes, there are plenty of flashbacks and different points of view, although none of them felt unnecessary. It was well-done and everything served a purpose. The prologue and the following chapter were the perfect way to grab your attention and leave you wanting for more. Two girls disappear one night, but only one of them returns. What did exactly happen? And where is the other girl?

Let's be honest here: I didn't guess the ending! There were several red-herrings that had me completely distracted. I remember thinking it couldn't be someone in particular because it looked way too obvious and the book was too smart for that. I loved how the author threw some clues and made us wonder all the way through. I was suspicious of everyone and couldn't wait to get to the conclusion, which didn't disappoint me one bit.

As for the characters, I absolutely loved Megan and Livia and quite enjoyed the parts when they worked together. I know I won't forget them easily. Nicole Cutty wasn't the easiest character to like, but the way the media reacted to her disappearance in comparison to Megan's return was devastating and I felt really sorry for her.

Last, but not least, I won't mention the topic because of spoilers, but I will say that the main idea of this book had me completely fascinated. It was utterly creepy and perverse and it made me think of Gillian Flynn's novels.

Whatever you do, don't miss The Girl Who Was Taken.

Although this is the second book by Charlie Donlea, it is the first I have read and I am glad I found him.

A popular convention of late, the story moved back and forth from the past to the present. Yet, it was not formulaic and there was never confusion about the time frame or the different characters. There are clues sprinkled throughout the book that will keep the reader guessing.

It nagged at me a bit that Livia, a medical examiner in training and sister of a missing girl did a lot of investigating on her own, including taking evidence; were there to be a criminal case, it could be negatively affected. That aside, I really enjoyed the book and didn’t want to put it down.

There was strong character development of both the major and minor players. The insight into an underworld of abduction “groupies” was original and the insight into forensic medicine added to my interest.

Fans of a good mystery, thriller, and forensic pathology will like this book. I could easily see it becoming a series or being made into a screenplay.

Very well written and very well put together. Every chapter and every incident in the past all add together to give the full story and all the clues as to what happened to Megan when she was kidnapped. The main perpetrator and the brains behind the kidnappings is a total surprise and that is part of what makes this book a really good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a preview copy of this book.

I read (listened to) Summit Lake, and although that particular book did not rise above a 3* novel, this one was engaging 4.5*. Well written with a strong storyline, Donlea keeps you guessing right up til the end. The main characters- Livia, working for the medical examiner, and the girl who escaped, Megan- were well fleshed out, believable and likeable. The basic kidnapping story, we've all read before, but the twists of the club, the involvement of one of the missing, really separates this novel. If you like forensic detective mysteries, you will love this.

I thought I had solved this, right up until I found out- I was wrong. Great ending.

Hope to see much more from Charlie Donlea.

This is an exciting, heart-stopping thriller. Girls are being abducted to order, drugged, raped and held captive for varying periods of time before their bodies are eventually discovered. One of the missing girls is Nicole, whose older sister Livia, a fledgling forensic pathologist, is determined to find out what happened to her sister and to bring her home, alive or dead.
Charlie Donlea is the master of misdirection. I did not guess the actual perpetrator until the final chapters with a trail of red herrings convincing me that one of two other individuals was the guilty party. This is a story definitely worth reading.

I really enjoyed this author's debut book "Summit Lake" when I read it last year so I was beyond excited to get my hands on this, his follow up. It was with a small amount of trepidation that I started reading, I always worry with "second books" that I expect too much given the brilliance of the debut, but I am so very pleased to say that this exceeded all my expectations and I absolutely loved it.
We start with a girl escaping. She has only been held a little while and was taken along with another girl. Fast forward a year and the escapee is trying to get on with her life, the other girl is still missing. Megan, the girl who escaped, is a bit of a celebrity. With a book written and several interviews on every media under her belt, she appears to be getting on with things. Nicole is still missing. We know that on the night she disappeared, she called her much older sister Livia for help; Livia didn't pick up. Livia is now a forensic pathology fellow and, one day, a body arrives on her table that, on investigation, leads back to Nicole. Livia contacts Megan and together, the two of them, revisit what happened a year ago. Megan for closure and Livia desperate to find the truth of her sister. A truth that, once out, will have devastating consequences.
All the things I loved about this author's first book were present in this one. His superb characterisation, his tight plotting, and his perfect pacing. The clues and connections appearing at exactly the right times to both keep me guessing and keep me interested along the way. To say that it held my attention throughout would be an understatement. The way that Livia kept chipping away at the clues she was given, they way she utilised all her resources to get to the bottom of things had me absolutely loving her as a character. OK so her initial motive was guilt, guilt at not being there for her sister on that night, but that developed into so much more as she slowly started to uncover the truth and piece it all together. And that truth, when it came was shocking, and explained an awful lot more of what came before. Certain characters' behaviours that had, at times, seemed strange all became so much clearer.
The ending, which I suspect will not be for everyone, I thought was perfect. I also thought I had a corrupt file initially, missing the final page, until I sat back and thought about it, and then I got it. I totally got it and I loved it. Whether the author intends to go back and revisit this in another book starring Livia I don't know. But I really don't think it needs to be resolved. I think it works being left there. Although, that said, I would really like to see Livia again in a future book either as a main character or even just as supporting cast; her job would definitely allow that. I just feel she has more to give as a character. Wouldn't mind finding out what happened to Megan too.
All in all, a great follow up book that has definitely cemented Mr Donlea on my list of ones to watch.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Compelling thriller about a kidnapper who takes young girls. An exciting read that I would thoroughly recommend.
Livia Cutty's younger sister Nicole disappears after a beach party along with Megan, another girl in her class. Megan escapes two weeks later but Nicole has not been seen since.
A year later and Livia is a qualified doctor training as a pathologist. Megan has written a book about her experiences although she recalls little in truth and is seeing a therapist to try and overcome her trauma.
Livia is still looking for answers and when she is asked to look at a dead body pulled from the river it sets her off on a road to discovering her lost sister. She begins her own investigation and gradually pieces together what happened.
With flash backs to the time leading up to the kidnapping as well as chapters from the perpetrator's point of view this is a complex novel with many twists and turns.
It was a book that I had difficulty putting down- in fact I reluctantly went to bed last night desparate to find out what happened next and I eagerly picked it up this morning to continue reading!
There were many twists and turns in this dark thriller and I certainly did not guess the outcome. Livia amd Megan were great lead characters and the authour generated a lot of sympathy for them. Both suffer from guilt- Livia because she was not there for her sister and Megan because she was the one who escaped. Neither can carry on their lives until there is some sort of resolution which gives them a close bond.
This novel has a great plot and it is perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay. I defy you to put it down once you have started reading it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Megan McDonald became a national celebrity after her abduction and return home, thanks to an inspirational book written mostly by her psychiatrist. She hated the interviews and the publicity, but went along with everything to keep the peace with her parents, who were desperately trying to make everything as it was before the abduction. Nicole Cutty, an acquaintance of Megan’s, also disappeared that night, but the interest in Nicole’s case died down once Megan had been found.

Nicole’s older sister, Livia, was weighted down with guilt for not answering her phone the last time Nicole called her. Livia threw herself into her training as a pathologist, wondering every day if Nicole’s body would turn up on her autopsy table, providing closure and the answers to Nicole’s absence. Livia was assigned a “floater,” a body pulled from the bay, but she quickly determined that he had not jumped from the bridge nor drowned, and the strange set of holes in the back of his head puzzled her. After he was identified, he was found to have ties to Nicole, and Livia was even more determined to find out what had happened to her sister.

This book definitely captured my interest, and kept me guessing throughout. I admit I didn’t guess “whodunit” but enjoyed the clues given, which could have matched a few characters in the story. I applauded Megan for her strength and for her determination to find out exactly what had happened to her, and Livia for her expertise and her willingness to do whatever was necessary to give a voice to the missing women. Fascinating story with an ending that has several possible outcomes.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

My boss says I read too many books with the word "girl" in the title. My only complaint is that typically, said books are also quickly compared to Girl on the Train, or Gone Girl. So I was excited that this book didn't include that comparison!

That being said, I read a lot of books where terrible things happen to women. This book definitely fit that mold.

However, I was hooked! I found myself reading this whenever I could find time. I definitely suggest this book. Fast paced story, that will keep you wanting more!

In the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina tragedy hits hard one summer night when two high school senior girls, Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald, disappear from a beach party. After two weeks Megan escapes from a bunker hidden deep in the woods and manages to flag down help but after being rescued she gets asked one question, what happened to Nicole and Megan just doesn’t have the answer.

A year later Megan on the surface seems to be recovering from her ordeal becoming a best selling author with a book about what had happened to her during her kidnapping. With Nicole still missing her older sister Livia is training to be a forensic pathologist to be able to get answers for others and maybe help heal from the loss of her sister.

When another body shows up in Livia’s lab she finds herself being tossed back into the middle of her sister’s case when it turns out that the man was connected to Nicole’s past. During the investigation Livia reaches out to Megan hoping the girl can finally help bring answers to what had happened to Nicole that fateful night.

I will admit for me The Girl Who Was Taken had a somewhat slow start to it as I tried to decipher exactly what was going on with Megan and Nicole. It seems at the start of the book that Nicole had escaped that night and Megan taken but then Megan turns up and Nicole never had…. confusing? A bit. With jumping ahead in time and switching the point of view here and there the book took a while for me to settle in and get truly invested in the story but I was quite glad I stuck with it in the end.

Now as for the story and answers to what happened that night overall with the girls I actually found that I enjoyed the outcome to the book quite a bit. One of those twists and turns and intricate plots that took a while to uncover but when I got there I was quite satisfied that my random guesses throughout the book were no where near the mark and it was definitely a page turner once it got going for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.