A brilliant first read by this author! Lots of twists and turns to keep you intrigued. Totally surprised by the ending. Really looking forward to more books from this author! Recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read!

Many years ago when only a child, Josie was at the fair and watched as a young boy was led off by a clown. That boy, Dylan, was never seen again and to the present day no one know what happened to him. Fast forward thirty years and the remains of a child which date from around the same time as Dylan disappeared have been discovered. Josie / Jo is now working as a police officer and this discovery stirs up all sorts of emotions within her including the guilt that she did nothing on that fateful night. She didn't cry out, she didn't tell anyone. She just let it happen. Because of her prior involvement in the case she is not allowed to investigate but she does get herself seconded onto a neighbouring force's case of another missing child. As this new investigation begins, certain parallels between it and the old cold case start to emerge. Could this be the work of the same person? And, more importantly, will they be able to catch the perpetrator in time to save this child?
I am not quite sure how to describe this book. It's partly a police procedural but is has a psychological thriller bent. It's also very plot driven rather than character driven, although the characterisation is, on the whole, good.
Throughout reading, I kept changing my mind on what I thought about Jo. I admired her guts and tenacity but, at the same time, she was a tad whiny and poor me, which I didn't like so much. I also wasn't quite sold on the arc regarding her relationship with her ex but I guess it did have some reason for inclusion. I think I probably liked the old retired cop Harry best of all. He came across as completely credible; haunted by the one he didn't solve and desperate to make amends.
As with all books of this type, there were the obligatory twists, turns, dead-ends and red herrings to be found. All were on the whole credible and did their job of obscuring the truth enough for me so that I was completely baffled until just before all was revealed. Even then I only had an inkling that I might have been right.
As with all authors that are new to me, I took a peak at his profile and was a bit taken aback to find that this is actually his debut novel. Never would have guessed that from the way it is plotted and written. Well done indeed. Now though I am wondering whether this may be the start of a series. I can't see any evidence of this other than my own thoughts and feelings after finishing. It feels to me that the characters have been defined too well to be in a stand alone. They have too much backstory to just leave them now and I for one would be interested in where the author takes them next.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I loved this book. I read it in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. It was just of the high standard that I expect from this author. I have read all of this authors books and loved them all, but this book is the best so far. Highly recommended. Five stars. The story was exciting and kept me hooked from the first page. Loved it

Many thanks to Netgalley and M.J. Ford for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

A good solid detective novel; thankfully not depicting violent rape as seems distressingly common in police dramas at present, although the body count did mount up. I found the characters and plot believable although the 4 star rating is because I found the final twist a bit too far fetched. I was impressed that this is a debut novel however and look forward to reading his future books.

Josie Masters witnessed the abduction of a child when she was 8 years old and it has always haunted her. 30 years later, Josie is working as a DS in the Avon & Somerset police force when another child goes missing.

The actual plot was engaging, it kept me reading 'just one more chapter', and I thought it was well thought out and well written. The characters, although some were rather typical of the genre, were generally fairly believable. There were a couple of "duh" moments where a character does something you just know is going to be disastrous. One criticism I have is that I felt the "I'm-almost-40-single-with-no-kids-so-my-life-is-rubbish-compared-to-others" attitude of the main character, which was alluded to quite a few times during the book, added nothing to the character or to the plot as far as I can see. In fact, it got a bit irritating.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers, Avon Books UK, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Loved it, young Josie sees a little boy been led away from the circus by a clown, she’s too late to alert anyone and nobody ever sees Dylan again. 30 years later Josie has gone on to become a policewoman and a body has been found, matching Dylan’s discription.then to top that off another child has gone missing, the witness saw him been taken by a clown. Are they connected? Is it the same person? Will they get to the boy in time?

This is quite creepy to be honest in parts and had me shying away a few times, it’s a great book I didn’t guess who the culprit was (rare for me!) and I really enjoyed the book a lot. It was fast and had plenty of twists to keep you occupied.

Josie is a great character and I’d like to read more books with her leading the way!

Great book give it a whirl you’ll not be disappointed....more please!!!!!

I would like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Hold My Hand’ written by M J Ford, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Hold my hand is a beautifully written book which starts In 1987 when a young girl Josie is at a fairground with her brother where she sees a young boy in a Liverpool shirt, a team she loves, who is trying to win a toy on a fairground ride but when Josie wins a toy she gives her last go to the boy , later she sees him being led away by a clown, the young boy Dylan, is never found and Josie was the last one to see him.
The book then fast forwards 30 years and Josie who is now a police detective with an unsettled life, when she gets called to a site where a buried body of a young person has been found, wearing a red shirt, Is it Dylan after all this time.
For a debut novel it was great, it kept me enthralled and like a roller coaster it had plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing to the shocking climax, i look forward to reading more from MJ Ford

This was a great book, with an interesting storyline. It had some unexpected twists and turns.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

It’s 26th July 1987. Josie Masters and her brother Paul went to visit the circus in the village of Yarnton near Oxford. She was told by her father, to stay with her brother Paul but when he saw his girlfriend Helen, Jo decided to go see her friends Kim and Bec.
As she was walking through the crowds she saw a boy with a bright red Liverpool shirt (Dylan Jones) walking away from the crowds holding a hand of a Clown. She tried to get someone’s attention as it didn’t look right. But, no one listened. She followed them for a while but they suddenly disappeared never to be seen again.
30 Years later, Josie now D.S Josie Masters works for the police in Avon and Bath goes to investigate a body of a child buried in a garden with remains of a red football shirt and then another child goes missing..
If I didn’t know this was a debut novel from this author I thought that this author has been writing for years. I thought that this was very cleverly written, original and also creepy in parts police procedural. I liked the character of Jo masters. A typical copper with relationship problems and hardly trusted by her peers. And whoa I didn’t see the ending coming. I look forward to see how the series develops.
Thank you Netgalley and Avon books for a copy of this book.

I couldn't read this book fast enough, for me it was a real page turner.I liked the main character, Jo/Josie/Josephine and I thought although there were coincidences in the book it was also believable.The pace of the book and the other characters and story were spellbinding for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.I did manage to work a few things out but couldn't be sure until everything was revealed and I'm not giving anything away. I can't believe this is a debut book I think its really accomplished and if this is the start I want to stay with this author for the rest of their journey , and can't wait for the next book. really did enjoy this one, for me it was one of the best books in this genre I have read for a long time, excellent read, thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC.

Josie’s brother, Paul, is taking her to the circus. Paul is only interested in his girlfriend and Josie who is eight years old does not wish to tag along. Josie decides to go to the football stall where she is confident she can win. Winning a huge teddy bear on her fourth kick, Josie gives her final kick to an orange haired 7 year old boy wearing a red Liverpool football club shirt. Josie is later heading back to the Haunted House when she notices the orange haired boy again. A clown with red hair is holding his hand and they are walking quickly away towards the trees.

Josephine Masters now almost 40, a DS for Avon and Somerset Police, and her home life in tatters. A body is discovered at Bradford-on-Avon – a kid about 7 years old with a red football shirt; Jo’s guilt comes back as a reminder of the missing orange haired boy that she had given her last football kick. Then, another kidnapped boy. Jo is sent out to investigate but also reviews the original kidnapping and has ideas that she feels need follow up.

Kept me in suspense to the unpredictable end.

I would like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Hold My Hand’ written by M J Ford, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
In 1987 Josie is at a fairground and sees a clown taking away a boy wearing a red football shirt. She runs to tell someone but by then it’s too late as the boy, Dylan Jones, has disappeared.
Thirty years later Josie is now DS Jo Masters, working in Bath for the Avon and Somerset Police, and when the body of a boy with scraps of a red football shirt is discovered buried in a garden Jo is sent to investigate.
‘Hold My Hand’ is an absolutely brilliant debut novel from a very talented author. It has an elaborate plot which is both convincing and exciting, a number of dubious suspects, twists and turns, an unbelievably scary and thrilling conclusion, in fact everything I want from a crime thriller. I love the character of Jo Masters who’s feisty and has a life outside the police force, and I want to read more of her. It was impossible for me to stop reading, and when I really had to I found myself thinking about it. I can wholeheartedly recommend this novel which could well be a bestseller for 2018!

A very good book, also sad. Looking back over peoples lives when they were children, and how it affects you Iin later life.
I hope there will be another book published by M.J.Ford. It was. A well written book, and never guessed the.ending.
What a horrible thing to do keeping a child like that. Well we’ll done I enjoyed this book.

Excellent book. Brilliant story and I loved the main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

This book has a great premise, the idea for the story is quite unique, so I was initially intrigued. One piece of praise is that the descriptions of the areas described were very accurate and well done. For me, I just couldn't connect to the story, even though I really wanted to. I can't place my finger on why and would say that fans of detective novels should still give it a go.

Absolutely brilliant......still in shock from the twist at the end ...
What a fantastic novel beautifully written ,well thought out plot and such believable characters. I’m in awe. I really enjoyed it it certainly kept me guessing .

The write up was very good but sadly in my opinion the book didn't live up to it.

Oh wow what a book it is a gripping page turner that I could not put down.
Thirty years earlier a brother and sister go to a carnival and the sister who is called Josie sees a little boy being taken by a clown. The boys mum realises her son is missing and that Josie is the last person to see him.
Thirty years later Josie is now a D.S investigates the death of Dylan the little boy who went missing 30 years ago.
Josie still feels guilty that she did not do more at the time to save Dylan but she was only eight years old.
Her ex boyfriend, who won't accept their relationship is over, is now her superior officer.
Plus on a personal level, Josie has decided to have IVF treatment.
If that wasn't enough to deal with another child disappears, and the case is full of red herrings and not plain sailing.
Can Josie deal with this and find the killer and deal with everything in her personal life?
A brilliant book which kept me reading late into the night it’s a brilliant book with lots of twists.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books for an advance copy of Hold My Hand, a début police procedural featuring DS Jo Masters of the Avon and Somerset police.

When a child's body is discovered on a building site and the clothing dates it to the late 80s everyone thoughts turn to Dylan Jones, the seven year old a young Jo Masters saw walking with a clown. Excluded from the investigation Jo is in Oxford visiting family when another young boy is reported abducted by a clown. She ends up seconded to the investigation.

I enjoyed Hold My Hand which has some unexpected twists and turns. The plot is not the usual run of the mill procedural so it held my interest throughout. I found it impossible to guess or anticipate what was coming next which makes a very pleasant change. I can't say that the ending was particularly believable but it was unexpected.

I like the writing style. Mr Ford has injected tension into the novel from the start. I didn't read the synopsis before starting the novel so I had my attention fixed on young Josie and was surprised that it was Dylan who went missing in the prologue. It is this kind of misdirection that peppers the novel and makes it such an absorbing read.

With it being such a plot driven novel characterisation takes a back seat. Jo is a fairly stereotypical detective. She has relationship issues which get a bit boring as the novel goes on, is dedicated to her job and is quite happy to go off piste and conduct her own investigation when her bosses won't listen to her theories. I think, however, that she has more to offer and would be interested in reading a sequel.

Hold My Hand is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

The premise is good but the style isn't my cup of tea. Seemed plodding at times and lack of emotional connection were less than I'd hoped for