Great thrilling novel which kept me turning the pages, would highly recommend to others. Brilliant writing, plot and characters.

I really enjoyed this one, it is the second I the series but it is fine to be read as a stand alone as you get the back story covered for the main characters. I haven't read the first in the series but it is now on my to read list after I enjoyed this one so much!

I really enjoyed the plot and the killer is great - there are plenty of twists and turns for this one and most you won't see coming. The pace is great and it keeps you engaged throughout, it is very gripping and entertaining - a solid four stars for this one from me, very enjoyable!

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to have read this entertaining read. It is the first book I have read by this author, and although this book is part of a series, I think it reads nicely as a standalone and I don't think I've missed any references to previous events. There is twists and surprises galore, very riveting read. Recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion.

I have read Mr Marsden's previous book, "The Missing" not long ago, and I loved it, so I was pretty excited to receive this book, as I really enjoyed the main characters, Police Commissioner Sensi and his friend, Dr Claps. I was not let down, this was a great book. I devoured it, following them as they attempting to solve this crime, American Sheila Ross goes missing while in Ecuador, where did Sheila go? Did someone take her? Dr Claps is trying to avenge an old friend's death and follow a serial killer he is sure is involved, but is he? So many twists and turns, a roller coaster ride right to the end. I hated the ending, but I loved the ending. Great book, I am off to read the book before this one "The Hunted"

An American girl disappears in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Dr. Claps, a renowned criminal psychologist, on the hunt for a serial killer provides assistance in trying to find the missing girl. This is a cat and mouse thriller with twists and turns until the end.

First, I have to start by saying that this is the second? book in the series. I had no idea that this book was part of a series and honestly would not have requested to read it had I known because I have not read the first one. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I felt as though I was trying to play catch up, because characters had clearly been introduced during the first novel. I did really enjoy this book and it was very interesting as the characters have very unique aspects. Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.

A GRIPPING THRILLER FULL OF TWISTS YOU WON’T SEE COMING… THE NEXT SERIAL KILLER READ
FROM THE AUTHOR OF MISSING AND HUNTED. PERFECT FOR THE FANS OF ANGELA MARSONS AND
JEFFREY DEAVER.
IT’S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE MASS MURDERER, GIACOMO RIONDINO, DISAPPEARED AFTER
KILLING GRETA ALFIERI…DR CLAPS, DEVASTATED AND GUILT-RIDDEN BY GRETA’S DEATH HAS BEEN
ON A MAN-HUNT FOR RIONDINO EVER SINCE. MEANWHILE, AN AMERICAN GIRL DISAPPEARS ON
THE 382ND STEP OF THE CERRO TRAIL IN GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR.
NO ONE SAW HER DISAPPEAR. WHO TOOK HER? AND HOW?
WHEN THE US AUTHORITIES CONTACT CLAPS, HE IS CERTAIN THAT IT MUST BE RIORDINO. BUT,
UNLIKE RIONDINO’S OTHER VICTIMS, THE GIRL HAS DISAPPEARED INTO THIN AIR…
WILL CLAPS SOLVE THE PUZZLE, OR WILL HE LOSE HIS MIND IN THE PROCESS, BLINDED BY HIS OWN
OBSESSION?
FOLLOW ARIA
WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.ARIAFICTION.COM
FACEBOOK: @ARIAFICTION
TWITTER: @ARIA_FICTION
INSTAGRAM: @ARIAFICTION


⭐⭐⭐⭐
Even though a slower start, Monty Marsden develops the characters intensely. Taken tackles some interesting psychological issues that add to the suspense of a typical Murder mystery!

Monty Marsden definitely tackles an intricate plot that centers on the multiple personalities of the suspected killer!

We given Taken 4 stars and hope you enjoy as much as we did!

‘Taken’ was my introduction to the character of Dr. Claps, a renowned criminal psychologist. I hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series but the synopsis sounded just my cup of tea, as I love anything to do with criminal psychology. I really did enjoy ‘Taken’ but more about that in a bit.
I did take a shine to the character of Dr. Claps, although his name did make me giggle at times. He is living my dream career of being a highly successful criminal psychologist, who is called in to consult on cases. I would absolutely love to have such a brilliant mind as his and be able to help track down killers and then assess them. There is one case that particularly both haunts and frustrates Dr. Claps and that is the case involving Giacomo Riondino. Two years previously Riondino killed Greta Alfieri and fled the scene. Ever since Dr. Claps has been determined to track down this Riondino but as yet he hasn’t had any success. His determination to catch Riondino is bordering on an unhealthy obsession. The US authorities contact Claps to consult on a case of a missing girl, Claps is convinced that it has something to do with Riondino and he gets on the first plane over there. This latest case shares some characteristics with Riondino’s victims but there is a big difference in that this latest girl appears to have vanished into thin air whereas Riondino’s victims haven’t. Is this latest girl one of Riondino’s victims? Has Dr. Claps’ obsession with Riondino blinded him to the possibility of somebody else being the perpetrator? Will Dr. Claps’ obsession make him lose his mind? Who is the perpetrator? Will Dr. Claps manage to help find the perpetrator before any more women disappear or are killed? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
This book had me gripped from the moment I opened the book until the moment I closed it after I had finished the story. As I previously stated, I am obsessed with criminal psychology and anything to do with it. I think it’s the possibility of getting inside the minds of criminals and finding out why they did what they did. The writing quality is such that I couldn’t fail but become involved in the story and I really did feel as though I was an assistant to Dr. Claps. I binge read this book over the space of a few days and this binge read worked so well because it really did give me a sense of the urgency of the hunt for Riondino. I became addicted to reading this book and because I wanted to find out what happened to the missing girl and whether or not Dr. Claps managed to find his nemesis, I just kept turning those pages. Before I knew it I had cleared over 35% of the book but because I was so into the story I hadn’t notice how quickly the page numbers were flying past. There were lots of twists and turns to the story and moments where I felt my heart rate increase and I had to hold my breath in anticipation of what was going to happen next.
In short, I really did enjoy reading ‘Taken’ and I would definitely recommend it to others, but particularly to those readers, who enjoy psychological thrillers. I look forward to reading what comes next from Monty Marsden but in the meantime I will just content myself with reading his other books in the Dr. Claps series. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

It’s been two years since serial killer Giacomo Riondino escaped the clutches of the police, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Not able to come to terms with the murder of his friend, Greta Alfieri, Dr Claps has been on a mission ever since to find the man responsible. Now an American girl has gone missing in Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador. With no witnesses, the girl seems to have vanished into thin air. Convinced that this is the work of Riondino, Claps heads to Ecuador where he is sure the serial killer is residing. Will he finally be captured or will this obsession finally be the undoing of Claps?

After the dramatic ending of the previous book, Hunted, I had hoped that there would be a continuation of the Riondino story so was thrilled when I saw that there was. Riondino is probably one of the most horrific fictional serial killers I have ever come across and yet, due to his psychiatric condition, probably one of the most fascinating. The killer has a multiple personality disorder, each ‘person’ displaying completely different traits. Jack is the one in control who chooses which personality can come to the fore and it is Jack who we see most in this book. While some of the personalities have been suppressed, there are others who also make an appearance such as Hannibal, the murderous one and Julia, the gentler soul. Each play their part in this fantastic tale of a man’s mission to rid the world of this evil.

I love a book with a real-life setting, and such is the way Guayaquil is used, it almost becomes another character. As someone who knows little or nothing about Ecuador, I found myself googling places that were mentioned and became fascinated by the La Peñas steps. By using these steps as the location where the American girl went missing, the author has created a superb mystery – just how, exactly, could she go missing without anybody seeing where she went?

It soon becomes apparent that Claps is right to think that Riondino has set up home in Ecuador but not before several carefully executed pieces of misdirection by the author. With regards to Riondino, you know that a gruesome murder is probably round the corner, but in Taken, his modus operandi has changed. As a result, there were several points in the book where I could sense something was about to happen but was left with feelings of anticipation when it didn’t happen when I thought it would!

I really enjoyed the previous book but Taken was even better. In Riondino, Monty Marsden has the perfect villain and his superb writing really brings him to life – not that I would ever want this killer to actually exist! The plot is brilliantly chilling and provides more than one ‘heart in mouth’ moment. A must-read!

Today is my day on the blog tour for this book and to my shame I have to confess I haven't actually finished the book :-(
But what I have read so far has kept me glued, Ive only taken a break from reading to put up my contributions to the blog tour, I have included some sneaky peaks of extracts from the book so if you need any further persuasion to read this book go take a look and once you have read those tantalising teasers you will be like me, addicted and in a rush to get your hands on a copy of this book asap!
The amount of snow today, go for the kindle option, stay indoors under your favourite blanket and a nice brew, today is a perfect day for a lazy sunday snuggled up reading :-)
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2018/03/18/taken-by-monty-marsden-sneak-peak-book-extracts/

4☆ A Serial Killer With Multiple Personalities!

I do believe Taken is the second book in the series. Although this can be read as a standalone I wish i had known before it was a second book as there are backstories I would of liked more info on before reading. I would however recommend reading the first book - Hunted.

Taken is a cat and mouse crime thriller with exciting twists and turns you won't see coming.

There is also a serial killer on the lose who has been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).Which I was more familiar with it as multiple personality disorder.

 This makes for a very compelling read as I don't think I've ever come across a serial killer with DID before.
It certainly made for a provocative twist.
Completely draws you in as you never know what to expect next, adding to the suspense and drama.
When as a reader you delve into the darkest depths of his mindset and the many characters he plays throughout.

I applaud Marsden for how well written Riondino's characters are. Highly believable. It opens the readers eyes and educates. It just goes to show how Marsden has Very well researched Dissociative Identity Disorder. As his knowledge oozes onto the pages.

When a Young American Girl Shelia Ross,  goes missing. It's a race against time to find her.

Dr Claps is a climatologist and profiler and he is very much obsessed with Riondino who he believes has taken Shelia.
Dr Claps had a hidden agenda in finding Riondino as he has already killed someone before.

Riondino was currently residing in a secure psychiatric unit.
Well that was until he managed somehow to escape!
His on the run and Dr Claps is convinced he has taken Shelia!

You see Riondino is one clever serial killer and manages to intricately outsmart the police and Authorities with his Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Due to his multiple profiles he is able to outwit and stay one step ahead.
He is conniving, Minipulative, unpredictable making him highly dangerous and a ticking time bomb!

I thoroughly enjoyed Marsden' s fresh twist on a serial killer.
It's not a fast paced read, but certainly builds in suspense and is very much character driven.
This is definitely a book where you need to read with plenty of time on your hands.
There is a fair amount of characters and the multiple personalities makes it a lil confusing at times.
Stick with it as it just gets better.

I haven't yet had the pleasure of reading Monty Marsden books before Taken, but I will definitely be looking out for more!
Will be recommending this book!

Even though a slower start, Monty Marsden develops the characters intensely. Taken tackles some interesting psychological issues that add to the suspense of a typical Murder mystery! 
Monty Marsden definitely tackles an intricate plot that centers on the multiple personalities of the suspected killer! 
We given Taken 4 stars and hope you enjoy as much as we did!

It's the first book I've read by this author, and although this book has a predecessor, there is enough backstory both to the plot and characters to make this a very worthwhile read.
It focuses on a criminologist/profiler, Dr Claps and his pursuit of a serial killer who has become his obsession. The plot is detailed and cleverly written, with clues and misinformation filtered in at salient intervals, moving the story along at a fast pace and holding the reader's attention.
The serial killer, Riondino has multiple personality disorder, described in an understandable, knowledgeable way that makes him a fascinating, unpredictable and menacing antagonist. The suspense builds up to an explosive and poignant end. If you can, read 'Hunted', the precursor to this story for maximum impact. 'Taken' has believable characters and setting, a realistic pursuit of the serial killer and a breathtaking ending.
I received a copy of this book from Aria Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I really think when I read a book I need to see if its part of a series because in this case, it mattered. I was tossed and torn between different events within this book in the series due to me always wondering what I missed in the previous book Hunter. Nevertheless it was a fast paced book that I could take on board.

Claps is in Ecuador as Sheila Ross an American senator's daughter has gone missing.
Riondino is the person who commits these crimes and who I gather from previous books from this story Claps has been hunting.

Dr Claps was the one who helped captured Riondino in the first place where he was admitted to a secure psychiatric facility, but not secure enough as hes escaped leaving corpses in his path.

I enjoyed reading the multiple personality disorder as I am aware a little about this, I thought the author had gone into this is quite a brilliant detail and I have learnt even more than I did before.

I think I need to go back on the previous books though.

My thanks to Aria for my copy and Net Galley

I think I just got approved for this book and it got archived before I could download it 😭 just a few days late

I didn't realize until I was leaving a review on Amazon that this is the third book in a series! This was good enough to stand up on its own, but I can't wait to go read the other two. Action packed from the first page to the last, it kept me reading from beginning to end in one sitting. Well written with well-developed characters, the only thing I didn't like was the ending! Some books you don't like the ending no matter how good the book is and this is one of those! You'll know why once you read it. If I tell you now, it would spoil it for you! I give this a solid 4 1/2 stars, and highly recommend it!

Multiple personalities? Guaranteed to cause complications when trying to track a killer.

“He’d always been one step ahead of us. Always, right up until that last damn day.” Commissioner Sensi complains bitterly to the director of the Forensic Anthropology and Dentistry Laboratory. He’s talking about Giacomo Riondino who had escaped from his “supposedly” secure psychiatric facility. He had left behind two corpses – one being Greta Alfieri. Her brutal death had left Dr Claps a criminologist who had helped capture Riondino after his first killing spree, unable to continue working – that is until he receives a phone call from FBI agent Joseph Munro, in charge of the National Centre for the Analysis of Violent Crime – asking for his help. A young American woman has disappeared while on holiday in Guayaquil, Ecuador. and the crime has all the traits of Riondino’s modus operandi.

Munro has organised for him to be met on his arrival in Ecuador, by Henrique Zambrano, an officer in the Policia Nacional. Zambrano wants this killer caught as quickly as possible as fear is spreading through the town after several women have disappeared.

A brilliant storyline with what (felt like) real people trying to catch Riondino, who resembles a chameleon, different colours to suit his different personalities, Jack, the Fox, Julia, Hannibal, the Little Boy, who seem to be able to change him from one person to the other instantly.

I found it fascinating how Monty Marsden has been able to capture each of the personalities with so much knowledge as to how they would behave. How two or three of them could be arguing simultaneously with each other or how two could hate each other, to the extent where one would try to destroy the other.

It’s a truly complex book which needed my full concentration. I knew absolutely nothing about multiple personality disorder before reading this book. I’m not an expert now, but I certainly have a better understanding of just how complex it must be to try to help people suffering from this, especially when some of the personalities are like Hannibal and out to commit horrendous crimes.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria for an advance copy of Taken, the third novel to feature Milan based criminal profiler Claps and police Commissioner Sensi.

Claps has gone off radar and hasn't spoken to his friend Sensi in over two years, spending the time hunting the world for serial killer Giacomo Riondino who escaped them in the previous novel, Hunted. Now he is in Ecuador investigating the possibility that Riondino has kidnapped an American senator's daughter, Sheila Ross.

I thoroughly enjoyed Taken. It is a slow burner of a novel with much of it taken up with discussion of Riondino's multiple personalities but it still manages to produce some surprises through clever misdirection. It had me glued to the pages as I like the slow accumulation of knowledge and the mixture of instinct and deductive reasoning. The action packed ending is therefore a surprise but not perhaps unexpected.

The multiple personality thing is fascinating. I'm not sure I believe it exists so I'm always interested in the argument and its portrayal. I can't say Taken convinces me with the different personalities talking to each other and fighting as I had always believed they act independently but Mr Marsden has obviously done his homework and appears authoritative on the subject so who am I to argue?

Taken is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Sheila Ross has gone missing on the Cerro trail in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She was traveling with a companion named Alice Hartford. Sheila hails from a very wealthy Atlanta family that has put some pressure on the US authorities to find out what happened to her.

Dr. Claps who is a talented criminologist and profiler gets the word that he is wanted in the United States. Upon his arrival in Atlanta, Georgia, he is told by an agent named Munro of the FBI that there is a very good chance that Sheila’s abductor was Giacomo Riondino. This is the man who is responsible for Greta Alfieri’s horrible death two years earlier. Claps is still broken up at the loss of Greta. He, of course, blames himself for her death. He has been hunting Riondino all over the world since. To have the chance to track Riondino and finally get him! It’s an offer that Claps cannot pass up. Is Sheila still alive? Can he find her in time?

Meanwhile, back in Italy, Sensi, Claps’ boss, worries about him. He doesn’t respond to his telephone calls, and Sensi has not heard from him.

Riondino has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which used to be known as Multiple Personality Disorder. This has aided him greatly in eluding the police and escaping from the psychiatric hospital is Italy. He has a wide range of personalities, some kind like Julia while others are terrifying like Hannibal and Jack.

Claps must go to Ecuador by himself for the relations between the US and Ecuador are strained at best. His being Italian should be a help as well.

When he gets to Ecuador, he meets up with a high ranking police officer named Zambrano. They tour the places where Sheila was last seen. She was seen talking to an Italian man. They throw theories around. The Guayaquil police have done a masterful job of trying to locate Sheila, but it was all for naught. They have even interviewed all of the registered Italian men of the same build and approximate age at the Italian with whom she was seen.

Zambrano and Claps talk about the real reason that Claps has come to Ecuador. He is a man who hasn’t worked for two years. Oh yes, Zambrano has done his homework. Is it solely to capture Riondino? Claps denied this with a straight face; no, he is trying to find Sheila.

The story is interrupted in places with vignettes about Soraya. She is the housekeeper/cook/occasional companion to an Italian man who moods are very mercurial. He is often gone from his palatial villa. Soraya loves living there; it is a beautiful home. She has suffered greatly in her life.

Claps is very different in this book. He is haunted by Greta’s death, but he is also short tempered and somewhat intolerant. He responds to Zambrano’s queries with snarky statements and in places, he is rude. I didn’t like this side of him very much. On the other hand, Zambrano is a very likeable character. He is intelligent, perceptive and seems to understand the suffering Claps is experiencing.

When Riondino escapes again, we are treated to visions of what living inside the mind of a serial killer with DID must look like. Shifting personalities, arguing with one another…This book gives the reader insight into a very disturbed mind. It is like a journey into the unknown, where one doesn’t know the rules, or even the right way home. Another murder occurs in Spain. Jack gets out of control.

Meanwhile, Riondino goes back to Italy. Claps goes to speak with Dr. Reti. They have a long and detailed discussion about Riondino’s psychopathology. (It is very interesting.)

The ending of the story is both sad and triumphant.

This is a well written and plotted novel. The reader is kept wondering is Riondino is really the killer/kidnapper of Sheila. Is he the mysterious Italian living with Soraya? I enjoy the Monty Marsden novels, but this one didn’t capture my interest like the previous Claps’ books did. I will, of course keep reading Mr. Marsden’s novels.

I want to thank NetGalley and Aria for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read and enjoy.