My thoughts about this brilliantly written, suspense mystery thriller,was just mindblowing. Talented author Michael Wood, has written a story that truly deserves appreciation, and applause, a subject on how children go missing, and who was behind it, was just  fantastic.Loved how the start of the book, when missing child Carl Meagan, enters a police station in France and reveals his the missing child,  who went missing 4 years ago,and 9 year old Keeley Armitage, who vanishes on trip to the supermarket with her sister, took my breath away, the mystery that gets revealed in the end is just incredible, and to find out who the killer, it was outstanding, which I loved about the story the most. The characters are just fantastic,DCI Matilda Darke, is one of the best detectives, in crime fiction. Author Michael Wood Stolen Children, is the 6th book in the series, with full of suspense and mystery, that is just one of the best thrillers of the year. Michael Wood writing is truly just brilliant,just love how he brings he the characters to life with this hardhiting story. A well written, murder mystery thriller that is truly not just remarkable, but outstanding. Highly recommended. I would like to say thank you to author Michael Wood, netgalley and Killer Reads of HQ Stories for giving me a chance and read this outstanding thriller.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💥💥💥💥💥

Why have I not heard of Mathilda Darke before? Beats me! I didn’t know this was the 6th book in the series, and it made me think I might be able to fully enjoy this book. I was wrong, I really did enjoy this book! It’s an intriguing story of a girl disappearing, and the parents getting a ransom demand they simply can’t fulfill. Mathilda’s painful past includes a kidnapping she screwed up solving, and the boy and his faith has been haunting her ever since. A boy in France walk into a police station claiming he’s the boy who’s been missing. Mathilda is up for a lot of work, and barely no sleep. She can’t have two missing children on her conscious.

Strong female lead, and interesting characters in general. I like Mathilda! The story is a solid, good mystery, but somewhere around the middle of the book I felt like it wasn’t moving forward. A lot of things were happening, but the main plot stood still. It was a bit out of balance since the kidnappings were not the main story anymore, the focus was on the weird family of the missing girl, and the lives of the coppers. Don’t get me wrong, these things are important, but I felt it wasn’t focused enough. Then it got back on track again, which is good.

I will most definitely look for the five previous books in the series, since this book is well-written, the characters exactly like I want detectives to be in a mystery book, and all in all it’s great entertainment, even though the subject is not an easy one.

Two missing children. One found. One lost.

Stolen Children is the sixth book in the DCI Matilda Darke crime thriller series by Michael Wood. I wish to thank the publisher, One More Chapter, NetGalley, and the author for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.

Never before have I gotten goosebumps while reading the Prologue. This is because I’ve read the previous five books, and something incredible happens. You can read the blurb – is it too good to be true? Matilda Darke won’t believe it until she has proof.

However, Matilda can’t focus on the past. Suddenly, she has another missing child case on her plate. Nine-year-old Keeley Armitage has vanished, and her mother reported having received a ransom demand. “Deja vu all over again,” as Matilda relives the nightmare of Carl Meagan’s kidnapping and botched ransom payment on the day her husband died. This haunts her day and night, although she still manages to function. As time passes, her mental state improves; how well will she cope with another missing child? Will Matilda beforever second-guessing herself and filled with "if onlys" about a case even after it's resolved?

Michael Wood takes us inside the investigation in ways that feel intensely personal. With Family Liaison Officer Ellen Ellen Devonport on duty 24/7 at the Armitage home following the disappearance of Keeley, we get an up-close and personal look at the family, which includes dad Craig, mother Linda, fourteen-year-old sister Jodie, and four-year-old brother Riley, who is severely disabled due to seizures and a brain injury. At first glance, they seem to be a very close-knit, loving family, but the more time Ellen – and the reader – spends with them, the more questions arise about these individuals. At least one is a potential suspect; I would encourage readers to keep an open mind.

Naturally, since it is a Matilda Darke novel, we get a good look at the police angle as well. Matilda has strong support from most of her team, especially DI Christian Brady and DS Sian Mills. Both are solid officers who seem quite loyal and devoted to “Mat.” I love the camaraderie of this team. When one is in trouble, they all have one another’s backs. This is never more evident than when one is pursued or threatened by a suspect. Everyone joins in to help, regardless of personal risk. There never seems to be a Matilda Darke case in which at least one of her team is not in extreme danger, injured, or even killed. In the office, there is still have the candy drawer, although Sian has drawn the line at keeping it filled and now expects others to pitch in. We even get a better look at the relationship Matilda has with her boss Valerie, who soldiers on even though her husband is in a care facility following a massive stroke. There are other personal dramas that emerge as well, as happens in any workplace.

Lest we forget, these folks are the police. When a potential suspect is found murdered, the investigation ramps up, and so does the tension. The parents are becoming more and more anxious and irritable, so you just know something’s about to break. Oh, my yes! I try to avoid using the term “unputdownable” and other clichés, but this is one highly charged, nail-biter of a plot.

Was it unpredictable? Not exactly, at least, not entirely. But getting there was so much fun. I also loved seeing Matilda start to get out of her deep funk and make positive changes in her personal life. As always, her best friend Adele has a big role in her precious, limited off time once again. But there is someone new in the picture as well. Wink, wink. Will this continue? Only Michael Wood has the answer.

One month after it all began, we are treated to the Epilogue. More goosebumps. I can’t wait to get to number seven!

A 9 year old girl goes missing on a visit to the shops with her older sister adter receiving a ransom call the distraught mothers neighbour calls the police, the missing child's case brings back memories of another missing child case that Matilda was unable to resolve and has haunted her ever since

Can be read without reading the previous in the series but iwhy would you nor want to immerse yourself in the gripping, thrilling reads by this author

I was hooked from the start and loved this book.It's a great story and DCI Matilda Darke is excellent.5*

I have now read all the books in this series and overall I enjoy both the characters and the plot lines. I thought this one was an interesting premise, and I am enjoying how the original story continues to unfold.

Bloody brilliant! Hooked from the first page. A little disappointed the carl story isn't resolved but a fantastic book.

This is the 6th book in the DCI Matilda Darke series by author Michael Wood. I read the 1st book in this series just over 6 months ago and was instantly drawn in by the strength of the characters and the intriguing plots. Since then I have read all the other books in the series and I am hooked. This book would work as a stand alone, but if you intend to read the series and why wouldn't you I would suggest reading them in order. Also due to cases from earlier books being mentioned it would make more sense to keep to the order.

One of the strengths of this series is the regular characters in DCI Matilda Darke's team, all of them come alive between the pages and are easy to relate to. 

9 year old Keeley Armitage vanishes following a trip to the local supermarket with her sister. While her distraught family is in shock, DCI Matilda Darke can’t help but focus on memories of the Carl Meagan case that almost ruined her career. Carl Meagan was abducted 4 years ago and was never found. Matilda took the failure personally and many people blamed her for him not being found.
 

This is a fast paced crime thriller that will hook you and keep you dangling until the very end. Another excellent novel.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved every one of Michael Wood's Matilda Darke books but this is the best yet. The writing is excellent, description of people and places is exemplary, and the tension is almost unbearable! When a child goes missing Matilda is taken back to a kidnapping case which she mis-handled, at a time when her life was falling apart as her beloved husband died. She is determined to get things right this time but the case is not necessarily as it seems at first and the revelations about the family involved are involving from the start. Tremendous!

5 Stars

I feel like I waited for this book for a long time, in reality I haven't as the last in the series was out in January, but hey some things are just worth waiting for!

Stolen Children is a breathtaking story, Michael Wood's books have always been a little on the dark side but this one has dropped straight into the abyss of lost and broken souls - not one for the faint-of-heart shall we say.

Along with a strong and compelling storyline, Stolen Children reads at a pace that you will need to prepare yourself for - don't be thinking that you'll be dipping in and out of this one as it will consume you and you will NEED to keep reading!

DCI Matilda Darke - oh I love her - surely this series must be televised soon? Matilda and her team feel like old familiar friends and I am in awe of Michael Wood's ability to bring people to life in this way (and then put them in daily peril, heart in your mouth scenarios, subject them to near death experiences and generally toss them into the washing machine of doom).

I swear I feel like Carl Meagan is a real missing boy - for me he is there with Ben Needham and Madeleine McCann tucked away in a corner of my mind that desperately hopes for them to be found and for their families to finally receive peace.

And then. Oh my. The ending!

Note - this is book 6 in a series, please read the others first:

For Reasons Unknown
Outside Looking In
A Room Full of Killers
The Hangman's Hold
The Murder House

and a short story Victim of Innocence

There can be no case more harrowing for the police than that of a missing child. They know they are working against the clock and have to treat everyone as a suspect even the increasingly desperate parents. DCI Miranda Darke's team manage to do this sensitively while investigating thoroughly. I was gripped from the first page and read the book in one sitting. Although it is the 6th book in the series this was my 1st Michael Wood novel, so did I enjoy it? Suffice to say that I had no sooner finished this read than I had bought his back catalogue. I would probably have preferred to start with book 1 but there is nothing in this book that will spoil the earlier work for the reader. There is however a tantalising peek at a future case that has well and truly whetted my appetite for the next story.

I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't read it fast enough. As usual, The DCI Matilda Darke series is set in and around Sheffield, Matilda is still unable to come to terms with the fact that she wasn't able to rescue a young boy who had been abducted and held for ransom. It was only natural that her mind wasn't completely on the job as her beloved husband was dying and she made an error that to her was unforgivable and almost finished her career. When she is called on to lead an investigation into another kidnapping and ransom demand for the safe return of a young girl. she is determined to pull out all the stops and get the girl back to her family. There are a few end of paragraph cliff hangers but that made me want to push on with the story which is packed full of suspense and is a thrilling read. I can highly recommend this book, it is a fantastic addition to the series.

4 Stars

DS Sian Mills and DC Finn Cotton were the first to respond to an hysterical mother who is reporting that her daughter has been kidnapped.

Amanda is the name of the distraught neighbor of Linda and Craig Armitage whose nine-year old daughter Keeley has been taken. Their other two children Riley and Jodie are at home. Riley is wearing a helmet and mittens. He is severely disabled.

Something is not right; something coincidental...Enter DCI Matilda Darke. When the FLO visits the home, she gets the same sense of something odd, something off.

The book harkens back in time to the abduction of Carl Megan. His mother has spiraled downward ever since his disappearance. DCI Matilda was essentially blamed for his not being found, and now she is sure he is dead.

Four years later, and contemporary with Keeley's story, a young boy, eleven-years old, presents himself to the local gendarmerie in France and says he is Carl Meagan. Is it really him? DNA tests are on the way.

A ransom demand is made that is way beyond the family's means. Matilda immediately believes this to be a hoax. When the kidnapper does not call back, the team suspects that Keeley is dead.

This book presumes too much in spots. I had the same reaction that another reviewer had in that how did the do-er of the crime(s) know that Matilda would be assigned to the case? Some illogical leaps were made. The writing, however is very fine and the plotting is well done. I was glad to meet with some of my old “friends” on the detective squad. It's nice to catch up. The plots of this series of book are very closely tied together. Although they may be read as stand alone novels, I think it would be better to read them in sequence. More please, Mr. Wood.

I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.

Matilda Darke and her team are a force to be reckoned with! I started this book minutes after receiving the email invite and I’ve just finished it, only putting it down to sleep! Loved it. The book is full of twists and turns, so many layers to the storyline. Can’t wait for the next one in the series!

This is the 6th book in the DCI Matilda Darke Thriller series. The plot here concerns the disappearance of nine year-old Keeley, for whom a ransom demand is soon made, despite the fact that the family don't have any real money. I really enjoyed reading it.

spoiler alert ** For anyone who's been following this series,this book opens with a shock... and to be fair,it carries on as it begins.
Despite having a fair idea of who and why Keeley went missing,I still felt like things were being thrown at me left right and centre.
There were times I worried for nearly all of the team.
Brilliantly paced and packed with tension.
This book thrills right up to the last page.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I have read each of the novels in the series and am sad to report that the on-going Carl Meghan storyline (the details of which have to be rehearsed at the beginning of every single book) is still going strong. Actually, at times in this one it was more interesting than the main story. The plot here concerns the disappearance of nine year-old Keeley, for whom a ransom demand is soon made, despite the fact that the family don't have any real money. Matilda immediately deduces that the demand was a hoax and that the girl is already dead. This seemed a bit of a leap to me, but not such a leap as the perpetrator knowing (how?) that the case will inevitably be allocated to Matilda and that it will bring back memories for her and for the press of the missing Carl.

There is a fair amount of description of the various detectives' personal lives, most of which added to the story by rounding out their characters (I particularly enjoyed Matilda's friendship with Adele, and Chris' relationship with Scott) but the Aaron strand required knowledge of the previous book in the series and drew me out of the story - it didn't really add anything except perhaps being as reminder of how long it takes for cases to reach court.

I found this a page-turner until near the end, where there was a prolonged river rescue scene which was dull and which I skimmed. There were a lot of deaths towards the end and a number of extremely gruesome and unsavoury revelations, with the family in question proving 'dysfunctional' in more or less every way possible. You'll have to read it yourself to see if Carl made it home.

#StolenChildren #NetGalley
A good read.
A young boy walks into a police station in France. He claims to be Carl Meagan – a missing child from Sheffield whose name is still whispered as a warning to kids who stay out after dark.
Some children won’t be found. On her way home from the supermarket, nine-year-old Keeley Armitage vanishes without trace. Her family is overcome with shock and DCI Matilda Darke can’t help but focus on memories of the Carl Meagan case that almost ruined her career.
I loved the way the characters are made. It's narration is superb.
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for giving me an advance copy.