Quiet and introverted, Emma Hunter is not your usual crime thriller protagonist, so it definitely makes for interesting reading. The story unravels in two timelines - the Then where the little girl goes missing and its aftermath and the Now where Hunter is on the search for clues. While this is a regular format now for psychological thrillers, it somehow did not work for me in this story, especially during the Then timlines.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Ransomed is the first book in the Missing Children Case Files and what a belter to get us started! I love a good series and this one is certainly going to be added to my list.

Emma Hunter has been thrown into the spotlight of a media frenzy when her first book hits the bestselling list, she had doggedly and successfully exposed a paedophile ring in a local boy’s orphanage.

As a result of her fame, she is approached by wealthy business man Lord Fitzhume to find his granddaughter, Cassie who was kidnapped a year ago. He is adamant that she is still alive and if anyone can get to the truth, it will be Emma. Emma is reluctant at first to take the case as it hits close to her heart, her sister disappeared over 20 years ago when Emma was just 7 and she has been searching for her ever since. With pressure mounting from her publisher and her agent as this sounds like a premise for another best seller, she agrees to go through the statements, evidence and see where the trail leads but makes no promises.

Teamed up with DC Jack Serravitz, they review every aspect of the case at the time, was there negligence on the part of the police, was the ransom botched, what happened to Cassie?

I really engaged with the main characters, each different and flawed in their own right, I also liked the fact that despite her new found fame which she hates btw, Emma sticks to her principles. This was a strong start to what I believe will be a winning series, an intriguing crime thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.

A young girl is kidnapped from the car on her way home from a birthday party. The wealthy family are happy to pay the ransom, but there is an explosion and it is believed Cassie has died.
Twelve months later her grandfather employs a journalist to find her. The journalist has just written a book exposing pedophiles. But she also has a sister who vanished from the neighborhood at 9.
The ending makes me want to read the next book!!!

what a gripping read this was. It was full of family drama, heartache, and so many questions, pretty much everything you could want in a crime thriller. I absolutely loved reading Ransomed, it had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I had to keep turning the pages to find out more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. One of my favourites this year.

This is a multi-layered thriller.

Protagonist Emma Hunter is an investigative journalist who has been somewhat reluctantly thrown into the media spot light. Her investigation into historic child abuse at a Weymouth children’s home has led to a trial, conviction and justice for some of the victims. Her book about the case is a bestseller and she is being recognised after media appearances.

Emma shies away from the attention as she does not want to take anything away from the victims. Her pushy agent, Maddie, is try to encourage her to leave Weymouth and move up to London to further her writing career, but Emma feels uncomfortable in the city and her ties to Weymouth are strong.

Emma’s next case drags her into a missing child investigation. Six year old Cassie was snatched from a car and hasn’t been seen since. Lord Fitzhume, Cassie’s grandfather has pulled strings to keep the case out of the media and she has been missing, presummed dead, for a year. Emma could be his last chance to find out the truth about her disappearance.

Emma teams up with PC Jack Serrovitz who investigates cold case to look back through the original investigation and see if they can uncover the truth that has left the HIlliard family devastated.

Emma has a personal connection to the missing child investigation as her own sister disappeared when they were children. She has never forgiven herself for the disappearance and hopes that one day she can understand what destroyed her own family.

The ending of this book was really shocking. It’s certainly no the family reunited cliche you might expect. As the first book in the series, it ends on a great cliffhanger which I won’t spoil but it will mean you want to read the next book.

I particularly liked the fact that this was set in my local area.

Emma is a interesting character who I think is going to continue develop as she works with policeman Jack and friend Rachel to investigate the case.

This is a compelling read with some surprising twists and turns that will definitely leave you wanting more.

This was an amazing story. Totally gripping from beginning to end. There was a underflow of sadness but success predominated. I loved the characters who seemed so real and the storyline believable. Thoroughly enjoyable read., I look forward to reading more in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, One More Chapter and the author, M. A. Hunter, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Ransomed in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
What an incredible, fast paced read. You are drawn into Emma's story from the outset.
I thought the storyline was well written and gripping. The characters are compelling and realistic. Such a good read.
Well worth the money.

Ransomed by M.A Hunter is the first in The Missing Children Case Files series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins UK (One More Chapter) - in particular Claire Fenby, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Emma Hunter is an investigative journalist, who has just published her first book, based on the abuse of children at a children's home many years ago.  It is a best-seller, and she is suddenly thrust into the lime-light, where she isn't too comfortable sitting.

When Lord Fitzhume approaches her to ask for her help in finding his missing grand-daughter, Emma refuses, but he has friends in high places, and it's a done deal.   7-year old Cassie was kidnapped a year ago, and all evidence points to the fact that the ransom exchange went poorly, and she died in an explosion, along with one of the kidnappers.   Fitzhume believes she is alive, and even though Emma hopes that to be the case, she isn't finding any evidence to support that theory.


My Opinions:

Although I did not find the excitement I had hoped for in this book, I did find a really well-written mystery, an interesting plot, and a new series to read.

I enjoyed getting to know Emma, and I  really liked Jack.  Unfortunately, I like neither of Emma's friends.  Both Rachel and Maddie are rather over-bearing, and both seem to have ulterior motives for everything they do.  They just don't seem to be a good fit with Emma.  I hope they will be shown in a better light in books to come.

The perpetrator was fairly obvious from the get-go, but it didn't detract from the story.  The twist at the end was unexpected....and a little disheartening.

The book is about a child abduction, and that is a rather dark topic, but since it did not actually center around what was happening with the child, it was a little lighter than I expected.  It actually centered around the affects it had on her family, which was tragic enough.

I understand that these books will be about Emma (and Jack) searching for missing children, so I am looking forward to continuing  with this series.

Ransomed by M.A. Hunter is the first in the series featuring Emma Hunter. This was a fast paced thriller that kept my interest the entire book. Many twists and turns I didn’t see coming with likeable and relatable character.;you can’t help but like Emma’s drive and determination. Will she find the missing girl, Cassie, in time? Who is behind the abduction?

Emma (MA – get it?) Hunter is an investigative journalist who spent three years working on her first book, a shocking account of the brutal abuse by staff inside The St Francis Home for Wayward Boys after she met first one victim in a homeless shelter and then two more came forward. These men trusted Emma enough to reveal the dreadful truth about what took place and named their tormentors. The book catapulted Emma to the bestsellers’ list and also prompted a police enquiry which had just culminated in the imprisonment of the three ringleaders. The story begins as Emma’s agent, Maddie, is holding a celebration of the court victory in her London office. In the office’s reception area Emma is approached by an elderly and obviously very well to do man. He introduces himself as Templeton, Lord Fitzhume, and implores Emma to make her next investigation that of the kidnap of his still missing granddaughter Cassie Hilliard. Emma is surprised to find she has never heard of the case and he informs her that he was able to insist on a press blackout, such is his status. It transpires the family’s chauffer driven vehicle was attacked and the six year old child snatched from the scene in a very professional manner. The police even got as far as arresting one abductor in a botched ransom handover and believe Cassie is now dead. Fitzhume is convinced she is still alive somewhere. Initially Emma doesn’t want to get involved. She wants to write about the disappearance her sister Anna. Anna vanished twenty years ago when she was nine years old. She just walked round the corner from home and was never seen again, tearing apart the rest of the family irretrievably. Emma has not let a day go by in recent years without pushing on with the search for her sister, convinced that she is still alive somewhere. However her publisher has the final say on what the subject of her follow up book will be and Lord Fitzhume has friends in some very high places, so she resigns herself to writing about the missing Cassie. When she meets up again with Fitzhume, she realises he’s not so different from herself and they have a shared grief for a missing child. Immediately she finds she actually wants to get the truth for this sad old man. Granted access to the closed case police files and given help from a Metropolitan Police Constable, Jack Serrovitz, she travels from her beloved hometown of Weymouth to stay in London with best friend Rachel and starts to delve into the case. The story constantly switches back and forth between events of a year ago when Cassie was taken and the present day as the reader learns more about what happened during and after the kidnap. Much of the action takes place in the past rather than the present until we reach the final few gripping chapters as the truth about Cassie is revealed. Based on her success and notoriety following the publication of her first book, which just about every person she meets has read, people now know who she is and her reputation precedes her. They realise how talented she is at laying bare the facts of a case with great empathy and people are prepared to talk to her, spilling the truth and relating facts that would have otherwise remained hidden. It wasn’t hard to guess a fair bit about the plot but there were still a few surprises in store. The cliff hanger left at the end will, I’m sure, lead nicely onto the next story in what I think will become an excellent series. 4*

Wow this is the first book in a new series and it's certainly addictive and explosive.
Emma Hunter is an investigative journalist who has just released her first book. 'Monster's under the bed about abuse in st Francis home for wayward boys.
A man asks Emma if she will find his missing six year old granddaughter cassie who was abducted a year ago. The police think she is dead but the grandfather thinks diferentley.
Emma turns him down to start with then agrees to have a look into the case.
She only helps as the case is a reflection of her sister Anna who went missing twenty years ago aged six.

I loved this book it grips you from the start The chapters alternate from when cassie was abducted to the present day.
I really like Emma and can't wait for more from this series. Well worth a read.

I’m going against the majority of reviews of this book in only giving it a three star rating but it really seemed a fairly dull read to me. It may be a small thing but the name for the boys home she did the expose on jarred with me. When would a home be called for “Wayward Boys” ? It Victorian and seemed so unlikely. The characters didn’t excite me either and the plot was predictable and too neat.

Wow I loved this book and have found a new author to add to my favourites list. This is an exciting thriller about a kidnapped child who’s Grandfather can not accept the facts of what happened after the abduction. Riding high on the success of her first novel about a child abuse ring Emma is surprised to be asked to write about the abduction and maybe discover the truth. As she investigates the story whilst also still searching for her missing sister it turns out the truth is even darker than anyone could imagine. I can’t wait for book two.

This captivating thriller introduces readers to Emma Hunter, journalist and author of the best selling novel Monster's Under My Bed, a expose of the horrific abuse that young boys were subjected to at the St Francis Home for Wayward Boys. Emma didn't enjoy taking the credit for the book, she insists that the survivors should take the credit because it's their story not hers. I thought Emma was a fantastic character, she was so likeable with her tatty cardigan and messy hair and I loved her interactions with one of the survivors Freddie Mitchell and her best friend Rachel who was also a fantastic character. Emma was a troubled individual who was haunted by a terrible life changing event in her past, the mysterious disappearance of her older sister Anna and the guilt that she feels over the disagreement they had that resulted in Anna storming off and never being seen again. Emma wanted her next book to be about Anna but instead finds herself railroaded into investigating the disappearance of six year old Cassie Hilliard who was kidnapped a year previously and just happens to be the granddaughter of a very important and highly influential man. Lord Fitzhume was the type of man who demanded respect and expected to always get his own way. I can't say that I thought he was a very likeable character and I didn't think much of his daddy's little girl, spoilt brat of a daughter either. But where was Cassie? Would Emma be able to figure out the truth that was hiding behind the secrets and lies or was poor little Cassie destined to become another statistic just like Emma's sister Anna

Wow, what a amazing start to what looks like is going to be a absolutely fantastic series. The reader is drawn into the captivating story from the first page, a story that keeps you guessing,frantically turning the page and contains all the elements that a reader wants to find whilst reading a thriller. The author had created a wonderful cast of realistic characters, a bunch of believable individuals that you thoroughly enjoy investing your time with and I can't wait to read the other titles in this series. Worth far more than five stars and very very highly recommended.

Investigative journalist Emma Hunter has spent the last three years working on a story about the abuse of children in a group home. Now the book is out and the guilty parties are finally brought to justice, she’s ready to turn her attention to the story she really wants to write, that of her sister, Anna, who went missing twenty years earlier. Approached by a wealthy old man and asked to look into the case of his kidnapped granddaughter, Emma is slowly drawn in and agrees to investigate.

There are some heart-wrenching scenes here, and some tough topics addressed. Emma is far from being any sort of intrepid heroine; she’s quiet and frumpy, a cardigan-wearing type with a bad habit of sucking on her sleeve when she gets nervous, but she’s also clever and immensely kind, and people seem to trust and open up to her instinctively.

I didn’t see the resolution coming, nor the twist in the case of Emma’s missing sister which is a thread that’s obviously going to be picked up in the next book in this series. I feel like the police officer assigned to assist Emma is going to play a bigger role, maybe as a love interest. This is a really great start to a series, with the major case in it wrapped up pretty neatly but all these other intriguing threads leaving the reader keen to learn more. I’d definitely have picked up the second book immediately if it was available when I read this one!

I hadn't heard of this author or this book prior to reading it. The book was not what I expected, in a surprisingly good way. This book had suspense and many twists and turns I didn't see coming. I didn't predict the ending of this book (which is always a welcome surprise). I would definitely read more by this author.

Well what a way to kick a brand new sparkly series. Hot of the back of a bestselling expose of historic child abuse, Emma Hunter definitely makes an entrance as the go to person to solve the unsolvable! And she’s got to find a child who disappeared into thin air!

I loved the different perspective to the investigation, Emma’s nose for a story even when she’s reluctant is brilliant. Her investigative instinct is akin to that of a police officer and she’s got a cute one by her side in the form of Jack Serrovitz assisting her in this lukewarm cold case. The rapport between this two could be interesting as the series develops…

The supporting cast of the bereft family are an unusual one with the patriarch who can pull a string or few to get what he wants, his broken hearted daughter and broken son in law. It goes to show that money can buy you a lot of stuff but it can’t buy happiness…. but can money help you find a missing child?!

I seriously enjoyed my first encounter with Emma Hunter and I’m so looking forward to getting to know her better. The story was pacey with a climax that I really didn’t see coming. Hunter had started his new series with a bang and I for one have got the next three on preorder already!!

Ransomed by M.A Hunter is a crime thriller that is the start of a new series that, if this book is anything to go by, will be a cracking one! We meet Emma Hunter, an investigative journalist who has just released her first book, making her an author as well. Monsters Under The Bed, about abuse in 'St Francis Home For Wayward Boys'. An older man approaches her, Lord Fitzhulme, to rask if she will help to find his six year old granddaughter Cassie Hilliard, who was abducted a year ago. The police think she is dead but her grandfather is determined to prove differently. Emma, after turning him down, eventually decides to agree to look at the police records of that time and soon ends up involved in the case. She only does this because the case is a reflection of her sister, Anna, who went missing twenty years ago and she was also six.
I picked up Ransomed and immediately I was dropped into Emma's world. The pace was perfect for me and I really found Emma relatable and determined. The chapters alternate from the time Cassie was abducted to the present day, so we are treated to the tension rising from the start, making me not want to put this down for any length of time. I am glad that this book is the start of a series, as I really like Emma, a woman who only has one need in the world, to find her sister but it seems other issues get in the way. I would like to see what happens in the future books for her.
Thanks to @rararesources and NetGalley for the book today for this review

Ransomed marks the first book in what has all the features of an excellent series of books featuring journalist and award winning author, Emma Hunter. Having her first book, about the historic atrocities committed at an orphanage, become an bestseller, she is desperate to write her second book. She is approached by the grandfather of a missing, presumed dead, girl. Whilst Emma does not want to investigate the case, her publisher has other ideas. Will Emma be able to shed any further light on what happened to the girl, when police have already closed the case? Will she be able to assist the elderly gentleman to give him answers where others have not been able to do so? Why does he want her to assist when a private investigator would be the obvious choice? What will Emma be able to discover about the missing girl?
An absolutely brilliant book. Such a great read. Loved Emma as a character. Really looking forward to the second book in this series. The book is complete in itself, but also sets the scene for the rest of the series.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Six year old Cassie disappears after a birthday party at the home of Penny and Gerry Connor for their son Sean. A year later Cassie's grandfather looks up journalist Emma Hunter to help investigate the abduction.

Emma Hunter is a journalist who unearthed some wrong doings at a children's home many years ago. She writes a book detailing what's happened and it becomes a best seller.

Emma is dealing with abduction demons of her own. Her sister Anna was abducted twenty years ago and is still missing and she tells the grandfather to hire a private detective. Her publishers think it would be good for Emma to take on the case and she reluctantly does.

This books packs some punches. It is split into chapters of then and now, then being when Cassie was taken. I did guess who set up the abduction but the journey was very interesting. The book ended on a cliffhanger so I'm desperate to read the next one.

It's a 4⭐ from me and a must read for you.