I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Trafficked’, the third in the Missing Children Case Files series written by M A Hunter, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Emma Hunter, investigative journalist and author of ‘Monsters Under The Bed’, is approached by Remy Lebrun asking her to write about his daughter Aurelie who’s just escaped from the man who abducted her from a beach in Worthing thirteen years ago. Emma is working as a civilian liaison with PC Jack Serrovitz in an attempt to identify the girls found on a hard drive belonging to Arthur Turgood who’s in prison for the abuse of boys at St Francis Home, and hopes that in speaking to Aurelie she may be able to discover what happened to her sister Anna who went missing twenty years ago.

Having read the two previous books in The Missing Children Case Files series I’ve been looking forward to reading ‘Trafficked’ and can honestly say that this series just gets better and better. I’ve been enthralled from the beginning with its well-thought-out and exciting plot made even more realistic for me as it’s based in Weymouth and Poole, an area I live near and know very well. As Emma delves deeper into Aurelie’s story it becomes even more intriguing as it touches on Stockholm Syndrome and the relationship of captives with their captors. The last few chapters are full of suspense, drama and revelations, and the conclusion not at all what I was expecting. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading more of Emma, her friend Rachel, and would-be boyfriend Jack, and am delighted that the series doesn’t end here.

Another fantastic book by M A Hunter and second on the Missing Children Case files.
Really well written and got me completely hooked from the beginning, as Isolated did.
Emma continues to search clues about her sister’s disappearance whilst also assisting with the investigation of another investigation.
I love to learn more about her and her OST with each book.
Lots of twists and turns that really grabbed my attention.
I can’t wait for the next book to be available.

A french woman called four comes out of a forest in Dorset she’s been missing for a decade
She was building sandcastles and playing about without a look from everyone
Then why Emma has to help her trace the steps she took when she escaped
But Emma thought the french girl could be the answer
I had an ARC

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I am really enjoying this series of books. This was a superb follow on from Isolated. A woman is found wandering in the road who was abducted 13 years before. Who took her and where has she been kept? This is such a well written book that had me hooked from beginning to end. Emma Hunter becomes involved with the police investigation whilst continuing to search for answers to her sisters abduction some years before. There are so many twists and turns here, where all is not as it seems with some great reveals as the book progresses. For me, this series is a must read and gets better with each book. Really looking forward to the next one.

EXCERPT: Aurelie remained curled in that foetal-like position until the crying stopped, and when she did look up, she was no longer facing a thin curtain. Instead, there was a door. Thin indentations in the wooden panels drew her attention, and shuffling forward on her hands and knees, she traced her small fingers along the crevices, shuddering when she realized what they were: the scratches of other girls who'd been in the same position as her.

ABOUT 'TRAFFICKED': They stole away her future…
A French woman stumbles out of a forest in Dorset more than a decade after vanishing from the English beach where she had been innocently building sandcastles under the not-so-watchful gaze of her holidaymaking parents.

They never expected her to survive…

As investigative journalist Emma Hunter sifts through the secrets of a seemingly unrelated disappearance with police archivist Jack, it soon becomes clear the two cases are linked.

They never expected her to escape…

Emma enlists her best friend and broadsheet reporter Rachel to trace the French woman’s steps through the forest to a nightmarish underground cell littered with human bones. That’s when Emma realises this woman could be the answer, the answer to everything.

MY THOUGHTS: This is #3 in The Missing Children Case Files) by M.A. Hunter. I have read #1, Ransomed, previously but somehow missed the second in the series, Isolated.

There is enough of the background scattered throughout the story to make reading the previous books unnecessary, and I think that this would work well enough as a stand-alone. Some of the background information is repeated more than once, which was a little annoying. Probably the only aspect to suffer would be the history of the characters relationships.

Trafficked started off well but lost its impetus somewhere around the middle of the book. The chapters were divided into 'now' and 'then' but frequently the 'then' chapters seemed to be a lot more 'now.'

Once the impetus was lost, the suspense also declined. Often I felt as if I was being lectured to, rather than reading a novel.

The relationships between the characters, particularly the animosity between Emma and Cavendish, and the debacle with Jack felt totally unnecessary. Emma lacks confidence in her personal relationships, and even in her professional role
she rarely stands up for herself unless being led by her friend Rachel. I loved Aurelie's character and thought she was well and realistically depicted.

I also found the ending of the book anticlimactic. There are apparently three more books to come in this series. At this point I am undecided about reading any more.

⭐⭐⭐.4

#Trafficked #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: M. A. Hunter has been a huge fan of crime fiction series since a young age and always fancied the idea of trying to write one. That dream became a reality when One More Chapter signed The Missing Children Case Files.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Trafficked by M.A. Hunter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

This series just keeps getting better and better! A young woman collapses just inside of the hospital and soon tells a tale of escaping from a captor that has held her underground for years. The police discover that she is a French girl named Aurelie who was kidnapped from the beach over 10 years ago while on holiday in England with her parents. No one can believe that she has turned up, alive and physically well, if not emotionally stable. Emma becomes involved at the request of the woman's father, who believes that she's the only one who can find the people responsible for what happened to Aurelie, based on her previous success with missing children.

This of course irritates the police, especially the detective in charge who really dislikes Emma. She makes it clear that she despises journalists who she sees as exploiters of disturbed victims. Emma does her best to stay out of the way and prove that she only wants justice for Aurelie, but it gets even more complicated when it turns out that the detective is an old 'friend' of Jack's. Since she and Jack still won't talk about their obvious feelings for each other, this just makes the situation even more awkward.

While investigating this case, Emma realizes that there may be a connection to her missing sister who disappeared when they were children. But soon she and Jack receive news regarding a crucial link to the past abductions that may shut down their progress just when they were getting somewhere. Now more than ever, she needs to get answers from Aurelie before time runs out.

I can't say enough how amazing this series is. Knowing that abductions like these happen every day in real life makes it all the more heartbreaking.. While hard to read at times, it doesn't stop you from flying through the story, desperate to find out who is behind these evil acts. And just when you think you know where the plot is headed, the author just turns it all upside down! I was like, What?! I hope the next book comes out soon because it's really not fair to leave the readers hanging like this - I have to know what happens next!

Emma Hunter is back in the third installment of the series. Trafficked centers around the case of Aurelie, who was kidnapped thirteen years ago and never found until now. A well written book that tells Aurelie's harrowing story. There are times through out the book when clues come up to hopefully aid in helping Emma with the search of what happened to her own sister Anna after she disappeared many years ago.
A very difficult book to read at times due to the subject matter, but a worthwhile read all the same.

Thanks to netgalley and One More Chapter for the invite to read this arc

Another in this series of sexual abuse and trafficking of children. Tre detail is amazing and however he manages to put it into words I will never know. When you are reading you visualise what it happening , it must be even more difficult to put it into words. This story is as good as the previous two and is unputdownable. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and getting closure.

What a fantastic addition to the series! I have read Ransomed (book #1) and Isolated (book #2) and I must say Trafficked is a new favorite in the series. The suspense is well-maintained throughout. What do I say about the twist at the end- I never saw it coming! Wow! Leave it to M.A. Hunter aka Stephen Edgar to come up with a mind-blowing, compelling thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Highly recommended!

A young woman collapses at the door of the A & E department. She is in a sorry state & very confused. It transpires that she is the daughter of a French diplomat. She went missing from a South coast beach many years ago. Her father insists on the presence of Emma Hunter, an author renowned for her books on investigating missing children. Emma's sister Anna, went missing a long time ago. Her face appeared in a video found on a convicted child abuser's possession. Could this woman have gone through a similar nightmare? In spite of the police detective's obvious dislike of her, Auralie's father continues to insist Emma is part of the investigation. This story is told from the Now & Then perspectives, something the author has used to great effect in the previous books in the series. Auralie's story was particularly hard for Emma as it might give clues to Anna's fate.

This is a great series of books that needs to be read in order to get the best out of them. I am enjoying the breadcrumbs that author leaves & the development of the characters is another plus point. I'm already looking forward to the next one in the series. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Although this book can be read as a stand alone, when I realised that it was book 3 in a series I decided to purchase both "Ransomed" and "Isolated" and read them first. These books are so good I read all 3 inside 2 days. Although many books have been written about missing children the author has added an original twist here by having a talented, investigative journalist work along with the police rather than impede them. The fact that Emma is hoping to find any information about what happened to her sister who disappeared more than 20 years ago at the age of 9 is at the heart of the story gives the series a running theme but each one has separate cases as well. My only criticism is a small one. I thought that the behavior of both Jemima and Aurelie before their abductions was better suited to younger children. At the age of 10 or 11 they were more likely to have been listening to music or have their head buried in their phones rather than making sandcastles or walking off holding an adult's hand. As I said it is just a minor issue. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

4.5 stars. ⭐️

Oh my goodness!! This was an intense read. I could not put it down, and finally finished it in the middle of the night. This was my first book in the series and I didn’t feel like I missed anything. This could easily be read as a standalone.

This book follows Emma who is a writer and they are investigating the return of a lost child. 13 years later. This is a sad and traumatizing story and you really feel for the victim. All the characters in this story were messy. Even the people who were side characters were messy.

I really enjoyed this book, I wish it had gone on a little longer. A solid ending would have made it perfect for me. I will be going back and reading the 2 previous books in the series and can’t wait for a fourth.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Even though this was based on the harrowing subject of child trafficking and abuse it is still a really enjoyable read. I believe there is a few books before this one but it didn't stop me from enjoying the story and will deffinatly be reading the next one.

Trafficked is the third book in The Missing Children Case Files by M. A. Hunter. This book focuses on a woman who turns up in Dorset 13 years after she went missing as a child from a beach in England. Emma goes to Dorset where she discovers the disappearance of the girl is connected to the case that she is working with Jack. With the help of her friend Rachel, Emma must retrace the woman’s steps in hopes that she can find the truth about it all. The story follows a dual timeline which switches between then which is from Aurélie’s perspective and now which is Emma’s perspective.

Wow I did not think that this series could get any better that the previous books and I was absolutely wrong because this was the best book so far. I cannot get over all of the secrets, twists and turns that made me feel like I was trapped on a roller coaster ride which I never wanted to get off. I absolutely love Emma because she always fights to find out the truth and she will never back down no matter what happens. Oh my gosh Jack was so swoon worthy in this book and I find myself just want more of him. I like Rachel but she did annoy me for the smallest amount of time then I was back to liking her again.

I cannot get over the last part of this book because it was such a shock that I never saw coming. And what happened to Anna? I really want to know what happened to her but I don’t want this series to end so I can live with not knowing for now. M. A. Hunter you have done a brilliant job with this book and I really need the next one like yesterday.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

They stole away her future…
A French woman stumbles out of a forest in Dorset more than a decade after vanishing from the English beach where she had been innocently building sandcastles under the not-so-watchful gaze of her holidaymaking parents.

They never expected her to survive…

As investigative journalist Emma Hunter sifts through the secrets of a seemingly unrelated disappearance with police archivist Jack, it soon becomes clear the two cases are linked.

They never expected her to escape…

Emma enlists her best friend and broadsheet reporter Rachel to trace the French woman’s steps through the forest to a nightmarish underground cell littered with human bones. That’s when Emma realises this woman could be the answer, the answer to everything.

I absolutely love this series. This is the third book in the Missing Children Case files and in my opinion the best one so far.
The novels are well written with good character development. The subject of these books is a bit disturbing but the author handles this with sensitivity and compassion.
I can’t wait to read the fourth book.

Young Aurelie's unexpected return: a riveting story with unexpected twists 😮

4.5🌟stars
Not quite a standalone, this story focuses on an author who has delved into missing children and child abuse who is continuing a decades-long search for her missing sister. Trafficked builds on the relationships built and research done in the earlier two books in the series but I enjoyed it without having read them.

A distressed young woman turns up at a hospital in southern England and is quickly identified as Aurelie, a Frenchwoman who disappeared thirteen years before as a child of ten. Female lead Emma delves into traumatized Aurelie's missing years for answers about her sister and the predators who engineered the disappearance and abuse of numbers of children.

It's well-written and covers a difficult and sensitive subject without getting graphic. And I was really taken by the twists provided as I learned more about Aurelie. A really good read👍.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

A great read in this fantastic series.
I think this is my favourite so far as I feel like I’m getting to know Emma and Jack now.
Emma is asked to visit a woman in hospital who had just escaped from being held captive. She is asked to write her story by the girl’s father, but Emma is hesitant.
She really wants to know if Aurelie saw her sister while she was held captive but knows she needs to tread carefully.
The lead Detective seems to hate Emma so getting to speak to Aurelie is not easy, until her father explains he wants her there.
Jack comes to help out as a case he’s working on overlaps with Aurelies. Emma still has mixed feelings for Jack, but has she left it too late?
I loved the last few chapters as this is so much more than a missing person story and it really had me hooked.
A brilliant addition to this great series.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Never shying away from the worst imaginings of the child sex trade, this book is relentless. The lead character is not particularly likeable but she is on the side of right and determined to fight for the lost children about whom she writes. Leaving shreds of doubt as to the motivation of almost everyone involved, the protagonist probes the case of a missing child, bringing her perspective as both the sister of a lost child and an investigative expert. Don’t read this one at night and don’t expect to feel uplifted at the end of it.

The third book in a series can be a challenging one. It can go pretty much either way, you'll love it, or you'll give up on the series. No need to give up anything here! Absolutely a fabulous addition to the already two great books in the series. I read it in one go. Couldn't even take a toilet break (I am not kidding).

Emma is more determined than ever to find out what happened to her sister, Anna. She knows whatever she'll find out will not be good, but she can't rest before she finds out the truth. A great feature when you are an investigative journalist.

A French minister's daughter was kidnapped thirteen years ago and suddenly walks into a hospital after all these years. Everyone is eager to find out what happened to her, and where she's been. Emma is one of them. The young woman is also eager to talk to Emma. But something doesn't feel right.

The story flows extremely well, and it's impossible to put the book down. Emma grows a bit in this book, and I admire her for that. I am already eagerly waiting for the next book in the series, because I have a feeling Emma is about to uncover the truth about what happened to her sister, or at the very least take enormous steps forward in her investigations. This series has become one of my favourite series of all times. Highly recommended!

Dramatic and heartfelt. This story mimics real life in the utmost sense of the word. Aurelie was capture when she was very young. Her childhood was not sugar and spice and everything nice. It was just the opposite. Emma was invited by Aurelie's father to write a story about her journey through hell. This book did not go in-depth into the case as the previous book. The relationship between Jack and Emma also did not go any further from the last book. Although, this story was still good. It did not have the details as the other books. I also thought the ending could been a little bit better wrapping up. However, I was left in limbo with Aurelie's story. Aurelie was the first victim that escape and could bring Emma a step closer to her sister. I can't wait for the next book.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.