Discarded is the fourth instalment in The Missing Children Case Files series, featuring investigate journalist, bestselling author and expert in finding missing and abducted young people, Emma Hunter, which explores a paedophile ring and the methods they use to traffick young girls. Rick Underwood, a Police Community Support Officer, turns up one Sunday morning at Emma's door in Weymouth, Dorset claiming he has been sent to bring her into the police station on the island of Portland. Apparently, a nine-year-old girl went missing from her home in Portland yesterday afternoon and the parents have insisted she be brought in to assist the investigation due to her high success rate in bringing children home safely. She meets with DS Robyn Myers and is filled in about the missing girl. Joanna ”Jo-Jo” Neville was last seen yesterday afternoon by her younger step-sister around three o'clock. They head into the interview room where Tina and Trey Neville, Jo-Jo's parents, are waiting. It isn't long before she crosses paths with her old nemesis, DS Zoe Cavendish. Her contempt and disdain towards Emma has been evident since their first introduction to one another and she makes no attempt to hide her feelings or set them aside for the good of the case. Meanwhile, Emma's colleague and love interest DS Jack Serrovitz is investigating Pendark Film Studios; right before Freddie Mitchell set the Studios in Newbury ablaze, he extracted half a dozen filing cabinets filled with receipts and invoices tying hundreds of individuals to the place. They were now in Jack's possession.

The land on which the studio once stood was now under development and a suitcase had just been discovered containing remains that had now been taken to the morgue, and Emma realises it could be Anna, her older sister who disappeared twenty-one years ago at the tender age of nine and who had been spotted at the studios before she disappeared. When they arrive at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, forensic pathologist Dr V Chang takes a look at the bones but can't tell a great deal about the victim. On top of all of this, Emma has begun receiving emails of missing children sent to her via her agent, Maddie Travers and begins to believe that in the attached photos the victims appear to be older than the age they vanished and considers that the emails could be coming from a perpetrator who is taunting her about his crimes. Can she and DS Serrovitz find Jo-Jo, get to the bottom of who the bones belong to, find out who is sending the photographs and uncover evidence about what happened to Anna? This is a riveting, enthralling and darkly thrilling read with a tightly woven plot and characters you are now so invested in that they feel like old friends. The multiple plot threads have the potential to become confusing and convoluted but Hunter's precision plotting allows them all to be gripping and exceptionally easy to follow. I loved that we got to find out more about Anna's disappearance and the impact it's had on Emma and you really feel for her. There's tension, drama and reveals aplenty and Hunter's use of several superb twists and red herrings shake up the story whenever you think you have guessed its direction. A simply breathtaking procedural. Highly recommended.

Another great book in this series. I had guessed who the informant is, too good an opportunity to miss. The story continues to develop with the main characters feeling like friends. This really is a compelling story and I look forward to its continual development.

I’ve just finished this book and I’m currently screaming where’s the next one. This is book four of six in the missing children case files series. M.A Hunter has certainly not disappointed. Sometimes I find series go off the boil. Not this one. The author just improves by the book.
I love the character development. I really want to know if Emma and Jack get together. I want someone to help heal Freddie. Most importantly I want to know what happened to Anna. Emma’s sister who went missing all those years ago and has had a huge impact in her life.
In this book we learn a bit more about Anna’s disappearance.
However, do yourself a favour. Please don’t read this as a stand alone book. Yes it’s good and yes you will love it.
Pile the books up in order and lock yourself away. Don’t come out till you’ve read the series in order. I certainly can’t wait to get my hands on the next two books.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

I’d like to thank HarperCollinsUK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Discarded’ by M A Hunter in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Emma Hunter, investigative journalist and author of best-selling ‘Monsters Under The Bed’, is still searching for evidence of what happened to her sister Anna who disappeared twenty-one years ago. Someone is ending Emma photos, care of her agent Maddie, of children who disappeared in the 1990’s and were never found. Who’s sending her the photos? Will Emma and DS Jack Serrovitz ever get to the bottom of what happened at Pendark film studios?

‘Discarded’, Case 4 in The Missing Children Case Files, is even more exciting than the previous three if that’s at all possible. It’s been exceptionally well-thought-out with an intriguing plot that combines with suspense, drama and tension keeping me on the edge of my seat, and a massive red herring that side-tracks Emma for a while. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Emma again and seeing where her relationship with Jack is heading, but now PCSO Rick Underwood’s on the scene who’s Emma going to choose – if either? I dreaded reaching the final page as I thought this would be the last of the Cases but after reading the hugely surprising final chapter I’m delighted that ‘Repressed’ will be making an appearance in the near future. This is an absolutely fantastic thriller that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Where better to hide a body than in someone else’s grave?
When a girl goes missing from the shores of Dorset in a crime eerily similar to one two decades earlier, her parents enlist investigative journalist and bestselling author Emma Hunter to find her. I've really enjoyed this series. I like Emma, she's a really determined and strong believable character. Every book brings her nearer to solving the mystery surrounding her own missing sister. Can't wait to see where the next instalment takes her.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Discarded is the fourth book in The Missing Children Case Files by M.A. Hunter. The story follows a dual timeline which switches between then and now. The then storyline focuses on a missing girl called Joanna while the now storyline follows Emma’s journey in the present day.

I really liked the fact that this book focused a lot more on Anna because the previous books left me needing to know more about what happened to her. I don’t know how Emma stays so strong especially which her mother’s declining health. My heart absolutely broke for everything that happened to Joanna and it was really painful to read at certain times.

The last chapter was absolutely mind blowing and I can honestly say that I never expected or saw it coming. I have to say that this was the best book from the series that I have read so far. It was intense, emotionally raw, intriguing, heartbreaking, twisted and absolutely breathtaking. I can’t wait to read the next book Repressed.

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

This is fast becoming my favourite series of all time.

Like all the books before, Emma is continuing her search for her sister who has been missing for 20 plus years. Through searching for her sister Emma has become a very famous Author and helps the police search for other missing children.

As the series is progressing we are learning more about who is behind the child trafficking ring and what tactics they use to steal and keep the children in there clutches.

This is a fast paced book with lots of twists and turns and I am itching to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next.

Emma Hunter is an investigative writer and the subject matter is missing children . Her own sister disappeared when she was a youngster and this set Emma on this pathway.
Discarded is the fourth book in the series about missing / abducted children and a paedophile ring .
The writing is fee flowing and easy to read and leaves you wanting to read the next chapter and the next. The characters are affable and genuine in their nature , the story goes back in time and to the present day this is done in a consistent nature and doesn’t confuse the reader.
A solid read and leaves more questions than answers and can’t wait for the next in the series .

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK ,One More Chapter for this arc copy.

Thankyou to NetGalley , HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and the author, M.A. Hunter, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Discarded in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I have read this series from the start. Each an every book, including this one, has been a very gripping read.
The storyline of Discarded was well plotted and written. The characters are well drawn and engaging with narrative that keeps you turning pages.
Not only the book but the series is worth a read.

👤Not as coherent as Trafficked and inconclusive🤔

I started reading this series with Trafficked, the third and immediately preceding book (which I preferred). Discarded's plot, actually a past and present plot that intersect on occasion, was suspenseful and a solid read. But very little is resolved, new complications, like the rivalry for the heroine's affections between Rick and Jack, are introduced and then seem to stall without any hint as to where they will lead. I was left wondering: do the puzzle pieces ever come together?

The past plot involving the abduction and grooming of a nine year-old into abuse by paying pedophiles cast a useful light on some of the methods child traffickers employ to trap their prey and exploit them. But that part of the story is given no clear time period, just described as "Then." In truth, I never noticed the girl's abduction was in a different time period until I was well into the story. That vagueness of the timing left me bewildered as to how Joanna/Jojo's story related to investigative author Emma and her sister Anna who has been missing for decades. By the end of the book I was still clueless!

Since there are more volumes in the series to come, I can only hope by the end my aha moment will come. The part of the journey carved out in Discarded was informative and suspenseful. I just wish I felt some larger sense of progress in Emma's search for the masterminds of the child trafficking ring and her sister''s fate.

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

One of my absolutely favourite new series. The fourth book did not disappoint! The series is written in an extremely interesting way. The previous one always leaves me urging for more. It's a very addictive series. This time it digs deeper into the ground, and what actually happened to Anna on the day she disappeared is revealed. It is not easy to read about, especially since I've grown attached to her and her sister.

I find this subject being important though, and we need to understand it better to be able to fight it. This book also reveals a bit more about Emma's family in general. She really is carrying a lot on her shoulders. Her friend is released from prison, and he knows a lot more about these abusers, but he still can't tell Emma and the police everything. Someone is giving Emma clues in the forms of photographs of missing children, children who have been abducted by the evil men Emma is looking for. I really enjoyed this part. I found it to be very clever.

This book gives many answers, but there is still many things to figure out. This time it's a lot more personal for Emma in so many ways. Her fame is not always easy to live with, and she really ends up suffering from it. But, on the other hand her fame has gotten her closer to the truth. She has many intriguing things going on in her personal life, mostly good, and I found a lot more debt in her character in this book, even though her sister had a really big role in this book, it was from her sister's point of view, and Emma gets to have more of a life and personality of her own.

I don't know how Hunter does it, but he keeps on writing a fantastic story, and it just gets better and better. What more could you want?

Another great book in this brilliant series.
Emma hasn’t heard from Jack for several weeks, then she gets a call from him out of the blue. They’ve found a girl’s remains at the site of the fire, and it could be Anna.
Emma and Jack go to speak to Freddie but he’s not too pleased to see them.
Emma is asked to help with another missing girl case but when she sees Zoe Cavendish there, she knows it’s going to be an uphill struggle.
Jack is struggling with his personal life but he’s there when photos are sent to Emma that seem to be missing children.
There’s a bit of a shock in store towards the end of this book and the final chapter left me speechless...
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A solid four star read. The fourth book in a great series of missing children. Good premise. Great characters. Enjoyed the style of writing. Plenty of mystery to keep me enthralled.Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

I didn't think this series could get better but M.A Hunter always rises to the challenge.
Emma has a lot going on in this story. As well as her ongoing search for her sister bones have been found beneath a burnt out film studio, a 9 year old girl has gone missing and somone is sending Emma photos of missing children. Add to this her will they, won't they romance with Jack and a potential new love interest and you have a gripping story. I hope the author is writing quickly because I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next instalment.

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

Wow, this series is just going from strength to strength and in my opinion really starting to pick up its pace now. I found this to be another riveting read that had my attention all the way through. The story moved from past to present so effortlessly and flowed really well. I have so many questions that I hope will be answered in the next book(s). This is a very well, sensitively written book that literally had me on the edge of my seat and is a great addition to an excellent series so far. I can’t fault these books, I am really enjoying them and eagerly await the next one.

Another great episode in this intriguing Missng Children Case Files series. Emma is asked by parents to find their missing daughter. Further discoveries in the search for Emma 's missing sister, Anna. The story told by Joanna is a nerve wrecking but thankfully not graphic. Looking forward to the next book in this gripping series

The story of Emma and her search for the truth continues. This story is more about uncovering what Jack and Emma have found to be something much bigger than a child sex slave ring. Since the back story of all characters has been revealed in the last few books, M.A. Hunter focuses more on the main story. Even the side story that Emma was working on pale in comparison to the main event. I love that this is more focused on what I as a reader wanted to know more of, more of Anna and the past. The story did touch upon a little of Emma's personal life such as her relationship, but at this point. I wanted to know more about Anna. I hope this is the same trajectory for the next book. I can hardly wait.

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

Discarded is the fourth novel in the fabulous series, The Missing Children Case Files and once again for investigative journalist Emma Hunter another heart wrenching investigation when she is approached by the parents of another missing child who beg her to help find their daughter.

I love the use of dual times lines Then and Now by the author and as always a nail biting, emotionally charged and utterly absorbing read as the layers of the plot unfold and a race against time begins.

It was great to catch up with past characters and also to meet some new ones. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough, wow that ending and can't wait to find out what's next for Emma, both in her professional capacity and her personal life too.

Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC for my honest review.

Meet Emma Hunter, writer and specialist of missing children cases. Her own sister having disappeared at the age of 9, this tragedy shaped Emma's future and her dedication to finding the truth.

When a 9 years old girl goes missing, Emma will stop at nothing to help the parents who are desperate for her to assist.

Going back and froth from the past where a young girl named Joanna was abducted, to today with Emma desperate to solve the mysteries, this book is cleverly written and quite gripping.

The author brings up depth to the characters as the plot unfolds and keeps you wondering whether you are right or not until the end. Friendships, romance, thrill are all nicely balanced and brings another dimension to the story.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for this advance e-copy.

I'm really torn on this one - I'm a huge fan of this series, but by the end you'll be asked to believe the unbelievable and it's all that sticks with me when I think back to the story. Emma is asked to assist with a new case of a missing girl at the insistence of the girl's mother. When she meets with the investigators on the case, who does she comes across but her old nemesis, DS Zoe Cavendish. Zoe has hated Emma from the moment they were introduced, believing that Emma profits off of the vulnerability and tragic circumstances of the victims that she writes about. We know that's nowhere near the truth, but Emma tolerates Zoe's rudeness as usual, only sticking up for herself when Zoe's at her worst. I hope we discover some event in her past to explain her excessive disgust with Emma - it's too harsh to not be personal.

At the same time that everyone's searching for the girl, a body is found at the site of the studios that Freddie set fire to. Emma really hopes it's not the body of her sister who went missing twenty years ago. The last thing she wants is to confront the realization that her sister didn't survive. To make matters worse, someone has been contacting her through her agent - sending possible evidence of more victimized children. Is the sender looking for Emma's help or bragging about their crimes? She and Jack can only hope they figure it out before more bodies are found.

I'm not one to post spoilers, so all I can say regarding my major issue with this book is that there's something about her sister that Emma apparently never knew. In all of the years living with her, talking about her, and investigating her disappearance. Speaking with relatives, officers and the media. Researching every shred of legal documentation she can find. Not a clue about this. Twenty years.

I'm left with the dilemma of how to rate this story. I love every other thing about this series up until this point. But when a reader is asked to believe something so unbelievable in an otherwise gritty, realistic portrayal, it just feels wrong. It wasn't necessary, I don't understand why the author thinks we would just run with it, and to me, it took away from the surprising ending. I was literally like "Nope - I can't even process THAT when I'm still irritated about THIS.' But I do want to see how things progress following this latest installment, so I'll continue on, praying that's the only time I'll ever have to suspend such incredible disbelief.