A fantastic read which had me gripped from the start. I am loving this series and I look forward to reading more about Detective Steele

When the bodies of young women start appearing within the ashes of deliberate fires, Det Amanda Steele must find an identity for these lost women. As her investigation moves closer to a motive for their deaths, Steele will find a connection to her own past. This mystery/thriller definitely has that eerie feeling when the killer gets too close. The clues are subtle, but they are there. Book #2 in this series and Carolyn Arnold has already set a standard for excellence in her writing. Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. I am not sure if I missed anything by not reading the first in the series. I will be going back and reading it! I loved how the story flowed and the twists it had. I would definitely recommend this book!

A captivating thriller with many twists and turns ! I highly recommend ! Opinions are solely my own ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book ! #Netgalley #Bookouture
#StolenDaughters

With thanks to the author, publishers Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this work in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This is the second book in the Detective Amanda Steele series.

The book had good, well-fleshed-out characters, Amanda and her partner Trent were a likable pairing, and I had some empathy for Amanda given her tragic family history.

I enjoyed how the plot unfolded, with lots of small developments on the way, so that it never felt like the story had stalled or was being drawn out in any way. However, the side plot of the murder charge that her mother was facing that the story opened with, and that was referenced several times throughout the book, felt like a little bit of a distraction to me. I didn’t feel that it was fully explained, which is likely a problem that arises only because I haven’t read the first book of the series, I’m not sure.

This, and the uncertainty around Amanda’s immediate future at the end of the book, will no doubt lead nicely into the third installment in the series.

Amanda Steele is fresh out of a difficult case dealing with human trafficking as well as dealing with her own mother's pending case. She's tossed into an inferno of a new case that has similarities with her previous one. With human trafficking being a hot-button current issue, I was pulled in and couldn't put this title down until I learned who was killing and taunting Amanda.

I enjoyed the relationship growth between Amanda and her family despite the harrowing circumstances that opened that door back up. We also see Amanda begin to trust her partner, Stenson. Even if their relationship doesn't turn romantic, I enjoy seeing them entrust one another, covering for the other when need-be.

Amanda's growth is inspiring and I'm looking forward to following her journey. The addition of FBI's Brandon Fisher was a nice surprise. I haven't read his entire series, but a familiar face helps bring a comfortable familiarity to this series.

Excellent follow-up book - definitely deserving of 5 stars! I recommend reading the first book in the series to understand the backstory. It's worth it!

I loved this book its the 2nd one in the amanda steele series i liked the first one but this one was even better, The story was gripping you really fealt for all involved and wondered where it would lead - i want to read more to see what happens to amanda,logan and trent and also see amanda and patty team up that would be great.

The second book in the Detective Steele series and another cracking read ! The storyline followed through from book one with an additional storyline thrown in which just made it more gripping with the ending of the book wanting you to start book three to find out the outcome !

This is a really good police procedural. Amanda Steele is as flawed as anyone else. She throws herself completely into her case and doesn't stop no matter what. The book is intense and thrilling. The characters are developing nicely and I look forward to book 3 in the series.

I couldnt put this book down. Lots of twists and it started from the very first page. Although its number 2 in the series , it can be easily read as a standalone . I absolutely loved the way this ended and cant wait to read more.

If you are new here, welcome. My name is Leila (Leela with an i) and I am a HUGE fan of author Carolyn Arnold. She writes the most amazing “crime fiction” mysteries ever and after reading book… who knows what of hers; I think I finally figured out why I love her writing so much.

Carolyn writes amazing mysteries, but rather than have a mystery and “who done it” with a character we may know or is involved, we get to ‘hunt’ the suspect right along side the detective. In this series, we join Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent, as they search for the bad guy and in turn, solve the mystery.

Stolen Daughters is book two in the Amanda Steele series and while you can read this book as a stand alone, you will find tidbits that will leave you confused. I don’t feel those missing bits would detract for the mystery, but definitely detracts from Amanda as a character and her story.

Stolen Daughters starts as a homicide not gone exactly as planned, goes to revenge murder, goes to missing children, and circles around to sex crimes that were touched on in book one. It was a whole lot of mystery all wrapped into one well written package of book binding!

I loved working alongside Trent and Amanda to figure out all the pieces of the puzzle and while I started to piece together some of it, I never would have seen any of it coming.

I cannot wait for book three.

Amanda is a spitfire like myself and the way book two ended was not acceptable to me. I cannot wait to see how the feisty Detective Steele comes back from this and what crime we get to solve next!

I did quite enjoy this second book in the Amanda Steel series. It just didn't seem to have the intensity of the first book and it left me with some unanswered questions.

Amanda is developing into an interesting character a nd I look forward to reading the next one.

Fire and victims had Amanda strengthening her core to get to the killer. I liked the intricacy of the plotline where the victims had a tattoo that she knew well. The prose was fast, and Amanda was faster. I liked how the author seeped it with suspense. overall, a fun read

Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold is the second book in the (Detective Amanda Steele series and I really enjoyed this book, more than the first book called The little grave. The book begins when a body is found in a building that was on fire. The fire was caught in time and a, body of a teenage girl was not destroyed so they had a chance to identify her. Detective Amanda Steele and her team start to investigations who the body belongs to.

Whilst Amanda visits her daughters grave, she finds a note left for her on top of the grave from the killer.

Hopefully Detective Amanda Steele and her team finds the killer before they kill again..........But, time is running out for the next victim.

I enjoyed this book more than the first one. and it was fast pace and had lots of twists and turns throughout.

I highly recommend this book.

Big thank you to the author Carolyn Arnold , Bookouture the publisher and Netgalley for the police procedural, crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Gave this a couple of goes but I really struggled to get into it. I just didn't connect to any of the characters and found it a chore to pick up, so I gave up. Won't be reviewing on other platforms as I DNF

Police thriller with some unexpected twists and turns. Second in the series we see the characters further developed. Fast paced enjoyable read.

Fast-paced. Riveting. Emotional. Suspenseful. This book brings it ALL! It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

A great read. I loved the book. The plot was very well written and I cannot wait for another book. This was from a new to me and great author. I Will definitely recommend this book.

Detective Amanda Steele is back and I like her even better. In this installment, our Lead Detective is working on a case involving multiple murders of young women. It seems that the killer is trying to send a message. Amanda has to figure out the message as she stops the killer before the body count rises. The case becomes more complex when the killer starts paying attention to the detective and even leaves her a note on her daughter’s grave.

This was quite a complex, multi-layered case. There is absolutely no way that I could have guessed the identity of the Perp. The detectives also seemed to be running around in circles with no closure in sight. The tension kept escalating as the body count rose. In addition, Amanda’s personal and professional life also added quite a bit of angst.

I enjoyed the development of the main character. In my review of the first book, I mentioned having an issue with Amanda’s attitude especially towards her partner. She has come a long way in this installment. I now find myself fully invested in her character which makes me like the series even more.
This book ends with a cliff hanger about the MC. I can’t wait to see how things unfurl in the next installment.

This is the second in the series featuring Detective Amanda Steele of the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia, USA. I mistakenly read this before reading the first installment and would urge you not to do that as I'm certain I missed some important backstory but this one read well enough as a standalone without that information.

In this case, Amanda and her partner, Detective Trent Stenson, are involved in the investigation of multiple murders and arson. The victims are, for the most part, teenage girls that are likely associated somehow with a local sex trafficking ring. Who is killing these girls and why? NO SPOILERS.

Although I regret not reading in order, this was a quick read that held my interest even though it echoes every single other female detective trope I've read -- and that's a lot! Headstrong, independent, unable to follow orders, messed up from a previous tragedy or past -- and, of course, able to always triumph despite putting herself in the clutches of the killer every time. I can't say I liked Amanda or the subtext that the other strong female police character in the book is out to get Amanda. Sometimes I can't get past minor annoyances and I honestly didn't find this very suspenseful. It's basically a police procedural with a female detective who is meant to be a super cop and great role model, but who instead goes off on unproductive tangents and gut instinct (and gets it wrong) but stays the course until the desired results -- and the save -- happen. And, of course there is the paternal figure in the support role of boss. And a boyfriend/love interest. Same old same. Will I read another in this series or go back to the first one -- I don't know right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.