I really enjoyed the first novel in the series, so I came into the third novel with a bit of trepidation as I had not been able to read the second novel and was worried that I would feel as though I had missed something.

Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised, to find that I could read this third installment like a stand alone novel. There are references to the first two novels, but well-written and informative enough to keep you from feeling like an outsider.

This was most definitely a fast-paced page-turner. I really like Dranfield’s writing style. Madison is a solid lead character that I enjoy following the story along with. She’s level-headed, determined, and feisty when she needs to be. I really liked Nate’s involvement in the story, along with Brody, and am hopeful the future installments in the series will continue to include these two.

The plot is very well delivered and leaves you searching to piece together all the aspects to figure out whodunnit…as well as why. There were several surprising deaths and aspects revealed through the investigation and their explanations at the end of the novel that I truly didn’t see coming. I liked that Nate’s own story gets intertwined as a sort of second plot, and I was happy to get some closure for him.

All in all, a well-delivered and suspenseful mystery/thriller that I really enjoyed and would recommend!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for this advanced digital copy and the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own. Upon publishing of this novel, I will also be posting my review to Amazon Canada.</i>

Followers of my blog will not be surprised that I am reviewing this latest instalment from Wendy Dranfield, I will happily confess to being a complete ‘fan girl’ for this series.
Little Girl Taken picks up a few months after Madison’s name was finally cleared and she was reunited with her son, Owen. Things are not perfect, but they are well on the road to recovery. Nate has been spending time with his friend Rex and has just returned to catch up with Madison and her son.
The action starts, straight out of the gate, with the discovery of a crashed car. There is blood everywhere and a young baby, lying on the back seat. The tension immediately mounts as it is clear that the baby’s mother needs to be identified and located.
Once again, this is a rollercoaster story, and I was unable to put this book down. Tension comes from all sides as Madison learns to rely on her new colleagues, her judgement and her wits. Complicating matters, Nate becomes the target of a manhunt as his old nemesis returns to end their story. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat, following the two storylines.
Wendy Dranfield has created believable characters who it is easy to care about. Nate and Madison and both perfectly flawed as they fight for both the answers to Madison’s case and Nate’s freedom. I really enjoyed the introduction of Ruby’s Diner and hope that the characters from there will have a recurring role in future cases from Lost Creek. Of course, a special mention has to go to Brody, the Cadaver Dog, once again a hero and very much a part of the team.
If you enjoy police procedural thrillers with a touch of the renegade approach, then this series is highly recommended.

What a great read this was. Book three in the series and whilst this could be read as a stand-alone I would recommend reading the other two in the series first. You’ll thank me. This book is brilliantly written, fast paced and full of great characters.

Briefly, in a small town called Lost Creek Detective Madison Harper finds a car that has gone off the road; with a baby girl in the back. Madison is back after being released from jail having been erroneously imprisoned for 7 years. Later a waitress at a local diner, Kacie Larson, is reported as missing, and the baby identified as hers. Then a body is found by the lake…. Meanwhile, Madisons friend Nate is still looking for Father Connor, a priest who killed his girlfriend and was responsible for Nate spending 15 years on death row. Can Madison find Kacie and reunite her with her daughter? And can Nate finally track down his nemesis and get some resolution?

There is something happening on virtually every page. The characterisations are excellent. The relationship between Madison and Nate is lovely. They understand each other. They have both been victims of a miscarriage of justice and both have been left with emotional scars. I recommend this book, and the others in the series, to anyone who loves a good police procedural thriller. Loved it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thanks to the author , NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Detective Maddison Harper series. On her way to her first day back at Lost Creek Police Department, she discovers a baby girl in the back of a crashed car. Who is she? Why has she been abandoned? And where is her mother? The blood in the front of the vehicle is concerning.

I love Wendy Dranfield’s novels. She provides the reader with great characters and a plot with twists and turns aplenty. Nothing is straightforward and the shocks and surprises are essential to keep a reader wanting to finish the story. And, of course, a Maddison Harper novel would not be complete without her friend Nate and dog Brody. In Little Girl Taken, Nate plays a more central role, with issues of his own.

This is a well written, edge of the seat thriller with surprises aplenty. Since joining Bookouture, Wendy’s writing has gone from strength to strength. Looking forward to what’s next in store for Maddison and Nate.

This is the third book to feature Detective Madison Harper, although it can be read as a standalone. The twisty plot was interesting, with developing characterisation and some new characters also making appearances. I liked the revelation into the past of Nate's character and overall, I would recommend the read. It kept me interested until the end. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the third book in this series featuring Colorado Detective Madison Harper and her friend Nate Monroe. Both were imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit (she for six years, he for 17); she's just returned to her former job while Nate, a former priest in training, is trying to find his way back by doing private investigation work. On a rainy day, Madison discovers a wrecked car; as she leans in, she spots a baby girl. Doing a quick look-around for a grown-up, she finds a sneaker streaked with blood - definitely not a good sign, Madison thinks as she heads in to the station.

Before too long, both the baby and shoe are connected to Kacie Larson, a young server at the local diner who didn't show up for her most recent shift. It's hard for Madison, who just reconnected with her now-17 year-old son Owen, to believe Kacie (or any mother) simply abandoned her baby. There's much more to that story, and Madison wants to get to the bottom of it. For extra help, she calls on her old friend Nate, who has a cool former K9 companion named Brody. She also gets some help from Vince, the diner owner who took a chance on hiring Kacie and seems to have taken her under his wing. But clearly, Vince has issues of his own - he's a suspect in the years-ago disappearance of his wife and grandson - so just how far can he be trusted, if at all? Meanwhile, a convicted child rapist somehow gets an early parole and returns home, so he gets added to the growing suspect list. That's only a couple of the story subplots, all of which make twists and turns to get to resolution.

I really connected with both primary characters from a likability perspective, and this book stands alone well. That said, I have no doubt that reading it would have been far more satisfying had I been aware of the content of those first two - I'm sure a few of the characters who popped up almost out of nowhere had made appearances in earlier books. I also was rather amused at terms that struck me as more British than American such as using "fell pregnant" to describe a mother-to-be. One major scene involving a vehicle totally confused me until I realized the steering wheel must have been on the right. When I learned the author lives in the United Kingdom, though, all that made sense. I also took issue when a TV reporter was "forced" by her boss to "report both sides of a story." Over here, any reporter worth his or her salt who didn't do that from the git-go would be kicked to the curb faster than you can say journalistic intregrity.

In the end, most of the twists get straightened out, although plenty of fodder is left for the next installment. Having very much enjoyed getting to know these characters, I'll be watching for it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Warning! Don’t open this book unless you have a free day/evening. Once you start you won’t be able to put it down. A fast paced, breathtaking rush. The characters are beloved to me and I adore them. The ongoing inclusion of Brody is awesome! The story is full of plot twists and dark gritty small town secrets. Both Horrifying and suspenseful this book had it all. I can not wait for the next book! This one needs to top your reading lists.

Time seems to stand still when you are looking forward to the next part in one (or more) of your favorite series. Can you imagine how I felt when I took a look at my schedule and saw that this one was next on my list. I most certainly did a happy dance. :)

The two previous books were gemstones. Was the author going to deliver another three in a row work of art? Yes, yes, yes. This story was amazing too. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it.

Can you read it as a standalone? Yes, you can. Should you read it as a standalone? No, you shouldn't. It's too important to know what happened in the past to skip it. Will you still enjoy the book? Yes, you will, but you will be missing out on so much good stuff. 

I opened the book and my heart broke in one thousand pieces. This was quite an eye opener. The rest of the story is filled with suspense and some devastating things occurred. The heartbreak is not over yet though...

Some questions were answered and new ones popped up which makes me counting the days once again. I love this series. 5 stars

Thank you

A good thriller much like the first book in the series. The search and investigation are written well, combining a true crime background. Nate seems to get closure in this book with his nemesis being put away. But the author has made Father Connor character into someone with extraordinary skills and beyond reach which I felt was unnecessary. Alas that character is dealt with. Would like to see how Madison and Nate move forward after shedding their baggages.

(3.5 stars)
Little Girl Taken is a competent crime thriller written by Wendy Dranfield. It is the third book in a series centred upon Detective Madison Harper, though it worked well as a standalone novel for someone who hadn't read either of the first two books. What sets Little Girl Taken apart is that it is crime fiction that intersects with the true crime genre. As the convoluted tale unwinds, it draws your attention to the impact of that genre of writing, podcasts and other media on the families of victims. There are also a few kicks at social media companies who are "notoriously slow in replying to anything" even to do with victim safety.

What stopped this from being a great book for me was Dranfield's over-reliance on rather clunky police procedural explanations: "You have that glassy stare that detectives get when they're making important links, so I'll leave you to your thoughts." "Vigils are good for raising awareness of a missing person, and who knows, maybe the perp will show up to get off on the pain he's caused," is another example of the author's research notes being clumsily inserted into the narrative. Dranfield's characters should show, not tell us, these facts in their actions.

"She can't agree that Ellie is better off without her mother ... Some people clearly don't understand what it's like to lose a child to the social care system, and what it's like for that child to grow up with no biological family around them." There's also a bit of a saviour vibe coming through in places. This particularly struck me as an odd thing for Detective Madison Harper to advocate in respect to a child she knew was conceived through incest by a family member. Sometimes biological families are the worst people for kids to be around... With less preaching and more nuanced writing, this could be a better book as the twisting plot was actually interesting.

Another excellent book in the Detective Madison Harper series! I’m addicted! Nate, Owen and of course Brody are written with such emotional depth and you root for every success they have. The storyline involving kaci and the small town of Lost Creek was fast-paced and thrilling with enough twists to keep me flying through the pages. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

Detective Madison Harper is back ! When I saw a third in this series was coming out I jumped at the opportunity to read. I have absolutely loved every book in this series they are all so different yet intertwined. Soon as I started reading Little Girl Taken I was hooked! You can't help but not love reading about Madison, Nate and Owen . There are two mysteries in this book. Madison is on the search for Kacie a missing waitress and Nate is looking to find Father Connor and seek revenge. I can't write to much because there would be to many spoilers all I can say is you HAVE to read this series . It is one of the best I have read in a long time. It has great characters, lots of suspense and mystery. If I could give this book more stars I would! Excited to read at the end of this a possible 4th book and once again I WILL be jumping to read ! You will not be disappointed read this series! I'm addicted to it!

This is book 3 in Detective Madison Harper series. This is actually the first time I have read this series so I was unsure what to expect. Wow - tighten your seatbelt for this book takes you on a thrilling ride. Detective Madison Harper is back on the police force after proving she is innocent of murder in which she spent 6 years in prison and had her son taken away from her. She is very a empowering character for all the heartbreak that has occurred in her life . On her first day back she finds an abandon car with only an infant inside, no one else around and blood in the car. She finds out a waitress at the diner owned by Vince is missing and that she has an infant. Her friend Nate comes back to town after visiting his friend Rex and helps her some with her case. Nate has his own heartbreaking story and it does figure into this story too. This book features great dialogue and focuses on 3 moving parts. I was unsure I would be able to follow along but had no problem. Great characters who pull at your heartstrings. I am now going back to read the first two in the series. Great writing and thoroughly enjoyable. I was not able to put down. Just a note if you have triggers with child abuse or suicide they are mentioned in the book. Can't wait for the next in the series.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

Little Girl Taken is the third book in the Detective Madison Harper series and each book just seems to raise the stakes a little bit higher. Finally reinstated as a Detective after seven years in prison and being cleared of murder, Madison is less than a full day into her new job when she comes across a wrecked car with a baby in the back. The baby's momma is missing and a crime writer is found dead in the woods. In quickly escalating case, Madison follows a twisty, shocking trail of clues where the obvious suspects are innocent and the story is way more complicated than it seems. Madison's friend and former PI partner, Nate is dealing with his own troubles as the evil madman that set him up for murder has came to Lost Creek. Full of suspense and totally addicting, Madison and Nate's stories will always leave you coming back for more and waiting with bated breath for the next installment. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

At last Madison has been reinstated as a Detective in the Lost Creek, CO police department, after being wrongly imprisoned for a murder she didn't commit. She also has her son back, but the lost years make their relationship a bit rocky. When a female child is found abandoned in a wrecked auto, Madison must figure out what happened and locate the girl's mother. The case is complicated, and she is chasing down leads that go nowhere. As dead bodies are discovered, the case gets turned on its head. Meanwhile, Nate is in another race to prove he is not a murderer and tries to finally confront the priest who is the bane of his existence. It's an exciting chase for both him and Madison with unexpected endings.

Detective Madison Harper returns back with Book 3!

After clearing her name and catching the real murderer in Book 2, Detective Harper joins back the force and in order to gain trust among the coworkers, she gets involved in a case when a baby was left alone in a car with no sight of the mother and soon, the mother is identified that as Kacie Larson, who is working as a waitress at a diner owned by a man named Vince. Vince records podcasts and in one of his last podcasts, he had invited a man named Shane, who is a prolific, crime writer. And Shane has also gone missing on the same night as Kacie had gone missing. Meanwhile, Nate's friend, Rex is murdered by Father Connor though the San Diego PD firmly believes Nate as the suspect. Time running out, Madison must find Kacie and help her friend Nate by proving him that he was innocent.

Like the previous books, I enjoyed this book and had a roller coaster ride with it! From the first page till the end, I was so hooked into the story as the story was intense, intriguing with twists and turns on the way that you wouldn't expect! I am not going to give too much spoilers but I am so happy that finally, Father Connor was caught and is sent behind the bars that I almost leaped in joy! The author, again did a good job of making the reader hook into the story and I was so hooked that I couldn't wait till the end as to what really happened to Kacie. The book is fast paced and I felt like I was in a roller coaster ride getting goosebumps on the way! As for the characters, Madison and Nate would be my favorite characters and was rooting for Madison that her first case will be successful!

Overall, it was a fast paced thriller filled with unexpected twists and turns that you simply wouldn't want to put this book down--worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC--the review is based on my honest opinion only.

Little Girl Taken is the third in this series and You'll enjoy following the characters as they unravel the clues to solving this missing person case. You'll learn more of their struggles and how they deal with their problems. A few intense moments will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Madison is back home working. Not everyone is happy that she is back, and people are suspicious. Life is not easy with her son Owen either. Then all hell breaks lose in town, and in life in general. A little girl is found alone, her young mother nowhere to be seen. Nate's friend is found dead. Murdered. Nate knows who is behind it, but instead he is the one the police is after.

Everything seems like a big mess. There are so many secrets, but the past is about to catch up with many people. Wendy Dranfield has once again written a superb story with so many twist and turns that it simply took my breath away. I could not put this gem down! I finished it in one go, there simply was no other option!

I was happy to finally see Nate get some justice. This seemed to be the overall theme in the book. Setting old records straight, coming to peace with horrible wrongdoings in the past, finally taking control of things. The truth can be uglier that anyone could ever have imagined. This series does not disappoint. Not at all. Wendy Dranfield is a must read for anyone claiming they enjoy detective stories.

Another great installment in this new favorite series of mine! Detective Madison Harper has just been reinstated after clearing her name and gets thrown right into a new case involving an abandoned baby found in a crashed car on the side of the road. Once she and her team identify the child they have more questions than answers. Why would her mother, a young waitress at a local diner, have been out in a stranger's car with her baby that late at night? And why would she ever leave her daughter alone like that? It doesn't look good for Kacie and Madison and her team hope this doesn't turn into a murder investigation. It's hard enough for Madison around town when everyone still believes she's guilty of her partner's murder years ago. How will she ever get them to open up to her so she can locate Kacie?

Along with adjusting to her new work life, we see how Madison and her son, Owen, are adapting to living together again after being reunited. It's sad to see how the closeness she envisioned with him just isn't there, yet. Having Nate around helps with the awkwardness as Owen adores him, but he doesn't know what to do now that Madison has gotten her life back. He no longer needs her assistance with his PI work, but here in Lost Creek he feels more at home with Madison and Owen than anywhere else.

There was plenty of action in this story, but other parts were painful to read. Past crimes committed that tie into the case are just tragic, and it's hard not to sympathize with a victim's need for vengeance. The story also makes brilliant note of how criminals can be glamorized in the media, constantly in the spotlight, yet the victims and their families are forgotten. They live every day with their lives torn apart, trying to move on, somehow. But how can they when society continues its obsession with notorious criminals?

The 3rd in the Madison Harper series, can be standalone novels but best to read the other 2 as well, not only to have prior info but also because they are so good. This book also doesn't disappoint the reader.
Madison returns to Lost Creek for her first day back at work following her released from prison for murder she didn't commit but on her way discovers an abandoned car with a baby inside. There follows a race against time to find the baby's mother. We also catch up with Nate who's still troubled from his dealings with Father Connor.
Can't wait for next book in the series. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review