Every Missing Girl
Kendall Beck #2
Author: Leanne Kale Sparks

eARC and Book Review
Pub Date: Feb 7, 2023
My Rating 4.5 out of 5

Set in the stunning Rocky Mountains, FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck teams up with Denver Homicide Detective Adam Taylor to investigate a kidnapping case, which ultimately ends up going cold. However, after a hockey game one night, Taylor's niece, Frankie, vanishes. Now, it's clear that there is a predator on the loose and the case is suddenly personal.

Beck and Taylor suddenly have two cases on their hands: Frankie's disappearance AND a double murder with ties to sex trafficking. As the pair dive into each case, shocking discoveries are made that will make your mouth drop open.

-- Ms. Sparks you have a new fan! This was such a wild ride that had me on my toes the whole time. It was action packed and such a fun read. I really enjoyed the writing style and characters of this book. It was extremely descriptive and kept me engaged the whole time.
The twist it had!! I was shook!

--Now I just need to go back and read book 1 lol

---Thank you SO much NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this aARC in exchange for my honest review!

I read this book with mixed reactions. The two main cases seemed unrelated and branched out to other crimes. There was a shooting in a shop. Two people were killed during what appeared to be a robbery in progress. There was also the disappearance of a twelve-year-old girl after she played in a hockey game. During the investigations of these two cases, kidnapping for child trafficking, and illegal drug sales, especially to minors, came to light. The detectives investigated a number of possible suspects. There were suspicious, secret trips by the missing girl's mother that needed to be solved. The plot was well-constructed and paced, and the storyline was grim and believable. These strengths in the writing were 4 Stars for me.

Other parts were not as compelling. I was not aware that this was the second book featuring FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck and Denver Homicide Detective Adam Taylor. Adam is anguished as the latest missing girl is his niece, Frankie. They uncovered a child trafficking ring earlier, but it is far from solved or dismantled. The concern is that if Adam's niece has been kidnapped, she may fall into the hands of a gang selling stolen children to predators. They are hoping Frankie ran away from home and they can find her before it is too late. This could be read as a standalone but thought if I had read the previous book, I would be better acquainted with these detectives. I didn't feel a connection and failed to engage with their characters. I viewed them as competent and resourceful officers, but their personalities seemed exaggerated, flawed, and annoying. They seemed to enjoy a chance to administer some police brutality in anger before going through official arrest channels. Most humourous dialogue among officers served as a relief from tensions, but some seemed crude or silly. It diverted from the suspense. 3 Stars.

The conclusion made connections between the shootings, child abductions, and the drug trade. Time is running out to rescue Frankie before she will be moved out of the state or country. Adam wants nothing more than to return her safely to her family. Will they find her in time?
The ending provided a startling and shocking twist that was a daring choice by the author. 5 Stars!
I will be looking for the author's next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

If you’re a fan of true crime and criminal justice, then this book is for you. You will have to suspend some disbelief in order to get behind some of the dramatization of the particulars. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book told by two points of view: one Denver PD Detective and one FBI Special Agent. Both friends, both working together on separate cases involving missing girls. The ending is a bit of a doozy, and this book makes you want to finish it in a single sitting.

Pub date: 07 February 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Posted to Goodreads on 25 October 2022; will post to Amazon when reviewing is available.

This is a really good for a cop book. They are solving mysteries and fighting crime. The characters have a lot of amazing one liners. "I don't do kids. I do dead guys."
It was great.
Every Missing Girl had me so happy to have a "boring" job. No thank you to a job fighting crime. I would be drinking myself to sleep every night.

I stumbled upon this book, trying to get my hands on Local Woman Missing. However, I think I struck gold. As a self- obsessed crime addict, this book hit the spot. It truly reminded me of Rizzoli and Isles. Most don’t know that the show was based on a series and due to its success, was turned into a television show. My prediction is that this series has the ability to follow suit.

Every Missing Girl is the second installment of a series written by Leanne Kale Sparks. The Kendall Beck Series follows the dynamic duo that is Kendall and Adam. The two main characters work for different departments (FBI and Local Police), but team up to solve cases. Each book in the series will follow a crime Kendall and Adam are being tasked to solve.

This book followed the disappearance and search of Adam’s teenage niece, Frankie. Sadly, the more Kendall and Adam dug into her disappearance, they uncovered a network of child trafficking. This book was hard to read at times. The business of buying and selling children is a reality we face in this country. Hearing details that were most likely derived from true events was beyond difficult. I had to take some breaks for my mental health.

While it was hard to get through, I found this book to be better than I anticipated. As an avid reader, I figured it would be a fairly predictable, quick read. Boy was I wrong. Some of the plot was easy to guess, but the ultimate ending was shocking! What more can you want in a mystery/thriller/suspense book?

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of crime and long series. Leanne Kale Sparks has a huge career ahead of her, and I can’t wait to read all of her books! Special thanks the NetGalley.com and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Every Missing Girl is perfect for fans of true crime shows like CSI.
It's mixed with breathless criminal chases and humor.
There were some plot holes but still enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the Digital review copy.

Every Missing Girl is book 2 in the Kendall Beck Series by Leanne Kale Sparks
I knew as soon as I read the synopsis and looked at this cover, I knew I needed to read.
Especially after in book one The Wrong Woman back in February.

Working on a kidnapping case together FBI agent Beck and Homicide Detective Taylor when a kidnapping case turns personal.
Taylor’s niece, Frankie is suddenly gone while at a hockey event.
Soon it is clear that they have a predator on their hands. And the suspect has made is very personal now.
After each shocking lead they start to get closer to the truth about the other missing girls.... And the ones before them.
What will Frankie's fate be? Can this duo find her before it's too late?

I love cold cases stories. Something about them intrigues the hell outta me.
This mystery drama was was a phenomenal book.
The setting of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains painted the perfect scene.
Here we have FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck and Denver Homicide Detective Adam Taylor who I absolutely couldn't get enough of.
These characters were unforgettable and well developed.
This was seriously one of the best drama filled story I've read lately.
The storyline itself swept me straight up and didn't put me down until the last page.
A true page turner. It is filled with twists, turns, nail biting suspense.
Sparks is becoming a must read author and I hope she continues this series with Kendall Beck because I love me some badass FBI female leads!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Crooked Lane Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I love this series!
Leanne Kale Sparks knows how to keep her readers wanting more.
I love Kendall and how she is such a strong, independent woman. We need more strong women characters in books.
A great mystery with an ending that will shake you up.

Every Missing Girl is the second book in the Kendall Beck thriller series. I never read the book that preceded this one, but enough context and character history is given in Every Missing Girl that it can be a standalone book as well.

This book is well-written and engaging. It easily kept my attention the whole way through, even in parts that weren’t quite as action-packed. Even though the focus is on the plot, each of the main and supporting characters were fleshed out well enough to feel like real individuals.

I devoured this book. If you’re a fan of detective/crime dramas, particularly ones like Law and Order: SVU, you’ll probably like this book!

Where the book lost two stars for me was with the attitude of Kendall and the other law enforcement officers towards the suspects. There was one big instance in this book of excessive force being used by law enforcement and then praised/cheered on by the other officers. That instance was also surrounded by a few smaller instances of characters fantasizing about using excessive force. That completely took me out of the book and brought down my ability to entirely enjoy it. If I’m reading a novel where the main character is in law enforcement, I’m way more interested and invested when the character follows due process and works within the “oath to protect” that they are supposedly bound by.

Leanne Kale Sparks is clearly a talented author. She wrote a complex, twisting, detailed plot in a way that felt easily digestible and very compelling. I really wish the above instances of beatings and excessive force were not normalized in this book, because I would have HIGHLY recommended this book otherwise!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh man this book! I mean that in the best possible way. This is a suspense thriller that keeps you on the edge of you seat. I didn’t put it down because I was so intrigued and sucked into the story.

FBI Special Agent Beck and Denver PD Detective Taylor connect again in this book. This time, two cases seem to collide, in the most unfortunate ways. Detective Taylor’s niece has gone missing, and Agent Beck is investigating a child sex trafficking ring. While they hope the cases aren’t linked, all signs point to them being that way. As Detective Taylor and Agent Beck narrow in on what has happened, they can’t help but wonder if they will be able to find Detective Taylor’s niece before it is too late and she’s gone for good.

I will warn you the main topic of this book is child sex trafficking and kidnap. Do not read this book if these subjects are triggers for you. I tread lightly when it comes to either of these subjects, and I was concerned with my choice to read this book – however, I did fine, and ultimately loved how tastefully the author handled these topics. I heard the ending was a surprise, but I was still shocked. Just wow. I can’t thank the publisher @CrookedLaneBooks and @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

One sentence review: Honda Civic Reliable++ thanks to a stellar ending

SYNOPSIS

FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck teams up with Denver PD Detective Adam Taylor to take on TWO complex cases: a double murder with ties to sex trafficking, and the disappearance of Adam's niece, Frankie.

MY OPINION

What a fun ass ride! I absolutely loved the intro, it was unique and snatched my attention. The writing flowed naturally... Even the "unnecessary" dialogue between characters was enjoyable to read and rounded out the characters. The jokes and chemistry were effortless. Idk how she did it, but Sparks managed to use the phrase "more tea on our vic..." and "spilling the tea" without coming off cringey LOL. I actually cackled at some of the one-liners. But be warned, the humour can be crude at time (ie, calling someone a twatwaffle LOL). Some of my fave scenes were the interrogations led by Kendall. Her retorts were on point.

The writing and plot execution reminded me of Alafair Burke. Now, Alfair and I go way back. When I started reading again in 2017, I blazed through her entire backlist. Is she a literary goddess? Not particularly. But does she weave a thicc ass intricate web? Yes ma'am. Similarly, Sparks juggles multiple storylines with expertise. She does a fantastic job of keeping the story "busy" enough that several clues fly right past you. Or at least they did for me. But then again I do have a swiss cheese memory sooo... take that as you will.

And shockeroo, I liked all the characters. Kendall Beck kept it real. She wasn't over the top (you know the typical "chip on her shoulder" female cop), she wasn't rude af (ahem DD Warren), and she wasn't whiny. Taylor was a little OD with his idolization of his big bro's marriage, but other than that, he wasn't a sleaze.

Lastly, THE ENDING. AUTHORS (mostly Sharon Bolton– ily though) TAKE NOTE. THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A SATISFYING ENDING. You DO NOT need 1409294 twisty twists and out of left field reveals. You can simply tie up any loose threads and have just ONE final act. Then you can have a lil epilogue that isn't written "catching up with a friend over coffee" style aka "Character One is now a baker with three kids, good for her." This was one of the best, tbh maybe THEE best, ending I've read in a hot minute. I can't tell you how relieved I was to "turn" to the last page and there wasn't some stupid ass contrived twist waiting for me. Big kudos to Sparks.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: 2 mysteries for the price of 1, fun banter, great flow, well-paced, plot execution on point, PERFECT ending – not OTT, not everything plus the kitchen sink, no stupid forced epilogue

Cons: some spoon-feeding

How did I not know those series existed til now?! This was everything that thrillers aspire tk be!!! Its so well written and keeps the reader engaged throughout. The characters are so unique and aren't just making stupid decisions or clichéd reactions to enable to plot to occur. These are realistic, rational, 3d people and so you do really relate to them and the difficulties they're facing. Ots actually a lot more than just a thriller, it is spread over multiple genres without ever losing the main heart of an amazing thriller. I'm away to download the authors back catalogue and can't wait to get stuck in. A must read

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

This book really surprised me! For one, the ending SHOCKED me and I was so surprised but also because I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did. With all of the thrillers and mysteries I've read, its surprising that a storyline can be shocking but this was. I've never read anything by this author before but I will be looking into their backlist asap!

Okay so I should have done more than read the description of this book before starting it. I didn’t realize it was part of a series. Aside from a death spoiler for book 1 (which I will now 100% be reading!) I don’t think it matters too much that I read this one first. I LOVED this book. I read a lot of detective-crime-type books and this one has all the good parts - mystery, drama, surprises, twists, realistic actions - and none of the bad - terrible cheesy dialogue, crazy unbelievable plot lines, suspicions cast on every single character (my biggest pet peeve!).
The character development could have been a little stronger however I won’t hold a grudge because there may have been a lot in book 1 and I actually prefer in a series when the author does not throw the same facts in over and over again in every book just to benefit a reader that didn’t read the books in order.
I do wish we could have met Frankie before she went missing. I love having a connection to our missing character to be able to root for them to be found and get even more invested.
All in all this was one of my favourite detective novels I’ve read this year, I read it in two sittings and halfway through had already put a hold on it at my local library but honestly there’s a bit of a wait and I want it now so I will likely just go buy it!
Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and Leanne Kale Sparks for a chance to read an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Crooked Lane Books and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions my own.

An intriguing premise in a book full is suspense and intrigue.

This was the first book I have ever read from author Leanne Kale Sparks and it will certainly not be the last! Every Missing Girl is a powerful rallying cry of NO GIRL LEFT BEHIND! FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck and Denver Homicide Detective Adam Taylor team up to make sure they make good on that promise! A wild ride from beginning to end!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this early arc!

I don’t know why I don’t do more research before I pick up books, because this is the second in a series and I did not know that. You definitely would be better off reading the first one, that way you get a better understanding of what is happening. I did not full understand the story and that is my fault for jumping into the second book.

That being said, I did enjoy the story and I like the authors writing style.

This is my first book by this author and I could not put it down. I don’t want to spoil the book but the ending was not what I was expecting. Such a great read!

In Colorado, Kendall Beck is an FBI agent that specializes in missing children. She has a strong friendship with homicide detective Adam Taylor. The pair are at a hockey game watching Adam’s niece, Frankie, play when she disappears afterwards.
During their search, the pair discover a child sex trafficking ring has been operating out of the area. They rescue other missing girls and hope Frankie hasn’t met the same fate. Will they find her before it’s too late?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of angsty situations. I almost feel there was one to many. If the goal was the rip your emotions to shreds by the end author gets a 1000 stars for that.