Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I apologise for not reviewing this sooner. I was quickly gripped by the storyline. The anguish of the fathers was very real, particularly Ron. I felt for them and quickly wanted to know why the police were not looking into the disappearance of his daughter until the disappearance of the daughter of a wealthy family. The ethnicity of the girls should have been irrelevant. This made me angry.
The depiction of the girls and their confinement and how they related to each other was also good. I can recommend this book to those who enjoy crime fiction.

Jennifer is the light of her father's life. Her mother died when she was born & the pair of them have a strong bond. They don't have much money but they are happy. Ron always picks her up from school but one day she is not there waiting for him. He is in a total panic, but being black he finds the police are more interested in pinning it on him than looking for her.

Todd's daughter's upbringing is totally different. He is wealthy, Rebecca has all the extras- music lessons, ballet classes a good school. What she doesn't have is a father who is there! When, in spite of promises, he misses her ballet recital he agrees to go roller blading with her. When getting them food she disappears. Unlike Ron's reporting of Jennifer's disappearance Todd's results in a large press conference. Ron causes a disruption at it demanding that Jennifer gets an equal amount of attention. The two men in spite of being total opposites, end up working together to find their girls.

The story is told from different perspectives, the fathers, the kidnapper & the girls. I would have liked much more detail about the girls. I think their story was more interesting. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book 3.5* from me but rounded up to 4.

BOOK: THE STOLEN GIRLS
AUTHOR: JEFF STETSON
PUB DATE: FEBRUARY 2023
REVIEW- 3.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and
reviewed an advanced copy of this book, All thoughts and opinions are my own
This book was goods but there were some things I'd have changedo I liked
that we saw the raw feelings of the fathers, That was something you don't
see often in books like this, and I appreciated that. The fathers were So
wholesome and wonderfulo Although the fathers were going through
difficult times, they were still able to rediscover things about themselves,
especially Todd and what he went through in his own childhood, I loved
Ron's selfless love for his daughter, it was beautiful, I liked the team Ron
and Todd made the friendship they found
I liked the kidnapping of girls of different races, but the plot was just
undeveloped. The case felt like it was slapdash and rushed. For the better
part of the case, nothing was achieved, I just kept going round and round and
I was annoyed because there was no lead absolutely none in the book, It
wasn't unti| 90% of the book that a substantial lead was found, Moreovers
this is a serial kidnapping case, they should have found a link Sooner, When
they finally apprehended the perpo there was nothing about why he did what
he did and his history, I waited that long for the revelation of the perp and I
didn't really get anything, So, I was disappointed in the solving of the crime.
I'd have also loved more of the police officers' POVS
I also liked the duo of Jennifer and Rebecca, they were becoming friends
just as their fathers were too, Both of them and the other girls too were
really brave to have experienced what they did and they were able to come
through. I was glad for them,
This book was okay for me, but I just wanted more

I felt that there was huge potential with this storyline, but unfortunately it didn't live up to what it could have been. It wasn't a bad read, but there was a lot of story that felt unnecessary. Too much description, too little thriller and there were a lot of racial stereotypes in a book that touches on discrimination. It felt a little cliche and maybe a little thoughtless.

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

The Stolen Girls is my favorite book from February. A wonderfully written thriller that makes you feel all the emotions. I haven't felt so much anger for a fictional character in a long time.

This has to be one of the BEST thrillers I have read in a very long time!
Lets start with the author's writing. He's able to draw the perfect image with just his words. You are placed with Jennifer outside the school waiting for her dad. You're with Rebecca while she's waiting for her dad to get them food. You're on the cot next to Selena when the lights get shut off. Every description he uses in this story puts you there right next to the character.

The storyline is so chilling, because its exactly what has happened in the past with real kidnappings and its whats going to continue to happen, but the bravory of these girls make this book a triumph from the first kiddnapping. The fathers in the story also put in just a real world feeling because there are fathers just like Ron and just like Todd. And when its all said and done, all they wish for at the end is a little more time with their children, which is also the feeling you get when reading this book. Time is very valuable, and loved ones could just be taken from us at any time.

This book just had all the emotionals, all the feels and all the chills. Great book. Thanks for the advanced copy!!

arc review | The Stolen Girls 4.5 ⭐️

Ron Butler is a single dad to his daughter, Jennifer. When she is abducted after school his entire world is flipped upside down. He is completely, and rightfully frustrated that his daughter has not been found. It isn’t until Todd Roth’s daughter Rebecca is also taken for the media and multiple forces being on the search. When the two fathers come together to attempt to save their daughters they build a unique friendship. They have a sense of understanding and rapport that only they can relate to. Will the two fathers be able to bring their daughters and the other stolen girls home?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! There were portions where I had to take breaks because it truly is a tragic story. The author does a great job of bringing awareness to how white children and children of color may be treated differently in these circumstances. It is heartbreaking, but eye opening. It causes you to focus and analyze these situations and how they may differ.

On another note, this gave Criminal Mind’s vibes. As someone obsessed, I enjoyed reading the father’s attempt at vengeance and the process the detectives went through. This was a great book with great themes.

A huge thank you to Jeff Stetson and @netgalley for the opportunity to review!

Omg what a rollercoaster this was, seriously edge of your seat stuff. Prepare to lose sleep over this one! The tension is relentless, and the twists are absolutely jaw-dropping. Bloody brilliant!

I found the book to be quite challenging to read because of the nature of its storyline, and I suggest that readers do thorough research before they start reading it. While the plot was well-executed, I felt that it lost its sense of realism towards the end, which affected my overall experience. The author did an exceptional job of creating drama and suspense throughout the book, and I appreciate the way they skillfully crafted the various plot twists and turns. However, despite the well-written storyline, I found it hard to connect with any of the characters, which dampened my enjoyability. It was difficult to relate to them or empathise with their struggles.

Despite this, I am impressed by the author's entertaining writing style, and I would be open to reading more of their work in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. This novel grabbed me and pulled me in from the very beginning. What an amazing storyline that brings people from every aspect of life together in times of trouble. That goes for young or old. Absolutely enjoyed every single page of this book and highly recommend.

I liked the plot and how the story was developing. It kept me turning pages to see how the fathers would help each other in finding their missing daughters.
As a trigger warning, I should say that there are topics such as Pedophilia, Racial Issues, and Sexual Assault mentioned in the book.

Oh my goodness, this book! I can't even begin to describe the emotional rollercoaster I went on while reading it. As a parent, my heart ached for Ron and Todd as they navigated the unthinkable nightmare of their daughters going missing. The author masterfully wove together a tale of suspense, intrigue, and heartbreak that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I loved how the story explored the complexities of human relationships and the lengths to which parents will go to protect their children. The writing was engaging and effortless to follow, making it impossible to put down. I found myself staying up way too late, needing to know what happened next!

The twists and turns were expertly crafted, leaving me guessing until the very end. And the emotional depth of the characters? Absolutely remarkable. I felt like I was right there with Ron and Todd, feeling their desperation and fear.

This book is a must-read for fans of thrillers and suspense novels. But be warned: it's a wild ride! Have a box of tissues nearby and be prepared to cancel your plans, because you won't want to stop reading until you reach the very last page!

This was my first book by author Jeff Stetson and it won’t be my last! The Stolen Girls was so thrilling & unpredictable, and tackled rough topics like family trauma, abuse, racism, justice system, and kidnapping.

The story starts out with widowed single dad Ron and his daughter, Jennifer. Disappointed with himself for not getting a promotion, Ron, is also embarrassed to tell his daughter.
But while thing is happening, Jennifer is being kidnapped.
Shortly after, there is a similar situation happening to a father, Todd, and his daughter, Rebecca, but their story is getting way more media attention.

Grief stricken, Ron and Todd may be worlds apart in every aspect, but to save their daughters they must come together and see things eye to eye.

A young girl gone missing and the Dad is not getting the help he needs from the police - is it because he and his daughter are black? soon another girl is abducted, this girl is white from an affluent family and the media and police are all over the case. The Dad of the first daughter hijacks their press conference to appeal for help with his missing daughter too. Soon, the Dads of the 2 girls are working together, trying to track their daughters down. It is well written but it is a little far fetched. A decent read.

This one had some serious depth to the characters. A story about survival and finding friendship in the most terrifying of situations. The Suspense was crazy through the whole book. This had a solid plot and kidnapped children is a core fear for me as a mom so this one had me scared from page one. I loved the parents and how the most unlikely of characters banded together and formed a friendship in the worst moments of their lives. A great read.
It was very slightly more dragged out than it needed to be especially with the high level of suspense and the dire need to know how it ends. This caused me to speed read through a bit of it. However it was overall excellent

This was a very emotional story about abducted girls but with two very committed fathers the did the perpetrator succeed? I loved the conclusion.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The story is very engaging. The friendship between people from very different backgrounds shows how much it is possible to unite people in both pain and joy. The detailed description of the locations in which the story unfolds allowed me to glimpse the colors and even the smells.

What a brilliant read this was, I really enjoyed it. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend it.

It kept me reading and on the edge, it moved me and I liked what I read.
An excellent mix of different type of thriller and a well plotted story featuring fleshed out characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Omg how did I forget to review this?! So much more than a thriller, what an amazing book that had me hooked from the start. I raced through. This really did touch a nerve for me with the lengths a father will go to to protect his daughter. I loved the characters and I was just on the edge of my seat the whole book