I had a hard time getting and staying into this story. However, I think that it was a me problem and not an author or book problem. I will definitely give Jackie White another try!

#AKidnappinginNewYork
#NetGalley

This is a story about a kidnapping of a baby, written from three different POVs: the mother, the kidnapper and his girlfriend that had a stillborn baby and is now taking care of said kidnapped baby.

I am not too sure what to say about this book. It is marketed as a thriller, but there was no point where I got the chills. Most things that happen are pretty mellow, what bothered me most was the mother that had lost her baby being coerced into having sex two weeks postpartum… but the author did not seem to think that this was an extreme thing, because this is described and then never addressed again. Obviously, it is also extreme to birth a stillborn child, but this happens prior to the story, so it’s not described very vividly. Something that the author did really well is describing the emotions of the characters and making them believable. The interactions between Gisele and Gwen, although odd, were also very entertaining and brought across the interests of the characters really well. I am thinking, maybe this is more of a drama?

There are many logical issues, with the twists and turns and the rationales the characters have. Zivi’s actions did not make any sense to me at all, and how does an extremely bulimic person even carry and birth a child? Many of the twists were also pretty predictable, but this critique is not to say that I was not entertained, because I was. This was a 2,5-star read for me. If this book was marketed as a drama, it might have made it to a 3-star rating.
I listened to the audiobook and can recommend the production.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me this ALC of the audiobook to review. All opinions are my own. I was not paid to leave this review.

Audio Book Review – the depth of tone in Devon Sorvari’s performance made this book great. A strange and slow start setting the scene was brought to life and made for an intriguing introduction to this most twisted thriller. Not as I expected but grew on me rapidly thanks to Devon’s New Yorker accents the plot twists and turns through the avenue’s and subway. Delighted with the conclusion and fascinating betrayals, this was a wonderful listen.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read & review via ARC. I enjoyed reading this and it kept me interested and anxious to see what happens next. I liked the writer's style & would love to read more by them.

This book follows Gwen, a lawyer whose baby is kidnapped and also follows Zivvi, the kidnapper and his girlfriend Giselle, who he gives the baby to after they lose their own.

The characters in this book were not likeable (except for Giselle who did the best she could in the situation) and a lot of the storytelling was done through conversations which sometimes got a bit repetitive, and I would have preferred more action scenes.

The narrator was great, she was really effective with the voice acting and the accents and I never questioned which character was supposed to be talking.

There were some interesting twists that I didn’t see coming and although I felt that it dragged on a bit, I was invested in the storyline and eager to know how it would end. And I wasn’t disappointed with the ending – it was great!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy.

This book was a Did Not Finish for me. I thought the writing was awful. The scene when the boyfriend brings the baby home to his girlfriend was preposterous. Their exchange in words was too long, repetitive and just awful.

"A Kidnapping in New York" by Jackie White is a mystery thriller. It is set a few decades ago when there were still payphones in the NY subway, but people had mobile phones also. So maybe late 90s to early 2000s

This starts with a violent attack on a new mother as her 2 week old baby, Cassie, is kidnapped. She is Gwendolyn Black, a criminal defense attorney.

Next, we learn about Zivi and Giselle. She had a stillborn baby and is deeply grieving. One day, Zivi comes home with a very young baby "for Gizzy". Reluctantly, Giselle starts to care for the baby. They quickly become fond of her and rename her Nell.

There is a huge twist about halfway through. The end is also pretty surprising. I kind of liked the end, though.

The author is talented with descriptions of disgusting things and smells. Don't plan to eat while you read or listen to this one. Plus, Gwendolyn has Bulimia, an eating disorder.

Devon Sorvari is the talented narrator believably voicing all the characters in the audiobook.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 30/8 = 3 6/8 rounded up, with hesitation, to 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jackie White for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A kidnapping in new year by Jackie White

A baby girl is stolen in broad daylight… Another woman loses her baby… A career criminal ties both of these women together… Trouble is the mother is an attorney but she isn’t being honest with the police about what she knows and this could spell trouble for them all.

This one was a really unique book. The story was what really drew me in. The characters… well, none of them were easy to connect with and I usually hate that in a book but this one was so dang interesting that that didn’t matter. The police parts of it were a little boring, it almost felt unnecessary but all in all, this was a well written, well paced book. It didn’t really have thriller vibes for me but as a general fiction book, this one ticked a lot of boxes.

4 stars

Excellent narration! Definitely my preferred method for this book. Devon Sorvari did an excellent job moving the story along. Her infection and character verses were also great. Devon read all the high suspense parts in idiot the right way and the chapters flowed easily from one to the next.

A newborn baby is kidnapped in broad daylight, snatched from her mother. This isn't your typical kidnapping. Secrets are exposed and the end is shocking! Definitely worth a read!

Two women, one man, a missing baby…

A Kidnapping in New York has a unique premise that hooks you from the start by following the pov of not only the mother of the baby, but the kidnappers, and even occasionally the cops working on the case.

There are a couple of great twists in the story, and an ending that I loved!

As for the multiple points of view, I personally would’ve preferred it if they had just stuck to only the two women ‘s povs and developed each of them more, as they were both compelling characters that I wanted to know more about. The man’s pov was interesting but I ultimately just didn’t care about him, while the cop’s pov was barely included, and I feel like they could’ve accomplished the same thing with just a few lines of them interacting with the mother in her sections.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and a unique story, but it wasn’t as action packed or thrilling as I wanted it to be.

Devon Sorvari did a great job narrating the audiobook! Her pace was great, and she successfully differentiated between each character, making it easy to keep up with who the story was supposed to be following at the moment.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

A Kidnapping in New York by Jackie White, narrated by Devon Sorvari, is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that delves into the heart-wrenching experience of a mother whose newborn baby is abducted in broad daylight. This debut novel combines suspense, drama, and a deep exploration of human emotions, making it a standout in the crime thriller genre.

The story follows Gwendolyn Black, a renowned attorney in New York City, whose life is turned upside down when her baby is snatched during a morning jog in Central Park. As the police investigation unfolds, Gwen finds herself under suspicion, forcing her to take matters into her own hands. Meanwhile, a retired criminal, desperate to console his grieving girlfriend who has just lost a full-term pregnancy, presents her with a “gift”—a perfect baby girl. The narrative weaves through the perspectives of these complex characters, creating a tense and unpredictable cat-and-mouse game.

Devon Sorvari’s narration is a highlight of this audiobook. Her ability to convey the raw emotions of the characters, from Gwen’s desperation and determination to the sinister calm of the kidnapper, adds a profound depth to the story. Sorvari’s performance enhances the suspense and keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, making it difficult to pause the audiobook.

Jackie White’s writing is compelling and evocative. She masterfully builds tension, layer by layer, revealing the psychological and emotional toll of the kidnapping on all involved. The plot is intricately crafted, with twists and turns that keep the listener guessing until the very end. White’s exploration of themes such as jealousy, privilege, and the impact of past trauma adds a rich, thought-provoking dimension to the thriller.

I enjoyed A Kidnapping in New York 's character development. Gwen is portrayed as a strong, intelligent woman pushed to her limits, yet she remains fiercely determined to find her child. The antagonist’s motivations are explored in chilling depth, providing a scary insight into the mind of someone driven to commit such a heinous act.

A Kidnapping in New York is a must-listen for fans of psychological thrillers and crime dramas. Jackie White’s debut novel, combined with Devon Sorvari’s captivating narration, makes for an unforgettable audiobook experience.

Woah, this was so good. The story was wrapped up so well! Very enjoyable. Also, I enjoyed the narrator. She made the story come alive to the point where I did not pay attention to her. Usually there is always something that is a little frustrating about the narrator's way of speaking.

Once again I find myself in the minority on a book. I thought the premise sounded good and was hooked in the beginning, but then I lost interest, didn't like any of the characters, and just didn't enjoy aspects of the story. The ending was satisfying but nothing shocking. The narration was good.

This story was a struggle for me. I immediately found the foul-mouth characters unlikeable and wanted to give up. However, I have found on more than one occasion that the ending turns out great and I was glad I hung in there.
Unfortunately that did not happen – this never got better
It dragged on and I didn’t connect with the characters or story.

This was a decent book with a whole lot going on. It was fun to figure out who was telling the truth and who was not. The only annoying thing was how the narrator pronounced "babe" as "bay-buh" which REALLY irritated me. Sounded inauthentic. The story itself was good though.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review of A Kidnapping in New York by Jackie White.

This mystery thriller caught my attention immediately as it opened up. As the plot developed and twisted some parts of the story line were difficult to follow but I contributed to power thought. The last plot twist at the end was a surprise and I was happy to see how the minds could work together!

I look forward to reading other Jackie White books!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is not one single redeemable character in this book. And while sometimes that can be a good thing and it keeps the story going, other times is can be frustrating and make it hard to get through. This was the second scenario. I felt like I was trying to push through to get to the point, everything got so muddled so quickly.

I think I finished this book out of pure spite and I just wanted to know where it was going.

At points this was a bit confusing to follow between the two storylines. They were all so delusional 😂

The MC also felt incredibly weak and borderline useless at parts. The author did not do a good enough job of explaining why she even decided to have this kid with all her reservations. She also was just so hopeless it was more depressing than anything else. I found her very frustrating and irrational.

The dialogue felt stilted and awkward at many parts. The second couple were making me soo frustrated with their rationale and decision making. Stealing a baby and justifying it is CRAZY!

However, I’ll give the author points because I never expected that ending. So I gave it three stars really for the ending and it kept me wanting to know just enough to keep going.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5

Whoa.

I had a hard time understanding the mother who's baby that was kidnapped. I dont think she was relatable and it made the story line a little hard to believe.

I did however love the ending - great narrator!

4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Publish date:09/17/2024

Note to all authors: Never make a main character named Jizel and then nickname her Jizz or Jizzy.

Book was solid though. I could see sensitive people needing a trigger warning for a few parts. Some hard things in there. Was able to get through it pretty fast. Was able to follow pretty closely and I didn’t think it was overly predictable. I would definitely read more from the author. The audiobook narrator I thought was good.

I received this through an ARC on NetGalley thanks to dreamscape media.

Omg what a twisty book. I can’t even believe how crazy the story was and the end. Omg. You are feeling so much compassion for the mom that had her baby kidnapped and then you hear the other side and all her dirt. Omg. It was so good. This should be a movie. I really liked this book. A great thriller. :)