This book was most certainly a gripping read. Once I had finished the prologue I just knew without a doubt that this was my type of read. The first few chapters were a bit slow but this was a good thing and it was building up nicely to the main event. This was one of those books that I had to carry on reading when I came to the end of every chapter. As a result I finished this book in a very short time as I was so engrossed. Once we pass the first few chapters the pace increases and it’s like being on a roller coaster with all the twists and turns . This really was an addictive read that I couldn’t put down.

3,5 stars

Taken has a very interesting premise and the book grabbed my attention right away. The mental health clinician in me was intrigued by the mental health issues and how they were being handled.

I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow. It was clear that we were struggling through the main character's paranoia and brain fog but that did get tiresome at times.

The book did pick up and I did find the ending satisfying even if not completely surprising.

Overall, if you are a fan of psychological thrillers then I would definitely give this one a try. I look forward to reading additional things by this author.

Taken tells the story of a woman called Alice who is going through a bad time and has a lot of mental health problems due to a horrific accident in her past. She becomes depressed and her new husband Tom tries to help her get over this new tragedy in their lives. Then things go from bad to worse once her second child is born. Things seem to be happening that are out of her control and her memory seems to be getting worse too. But who do you trust when you think you have no one to turn to?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was finished in two days! The plot was great, characters were very complex and so you could struggle to get into their head and see what they might think or do! It definitely kept me won my toes!!!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #Danielle.Ramsay.Author.

Taken by Danielle Ramsey, British nurse Alice is married to Tom, who is an American. when they move to Massachusetts. Alice gives birth to baby Noah, but when the unthinkable happens and they lose babyNoah to sudden infant death syndrome Alice doesn’t know how she can go on. she doesn’t even care when she inadvertently finds out about and meets perfect Blair, who is also Tom’s ex fiancé. Tom is worried about Allison state of mind and decides to send her to a hospital for mental health. Soon Alice is back and although sad about her son, she and Tom soon have Baby Eli to focus on. all is not well, however, because soon someone tells her that Tom is cheating with their nanny, Florence and even send a video to prove it, but all this is just the tip of the iceberg. Alice has a lot of secrets in her past, but it will be someone else’s secrets,that will be the cause of ruining Alice’s life for good. there are so much more to this gradebook I thought for certain I had read other books by this author, but it seems I haven’t so this will just be the first of many. I really love a book that delivers and then delivers again and I have been getting a lot of those recently and this one included and OMG what a great book it is, I really love that. Alice is a person to root for despite her past and thought the ending was so awesome. This really was a great book and one I definitely recommend. you really can tell the difference between someone who is riding stories to make money and someone who is riding stories because they want to tell a great tale and I do believe Danielle Ramsey is in the latter category. This was so good! #NetGalley,#BoldWoodBooks, #DanielleRamsey, #Taken,

What a fantastic and twisty read! It pulls you in with a bittersweet start, but trust me—stick with it, and you’ll be blown away! I was completely captivated by how the story unfolded. My heart ached for Alice, and I found myself rooting for her to be allowed to grieve in her own way. The writing was absolutely brilliant, and I’m already eager to see what Danielle has in store next!

Really enjoyed this book, it’s a sad start with the death of baby Noah, the mother is sectioned as a result. She then discovered she’s pregnant, but she’s very scared. Her husband is a doctor and been offered a job in the US, but when the baby arrives, she finds that her husband is not one to be trusted.
Loved this physiological thriller, it does make you wonder who you should trust, it’s twisty and really enjoyed the ending. The characters make the story, a brillant 5 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Alice and Tom lose thier baby and Alice isn't goping at all. On top of all the guilt she feels for her mother's death she becomes paranoid and has to spend time in hopsital, where we find out that Alice is pregant again.


The author is great at explaining the emotions and feelings of Alice and what she goes through. The story is captivating, and you want to hurry up reading it to find out exactly what is happening. But it should come with a trigger warning as it delves deeper into mental health issues and child loss.
A good read.

This is a really solid thriller! The writing draws you in and doesn't let you go until the end. I had a hard time putting this down and would recommend this to anyone who enjoy thrillers! Special Thank You to Danielle Ramsay, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.

As always with Danielle Ramsay's books I was hooked right away and the twists and turns kept me surprised.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This shocking psychological thriller follows Alice, who along with her husband suffered the tragic loss of their first-born baby.

Alice struggles with the grief, and after her struggles escalate, she finds herself with no choice but to checking into an institution to help her with her recovery.

When she is back home and with a new baby, suspicions start to bother Alice, and soon she finds herself on the run. However, when she is then accused of murder, she must work out if it is true.

Has Alice harmed her baby? What suspicions does Alice have?

This psychological thriller is shocking with what Alice must deal with and the events that follow. I also found it an emotional read, as they have suffered a tragedy in the family.

The storyline twists and turns as Alice tries to work out if she could be capable of murdering her baby, and you work through the mystery along with Alice.

I really enjoyed reading this thriller and would love to read more from this author in the future.

Overall, a shocking psychological thriller where the loss of a baby leads to suspicions and secrets being uncovered.

There is much to sort out in this book.
Alice spends much of the book in a fog so that was a thick fugue to wade through.
Ramsay does a very good job of persuading readers things are happening a certain way when in fact it’s not like what it appears at all.
The ending is happy which was a relief because there is a lot of angst in the story.

Wow, what a gripping read! This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I felt so deeply for Alice as she navigated such a terrifying and heartbreaking situation.

The story starts off a bit slow, with time spent developing the characters, but I appreciated this as it made the events later on feel so much more impactful. Alice’s struggles really hit me hard—the author did an amazing job portraying the complexity of mental health issues and the inner battles so many face.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns—it’s the kind of book that keeps you thinking long after you’ve finished. However, I think it’s important to mention that it does touch on heavy topics like mental health struggles, depression, and anxiety, so it might be tough for some readers.

This was such a powerful and suspenseful read. It had everything I look for in a thriller—pacing, depth, and an ending that left me stunned. Definitely worth picking up!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alice and her husband Tom have just lost their infant Noah son to SIDS. Alice's mental health starts to suffer, and Tom manages to talk her into going into a mental health facility. Alice discovers that she is pregnant again. We find out later that Alice has an eight week old Son called Eli. She also has a nanny to help her cope. When "a friend" sends Alice an incriminating video and tells her to check her husband's emails, she discovers Tom is planning to have her committed. So Alice leaves and take baby Eli with her to Spain. But Eli disappears and no one believes her.

The story is to;d from Alice's perspective. The story starts off slowly, then the pace is fast. It's emotional, traumatic, filled with twists, covers mental health issues and SIDS. At the beginning, it was a bit confusing. The last 25ish% was gripping, and it has a good twist at the end.

Published 25th November 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #DanielleRamsay for my ARC of #Taken in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Taken’ written by Danielle Ramsay in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Alice, Tom and new-born baby Noah move to America and stay with Tom’s parents in their home in New England. Noah dies suddenly of SIDS at eight weeks old and Alice has a breakdown believing it’s her fault. She’s struggling but nobody understands how losing a baby has affected her and she feels that Tom is gradually moving away from her.

From the description I thought ‘Taken’ was going to be about the abduction of a baby so didn’t expect it to be so slow and drawn-out. It was so sad and depressing I couldn’t get into the story and the way the timespan moved around from what happened a year ago to the present time didn’t help. I only read about a third then my interest was lost and I was skipping chapters hoping it would improve. This is purely my impression and I’m sure a lot of readers will love it but unfortunately this time I’m not one of them.

This was an absolute page-turner! The prologue finds us on a ferry to Spain, with Alice waking to find her baby cold, but it's not Eli, her son, it's Noah, her first baby who died from SIDS a year earlier. Alice is on the run, but why? And who is she running from?

Alice and Tom had a wonderful life until Noah died. Since then, Alice has found it difficult to function, quite understandably. She blames herself for her mothers death and now for her child's death. When Alice discovers that Tom is moving on with his life and planning to take Eli with him, she runs, but then Eli is taken. With Alice's history of mental health problems, it is clear that nobody believes her and she knows that she only has until the ferry docks to find her baby.

Twisty and gripping! A fast paced and action packed read that I really enjoyed.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

To start, I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Danielle Ramsay for allowing me to read this book, Taken, via #netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

*Before I dive in, I do want to warn readers that this book does deal with some triggers, specifically, loss of child due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), mental health struggles, and Severe Post Partum Depression. *

This novel follows Alice, an accomplished nurse from the UK who is madly in love with and married to an American neurosurgeon named Tom. They have a son named Noah who tragically dies from SIDS at 8 weeks old. Alice descends into a debilitating depression and blames herself. Her depression is so bad that Tom and a psychiatrist convince her to voluntarily commit herself to a psychiatric hospital so she can get well. The day before this, she finds out she is pregnant.

Alice is terrified to have another baby, but she also can't imagine giving up the baby. When Eli is born, Tom is over the moon, but Alice is just terrified she will hurt him. At first, she doesn't bond with him because of her fears, so Tom hires a nanny. Over the next few weeks, though, Alice bonds with Eli. However, Alice fears Tom still doesn't trust her, and a text and some emails confirm her worst fears. Quickly, Alice realizes she may lose her husband and the son she fought so hard for. What will a mother do to prove her love?

After some deliberation, I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I wanted to give it a 5 because it kept me on the edge of my seat. Ultimately, though, I felt as if it ended up being a bit too farfetched. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining read that I would recommend to others!

#brenbreathesbooks #brenreviewsbook #4starreads #thriller

What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive’ Sir Walter Scott, published in 1808. Danielle Ramsay has gifted us with a psychological thriller that engulfs the quote from Sir Walter Scott. Taken is a lively, intriguing story of deception and lies, with a side of secrets from the past this book must be read by everyone who loves a thriller.
The story of Alice and her husband Tom.. Alice is the narrator and while she is unreliable for a while, she becomes the victim running to save her life. Taken has references to SIDS, therefore a possible trigger for some readers.
The mind set of a parent in grief has been beautifully written by Danielle, I could feel the pain and anguish of Alice in how the words were written.
It was an absolute pleasure to read and review Taken, it will be a book that remains in my mind for a long time ahead.
5+ stars for the portrayal of mental health and SIDS.

#netgalley #TakenbyDanielleRamsay
#Taken
#psychologicalthriller
#thebookcaseofkay

Taken by Danielle Ramsay is a heart-pounding, emotional thriller that pulls readers into a dark world of trauma, deception, and survival. This story centers on Alice, a mother grappling with the loss of her first child to SIDS, only to face an unthinkable nightmare with her second. Her young son Eli disappears, and Alice, already on shaky ground mentally, finds herself under suspicion as the police—and her own husband—question her every move.

The novel's beginning is deeply emotional, with Alice's grief and fragile mental state portrayed so vividly that it almost becomes suffocating. Ramsay takes the reader on a rollercoaster of feelings as Alice’s breakdown and the lingering scars from her past are laid bare, bringing themes of motherhood and mental health to the forefront. The writing skillfully reflects Alice’s spiraling emotions, which makes the story both intense and uncomfortably immersive.

Just when you think the story might slow, Ramsay throws in twist after twist, shifting the narrative from a slow-burn emotional exploration to a high-speed chase as Alice races to uncover the truth about her missing child. The story becomes a puzzle of betrayal and secrets, with Alice forced to confront her husband’s intentions as well as the reality of those around her. Suspense builds with each revelation, making the reader question the trustworthiness of every character involved.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that blends raw emotion with edge-of-your-seat suspense, Taken is a fantastic pick. Danielle Ramsay delivers a masterful thriller that lingers long after the final page, diving into themes of grief, trust, and the fierce lengths one mother will go to protect her child. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this gripping ARC

This book is intense and leaves you feeling all of the emotions! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read the Arc! I will be reading more Danielle Ramsay titles.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book with Alice being desperate to prove her innocence and reclaim her child before it was too late. However, I found the first half a bit slow-paced, which made it challenging to fully connect with the characters. That said, the twist toward the end was worth the wait, with the story picking up nicely in the second half. I'm glad I stuck with it, as the last chapters made for a satisfying conclusion!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.