I have really enjoyed reading Hidden Angels which definitely hit the mark with me. Steele and Stenson have their work cut out investigating a case where a body is found within church walls and those responsible will do anything to keep their secrets. The authors writing is very good and engaging, the story flows well and pulled me in right from the start. The plot is believeable and realistic and deals with a very sensitive issue with great care and thought. Carolyn Arnold portrays her characters feelings, thoughts and emotions well and I loved being back with Steele and Stenson and following them on this case. The story is full of thrills, mystery and intrigue and the pacing is perfect. Whilst this is book 13 in a series it can be read as a standalone and if you're new to this author I'd say read the books in order to know the characters from the beginning. If you like a crime, mystery and police procedurals then I'd recommend this author and series.

4 stars

Detective Amanda Steele seems to draw out some strange cases, and her latest is no different. A random shot in a church during a hostage situation reveals a body enclosed in the wall of the church. How did she get there? Is there a connection between the man who held the priest hostage and the female body? Amanda and her team work with what few clues there are and follow some possible leads. In their investigation, they uncover some pretty horrifying past acts within a family that are now coming to light. It is an exciting read and keeps you guessing until the end. We also are left wondering what will happen with Amanda's love life now that she has ended her romantic relationship and holds feelings for her partner. I can't wait for the next book!

Another exciting adventure for Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent. I do wish this pair would get together! The characters are interesting and the pace was steady throughout, although the subject matter is a bit dark. It can easily be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend this ever improving series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thanks to Carolyn and NetGalley for allowing me to read Hidden Angels before the publication date.
This is the 13th book in the Detective Amanda Steele series.
The story has several topical issues which give pause for thought.

The prologue is disturbing, unsettling.
In the crowd at a theme park in Florida, a couple get separated from their 8 year old daughter.
Meanwhile, a man is moving through the throngs of families, watching, searching for an opportunity to approach a vulnerable, lone child.
Reading this, I am already wondering whether I can continue to read the book.

In the present day, a girl’s body is found in the walls of a church.
Amanda and Trent set out to identify the victim. Amanda already has some issues which complicate her dealings with the church, not helped by Father Linwood who is less than co-operative in the investigation.
Surprisingly, Sgt Malone seems to be micro managing the investigation.

This is a town which has many secrets and people who will lie to keep them secret.

In her personal life, Amanda is once again a single mother to Zoe, relying on family and friends to step in when her work commitments prevent her from being there to take care of Zoe. She still has feelings for Trent, who is now in a relationship.

Hard hitting with triggers for child abuse throughout. A hostage situation and subsequent discovery of a body in the church, opens up a past case with many loose ends to be investigated and links to a previous high profile case. There's not a lot else that can be said without spoilers, but it's fast flowing with lots of action to move it along, and well written.
I have read some others in this series and enjoyed them, and will definitely look out for the others now.

I have said this many times before, but this series gets better with each new book and it’s true. This is the 13th book in the Amanda Steele series. Amanda and her partner Trent have their hands full with a new case of a young girls body that was found inside of a wall in a local church, since it was determined she had been in there for over twenty years. Lots of twists to keep you guessing, I really enjoyed this book. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for my arc.

I have followed this series and Carolyn Arnold has developed two awesome characters and has great story lines. Amanda and Trent have an incredible chemistry. Every case they solve keeps us guessing to the very. End
These are books i cant put down and i am already looking forward to the nexr

When a bullet is fired during a hostage situation at a Woodbridge church, a human body is found perfectly preserved within the wall. Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent are called to investigate and meet FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos who explains that a local resident Cameron Cofell had taken the church priest hostage a d blamed him for not exposing the a use he withstood from his parents. Once their investigation takes off they realize Cameron had a legitimate complaint and soon they are led to the abandoned farmhouse where the alleged acts happened.
The house gives some leads as to the identity of the girl in the wall but even more questions arise. A thriller from page 1, I highly recommend this novel.

Detective Amanda Steele is back in another thrilling read. A body has been found in the local church. Her & her partner Trent Stenson will need to find out who the young victim is and how she landed up behind a wall in the church. With the help of the FBI they start finding out more about the young girl Sadie Jackson was kidnapped twenty three before. They have to advise her parents and they vow to bring her killer or killers to justice. But what they learn is horrific she was abused by a local couple and they have also found that she had a baby while she was held captive.
But can Amanda & Trent find out who did this and why? Their search finds those responsible but they have both passed on but they have left a trail of devastation along the way.
Will they get justice for Sadie and for the young man they destroyed along the way?
Another great read in the series. Amanda is trying her best to be a single mom to her daughter Zoe and to be the best detective that she can be. I do wonder if her & Trent will ever take their relationship further but I know that he is in a relationship but I can only hope.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

A very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters. Interesting, pulse-pounding plot that kept me thoroughly engaged throughout. A great next-in-series! I enjoyed every page of it!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

The body of a teenager is discovered in the wall of a church after a man shoots at the priest and misses - the bullet breaking through the wall and exposing the body.

Amanda and Trent are tasked to find out who the girl is, as she has been entombed for many years.

Amanda works under the assumption that the cases are somehow linked.

A fast paced and twisty police procedural. Amanda has the instincts of a cat, knowing exactly when something is wrong.
She is battling to juggle her home life and her work life, and is still strongly attracted to Trent.
I love this series, and feel such rage at the church for actually allowing what happened to Cameron continue. No matter what 'confession' rules, are, if a child is harmed or a crime committed, the authorities should be informed! Personal opinion.

This is a very disturbing, dark novel, but the reader feels compelled to carry on reading, hoping that Amanda and Trent's detective skills solve the case.

I recommend. Carolyn Arnold knows how to draw in her readers very skilfully, and keep them invested in the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the DRC.

Wow. This author, Carolyn Arnold, and this series, Detective Amanda Steele, is well written and is likely to keep readers up at night, unable to put down these books. Hidden Angels, which is book 13 in this series, is another book in this series that will keep readers glued to the page. This novel is sometimes scary, something regular police procedural, and always entertaining. The book begins with a child, whom we immediately know will soon be lost to parents and the world. This opening is gripping. There is a body in a church wall, a house so evil is frightens even seasoned detectives, and a search for clues that take the detectives into a totally different world. I really do not want to say more, No spoilers. Read this book. It is incredible.

Although prat of a series, this book works well as a stand alone novel. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. My comments are honest and reflect my own opinions. 5 stars

As the wall is peeled back, everyone falls silent. Then they see her. The near perfect remains of a young female, two jelly bangles and a neon necklace being the only clues to how long she had been hidden there. But who was she? And who could have possibly wanted to take such an innocent life?! Great book and series! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had great suspense, intriguing, action packed, gruesome murders, serial killer, great characters, a fantastic who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book and series! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Arrrrrgh... Amanda & Trent, will you just get it together already 🤣🤣 I'd so love to see th3m FINALLY realising they are each other's soul mate!

When a local priest is held captive in his church by a past member of the congregation, Cameron Cofell, things take a turn when a shot is fired, hitting a wall and exposing a body, entombed in the nave.

The body is identified as a young girl who went missing at 8 years old, kidnapped from an amusement park but when buried, would have been sixteen, so where had she spent those intervening years before her death?

Detectives Steele and Trent are called to investigate and soon realise that something from the past has now been brought into the present.

Cameron believes that the priest was covering up the abuse he received by his now deceased parents and wants justice, someone to believe him. As Steele and Trent start investigating not only Camerons claims but also the body in the wall, they are faced with the fact that there is a connection, but can they connect all the dots before it's too late.

Since splitting from her partner, Amanda is now a single parent to her adopted daughter Zoe and is constantly feeling the guilt of the late nights and long days her job entails, thankfully her family are there to be on hand and offer the support she needs. The frisson she still feels for Trent is still burning a flame, but she tampers it down, knowing Trent is in a relationship.

As I've now come to expect from this series, it's a high octane ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. It continually spins the narrative. One minute, you're certain you know all the answers, and the next, you are right back to square one.

The characterisation is spot on, I love how the deeper we are getting into the series, the more we learn about the main characters but with each installment new characters appear, in Book #13 we meet FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos, a formidable Agent who goes above and beyond to help the duo when needed, unlike previous FBI Agents. I loved Vos from the get-go and can't wait for her own series to start!

Perfectly paced, whilst I adore this series, I do feel this one could actually be read as a standalone alone.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

When a local priest is taken hostage a stray bullet opens a hole in the wall of the church. Inside are the remains of a young girl. It’s up to Amanda and Trent to discover who she is and who murdered her. I loved this book and it’s a great series.

I am a huge fan of Carolyn Arnold and the Detective Amanda Steele series. Hidden Angels (book 13) is an exciting addition to this series, delivering a gripping narrative that kept me on the edge from start to finish. I couldn’t help but read well into the night to discover what would happen next and discover more about Amanda and Trent’s relationship. I'm always sad when I get to the end because it's like having to say goodbye for a while to good friends. I really like these characters and the storylines in this series are page-turning.

The story begins with the gruesome discovery of a girl’s body within the walls of a church, setting a dark and intriguing tone that Amanda Steele navigates with determination and emotional depth. From the very first chapter, the tension builds, and the plot unfolds and explores the profound implications of loss and the relentless quest for justice. As Amanda reflects on her own family while investigating the case, her character grows deeper, making her relatable and empathetic.

There are many twists and chilling secrets of the community. The writing is vivid and immersive, bringing both the characters and settings to life in a way that draws a reader into the story. The pacing is perfect; each revelation feels warranted, and the way the past intertwines with the present is particularly well-executed.

The chilling atmosphere is amplified when Amanda and her partner, Trent, delve into the dark history surrounding their suspect, Cameron Cofell. When you think you may have it figured out, the author throws in unexpected turns that leave you wanting more.

Each chapter and scene draws you in, especially with the brutal murder of a key witness that adds urgency and danger to Amanda’s quest. Hidden Angels is an intriguing crime thriller but also an exploration of loss, resilience, and the lengths one will go to for truth.

I hope to see more of Zoe in the next book, I really like her character and want to see her and Amanda forge an even stronger bond.

Overall, if you enjoy thrillers with strong character development and nail-biting suspense, this book is a must-read. I would highly recommend this book, this series, and this author. And, if possible, start from book 1 in this series so you can get to know the characters and their history and growth to this point.

#HiddenAngels #NetGalley @bookouture

Amanda and Trent ... a match made in heaven where police work is concerned. They will not leave no stone unturned untill they have come to the bottom of the case and brought justice where justice is needed.

Taking the time to eat or sleep is brought to a minimum, because every minute always counts and they hate wasting time. Although they want to invest as much time as possible in the case they are investigating, they do know they have to consider the people who are waiting at home for them, giving them the attention they need too.

Maybe the next book will bring me the thing I have been hoping for for quite a while now... ;)

The author has hit the bull's eye again with this suspenseful and emotional story. 5 stars

Thank you

Another riveting book in the Amanda Steele series.
Amanda and her partner, Trent, find themselves engulfed in a decades old murder case with ties to a current hostage situation. The plot takes off rather quickly and never seems to slow down. There are lots of twists and turns, and without giving anything away, when the pieces all come together it is a web of lies and secrets, The ending, while fitting for the plot, is rather sad, as is most of the material in this book.
Carolyn Arnold has really done it again, and this is a must read for all fans of the genre and the author. While it is Book 13, it would not be hard to read it as a standalone.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When Cameron Cofell takes a local priest hostage, a stray bullet exposes human remains in the wall of a church. Cameron believes the priest is responsible for covering up the abuse he received at the hands of his now deceased parents.The human remains are those of a teenage girl who was abducted more than thirty years ago. Detective Amanda Steele and partner Trent Stenson investigate this heartbreaking case which uncovers long hidden secrets and puts another life in danger.

This is yet another of Arnold’s fast paced, suspenseful police procedurals.She is one of my go to authors and does not disappoint. She knows how to capture and maintain readers' interest and keep them briskly turning the pages. I enjoy the repeating characters, especially Amanda who, despite an earlier tragedy in her life, is a strong, capable, independent female. Yes, she has her flaws and one of them may be caring too much.

This is the thirteenth in the Prince William County (VA) Detective Amanda Steele series. Although I have read many of them, I think this would work as a standalone.

If you are a fan of police procedurals, and well written, flowing stories with good character development, do check out this series.

Every time I pick up a book in this series I'm once again reminded as to why I love this series so much , it's because the story comes to life with each turn of the page and each book you get to see more of the Personality of the characters. And let's not forget the interacions between the two main characters. And the twist and turns that sneak up on you from every corner will have you setting on the edge of your set.