Author: Angela Marsons
Genre: adult, crime fiction, mystery, thriller
Published: November 6, 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Two girls go missing. Only one will return.
The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake. One child will die.
When nine-year-old best friends Charlie and Amy disappear, two families are plunged into a living nightmare. A text message confirms the unthinkable; that the girls are the victims of a terrifying kidnapping.
And when a second text message pits the two families against each other for the life of their children, the clock starts ticking for D.I. Kim Stone and the squad.
Seemingly outwitted at every turn, as they uncover a trail of bodies, Stone realises that these ruthless killers might be the most deadly she has ever faced. And that their chances of bringing the girls home alive, are getting smaller by the hour…
Untangling a dark web of secrets from the families’ past might hold the key to solving this case. But can Kim stay alive long enough to do so? Or will someone’s child pay the ultimate price?
The latest utterly addictive thriller from the No.1 bestseller Angela Marsons.
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This is perhaps my fave D.I. Kim Stone novel so far. It kept me reading none stop and gave me those just-one-more-chapter nights.
The number one thing I'd like to mention here is how much I LOVE the fact that it's not completely a murder case because most crime fictions are, right? and at some point we get tired of it. Angela Marsons' suspenseful writing + a very exciting case = masterpiece!
Now let's talk about details and what makes this really great and generally why you should read this if you're into crime fiction and mystery thrillers.
Lost Girls opened with a very interesting prologue in a point of view of a kid named Emily. She was kidnapped with her best friend, Suzie. That happened a year ago this new case - two more kids were kidnapped. These kids are also best friends.
'You're missing out, Kim. You don't know love until you're a mother. Every other type of love fades beside it.' -loc1128, eARC
The fact that it's a kidnapping case wasn't the only thing that made this a thrilling read. There's a psychological aspect of the case that prompt the two sets of parents to want their child brought home right at the moment. It's not just an exchange of money and child, the kidnapper wants something more (I really, really don't want to say so much things about the story and since this part was not mentioned in the blurb, I decided not to as well.. considerations, my friends. I don't want to take away the book's excitement).
Aside from the main case of kidnapping, there's also the first case Kim was holding - the death of a gang member. While she pinned it to Tracy, a news writer, her gut tells her that it's not right. That she has to look it up again. But with the kidnapping going to full swing, she hand over the case to Kev who I refer to in the previous book as a comic relief. I like that Marsons explored Kev - that there's more to him that just the third in command. Maybe next we get more of Stacey?
Kim thought for a moment, 'I believe firmly that a good investigation is a mix of observation, deduction and knowledge.' -loc1943, eARC
Despite the number of things going on, it never felt overwhelming. The first case didn't ate up the second case and vice versa. The two cases along with all the psychological aspect of the events were well balanced out and perfectly laid down in the novel. I just read on and absorbed everything and get thrilled at each turn.
Can we now just talk about Marsons' writing? I mean how can you write an exciting thriller when you have the point of view of the culprit (or a part of the culprits), the victim, the secondary people involve, the main character, and her investigative team? With so many points of view, it may seem so overwhelming but NO! Marsons perfectly pulled it off (once again). Each chapter is quite short but enough to make you more than eager to read the next one and still have a grasp on everything that's happening. do i even make sense? ugh.
Matt was proving to be the most infuriating man she'd ever met. His arrogance was trumped only by his stubbborness, which was left for dead by his complete lack of emotion. -loc2906, eARC
Also, did I mention that there's (finally) a hint of romance here? Not that I'm hoping for romance since the beginning. I wasn't. okay? But when Matt, the negotiator, just entered the seen and he started making conversations and arguments with Kim. I told myself that the two of them must happen. So, yeah... here's hoping that the next book will have more of them!! XD
'Life isn't worth living unless it is lived for someone else.' -loc3014, eARC
OVERALL, Lost Girls is a riveting mystery thriller that was perfectly executed. Marsons had me staying late at night at wake up with my e-reader on hand just to immediately continue where I left off. I like every aspect of the mystery - there are no dull moments, there's always something going on, there are great twists (I didn't even guessed the boss of the kidnappers.. I actually guessed wrong), great writing, and further development of characters (especially on Kim, of course, && Kev). Lost Girls has EVERYTHING you want in a thrilling crime fiction!
~I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review~
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How about you guys, have you read Lost Girls (or any of the D.I. Kim Stone novels)? How do you feel about Kim? What do you think of Angela Marsons' writing?
What do you like to read in a crime fiction? Do you like multiple perspectives or do you prefer a single perspective?
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