It’s every parent’s worst nightmare… When Isabel’s daughter, Lauren is snatched from outside her school, she suspects Jody McBride is behind the kidnapping. Yet the detective in charge of Lauren’s case seems more interested in picking apart her statement, and investigating members of her family. Can Isabel persuade the police to take her seriously, or will she have to take matters into her own … take matters into her own hands? In order to save Lauren, she must take a stark look at her own relationships, and consider how well she really knows her daughter.
This sizzling psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Rachel Abbott, Mark Edwards, Nicci French, Sabine Durrant and C.L Taylor.
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Even though this was the second book in a series, this novel could just as easily be a stand-alone. I wasn’t feeling “left out” at any point in the story, which kept me turning pages at almost every point. The plot of the novel plays on every parent’s worst fears but has several small twists and turns that make it a unique type of thriller. In several places the author has readers trying to guess if this is a kidnapping, a mother’s overactive trauma response, or a plot in which the missing child is actually participating in. The story moves at a quick pace and draws the reader in with small clues being dropped throughout the various chapters. The story is written in a contemporary style, though some of the very British words and phrases might have Americans scratching their heads a bit. In the end, this story checked all of the boxes that make for what I look for in a suspense/thriller. Thumbs up!
She is beside herself when her daughter is kidnapped from outside the school. She thinks she knows who is behind it but the police are more interested in picking apart her statement as well as her family. Will she investigate herself? Will she find her daughter? See if she will
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Unrealistic and superficial.
This was an excellent book. Kept me guessing and on my toes.
Catchy ending makes you want to know what happens next amidiately. I want to find out what happens in book two the continuation of the story. A real good read.
Angel Dust is about the disappearance of Lauren. Lauren is an eight year old girl whose parents are strict keeping her on a short leash. Deacon and Isabel are overprotective parents who shelter their daughter from the evils of the world. At the same time they’ve reinforced the warnings of stranger danger.
Isabel and Deacon were obsessed with training Lauren about fire safety. Jody a character that was introduced in the previous book liked to set fires because of that Deacon and Isabel chose to practice fire drills.
When Isabel went to pick up Lauren from school she watched her daughter get in a white van. Isabel has had a few altercations with the police, as noted in book 1. Isabel’s in no hurry to seek help from the police so she gives chase to the van.
In America police investigations differ from London. In the UK a family liaison is assigned to a family. There job is to assist the investigation team, but she also offers support and to keep them informed. I like this police procedure except having them practically living in your home. It’s comforting knowing there is constant contact with the police. It seems invasive to have a family liaison get comfortable in your home helping themselves to your kitchen probing into your personal life.
The story’s written from Isabel’s perspective. Isabel is living every mother’s worse nightmare when she witnesses her daughter being kidnapped. A few chapters include Lauren’s perspective. I must say I wasn’t impressed with these scenes. The police investigation was lackluster not offering much in the form of police procedure. In fact, it was Isabel’s perseverance as a who-dunnit detective that solved the mystery.
Lorna Dounaeva is a quirky British crime writer. This is my first read by this author but her writing style doesn’t produce the type of voice that propels a story forward. It’s a tedious process of minute details of which I chose to skim thru. Angel Dust is book 2 in the McBride Vendetta series. In book 1 Jody and Alicia are introduced. Book 2 is ten years later. Trouble seems to follow Isabel. I’m at a disadvantage starting with book 2.
There are a few British words I’m unfamiliar with leading me to look them up. By no means did the verbiage take away from the flow of the story.
I wasn’t invested in this book from the beginning, but I trudged through it. By the sixty percent mark the story changed directions in a way that didn’t drive the story forward. The story heads off into different directions getting sidetracked with mindless unnecessary dialogue. The story was all over the place going from one topic to another.
I’m cover shopper. This cover was a show stopper. Even the title held an appeal. After reading the book and discovering how it acquired its name I found it didn’t suit the story. It had very little to do with the book. Sadly, as stunning as this cover is I wasn’t impressed with this story. The ending was anticlimactic with a continuous movement of themes from book 1. This is one of those never ending series where the author drags out the storyline creating unrealistic scenes for that cliffhanger ending.
It was just ok. I felt that some of the backstories should have been revealed earlier in the book.
No likable characters, far fetched plot and back story not well explained.
Formulaic.
Often referred to things that had happened in a previous book and you could tell at the end that it was setting up for the next book.
A lot of narrated explanations. Unreal situations.
This is a gripping thriller that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book! I love the characters and the story is well-written. This author has a wonderful way of grabbing you early in the book and compelling you to keep reading! I hope there are more books by this author (I have read Fry and Cold Bath – all three are awesome thrillers).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you have not read any of Lorna Dounaeva’s books I do not know what you are waiting for. This series, The McBride Vendetta, is just amazing! You will feel the emotions of the characters in all aspects of the story. I enjoy her writing very much! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Booksprout.
A wonderfully written psychological thriller that had me sitting on the edge of my seat at times and held my attention throughout. This is an emotional and tense thriller about an eight-year-old girl being kidnapped and the mother not receiving the help she wants and feels she needs from the police department. If you love psychological thrillers then grab this one, I wasn’t able to put this book down till I head read it cover to cover, an absolutely brilliant book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Not my usual genre, but I was swept up with the criminal and psychological tension of a child abduction. Isabel Frost is an overprotective mother to 8 year old Lauren, but childhood experiences made her that way. Suddenly her nightmares become reality when her daughter is abducted by an unknown person. The detective on the case doesn’t believe Isabel, but then again they have crossed on another case. No one seems as frantic as Isabel to find her daughter, so it seems to be up to her. Suddenly the last and present collide and is she too late?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ten years later, Deacon and Isabel are married with an 8-year-old daughter, Lauren. Having learned from their past, they are hypervigilant about fires. They practice fire drills. Isabel is a bit overprotective of Lauren, but she feels she has a good reason. But that makes Lauren a bit of a loaner, drawn to any bit of attention she receives. And that attention may just be their downfall. Angel Dust is intense and fast-paced, a great read!