Winner, AudioFile Earphones Award for audio narration. Top 100 in Amazon eBooks, US, UK, Canada & Australia, 2021Five long-missing children are about to be RETURNED.It was summer in the mountains when five small children vanished from their nursery school picnic. The heat was stifling that day, the tinkle of an ice-cream van in the air….Three-and-a-half years later, in the dead of winter, … air….
Three-and-a-half years later, in the dead of winter, the children are returned to their families… one by one.
All except for Ivy – the granddaughter of homicide detective Kate Wakeland. The other four children say Ivy is dead.
Speculation grows that the mysterious abductor is enacting a cruel revenge plot due to a murderer that Kate put in jail years before.
Kate isn’t sure what to believe. But one thing is certain – she’s about to begin the battle of her life. When the children were first stolen, she was prevented from investigating the case.
But now, Kate will be relentless in uncovering the identity of the abductor and discovering what happened to Ivy.
Book 1: ONE LAST CHILD
Book 2: THE LULLABY MAN
Book 3: THE SILENT TOWN
Questions and answers on the TALLMAN’S VALLEY DETECTIVES series:
Is each book a standalone?: Each book has a complete ending and can be read as a standalone. But if you intend reading the series, it’s best to read them in sequence. There will be spoilers if the books are read out of order. Each book has a small cliffhanger at the end that is not a part of the main story. There is an overarching background storyline running through all the books.
Will the detective be the same each time?: The current series will all feature Senior Detective Kate Wakeland as the main character, right to the end of Books 1, 2 & 3.
more
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.
Twenty 3 year old, 3 teachers out for a picnic…what could go wrong? As with kids, in a matter of seconds, 5 are missing. One of the missing children is the granddaughter of local Detective Kate Wakeland. Over 3 years later, the kids are returned to their parents one by one, all except Ivy, Kate’s granddaughter. The kids swear Ivy is dead, which takes this case to a whole different level.
A good mystery…not a thriller, psychological or otherwise. Well thought out, good characters. Loved how it focused on one person at the beginning and let us get to know others slowly. Then introduced other characters in more depth. Good pace on the book, loved having an older woman as protagonist. Mystery and family drama done well. I look forward to the next book and solving the mystery teases throughout the book. If you are looking for a mystery to curl up with, give this book a try.
Thanks to NetGalley and Books Go Social for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.