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
This story was like those Russian dolls, mystery inside of mystery, inside of yet another mystery. I loved it!
Nice easy read. The ending was somewhat unexpected, which is always nice!
It’s never who you think it is!
Wow great book!
Tragic that what’s portrayed is probably happening in our country. Young girls lured into prostitution and who can’t escape.
This book featured a married, older female detective who used her experience to solve crimes. She had to manipulate her way around a Superior, who didn’t fully approve of her methods. One of the crimes involved the kidnapping of her granddaughter and because of her relationship to the victim, she was denied much of the access to the initial investigation. However, when it became a ‘cold case’, she was able to make more progress, along with solving another big case. I loved this book and also the location in Australia.
A detective’s 3 year-old granddaughter is snatched along with 4 of her nursery school classmates during an fun afternoon picnic. So begins a pulse pounding mystery with a flood of false leads and plot twists. In the rising action and nail biting conclusion every loose end is tied up. The main character is exhausting in her dedication to locating the abducted children while at the same time investigating a years’ old cold case which also gets neatly resolved before the book ends. Engrossing, exciting page turner.
Will get next in series for sure.
Couldn’t put it down! Great weaving of story lines. Never could have guessed the ending
Weird. Kept me guessing to the end
Couldn’t put it down. And immediately started on book 2.
This is a great read written by Anni Taylor. It’s full of suspense and I didn’t want to put the book down till I found out what happened to the missing children. The ending was very unexpected.
Five pre-school children disappear while on their nursery school picnic. No one saw or heard anything … no clues … no motive … no ransom note.. just nothing.
One of those children was the grand-daughter of Homicide Detective Kate Wakeland. Because of the family attachment, Kate is not allowed to work the case.
Almost 4 years later, the children are returned to their families … one by one. All except Wakeland’s grand-daughter.
Kate was prevented from investigating when the case was fresh, now that its gone cold, Kate will be relentless in identifying and finding whoever took the children…. and discovering what happened to her grand-daughter.
Although well written with an intricate plot, the first part of this novel is more about Kate and the dysfunctional relationship she has with her daughter. Characters are deftly drawn, warts and all. I did enjoy the main character not only being female, but over 60 and still nimble enough to do her job and do it well. While there is plenty of action, the pacing is not constant. The ending felt rushed and not really credible.
This is the first in this series and is easily read as a stand alone, although there is a minor cliffhanger separate from the main story.
Many thanks to the author / BooksGoSocial / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audiobook version of this book. It was a gift for me. The narration was stellar. Kate is a homicide detective. It was really wonderful to listen to a book about a strong, smart woman who is doing her job well and respected for it. Not a “she is good even though she is a woman” in what is typically a mans domain, but just doing her job and being treated like a person and a part of the team. We need to read more of that. From chapter one I was drawn in to the mystery of what happened. How were five children were kidnapped from a school picnic with not a witness in sight? Why four were returned three years later? What really happened to the fifth child, who was Kates grandchild? Was she really dead? So many twists and turns along the journey. Initially Kate is only allowed to sit in on the investigation, but eventually is allowed to be an active participant. Its a slow build to the finale and well worth the journey. I am very much looking forward to the next in the series.
I held my breath most of the time I read this psychological thriller. First of all, the idea of five children, age 3, just disappearing made me curious. Then the idea that all but one are released three years later had me wondering how the author could explain this.
The first part of this book sets up the scene of a nursery school outing in a park with Justine, head teacher, and two helpers. Not long after the beauty of the park setting and picnic comes the moment …five children are missing. No clues, no witnesses, just fear. And the author really pushes the fear, anger, helplessness.
You meet Kate, in her 60’s, grandmother, homicide detective and wanting Ivy, her daughter Abby’s child, found. Kate is one determined person and is use to stressful situations but she is put aside to watch as Grimshaw leads the case. Kate, husband Peter and Abby hunker down.
The parents are frantic and over time their lives will be permanently changed by this.
I should warn you,this is an intense book and no gratuitous violence or sex but it is a mind blowing scenario…..like Coben. Stephen King and others write without supernatural or magic.
The clues or lack of, the talks to parents, friends, and the procedures the police use are fully detailed. Kate tries her best to help while working on a cold case and dealing with Abby’s hostilities. You see how each family does or doesn’t handle the trauma including Kate and her relationship with Anna. Pete is her rock and her team backs her up in the search.
The second half is different as children start to return and have trouble relating to their parents. Ivy is not returned and the scene are heart breaking. Kate picks up clues and does her best to find out how and why the children were taken. The only problem with this book was why the children were taken and how very long without anyone finding them. This book had me gnashing my teeth, holding my breath, but loving every minute of it. It was a rollercoaster ride that just kept on doing loops and scares. 4.8 stars…
This takes place in Australia and describes a small town divided by the old side and the new techno businesses and fancy homes. All the characters are memorable. And once again, it is pointed out that people lie, even the parents and teachers. Great police procedural, family drama, and the most intense book I have read.
One Last Child
Tallman’s Valley Detectives Book 1
by Anni Taylor
436 pages
Publication date: January 15, 2020
5
Description:
Five 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, 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.
My Review
Anni Taylor has written a incredible heart wrenching suspenseful thriller. It is a little bit slower paced than most thrillers but it fits this story perfect. The whole story is very well written and had me guessing all the to the end. This heart racing, suspense filled, mystery crime thriller will have you quickly flipping the pages to find out what is going to happen next. It had me reading all night. There was likeable and unlikable characters as all good thrillers should have.It is full of twists and turns. Having read alot of child kidnaping psychological thrillers I must say I loved this authors different spin on it. The characters are well developed, the plot well done. The ending was totally mind blowing. Left me in total shock ! I would recommend this book to all mystery and thriller lovers. Definitely looking forward to the next Anni Taylor book. If you would like to read this story you can read it for free on Kindle unlimited. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !Thank you to NetGalley ,the publisher, and author for the chance to read and review this amazing 5 star read for an honest review !
#OneLastChild #NetGalley
Compelling!
One Last Child by author Anni Taylor Is written with more than one mystery or case to solve by Detective Kate Wakefield. The setting is the area of the Australian Blue Mountains and as an ice cream van sits on the side street, five three-year-old toddlers go missing from a day care picnic! Nola, the new assistant stands as if in a trance and she never sees what happens to the children. Kate joins the other searchers when she is told her young granddaughter, Ivy is among the missing. Kate is not allowed to join the task force because she is too personally involved, so she must carry on with her murder investigation of a young woman named Harper. In the beginning of the book, the daily back stories of the main characters are explained. As the search for the children goes cold, Kate has other problems as she deals with her daughter, Abby, Three and a half years pass and the unexpected happens, four of the children silently appear to their families. Where is Ivy?
This book is very well written and now I am looking forward to reading the next in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review and ARC of this book.
Good story. Never saw the end coming!
I read this book in 2 sittings and the only reason it took that long was because I had to go to bed!!! I highly recommend!