Two abducted girls—one who returns, one who doesn’t. The night they go missing, high school seniors Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald are at a beach party in their small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina. Police launch a massive search, but hope is almost lost—until Megan escapes from a bunker deep in the woods. . . . A year later, the bestselling account of her ordeal has made Megan a … ordeal has made Megan a celebrity. It’s a triumphant story, except for one inconvenient detail: Nicole is still missing.
Nicole’s older sister, Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, expects that one day soon Nicole’s body will be found and her sister’s fate determined. Instead, the first clue comes from another body—that of a young man connected to Nicole’s past. Livia reaches out to Megan to learn more about that fateful night. Other girls have disappeared, and she’s increasingly sure the cases are connected.
Megan knows more than she revealed in her book. Flashes of memory are pointing to something more monstrous than she described. And the deeper she and Livia dig, the more they realize that sometimes true terror lies in finding exactly what you’ve been looking for . . .
“A fast-moving page-turner. . . . Donlea skillfully maximizes suspense by juggling narrators and time all the way to the shocking final twists.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Well worth the read.”
—Booklist
“Donlea’s sophomore effort is solid. He keeps the reader guessing and second-guessing until the end, thanks to an expertly crafted abundance of potential suspects.”
—Library Journal
more
I love a good mystery, especially one with a missing person and a murder. Add in some great twists, a few lies and I’m hooked. THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN has it all! I couldn’t put it down and now a searching for the next Donlea book.
Two girls go missing one night from the same beach party. One girl, Megan McDonald, escapes her abductor and returns home. The other girl, Nicole Cutty, is still missing. The book opens about a year after the girls were taken. Livia Cutty, Nicole’s older sister, has not given up looking for her. She’s a fellow in forensic pathology and is hopeful that she will find her sister and put an end to the mystery of what happened to her. As Livia intensifies her investigation into Nicole’s life she discovers many bizarre things about her sister and the activities she was involved in—shocking things. Nicole has been all but forgotten by the general public, whereas Megan is in the spotlight, receiving accolades and recognition from her bestselling book, Missing, about her ordeal. And while Livia can’t help feeling bitter about Megan’s lot, she also couldn’t resist buying and reading Megan’s book, hoping that she would somehow discover clues leading to her sister’s whereabouts. What Livia doesn’t expect is to perform an autopsy on a man who is linked to her sister. What, if any, clues can come about from this discovery?
The Girl Who Was Taken was spectacular!! Seriously, I was on the edge of my seat, especially toward the end when the chapter lengths shortened and the tension amped up. I felt as though I was on an exhilarating joy ride that refused to slow down and release me, and it was wonderful.
I loved the plot development. Intricate details are successively woven throughout the chapters that begin to paint a picture of the lives of the abductees. I was in eager anticipation of the twist I knew would come, and I was not disappointed. And while the book left me with a few questions, it in no way detracted from my overall opinion of it. Excellent read. Highly recommended.
(Warning: There’s teenage language and detailed forensic descriptions in this book.)
I must admit that I did figure out the killer/kidnapper but it didn’t change anything for me. He is a great story teller and I look forward to reading his next book since this was the only one left of his that I needed to read.
Thank you Kensington Books for sponsoring this Goodreads giveaway giving me the chance to read The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea!
This was an outstanding book. I went on a fast-paced, gripping adventure with this book and I enjoyed every minute! I never heard of Charlie Donlea before I saw this giveaway post. So I went to see what this book was about and check out the author. The reviews I came across not only about his books but himself as an author had me excited to get this book! I was not disappointed, let me tell you! Can’t wait to get his other book. Went on and ordered it last night! The book moves a little slow in the beginning but once it starts, be prepared you cannot put it down! Happy reading everyone!
Don’t Believe was my first read/listen by author Charles Donlea, this was my second. I’d bought The Girl Who Was Taken on an Audible Daily Deal for $3.95 back in January of 2018 & never got around to reading it. AS good as Don’t Believe It was, this book is even better! This story takes off like a fighter plane off an aircraft carrier & builds speed from there. A must read outstandingly written mystery/suspense! The books were so good I just went out & bought Summit Lake & Some Choose Darkness by the same author! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
*4.5-5 Stars*
Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me hooked instantly. From the very first chapter I wanted to find out what happened and get to the bottom of this mystery. Told in different perspectives, we have two main characters in the present, Megan McDonald – the girl who escaped, and Livia Cutty – the sister of the other missing girl – who didn’t escape. The book also flicks back to the past in the lead up to the day that both girls were taken.
Between these perspectives, we begin to learn more and more about these characters, and the individuals around them. Livia was a very interesting character for me, because shes a training medical examiner and is very very smart and does a fantastic job using her resources and putting together all the little pieces of this mystery.
Megan is also an interesting character, because we learn who she is after the kidnapping, what she is trying to remember, and who she is trying to be in this new phase of her life.
There were many times in the book I thought we were thrown little clues as to who had taken these girls, but by the end I was totally thrown for a loop and did not see coming who the kidnapper was.
My only gripe with this story is the abrupt ending. Whilst I think it is meant to leave the reader assuming that yes it is what we think – there is no clear answers and definitely has room left open for a sequel or a series. I would love to read more about Livia and get some more answers and cases where she is involved.
This book was suspenseful and it left you guessing all the way to the end who did it! But your guess would have been wrong.
It is always such a treat to discover a new-to-me author. This was a heart-stopping, kindle-flipping (as opposed to page turning…) novel that had me dreaming about it! When a book gives me nightmares, it’s a good one. I love the originality, the unpredictability, and that ending? Wow. I hope Charlie Donlea will continue to write, and write, and write….
I really enjoy Charlie Donlea’s books! I can’t wait for the next one.
The Girl Who Was Taken, will have you screaming, “Oh no not another twist and suspect!”. The story starts off in 2016 with the abduction of two girls, one being the sister of Dr. Livia Cutty, a fellow in forensic pathology. The second chapter is two weeks after this abduction with a girl escaping from her captor and thus begins an excellent suspenseful read. The Girl Who Was Taken, takes off with more twists and turns than the Trollstigen Road in Trollstigen, Norway. The story is told through many eyes with the main focus on the story of Dr. Livia Cutty as she works through both her fellowship and also starts looking into the disappearance of her sister. I highly recommend this book to those who love a good suspenseful mystery which will keep you guessing to the end.
Page Turner…
What will happen next..brave woman willing to correct their mistakes…to take chances to help other women…..yet also to how cruel women can be too each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I recommend it as good reading for anyone who likes a well-written thriller with interesting characters. I liked it so much, I’m now reading another of the author’s books.
THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN by Charlie Donlea had me tangled up in plot twists and turns that left me completely surprised at the climax of the plot. I knew the answer, no I didn’t. I knew the answer, no I didn’t. I could NOT put this book down!
The majority of the story is told in the present with Livia Cutty, a fellow in forensic pathology wondering if her missing sister will ever appear on her autopsy table and Megan McDonald, the girl who got away, when both Megan and Nicole Cutty disappeared one summer night. Both are searching for the truth of the girls’ disappearance for differing reasons. Their search is intertwined with flashbacks to the months and days before the abduction and the story of Megan and Nicole’s summer after their senior year in high school.
These characters where all realistic and unforgettable. Livia is an intelligent and driven character. Her career is as important to her as her drive to find out what happened to her sister. She does not throw it away, but uses it in her search. I loved her use of kickboxing for stress relief. Megan was not the same girl she was before her abduction and she still doesn’t remember everything from the two weeks she was gone. Mr. Donlea did a great job of showing her before and after and the psychological changes. Nicole was a teen in rebellion and it took so little to tip her over into even darker things. Someone who she thought understood her, changed her whole world in one night.
This was a well written suspense with a plot that keeps you on your toes. This book will definitely be a recommendation read to all my suspense loving friends.
I like Charlie Donlea’s writing…he certainly knows how to move a story along!
Enjoyed the science and the mystery of this book. Just when I thought I had it narrowed down to a couple characters, the story took a turn I didn’t see coming.
The Girl Who Was Taken is set in the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina and revolve around two girls, Nicole and Megan, who were both abducted on the same night. Several weeks later one of the girls is found alive. But what happened to the other girl? Who abducted them and why? how did one escape? This book will have you turning the pages to find out! Definitely recommend!
I loved this book, until the end. I know half the readers are divided on the ending–I don’t want to give anything way–but this is a must read. Donlea is a master storyteller who keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page.
This was an unbelievable, long, boring story. There was a “twist”, but the only way to describe it was stupid. The characters were cartoonish. I wouldn’t call it a psychological thriller, or even a thriller. I finished it, but didn’t look forward to getting back to it each night, and was relieved when I was finally done, and could begin another book. Not recommended.
Loved this book and couldn’t put it down.
I love a good suspense!