Detective Amanda Steele’s niece Ava calls her to help locate a friend’s sister. But Reese’s body is found murdered and mutilated on prom night. Can Amanda catch the killer before he strikes again?
Taken Girls is the 8th book to feature Amanda Steele. There are mentions of old cases but no spoilers. The plot threads about Amanda’s personal life have developed over the series.
Reese has run away several times before but always come home. She is due to be prom queen and has never ignored calls from her younger sister Nadine. So Nadine is sure that something bad has happened and asks Ava to get her aunt Amanda involved. Amanda doesn’t usually investigate missing person cases but due to the young age she agrees to take on the case. But she returns to her usual homicide role when Reese’s body is discovered.
The book is written mostly from Amanda and the police investigation perspective. However there are some chapters which show the viewpoint of the killer. I did feel some sympathy for the trauma in this person’s past but the hideous and grisly treatment of the victims is unpleasant and inexcusable.
The writing is fast paced as the chapters are short. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot as the investigation progresses. We see another personal dimension to Amanda in this book through her family dynamic with her sister and niece.
Taken Girls is a chilling and tense detective thriller.
Music from the busy dancefloor echoes into the deserted room where the Prom Queen lies deadly still. A tiara rests on her soft blonde curls, but her face is frozen with fear, and her painted red lips are forever sealed shut in a silenced scream…
When Detective Amanda Steele’s niece, Ava, begs her to look for a missing schoolfriend, she immediately agrees to take on the case. Eighteen-year-old Reese left home three nights ago after fighting with her mother and hasn’t been seen since. But when the teenager’s body is discovered brutally murdered, poised dramatically at the prom venue, Amanda is devastated she didn’t save the girl in time.
Haunted by the scene, Amanda dives headfirst into the case. Chasing every lead, she is horrified when she discovers a potential key witness strangled in her own home. It soon becomes clear that the killer will stop at nothing to silence anyone who might reveal their identity. So when Ava mentions she saw someone acting strangely at the prom venue that night, Amanda’s heart stops.
And when Amanda’s worst nightmare comes true, and her beloved niece is taken, she knows that every second counts to uncover this twisted killer’s identity and bring Ava home safely. But can she crack the secrets of this killer’s deadly game before it’s too late?
A completely pulse-pounding and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
