The plotting was great with all the characters’ stories meshing beautifully. It had all the suspense you need, and avoided the gore you might have expected. It was neither necessary or missed. The narrator was outstanding. This was the first book from this author I’ve heard/read but it will certainly not be the last.

I loved this book. It kept me interested to the very end. Very suspenseful to the last page. The narrator was also excellent. If you like mysteries this one is for you.

I enjoyed this book. I thought the narrator did a good job distinguishing between the characters. I enjoy this style of book, either to read or listen to.

I really enjoyed this as an audiobook, especially because the narrator has a great tone for it. As a book to read, it's not my style.

Great book! Kept my interest! Listened to more than once!

Nice build up to the climax . thoroughly enjoyed it.

Terrible! The book should be called 'The joy of abduction'. Morbid fascination with abduction and pathology of their bodies. Very American. 2 hours in and I am going to quit.

Slow, repetitive,no character development. Totally forgettable. Sophomoric writing style.

This book had the potential to be a 5 star rated book but a few important points prevents that. In the middle of the book it is mentioned that the victims were all in body bags, this would certainly be explored further by the investigation teams however it was only mentioned briefly once more. The narrator was great but due to no fault of her own her voice sounds like that of a child, which is truly disturbing in a book dealing with such adult topics. Still well worth listening/reading, it has some unusual twists and some unpredictable points.

I found this book was very thrilling! I didn't want to stop reading, I couldn't wait to find out how that story would end. The book was well written and the narration was good.

very interesting and well written.

Amazing book, and narrator. I couldn't stop listening, and had me guessing almost, until the end. I will definitely give Charlie Donlea books another shot!!! SO WORTH LISTENING TOO. And the narrator done a fine job, voicing different characters.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Couldn’t stop listening. Excellent narration.

I purchased this book using my free VIP credit. In all honesty, I do not think that I would have purchased it using my regular credit because it is just not the type of book I normally gravitate to. The storyline was great, fast paced and had twisty-turney moments! The characters were wonderfully crafted! It’s definitely worth the read!

Really enjoyed! Recommended to friends and family for suspenseful summer reading!

I really enjoyed the story and the narrator was easy to listen to.

It was a great book but the ending was so sudden. I didn’t feel closure.

Plot was interesting. Characters were likable and authentic. I really enjoyed this book.

Great

Great Book!!!

Kept my attention, but I didn't find the story all that interesting. The main character was weak and it was convenient how everyone opened up to her. The ending was good, but you sort of just arrive there. The narrator did a nice job other than a few mispronounced words.

Long, drawn out but yet halting story with a very confusing timeline that drifts abruptly from past to present in a way that doesn’t work for the story. I would rate it zero if I could.

Writing is a bit juvenile, story is boring. Narrator is good except for one annoying growly voice she does for a main character. Can’t finish it. Good thing it was a free credit!

Oh boy....as old actress Bette Davis may have said, “hang on you’re in for a bumpy ride”! This book will shock and surprise you smarties out there that think you figured out how it ends!

Great plot! Impressive narration.

The narrator did a great job. The book subject was not a favorite.

Love it,

A really great book.

A quit, witted and very suspenseful novel that has you guessing till the very end.

Loved the plot and the twists in the story! Only thing I didn't like was how it ended.

Good read with twist.

It’s been a long while since the last time I was not able to unpick the plot early on. Loved the unexpected twists.

This was a good mystery... The narrator was excellent

Interesting story, very improbable twists, the ending sucked.

This book kept me on my toes! Engaging, thrilling, emotional I definitely recommend!

Excellent book, narrator was fantastic! Kept me intrigued from the beginning. Loved the main character.

A pleasant thriller with an unexpected twist at the end. It was well written, but the dialogue between the teenagers seemed very cliche at the beginning. I recommend this if you are into thrillers / detective stories.

Great story. Loved the clever insight to the Medical Examiners job! Living was definitely the star character. Didn't want it to end. Hooked all the way through!

quite cliched and one dimensional writing style. no real character development. also didn't grab me till the end. you should have worked out the killer quite well before the end. narrator was good otherwise i don't think i would have made part 3.

Enjoyed this book!

The narrator is great. The story has suspense enough. Not my style but still interesting

One of the best books I’ve listen to in long time

This was a really good book that I finished in three days. It had me guessing until the end. I managed to predict a few things correctly. There was a good amount of story development that made the plot flow in a believable manner, which I appreciate. I would recommend this book to others.

Suspense to the very end. Characters well developed.

Wow. I did not see that ending coming. Just wow.

This book held my attention every step of the way. Wonderfully written. Talented narrator.

This book was really good!

I listen to audiobooks approximately 30 minutes a day so sometimes it is difficult to follow stories which jump back and forth between times. despite that shortcoming in my reading efforts, this was an excellent story easily followed and entertaining. I recommend this book.

Good storyline

the book was pretty good... until the last few chapters it just went down hill ... then got worse by ending in a cliffhanger.... I am so flustered and annoyed by this ending that I am having trouble forming real sentences!

I thought the narrator was very good and enjoyed the plot of the audiobook.

so suspenseful. I'm a huge fan! definitely recommend!!!

great book with a twisted ending that I never suspected! they did tell the killer a little earlier than anticipated, but still a great book!! I couldn't stop listening to it!!

Great

This was an amazing book!! Need to find more of this author!

This was a gripping story with a thrilling ending. It was hard to set down!

it was very good. didn't see the twist coming.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were just the right amount heroic and flawed. The story was just the right amount suspenseful without stretching out the suspense just for the sake of stretching it out. The author told the story hopping back and forth in time at just the right places to keep the story flowing. I would definitely read this author again. I also really enjoyed the narration. The narrator had just the right amount of lilt, cadence, and ease in her voice to make it a very enjoyable listening experience. A natural storyteller.

I wanted to give 5 stars because I loved the way the author dropped clues as well as very clever misdirects throughout. He really maintained the mystery. It did however occasionally drag and the absolute ending was an unnecessary question mark.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a really good psychological thriller. I love the teasers of who it could be, I never guessed who it was in the end. It got a little bit heavy with the descriptions here and there but that may just be me being impatient and wanted to know what happens next.

love it. kept me guessing and speculating

Enthralling. Twists and turns with a surprising conclusion.

Good but unnecessarily stretched, could have been done in less time

Twist Ending! I loved this book!

Held my interest but I figured it out long before the ending.

Loved this book...only listened while on my daily walk...what a great way to get in more steps and enjoy the mystery presented by this author. Kept me.guessing until thehe very end!

Fabulous book!

I really enjoyed this book . It ended in a hurry though.

Well written! The narration was excellent. This book kept me thinking and on the edge of my seat!

Really enjoyed this book, there are some details that aren’t quite accurate with regards to the NC OCME, but overall a really good book. I got it on a whim and was pleased. I will get another book by this author.

this book jumps all over the place! don't like it at all. can't listen to it anymore!

great story, but the answer was predictable towards the end.

good quick easy read. maybe a bit predictable

good story with a great amount of "who done it" guess work! I look forward to reading more books by this author. and the narrator was superb.

This was a good listen. I even got teary eyed while listening to Casey's mother speak about his older brother.

Great book ! Really enjoyed how it played out.

Best book I have listened to in a while! Keeps you guessing! This would make a great movie!

I thought this was a great story, easy to follow and tied up well at the end. My only disappointment was with, I felt, a very abrupt ending. However I could see the character Livia Cutty having many more stories built around her. In my opinion the narrator was terrific. There were a number of characters to bring to life in this book, and I thought they were adimirably voiced.

Both the book and the narrator were excellent. Would highly recommend.

I couldn’t wait to get back to this book to find out what happened. It was very well and the rated and an excellent rage

Absolutely loved this book! It was very intriguing! And the narrator did well!

Very suspenseful storyline with good twist at end. Had me guessing the whole way! Couldn’t stop listening towards the end. Narrator did a good job at playing multiple characters.

Charlie Donlea's "The Girl Who was Taken" was fast-paced and left me guessing who the killer was until the near end. Mr. Donlea writes women well. I was sure the author was a woman until I saw his face He doesn't have the smoothness of John Sanford, James Patterson, or Steven King. Given him some time to write as many books as they have, and his name may become as well-known as theirs. He is as prolific--he is publishing a new book every year. I plan to read more of his books.

Definitely thought the storyline was suspenseful and very intriguing. It didn’t take long for the book to grab my attention. I love to try and figure things out ahead of time and this story was not easy to figure out until the crime/mystery is pretty much solved. It really keeps you guessing. I am not a big fan of profanity in books so that bothered me. The narrator was very good.

This book kept me very captivated the entire way through. I found myself thinking about what might happen as I was going about my day and very excited when I could get back to listening to it. The ending took me completely by surprise and loved it. Highly recommend this one!

I thought it was great

I only refer books, out of respect for other audio listeners, if I truly enjoyed the listen. That being said, enjoyed the narration and the book grabs your attention, beginning til (just about) end. Will keep Donlea on the radar.

Loved this book- good pace & kept me guessing the entire time. Loved the attention to detail on the medical/forensic parts. The narrator was perfect for this book- some of the male voices sounded similar, but it didn’t take away from the story.

Wonderful book and superb narrator. Completely surprised with the ending

You will not be disappointed

A great read, very enthralling to the last page.

Very enjoyable story. I would definitely recommend

Good believable story. I liked the way the author worked the mystery. Not too many characters to keep up with. Some back and forth in time, but, that too was easy to follow. I get my 3-4 mile walks in listening to books. This one made me ready to get out and walk, and walk, and walk. Good narration, too.

At first I struggled to get into the story... but found myself listening every free moment. Great twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book.

I couldn’t put it down. It was very original and HR racing suspense. As a healthcare provider I also appreciated the way the author described what smoking does to bodies.

The story was good but the way the narrator voiced Nicole irked me.

Great book I liked it very much

Very good book.. Enjoyed it..

Previously I have struggled to listen to fiction due to the narration and mostly choose biographies read by the authors. This was a VIP selection and the reviews were impressive so I gave it a go. I was absolutely hooked and devoured every word! Now I'm uploading the author's other books read by Nina Alvamar as she was magnificent. I found this story so engrossing and it's excited me to listen to fiction again.

I really enjoyed this book had some good twists and turns. Nice character development. The narrators voice is very nice to listen to. I would recommend this book

Well written and narrated. Suspense full and interesting. I enjoyed the book

Great audiobook. Very engaging.. Excellent narration. You feel like you are watching a movie.

It was suspenseful, the characters where vivid and it was wonderfully engaging until the very end. Just had to finish it!

excellent

This book was not at all what I expected. While suspenseful and interesting, it just left me waning more closure. That being said, overall it was a good listen although I was taken off guard by the gratuitous gory autopsy details. If that doesn’t scare you off, I would definitely recommend.

O.M.G! This book was sooooo good! It kept my attention from beginning to end. Definitely would buy hard copy for my home book collection.

Awesome was great will there be a number 2

It was again a perfect book to listen while walking durin the pandemic. I didn’t know “who did it?” Until the last few chapters! The narrator was good and kept the different. people separate!

Great book, kept my interest the entire time. So unpredictable and the narrator was perfect

Better than I expected, thought it rather similar to Kathy Reichs

This was a good book kept you on edge

As a lover of science, I really loved all of the detail that went into this book and the characters in it. The story was told so well and was a page turner from start to finish!

Story kept my interest and took turns I did not expect.

Loved this book! Keep me interested through the whole book. Pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to the book.

The book made me feel like I was there and a part of the happenings.

Really enjoyed this book. Kept me in suspense right until the very end.

great book. Couldn't stop listening

Great read! Phenomenal writing, with a great narrator!

I didn’t see that coming. The reveal is downright traumatic. A good book that gets a little confusing with all of the back and forths in time.

good story! kept me guessing!

Great story, but the narrater's 'male voice' imitation attempts were very amateurish and irritating. The rest = :-)