Stolen Children by Michael Wood (Matilda Darke 6)

Synopsis: Some cases won’t die.
A young boy walks into a police station in France. He claims to be Carl Meagan – a missing child from Sheffield whose name is still whispered as a warning to kids who stay out after dark.

Some children won’t be found.
On her way home from the supermarket, nine-year-old Keeley Armitage vanishes without trace. Her family is overcome with shock and DCI Matilda Darke can’t help but focus on memories of the Carl Meagan case that almost ruined her career.

Some killers won’t be stopped.
As Matilda investigates, she peels back the layers of grief and sadness that surround Keeley’s family. Until she is left with an unimaginable choice: betray those closest to her or let a violent killer walk free…

My Rating:4/5

My Review: I am currently binge reading this series and playing catch up and thoroughly enjoying the series. This latest book is certainly dark and wont be everybody’s cup of tea due to the subject matter (abuse etc features heavily in this). However, that small mention aside this was another great addition. For readers familiar with the series they will know about the one case Matilda Darke feels she failed on which features the kidnap and dissapearance of a young boy named Carl Meaghan. When a young family receive a ransom demand for their missing young daughter Keeley Matilda’s fears another repeat of what happened previously.

Matilda and her trusted team all star working on the case surrounding the Meaghan family. Like any Michael Wood storyline nothing is straightforward. Keeley is the middle child with an older sister Jodie and a younger disabled brother Riley. Her Mother Linda falls apart as does the husband and father Craig. The family are not well off so it poses the question whether this kidnap request is real. Matilda meanwhile is also dealing with the shocking news that a young boy has walked into a police station in France claiming he is the missing boy Carl Meaghan.

Although I am sure you could read this as a standalone it makes way more sense ot read as part of the series. That way you have background on everything related to Matilda and her struggles with the Meaghan case. You also get to know and come to love the other characters that she works alongside such as Sian, Rory, Scott and Christian to name a few. This story definitely hi hard although I admit I had worked out the killer around the halfway mark. That certainly didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book and as ever I am totally ready to move on to the next book in the series.