Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold – book review

Disclosure. This post is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

I have received a free e-copy of the book Stolen Daughters by bestselling author Carolyn Arnold to review. To find out more about the author you may visit her website.

Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold

Here is the book blurb.

The girl looked so peaceful, she could have been asleep. Except her eyes were open, blankly reflecting the flickering flames spreading towards her…

When firefighters discover the body of a teenage girl at an abandoned house, Detective Amanda Steele hurries to the scene. Dumfries, Virginia is a small town, yet no one seems to have any idea who the dead girl is until Amanda finds a dragonfly pin with the name Crystal engraved on it.

Working tirelessly, Amanda traces the pin to Crystal Foster, a thirteen-year-old who disappeared three years ago from her wealthy parents’ home. Breaking the news to the distraught parents won’t be easy, but the loss of her own daughter still haunts Amanda, and she knows this will bring them closure. But when Amanda goes to see the Fosters, they do not recognize the girl. She isn’t Crystal.

Before Amanda can react to this new development, she gets an urgent call. A fire has consumed another vacant house, and the remains of two more girls have been found. Who are these girls, and why are they being picked off? Amanda must stop this killer before the pattern continues, and the death toll climbs.

When Amanda receives a taunting note from the killer, she realizes that she holds the missing piece of this puzzle. The victims are connected to Amanda’s past, to a case she can never forget, and which almost claimed her life. As she follows the clues to their deadly conclusion, can she save more innocent lives… even if it risks her own?

This is the second title in the Detective Amanda Steele series and you may see my review of the first title The Little Grave here.

The story starts with a murder and arson in a vacant property. Who is the dead teenage girl? Detective Amanda Steele and partner Trent are assigned to the case. Meanwhile Sergeant Malone warns Amanda to tread carefully as Lieutenant Hill hates her and is trying to get her demoted.

A tattoo on the girl’s body reveals she was a victim of sex trafficking before she was a murder victim, linking this to Amanda’s earlier case. Then Amanda finds a note from the killer on her daughter’s grave. This is getting too close for comfort. More deaths follow and a false identification.

How can Amanda solve this case? What clues are there? How can she stop the reporters interfering?

Stolen Daughters is available on Amazon. A gripping page turner which i couldn’t put down. Highly recommended.

Detective Amanda Steele Series by Carolyn Arnold

About the Detective Amanda Steele Series
Gritty. Raw. Unapologetic.

Immersive crime fiction for fans who love their mysteries set in a small town and hard-boiled to perfection. From the murder scene to the morgue, interrogation of suspects and following down leads, you’ll feel like you’re part of the investigation. Realistic and complex characters, accurate police procedures and forensics paired with tight, serious writing make these books read more like true crime than fiction. Meet Homicide Detective Amanda Steele with the Prince William County Police Department in Woodbridge, Virginia. She’s smart, motivated, and real. Her tragic past has her claiming to be no one’s mentor, but she’s more hero than she thinks.

Here are the links to my reviews of other books by Carolyn Arnold.
Remnants
Power Struggle
The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh
On the Count of Three
Shades of Justice
Exercise is Murder
Past Deeds
The Legend of Gasparilla and his Treasure
What We Bury