Lost Girls

In Lost Girls, Detective Kim Stone faces one of her most challenging cases when two young girls are abducted from their families in the Black Country region of England. The investigation becomes a race against time as Stone and her team work to find the girls before it's too late. The case forces Stone to confront dark elements of human trafficking while navigating complex relationships between the victims' families. Her pursuit leads through a web of suspects and conflicting evidence, revealing layers of deception within the local community. As pressure mounts from police leadership and the media, Stone must rely on her instincts and her team's capabilities to piece together the truth. The investigation exposes fault lines in society's systems meant to protect the vulnerable. The novel examines themes of psychological manipulation, the bonds between parents and children, and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. Through its exploration of exploitation and justice, it raises questions about human nature and moral compromise.

Readers praise the complex characterization of Detective Kim Stone and the strong police procedural elements. Multiple reviews highlight the realistic portrayal of human trafficking and appreciate that Marsons handles sensitive topics without sensationalism. The relationship dynamics between the police team members receive frequent mentions. Common criticisms focus on the pacing in the middle section, with some readers noting it drags compared to other books in the series. A few reviews mention that certain plot elements feel predictable. Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.5/5 (28,000+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.6/5 (2,900+ ratings) From reader reviews: "The police work feels authentic without getting bogged down in procedure" - Amazon reviewer "Kim Stone continues to develop as a character with each book" - Goodreads reviewer "Middle section could have been tightened up" - Goodreads reviewer "Stone's backstory adds depth without overshadowing the main plot" - Amazon reviewer

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🔍 "Lost Girls" is Angela Marsons' third book in the Detective Kim Stone series, which has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. 💼 The author, Angela Marsons, was rejected by traditional publishers for 25 years before finding success with digital publisher Bookouture. 🌟 Though the book deals with child trafficking, Marsons wrote it in a way that focuses on investigation rather than graphic details, making it more accessible to sensitive readers. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The series is set in the Black Country region of England, where Marsons herself grew up, lending authenticity to the location descriptions and local dialect. 👥 The main character, Detective Kim Stone, was partially inspired by Marsons' own experiences with autism spectrum traits, though this wasn't revealed until later in the series.