The Stolen
A
Henry Parker Mystery
Jason
Pinter
Mira Books (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7783-2572-5 (0778325725)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2572-7 (9780778325727)
Publication Date: August 2008
List Price: $7.99
Synopsis (from
the publisher): Five years after he disappeared, young Daniel Linwood
returned to his suburban home for dinner as though he'd never left.
It's a blessing for both his family and their community. And I've
snagged the exclusive interview.
But it turns out Daniel is just one of a string of abducted children
who have mysteriously returned to their families with no memory of
their lost years. Some people want me to leave it be. Some want me to
simply let the healing process begin. But these wounds are deeper than
anyone realizes.
To get the story on these bizarre kidnappings, I need the help of the
one woman who owes me nothing. I've got to find answers before another
life is snatched away from sight and time and memory. But doing so
means we could be the next ones to go.
Review:
New York City journalist Henry Parker is assigned the scoop of the city
newspapers: an exclusive interview with the family of a kidnapped boy
who has mysteriously returned home, safe and unharmed, five years after
he disappeared, in The Stolen, the third thriller in this series by Jason Pinter.
But something about the interview with the family and their son
disturbs Henry: although the boy has no recollection of his time away
from his family, he seems to have a memory of having two brothers even
though in fact he has only one. Researching other kidnappings of
children who returned home years later, he discovers one with striking
similarities. But the case is sealed, the details unavailable. Henry
turns to his ex-girlfriend Amanda who works for a legal aid society and
can access them, albeit illegally. When a powerful senator steps in to
stop Henry from investigating the case further, it simply spurs him and
Amanda on. Together they're determined to find out why children are
being taken from the families only to be returned years later.
In order for a thriller to work effectively, the plot, no matter how
incredible, must have some degree of plausibility. And that is the most
serious problem with The Stolen:
the plot simply isn't plausible. Late in the book, a character says to
Henry, "I know you can't possibly understand ... Maybe someday you
will, but you can't right now." "No," [Henry] said, "I certainly
can't." That's the same reaction the reader will have, and it
undermines the entire premise of the book.
Still, there are a number of factors that work in the book's favor (and
a few others that don't). Henry is a likeable character who comes
across as a good, solid reporter. The investigation is well-paced and
the alternate points of view add a measure of suspense that would
otherwise be missing. In the end, though, there are a few unanswered
(or at least inadequately answered) questions that should have been
resolved, and the subplot involving fellow reporter Jack O'Donnell is
just plain absurd.
Special thanks to Susan Schwartzman Public Relations for providing an ARC of The Stolen for this review.
Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Mysteries in this series ...
The Mark
Mira Books (Mass Market Paperback), July 2007
ISBN-10: 0-7783-2489-3 (0778324893)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2489-8 (9780778324898)
The
Guilty
Mira Books (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7783-2463-X (077832463X), March 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2463-8 (9780778324638)
The Stolen
Mira Books (Mass Market Paperback), August 2008
ISBN-10: 0-7783-2572-5 (0778325725)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2572-7 (9780778325727)
Omnimystery keywords for The Stolen ...
Location(s) referenced: New York City.