meg_ray's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read the previous books by Belinda Bauer, and at times I felt I should have to understand some references to previous books. It was however perfectly fine as a standalone, but after reading Finders Keepers I don't feel a sense of urgency to read the other 2 books Bauer has written.
The story begins when a teenager is terrifyingly snatched from her father's car, with only a post it note left behind on the steering wheel. 'You don't love her.'
However young Jess Took is the first of many children who begin to disappear, with only a note left behind telling worried parents they don't love their children. The press begin to call whoever is behind the kidnappings the Pier Piper, and the police have no straws to clutch at.
I had high hopes for this book, and I must admit I have high standards when it comes to the crime thriller genre these days, but this book failed to excite me for the most part. It did have its moments, but I found a lot of parts quite boring and it made the book as a whole distinctly average. I suppose it doesn't help for me that Bauer "hints" relatively early on as to who is behind the kidnappings and I then spent the rest of the time waiting for it to cut to this person for the inevitable close-knit ending.
Overall I found it quite average, though certain parts were quite gruesome which kept me interested.
The story begins when a teenager is terrifyingly snatched from her father's car, with only a post it note left behind on the steering wheel. 'You don't love her.'
However young Jess Took is the first of many children who begin to disappear, with only a note left behind telling worried parents they don't love their children. The press begin to call whoever is behind the kidnappings the Pier Piper, and the police have no straws to clutch at.
I had high hopes for this book, and I must admit I have high standards when it comes to the crime thriller genre these days, but this book failed to excite me for the most part. It did have its moments, but I found a lot of parts quite boring and it made the book as a whole distinctly average. I suppose it doesn't help for me that Bauer "hints" relatively early on as to who is behind the kidnappings and I then spent the rest of the time waiting for it to cut to this person for the inevitable close-knit ending.
Overall I found it quite average, though certain parts were quite gruesome which kept me interested.
andrew61's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
An enjoyable finale to the trilogy that has taken me some time to finish. The book brings Stephen (the boy from bk 1) and Jonas (police officer from bk 2) together in a plot that focuses on the snatching of children from cars with cryptic post it notes left behind saying 'you don't love them ' .
The writing is well plotted with interesting characters, although this Devon village certainly seems blighted by ill fortune so not a great advert for local tourism.
Definitely going to try more by belinda bauer.
The writing is well plotted with interesting characters, although this Devon village certainly seems blighted by ill fortune so not a great advert for local tourism.
Definitely going to try more by belinda bauer.
lottie_c's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
meereefox's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
haz19's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Animal death, Kidnapping, Child death, and Excrement
horrorqueen's review against another edition
4.0
Finders Keepers is Belinda Bauer's third book, and the third with recurring characters, which is a feature I absolutely love. Not a straight character-led series, Belinda Bauer revolves her stories around one village on Exmoor, Shipcott, and several of the residents. Her writing is fast-paced but suspense-building, and the characters are wonderfully detailed and built up.
This particular book starts with the disappearance of a child, with a note left in her place stating "You don't love her". I'll just add though, you need to have read at least Dark Side (her second novel) and preferably Blacklands (her first) to really understand what is going on here. There is a lot of referring back to Dark Side in this book, and you wouldn't really know what was going on for a good deal of it if you come across this book first.
As the plight of the kidnapped becomes more desperate, we learn more and more secrets about the police and other Shipcott residents, until the book comes to its frightening and unexpected crescendo. The 'reveal' was done very well, and the subtle change in writing style after it was excellent.
The ending was odd. Interesting and chilling in a way, but definitely odd! Nevertheless, it has made me desperate to read her fourth book, although I fear it may be at least 6 months, probably more like over a year away.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as much as her previous two, which is as good a recommendation as any because those two were excellent. Belinda Bauer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I cannot wait for her next book!
This particular book starts with the disappearance of a child, with a note left in her place stating "You don't love her". I'll just add though, you need to have read at least Dark Side (her second novel) and preferably Blacklands (her first) to really understand what is going on here. There is a lot of referring back to Dark Side in this book, and you wouldn't really know what was going on for a good deal of it if you come across this book first.
As the plight of the kidnapped becomes more desperate, we learn more and more secrets about the police and other Shipcott residents, until the book comes to its frightening and unexpected crescendo. The 'reveal' was done very well, and the subtle change in writing style after it was excellent.
The ending was odd. Interesting and chilling in a way, but definitely odd! Nevertheless, it has made me desperate to read her fourth book, although I fear it may be at least 6 months, probably more like over a year away.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as much as her previous two, which is as good a recommendation as any because those two were excellent. Belinda Bauer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I cannot wait for her next book!
bookbolt's review against another edition
2.0
ok, different, too much reference to last two novels...worth a read though.
bellatronic's review against another edition
3.0
I do enjoy Belinda Bauer's crime thrillers. This one is gruesome, compelling and a worthy conclusion to the Exmoor trilogy.
jlmb's review against another edition
3.0
Grabbed this on a whim while at the library, not realizing it is the third book in a trilogy. Ugh! Why would you not mark the cover somewhere with that information?! I read about a third before finding out that info when logging it onto Goodreads. By then I'd read too much to stop. I needed to find out who the kidnapper was. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read the first two. Oh well. It was still a solid, entertaining mystery. Not overly creepy. I found the kidnapper more pathetic than scary.
karolina999w's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0